The reason I feel Sean Taylor is the most valuable Redskin and soon to be best player in the NFL comes down to two games from last season: Week 10 at Tampa Bay, and the first round of the playoffs at Tampa Bay.  The first game the score was a 36-35 Redskins loss.  Sean Taylor was injured and did not play.  The second game was a 17-10 win.  Sean Taylor did play.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpZ0Dyy5uDU

In the first game Brunell threw for over 200 yards and two scores, Portis ran for 144 yards and one score, and the Moss/Cooley duo combined for 10 catches and 155 yards.  In the second game Brunell threw for 41 yards, Portis ran for 53 yards and the Moss/Cooley duo combined for four catches and 30 yards.  Why then, did the Redskins lose the first game and win the second?  The answer is simple: Sean Taylor. 

In the first game Chris Simms was throwing the ball around like his dad Phil used to.  His receivers were getting open at an alarming rate and he torched the Redskins secondary for 279 yards and three touchdowns.  Without Taylor in the secondary roaming around and putting fear into every receiver on the field, the passing game was easy for the Buccaneers.  In the second game however, Simms struggled to get anything going all day long and despite the poor offensive performance by the Redskins they were able to win the game.  A win that put the Redskins in the second round of the playoffs. 

Aside from the fact that Taylor is a ball hawk, recovering fumbles in two straight games for touchdowns, touchdowns that won both games, his mere presence on the field changes the way offenses have to game plan.  Receivers are scared to cross the middle for fear of becoming the recipient of a mind numbing blow, or even worse, alligator arming a pass because of the thought of Sean Taylor lurking. He has the ability to shut down half, or even the entire field.  He is a safety with linebacker size and sub 4.4 speed. He hits really really hard all the time.  In an early training camp scrimmage against the Baltimore Ravens Sean Taylor put this hit on Mike Anderson... http://www.youtube.com/watchv=cncs76D8D_M  ...After the scrimmage when asked about the hit on Anderson, he called it routine.

As a Florida State Seminole I know all to well Sean Taylor(former Miami Hurricane) and his ability to completely shut down an opposing offense.  Against the Seminoles in the rain he did everything from intercept passes, sack the quarterback, and even down a punt on the one yard line. His entire Hurricane career he dominated the Seminoles, a team which year in and year out puts talent on the field.  He is on the verge of dominating again. 

Last year he shut down two premier athletes at their position, Randy Moss and Antonio Gates.  He delivered big hit after big hit and big play after big play.  Entering just his 3rd year in the NFL Taylor has yet to enter his prime.  The third year is usually the breakout year for rising players.  Ed Reed rose to elite status after his third year. Expect Sean Taylor to do the same, maybe even more.  If you feel the need to write me off as a homer, go ahead, but just be sure to watch this video...in its entirety first.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA61sF2OrsA&mode=related&search=

In the land of make believe I am writing this post because I have been chosen by Fox Sports as one of the 16 finalists.  14 of the other "pretenders" have been eliminated and now it is down to two.  This is my final post and if I don't give it my all well....I'm going home as the first loser. 

In reality I was not chosen as a finalist as my blog was not top 16 material.   But it's OK to pretend, because it is what every person aspiring to make it to the big-time does.  As a kid growing up my life was basketball. Every day outside shooting I would count down from five, firing off the shot with about two seconds left, and making the buzzer sound with my mouth. 

Perhaps imagining every blog I write is the most important of my life is a little crazy, but it is the reason I should move on to the next round.  It is the ultra competitiveness (not sure if that is a word but it sounded cool) mentality, the mind set that I will do anything to win anything, even if it is a contest where the grand prize is a "Nice Post" comment under my blog. 

No matter the contest, no matter the prize, I am here for the long haul and I am here for one reason and one reason only.  To win.

"Nice Post"

Sports, like life, are gutwrenching and can go from the highest of high's to the lowest of low's in a matter of second's.  It's six in the morning, I haven't gone to sleep and I have been drinking all night. However, now is the time I have chosen to get online and discuss sports.   To most people, sports are just entertainment, but the truth is that nothing in this world resembles the difficulties of life quite like sports.   

About 12 hours ago I was tuned in to the Preakness, pulling for Barbaro to get the win and set up a Triple Crown possibility.  It is a feat which hasn't been accomplished since 1979, but this year it seemed to be a distinct possibility because of the dominance Barbaro had demonstrated at the Kentucky Derby.  Everything was going as planned until the horses entered the gates and Barbaro blasted through the high powered magnets prematurely.  Although it had no effect on the actual outcome, it was a bad omen, something no one liked to see happen to the Kentucky Derby champ.  After the race started Barbaro began as normal but soon had to be held up because of a hind leg injury. 

Injury...the only possible thing in the world that could have stopped that horse from winning the race.  The race continued on, but it just didn't seem the same, the horse everyone wanted to see was eliminated too soon.  Instead of winning the Preakness and creating images of a Triple Crown winner, Barbaro is now just fighting to stay alive.  From such a dramatic high comes a dramatic low.  Things never go the way they are supposed to in sports, just like in life. 

Love and the opposite sex are possibly the most difficult thing for a human to grasp.  Even when you believe you have found true love, things go wrong and shatter your hopes.  True love is giving up your everything and putting faith in something bigger than yourself.  For the most part, people get burned for giving up their heart to someone else.  A relationship you thought was meant to last forever ends in a terrible way, and your heart that you gave away is returned...shattered.   Things never go the way they are supposed to in love and life, just like in sports. 

But the same thing which makes life, love and sports so difficult, is what keeps us coming back for more.  The chance that maybe we will see a team finally win after years and years of losing.  Or finally seeing a horse win consecutive races that just seemed to difficult to do.  Or maybe we will even find that one person in our life who we were meant to be with, the person who makes life worth living. 

In the end all we can do is hope.  All we can do is pour our heart, guts, soul and just about everything we have into what we love.  The chance of our favorite team winning the Super Bowl or World Series or NBA championship may be slim, but we hope and have faith because that is all we can do.  The chance of finding that one person in the world who was meant to be with you may be slim, but it is why we are here, and we have to fight each day as hard as we can.

There is nothing better than love and there is nothing better than sports.  The ability to put faith in something we have no control over is what makes life truly worth living.  Giving everything you have, hoping that in the end it will pay off, is the only reason to do anything in this world.

 I have faith..........do you?

The first weekend of Interleague play kicks off later today, with some very intriguing match-ups to pay attention to.  Here is a look at all of the weekend's games:

Cincinnatti Reds (24-17) @ Detroit Tigers (27-13):  Two of the most suprising teams in the league this season face off this weekend in Detroit.  The Tigers have been hot lately and the Reds have struggled, but it should be a great series to watch all weekend.  Plenty of hitting and pitching in this matchup to find baseball's Cinderella. 

Chicago Cubs (17-23) @ Chicago White Sox (26-14):  Hopefully this weekend's battle between the squads from the Windy City will be better than it look's to be on paper.  The White Sox are playing at a very high level and the Cubs...are not.  Hopefully the excitement of the weekend will put some pep in the Cubbies step. 

NY Yankees (23-16) @ NY Mets (24-16): While both of these teams have solid records, each have very high expectations and this weekends series will go a long way in restoring winning ways to one of the teams from New York.  The Subway Series is the first of two important matchups between the four top teams in the East.

Boston Red Sox (23-15) @ Philadelphia Phillies (22-18): These two teams are in fierce battles for their division and are close in talent.  Just another one of the great match-ups brought to the fan's by the wonderful invention of Interleague play. 

Minnesota Twins (17-24) @ Milwaukee Brewers (22-19): At first glance this may not seem like one of the best series' to watch this weekend.  However, the debut of Francisco Liriano as a starter against the young and talented hitting of the BrewCrew will be some big time baseball and great to watch.

Baltimore Orioles (19-22) @ Washington Nationals (14-27): The battle of the Beltway is going to be the most entertaining to watch all weekend.  Steve McNair, Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis squaring off against Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Sean Taylor.  It doesn't get much better than that.  Wait wrong sport.  This stadium will be fans filled with NFL talk anyways. 

Toronto Blue Jays (22-17) @ Colorado Rockies (22-19): Two teams with big time bats should make this an exciting series.  However, Aaron Cook the rookie for Colorado has pitched very well, even at Coors field.  He will get the nod Friday, look for him to slow down the Toronto hitting more than most will expect. 

Florida Marlins (11-28) @ Tampa Bay Devil Rays (17-24): Alot of young talent here that many fantasy baseball lovers will pay attention to.  Other than that, not much going on betweeb these two teams in south Florida.

Texas Rangers (21-19) @ Houston Astros (22-19): Rumor is Roger Clemens will be in attendance and whichever team impresses the most, he will join on Monday morning.  OK, I made that up, but he probably will attend as he lives in Houston.  I think in the end he will end up a Stro. 

St. Louis Cardinals (26-15) @ Kansas City Royals (10-28): This series could be fun to watch just to see how many home runs Albert Pujols will hit.  I'm gonna go ahead and say three....per game.  He did have a day of rest on Thursday so maybe there will finally be some power in his bat.  There is nothing to say about the Royals other than...they are very bad. 

San Francisco Giants (21-20) @ Oakland Athletics (21-19): While all of the focus will be on the 72 year old trying to hit his 714 home run, it should be about more than that.  The Giants and A's are both playing well right now and will be in contention in their prospective divisions all season long. 

Pittsburgh Pirates (13-28) @ Cleveland Indians (20-21): The Indians were expected to challenge the White Sox this year, but instead it has been the Detroit Tigers.  For the Indians to have any shot they need to win these games against the Bucs.  Won't be as easy as it seems, however, with Zach Duke set to take the hill on Friday.

San Diego Padres (23-18) @ Seattle Mariners (17-25): The Padres are hot and the Mariners are not.  A half way interesting matchup to follow for fantasy baseballers, but for the most part...it's a yawner. 

LA Angels (17-23) @ LA Dodgers (21-20):  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim California Los Angeles take on their City or State rival in a matchup between two teams who should be playing better.  Kent and Vlad are the stars and need to shine for their teams to return to the hunt. 

Gonna be a fun weekend of baseball as Interleague play is always good times.  Whenever  the teams from New York, LA and Chicago get together you know there is going to be some great baseball. 

I shouldn't even be allowed to hit against the Royals.