The Celebrity Apprentice Re-Cap: Episode 2

As the "Donald Trump Crazy Hour" geared up for week two...the previews were void of Hall favorite Jose Canseco.

And then he was coaxed into a dress.

So, much like last week, you can get a re-cap of the episode from the gang over at TVLatest.com (and I suggest you do), but if you're like me, you're just hung around the Twittersphere to see what was going on.

Here's the second installment of the weekly Twitter re-cap (God this needs a better name) of Canseco's stint vying for the affection of Donald Trump. And as you might imagine, people were mostly focused on dude's eyes and, yes, that dress.

@_RyRyan: Jose Canseco even BLINKS with intensity!

@nprmonkeysee: Why can't every show have Meat Loaf organize a children's theater production where Jose Canseco and Richard Hatch appear in drag?

@rickyr83: Jose Canseco as a woman is going to give the children nightmares. Whose idea was this?

@mdburnell: Jose Canseco makes Gary Busey look perfectly sane

@greenpointmom: It's funny to hear Jose Canseco say, "Meatloaf gave me the wrong address..."

@DJBLAKITO: José Canseco makes the ugliest woman everrr!!!!!!!!!!

Last week, Canseco himself tweeted about the show.

This week, some dude named Joshua James gets the tweet of the night.

when was the last time Jose Canseco buttoned his his shirt up all the way, I'm guessing at least a decade.

So we're two weeks in and unlike Darryl Strawberry from last season, Canseco seems to be making himself a big part of this circus.

I hate to say it...but I already can't wait until next week.  Until then...enjoy Canseco is all his cross dressing goodness.

Evan Longoria's Ride Gets "Purloined"

After three years in the bigs...Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria has already experienced plenty.

Three-time All-Star.

Two-time Gold Glove Award winner.

2008 American League Champion AND Rookie of the Year.

And, according to The Arizona Republic...his ride was "purloined" from a parking lot.  Yes...I'm a big fan of the word "purloined". 

Evan Longoria, a star player for the Tampa Bay Rays major league team, was having his classic 1967 black and white Camaro RS, valued at $75,000, upgraded by a Gilbert company, only to have it purloined from an overflow lot in Chandler, police said.

That car and a Buick GSX, valued at $25,000, were stolen between late Saturday and early Sunday from an overflow lot at 260 E. Comstock Rd. in Chandler, said Chandler Police Det. David Ramer.

"In the words of the detective, it was a very sloppy job," Ramer said of the thefts.

Car theft is pretty standard, I guess, maybe, but c'mon, Chandler Police...maybe SEARCH for the dude's car before you drop the "detectives suspect the cars will be sold for their parts" nugget.

I mean, this is this guy's ride...not a lost cat.  The least you can do is make an effort and not give up so fast.

That said...have you seen what "Longo" will do to get his cap back?  Maybe he doesn't need the cops.

"They Don't Call the Candy Bar 'Baby Jimmie Foxx'!"

Alright, I'll admit it...it's been pretty quiet here at the home office.

Truth be told, whatever germtube funk I caught from the left coast last week (LAST WEEK!) still has me pretty much sidelined.

Thankfully, good friend of The Hall Gar Ryness (aka "Batting Stance Guy") decided to drop one of funniest videos I've seen in a long time.

Enjoy!

And in case you never read the interview The Hall did with Ryness last year...go enjoy that too!

The Celebrity Apprentice Re-Cap: Episode 1

That bedazzled jacket.  Those creepy eyes.  The altercation with Richard Hatch.

After months of waiting, "The Celebrity Apprentice" kicked off Sunday night and did exactly what it promised.

It brought "the crazy".

And in the middle of the mayhem was a favorite of this site...Jose Canseco.

Now, I could break down the entire episode (boring) or I could tell you that Canseco didn't get fired and point you in the direction of a show re-cap over at TVLatest.com.  Oh, and if you didn't catch Canseco calling the former "Survivor" winner a liar...you missed out.

But, the highlight of the night wasn't watching the 1988 American League MVP on the tube...it was following it on Twitter.

Here's the first of what might end up being a weekly Twitter re-cap (a Twit-cap...tweet-cap?) of Canseco's stint vying for the affection of Donald Trump.  As you would imagine, the tweets were both supportive and, well, not.

@nprmonkeysee:  If Jose Canseco punches Richard Hatch, I will forgive Celebrity Apprentice, instantly, for everything.

@badtzmartin:  Watching celebrity apprentice. José Canseco wearing blue contacts looks like Bruce Banner about to change into The Hulk.

@TheOutlawJosie:  Jose Canseco is the cro-magnoniest ever. It looks like he's made out of rocks. celebrity apprentice

@nMiddz:  Jose Canseco and Richard Hatch should have an Apprentice boxing match to settle their differences... special guest referee? Gary Busey

@SchenkelTown:  watched The Celebrity Apprentice. Jose Canseco should have been fired this week, based on his rhinestone studded sport jacket.

@Denise_Hayden:  I do have to admit, I think more of Jose Canseco than I did before. Of course that didn't take a lot. But he impressed me.

Of course the tweet of the night belonged to Canseco himself:

#Winning sorry... I had to!

If the premiere episode was any indication, this installment of "The Celebrity Apprentice" will be worth watching and, hopefully, Canseco is around for the long haul.

Jose Canseco is Ready for Primetime

So...Donald Trump can see the future right?

Given the crop of crazies he has put together for this go 'round of "The Celebrity Apprentice", he had to have known back in October that this week's headlines were going to be dominated by tiger blood and "winning".

Think about it...who else can compete with the likes of Charlie Sheen when it comes to garnering airtime?  Gary Busey, NeNe Leakes and, of course, Hall of Very Good favorite Jose Canseco...that's who.

Now, it goes without saying that I'll have the feed bag strapped on and my ass in the chair Sunday night to watch the premiere...especially given the prominence of Canseco in the show's promos.

Heck, Jen Harper over at BuddyTV made her list of 25 Reasons to Watch the New Season of "The Celebrity Apprentice" and the former slugger was on it...three times!

10. Jose Canseco's realization that he doesn't have any friends. That's what happens when you accuse America's favorite pastime of sippin' on gin and juice minus the gin.

23. The burgeoning bromance between Jose Canseco and David Cassidy. "Jose, I want to tell you ... you're strong and very, very intelligent with a lot of integrity ... and I love you." OK, I added that last part.

25. Jose Canseco's bedazzled blazer that he bought with the money from "Juiced."

I guess Canseco's appearance on the show begs the following question...how long will the 1988 American League MVP last in Trump boardroom.  Go ahead and vote!

But before you do that...watch the preview of the man who has "lived life ten times over".

Friday 5: Ray King

Spring Training is underway and former big league reliever Ray King has, again, found himself back in Arizona.

As head coach of the Independence Patriots in Glendale, Arizona.

And while he’s a long way from the Major Leagues, he’s keeping his love of the game alive and thriving.

HOVG: You’ve been playing baseball all your life…who has been your biggest influence and why?

KING: My biggest influence was a guy name Dave Henderson. He was someone who took the time to teach me the game and that you don't have to be the best, you just have to do your best and everything will work out for the best.

HOVG: Has that influence made its way to the field at IHS? If so…how?

KING: Yes the lesson I learned from Dave has helped me out to teach the kids at IHS to tell them do what they can do and not what others are doing. Be the player you are.

HOVG: After playing a number of seasons for nine different franchises, you’ve done your fair share of traveling…what is your most memorable travel experience?

KING: The most memorable trip is playing in St. Louis. When I was a little kid, my baseball team would come to see the Red Birds play every summer and I use to sit there and say to my friends and coaches that one day I would play on this field.

HOVG: You ended up pitching in a World Series for those Cardinals, set franchise records for appearances for both the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves and, at one point in 2004, went 30 games without giving up a run. What has been your greatest achievement?

KING: My biggest achievement was making it to and staying in the Majors. My dream was to get there and it became a fantasy to play as long as I did. I was living a childhood dream. I love the game of baseball and that is why I'm coaching to stay in the game.

HOVG: When did you know that you “made it”?

KING: I knew I made it was when I got traded to Milwaukee and had a meeting with (manager Davey Lopes) and he told me that it was my job to lose . So from that day on, I never was hoping to make a team…it became “I belong here”. But you always have to look over you shoulder because the next guy is right behind you trying to take your job.

Ray King played nine seasons in the Majors, appearing in 577 games and pitching 403 innings. He compiled a 20-23 lifetime record with a 3.42 ERA.

Currently, he is the head coach of the varsity team at Independence High School in Glendale, Arizona and he needs your help. He’s asking for donations to get valuable equipment that his kids need to follow in his footsteps and imagine their dreams.

If you’re interested in helping out…please send your donations to Independence High School (Attn: Coach Ray King), 4220 N 161 Ave., Goodyear, AZ 85395.

"Doc" Gooden Heading to "Rehab"

My guess is that it has something to do with me spending most of my week two thousand miles from the home office...but how did I miss this?

Sure, it was first reported by TMZ...but I prefer to steal from the fine folks over at The Last Angry Fan.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The lineup for the next installment of Dr. Drew Pinsky’s Celebrity Rehab has been announced, and none other than one-time Mets ace Dwight Gooden heads the list of “celebs” seeking treatment on the VH1 reality show.

Gooden’s troubles with drugs is well chronicled, starting with a positive test for cocaine during spring training 1987, another positive test for cocaine in 1994, all the way up to last March, when he was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident and found to be under the influence of drugs. Complicating the situation was the fact that Gooden had his 5-year-old son in the car at the time.

I'm probably not going to watch the show as, honestly, the thing would be heartbreaking given "Doc" was one of my favorite players growing up.

Another thing I'm probably not going to do...end this post with some hackneyed Charlie Sheen reference.  I get it, internets...the dude is out there and you're clever to try and link EVERYTHING you write to him.

But, wait, nevermind...PONG!

Scotty McCreery Takes Center Stage

Two weeks ago, The Hall posed the question...could Garner (North Carolina) High School pitcher Scotty McCreery end up being bigger than last year's number one overall pick Bryce Harper?

We'll soon know.

While Harper is taking his cuts at Spring Training for the Washington Nationals...McCreery is getting ready to take the "American Idol" stage.

And dude has been a favorite of the judges and online fans alike since he first appeared on the Milwaukee audition show.

This is how Rolling Stone referred to the 17-year-old hurler:

Good ol' Scotty McCreery (we all call him Scotty now, didn't you know?) is actively touted as the lone "country boy." He has a tendency to doggedly repeat a single song about locking doors and turning the lights down low. One of the few times he ventured out — with "I Hope You Dance," by Lee Ann Womack — he fumbled the words, which resulted in the phrase "nuts of wonder." It'll be interesting to see Scotty stretch his repertoire.

Early reports are that the baby-faced baritone is performing "Letters From Home" by John Michael Montgomery on tonight's show.

You can check out how he does for yourself on FOX.