The Rays fired the person who wears the Raymond outfit without explanation. Maybe they want an actual male taking over the role!

Big Brother is watching!

The newest addition to the Brewers racing sausage family is on the shelf for marketing reasons. David Brown suspects something else.

MLB says it needs to formally study El Picante for permanent use, much as it would any fresh mascot, logo, color change, team meat, etc. If Pico, in 12-18 months, passes muster(d) he will return to the majors.

That's what baseball says.

They aren't saying everything. What might they be hiding?

Only, perhaps, the biggest drug scandal to rock sport since the one from a couple of days ago, is all.

In the wake of recent doping allegations in baseball and elsewhere, it wasn't surprising Sunday to learn that Pico the Sausage tested positive for levels of silicon dioxide 11 times the legal limit allowed by the World Racing Association of Professional Sausages.

Will these scandals never end? :-)

Youppi's! stay in limbo is over.

Youppi! will become the first mascot in professional sports history to move from one league to another when he makes his debut for the Canadiens in October 2005.

"It is with great pleasure that we can now count Youppi! as an official member of our organization," Canadiens president Pierre Boivin said. "Youppi! has touched the lives of countless fans of all ages with both his in-game enthusiasm and with his generosity throughout the Montreal community."

The Canadians denied rumors that the orange creature with the big caboose was suffering from depression after being jettisoned by the Expos. However, court documents indicate he applied to change his name to Youppi.