Trade Shockwaves, Masking the Problem in Beijing and a Press Pass Tease

The NFL trade winds kept whippin' Monday, sending disgruntled NY Giants Tight End Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans for a 2nd and 5th round draft choice. That Shockey was heading out the door, to New Orleans at that, was far from a surprise. SI's Peter King, among many others, were predicting this deal since before the NFL Draft. What is shocking was that everyone suddenly thinks Shockey is going to be a perfect fit in the New Orleans offense.

Shockey is unhappy playing for the Super Bowl Champions, a lover of the nightlife scene, injury prone and was a complete spoiled jerk to his teammates and the Giants front office — he blew up on Giants GM Jerry Reese recently — but now that he's traded, all the sudden he's a Saint? Look people, it's just a team nickname, it's still the same Jeremy Shockey. Yes, he's talented, but a change in scenery won't automatically mean a change in attitude or make him less brittle. At least New Orleans doesn't have much of a nightlife scene ... oh ... wait.

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There's trouble (more of it) brewing in the air in Beijing where athletes are being given "top secret" filtration masks to protect them from the awful atmospheric conditions in China (also known as one of the two countries that prevented the U.S. from signing the Kyoto Protocols). U.S. athletes apparently are hesitant because they feel it may slight their hosts, others are holding back because they think it makes them look goofy. Besides, nothing says "cool" like the black lung.

The air quality in China is heinous. But, the IOC President Jacques Rogge is doing what the IOC does best, turning a blind eye to potential problems. The decision to use the masks will be up to the individual country's delegations — and they could even be used during competitions if a particular sport's governing body decides to employ them — but Rogge, well, he just doesn't see the point.

"I recommend athletes not to wear masks because our experts say they are not efficient," Mr. Rogge said. "They can do whatever they want, but I'm telling them it's totally useless."

Atta-boy, Jacques. That's the way to reassure them. Use a line that feels like it was spoken by the arch-villain in Captain Planet.

"Nothing will save you from the plethora of lung ailments you're bound to contract while pursuing dreams of glory you've harbored since childhood. Muwahahaha! Now I must retire to nap on my bed of money and spotted-owl feathers."

Human rights abuse, free speech restrictions, ridiculously poor health conditions ... why exactly are the games in Beijing again?

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On the music front, Press Pass sits down with Steve Perry, the frontman for the Cherry Poppin' Daddies this week and discusses their perception problem. Ever since "Swingers" hit theaters and "Zoot Suit Riot" hit it big, they've been seen as a swing band. Not true. Perry has bristled at the label ever since.

When I spoke with him, I wanted to pin him down. How exactly does he define the far-ranging music of the Daddies? "Body music," Perry says. Interesting way of putting it. More to come on Thursday when the full article can be read in the News-Press.

Further tweezing ...

• The DesMoines Register is reporting there may have been a conspiracy by the University Iowa to keep under wraps an alleged sexual assault by two football players. I don't see this one blowing quite as big as Duke Lacrosse — conspiracies are hard to prove, that's why their "conspiracies" and not "plans" — but if you read the story, one thing is clear: If this is not a cover-up (and it does smell a little like one), the recommended process for reporting sexual assaults at the University of Iowa is absurd and needs to be fixed. These structures are supposed to exist to reassure students (and victims) that the appropriate actions are being taken to ensure their future safety. Instead, Iowa's system just muddies the waters by involving endless administrative bureaucratic bodies, leading to no accountability and no action. Why the heck is the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity involved? In fact, their involvement is standard procedure in cases like this. Again ... why?

• Sports Illustrated's John Heyman is again reporting that Washington Nationals' GM Jim Bowden's seat is getting warmer. The trades he's made haven't hurt the Nationals — I saw Terrmel Sledge, Brad Wilkerson and Gary Majewski on my milk carton this morning — but they haven't helped. Austin Kearns (.221 avg.), Felipe Lopez (.242) and Willy Mo Pena (.205, 2 HR) were Bowden's boys. Looks like their lack of success is going to bring him down with them. And those money skimming rumors concerning Dominican signees can't be helping either.

• Musical revelation of the day: Tristan Prettyman, a soulful singer-songwriter from San Diego (she had me at the alliteration), is opening for future Press Pass featuree G. Love & Special Sauce. Listened to her duet with the band on Love's MySpace page, which led to her own site. Wow. This girl's got something special. Listen for yourself.