What's this? A Super Bowl post in late July? You got it. I know the races are heating up in baseball and the trade deadline just passed, but when I come up with an idea for a post I have to run with it while I'm inspired.

Few men have received the honor of being in the winning team's starting Super Bowl lineup. Many who have can rightfully be considered among the greatest players in NFL history, but what about the other end of the spectrum? If you were to rank all the players in that category someone would have to show up at the bottom. Who are some of these players though? I got curious and decided to find out for myself. Now that my research is complete, I can officially release my All-Weakest Super Bowl-Winning Starter Team (just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?).

It was fairly easy to choose offensive players. Quarterbacks, running backs and receivers have the most complete statistics kept for them, so determining the weakest player wasn't too hard. My criteria for tight ends were slightly different, as there have been a few tight ends who started the Super Bowl primarily as blockers in a two-tight end formation. I decided to consider those players "H-backs" rather than true tight ends, because their role in the offense didn't reflect the spirit of this list. Offensive linemen and defensive players are harder to evaluate by numbers alone, so the main things I looked at were length of career, years as a starter and number of Pro Bowls. Things like sacks and interceptions are also factored in for the defensive players. Even though they don't technically "start" the game I included kickers and punters too. Since the numbers at those positions have changed significantly over the years I had to use league averages to evaluate them. Of course, I also tried to find any additional information I could to determine if a player may have been better or worse than the numbers suggest.

You might ask what the point of this list is. Am I just trying to tear down these guys? Far from it! Many of the players on this list had productive careers and played their roles well despite not being great individual talents. The beauty of team sports is that they allow athletes of all different skill sets and ability levels to work in harmony together for a common goal. My purpose here is to celebrate the little guys. They may not have been stars, but their teams might not have won without them. People should know who they are.

Now that that's been said, let's have a look at the roster.

Offense

Quarterback: Trent Dilfer, 2000 Baltimore Ravens

When the question of "worst quarterback to win a Super Bowl" arises Dilfer is the first name most people think of. When I went to check the numbers I found out that Chase Stuart from pro-football-reference.com already did the math for me. Perhaps not surprisingly, he came up with Dilfer as having had the worst career of any Super Bowl-winning QB. When someone who devised an advanced statistic for figuring out an approximate career value for NFL players says Dilfer was the worst and popular opinion backs him up I think it's safe to give ol' Trent this spot.

Dilfer was originally taken by the Buccaneers with the 6th overall pick in the 1994 Draft. Like most young quarterbacks, it took a few years of growing pains before he finally found his NFL footing. In 1997 he led the Bucs to their first Playoff appearance in 15 seasons and earned himself a Pro Bowl selection. A broken collarbone in 1999 ended his season, and he could only watch as the Buccaneers made it to the NFC Championship Game behind rookie quarterback Shaun King. Tampa Bay let him go to the Ravens as a free agent that offseason. In his only year in Baltimore he took over as starter mid-season and rode the Ravens' incredible defense to a Super Bowl win while leading a conservative-but-adequate offense.

Dilfer's later stops included Seattle, Cleveland and San Francisco. Though he never became the franchise quarterback he was expected to be, he managed to be an effective "caretaker" during his 14 years as both a backup and a starter. He retired earlier this month with career numbers of 20,518 passing yards, 113 touchdown passes, 129 interceptions and a 55.5 completion percentage. Upon his retirement he joined ESPN as an NFL analyst.

Tailback: Timmy Smith, 1987 Washington Redskins

Smith rushed for only 126 yards in seven games during his rookie year, but an injury to George Rogers earned him the starting nod when the Redskins made it to the Super Bowl. On a night when everything went right for Washington, Smith set a still-standing Super Bowl record with 204 rushing yards. In one evening the youngster went from obscurity to the limelight. With the opportunity to be a starter next year, he allowed himself to become overweight and rushed for only 470 yards in 14 games. The Redskins cut ties with him during the 1989 offseason and he failed to make the Chargers' roster that same year.

He attempted a comeback with the Cowboys in 1990, but he was waived after only one game. He finished his career with 602 rushing yards and 3.2 yards per rushing attempt over three seasons. He recently served a two-year jail sentence for selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.

Fullback: Tom Nowatzke, 1970 Baltimore Colts

Nowatzke didn't have much speed, but he was a tough, reliable power runner. An All-American at Indiana, he was drafted in the first round of both the AFL and NFL Drafts in 1965 and opted to sign with the Lions. He didn't become a regular until his second year, but he led that 1966 team in rushing yards and was second in receptions. Nowatzke's playing time decreased over the next few seasons, mainly due to the emergence of speedier backs like Mel Farr. In 1969 the Lions attempted to move Nowatzke to linebacker, but he sustained a neck injury in training camp that limited him to special teams duty most of the year. In next season's training camp the Lions waived him.

The Colts immediately picked up Nowatzke, and Baltimore's grind-it-out running game was perfect for his style. He worked his way into the starting lineup and led all Colt running backs with 3.4 yards per attempt that year. He later delivered a heroic Super Bowl moment when he scored the game-tying touchdown halfway through the 4th Quarter. The Colts would go on to win. Nowatzke's role would be diminished over the next two seasons, and he played his last NFL game in 1972. Over eight seasons he played in 96 games, with totals of 1,249 rushing yards and 605 receiving yards.

Left Wide Receiver: Alvin Garrett, 1982 Washington Redskins

Garrett was a small guy, standing only 5'7" and weighing only 178 lbs. He started his career with the Giants in 1980 and was primarily used as a return man. He was waived by the Giants and picked up by the Redskins during the 1981 season. In Washington he teamed with fellow sub-6-footers Charlie Brown and Virgil Seay to form a receiving corps known as the "Smurfs". Garrett was pressed into starting duty when star wide receiver Art Monk went down with an injury before the Playoffs. Though he had caught only six passes in his entire career up to that point, Garrett surprised everyone by scoring three touchdowns on 110 yards in the first round against the Lions. His solid play continued for the rest of the Playoffs as the Redskins eventually captured the Lombardi Trophy.

Garrett was the center of controversy next season when Howard Cosell referred to Garrett, who is black, as a "little ####" during a "Monday Night Football" telecast. Cosell said he meant it in an affectionate way, and Garrett himself said he wasn't offended by it, but the remark stuck with Cosell for the rest of his life.

Garrett never played again after sustaining an ankle injury in 1984. His five-year career totals were 412 receiving yards, two touchdowns, 12.9 yards per reception, 8.0 yards per punt return and 20.3 yards per kick return.

Right Wide Receiver: Stacy Robinson, 1986 New York Giants

Speedy Division II star Robinson missed most of his rookie year because of a broken hand, but he started most of his sophomore season, when he had a career-best 494 receiving yards. That year was 1986, when the Giants won their first Super Bowl. Robinson didn't have any receptions in the Divisional Playoff or NFC Championship Games, but he led the Giants with 62 receiving yards in the Super Bowl. He began the next season as a starter but went down with an injury after five games. The next three seasons would be a roller coaster ride, as the Giants waived him in training camp and re-signed him mid-season due to an injured receiver each time.

Robinson won a second Super Bowl ring with the Giants as a reserve on the 1990 team. He retired after that rather than go through the revolving door again. He finished his six-year career with 48 receptions for 749 yards in 43 games, 14 of which he started. Since 1995 he has served as the NFL Player Association's Director of Player Development.

Tight End: John Frank, 1988 San Francisco 49ers

Frank started his career in 1984 playing behind star tight end Russ Francis. He was impressive on special teams his rookie year and earned a reputation for aggressive blocking and all-around toughness. The 49ers groomed him to become their eventual starter, but he struggled with inconsistency and a tendency to draw penalties for his first few years. Halfway through the 1987 season Francis was waived and Frank finally got his chance to shine.

In April 1989, fresh off a Super Bowl win and at the peak of his production, Frank announced his retirement from the NFL after five years to focus on medical school. His career numbers include 662 receiving yards and 10.2 yards per reception. He earned his medical degree from Ohio State in 1992 and is currently a cosmetic surgeon.

Left Tackle: Dan Audick, 1981 San Francisco 49ers

Audick was a guard who played for both the Cardinals and Chargers before the 49ers acquired him in the 1981 preseason. Because of a hole at left tackle, Audick started all 16 games there in 1981. Audick wasn't a long-term solution due to his lack of size, but he gave it a strong effort and helped the upstart 49ers win the Super Bowl. He lost his starting job next season, and in 1983 he returned to the Cardinals, where he spent the last two years of his career.

Over eight NFL seasons Audick played in 76 games, starting 33 of them. After football Audick returned to school, receiving an MBA from San Diego State in 1986, a Master's in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix in 1996 and a Doctorate of Education in Human Performance from USC in 2004.

Left Guard: Russ Hochstein, 2003 New England Patriots

Hochstein was drafted by the Buccaneers in 2001, but he spent his would-be rookie year on injured reserve and only played one game for them in 2002 before being waived. In 2003 he made the Patriots' roster as a full-time backup and moved into the starting lineup during the Playoffs after an injury to Damien Woody. He stayed there all the way through the Patriots' Super Bowl victory and would get a second Super Bowl ring when the Patriots repeated next year.

Though Hochstein has never been a full-time starter, he has proved to be a valuable and versatile reserve for the Patriots over the years. He has lined up at fullback, tight end and every offensive line position in addition to contributing on special teams. In 2005 he gained notoriety as one of the five "metaphors" in a national Visa commercial with his famous line "Why can't I be the director?" Through six seasons so far he's played in 77 games and started 18 of them.

Center: Mike Gruttadauria, 1999 St. Louis Rams

Undrafted out of college and cut by the Cowboys in the 1995 preseason, the undersized Gruttadauria beat out veteran center Bern Brostek for the Rams' starting job in 1996. Brostek reclaimed his starting center spot when Gruttadauria was injured early in the season, but Gruttadauria would start on and off (while still battling injuries) the next few years, earning the job permanently in time for the Rams' surprising 1999 season. The Cardinals signed him to a four-year deal the offseason after that, and his injury struggles would continue in Arizona. His first season in the desert ended after eight games due to a career-threatening neck injury, but Gruttadauria fought back to start 15 games next year. After another injury-shortened season in 2002 the Cardinals released Gruttadauria, closing the book on his career.

Gruttadauria was blessed with exceptional artistic abilities and has devoted his post-football career to sculpting. Overall, he played 81 NFL games in seven seasons, starting 67 of them.

Right Guard: Bruce Collie, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

Collie was one of two 49er draft picks to make the team in 1985, the other being Jerry Rice. He was versatile enough to play both tackle and guard, but he constantly had to compete for a starting spot with San Francisco. In 1989 he started a career-high 15 games and the 49ers won the Super Bowl, but he was waived during the next preseason. The Eagles picked him up and he saw time mostly as a backup during his first year with Philadelphia. He moved into the starting lineup for his second year in Philly, but a knee injury would end his season after only five games and signal the end of his career.

Collie was praised for his dedication to weight training while with the 49ers, but he later revealed that he'd used steroids since college. In 1990 he made the decision to stop the partying and drug use that had been a big part of his lifestyle and became a Christian. Today he works in the construction business and as a speaker for former NFL player Bill Glass' Champions For Life ministry. Over his seven-year career he played in 91 games, starting 40.

Right Tackle: Greg Robinson-Randall, 2001 New England Patriots

Robinson-Randall was a training camp surprise at right tackle his rookie year. He appeared to have earned the starting job going into the season opener, but it was given to veteran Grant Williams at the eleventh hour. Robinson-Randall started getting more playing time in December when New England was out of the race, and next season he started all 16 games as the Patriots won their first Super Bowl. He was starting to look like a fixture on the line, but a failed conditioning test lost him his starting job in training camp next year. In November 2002 Robinson-Randall officially dropped the "Robinson" from his name and became simply "Greg Randall". The Patriots traded Randall to the Texans in the 2003 offseason, where he started all 16 games his only year there.

Randall had tryouts with the 49ers, Rams and Browns over the next few years, but he never got into a regular-season game for any of them. In 2006 he failed to make the roster of the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He started 39 of the 51 games he played during his four-year NFL career.


Defense

Left Defensive End: Mat Mendenhall, 1982 Washington Redskins

Mendenhall was drafted by the Redskins in 1980 but spent his rookie year on injured reserve with intestinal problems. He finally made his NFL debut the next year, but injuries limited his effectiveness. He started every game for the Redskins during their Super Bowl-winning season of 1982, but he only played on rushing downs.

In training camp next year Mendenhall found out that he'd lost his starting job to a youngster named Todd Liebenstein. Upon hearing the news Mendenhall walked out of camp and didn't play at all in 1983. He attempted to come back in 1984, but in training camp he was lost for the season because of bone chips in his elbow. Three weeks after being placed on injured reserve he was charged with drunken driving. He never played in the NFL again.

Mendenhall finished his career with one official sack in 23 games, 20 of which he started.

Left Defensive Tackle: Brandon Mitchell, 2001 New England Patriots

The Patriots drafted Mitchell as a defensive end for his quickness and potential as a pash-rusher. He became a starter in his third NFL season, but after the first four years of his career many considered him a disappointment. In 2001 he was moved to defensive tackle, where he succeeded as a run stopper and helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl. Mitchell signed with the Seahawks in the offseason hoping to play defensive end again. His first year in Seattle was plagued by injuries, but he started six games his second year and served as a versatile backup his third.

The Seahawks let Mitchell go after the 2004 season, and his career ended when he failed to make the Falcons' roster in training camp next year. He played 96 NFL games over eight years, starting 45 of them and accumulating 11 sacks.

Right Defensive Tackle: Bob Heinz, 1972, 1973 Miami Dolphins

Heinz earned a full-time starter's job in the middle of his third NFL season, 1971. The Dolphins would make it to their first Super Bowl (and lose) that same season, but Heinz would start in the big game twice more when the Dolphins won Super Bowls the following two years. Though Heinz was the most obscure of the Dolphins' defensive linemen, there are a few odds and ends he's known for. For instance, Heinz was the player replaced by Bob Matheson when the Dolphins went to their famous "53" defense, which in modern terms would be the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 formation. More humorously, before Garo Yepremian's now-famous pass attempt in Super Bowl VII the failed kick actually bounced off Heinz' helmet rather than being blocked by a defender, as is commonly believed.

Heinz' last year as a full-time starter was 1974. He lost all of 1975 to injury, then spent two subsequent years with Miami as a backup. He played two games for the Redskins in 1978, his ninth and final NFL season. He started 55 of his 111 career games, recording 10.5 unofficial sacks.

Right Defensive End: Dave Browning, 1980 Oakland Raiders

Browning was a speed-rushing defensive end drafted by the Raiders in the second round in 1978. He started seven games his rookie year, then started every Raider game for the next three seasons, including the Raiders' Super Bowl XV victory. He began 1982 in his usual spot, but he lost his job mid-season to a second-year player named Howie Long. The Raiders traded him to the Buccaneers in the offseason, where he was cut after a month and picked up by the Patriots, for whom he played only one year. He spent his last two seasons in pro football playing for the USFL's Oakland Invaders.

Overall, Browning played 77 NFL games in six seasons, starting 59 of them and registering three official sacks.

Left Linebacker: Reggie Torbor, 2007 New York Giants

I tried to give our most recent champions the benefit of the doubt, since many of them are young and still establishing themselves in the NFL. After four seasons though, I think it's safe to say that Torbor probably won't finish his career as one of the greats.

Torbor was drafted by the Giants for his athleticism and pass-rushing skills, and he was versatile enough to play both defensive end and linebacker. Some expected him to develop into a full-time starter, but he was used mainly as a situational player and special-teamer during his time in New York. He moved into the starting lineup when Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka was injured during the 2007 season. Though he wasn't outstanding, he filled in admirably during the Giants' run to the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.

In March 2008 Torbor signed a four-year deal with the Dolphins. He is once again expected to compete for a starting job. In his 62 career games so far, he has started 18 and recorded five sacks.

Middle Linebacker: Ron Cox, 1996 Green Bay Packers

Cox was an outside linebacker drafted by the Bears in 1990 for his pass-rushing ability. He showed promise early on, but after several trials in the starting lineup he failed to stick there. In 1995 he finally held onto the starting job, but the Bears decided to let him go to the Packers as a free agent in the offseason. The Packers wanted Cox to fill their hole at middle linebacker, a position he was unfamiliar with. His play there in training camp didn't warrant the starting job, so the Packers moved veteran outside linebacker George Koonce into the middle. Cox backed him up all year, and when Koonce was injured in the Playoffs he filled in ably enough to help Green Bay win the Super Bowl.

The Packers released Cox after that season, and he returned to Chicago to play one final year before being released again. He finished his eight-year career with eight sacks in 113 games, 35 of which he started.

Right Linebacker: Loren Toews, 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers

Yes, a member of the famed "Steel Curtain" defense actually made this list. I wasn't expecting it, but right linebacker was a surprisingly strong position.

Toews was an eighth-round draft pick by the Steelers of whom not much was expected, but he made the team with his surprising play in training camp. He was stuck behind seven-time Pro Bowler Andy Russell at right linebacker for his first few years, but he contributed with solid play as a backup and special teamer. Toews made it into the starting lineup after Russell retired, but two years later he lost his starting job to share time with Robin Cole. In 1982 the Steelers switched to a 3-4 defense which allowed Toews to return to the starting lineup full-time as the left inside linebacker. He played there his last two seasons before retiring.

He finished his career with 2.5 official sacks, four interceptions and 149 games played in 11 seasons.

Free Safety: Herb Welch, 1986 New York Giants

Welch was picked in the 12th and final round of the 1985 NFL Draft, but he managed to make the Giants as a versatile backup. He took over as starting free safety near the end of his second year when Terry Kinard went down with an injury, and he held the spot all the way to the Super Bowl. He returned to backup duty next year, but he missed the entire 1988 season with a knee injury. After the Giants waived him he spent his last three NFL seasons with the Redskins and Lions, and he played for the World League of American Football's Sacramento Surge and Barcelona Dragons in 1992.

In six NFL seasons Welch played in 79 games, starting eight and making seven interceptions.

Strong Safety: Billy Jenkins, 1999 St. Louis Rams

Jenkins joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 1997, and his strong play on special teams garnered him attention as a rookie. He started at strong safety the next two years, where he was known for his hard hitting, run-stopping and blitzing. The biggest knock on him was weak coverage skills. The Broncos traded for Jenkins the offseason after the Rams' Super Bowl victory and signed him to a seven-year deal, but he could only hold a starting job for one year. In October 2001 the Broncos waived him, and he had stops in Green Bay and Buffalo before his career ended after the 2002 season.

Jenkins played in 91 games over six seasons, starting 48. He finished with eight career interceptions and four career sacks.

Incidentally, I found out in the course of my research that Jenkins and Trent Dilfer had a small feud back in their playing days. Jenkins led several Ram players in taunting the Buccaneers' bench after the 1999 NFC Championship Game, and Dilfer, then a Buc, was involved in the ensuing row. In next year's Playoffs Jenkins (by then a Bronco) was fined $7500 for a helmet-to-helmet hit against Dilfer (by then a Raven). If they were teammates someone might have to keep them separated.

Left Cornerback: Elvis Patterson, 1986 New York Giants

Patterson was an undrafted rookie with the Giants in 1984 when Bill Parcells gave him the nickname "Toast" due to his tendency to get burned on big plays. Despite its unflattering origins, Patterson embraced the nickname because it could be interpreted as "toast of the town" if he played well. In his second season he replaced All-Pro holdout Mark Haynes as the starting left cornerback and led the team with six interceptions. He was challenged by rookie Mark Collins next year, but he kept his starting job when Collins was injured late in the season and ended up making the only interception in that year's Super Bowl. The Giants waived him one game into the 1987 season (allegedly because he spent too much time partying) and he later signed with the Chargers as a replacement player during the strike. He kept the starting job that year after the union players returned.

Patterson signed with the Raiders in 1990 and became a star on special teams. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 1991, but he almost didn't return the next year after he bodyslammed assistant coach Jack Stanton in training camp. Head coach Art Shell gave him a second chance, but Patterson's continued behavioral problems eventually got him traded to the Cowboys in the middle of the 1993 season. After he won his second Super Bowl ring that year the Cowboys opted not to re-sign him, and he never played in the NFL again.

Patterson finished his ten-year career with 12 interceptions in 151 games, 44 of which he started.

Right Cornerback: Dwayne O'Steen, 1980 Oakland Raiders

O'Steen began his NFL career with the Rams in 1978. He started 12 games for them in 1979 because of injuries to regular cornerbacks Rod Perry and Pat Thomas, but by the time the Playoffs came around he was back on the bench. The Rams made it to their only Super Bowl of the 1970's that season, eventually losing to the powerhouse Steelers. The Raiders picked him up off the scrap heap that offseason, and he took over as a starter in November when former All-Pro cornerback Monte Jackson struggled. The Raiders would become the first Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl that year. O'Steen went through his own struggles next season, which cost him his starting job and returned it to Jackson.

He bounced around to the Colts, Buccaneers and Packers his last three seasons, mostly playing as a backup and special teamer. In seven NFL seasons O'Steen played 77 games, starting 26 of them and recording eight interceptions. He passed away in 2001.


Special Teams

Kicker: Mike Cofer, 1988, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers had some great teams in the 80's, but those back-to-back Super Bowl winners at the end of the decade didn't excel in the special teams category. The misfortune they had to play in windy Candlestick Park surely didn't help their cause.

After being cut as a Saints replacement player during the 1987 strike, Cofer beat out longtime 49ers kicker Ray Wersching in 1988's training camp. He had the best year of his career in 1989, making 80.6% of his field goals and being named to the Pro Bowl. He would struggle the rest of his four seasons in San Francisco before finally being let go after the 1993 season. His final NFL gig was in 1995 with the Colts, who cut him after four games.

He finished his career having made 66.2% of his field goals and 97.1% of his extra point attempts in eight seasons. His career record for most extra points in Super Bowl play was broken by Adam Vinatieri in 2005, and he still shares the record for most in one game with seven. After football he had some moderate success as a NASCAR driver.

Punter: Barry Helton, 1988, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

Like Cofer, Helton had to replace a veteran, Max Runager, his first year in San Francisco. Runager originally opened the 1988 season as the 49ers' punter when Helton struggled under the pressure of training camp, but after an unimpressive showing in Week 1 the 49ers waived Runager and gave Helton the job. Helton performed sufficiently his first two years, but he struggled greatly in 1990. The 49ers kept him on the inactive roster in 1991 before releasing him in October. He caught on briefly with the Rams that season and his career ended when they cut him in training camp next year.

In four seasons Helton punted 213 times for 8,285 yards, an average of 38.9. 52 of his punts landed inside the 20, 21 were touchbacks, 116 were returned and four were blocked. His career net yardage was 31.3. He's still fairly well-known today in his native Colorado. He was the first of four straight University of Colorado punters to be named All-American, with Keith English, Tom Rouen and Mitch Berger following him. In 1995 the Big Eight Conference named him to their all-time team.


Closing Statement

While most of these players currently live in infamy or obscurity, no one can ever take away the special distinction they each hold. It's hard to make it in the NFL, but these guys were just good (or in some cases lucky) enough to have the experience every football player dreams about. They may not ever be immortalized in Canton, but they'll always have a spot on the first All-Weakest Super Bowl-Winning Starter Team. Here's to them.


A special shout-out to my resources:

Pro-Football-Reference.com
The Football Database
San Francisco 49ers: Where Have You Gone? By Matt Maiocco
Google News
Pro Football Researchers Association

Now that the Celtics have won the NBA title I can say something I don't think I've ever been able to say before: The last championship in each of the four major sports was won by a team I hate. Sure, I've watched teams I hate win championships before, but I've always had other sports with champions I liked to cheer me up. No longer is that the case. Over the last eight months there's been a clean sweep of championships won by teams I make a point never to root for.

I knew it was going to happen once the Lakers and Celtics clinched their respective conference titles, as I despise both teams. I had a feeling back in December that David Stern was going to orchestrate a Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals, so I can't say I didn't see it coming. I didn't watch one second of the phony Finals, but I had to hear about the results of each game due to a co-worker who was rooting hard for the Celtics and couldn't stop talking about them. I tried to explain to him that most of the Boston fans you come into contact with on the internet are insufferable jerks who think the world revolves around them, but he cared more about seeing Kevin Garnett get a ring than the sickening idea that those loudmouthed New Englanders (and the bandwagoners they've picked up over the last six years) get to experience the height of success yet again.

At least one good thing came out of this NBA season: I finally got the courage to accept that the NBA was a sham and to stop holding onto it because of the love I had for it in my younger days. David Stern, you can engineer all the Lakers-Celtics Finals you want. I'm not wasting anymore time watching this façade o####enuine competition until you're out as commissioner. Any league where two teams have won half its titles has something wrong with it.

Then there was the NHL. This was my first year following hockey closely, and I think I've found the sport that will replace the NBA in my heart. Hockey has players that are passionate about the game and generally focused on the team first, which is more than I can say for basketball. The only downside to this season was that the Stanley Cup was won by the Detroit Red Wings, a huge rival of my Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the fact that I'm an all-Chicago fan, I don't really mind the Lions, Tigers or Pistons that much. It seems that the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry is taken most seriously of all the Chicago-Detroit feuds though, so the Red Wings are on my "always root against" list. Admittedly, I haven't developed a real hatred for them yet, as I'm still new to hockey fandom, but they're about as close as you can get in my situation.

How about that Super Bowl? I heard about the outcome, but like the NBA Finals I didn't watch a nanosecond of it (except to see that play everyone was talking about on YouTube after the fact). I hate both the Giants and the Patriots, so I decided to spare myself the agony of watching one of them win it all.

What? The Boston hater didn't want to see the undefeated Patriots lose and all the smiles wiped off the faces of the arrogant Beantowners? Sorry, but not if it had to be at the hands of the Giants. Not only do they represent New York and have plenty of obnoxious fans of their own, but their quarterback is Eli Manning. The guy whined his way out of playing for the Chargers and has now been rewarded for it. When someone like Eli Manning wins a Super Bowl after four years in the league it only perpetuates the idea that big market teams with lots of historical success are somehow more important and worth playing for than teams that haven't yet reached that level. It makes me sick. John Elway had to pay penance for doing the same thing with three Super Bowl losses and the question of if he'd ever win the big game for over a decade. Eli got off with only a few years of doubt from the New York media and some criticism from his former tailback.

Then, of course, we have the most important sporting event of them all: the World Series. I threw all my support behind three different teams over the course of the Playoffs, but the one that ended up holding the trophy was the Red Sox, the team the evil city loves most. I could try to recapture my feelings about it here, but I think my post from after the Series ended says it better than I could right now.

If we end up with a Cardinals-Red Sox World Series or some such abomination 2008 will officially be the worst year in the history of sports. Of course, I'll probably still watch the World Series even if it features two teams I hate just because I love the game of baseball so much. After the way the past year has gone though, a team I can be happy for winning the World Series would do a lot to keep me from sinking into sports depression.

Only a select few ever get to play professional sports; even fewer ever get to experience the ultimate reward: playing on a professional sports championship team. Many great players have come up short in their attempt to reach that goal, but there's something especially heartbreaking about cases where the team wins a championship immediately after a longtime player leaves or is traded. One can only wonder what might have been.

With our most recent Super Bowl champion having lost its star player to retirement last offseason, I thought I'd compile a list of the top ten pro athletes who just missed getting to be part of the celebration. The focus of this list will be players who spent a considerable amount of time with the team before they left, not players who were only there for a few seasons preceding the championship. I'm also excluding players who ended up getting a ring with another team and ones who are still active. Now that we've established those criteria, let's get to the list.

10. John Vanbiesbrouck

Detroit-born John Vanbiesbrouck played his first full season as a goaltender for the New York Rangers in 1984-85. He wasn't the biggest goalie in the league, standing only 5'9", but he made up for it with his quick reflexes and aggressiveness. He had the best year of his career in 1985-86, when he won the Vezina Trophy, was named to the All-Star First Team and helped the Rangers reach the Conference Finals despite their losing record during the regular season. The popular goalie (known as "Beezer" to the fans in Madison Square Garden) required surgery for a lacerated wrist during the 1988 offseason. It was thought that he would miss several months of the 1988-89 campaign while recovering, but he ended up playing in the season opener. In the early 90's he teamed with Mike Richter to give the Rangers one of the league's best goalie duos.

Believing Richter could handle the goaltending duties on his own, the Rangers traded Vanbiesbrouck to the Canucks after the 1992-93 season. Just four days later he was taken by the Florida Panthers in the expansion draft. While Vanbiesbrouck helped the new team in Florida to a respectable inaugural season (and was named to the All-Star Second Team in the process) the Rangers went on to win their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. Vanbiesbrouck's popularity continued in the Sunshine State, and he played in three All-Star Games while a member of the Panthers. He helped the fledgling franchise reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, but they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche. He made it back to the Finals in 2001 as a backup for the Devils, but once again his team fell to Colorado.

Vanbiesbrouck retired in 2002 holding the NHL record for most victories by an American-born goaltender with 374. He also tied Frank Brimsek with 40 shutouts, most among American NHL netminders. In 2007 he was inducted into the American Hockey Hall of Fame.

9. Billy Cox

You've heard of the famous Brooklyn Dodgers infield, right? Hodges-Robinson-Reese-Cox? All were great players, but one of them never got to be part of a World Series winner, and that was Billy Cox. A shortstop with the Pirates, the Dodgers acquired him after the 1947 season and moved him to third base. He was a dazzling fielder at the hot corner who once inspired Casey Stengel to say: "He ain't a third baseman. He's a [bleep]ing acrobat." The World War II veteran wasn't much of a hitter (lifetime .262 batting average, 66 home runs, .698 OPS), but he had a reputation for coming through in key situations. Cox played in three World Series with the Dodgers, but each time they lost at the hands of the New York Yankees.

The Dodgers traded Cox and Preacher Roe to the Orioles after the 1954 season (coincidentally, the same trade that had originally brought Cox to the Dodgers was the same one that had brought Roe). In June of 1955 the Orioles traded him to the Indians, but he chose to retire rather than report to his new team. Four months later the Dodgers finally beat the Yankees to win the franchise's first World Series title.





8. Paul Reinhart

In 1979 the Atlanta Flames used the 12th overall pick in the NHL Draft on a young defenseman named Paul Reinhart. Though defense was his primary job, Reinhart was also a strong puck handler who was versatile enough to play any position on the ice, and he developed into one of the best all-around defensemen in the game. With the Flames (who moved to Calgary after his rookie year) he had two Playoff hat tricks, made an All-Star appearance and helped them to the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals. For all his success, he might have accomplished even more had he not struggled with injuries throughout his career.

The Flames traded Reinhart to the Canucks before the 1988-89 season. At the time of the trade he was the last remaining player from the franchise's days in Atlanta, and he held most team records for defensemen. Despite playing in pain, he made his second All-Star appearance that year and helped the Canucks to a first-round Playoff matchup against his former team. The underdog Canucks stunned the Calgary crowd by winning Game 1 in overtime, with Reinhart scoring the deciding goal. The two teams battled their way to seven games, but the Flames ultimately weren't going to be denied their first Stanley Cup that year. Reinhart played one more season in Vancouver before his back problems forced him to call it quits at age 30. He finished his career with 133 goals and 427 assists in 648 games.

7. Wilbur Cooper

Wilbur Cooper was a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the Dead Ball and early Live Ball Eras. He once played for a minor league team owned by future U.S. President Warren G. Harding, and legend has it that Harding himself recommended Cooper to the Pirates. The left-hander had great control, a good pickoff move to third and was a solid hitter as well. The Pirates weren't a very good team early in Cooper's career, but as Cooper developed and the team around him improved his numbers got better. For eight straight seasons he won at least 17 games. The Pirates were annually in the first division, but the NL pennant always eluded them.

After the 1924 season Cooper was traded to the Cubs. The move was unpopular in Pittsburgh, and Cooper himself was disappointed to be leaving the Pirates. After winning 20 games the year before, he was nothing more than an average pitcher for the last-place Cubs, which translated into a losing record. Meanwhile, his old teammates took up residence on the opposite side of the standings, eventually winning the pennant by an 8½ game margin and overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Washington Senators to win the World Series. 1926 was Cooper's last year in the Major Leagues, but he continued his career by pitching in the minors for several years after that. He remains to this day the Pirates' all-time leader in wins with 202.

6. Tiki Barber

Tiki Barber was a running back drafted by the New York Giants out of the University of Virginia. For the first three years of his career he was used mainly as a return man, a third-down back and a receiver out of the backfield, so his rushing numbers weren't particularly impressive. When he became a full-time starter in 2000 however, he emerged as a star and helped the Giants reach the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. It would be Barber's only Super Bowl appearance. He built up an impressive résumé over the next six seasons, which included three Pro Bowls, three All-Pro selections and the franchise record for most rushing yards.

In 2006 Barber announced that he was retiring at the end of the season. Though still in his prime, he said that his passion for the game had decreased and that he was ready to move on. It came as a surprise to many fans, but he was committed to his decision. The Giants had an up-and-down year in Barber's last season, but their Playoff hopes were still alive going into their final game against the Redskins. With his team needing a win, Barber rushed for a franchise-record 234 yards to lead them to a 34-28 victory. After the Giants lost their Wild Card matchup with the Eagles and he made his final Pro Bowl appearance, Barber hung up his cleats just like he said he would.

The Giants went 10-6 and qualified for the Playoffs the next year. Though most observers didn't see them as a threat to take home the Lombardi Trophy, they did just that, winning three Playoff games on the road and then upsetting the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl.

5. John Franco

The Cincinnati Reds were a perennial second place team during the mid-80's, but those teams are mostly forgotten today. One of the players who helped them stay in the race every year was closer John Franco. After two years finishing games part-time, Franco became the Reds' main closer in 1986. For the next four years he was one of the best in the game, finishing in the NL's top five in saves each time and being selected to three All-Star teams.

After the 1989 season the Reds traded Franco to his hometown Mets for Randy Myers. Myers would join with Rob Dibble and Norm Charlton to form the "Nasty Boys" bullpen corps, and the Reds would win the World Series. Franco would spend the next 15 years in a Mets uniform, and he finally experienced his first postseason nine years after the trade. The Mets made it to the NLCS in 1999 and the World Series in 2000, but both times their season ended with a loss. Franco signed as a free agent with the Astros in 2005, but he was released in July of that year and hasn't returned to the Majors since. His 424 saves are currently 4th all-time.

4. Don Mattingly

Don Mattingly was called up by the New York Yankees in September 1982. Despite coming off a pennant-winning season the Yankees were struggling. The next year Mattingly would get some significant playing time and the Yankees would improve to third place. In 1984 he took over as the full-time first baseman and a star was born. For the rest of the decade he would be an All-Star every year, win five Gold Glove Awards, finish in the top 5 in MVP voting three times (winning it in 1985), finish in the top ten in batting average five times (including the 1984 batting title), lead the league in doubles three times, and win three Silver Slugger Awards. 1987 was notable for two accomplishments: he set a record (later tied by Travis Hafner) for most grand slams in a season with six, and he tied a record held by Dale Long with home runs in eight consecutive games. The Yankees were usually in contention during the 80's, but they always fell short of the Playoffs.

1990 was when things started to go downhill for Mattingly, as he started suffering from back problems. He had the worst year of his career and the Yankees finished in last place. Though he (and the Yankees) rebounded over the next few years, he never reached the levels he did in the previous decade. The only awards he won during the 90's were four more Gold Gloves.

In 1995 the Yankees made the postseason for the first time in Mattingly's career by virtue of the Wild Card. They had a hard-fought five-game series with the Mariners, but in the end Seattle prevailed. Mattingly's .417 batting average and 6 RBI made him one of the hitting stars of the series, but it ended up being his last hurrah. Mattingly decided to sit out the 1996 season due to his recurring back problems and the need to spend time with his family. It was poor timing, as 1996 was the year the Yankees finally got over the hump and won the World Series. In 1997 he officially announced his retirement from baseball, and the Yankees retired his #23. He is the only Yankee with his number retired not to play for a World Series winner.

3. Bruce Armstrong

Can you name the only player who wore the current Patriots uniform design as well as the classic red uniforms with "Pat the Patriot" on the helmet? The only Patriot to play for both Raymond Berry and Bill Belichick? That would be offensive tackle Bruce Armstrong. Armstrong was New England's first-round draft pick in 1987 out of Louisville. He started his career at right tackle and moved to his more famous spot on the left side in his fourth season. He was a warrior, committed to playing every game he could. He started all 12 non-strike games his rookie year despite sustaining a shoulder injury in training camp that required surgery after the season. In fact, the only affliction that ever prevented Armstrong from playing came in a 1992 game when he tore three of the four main ligaments in his right knee. He was out for the entire second half of the season and his career appeared to be in jeopardy, but he came back next year and started all 16 games. Recognized leaguewide as one of the best, Armstrong was named to 6 Pro Bowls and 7 All-Pro Teams between 1988 and 1997.

After the 1999 season Armstrong was released by the Patriots due to his declining skills and his refusal to accept a pay cut. It was seen by many as a classless move, as Armstrong had played through the second half of the previous season with torn ligaments in his right knee, but new coach Belichick saw it as necessary. Armstrong eventually agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots, but it was clear his time in New England was running out. Though Armstrong wanted to play one more season after 2000, the Patriots didn't re-sign him and he officially announced his retirement in September 2001. The Patriots honored him by retiring his #78 and inducting him into the team Hall of Fame. He remains New England's all-time leader in games played. A few months later the Patriots would win the franchise's first Super Bowl and begin a run that would lead to them being considered the Team of the Decade.

2. Nate Thurmond

One of the most underappreciated big men in NBA history, Nate Thurmond was considered the best defensive center of his era by many opponents. A backup to Wilt Chamberlain as a rookie, he helped the San Francisco Warriors make it to the NBA Finals in the 1963-64 season. The Boston Celtics were unstoppable in those days, so needless to say it wasn't the Warriors' year. Still, Thurmond played impressively enough to earn a spot on the All-Rookie Team. The Warriors traded Chamberlain in the middle of the next season, making Thurmond the new starting center. He finished the year averaging 18.1 rebounds per game and set an NBA record in February with 18 rebounds in one quarter. Over the next five seasons he would never average fewer than 17.7 rebounds per game, including two years averaging more than 20. He helped the Warriors get back to the NBA Finals in 1967, but once again they ran into an unstoppable team, this time the 68-win 76ers. Though Thurmond never reached another NBA Finals with the Warriors, his personal accolades with the team included two All-Defensive First Teams, three All-Defensive Second Teams, and seven All-Star selections.

After the 1973-74 season the Warriors traded the aging Thurmond to the Bulls for the younger Clifford Ray. While Ray didn't quite put up the numbers Thurmond did, he was valuable to the Warriors for his defense and his unifying effect on the team. Thurmond joined a Chicago team that had made it to the Conference Finals the previous season. They were an aging bunch, but they still had one good year left in them. In Thurmond's Bulls debut he racked up the first quadruple-double in NBA history (22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocks) and set the stage for the franchise's first division title that season. The Bulls made it back to the Conference Finals and ended up facing Thurmond's old Warrior teammates. The series went seven games with the Warriors emerging triumphant in the end. The underdog Warriors went on to sweep the Bullets in the NBA Finals to win the franchise's first Bay Area title. Thurmond was traded to the Cavaliers in the middle of the next season, where he was part of yet another run to the Conference Finals, this one ending against the Celtics. He retired after the 1976-77 season with career averages of 15.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game. His #42 was retired by both the Warriors and the Cavaliers, and he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1996 he was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players.

1. Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers out of Seattle University with the #1 pick in the 1958 NBA Draft. The Lakers franchise was struggling at the time, but Baylor gave them a superstar that restored their fortunes. With averages of 24.9 points and 15.0 rebounds per game, he easily captured the Rookie of the Year Award. The Lakers had been the NBA's worst team the year before, but he took them to the Finals that year, where they lost to the Celtics. In 1960 the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, where rookie Jerry West joined with Baylor to form what would be one of the NBA's greatest duos for the next decade.

Though Baylor never won an MVP or scoring title, his list of accomplishments is long. He was named to the All-NBA First Team ten times, the All-Star team eleven times, and averaged more than 30 points per game three times. He finished in the top ten in scoring ten times, the top ten in assists six times and the top ten in rebounds nine times. In 1960 he scored a then-NBA-record 71 points in a game. About the only thing he couldn't do was win an NBA Championship. Baylor's teams made it to the NBA Finals a total of eight times, but they lost each one. The Lakers made it to the Finals in 1965, but Baylor didn't play because of a knee he injured in the first game of the Playoffs. The injury carried over to next season, as Baylor had the worst year of his career to date. Fortunately, he bounced back. While he didn't play at quite the same level as before, he definitely reclaimed his status as one of the game's best. Injuries limited him to two games in 1970-71, but he attempted to keep playing.

Early in the 1971-72 season, after Baylor got off to a slow start, the Lakers asked him to relinquish his spot in the starting lineup to a young forward named Jim McMillian. Rather than accept a bench role (and the fact that he wasn't the player he used to be), Baylor retired. As soon as he was gone the Lakers went on an NBA-record 33-game win streak. They finished the season with 69 wins, another NBA record which stood for 24 years. The Lakers made it back to the NBA Finals, but this time they did something they hadn't done during Baylor's career: they won. Baylor finished his career with averages of 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, and the Lakers retired his #22. He earned induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, and in 1996 he was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players.

Sometimes that elusive championship is so close and yet so far. These players may not have won championships, but none of them should ever be forgotten.

As some of you know, I've decided to boycott the Super Bowl this year. Don't try to talk me out of it; it's non-negotiable. I can't root for the Giants, because any quarterback that refuses to play for the team with the #1 pick has to suffer the same fate as John Elway: early success with an above-average team in the NFL's weaker conference, but no ring until at least his 15th year. I can't root for the Patriots either, because their team photo appears next to "evil" in the dictionary. No, nothing short of Cheap Trick being called in as a last-minute replacement for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as the halftime entertainment could get me to watch this Super Bowl. The question that remains though, is what am I going to do on Sunday night?

Let's see what's on the schedule for the other channels I normally watch.

Hmmm...it looks like the other major networks are showing news during the Super Bowl. Oh wait, NBC is showing "The Biggest Loser: Couples." That sounds like a good alternate name for Super Bowl XLII. ABC is also showing "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," A.K.A. The Show That's Half Commercials. They're following that with "America's Funniest Home Videos." No thanks.

Zoinks! The Cartoon Network is showing a Scooby Doo marathon. In all honesty, that might be the best option I've come across so far.

CMT is showing Fried Green Tomatoes. Sorry, I'm not into "chick flicks." After that they're rerunning episodes of "Gone Country" which I've already seen. Any show where the likes of Dee Snider, Sisqo and Marcia from "The Brady Bunch" attempt to become country singers is can't-miss entertainment. I don't know if I feel like watching them again though.

Versus is showing something other than hockey. Pass.

Hey, there's a Wizards-Lakers game on the local sports channel. The Lakers' resurgence this year has gotten me depressed though, so I don't know if I can stand to watch that game.

Scooby, you may have some competition for your spot at the top of the power rankings. TV Land is showing "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "M*A*S*H." I'm not a huge fan of any of those shows, but they're usually a nice way to pass the time.

TBS is showing some "Bridget Jones" movie. See my comment on Fried Green Tomatoes.

C-SPAN is showing "Road to the White House 2008." Hey, now there's an idea. I could get caught up on the current political race. I have a feeling though, that after it's all said and done I still won't like any of the candidates they're hyping.

How about my old hometown's local channel, WGN? Oh great. More "America's Funniest Home Videos," and then, if that weren't enough, it's followed by "Funniest Pets and People," which is essentially the same show. Hey, "American Idol Rewind" is on after that. The description says "Wildcard Show." Wow, there's a change. Whenever I checked out "AI Rewind" in the past it was always a compilation show of those oh-so-hilarious bad auditions. You know, the ones with poor deluded souls who think screeching at the top of their lungs is actual singing? Those are funny once or twice, but after a while you just want to hit the mute button. I might tune in if indeed they're showing an episode with real performances.

How about the movie channels? Oh look, the Beatles' movie Help! is on. I've seen it before though. There's Facing the Giants, a football movie. I've heard it's good, but I think I'm done with football (and any gridiron team nicknamed "the Giants") until September. Stop the presses! Howard the Duck is on! I'm sure Ed Hardiman would be proud if I watched that. The Flintstones is on too. Remember that masterpiece starring John Goodman and Rick Moranis? I actually saw that in theaters when it came out. I don't think I've seen it since then. I think that streak will continue. Then there's An American in Paris, which I've also seen before. While Gene Kelly is much more entertaining than Bill Belichick, I don't think I feel like watching that particular movie.

The NHL Network is mostly showing "NHL on the Fly," which, for anyone who doesn't know, is just a show that gives you updates on the day's NHL games. I'm not going to sit and watch the same highlights over and over. I'd rather watch one of their random lists like "The Top Ten Left-Handed European Defensemen of the 1993-94 Season."

NBA TV is showing "NBA Vault" and that same Lakers-Wizards game I'm avoiding. I suppose some retro basketball stuff could be interesting.

The Game Show Network is showing "Greed," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and "Lingo." Those shows are OK, but nothing I'd go out of my way to watch.

Finally, the Hallmark Channel is showing a "Murder, She Wrote" marathon. If they were showing one of their formulaic feelgood movies I might watch just so I could be cheered up from the dismal reality that two teams I hate are playing for the NFL's championship, but if Angela Lansbury is the best they can give me I think I'll pass.

The Super Bowl is the biggest event in American sports, and as such it leaves a big gap to fill. There are some decent options on TV, but most aren't so great. The more I think about it the more I'm leaning toward just reading a book.

As the clock ticked off the final seconds of the Chargers-Patriots game it also signified the end of any hope there was for this season. As of right now the NFL has joined Major League Baseball by ending on a low note. I'm not watching the NFC Championship Game, because I hate both teams. The Patriots (A.K.A. Evil in Palpable Form) may win the Super Bowl, but the only thing I'll remember about them was that they denied a more deserving team a Super Bowl appearance (and possible victory).

Speaking of that more deserving team, the Chargers played a great game, especially considering they were without their best player. I was pulling for them, but it's hard to beat a dominant offensive team when you never reach the end zone. I'm not going to make excuses, but one can only wonder how the Chargers would've done had they had LaDainian Tomlinson. Michael Turner and Darren Sproles gave valiant efforts, but unfortunately they weren't enough. I'm at least glad they put up a good fight. I hope San Diego represents the AFC in Super Bowl XLIII. That's a team I'd remember more fondly than any Patriots team.

I know that most of the country has jumped on the "Brett Favre needs another ring" bandwagon, but I can't stand the guy or his team, so jumping on it is unthinkable to me. Even though the media has given him "demigod" status, I just don't buy it.

I suppose there is a bright side to this season being over. Now I don't have to worry about the two weeks of pointless hype before the Super Bowl. Last year my Bears were in it, and all the analysis got on my nerves after a while. It wasn't too bad, as I knew that even if the Bears lost it'd be to a deserving champion, but I still wanted my team to take home the trophy. This year I know that evil has already triumphed, so there's no storyline left for me to follow.

The NBA has been pretty bad this year, but at least there's still the NHL. Hockey, you're all I've got right now.