The latest edition of Tomatoes covers a smorgasbord of sports topics, from hot dogs and Major League Eating, to NBA free agency, to the World Cup and more.

So as the headlines continue to get generated, more stories of sports frustration emerge.  Don’t sweat it, The Wife Hates Sports has them covered – in lycopene, that is.

Throwing Tomatoes: July 5, 2010

Takeru Kobayashi

…for biting off more than he can chew.

The Coney Island Fourth of July hot dog contest has become a bizarre, yet famous event – featuring two headlining Major League eaters in Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut.

Well, except for this year, when Kobayashi wanted more freedom, and therefore refused to sign a new deal with Major League Eating.  He still showed up to the event, and after chants from the crowd to let him participate, Kobayashi rushed the stage – and after refusing to be removed, he was arrested and spent a night in jail.

What a wiener.

JaMarcus Russell

JaMarcus Russell arrested on possession of a controlled substance

The former Oakland Raiders top pick is at it again.

JaMarcus Russell has been arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance – specifically codeine syrup.

With months of speculation as to whether Russell will catch on with another NFL team, it’s now safe to say that a playbook will not be the type of book that gets thrown at him.

Charlie Manuel

… for ignoring Stephen Strasburg as an NL All-Star representative.

Leaving Joey Votto off the original list of NL All-Stars is a crime, but the most talked about omission should be Washington rookie Stephen Strasburg, who was a topic for discussion heading into the voting’s final days.

I understand the argument that others should get a shot over a kid who has six starts under his belt for the season.

At least, I understood that a few years ago – when the All-Star was an exhibition that meant nothing.

Now it means home field advantage in the World Series, and therefore Strasburg’s 2.45 ERA and 53 K’s in 36 2/3 innings is that much more valuable – and should be All-Star worthy.

Atlanta Hawks

…for signing Joe Johnson to a max deal.

So I’m thinking that perhaps the Atlanta Hawks felt they had to sign Johnson to a max deal – so that they could keep the star in town, and they thought they likely couldn’t attract two other stars with the same kind of money.

I’m speculating.

But still, even though Johnson clarified his nasty comments to Atlanta fans – saying that he did love it in Atlanta – it’s possible that the locals are still not pleased with this signing, especially the way he and the Hawks showed up in the playoffs.

Who knows, but from this point of view – Johnson has a lot to prove to earn the Benjamins that are being placed in front of him.

LeBron James

…for “pulling a Brett Favre”.

Please LeBron, no more dates on when you will sign!

Listen, I’m all for LeBron taking his time when making such a major decision in his career – Ireally am.

But what I’m not a fan of is James going in the direction of Brett Favre – and leading everyone along a stretch of indecision – albeit in its early stages.

First, he says he’ll have a decision made before the holiday weekend is over with – and now, James has gone on to say that he’ll decide by July 8^th – the official day that NBA teams can begin to get contracts with players finalized.

C’mon King – just tell the media (and the world) that you’re weighing your options and don’t place a date on it.  If you keep tossing out dates, you’ll be starring in a Sears commercial with Brett Favre himself.

Fernando Torres

…for not showing up to the World Cup.

There are a number of teams and players that have not lived up to their potential in this year’s World Cup – but none is more glaring than Spain’s Fernando Torres – who not only hasn’t scored a goal in the World Cup, but spanning across five games (four started), Torres only has two shots on goal.

His lack of production has gotten to be so alarming, Spain has actually considered benching him in the team’s semifinal match versus Germany.

Oakland Athletics

…for creating t-shirts regarding the Braden-Rodriguez incident from a few months ago.

For starters, does everyone even recall the incident back on April 22^nd – when Oakland starter Dalas Braden got into a verbal spat with New York’s Alex Rodriguez, all after A-Rod chose to childishly walk over Braden’s pitching mound?

Now, as reported by Andrew Merchand of ESPNNewYork.com, the A’s haven’t let go – and plan to try and make a buck off the incident, selling t-shirts that simply state, “Get Off My Mound.”

Geez Louise, are the A’s still selling “Bash Brothers” shirts, too?

C’mon Oakland – no one cares about this incident anymore… they barely did to begin with.

This has been Throwing Tomatoes, where we take our dogs with extra ketchup.

Michael Jordan coming back to the NBA and signing with the Wizards was just a drop in the bucket.

Alexander Ovechkin didn’t brew anywhere near this kind of hype and status in his early days with the Capitals.

Joe Gibbs returning to coach the Washington Redskins wasn’t even this big.

In fact, the only hyped up story in the nation’s capital that could top the arrival of Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg is President Obama himself – upon being elected the first black president in the history of the country.

Sure, it’s not a fair comparison to tie in politics with sports, but let’s face it – D.C. is as passionate about their politics as they are about their sports franchises.

That’s what brings us to the big day… Tuesday June 8^th, where the wait is over for Nats fans… for Washington D.C…. and for the game of baseball.

The talented triple-digit fireballer is here – making his debut at Nationals Park against Jeff Karstens and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Once the news hit officially, the game was sold out in two hours.

So now that Strasburg’s time is here, the question remains as to whether the hype is worth it.

Well, is it?

Many critics may chime in to say no way – but I beg to differ.

It is worth it, and I truly believe that, even after hearing about and watching Mark Prior as he put an early stamp on the game of baseball – dominating daily for the Cubs – until it all came crashing down.

It’s a fair realization to understand that baseball can be a fragile game – that injuries can and do occur.

It’s also fair to point out that the major league level is a big difference from AAA – and that even after posting gaudy minor league numbers (7-2, 1.30 ERA, 65 K’s in 55 1/3 IP across AA and AAA), that doesn’t mean that Strasburg will be an instant hit.

In fact, he could be instantly hit upon.

Yes, even that 100mph heater, too.

But the hype is deserved and it’s legitimate, because for a long period of time, Strasburg was presented as the consensus top pick in the draft – and that his stuff was so nasty, that he would force his way to the majors sooner rather than later.

That statement has held true.

The hype is also necessary and deserved because no one else in the nation’s capital has been able to steal away the spotlight from Strasburg.

The Redskins have underachieved in recent seasons, and while the McNabb-Shanahan combo has brought excitement, neither has played a game – therefore not showing D.C. that the duo will bring new life, instead of being just the next in a long line of hyped up disappointments.

The Presidents Trophy winning Capitals have upped their game during the NHL regular season, but underachieved in the postseason.

The Wizards won the lottery, but John Wall is still just a pipe dream, and not a talent signed and ready to play.  That, plus the Arenas gun story still continues to leave a dark cloud over the D.C. pro hoops world.

That leaves the Nationals – a team that since returning to the nation’s capital as the “artist formerly known as the Montreal Expos”, this newer DC baseball franchise still hasn’t posted a winning season (since its debut in 2005).

Source: Getty Images

Enter some significant improvement in 2010, with a record near the .500 mark as the midway point approaches, plus add in the most hyped pitcher in the game in Strasburg.

So that’s why the hype is deserved – because Strasburg can flat out pitch and because no one else can swipe that hype away.

Now it leaves the question as to how the kid will perform with the entire country watching?

My take is that Strasburg will put in a quality start against the Pirates, and be a serviceable starter as the season continues.  He won’t put up gaudy Ubaldo-like numbers just yet, but he will continue to grow, and Washington D.C. will continue to love their brand spankin-new franchise player.

And after that… they’ll open their arms again for another can’t-miss guy in Bryce Harper – who was recently drafted by the Nationals with the top pick in the 2010 MLB Draft.

Well, that is… if they can manage to sign him.

But for now, the spotlight is all on Strasburg.

“Get your popcorn ready.”