Sales Pitch

When thinking of objects that are valuable, the mind immediately shifts to one particular object depending on the person. That object could be a family heirloom, some jewelry that is impeccably beautiful, or even a stuffed animal that you have had since birth that quietly sits in a secure place. We all have differences when it comes to determining value. That is why that the discussion surrounding the most valuable player of baseball is a heavily opinionated one. 

Determining an MVP is easier in some years than it is in others. Usually the award is given to the position player having the best statistical year on the team with the best record. However, this year is a little bit different because Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander is making a very strong case for the coveted MVP award. 

Justin Verlander's numbers in 2011 are staggering. To this point in the season, Verlander has gone 20-5 with a 2.38 earned run average and 218 strikeouts in 215 innings pitched. As of right now, Verlander is the only 20 game winner in the entire major league. He is one of two pitchers with more than 200 strikeouts so far this season. And, the only pitching statistic that Verlander does not lead the American League in is earned run average, for he ranks second in that category. 

Verlander is a virtual lock for the AL CY Young award, but why is his quest to become the twelfth pitcher ever to win the MVP more difficult?

The biggest reason that only eleven different pitchers have ever won the MVP award is because they loose some points with the media for only playing once every five days. The Detroit Tigers have won 74 games this season, and although Verlander has been great, he has not won all 74 games for Detroit by himself. Because of the once every five days factor, MVP voters usually pick the position players who put up great numbers on a playoff bound team. For example, voters will likely give their votes to players such as Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees or Adrian Gonzalez of the Boston Red Sox. 

But in terms of value to their team, there is no question that Justin Verlander is more valuable to his team than Granderson or Gonzalez are to theirs. 

Verlander may not be directly responsible for all 74 of Detroit's wins, but without Verlander, the Tigers worst case scenario is a 54-81 record. Even if Detroit lost only 10 of the games that Verlander has won this year, they would still be 64-71, which would put them in third place in the AL Central. In addition to the wins, Verlander has helped right the ship on multiple occasions for the Tigers. Justin Verlander has 14 wins after a Tigers loss the night before. While teams like the Yankees and Red Sox have received great years from Granderson and Gonzalez, they also have gotten great years from Mark Teixeira and Jacoby Ellsbury respectively. The point being is that if the Red Sox lost Gonzalez or the Yankees lost Granderson, both of these teams would still be able to contend for a playoff spot. If the Tigers lost Justin Verlander, you could kiss their playoff hopes goodbye. 

So should Justin Verlander win the MVP award? Yes. He is far and away the most important player to any team this year. Is he going to win both the MVP and Cy Young? No. Because in order for a pitcher to win the MVP, he needs to have an absurdly good year, and every position player on playoff contenders need to have pedestrian years. And since Gonzalez and Granderson are both having great years, one of them will take home the MVP trophy while the league's most valuable player, Justin Verlander, only gets one of the two trophies he deserves. 

Dressed For Success

Whether it be to impress a potential employer at a career fair, stand out at a formal occasion, or even because the clothes themselves feel good, everybody wants to look good. And the idea of presenting yourself well to an audience has taken hold in locker rooms in sports. In 2005, the NBA implemented a stricter dress code after players such as Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby frequently wore sweat pants and hooded sweatshirts in front of cameras on a regular basis. Despite the grumbles and objections from the start, the stricter dress code has benefited the NBA in terms of clothing endorsements for the players. Since teams do care about looking good, it is surprising to see some questionable uniforms coming form professional sports teams. I am, by no stretch of the imagination, a fashion journalist. That being said, there are certain team uniforms that simply are not appealing to the eyes. Here are the five best and worst looking uniforms in the four major sports from wardrobes past and present.


Number 5 worst uniform: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays uniforms

Remember back in 2007 when Tampa Bay still had the Devil in their name? I do. Before 2008, this franchise used to average less than 70 wins every year since its formation in 1998. And the home uniforms did not help the team get better. The biggest issue with the uniforms is the letters because they look as if the team printed the template off of Kid Pix. I wonder if the designer paid any attention to the colors at all? Or if the designer just decided to pick random colors out of a hat. Either way, the Rays of today should be glad that the Devil left Tampa Bay and took the ugly letters with him.

The number 5 best looking uniforms: The New York Yankees Home Uniforms

The pinstripes are synonymous with the New York Yankees, and for good reason. Pinstriped uniforms have been the Yankees style since the birth of their franchise. And since the Bronx bombers have won 27 world series in the pinstripes, why fix what is not broken? But what is really interesting about the pinstriped uniforms is that none of them ever have the names of players on the back. If clothes really do make the man, then the Yankees' uniforms make a statement: The franchise comes before any one player.

The Number 4 worst looking uniform: The Utah Utes

The Utah Utes football program has been very good for most of the past decade. However, these particular uniforms that were selected for a game against Texas Christian University last year were a very poor choice. I do not know how it is possible to screw up a red and black uniform, but the camo (I think it's camo anyway) along the side of the jersey and pants just does not fit. In addition to the poor choice of uniform, the Utes got crushed by TCU 47-7 in the game. I think Utah will avoid going with special uniforms for one game after this debacle for more reasons than one.

The number 4 best looking uniforms: USC Trojans Red Uniforms

California is known for it's sports, and the very successful program at the University of Southern California makes California sports look good. The best part about the SC uniforms are the scarlet jerseys simply because it is very hard to make a red jersey look bad in the world of sports. But what makes the uniforms work the best is that unlike Denver's mustard yellow, the trojans got a shade of yellow that is not too light, but not to dark either. Speaking of the yellow, the yellow stripes on the shoulders are a nice touch. They take away from the red just a bit, yet not enough to ruin the uniform completely. USC may be undergoing some problems with the football program, but their uniforms are not a problem at all.

The number 3 worst uniforms:  The Denver Broncos throwbacks

The Denver Broncos are one of the worst teams in the NFL today, and these uniforms are not helping the cause. These uniforms were the Broncos throwback AFL jerseys back in the 1960's. But these uniforms make Denver's team look more like bees than broncos. The shirts look like they were stolen from the closet of Colonel Mustard. While the socks look like the backside of a worker bee. The stripe of the helmet is unoffensive, but there is a reason that not even the Cleveland Browns wear brown helmets. Denver should throw those uniforms back into the 60's where they belong.


The number 3 best uniform: The Michigan Wolverines Home Uniforms

The Michigan Wolverines are the proud owners of the best uniforms in college football. The big house being filled to the brim with maize and gold is a classic, and visually appealing, image in college football. But what is the game breaker for this uniform is the helmet. The golden stripes on the helmets are designed like a wolverine claw. Nobody in college football has a better helmet than the team from Anne Arbor. Michigan may be going through a rough patch in the mathematically challenged Big 10 (which has 12 teams, while the Big 12 now has 10 teams. Riddle me that), but the Wolverines always have good looking uniforms when they hit the field.

The number 2 worst looking uniforms: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Throwbacks

Anyone else sensing a theme with these throwback uniforms? These date all the way back to the 1976 season when the Buccaneers first burst on to the NFL scene with a record of 0-14. Their play may have been terrible, but it is possible that these uniforms could be even worse. Honestly, the Buccaneers look more like creamsicles than football players. This particular uniform certainly takes away from the intimidation factor, unless of course someone had a fear of a 300 pound frozen treat running at you, then you would have a big reason to be afraid. Oddly enough, Tampa Bay was not relevant in the football world until the 90's, when they changed their uniforms. Coincidence? I think not.

The number 2 uniforms: The San Diego Padres Camo Jerseys

The San Diego Padres do not have much to cheer about, but in 2008 the Padres began wearing camouflage jerseys for every Sunday home game. Not only do the jerseys help symbolize the first national sports team to have annual military appreciation events, but they also look cool too. Opposing batters struggle to see where the ball is coming from because the Padres pitchers are blending in with the terrain. But on a serious note, camouflage can look good on pretty much anybody. But the appreciation by a team to the men and women who lay down their lives to protect us all is the primary reason that the Padres uniforms are up this high on the list.

Now the moment you have all been waiting for

The number 1 worst looking uniform in sports: The Vancouver Canucks 1980s uniforms

The Vancouver Canucks current uniforms look nothing like their 80s unis. I believe that is because they are trying as hard as possible to make the fans forget these abominations that the Canucks called uniforms. This is the only uniform that I have ever seen with a V-neck. And I am extremely grateful that nobody else has attempted to break this out of its cage. The orange, yellow, and brown colors just look awful together and the designs on the jersey are unflattering to say the least. I personally fell terrible for the players who had to wear these uniforms. Nobody should have to put on these awful uniforms, no matter how good the team is.

The number 1 best uniform: The San Diego Chargers Powder Blue Uniforms

The Chargers powder blues are easily the best uniforms in sports. San Diego first broke these jerseys out in 1963, and the fans have loved them ever since. The lightning bolts on the jersey are a very nice touch. The white helmets and numbers are very classy. And the powder blue color is simply a great choice. The Chargers have had a great deal of success in the powder blue uniforms during the 60's, for they won the AFL title in 1963. The Chargers have made the playoffs every year from 2006-2009, and with all of their key players returning this year, the Chargers and their powder blue uniforms could be primed for another big year.


If the clothes really do make the men, then the best looking uniforms on this list could help the players in ways off the field. While the worst looking uniforms are no fault to the players, those bad jerseys result from somebody not knowing how to dress well. So what have we learned about the world of sports today? It is that not every team dresses for success.

Well Well Well My Terrelle

When a young man enters the world of college athletics, it is his responsibility to do right by his teammates, his university, but most importantly himself. Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor did not do right by any of the aforementioned people when he took inappropriate benefits from outside influences. Certainly Pryor has not been the only player surrounded by scandal in college football, and compared to the University of Miami's situation, Pryor's actions are nothing. Still, Pryor was suspended five games by the NCAA for breaking the rules and coach Jim Tressel lost his job at Ohio State as a result of the whole mess.

Fortunately for the former buckeye, the Oakland Raiders took Pryor with a third round pick in the supplemental draft yesterday. The Raiders have been known for making questionable decisions with their draft selections, most recently wideout Darrius Heyward Bey in 2009. However, the Raiders gamble at this time does make some sense. Yes the black and silver most likely drafted Pryor too high, but the Raider's starting quarterback Jason Campbell is not the answer for the long term. The Raiders are known for making gutsy calls, so taking the biggest name in the supplemental draft should come as no surprise to anybody.  

There is little question that Pryor is not done developing as a player yet, but for those who say that Pryor will not be a good pro may be jumping the gun just a little bit. Pryor had a good year in 2010, with 27 touchdown passes vs only eleven interceptions. Pryor went 23-4 as a starter for the Buckeyes over a three year span and won the most valuable player award when the Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl last year. Like most of the good college quarterbacks, Pryor has good arm strength and can make things happen on the run. But also like many good college quarterbacks, Pryor's pocket presence is virtually non existent. But if Cam Newton, a quarterback with a similar skill set to Pryor's and his own fair share of controversy, can get drafted with the first overall pick, Pryor going early in the supplemental draft should not come as a surprise to anyone.

But before Pryor can develop, he has to serve a five game suspension in the NFL for his violations in the NCAA.

Which is fair to both sides.

Pryor broke the rules in the NCAA and he did try to go pro to avoid serving his suspension in college. And for this particular case, the NFL got it right by suspending Pryor for trying to use the system to his advantage.  Plus, now the NFL has a reference point for future situations if and when this type of thing were to happen again. But don't think that the NFL will now start policing the NCAA after this whole situation. The NCAA may be the NFL's unofficial minor league system, but the two leagues have different motives, different problems, and different playoff systems. And that is the way it should stay.

So what have we learned from the Terelle Pryor situation? First, that Pryor is like most other college students who would take benefits if they are offered. And anyone who says they would not take benefits if they were in Pryor's shoes are kidding themselves. Second, that the Oakland Raiders made a questionable drafting decision, but that is very normal. And third, that Pryor did try to cheat the system, so his NFL suspension for his college actions makes sense. Situation solved, now on to football.

It's fun to Pretend

We all know the feeling of summer beginning to end. The back to school sales begin at clothing stores. The temperature begins to drop just a little bit. People slowly stop going to the beach every day. And the boys of summer are running out of games to play. Time may almost be up for baseball's regular season, but there is more than enough time for some teams to fight their way into the playoffs. Some of these teams are serious threats to win it all, while others are kidding themselves if they think they can make the playoffs. So let us take a look at the non division leaders who are contenders, and point out the teams that are pretenders.

We start in the AL East with the 2nd place Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox are 74-48, and just half a game behind the idle New York Yankees for first place in the toughest division in baseball. Offensively, the Red Sox have been hitting the cover off of the ball. The Bosox rank second in the majors in runs scored, home runs, and runs batted in. They have two potential most valuable player candidates in Adrian Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury. David Ortiz has produced a second good year in a row with a .300 batting average, 24 home runs and 79 runs batted in. And the bullpen has been great. The only problem that the Red Sox could face as the season wears down is their starting pitching. Yes Jon Lester has been very good again and Josh Beckett continues his career pattern of dominance in odd numbered years. But question marks surround the rest of the rotation. Which John Lackey will show up today? Can Erik Bedard contribute anything? And how much more can Boston get out of Tim Wakefield?

So are the Red Sox contenders or pretenders?

The Verdict: Contender

The Red Sox offense and bullpen has shifted the focus away from their starting pitching
problems. The Sox have enough to get into the playoffs, but if the Red Sox want to win the world series, their starting pitching needs to get better quickly.


Now we move to the 'somebody has to win this division', the AL Central with the Cleveland Indians.

The Cleveland Indians have been one of the most surprising teams in baseball. With a 61-58 record, the tribe sits two games behind the Detroit Tigers for first place in the AL Central. The Indians have gotten a great year out of shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who is hitting .291 average 20 homers and 72 runs batted in so far. In addition to the good offensive numbers, Cabrera should be the favorite to win the gold glove at shortstop in the American League. But a closer look at the numbers reveal a very pedestrian team that is lucky to be hanging around. The tribe ranks 17th in the Majors in earned run average, and there is no true ace to that staff. The bullpen has not been much better, for they rank 23rd in saves. Offensively, the Indians are not much better. Cleveland ranks 17th in the majors in runs scored, 17th in runs batted in, 19th in home runs, and 27th in hits. The numbers for Cleveland's offense are not surprising when you take into account the fact that they have two of the most overrated players in the game in Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner.

So are the Cleveland Indians contenders or pretenders?

The Verdict: Pretender


Cleveland has been a nice story, but not all nice stories have happy endings. The Indians lack the offensive punch of the AL East contenders and does not have the pitching that can be found in the AL West. The biggest reason that the Indians are still even in the discussion is because they are a decent team in a weak division.

Now we journey out to the AL West where the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are fighting for a playoff spot.

Over the past decade, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been one of the most consistent teams, and this season is no different. The Angles are the proud owners of a 65-59 record, which is good enough for second place in the American League West division. The key to the Angles success this season has been their good pitching. The Angles rank fifth in the majors with a 3.50 earned run average and tenth in the league in shutouts. Jared Weaver has emerged as a CY Young award candidate, Ervin Santana has thrown a no hitter this year, and Dan Haren is having another good season. However, the Angles offense has not been nearly as productive. LAA ranks 18th in the bigs in hits, 20th in home runs, 22nd in runs scored, and 22nd in runs batted in. And with key veterans like Torri Hunter and Bobby Abreu are having bad offensive years, it is unlikely that the Angels will catch Texas in the AL West.

With that being said, are the Angles contenders or pretenders?

The Verdict: Pretenders


The Angels can pitch with the best of them and Jared Weaver does have an outside shot at winning the AL CY Young this season. However, these angels lack the offense to keep up with the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rangers of the world. The Angles would make the playoffs in an expanded system, but they lack the pop to snag the wild card slot away from the Red Sox.

On to the National League East division where the Atlanta Braves own the NL's third best record.

The Atlanta Braves may not be on their run of 14 straight division titles anymore, but they are in good position to make the playoffs as the wild card team. Atlanta has gotten it done on the mound this season. The braves rank third in the big leagues with a 3.42 earned run average, and third in the league in saves with 41. Jair Jurrjens is quietly one of the best pitchers in the national league. Tommy Hanson has pitched well with an 11-7 record, a 3.60 earned run average and 142 strikeouts. And Tim Hudson has been the rock of Atlanta's rotation. But not every team is perfect and in addition to the questions surrounding the back end of Atlanta's rotation (that means you Derek Lowe, Atlanta's biggest problem is their offense is not as good as their pitching. The Braves may rank ninth in the majors in home runs, but they also rank 15th in runs scored, 16th in hits, and 16th in runs batted in. Part of the Braves offensive struggles come from an injury to their best player Brian McCann, but McCann is back now, and the rest of the lineup needs to pick up the slack.

So Atlanta, contender or pretender?

The Verdict: Contender


The Atlanta Braves have good enough pitching to overcome their offensive difficulties. But if Atlanta wants to win a world series for the first time since 1995, people other than Brian McCann need to start hitting on a more consistent basis.

On to the NL Central division with the Saint Louis Cardinals.

Over the past five seasons, the Saint Louis Cardinals have been one of the most consistent teams in the major leagues. However, the red birds are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight year. Saint Louis has been hitting the ball well in 2011. The Cardinals rank fourth in the majors in runs scored, fourth in hits, fourth in runs batted in, and eleventh in home runs. Saint Louis has received great years from Matt Holiday and Lance Berkman despite the "struggles" of Albert Pujols (though I wouldn't call a .287 batting average 30 home runs and 76 runs batted in struggling but that's just me). The red birds may have the offense to keep up with the best of them, but their pitching has been mediocre. Saint Louis ranks 16th in the big leagues with a 3.83 earned run average and 21st in the league in shutouts. Chris Carpenter has been okay this year with a 3.68 ERA and 142 strikeouts, but 8 wins is not good enough from the red birds ace. The biggest problem with Saint Louis' rotation is that their number four starter Kyle Lohse leads the rotation in wins with eleven.

So Saint Louis, Contenders or Pretenders?

The Verdict: Pretenders


The Cardinals do have a good core in the middle of a very productive offense, but their offense is not as good as their division foe the Milwaukee Brewers. Plus, the National League has too much pitching and none of it is in Saint Louis.

Finally we head out to the west coast where another California team, the San Francisco Giants, hopes to make the playoffs.

Life has not been as easy for the defending world series champions. The Giants, who are 67-57, sit two and a half games back of the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks. Like last year, the Giants have plenty of pitching to put them right in the thick of the race. San Francisco ranks second in the big leagues with a 3.14 earned run average mostly thanks to Ryan Vogelsong's great year. Vogelsong has been the Giants best pitcher with a 10-2 record, 2.47 earned run average and 102 strikeouts. Tim Lincecum has not been as good as last year as proven by his 11-9 record, but with a 2.58 earned run average and 175 strikeouts mean Lincecum should still be feared. In addition to Lincecum and Vogelsong, Matt Cain is still in the mix as well as the solid Madison Bumgarner. But also like last year, the Giants offense has been awful. The Giants rank 25th in hits, 29th in the league in runs scored, and dead last in runs batted in. Plus Carlos Beltran, the Giants splash at the deadline, has been ineffective and hurt since the deal went down.

So are the Giants contenders or pretenders?

The Verdict: Contender


Yes San Francisco has a terrible offense, but their offense was just as bad a year ago and they won the whole thing. The Giants rotation is still one of the scariest in the national league, even if Lincecum is not at his CY Young form. Plus, the Giants have felt the pressure of a pennant race, and this young group of Arizona Diamondbacks could wilt under the bright lights of the postseason chase.

The pennant race in baseball is just as exciting as any other chase for the postseason, if not more. Now, as the dog days of summer draw to a close, let us all just see who rises to the challenge, and who collapses under the pressure.

Running Man

The world of sports is a breeding ground for proving someone wrong. Whether it be that a sports analyst says to the viewing world that one particular player is better than another player for various reasons. When other analysts say that one coach is superior to another. Or even when fans of one team boast to other fans that their team is far superior, the sporting world provides numerous chances to prove somebody wrong. This story in particular is of a man who has not only been told that he cannot win against his competition, but that he in fact could not even compete. This man's name is Oscar Pistorius, and his story is one of the best stories in sports that nobody is talking about.

For the many who do not know Oscar Pistorius, he is a 24 year old runner with who took the hard road to success. Pistorius was born with congenial absence of the fibula in both of his legs. Eleven months into his life, Pistorius had both of his legs amputated below the knees. But amputated legs never stopped Pistorius from running. In 2004, Pistorius competed in the Summer Paralympics and won the 200 meter race in a record 21.97 seconds. In 2005, Pistorius came in sixth  overall in the able-bodied South African 400 meter race with a record time of 47.34 seconds. At the Paralympics in 2006, Pistorius won the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter events. And in 2007, Pistorius broke the disability world record time 46.56 seconds during the 400 meter event. However, when it came to running against able bodied runners, the International Association of Athletic Federations took issue to Pistorius' desire to compete against able bodied runners.

On March 26th 2007, the International Association of Athletic Federations placed a ban on "any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides a user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device." Their ruling effectively banned Oscar Pistorius from competing against able bodied runners in events such as the World Championships and the Olympics. The IAAF claimed that the ruling was not specifically targeted at Pistorius, and they may have had a case because the same IAFF did invite Pistorius to the 400 meter race at the 2005 IAAF Grand Prix. In 2008, Pistorius challenged the ruling and after a two day hearing, the amendment was overturned. Oscar Pistorius was free to run with who ever he wanted to run with. 

Now, in 2011, the story of Oscar Pistorius has come full circle. South Africa announced that Pistorius would be one of the 26 runners representing the country at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. No running against other people with physical amputations. No restrictions on the Cheetah Flex Foot bladed legs that Pistorius uses to run. And no more having to prove himself to all of his doubters. It may not be the 2012 Olympics, but when Pistorius takes the track against the able bodied runners, he will get to truly show us all how far he has come as a runner with no legs. 


Oscar Pistorius may not be getting much attention from the mainstream sports media, but a man born without use in his legs competing against able bodied runners is a pretty incredible thing. So let us all wish Oscar Pistorius the best of luck in Daegu, and who knows, perhaps we will see him run for South Africa in London next year. 

Buzzer Beaters

The Bridgestone invitational had itself a new champion on Sunday. Adam Scott won the tournament with a score of -17 in what was a dominating performance. Scott did not bogey once during the final 26 holes of the tournament; and with the 19 year old Ryo Ishikawa matching Scott shot for shot, he could not afford to. The Aussie did not begin to separate himself from the pack until he made a chip in birdie on the twelfth hole that brought the fans to their feet. It may have been the first world championship win for Scott, but lost in the great performance was that Steve Williams held the clubs and won a tournament with someone other than Tiger Woods. As Scott made his way to the eighteenth hole, the crowds broke into chants of "Stev-ie Will-iams". The caddie got his new found fans after the ugly divorce between Williams and Woods. Williams winning with someone else may have been the story of the tournament, but Adam Scott was the one who went out and shot 17 under par. 

Speaking of the Bridgestone Invitational, a well recognized golfer just happened to be on the course as well. In his first tournament in four months and finished the weekend with a score of +1. Historically, Woods has done far better than +1, for he has won the Invitational seven times in his career. As a whole, Tiger may have been shaky, but fans of Tiger Woods, the golfer, can take solace in the fact that there were moments when Woods played well. He finished with three birdies on his last four holes, including two fifteen foot puts on the 15th and 17th holes. So what do we take from Wood's first tournament since April? He was very streaky, did not drive particularly well, and finished in the middle of the pack. But even the fact that Woods played in a tournament generated more interest in golf than Adam Scott's stellar final score. There may be debate as to who is the best golfer with Tiger struggling, but there is no question that Golf is better when Woods is playing.

We may still not be playing NBA games, but that does not mean that nothing is happening in the sport. According to sources, the Atlanta Hawks are planning to sell the team to pizza chain owner and California developer Alex Meruelo. If and when this deal goes down, Meruelo would become the first ever Hispanic owner of an NBA team. A deal is expected to be announced Monday, and it still needs the approval of the NBA in order to happen. Fortunately for Hawks fans, their NBA team will remain in Atlanta even if the owners have a changing of the guard. Hawks ownership may have had their problems, but they also helped to build a team that made the playoffs each of the past four seasons. Maybe with a new owner in the mix, the labor negotiations will go a little more smoothly, but that is wishful thinking.

In baseball news, Alex Rodriguez will not be disciplined by Major League Baseball for his alleged involvement in illegal poker games. League officials have said that they would still like to speak with Rodriguez about the issue, and are expected to do so in the next few weeks. The primary reason for the meeting between league officials and A-Rod would be to discuss the alleged cocaine use at the poker tournament. However, the only way that the MLB would suspend Rodriguez is if league officials determined that Rodriguez had violated MLB standards regarding drug use and gambling on baseball. Rodriguez is rehabilitating from a torn meniscus in his right knee that was operated on July 11th. 

Now on to the scandalous world of college football. Michigan wide receiver Darryl Stonum will have to redshirt during the 2011-2012 season as a result of his DUI arrest in May. Stonum pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while visibly impaired on June 3rd and has received a one year suspended sentence. The Michigan wideout was second on the team in receiving a year ago with 49 catches for 633 yards, but the team as a whole struggled. Michigan also suspended punter Will Hagerup for four games and wide receiver Terrence Robinson was suspended for a game after an undisclosed violation of team rules. These stories are just more examples that with the 24 hour media cycle, all athletes and coaches have to be careful about their actions on and off the field because everyone is always watching.

A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss

He was a four sport athlete at DuPoint High School in Belle West Virginia. His dream of playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was dashed after a fight at his high school lead to a brief stint behind bars. He set records at the University of Marshal for receiving touchdowns, receiving yards by a freshman, and most consecutive games with a touchdown catch. His draft prospects slipped due to legal problems and the questions that surrounded his character like a thick blanket of fog around a lighthouse. He awed fans with acrobatic catches and jaw dropping numbers. And his frequent laziness infuriated front offices who paid big bucks to have him on their team. He is a future first ballot hall of famer. And perhaps, the biggest diva wide receiver ever to play the game of football. So who is the man who's career in the NFL was as flawed as it was spectacular? His name is Randy Moss, and he retired yesterday after 13 seasons of shock and awe.

The career stats for Randy Moss were absurdly good. Moss ranked fifth all time with 14,858 receiving yards, eighth all time in receptions with 954, and he was tied for second all time in receiving touchdowns with 153. Randy Moss had the most touchdown catches in a single season with 23 with the 2007 New England Patriots. Moss' 17 touchdown catches were the most ever by a rookie. He was selected to the all pro team four times and appeared in six pro bowls. And it was not just the regular season where Moss had these great numbers. During his career, Moss had 47 catches for 865 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 postseason games. Randy Moss made the spectacular look routine, and was dominant when he wanted to be. Yet there there was another side to Randy Moss that infuriated fans, general managers, and teammates. 

 

The list of issues on and off the field during Randy Moss' career was about as long as his list of career accomplishments. On the field, Moss had a reputation for taking plays off, pouting when quarterbacks did not throw the ball to him, and mooning packers fans during a playoff game. And things got worse off the field for the future hall of famer. Moss was arrested  in 2002 for bumping into a traffic control officer with his car. Randy Moss plead guilty to a misdemeanor traffic violation and paid a $1,200 dollar fine. Speaking of fines,  the news that Moss would be fined 10 thousand dollars for the mooning incident in Green Bay lead to perhaps the funniest and most arrogant quote of Randy Moss' career. 

Moss brought all of his controversy upon himself, yet because of his talent, teams would be willing to look past his problems and sign him for big money. Despite his hall of fame numbers, Randy Moss' career ended with some big unanswered questions. What if Moss had pushed himself as hard as he could every down on every play? What if Moss understood how to run all types of routes? How many more touchdowns would Moss have if he did not get himself banished to Oakland? When did he loose his hunger to get better than everybody else? Unfortunately we will never know the answers to any of these questions. 

One might compare Randy Moss to the fictional character Two-Face from Batman. A man who seems to have duel personalities, and one never ruled for very long. On the field, Moss was a hall of fame talent who understood 'go deep' better than anyone else in NFL history. Off the field, he was a mental enigma that had run ins with the law, made questionable press conference statements, drew fines from the commissioner's office, and smoked weed, allegedly. So how does one go about remembering the great yet infuriating career of Randy Moss? That decision depends on the individual.