Sports corner

Sports Corner
By Matthew Horn



Michigan State
It was hard to see former Spartan Plaxico Burress accept two years in prison for a guilty plea for a weapons charge.
Two years seems harsh considering he shot himself in the leg but the gun was unlicensed and the prosecution had a chance to send a strong message with a high-profile case.

It will be interesting to see whether Burress, who caught the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl to prevent New England’s unbeaten campaign two seasons ago, is able to find a job in the NFL after his release.

Derrick Mason, who also played at MSU, almost walked away from the NFL because of another case involving a gun.
Close friend and former teammate Steve McNair was murdered this summer and Mason took a step back to spend time with family and consider his priorities. After initially deciding not to attend camp with Baltimore he returned to the team but after a tragic reminder not to take anything for granted.

Mason, who was often breathtaking on special teams with the Spartans, is a key weapon in the Ravens’ offense at wide receiver.
Linebacker Julian Peterson didn’t consider retirement, but he did switch teams.
Peterson is not getting younger, but he should still be able to help Detroit.

Peterson, who also came to the NFL from MSU, played every position in the front seven and took a few snaps in the secondary while with San Francisco several years ago. His versatility could be an asset for a talent-starved Lions team.

NFL
People apparently find it easy to judge Michael Vick, who signed a two-year contract with the Eagles last week. The second year is a team option.
It’s safe to say the majority of the people condemning Vick can’t relate to the environment he comes from and have never thought about it. He heard about if not saw people getting killed in Newport News with the brutality seemingly a way of life and he’s supposed to grasp the magnitude of his involvement in dogfighting?
The poverty, violence and drugs surrounding Vick growing up most certainly do not excuse his decisions or barbaric behavior. But he was punished and did his time.

If he fails with his second chance those judging him will be in perfect position to say “I told you so.”
However, much more importantly, Vick has an opportunity to show people a person can truly change. Continuing to punish Vick now is just more for the sake of more.
You don’t have to forgive Vick. But coming from a dog lover who owns two spoiled canines, try to put yourself in his shoes.

The Lions gave Matthew Stafford a record breaking contract and fans are hopefully he will bring in a new era after years of futility in Detroit, including an 0-16 season last year.
But Daunte Culpepper should begin the year as the starter.
It’s easy to look at Baltimore’s Joe Flacco and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan last year and think it’s easy for a quarterback to step into the starting role as a rookie. But two success stories don’t nullify the failures of Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Tim Couch, Heath Shuler …
It’s hard for teams not to take the risk and throw young, highly paid quarterback into the fire, but Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair and others benefited greatly from watching, developing and learning before being forced to sink or swim.
Stafford might succeed immediately, but with Culpepper around it would be wise to wait.

MLB
San Francisco’s Matt Cain did not hit the Mets’ David Wright in the head with a pitch on purpose Saturday.
But it was still a reminder how dangerous it can be to step into the batter’s box.
And with a recent run of batters being hit and opposing pitchers retaliating, the Wright incident should serve as a lesson.
Too many purpose pitches are being thrown above the waist.
After the Dodgers’ Guillermo Mota hit Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder in the leg with a pitch, Fielder tried to get into Los Angeles’ clubhouse after the game to make amends.
Mota hit Fielder in response to the Brewers buzzing Manny Ramirez and he handled it the right way. Fielder, who has legs the size of tree trunks, knew better.

Players make a lot of money and don’t want to risk their careers enduring deliberate beanings. That’s easy to understand.
Still, purpose pitches have long been part of the game. Bob Gibson used to hit opponents just for digging in too close to the plate.
And purpose pitches will remain part of the game lest one team take liberties with another’s stars. As long as they’re aimed below the waist, and don’t come simply as a response to allowing a home run, there really should be no problem with the practice.
Pitchers’ control in general is too good to be throwing at people around the head. Keep it low and it’s simply a way for players to police the game.

The Angels have the second best record in the American League at 73-47.
The have incredible depth in the starting rotation as 13 pitchers have got at least one turn. But they don’t have a stopper.
The offense seems to generate 10 runs every other game, but there are several lineups in baseball that scare you much more.
The Angels just seem to know how to win. One through nine there are no holes, everybody has a little pop and most have a bit of speed.
They’re not winning with smoke and mirrors as they are a very good team with just about everybody hitting .300. Still, you have to believe they will be knocked out of the postseason early again this year when they run up against a pitching staff with a couple of dominant starters or a few hot hitters.
Then again, they won the World Series in 2002 with a team concept and it’s far from out of the question they could do it again.

The Red Sox lead Texas by 1 game in the Wild Card standings.
Boston’s pitching is too strong and its offense too potent, recent struggles not withstanding, for the Red Sox not to win the race.
The Rangers have actually been getting some fantastic pitching of their own for a change, but the staff is too young for this to be the year. The innings workload and lack of experience will ultimately take their toll.
Texas has been able to beat Boston and the Angels with regularity this season, but even with the lineup’s ability to produce runs the Rangers won’t be able to hold onto a playoff spot down the stretch.

It seems surprising that no shortstop in history has more than Derek Jeter’s 2,688 hits.
It’s even more surprising that no Yankee has reached 3,000 in his career.
Jeter, whose ability to hit in the clutch has long made people ignore or not even notice his shortcomings on defense, is only 33 hits behind Lou Gehrig for the most in team history.

With a revamped lineup after the additions of Matt Holliday, Mark DeRosa and Julio Lugo, and the stellar pitching of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals are looking like a lock for the postseason.
But Joel Pineiro is actually the key to St. Louis’ success. If he continues to pitch well they could really make some noise in October.
Albert Pujols won’t hit for the triple crown, but with the Dodgers coming back to earth and Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge still off their games, the Cardinals are looking tougher and tougher.

Detoit’s Justin Verlander might decide the Central Division.
Chicago has nothing like him right now, although it’s not the only one. Offensively, the teams are very similar and Jarrod Washburn and Edwin Jackson supplement Verlander well.
If the Tigers don’t begin to win some games on the road Verlander will be even more essential to Detroit’s hopes.
A healthy Jake Peavy would be a major boost for the White Sox but Alex Rios was an expensive and strange addition.
The Central Division is likely to remain the closest race through the end of the season and Verlander gives the Tigers the advantage.

While the Mets and Cleveland are in the discussion, the Cubs are the biggest disappointment in baseball.
Even with a healthy Carlos Zambrano, Chicago scuffled to remain in contention. His return from a back injury appears imminent, but Alfonso Soriano’s poor play has crippled the team all year.
Aramis Ramirez’s injury woes, Geovanny Soto’s slip in production from last year and Milton Bradley’s lack of production mean the Cubs don’t score enough.
In addition to Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Ryan Dempster have seen time on the disabled list, Rich Harden is inconsistent, Carlos Marmol has no idea where his pitches are going and Kevin Gregg blows too many saves.
Chicago still has the pieces to put things together, but it’s looking more and more like that won’t happen.