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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.8.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:30:17 GMT--><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Brian Ross at The MAJOR BLOGS of Minor League News (MLN Sports)</title><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/</link><description>Opinion and comment from the senior editor of Minor League News (MLN), the leader in minor league baseball, basketball, football, and hockey sports news.</description><lastBuildDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:55:16 +0000</lastBuildDate><copyright>copyright ©2006-2008 MLN Sports Group. All rights reserved.</copyright><language>en-US</language><generator>Squarespace Site Server v5.8.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</generator><item><title>The Next Ted Williams is Not in a Test Tube - Bring Back the Days of Baseball Mysticism</title><category>Baseball</category><category>Bud Selig</category><category>Commissioner</category><category>Commissioner Bud Selig</category><category>MLB</category><category>MLB</category><category>MiLB</category><category>Sports Business</category><category>Sports Journalism</category><category>Steroids</category><category>baseball</category><category>minor league baseball</category><dc:creator>Brian Ross</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:50:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2009/11/18/the-next-ted-williams-is-not-in-a-test-tube-bring-back-the-d.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:5402648</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.majorblogs.net/storage/NextTedWilliams.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1259094368471" alt="" /></span></span></p><p>Where is the next Ted Williams, the next guy who can hit a ball at .400 or better for a season? Nowhere in sight.&nbsp; Professional baseball has swapped intuition for science over the last forty years. It has been an unqualified failure.</p>
<p>Name the .400 hitters:&nbsp; Cobb.  Hornsby.  Lajoie.   Williams.</p>
<p>We have no .400 hitters in the Free Agency or the Steroids Eras of the game.&nbsp; A-Rod got close, but more on him, later.</p>
<p>Name the top&nbsp; pitchers in the history of the game:</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-5402648.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Is Sports Illustrated Out to Get John Henry Williams? - An MLN Best of... Celebration</title><category>Baseball</category><category>Sports Journalism</category><dc:creator>Blog Admin</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:19:06 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2009/10/3/is-sports-illustrated-out-to-get-john-henry-williams-an-mln.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:5380042</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.mlnsports.com/graphics/mlnsports/bestofcelebration.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1254601221844" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p><em>With the Larry Johnson kiss-and-tell book about Alcor Life Extension Labs coming out shortly, the pot is being stirred again about Ted Williams frozen head, and its treatment. </em></p>
<p><em>Forget that Mr. Johnson ran the lab, and could have cleaned up the very things that he is now lamenting for profit. </em></p>
<p><em>Disregard that Tom Verducci, the sports writer who began ringing the fire bell about Williams' handling of his father's estate at SI sourced Bobby Jo Williams, who had a very big axe to grind with her half-brother and sister over the disputed will of Ted Williams.&nbsp; Williams had cut his oldest daughter, who was reported to have emotional problems severe enough for her institution at one point, out of the estate.&nbsp; Verducci was a convenient pawn, as a commentator, because he didn't have to do much old-fashioned journalism to give his two cents.<br /></em></p>
<p><em>We were the only news agency to which John Henry would grant an interview, after the press hounded him about the head and the other rumors about the labs.&nbsp; </em></p>
<p><em>We found out quickly that the picture that SI was painting of the whole situation was grossly distorted.&nbsp; In "<a href="http://www.mlnsports.com/baseball/independent/northernleague/flyers/articles2003/01.php">The Kid's Kid</a>" we gave you the side of John Henry Williams that SI did not want you to see during Verducci's march to turn the younger Williams into a blood-sucking leech, a pariah.&nbsp; Several weeks after our articles ran, Williams spoke to Mike Fish at SI, and affirmed what he had told us.&nbsp; Unfortunately, Fish is not Verducci, and the damage was already done.<br /></em></p>
<p><em>In this open letter from a couple of weeks before the Fish interview, I called out Verducci, and the SI editors for what I still believe is the shoddy journalism that has allowed this story to have legs for nearly a decade. I hope that Fish's attempt to at least set the record straight was due in some small part to our work.</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-5380042.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>John Henry Williams - Elegy for a Lightweight - Opinion by MLN Sr. Editor Brian Ross</title><category>Baseball</category><category>Bobby Jo Ferell Williams</category><category>Claudia Williams</category><category>John Henry Williams</category><category>SI</category><category>Sports Illustrated</category><category>Sports Journalism</category><category>Ted Williams</category><category>Tom Verducci</category><category>undefined</category><dc:creator>Blog Admin</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:59:15 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2009/10/3/john-henry-williams-elegy-for-a-lightweight-opinion-by-mln-s.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:5377401</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><img src="http://ww.mlnsports.com/graphics/features/raves/jhwilliamsobit.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1254596374913" alt="" /></span></p>
<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><img src="http://www.mlnsports.com/graphics/mlnsports/bestofcelebration.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1254597118381" alt="" /></span></p>
<p><em>With the Larry Johnson kiss-and-tell book about Alcor Life Extension Labs about to reignite the controversy over Ted Williams final wishes, we take a look back at how we set the record about John Henry Williams straight.&nbsp; This Opinion piece "An Elegy for a Lightweight" is from MinorLeagueNews.com's February, 2004, opinion page, shortly after John Henry passed away.</em></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-5377401.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Manny Ramirez 'Rehab' Road Reeks of Rotting Righteousness of Frivolous Fans</title><category>Baseball</category><category>Dodgers</category><category>Los Angeles Dodgers</category><category>Manny Ramirez</category><category>PES</category><category>Sports Business</category><category>Steroids</category><dc:creator>Brian Ross</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:08:47 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2009/6/28/manny-ramirez-rehab-road-reeks-of-rotting-righteousness-of-f.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:4511050</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.majorblogs.net/storage/preventthemadness.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1246632333723" alt="" /></span></span>MAJOR BLOGS - 06.28.09 - OPINION - I really do not want to hear ANYONE from the cushy private boxes to the bleachers complain about steroid use in the professional game of baseball anymore.</p>
<p>Minor league fans have just affirmed what the owners of baseball know: You run your mouths about steroids, but the minute that a fallen major league superstar shows up in your town, your principles go out the window, the ticket window to be exact, in the form of a loud "Ka-CHING" of the club's cash registers.</p>
<p>The "rebab" tour of steroid cheat Manny Ramirez continued</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-4511050.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Honoring the Living in Baseball</title><category>Baseball</category><category>MLB</category><category>MLB</category><category>Sports</category><category>Sports Business</category><category>baseball</category><category>mln</category><category>mln sports</category><category>sports business</category><dc:creator>Brian Ross</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2009 01:25:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2009/5/25/honoring-the-living-in-baseball.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:4074784</guid><description><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.majorblogs.net/storage/AprayerfortheLiving_sm.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1243215201939" alt="" /></span></span>MAJOR BLOGS - www.majorblogs.net - 05.24.09 -  I was editing the terrific piece on Friday about the passing of Nick Adenhart (See: "<a href="http://www.minorleaguenews.com/baseball/affiliated/aaa/pcl/bees/articles2009/05/21/01.php">The Guy Everyone Wanted to Be Around</a>," <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>SZ</strong></span></em>, 05.24.09), when it occurred to me that while we mourn the dead, we are not not nearly as kind to the living, or concerned about how they live.]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-4074784.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Bakersfield Jam Shuttering is Black Eye for Commissioner Stern and NBA</title><category>Basketball</category><category>D-League</category><category>NBA</category><category>NBA</category><category>NBA D-League</category><category>NBA D-League</category><category>Sports</category><category>Sports Business</category><category>Sports Journalism</category><category>basketball</category><dc:creator>Brian Ross</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2009 12:31:11 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2009/5/2/bakersfield-jam-shuttering-is-black-eye-for-commissioner-ste.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:3864299</guid><description><![CDATA[<span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img style="width: 150px;" src="http://www.majorblogs.net/storage/blackeyefordleague_sm.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1241281650940" alt="" /></span></span><p>MAJORBLOGS.net - 05.02.09 -Minor league teams come and go, but for NBA D-League, back-stopped by the full-faith and credibility of the National Basketball Association, the news Thursday from the Bakersfield Jam, affiliate of the Golden State Warriors and the Orlando Magic, that they would cease operations, is a particularly big blow to the D-League program because these owners had something to say on their way out.</p>
<p>The release, carried by <a href="http://www.mlntherawfeed.com/basketball-nba-d-league/2009/5/1/bakersfield-jam-play-final-game-cease-operations-immediately.html">MLN - The Raw Feed</a> yesterday, stated:</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-3864299.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>La Mort du MLB (The Death of Major League Baseball): Is MiLB the Heir-Apparent?</title><category>Baseball</category><category>MLB</category><category>MiLB</category><category>Sports Business</category><category>baseball</category><category>business</category><category>sports business</category><dc:creator>Brian Ross</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:02:58 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2009/4/26/la-mort-du-mlb-the-death-of-major-league-baseball-is-milb-th.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:3811097</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.majorblogs.net/storage/LaMortduMLB.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1240778087927" alt="" /></span></span>MAJORBLOGS.net - OPINION - 04.26.09 - The unthinkable has happened. Major League Baseball fans have actually said "Enough!" with the one voice that truly can put the fear of God into MLB Owners: Their wallets.</p>
<p>As the New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/sports/baseball/22tickets.html?_r=1&amp;scp=7&amp;sq=Yankee%20Stadium&amp;st=cse" target="_blank">reported</a></p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-3811097.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>World Baseball Classic 2009: Is the WBC a World Showcase or Steroids Whitewash?</title><category>Baseball</category><category>IOC</category><category>MLB</category><category>Olympics</category><category>Sports Business</category><category>Steroids</category><category>WBC</category><category>World Baseball Classic</category><category>World Baseball Classic 2009</category><category>baseball</category><dc:creator>Brian Ross</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:56:31 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2009/3/18/world-baseball-classic-2009-is-the-wbc-a-world-showcase-or-s.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:3361499</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img src="../../storage/wbc09editorial.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1237405742912" alt="" /></span></span>MAJORBLOGS.NET - 03.18.09 -&nbsp; The pseudo-Olympic baseball competition of the World Baseball Class (WBC) is under way. We do not cover it. Here is why.</p>
<p>The WBC is a big coat of whitewash over the disgrace of</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-3361499.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>The McSorley Rule - Does Fighting Have a Place in Minor League Hockey?</title><category>Hockey</category><category>Sports Business</category><dc:creator>Brian Ross</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:08:28 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2009/2/8/the-mcsorley-rule-does-fighting-have-a-place-in-minor-league.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:2987222</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>MAJOR BLOGS - www.majorblogs.net - Last month, we had a pair of incidents, a death in the amateur senior ranks, and a convulsive fit in the American Hockey League (AHL) after fights broke out, which have prompted us to yet again revisit the McSorley Rule.</p>
<p>Named after the OJ of the NHL, Marty McSorley, the McSorley Rule is</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-2987222.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>BIRCO - Find Out What It Means to Me (Opinion)</title><category>Baseball</category><category>Sports Business</category><dc:creator>Brian Ross</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:14:15 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/2008/12/21/birco-find-out-what-it-means-to-me-opinion.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60255:519550:2740211</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>MAJOR BLOGS - www.majorblogs.net - 12.19.08 - OPINION - I was asked several times at the Baseball Winter Meetings what I thought about BIRCO, the Baseball Internet Rights Company, which I did a story about earlier this year for SZ ("<a href="http://www.minorleaguenews.com/baseball/features/articles2008/09/04/01.php">Keep Your Ball on the I</a>", SZ. 09.04.08).</p>
<p>Since MiLB announced that the deal to create BIRCO is done today, and my shiny two aren't going to cast any undue influence on the proceedings, or give the President of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (the NA), Pat O'Conner, yet another reason to stick a pin in the voodoo doll of me that he keeps on his desk, I will tell all.</p>]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://www.majorblogs.net/editorsraves/rss-comments-entry-2740211.xml</wfw:commentRss></item></channel></rss>