Tuesday Links – Granderson Nearly a Yankee, Gammons Leaving ESPN, & Mark Cuban the Wrestler

We’re just about at the end of the work day, but it’s never too late to check out the latest stories flying around the ‘net. Enjoy.

• I’m going to have a hard time rooting for the Tigers next year if they trade away my favorite player (to the God damn Yankees no less) for afew prospects. Yeah, Scherzer throws hard, Coke has a cool/funny last name, and Jackson plays in the outfield. Froma fan’s perspective, trading Granderson is inexcusable. Does it make sensefrom the baseball/business side of things? Maybe. But a fan’s reasoning is never logical (a big reason why the Lions still sell tickets), and I don’t want to see Grandy in anything but the Old English D next year.

• As for trading Jackson, I agree with Bob. Yeah, I grew attached to him early in the season last year, but he’s an expendable piece if we’re getting good value in return. I’m still upset about Granderson though.

• In happier news, The Baseline is adding two names to a Rookie of the Year race in the NBA that was earlier known as “Brandon Jennings’ award.” I’ve watched Tyreke Evans a few times so far, and the dude is the real deal. He’s built similar to Rodney Stuckey, but proably a better offensive playeralready. You saw what DeMar DeRozan is capable of yesterday. Still, it’s Jennings’ race to lose right now.

• John Feinstein takes a swipe at the BCS and the “power conferences” today in the Washington Post. He argues that the TCU vs. Boise State game (in the Fiesta Bowl)is the BCS’s way of saving itself from embarrassment. What he fails to realize (and I hope I’m not the only person that feels this way) is that this will probably be the most exciting game of the BCS lineup. I can’t wait to see these two teams who both feel snubbed go take out their anger on each other. [via The Big Lead]

• Will Caroll has a great piece at Deadspin (yeah, I did a double take too) about the recent football concussion epidemic and how much worse it is at the high school level.

• With Leather is reporting that baseball analyst Peter Gammons is leaving ESPN. Those guys may be happy to see Gammons leave, but I’ve always liked him. Maybe it’s the whole baseball/summer thing, but whatever. Thankfully, someone shares my sentiments.

• Major League Jerk profiles a guy that I really hope to see in Honolulu Blue next season (but probably won’t): Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska. Unfortunately, they’re probably not going to have the #1 pick for two years in a row and Suh will likely be off the draft board by the time Mayhew & Co. will be able to call his name.

Rob’s Highlight of the Day

I don’t have any problems with Mark Cuban; in reality, I think he’s good for the NBA. He desperately wants to win and doesn’t care about what he says, as his fines are like me throwing a few pennies at a bum on the street. But seeing him get rammed through a table was pretty entertaining.