As the last few days and weeks have rolled by in the world of sports, I have made two observations.  The first is that some of the most amazing things have been happening.  Things that a true sports fan lives to see.  We've had fantastic finishes, great team and player stories, as well as historically significant individual efforts.  There has also been things that have dominated headlines that are nowhere near "newsworthy".  The crime in this is that many fans' attentions are being diverted to this garbage, and missing these wonderful events in sports. 

As a teacher, I always assume that when people behave inappropriately it's because they don't know what the appropriate action is.  Therefore you, the fan, will no longer need to miss the unmissable.  I, XEA76, will help you navigate your way through the trash and find the treasure.

Worthy:  Derek Fisher

This guy flies 2/3 of the way across the U.S. to pray for his potentially dying child, support the mother of his child, and be there when a man needs to be there most.  When he knows all is safe, he flies back to Utah, suits up, and inspires his team to a huge OT win. 

Not Worthy:  Racially biased NBA officiating

You have to ask what the agenda is of any organization that would even support such a study.  Anyone who actually saw the raw numbers knows that the illedged discrepency of calls of officials to players of another race were not statiscally significant.  Translated, this is why all polls have a "margin of error".  The statistics were not so skewed that there appeared to be a problem, but there was a SLIGHT descrepency.  If you really want to help the racism problem, don't make it the issue everytime people that don't look the same are in the same room.

Worthy:  Barry Bonds

I started this blog over a year ago because of this man.  Barry is a jerk.  Barry MAY be a cheater (probably).  Having said that, Barry is the greatest baseball player I've ever seen, BAR NONE!  Baseball fans live their whole lives wanting to see records broken.  He's already broken the big one.  Now he's going for the #2 record in all of baseball, the all-time HR mark.  Don't miss this because of a stupid grudge.  This is what you want to tell your kids about.  If you ignore him, you make him a mystery to the next generation. Educate yourself about him.  Teach the kids why he's so good.  Explain why cheating is bad.  However, do not miss one of the most amazing feats by one of the five greatest baseball players of all time.

Not Worthy:  Curt Schilling

Speaking his name in public is difficult to do.  This is a guy who gives the media the quotes they want, so he gets a pass on being an ####.  He is not a Hall of Fame player.  That's right, being an outspoken member of the 2004 Red Sox doesn't make you one.  Sorry Kevin Millar.  I'm not sure any person in sports is less socially significant while being oblivious to that fact at the same time.  He thinks he's important.  He speaks for political candidates.  He's a social commentator.  And frankly, all the Beanbrains want him to do is get people out.  That's right Curt.  If you make the country less dependent on oil and have an ERA over 5.00, then Boston will hate you.  I promise.

Worthy:  Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Jr. is leaving the company his father founded.  NASCAR's biggest star with it's biggest sponsor is officially a free agent (at the end of the year).  This event really has no other worthy comparison.  There is no other athlete more popular, in his prime, and about to be persued by about 15 Nextel Cup teams, the idea of starting his own team, or even other racing outfits like the IRL or Formula One.  Junior is the biggest free agent in the history of American sports. 

Not Worthy:  Car of Tomorrow

NASCAR made it.  NASCAR uses it now.  NASCAR wants it full time in 2008.  That settles it.  Shut up and drive it.

Worthy:  Tiger Woods

Tiger is on another dominating run.  He's winning almost every tournament he signs up for.  He's back to his dominating form with his 15th different swing.  He got to the point in 2000 when he decided to compare himself to himself, and not to the other players.  Now he's back to being so far ahead of the field it's almost laughable.

Not Worthy:  Mike Vick

He's the biggest bust since Ryan Leaf.  He's a punk who's popularity so far supercedes his accomplishments that it's obsurd.  He's a great athlete who can't play QB.  He's a spoiled brat who has robbed me of the 60 seconds of my life that it took to write this blurb.  I'm out!

NFL G.M.'s have to be the slowest learners of anyone.  This back-up QB as the-answer-to-all-of-your-problems phenomenon is ridiculously stupid.  A team as bad as the Texans gives up two second round choices, which are usually end up as starters in thier first or second years in the league, to get a guy with two NFL starts.  The most amazing thing about this is that often times these "must have" back-ups usually back-up starters that aren't that good to begin with.

Case #1 - Jay Fiedler

After one start in 1999, he signs on with the Miami Dolphins to be the man.  In that 1999 season, he appeared in seven games with that one start.  He went 61-for-94 for 656 yards with two TDs and two INTs.  Wanna build your franchise around that?  Miami did!  Ask them how that worked out.  Before he left for South Beach, Fiedler was the back-up to Mark Brunell in Jacksonville.  Many are thinking this was Brunell's hayday.  He led Jacksonville to the AFC championship game in the 1999 season right?  Yes, however, a great defense and running game led the Jags that season.  Brunell himself had only a 58.7% completion rate with 14 TDs against nine INTs.  Not exactly Marino.  You would think if Fiedler was Marino, he could beat out a guy with those numbers.

Case #2 - Rob Johnson

Everyone's favorite rags to riches story.  The scene shifts back to 1997, Jacksonville, Florda.  Rob Johnson, again after only one start, posts a QB rating of 111.9, which over a career would make him the GREATEST QB OF ALL-TIME!!!  With opportunity for greatness knocking, and Jim Kelly running out the back door, Buffalo makes the power play to land Johnson.  The 1997 Buffalo Bills stumbled to a 6-10 record under Marv Levy and QB Todd Collins.  Desperation is understandable for the once great franchise.  So they jump on what seems to be the best available prospect.  Not so much!  Once again, Johnson was available because he couldn't crack the position held by Mark Brunell.  In Brunell's defense, his 1997 was much better than his 1999.  He had a QB rating of over 90, but still fewer than 20 TDs and 3281 yards.  Again, Brunell was a good player, but if Johnson was Jim Kelly, he would've been starting.  Both the Bills and Dolphins are still struggling to find signal-callers to this day.

Case #3 - Matt Schaub?

If Schaub were nearly as good as some would have you believe, couldn't he beat out Mike "the Hype" Vick?  Vick has never been a 3000 yard passer, never had a passer rating over 81.6, never had more than 20 TD throws.  Vick is the most overrated athlete in the HISTORY OF THE PLANET! 

I really hope Schaub works out.  I hope he's better than Vick, but again, if he were, wouldn't he be the starting QB in Atlanta?  If he's Vick or worse, then don't look for the Texans to win in the playoffs for at least the next six years.  It takes at least that long to overcome a mistake at the QB position.  Right Houston, Miami, Buffalo, and Cleveland?