Charlie Weis has some strange obsessions

Around here, we despise everything Notre Dame.

It’s probably from growing up in Indiana, but it could be from our brother stealing all our Lucky Charms when we were small.

Granted, there about 10,000 easy reasons to hate the Fighting Irish (#45 — consistently overrated, #3,403 — a national (unbiased) network assigned to their games, #90 — Jimmy Clausen, #7,498 — leprechauns).

But easily at the top of the list is the “culture” the school pretends to have.

Notre Dame: You’re a college. You have dumb athletes on your team. They drink and try to find the hottest girls on campus, just like anywhere else.

Head coach Charlie Weis (he really owns that outfit doesn’t he?) seems to be especially deluded when it comes to Notre Dame’s awesomeness.

Which is why this nugget dug up by the South Bend Tribune didn’t surprise us in the least:

At the conclusion of the 2 1/2-hour session in full pads at Notre Dame Stadium, Weis commanded his 18 frosh to serenade the 2,000 or so curiosity-seekers with the school alma mater. . . “It was marginal,” Weis deadpanned of the vocal performance. “It was terrible yesterday.” Maybe that had something to do with the fact that the mandatory singing practice was held at 7:30 a.m., Friday.

Yes, I know about team-building and school spirit and all that crap, but this reeks of Weis actually being so douchey, he cares about how they sing the song. Plus, Weis sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Wrigley Field earlier this summer. What’s this obsession with the tunes?

One game last year, some of the guys weren’t singing or weren’t paying attention,” Weis said of the postgame tradition of singing the alma mater to the student section. “That’s not what Notre Dame is all about. It may not seem like something big to a lot of you guys, but it’s important to me.

Well, there it is. I knew this had a smell to it.

Charlie, I know you think Notre Dame is different than every other institution in the country, but it’s not. The football program and its perennially unreal expectations are the only reason it stands out.

The only thing you’re going to hear this year, Charlie, are chants of “Over – Rated” from student sections.

The Fynal Out: Wild, wild card

We’ve already said the Yankees are going to catch the Red Sox in the A.L. East.

The Wild Card race is a little more competitive.

Realistically, the Tigers, Indians, Mariners,Red Sox and if you want to stretch it — even the Blue Jays, could win the extra playoff spot.

Of those teams, Seattle is certainly doing all it can to hang with the Angels (if not overtake them) and stay on top of the Wild Card race.

Monday night was no exception, as the M’s won in dramatic fashion once again, this time topping the semi-struggling Minnesota Twins.

Twins 3, Mariners 4: It’s a walk off. Richie Sexson catapulted the M’s back into the Wild Card lead with his 9th-inning shot. Felix Hernandez outdueled his Latin counterpart Johan Santana (who never seems to get a win for what a great pitcher he is), but got a no-decision.

Athletics 7, Tigers 2: First place for a day was evidently good enough for the Tigers, who blew the chance to win their first series in about 6 months. Mark Ellis hit a 2-run shot in the first for the A’s, who got a strong outing out of Chad Gaudin. In addition, Placido Polanco set a record for second basemen, going his 144th game without an error.

Orioles 6, Yankees 7: Speaking of walk-offs, the Captain wouldn’t be outshone in the Bronx. Despite Mariano Rivera’s first blown save since April 20, Derek Jeter knocked in the winning run for the Bombers 4th straight. In his return to the lineup, Jorge Posada had 2 hits.

More scores…