Bleacher Report - Articles by Tom McCartney

VERY Happy Valley: Oregon State Helps Silence Penn State Critics

Tom McCartney — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:46:31 -0400

STATE COLLEGE, PA—When the Oregon State Beavers left Penn State University on Sept. 6, they left with their tails tucked far between their legs. There was no real team morale about them. Head coach Mike Riley did not appear very happy at all with his team's performance. After all, they had been dominated.

The Nittany Lions dominated both sides of the ball. On the defensive side, the Lions held the Beavers to 92 rushing yards and held the passing attack, which was playing from behind, to 250 yards. The Lions accomplished this feat with their second string in for a large portion of the game.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Lions roared loud and strong. The rushing attack was good for 239 yards, including 112 and three touchdowns by Evan Royster. In the passing attack, Daryll Clark picked apart the Beavers. Clark threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns, as well as adding his own 61 yards on the ground with a rushing touchdown.

The Lions took the game by a score of 45-14. They looked sharp in every aspect of the game. Oregon State, on the other hand, not so much. The Beavers were overpowered in every sense. They did not play offense well, and they certainly did not play defense well at all.

In fact, the only real bright spot for the Beavers was a freshman by the name of Jacquizz Rodgers. Rodgers broke three tackles up the middle for a 12-yard touchdown in the closing minutes of the first half. Rodgers would also add a touchdown in the closing minutes of the game, finishing with 99 yards on the day.

With the exception of two late scores by a freshman, however, the Beavers just did not look good. Basically, nature took its course, as the Lions ate the Beavers whole.

When the spotlights shut off late that Saturday at Beaver Stadium, there was no postgame celebration. Students didn't storm the field (actually, most left before the fourth quarter even started). Players didn't take a victory lap. There was no Gatorade cooler dumped upon Joe Paterno's head.

The game was a win. There was satisfaction, but no alarming rejoice.

While Penn State students and faculty were satisfied with the win, the media was not so impressed. The Lions had just shredded the number one run defense of the previous year and were receiving no love at all. ESPN commentators, journalists (yes, you Bleacher Reporters too), and rival schools alike all took shots at Penn State's scheduling tactics.

"They don't schedule anyone tough," "None of their teams could beat any team in a 'real' conference," and "Wait 'til Penn State gets killed in Big Ten action" were all common phrases you'd hear uttered.

Penn State needed to prove a point. Averaging more than 55 points a game at the time of the win apparently just wasn't enough (tough crowd, eh?). After all, this was a schedule that included teams like Coastal Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, and...oh yeah, Oregon State.

However, Penn State thought they'd need to wait until Illinois came to the "White House" to prove that point.

Au contraire, monsieur. Two days before the Illini lined up in Happy Valley, the Beavers did all the vouching they could to the skill of Penn State.

The Oregon State Beavers took the field at home against the almighty No. 1 University of Southern California Trojans. It was a night Beaver faithful will never forget. When Oregon State took the field, they came ready to play, taking a 21-point lead into halftime.

However, the Trojans bounced back. By the end of the third quarter, the Trojans had nearly closed the gap, trailing by only seven. Oregon State would then show tremendous resiliency.

Still up by only seven, senior Greg Laybourn sealed the deal with an interception to put the Beavers at the USC two. Trusty freshman Jacquizz Rodgers showed his performance in Beaver Stadium wasn't just a fluke and punched it in for six to put the Trojans down 13. A late Trojan score was not enough to reverse the score.

As Beaver nation stormed the field in Oregon, fans in State College looked on with a smile. The team that Penn State routed 45-14 had just beaten the "best" team in the nation.

The two interceptions OSU quarterback Lyle Moevao threw against the Nittany Lions reversed themselves against USC. Moevao finished with 167 yards and two touchdowns.

Fortunately for the Trojans, they matched the Lions, holding tailback Jacquizz Rodgers to only two touchdowns. However, Rodgers was able to squeeze out 186 yards against the Trojans, nearly double what he gained against the Lions.

It seems as though the Lions have already been able to silence the critics—not by their own doing against Illinois, but thanks to the play of the ferocious Beavers. The No. 1 team in the nation had lost to a team the Nittany Lions beat by 31 points.

Immediately following the game, ESPN commentator Chris Fowler noted that "the Penn State Nittany Lions should be on everyone's watch list now," referencing their 45-14 victory.

Jesse Palmer added his thoughts, saying that Penn State "blew out this Beaver team" and showed optimism that if teams like Penn State and Wisconsin continue, the Big Ten could overtake the Pac-10.

It appeared as though for at least one night, the Beavers had silenced Penn State's critics.

While the Lions still have a lot to prove on their own and have many big games they need to win, at least Oregon State University has assisted them in establishing their credibility. Maybe Penn State has played more than just "nobodies" this year after all.

With the Big Ten schedule opening up this weekend, the Nittany Lions have the potential to make it a very Happy Valley this year in State College.

Are the Penn State Nittany Lions For Real?

Tom McCartney — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:49:53 -0400

University Park, PA: If someone were to announce a few years ago that in Week 5 of 2008, The Penn State Nittany Lions would be ranked ahead of the great Michigan and Ohio State, would you believe them? Believe it or not, it's not that surprising.

The Lions are 4-0 on the young season, having not been challenged really even once. They are the second highest ranked Big Ten team currently, standing at No. 12 in both the AP and Coaches polls, trailing only the Badgers of Wisconsin.

Suddenly, the Lions look to be a possible longshot at a national title, and a BCS bowl is definitely not out of the question. So let's examine... is it possible the Lions are for real?

Most people would argue that the answer to this is sort of up in the air. After all, the Lions have only played the likes of Coastal Carolina, Oregon State, Syracuse, and Temple. For the purposes of this article though, the answer is yes.

As it stands after four weeks, the Nittany Lions rank sixth in the NCAA in total offense. They rank 25th in passing yards per game and eighth in rushing yards per game. They also are uncharacteristically ranked third in total points. Their offense is cruising.

So can this offensive surge last? I think so. The passing game is led by Daryll Clark, who has the Lions' offense poised to continue this pace. Clark has been able to make throws with relative ease thus far, and with the exception of the first half against Temple last week, he's been very accurate.

Against last year's tougher defenses, like Michigan, Ohio State, and Illinois, then senior quarterback Anthony Morelli ran into trouble against the pass rush, stalling drives with great frequency.

Clark, on the other hand, offers the scrambling ability that has not been seen from a Penn State quarterback since Michael Robinson departed to the NFL. The passing game is also anchored by three great receivers, possibly one of the best receiving corps in the nation.

Senior Derrick Williams has proved to be a playmaker in his Happy Valley career and entered the season fourth on PSU's all-time receiving list. Williams offers great versatility as a downfield receiver, a screen presence, a reverse threat, and of course a dynamic kick returner.

Opposite of Williams is Deon Butler, who will pass Bobby Engram by season's end to be the school's all-time receptions leader. Butler has proven to be a playmaker and is a great threat in the red zone despite only being 5-foot-10.

Third receiver Jordan Norwood is a great complement to the two studs in front of him, and always seems to come up with a clutch catch.

The Lions' running game is anchored by a veteran offensive line. Upperclassmen Dennis Landolt, Gerald Cadogan, Rich Ohrnberger, and Rimington Award candidate A.Q. Shipley round out a great front five. These "big uglies" pave the way for running back Evan Royster, last year's breakout freshman threat.

Royster offers great field vision and has proved to be a workhorse so far this season, averaging almost 100 yards every game. He is complimented by freshman Stephfon Green, who has already emerged as a big-play threat early this season. The running game is definitely strong and is capable of wearing down a team late.

"Ok, so Penn State's offense is impressive... so what? That means nothing without a defense." Hold your horses, my friend.

The Penn State defense proves to be strong this year as well. After all, you don't earn the nickname "Linebacker U" without at least being able to stop somebody here and there. Although this year's Penn State defense sort of takes the "no name" defense kind of feel, they have still played solid thus far.

While linebacker Sean Lee's injury departure will most likely hurt the Lions more as the season progresses, the play of senior safety Anthony Scirrotto has made up for the loss in part with his stellar play. Scirrotto has played well in both the secondary and as a run stopper, acting almost as an extra linebacker.

Scirrotto's secondary mates include Lydell Sargeant, AJ Wallace, and Tony Davis, who all had ups and downs last season. Wallace is probably the most athletic of the group, possessing solid speed and capabilities as a corner.

Sargeant's coverage ability was spotty at best last season, but he is a tremendous open field tackler which minimizes yards after the catch and helps the run defense. Davis is a senior who has played well thus far this season.

The Nittany Lion linebackers are once again above average. As mentioned above, Sean Lee is unable to perform this year; however, others have stepped up this season.

Outside linebacker Tyrell Sales anchors the crew, a senior who has been overshadowed in his PSU career by names like Pozluzny, Connor, and Lee. Junior outside linebacker Bani Gbadyu has also played well so far this season, stopping runs before they start.

The defensive line looks to be the Lions' biggest problem defensively this season. Not because of lack of ability, but because of careless off-field decisions. Maurice Evans was supposed to anchor this year's defensive line as a playmaker upfront, but due to off-field troubles; his status for the rest of the season is unclear.

The same goes for junior DT Abe Koroma whose status is also in the air from the same altercation. Senior Josh Gaines is still around, however, and poised for a solid campaign.

Jared Odrick and Ollie Ogbu could also step up at the tackle position this season. The troubles of the line have not hurt the Lions yet, as they have played with the lead all season. This could be a great flaw in a closer game in the future.

Now that we've analyzed the Lions' team, let's look at their opposition.

A common argument against Penn State is that their schedule is too weak. While this is an argument for a separate article, I feel obligated to make a small comment here.

Assessing their out of conference schedule thus far, CCU was scheduled as a guaranteed home opening win; just about every team does this.

Oregon State was scheduled because they were supposed to be an up and coming team. Unfortunately, they have not progressed. Syracuse is a rivalry game from way back in the day.

PSU alumni still hate Syracuse to this day from back in the Penn State-Big East discussions. Temple is another rivalry game played every year.

The rest of their schedule is necessary Big Ten competition. If you're still knocking the schedule, look at Ohio State, Michigan, and Illinois. Teams like Youngstown State, Ohio, Troy, Miami-Ohio, Toledo, Eastern Illinois, and Louisiana-Lafayette can all be found on their schedules.

Now that that's off my chest, let's look at the Lions' remaining schedule.

Illinois: The Illini started off with an impressive 10-point loss to Mizzou, putting up 42 points in the process. However, their defense was shredded for 52 points. They then beat Eastern Illinois by 20, however they still gave up 21 points to a weak opponent.

Moving forward, they only beat Louisiana-Lafayette by a score of 20-17. A three-point victory over the Ragin Cajuns??? When Saturday Night Football hits Happy Valley in the White House, the Lions take this one.

Purdue: No real concerns here. W.

Wisconsin: Quite possibly the toughest test for the Lions. After all, this is a road game, and those seem to not go so well for Dear Old State. Wisconsin beat Akron considerably and routed Marshall, but played shaky on the road at Fresno State last week.

Let's keep in mind that Fresno kept Rutgers in the game week one and Rutgers just lost to Navy...really? If mistakes are minimal, Lions take this one.

Michigan: Usually, this would probably be a huge paragraph. Not this year. Michigan lost to Utah and got spanked by Notre Dame, and only beat Miami-OH by 10 points. This game is at home for the Lions and an anxious student body gives the Lions the edge. W.

Ohio State: This is the big one. In Columbus. Tressel vs. Joe Pa. Terrelle Pryor's first sight of the Lions since his visit to Happy Valley.

This game is dependent on a few things. Can the Penn State cornerbacks stop Pryor from airing it out? Can the Penn State D-line win the battle of the trenches and get to Beanie Wells? Will Daryll Clark continue to play well and avoid the pass rush?

Can Evan Royster use his vision to avoid James Laurinaitis in the open field? Many things will factor in to this game. However, if the Buckeyes continue to let teams like Ohio and Troy hang around, the Lions have more than a shot.

Unfortunately, I think Columbus is too much for the Lions and Tressel makes great adjustments. Lions lose a close one.

Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State: No worries here. Two of these three are at home, and a hungry offense will want to ensure last year's Michigan State episode does not happen again.

Penn State finishes 11-1 to me. That should be plenty for a BCS bowl.

The Penn State season looks promising. The offense has been stellar thus far and looks like it's going to blow away last year's, which was a problem in almost every game. While the defense isn't flawless, it should be enough to stall offenses and allow the offense to carry them.

While the easiest of the schedule is behind them, the Lions looked poised to finish strong. Illinois and Michigan are big games, but are at home, which greatly benefits the Lions.

Wisconsin is a tough road game, but the Lions should have enough to take it. Ohio State looks to be the only speed bump, but is still a very winnable game.

What's in store for the Penn State Nittany Lions this season cannot be exactly predicted by an undergraduate student for certain, but if there was any certainty this season, it's that the Penn State Nittany Lions could have a very special year.

WE ARE...

Greg Maddux: The Greatest of his Era

Tom McCartney — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:51:23 -0400

It wasn't until I saw Greg Maddux walk off the mound after the bottom of the fifth inning on Sunday that I began thinking—Is he the greatest pitcher of this era?

Most definitely.

As the game cut to commercial, I began naming all of the great pitchers I've witnessed in my 19 short years: Clemens, Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Martinez, Johnson, Cone, Schilling, Mussina.

Can I say I'd backseat Maddux to any of them? After the fall of Roger Clemens, no.

You see, Maddux has still got it. Completing five innings on Sunday for his 349th career victory, he allowed no runs and gave up only two hits.

With Clemens out of the picture, let's take a look at Maddux's other competitors.

Tom Glavine

While he was neck and neck with Maddux for years, a move to the New York Mets simply killed his comfortable Atlanta win total. He didn't take well to Shea Stadium, seeing his ERA increase a great amount.

Let's also keep in mind that Glavine has the left-handed advantage over Maddux, a lethal weapon in any stage of a pitcher's career. This just goes on to further show that Maddux is a more quality pitcher than Tommy G.

John Smoltz

His 209 career victories look non-existent compared to Maddux's 349, and a few years in the bullpen salvaged Smoltzy's ERA a bit. As of now, Smoltz doesn't match Maddux's strikeout numbers either.

Pedro Martinez

While he took the liberty of crowning himself the best pitcher of his era, Pedro doesn't match up to Maddux in numbers. Still 140 wins behind Maddux, Pedro proved he isn't nearly as durable either.

Injuries aside, Maddux's 109 career complete games can't even be touched by Pedro's 46. Although Pedro gets the nod when it comes to ERA, his other stats don't even make him half the pitcher Maddux is.

Randy Johnson

Like Glavine, the lefty factor has helped Johnson tremendously, as well as his great height. With only two less seasons in the big leagues than Maddux, I'll let you do the math.

He has 65 less wins than Maddux, a higher ERA, 33 more home runs surrendered, and 501 more free passes. While Maddux spent all those years being a pitcher, Johnson was a thrower who only recently learned to pitch.

Advantage to Maddux.

David Cone

Cone is my favorite pitcher of all time—I had to include him.

While injuries and a strike prevented him from winning 200 games, Coney's presence was always strong. However, Maddux takes the cake in wins, ERA, CGs, and Ks. No contest.

Curt Schilling

Despite the fact that he's still pitching—and somewhat effectively—Schilling isn't nearly as durable as Maddux. He will fall far short of Maddux in starts, and thus wins. His ERA is almost a half run higher and he has surprisingly less strikeouts.

While Schilling experienced six or seven years of greatness, Maddux has experienced practically a career of it.

Mike Mussina

Falling short of only Clemens, Glavine, and Johnson in wins on this competitor list, Mussina's 251 is still far less than 349. Mussina has never won 20 games and his ERA is more than a half run higher than Maddux's.

Maddux takes this no contest.

When all is said and done, Greg Maddux is the best pitcher of this era. He survived the steroids era while keeping his name clean and dominating throughout. While people will look at Clemens' and Johnson's strikeouts and Pedro's winning percentage, Maddux is the most complete pitcher of them all.

So when my grandsons are sitting on my lap 50 years down the road and they ask me, "Pop, who was the greatest pitcher you ever saw?" I'll mention Clemens. I'll speak of Glavine and Smoltz. I'll certainly glorify Cone's heart. I might even name drop Johnson and Pedro.

But when push comes to shove, I'll look down and say "Greg Maddux."

Ian Kennedy Improves, Robinson Cano's Pinch-Hit Homer Wins it for Yanks

Tom McCartney — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:35:44 -0400

ST. PETERSBURG—Ian Kennedy showed his critics otherwise on Monday, pitching six innings and surrendering three earned runs against the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays before departing in the seventh after being hit by a Jason Bartlett line drive.

As of now, the Yankees don't think Kennedy should miss any time due to the blow.

While it wasn't the most graceful of outings, Kennedy got the job done, pitching what's defined as a quality start (six innings, three earned runs). Kennedy surrendered eight hits and walked two in his effort against the Rays in Tampa.

Six innings is all the Yankees need out of Kennedy every five days, and if he can put them in a spot to win when he leaves the game as he did on Monday, the Chamberlain-Rivera effect should take its course.

Kennedy should have earned the win in his outing, but with the bereavement absence of Joba Chamberlain, shaky performances by Billy Traber and Brian Bruney tied the game at seven in the seventh inning.

The Yankees were then bailed out by a game-winning, pinch-hit solo home run by the slumping Robinson Cano in the eighth. Mariano Rivera earned the save, working an inning and a third while striking out two batters.

Whether Kennedy can sustain the performance he put forth on Monday remains to be seen. While the performance was his best of the season, it can still certainly improve. However, with a rookie pitcher likely to take his lumps, Kennedy's stats on Monday are all the Yankees can ask for.

Will opposing hitters see the Ian Kennedy they faced in 2007 for such a brief period? As this young star continues to mature and develop at the big league level, they will soon find out.

For one night though, Ian Kennedy put his team in a spot to win.

Giants Reward Seubert With A Three Year Extension

Tom McCartney — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:31:09 -0400

The New York Giants rewarded guard Rich Seubert with a three-year contract extension on Monday. The offensive lineman is entering his eighth season with the Giants and the extension will keep him with the team through the 2012 season.

Seubert started all sixteen games for the G-Men last season and helped orchestrate the game winning drive in which Seubert's pass protection helped Eli Manning reach Plaxico Burress for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLII.

Seubert, an outstanding athlete at Western Illinois University, signed with the Giants in 2001 as an undrafted free agent. Seubert started his career as a tight end in college before converting to the line. He also excelled in basketball and baseball in high school, leading both his football and basketball teams to two state championships a piece in Wisconsin.

Upon signing with the Giants, Seubert surprised all and won the starting left guard position in 2002, where he started all sixteen regular season games.

Perhaps Seubert's most famous moment came in the 2002 NFC Divisional Playoffs where he drew a should-have-been pass interference flag as an eligible receiver downfield on Trey Junkin's botched field goal snap. Seubert's probable game-winning flag was not thrown and the Giants lost on an ineligible receiver downfield (Tam Hopkins) penalty.

With trade discussions including Chad Johnson and Adam "Pacman" Jones, as well as free agent signings of Reche Caldwell and Jason Elam, the Giants move to extend Seubert's contract has been overlooked.

Seubert was an anchor of the Giants' 2007 offensive line which produced the fourth best rushing attack while giving up the 12th least amount of sacks in the NFL.

In a league where a solid offensive line is necessary for victory, the Giants have retained a great piece to their success.

Why Donovan McNabb Would Be Perfect for the Chicago Bears

Tom McCartney — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:27:48 -0400

With each passing day in Philadelphia, the chance of Donovan McNabb being traded to the Chicago Bears seems less likely.

Despite what some (and maybe most) fans think, Eagles management has expressed interest in having McNabb take the field for the Eagles for the 10th year in a row. This interest comes with great reasoning as well.

Looking at McNabb, there's not many current NFL quarterbacks with a better track record.

In nine seasons with the Eagles (eight of which he's been the starter), McNabb has posted 171 career touchdown passes while only throwing 79 interceptions. Those 79 interceptions have come over 3,732 pass attempts, making McNabb the second-least intercepted quarterback in NFL history behind Neil O'Donnell.

McNabb has managed to do this without a true playmaking receiver other than the short time he spent with Terrell Owens in 2004. Perhaps a more overlooked aspect of McNabb's game (especially in recent years) is his rushing threat. McNabb has accumulated just less than 3,000 career rushing yards at a 6.0 rushing average with 24 touchdowns in the regular season.

McNabb's numbers, including a 58.7 career completion percentage and 85.8 career passer rating, are borderline stellar for a quarterback possibly available for trade.

McNabb has the stats to turn heads and they haven't come with a lack of production.

The Eagles have gone 88-56 (including a 5-11 1999 season in which rookie McNabb only started six games) with five NFC East Championships in the nine years that McNabb has worn green.

These numbers are significantly better than the 75-68-1 record the Eagles held with no NFC East Championships in the nine seasons prior to McNabb being drafted. McNabb also led the Eagles to four straight NFC Championship games (2001-04) and one Super Bowl in 2004.

While McNabb was unable to win Super Bowl XXXIX, no other Eagles quarterback has been able to accomplish the feat either.

So why would a man who has experienced so much success in one place ever want to move? The answer is simple: Under-appreciation.

Since McNabb entered the NFL, he has experienced nothing but under-appreciation for his performances.

Upon the Eagles drafting a bright and young McNabb with the second overall pick in 1999, Philadelphia fans booed the Syracuse graduate holding five Big East records due to the fact that they desired University of Texas running back, Ricky Williams. McNabb proved his draft critics wrong, however, clearly ending up as the better NFL player.

Perhaps the most skepticism McNabb receives is for his health.

While McNabb is healthy more often than not, the general consensus is that McNabb is a perennial injured player in the NFL. However, since becoming the Eagles’ starter eight and a half years ago, McNabb has failed to start at least 14 games only three times in his career.

His three injuries that prevented him from competing were not due to lack of toughness either. In 2002, McNabb suffered a broken ankle, yet returned to the game to beat the Cardinals. McNabb then sat out six weeks, only to come back and lead the Eagles to their second straight NFC Championship game.

McNabb was sidelined again in 2005 by a sports hernia and 2006 by a torn ACL. All three of these injuries are considered serious for a player susceptible to hits by giant linemen and linebackers.

What might be considered miraculous is the fact McNabb came back from his ACL injury several months earlier than expected, completing a successful 2007 campaign in which he boasted a 61.5 completion percentage and an 89.9 passer rating. McNabb is truly misconstrued as an injury-prone player.

It is clear that McNabb needs a change of scenery, where he can avoid the criticism he's experienced over the last few seasons. What better place for McNabb to avoid scrutiny and receive appreciation than behind center for the Chicago Bears?

It's clear the Bears have a need for change at quarterback and not many players have a better résumé than Donovan McNabb. The Bears, considered a superior defensive team in the NFL, lack the offense to attain rings. McNabb is a proven winner and may indeed be enough to push the Bears past the edge.

In the Bears 2006 Super Bowl campaign, their stellar defense held the high-powered Colts’ offense to 29 points, but fell short of winning due to the measly one touchdown their dismal offense managed to put up.

Their quarterback, Rex Grossman, managed just 165 yards and one touchdown pass. In Donovan McNabb's lone Super Bowl appearance, he threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns against an arguably better Patriots defense in the Super Bowl.

Perhaps the Bears could have achieved immortality with McNabb at the helm in 2006.

Whichever way you dice it up, McNabb is a perfect fit in Chicago. He is everything Rex Grossman is not.

Grossman is still rather inexperienced, injured far more often than McNabb, experiences even more criticism than Donovan, and is notorious for turning the ball over. McNabb is a proven leader and minimizes risks when throwing the ball. McNabb has proven he can win and that is a necessity for Chicago.

While the chances are becoming slimmer and slimmer for McNabb going to Chicago as the offseason progresses, one can only assume that McNabb would fit like a glove there.

Venturing away from the highly competitive NFC East and the pressure of Philadelphia would benefit McNabb tremendously. Could we see McNabb sporting navy blue and orange before we know it?

For Donovan's sake, let's hope so. He undoubtedly deserves it.

Why Clemens and Bonds Are Victims of The Era

Tom McCartney — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:24:11 -0400

As a beginning note to this article, I'd just like to say I could write for days about this topic. This is just a brief overview of why I can't blame those named in the Mitchell Report more than the Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig.

It was a sad day watching Roger Clemens sit before a Congressional committee and denying allegation after allegation and defending attack after attack on his name being reported in Senator Mitchell's report of steroids in baseball.

What might have been even sadder is watching a man in San Francisco named Barry Bonds achieve baseball immortality in breaking the single greatest record in all of sports under scrutiny of his alleged steroid use. (Let's keep in mind I cannot stand Barry Bonds as a person, but let's be honest... It's a little sad.) What should have been the happiest moment in any man's life cannot be enjoyed to the fullest extent because of the fact that a homerun ball that should rest on a pillow in Cooperstown, instead rests in a publicity hungry kid's hands with a giant asterisk imprinted on it.

Perhaps the icing on the cake here is that neither Clemens nor Bonds should make a Major League squad this year because they could be cell mates by June.

The question that I arise, however, is not "why did they do it?" if they're guilty, but rather "who is responsible for why they did it?" While if you truly look into it, the answer could be us, I'm choosing to blame the Commissioner of Major League Baseball himself, Mr. Allan Huber "Bud" Selig.

From the moment Selig began as the Commissioner of Baseball in 1992 (unofficial until 1994) he faced obstacles. Former Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Fay Vincent (who was ran out of the position by baseball ownership in 1992), holds Selig responsible for a baseball collusion incident in 1992 in which Vincent was quoted as saying, "The Union basically doesn’t trust the Ownership because collusion was a $280 million theft by Bud Selig and Jerry Reinsdorf of that money from the players. I mean, they rigged the signing of free agents. They got caught. They paid $280 million to the players. And I think that’s polluted labor relations in baseball ever since it happened. I think it’s the reason [Donald] Fehr has no trust in Selig."

Perhaps it was this distrust that led to the 1994 Major League Baseball strike. While the strike could turn into a five page book report, ultimately it was about salary, benefits, salary arbitration, and free agency issues between the Players Union and baseball ownership.

Whether it was an owner's proposal, efforts by Selig, or a demand by President Bill Clinton, the two sides could not reach an agreement. The strike would last from August 12, 1994 until April 2, 1995 (a day before the season was supposed to start). It was nothing short of a disaster for baseball.

While the strike came and went, its effects didn't. Fans threw money on the field at players at Shea Stadium on Opening Day; a fan-paid plane flew over Riverfront Stadium with a sign stating, "Players and Owners — To Hell With You"; fans booed; sticks were thrown on the field in Pittsburgh; Even Yankee Stadium (a usual sell-out on Opening Day) had 7,300 open seats on Opening Day. Baseball was in a bad way and needed a boost.

The boost baseball needed came flying in during the 1998 season. The boost came in the form of two names: Mark McGwire and Slammin' Sammy Sosa.

While Albert Belle had already slugged 50 dingers in 1995 and Brady Anderson cracked another 50 in 1996 to bring back some excitement and thus fans back to the sport, McGwire, Sosa, and Ken Griffey, Jr. really brought on the heat in 1997-1998 and created one of the most memorable seasons in'98 with a homerun chase.

While Griffey, Jr. has managed to keep his name clean of steroid allegations, McGwire and Sosa have not.

70 homeruns by McGwire (a new record at the time), 66 by Sosa, and 56 by Griffey, Jr. brought an uprising of fans back to baseball, and swept new fans in like never seen before. Baseball was back and Bud Selig and the owners loved it.

So if baseball is back, what's wrong with Selig?

Well, a little background info on Bud... he used to be the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers. After Fay Vincent's demise, Selig (a well-liked owner) came into power by election from his former fellow owners (and pals).

Now pretend you're Bud Selig for a moment. Your buddies lost $580 million dollars in revenue due to the strike and lost many repeat customers. Now, all of a sudden two juiced-up sluggers take the league by storm by crushing the best record in sports and revenue starts pouring into your buddies like a freakin' waterfall. Sweet deal, right?

Wrong. It's no secret that "Chicks Dig The Long Ball" but to ignore the fact that two men are breaking the sacred homerun record using Androstenedione (clearly visible in McGwire's locker) is ludicrous. Do you think Babe Ruth or Roger Maris were juiced on "Andro"? Sorry Bud, but the closest you'll find to juice in the Great Bambino is booze and maybe cranberry for Maris. But that doesn't matter to you Bud, baseball is back and you're now the Commissioner that saved baseball.

Wrong again. It's the negligence Bud Selig took in dealing with anabolic steroids during 1998 that recognizes him as the Commissioner who ruined baseball. Selig did not implement a steroid testing policy in baseball until before the 2005 season. During this time Barry Bonds once again broke the single-season homerun record and faced endless scrutiny for the way he did it (the guy gained a ton of muscle in one offseason and became 39 homeruns better in two seasons.... what did you think was going on Bud?).

Granted, Bonds has never admitted using steroids ("knowingly") and it was basically just implied that he did, but can you blame him if he did? McGwire got away with it in 1998 (although he pleaded the fifth before Congress... where's the perjury charge there?). What's wrong with Barry wanting in on the fun?

In my opinion, Bonds (an unlikable man) is the reason we have the problems we have today. McGwire was a hero; Bonds was the bad guy. It's Bonds that got people talking more and more and caused Selig to force his hand (seven years too late).

The point is, Selig knew what was going on in 1998 and should have put a stop to it then, but his buddies were getting money and he was restoring baseball to glory.

So as Selig prepares to retire in 2012, he needs to go out with a bang. Instead of being known as the Commissioner who allowed the steroid era to occur (which he is), he must be the Commissioner who stopped the steroid era. But a testing system with weak punishments clearly isn't enough. So what does Selig do? He contacts Senator George Mitchell to investigate steroids.

On December 13, 2007, after a 20 month investigation, Senator George Mitchell released the ever so talked about Mitchell Report. The report stood tall at 409 pages and revealed the names of 89 Major League baseball players alleged to use steroids. "I haven't seen the report yet," said Selig on December 12, "but I'm proud I did it." Wait a second.... You had a witch hunt investigation conducted but didn't even bother to even skim it before releasing it? Furthermore, you didn't even send a copy to the Players Union before release? You go girl.

Call the Mitchell Report what you will, it's a document that could be discussed until the end of time. What's bothersome about the report is that it has done nothing to change the steroid era. Steroids tarnished at least seven years of baseball, and most likely up to ten or fourteen years. Releasing a Joe McCarthy-esque report that goes as far as naming numerous players who aren't even involved in baseball anymore does not change the fact that this time period happened and Bud Selig stood at the helm during almost all of it. Players careers may be ruined, but the steroid era cannot be removed from the books. Bud Selig beat a dead horse.

So what now, Bud? You brought baseball's revenue back and put money back in your friends' pockets. You also managed to salvage your legacy as the man who put a stop to steroids in baseball. But I'm sorry, Bud. You ended something you created while pleasing everyone in the process. You are to blame for steroids in baseball.

So the next time Clemens and Bonds are faced with issues regarding their alleged use of steroids, don't point the finger at them. If they did do it, sure they were the ones that injected themselves and opted to do so. But can you blame them? Steroids weren't banned in baseball until 2005 thanks to Bud Selig. Whether you want to hold Clemens and Bonds with ethical standards is a matter of your own, but what they did was no worse than cheating on a test while the teacher had his back turned. The only difference in their case is that their teacher had his back turned for at least seven years.

Un-Happy Valley: Terrelle Pryor Decision Stuns Penn State

Tom McCartney — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:53:44 -0400

What started out as a promising day in Happy Valley turned dismal yesterday when the nation's No. 1 prep football player, Terrelle Pryor, laid the knockout punch on the Nittany Lions as he announced his decision to attend Ohio State University.

While Pryor said his runner-up was the University of Michigan, it didn't create any less disappointment to the students and fans of Penn State.

Six weeks ago, Pryor announced he would once again visit Penn State, this time on an official visit. However, Pryor never made the trip.

Craig Pryor, Terrelle's dad, expressed great interest in Penn State, forming a friendly relationship with head coach Joe Paterno. Pryor comes from Jeanette, PA, and would have been closer to his father at Penn State than Ohio State, Michigan, or his fourth choice, Oregon.

Pryor's reason for not attending Penn State was its country setting.

"It's a country-looking type of thing," he said. "I just don't like that place."

A common belief was that Pryor was leaning towards Ohio State for its ability to change its offense to his style. Penn State representatives said this was not the case and they would move from the pro-style offense they ran with senior quarterback Anthony Morelli and switch to an offense similar to the one they ran with Michael Robinson

This, however, was not enough to convince Pryor, and he will now most likely sit behind senior quarterback Todd Boeckman for the Buckeyes next year.

The Nittany Lions will move on now that Pryor is lost. His reserved scholarship will be given to a current commitment. Entering a season where Pryor could have competed for a starting job, the Lions will begin spring practices with a competition between senior-to-be Daryll Clark, and sophomore-to-be Pat Devlin.

While Devlin seems to fit the current Penn State offense best, Paterno's loyalty to seniors and last year's depth chart would give Daryll Clark the edge. One thing is certain: The Nittany Lions and their fans are eager to get back into the national title hunt.

While Lions are notorious carnivores, one can only believe that they might grow an appetite for a certain Buckeye on Oct. 25, in Columbus, Ohio.

2008 New York Yankees Preview

Tom McCartney — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:45:38 -0400

I guess this is pretty much an opinion piece. I've heard an array of predictions for this year's Yankees, from World Series winners to 3rd in the AL East; so I'm guessing one more opinion couldn't hurt.

My views of this year's Yankee season aren't really dark, but not very bright either. If you're looking for me to tell you it's gonna be a 1998-2000-esque season, you might want to stop reading this now. However, I don't think the Yanks are in danger of finishing behind the Blue Jays. By Yankee standards though, the Bronx Bombers are going to suck... plain and simple. Let's break it down by position.

INFIELD

Look, hitting has never been a problem for this team. Year in and year out, the Yankees top the league in hitting. The infield is pretty much what anybody would expect.

Third Base- While I doubt Alex Rodriguez will have the year he had last year, you pretty much know what this veteran is gonna give you at third. Forty something homers, 120+ RBI, and somewhere between a .290-.320 average.

Shortstop- While I see Derek Jeter starting to decline, especially in the field, he's just about as predictable as A-Rod. .300-.320, 15 dingers, 70+ RBI for Jeter. His range is getting much worse though; look for a few more errors out of him this year.

Second Base- Robinson Cano isn't very predictable at second. He's entering only his fourth year and hasn't shown what he's consistently capable of yet. I'd say his average will be around .320 this year (in between the .342 of 2 years ago and the .306 of last) with 20+ homers (I see his power increasing year by year over the next 5-6 years) and his RBIs kind of unpredictable. If Joe Girardi bats him deep in the lineup, especially behind Matsui/Posada or god forbid Giambi, I'd say 70-80 RBI. If he jumps up in between Matsui and/or Posada (a Lefty-Switch-Switch) cluster, I see him being able to reach 90+ RBI.

First Base- This is where the real problem stands. All this coverage you hear about Jason Giambi needs to go. His fielding is not as horrendous as people make it out to be. Fielding the ball doesn't seem like much of a problem to me. While he's far from a gold glover, he's not terrible at picking it. Throwing is his real problem to me. He's not accurate with his throws, double clutches, and often picks the wrong base to throw to. Having him at first wouldn't be the most terrible of things; his bat is where I have a problem. You can't sit a guy making as much as Giambi. However, his .250ish average over the last 5 years doesn't cut it. If Shelley Duncan proves to be a better average hitter this year, I see Giambi becoming a non-factor. Duncan might be worse in the field than Giambi (Yes, I said it) but not by much. If Duncan can hit .270-.280, he's in the lineup for me. His power is equal if not better than Giambi's and his righty bat would fit well between a Cano and Melky sandwich. He'd get pitches to hit in that spot as well. I see Duncan starting at first by the end of the year (assuming Giambi does not perform).

Catcher- I'll include catcher in the infield discussion. Don't look for Jorge Posada to repeat last year. His .338 average was the best of his career and his 20 HRs and 90 RBIs were towards the tops of his career bests. While I don't see his power decreasing, his .338 average won't be found this year. I'd say .285 at best and his RBIs dependent on where he hits in the lineup. A side note for Posada, he has a new manager. He averaged around 140-150 games under Joe Torre a year. If Girardi rests him more frequently, we could see his average go up with rest and his power and RBIs go down with a lack of at bats. Should be interesting to see what Girardi decides.

OUTFIELD

This looks to be one of the more interesting years to be in the Yankee outfield. With a platoon of four polished Major League outfielders and not much past them, injuries or lack of production in the outfield could prove drastic.

Right Field- Bobby Abreu- The best of the Yankee outfielders in my eyes should play every game in right field aside from the occasional DH rest. His average has dipped a bit in recent years, and he hasn't proven he can consistently play like he did in the second half when he was traded to the Yanks. Ideally I see him hitting a little over .290, a step up from last year, but not what he once was. I'd like to think he'll hit 20+ HRs this year, but every since the HR Derby he won, right around 15 seems like his number. If he decides to pull the ball a little more, the short porch looks appealing for 20+. RBIs are probably right around 100-110 hitting 3rd in the lineup.

Left Field/Designated Hitter- Hideki Matsui- Just behind Abreu in talent, I feel a career year for Matsui. He's hit just under .300 for his big league career, I see him at around .310 this year. I predict 30 homers, powerful for his major league career and 100+ RBI. I think Matsui is the guy to step up behind A-Rod for the middle of the lineup. Resting him at DH, as I see Damon playing left mostly could give him the makings for the career year I see.

Left Field/Designated Hitter- Johnny Damon- Number 3. His arm is horrendous, so left field fits like a glove. He played well there last year, and left in Yankee Stadium isn't an easy task. I think Damon rebounds this year. Comeback player of the year. He looks to be injury free for the first time in a couple years, and I see the Damon of old returning. .290-.305, 15-20 HRs, 80 RBI. Damon will play very well for the first time in New York.

Center Fielder- Melky Cabrera- The fourth best offensive outfielder but the fan favorite. Like Cano, Melky is still young and unpredictable. He struggled mightily to start off last year, but finished solid. I don't see him struggling or excelling this year, but he will be more consistent I think. He will see every game in center aside from rest. .275, 10 HR, 70 RBI. What's interesting about the outfield is the rest situation. When Melky is rested, does Matsui play center like in Japan, or does Damon retake his position? Is Shelley Duncan placed in right for Abreu during rest or does Matsui head over to right? It should be interesting to see how this plays out.

Probable Yankee Lineup (In My Opinion)

Johnny Damon- LF

Derek Jeter- SS

Bobby Abreu- LF

Alex Rodriguez- 3B

Hideki Matsui- DH

Jorge Posada- C

Robinson Cano- 2B

Jason Giambi- 1B

Melky Cabrera- CF

As the lineup stands like this, it's a nice lefty-righty-lefty-righty-lefty-switch-lefty-lefty-switch lineup. I think that probably works best for the Yanks. Matsui-Posada-Cano could be switched up, but I don't see it. Some people will probably have a problem with me batting Melky last, but I think Damon is a better leadoff hitter (sees more pitches, hits for higher average) and Jeter is a perfect two hitter. Melky is sort of a double leadoff in the 9 spot, but you could see him at leadoff or the two hole throughout the year. I like this lineup best though.

STARTING PITCHING

Ace- Gotta go to Chien-Ming Wang. While Sportscenter wants to bash this guy for not being a "true ace," I say give me a break. You can't argue with 38-13 over the last 2 years with an ERA just over 3.50. To expect an ace in the American League to a) be more productive in wins or b) have a better ERA with these deep lineups is unrealistic. While he might not be the best fantasy option, you can't ask for more than the wins he puts up. There's no lack of run support for him. I look for him to stay healthy this year and play a full season. 22-8, 3.50 ERA, 100 K

Two-Man- Andy Pettitte. I figure Girardi is gonna want a lefty sandwiched between two righties and I don't see Pettitte as the four starter. He's pretty consistent every year. You know what you're gonna get from Pettitte and I don't see the HGH confession hurting him much. 15-18 wins, 10 losses 3.50-3.90 ERA, 150 K

Third- Wearing #34, Phil Hughes. I hesitated giving Hughes the nod here and going with Mussina, but I don't see Mussina getting a better slot than Hughes for reasons other than respect (something Torre included too much in his decisions). I think Hughes is going to surprise people this year. The Yankees were smart in not dealing him for Santana because the Bottle Rocket should be the next big thing. His trick is going to be staying healthy and walking fewer batters. Injuries aside, I see Hughes finishing the year with a shocking 18-8 record, 3.50 ERA, and around 150-175 K. If the Yankees opt to put him on an inning limit, look for the wins and Ks to be far less.

Fourth- Mike Mussina. What can you say here? Mussina is at the end of his career and his lack of velocity is killing him. While guys like Greg Maddux can continue being successful without the heat, Mussina is getting burnt by it. His fastball is going to need to hit at least 92 on a regular basis, and according the the Yanks, that's not the case in spring training. He's not really a strikeout threat anymore and can't take the ball deep into the game. The only thing he really has is accuracy, but trying to hit corners leaves him throwing a ton of pitches. I'd say Moose finishes with 13-15 wins, 10 losses, and an ERA of anywhere from 4-4.50.

Five- Ian Kennedy. Not much to go on here, he only pitched 20 innings in the bigs last year. He was successful though and if he's the reason the Yankees would not deal for Johan, then they must see something in him. He has the minor league resume to brag about. Never posted an ERA above 2.59 at any level and posted a 12-3 record over all three levels. I really don't have much to go on, but I'm gonna say he struggles a little more in the bigs. 15-10, 3.50 ERA, 150 K.

I really don't have much to go on, but I'm saying he'll have as many K's as innings pitched. If any of these guys struggle or get hurt, the Yanks might be in trouble outside of Jeff Karstens. The Yankees say they have faith in Kei Igawa and say he's gotten better but give me a break. That's because they poured a ton of money into a nobody. He who wears sunglasses on the mound, is not successful. Instead, I like Jeff Karstens a lot. He only had 14 innings last year before getting hurt, but he's pitched often in the offseason and I like what he did in 2006. I think this guy could turn heads even within the Yankee organization. Good news past Karstens, this is Carl Pavano's last contract year! Why the Yankees haven't cut their losses on this guy is beyond me. In his stellar ten year career, he's pitched 200 innings twice. Whether this guy decides to suck it up for once in his life is beyond me, but I don't expect much from Pavano in 2008 either. Outside of these probable options, Darrell Rasner, Chase Wright, Steven White, Alan Horne, and Danny McCutchen are all guys I see maybe getting a shot at the big leagues this year. Free agents out there still include Jeff Weaver (help us) and John Thomson if all else fails.

RELIEF

Closer- Mariano Rivera. Not much to say here. You know what Mo is going to bring. 5 wins, 40 saves, 2.00 ERA

Set-up- Joba Chamberlain. If he can replicate the success he had in the regular season last year and stretch it out over a season, Joba will be the best set-up man in the game. Look for Joba to have a low ERA and a ton of Ks. God forbid Mariano goes down, the Yankees have their best alternative closer since Tom Gordon and/or Mariano himself. Several wins, 1.50-2.00 ERA, couple saves, maybe just under 100 Ks.

Set-up- Kyle Farnsworth. With Torre gone, I see Farnsworth bouncing back. Girardi did catch him in Chicago, and Farnsworth wants nothing more than a chance to perform. Whether he succeeds in pitching back-to-back days or consecutive innings remains to be seen, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Farnsworth's best year in New York is coming. A few wins, 3.00-3.50 ERA

Middle Relief- LaTroy Hawkins. This guy is the Yankees' best offseason move. In a bullpen that can be make or break, this guy is a glove fit. While he's struggled with San Francisco and Baltimore, this guy has made an impact everywhere else he's been and helped Colorado get to the World Series last year. He'll be a key guy to take the ball when starters are unable to go deep and especially important if Farnsworth struggles or is unable to pitch frequently. 3.50 ERA

The Rest- It looks like Billy Traber could pitch his way past Sean Henn to be the Yankees' lefty reliever (one of them will make the squad). Brian Bruney most likely makes the roster although he has struggled this spring. Ross Ohlendorf has impressed me this spring, throwing at a high velocity. I expect him to pitch better than some expect (maybe Torre was right having so much faith in him during Game 1 last year). The last pitching spot in my book looks like it will be battled for by Karstens, Igawa, Jose Veras, Chris Britton, and Edwar Ramirez. That's assuming Bruney and Ohlendorf make the roster. I see the last spot going to Karstens (good long relief), Igawa (for money and left-handed purposes only), or Britton (I like him). My guess is Karstens.

BENCH

Utility Man- Wilson Betemit. I love this guy. Granted, I feel as though Scott Proctor was more important to the Yankees than Betemit will ever be, but he might be a better utility man than Miguel Cairo (although he doesn't play outfield). This guy plays every infield position and has decent pop in the bat. He proved with the Braves that he can hit for average when he's given a chance to play frequently (which he probably won't see with the Yanks, but hey... it's a nice thing to think about). Overall, he's a good role player.

The Slugger- Shelley Duncan. Who doesn't like Shelley Duncan? (Tampa Bay?) Whether it's throwing elbows or hitting dingers, Shelley is just a guy you have to like. He's got a ton of pop in the bat, and if he can get his average up, he'll get a shot to start (likely at first or DH). He also offers right field versatility. Although I'm not sure how much you'll see him there.

The Back-up- Jose Molina. I see Molina as one of Jorge Posada's better back-ups in recent years. In my book, he's a stronger catcher than Will Nieves and John Flaherty both defensively and offensively. While he probably won't see much playing time, Nieves is a good guy to have around.

Well that pretty much wraps up the lineup. The team should not struggle offensively, but could take some lumps pitching. Pitching is the key for this team. They need to be on their "A" game. I think red flags are the health of the five main starters because there's a significant drop off after them. Having the pitchers go deep in games is important to not wear out this young and possible shaky bullpen. Limiting the young pitchers innings could hurt the team a bit if they're needed. I think the bench is stronger than in past years and I think that Girardi will play the hot hand more than Torre ever did. Overall, I see a Wild Card clinch, with a shot at the division if Boston's pitching staff doesn't put it together. The Yankees will most likely get the Tigers in the divisional round if I were to guess, and that's a tough opponent if healthy. I believe the Yankees need to try and grab some trades if given the opportunity, although I don't know what's out there. We shall see how the season pans out, but I hope it's better than I'm predicting.