Who’s Next for Cooperstown?

My congratulations to Barry Larkin, the newest member of Baseball’s Hall of Fame. He was a local boy who played his entire career for the team he rooted for as a boy, the Cincinnati Reds. He was also the only player to be inducted in the class of 2012. Just missing the magic number (75% of the votes) was Jack Morris, who is on his last legs of eligibility. You see, a player gets fifteen years on the ballot, and if not selected by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), he can only be inducted by the Veterans’ Committee, a group of former players. So it may make you wonder, if Jack Morris has difficulty getting in while competing against the likes of Larkin, Jeff Bagwell, Bernie Williams and others, who becomes eligible in 2013? If you had that same thought, get ready to dive into some controversy and conflict. In no particular order: Mike Piazza, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Craig Biggio and Curt Schilling. So let’s address the pink elephant in the room: baseball players associated with steroids.

Clearly, all of these players had Hall of Fame caliber numbers, and clearly, all these players took many different roads to reach those numbers. However, I’m looking at the amount of votes that players associated with steroids have already received, i.e. Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro. Plain and simple, Bonds, Sosa, and Clemens aren’t getting in any time soon. Perhaps they won’t ever get in. The BBWAA very seriously takes stock into accountability, character and integrity of the game. The argument against it is the fact that Ty Cobb and others are viewed to be so-called “bad guys” off the field. However, steroids have given the game of baseball such a black eye, there is just no way any player related to performance enhancing drugs are getting in.

Now, let’s look at Curt Schilling. How many times have we heard the argument that he was a big game pitcher? Someone you want on your team, someone who lays it all on the line and seems to shine the most when the stage is the biggest. In my opinion, Schilling deserves to get in, specifically because of his post season record. He also has some very solid lifetime numbers. But again, if Jack Morris can’t get in right away, chances are Schill will have to wait, too. If you think down the line, names like Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, and Randy Johnson, who all have better cases to make the Hall, are more reasons why Schilling will probably have to wait a few years.

How about Craig Biggio? He’ll get in for sure but it is so 50-50 if he gets in on the first ballot. 3000 career hits, that’s usually an automatic bid. Throw in the fact that only twelve players have scored more runs than him, he’ll get in. First ballot is another story. Using the eye ball test, Roberto Alomar was a much better player than Biggio. Alomar wasn’t a first ballot HOFer. I would take Larkin over Biggio. Larkin had to wait until his 3^rd year. The question we should really be asking is why are players good enough to get in eventually and not right away? It’s not like these players are improving their numbers to get more votes. The Hall of Fame needs to figure out a formula that will allow the best of the best to get in right away and the players in the tier below get in after 2-3 years. Think about someone like Bert Blyleven who had to wait a fourteen years to get in. He wondered, “How did I get better after retirement?” Figure it out.

Who am I missing? Oh yes, the greatest offensive catcher in baseball history who was a 62^nd round draft pick as a favor from his godfather, Tommy Lasorda. Mike Piazza is a first ballot Hall of Famer. He not only hit over 400 homeruns, his total is tops among catchers and he has not been linked to performance enhancing drugs. Pretty good power numbers for someone who also hit .308 lifetime and was a 12-time all-star. He is one of only nine Major Leaguers to hit over .300 lifetime with 400 homeruns and never striking out more than 100 times in any season. Who would have thought that 15 years ago, Piazza would top a list that included Bonds, Sosa, Clemens, Biggio and Schilling. He deserves it. He did it the right way.

The Year in Review

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa (or whatever expression is proper when observing that holiday) and a happy and healthy New Year to all. Perhaps I should just say Happy Holidays! That normally covers it all in a very “PC” way. As in every year, 2011 brought us sports fans a big dose memorable stories, events, and performances. So I thought I would take this time to recognize athletes and such in a way befitting of an awards show. You have the Oscar, the Grammy, the ESPY and now you have the Via, which goes out to those across the landscape of sports. In no particular order, here we go:

Via Award for Best Rookie – Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers: His first game is still talked about. His rookie season will be talked about until he wins a playoff game. Cam Newton is a special talent. Most yards thrown in a first game, by more than double. Most yards thrown in a rookie season. Most total touchdowns by a rookie. Also, to be noted, he helped the Panthers to win four more games than the year before, which is never easy for a quarterback selected as the #1 overall pick. 

Via Award for Most Underrated Athlete – Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves: When you get mentioned in the same breath as Moses Malone when you could be a college senior, you’re doing pretty good. NBA fans know how good Kevin Love is. If he played for a winning team or a city other than Minneapolis, most of the world would know how good he is. His points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game and free throw percentage have all improve each year. Last year he shot 41.7% from the three point arc, WHILE AVERAGING OVER 15 REBOUNDS PER GAME! Who else can do that? In a twenty year career, Shaquille O’Neal achieved a 30 point-20 rebound game eighteen times. In three plus seasons, Love has done it five times already. Watch out for this monster

Via Award for Breakthrough Athlete – Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls: We all knew Derrick Rose was going to at least be a good NBA player. But when you play in the same building as Michael Jordan and win the MVP while leading your team to the best regular season record, that’s an amazing season and a surprise nonetheless.  It looks as though Rose’s star is still climbing and when all is said and done could make his case for best point guard of his era

Via Award for Best Coach – Tony Larussa, St. Louis Cardinals – Going out on top is so hard to do in sports. Tony LaRussa joins a very short list. His 3^rd career World Series title was easily his finest as a skipper. While I admit players have to go out and execute, Larussa out-coached Rangers manager Ron Washington in the World Series. Next stop for Tony, Cooperstown

Via Award for Comeback Player of the Year – Reggie Bush, RB, Miami Dolphins: We know about the past, stripped Heisman Trophy and one of the main reasons the USC football program received bans, probations and other penalties. But also on his plate was a very underwhelming career in the NFL bordering on draft bust. In his last three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, he rushed for a combined 944 yards. This year, his first with the Dolphins, he rushed for 1096 yards. Couple that with starting in a career best 15 games in 2011, he may have a second life in Miami

Via Award for Best Performance Under Pressure – Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks: This was a close one. Why Dirk edges out Abby Wambach, 2 reasons. First, Abby did it for a stretch of a week or so. Dirk did it for a two month stretch, although it seemed like longer after many, many clutch baskets with ice in his veins. Second, Dirk and his team won. During the 2011 NBA playoffs, Nowitzki averaged 27.7 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 46% from the three point arc and 94% from the free throw line. Congrats Dirk on one helluva playoff run to your first ring

Via Award for Best Athlete – Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers: If your team only loses one game in a calendar year, you’re the best player on that team, and that one loss is not the Super Bowl, it’s an automatic bid. Rodgers played flawlessly against the vaunted Steelers defense in the Super Bowl, winning a trip to Disneyworld and a big ring for the fans of Green Bay. He then proceeded to lead the Pack to a 15-1 mark and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Aaron, I promise no one outside San Francisco remembers that Alex Smith was taken 1^st overall and you were selected 24^th.

Via Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University: I think most people have to stop and think what his first name is. He is known in the sporting world as Coach K. And even though four national championships, not to mention a gold medal, are pretty sweet, Coach K gets this award for passing his mentor Bob Knight for most wins by a Men’s Division 1 head coach, getting number 903 in November. If you don’t love Coach K, there is something wrong with you.

Story of the year – Jerry Sandusky/Penn State football scandal : I try not to focus on the negatives in life but when it comes down to this or Tim Tebow, even the hyped QB takes a back seat to this one. The main reason all the scrutiny came down on the program, Joe Paterno. Sure the allegations and the events following were awful, but, and I hate to say this, it happens all across the country. Now throw in a legendary coach in his final days at the only head coaching job he ever knew in a community that idolized him, it becomes a much bigger and jaw dropping moment.

Team of the Year – Dallas Mavericks: First NBA Championship, decided underdogs versus LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Now throw in multiple veterans like Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion and Peja Stojakovic all coming together to reach the pinnacle of the sport. It’s not an easy call but I’m satisfied with it

Game of the Year – Game six, World Series, Rangers vs Cardinals: We mentioned in an earlier blog about MLB Network’s countdown of the 20 greatest games in baseball history. They will have to play a mulligan now. Game six had it all. Hall of Fame players, managers and presidents, multiple lead changes, multiple runs scored and for the first time in MLB history, a team down to their last strike in two different innings, not to mention a walk off home run by Series MVP David Freese, a virtual unknown til this season. Rangers fans, I’m sure the pain is indescribable to get that close to your first championship. For the rest of us baseball fans, it was as good as it gets

Keeping up with Lamar

Did you ever notice how often we use the word interesting? We throw that word around as frequently as we do the word “the.” It will be interesting. That’s interesting. Or we use the word interesting by itself. Well let me say without any doubt, Lamar Odom is an interesting person. There are parts of his life that are very much like we have heard about other athletes. Born in Queens, NY. Dad is a drug addict. Mom died while Lamar was still a kid. Raised by grandma. Throw in the common story that he went to three high schools and was heavily recruited out of high school to play at some of the best college basketball programs in the country. He was also named as Parade Magazine’s high school basketball player of the year in 1997. He committed to playing at UNLV, but was busted for illegally taking money from boosters, and was forced to transfer to the University of Rhode Island. In just one year, he led them to the Elite 8 of March Madness. Odom was then selected as the fourth overall player in the NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. If the story ends here, it’s the typical Horatio Alger tale. Young upstart faces many challenges, defies the odds and achieves beyond anyone’s expectations. In real life, it’s never that clean or easy.

Ahh yes, real life. Lamar can be brilliant, Lamar can be high on candy (and not candy as a code word for drugs, I actually mean candy). Lamar can be flat out, well, Lamar. Any basketball fan has said these words, “Lamar Odom has as much talent as anyone in the NBA.” But then it’s followed up with something like, “If only he had the heart or work ethic.” Well let me say this, Lamar Odom definitely has heart. I got a chance to see him up close briefly at the 2000 NBA All-Star weekend in Oakland. Most people remember that weekend as the Vince Carter Slam Dunk Show. I remember plenty of things, most memorable being meeting Magic Johnson. I also watched as John Thompson walked up to and kissed some of the most beautiful women in the world. I saw Allan Iverson walk past me and realized he was maybe an inch or two taller than me. I also remember two rookies, Steve Francis and Lamar Odom. While Francis, who also had some talent, was very unmemorable, Odom was holding court with many other players in the league. He was also respectful of the legends at the extravaganza and understood the food chain of the NBA. 

In 2004, Odom was traded from the Miami Heat to the Los Angeles Lakers. Right away he became a fan favorite. No question he became the 2^nd most popular player on the team. He was asked to be the Robin to Kobe Bryant’s Batman. But along the way, everyone could see something missing. There were nights where Odom would put up solid 20-point, 10-rebound games and do so with incredible ease. Other nights he just looked uninterested or unable to rise to the occasion of a pressure situation. He was struggling to be even the 2^nd option, let alone a star. It’s hard to decide whether Odom wearing his emotions on his sleeve is a good thing or a bad thing. We want our players to be cold heart killers at times and not let the pressure of the moment get too big for them. However, there are times us as fans love to see the player unable control their emotions when on cloud nine after a big play. That’s what Odom can do at times but on an inconsistent basis. 

And I guess that is another good word to describe Lamar Odom, inconsistent. His life has been inconsistent, from the tragic death of his six month old infant due to SIDS disease, to his helping the Lakers to win back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and 2010. In fact, it was after the 2^nd championship that Lamar met his wife, Khloe Kardashian. What was it, six days before they became engaged? I guess that sort of thing is on par with Lamar Odom’s life. You never know what is going to come next. Odom certainly didn’t know that the Lakers were going to try to trade him to the New Orleans Hornets. We all know that’s what comes with the territory. It can be normal life for an NBA player. But in a radio interview, Odom all but wept on the air for all of southern California to hear. Even though he was saying other things about being shocked about the decision and not being told about it up front, let’s read between the lines. What he was really trying to say is how much he loves the city of Los Angeles and loves the Lakers organization. He took less money to be on a winning team. He even sacrificed a starting role and playing time to come off the bench and do what was best for the team. In the end, I guess it just wasn’t enough. Lamar Odom has been a great player for the Lakers. He should fit in very well with his new team, the Dallas Mavericks. Good luck to Lamar and we look forward to seeing him and Khloe do Dallas on the E! Network. It should be interesting.

A Long December

For many of us, December is an exciting time of year. There’s the obvious holidays and seasonal cheer. College football prepares for bowl season and the NBA is now giving us a great Christmas present. And of course, the NFL playoff picture is rounding into shape. Maybe your team clinches a playoff spot. Maybe your team clinches home field advantage. December always gives us something. For Tony Romo however, December is something else.

Let’s just put it out there, Tony Romo’s career statistics are very good. I’ll also say this; Tony Romo has a good win-loss record. He is very athletic, can extend plays and has the pressure of playing in a city that demands their quarterback be a star and also perform like one. Tony Romo has a career record of 46-27, including a strong 19-2 record in the month of November and a career QB rating of 95.8. With Sunday’s loss to the lowly Arizona Cardinals, his career record in the month of December/January is now 8-11. If you include the 2008 regular season finale vs Philadelphia, which was a “win and you’re in” game, his playoff record is 1-4. He has completed less than 60% of his passes in his playoff games and his QB rating is a pedestrian 80.8. Does Tony Romo deserve all the blame? No. I think we all can give some of the blame to former Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones deserves some heat as well. But in a league that protects its stars and adjusts rules to protect its quarterbacks, Tony Romo has to be held accountable for his winter shortcomings. In looking back to last Sunday’s loss at Arizona, Romo put up solid numbers: 28-for-42 in completions, 299 yards passing, one TD with no interceptions. But most people watching probably wondered what Romo was thinking or wasn’t thinking on what should have been the game winning drive. Romo completed a pass to WR Dez Bryant with 25 seconds to go and two timeouts. Tick tick tick tick tick; all the way down to seven seconds before they spike the ball and settle for a 49 yard field goal attempt. How many Cowboys fans around the country were yelling at the TV, “Take a timeout! You have two timeouts.” Why didn’t Romo take a timeout, save about ten seconds and run one or two more plays to get his kicker a closer field goal attempt?

It is plays like that, and like his botched hold on a winning field goal attempt in the playoffs against Seattle, that always leave you scratching your head when it comes to Tony Romo in the clutch. Or at the very least it causes you to question his leadership.

Are we just nit picking here or do we demand more from the “so called” stars of the NFL? We love Tom Brady, not just because he is married to a supermodel, but because he wins when it matters (34-4 record in the month of December). Now if we compared most quarterbacks to Tom Brady, they would fall short. But the Dallas Cowboys franchise is an organization that can say they have had Don Meredith, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman at quarterback. Romo is supposed to be next in line. He is no longer a kid. This is his seventh season as a starting quarterback in the NFL and the time should be now. Lucky for him, Romo and his Cowboys control their own destiny this season. Win enough games and the NFC East is his for the taking. But if we look at the past, Romo and the Cowboys are far from a lock to make the playoffs. Tony Romo is a very good quarterback. Just not when it matters most.

Denver's Prayer

Our Quarterback, who art in Denver,

Tebow be thy name

His arm no good

Not as it should

Not close to good ol’ number seven

Give us this Sunday another win,

And let him complete a few more passes

As we defend against those who pass better against us.

And lead us not into mediocrity,

But deliver us to January.

Though he has wisdom,

He lacks the power,

And the ability

God help us forever and ever.

Amen