Miss Iowa's Pitch, Sims' Shopping, Over/Under Iowa

• Miss Iowa knows how to make a pitch. Katie Connors told me she wanted to throw out the first pitch at a Nationals game, and the Nats invited her. By now, you know the backstory. (If you don't, please see previous blog entries.) Katie says she's been told Miguel Batista will catch her pitch. Miss Iowa is a Cubs fan, but she's willing to wear the Nationals jersey for one night. She'll be at Wrigley Field Tuesday anyway. Andy Fales is on his way to Washington DC to cover the Connors-Batista battery. I guess after three days with 35,000 Boy Scouts in 100 degree weather, Andy deserves this.
• I don't know what kind of poise Katie Connors has on the runway, but she handled this entire deal perfectly. She turned what could have been a negative into a positive, and told me it's now the best thing that ever happened to her. She's everywhere the past 24 hours.

• Martensdale - St. Mary's is 42-0. Anyone who's ever played baseball knows how amazing that is.
• Is Lane Kiffin clueless, or that big of a D-bag?
• Even if Cyclone star David Sims found the credit card on the sidewalk as claimed, he knows that doesn't mean go charge more than $400 worth of shoes at Foot Locker (not to mention gas and groceries). Come on. That's bad character. Anyone defending Sims alleged actions, ask yourself what your parents would think if you'd done that, or worse, if one of your kids did. It's not violent, and the Des Moines Register's Randy Peterson reports Sims has paid the money back to the victim, but Paul Rhoads needs to make sure every player knows this kind of decision won't be tolerated, and reflects poorly on the program.
• Phillies add Roy Oswalt to the pitching staff? Katie Connors could come out of the bullpen and the Phils would still make the playoffs.
• Vegas insider, and Iowa grad, BJ Brown loves the Hawkeyes with his heart, but his head says take the under on Iowa winning more or less than 8.5 games.
• Can't wait for a weekend of racing at Iowa Speedway. Jenny and I are going Friday and Saturday night. I'm not a big racing fan, but they do it up right in Newton, and we always have fun. 
• Finally, enjoy Press Hop 2.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffJvDgBrwMI