Field Level

Three Games To Decide NL Playoffs

2008-09-26T14:58:00.002-04:00

Carlos Beltran, walk-off RBI single. Ryan Braun, walk-off Grand Slam. New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers are all even. 88-71. One game behind the NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies who sit at 89-70.

The Phillies play three games at home against the Washington Nationals. The weather should be cold and wet. With Joe Blanton, Jamie Moyer and Cole Hamels starting each of the games, I would think the Phils will take two of three. The Phillies will face some decent pitching from the Nationals, but more importantly a suddenly surging offense. 2 of 3 will give the Phils a season record of 91-71.

The Brewers play three games at home against the NL Central Champion Chicago Cubs. The weather should be great up there on Lake Michigan. The Brew Crew will have a semi-injured Jeff Suppan starting the first game followed by Dave Bush and then CC Sabathia. With the Cubbies probably resting some more players in the first game and possibly the first two games I would think the Brewers will take two of three also. Should finish the season 90-72.

The New York Mets play three games at home against the Florida Marlins. The weather should be that same cold and wet that Philadelphia will get. The Mets have Mike Pelfrey in the first game, followed by 21-year old Jonathon Niese and then Ace Johan Santana on the finale day of Shea Stadium. The Mets hit and they win. Pelfrey and Santana should give them great starts and hopefully will pitch 7+ innings. Niese is the wild card (Ha). The Mets should hope for 5 solid innings from the kid and hope that the offense gives them a lot of runs and a solid lead. If they get that on Saturday afternoon the Mets will win. They should sweep the Marlins and finish the season 91-71.

NL East Champions = NY Mets
NL Wild Card = Philadelphia Phillies
NL Out-of-Luck Team = Milwaukee Brewers

BoSox Thump Rockies in Game One

2007-10-25T11:24:00.000-04:00

I know how excited the Red Sox Nation is right now - I'm friends with enough of them to figure that they think this World Series will be finished come Sunday night. After last night's drubbing, they have reason to feel that confident. But it won't be that easy.

The Rockies looked and played like a team that was both scared to be playing under the brightest lights, and also hadn't played in more than a week. Their bats, for the most part, didn't come into play and the pitching was dreadful. They didn't do much of anything good during last night's 13-1 loss to the Sox, but I'm sticking to my prediction that this World Series will go 6 games...Sox in 6.

Manny and Papi were great (as usual) but how about guys like Kevin Youkilis, Julio Lugo and even J.D. Drew coming up big. Yooouuuuukilis has been a steady performer for the Sox for a few years now, but he's just scorching the ball. Lugo and Drew both struggled in their first season in Boston but the "Nation" will forget all about .237 and .270 with a total of 19 Home Runs if they keep delivering in the Fall Classic.

And then you get to Mr. Dominance in October, aka Josh Beckett. Just filthy on the bump again. 9 K's and just 1 Walk over 7 innings. He's got another start in him and if needed can probably throw a game in relief.

The Rockies need two guys to get going with the bats...Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins. They also could use some pitching, but I'm sure that it was first game jitters and the layoff that played the biggest factor in the 13-1 loss. Sox fans need to remember that they beat the Indians easily in the first game and then had to claw their way back to win the ALCS...this series is going to be a good one.

Leader Needed for Mets

2007-10-14T13:22:00.000-04:00

As I try to climb out of the hole that New York Mets made all of their fans fall into I have thought long and hard about why the 2007 Mets fell apart in the last few weeks of the season. My only conclusion - they lacked a true leader in the clubhouse. The player or players that would get the rest of the guys fired up or even stir the pot by challenging the team to play sound ball. The few guys on the Mets that people look at as superstars aren't that leader...yet.

David Wright has all the makings of being a leader someday, but he's only 24 years old and it isn't his role just yet. Jose Reyes is a great player, but I'm not sure if that will ever be his role. Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and Aaron Heilman are all top notch players but they are more reserved and quiet. The same can be said for future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, he's not a get in your face kind of guy. Other players like Moises Alou and Luis Castillo were both in the first year with the team and probably didn't feel like it was their duty (just yet). Pedro was away from the club until early September and might have felt it wasn't his job to step in and chastise the guys that had played all season. Guys like Paul Lo Duca and Billy Wagner tried to fire the team up but it must have fallen on deaf ears when they didn't produce down the stretch.

The two guys that the Mets missed this season...Julio Franco and Jose Valentin. Franco was released during the All-Star break and Valentin was lost to injury around the same time. These two veterans gave the Mets two voices and strong personalities in the lockeroom. I'm not certain that the collapse would've been stopped, but having veterans that aren't shy about what they say to their teammates is invaluable and was missed in mid-late September.

I'm sure some changes will be made this offseason in Queens...but one aspect that Omar and Willie need to address is bringing in a few players that can and will take the leadership role of the Mets.

Giambi Apologizes

2007-05-18T11:20:00.000-04:00

Yankees DH Jason Giambi stepped up and said what hundreds of players should have already said...that Major League Baseball should apologize for the steroid problem that is hanging over the sport like the darkest of clouds.

"I was wrong for doing that stuff," Giambi said Wednesday before the Yanks played the Chicago White Sox. "What we should have done a long time ago was stand up players, ownership, everybody and said: 'We made a mistake.'

It has been widely rumord that in 2003 Giambi told a federal grand jury during the BALCO investigation that he used steroids and human growth hormone. Giambi also said that he's happy about Major League Baseball's new steroids testing program that also checks for amphetamines.

I think Giambi, Bonds, Canseco, Palmiero and McGwire are guys that will always have the public perception of cheaters...but let's be honest - there were only a few players in the 90's and until about two years ago that weren't using perfomance enhancing drugs.

They all should apologize, because even if Mark Grace or Derek Jeter or John Olerud never used them, they played each played with a hundred or so that did.

He's Baaaaack

2007-05-08T17:37:00.000-04:00

I'm not talking about Roger Clemens...I'm talking about 'Field Level'.

In my hiatus a lot of great things have happened in sports. The NCAA crowned a back-to-back champion in basketball. Oh yeah, they also crowned that same school in football. De La Hoya lost to Mayweather, Jr. The Colts and Peyton Manning won the Super Bowl.

I'm glad to have posted a tid bit and hope that in the coming months the bloggersphere will catch me and give me the push that I had from mid-2005 to mid-2006.

The Great Garcia

2006-12-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

Jeff Garcia has led the Eagles on an improbable run to the postseason since taking over for Donovan McNabb and tomorrow he will try to lead the Eagles to another division title when they host the Falcons. His return to prominence has been almost storybook-like.

Two weeks after replacing the injured McNabb, Garcia and the Eagles needed a win at home against Carolina. Although Garcia played good in his first start of the season against the Colts the game did not go well for the team as they lost 45-21. The game against Panthers didn’t start off good either as the Eagles trailed 14-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, Garcia was hearing the loud boos from the Philly fans when he led the Eagles and beat Carolina, 27-24. Garcia completed 21 of 39 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been on fire ever since…

Garcia is now a fan favorite in Philadelphia. The Eagles are red hot, having won four straight games to reach 9-6 and come within one win of earning their fifth NFC East title in six seasons.

I’m not saying that they are the team to beat in the NFC. I still think the Bears are, even with their own QB inconsistencies. But the soon to be 37-year old Garcia has picked up the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia like few have before and in such a short time no less. It is very reminiscent of his play with the 49ers back in 1999. He made that team and city believe that they were still a championship quality team. His three seasons of 2000, 2001 and 2002 were as good as they get statistically. As a passer he was accurate and very good and he added the running element to his game that made him an even greater threat.

Pct. Yds. TD INT Yds TD
63.3 4278 31 10 414 4
62.7 3538 32 12 254 5
62.1 3344 21 10 353 3

He might be getting up in age now but the San Jose State alumnus is on a mission to prove that he can still be a quarterback that does the job in the NFL, where there are about a dozen teams that need significant help at the position.

Some Thursday Thoughts

2006-11-30T13:43:00.000-05:00

-Wow, what's Michael Strahan's deal? I'm not sure if he realized it or not but the reporter that he spoke so disrepectfully to was doing her job. It didn't seem like she was trying to cause conflict in the Giants lockeroom ... if anything Strahan already did that when he called out Plaxico. Shame on Strahan - he should apologize to that reporter.

-Tony Romo is playing great football right now. At this rate, I hate to say it, they might be the team to beat in the NFC. I think the powers in the AFC will win the Super Bowl again this year but I would hate to see the Cowboys make it.

-Albert Pujols is complaining that he didn't win the National League MVP Award? Is this guy joking? I'm not sure if he knows it or not but Ryan Howard's numbers were as good as they get and had anybody pitched to him in the finals three weeks of the season he probably would've hit 65 dingers. Pujols says that the MVP should come from a guy who's team makes the playoffs...lucky for him that the NL Central was so bad this year - the Cards won the division with 83 wins. Newsflash to Albert, the Phillies won 85 games and missed the playoffs because they played in a better division.

-The three best teams in the NBA might all reside in Texas. Dallas is currently 11-4, San Antonio is 11-5 and Houston is 10-5. I see all three playing deep into the playoffs because they all have good guard play and good big men.

-Manny Pacquiao KO'd Erik Morales in the 3rd Round of their fight last weekend...the rubber match between these two great champions. Pac-man is no joke. He hits harder than any 130 pounder on this Earth and is as fast as Junior Earnhardt's #8 car. I enjoy watching him box.

-Ben Wallace has a problem with Chicago Bulls Head Coach Scott Skiles enforcing a no headband rule. I don't blame him. That's exactly what Skiles should be worrying about right now...what his players are wearing around their heads. Maybe he should just be happy that he's got one of the best defensive players in the NBA on his team and he should focus on getting his guys to play better?

-The New Jersey Nets will win the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division this year...and probably have a losing record...that's sad.

"Idiot? No, Not Me"

2006-11-17T12:23:00.000-05:00

So about three years ago during an ESPN Sunday Night Football Game Joe Theismann called Keyshawn Johnson an 'idiot' for the whole feud he was having with Bucs Head Coach Jon Gruden. Keyshawn got his chance last weekend to have a word with Mr. Theismann and I think he had every right to.

I think sports commentators should pick their spots when it comes to throwing words around...and in this case I think Joe shouldn't have called Keyshawn anything. Had it been for Keyshawn's idiotic remarks in his book about Wayne Chrebet and flashlights - sure, that was stupid...but the whole mess with the Bucs and Gruden wasn't stupid. I would go as far as to say that both parties were wrong in that split. Former teammates of Keyshawn have even come out since and said that the coach and organization handled it wrong so that is good enough for me.

I'm sure you've read the quote on either ESPN.com or FoxSports.com, but I absolutely love it...

"The guy called me an idiot a couple of years ago when I was de-activated in Tampa," Johnson said. "I just told him that's not acceptable. I'm a guy with a degree from the University of Southern California. Idiots don't get degrees. Especially when you don't know what transpired within the organization, I'd just assume you would keep your mouth shut, because the next time that I'm an idiot on national television, I'm not going to be so nice. That was pretty much the conversation."

Way to stand up for yourself Keyshawn - you're not an idiot and you've been a fantastic receiver for a long time - now go be the little flashlight on the Panthers to the star that we call Steve Smith.

Oh What A Fight!!!

2006-11-14T12:37:00.000-05:00

I’m absolutely thrilled that the "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya, is going to defend his junior middleweight championship on May 5, 2007 against “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, Jr. the welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king of boxing. This fight has the makings to be one of the all-time best. The early talk is that the fight will be at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but no matter where they square off it will bring two of the best boxers on the last decade into the ring to battle each other.

Mayweather (37-0, 24 KOs) fresh off of his dominating win over Carlos Baldomir is a boxing prodigy. If ever you could call someone in sports the ‘Tiger Woods of….” it makes perfect sense with Floyd. He was born into a boxing family and raised to be a boxer. I’ve watched him fight over a dozen times now and have never been disappointed. Even though he’s just 29 years old he is saying that this will be his last fight…what a way to go out.

De La Hoya (38-4, 30 KOs) beat up on Ricardo Mayorga earlier this year with a decisive TKO in the 6th Round. I honestly thought that might be it for Oscar…but one more shot to stamp his name on boxing is too enticing to keep him away.

The Golden Boy is actually trained by Floyd Mayweather, Sr. making this fight even more interesting. Senior and Junior don’t speak to one another…Junior is trained by his uncle Roger Mayweather and friend Leonard Ellerbee. The subplot of whether or not Senior will coach Oscar to beat his son is thicker than you could believe.

I hope this fight gives us 12 rounds of perfect boxing…and it comes down to who worked harder in the ring. I also hope that Mayweather, Sr. stays out of this fight…no need for him to train De La Hoya against his own flesh and blood.

This and That from the NFL and More...

2006-11-13T10:55:00.000-05:00

First off, let me reiterate that I truly believe that Michael Vick is the most overrated athlete in all of sports. I know, he had two fantastic games a several weeks back and everybody said, “Wow – Michael Vick is finally getting the West Coast Offense and he’s going to be the best quarterback in the history of the NFL!” Let’s not get ahead of ourselves people…did you see what his stat line was yesterday or last Sunday?

Let me spit some numbers at you…from his last two games (both losses)

At Detroit – 17-32 for 163 yards passing with 2 INTs and a fumble…
Vs. Cleveland - 16-40 for 197 yards passing with 2 INTs and a fumble…

That’s just downright BAD.

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LaDainian is the best ever. He’s one of the most incredible running backs to ever walk on this Earth. With all due respect to the Great Three – Jim Brown, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders – LT is better than everybody. He runs, he catches, he blocks, he even throws…he’s unstoppable. And when a team actually does find a way to slow him down, the Chargers offense gets the job done by throwing the ball to Antonio Gates, Keenan McCardell and the rest of the receivers…

LT is only 27 years old…he’s got almost 8,300 yards rushing, 386 career receptions in his young career with 98 total TD (rushing and receiving). And like I said earlier, the man has five passing TD’s.

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Let us give the Washington Nationals and GM Jim Bowden a hand for hiring Mets third-base coach Manny Acta as their new manager.
Acta is set to replace Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, the man he worked as third-base coach from 2002-04 when the Nats were still in Montreal.
Manny is just a young 37, and will be the fourth Dominican to manage in the major leagues. Felipe Alou is clearly the most recognized of the bunch and the only one to have a winning record. Felipe managed the Montreal Expos from 1992 until 2001 and most recently with San Francisco from 2003 until last season. Tony Pena managed the Kansas City Royals from 2002 until 2005 and went 198-285 and Luis Pujols went 55-100 in Detroit in 2002 after Phil Garner was fired after the first week of the season.
I’m hoping that Acta gets a good opportunity to make Washington into a winner. He’s got a great city to work in with a new ballpark opening in a few years…this could be the job of lifetime for a young manager. Good luck Manny.

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Yao is on fire right now...the Rockets might be for real this season.

Da Bears and More...

2006-11-07T14:18:00.000-05:00

-Don't get your underwear all in bunch about da Bears losing to the Dolphins on Sunday...they're still probably the best team in the NFC.
-Donny McNabb better lead the Eagles to a victory this Sunday against the Redskins or people might call for Andy Reid's job.
-The Yankees are going after Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte...shocking.
-The Dallas Mavericks are 0-3...and they still have 79 games left in the season.
-I bet the Cubbies try to trade for A-Rod to reunite him with Lou Piniella. They'll move him back to Shortstop and resign both Juan Pierre and Aramis Ramirez. Talk about a WIN situation for A-Rod...he would go to a ball club that hasn't won squat since 1908 - all he can do is help them turn it around.
They could have a lineup that reads like this...
CF Juan Pierre
LF Matt Murton
1B Derrek Lee
SS Alex Rodriguez
3B Aramis Ramirez
C Michael Barrett
RF Jacque Jones
2B Who cares?

Best in Baseball (So Far)

2006-09-09T14:57:00.000-04:00

Here's my Top Ten as of this writing on Saturday, September 9th.

As you'll notice I've got my favorite team as the number one...but lucky for me the Mets have the best record in baseball and are just days away from being the first team to clinch a division title. The next 9 teams might make some people wonder...and only eight of these teams will be playing ball after October 1st.

Number 10
Angels - They are really lucky to have so many home games coming down the stretch. Average away team and a very good team at home. But no playoffs in '06.

Number 9
Cardinals - This team is nowhere near as good as they've been in the past. With Mulder done for the season and Izzy on the shelf this team is a weak division champ that will finish with about 85 wins and exit early in the postseason. NL Central Champs

Number 8
Phillies - I'm pulling for this team, I really am. Their bullpen makes me sick and they aren't getting any hitting out of the 3rd baseman. Ryan Howard is the NL MVP...even if they don't win the Wild Card spot (I think they will) the kid has been beyond great. NL Wild Card runner-up again.

Number 7
Padres - Some good veteran leadership should keep this team in the Wild Card hunt until the last days of the season. Piazza, Cameron, Roberts and Giles need to hit the ball when over the last four weeks if they want to hold off Philadelphia. NL Wild Card

Number 6
Dodgers - Pitching and defense. Nomar should be the NL Comeback Player of the Year and having Furcal and Lofton hitting 1-2 is going to cause problems for opposing teams. NL West Champs.

Number 5
Athletics - Billy Ball is better than ever. I have absolutely no idea how this team has won as many as they have? Good for them...I love watching the small market teams win and play quality ball. This might be the year they get out of the ALDS and into the ALCS...AL West Champs.

Number 4
Tigers - I know, I know - I'm an idiot. HaHa. Don't be surprised to see this team in the '06 Fall Classic. Although the young arms that did it from April through July are starting to get tired and the explosive offense isn't so much anymore, they will make it out of the AL. They'll win the AL Central, and lose in the Series. AL Central Champs and American League Champions.

Number 3
Twins - Even though they'll finish second in their division they're playing much better ball heading into October than Detroit. If Liriano comes back and is as lights out as he was earlier this year they have two studs (Liriano and Santana) and a great bullpen going into the playoffs. If not, early exit.
AL Wild Card.

Number 2
Yankees - The boys from the Bronx eliminated their rivals from Boston in one long weekend in late August. The five-game sweep has propelled the Yankees into the AL's top spot. I still think they don't have enough pitching but will love to watch their matchup against the Twins in the ALDS. AL East Champs

Number 1
Mets - Best record in baseball and the best overall team in baseball. Hitting (average and power), pitching (starting and bullpen), defense and speed are all at the top in the bigs. If Pedro gets healthy for October they are the team to beat in baseball. NL East Champs and World Champions

My Picks...

2006-06-27T10:21:00.000-04:00

Alright - so I was wrong about the NBA Finals...you got me. Hats off to D-Wade, Shaq and the boys for completely taking a series that was the Mavericks even after Game 3.

I wanted to quickly run-down my picks in both leagues for the starters in the MLB All-Star game. I'll start with the AL

AL
C Ivan Rodriguez - Pudge is still the best all-around at the position.
1B David Ortiz - Big Papi is a DH, but you need him in the game.
2B Mark Loretta - Not much to choose from here.
SS Derek Jeter - Jeter has the nod over Tejada...but not by much.
3B Hank Blaylock - Hankie has the edge on A-Rod because of better numbers.
OF Vernon Wells - Simply great so far this season.
OF Manny Ramirez - The man mashes.
OF Ichiro Suzuki - .359 BA with 27 SBs...he's wonderful.

NL
C Mike Piazza - I wish he was still in New York to enjoy this championship season.
1B Albert Pujols - Several weeks on the DL doesn't slow down his incredible numbers.
2B Chase Utley - Dan Uggla has a few better numbers, but Utley deserves it.
SS Jose Reyes - Leads the majors in Runs, Triples and SBs...and has a .302 BA = LOCK
3B David Wright - Blowing away all NL third basemen in almost every category.
OF Alfonso Soriano - Move to LF looks good now with 24 Dongs. Also has 18 SBs.
OF Andruw Jones - Still the best defensive OF ever - and he's driven in 64 runs.
OF Carlos Beltran - Top 5 in a bunch of important categories...OPS, Runs, HR, RBI...

Starting Pitchers...
AL Francisco Liriano - The Twinkie can bring it and his ERA and K's prove it.
NL Brandon Webb - Arguably the best pitcher in the league right now.

Let's see how the voting comes out...but I suspect I might have a good lineup right here.

Mavericks Will Win

2006-06-05T15:59:00.000-04:00

I hate to fill fans of the Miami Heat in on a lil secret but the Dallas Mavericks are going to win the 2006 NBA Finals.

The Heat stormed their way through the Eastern Conference Playoffs. They beat the heck out of the Detroit Pistons in six games and right now are playing at an extremely high level. Pat Riley has this team playing great team ball and excellent team defense. Riles has Shaq playing strong and intense and D-Wade playing better than anybody on the planet. But there is one thing that makes me think the Heat just can't beat the Mavs...The Mavs are too deep and with the exception of D-Wade - way too fast.

Dirk Nowitzki is going to cause major matchup problems for Miami. Shaq and Mourning will take turns pushing him around as will Udonis Haslem. But if Haslem covers Dirk, who's covering Josh Howard? And the other problem I see is that Miami can't match up with Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse. What about Devin Harris and Keith Van Horn? The team speed of Dallas is going to wear down Miami. The first few games will be close and might be tied at 2-2...but after that it will be all Mavs.

People who think the Heat will use Shaq's muscle to win a title have a valid point...but let's remember that Dallas has Erick Dampier (Shaq's buddy) and DeSagana Diop, two big guys that play tough D and rebound the ball.

Wade will get his points - I expect a lot of them...but I don't expect old guys like Walker, Mourning and Payton to do much on the offensive end. This series will come down to speed, bench depth and mis-matches. I like the Mavericks to win in six games. Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson are going to be riding high in Big D.

Piazza Delivers 400th Career Homerun

2006-04-27T11:40:00.000-04:00

I wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate the greatest hitting catcher in the history of major league baseball…Michael Joseph Piazza. Piazza drove another one of his signature homeruns into the deep left center field seats in San Diego yesterday on a 2-2 pitch from Arizona closer Jose Valverde.

177 HRs with the LA Dodgers
220 HRs with the NY Mets
3 HRs with the SD Padres

He will be a first ballot Hall of Famer and will don the New York Mets cap that he wore for more than seven and a half years. Mets fans everywhere miss him, but all smiled when they heard the news.

Old Man River is in the Books

2006-04-21T13:45:00.000-04:00

There aren’t many guys still playing from the height of my baseball card collecting years. Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Terry Mulholland, Curt Schilling and several other pitchers. Barry Bonds has recreated himself into Lou Ferigno and Omar Vizquel is still going strong in terms of position players. But one man that I grew up watching is older than all that I have mentioned. Julio Franco is 47 years old and going strong…and also playing for my favorite team the Mets.

Last night in San Diego against the Padres Julio put a 1-0 pitch from reliever Scott Linebrink into the seats down the right-field line at Petco Park. It vaulted the Mets ahead 3-2 and gave Franco a spot in the record book that had been belonged to Athletics pitcher Jack Quinn. Quinn had been the oldest major leaguer (46 years and 357 days) to hit a homerun when he went deep on June 27th, 1930. But now the record belongs to Mr. Franco who will turn 48 on August 23rd.

Julio’s long career started when he came up late in the 1982 season with the Phillies. Way back yonder Julio was a middle infielder, specifically a shortstop. He was traded that December with five other Phillies to the Cleveland Indians for Von Hayes where he spent six very good seasons. In December of 1988 the Indians sent their best hitter, now a second baseman, to the Texas Rangers where he had the most productive seasons of his career. In 1989, 1990 and 1991 Julio was an American League All-Star, in 1990 the All-Star game MVP. In 1991 he led the Major Leagues with a .341 that gave him his only batting title.

In 1992 he suffered the only real significant injury of his career and at 33 years old he played in just 35 games. Two years later he signed a one-year deal to be the Chicago White Sox DH. He had a fine season hitting .319 with career bests 20 HRs and 98 RBIs. The Sox couldn’t renew his contract after the season and he returned to Cleveland in 1996. Then Cleveland release him in August of 1997 and he signed with Milwaukee to finish the season. Nobody wanted the 39-year old and he went and played a year in Japan. After good success in Japan the Tampa Bay Devil Rays gave him a shot, for one game. The 40-year old struck out in his only at bat and was in the minor leagues most of the season. In 2000 and 2001 he played for the Mexico City Tigers of the Mexican League. He still was hitting with success when the Atlanta Braves in desperate need of some help at first base gave him a contract on August 31st of 2001. In 90 ABs he hit .300 and won over the respect of Braves Manager Bobby Cox.

He spent the last four years in Atlanta as a back-up first basemen and pinch hitter. But Mets GM Omar Minaya jumped at the chance to sign him last offseason because he thought Julio’s coach-like presence on the Mets would help several of the Mets younger players. Minaya and the Mets signed him to a two-year guaranteed contract that is already paying dividends. When this contract expires Franco will be 49 years old – if he can get one more year out of his body he’ll make it to fifty…which is what his goal is. And why not? He’s in better shape than most 30-year olds and is a positive influence on and off the field.

He’s a physical specimen with a love for the game of baseball that is second to none.

Great job last night Julio – and keep it up.

Great Column - I couldn't agree more...

2006-04-20T16:34:00.000-04:00

Stephen A. Smith Star's next absence may be permanent
By Stephen A. Smith
Philadelphia Inquirer Columnist

There's no need to waste time debating the latest transgressions of Allen Iverson and Chris Webber. To not show up on time for the last home game of the season - on Fan Appreciation Night, no less - not only delivered a slap in the face to 76ers fans, it did the same to team president Billy King and coach Maurice Cheeks.
It appears that neither Iverson nor Webber knew much about the position they put King and Cheeks in. Worse, it appears that they didn't care. If such an act of disrespect leads to King's exodus or questions about whether Cheeks is the right coach for this franchise, that's a problem King and Cheeks have to deal with. Not Iverson and Webber.
To be honest, on the surface it simply makes no sense. It can't. Not if we take into account the way Iverson has repeatedly supported King's stewardship over this franchise. And not if we recall Iverson's desire for Cheeks as a head coach over Jim O'Brien.
That is, until you consider that the Sixers entered last night's game eliminated from the playoff picture, saddled with 43 losses, mired in speculation as to whether Iverson, Webber or anyone else would be traded. And they know in all probability that's exactly what will need to be done to get this franchise pointed in the proper direction.
After all the heroics, all the highlights, all the scoring titles, and another 33-point-per-game average this season, here's the bottom-line feeling most fans have about Iverson on the Sixers right now: You can miss the playoffs without him.
You don't need Iverson to finish below .500. You don't need Iverson to finish with a worse record than the entire Central Division. You don't need Iverson to lose to Charlotte, Atlanta and New York, or fold and wither away down the stretch the way the Sixers did during the latter part of this season.
Webber's questionable athleticism will accomplish that for you. So will Andre Iguodala's passivity. Samuel Dalembert's attitude, Kyle Korver's non-defensive ways or, dare we say, Cheeks' coaching style.
Cheeks all but admitted as much during Tuesday night's fiasco at the Wachovia Center, saying, "There are things I should have done differently this season. I should have been on top of things a little bit more, should have held people more accountable. I apologize. We're going to fix this."
Somewhere, Jim O'Brien is laughing, folks.
He's laughing because his stubbornness may have been what this team needed: Some discipline. Some focus. And unwillingness to befriend anyone.
Let the coaches coach and the players play. That way, the only expectation would have been results.
I don't particularly agree with that being a long-term philosophy, but the fact is it would have worked perfectly for these underachieving Sixers, a team that now finds itself in a quandary, wondering what it is going to do about Iverson.
King is many things, but stupid isn't one of them. He knows Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, came to him before the trading deadline for a reason. He knows Iverson was relishing the thought of heading to Denver, not giving two hoots about the garbage the Sixers were going to get in return.
Now that the off-season is upon the Sixers, King also knows that unless he can get his hands on the likes of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen or that caliber of player, Iverson is going to let Rose and Gary Moore, his No. 1 confidant, do all of his talking for him.
Iverson's not going to care about three years at $66 million remaining on Garnett's contract in Minnesota, or the four years and $67 million left on Allen's contract with Seattle, either. And, judging by his actions, Iverson's not going to be so apt to hold on to Webber, Iguodala or anyone else on this roster, either.
"I love this franchise, this city," Iverson told me a month ago. "They've been great to me. My hope is that we can win right here. But the older you get, the more you question how much time you have."
Moore added, "Allen's not about to complain about the fans or this city because he knows how great Philadelphia has been to him. But he's not getting any younger. So..."
Moore has his ideas but won't say. The same could be said for Iverson and his agent. The thing is, it's obvious.
Iverson doesn't have a desire to leave Philadelphia; he has a desire to win. Unfortunately at the moment, those two issues are mutually exclusive.
He knows it, but maybe he suspected the Sixers weren't aware of it.
Chances are, they know now. Let's see what they do about it.

Contact columnist Stephen A. Smith at 215-854-5846 or ssmith@phillynews.com.

The Final Four

2006-03-31T10:06:00.000-05:00

George Mason vs. Florida

LSU vs. UCLA

Florida should beat George Mason...but then again, so should Michigan State, North Carolina and Connecticut. It wouldn't surprise me to see Mason move on with another incredible upset. I think the key to this game will be the two guards from Mason - Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler. If these two do what they've been doing in the tournament so far, they might dance another night. I LOVE the fact that Florida plays 8 guys every game. Not many college teams are as deep as the Gators and it might win them a National Championship. I'm pulling for the local kids at GMU!

LSU is so athletic. Big Baby and Tyrus Thomas should be dominant again in this game. UCLA is a great team led by Arron Affalo and Jordan Farmer. key to the game will be the defense of the 'stopper', LSU's Garrett Temple. Temple stopped J.J. Reddick and will try to put the clamps on Affalo tomorrow night. If Temple is successful it might be all LSU in this one.

Prediction - LSU vs. Florida
Hoping for - LSU vs. George Mason

Pierce or Arenas

2006-03-11T21:06:00.000-05:00

When somebody asks for my opinion on something – I’ve gotta give it. I was recently asked who I would rather have on my NBA team…Washington’s rising star Gilbert Arenas or Boston’s stud Paul Pierce.

The answer is so complicated. How can you go wrong with either? Simple stated, you can’t.

Gilbert is 6’3” and 200 pounds, quick and explosive. One of the best guards in a guard dominated league. Pierce is 6’6” and 230 pounds and one of the best shooters in the world. He makes you remember what the NBA was like in the late 80s and early 90s…guys 6’6” or taller that can dominate night after night.

Like a 7-game series I’m going to give my rating on these super stars…

‘The Truth' took the early lead 2-0 with his scoring and shooting ability. Both categories were tight, but you can’t argue with Pierce on either. The series shifted back to D.C. and Gilbert got back into it with his passing. But in a crucial Game Four, Pierce came up big on the boards and took the lead 3-1 because of his rebounding. With his back to the wall down 3-1 Gilbert came out swinging away with nothing to lose. His defense is stifling and his team attitude and play is some of the best in the NBA. Gil tied the series at three a piece and forced a decisive Game Seven. In the NBA this final category is vital – if you don’t play, you’re not effective. ‘The Truth’ plays every night, much to the same way that another stud in the Eastern Conference does – AI.

Facts are facts, Arenas has been injury prone in his short career. I love Gilbert Arenas and I watch him often, living here in D.C., but he needs a few more solid seasons under his belt before I’d take him over the steady and super solid Paul Pierce.

One or the Other

2006-02-28T09:21:00.000-05:00

This isn't a question of whether or not you have the first pick in the NBA Draft...this is a college basketball question.

If you had one more year (which you probably won't in either case) of J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison who would you rather have on your COLLEGE basketball team?

Super Stinker

2006-02-10T13:45:00.000-05:00

The refs stunk in the Super Bowl, plain and simple. I'm still upset about it. I didn't have a dog in the fight but I did want the Seahawks to win for several reasons.

1) Shaun Alexander and the Seattle DST helped me win my Fantasy Football League this year.
2) Matt Hasselbeck is a dam good Quarterback that constantly gets overlooked because he's in Seattle.
3) The whole Jerome Bettis back to Detroit thing was SOOOOOO played out.
4) I don't like anything about Joey Porter...anything.
5) It was as clear as day that the NFL wanted (and needed) the Steelers to win this Super Bowl XL.

Three Questionable Calls
#1 That WAS NOT offensive pass interference by Jackson in the end zone. Yes, I've watched the replays a gazillion times...but give me a break. It was two good players that both had their hands on each other, but neither pushed. Terrible call - should've been a TD.
#2 Big Ben didn't look like he got into the end zone but Bill Cowher would've went for it on 4th and two inches and they would've scored - so stop crying about that one.
#3 The holding penalty on Locklear was another absolutely terrible calls. That would've put the Seahawks on the 1 yard line and first and goal. I would've bet a grand that they would've scored a TD...they have Shaun Alexander being led by Mack Strong.

Three Guys That Played BIG
#1 Hines Ward. He always plays bigger than his small frame. Hines might be the toughest guy in the NFL...and he also happens to be very good.
#2 Matt Hasselbeck had a very nice game. It's unfortunate that the refs basically took 10 points away from him...which probably would've given them more momentum to score. We'll never know.
#3 Combo pick...C Jeff Hartings, G Alan Faneca, G Kendall Simmons, T Marvel Smith, T Max Starks. These guys are really good. Jerome Bettis couldn't beat Muhammad Ali in a foot race these days and Willie Parker doesn't seem very patient with his running - but the Steelers O-Line was near perfect in this game. Roethlisberger was weak but had a lot of time to throw because of the great team protection that his linemen gave him.

Three Guys That Played SMALL
#1 Jerramy Stevens was awful. Don't EVER open your mouth again about anything buddy. Your three drops made a big difference in that game. Sure, he scored the Seahawks only touchdown but had he made a very key 3rd down catch it would've put them in better scoring shape and they wouldn't have had to try a 50-yard field goal.
#2 Ben Roethlisberger may be the youngest quarterback to ever win the Super Bowl but he's also the luckiest. He should thank a hoard of people...The referees, Willie Parker, Hines Ward, his O-Line and the referees.
#3 Tom Rouen/Josh Brown...Had Seattle's punter and place kicker had really good games as oppossed to bad games they might have won even with the referees bad calls. Rouen, a two-time Super Bowl Champion, didn't have a good punt the entire game and Josh Brown needs to hit that 50-yarder in the dome. I'm sorry, I know it's 50 yards...but he needs to hit it. He missed a 53-yarder and I can forgive that. But in the dome 50 yards is like a 45 yarder outside. He hits that and the Steelers don't get the ball in good field position and maybe don't score their second TD.

All in all - I give the game the grade of...C-
Except for a very few, nobody did anything to be proud of.

81!!!

2006-01-24T11:01:00.000-05:00

To score 81 points in a single basketball game is amazine to say the least. But can you imagine what it must have been like to witness the late Wilt Chamberlain score 100 points on March 2, 1962. Wow - 100 points. Most players would love to score 100 points in four games...but to do it in one night, it's beyond remarkable.

For me to put this into perspective I tried figure out what would be the comparable in other sports...Here's what I came up with, but none came close.

Major League Baseball
Pitcher striking out 22 batters in route to a perfect game.
Batter going 5-5 with 5 homeruns and driving in 13 runs

Hockey
Goalie makes 50 saves and also scores a goal.
Player scores 8 goals and has a few assists too.

NFL Football
Running Back scores 5 rushing TDs and rushes for 380 yards
Wide Receiver catches 4 TDs and has 325 yards receiving
Quarterback throws for 555 yards and has 8 TDs passing

Tennis
Player wins 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 in a Grand Slam event and loses only 5 points

Nothing compares...100 points is the single greatest achievement that has ever been accomplished in sports - and until any of these that I've listed happen...it will remain that way.

Davis Waiting for Ruling

2006-01-19T13:37:00.000-05:00

Antonio Davis did what most husbands would and should do...he protected his wife and family. Davis thought his wife was in danger, so the Knicks forward ran over the scorer's table and into the stands during a timeout in overtime last night in Chicago against his former team.

Davis went about 10 rows up the aisle to reach his wife and kids and can you blame the man? Thankfully, there wasn't physical confrontation after he got there and Davis waited for security and then left before being ejected.

No arrests have been made and likely won't Chicago police said this afternoon.

The Knicks host the Pistons tonight and it has not yet been determined if Davis will be available. An NBA spokesman said the league was just beginning to look into the matter.

In my opinion Antonio Davis did the right thing. I hope he receives a slap on the wrist for his actions. Fans don't have the right to harass a players family. Clinton Portis' mom popped a woman from Philadelphia in the face after she allegedly threw beer on her earlier this month. That might have been over-the-top, but I guarantee that idiot learned her lesson and hopefully whoever was acting like a fool last night in Chicago towards Mrs. Antonio Davis realizes that their is no place in sports for stupid fans.

Weekly Random Chatter

2006-01-13T09:31:00.000-05:00

Marcus Vick is a punk. Any loyal reader of Field Level knows that I think his older brother Michael (aka Ron Mexico) is the most over-hyped player in sports. I wanted to believe that the younger Vick would be a good quarterback in the NFL but I don’t see it happening now unless this kid somehow finds a brain in Southern Virginia. Let’s remember that he gave 14 and 15 year old girls alcohol and had sex with a 15-year old girl when he was 19. Let’s also remember that he’s been in trouble with the law for speeding tickets and suspended license tickets in the last few years. What would you do if you were Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer? You’d do what Beamer did – put the kid on a “Zero Tolerance” policy for the remainder of his time as a Hokie. It didn’t help, Marcus acted like a fool in Tech’s Gator Bowl game victory over Louisville. After being tackled by NCAA sacks leader and All-American Elvis Dumervil, Vick stomped on the back of Dumervil’s leg. He later said that it was an accident and that he apologized to the Louisville standout – but no such apology was ever offered. He then gets a dismissal from the football team because he broke the “Zero Tolerance” policy and says that he’s going pro to “take my talents to the pro level.” Two days later, he’s arrested for pulling a gun on three teenagers at a McDonald’s in Suffolk, Virginia.

Marcus needs to get a clue. He’s 6 feet tall and 212 pounds…small for an NFL Quarterback. Sure, he’s got skills, but nothing that will make him a standout at the professional level. Vick desperately needed another year at Tech to hone his skills and now with all of this baggage I’d be shocked to see him drafted before the 6th Round of the NFL Draft in April. Sadly, I think he’ll probably be out of football in three years after struggling to make a name for himself and trying to live in his brothers decent shadow.

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Sean Taylor spit in Michael Pittman’s face. Fine – I was over it three days after it happened. And yet ESPN continues to show us game footage and give eye witness accounts from players and referees that saw it happen. Note to ESPN, this isn’t the assassination of President Kennedy. You don’t have the Zapruder Film and it didn’t take place in Dealey Plaza. Let it go. I think Sean Taylor is a big piece of garbage, but I don’t care anymore (almost a week later) that he spit in Pittman’s face. Taylor probably should’ve apologized after the incident but let’s face it the kid isn’t the brightest bulb on the Christmas Tree.

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The Duke Blue Devils are going to run the table this year as the best team in college basketball. JJ Redick and Sheldon Williams did what so few kids do nowadays and came back for their senior year to try and win a National Championship. They’re currently 15-0 and well on the way to posting an incredible season. Coach K has a team that play defense, runs the floor, rebounds and shoots. Oh and by the way, they bring several guys off the bench that could start on probably every Top 25 team in the country. Depth and talent…can’t beat it.

___________________________________________________________________
Congratulations to Bruce Sutter for his induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame. In his twelve seasons as a closer he was as dominant as they come. I’m still quite puzzled though that three other players haven’t been inducted…Jim Rice, Jack Morris and Lee Smith. All three were at the top of their positions when they played. You all know I’m a stat nut – so go look up their numbers and tell me that they don’t deserve it.

Another Gripping Question

2006-01-10T11:16:00.000-05:00

If you had to choose a channel - would you rather watch the NBA playoffs or the NCAA Men's Final Four?

Question of the Decade

2006-01-05T12:29:00.000-05:00

Why didn't Pete Carroll punt the football with 2:11 left in the game?

He blew his team's chances of a Three-peat.

NFL Heads A-Rollin

2006-01-02T18:00:00.000-05:00

It hasn’t even been two days since the NFL regular season came to a close but that hasn’t slowed the ax from falling on several head coaches. So far five have bit the dust. Here’s the rundown and my reaction to their dismissals.

Jim Haslett – New Orleans
In six seasons Jim Haslett compiled a 46-52 record with the New Orleans Saints. He led the Saints to a division title in 2000, his first season with the team, but the team only had one other winning season in his tenure. After Hurricane Katrina this August the Saints posted a dreadful 3-13 mark, playing home games in San Antonio, Baton Rouge and Giants Stadium in New Jersey. If this was Haslett’s decision to leave, I can understand his desire. The frustrations of this season must be incredible. But if this was the Saints firing Haslett, I don’t like it one bit. His team was on the road all year and he should be given the opportunity to coach them again next year. Haslett is a very good defensive minded coach who will get offers from several teams I’m sure. You’ll see him walking the sidelines again.

Mike Martz – St. Louis
Mike Martz was fired as coach of the St. Louis Rams on Monday after a 6-10 season in which he missed the final 11 games because of a heart ailment. Martz was 53-32 since taking the reigns from Dick Vermeil in 2000. The offensive guru led the Rams to the Super Bowl in his second season, but they lost to the Patriots. He led the Rams to the playoffs four times in his five full seasons at the helm – this year, they fell apart. I think it was time for the Rams and Martz to part ways. I also think Martz will get plenty of calls for both offensive coordinator positions and head coaching jobs too.

Mike Tice - Minnesota
The Minnesota Vikings wasted absolutely no time to release their head coach from his duties and fired Mike Tice after Sunday's victory over Chicago. The win capped a disappointing 9-7 season in which the Vikings missed the playoffs. Tice was 32-33 and 1-1 in the playoffs after taking over for Dennis Green in 2001. I think the timing of the firing was stupid, but the decision the correct one. Tice has been in Minnesota since 1992, first as an assistant under Green and then as the head guy. It was time to turn the page and start fresh next season. The Vikes might need a coach that will crack the whip more than Tice did. Tice will get another shot somewhere.

Mike Sherman – Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers won on Sunday in what could be Brett Favre’s final game with the Pack, but it was the franchise's worst season since 1991. The 4-12 season led Packers management to let head coach Mike Sherman go. Sherman was 57-39 over his six seasons as the head coach and will surely be a top candidate for another job this off season. I don’t like this move at all. I’m not a big fan of Sherman, but I do think that the guy deserved every chance in the world to coach the Packers next year. Before this season he was one of the most successful coaches in NFL history, winning at almost a 2 to 1 clip. Sherman will probably get another shot next season, but I wouldn’t count on Favre being back in Green Bay now that his coach has been fired.

Dom Capers - Houston
The Houston Texans also sent the only coach they’ve ever known packing in a move that was highly expected. Capers took the expansion franchise over for their inaugural season of 2002 was 18-46 as the leader. The team won 4 games in 2002, 5 in 2003 and went 7-9 last season. Expectations to keep the team improving were ended when the team started 1-12 and finished just 2-14 this year. Capers was also the former head coach of the expansion Carolina Panthers from ’95-’98. I think this was the right move. Capers and the Texans have been downright awful. They need to have an overhaul of their offensive line and need to plug several gaping holes in their defense. Capers might be done in the NFL, but coaches like him always find a home in the college ranks. Let’s check all Division I-AA teams next year.

Looking For Good Representation

2005-12-29T15:48:00.000-05:00

2005 has been a great year in sports. But for the sports agent – not so much. First we had the “T.O. debacle” that I blame as much on Drew Rosenhaus as I do the immaturity of Terrell Owens. And now the “Ron Artest situation” with his own agent Mark Stevens playing a leading role.

Ron Artest needs an agent or friend or somebody to help him know what to say, when to say it and how to act. Mark Stevens didn’t do a good job at that. Where was Stevens when Artest made his desire to be traded so open? I know the man can’t sit next to him at all times, but he should know about any interviews that his client is having, and he should prep Ron or any other athlete about topics that you might not want to discuss. If that would have happened before the interview then maybe Artest wouldn’t have had to backpedal and apologize to his teammates and to Pacers management to try his hardest to stay with Indiana. Stevens obviously didn’t realize that his client was crazy. How he didn’t know is confusing to me.

Stevens did say that he understands that the Pacers want to trade Artest now. Artest has been inactive since his trade request on December 6th. Good – I’m glad he’s catching on.

So where will the player that Larry Bird called a “top 12 player in the league” end up? Some people have said Los Angeles - others have said Denver and Minnesota. Artest has said that he wouldn’t mind playing with LeBron James in Cleveland. He also said he would love to play in Denver because "it has nice scenery." Nice scenery? Ronnie, please get on some type of meds.

We’re talking about the same guy that lost 73 regular season and playoff games last year because of the brawl in Detroit when he ran into the seats to fight fans. He’s not even playing with just half of the deck, more like 15 or 16 cards. You can’t trust what he says and you had better not trust what he might do. We’ve seen him fight on the court, slam cameras out of the hands of cameramen, allegedly break Michael Jordan's ribs in a pickup game and say some of the most ludicrous things.

It was just this offseason that Artest said his goal was to help the Pacers win the NBA Championship this season, and that he didn’t care about individual goals. Then during this season's early weeks he changed that stance when he questioned why he wasn't getting enough shots. And then his now infamous comments about how his past haunts him in Indianapolis and how the Pacers would be better team without him.

Let’s look at the facts here – the guy is incredibly talented and has great size and speed for a small forward. He’s 6’ 7” and 260 pounds and has been an All-Star and won the Defensive Player of the Year Award. In most offenses he’ll be the number two scorer and can drop 20 points a night regularly. There are probably a dozen or so teams that will want to trade for him. Whatever team that Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh and Team President Larry Bird choose will most likely be giving up a starter and a few draft picks. I can see him on several teams and can see him having success. The biggest concern will always be his temperament.

Right now, reports are that Artest is working out and spending lots of time with his family. I’m wondering if after spending last year with him they might be sick of hanging out with him like the Pacers finally are?

Artest is a wild-child – but it all goes back to who keeps him in line. Mark Stevens should be replaced because he didn't…maybe by somebody with a straight jacket and a muzzle? Artest needs to take responsibilty of his own actions, but when you're not all there - the people around you must keep you in line (or try).

King Idiot Is Also a Traitor

2005-12-22T11:27:00.000-05:00

Sure, I’d cut my hair and shave my beard (if I had one) for $52 million bucks. But to join who? Not the Yankees. That’s all it took for one of the leaders of ‘Idiots’ from Boston to leave them in the rearview mirror and sign with the hated Yankees. Johnny Damon has become yet another villain of the Red Sox Nation, just like Bucky F’n Dent and Aaron F’n Boone. Something tells me we might hear a similar middle name for the once beloved leadoff hitter from Beantown.

We’ll never know if the Sox could’ve resigned Damon now. A thought that was once inconceivable is now staring us all right in the face. Johnny Damon will bat leadoff and play centerfield for the 2006 New York Yankees. It was difficult for me to type that because I was so sure that Damon would never go against his own words. It was early in the 2005 season (less than 8 months ago) that Damon was quoted as saying, “I want to stay here…There's no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they are going to come after me hard. It's definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It's not what I need.”

Like Kush’s father in Jerry Maguire, Damon’s words weren’t “stronger than Oak.” In fact his words now seem more like the ‘Wonder Boy’ bat that Roy Hobbs used…broken. And like that bat, it can never be fixed.

The thing that surprises me the most is that Johnny Damon was just another pretty good leadoff hitter before he signed with Boston before the 2002 season. He had short hair and was sans the facial hair. But once the hair started flowing and the team started winning, he became somewhat of a cult figure. Sox fans became indeared to the ‘Idiots’ and Johnny Damon seemed to be fueled by their passion. It was Damon who couldn’t buy a base in the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees until that fateful night of October 20th at Yankee Stadium. Just 4 for 30 in the series Damon came to the plate and took the first stab at the Yankees when he hit a granslam in the 2nd inning to put the Sox up 6-0. He followed that with an even farther shot (and stab) in the top of the 4th inning, a two-run upper-deck shot that made it 8-1. Damon and the BoSox pulled off the greatest comeback in sports history. All to the hated Yanks, the team that they had brawled with in the ALCS the year before and had an even uglier fight with in July of that same year. Johnny Damon and the Sox were kings of the world.

But all of those loving feelings changed in hours earlier this week, when Yankees GM Brian Cashman gave Damon’s agent Scott Boras a final deadline to accept or reject the Yanks final four-year contract offer. Damon and Boras accepted it – without even going back to the Red Sox to see if they might try to resign him.

He should be a villain now. He should be hated with every breath that the fans of New England have. He left them in the batter’s box and went to bat for the hated Yankees. Shorthair and clean-shaven he’ll be…and never an icon like he would’ve continued to be in Boston. In New York he’ll take a back seat to Jeter, A-Rod, Rivera, Steinbrenner, Giambi, Bernie, The Unit, Torre and even Matsui. He’s just another guy that ditched a good thing and went for more money and the Yankees. Disgusting.

And I ask the Red Sox Nation one last time…”What would Johnny Damon do?”
The answer is simple. He'll leave you like he never knew you.

Colts Fall to Chargers

2005-12-18T17:20:00.000-05:00

The San Diego Chargers gave the Indianapolis Colts there only loss of the 2005 season today. The 26-17 win for San Diego ended the Colts run at an unbeaten season.

All over the country members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins undefeated Super Bowl Championship team are smiling.

And Yet Another Attack on One of the Best

2005-12-15T20:43:00.000-05:00

Will somebody explain the reasoning behind this? J. Whyatt Mondesire, the Philadelphia president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) shot off his mouth in the Philadelphia Sun, a newspaper for blacks. Mondesire’s target, who else?Everybody seems to take shots at this man. Donovan McNabb, the All-Pro quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Only two years after Donovan had to respond to then ESPN analyst Rush Limbaugh's claims that he received his praise because he is African American he’s got to defend himself again…this time from a black leader. McNabb took what Limbaugh said and turned it away like a would-be tackler. Donovan is now trying to elude these accusations from what this so-called leader of the NAACP said about him.

Mondesire wrote in his opinion piece on November 27th that McNabb is a “mediocre talent” and that he failed as a team leader during the Terrell Owens mess earlier this year. He continued saying that McNabb used the ''race card'' as an excuse for his poor play. Mondesire also said that McNabb's ability to run the ball much more early in his career "not only confused defenses, it also thrilled Eagles fans.” He said in his column that abandoning that element of his game "by claiming that 'everybody expects black quarterbacks to scramble' not only amounts to a breach of faith but also belittles the real struggles of black athletes who've had to overcome real racial stereotypcasting in addition to downright segregation." This idiot concluded that McNabb is “not that good.”

C’mon buddy, are you lost or just plain stupid? How can you as a black man not root for this great athlete? Donovan McNabb is a five time Pro-Bowl quarterback whose play is not even as great as his character. As a white man who has many friends that are African-American I find this more than ridiculous. It’s one thing to have an opinion about something, which I agree that we all should, but to be in such a high position where thousands and thousands of people wait for your column each week…you Mr. Mondesire are nothing more than ignorant.

The entire piece is something that turns my stomach, but there are several things in it that also are wrong. If Mr. NAACP had spent five minutes to look up Donovan’s career statistics, he might have realized (I’m not sure though) that McNabb's rushing totals have gone down each year since 2000, the year he became the starting quarterback of the Eagles. My point is simple, it hasn’t been a drastic revolution in Donovan’s play. In fact, in his All-Pro season last year of 2004, McNabb ran less than in any other season. Somebody should point out to old Mr. Mondesire that the Eagles came three points away from winning the Super Bowl. And by the way, Donovan runs the ball just as much as another elite black quarterback, Daunte Culpepper.

Passing is a very big part of the quarterback position unless you’re team runs the ball much more than you throw…and in the last twenty years you’d be hard-pressed to find a winning team that doesn’t throw the ball about half the time. McNabb has been one of the top passing quarterbacks in the NFL over the last 5 ½ years. In every full season he’s played he’s thrown for more than 3,200 yards and has thrown 134 career touchdowns to just 66 interceptions. That’s 2-to-1 Mr. Mondesire, which is very good in the NFL – better than most white quarterbacks.

This so-called leader of the black race also tried to compare Donovan critically with former Super Bowl MVP Redskins quarterback Doug Williams. Mondesire said that Doug led the Redskins to "35 points in the fourth quarter alone" during its 1988 Super Bowl win against the Denver Broncos. Since I’m the sports nut and he’s the idiot, I would like to point out that Doug Williams and the Redskins scored there Super Bowl record 35 points in a quarter in the second quarter, not the fourth quarter. My point is not to take anything away from the most remarkable single game performance that I’ve ever watched…It’s to again say to this Mondesire fool – take the time to get your facts straight.

Donovan McNabb's 2005 season ended last month when he had surgery for the sports hernia that had slowed him tremendously since Week 1. In all honesty, it was the first time in McNabb’s career that he had a season to forget.

I implore Mr. J. Whyatt Mondesire to apologize to Donovan McNabb. Although, I’m not sure it would do much good. McNabb probably will still find little respect in his classy body for this guy. I would also suggest to Mondesire to stick to the issues that really matter, education, poverty and the betterment of the entire black community. We’ve got a positive black role model and this is what he’s wasting his rhetoric on.

I’m still in disbelief that more members of the NAACP aren’t calling for his resignation. He went against what the great National Association for the Advancement of Colored People says it will do…Ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

Back in the Action Again

2005-12-13T14:38:00.000-05:00

Pat Riley sat in his office as the president of the Miami Heat. He made great money and pulled the strings on player moves and personnel changes. But it wasn’t enough. Not even close to being enough. Riley had that burning desire to be the man in charge again. Being the Heat’s team president must have been really nice, but it's nothing compared to the action every night on the court. Riles is a guy who needs to be in the center of the action - right there yelling at the top of his lungs at his players, and the officials while stomping his feet.

We’ve seen this story so many times before. MJ couldn’t stand not being part of the game, so he came back for a few seasons with the Wizards. Muhammad Ali needed to fight a few too many last fights to prove to the world that he was still “The Greatest.” Jerry Rice hung on too long also. But it’s not just the athlete that has trouble walking away and retiring. Coaches and managers do it all the time. And Pat Riley is surely not the last to add to the list of leaders like Joe Gibbs, Scotty Bowman and Jack McKeon.

He’s 60 years old and he’s been to the pinnacle of success as a college player, NBA player and NBA coach…but everyone knew from the start that Riley left the door so far wide open for his return that he actually probably took it off the hinges and removed the entire door. Stan Van Gundy was burned out and wanted to spend the holidays with his family? C’mon, it sounds nice – but let’s be real.

This is a man who won four NBA championships with the great Lakers in 80s, and took the New York Knicks to Game 7 of the NBA Finals in ’94. He’s a coach that holds the NBA record for most playoff wins with 155, and is third in all-time wins with 1,110. Riley has more playoff wins than Stan Van Gundy had regular season wins.

His team will get better quickly…they’re a good team. Shaq is healing and will start playing again. D-Wade is playing great and the rest of the guys will all fall in place. Guys like Alonzo Mourning love Riley and want to win a title really bad and will do whatever they can to get it.

Riles will bring such intensity he might have thought the team lacked under Van Gundy. The Heat will now be a more aggressive team, ala the real nice Heat teams of the late 90s. That new intensity and play begins tonight for the Heat. For the first time in more than two years, he'll be back in control of the Miami Heat calling the shots. And even though Pat Riley might not recognize all of the plays in the Heat’s playbook he knows the guys on the team, he knows the game that they’re playing and he knows how to win.

Stan Van Gundy Resigns

2005-12-12T09:40:00.000-05:00

Miami's coach Stan Van Gundy resigned this morning because of family reasons. Team officials are saying that the announcement will come later today at an 11am news conference.

Stan led the Heat to the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, but rumors have swirled for almost a year that he might step aside to let his mentor, Pat Riley return to the bench. Riley chose Van Gundy as his successor a little more than two years ago.

The Fall of the "Super-Agent"?

2005-12-07T08:35:00.000-05:00

Sounds like a few NFL players are sick of the obnoxious work method of “Super-Agent” Drew Rosenhaus. Drew’s guidance for Terrell Owens led to a complete breakup between the star receiver and the Philadelphia Eagles organization. I asked five of my friends if they would use Rosenhaus as their agent even after what has taken place. And like a real good Tony Gwynn night at the plate…I went five for five. Not a chance in hell.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Tuesday that Green Bay Packers All-Pro receiver Javon Walker filed papers with the NFL Players Association earlier in the year that let go of Mr. “Super-Agent”. Javon has been conducting all personal business on his own for much of the season and plans on continuing his own work for the near future.

The Philadelphia Inquirer also reported on Tuesday that Eagles injured All-Pro offensive tackle Tra Thomas fired Rosenhaus earlier this season and has rehired his former agent Peter Schaffer. I haven’t checked to see how many Eagles players are represented by Rosenhaus, but I think it might be safe to conclude that the Eagles don’t enjoy working with the “Super-Agent”.
I truly believe that it was Rosenhaus who was leading the T.O. charge of crazy antics and remarks. The “Super-Agent” assured T.O. he could get a restructured contract last off-season and never explained to Terrell that talking bad about his teammates and the Eagles organization would be a big mistake. For that, he watched his stud receiver get deactivated for the rest of the season. And while Rosenhaus was at T.O.’s side last month during a press conference at the players house where he apologized for actions that caused his suspension from the team, it was Rosenhaus who acted like a 15-year old boy when asked follow-up questions about the matter.

I think the “Super-Agent’s” actions were the final stab into the T.O.-Eagles relationship.
Rosenhaus is one of the most controversial player agents in history. It’s his mouth that gets him the money, and it’s his mouth that might have led to his demise. Just like in the movie Jerry Maguire, it wouldn’t surprise me to see more players leave Bob Sugar (aka “Super-Agent Drew Rosenhaus) to go back to their original agents, the Jerry Maguire’s.

Michael Irvin In Trouble Yet Again

2005-11-28T08:03:00.000-05:00

When Michael Irvin made the comment that the Eagles would be a better team with Brett Favre playing quarterback instead of All-Pro QB Donovan McNabb, I joked that Irvin must be back on drugs. Well, now we have some answers. The flamboyant ESPN studio analyst on “Sunday NFL Countdown” was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia after police searched his vehicle during a traffic stop in Plano, Texas on Friday.

Let us recall the past of the “Playmaker”. In the middle of what many call a Hall of Fame career, Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession in 1996. He evaded the big hit by taking a four-year probation and a fine. In the plea the authorities dropped marijuana possession charges. In 1998 he got into a fight and cut a teammate with scissors in the locker room. He had some run around with prostitutes and was known as possibly the biggest trash talker of the 90s. As much as I never liked him, he'll still go down as one of the best and in my eyes a Hall of Famer who helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in four years.

I’m a numbers guy…and frankly, the “Playmakers” numbers don’t lie. Michael is ninth in NFL history in receptions with 750 and yards 11,904. Those numbers alone should get him enshrined in Canton, especially when other players who have had problems with the law because of drugs are there (Lawrence Taylor).

But here’s my beef. I’d love to know who hires the analysts at ESPN and why they all seem to have a problem with Donovan McNabb? First it was Rush Limbaugh who made his ridiculous comments and now Michael Irvin. Limbaugh had absolutely no business being on the set of a sports show let alone the “world-wide leader in sports” show. And they also hired a wide receiver who had a checkered past and a mouth the size of Texas. As if his bright gold colored suites weren’t obnoxious and blinding enough, he would say the craziest things on the set. Such as sticking up for Terrell Owens during this years mess with the Eagles after he ignited the flame saying the Eagles would be undefeated with Favre instead of McNabb.

Chris Berman and Tom Jackson have forever been two favorites of mine – how do two professionals like themselves enjoy talking football and working with such a guy?
I always follow the creed, “Innocent until proven guilty” – but once this one comes out I’m confident that ESPN will finally make a good decision and let Irvin go. He doesn’t deserve to be in Bristol.

Can Run, Can't Pass = One Face of the NFL

2005-11-16T12:02:00.000-05:00

I know that I will probably take some shots after this column…but I don’t care. I’m to the point where I need to get this one out. It’s like chewing on a big piece of Bubble Gum and blowing a huge bubble…it has to pop at some point. I’m not going to talk about the NFL’s MVP so far or the best coach…I’m writing about the most overrated player in all of sports: Michael Vick. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is arguably the NFL’s most athletic player – but every week I read his stat line and I scratch my head, and then rub my eyes to make sure what I’m reading is true. He is just plain decent, and the marketing department of the NFL should be questioned for putting his face as one of the top players of today’s league.

When Vick left Virginia Tech after almost single-handedly bringing them to a National Title in 2000 people were saying that a star was on the horizon. The word was that he was going to change the way the quarterback position was played. His running ability and athleticism was going to change how defenses dealt with the ‘new age’ quarterbacks.

Vick can run like Darrell Green in his prime and has great moves, similar to a slashing-style running back. His passing however hasn’t gotten any better than his days as a Hokie. In fact, I would argue that he’s taken a step backwards in terms of his passing. We’ve all been waiting and expecting to see the kid that throws fastballs to become an effective passer…but it hasn’t happened.

I’ve seen enough of his games to know exactly what a good defensive coordinator coaching a good defense will do against him – use a fast linebacker or safety to spy him and take away the run because his passing is just too inaccurate, particularly in the pocket. He rolls out well because of his speed and can make things happen, but many times he doesn’t see guys that are open and even if he does he often misfires on his pass. But if a quarterback can’t make plays in the pocket on a consistent basis, defenses are just going to send the house and make sure the Falcons don’t run the ball. This means that Michael Vick is going to continue to take some hard hits. The hit that Eagles All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins laid on him in the 2002 playoffs is surely the hardest the young quarterback has had, but he has taken a lot of hits in his short career and will take more because he runs so much.

Vick has won more games than he’s lost as a starter. To date, Vick and the Falcons are 26-17-1 with him as the teams starting quarterback. His TD-to- INT numbers aren’t terrible, 44 TDs and 32 INTs. But I would argue that most of the Falcons success is because of their defense and running game with Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett. He’s thrown one touchdown per his 44 career starts. By comparison his cousin Aaron Brooks of the New Orleans Saints has thrown 114 touchdown passes in his 78 career starts.

Let’s also remember that Matt Schaub, Vick’s reliable backup, has the best game of the season at the quarterback position for the Falcons. On October 9th Vick sat out against the two-time defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. All Schaub did was throw for 298 yards (70 more than Vick’s season high) along with 3 touchdown passes (Vick has 2 TD’s twice). Dunn and Duckett ran for 83 and 30 yards respectively that game, so you can’t use the excuse that all they did was throw the ball.

Personally, I think he’s exciting to watch and can do some brilliant things on the field – but he’s average. I have a tough time having him crack the top ten at his position in the NFL.

If history shows us every year, the teams with a balanced running and passing attack are the teams that win the most. Vick running the football makes him a dangerous player. If he can overcome his passing struggles then he can still be one of the top quarterbacks, but until then, he’s just decent in my eyes…and on the stat sheet.

Mr. MVP A-Rod Says...

2005-11-15T11:31:00.000-05:00

After winning his second American League MVP Award in three years, Alex Rodriguez said this of beating Boston's David Ortiz:

"I would certainly trade his World Series championship for this MVP trophy. That's the only reason I play baseball. It's what I'm consumed to do right now."

Eyes Closed in College Football

2005-11-09T12:42:00.000-05:00

The Black Coaches Association has reported its results from its annual study of college sports. The numbers in college football are just flat out troubling.

There are currently only 3 head coaches in the 119 Division I-A football schools. Only UCLA's Karl Dorrell, Mississippi's Sylvester Croom and Washington's Tyron Willingham.

And in Division I-AA only one. Indiana State's Lou West.

If you don't think there is a problem ... you've also got your eyes closed.

T.O. Given a Time Out For Remainder of the Season

2005-11-08T07:44:00.000-05:00

It finally happened. The Philadelphia Eagles took all they could from Terrell Owens and told him he wasn’t welcome on their team anymore.

I’m not surprised. In fact, as a fan of the Eagles, I’m happy he won’t be playing with them any longer. T.O. is without question one of the top playmakers in football, but he has quickly rotted the framework of a very good sports franchise.

The coincidental part of this mess is that Terrell forced a trade to the Eagles last year after playing eight seasons with San Francisco. Originally, he was being sent to Baltimore but he refused to play for the Ravens so the Eagles jumped in and ‘rescued’ him. Immediately he rejuvenated the Philly offense and made them the team to beat. He had 77 receptions for 1,200 yards and 14 Touch Downs in just 14 games, giving Donovan McNabb the receiver he always wanted and the duo led the Eagles to a 13-1 start and the best record in the NFC.

Then everything changed…for the worse. In Week 15 at Dallas T.O. went down with a severely sprained ankle and broken leg. The bad blood started to simmer between Terrell and Donovan when McNabb and other Eagles’ players told the media that they could go on without him and that they could still win the Super Bowl, even if Owens wasn’t able to play.

The Eagles did win both of their home playoff games against the Vikings and Falcons and finally got to the Super Bowl after three straight seasons of failure in the NFC Championship Game. Amazingly, T.O. defying doctors and the predictions of so many came back to play just 6 ½ weeks after having his ankle operated on. In the Super Bowl, T.O. played great in the 24-21 loss to New England. He had nine receptions for 122 yards and had the Eagles pulled out the victory would surely have been the games Most Valuable Player.

Soon after the tough loss to the Patriots, Owens took his first jab at Donovan, making a suggestion that McNabb was tired in the fourth quarter. McNabb didn’t take well to the comments and while at the Pro-Bowl responded and the two didn't speak for months. Then T.O., with his new agent Drew Rosenhaus, started taking shots at everybody in the Eagles organization through the media in training camp. Owens quarreled with team management over contract issues and earned a one-week dismissal from training camp after an argument with Head Coach Andy Reid that followed words T.O. had with offensive coordinator Brad Childress. In that back-and-forth T.O. told Childress, “Don’t speak to me unless I speak to you.”

I’m still trying to figure out what was wrong with his current contract? He is making over $3.25 million this season and was set to earn base salaries of $770,000 in 2006, $5.5 million in 2007, $6.5 million in 2008, $7.5 million in 2009, and $8.5 million in 2010. He was also due to receive a $5 million roster bonus in March of 2006.

It wasn’t good enough for him – why? Because he believes that he is better than all. The notion of “No I’s in Team” – it doesn’t exist in T.O.’s convoluted mind.

The Eagles and McNabb eventually reconciled their relationship with the problematic receiver and performed well together on the field. Terrell has 47 receptions for 763 yards and six Touch Downs this season, in just seven games. But he kept running his mouth. He continued to take verbal shots at McNabb on his weekly radio show or whenever he was doing interviews, like the one that aired last week with ESPN.

The straw was being bent so far. Those remarks that insinuated that the Eagles organization had no class and that the team would be much better off if Brett Favre was the quarterback instead of McNabb most likely broke the straw. The fist-fight with former Eagles Defensive End and teammate Hugh Douglas had to also contribute to his suspension.

Of course we all remember that this is the second time T.O. has been suspended during his 10 seasons in the NFL. In 2000, he was suspended one game by San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci following his infamous touchdown celebrations on the Dallas Cowboys’ star logo at the center of Texas Stadium.

Let’s remember there are three more weeks of suspension each of which is going to cost the money hungry Owens $191,176 of his $3.25 million base salary. That still leaves five more weeks of the season remaining. And what then? I’m going with the guess that the Eagles will do what the Buccaneers did to Keyshawn Johnson in 2003 – Pay him, but not play him.
The Eagles are a much better team on the field with Owens, you can’t argue that. The guy is one of the best play makers in the NFL – but they are not better in the locker room or in the huddle. He’s a cancer that needed to be sent away, for the good of the team and organization. They’ll be fine without him…it might take some time, but they’ll be just fine.

Now you have to wonder what team will take him. Whoever does will have to speculate what it will take to make Owens happy, because the seven-year, $48.97 million deal he got from the Eagles last year obviously wasn't good enough. This is a guy who has feuded with two good coaches that most people like, Mariucci and Reid. He called former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia ‘Gay’ and now is feuding with McNabb. I doubt that there are many (if any) teams that would give this kind of person a big signing bonus or a long-term deal. He’ll always be a player that puts himself before the team.

Good riddance T.O., and good luck to whoever signs him this offseason.

NBA Predictions for 2005-2006 Season

2005-11-04T11:35:00.000-05:00

I know, I know – you’re upset that I didn’t post my NBA predictions before the season started. I apologize. I’ve been too busy listening to T.O. say that if Brett Favre was the quarterback of the Eagles they’d be undefeated…And reading about how the Saints owner is saying his family felt threatened when the team played in Baton Rouge and that he will never go to another game there.

Anyway, since I make my predictions to my buddies all the time about who will make the playoffs, I figured I would let you all in on the secret. Here goes…

Eastern Conference
1) Miami Heat 62-20
2) Indiana Pacers 61-21
3) New Jersey Nets 53-29
4) Detroit Pistons 58-24
5) Milwaukee Bucks 48-34
6) Washington Wizards 47-35
7) Chicago Bulls 44-38
8) Cleveland Cavs 43-39

On the outside looking in: Philadelphia, Boston and Atlanta. All will be right around .500, but none will make the playoffs this year.

The Heat are the team to beat. With the additions of Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Jason Williams I don’t see them having a bad season. The nay-sayers always will chirp about ‘not enough ball to go around’…I’m not buying that. Walker and Payton want to do whatever they need to grab that championship, and neither are selfish players. Williams is going to thrive in this situation. He’s very flashy and playing alongside ‘Flash’ Dwayne Wade these two are going to do some very exciting things.

The Nets with Kidd, Vinsanity and RJ will win the Atlantic Division and get the three seed and the Pacers with Artest back will be the two seed. The Pistons still have a great team and play stifling defense, but I see them in the 4 spot this year. The bottom four playoff teams are all young teams that are on the rise. Led by the Michael Redd and T.J. Ford the Bucks are a very nice team. Andrew Bogut will be the rookie of the year this season and the Bucks are going to surprise a lot of people. The Wiz kids and the Baby Bulls are a year older and will both get back to the playoffs. The addition of Larry Hughes was big time for the Cavaliers. LeBron has a ‘Pippen’ now and after a slow start they’ll come on strong to nip both the Sixers and Celtics for the last spot in the East.

Western Conference
1) San Antonio Spurs 61-21
2) Seattle SuperSonics 57-25
3) Phoenix Suns 53-29
4) Houston Rockets 53-29
5) Minnesota T’Wolves 53-29
6) Dallas Mavericks 50-32
7) Golden State Warriors 45-37
8) Denver Nuggets 43-39

Same old West with the top three spots going to the Defending Champion San Antonio Spurs, the Northwest Division back to the Sonics and the Pacific Division to the Suns. The rest of the playoff picture is going to be wonderful. The Rockets and Timberwolves are going to be right behind the top three with Dallas not far behind. The problem in the West again is that six teams are very good and that’s it. This season the top six teams are all very close with the Spurs being the definite favorite.

The number seven playoff spot will be occupied by the Golden State Warriors this year. Oh yeah, I’m making that prediction and Tim Hardaway’s ‘Killer Crossover’ and Chris Mullin’s ‘Three Ball’ aren’t coming back to play…but they’ll be led by five young studs: Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Troy Murphy, Adonal Foyle and Mike Dunleavy. They have talent and are growing together each day. I’m picking them as the big sleeper in the West Conference. The last spot in the playoffs this year will be a disappointment. The Nuggets will again get to the playoffs but barely. They’ll hold off both teams from Los Angeles to get a ticket to another beat-down from San Antonio in the opening round.

Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Tim Duncan, San Antonio
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee
Defensive Player: Ron Artest, Indiana
Sixth Man: Michael Finley, San Antonio
Coach of the Year: Stan Van Gundy, Miami

Bucks Off to Great Start

2005-11-03T12:07:00.000-05:00

Milwaukee fans will have a lot to cheer about if Michael Redd, T.J. Ford and Andrew Bogut continue to play well and the team wins. Already 2-0 the Bucks look poised to be a playoff team again in the Eastern Conference.

Arbitrary Views & Opinions...

2005-11-02T11:41:00.000-05:00

Did Charlie Weis really deserve to have his contract at Notre Dame extended just seven games in his first season? I say absolutely not. Notre Dame is 5-2 and they’ve beaten the teams that they were supposed to beat…Michigan (very mediocre), Pitt (decent at best), BYU (not good), Purdue (even worse than BYU) and Washington (terrible). Sure they came very close to upsetting the best team in the country but is that what makes a contract?

Remember folks, Ty Willingham started his first season at ND 8-0. Six of those eight teams played in a bowl game that season…how come they didn’t offer him a contract of 10 years for between $30-40 million? Sure Notre Dame will probably make the excuse that they locked up Charlie because the NFL will be knocking on his door after a few successful seasons as a head coach – but I’m not buying into that. This was just another Bush-League move in college football and another stiff arm towards an African-American coach. And the sad thing is – not too many colleges have even given African-American coaches an opportunity. Willingham is one of the classiest people on the planet and took his firing in stride…but doesn’t this all make you wonder?

And the teaser – Brady Quinn, the Fighting Irish’s stud quarterback and nearly all of his starting teammates were recruited by none other than Ty Willingham.

__________________________________________________________________

Was the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks game last night real? I know they were out there running around and playing – I watched it…but was it a real game? I’m a huge basketball fan and have been watching the NBA since the battles between Magic and Bird but last night seemed like a setup. It looked like two teams that were out there playing ABSOLUTELY no defense. It was like before the game Iverson and C-Webb walked into the Bucks locker room to discuss the game plan.
Here’s how I imagine it going…
AI – “Wassup Mike? How was your flight?”
MR- “AI my man. C-Webb, what’s up dude? Flight was cool.”
CW- “Not much. Ya’ll heard about the plan tonight right?”
Over walks T.J. Ford and rookie Andrew Bogut.
AI – “Hey fellas.”
TJF- “Hey. Yeah, we got it. No D whatsoever. Let you both get off for 30-plus and Michael too. I’m gonna get as many assists as possible.”
CW – “Don’t forget to get your boy Bogut involved too. I’m thinking the league would want him to get around 15 points or so.”
MR – “Cool. We’ll let you guys have the lead at the half and then we’ll chip away. Hopefully we can force it to an OT – that’ll get us all more points and be cool with the fans.”
CW – “Cool…Cool”
AI – “Hey, we’re going to get my boy John Salmons involved tonight too…trying to get him some more PT. Is that aight with you guys?”
TJF – “Sounds good.”
MR – “Yeah, that’s cool. Alright fellas, good luck.”

__________________________________________________________________

T.O. told the Eagles that he will probably have to miss the next two very key NFC East games against the Redskins and Cowboys because he sprained his ankle against the Broncos last Sunday. It happens to be on the same leg that he suffered his bad injury last year. I don’t blame T.O. for sitting if he has to. But this is going to really put the clamps on Philly for the next two weeks. They need to win both of these games and without the best offensive player they have – it’s going to be tough.

Theo Says See-Ya to Boston...Next Stop Nobody Knows

2005-11-01T08:13:00.000-05:00

What to do? Ok, so I didn’t graduate from Yale and I didn’t become the youngest General Manager to win the World Series (yet), but if I was in Theo Epstein’s shoes – things would’ve been very different.

We all know that he was born and raised in New England and is a lifelong BoSox fan. He started out as the Assistant GM before getting hired when Billy Beane turned down the opportunity three years ago. Theo was young and had a few things going for him…The Red Sox were willing to spend and he didn’t have much to lose. And that’s precisely how he commanded the Sox over his three-year reign, making big, bold trades and spending big bucks.

But Theo had a chance to stay in Beantown for the next three years making a total of $4.5 million dollars and he walked away from it. If it were me with my beloved Mets, that money would’ve been just good enough. The chance to keep the winning ways of your favorite team going, while getting great seats to every game and that kind of money? Wow. I would be beside myself. I probably would ask if they would add a fourth year and bump the total salary to an even $5 million.

Not Theo. He’s going to do ‘other’ things. Maybe even walking away from baseball at the tender age of 31.

If he decides to stay in baseball – and wants a job this season (2006) there are three teams that should have already requested a chance to talk to him…the Phillies, Dodgers and Devil Rays. The Phillies and Dodgers both have nice sized payrolls, in the top tier in baseball. He could help return the Dodgers to past glory and might be the right guy to make some big deals to put Philadelphia over the top. The Devil Rays is an interesting one. Theo could be at the front of the up-and-coming Tampa Bay team battling with both the Red Sox and Yankees. Nice, warm weather and Epstein could fit right in with the other young execs in the Devil Rays' new front office. I doubt they’d give him the cash that the BoSox tried or what the Phillies and Dodgers could – but it would be tempting…for me anyway.

Again, if it was me – I would’ve stayed. Since he didn’t, those are the three teams that I would have my eyes all over. And if none of them meet his fancy, maybe he’ll take a year off and get back into things for the 2007 season. At just 31 years old, wouldn’t millions love to be in Theo’s shoes? I know I would.

2005 World Series

2005-10-27T08:22:00.000-04:00

Chicago White Sox defeat Houston Astros 4-0

Game 1: CWS 5-3
W-Contreras L-Rodriguez S-Jenks

Game 2: CWS 7-6
W-Cotts L-Lidge

Game 3: CWS 7-5 (14 innings)
W-Marte L-Astacio

Game 4: CWS 1-0
W-Garcia L-Lidge S-Jenks

Most Valuable Player - Jermaine Dye, RF Chicago White Sox

Just One More Win, For All of Them

2005-10-26T11:39:00.000-04:00

One more victory will set aside all the years of stress and agony. One more successful night will make all of the loyal fans of the ‘South Side’ bunch forget about how long it’s been and how many opportunities they’ve squandered. Just one more win…and the Chicago White Sox will be World Series Champions for the first time since 1917.

I’m rooting for the ChiSox – and there are so many reasons I want them to be the 2005 World Series Champions…

I want them to win it for Kid Gleason, who was cheated out of managing a World Champion in 1919. And for Ray Schalk, the catcher and team leader of that 1919 team. And for Dicky Kerr who pitched his heart out while some of his teammates threw that series.

I want them to win the series for the ‘Black Sox’. Eddie Cicotte, Chick Gandil, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg, Lefty Williams, Happy Felsch, Buck Weaver and Shoeless Joe Jackson. These eight men took a terrible decision that they made to their graves – I want the 2005 Sox to win it for all of them.

I want the ChiSox to win it for Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball who banned the ‘Black Sox’ for life for their involvement in the 1919 World Series scandal. He came away looking like a jerk – but it was the only thing he could do.

I want them to win it for their former shrewd owner Charles Comiskey. And for past and present owners Bill Veeck and Jerry Reinsdorf.

I want them to win it for Hall of Famers, Luke Appling, Al Lopez, Red Faber, Ted Lyons, Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio, Early Wynn and Carlton ‘Pudge’ Fisk…who played their guts out for Chicago, but none of whom had their chance to celebrate a World Championship with the White Sox.

I want them to win this one for former players like Minnie Minoso, the Cuban born All-Star who had two at bats in 1980 at the age of 57. And for Sherm Lollar, the All-Star backstop for the ’59 Sox. And one of my personal favorites - Harold Baines, who started, came back and then finished his career on the ‘South Side’. And also for the late Ivan Calderon. I want them to win this one for guys like ‘Black Jack’ McDowell and Robin Ventura. And for former Manager Jerry Manuel who won 500 games as their manager.

I want them to win this for the great Frank Thomas. The guy who for so long was The Chicago White Sox. The ’93 & ’94 American League MVP is watching his teammates win this thing because of a broken bone in his foot. I want Frank to feel the joy of this World Series Championship.

As a huge baseball fan, this World Series is just as touching as last years was. There are so many people, alive and dead, who gave all they could to bring home a championship for the fans of the White Sox…and this title will hopefully be for all of them too.

Great Scott!

2005-10-24T13:01:00.000-04:00

The heroics of last nights Game 2 of the World Series seemed to be spilling all over the place. First, down 4-2 to the Astros, Paul Konerko hit a grand slam to put the ChiSox ahead 6-4. Then, with two outs in the top of the 9th inning the Astros had runners on second and third. Phil Garner decided to bring in veteran Jose Vizcaino to pinch hit against the Sox big closer, Bobby Jenks. Vizcaino made Garner look like a genius, slapping the first pitch to left field for a two-run, opposite-field single as Chris Burke just beat Scott Podsednik's throw to score the tying run. 6-6.

Two of the White Sox four All-Stars in 2005 had already done as much as they could to give the ChiSox a 2-0 series lead starting pitcher Mark Buerhle had pitched well and Konerko had provided them a lead with his prolific slam. Jon Garland will pitch in Houston so you knew that All-Star wasn't going to be a hero last night. But the fourth All-Star Scott Podsednik, maybe he could?

With one out in the bottom of the 9th inning against Brad Lidge, one of the best closers in baseball, the speedy left fielder was perhaps the most unlikely hero when it came to the long-ball. He didn't have any home runs in 507 regular season at-bats with the Sox. His first homerun in a White Sox uniform came in the ALDS against the Red Sox.

I figured it would be a great time for Pods to drive a ball into the gap and try to leg out a triple. Nope - Scott had a different idea. With a hitters count of 2-1 and knowing Lidge was going to groove a fastball strike, Podsednik waited for his fastball. And as fast as Lidge's 95+mph fastball came in, it got out. Deep to Right-Centerfield for a game-winning solo homerun. Podsednik sprinted around the bases like he was trying to steal all of his 59 regular season bases at once. For a moment he pumped his fist, and he even shared a big smile, but it was without question Scott Podsednik's biggest moment in baseball. Sure he led the team in batting average, runs and stolen bases, but Pods isn't a homerun hitter - Zero all year. It was a classic finish to an incredible game.

All we heard about last year was the "Curse of the Bambino" and the year "1918". Well maybe in 2005 the Chicago White Sox you haven't won a World Series since 1917 will finally get the "Black Sox Scandal" off of their plates.

Just two games more and the fans of Chicago can celebrate...

Field Level Interesting Statline

2005-10-22T22:38:00.000-04:00

Here are a few stats that will have you scratching your head...
Career batting statistics of two Hall of Famers who wore the St. Louis Cardinals uniform.

Shortstop: Ozzie Smith - 9,396 ABs 28 Home Runs
Pitcher: Bob Gibson - 1,328 ABs 24 Home Runs

Postseason
Ozzie Smith - 144 ABs 1 Home Run
Bob Gibson - 28 ABs 2 Home Runs

Quote of the Day

2005-10-19T12:12:00.000-04:00

"The players have been dressing in prison garb the last five or six years. All the stuff that goes on, it's like gangster, thuggery stuff. It's time. It's been time to do that."
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, quoted today in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Poked or Punched - Danica Needs Lessons on Racing

2005-10-17T12:19:00.000-04:00

Sports never has a dull moment does it? I just heard about the ‘incident’ between race car drivers Danica Patrick and Jaques Lazier after the two wrecked on the 184th lap of the 200-lap Toyota Indy 400. Danica and her rookie season ended in a big crash with Lazier that brought on some words and either a punch or finger poke.

After the crash the two drivers were in a rescue vehicle when emotions ran a bit high. At first, Lazier said that the female driver punched him in the head. A bit later he toned it back and said that Danica poked him in the forehead.

When asked what happened Lazier said, "If she said she hit me on the temple with her fingers, that's fine. My son hits harder than she does." Lazier has a four-year old son.

At which point Danica Patrick made the intelligent response through her spokesman of, "So you're telling me that Jaques is saying he got beat up by a girl?"

Just terrible. If Danica Patrick wants to have continued success in racing she better be careful not to put her hands (or fingers) on other drivers. She should also fire her spokesman, because it's their job to keep her out of a mess like that. What would the response have been if Lazier would’ve done it to her? Not good. They would’ve called him every name in the book and that’s not fair.

Hey, I’m all for equality and think it’s great that she’s been successful but she needs to understand that what she did and what she said later was wrong. I know in the heat of the moment things are said and done that you might like to take back. Her follow-up response should have read something like this:
‘In the heat of the moment my frustrations were high and Jaques Lazier and I exchanged words. I regret the situation ever happened and hope that he can accept my apologies for any ill feelings that I may have given him.’

That would suffice Danica…don’t call the guy out about being beaten up by a girl…nonsense.

Trojans beat Fighting Irish in a Classic

2005-10-16T17:33:00.000-04:00

Quarterback Matt Leinart beats Notre Dame in the final seconds.

USC defeated Notre Dame yesterday in the most dramatic and exciting college football game I’ve ever watched. Led by their two studs, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, Southern California showed that they could come back when on the ropes and beat a good football team.

First year head coach Charlie Weis had Pro Football Hall of Famer and Notre Dame alumnus Joe Montana attend Friday night's pep rally, and it seemed to have been a great idea. Weis also had his team wear their good-luck green uniforms on Saturday too. Both ideas came just seconds away from working.

Leinart dove and then spun into the end zone with just a few seconds left to give the Number 1 team in the country its 28th straight win, 34-31 over a gritty and determined Number 9 Notre Dame. But before that spectacular ending there was more. After Leinart led the Trojans down the field leading to another Reggie Bush touchdown run the Fighting Irish, led by quarterback Brady Quinn, marched down the field to retake the lead 31-28 with just 2:02 remaining. The Trojans looked like they had lost but on 4th down and 9 Leinart hit Dwayne Jarrett in stride for a 61-yard pass play. Then on 2nd down inside the 5 yard line Leinart scrambled and dove toward the end zone. Several Notre Dame defenders stopped last years Heisman Trophy winner short of the goal line and the ball was actually fumbled out of bounds.

The next thirty seconds were strange. The game clock showed zeroes and many of Notre Dame's fans rushed onto the field to start their celebration. But seven seconds were left in the game and the ball was placed a foot and a half from the goal line. Looking like USC would play it safe and down or spike the ball to kick a field goal, many were shocked when Leinart went with the quarterback sneak. Twisting and falling into the end zone USC had pulled off an incredible come-from-behind win.

Leinart wasn’t the only player who played big in the big game. Bush was amazing. The super sophomore ran for 160 yards on 15 carries with three touchdowns for the two-time defending champions. He’s one of the best college running backs that I can remember watching. Irish quarterback Brady Quinn also had a great game, finishing with 264 yards passing on 19-for-35 and he used his legs to scramble and open up the Trojan defense. USC’s high-powered offense came into the game averaging 51 points a contest, but Notre Dame’s defense pressured Leinart all day and intercepted him twice.

Southern Cal head coach Pete Carroll said that yesterday’s game was the best game in this great run for his team. I couldn’t agree more. It was the best college football game I’ve ever watched.

The Love Boat

2005-10-14T12:58:00.000-04:00

Mike Tice and the Minnesota Vikings season has been a sinking ship long before a bunch of his players boarded two cruise boats last Thursday on Lake Minnetonka. The reports say that about 90 people were on these boats that returned to shore more than two hours earlier than scheduled when crew members complained about nudity and visible sexual activity from many of the party goers. Some of the Vikings players are denying that anything happened like what has been reported.

No criminal charges had been filed as of yesterday, and it might be several weeks before investigators finish interviewing all of the party-goers. Rumors are swirling that Cornerback Fred Smoot paid for one of the cruise boats – but his agent and he are vehemently denying those claims. The Vikings front office has been given the names of 17 players who may have been involved, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Mike Tice said he exchanged a handshake at the start of the season with new owner Zygi Wilf that he will coach the Vikings throughout this season, regardless of the team's record. Earlier this week Wilf reitterated his feelings, saying that Tice would not be the “scapegoat for bad decisions made by some players.”

For some reason I didn’t expect the fellas to just open right up about this one. This is just flat-out stupid. If a group of players wanted to do some kinky stuff they should do it in the privacy of one of their own homes – not on a cruise boat in the middle of a popular lake where other boats are. This story will continue to develop over the next several weeks, but I’m very interested to find out more details. Another crazy situation in Viking-Land…maybe Wilf should think strongly about not having a “handshake” before next season?

Dressed to Impress

2005-10-13T08:14:00.000-04:00

NBA Commissioner David Stern has given the league and the game of basketball years of great service. His ideas have been brilliant at times and he has helped take the NBA and many of its players to an incredible popularity – both in the U.S. and internationally. But recently David Stern has a new plan for the NBA…a dress code. Commissioner Stern is ready to implement a dress code for all players. This idea is ridiculous and stupid and I’m in loud agreement with several players that have voiced their displeasure with Stern’s proposal.

Allen Iverson has been one of the most vocal critics of the new dress code saying, “It sends a bad message to kids. If you don't have a suit when you go to school, is your teacher going to think you're a bad kid because you don't have a suit on?"

I agree with AI. The NBA isn’t Wall Street. Sure, the league minimum is more than most people on Wall Street make per year, but it’s a game that’s played in sneakers and shorts…and after the game you’re usually very tired and the most comfortable thing might be to wear a nice pear of sweatpants.

Rasheed Wallace said that the idea was just stupid and that he would fight it. Marcus Camby thinks if the league wants players to wear suits they should give them a ‘stipend to buy clothes’. I agree that ‘Sheed should fight it – but think Camby might be going a bit overboard.

I know David Stern’s marketing dream (aka Michael Jordan) wore a suit before and after every game – but that was Mike, that was how he did his thing…that’s not AI or many of the leagues players of today.

If Stern was smart – he’d scrap this idea and stick to basketball matters. Maybe figure out a way to get more than a combined 155 points on the board in a playoff game?

If you were an NBA player how would you react to the proposed NBA dress code?
A) No way – I’m fighting it
B) Sure, suits are nice and it sets a good example
C) Whatever, just make sure I get my paycheck
D) Other

Change is Coming

2005-10-11T12:43:00.000-04:00

We were again reminded last night that having the highest payroll in the league will buy your team into the postseason, but it won’t buy a World Series Championship. Now that a fifth straight New York Yankees season has ended without the World Series title that is the organization's lone goal, things are going to get very interesting. There's one thing we can count on – Change is Coming.

In reality, the Angels were a better team than the Yankees and deserved to win the series. But I remember once upon a time when the Yankees would beat teams that were better than them just because they were the New York Yankees. Nowadays though, the Yanks can’t get themselves that World Series trophy that Owner George Steinbrenner wants so badly – and it might cost many people their jobs.

When the fans at Yankee Stadium serenaded long-time Yankee Bernie Williams with the chants of “Ber-nie Will-iams!” at the end of Game 4 they knew it would probably be the last time they would be able to cheer for the Yankee who’s been with the team since 1991. But there were no chants for General Manager Brian Cashman or Manager Joe Torre. They could’ve used them, because it wouldn’t surprise many if both are looking for other employment in the coming weeks. Cashman doesn’t have a contract next year and the openings in Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay must seem very inviting. Cashman grew up in Maryland in close proximity to both Baltimore and Washington, DC. As good of a job as I think Cashman has done in many regards, it’s very likely that he’ll be just one of Steinbrenner’s fall-guys. But even if he does get an offer from New York, it's also very possible that Cashman might decide on his own to leave for one of the previously mentioned opportunities.

Then we look at the Joe Torre situation. The Yankee Manager has two years and $13.1 million left on the three-year contract extension Steinbrenner gave him in spring training 2004. After another season of disappointment many believe that Torre might be fired before Thanksgiving. Lou Piniella, a Steinbrenner favorite, might be brought back to the Bronx to steer the ship next season. In all ten seasons that Torre managed the Yanks he took them to the playoffs. In four of his first five seasons they celebrated World Series Championships – but in the last five years, they’ve only made it to the Series twice and both times they lost. If there was a time for the firing of Torre – it would be now.

The Yankees have a ton of questions as far as player personnel goes too. Along with what to do about Bernie there are questions about whether or not to resign Tom Gordon and Tanyon Sturtze and where they can trade Tony Womack.

There is also a steady buzz going around that Hideki Matsui is interested in possibly signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Francisco Giants to be on the West Coast, closer to Japan. Losing Matsui could be huge and possibly catastrophic for the Yankee lineup. Many, including me, believe that he’s been the most clutch player in their lineup the last three seasons.

Another longtime Yankee might also be on the way out. Catcher Jorge Posada is 34-years old and has caught a lot of games for the Yankees, but might be trade bait this offseason. Personally, I’ve never been a big fan of Posada – but I would think the Yankees could get some good players for him. Of course, like most Yankee players he’s overpaid – so it wouldn’t shock me if the Yankees had to eat some of his contract.

The pitching staff is in shambles. The ‘Shawn Chacon-Aaron Small Run’ isn’t going to carry them into the postseason again in 2006. Chacon might be the team’s fifth starter, but Small will probably be a reliever. That leaves the team with two older pitchers that are both getting paid way too much, Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina and two veteran pitchers who are both coming off of injuries, Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright. Funny thing is both Pavano and Wright are getting paid way too much too.

As long as the Yankees have Mariano Rivera healthy and closing games and Captain Derek Jeter commanding the team as their shortstop the Yankees will be good – especially in the AL East. But this team is getting older and older. They need a solid Centerfielder and they need some serious help in terms of pitching. Who will manage is still up in the air. I’m going to enjoy watching the offseason buzz and signings and we all know that Steinbrenner won’t sit back without slamming the hammer down on people after this lost season.

The Field Level seats at Yankee Stadium might be empty for the next few weeks, but they’ll surely be a lot of chatter coming from the owner’s box.

Sun Sets on the Red Sox Nation

2005-10-07T23:03:00.000-04:00

Just like that, the reign of the Boston Red Sox ended tonight. It was the other Sox that defeated Boston three games to none in the ALDS. In every aspect of the game the Chicago White Sox were better than the Red Sox and they deserved to win.

To some people it was a surprise, to many it wasn’t…it was bound to happen. The team that the Red Sox Nation and many other Americans became enamored with in October of 2003 and became infatuated with in October of last year is out. The downfall of the 2005 BoSox was clearly their lack of pitching. Not enough good starting pitching and a very depleted bullpen. They let the great Pedro Martinez walk. They let another Boston mainstay, Derek Lowe leave to free agency in the offseason too. Right now Pedro and Lowe must seem like Juan Marichal and Don Sutton.

This team just didn’t have the same flare for the dramatic. The Red Sox had won eight of their last nine games when facing elimination because of that flare. They rallied from an 0-2 deficit against the Oakland Athletics in the 2003 ALDS and then in historic fashion against their nemesis Yankees won four straight last year en route to their first World Series title since 1918 and ended ‘the curse’.

Too many pieces to their Championship jig saw puzzle of ’04 didn’t fit this year. Their closer who Sox fans revered like Yastrzemski fell apart early in the season, which forced them to use a mix-and-match pen from that point on. The second baseman that Boston fans cherished was striking out more than he got on base and finally showed why he has always been considered an average infielder. They released him. And their left-handed stud out of the bullpen became a batting practice pitcher. They released him too.

I’m also tired of the crazy notion that Terry Francona is all of sudden Casey Stengel. NEWS FLASH to the Red Sox Nation: Francona’s first two winning seasons as a manager where last year and this year. Sure, Terry’s a good leader to this vagabond bunch of ‘Idiots’ and he’s done a nice job, but he’s not Mozart.

Truth be told, with the way that this team lost their AL East lead in September to the Yankees – this team should be talked about like the 1978 Red Sox…they choked.

Now the interesting part comes. How many pieces of the jig saw puzzle will still be around in 2006? Word on the street is that the Sox and General Manager Theo Epstein are far apart on contract talks. Leadoff hitter and centerfielder Johnny Damon is a free agent that will attract tons of attention on the open market. May he roam the outfield of Yankee Stadium next season wearing pin stripes? Where will Manny Ramirez be next year? Boston might finally pull the trigger on a big trade to unleash the eccentric slugger. Will Keith Foulke be effective again? Can Curt Schilling be the front-line starter that he’s been for the last decade plus?

Too many questions for the Red Sox Nation to ponder this winter. I’ll let them cry in their beers for now and start rooting against the Yankees tomorrow.

Chief Redskin Still Making Strange Decisions

2005-10-07T07:53:00.000-04:00

You’re 3-0 in the NFC East and everything seems to be bouncing your way. But not all is right in Redskins-World.

I’m trying to get my hands around this one. The best player on your defense doesn’t play? Repeat: The best player on your defense doesn’t play. After practice on Wednesday Hall of Fame Head Coach Joe Gibbs and three-time Pro-Bowl Linebacker LaVar Arrington exchanged words and their voices were loud enough that a full gang of reporters could hear everything they said. This cannot be a good sign for an undefeated Washington Redskins team.

Now, the stud linebacker and one time franchise player has been relegated to a special teams player? Arrington played only two snaps on defense in last Sunday's 20-17 OT victory against Seattle, and he barely played in the first two games of the season.

Now I’m a big believer in “if ain’t broke – don’t fix it” but this is crazy to me. Arrington has been one of the best defensive players in all of football since he was drafted. He dazzled fans in his rookie season and then was a Pro-Bowler in three consecutive seasons before hurting his knee last year. And now that he’s healthy he gets a nice big reward of – SIT THE BENCH. Makes no sense to me.

It's difficult for me to say this because the Redskins are 3-0, but I really don’t think they’re player personnel decisions have been good at all…and let’s be real – they’ve won their three games by a combined six points. The defense has been good and not given up many points, but hasn’t been able to get many turnovers or sacks. The Redskins have forced only two turnovers and have only four sacks. The are currently ranked close to the bottom of the league in both.

Maybe Joe Gibbs didn’t watch too much football while he was retired and off doing the NASCAR thing, but sacks and turnovers are Arrington's bread and butter. In LaVar’s three Pro-Bowl seasons he racked up 17.5 sacks, forced 10 fumbles and also had 3 interceptions. My point – he’s all over the field making big plays.

They need this guy. Marcus Washington has been fantastic for the Redskins and Warrick Holdman and Lemar Marshall have been really good too…but the best linebacker on the team hardly plays. If he’s not a starter – bring him in on 3rd down and long…let him go all out on blitz packages – because if he’s healthy he’s going to make a difference. If he’s not healthy, then tell us and I’ll move onto my next topic.

As far as I can see, the ‘Skins aren’t a playoff team – but maybe with a jolt of energy and exciting play the rest of the season they’ll be able to steal a few more victories…LaVar Arrington is just the guy to be making those plays.

Playoff Baseball Starts Today

2005-10-04T11:43:00.000-04:00

When I leave my building in the morning I can smell the aroma of Fall in the air. The air is starting to get colder and the days are getting shorter, but thankfully, I know it leads to one beautiful thing…The Fall Classic – The World Series.

A couple of my buddies called me several times this past weekend wanting to talk football? I kept saying, “I’m not concentrating on football until things get ironed out for the baseball playoffs.” I must have said that one sentence about five or six times. Indeed, I wanted to watch the games on the grid-iron – but not as much as the very important games on the diamond.

In the American League the Red Sox won two of three from the Yankees but still lost the AL East to the Bombers. The Indians lost all three against the ChiSox (AL West Champs) and eliminated themselves from winning the AL Wild card – which went to Boston for the third straight season. And the ‘Angels of Somewhere in Southern California near Los Angeles but actually in Anaheim’ beat the Texas Rangers on the last day of the season to have first round home-field advantage.

Field Level’s AL Division Series Predictions:

Angels defeat Yankees and win series 3-2
The Angels pitching is SO much better than the Yankees. I think with Bartolo Colon and John Lackey starting on the bump in the first two games they have a decisive advantage over the Yankees. They’ll take this series back to the Big Apple up 2-0…Randy Johnson will win Game 3 and the Yankees will win Game 4 in the Bronx and take it back to California. But homefield is always key and the Angels will take the deciding game to move on.

ChiSox defeat BoSox and win series 3-2
The Red Sox are going to fall victim to this problem – “Too many tired arms”. I think this series is going to be tight, but the White Sox have much better pitching right now. With Buehrle and Garland they have the best two starters in the series and having the home-field advantage will payoff handsomely in Game 5.

The only thing up for grabs in the final weekend of the regular season in the National League was the NL Wild Card. The Houston Astros won it for the second consecutive year by edging out the Philadelphia Phillies. I was admittedly pulling hard for the Phils for a few reasons. They play in the best division in baseball, the NL East. And my parents happen to be big fans and season ticket holders. The Astros will do battle in the divisional series with the Braves again and the NL Central Champ Cardinals will host the NL West Padres. San Diego won a whopping 82 games this year – having the worst winning percentage for any team to make the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Field Level’s NL Division Series Predictions:

Cardinals defeat the Padres and win 3-0
Unfortunately for the Padres they don’t have the fire power to match the Cards. This is going to be one of those very anti-climatic, boring series. I’m sure the Padres will play Game 3 close but lose and watch St. Louis dance on their field. They’re not a good team…they’re a below-average team that plays in a disgusting division. MLB should’ve told them to stay at home and let the Phillies play.

Astros defeat the Braves and win 3-1
Bobby Cox always has his team in it to win it…but they just never seem to do it. This year is going to be no different than the last 9 years – no World Championship for Atlanta. The fact of the matter is the Astros don’t lose at home and with Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens going in the first two games they’re going to split. Oswalt will easily out-pitch Jorge Sosa and the series will end in Houston in Game 4. Better bullpen, better starting pitching, better defense and wha-la! The Stros will move on for their NLCS rematch against the Cardinals.

Was he joking?

2005-09-29T08:01:00.000-04:00

"They are a real good ballclub," Giants manager Felipe Alou said referring to the San Diego Padres who clinched the NL West title on Wednesday night. The Padres have a .500 record of 79-79.

Average Joe

2005-09-28T12:32:00.000-04:00

In a debate with several of my friends this morning I realized a glaring fact that is almost as bright as the Sun. The guy that people still refer to as “Broadway Joe” was nowhere near a great quarterback and should never have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Joe Willie Namath was born in the steel-mill town of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania on May 31, 1943. After having a fine career playing at Alabama under legendary coach Bear Bryant the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League drafted Joe, but he decided to sign with the upstart New York Jets of the American Football League for $400,000 after they used a pick gained in a trade with Houston to select him in the first round of the AFL Draft.

In 1967, his third season, Namath had the best season of his career throwing for 4,007 yards and 26 touchdown passes. The hype was growing each day as the New York tabloids salivated over him.

The following season he led the Jets to the AFL's Eastern Division title. In the championship game against the Oakland Raiders Joe threw three touchdown passes. His touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter gave the Jets a 27-23 victory and a berth in Super Bowl III on Jan. 12, 1969.

New York was a three touchdown underdog to Don Shula’s Baltimore Colts, but that didn’t stop Namath from boldly predicting, "We're going to win Sunday. I guarantee you." This made headlines all over the country and some people thought that Joe was off his rocker. Namath directed the Jets on four scoring drives, completing 17-of-28 passes for 206 yards and being voted the MVP in the victory over the stunned Colts. The Jets were the first AFL team to win the Super Bowl.

But that’s where the story ends. Broadway Joe was an average theatrical production that made it to the big stage once – had a great one show – but never was much more than that prediction and one Super Bowl. His 13-year career is quite confusing to read on a stat-line. In 10 of those 13 seasons Namath threw more Interceptions than Touch Downs. Is this a Hall of Fame career?

Look at his mediocre numbers...it seems more to me like a tragedy not a drama.

Completion %=50.1%
Passing Yards=27,663
Passing Completions=1,886
TDs=173
INTs =220

Joe Namath never should have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Sure, it must’ve been nice to elect a guy who grew up about sixty miles away across the Pennsylvania border – but no way. One bold prediction, one upset in the Super Bowl got him enshrined in the most prestigious place in football? I can’t see it.

I know all about how his career was sidetracked by several bad knee injuries and he butted heads with NFL on several fronts, but stats don’t lie. When you throw 47 more INTs than TDs – it’s not a good thing. When you complete only half of your passes – it’s not a good thing. When you lead your team to just three winning seasons – it’s not a good thing.

Does former Dallas Cowboys Cornerback Larry Brown deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? Or maybe Desmond Howard? They both won Super Bowl MVPs…and I’m sure before the game they both said their teams would win.

Randy Moss or Terrell Owens...?

2005-09-23T12:16:00.000-04:00

Arguably the two best Wide Receivers in the NFL will do battle on Sunday when the Oakland Raiders play the Philadelphia Eagles. We all know about both of these guys...one likes to smot marijuana (only in the offseason) and the other likes to do his preseason workouts on his driveway. But Field Level wants to know who you would rather have on your team catching your touchdowns...

A) Randy Moss
B) Terrell Owens
C) Neither

Double Standard?

2005-09-21T08:22:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I just heard the news this morning while driving into work listening to ESPN’s ‘Mike & Mike in the Morning.’ Female golfer, Michelle Wie will to turn pro sometime before her 16th birthday, October 11th. The second that this happens, she’ll become the world's highest-paid female golfer. Golf World is reporting that she’s already got at least three big endorsements with major companies worth almost $10 million. This doesn’t even count what she wins on the LPGA tour

Surprisingly enough, Nike happens to be one of those ‘big endorsements’. I’m sure Gatorade is also lining up for their chance too.

I have nothing more to say about this – I really don’t. Nobody’s making a big deal about this girl turning pro – how come? Where are all of the same critics who moan and cry all day long about kids who enter the NBA draft? Or when Maurice Clarett and Mike Williams wanted to turn pro and play in the NFL after just one season in college – where are the people who were so adamant that they shouldn’t? She’s only going to be 16-years old…that would be a sophomore or junior in high school, correct? Or how come none of the MLS fans were ticked off that Washington signed Freddie Adu when he was like 6 years old. Ok, I’m exaggerating, but he was 14 years old…some kids aren’t even freshman in high school yet. How does this make sense?

I’m happy that this girl is going to make her family very comfortable. Only people who have been truly blessed with talent and have incredible work ethic and desire are as great as she already is. But I’m sick and tired of the ‘double-standard’ in sports and in this country. If a high schooler who wants to go pro in either football or basketball has to wait, then so should she.

Every commissioner or presidents of all professional sporting leagues need to sit down and set an age. Personally, I think it should be 18. When a kid turns 18-years of age, they can do whatever they want. And if we get another Maurice Clarett who wants to turn pro after his freshman year of college, fine. It’s his head on the swivel.

Mark Messier Retires

2005-09-15T20:02:00.000-04:00

“The Captain”, Mark Messier announced his retirement earlier this week closing the book on an incredible Hall of Fame career that included six Stanley Cup titles and two NHL Most Valuable Player Awards.

It was time to hang up his skates and he did. #11 was one of the best leaders in sports history and he played at the highest levels leading his teams to the pinnacle of success so often.

Messier led his teams, the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers, to the playoffs in 17 of his first 18 NHL seasons. His early years were so great and his Oilers team won so much. I remember as a youngster watching him play when he first came to Madison Square Garden – he was the Magic Johnson or Joe Montana of the NHL…pure excitement and nothing but success.

Messier teamed with “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr and others to win four championships in Edmonton. After Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles Messier led the Oilers to another Stanley Cup Trophy in 1990 without him.

In 1994, his third season with the New York Rangers, he led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Title in 54 years - helping to end more than five decades of misery. Before Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals that year against the New Jersey Devils and the Rangers trailing the series 3-2 Messier boldly stated, “We Will Win Tonight.” Sure enough, in classic Messier fashion the Rangers won 4-2 with “The Captain” netting a hat-trick.

After a run to the Eastern Conference finals with the Rangers and Gretzky (he persuaded ‘The Great One’ to join him in NY) in 1997 he left to try to revitalize the Vancouver Canucks. It never panned out and in 2000 he returned to New York to finish his Hall of Fame career. The 16-time All-Star is the only player to captain two teams to Stanley Cup Championships.

The Captain is all over the NHL record book…He’s 7th All-Tim in goals with 694. He has 1,193 assists which place him third all-time, behind only Wayne Gretzky and Ron Francis. He’s 2nd in career points with 1,887 points, only Gretzky has more. Only Goalie Patrick Roy played in more postseason games. Messier had 236 appearances in the postseason — which featured 109 goals and 295 points. He trails only Gretzky in playoff goals and assists, but topped The Great One by winning two more Stanley Cup Trophies and an unforgettable postseason guarantee that took him to beloved status in New York and forever in NHL history.

Nothing ever seemed to bother Messier. While The Great One got all the print and coverage during the Oiler’s heyday, Messier was the unquestioned heart and soul of that dynasty. If he felt like somebody was playing dirty, he fought them. If his team needed a great pass he’d make it. If they trailed and needed a big goal, he’d score. His defense and special teams was some of the best in Hockey history.

If you look up the word ‘Champion’ in the dictionary, it would be hard to not see a picture of Mark Messier.

I loved watching his intensity and loved how he was always in the right place at the right time – you can’t teach those skills, only few are born with them. Mark Messier was a true great.

Thanks Mess...you were and always will be "The Captain".

"He was the best player I ever played with, and it was a pleasure to play with him each and every day." –Wayne Gretzky

How Many More?

2005-09-09T08:08:00.000-04:00

How many more Super Bowls for the Patriots?

Everything I kept reading and hearing this offseason was how the two-time defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots wouldn’t be the same team this year. They lost their offensive and defensive coordinators – Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel. Linebacker Tedy Bruschi had a mild stroke in February and won’t play this season and another stalwart on their defense, linebacker Ted Johnson hung up his cleats. No way the Patriots will be the team to beat in the AFC again this season. I agree, because they’re the team to beat in the entire NFL.

The Patriots have already built themselves a dynasty winning three of the last four Super Bowls, and the rest of the league has a long way to go before they’re not the team to beat. Watching them last night, I thought to myself, “Charlie who? Romeo…?”

They are a product of their head coach Bill Belichick and their quarterback Tom Brady. Things are always precise and planned out. Brady went out last night and threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns like he was playing a pickup game at the local park with friends. At times he was laughing with his teammates and at other times he was barking words of encouragement to remind the fellas that they wouldn’t lose. He doesn’t get rattled and might be more “cool” than Joe Montana, his boyhood idol.

With Brady and Belichick they’ve always got a chance. Brady’s demeanor and play is stellar and Little Bill’s defensive schemes are legendary. But with guys like Richard Seymour, Rodney Harrison, Willie McGinest, Deion Branch, Corey Dillon and Adam Vinatieri helping to act out the play, they’re the team to beat.

Al Michaels made mention last night about how good this Patriots team is at Gillett Stadium, but ABC never showed any stats about it. So I checked – and I was baffled. 22-2 in regular season games and 3-0 in the playoffs…25-2. They haven’t lost a home game since the second to last game of the 2002 season against the NY Jets. That’s incredible and has got to be on the minds of visiting teams when they play in Foxboro.

Last night was just more proof to me that the Patriots are the team to beat. Talk up the Colts and any other AFC team – fine. I’ll say until my face turns green that the Eagles are capable of beating them too…that’s fine. But until somebody does knock this team off we’re watching poetry in motion. Now I’m not suggesting that the Oakland Raiders are one of the top five teams in the AFC this season – because they’re not. But the Raiders have a pretty good team and we all know that during any given game a B team can beat an A team.

Until they lose that big game, Brady, Belichick and the fellas are the best team out there.

Never a Closer for the Mets

2005-09-08T08:04:00.000-04:00

Who's worse...?
The Meltdowns from Benitez during the Mets great run or Braden Looper's ineffectiveness while the team tries to make the playoffs...both terrible, but which is worse?

Top Ten Things I Want to See in 2005-2006 NFL Season...

2005-09-06T13:05:00.000-04:00

10. Bill Cowher stop spitting when he yells.
9. Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb become 'boys' again.
8. Bill Parcells watch his team lose 9 games and finish 7-9 and then quit.
7. Patrick Ramsey get a little time to actually throw the football.
6. Patrick Ramsey throw 20+ INTs.
5. Daunte Culpepper & Donovan McNabb run more.
4. Ricky Williams and Randy Moss have GREAT seasons for pot smokers worldwide.
3. The Arizona Cardinals win 10 games and make the playoffs.
2. Andy Reid show up to practice unannounced wearing tights after T.O. catches his 15th Touchdown pass.

and the NUMBER 1 ...

1. The New Orleans Saints win the NFC South and go deep into the playoffs for themselves and the entire Gulf Region.

Slow Marchin' for the Saints

2005-09-02T09:03:00.000-04:00

Where do the Saints go marchin’ now? Paul Tagliabue, the Commissioner of the NFL, said yesterday that it's highly unlikely that the New Orleans Saints will play in New Orleans this season after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina on the city and surrounding areas. Commissioner Tagliabue did say however that playing the Saints home games in Louisiana is a top priority – possibly at LSU in Baton Rouge.

The Saints will head to San Antonio, Texas tomorrow and Sunday and practice there to get prepared for their September 11th regular-season opener at Carolina. The team has spent the last week in San Jose, California and played their final exhibition last night at the Raiders. The Saints still don’t know where they will play their home opener that is scheduled for September 18th against the New York Giants. The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority and the New York Giants have graciously offered to play the game on Monday, September 19th at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. The reason for the Monday game is that the Jets play at home on the 18th against the Dolphins. Another option is for the Saints to play their entire home schedule in San Antonio at the Alamodome which can seat 65,000 people.

“Our assumption is that for planning purposes, we should assume it will be difficult if not impossible to play in New Orleans at all this year." Paul Tagliabue, NFL Commissioner

Commissioner Tagliabue said on Wednesday that the NFL is donating $1 million to the recovery and relief effort. Yesterday, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association Gene Upshaw released a statement saying that the Players Association would help in the effort as well.

What a terrible disaster for the entire Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama region. As sports fans we read and hear about how the Saints and many college teams are being displaced. We hear about how players like Brett Favre, Steve McNair, Tank Williams and Marshall Faulk’s families and hometowns have been affected so gravely. I hope the NFL and the rest of the sporting world really understands that life comes first. I applaud the Giants for trying to make a change to help their opponents and hope that the entire country can give support to people that have had their lives turned upside down and in many cases ruined.

Great Texas Team Gets Even Better

2005-09-01T08:10:00.000-04:00

Michael Finley chose to stay in the Lone Star State when he signed with the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs yesterday. The 32-year old Finley joins his former Dallas teammate Nick Van Excel as two big pieces towards helping the Spurs win a fourth NBA title in just eight years. The Spurs think Finley will give them much needed points and energy off the bench and can also count on him to be another solid starter in place of either Bruce Bowen or Manu Ginobili.

The specifics of the deal haven’t been finalized, including the length of the contract, but Finley will receive a starting salary of approximately $2.5 million this season. Finley was free for the taking after Dallas decided they should waive Finley earlier this summer. The NBA Amnesty clause will spare Dallas future luxury-tax payments on almost $52 million it still needs to pay him. He was courted heavily by several teams including the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns, two teams that expect to be in the hunt for next year’s championship.

I think this deal along with the resigning of Robert “Big Shot Bob” Horry and the signing of Nick Van Excel will put the Spurs right back on top of the NBA. It should be interesting to see Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Ginobili, Horry and the new additions take aim for another title.

Where Have You Gone Doctor K?

2005-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

At the tender age of 19-years old Dwight Gooden was becoming a baseball legend. He was striking out batters at a dizzying pace. In only his second season (1985) in the major leagues the 20-year old Gooden did something that had only been done four times since 1939 by a Major League pitcher – he won the pitching Triple Crown. But by the age of 22 he was already suspended from baseball and in a drug rehab. And now, at the age of 41 he’s a fugitive on the run. Gooden was pulled over the other night in his hometown of Tampa, Florida and fled. The officer who pulled him over said he could smell alcohol on Dwight's breath, his speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot. Gooden fled the scene and hasn’t been found yet.
How did this happen to a guy that people were in such awe of?

Gooden broke onto the baseball scene in his rookie season of 1984 and won 17 games that season for the NL East’s 2nd place New York Mets. Only 19-years old and he led the Major Leagues in strikeouts with 276. The New York media dubbed the kid, “Doctor K” and it stuck. Doc was part of the revitalized Mets team that would have more wins than any other team in baseball from 1984-1990…but unfortunately, the Mets partied more than any other team in baseball too. As the shy kid from Tampa grew bigger and bigger the temptations of the Big Apple and his fame got hold of him.

After winning the 1986 World Series with the Mets Gooden found himself in trouble because of drugs. He missed about ten starts in the ’87 season because he was suspended for 60 days during spring training and was placed in a mandatory drug rehab for cocaine. He came back and finished the season strong with a 15-7 record, a far cry from his ’85 Triple Crown season. His stat line that season: 24-4 with 268 K’s and a 1.53 ERA. But his fortunes were slowly changing. His blazing fastball was losing some of its speed. His incredible curveball was losing some of its break. Doctor K was becoming more hittable.

Doc did win 18 games in ’88 and posted 19 wins in ‘90. He passed up his 35th start that year missing the chance to win 20 games for the second time in his career because the Mets were out of it…he let a September call-up take his start in the last few days of the season.

His career was so promising and many were calling him a “Future Hall of Famer”. He was a four-time National League All-Star in ’84, ’85, ’86 and ’88. He was also a really good hitter too hitting 8 career homeruns and was never an automatic out.

But he could never outrun his addictions. He was suspended again with the Mets and missed more than a year in the ‘94-’95 seasons. Later arrests in his hometown of Tampa didn’t stop him either. And domestic assault charges earlier this year didn’t stop him.

It brings a tear to my eyes as I write this. How did someone who was so great at such a young age and showed so much potential end up like this? I guess Gooden has yet to hit “bottom”…after drugs and alcohol have caused his life so many problems and turned a once “Future Hall of Famer” into a mediocre pitcher he has yet to see the light and realize that he needs to get clean. I hope this is “bottom” for him and that one of the guys I grew up loving is alive and has the chance to make something of his life.

Terrible Tragedy

2005-08-23T08:04:00.000-04:00

The National Football League lost another player this past weekend. Only minutes after playing in a preseason game in Denver, Thomas Herrion an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers collapsed near his locker. He was rushed to the hospital and was later pronounced dead at the young age of 23.

After performing an autopsy on Sunday, the coroner's office in Denver said no cause of death could be determined until toxicology tests were performed. Those tests usually take about three to five weeks.

This tragic death came a little more than four years after Minnesota Vikings All-Pro offensive lineman Korey Stringer died of heatstroke following a tough practice that was held in the hot low 90s. Saturday night in Denver it was in the mid-60s and not very humid. What happened only brings us back to the same question…are NFL football players getting too big to remain healthy?

Herrion was listed in the 49ers media guide as 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds – an average size for NFL linemen. Rumor has it that although Herrion was listed at 310, teammates say he was more like 340-350. But if you saw a man like him walking down the street the first thing you’d think of is “obesity”.

Although obesity right now can’t be blamed for Herrion’s death experts are saying it could have been a major contributor. How can’t it be? Most of the NFL’s offensive and defensive linemen are way too big and put a tremendous amount of strain on their hearts. If you look at the roster of a dozen or so teams you’ll notice that most teams have an average offensive line weight of 310+ pounds, which is far too much. And how many of those teams really list players at their true weight?

Teams need to make sure that players who are in the 300-pound range are closely monitored. If a guy is 325 pounds one year and puts on another twenty pounds – you really need to ask yourself what is that twenty pounds going to do for the player’s performance…and will it put added stress on their body? Teams also need to look deeply into the family history of such players. It’s been said in the last few days that Thomas Herrion’s family has had a deep history of heart problems. This should be looked at and he should be a player that should’ve been monitored a little more closely.

Herrion, a former Utah captain was a first-year player with the 49ers, after spending part of last season on the 49ers and Dallas Cowboys practice squads. He also played this past season in NFL Europe for the Hamburg Sea Devils. Playing his college ball at Utah he was comfortable playing in high altitude, like Denver, that can intensify dehydration.

This is just a terrible tragedy. 23-years old is too young…especially when you’re doing something that you love and trying to be a model citizen in this world.

Randy Speaks and People Go Crazy

2005-08-19T07:58:00.000-04:00

I’m shocked. I couldn’t believe it when I read it. Randy Moss smokes marijuana? Noooo. For anybody who might have been surprised – get a new hobby. But there are two things that I thought about when I heard this news. 1) It’s Randy Moss’ business and 2) Obviously it doesn’t effect his play.

Next Tuesday night on HBO’s ‘Real Sports with Byrant Gumbel’ Moss says since entering the NFL seven years ago that he still smokes marijuana "every blue moon."

Apparently when asked again whether or not he still smokes marijuana Moss said: "I might. I might have fun. And, you know, hopefully ... I won't get into any trouble by the NFL by saying that, you know. I have had fun throughout my years and, you know, predominantly in the offseason.”

Of course after hearing all of the reports Randy is back pedaling and his agent, Dante DiTrapano is saying that HBO is trying to intentionally damage Randy Moss’ reputation. DiTrapano also said that Moss was talking about past use in the interview.

I would like to note that Moss has never been suspended for violating the league's drug policy. Of course NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said yesterday that it is confidential whether a certain player is in the drug program or not. He did test positive several years ago and had to submit to urine samples for two seasons. After testing clean for those two years following the positive test, Moss was taken out of the NFL's drug program. If a player tests positive, the NFL's drug policy stipulates that players can be tested up to 10 times a month. A second violation results in a fine equal to the player's salary for four regular season games, a third is a four-game suspension, and the fourth is a year's suspension.

Let’s face it, Randy has had his share of problems on and off the field throughout his college and pro career. He lost scholarships to play football at both Notre Dame and Florida State because of a battery charge and marijuana use. Because of that he went to Division I-AA Marshall where he set records was the top receiver in the 1998 NFL Draft, but didn’t get picked until the 21st overall because teams were worried about his past trouble.

Since being an NFL All-Pro receiver he’s bumped a traffic officer with his car in 2002 and squirting an official with a water bottle in 1999. He was fined last year for pretending to pull down his pants to ‘moon’ the Packers fans during the Vikes playoff victory. All of these and probably more led the Vikings to trade their star wide out in early March to the Raiders.

Let’s take a step back for a second and give the guy a bit of a break. If he does still occasionally smoke marijuana – it surely doesn’t hurt his play. His play is sometimes characterized as “All World” and isn’t that what matters most? Sure, Randy might not be the best teammate in the world or the greatest blocking receiver, and he’s admitted to “taking plays off”, but his play is stellar. As Eagles fans would probably laugh about now – Randy has never been kicked out of training camp either. Let the man play and don’t judge an interview on HBO. As long as he’s not using “performance enhancing drugs” such as steroids, I’m not really worried about what he does in the offseason or on his off time.

Second "Big One" for Lefty

2005-08-16T08:26:00.000-04:00

Phil Mickelson dropped in an easy birdie putt to win the 2005 PGA Championship yesterday – his second major. His final round, which was suspended because of bad weather, 72 and final score 276 was one stroke better than Steve Elkington and Thomas Bjorn.

Is this the start of something great? Has Lefty finally proven to the golf world that he is in fact on the level of the Tiger Woods’ and Vijay Singh’s? I think he has. Mickelson is a quiet and somewhat shy man with golf talent oozing out of his somewhat chubby body. But until the 2004 Masters in Augusta, Georgia he was considered by many to be just another great golfer who couldn’t win the “Big One”. Now in just two years he’s got two of the major titles.

Mickelson's championship yesterday was very different from the 2004 Masters. To earn the Green Jacket Mickelson charged from behind with a back-nine 31 to beat Ernie Els with a dramatic 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole. At this tournament Mickelson began Monday morning with a one-shot lead and a 3-foot par putt on the 14th green. He made it and followed with another par on the par-4 15th hole. Then he began to waiver…but never fell to the charging Bjorn and Elkington. His approach shot on the 18th hole will be replayed and talked about for years to come. It was with exception to his long putt at the ’04 Masters his greatest shot. Leaving him just a few feet from the title…and he dropped in the putt with ease.

Tiger, Vijay, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and all of the other great golfers of today took a back seat to Mr. Mickelson, for the second time in eight majors. The 87th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey was about Phil from start to finish. Mickelson left the course with the lead for four days, one more than normal because of the inclement weather. For two days, he played great golf, getting to the weekend at 8 under par. But more remarkably was that for the next two days he refused to give in as he gave away two three-shot leads and came away the champion.

I think Thomas Bjorn summed it up perfectly when told reporters afterwards, “He’s not a one-major guy; He’s a ten-major guy. He’s going to go on and contend for majors as he’s always done, but it’s going to be easier and easier for him to win them now.”

Collision in the Outfield

2005-08-12T07:57:00.000-04:00

It sounded really bad when I heard it driving home yesterday. It looked even worse when I watched it last night and again repeatedly this morning. New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran and right fielder Mike Cameron had one of the ugliest collisions you can have in any sport – head to head at full speed with both guys diving into one another.

Cameron came away much worse. He sustained a broken nose, multiple fractures to both of his cheekbones and a slight concussion. He underwent two CT scans and spent last night in San Diego’s Mercy Hospital. Beltran was examined by the Padres' doctor at the stadium somehow came away without any serious injuries. He did have a sore shoulder and a cut near his left temple but that paled in comparison to his teammate. He was taken to Scripps Clinic where he stayed overnight for evaluation and will undergo more tests today.

The game was delayed for about 13 minutes after the nasty collision and Cameron lay on the field barely moving while being tended to by trainers from both teams. Cameron was then put onto a stretcher by paramedics, immobilized and put into a neck brace and lifted onto a small riding cart and driven off the field.

I don’t wish that type of head-on collision on anyone – it was as nasty as they come. I heard it on XM Satellite radio via the San Diego announcers who were in shock. I was also talking to my Mom who was watching the game who immediately knew it was bad. Having been drowned with baseball most of her life because of my Dad and my obsession of the sport she is also a fan and actually started yelling before they even collided seeing that it was about to happen. A good friend of mine called a few minutes later to ask if I was watching it – it was just a terrible situation.

Cameron was placed on the 15-day disabled list last night and will probably be out longer than that. It wouldn’t surprise me if he doesn’t play again until after Labor Day. Hopefully, Carlos will only need a few days before coming back to play.

If you haven’t seen it – brace yourself…it was bad.

"I don't remember anything of what happened. I don't remember how it happened. I know we got hit. I feel like I got hit by a train." - Carlos Beltran

Shut Up or Go Home

2005-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

If the San Francisco 49ers could place a bet as an organization, any bet, they probably would’ve bet the house in Vegas that Terrell Owens would act like a selfish, big-mouthed problem for the team that he left San Fran for. Too bad they couldn’t – because true to form, TO is acting a fool.

Let’s be honest, Philadelphia knew Owens could possibly be a major pain in the neck. So like the brilliant football businessmen that they are they put clauses in his $49 million contract to try and fend off situations like they witnessed yesterday. His contract stipulates that TO can be made to pay back $1,725,000 of his $2.3 million signing bonus if he has an episode like yesterday that is considered ‘conduct detrimental to the team’.

I’ve played sports since I was five years old and have made it a lifelong passion…and I would venture to say that a verbal fight with his head coach is indeed ‘conduct detrimental to the team’. We can go back and forth on what the real problem was yesterday, reports have varied. Some say that Andy Reid and Terrell Owens started to argue because the star wide receiver refused to attend a mandatory autograph session. Another report said that Reid questioned Owens for continually practicing away from the rest of the team and ignoring his teammates. I heard on Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio this morning from Sal Paolantonio that one report said that Reid confronted TO about an incident that happened late in practice on Tuesday. It was said that Reid was furious about TO telling Offensive Coordinator Brad Childress, “Don’t talk to me unless I talk to you” when Childress attempted to speak with Terrell.

"Terrell Owens has been sent home from training camp due to
undisclosed team issues," the Eagles said in a statement. "He is expected to return to the team on Wednesday, Aug. 17."

I don’t really care which one of those situations happened – seriously, what’s the difference? The bottom line is that Owens’ attitude is getting worse and worse as the days go by. His teammates are losing respect for him by the minute and his coach and GM could care less if he plays this season. Donovan McNabb said last Tuesday that his relationship with Owens was businesslike…doesn’t sound like these guys are cool anymore to me.

TO feels like he’s got the Eagles in a tough situation – when fellow receiver Todd Pinkston tore his Achilles tendon last week it probably made the selfish Owens a happy jerk. He realizes that Greg Lewis is very unproven and that rookie Reggie Brown is just that – a rookie. They need Owens if they want to be in the hunt for the Super Bowl.

In most cases holdouts normally aren't a good situation. Though it probably would’ve been better if Owens didn’t show up at all last week – at least then he wouldn’t have been such a huge distraction.

"Everybody needs to understand the situation is all business. It's nothing personal," Owens said. "It's a situation between me and management."

I think Philly should tell him straight faced – we’ll look to trade you or release you in the off season, but we’re not doing anything until then. Act and play like a professional and then we’ll decide what to do. Then I’d look at the two or three worst teams in the NFL and trade his sorry butt to one of them. The bottom line is that Reid and Joe Banner are masterful at evaluating talent and playing the salary cap perfectly. The Eagles even without Terrell are set up to be a very nice team for the next five years…and wouldn’t they look really good with three more top draft picks in a trade for a big-mouthed distraction? Yes, they would.

And with the First Pick...

2005-08-10T08:07:00.000-04:00

...of the 2005-2006 Fantasy Football season you would select who?

Never. Ever. Period.

2005-08-04T08:04:00.000-04:00

Speak Raffy…please speak.

I’m just sitting here on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what this once ‘Sure-fire’ first ballot Hall of Famer is going to say. It better be good, because quite frankly I feel like he’s been lying to us and now I want some answers.

Remember when Rafael Palmeiro looked at the Congressional committee and pointed his finger that he had never taken steroids? I also remember that he kept saying for several weeks after Jose Canseco’s book came out that he was looking into legal action against his former Texas teammate. HaHa – somebody not only cracked the egg they dropped all of the yoke on his quaff.

The Orioles slugger tested positive for stanozolol, a person with knowledge of the sport's drug-testing program told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. This irritates me too. The sport prohibits disclosure of test results without authorization and we all know that Raffy didn’t authorize this…stanozolol is strong stuff – it’s the same stuff that sprinter Ben Johnson was on when he beat Carl Lewis in the 1988 Olympics and then handed over his Gold Medal when he was busted. So if Major League Baseball officials can’t keep their mouths shut then they should hire an outside organization to do the testing.

The positive test came a little more than three months after Raffy sat in front of Congress but before he recorded his 3,000th hit in early July. This is very interesting to me because it means that he reached the 3,000 hit milestone after he knew that he had tested positive for steroids the source said. Only Henry Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray have also had careers of 3,000+ hits and 500+ homeruns…and now Palmeiro.

In my first blog column I wrote about steroids and how it was effecting baseball. I aslo outlined several players that Canseco said he knew used them. Here’s my little piece of that column talking about Palmeiro’s homerun surge after becoming a teammate of Jose:

Rafael Palmeiro had seasons of 8, 8, 14, 26 and 22 before the 1993 season when he hit 37…then in a strike shortened season he hit 23 and then in 95 & 96 he hit 39 in each. Followed in 97 with 38 and then these: 98:43 99:47 00:39 01:47 02:43 03:38 04:23
Pretty funny how when all the talk of roids came out his numbers fell back down…?

"I am ready and willing to answer each and every one of them." -Rafael Palmeiro referring to questions about his positive testing

People are now debating about whether or not he should be a Hall of Famer…I don’t know, I really don’t. I wouldn’t vote for him the first year, no way. I’m not even sure that I would vote for him in his first three chances. His career and statistics were boosted and padded by the juice. I read Canseco’s book and I believe him – why would he put his neck out there if it wasn’t true? And how come none of the guys he says in the book never sued him? Because they all did it. Juan Gone, Pudge, Raffy, Big Mac…all of them. Canseco even pointed the finger at Bret Boone. I believed it then and believe it so much more now that Boone in the last season and a half has been terrible.

I’m not asking all of these guys to start raising their hands or sit in a circle and say, “Hi, I’m Jason Giambi and I’ve used steroids.” What good is it going to do now? If you get busted part of your punishment should be to speak to teens and minor leaguers about the dangers of steroids and how it has negatively impacted their careers with a black cloud.

I’m pleading with these guys to be clean now – stay off of them and play the game like Frank Robinson, Mike Schmidt, Tom Seaver and all of the greats that ran across the white stripes.

To My Last Bite

2005-08-01T08:29:00.000-04:00

I could hear the chants of “Kooo-bee…Kooo-bee…Kooo-bee!” I was in the kitchen and about to sit down in front of my television for some good sports on my favorite channel, ESPN. It wasn’t Kobe Bryant or even Cobi Jones…it was Takeru Kobayashi who the fans chanted for. Kobayashi, Sonya Thomas, Eric Booker, Rich Lefevre, Cookie Jarvis, Levi Oliver and the rest of the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) took to ESPN for the Alka-Seltzer US Open of Competitive Eating.

ESPN on a Saturday night? Watching these people shove food down their own throats was amazing and also disgusting. Each round they went one-on-one with another competitor devouring different kinds of foods. Cheese fries, salad, pasta, potato skins and big party platters.

My biggest problem with what they do is that ESPN and people are calling this a sport. How and why? I understand what they’re doing is difficult – but it’s not a sport. Maybe they should stick to calling it a ‘competition’ or even an ‘eating challenge’. Kobayashi won in the finals to defeat the “Black Widow” Sonya Thomas easily after she moved into the finals. These people travel all over the country and world to face off in different eating challenges…rice balls, baked beans, cabbage, hot dogs, hamburgers, Marconi and cheese…and on and on.

I didn’t have any problems when ESPN started having the X Games – those people do some incredible things. The Great Outdoor Games too – good stuff. But the IFOCE? C’mon – it’s a joke. I’d rather watch a repeat of Kenny Rogers shoving a cameraman or Roberto Alomar spitting in an umpires face.

Bottom line, the IFOCE is not a sport and ESPN (The Worldwide Leader in Sports) shouldn’t broadcast it and call it such.

Hats Off...Hats Inducted

2005-07-28T13:30:00.000-04:00

This Sunday, July 31st the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York will put up the plaques of two of the games greatest. Two players that played the game the right way and got every drip of talent out of their bodies…Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg.

It’s funny to me that I sometimes can judge my own life on the guys that I’ve grown up watching and rooting for. I started becoming obsessed with baseball in 1985 and have never skipped a beat with staying up to date on the game that brings generations together. I remember as a young kid watching games and seeing Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg. Around the same time my Grandpa got me started collecting baseball cards – so what does a 9 or 10 year old do with himself when it gets dark outside or on rainy days? He sits in his bedroom and reads his baseball cards. I memorized stats and places of birth and anything they could fit on those cards. Boggs and Sandberg were already All-Stars who in their own ways were leaving a large mark on the game that I was becoming infatuated with.

I collected both of their rookie cards - 1983 Topps, Donruss and Fleer…I still have eight Sandberg and six Boggs. I remember teasing my Dad that the Phillies (his favorite team) were so stupid for trading the best second basemen in baseball – having been a college second basemen himself, he agreed. I remember watching them both play. Sandberg for the Cubbies and Boggs for the BoSox.

I remember vividly in 1989 when Ryno and Andre Dawson took the Cubs on their backs in the months of August and September as they pulled away from my favorite team, the Mets, and won the NL East division title. Till my last living breath I’ll never forget seeing Wade Boggs holding his chin up with his hands after the last out of the 1986 World Series when the Mets defeated the Sox in Game 7. Two nights earlier Boggs had seemingly locked up Boston’s first World Series since 1918 when he scored in the top of the 10th inning to pad the Red Sox lead to 5-3. I’ll never forget when I came home from school and popped on ESPN and saw that Ryno was retiring in 1994. I remember thinking, “He’s only 34 years old.” I figured he’d be around for another four or five seasons. It wasn’t too long before that when I was appalled that Wade Boggs, a fixture of the Boston Red Sox, had signed a contract with the hated New York Yankees. He would spend five years in New York and helped them win the World Series in 1996 before finishing his career up in his hometown with the Devil Rays. I was equally surprised when I came home from school again and heard the news that Sandberg was coming back to play with the Cubbies for the 1996 season. He only would last for two seasons but the Cubs Nation was thrilled to see him play again, I’m sure.

Boggs was voted in by 91.9% of the possible voters and he deserved it. Wade was a 12-time All-Star and 2-time AL Gold Glove third baseman. He had incredible bat control and a great eye. Boggs won five AL batting titles (83, 85-88), strung together seven consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits, and earned 100 walks in four straight seasons. With his great ability to get on base, Boggs often batted leadoff, and scored at least 100 runs every season from 1983 to 1989 leading the AL three times. Boggs retired with a lofty .328 batting average after the 1999 season and is the only member of the 3,000 Hit Club to have reached the plateau with a home run.

The first #23 of Chicago played the game with graceful defense, very good speed around the sacks and a tremendous capability for power. Ryne Sandberg is right near the top of the list of greats at second base. He was a 10-time NL All-Star and as the NL’s Most Valuable Player in 1984, Sandberg led the Chicago Cubs to their first postseason appearance since 1945. His terrific range and strong arm, led to nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards at second base, and helped him lead NL second basemen in assists seven times. He led the NL in fielding percentage and total chances four times each. As a hitter Sandberg launched 282 career home runs, and in 1990 he became the first second baseman since Rogers Hornsby in 1922 to hit 40 homers in a single-season while leading the NL. Ryno was very underrated for his speed and stole 344 bases in his career while also leading the NL in runs scored in 1984, 1989 and 1990.

Two legends of the game will forever have their plagues enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Congratulations guys and thanks for making kids everywhere grow up watching you both while falling in love with this great game.

Voices of Sports

2005-07-26T14:02:00.000-04:00

Inevitably when I watch a sporting event a few things happen. I sit there and try to dissect what each team and the players are doing. 2-2 count with a runner on first base and one out…the runner is probably going – the catcher should call for a fastball to get a chance to nail him trying to steal. 18 seconds left and one time out remaining and the offense is on the 30 yard line with 2nd down. Run a quick pass, if it’s incomplete you have 3rd down and the clock is stopped, if you hit for eleven yards you call time out and kick the game winning field goal. That’s how my mind works. But one other thing that I’ve always thought much about since I was a kid was the announcers. A good announcer can make a sporting event for the viewers. If a play-by-play announcer is boring or doesn’t know the delicate details of the sport than he loses interest in many viewers. There’s a fine line between an average announcer and a great one…Here are my top ten best sports announcers still around today.

#10 Jim Lampley
Bar none the best boxing commentator in the business. I can’t remember watching a big boxing match without hearing Jim Lampley’s voice calling the action inside the squared circle. His voice is great and his intelligence of the sport is even better. Little known fact is that Lampley has been doing sports broadcasting since the early 70s.

#9 Pat Summerall
I had to put Summerall on this list…he’s one of my favorite football voices. I remember growing up and how excited I was to hear this every Sunday during football season, “Hello everyone this Pat Summerall along with John Madden.” His voice, perfect. He knew exactly when to stop giving the play-by-play and let his color man (mostly John Madden) jump in with his own commentary. He’s an NFL legendary announcer.

#8 Mike Patrick
It’s hard to find a better voice for college basketball. All of those Duke-UNC games or Indiana-Michigan games that I grew up watching…and Mike Patrick was behind the microphone for ESPN. He has teamed for years with Dick Vitale and always lent his wisdom as well as his excitement to the already excitable Vitale. Patrick also is a great football voice, working for as long as I can remember as the lead for Sunday Night Game of the Week.

#7 Vin Scully
“Little roller up along first – Behind the BAG! It Gets THROUGH BUCKNER…HERE COMES KNIGHT AND THE METS WIN IT!!!” That one sentence will forever ring through my ears. It makes me smile every time I think about Vin Scully yelling it into his microphone on that cold October night in 1986. He had already been an accomplished baseball voice at that point, and continues to call great games. This longtime Dodger announcer stayed faithful to the team when they moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958 and has remained their announcer.

#6 Joe Buck
Some people don’t like Joe Buck – I think he’s great. His deep voice and precise call of the game make him one of the best in the business. I’ve heard his Hall of Fame father call baseball games before he died and thought he was very good…but the younger Buck blows his dad away. Fox Sports made a brilliant move when they got Joe Buck to do both Major League Baseball and the NFL. The best part about Joe Buck is his age – we’ve got a lot more of him to hear.

#5 Marv Albert
People can say what they want about what Marv Albert did almost a decade ago with that woman…I’m not really interested in that, that’s his business. All I care about is that Albert is the best NBA announcer that I’ve ever listened to. He started out as the main man for the New York Knicks and then moved on to do all of the Nationally televised games across the country. Who in this era will ever forget Albert saying, “YES!” on a big basket or the famous, “A spectacular move by Michael Jordan!” He’s at the top of his ranks – and in terms of basketball there’s nobody better.

#4 Keith Jackson
"Whoa Nelly!" Keith Jackson has been known for covering college football on ABC for over 30 years. I remember watching the game back in the late 90s when he said he would be retiring…and his college partner Bob Griese said, “College football will never be the same.” Well sure enough, Jackson was back the next season and is still doing his thing. He’s awesome and watching a college football game that he does is a tremendous experience.

#3 Gary Thorne
“Hello everybody I’m Gary Thorne…” Wow, what a delight to have grown up as a kid a watching the New York Mets and New York Rangers and getting the opportunity to listen to a master. His voice so defining and perfect to listen to. Being a hockey announcer he needed to learn the great skill of being very exact with every call…his baseball announcing was made that much better because of that talent. He’s been the main voice of the NHL for years and still does quite a few Major League Baseball games on ESPN. A true great that many times is over-looked…but not here.

#2 Jon Miller
Over the last few decades no other baseball announcer has taken the game to higher levels. Jon Miller and his partner, Hall of Fame second baseman, Joe Morgan have been together for fifteen years as the dynamic duo of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Miller’s baritone voice is so recognizable around baseball that many video games nowadays use him as the voice for the game. You can hear the passion for the sport in his voice and his knowledge is second to none.

#1 Al Michaels
“Five seconds left…Do you believe in MIRACELS – YESSS!” That was the start of Al Michaels legendary broadcasting career at the 1980 Winter Olympics but what has followed is even greater. To date, Michaels is the only play-by-play announcer to cover the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals and the Olympics.
Since1986 Michaels has been the lead anchor of ABC’s Monday Night Football. I’ll never forget sitting down to watch Game 3 of the 1989 World Series between the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants when Michaels said, "I'll tell you what, I think we're having an earth--!" Audio was restored minutes later and Michaels started off by trying to make light of the chaotic situation by quipping that it was "the greatest open in the history of television, bar none!"
He’s smart, energetic and the best sports announcer of our time. A true legend of the mic.

Friday's Burning Question

2005-07-22T10:51:00.000-04:00

If you were the Philadelphia Eagles what would you do with Terrell Owens?

A) Trade him and pick up some valuable players/draft picks
B) Keep him and hope that he reports to practice
C) Give him some more money to make him happy
D) Let him walk away from his contract and release him

Get Lost

2005-07-20T09:01:00.000-04:00

Good riddance Larry Brown. Congratulations Detroit, you’re free of his ridiculous ways. Good luck New York…a lack of loyalty is what you'll get.

Brown is what many call (not me) one of the greatest basketball coaches in history. He’s already been inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame, and grabbed himself an Olympic gold medal as a player, bronze medal as a coach, and championships in the ABA, NBA and NCAA.

My biggest problem with him is how he handles his nomadic coaching career. Remember how many stops he’s had and how many times he has left teams out to dry to latch on somewhere else in hopes of more fortune. In late January this year he told reporters that being the head coach for the New York Knicks would be his “dream job.” C’mon Larry – are you kidding me? This isn’t a good Knicks team…this isn’t even an average Knicks team, they’re bad right now and no coach (even Phil Jackson) is going to make them a great team. They’ve got a lack of player personnel and because of bad money decisions in the recent past they’re very strapped with the salary cap. Sure, they’ll pay him $10-12 million a year like Phil Jackson but he won’t get that team to the playoffs in his first two years…maybe not even three years. And guess what, he’ll probably ask for a buyout or just flat out quit.

He reminds me of a man that wants to date every woman he meets…but once that thrill is gone and he starts to get comfortable he’s out the door ready for the next opportunity. He won his only NBA title in Detroit and went to his only two NBA Finals there – one would’ve have thought that with all of his horses returning next season that maybe Detroit was his “dream job.”

And to think that the Pistons came so close this postseason no thanks to him creating a stir about his possible departure and arrival in Cleveland. More times than not, Larry Brown is one big distraction.

Remember when he said the Pistons would be his last coaching stop. How can we forget it? He said it over and over again. With three years left on his five-year contract he is orchestrating yet another parting of ways.

I often complain about the lack of loyalty among professional athletes, guys who move across the country from their own home to take a contract that will pay them $5 million more over seven years. And it is a so-called ‘leader’ who is again backing out of another coaching commitment.

I don’t care what anybody says, I’ll remember him for his up-and-move career more than one single NBA title. He asks his players to do what’s best for the team and he doesn’t follow the same mantra. He’s disloyal and I hope that the Knicks and every other team in the NBA stays away from him.

Kenny "No Brains"???

2005-07-19T13:01:00.000-04:00

So let me get this straight...Kenny Rogers had words again with another cameraman while he was being booked in county jail? And what's better, it's caught on tape again.

WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth is saying this is what trasnpired:

WFAA reported on its Web site Monday that photographer Mike Zukerman was videotaping the procedure when Rogers turned to him and said,
"You're getting really close; you know that? Do you hear me?"

A few seconds later, Rogers again turned to the camera, saying, "You must be pretty proud of yourself, too."

Zukerman replied, "It's just my job, Kenny," Rogers responded: "Yeah. Your job. That's just your excuse."

Is this guy for real? I was feeling sorry for him after the last incident and was glad that he got to pitch in the All-Star Game, but now I'm against this fool.

I'd love to meet him and tell him what kind of a BIG WIMP he is. And after I say that I'm going to say..."You walked Andruw Jones with the bases loaded in Game 6 of the NLCS in 1999...nice job jerk."

New Champ

2005-07-19T08:03:00.000-04:00

I was out of commission over the weekend…playing a dual role down in West Palm Beach, Florida - standing as a groomsman in a long time friends wedding and hanging out with my four little cousins.

There was very little sports time for me…and I really enjoyed that. But what a weekend to miss…Tiger Woods wins the British Open, the Yankees take three of four from the falling BoSox and Jermain Taylor upsets Bernard Hopkins to become the Middleweight Champion.
Repeat: Jermain Taylor upsets Bernard Hopkins to become the Middleweight Champion.

I knew they were fighting (who didn’t?) but wasn’t very interested in seeing it…I thought for sure that B-Hop “The Executioner” would beat him pretty good and that I would just watch the replay of the fight on HBO this coming weekend. Wow – I was wrong huh?

From what I’ve been told by three good friends who love boxing…
Hopkins did very little in the first half of the fight and then dominated the late rounds. That left Hopkins with a huge hole he couldn’t climb out of. A slit decision loss for one of the greatest champions in boxing history… Hopkins' incredible streak of 20 consecutive title defenses (middleweight division record) and a 12-year unbeaten streak came to an end. Jermain Taylor improves to 24-0 and Hopkins falls to 46-3-1. A rematch has already been negotiated and will take place this fall.

I’m surprised but know that every champion one day sees the end…we’ll see if Hopkins can take back his title or if this indeed is his end.

Best of the Best All-Around Players

2005-07-13T11:03:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine asked me last night who I thought was the best overall player in Major League Baseball right now. I pondered the question for a bit and then revealed my choice. He tried to persuade me to another guy…but I asked him a few questions of my own to qualify his question.

1) Are you looking for somebody that hits for power?
2) Would that somebody hit for a high average also?
3) Is he clutch and drive in a bunch of runs?
4) Can he swipe bases and tally extra base hits often?
5) Is he considered a very good defensive player at his position?

He said YES to all five questions. At which point I gave him my top five guys…

#5 – Derrek Lee…This season he’d probably win most votes but I’m going to want to see him do it for several years. He stole 21 bases two years ago in Florida but has never driven in 100 runs or hit more than 32 HR’s in a season (last year). He’s a .275 career hitter who’s been incredible so far this season…we’ll see if he maintains that.

#4 – Miguel Tejada (who was his choice)…but I explained the Miggy is great at all of these, but his career high in stolen bases is just 11, has only four right now and only 57 steals for his career to date. If I wanted a guy up with the bases loaded and two outs it would be Tejada or Manny Ramirez…he’s great.

#3 – Bobby Abreu…Yes, I’ve always thought that Bobby Abreu was GREAT. I’ve been telling my Dad (a season ticket holder for the Phillies and die-hard fan) that the Phillies are stupid for A) not playing Abreu in CF and B) Promoting him as one of the top all-around players in the game. His average season consists of 25 HR (getting more and more as he gets older), 30 SB and a .305 career batting average. He also racks up extra base hits and is a very under appreciated defensive outfielder. He’s got 231 career stolen bases and is well on his way to his third 30-30 season. One other thing to note – Bobby’s On Base Percentage is always ridiculously good.

#2 - Alex Rodgriguez…A-Rod has 404 career HR already. He’s 29 years old. If Barry Bonds doesn’t break Hank Aaron’s record, it’s cool because A-Rod’s going to crush both of their marks. He’s a career .306 hitter who hit .358 in his first full season in the bigs. He’s been a 40-40 guy and has 214 steals for his career. The one thing that I think brings him to the #2 spot is his defense at third base. If he was still playing SS with the Gold Glove grace that he was he’d be my #1…but he’s not playing the ‘hot corner’ too good these days. This was a very close race between Alex and my #1, but I’m confident that I’ve made the right choice.

And…

#1 – Vladimir Guerrero…An absolute BEAST. Hits for power, average, extra bases, drives in tons of runs, steals bases when he needs to and is a very good defensive outfielder with a cannon for a right arm. In six of his seven full seasons in the big leagues he’s driven in over 100 runs…in 2003 he was hurt and missed 50 games. HR totals since 1998…38, 42, 44, 34, 39, 25 (hurt), and 39 last season. Already has 16 this year with 51 RBI’s and a .335 batting average – while being on the DL for almost 20 days. He has stolen 144 bases in his young career and has a career .325 batting average. He’s the total package and is only getting bigger, stronger and better.

Close but no cigar…Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Beltran and Gary Sheffield.

First Half Field Level Awards of Major League Baseball

2005-07-12T13:38:00.000-04:00

You all know how much I think the All-Star Game stinks. Other than watching Bobby Abreu smash the lights out of Comerica Park in the Century 21 Home Run Derby last night it gives all baseball fans a great opportunity to reflect on the first 3 1/2 months of the season.
After much thought here are my own "Field Level" Awards for the First Half of the 2005 Major League Baseball season.

NL Stud Player: Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs
runner up: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

AL Stud Player: Miguel Tejada, Baltimore Orioles
runner up: Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

NL Dud Player: Kaz Matsui, New York Mets
runner up: Cristian Guzman, Washington Nationals

AL Dud Player: Tony Womack, New York Yankees
runner up: Sammy Sosa, Baltimore Orioles

NL Ace Starter: Dontrelle Willis, Florida Marlins
runner up: Pedro Martinez, New York Mets

AL Ace Starter: Mark Buerhle, Chicago White Sox
runner up: Jon Garhland, Chicago White Sox

NL Waste Starter: Eric Milton, Cincinnati Reds
runner up: Kaz Ishii, New York Mets

AL Waste Starter: Jaret Wright, New York Yankees
runner up: Sidney Ponson, Baltimore Orioles

NL Manager Supreme: Frank Robinson, Washington Nationals
runner up: Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves

AL Manager Supreme: Ozzie Guillen, Chicago White Sox
runner up: Buck Showalter, Texas Rangers

NL Out of his mind GOOD: Chad Cordero - Closer, Washington Nationals
runner up: Derrek Lee - 1B, Chicago Cubs
AL Out of his mind GOOD: Brian Roberts - 2B, Baltimore Orioles
runner up: Jeremy Bonderman - Pitcher, Detroit Tigers

NL Out of his mind BAD: Mike Lowell - 3B, Florida Marlins
runner up: Corey Patterson - CF, Chicago Cubs

AL Out of his mind BAD: Keith Foulke - Closer, Boston Red Sox
runner up: Steve Finley - CF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

NL Speedster: Jose Reyes, New York Mets
runner up: Rafael Furcal, Atlanta Braves

AL Speedster: Scott Podsednik, Chicago White Sox
runner up: Julio Lugo, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

There you have it...the 2005 Field Level First Half Awards

All-Star Game of Most Popular guys

2005-07-11T13:41:00.000-04:00

Is anybody else sick of all of the Major League Baseball hoop-la about the All-Star Game? Honestly, they make such a big deal out of this one game that it really takes away from it. Sure, the Home Run Derby is cool to watch, but who cares who hits the most dingers tonight? David Ortiz or Mark Teixeira or Andruw Jones – should it matter to me? There are also several other things about this game that I don’t like anymore…

1) The winner gets home field advantage in the World Series. This is just flat out dumb. It’s one game against guys that are trying to have a little bit of fun mixed in with trying to impress. What happens if the Boston Red Sox win 87 games and the AL East (very possible) and then knock off two AL teams to make the World Series in a rematch against the St. Louis Cardinals? The Cardinals are well on their way to having another 105 win season like last year – but if the AL wins again they’ll lose out on home field to a team that might win 20 less games. Unfair. I understand you don’t want the problem that you ran into in 2002 when Joe Torre and Bob Brenly exposed to the world that they both are lucky to have managed great players. You want to make the game meaningful – then give the winning team $15,000 for each player from MLB. As rich as most of these guys are they’ll gladly take that check. A-Rod would probably donate it to some psychiatric hospital.

2) I’m so tired of seeing the managers of each team play all of the players on their teams. The aforementioned Torre used to get every guy on his Yankee roster that had a game winning hit or pitched a good game in the All-Star Game. Now we’ve got Tony LaRussa. Several of LaRussa’s Cardinal players got voted in as starters…and most of them deserved it (I said most – and that DOES NOT include David Eckstein) but he had the opportunity to start the best pitcher of the first half of the season and chose his own Chris Carpenter to start for the NL. Dontrelle Willis has been lights out great this season. Carpenter has done a great job, but I’d love to lecture Tony-boy about how stupid this is and looks.

GS CG Shutouts W L ERA WHIP
CC: 18 3 3 13 4 2.51 1.07
DW: 18 5 4 13 4 2.39 1.13

All Tony needed to do was look at the stats and he could’ve figured this one out. Let’s not also forget that Carpenter pitches for one of the highest run scoring teams in league…I’m baffled. Willis got screwed plain and simple. I’m also having a hard time with Jim Edmonds in CF. Sorry to everybody out there that thinks he’s Mr. Defensive Superman – he’s not. He’s a very good defensive center fielder, but he’s not even in the Top Five in Major League Baseball.

#1 Andruw Jones - possibly the greatest defensives CF EVER
#2 Torii Hunter – doesn’t have to dive as much as Edmonds because like Jones he’s already under the ball.
#3 Mike Cameron – And Mike plays RF now because the Mets have Carlos Beltran.
#4 Carlos Beltran – That’s right, the Mets have a guy playing RF that’s actually a little better defensively than Beltran…who’s great in CF though.
#5 Mark Kotsay – If you don’t believe me watch the Athletics play a few times this year…I’ll get you on the band wagon.

So why am I griping about this?…LaRussa shifted Beltran to LF and has his boy Edmonds in CF. Nope, should’ve been the other way around. The National League’s starting RF is Bobby Abreu and if the Phillies would ever smarten up and play him in CF he’d be better defensively than Edmonds too. Just because you dive the most doesn't mean you're the best defensively.

3) I also would argue that the fans shouldn't have the right to choose the starters either. If you want to continue with the fans voting guys into the game, that's one thing - but not starters. That right should be left up to the managers (except Tony LaRussa & Joe Torre). How can David Eckstein be the starting SS in the NL? How did Jason Giambi start at 1B last year for the AL? Tino Martinez almost beat out Teixeira in voting for AL 1B this year? Andruw Jones should be the starting CF and Carlos Beltran shouldn't be a starter...The fans vote with their teams and they vote TOO MUCH. If you want them to continue voting fine, but then let the managers vote on the starters.

The All-Star Game in the last ten years has become a chance for the two managers to play guys on their own teams and has become an almost ridiculous spectacle. Bud Selig should re-think his dopey idea and let the pennant winner with the best record in the World Series have home-field.

Down on the Field Level...

2005-07-08T12:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was another typical morning for most of us. About 3 minutes after my fiancé dropped me off at my building for work she called me on my cell phone to tell me about the terrorist attacks in London. It quickly brought me back to that day almost four years ago when the world changed forever and I had a hard time understanding why people would want to hurt and kill innocent lives.

Now to several sports topics to take our minds away…

This one is LONG overdue. Venus Williams won her 3rd Wimbledon Title and 5th grand slam – first since 2001 last weekend. Once she got into the semi finals I was rooting for her to win so much. The Williams sister that brought the family name into the public eye has taken a back seat to her lil sis in the last 3-4 years came back in a big way. Not only did fellow American Lindsay Davenport have Venus down and out in the second set, she had her almost beat again in the third set. Venus kept playing hard and kept playing good and came away with a 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) and 9-7 dramatic win. Great win for her after losing her last five grand slam final matches (all to her sister).

Curt Schilling and Red Sox Manager Terry Francona have decided that the best idea to get Schill out on the bump for the BoSox is for him to pitch out of the bullpen. I think it’s a great idea. In my eyes Curt Schilling is one of the gutsiest, big-game pitchers of the last twenty years, maybe ever. Not only for what he did in the 2004 playoffs and World Series, but for what he did in the 1993 playoffs for the Philadelphia Phillies and the 2001 playoffs and World Series for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s all heart. Early in his career he pitched in relief and after a few times getting himself reacquainted with the role in the minors he’ll be fine. A three-pitch pitcher who can still get his fastball in the mid 90s is a very effective closer…Dennis Eckersley, and John Smoltz would probably agree with me.

Nate McMillan left the Seattle Super Sonics to coach the Portland Trail Blazers. I’m not happy about this one at all, but I can’t argue with a guy if he wants to make a little more money. That being said, that’s the only reason why Nate left Seattle – the place he’s lived since 1987 when he was drafted by the Super Sonics out of NC State. When Seattle promoted him from an assistant to head coach early in the 2001 season I figured the only way he’d ever leave the team was if they fired him as coach and made him a front office guy…I was wrong. In his four full seasons at the helm he guided his team to two winning seasons, last season their best with a 52-30 record. The team is on the rise but he decided to take the 2 and a half hour drive down Route 5 to Blazer Land. Good luck Nate, you’re going to need it.

Michael Redd stays in Milwaukee rather than being wooed away by Cleveland and others. Nice work on Michael Redd’s part. He’s getting better and better each year and had the Buck not had so many injuries this past season they would’ve been a 42-45 win team…and now they’ve got Andrew Bogut the #1 pick of the NBA draft. Redd used his brain and realized that this team is on the rise and has the potential to be a major force in the Eastern Conference. Good loyalty to the team that drafted you Michael – I wish you well.

Hold everything, the NHL is going to end their strike and return to being a league again. I’m going to be honest for a moment? I used to be a pretty big hockey fan. I remember watching the New York Rangers of the early and mid 90s with so much admiration for what hockey players could do. Ice skate at fast speeds while hitting a hard and heavy puck with a small stick while trying to avoid being flattened by a big 6’4” 235 pound defenseman. That takes a lot of skill and athleticism. But in recent years I’ve really soured on the NHL. And now, I’m really close to being done with it. Most of the great players that I grew up watching are retired and now we’ve got a bunch of guys who go on season-long strikes? Not my kind of hockey. Hopefully it comes back and is popular, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it isn’t. Maybe I’ll watch a bunch of games in the playoffs…I’ll see what I’m doing that night.

Pedro skips the All-Star game because he is pitching a few days before it wouldn’t be able to pitch in the mid-summer classic. You can love him or you can hate him but what Pedro Martinez did was the right thing. Pedro’s pitched in so many All-Star games in the past that maybe this year he just doesn’t feel like being in uniform that night is worth it. But what he’s actually doing is giving the National League a big advantage against the American League. Now that this game actually means something you want all of your players to be at their best – and Pedro would not be. So he pulls his hat out and lets them pick up another pitcher who might be able to help the NL win the ballgame. He’s very justified in being there (leads the NL in strikeouts) but put the team first. Classic, unselfish Pedro Martinez.

Tim Brown will retire as a Raider…the soon-to-be 39-years old played 16 of his 17 seasons as a Raider (longest tenure in team history). He had 1,070 catches for 14,734 yards and 99 touchdowns as a Raider and will go down as one of the five greatest wide outs in NFL history. They’ll do the usual one-day contract with a press conference to announce the end of a Hall of Fame career. Good for you TB – I wish you could talk your buddy Jerry into doing the same thing.

Have a nice weekend…

Games of the 30th Olympiad

2005-07-06T11:59:00.000-04:00

"The International Olympic Committee has the honor of announcing that the
Games of the 30th Olympiad in 2012 are awarded to the city of London." - IOC president Jacques Rogge

I was disappointed when I heard the news that New York City didn’t get the 2012 Summer Olympics. New York City, like it or not, is the Capital of the World. I know a lot of people just read that line and said to themselves that I am wrong or that I’m biased, but it true – it’s the biggest and most powerful city in the entire world…bar none.

However, I was pretty happy that London was awarded the Olympic Games and not Paris. This is the first time since the 1948 Olympics that London will be the host, after they narrowly defeated Paris 54-50 on the fourth ballot of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote. But if we had to lose out to somebody, wouldn’t you rather it be our buddies across the pond?
The first three rounds eliminated the three cities that had small chances of winning with Moscow going out in the first round with just 15 votes. New York was next with only 16 followed by Madrid with 31 votes.

London's victory handed Paris its third loss at hosting the Olympics in 20 years – Losing out on the 1992 and 2008 Olympics. Paris hasn't hosted the games since 1924. Paris did have a perceived advantage because this was the third time they were bidding and especially because IOC has a tendency to reward persistence. Paris also already has an Olympic stadium and welcomed the IOC's blueprint for controlling the size and cost of the games. The massive urban renewal of East London was what London used as a major selling point in its fourth bid from Britain after losing bids by Birmingham for the 1992 Olympics and Manchester in 1996 & 2000.
I’ll say it again, I’m happy for Britain…if it wasn’t NYC it should be them. I just hope that the same terrorists that probably would’ve wanted to make disaster happen in New York will not be successful in London.

The Summer Olympics is and always will be a great month of competition and camaraderie held every four years…I’m sure London will put on a good show.

POLL

2005-06-30T19:35:00.000-04:00

If you had the first pick of the NBA draft and could take any player in the league...who would you take and why?

A) Tim Duncan
B) Kobe Bryant
C) Kevin Garnett
D) Tracy McGrady
E) Allen Iverson
F) Yao Ming
G) None of these guys

Camera Crazy

2005-06-30T11:41:00.000-04:00

Is Kenny Rogers kidding? Was his outburst yesterday just something to get his name in the newspapers and people talking about how the 40-year old pitcher is having possibly his finest season yet? Maybe he’s having personal problems or maybe he was just frustrated that his team is falling apart lately? Was he not feeling good-looking yesterday? Whatever the case may be, he acted like a complete idiot and should be fined and suspended by both Major League Baseball and the Texas Rangers.

From all accounts of the situation it appears that he first shoved a Fox Sports photographer and then grabbed the camera out of a KDFW-TV station cameraman before kicking it and sending the poor guy to the hospital. The cameraman, Larry Rodriguez needed medical attention to his shoulder and arm. Had teammate Rod Barajas not pulled him away and taken him into the clubhouse would Kenny have done more damage?

This is the same southpaw who last week punched a water cooler with his right hand and broke a small bone in his pinky finger.

I guess the only thing I can say to “The Gambler” is apologize for what you did. Tell Mr. Rodriguez that you fully understand that he was just doing his job and that he didn’t do anything wrong. Say ‘I’m sorry’ to the fans of the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (who the Rangers were playing). And then do your suspension and pay your fine and move on. You’re on a really good team that needs you.

And lastly, while you’re passing out the apologies you might as well tell me and all of the other New York Mets fans world wide that you’re sorry about throwing ball four to Andruw Jones in Game 6 of the 1999 NLCS with the bases loaded to send them to the World Series. You couldn’t even throw a strike!?! C’mon buddy.

One more thing – thank goodness Frank Francisco is on the DL right now. Can you imagine if the Ranger relief pitcher was there yesterday? He would’ve grabbed a chair and beaten the poor cameraman with it like he was in Oakland again and was in fear of his safety from the Athletic fans…especially the woman whose nose he broke.

Two Weeks of Absence...Now Draft Talk

2005-06-29T12:08:00.000-04:00

We're baaaack! After two weeks of technical difficulties the #1 Rated Sports Blog (East of the Mississippi River) is back - with a new name...Field Level. Good old Box Seats is being retired and Field Level has been called up from Triple-A to replace the old veteran. I appreciate all of the emails of "Schmidty what happened to your blog?" and "Why no blog?" ... So I decided to repost all of the old columns on a new site - and here we go. The unfortunate thing is that all of the old comments from my loyal readers might be lost...but as with everything in life, we've got to worry about today and tomorrow and remember yesterday.

Here's my analysis on last night's 1st Round of the NBA Draft
#1
Milwaukee Andrew Bogut - C
This kid is going to be REALLY good. Milwaukee has a decent team that had a terrible year last year...kinda reminds me of the San Antonio Spurs in 1998 - that worked out nice for them huh?

#2
Atlanta Marvin Williams - SF
The talent is there - I think he'll be one of the elite NBA players over the next 10 years. Size, speed and can jump through the roof. It might take him one or two seasons but he's the real deal.

#3
Utah Deron Williams - PG
My best friend keeps telling me that Deron is the best Point Guard since Jay Kidd & Mark Jackson. We'll see about that. I think in Utah's system he'll get about 8-10 assists per game because he's a true floor general.

#4
New Orleans Chris Paul - PG
I saw him wearing a Yankee hat at the Yankees-Mets game the other night...not a big fan of that but I know he's going to do some great things. I expect 18-20 ppg and 6-8 apg over the next 10-15 years. Solid player.

#5
Charlotte Raymond Felton - PG
Sorry UNC fans but I'm not impressed with him as an NBA point guard. He'll be solid and will probably kick around the league longer than May & McCants but he'll never be an All-Star. Must be nice to stay close to home though?

#6
Portland Martell Webster - SG
Everything that I've heard and read about this kid is that he's going to be a very good NBA player. He can shoot the outside J better than any other player in this draft. From the North West, he'll be an impact player right away with the Blazers.

#7
Toronto Charlie Villanueva - PF
Fast and raw. That's what the Raptors just got in Charlie V. I'm sure that one more year at UConn would've done good for him but I think in a few years he'll make his presence felt in the NBA. Don't ever expect him to be a star - but a good 6'11" forward that has a long career.

#8
New York Channing Frye - C
Channing's been eating that Frye'd food lately and lifting a lot of weights. The Knicks not only got a very good player they also got a great person. He's got to put more weight on (like 25 pounds) but he's a workaholic and he's been getting better and better over the years.

#9
Golden State Ike Diogu - PF
The Warriors wanted a big man and took Diogu. I see Michael Olowakandi flashing before my eyes. The "I Like Ike" slogans will wear off after about three seasons and he'll be finding work all over the league...career journeyman.

#10
LA Lakers Andrew Bynum - C
Wow. I read something about Bynum a few years ago but was VERY surprised that he was the 1oth overall pick in the draft. He's a project and I guess the Lakers are willing to be patient with him. Hailing from the great state of New Jersey, I wish him well.

#11
Orlando Fran Vazquez - PF
Never heard of him and only heard decent reports about his play. The Magic continually surprise me with stupid moves. Bust.

#12
LA Clippers Yaroslav Korolev - SF
This guy must have been too tall to play hockey and decided to play hoops? Same thing as Vazquez - never heard of him. The one thing I did read was that he didn't even start on his club team in Moscow. Bad pick.

#13
Charlotte Sean May - PF
May should've been drafted by either the Magic or the Clippers but they were stupid. Now the big guy gets to hang with one of his best friends (Ray Felton) and play in Charlotte. If they bring the Bobcats some wins they'll be heroes in Carolina forever.

#14
Minnesota Rashad McCants - SG
I don't expect much from this guy. It's a good thing that UNC realized that he's a lot more hype than skill last season too. He's too short to be a SG and not good enough to be a point guard. He'll be better than fellow Tar Heel bust Joe Forte but not much.

#15
New Jersey Antoine Wright - SG
I watched Wright play several times last year and was very impressed. He looked like a pro on the floor with college kids. Great size and strength and a nice shooting touch. At 6'7" he'll be a very nice addition to the Nets and Kidd will make sure he's a part of the O.

#16
Toronto Joey Graham - SF
Great pick. I thought he'd be a 10-13 pick but a few of the teams drafting in those spots...Nonetheless, Joey Graham is a true warrior. Great size and toughness. I think he'll be one of the best players from this draft.

#17
Indiana Danny Granger - SF
This Hoosier got to stay close to home. This was a given when he wasn't drafted earlier. Not sure if he'll start next season but will be groomed to be Reggie Miller's replacement in the shooting guard spot for the future. Nice pick.

#18
Boston Gerald Green - SG
They've been calling him "T-Mac II"...we'll see about that. I'm sure he'll be a good player, he's got time to grow and get better but wonder if he's ready right now to play with the big boys.

#19
Memphis Hakim Warrick - PF
Good for Hakim Warrick. I liked this guy when he played at Syracuse and he'll be an even better NBA player. Memphis is a team on the rise and Warrick will be a HUGE piece of the puzzle. #19 a great pick by Jerry West.

#20
Denver Julius Hodge - SG
Gimme a B...B! Gimme a U...U! Gimme an S...S! Gimme a T...T! BUST. Not a good shooter, and doesn't have much of a handle. He's athletic when he gets all of his body going in the same direction. Not impressed.

#21
Phoenix Nate Robinson - PG
He's super fast and super athletic but I have my doubts about the 5'9" guard. I'm thinking he'll be in the NBA no longer than seven years and will never be a starter.

#22
Denver Jarrett Jack - PG
Denver should've drafted Jack with the 20th pick - but they got him anyway. He's great and only getting better. He'll have to play behind Andre Miller for his first few years until they realize that Jack is better and they get rid of Miller. Scoring, assists, defense and toughness...GREAT PICK.

#23
Sacramento Francisco Garcia - SG
New York, New York! Garcia is going to be the real deal because he will make himself even better. Born and raised in tough conditions the Kings will add some fire to their team. I expect he'll average about 12 ppg as a rookie.

#24
Houston Luther Head - PG
He's fast and a very good shooter. He didn't play the point at Illinois but will run a lot of the point in Houston. Solid pick this late in the first round and a good guy to work into an already good team.

#25
Seattle Johan Petro - C
All I know is that he's 7 feet tall and from France. I've read that he's got the skills but isn't very motivated? He'll be a journeyman in the NBA for 10-13 years before going back to Europe.

#26
Detroit Jason Maxiell - PF
The Pistons must want a banger coming off the bench? If that's the case - good pick. Strong and physical

#27
Portland Linas Kleiza - SF (traded to Denver)
I know nothing about him...I'd rather they had picked Brandon Bass as a PF and not traded him. Oh well, I guess we'll all find out about Kleiza.

#28
San Antonio Ian Mahinmi - PF
I guess Tony Parker knows something about this kid that everybody else doesn't. Wasn't regarded as a top European player - but I would think that he'll be VERY good because the Spurs always get the best of everybody.

#29
Miami Wayne Simien - PF
HaHa. The Miami Heat just got themselves past the Pistons and into the NBA Finals next season. Bringing another very good interior player to Miami will only give Shaq, Zo and Udonis more rest. At Kansas Simien was a great player and I expect him to be good.

#30
New York David Lee - PF
He's 6'9" and good. I expect Lee to be a good role player off the bench that contributes next season. Good shooter and likes to work the boards.

High 5 Winners: Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Atlanta and Denver

Pick 'em

2005-06-15T11:33:00.000-04:00

Phil Jackson decided to rejoin the L.A. Lakers yesterday agreeing to a 3-year contract to coach the team that he coached for five years. Jackson guided the Lakers to three straight NBA titles in his first three seasons.

Let's take a poll. Who would you most want to have on your team tomorrow...and why?
A) Phil Jackson - Coach
B) Shaquill O'Neal - Center
C) Kobe Bryant - Guard
D) All of them together
E) None of them

Heavyweight Royalty

2005-06-14T12:03:00.000-04:00

My friends and I have been tossing around the discussion of – Who are the greatest All-Time Heavyweight champions. Obviously, the era in which each of these champions fought were different but these are the guys that stand out above all.

Here we go…

10: Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Charles was a great fighter that went down in boxing history because of his four epic battles with Jersey Joe Walcott. Charles won both of their first two fights before Walcott won three and four. Charles also beat the great Joe Louis and gave Rocky Marciano his two toughest fights. Charles won the title Joe Louis vacated when he beat Walcott in their first fight. A true champion that fought all of the best fighters of his day, but like many hung on and fought way too long.

9: Mike Tyson
“Iron Mike” was a pure knockout machine. In his early years he beat everybody with incredible hand speed and power with both hands. Mike had real good defense in his prime and was actually the first fighter to unify the WBA, WBC & IBF belts. Losing three of his last four fights (two to nobody’s) has knocked him down on the scale but his 50-6 record is one of the greatest in history.

8: Joe Frazier
Arguably the toughest heavyweight boxer in history with possibly the best left hook of all time. “Smokin” Joe Frazier fought against and beat some great fighters including Muhammad Ali, Jerry Quarry twice, Jimmy Ellis, Joe Bugner Buster Mathis and Oscar Bonavena. He did get beaten badly by George Foreman twice but the three fights against Ali were classic battles. Frazier in his prime weighed in at 210 pounds or lighter and was a true fighter from the streets of Philadelphia.

7: Evander Holyfield
I would have put “The Real Deal Holyfield” in my top 5 about five years ago, but Evander has continued to fight with very little success. He was strong puncher, with a tough chin and incredible heart. When the time came for him to fight Mike Tyson he TKO’d him in dominating fashion. In their second fight Tyson took a bite at Holyfield’s ear ending the fight in a disqualification victory for Holyfield. Evander beat Buster Douglas to win the title, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Alex Stewart, Michael Moorer and Tyson twice. I just wish he would’ve retired about five years ago.

6: George Foreman
They call him the greatest power puncher in history. Dropped great fighters like Joe Frazier (twice), Jose Roman and Ken Norton like they were school boys. The Rumble in the Jungle will forever be the night that Foreman was knockout by Ali – but it was Foreman’s dominance of the sport that led to such an improbable upset. Big George made a comeback from boxing after almost a ten year layoff and looked like he never missed a beat. He was the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship of the world and he did it via one punch KO of Michael Moorer. Not only a great fighter but one of the most colorful fighters of the last forty years.

5: Rocky Marciano
A real life Rocky who was undefeated in his 49 fights. Marciano had great knockout power and the ability and stamina to fight fifteen hard rounds. Some argue that his opposition was so-so but I take my hat off to anyone who wins 49 heavyweight fights without a defeat. Marciano beat all of the top fighters of his era, which is the highest accomplishment that any fighter can declare.

4: Lennox Lewis
May never get the respect he deserves from the world, but Lennox Lewis should go down as one of the greatest. He had a wonderful jab and displayed uncanny patience and smarts in the ring. Used his long arms and powerful body as good, if not better than every heavyweight before. TKO’d Mike Tyson, Vitali Klitschko, Michael Grant, Evander Holyfield and every fighter that was put in front of him. Avenged both of his career losses by knocking out Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. True champ that has to be in the Top 5.

3: Larry Holmes
Even more underappreciated than Lennox Lewis is probably Larry Holmes. His great run as the champ included the second longest reign as the undisputed heavyweight champion, second longest undefeated winning streak and the second most defenses of his title. Holmes had an exceptional left jab and a thunderous right hand. After being Muhammad Ali’s sparring partner for several years he destroyed the entire division, including beating Ali in a comeback fight for the former champ. Other victims of his assault were Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney, Leon Spinks, Mike Weaver, Bonecrusher Smith, and Carl Williams. He lost only three fights in his prime – two by decision to Michael Spinks and one bad TKO from the hands of Mike Tyson.

2: Joe Louis
Joe Louis had the longest reign of any heavyweight champion and the most title defenses. His eleven year run as the heavyweight champion of the world included an incredible 25 defenses of his title. His great opponents were Jersey Joe Walcott, Max Baer, James J. Braddock, Tony Galento and Max Schmeling. Louis used lightening fast hand speed and perfect combinations along with an unmatched punching power for his time. If you ever have the chance to watch one of his fights on ESPN Classic – do it. He was magical in the ring, and truly a superior fighter.

1: Muhammad Ali
I got the chance to touch his shoulder and get an autograph from the “Greatest” and I’ll never forget that day. Muhammad Ali was the greatest heavyweight of all time bar none. Not only did he have an automatic jab, his combinations were thrilling and unstoppable. Ali also had maybe the best chin in heavyweight boxing history. He fought and was the champ during what is arguably the best era of heavyweight boxing beating guys like, Floyd Patterson (twice), Sonny Liston (twice), Archie Moore, Henry Cooper (twice), Joe Frazier (twice), Oscar Bonavena, Ken Norton (twice), Jerry Quarry (twice), Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Ellis, and the historic upset of George Foreman. Muhammad was speed, grace and precision while also having an underrated knockout punch. Ali's longevity is one of glory although he continued to succeed despite his eroding skills. His overall record of 56-5 is deceiving because he lost three of his last four fights…he was the greatest boxer to ever walk this Earth.

TKO'd

2005-06-13T10:56:00.000-04:00

I hope this weekend’s disgraceful loss to Kevin McBride will take Mike Tyson’s name out of the running of all-time greatest heavyweight champions. He should make the top ten (barely) because of his ferocious knockouts in the mid and late 80s but in the last two decades he’s been nothing more than a decent fighter.

Tyson has lost three of his last four fights, two of them to nobody’s, and is a very unimpressive 5-5 with two No Contests in his last twelve fights. Tyson himself called McBride a “tomato can” and said he would “gut him like a fish” at the pre-fight press conference. Iron Mike did neither. He quit after six rounds when he realized that he couldn’t punch, head-butt, arm lock or bite his way past the big, slow Irishman.

I’ll admit I wanted the old Iron Mike to come back. When he lost last July to Danny Williams I thought it was a fluke. When he said he would put McBride on his back I believed he would. My thought was...2nd round KO. I like many have believed this character for far too long.

I like the storyline of the Iron Mike Tyson tale…kid from the ghetto gets into lots of trouble, bad family life, and destructive attitude towards everybody. But he’s rescued by an old man who also happens to be a boxing trainer. Cus D’Amato showed him the ropes, so to speak, gave him love and a stable home and groomed him into one of the finest knockout powers in boxing history. But Tyson was never the same after Cus died and shortly thereafter he had falling outs with trainers Teddy Atlas and Kevin Rooney. The story that was so great reverted back to madness again as Tyson dealt with a divorce and multiple run-ins with the law.

Once Buster Douglas, a fighter who never beat a top heavyweight before or after he knocked Tyson out, knocked him out in Tokyo, Japan way back in 1990 the stigma of him being unbeatable was gone. The feeling that he would and could just bully the entire sport started to go up in smoke that night.

But Mike came back strong in his fights after the Douglas loss and was primed to win back his heavyweight title from the then champion Evander Holyfield. In a blink of an eye his career was put on hold when he was charged with raping a beauty pageant contestant. Mike swore up and down and sideways that he had consensual sex with the girl but was convicted and sent to jail. He could’ve left sooner than he did had he admitted to the rape, but he continuously denied it stayed in prison longer.

When he came back after the layoff he was obviously rusty and had a few easy fights to gradually bring him back. But with his comeback hanging in the balance he was TKO’d in the 11th round (on my birthday) by Holyfield. None of us will forget the rematch when Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander’s ear and swallowed another big loss.

Remember he ducked Lennox Lewis back in the mid-90s and then was pummeled by Lennox in 2002. He didn’t want to fight George Foreman although big George was in his early forties. His career is very similar to his big fights - he came out hard and fast and tired even faster.

When he fought Holyfield the second time he gave up then too. Biting his way out of another beating that was bound to happen. He quit against Danny Williams, a guy who is known for having panic attacks before fights, and he quit Saturday night against Kevin McBride when he realized he wasn’t going to win by intimidating and his early hard punches were taken.

I hope that Iron Mike does what he says and retires. I rooted for him as a kid and as an adult – many times making family and friends wonder why? Why – because he was a show and has been the underdog since he was a kid flying pigeons in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. Even when he was the champ people were waiting and watching for him to slip up…and even when he did, I wanted him to get back up and fight on. Now that Tyson refuses to fight on – it’s time for him to hang up the gloves and move on with his life.

Respect Earned & Respect Given

2005-06-06T11:05:00.000-04:00

I’m not writing about the Heat-Pistons Eastern Conference Finals or Sean Taylor getting arrested. To me that stuff comes in a distant second place to what Shaquille O’Neal did for the family of the late George Mikan. Mikan passed away last Wednesday in Arizona from a long battle with diabetes and kidney ailments. He was 80 years old and more than forty-five years older than O’Neal.

Shaq did something for people that he probably wouldn’t know if he bumped into them on the street. When he found out that George Mikan’s family was having some trouble paying for the Hall of Famer’s funeral Shaq did what Shaq does best…he stepped up his game.

The NBA’s most dominant force ever is paying for the NBA’s first dominant force, the Minneapolis Lakers center in the late 40s & 50s, to be laid to rest the right way. Shaq told reporters that he enjoyed meeting and speaking to Mikan and felt connected to him more than through their tenures guiding the Lakers to championships.

Mikan was the unstoppable force who drove the Lakers to four NBA titles in five seasons after winning the BAA title in 1949. Five championships in six seasons – MJ & Scottie, Magic & Kareem, and Larry & Company didn’t even pull that feat off.

The 6’10” center and DePaul University graduate led the Blue Demons to the 1945 NIT title at a time when that tournament was the ‘big one’ and was on the 1943 team that made the Final Four. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1959 and was voted as one of the Century’s 50 Greatest Players in 1999. He made the hook shot popular and made blocking shots an effective defensive play. Mikan’s superior play caused the widening of lanes and prevention of goal tending.

Mikan played until injuries led him to retire during the 1955-56 season. He later impacted basketball as commissioner of the ABA.

You see, these types of things don’t happen often in today’s society. The professional athletes of yester year weren’t paid a fraction of what the guys today make and it makes me happy to see that one of the guys who’s been granted such incredible financial wealth is paying his respects to a man who helped paved the way.

Love him or hate him Shaquille O’Neal did something wonderful for people that deserved it. I respect him for his ability as a basketball player and truly admire him as a man.

Rising Sun

2005-06-02T11:23:00.000-04:00

Last night in Phoenix, Arizona the world got to see a rising star at his best. Suns forward/center Amare Stoudemire is just 22 years old and already he is showing the world that he wants to be the next best thing.

Battling in five games against arguably the best all-around big man in the league Amare impressed the millions who watched this series with his explosiveness to the bucket, his rebounding, shot blocking, his jumper and his overall athletic ability. Repeat – against arguably the best all-around big man in the league, Tim Duncan. And against a Spurs defense that is almost as good and definitely as stingy as the Detroit Pistons.

This five game series wasn’t the type of series that a historian will look back on and say, “Spurs in five – must’ve been easy.” No way – not these five games. In fact, I told a good friend of mine last night – that had the Suns won last nights Game 5 they would ‘Boston Red Sox’ the Spurs and win the series after losing the first three games. The look on Duncan, and Manu Ginobili and company’s face at times last night was as if they were agreeing with me. And the reason that they had that look on their faces…Amare.

Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said it best after the game, "And just think the guy is 22 years old."26 points per game, 9 boards per game, 1.6 assists and blocks per game this season…this kid is already one of the top ten players in the game and he’s got nothing but upside. He went for an incredible 37, 41, 34, 31 and in Game 5 a career playoff-best 42 points, along with 16 rebounds. And all of this happened with a slightly hyper extended elbow after hurting it early on against San Antonio while dunking.

Sure the Spurs advanced to the NBA Finals for the third time in seven seasons and are one of the best teams in sports, but I was rooting for this kid, Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and the Suns. I wanted to see their high flying, fast paced, semi-Showtime game in the NBA Finals. Their time will come, he’s still young and along with Nash and the rest of the supporting cast it’s a good thing San Antonio beat them this time around, because they might not next time.

It didn’t happen this year, but it will soon enough. I just can’t wait to see how much better Amare will be come next season…and playing with Nash – a great point guard - the Sun has never shined so brightly on Phoenix.

No Loyalty

2005-05-31T11:19:00.000-04:00

I wish I had a vote for the basketball Hall of Fame. This may shock some people but I’m going to say it anyway…I wouldn’t have voted for Larry Brown. In fact, I would’ve tried my hardest to persuade my fellow voters NOT to vote for him. Frankly, I just don’t think he deserved it. He’s a nomad who has jumped from team to team over his career always looking for the best possible situation and never has minded the dust he leaves when he decides to move on. I can’t stand that type of person.

Larry Brown has been all over the U.S. map in the last 30+ years – always looking for the best situation or the right team for him to win with. And now that his coaching career seems to be coming to an end he has decided on yet another move. According to The Cleveland Plain Dealer he as accepted the Cavaliers offer to become the team’s president of basketball operations. He’ll have to wait until Detroit’s season is over before he can accept it because he’s still under contract with the Pistons for three more seasons. And all of this discussion comes while his Detroit team tries to win back-to-back NBA titles – real classy move from him. And a real stupid move on the Cavs part.

Brown is like a real-estate agents dream come true and a basketball team’s biggest nightmare. At any point he’ll just decide to up and move and leave the team that he’s coaching to coach elsewhere. I can’t stand him – I really can’t. Have a backbone and stay in one place longer than a handful of years. Show some loyalty to your players – the guys that bust their tails and show you respect and loyalty everyday.

Let’s take a look at the Larry Brown Merry-Go-Round…

It all started in the ABA in 1973 when he became the head coach of the Carolina Cougars. This seemed like a nice fit for the 33-year old first time coach being that he was close to where he started…as a player and assistant coach at the University of North Carolina under Dean Smith. After two successful, playoff seasons he moved on to the Denver Nuggets of the ABA. It probably seemed like a good move for him at the time since he had played a season and a half in Denver just several years earlier. He took the Nuggets to the ABA Finals in 1976 but lost and the following year the Nuggets joined the NBA. Mid way through the 1979 season the ‘Wanderer’ moved on. He decided to take the head coaching job at UCLA…where he spent just two seasons. In 1980 he guided the great Bruins to the NCAA Championship game, but they lost. The following season had much more promise but the team couldn’t go deep into the tourney. With several key players about to graduate and not much future at UCLA it was time to move on yet again.

He moved all the way across the country to coach in the NBA again – the New Jersey Nets. Less than two seasons at Brendan Byrne Arena was enough and during his second season he resigned to take over the helm at the University of Kansas. Larry coached Kansas from 1984 to 1988 and the team enjoyed a 129-44 record. After winning the NCAA Tournament in 1988 he left to return to the NBA. It should be noted that Kansas had 5 seniors (4 starters) that were all about to leave, including All-American Danny Manning. From 1988 to 1992 he coached the San Antonio Spurs to the playoffs in the 89-90 & 90-91 seasons. In his fourth season the Spurs had a 21-17 record when he up and left during the 91-92 season and took over the Los Angeles Clippers with 35 games left in the same season. The Clippers finished the season 23-12 and made the playoffs. Again, the following season, the Clippers made the playoffs, this time with a 41-41 record. But with two years left on his contract, Brown bounced and resigned as Clippers coach for a better job.

He took over as head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1993 had coached them to three consecutive winning seasons that took them to the playoffs three times and to the Eastern Conference finals twice. After the Pacers finished 39-43 in 96-97 and missed the playoffs, Larry left Indiana for promising pastures in Philadelphia. He was hired as the 76ers' head coach and vice president of basketball operations.

He coached the 76ers for six seasons from 1997-2003. The Sixers made the NBA playoffs in five consecutive years and lost in the NBA finals in 2001. That year he and was named NBA Coach of the Year. The following season, his last in Philadelphia, Brown was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.Of course because the Sixers weren’t moving towards a championship team Larry Brown left and became the coach of a good team – the Detroit Pistons. He coached the Pistons to the NBA championship over the favored Los Angeles Lakers…some people (my self included) think that the Pistons would’ve won a championship had they not let go of Rick Carlisle, the coach before Brown.

Brown is now 64-years old and has had bladder problems as a result of hip surgery that he had earlier this season. He is expected to have additional surgery after the playoffs are finished.

Why would Cleveland want this guy? He’ll most likely sit upstairs and bark orders for a few seasons and then decide that he wants to coach somewhere again. When that happens I would expect him to move back to the West Coast – he hasn’t been there in awhile.

Born after June 1, 1980

2005-05-27T10:50:00.000-04:00

Not much happening the last few days in sports…I could continue writing about things that I’ve written about before or I could do something fun. I’m tired of Kellen Winslow II and his accident. I don’t feel like writing about the NBA playoffs until we get to the finals. So let’s talk some baseball.

I was sitting there in my fiancé’s apartment the other night watching my beloved Mets lose to the Braves. But all I could think about was how excited I was that the Mets have two youngsters who have gobs and gobs of potential and will hopefully be with my team for a long time. I’m talking about 22-year old third baseman David Wright and 21-year old shortstop Jose Reyes.

Last night I saw the stat lines from a few other games and was amazed how many young guys are doing so well in the big leagues. It was something that I decided to take a deep look into…and then after my research it was time to figure out the Under-25 Major League Baseball Team.

Here’s what I’ve come up with…and to tell you the truth I couldn’t believe at how many positions I had to make a tough decision.
C Joe Mauer 22 years old Minnesota Twins
1B Justin Morneau 24 years old Minnesota Twins
2B Jorge Cantu 23 years old Tampa Bay Devil Rays
SS Jose Reyes 21 years old New York Mets
3B David Wright 22 years old New York Mets
LF Miguel Cabrera 22 years old Florida Marlins
CF Willy Taveras 23 years old Houston Astros
RF Carl Crawford 23 years old Tampa Bay Devil Rays
DH Hank Blalock 24 years old Texas Rangers

RHP Jake Peavy 24 years old San Diego Padres
LHP Dontrelle Willis 23 years old Florida Marlins
RHP Carlos Zambrano 23 years old Chicago Cubs
LHP C.C. Sabathia 24 years old Cleveland Indians
RHP Brett Myers 24 years old Philadelphia Phillies

LHP Gustavo Chacin 24 years old Toronto Blue Jays

CL Francisco Rodriguez 23 years old LA Angels of Anaheim
CL Chad Cordero 23 years old Washington Nationals

It’s amazing to realize that every guy on this list (with the exception of Taveras & Cantu) are All-Star quality players already. I know some of you probably realized that I have Carl Crawford listed at RF but he actually plays LF. My reasoning for this is simple – Carl deserves to be on this list but he’s not better than Miguel Cabrera so I’ve moved him to the opposite corner OF position. I’m sure Carl would be cool with my decision. I’ve also listed a sixth starting pitcher, Gustavo Chacin. It’s inevitable that during the long 162 game MLB season that one if not more of your starters will go down with an injury. Until that happens we’ll just use Chacin as our ‘long’ reliever out of the bullpen. I also listed All-Star 3B Hank Blalock as our DH. Honestly, Hank might be the best hitter on this list but since he plays in the American League and David Wright doesn’t I made the executive decision to put Hank in the DH spot.

Of the seventeen players that are listed only six of them are even 24 years old. This spells big things for major league baseball in the next decade … and you know who will be closely watching their progress from the field level.

Electrician Lost His Power

2005-05-25T11:01:00.000-04:00

The 'Late Snake' took down the 'Pride of Providence' last night as Peter Manfredo, Jr. and his run to the top was shutdown by Sergio Mora on NBC's 'The Contender'. The show finale wasn't what I expected at all as the 24-year old electrician from Rhode Island lost his electricity in the final three rounds.

Manfredo, Jr. who is trained by his father lost a unanimous decision to the 25-year old Mora as the East Los Angeles native, fighting to give his mother a better life, dominated the final three rounds with his fast combinations, elusive defense and charisma. The loss for Manfredo, Jr. ended his story-book finish right before our very eyes.

During the show's first episode I watched closely as they detailed each of the 16 fighters who would be competing during the season. That night I told my fiancé that my pick to win it the big prize and the $1 million was indeed Manfredo, Jr. I had watched him twice fight on ESPN2 both times winning easily against good competition. I remember how he looked like a good kid and thought his skills and toughness were unbeatable, especially against a bunch of 'no-names'.

I was shocked when one of those 'no-names' called out Peter during that first episode and challenged him to be the first fight...Alfonso Gomez was one of the smallest guys on the show and had never really been in a big fight. It had to be the dumbest decision that Gomez had ever made. No. Gomez started slow but finished strong against Manfredo and beat him by a unanimous decision that first night and sent the 'Pride of Providence' home real quick. I told my fiancé, "That's ok, we'll see Manfredo again - this kid is going to be good."

Sure enough in episode four, fellow East Team fighter and New Englander Jeff Fraza had to be taken out of the competition because of the chicken pox and they needed to bring back one of the three fallen fighters. Without question they voted and brought back Manfredo, Jr. and he was put to the test quickly in week five. He would win that week and then again to put himself into the final four. The next test, a rematch with Gomez with the winner to be in 'The Contender' championship at Caesar's Palace with a million dollars on the line. Peter avenged his only professional loss and beat-up Gomez in a seven-round unanimous decision.

But last night in the big $1 million fight of a lifetime, Manfredo, Jr. looked tired in the last few rounds as he kept holding Sergio. Peter definitely threw and landed a lot more punches in the first four rounds, but in the final three Mora's hits were cleaner and each one took more and more of Manfredo's strength.Sergio's road to the final was very different. After winning his first two matches he fought the hard punching Jesse Brinkley in the final four. As Sergio had done to Ishe Smith the fight before, he gave Jesse loads of trouble and was much too elusive for him to land any big combinations. His tough upbringing in a bad area of East Los Angeles is probably the farthest thing on his mind this morning. He's a very smart, young fighter whose style is difficult to fight against and now has plenty of money ($1 million to be exact) and a brand new Toyota Tundra truck. Good for him - he was the best on the show and he deserved it. I hope to see him fight in some bigger fights and watch his career develop in the future.

Manfredo, Jr. will be back, I'm sure of it. He won $250,000 after losing last night's fight - not a million but certainly a wonderful payday for him, his pregnant wife and their beautiful little girl. He's a classy guy who's going to have a great career.

Such a Strange Dude

2005-05-23T11:23:00.000-04:00

Well look at what we have here…Agent Leigh Steinberg is saying that his retired running back Ricky Williams has made the decision to come back and play for the Miami Dolphins. You’ll remember that Ricky just up and walked out on the same Dolphins last July just days before the start of training camp and left Miami out to dry without having a viable replacement for him. Much of what he kept saying then was that he didn't agree with the NFL substance-abuse program, because he felt like he should be allowed to smoke marijuana whenever he wanted. The team finished the season 4-12 and head coach Dave Wannstedt resigned after nine games. But Ricky really likes new head coach Nick Saban and is apparently all set to rejoin his teammates.

Steinberg said that the 2002 NFL leading rusher is “keeping in shape and has been involved in a rigorous training program.” But in February when Ricky was in South Florida for a paternity hearing he was saying that he was “enjoying retirement” and wasn’t quite sure he’d ever play again. What’s the change of heart?

Is he finished with his classes at the California College of Ayurveda where he studied holistic medicine? Is he tired of traveling all over the world and living like a nomad? Or is he realizing that after repaying Miami owner Wayne Huizenga back the $8.6 million in signing bonuses that he owes him and paying all of the child support that he owes that he’ll be broke?

Let’s also not forget that Williams will have to take a four-game suspension if he decides to resume his career because of his existing infringements of the league substance-abuse plan.

I’m a big believer in giving people second chances and for that I would say that the NFL should give Ricky a second chance. But not the Miami Dolphins. If I was a player on that team I would have a very hard time trusting this character. He’s a time bomb just waiting to go off…but not off in a destructive way, off to Asia or Africa. Would you want a guy like that to have your back on a playing field – not knowing if on the third play of the fourth quarter if he just decides that he doesn’t want to play football again? His decision to walk away almost a year ago cost his head coach his job, and made several teammates very susceptible to having to carry loads that they couldn’t handle. I would want no part of him.

If I was Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, Chris Chambers or another veteran on that team with a voice I’d tell Nick Saban to get him back and trade his sorry butt away from that team. I know the guy has the potential to rush for more than 1,500 yards and be a dominant back – but that will only happen if he wants to play. Leigh Steinberg can make whatever references he wants about other guys in the league being in trouble with the law – but none of those guys turned their back on their teammates…an unwritten but very known rule in professional sports.

He’s obviously coming back for the money and if I was a Dolphin I’d want to distance myself from him…let him resume his weird lifestyle and career somewhere else.

Suns- Heat Won't Be Cold

2005-05-19T11:04:00.000-04:00

The only way to settle the MVP and best team in the NBA discussion is for the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat to meet head-to-head in the NBA Finals. And if I know the NBA, they’ll do EVERYTHING in their power to make sure that it’s Shaq’s Heat vs. Nash’s Suns. Two teams that have grown in the last several years’ right in front of our very eyes…

With all due respect to the two-time champion Spurs and last years champion, the Detroit Pistons the NBA needs a Heat vs. Suns series. The country needs this heavy-weight bout too. If I have to sit there and watch (in and out of sleeping) six or seven games of the San Antonio methodical (but effective) play vs. the Pistons slow (but bruising) play I’ll be ridiculously disappointed. We have it right here in front of us – we can already see an action-packed, thrilling seven game series between the leagues best two teams and some of their most exciting players. Dunks, 3-pointers, interior play, fast-breaking, MVP-quality players, high scoring games and more dunks…it’s going to be breath-taking, you’re not going to want to go to the bathroom until the end of the quarters.

Let’s face it – these two teams have the hottest dance teams too. Miami and Phoenix…2/3 of the population is half naked all of the time. Some viewers would be running to get up close to the TV during time outs to see the dance squads strut their stuff.

Dan Majerle would be like a proud uncle if his two former stomping grounds met for all the marbles…he’d forget about that one season he spent in Cleveland and you’d probably see him sitting courtside with Sir Charles Barkley and Timmy Hardaway playing the middle-man as the two argued over who would win. The NBA would get an East Coast vs. Left Coast series (which we all know they LOVE) and more fans would have the delight to see a franchise that has never won an NBA title hoist the trophy for the first time.

Nash vs. D-Wade…Shaq vs. Amare…Eddie Jones, Damon Jones and Udonis Haslem from the Heat…Shawn Marion, Quentin Richardson, Jimmy Jackson and hopefully Joe Johnson from the Suns. All I ask is the Heat from the Suns of above make this happen…please, not only for me – but for all of the basketball fans worldwide who can’t bear to see a 79-76 series finale.

Crying Game

2005-05-18T11:14:00.000-04:00

Who cares if Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper are no longer buddies? This back and forth about who didn’t call who and that one thought the other was a good friend and yada-yada-yada – I don’t care. It would be an interesting story if the two still played together in Minnesota and needed to be friends, but they’re on different teams, in different conferences and separated by 2,000 miles. This isn’t McNabb-Owens…this is two former teammates acting like they should both be on ‘Days of Our Lives’.

Sure, they combined to make one of the best passing-receiving combos in NFL history over the last five seasons – but it’s over now and people, especially Randy Moss and the media need to let it go. If these two guys want to continue their friendship then so be it, but none of us need to hear all about how they’re not hanging out anymore.

"Once you grow to love a person, a breakup is kind of hard," Moss recently said in a Sports Illustrated article. “It seems to me I lost a friend."

Maybe Moss is trying to make this a bigger split than Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston? I don’t know, but it sounded ridiculous.

Randy was great before Culpepper began throwing the ball to him in the 2000 season – he helped make Randall Cunningham a pro-bowler again in 1998 and he was the biggest reason that Culpepper has been so great at such a young age. But all of the ‘Moss distractions’ had to have started to make everyone in the Vikings organization realize that it was time to part ways – even Daunte. Daunte is a very smart guy, and I’m sure he realized after Moss’ late season stroll off the field in Washington and then his fake moon of the Packers fans that enough was enough. And yet Culpepper never talked bad about Moss, denying that Randy’s antics and side show had a negative effect on him, the team and his ability to be the leader of the Vikings. He kept mum and tried to go about his business like a good team leader and a friend. But now he’s implying that Moss hasn’t called him.

If these two guys were such good friends than I would think that Culpepper had voiced his concern about Moss being so childish over the years. Randy is great, but there’s only so much teammates can take.

C’mon fellas, either make-up and be cool again or just go on your separate ways and stop talking about it…please.