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Those of you who watched the beginning of the All Star game last night will have noticed that, when President Obama threw the first pitch, the camera shot was a close-up that made it impossible to see whether his pitch was on target. I found this odd, and so did Andy McCarthy. I'll make an educated guess that this was done at the insistence of the White House to prevent embarrassment in case Obama's pitch was a poor one. To be sure, the White House ultimately could not prevent everyone from seeing a bad pitch (YouTube and all of that),...

Top 6 Observations about the President's First Pitch: 6. Too Cool for School. Why was he wearing baggy jeans? He looked completely out of place at a ball park in July. 5. Super Bowl Shuffle. Why did he shuffle/jog to the mound? His gait looked more appropriate for a basketball introduction? 4. Camera Angle-Gate....

Sorry for the vanity. Numerous people have been posting at various sites that they have heard from people at the game that there was a loud chorus of boos for 0bama. (AKA Lamar, the limp wristed javeline thrower from Revenge of the Nerds). There may have been an effort to either pipe in cheers over the public address system, edit out some of the boos or both. Anyone else getting this?

Here is video highlighting the top five defensive gems from last night's Major League Baseball All-Star Game won by the American League 4-3. The top defensive play was pivotal, as the American League's Carl Crawford literally took a home run away from the National League's Brad Hawpe with a catch at the fence in Left Field. . . . (Watch Video)

The more debatable point from the historic moment was the reception the President was afforded by the self-described "best fans in baseball." Though Obama was roundly cheered by the All-Star fans, his live presence still didn't attract the applause that George W. Bush did during a taped announcement by the four previous Presidents before the game and some boos could even be heard among the cheers.

Barack Obama will be adding baseball broadcaster to his résumé. SI.com learned Sunday that the President will join Fox Sports announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver during Tuesday's All-Star Game. Obama is expected to be in the booth sometime between the third and fifth inning. SI.com reported earlier that the White House was considering Fox Sports' request to interview the President during the game.

All five living U.S. Presidents will appear in a video salute to the volunteers who comprise the "All-Stars Among Us" in an unprecedented collaboration prior to next Tuesday's All-Star Game in St. Louis. President Barack Obama, who later will throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the 80th Midsummer Classic, will be joined in the seven-minute video by Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.

NEW YORK (AP)—Albert Pujols(notes) will be in a familiar spot when St. Louis hosts the 80th All-Star game. Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield(notes) is headed for a brand new situation. Pujols was the leading vote-getter in balloting for the Midsummer Classic announced Sunday by Major League Baseball, giving the Cardinals first baseman the start in his home ballpark. The NL MVP is well on his way to another amazing year, leading the majors with 31 homers and 82 RBIs. It’s his eighth All-Star selection in nine seasons and fifth start. Wakefield made his first All-Star roster in his 17th season, one...

Who are your picks, baseball fans? Voting at mlb.com ends TONIGHT at 11:59 (Eastern). MLB has just added a 33rd slot to the roster, which should include 20 position players and 13 pitchers (at least three of which should be relievers). Every team has to be represented, of course. My personal criteria balances current performance, last year's performance, and career performance. Here are my choices (starters in bold): NATIONAL LEAGUEC: Y. Molina (STL), B. McCann (ATL)1b: A. Pujols (STL), P. Fielder (MIL), A. Gonzalez (SD)2b: C. Utley (PHI), F. Sanchez (PIT), O. Hudson (LAD)SS: H. Ramirez (FLA), M. Tejada (HOU)3b:...

President Barack Obama plans to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the All-Star game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14. The White House said Tuesday that Major League Baseball’s focus on community service matches with Obama’s service initiative this summer, known as United We Serve. “The central theme of the 2009 All-Star game is community service, celebrating the extraordinary work being done by ordinary people,” baseball commissioner Bud Selig said. “We are thrilled that we can come together with President Obama, who has encouraged a renewed spirit of national service, and illustrate a call to action...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama plans to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Major League Baseball All-Star game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14. The White House said on Tuesday that MLB's focus on community service matches with Obama's service initiative this summer, known as United We Serve.

Did anyone see the Homerun Derby at Yankee Stadium last night? As a Mets fan I usually only watch National League teams, so I had only heard about Josh Hamilton's story and haven't really seen him in action. This guy is a beast though. I have never seen a display of power like the one he put on last night. And just think that he did it, and is in the middle of this incredible season he is having, after missing 3 full years and practically no time in the minors. Unbelieveable. The real life version of The Natural.

Rev. Al Sharpton plans Bell protest at Yankee Stadium for All-Star Game BY JOTHAM SEDERSTROM DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Monday, June 9th 2008, 4:00 AM The Rev. Al Sharpton threatened Sunday to disrupt baseball's historic All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium next month unless the state passes new laws to curb police misconduct.A month after protesters blocked bridges and tunnels during rush hour, Sharpton said he wants to bring the outrage over the Sean Bell shooting to the national stage July 15 by targeting the midsummer classic. "We have plans to do the same at the All-Star Game," Sharpton said. "We...

Don Shula and Dan Reeves to Coach Teams in 2007 Dell East-West Shrine All-Star Game HOUSTON - Legendary NFL head coaches Don Shula and Dan Reeves will serve as the head coaches for the 2007 Dell East-West Shrine All-Star Game it was announced today. The announcement marks a significant change for the game. In years past, the coaching staffs were comprised of college coaches. Shula and Reeves will be aided by NFL assistant coaches. The 2007 Dell East-West Shrine All-Star Game will be played in Houston on Saturday, January 20, 2007, with a scheduled kickoff time of 6:00 p.m....

Mayor Bob O'Connor was admitted to UPMC Shadyside today to begin treatment for primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Fan Fest First Impressions Posted July 7, 2006 3 :57 PM Missouri, Arkansas, Maine, New York, Illinois, were just a few of the wide array of states' license plates that I saw while pulling up to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. When I finally found a parking lot that wasn’t filled to the max, I headed to FanFest. It became difficult to navigate my way through the overcrowded sidewalks. When I did arrive at the entryway, the underpass of the Convention Center was brimming with laughter, excitement and children running around anxiously awaiting their admission.

Beginning this week during the Major League Baseball All-Star festivities, the city of Detroit will be brutalized by sportswriters from across the country. The maiming and name-calling and dissing won't stop until the completion of Super Bowl XL. By the time it's over, the victims will include Kid Rock, Eminem, Madonna, Coleman Young's unborn great-grandchildren and Flint's Michael Moore. Why shouldn't the All-Star game be held at Comerica Park? Detroit's the best sports town around. Beating up on Detroit is easy. As the center of the free-falling automotive industry, known chiefly for crime, high unemployment and urban blight, Detroit is...

OK, baseball fans, who are your picks for this year's All-Star Game in Detroit? 32 players on a side, and each team must be represented. I look at three criteria: 1) What a guy is doing this year; 2) What a guy did last year; and 3) What a guy has done throughout his career. (Factors 2 and 3 are the reason I put Pujols ahead Lee at 1B, even though Derrek Lee is the best player in baseball so far this year.) Here are my picks: NATIONAL LEAGUE: 18 position, 14 pitchers (8 S, 6 R) C: Paul LoDuca...

The Suns dominated All-Star Saturday Night in Denver. Phoenix's Quentin Richardson heated up when it counted most, hitting his last nine shots to finish with a final-round score of 19 and win the 2005 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout. Current Suns All-Star Shawn Marion and former Suns All-Star Dan Majerle joined the Mercury's Diana Taurasi to win the RadioShack Shooting Stars competition and Phoenix guard Steve Nash defeated Denver's Earl Boykins in the finals of the PlayStation Skills Challenge. Suns center Amaré Stoudemire wrapped up the night by placing second in the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk.

HOUSTON -- The sellout crowd at Minute Maid Park gave Muhammad Ali a hero's welcome Tuesday, but Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller would rather the former boxing great not have been invited. Ali received a roaring ovation from the crowd for being an honored guest for the ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star Game, but Feller came away angered by Ali's presence. Born Cassius Clay in 1942, Ali changed his name after converting to the Muslim faith. Commissioner Bud Selig dismissed the criticism of Ali, who returned to the city where he fought four times and relinquished his heavyweight...

Nearly four decades after he filled the Astrodome for a pair of championship fights, then relinquished his heavyweight boxing title by placing principles ahead of profession, Muhammad Ali will return to Houston next Tuesday to throw out the first pitch for the All-Star Game at Minute Maid Park. Ali's selection was disclosed Wednesday by Ed Goren, the president of Fox Sports, which will broadcast the game Tuesday night. "It should be one of the most historic moments fans will ever see at an All-Star Game," Goren said. This will not be the first time Ali has participated in the opening...

Somewhere in his considerable baseball education, for all he sought to adapt and evoke the old Dodger Way, during and after his years in that august organization, Mike Scioscia must have learned his most important baseball lesson from Sparky Anderson. “We try every way we can do to kill this game,” said Anderson, the unchallenged virtuoso of the baseball double negative, “but for some reason nothing nobody does never hurts it.” Those words were never made truer than by the way Scioscia managed the All-Star Game while Dusty Baker proved, in the same game, why Scioscia last fall won a...

<p>It's the top of the fourth on a chilly night in the Bronx and New York Yankees fan Frank Larocca is examining his All-Star ballot.</p> <p>For the American League, he's going for the cream of the crop -- Derek Jeter, Alfonso Soriano and even a few top guys who don't wear pinstripes. But when it comes to the National League, his picks are a little eccentric.</p>