Sports Storylines to follow this week

In what many people describe as a "boring season" in sports, this is going to be one awfully busy week of headline watching. Here are some of the stories that you, as a sports fan, should be paying attention to:

- MLB Trade Deadline is Thursday: Could there be a blockbuster Manny Ramirez trade?

The Red Sox and Manny Ramirez are tired of each other. For almost eight years, the Red Sox have coddled Manny Ramirez, and Manny has, well, been Manny. The Sox are now exploring a possible trade, and according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com, Manny doesn't mind.

If the Red Sox feel they can win without Manny Ramirez, then they will do whatever it takes to part ways. The big question is, who will pony up enough for his services?

- Will Brett Favre be a Packer by Tuesday?

For reasons I can't explain, Brett Favre still hasn't sent in his reinstatement letter to the NFL. Last I checked, an important document should be mailed first-class with the utmost care, not sent via a fax machine.

Chris Mortensen reports on when Favre expects to send in, err, fax, his letter of intent. Could a trade be worked out by the time Favre makes his way toward camp?

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In other news, while I was at the Kilauea Volcano Marathon, the rest of our crew was at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel / ESPN Radio Bridal Fair and W****** Expo.

What's with the W******?

Do you realize how young I am? I'm nowhere close to that stage.

Oh, and who do I expect to marry anyway, myself?

Ok, this has gone horribly south. Check out a video clip from our Bridal Fair and W****** Expo.



UPDATE: Thanks to Kelli for the heads up...video was edited and taken down. Put up a different video of a dance contest that took place at the Expo.

Manny being Manny is getting old

We all have probably seen the reports of the tumultuous game on Thursday between the Rays and Red Sox which saw two different sets of fights, one involving both teams on the field, and the other between Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis in the Sox clubhouse. ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas said on the story:

Ramirez pointed at Youkilis before being escorted down the runway at Fenway Park toward the clubhouse by trainer Paul Lessard and a few other players. Later in the game, NESN, the team's broadcast network, showed grainy footage of Ramirez apparently taking a swipe at Youkilis.

A Red Sox source told ESPNdeportes.com that the cause of the dugout disagreement was Youkilis' temper following a poor at-bat.

Yes, you read it. Over a poor at bat. It's like a child crying over spilled milk. It's insane.

I have no problem with a player who gets frustrated after having a bad at-bat. You know what that shows me? He's a winner. He's a perfectionist. Why should you have a problem with that? He wants to produce for your team each and every time he is at the plate. To me, the attitude that you can always get better is encouraged, even if that means a little frustration. He's giving himself a chip on his shoulder.

And, you know what? It's working. Coming into this post, he is hitting .306 with 9 home runs and 36 RBI's. You don't think the attitude isn't working for him?

And, the Red Sox players feel he is being selfish in showing his frustration. That couldn't be farther from the truth. And, with Youkilis being upset after another bad at bat, Manny decided to take it into his own hands, and that is where the problem lies.

Manny is not the captain. Let your captain, Jason Varitek, handle the situation if you have a problem. Don't start causing problems and making the situation worse. There is always a right way and wrong way to handle things.

Thanks to Jooce.com, here's the other fight everyone is talking about between the Rays and Red Sox.