The Six Best Sports Insider Blogs

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Joe Torre -- Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Blog: Hosted by MLBlogs, Dodgers manager Joe Torre documents his transition from a steely, jaded, and tough guy New Yorker into a Spago-dining, latte-sipping, shih tzu-owning, resident of sunny Los Angeles. Torre's blog rhapsodizes about life as a West Coaster and genuinely reflects his equally sunny "new outlook on life."

Why Read It: Torre's blog is a hybrid between ESPN, Fodor's Guide, and Perez Hilton. That's to say: it's about sports, travel, and the glamorous life of Los Angeles. Torre has surprisingly candid and knowledgeable opinions of modern culture for a 63-year old life-long baseball man (and grandfather). The blog is possibly ghostwritten, but Torre's wry yet sage personality shines through.

Most Revelatory Post: Torre's Andy Rooney-esque rant about miniature dogs shows that beneath the Dodger Blue and Hollywood lights, he's still just a lovable, curmudgeonly New Yorker at heart: "I have no idea where you'd put these little yip-yaps when you go to the restroom, or even why they're such a hot accessory; then again, I just moved from a town where people buy color-coordinated pepper spray cans."

Gilbert Arenas -- Point Guard, Washington Wizards

The Blog: Gilbert Arenas is one of the most colorful and popular players in pro basketball. His catchphrases and overabundance of charm would make even the writers of "Full House" blush. A self-described "honest" blogger who "really doesn't care what you think," Arenas' blog was a recipient of the 2007 Weblog Award for "Best Celebrity Blogger."

Why Read It: Arenas was thankfully born without any sort of filter between his brain and his mouth. As a result, his blog is incredibly candid and entertaining, giving readers a true taste of the man. Though Arenas is a tad verbose -- his most recent entry is 6,000 words long -- his entries are as easily digestible as a Dan Brown novel. Arenas' recent knee surgery will keep him sidelined until January, giving him plenty of time to crank out more novella-length blog posts.

Notable Post: Gilbert Arenas takes the cake for foot-in-mouth blog posts. There are many, but his commentary on this year's election gives insight into the man's astute political mind. On party affiliation: "If you have any type of money, you're a Republican, period." On tax reform: "I know Obama is going to raise taxes on the upper class from 20-60 percent." Most telling of all, his views on the very notion of suffrage: "Obviously, our vote doesn't really mean anything."

Anonymous Red Sox Front Office Insider

The Blog: This blog, also on the MLBlogs network, is exactly what it sounds like -- an unnamed Red Sox executive anonymously posting their thoughts and feelings about Boston's favorite team. He discusses everything from potential trades to Halloween costumes, but always with a fun and genuine baseball-loving attitude.

Why Read It: The best part of the Insider's blog is reading how the Red Sox higher-ups make decisions, especially since baseball management is notoriously unscientific and unpredictable. Trades, hirings, and firings can happen on only a few hours' notice, and the Insider is a witness to it all. Plus, it gives die-hard Sawx fans unprecedented access to one of the best-run front offices in baseball.

Notable Post: What's most revealing about the Insider's reaction to August's Manny Ramirez trade is what he doesn't say. While General Manager Theo Epstein remarked that without Ramirez the Sox "feel like a team for the first time in a while," the Insider laments that "we had a great run with Manny, but it's time to move on." That's an understatement if there ever was one.