The last two play the last one

I’ve seen both the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers play in person this year, from the field level.

Both teams are awe-inspiringly good for different reasons.

The St. Louis Cardinals, despite being stuck in third place in late June when they visited my hometown Orioles, were a well tuned machine of slick fielding and savvy base running.  Extra bases were taken on offense, and extra bases were denied on defense.  It was a very subtle dominance, but each player (even the woefully slow Lance Berkman) was efficient at his position.  A freak arm injury robbed me the pleasure of seeing Albert Pujols (I’m still bitter about it), but no player was truly a superstar at his position, but was above average.  A very key distinction that separates the play-off teams from my Orioles (in addition to playing in the more forgiving NL Central).

The Texas Rangers, despite being in a dogfight with the perennially underwhelming Angels at the season’s onset in late May when they came to Charm City , were a collection of hammers.  Outside of the New York Yankees, no other team had such a collection of guys who could straight mash (not to be confused with hit, that would be the hated Red Sox… though, those guys were more like slow pitch softball all-stars.  Kings of placing the ball in the gaps between fielders than sheer force).  Literally, everyone on their roster was capable of ripping a shot down the foul line or launching a majestic rainbow into the cheap seats (though, that’s a relative term at Camden Yards).

With the exception of Chris Carpenter (criminally underrated… he might be the least respected, still dominant Cy Young award winner of the past decade… sorry, Brandon Webb) and oft brilliant Derek Holland (he of the even more brilliant nickname, the Dutch Oven), no pitcher on either staff really can dominate a game (apologies to Scott Feldman of the Rangers and Jason Motte of the Cardinals… each has had their share of stumbles). 

So there should really be no surprise this series has gone to Game 7.

Who will win tonight?

 

The brawn of the Rangers or the team-bigger-than-the-individual-parts Cardinals?  Ron Washington managing on instinct and in-game intuition or Tony La Russa micromanaging through a complicated formula of matrices and advanced algebra? 

St. Louis, who has been scratching and grinding just to get into the play-offs, has been riding an incredible fortunate streak (including last night’s Game 6 that was filled with more than one fortunate bounce… well, that and Nelson Cruz’ inability to field fly balls) just as Texas has been self-assured and dominant since early Summer.

Well, its one game.  Anything can happen and, for this series, everything has happened.  It’s time for the more talented, mashers from the Lone Star State to win 6-2.   Unless, of course, the game comes down to Nelson Cruz fielding a fly ball again.

NFL Power Poll… Packers gotta Gun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NFL Power Poll makes its 2011 debut… same game (music for each team/group of teams that exemplifies where they are at this point in the season)… Starting at the top!

Green Bay Packers

“All the other kids, with their pumped up kicks, better run, better run, outrun my gun!”

- “Pumped up Kicks” by Foster the People

 

Can enough be said about how sick Aaron Rodgers has been this season? (So much so that I’ve now abandoned my Jake Gyllenhal jokes… Consequently, I’m devoting that energy into a “Forrest Griffin looks like Josh Hartnett” campaign) Good gracious… Jermichael Finley has the NFL’s Best Tight End Championship belt (Good run, Antonio Gates… though, Jimmy Graham is the #1 Contender).  Clay Matthews has the NFL Best Outside Linebacker Championship belt (Good run, James Harrison)… not to mention the fact that Greg Jennings has a credible claim on a share of the Best Wide Receiver Championship belt (Larry Fitzgerald is a decent QB away from owning it outright… let’s just say that Fitzy has the WBO and WBC belts), B.J. Raji singlehandedly dominating games, and Mason Crosby making field goals from 32947823748 yards out.  This team may not lose.

 

New England Patriots

“When you gotta job to do, you gotta do it well… and give the other guy hell”

- “Live and let die” by Paul McCartney

 

In honor of Sir McCartney’s third marriage, I had to throw out a song lyric of his.  Though, who better to the timeless Beatle than the timeless machine that is the Patriots’ offense?  Wes Welker may be in the midst of one of the greatest WR seasons ever.  Their defense is slowly rounding in to form and, with the vanquishing of their nemesis, the Jets, their path to the AFC East crown is pretty wide open save for one surprising challenger.

 

Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers

“I went to the store and found that talk is still cheap.”

- “She will” by Lil’ Wayne

 

These teams have just been coming out and beating down their opponents, save for one game.  While the Ravens’ slip-up was a shocking misstep against an up-and-down Titans teams, the Chargers can take solace in their lone loss coming against the Patriots.  While each have done it differently (Ravens, defense; Chargers, offense), the results can’t be disputed.  These three teams were lost in a lot of the off-season hype and talk, but they’ve proved that they’re viable candidates for the Super Bowl.

 

Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, and San Francisco 49ers

“Sooner or later, it comes down to fate… I might as well be the one.”

- “Only the Good Die young” by Billy Joel

 

Three franchises that can’t win for losing the past few seasons… Matt Schaub use to be a whizz kid but that was five seasons ago.  He’s looking more Matt Hasselback than Tom Brady these days as he and his absent minded professor coach, Gary Kubiak, find new ways to disappoint their fan base each season.  Things aren’t much better in the city by the Bay.  The Saints can only ride Drew Brees’ wizardry for so long… The Singletary years built a great foundation (unfortunately, that foundation didn’t come with an offense), that didn’t result in anything other than great moral character.  Jim Harbaugh has them all believing, but he still has Alex Smith at Quarterback… The Texans and 49ers have seemingly had “the goods” for years (The Saints at least got a Lombardi), but haven’t been able to breakthrough.  Maybe, in the end, the last two play-off teams in and out come down to luck.  Could this be the year that the Texans and 49ers luck changes?

 

Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills

“I’m just doin’ better than what everyone projected, I knew that I’d be here, if you ask me how it feel, Imma say it’s everything that I expected.”

- “My Last” by Big Sean

 

No one (not even those hearty citizens of the Motor and Queen City) expected their teams to be doing this well at this point in the season.  They could each lose out the rest of the way (not likely, but just saying) and this season will already be looked upon as an improvement over anything in recent history (Justin Verlander is sitting distraught in a quiet room somewhere right now).  Whether it’s Fitzmagic in Western NY or Chaos N. Suh in Eastern Michigan, we can all agree that something special is happening (and will continue to happen until the inevitable Matt Stafford injury and the NFL realizes the Bills have no front seven).

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

“They sayin’ I fell off, ooh, I needed that.”

- “Headlines” by Drake

 

Yes, we were all ready to call the Steelers as good as dead after they caught a good, ol’ fashion, passionate butt whippin’ in Week 1 (I even believe they had their shoes, coat, and hat taken), had a few sluggish wins, and were lambasted by Houston (Had I put this out two weeks ago like I originally wanted, they would’ve been a few rungs lower).  Though, just like always, Ben rubbed some dirt on his face, fake limped (look, I’m not saying he isn’t in pain, but even Tiny Tim tweeted for Roethlisberger to stop milking it) and gritted his teeth to a dominant performance of the Titans.  The AFC’s top two seeds won’t be decided until Week 16.

 

Washington Redskins, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans

“O.g. is one who standin’ on his own feet./A boss is one who guarantee we gone eat…
dawg … one day we gone meet.”

- “I’m a Boss” by MMG

 

These teams have been down for a few seasons (well, some longer than others… See: Snyder, Mr.) for various different reasons (Hi, Daniel; Eli + no pass rush; Fisher and VY had worn out their stays three seasons ago), but that’s all ancient news now.  Much like William Leonard Roberts II (aka Ricky Rosay, who in his own right was a decent football prospect), a few big hits can erase even the most dubious past and give credence to whatever you’re shouting about now.  Granted, shouting over six weeks isn’t the same as doing it for 17… two of these teams are about to go in to free fall

 

Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and Oakland Raiders

“We all have a weakness, but some of ours are easy to identify… Remind me that we’ll always have each other, when everything else is gone.”

- “Dig” by Incubus

 

These teams, while capable of putting together impressive wins (not talking about that Vikings laugher, Chicago… Adrian Peterson deserves better), are clearly a step below the previously mentioned teams.  However, it’s not quite as severe as what many news outlets are reporting them to be.  Matt Ryan, maybe not the savior he was proclaimed to be, is still a top ten QB in this league (I’m sure the Ravens, Redskins, Titans, and 49ers would take him over their current signal callers in a nanosecond).  Jay Cutler isn’t the same guy who sulked his way out of Denver (much in how Steve Young became a man when he came to San Francisco ).  The Jets can still do enough well that ten wins is pretty conceivable (that defense and their wide receivers are well above the league average).  Oakland may have lost Jason Campbell for the season, but they have the “win it for Al”, Carson trying to prove the haters wrong, and the awful AFC West advantage that these other teams lack.  All these large fan bases should take solace, most of these team’s cores are young and under contract for some time… there’s no where to go but up.

 

Tampa Bay Bucs, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Romos

“I don’t need to be reminded that this is how it was. I moved on, I passed a billboard down my block, that asks if I’ve had enough, and aloud I say “I’ve had too much” when the truth is, I’m just getting started.”

- “Barlights” by Fun.

 

All these teams are probably done with the season all ready, yet, they still have to play the rest of their games.  In fact, they probably all want to hit the “reset” button and try to have a better showing.  Alas, that isn’t the case which means that their fans are already looking to next year.  Unfortunately, many of these teams are in tenuous positions with some solid, young players (Josh Freeman and LaGarette Blount, Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, Colt McCoy and Greg Little, Dez Bryant and… Miles Austin is still youngish), but a lot more older and unreliable ones ( Does Tampa Bay ’s defense have a starter under 27 not named Gerald McCoy?  Can you name any of the journeymen that comprise the Bengals’ and Browns’ offensive lines?   Don’t even bother to ask about the Cowboy’s offensive line).  Is it too early to start cheering for the 2013 versions of these teams?

 

Philadelphia Eagles

“You’d kill yourself for recognition,

Kill yourself to never ever stop
You broke another mirror,
You’re turning into something you are not.”

- “High and Dry” by Radiohead

 

Poor, poor Mike Vick.  After all the accolades and big contract, he wanted nothing more than to put the Eagles back on his back and carry them through another torrid season while disproving all his haters (believe me, there’s a lot of them still… its like they just mutated!  In fact, I was at a party last weekend where a guy steadfastly asserted that Vick would “never be a viable QB” because “he was always looking to run”.  The guy was a Packers fan and failed to realize that Vick season high in passing yards in a game exceeded Aaron Rodgers, to whom Vick had only eight less passing attempts.).  The more deadest on being the “pocket Vick” this Eagles team becomes, the more they lose their identity (as well as their “scary to defend” essence).  It’s all about finding a balance, which was on display this past Sunday.  The rest of the league should hope that was just an aberration and not the new modus operandi. 

 

Carolina Fightin’ Cam Newtons

“Hold up, before we end this campaign,
As you can see, we done bodied the damn lames,
Lord, please let them accept the things they can’t change,
And pray that all of their pain be champagne,”
- “Otis” by Kanye West and Jay-Z

 

Juxtapose to the distraught plight of Michael Vick is the unflappable, untouchable Cam Newton (Elliot Ness, and the other NFL rookies, have nothing on him!).  Whether its dropping three hundred yard passing games like its nothing (really, Cam… back-to-back 400 yard games!?!) or shrugging off the NCAA investigations ( Auburn allegedly spent $120k to land Newton … what a bargain!  Don’t believe me?  Ask tOSU boosters how much they shelled out on Pryor).  Newton hasn’t just changed the game for the time being, he’s given the Panthers their first legitimate superstar QB (Sorry, Delhomme and Collins… no apologies to Chris Weinke) and resurrected the career of Steve Smith (who may be the happiest person in the Carolinas not named Dabo Swinney).

 

Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals

“Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it’s alright,
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change…

Just go ahead, let your hair down…You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.”

- “Put Your Records on” by Corinne Bailey Rae

 

These teams are bad.  Though, it isn’t quite as dismal as it looks (even for you, Tarvaris Jackson).  They’re not that bad, talent-wise (well, maybe you are, Kevin Kolb); they’re just bad, identity-wise.  If Dennis Green were faced with scheming against them, he’d look quizzically and shrug (why this could be for a variety of reasons, the one I was looking for is that they couldn’t be who we thought they were because they are nothing).  Maybe the promotion of Tebow and jettison of Lloyd (the loudest pro-Orton supporter, btw) is the spark plug this team needs (I can tell you as an Eric Decker fantasy owner, I’m pretty excited).  Maybe Sidney Rice FINALLY being healthy will right the Seahawks ship (granted, that ship is more rowboat than battleship, but it’s the NFC West… we take what we can get).  Maybe Larry Fitzgerald will repeatedly defy double and triple teams to allow the Cardinals offense to resemble… well, an offense.  I don’t know.  I do know that one of these teams is about to rocket up the standings… stay tuned.

 

Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, and St. Louis Rams

“Your classicisms and history don’t impress me… I was born for today and the day after, year after year”

- “The Future is now” by The Boo Radleys

 

These teams are bad.  Though, again, it isn’t quite as dismal as it looks (well, except for you, Matt Moore).  Youth rules these teams and, much like the teams a few rungs up, its all about tomorrow.  Unfortunately, its still today… The Vikings have finally realized (or maybe not) that going with the grizzled, veteran QB isn’t always the best solution (one out of three isn’t bad).  The Christian Ponder era has officially begun (though, it looks strangely like the dawn of the Joe Webb era).  Miami has done everything except for starting to sell Andrew Luck jerseys to make it clear that they’re packing it in and hoping to land the superstar QB.  With the electric Reggie Bush, the enigmatic Brandon Marshall, the incendiary Daniel Thomas, the productive Anthony Fasano, a underrated defense (hi, Cameron Wake!) and well, whatever it is Brian Hartline brings to the table, its not exactly like the cupboard is bare.  Sam Bradford is good and now he finally has a receiver to accompany Stephen Jackson. 

 

Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs

“We get wasted, then I taste it, then I waste it again… and we’re doin’ it again”

- “Another again” by John Legend

 

These teams are bad.  Like, really bad.  It is as dismal as it looks.  In fact, it’s worse.  The Jaguars have underwhelming Rookie QB Blaine Gabbert as the Red Riffle (Andy Dalton) continues to dazzle in Cincinatti, their coach is as good as fired, and the LA has done everything except hiring the moving company to bring the Jaguars to the City of Angels.  Poor Mauriece Jones-Drew.  You deserve better than this, my friend.  On the opposite end, you have the Chiefs.  Last year’s winners of the AFC West by virtue of taking advantage of a weak schedule and being merely competent (How the Chargers were Norv Turner’d out of a dynasty should be one of the biggest shortcomings ever… fortunately, San Diego is such an awesome place that their fans have plenty of distractions).  This season has seen them freefall, wasting all of last year’s momentum… The Chargers seemingly have their act together and playing the first place teams from the other divisions isn’t quite as easy.  They’re an old, veteran team so the rebuilding phase hasn’t even started yet.  Worse still, they don’t even have the light of the tunnel of moving to a sunny locale… Arrowhead has seen the last playoff game it’ll probably see for a long time.

 

Indianapolis Colts

“Home, lemme go home!  Home is whenever I’m with you.”

- “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

 

The song here sums up how Colt’s fans feel about their broken leader, Peyton Manning.  Curtis Painter hasn’t made anyone forget about Jim Sorgi (which, in itself, may be the worst feeling outside of Manning’s neck right now).  The defense is old and hurt and the offense… well, they count the fact that Painter hasn’t completely messed himself a positive.  Colts’ fans don’t have to be worrying about home… seems they’ll be there for at least the next two postseasons.  Manning is 36 and if he’s unable to return near his pre-injury form and they miss on Luck, the Colts could be home for much, much longer.

No moJo(e)

I’ve been struggling to write this blog entry for about two years. 

I’ve ranted, I’ve riffed, I’ve had drafts with a word count as low as 410 and as high as 2477. 

Needless to say, I have felt more than one way about the era of Joseph Vincent Flacco as the starting QB for the Baltimore Ravens.

However, after three complete seasons and two games, I am now finally sure I can say it in simply one sentence:  The best that we, as fans, can hope for Joe Flacco is that he’ll turn out as the next Drew Bledsoe, while, disappointingly, it may look like he will be the next Jim Everett.

Now first, I don’t mean to insult any of the three men implicated above in anyway.  Bledsoe and Everett had above average careers (oh, and for every “Flacco is a future hall of famer” fan based on his play-off record to date, check what Everett did while playing in the heyday of the Bill Walsh 49ers.  Bledsoe even has a Super Bowl ring) and Flacco is an above average starter in the league right now.  I’m sure fans of the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and, even, the New York Jets (among other teams) would trade their incumbent starter for Wacka Flaka Flacco in a second.

It’s just…

Like Bledsoe and Everett, Flacco has a tendency to get locked in on a receiver.  Like Bledsoe and Everett, Flacco has a tendency to hold the ball too long.  Like Bledsoe and Everett, Flacco has a tendency to throw the ball to the guys wearing the different color jerseys at the worst possible times.  Like Bledsoe and Everett, Flacco is a little… uhmm… gun shy and lacks the ability to keep a play alive beyond his large frame.  Like Bledsoe and Everett, Flacco plays the game with a vanilla, straight-forward approach which may have won games in the 1970s (and 2001), but the Bart Starr’s of yesteryear are gone in today’s fast paced NFL. 

This brings us, presently, to the reason for Ravens fans’ consternation about the subject. 

While Bledsoe and Everett were fine, Pro Bowl-caliber QBs, you’re not riding either one to the championship.

For 75% of the teams in the NFL, three straight 10-win seasons would be parade worthy (hi, Carolina Panthers’ Fans!).  However, as with anything, there is a “disease of more”.  If your team wins some games, you, inevitably, want them to win more games.  If your team wins a title, you, inevitably, want them to win more titles. 

There is never enough.  It is a hunger that cannot be satiated, largely because the winning (and the sport itself) fills a larger void that exists within us. 

As such, the Ravens (and Joe Flacco) can never have enough momentum to carry on to a title as presently constructed. 

Which means that one of three things have to happen:

1)      The Ravens hold the line, Flacco keeps it consistent and hope that a few breaks go their way and that in being good, that will be good enough to win a title

2)      The Ravens decide to reinvent the wheel and, at season’s end, dump some of their higher paid, veteran players (Flacco, Ray Lewis, Matt Birk, Dominique Foxworth) and try to reload for another run at the title in 2013 and beyond

3)      Flacco finally overcomes his deficiencies to maximize his talents and pushes the Ravens past their peers and towards a mini-dynasty until the current core is dismantled

The last one hasn’t happened and has shown very little signs of happening over the past three years.  I think it’s safe to rule that out.  Which leaves us the first two… Whichever the brain trust decides to choose, it will forever, and irrevocably, alter the course of the franchise.  Though, as Ozzie Newsome has run one of the most efficient and successful franchises over the past fifteen years, I’m not terribly worried.  However, at this time of importance, here’s hoping Ozzie doesn’t lose his mojo.

What if Michael Vick were White?

What if Michael Vick were white?

This question has been asked (more often than not, hinted at) over the past few years, more often since the meteoric recovery of the real Michael Vick over the past season.  The fervor reached a pitch with ESPN dedicating a full magazine to the concept of Michael Vick, as viewed through the prism of the fans, fellow players, and media.  Throughout the extensive, superb coverage, a question kept permeating close to the surface without really ever coming out fully.

What if Michael Vick were white?

Just as it seemed that, like most coverage, the magazine would shy away from the issue.  A section, with the same title, appeared, almost magically, upon the pages of the periodical.  I quickly gobbled down the ensuing article which, unlike the rest of the examination of Mr. Vick, was, in the most proper terms, lacking (though, I could think of a few more expletively-filled ways to label it).  It meandered between oversimplification (A White Mike Vick would never have been in the situation to have picked up dog fighting) and divergent (To understand how ANY Michael Vick of ANY color could end up dog fighting would consist of understanding what socioeconomic factors go into such a culture) and it ultimately didn’t answer the question (or do anything else other than take up a page).

What if Michael Vick were white?

After having grown up in the suburban, mid-Atlantic I encountered an enormous shock traveling a mere 350 miles south for college.  Among the various differences (food, dress, colloquialisms, etc.), the cultural differences (amongst both black and whites… there aren’t any Asians south of Fairfax County, VA) are what struck me the most.  Many of my fellow classmates (both white and black) had grown up engaging in various activities that I could never imagine doing (yes, even cow tipping!), amongst these activities was dog fighting (yes, both whites and blacks).  While I did get misty eyed when I watched “Old Yeller”, I don’t project any special affinity for dogs (though, OBVIOUSLY, what Vick was involved in was deplorable and all the etceteras).  To say it shortly, just like many other oddities of the south (grits, white gravy, deep fried turkey, shooting teams, etc.), when it came to dog fighting, while I would never engage in it myself, I could would never judge those that did it (cultural differences and it isn’t like the chicken and leather industry are all warm and cuddly).

What if Michael Vick were white?

Trying to define the role of race in any situation in present day Americais like trying to nail down mayonnaise’s involvement in any secret sauce.  It’s a part of the equation, usually more so than it should be, but it’s not the whole answer.  IF a hypothetical white person, who had the same general set of circumstances (Star NFL Quarterback) as the real life Michael Vick, found himself in a similar situation, the results that hypothetical White Michael Vick (henceforth referred to as HWMV) would garner may or may not be different than the real Michael Vick.  That’s not a copout.  The background of HWMV would factor in to the equation.  Was HWMV the son of sports aristocracy?  (Imagine Peyton Manning).  Was HWMV a beloved throwback to an era that never really existed but we like to pretend did? (Imagine Brett Farve at the high end, Jim McMahon on the low end).  Was HWMV a cult of personality force that exemplified all the things the media outwardly exclaims they hate about privilege society, but, secretly, extol and praise in the player when they finally achieve?  (Imagine John Elway… speaking of this level, Phillip Rivers is on his way there!).  If HWMV falls in to any of these categories, I can assure you that the media firestorm, while still large (Pun Alert: PETA goes HAM), would not have been quite so insidious or incendiary nor linger like a malicious fart as the real life Michael Vick story has done (think along the lines of Roger Clemens’ congressional trial/steroid scandal in relation to Barry Bonds’ trial/steroid scandal.  HWMV would garner a few weeks of lead Sportscenter status to then be relegated to bottom line status on ESPN, a few “Around the Horn” rounds, a host of outraged editorials and a Rick Reilly sanctimonious piece that none of us will really read, and maybe a few exasperated Skip Bayless segments, but nothing along the lines of what we’re seeing now… That HWMV would have gotten less jail time and done a few PSAs and went before congress and this would mostly, more or less, be water under the bridge).

In fact, the only way HWMV would have garnered the same amount of outrage and polarizing viewpoints is if he were someone already on the fringes of mainstream acceptability (now, this isn’t just restricted to white people.  Donovan McNabb would’ve gotten more kid gloves treatment than Michael Vick much in the same way that there wasn’t much outrage after Steve McNair got murdered in his adulterous relations.  Hell, even my beloved Ray Lewis got a pass after a year or two for his involvement with a double homicide).  IF HWMV were, I dunno, Ben Roethlisberger or Jay Cutler (previous generations can look to Billy Joe Hobert and Jeff George), it would’ve been almost the same, if not worse.  You see, a key ingredient in this whole situation is money.  Twenty years ago, ok, ten years ago, the money factor would’ve been smaller (much smaller), but racism isn’t recession proof.  The real life Michael Vick can sell sneakers, Jay Cutler can’t even sell Jay Cutler (if it were up to the people of Colorado, I think Cutler may STILL be in jail).  With the appeal of the NFL (not to mention the big dollars behind it), it was only a matter of time before the public was convinced (ok, maybe not the PETA crowd… did I mention they go HAM?), or at least told they were convinced, of his mea culpa.  Vick was, and is, a bigger star than all four of them and that, in and of itself, is a driving force, too, behind all of the reaction over the events.  We love a fall from grace, color notwithstanding.

What if Michael Vick were white?

The best thing about all of this is that, in our globalizing world of shrinking economies and disappearing borders, matters of race and culture and nationality are slowly vanishing.  We can, literally, almost grasp a point on the horizon where this question will no longer be asked because it will no longer be relevant.  As human nature is far from predictable, but often times repeatable, a similar question will arise in the future.  However, the contingences will differ.  Maybe the next Michael Vick will be debated on whether he were richer or poorer, or played one sport over another.

What if Michael Vick were white?

We will be asking this question again because the future is limitless and people are invariably flawed.

Kendall Marshall Swag…

I was done with blogging.  I was ready to give it up… Let this site dwindle into the nothingness that so many other sports, self-important diatribes had done over the last decade in the boom of individual journalism.  However, a singular event had stopped me…

Kendall Marshall’s cool handed performance in UNC’s 79-73 loss at the college from Durham (In my older age, I’ve mellowed and my hatred for the Coach Kers isn’t what it use to be… I mean, Nolan Smith is AMAZING!!!  However, some feelings will always linger) has brought me back.

It wasn’t so much that he was flawless.  He wasn’t (3-11 from the field when the opponent is doing everything except for yelling “shoot” to allow you to score won’t get it done).  It’s not so much that he owned the game (that honor would belong to the aforementioned Smith who scored 35 points that felt like 657576768765).

It was merely for the fact that he’s given Tar Heel fans something that has been lacking since Ty Lawson decided to take his trade (and blazing fast pg play) to the league… HOPE.

I realized that, ultimately, that’s what sports are all about (unless you’re a Redskin fan).

Who cares if I only get a handful of views?  Who cares if the Orioles assembled a team that would’ve been awesome if this were 2004?  Ultimately, what matters is that something was done and that act has set the table for limitless possibilities… Ultimately, we’re judged for what happens, but, potentially, we believe and establish a mark for which to judge by what can happen.

Right now… A lot can happen.

Thank you, Mr. Marshall.  I do believe I have some more writing to do.

Mr. Yankee

I’d like to thank Hank Steinbrenner for making such an idiotic statement to the AP.

His moronic insistence to glorify himself saved me from having to write a “whiny, nit picking, agonizing” diatribe about why the Ravens are 7-3, but it feels like 3-7 (more on that next week in the next NFL Power Poll!  Congrats to Buffalo for getting out of the basement!).

Instead, I’m going to talk about a team that is already waaaay too over talked about and a player that is already waaaay too over talked about.

Along with end sentences in prepositions.

That’s right, this entry will be about the New York bleeping Yankees and Derek bleeping Jeter.

On Tuesday, the self-appointed King of New York (no, not Jay-Z… he would’ve never debased himself in such a way.  He’d have made Memphis Bleek say it) Hank Steinbrenner decided to weigh in on the contract negotiations of only the 11th Captain in the Yankees long, overblown history.  Steinbrenner, the others-made man, upon surveying the stalemate in the negotiations had this gem to offer up:
“As much as we want to keep everybody, we’ve already made these guys very, very rich, and I don’t feel we owe anybody anything monetarily,”

Really?

Now.  To properly ascertain how out of touch these comments are in terms of the situation.  Let’s look at exactly what he said:

We’ve already made these guys very, very rich

Hank.  You’re new to the party… You haven’t done anything except for squander away opportunity that your late father antagonized every non-Yankee fan in the world to obtain.  He built the empire out of nothing and being the biggest jerk in the room… I would say you’re Nero, but I imagine you’d pay someone to fiddle while you watch this whole thing burn infront of you.  So.  To start, you made no one very rich.  In fact, Jeter (and his 11 All-Star games, 5 world series championships, 5 gold gloves, and 4 silver slugger awards) has done more to make your “richer” than you’ve done to pad his bank account… thus far.

Which brings me to the second tenant in his statement.

I don’t feel we owe anybody anything monetarily.

What?  Would the Yankees owe him in blood?  In store credit at Yankeeworld (I’m sure such a place or something similar exists in the ego centric world of the Bronx)?  Money is the most complete sign to show reverence to a player that’s still playing (though, I could see Steimbrenner’s massive ego, in the event this turns out poorly, preventing him from retiring the Yankees’ Career Hits Leader’s Jersey or giving him a bust in monument park).

So yes, while Mr. Jeter isn’t playing at the same level he once was playing.  While his planning of his wedding took away from some of his focus at times.  While his glove may not be as golden (despite what the voters say).  His appeal, what he signifies, is just as strong as it ever was.  When he does, eventually go, the Yankees Cap might still be the biggest selling sports item, but what it symbolizes will have, irreversibly, changed a bit.

Unfortunately, Steinbrenner doesn’t get that and Brian Cashman isn’t going to stand up and tell him.  Jeter may end up leaving.  The Mets and Los Angeles (His wife is an actress) are definite possibilities.  As a selfish fan, I hope it happens… Then I’ll finally lose the “but”.

You know, I hate the Yankees, but I like Derek Jeter…

Yeah, we need to get back to that.  It was a good time… When the games were contentious (think North Korea-South Korea) and Alan Mills beat up Darryl Strawberry.

I don’t know where the Armando Benitez’ of yesteryear have gone… but I know where I want the Derek Jeters of present day to go.  Anywhere but back to the house that he built…

Not All the Talents Were Taken to South Beach

This will not be another glowing tribute article to the transcendent Kevin Durant (Can we say enough about how easily he scores?!?!?).

Nor will it be a “what were you thinking!?!?!?” op about the Blazers passing on him for Greg Oden (Honestly, it was modestly defensible.  He outplayed every other big man his lone, collegiate season and carried a team that had no business being in the championship to the championship game.  Plus, great scorers are far more common than game-changing big men.  Don’t believe me?  How else to explain why Dwight Howard is all-NBA despite having little more than a devastating drop step).

This will, also, not be a “Kevin Garnett went over the line!!!” (Look, Cancer is serious and all that and shouldn’t be made a joke, but when were there rules about trash talking?!?!?  I’m not saying its right, but its part of the game)

And you definitely shouldn’t expect another 20,000+ words about Lebron, his talents being taken to South Beach, or the latest, moronic Dan Gilbert remarks (Here’s the thing: Jesse Jackson was right and wrong about Gilbert.  He was right that Gilbert acted betrayed and hurt, but it seemed more of the sense of a jilted lover [seriously, how many of us, after getting dumped, got drunk and wrote/said much about our former love that we really didn’t mean?  Most of us are just smart enough to not send it/show it to the whole world] than a “slave owner”.  There was more “how could he leave?” than “how dare he leave?”  Oh well, it’s all in the past now… oh, and I still don’t think the Heat will win a title)

This post will be about all of these things and more.  Not since the Jordan era have I found myself more than a casual, playoff fan of the NBA.  I sat riveted watching the Celtics-Bucks game (kudos to Rajon Rondo… He not only has like 43872894723 assists, but he also cooled off Brandon Jennings who was attempting to overdose on his own hype at Stephon Marbury speed.  Also, props to Andrew Bogut for not letting Garnett get away with another cheap shot… Who decides on the line between “stoic warrior” and “sneaky punk”.  Since he’s been in Boston, I’ve seen more than enough empirical evidence to suggest that the Minnesota stint was proactive karma) just last night.

This post will be about the little moments.  Like trying to describe John Wall turning the corner (he may be one of the five fastest players in the league and his causing Greg Anthony to go into hysterics nightly on NBATV is an added bonus), like Blake Griffin throwing his body around like a System of the Down fan in the early 2000s (he might never play 82 games with his reckless abandon… oh, and yes, it makes me feel old that the majority of my pop culture references come from about a decade ago), like Evan Turner’s slumping every time he commits an errant pass/shot/defensive assignment and his home fans booing him with a veracity like they’ve been doing it for years (seriously, he may have been a top talent, but his penchant for struggling with tough crowds, propensity to pout when he’s not a focal point, and lack of a discernible skill set equaled a sure sign things wouldn’t work out in Philly.  Not to mention the 76ers already had a franchise player who des the same exact things as Turner).

Though, I don’t want to go on only about the rookies (but, man, are they good!).   I want to relish in the early season returns, the Carmelo Anthony saga (What are the Knicks dragging their feet for on this one?  They missed out on Wade, Lebron, and Bosh.  They settled for Amare.  Why not toss-in some spare parts and a draft pick and get Anthony?!?  That would leave them with the best consolation prize outside the windy city… speaking of the windy city, I bet Luol Deng almost ended up on the injured list doing backflips when talents were taken to South Beach), the Chris Paul saga (For as good as the Heat’s trio and Celtics trio and the potential of the Bulls trio, they wouldn’t have the explosiveness of a Knicks line-up of Paul, Anthony, and Stoudemire.  No one on those three teams, with the exception of Rondo and Rose, respectively, could guard any of those three), and the Nets saga (Will they or won’t they?  At this point, they have about as good a chance of ending up in London as they do in Brooklyn).

However, there’s one thing that looms over all of this.  The possibility of another lockout.  I really hope it doesn’t happen, but, with the league hemorrhaging money and players not looking to concede too much to the owners, there seems to be more of a “how long” air to the proceedings, as opposed to a “if”.  There’s talk of contraction, expansion to Europe, and even a complete wipeout of all the salaries and a new mega draft for all the players.  We’re looking at possible Professional Basketball Armageddon…. Worse case scenario.  Though, I would at least be spared of blushing Kobe articles (damnit, I almost went this whole entry without disparaging the black mamba).  Oh well, just another thing I’ll miss (besides talents being taken to South Beach) if the NBA decides to end my newfound love with a work stoppage.

NFL Power Poll: B.O.Buffalo

What better way to make up for almost a month of neglect than the first NFL Power Poll of this season?  (Seriously, I promise to post twice a week and then I go and miss a month)

Without further Mauriece Edu (who has been on fire for Glasgow of late!)

Baltimore Ravens

“Sasquatch, Godzilla, King Kong, Lochness

Goblin, Ghoul, a zombie with no conscience,

Question: What do all these things have in common?

Everybody knows I’m a monster.”

- Jay-Z “Monster”

The last few weeks, I’d been working on a post called “No MoJoe”.  It was roughly 800 words of how Joe Flacco wasn’t ready yet and, by the time he was, the window of opportunity for the Ravens would be closed.  Well, Flacco basically just recited the Jay lyrics above to me and every other doubter.  Coming in to the season, the biggest question mark was the secondary.  Well, Ladarius Webb and Fabian Washington have been amazing to date and everyone else has stepped it up.  Not to mention that the greatest safety of all-time is coming back in a few weeks.  Problem solved.  Thus far in the season, the biggest question mark has been whether or not Flacco could deliver when it mattered most.  While we’re just ¼ of the way through, Sunday was a big step in the right direction.

New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Atlanta Falcons

“I can’t tell you what it really is, only what it feels like”

- Eminem “Love the way you lie”

All three of these teams are hard to define right now, despite their early season success.  The Jets have looked unbeatable since their Week 1 defeat to the Ravens, but everyone still has lingering doubts about whether Vinny Sanchez is a manchise or boychise.  There are still a few major tests looming (Pittsburgh being one of them) to find out.  If Pittsburgh had known they’d be 3-1 without their sexually aggressive QB, they’d have been doing back flips and spraying each other with Steel Reserve.  However, their vaunted defense was beaten time and again by the Ravens on Sunday.  I think it might be the beginning of a crack in their armor.  As for Atlanta, it just doesn’t feel like it’s their time just yet.  That division still belongs to the Saints.

Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears

“All around the world, do you hear me?”

- Trey Songz “Bottoms up”

Both of these teams have been making noise this season and are two of the biggest surprises thus far.  The Chiefs (the last undefeated team) and the Bears (leading their division) have benefited from a lot of good luck, but that’s why they play the game.  I can assure you that I hear you, but I don’t believe you.  You need more people (or wins on the road and against teams with winning records).

Houston Texans

“If you’re asking, I’m ready”

- Alicia Keys “Unthinkable”

Take it easy there, fellas.  As I’ve detailed before, I’m not sure about Matt Schaub or Arian Foster.  He’s been stellar (though, like Boise State’s win over Virginia Tech, that Colts win looks more iffy each week.  More on that later).  They’re out the gates fast, but this is a marathon, not a sprint.  Let’s see where they are at the midway point.

New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers

“I got the magic in me.  Every time I touch the track it turns into gold”

- Rivers Cuomo “Magic”

All three of these teams have stumbled a little bit thus far, which is what keeps them at a lower tier than the teams above them.  However, they still have a track record of success (along with periods of dominance this season), so they can not be counted out.  Just like the Weezer frontman, their Quarterbacks (yes, even you, Aaron Gyllenhal… you know, I’m upset that my “Aaron Rodgers looks like Jake Gyllenhal” spiel has gotten little traction and that, instead, there seems to be a push to compare him to Ryan from “The Office”.  No way… anyway, moving on) can win any game on their schedule despite each of their glaring weaknesses (Saints, Secondary; Patriots, Defense; Packers, Running Game).  Watch as this unfolds as the Saints and Patriots have to take on the AFC North and the Packers are, currently, staring up at the Bears.

Philadelphia Eagles

“This is my ‘my bad’ comeback song!”

- Darius Rucker “Comeback Song”

I wrote the City of Brotherly Love in here in pencil.  If Mike Vick’s injury isn’t too serious, they could be two to three spots higher; if he’s going to be on the shelf for a while, they could be two to three spots lower (poor Kevin Kolb… He has the same expression Ethan Hawke had in “Training Day” when he realized that Denzel Washington had left him at the house playing cards).  Can enough ever be said about how Vick has saved a city seemingly mortally wounded by the double whammy of McNabb’s departure and Kolb’s sudden suckiness?  Granted, a good number of those fans wanted McNabb gone… Anyway, Vick has been great and may have earned himself a salary in the 12-14 million range next year as a free agent.  I think the 49ers are already drawing up the contract.

New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Denver Kyle Ortons, and Washington Redskins

“My life accelerated, but had to wait my turn. But then I redecorated,
that means my tables turn. Live life, might as well, only way to learn.”

- J. Cole “Who dat”

None of these teams made the play-offs last year, but have been playing at a level that would suggest they’re ready to make the leap this year.  While none of them look quite ready to wrest away their divisions, they have shown a shade of dominance that makes them formidable opponents that no one wants to face.  Which ones will actually get into the play-offs remains to be seen, but I think we should start seeing separation as we approach the halfway mark (much in the same way hip-hop’s new class has distinguished themselves… congrats, Drake and the aforementioned J. Cole.  Better luck next time, Ash Roth).  Each one of these teams has a chance to be this year’s New York Jets (a team that sneaks into the play-offs and wrecks havoc).

Indianapolis Colts

“I really feel like I’m losing my best friend.  I can’t believe this could be the end.”

- Gwen Stefani “Don’t Speak”

I’m not saying its time to start pouring a little out for the Colts magnificent run, but you might want to start ordering the bottles.  Houston might, legitimately, be one of the four best teams in the league.  Fine.  But then they lose to the woeful Jaguars (albeit on a 2498374 yard field goal) on Sunday.  Uh-oh.  True, Manning dismantled the Giants on national television (any win in the Meadowlands is huge, even if Eli falls apart like the Greek economy), but there’s concern.  Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne are getting older and Anthony Gonzales and Pierre Garcon can’t stay healthy.  Not to mention the defense is still having its issues, too.  However, the Colts still have Manning.  That’s probably the reason there haven’t been too many “What’s going on with the Colts?” articles and other players are reluctant to talk about it on the off-chance it does come up.  Manning is like Tiger Woods in that way (definitely not the sex addict way… Though, it wouldn’t be completely outside the realm of possibility and would probably be the funniest thing ever), you never know when they’re done.  When young Rory McIllroy threw his barb at Tiger, everyone cringed and, while Woods didn’t decimate, he definitely raised his game higher than he’d had previously.  Manning will do the same.  Stay tuned.

San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

“And I’m all in, nothing left to hide.  I’m falling harder than a landslide… Even if I lose the game, I’m all in.”

- Lifehouse “All in”

Just like the song these teams are going for broke because, well, their season hinges (more so) on these next few games.  I liken this tier of teams to the area outside the bathroom at a bar or concert.  There’s a lot going on, virtually none of it positive, and people are either coming or going.  You’d rather be the latter.  Unfortunately, the Chargers, Bengals, and Cowboys seem to be the former.  Aging, flawed nucleuses (For the Chargers, how much longer can they tolerate the insolent Phillip Rivers?  If Deadball era superstar pitcher, Christy Matthewson, was the ‘Christian Gentleman’, can we make the spiritually inclined Rivers the ‘Devout D-Bag’?  He’s like that one friend we all have that we continue to hangout with even though we can’t think of a good reason for it;  For the Bengals, their receiving corps seems more interested in establishing chemistry with each other and VH-1 fans than their QB; the Cowboys have officially quit on Wade Phillips).  On the flip side, The Rams and Buccaneers are young and exciting teams who, occasionally, are playing over their respective experience and talent should merit.  It will be interesting to see how it plays out, but just know, this will probably be the last time these teams share a tier as they’re going in opposite directions.

Minnesota Vikings

“The longer you think, the less you know what to do.”

- Ben Gibbard “Talking Bird”

Brett Favre doesn’t want to be here.  It’s the dirty, little secret (no all-american rejects) that everyone knows and won’t openly report/write about.  I think that he’s addicted to the fame, attention, and the money.  He can’t imagine his life without it.  In fact, he probably believes in the Favre myth (which, oddly, persists even though he only won one Super Bowl) at this point.  Based on how he’s looked out there, I think he realized that wasn’t the case when Patrick Willis belted him in the preseason.  This won’t end well (odd, I remember writing that same thought before).  Like Mr. Gibbard, it seems that when Brett Favre contemplates his life without the game, he has more questions than answers.  You can’t throw off your backfoot and hope your receiver bails you out in life.  Oh, and Randy Moss won’t help.  Just you watch…

Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cleveland Browns

“Nothing ever changes so tonight is like tomorrow night”

- Drake “Miss me”

Another year, another lost season for these teams.  Oh, by the way, our first NFC West team has decided to make their entrance onto the poll.    Kurt Warner may go down as the most underrated QB of all-time.  Larry Fitzgerald is walking around like that guy searching for his arm during the beach scene at the opening of “Saving Private Ryan”.  He’s just dazed and can’t properly put what’s happening into perspective.  Sadly (for the league), they’re still leading the NFC West.  Pete Carroll blew into Seattle with his So Cal cool, but hasn’t been able to revitalize a mostly moribund franchise (Matt Hasselback is stealing money at this point and will until they use a first round choice on Andrew Luck… Unless, of course, Carroll is suckered by loyalty for the local kid coached by one of his former assistants, Jake Locker.  Jacksonville has decided the best way to push their starter is by signing a guy cut from the league’s worst team.  The Jack Del Rio era never ceases to entertain.  Alas, poor Cleveland seems determined to torture their fans by going back to Jake Delhomme despite how atrocious he looked in Week 1 and Seneca Wallace’s stout play.  At least Holmgren struck gold with Peyton Hillis.

San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, and Oakland Raiders

“Here I am, once again. I’m torn into pieces.”

- Kelly Clarkson “Behind these Hazel Eyes”

Ms. Clarkson just about sums up the feelings of each of these team’s fan bases… Mike Singletary has to be at about the end of his rope.  No offense, no defense.  Carolina and Detroit at least have the promise of young cores, maturing and growing together.  Oakland… well, there’s no silver lining there.

Buffalo Bills

“I could use a wish right now”

- B.O.B “Airplanes”

Bills fans could use more than just a wish.  Like a better QB, and team to go with him (buck up, Spiller… better days are ahead.  Congrats on the get out of jail free card, Marshawn).

30-24

I (for the most part) do not believe in moral victories.

Either you win or you lose.

There is no “close” or “almost” awards at the end of sports seasons, there are only championships.  Therefore, I can’t feel good about a near victory or take solace in a best effort coming up short.

That being said, I admire the resolve the University of North Carolina Tar Heels Football team (them of the thirteen-suspended players, nine of which were starters) showed on Saturday night against the Louisiana State University Tigers (I’m a real writer so I use the entire name!).

Granted, missing your starting secondary and three-fourths your starting defensive line against the aerially deficient Tigers isn’t quite the same as facing the air show that operates in Boise or Houston, the Tar Heel defense rose to the occasion.  Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter (the two of the eleventh hour appeal) proved why they are considered first round talents with each recovering a fumble among other game-swinging plays (in fact, the latter’s forced fumble and recover gave the Tar Heels a chance to win it at the end).

The offense showed it was ready to take flight despite missing its top two running backs and top receiver.  T.J. Yates’ staved off the challenge by back-up Bryn Renner (the latter, by the way, has the worst sideline body language of anyone not named Tyrod Taylor) by lighting up the highly touted Tigers’ secondary for over four hundred yards and a number of clutch passes that gave his team a chance to win (the same can’t be said for the down-the-stretch play of Zach Pinalto).  Johnny White shook off an early fumble to turn in a solid performance on the ground and the nation was introduced to Joshua Adams and Jay Boyd, two sophomores that leaves promise that when Renner takes over the reins in 2011, the Tar Heels will have the most explosive receiving corps in the country.

However, such lofty hopes, and 2011, can wait.  The Tar Heels might be 0-1, but their season is far from over.  With 11 games left on the docket and the probable return of the majority of suspended players (well, except you Marvin “Big Meech” Austin… your days in Carolina Blue are probably over), ten wins is still a very real possibility.  While I don’t believe in “good loses”, I do believe in “hopeful loses” and Saturday night in the Georgia dome was one for UNC.

Manny? Maybe

I thought Jay-Z was washed up in the Fall of 2002.  He was 32, his Blueprint 2 had just flopped, and he was on the ropes having just been lyrically crushed by the urban journalist, Nas.  However, the Black Album dropped the following year and everything went back to being  ho-hum for Mr. Sean Carter.

I thought Manny Ramirez was washed up in the Summer of 2008.  He was 36, going absentee from Red Sox games, and was being dissed openly from the unlovable, jerk Kevin Youkilis.  However, the dreaded one showed up in Chavez Ravine and began cracking home runs and everything went back to being ho-hum.

Upon further listening, “Blueprint 2″ should’ve told us three, very important things about Jay-Z. One, he has an unflinching loyalty to producers and talent he’s signed as long as they stay in their, subservient place. Two, he’s horribly insecure and rarely deviates from his formula to invite the listener in to his true self (more on this in a second).  Third, he shamelessly regurgitates current trends (I, seriously, think that if classical music came back into vogue, he’d have a track with the BSO).

Why do I think these things?  For starters, anyone that bucked on the Roc-A-Fella train or started outshining him on tracks (See: Sigel, Beanie on “Some How, Some Way”), they were ditched.  For the first time as a commercially dominant artist, he took artistic chances (Not that crossover, current trend chaser “Guns and Roses”, but the dark “Meet the Parents” and “A Ballad for the Fallen Soldiers”) and those were either glossed over or fell flat with audiences (see: mainstream appeal… anyone can be lauded in esoteric magazines).

So, too, with Jay-Z, we’ve learned things with Manny from his exit in Boston and his resurgence in LA.  One, he doesn’t care about anyone but Manny.  Two, he’s the best player to have on your team when he doesn’t have to carry the load, both as a talent and as a personality.  Three, the NL isn’t very good.

Granted, the third thing has nothing to do with Manny, personally, but the other two do.  Manny quit on his teammates, the city of Boston (who could blame him), and on himself.  He did irreparable damage to his legacy (almost as much as that 50 game suspension the following year did), but he didn’t care about any of that.  He just cared about getting out of Boston because he was burned out.  Very few people can hit 30+ home runs and drive in 110+ rbis a year.  Even fewer can do that while juggling the press in a major market. Nearly no one can do it while being the only real offensive piece on the team.  Ortiz had fallen off, Varitek had gotten old, Lowell had misplaced his ‘roids (yes, I die a little inside when, walking through the streets of Baltimore I see some d-bag rocking a faded Boston cap).  Manny was done and he let the world know it.

Now, Jay-Z is settling into married life and being a celebrity owner.  He seems more interested in hanging out with Bill Gates and the President (can we agree that his “My president is black” remix was one of the worst things ever laid down!?!?!  ugh…).  His “Blueprint 3″ seemed to be half-done and half-hearted and he didn’t even spazz when Kanye rapped circles around him (the old Jay-Z would’ve ensured that Kanye ended up like Freeway…)  Notice the lack of…. people.  He’s content with who he has become or, more realistically, just doesn’t feel like being bothered anymore because he’s found some new arena (insanely rich/powerful people) to dominate.  He’s like the kid in high school who moves from one table to another trying to climb the popularity tree.

Now, Manny, having worn out his welcome in the City of Angels, finds himself on a new team.  He has a new, no-nonsense manager who may be fired at the end of the year and will be in no real need to appease Ramirez.  His team is a tight, professional group that holds each other accountable.  This will not end well. Unfortunately, I don’t see Manny taking Paul Konerko chewing him out for not running out an out indifferently.  There will be a lot of episodes and “manny being manny” and, when the season ends, the door will most likely close on one of the greatest hitters (and jerks) in major league baseball.

Oh well, if he gets lonely, maybe he could call Jay-Z up and they can hang out in Mr. Carter’s private jet.  I bet they’ll be fast friends… they have so much in common.