Finley To Padres?

According to multiple sources, former Padre, Diamondback, Dodger, Giant, Rockie, Astros and Orioles outfielder Steve Finley hosted a dinner reception Thursday night for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger.

Ok so that's news in itself but Finley apparently announced at the dinner that Padres general manager Kevin Towers had contacted him about a possible return to the team.

So how would the 42-year old Finley fit into the outfield of Jim Edmonds, Brian Giles and the likely platoon of Scott Hairston/Chase Headley?

Well who knows. After all Finley appeared in only 43 games for the Rockies last year and his last productive offensive season came in 2004, when he combined to hit .269 with 36 home runs for Arizona and Los Angeles. But with the status of Giles unknown after undergoing microfacture knee surgery and the addition of Edmonds, who played in only 117 games last year for the St. Louis Cardinals, Finley could provide the Padres with much-needed outfield depth.

Now the Padres are reportedly pursuing former Diamondback first baseman Tony Clark as a backup to Adrian Gonzalez as well as a right-handed hitter off the bench. The 6'7 Clark attended Christian High School and San Diego State as was known as a great clubhouse leader on a young Diamondbacks team.

Clark would be a better fit for San Diego than first baseman/DH Mike Sweeney, who has also worked out for the Padres. Not only does Clark know the National League West very well, but it would prevent him from killing the Padres as he did last year. Clark hammered four home runs in just 26 at-bats against the Padres last season en route to amassing 17 home runs along 51 RBI and a .249 batting average.

Football Hangover

Just minutes after the New York Giants epic upset over the New England Patriots, I got a text message from my younger brother which perfectly summed up my jumbled emotions as well as the sentiments of most Chargers fans.

"What a game but I can't figure out if I am happy they won or sad that it was Eli. I'm so confused."

Well so was I. I mean it's become clear that the number one rivalry of the Chargers are the Patriots, and it's not going to go away anytime soon. Consider the two playoff losses in a row to the Patriots and the unbelievable arrogance of Boston fans and their narrow-minded media and it's a no-brainer to take pleasure in the bitter agony of their defeat.

But then again, no one will ever forget puppy-dog faced Eli Manning spurning the Chargers on draft day in 2004 and refusing to don the Chargers hat and looking as though someone had stolen his lunch money as he made a half-assed attempt to hold up the Bolts jersey.

But now Eli Manning has become the toast of New York and a national media darling thanks to his gritty play over a heavily favored Patriots team and a game-winning drive that was reminiscent of, well his brother Peyton.

I'm not sure that I despise Eli as much as I used to, partly due to the fact that the Chargers received Philip Rivers, who I still think will be the better quarterback, as well as Shawne Merriman and Nate Kaeding. Plus ANYTHING would be better than watching Bostonians celebrate another victory parade. And is there anything sweeter than the Boston Globe having to cancel their almost-completed book, 19-0? Or the Patriots having to rescind their trademark of the phrase 19-0? Or the Mayor of Boston having to cancel his parade plans? Or the Boston fans considering this the worst playoff loss in Boston sports history, worse, even than the Bill Buckner gaffe in the 86 World Series?

No, there's really not.

And for all you suffering Chargers fans out there who thought this was the year, take comfort in the fact that the Chargers are instant contenders and favorites for the 2008 season and outside of adding an offensive lineman here and a safety there, very few changes will be needed on this team. And then take more comfort that Patriots fans have months and months to do what they do best: be bitter for the rest of their lives about what could have been- the pursuit of perfection.

Now don't you feel just a little bit better about Eli and the Giants winning the Super Bowl? So do I.

More Annoying: Scott or Philly Billy?

His cackle of taunting glee haunts you late at night when you're trying to go to sleep.

His attempt to sing top 40 tunes with made-up lyrics have forever ruined your favorite song.

Yes, I'm talking about Philly Billy from "Too Much Show" and Scott Kaplan from the "Scott and BR" show.

And if you've tuned into XX Sports this week, you heard Philly Billy leaving taunting messages on Jack Cronin and Johnny McGregor's voicemail, taunting them about the failures of their respective college football teams. You also heard Philly refuse to give Drew Brees credit for bringing the New Orleans Saints back to respectability and contention in the NFC South after he went 35-of-49 with 3 TD's and 445 passing yards.

You know that Philly Billy left long, taunting messages on Scott's voicemail after each of the Saints' four losses, but mysteriously enough, Billy is nowhere to be found when we've tried to call him back this week. Yes, we know that we called him at 5:30 and 6am in hopes of waking up his lovely wife Corinne, who we'd actually prefer to talk to, but oddly enough, Billy has yet to return a phone call.

Guess who clogged up our studio hotline every single Monday morning following each Saints loss? That's right. Our beloved station grandpa. And guess who actually changed his phone number a few weeks ago so we could no longer leave our messages of love? You guessed it again.

(BTW- the Scott and BR show would like to send our deepest apologies to Jose, our whomever we woke up at 5:15 am when we called Philly's old home number. "Bueno!")

And Scottie baby, who gets so distracted during the show by shiny objects and grown men in drag dressed as "Hannah Montana". (I still don't know who that is). Ok, we get it. You have four kids, they like Hannah Montana, or at least that's the excuse you give us for knowing who this lip-syncing (so I've been told) chick is. That's no excuse to start singing every time they tv's cut away to the losers at the Sports Arena who are lined up like idiots at 6am for the latest fad. Remember Cabbage Patch Kids, Britney Spears, and Menudo? Exactly! (Rickey Martin did turn out hot, though).

And my least favorite part of all...High School Musical! No, I simply don't get it. Whether or not I ever wanted to see the show, I will never, ever check it out because Scott has forever ruined that song and the musical for me. And the worst part of all, you never ever know when he's just going to bust out singing...that song. Then it's hands in the air, body shaking, feet stomping and Billy Ray staring...while the rest of us forget what on earth we were doing and the show completely comes to a screeching, Philly Billy halt.

Like I keep trying to convince everyone, we're a man's mans show, right? We eat bacon, not turkey bacon, we scoff at oatmeal, drink black coffee and never read the labels for calories or carbs.

So you tell me what's worse? Giving it to someone and refusing to take it in return or well, for better lack of terms, Scott singing?

By the way, special thanks to Padres CEO Alderson, who provided us with really the line of the year. "I'd rather have Drew Brees at shortstop than Mark Loretta."

Last thing on Philly- Do you kind of get the idea that if he were the Padres GM- this would be next year's team: 1B Phil Nevin 2B Bret Boone. SS Mark Loretta 3B Aaron Bleeping Boone. C Todd Greene. Yeah, me too.

PB Beer Ban? What Are You Thinking!

It's 80 degrees on a glorious, picture-perfect summer day at Pacific Beach, and the Padres just happen to be out of town playing the Chicago Cubs.

So you drag out your favorite beach chair, the latest Patricia Cornwell forensic thriller that you've been dying to finish, and turn on the radio so you can listen to the legendary Jerry Coleman and Ted Leitner call the Padres game. After settling just far enough from the loud couple from Arizona (telltale tan lines) with the loud, screaming kids, (because you know they're going to keep kicking sand on you every time you walk by), you settle comfortably back into your chair, reach over into your perfectly packed cooler, and grab...nothing.

That's right, no icy cans of Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bud Light or whatever your summer beverage of choice might happen to be. Because if the San Diego City Council has their way, one of the longest-standing beach traditions will be gone....enjoying beers under the sun.

Forget what you might have heard on the Scott and BR show earlier on Tuesday, or if you share Scott's position that I'm a little bit nuts.

I've lived in San Diego all my life, and in PB just one block from the bay and four from the ocean for several years. The time of year when the tourists go home might be my favorite time of year to live in San Diego.

After a long week of work, there's nothing I enjoy more than walking out across the street, turning on my radio, diving into my favorite book (I'm a huge book worm) and enjoying a beer or two, sometimes mixing in a fantastic sunset. And if you go to Pacific Beach, you'll see that's something that's responsibly enjoyed by the majority of people that enjoy our beaches.

The melee that occurred on Labor Day was an abnomality and something that I've never seen before. But what's to say that a riot like that couldn't occur at a Chargers game or a Padres game after a few idiots indulge in a few too many beers? Does it mean that you're not going to cut off beers on a permanent basis at sporting events? Absolutely not.

One listener called in today and said that he lives in PB and has statistics showing the crime rate and DUI's in PB that are due to alcohol. Ok sure, but I'm willing to bet that the majority of DUI's that happen in San Diego aren't a result of people who have drinking in PB ON the beach, but people who have been drinking at bars and restaurants, including downtown or wherever you might live!! Does that mean you're going to ban alcohol at all bars now? Get serious.

And do I expect my boy Scott Kaplan to have any concept of what I'm talking about? Absolutely not and he doesn't hang at Pacific Beach. We come from completely different worlds. I'm a lifelong San Diego beach bum, he's an East Coast guy. I take great pleasure in the simple things in life, and he's partial to private cabana's, brand names, corporate jets, country clubs and pedicures. I'm Jimmy Buffet, he's Hannah Montana. For the record, I still have no idea who that is.

So long story short, it's completely absurd that a few idiots can spoil things for the rest of us. Don't think for a second that a trial one-year beach ban means that it'll come back next year because it won't. It's been 17 years since the ban happened in La Jolla and  they still can't drink there, even though I see plenty of locals hiding their drinks in a thermos or plastic cups. Trust me, baby. And the tradition of OTL? Forget it. Gone. See ya.

Mayor Jerry Sanders might have the best idea of all. If you're going to ban alcohol, ban it on the major drinking holidays such as 4th of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day, which is when the majority of problems occur. Don't let a few idiots ruin if for the rest of us!

Marty's Blog

Hey check back daily for what's happening on the Scott and BR show, which UT writer they're calling out and why the proposed Pacific Beach alcohol ban is completely ridiculous and a hindrance to...everything!