1. Yankees complete sweep of the Red Sox.
The Yankees/ Red Sox rivalry is the most interesting in baseball. The combination of two well run, well funded, historically relevant teams makes for drama each and every time they take the diamond. This meeting was no different. Boston punked New York early in the season and this time the Bronx Bombers returned the favor.
The Yankees won big (the shellacking of John Smoltz) and won small (the extra innings thriller capped by an “A-Bomb from A-Rod”). While I’m sure this sweep of the hated Sox felt good at the moment, the postseason will tell which of these teams is truly superior.
2. Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomes new members.
Randall McDaniel, Rod Woodson, Derrick Thomas, Bruce Smith, Ralph Wilson Jr., and Bob Hayes comprised the newest round of Football Hall of Famers. Since this class was heavy on defense I’ll focus there.
Rod Woodson was the perfect combination of football player and athlete. It’s rare to have a man combine a “get your nose dirty” mentality with the ability to produce a highlight worthy play at any time. He was finesse and he was powerful all at the same time.
If not for Reggie White, I believe that Bruce Smith would be considered the greatest defensive end of all time. His combination of size, quickness, and strength made him the NFL’s all time leader in sacks. Buffalo’s early 90’s defense was littered with All Pro’s but they all benefited from playing alongside Bruce Smith.
I lived in Kansas while Derrick Thomas roamed Arrowhead Stadium and witnessed his dominance firsthand. He was truly larger than life. Thomas was the football progeny of linebacker/ sack artists like Lawrence Taylor and a precursor to current stars like Shawn Merriman and Demarcus Ware. Thomas still owns the record for sacks in a single game. If you wanted to design the prototype for a pass rushing line backer, your end product would be Derrick Thomas. He was that good.
3. Twins sign Carl Pavano.
I wondered aloud why the Minnesota Twins didn’t make a move at the trade deadline for a frontline starter. Francisco Liriano has yet to regain the form that made him a dominant starter and if this team wants to compete down the stretch they need a stud at the top of the rotation. Good pickup by the Twins front office.
4. Michael Vick signs with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He's baaaaaaack. As it became apparent that Michael Vick would indeed return to the National Football League I started to think of situations that would benefit him as a player. I figured that a strong organization with a starting QB in place and an environment for Vick to hone his craft under the tutelage of quality football instruction would fit best. I thought Pittsburgh, San Diego, New England and Philadelphia.
Kudos to Andy Reid and the Eagles for taking a chance on what still remains the most electric quarterback in football. If Vick can salvage his career, Philadelphia is a great place to start.
5. Rick Pitino gets his freak on.
The lurid details of Rick Pitino’s affair with a Louisville woman that occurred six years ago were forced upon us this week. I am not a proponent of infidelity and take every opportunity to say so. Morality and personal responsibility have their place.
To me the bigger issue here is that Pitino is in charge of the well being of young men. Every year young men look to him for leadership and guidance. This goes beyond basketball. How does one hold others accountable when they fail to police themselves? One of the burdens of leadership is holding one’s self to a standard of living that is beyond reproach. Yes, mistakes are made. Forgiveness must be sought. Most importantly, Rick Pitino should look every one of his players in the eye and apologize because he let them down.
6. Tiger dominates.
Tiger Woods enters the last Major Tournament of the year playing at a level few can match and none can surpass. Woods won the previous two tournaments that he entered and is showing the focus, ability and tenaciousness that makes him the premier player in the world. He is the best player in golf and if he continues on this type of hot streak then the question changes all together. It goes from “can he win” to “how much will he win by.”
7. Brady impresses in preseason.
All of the lingering questions about Tom Brady’s ability to bounce back from a devastating knee injury were answered in New England’s first preseason game. All of the whispers about New England’s return to offensive juggernaut status ceased. Aside from the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning, no team depends on a player the way that the Patriots depend of Brady. With him they are Super Bowl contenders. Without him they are like a sports car in need of a tune up; it looks nice but it just doesn’t quite run the same. If Brady stays healthy this team will challenge Pittsburgh for AFC supremacy and a spot in the Super Bowl. Yeah, he’s that good.
8. Roddy White signs extension.
Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White reports to camp with the extension and pay raise that he coveted. Great move by the Falcons on rewarding White for his improvement and acknowledging his value to the offense. I believe this move also shows the rest of the Falcons roster that hard work and production will be rewarded. White played like one of the premier wide outs in the league last year and now he’s getting paid like one too.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Week in Review
1. McCutchen goes crazy.
Andrew McCutchen busted out this week in a huge way by going 4-5, with 6 RBI. Such success at the plate would bode well for the Pirates center fielder but hitting 3 home runs makes his performance historical.
This young man is apart of baseball's future hope. His aggressive approach at the plate and on the bases and the combination of skill and promise are rare. If we look through the rose colored glasses, perhaps we see the next Eric Davis, Darryl Strawberry or a young Barry Bonds. At the least we have the very first Andrew McCutchen. That, my friends, is nothing to sneeze at. For all of the Pirates perceived dysfunction, the play of McCutchen certainly gives fans a reason to come to PNC Park.
2. Burress indicted on weapons charges.
The powers that be in New York seem intent on making an example out of Plaxico. Carrying a weapon is nothing to sneeze at especially if said weapon isn't registered properly. Having it in a crowded night club isn't a good look either. It's looking like Plaxico is going to have a rough go of it as far as these charges are concerned. Burress is 32 and doesn't need anything to take away from the precious few years of his football prime.
3. Rashard Lewis tests positive.
Drugs and sports seem continue to mingle at an alarming rate. Regardless of sport it seems as though performance enhancing drugs are engrained into the fabric of the sports that we hold dear. Rashard Lewis’ positive test for a banned substance is both surprising and expected at the same time. Basketball doesn’t seem like the type of sport that would lend itself to drug use in the same way that baseball, football, track or even cycling would. Still we have an athlete taking something that he shouldn’t for the sake of gaining an edge. Again, when drug culture is addressed properly then maybe a suitable solution to the problem will appear. Until then hope your favorite athlete isn’t the next to be “exposed.”
4. San Francisco draft pick still holding out.
First and foremost holding out IS NOT a big deal. Let’s not pretend that holding out is some type of scarlet letter which brands said athlete a failure in the NFL. It doesn’t. I find it amusing that analysts and talking heads feel the need to attack Michael Crabtree for holding out to get what he feels he deserves. Future Hall of Famer Woodson missed half of his first season and he turned out ok. I’m not saying that Crabtree is anywhere near what Woodson turned out to be. I am saying that the young man may turn out to be a player despite the time he is missing.
Now to this “advisor.” Michael Crabtree’s cousin made some statements that can be called posturing at best. Nothing more nothing less. The attention that his comments have garnered is already too much. It’s only a big deal because people continue to report on it. Enough already.
As for the contract situation I do feel that Crabtree was the best available receiver in the draft. I do think that he’ll have a better career as a 49er than Heyward-Bey will as a Raider. I also think that San Francisco should pony up the dollars here. I understand the draft slotting system and that first round draft picks are essentially paid on a sliding scale. Here’s why Crabtree should get the money he’s asking for. In drafting a Wide Receiver as high in the draft as they did, San Francisco showed their approach. They want a game changer, an impact player, a legit # 1 receiver. They felt that guy was Michael Crabtree. His career at Texas Tech showed that he has a flair for the dramatic. He can make the electric play. If you want quality, you have to pay for it.
5. Eli gets paid.
Eli Manning is balling in a recession. I don’t believe he’s the best QB in his family and as such I don’t believe he should be the highest paid pass thrower in the NFL. That being said the New York Giants have secured their franchise player, playing in the prime of his career. I’m not mad at Eli for getting paid but I question the Giants wisdom in paying Manning like the best quarterback in the league when he’s not even in the discussion.
6. Smoltz gets rocked.
John Smoltz was assigned to the minors after being rocked by the New York Yankees in the second game of a pivotal four game series. Playing in Boston, in the thick of a pennant race takes the best that one can muster. Sadly I believe that Smoltz best days, and pitches, are behind him. If this were ten years ago I have no doubt that John Smoltz would shut the Yankees down. Alas, it’s not 1999. It’s 2009 and this version of future Hall of Famer isn’t up to par.
7. White still not in camp; Douglas out for the season.
Roddy White is playing hardball with the Atlanta Falcons in hopes of securing a deal that would pay him like one of the elite receivers in the NFL. The fact of the matter is White broke out in a big way last year and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Whether or not White is top five is up for discussion. Is White a better receiver than Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson or Andre Johnson? I would not take him over any of them. Is he better than Brandon Marshall, Reggie Wayne, Chad (Johnson) Ochocinco, Marques Colston, or Anquan Bolden? I think he fits squarely into this conversation.
Regardless of your opinion of his talent and how he stacks up against the best at his position, he does have value to the Atlanta Falcons. It’s up to them to determine that value and see if it matches up with what White believes he is worth.
Meanwhile, at camp, second year receiver Harry Douglas tore an ACL and is out for the season. Douglas was a pleasant surprise last year and provided a nice target on check downs for fellow rookie QB Matt Ryan. Injuries are an unpleasant part of the game but you never like to see a player get hurt.
Andrew McCutchen busted out this week in a huge way by going 4-5, with 6 RBI. Such success at the plate would bode well for the Pirates center fielder but hitting 3 home runs makes his performance historical.
This young man is apart of baseball's future hope. His aggressive approach at the plate and on the bases and the combination of skill and promise are rare. If we look through the rose colored glasses, perhaps we see the next Eric Davis, Darryl Strawberry or a young Barry Bonds. At the least we have the very first Andrew McCutchen. That, my friends, is nothing to sneeze at. For all of the Pirates perceived dysfunction, the play of McCutchen certainly gives fans a reason to come to PNC Park.
2. Burress indicted on weapons charges.
The powers that be in New York seem intent on making an example out of Plaxico. Carrying a weapon is nothing to sneeze at especially if said weapon isn't registered properly. Having it in a crowded night club isn't a good look either. It's looking like Plaxico is going to have a rough go of it as far as these charges are concerned. Burress is 32 and doesn't need anything to take away from the precious few years of his football prime.
3. Rashard Lewis tests positive.
Drugs and sports seem continue to mingle at an alarming rate. Regardless of sport it seems as though performance enhancing drugs are engrained into the fabric of the sports that we hold dear. Rashard Lewis’ positive test for a banned substance is both surprising and expected at the same time. Basketball doesn’t seem like the type of sport that would lend itself to drug use in the same way that baseball, football, track or even cycling would. Still we have an athlete taking something that he shouldn’t for the sake of gaining an edge. Again, when drug culture is addressed properly then maybe a suitable solution to the problem will appear. Until then hope your favorite athlete isn’t the next to be “exposed.”
4. San Francisco draft pick still holding out.
First and foremost holding out IS NOT a big deal. Let’s not pretend that holding out is some type of scarlet letter which brands said athlete a failure in the NFL. It doesn’t. I find it amusing that analysts and talking heads feel the need to attack Michael Crabtree for holding out to get what he feels he deserves. Future Hall of Famer Woodson missed half of his first season and he turned out ok. I’m not saying that Crabtree is anywhere near what Woodson turned out to be. I am saying that the young man may turn out to be a player despite the time he is missing.
Now to this “advisor.” Michael Crabtree’s cousin made some statements that can be called posturing at best. Nothing more nothing less. The attention that his comments have garnered is already too much. It’s only a big deal because people continue to report on it. Enough already.
As for the contract situation I do feel that Crabtree was the best available receiver in the draft. I do think that he’ll have a better career as a 49er than Heyward-Bey will as a Raider. I also think that San Francisco should pony up the dollars here. I understand the draft slotting system and that first round draft picks are essentially paid on a sliding scale. Here’s why Crabtree should get the money he’s asking for. In drafting a Wide Receiver as high in the draft as they did, San Francisco showed their approach. They want a game changer, an impact player, a legit # 1 receiver. They felt that guy was Michael Crabtree. His career at Texas Tech showed that he has a flair for the dramatic. He can make the electric play. If you want quality, you have to pay for it.
5. Eli gets paid.
Eli Manning is balling in a recession. I don’t believe he’s the best QB in his family and as such I don’t believe he should be the highest paid pass thrower in the NFL. That being said the New York Giants have secured their franchise player, playing in the prime of his career. I’m not mad at Eli for getting paid but I question the Giants wisdom in paying Manning like the best quarterback in the league when he’s not even in the discussion.
6. Smoltz gets rocked.
John Smoltz was assigned to the minors after being rocked by the New York Yankees in the second game of a pivotal four game series. Playing in Boston, in the thick of a pennant race takes the best that one can muster. Sadly I believe that Smoltz best days, and pitches, are behind him. If this were ten years ago I have no doubt that John Smoltz would shut the Yankees down. Alas, it’s not 1999. It’s 2009 and this version of future Hall of Famer isn’t up to par.
7. White still not in camp; Douglas out for the season.
Roddy White is playing hardball with the Atlanta Falcons in hopes of securing a deal that would pay him like one of the elite receivers in the NFL. The fact of the matter is White broke out in a big way last year and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Whether or not White is top five is up for discussion. Is White a better receiver than Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson or Andre Johnson? I would not take him over any of them. Is he better than Brandon Marshall, Reggie Wayne, Chad (Johnson) Ochocinco, Marques Colston, or Anquan Bolden? I think he fits squarely into this conversation.
Regardless of your opinion of his talent and how he stacks up against the best at his position, he does have value to the Atlanta Falcons. It’s up to them to determine that value and see if it matches up with what White believes he is worth.
Meanwhile, at camp, second year receiver Harry Douglas tore an ACL and is out for the season. Douglas was a pleasant surprise last year and provided a nice target on check downs for fellow rookie QB Matt Ryan. Injuries are an unpleasant part of the game but you never like to see a player get hurt.
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