Bleacher Report - Articles by Greg Farrand

The Top Ten Athletes Of All Time

Greg Farrand — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:01:24 -0400

What's the difference between a great athlete and a great player? An athlete can perform various sports at high levels. An athlete is well-rounded and versatile. An athlete gets all that he can out of himself on a nightly basis and uses all the talents he has. Here is my opinion on the top ten greatest athletes of all-time.

10. Charlie Ward: Ward attended Florida State where he led the Seminoles to a National Championship and won the Heisman trophy in 1994. Ward also won 30 other individual awards for football during his stay at Florida State, including two ACC Player of the Year awards. The outstanding quarterback also played basketball in college and was drafted by the Knicks and played in the NBA for ten seasons and was selected to participate in the 1998 three-point contest in 1998. Ward was also drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers even though he never played baseball in college.

9. Rafer Johnson: Johnson, despite having a knee injury, won the silver medal at the 1956 Olympics in the Decathlon. Then came back in 1960 to win the Gold. He was also offered a scholarship by UCLA to play football, but turned it down to concentrate on the decathlon. However because Johnson was such an outstanding athlete, he did have the ability and time to play basketball at UCLA during the John Wooden era.

8. Jesse Owens: Although Owens only really played one sport in track and field, he excelled at several different events. Owens once set the record in 100 yard dash (9.4), the 220-yard dash (20.3), the 220-yard low hurdles (22.6), and long jump (26.67 ft.) in a span of about 45 minutes at the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor Michigan. Owens also won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Owens used to earn money by racing horses and other athletes. Owens would race the fastest ballplayers and also beat them even after giving them a 10-yard head start.

7. Deion Sanders: "Prime Time" is the only athlete to ever appear in a World Series and a Super Bowl. Sanders is also the only athlete to ever hit a home run and score a touchdown in the same week. He is the only man to score a touchdown off of a kickoff return, punt return, interception, fumble, reception, and rushing. Sanders once played in an NFL game and an MLB game in the same day. Sanders was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1995 where he won the first of his two Super Bowls, his second coming in 1996.

6. Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain: In high school, Chamberlain set Pennsylvania state records in shot put and the 110-meter hurdles, and earned a scholarship to Kansas for both track and basketball. He was recruited by over 200 hundred colleges due to his excellent play in basketball while in high school. In just three seasons of high school play, Chamberlain scored over 2,200 points. At Kansas, Chamberlain didn't just excel at basketball, he won three consecutive Big Eight high jump championships.

After college, Chamberlain went on to the NBA where he would win two championships, four MVPs, one finals MVP, and rookie of the year award in 1960. He is known as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. However, after basketball, he was a elite Volleyball player, ran marathons, and opted not to go professional in both boxing and football, even though he received offers to do so.

5. Jackie Robinson: In College, became known for his multi-sport stardom. One day while attending Pasadena Junior College, Robinson set a Junior College long jump record of 25' 6 1/2", then ran across town to help his baseball team win the league championship. In Robinson's first year at Pasadena, he hit .417 with 25 stolen bases in 24 games. In the same year, he rushed for over 1,000 yards, 17 touchdowns including a 104-yard kick return. In the same year, Robinson averaged 19 points per game while leading the team to a Southern California Junior College Championship. Then he won MVP honors for his baseball team when winning the league title, and was participating on the track and field team at the same time.

After Robinson decided to accept a scholarship from UCLA, he averaged over 12 yards per carry for the Bruins football team in his first season. He was the schools first four letter recipient when he participated in basketball, baseball, football, and track. During his time at UCLA, Robinson was an All-American running back, led the Pac-10 in scoring twice, and was the 1940 NCAA Champion in long jump.

Robinson then joined the Dodgers in 1945 where he led the team to six pennants, one world series championship, and won the MVP award in 1949.

4. Bo Jackson: Jackson was drafted by the New York Yankees but chose to take a scholarship to Auburn University from 1982-1985. Jackson participated in baseball, football, and track. He .401 with 17 homers and 43 RBIs, qualified for the 60-yard dash in his freshman and sophomore years, and won the Heisman trophy in 1984 after rushing for over 1,700 yards. He was also named MVP of the Sugar Bowl in 1983, and the Liberty Bowl in '84.

Jackson was then the first pick of the 1986 draft when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him. However, he decided to pursue his baseball career and joined the Kansas City Royals. Jackson was named to the American League All-Star team and won MVP honors for the game, and would finish that season fourth in the AL in both home runs (32) and RBI's (105). In that same year, Jackson would rush for 950 yards in just 11 games for the Oakland Raiders, and would be named to the Pro Bowl team.

3. Dave Winfield: The only athlete to ever be drafted in all three sports was drafted by the Padres in baseball, Utah Stars and Atlanta Hawks in basketball, and the Minnesota Vikings in football, even though he never played a single down in college. Winfield, who played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, led his baseball team to the semi-finals of the 1973 World Series, and his basketball team to a Big Ten Championship.

Winfield never played in the minors, and after 22 seasons, he won seven gold gloves and hit 465 home runs.

2. Jim Thorpe: Thorpe started out his athletic career by leading his high school football team to a championship in 1912, and won gold at the 1912 Olympics in the Decathlon and Pentathlon. He also won three unofficial league titles with the Canton Bulldogs between 1916 and 1919. Thorpe played baseball as well, putting in six MLB season with the Giants, Braves, and Reds. Thorpe was named best athlete of the first half of the 20th Century.

1. Jim Brown: In High School, Brown earned 12 letters in basketball, football, track, and lacrosse. He was an All-American Lacrosse player and averaged 38 points per game in high school basketball. He lettered in basketball at Syracuse and was also an All-American there in Lacrosse and Football.

In 1957, Brown rushed for 12,312 yards, 8th most all-time, but did it in fewer carries than everyone else ahead of him. He is considered to be one the greatest running backs in NFL history, but also finished fifth in the 1956 Decathlon, and was offered a minor league contract by the New York Yankees.

So there are the top ten all-around athletes of all-time according to yours truly. All of these athletes showed that they could excel at many different levels in all the different fields of their sports.

Rose Vs. Pacman: What's wrong with sports today?

Greg Farrand — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:47:07 -0400

The great Sir Charles Barkley once said, "I don't believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids. Parents have to take better control."

But just recently Adam "Pacman" Jones was reinstated by the NFL after his seventeen month suspension due to his off-field conduct which has included 10 incidents where he was interviewed by police. His most recent run in with the law took place in Las Vegas in February.

Las Vegas police have recommended felony and misdemeanor charges against Jones after a fight and shooting at a strip club that left one man paralyzed.

Chris Henry has had his share of trouble with the law, and has been arrested and accused of drunken driving, speeding, assault on a teenager, providing alcohol to minors, marijuana possession, driving without a valid license, gun charges including concealment and aggravated assault with a firearm, and possible sex charges in a hotel room.

Yet Henry gets to play every Sunday and keep making millions because the Cincinnati Bengals couldn't stick with their punishment after releasing him and re-signed the 25 year-old receiver.

However, former Cincinnati Reds star and manager Pete Rose admitted to betting on baseball while playing for and managing the Reds. Rose claims he never bet against the Reds while playing for them.

Rose received a lifetime ban from the game of baseball and was never inducted into the Hall of Fame despite holding major league records for most career hits (4,256), Most career at-bats (14,053), games played (3,562), seasons with 200 or more hits (10), consecutive seasons with 100 or more hits (23). He also holds National League records in career runs (2,165), and career doubles (746).

Rose is arguably the greatest hitter of all-time and deserves to be in the MLB Hall of Fame. If players such as Pacman and Henry can play and have the potential to make their Hall of Fame, then why can't Rose.

Players such as Barry Bonds and Mark McGuire will someday reach the Hall of Fame because of their numbers even though they tarnished the game of baseball by using steroids to enhance their abilities.

Rose bet on his team, so if anything that would make him play even harder. I'm not saying what Rose did wasn't wrong, but if we are giving second chances to players such as Andy Pettite who admitted to using human growth hormones (HGH) while playing and not to Rose, then something is wrong with sports.

I agree with Barkley that players shouldn't be punished because they're supposed to be role models, but what kind of example are we setting if a player can shoot up a night club and still play, while one of the greatest players ever has to live out the rest of his life without receiving the rewards he deserves.

Three Reasons Michigan State Will Finish Third in the Big Ten in 2008

Greg Farrand — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:23:18 -0400

Michigan State hasn't had the best of football teams in recent memory, but here are three reasons why this year's team is underrated and a prime pick to finish third in the Big Ten this season.

Reason number one—and maybe the most obvious reason—is the team's starting running back, Javon Ringer. This senior back ran for 1,400 yards and six touchdowns last season and is arguably one of the best backs in college football.

The next reason is that the team has 12 returning starters: five on offense, five on defense, and two on special teams. The Spartans will have the leadership back, especially on offense, with Ringer and quarterback Brian Hoyer leading the way for an offense that can put up points as well as anyone they will face this season.

The final reason that MSU will do well in 2008 is their schedule. They face Michigan in Ann Arbor, but it's looking to be an off year for the Wolverines, which could make it the first time MSU has beaten Michigan since 2001.

MSU gets Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Ohio State all at home. Ohio State will be a tough game to steal, but Wisconsin faces a tough Illinois team a week before the Badgers travel to East Lansing, so they will be tired and prone to being upset.

However, the biggest reason I believe that the Spartans' schedule is a benefit is that they will not have to face a No. 20-ranked Illinois team this season, which is clearly a relief.

MSU has experience, star power, and a decent schedule, all of which add up to what should be an impressive season and a top three finish in the Big Ten this season.

2008 Prediction for Michigan State: 9-3 (5-3)

Losses: Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern

Brett Favre Shows Why the Madden Curse Lives On

Greg Farrand — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:15:57 -0400

Year after year players refuse to believe in the "Madden Curse." Even though every year since 2000, every player on the cover of Madden Football has had some type of bad luck happen to them.

Let's go through the list.

2000 - Barry Sanders was originally on the cover of Madden, but abruptly retired from the Detroit Lions. Since Sanders retired early enough, EA Sports was able to replace Sanders with Green Bay Packers running back Dorsey Levens. Levens was bothered by a knee injury all that year and was used only as a backup for the rest of his time with Green Bay.

2001 - Eddie George was coming off a career year where his Tennessee Titan team went to the Super Bowl. But in 2001, George's yards per carry average dropped to a career low, as did his total yards.

2002 - Daunte Culpepper, coming off an astounding year where his team made the NFC Championship game, was put on the cover of Madden. He then started off the season 4-7 while missing the last five games with a knee injury.

2003 - Marshall Faulk was a part of the "Greatest Show on Turf" with the St. Louis Rams, before accepting to be put on the cover of Madden. The following season, Faulk and the Rams missed the playoffs. Faulk failed to rush for 1,000 yards after averaging over 1,300 yards in the previous four seasons.

2004 - Michael Vick was the up and coming superstar before fracturing his fibula one day after Madden NFL 2004 was released. He missed all but five games that season and the Falcons finished with a 5-11 record.

2005 - Ray Lewis graced the cover of Madden and failed to make an interception for the first time in his career that season as his Ravens failed to make the playoffs. The following season, Lewis suffered a torn hamstring and missed all but six games.

2006 - Donovan McNabb injured himself by way of a sports hernia. He missed the final seven games of the season as his Eagles finished in last place of the NFC East after going to the Super Bowl the year before.

2007 - Shaun Alexander was coming off an MVP season and his Seahawks had went to the Super Bowl. He broke his foot three weeks into 2006 and missed the next six games, Alexander hasn't been back to form since.

2008 - Vince Young injured himself in the fifth week of the 2007 season and missed the next game. Young had never missed a game due to injury dating all the way back to Middle School.

So, EA Sports decided to put the "retiring" Brett Favre on the cover of this year's game. How could the curse affect a retired player, right? Well, Favre has since then decided he's not ready to retire and wants to come back to play. That doesn't sound so bad except the Packers don't want him back and as of yet have failed to trade him.

Let me suggest something to you Brett, stay home, stay healthy, and just wait for Canton to call you up.

J.D. Drew, Scott Kazmir, and Rest of A.L. East Steal the Show

Greg Farrand — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:44:07 -0400

It was Yankee Stadium's time to shine last night after all of the parades, clips of times gone by, and talk of time to come. However, who would've guessed that it would be the rest of the A.L. East that would steal the show?

The Yankees only had three out of the 14 A.L. East All-Star selections. Two of them being A-Rod and Jeter, who combined to go 1-5 while J.D. Drew of the Red Sox hits a two-run homerun in the seventh inning to make it a 2-2 game.

Next, after Yankee fans try to get back at "Paplebum" for things he said in an interview before the game, the Rays Longoria hits a RBI double to tie the game back up at three in the eighth.

Then as Rivera finally gives Yankee fans something to cheer about by striking out Ludwick, Navarro of the Rays turns it into a double play with a perfect throw to catch Guzman stealing second.

And as the game continues, Yankee fans are forced to watch as no Yankees are left on the field of play, and are having to cheer on Navarro and Drew who help load the bases in the 15th to help win the game for the A.L.

So as if that weren't enough for the Yankee fans to digest, Kazmir gets the win and Drew gets the MVP.

Even though it was Yankee Stadiums moment to shine, it was the rest of the A.L. East that stole the spotlight.