Bobby Abreu trotted to first after earning the 1,400th walk of his career this weekend, third-most among active players.

No big deal right?

Well it is if you’re counting balls and strikes, something the umpire crew in this game obviously wasn’t doing.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez had a 2-1 count on Abreu and threw the next pitch outside the strike zone. Abreu tossed his bat aside and trotted to first base with no response from home plate umpire Gerry Davis and no argument from the Mariners’ dugout or manager Eric Wedge.

This isn’t calculus, people… 2 + 1 = 3 and I bet there were a few 1st graders in the stands who even had the count right.

And for the record, this is the second time in just nine days this happened without Wedge noticing and opposing the incident. The first time it happened in a game on July 2 against the San Diego Padres when Cameron Maybin took first base after taking three balls. Maybin ended up crossing the plate for the winning run in that 1-0 game.

After that blunder, Wedge apologized to the team for missing the count but to do it twice is mind-boggling.

Abreu has had a few “firsts” happen this past week. Besides getting his first career three ball walk, he was ejected for the first time in his career in a week that saw the umpires going for a record heave-hos.

When Abreu was asked after the Angels’ 4-2 win about the three-ball walk he said:

“I guess I got confused, too. It’s funny, and it’s weird at the same time. You’ve got the professional umpires that know everything, and it still happened.”

“Umpires that know everything”?

There’s not enough space in this column to debate that topic.

MORE MLB: MLB Ejections Hit Ridiculous Level

Fan Falls to His Death in Texas; Third Fall at This Stadium

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Just because Ohio State University announced their self-imposed punishment recently, don’t expect the fiasco to be over. “The Vest” remained in the news when the school announced their 2010 Big Ten championship and 12-1 season will be sacrificed. The hit on the fans is the fact these wins include a victory over bitter rival Michigan and an Allstate Sugar Bowl win but the bigger hit may be right around the corner.

Before the dust even settled from this announcement most people realized it was all bullshit and OSU won those games regardless what the books will say. What’s more important is the fact Coach Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor are gone and several players are walking around with tattoos and cash they received as gifts.

Regardless what scores go into the books, the Buckeyes beat the rival Wolverines for a seventh straight time, won its 6^th straight Big Ten title and had a quarterback driving sports cars most college kids could never afford without some outside help.

Along with “sacrificing” the season, the school included two years of self-imposed probation but that may not be enough to appease NCAA officials who have been waving a huge stick lately (Google USC).

In case you’ve been in a coma over the past NCAA Football season and are just waking up here’s the brief recap. OSU football players swapped autographs and memorabilia tattoos and cash and after “The Vest” was informed of the activity, the head coach didn’t report it for about nine months and therefore is accused of covering it up.

So will this self-inflicted sentence be enough to ward off the vicious NCAA investigators?

Have to doubt it since the actions by the coach and possibly people higher than him is more inexcusable than the actions of poor kids trying to make a few bucks while playing ball in college.

OSU AD Smith went on record to explain how his school’s actions and punishment are “significant” but they really aren’t. Taking “FUTURE” bowl games, titles and recruitment rights away is the only legitimate punishment and we should expect that.

When teams impose punishment on themselves by taking past accomplishment away, it’s like saying sorry after you commit the crime and that’s not good enough; some time needs to be served.

Before this self-imposed move by OSU, there were five-game suspensions levied against five players. After that occurred, it was discovered that coach Tressel knew about the infractions almost a year earlier and that produced the mushroom cloud.

Yeah, Tressel is since gone for good but when the school agrees to pay him the last month of his base pay ($54,000) then the situation starts looking like a CEO getting paid leave after blatantly breaking laws or rules.

That said, expect the NCAA hammer to come down and crack the nuts open in Columbus.

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Jair Jurrjens name must be echoing off the walls in baseball banter throughout the Detroit area nowadays. The ex-Tiger picked up his league-best 12^th win in a 9-1 win last night against Colorado in what was his final appearance before packing up and traveling to the 2011 All-Star game in Arizona.

The last thing Detroit fans need is a kick in the gut just as they come down from the Matt Millen era but that’s what seeing Jurrjens take the mound in Arizona may equate to, especially if he gets the nod to start.

While that buzz around the NL is whether Jurrjens should be the starter in Arizona, fans in Motown must be having recurring nightmares triggered by memories of the team parting with pitcher John Smoltz for the Braves’ Doyle Alexander back in the late 80’s.

Photo/Wikimedia Commons

After leaving Detroit, Smoltz blossomed into a sure Hall of Famer, posting 213 wins, 154 saves and joining the 3,000 strikeout club. In his inaugural year wearing the ‘D’, Alexander went 9-0 to help the Tigers make the playoffs but then pretty much fizzled out after that.

Seeing J.J. sitting at the top of the league with a 12-3 record and a league-best 1.87 ERA must rub salt in the wounds left in Detroit fans from that infamous Smoltz deal.

Jurrjens, a promising young pitcher from Curacao, was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tigers in 2003 before being shipped to Atlanta on Oct. 29, 2007 for All-Star shortstop, Edgar Renteria.

While still considered a rookie by MLB rules during his first season in Atlanta, Braves manager Bobby Cox referred to J.J. as “the most impressive rookie pitcher the Braves have had in over a decade.”

Donning the ‘A’ that rookie season, Jurrjens started with an 8-3 record and impressive ERA that was near the top of the NL at the time. That start created a buzz that led to his name being included in most NL Rookie of the Year debates. While J.J. was looking like a steal for the Braves, the Tigers would watch Renteria’s batting average drop from .332 to .270 before parting ways with the infielder after just one season.

Renteria would later head west and become a member of San Francisco’s World Series team while Jurrjens is becoming the ace of the Braves starting rotation continuing to improve…..to the point of arguably becoming the best pitcher in Major League Baseball.

MORE MLB:  2011 Homerun Derby Teams – MLB All-Star Game

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

After seeing heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko dominate David Haye for a one-sided unanimous decision in a WBA title fight that was hyped to be a brawl, it reminded me how broken this division really is. The fight was boring from the start with Klitschko establishing his jab in the early rounds and going on to outscore Haye on every card, 118-108, 116-110 and 117-109.

Yeah, Klitschko improved his record to Hall of Fame type numbers at 56-3 with 49KOs and improved to 17-2 in title fights but it was a typical yawner, like all the heavyweight title fights over recent years.

The smaller Haye who earned more attention for his cheesy pre-fight shirt that showed him holding the severed heads of the Klitschko brothers, fell to 25-2 with 23 Kos.

This fight was typical of today’s standards; nothing like many of the classics we saw in the 70’s or Mike Tyson’s run in the 90’s when the weight class lived up to the hype and kept us at the edge of our seats.

During those 70’s I was notorious for skipping out on work, risking jobs when a set of competent heavies were scheduled to go toe-to-toe because I knew these brawls would leave a lifelong memory and they have.

Muhammad Ali, ‘Smoking Joe’ Frazier and ‘Big’ George Foreman climbed through the ropes in many of those fights that lived up to their hype including “Fight of the Century”, “Rumble in the Jungle” and “Thrilla in Manila”. From 1968-77 one of those three boxing icons would hold the heavyweight title while the others were obsessed with getting it back.

The torch was later handed off to Larry Holmes who usually struggled to find a worthy opponent until a troubled 20-year-old named “Iron” Mike became the youngest heavyweight champ and one of the most dominating fighters to ever step in the ring. Tyson was billed as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” and for good reason. He was chasing Rocky Marciano’s record of 49-0 until he ran into a path of self-destruction that landed him in jail and destroyed his reputation.

Since the implosion of Tyson, boxing has been starving for another charismatic character to step in and with that looking impossible at this point there is only one fix to this division.

The only hope for this faltering division would be matching up the Ukrainian Klitschko brothers, champs Vitali 42-2, (39 -KO) and Wladimir 56-3 (49 KO) but the siblings say they the fight will never happen. Like “Rumble in the Jungle” and “Thrilla in Manila” this “Fight of the Millennium” would be worthy of having a name.

In the meantime boxing fans will be presented with fights like the Haye vs. Klitschko sleeper while seeing other so-called contenders like “The Nigerian Nightmare” come and go.

And that’s what this division has become…. a nightmare.

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Now that the shock of the Vancouver riots of 2011 has settled down, it’s time for a few NHL trades involving some very unlikely players to send tremors down the backs of the league.

Not to be outdone by their rivals in Philly this past week, the Chicago Blackhawks continued dumping key players from their 2010 Stanley Cup championship team. The latest players to fall victim to the Stan Bowman salary cap ax are defenseman Brian Campbell and forward Troy Brouwer.

One thing for sure, anyone who hasn’t attended a game at the United Center since that Stanley Cup team took the ice, better buy a game program to see who’s occupying the roster.

Since hoisting the NHL Holy Grail, GM Stan Bowman sent fan favorite Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Kris Versteeg and a slew of other players packing last offseason but after last night, it appears the house-cleaning isn’t quite done.

Campbell agreed to waive his no trade clause in his contract and will pack his bathing suit and head to LeBron country in South Beach to skate with the Florida Panthers. Trading his beachwear for a snow shovel is LW Rostislav Olesz.

In the other trade, Brouwer went to Washington in exchange for the Capitals first-round pick. The Blackhawks who had already traded away a large portion of their offense since that cup win will have another void to fill with Brouwer leaving. The 25-year-old scored 17 goals and added 19 assists in 79 games for Chicago last season after tallying a career-high 22 goals and 40 points in 69 games the year before.

These moves by Chicago came shortly after Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren shocked the NHL by shipping out two of his top players to make room to sign goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year deal worth $51 million.

In those deals, center Jeff Carter will play alongside All-Star Rick Nash in Columbus while team captain Mike Richards will land on the West Coast in L.A. to play for the Kings.

Going to the Flyers was Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voracek, the eighth overall draft pick in the 2011 NHL Draft and a third rounder tossed in for good measure. Voracek was expected to excel under the Blue Jackets’ new offensive scheme this past season but didn’t meet the expectations, finishing with 14 goals and 32 assists.

In the Richards deal, the Flyers picked up a top prospect from the Kings, Brayden Schenn and forward Wayne Simmonds.

Carter, a fan favorite had 36 goals and 30 assists for 66 points in 80 regular-season games in Philly last season.

You can almost feel the tremors created by the fans starting to rumble in the Windy City and City of Brotherly Love since these deals were announced but hey, it’s the NHL…the league where any player is subject to move (Google Wayne Gretzky or Dominic Hasek).

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Last night, the gorilla jumped off the back of the Mavs and landed on top of the huge gorilla that was already sitting on LeBron James’. In fact, the way this season and NBA Finals played out, there may be an entire family of apes congregating on The King’s back.

LeBron and the Miami Heat gave everyone outside of South Beach a reason to celebrate. A heavy favorite going into the NBA Finals, the team squandered a two games to one series lead and stood by and watched as the visiting Dallas Mavericks hoisted the NBA Championship trophy on their court.

Jason Terry lead all scorers with 27 and Dirk Nowitzki added 21 after a cold start to take Game Six 105-95 and win the first title in Mavericks’ history.

After LeBron labeled himself “The King” in Cleveland then ran off with his “Loyalty” tattoo to South Beach without a title, he later announced he was ready to win “not five, not six, not seven…..” in Miami.

Striking out in his first attempt with All-Stars like Chris Bosh and Dywane Wade by his side will make even more fingers point in his direction. While people like to compare LeBron’s talents and abilities to Michael Jordan, the huge difference is Michael has too many NBA Championship rings to fit on one hand, literally.

We don’t have to beat the dead horse on how and why America hates LeBron and the Heat. What makes sports entertaining is having villains and the Big Three in Miami had become just that.

Most couldn’t have scripted it any better than it played out.

After winning Game One, LeBron’s Heat had a 15-point lead late in Game Two and he was on a run that looked certain to lead to his first NBA Championship. That’s when he and teammate Wade started the chest-bumping and celebrating in front of the Heat fans and Mavericks bench.

That’s when the wheels fell off and the saying “It ain’t over ‘til the Fat Lady sings” came into effect.

The Mavs found the strength to overcome that 15-point deficit on the road and pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in NBA history. After a Game Three loss, they put together a three-game win streak to close out the Heat 4-2 in the series.

To the delight of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and a majority of basketball fans outside of Miami, LeBron was almost  non-existent in the fourth quarter of the entire finals. He did have a solid defensive performance in Game Three, the last game the Heat would win this season.

We discussed prior to the season how there’s only one ball and for three stars like Wade, Bosh and “The King” to keep it in their hands often enough to get into a rhythm would be a greater task than it may have seemed.

Although Wade found his rhythm throughout much of the series and the other members of The Big Three had their moments, when it was all said and done, it was proven that you cannot always “buy” an NBA Championship.

MORE LeBron:

Photo of LeBron James “Loyalty” tattoo – Sports Climax

Cleveland Laughing as LeBron loses – CNN Sports

Dan Gilbert Spanks LeBron - Sports Climax

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Mike Tyson will enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame tomorrow. While some have debated his induction due to issues in and out of the ring, the man has clearly earned a spot at the facility in Canastota, New York.

“Iron Mike” began pursuing his dream to become a boxing champion when he was a troubled 13-year-old teen. Under the watchful eye of mentor and trainer Cus D’Amato, the youngster was later directed on a straight path and was destined to become a respectable champion.

Cus first took Tyson in at his Catskill, N.Y. gym that was near the reform school Tyson had spent time at then actually adopted the fighter after his mother died. Through the following years, both men were dedicated to obtaining the title and shortly after D’Amato’s death, Tyson became the youngest fighter to ever hoist a heavyweight championship belt.

Tyson went on to become known as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” and for good reason. Few could last past the first few rounds with the aggressive heavy and one of the most impressive champs in boxing history would go on to compile a 37-0 record.

The road to perfection hit a bump in 1990 when the “unbeatable kid” from Brooklyn lost to Buster Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports. Tyson finished his career with a 50-6 record and 44 KOs, many of those knockouts coming in the early rounds.

While some media may argue a guy with a history of serving time in prison for rape and chomping off a piece of the ear off an opposing fighter (Google: Evander Holyfield) the bottom line is performance in the ring and there were few as dominating as Tyson.

A rough journey that included reform schools, millionaire status, bankruptcy, rape , jail time and an acting role in The Hangover will now end at the IBHOF on Sunday. Among those joining Tyson as inductees Sunday’s are Hollywood film producer Sly Stallone, fighter Julio Cesar Chavez and referee Joe Cortez.

Like Pete Rose belongs in the MLB Hall of Fame in nearby Cooperstown for his performance on the filed, “Iron Mike” deserves his permanent spot in one of boxing’s most prized museums for his performance in the ring.

If you don’t think so, maybe you should ask one of the 44 who fell victim to one of the hardest punchers to ever climb in a ring.

2011 Hall of Fame – Mike Tyson – ESPN

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

After a 16-month layoff that included a controversial self-made video for the internet and arrests in Las Vegas (here’s the mugshot) Floyd Mayweather Jr. will climb into the ring to face WBC welterweight champ Victor Ortiz on Sept. 17.

The 24-year-old Ortiz is coming off a recent impressive win that improved his record to 29-2-2 with 22 KOs.

After recently moving up into the welterweight division, the southpaw came out on top of a slugfest with Andre Berto. That fight saw both fighters hit the mat twice but Ortiz got back to his feet and took all three judge’s cards (115-110, 114-111 and 114-112) for the decision.

Shortly after that fight, Berto showed interest in climbing in the ring with Manny Pacquiao or Mayweather for a multi-million dollar night and after that recent battle with Berto, that’s officially come to fruition.

Getting back to Mayweather. The controversial champ’s record sits at an impressive 41-0 with 25 KOs but he remains under scrutiny, accused of ducking Pacquiao. Mayweather may be rusty as well since he hasn’t fought since taking on Shane Mosley back in May, 2010.

While the debate on who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world lives on, several analysts and fans have swung to Manny’s camp since Mayweather has appeared to do whatever is necessary to avoid that bout. Mayweather went as far as demanding random blood testing rules that are not required by any boxing organizations or commission anywhere in the world.

With the heart and ability to brawl showcased by Ortiz in the Berto fight, this upcoming match against Mayweather may be entertaining with Mayweather being forced to take some punishment.

ESPN.com reported that Ortiz’s promoter, Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer, said the details of the pay-per-view fight including where it will take place are not yet decided on.

Once that is worked out, let the trash-talking begin.

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

As reports swirl in about General Manager Rick Dudley being let loose by the hockey team formerly known as the Thrashers, True North Entertainment appears to be setting the team up for a longer rebuilding process.

Dudley is a well-respected man in the league and for good reason. A man known for working the phones relentlessly and being instrumental in rebuilding both the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning before their latest Stanley Cup championships, Dudley was clearly on course to do the same with the Thrashers.

After just one season at the helm in Atlanta, the hockey guru pulled off two blockbuster deals that changed the face of the franchise, plucking two players from Chicago’s over-capped roster.

Those players, Dustin Byfuglien and forward Andrew Ladd responded by having the best seasons of their careers. Big Buff was moved to defense, a gutsy move criticized by many hockey minds around the country, but by season’s end, Dudley looked like a genius. Anchoring the blueline, Byfuglien (20g, 33a, 53 pts.) made the All-Star team and was a Norris Trophy candidate.

Ladd was named team captain and responded by scoring 29 goals and adding 30 assists for 59 points; all career-highs.

When Dudley first took over for Don Waddell, he was faced with replacing a huge chunk of the team’s offensive production with franchise leading scorer and fan favorite Ilya Kovalchuk skating off to New Jersey. But the man found a way to get the job done by pulling off a slew of trades including the two mentioned above and another involving Bruins players Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart.

Those close to the Thrashers know Dudley had the team on the right course. After a franchise tying six game win streak that included wins over four first place teams in November 2010 (Detroit, Montreal, Boston and Washington) Dudley’s team sat in first place in the Southeast Division well into December.

Like a rebuilding team, they sputtered out toward the end of the season, ended with 80 points and finishing 12^th place in the Eastern Conference while again not making the playoffs. Regardless of that finish, Dudley was the man responsible for the partial resurrection in Atlanta and appeared on course.

Now as it is being reported that he will not be retained as the Winnipeg team’s GM, many expect the team to be set back in their rebuilding process.

Shortly after Byfuglien committed to the team by signing a five-year 26 million contract, the player said in a post-practice interview that one of the motivations for him to sign was Dudley; that he “trusted Dudley” that “Dudley was here”.

Now that he isn’t you have to wonder how inspired Byfuglien and some of these other young players will be under the eye of a rookie GM and possibly new head coach.

Targeted for front office jobs in Winnipeg are Blackhawks assistant GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and Craig Heisinger, the GM of the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, another team owned by True North.

Dudley signed a four-year extension in January with the Thrashers and is said to have been offered an 8-year buyout by the Winnipeg team.

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Just days after Minnesota Twins starter Francisco Liriano hurled a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox, Tigers ace Justin Verlander repeated the feat in a 9-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander was on fire, mixing a fastball that topped the radar gun at over 100 MPH with breaking balls that hand-cuffed the Blue Jays all afternoon.

Verlander became just the 30^th player in MLB history to pitch two no-nos with this one being just one walk away from a perfect game. That walk came in the 8^th inning when rookie J.P. Arencibia won a 12-pitch battle at the plate that ended with umpire Jerry Meals calling a 3-2 pitch barely outside.

“I knew it was just a hair outside and it was,” said Verlander. “It was a ball and you’ve got to give Jerry a ‘Good job’. He called it a ball and it was.”

What’s with these Tigers showing so much love to these umpires after missing perfect games?

Last season after Tigers starter Armando Galarraga was robbed of a perfect gem when umpire Jim Joyce botched an obvious call at the end a game, instead of offering the Three Blind Mice member an eye exam at the nearest Lens Crafters, the pitcher forgave the gaffe immediately after the game.

In this one, Verlander (3-3) looked like he was having more fun than succumbing to the stress in the final inning when he smiled throughout his final three outs. J.V. who had 12 K’s in his first no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12 , 2007 finished this one with four when he struck out Rajai Davis for the game’s final out.

In all J.V. threw 108 pitches (74 strikes) against the Blue Jays who were missing their anchor Jose Bautista.

MLB Box Score here.

Originally from Detroit, Tom is an Atlanta-based sportswriter whose work has been published in the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Detroit Free Press and national hockey mags including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomFerda

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC