The Most Overrated Player In The Game?

A recent poll of major league players conducted by Sports Illustrated has found that Derek Jeter won the plurality vote among his peers as the most overrated player in baseball. Ouch. Following Jeter in second and third place, respectively, were Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez. This has, obviously, outraged the ESPN talking heads (what with Jeter being the Golden Boy of baseball and all). However, if you follow the distinguished history of the Yankees, you find names that lead from one great era to another, which include Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Jackson..........ect. Although the talking heads are quick to add Jeter's name to the end of that list, does anyone actually believe he brings the same thing to the table as those legends? (With that said, if Jackson were to play today, he would be hated Bonds style, and not revered as a legend). Of course he doesn't belong. Jeter was lucky enough to come in as a rookie, be guided by veteran leadership, and taught how to win. The same could have happened to any other player had he come up in the Yankees organization at that time with similar talent. You want to tell me Nomar Garciapparra wouldn't have won those rings had he been in the same situation? Alex Rodriguez if he had come up with the Yankees as shortstop? Hell, Edgar Renteria or Rafael Furcal?

Allow me to finish before anyone hops on their "Yankee Hater" horse. This is the bottom line: In my years of watching baseball, I have seen two great shortstops. The first is Cal Ripken, Jr. If any of you Jeter-lovers take issue with that, then you are arguing against yourself, since Ripken displayed the same leadership qualities as Jeter, but put up better numbers without being surrounded by $200 Million of talent. The second is Ozzie Smith. If you take issue with that one, then you don't appreciate baseball.

So, there you have it. The top two. And, if you intend to argue, please don't bring up the "playoffs clutch" issue...........Bernie Williams has better numbers than Jeter in the playoffs. But, hey, give Jeter his due for doing the best he can while everyone is watching. After all, isn't that why Carlos Beltran got a big contract?? (Wait, wasn't he second on this list?).

NFL Draft Review and Rants

Well, I pretty much bombed on my draft preview, but that doesn't meet I don't get to slam on everyone's picks, does it? Let the fun begin..............


Houston Texans: Alright, I am tired of the ESPN talking heads attempting to justify this pick. I've heard the arguments, which includes, but is not limited to: "Houston needed to fill a need on defense. They're in a division with Peyton Manning, and the Steelers have shown that you have to get to him to win." Enough. Just stop it. If all you are looking to do is "fill a need," then you TRADE DOWN. You think the Saints wouldn't have given up at least one draft pick to take Reggie Bush first if the Texans hadn't announced their agreement with Williams? I'm not sure I've seen a front office mess up the first pick that badly in awhile. Not only did the Texans' fans not get the hometown hero, they missed out on the best player in the draft. I hope they enjoy the next coming of Courtney Brown. With that said, the Texans did well with their second pick. Ryans will be an immediate starter and impact player on defense (unlike Williams).

New Orleans Saints: Christmas comes early for some.............not that they didn't deserve it.

Tennessee Titans: I'm a Titans fan and was thrilled with the Young and White picks, but what is going on with McNair. Why is the management treating this guy like someone who wandered off of the street? (Warning: Rant Coming). Steve McNair is the face of the franchise, and has, literally, given his body in order to help this team win. He played when he couldn't sleep the night before because his back hurt too bad, and still came out and put up good numbers and solid leadership. I cannot understand the disrespect that has been shown to McNair this offseason. I do understand that his cap number this year is $23 Million, but I'm also sure he's willing to come off of that. The management needs to understand that the Titans aren't going to be competing for the AFC for 3-4 years, so why not pay McNair some reasonable salary and let him tutor Young? The situation is too far gone now, I'm sure..........but it is a sad commentary on the organization when Eddie George finishes his career watching from the Dallas sideline, and McNair finishing as a Raven. Too bad Wychek already retired, or they could have let him go to the Colts. (End of rant).

San Francisco 49ers: Many accolades have been given to their pick of TE Vernon Davis. Isn't it worth noticing, however, that this was only considered a good pick because Alex Smith is horrible? The "talking heads" are, essentially, saying that Davis was a good pick because Smith can't throw the ball down the field. This leads to the question: How much are the 49ers hating Leinart not coming out last year? If he was the QB of that team this year, the 49ers would have traded for Javon Walker with their 2nd round pick, and traded down in the first round to get someone like DeAngelo Williams to recover said pick. That would have led to someone such as Chad Jackson being drafted as the 2nd wide receiver. How the tide turns.

Denver Broncos: Alright, I've heard every draft "talking head" praise their draft and I've had enough. Jay Cutler WAS NOT a good pick at #11. The consensus is that he'll be able to learn behind Plummer for a year or two. What is he going to learn here...........how to throw 4 interceptions in big games??? Cutler should be a decent quarterback, don't misunderstand, but this guy is not the next coming of Palmer, Manning, or (uggh) Brady. If Denver thought they got John Elway, Jr., then they're sorely mistaken. I've watched him for 4 years in the SEC, and he doesn't have it.

NFL Draft Preview

The NFL Draft is less than 48 hours away, and I would hate myself Saturday morning if I didn't put up a Preview post. With that in mind, I am now adjusting my Mel Kiper, Jr. wig, which has been accessorized with 4 1/2 cans of hair spray in order to achieve the entire look. I have also broken out the dictionary to make sure I am completely familiar with words such as "upside", "wing-span", "footwork", and "intangibles." In addition, I have practiced pronouncing players' names with an "a" in front. For example, the Eagles would do good to get A Ernie Sims with their first round pick. That gets on my nerves to no end, but these are the things that go into a proper NFL Draft Preview.

1. Houston Texans. The Pick: Reggie Bush, RB, USC. I know Vince Young is a hometown hero here, but the new coach of the Texans seems satisfied with David Carr's abilities. Carr better have a good year in 06, because the "If we had drafted Vince Young" statements won't be far behind if he bombs. With that said, you cannot pass on the most dynamic player in the draft (by far). If the Texans actually do choose DE Mario Williams, the rest of the league will commence pointing and laughing.

2. New Orleans Saints. The Pick: Mario Williams, DE, NC State. I'm not sold on Mario Williams at all, but his showing at the scouting combine has him flying up the draft board. Personally, I think the Saints made a mistake in signing Brees as opposed to drafting a QB here. In any event, Williams is the definition of "upside", as the draft pundits like to say. He has been compared to A Julius Peppers, but this may be the first "bust" to come from this draft.

3. Tennessee Titans. The Pick: Vince Young, QB, Texas. A couple of days ago, while listening to sports radio, I found that Jeff Fisher, coach of the Titans, was being interviewed. In response to a question about which QB he liked the most at #3, he said Jay Cutler. Luckily, he started laughing right before I grabbed hold of the steering wheel and veered my car off of the interstate. The debate here is actually between A Matt Leinhart, and A Vince Young. If the pick is, indeed, Young, then look for the Titans to immediately offere Steve McNair an extension for a year or two. Although Leinhart is more polished, Young is, by far, the better playmaker, and the Titans need all the playmakers they can get.

4. New York Jets. The Pick: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia. The consensus top Offensive Lineman in the draft. Trememdous "upside," good "footwork," and good "wing-span." The early speculation was Leinhart going to the Jets, but that would give them an obscene chunk of their cap-room going to QB's with them paying Pennington through the nose. They could also trade down for A Jay Cutler if the right offer is made.

5. Green Bay Packers. The Pick: A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State. Don't have much to add to the A.J. Hawk pick. Only saw him play a couple of times, but looked impressive against the Texas Longhorns with several tackles and an interception. With Favre coming back, they could look to A Vernon Davis to give him another weapon, but they have to address the defense at some point.

6. San Francisco 49ers. The Pick: Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland. Supposedly a better TE prospect than Kellen Winslow was a couple of years ago. He started shooting up the draft boards after combine since he's 6'7" and still runs in the 4.4-40 range. He also thinks very highly of himself, saying that he's better than Antonio Gates and Jeremy Shockey. That should get his bell rung a couple of times early in the season.

7. Oakland Raiders. The Pick: Matt Leinhart, QB, USC. The fall of Leinhart should end with the Raiders, who have be QB's by the likes of Aaron Brooks, Kerry Collins, and a battered Rich Gannon in recent years. Although they may look at A Michael Huff, Leinhart is too good to pass up at #7. In addition, he'll have Jerry Porter and Randy Moss as weapons at WR, which should fit well with those he had at USC.

8. Buffalo Bills. The Pick: Broderick Bunkley, DT, Florida St. Okay, I'll admit it, this came straight from ESPN.com. I have no idea who this guy is and had never heard of him before the 756 draft previews in recent days. I guess he's good. Whatever.

9. Detroit Lions. The Pick: Chad Jackson, WR, Florida. (Just kidding, but wouldn't this be the greatest moment in Draft history if the Lions took a WR for the FOURTH straight year?? I wouldn't put it past Matt Millen.) The Real Pick: Micheal Huff, S, Texas. The consensus top DB in the draft gives Texas their second pick in the top-10. Good coverage guy, plays the run well, "great motor", "good instincts." Okay, I'm running out of things to say as we near the end..........

10. Arizona Cardinals. The Pick: Ernie Sims, LB, Florida St. With James in the backfield, Boldin and Fitzgerald at the WR positions, and the top-2 QB's off the board, the Cards go defense and pick up A Ernie Sims after watching him fall a couple of spots. I also wouldn't be surprised if they traded down a couple of spots to grab A Jay Cutler, since this could be a slight reach for him.

Most Perplexing Early Entry: Cornell Johnson, RB, Indiana State. See how this grabs you. A I-AA running back who, as a Junior, plays in 6 games and rushes for negative yardage in two of those games. Rated as the 54th best running back on the board. Someone is giving this kid EXCELLENT advice.

Comings and Goings of the NFL

Coming (back): Brett Farve. I'm not sure what to think about this one. Everyone enjoys watching Favre play, if only as a result of his "shoot from the hip" mentality and his toughness. What is the best that could possibly result from this, though? A miracle of all miracles would have Favre leading the Pack to 9-7 and MAYBE squeaking into the playoffs as a result of the horrible division. Even that's a long shot, at best. The worst (shuddering) could resemble a Willie Mays-esque performance when he went to the Mets and stumbled in the outfield. I'll be the first to argue that any competitor like Favre has earned the right to determine when he walks away from the game. (Interjection here. That MJ bit with the Wizards never happened. It just didn't.) Competitors like those have simply earned the right. (Interjection. The Seattle Sonics is the only team Gary Payton ever played for, period.) If a person such as Favre has played his entire career with one team, and wants to give it one more go, then who are we to argue? (Interjection. Majic Johnson, did not, and I mean, DID NOT, return to the Lakers in 1994). Well, after that impassioned plea, I can't understand anyone disagreeing.

Going: "Sticky Icky" Ricky is heading back to his roots, or at least the roots of marijuana plants. He's out for the 06-07 season after testing positive for illegal substances. (My money is on the cream and the clear after seeing his frail physique when he first returned last year. I actually thought he, at some point, was going to fall face-forward onto the ground from the sheer weight of his beard). The big question is this: Is his career over? He already stated that he wants to return in 07, most likely from his four children and enourmous debts. It's funny how a millionaire pothead ends up, essentially, in the same position as the ones you knew in college who dropped out after one year. My feeling is this: If you honestly believe Ricky Williams is going to go the entire year away from football and not smoke a joint, then there's a luxurious ocean-front condomenium I have for sell in the Birmingham area.

NBA MVP Reaches Sham Status

Recent reports have indicated that Steve Nash will, once again, walk away with the MVP honors this year when it is announced in two weeks. If this does, in fact, occur, then the word "sham" comes to mind. I was in agreement with Nash winning the award last year after turning the Suns around, but he was simply outshined by too many people to take it again this year. Therefore, I'll list my personal top five for the award this year:

5) Dwayne Wade: (Stats - 27/ppg; 6/rpg; 7/apg; 2/spg). Wade will, in all likelihood, win multiple MVP's during the course of his career. He's explosive on the offensive end and plays decent defense, but he still doesn't take command of the games when they are on the line. The Heat's horrible record against the Pistons demonstrates that he isn't quite at the point where he can put the team on his shoulders on a consistent basis. In addition, shooting 17% from 3-point range in the 2-guard slot (especially when you have a dominant center who sees double-teams) is horrible. This isn't to say he won't continue to get better.........Jordan had this same type of game in his younger days before he learned to shoot.

4) Steve Nash: (Stats - 19/ppg; 4/rpg; 10/apg). Nash gets all the accolades for keeping the Suns at the #2 Seed in the Western Conference after Amare Stoudamire went out with an injury. Here's the thing though: Steve Nash would get lit up for 30 points by Bob Smith at the local YMCA in a pickup game. As a matter of fact, this guy would be a defensive liability in the WNBA and all 4 fans in attendance would notice that in about 42 seconds. This is the reason he's as low as he is. I'll give him his due, however. He does make his teammates much better on the offensive end of the floor, it's just too bad that the Suns would need Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutumbo (all in their defensive primes) to even be adequate on the defensive end with him on the floor.

3) Dirk Nowitzki: (Stats - 27/ppg; 9/rpg; 3/apg). Nowitzki finally had the chance to be the unquestioned star on the team after the departures of Nash, Finley, and Walker. He stepped up, and was probably the MVP at midseason. In addition to him being a 7-foot power forward who shot 40% from 3-point land, he actually learned how to post up smaller opponents this year. In addition, he managed to find his way into the lane and figured out how to grab the rebounds. The Mavericks probably would have gone from having the second-best record in the Western Conference to having the 5th or 6th best without him. The only thing left for Nowitzki is to get much stronger on defense. It's inexplicable for a seven-footer to not average 3 blocks a game. Geez, no wonder the Mavericks never won anything with him and Nash together. They were like the Indianoplis Colts of the NBA.

2) LeBron James: (Stats - 31/ppg; 7/rpg; 7/asg; 2/spg). There is absolutely no telling what the Cavs' record would have been had they not had LeBron on the roster this season. Awful, Laughable, and just plain Disturbing all come to mind. This guy is 21 years old, and could, legitimately average a triple-double over the course of a season as some point. I will be shocked if he doesn't end his career with 5 or more MVP's, but it's not his time this year. He still needs to improve defensively and play tougher.

1) Kobe Bryant (AKA "The Black Mamba"). (Stats - 35/ppg; 5/rpg; 5/apg; 2/spg). You can call Kobe all the names you want, but the question to ask here is "Where would the Lakers be without him?" The answer would be dead last in the Western Conference and a franchise that not even Majic Johnson would claim. He may be a ball-hog who thinks about himself first and his teammates second, but I'm guessing he figured out that's what he had to do after realizing Smush Parker and Kwame Brown were going to start. In addition to his historic number of shots taken, however, he is a legitimate 1st Team Defensive Player. He may lack in certain areas, but effort isn't one of them. If you go by the potential record-differential with, and without a certain player, to choose the MVP, as I do, then Kobe has got to be it. ***On a side note here, can you imagine what Kobe's going to against Nash and the Suns during the rest of this series?? One of these games, he's going for 148 points, 112 rebounds, 71 steals, and 1 assist. No telling what he'll do in the second half of that game.

Someone Forgot To Set A Screen For The Lacrosse Team

Well, two indictments have been handed down in this case, as of Tuesday. I have refrained from commenting on this, simply because of the ridiculous coverage this has already received. That is not to say that the accusations, if true, are deplorable, but this has been a media blitz since the "perfect storm" of cirumstances has arisen. The cirumstances include, racial tones, entitlement issues, athletic programs, sloppy DA work, and a "name" program.

Hmmm......Sports mixed with legal issues with a political backdrop. I had to comment.

This case presents several curious circumstances, which are as follows:

1)Entitlement vs. Lower-Middle Class. Suffice it to say that the average tuition at Duke University is $44,000, while the median income in Durham, NC is $43,000. Most will claim that this is a classic example of the "OJ" syndrome, in that the rich will get off. As Bill Plasche stated, "I saw him walk in with his preppy jacket on." This shows that this pendulum swings both ways.

2)Political Posturing. The DA in this case has made an absolute laughing-stock of himself to the legal community. Every time he has had to act as a responsible servant of the public, he has shamelessly promoted himself. The is most exemplified by the fact that he sought DNA samples of 46 Lacrosse players, when the alleged victim positively identified two. Shoddy police work to say the least, and political pandering in its most obvious form. Let us not forget this DA is up for reelection in two weeks. Something isn't quite right with that.

3)Flat-Out Evidence. Listen, I believe something happened to this girl, and I believe it was deplorable. In addition, I will be the first to say that all the evidence is NEVER released to the press. However, with what I've seen so far, I can't help but conclude the DA is going to prosecute this case until his reelection. He claims that 80% of rape cases are not aided with DNA evidence. Allow me to be the first to inform you that, in order to obtain those statistics, he found it proper to include cases BEFORE DNA evidence was available.

In summary, I think these LaCrosse players may have done the crime with which they are charged. If you are to stereotype, LaCrosse players have a terrible repuation (probably because they know they're not going to make millions in professional leagues), which is only aided by the 46 charges of Duke players since 1999. However, this investigation is a sham, the media coverage has obliterated any semblance of a fair trial to which the alleged victime is entitled, and if the DA is reelected, it will be poor representation of the legal community.

A Lot of Minors = A Major

Ok. The sports scene since the Masters has been rather dull. But, there have been a number of lesser-stories impacting sports, so I'm incorporating them all into one post.

Story #1: (If you're not a Bama/UT fan, skip this one). Logan Young was recently murdered? Logan Young recently had a slip and fall and passed away? Am I the only one what is curious about why it took 6 hours to identify a body because he suffered a slip and fall? As friend noted: Inside information has a report of leftovers from 24 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and size 52 underwear were found at the scene.

Story #2: I like watching the NFL Draft as much as the next guy, but I can't take much more of Mel Kiper. If a nuclear bomb landed directly on the city in which he was located, his hair would be the only thing left. And it would be in perfect condition.

Story #3: As little as I address the NBA in this space, this is worth note. LeBron James hurt his ankle in a meaningless game against the Pistons yesterday. They have the #4 seed locked up, but the coach is playing him when they're 21 points down at the end of the 3rd quarter. Sounds like (cough, cough) Prothro.

Story #4: I read a column in The Tennessean recently that proclaimed Bruce Pearl had recruited something similar to the "Fab Five." Listen..........just stop. Quit. This is like Vanderbilt football claiming a top recruiting class because they beat Tennessee last year. UT may be good at basketball for a few years, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WIN IT ALL. Stick to Fat Phil, UT fans. (as disheartening as that may be). If anyone thinks UT will compete with Florida (if they return their starters) or Bama next year, then the Orange-colored sunglasses must be on clearance.

Where Have You Gone (Old) Phil Mickelson??

I spent the entire day Sunday watching the Masters unfold. Around noon, or maybe one o'clock, I was thinking "Wow, this is going to be exciting when Phil puts one into the drink and Freddie/Tiger/Vijay takes over and challenges him." This has what made watching Mickelson play during the majors so much fun. You never knew if his drive was going to land in the middle of the fairway, or cause cars to swerve out of the way on I-59. That situation, much to my shock, never unfolded. Phil Mickelson, that's right, PHIL MICKELSON, had the lead in the last round of a Major, and aboslutely throttled the competition. While Tiger was making a late charge, and you know Phil knew what was happening, Phil knocked it stiff at the Par 3 16th. This isn't the old Phil anymore.

The question to ask is how did Phil change? Why is it that he didn't make that crucial mistake that everyone expected? The answer could be this: All he needed to do was win one, just one, Major. After he won his first won, he's 3 for 9. Maybe he's not the old Phil anymore who chokes as soon as someone comes within 2 strokes. Or, maybe he is. But he wasn't on Sunday, and the proof, they say, is in the pudding.

Let's take this moment to take a look at the "Big Five," because I'm not sure that qualifies anymore. Tiger and Phil are in, without a doubt. Ernie Els may actually have seen his best days after aging in years while trying to come back from knee surgery. Vijay Singh, while still very competitive, just doesn't have the age to agree with competing in many more Majors. Retief Goosen is still a legitimate threat, but he never makes a charge. He always seems to hang on when everyone else falls off.

Allow me to introduce you to the Big Two: Tiger and Phil. It should be fun.