Bleacher Report - Articles by Collin Whitchurch

In Defense of Manny: Let's Think about This for a Second

Collin Whitchurch — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:43:53 -0400

When it was announced Thursday afternoon that Manny Ramirez was going to be suspended for 50 games for violating MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, I did not have the same reaction as most.

Sure, it is expected nowadays for every superstar to possibly have taken steroids, but I'm not always so quick to judge, and figured there could POSSIBLY be a legitimate explanation.

Let's think about this for a second.

For all the heat Manny takes for being a hot-head, a prima donna, and a selfish player, I would never expect him to have taken steroids. And even if he did, I would not expect him to be stupid enough to do it at a time when testing is so strict.

So when Peter Gammons reported that Ramirez was saying it was a medicine prescription that he didn't adequately check out, it made perfect sense.

Sure, it sounds like a cop-out, but given the circumstances, it makes perfect sense. If Manny were taking steroids, why would he do it at a time when he could be tested? He's simply not that stupid.

Gammons said the drug is reportedly not a steroid, but because MLB's drug-testing policy is so strict, it is something that is still banned, and for that, Manny is owning up and taking responsibility.

Simply put, Manny should have checked out the medication before taking it. He should have held his doctor accountable, and for that, he will be to blame and he's owning up to that.

Gammons also said that when the news of Ramirez's tests was still just a rumor. He spoke with someone high up in the Boston Red Sox's front office and that person said there is no way in the world Ramirez was taking steroids. If someone in that organization, which clearly has an ugly history with Manny, isn't going to throw him under the bus, that helps his case as well.

So do what you will. The pundits will bash Manny. The fans will bash Manny. But until someone reports that he legitimately took a steroid that helped his performance, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Call me naive or foolish. Why should I believe any athlete these days when it comes to performance-enhancing drugs? But I just have a hunch it was a mistake, and Manny is doing the smart thing by coming out and saying it was a mistake from the get-go.

Was he stupid for not checking? Absolutely. But is he a cheater? I don't think so.

He's still a Hall of Famer in my book.

Bloggers vs. Reporters: Why Can't We Be Friends?

Collin Whitchurch — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:37:10 -0400

Much has been made about the perception these days of bloggers, tweeters, and everything else in the sports journalism world in this day and age.

Many of you have probably seen the infamous Buzz Bissinger blow up on Will Leitch, Editor and Founder of the satirical sports Web site Deadspin.com.

Bissinger's qualms with Leitch and Deadspin were that the writers for the site are, for the most part, "average joes"—guys who aren't necessarily in the journalism industry, guys who are fans, have an opinion, and want to express it (albeit not always in the most flattering way).

Now Bissinger has a point.

For a guy who made his career being one of the most in-depth, analytical, research heavy reporters of his day, it is understandably frustrating to see guys make a career out of something that seems so shady would be angering. Bissinger is right in saying that Leitch and Co. are hardly credible journalists.

But what these guys are, are educated fans with opinions, and where is the harm in that?

To call bloggers and writers for sites such as Deadspin (and Bleacher Report, for that matter), journalists is a stretch. Yes, there are exceptions.

I know a number of writers for this site and others either dabbled in journalism at one point or, like myself, are aspiring journalists trying to wade their way through the competition to a well-paid job in a floundering economy.

But for the most part, sites like these are nothing more than sports versions of US Weekly, and I say that, believe it or not, in a non-degrading way.

We don't sit in the pressbox. We don't go in the locker room. We don't interview players, coaches, executives, trainers. We simply don't. And because of that, we're not on the same level as the beat reporter for the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Globe, the LA Times, or the USA Today.

Like it or not, it's simply the truth.

It's like comparing a reporting for Time Magazine to a reporter for US Weekly. Are writers for Deadspin and Bleacher Report the same type of journalists as writers for ESPN.com?

No.

But in any given month, the amount of hits Deadspin gets rivals and sometimes passes that of ESPN.com. So it's not necessarily a bad thing.

It's not degrading for bloggers like ourselves to admit we're not on the same level as reporters for professional publications. We simply aren't. And the sooner we admit this, the sooner we start being accepted on a more public level by the professionals we emulate and often criticize.

Regardless of this, we deserve our credit. Why shouldn't bloggers be given press credentials to cover opening day at new Yankee Stadium or the Super Bowl? Just because we don't work for ESPN or the New York Times doesn't mean we don't deserve to be there.

So Bissinger is right in saying we are different. We're obviously different. But he's not right in saying we're destroying the industry. We're simply adding a different, stranger element that, as Leitch says, those 50 years of age and older simply don't understand.

Greg Jennings: Is He the Best Wide Receiver in the NFL?

Collin Whitchurch — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:27:46 -0400

He's not the fastest receiver in the NFL, nor is he the best route runner.

But Greg Jennings flat-out gets it done.

Once thought to be a product of a Brett Favre-led offense, Jennings has proved to be no fluke, and this season alone, he might be the best receiver in the league.

Through the first six weeks of the season, Jennings ranks first in the NFL in receiving yards. Consequently, he's also first in yards per game, eighth in total receptions, and out of receivers with 20 or more receptions he's third to Bernard Berrian and Vincent Jackson. He's also fifth in the league in catches for a first down.

So, is Jennings the best receiver in the NFL this season? Again, he just might be.

Sure, over the long-term a team is likely to take the brilliant abilities of a Randy Moss or Terrell Owens, or the potential of a Calvin Johnson. But this season alone, Jennings is putting up the best statistical season, and has become a favorite target of first-year starter Aaron Rodgers.

In a pass-happy offense that has been devoid of a running game, thanks to the struggles of Ryan Grant, Jennings has accounted for a large amount of the Packers' offense.

And, his abilities continue to improve.

Along with young receivers Brandon Marshall, Roddy White, and Larry Fitzgerald, Jennings has emerged among a new crop of receivers that is short on words, but spectacular on the field.

A soft-spoken second year pick out of Western Michigan, Jennings is also a soft-spoken player. He doesn't dance when he gets into the end zone (aside from the occasional Lambeau Leap).

His speed and ability to get behind defenders seems to catch defenders off guard on a regular basis, just ask Dre Bly, who was left in his dust during Jennings' game-winning reception in overtime against the Broncos last season.

So, while the likes of Fitzgerald, Johnson, or Marshall may have more hype, may be faster, or have a higher vertical leap, Jennings' stats don't lie. He's a prime-time receiver who's only getting better.

Jennings is leading a new crop of receivers for this generation.

A First-Hand Look at Ryan Perrilloux's Ohio Valley Conference Debut

Collin Whitchurch — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:56:10 -0400

Embattled former LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux made his debut in the Ohio Valley Conference on Saturday, playing quarterback for Jacksonville State University, the preseason favorite to win the OVC.

His debut was against Eastern Illinois University. While the Panthers aren't exactly Georgia or Auburn, they're no slouch as far as OVC or Division I Championship Subdivision teams go.

As a student at EIU, I saw Perrilloux's debut first-hand, and it was quite obvious early on that the troublesome quarterback looked like a man amongst boys playing in the OVC. EIU had beaten the Gamecocks each of the past three seasons and entered the game ranked No. 20 in the Nation in the Division I Championship Subdivision.

Perrilloux often looked like a "video game quarterback" against a usually very solid EIU defense. He would take the snap and if his first read wasn't open, he would scramble around until a receiver got open and hit him with a perfect pass. He dissected the Panthers' defense time and time again and beat them with both his arm and his feet.

At one point in the first half, JSU was leading 7-0, and after driving from their own one-yard line, Perrilloux leaded the Gamecocks into Panther territory where after a failed option play, Jacksonville State faced a third-and-goal from the 17-yard line.

Perrilloux took the snap and rolled to his left, where he met Panthers' defensive end and OVC preseason defensive player of the year Pierre Walters.

Walters appeared to wrap up Perrilloux for a sack and third down stop. However, Perrilloux threw Walters aside, made a couple of moves, and scrambled to the end zone where he dove in for a touchdown, killing any momentum Eastern had.

It was more of the same for Perrilloux as the game progressed. He finished with a season-high 281 yards on 20-of-25 passing with a TD and rushed for two on the game. JSU took a 21-0 lead into halftime and held on for a 23-10 victory in a game that was not nearly as close as the score.

Perrilloux is clearly a difference-maker for the Gamecocks, who were projected to finish in the middle of the pack in the OVC until his arrival.

Watching him play makes one realize what a shame it was that he was so selfish at LSU. He reportedly missed several practices and team meetings during his time in Baton Rouge and got caught trying to use a fake ID in a casino, leading to his dismissal.

Fans only got to see a glimpse of his potential at LSU, several thrilling moments, including a performance in the SEC Championship Game last fall that earned him game MVP honors. Watching him play on Saturday was similar to seeing Daunte Culpepper at Central Florida years ago.

His off-the-field issues may make teams think twice about drafting him when his time in college is done, but he clearly has the skills.

As I said before, playing Eastern Illinois University is light-years different from playing in the SEC, but NFL scouts will see him shred OVC defenses for the next couple of years, and it's likely he will get an opportunity at some point down the road.

It's just a shame that we can't see him in the national spotlight anymore, because he's truly a special talent.

Marion Barber III, Cowboys Wear Down Packers' Defense in Defining Victory

Collin Whitchurch — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:39:03 -0400

Entering Sunday's showdown in Green Bay, it was clear that the game would be determined defensively. Sure, the Packers and Cowboys both have potent offenses, but it was going to be the team whose defense answered the challenge best that would come out on top.

Once the game concluded, it was clear that team was the Dallas Cowboys, as they cruised to a 27-16 victory.

One of the biggest question marks for the Green Bay defense entering the game was how they would contain Terrell Owens and Jason Witten. The Packers did a solid job on both, holding Owens to only two catches for 17 yards and Witten to seven for 67 yards.

Unfortunately for the Packers, it was bruising running back Marion Barber III who proved to be the difference-maker, finishing with 28 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.

The Green Bay defense had troubles containing the run for most of the game, particularly the first half. The line was consistently over-pursuing on misdirection plays and the only guy who seemed to be hitting Barber as hard as he was hitting them was linebacker A.J. Hawk.

Sure, being without starting safety Atari Bigby for the entire game and starting cornerback Al Harris for much of the game hurt, but their absence did not have a significant impact on the outcome. The Cowboys just wore down Green Bay's defense.

The Cowboys, however, put together a very solid defensive effort. After getting burned time and time again by the Eagles a week ago, it was questioned whether the Packers' receiving corp, far superior to that of Philadelphia's, would be able to do the same thing.

The answer was no.

In the first half Greg Jennings was able to get loose several times and Donald Driver slipped in between a zone for a big pass play early in the second half. Other than that, it was slim-pickings for Aaron Rodgers.

When Rodgers would have a receiver open deep, it often wouldn't matter as Dallas did a great job of mixing up pressure packages and never giving Rodgers a good pocket to sit and throw in.

Likewise, whenever the Packers were able to put together a drive and get into the red zone, the Dallas defense would, again, step up, and hold the Packers to field goals. The game was a big statement for the Cowboys, who clearly stated their case as the best team in the NFC, and likely the entire NFL.

It proved that the team is well-rounded, and that even when their superstar receiver Owens has an off night, others can pick up the slack. Miles Austin had two big catches for 115 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.

The game also left the Packers with a lot of question marks. Over the past year-plus they have done a great job of not letting the opposing team's running game beat them. Even when they allow opposing backs to rack up yards (such as the Vikings' Adrian Peterson in week one), they still contain them enough to the point that they never have a significant impact on the outcome.

That was not the case tonight. Barber was racking up yards, moving the chains, and keeping the clock rolling all game. At the same time Felix Jones provided a nice change-of-pace and reeled off a 60-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

While the Cowboys proved themselves the class of the NFL, the Packers are still the best team in their division and are a likely playoff team.

They will need to shore up some of the question marks they created tonight if they want to have any chance of competing with the Cowboys and the other elite teams in the NFL throughout the season and potentially the playoffs.

Gavin Floyd Keeps Proving His Doubters Wrong

Collin Whitchurch — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:18:31 -0400

Say what you want about the stats.

Examine the BABIP, the xERA, and everything else, but Gavin Floyd just keeps getting the job done.

The White Sox hurler won his 16th game Tuesday night. An important, 6-2 victory where Floyd went seven innings giving up two earned runs on nine hits while striking out four and walking zero.

Floyd has pitched consistently well the entire season, only losing back-to-back starts once, and through it all detractors have insisted that Floyd's success wouldn't last.

Fellow writer Patrick Nolan wrote a very good article four months ago on why Floyd's success may not last. You can find it here.

The piece examined Floyd's exceptionally low BABIP and his strikeouts per nine innings pitched ratio, which were similar to that of very below-average pitchers.

But the thing is, that regardless of what those stats suggest about Floyd's success, whether it says he will fall flat on his face or have a nice, successful career, the fact of the matter is that Floyd gets the job done.

While Floyd's numbers are a lot easier to examine now that he has nearly completed his first full season, all that matters is that every single time Floyd takes the mound he gives the White Sox a chance to win.

Sure, his ERA has dropped considerably, his strikeout numbers have improved, and he's allowing a lot less home runs, but the fact that he's 16-7 is the only number that matters to the White Sox at this given time.

The numbers can be debatable as to whether or not Floyd will have long-term success in the Major Leagues. It's possible, as Nolan points out, that Floyd will falter because his BABIP is remarkably low, but right now it doesn't matter.

People who look too long-term tend to fail in the short-term, and right now Floyd is the most consistent pitcher in the White Sox rotation, and is incredibly important to a team fighting for a playoff spot.

Look, I'm not arguing that Floyd is a Cy Young candidate, because he's not. I'm not arguing that he's a future ace, because his numbers might suggest that he won't be. But he definitely goes out every time and gives his team a chance to win.

His record of 16-7 absolutely has something to do with the run support the White Sox have given him, but consider that the team is 21-9 overall in games that Floyd has started. Put that down to a .500 record and the White Sox aren't fighting for a playoff spot right now.

So Floyd may not be a superstar, he may not be an ace, and he may not be a Cy Young candidate, but he's been one of the most valuable players, arguably the most valuable pitcher, to a team on the brink of the playoffs, and to the White Sox and their fans, that's all that matters.

American League Rookie of the Year: Comparing the Numbers

Collin Whitchurch — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:20:44 -0400

Everyone's rookie darling this season has been Evan Longoria.

After all, the Tampa Bay Rays' top-notch prospect, who was recalled in April to be the next Mike Schmidt, has not let down in his first year as a major-league third baseman. He's hit consistently throughout the season and carried the surprising Rays through various periods of the season.

Sure-fire Rookie of the Year, right?

Not so fast.

There's another rookie making a splash this season. He's not the big-name prospect that Longoria is, and at a few days shy of his 27th birthday, he hardly fits the profile of a rookie.

But nonetheless, he's a rookie and a darn good ballplayer. He's the spark-plug second baseman for the Chicago White Sox, Alexei Ramirez.

Ramirez may not possess the Hall of Fame-caliber upside that Longoria does, but his numbers this season compare incredibly favorably with Longoria's. It makes one wonder if perhaps Ramirez could become the first White Sox player to win a Rookie of the Year award since his manager, Ozzie Guillen, took home the award 23 years ago.

The numbers are so close that it's a virtual coin flip between the two rookies.

Evan Longoria, who spent a number of weeks on the disabled list with an injured wrist, is hitting .281 entering Tuesday's games with 22 home runs and 74 RBI. His OPS, the telltale stat that so many baseball gurus go by these days, is a whopping .983.

Ramirez, on the other hand, has roughly 40 more at-bats then Longoria on the season. He's hitting .300 with 17 home runs and 67 RBIs. His OPS is significantly less then Longoria's at .797.

Both Longoria and Ramirez have also played stellar defense for their team this season. Longoria has proven he can handle the hot corner on the big-league level, compiling a .972 fielding percentage with only eight errors in over 900 innings.

Ramirez has a .980 fielding percentage with 10 errors while playing out-of-position at second base for the White Sox in 900 innings.

The numbers for both Longoria and Ramirez do not tell the whole story of their values to their respective teams. The two have provided countless highlight-reel defensive gems and timely RBI in clutch situations.

But while many pundits have all but handed Longoria the Rookie of the Year award, and his name alone will qualify a number of votes, don't discredit Ramirez. He's been remarkably consistent for most of the year and has made incredibly strides since arriving from Cuba.

Longoria may ultimately have the edge, but Ramirez may deserve it just as much.

Packers-Vikings: Aaron Rodgers Passes Big Test on Monday Night Football

Collin Whitchurch — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:33:56 -0400

An incredibly competitive and unbelievably sloppy game ended with a 24-19 victory for the Green Bay Packers over the Minnesota Vikings, as new quarterback Aaron Rodgers passed a huge test on his road to replacing the legendary Brett Favre.

Rodgers didn't dazzle with daring passes as his predecessor did, but instead played within the Packers' offense, as expected, and led his team on several scoring drives.

Perhaps the most telling fact in the game was the play of Rodgers' counterpart, Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson played sloppy most of the game, only padding his stats with several passes late in the game when the Vikings were attempting a comeback.

It was said before the game that this would be a huge test for both Rodgers and Jackson, two young, emerging quarterbacks looking to lead competitive teams. Rodgers passed with flying colors, putting up very respectable numbers and leading his team to victory.

Jackson, however, did not. He completed only 45 percent of his passes for 178 yards with one touchdown. He had one interception, which was to Packers' safety Atari Bigby during the Vikings' final drive.

While Rodgers and Jackson are the obvious story lines from the game, the most impressive factor in the Packers' victory was the play of their defense.

The Vikings were able to drive down the field a number of times, but in the "bend but don't break" fashion that the they played with last season, the Packers' defense often held the Vikings to field goals. The only exceptions were a touchdown pass from Jackson to Sidney Rice early in the fourth quarter, as well as a touchdown run by Adrian Peterson very late.

Peterson finished with 103 yards on 19 carries, a good game statistically. But Peterson was prevented from having a huge impact on the game, with 34 yards being his longest run on the game.

The Packers' linebackers, specifically A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett, played incredibly well throughout the game, providing good coverage in the zones and making tough open-field tackles in several crucial moments of the game.

Although it was only the first game of the season, this was still a telling game for both the Packers and the Vikings. The Packers proved that they are still the class of the NFC North and a team to reckon with in the NFC, even without Favre.

Their defense was able to put an enormous amount of pressure on Jackson for most of the game, and the secondary was solid for the most part.

At the same time, the Vikings should worry about the fact that their passing game was still suspect, and their passing defense has a great deal of question marks, as Rodgers was able to find open receivers down field on a pretty regular basis. Additionally, $31 million defensive end Jared Allen was shut down by Packers' offensive tackle Chad Clifton, finishing the game with zero sacks and zero tackles.

Jackson had supposedly improved leaps and bounds over the offseason and was ready to lead the Vikings on a Super Bowl run. Unfortunately for the Vikings, he didn't show any of that promise in this game.

Instead, it was Rodgers who proved he had the skills to play within a very capable offense and lead his team to a victory.

NFC North Preview: Why the Minnesota Vikings Are Overrated

Collin Whitchurch — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:49:30 -0400

The Minnesota Vikings are this year's NFL darlings and reasonably so.

The team barely missed the playoffs a year ago, revamped an already impressive defense, and, oh yeah, they have some guy named Adrian Peterson.

Many experts are picking the Vikings to run away with the NFC North this year, and some have them going further. Sports Illustrated's recent "NFL Preview" actually predicted that the Vikings would finish the season 13-3, as the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs (losing in the NFC Championship game).

Of course, many experts who pick the Vikings do so solely on the fact that they finished second in the division a year ago and the team that finished ahead of them happened to get rid of the best quarterback in NFL history during the offseason. That being the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre.

This season is undoubtedly the most unpredictable in the NFC North's history. Pundits have the Packers finishing anywhere from 11-5 to 6-10, depending on the play of new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But nearly everyone predicts the Vikings to have a successful season; picking them to finish anywhere from 13-3 to 9-7.

After all, the Vikings were an 8-8 team a year ago and improved themselves in several positions. They paid a steep price, but nonetheless added NFL sack leader Jared Allen to their defensive line. Likewise, they signed former Chicago Bear Bernard Berrian to give quarterback Tarvaris Jackson the deep threat he has been lacking over the years.

Allen will be an immediate help to a line that is already strong up front. Gigantic tackles Kevin and Pat Williams have been reeking havoc up the middle for several years for the Vikings, all but putting a stop to the opposition's running games. However, the team has lacked a pass rush at the same time.

The Williams' would make teams one-dimensional against the Vikings, but with no pass rush, teams were still able to have success through the air. Allen should help solve that problem.

While Allen helps a big defensive problem for the Vikings, Berrian does the same for the offense. Jackson has a monster arm, but he has had problems hitting receivers down field.

A deep threat such as Berrian should help with that, as Berrian averaged 14.6 yards per catch last season with the Bears while also playing for mediocre quarterbacks.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, with all the positives the team has added, there are still several glaring weaknesses that could be exploited. While Allen will help the pass defense with his rushing abilities, the coverage is still spotty.

Time after time last season, the Vikings' pass defense was exploited. As good as cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin can be at one-on-one coverage, the zones that Brad Childress runs were exploited in 2007.

If quarterbacks get time to throw against this defense, and, let's face it, Allen can't get to the quarterback EVERY time, they will find their receivers in an uncovered zone, just like they did last year.

The team signed safety Madieu Williams in the offseason, with the hope of shoring up that coverage. However, Williams will miss the first six weeks of the season, leaving untested rookie Tyrell Johnson back their with the aging Darren Sharper. Sharper is still solid overall and makes big plays at times, but at the same time he's not the Pro Bowler he was years ago.

Much of the problems in their pass coverage lay within their linebackers. E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway are exciting, young, emerging 'backers with an abundance of potential; however, both are incredibly spotty in pass coverage, and defenses will exploit that as well.

Much like the defense, the improved offense has question marks as well. Jackson has taken strides over the years, including this preseason, and he also has the deep threat he needs in Berrian. But it still remains to be seen if Jackson can lead this offense. Berrian has the skills to get open down field, but if Jackson can't hit him, it will all go for naught.

Also, don't underestimate the loss of offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, who is suspended for the first four games of the season. McKinnie and guard Steve Hutchinson are a brick wall on the line, and with McKinnie out, the team may struggle for those first four games in their blocking.

On to the Packers.

Everyone has an opinion on Rodgers. Did the Packers make the right decision? Will he prove critics wrong? Can he handle the pressure? Will he stay healthy?

All reasonable questions. However, IF Rodgers can play reasonably well, the Packers are still a top-notch team in the NFC, and IF Rodgers struggles or gets injured, the Packers are still not dead.

Even with Favre gone, the Packers still return 20 of 22 starters from last year's 13-3 team. Rodgers has arguable the best receiving corps in the NFC in Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, and emerging tight end Donald Lee. Additionally, the Packers have depth at running back with Ryan Grant returning for his second season and second-year back Brandon Jackson back and healthy.

The offensive line is still anchored by tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, and the success they had in 2007 should be duplicated this season, giving Rodgers an abundance of time in the pocket.

The Packers' defense is still underrated and should be a top-five unit in 2008. It's true that cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson are getting up in age, but both still had Pro Bowl-type years in 2007. Even if they fall off a bit while getting a year older, they should still be significantly better then most of the NFC.

Even with the age of their corners, the Packers still have emerging stars in seemingly every unit. Nick Collins and Atari Bigby both had breakout season last year at safety, and A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett are quietly becoming one of the top linebacker duos in the NFC.

The defensive line, led by Aaron Kampman, returns every player except defensive tackle Corey Williams, who was traded to Cleveland in the offseason. The team replaced him with Johnny Jolly, who got significant playing time in 2007.

The fact that remains is that while the Packers are perhaps not a 13-3 team, like they were with Favre, they still have a ton of talent on the team. And let's face it, the quarterback doesn't always make the team, just ask Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson. Rodgers understands that and will play within the offense, and if he does that, he will be successful.

Many people are also picking the Bears to reemerge this season. This is completely ridiculous. While it's true that the Bears' defense still has the potential to be one of the top units in the NFL while healthy, the offense will be one of the worst in the entire NFL. The two receivers the Bears will start opening night (Devin Hester and Brandon Lloyd), would not even be considered as third receivers on many teams.

Couple that with an offensive line that saw virtually no significant upgrades (they drafted Chris Williams out of Vanderbilt, however, he will miss the first six weeks), and will have the duty of protecting a rookie running back, as well as the mediocre Kyle Orton.

The Lions, however, are more promising than most critics are giving them credit for. Yes, Matt Millen is still a joke to be running the team, but the rebuilding process has begun. They still have a number of weapons on offense, with the solid, yet wacky, Jon Kitna throwing to Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson.

However, the Lions are still a few years and a number of defensive players away from having an impact in the North.

Overall, it's clear that the Vikings are the trendy pick this year. And while many teams are shying away from the Packers due to Favre's departure, they're still the team to beat.

Final Prediction

Packers - 11-5

Vikings - 8-8

Lions - 5-11

Bears - 5-11

AL Central Race: Does Anybody Really Want It?

Collin Whitchurch — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:23:49 -0400

The American League Central Division race is proving to be the most intriguing race in baseball as the final month progresses. Two teams that were supposed to be non-competitive this year are battling for a playoff spot, while the two preseason contenders are muddling away at the bottom of the division.

The former, of course, are the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins, while the latter are the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers. However, while the race tightens up and the stretch run is upon us, neither the White Sox nor the Twins are really playing like teams that want to win their division.

It is true that both are embattled in long road trips, with the Twins going on a highly publicized 14-game road trip while the Republicans invade the twin cities. However, this is the time of the year when the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders. In addition, neither the White Sox nor the Twins are playing like contenders.

Entering today's series finale against the Indians, the White Sox were 3-6 on their 10-game road trip to Baltimore, Boston, and Cleveland. The Twins, meanwhile, are finishing up their long trip with two more games in Toronto and are currently 5-7 through the first 12.

Things look a lot more promising for the Twins, however, as they have played much stiffer competition on their road trip. If they split the final two in Toronto and finish at 6-8, it wouldn't be a horrible conclusion, overall.

However, the most promising factor for the Twins is the fact that as they sit two games away from returning for their grueling road trip, they are currently in the exact same position in the standings as they were at the start of the trip—tied for the division lead.

The most amazing fact in this race is that since July 26 neither team has led or trailed in the division by more than two games. When the White Sox win the Twins win, and visa versa. The trend may likely continue for the rest of the season, as after their respective road trips both teams return home to face teams they should beat.

Likewise, the Twins are 46-23 at the Metrodome this season and the White Sox are 46-22 at U.S. Cellular Field. It has been said by pundits time and time again and it appears it will hold true as the season progresses: the AL Central Title may very well come down to the Sept. 23-25 series between the White Sox and Twins at the Metrodome.

It's hard to believe either team will have jumped out to a substantial lead by that point. The White Sox have tough series against the likes of Tampa Bay and New York before that, while the Twins also have four games in Tampa Bay, where the Rays are virtually unbeatable.

So unless one of the teams slips up before then and goes through an unforeseen winning or losing streak, it's likely that the title will come down to the battle at the Metrodome. And if this season is any indicator, it's very possible that the Twins will win yet another title, and the White Sox sit at home in October. However, then again, it's baseball. Anything can happen.

Atlanta Falcons Made Right Decision In Starting Matt Ryan at Quarterback

Collin Whitchurch — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:57:11 -0400

Any time the debate is brought out, people throw out names.

Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, Cade McNown, Tim Couch—all of who were high draft picks who started right away with struggling franchises and never quite lived up to the hype they started with.

So now that the Atlanta Falcons have named rookie third-overall draft pick Matt Ryan their starting quarterback, the debate is brought up once again. Did the Falcons make the right decision in starting Ryan? Or should they have let him sit the bench for a while and learn while the franchise inevitably struggles under Harrington or Chris Redman?

The answer is simple: You start Ryan.

The safe decision by the franchise would be to start Redman or Harrington. After all, you know what you're getting with them.

What do you get? A returning 4-12 team that traded their best player (DeAngelo Hall). With Redman or Harrington you're virtually guaranteeing that the team goes 4-12 next season at best.

And you may get the exact same thing out of Ryan. But the thing is, you don't know.

Ryan was the third overall pick in the NFL Draft, meaning someone, somewhere in the Falcons organization believes he has what it takes to run an NFL Franchise. Just like Harrington or any of the aforementioned quarterbacks, he will have a tremendous amount of pressure on his shoulders as he takes the reigns of the Falcons for the first time.

And maybe Ryan won't be able to handle that pressure. But the thing is, would the Falcons really want him to run their franchise if he can't? There's no way of finding that out without throwing him into the fire.

If the Falcons were an 8-8 or 7-9 team on the brink of the playoffs, it would be different. If they had a "win now" mentality, then another quarterback might be the option.

But they don't. They need to know if the quarterback they invested $34 million GUARANTEED in, is good enough to lead them back to respectability. The only way you do that is by starting him.

It's true that more have failed in Ryan's situation and have then succeeded. For every Peyton Manning, there are four or five Ryan Leafs. For every Ben Roethlisberger, there are a couple of David Carrs hanging around.

But the Falcons will not succeed under Redman or Harrington. And they won't know if they will succeed under Ryan unless they start him.

So the decision is clear, and Falcons management made the right decision. Start Matt Ryan, and the future is now for Atlanta.

Top Five Most Valuable Players for Team USA Basketball

Collin Whitchurch — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:20:28 -0400

After the USA Basketball team's thrilling win in the Gold Medal game against Spain—yes, I stayed up to watch it—it became apparent that USA won because of all the reasons pundits said they would.

They played as a team. They weren't overly-egotistical prima donnas who wanted to play a glorified street game, a la 2004. They really, really cared about winning—and it showed in the final minutes of the gold-medal game, when the multimillionaires celebrated like a team that had just won their high school state championship.

So who were the catalysts in this gold medal run? While the team ran deep in talent, it was obvious who ran the team. Late in the close win over Spain, a few key players stood out in the win.

Without further ado; the top five most valuable players for the gold medal-winning USA Basketball Team:

5. LeBron James

The best athlete on the floor at all times, and arguably the best basketball player in the world. However, James is only the fifth-most valuable player on this team.

Why, you ask? Well, it's no fault of James', but often he found himself on the bench in foul trouble. But during James' time on the floor, his athleticism proved to be leaps and bounds ahead of his opponents.

The team's offense often ran through James, as the ball would get dumped down to LeBron at the free-throw line. He would, in turn, make a decision to dish it to the corner for a three, dump it inside to Chris Bosh or Dwight Howard, or take it himself.

He didn't often make the wrong decision. But the fact that he was one of the primary ballhandlers for the team is evident in the stats. He led the team in turnovers with 17, but was also second on the team in assists and points per game, and third in rebounds.

4. Dwyane Wade

Team USA's leading scorer often took over games like it was the '06 NBA Finals. When the team was in trouble and their lead was in jeopardy, the ball was almost always in Wade's hands, as he slashed to the hole for either a nifty layup or drawing contact to get to the free-throw line.

Wade got to the charity stripe more then any other player—however, he hit only 65 percent of his free throws.

But his value could not be overstated, as his propensity to hit big three-pointers—leading the team by shooting 47 percent from three-point range)—was always apparent.

3. Chris Bosh

Perhaps the most surprising player on this list, Bosh's value is monumental, given that the only two true big-men on the squad were Bosh and Howard. Howard often struggled to get going and fell into foul trouble, leading to more playing time for Bosh—who took advantage, leading the team in rebounding.

Additionally, when the team had their shooting struggles, Bosh proved to be even more valuable, scoring a huge percentage of his points on alley oops, tip-ins, and putbacks. This, in turn, led to a high shooting percentage, as he led the team by shooting 77 percent for the tournament.

He also got to the free throw line more often then anyone on the team except for Wade, and connected on 86 percent of his free throws.

2. Kobe Bryant

It was a tough decision to put Bryant at number two instead of number one, given how instrumental he was in putting the Spaniards away late in Sunday morning's game. Bryant took over the offense at times, hitting key shot after key shot. Each time Spain made a run to cut the lead to two or three, Bryant would come down and knock down a key three-pointer or draw a foul to keep the USA in front.

The only thing that keeps Kobe out of the top spot was his inconsistent shooting throughout the tournament. He shot only 46 percent for the tournament, and32 percent from three-point range. Couple that with an assist-turnover ratio of 17:15, and it just wasn't quite enough for Bryant to garner the number-one spot, clutch as he may be.

1. Chris Paul

Just like in the NBA season, Paul led his team without putting up the ridiculous offensive stats of the likes of Bryant, James, or Wade. But Paul was the leader of the offense, always making the right decision at the right time.

Paul's assist-turnover ratio was a ridiculous 33:9, and although he averaged only eight points per game, he still shot 50 percent from the floor.

Paul was also second to James on the team with 18 steals for the tournament. But again, his value cannot be understated, as he would do things to help the team that often don't show up on a stats sheet.

He would make a pass to set up an assist, and his defense against guards such as Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino, C.J. Bruton, and Spanouli Valleious was key in keeping teams at bay.

So while it's tough to pick a Most Valuable Player in a team so loaded with stars, Paul stood out among the rest. It may not have been in the stats and he may not have been as flashy as the rest—but without Paul, this team may not have been as successful as they were.

The Death of a Hero Puts Sports Into Perspective

Collin Whitchurch — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:37:48 -0400

Sports are a big part of my life.

As insipid as that may sound, it's true. As an aspiring sports journalist, sports are something that I pay attention to at all hours of my day. One glance at my profile page will give a description as to how important sports are in my life.

But it's funny how in the blink of an eye, with the uttering of a short phrase, everything can be put into perspective.

That's what happened to me on Thursday, August 7. That late evening I was sitting at a buddies house playing a game of NCAA Football '09 on the X-Box 360. We were in overtime and at the time winning that particular game was the most important thing in my mind.

Then, the phone rang, and four words changed everything.

"McKiski died in Iraq."

You may have heard the story that's made semi-national news over the past couple of weeks. Two Marines died in a military vehicle accident in Iraq. One of them was from Rockford, Illinois, and that man was one of the best friends I ever had.

Death can put sports into perspective perhaps better then anything else can. I'm sure that same thing happened to countless people after 9/11, after Hurricane Katrina, or after the death of any one of the 4,144 Americans who have died in the Iraqi War. In no way am I trying to say that my friend's death is any bigger then any of these. But unlike any of these other horrific American tragedies, this hit home in a rather obvious way.

Suddenly, the fact that the White Sox had lost that night didn't matter. Suddenly, I didn't care where Brett Favre was going to play in 2008, or whether the Bulls were ever going to get rid of Ben Gordon.

Death can do that to you. It can take the thing you think is the most important thing in the world at any given moment, and make it seem pointless, stupid, and downright ridiculous.

My friend was a real hero. He was genuine, and had known he wanted to be a Marine for as long as I knew him. He knew he wanted to be a Marine before there was a war and he didn't change his mind when we went to war.

We can debate all day as to whether or not we should be in Iraq, the decision of President Bush, or anything of that matter. But the fact of the matter is that my friend wanted to be a Marine, and was comfortable with the fact that he might die in combat. His friends and his family don't in the slightest bit blame our countries decisions on his death. But all of that seems rather pointless to me right now.

That being said, while death can make one debate the importance of sports, as well as anything else, in their lives, at the same time sports is a safe-haven during tragedy.

It was important for sports to continue in the city of New York after 9/11, just as it was for the Saints to continue their season after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.

And when death hit me the hardest, and sports seemed insignificant, they were still what I turned to in order to find peace.

Many nights over the past two weeks, and even still, I would lie in bed and turn on late-night coverage of the Olympics. Whether it be swimming, volleyball, boxing or badminton, the Olympics kept my mind off of what I had been through. They kept my mind at ease when thinking about my friend is all I wanted to do.

And that's why I love sports.

Put everything else aside. The competitiveness, the athleticism, the pure fun of the games, and sports has a deep meaning that few can understand. Sports is so important in life that it lets you know when it can be unimportant. When the game is just a game and the athletes you worship are just people.

Death puts things into perspective. I guess I should consider myself lucky that it never affected me personally until I was 21, as I'm sure many people out there have been affected by death far harder and far more personally then I ever have.

But while death changes you in ways that are unimaginable, sports will always be there. Whether they're there to be a distraction, an afternoon activity, an event to get liquored up and scream obscenities, or simply as the unimportant, second-hand nonsense you hardly care about during the hardest of times, they're always there. However you need them.

And that's how death put sports into perspective for me.

RIP Adam Thomas McKiski 08/07/08

Ted Thompson Knows What the Heck He's Doing

Collin Whitchurch — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0400

Well, it's finally over.

The agonizingly tedious saga that was Brett Favre's unretirement has come to an exasperating end. And while debate will continue throughout the season about whether or not the Packers made the right decision, one thing is for sure: The Packers' team and management can finally breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Lost in the mix of all the controversy surrounding Favre is the fact that there's a team of 53 guys in Green Bay that are pretty darn good. And while it will be quite different at Lambeau without No. 4 behind center, the Packers still have a legitimate shot to be contenders in 2008.

The focus, of course, will be on newly anointed quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Every eye will be on Rodgers for every snap of the season, and his play will be highly scrutinized and compared to that of Favre's.

But one thing's for sure—as much as pundits criticize General Manager Ted Thompson for how he handled the Favre situation, he's a great judge of talent.

During his three full seasons as GM in Green Bay, Thompson has built the Packers from a 4-12 season during his first year as GM to 13-3 in 2007. He was honored by Sporting News as the NFL's Executive of the Year after this past season.

Critics of Thompson argue that it was all Favre in 2007 that carried the team to the amazing turnaround. While it's true that Favre was incredibly valuable to the team last season (finishing second in MVP-voting), he can't play defense.

And Thompson's transformation of the Packers' defense from laughingstock to one of the best in the league cannot go unnoticed.

The team ranked second in the NFC in PTS/G allowed and sixth in total-yards allowed. They were also +4 in turnover differential, up from -5 the previous year.

And all their positional upgrades can be credited to Thompson.

More than half of the starters, 32 of the 45 active players, and 40 of the 53 members of the roster during the final game of the 2007 were acquired by Thompson, either by via free agency, trade, or the draft.

Many of the standouts were Thompson-acquired players as well. Emerging linebacker A.J. Hawk, wide receiver Greg Jennings, running back Ryan Grant, and three of the five starting offensive linemen were acquired by Thompson. And all of the aforementioned players, with the exception of Grant, were acquired via the draft.

So, while it's true that the debate won't end until it's answered on the field, critics should wait before bashing Thompson for sticking to Rodgers. Whether or not he did the right thing to get rid of the most beloved player in Packers' history is a whole different debate. And whether or not the Packers will be a better team in 2008 is yet to be answered.

If Thompson believes in Rodgers as his quarterback, he has to have some talent. He wouldn't stick behind the man he drafted just to prove a point to Favre; he's smarter than that. And while it's possible that Rodgers could be a bust, history proves otherwise.

If there's one thing for Packer fans to worry about with Rodgers, it's his injuries. He's seen significant playing time in two games over the past two seasons and suffered serious injuries in both of them. If it happens again in 2008, the Packers are all but dead. But if he stays on the field, there's a good chance he can lead the team back to the playoffs.

Thompson has endured a large amount of criticism for his handling of the Favre situation, and some of it is deserved, but he has shown in the past that he can make the right moves to help his team succeed. Until he proves otherwise, fans should stand behind that.

White Sox Get Into Scuffle, Lose AL Central Lead

Collin Whitchurch — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:46:00 -0400

Things don't get much uglier than this.

It's pretty safe to say that White Sox fans can officially push the "panic" button after a 14-3 drubbing at the hands of the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. It was a game in which the White Sox threw more hay-makers than they did unhittable pitches.

The loss ended a critical 10-game road trip at 4-6. Just to think things started off so promising after taking the first two games in Detroit over a week ago. But eight games and six losses later, the White Sox are staring at a half game deficit in the AL Central with a load of pitching problems.

Two months ago things seemed so different. The White Sox enjoyed a six and a half game lead in the division and people were calling their pitching staff amongst the best in baseball. They're late inning relievers were automatic with Octavio Dotel in the seventh, Scott Linebrink in the eighth, and Bobby Jenks in the ninth. But Linebrink's been battling the always-scary arm problems and his status the rest of the season remains in doubt.

Meanwhile, the steady arms of Matt Thornton, Boone Logan, and the since-departed Nick Masset have been anything but steady and the team ERA has jumped to 3.91, sixth in the American League.

Couple that with the fact that the team that knocked the White Sox out of first for the first time since May 17 did so with their beleaguered ace back in prime form for the first time in nearly two years. Suddenly it looks like a rotation featuring Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, and Kevin Slowey looks a lot stronger than one featuring Mark Buehrle, Javier Vazquez, John Danks, and Gavin Floyd.

As stated in a previous article, the White Sox's acquisition of Ken Griffey Jr. was not, by any means, a bad move by the general manager. Even if Griffey doesn't pay off and the team continues down its current trend it wasn't a bad move because there was nothing given up for his services.

That being said, Williams' biggest mistake could be the deals he didn't make. With Linebrink's health in doubt and the rest of the bullpen struggling, it's a wonder Williams didn't address more pressing needs and acquire a cheap, yet solid, middle reliever. There was a huge market for middle relievers and while teams like the Yankees made moves to bolster their bullpen, the White Sox stood pat.

It's possible the team could have dealt for the likes of a Chad Cordero from Washington, any Seattle Mariner, or any Pittsburgh Pirate, as they were looking to unload heavily. But Williams was unable to pull the trigger and the team may pay the price.

One thing is for sure—good teams go through their share of adversity during a season, and the truly playoff-ready teams persevere. The White Sox are undoubtedly hitting their roughest part of the season right now. If they can come out of it still within minimal games of first place then they'll still have a fighter's chance.

The next couple of weeks will be critical for the White Sox, and will likely determine how they finish the season. Will they be drifting further and further from the top or will they continue fighting with the Twins for the AL Central crown?

One thing's for sure—they know how to fight.

Griffey to the White Sox is a No-Lose Situation for Chicago

Collin Whitchurch — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:55:02 -0400

Ken Griffey Jr. may not be the best player of our lifetime anymore.

He's not the most feared hitter in baseball. He's not a gold glove candidate and he's no longer a superstar.

But what's important for the Chicago White Sox in acquiring Griffey from the Cincinnati Reds Thursday is that he's a low-risk, high-reward acquisition.

If the White Sox had dealt the farm for Griffey this move would be atrocious. Had they given the Reds Josh Fields, Clayton Richard, or Gordan Beckham in the deal, critics would be slamming Kenny Williams, as they did when Williams gave up three minor leaguers, including top pitching prospect Royce Ring, for an over-the-hill Roberto Alomar in 2003.

But Williams didn't. Instead, he gave up a middle reliever who has been horrid of late in Nick Masset and a mediocre minor league second baseman in Danny Richar.

That, alone, makes this deal a very smart one by Williams.

Sure, Griffey has struggled this year, hitting only .245 thus far. And it's true that the White Sox don't have a legitimate position to put him unless they were to bench the struggling fan-favorite Paul Konerko (hitting only .214). But the fact that the White Sox gave up virtually nothing for him makes it fine for the team if he doesn't work out.

Say Griffey flops immediately in Chicago and struggles hitting and in the field. Say he blows out his ACL in August. While it would be a huge hit because the team hopes Griffey can be a huge contributor, the White Sox wouldn't necessarily be done because they didn't give up their season for Griffey. Instead, they would go back to the same lineup they had through July (which got them off to a 60-46 record and a 1 1/2 game lead in the division).

But say Griffey jumps in the "rejuvenation machine" and starts hitting like he's capable and playing decent centerfield, the deal immediately goes from being a solid acquisition to a genius move by Williams.

And it's possible that it could happen. Chicago's a die-hard baseball town and playing in a pennant race in front of extremely passionate fans could get Griffey going. After all, he hasn't played in a true playoff race since 1997 with the Mariners.

Additionally, playing under a manager like Ozzie Guillen, unlike any manager Griffey's played for since Lou Piniella, could light a fire under him as well.

So it's possible that the trade could flop. Griffey could become a bust and the team could miss the playoffs. While disappointing, it wouldn't be because of Williams' move. But the reward if Griffey pays off is incredibly higher then the impact if the trade fails.

Is Carlos Quentin an Early Favorite for MVP?

Collin Whitchurch — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:41:49 -0400

I know it's not even August, but it's about time to start the always-hot debate as to whom should win the American League MVP.

There are a lot of decent candidates, although not many of the familiar names of years past. The likes of Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and Vladamir Guerrero are not having sub-par years by most standards, but MVP-worthy? Hardly.

So it's time to make an early case for one of the most unlikely MVP candidates entering the season—Carlos Quentin of the Chicago White Sox.

How unknown was Quentin entering the season? Well, even after the success he's had thus far, his name isn't even available as a "tag" in Bleacher Report's "photo uploading" system.

But in all seriousness, Quentin played so horribly in Spring Training that he was likely to be cut from the White Sox' roster before opening day. An injury late in Spring Training to presumptive starting outfielder Jerry Owens is the only reason he opened the season on the 25-man roster. (Owens, by the way, hasn't seen the field at the major-league level this season).

So exactly how has Quentin transformed from roster castoff to MVP candidate? Two years ago, the obvious answer would have been "steroids." However, the kind of success Quentin has had is nothing new to him.

He was a star hitter at Stanford and a former first-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2003. Quentin, as well as the Diamondbacks, always knew he could hit, but injuries have plagued him throughout his career, making it easy for Arizona to ship him to Chicago for minor-league first baseman Chris Carter.

But Quentin's healthy now, and his value to the White Sox could not be understated. Of his league-leading 26 home runs, 14 of them have given the White Sox the lead. The only player in the majors with more is Adrian Gonzalez, with 16 for the last-place San Diego Padres.

Additionally, five of those go-ahead shots were in the seventh inning or later, tying him with Prince Fielder and Aramis Ramirez for most in that category (thanks to the Elias Sports Bureau for those stats).

Quentin's value has skyrocketed with the early hitting failures of White Sox sluggers Paul Konerko and Jim Thome. With the two struggling to find their swing, it is likely the White Sox offense would be in the same position they were a year ago without Quentin, as well as great offensive seasons by Jermaine Dye and rookie Alexei Ramirez.

Comparing Quentin to other possible MVP candidates, Quentin stacks up nicely. The most obvious candidate would be Texas Rangers slugger and feel-good story Josh Hamilton. People marveled over Hamilton's swing during the Home Run Derby and his RBI numbers are near-record breaking.

However, if you stack up Hamilton with Quentin it's darn close. Take a look:

Quentin:

.279 BA, 26 HR, 76 RBI, .930 OPS, 46 BB, 59 K.

Hamilton:

.305 BA, 22 HR, 98 RBI, .904 OPS, 39 BB, 71 K.

Hamilton has an obvious lead in the batting average and RBI categories. However, Quentin has a higher OPS, and a much better strikeout to walk ratio then Hamilton.

Couple these stats with the fact that Quentin's team is in first place and Hamilton's is fighting to stay in the playoff race. As well as the fact that Hamilton's hitting in a lineup with three other All-Stars (Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, and Milton Bradley), and it's hard to give Hamilton the edge, as feel-good as his story may be.

The other, more obvious, candidate would be Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau. Morneau has been incredibly valuable to the surprise Twins and is a former MVP winner already. Here are his stats to stack up to Quentin:

Morneau: .317 BA, 15 HR, 73 RBI, .898 OPS, 45 BB, 58 K.

Another close call with Quentin, as the only obvious advantage Morneau has to Quentin is batting average, and the only obvious lead Quentin has is home runs.

Again, it has to come down to the stats combined with overall value to the team's success. It's hard to say the Rangers would be any worse without Hamilton, as the team has always been a successful offensive club.

And his numbers are too close to those of Quentin and Morneau to give him the edge due to his team not being as good, so that leaves Morneau and Quentin.

The numbers, as previously stated, are too close to give either one the edge. Both have also carried otherwise sluggish offensive teams and turned them into contenders.

There's still over two months to decide the MVP race, and it's likely that a candidate from Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, or Detroit may emerge as well, and Guerrero is starting to heat up for the best-in-baseball Angels. But one thing's for sure—the unlikeliest of candidates has sure made a case for himself to win the award.

Are the Chicago Cubs Finally Starting to Crack?

Collin Whitchurch — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:04:36 -0400

Alright, before I go on I must provide a disclaimer. I'm a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan who dislikes the Chicago Cubs. That being said, I know many of you will dismiss my opinion as simply being biased. However, with everyone seemingly handing the Cubs the NL Central Title, the Pennant, and practically the World Series (current Vegas odds are 1:1), I feel it's necessary to play devil's advocate and provide some insight from someone not sipping the Cubbie-juice.

Beware Chicago, your Cubs may not be as invincible as you thought.

Yes, the Cubs are favorites in the National League. Yes, they are still leading the Central Division over two teams who, on paper, they are clearly superior to. And yes, they just acquired a stud when healthy in Rich Harden.

However, before putting your World Series' shirts on order, beware of some glaring problems with your team. Problems that, if stay problems, could result in a stunning collapse or at very least another playoff defeat.

Offense—The Cubs' offense has been phenomenal all season. Lou Piniella has done a great job at playing the hot hand at the right time and not staying committed to guys who are struggling. Whether it be Reed Johnson, Jim Edmonds, Mark DeRosa, or Mike Fontenot, Piniella will shuffle guys in and out of the lineup at will depending on who's hitting at that time.

But lately the Cubs have shown signs of weakness. Kosuke Fukadome, a normally patient hitter since joining the Cubs has been pressing at the plate as of late and has seen his OBP drop to .374. Likewise, both Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez have been streaky hitters who are prone to stretches of hitting .400 for a few weeks and then going 2-30 over the next few weeks.

Even with Alfonso Soriano coming back within the next week, the offense shouldn't expect much of a boost. With Soriano, DeRosa, Lee, and Ramirez, the team has four regular hitters in their lineup who strike out 100 or more times in a season.

When the playoffs come around and they have to face strikeout pitchers such as Ben Sheets, C.C. Sabathia, Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, Cole Hamels, or Johan Santana, that won't fare will for the Cubs.

The one thing the Cubs' offense does have that could carry the team through the prolonged slumps is clutch hitting. The team has been able to win consistently throughout the season and the primary reason for that is their ability to come through in the clutch. If they continue to do so and win close games, they will still be on the right track to the World Series.

Bullpen—The Cubs' bullpen is probably the team's most glaring problem. Early in the season it was seen as a positive—something that would carry the team late in the year. But the wear and tear the bullpen has endured by pitching such extensive innings thus far could prove damaging, and signs of such have already begun to surface.

Carlos Marmol isn't a shadow of the dominance he was in the first half of the season. Many times of late he has struggled with control and when he does hit the strike zone, he's been getting pounded. At the same time, the middle relief guys such as Bob Howry, Michael Wurtz, and the currently injured Scott Eyre have shown signs of weakness.

Additionally, the oft-injured yet seemingly rejuvenated Kerry Wood has gone down with an injury yet again. And while the injury is supposedly just a blister and he may return shortly, with Wood you can never be so sure.

Opponents—As previously stated, the Cubs clearly have a boatload more talent than the Brewers or the Cardinals on paper. However, the Brewers have an offense that can match the Cubs swing for swing. They shouldn't be expected to falter down the stretch as they did a year ago for the simple reason that they have a year of experience in a playoff race under their belts.

The Cardinals are the team that everyone has expected to fold from the beginning of the season. But somehow, some way, they just keep winning. Pundits still expect the team to fold despite the fact that they lead the Majors in one-run victories and have one of the most experienced managers in the league in Tony LaRussa.

LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan have been getting the job done with mediocre talent for years dating back to their years with the Oakland Athletics. They are great at taking minimal talent and turning them into contenders and are doing just that with this year's Cardinals team.

Cubs' fans can continue to think that the team will run away and hide from the Brewers and Cardinals, but don't expect that to be so. Even if the Cubs come out in front, and that's the most likely scenario, this race is likely to come down to the final weeks of the season.

2008 Fighting Illini Football Preview: Can the D Carry the Team?

Collin Whitchurch — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:50:33 -0400

The University of Illinois football team is in an interesting position entering 2008.

The team exceeded expectations by a mile in 2007, finishing tied for second in the Big Ten and earning a trip to the Rose Bowl.

However, the key pieces of that Rose Bowl team are long gone. Leading rushing Rashard Mendenhall is in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and linebacker/team captain J Leman has graduated and moved on.

But unlike in 2002, when the team went into disarray after playing in the Sugar Bowl, this team is more prepared for their future. That team was led by senior stars Kurt Kittner and Brandon Lloyd, who were recruiting gems of former coach Ron Turner.

Unfortunately for the Illini, Turner was not a master recruiter. After the gems in Kittner and Lloyd, others bolted, Turner and the Illini were left in shambles, and Illinois was the laughingstock of the Big Ten for the next six years.

But after the Ron Zook hiring three years ago, the image of the Illini changed, and that will become apparent to fans in 2008.

While stars/fan favorites Mendenhall and Leman are gone, Zook's recruiting has set the team up to succeed for the long haul.

With top recruits wide receiver Arrelious Benn and defensive end/linebacker Martez Wilson getting a full year under their belts and flashing signs of brilliance during their freshman seasons, expect big things out of them this season.

Additionally, the team has a proven defensive star in cornerback Vontae Davis, younger brother of San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis. Vontae proved to be a shutdown corner last season. Look for him to be a legitimate All-American performer in '08.

As far as losing Leman, your team's leading tackler is never easy to replace, but senior linebacker Brit Miller has been improving every year. If he's able to take over as the team's leader on the defensive side of the ball, the team shouldn't lose any ground.

Regardless of the team's defensive success, one thing's for sure—the success or failure of the team rests squarely on the shoulders of junior quarterback Juice Williams. Williams was the fan-appointed savior of the team when he came on and took his lumps during his freshman and sophomore seasons.

But at the same time, Williams has shown flashes of being the superstar Illini fans have envisioned for so long. If Williams can take the team on his shoulders and play like the quarterback he has the potential to be, another trip to the Rose Bowl could be in store.

The 2008 schedule is a brutal one for the Illini—three of their first five games are tough road contests against legitimate National Championship contenders (Missouri, Penn State, Michigan). The team also travels to Camp Randall for a road contest against Wisconsin later in the season.

If the team can go 2-2 in those four games, they still have a chance in the Big Ten—but that's a big if. They have Ohio State at home, and you can rest assured the Buckeyes will have revenge on their minds after Illinois ruined their perfect season in Columbus last season.

2008 will be an interesting season for the Illini. They proved in 2007 they could compete with the top teams in the Big Ten by defeating Wisconsin, Penn State, and Ohio State, and nearly missing out on a win over Michigan. They were also perhaps a Juice Williams injury away from handing Missouri their first loss in week one.

Why Can't the Packers Just Say No to Brett Favre?

Collin Whitchurch — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:37:58 -0400

I am a diehard Green Bay Packers fan who has only known one quarterback in his life—Brett Favre.

When Favre announced his retirement in March, I was less surprised than most. I figured that Favre would have liked to go out giving absolutely everything he had, and let's face it, last year was his last best chance at winning a Super Bowl.

Interception on his last throw or not, I figured he might retire and I had completely accepted (and somewhat looked forward to) what life would be like without Favre as my team's quarterback.

Throughout the past couple of weeks where rumors surfaced that Favre wanted to come back and play in 2008, I had kept my mouth shut because I wasn't quite sure how to feel.

Sure, Favre had a great season in 2007 and showed that he could still play at his age. But as the Packers' front office brass had continuously said, the Packers had moved on and Aaron Rodgers was their quarterback. And I felt the same way.

Of course, if the Packers had welcomed Favre back with open arms I wouldn't have been disappointed. But the fact of the matter was that the Packers were ready to move on.

As much of a hero Favre was to Green Bay and as much as he has done for the organization, the constant retirement speculation had grown tiresome and when he finally announced he was retiring, I'm sure the organization let out a collective sigh of relief.

The ordeal was over and as much as they were going to miss having Favre around, they could finally move on.

Then, a few weeks ago rumors started surfacing that Favre wanted to come back. I'm sure that Packers' General Manager Ted Thompson's feelings were much similar to mine—here we go again.

I, as a fan, had put all my emotions for Favre as a player aside and accepted his retirement. The Packers, by all accounts, had done the same thing. On an emotional level and on a player personnel level.

It's unlikely that Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn would have been drafted if Favre was still on the roster. They would have used those picks to fill more immediate needs such as the secondary or the defensive line.

So while the rest of the world remains shocked that the Packers would say no to the most legendary player in the organization's rich history, I'm not. And while the talking heads on ESPN ponder the difficult predicament the organization is in with Favre asking for his release, the question is a lot more simple then they're making it out to be.

The Packers basically told Favre no about coming back, so why not just say no to releasing him?

Pundits say the organization can't do such a thing. Favre has given the team so much over the years that he deserves for the team to do what he demands so that he can continue playing for another team. But that's not the case.

When Barry Sanders retired from the NFL, it was because he no longer wanted to play for the Detroit Lions and the Lions, reasonably so, refused to trade or release him. Thus, he stayed retired. So why can't the Packers do the same thing with Favre?

True, it would make for some pretty horrible publicity for Thompson to decide to pretty much force Favre to stay retired. But not nearly as bad as it would look for the Packers to allow Favre to play for the Bears or the Vikings next year and lead them to the playoffs or beyond.

Morally, the right thing for the Packers to do would be to release Favre and allow him to do what he wants with the remainder of his career. But the Packers are in the league to win football games, and from an organizational standpoint, the smartest move would be to not allow Favre to play for them or for anyone else.

The Packers aren't being forced to do anything. Pressured, yes. But forced? As much as people say that Favre holds the upper hand and is holding the Packers hostage, that isn't the case anymore. The Packers hold his rights for two more years and can do what they want, just as the Lions did with Sanders.

Will fans be furious? Yes, for the time being. But they'll get over it and move on, just as Favre will. People forget that the Packers have one of the brightest, most talented upcoming teams for the 2008 season and nothing erases bad publicity like success.

So the Packers should move on, succeed with Aaron Rodgers, and try their best to put this ugly mess behind them.

Hey, John Paxson: Go After Josh Smith!

Collin Whitchurch — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:32:03 -0400

After the Chicago Bulls drafter Derrick Rose number one in the NBA Draft one thing became clear—the Bulls needed to clear room in their backcourt and they needed to add a solid forward.

The glaring hole in the Bulls' frontcourt has been prevalent for years and a good offensive weapon (i.e. NOT Emeka Okafor) should be brought in if the team really wants to contend next season.

So with one of the best young forwards in the league currently shopping himself around in Josh Smith, why is it that there haven't even been whispers about the Bulls trying to acquire him?

Smith would be an absolutely perfect fit into the Bulls offense. Rose thrived at Memphis with big men he could lob the ball up to or dish it inside to. Adding an already established Smith with Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, who are also the types of players who thrive off of lobs, would turn Chicago's offense into a New Orleans-esque offense with Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler.

The most likely scenario for the Bulls to acquire Smith would be through a sign-and-trade. The Hawks have been looking for a solid point guard for years. And while Kirk Hinrich has maybe worn out his welcome in Chicago, he would be a welcomed addition to Atlanta's backcourt which has desperately lacked scoring for a very long time. If the Hawks and Bulls could work out a Hinrich for Smith deal with the Bulls perhaps throwing in next year's first round pick, the deal may be too good to pass up.

If that isn't something that would interest Atlanta, the Bulls could take the rout of the Los Angeles Clippers and simply try to sign him. The Clippers have reportedly made Smith their number one target after Elton Brand bolted for Philadelphia, and if the Bulls' top competitors to sign Smith are the Clippers and Hawks, it's likely the Bulls could pull out the best offer.

So, John Paxson, it's time to make some noise. Change was promised to the fans and they haven't seen too much change yet. Adding Rose was a promising start but the team isn't likely to succeed if Rose is stuck with the same cast of numb skulls they threw out there last year.

Smith would make the Bulls immediate contenders once again in the Eastern Conference, and he's exactly what they need.

Chicago White Sox Midseason Report: Don't Do Anything

Collin Whitchurch — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:33:41 -0400

Before the season began I wrote on a website (that no longer exists) that the White Sox could easily finish with 90 or 70 wins depending on how certain things fall into place.

After 90 games, it's pretty clear that the big question marks surrounding the team have been answered in a positive matter thus far. The team is in first place and performing well above most people's expectations—simply because there pitching has been great.

The reason nobody expected the White Sox to be contenders was because of all the uncertainty surrounding their starting rotation. Could Mark Buehrle bounce back? Could Jose Contreras be at least semi-competent? How would John Danks and Gavin Floyd, two unproven starters at the back end of the rotation, fair in a full season's worth of competition?

Well, the answers to those three questions are "Yes," "Yes," and "Great."

The biggest enigma about the team thus far has been the offense. The inconsistencies have made fans' heads spin, as some days they can't hit and some days they can't miss.

Additionally, the fact that the team's offensive stars have been Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez (along with Jermaine Dye, which was expected) instead of Paul Konerko and Jim Thome has made this offense that much more confusing to decipher.

With the season half over and the trade deadline quickly approaching, questions have—of course—risen as to what, if anything, the White Sox should do to try to improve their team for the home stretch of the season.

The answer to that question, like the one about their pitching, is quite simple—don't do anything.

It's true that the team has struggled offensively at times and could possibly add another bat, but who would you get rid of to make room for that bat?

As much as Konerko and Thome have struggled (although Thome has swung the bat very well over the past week), it's impossible to believe they won't get hot in the second half. And the positive chemistry both of them bring to the clubhouse cannot be understated.

And even if they were to move Konerko or Thome, who could be brought in that would be considered an upgrade?

The only available player that would make any sense would be Braves' first baseman Mark Teixeira. If the team could swing a trade for him, and that's a very big IF, then it would be possible that a trade of Konerko or Thome could be acceptable.

But still, trading away one of those two ruins a chemistry that has been crucial to the success of the team. In 2005 fans and columnists were screaming for the team to trade for Ken Griffey Jr. The only move Kenny Williams made before the deadline was acquiring utility man Geoff Blum. That worked out pretty well, didn't it?

So if the White Sox were to do anything before the trade deadline, it would be the same thing they did in '05, acquire another backup infielder. With the designation of Pablo Ozuna, the White Sox are left with only Juan Uribe as a backup infielder, which could become an issue with the back issues of Joe Crede.

Even so, the smartest move by Williams would be to stand pat, and that's what he's likely to do.

Rich Harden Traded to the Chicago Cubs in Six Player Blockbuster

Collin Whitchurch — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:57:48 -0400

The Chicago Cubs have acquired right-handed pitcher Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics in a six-player deal Tuesday evening.

The trade, which came on the same day division-rival Milwaukee intends to trot out their newly acquired ace C.C. Sabathia in his first start, also brings the Cubs pitcher/reliever Chad Gaudin.

In exchange for the two pitchers, the Athletics will receive pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder Eric Patterson, and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson.

The 27-year-old Harden is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts this season. He compiled a 36-19 record during five-plus injury-plagued seasons in Oakland where he, at times, showed signs of being one of the top pitchers in baseball.

Gallagher, a 22-year-old right-hander went 3-4 in 10 starts for the Cubs this season. He was a 12th round draft pick by the Cubs in 2004. It is expected that Gallagher will step into the A's rotation immediately.

The trade gives the Cubs a boost to their starting rotation, as Harden and a healthy Carlos Zambrano pose a formidable 1-2 punch to match Milwaukee's newly formed duo of Sabathia and Ben Sheets.

It was more questionable from the Athletics' point-of-view as the team trades away one of their best pitchers while sitting only six games behind the Angels in the American League West and five games behind Boston in the Wild Card race.

C.C. Sabathia Headed To Milwaukee; Rest of National League Cringes

Collin Whitchurch — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:45:13 -0400

ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reported Sunday evening that the Milwaukee Brewers had reached a deal to acquire Cleveland Indians' ace and 2007 AL Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia for three minor leaguers.

The deal, which is still pending due to finalization of paperwork and physicals, would give the Brewers, currently 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central, a well-needed ace that will help them contend for an NL Central Title, and possibly a pennant.

Sabathia gives the Brewers something they lacked last season, a proven starter for the stretch run. Additionally, Sabathia is an ace that will fill in perfectly if the injury-prone Ben Sheets goes down.

Last season, the Brewers' late season woes happened after Sheets was lost for the year. But with Sabathia, they won't have to worry about that.

And if Sheets stays healthy, Sabathia gives the Brewers a 1-2 punch at the front of the rotation that is only rivaled by the Diamondback's Webb-Haren combo.

All in all, it's a good trade for the Brewers, and a questionable move by the Tribe. While the Indians got a future star in outfielder Matt LaPorta, the other two prospects included in the deal (who were not immediately mentioned), were not Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel, who, along with LaPorta, were among the top rated prospects in the Brewers' loaded farm system.

One has to wonder why, with the trading dealine still more than three weeks away, the Indians rushed to make this deal, with teams such as the Rays, Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies still interested. As well as the possibility that the Yankees and Red Sox could get into a bidding war in the final days before the deadline.

The Brewers now become a serious factor in the National League playoff race with Sabathia. Already only 2 1/2 games out of the NL Central lead, the Brewers now have the edge over the Cubs and the Cardinals if the division race comes down to the final month of the season.

Additionally, more pressure is not put on the Cubs to make a move for another starter, something they were likely to do already with question marks at the back end of the rotation.

With Sabathia already in Milwaukee, potential trading partners have an edge in negotiations with the Cubs in that they know the Cubs will be desperate to make a move to stay on par with the Brewers. So look for the likes of Gil Meche, Randy Wolf, or another cheap, middle-of-the-rotation starter to end up in Chicago before July 31.

Also, look for Brewers' General Manager Doug Melvin to continue shopping with the trading deadline still a good ways away. Milwaukee's bullpen is still their biggest question mark, and with a number of potential losing options available on the trade market such as Eddie Guardado, C.J. Wilson, Chad Cordero, among others, it wouldn't be at all surprising to see a revamped bullpen in Milwaukee this August.

But the fact of the matter is that the Brewers now have serious staying power come October. The rest of the National League better be looking over their shoulders, because with an offense like they have coupled with the Sabathia-Sheets combo, there isn't a team scarier in a five-game series then Milwaukee.

Blackhawks Ownership Turning Team Into Immediate Contender

Collin Whitchurch — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:41:18 -0400

Dale Tallon, John McDonough, and Rocky Wirtz should be proud.

The Chicago Blackhawks' general manager, president, and chairman, respectively, have brought a franchise back from the dead.

Okay, it may be a little too early to anoint the Blackhawks as 2008-09 Stanley Cup Champions just yet. But the work done by the front office to bring the 'Hawks from being ranked in a fan poll in ESPN the Magazine as the worst franchise in the four major sports in America (baseball, basketball, football, and hockey) only three years ago has been phenomenal.

The sad and morbid truth of the matter is that the team's uprising began on September 26 of last year when former team chairman, Bill Wirtz, passed away.

Since the elder Wirtz's death, son Rocky has begun a transformation that has brough estranged fans back to the team they loved, all while attracting new and younger fans.

The transformation, which began towards the end of the Bill Wirtz era with the drafting of young sensations Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, hit it's highest point to date this past season when the young 'Hawks provided flashes of brilliance in finishing with 88 points, only three out of the eighth playoff spot in the West.

And it continued Tuesday, with the signings Brian Campbell, the top defenseman on the free agent market, and Cristobal Huet, a much needed upgrade at goalie.

The money Tallon agreed to shell out, $7.1 million a year over eight to Campbell and $5.6 million a year over five to Huet, is a sum unheard of by the Blackhawks over the years, as fans are more accustomed to seeing big-name free agents leave, rather than arrive.

But the signings are just a piece of the huge transformation project the team has undergone under the new front office's reign.

To say that Bill Wirtz wasn't the most fan-friendly would be an understatement. The late chairman did the unheard of, blacking out local broadcasts of home games under the mentality that if fans wouldn't buy a ticket why should they give it to them for free on TV?

Last month Rocky Wirtz announced a new TV deal that would broadcast every single regular-season game between two Chicago stations.

But with all the front office can do to bring fans back, the most important factor is simple: win.

The 'Hawks have only reached the playoffs once in the past 11 years, a short-lived 2002 appearance, and haven't reached the Stanley Cup Finals since being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. And their last Stanley Cup Championship was 48 years ago and counting.

So is it possible that the 'Hawks can become the contenders we all forgot they can be? Kane and Toews are future NHL stars, and they have a front office that is prepared to keep that core group of stars together, something that wasn't the case with the likes of Roenick, Amonte, or Chelios, among others.

Campbell should provide an immediate defensive impact that is badly needed, and Huet is an upgrade over the past-his-prime Nikolai Khabibulin.

The 'Hawks will contend for the playoffs, that's for sure. But can they get over the hump and bring the team back to being regular contenders?

One thing's for sure, the front office thinks they can.

Derrick Rose Drafted by Chicago, but Bulls Still Have Questions to Answer

Collin Whitchurch — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:01:28 -0400

So the Bulls got their guy.

The rebuilding of the Chicago Bulls can officially begin now that the workouts are over, the debate is done, and they ended up with point guard phenom Derrick Rose.

The only question that remains now is, what's next?

Drafting Rose is a great start to a rebuilding process that hopes to bring the Bulls back to the playoffs. But there is still a lot to be done before the Bulls can start fitting Championship rings. Here are five questions the Bulls must answer before they begin their 2008-09 campaign.

What Are the Bulls Going to Do with Their "Other" Guards?

After drafting Rose the Bulls have a logjam at the guard position. Either Kirk Hinrich or Ben Gordon (or perhaps both) is sure to be moved to make room for Rose.

The Bulls could justify moving either one of them and could get decent value for both as well. Moving Hinrich makes more sense as he's the team's incumbent point guard, but moving Gordon would probably be easier in that he's a restricted free agent.

The ideal situation would be for the Bulls to trade Hinrich for a big man since they passed on Michael Beasley in the draft. The Clippers are shopping Elton Brand because he'll be an urestricted free agent starting July 1, and it's possible that the Wizards would do the same with Antawn Jamison.

A sign-and-trade involving one of those two coming to Chicago for Hinrich would be a great fit to fill the Bulls' low-post scoring woes. Whether a deal could get done or is even on the Bulls' radar remains to be seen.

How Are the Bulls Going to Address Their Low-Post Scoring Issues?

As stated previously, guys such as Brand or Jamison are a possibility to come to Chicago. If the Bulls don't make a move before July 1 they can hopefully make a strong push for either one once free agency starts.

Unfortunately there aren't a ton of other big man options out there in free agency unless they wanted to go cheap and take a shot at Kwame Brown or Josh Childress.

An alternative possibility is for them to stand pat and just add a guy like Primoz Brezec, Jamaal Magloire, or Theo Ratliff for depth. It's a risk to hope that Tyrus Thomas and/or Joakim Noah can develop into solid big men, but with Rose in the equation it's not far-fetched to think that one or both of them can turn into a great rebounder and solid scorer.

Just look at what Chris Paul did for the career or Tyson Chandler.

One thing's for sure, the Bulls aren't done shopping. John Paxson all but said that he's going to move one of his guards, and what they can get for Hinrich and/or Gordon remains to be seen.

But Bulls fans can bet that the team they see now won't nearly resemble the one they'll see come October.

Why I Like Don Imus

Collin Whitchurch — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:08:02 -0400

Don Imus may be a jerk.

He may be a pompous, arrogant ass. He may be a dimwitted cracker who doesn't know when to close his mouth. Or he may be an insensitive racist.

But you know what? I sort of like Don Imus.

Imus is unapologetic. He's not afraid to speak his mind and doesn't hide from who he is. Too often in the world of journalism do people hide behind a corporate blanket in order to shield themselves from criticism.

But Imus—disagree with him as you may, and most do—is who he is. And there's nothing more important than that in journalism.

I, among with many other journalists or aspiring journalists, grew up being taught the meaning of integrity in reporting.

Now tell me, isn't it going against everything you're taught as a journalist to stray away from your thoughts and feelings because you're afraid of the public backlash that may result from it? Especially when your job is to be opinionated, as Imus' is.

Let me make it clear that I am not a racist. I do not think that black women are "nappy-headed hoes." But if Imus believes this to be true so be it. I don't think he really believes it, but if he thinks this is so in his mind he has the right, as an opinionated broadcast journalist, to say so on the air.

The network, at the same time, has just as much of a right to fire Imus for saying it, but that's a risk Imus takes.

Now I'm not ignorant. In no way do I take lightly the amount of suffering African Americans have gone through in history, and I'll never be able to fully understand it being white. However, Imus making a joke like that (or the joke about Adam Jones) is his opinion, and as I said before he has the right to state it.

If Imus were to have called members of the Rutgers women's basketball team that derogatory term to their faces, that would have been an entirely different story altogether. But Imus said it on air for a radio station. Those who disagree can state their opinions about him, or choose not to listen. It's as simple as that.

That is what freedom of speech is all about.

Ozzie Guillen's Tirades Brings Hypocrisy Out of Media

Collin Whitchurch — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:17:36 -0400

Since taking over as manager of the Chicago White Sox in 2004, Ozzie Guillen has been nothing less than controversial.

And since he was thrust into the spotlight after winning the 2005 World Series, Guillen has drawn more criticism than praise from the media for his choice of words in multiple interviews—specifically for calling out his team, staff, or management when the White Sox are playing poorly.

Critics of Guillen usually dismiss what he says as moronic, crazy, unnecessary, and often offensive. But here's where the hypocrisy comes in.

How are the things Ozzie says any different from that of Jim Leyland? Or Charlie Manuel? Or even the beloved manager from only a few miles away, Lou Piniella?

In today's day and age, it's not uncommon for a fed-up manager to go on an obscenity-laced tirade when their team isn't playing up to par.

Leyland seems to do it almost monthly, Piniella has done it in Cincinnati, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and now Chicago. Even little-known Seattle Mariners' manager John McLaren got into the act after a recent loss.

Unfortunately for Ozzie, these managers get a break. When Leyland or Piniella go off, they're doing what they do. They're "firing up their teams" and "inspiring them to play up to their potential." But when Ozzie does it—he's crazy.

It's an unexplainable hypocrisy.

Some critics say the reason for this double-standard is that Leyland and Piniella have been doing their job much longer than Ozzie. It's a "respect factor" of sorts.

Well what exactly can a manager do to earn this respect? Win a World Series?

Ozzie's done that. Something no manager in the city of Chicago can say since 1917. So that can't be it.

Maybe it's earning players' respect. But that can't be it either.

Ozzie has had a fun-loving relationship with a majority of his players since joining the team. Even befriending the ever-angry Frank Thomas during his latter years with the squad.

The Spanish-speaking players who have come to Chicago (Jose Contreras, Orlando Hernandez, Juan Uribe, Octavio Dotel, just to name a few) have looked at him as a brother and a friend. And the long-time White Sox who have played under him (Mark Buehrle, Paul Konerko, Joe Crede) have said nothing but the most positive things about him as a person and as a manager.

The only possible explanation for the double-standard would be regarding the one time Ozzie truly crossed the line. When, in 2006, he called Chicago-Sun Times columnist Jay Marriotti a homosexual slur.

The criticism Ozzie was warranted for that was that it was completely unnecessary and disrespectful for him to use that language. However, for that one moment to define his whole career is just not fair.

Billy Martin's career as New York Yankees' manager was defined by his fight with Reggie Jackson. Enough so that a poorly-made ESPN mini-series was made about it.

Nevermind that he won two World Series titles, a third pennant, and had a .553 career winning percentage. To critics, Martin was a hot-headed jerk, not a great manager. And unfortunately for Ozzie, that's the road he's headed for.

But just remember, the next time you hear Leyland call out his underachieving Tigers' squad or Piniella storm out of a dugout and kick dirt on an umpire, and if they're doing so to inspire their team, that's no different than what Ozzie does each and every time he makes news for being, well, Ozzie.