El Capitan

Derek Jeter and the Yankees continue to talk about a new contract. The first offer was a reported 4-year deal in the neighborhood of $50 million. Not a bad deal, right? Wrong. Apparently the two are about $50 million apart.

Derek Jeter is the Yankees and the Yankees are Derek Jeter, they were meant to be together forever and separating them just seems wrong. Am i saying that the two will walk their separate ways and bid adieu? Not at all, I know that in the end Jeter will be back in pinstripes, wearing the interlocking NY on his cap and the number two on his back. I'm just hoping that feelings aren't hurt in this process. Jeter is not your everyday free-agent and he shouldn't be treated like one. I'm not saying give the guy whatever he wants, wrapped in a big bow. But you have to be wise.

Jeter is quickly approaching 3,000 hits, and he would be the first Yankee to accomplish this feat. He has been a key cog for five World Series Championships and is the face of baseball. Reports are that Jeter and his new trainer are talking about Jeter playing well into his forties, a majority of those years remaining at short stop. He knows a position change is in his future but not any time soon. So my advice to the Steinbrenners and Cashman, pony-up and pay for tradition. He has given you everything and now its time to show that you have his back. He is your captain and treat him like one. Work it out and do it in a professional matter. Get the deal done before Christmas, and move onto bigger fish. 

Football in Baseball Venues

Today Notre Dame will take on Army at the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. This is just the latest in the recent sports trend to switch up the arenas in which to play in. For instance, the NHL has the Winter Classic where they play hockey games outdoors, the NBA also does the same thing, having some games take place outdoors in warmer climates. Now though, College Football has crossed the line. Northwestern and Illinois will be facing off at the historic Wrigley Field. The only problem is, the game is not safe for the players.

Wrigley Field is not the largest of stadiums, and when it was converted into a football field the dimensions just didn't work out. One of the end-zones is right up against the wall in the outfield. This walls are made of brick so they decided to cover the brick wall with padding. Still, not a great idea. Now you have players running full speed, and ultimately the only way to stop themselves will be to run into the wall. This wall also takes away play calling. There are certain routes that a receiver can not run because of the spacing issue. As you can see in the picture the end-zone is literally up against the wall.

Well there has been a solution to this fiasco. The two teams will now play towards the same end-zone, eliminating the safety hazard. This just turns the game into a joke, though. Now it seems more like an Arena Football game or even a back yard game. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out and if there are any stories that follow the game. I'm sure one or two people could lose their jobs because of the field issues. The only reason this idea was put into motion was because engineers deemed it safe to play. I do know one thing for certain, this will most likely be the last football game at historic Wrigley Field.

BCS: Will Boise State Finally Get Their Chance?

This college football season has been a roller coaster ride. A number of different teams have held the number one ranking in the nation and now we are down to just four undefeated teams. They are, ranked one through four, Oregon, Auburn, Boise State, and TCU. This is Boise States' greatest chance at playing in the national championship game, thats if they can remain undefeated and an easy remaining schedule says they will.

Oregon has looked human at times, Auburn is in a tough SEC where any school can beat you at any time and TCU, in my opinion is overrated. So if Boise State does remain undefeated how could they not be in the national championship? Well they've gotten snubbed before so it could happen. If Oregon and Auburn both remain undefeated, chances are they will match-up against each other. This is why college football needs a playoff, so these teams get the chance to show they can play with the "big boys". Boise State has already proven that with convincing bowl wins in the past but it still is not enough.

Create a playoff bracket where the top twelve teams get to battle it out for the national championship. Give the top four teams a first round bye and then continue the season. Some will argue that the season will be too long, but it already goes into early January, so at most it would be one week longer. Not only does it make sense logically, it also makes sense financially. Yes, I get it bowl games are all about money, but you could just have those same companies sponsor the playoff games and money will still be made. We would finally get a clear cut champion without any people claiming they weren't offered a shot.

Will this happen? Probably not because as I said college bowl season is all about money and they make a ton of it. So we will have to suffer through another year of the BCS and argue about who really is the best team in the nation.

Newest Star in Pin-Stripes?

If you have the money and you're a Major League Baseball team, odds are you are going after Cliff Lee, with force. Lee, who over the past three to five years has solidified himself as one of the top pitchers in the game. All he does is win on the big stage, meaning the post-season, and the past two years he has carried teams into the playoffs. Now is his chance to cash in. Lee and his agent have made it a point though that they will sit and wait, making everyone come to them. They will go through the league team by team until they find a team that they believe is the perfect suitor for Lee. Most people, including myself, believe that will be the New York Yankees.

That's right folks, the rich get richer once again. The Yankees made a push at the trade deadline to get Lee but the Mariners simply used them a chips to set up a deal with Texas. Who knows, the the Yankees had Lee maybe they would have won back to back championships? But now is their chance to lock him up for the next five years and you could bet your money on the fact that they will get their man.

Forget about all the talk with his wife saying she doesn't like the New York fans because they cursed at her and spit at her. You know what his wife will like? Money. You know who has a lot of money to give her husband? The Yankees. So suck it up Mrs. Lee and next year you'll be cheering with those lovable Yankee fans instead of cheering against them. 

Jacked Up!

You just got Jacked Up!

Any football fan remembers this iconic segment from ESPN brought to us by Tom Jackson and Chris Berman. The media has idolized these hard hitting defensive plays and they have become a staple in the NFL. Now, the NFL is changing it up, these hard hits are now being seen as hazardous and harmful to players receiving them. Really? The NFL is just realizing this now? How do you think Ray Lewis and Rodney Harrison became household names? I'm sure it wasn't their kind hearted tackling and nice demeanor.

James Harrison, Sports Illustrated

The NFL has a major issue on their hands now though. The only way these defensive players will learn is suspending them and not only for one game. They tried the fines and obviously that did not work. So now they sit out two or three games. Great, you're trying to clean up the game. But at the same time, you're telling these "hard-hitters" that they have to change the way they play. James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who laid out two vicious hits in Sundays game and received a hefty fine, said he wasn't sure if he could continue playing. Football is a violent game and you're taught to go out and hit somebody. But now, you have to take time to think about your hits and where you are going to deliver them.

Do I think the suspensions will work? Yes, but they will have some repercussions, mainly vicious hits on the legs. If players can't go high with their helmet, they are going to go low. So look out running backs and wide receivers because now you're going to have the likes of James Harrison coming at your legs. Good luck.   

Postseason Prediction

When the temperature starts to get cooler and the leaves start to change colors it reminds me of one thing, the Fall Classic. This years match-ups are enticing, there is no clear-cut favorite and many teams have stumbled into the playoffs. A grueling regular season has set the table for a great postseason and has left many fans wondering what to expect. If pitching takes center stage then the Phillies have a great chance of making it three straight NL Pennants, but the Giants may have something to say too. If its offense, then the Yankees can be looking at back to back World Series wins, but who can say what will happen. Maybe the Reds and Twins make their run and silence the experts. Well heres how I think the Division Series will play out:

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays:

I'm going with the Rangers in four games. Cliff Lee will return to his dominating postseason form, where the Rays  will most likely face him twice, and that offense can hit with anyone. Josh Hamilton will be key in this match-up, he has returned from a rib injury and will be a spark plug for the Rangers offense. Although their lack of playoff experience leaves me concerned, I still think they pull of the series win. 

New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins:

The Yankees have stumbled into the playoffs to say the least. Their last month of baseball has been shaky and their pitching rotation leaves everyone on the edge of the seats. I believe Joe Girardi made a great decision by leaving A.J. Burnett out of the rotation and going with Sabathia, Pettitte, and Hughes. The Twins will give the Yanks a run for their money but I see the Yankees pulling out a series win in five games. 

Cincinnati Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies 

The Phillies entire season was turned around with a trade that brought Roy Oswalt to Philadelphia, and since then their pitching has been lights-out. They have a big three headed monster that no one in their right mind would like to face. They have represented the NL the past two years and look poised to do it again with offensive fire power and lights out pitching. All that considered I'm picking the Reds in five. Don't ask me why, the Reds have been a surprise team all year and I just think they still have some more shocking to do.   

San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves

I feel like this series could go either way but the Braves have left me scratching my head. They had to pitch their way into the playoffs, so that means that Tim Hudson will start in game three. Leaving Derek Lowe and Tommy Hanson going in game one and game two. I like the Giants to step up in the playoffs and for their pitching staff to carry them in this series. I'm picking the Giants in four games.  

    

Stumbling into the Playoffs

In this article from today's New York Daily News, journalist John Harper explains how the Yankees have fizzled down the stretch, settling for a Wild Card spot rather than the Division crown. The Yankees have had a forgettable last month of the season, going 9-17 since Sep. 5th, but they look to start fresh in the postseason.

Clich here to read the whole article.

Quarterback Carousel

The NFL season is still young, considering teams are only entering the third week of the season but yet a hand full of the teams are having quarterback issues. Recently, Andy Reid, head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, made the announcement that he has decided to go with Mike Vick as his starting quarterback. Not Kevin Kolb, the player who drove Reid and the Eagles to trade Donovan McNabb, the face of the franchise, within their own decision. So now Reid turns around and hands the reigns over to the electric yet risky Mike Vick. The reward could be huge but the risk is, I believe Reid may have just cost himself his job. 

Andy Reid is a great coach and has made some decisions that have left the media scratching their heads but over the off-season he enlisted his full trust in Kevin Kolb and made him the franchise quarterback of the Eagles. In Week 1, Kolb rolled out of the pocket and was tackled by the Packers linebacker Clay Matthews,  giving Kolb a concussion. That gave Vick the opportunity he has been waiting for, since being reinstated into the NFL. He made the most of it, looking good in relief of Kolb in the Packers game and then moving the Eagles offense up and down the field against a questionable Detroit Lions defense. So that left Reid wondering, who gives me the best chance of winning, Vick or Kolb?

Obviously, we know the decision that Reid came too. With Kolb healthy and cleared to play, all Reid had to do was say, "Kolb is my guy, he is the Eagles QB." But Reid flip-flopped and changed his mind. Honestly, at the moment Vick does give the Eagles the best chance at winning, but that is only because no one knows what Kolb can bring to the table. He was never given the chance to lead this team, he was injured and that’s all it took for Reid to succumb to temptation. Reid talked Kolb up all off-season, saying how special this kid can be one day. So now you're telling him he has to wait? He has to hold a clip-board for Vick, who was out of the league for two full seasons, and you expect him to be alright with this?

How can Kevin Kolb trust Andy Reid? Say Vick gets hurt, Reid turns to Kolb and tells him to go out there and lead the Eagles. Kolb will second guess himself on everything, knowing that Vick is now Reid's guy. Reid can say whatever he wants but when it comes down to it he chose Vick over Kolb. When the dust settles Reid could be out of a job and may have halted Kolb's career before it even got the chance to start. 

Braylon Edwards: Drops the Ball Again

After a late night of partying, Braylon Edwards and a few friends packed into his luxury SUV. The only problem is, there was no designated-driver. Now you figure with the salary that Edwards makes, picking up the tab for cab fare would be a simple way for the wide-receiver and his friends to get home. But that did not occur, instead Edwards decided to drive, and was pulled over for having tinted front windows on his car. He then proceeded to tell the officer that he had a couple of drinks, and then Edwards was arrested. Edwards was already on probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor aggravated disorderly conduct. Edwards was accused of punching a friend of LeBron James outside a nightclub in Cleveland. Edwards is just another NFL player, that seems to always find trouble.

Did Edwards not learn anything from his friend Donte Stallworth? Stallworth, Baltimore Ravens wide-receiver, hit and killed a man while drunk driving. Edwards was partying with Stallworth that night, and it seemed to have no affect on him. Stallworth's life was forever changed after he made the biggest mistake of his life and yet Edwards can just climb into a car, without even thinking about what happened. What if Edwards did happen to hit someone, what if Edwards took their life? Athletes today are just too selfish, and are blinded to realize what they have. We've seen it before in football, basketball, and baseball.

Roger Goodell must come down on Braylon Edwards. I am not proposing the idea of suspending him for a full season but he should definitely sit out games. I think a 4-6 game suspension would be suffice to this kind of act. Edwards is lucky that nothing happened and he must realize what he has done. Hit him in his wallet, that is the only way that these athletes get the message. Goodell has a history of punishing his athletes and I believe he will do the same in this case. Edwards is in danger of facing jail time but a decision will most likely be made after the season. So Goodell can punish Edwards now or just sit and wait.

Hopefully Edwards gets the message and cleans up his act. He has a lot to lose and should appreciate everything he has. Drunk driving is not a joking matter and many people lose their lives because people get behind the wheel after drinking. Edwards should speak out against drunk driving and try to make up for what he has done.

Shoelace

Denard "Shoelace" Robinson. If you have not yet heard this name, get ready to hear it a lot. After just two weeks into the College Football season, many analysts have already handed this young man the coveted Heisman Trophy. All Shoelace has done is complete 43 of 62 passes for 430 yards and 2 TDs, and 57 rushes for 455 yards and 3 TDs. He has almost single handily helped carry the University of Michigan back into the Top 25 and bring them back to college football relevance. 

After watching Robinson's first game against the University of Connecticut, I was more than impressed with his showing. To call him fast would be understatement, the way this quarterback runs makes you flashback to Michael Vick in his Virginia Tech days. He takes his time, decides which hole he wants to hit, then he explodes through it. Defensives have to get a solid hit on Robinson or else he will just bounce off the contact and just continue to run. Not only is he dangerous with his legs, but many scouts say his most improved area of his game is his arm. He can make the passes that he has to and that keeps defenses honest, meaning they can not just stack the box and shut down the run. 


Overall, Denard "Shoelace" Robinson is a defensive coordinators worst nightmare. I watched him carve up my team, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, defense and I'm sure he will do it to many other teams. Robinson is on pace to break a number of records and he could be the type of athlete that only comes around ever so often. He leads the nation in rushing yards with 227.5 yards a game and he is averaging 442.5 total yards a game. Absolutely absurd. Although it may sound like I am jumping on Robinson's bandwagon, I am not. I am just impressed with what he has done so far, I mean who wouldn't be?


Realistically thinking, Robinson can not produce these numbers throughout a season, especially in the Big Ten where he will have to play bruising defenses such as Iowa, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Robinson is going to have to learn to either run out of bounds or to take the less-flashy quarterback "slide". Teams are going to key on him and the only way to stop an athlete like himself, is to get solid shots on his legs so he does not have the stamina at the end of the game.

Can Denard "Shoelace" Robinson win the Heisman? Yes. Will he? Only he can answer that question. If he keeps the Wolverines rolling and puts up the numbers that he can, anything is possible. One thing I know for certain, if I were Tate Forcier, I would already start searching for a school for next season because Denard Robinson is Michigan's quarterback.

Revis Island

Revis Island, a term coined by the New York Jets dynamic coach Rex Ryan, nearly had its next inhabitant, only this time it was not going to be an All-Pro wide receiver. The New York Jets were in danger of being grounded if their star corner back, Darrelle Revis decided to continue his hold out.

The two had been at odds for most of this summer when it came to Revis' new contract. Darelle Revis was hoping to receive a contract similar to the one Oakland Radier's corner back Nnamdi Asomugha signed in 2009. Asomugha signed a six year deal which guaranteed him $28.6 million over the first two years of his contract and Revis was looking for a similar deal. Even though Revis did not win Defensive Player of the Year last year, many people thought he deserved it more than winner Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers. The Jets hyped up Revis, as they rightfully should have considering just how great of a season he had. But then when Revis came knocking doing his best Jerry Maguire impression, "Show me the money!!", the Jets were left blind-sided. 

Revis' contract had not yet expired so the Jets thought they were safe but Revis wanted his money. The two went back and forth throughout the off-season and just could not agree on a deal. Reports were that Revis was asking for too much money and the Jets weren't willing to pay that amount. No exact contract offer was released so few people know what happened behind closed doors. Well after a long battle the two finally came to an agreement. On Monday, September 6th, Revis signed a four year deal worth approximately $46 million. Throughout this battle many people have been slamming Revis saying, "you signed a contract so why don't you just play it out." Well, there are two issues with that argument.

Unlike other sports, a football contract is not guaranteed so many players do not see the amount of money that they would like. In baseball and basketball, contracts are guaranteed, which means the players can receive the full amount of their deals but football is not like that. If their deal is voided or if they are cut, a football player will never see the full amount of their deals. So many football players are left wondering where/who their next contract  will come from. Another reason why Revis was right in searching for more money is what occurred with the Jets last year. 

Leon Washington

Leon Washington, currently a Seattle Seahawks running back, was with the Jets last year. He too was looking for a new contract with the Jets, but instead of signing one, the Jets and Washington made a deal. The Jets said if Washington went out and played, they would give him a new contract in the off-season. Well, Washington, like a good soldier, agreed to go out there and give it his all,  fractured his fibula in Week 7 of the season, and was sidelined for the rest of the year. When Washington was sitting in the Jets office with his cast on his leg what do you think the Jets said to him? It probably was something like "we really appreciated what you did for us but we're not going to give you that contract we promised." Fact is, as much as we all dislike it, sports are a business and the business will do what is best for them. The Jets were looking out for themselves so why would they give a running back, who is now damaged goods a new deal?

After seeing what happened to his fellow teammate, how could you blame Revis for seeking more guaranteed money? Football is a cut-throat sport and at anytime your career can be taken from you. So Revis listened to the Jets when they called him the "best defensive player in the league" and when they called him their "MVP", and he did what was best for him. Revis took a page out of the Jets book and did what was best for him and in the end he got his money.