Today seemed to be a day of atonement for some of the more disappointing sports stories of my year.

First off, Brian Sabean and the San Francisco Giants actually made a move that makes sense, signing Barry Zito for 7 years. Zito should do well at the top of the rotation followed by Matt Cain, Matt Morris and Noah Lowry. Based on early projections, Zito should do well with the Giants and should post better peripheral numbers across the board. Now if only they had some good relief pitching for the future they would be set. So even though Sabean got one right it only makes me remember that the Giants traded away a potential closer-to-be in Jeremy Accardo in order to get Shea Hillenbrand on loan for a few weeks. So good move, but unless Zito is going to finish all of his own games I still think that a lousy bullpen will hurt them.

Also, if anyone else is with me that the DA in the Duke Lacrosse case is pretty much a disgrace to all elected officials worldwide, then this might help. After dropping the rape charges (because the accuser changed the story for the 12th time), but still trying desperately to get some kind of a conviction. Well, right now he is well beyond the point of being able to save face and although the decision to prosecute and try the players in the media got Mike Nifong re-elected, it looks like now he might not just lose his job, but faces possible disbarment in the state of North Carolina after the state’s bar has filed ethics charges against Nifong. Not quite sure what is unethical about trouncing defendents in the media well before the trial, thus biasing any potential jury and the community before they have a chance to defend themselves.

Anyway, the best part of my day today took place on a flight from San Jose to Seattle; a flight which included members of the San Jose Junior Sharks. The following conversation on the flight to Seattle took place behind me by three of those Jr. Sharks:

Complete moron: Is Seattle in Washington?

Jr. Shark 1 (Paul): Yea.

Complete moron: Washington RReeddsskkiinnss! Yea!

Jr. Shark 2 (Chris): No, Seattle Seahawks.

Jr. Shark 1 (Paul): The Washington Redskins are Washington DC

Complete moron: Dude, whatever.

Dude, whatever indeed Mr. complete moron… dude, whatever indeed.