So many names fly under the radar in everyday conversation. The main reason could be that the names aren’t spelled exactly the way they sound. Another reason is that the names are in sports so the association isn’t made when saying the names. This is by far not the type of work I am most proud of but I just had to say something didn’t I?

Below is a list of names. They are separated by starters and bench players from all type of sports. The starters are the athletes with the best names most likely to have robes and special colognes off of the field. The bench players are close but should be happy to be on the team. The list could have been called pitchers and catchers but that may have been to much innuendo.

All the names below are current athletes and their names are real. I know I missed someone so let me know by commenting below. I would hate to leave anyone out.  You may also have to click on some of the names to allow the names to show up.  The names are in no particular order.

Starters:

 

 

"The Big Unit" Randy Johnson

Kerry Wood

Grady Sizemore

Albert Pujols

John David Booty

Kosuke Fukudome

B.J. Upton

Chase Headly

Reggie Bush

The Bench:

Pudge Rodriguez

Nick Swisher

Rich Harden

Jake Long

James Hardy

Nick Harden

Johnny Dingle

Dominique Foxworth

 Assistant coaches are very important too. Which is why the list has former MLB players Rollie Fingers, Rusty Kuntz, and #### Pole along with former "baller" Magic Johnson. #### Butkus is the assitant to the traveling secretary.

Head coach is former NBA coach #### Harter

1.  Well he is the best QB in the league and quite possibly the second coming and passing of Joe Montana.  Joe Montana was Mr. Cool in the tight situations and big games.  He also had a legendary name that made him sound bigger than life.  The New England Patriots QB Tom Brady already has three Super Bowl wins in his career.  If he wins a fourth it would put him atop the list of best overall QBs possibly someday.  Tom Brady could also become the arch nemesis to the NFL's first family the Mannings.

  Brady could be the one guy that denied two brothers Super Bowl Trophys, in different seasons of course.  The history of the Mannings brothers with Tom Brady is growing to legendary status now. 

  On the flip side of this.  After the times Brady and Peyton had in Playoffs past, it is now little brothers job to beat him as Peyton did last year.  The Manning brothers would win Super Bowls in back-to-back seasons!

  Although they won't.  The Patriots have come so far and led by QB Tom Brady, they will win their fourth Super Bowl.

2.  Give Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare for any team and I think he could beat them.  By the time Eli settles in against the Patriots it will be too late. 

When looking back at the year of 2007 there are so many memories and big storiesin sports. It is unbelievable how many huge stories there were. What is being attempted here is three lists. Three lists that are putting all these stories front and center once again.

Some will spark fond memories, some not so much. Some stories we had this year were and still are very painful to many people but great to many others. Some of these stories were so unbelievable that we had to check several sources just to believe they were true. Unfortunately there were many deaths as well.

It was yet another great year in sports. Here are the top 10 stories for the Good the Bad and the Ugly.

 Top Ten Good from 2007-

 

10. U.S. wins team World Championships for Greco Roman Wrestling in Baku, Azerbaijan. This was the first time the U.S. has ever won this as a team. Maybe if this victory didn’t take place in Azerbaijan you would have heard about this one.

9. David Beckham signs with the L.A. Galaxy in the MLS. The MLS is so far off the map that many Americans didn’t know that there was still an MLS for him to sign in.

8. Jimmie Johnson wins Nascar’s Nextel Cup for second season in a row! Johnson beat out Jeff Gordon who also had an amazing year.

7. Big Boston deals. The Celtics became a relevant team agin in 2007 by acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The Celtics went from worst to first and are now legitimate contenders not only in the NBA’s Eastern Conference but for a NBA Championship.

6. Rockies Roll to the World Series. The Rockies won 21 of 22 in a remarkable run to the World Series. Unfortunately they had an 8 day lay off that may have cooled the teams momentum as the were beat by the Red Sox.

5. Boise State goes undefeated and beat Oklahoma on two incredible plays to win. Boise State was the underdog in the Fiesta Bowl and won in overtime 43-42 in one of the best football games ever. It capped off an undefeated season.

4. Florida’s big year. After winning the NCAA basketball Championship and football Championship the football team had the Heisman trophy winner. Tim Tebow won the trophy as an underclassman and is poised to be the second two-time winner if all goes well in 2008. Tebow had 51 total touchdowns (29 passing, 22 rushing) as only a sophomore!

3. The Spurs won the NBA Championship and the Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup. These were two under the radar type Championships for different reasons. The Spurs won with defense and overall team play headed by possibly the best overall player in the league in Tim Duncan. The Ducks won in similar fashion but since bowling gets higher ratings than hockey most people didn’t even see the Ducks play on their amazing run.

2. Indianapolis wins the Super Bowl and Peyton Manning gets off the snide. Manning who was riddled with big game losses through college and pro football. But not in 2007. Manning led the Colts past the Patriots and then the Bears.

1. Appalachian State beats Michigan at the Big House in the biggest upset in college football history. By beating the number five ranked Wolverines Appalachian State won their 3rd straight Division 1 National Championship.

 Top Ten Bad from 2007-

 

 10. West Virginia coaches bolt for Michigan. West Virginia lost three coaches overall. Gone to Michigan are the women’s soccer coach, men’s head basketball coach, and most recently the head football coach. I think it is time for Michigan and West Virginia to start playing every year.

9. Marion Jones doping scandal. Marion Jones was included in the Balco steroids scandal this year which in turn wiped out all the Olympic gold medals and Olympic records. This story has been in the making for years but was confirmed this year.

8. Kevin Everett’s spinal injury in week one of the NFL season was a very scary one. Some players on the field didn’t think he would live, let alone walk again.

7. Ugueth Urbina was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the attempted murder of five employees at his ranch in Venezuela. The ranch hands were using the family’s pool without permission so Urbina decided to pour gas on them and attempted to light them on fire.

6. Joe Kennedy’s death. Kennedy died mysteriously the day before being a best man in a wedding. He last pitched for Toronto but was better known for his days in Oakland. He was the father of a 1 year old son.

5. Cardinals lose another pitcher in a tragic death. First it was Pitcher Daryl Kile in 2002 and then Josh Hancock, a relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, had died in an automobile accident. Josh was intoxicated and hit a tow truck on the highway.

4. Darrent Williams death after a New Years eve party was shocking to many as he was hit in a limo that was leaving a party. This all happened just hours after the team was eliminated from the playoffs.

3. Sean Taylor’s death was another tragedy in the NFL this season as he was gunned down in his own home in Miami. Taylor was recently elected to the Pro Bowl and is mourned by many as he was a man who had just decided to turn his life around in recent years. He was an impact player in the NFL and becoming an impact citizen in life.

2. Michal Vick’s dog fighting scandal was alomost as big as it got in sports stories for 2007. The Vick scandal rocked two communities and also headed the demise of the Atlanta Falcons organization. The Falcons have used four Qbs and also had head coach Bobby Petrino bolt for Arkansas. Vick was sentenced to 23 months in jail and could face more time in Virginia for the same case.

1. Chris Benoit was the most shocking story of the year. The WWE Superstar had recently lost best friend and fellow WWE Superstar Eddie Guerrero the year before. This year he killed his son, his wife, and then himself in a span of two days at his home in Georgia. The story had more twists and turns than any story in many years.

 Top Ten Ugly from 2007-

 

10. The Miami Dolphins (1-14 at the time this was written) having their worst season ever and threatened to go winless in the same season the undefeated record set by the 72' Dolphins is threatened by New England.

9. The Chicago Bears went all the way to the Super Bowl in 2007 but ended up having to rely on Wrecks Grossman in the Big Game. Everything that got the Bears to the Super Bowl was absent from the Super Bowl. They got there with special teams, defense, and key turnovers. Three things they couldn’t manage to get in a rain soaked Super Bowl. Since the big game they have slid all the way into last place in the NFC Central getting swept by the Detroit Lions of all teams.

8. Travis Henry had a drug problem. It manifested into a positive test that was appealed and over ruled which not only kept him in football this season it also revealed his child support payments to his 9 children with 9 women. Better known as "baby mamas". Two more and he has an entire football squad, if they played both ways!

7. Marty Schottenheimer was fired after leading the Chargers to a 14-2 season. That is unheard of in football. It didn’t look good as the Chargers started slowly under new coach Norv Turner. The Chargers did turn it around and won the AFC West this season.

6. Cleveland and the state of Ohio were denied in many sports in 2007. Ohio State lost in the college basketball and football championships, both to Florida, the Cavaliers lost in the NBA Finals to the Spurs, and the Indians lost to the Red Sox in the ALCS. I guess it could be worse, all those teams could be terrible. This does not mention the great season the Browns are having either. They should make the playoffs but I think most fans in Ohio are not expecting them to go to the Super Bowl. Although the mind of a Browns fan is a sick an twisted place!

5. Pacman Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season for all the arrests he had in a one year period. There was a point where sports highlights shows didn’t ever show him in a uniform, it was usually county jail orange. He then signed up with TNA Wrestling. What a fitting move.

4. Imus fired for remarks towards Rutgers womens basketball. Imus initially was given a two-week suspension for calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team "nappy-headed ####" which was way out of line. Most of those girls aren’t "####"! They are too ugly for that. Actually there aren’t a whole lot of good looking college athletes in any sport. The Comments were backed up by comedian D.L. Hughley which in turn sparked the debates even further. Somehow I don’t think these girls have not been called worse in person. But they are college girls and it wasn’t fair to them. It didn’t help that the comments came from one of the worst radio hosts who is so ugly that if his ugliness was represented by bricks he would be the Great Wall of China.

3. Barry Bonds broke the all-time home run record this year and then was indicted by a federal grand jury for perjury all in the same year. It was rather strange though how the indictments didn’t come down until after the season was over.

2. The NBA ref scandal with Tim Donaghy. NBA referee Tim Donaghy allegedly bet on NBA games, including contests that he officiated. Could NBA playoff games have been compromised? What does this betting scandal do to the credibility of NBA games? It all seamed so obvious when looking back at some of the glaring calls he made. The problem is, many have thought this in the past already with the way some games are called in such a lopsided fashion. This only put more fuel on the fire.

1. The Mitchell report. Only Bud Selig would spend $40 Million to find out what he and every breathing person in America already knew. Many players did steroids in baseball. The report only named 90 players after a 20 month investigation. Why didn’t they spend 1/100th of that and implant a solid steroids testing policy more like the Olympics use or the Tour De France! Besides it was steroids that brought the game back in 1998 after the lockout.

Receiving a vote for every category of the lists were the New England Patriots. They pulled off a trade to get Randy Moss for only a forth round pick, lost their first round pick in 2008 to "Spygate" and coach Belichick was fined an additional $500,000! The Patriots were then labeled as cheaters for many other incidents as well as some from 2006. All this and the Patriots are still undefeated at 14-0 at the time this was written and hold possibly the 5th overall pick in a trade from San Francisco(4-10).

The NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award has been given out after every season since 1972, except for 1985 when no winner was selected. The player named Comeback Player of the Year shows perseverance in overcoming adversity, in the form of not being in the NFL the previous year, a severe injury, or simply poor performance. Garrison Hearst is the only player to have won the award twice (1995 and 2001).

So here we are in 2007 and there a few choices emerging already. The early favorite in many eyes is Randy Moss. He went from a dreaded situation in Oakland to one of the best teams in the league in New England.

Randy Moss has been lighting it up this year with the accurate passing of Tom Brady. The last time Moss was this effective was when he last played with Daunte Culpepper in Minnesota. Ironically the Oakland Raiders traded Moss shortly before signing Culpepper in Oakland. Maybe Al Davis wants to try to get another top 5 pick in next years draft.

Randy Moss so far in 2007 is leading the league in receiving yards with 779. Moss has already surpassed his 2006 total in only eight games. Moss has 11 TDs already which ties his last two seasons combined. Moss is one of the biggest reasons the Patriots are smashing every opponent on the way to their 8-0 record heading into Indianapolis. Randy Moss has become relevant again.

One other candidate that comes to mind is Kevin Jones of the Detroit Lions. He is coming back from a serious foot injury known as the Lis Franc injury. This injury is said to have a one year rehabilitation and Jones returned almost three months early. It was said he would go on the PUP list (physically unable to perform) to start the season, thus missing the first six weeks. The Lions decided to keep him off the list and let him come back and to get into game shape week-by-week.

Kevin Jones so far has started two games for the Lions and played in five. Jones has rushed 62 times for 272 yards averaging 4.4 yards per carry with four TDs. The workload keeps getting bigger each week for Jones and it only helps his team more. The Lions are currently 5-2.

Another player on the radar for comeback player of the year is Brett Favre who everyone said needs-to-retire two years ago and is now leading his team to a 6-1 start.

  I know you thought you would never read that line.  All you ever hear is how bad o####M Matt Millen is.  Today I will show you that maybe he really isn't that bad after all.  Well for starters, he never had a number one overall pick bust like so many other GMs have in the past.  Cleveland had Tim Couch at number one overall and Couch isn't even in the league anymore.  They should have taken Donavon McNabb.  Remember though he was the guy Philly fans booed when he was selected number two just ahead of Cincinnati's bust, Akili Smith.  Also don't forget that same draft in 1999 the Saints traded away every pick to get Texas RB Ricky Williams.

Soooo back to defending Millen's moves.  He still has five of the last seven first round picks on the roster.  It made sense at the time and is still a running joke among Lions fans that drafting another WR in the first round is to give Joey more "weapons!"  Now as it stands Charles Rogers is trying to just get another shot, Joey is backing up Ron Mexico in Atlanta, and "BMW" Big Mike Williams may be cut or traded after June 1st.  Not to worry though.  The Lions will be near a 50% roster change.  They did finish with a whopping 18 players on IR last season.  That is almost two full first teams for offense and defense.  They have brought in a lot of lineman as well, which they needed.  Ross Verba was a bum and Damien Woody is so overweight he has step on two scales to weigh in these days, and he is down 30lbs......again.

This years draft, Millen has a lot of options.  He has used options well in the past as well.  In 2004 he traded down with Cleveland to draft Roy Williams and later in the first round selected RB Kevin Jones.

On the other hand it doesn't matter what moves Millen has or hasn't made, the Lions have been the bottom feeders of the NFL for six years now and Lions fans have had enough.  If he was doing such a great job he wouldn't have fans staging protests against him.  Maybe this is what Jets fans should have done a long time ago.  Just look at this clip from youtube.com and see just what the Jets have done in drafts past.  Jets fans you may get sick by watching this, but hey, this is a article trying to defend Matt Millen and it is pretty hard with out your help.

It was the final drive in the AFC Championship game in Indianapolis.  The Patriots had the ball and were down three points.  Former Michigan Wolverine quarterback Tom Brady was poised to win another one against the Colts.  He has won three Super Bowls and was 12-1 in his playoff career.  Brady and the Patriots have been the one obstacle the Colts just couldn't get past.

Brady starts the drive at the Pats 21 and goes from the shotgun but throws incomplete.  The next play, boom, 19 yard pass to to TE Ben Watson, this gets it out to the Pats own 40.  Then Brady hit Evans for 15 yards to the Colts 45.  The Patriots only have 24 seconds on the clock but are driving down four points.

Brady out of the shotgun passed and was intercepted by former Michigan cb/s Marlin Jackson who picked off his old teammate and seals the victory for the Colts.  The AFC Championship was sealed on a play from a Michigan Man to a Michigan Man.  It just wasn't the Michigan man I thought it would be. 

 Although Brady was intercepted on that final drive, I can't think of another quarterback I would want leading a team than him.   When Brady was at Michigan, during practice, if he missed a pass or was off a little bit, Lloyd Carr would yell for Drew Henson to come in and take over.  A former Michigan WR was telling me this one time.

It has come down to this weekend in the NFL playoffs.  The Patriots will play at Indianapolis and the Saints play at Chicago.  Last weekend had some great football and these two games this weekend have all the potential to go to right down to the last play or overtime as any.  Last weekend was the first time in a long time I picked a perfect weekend 4-0 because I made my picks a little different.  I picked from my gut instinct for once instead of the overwhelming populus that all pick the same way, using logic.

AFC Championship - Tom Brady will give his team the lead late in the game, less than a minute left.  But they score to soon and Peyton Manning gets over the hump like Steve Young, and gets the Colts to the Super Bowl.  Manning gets the close enough for Adam Viniteri to kick the winning field goal as time expires winning 30-28.  Using logic you would see that the Colts and Patriots defenses have been dominant in the playoffs and both quarterbacks have been unimpresive, so the game will be low scoring and the Patriots win.  But going by my gut the Colts win 30-28.  I can't believe I am picking against Tom Brady, that is gut rule number one (1. Never pick against Tom Brady in the playoffs!)

NFC Championship - daaaa Bears run out of big plays when it all counts and Drew Brees and the Saints carry the city of New Orleans to the Super Bowl.  The Bears won a lot of games they should not have won this year with punt/kick returns, fumble returns for TDs, ints for TDs, and playing the Detroit Lions twice.  The Saints can do so much for the morale of a city in depression from huricane Katrina.  The Owner had talked of moving the team as well.  The Saints may have the mojo and the players that fit well enough to put it all together to get to the Super Bowl.  They had added just about every position they needed and brought in not only all the right players but coachs as well.  Rex Grossman loses this game for Chicago with four turnovers and the Saints win 34-13.  They don't get all the breaks that got them to this point in this game.

Saints vs Colts

Between the two coaches in their respective sports, these two, Nick Saban and Larry Brown have been with more teams than Paris Hilton has.  I have seen them both close up as they have both made stops on two teams I follow closely.  When they left I was not surprised.  The two have the equivelent of one pro and two college championships.  Brown won a college and pro championship while Saban recently won with LSU in NCAAFB. 

Dolphin fans that are upset, get over it.  How did you get Saban in the first place?  It is like a girlfriend you stole from someone you knew, not well, but didn't think it would happen to you.  Once a cheater always a cheater, or liar as it really is.  From now on when either of these two say unequivocally that they are not going to do something, it means they are going to, just not yet.


These two coachs have now made more money over the last 5 years than they may have their whole life.  Maybe the reason why they leave teams so fast is commitment?  I think what it really is, they both have everything money can buy, but they don't have anything it can't.  Anyway, good luck Alabama fan with Nick, y'all gave him an eight year deal, so at least you have him locked up for the next three years!  Roll Tide Roll!

To me these two define the new term coined here, because they are both coaching ####!  I wish I could be a coaching #### with the kind of cheese these two have now, but I have most of the things money can't buy!

Here in Detroit the last few years, Lions fans had to deal with not only the type of fan but the people who casat it upon others called "Joey Lovers".  Most fans were either for him or against him.  There really was not a lot of fans who thought it was the entire teams poor play.  It even went beyond that though.  The coaching mistakes and stubborness worn thin as well. 

Joey Harringtons days in Detroit were forgetable.  It was never ment to be.  If he had a guy open, he would under throw it.  When he hit a reciever on the run in some space, they would drop it.  When he finally would hit a reciever, and they caught it, some lineman would get a holding call and set them even further back.

When Joey was traded away, anyfan who defended Joey was a "Joey Lover".  Miami had Joey Lovers as soon as they heard he was traded there.  On a Miami radio station when he was acquired the two hosts went on and on how they just got Daunte and Joey and that now they have two guys that could take them to the Super Bowl. 

It always amazes me when I hear this type of thing about a player that a team just got.  The way I look at it is, if another team is willing to let him go, isn't there plenty of reason?  Minnesota let Daunte go for a reason, in fact many reasons.  Detroit traded Joey Harrington to Miami for a bag of footballs and some Jock itch ointment.  Maybe Miami just got excited when they heard Matt Millen on the other end of the line wanting to make a deal with them.  I think it is safe to say that if you get picked in the top ten by Matt Millen your chances are actually very slim of even making it in the NFL.  The odds Millen has favoring draft busts are becoming astounding.

So when Joey started playing in Miami as the starter - Joey Lover - came back out as it had finally died down in Lions fan forums.  "See, I told you Joey was super!" said many Joey Lovers, while throwing viscoius insults into each post.  The funny thing is that his numbers and QB rating were actually worse in Miami than Detroit.  It only proved the point that the QB is NOT the most important position on ALL teams.  But you always have to have a good overall team, in all phases.

So when Joey got benched on Monday night in favor of Cleo Lemon, thoughts of Jim Carey as Ace Ventura getting something right and yelling, yes yes can you feel it, I have excersised the demons!!!  The feeling of redemption, not when he figured out that Finkle was Einhorn.

So what lessons do we learn about this?  Well as Bo Schembechler once said to his team "No player is bigger than the team, no coach is bigger than the team, its always the team, the team, the team".  We also learned not to get to excited when you think your team just got a great deal on a player another team couldn't get rid of fast enough.

  Al Davis the owner of the Oakland Raiders has not gone wild but he has definatly gone crazy.  According to the Oakland Tribune he is willing to trade malcontent WR Jerry Porter.  That isn't the crazy part though.  He is reportedly looking for two first round picks in return.  That is right, he wanted two first round picks.  I dont think most teams would give two first round picks for Randy Moss, let alone an outspoken, underacheiving, disinterested Porter.  The other vice on any deal for Porter is Davis wants Porter to repay $4 million of his $13 million bonus so he could be traded.  Davis also says maybe now he just wants one number one pick, maybe less.  Porter is barely a season into his current deal, which would leave the Raiders with a tremendous cap hit of $6.45 million in 2007 if he's traded or cut this year.  Al it is time to get a GM that tells YOU what is going to happen and you write the check.  That is what an owner does, write the checks and stay out of player personnell decisions.  Also Al, great move on bringing in Aaron Brooks and drafting Michael Huff instead of drafting Leinhart or Cutler.

  Charles Rogers worked out for former Michigan State head coach and current Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban.  The underachieving, one failed drug test away from a year suspension, cut by Detroit Rogers apparently "laid an egg".  The Dolphins were actually going to make him a contract offer if he looked good in the workout.  According to MiamiHerald.com........."right there in front of Nick Saban, who recruited Rogers out of high school, Bobby Williams, who coached Rogers at Michigan State, and Charlie Baggett, who was the receivers coach at Michigan State early in Rogers career, there was nothing but disappointment among the onlookers.  All were hoping to see a spark of the talent Rogers showed for the Spartans. But it simply wasn't there."  So as it looks right now, the Detroit Lions have made the right decision on shipping him out, and it wasn't a popular one at the time when they did.  But how does Charles react to all of this?  He fired his agent this week.

  Billy Volek has made quite a few headlines for being traded recently.  The BIG question is, WHY?  He has been a back up forever and has never done anything with his chances throughout his career.  But somehow his being traded is making headlines and I have to hear about him being traded on every football show I watch.  Hey if he can't beat out Kerry Collins as the starter in Tennesee, why would you want to trade for him?  On the Volek story all I want to say is NEXT!

 

Comebacks can come in all shapes and forms and I am about to take you through some that have come to mind. Comebacks are what we love about sports, among other things, but what does it take to have a comeback? Well lets see.

With a player it takes a complete turn of events from recent history, such as injuries or appearing to be finished as an athlete. In a game, it takes all the players on a team to stay focused and battle through all adversities that may come there way until the end when they comeback. I will show you some examples of comebacks and would like you to comment on one of your best/favorite comebacks. It can be recent, past, or most memorable.

Baseball- comeback players/team of the year

1. Magglio Ordonez - Maggs has comeback from a knee injury that ended his days in Chicago the season before they won the World Series. Magglio only played 52 games in 2004 and 82 games last year for Detroit. Not only is Magglio Ordonez tearing it up this season, he returned to the All-Star game as well as leading his team to the best record in baseball to this point with a whopping 10 game lead on any team in baseball. This year Maggs is hitting .298 with 16 hr and 79 rbi.

2. Jim Thome - He is somewhat similar to Maggs in the fact he making his comeback from an injury in which he only played in 59 games last year in Philly. Although the Phillies didn’t just let their star walk, they were able to trade him and get Aaron Rowand. This year he has been crushing the ball. He currently is hitting .304 with 34 hr and 85 rbi. Last season was the first season since 1995 in which Thome did not hit at least thirty home runs, last season he only hit seven. This year he has comeback to form.

3. Nomar Garciaparra - Nomar was going to be considered but he yet again has been sidelined with injuries again in 2006. When he has been in this year he has been lights out hitting .327 with 12 hr and 57 rbi. But the problem with Nomar, he hasn’t played in more than 81 games for anyone since 2003 in Boston. Will Nomar ever comeback?

4. Detroit Tigers - this is an epic comeback! The tigers were 43-119 in 2003, this year they have the best record in baseball by a full 10 games at this point. This is also the best start to any season for Detroit in the entire history of the franchise. In 1984(way back when Uncle Rico could still throw a football over those mountains, and still reeling from his coach not putting him in and his team not winning the state championship) the Tigers had their highest win total of 104. Right now they are on pace to win around 110 games.

 

NFL players and teams -

Terrell Owens - can he comeback healthy enough in body and mind and put together an actual season this year. He has Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells but he can always find a way to blow that too. He may have been right every time he exploded on the sidelines or ran his mouth to the media and other players with the words he was saying. But hey, if you can dish it out you better be ready to eat some too. If those players and offensive coordinators were so bad at making mistakes, you don’t call them out in front of the world. Because that is being a bad teamate. Terrell, comeback to reality and show the world who is the best receiver in football, not the worst teammate.

Jon Kitna - Jon gets another chance to finish off his career on a good note. When he was in Cincinnati he was part of the building block for the foundation they don’t call the "Bunguls" anymore. He was to hold down the team until Heisman trophy winning first round pick Carson Palmer was ready. Now he gets to run a new offense in Detroit led by Mike Martz as the coordinator. He was the comeback player of the year in the NFL in 2004. And if you don’t think he can get the best out of Kitna you don’t know anything about Mike Martz.

Javon Walker - He gets his shot this year in Denver to be the man. After blowing out his knee in the season opener last year in Detroit, Javon was sidelined for the whole season. Now he is going to comeback and he is ready to go. We just don’t know where he is going to go with Jake Plummer at quarterback.

Brett Favre - If Brett is poised for this honor. If anyone can be a comeback player it is him. He is a legend for a reason. The legends and true champions always find a way to come back in the end so it wouldnt suprise me to see Brett have one last comeback.

Seattle and Philadelphia, will they both comeback to the NFC Championship game this year and contend for the Super Bowl. Philly was absent after the whole T.O. debacle and Seattle is poised to make another run for the title. Seattle may comeback, Philly, they need to learn how to run the ball before they comeback.

     Three quarterback making a comeback or sorts. Carson Palmer, Daunte Culpepper, and Ben Roethlisberger are all coming back from serious injuries. NFL fans around the leaguwill be anxious to have their star players on the field. Everyone knows how much of a factor injuries are in the NFL.

Cycling -

Floyd Landis’ comeback at the Tour De France this year was epic after the kind of crash he had. It was almost as if he were helped in some way. Not really, knowing what little I do about testosterone, it takes a long time for you to get any results from what ever it is you are using. Floyd, stay strong if you are innocent because this whole thing is fishy year after year and it has already gotten old accusing so many of doping and the testing system having so many bad tests.

Comeback lines of the day -

Yo mama is so fat, when I yelled into her belly button I heard an echo!

Yo mama so stupid that she sold her car for gas money!

How about some go aways!

  How about all the NFL players getting in trouble on the Bengals and Bears. Daven Holly of the Bears and Chris Henry of the Bengals got arrested on weapons charges, Henry didn’t stop there though. Henry managed to get picked up for drunk driving, posseision of marijuans, and giving alcohol to underage women. This between these two teams is so long and you have probably heard all about it. Not to mention Barrett Brooks (OL) for the Steelers tried to out run cops on a motorcycle and got caught, after trying to ditch his bike, and then get back on and run again. Sean Taylor of the Redskins who recently was sentenced on gun charges was fined by the NFL $71,000 and has community service until he is of retirement age.

Do you think you know more about sports than I do?  Lets see, go to http://www.faniq.com/index.php?id=24942  



The changes made to foxblogs have cramped my blogging style the way you post pictures and links.  If anyone will give me insight into this change it will be appreciated, thank you!

New York, Jacksonville, Detroit, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Kansas City, Washington, New England, and Denver


For some players in the NFL the next few months will determine if they make or break their career.  There are several veteran players who may be cut or benched this season early on.  The most important thing some players don't understand is how important the off season really is.  If you are a player on the apex of making a roster you better be at every off season meeting, mini-camp, and any injury treatments you need.  Some players just won't ever get it no matter how many chances they are given either.

  At least Lawrence Taylor had the thought to at least wait until his career was over to really get into his drug problem.  In his book he talked about the last six years of his career in which he said he could not wait to retire so he could smoke crack. 

A couple guys around the league will be cut, benched, or have their play reduced this season.  I will touch on a few around the league.


Jacksonville - Mike Williams OT The weight problems that prompted Buffalo to cut offensive lineman Mike Williams have followed him to Jacksonville, even threatening his chances to make the team.  Buffalo drafted him 5th overall in 2002 and cut him after last season.  If he doesn't make the team he will be picked up elsewhere.   Top five picks usually get a few more chances than most other players.


Green Bay - Ahman Green RB  He is only 29 years old but he was already slowing down before his quadriceps burst in Minnesota last season.  It remains to be seen when Green will return during training camp. And it's a greater mystery if he can fully recover from such a brutal injury.  Samkon Gado is a lock to make the team and this year it may be up to Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport to get that final roster spot.  For fantasy owners, stay away from all of these guys because they still don't have a line to block for them.


Denver - Ashley Lelie WR  It has been rumored that he was part of a three way trade with New England for TE Daniel Graham and New Orleans RB Michael Bennett.  Lelie would go to New England, Graham would go to New Orleans, and Bennett to Denver.  With the addition of Javon Walker the Broncos have found Lelie to be expendable.  If they are really look to trade him, why not call Philadelphia?  I think they needs some WRs.  Besides why does Denver need more RBs?  Didn't they draft Maurice Clarrett?...........oh wait

Detroit - Mike Williams WR  He was dismissed from practice last week and may not be in the immediate plans for the Lions offense.  The Lions will have a three wide look that, at this point, is lined up as #1WR Roy Williams, #2 Corey Bradford, #3 Mike Furrey.  The Lions may be married to Mike Williams but he is not going to be a player you want to draft in a fantasy league as he may not even be activated some weeks.

Green Bay - Robert Ferguson WR  Ferguson had the chance of his life last season and proceeded to drop the ball. After Javon Walker went down in the season-opener, Ferguson had every opportunity to prove he was the No. 1 wide receiver he'd claimed to be for years.  But Ferguson was arguably the Packers' most disappointing player and might be out of chances in Green Bay.


Kansas City - Priest Holmes RB  his days may be numbered in Kansas city with the emergance of Larry Johnson.  Holmes has already said he still wants to play.  He may just have to do it elswhere.  He has said in years past that he may retire but has played on.  If the Chiefs do decide to trade or release him there will be plenty of teams looking to acquire his services.


Green Bay - Rod Gardener WR The Packers are in a transition stage right now that may take longer than the fans will like.  Coming off a 4-12 year they have Brett Favre returning for one more year.  They add Gardener to the list of players who may be out sooner than later.  A washout in both Washington and Carolina, Gardner looked like a former first-round draft choice during his brief stay in Green Bay last winter. Gardner, picked up on waivers with two weeks left in the regular season.  But Gardner irritated the coaching staff when he missed a large portion of the current organized team activities.  He has good size but does not run well.  The Packers drafted two recievers in 2006 so Gardener and Ferguson will be fighting for spots.


Washington - David Patten WR Patten may be cut by the Redskins this month.  With the additions of Atwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd also having Santanna Moss, Patten's days are numbered.  However New England is in need of a WR so he may go back to play in Foxboro with another possible former player Ty Law.


New York Jets - Chad Pennington QB  Coming off his second rotator cuff surgery in as many years the Jets have competition for him.  Patrick Ramsey was traded for from Washington for a sixth round pick.  This QB controversy will only heat up if Pennington is healthy.  If he is healthy then rookie head coach Eric Mangini has his work cut out for him.  He has already announced, and rightfully so, that the job is wide open.  Pennington told the Star Ledger newspaper in May,  that he's "full go" and "throwing every route in the playbook." But he recently toned down his comments -- saying simply that he's making progress.  Seriously, why can't they just find a decent quarterback named Benny?


Cincinnati - Chris Henry WR Henry pleaded not guilty this morning to providing alcohol to three underage women at a hotel on Covington’s riverfront.  This marked the fourth time in six months Henry had been arrested.  He finally made it into the third recieving spot last season and it may have been his last of his career.  He faces up to a year in jail on these charges.  He still has the other cases pending against him that he will later this month be in court for.  He will spend more time in court than the Miami Heat will play on this summer.

Chicago -   Vasher joins the list of angery Bears. According to the Chicago Tribune: "Cornerback Nathan Vasher is the latest Bear to leave organized team activities over dissatisfaction with his contract, which has two years remaining and is scheduled to pay him $425,000 in 2006."  The list is growing and growing and may force a few other players to be cut or back loaded contracts.

Green Bay - Veterans still continue to skip practices.  "No, maybe and yes. That's apparently what Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has heard from Al Harris, Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett or their representatives in recent conversations regarding the veterans' availability for the team's five remaining voluntary practices."  The team is still in need of Offensive line help and the group needs to be together to form some kind of continuity.  New head coach Mike McCarthy needs to nip this in the bud quickly.  Hey at least they have Favre there right?

Miaimi - On Tuesday, they had a visit and are working on a contract with Bennie Anderson, who was cut by Buffalo last week after starting 15 games last season.  Free agent defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson's agent said Tuesday his client likes Miami, and negotiations continue.  Wilkinson was recently cut from Detroit and could likely end up with former QB Joey Harrington.

New England - No "sign" of Law.  Ty Law has had talks with both Arizona and New England.  No doubt the former Patroit would like to return home after a one year stint with the rival Jets in which he had 10 interceptions for last year.  Arizona is also very interested in Law and still have $10 million under the salary cap.  New England has another issue with hold out wide reciever Deion Branch.  The Patriots could always try to put the squeeze on by trading for underachieving Denver receiver Ashley Lelie or disgruntled Saints wideout Donte' Stallworth, but with David Givens gone to the Titans, what they have right now as far as receivers. They aren't Deion Branch. And Branch knows it.  I'm Deion Branch bit%^!

Detroit - Mike Williams was sent home early from Lions mini camp last week because he missed a treatment for his sore hamstring and then was late to a meeting.  This also stems back to last season when he reportedly missed treatments and was late for meetings as a rookie.  The Lions however won't give up on him now.  Besides they can't.  All his bonus money would prorate this year and next year which would bump $12 million on to the cap.  They are financially committed right now and must find a way to untap the potential and cap off the foolishness.  Also with the signing of free agent offensive lineman Ross Verba the Lions hope to have shored up a dismal offensive line that had breakdowns all season long.  They are currently trying to work out a long term deal with left tackle Jeff Backus.  Backus was hesitant to sign the one year tender offer by the Lions but that had given him their word they will work out a long term deal before training camp.  Charles Rogers was pictured working out with the first team during mini-camp and this may not sound like much but that is the closest he has been to starting in a long time.  It has been rumored several times that he may not even make the team.

Pittsburgh - With the motorcycle accident of Ben Roethlisburger the Steelers have to look at another option for this season at least early on.  It has been rumored that Tommy Maddox may come back.  They do still have Charle Batch but we all know what he can do.  They may have to look into a slim market of free agents that are free agents for a reason.  Unless they think they can win with QBs like Tony Banks or Ty Detmer.  They do still have Kerry Collins and Jeff Blake they can talk to at least.

NFL news
 The New England Patriots had Ty Law the 32-year-old, five-time Pro Bowl cornerback in for a physical last Friday as part of a free agent visit.   Pats coach Bill Belichick has kept in touch with Law this offseason through a series of private phone conversations.  Law had 10 interceptions, a career best, last season.  Ty also only spent one season with the Jets and played the rest of his career with the Patriots.

Dolphins to sign Marcus Vick?  According to league sources when they had him in for the teams mini-camp they saw enough in him to think he may be able to land a roster spot.  The team recently traded for starting quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington so it is unlikely he would make the team as a quarterback. There are said to be several CFL teams interested as well.  They have also not had Joey play for them yet either.  Miami fans may be excited to have traded for two starting quarterbacks, but there is a reason they were available as well.

Lions fans say goodbye to Joey Harrington and hello to two back up quarterbacks.  Jon Kitna is the likely starter and it is up to Josh McCown and Dan Orlovsky to battle for the 2nd quarterback position, although the best move is the addition of offensive coordinator Mike Martz.  Best subtraction, Joey Harrington.  It is rumored that Martz had a qb school in the off season where he gave the participants IQ tests.  Harrington's came back negative (insert rim shot here), also see his exit interview with Mitch Albom, that will explain a lot.


MLB news

Soriano headed to New York?  According to several sources the Yankees and Mets both have interest in acquiring the outfielding second baseman.  Both teams will inquire about him closer to the trade deadline so look for scouts from Washington in New York for the next month.  Another possibility for both New York teams is Detroits Dmitri Young.  He plays outfield, third base, and first base but mostly is a DH.  Neither team would have to give up much to get him as the Tigers are 1/2 game behind the White Sox and have the second best record in baseball without Young.

San Fransisco - look for the Giants to make one final run with the current team and then try to rebuild the organization through younger players.  The giants have a large number of aging veterans and it has been rumored that Bonds may move to the American league to DH and the Giants may not bring back their ace Jason Schmidt.  Bonds is one of nine Giants veterans in the final year of their contracts, along with Jason Schmidt, Moises Alou, Ray Durham, Pedro Feliz, Steve Kline, Todd Greene, Jose Vizcaino and Jamey Wright.  They count for more than $50 million of the Giants' $90-million-plus payroll, with Bonds' $18 million and Schmidt's $10.5 million the largest hits.

NBA news

Ben Wallace has hired an agent.  Wallace will become a free agent this summer and will likely land the biggest contract of his entire career.  Wallace is in his prime and is a four time NBA defensive player of the year.  He is looking to remain in Detroit and hopes to complete a deal after the season. 

In case you have not opened your eyes and had your ears plugged for the last 48 hours, the New York Knicks may be ready to part ways with Larry Brown.  The Knicks may be the model for how not to run a franchise.  Would the Knicks actually pay $40 million to get rid of Brown?  After setting records for payroll and paying members not even on the team or in the league, can they really afford to pay Brown and a new coach?  With Larry Brown they need to have one thing they have never had, patience.  The coach is a proven winner, and then he leaves.  Isiah, you have to let him do the winning first.  Brown may now be the biggest coaching distraction in all of sports for the past to off-seasons.

Lebron James has drawn comparisons and played  a parallel career thus far in his NBA career to Michael Jordan.  He even has to go through the same team the Detroit Pistons to get to the promise land.  The biggest difference is that Lebron is in his third season as Michael was only a rookie at this point due to James playing in the NBA straight out of high school.  This off season look for the cavs to add veteran depth and specialty players to the roster much as the way the Pistons have done.  New Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has modeled everything after the Pistons, a team he sponsors, while owning the Cavs.  Gilbert owns the Cavaliers and named the arena Quicken Loans arena and sponsors the Pistons with Rock Financial, the same company marketed with a different name in Michigan.  He also hired a like announcer to the Pistons that gets the crowd pumped up and making plenty of noise. 

As it stands right now the Detroit Lions have five quarterbacks on their roster.  Jon Kitna, Josh McCown, Dan Orlovsky, Shaun King, and Joey Harrington.  Some say that there is power in numbers, but not in this case.  They may just have five back up quarterbacks.

Joey Harrington is still a Lion after deals have fallen through on trades for him with several teams.  Most recently the Browns (on draft day) and the Miami Dolphins.  The Browns were willing to give up a 4th or 5th round pick this year and Miami was only willing to trade a 6th rounder in next year's draft.  Matt Millen thinks his quarterback is much more valuable than just a 6th round pick.  I actually will have to agree with him to a certain extent.  Joey did have his issues with Detroit but has starting experience and also has had times without almost every starting skill position players in place.  On the other hand they do need to cut ties with him and try to get something for him. They really don't need him around with the attitude change he has had since wanting to be traded.  He sure has high demands for a player who has not accomplished anything in his career.  Joey and Terrell Owens have something in common and it isn't being a great player.  They both had division in the locker room causing rifts between players (right or wrong). Terrell had to go and so does Joey,  Philadelphia didn't get anything for Owens though.  Besides, the Lions weren't winning with him so now they will most likely be winning without him.

Jon Kitna may be the starter when the season rolls around.  He will have the strongest competition from Josh McCown who they recently signed from the Arizona Cardinals.  Jon Kitna is not the answer this team needs to turn the corner, is he?  Kitna joins the Lions after spending the last four years with the Cincinnati Bengals. He signed a four year deal with Detroit.  While in Cincinnati he played a crucial role in the Bengals current success. After going 12 seasons with 11 seasons below .500 and one 8-8 season, Kitna engineered a run to compete for a playoff spot in 2003. That season, he posted career highs in completions (324), completion percentage (62.3), passing yards (3,591), touchdown passes (26) and passing rating (87.4) as he led the team to an 8-8 record while starting all 16 games. The year prior, the Bengals finished the season with a 2-14 record.  For his performance in 2003, Kitna was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year by the associated Press and Pro football Weekly. He was the only quarterback in the NFL in ’03 to take every snap. He led the team to an NFL-best improvement from 2-14 in 2002 to 8-8 in 2003. Kitna also had a plus-11 differential in touchdown passes (26) to interceptions (15) that was the best by a Bengals passer with at least 20 passes since 1989.

Josh McCown the biggest competition to this point for Kitna was a starter and back up in A