I'm Going to Disneyworld

Host: Thanks DeSean. We have Michael Vick up next.

Host: At the podium now is Michael Vick, you may direct your questions to him.

Bob Ryan, Boston Globe: Michael, can you talk about the feelings you have knowing your return to the NFL has been a success?

Vick: It’s still hard to put into words, hasn’t really sunk in yet. I knew even from last year’s playoff loss to Green Bay we had a good thing going, had some good pieces but just came up a little short. Management did a great job of going out and making the adjustments to make our team a winner.

Bill Plascke, L.A. Times: Michael, congratulations being named Super Bowl MVP. What do you think were the specific differences between last year’s team and this year’s?

Vick: One, I think that having our core group of guys together for a few years now, that has a lot to do with it. Most of our guys are young, perhaps not even in their prime, so with each passing game and season, we have grown. As I mentioned before, the players we acquired, and I can't say enough about our defense. Guys like Nnamdi (Asomugha), DRC (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) Cullen (Jenkins) and Jason (Babin). Right away in camp they showed they were here for the right reasons, ready to do whatever it takes to win. Then of course the guys who have been here a few years, specifically Trent (Cole) and Asante (Samuel), they were our leaders, solid veterans who stepped up week in and week out. They have been tremendous.

Woody Page, Denver Post: Michael, you just played a great game against a very solid Pittsburgh (Steelers) defense, talk about the game plan.

Vick: Coach (Andy) Reid and Coach (Marty) Mornhinweg had a great plan in place to minimize what the Steelers do best. We watched film and saw first-hand just how talented and great this team and organization is. We saw in the films we might be able to be successful with a lot of three step drops and short passes to combat their blitz. We thought anything down field might give their pass rush extra time to pressure myself. Plus, trying to find out where Troy (Polamalu) is at all times, again the short passes kept him at bay and maybe a step late.

Jay Mariotti, Chicago Tribune: Michael, you mentioned Coach Reid. Talk about a little about what he has meant with your road back and talk about others who have been instrumental along the way.

Vick: Coach Reid has meant everything. From giving me a chance, to working with my mechanics and footwork, he has taught me to stay in the pocket more and read defenses better. I think he sometimes doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Also, Coach (Tony) Dungy has been a great role model and mentor. He showed me how to look at situations and prevent myself from getting into situations that may not be the best. I owe him so much. Mr. (Jeffrey) Lurie, I want to thank him and his staff for taking a chance on me. I have tried my best to make sure he didn’t regret it. I don’t know how many teams entertained the thought of me on their respective rosters, but Mr. Lurie gave me a shot and for that I am so thankful

Rachel Nichols, ESPN: Michael, you mentioned the guys on defense making an impact. Can you specify some of the guys on the offensive side of the ball who helped make tonight’s win and this season a magical one?

Vick: Well, you all have seen what DeSean (Jackson) can do. He is an amazing talent. And it didn’t take him much time to get in game shape. Not too many people know this but he sought out Jerry Rice before his rookie season and began working out with him. That should tell you how much he wants to win and be the best he can be. LeSean (McCoy) and Jeremy (Maclin) are still so young, yet they have already made huge strides in this offense and are only going to get better. They make my job so much easier. And of course the guys up front, not needing to tuck and run as much this season, they gave me the protection I needed to get rid of the ball. The line has the continuity as a unit that you need and you can see over the past few years, they have improved day in and day out. Even when Vince (Young) had to step in for a couple weeks earlier this year while I was recovering from the ankle injury, Vince did a great job and the line didn’t miss a beat. I love playing behind them.

Dan LeBatard, Miami Herald: Michael, was their ever a time when you thought the road back was too tough, perhaps thinking no teams would reach out or that you may be a back up for the rest of your career?

Vick: There were good days and not so good days to say the least. I knew I still had the talent to play in the league, knew that I could still play the position. Donovan (McNabb) was the first from the Eagles to lobby to bring me into camp a few years ago. I thought I might be a back-up long term and I was ok with it. He and I have spoken often, he sent me a text last night saying to enjoy the moment and make sure you leave it all out there tonight. He said you may only get one crack at the Super Bowl, so make it worthwhile.

Pam Oliver, Fox Sports: Michael, when you were making your comeback, you came across PETA and other organizations who wanted you to never be allowed out of prison, let alone back in to the NFL. What have you done or are you doing currently that helps raise awareness of dog fighting and cruelty towards animals?

Vick: Well, I’ve helped enact the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which establishes federal misdemeanor penalties against convicted spectators of illegal animal fighting and make it a felony for adults to bring children to fights. I’ve spoke at engagements and schools around the country to tell them about the road I was on and how I thought I was just doing what many other people were doing. I forgot that I am a role model. Regardless of what I think, my playing professional football gives me that status and that is one of the things I realize more these days. Going to D.C., speaking with Congress, I’m just trying to do things better so I can make a difference on and off the field. I don’t think I could have said that a few years ago

Host: Last question please

Rick Reilly, ESPN: Michael, is there anything you want to say to the people out there and give them your little story of how you got to this point?

Vick: Since my days at Virginia Tech, especially when we lost to a great (Florida State) Seminole team in the (BCS) title game, I really haven’t forgotten that feeling, walking off the field knowing we were second best. I knew I could play at the next level but I really didn’t know what came with being an NFL quarterback. I truly admire how Peyton Manning and Tom Brady and Drew Brees have conducted themselves. Their resumes stand on their own. I wasn’t ready for it all. Even when the teams in Atlanta would make playoff runs, looking back I wasn’t doing all I could do to prepare and help the team win and that has been documented. That’s what this Eagles organization has instilled in me. Doing the right things, preparing and game planning for each team as if it were the Super Bowl each week. I want to thank my family for sticking by me and supporting me. And lastly, I’m going to Disneyworld and the first thing I do when I get there is take a picture with Pluto.

Memorable Sports Movies

I’m sure you this is the list you have all been waiting for. We all have our favorite movies, either because it’s our favorite sport or takes us back to where we were at that point in our lives. Naturally some of the best movies are true stories about athletes or loosely based on sports figures. But there is also room for those flicks where you just have to suspend disbelief, and of course those memorable lines we all have etched in our minds which make the good movies great. Before we get to our top 20, here are a few that just missed the list:

Raging Bull, Million Dollar Baby, Seabiscuit, Tin Cup, Jerry Maguire

As good as those movies may be, they do not rank as high as these 20 memorable movies:

20. The Sandlot – For me, this reminds me of my nephew saying, “The ball, the beast,” but at one time or another we have all said, “You’re killing me Smalls!” A great movie with a great feel good ending and it always has you wanting s’more.

19. Invincible – One of the coolest sports names around, Vince Papale obtains the status all guys want, a shot in the dark to reach our dreams. It has a great cast with Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinnear, and something about that forced fumble on the punt gives me the chills. Perhaps this movie is on the list because Elizabeth Banks in her role reminds me of my wife.

18. Remember the Titans – Some of you are going to ask why this isn’t higher, but it is still a great movie. Anything with Denzel Washington is worth the watch. We have all said, “Sunshine!!! Sunshine!!” in a high-pitched almost singing voice. Also, a great sports movie with a great soundtrack makes this film rare.

17. The Fighter – Anytime you have two Oscar winners in a movie, it has to get recognized. Walhberg could become another Kevin Costner with fame and success in sports movies. Throw in the performances by Melissa Leo, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams and you have a great film. Mickey Ward is a must-see.

16. 61* - In the only movie on this list that wasn’t in theatres, Billy Crystal directs this diamond in the rough about Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris’ pursuit to one of baseball’s greatest record. It shows baseball at its purest and also shows two teammates with great camaraderie who wore the pinstripes with pride.

15. Caddyshack – This is one of those classics all guys just have to watch. I can’t tell you how many times on the golf course I’ve uttered the words, “Oh Billy Billy Billy” and “Thank you, thank you very little.” You can’t go wrong with Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Chevy Chase and Bill Murray.

14. Karate Kid – Again, a movie with plenty of memorable lines, “Wax on, wax off”, “Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything”, and don’t forget my personal favorite, “Sweep the leg!” I think everyone could use a Mr. Miyagi in their life, although I’m not sure I know anyone as weak as Daniel LaRusso. Do people even know that Pat Morita earned an Oscar nomination for this role?

13. Prefontaine – Probably the least watched on this list, but nonetheless true story of a remarkable athlete who was at his beginning. Steve Prefontaine was courageous, charismatic and perhaps a little conceited. But he wanted to win more than anyone and think about this, of the athletes there have been over the years, Nike has erected a statue to only one, Steve Prefontaine. A must-see.

12. A League of the Own – Perhaps the most memorable line in sports movies came when Tom Hanks said, “There’s no crying in baseball!” This is another great cast with Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna and many others. Men and women both love this true story about the members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Tell me you wouldn’t want Dottie Henson on your team.

11. Coach Carter – In case you forgot about this one, go buy it today. Samuel L. Jackson gives you one of the more underrated performances in sports movies. This is one of those movies that has one person who makes a huge difference to a team that is used to losing and probably going nowhere in life. Any kid in high school has to see it.

10. The Natural – I think people forget about the cast of this classic. We all know about Robert Redford, but what about Glenn Close, Barbara Hershey and Kim Basinger in her heyday? Another one of those Cinderella stories of a man who pushes the sunset back for one more great moment. The Dodgers should sign Roy Hobbs today, as long as he has his Wonderboy.

9. Bull Durham – Costner’s big sports movies debut was a smash, or should I say Crash? Never before has there been a career minor league baseball player who was loved more than Crash Davis. Also a great cast with Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and Robert Wuhl. We all love Bull Durham.

8. Rudy – I only played one year of football as the kicker on the JV team. But watching this movie and seeing Rudy sack the quarterback at the end, I still get chills every time. You’re not going to root for anyone harder than little Rudy Ruettiger. He’s taken a beating lately from the likes of Joe Montana and others about his legacy, but Rudy is still a classic.

7. Major League – Even my grandmother says, “Just a bit outside,” although no one can say it like Harry Doyle. So what if Rickey “Wild Thing” Vaughn was on steroids? He could care less about the Hall of Fame. Has there ever been a cooler ending than the bunt beat out by the aging catcher Jake Taylor and Willie Mays Hayes scoring from second base? Too many R rated lines to put here. Ok, “Win the whole f***ing thing.”

6. Field of Dreams – So hard for me to not put this movie higher. My favorite movie was made into real life when my wife and I made the trek out to Dyersville, IA. Another movie with another one of those memorable lines, “If you build it, he will come.” The film has legendary cast of Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta and Burt Lancaster. Who wouldn’t want to come out of the corn fields and play with Shoeless Joe Jackson?

5. Miracle – Most people will say they saw the real thing so why watch the movie? Answer: for Kurt Russell’s speech prior to the game against the Soviets. I’m telling you, that speech is unmatched. I was too young to remember the game live, but even my mom talks about it to this day. I think Miracle captures the feel of every American leading up to and after the monumental game.

4. We Are Marshall – Perhaps a surprise to people that it is this high on the list, but you pretty much cry from beginning to end and love it at the same time. Never has Matthew McConaughey been better. It is a true story of the devastating event to the Marshall University football team and athletic department. If you haven’t seen it, remember, “my shoulder’s fine.” This movie belongs in the top 5.

3. Pride of the Yankees – Another movie I am not afraid to say I shed some tears to, Gary Cooper nails his role of Lou Gehrig. Most of the young crowd probably has never heard of this movie, but go watch it tonight. Get past the fact that it’s in black and white and remember you get to see Babe Ruth portray himself.

2. Hoosiers – “Strap, put Ollie on your shoulder, measure it from the rim, Buddy? 10 feet. 10 feet. I think you’ll find these exact measurements in our gym back at Hickory.” It just doesn’t get better than that. Gene Hackman should have won an Oscar for his role of Coach Norman Dale. The lines, the story, the finish. And think about this, it is a basketball movie with no dunks, and you know what, who cares? They had Shooter, Jimmy Chitwood and the Picket Fence. Enough said.

1. Rocky – Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay and wouldn’t hand it over unless he got to play the starring role based on the life of boxer Chuck Wepner. How many sports movies have the title role lose in the end? And yet, it still won the Oscar for Best Picture. Hands down, Rocky is the best sports movie ever.

I just don't understand....

There are many reasons we love sports. Team sports, specifically. You have two sides, and for the most part, the best team is decided on the field, court or ice. However, there are some things that just don’t make sense. Certain aspects of the games that just make you shake your head. Most of these idiosyncrasies can go unnoticed, but some just stare you in the face and make you wonder. With that in mind, here are just a few questions I have regarding sports:

Why do they call it a foul pole, yet when a ball hits the pole, it’s ruled fair?

Why do they refer to the baseball skipper as a manager but most other sports have a head coach?

While we’re on the subject of managers and head coaches, why does the manager in baseball wear a jersey and the head coaches of other sports wear street clothes? Can you see Phil Jackson or Bill Belichick wearing a team jersey while arguing with a referee?

Why is an umpire known for having a wide strike zone or perhaps a high strike zone? You never hear anyone refer to a referee in football as having a wide sideline or deep end zone?

Also regarding umpires, why does the home plate umpire get to ring up a batter on a called third strike with fervor and hype? Can you picture a hockey official signaling goal while dancing or sliding all over the ice?

And while we’re speaking of fervor and hype, why does a football player go nuts after making a simple tackle? Not a forced fumble or a tackle for a loss, but just an ordinary tackle, sometimes even on a kick-off. Don’t tackles happen on virtually every play in football? Isn’t that supposed to be your job? Can you picture Albert Pujols dancing down to first base after blooping a single to right?

Why are there ties in hockey games and yes, Donovan McNabb, even in some football games? Shouldn’t there always be a winner and a loser in a team sport?

Why does a field goal count for three points but a safety only count for two? Isn’t a safety rarer and much harder to come by? What’s easier, a 30 yard field goal, or stopping an offensive player in his own end zone? You would think a safety would be worth more.

And on the subject of football calls, why does an NFL game have a defensive pass interference penalized at the spot of the foul yet whenever pass interference is called on the offense, it’s only a 10 yard penalty?

Back to baseball, has anyone noticed the unfair advantage American League teams have in winning the wild card? Sixteen NL teams are fighting for the division, three will win, which means one NL wildcard team will outlast twelve other teams. In the American League, the wildcard winning team will only outlast ten other teams. How is that just?

Speaking of division winners, the NL Central has six teams in the division. Every year the division winner has to finish ahead of five other teams. Meanwhile, in the American League West, a division with only four teams, the division winner has to finish ahead of only three other teams. How is that fair?

Why does an NFL receiver have to show possession of the ball and two feet in the end zone to score a touchdown, while a quarterback or running back can just hang the ball over the very beginning of the goal line for a split second? How does that make sense?

Here’s one for the stat rats: Baseball has the sacrifice fly, when a batter hits the ball in the air with less than two outs and after it’s caught, the runner from 3^rd base tags up and scores. The at bat does not count against the hitter’s batting average. However, when a batter hits a ground ball to an infielder with less than two outs and gets thrown out at first, the at bat counts against his average but yet the runner can still score from 3^rd base. What’s the logic behind that?

And finally, soccer is a great team sport, the best in world according to most outside the United States. Why would you decide a match of a great team sport, especially a championship match, with something so individual, so one-on-one as penalty kicks? What is so wrong with sudden death?

He's Clutch, He's Class, He's the Captain

Do you think that when the New York Yankees’ clubhouse manager gave out the #2 jersey to a young shortstop during the 1995 season, he knew what he was doing? Later that year, that clubhouse manager gave the #6 jersey to newly named manager Joe Torre. Call it fate, call it intuition, call it whatever you want but remember this: Other than #2 and #6, all the single digits are retired by the New York Yankees, including numbers 3, 4, 5 and 7, worn respectively by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. I imagine that every time Derek Jeter puts on those pinstripes along with his #2 jersey, those players with those jersey numbers enter his mind, perhaps since his debut with the big club. He homered on Opening Day 1996, won American League Rookie of the Year and helped the Yankees to their first World Series Championship since 1978. Derek Sanderson Jeter had arrived and over the next decade and a half, he played the game the way it should be played. He, along with Mr. Torre, as Jeter would refer to him, began to change the image of Yankees. Most athletes in any sport would be happy with a rookie season like that, but it was apparent very early on that Derek Jeter was only getting started.

Jeter just reached a baseball plateau very few get to. He became the 28^th player in history to get 3000 hits in a career, and is also the 4^th youngest in history to do so. That mark typically ensures an automatic berth in Cooperstown, Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame. This should hold true for Jeter. However, even though Derek has played in virtually every October since 1996, there are plenty out there who would be quick to say that Derek Jeter is good, not great, and perhaps even overrated. I still shake my head when I think of the people who try to tell me that. Let’s first try to set a map or guideline as to what a team expects from a great player or what a team needs from a shortstop.

A shortstop should first and foremost provide stability at his position, playing solid defense and be the coach on the field. Jeter has won five Gold Gloves at shortstop and has never looked out of position in any situation.

While a shortstop should think defense first, most quality offensive shortstops hit near the top of the order and produce runs any way possible. Not only has Jeter reached 3000 hits, which is the most by a shortstop in history, he also has a lifetime average of .312 and is currently 24^th all-time in runs scored. By the end of next season, Jeter could easily be in the top 15 in both runs and hits all-time.

A shortstop should be the team’s leader and represent the franchise in a positive way. Jeter was named team captain in 2003. He has also been named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 2009 and won the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to the Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team, as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media.

What else has Derek Jeter accomplished in his prolific career? Five World Series rings, four Silver Slugger awards (given to the best hitter at each position), nine times hitting over .300, seven times accumulating at least 200 hits in a season, and more hits and runs scored in postseason history. While he had the help and good fortune of playing on good teams, teams who always had the resources to get the best players money could buy, this organization has at times been very unstable. From the failure to hit in the clutch egomaniac Alex Rodriguez, to the steroid ridden roster of ARod, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi, and others, the meddling and controversial owner George Steinbrenner followed by his sons Hal and Hank, Jeter has been one of the few constants in the Yankee organization to show up day after day and help the team win. He has also done things never before seen in Major League Baseball history. Jeter is the 1^st and only player in history to win MVP of the All-Star game and World Series in the same season. He was the 1^st player to homer in the month of November, winning Game four of the 2001 World Series. And who could ever forget his flip to nail Jeremy Giambi at home plate, keeping his Yanks alive while down 2-0 in a best of five series? Let’s not forget that he has more hits than anyone ever in a Yankee uniform. THE NEW YORK YANKEES. He has more than all of them. Also, other than Albert Pujols or Ken Griffey Jr, what other everyday player over the last 10-15 seasons has been this successful and this great and not linked to steroids? It’s easy for people to say that he’s finished, his best years are behind him, he can’t play shortstop anymore, and he doesn’t deserve his contract. What more can he do? What do people want from him? Do you want him to be so pumped with HGH that he becomes superhuman and cartoonish like the Barry Bonds’, Mark McGwire’s and Sammy Sosa’s of the world? Or do you want a star that has a natural ascension and dissension throughout his career?

Derek Jeter is one of baseball’s all-time greatest players and he is among the sports world’s all-time greatest athletes. He has a Joe Montana-like quality, cool and calm under pressure, rising above the so-called intensity and desiring that big moment. Jeter also has some Wayne Gretzky in him, a gentleman who represents his sport with grace and class. And for the balance, Jeter has a bit of Kobe Bryant in him as well, a killer who you don’t want to see at the plate with the game on the line, because he will find a way, even if he has to step on you, to help his team win. Interestingly enough, those three athletes also share another thing with Jeter, multiple rings.

Did Derek Jeter hit as many homeruns as Ernie Banks? No. Did Derek Jeter have the durability of Cal Ripken? No. Did Derek Jeter play a defensive shortstop like Ozzie Smith? No. But never has there been another shortstop that could do it all consistently and with such poise as Derek Jeter. Never has there been a baseball player who quite balanced success on and off the field in the media driven city of the Big Apple with virtually no negative publicity. Never has there been a ball player who put his team and winning before himself more than Jeter. Never has there been a player who prefers to celebrate with his parents before his teammates after another World Series ring. Never before has there been a Derek Jeter. And there never will be again.

This One's For the Girls

In accordance with the start of the 2011 Women’s World Cup, I figure it’s about time we give a shout out to the ladies of sports and point out the very best of our era. Like the blogs in the past, our era means the past 30 years, 1980-present. Popularity doesn’t always count, it’s the wins, championships, dominance over a stretch and also just as important, it’s the way each athlete elevated their sport’s popularity throughout the world. 

Before we get to the top 10, let’s list the ladies who just missed the cut:

Michelle Akers, Cynthia Cooper, Janet Evans, Chris Evert, Shannon Miller, Picabo Street

And here it is, the top 10 female athletes of our era:

10. Cheryl Miller, basketball: “Anytime someone said I played ball like a man, I dug it!” That was just one of the things boasted by the dominant female basketball player. Cheryl Miller’s legacy began in high school when she scored 105 points in a single game. At USC, she won college basketball player of the year three times, while finishing 3^rd all time in the NCAA in rebounds and 5^th all-time in points. Had she had the chance to play in the WNBA instead of just coach, Miller would probably be in the top five of this list.

9. Bonnie Blair, speed skating: It’s simple; she won more gold medals than any other American female in the Olympic Games, summer or winter. Bonnie Blair won 5 gold medals, spanning three different games, including three in the 500 meter race. She was also the first American, male or female, to win six medals in the winter Olympics.

8. Serena Williams, tennis: While her 27 grand slam titles are impressive, we are going to focus on Serena’s 13 grand slam singles titles placing her 4^th all time. Serena Williams combines success on and off the court with her dominance in women’s tennis along her with clothing line. Serena has also been the world’s No. 1 on five different occasions and is the all-time leader in career earnings on the WTA.

7. Lisa Fernandez, softball: While Jennie Finch may be the most popular softball player ever, there is no doubt the greatest is the pitcher/3^rd baseman from UCLA and Olympic softball glory. In all, Fernandez won and dominated with three college softball player of the year awards, three gold medals, and two NCAA championships. Her peak may have been her senior season when she led the nation in batting average with a .510 mark, not to mention leading the nation with a 0.51 earned run average.

6. Lisa Leslie, basketball:  First woman to dunk, that in itself may be worthy of this list. Lisa Leslie has exemplified that women can play professional team sports and have a successful career. Three times she was named WNBA’s Most Valuable Player, twice her Los Angeles Sparks won the title and four times she has won a gold medal. Leslie is the WNBA’s career leader in points as well as many other categories.

5. Annika Sorenstam, golf: With 90 tournament wins, ten majors and being the career leader in money winning on the LPGA, very few have dominated their sport the way Annika has. Sorenstam is also the only woman to shoot 59 in a round and has won player of the year an astounding eight times.

4. Mia Hamm, soccer: Has there ever been a female athlete in team sports who won more than Mia? She won four NCAA championships at the University of North Carolina, two World Cups and two gold medals. But with Mia Hamm it was more than that. She elevated her sport’s popularity on the national and international scene. Perhaps her biggest accomplishment was her “anything you can do I can do better” Nike campaign with Michael Jordan. Hands down, Mia Hamm is the most successful female athlete in team sports.

3. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, track and field: People forget that Jackie Joyner was a four year starting forward for UCLA’s women’s basketball team. By then, however, she had also won the silver medal in the heptathlon in the 1984 Olympics. In all, Joyner-Kersee won medals in four straight Olympic Games, including three gold medals in the heptathlon, the most grueling Olympic event for women. In 1999, Sports Illustrated for Women Magazine named her the top female athlete in history.

2. Martina Navratilova, tennis: The numbers are mind-boggling, 167 career singles titles, 31 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles, nine Wimbledon singles titles, a 74 consecutive-match winning streak. All of those are tops in her sport. Martina took elements of tennis in the past and ushered it into the recent era. Her serve and volley approach, her incredible rivalry with Chris Evert and her unmatched longevity, Martina Navratilova won nearly 87% of her singles matches and is a sports legend.

1. Steffi Graf, tennis: There was never a question as to which female athletes were number one and number two on the list. Fraulein Forehand dominated women’s tennis the way no other female ever has in their sport. She had perhaps the greatest year in sports by male or female in 1988, when she won all four Grand Slam events as well as the gold medal in the Seoul games, a feat unmatched by any tennis player in history. She won twenty-two grand slam singles titles, 2^nd all time. She is the only woman to win all four majors at least four times. And while winning nearly 89% of all matches, here is the main reason Steffi edges Martina. While Martina would have a very slight edge on grass, I would take Graf on any surface. If I had to pick one woman to win one crucial match, without a doubt it would be Steffi Graf, the greatest women’s tennis player ever and the top female athlete of our time.

Chicks Dig the Pitchers too

Think back ten years ago, June 25, 2001. Barry Lamar Bonds was in the midst of an unprecedented season, crushing long ball after long ball. On this day he had 40 homeruns, well ahead of Mark McGwire’s record pace just three years earlier, and embarrassing the pace of Roger Maris back in 1961. Fast forward ten years to June 25, 2011 and the homerun leader in the clubhouse is Jose Bautista with 23, still a nice big number but nowhere near 40. Not even close to 30. What’s that big, pink elephant in the room? Oh yeah, steroids. It has become apparent this season and the last that steroids have been all but eliminated from the game. In 2010, Bautista finished with 54 homeruns, far ahead of anyone else in the game. 2^nd was Albert Pujols with 42. Those were the only two players who hit above 40. Flash back to 2001, Bonds finished with a record breaking 73 homeruns. 2^nd was Sammy Sosa with 64. Can you imagine hitting 64 homeruns and finishing nine behind the leader? In all, twelve players hit at least 41 round trippers. Among those were Richie Sexson, Phil Nevin, Shawn Green and Luis Gonzalez. Gonzalez finished 3^rd in the MLB, with 57!!! In 2010, Paul Konerko finished 3^rd in homeruns, with 39. However, it’s not just the elimination of steroids. It’s the guys these homerun hitters are now facing. In 2001, only two pitchers finished with an ERA below three runs, and not surprising to see that it was Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. Even the great Greg Maddux had an ERA of 3.05. In 2010, R.A Dickey was tenth in the MLB in ERA with a 2.84 mark. Other names in the top 10 of earned run average were Jaime Garcia, Adam Wainwright and Clay Buchholz.

It’s obvious that in every era of baseball, you have your great pitchers and future Hall of Famers. Ten years ago, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine were at or near the primes of their career. Today it’s more of the same. CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay, and Justin Verlander continue to put up fantastic numbers and Tim Lincecum could also be on his way to Cooperstown. But it’s the 2^nd tier of pitchers that are also dominating nowadays. Currently 22 pitchers have an ERA below 3.00, and while some of this year’s pitchers may be having just a good start to a season i.e. Jeff Karstens, Jhoulys Chacin, Alexi Ogando, most of the pitchers are names that we have come to know and appreciate. Josh Beckett, Jair Jurjjens, Jered Weaver, Clayton Kershaw, James Shields, Cole Hamels, Tommy Hanson, Cliff Lee and Anibal Sanchez are all-star caliber pitchers and can throw no hitters on any given night. It is these guys who have helped America appreciate pitching again. We still like to see the tape measure blasts. Carlos Beltran just hit one that went something like 460 feet. However, those 2-1 pitchers duels such as Tim Lincecum vs Clayton Kershaw on Opening Day is what baseball is all about. Those pitcher’s duels keep the strategy in baseball. You follow the game as if a manager, do we pinch hit here? Do they bunt? Should we warm up the lefty? All of this is a result of great pitching. While the homerun may have saved the game of baseball in the past, Babe Ruth or Bic Mac and Sammy Sosa for example, it’s pitching that keeps baseball what it should be, a thinking man’s game at its purest. Long live the first pitch fastball, the 3-2 back door curve, the Trevor Hoffman change up, the Mariano Rivera cutter, no hitters, brush back pitches and in the name of Sandy Koufax, long live the complete game.  

The NBA's Top 10

First of all, let me say congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks, earning their first NBA championship. As I said in the last installment, I felt that LeBron James is a great player, but not among the all time greats. He seems to be more on par with the Scottie Pippen’s and Kevin McHale’s of the basketball world. That being said, who are the NBA’s all time greats? In 1997, the NBA released a top 50 list and for the most part, the list was very accurate. However, a lot has happened in the last 14 years. Perhaps current stars have cracked this cream of the crop list. What’s needed to be in this company? Statistics need to be weighed, preferably in more than one category. You need to win, not necessarily in football or baseball to be considered the best. But in the NBA, when there are only 5 players on a court, one player can almost dominate by himself and can affect the outcome most often. It isn’t just winning that is important, but also who you beat along the way. No brownie points will be awarded when dominating the Clippers, we need to know what you did against other great players and teams. So before I submit the top 10, with perhaps a surprise down the line, here are a few names that are just outside the best of the best list, in alphabetical order:

Tim Duncan, Julius Erving, Elvin Hayes, Karl Malone, Moses Malone, Jerry West

And here it is, the top 10 players in NBA history:

10. Oscar Robertson – Ok, so we all know what comes to mind when we hear the Big O’s name. He did average a triple double for the entire 1961-62 season at 30.8 points per game, 11.4 assists per game and an astounding 12.5 rebounds per game… as a point guard. Here are the other two big things to remember. One, he had this amazing, unmatched season in just his 2^nd campaign. And second, his 9.9 rebounds per game the following season were what kept him from back to back triple double average seasons. The only reason he is not higher on this list is the sole championship in 1970-71.

9. Hakeem Olajuwon – Some of you may remember me saying a couple weeks back that “the dream” was one of the most underrated athletes of our time. So this is me campaigning for that underrating to end. Let’s get this out of the way, he won back to back Finals MVP’s in 1994 and 1995, not to mention he is the NBA’s all-time leader in blocked shots. What keeps him in this top 10 is the list of centers that he competed against: Kareem, Robert Parish, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O’Neal, all of whom were in the NBA’s top 50. Over his prolific career, Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks, and who could forget that “Dream Shake.”

8. Shaquille O’Neal – Also from my past blogs, I mentioned that Shaq’s prime did not have any other dominant center at or near their prime so he doesn’t deserve to be any higher. However, here is why he deserves to be eighth: 5^th all time in points, 12^th all time in rebounds, 7^th in blocks. Now throw in the playoff numbers, 4^th all time in points and 3^rd all time in rebounds. Shaq could have absolutely been higher had he and Kobe Bryant coexisted longer, and don’t forget how many points he could have had with some better free throw numbers. He finished with four championships and the three Finals MVP’s.

7. Larry Bird – I bet Larry would be the first to say that his numbers alone do not measure up to the others. However, I bet he will say that no one wanted to win more and no one worked harder to win. Larry Legend won three consecutive MVPs, two Finals MVPs and three NBA championships. Bird also wins the award for the greatest trash talker. Magic Johnson once said, “I fear no one but Larry Bird.” Ironically, it’s because of Magic that Larry is not higher on this list, with the Celtics losing the head-to-head Finals battle.

6. Kobe Bryant – I imagine this is where I will get most of my criticism and I’m absolutely ready, and may even show that he can get higher on this list. How many current or future Hall of Famers have five championships and two Finals MVPs? Now let me say that Kobe Bean Bryant has four All-star game MVPs, been named to the NBA’s all defensive 1^st team nine times, and four times has led the NBA in points in a season. Here is why Kobe may still be climbing the list, assuming that he will average at or near his career numbers, Kobe will be in the top 15 all-time in steals, top 5 in points, top 12 all-time in 3 point field goals… in his next season! Looking at playoff numbers, Kobe will be in the top 5 in steals, top 3 in three point field goals, top 5 in ASSISTS!? If the Lakers go deep in the playoffs next year, he has a chance at being second in points. Again, all of this by the end of next season. The Mamba belongs at number 6.

Now here is the twist, you can make a case for these next five names topping the list. It’s not clear cut and I dare anyone to say anyone is the hands down number one.

The case against Kareem Abdul Jabaar: It would be somewhat fair to say that Jabaar’s career might have ended and at the very least diminished some had it not be for the Lakers drafting Magic Johnson. Those other big men were not blessed like Kareem to have point guards such as Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson getting them the ball and taking the load off at times.

The case for Kareem Abdul-Jabaar: He is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, 2^nd in the playoffs. He’s 3^rd all-time in rebounds, 4^th in the playoffs. He was named to nineteen all-star teams. Six times he was named NBA MVP, twice in the Finals. Here is the kicker, while accumulating these eye popping numbers, he competed against Wilt Chamberlain, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens, Bill Walton, Nate Thurmond, Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, Robert Parish, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing. Each of those names belong to centers on the NBA’s top 50 list. Kareem bests or rivals their careers.

The case against Wilt Chamberlain: Yes, Wilt won two championships. His main rival, Bill Russell, won eleven. Enough said.

The case for Wilt Chamberlain: A larger than life figure that may only be topped by Babe Ruth or Muhammad Ali, Wilt the Stilt is synonymous with domination. As for numbers, Wilt is the all-time leader in rebounds, averaging 22.9 rebounds per game. He is 2^nd all-time in the playoffs and upping his average to 24.5 rebounds per game. By the slimmest of margins, he is 2^nd in career scoring average at 30.07 points per game. Let’s not forget that Wilt scored 100 points in a single game, the same season where he averaged an unbelievable 50.4 points per game, two records that will probably never be broken. Additionally, during that season, he averaged 48.5 minutes per game. Wait, aren’t there only 48 minutes in a game? Wilt also led the league in assists for a season, as a center.

The case against Earvin “Magic” Johnson: What helps him also hurts him. A 5-4 record in the Finals is just better than average. Plus, Magic wasn’t doing it alone. James Worthy and Kareem also are among the NBA’s top 50.

The case for Earvin “Magic” Johnson: He won at every level. In four years he won championships at the high school, college and NBA level. He is the first and only rookie to win Finals MVP at this point. That was the first of three times he won that award. That three matches his regular season MVPs, but let’s go back to those NBA Finals. Magic appeared in nine finals, winning five, but look at the teams he beat to win the championships. He beat Dr. J’s Philadelphia 76ers, twice. He beat Larry Bird’s Celtics, twice. He beat Isiah’s Bad Boy Pistons once, and he was at the end of his career when he lost to MJ’s Bulls. Now playing fantasy NBA champions, what player or team could have had that much success against legendary teams year-in and year-out? Johnson is also 4^th all-time in assists, and 1^st in the playoffs. His triple doubles are also #1 in the regular season and the playoffs.

The case against Michael Jordan: As great as he and those Bulls were in the 90’s, the teams he beat in the Finals were far from all-time great teams. He got the Lakers in 1991 instead of the mid eighties. He faced Clyde Drexler’s Blazers, Barkley’s one-year wonder Suns and the flash in the pan Seattle SuperSonics. It wasn’t until the late 90’s when Jordan and the Bulls faced the clear cut 2^nd best team, the Utah Jazz, beating them twice. His gambling issues were also rumored to be the real reason Michael walked away after the 1993 season.

The case for Michael Jordan: He has the highest scoring average in NBA history at 30.12. He has a record ten scoring titles. He has more points than anyone in playoff history. However, here are Jordan’s main arguments: Six for six in the Finals, six Finals MVPs and never letting his team get to a game 7 in those Finals. He was also the best player on the team with the best single season record in NBA history, 72-10. MJ was also a nine time member of the NBA’s all-defensive first team and a five time regular season MVP.

The case against Bill Russell: He also benefited from having the best talent around him. He also played under Red Auerbach, who was the visionary who invented the fast break and coached the Celts to nine rings. While a great defender, Russ only averaged 15.1 points per game in his career, easily the lowest of these top five names. 

The case for Bill Russell: If winning is all that matters, Russ could be the best of them all. He had eleven championships in thirteen seasons with a record breaking eight in a row. Who did he beat along the way? Bob Petit’s St Louis Hawks and countless Lakers teams consisting of Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain. Russell is 2^nd all-time in regular season rebounds, 1^st all-time in the playoffs. However, it was Russell’s defense that puts him on the list, perhaps the first superstar in any sport that put defense first. This is probably what helped create the phrase, “Defense wins championships.”