Morning Head: This Rory kid is alright

Erin Heatherton says happy Monday.

Apologies for the absence recently. Work and a wedding put a damper on last week's blogging. But I'm back and bringing the heat, at least until my wife has this baby, then I'll probably disappear for a while, because it may be frowned upon if I'm looking for pictures of girls in bikinis or lingerie while my wife is taking care of our child. Maybe not.

BREAKING: Nick Lidstrom is coming back. This is awesome for several reasons. One, the best defenseman ever is coming back for another season with the Red Wings. Two, I really think this will help lure a big-time free-agent defenseman with the Brian Rafalski money the Wings now have laying around. If you're a younger defenseman, is there anyone you'd rather play next to? No. Should be interesting to hear what he re-signed for. Frankly, I don't care what it was, it's worth it. (Red Wings)

I listened to much of the final round of the U.S. Open on the radio, which, as you could guess, isn't all that exciting. Sean McDonough was the main announcer, so that helped, because it made me think of college football season, but golf wasn't meant for the radio. When you throw in the fact that the only thing in doubt after the first hole on the final day was how badly Rory McIlroy would destroy the field, I'm lucky I didn't fall asleep. But I was into it. I like McIlroy, and there's a big part of me that hopes this the beginning of a Tiger-like run for him. I don't know if he's going to do it, because golf is a funny game, but what he's done in the last two majors (not counting the final round collapse at Augusta, of course) is ridiculous. Golf could use someone like him, a personable, marketable, dominant force. (Devil Ball Golf)

It seems we've found a serious flaw in Justin Verlander's game: He can't hit. So, if the Tigers ever get moved to the National League, well, it wouldn't even matter then. He's still a light's-out pitcher, and currently one of the best in the majors. The Tigers are still in second place, a game back of the Indians, but that's not going to last much longer than the All-Star break. (DetNews)

Jackass star Ryan Dunn died in a car accident early this morning. That's sad news, but it really is amazing that he's the first one of these guys to die, and that it was a car accident that ended up killing him. (TMZ)

Jon Stewart went on FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace and had to explain to Wallace that he's different than him, and Comedy Central is different than FOX, MSNBC and other cable news channels. Stewart is a comedian who does political commentary. This isn't that hard to understand. (Poynter)

Today's Amazingness, Mumford and Sons, "Roll Away Your Stone":