Bleacher Report - Articles by Joseph Morgan

The Four Problems with the 2009 Florida Gators Offense

Joseph Morgan — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:37:54 -0400

The formerly top-ranked Florida Gators fell to the No. 2 spot in the AP Poll following their 23-20 over the upset-minded Arkansas Razorbacks. Based on the recent play of both the Gators and the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida's drop should not be surprising at all. Granted, the Gator defense has been nothing short of phenomenal this season, but the offense is struggling to keep pace. The poor play of Tim Tebow and the offense has forced the defense to pick up the slack in 2009, a trend that Florida cannot afford to continue. While the defense has only surrendered four touchdowns and an average of fewer than nine points per game, Arkansas proved that Brandon Spikes and Co. are not invincible and that they will need help from the offense if the Gators are to stay undefeated. The Florida offense has had to fight to put up points and their they have often struggled to execute and take advantage of good field position. However, despite its struggles, the once-explosive Gator offense has the ability to put up big numbers again this season. There are four major issues for the Florida offense that can easily be fixed. If Coach Meyer is able to solve and/or deal with these problems effectively, the rest of the SEC would be wise to take cover.

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Charlie Weis's Job at Stake In 2009

Joseph Morgan — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:51:42 -0400

Patience is a virtue.

That being said, it's difficult to find many virtuous college football programs in today's game.

When hiring a new football coach, schools expect immediate improvement, regardless of the current state of its respective football program.

For example, some coaches merely have the task of waking up a sleeping giant, like Urban Meyer did when he became the head coach of the Florida Gators in 2005.

However, other coaches are forced to rebuild an entire program in as little as three or four years, a task that countless coaches have failed to accomplish.

Coaching college football is a survival game.

If a coach wins enough to please the rich boosters and alumni who contribute loads of cash to the university, then he gets to keep his job.

With the current climate of college coaching in mind, the University of Notre Dame has raised a lot of eyebrows in regards to their treatment of head coach Charlie Weis.

Despite posting a 10-15 record in the last two seasons at a "win-now" school like Notre Dame, Weis will be patrolling the sidelines in South Bend for a fifth season in 2009.

Granted, Weis delivered two BCS bowl game berths in his first two seasons at the helm, but the mediocrity of the Fighting Irish would have given any other coach the boot at Notre Dame.

Just ask Tyrone Willingham.

Despite leading the Irish to a 10-3 record during the 2002 season, Willingham was given a pink slip after subsequent records of 5-7 and 6-5 in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

The treatment of Weis begs the question: Is Notre Dame gun-shy on firing Weis as a result of the criticism they received for firing Willingham after only three seasons?

That may be the case, but Notre Dame also faces the prospect of paying Weis a hefty buyout tag after they gave him a premature 10-year contract extension just seven games into his first season as coach.

On the other hand, perhaps Notre Dame may just approve of what Weis has accomplished so far and the direction in which he is taking the program.

In addition to leading the Fighting Irish to their first bowl victory since 1994, with a 49-21 win over the Hawaii Warriors in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Weis has also overseen academic improvement during his tenure.

With Weis in charge, Notre Dame football players have posted a team GPA of at least 3.0 for six consecutive semesters.

However, as Weis is well aware, good grades and December bowl games are not in the job description for the head football coach of the Fighting Irish.

Like it or not, Weis is on the ropes in 2009, and Notre Dame's circumstances only increase the pressure this season.

In addition to returning 18 starters (junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen included), the Fighting Irish have only one ranked opponent on the 2009 schedule (No. 4 USC).

Because of these factors, college football fans and the media expect a significant turnaround for Notre Dame in 2009.

The expectations for the Fighting Irish are so high that ESPN analyst Lou Holtz predicts that they will face the Gators in the BCS National Championship Game at season's end.

However, while Holtz's prediction may be expecting too much of Weis's football team, the expectations of the Notre Dame faithful are not far off.

It is imperative for Weis to have a winning season in 2009.

There's no telling when Notre Dame's patience with him will finally run out.

Surging Atlanta Braves Vindicate GM Frank Wren

Joseph Morgan — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:30:58 -0400

Frank Wren is stupid.

He can't close a deal to save his life and he has no respect for franchise legends.

Wren couldn't pull the trigger to acquire Jake Peavy and he botched seemingly sure-fire deals with Rafael Furcal and Ken Griffey, Jr.

He then failed miserably in an attempt to salvage the offseason by grossly overpaying for two average pitchers in Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami.

Wren wasn't worthy enough to tie John Schuerholz's shoes, let alone take his place as the general manager of the Atlanta Braves.

He could do nothing right.

These were the thoughts of many Braves fans prior to the 2009 season.

Atlanta fans, who had grown accustomed to winning baseball over the course of the 1990s, were frustrated and distraught by a third consecutive failure to reach the postseason in 2008.

However, despite going as far as turning away future Hall of Famers and fan favorites John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, Wren's skeptics are nowhere to be found today.

With a record of 60-54 and a manageable 4.5-game deficit to the defending World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, Wren's Braves are having a stellar season.

For one, the GM's eye for pitching has greatly benefited Atlanta as the Braves enjoy the services of Jair Jurrjens and Javier Vazquez, who were both acquired in trades by Wren.

Jurrjens and Vazquez, who have posted ERA's of 3.01 and 2.90, respectively, form arguably the best pitching tandem in the National League.

Lowe and Kawakami have also proven their worth, as Lowe leads the pitching staff with 12 wins and Kawakami has pitched six innings or more in 11 starts this season.

Additionally, rookie flamethrower Tommy Hanson has made Wren look like a genius since his big league promotion in June, posting a veteran-like 7-2 record and a 3.05 ERA.

Wren put together an outstanding pitching rotation during the offseason that currently ranks third in the National League in with a 3.69 ERA.

Thanks to Wren's efforts, Atlanta's solid pitching staff is the team's greatest strength and has kept the Braves in the playoff hunt into mid-August—a remarkable feat.

However, while Wren's masterpiece may be the starting rotation he has assembled, his efforts to improve the Atlanta offense have been just as noteworthy.

Braves prospect Jordan Schafer started 2009 in center field, but struggled to hit big league pitching, barely staying north of the "Mendoza Line" with a .204 batting average.

To address the lack of a consistent power bat in the outfield, Wren acted swiftly, acquiring All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

McLouth, who bats in the leadoff spot for Atlanta, has been a key addition to the Braves since his June arrival, playing Gold Glove defense and racking up 92 total bases.

Yet, despite landing a big bat in McLouth, Wren was not done adding pop to the light-hitting Atlanta outfield.

The Braves sent slumping slugger Jeff Francoeur to the New York Mets for the versatile Ryan Church in a move that drew mixed reactions from Braves fans.

While seeing Francoeur leave town on a bad note was a disappointment to Atlanta, Church has blossomed into a solid hitter for the surging Braves.

Church, who had struggled since suffering two concussions in 2008, has regained his former self, hitting .274 and posting an on-base percentage of .400 with a tomahawk across his chest.

Along with landing McLouth and Church, Wren also made a power upgrade at first base at the MLB Trade Deadline, dealing Casey Kotchman to the Boston Red Sox for Adam LaRoche.

LaRoche, who began his career with the Braves, has been a phenomenal addition to the lineup, cracking three home runs and driving in seven runs in just 10 games for Atlanta.

LaRoche, along with Chipper Jones and Brian McCann, adds to a potent lineup put together by none other than the much-maligned Braves general manager.

Wren has certainly made a great deal of buzz in the way he does business with Atlanta, rubbing both fans and his own players the wrong way occasionally.

However, whether you love him or hate him, there is one thing you have to say about him.

The man's got guts.

Despite the heavy criticism and scorn that has come his way, Wren has battled onward, doing what he feels is best for the Braves both now and in the future.

While his way of doing business has been questioned repeatedly and lavished with negativism, Wren has been resilient, sticking to his guns in both good times and bad.

Wren has a lot of bravado—enough to keep him thriving in the Atlanta front office for years to come.

Frank Wren has the Braves playing for their first playoff berth since 2005 and there is little reason to doubt him now.

"Manny Being Manny" Is Downright Sickening

Joseph Morgan — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:33:52 -0400

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez and former teammate David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox were both identified as two of the 104 players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.

When asked about his name coming out, Ramirez responded by saying that although his 50-game suspension for using hCG was embarrassing, this was "no big deal."

While some may just mark this down as another "Manny being Manny" moment, Ramirez's behavior is deplorable and should make baseball fans sick to their stomachs.

Despite being gifted with extraordinary talent and one of the best swings in baseball, Ramirez has never been good for anything except hitting homers and driving in runs.

Granted, his hitting prowess may be the only thing that is asked of him and he has had a great offensive career, but other than that, Ramirez has been simply worthless.

For one, Ramirez has never been a good defensive player and has been a constant hazard in the outfield throughout his career.

His throwing arm is average at best and it is a rare occasion when Ramirez actually breaks a sweat going after a ball in the gap or a double down the foul line.

However, while Ramirez can be lampooned for his deficient defense all day, that aspect of Manny is not the most disturbing part.

The problem with Ramirez is his attitude. Plain and simple.

Sure, Ramirez is charming with the media and always just puts on a goofy act for reporters, but it's because he is selfish and wants attention.

Ramirez has been and always will be a "me first" baseball player.

First, Manny fakes injuries and illness when he just doesn't feel like playing.

For example, Manny was found at a bar in 2003 with New York Yankees infielder Enrique Wilson despite his claim he was too ill with pharyngitis to play against the Yankees.

Additionally, Ramirez's ugly exit from Boston in 2008 started when he faked a knee injury.

Despite MRI results that showed no injury to his knees, Manny informed Red Sox manager Terry Francona he would not be playing in the upcoming series.

When team management got wind of the situation, the Boston media called for their star slugger to be traded and was (probably) happy to oblige.

In a three-team deal that sent Manny to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Red Sox landed All-Star outfielder Jason Bay to replace Ramirez and haven't looked back since.

Ramirez's phantom knee injury and departure from the Red Sox provides a smooth segue to his second major problem—his disruptive presence in the clubhouse.

In addition to physical altercations with teammate Kevin Youkilis and team traveling secretary Jack McCormick in 2008, he has also caused Boston GM Theo Epstein a great deal of stress.

During his time in a Red Sox uniform, Manny asked to be traded multiple times before changing his mind, except for in 2008 when he was sent to the Dodgers at the trade deadline.

Of course, Manny would be rude to leave his problems in Boston, so he brought them to a Los Angeles team that was crazy enough to take him.

If there was any doubt about Ramirez being a selfish individual, it was soundly put to rest when he decided to hold out of Spring Training this season for more money.

The saddest part is that the Dodgers gave it to him.

Ramirez has been a distraction to every team he has played for with his attention-grabbing antics and his laid-back approach to the game.

It's one thing to have fun playing baseball, but it's a different story when one refuses to take the game seriously and doesn't give his full effort on the field.

With that in mind, the third major issue with Manny is his complete lack of respect for baseball.

When Ramirez tested positive for hCG early in the 2009 season, he made up a story about how a doctor had prescribed it to him to recover from an injury and refused to accept responsibility for his actions.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which can restart the body's testosterone production after a steroid cycle, is a women's fertility drug.

Therefore, based on the logical assumption that Manny is not pregnant, it can be determined that Ramirez is either a liar or he has some bigger issues to deal with.

Yet, despite the 50-game suspension he received as punishment for testing positive for a banned substance, Manny has not been contrite in the least.

And now, with his name coming out as one of the 104 players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, he claims that it's "not a big deal."

As sickening as it is to hear those words come from Ramirez, it shouldn't be that surprising when taking his track record into account.

Unfortunately for baseball, that's just "Manny being Manny."

Florida Gators Highs and Lows, Part III: The Urban Meyer Era

Joseph Morgan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:39:49 -0400

(Joseph is currently writing a series highlighting the best and worst moments in the University of Florida coaching tenures of Steve Spurrier, Ron Zook, and Urban Meyer.

If you would like to read the introduction to this series, click here.)

About this time last year, I started my Florida Gators Highs and Lows series by detailing the best and worst moments during Steve Spurrier's and Ron Zook's tenure at Florida.

After a long hiatus, I have decided to finally complete the series by bringing you both the best and the worst moments of the Urban Meyer era at Florida through the 2008 season.

Five Worst Moments

Honorable Mention: Hail to the Victors

Florida's performance on both offense and defense in the Capital One Bowl was not the best way to end the 2007 season for the Gators.

Florida gave up 41 points to a Michigan team that wanted that game much more than Meyer's Gators.

The game ended with the offense's inability to manage a completion on the final drive, epitomizing the frustration and growing pains endured by the young 2007 Gator team.

5. Rolled by the Tide

The honeymoon between Meyer and the Florida Gators was officially over.

The Gators looked dysfunctional on both sides of the ball throughout the game, catapulting Mike Shula and Alabama to the front of what would be a tight race for the SEC West in 2005.

However, Alabama's 31-3 victory over the Gators was marred by an injury to star wide receiver Tyrone Prothro, and he would never fully recover from the setback of his injury.

4. War Damn Eagle!

For some reason, Meyer cannot figure out the Auburn Tigers.

In his debut against Auburn as Florida's head coach, the Gators lost to the Tigers 27-17 without giving up an offensive touchdown the entire game.

The Gators' frustrations with Auburn would continue in 2007. The vaunted Florida offense, which averaged 42.5 points per game in 2007, managed only 17 points against the Tigers in "The Swamp."

The Gators' 20-17 loss to Auburn marked the only home loss in Meyer's tenure at Florida.

3. Five Fourth-Down Conversions

Following a gut-wrenching loss to the Auburn Tigers in "The Swamp," the Gators went to Baton Rouge to face the No. 1 LSU Tigers.

Although the game started well, with Florida taking a 17-7 lead into halftime, it ended terribly, as the Gators turned the ball over twice in the second half.

As a result, the Bayou Bengals were able to snatch victory away from Meyer and Florida, converting on five fourth-down plays and scoring the go-ahead touchdown with only 1:06 left to play.

2. Losing to the Ol' Ball Coach

As the Gators went to Columbia in order to play former head coach Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks, they held a conference record of 4-2 and needed a victory to clinch the SEC East.

However, despite rallying back from a 17-point deficit in order to trail the Gamecocks 20-19 in the beginning of the second half, the Florida offense only managed three more points for the rest of the game and lost 30-22.

Not only did this loss allow the Georgia Bulldogs to play for the SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome, but the sting of losing to Spurrier hurt the morale of Gator Nation.

1. The Celebration

Mark Richt wanted the Georgia Bulldogs to show some fire in the 2007 Florida-Georgia rivalry game, and he got his wish.

After Bulldog running back Knowshon Moreno plowed into the end zone for the game's first touchdown, the entire Georgia team rushed the field and danced around a stunned Gator defense.

Despite the best efforts of an injured Tim Tebow, Florida suffered a humiliating 42-30 defeat at the hand of its bitter rival.

It's Meyer's only loss to date against the "Big Three"—Florida State, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Five Best Moments

Honorable Mention: Urban Spurns Notre Dame to Take the Florida Job

Following the firing of Ron Zook, the Gators were searching for a top-notch football coach to help bring back the glory days of the Steve Spurrier Era.

Once Spurrier himself was out of the picture, Florida targeted Meyer, the head coach of the undefeated Utah Utes.

Meyer, who had coached at Notre Dame as an assistant earlier in his career, shocked the Fighting Irish by turning them down in favor of the Gators.

Losing out on the Urban Meyer sweepstakes led to Notre Dame's hiring of Charlie Weis—is there any question now on which school got the better coach?

5. Tim Tebow Becomes the First Sophomore to Win the Heisman Trophy

When Tim Tebow arrived on the Gainesville campus, he was immediately treated like a rock star and deservedly so.

The first season for Meyer's prized recruit as a starter saw No. 15 take the nation by storm, as Tebow racked up 4,181 yards of total offense and 55 touchdowns for the defending national champions.

Although the Gators finished with a disappointing 9-4 record, Florida fans were able to celebrate the school's first Heisman Trophy winner since Danny Wuerffel in 1996.

4. Domination of the "Big Three"

When Urban Meyer came to Florida, he set out on a mission to dominate the Georgia Bulldogs, the Florida State Seminoles, and the Tennessee Volunteers.

So far, Meyer had done just that, posting a record of 11-1 against the 'Dawgs, 'Noles, and Vols, averaging a lopsided 17-point advantage in each contest.

Whether this run of dominance will continue is yet to be determined, but it looks likely given Meyer's fiery, competitive nature and his relentless pursuit of victory.

3. SEC! SEC! SEC!

During Steve Spurrier's tenure at Florida, the Gators won five SEC Championships and made an appearance in the SEC Championship Game a yearly expectation in Gainesville.

However, when Ron Zook took over for Spurrier in 2002, Florida football suffered a major setback, and the SEC Championship Game was a mere dream for the Gator Nation.

Fortunately for the Gator faithful, Meyer has made the Gators a favorite in the SEC once again, winning two SEC Championships and finishing second in the SEC East twice.

2. 2008-2009 BCS National Champions

Facing arguably the greatest offensive juggernaut in college football history, the Gators had a tall task in playing the Oklahoma Sooners in the BCS Championship Game in Miami.

However, with the heroic efforts of the injured Percy Harvin and a stellar performance by Brandon Spikes and the Gator defense, Florida was able to shut down the mighty Sooners.

The Gators' 24-14 victory gave them their second BCS National Championship in three seasons.

1. 2006-2007 BCS National Champions

While there was not much suspense in the Gators' 41-14 blowout of the Ohio State Buckeyes, the exhilaration of Meyer's first national title has yet to be matched.

Despite being labeled as heavy underdogs to the talent-laden Buckeyes, the resilience of much-maligned quarterback Chris Leak won out in the end in Glendale, Arizona.

The Florida defense harassed Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith throughout the game, as he was sacked five times and managed only 35 passing yards.

Winning the 2006 BCS National Championship re-established the Gators as a national power and was the beginning of Meyer's continually growing legend at Florida.

Feedback?

Urban Meyer is arguably the best coach in college football today, and he looks poised to contend for his third BCS National Championship this season as the head coach of the Florida Gators.

He has experienced a great deal of success early in his career and always puts a winning team on the field—something that many schools can only dream about.

Are there any other events, good or bad, from the Urban Meyer Era that have been left out? Voice your opinion below.

Thanks for reading this series!

The Best Sports Sites in Georgia

Joseph Morgan — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:07:20 -0400

"The Peach State," which along with its touted fruit brought Coca-Cola and Chick-fil-A to the world, has also contributed significantly to the sports world in that it has provided the scenery for many historic events. The state of Georgia has a lot to offer sports fans with its four major professional teams, as well as a rich tradition of collegiate and high school sports that have garnered national attention. Georgia is a great sports state that has seen the likes of Hank Aaron, Dominique Wilkins, and Herschel Walker and has been the host of events such as the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics. With no further ado, here are the locations that could very well be on any sports fan's bucket list, but are a must-visit for all Georgia sports fans.

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Tim Tebow Is the SEC's Best, But Jevan Snead Is Not Far Behind

Joseph Morgan — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:37:24 -0400

South Carolina Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier has recently created a great deal of buzz by failing to include Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow on his All-SEC ballot.

While Spurrier has indicated that his failure to vote for Tebow was a mistake and has since changed his vote for Tebow, the occurrence is really a non-issue.

Sure, ESPN will have their fun by teasing this story endlessly on SportsCenter for the next few days, but is it really that big of a deal?

Granted, Tebow is deserving of a unanimous vote given his fiery leadership skills and his unparalleled career playing football at the University of Florida.

Tebow's body of work is impressive, a resume that includes two national titles, a Heisman Trophy, as well as the breaking of multiple SEC and NCAA records to his credit.

No. 15 is worthy of the honors that come his way and he should rightfully lay claim to being the best quarterback in the SEC, arguably the nation's toughest conference.

However, while Tebow is the SEC's best quarterback, Spurrier's original pick, Ole Miss Rebels gunslinger Jevan Snead, is by no means unworthy of the honor.

Snead, who made his debut in Oxford last fall after transferring from the University of Texas, had a stellar season in leading the Rebels to a victory in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.

Not only did Snead help the Rebels rebound from their mediocre 2007 season, but he had a phenomenal season individually as well.

Snead amassed 2,762 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes for the 9-4 Rebels, providing late-game heroics on multiple occasions for Ole Miss.

His most famous clutch performance may have been his 86-yard touchdown toss to Shay Hodges in the fourth quarter of a 31-30 upset of Tebow's Gators in "The Swamp."

That game, which led to Tebow's immortalization as a college football legend with his heralded "Promise" speech, also introduced Snead to the nation as a gutsy playmaker.

While Tebow may set the standard for quarterbacks in the SEC and all of college football today, Snead is poised to join the conversation during the 2009 season.

While he faces a tall task in his quest to help Ole Miss win the SEC West, Snead has proven that he is more than capable of performing above and beyond the call of duty.

So, if Spurrier casts his vote for Snead on his All-SEC ballot again next season, don't be too surprised.

The real surprise may be if a rival SEC coach doesn't vote for Snead.

Call For Action: MLB Should Expand Instant Replay Use or Ditch It Completely

Joseph Morgan — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:37:29 -0400

When Minnesota Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer was called out at home plate in a 14-13 loss to the Oakland Athletics Monday, a great uproar arose from the play.

Although Cuddyer clearly crossed the plate before being tagged by A's reliever Michael Wuertz, the call was irreversible because MLB's instant-replay policy only judges home runs.

Granted, MLB's decision to implement instant replay at all is a great move that can help the game continually evolve and most importantly, get every call right.

However, while the process of gradually expanding instant replay is a viable option, MLB needs to consider what is at stake if replay is not expanded to include "safe or out" plays.

While some may deem Monday's occurrence an isolated incident, the capacity of instant replay demonstrated in other sports will only increase pressure for its expansion in baseball.

In addition, considering Minnesota's current standing in the AL Central (2.5 games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers), this one play may dramatically affect their season.

Granted, it's a long season with 162 games, but tell that to Dusty Baker and the 1993 San Francisco Giants.

San Francisco, despite winning 103 games, finished one game behind the first-place Atlanta Braves, thus causing them to miss the postseason.

Admittedly, the playoff race is much different now because of the wild card berth, giving second-place teams like the '93 Giants a chance to play October baseball.

However, the Twins will likely not come close to the wild card with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox, and the Chicago White Sox all vying for the coveted spot.

However, the instant replay issue is much bigger than the Twins' playoff chances this season.

What would happen if a play similar to the Cuddyer-Wuertz incident were to occur in a World Series game?

Then, not only does it affect the outcome of the game, but it also has an impact on the momentum of the series, as well as which team will be the World Series Champions.

Now, baseball purists and traditionalists balk at the concept of instant replay in the game, arguing that the possibility of human error adds to baseball's charm.

Additionally, others argue that instant replay could make games, which already last an average of three hours, even longer than they already are.

All things considered, they may be right.

Perhaps instant replay has no place in baseball and trying to make it fit is a fruitless and pointless venture.

While instant replay would significantly help the determination of whether a home run is fair or foul and whether a player is safe or out, it also presents possible problems.

In addition to increasing the length of games, instant replay might eventually be used to judge balls and strikes, a possibility that would not bode well for the tradition of baseball.

Commissioner Bud Selig and MLB are at a major crossroads, faced with a difficult decision that involves the effect of technology on the future of umpiring in baseball.

Baseball needs either to go all-in with instant replay or to rid the game of it entirely.

Commissioner Selig must realize that he cannot simply go halfway and be done with the whole issue.

Selig has made gambles before, both good (creating the Wild Card) and bad (giving the All-Star Game winner home-field advantage in the World Series).

It is time for him to gamble once more, and he must go all-in either way.

If Selig does decide to employ the use of instant replay completely in baseball, it must be carefully controlled.

For example, managers would receive only one challenge per game and balls and strikes cannot be challenged (checked swings bring up an almost entirely new discussion).

However, if he should decide not to use instant replay, MLB should prepare to face the backlash from fans and more occurrences similar to the Cuddyer-Wuertz incident.

The ramifications that could result from either decision would undoubtedly change the outlook of the game, as well as significantly impact its growth.

One option could alienate select fans and spread baseball to new demographics while the other stunts the growth of the game, but appeases the current fan base.

The decision is not easy, but it is yours, Commissioner Selig.

Choose wisely.

The Meteoric Rise and Fall of Jeff Francoeur

Joseph Morgan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:41:47 -0400

When the Atlanta Braves made Jeff Francoeur their first round selection in 2002 MLB Draft, a lot of hype surrounded the kid from Parkview High School—and for good reason.

A two-sport star in high school, Francoeur made headlines when he decided to turn down a football scholarship from Clemson University in order to play professional baseball.

The Braves organization cheered Francoeur's move as he soared through Atlanta's farm system, accumulating a great deal of accolades including the distinction of being named the Braves' best prospect by Baseball America in 2004.

When Francoeur was finally called up by Atlanta during the 2005 season, he did not disappoint in his big league debut, smacking a three-run home run to seal a 9-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Turner Field.

However, Francoeur, who brought a passionate fervor and joy to the field when he played the game, was just getting started.

Teaming up with fellow "Baby Braves", catcher Brian McCann and second baseman Kelly Johnson, Francoeur helped give Atlanta the push they needed to clinch their 14th consecutive NL East division title.

Although the 2005 season ended with a disappointing loss to the Houston Astros in the NL Divisional Playoff Series, the Braves' rookie right fielder had quickly become a rock star in Atlanta.

Displaying a unique aggressiveness in the batter's box and a rocket arm that rounded up 14 outfield assists in a mere three months, "Frenchy" was a sure fire fan favorite.

The hometown hero only added to his growing legend during the 2006 season, using his momentum from 2005 to pound NL pitching in his first full season in MLB.

In addition to hitting a walk-off grand slam to defeat the Washington Nationals 8-5 in May, Francoeur became a run-producing machine for the defending NL East Champions.

Despite hitting for a pedestrian .260 batting average, No. 7 smashed 29 home runs, drove in 103 runs, and became just the fourth Brave to ever play in all 162 regular season games.

While Frenchy's 132 strikeouts and 23 walks brought up concerns about his patience at the plate, they were mostly ignored as a result of his productivity.

Yet, despite his durability and power numbers, Atlanta struggled through to a third place finish in the NL East—snapping their streak of consecutive division titles.

Determined to get Atlanta back on a winning track, Francoeur lit up opposing pitchers for 19 home runs and 105 runs batted in during the 2007 season and, most notably, brought his batting average up to a sterling .293.

In addition to his great year on offense, Francoeur channeled teammate Andruw Jones in the outfield, tallying 19 assists and winning his first Gold Glove Award in right field.

However, by no fault of Francoeur's, the Braves once again failed to reach the playoffs, finishing third in the NL East for the second consecutive season.

The frustration of missing the playoffs for back-to-back seasons placed Francoeur under a great deal of pressure to perform at the highest level.

In addition to facing increased personal expectations, he also had the challenge of filling the void left by Andruw Jones—both in the outfield and in the batting order during the 2008 season.

As a result of his newly assumed responsibilities, Frenchy worked to bulk up during the offseason in an attempt to return to his power-hitting form of 2006.

Francoeur hit the ground running in 2008, slamming two home runs and knocking in seven runs in an early-season matchup with the Nationals.

However, it would prove to be one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal season for both Atlanta and their star outfielder.

Battling an onslaught of injuries, the Braves struggled to keep pace with their division rivals, as many inexperienced players were thrust into the fire in Atlanta.

Faced with a desire to help his team and a self-imposed overextension, Francoeur tried to do too much at the plate, becoming overeager and careless with his mechanics.

Francoeur's trademark aggressiveness at the plate became his fatal flaw, as he developed a tendency to swing at almost every pitch and recorded nearly three times as many strikeouts (59) as walks (20) through the end of June.

In addition to a lack of plate discipline, Francoeur also struggled to reach base whenever he put the ball into play—mustering a miniscule 77 hits in 232 at-bats at June's end.

As a result of his offensive woes, Braves management decided to demote Francoeur to Double-A Mississippi July 4 in hopes that it would help him relax and regain his confidence.

The Braves hoped that Francoeur’s strong bond with Mississippi manager Phil Wellman would enable Wellman to help Frenchy to “find his swing” and turn his season around.

While Francoeur was upset by the abrupt decision to send him down to the minor leagues, he responded well, noting that he had developed a better sense of comfort in the batter’s box.

However, as the Braves were further decimated by endless injuries, they were forced to cut off the Francoeur project and call him back up to Atlanta just three days after sending him down.

In addition to being mired in the mother of all slumps, Francoeur’s confidence had been shaken by a poorly executed plan that was originally intended to help him.

Reeling from the minor league debacle, as well as the unstoppable downhill slide of Atlanta’s record, Francoeur’s season mercifully came to an end as the Braves limped to an ugly fourth place finish in the NL East.

Never had Frenchy endured such an unsuccessful year as 2008. He finished with only 11 home runs, 70 RBI, a ghastly .239 batting average, and 111 strikeouts, compared to a meager 39 walks.

“The Golden Boy,” as he was called by Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, had lost his shine.

Francoeur was distraught after experiencing a 2008 season in which Atlanta had lost 90 games. His offensive production had collapsed, and he had booed by his own fans at Turner Field.

Eager to reverse his nightmarish 2008 campaign, Francoeur worked diligently on his game during the offseason, hoping to redeem himself to both his teammates and his fans.

However, despite his hard work, Francoeur has not seen it pay dividends this season. His batting average sits at a miserable mark of .248, with five home runs and 32 RBI.

While he has expressed that he is feeling more comfortable at the plate, that comfort has not been enough for Francoeur to bring his numbers back to their pre-2008 form.

Yet, despite his struggles, all of the pieces are there for Frenchy to become a forced to be reckoned with in the Atlanta lineup again.

For one, he has the confidence of his teammates and his manager. Jones has called Francoeur “the key to the Braves offense” and McCann remarked that Frenchy is “one of the best athletes you’ll ever see.”

Secondly, Francoeur undoubtedly has the talent to turn his season around, when taking his past performance with Atlanta and his natural athletic ability to play the game of baseball into consideration.

As his first three seasons with the Braves clearly show, the guy wearing the No. 7 jersey is capable of hitting for a lot of power and has one of the best throwing arms in the National League.

The main problem plaguing Francoeur is that he has strayed from the basics of his unique style of playing baseball.

Francoeur is, by nature, a very aggressive batter, but he has to re-establish the selectivity that resulted in a career-high .293 batting average during the 2007 season.

In addition to practicing more selectivity in the batter’s box, Frenchy also needs to accept that he cannot hit a three-run home run every single time he steps up to the plate.

Francoeur needs to realize that a base hit to the opposite field or a sacrifice fly to cut the opponent’s lead in half will do just fine—and he is more than capable of doing that.

Lastly, and most importantly, Frenchy needs to clear his head and to have fun.

While that concept may seem cliché or irrelevant, Francoeur’s passion for baseball forms the very foundation of his game.

When the Braves called up their top prospect during the 2005 season, his love of baseball and the big smile he always wore on his face made him an endearing personality to teammates, the media, and fans alike.

If Francoeur can relax and just play ball when he goes out on the diamond, his struggles will become a thing of the past.

The best thing for him to do now is to ignore the trade rumors involving his name and the criticism he is receiving for his poor play.

He should go back and do what Jeff Francoeur does best: playing his heart out and having fun playing baseball for the Atlanta Braves.

Kenshin Kawakami Providing Consistency for Atlanta Braves

Joseph Morgan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:29:48 -0400

When New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain hit a liner right at Atlanta Braves pitcher Kenshin Kawakami Wednesday night, everyone at Turner Field collectively held their breath.

While the primary concern was about Kawakami's safety (luckily, he only suffered a neck contusion and is day-to-day), the Braves also worried about losing their solid new starter.

Kawakami, who was signed to a three-year deal this offseason to help shore up the Atlanta rotation, has quietly put together a solid first half for the fourth-place Braves.

Admittedly, his 4-6 record and 4.25 ERA are not, by any means, good numbers, but those stats are actually quite misleading and fail to represent his true value.

After allowing 17 earned runs in his first four starts, eight of them coming in a ghastly outing against the Cincinnati Reds on April 26, Kawakami wasn't exactly the most popular Brave in Atlanta.

With critics joking that "Kawakami" was the Japanese translation of "long ball," Atlanta's Eastern hurler was determined to improve on his shaky debut.

Since his disastrous performance against the Reds, Kawakami has embodied the concept of consistency, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 10 consecutive games. In addition, he has averaged nearly six innings pitched per start and has improved his control, issuing only eight walks in his last five starts.

Kawakami has also put a muzzle on the "long ball" jokes, surrendering only three home runs in his last 10 outings.

What may be even more impressive is that Kawakami's success has come against some of the best competition that baseball has to offer. He has been dominant as of late, scattering three hits over eight shutout innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, the American League's best-hitting team this season.

He also performed well against the vaunted lineup of the Boston Red Sox, yielding only two hits and two earned runs in an 8-2 defeat of fellow countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Kawakami even seemed to be having his way with the Yankees, effortlessly dispatching a team laden with All-Star players for three perfect innings before being hit by a liner from Chamberlain.

Granted, while Kawakami continues to improve each time he takes the mound, he, like any other pitcher, is susceptible to making mistakes and falling off track. The hurler from Japan is still learning the ropes of being a MLB pitcher, and he may experience a few more growing pains before becoming completely settled in the United States.

However, Kawakami, along with fellow new-coming starters Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez, has provided Atlanta with stability and consistency—two qualities they sorely lacked in 2008.

Whether Kawakami and the rest of the Braves starting rotation can help rest the bullpen and continue to be solid inning-eaters has yet to be determined, but one thing is certain: Kawakami has been a great addition to the Atlanta pitching staff and will likely continue to be a consistent force for the Braves down the stretch in 2009.

Atlanta Braves Luckily Avoid Facing John Smoltz...For Now

Joseph Morgan — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:26:02 -0400

After the Boston Red Sox defeated the Atlanta Braves by a score of 6-5 Sunday to take two out of three from Atlanta, it was hard to find a bright side in the series.

Sure, the Braves showed some fire with the ejections of Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, and Eric O'Flaherty Sunday, but fire does not necessarily equate to a turnaround.

Sitting at 32-36 in fourth place in the NL East, four and a half games behind the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies, the Braves wouldn't know consistency if it slapped them in the face at this point.

If anything, barring a possible spur of motivation stemming from their losses to the Red Sox, Atlanta fans can take one consolation away from a dismal weekend.

John Smoltz did not take the mound for Boston.

Granted, the Red Sox make a trip to Turner Field next weekend and there is a possibility that Smoltz will pitch against his former team of 20 seasons.

However, the fact of the matter is that if the worst is to come, it has been delayed and Braves fans can dial down their collective anxiety for a few more days.

I, for one, would experience a great deal of difficulty if I had to watch Smoltz attempt to mow down the Atlanta lineup.

Considering Smoltz and Chipper Jones have always been my favorite Braves players, I both assumed and hoped that they would end their careers wearing an Atlanta cap.

Fortunately for me, Jones appears headed in that direction, but Smoltz, regrettably, is not, opting instead to take his services to the Red Sox.

And looking at what free agency in professional sports has evolved into, it looks like many more fans just like me will have to see their favorite ballplayers end up in the wrong uniform.

Not only is it a recurring trend, but it’s also a growing trend, creating that much more respect and love for those who play with one team for their entire career.

It was tough enough seeing Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine donning rival jerseys, but having to facing Smoltz is in an entirely different league for me.

My earliest memory of "Smoltzie" was seeing a resurgent flamethrower emerge as the most dominant closer in all of baseball from 2002-2004.

With the “o” in Smoltz taking the form of a burning baseball, I would experience an unmatched adrenaline as ACDC’s Thunderstruck blared at Turner Field whenever Smoltz took the mound to close out the ninth inning.

Then, I finally saw him as a starting pitcher, the position where he built his legend for the storied Braves teams of the 1990s.

The best moment came when I had the opportunity to see Smoltz start live, watching him pitch six shutout innings to beat the Houston Astros 3-1 in the 2006 season finale at Turner Field.

From watching recordings of his postseason efforts to reading about his career in the Braves magazine ChopTalk, I quickly grew to admire Smoltz as a hard-working competitor.

Smoltz embodies the ideal professional baseball player—a genuine, hard-working grinder who does everything in his power to help his team win.

Taking into account his unfortunately ugly exit from Atlanta this past offseason, Smoltz’s competitive nature that was once a Braves’ asset may now come back to hurt them.

I will undoubtedly pull for the Braves if they should have to face Smoltz because loyalty to a team overrides all loyalties to players.

However, I, along with the rest of Atlanta, will cringe with every pitch, hoping for the best and anxiously hoping that the episode will end quickly and painlessly.

MLB Anonymous Drug Testing is Pointless and Unacceptable

Joseph Morgan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:54:38 -0400

Sammy Sosa, the man who, along with Mark McGwire, “saved” baseball after the 1994 players’ strike, is just the latest slugger to leave a negative mark on the game.

Sosa and Alex Rodriguez are among the 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs during anonymous MLB drug testing in 2003. As a result, without the investigative work of journalists like Selena Roberts and Michael S. Schmidt, A-Rod and Sosa’s reputations would remain untarnished in the public eye.

Frankly, the concept of MLB promoting the complete ignorance of its fans to the identities of those who cheated the game is absolutely ridiculous. Considering that the fans are the reason for baseball's long-standing success as well as the source of their revenue, they have the right to know the facts.

Withholding such crucial information from the public should be considered a crime against the integrity of the game of baseball.

Granted, the term "anonymous" implies the intention of keeping test results private, which is the problem. But the whole concept of anonymous testing does not make sense.

If MLB wanted the results of the drug tests to be kept private, then what was the point of performing the tests in the first place?

If Bud Selig and "the powers that be" want to rid baseball of its performance-enhancing drugs problem, they should publicize the names of offenders instead of protecting them.

Rule-breakers often continue to break rules if not properly punished or reprimanded for their actions and if they are let off the hook, nothing is learned and mistakes are repeated. That being said, anonymous drug testing is ultimately pointless and a terrible waste of both time and money in that it accomplishes nothing.

In theory, MLB originally planned to take the fact that 104 players blatantly cheated and promptly sweep it under a rug of obscurity. Not only should that be infuriating, but it is just plain wrong on so many different levels.

Realistically, can MLB be taken seriously anymore when they lay claim to taking a strong stand against cheaters considering their handling of the “Steroid Era” overall?

There is a grotesque sense of hypocrisy pervading the game of baseball when some players are heavily investigated and others who have been proven guilty are cut substantial slack.

The double standard that Commissioner Selig unbelievably upholds in the game is egregious and a terrible blemish on the face of the sport.

The fact that the investigation of arguably the most pressing baseball issue of the decade granted its subjects anonymity and full immunity from penalty is laughable and would be considered unacceptable in almost any other venue.

How would Americans react if the government granted anonymity and full legal immunity to Bernie Madoff for his role in the investment banking scandal on Wall Street?

While robbing individuals of their life savings is a much more serious matter than using performance-enhancing drugs to hit home runs, the fact of the matter is that MLB’s treatment of the current situation is unrealistic.Just when MLB appeared to be on the road to recovery from the rough goings-on of the “Steroid Era,” the backlash from the names they refuse to release to the public will end up crippling baseball’s progress for years to come.

The best thing MLB can do now is to release the remaining 102 names. Admittedly, these players were promised anonymity when taking the test, but it is time for them to “man up,” act like adults, and to take their deserved punishment.

If they wanted to avoid public scorn and embarrassment, these players should never have cheated in the first place.

Hopefully, the remaining 102 players, if never identified, will receive their punishment in the form of guilt and the fact they have shown the utmost disrespect to both baseball and its fans.

Tom Glavine's Release Makes Sense, Ushers in New Era for Atlanta Braves

Joseph Morgan — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:34:27 -0400

The Atlanta Braves officially turned their back on their storied past with the release of Tom Glavine last Wednesday.

While the Braves' decision to let Glavine go comes as somewhat of a shock to the baseball world, Atlanta GM Frank Wren's decision is logical for the future of the Atlanta ball club. Admittedly, Wren could have given Glavine a chance to face big league hitters before showing him the door and ending his second stint in a Braves uniform.

However, the Braves cannot wait that long to fill the fifth spot in the starting rotation, let alone for a pitcher who has yet to pitch more than five innings in a game this season.

The city of Atlanta will not receive the loss of Glavine well and understandably so. The lovable lefty gave his best years to the Braves organization—a gift that will always be cherished and remembered by Braves fans.

Glavine's accomplishments while wearing a tomahawk across his chest include two Cy Young Awards (1991, 1998), 244 wins, and eight All-Star selections. And it would be remiss to neglect his eight-inning, one-hit shutout that earned him the 1995 World Series MVP Award and clinched Atlanta's lone world championship.

Yet, despite the allure of Glavine taking the mound at Turner Field for one final season being tempting, it is simply not in the best interests of the organization.

As conventional wisdom dictates, an athlete’s body typically breaks down once he reaches the age of 40 unless said athlete partakes in the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Glavine’s slender frame and finesse pitching style, combined with the assumption that he likely doesn’t share doctors with Manny Ramirez, suggest that he has always been clean.

With that in mind, it is safe to say that we can appreciate and remember Glavine as one of the few from the “Steroid Era” who played the game the right way with respect. However, championship teams are built on reliable and consistent pitching—something that Glavine can no longer offer.

Recent injuries and the stress of logging thousands of stellar innings over the course of his career are finally starting to take a toll on the 300-game winner's arm.

That being said, releasing Glavine was a wise move by the Braves organization in that they desperately need to plug in the constantly shaky fifth spot of the starting rotation. In addition to the need for a long-term solution for the back of the rotation, the Braves have a lot of young talent in their farm system that needs to be utilized.

With the release of Glavine, the Braves have called up heralded flame-thrower Tommy Hanson, the cream of Atlanta's prospect crop. Hanson has done plenty to earn a spot with the big club this season, posting a 1.49 ERA and registering 90 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves.

Additionally, although Hanson and Glavine have contrasting pitching styles, they share similarities as well.

Aside from the fact that they are both named Thomas, Hanson will face a team in transformation, just as Glavine did when he made his major league debut in 1987.

Like Glavine, Hanson will have the opportunity to become the ace of a potential National League juggernaut that will once again make October baseball an annual occurrence in Atlanta.

Whether Hanson will succeed or not is yet to be determined, but it is the right move for the Braves if they want to make a playoff push not only in 2009, but for many years to come. Yet, despite the brimming optimism of the beginning of the Hanson Era in Atlanta, the moment is made bittersweet with Glavine's departure.

Wren and Braves management made the correct move by releasing Glavine to call up Hanson, but it was done the wrong way and deserves criticism.

Glavine has been an integral key to the Braves’ success over the course of his career and he deserved a graceful exit from Atlanta that paid him proper tribute for his accomplishments.

Unfortunately, things cannot always be done the right way and the best that can be done is to make each decision worthwhile.

One day, Glavine will be immortalized in Atlanta baseball history for his role in making the Braves a winner when the future Hall of Famer has his No. 47 retired at Turner Field.

While that day will be somewhat tarnished by the memories of his unfortunate exit from the Braves this season, Atlanta can only hope that it also jump-started a new era of winning.

The Braves plan to make that hope a reality with a new ace named Tommy.

Sound familiar?

A Discombobulated Sports Mess From Writer's Block

Joseph Morgan — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:20:35 -0400

From Sports Illustrated to Bleacher Report, each writer faces the challenge of not only putting their sports ideas out in the open, but also organizing them into a well-formed article that will capture the interest of the average reader.

And that is where the struggle begins.

While many writers long to make their opinions known, they all struggle at some point with the demon known as "writer's block."

As a result of this limit on writing, many voices on a wide range of sports topics often go unheard and it is unfortunate, both for the writer and the reader.

I have been a victim of this writer's block as of late and frankly, I'm sick of my opinions and ideas becoming mired in the irrelevance that is my own head.

So, with no further ado, I have decided to release my sports opinions right now.

The topics will vary widely and will switch rather quickly, but I'll do my best to provide appropriate transitions between each.

The inner workings of my sports conscious follow.

________________________________________________________________________________

The NBA Playoffs, bar none, have been great this season.

The number of games coming down to the wire has been astounding and ESPN, ABC, and TNT are undoubtedly reaping the benefits. It's also fun to see David Stern in panic mode because of the Orlando Magic's 3-1 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Speaking of the Cavaliers, it really is hard to believe that they locked up the top overall seed in the NBA Playoffs. Granted, Cleveland had a fantastic regular season, but a great regular season means nothing for the Cavaliers if LeBron James is the only player showing up against Orlando.

Would it kill someone on the Cavs to actually step up and be a decent second option in this series? Mo Williams, maybe?

The concept of stepping up and producing applies to Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kenshin Kawakami. \

Signed during the offseason to help shore up an oft-injured Braves pitching staff, Kawakami struggled early with Atlanta, surrendering 17 earned runs in his first four starts.

However, Kawakami has started to heat up, giving up three earned runs or fewer in five of his last six outings. The Japanese hurler will have to stay hot if the Braves hope to contend for the playoffs in October.

While on the subject of baseball, the nature of the excuses made by those testing positive for steroids is sickening. Shame on Manny Ramirez for his supposed "faulty prescription."

If he had had a personal health issue, he should have taken it up with MLB. Bob Costas put it best on The Dan Patrick Show when he said, "Unless Manny Ramirez delivers triplets in November, I'm not buying his story."

Story. S-T-O-R-Y. With the Scripps National Spelling Bee kicking off Wednesday, it brings back memories of my attempt to qualify for the National Bee in Washington, D.C. during my eighth-grade year.

As determined as I was to succeed, I ultimately fell short of ESPN with a ninth place finish (out of 20!) at the Georgia Statewide Spelling Bee. The word I missed was "corrugated." I can assure you, I will never forget that word. Ever.

On a more serious note, it gives me great sorrow to express my condolences to both the Tyson family and the family of B/R's own Gray Ghost. It is a terrible tragedy to lose a loved one, especially at such a young age.

Why these terrible things happen, we will never know. I will continue to give my thoughts and prayers to Josiah Herring and the Herring family as well as Exodus Tyson and the Tyson family.

My heart goes out to both families during this very difficult time.

________________________________________________________________________________

So, there you have it.

While it was not pretty and some of it may have been cliché, that is just a sample of what has been swirling around in my head, begging to be put into words.

Undoubtedly, I will undergo the annoyance that is writer's block again in the future as may you and there's nothing we can do about it.

Hopefully, this venture will prove successful in helping spur my creativity and help me with an article idea I currently have in the works.

As for the future, who knows?

I'll likely resort to a discombobulated article of dumped sports ideas similar to this one in the future if I get desperate to break future writer's block.

All signs point to that being a definite possibility.

How Sacrificing Logic May Save Baseball

Joseph Morgan — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:59:53 -0400

When Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez tested positive for steroids last week, the only real surprise was that the news seemed to shock a good number of people in the baseball world.

Despite the hideous scar that the drug use of baseball stars, such as Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds, has inflicted on the face of baseball, the general public still tends to assume their innocence.

While the trust that baseball fans exhibit is admirable, it is also tragic in that no matter how many doctors "mistakenly" write steroid prescriptions, it often provides cheaters with an undeserving benefit of the doubt.

However, whether this trust is the result of the idealistic presumption of each man's integrity or whether it is a pained cry of ignorance of the current situation cannot be determined.

The only conclusion that can be made is that this trust is not well deserved.

Granted, not every member of baseball's large fan base is so trusting.

In fact, it's probably safe to say more people (myself included) do not even acknowledge the excuses made by baseball's spineless cheaters.

Without a doubt, there are plenty of individuals who ridicule the likes of A-Rod, Bonds, and Clemens from ESPN to the local sports bar and deservedly so.

Not only have these men cheated America's national pastime, but they repeatedly insult the intelligence of baseball fans with ridiculous claims to prove their innocence or make excuses for their actions.

With words such as "unknowingly" and "loosey-goosey" thrown around ad nauseam, the ballplayers who are caught become increasingly difficult to believe.

In addition, some even deny using steroids, despite the presence of concrete evidence which ranges from abnormal (steadily-increasing hat sizes) to just plain creepy (bloody gauze and syringes).

The fact that fans can continue to presume the innocence of some players, in spite of the disrespect said players show them, is unfathomable.

Logically, it would be embarrassing and rather foolish to give any credibility to Ramirez's claim of an accidental drug prescription.

But since when has baseball been considered a logical game?

Is it logical to continue wearing a rally cap with an eight-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth with two outs?

Wouldn't relying on a journeyman relief pitcher to mow down the heart of the opposition's batting order be considered illogical?

Heck, even Chicago Cubs fans have been saying, "Wait 'til next year," for over a century now.

Baseball is and will always be an illogical sport, and it's only fitting that its fans are illogical as well.

Acting illogically is not necessarily a sign of baseball fans' stupidity.

Rather, it comes off as a sort of idealistic optimism or a "vote of confidence" in the integrity of the game.

It breeds hope in a seemingly hopeless situation.

So, the next time that a player tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs, many baseball fans will probably accept his explanation and apology.

The trust they will give him will likely have nothing to do with his faked sincerity, but instead, it will stem from their desire to save the face of the game they love.

As for the rest of us, all we can do is hope that this illogical behavior is the only logical solution to saving baseball's integrity.

The Art of Picking the Right Baseball Cap

Joseph Morgan — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:50:00 -0400

As the Atlanta Braves began the 2009 season with a significantly different look than in 2008, I decided to follow suit by changing my Braves apparel.

I decided that I would buy a new Atlanta cap to herald the beginning of a new era for the franchise, and because my massive head had outgrown the last cap.

(For the record, I am not taking HGH. I just have a large noggin.)

Considering that I wear a baseball cap at every possible opportunity, I have specific traits that I value in each and every cap that I own.I consider the following three characteristics as desirable for any hat that I will purchase and wear:

1. Durability

The hat needs to be well-crafted and sturdy. I don't want some flimsy piece of cloth with a plastic strap and an abnormal bill. Save those for the little leaguers. I want a good, solid hat. Normally, I buy New Era caps because they specialize in producing hats.

2. Fitted

I detest straps on my caps. Granted, while the ability to adjust the size may be economical, a strap makes the cap sit on your head rather than allowing you to fully wear it. However, I don't rule out straps as long as they're effective and they do not interfere with the integrity of full wearability.

3. Full Wearability

I describe full wearability as a cap fitting the head like a glove fits the hand. The cap must be deep enough in order for it to fit around the head. While it should not be too tight, the cap should be the mold of your head size, with a little room to spare to avoid uncomfortable tightness. I always avoid loose-fitting hats because they fall off easily.

4. Reasonable Price

When it comes to penny-pinching, I'm as frugal as they come. When I open my wallet, I find myself constantly brushing the dust and the cobwebs off of my unused bills. As a result, I search for a reasonably-priced cap. However, I am making a long-term investment by buying a cap. I'm willing to go as high as $28, including the sales tax if necessary, but I won't break the bank simply for some headgear.

5. Simplicity

When I buy a cap, I just want the standard solid colors with the team logo front and center. I occasionally aim to buy the on-field cap, sometimes varying slightly in order to accommodate my other four guidelines. As for the Braves, I go for the simple "A" logo on the cap.

With my guidelines intact, I decided to visit the local Lids store to ensure a wide variety of selections and that I would be purchasing a top-notch Braves cap.

Before going into detail regarding my selection process, the baseball cap serves not only as an article of clothing, but as a major sign of "fandom."

Whenever I root for my beloved Braves, the hat I buy will be on my head constantly, through both the good times and the bad times.

The hat will be judged not only by its comfort, but by its success as my primary symbol of my affiliation with the Atlanta Braves.

With that in mind, buying the right Braves cap took on an even greater sense of importance. Therefore, I needed to choose wisely and carefully.

My first choice was Atlanta's on-field cap. Although they take longer to break in, the authentic on-field cap is as good as it gets as far as baseball caps go.

However, much to my chagrin, when I took the cap off the shelf, the price tag laughed at me as it displayed the price of $33.99.

Since when does a ball cap cost $34? Granted, it's been a while since I've bought a new Braves hat, but I didn't think the price would jump that high.

Distraught by the failure of my first option, I became flustered in my search for a new baseball cap. I failed to account for the possible failure of my first option.

But luckily, I was able to resort to my five guidelines in my attempt to successfully purchase a new Braves hat.

I moved on to the vintage hats that are already faded and are somewhat worn in when you buy them.

I checked them out mainly because I had good memories of a 1974 Braves hat that I had the great misfortune of losing soon after I bought it.

Yet, despite a very good price of $17.99 and its simplicity in style, I was disappointed with insufficient wearability on my standards.

It was a great cap, but it just wasn't the best fit for my head. It wasn't deep enough for my liking, as the medium size merely sat on my head and the large just felt completely awkward.

Despite the discouragement I was feeling after my previous failures, I headed over to the batting practice hats with a cautious optimism.

Although I find batting practice caps the most comfortable baseball headgear because of their mesh stretch fit, they can sometimes become too cluttered with random stripes and swooshes.

Then, my luck suddenly changed for the better as I stumbled upon "The Cap."

The hat I selected was a gray New Era 39Thirty batting practice cap with a navy blue bill, a red Braves "A," and a manageable price of $24.99.

The cap had great wearability and durability, as well as fitting my standards of simplicity in style. I was satisfied.

As I approached the counter to make my purchase, the cashier that had seen me struggling tirelessly in my efforts, half-jokingly said, "Did you find everything you were looking for today, sir?"

I told him that I had, with an inner peace that was suddenly interrupted when I realized that he was wearing a New York Mets cap.

The cashier continued, "I'd prefer that you keep this Braves cap hidden in the bag where it should be rather than wearing it out of the store."

I responded simply by thanking him, taking my receipt, and placing my new Atlanta cap proudly on my head.

"We'll see who's laughing in October," I said confidently as I made my way toward the exit. My new hat had experienced its first moment of "fandom" before I had even left the store.

I have a good feeling that it was just the first of many proud moments that it will experience on the head of this Atlanta Braves fan.

How Tragedy Can Help Us Open Our Eyes

Joseph Morgan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:57:04 -0400

The recent death of Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart in a car accident has enveloped the baseball world in insurmountable grief.

The suddenness of Adenhart’s unexpected death has forced the baseball world to step back and put some things in perspective just one week into the 2009 season. Not only did a promising baseball career come to a premature end, but a 22-year-old man was robbed of his life much too soon.

In recent years, fans, players, and the media have become increasingly consumed with the issue of steroids in baseball. However, taking into account recent events, what infuriated a good majority of the baseball world just mere months ago now seems unimportant.

When reports of Alex Rodriguez’s past steroid use surfaced, the masses became livid, enraged that yet another so-called legend had deceived them for so long.

Granted, A-Rod should not have used performance-enhancing drugs and then lied about it repeatedly, and he deserves a lot of the criticism he has encountered.

But at the end of the day, Rodriguez is a human being (believe it or not) and like most of us, he has made his share of mistakes, using steroids among them.

Additionally, Barry Bonds has come under even more fire than A-Rod for his use of performance-enhancing drugs because of his larger impact on the record books.

Admittedly, Bonds was wrong to cheat and the fact that he isn’t too nice of a guy, doesn’t help much either. But Bonds tampered with history and statistics, not other lives.

Although the criticism they, along with many others, have been subjected to is reasonable, Rodriguez and Bonds have been on the receiving end of some pretty brutal negativity.

Many will argue that these men lack integrity and they have brought shame and embarrassment to the game of baseball. Yet, no matter how despicable their actions appear, humanity is capable of much worse than taking steroids or acting like a jerk.

Andrew Thomas Gallo embodied that dangerous potential last week by running a red light and striking Adenhart’s vehicle, killing three and seriously injuring a fourth. In addition, Gallo was driving with a license suspended because of a previous DUI.

Granted, while using performance-enhancing drugs is an ugly blemish on the face of baseball that needs to be addressed, there are issues far more serious than those in sports.

Sometimes, we need to take a deep breath, calm down, and realize that as great as sports are, they are just a game. Whether you are a Lions fan or a Patriots fan, a Pirates fan or a Red Sox fan, life does not begin and end with each game.

So what if Shaquille O’Neal is “tweeting” at halftime or Chad Ocho Cinco decides to legally change his last name?

Sports are meant to be fun and relaxing, not a life and death struggle against your opponent.

Preaching morality and ethics is not my intention. Mainly, my point is that we should take a look at a situation before passing judgment. We shouldn’t be so quick to point our finger and to condemn the actions of others, especially in sports.

While the sports world has its fair share of problems, there are many more issues in the world—both sports and non-sports related—that are far more serious.

So, whenever the bullpen blows a late-inning lead or a receiver drops the game-winning touchdown pass, it’s okay to be upset, but dwelling on the issue is not going to make things any better.

Things could be much worse and we should be thankful we have our sports teams to lose ourselves in. Besides, tomorrow brings a new day and another shot at victory.

Life has both its ups and its downs. Luckily for many of us, a lot of the downs can be attributed to sports and are not as tragic as Adenhart’s death.

In the words of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, “Get mad, then get over it.”

Rest in Peace: Nick Adenhart, Harry Kalas, Mark Fidrych

My Comeback to High School Basketball, Part One: The Practice

Joseph Morgan — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:35:51 -0400

I received a chest pass on the wing and turned to look at my options.

Seeing none of my teammates open, I managed to pull off a good enough pump fake to bait my defender, leaving me wide open with a straight path to the basket.

As I drove to the hole for an easy two points, I suddenly felt the floor evaporate beneath me as I attempted to plant my foot to jump.

Initially, I thought that I had taken a good leap, but then I realized that I wasn’t advancing toward the basket—I was falling away from it.

Not until my painful face plant on the hardwood did I realize that I had slipped and fallen on one of the most basic plays in the game of basketball.

"Man," I thought. "It's been a while since I've done this."

A while? Try three years. Three very long years.

Last week, my high school hosted its annual student-faculty basketball game, an event that I was not keen on participating in, considering the risks involved.

The last thing I needed was to post up on my English teacher and accidentally knock her down, sending both my grade and a possible college recommendation letter into jeopardy.

Additionally, the last time I had played an organized basketball game was in the eighth grade, ending my playing career after eight seasons (1999-2006).

However, as fate would have it, I signed up to play on a whim, completely unaware of what I was getting myself into.

For starters, I was extremely out of shape, something that developed from a ton of daily homework and an extreme loathing of the family treadmill. So to say that the team practice before the game left me painfully fatigued may be a bit of an understatement.

Secondly, my basketball skills were a little rusty as they had been neglected during my absence from basketball.

While most people would have recognized that the possibility of looking stupid was nearly inevitable, I, unfortunately, failed to heed the obvious signs.

I showed up at practice with my vintage "T-Mac 3" Adidas basketball shoes, ready to get the ball rolling.

We started with a lay-up drill, which proved to be quite easy for a former basketball player like myself as I made both of my attempts.

However, that would prove to be the last success for me for the duration of practice.

After finishing our lay-ups, we moved on to a jump-shot drill—setting the stage for my first dose of complete humiliation.

When my turn came, I caught the pass from the last shooter’s rebound, set my feet, and launched the rock towards the hoop.

After letting go, something did not feel right as I watched the ball soar towards the basket.

I watched helplessly as my jumper took on the form of the Titanic—the ship, not the blockbuster motion picture starring Leonardo DiCaprio—sinking slowly to the ground.

Bounce. Bounce. Bounce.

Air ball. Silence.

The gravity (pun intended) of the situation was sickening. Mortified, I angrily demanded the ball in order to redeem myself.

Yet, once again, my jump shot soared through the air like a lame duck, falling feebly to the ground—I had given a whole new meaning to the nickname “His Airness.”

On the next go-round, I banked my jumper off the backboard, but the damage had already been done.

Nothing could salvage the humiliation I had just suffered—nothing.

However, while nothing could be done to resurrect my image, there was still room for me to continue sliding down the slippery slope of mediocrity, believe it or not.

As we started to scrimmage, I got stuck guarding this huge guy that must have been at least 6'5" and weighed about 300 lbs.

What made matters worse was that some of the students playing in the scrimmage, including mini-Shaq, were on the actual varsity basketball team.

Really? C'mon! I was under the impression that this was supposed to be an amateur, "has been," jock-wannabe game, not a bone-breaking slugfest with the top ballers in the school!

Well, I soldiered on anyway, huffing and puffing from both the speed of the jocks and my long hiatus from hardcore competitive basketball.

I actually enjoyed limited success as I pulled down a few rebounds and held my giant—uh, man to a limited performance.

Then, it happened. Cue the botched lay-up attempt.

With my head throbbing and my heart racing, I slowly got up from the floor and limped down to the other end of the floor.

I was determined to keep going, but apparently, I was alone in that desire.

Following my "fall" from grace, I was quickly pulled by the coach for the rest of the practice scrimmage and took my spot on the bench.

The coach told me that I did well, but he wanted to get the other players some action before the game as well, a strategy I had no problem with at all.

I just felt so incomplete to leave the game on such a flat note.

As I sat down, I covered my head with a sweatshirt to cool myself off, but I was mainly trying to hide the deep scarlet shade of embarrassment that pervaded my face.

Hopefully, I would I get a chance at redemption in the game the next day, but for the time being, things looked pretty bleak.

Moral of the Story: Always know what you're getting into and be prepared for it.

Stay tuned for the results of the game and to find out if I ever got a chance to reclaim my basketball dignity.

Please Don't Go!: An Open Letter to Billy Donovan

Joseph Morgan — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:31:53 -0400

Dear Coach Donovan,

I know you have already denied interest in taking the Kentucky Wildcats' head coaching job, but you and I both know that that is the typical generic statement made by every coach who is rumored to be switching teams.

I am writing you this letter, on the behalf of the Gator Nation, to ask you not the leave the University of Florida. If only you knew how much the Florida faithful love you.

Granted, coaching the Wildcats certainly has its perks. Kentucky is arguably the best head-coaching job in America because of its winning tradition and passionate fan base.

In addition, with a smart, high-profile coach like you, combined with the rich history of Kentucky basketball, the nation's top recruits would come flooding into Lexington at an alarming rate.

However, the situation will be demanding and rough. Of course, I don't have to tell you that. You worked as an assistant coach for the Wildcats on Rick Pitino's staff from 1989-1994. You know the expectations of Kentucky fans.

But it will be much worse now. Billy Gillespie was fired after only two seasons on the job. While Gillespie didn't do much to keep his job, that's still a ridiculously short leash to work on. He didn't even have time to unpack his stuff before leaving.

But the blue-and-white faithful are desperate to reclaim their national prominence and something tells me that they are not going to be patient at all.

The allure of the job may be tempting, but remember that Kentucky is still rebuilding. While the talent is unbelievable, the program is currently in an ambiguous state. The All-SEC duo of Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson is downright frightening to opponents—I get that.

But Florida offers you something that Kentucky can never aspire to. No matter what you do at Kentucky, you will never be the face of the program.

Your success will always be measured against the careers of Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, and your mentor Pitino.

Conversely, in Gainesville, you are Adolph Rupp. Every coach who will ever patrol the Gator sideline will be held to your standard. I know, the basketball arena does not adorn your name, but it might as well. You are Florida Gators basketball.

No one will ever forget the improbable Final Four appearance with Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem in 2000. Even though you lost the national championship to Michigan State, it was a monumental season that the Gator Nation cherishes to this day.

As for the success with the Oh-Fours—indescribable. You once again brought the Gators to the pinnacle of college basketball not only once, but twice. Thank you for your invaluable role in making Gainesville "Againesville."

In Lexington, if you reach the Final Four, the Wildcat faithful will be happy, but unfortunately, you'll probably be taken for granted. Undoubtedly, you will be honored, and deservedly so, as one of the many great coaches of Kentucky basketball.

However, at the University of Florida, you will always be known as the greatest basketball coach in school history. You are, and will always be, the face of Florida Gators basketball.

Whether you decide to stay at Florida or venture to Kentucky, I wish you the best of luck, except for when your success would jeopardize the Gators' season. Hopefully, I'll never have to pull against you.

Coach, we love you right where you are at the University of Florida. We would love to have you for a while, if you don't mind. We're waiting with open arms.

Best Regards,

Joseph Morgan

Wake Forest Selection a Big Mistake—Not My Fault!

Joseph Morgan — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:16:25 -0400

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” This famous line, just one of Forrest Gump's many insightful witticisms, is a telling ideology of life—sports in particular.

As I sat down to fill out my NCAA bracket, I tried to keep this mantra in mind, despite my knack for always being right. However, even the most brilliant minds are susceptible to error, considering the magnitude of upsets such as Chaminade’s dismantling of top-ranked Virginia in 1982 and George Mason's "Cinderella" Final Four run in 2006.

Unfortunately, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, my projected Final Four team from the Midwest Region, gave me some pretty bad chocolate. They laid a gargantuan Cadbury Crème Egg (which are actually pretty good) against the underdog Cleveland State Vikings, 84-69.

Is this some sort of sick joke? How was my bracket catapulted to complete destruction on the first weekend of the tournament? I can’t help becoming infuriated with the Demon Deacons. I felt pretty good about their Final Four prospects.

First, Wake Forest played in the ACC, which is arguably the best conference in the nation—sending six teams to the Big Dance. Second, with wins over Indiana, North Carolina, Duke, and Maryland this season, they must have been doing something right. Additionally, I like sophomore guard Jeff Teague. He’s been the go-to-guy for the Demon Deacon offense, and NBA scouts have shown increased interest in him.

Do I now seem at least a little bit justified in my Final Four pick of Wake Forest or was I unaware of the juggernaut that is Cleveland State? Granted, the Vikings did upset Bob Knight and Indiana in the first round of the 1986 NCAA Tournament, but that was 23 years ago.

But how, in the spectrum of reality, could the Demon Deacons lose to a basketball team from Cleveland that doesn’t have LeBron James? Furthermore, how did the score become so lopsided? Am I missing something here? Since when is the Horizon League a juggernaut conference? Oh wait, it’s not!

While Cleveland State did upset the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome earlier this season, it does not make them the greatest team ever assembled. I think when Arizona, the ugly stepchild of the NCAA Tournament who supposedly did not deserve a shot at the national championship, easily defeated the Vikings—there’s a gut-wrencher for the Arizona “haters”.

The Demon Deacons are entirely to blame for ruining my bracket, and have alienated me from picking them again in the future. I blame Wake Forest, because I have exhausted all other possibilities except for the chance that I could have possibly been wrong—which, I can assure you, never happens.

In the end, I offer my congratulations to Coach Gary Waters and the Cleveland State Vikings. Although I am still fuming and somewhat bitter about the crippling blow the Vikings dealt to my bracket, I know that it is not the fault of Cleveland State. The blame lies entirely with the inadequacies and deception of a once-proud basketball institution that has produced the NBA likes of Tim Duncan and Chris Paul.

Ultimately, while I'm wallowing in the embarrassing misery of early elimination, I can at least take consolation in conclusion. Even though my perfection has been blemished, it was not of my own doing. I always know what chocolate is coming out of that box, Forrest. As you always say, “Stupid is as stupid does.” I wouldn’t know too much about that, but you can ask Wake Forest.

The NCAA Tournament Does Not Need a Cinderella

Joseph Morgan — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:00:41 -0400

One of the best things about the NCAA Tournament is the occasional emergence of an unstoppable mid-major giant slayer that steals America's heart.

As the underdog plows through college basketball's elite, mercilessly wrecking our brackets in the process, the nation falls in love with the team's "never say die" mentality and the magic of their Cinderella story.

The unbelievable runs that define March Madness, such as Davidson reaching the Elite Eight last season and George Mason's trip to the 2006 Final Four, are not only wildly exciting and entertaining, but they create an aura of excitement few sports can even dream of achieving.

When Cleveland State, Western Kentucky, and Dayton upset Wake Forest, Illinois, and West Virginia, respectively, in the first round last weekend. The Cinderella fervor started to develop as the college basketball world began to predict which team would be wearing the glass slipper in this season's Big Dance.

However, after the dream ended for all three bracket-busters in the second round, college basketball fans have fallen into a state of shock. Panicked, the remaining tournament field was scoured endlessly in the hopes of finding even the slightest trace of surprise team.

As a result, the Arizona Wildcats are now the tournament's feel-good Cinderella story.

Granted, their worthiness of receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament received excessive criticism (Look who's laughing now!). But a program that has played in the NCAA Tournament for 25 consecutive seasons and boasts regular season victories over Gonzaga, Kansas, and UCLA will not be calling on the help of a fairy godmother anytime soon.

The fact that some fans feel the need to identify a Cinderella team each season is an absolute joke. Obviously, there are other reasons to hold a grand ball, or rather, a tournament to determine college basketball's national champion, long before Cinderella first arrived.

In fact, there is a reason why Cinderella keeps coming back to crash the same party year after year. In essence, college basketball has an athletic and entertaining masterpiece in the NCAA Tournament.

CBS certainly do not need a surging mid-major to draw a large television audience for its annual March Madness telecast.

The NCAA probably does not need a feel good story to market the tournament either. The human-interest stories and the George Mason's of the world are just the sweet frosting on an already delicious tournament cake.

Besides, what is so wrong with having the best teams in college basketball competing for the national championship?

If only all sports were so lucky. Just ask a Texas Longhorns football fan what he thinks of the BCS. If the top teams in a sport are playing with a championship on the line, the event should sell itself.

A successful mid-major makes for great intrigue, but it is not vital to having an entertaining tournament.

Cinderella teams add a fun and unique twist to college basketball. There is a reason why fans tend to root for the underdog.

They inspire a sense of hope in other small schools, proving that it takes more than state-of-the-art facilities and alumni cash to build a top-notch basketball program. It takes hard work, determination, and all that other stuff your little league baseball coach talked about at every practice.

And the elite teams have these qualities too. They may not have the mysterious aura of St. Mary's or the small town charm of Binghamton, but they have the same commitment to winning. That is what really matters.

The Big Dance continues this weekend as the "Sweet Sixteen" take the court for a chance at college basketball immortality. Although Cinderella will not be there, we can still take consolation in one thing; the party doesn't have to end at midnight.

Jeff Francoeur's Success Key to Playoff Run for Atlanta Braves

Joseph Morgan — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:57:59 -0400

Entering the 2008 season, things were looking up for Atlanta Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

Francoeur was coming off a great 2007 season that featured him leading the Braves with 105 RBI and boosting his batting average from .260 in 2006 to .293 in the 2007 campaign.

He had a stellar year on defense as well in 2007, leading the National League with 19 outfield assists and winning his first Gold Glove Award. The only thing Frenchy looked to improve on was his home run total, a number that had dropped from 29 in 2006 to a respectable 19 in 2007.

However, once the season got underway, Francoeur desperately searched for improvement of any kind in his game. 2008 proved to be a nightmarish season for Atlanta's star outfielder, and it seemed as if there was nothing he could do to get back on the right track.

Francoeur managed to hit only 11 home runs, recorded a batting average of .239, and saw his RBI total drop to 71, a 34-RBI drop from the previous season. If that was not enough, Francoeur managed to record only 39 walks in a total of 599 at-bats. Granted, Frenchy has a reputation of being an aggressive hitter, but he severely lacked plate discipline during his season-long slump.

However, the event that probably sent him reeling even further was his demotion to the minor leagues—a move that rubbed Francoeur the wrong way.

The Braves optioned Francoeur to Double-A Mississippi in hopes that he would recover his swing with former hitting coach Phil Wellman. But, unfortunately, Atlanta couldn’t afford to make such a move at the time considering their problems with the injury bug.

Francoeur returned to the majors after a mere three days in the minor leagues, a move that turned out to be very beneficial for him initially. Yet, over time, Frenchy’s minor-league stint proved to be ineffective, as he finished the season mired in a slump.

As a result of Francoeur's woes, the Braves stumbled to a fourth-place finish in the NL East, posting a final record of 72-90, 20 games behind the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies.

However, all of the blame cannot be placed upon Francoeur. Baseball is a team sport. The Braves had an oft-injured starting rotation last season, which resulted in an overworked bullpen and a lot of inexperience on the pitching staff.

Fortunately for Atlanta, general manager Fran Wren was able to improve the pitching staff with the additions of Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami, and Javier Vazquez via trade and free agency.

Yet, while pitching was the Braves’ Achilles’ heel in 2008, the bats didn’t do much better. Atlanta finished 14th in the NL with 130 home runs, grounded into 143 double plays—fourth-most in the NL—and lost 30 one-run games.

In addition, the entire Atlanta outfield combined for only 27 home runs and lacked a consistent RBI threat the entire season.

So, if last season was not evidence enough, the Braves’ free-swinging right fielder plays a huge role in the Atlanta lineup.

Although the batting order features future Hall-of-Fame third baseman Chipper Jones and three-time All-Star catcher Brian McCann, Francoeur is a key component to their success. And when Frenchy’s hitting suffers, so does the Braves offense.

Although Francoeur is not the only offensive threat in the Atlanta lineup, there will be times this season when he will have to step up and be a clutch hitter.

Jones has not played an injury-free season since 2003, McCann is susceptible to the wear and tear of being an MLB catcher, and new addition Garrett Anderson is not exactly the youngest guy in the clubhouse at 36 years old.

While Atlanta’s top sluggers will certainly be there to help carry the offensive load, Francoeur will need to be a steady fortress for the Braves this season. So far, Francoeur has started out slowly in spring training, compiling a .111 batting average and only knocking in two runs in 18 at-bats.

While spring training is hardly an indication of how a player or team will perform during the regular season, the Braves still remain optimistic about Francoeur’s improvement.

Hopefully, that optimism will pay off down the stretch in 2009. A productive Francoeur may be the difference between a playoff berth and a fourth-straight postseason absence for Atlanta.

Enough With The NFL Already!

Joseph Morgan — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:25:27 -0500

While I am a crazy college football fanatic, I also consider myself a fan of the NFL.

I watch the regular season, the playoffs, the Super Bowl, and I even sit down with friends to watch the NFL Draft every April.

The NFL is easily the most popular professional sports league in the United States and deservedly so. However, I believe that all good things must come to an end eventually, and the NFL is no exception.

Each and every year, I become burned out on the NFL because of its extensive media coverage both during the season and in the months in between.

Granted, professional football does have a large fan base that burns with the anxiety of each team's offseason transactions. The offseason is crucial in every sport, but sometimes, the media coverage can be enough to drive even a die-hard NFLer crazy.

One example is ESPN Radio's morning talk show Mike and Mike in the Morning.

Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic make a great radio pair and I used to listen to the show's podcast on a daily basis. While they discuss a variety of sports topics on the show, the NFL is often prioritized, regardless of the time of year.

Recently, I cancelled my subscription because every other segment was either an interview with John Clayton or Chris Mortensen confirming Brett Favre's retirement.

With all due respect to the guys in Bristol, I just simply do not care that much.

In addition, the NFL Network televised the NFL Scouting Combine last week, where analysts broke down the necessity of the combine and its impact on the draft.

Admittedly, the combine is very important for prospective NFL rookies and teams with high draft picks, but is it necessary to broadcast the event to the entire nation?

No thanks. I'll watch some college basketball.

Yes, the NFL offseason is exciting, but the sports world has many other exciting options at hand.

For one, Spring Training has begun for MLB teams and the tri-annual World Baseball Classic is about to be played. Also, I don't know about you, but I want to know the names of the other 103 players who tested positive for steroids back in 2003.

The NBA also has a lot to offer as many teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences battle for crucial playoff seeding and home-court advantage.

By the way, was I the only person who watched the nail-biting Kobe vs. Shaq showdown Sunday?

In addition, in case you haven't noticed, it's March and lot of college teams still remain on the tournament bubble, hoping to punch their ticket to the Big Dance. Go ahead and start crunching stats for your office tournament pool—I know I am!

Aside from baseball and basketball, NASCAR has kicked into gear and there has already been a race-changing wreck by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Brian Vickers at the Daytona 500.

The NHL season is also heating up as it begins to hit its stretch run with several teams still gunning for the chance to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. If that's not enough, superstar Sidney Crosby continues to amaze hockey fans and Martin Brodeur is on the brink of NHL history for career wins and shutouts by a goalie.

So, while Matt Cassel's trade to the Kansas City Chiefs is a big deal, it doesn't warrant hours of discussion by ESPN, Fox Sports, etc. And frankly, the budding Jay Cutler saga does not intrigue me all that much.

I just don't want to open the sports section of the newspaper and read about Tom Brady's ACL injury every day.

I do not intend to rub the NFL or its fans the wrong way at all with my opinion; I genuinely enjoy the NFL and do not mind reasonable coverage of it. I just want to hear more about baseball and basketball in the spring and the summer. Then, I can gorge myself on college and pro football for the fall and winter months.

It is important that we play the field—excuse the pun—and take a break from every sport sooner or later.

It just makes each one that much more enjoyable.

Alex Rodriguez: A Sorry Apology

Joseph Morgan — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:44:38 -0500

This article was written following Alex Rodriguez's interview with Peter Gammons. While it is a late release, I wanted to put it out there. Thanks!

Alex Rodriguez, the most recent baseball player to be tainted by The Steroid Era, botched a golden opportunity to save his reputation in an interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons.

Selena Roberts of Sports Illustrated reported that A-Rod was among 104 MLB players who had tested positive for steroids in 2003.

Granted, Rodriguez displayed proactive judgment by approaching the story head-on, instead of denying his alleged past steroid use like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

However, he really had no choice, considering he was backed into a corner.

Rodriguez has publicly lied on several occasions about his steroid use, most notably in a 2007 interview with Katie Couric on 60 Minutes.

In addition, he denied accusations of cheating made by former major leaguer Jose Canseco, who has correctly identified Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, and others of steroid usage.

But when presented with concrete evidence from Roberts that challenged his past credibility on the issue, A-Rod decided to tell the truth about cheating.

So, while Rodriguez may be seen as a man of integrity because of his so-called honesty, he was simply a man out of options.

Admittedly, Rodriguez appeared remorseful in his interview, fighting back tears and speaking softly, defending his actions by pleading naiveté and youthful ignorance.

But A-Rod's ambiguity in his answers provided more questions than answers and has created doubts about his honesty even now.

Rodriguez insisted he only used steroids in his three seasons with the Texas Rangers, but believing him is difficult, considering his perceived knowledge of his drug use.

"Again, it was such a loosey-goosey era," Rodriguez said. "I'm guilty for a lot of things. I'm guilty for being negligent, naive, not asking all the right questions. And to be quite honest, I don't know exactly what substance I was guilty of using."

According to his comments, Rodriguez was unaware of what he, or another individual, was injecting into his body on a regular basis over a span of two years.

If anything, that sounds pretty “loosey-goosey.”

In addition, Rodriguez insists that he has not taken steroids or any other performance-enhancing drugs since he was traded to the New York Yankees in 2004.

“I’ve played the best baseball of my career since [stopping steroid use],” he said. “I’ve won two MVPs since and I’ve never felt better in my career. Of that I’m very proud.”

After lying extensively about using steroids, Rodriguez expects the nation to believe that a five-season span in which he hit 208 home runs and won two AL MVP Awards was “clean.”

Unfortunately for A-Rod, the majority of baseball fans, myself included, will not buy into what he says, considering his past tendencies to lie.

However, he made matters much worse as the interview with Gammons progressed, sticking his foot in his mouth once again.

Rodriguez, eager to move some of the spotlight away from him, attempted to smear Roberts, the journalist that reported his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

“What makes me upset is that Sports Illustrated pays this lady, Selena Roberts, to stalk me,” Rodriguez complained.

The accusations A-Rod has made against Roberts include that she tried to break into his home while his children were sleeping and that a police report was filed against Roberts involving the alleged events.

Rodriguez even mentioned that the University of Miami police had escorted Roberts off of the school’s campus.

"I can tell you that long list of things he alleged were a complete fabrication," Roberts said in an interview on The Dan Patrick Show.

As for the police report that A-Rod gave special emphasis to, it turned out to be benign and did not involve any violations of the law.

Instead, Roberts had asked police if the island where Rodriguez lived was considered private or public property, learning from the officer that it was indeed public property.

Once again, A-Rod has been caught in a lie—a big lie—but what’s new?

By using performance-enhancing drugs and lying about it repeatedly, along with his false accusations against Roberts, Rodriguez has taken a huge hit to his credibility and rightly so.

Maybe Joe Torre was justified in calling him “A-Fraud.”

He has not done anything to prove otherwise.

The Arizona Cardinals Are Determined Underdogs

Joseph Morgan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:55:55 -0500

Once again, an underdog from Arizona will be on the national stage.

While the Arizona Cardinals share the same primary color of John McCain and the Republican Party, they hope to have a better result than the political maverick.

The Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII Sunday, eager to win not only a Super Bowl championship, but some respect around the league as well.

Despite their incredible playoff run, the Cards are still seven-point underdogs for the big game Sunday, a role that they have become quite familiar with.

Facing the Atlanta Falcons at home, Arizona was an underdog to one of the league's most surprising teams in a very unexpected playoff matchup.

Experts speculated that the Cardinal defense wouldn't be able to stop Michael Turner and the Atlanta ground game, even with the support of a home crowd.

However, Arizona held Turner to 42 rushing yards and forced three turnovers, including Antrel Rolle's 27-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown that proved to be the difference in the game.

After defeating the Falcons, the Cardinals would travel to the dreaded East Coast, where they were 0-5 during the season, to face the Carolina Panthers.

Not surprisingly, the NFC West Champions were listed as underdogs, but by a much bigger margin against the 12-4 Panthers.

But the Cardinals would prove resilient once again, forcing six turnovers in an annihilation of heavily-favored Carolina 33-13 that shocked the NFL.

Coming off of a road victory against the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles would travel to Glendale to play Arizona for the NFC Championship.

Once again, Coach Ken Whisenhunt's team was expected to lose.

Yet, the "never say die" Cardinals continued to impress, taking a 24-6 lead over the Eagles into halftime.

Then, it began to look like the wheels were finally coming off of Arizona's playoff bandwagon when Philadelphia stormed back to take a 25-24 early in the fourth quarter.

However, quarterback Kurt Warner stepped up when his team needed him most, leading the Cardinals offense 72 yards down the field on 14 plays.

Warner capped off the drive with a game-winning touchdown pass to halfback Tim Hightower, causing pandemonium at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Arizona had done the unthinkable by clinching the NFC Championship and a trip to play in Super Bowl XLIII.

Yet, for some reason, the Cardinals are still not taken as seriously as they should be.

Despite having an explosive offense led by Warner and star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the Steelers are the consensus pick to win comfortably Sunday.

Granted, Pittsburgh has a great football team and deserves all of the credit that is coming their way, but it won't be a cakewalk for Steelers.

Safety Troy Polamalu will have to command his defense and find a way to shut down Arizona's receiving tandem of Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin--or at least slow them down.

The Cardinals' Pro Bowl receivers have combined for over 2,000 receiving yards and 23 touchdown catches during the regular season.

It doesn't get much easier for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense, facing an Arizona defense that has forced 12 turnovers in the playoffs alone.

In addition, the Cardinals have only given up 57.3 rushing yards per game in the postseason, facing top backs such as Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams, and Brian Westbrook.

There is absolutely no reason why Arizona cannot win this game.

In fact, it’s not even crazy to suggest that the Cards will upset the Steelers and win Super Bowl XLIII.

No one expected the Giants to defeat the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, which was played in Arizona’s stadium, nonetheless.

Also, with the recent success of other sports underdogs like the Tampa Bay Rays and the Utah Utes, it’s about time that an underdog wins the big one.

If the Cardinals can play like the same team that stormed right through the NFC Playoffs in January, then they can and will beat Pittsburgh and win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Besides, John McCain needs something to ease the pain of losing the presidential election.

A Super Bowl victory for his Arizona Cardinals wouldn’t be a bad start.

The 10 Best Starting Pitchers in the National League

Joseph Morgan — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:36:36 -0500

With a less than a month until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, the Major League Baseball season is upon us. With the arrival of America's pasttime near, fans and experts alike begin to debate which players and teams are the best in baseball. However, the speculation all comes to an end when the season starts--that's why they play the game. With no further ado, here are the best pitchers in the National League.

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Tim Tebow is The Greatest Florida Gator Ever

Joseph Morgan — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:05:50 -0500

The debate is over.

What once was speculation is now fact.

Tim Tebow is the greatest Florida Gator ever.

With all due respect to Florida's other Heisman Trophy winners Danny Wuerffel and Steve Spurrier, Tebow is in another league.

The Gator quarterback can even make a claim as one of the greatest players in college football history after winning his second national championship at Florida Jan. 8.

So, what makes Tebow the greatest football player to ever wear the Gator orange and blue in The Swamp?

Let's take a look at his resumé.

From the moment Tebow arrived in Gainesville, he was a rock star among the Gator Nation.

Heralded as one of the top recruits in the country, expectations for Tebow were through the roof before he even took a snap in practice.

However, Tebow took on the challenge like he does rival linebackers—head on.

As a freshman, "Superman" played a vital role on the national championship team, spelling Chris Leak on short-yardage downs and often providing a spark for the Gators.

Tebow finished the season with 469 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns and five passing touchdowns, laying the foundation for his legend.

As the 2007 approached, No. 15 was set to take reigns of Urban Meyer's spread offense after Leak's graduation.

While every team in the nation was aware of Tebow's ability to plow over defenders on the run, there were still unanswered questions about his passing ability.

Would he be able to lead the Gators’ aerial attack against the tough defenses of the SEC?

Tebow answered his critics with a resounding yes, passing for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns.

He even finished the season with a passer rating of 172.47, good enough for the second best mark in the nation.

However, while he was busy piling up stats through the air, Tebow did not give up his running ways.

The Gators’ dual-threat quarterback continued to build his reputation as one of the most dangerous ground threats in the game, racking up eye-popping numbers.

Tebow rushed for 895 yards on 210 attempts for an average of 4.26 yards per carry, a remarkable feat considering that he suffered 13 sacks during the season.

However, Tebow’s most impressive statistic may have been his 23 rushing touchdowns, an SEC record for the most in a single season—at any position.

The Florida signal-caller’s 32 touchdown passes and 23 rushing touchdowns made him the first player to ever throw and run for 20 or more touchdowns in a single season.

Tebow’s outstanding season was good enough to make him the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy and added yet another chapter to his legendary football career as a Gator.

While Tebow had arguably the best individual season in college football history, his best days as a Gator were still yet to come in 2008.

The 2008 version of the Gators looked to be a legitimate BCS National Championship contender with their high-powered offense and what looked to be an improved defense.

The defense showed their mettle early, pairing with the special teams to provide the majority of the points as the Gators rattled off three blowout victories to start the season.

However, it all came to an end against Ole Miss in “the Swamp” as the Gators fell victim to Houston Nutt and the Rebels 31-30.

The defining moment of the game came when Tebow was stopped on a fourth down run to seal the victory for the University of Mississippi.

This would also prove to be the defining moment of not only the Gators’ season, but perhaps Tebow’s entire career as a Florida Gator.

Following the game, Tebow addressed the media, making a statement that will forever be enshrined as a classic moment in Gator football history.

“You will never see another player in the entire country play as hard as I will play for the rest of this season," Tebow said. "You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody for the rest of this season. God bless."

Tebow kept true on his promise, tossing 23 touchdown passes, rushing for 10 more, and amassing 2,487 yards of total offense for the remainder of the season.

Yet, there was still something that Tebow had never accomplished before the 2008 season—and the opportunity arose against No. 1 Alabama with the SEC Championship on the line.

Prior to the matchup with ‘Bama, Tebow had never led the Gators to a come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter, failing to do so five times before.

However, Tebow picked the perfect time to step up, leading Florida 65 yards down the field on a clock-killing drive and sealing a 31-20 victory for the Gators with a touchdown pass to Riley Cooper.

Oh yeah, and he did this without the services of his favorite target—Percy Harvin.

Tebow’s clutch performance in 2008 helped earn him an invite to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, but more importantly, a spot for Florida in the BCS National Championship Game.

While Tebow was denied a second consecutive Heisman Trophy in favor of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, he kept his eyes on the prize he desired most of all.

“I’ll be motivated enough [for the BCS Championship Game],” Tebow said.

While Tebow may have had enough motivation for the matchup with Oklahoma, Sooners cornerback Dominique Franks decided to make sure that that was the case.

“If you look at the three best quarterbacks in the country, they all come from the Big 12,” said Franks, referring to Bradford, Texas’s Colt McCoy, and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell.

Franks continued, saying that Tebow would “probably be about the fourth-best quarterback in our conference.”

It’s probably safe to say that Franks has never heard about Geno Hayes of Florida State or Ricky Jean-Francois of LSU.

Don’t mess with Tebow.

The “fourth-best quarterback in the Big 12” declined comment on Franks’ words, actually appearing to lack interest in Franks’ comments.

“I have enough to be motivated about,” Tebow said. “Holding the crystal ball up is No. 1.”

Regardless of what he says, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner was ready for the BCS Championship Game, even without a Heisman snub or Franks’ opinions.

However, he did not get out to a good start in the first half, throwing two interceptions that could have easily turned into points.

Fortunately, the Gators’ stellar defense was there to pick up the slack, stopping arguably the best offense in college football history in the red zone—twice.

His bad first half was all that it took to get Tebow back on the right track as he led the Gator offense on two crucial scoring drives in the fourth quarter to put Oklahoma away.

No. 15 finished off the night with 231 yards passing, 109 rushing yards, and two touchdowns, earning Offensive MVP honors.

After winning a second national championship, paired with his Heisman Trophy, Tebow is simply the greatest player to ever don the Orange and Blue.

Tebow has a tenacity and a competitive fire that few Gators, past or present, can rival.

Tebow has it all.

Whether it is his powerful throwing arm, his bruising running style, or his ability to come through in the clutch, especially with a championship at stake, Tebow is the full package.

In addition, few can send "the Swamp" into a frenzy just by pumping his fists into the air.

Tebow epitomizes the passion and the spirit of college football and it shows through the toughness and emotion he plays with every time he steps out on the field.

Luckily for the Gator Nation, Tebow is not finished yet.

During Florida’s championship celebration at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Tebow announced his intent to return to Gainesville for his senior season.

"It's even more motivation maybe for one more year," Tebow said, following the Heisman Trophy ceremony. "I still got one more chance, right?"

Yes, you do Tim.

As if he needs one.

BCS Championship Game Preview: The Battle for No. 1

Joseph Morgan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:36:09 -0500

After reading hundreds of previews for the BCS Championship Game, it started to become redundant.

While there were several out there that I thoroughly enjoyed, many others just repeated what I have been hearing on ESPN for the last month.

I will now do my best to counter the main arguments that have been made for both sides and I will offer what I think will be the deciding factor in this game.

Those who favor the Gators argue that the Sooners' sketchy pass defense will allow Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin to have a field day in Miami come Thursday.

However, Oklahoma's run of dominance is actually quite impressive, considering that eight of their opponents this season rank in the Top 25 nationally in scoring offense.

Sure, the offense is scoring a bunch of points, but Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham aren't playing both ways.

Give these guys some credit.

In addition, this is the most important game that the Sooner defense has ever played to date and you can bet on them bringing their A-game against Florida.

By the way, didn't they do a pretty good job of containing that Michael Crabtree guy?

Oklahoma is no pushover—they are talented on both sides of the ball.

While there are those who favor the orange and blue, just as many folks think that Bob Stoops and the Sooners will be college football's national champions.

A major argument coming from this side is the apparent weakness of the schedule Florida played this season.

The Gators' signature wins this season came against LSU, Georgia, and Florida State, three teams that are normally in the BCS hunt.

However, injuries and youth proved too much for these perennial title game contenders to overcome and the strength of Florida's opposition has been questioned.

Well, here's your answer.

Every opponent on the Gator's schedule made a postseason bowl game except for The Citadel, a FCS team.

Another key factor is that Florida faced 10 teams that ranked among the Top 40 in total defense in 2008, scoring an average of 42.3 points per game against them.

The Gators are battle-tested and they are ready for the Sooners.

Although I agree that the aforementioned factors will play huge roles in this game, the main battle will be between the head coaches.

Here is a closer look at what the coaches bring to this game and how they will both affect the outcome dramatically.

Stoops is a terrific football coach.

Since the 2000 season, Stoops has more wins (102) than any other active coach in college football.

In addition, the former Florida defensive coordinator has led the Sooners to eight BCS bowl games during his tenure in Norman and does not look to be slowing down any time soon.

However, Stoops is beginning to lose his reputation for winning important games.

After losing four consecutive BCS bowl games, along with three losses to archrival Texas in the last four seasons.

While his recent futility in big games may be considered a weakness, it provides motivation for Stoops and the Sooners to break that streak as well.

Stoops is one of the top coaches in college football today, but Urban Meyer isn't too shabby either.

Meyer is phenomenal when given multiple weeks to prepare for games, sporting a 24-3 record following bye weeks.

In fact, he was undefeated in bowl games until Chad Henne and Michigan torched the Gators' youthful secondary in the 2008 Capital One Bowl.

Meyer is also a great motivator, doing whatever it takes to fire his team up and get them ready to play their best football.

He even admitted in his book, Urban's Way, to making up criticism of the Gators prior to their matchup with Ohio State in the BCS Championship Game two seasons ago, attributing it to ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit.

I'd be willing to bet that he is talking up his defense, telling them that there is no way they will be able to stop the 60-point juggernaut that is the Oklahoma offense.

I'm sure Meyer even makes a point to constantly remind Tebow which player won the Heisman Trophy this season and that he is only the fourth best quarterback in college football.

One more factor is Meyer's control of the special teams.

Ever since he has arrived at Florida, he has taken command of that unit, making the Gators' special teams one of the best in the nation.

Featuring one of the top kick returners in the nation in Brandon James and boasting seven blocked kicks in 2008, special teams may be Florida's greatest advantage.

While they are both great coaches, the coaching advantage goes to Meyer.

His ability to motivate his players and think quickly on his feet, combined with the discipline and explosiveness of the Gators' special teams will prove to be the difference in Miami.

The Florida Gators will defeat the Oklahoma Sooners in what should be a great BCS Championship Game to collect their second crystal football in three seasons.

Florida Gators 38, Oklahoma Sooners 34

Statistics courtesy of gatorzone.com, soonersports.com, and cfbstats.com.

Dominique Franks' Words Will Fuel Tim Tebow, Florida Gators

Joseph Morgan — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:35:30 -0500

There are two key qualities of a great player.

One is the player's athletic ability and how efficiently he plays his position on the field.

The other is the ability to leave everything on the playing field, or to disprove one's critics with your performance on the field instead of using words.

While Dominique Franks has picked up on the first quality, he still has much to learn about the second.

When responding to questions about how the Sooner defense would stop Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, Franks decided to speak up, instead of saving his retaliation for the matchup with the Gators Jan. 8.

"If you look at the three best quarterbacks in the country, they came from the Big 12," said Franks, referring to Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, and Texas' Colt McCoy.

Franks, however, was not finished after that statement.

"With us being in Florida and playing against Florida, everybody's going to think Tebow should have won the Heisman," Franks said, "but the right person won the Heisman, and we're going to go out there and show everybody the reason why he won it."

Granted, Franks' comments are logical and many agree with his assessment, but it was not his place to say them, especially during the week of the BCS title game.

Up until this point, Oklahoma was winning the mental battle against Florida.

Faced with questions about whether they deserve to be in the BCS Championship Game instead of Texas, the Sooners had plenty of bulletin board material.

However, the comments Franks made about Tebow are a significant game-changer.

Just in case Oklahoma's sophomore cornerback hasn't heard, Tebow thrives on criticism.

Just ask former Florida State linebacker Geno Hayes what happened when he decided to trash talk Tebow.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner accounted for five touchdowns and amassed 353 yards of total offense in a 45-12 Gator victory over the Seminoles.

If that wasn't enough, LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois had the nerve to go after Tebow as well, saying that the Tiger defense would knock him out of the game.

Tebow then proceeded to shred the LSU defense for three touchdowns and 232 yards of total offense in a 51-21 rout of the defending BCS National Champions.

Calling out your opponent is one thing, but calling out Tim Tebow and the Gators takes it to another level.

In addition to providing extra motivation for Tebow, Franks' comments put an even bigger target on the back of Sooners signal-caller Sam Bradford.

Heisman Trophy winners have a record of 1-5 in BCS Championship Games and the fact that Bradford's victory prevented Tebow from winning his second straight Heisman Trophy makes him even more susceptible to the wrath of the Florida defense.

Eventually, Tebow will hear about what Franks had to say about him, but he won't go to the media to respond.

Instead, he will take the field with a vengeance, running over every Oklahoma defender who gets in the way of Florida's second national title in three seasons.

The Sooner defense will need to back up Franks' remarks if they plan on taking the crystal football back to Norman.

Tebow will be leaving everything on the field like the great player that he is.

NFL Week 17: Examples Of What College Football Could Be

Joseph Morgan — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:55:40 -0500

I consider myself an avid football fan.

I often spend weekends in the fall sitting on the couch with a remote control in my hand and a football game on TV.

However, while I love to watch football, the college game was the lone object of my affection for the sport.

Granted, the NFL is very entertaining and plays host to the best football in the world, but it used to lack intrigue for me.

I seldom watched the NFL and only checked scores in passing.

However, that has changed in recent years as the past few seasons in both college and professional football have caused me to take a more invested interest in each.

College football has been subjected to controversy surrounding the BCS rankings numerous times, especially this season with the chaos in determining the winner of the Big 12 South.

If Oklahoma, Texas, or Texas Tech, which were deadlocked in a three-way tie for first in the Big 12 South, were to defeat Missouri in the Big 12 title game, a BCS Championship Game berth was almost ensured.

However, since the Longhorns had defeated the Sooners, who had defeated the Red Raiders, who had defeated Texas, then the BCS rankings would determine the winner.

While the three teams were fairly even in the rankings, Texas Tech suffered a big blow by being the last of the trio to lose a game, a 65-21 thrashing, courtesy of Oklahoma.

By virtue of the recent blowout, it came down to Oklahoma and Texas, a matchup that favored the Longhorns thanks to their 45-35 neutral field victory over the Sooners earlier in the season.

However, the offensive juggernaut that was Oklahoma racked up several impressive blowout victories, proving to be just enough to propel the Sooners past the Longhorns into the Big 12 Championship Game.

The fallout from this result has only intensified the fervent call for a type of playoff system to determine college football's national champion.

Despite the widespread call for a playoff by fans and media alike, the conference commissioners that make up the BCS argue that a playoff would diminish the value of the exciting regular season that makes college football so great.

And that brings me to my point.

Each season, the NFL has a 12-team playoff that culminates in the Super Bowl—a game that pits the NFL’s two best teams against each other with a championship on the line.

Year after year, the NFL playoffs consistently prove to be a much better alternative to the BCS.

For example, had the NFL been run by the BCS in 2007, the New England Patriots would have faced the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XLII and possibly could have made history by finishing the year undefeated at 19-0.

Instead, thanks to a playoff, the New York Giants (who beat the Cowboys in the divisional round) proved to be the best team in the NFL by defeating the Patriots and ending their bid for perfection.

The Super Bowl, combined with both an exciting playoff and regular season, has made the NFL America’s favorite pastime.

As a result, the NFL is much more comfortable with its champion and there is little fuss about whether each legitimate contender had a shot at a championship or not.

College football, unfortunately, cannot say the same thing.

Whether it was the split National Championship between LSU and USC in 2003, the snubbing of undefeated Auburn in 2004, or this season’s Big 12 fiasco, the BCS often leaves several deserving teams no chance to prove their worth.

The fear of diminishing the excitement of the regular season comes at the cost of excluding worthy contenders from the National Championship picture.

Excitement is not tangible. A crystal football is. We live in a material world.

Is it fair that Florida is playing for the BCS Championship after losing to Ole Miss, but Penn State and USC are sitting at home for losing to Iowa and Oregon State, respectively?

It is if you are a member of the Gator Nation, but the folks at Happy Valley and the Coliseum would surely object.

The presence of a playoff in any sport does not diminish the excitement of the regular season, but rather, it only adds to it.

While I normally do not watch the NFL, I sat down and watched the Week 17 action—and I enjoyed it immensely.

Thirteen NFL teams were fighting for their playoff lives Sunday and the energy and atmosphere from each game was electric.

America saw several contenders crumble under pressure (e.g. Dallas, Denver, and Chicago) while other teams who had previously been left for dead (e.g. San Diego and Philadelphia) clinched playoff berths.

A playoff in college football would give teams the opportunity to keep pushing hard until season’s end instead of folding the tent in mid-October after only a loss or two.

Some argue that the “one and done” system for losses is better for the sport, but I would disagree.

Last season’s national champion had two losses, along with other deserving teams who were left out of the BCS title game.

And with the rapidly growing parity in college football, a situation similar to the 2007 season could rear its ugly head once again.

We simply cannot decide which two teams deserve a chance to play for the national championship when there are more than two that meet the criteria.

Leave objectivity to sports talk radio shows and bloggers.

Take it out of the process of crowning college football’s champion.

A playoff is necessary to maintain the integrity of equal opportunity.

College football is a great sport, but it has the potential to become even greater.

The NFL’s got it right—the 2007 postseason and Week 17 of the 2008 season proved that.

College football should follow suit, but it needs a little nudge.

Hopefully, the example of the NFL can provide it.