Spring Training hasn't even begun and their's already a story about everybody's favorite Yankee, Alex Rodriguez. The media wants to get a head start on the A-Rod bashing so they decided to make this ridiculous story headline news. Derek Jeter, as usual, describes it the best. If theirs one player you can not hate on the Yankees, it's Jeter. Here's his statement on his relationship with A-Rod.

"We go out there. We work together. This is our fourth year to be playing together. It's annoying to hear about it all the time. Everyone assumes they know what our relationship is. Everyone assumes -- they see us on the field, if one person gives another one a look, it's a story. If we're at opposite ends of the bench, people say it's a story."

Could their be a better answer? Why is this such a big story? What do you want New York, A-Rod and Jeter to go out for lunch every day? They are two completely different people who don't get along. That happens in every day life. Both these guys are what's right about baseball. This A-Rod crap reminds me of the Peyton Manning saga - a good guy who does the right thing and is a winner in life even though he never won the 'big game". Perhaps if A-Rod could get some tattoos, addictions, and arrests on his record he would have enough street cred to get the media off his back.

Derek and A-Rod actually care about their image. They don't make the papers in a bad way. Neither have a mug shot. And A-Rod for all his problems in the post season, it's because he pressures himself too much and not because he was out all night drinking and getting high. So Jeter and A-Rod aren't going to the prom together. Why does this matter? This is the only chink they can find in the armor of two respectful, decent individuals and they want to run with it as if ruining their public image would be a good thing. It's like the sports writers covering the Jeter / A-Rod split also review soap operas in their off time and they don't know how to make the transition.

TheGreatSantini's All Defensive Team

This is the 50th year of the Rawling's Gold Glove and to celebrate they've decided to allow the fans chose the top defensive player to play in a specific position from 1957 and up or also known as The All-Time Rawlings Defensive Gold Glove Team. I have already voted and would like to share with you my picks.

Pitcher- Greg Maddox

Catcher- Johnny Bench- Revolutionized the position of catcher. I could have gone with Pudge but Johnny is just the best.

1st Base- Keith Hernandez- If Bill Mazeroski got in to the Hall of Fame solely on defense, then Keith deserves to be voted in. I'm a big fan of Don Mattingly, but I believe Keith was the better defensive player and overall player.

2nd Base- Roberto Alomar- The most athletic 2nd baseman ever. I went with him because I've never seen Bill play although I hear he's the Babe Ruth of second baseman.

3rd Baseman- Brooks Robinson- No brainier here

SS- Omar Vizquel- Although the Wizard will get voted in, I believe Omar was the best ever to play the position.

OF- Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, and Ichiro- Roberto Clemente is a hero in the country where my parents were born so you can say I'm a little bias with picking him. But he had an amazing arm and in my opinion, he's the best right fielder ever. Willie Mays was just brilliant in center field. Rocket arm and highlight reel plays, he and Clemente are the best 5-tool players the game has ever seen. Now, for my last pick it was between Andrew Jones and Ichiro. Andrew Jones is a highlight machine, making dazzling catch after dazzling catch. But there's just something special about Ichiro. Ichiro is the only player I consider comparable to Clemente defensive wise. He has just amazing range and arm strength plus he plays right field beautifully.

Those are my picks. Remember, this is solely my opinion and I know not everyone will agree with me. We all have our own opinion; if you respect mine I'll respect yours.

Congratulations A.J., you got the head coach you wanted. You wanted a pushover coach who would not challenge your authority and that's what you got. But if you seriously think that Norv Turner is the one coach who can elevate the Chargers to Super Bowl level, then you're dead wrong. How did he do in Oakland again?

Norv is a great offensive coordinator, look at what he did with Frank Gore and Alex Smith last year, but the man has failed many a times at head coach. What I can't understand is how the Chargers fired a guy who turned them around in one year, for a coach who has a 58-82-1 record. I know A.J. is a great GM, he's drafted stars in the past couple of years and pulled off a brilliant trade to get Philip Rivers, Shawn Merriman, and Nate Keilding, but this has to be the dumbest move he's made. Norv Turner is an offensive coordinator, not a head coach. San Diego was on its way to being a Super Bowl caliber team, but this move is a set back to their ultimate goal.

The next one, who really cares?

As fans, we are fascinated in finding the next one. Be it the next Michael Jordan, the next Bill Russell, the next Willie Mays, the next Wayne Grezty, or even the next Joe Montana. My question is, why does it matter?

Why do the fans and the media always want to label a player as the next great star? Why do we have to compare Lebron James to Michael Jordan or Greg Oden to Bill Russell? Why can't we just celebrate players for being who they are and not who they aren't? Lebron James will never be Michael Jordan and Greg Oden will never be Bill Russell. Why? Because only Michael Jordan is Michael Jordan and Bill Russell is only Bill Russell. I know that logic is very simple, but many people don't use it. They just want to find the next great thing. The media is always looking for the next great thing to hype up and the fans are always looking for the next great thing to lead their team to a championship. Not before long, that player will retire and the only memory the fans and the media will have of him is that he was supposed to be the next Michael Jordan and he wasn't. He failed in their eyes because he did not meet their level of expectation and that's wrong. Not every player can reach that magical level, that level where you become legendary.

Another thing I can't stand is labeling someone the next great star when he has yet to play a single game on the pro level. Maybe that's why I don't like Reggie Bush, all the talk of him being the next Gale Sayers before stepping on a pro field annoyed me. I thought it was disrespectful towards Sayers, how could someone be compared to a legend like Sayers without playing one game. Let his career play out and after it's over, compare all you want.

Dice-K Matsuzaka is another player I'm annoyed by. Not that he's done anything to me, but people are labeling him the savior of the Red Soxs pitching rotation without him pitching one single inning. He has no experience in the pro game, but yet the Red Soxs spent over 100 million dollars to get him. You're probably saying, "Well Santini, how can you say he has 0 MLB experience when he was the MVP of the World Baseball Classic.' Yes, Dice-K won the MVP, but did you see the teams he pitched against? Mexico, Cuba, South Korea. Jorge Cantu and the shortstop from Cuba on the Mariners (forgot his name) are the only ones who play in the big leagues. How's that for experience. If he were to dominate the Domican lineup, then I might be sold on Dice-k, but he didn't.

What dose this mini rant that I just had really mean? Stop comparing players and just enjoy them for being who they are. Enjoy watching them because they don't play forever.

That's just my thought, loved to hear your's.

100 Million For this Guy?

When you spend over 100 million dollars on a pitcher who has zero major league experience, you expect him to show up at Spring Training in shape. Well, that's not the case for Boston Red Sox's phenomenon Daisuke Matsuzaka, the 100 million dollar man from Japan. Looking at the picture you can see that Dice-K has been eating a little too many gyros and the way he's holding the bag, Tim Hardaway most not approve. I know that baseball players don't exactly have to be the most perfect physical specimens nor am I making fun of any one who's overweight, but when a team has invested over 100 million dollars on a player that's a complete mystery, you expect him to be in Mr.Universe shape and not look like the Japanese guy from Heroes.

Reggie Bush got injured playing..... in a celebrity basketball game

That's right, the New Orleans Saints star injured his ankle last night in the annual celebrity

basketball game. I'm serious. The future of the New Orleans Saints was playing in a basketball game with Carrot Top, David Arquette and Bobby Flay, the famous chef from the food network. Exhibition games haven't exactly been to kind for the Saints this off-season, Drew Brees dislocated his shoulder in the Pro Bowl, and Reggie Bush injured his ankle in this stupid game. What's next? Deuce McAllister breaks his hand in a friendly game of monopoly. Also, has anyone seen how ripped Carrot Top is. Jesus, they should start testing actors or whatever the hell Carrot Top is supposed to be, for HGH because that guy is on something. I hear that Carrot Tip has been hanging with Victor Conte and is pen-pals with Greg Anderson. You can expect to see him roaming CF in PacBell Park later this season.

A possible end of the greatest football analyst in the history of football analyzing

The New York Post has reported that one industry source believes the decision of firing Michael Irvin, the greatest analyst in the history of ESPN, has already been made, and that some at the network view the outspoken Irvin as a ticking time bomb, ready to explode into a public-relations nightmare.
ESPN did not confirm or deny the report, but issued a statement, saying: "We are currently in the process of discussing studio assignments for next season." How can we live in a world were Michael Irvin is not protecting T.O. every single waking moment. That is one world I do not want to live in. Michael Irvin is a hero to most football fans and the removal of him from ESPN will be heartbreaking to say the least. Ok, maybe he's done some drugs but like drugs have ever killed anyone. Come on. Michael Irvin is from the U baby, the U. No one is better than them. First Reynolds gets canned then Stephen A. Smith loses his show and now Irvin getting canned? ESPN, you know its Black History month, right?

What's the next step for Michael Irvin? Well, a VH1 reality show of course.

Rex Grossman and Playmates

Vince Neil had a surprise birthday party at the Palms Fantasy Tower the day before Valentines Day. Attendees included Criss Angel, Dennis Rodman, Jason Giambi and "celebrity colorist" Michael Boychuck. And if you scroll down you can see a picture of Rex Gossman partying with playmates. They were playing blackjack until 2 a.m., at which time they moved to the craps table. There, Grossman took out one of the Playmates' eyes with the dice. Rex hasn't looked that confident since his passer rating was over 100 in October. If only he was as good at passing as he is at hitting on Playboy Bunnies. On a more serious note, who looks more older, Vince Neil or Greg Oden?

A lot has been made of A.J. Smith firing Marty Schottenheimer last night; a lot of people that I greatly respect have given their opinions on the matter. Some side with Marty and some side with A.J. Some say Marty went 14-2 and desereved better and the some say he hasn't won a playoff game and is lucky he wasn't fired earlier. What's my opinion on the matter; well I won't give you one. Instead, let's take a look at the diaries of both these men. I'm sure they both made an entry last night.

From the Diary of Marty Schottenheimer, February 13, 2007

"Get this diary, I was fired last night. Let me tell you what happened. I was watching Happy Days on my brand new T.V. I'm telling you diary, this T.V. has all the works, and it even has color!!!! Anyways, I hear the phone ring, get up, and it's A.J. on the other line. So I was thinking he wanted my input on the draft or something like that because he never calls. But no diary, that man has the nerves to fire me. Fire Ole' Marty for no good reason. He was telling me we had some kind of dysfunctional relationship and I was like, we had a relationship? I thought the only reason you hired me was to turn San Diego into a contender and I did that. The contract that I signed said nothing about having a "good" relationship with the GM. Oh well, what can I do.

Jerry Jones kept bugging me about coaching the Cowboys but I told him no because I was very happy in San Diego. Well you know what diary; I'm going to take the Dallas Job. Wade's the "supposed" head coach over there. I get a laugh every time I hear that that man is a head coach. What a joke. Even I have a better playoff winning percentage than him (stops writing, takes out a paper with coaches wining percentages in the playoff, starts writing again), OK never mind what I just said. God I really suck. Maybe that had something to do with me being fired."

From the Diary of A.J. Smith, February 13, 2007

"Guess what Diary, I fired Marty last night. I know I said last month that he will be our coach for the long haul but I lied. Big freaking deal, all Marty did was turn our franchise around from a 4-12 team to a 12-4 division championship team in one year. And yeah, he went 14-2 this year, which was the best record in the AFC and blah blah blah. Like all that stuffs any hard. I once swam out into the deep parts of some San Diego beach and I was really scared. But that doesn't get any publicity and I'm sure what I did was just as hard. And now the experts are saying that if Marty went 14-2 and still got fired, how will other coaches believe I have a commitment towards them. You know what I say, go 19-0 and we'll be perfectly fine. Like that's a hard thing to do. I'm sure many teams have gone 19-0. But if he goes 18-1, tough luck, find a new job. I ain't running no charity here in San Diego."

So there you have it, the truth behind the firing of Marty Schottenheimer. I hope this post clears up what went wrong in San Diego.

He's more American than me

Is there anything Albert Pujols can't do? He's won an MVP, he's won a batting title, he's won a World Series, he's the face of baseball, and now he's scored a perfect 100 on his US citizen's test. I looked over a sample of the test and it isn't that hard, but I'm sure I wouldn't score a perfect score. Some of the questions were really stupid, like number 23 was how many government branches are there and number 24 was what are the name of the 3 government branches. Come on, even Vince Young would have gotten that one right and we all know his test taking abilities. I do have some speculation about this, has Pujol's personal citizenship coach been mentioned in any sealed affidavits.

He's Gay, really?

John Amaechi is gay. When I first heard that I said, who the hell is John Amaechi and why should I care if he's gay or not. I don't understand why this is such a big deal but what can you do. Everyone's looking for a story. What I love is hearing some of the opinions players have of this situation. Here are some quotes.

Steven Hunter 76ers
"For real? He's gay for real? Nowadays it's proven that people can live double lives. I watch a lot of TV, so I see a lot of sick perverted stuff about married men running around with gay guys and all types of foolishness."

Ray Allen Sonics
"You don't want to know that there is somebody in your locker room and you are not aware of it. And maybe you had to be careful being where you put yourself in a situation where you might get hit on by a teammate."

LeBron James Cavs
"It's something I'd have to evaluate. You take showers together, you're on the bus, you talk about things. With teammates, you have to be trustworthy. If you're gay and you're not admitting that you are, you're not trustworthy. It's the locker room code; it's a trust factor".

Shavlick Randolph 76ers
"As long as you don't bring your gayness on me I'm fine,"

Why even go to LeBron for a comment? That's one of those things about professional sports that separates it from the "real world." In what other capacity would you ask a 22-year-old male with a less than cosmopolitan upbringing and a high school education for his opinion on gay people? And Shavlick, what would you do if someone brought their gayness on you? That's one of the most common misconceptions heterosexual males have with gay males, they think every single gay man is attracted to them.

But to quote Dunder Mifflin Regional Manager Michael Scott,

"Your gayness does not define you. Your Mexicanity is what defines you."

Some more trouble in Southern Cal

Southern California is looking into whether it may have violated NCAA recruiting rules while pursuing highly rated recruit Joe McKnight, a university official said. McKnight signed a national letter of intent with USC on Wednesday and made comments during a news conference that seemed to suggest communications involving former Trojan Reggie Bush, who is now with the New Orleans Saints. You're kidding me right. The only thing that happened was that Bush talked to McKnight. He didn't give him money, gifts, a car, or even a great deal on a house. All they did was talk. But here comes the big bad NCAA who wants to control every single thing. What about Deon Sanders talking to Noel Devine about not making a decision until he visits Deon's Alma Matta, Florida State? Seems like the same thing to me. And Reggie Bush should just stay away from USC football for a while, his squeaky clean image is taking a hit.

Americas Team has a new coach

Jerry Jones has made his decision and has hired former San Diego Chargers Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips. I like this hire, he turned San Diego into one of the top defenses in the league and I don't see why he can't do the same in Dallas. They have some great talent on the defense; look for Demarcus Ware to play the same role as Shawn Merriman. But now the question will arise to whether Phillips will stay for the long haul or is he just there for a couple of seasons until Jason Garrett is ready to take over. I don't know what will happen but it seems really strange to me that the head coach wouldn't decide who his offensive coordinator would be. It just seems a little fishy.

Thanks for reading,

Santini