Bleacher Report - Articles by Jake D'Agostino

Bo Jackson: What Could Have Been

Jake D'Agostino — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:57:55 -0400

When people hear the name Bo Jackson, they think of an incredible two-sport athlete. They think of a man with electrifying speed and the strength of an ox.

And then they think what could have been.

Vincent Edward Jackson was born on November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama. He was the eighth of ten children, and did not have a father. The first time he met his dad was when he 10 years old.

He was named after his mother’s favorite actor, but because of his unruly and rambunctious behavior, his family referred to him as the “wild boar”. This was eventually shortened to “Bo”, which is what we have called him ever since.

Bo attended to McAdory High School, in McCalla, Alabama. He was a multi-sport athlete while there, dominating on the gridiron, diamond, and track.

As a senior in football, Jackson rushed 108 times for 1,173 yards, which comes out to 10.9 yards per carry, and 17 touchdowns.

In the ensuing spring Jackson moved on to baseball, hitting 20 home runs, which tied the national record.

He was also fantastic in track. As a senior, he won state titles in multiple dashes, hurdles, the high-jump, and the long-jump.

He was even a two-time decathlon state champion.

All of this led to him being drafted in the second round of the 1982 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, directly out of high school. But Bo turned down their offer to go to college.

Obviously, Jackson was very heavily recruited coming out of high school. Ultimately, he decided to attend Auburn University. The day he committed himself to Auburn marked the beginning of one the most prolific careers in college sports history.

As a freshman, Jackson was the Tigers’ starting running back. He proved to be an immediate difference maker, scoring the game-winning touchdown against hated rival Alabama, which gave Auburn their first win in the series in over a decade.

He was also a key contributor in their 33-26 Tangerine Bowl victory over Boston College.

In his sophomore year, Bo rushed 158 times for 1,213 yards, and a 7.7 average. He led the team to an 11-1 record that season. His best performance of the year came against Alabama, when he carried the ball 20 times, going for 256 yards, which is a 12.4 average.

They ended up facing Michigan in the Sugar Bowl that year. They would win that game 9-7, and Jackson was named the Most Valuable Player. Bo was also a consensus All-American that season.

In 1984, as a junior, Jackson missed a big portion of the season with a separated shoulder. But he was able to return late in the year and lead Auburn to the Liberty Bowl, where they would defeat Arkansas 22-15, with Jackson being the MVP.

As a senior in 1985, he set school records with 1,786 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 6.4 yards per run.

Once again, he had his best performance in the Iron Bowl, the annual rivalry game between Alabama and Auburn. This time, Jackson had 142 rushing yards and a pair of scores. And he did it all with two cracked ribs.

In his last college football game, he was named the 1986 Cotton Bowl’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

That year he was again a Consensus All-American. In addition to this, he was the recipient of the Walter Camp Award, the Chic Harley Award, and was named the UPI Player of the Year, as well as the Sporting News Player of the Year.

Oh yeah, and he the Heisman Trophy, too. He won the vote over Iowa quarterback Chuck Long by just 45 points, which is still the closest outcome in Heisman history.

He concluded his collegiate career with 4,303 rushing yards, a 6.6 average, and 43 TDs.

In baseball, he found great success as the Tigers’ center fielder. Although his baseball stats and performances are not as well documented as they were for football, he was a top-notch player in both sports.

His best season was in 1985, when he hit 17 homers, had 43 RBI, 55 runs, and a batting average of .401. He was declared ineligible to play as a senior because he accepted a free plane ride to Tampa Bay to undergo a physical for the Buccaneers of the NFL.

In track, he qualified for the 100-meter dash as a freshman and sophomore, with his best time being 10.4.

He even considered running for the United States Olympic Team, but eventually decided to stick with his other sports.

At the 1986 NFL Combine, Bo ran a 4.12 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time ever recorded at the event. This led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to select him with the first pick overall of the 1986 NFL Draft.

Jackson would decline this offer, and instead enter the 1986 MLB Draft, where he picked in the fourth round by the Kansas City Royals. Since he did not sign with the Buccaneers, they were forced to forfeit his draft rights.

But before we get into his baseball career, we should talk about his days as a football professional football player.

Although Jackson was committed to playing baseball, he adopted football as his “offseason hobby.”

He signed with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 after they drafted him in the seventh round of the draft, 183rd overall. Owner Al Davis allowed him to miss the beginning of each season to finish up with baseball and join the team midseason.

Unfortunately, his NFL career only lasted four years, because, in a playoff game in 1991, he suffered a serious hip injury that ended his time as a football player.

But his career was remarkable while it lasted. He never played more than 11 games in a season, but there are tons of memorable moments and performances from the Wild Boar’s career.

In Jackson’s first appearance on Monday Night Football , he had what may be his greatest game ever and signature performance.

That night, Bo ran wild for 221 yards and three touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks. One of them was an electrifying 91-yard run, and another ended with Jackson literally trampling Seahawks’ linebacker Brian Bosworth. His 221 yards remain a Monday Night Football record.

Other notable plays from Jackson’s career include slipping a tackle from New York Giants’ Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, and running over hard-hitting, Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Lott of the San Francisco 49ers.

Bo is the only player in NFL history to have two rushes of at least 90 yards. The longest runs of his career were 92, 91, and 88 yards apiece.

At the conclusion of the 1990 regular season, Jackson was selected to the Pro Bowl. However, he was unable to actually play in the game due to a severe hip injury he suffered on Jan. 13, 1991, in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

This injury caused the joint in his hip to deteriorate and prevented him from every putting on the pads again.

In his four-year career, Jackson racked up carried the ball 515 times for 2,872 rushing yards, giving him a 5.4 average, and scored 16 touchdowns. In addition, he caught 40 passes for 352 yards, which is 8.8 yards per catch, and two more scores. And he did this all while in the same backfield as Hall of Fame halfback Marcus Allen.

As a baseball player, the injury did not end his career, but did put it in jeopardy.

His professional baseball career began in 1986 when he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals as was said before.

That year, he spent most of his time in the Royals’ farm system, where he played right field and designated hitter for the Memphis Chicks. He was called up to play for Kansas City on a couple occasions, put saw most of his time in the minors that year.

Then, in 1987, he was promoted to the organizations big league roster. He would play very well for the Royals for the next four years, and was even voted a 1989 All-Star, representing the American League.

Jackson became the first player selected to an All-Star game in two different sports when he made the Pro Bowl in the ensuing football season.

Just a few months later, Jackson went down with the aforementioned hip injury. When he did not respond well to his treatment, things were not looking bright for him.

Jackson was a very valuable member of the Royals in his years there. He was able to play in all three outfield spots, although he normally a left fielder and could play DH.

However, after he went down, the Royals no longer felt this way about him, and he was consequently released by the team following the 1990 season.

Jackson by then had given up football and was focused on salvaging his baseball career.

He was able to sign with the Chicago White Sox in 1991 and played in the minor leagues for most of the year. He played outfield and designated hitter for the Sarasota White Sox and the Birmingham Barons.

His injury worsened in 1992, and he was forced to sit out for the entire season. It had gotten so bad that he was forced have to have surgery and get an artificial hip.

Bo vowed to his mom that he would hit a home run on his first at bat when he was able to come back. Although his mother died before the 1993 season, Bo held true to his word.

On opening day of the 1993 season, Jackson made his first appearance at the plate since 1991. By this time, he was on the White Sox and out of the minors. In his first at bat, Jackson hit a home run in honor of his mom. That ball is now engraved in her tombstone.

Jackson would play with the White Sox for just three years, signing with the California Angels following the 1993 season. Still, in his time in Chicago, Bo did make his one and only playoff appearance, when the Sox were knocked off by the Blue Jays in six games.

He then moved on to the Angels, where, again, he played both left and right field, as well as designated hitter. After playing the 1994 season, Jackson retired. The combination of his injury and the infamous 1994-1995 MLB Strike were enough to make him call it quits.

However, just because he retired early does not mean he did not have his fair share of spectacular moments.

In addition to being named to the 1989 MLB All-Star Game, Jackson was also named the MVP of the game.

He started off the game with a towering 448 foot lead-off home run. He followed that with a steal, which made him the second player ever to record a home run and a steal in an All-Star game, and a single.

He even played well on defense, snagging a line-drive hit by Pedro Guerrero which would have scored a couple runs.

In 1993, Jackson was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year and won the Tony Conigliaro Award, which goes to the player who had to overcome the toughest obstacles, whether they be injury, illness, disability, or emotional issues, while still having a productive year.

He also is tied with multiple players for the most home runs in consecutive at bats with four. Three were hit in the same game, which was against the Yankees. He got hurt during the game and went on the DL.

In his first time up after coming back, Jackson homered off of Randy Johnson to make it four in a row.

One of the most notable plays of Bo’s career came on June 5, 1989. The Royals, Jackson’s team at the time, were playing Seattle Mariners.

Harold Reynolds was on first base for the Mariners when Scott Bradley stepped up to the plate. Bradley knocked the ball deep into left-center field.

Jackson was playing left field that day. As Reynolds was rounding third base, Jackson got to the ball and, from the warning track, threw a bullet to home plate, barely robbing the Mariners of a run that they easily would have gotten against other teams.

Another example of Jackson’s remarkable athleticism occurred July, 11, 1989, when Kansas City was playing the Baltimore Orioles. Bo was once again out in left field.

When a ball was hit into the warning track, he made an incredible overhead grab. Being that he was still going full speed toward the wall when he caught it, it seemed that a collision was bound to happen. But rather than slamming into the wall, Jackson literally ran up the wall, jumping down once he reached the top.

In his career, Jackson tallied 598 hits, 341 runs, 415 RBI, and 141 home runs, and had a batting average of .250.

What makes all of this so incredible is that he had very little time to train and sometimes even none. Once baseball ended, football began, and once that was over, he only had a couple of months to train for baseball, and no time for football.

Now 46, Bo has been out of professional sports for the past 15 years. But he has still been given a few more honors in more recent years.

On Oct. 31, 1992, Jackson’s number 34 jersey was officially retired by the Auburn Tigers football time during halftime of a game. In 2007, ESPN had Bo at No. 8 on their “Top 25 Players In College Football History” list. Jackson has even been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

With all of this being said, it is clear that Bo is one of the greatest athletes of all-time.

Other fantastic multi-sport athletes from history are Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Otto Graham, and Deion Sanders. All of these men are fantastic athletes, but I feel that it is safe to say that Jackson ranks above them all.

But don’t think this gets to his head. “When people tell me I could be the best athlete there is, I just let it go in one ear and out the other. There is always somebody out there that is better than you are.”

His sincere humbleness and modesty is just another thing that makes him one of the most beloved athletes in history.

His famous “Bo Knows” commercials and video games “Bo Jackson Baseball” and “Bo Jackson’s Hit and Run” have only added to the legend that is Bo.

So the next time you think of Bo Jackson, you should think of a man who was driven by virtues and morals on and off the field. You should think of a phenomenal athlete whose all-around ability may have been unparalleled by all others.

And then, you should ask yourself just how good Bo Jackson could have been.

Drew Brees: Your NFL MVP at the Quarter Pole

Jake D'Agostino — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:25:51 -0400

Things are really going well for the New Orleans Saints.

Maybe it is the running game, which has finally started to come around. Maybe it is the fact that they are getting good production out of their offensive line. Maybe it is that the defense is not blowing leads and is beginning to play well.

Or, maybe it is Drew Brees.

So far this year, Brees already has 87 completions, a 67.4 completion percentage, 1,031 yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions, and an astounding 108.4 quarterback rating.

In addition to his numbers, Brees has also put his team in first place in the NFC South and a tie for the NFL best with a 4-0 record.

He got things going in the right direction in the season opener against the Detroit Lions, when he burned and humiliated Detroit's secondary.

He started things off with a 9-yard touchdown pass to his favorite receiver, Marques Colston.

He then hit Robert Meachem for a 39-yard score.

In the second quarter, Brees found Jeremy Shockey in the end zone from 1 yard out. Later in the quarter, he completed a pass to Shockey again, this time for a 15-yard TD. It should be noted that Shockey had zero touchdowns last year.

In the second half, Drew threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Devery Henderson.

In the last quarter, Brees threw his last score, a 13-yard completion to the newly acquired Heath Evans.

Henderson was his leading receiver that day when he caught five passes for 103 yards and the touchdown.

In all, he was 26-of-34 and posted 358 yards, six touchdowns, and an unbelievable 137 QB rating in a 45-27 blowout over the Lions.

Getting torched like that is bad even by Detroit's standards.

After this game, Brees was on pace for 96 touchdowns on the year. Although his touchdown rate has since dropped off, he still was dominant in his next game.

This game was the Week Two showdown between the Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles, a game which was expected to be one of the toughest matchups of the season for both teams.

He picked up where he had left off in Week One with a 15-yard TD strike to Marques Colston early in the first quarter.

In the next quarter, Brees again located Colston, who, in turn, made his way into the end zone on a 25-yard touchdown.

His final touchdown came when he threw an 11-yard pass to fullback Heath Evans in the third quarter.

On the day, Brees was 25-of-34 and had 311 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and a solid 118.6 QB rating.

More importantly, he lead the Saints to a 48-22 victory over the Eagles.

Week Three was a different story for Brees and the Saints, though.

They played against the Buffalo Bills, who, although they do not have the greatest defense, were able to slow down Brees' production by putting all of his emphasis on stopping the aerial attack.

As a result, Brees only was able to convert on 16 of his 29 passes. He had a season-low 172 yards and did not throw a single touchdown. He didn't have any interceptions either, but did lose a fumble. He also ran for 8 yards on six carries. He finished the game with a QB rating of 72.8.

Colston was again the team's leading receiver, but this time he only had 67 yards. The running game was what fueled the team that day, as Pierre Thomas carried the load for the Saints in a 27-7 win.

The New York Jets took a similar approach when they met the Saints in Week Four.

Once again, Brees failed to reach the 200-yard mark and was held without a touchdown.

The defense was the difference in this game. New Orleans' D was able to score two touchdowns, and finished the day with 14 of the team's 24 points. It forced four turnovers in all.

Thomas also played well, but he was not the main focus of the Jets' defense.

This, obviously, was Brees, who had just 190 yards on 20-of-32 passing. He also had 5 yards on the ground and a 78.9 rating. His main target was Thomas, who had 46 yards receiving.

Nonetheless, the Saints won the game, 24-10.

Although it appears that teams have figured out how to stop Brees from picking them apart, this is only possible when they focus solely on the passing attack and, for the most part, ignore the running game.

But this strategy has yet to work because the Saints are still 4-0. As soon as his opponents begin to respect the New Orleans running backs, Brees will be back to form.

Last year, Drew had career bests with 5,069 yards and 34 touchdowns. His 413 completions and 13 sacks taken were the second best of his career, and the only time he ever took fewer sacks was his rookie year, when appeared in only one game. His 96.2 QB rating was a tie for his second highest.

At age 30, it appears Brees is in his prime right now. Since 2001, it was apparent that Brees was going to have a great career. He started off on the right foot with the San Diego Chargers and is now doing even better with New Orleans.

He looked very good a few years ago, and now that he is at his peak, he appears to be one of the most dangerous players in the league.

Brees is currently the leader of the NFL's highest scoring team, averaging 36.0 points per game, and the league's No. 2 offense, which has an average of 414.2 yards per game.

He has completed passes to 10 different receivers already this season.

Jeremy Shockey is the team's leading receiver, having already caught 18 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

The team's most productive receiver, as he leads the team in receiving touchdowns and is barely second in yards, has been Colston. He has 17 catches 228 yards and three scores.

The only guy on the Saints who has more yards than him is Henderson, who has 14 receptions, 235 yards, and one TD.

Reggie Bush has been a reliable option out of the backfield for Brees to throw to, as he has already caught 14 balls for 121 yards.

Likewise, Heath Evans has been a solid option when releasing from the backfield. Brees has found him seven times for 62 yards and a pair scores this year.

Pierre Thomas has five catches for 42 yards this year.

Robert Meachem and David Thomas each have four receptions, with Meachem gaining 52 yards and scoring a touchdown, while David Thomas has 52 yards.

Finally, there is Lance Moore, who has three catches for 39 yards, and Mike Bell, who has one grab for 9 yards.

This just goes to show how Brees is able to spread the ball around the field and keep teams from keying in on one or two guys.

For all of these reasons, it is apparent that Brees is making a case for NFL MVP honors.

But hot on his trail are Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning, and maybe even Brett Favre? These guys, along with many others, will make this an interesting race.

But remember, we are only a quarter of the way through the season. A lot can change from now to the end of the year.

Look for Brees to rebound rebound from a couple of dismal performances and assert himself as one of the league's top players.

I give my vote for MVP of the first four weeks of the 2009 NFL season to Drew Brees.

Kenechi Udeze: A Warrior in Every Sense of the Word

Jake D'Agostino — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:20:13 -0400

To anyone who has ever played on a football field, they consider it equivalent to a battle zone. Once you reach the pros, the sport becomes more like war.

To one man, a war is nothing compared to what he has had to face during the past year and a half. I'm talking about Kenechi Udeze, a former defensive end of the Minnesota Vikings.

For those of you not familiar with Udeze, he was a 6'3", 281-pound monster during his playing days. Currently, he is just 26 years old.

When he played, he was a member of one of the NFL's premier run defenses, and was a top performer on the defensive unit. Why is he no longer playing?

On February 11, 2008, Udeze was diagnosed with leukemia, a form of cancer which causes white blood cells to grow at rapid rates inside of bone marrow.

These new cells are harmful by themselves, but also damage and kill the original, healthy cells.

Kenechi's specific type of the disease is acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

This caused him to miss the entire 2008 NFL season, but he vowed to be back, saying, "You know what? I'll be back next year." For a while, it looked like he would be.

When Udeze completed his rigorous chemotherapy treatment, he trained and practiced with the team, giving all that he had to continue his career.

It turns out that the side effects of both the cancer and the chemo were preventing him from performing at his highest level, which forced him to retire.

He still made a remarkable recovery, and his cancer is currently dormant. His progress was aided by his brother, Thomas Barnes, who served as the donor in Udeze's bone marrow transplant.

Kenechi Udeze was born on March 5, 1983 in Los Angeles, CA. He would live there all his life, and attended Vernum Dei High School which is located in L.A.

He was a force on the football team, among other sports, and was named a Super Prep All-American, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-Western, and Tom Lemming All-West as a senior in 1999, when he played the line on both sides of the ball.

Other awards and distinctions that he earned that year were Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West Honorable Mention, Orange County Register Fab 15 Honorable Mention, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Las Vegas Sun Super 11 Honorable Mention, Cal-Hi Sports All-State Small Schools First Team, All-CIF Division XI First Team, Los Angeles Times All-Central City First Team, and All-Camino Real League Defensive MVP.

Obviously, Udeze was heavily recruited coming out of high school. Ultimately, he chose to stay nearby to home, accepting the offer from Southern California.

In his first year at USC, Kenechi was redshirted.

In 2001, as a freshman, he was named a starter right off the bat, earning spots on the Sporting News Freshman All-Pac-10 and All-American Teams.

Udeze was an instrumental part of a dominant Trojans' defense in 2002, having an excellent season en route to an appearance on the Second Team All-Pac-10 lineup.

In 2003, he was a member and leader of USC's split-national championship team, when they were named the AP National Champions after a decisive victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The LSU Tigers were crowned the BCS Champs after a win over Oklahoma.

That year, BKU (an acronym for his nickname, "Big Kenechi Udeze") was selected as First Team All-Pac-10, and even a Consensus All-American.

He was also a Ted Hendricks Award finalist, which is a prize given to the nation's top defensive end each year.

His junior year in college would be his last. He finished his collegiate career with 135 tackles, 28 sacks (which remain a school best), 5 passes defensed, 1 interception, 14 forced fumbles, and 3 recoveries to go with it. He also blocked 2 kicks.

While at USC, head coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Nick Holt would impact him greatly. Steve Sarkisian, who at the time was the team's quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator, would one day become an important person in Kenechi's life.

Udeze would go on to enter the 2004 NFL Draft, and was selected in the first round, 20th overall, by the Minnesota Vikings.

Kenechi wasted no time making a name for himself. In his rookie year of 2004, he had 36 tackles, 5 sacks, a pass defensed, one fumble forced and another recovered.

In 2005, Udeze was only able to play in the first three games due to damage to the cartilage in his knee that caused him to be placed on injured reserve. He had five tackles and a sack in the three games he played.

2006 was a better year for Udeze though, as he was able to play in all 16 games and start 15 of them. He had 29 tackles and a fumble recovery on the year.

In 2007, Kenechi's fourth and final year, he had what was probably his best season.

He posted 47 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 pass broken up, a fumble forced, and another recovered.

Udeze finished his career with 117 tackles, 11 sacks, 2 passes defensed, a pair of forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.

After missing all of 2008 and training and practicing in the spring and summer of '09, Udeze finally called it quits.

On July 29, 2009, the day that the Vikings announced his retirement, head coach Brad Childress revealed that his chemotherapy and the effects of the leukemia caused pain and weakness in his feet, causing him to lose balance, which is key in football.

Although Kenechi may one day overcome this problem, chances of his returning to the football are slim to none.

Coach Childress was quoted saying, "He hates to let it go. And I hate for him to let it go, but it's really best for him."

For the Vikes, No. 95 was one of their finest players, as he contributed to one of the most successful defenses in the league while he played.

While it is certain that Udeze was very good as a pro and made his mark on the league, I think that he had the potential to be a Pro Bowl type player and one of the best at his position, making it just that much more unfortunate that his career had to be cut short.

Although Kenechi can no longer help his team by sacking the opposing quarterbacks and tackling the other teams star running back for a big loss, he has still found a way to assist other players in doing this. As of this season, Udeze has been named the University of Washington's assistant strength and conditioning coach for all football players.

Huskies' head coach Steve Sarkisian, who I mentioned earlier, was the one who offered him the job. Udeze will now be able to prepare the Washington players for the difficulties and training that await them in the NFL.

Udeze has also promoted a "Marrowthon," in which soccer teams located in the twin cities were given the opportunity to run in a race to raise money for the National Marrow Donor Program Organization.

His story, although unfortunate, is one of inspiration and hope. He told Brad Childress that he treated his illness as a mere “common cold” and that it would not get in the way of his goals.

While this did end up being his downfall in the end, Udeze never gave up fighting and never lost hope. He tried to make it back to the NFL, but was unsuccessful. And yet, what he has managed to accomplish is so much more than anything he could have done in with football.

The courage, strength, and valiance that Kenechi Udeze has exhibited since being diagnosed with leukemia is absolutely incredible and should never be forgotten. In my opinion, he is a warrior, in every sense of the word.

The Best of the Rest: NFL's Top Available Free Agents for 2009

Jake D'Agostino — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:45:49 -0400

This is a list of the best players who have not been signed so far in the 2009 season. When injuries occur, these are the guys that teams should look at to replace the injured player. Most of them are savvy veterans who have been solid throughout their careers and are now looking for a new team. Others may be younger players who have not panned out or have had disciplinary issues, but are still worth looking at. Some of them will even surprise you, as it is a wonder they are unsigned. Whatever the reason may be, these guys are the can't miss free agents for the 2009 NFL season.

Begin Slideshow

Is Jahvid The Best Running Back In The Country?

Jake D'Agostino — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:36:38 -0400

Early on in the 2009 college football season, one of the most talked about players in the country has been the red-hot running back from the University of California: Jahvid Best.

Best has been phenomenal since joining the Golden Bears in 2007. He is currently a true junior.

He is solidly built at 5'10", 195 lbs. He also posses blazing speed, as if has been reported that he ran somewhere between 4.30 and 4.40, with multiple sources all having a different time listed.

One thing that everyone agrees on is that Best is a fantastic talent.

Through the third week of the '09 season, Best has a career 2,113 rushing yards, 25 rushing touchdowns, and 7.7 average.

131 of the those yards and 5 of those scores came on September 19, when he led the Bears to victory over Minnesota.

He also has 379 receiving yards and 3 receiving TDs on 47 catches and an 8.1 average.

Jahvid has also been one of the most productive kick returners in the country during his career.

He holds multiple California statistical records and is on his way to breaking plenty more, including Cal's all-time rushing record.

In 2007, Best was First Team All-Pac 10 on special teams, and in 2008 he was First Team All-Pac 10 on offense, with him being the conference's leading rusher.

That same year, Best was the Emerald Bowl Offensive MVP and an All-America Honorable Mention.

So it's not a surprise that many people have him in the running for the Heisman Trophy.

As of right now, it does not appear that he is in the same class as quarterbacks Tim Tebow, of Florida, Sam Bradford, who plays for Oklahoma and is currently injured, or Colt McCoy from Texas.

But it is too early to count anyone out of the race, especially not Best.

So that brings up the question: Who is the best running back in college football.

Obviously Jahvid is one of the top candidates for this title, but there are plenty of other superb talents out there.

Take Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer or Mark Ingram, Jr. of Alabama. Ryan Williams form Virginia Tech is another contender. Oklahoma back DeMarco Murray also has a strong case to win the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top RB.

And that is just a few, as there are countless other great running backs in college, many of whom will soon be playing on Sundays.

But at this point, I would have to say that the five aforementioned names are the country's best five.

Dwyer was expected to be the best going into the season, and has performed well thus far despite a lingering shoulder injury.

Ingram has come up big for the Tide when they need him most, most notably in the Week One showdown with Virginia Tech. Ingram has also been finding himself in the end zone a lot lately.

Speaking of Virginia Tech, let's talk the redshirt freshman named Ryan Williams. He has been a touchdown machine in his first three games, and looks like a junior or senior by the way he has been playing.

And then there is DeMarco Murray. The Sooners took a big hit when when reigning Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Sam Bradford, went down with a shoulder injury in a loss to BYU. But Oklahoma bounced back with two huge blow-outs, and a lot of that is because Murray has really stepped up and carried the load for his team.

Still, Jahvid has already got a staggering nine touchdowns, and the backbone of dominant Cal team, which so far is 3-0.

With that being said, I would have to say that, as of right now, Jahvid Best is, well, the best running back in the country.

This is not set in stone, as everything can change with just one game, but right now I give the advantage to Jahvid Best.

Derek Jeter Breaks Lou Gehrig's All-Time Yankee Hit Record

Jake D'Agostino — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:39:55 -0400

Sept. 11, 2009 will be a day to go down in the history books for the Yankees and the entire MLB.

This is because it is the day that Derek Jeter broke the Yankees' all-time hitting record. Jeter surpassed Yankee legend Lou Gehrig to become the Bombers' career hit king.

He tied the Iron Horse on Wednesday, Sept. 9, against the Tampa Bay Rays. After an off-day on Thursday, the Yanks began their series against the Baltimore Orioles.

It happened in the bottom of the third inning, when Jeter singled to right off of O's pitcher Chris Tillman for hit number 2,722 of his career, putting him atop the Yankees' career hit list.

The Captain would single again later in the day, bringing in a run at the same time.

Jeter's 2,273 hits is unlikely to be topped any time soon as he is still a fantastic player who will continue to add to this staggering amount.

Although the Yankees lost 10-4, the real story of the game was Derek Jeter's incredible accomplishment.

Jeter is already one of the most storied players in Yankees' history, already having captured an assortment of personal and team awards and distinctions.

He is a 10-time All-Star, one-time All-Star Game MVP, which he won in 2000, a four-time World Series champion, winning in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000, the year he World Series MVP.

He is also a three time Gold Glove Award and winner, as well as a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Jeter was named the Rookie of the Year in 1996. In 2000, he took home the Babe Ruth Award, and was the recipient of the American League Hank Aaron award in 2006.

The Bombers' shortstop has tons of other awards and prizes at all levels, and there are just too many to name.

With all this being said, Sept. 11, 2009, will be a night that Derek never forgets.

As of Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, Jeter has racked up 2,724 base hits, 437 of which are doubles which is a team best, 58 triples, 223 home runs, 1,065 RBIs, 1,565 runs, and 301 stolen bases, all on a .307 career batting average and a .387 on-base percentage.

Many of these statistics are the best in team history, while others put him close to Yankee or league records.

He has countless other achievements that put him among the top of all-time MLB players, including being one of six players to have at least 2,700 hits, 1,500 runs, 220 home runs, 300 steals, and 1,000 RBIs.

The Captain has also been a clutch performer and a leader in every sense of the word for New York, most notably by sacrificing his body to dive into the stands to make a crucial catch in an extra inning game that helped the Yanks beat their hated rival Boston Red Sox.

A life-long Yankee, Jeter is now 35, and may only have a few years left in the Majors.

But his impact on baseball has been profound, and his newest milestone only adds to his legacy.

Many expect that Jeter's No. 2 will be retired by the team and that he will be a first-ballot, sure-thing Hall of Famer.

The Yankees may have more legendary figures than other franchise and sports history, and it appears that Derek has officially cemented his place in this exclusive group of Yankee greats.

Very few players can match his heart and commitment, natural athletic and baseball ability, and his year-in year-out productivity.

This record is a culmination of all his hard work and effort throughout the years. In 1995, Jeter was brought up for the 13 games before returning to the Minors. now, in 2009, he has become an a fan favorite, perennial All-Star, and one of the league's finest all-around talents.

So with that being said, congratualtions to Derek Jeter for an amazing and prestigious accomplishment, although I hope it will not be your last.

USC Trojans Roll Over San Jose State on Their Way to Columbus

Jake D'Agostino — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:18:51 -0400

On Saturday, September 5, the Trojans of Southern California defeated the San Jose State Spartans 56-3.

Although fourth ranked USC were the heavy favorites, this does not mean that there were not plenty of questions about how they would perform.

The biggest doubts were regarding the Trojan's quarterback, Matt Barkley. Barkley is the first true freshman to start the season at quarterback in USC's history. Many were unsure of how he would play in his first year.

In fact, So Cal did get off to a rough start against the big-time underdogs from San Jose State.

For Pete Carroll's boys, the first four possessions ended in two punts and two lost fumbles.

The only score of the first quarter came when SJS kicker Tyler Cope nailed a 41-yard field goal. The quarter ended with the Spartans ahead 3-0.

After that, SC stole the lead and never looked back.

It started when the Trojans drove down the field early in the second quarter. The series culminated in a four-yard touchdown run by Stafon Johnson. Jordan Congdon tacked on the extra point and putting his team up 7-3.

Stafon Johnson scored just a few minutes later, running it in from two yards out. That drive began when USC recovered a San Jose State fumble. After Congdon hit another extra point, the score was 14-3.

A couple of minutes went by before USC struck again. On the second play of the series, Allen Bradford ran 43 yards for the score. This was followed by another successful point after by Congdon. USC was now leading 21-3.

Less than two minutes, So Cal had the ball once again, and scored on the ground-- again. This time it was Joe McKnight, taking it to the house from 6 yards out. Once again, Congdon kicked the XP, putting Southern California ahead 28-3 going into the locker room.

After the half, Pete Carroll and his team continued to shut down San Jose State.

Just three plays into the third quarter, McKnight lit up the Spartans' defense with an exhilarating 54-yard carry for a score. This exciting, juke-filled play was the top highlight from the game. After Congdon's kick sailed through the uprights, the Trojans held a 35-3 advantage.

Just two minutes later, the Trojans took control of the ball again. Matt Barkley led the march to the end zone, completing 6 passes on all 6 plays in the series, including the four-yard TD pass to Rhett Ellison. After Barkley finally got the first college score of his career.

Congdon, of course, would go on to knock down the following kick, So Cal was up 42-3.

Not much action would proceed in that quarter, as the fourth began with the same score.

But USC would get started quickly once the final quarter started. Now, Aaron Corp was the Trojans' QB. The were swift to advance the ball downfield, all the way to the 1-yard line. Next, Marc Tyler punched in Southern Cal's seventh touchdown.

Jordan Congdon's extra point was good again. It was now 49-3, in favor of the Trojans.

USC scored for the final time with 9:05 remaining. Corp threw a 13 yard pass to D.J. Shoemate for six more points. Congdon successfully added the point after for the eighth and final time.

After that point, the Spartans were held to a meager -14 yards, en rout to a 56-3 Trojans victory.

Southern California outgained SJS 620 to 121 in total yards. The Trojans tallied 278 yards through the air and an outstanding 342 rushing. Meanwhile, the team from San Jose had just 112 passing yards and a mere nine yards rushing.

USC averaged 7.6 yards per carry and 12.1 yards per pass, while San Jose State averaged 0.3 yards on the ground and 3.7 per pass.

For the Trojans, Matt Barkley passed for 233 yards, with Corp getting the other 45.

Joe McKnight had 145 rushing yards, 10.4 ypr, and 2 TDs. Marc Tyler had 72 yards, a 14.4 average, and a score on the ground. Allen Bradford ran for 53 yards and a score on a 13.3 average. C.J. Gable had a 5.3 rushing average, and Stafon Johnson had a 4.5 average a pair of trips to the Spartan end zone.

A few other guys, including Stanley Havili took a few carries. USC definitely showed that they are worthy of the title "Tailback U" with such a fantastic rushing performance.

Damian Williams was the Trojans' leading receiver, with 3 catches, 67 yards, and a 22.3 average. Anthony McCoy was right behind him with 3 grabs and 64 yards on a 21.3 ypc average. David Ausberry had a couple receptions for 37 yards, while averaging 18.5 yards per catch.

Fullback Stanley Havili had 3 catches for 26 yards. D.J. Shoemate caught two passes, one of which was a score. Rhett Ellison also snagged a TD. McKnight had a 21 yard catch, Brice Butler had 11 yards, and Travon Patterson had 3 yards.

All-America senior safety Taylor Mays leads a Trojans' defense that lost a ton of players from 2008, but has reloaded and continues to be unstoppable.

None of the three Spartan quarterbacks who played threw for more than 100 yards. Kyle Reed had the highest yardage total, with 66.

Patrick Perry was the only player to have a decent amount of rushing yards for San Jose State, finishing with 48.

Wide receiver Kevin Jurovich had a pretty good game with 5 receptions for 64 yards.

The most recent USC blowout at the Coliseum gives the Trojans their twelfth-straight season opening victory.

Since Pete Carroll took over USC in 2001, they have become one of the most dominant teams in the country. Since 2002, the Trojans have won at least 11 games every year, have seven Pac-10 titles, and seven BCS Bowl appearances.

From what we saw against San Jose State, Southern Cal looks destined to continue their greatness.

But now they face a new challenge. On September 12, the Trojans will ride their horses to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes, a team that narrowly edged out Navy on the very same day of the USC-SJS game.

Last year, USC destroyed OSU 35-3. But that was in Los Angeles. This time, the Trojans have to battle Ohio State in the Horseshoe.

This was a very telling game for Southern Cal. They have showed that they are loaded at all positions once again, and that they can win with a freshman at the helm. But that is in the past, as all eyes are on the USC-OSU showdown next Saturday.

David Tyree: From Super Bowl Hero to Potential Free Agent?

Jake D'Agostino — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:58:54 -0400

On February 3, 2008, Eli Manning hooked up with David Tyree for what is now one of the most famous plays in NFL history.

It was this 32-yard pass that thrust the New York Giants to victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Just four plays later, Plaxico Burress caught the game winning touchdown to put the G-men up 17-14.

Many forget that Tyree scored the Giants' only other touchdown of the game. It is safe to conclude that Big Blue would never have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy without him.

Now, as we approach the start of the 2009 NFL season, Tyree's standing with the team is in jeopardy. Following the preseason finale against the Pats, New York and the 32 other NFL teams will trim their roster from 75 to 53 players.

In the Giants' case, they will actually keep a 54th man, being that Michael Boley will be suspended for the season opener and one extra guy will be kept around until he returns.

It's unknown whether Tyree will be among the 54 to make the team or the 21 to be cut. It's been speculated that he might not be playing in the Meadowlands during the upcoming season.

One reason is that Tyree has not been in uniform since that memorable night in Arizona. This is because he was plagued by injuries last year, and spent the entirety of 2008 on injured reserve.

He has been bothered by an ongoing hamstring injury. He has felt the effects on this throughout training camp. This has caused him to sit out frequently. Even when he is on the field, he has played with a great deal of inconsistency.

Another reason is that Tyree has never really been the most productive receiver. Since he was drafted out of Syracuse in 2003, he has only caught 54 passes, going for 650 yards and four scores on a 12.0 yards per catch average.

Still, he has found a way to stay on the roster for all these years by contributing on special teams. In 2005, Tyree made the Pro-Bowl as a special teamer. This makes David a tough guy to let go of.

And it's not like Tyree's 2005 performance was a fluke. In addition to being an outstanding college receiver, he was also a dominant force on special teams. In his career as an Orange Man, Tyree recorded a staggering six blocked punts.

With the regular season right around the corner, Tyree will have to make a firm impression on his coaching staff if he wants to stay a member of the Big Blue Wrecking Crew.

Against the Pats, Tyree had what will more than likely be the shining moment of his career. Now, however, he is at a crossroads.

Tyree might never play another game for the Giants again. But that's how it is in the NFL: 75 guys vying for 53 spots.

All I have to say is, come Sunday, September 13, I hope to see David Tyree wearing his blue and white No. 85 jersey when the New York Giants take on the Washington Redskins.

NFL Players Who Once Played Positions You Might Not Expect

Jake D'Agostino — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:21:08 -0400

This article is about some interesting careers of NFL players before they went pro that you may not have heard about. It is about the guys who switched positions at some point in their career before making it big as a pro. You may be surprised at some of the names on this list, as well as what position they once played. These are people you all know about as a professional, but might have heard much about them prior to then. This article also includes a general background of the featured players' athletic careers. They are all big names, some who are even legends who will be remembered for playing one position better than most others. But if you don't know how these guys started off their football careers, you can now find out.

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Cliff Lee to Philadelphia: What's Next For The Phillies?

Jake D'Agostino — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:16:56 -0400

On July 29, 2009, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Cleveland Indians' standout Cliff Lee. Lee was the left-handed ace for the Indians, and now he has been brought in to make an immediate impact for the defending world champs.

The other player who was shipped to Philly was outfielder Ben Francisco. In return, the Indians picked up four minor league prospects out of the Phillies' farm system.

Right-handed Triple-A pitcher Carlos Carrasco was one of the players sent to Cleveland. The other three players, all of whom played in Class-A, are right-handed pitcher Jason Knapp, catcher Lou Marson, and shortstop Jason Donald.

While these players will all be difference makers for their respective clubs, Lee is the missing piece the Phillies needed to contend for a championship.

Ace Cole Hamels was phenomenal in 2008 for Philadelphia, especially in the playoffs.

But this year was a different story for Hamels, as well as the rest of the team's pitching staff.

Here is a breakdown of the Phillies' five starting pitcher's ERAs:

Cole Hamels: 4.42; Joe Blanton: 4.11; Jamie Moyer: 5.32; J.A. Happ: 2.97; Chan Ho Park: 4.97. Out of this group, the only impressive ERA is that of Happ.

This is not the pitching of a team that is in serious contention for a World Series victory.

The addition of future Hall-of-Famer Pedro Martinez will help, but it is not enough to push them over the top due to the fact that he is past his prime. Currently, Martinez is on the 15-day DL.

Brett Myers is also injured, leaving the Phils short-handed on their pitching staff.

Myers was the No. 2 pitcher, but after he went down, all of the other pitchers moved up a spot in the rotation, and veteran Rodrigo Lopez was used as the team’s fifth starter.

However, the addition of Lee will provide relief to a group of pitchers that desperately needs a break.

Right now, it looks like Hamels will remain the No. 1 pitcher, with Lee at two, and Blanton, Moyer, and Happ coming in at three, four, and five, respectively.

Despite weak play from some of the pitchers in their rotation at times, this does seem like a pretty solid lineup when these guys are at their best. If Pedro can get healthy, the Phillies could be a nightmare for opposing teams come playoff time.

Lee could end up being the ace of the rotation. The Phillies still have faith in Hamels, which is the only reason Lee is not the immediate go-to-guy.

Lee is the American League's reigning Cy Young Award winner, an award that is one of baseball's most honorable distinctions. He was also the 2008 American League Comeback Player of the Year and was selected to that year's AL All-Star team.

While Lee is not having such a great season in 2009, with a record 7-9, this is due largely in part of a weak Indians offense that has not been up to par in run productive.

Now, Lee is on a team with sluggers like Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, as well as base-hit machines such as Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino. So don't be surprised to see Lee's record make a substantial improvement in Philadelphia.

Lee has put up some solid numbers in 2009, and his stat sheet would look great if you take the win-loss column out of the equation.

In his 22 starts, he has pitched 152 innings and stuck-out 107 batters, while only walking 33, and giving up just 53 earned runs and 10 home runs on 165 hits.

It is apparent that a change of scenery will do a great deal for Lee, especially a "change of scenery," means that he will be playing in Citizens Bank Park, home of the defending World Series champs.

For the first time in his career, Lee will have a supporting cast that can take some of the pressure off of his shoulders.

Before we talk about what is next for Philadelphia, it is important that we take a quick at the other players involved in this trade.

Besides Lee, Philly is also adding outfielder Ben Francisco. Francisco will not be the starter in his new town, but has been labeled the top backup for all outfielders.

This means that if anybody in any of the three outfield slots is hurt or needs an off day, Francisco is the first guy manager Charlie Manuel will turn to as a replacement.

In fact, when speaking about Francisco's playing time, Manuel said, "He is going to play more than you think. Our outfielders are going to need some time off."

He even started in his first game with the team, filling in for the injured Victorino.

Francisco is a good fielder and is strong as a hitter. This season, he's got 78 hits, 33 RBI, and 10 homers. He is a young, athletic talent that may find himself starting some time down the road in Philly.

On the other hand, the Indians will have to wait before they get any real production out of their pickups.

This is because the Indians are receiving players who have never played in the big leagues before, and they will need some more time in the minors before they can make it to the top level.

First, there is the right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco. Although he is having an average year in 2009, every season prior to this one, he has been phenomenal.

He is a dominant young player with a rocket arm and a lot of potential. He has a wide range of pitches, so he is definitely a beneficial addition to the Indians’ farm system.

Carrasco will probably make it onto the Indians’ roster in a few years, once he can perfect the skills that he has been developing in Philadelphia.

Next, there is Jason Knapp. Knapp is a right-handed pitcher who is also not doing well this season. But to his credit, he is very young and was magnificent in his first season in 2008.

He is an accurate thrower who has a high ball-to-strike-ratio. This will help him when he is vying for a spot on the top roster in the Cleveland organization.

Then we have catcher Lou Marson. He is fairly efficient in the batter's box and is very reliable behind the plate on defense.

Now that catcher Victor Martinez has been traded to the Boston Red Sox, Marson has a great chance to become Cleveland's starting catcher in just a couple of years.

A week ago, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez were easily the best players on the Indians. But now that they have made their departures, these three prospects have been given the opportunity of a lifetime.

The last piece of the trade was shortstop Jason Donald. Donald is another young prospect who, although he is really starting to pan out well, has plenty of room to improve.

As a hitter, Donald is very productive. So far in 2009, Donald has 104 hits, 34 RBI, and two home runs. However, he needs to limit his number of errors in the field if he wants to play in the big leagues any time soon.

However, he does have the skill-set to one day make the Indians’ lineup as a reserve.

Overall, the Indians are getting a talented group of young players who will not provide immediate help, but all have a shot at being very good sometime down the road.

As for the Phillies, they have made it clear what their purpose in trading for a big name like Lee is. They want to win now.

By pulling the trigger on the deal to bring in Lee, they are setting themselves up to do just that.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. made a valuable and possibly season-saving move for his team, but it was not the only one being considered.

For about a week, it looked like the Phillies were going to try to trade for Toronto Blue Jays' ace Roy Halladay. But the Jays wanted top-notch prospects like Kyle Drabek, Dominic Brown, and Michael Taylor.

This was something that Philly made clear from the beginning that it did not want to do, and the Phillies stuck to their guns throughout the discussions. Now that Lee is a member of the reigning champs, it appears that any talks of "Halladay To Philadelphia" to sleep.

While the decision to go after Lee is a choice that shows the Phillies want to win and worry about the future when it comes.

But by holding on to all three of their "untouchable" prospects, they have also shown an interest in future success.

In the aftermath of this trade, many top baseball analysts have proclaimed Philadelphia to be the undisputed favorite in the National League East, and some have even put them ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team to beat in the NL.

Whether they overtake the Dodgers for home-filed advantage in the postseason, the Phillies have made it clear they want to win and have set the stage for a deep playoff run.

After supplying depth to the outfield with Francisco and significantly strengthening their rotation with Lee, the Phillies appear to have what it takes to be in it until the end, while the Indians are stepping back and stocking up for years to come.

Cliff Lee is no Roy Halladay, but by adding him, the Phillies are in the next best situation, getting one pretty good constellation prize.

With Lee in the lineup, it looks like the Phillies are destined to finish the year strong, maybe even repeating as the 2009 World Series Champions.

Mark Buehrle Of The Chicago White Sox Pitches a Perfect Game

Jake D'Agostino — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:25:05 -0400

On Thursday, July 23, 2009, Chicago White Sox' pitcher Mark Buerhle threw the 18th perfect game in MLB history.

For those of you who do not know, a perfect game occurs when a pitcher allows zero runs, zero hits, and zero runners on base for an entire game. This means no walks, no errors, or anything else that will put a batter on base.

In order to qualify as a perfect game, it must also be a no-hitter, shut-out, and complete game. Although multiple pitchers could technically combine to throw a perfect game, this has never happened before.

Also, if the game were to continue into extra innings, the pitcher would have to sustain their perfection, although this has never been necessary.

That should put what Mark Buehrle has accomplished into perspective.

When the White Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0 that day, it marked the first perfect game since Randy Johnson's in 2004. It was also Mark's second career no-hitter.

While it was a "perfect game", there were plenty of close calls and scary moments. So although this game will only be remembered for an astounding pitching performance and one incredible catch, it is important to take a look at the game as a whole.

The first inning was scoreless for both teams, with Buehrle giving us a preview of what he would do for the remainder of the game, which was to not allow any runners on base and to quickly retire the Rays' batters.

In the second inning, Josh Fields hit a grand slam that brought home Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin, and Ramon Castro to put Chicago up 4-0, a lead that they would maintain for the rest of the game. This was also the first perfect game to feature a grand slam in MLB history.

Mark Buehrle continued to dominate after his team got the lead. He may not have thrown as many fastballs as you might expect, but he had great command over his change-ups and curveballs all game long.

While Buehrle mowed down the Rays' lineup, Tampa's pitcher Scott Kazmir rebounded pretty well after giving up the grand slam. The only other time that the Sox were able to score on him was in the fifth inning, when Alexei Ramirez hit an RBI double that scored Scott Podsednik.

That would be the last time Kazmir was scored upon, as he would eventually be pulled, with his record falling to 4-6 with the latest loss. The Rays gave up five runs and six hits in total.

Meanwhile, Buehrle and the White Sox were not having any problems with the Rays' offense.

Not until the top of the eighth inning, when Pat Burrell lined a shot down the third-base line. It looked as though it would end up fair, but at the last second it bounced to the left of the line, which is out of play.

It was a close call for third-base umpire Laz Diaz, who narrowly avoided being hit by the ball while making an excellent call.

Burrell would line out to third a couple of pitches later to end the inning.

Now we move to the bottom of the ninth, when the story of a perfect game was all that anybody watching or playing could think about.

It seemed that the embarrassment of being the losing end of a perfect game had given the Rays the motivation that they needed to finally put a runner on base when Gabe Kapler knocked a home run ball to center field.

The ball was clearly heading over the fence, and actually was beyond the wall when Dewayne Wise, a defensive replacement for the Sox, made an incredible catch to save a sure-homer that would have ruined Mark Buehrle's perfect moment.

Wise had just been put in at center before the bottom of the ninth, a move that proved crucial for the White Sox. I guess that not everything manager Ozzie Guillen does is crazy. Who knew?

Wise's catch has been deemed one of the greatest of all time based on the circumstances by various renowned baseball analysts. However, the tense and nerve-racking moments would not to cease just then.

Buehrle still needed two outs, and Michel Hernandez was one of them. The first pitch was a strike, but when the next three pitches were all balls, everyone was wondering if Buehrle would have enough gas in the tank to finish the job.

But he was not flustered even when falling behind in the count 3-1, and rebounded by throwing a pair of strikes when the pressure was greatest. And there was one out left.

By then, the game was being nationally broadcasted so that millions at home could watch on with the 28,000 present at U.S. Cellular Field. Good thing Mark Buehlre didn't know that.

Actually, it probably wouldn't have mattered, as he was joking around in the dugout the whole game, even when he knew that he had a lot to concentrate on. Keeping quiet and to himself is just not Buehrle's thing.

Of course, he must have been just a little nervous when he faced Jason Bartlett, the only thing standing between himself and perfection.

First he threw a strike; then two balls. On the next pitch however, Bartlett saw what he liked and decided to take a swing at it.

He ended up hitting the ball right into the waiting glove of shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who threw it to Josh Fields for the final out of a historic game.

Players from the White Sox dugout swarmed Buehrle after his outstanding achievement.

To celebrate, the White Sox carried out a ritual used to commemorate a big-time performance by an individual. This of course was the pie-to-the-face celebration.

While it was certainly and unquestionably Mark Buehrle's shining achievement and his moment in the spotlight, much credit is due to Dewayne Wise, who will go down in history for his clutch performance as well.

Buehrle finished with 6 strikeouts, while forcing 11 ground outs on a total of 116 pitches. Overall, he allowed 0 hits, 0 walks, and 0 runs. He faced twenty-seven batters, and sent twenty-seven batters back to the dugout.

Buehrle would improve his record to 11-3, a tie for the best in baseball. The win also put the ChiSox in a tie for first-place in the AL Central with the rival Detroit Tigers. They have since fallen behind Detroit.

Although this is one of the finest performances in recent memory, there is still of a lot of work and a lot of catching up to do for Buehrle and the White Sox.

But for now, Buehrle should savor this win, along with the rest of the club. After all, perfection is a high level to reach. Being perfect is not a claim that most of us can never make at any point in our lives, so my hat's off to you Mark.

The Boston Red Sox: From the Perspective of a Yankee Fan

Jake D'Agostino — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:34:48 -0400

Every Yankees' fan will agree: There is no team you love to hate more than the Boston Red Sox. For years, they were just an annoying little brother, but now it seems they have surpassed the Bombers, as they have been much more productive over the past few years.

From the epic finishes to the intense brawls, this is surely sports' most heated rivalry. Currently, the Yankees lead the series 1,119 to 940. But as of late, the Yanks have had their struggles against Boston.

So, as much as I can't stand the Bo-Sox, I have decided give them a little credit.

We start with their pitching, which is one of the strongest rotations in baseball.

First, there is the ace, Josh Beckett. The former World Series MVP has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the league, with a record of 11-3. His incredible production earned him a spot in this year's All-Star Game, which is his second All-Star selection.

Next in the rotation is Jon Lester. He is best known for throwing a no-hitter in 2008, just two years after his recovery from cancer. This year, Lester is 8-7, although his record doesn't reflect his true talent. While he is not doing as well this year as in years past, he has great potential and a strong arm.

Then there's Tim Wakefield, one of the older players in the MLB. It may be a surprise that this year, at age 42, Wakefield made made his first All-Star appearance. He is known for his signature knuckleball, a pitch opposing batters have been struggling to hit this year, which is made apparent by Wakefield's 11-3 record.

Fourth in the rotation is Brad Penny. In his first year with the Sox, Penny has gone 6-4. He is a fairly consistent pitcher who provides stability to a line-up with plenty of fire power.

Finally, there is future-Hall-of-Famer and long time Major League veteran, John Smoltz. Smoltz brings wisdom and experience to Boston's rotation, something that is always good to have. After coming out of retirement during the season and starting off 1-2, it will be interesting to see how Smoltz will come back.

Also, it should be noted that Daisuke Matsuzaka began the year 1-5. A shoulder injury has kept him on the DL ever since.

In the bullpen, the Sox have the electrifying closer Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon is 24 for 26 on save attempts this year, and is 1-1 as a starter.

Their top reliever is Hideki Okajima, who has a 3.23 ERA and a 3-0 record in '09.

This pitching staff is enough to make any New York fan cringe.

Now we go to the players in the field.

Behind the plate for Boston is Jason Varitek. He is at his best on defense, where he has won three Golden Glove Awards at the catcher position. The three-time All-Star has 13 home runs and 38 RBI in 2009. Over the years, Varitek has been a staple in the Red Sox' success.

George Kottaras also plays catcher, only starting when Tim Wakefield is pitching.

At first base, Kevin Youkilis is usually the starter. So far, he has 17 long balls and 57 RBI. He is one of the leaders of this club, and was one of the top players during their championship season. He is a two-time All-Star, one-time Golden Glove Award winner, and is also capable of playing third base.

Next we have Dustin Pedroia, who is the second baseman for the Sox. He has 112 hits and a .304 batting average this season, making him one of the league's more consistent batters.

He has a bright future ahead of him, and he has already won many awards: AL MVP, Rookie of the Year, two All-Star selections, a Golden Glove, and a Silver Slugger Award.

Then there's Mike Lowell, who resides in the hot corner at Fenway Park. The third baseman has cleared the fence 10 times in '09, as well as racking up 42 RBI and 81 hits.

The long-time veteran has won an assortment of awards throughout his career, including being selected as an All-Star four times, winning two World Series (in one of which he was the MVP), as well as a Golden Glove and a Silver Slugger.

One of the bigger unknowns of the team is shortstop Jed Lowrie. Jed was injured most of the year and has just come back recently. He is very young, with this being only his second year in the Majors. He is a very talented defender, and is coming around as a hitter.

Behind him in left field is Jason Bay. He has a whopping 20 homers, 72 RBI, and 83 hits. He has a reputation for being able to get on base and produce runs. He is also solid in the field, and because of his strong all-around play, he has three All-Star selections and captured the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2004.

Out in center is Jacoby Ellsbury, who is another fantastic young talent. Ellsbury already has 100 hits this year, and has maintained a steady batting average of .287. He has an incredibly strong arm, plays great defense, is a magnificent base runner, and comes up big in the postseason.

In right field is J.D. Drew, a veteran who's been in the league for years. In 2009, he has posted 66 base hits, 38 RBI, and 12 home runs. In 1997, he won the Dick Howser Award, which is thought of as college baseball's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Last year, he made his first All-Star game appearance, a game in which he was selected as MVP. He is also one of the league's better defenders.

Finally, there is the designated hitter, David Ortiz. Big Papi has left the yard 301 times in his illustrious career, while adding 1,020 RBIs and 1,401 hits. This year he has 12 home runs, 51 runs batted in, and 72 total hits.

When he plays in NL parks, he is a first baseman. Over his career, he has captured various awards and led the league in a couple different categories.

This group of guys have been giving Yankees' supporters fits all season long. Some of them have been doing this for years.

There are also plenty of capable backups on Boston's roster. Here's a breakdown of the Sox' second-stringers by position:

Catcher: George Kottaras; first base: Adam LaRoche; second base and shortstop: Nick Green; third base: Kevin Youkilis; all three slots in the outfield: Rocco Baldelli.

Terry Francona has been a great manager for Boston, as he led the team to World Series victories in 2004 and 2007.

It should be noted that some of the statistics have changed since I first began this article. Also, since I wrote the section on Wakefield, he has gotten injured and has been replaced by the 1-1 Clay Buchholz until his recovery.

As a Yankees fan, it is difficult to admit that the Red Sox have had our number over the past few years. But this is exactly how it has been, although the Yanks have clearly been better historically.

The Yankees are 0-8 against the Sox in 2009, as of July 24. But right now, the Bombers are riding an eight-game winning-streak.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox are in a slump, having lost five consecutive games until they finally beat the Orioles on Friday.

The Yankees are unbeaten since the All-Star break and are now have sole possession of the American League East. They are 59-37 as of July 24.

On the other hand, Boston is 2.5 games back with a record of 56-39. The Sox currently have a comfortable seven-game lead over the second-place White Sox in the Wild Card race.

The Rays are also hanging around, as they are 6.5 games back of New York and have proven themselves to be divisional contenders.

With the Bomber's resurgent performance, it looks like Yankees fans across the country can be confident that their team has a great shot at making the playoffs. But Boston is loaded and can catch up at any time. Never count the Red Sox out of a race, especially one this close.

This one looks like it will be exciting and go down to the wire, as both teams will give each other a run for their money.

Big Moves Around The NBA: How Will This Impact The Teams Involved?

Jake D'Agostino — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:33:43 -0400

It's that time of the year again. The time when NBA players become free agents, and teams all over the league are scrambling to sign or re-sign the top guys available. Trading for players is another common means of improvement.

Right now, all 30 teams feel that they are legitimate championship contenders, and just need to add a few pieces in order to achieve their goal.

The reality is, only a few teams are really in the mix for an NBA Title, but you can't blame them for trying. Some people say that if you are not improving during the offseason, you are getting worse. This is probably true; just look at the Boston Celtics. In 2007, they were average at best, but after a solid offseason, they became the 2008 NBA Champs.

And so, here are the moves that have transpired over the offseason thus far:

It all got started when the San Antonio Spurs traded forwards Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas, along with center Fabricio Oberto to the Milwaukee Bucks for forward Richard Jefferson.

Although the Bucks received more players, the Spurs probably got the better end of this deal.

This is because the Spurs are getting a pure shooter and quality defender in Richard Jefferson. He is a great addition to any team, and is one of the league's finest scorers. Jefferson is also a pretty good passer and rebounder.

He brings a great deal of versatility to San Antonio, and might be what they need to make a title push. The Spurs are definitely better equipped to contend with the Lakers and Nuggets for the Western Conference Title after adding a talented and experienced player like Richard Jefferson.

On the other hand, Milwaukee did not get a bad deal either.

Bruce Bowen is a savvy, proven veteran who will serve as a big-time defensive presence for the Bucks. Known for being one of the league's best defenders, Bowen has been selected to either the NBA All-Defensive First or Second Team eight times.

Besides being a fantastic perimeter defender, Bruce is also a great three-point shooter. All of this, along with the leadership he will bring to the locker room makes Bowen one of the best players to suit up for the Bucks in recent memory.

Kurt Thomas is also an important pick-up for Milwaukee. While he may be aging, Thomas is a force on the boards. He is a reliable rebounder that also finds a way to put the ball in the hoop. The fact that he is a solid defender will make him a key player for the Bucks in the upcoming season.

Fabricio Oberto was also shipped to Milwaukee, but was soon after traded to the Detroit Pistons.

The next big trade occurred when the New Jersey Nets swapped guard Vince Carter and forward Ryan Anderson for Orlando Magic guards Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, and center Tony Battie.

While the Nets received a couple of quality, it was the Magic who got the best player in this deal.

This of course was Vince Carter. He is one of the NBA's most electrifying players, and is a huge boost to Orlando's title hopes.

He is a phenomenal athlete and is an all-around player. Shooting is his biggest strength, as is proven by his 20.8 points per game last season.

Carter is also a great passer and is a pretty good rebounder considering that he is a guard. He has the defensive skills to go with his offensive arsenal.

He will need to continue his success in '09 in order to replace Hedo Turkoglu, who was dealt to Toronto in another trade. If the Magic are to reach the Finals again, Carter will be one of the players depended on to get them there.

Anderson is another good addition for Orlando. He will probably spend most of his time down low, coming off the bench a couple times a game. He is a decent scorer, rebounder, and defender, despite having only one year of experience.

For New Jersey, their biggest asset as far as this trade goes is Alston.

He has plenty of NBA experience, and will help the Nets' offense significantly. He is very productive in the scoring and assist departments, as well as rebounding. His main job will be to compensate for some of what was lost with the departure of Carter.

Lee will also be relied on as an offensive threat for New Jersey. In 2008-09, his first year in the league, Lee asserted himself as a reliable scorer, despite not starting. He will need to continue developing as a shooter, as well as making strides in the rest of his game if he is to help Alston match Carter's output.

Finally, there is Battie. He is tough on the boards and at times can put up some points. While he is not a starter, he is an experienced veteran that will look to fight for playing time with the Nets.

The day after this trade, another big move was made. This one is considered by many to be the big block buster trade of the 2009 offseason, up to this point.

This deal sent center Shaquille O'Neal of the Phoniex Suns to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in exchange for center Ben Wallace and guard-forward Sasha Pavlovic.

The clear winners here are the Cavs. They get a 15-time All-Star and former MVP in O'Neal. Shaq is one of the most dominant big men in NBA history. Although he may be getting old, the Diesel has still got some fuel in the tank.

He is an extremely efficient shooter, but then again, who isn't when half their shots are dunks. He puts up a lot of points every time he steps on the court. Rebounding and shot blocking are other areas that "Superman" excels in.

Now that he is in Cleveland, The Big Aristotle has made it perfectly clear that he is there to help King James and the Cavaliers win a championship.

By adding a commanding presence like Shaq Daddy, the Cavs have essentially stated that they will not be falling from the ranks of the NBA's best. While it is unknown what The Big Felon's next nickname is going to be, you can be sure that he will be a difference maker for his new club.

This trade has led many to believe that Cleveland is the best team in the league.

Meanwhile, the Suns are getting a very good player in Ben Wallace. Sure, he is already past his peak, but Big Ben is a seasoned veteran who brings a lot to the table.

He is one of the league's best defenders, having taken home the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times. He is also a menace on the boards, and scores a ton of points on put-backs.

So, although the Suns are losing the guy who is arguably the greatest big man of all-time, they get another dominant force in return.

In addition to Wallace, Phoenix is bringing in Sasha Pavlovic. Pavlovic is pretty young, and is still developing his all-around game. He is an efficient shooter that will likely see some decent time off the bench.

Now we move to July 8, the beginning of NBA free agency. On this day, five top-notch free agents were signed to new teams.

We start with forward Trevor Ariza, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers. Now he is a member of the Houston Rockets, a team who will definitely be getting their money's worth.

This is because Ariza is a young-gun superstar in the making. He is a tremendous all-around athlete, with breakaway speed unrivaled by most other players. He is superb in transition and is always the first guy down the court on fast breaks.

Furthermore, Ariza is a lockdown defender who can handle anyone he is assigned to cover. On the offensive end, he has defined himself as an efficient shooter and is developing as a rebounder.

Ariza was stellar and was a large part of the Lakers' championship run. He performed at the highest level for L.A., and now the Lakers are losing a future phenom. At the same time, the Rockets are get a premier player that will be great for years to come.

However, Los Angeles did not lose out completely. Actually, they barely lost out at all.

This is because the Lakers signed forward Ron Artest, who played for Houston, immediately following the departure of Ariza. Although these two signings are essentially just a single trade, each team is getting something very different with their respective players.

Ariza will be very good in Houston right off the bat, but will be even better down the road as he continues to mature and improve.

Meanwhile, Artest is about as he good as he will ever be for the remainder of his career. He may be past his prime, if only a little bit. But his skills and experience make him an extremely desirable addition to any roster.

Artest was brought in to help take the defending champs back to the Promised Land, and he is expected to do this right away.

He brings a fire and intensity that not many others can match. It is so great it sometimes gets him in trouble. Of course, if you are at all familiar with Artest, you would already know this.

He is an overpowering defender whose stand-out play got him the 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He gets boards on both ends of the court and is not afraid to tangle with anyone.

He is also a great shooter, averaging 17.1 points a game. Artest is able to score from all over the court, specializing inside. In addition, he made 75 percent of his free throws in '09.

Being the supreme playmaker that he is, it is expected that Artest will do big things during his time in the hills of Hollywood. Now that Kobe's greatest nemesis is now on his side, the Lakers look ready to keep their crown in 2009.

Just as long as he stays on the court and keeps out of the stands, Los Angeles is a serious contender.

Next, we have a Detroit Pistons' double-header. They signed a pair of big name free agents on the same day.

We start with guard Ben Gordon. Gordon is another young guy, who spent his first five years in the league with the Chicago Bulls.

His success dates back to 2004, when he led the UConn men's basketball team to the 2003-04 NCAA Championship.

Now that he is a pro, he has continued his excellence on the court. He has been improving as a shooter, with 20.7 points per game average last year. He can take the ball to the hole, knock-down mid-range jumpers, and is effective from beyond the arch.

From the free throw line, Ben makes a fantastic 86 percent of his shots. He has also improved him assist, rebounding, and steal totals, and will continue to make strides in those categories.

The other guy who signed with the Pistons is forward Charlie Villanueva. Last year, as a Buck, Villanueva averaged 16.2 point per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, 0.7 blocks per game, and 0.6 steals per game.

He brings young talent on both sides of the ball to a Detroit team that has been built around older players for the past decade.

He too, was a member of UConn's 2003-2004 title team. Now that he is reunited with Gordon, his former college teammate, the pair looks to bring Detroit back to prominence once again.

The last signing of the day came when forward Rasheed Wallace, who was a Piston last year, agreed to a deal with the Boston Celtics.

Boston was dangerous enough before, but this move may make them the favorites to win the NBA Title.

Rasheed is another one of those guys who has had a great career, but has some on-the- court troubles. In the 2000-2001 season, he had an NBA record 41 technical fouls.

Wallace is a magnificent defender and is a force on the glass. He can shoot from all spots on the court and plays with a great deal of intensity. He is a tough guy to guard and dominates the opposition as a defender.

Now that the Celtics have Sheed, their starting lineup contains four All-Stars, with another guy who will be soon enough. Watch out for Boston this year, as the addition of Rasheed Wallace gives them one of the more impressive starting lineups in NBA history.

Finally, there was a complicated four team trade that includes some pretty big names.

First, the Orlando Magic cash from the Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks. No players went to Orlando.

Then, Orlando forward Turkoglu and guard-forwards Devean George and Antoine Wright of Dallas were shipped to Toronto.

Turkoglu was one of the NBA's best last year, as he is an outstanding shooter who causes a lot of match-up issues. He is one of the two biggest difference makers in this deal. Geoge and Wright each bring strong shooting and defense to their new team.

Next, Dallas gets forwards Shawn Marion, Kris Humphries, and Nathan Jawai of Toronto.

Marion is an incredible athlete who is a great scorer, rebounder, and defender. He is the other player in this trade that will have a monumental impact for his new team. Humphries and Jawai each bring youth and athleticism to Dallas, where they will probably come off the bench.

Finally, the Memphis Grizzlies receive a future second-round draft pick from Dallas, as well as Mavs' guard-forward Jerry Stackhouse. Stackhouse has since been cut.

And that's about it. There are other moves like the Golden State Warriors trading guard Jamal Crawford to the Altanta Hawks for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton, or the L.A. Clippers acquisition Grizzlies' guard-forward Quentin Richardson for Zac Randolph.

However, these are not ground-breaking transactions, and neither are any others that have occurred so far.

As of right now, the teams who most benefit from their deals are the Spurs, Cavs, Rockets, Lakers, and Celtics. They all signed top-notch players, and all remain title contenders because of it.

Only time will tell if this actually true, but right now, it looks good for the teams who have been making noise this offseason.

Giant Expectations: Will Big Blue Crack Under Pressure in New York?

Jake D'Agostino — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:01:35 -0400

The 2009 season is a pivotal one for the New York Giants.

Was 2008's successful season a fluke? There is only one way to tell, and that will be to watch the G-men this coming season.

Last year was fantastic for the Giants...well, at least the start was.

The Giants finished 12-4, but were bumped in the Divisional round of the playoffs by their hated rivals from Philly.

This year, the Giants will start the season as reigning regular season champs of the NFC and will have to defend their NFC East crown.

But a lot has changed since then.

The offseason seemed bleak at times in New York, as their fans watched big time players such as Derrick Ward, Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters, and John Carney go. Reuben Droughns, Grey Ruegamer, and Jerome McDougle will probably be among that list of players who won't be suiting up with the Giants this year.

But there are plenty of positives to come out of this past offseason for the Giants as well.

Michael Boley, Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard, Lee Vickers, C.C. Brown, and Kelvin Smith are notable names that have signed with the Giants. Also joining the squad are Andrew Carnahan, Shaun Bodiford, Allen Patrick, and Tutan Reyes.

The draft was a success for the Giants, as they managed to fill some holes at crucial positions. The highlight of their draft was the stud receiver Hakeem Nicks, who they chose in the first round out of North Carolina. Clint Sintim, William Beatty, Ramses Barden, Travis Beckum, Andre Brown, Rhett Bomar, DeAndre Wright, and Stoney Woodson were their other draftees.

The Giants took another big hit when Steve Spagnuolo, one of the league's greatest defensive minds, opted to take over as head coach of the St. Louis Rams. Linebackers coach Bill Sheridan has been promoted to fill the gap at defensive coordinator.

The quarterback situation is already set for the Giants, unlike for another team that plays in New York.

Eli is the man who will call the shots for the Giants, with David Carr as his trusted backup. Beyond that, Andre' Woodson and Rhett Bomar will have to fight for third-string duties.

Manning was inconsistent in the first couple of years of his career, but last year he looked like a different man. Calm, cool, and clutch, he lead the Giants to one of their best starts in recent memory. Sure, it's a disaster when Eli loses confidence, but he is a spinning image of big-brother Peyton when he finds his rhythm.

Brandon Jacobs will take the thick of the carries for Big Blue. There aren't many guys you could want to be taking hand-offs for your team.

Jacobs is a monster, standing stall at 6'4" and weighing around 264 lbs. He is one of the most physical players in the league, powering his way through linebackers and defensive linemen, making defenses pay for not going at him one hundred percent. He is very swift and quick considering his size, making him one of the most dangerous players in the league.

Think of a piano on wheels, rolling down a steep hill. That's what you are essentially dealing with when you go against "The Baby Rhinoceros."

The departure of Derrick Ward, one of the league's top backups, will open the door for the other backs on the team. Already proven is Ahmad Bradshaw, who will now have the chance to establish himself in the league as Ward did. The search for the new third member of the Giants' three-headed monster has come down to Danny Ware and Andre Brown. Neither has much of a track-record in the NFL, but so far Ware is the favorite.

At fullback, the Giants have Madison Hedgecock, a guy who does not receive nearly the credit he deserves. He is any running back's best friend, leading the way into the hole, taking out defenders left and right. Quarterbacks love him too, being that he excels as a pass blocker. If Hedgecock were to move on to another team, you would probably see a drop-off in the Giants' rushing numbers.

Wide receiver is the position that has caused the most turmoil for the Giants. After multiple trade attempts to bring in a receiver fell through, the Giants decided to turn to the draft to do their wide-out shopping. The draft produced two new Giants' receivers: Hakeem Nicks, who is North Carloina's all-time leading receiver, and Ramses Barden.

The competition looks wide open as of right now, with nearly all of the receivers having an equal shot. The front runners are Nicks, Steve Smith, and Domenik Hixon. Sinorice Moss and David Tyree will also be given plenty of opportunities. Barden and Mario Manningham will probably find their way onto the field as well.

The Giants' tight end situation includes a few young guys who have a lot of potential. Kevin Boss is the clear-cut starter, as he has developed into a pretty good player for the Giants. He is reliable as a receiver and is developing his blocking skills.

Behind Boss is Darcy Johnson, a big blocking tight end who has great hands and is a red-zone threat. Johnson plays mostly in double tight end sets and on special teams. Then there is Travis Beckum, a third round draft choice for the Giants. He is a very good receiving tight end, and is really closer to a wide receiver than an end.

Then there is that fantastic Giants' offensive line.

Lead by center Shaun O'Hara and guard Chris Snee, their O-line is solid. These two are reigning Pro Bowlers, and rightfully so, as they do quite a lot for New York's offense. They are incredible performers and command the attention of their teammates.

Other top-notch offensive linemen on the Giants are guard Rich Seubert and tackles David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie. If any of these guys are injured, tackle William Beatty and guard Kevin Boothe are big, young-gun linemen, and among a group of players that will fill the voids very well.

Now we move to the defense, which is one of the most stacked in the league. The G-men have one of the strongest front sevens of all NFL teams, starting with their defensive line.

Starting at the outside will be Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck. Having a pair of Pro Bowlers as your defensive ends always helps. These guys are enormous, athletic, and powerful compared to other D-ends in the league. They are absolute sacking machines and will make a very dynamic pair in 2009.

Rotating in with both Umenyiora and Tuck is Mathias Kiwanuka, who is another phenomenal young end who would start on most other teams—giving the Giants what is probably the most dangerous trio at defensive end in the entire NFL.

There are other guys like David Tollefson, and maybe Chris Canty, who will see looks at D-end as well. But it seems he is being converted to a tackle, and that is where he will start for the Giants. Canty was brought in from Dallas as a big-time playmaker.

Also starting at tackle will be Rocky Bernard, who was also picked up as a free agent this past offseason. He was very good in Seattle, and looks to continue his success in New York.

In addition, Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield will see some time in the middle, as they were productive as the Giants' starters last year. Jay Alford will also earn some playing time being that he has done good things for his team in the past.

Linebacker is another fairly solid position for New York. They've got Antonio Pierce playing the role of middle linebacker and defensive leader. Built like a tank and and strong as anyone, Pierce forces offenses to work around him. He's a stand-out player and potential Pro Bowler, making him a vital ingredient to his team's success.

Michael Boley joined the squad this past offseason and will an make immediate impact as a starting outside linebacker. He did very well in Atlanta, and will have to continue to do so as he makes his transition to the Meadowlands. The other starter will be Danny Clark. He is a very good player and will have his chances to prove how valuable he is.

Pierce will be the best, followed by Boley and Clark. Other guys who will have to work their way in are Chase Blackburn, Zak DeOssie, and Clint Sintim.

Pierce is the strong, fierce pit-bull type, while Boley is tall, sleek, and athletic. Clark is actually the biggest of the three and plays with an instinctive, hard-hitting style. All of these players' different styles compliment each other giving the Giants balance in their linebacker corps.

Next we have the young and inexperienced defensive backfield. Led by cornerback Corey Webster, the Giants are recovering from losses in the backfield over the past two offseasons. Webster is a great young talent who is a potential Pro Bowler.

Other guys like Aaron Ross, Kevin Dockery, Terrell Thomas, and DeAndre Wright also will be contributing at the cornerback position. Besides Webster, who is going into his fifth season, none of these have more than three years of experience. Alongside Webster, Ross will start, with Dockery backing them up and seeing decent playing time.

At safety, the trend of young DBs continues.

Michael Johnson, who will start as the strong safety, has only two years of NFL experience under his belt. Free safety Kenny Phillips was a rookie last season, but both of these guys appear to be reliable and play a balanced game.

Behind them are C.C. Brown, who was an offseason and addition from Houston, and Steve Cargile. Sha'reff Rashad is also doing well in the Giants' offseason activities, which means he will probably get into the mix. None of the backups have more than four years of experience, but it looks like Brown is a capable defender.

Finally, we have the special teams. Now that the 45-year-old John Carney has been deemed too old to kick, Lawrence Tynes will take over. Tynes, who at times struggles with his accuracy, is favored by the coaching staff because of his strong leg and youth. He is able to kick in swirling winds, a problem they have in the Meadowlands.

The punter is Hall-of-Famer-to-be Jeff Feagles. Although old, it's safe to say that nobody can match his angle-punting skills. He can put the ball where the other team cannot return it every time he punts, which is why he is a perenial Pro Bowler.

Returning the kicks will be Ahmad Bradshaw and Domenik Hixon. Bradshaw will probably handle kickoffs, while Hixon will return mostly punts, but looks to see time on kickoffs, too. Bradshaw has shown that he has big play ability, while we have seen that Hixon can take it the distance on multiple occasions.

One of the best long snappers and special teams players in the league is Zak DeOssie, who will try to make back-to-back Pro Bowls, while in New York. Jay Alford can also handle the long snaps if he is needed.

With a strong offense, indomitable defense, and solid special teams, the G-men look like a well rounded squad.

With all that being said, it looks like the Giants are headed for another fine year.

Expect no less than 10 wins in 2009. Their victory total will probably reach no more than 13 though. They are a legitimate contender to take home the NFC title.

Super Bowl contenders?

Maybe.

They've got the talent to pull it off, and Tom Coughlin has won over the players in the locker room. They have a very realistic chance of winning the NFC East, a tough division nonetheless. All four NFC East teams are very strong, so do not be surprised if the Giants have to settle for a Wild Card berth.

However they get in, the Giants will probably be playing come January. They are less prone to a collapse, unlike say, the Dallas Cowboys, because the Giants have great team chemistry. They have a very optimistic outlook on the 2009 season.

There is a lot skill and potential at each of their positions, which makes the Big Blue Wrecking Crew a team to look for come playoff time.

Preseason Picks for NFL All-Pro: NFC, Pt. 2 (Defense and Special Teams)

Jake D'Agostino — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:05:42 -0400

This a follow-up to "Preseason Picks for NFL All-Pro: NFC, Pt. 1", which focused on my predictions for the best offensive players in the NFC for 2009. If you have not read my offensive picks yet, here is the link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/206809-preseason-picks-for-nfl-all-pro-nfc-part-1-offense. With that being said, it should not be a surprise that this slide will honor the top defensive and special teams players in the National Football Conference. It will be of a similar format to its predecessor, one player for every position on a standard defense.

Begin Slideshow

Preseason Picks for NFL All-Pro: NFC, Pt. 1 (Offense)

Jake D'Agostino — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:54:08 -0400

This is a slide show consisting of my preseason picks for the top players in the NFC for 2009. Instead of NFL All-Pro, this is the all NFC All-Conference Team, or a smaller version of the NFC Pro Bowl Team. The list will feature one or two players of each position on offense. There will be a follow-up for this slide, which will focus on the NFC's defense and special teams.

Begin Slideshow

Will Game Three "Subway Series" Victory Help Put Yankees Back On Track?

Jake D'Agostino — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:16:58 -0400

Talk about a slug fest. The Yankees mopped up their downtown rival Mets on Sunday, June 14. The final score was 15-0 in favor of the Bronx Bombers, a win that could prove monumental for their team morale.

Inconsistencies early on and the inability to defeat their hated rival Red Sox may linger in the minds of the Yankee players and coaches, but this win should help raise their spirits.

It took until the bottom of the second inning for the Yankees to get started. The scoring began when Francisco Cervelli knocked in one run on a single that allowed Robinson Cano to score against Mets' ace Johan Santana. The inning continued when Derek Jeter hit an RBI single, bringing in Hideki Matsui. The last score of the inning came when Johnny Damon singled and allowed Cervelli and Jeter to score, giving the Yankees a 4-0 lead.

We move to the fourth inning, where Hideki Matsui hit a two-run homer for the Yanks, allowing Nick Swisher to score. The Captain (this is obviously Jeter) then added another RBI when he drove in Melky Cabrera on a single.

Alex Rodriguez was able to reach first with the bases loaded, allowing Jeter to score. Unfortunately, he also grounded into a double play, wasting a key opportunity for the Yankees to score more runs. A-Rod would soon score after a two-run shot from Robinson Cano.

Melky Cabrera made the most of his second appearance at the plate that inning by hitting a double to score Swisher and Matsui. Unfortunately, he was caught trying to turn his double into a triple, ending the inning with the Yankees up 13-0.

The scoring picked up again in the seventh with Ramiro Pena singling with the bases loaded, allowing Angel Berroa to reach home plate. Finally, Robinson Cano hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Johnny Damon to score and give the team in pinstripes a 15-0 lead.

While all of this occurred, A.J. Burnett quietly picked up his third victory out of his last four starts. He pitched seven shutout innings, while only allowing four hits. He had eight strikeouts and managed to walk only four batters.

Burnett was relieved by David Robinson in the eighth inning, who recorded a pair of strikeouts and did not allow any batters to reach base.

Phil Hughes pitched the ninth, allowing two hits, while striking out a couple of Mets' batters.

This tremendous effort by Joe Girardi's boys may serve as a confidence booster for the rest of the season. They will need it if they look to overcome their hated rivals from Boston, as stellar performances like this will be crucial against a quality team like the Red Sox.

This win puts them at 36-27, as of June 14. Will they continue their uphill climb against the Nationals? Where will they go from there?

These are the questions that the Bronx Bombers will be forced to answer from here on out, and although this was one sweet victory, they must understand that tougher times may lie ahead.

Brett Favre To Hop On The Vikings' Ship?

Jake D'Agostino — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:27:28 -0400

Sorry, but I had to do it. Another Brett Favre article. It's not the first, and certainly will not be the last.

If you have picked up a newspaper and opened the sports section or turned on ESPN at any time during the past few months, then you have heard the news speculating a return from Brett Favre.

Again.

It was not enough to come out of retirement once, so Favre will have to make another appearance with another team. At least that is what some people believe.

After being released by the Jets following his retirement, which makes him a free agent if he returns, it is a apparent that Favre and New York are parting ways.

If Favre does take another crack at it, it is almost certain that he will do it in Minnesota Vikings' purple, his long time nemesis.

Assuming this is where he ends up, the inconsistent Tarvaris Jackson and recently-traded-for Sage Rosenfels will be his main competition.

You might think he would have the edge right away, but Favre is getting old and is injured, while Jackson and Rosenfels have already been learning the system for a while.

Last season ended ugly for Favre, and that is how the entire season will be remembered. But he did show flashes of brilliance and started the season on a hot streak.

He reached his pinnacle in Week Four against the Arizona Cardinals, a game not to be forgotten in which Favre threw for six touchdowns, looking like an explosive 24-year-old rather than a rusty 38-year-old.

All-in-all, Favre had an average season: not terrible, but not great. He completed 343 passes on 522 attempts, with 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He had a grand total of 3472 passing yards and a solid 80.1 quarterback rating. He also added 43 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

Statistics are statistics, and you can take them as you like. However, the fact is that a late season collapse from Favre and the Jets caused them to lose their grip on the AFC East lead and miss the playoffs altogether. This is far more important than a few numbers and averages in the NFL, and it is why Favre's season is seen as a failure.

Although the talk of Favre and the Vikings has died down a bit, there was once a time in which Favre garnered more attention than anybody who was actually on an NFL roster.

Still, the fact that Favre has been working with high school teams and is being treated by the world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon James Andrews, has raised a few eyebrows.

If you ask me, I personally do not feel that Favre is going to make a comeback, but who am I to say?

I am 100 percent sure, however, that Favre will not settle into the world as a typical human being as he says he would like to. The spotlight will always be on him and there will always be questions for him to answer. Well, maybe they will leave him alone once he reaches his 50's, but until then, you can be confident that you have not heard the last of Brett Favre.

Derrick Ward: One Giant Loss

Jake D'Agostino — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:15:50 -0400

One of the big free agency moves this off-season that has not gotten much attention is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signing Derrick Ward. How did this happen?

Ward, an extremely talented football player who, although he was the Giants' No. 2 back, is capable of starting in many other places. With this being said, it seems a no-brainer that the G-Men would accept almost any from him in order to keep him in New York. They should have been begging for him to return.

This, however, is not what happened. Ward offered to sign a multi-year contract, but the Giants rejected him. This gave him reason to begin talk with other teams, eventually signing with the Bucs. Why is this such a big deal?

Last season, Ward rushed for 1025 yards with a 5.6 average- pretty good for backup. He was also the team's top receiver out of the backfield, something they are sure to miss.

A sure handed backup, Wind, as he is known, was a reliable option to spell Brandon Jacobs, and probably determined the outcome of a few games. When Jacobs went down with injuries, Ward was right there to pick up slack. He has earned the right to be called one of the league's elite backs.

Although the two backs differ in style—Jacobs with his physical, smash-mouth approach, Ward with his elusive and face-paced demeanor—the production was similar (in terms of yardage at least).

It may have been that the Giants didn't want to pay him big bucks or that they were confident in veterans Ahmad Bradshaw (who has also proven to reliable) and Danny Ware. Also an option is fifth round pick Andre Brown out of North Carolina State.

Whatever it may be, it is the reason that the Giants will be without the second head of their three-headed monster and probably a less productive offense in 2009. The last a great guy and a fantastic player. I wish Ward the best of luck in Tampa and let's hope he has a great career.

Giants Snag Strong Draft Class in '09: Nicks, Sintim Among The Top Names

Jake D'Agostino — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:46:22 -0400

The Giants made the most of their 2009 draft picks, filling many voids that they desperately needed to occupy. They were successful in gaining some depth at wide receiver, linebacker, and offensive tackle, among other positions at which they were ailing.

They selected quality players that all have a chance to become key contributors down the road. And some are likely to make an immediate impact.

First Round

29th Overall: Hakeem Nicks WR

College: North Carolina Height: 6'1" Weight: 212

Nicks is a junior receiver out of North Carolina who possesses tremendous upside. He is the school's all-time leading receiver, a goal it took him only three seasons to accomplish.

He has decent speed, but his size and strength are what set him apart. He is a fearless competitor that with great tackle-breaking ability, making him a dominant force on the field.

He has been compared to Michael Irvin and Anquan Boldin because of his physical style. His spectacular hands are also what makes him a standout prospect.

Basically what I'm saying is, the dude's a beast. He proved this in his showcase performance against West Virginia in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, when he had an amazing three touchdown affair that concluded his collegiate career.

He will have his work cut out for him with the release of starter Plaxico Burress and the decision not to re-sign long-time Giant great Amani Toomer.

Second Round

45th Overall: Clint Sintim OLB

College: Virginia Height: 6'3" Weight: 256

Sintim, who is a capable and competent linebacker, most likely will start at strong-side linebacker for the G-Men, although he his versatile enough to play inside or outside.

He is an all-around gifted and talented athlete—except for his marginal speed. But what he lacks in quickness is made up for with his great strength and size. His tackling ability will make him a recognizable name for years to come.

The only doubts as far as his play is concerned are his ability in coverage and his speed, but the Giants aren't letting this bother them. His intense play and admirable leadership qualities further add to his repertoire, only improving one of the league's most feared and indomitable defenses.

60th Overall: William Beatty OT

College: Connecticut Height: 6'6" Weight: 307

UConn standout William Beatty is an exceptional talent still in the making. His terrific size and strength make him an appealing selection.

The Giants have one of the league's best offensive lines, but Kareem McKenzie is proned to injury, and the former Husky will make an excellent option as his back-up.

He was a large part of running back Donald Brown's success, paving the path for one of the nation's elite runners. Still, Beatty has room for improvement, as he is still developing.

Whether it be pass or run blocking, he can handle it. Also, for a guy his size, he is very fluid in getting downfield to block and an all-around athlete. He also enjoys cooking, sewing, painting, and reading the Bible—but don't let this fool you, he is a fierce competitor and a wrecking ball on the field.

Third Round

85th Overall: Ramses Barden WR

College: Cal Poly Height: 6'6" Weight: 227

The Giants kept the trend of drafting big receivers going with the selction of Ramses Barden. At 227, Barden is an enormous receiver who is physical and capable of taking a hit or two.

Towering over cornerbacks, he has the ability to snag balls from great heights, and his usually consistent hands will make him a problem for opposing defenses. He is also an outstanding blocker.

Not only determined on the field, Barden is a role-model academically and as a citizen, as he has never had any character issues. He is an exceptional leader, even though he plays a position where most players are not.

While he reminds some of Plaxico Burress on the field, (certainly not off the field) fans are hoping that he will be erasing memories of the recently released receiver and make a better face for the franchise.

100th Overall: Travis Beckum TE

College: Wisconsin Height: 6'3" Weight: 243

Beckum is more of a receiving threat than a blocker. He is has excellent hands and body control. A smooth and fluid runner, Beckum looks to slip into the mix with Kevin Boss.

He was very productive in college. Also, the ex-Badger is considered a hard-runner and has the ability to slip defenders. Extremely confident, Beckum will be a reliable option for Eli Manning and has the potential to crack the Giants line-up.

Fourth Round

129th Overall: Andre Brown RB

College: North Carolina State Height: 6'0" Weight: 224

Brown has excellent speed and is a punishing runner, which fits the Giants style perfectly. He will have to fight to get into the rotation, with Brandon Jacobs starting and Ahmad Bradshaw likely to spell him.

The Giants' decision not to re-sign standout back-up Derrick Ward may make fans cringe, but it opens up the door for Brown. He will have to compete with Danny Ware for the third spot in the Giants' three-headed monster.

Brown's ability as a receiver will help him greatly, as Derrick Ward was the Giants primary receiver out of the backfield. His strong will and fearlessness when making contact are what make him a steal at this point in the draft.

Fifth Round

151st Overall: Rhett Bomar QB

College: Sam Houston State Height: 6'2" Weight 220

A former Sooner, Bomar was kicked off the team in 2006 for accepting more money than he had worked for at a car dealership. Transferring to Sam Houston State, he was an elite performer.

He is a thick quarterback with a very strong arm. Strong under pressure and mechanically sound, this kid can play.

But can he stay out of trouble off the field? Will he be able to compete with David Carr and Andre' Woodson for the Giants back-up role? One thing the G-Men aren't questioning is his on-field leadership.

He will have to prove that he is both a quality player in the pros and that he has matured since his last incident in order to keep his roster spot with the Giants.

Sixth Round

200th Overall: DeAndre Wright CB

College: New Mexico Height: 5'11" Weight: 198

Wright is a versatile cornerback who can also play free safety. He has good hands and can steal a few passes from his opponents.

The former Lobo is a reliable, physical tackler and is not afraid to get into the action. He is instinctual and has a real football mindset.

Injuries aren't enough to take this guy off the field, as he is known for playing through anything. He has a chance to turn into a young and thin rotation at cornerback.

Seventh Round

238th Overall: Stoney Woodson

College: South Carolina Height: 5'11" Weight: 197

Woodson was the second cornerback in a row to be selected by the Giants, and his size is strikingly similar that of DeAndre Wright.

He is instinctive and an intelligent player. He can play safety or cornerback and knows his assignments and how to carry them out. Also, when makes an interception, he is set on bringing it back for six.

His situation is very similar to Wright's, and he will need to perform well in camp to get any kind of playing time.

Wrap up

So there you have it. It looks like another pretty productive draft for the Giants, especially when you take into account where they picked in each round. These rookies will have to work if they want a chance to contribute.