`Hey, didn't you used to be Carlos Delgado?'

Sporting News, The, July 15, 2002

* Welcome to COTF, where the goal is to one day land Bobby Holik money for Bobby Holik production.

* Speaking of NHell free agency, with Tom Hicks, along with every other big-bucks owner with a pulse, ignorin' the commish's plea for shorter, smarter deals--hello, Bill Guerin--Fly's starting to buy the line coming from deepinthehearta that says Hicks slooowly is adopting Mike Ilitch's philosophy: Spend more on hockey, less on baseball.

* Fly's Top 5 or "With a lineup like this, can Willie Mays Hayes be far behind?": 1. Chris Magruder; 2. Jolbert Cabrera; 3. Ben Broussard; 4. John McDonald; 5. Ricky Gutierrez.

* Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s mouth might say he and pop aren't a package deal for the Worriers, but his eyes are lookin' a year or so in the future when his feet are on firmer NBA ground. Junior whispered to the Bay Spies: "I know playing for him is something we could work out." Translation for Brian Winters: There's a reason that interim tag's still stuck before your name.

* The Pinstripes makin' a big deal is no longer a big deal, but Fly was surprised (shaddup!) by Raul Mondesi bein' Bronx bound for three reasons: 1. Brian Cashman added another all-or-nothin' guy; 2. For once (for now?), George Steinbrenner didn't reel in the fish he really wanted (Cliff Floyd); 3. Joe Torre didn't instantly name Raul to the All-Star team.

* Sure, sure the Halos've had a good first-half run, but Fly's hedgin' bets on that gettin' parlayed into a second-half wild card. The problem? Peekin' at what Mike Scioscia's been dealt shows a lotta 3s and 4s, but not a single ace--not a good hand when you're sittin' at the table with Torre, Grady Little and Art Howe.

* When Cujo said "Cup or else," that was Hockeytown noddin' in agreement. The guy's only battin' .500 in the playoffs, and that rep for allowin' soft goals and not winnin' the big one is followin' him to Motown. No pressure, eh?

* Finally, Fly's pal Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle writes: "The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is leaning on Barry Bonds to give up his gig as pitchman for KFC popcorn chicken. PETA says those chickens are pumped up on harmful steroids. The chickens have indignantly denied using 'roids."

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