Week in Review

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.