Hot reads

Just some quick-hitters this week during an extraordinarily busy time throughout the sports stratosphere.

• Most common question asked of Waipahu parents in Williamsport, Pa. this week: “What does Y.P.O. stand for?”

• I don’t wish bad things upon anyone, but I have to admit, my heart wasn’t bleeding for Roger Clemens this week. He’s pretty much my least favorite athlete of all time, so the fact that he voluntarily walked into Congress, told them what now appears to be lies about his steroid use and could go to jail for it is less than tragic.

Truthfully, I hope he doesn’t have to do actual time because I don’t believe steroids in baseball is any business of the U.S. Congress.

But…

If he does go to jail, can we at least let Mike Piazza drive the transport van?

• It was really awful to see that Stephen Strasburg will likely undergo Tommy John surgery and that we may not see him again until 2012. It hasn’t been a good year for Washington franchises. They all seem to give their fans just enough hope, then blindside their emotional state.

The Wizards’ best player went to jail for having a firearm in his locker, the Capitals carried the league’s best record into the playoffs and promptly lost in the first round, now the Nationals’ lone attraction, who was having a record-setting rookie campaign, will be shelved for a year.

Have you heard all that Redskins hype? So have I, but I’m certain I’ll let someone else draft Donovan McNabb in my fantasy league.

• It’s amazing that Tiger Woods shooting a 65 is now the news, rather than the norm. His opening round at The Barclays on Thursday put him in the lead and left the impression that with his divorce officially behind him, he was re-focused on his craft.

But he then followed it up with rounds of 73 and 72 to sit nine shots off the lead heading into today’s final round.

Let’s all cut the guy some slack. I’m guessing it’s hard to play a solid round when half your clubs are now in your ex-wife’s bag.

• It seems likely that Manny Ramirez will be heading to the Chicago White Sox, who put in a claim on the Dodgers slugger this week.

Combining Manny in a contract year with Ozzie Guillen and the White Sox in the midst of a penant race could very well make the ChiSox appointment viewing for the rest of the season.

• Brett Favre showed up to Vikings camp and almost immediately, receiver Percy Harvin wound up in the hospital and top target Sidney Rice requires surgery and will miss half the season.

I have nothing against Favre and I love the way he plays the game, but he essentially threw a no-hitter last season. A lot of things have to go right to have the type of year he had in 2009 — things that don’t go right consistently.

It seems like the karma may have shifted a bit. I wouldn’t expect another dream run from the ageless one in his 2010 swan song, especially with the Packers poised to make the leap.

• This supposed “B” team competing in the FIBA World Championships is going to be the first American squad to win these games since 1994.

Kevin Durant is the clear go-to guy, but without the inflated ego. Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom are the veteran leaders, but won’t hijack the action in pressure situations.

The team is small, but they can shoot and defend on the perimeter, the most important aspects of international basketball.

A gold medal for this second unit will give the NBA an even greater boost, heading into one of its most anticipated seasons in recent memory.

• One more huge congratulations to the boys from Waipahu, who needed to win five games in five days to make it to the World Series championship game, but overcame the do-or-die aspect of each, now getting a chance at a second world title in just three years.

Hana hou!