I read an article today saying that Tiger Woods was back practicing. It was a new article. This is just a sign of how sick golf is without Woods as a star – this same article has been written about a million times over the last two weeks, even though nothing has really changed and Woods is no more talkative than he ever is. It’s almost as if people hope that writing about his return will make it happen.

It sounds like Scott Pioli has finally made a decision and is headed to Kansas City. He was seen packing up his office today. I like the move on one condition – that he fires Herm Edwards within five minutes of officially taking the job. Edwards won’t win there. Beyond that, the interesting thing is what this means for the Pats. Things are going to be tought there. They probably have to franchise Cassel and keep him around for next year because Brady’s health is no certainty. That ties up $29 million with them, and much more in them plus Moss, Thomas, and the couple of other high priced stars. A team that has been masterful at managing the cap is suddenly going to be in serious trouble with it. Pioli could very well have left when the leaving was good.

The Orioles have signed a Japanese pitcher. Koji Uehara, 33, signed a two year contract. He was rookie of the year in Japan in 1999, and was named Japan’s top pitcher in 1999 and 2002. I don’t know anything more about the player than what I have read today, but I like the move for one reason – the guy has 56 complete games in 207 starts. Obviously, they use their pitchers differently over there. The bigger point, though, is that the guy will be able to eat up a bunch of innings, and the Orioles, and all bad teams, need starters who can eat as many innings as possible. This doesn’t mean I have any optimism at all about the Orioles, but it is an interesting move nonetheless.