March is a beautiful time. Spring is on the way, baseball season draws closer and we get the riveting, all-encompassing March Madness that turns small-time gamblers into lowly degenerates and glues us to the television sets for games that we would not even pay the slightest attention to in any other month. Really, who wants to see Southeastern Louisiana State vs. Iowa in any month but March?

But in the NFL, the month of December is when the real madness begins. Call it "Mediocre Madness." Teams are left scrambling for the finish line, looking for that one victory that might land them at a solid 8-8 and punch their ticket to the playoffs.

Heading into Week 17, the NFC, which is once again trying to show that mediocrity still rules the roost as four teams are sitting at 7-8, and only one can make the sixth seed and enter either Texas Stadium or the Superdome or even Lincoln Financial in January.

But which team will it be? The Ugly American takes a look at the teams still left and breaks down their chances. On with the show...

1. New York Giants - Peyton's Little Brother is impressing no one as the G-Men continue to slip. Tom Coughlin's job is hanging in the balance, and Tiki Barber might be playing his last game. Remember when the Giants were 6-2 and seemingly invincible as far as the NFC East is concerned? Yeah, me either.

Why they will win: Because they are playing the Washington Redskins. The Redskins showed on Sunday that the St. Louis Rams still have a bit of that Greatest Show on Turf left in them. Gregg Williams's defense got shredded for 559 yards and made Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson look like Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk.

Why they will NOT win: Because they are playing the Washington Redskins. Before their disaster at The Ed, the 'Skins nearly knocked off playoff-bound Philadelphia and did defeat New Orleans, so they aren't completely a lay-up.

2. Green Bay Packers - Though I love Brett Favre, he's had more premature farewell tours than KISS, Roger Clemens and Jay-Z. Shockingly enough, the Packers have slipped under the radar and a team that was looking at a Top 5 pick before the season started is now making a push for the playoffs. Guess Favre wasn't lying when he said this may have been the best team he's ever had.

Why they will win: Because if this is indeed Favre's last game, he's not going down without a fight. They play the Chicago Bears, who have clinched everything in the NFC and have nothing to play for. If it comes down to Brian Griese and Bear scrubs versus a fired up Favre, I'm taking Favre.

Why they will NOT win: Lovie Smith might just go ahead and let his starters get a lot of time in since they won't be playing again until Memorial Day which is right around the time the divisional round begins.

3. Carolina Panthers - Hey, look, it's the preseason pick for Super Bowl champs! Oh, what's this? No running game? Jake Delhomme has become Jake Plummer? My, how the preseason champs fallen.

Why they will win: Like Green Bay, they are playing a team that might not have anything to play for in New Orleans. No Brees, no Bush, no McAllister, no problem for Carolina.

Why they will NOT win: When a person says that Delhomme has been bad this season, understand that he's been baaad. Plus, the first ever running back combo that have names beginning with "De" -- Angelo and Shaun -- have not been consistent. It might be more fun to just start adding "De" to Panther players. DeSteve Smith, DeKeyshawn Johnson, DeJulius Peppers...

4. St. Louis Rams - Believe it or not, the Rams are hanging around. They started out 4-1, went on a massive slide that included an embarrassing loss to Arizona, got whacked by San Diego, gashed by Kansas City and heartbroken by Seattle. Yet thanks to a soft spot in the schedule, the Rams have taken two straight victories against Oakland and Washington.

Why they will win: Minnesota has a very sad passing offense, which plays into St. Louis's hands. Marc Bulger carved up Washington's defense after Scott Linehan received a memo telling him that yes, teams in the NFL are still allowed to

a. run more than four plays

b. score

Why the will NOT win: Too much has to happen for the Rams to make the playoffs. The Panthers, Giants and Falcons all have to lose, and they have to win. Those aren't exactly great odds.

5. Atlanta Falcons - It's getting tiring waiting for Michael Vick to develop into a NFL quarterback rather than a guy who dances around and throws to Alge Crumpler. The Falcons are falling fast after it looked like they were going to be the greatest rushing team of all-time at the beginning of the season.

Why they will win: They won't.

Why they will NOT win: The reasons are plenty. First of all, it doesn't matter that Vick "found himself" against the Cowboys. He lost it against the Panthers. Secondly, hasn't Jim Mora, Jr. all but checked out? Wouldn't a trip to the playoffs just distract him from purchasing real estate in the state of Washington? Mora has more important things to do right now than start scheming for the Philadelphia Eagles, like putting Ty Willingham out of a job. Arthur Blank is sharpening his ax, sipping his gin and counting down the seconds until he can finally rid Atlanta of the future coach of the Washington Huskies. For pete's sake, he's probably already started recruitng!

Talk show host: Jim, how do you prepare for the Eagles and try to get this team into the playoffs?

Junior: (chuckles) As my dad would say, "playoffs?! playoffs?!?! what -- you're talking about playoffs? We'll be lucky if I decide to even coach the game!"

 

 

Thousands of Sportswriters Commit Suicide

Thousands of sportswriters across America committed suicide on Wednesday after finding out that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was not named to the 2007 Pro Bowl. It's believed that many aphixiated themselves while listening to Super Bowl XXXVIII on cassette in their cars. WEEI, the most popular sports talk radio station in America and beams out of Boston, is said to have gone off the air immediately as overbearing and obnoxious host Gerry Callahan passed out silver Kool-Aid that was laced with blue cyanide.

ESPN personalities -- including Sean Salisbury, Michael Smith, Mark Schlereth and Merril Hoge -- came close to suicide, but instead resigned, saying they won't work in a world that doesn't believe Tom Brady is infused with the spirit of Jesus Christ, Muhammed, Mother Theresa and Barack Obama.

That was a bit overdone and not remotely true, but only the rising of John Lennon and George Harrison could have overshadowed what happened.

Imagine my surprise when Tuesday's Pro Bowl lineups were announced, and the over-glorified Brady was left absent on the roster. I figured it was just a mistake. After all, there's nobody like Tom Brady. He's cute, he dates actresses and he had helped his team win three Super Bowls.

In the eyes of the know-nothing mainstream media, Brady can do no wrong. He is one of the many athletes they have latched on to, and when something comes about that doesn't spin him in a positive light, they'll unleash their fury through ESPN, the worldwide leader in crappy analysis and paintball.

Who was Brady left off for? Philip Rivers, the southern gent who took North Carolina State to four bowl games. The man who has been winning ever since high school. He was passed over for Eli Manning nearly three years ago, and Rivers is flourishing in his first full year.

"How could the fans and coaches be so ignorant?!" the mainstream idiots screamed on Wednesday. "Tom Brady is our king! We have taken up permanent residence in his ####, and as a football fan, you should be outraged that you won't see his super sexy mug in Hawaii."

Yaaawn.

What's the gripe against Rivers? He wasn't good against Kansas City. Yes, Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times actually made the argument that since Rivers was not any good Sunday night, he should not be given a spot on the roster. Incredible.

And what did Jackie MacMullen of the Boston Globe, and Woody Paige of the Denver Post argue on Wednesday? He's Tom Brady! He could break his ankle, sit out an entire season and he should be given a spot on the Pro Bowl roster. STILL incredible.

Their real argument lies in the fact that Tom Brady has not been as good this year since he has lost Deion Branch, his offensive line has been inconsistent and their receivers just aren't very threatening. If the 2001, 2003 and 2004 Patriots were the Brady Bunch, the 2006 Patriots are the Brady Bunch minus Greg plus Cousin Oliver.

But what's their complaint about Rivers, besides that clunker on Sunday night against Kansas City? He has LaDanian Tomlinson, and he has Antonio Gates, Lorenzo Neal and possibly the best offensive line in the league.

It's quite simple in their eyes--Brady should be rewarded for having a less-than-stellar supporting cast, and Rivers should be punished because he plays with LT and Gates. Does this make any sense at all? You have to read this carefully and a few times just to let it sink in and see how unbelievably stupid and biased the media is towards Tom Brady. REWARDING him for playing with this team and getting to 9-5? As if Laurence Maroney and Corey Dillon and a Belichick defense deserves no credit?  And PUNISHING Rivers for playing on the best team in the league? What's next? Arguing against Peyton Manning because he has Marvin Harrison? Memo to sportswriters that are firmly entrenched in Brady's World: Joe Montana had Roger Craig, Steve Young had Jerry Rice and Troy Aikman had Michael Irvin. Should we disregard their numbers because their front office had the nerve to go get them a receiver?

And tt's not like Brady has blown Rivers out of the water. He has passed for six more yards per game, four more touchdowns, four more interceptions and two more lost fumbles. Rivers has a better completion percentage, and has a quarterback rating five points higher. It's not like they passed over Dan Marino for Ty Detmer in the Super Bowl--Brady has had a very ordinary season, and if we start putting guys in just because they didn't have a good supporting cast, Jon Kitna and David Carr would be dueling it out in The Most Meaningless Exhibition Ever.

AND consider this, out of New England's nine wins going into Week 16, how many of their victories have been really impressive? No, beating Houston 40-7 is not impressive. Nor is flogging Green Bay 35-0. Only two of their wins -- Chicago and Cincinnati -- have been something to brag about. Sorry, but you can't convince me that we should put Brady in Honolulu he split the season series against New York, Miami and Buffalo.

More than anything, people need to relax over Brady not going to the Pro Bowl. Read this carefully: it's the Pro Bowl. Not the Super Bowl, Ice Bowl or Meineke Car Care Bowl...Pro Bowl.

It's almost that time. Just one week till people everywhere tear open presents and begin thinking about what to exchange them for the next day. Ryan gets in the spirit and doles out gifts to major sports stars.

We here at the UA (Ugly American) appreciate the holidays. We don't get caught up in the pageantry and the commercialism that has taken Baby Jesus and plopped him down on the level of a baby that is as important as the kids doing Huggies, it isn't our thing.

But instead of smacking you upside the head with religious stuff that might make you feel uncomfortable, we'll get on the level of everyone and start handing out Christmas gifts to major sports stars. And don't be surprised if Terrell Owens receives one of Prancer's yule logs. On with the gifts:

Tom Brady: Skin to cover up that chin cleft. Those things are fine, until it looks like you could lose a finger if it gets close.

Bill Belichick: Jack Del Rio and Mike Nolan's wardrobe. This January, would it be possible for you to take a step up on the clothes you wear? I realize it's cold and I sympathize with this because I can't stand the chills. But Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry didn't wear clothes from the agape house during the Ice Bowl, and neither should you during a game played in 30 degree weather.

Peyton Manning: The ability to beat a 3-4 defense. It's coming up on January, which means another installment of Manning throwing all over the place against a 3-4 defense that eats him for lunch and regurgitates him for dinner. Not even the comfort of the RCA Dome will save Manning this year (just like last year). However, my gift to Manning will help the Colts out some, but they'll ultimately fail because I can't give them a run defense.

LaDanian Tomlinson: Health. The only thing that is going to stop you from getting your ring is an injury.

Shawne Merriman: Creatine, Flinstones vitamins and raw eggs stirred in a glass with some skim milk. Hey, Shawne, if you're going to pump up, can't you do it honestly?

Sean Salisbury: Resolve. Salisbury picks a new team for the Super Bowl every hour he is awake. It's rumored that he has even gone so far as to picking the Utah Jazz, but upon hearing that the Jazz are in the NBA, Salisbury screamed that he is the most respected NFL analyst ever and he was just testing us.

Rex Grossman: A new nickname. "Sexy Rexie?" Please.

Carmello Anthony: Horse tranquilizer. Settle down, 'Melo. Make an R&B album and chill out.

LeBron James: A healthy Larry Hughes. A healthy Hughes could give the Cavs the edge they need in the playoffs.

Albert Pujols: Another MVP. You were robbed in '06, El Hombre.

Derek Jeter: Less media coverage. I could care less about your pretty good numbers. Unless you're great, I don't need to know about what you do.

Chris Berman: A severance package. You were cute in 1980, you're annoying now. Get lost, leather. (10,000 cool points to whomever gets that)

Who's #1?

Can you ever remember a year when we were talking about the NFL Rookie of the Year? Usually it goes by the wayside just like the Lou Groza, Silver Slugger and Mr. Nice Guy awards. Unless you are a Rookie of the Year historian, or a portly gentleman with a bad goatee, you just don't know who the NFL's Rookie of the Year is because it never matters. The reward is a trip to Dollywood with 58-year-old women dressed as rhinestone cowgirls.

That all changed this year.

Has there ever been a more electric rookie class? This is the NFL's version of the 2003 NBA rookie class, you know--the LeBron, 'Mello and D-Wade class. The 2006 NFL rookie class was loaded with the gems: Leinart, Young and Bush with a dash of Mario Williams and Jay Cutler.

But who is the Rookie of the Year? The choices have been unofficially narrowed down to Vince Young, Reggie Bush, Maurice Jones-Drew and Devin Hester. In the spirit of the '03 NBA rookie class, each of the candidates will be listed with a personalized nickname that hopefully catches on.

VY

Young has been deemed "a winner." He passes for 82 yards and two interceptions--he's a winner. He completes 42% of his passes--he's a winner. That's Jeter territory. The sports media has perpetuated a myth that says a quarterback who wins, wins despite his mediocre numbers. And don't forget this: VY has mediocre numbers. Even during the recent hot streak he's thrown for more two more touchdowns than interceptions. Color me not impressed by VY. He's a fantastic talent, but is playing with a solid supporting cast. In case people have forgotten, Travis Henry is in his backfield, Norm Chow is in the booth and he's got a solid defense that held Indianapolis to 17 points and helped the Titans crawl back from a 21-0 deficit with nine minutes left against New York.

VY has proven that he can get it done despite average numbers. His overtime scramble against Houston was a thing of beauty, but I'm not about to buy him as the next Elway. He's not even Jim Harbaugh circa '95.

President Bush

This Commander-in-Chief of the Aints is going to shatter the rookie receptions record--and he's a running back. He got off to a slow start and has yet to show that he can run between the tackles, but when he gets the ball, it's a thing to behold. VY gives a slight juke that throws off a defender, the Prez bounces, jukes, spins, crawls, hurdles and flips between defenders.

Bush is doing to NFL defenses what he did to college defenses. They flail around like Fresno State and UCLA did a year ago, and the transformation has happened so quickly.

Hesteria

The NFL hasn't seen a return man like Hesteria in a long time. He's good enough to make you want to belt out Def Leppard tunes in honor of his nickname. Let's try something...

Take a "Photograph" of Hester being an "Animal" and "Let's Get Rocked." And for chrissakes, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" when Hester gets going because I get all hot and sticky sweet.

Match that, Stu Scott. I just named four Leppard megahits about a guy who returns kicks--and not much else. He has made five tackles, and his voice is higher than Mike Tyson's. But the guy has six returns for touchdowns and became only the second player to ever return two in one game when he did against the hapless Rams.

Mo' Money, Mo' Drew

All right, now I'm getting into Chris Berman's territory. Dumb nicknames that make no sense and play off of stupid rap songs. But God help me, I love it.

Mo' Money came out of UCLA, meaning he did a couple of games against fellow Rookie of the Year candidate President Bush. Mo' Money has been every bit as good as Bush. He probably won't get 1,000 yards, but he has over six yards per carry and nine touchdowns. Thirty-three receptions for 332 yards is also pretty impressive.

Drew was made candidate after an impressive, but hollow, performance against the Indianapolis Colts, and he's going to be the top back for the Jaguars soon. The leading back, Fred Taylor, is made out of fiberglass and is being held together by

band-aids and Bubble-Yum.

Hollywood Leinart

2006 has not been kind to Hollywood.

First, he lost to Texas in the Rose Bowl.

Then, he fooled around with a 5'7" version of the clap, Paris

Hilton.

And he knocked up girlfriend/whatever Brynn Cameron.

And finally he dropped from consensus #1 pick in 2005 draft to forgettable #10 pick in 2006 draft and was sent to NFL Hell, Arizona, where he played understudy to Kurt Warner.

By Week 5, he was playing, and he almost defeated Chicago in his first start on "Monday Night Football." Then it got bad, and they lost to the Oakland Raiders. Things have been better lately. He's won three of his last three games and has passed for over 2,000 yards in 10 games. Leinart has completely fallen off the map of relevance. He's now J.J. Redick, only he's healthy and pretty good.

Consider this: he's thrown for the same amount of touchdowns as VY, the same amount of interceptions and three fewer rushing touchdowns while completing a better percentage of passes and thrown for 400 more yards in two fewer games.

"But, Ryan," you say, "he's got Anquain Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald and Edgerrin James! He's loaded!"Not exactly. Yes, he's got two super receivers in Boldin and Fitz, but James has been a collossal bust without a decent offensive line. And let's see Young try to complete nearly 60% of his passes behind the Arizona Cardinals' line. He would be reduced to running every single down.

If we're going by numbers, Leinart is the guy, but because he plays on such a bad team, he'll be completely ignored. Meanwhile, Young's latest surge will lead to him getting many, many votes.

Oh, to be a Titan...

 

There’s probably not a more polarizing outfielder than J.D. Drew. That’s probably. After all, Barry Bonds is still using a walker to patrol left field, and he is the most hated sports figure since Bill Romanowski.

But Drew is a special case, because he doesn’t split the lines between rival fans. Giant fans probably didn’t have a special hatred reserved for him like Red Sox fans do for Derek Jeter or Bucky Dent. Drew comes between the old school and new school fans—old-timers versus sabermetricians. The old school loathes him, citing his constant injuries and whiny persona that has caught on from Tony La Russa’s description in “Three Nights in August.” If J.D. Drew were to take himself out of the lineup for having a sprained ankle, why that old school fan would tell him to rub some dirt on it and quit being a baby. Imagine Drew playing for Lou Piniella:

Drew: Can’t make it today, my fingers are aching and I rolled over my ankle.
Piniella: YOUUUUU BABY! SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND PUT ON THAT UNIFORM!
Drew: (dialing Scott Boras’s number) Sccooot, Lou is trying to make me play through an injury again and I don’t feel like it. Yeah, okay, here he is. (hands the phone to Lou)
Lou: Yes?
Scott: Lou, this is Scott Boras, superagent and lowlife extraordinaire. I’m also J.D.’s mommyslashbabysitterslashlifesupport. Why are you trying to make my little boy play through pain?
Lou: It’s baseball!
Scott: It’s dangerous is what it is. I’m protecting an investment. You’ll be getting a fax excusing J.D. from the next few games.

It would be high comedy, right there between “Stuck On You” and “Meet the Deedles.” But the new schoolers wouldn’t laugh. They would laugh at the people who don’t understand just what Drew brings to the table.

What he brings (when he plays) is a high on-base percentage, good pop and good defense. He’s a sabermetric wet dream, but an old school nightmare. The relationship between fans and Drew is a unique one, because no other exists in sports.

So, who is right in all of this madness? The new breed is right to point out his good production. There aren’t many outfielders with a .900 OPS who play defense as well as Drew. At 31, he is bound to see a few more good years although his slugging percentage has been dropping the past two seasons.

But don’t the old schoolers have a point? He has had some minor injuries that even a hemophiliac would smirk at. They point out that he loafs to balls, and that he gives less than 100%, although something like this is hard to prove. They also cite how he is greedy, although most athletes are. Perhaps it wasn’t the smartest move to re-enter the draft after the Philadelphia Phillies took him and couldn’t pony up the cash in 1997. After that, Drew was back at Florida State and then drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals a year later. His act was seen as unforgivable by Phillie fans and they greeted him with a chorus of boos and a few batteries. Santa Claus isn’t the only guy that doesn’t feel safe in Philadelphia.

After being drafted by the Cardinals, Drew spent the next few seasons on and off the disabled list. When he played, he produced. Scouts once said that Drew had a swing that had not been seen since Mickey Mantle, but that swing was usually glued to the bench sipping Gatorade and thinking about his next paycheck.

It was in 2003 that the Cardinals finally had enough of Drew. With him coming up on his walk year and knowing fully well they would not be able to afford his next contract, the Cardinals swung him to the Atlanta Braves on Dec. 31, 2003 for Ray King, Jason Marquis and prospect Adam Wainwright.

The relationship between Drew and La Russa goes as far as La Russa’s comments about giving 75% in “3NA.” It was the right move for La Russa, who at an advanced age did not want to deal with another guy he compared to Rickey Henderson.

Predictably, Drew came up big for the Braves in 2004, as he set career highs in almost every category possible. Predictably, Drew walked at the end of the season and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $55 million over five years which held an opt-out clause. And predictably, Drew walked, leaving $33 million and three years left with the Dodgers for a market that was out of control.

And the Boston Red Sox came a callin’. Trot Nixon, an injury prone right fielder who couldn’t hit lefties was out, and the Sox gave Drew $70 million and five years. Drew was a prime target for general manager Theo Epstein. Epstein craved on-base percentage like most nerdy sabermetricians do. And not that there’s anything wrong with that, but he was so enamored by Drew’s ability to watch ball four that he completely looked past the injuries and gave him the money.

Now Sox fans are up in arms. “How can we give this sissy the dough?!” they ask. Good question. One answer would be that they are the Boston Red Sox, and they can. The other answer would be that he’s a much better alternative than trading for Jacque Jones. Red Sox fans apparently demand a lot from their right fielders, namely at-bats, which they don’t think Drew can give them. But am I missing something? Weren’t Red Sox fans transplanted with a splice of DNA that makes their level of baseball knowledge and appreciation a significant cut above your run-of-the-mill Milwaukee Brewer, Chicago Cub or Arrogant Yankee fan? Keep in mind that two of the biggest baseball dorks ever work, or have worked for the organization they bleed for—Bill James and Epstein. Don’t they have faith in a GM that won a World Series?

The answer is a resounding no, and a trade for Jones, Luke Scott or putting a high schooler out there would be a better option than playing that woman. Baseball season is still five months away, and already the J.D. Drew Era in Boston is off to a rocky start. And he should pay attention: Edgar Renteria was run out of town after one season. Playing in Boston is not the same as playing in the forgiving right fields of St. Louis or the “we’re just here for the party” of Los Angeles. Boston fans will make his name a curse word on WEEI if he doesn’t show up and play 150 games.

Both new schoolers and old schoolers are right with their assessment of J.D. Yes, Drew is a sissy and a bit of a whiner, but he puts up numbers which leads to winning which leads to fan happiness. Sure he doesn’t give style points, but baseball is not a beauty contest. Maybe someday, Drew will play for a fanbase that regards his injuries as a quirkiness and finds them adorable while also loudly cheering him when he plays.

Hey, it’s possible, what else have the Colorado Rockies fans had to cheer for?

As the 2006 baseball season continues to swing by the quarter pole, it's time to look at the players that have become afterthoughts to Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds. The two have dominated the headlines so far this season, as they each try to shatter records. Here are five National League players that have not been given their proper due, but thanks to the wonders of blogging, will be recognized here.

Lance Berkman

(.296/.368/.605) Berkman got off to scorching-hot start, but has cooled off recently. That does not take away from what he has done since then. His on base percentage is not at it's usual high of .400, but he's slugging way over his career norms. Berkman is Houston's biggest threat in a lineup that seems to get weaker every season. Morgan Ensberg is good, but Berkman has mastered the nooks and crannies of Minute Maid Park. Nobody can dink a 316-foot home run into the Crawford Boxes like Berkman.

Andruw Jones

(.270/.350/.517) Last year's MVP runner-up is maintaining a steady season. He has uncorked 11 home runs and has 45 RBI's, which is second to Albert Pujols. His current line is almost identical to his 2005 line. Don't expect Jones to become a poor man's Pujols, or even his center fielding counterpart Jim Edmonds. He's going to get his 35-40 home runs, but he will never hit for a high average and draw enough walks. Consider him a better hitting version of Adam Dunn.

Despite his flaws, Jones is still the main thunder in the Braves lineup, and should be recognized for driving in runs.

Nomar Garciaparra

(.375/.437/.652) The Los Angeles Dodgers best signing is paying off in a big, big way. As I wrote awhile back, Garciaparra looks like the neurotic-with-the-batting-glove-butt-slapping-Mia-
Hamm-loving player that he was in Boston. So far, he's avoided the injury bug and is a major part of the Dodgers initial success  this season. Will Garciaparra continue to slug over .600? Probably not, but if he stays healthy, there's no reason to believe that he won't have a great season.

Edgar Renteria

.(322/.408/.441) Two great seasons can do a lot for you. Just ask Edgar Renteria. In 2002 and 2003, he established himself as a premier shortstop in Major League Baseball. 2003 was his finest year, as he hit .330 and drove in 100 RBI's. Renteria entered his contract season of 2004 with high expectations, but was not at his best. Despite an average season, the Boston Red Sox came a calling, gave Renteria a $1 million more than the Cardinals, and Renteria was a Red Sock.

Renteria endured his worst season since 2001 last year, and quickly became known as "Rent-a-wreck" throughout WEEI airwaves. He committed 30 errors and failed to produce and live up to the $10 million he was given. Boston wanted him gone so bad that they ponied up for $19 million left on his contract and traded him to Atlanta for prized prospect Andy Marte. Now that he's back in the NL and out of Boston's bright lights, Renteria has sizzled. He opened up the season with a 22-game hitting streak and will clearly be a step up from Rafael ####al.

Hanley Ramirez/Dan Uggla

.335/.411/.476
.315/.377/.483

For this one, I picked one middle infield, because they have been so good. Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla are two players you don't know a lot about because they play for the Florida Marlins, but at a young age, both are producing, and combined with Miguel Cabrera, they form a formidable 1-2-3 punch at the top of the lineup.

Ramirez was key to the deal that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston. Reports last season indicated that Ramirez would not produce at high level, and once he started hanging out with Manny, the Red Sox soured on him. He's having a great season, and is one of the NL's best shortstop's this season. Look for Ramirez to snag Rookie of the Year honors.

His teammate, second baseman Dan Uggla, has really come out of nowhere. He has been one of the National League's best slugging second baseman. Make no mistake about it, folks, the Marlins are producing another championship team. Don't be suprised to see them win the World Series in 2009.

There's fewer names in baseball that perturb me and make my skin crawl more than the triumverate of Billy Beane, Paul DePodesta and Bill James. Only Barry Bonds, J.D. Drew and Derek Jeter irritate me more, but it's probably DePodesta that tops them all.

It's not their methods that have made me come to despise them, it's their arrogance in their own brand of infinite wisdom. James is a very important figure in baseball. He devised sabermetrics, a system that has provided us with more knowledge about the game within the game. Beane took James' methods and applied them to his franchise. Why smaller market teams have not caught on to his ways is still beyond me, but he's still a very cocky general manager that doesn't even like watching baseball. DePodesta is his flunkie, and I'll get to him in a minute.

The Story Begins

Because of James and Beane, everyone is now a sabermatrician. Everyone thinks they now understand the game better than men who have been around it because they hugged "Moneyball" when they fell asleep at night. The lineage from James to DePodesta reads like a book out of the Bible. From James begat "Baseball Abstract," which begat Beane, which begat DePodesta and J.P. Riccardi, the Toronto Blue Jays general manager. DePodesta is one of those guys that got too big for his britches. This is the (short) story about a wonderboy GM turned a playoff contender into ruins, and how they rebounded after his departure.

If you have read Michael Lewis' "Moneyball," you undoubtedly read about DePodesta. Read closely and you'll question if DePo has watched a game of baseball in his life. He was from Harvard, good with numbers and did all of his work from a laptop. He was one of the geniuses that fought tooth and nail to draft Jeremy Brown in the first round of the 2002 draft, even though Brown was projected to go as low as 14th.

DePodesta's Stock Rises

After DePo rode Beane's unsuccessful coattails for a few years, he was offered the job as the Los Angeles Dodgers general manager in February of 2004. His job was a tough one: get the team to the playoffs, a place they had not been since 1996. DePo managed to do so, despite not making any earth-shattering moves. They won 93 games, but bowed out of the playoffs in four games to the Cardinals in the 2004 NLDS.

DePodesta's Worst Enemy: DePodesta

Then DePo got crazy. He signed J.D. "Just Disabled" Drew to a 5 year, $55 million contract coming off his one and only great season with the Atlanta Braves in 2004. He didn't stop. After watching Derek Lowe pitch the Red Sox through the 2004 postseason, DePo offered him $9 million per year, then grabbed an aging Jeff Kent. The result? The Dodgers finished with their worst record since 1992. Drew got hurt, Lowe played to his career norms. Kent did well, making that a plus for DePo.

On October 29, I was sitting in the lobby of The Olive Garden waiting for a seat. I did not have access to the radio all day, and from my phone, I checked out the major sports stories. There was one in particular that caught my eye:

"DePodesta Fired As Dodgers GM"

What a surprise that was. DePodesta, with all of his wisdom about baseball that the average fan cannot possibly grasp, was dumped after two seasons. It was a fitting end for someone who abandoned his principles and did not honor what he had learned from Beane. Sure he could hang the Dodgers failed season on injuries, but he did not do anything to improve the situation. In a way, DePo was his own undoing, thus becoming his own worst enemy.

Ned Who?

Out of the blue, the Dodgers hired Ned Colleti, who had been working with Brian Sabean in San Francisco. Colleti made some questionable moves during his inaugural offseason, bringing in five former Giants. He also signed Rafael Furcal, although they had a shortstop in Cesar Izturis, considered one of the best defensive shortstops in the league. He also signed Nomar Garciaparra...to play first base. These were strange moves, but Colleti was rolling the dice.

Call this a hard eight. The Dodgers have turned it around under Grady Little, infamous for the New York-Boston meeting in the 2003 ALCS. The Dodgers are 13 percentage points out of first place and have won seven in a row, nine of their last 10. Remarkable? That's not even the half of it. The Dodgers are getting it done with mainly castoffs. Garciaparra has returned with a force. Kenny Lofton is hitting .304, and as of May 25, Drew has 156 at-bats. That used to be Drew's three-year quota. Furcal and Kent are under-performing.

The apparent strength of this team has been in the starting pitching. Aaron Sele and Brad Penny's ERA's are hovering above two. Lowe is a shade over three, and Brett Tomko's ERA is at 3.21. That is a suprise within itself. Eric Gagne is on his way back, and things are looking for up a franchise that had high hopes after a playoff appearance in 2004.

The Story Ends

While DePo has gone back to being an assistant, Colleti has picked up the pieces and ran away. One of baseball's supposed brightest minds was given the keys to one of baseball's most legendary franchises, and a quick spin around the block turned into a long rollover into the ditch. The Dodgers still have a long way to go, but at least now they are back on track.

MVPujols apologizes for the sloppiness of this post. It was late and he is too tired to go back and edit the mistakes.

I admit, not being a finalist in NSGII has sapped some of my motivation.

The whole thing is a scam, but I won’t let that deter me from reaching my peeps that are reading this in droves. It wouldn’t be fair to all four of you.

But it’s time to get back to work, and put all of this silly nonsense behind us. There are pressing issues that need a good pressing, for wont of a better term.

How the ‘Roiders Changed Us

Have you ever sat down and pondered steroids? Sure you have. If you’re a fan of baseball, you should despise everything they encompass and the fraudulent cheaters that introduced them to potentially hundreds of users that have turned a game that we are passionate about into nothing more than an artificial Home Run Derby.

“Get to the point,” you say. I’m getting there.

Think about how much Barry Bonds and the rest of his merry band of dopers have changed our perception of the game. It’s now naive to believe that what we see from baseball players is done on Creatine and Red Bull, not Stanzolol and horse steroids. That’s why as the calendar changes, Albert Pujols will be under more and more scrutiny. The more bombs he hits, the more questions pop up. To who do we owe this? The dopers, of course.

Creating Controversy Where None Exists

Pujols’ near-record pace is nothing short of amazing. He’s mashing the ball and is on “pace” for 82 home runs. Now fans will remember 1998, how they believed Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, and 2001 how they believed Barry Bonds. There really shouldn’t be any doubts about Pujols. He doesn’t show any of the physical signs of steroid use, he isn’t surly and his fingerprints aren’t smeared all over BALCO. Despite evidence to the contrary, people are still going to doubt him.

The naysayers will pull conspiracies out of thin air. For example, how can a 13th round draft pick out of Maple Woods Community College ascend to baseball royalty in a matter of two years? How can a 20-year-old hit that way? It isn’t natural, they claim. Well, Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Joe DiMaggio were cranking it when they were in their early 20s. Isn’t it possible that Pujols is a special player like those three? Is it hard to admit that great baseball players like Pujols are born that way? Have the dopers done enough to make you believe that once-in-a-lifetime players do not come around anymore?

Pujols’ Plan: Stick With Bonds

El Hombre has a plan. As he embarks on possibly the greatest season of all-time, he has an idea on how to keep distraction out of the Cardinals clubhouse. You see, Pujols has already shifted the spotlight back to Bonds. He’s said in recent interviews he doesn’t want Bonds’ life. He has said that Bonds is still the best player in the game and has publically doubted his steroid use.

This is almost a counter-attack to Bonds telling reporters to go watch Pujols. Neither of them want the media fawning all over them as they chase records this summer. It’s a sly game of two friends saying:

“No, you’re the best”

“No, no I insist, you’re the best.”

Pujols is a quiet, amiable team-first player that is quick to give due to other teammates, something that will put vultures in the media to sleep. Bonds pretends that he hates the media, but the more they hound him and his oversized cranium, the happier he is.

Their newfound admiration for each other might cast doubt in some fans, but make no mistake, Pujols knows that if he tells the media about how Bonds has caused major damage to the game, he’ll make this an even bigger issue. Plus, it isn’t within Pujols’ humble self to attack players.

Give Him a Break

So this summer, let’s give AP the benefit of the doubt and just enjoy the fact that we are seeing a modern day Joltin’ Joe, or Stan “The Man” or Teddy Ballgame. Pujols is not going to let the steroids issue bother him, and neither should you.

I watched the Mavericks-Spurs last night with one eye on the television and one eye on the computer screen. I flipped it on sometime during the third quarter and left it on until the end.

I thought this was finally it for the Spurs. I thought that the window of opportunity to claim another championship or two was shut for good last night. Sure they still have Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli, but it becomes more and more of a chore every year. Winning NBA championships is not easy, even if you have a great core like the Spurs.

But just as the Mavericks prepared to slam that window shut, the Spurs slid their fingers underneath and blocked it. The window is slowly opening back up, and after Monday night, the San Antonio Spurs will return to the Western Conference finals.

Dallas failed big time. This was their chance to establish themselves as the new power in the West. The new blood was coming through and they were ready to pounce on a chance to represent a conference that has been dominated by the Spurs and Lakers for the past seven years. Dirk Nowitzki was supposed to be the new premier player. Avery Johnson was supposed to be the next great coach.

Somebody forgot to tell San Antonio and their group of grizzled veterans, hard-nosed defenders and bland personalities that bit of information. For two straight games,the Spurs showed why the old-school, lock-your-defender-down, pester-your-opponent and do it all with no style is the real key to winning an NBA championship these days. The Mavs are all style, zero substance. As boring as they might be, the Spurs are still the team to beat.

The biggest disappointment of the night was Nowitzki. Where was Dirk at? Rumor has it that he was there, but you would have had to watch the game to know for sure. That or just search the box score really hard. Nowitzki had 26 points last night, but he had an eye-popping two points in the fourth quarter.

When the Mavericks head back to Dallas after Monday night's game, all they will think about is missed opportunities. They'll think about how they had an opportunity to shove San Antonio out of the playoffs with force. They'll ponder how they became the ninth team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 deficit. And the troubling fact about how they are perennial second round losers might cross their minds a time or two.

After the game last night, Johnson told reporters about Game 7, "we love the challenge, we don't have any fear."

Could have fooled me.

 

Can we give Michael Barrett a standing ovation? Let's applaud Michael for a classy display of sportsmanship on Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field.

After A.J. Pierzynski crashed into him while he was blocking home plate without the ball, Pierzynski kind of leaned into Barrett after scoring. Barrett lost control and punched A.J. in the grill, provoking a bench-clearing brawl that saw John Mabry and Brian Anderson get ejected along with Barrett and Pierzynski.

I was going to refrain from making fun of the Cubs 7-0 loss to the White Sox, because they've had it bad this year. Derrek Lee broke his wrist, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood are about as stable as Liza Minelli and their offense is slightly better than Kansas City's.

But this set me off. Michael Barrett proved why the Cubs are seemingly going nowhere. Here you are, eight games under .500, 10 games out of first place and you're punching people? Tsk, tsk, Mr. Barrett. See how good the Cubs do without you. As one of the Cubs few offensive stars on a team full of flickering and burned out bulbs, they need Barrett.

Alas, Dusty Baker has lost control of this team. Cooler heads would have prevailed in that situation, but the Cubs are frustrated, angry and coming apart at the seams. While they certainly aren't out of it, they are coming dangerously close. Lee is out until the middle of June, and by then the Cubs could be 15 games out or more.

It's great to hear Cub fans react like Barrett is a hero. A hero for throwing a right cross when it wasn't even necessary. Pierzynski is a dirty player, but Barrett proved to be dirtier. Barrett is a very good offensive catcher. He'll never be Pudge in his prime, but teams could do a whole lot worse. Today's melee reaffirmed why he'll never go into that upper echelon of catchers. One needs to look no further than the 2004 World Series at what should have been done. Then-rookie Yadier Molina thought that the Red Sox were stealing signs, so he took action and got in Manny Ramirez's face. There was no need for Molina to lace up boxing gloves and clock Ramirez in the jaw. He didn't need to knee him in the groin, or even tackle him. The Cardinals were in the same position, and Molina showed at just 22 that he was able to take charge without feeling a need to lay the smackdown. That's maturity. Barrett comes across as a hot-headed bully that needs a timeout.

So, Michael, while you're sitting on the bench for the next week and you're pouting because you got bowled over, take the time to watch how a real catcher would react. Think about the old elementary school taunt:

Sticks and stones,
 can break my bones,
but A.J. Pierzynski will never hurt me

MVPujols (Ryan) thanks you for reading his blog. He also encourages you to leave comments, positive or negative. Don't drink and drive.

 

Interleague play.

Just the mere mention of the words is enough to make a baseball purist feel a little vomit in his throat. It is an ugly, dirty word that represents the evil of Bud Selig. And as interleague play began it's 10th season today, let's take a look at some of the sizzling matchups that are sure to keep sports fans buzzing into the weekend.

Toronto vs. Colorado

Ah, yes, the battle of--umm--I don't know? Most of the teams playing this weekend are "natural" rivals. MLB defines your natural rival as the team that plays in the same county, city or state. So I'm not sure what to make of tonight's game between Toronto and Colorado. Somebody drop me a line on why this game is happening this weekend.

Minnesota vs. Milwaukee

Now we're talking. Francisco Liriano is making his debut tonight in this matchup between the two teams from the upper Midwest. It should be a dandy. Remember that time you said "I can't wait to see the Brewers and Twins!"? Yeah, I don't remember saying it either, but it's going to happen.

Baltimore vs. Washington

Now THIS is a matchup for the ages. Two teams that play in close proximity to each other squaring off to decide who is a better fit for the region. While this might not mean much to me, or anyone else for that matter, you can bet your last dollar that Peter Angelos cares. This is his World Series, especially since the O's are still suffering from the Curse of Jeffrey Maier.

Kansas City vs. St. Louis

Now you're probably wondering why a Cardinal fan is listing his team as one of the weekend's worst matchups. For starters, it's Kansas City. Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for the Royals even though they snaked the '85 Series like thieves in the night, but nobody deserves this kind of punishment, except maybe the Yankees. For all intents and purposes, the Cardinals should blast the Royals 11-1 in every game, but Kansas City usually gets up for these games since they realize their palace is being raided by western Missouri Cardinal fans. These games usually get sloppy and are criminally bad.

Tampa Bay vs. Florida

Oh my, a series that has the potential to set record attendance numbers. This series should not even happen. I don't care if they are in-state "rivals." Even the 14 Marlin fans and nine Ray fans don't want to see this. If Kansas City is baseball purgatory, then Tampa and Miami are baseball hell.

Series' To Watch For Laughs

Here are the series' you should watch if you want a good laugh.

Chicago vs. Chicago

The downtrodded, beat up Cubbies travel to The Cell to take on the defending World champions. If you want to watch a massacre, you watch this one. As I write this, the Sox are winning 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth with Old Man Maddux showing that his great start was a fluke. The Cubs do have the potential to take one game, because Zambrano throws on Sunday.

New York vs. New York

Here's another laugher. New York's pitching combo of Randy Johnson and Aaron Small is so atrocious that the Mets should crush the Yankees so bad it hurts. Mike Mussina throws on Saturday, giving the Yanks a glimmer of a hope, but it should be a joy to see Pedro and Glavine keep this weakened Yankee lineup down.

Jerry Seinfeld once theorized that we no longer cheer for the athlete, but the name on the jersey. I don't like Seinfeld much, but has there ever been a more truthier (thanks, Colbert!) statement? Of course Seinfeld said this before it became hip to boo players mercilessly. Here are some examples of guys that really make Seinfeld's words shine.

Terrell Owens

Yeah, this was an easy pick.

There has never been a more revered, despised and eventually villanized athlete than Terrell Owens. He is arrogant, self-serving and worst of all, talented. Owens makes you want to slug him in the face for being such a showboat. He was adored by fans in San Francisco before and after he underwent a transformation from a quiet, game-changing receiver to a loud-mouth, scream-in-your-face, game-changing receiver. Then he wanted out of San Francisco and once he find out he was dealt to Baltimore, he threw a temper tantrum that only a two-year-old could match. He was moved to Philly, was injured in a late-season game against Dallas, rendering him out for the season, made a promise to show up in the Super Bowl, and in a game that should have solidified his status as a legend forever, Owens was a factor in the Eagles 24-21 loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. About eight months later, Owens began the season-long journey that would get him kicked out of Philly. He badmouthed Donovan McNabb in what could only be described as the worst backstabbing since Hulk Hogan 10 years ago. Owens is now in Dallas where he once made an unkind reference to Michael Irvin on the star. He was cheered in San Francisco and Philly. They ate his act up and put away their moral objectivity because he was doing it for their team. If Owens successfully wrecks Dallas (he's already started), they'll soon regret ever cheering for him.

Barry Bonds

Oh yes, another easy pick. Take everything about Owens and multiply it by five, then you have Bonds. He is liked by no one--except Giants fans, who find him to be the greatest thing since two pieces of sliced bread. Everyone else hates him, and he hates everyone else. It is a mutual feeling, and perhaps one of the most interesting relationships to ever exist between a star athlete and a player. Bonds wants you to hate him. He derives inspiration in the whole world (except for San Francisco) being against him. But what if Bonds moved to the American League as a designated hitter? Would Giant fans still stand in awe of his home runs? We can't answer that, because it's never happened, but it's my best guess that they would feel slighted and betrayed. One thing is for sure, he would become an icon in whatever city he lands up in.

Mark McGwire

Fans swear that if McGwire came into their home, he would be booed with the same verocity that Barry Bonds receives. They are probably right. But in St. Louis, McGwire is still king. Despite a horribly embarrassing showing at Capitol Hill on Mar. 17, 2005, McGwire was still loudly cheered when he showed up at one of the final Busch Stadium II games last season to continue the countdown. It was quite the sight to see. Bulbs were flashing just like that night Mac tarnished the record books. Cardinal fans didn't seem to mind much about his appearance. McGwire played for their team, and by gawd he was still a hero.

Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield

Two of the BALCO Boys wound up playing for the New York Yankees. What was the reaction after Giambi sort-of admitted to using steroids? A standing ovation of course. As long as Giambi could still club 35 home runs, his involvement with BALCO meant squat to Yankee fans, just like it meant squat to Giant fans. Sheffield wasn't under the giant microscope that Giambi was, because Sheff still produced. Giambi stopped producing to the point that he was nearly demoted to Triple A. Fans began to get frustrated with Giambi. They stood by his side and rooted him on after he came out about using 'roids, so where was the production? It eventually came, and Giambi fell back into the good graces of Yankee fans.

The Smaller Scale

These are instances that I have witnessed on a smaller scale. Take June 2005 for example. Edgar Renteria, now the Boston shortstop was visiting the Cardinals for a three-game series at Busch. Many people think the reaction was split, but it was heavily in favor of the jeers. Renteria was cast as a turncoat that abandoned St. Louis for a paltry million, and after he took Ray King deep in the eighth inning of the third game, Renteria received his loudest boos. Of course Renteria wound up being his own undoing after an awful season, but for three nights the Cardinal fans got their revenge.

Also in 2005, Derrek Lee and Albert Pujols put on an outstanding display of class and sportsmanship between two first baseman playing for rival clubs. Lee is one of the finest fielding first baseman in baseball, and he became the top hitter last season. Pujols is one of the top hitters in baseball, and the admiration each player had for the other was great to see.

Fans didn't see it that way though. When Lee stepped into Busch, was booed. When Pujols stepped into Wrigley, he was booed. I had a Cub fan tell me after a Cardinals-Cubs game in St. Louis that Cardinal fans were "classless" for booing Lee. Of course he had nothing to say about Cub fans booing Pujols. It all goes back to the theory of the jersey.

My dad once told me that the only time he bought a hat that wasn't a Cardinals hat, was in 1983 when the Cards shipped Keith Hernandez to New York. Ask yourself this, if you are a Giants fan, will you be buying the hat of the next team he plays for? How many Red Sox fans bought a Johnny Damon Yankees jersey? I'm going to venture not many.

Take a bow, Mr. Seinfeld. You are wise beyond your years.

Feel free to add any additions to the list. MVPujols appreciates you reading his blog.

I admit it, I enjoy taking a look at losers.

I'm not above making a blog entry poking fun at Stephon Marbury, J.D. Drew, Barry Bonds or Isaiah Thomas. Those guys are perennial losers in the world of sports and they don't do anything to endear themselves to the public.

But for this entry, I decided to go above and beyond making fun of Starbury, B*ndsy and the porcelain J.D. Drew. Right now, it's just too easy, too predictable and that isn't my style.

               

     LOSER                         LOSER                        LOSER                       BIG LOSER   

For this one, I picked a guy who has made a career out of being one giant dunderhead of a human being. He juiced up and cheated his way through baseball and thankfully, he's vanished out of the public eye. In fact, you probably haven't heard his name in over a year and you probably thought you never would.

That's what we get for thinking.

Jose Canseco, or better known as, The Rat, The Cheater or any variation that you find
suitable, is back to mashing home runs. The man that claims he was "blackballed" from the sport is making a mockery of it on the junior college diamond, playing the L.A. Men's Senior Baseball League. According to the story, he takes two pitches and crushes the third for a home run. Nice job, Jose. Maybe your team will win the whole darn thing and you will find a suitable replacement for the World Series ring you sold.

Are we supposed to be impressed by this? No, of course not. We are supposed to laugh, and laugh I did. I'm still giggling about The Rat coming 38 home runs short of 500. I'm still laughing about a ball bouncing off of his head and over the wall. But nothing makes me laugh harder than seeing The Rat have to find refuge in the Senior Baseball League to get his 500. Now all we need is for B*ndsy to defect to the Oak Lawn Park Softball League to get 714 and justice will be served.

I like the quote from his coach, Gary Zelman "It's like cheating." Good catch, coach. That's something Jose does very well.

The Rat may have done some good by bringing the steroid issue to
the forefront, but the way he did it; out of spite and for money,
means that his tenure in the new league is a proper uppance.
And what magnficent fall from grace. This is stuff you can only
hope to see on "True Hollywood Stories" or "Behind the Music."
 Luckily VH1 was smartest to give us something to laugh at
hysterically for 12 weeks

I hope the next time we read a story about Canseco, it'll be about how he's being blackballed from the Senior Baseball League, or that his action flick with Oliver Stone fails to outdo "Glitter" at the box office, or that his dog bit him in the same spot he injected the juice.

And don't worry, I'll still be laughing.

It's been a loong day.

I knocked down two finals, turned in one that had three pages of calculations, covered a baseball game, a girls soccer game, watched bits of the Pistons-Cavaliers and in the process I've consumed two cans of Pepsi and 44 oz. of Dr. Pepper.

I'm wired.

So what better way to fight off this caffeine rush than to hammer out an entry. "But what?" I ask myself. The only hot topics are the playoffs, Barry Bonds and Barry Bonds. I've already made my obligatory rant against the four-letter network. What else is there?

I scoured the internet and found this.

You remember Nomar right? Studly shortstop that came up with Boston, was considered one of the top three shortstops in the game? I'm not a Red Sox fan, but I was/am a Nomar fan. His quirky mannerisms and nice guy persona connected with me.

Then, they traded him to the Cubs in July of 2004, and all of a sudden, I was not a Nomar fan anymore. His mannerisms were now annoying, his new name was Nosemar and that "Thanks, beautiful"? Barf...

Last year at Busch II, Nosemar tore something. It was routine--par for the course. I wasn't shocked, only saddened. How could a guy with Hall-of-Fame potential be more cursed than the sad and pathetic franchise that employs him? Even though he was a Cub, I felt bad for him. For a moment I stopped hating the guy and prayed that he would leave Chicago so that I could go back to rooting for him.

Well, he left Chicago after 2005 when they declined to re-sign him and after Los Angeles inked him to a mysterious deal where he would play first base, I willfully jumped back on the Nomar Bandwagon. Destination: LA.

The journey got off to a slow start. He was injured in Spring Training to no one's shock, not even my own. I didn't think it was possible for one person to be this unlucky, but Nomar was. He managed to make it back, and did it in a huge way.

That was just Nomar's second game back. The man is on a tear. He's batting .354 with a .416 on base percentage and he's slugging .684. Tonight was the 10th straight game he has hit in. He's playing at his '99-00 levels where he posted an OPS over 1.000. I don't expect Nomar to make it back to that level of 2000. He's 32 now and as he gets older, his health becomes a bigger question mark. When's the next rolled ankle, or ruptured spleen going to happen? Sooner than we think I'm sure.

It's awful to see one of the game's most talented players unable to achieve his highest potential because of injuries. He is a forgotten hero. How many people remember Nomar anymore? Admit it, when you hear or read Nomar's name, you immediately think that he's probably disabled. Unlike Just Disabled Drew, his Dodger teammate, Nomar cares, but Nomar has been sacked because of a fragile body, not because of a fragile heart. Garciaparra was a hero to me in my early teen years when I had no one to root for besides the Red Sox, and I hope and pray that he can go the distance.

But I'm not holding my breath.

I came home from school today, slathered some peanut butter and jelly on wheat, grabbed some Cheetos and a Pepsi and plopped down in front of my television ready to see what daytime TV would offer a lad looking to kill time.

My natural instinct is to flip it to the four-letter network. (Yes, THAT one.) It was, to my dismay, "NFL Live."

With a mouth full of sandwich, I checked my phone (Who uses calendars anyway?). Just as I suspected, it said May 15. My brain began to wonder. Was the NFL season starting early this season? Was the preseason a month around the corner? I thought the camps were in June or July, one of those hot months. A quick search online proved that everything was still the same. The season still starts in September, the preseason is in August, and the camps are being held during the summer.

"The rookie minicamps!" I exclaimed. That must be why I'm being subjected to the NFL in the middle of May. Another search online showed that those were over. I racked my brain trying to think of a logical solution, but nothing came to me. That's when it hit me out of nowhere:

There is no logical solution.

We all love the NFL. It provides great theater each and every week. The parity is out-of-this-world good, and you never know who could be the next '99 Rams. (Still miss ya!)

But it's time to cut back. I don't know if the NFL and "NFL Live" are working partners, and frankly, I don't care. But what I do care about is seeing this great sport become oversaturated. My interest has already begun waning. I'm paying less and less attention every year because it's being rammed down our throats during the offseason. I don't need 20 pre-draft analysis' every day for three weeks. I don't need 10 post-draft analysis' and I certainly don't need to be updated on the period between rookie camp and minicamp.

Ask yourself this, did you wake up this morning needing to know what Mark Schlereth or anybody else thinks about Reggie Bush getting the No. 5? And more importantly, is that debate even necessary when we're in the middle of the NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs and the early goings of the MLB season? The NFL gets more face time than any other sport during the regular season, why not shine a spotlight on the crazy foreigners taking slapshots to the head every night? Or how about cutting back on Part 45 of T.O. vs. Bill Parcells and give us a complete breakdown of the NBA Playoffs without guys that scream at the top of their lungs? Perhaps we could have a real baseball show that talks about players not named Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez or Randy Johnson.

All I ask is that I be able to wake up at the crack of noon, turn on the television and watch sports that are currently relevant. Tom Brady's chin dimple, T.O.'s whine and Reggie donning No. 5 can wait.