I have noticed a trend of bloggers making a play on players names…for example I was reading a blog and someone called Curt Shilling Curt Shi tling.  Okay I find that pretty pathetic, and not being one to shy away from a pathetic attempt at a blog I thought I’d give it a try with a few of my favorite names in sports that have been getting some ink.  Please throw in your worst attempts at making a name for somebody.  Here goes.

Lenny Dykstroids – Kind of a mix between steroids and asteroids, or asterisk.

Roger Clemensjection – You know, the kind in your belly button.

Brianabolic Roberts – Anabolictastic, I swear it was the red contact lenses.

Rafael Palsyringeo – I mean, this one jumped right out at me.

Beneedle Santiago – He could throw from his knees.

That’s all I can muster, thanks for reading!

I will make this short and sweet, but don't you folks realize this college football thing is rigged?  I don't care how it ended up the way it did, but the fact is the 2 teams that are clearly not the best are playing for the national championship.  If you're a realist, like myself, we all saw it coming. #### on the system for not giving Hawaii a chance.  #### on the system for not forcing Ohio State to play a schedule worth a dang.  #### on the system for making excuses for a team like LSU losing 2 games.  #### on the system for rewarding teams like Kansas and Georgia for not even making it to the conference title game.  #### on everyone who doesn't agree with me.

This is not a good trade for the Angels if you’re talking about them being a better candidate for the World Series. Lucky for the moronic Angels fans that’s what Moreno is counting on, and he definitely knows how to make money.

#1 Buy a team in the “wealthiest” region in America
#2 Change the name to include more of the region, when in reality he knows no real baseball fan will go to an Angels game instead of a Dodgers game
#3 Count on those wimpy Orange County dads with their fake wives and whiney kids to shell out countless dollars because Miguel and Vlad are on the same team
#4 Realize that you have no intention of winning, just providing the idea that you want to win as made apparent by your shrewd trade to bring in a “bopper”
#5 Trade away your no names that used to be the cornerstone of your organization so the new cornerstone of making more money is more attainable
#6 Re-hire the Rex dog after he got busted for pot because that’s what all the rich orange county wimpy dads can relate to

P.S. Howie Kendrick

P.S.S. This post is mostly a Moreno lambasting if you hadn't noticed

P.S.S.S. Or maybe an Orange County dad lambasting

I’m actually pumped the BCS might get the A-bomb. This is my best case scenario.  Do you think the rest of the country would be with me?  Let me warn you that I’m not a CF fan like Nos or Norcal, and I don’t have any evidence that this is even feasible.

National Championship

Mizzou vs. West Virginia (only my best case scenario cough cough, wheez, hack, cough, because it gives us some other much needed bowl match-ups)

Rose Bowl

USC vs. Ohio State (good old fashioned rose bowl the way it used to be, and we can settle this lovely arguement till next year)

Sugar Bowl

LSU vs. Kansas (Kansas should be recognized for their great season, this is one way to do it)

Orange Bowl 

VT vs. Georgia (assuming VT wins ACC, cross your fingers)

Fiesta Bowl

Florida vs. Hawaii (A great chance for the pollsters to pray that Florida hands it to Hawaii, otherwise you know what might happen…my gut says the BCS would be too afraid to give Hawaii the chance, you might get another Boise State fiasco)

Four things have to happen to make this dream a reality...

#1 VT wins

#2 Mizzou wins

#3 LSU wins

#4 West Virginia wins

#5 Hawaii wins

Say your prayers America

A Completely Separate but Completely Equal Observation

How pathetic are these television anchors and coaches throwing the names around of the people they want to win the Heisman.  I heard Tebow and Heisman in the same sentence about 400 times.  He doesn't deserve it America!!!!!!!  How is he any different than Brady Quinn last year??  Answer me that idiots. 

The real Heisman race shapes up as follows, until next week at least...

#1 Colt Brennan (should win hands down in a legit Heisman race)

#2 Chase Daniel (Obviously)

#3 Patrick White (although he's a front runner little baby who only wants to play when they're winning)

#4 Darren McFadden (Arkansas would have won 2 games without him)

#5 Tim Tebow (20/20 big deal) 

I'm a BLOGGER and I believe everyone has a right to FREE SPEECH.

1.  I have the right to use someone else's idea for a blog and then pawn it off as my own (similar to how Colin Cowherd does his show btroup).

2. I have the right to misuse any word I choose to misuse, or for that matter make it up out of thin air, jimbob.

3. I have the right to say something I don't believe, this does not condone lying or impersonating any said individual as we are all aware, the children are reading.

4. I have the right within my list of rules to give random facts about myself, such as I'm 5'9, 168 lbs, and in my Madden Hall of Fame Season just caught 27 touchdowns in my third year in the NFL and had 2378 yards receiving.  This all despite the fact Drew Brees got cracked ribs and I had to finish the year with Adrian McPherson calling the shots.  I, of course, won the Super Bowl and parlayed that into a huge FA contract and a bigger pad.

5. Placing sexual parameters on your blog is a good idea, if you don't, you are likely to be taken advantage of in the worst way, a way that Sebastian Janikowski can elaborate on if you ever corner him in a bar.

6. I refuse to use restraint in situations where you show up, on my blog, and say something that doesn't make much sense, kelly.

7. I do agree that burning flags is a desperate, cheap cry for attention, if you will.  I’m not sure if it makes you a polecat, but darn close to it if you ask me. 

8. I believe that if you don’t vote, you still reserve the right to complain.  My best example of this is I’d venture to say there a very few of us that get an AP, USA Today, or Coaches Poll vote, yet we argue about the BCS like we were all married.

9. I, even if intending to make a list of ten things, might through lack of creativity, en up with only nine and then stop writing.  I do intend to write all of my posts in English, so hopefully that will be fine with all of you.

10. This blog is of course in reference to our friend jimbobjo, who posted his in the NASCAR section.  Jimbobjo, thanks for the idea pop!

11. I have the right to call myself Scottstradomus and claim to be some professional writer.  And, then in every attempt to discredit myself, make the most outrageous and overreaching claims I can fathom to garner attention and comments.  This in all reality may be more egregious than burning a flag, and definitely qualifies you for dead polecat consideration.

12. I also reseve the right to intend to stop my list at ten, and then decide later to add to that list as I see fit.  Hey, does anyone else, when looking at #### Stockton in the booth, expect to see a long pony tail if he turned around, and then as your daydream continues, picture him on a Harley Davidson.  Just wondering.

Why haven’t McGwire, Sosa, and Palmeiro been indicted for lying in front of Congress? What about the illegal purchase of HGH by players such as by Byrd and Ankiel?  Shouldn’t they also be held responsible in some way?  What about Giambi and the rules and laws he broke.  I would take this issue more seriously if the indictment playing field was level.

This time of year brings all of us college football fans together around the proverbial campfire we call the BCS ranking system.  Everyone comes out with their expert opinions and reasons why the undefeated teams are undeserving of any credit.  Joe Schmo says Michigan should be number 1 because their SOS is 10 and blah, blah, blah.  Tom, ####, and Harry say West Virginia has a better shot at the championship game because their schedule was supposed to be good.  Peter, Paul, and Mary say Ohio State doesn’t deserve to be punished for their loss late in the season.  You know it’s just not fair to lose early and have a chance to climb back up the polls, right over teams that don’t lose.  Here’s an idea, Jim Bob over here thinks Florida is a top team even though they have three losses because Jim Bob said so at the beginning of the year.  

All in all I feel sorry for you people who actually believe the BCS has any merit what so ever.  The people who have stood to make the make the most cash off of these “amateur” athletes have got you all fooled.  Don’t you see?  They come up with a system called a “computer”, and a “ranking system.”  As the season progresses the necessary changes are made within the system and in the computers to ensure the most financially viable match-up is the one we get for the NC game.  How else would you explain Florida jumping over Michigan at the end of last season?  How else would you explain any of the other ridiculous match-ups the computers have spit out since the system was introduced?  These cowards at the top can then hide behind the “computer” and count the millions of dollars they rake in.  Rather ingenious if you ask me.  So, good luck with your rankings and all this other baloney.  It’s a freaking conspiracy if you ask me.

Brian Urlacher has his own blog?  Wowsers, I wonder if he'll respond to my comments... golly gee I sure hope so.

I was comforted to know, after seeing David Stern's interview on ESPN this morning, that the commish is satisfied with his investigation into the referee scandal.  Mr. Stern came to this enlightened state of nirvana while laying in bed one evening and thinking of all the CIA and FBI scandals that cost thousands of people their lives.  These spies, moles, and leaks at our highest level of American intelligence lent Stern the idea that having a cheater ref in "his" league was okay.  Luckily for us with all of the investigations, there is no proof that Tim Two Times altered the outcome of any game.  If you don't find this asinine...

Joe Torre and Donnie Baseball in Dodger Blue?  I furrow my brow at the thought.

If I broke the Girardi as a candidate for the Yankees managerial job in a blog before it was released in regular print media, do I get credit for the leak?

Do even the Colts fans think their team has a shot this week?

A-Rod to the Giants.

Barry to the A's.

Andruw to the Dodgers.

Lowell to the Phillies.

Rowand to the Braves.

That's it.

#1 BoSox Roll - What a huge disappointment from a fans perspective.  I was really looking forward to a great World Series that went at least 6 games.  You can try and come up with the reasons why Colorado could not hang with Boston, but the fact of the matter is Boston was too good.  Its amazing how these good teams end up "cruising" through the regular season with a 3.87 team ERA, then the get to the playoffs and turn it up a notch. With their backs against the wall they smoked the two best teams left standing seven games in a row.  I wonder where Lowell will end up and how much this season will cost the team that signs him.

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#2 Top 5 BCS Contenders - Last week these were my top five contenders: 1) Ohio State,    2) Boston College, 3) Arizona State, 4) LSU, and 5) Oklahoma.  Looks like nothing changes, with these five, but BC looked very beatable and Arizona States victory was pretty impressive in Tempe.  Problem with the Sun Devils is running the table looks pretty unlikely, but if they do it, how can you keep them out?  Lets add two more top conteders to the list: 6) Kansas - could it be? 7) Oregon - its either them or ASU.

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#3 Tom Brady? - This is shaping up into being the most dominant statistical seasons in the history of all of sports.  Brady is on the way to having a Madden '08 season.  Let's project his stats: 4862 yards/60 TDs/4 INTs/136.2 QB RTG/4 SUPER BOWLS.  I think he's worth the $16 mil, I think Moss is worth the $8.25 mil, and I think Welker is worth the $0.5 mil.  I'm not sure if next weeks game will even be a game.  I'll take the Pats and give the Colts whatever it lands on.  I'll even wait until Sunday to lay my money down.

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#4 A Rod Says Thanks, But No Thanks To $72 Mil - This may be viewed as quite a gamble, but I guess it speaks for A-Rod's discontent in N.Y.  I think Alex told Boras, "I don't care what is costs, get me out of the Bronx, and I'll cover what you lose."  The Rangers will save $3 mil over the next three years, and will allow them to continue rebuilding after a nice set of trades near the end of last season.  Although I have not recieved much support of my opinion that A-Rod will end up a Giant, but mark my words, its where he's going.  The Giants are going to dump Zito and sign A-Rod to whatever he wants and make him a shortstop again.  Expect it to be in the $30 mil range, and most if not all to be guaranteed.

#1) The BCS Rankings and Top Contenders - The clamoring has begun and the pundits are making their expert opinions heard.  Herbstreit is doing his usual brainwashing, May is giving his annual underdog spiel, Holtz is spitting food all over himself, and Corso is giving us his best Madden impression.  I'll help you get through all the muck going into this weekend.  Column #1 gives the top 5 undefeated candidates in order, column #2 has the top 5 1 loss teams, and column three gives the top 5 candidates for the NC:

Undefeateds

Ohio State (Big Ten) Its obvious if they run the table they'll get in, lets just hope they don't

B.C. (ACC) Again, the inside track to the NC if they can win out

Arizona State (Pac 10) It will be nearly impossible for any PAC 10 team to run the table

Kansas (Big 12) Long way to go, plus a conference championship game will hurt them

Hawaii (WAC) In the same boat as Boise State last year, no real chance

1-Loss

LSU (SEC) You know an SEC school will be there in the end, this is my choice

Oklahoma (Big 12) The best chance of any Big 12 team, Kansas isn't too promising

USC (Pac 10) See note for the Sun Devils

Kentucky (SEC) They can beat anybody, I have them slightly ahead of South Carolina

Oregon (Pac 10) I'd like another Big Ten school in here but there's none to choose from

Top Candidates

Ohio State has no real challenges on their schedule, even if they lose I have a feeling they'd slide back up the rankings.  The pollsters love the Big Ten in the NC.

Boston College is obviously up there because they haven't lost yet, if they run the table it will be tough to dethrone them.

Arizona State is three, but hanging on for dear life.  The Pac 10 schedule is going to make it tough for anyone, especially without a conference title game to boost a one loss team going into the next to last poll.

LSU has got to get by Auburn this week.  This is my underdog pick of the weekend, I have a good feeling about Tuberville's team getting healthy again but I'll leave LSU as a top contender.

Oklahoma once again the perennial teams have the advantage.  With a nice finish to their season and a little help you might want to write them in.  If you're gonna lose, do it early.

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#2 Colorado Waits - The postseason is heating up in Major League Baseball.  The AL series is a complete coin flip.  The only problem for the Sox is they can't throw Beckett again unless Francona goes nuts.  The series is heading back to Beantown and Manny is hot as a firecracker.  I love to see a little fire, and I would have laid 10 to 1 that Beckett would have snapped Lofton's neck in two.

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#3 Who Manages the Yanks in '08? - There aren't too many people around baseball that don't think Torre is getting absolutely hosed.  I understand if they want to let him go because he's old, but let's not make a spectacle of it.  There's news going around that Mattingly has the inside track, but my gut says Joe Girardi would make more sense.  I'd take the guy whose already managed in the big leagues.  Torre can go sit under an umbrella in the Bahamas, but he deserves better than this.

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#4 Nebraska Football - What the heck is going on in Lincoln?  Osborne is back in the mix?  Callahan may be gone before the season is over if you ask me.  I can't imagine all this turn over can be good, anyway you look at it.  This seems a lot like the Notre Dame situation.  Nebraska may not win a game next year. 

This is intended to be tongue and cheek, a little bit of tongue and a lot of cheek...

1. Lisa H (the former Lisa 4 USC) - a completely weak schedule, filled with I AA opponents, may not be #1 very long, can you say Ohio State...

2. edhardiman - this duck has been at the top for a long time, he's not going anywhere, the proof is in the pudding, this is our USC...

3. UltraMegaOK - the Miami Hurricanes of the blog world, tough to like, some insane opinions, but at least he lays it out there

4. MeanDovine - father christmas of the blog site, always has a compliment, not many harsh words from him, a little Boise State, gotta love em...

5. Rivjo - Kind of like USF this year, he deserves his ranking, even though the haters spit, ya'll better recognize!

6. JoshQPublic - Hail the Irish, I swear he must get paid...

7. Dudski - Have you read his bio?  Not sure, but he writes a good blog, a little Gamecock in him...

8.  LSUfan - He's been crushed by many opponents, kind of like your 3 loss BCS team, call it like it is LSU...

9.  14falcons - The Hawaii of the blog world, tough to beat and tough to schedule, got to go out of your way to find him...

10. ksp113 - He'll make you laugh and make you cry, kind of like Auburn this year...

11.  tophatal - the lady killer of the group, got enough to crush you, just like West Virginia...

12.  Norcalfella - doesn't come around much but his stuff has substance, a little California Golden Bear...

13.  Nostradamos...He's another college football guy, but his opinions are good,  probably happy to see Osborne back, Nebraska of the blog world, in and out...

14.  bmoynahan - Haven't seen him much but his stuff is pretty good, he'll shock you with his writing ability, Boston College fits him...

15. ReverendRhythm - Usually at the top, Florida fits him perfect...

I've been reading posts over the past couple of days about the playoff teams this season and how "bad" they are.  There was one in particular that used all of these far off numbers to prove that the Diamondbacks were the least deserving team to make the playoffs over the past couple of seasons (maybe in the history of baseball).  I know its hard for the casual fan who actually doesn't know the game of baseball to really think this.  The problem with todays fan is that they've grown up on two things: 1) The steroid era of baseball & 2) The video game era of baseball.  What these two factors have caused is for the common fan, the football fan, the sportscenter highlight fan to really believe that the biggest names and the biggest and farthest homeruns, and the fastest pitches are what makes baseball fun to watch.  This type of fan really believes that these criteria actually add up to wins.  The problem is the teams that employ this type of management are actually doing it with the conscious effort of trying to make the most money and not actually trying to win a World Series.  If you honestly believe that the Mets or Yankees would trade a World Series for $100 million then you've been fooled, too. 

Lets look at the World Series winners in the 00s and the make up of their rosters, I will not write down every name, just the notables that jumped out at me:

2006 St. Louis Cardinals - No Name Players: Their middle infield consisted of David Eckstein and Ronnie Belliard.  Their outfield included Chris Duncan, Preston Wilson, and So Taguchi.  Their pitching staff included Jeff Weaver, Jeff Suppan, Adam Wainwright, and Braden Looper.  They also had Scott Spezio.   Big Name Players: were Jim Edmonds (.257, 19 home runs), Albert Pujols, and Scott Rolen (22 home runs, 95 RBIs).  Only Pujols actually had a monster offensive season, both Rolen and Edmonds were/are on the downside of their careers.  Conclusion: They won with the right mix of no one really knows.

2005 Chicago White Sox - No Name Players: Their middle infield consisted of Juan Uribe and Tado Iguchi.  Their outfield included Carl Everett, Willie Harris and Scott Podsednik.  Their pitching staff included Cliff Politte, Neal Cotts, Damaso Marte and Dustin Hermanson.  Big Name Players: Jermaine Dye (31 HR, 86 RBIs), Paul Konerko (40 HR, 100RBIs), and Aaron Rowand (13 HRs, .270).  Both Konerko and Dye had bigger years in 2006.  What the White Sox did have in 2005 was a sweet pitching staff, but until 2005 no one knew those starters were that good.  Conclusion: They won with the right mix of no one really knows, and Ozzie Guillen lit the right fire.

2004 Boston Red Sox - No Name Players: Kevin Millar, Gabe Kapler, Bill Mueller, Doug Mirabelli, Mark Bellhorn.  On the mound it was Bronson Arroyo, Mike Timlin, Alan Embree.   Big Name Players: Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Curt Schilling, and Pedro Martinez (game 3 starter).  Conclusion: This team obviously had more big name talent than recent teams who won the World Series.  It still feels like Jason Varitek is the biggest part of this equation, I'd take him anyday on my team.  To you video game fans, I'll admit this looks more like your type of team.

2003 Florida Marlins over NY Yankees - No Name Players: In the infield they had Luis Castillo, Alex Gonzalez, and Jeff Conine.  In the outfield they had Miguel Cabrera (1st year in big leagues), Juan Pierre and Juan Encarnacion.  On the mound they had Brad Penny, Ugueth Urbina, Mark Redman, Rick Helling, and Chad Fox.  Big Name Players: Pudge Rodriguez, Derek Lee, and Josh Beckett (a stretch considering he had 17 career regular season wins going into that postseason).  Conclusion:  This team had nobody anyone wanted going into the season.  This team made the players that people wanted.

2002 Anaheim Angels - No Name Players: David Eckstein, Brad Fullmer (almost killed me with a juiced foul ball), Scott Spiezio, Chone Figgins, Shawn Wooten, Orlando Palmeiro.  On the mound they had Jarrod Washburn, Scott Schoeneweis, Ben Weber, Kevin Appier (likes llamas and camels), Francisco Rodriguez (5 career appearances going into that postseason).  Big Name Players: Tim Salmon (22 HR, .286), Garrett Anderson (29 HR, 123 RBIs), Troy Glaus (30 HRs, 144 Ks, .250).  Conclusion: Rally #### all day.  I was at game 6, the Rally #### was for real.

2001 Arizona over NY Yankees - No Name Players: Danny Bautista, Craig Counsell, Tony Womack, Damian Miller.  On the mound it was Byung Hyun Kim, Miguel Batista, and Albie Lopez.  Big Name Players: Randy Johnson, and Curt Schilling.  It goes no farther than that. Conclusion: Randy Johnson, and Curt Schilling.

2000 NY Yankees (87 win team) - No Name Players: Chuck Knoblauch (not fun to play cards with), Glenallen Hill, Clay Bellinger (great little league coach), Scott Brosius, Luis Polonia, Luis Sojo, and Jose Vizcaino.  On the mound it was Jeff Nelson, Mike Stanton, and no other no names pitched in the series.  Big Name Players:  Not as many as you think.  You can't consider Paul O'Neill a big name player in my book, but its obvious Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, David Justice were all big timers.  Conclusion: Despite the star power it is nothing like what the Yankees have tried to do with stockpiling names.  This still was only an 87 win team.

All I have to say is be careful what you wish for.  Maybe you should just hope all your stars get hurt and you get lucky with an influx of young and hungry minor league talent.  I just don't want you video game fans to miss out on possibly the best major league baseball season in 10+ years.

San Francisco 49ers -  I've never been a fan of Mike Nolan and his coaching style.  The close to the vest, be careful with the ball in case we might turn it over is preposterous.  2 passing touchdowns?  Doesn't LaDainian Tomlinson have that many this year?  Well I guess that isn't so bad considering Tomlinson is about to become the most prolific running back touchdown passer in the history of tackle football.  Let's run some "numbers" real quick: dead last or at least near it in nearly every offensive category.  Now I know Nolan doesn't call the plays but he has a hand in the fact that the 49ers don't really try to score any touchdowns.  The philosophy appears to be keep the ball in the middle of the field, try and kick some field goals, and maybe squeak out a win.

San Diego Chargers - Now tying in with the 49ers, the Chargers hired Norv Turner off of the 49ers coaching staff.  I actually thought Norv did a pretty good job with the 49ers offense but even a casual fan (ie. JCScheffers who made a good call on this ONE) knows that Norv can't run a football team.  The Chargers were about penciled in to at least get to the AFC championship game and they'll be lucky if they even get a shot in the playoffs.   The defense is where the Chargers are really losing it.  If they don't get it right quick, it will be curtains for the Bolts. 

Philadelphia Eagles - In the City of Brotherly Hate, there is plenty of it to go round right now.  My suggestion is focus on football and try not to get distracted along the way.  That may be too much to ask of some people but I think you catch my drift.

Cincinnati Bengals - Can you say jail?  Maybe Goodell should just shut this franchise down for a year and call it a rebuilding plan.  This is really a fun team to watch with some offensive weapons, no pun intended.  I suggest the Bengals just go sign Vick, Pacwoman, and Tank (too late) and try and just maybe really go out and try to kill some fools. 

I have been saying it for a long time now that sports figures or celebrities are great choices for role models.  People seem to automatically attach some status to individuals who are good at a sport and then somehow transfer that into role modelism.  Which of course I can't help but agree with since I can't think for myself.   I just wanted to point out a few more instances where maybe letting your kids have high profile athletes as celebreties may be the best idea. Here are some recent instances where having athletes as role models is brilliant.  I have some very low standards so you may not be in complete agreement with my top three choices for best role models.  Warning:  Let your kids read this, it is highly unlikely they will go on a robbing spree or sexually harrass their teacher.   A little like Eminem said, "You can be just like me."

1. Isaiah you may have been a good point guard, but you are a bona fide piece of dog doodoo.  Just go crawl back into the hole you crawled out of and leave the Knicks and the rest of society alone. You are one expensive ####.  Absolutely perfect for my children.

2.  OJ, The Juice.  What should we do with this guy?  I mean a serious menace to society.  If I saw him coming down the street I'd definitely move to the other side.  High speed chase on speed.  Double murder, armed robbery, bar fight, 10 handicap, 11,000 yards rushing.  Amazing!  And it would be the most super entertaining thing if we let OJ try to get to 12,000.  Let him back in the league, my kids deserve the chance to see OJ's head knocked off.

3.  Iron Mike Tyson .  Oh yeah.  Let's just let the guy box.  I mean his worst offense in the ring is biting off Evander's ear.  Which in all reality isn't that big a deal, and so what if he likes to go fast and do drugs (Mike's biggest role model when he was growing up just happened to be OJ Simpson).  He's got the brain of a 13 year old.  Just leave old Mikey alone people and let him lead the children.

Honorable Mention: 

Gold:  Rasheed Wallace (because E 40 said so)

Silver: Ricky Williams - the poster child for wasted talent and laziness

Bronze: Mark Ecko - The gold standard for wasting money because you have lots of it and you want to rub that fact in the face of all the people that don't have much, Mark Ecko you're my hero and my kids hero, too.

These are my top six role models for my children, at least  for when I have some.  I will make sure to remind my kids the most important people on this planet are ones that are good at sports and anyone who entertains us.  But, remember there are many role models to choose from.  Your kids can sift through the newspaper or watch some television and find their own if you want to go that route.

For a team with a fairly strong winning tradition the Giants are at an extreme low in their history.  A commitment to Barry Bonds over winning has caused a fracture in the player personnel pipeline (which has been more through trades than minor leage development).  Extreme caution has to be used during this offseason to get the Giants back to .500 in 2008 and hopefully back into the playoffs by 2009.  The only way this will happen is through shrewd front office moves and putting the right people in the right place so they can afford some legit players.  Projected lineup for the 2008 MLB season.

1. Rajai Davis (40+ bags in a full season) - CF After picking up Davis in the Matt Morris trade (thanks Pirates), Davis proved his speed at the top of the lineup is better than an injured Dave Roberts.  An affordable player and a pretty good one.

2. Tadohito Iguchi (good situational hitter) - 2B The old middle infield needed an overhaul.  Durham is still a good player but getting a serious guy with a ring seems important.  I just like Iguchi so lets get him.

3. Alex Rodriguez (best hitter in the game) - SS The only way to get Rodriguez is to put him back in the middle of the field.  How about Vizquel goes and A-Rod stays.  You know the Giants are going to get an A player and the Yankees will take Zito off our hands.

4. Dmitri Young (20 yacks, 80 ribs) - 1B Why not?  The guy was good, then got hurt, and the Nationals won't give him another contract.  How about no more Aurilia.

5.  Pedro Feliz (20 yacks, 80 ribs) - 3B A third baseman who can't hit for contact and and can't hit 3 or 4 either must really stink.  Which Feliz does, but the Giants are in such bad shape he actually is pretty good, ugh.

6. Randy Winn (20 yacks, 80 ribs) - RF A very solid player and I like him.  A good fit to drive in about 85 runs and he brings a little speed to the lineup also.

7. Bengie Molina (fat) - C Too lazy in my book and not a championship catcher but hit pretty well for being a ####.

8. Fred Lewis (lets see what he can do in a full season) - LF Its going to be weird not to see Barry in left, but this rounds out a decent lineup.  There's not much protection in their for A-Rod but getting Andruw Jones is pretty unlikely and idiotic.

From a defensive perspective the outfield will be much faster to cover the spacious gaps on the cove.  The left side of the infield is pretty stout with Feliz and Rodriguez, and I like Tado on the other side.  Young is kind of a fill in but, better than Lance and Dicky Aurilia.

1.  Matt Cain (R) - give him a defense and watch out

2. Tim Lincecum (R) - give him a defense and watch him lead the league in Ks

3. Noah Lowry (L) - nice changeup behind the two flame throwers at the top

4. Kevin Correia (R) - He looked pretty good in a starting roll.  He's no Liriano, but he's alright

5. Jonathan Sanchez (L) - He needs to start and lets get ready for the 2009 playoffs

Closer - Brad Hennessey (R) - Picked up about 20 saves in half of a season.  Seems alright to me.

It's never to early to talk rebuilding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!