NER: Check yourself

On this week's New Era Radio ... Pasqual's back from South Africa; what's wrong with Cam Newton; Marcas laments the Giants in the World Series; why don't more athletes and celebrities vote Republican?

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NER: Undisputed

On a new NER...Mr. Wesley observes Raider Fan outside of his natural habitat; why Augusta National shouldn't be allowed to celebrate adding two women to its membership; the guys from Da Jungle stop by to chat about Dwight Howard and the Lakers; and it's time to stop worrying about what Rihanna says.

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Giants' GM Brian Sabean: "If I never hear from Cousins again...we'll all be happy."

Since San Francisco Giants' catcher Buster Posey suffered a season-ending injury after a collision with the Florida Marlins' Scott Cousins, most people around baseball have been discussing plays at the plate and whether there should be a change in the rules or just a way players go about those plays. The Giants, it appears, are busy throwing themselves a pity party.

Count general manager Brian Sabean as the leader of that party. According to Andrew Baggerly of the Mercury News, Sabean sounded off on Cousins during an appearance on KNBR, calling his play "malicious" before saying he'd be fine never seeing him lace 'em up in the majors again.

“Why not be hard nosed?” Sabean said. “If I never hear from Cousins again or he never plays another game in the big leagues, I think we’ll all be happy.”

As if that wasn't enough, Sabean was given a chance to walk back his comments a little bit, but instead he doubled down and suggested that the Giants could be out for payback the next time they come across the Marlins.

"You can’t be that out-and-out overly aggressive. I’ll put it as politically as I can state it: There’s no love lost and there shouldn’t be.”

You'd be hard pressed to find a single person around baseball who was happy to see Posey's season end the way it did. That includes Cousins, who grew up in San Francisco as a Giants fan and was tearfully apologetic after the incident. The difficulty in regulating those types of plays is that you have two players moving at high rates of speed both trying to micro-correct within fractions of seconds and inches.

But eventually, the Giants are going to have to stop wallowing and move on. They aren't the first team to lose a star player to injury and they definitely won't be the last. Without Posey  it will certainly be difficult for them to defend their World Series title, but in a division as scrambled as the National League West, they are by no means out of it. However, if they want to spend their time wondering "why us?" then it will be hard for them to accomplish anything.

Episode 31: Moving On

This week on NER...

The guys say goodbye to Oprah (sorta). Cacique gets excited about Mike Brown to the Lakers (kinda). Marcas comes to grips with USC's punishment (partially). And Barry Bonds is a good guy (for now).

Dodger Stadium Attack Suspect In Police Custody

After nearly two months of investigations, 17 full-time investigators and the constant upping of a reward, the Los Angeles Police Department announced on Sunday morning that one of the two men suspected in the attack of Bryan Stow was arrested.

Via the L.A. Times:

At about 7 a.m., the Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team descended on an East Hollywood apartment building with a warrant in hand. According to apartment building manager Maritza Camacho, police, using loudspeakers and with guns drawn, called out to the occupants of Apartment 25. Inside was one of the men police suspect in the March 31 beating that left Stow with brain damage.

Since the investigation into the second suspect is ongoing, police declined to release details of the arrest - including the name of the suspect in custody. Stow was moved to a San Francisco hospital last week where he opened his eyes, although he remains in critical condition and has a long recovery road still ahead of him.

Attacked Giants Fan Bryan Stow Opens His Eyes

The continuing rehabilitation of Bryan Stow has been slow and difficult, but there is good news for the San Francisco Giants fan who was brutally attacked at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day.

Via the Associated Press:

A Giants fan brutally beaten on opening day at Dodger Stadium is opening his eyes but remains in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital.

Chief neurosurgeon Dr. Geoff Manley said Wednesday that 42-year-old Bryan Stow has been weaned off of one of five anti-seizure medications since arriving Monday from a Los Angeles hospital.

In addition, Stow's brain showed slowed signs of seizure and doctors hope to be able to remove him from the rest of his seizure medication to see how his brain reacts. In all, it is a small step on what would be a very long road to recovery. However after friends and family feared the worst about his condition, any improvement is reason to be hopeful. Unfortunately, the LAPD investigation into who committed the attack on Stow remains at a standstill.

Kimberly Bell Gets Graphic About Barry Bonds

When talking about the Barry Bonds trial so far, the word "unsavory" probably best fits what's gone on in the courtroom. It began last week when Bonds' late father, Bobby, as an unwitting fixture in how so many shady characters were attached to Barry.

It continued on Monday when we got the *ahem* inside details on what was going on with Barry's anatomy.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gwen Knapp has been live tweeting from the courtroom since the trial began and today gave us the testimony of Kimberly Bell, Bonds' former mistress, who shared her (very) intimate knowledge about the changes in Barry's...um...life.

Ick indeed. Bell also testified that Bonds said his elbow injury in 1999 was due to steroid use and that he did it because other players - namely Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa - were also using. She went on to discuss how Bonds grew acne on his back and shoulders and how his hair fell out. Later, Bell testified that Bonds "told me to disappear" in 2003 when ending the relationship.

Bonds' defense lawyers followed up by grilling Bell about her promotional appearances on different television and radio shows in an attempt to show that she is less than altruistic with her motives. But whether Bell is in this for justice or a payday should have no bearing as long as she is telling the truth. Lest we forget, Jose Canseco wasn't exactly getting lauded for his nobility when he released the book that started this whole thing in the first place.

Episode 22: Down In Flames

On another exciting episode of New Era Radio...the guys celebrate the black man surviving a sci-fi disaster flick! Marcas doesn't believe in the greatness of New York basketball and the guys give the award for BFF of the Millennium (here's a hint: Barry Bonds is accepting on his behalf).