The Weak Ender: Who is Ready For World Cup?

So let's see if we got this right. Nike thinks it could just drape its new Team USA soccer kit on some Playboy Playmate and think that all sorts of people will be posting this on their blogs. What kind of idiots do they think that we are?

Sorry, that is just not going to work. There will be no Team USA soccer news until Lil' Dieter gets out to do his preview.

But nice try, Nike. You almost got us.

THE ANGELS first mid-week day game of the season happened on Wednesday. Not a huge fan of the 4 p.m. start. That is almost a normal time. These games are not as much fun when you do not have to take an entire day off work. Or use a sick day.

But at least the game was cool. Howie Kendrick won the thing with a walk-off bunt. Although not everybody was pleased.

Kendrick's maneuver didn't sit well, though, with (Indians closer, Chris) Perez, who threw just one pitch and was the third Indians pitcher used in the inning. Joe Smith took the loss in his first decision of the year. "It was a bad baseball play that happened to work out," Perez said. "I don't want to say it was bush league. But you never see that. Ninety-nine percent of hitters in that situation would rather win the game with a hit, not a bunt. It was a stupid play that just happened to work."

But 100 percent of hitters said that they would rather win.

Wow, looks like some pitcher has sandy girl parts.

RAPPER EMINEM mentions Ben Roethlisberger in a rap, making light of the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback's late-night escapades in a bathroom.

"I'd rather turn this club into a bar room brawl. Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall."

Good lord, who knew that Eminem was still around? I thought he went double suicide with Brittany Murphy.

TOO SOON?

ROOKIE QB Tim Tebow is already moving tickets in Jacksonville. Not bad for a guy picked by the Broncos.

Now comes word that Tebow is moving merchandise, too.

Tebow sold the most jerseys of any player over NFL draft weekend, and his three-day total was the highest for a rookie since the league started keeping track of sales on nflshop.com in 2006. Tebow does not figure to start for the Broncos this season, but his sales figures outdistanced Jets QB Mark Sanchez, who set the mark last season.

�It�s a pretty substantial difference between him and the next guy,� NFL spokeswoman Joanna Hunter told the Gainesville Times.

The rest of the list was a little bit surprising. Following Tebow � in terms of jersey sales � were Lions DT Ndamukong Suh, St. Louis FC QB Sam Bradford, Chiefs safety Eric Berry and Cowboys WR Dez Bryant.

Hard to imagine a Cowboys player lagging behind, and Bradford not being as high, but Lions and Chiefs fans certainly seem pleased with their draft picks, as their spending dollars indicate.

Say this for Tebow, there is not a more polarizing player in the NFL right now.

AND FINALLY ...

The NFL offseason has hit a post-draft lull, similar to the moments after you open your presents on Christmas Day. With news at a trickle, sports writers are left with only one recourse: Ask a team�s quarterback about the possibility of bringing in Terrell Owens.

It�s akin to being at a cocktail party where you don�t know anybody and strike up a conversation by asking a fellow guest what he/she does for work. Kind of an obvious ice breaker, but one that gets the ball rolling.

Bears QB Jay Cutler was asked about Owens possibly coming to Chicago during this past weekend�s Fan Expo, and the he didn�t really take to the idea (via the Chicago Tribune).

�T.O. is a pretty good player, but for this system � I don�t know how he would fit in,� Cutler said. �Our receiver position, I think, is one of the strengths of the team. I think there are other needs that we could have addressed if we didn�t go that direction.�

Not much of a surprise, given Owens� history with his quarterbacks. Asking a quarterback what they think of Terrell Owens would be like asking a young Hollywood starlet about potentially being Mrs. Charlie Sheen.

Still, Owens figures to land somewhere this offseason, but don�t expect Cutler to lobby for the enigmatic receiver to join him in Chicago. The Bears already passed on veteran Torry Holt, and they seem set with youngsters Devin Aromashodu, Johnny Knox and Devin Hester.