After some back and forth battling in camp between Daunte Culpepper and Matthew Stafford, the Lions have finally come to a decision. The decision they made was to go with rookie quarterback, Matthew Stafford. Some people like the decision because he was their number one draft pick, and they feel that he needs to start playing to get better. I, on the other hand, do not agree.

The Lions are throwing Stafford into a situation where he is bound to struggle. That, I feel, is the worst thing you can do for a young player, especially a quarterback. Look at David Carr for instance. He was thrown right into a mediocre situation, and the rest of his career has been affected by that. He plays scared, and he has a lack of confidence in his offensive lines, which is a direct result of being sacked a million times on an inexperienced offensive line in Houston. Once your mind becomes affected, your game will undoubtedly follow. I feel that it would be much smarter for teams to let young quarterbacks develop on the sidelines and in practice.

Sometimes, though, I do think that playing a rookie quarterback right away makes sense. The times that it makes sense are when they are coming to a good team, and there is a real chance that they can have success. They do not need to feel the burden of carrying the team by themselves, and they can let the game come to them. Playing with this approach can get the young quarterback some victories, and thus they can build their confidence.

That, of course, is not the case with Stafford. He is coming onto a team that was 0-16 last season, and I feel that this could seriously hurt him in the long run. Not only that, but I feel that the Lions have a viable starter in Culpepper. He still has a strong arm, and the type of player, in Calvin Johnson, that can help him be successful. Stafford could really learn a lot from watching a guy like Culpepper who has been around for a while and has been successful in this league.

Well, I guess you don't go 0-16 unless you have some terrible decision-making along the way, and the Lions still clearly have that. 

With the 16th pick in the 1985 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks changed the face of the league as we know it. With that pick, they selected Bill "Loney" Wennington out of St. John's University. This 7 foot monster spent several nondescript seasons with the Mavericks, Kings, and Virtus Bologna before going to play for the Chicago Bulls, and subsequently changing his career forever. 

With Michael Jordan and the Bulls, Wennington had a defined and vital role. He did everything right, and he made one of the best teams in NBA history possible. "Without Wennington," stated Bulls Coach Phil Jackson, "this team would not have been as good. Nobody realized this, but he was the glue that held everything together." When you hear that from one of the best coaches in the history of the game, you know that it is legitimate. But what did Wennington do that Phil Jackson loved so much?

Years later, it came out that there was some inner turmoil in the Bulls locker room early on in the 1998 season. Players would fight at practice, including a fist fight between Michael Jordan and Steve Kerr, and Bill was always there to settle things down. Both parties would always appreciate what Wennington would do to break things up, and everyone agreed that he had a gift that allowed this Bulls team to stay together. Although Wennington was great at being the peacemaker, he also made some contributions on the court. 

Wennington's shining moment came in a game when MJ scored 55 points against the Knicks, in his memorable return to MSG. Even with Jordan scoring 55 that night, the game was still tight in the waning moments. It was a tie game with a few seconds left, as Jordan went up for a fade away jump shot. As he went up, he got triple teamed, and Jordan saw Wennington cutting to the basket. At that moment, MJ dumped the ball off to Wennington for the game-winning dunk. It was a typical Wennington play, as it goes under the radar, and it gets lost behind Jordan's 55 point game.

That was what Wennington was all about and it was the reason that the team always respected him. He always made sure to put the team first, and winning was more important than personal achievements. 

Wennington retired in the year 2000 with the Sacramento Kings. Over the course of his career, Wennington averaged a mere 4.6 points per game and 3 rebounds per game.

Wennington currently does color commentary for the Chicago Bulls. 

Falcons

Matt Ryan (Choose ‘em) This guy showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, and he should only improve with added time. The addition of Tony G can only make things easier for him. Not going to throw for huge numbers, so he would be a perfect second quarterback on any fantasy squad.

Michael Turner (Choose ‘em) Turner bounces off of defenders like a pinball, and wears down the opposition. This equals many late game touchdowns for ‘The Burner.’

Roddy White (Choose ‘em) Superb body control, which separates him from average receivers. Should only get better in his second season with Matty Ice.

Michael Jenkins (Lose ‘em) This guy can never seem to put it together. It’s about time the Falcons get another no. 2 receiver.

Tony Gonzalez (Choose ‘em) The best tight end in the league was supposed to slow down two years ago. That never happened. In fact he had one of his best seasons last year. Playing with a young quarterback should mean tons of catches for Gonzo.

Jason Elam (Lose ‘em) This guy just doesn’t have it anymore. He has limited range, and you can do better for your kicker.

ATL D (Lose ‘em) They are not a stand out defensive unit. Stay away unless they have a favorable matchup.


Panthers

Jake Delhomme (Lose ‘em) With a weak arm and age creeping up on him, Delhomme is not going to have a good season. Don’t be surprised if you see Josh McCown or Matt Moore at the helm at some point this season.

Deangelo Williams (Choose ‘em) He will not be anywhere near where he was last season. Albeit, he will still have a good season, and he will definitely be worth picking on your team. Just don’t expect him to be your best player.

Jonathan Stewart (Choose ‘em) This team runs the ball very well and very often. This means many chances for pay dirt for Stewart.

Steve Smith (Choose ‘em) This guy just seems to be able to do it year in and year out. I have always second guessed him in the past, and he has always proven me wrong. I am going to start believing in him.

Muhsin Muhammad (Lose ‘em) At age 36, Muhammad’s best days are behind him. In a run heavy offense he should not get the chances that a good receiver needs to have a good season.

Jeff King (Lose ‘em) He is more of a blocker than a receiver. Pass.

John Kasay (Choose ‘em) One of my favorite kickers in the league. Strength and accuracy are both above par.

CAR D (Choose ‘em) Have some players, like Peppers and Beason, who can really make a difference. Should be one of the better defenses in the league this season.


Bucs

Byron Leftwich (Lose ‘em) He will have a better season than most people realize. He has a strong arm and has nice size for a quarterback. There are just too many quarterbacks that are better than him.

Derrick Ward (Lose ‘em) He was a hot topic coming into training camp, but he dropped off a bit. Earnest Graham and a healthy Cadillac Williams will steal too many touches for him to produce a lot.

Earnest Graham (Lose ‘em) Again, too much competition for Graham to stand out on this team. Might have a few goal line carries, which should raise his touchdown total. 

Antonio Bryant (Choose ‘em) Has all the tools that a good receiver needs. Leftwich will be thrilled to have him as a target.

Kellen Winslow (Choose ‘em) Word is that he and Leftwich have a good rapport. This guy has shown what he can do, and I project big things out of Winslow this season.

Matt Bryant (Choose ‘em) Strong leg and accurate. What more can you ask for?

TB D (Lose ‘em) Close to being a really good defense. Still a few pieces away.


Saints

Drew Brees (Choose ‘em) Arguably the best quarterback in the league right now. Threw for over 5,000 yards last season, and there is no reason why he shouldn’t do it again. Plus, no health concerns. Jackpot.

Pierre Thomas (Choose ‘em) From his limited action last season, Thomas showed that he can be the every down back that Reggie Bush cannot be. He should continue where he left off last season.

Reggie Bush (Lose ‘em) When is this guy going to be the guy that everybody thought he was going to be? He still has not learned the basics of being a running back in the league. Should have a respectable amount of catches if he can stay healthy.

Marques Colston (Choose ‘em) This guy has showed no signs of a fluke yet. Why should he start to drop off now?

Lance Moore (Choose ‘em) He is always in the right place at the right time. Brees sure does love to have a guy like Moore on this team.

Jeremy Shockey (Lose ‘em) Everything would make you believe that Shockey should be one of the best tight ends in the league. Well, why isn’t he?

John Carney (Choose ‘em) This team is going to score loads of points. Carney should cash in nicely.

NO D (Lose ‘em) A much improved defense from last season. Still not in the upper echelon of the league.

AFC South

Colts

Peyton Manning (Choose ’em) This guy is the definition of consistent. You can’t really go wrong when picking Peyton Manning. He’s as much of a sure thing as you can get.

Joseph Addai (Lose ‘em) Coming off an injury riddled season, Addai is a risky pick. Donald Brown doesn’t make things any easier either. 

Donald Brown (Choose ‘em) Don’t take this guy too high, but he has a lot of upside. Historically, young backs do well with Peyton Manning, and I don’t see any reason why Donald Brown should be any different.

Reggie Wayne (Choose ‘em) Peyton Manning’s number one receiver. Any questions?

Anthony Gonzalez (Lose ‘em) This receiver is getting a lot of buzz among the league, but I am not buying it. He is good, but not great. Manning will make him all that he is, which is good, but you can find better. Remember, there is only one ball to go around in Indy.

Dallas Clark (Choose ‘em) A matchup nightmare from the tight end position. He plays more like a receiver, which means continued success for this versatile target. 

Adam Vinatieri (Lose ‘em) He should get opportunities to kick, but he is not the same guy he was in New England. He has declined as of late, and there enough kickers that you can get before him to pass up on him.

IND D (Lose ‘em) With defensive-minded Jim Caldwell being the Head Coach, the Colts D should improve this season, but the injury concerns of Bob Sanders has me skeptical. He is their leader, and he needs to be 100% for them to be a feared and worthy D.


Titans

Kerry Collins (Lose ‘em) This team is a run first offense. Collins will manage the game, which means not too many interceptions. It also means few yards and touchdowns.

Chris Johnson (Choose ‘em) This guy is a speedster with quick decision making. Should have another monster season as long as Collins remains the quarterback.

Lendale White (Choose ‘em) He has slimmed down 30 pounds, which means he is serious about securing a role on this team. With them running the ball so much, there is no doubt he will see the end zone a ton.

Justin Gage (Lose ‘em) He has some talent, but he has no stand out quality. A very average receiver who will see a limited amount of throws.

Nate Washington (Choose ‘em) He has deep threat potential, and he is the kind of guy who can thrive in this kind of offense. Collins will take his occasional deep shots down the field, which means Nate will probably be on the other end.

Bo Scaife (Lose ‘em) Has nice athleticism for a big guy, but not yet a top tight end in this league. A good option as a backup.
Rob Bironas (Choose ‘em) This team frequently stalls on the opponent’s side of the field, which means a lot of attempts for this guy. Has a great leg, and he connects from 50+ with the best of them.

TEN D (Choose ‘em) Although they lost Haynesworth in the offseason, team will still be very good. They will not give up many points, and they will score their share of defensive touchdowns.


Jaguars

David Garrard (Lose ‘em) With a weak receiving crew, he is not going to have many options to throw to. Plus with MJD in the mix, they will probably focus on the ground game a little bit more.

Maurice Jones-Drew (Choose ‘em) A versatile back that can go for six on any given play. With a weak passing game and the departure of Fred Taylor, this should open up a ton of opportunities for MJD.

Torry Holt (Lose ‘em) This guy will be Garrard’s number one guy, but that isn’t saying too much. Holt is not even a shadow of his old self, and he will struggle with the lack of a real number two on the opposite side.

Marcedes Lewis (Lose ‘em) This tight end will be much improved this season. He has all the tools to have a really nice season for the Jags, but there are too many good tight ends in the league to warrant picking him for your team. 

Josh Scobee (Choose ‘em) A very accurate kicker with a strong leg. One of the better players on this team.

JAX D (Lose ‘em) This defense used to be good, but they have lost a lot of players. This defense has become too young to seriously consider taking them.


Texans

Matt Schaub (Lose ‘em) He just cannot seem to stay healthy, and that is never a good thing for a quarterback. He will have good games, when he plays, but if he gets injured that can really disrupt his flow.

Steve Slaton (Choose ‘em) Great hands, great speed, and can run between the tackles. Check.

Andre Johnson (Choose ‘em) He is always good for at least 90 catches, and he should have more than 7 tds. A top flight receiver who will leave defenders shaking their heads.

Kevin Walter (Choose ‘em) He peaked last season, and I don‘t see him putting up those same numbers again. Nonetheless, he is opposite Andre Johnson, which should mean another very good season for no. 83. 

Owen Daniels (Choose ‘em) Great athleticism from the tight end position. Should put up more touchdowns this season, and he will be a real weapon for Houston.

Kris Brown (Lose ‘em) Veteran kicker who will make most of his kicks. There are better options though.

HOU D (Choose ‘em) They will be surprisingly good this season. They have a great player on all three levels, and they should finally put it all together this year.

Because the NFL regular season is about a week away, I have decided to voice my opinions on drafting certain players for your fantasy football team. I will be updating a few players each day until there is a nice list before the start of the regular season. Don't agree with one of my opinions? Say something and make yourself heard! The comments and responses are the aspects that fuel this kind of segment, so don't be shy. Get involved! I will be starting this segment tomorrow night, so stay tuned.

If any of you are wondering who in the world Jeffrey Maier is, think back to the 1996 ALCS. During that playoff series, the Yankees and the Orioles squared off for the right to go to the World Series. In game one of that series, the Orioles had the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Derek Jeter, a young Yankees shortstop at the time, stepped into the batter's box hoping to make a difference in the game. It turns out that he did... sort of. Jeter sent a towering fly ball to right field, but it looked like it was catchable. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a 12 year-old fan, named Jeffrey Maier, turned into Inspector Gadget and extended his "go-go gadget arms" to snatch the ball from over Tony Tarasco's head. The play was ruled a home run, and Tarasco went crazy understandably. Nonetheless, the call remained a home run, and the game was tied at 4. More importantly, the momentum had shifted to the team in pinstripes, who would win the game later on in 11 innings.

Eventually, the Yankees went on to win the series 4-1, and went on to beat the Atlanta Braves in the World Series for their first of three championships in a four year span. But New Yorkers should not forget the heroics of their greatest fan, Jeffery Maier, who single-handedly propelled the Yankees forward in their time of need. Many people will deny Maier's role in aiding the Yankees championship run, but had they lost game 1 at home in the ALCS, things could have been a lot different. 

One person who definitely recognized the importance of Maier's play was, then Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, who awarded the 12 year-old a key to New York City. In addition, there was a railing added to the top of the wall in Yankee Stadium in order to prevent another controversey like this from happening. So although more people might be familiar with the name Steve Bartman, (sorry Chicago fans), just remember, Jeffrey Maier did it first! (And he actually HELPED his team)

As I looked over the standings in the MLB, I wondered which team would be 2009 World Series Champion. Of course, right now the Yankees are the favorite, but because I am a fan of the team and they are the team everybody expects to win it all, I wanted to pick another team that I thought had a real shot. I narrowed it down to 2 teams: the LA Angels and the San Francisco Giants.

The Angels stick out to me because of their recent success against the Yankees, and their ability to hit the ball. They have 8 guys that can presumably hit .300 this season which is absurd, and they are a very complete team offensively. The one issue I have with them is their pitching staff. They are not bad, but I just do not think that they are good enough to win a World Series. If they made it out of the AL I would be very surprised because of the hitting that they will need to face along the way.

Then there are the San Francisco Giants. The Giants are truly a team built for the postseason. Their pitching staff, in my opinion, is second to none right now, with Cain, Lincecum, Zito, and newly acquired Brad Penny. The first two pitchers are going to be tough to beat, and Zito and Penny are both veterans that should only improve as the postseason rolls around. When it comes to hitting, they are a little weak, but I feel that their pitching is good enough to carry them through that. Trust me, if they make it, they are going to be the team that nobody wants to see. It always seems that pitching wins come postseason, and I think the Giants would be the perfect team to show that. If they get in, watch out!

Brad Penny, who was picked up by the Boston Red Sox during the offseason, was having a terrible season. He was 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA in 24 games. Being a Yankees fan, it was great to see a Red Sox pickup finally turn out bad. And this was not any ordinary pickup either. This was Brad Penny! The pitcher who went 16-4 in 2007 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This was a guy who could possibly make the Red Sox the most feared rotation in all of baseball. But since it did not turn out as planned for the Sawx, they released the 31 year old right hander. In come the San Francisco Giants. A serious wildcard contender, with an already amazing pitching staff. They decide to pick up Penny and give him a shot. Turns out, for now, that the Giants might have struck gold. Last night, in his debut with the Giants, Penny pitched 8 scoreless innings against the defending champions from Philly. Is Penny back, or was it some fluke of a game? I think not. Going back to the NL after facing AL batting all season will definitely aid Penny in my opinion. It is a totally different ballgame altogether, and his numbers should undoubtedly improve. In addition, because he struggled with Boston this season, I would absolutely love it if Penny had a stellar finish to the season with the Giants. So I am definitely pulling for Penny to succeed all the way.

One of my favorite football names in recent modern history has to be Tim Biakabutuka. (Even better, his full first name is Tshimanga) Biakabutuka was drafted as the 8th overall draft pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. Biakabutuka played 6 seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, yet he did not produce much as a pro. He never had more than 718 yards in a season or play in more than 12 games. Biakabutuka did, though, have a wonderful college career for the Michigan Wolverines. During Michigan's 1995 season, Biakabutuka had a mammoth year. In one game against bitter rival and previously undefeated, Ohio State, Biakabutuka ran for 313 yards on 37 carries; an 8.5 yards per carry average. Not only was Michigan able to upset Ohio State during that game, but Biakabutuka's performance was the second best performance in Michigan running back history. Also that season, Biakabutuka set the Michigan rushing record for a single season when he ran for 1,818 yards. This record has still not been broken by any Michigan running back. Obviously, following his superb collegiate season, many NFL scouts felt that this guy could be the next big  thing. Unfortunately for the Panthers, injuries and a lack of production was the fate of this great college running back who retired in 2001.

Currently, Biakabutuka owns 2 jewelery stores in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Quick. What's the first thing you think of, when you hear the name Sam Bowie? If you said Michael Jordan, you are like 98% of Oregonians that regret the 1984 NBA Draft everyday. When the Portland Trail Blazers decided to draft Sam Bowie with the number 2 overall pick in the 1984 draft, they passed up on a chance to have possibly the best player to ever lace up a pair of Nikes; Michael Jordan. Outside of that draft day debacle by Portland, there was not much more information that I had about the 7''1 center out of Kentucky, so I felt compelled to find out. 

Sam Bowie played in the NBA from 1984-1995 with the Blazers, Nets, and Lakers. He was never a spectacular NBA player by any standards, as he was only able to record a double-double average in one of his seasons. As a 7''1 player, the rebounding was surprisingly the stat where Bowie underachieved the most. Most people would attribute his lack of rebounding to his inability to remain healthy, and that is a valid point. Unfortunately for the Blazers, the validity of the excuse did not help them achieve on the court. After only 4 seasons with the Blazers, Bowie was traded to the Nets for Buck Williams.

In his first season with the Nets, Bowie put up 14.7 points per game along with 10.1 rebounds per game; his best season statiscally as a pro. From that season on, Bowie's career went downhill consistently each year. The man that was drafted before guys like Jordan, Barkley, and Stockton, seemed to be struggling to stay afloat in a league that very few do. After 2 injury- plagued seasons with the Lakers, Bowie called it quits in 1995. Bowie's career averages were 10.9 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game. Not exactly what you are looking for from the number 2 overall pick. At least Ryan Leaf has somebody to share his sorrow with.    

Just like John Elway, Steve Francis, and Eli Manning before him, Ricky Rubio has refused to sign with the team that drafted him. What makes Rubio's case unique from those others, is the fact that Rubio will not play for the league that drafted him either. Not only did Rubio disrespect the Minnesota Timberwolves by not signing with them, but he also disrespected the NBA when he decided to play in Barcelona instead.

In my opinion, this kind of behavior is extremely childish, and I cannot stand when players do this. When a team drafts you to become a professional athlete, you should be ecstatic to be part of a professional sports organization. How could you be so ungrateful to people who are investing an entire draft pick on you? When a team drafts you, it shows that they believe in you and they respect the way that you play the sport. It is a huge honor to be part of professional sports, but it seems that some athletes just do not see it that way.

It is possible that these athletes are so good that they forget what this is really all about. To them, being a part of professional sports team is something that they expect, not appreciate. From the time most of these athletes are young, they are bred to play sports, and when they are very talented, they are expected, by the people around them, to become a professional. All of those expectations and pressure can definitely get to a person, and it can seriously change the person's way of thinking. I think it is unfortunate for these athletes, and I pity them more than I am angry with their behavior. If a guy like Rubio was truly able to see the opportunity that was thrown at him, without the distorted vision that he probably has from outsiders, he would have jumped at the opportunity to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. After all, is it not the precipice of professional basketball to play in the NBA?

During Sunday's preseason game against his former Chicago Bears team, Kyle Orton hurt his finger. At the time, the injury did not look too serious, although there was some blood involved. However, further results show that the injury may cause Orton to miss the opening game of the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals. This would be terrible news for the Denver Broncos as they are already uncertain of the health of backup quarterback, Chris Simms. If Orton does indeed miss that first game, quarterback Tom Brandstater, the 6th round pick out of Fresno State, would start the first game for the Broncos. If there is any hope for Brandstater to succeed it is this: The last time a 6th round quarterback with the initials T.B. had to fill in for an injured quarterback, he became a 3-time Super Bowl winner and he broke the single season touchdown passing record with 50. So don't be surprised when Brandstater becomes the number one fantasy pickup this week, and maybe the best pickup of the entire season. (Happy September Fools!) 

As a Cowboys fan, when I see a player succeed for my team and then get thrown into oblivion, I have a tendency to wonder what happened to that player. Reggie Swinton is just one example of that kind of player. When Reggie Swinton stepped onto the scene in the 2001 season, I felt that the Cowboys had a legitimate threat at kick/punt returner; a position where they always seemed to be lacking. And with a guy like Dante Hall starting to make a name for himself, it was a position that more teams were shifting their attention to. Swinton, who was the first receiver out of Murray State to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark, showed the Cowboys that he was more than capable of being their return man. In that 2001 season, Swinton set single-season club records for kickoff returns with 56, kickoff return yards with 1,327, and combined kick return yards with 1,741. Not bad for your first go-around with America's Team. The following season, Swinton raised his kick return average from 23.7 to 24.9, which was among the tops in the league for consistent return men. Also that season, Swinton had the longest return in the league, when he returned a game opening kickoff 100 yards against the rival Eagles. Swinton really seemed to have this position locked up for the next few years with Dallas. Then out of nowhere, Swinton was released early in the 2003 season. From that point, the Detroit Lions pounced on the accomplished return man, and they did not regret doing so. In his first season with the Lions, Swinton played well. His 13.8 punt return average was fourth best in the NFL, and he was the only NFC player to score a touchdown on a kickoff and a punt during that season. After a quiet 2004 season with the Lions, Swinton was released by Detroit and eventually picked up by the Arizona Cardinals. Swinton had a productive season with Cardinals, as he had his highest combined kick return totals (kickoffs and punts) in his career with 1,790 return yards. Following his one season with the Cardinals, Reggie Swinton retired from the game of football at the ripe age of 29. Although he only played 2 seasons with the Cowboys, Swinton remains my favorite return man that the Cowboys have had since I started rooting for the team as a child. It's all about the quality, not the quantity.

Definition: Drafting somebody at least one round earlier than you needed to, and thus missing out on a better player plus the guy you drafted anyway. Regardless of production, nothing warrants picking the player early. 

Origin: The day of my fantasy draft I was talking up Jason Campbell, and I jokingly said if I got the first overall pick in the draft, I would draft him. By saying that joke, I realized that there is no way to warrant picking Jason Campbell first, even if he has more fantasy points than the rest of the league combined. The reason is because even if he has a superb season, his value is many rounds lower and you can still get him later in the draft, in addition to a great number one pick. Now wouldn't it make sense to have the great number one plus the 9th round overachiever. I think so.

In a sentence: Guy 1: "I took Brett Favre over Peyton Manning because I think he will have a great year." 

Guy 2: "Classic case of The Jason Campbell Theory"

Growing up as a fan of the NBA, I was exposed to my share of Charlotte Hornets games, as they were a young team with a lot of young talent. This mid 90's version of the Hornets were led by Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson, a dominant combination at the time. However, the one player that really caught my eye was George Zidek, a 7 foot Czech player out of UCLA. Most people would not recognize the name because of his brief stay in the NBA, as he was only in the league for a total of 3 seasons. While in the league, Zidek managed to put up some disgusting numbers, averaging 3.4 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game. Granted, he did play less than 10 minutes per game over the course of his career, but when you are a 7 footer, you better get some playing time and play well. The old quote that states, "You can't teach size," is exactly the reason why Zidek was in the league for as long as he was. Without his size, Zidek would have displayed absolutely nothing in the NBA. Heck, with his size, Zidek displayed absolutely nothing in the NBA! In my opinion, the George Zidek Experiment is one that went really wrong, because I feel if he was used correctly, he could have had a profound impact on the NBA for as long as he played. Imagine sticking a half-decent 7 footer alongside 'Zo and LJ. How good would that team have been? An Eastern Conference Finals appearance at least! But just as the Knicks found out several years later after they drafted Fredrick Weis, tall foreigners need to be given the proper training and time to truly develop and get comfortable playing in this league. Darko, we are still waiting. 

One of the worst quarterbacks to play in the NFL during my lifetime is Stoney Case. Outside of his intriguing  name, Stoney was anything but intriguing on the football field. Case started a total of 12 games during his 6 seasons in the NFL, and he saw action in a total of 24 games. While he was on the field, Case was able to compile 4 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions,1,826 passing yards, and an embarrassing 53.3 quarterback rating. Out of all of his performances, his worst came in 1999 in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. During that game, Case completed 15-37 passes for 103 yards. What made those stats even worse was the fact that Case threw 2 interceptions which were returned for a total of 108 yards, not to mention both of them were returned for touchdowns. So essentially, Case helped his team progress -5 yards and -14 points during that contest! (Great game Stoney!) Although that performance really hampered his career and confidence as a quarterback, it is not necessarily his worst contribution to the league.

Arguably the worst contribution that Stoney Case had to the NFL came in 2000, when he threw away the final game of the season against the Chicago Bears, and thus missing the playoffs by one game. He played so terribly for the Lions that day, that the team decided to make drastic changes in the front office. Included in the changes was the arrival of Matt Millen as the general manager of the team. So if any Lions fans were wondering how Matt Millen got his job with Detroit, they do not need to look any further than Stoney Case. So even though Stoney Case retired from the NFL in 2000, and he was far removed from the league by 2007, he was still effective at ruining the hearts of millions of Lions fans. Now that is a special player!   

As a kid in the early 90's, I was always a big fan of the game NBA Jam. It was in this game that I discovered one of God's greatest creations: Rony Seikaly. Not only was he appealing to me as a kid because of his unusual look for a basketball player, but he was also a very talented player in the game. As I got older, I realized that he was actually a very good NBA player in reality as well. 

When the Miami Heat were established as a franchise in 1988, they had the 9th overall draft pick that season. With their first ever pick as a franchise, they took Rony Seikaly, a 6''11 center out of Syracuse, who was coming off of an outstanding collegiate career. And as Miami saw, his collegiate career was no fluke. As an NBA player, Seikaly was multi-talented, and  he showed no weaknesses in his game other than his free throw shooting, which is not so uncommon for big men. Seikaly set numerous team records with the Heat, including 8 blocked shots in a game, a freakishly ridiculous 34 rebounds in just one game, and 20 games in which he scored 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in the same game. In Seikaly's 7 seasons with Miami, he averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game, in addition to winning the NBA's most improved player award in 1990. Outside of playing with Miami, Seikaly spent some time with the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, and New Jersey Nets. While with those teams, Seikaly kept up his points and rebounding averages to nearly 16 and 10 respectively. This was rare in the sense that he never dropped off as he got older in the league. Unfortunately for Seikaly, a right foot injury, not age, was the reason why he had to call it quits during the 2000 season as a member of the Nets. Seikaly finished his NBA career averaging 14.7 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, and 1.3 blocks per game.

It turns out that Seikaly was not just a talented basketball player, but also successful in other areas of life. Currently, Seikaly owns and runs a multi-million dollar real estate investment company. In addition, he is an investor in the Miami restaurant Quattro, Sosta, and Club Mokai. He has also been the DJ at some of the biggest clubs in the world.  And if that was not enough, he was married to supermodel Elsa Benitez before divorcing her in 2005. Well, I guess nobody is perfect, although Seikaly is definitely as close as they come.

One of the most overlooked positions in the National Football League is the fullback position. Even more so as of lately, with the fullback becoming rarer and rarer, many people forget the importance of a quality fullback. One fullback that really played the position the way it should be played was Jon Ritchie, who played for the Raiders and the Eagles between the years of 1998-2004. Ritchie embodied everything that a fullback should be. He was a fantastic blocker, an imposing competitor, and a team-oriented kind of player. The style that Ritchie had as a player, truly fit the teams that he played for. When I think of the most insane fans in the NFL, I cannot help but think about the Raiders and the Eagles. Their smashmouth, take nothing from anybody attitude, is exactly the kind of player that Ritchie was on the field. He was the guy that opposing defenses stayed up for at night. They did not lose sleep because of his quickness or amazing hands, but because of his psychotic demeanor, and his ability to knock people to the turf like pancakes. Just looking at Ritchie's face said it all. Ricthie's trademark scab on his forehead, which he would rip off before every game, made this scary player look the part that he played on the field. He was everything that a tough football team needed to set the tone, and there was nobody at the fullback position better at it than him.

When you look at Jon Ritchie's career stats, there is nothing that really stands out. He finished his career with 150 receptions, a total of 1,184 yards, and a total of 7 touchdowns. When most people see those stats, they just assume that he did not have much of a contribution to the league. But that is exactly where Ritchie differs from the pack. The things that Ritchie contributed went way beyond the box score, as they do for most great fullbacks. And even though he may not have gotten the same recognition that the big stat guys got, he never took any plays off, and he worked that much harder to help his team win football games.   

During his NFL career, Jon Ritchie appeared in 2 Super Bowls; losing in both contests. The first time he lost to the Bucs, as a member of the Raiders, and the second time, he lost to the Patriots, as a member of the Eagles. Because of how hard Ritchie played, he was only able to spend 7 seasons in the NFL, as he got an awful knee injury that could not be repaired. Although Ritchie only played a total of 7 NFL seasons, he definitely made his mark on the league, and he left a legacy that will not soon be forgotten.   

As I was going through the Bulls' championship seasons in the mid 90's, I realized that the Seattle Supersonics, a team led by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, was their opponent in one of those seasons. This made me wonder how good Shawn Kemp really was as an NBA player. 

Shawn Kemp, aka "The Reign Man," was drafted by the Sonics in 1989 and was the youngest player in the NBA at the time. Kemp fit into the league right away, as he and teammate Gary Payton combined to make up one of the best one-two punches in the NBA. Kemp's ability to be a receiver of Payton's passes, as well as being an attacker of the rim, made it tough for opposing defenses to stop him on a consistent basis. The shear physical ability to score in an entertaining way made Kemp a fan favorite, and he was selected to the All-Star Game every year from 1993-1998. Without question, his best overall season came during the 1995-96 campaign, when his team won 64 games and made it to the NBA Finals. In the Finals, Kemp and company faced the 72 win Chicago Bulls team led by Michael Jordan. Despite being heavy underdogs, the Sonics won 2 games during the series, and eventually lost in 6 games. This series showed the legitimacy of Kemp as a true star in the league as he was able to help his team hang with arguably the best team in NBA history. 

Following that season, due to contract disputes, Kemp was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team trade, which included the Sonics, Cavs, and Bucks. Kemp spent three seasons with his new team, but he never truly reached the level of play that he had in Seattle. It is possible that Kemp missed his former teammate Gary Payton, who he seemed to click with better than anyone else in his career. Nonetheless, Kemp put up his career high in points during his second season with the Cavs, yet it did not seem to have the same impact on the team as it did in Seattle when he was scoring less. 

After the 2000 season, Kemp was traded again. This time to the Portland Trail Blazers. This two year stint was the official decline of Shawn Kemp as a reputable NBA player. While with the Blazers, Kemp had weight issues in addition to cocaine and alcohol problems. By the completion of his first season with Portland, Kemp was in a drug rehab center, a far cry from the early success he saw in Seattle. Kemp was waived by Portland a season later. 

Kemp made one last ditch effort with the Orlando Magic in the 2002-03 season. This did not work out either, as Kemp was just not in the right shape and frame of mind to keep up with the talent level of the NBA. Kemp had finished his NBA career after a dismal season in Orlando. Kemp, over his 14 year NBA career, averaged 14.6 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game, and 1.6 assists per game. 

Currently, Kemp's son, Shawn Kemp Jr., has committed to play collegiate basketball at the University of Alabama for the 2009 season.

As I was playing basketball the other day, my friend brought up a name that I had not heard in a quite a while. He mentioned the name of Tony Delk, a less than spectacular NBA player. The first thought that came to mind when I heard his name was that he was the guy who scored 53 points in a game. Other than that fact, I did not know much about him. It turns out that Tony Delk had a wonderful collegiate career for the Kentucky Wildcats, while playing under Coach Rick Pitino. (Yes, the same Rick Pitino that has been going around the news lately for some less than flattering reasons). While at Kentucky, Delk was named to the All-American and All-SEC first teams, both very big honors for college players. In addition, Delk was named NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player, during a season in which his Wildcats won the National Championship. Also that season, he received SEC Player of the Year honors for being the best player in a very competitive conference. 

Following his award filled senior season at Kentucky, Tony Delk was selected 16th overall in the NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. From Charlotte, Delk bounced around to many different teams until he ended up with the Phoenix Suns by the 2001 season. There he had his memorable 53 point game against a former team, the Sacramento Kings. That night he shot 20-27 from the field, a whopping 74%. Outside of that performance, the rest of his NBA career included trades and pedestrian numbers, and he retired in 2006. Delk finished his NBA career with averages of 9.1 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, and 1.9 assists per game.

Currently Delk sponsors the Tony Delk Legends Game, a benefit for the Taylor Delk Sickle Cell Foundation.

Last night my friends and I had our annual fantasy football draft. Like most years, by the end of the draft everyone wants to start over and draft again, as they doubt the picks that they made. I am a little iffy on some of my picks, but I feel that potentially my team could have a really nice year. My favorite part of my team is that I was able to get a lot of the guys that I like, separate from fantasy football. If those guys produce for me, it will be even more rewarding, being that I already enjoy rooting for them when they are not on my fantasy roster. My approach this year, which was similar to last year, was to sandwich 2 top quarterbacks around a starting running back. After that I choose a bunch of wide recievers and running backs that I feel are the best left on the board. Out of those bunch of recievers and runners, usually a few really impress me, and they become every week starters. Also, I got a nice share of rookies, which I always love because of the potentail that they possess as opposed to guys that have been around the league for a while. Below are my draft results. Leave comments or advice if you would like to.

Brees, Rodgers

Westbrook, Lynch, Felix Jones, Mccoy, Julius Jones, Hightower

Bowe, Royal, Sa. Moss, Maclin, Harvin

Daniels

Carney

San Diego 

Last November, when I heard that Plaxico Burress had shot himself in the leg, I thought it was the craziest thing that I had heard since Aeneas Williams got injured answering the telephone. What I find even crazier is that, not only did Plax have to endure the pain of the gun wound, but now he has to serve 2 years in jail for the incident. Doesn't that seem extremely stupid? The guy shoots himself, he is in serious pain, he gets released by the Giants, and you have to throw a 2 year jail sentence on top of all that!? Don't you think that this man has learned his lesson? I do understand that it is illegal to own a gun without a license, and I do think that this is a good rule, but I do not think that his jail sentence should be 2 whole years. I know that 2 years is a relatively light sentence compared to most, but 2 years is 2 years. Apparently, Benjamin Brafman, Burress' attorney, agrees with me about the length of the sentence as he stated, "This was not an intentional criminal act. In my judgment, a two-year prison sentence is a very severe punishment." Another person that seems to agree is Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant, on his Twitter page, said, "plexico gettin 2 yrs....that's absurd.....thas crazy...that's outrageous...that's TERRIBLE...that's unbelievable." Now those are two smart guys. The whole point of going to jail is either to take criminals off of the streets or to spend the time to think about the terrible act that you did and to feel remorse for it. Personally, I do not think that either of those apply to the Burress case. Yes he deserves jail, I already established that, but 2 years is insane. In my opinion, the judge should go to jail to think about the awful injustice that he just committed, and he should feel remorse for being so ridiculous.   

When talking about consistently good running backs from the early to mid 90's, Ricky Watters' name is almost always thrown into the mix. Ricky Watters, who actually played wide receiver for Notre Dame during their 1988 National Championship team, was always a threat that opposing defenses feared and planned against. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and elude defenders earned him 5 Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl championship with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994. In that Super Bowl, Watters scored an astonishing 3 touchdowns, which ties a Super Bowl record held by Roger Craig, Jerry Rice, and Terrell Davis. Also during that 1994 postseason, Watters set a postseason record when he rushed for 5 touchdowns against the New York Giants in a 44-3 laugher. Another distinction that Watters has from any other player in the history of the NFL is that he is the only running back to rush for 1,000 yards with 3 different teams, as he did with the 49ers, Eagles, and Seahawks.

After completing his final NFL season in 2001 with the Seattle Seahawks, Watters finished his career with 10,643 rushing yards, 4,248 receiving yards, and 91 total touchdowns. With numbers like that, the Hall of Fame looks like a strong possibility for Ricky Watters. However, some on and off the field attitude problems might be preventing him from getting into Canton, as a player with his numbers would usually have gotten in by now. Personally I feel that the Hall of Fame should have nothing to do with the way a player chooses to behave. If his numbers are worthy of being recognized by the masses, he definitely deserves the acolades. Great players belong in the Hall of Fame, great people belong in history books. I am sure Ricky Watters would not mind being left out of the next McGraw-Hill text book.     

As I named third string NFL quarterbacks, I wondered where the former Florida State Seminole, Chris Weinke, ranked on my list. Chris Weinke, the 2000 Heisman Trophy winner and one of two Florida State quarterbacks to have his jersey retired, was a fourth round draft selection by the Carolina Panthers, and their eventual starting quarterback for the 2001 season. After posting a 32-3 record as a starter in college, Weinke hoped he could make his mark on the NFL. Boy did he! Weinke got off to a nice start as he won his opening game, but things quickly headed south as he lost his next 17 games as a starter; an NFL record. Since his dismal 17 game losing streak, he started two more games; splitting the decisions. In one of those games, Weinke set the Panthers' franchise record for passing yards in a game with 423 in a loss against the New York Giants. Weinke's overall record as an NFL starting quarterback is an atrocious 2-18, which has made it hard for him to stick around. Chris Weinke is yet another example that the Heisman Trophy does not translate into guaranteed success in the NFL. In fact, the opposite has seemingly become the trend, as most Heisman winners have done next to nothing at the next level. Well, at least Weinke has his college career to reminisce about when he is busy looking for his next job.   

It seems like the 'Comeback Kid,' Brett Favre, is not done living up to his nickname just yet. Brett Favre has reportedly come to agreements to sign a one year deal with the Minnesota Vikings worth about $12 million. This news comes following two Vikings players stating that Favre would sign with the team a day earlier. Criticised for being a distraction, Favre hopes he can take this good team and make them great. "He can be the final piece to the puzzle," stated Jay Wineman, a Minnesota native. "Although he is a distraction, he has been in the league and knows what it means to win at a very high level." Other people were not as understanding when it came to Favre's decision. "This guy has to just stay out of the game. For his own good, and for the betterment of the league," says five year sports writer Bill Nolan.

In my opinion, this charade has gone on for far too long. After the comeback last season, most people I know were annoyed and felt he just had to hang it up already. I, though, was a little more leniant when it came to judging Favre, and I rooted for him and the Jets to succeed last season. This time, however, I am passed my wits end with Favre. This is a player who I had a ton of respect for, and now I can honestly say that he is tainting his legacy. It has come to a point where it seems that Favre is taking pleasure in getting the league to go into a frenzy everytime a thought pops into his head. He has way too much pull with the media, and it is turning the best game in sports into a circus. Just make a decision and stick to it! It is enough already Brett! 

But, whatever people feel about the decision, Brett Favre will be a Viking this season, and nobody or anything will stand in Brett Favre's way... Except for Brett Favre.

Throughout my sports watching career, there have always been players that stuck out in my mind for various reasons. Kurt Rambis is one person that fits that category. Kurt Rambis was always that goofy looking big guy with the goggles that you just had to love because of how hard he tried. There might have been a lack of smoothness when it came to Rambis, but there certainly was no lack of heart for this guy. He was the guy that would build his fanbase by hustling for loose balls and randomly getting into fights, showing that no matter what, his team could count on him when it mattered the most. Rambis graduated from Santa Clara University as their all-time leading scorer and second leading rebounder. He received the award for conference player of the year in the WCC during his senior year. His number 34 was retired last December as a sign of his greatness and dominance while playing there. Rambis was drafted by the New York Knicks, but because of arguably the worst decision in franchise history, he never played a game with the team. Instead, Rambis played 11 of his 14 NBA seasons wearing the Lakers' gold and purple, winning 4 championships and the hearts of millions in the process. Laker fans will never forget the man that Chick Hearn dubbed as 'Superman', as he embodied everything that the Lakers were about in the 80's and beyond.

Currently, Rambis is the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, a young team looking for a sense of direction. I feel that Rambis will fit perfectly with that team, and they should be pretty dangerous once he gets the players to buy into his mentality. Kurt Rambis truly is a basketball legend.    

On Thursday night at 12:00 A.M. the release of Madden NFL '10, the most anticipated football game of the year, came out. There were hoards of lines around the globe anxiously waiting to pick up this game and play it for hours on end. This night is an annual occurrence, and it has become so constant that people actually refer to it as Maddenoliday, as if it is an actual holiday. And due to its widespread popularity, it basically is. 

In my specific case, I went with three friends to pick up the game as we do every year. While we were on line waiting, we saw the latest of promotions by Chick-Fil-A as they were giving out free chicken sandwiches to everyone on the line. The next thing I realized was that my friend, Charlie, who I had not seen since the 6th grade, was in the front of the line playing the demo version of the game we were all waiting for. And if that wasn't crazy enough, the first play that occurred was a kick return for a touchdown by Charlie. I could not believe my eyes. This was a kid who I had not seen in about ten years, and he happens to be waiting on the same Madden line at 12 A.m., scoring a touchdown on the opening kickoff! It may not seem so crazy to a lot of people, but honestly, it was for me. Anyone that knows Charlie would definitely agree. Finally, after waiting for about ten minutes it was our turn to go pick up the game. The second we got it, we darted out of the store with huge smiles on our faces, ready to play the new game.

We proceeded to play the game for the next five and a half hours, studying and enjoying everything that the game had to offer. It was another year, and another Maddenoliday that did not disappoint. There were added features that really helped the overall game, and the gameplay seemed a lot smoother than in years past. Great job EA! If you have not yet picked up the game, go out and get it. You will be glad that you did. 

After a seemingly endless hiatus from the NFL, Michael Vick has finally signed with a new team: the Philadelphia Eagles. This is a move that I am not really surprised about, although the ESPN analysts were. I am not surprised by the move for a few reasons. First of all, because Vick is such a big name guy, he will possibly light a fire under Donovan McNabb's behind which should motivate Mac 5 to put up his best performance, knowing that there is an exciting backup waiting in the 'wings'. Another reason is because of Andy Reid, and his creativity as a head coach. Over the years, Andy Reid has proven to be a little less than conventional (i.e. opening up the regular season with an onside kick against the Cowboys, which consequently was successful. Not to mention giving his players pickle juice before that game in order to keep them hydrated). And the third reason I am not surprised by the signing of Vick is because of the upside that he brings. Being that this is only a two year deal, the Eagles are not investing that much into him. If he pans out, he can be incredible. If he doesn't, it does not throw the team into a downward spiral for the next five years. 

Ever since this guy was back on the market, I felt that any team, outside of the Falcons, would be stupid not to give him a chance. He has proven his capabilities against NFL caliber players, including the first playoff victory in Lambeau Field in NFL history. Also, he has thrown and ran for 1,000 yards in one season; the only player to ever accomplish that feat. Basically what I am saying is, although he has been out for quite some time, and he will definitely need an extended adjustment period, he has shown way too much not to be given a second chance. I think that as long as he has come to terms with his questionable behavior, and he is ready to put it in the past, he has a real chance to do some special things in this league. I think this was best summed up by Derek Lampe, a highschool football recruiter from Deleware, when he said, "A tiger doesn't lose his stripes over time. They might begin to fade, but they are all still there". In other words, Michael Vick has the heart and physical abilities of a freakish athlete, and even though he took a break, he is still ahead of a lot of players in the NFL. So I would like to congratulate the Eagles on this courageous signing, and I wish Michael Vick the best of luck with his new team... Except when he faces the Cowboys of course.    

Coming into a four game series against the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees were 2.5 games ahead of Boston, yet they were 0-8 this season against them. All of that changed by the conclusion of the weekend, as the Yankees swept the series, 4-0, and took a 6.5 game lead in the A.L. East.

"The pitching was outstanding throughout the series, and the hitting did enough to ensure us a 4-0 sweep against a very good Boston team," said Walter Kroenke, a long time supporter of the Yankees. "The sweep puts  things into perspective, and shows the direction that each team is going in at this point in the season," he added.

Since the All-Star break, the Red Sox are a below .500 ball club, whereas the Yankees are a league best 18-5 during that span. The hitting has been timely and the pitching has been unhittable, a recipe for success in Major League Baseball. If the Yankees can keep this level of play up for the rest of the season, there is no doubt that they will be the team to beat come October. But the Yankees have been inconsistent at times this season, looking brilliant in some series and awful in others. If the Yankees have indeed figured out how to win consistently, then the league has a huge test standing in front of them.

Oh, and if there were any questions about A-Rod and his ability to perform in the big spot, just look at what he did in this series. He hit a walk off 2-run home run in the 15th inning of a scoreless game, in addition to a home run in the 7th inning of a scoreless final game. Also, the three big offseason additions have showed their worth in this pivotal series. Sabathia and Burnett pitched gems, while Mark Teixeira continued to crush the ball against Boston pitching. When A-Rod is hitting clutch home runs, and the offseason acquistions are paying huge dividends in a series against Boston, the rest of the league should definitely be in a state of panic.  

The NFL season is shortly approaching, and for me that means the start of fantasy football. I have been involved in fantasy football for about twelve years now, and every year is just as exciting as the year before. Last year my team started out hot, with Clinton Portis and Matt Forte both leading the charge for league's best running back. But once Portis started to slow down, and quarterback Tony Romo got injured, my team was just looking above average instead of top notch. My team made the playoffs as the number one seed, as four teams shared a record of 8-5, but I had the most points in the regular season by a wide margin, so I got the top spot and a first round bye. All I needed to do was win one playoff game, and I would be in the finals against the league's hottest team. It turns out that starting Jay Cutler over Tyler Thigpen was the difference between winning that playoff game and losing. So I finished in third place, extremely dissatisfied with the wasted potential that my team squandered. Even worse, had I won the playoff game, I would have won against the team that I would have played in the finals, as my team had a much better week than the eventual champion. Better luck this year I guess.

I will be posting updates of my fantasy performance from week to week, including the draft results which should be ready by August 21. Until then, keep researching, and good luck with your drafts. 

Last week, a few friends and I were discussing the upcoming NFL season, and we got into some specific debates regarding the NFC East in particular. Being that all of us are either Cowboys or Giants fans, we love to bash on eachother's teams. I, being a Cowboys fan, said that I would be concerned if I were the Giants because of the loss of defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo. Then I went on to explain that Jim Johnson's defense in Philadelphia was one that all of the teams in the division would need to be concerned about. After that statement, I was informed that Jim Johnson was no longer with the Eagles due to cancer. I had not heard anything about it, and I figured it was in its early stages, and that he would probably rejoin the team before the season was complete. Not thinking too much of it, we continued on with other debates concerning the NFC East.

The next day as I am listening to ESPN, I hear breaking news about Jim Johnson and that he had succumbed to melanoma at the age of 68. I paused suddenly and remembered talking about him the night before; it was all very surreal. Because I am a huge Cowboys fan, I am no stranger to Jim Johnson, and his disturbing defenses that plagued my team for years. Although I hate the Eagles and their vaunted defense, I always had the utmost respect for Jim Johnson as a genius of the game, and I had always hoped that the Cowboys would one day get him. He was truly one of the greats as a defensive coordinator, and he will be sorely missed by everybody that has respect for the game of football. Facing the Eagles this year just won't be the same without him coaching the defense. Rest in peace, Jim Johnson, you will always be remembered.  

Following a 3 game losing streak, all to the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees faced those same White Sox on Sunday, hoping to come away with at least one victory during the series. Not only did the Yankees pull out the victory 8-5 behind CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, and Mariano Rivera, but some history was made in the process. For the first time since Tony Fernandez in 1995, the Yankees had a player hit for the cycle. Melky Cabrera, the young outfielder who was sent down to Triple A last season, came through for the Yankees in a big way on Sunday afternoon. Cabrera started things off with a line drive, 3 run homerun that gave the Yankees an early 3-0 lead in the second inning. In his next two at bats, Cabrera hit a double and a single respectively, leaving him a triple away from the first Yankees' cycle in 14 years. As Cabrera stepped into the batter's box in the ninth inning, he and the rest of stadium were aware that a triple, the most elusive of all hits, would give him the cycle. Cabrera was patient during the at bat, not chasing anything out of the zone, which eventually resulted in a 3-2 count. As the next pitch arrived, Cabrera smacked the ball into right field over Jermaine Dye who seemed to misread the ball off the bat. Cabrera chugged the bases, not even thinking about stopping before third. Sure enough when the play was over, Cabrera hopped up celebrating at third base, as he had hit for the cycle. The Cabrera cycle was important for the Yankees, a team that struggled during the first 3 games of the series, as they were able to leave on a very good note with a victory and some history in hand. That long flight to Toronto will suddenly seem a lot shorter for the first place Yanks. 

Last Sunday I was fortunate enough to participate in the STBM charity basketball tournament. This tournament is one that I participated in last year, and if things were going to go like last year, it was going to be a very quick day. Last year my team finished 0-4, losing to every opponent that came our way. This year was going to be different... or so I thought. The team was pumped and ready to take this tournament over, but we stumbled out of the gate with a 13-4 loss, which we considered a fluke. The next game turned out a lot better as we escaped with a 13-10 victory; my first win in 6 STBM Tournament games. The team's spirit was up as we went into a battle with the first place team in our division. We fought hard throughout, yet we came up short, losing 13-6 in a game where we could not put the ball in the hoop. Because the last team in our division did not show, we were credited with a free win pulling our record to 2-2, with a slim chance to make the playoffs. It turns out that another team was in the same position as we were, having gone 2-2 with one win via forfeit. Since that was the case, we played that team as a play-in game to go to the playoffs. We got off to a hot start, taking a 7-2 lead after a 3 pointer by Aly Sultan. Unfortunately, all went down hill from there. We could not score with any consistency, and the defense just could not sustain itself for another grind it out game. We lost the play-in game 13-9, and our season was over. Although I feel we vastly underacheived as a unit, I enjoyed playing, and I think that the tournament turned out to be a great success. Even though that is the case, my overall record in the STBM Tournament is 1-7, 2-7 if you include the freebie, so I am pretty sure that I am done with this tournament for good. Bad vibes....      

So it finally seems that Brett Favre has called it quits in the National Football League, according to sources on Tuesday. Brett said that he was not sure that he had the mental and physical stability to get through the daily grind of the NFL for a whole season. This is not the first time that Brett has "retired," but for some reason this time seems like it's legitimate. The previous time that Brett said he was done, was shortly after a loss in the NFC Championship game, when his head was probably not in the right frame of mind to be in front of a microphone. This time, though, Brett has had ample time to mull over his decision, and he seems to have a valid reason to stop playing... for now. What happens when the first starting quarterback goes down this season, and there is no viable backup to fill the role of starter? Will Brett's phone be ringing off the hook, begging for offers? And if so, will Brett be interested? Because Brett has retired in the past, and he has come back after such an action, the window of opportunity will remain slightly open that Brett might play a little bit more in the NFL. Although the possibility remains, I believe that Brett has genuinely retired for the last time. I say this because, last year as I attended Jets Training Camp one afternoon, Brett had this attitude that reminded me of a kid who had been playing football for the first time in his life. He did not look like an aging veteran who had been traded for the first time in his career for one last hurrah. Flashforward to this year. Brett looks tired and worn out, stating that the daily grind of the NFL is too much for him to handle for a whole season. To me that sounds like the words of an aging veteran who has just had enough. So without any regret, I can finally say, "We'll never forget you Brett." 

When Jordan Crawford dunked on LeBron James during James' Summer Camp this past week, there were only a few witnesses, and it will remain that way for now. After the Xavier student threw one down on James, James ordered Nike to have all videos removed of the play, so that it will never be seen by anyone outside of the camp. Most people would say that LeBron is taking his job too seriously, others would say that he is being a control freak. But thru all of the negativity that LeBron is bringing towards himself from this so-called, cowardice act, he is 

helping promote this young man's dunk in an even stronger way than any video can. Because this dunk cannot actually be seen by anyone that was not there, and the news that it happened will still be passed along so much, Jordan Crawford has become an overnight celebrity like no other. If the video got passed around, and the dunk was really not so spectacular, Crawford loses all of the hype that he is currently receiving because people are always looking for ways to minimize people's achievements. But since there is no visual evidence to prove anything, it is left up to the people's imagination on whether or not it is a big deal, and that only helps Crawford. In addition, because people have not yet followed Crawford that closely, generally speaking, his first game for Xavier will be one that many people will want to "see." So although LeBron "the Gatekeeper" James has brought negative attention to himself, he is bringing a lot of positive attention to Jordan Crawford. And this build-up of anticipation could actually be Jordan Crawford's biggest reward yet. 

Since this post has been written, the video has surfaced. Here it is.