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.

The "rebab" tour of steroid cheat Manny Ramirez continued

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.

The release, carried by MLN - The Raw Feed yesterday, stated:

As the New York Times reported

The WBC is a big coat of whitewash over the disgrace of

Named after the OJ of the NHL, Marty McSorley, the McSorley Rule is

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.

When the AFL regroups and forces both its players association and its less stellar ownership groups to the table for a reality check, though, the mainstream media seems to think that it is time to start shoveling dirt into the Arena Football League's grave.

The move to weed out the league and adjust its salary structure is reminiscent of

MAJOR BLOGS - www.majorblogs.net - Boca Raton, FLA. - OPINION - The NBA D-League concluded its draft last week and, for much of America, the burning question was:

The NBA still has a minor league?

Sadly that is the point-of-view of

MAJOR BLOGS of MLN Sports - www.majorblogs.net - OPINION - Montreal, CANADA - If you want to know the health of a professional sports franchise in any city, you have to visit a few bars and diners.

When I hit the ground in Nashville, the Sounds have their colors repped at the airport bar.

Drive around town and hit a 'cue joint or a sports bar in Memphis, or Albuquerue, or Round Rock/Austin or Pawtucket or Brooklyn and you will find the minor league team gets its props.

Logos, photos, jerseys, memorabilia and even in-season promotions can be found in healthy baseball towns, and even the ones that are struggling. 

The Florida Marlins, whose stadium pigeon population exceeds their paid gate, get their strokes from the area elbow-bending establishments and eateries, which keeps them in the public consciousness in ways that advertising, whining, begging and pleading simply do not.

On the bar and beanery count, Expos baseball here in Montreal is not dead, but in hibernation. The