Just My Type

There's been plenty of hand-wringing over the possibility that Manny Ramirez could make the NL All-Star team. (Though he was suspended for 50 games in April, he's fourth in voting for outfielders.) But I think the idea of declaring that Manny can't play—in essence, removing him from the ballot—is a mistake. Let the vote be the fans' referendum on performance-enhancing drugs. If they elect a guy who's only played in 27 games, maybe that's evidence they just don't consider PED use that big a deal. Let's find out.

Air Apparent

Retired Lakers player, coach and G.M. Jerry West created a stir two weeks ago when he said that LeBron James has surpassed Kobe Bryant as an all-around player. West defended his remarks on my show. While he didn't backtrack, he did say he'd rather have Kobe take the last shot, and he paid Bryant the ultimate compliment: "He's been the closest thing we've seen to Michael Jordan."

Line of the week

Helio Castroneves on competing on Dancing with the Stars: "That was as much work as winning the Indy 500. You have a 19-year-old girl pointing at you—'Do this, Do that.' I'm like, Whoa, man, I have no idea what I'm doing here. Take it easy."