Ken Jackson
Sports

WriterThe TV pickins’ were pretty slim this week, especially for us sports junkies.

The week of the baseball All-Star Game makes us moan like that every mid-July, but we watch the game because we’re kind of excited about it.

I watched it on Tuesday because, well, it was on. And, nothing else worth my time was.

An over-hyped baseball game the likes of what I could see in April or September barely moved the needle, either.

Baseball tries to jazz it up with the lineup, but there were guys on the rosters that wouldn’t blow anybody’s horn. Ryan Howard (tied for the National League lead in RBIs) and Albert Pujols (been hurt) weren’t there, but we were treated to the .241 average of starting third baseman Scott Rolen and Yankees catcher Russell Martin, hitting all of .220.

C.C. Sabathia, Cole Hamels, Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander couldn’t play because they pitched on Sunday, so we were treated to the 7-8 record of Ricky Romero and the 4.01 ERA of Kevin Correia.

Injuries take their toll on the rosters every year, but lately guys are going to Brazilian soccer star-lengths to proclaim their pain. Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and David Price all played in Saturday’s Yankees-Rays game, yet they were too hurt to throw an inning or take an at-bat in Arizona on Tuesday. Price threw six innings on Saturday — then discovered he had turf toe. Oops!

If they don’t want to take it seriously, why should we ... and why should we make them?

I guess since we’ve always had an All-Star Game, we can’t not have one. But if we can’t amp up the pulse rate on it, the powers that be might not be so nostalgic. The game needs change. And I’m just the guy to give it to it.

Make it a five-inning game. The managers select one bench player per position except for the catchers (the pitchers can throw to whoever they want to), but the voted starters play five innings.

Five pitchers (three starters, two relivers) throw one inning apiece, but four extras are named in case of extra innings (nine innings max). All pitchers are eligible, including those who threw on Sunday, because they’re only going to throw one inning.

The rosters that are named ... those are the rosters. Players who bail on the game bail on their league. Oh, and ditch the “every team must be represented” rule. Being the best Oriole or Royal is like being the surfing champ of Kansas.

If we’re keeping the Home Run Derby, do it the same day starting at 5 p.m. Eastern, with the top three in homers from each league whether they’re in the game or not. Winner of that gets an All-Star spot if they weren’t in already. So all the meaningful festivities get done in one day, although I’d want to keep the rookie Futures Game part of the festival either the day before or after the big game.

Two hours of big swings, then five innings of semi-interesting baseball, and then we can move on. To more baseball.

Is it September yet?

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The other day my brother-in-law asks me: “So, what do you think of my 0-13 Buckeyes?”

What do I think? Be careful, because if you really want to know, I’ll tell you.

Ohio State’s doing everything they can to forget their ill-fated 2010 football season. Odd, considering they won the Big Ten title and the Sugar Bowl.

Or did they?

The school has forfeited all their wins, because THAT will make everyone think everything is OK in Buckeye Country, despite losing the head coach, watching Terrell Pryor leave because he couldn’t stay out of his own way and making the AD fear for his job.

Are they giving back the Sugar Bowl money, or the rings for winning the conference and the bowl game — at least the ones that weren’t already sold?

Reversing previously-played games doesn’t show you care about the state of your football program. Give up some scholarships, TV revenue or  a bowl appearance, and maybe smart people outside your program will believe you’re trying to change your image.

ooo

Wow, I had to dredge that up to talk about football. What could I write about next?

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Women’s World Cup! Way to beat the French! (Who, appropriately, surrendered on Wednesday) This Sunday, it’s for all the marbles!

So what did I do with that darn vuvuzela?