40 Most Overrated Athletes:
1. Danica Patrick, Indy Racing League
2. David Beckham, Soccer
3. Michelle Wie, LPGA Tour
4. Kimbo Slice, MMA
5. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
6. Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys
7. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
8. Andy Roddick, Tennis
9. Kasey Kahne, NASCAR
10. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs
11. Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs
12. Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees
13. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox
14. J.D. Drew, Boston Red Sox
15. Mo Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers
16. Albert Haynesworth, Washington Redskins
17. Sergio Garcia, PGA Tour
18. Joel Zumaya, Detroit Tigers
19. Antwain Jamison, Cleveland Cavaliers
20. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints
21. Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers
22. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards
23. Brian Vickers, NASCAR
24. Carlos Beltran, New York Mets
25. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
26. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
27. Adam Dunn, Washington Nationals
28. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints
29. Mike Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
30. Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets
31. Matt Hasselback, Seattle Seahawks
32. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
33. Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR
34. Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers
35. Tracy McGrady, New York Knicks
36. Eli Manning, New York Giants
37. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
38. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
39. Manny Pacquiao, Boxing
40. Floyd Mayweather, Boxing
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
45 Worst Trades in Sports History
1. Boston Red Sox trade Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000 dollars and a $300,000 loan
2. St. Louis Hawks trade Bill Russell to Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley & Cliff Hagan
3. Charlotte Hornets trade Kobe Bryant to LA Lakers for Vlade Divac
4. Atlanta Falcons trade Brett Favre to Green Bay Packers for 1st round draft pick
5. Milwaukee Bucks trade Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to LA Lakers for Elmore Smith, Junior Bridgemann and Dave Meyers
6. 76ers trade Wilt Chamberlain to Lakers for Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark & Darrall Imhoff
7. Minnesota Vikings trade five players and eight draft picks (three of which become Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson & Alan Harper) to Dallas Cowboys for Herschel Walker and four draft picks
8. Cincinnati Reds trade Christy Matthewson to New York Giants for Amos Rusie
9. Edmonton Oilers trade Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas and three 1st round draft picks
10. Chicago Cubs trade Lou Brock and two others to St. Louis Cardinals for Ernie Broglio, Bobby Shantz & Doug Clemens
11. Golden State Warriors trade Robert Parrish and third overall draft pick (which became Kevin McHale) to Boston Celtics for first overall pick (Joe Barry Carroll) and Ricky Brown
12. Cleveland Indians trade Joe Jackson to Chicago White Sox for Larry Chappell, Braggo Roth & Ed Klepfer
13. Houston Astros trade Joe Morgan, Jack Billingham, Cesar Cedeno & Ed Armbrister to Cincinnati Reds for Lee May, Tommy Helms & Jimmy Stewart
14. Detroit Tigers trade John Smoltz to Atlanta Braves for Doyle Alexander
15. Seattle SuperSonics trade Scottie Pippen to Chicago Bulls for Olden Polynice
16. Boston Red Sox trade Jeff Bagwell to Houston Astros for Larry Andersen
17. New York Mets trade Nolan Ryan and three others to California Angels for Jim Fregosi
18. Baltimore Colts trade John Elway to Denver Broncos for Mark Hermann, Chris Hinton and 1st round draft pick
19. Montreal Expos trade Randy Johnson and two others to Seattle Mariners for Mark Langston and Mike Campbell
20. Chicago White Sox trade Sammy Sosa to Chicago Cubs for George Bell 21. Cincinnati Reds trade Frank Robinson to Baltimore Orioles for Milt Pappas
22. Oakland A’s trade Mark McGwire to St. Louis Cardinals for T.J. Matthews, Blake Stein and Eric Ludwick
23. Philadelphia 76ers trade Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns for Tim Perry, Jeff Hornacek and Andrew Lang
24. New Jersey Nets trade Julius Erving to Philadelphia 76ers for $3 million
25. Philadelphia Phillies trade Ryne Sandberg & Larry Bowa to Chicago Cubs for Ivan DeJesus
26. Boston Red Sox trade Tris Speaker to Cleveland Indians for Sam Jones, Fred Thomas and cash
27. Milwaukee Bucks trade Dirk Nowitzki & Pat Garrity to Dallas Mavericks for Robert Traylor
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade Steve Young to San Francisco 49ers for 2nd & 4th round draft picks
29. San Diego Padres trade Ozzie Smith and others to the St. Louis Cardinals for Garry Templeton and others
30. Utah Jazz trade Dominique Wilkins to Atlanta Hawks for John Drew, Freeman Williams and cash
31. New Orleans Saints trade all six of their 1999 draft picks and a future 1st & 3rd Round draft pick to Washington Redskins to move up in draft to take Ricky Williams
32. Cleveland Indians trade Jeff Kent, Julian Tavarez & Jose Vizcaino to San Francisco Giants for Matt Williams
33. Indianapolis Colts trade Marshall Faulk to St. Louis Rams for 2nd & 5th round draft picks
34. New York Mets trade Tom Seaver to Cincinnati Reds for Pat Zachary, Doug Flynn & Steve Henderson
35. Rams trade Jerome Bettis to Pittsburgh Steelers for 2nd & 4th round draft picks
36. Washington Wizards trade Richard Hamilton, Hubert Davis & Brian Simmons to Detroit Pistons for Jerry Stackhouse, Brian Cardinals and Ratko Varda
37. Memphis Grizzlies trade Pau Gasol to LA Lakers for Kwame Brown, Aaron McKie, Javaris Crittenten and Marc Gasol
38. Atlanta Falcons trade 5th overall pick (which became LaDanian Tomlinson) and 3rd round pick to San Diego Chargers for 1st overall draft pick (which became Michael Vick)
39. Houston Astros trade Kenny Lofton & Dave Rhule to Cleveland Indians for Eddie Taubensee & Willie Blair
40. Tampa Bay Rays trade Bobby Abreu to Philadelphia Phillies for Kevin Stocker
41. San Diego Padres trade Fred McGriff to Atlanta Braves for Melvin Nieves, Donnie Elliott and Vince Moore
42. Seattle Mariners trade Jason Varitek & Derek Lowe to Boston Red Sox for Heathcliff Slocumb
43. Chicago Blackhawks trade Dominik Hasek to Buffalo Sabres for Stephane Beauregard and 4th round draft pick
44. Oakland Raiders trade Randy Moss to New England Patriots for 4th round draft pick
45. New York Knicks trade two first round draft picks for Eddy Curry
2. St. Louis Hawks trade Bill Russell to Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley & Cliff Hagan
3. Charlotte Hornets trade Kobe Bryant to LA Lakers for Vlade Divac
4. Atlanta Falcons trade Brett Favre to Green Bay Packers for 1st round draft pick
5. Milwaukee Bucks trade Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to LA Lakers for Elmore Smith, Junior Bridgemann and Dave Meyers
6. 76ers trade Wilt Chamberlain to Lakers for Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark & Darrall Imhoff
7. Minnesota Vikings trade five players and eight draft picks (three of which become Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson & Alan Harper) to Dallas Cowboys for Herschel Walker and four draft picks
8. Cincinnati Reds trade Christy Matthewson to New York Giants for Amos Rusie
9. Edmonton Oilers trade Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas and three 1st round draft picks
10. Chicago Cubs trade Lou Brock and two others to St. Louis Cardinals for Ernie Broglio, Bobby Shantz & Doug Clemens
11. Golden State Warriors trade Robert Parrish and third overall draft pick (which became Kevin McHale) to Boston Celtics for first overall pick (Joe Barry Carroll) and Ricky Brown
12. Cleveland Indians trade Joe Jackson to Chicago White Sox for Larry Chappell, Braggo Roth & Ed Klepfer
13. Houston Astros trade Joe Morgan, Jack Billingham, Cesar Cedeno & Ed Armbrister to Cincinnati Reds for Lee May, Tommy Helms & Jimmy Stewart
14. Detroit Tigers trade John Smoltz to Atlanta Braves for Doyle Alexander
15. Seattle SuperSonics trade Scottie Pippen to Chicago Bulls for Olden Polynice
16. Boston Red Sox trade Jeff Bagwell to Houston Astros for Larry Andersen
17. New York Mets trade Nolan Ryan and three others to California Angels for Jim Fregosi
18. Baltimore Colts trade John Elway to Denver Broncos for Mark Hermann, Chris Hinton and 1st round draft pick
19. Montreal Expos trade Randy Johnson and two others to Seattle Mariners for Mark Langston and Mike Campbell
20. Chicago White Sox trade Sammy Sosa to Chicago Cubs for George Bell 21. Cincinnati Reds trade Frank Robinson to Baltimore Orioles for Milt Pappas
22. Oakland A’s trade Mark McGwire to St. Louis Cardinals for T.J. Matthews, Blake Stein and Eric Ludwick
23. Philadelphia 76ers trade Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns for Tim Perry, Jeff Hornacek and Andrew Lang
24. New Jersey Nets trade Julius Erving to Philadelphia 76ers for $3 million
25. Philadelphia Phillies trade Ryne Sandberg & Larry Bowa to Chicago Cubs for Ivan DeJesus
26. Boston Red Sox trade Tris Speaker to Cleveland Indians for Sam Jones, Fred Thomas and cash
27. Milwaukee Bucks trade Dirk Nowitzki & Pat Garrity to Dallas Mavericks for Robert Traylor
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade Steve Young to San Francisco 49ers for 2nd & 4th round draft picks
29. San Diego Padres trade Ozzie Smith and others to the St. Louis Cardinals for Garry Templeton and others
30. Utah Jazz trade Dominique Wilkins to Atlanta Hawks for John Drew, Freeman Williams and cash
31. New Orleans Saints trade all six of their 1999 draft picks and a future 1st & 3rd Round draft pick to Washington Redskins to move up in draft to take Ricky Williams
32. Cleveland Indians trade Jeff Kent, Julian Tavarez & Jose Vizcaino to San Francisco Giants for Matt Williams
33. Indianapolis Colts trade Marshall Faulk to St. Louis Rams for 2nd & 5th round draft picks
34. New York Mets trade Tom Seaver to Cincinnati Reds for Pat Zachary, Doug Flynn & Steve Henderson
35. Rams trade Jerome Bettis to Pittsburgh Steelers for 2nd & 4th round draft picks
36. Washington Wizards trade Richard Hamilton, Hubert Davis & Brian Simmons to Detroit Pistons for Jerry Stackhouse, Brian Cardinals and Ratko Varda
37. Memphis Grizzlies trade Pau Gasol to LA Lakers for Kwame Brown, Aaron McKie, Javaris Crittenten and Marc Gasol
38. Atlanta Falcons trade 5th overall pick (which became LaDanian Tomlinson) and 3rd round pick to San Diego Chargers for 1st overall draft pick (which became Michael Vick)
39. Houston Astros trade Kenny Lofton & Dave Rhule to Cleveland Indians for Eddie Taubensee & Willie Blair
40. Tampa Bay Rays trade Bobby Abreu to Philadelphia Phillies for Kevin Stocker
41. San Diego Padres trade Fred McGriff to Atlanta Braves for Melvin Nieves, Donnie Elliott and Vince Moore
42. Seattle Mariners trade Jason Varitek & Derek Lowe to Boston Red Sox for Heathcliff Slocumb
43. Chicago Blackhawks trade Dominik Hasek to Buffalo Sabres for Stephane Beauregard and 4th round draft pick
44. Oakland Raiders trade Randy Moss to New England Patriots for 4th round draft pick
45. New York Knicks trade two first round draft picks for Eddy Curry
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
My American League All Star Team
With the MLB All Star Game two weeks away, here's my final American League roster.
Lineup:
1. RF Ichiro Suzuki- Mariners
2. SS Derek Jeter- Yankees
3. 1B Miguel Cabrera- Tigers
4. 3B Evan Longoria- Rays
5. CF Josh Hamilton- Rangers
6. DH Vladimir Guerrero- Rangers
7. 2B Robinson Cano- Yankees
8. LF Vernon Wells- Blue Jays
9. C Joe Mauer- Twins
SP David Price- Rays
Bullpen:
Clay Buchholz- Red Sox
Jon Lester- Red Sox
Phil Hughes- Yankees
Andy Pettitte- Yankees
CC Sabathia- Yankees
Mariano Rivera- Yankees
Jose Valverde- Tigers
Andrew Bailey- A's
Joakim Soria- Royals
Ervin Santana- Angels
Carl Pavano- Twins
Matt Garza- Rays
Reserves
C Victor Martinez- Red Sox
1B Justin Morneau- Twins
1B Paul Konerko- White Sox
1B Kevin Youkilis- Red Sox
2B Ben Zobrist- Rays
SS Alex Gonzalez- Blue Jays
3B Alex Rodriguez- Yankees
OF Magglio Ordonez- Tigers
OF Alex Rios- White Sox
OF Shin-Soo Choo- Indians
OF Torri Hunter- Angels
OF Nick Markakis- Orioles
Lineup:
1. RF Ichiro Suzuki- Mariners
2. SS Derek Jeter- Yankees
3. 1B Miguel Cabrera- Tigers
4. 3B Evan Longoria- Rays
5. CF Josh Hamilton- Rangers
6. DH Vladimir Guerrero- Rangers
7. 2B Robinson Cano- Yankees
8. LF Vernon Wells- Blue Jays
9. C Joe Mauer- Twins
SP David Price- Rays
Bullpen:
Clay Buchholz- Red Sox
Jon Lester- Red Sox
Phil Hughes- Yankees
Andy Pettitte- Yankees
CC Sabathia- Yankees
Mariano Rivera- Yankees
Jose Valverde- Tigers
Andrew Bailey- A's
Joakim Soria- Royals
Ervin Santana- Angels
Carl Pavano- Twins
Matt Garza- Rays
Reserves
C Victor Martinez- Red Sox
1B Justin Morneau- Twins
1B Paul Konerko- White Sox
1B Kevin Youkilis- Red Sox
2B Ben Zobrist- Rays
SS Alex Gonzalez- Blue Jays
3B Alex Rodriguez- Yankees
OF Magglio Ordonez- Tigers
OF Alex Rios- White Sox
OF Shin-Soo Choo- Indians
OF Torri Hunter- Angels
OF Nick Markakis- Orioles
Monday, June 28, 2010
My National League All Star Team
With the MLB All Star game just 2 weeks away, this is my final all star roster that I'd choose for the National League this season.
Lineup:
1. SS Hanley Ramirez- Marlins
2. 3B David Wright- Mets
3. 1B Albert Pujols- Cardinals
4. DH Ryan Howard- Phillies
5. RF Ryan Braun- Brewers
6. LF Andre Ethier- Dodgers
7. CF Corey Hart- Brewers
8. 2B Martin Prado- Braves
9. C Miguel Olivo- Rockies
SP Ubaldo Jimenez- Rockies
Bullpen:
Roy Halladay- Phillies
Mike Pelfrey- Mets
Chris Carpenter- Cardinals
Adam Wainwright- Cardinals
Roy Oswalt- Astros
Tim Lincecum- Giants
Josh Johnson- Marlins
Tim Hudson- Braves
Billy Wagner- Braves
Heath Bell- Padres
Arthur Rhodes- Reds
Reserves
C Brian McCann- Braves
1B Joey Votto- Reds
1B Troy Glaus- Braves
1B Adrian Gonzalez- Padres
1B Adam Dunn- Nationals
2B Chase Utley- Phillies
SS Brandon Phillips- Reds
3B Scott Rolen- Reds
OF Johnny Gomes- Reds
OF Chris Young- Diamondbacks
OF Andrew McCutchen- Pirates
OF Marlon Byrd- Cubs
OF Matt Holliday- Cardinals
Lineup:
1. SS Hanley Ramirez- Marlins
2. 3B David Wright- Mets
3. 1B Albert Pujols- Cardinals
4. DH Ryan Howard- Phillies
5. RF Ryan Braun- Brewers
6. LF Andre Ethier- Dodgers
7. CF Corey Hart- Brewers
8. 2B Martin Prado- Braves
9. C Miguel Olivo- Rockies
SP Ubaldo Jimenez- Rockies
Bullpen:
Roy Halladay- Phillies
Mike Pelfrey- Mets
Chris Carpenter- Cardinals
Adam Wainwright- Cardinals
Roy Oswalt- Astros
Tim Lincecum- Giants
Josh Johnson- Marlins
Tim Hudson- Braves
Billy Wagner- Braves
Heath Bell- Padres
Arthur Rhodes- Reds
Reserves
C Brian McCann- Braves
1B Joey Votto- Reds
1B Troy Glaus- Braves
1B Adrian Gonzalez- Padres
1B Adam Dunn- Nationals
2B Chase Utley- Phillies
SS Brandon Phillips- Reds
3B Scott Rolen- Reds
OF Johnny Gomes- Reds
OF Chris Young- Diamondbacks
OF Andrew McCutchen- Pirates
OF Marlon Byrd- Cubs
OF Matt Holliday- Cardinals
The James Game
Never have I seen a professional sports league revolve around one athlete the way the NBA is going to revolve around LeBron James in free agency this offseason.
There are around five to 10 teams with enough salary cap space to sign James. All 30 teams have a shot at obtaining James through a sign and trade, which is a less likely scenario.
Free agency begins on Thursday, July 1 at 12:01 a.m. and that’s when five reported teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets will reportedly start wooing James. No team can sign James before July 8.
It turns out that the team with the most likely chance of signing James isn’t necessarily the one that will give him the most money, but the team that will surround him with the most talent.
The Heat has the most available cap space with $44 million available. Following the Heat, the Knicks have $35 million open, the Bulls have $30 million open and the Nets have $27 million open.
The Heat has the unusual opportunity to sign three max-contract players. This would almost certainly include re-signing point guard Dwyane Wade. Of all the free agents, Wade is the one who’s expressed the most interest in remaining with his current team. The Heat could then add a third huge contract in a Chris Bosh or Amar’e Stoudemire type player.
NBA experts have expressed that this scenario might be the best for James to win a championship, but maybe not the most likely. James and Wade are the type of players where they should be their respective team’s best player. Some just can’t see Wade playing Scottie Pippen to James’ Michael Jordan.
Another likely scenario would have James going to the Bulls. This is the scenario that I predict will happen. The Bulls are a young team with all of the great makings of a championship contender if they added one or two pieces. Those pieces could turn out to be James and Bosh and then this team would shoot past the Orlando Magic and any others as the best team in the Eastern Conference and possibly all of the NBA. The starting lineup of James, Bosh, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng would instantly be the best starting five in the NBA. Of course, this is just a prediction.
The other likely scenario would simply involve James re-signing with the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers would then likely have to acquire a Bosh-type player through a sign and trade.
The month of July is definitely going to be an exciting one in the NBA. After July the entire 2010-2011 season could be completely changed. Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics could drastically fall and teams like the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and other could drastically improve and become championship-caliber teams.
The only thing that is completely clear at this moment is that at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday the James game is going to start.
There are around five to 10 teams with enough salary cap space to sign James. All 30 teams have a shot at obtaining James through a sign and trade, which is a less likely scenario.
Free agency begins on Thursday, July 1 at 12:01 a.m. and that’s when five reported teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets will reportedly start wooing James. No team can sign James before July 8.
It turns out that the team with the most likely chance of signing James isn’t necessarily the one that will give him the most money, but the team that will surround him with the most talent.
The Heat has the most available cap space with $44 million available. Following the Heat, the Knicks have $35 million open, the Bulls have $30 million open and the Nets have $27 million open.
The Heat has the unusual opportunity to sign three max-contract players. This would almost certainly include re-signing point guard Dwyane Wade. Of all the free agents, Wade is the one who’s expressed the most interest in remaining with his current team. The Heat could then add a third huge contract in a Chris Bosh or Amar’e Stoudemire type player.
NBA experts have expressed that this scenario might be the best for James to win a championship, but maybe not the most likely. James and Wade are the type of players where they should be their respective team’s best player. Some just can’t see Wade playing Scottie Pippen to James’ Michael Jordan.
Another likely scenario would have James going to the Bulls. This is the scenario that I predict will happen. The Bulls are a young team with all of the great makings of a championship contender if they added one or two pieces. Those pieces could turn out to be James and Bosh and then this team would shoot past the Orlando Magic and any others as the best team in the Eastern Conference and possibly all of the NBA. The starting lineup of James, Bosh, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng would instantly be the best starting five in the NBA. Of course, this is just a prediction.
The other likely scenario would simply involve James re-signing with the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers would then likely have to acquire a Bosh-type player through a sign and trade.
The month of July is definitely going to be an exciting one in the NBA. After July the entire 2010-2011 season could be completely changed. Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics could drastically fall and teams like the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and other could drastically improve and become championship-caliber teams.
The only thing that is completely clear at this moment is that at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday the James game is going to start.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
2010 ESPY Nominations (And, My Picks)
2010 ESPY Nominations:
(Not all award categories are listed)
Male Athlete of the Year:
Drew Brees, NFL
Kobe Bryant, NBA
LeBron James, NBA
Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR
Albert Pujols, MLB
My Pick: Jimmie Johnson
Female Athlete of the Year:
Maya Moore, NCAA
Diana Taurasi, WNBA
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
Serena Williams, Tennis
My Pick: Maya Moore
Best Championship Performance:
Drew Brees, Super Bowl XLIV
Anthony Johnson, Big Sky Conference Championship
Michael Phelps, World Swimming Championships
Shaun White, Winter Olympics
My Pick: Drew Brees
Best Breakthrough Athlete:
Britney Griner, Baylor women’s basketball
Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
John Wall, Kentucky men’s basketball
My Pick: John Wall
Best Record-Breaking Performance:
Usain Bolt, 100 & 200-meter World Records
Brett Favre, NFL record for consecutive starts
Roger Federer, Most Grand Slam Titles
Connecticut Women’s Basketball, Longest winning streak in NCAA history
My Pick: Brett Favre
Best Upset:
Frankie Edgar over BJ Penn, MMA
Hawaii upsets #1 Alabama, NCAA softball
Northern Iowa shocks #1 Kansas, NCAA Men’s basketball
Y.E. Yang stuns Tiger Woods, PGA Championship
My Pick: Northern Iowa over Kansas
Best Game:
Twins best Tigers in extra innings (MLB Playoff tiebreaker)
Canada edges USA in Olympic overtime game
Duke beats Butler in NCAA Men’s Championship
My Pick: Duke over Butler
Best Moment:
Phil Mickelson, 2010 Masters
Joannie Rochette, Winter Olympics
New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV
My Pick: Phil Mickelson
Best Play:
Brett Favre throws game-winning TD vs. 49ers
Fordham’s Brian Kownacki flips over Iona’s catcher to score run
Rajon Rondo’s hustle leads to basket against Orlando in playoff win
Mark Buehrle’s opening day defensive gem off his leg, into foul territory, diving flip for out
My Pick: Mark Buehrle
Best Team:
Alabama, College Football
Chicago Blackhawks, NHL
Connecticut, Women’s Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
New Orleans Saints, NFL
New York Yankees, MLB
My Pick: New York Yankees
Best Sports Movie:
“Big Fan”
“Invictus”
“The Blind Side”
“The Damned United”
“The Karate Kid”
My Pick: “Invictus”
Best Coach/Manager:
Gene Auriemma, Connecticut women’s basketball
Joe Girardi, New York Yankees
Phil Jackson, LA Lakers
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke men’s basketball
Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Nick Saban, Alabama football
My Pick: Phil Jackson
Best NFL Player:
Drew Brees, Saints
Brett Favre, Vikings
Peyton Manning, Colts
Chris Johnson, Titans
Darrelle Revis, Jets
Charles Woodson, Packers
My Pick: Drew Brees
Best MLB Player:
Zach Greinke, Royals
Derek Jeter, Yankees
Tim Lincecum, Giants
Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Joe Mauer, Twins
Best NBA Player:
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
LeBron James, Cavaliers
Dwight Howard, Magic
Kevin Durant, Thunder
Dwyane Wade, Heat
My Pick: Kobe Bryant
Best Driver:
Kyle Busch, NASCAR Nationwide Series/Sprint Cup Series
Dario Franchitti, IRL
Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Ron Hornaday, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Tony Schumacher, F1
My Pick: Jimmie Johnson
Best Golfer:
Tiger Woods
Ernie Els
Phil Mickelson
My Pick: Phil Mickelson
Best Male Collegiate Athlete:
Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin hockey
Mark Ingram, Alabama football
Evan Turner, Ohio State basketball
John Wall, Kentucky basketball
Garrett Wittels, Florida International baseball
My Pick: Garrett Wittels
Best Female Collegiate Athelte:
Tina Charles, Connecticut basketball
Megan Hodge, Penn State volleyball
Maya Moore, Connecticut basketball
Megan Lagenfeld, UCLA softball
My Pick: Maya Moore
(Not all award categories are listed)
Male Athlete of the Year:
Drew Brees, NFL
Kobe Bryant, NBA
LeBron James, NBA
Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR
Albert Pujols, MLB
My Pick: Jimmie Johnson
Female Athlete of the Year:
Maya Moore, NCAA
Diana Taurasi, WNBA
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
Serena Williams, Tennis
My Pick: Maya Moore
Best Championship Performance:
Drew Brees, Super Bowl XLIV
Anthony Johnson, Big Sky Conference Championship
Michael Phelps, World Swimming Championships
Shaun White, Winter Olympics
My Pick: Drew Brees
Best Breakthrough Athlete:
Britney Griner, Baylor women’s basketball
Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
John Wall, Kentucky men’s basketball
My Pick: John Wall
Best Record-Breaking Performance:
Usain Bolt, 100 & 200-meter World Records
Brett Favre, NFL record for consecutive starts
Roger Federer, Most Grand Slam Titles
Connecticut Women’s Basketball, Longest winning streak in NCAA history
My Pick: Brett Favre
Best Upset:
Frankie Edgar over BJ Penn, MMA
Hawaii upsets #1 Alabama, NCAA softball
Northern Iowa shocks #1 Kansas, NCAA Men’s basketball
Y.E. Yang stuns Tiger Woods, PGA Championship
My Pick: Northern Iowa over Kansas
Best Game:
Twins best Tigers in extra innings (MLB Playoff tiebreaker)
Canada edges USA in Olympic overtime game
Duke beats Butler in NCAA Men’s Championship
My Pick: Duke over Butler
Best Moment:
Phil Mickelson, 2010 Masters
Joannie Rochette, Winter Olympics
New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV
My Pick: Phil Mickelson
Best Play:
Brett Favre throws game-winning TD vs. 49ers
Fordham’s Brian Kownacki flips over Iona’s catcher to score run
Rajon Rondo’s hustle leads to basket against Orlando in playoff win
Mark Buehrle’s opening day defensive gem off his leg, into foul territory, diving flip for out
My Pick: Mark Buehrle
Best Team:
Alabama, College Football
Chicago Blackhawks, NHL
Connecticut, Women’s Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
New Orleans Saints, NFL
New York Yankees, MLB
My Pick: New York Yankees
Best Sports Movie:
“Big Fan”
“Invictus”
“The Blind Side”
“The Damned United”
“The Karate Kid”
My Pick: “Invictus”
Best Coach/Manager:
Gene Auriemma, Connecticut women’s basketball
Joe Girardi, New York Yankees
Phil Jackson, LA Lakers
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke men’s basketball
Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Nick Saban, Alabama football
My Pick: Phil Jackson
Best NFL Player:
Drew Brees, Saints
Brett Favre, Vikings
Peyton Manning, Colts
Chris Johnson, Titans
Darrelle Revis, Jets
Charles Woodson, Packers
My Pick: Drew Brees
Best MLB Player:
Zach Greinke, Royals
Derek Jeter, Yankees
Tim Lincecum, Giants
Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Joe Mauer, Twins
Best NBA Player:
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
LeBron James, Cavaliers
Dwight Howard, Magic
Kevin Durant, Thunder
Dwyane Wade, Heat
My Pick: Kobe Bryant
Best Driver:
Kyle Busch, NASCAR Nationwide Series/Sprint Cup Series
Dario Franchitti, IRL
Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Ron Hornaday, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Tony Schumacher, F1
My Pick: Jimmie Johnson
Best Golfer:
Tiger Woods
Ernie Els
Phil Mickelson
My Pick: Phil Mickelson
Best Male Collegiate Athlete:
Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin hockey
Mark Ingram, Alabama football
Evan Turner, Ohio State basketball
John Wall, Kentucky basketball
Garrett Wittels, Florida International baseball
My Pick: Garrett Wittels
Best Female Collegiate Athelte:
Tina Charles, Connecticut basketball
Megan Hodge, Penn State volleyball
Maya Moore, Connecticut basketball
Megan Lagenfeld, UCLA softball
My Pick: Maya Moore
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
100 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time
100 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time
Criteria: The main things that went into the making of the list are the statistical categories and accolades that you see below each player's name. I didn't want to "punish" the many players who also played in the ABA, so I included their ABA stats, but did not include MVP awards or championships won in the ABA.
1. Michael Jordan- Bulls, Wizards
Points: 32,292
Rebounds: 6,672
Assists: 5,633
Championships: 6
MVPs: 5
All Star: 14
2. Wilt Chamberlain- Warriors, 76ers, Lakers
Points: 31, 419
Rebounds: 23,924
Assists: 4,643
Championships: 2
MVPs: 4
All Star: 13
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Bucks, Lakers
Points: 38, 387
Rebounds: 17,440
Assists: 5,660
Championships: 6
MVPs: 6
All Star: 19
4. Bill Russell- Celtics
Points: 14,522
Rebounds: 21,620
Assists: 4,100
Championships: 11
MVPs: 5
All Star: 12
5. Magic Johnson- Lakers
Points: 17,707
Rebounds: 6,559
Assists: 10,141
Championships: 5
MVPs: 3
All Star: 12
6. Oscar Robertson- Royals, Bucks
Points: 26,710
Rebounds: 7,804
Assists: 9,887
Championships: 1
MVPs: 1
All Star: 12
7. Larry Bird- Celtics
Points: 21,791
Rebounds: 8,974
Assists: 5,695
Championships: 3
MVPs: 3
All Star: 12
8. Shaquille O’Neal- Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns, Cavaliers
Points: 28, 255
Rebounds: 12,921
Assists: 3,000
Championships: 4
MVPs: 1
All Star: 15
9. Kobe Bryant- Lakers
Points: 25,790
Rebounds: 5,410
Assists: 4,766
Championships: 5
MVPs: 1
All Star: 12
10. Moses Malone- Braves, Rockets, 76ers, Bullets, Hawks, Bucks, Spurs
Points: 29,580
Rebounds: 17,834
Assists: 1,936
Championships: 1
MVPs: 3
All Star: 12
11. Karl Malone- Jazz, Lakers
Points: 36,928
Rebounds: 14,968
Assists: 5,248
Championships: 0
MVPs: 2
All Star: 14
12. Hakeem Olajuwon- Rockets, Raptors
Points: 26,946
Rebounds: 13,748
Assists: 3,058
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 12
13. Elgin Baylor- Lakers
Points: 23,149
Rebounds: 11,463
Assists: 3,650
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Stars: 11
14. Jerry West- Lakers
Points: 25,192
Rebounds: 5,366
Assists: 6,238
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 13
15. Julius Erving- Nets, 76ers
Points: 30, 026
Rebounds: 10,525
Assists: 5,176
Championships: 1
MVPs: 1
All Star: 16
16. Elvin Hayes- Rockets, Bullets
Points: 27,313
Rebounds: 16,279
Assists: 2,398
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 12
17. Tim Duncan- Spurs
Points: 20,641
Rebounds: 11,335
Assists: 3,093
Championships: 4
MVPs: 2
All Star: 12
18. Bob Pettit- Hawks
Points: 20,880
Rebounds: 12,849
Assists: 2,369
Championships: 1
MVPs: 2
All Star: 11
19. Rick Barry- Warriors, Rockets
Points: 25,279
Rebounds: 6,963
Assists: 4,952
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 11
20. John Stockton- Jazz
Points: 19,711
Rebounds: 4,051
Assists: 15,806
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
21. Charles Barkley- 76ers, Suns, Rockets
Points: 23,757
Rebounds: 12,546
Assists: 4,215
Championships: 0
MVPs: 1
All Star: 9
22. Patrick Ewing- Knicks, SuperSonics, Magic
Points: 24,815
Rebounds: 11,607
Assists: 2,215
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 11
23. David Robinson- Spurs
Points: 20,790
Rebounds: 10,497
Assists: 2,441
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 10
24. George Gervin- Spurs, Bulls
Points: 26,595
Rebounds: 5,602
Assists: 2,798
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 12
25. Allen Iverson- 76ers, Nuggets, Pistons, Grizzlies
Points: 24,368
Rebounds: 3,394
Assists: 5,624
Championships: 0
MVPs: 1
All Star: 11
26. John Havlicek- Celtics
Points: 26, 295
Rebounds: 8,007
Assists: 6,114
Championships: 8
MVPs: 0
All Star: 13
27. Kevin Garnett- Timberwolves, Celtics
Points: 22,267
Rebounds: 12,188
Assists: 4,719
Championships: 1
MVPs: 1
All Star: 13
28. Nate Thurmond- Warriors, Bulls, Cavaliers
Points: 14, 437
Rebounds: 14,464
Assists: 2,575
Championships: 0
MVP: 0
All Star: 7
29. Jason Kidd- Mavericks, Suns, Nets
Points: 16,142
Rebounds: 6,185
Assists: 10,923
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
30. Bob Cousy- Celtics, Royals
Points: 16,960
Rebounds: 4,786
Assists: 6,955
Championships: 6
MVPs: 1
All Star: 13
31. Alex English- Bucks, Pacers, Nuggets, Mavericks
Points: 25,613
Rebounds: 6,538
Assists: 4,351
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
32. Clyde Drexler- Trail Blazers, Rockets
Points: 22,195
Rebounds: 6,677
Assists: 6,125
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
33. Dominique Wilkins- Hawks, Clippers, Celtics, Spurs, Magic
Points: 26,668
Rebounds: 7,167
Assists: 2,677
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
34. Isiah Thomas- Pistons
Points: 18,822
Rebounds: 3,478
Assists: 9,061
Championships: 2
MVPs: 0
All Star: 12
35. Dan Issel- Nuggets
Points: 27,482
Rebounds: 11,133
Assists: 2,907
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
36. Gary Payton- SuperSonics, Bucks, Lakers, Celtics, Heat
Points: 21,813
Rebounds: 5,269
Assists: 8,966
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
37. Hal Greer- 76ers
Points: 21,586
Rebounds: 5,665
Assists: 4,540
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
38. Reggie Miller- Pacers
Points: 25, 279
Rebounds: 4,182
Assists: 4,141
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
39. George Mikan- Lakers
Points: 10,156
Rebounds: 4,167
Assists: 1,245
Championships: 5
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
40. Artis Gilmore- Bulls, Spurs, Celtics
Points: 24,941
Rebounds: 16,330
Assists: 3,050
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 11
41. Walt Bellamy- Packers, Zephyrs, Bullets, Knicks, Pistons, Hawks, Jazz
Points: 20,941
Rebounds: 14,241
Assists: 2,544
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
42. Dolph Schayes- Nationals, 76ers
Points: 18,438
Rebounds: 11,256
Assists: 3,072
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 12
43. Robert Parish- Warriors, Celtics, Hornets, Bulls
Points: 23,334
Rebounds: 14,715
Assists: 2,180
Championships: 4
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
44. Scottie Pippen- Bulls, Rockets, Trail Blazers
Points: 18,940
Rebounds: 7,494
Assists: 6,135
Championships: 6
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
45. Paul Arizin- Warriors, Bullets
Points: 16,266
Rebounds: 6,129
Assists: 1,665
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
46. Dave Cowens- Celtics, Bucks
Points: 13,516
Rebounds: 10,444
Assists: 2,910
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 7
47. Lenny Wilkens- Hawks, SuperSonics, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers
Points: 17,722
Rebounds: 5,030
Assists: 7,211
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
48. Walt Frazier- Knicks, Cavaliers
Points: 15,581
Rebounds: 4,803
Assists: 5,040
Championships: 2
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
49. Jerry Lucas- Royals, Warriors, Knicks
Points: 14,053
Rebounds: 12,942
Assists: 2,732
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
50. LeBron James- Cavaliers
Points: 15,251
Rebounds: 3,861
Assists: 3,810
Championships: 0
MVPs: 2
All Star: 6
51. Dave Bing- Pistons, Bullets, Celtics
Points: 18,327
Rebounds: 3,420
Assists: 5,397
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
52. Willis Reed- Knicks
Points: 12,183
Rebounds: 8,414
Assists: 1,186
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 7
53. Earl Monroe- Bullets, Knicks
Points: 17,454
Rebounds: 2,796
Assists: 3,594
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
54. Pete Maravich- Hawks, Jazz, Celtics
Points: 15,948
Rebounds: 2,747
Assists: 3,563
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
55. Nate Archibald- Royals, Kings, Nets, Celtics, Bucks
Points: 16,481
Rebounds: 2,046
Assists: 6,476
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
56. Bob Lanier- Pistons, Bucks
Points: 19,248
Rebounds: 9,698
Assists: 3,007
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
57. Bob McAdoo- Braves, Knicks, Celtics, Pistons, Nets, Lakers, 76ers
Points: 18,787
Rebounds: 8,048
Assists: 1,951
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 5
58. Paul Pierce- Celtics
Points: 19,899
Rebounds: 5,417
Assists: 3,401
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
59. Steve Nash- Suns, Mavericks
Points: 14,771
Rebounds: 3,025
Assists: 8,397
Championships: 0
MVPs: 2
All Star: 7
60. Gail Goodrich- Lakers, Suns, Jazz
Points: 19,181
Rebounds: 3,279
Assists: 4,805
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
61. Dirk Nowitzki- Mavericks
Points: 21,111
Rebounds: 7,802
Assists: 2,465
Championships: 0
MVPs: 1
All Star: 9
62. Adrian Dantley- Braves, Pacers, Lakers, Jazz, Pistons, Mavericks, Bucks
Points: 23,177
Rebounds: 5,451
Assists: 2,830
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
63. Billy Cunningham- 76ers
Points: 16,310
Rebounds: 7,981
Assists: 3,305
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
64. Tom Chambers- Clippers, SuperSonics, Suns, Jazz, Hornets, 76ers
Points: 20, 049
Rebounds: 6,703
Assists: 2,283
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
65. Bernard King- Nets, Jazz, Warriors, Knicks, Bullets
Points: 19,655
Rebounds: 5,060
Assists: 2,863
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
66. Sam Jones- Celtics
Points: 15,411
Rebounds: 4,301
Assists: 2,209
Championships: 10
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
67. Wes Unseld- Bullets
Points: 10,624
Rebounds: 13,769
Assists: 3,822
Championships: 1
MVPs: 1
All Star: 5
68. Dave DeBusschere- Pistons, Knicks
Points: 14,053
Rebounds: 9,618
Assists: 2,497
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
69. Kevin McHale- Celtics
Points: 17,335
Rebounds: 7,122
Assists: 1,670
Championships: 3
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
70. James Worthy- Lakers
Points: 16,320
Rebounds: 4,708
Assists: 2,791
Championships: 3
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
71. Bill Sharman- Capitols, Celtics
Points: 12,665
Rebounds: 2,779
Assists: 2,101
Championships: 4
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
72. Bill Walton- Trail Blazers, Clippers, Celtics
Points: 6,215
Rebounds: 4,923
Assists: 1,590
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 2
73. George McGinnis- Pacers, 76ers, Nuggets
Points: 17,009
Rebounds: 9,233
Assists: 3,089
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
74. Alonzo Mourning- Hornets, Heat, Nets
Points: 14,311
Rebounds: 7,137
Assists: 946
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
75. Joe Dumars- Pistons
Points: 16, 401
Rebounds: 2,203
Assists: 4,612
Championships: 2
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
76. Ray Allen- Bucks, SuperSonics, Celtics
Points: 20,965
Rebounds: 4,434
Assists: 3,755
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
77. Spencer Haywood- SuperSonics, Knicks, Jazz, Lakers, Bullets
Points: 17,111
Rebounds: 8,675
Assists: 1,541
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
78. Mitch Richmond- Warriors, Kings, Wizards, Lakers
Points: 20,497
Rebounds: 3,801
Assists: 3,398
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
79. Chris Webber- Warriors, Bullets, Kings, 76ers, Pistons
Points: 17,182
Rebounds: 8,124
Assists: 3,526
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
80. Tim Hardaway- Warriors, Heat, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pacers
Points: 15,373
Rebounds: 2,855
Assists: 7,095
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
81. Maurice Cheeks- 76ers, Spurs, Knicks, Hawks, Nets
Points: 12,195
Rebounds: 3,088
Assists: 7,392
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
82. Tommy Heinsohn- Celtics
Points: 12,194
Rebounds: 5,749
Assists: 1,318
Championships: 8
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
83. Vince Carter- Raptors, Nets, Magic
Points: 19,498
Rebounds: 4,536
Assists: 3,551
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
84. Dennis Johnson- SuperSonics, Suns, Celtics
Points: 15, 535
Rebounds: 4,749
Assists: 5,499
Championships: 3
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
85. Kevin Johnson- Cavaliers, Suns
Points: 13,127
Rebounds: 2,404
Assists: 6,711
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 3
86. Grant Hill- Pistons, Magic, Suns
Points: 15,498
Rebounds: 5,611
Assists: 3,019
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
87. Dikembe Mutombo- Nuggets, Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knicks, Rockets
Points: 11,729
Rebounds: 12,389
Assists: 1,240
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
88. Dennis Rodman- Pistons, Spurs, Bulls, Lakers, Mavericks
Points: 6,683
Rebounds: 11,954
Assists: 1,600
Championships: 5
MVPs: 0
All Star: 2
89. Chris Mullin- Warriors, Pacers
Points: 17,911
Rebounds: 4,034
Assists: 3,450
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
90. David Thompson- Nuggets, SuperSonics
Points: 13,422
Rebounds: 2,448
Assists: 1,939
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
91. Tracy McGrady- Raptors, Magic, Rockets, Knicks
Points: 17,534
Rebounds: 4,871
Assists: 3,799
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
92. Shawn Kemp- SuperSonics, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers, Magic
Points: 15,347
Rebounds: 8,834
Assists: 1,704
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
93. Neil Johnston- Warriors
Points: 10,023
Rebounds: 5,856
Assists: 1,269
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
94. Mark Aguirre- Mavericks, Pistons, Clippers
Points: 18,458
Rebounds: 4,528
Assists: 2,871
Championships: 2
MVPs: 0
All Star: 3
95. Dwayne Wade- Heat
Points: 11,967
Rebounds: 2,298
Assists: 3,176
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
96. Connie Hawkins- Suns, Lakers, Hawks
Points: 11,528
Rebounds: 5,459
Assists: 2,556
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
97. Jack Twyman- Royals
Points: 15,840
Rebounds: 5,424
Assists: 1,861
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
98. Sidney Moncrief- Bucks, Hawks
Points: 11,931
Rebounds: 3,575
Assists: 2,793
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
99. Ed Macauley- Bombers, Celtics, Hawks
Points: 11, 234
Rebounds: 4,325
Assists: 2,079
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
100. Mark Price- Cavaliers, Bullets, Warriors, Magic
Points: 10,989
Rebounds: 1,898
Assists: 4,863
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
Criteria: The main things that went into the making of the list are the statistical categories and accolades that you see below each player's name. I didn't want to "punish" the many players who also played in the ABA, so I included their ABA stats, but did not include MVP awards or championships won in the ABA.
1. Michael Jordan- Bulls, Wizards
Points: 32,292
Rebounds: 6,672
Assists: 5,633
Championships: 6
MVPs: 5
All Star: 14
2. Wilt Chamberlain- Warriors, 76ers, Lakers
Points: 31, 419
Rebounds: 23,924
Assists: 4,643
Championships: 2
MVPs: 4
All Star: 13
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Bucks, Lakers
Points: 38, 387
Rebounds: 17,440
Assists: 5,660
Championships: 6
MVPs: 6
All Star: 19
4. Bill Russell- Celtics
Points: 14,522
Rebounds: 21,620
Assists: 4,100
Championships: 11
MVPs: 5
All Star: 12
5. Magic Johnson- Lakers
Points: 17,707
Rebounds: 6,559
Assists: 10,141
Championships: 5
MVPs: 3
All Star: 12
6. Oscar Robertson- Royals, Bucks
Points: 26,710
Rebounds: 7,804
Assists: 9,887
Championships: 1
MVPs: 1
All Star: 12
7. Larry Bird- Celtics
Points: 21,791
Rebounds: 8,974
Assists: 5,695
Championships: 3
MVPs: 3
All Star: 12
8. Shaquille O’Neal- Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns, Cavaliers
Points: 28, 255
Rebounds: 12,921
Assists: 3,000
Championships: 4
MVPs: 1
All Star: 15
9. Kobe Bryant- Lakers
Points: 25,790
Rebounds: 5,410
Assists: 4,766
Championships: 5
MVPs: 1
All Star: 12
10. Moses Malone- Braves, Rockets, 76ers, Bullets, Hawks, Bucks, Spurs
Points: 29,580
Rebounds: 17,834
Assists: 1,936
Championships: 1
MVPs: 3
All Star: 12
11. Karl Malone- Jazz, Lakers
Points: 36,928
Rebounds: 14,968
Assists: 5,248
Championships: 0
MVPs: 2
All Star: 14
12. Hakeem Olajuwon- Rockets, Raptors
Points: 26,946
Rebounds: 13,748
Assists: 3,058
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 12
13. Elgin Baylor- Lakers
Points: 23,149
Rebounds: 11,463
Assists: 3,650
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Stars: 11
14. Jerry West- Lakers
Points: 25,192
Rebounds: 5,366
Assists: 6,238
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 13
15. Julius Erving- Nets, 76ers
Points: 30, 026
Rebounds: 10,525
Assists: 5,176
Championships: 1
MVPs: 1
All Star: 16
16. Elvin Hayes- Rockets, Bullets
Points: 27,313
Rebounds: 16,279
Assists: 2,398
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 12
17. Tim Duncan- Spurs
Points: 20,641
Rebounds: 11,335
Assists: 3,093
Championships: 4
MVPs: 2
All Star: 12
18. Bob Pettit- Hawks
Points: 20,880
Rebounds: 12,849
Assists: 2,369
Championships: 1
MVPs: 2
All Star: 11
19. Rick Barry- Warriors, Rockets
Points: 25,279
Rebounds: 6,963
Assists: 4,952
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 11
20. John Stockton- Jazz
Points: 19,711
Rebounds: 4,051
Assists: 15,806
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
21. Charles Barkley- 76ers, Suns, Rockets
Points: 23,757
Rebounds: 12,546
Assists: 4,215
Championships: 0
MVPs: 1
All Star: 9
22. Patrick Ewing- Knicks, SuperSonics, Magic
Points: 24,815
Rebounds: 11,607
Assists: 2,215
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 11
23. David Robinson- Spurs
Points: 20,790
Rebounds: 10,497
Assists: 2,441
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 10
24. George Gervin- Spurs, Bulls
Points: 26,595
Rebounds: 5,602
Assists: 2,798
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 12
25. Allen Iverson- 76ers, Nuggets, Pistons, Grizzlies
Points: 24,368
Rebounds: 3,394
Assists: 5,624
Championships: 0
MVPs: 1
All Star: 11
26. John Havlicek- Celtics
Points: 26, 295
Rebounds: 8,007
Assists: 6,114
Championships: 8
MVPs: 0
All Star: 13
27. Kevin Garnett- Timberwolves, Celtics
Points: 22,267
Rebounds: 12,188
Assists: 4,719
Championships: 1
MVPs: 1
All Star: 13
28. Nate Thurmond- Warriors, Bulls, Cavaliers
Points: 14, 437
Rebounds: 14,464
Assists: 2,575
Championships: 0
MVP: 0
All Star: 7
29. Jason Kidd- Mavericks, Suns, Nets
Points: 16,142
Rebounds: 6,185
Assists: 10,923
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
30. Bob Cousy- Celtics, Royals
Points: 16,960
Rebounds: 4,786
Assists: 6,955
Championships: 6
MVPs: 1
All Star: 13
31. Alex English- Bucks, Pacers, Nuggets, Mavericks
Points: 25,613
Rebounds: 6,538
Assists: 4,351
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
32. Clyde Drexler- Trail Blazers, Rockets
Points: 22,195
Rebounds: 6,677
Assists: 6,125
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
33. Dominique Wilkins- Hawks, Clippers, Celtics, Spurs, Magic
Points: 26,668
Rebounds: 7,167
Assists: 2,677
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
34. Isiah Thomas- Pistons
Points: 18,822
Rebounds: 3,478
Assists: 9,061
Championships: 2
MVPs: 0
All Star: 12
35. Dan Issel- Nuggets
Points: 27,482
Rebounds: 11,133
Assists: 2,907
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
36. Gary Payton- SuperSonics, Bucks, Lakers, Celtics, Heat
Points: 21,813
Rebounds: 5,269
Assists: 8,966
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
37. Hal Greer- 76ers
Points: 21,586
Rebounds: 5,665
Assists: 4,540
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
38. Reggie Miller- Pacers
Points: 25, 279
Rebounds: 4,182
Assists: 4,141
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
39. George Mikan- Lakers
Points: 10,156
Rebounds: 4,167
Assists: 1,245
Championships: 5
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
40. Artis Gilmore- Bulls, Spurs, Celtics
Points: 24,941
Rebounds: 16,330
Assists: 3,050
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 11
41. Walt Bellamy- Packers, Zephyrs, Bullets, Knicks, Pistons, Hawks, Jazz
Points: 20,941
Rebounds: 14,241
Assists: 2,544
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
42. Dolph Schayes- Nationals, 76ers
Points: 18,438
Rebounds: 11,256
Assists: 3,072
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 12
43. Robert Parish- Warriors, Celtics, Hornets, Bulls
Points: 23,334
Rebounds: 14,715
Assists: 2,180
Championships: 4
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
44. Scottie Pippen- Bulls, Rockets, Trail Blazers
Points: 18,940
Rebounds: 7,494
Assists: 6,135
Championships: 6
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
45. Paul Arizin- Warriors, Bullets
Points: 16,266
Rebounds: 6,129
Assists: 1,665
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 10
46. Dave Cowens- Celtics, Bucks
Points: 13,516
Rebounds: 10,444
Assists: 2,910
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 7
47. Lenny Wilkens- Hawks, SuperSonics, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers
Points: 17,722
Rebounds: 5,030
Assists: 7,211
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
48. Walt Frazier- Knicks, Cavaliers
Points: 15,581
Rebounds: 4,803
Assists: 5,040
Championships: 2
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
49. Jerry Lucas- Royals, Warriors, Knicks
Points: 14,053
Rebounds: 12,942
Assists: 2,732
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
50. LeBron James- Cavaliers
Points: 15,251
Rebounds: 3,861
Assists: 3,810
Championships: 0
MVPs: 2
All Star: 6
51. Dave Bing- Pistons, Bullets, Celtics
Points: 18,327
Rebounds: 3,420
Assists: 5,397
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
52. Willis Reed- Knicks
Points: 12,183
Rebounds: 8,414
Assists: 1,186
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 7
53. Earl Monroe- Bullets, Knicks
Points: 17,454
Rebounds: 2,796
Assists: 3,594
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
54. Pete Maravich- Hawks, Jazz, Celtics
Points: 15,948
Rebounds: 2,747
Assists: 3,563
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
55. Nate Archibald- Royals, Kings, Nets, Celtics, Bucks
Points: 16,481
Rebounds: 2,046
Assists: 6,476
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
56. Bob Lanier- Pistons, Bucks
Points: 19,248
Rebounds: 9,698
Assists: 3,007
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
57. Bob McAdoo- Braves, Knicks, Celtics, Pistons, Nets, Lakers, 76ers
Points: 18,787
Rebounds: 8,048
Assists: 1,951
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 5
58. Paul Pierce- Celtics
Points: 19,899
Rebounds: 5,417
Assists: 3,401
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
59. Steve Nash- Suns, Mavericks
Points: 14,771
Rebounds: 3,025
Assists: 8,397
Championships: 0
MVPs: 2
All Star: 7
60. Gail Goodrich- Lakers, Suns, Jazz
Points: 19,181
Rebounds: 3,279
Assists: 4,805
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
61. Dirk Nowitzki- Mavericks
Points: 21,111
Rebounds: 7,802
Assists: 2,465
Championships: 0
MVPs: 1
All Star: 9
62. Adrian Dantley- Braves, Pacers, Lakers, Jazz, Pistons, Mavericks, Bucks
Points: 23,177
Rebounds: 5,451
Assists: 2,830
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
63. Billy Cunningham- 76ers
Points: 16,310
Rebounds: 7,981
Assists: 3,305
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
64. Tom Chambers- Clippers, SuperSonics, Suns, Jazz, Hornets, 76ers
Points: 20, 049
Rebounds: 6,703
Assists: 2,283
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
65. Bernard King- Nets, Jazz, Warriors, Knicks, Bullets
Points: 19,655
Rebounds: 5,060
Assists: 2,863
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
66. Sam Jones- Celtics
Points: 15,411
Rebounds: 4,301
Assists: 2,209
Championships: 10
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
67. Wes Unseld- Bullets
Points: 10,624
Rebounds: 13,769
Assists: 3,822
Championships: 1
MVPs: 1
All Star: 5
68. Dave DeBusschere- Pistons, Knicks
Points: 14,053
Rebounds: 9,618
Assists: 2,497
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
69. Kevin McHale- Celtics
Points: 17,335
Rebounds: 7,122
Assists: 1,670
Championships: 3
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
70. James Worthy- Lakers
Points: 16,320
Rebounds: 4,708
Assists: 2,791
Championships: 3
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
71. Bill Sharman- Capitols, Celtics
Points: 12,665
Rebounds: 2,779
Assists: 2,101
Championships: 4
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
72. Bill Walton- Trail Blazers, Clippers, Celtics
Points: 6,215
Rebounds: 4,923
Assists: 1,590
Championships: 2
MVPs: 1
All Star: 2
73. George McGinnis- Pacers, 76ers, Nuggets
Points: 17,009
Rebounds: 9,233
Assists: 3,089
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
74. Alonzo Mourning- Hornets, Heat, Nets
Points: 14,311
Rebounds: 7,137
Assists: 946
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
75. Joe Dumars- Pistons
Points: 16, 401
Rebounds: 2,203
Assists: 4,612
Championships: 2
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
76. Ray Allen- Bucks, SuperSonics, Celtics
Points: 20,965
Rebounds: 4,434
Assists: 3,755
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 9
77. Spencer Haywood- SuperSonics, Knicks, Jazz, Lakers, Bullets
Points: 17,111
Rebounds: 8,675
Assists: 1,541
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
78. Mitch Richmond- Warriors, Kings, Wizards, Lakers
Points: 20,497
Rebounds: 3,801
Assists: 3,398
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
79. Chris Webber- Warriors, Bullets, Kings, 76ers, Pistons
Points: 17,182
Rebounds: 8,124
Assists: 3,526
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
80. Tim Hardaway- Warriors, Heat, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pacers
Points: 15,373
Rebounds: 2,855
Assists: 7,095
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
81. Maurice Cheeks- 76ers, Spurs, Knicks, Hawks, Nets
Points: 12,195
Rebounds: 3,088
Assists: 7,392
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
82. Tommy Heinsohn- Celtics
Points: 12,194
Rebounds: 5,749
Assists: 1,318
Championships: 8
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
83. Vince Carter- Raptors, Nets, Magic
Points: 19,498
Rebounds: 4,536
Assists: 3,551
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
84. Dennis Johnson- SuperSonics, Suns, Celtics
Points: 15, 535
Rebounds: 4,749
Assists: 5,499
Championships: 3
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
85. Kevin Johnson- Cavaliers, Suns
Points: 13,127
Rebounds: 2,404
Assists: 6,711
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 3
86. Grant Hill- Pistons, Magic, Suns
Points: 15,498
Rebounds: 5,611
Assists: 3,019
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
87. Dikembe Mutombo- Nuggets, Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knicks, Rockets
Points: 11,729
Rebounds: 12,389
Assists: 1,240
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 8
88. Dennis Rodman- Pistons, Spurs, Bulls, Lakers, Mavericks
Points: 6,683
Rebounds: 11,954
Assists: 1,600
Championships: 5
MVPs: 0
All Star: 2
89. Chris Mullin- Warriors, Pacers
Points: 17,911
Rebounds: 4,034
Assists: 3,450
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
90. David Thompson- Nuggets, SuperSonics
Points: 13,422
Rebounds: 2,448
Assists: 1,939
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
91. Tracy McGrady- Raptors, Magic, Rockets, Knicks
Points: 17,534
Rebounds: 4,871
Assists: 3,799
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
92. Shawn Kemp- SuperSonics, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers, Magic
Points: 15,347
Rebounds: 8,834
Assists: 1,704
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
93. Neil Johnston- Warriors
Points: 10,023
Rebounds: 5,856
Assists: 1,269
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
94. Mark Aguirre- Mavericks, Pistons, Clippers
Points: 18,458
Rebounds: 4,528
Assists: 2,871
Championships: 2
MVPs: 0
All Star: 3
95. Dwayne Wade- Heat
Points: 11,967
Rebounds: 2,298
Assists: 3,176
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
96. Connie Hawkins- Suns, Lakers, Hawks
Points: 11,528
Rebounds: 5,459
Assists: 2,556
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
97. Jack Twyman- Royals
Points: 15,840
Rebounds: 5,424
Assists: 1,861
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 6
98. Sidney Moncrief- Bucks, Hawks
Points: 11,931
Rebounds: 3,575
Assists: 2,793
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 5
99. Ed Macauley- Bombers, Celtics, Hawks
Points: 11, 234
Rebounds: 4,325
Assists: 2,079
Championships: 1
MVPs: 0
All Star: 7
100. Mark Price- Cavaliers, Bullets, Warriors, Magic
Points: 10,989
Rebounds: 1,898
Assists: 4,863
Championships: 0
MVPs: 0
All Star: 4
Friday, June 18, 2010
He's No M.J.
Last night the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics to win the 2010 NBA Finals and Kobe Bryant won his fifth career ring, but the one thing that kept running through my mind during game seven of the NBA Finals was: “Kobe is no M.J.”
There has been debate for a while now, and it’s been magnified during the playoffs this year, that Kobe Bryant could possibly be as good as Michael Jordan. I’ve heard one sports commentator even ask the question what would it take for Bryant to be thought of as the greatest player of all time, like Jordan. Is six championships enough? Seven? Eight? Even more?
After watching last night’s basketball game I’ve come to the decision that Kobe Bryant never will be as great as Michael Jordan. Not even if he wins as many championships (or more) and scores as many points.
Why?
Because last night, in the biggest game he could ever possibly play in, he didn’t play like the greatest of all time.
He didn’t even play like top five or top 10 all time (which he should have). Bryant did score 23 points last night, which while not up to his usual self isn’t a low number. However, he shot six for 24 from the field for a lowly 25% field goal percentage.
In six NBA Finals appearances, Jordan never shot 25% or worse. This was the second time in Bryant’s five championships (not counting the Finals he lost) that he’s shot 25% or worse.
Bryant was forcing up shots last night that Jordan never would have even dreamed of taking. He’d throw up shots while being double or even triple teamed that would have taken some heavy praying to reach the bottom of the basket.
I’ll never doubt that Bryant is a great basketball player. As previously mentioned he’s easily in the top 10 and could reach the top five before his career comes to an end.
However, comparing him to Michael Jordan would mean that Bryant is the greatest of all time. After watching his performance in last night’s game it’s impossible to call him that.
There has been debate for a while now, and it’s been magnified during the playoffs this year, that Kobe Bryant could possibly be as good as Michael Jordan. I’ve heard one sports commentator even ask the question what would it take for Bryant to be thought of as the greatest player of all time, like Jordan. Is six championships enough? Seven? Eight? Even more?
After watching last night’s basketball game I’ve come to the decision that Kobe Bryant never will be as great as Michael Jordan. Not even if he wins as many championships (or more) and scores as many points.
Why?
Because last night, in the biggest game he could ever possibly play in, he didn’t play like the greatest of all time.
He didn’t even play like top five or top 10 all time (which he should have). Bryant did score 23 points last night, which while not up to his usual self isn’t a low number. However, he shot six for 24 from the field for a lowly 25% field goal percentage.
In six NBA Finals appearances, Jordan never shot 25% or worse. This was the second time in Bryant’s five championships (not counting the Finals he lost) that he’s shot 25% or worse.
Bryant was forcing up shots last night that Jordan never would have even dreamed of taking. He’d throw up shots while being double or even triple teamed that would have taken some heavy praying to reach the bottom of the basket.
I’ll never doubt that Bryant is a great basketball player. As previously mentioned he’s easily in the top 10 and could reach the top five before his career comes to an end.
However, comparing him to Michael Jordan would mean that Bryant is the greatest of all time. After watching his performance in last night’s game it’s impossible to call him that.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Unjust Punishment
I’ve never understood and I probably never will understand why the NCAA likes to punish student-athletes who don’t deserve to be punished.
The NCAA came down unbelievably hard on the USC Trojans college football program yesterday for improper benefits given to former running back and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, who now plays in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints. The improper benefits date back to the 2004 season.
The punishment handed down to USC is as follows: two-year ban from bowl games, loss of 30 scholarships and the forfeiting of 14 games from December of 2004 through the 2005 season.
Many people are saying that the biggest loss in all of this is the 30 scholarships being taken away from the USC football program. Yes, it is a big loss, but it isn’t the punishment that hurts the most. Quite frankly losing 30 scholarships seems to be a decent punishment for the program’s infractions.
The punishment that hurts the most and doesn’t seem like a fair one is that of the two-year bowl ban. The NCAA is trying to show USC that they don’t put up with the kind of stuff they did and won’t in the future. However, they are essentially telling the current USC football players who, of course, had nothing to do with the 2004 and 2005 seasons that they don’t care about them.
How is punishing the current USC roster two seasons of bowl games the right thing to do? I feel bad for guys like sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley and senior running back Allen Bradford who essentially have nothing to play for while guys who were on that team like Bush, quarterback Matt Leinart and former coach Pete Carroll are enjoying the luxuries of the NFL.
The current USC football roster includes 30 seniors and 22 juniors that no longer have the
chance or dream of playing in bowl games, unless they opt to transfer to another school. It should be interesting in the weeks and months to come to see how many USC players do transfer.
When universities break rules set forth by the NCAA they should be punished and they should be punished harshly. If you want to take away scholarships than that’s great, but taking away the playoff hopes for innocent athletes who had nothing to do with the football programs past transgressions is thoroughly ridiculous.
The NCAA came down unbelievably hard on the USC Trojans college football program yesterday for improper benefits given to former running back and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, who now plays in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints. The improper benefits date back to the 2004 season.
The punishment handed down to USC is as follows: two-year ban from bowl games, loss of 30 scholarships and the forfeiting of 14 games from December of 2004 through the 2005 season.
Many people are saying that the biggest loss in all of this is the 30 scholarships being taken away from the USC football program. Yes, it is a big loss, but it isn’t the punishment that hurts the most. Quite frankly losing 30 scholarships seems to be a decent punishment for the program’s infractions.
The punishment that hurts the most and doesn’t seem like a fair one is that of the two-year bowl ban. The NCAA is trying to show USC that they don’t put up with the kind of stuff they did and won’t in the future. However, they are essentially telling the current USC football players who, of course, had nothing to do with the 2004 and 2005 seasons that they don’t care about them.
How is punishing the current USC roster two seasons of bowl games the right thing to do? I feel bad for guys like sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley and senior running back Allen Bradford who essentially have nothing to play for while guys who were on that team like Bush, quarterback Matt Leinart and former coach Pete Carroll are enjoying the luxuries of the NFL.
The current USC football roster includes 30 seniors and 22 juniors that no longer have the
chance or dream of playing in bowl games, unless they opt to transfer to another school. It should be interesting in the weeks and months to come to see how many USC players do transfer.
When universities break rules set forth by the NCAA they should be punished and they should be punished harshly. If you want to take away scholarships than that’s great, but taking away the playoff hopes for innocent athletes who had nothing to do with the football programs past transgressions is thoroughly ridiculous.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Sweetest Swing
*This is about a week too old and I apologize for that, but I just had to write something about Ken Griffey Jr.
I’ve seen many baseball players with sweet swings over my 15 years of watching the sport, including Chipper Jones and Garret Anderson (who for some reason surprises people when I say that), but I’ve never seen any player’s swing that even came close to Ken Griffey Jr.’s.
Griffey’s swing was magical. His swing was so fluid and quick that it’s probably the single most beautiful thing that I’ve ever seen in sports. It was that swing that put butts into the old Kingdome in Seattle back when the Mariners weren’t that great and people showed up just to watch the player they affectionately referred to as “The Kid.” It really was similar to what Nationals Park in Washington will see every fifth day for the rest of the season when young phenom Stephen Strasburg takes the mound.
The pitcher (you name one, Griffey probably took them deep) would go into his wind-up and throw that ball no matter how fast or with how much movement and Griffey would put that sweet swing on it and hit it what would seem like a mile. It was gone. He knew it immediately, the pitcher would know it immediately and you watching on TV (or if you were lucky in the ballpark) would know it immediately. Then he’d do something that you wouldn’t see from every ballplayer … he’d smile … smile that kid smile that he always seemed to have on his face from day one until his last day in baseball.
You could tell that Griffey truly loved playing the game of baseball and it was that meshed with his epic talents that made him the most lovable athlete that I think I’ve ever seen in any sport.
The great thing about Griffey is that in an era that we now know was tainted by steroid use, with great sluggers like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire using, we truly believe that Griffey was a clean player. It might come out one day that we are all wrong and that will be a horrible day in my life and any baseball purist’s life, but we’re pretty sure that Griffey was clean.
Griffey finished his career with 630 home runs, which is fifth all time. This brings us to the disappointing point of Griffey’s career.
How can 630 homers be disappointing?
Griffey, without a doubt in my mind, should be the all time home run leader in baseball history and not Bonds. The day Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s home run record my baseball loving heart broke a little because I knew he didn’t do it cleanly. Griffey would have had injuries not thoroughly destroyed the back half of his career.
In four seasons (not counting this one), including three consecutively (2002-2004) Griffey played in less than 100 games. In 10 of his 21 seasons (once again, not counting this one) he played in less than 140 games. If we assume that a healthy Griffey plays in 155 games for those 10 seasons, than he missed an estimated 569 games in his career. That’s three and a half seasons of missed playing time. In his prime, Griffey was averaging almost 48 home runs a year. So, Griffey really should have ended his career with around 800 home runs. No baseball player has ever hit 800 home runs in a career.
With Griffey’s retirement most of those legendary baseball players that I grew up watching have now gone (I think Chipper Jones and Ivan Rodriguez are the only two remaining). Unfortunately, I’ll never forget that injuries put somewhat of a damper on Griffey’s great and hall of fame career. But, one thing I’m glad that I never will forget is the sweetest swing that I’ve ever seen.
I’ve seen many baseball players with sweet swings over my 15 years of watching the sport, including Chipper Jones and Garret Anderson (who for some reason surprises people when I say that), but I’ve never seen any player’s swing that even came close to Ken Griffey Jr.’s.
Griffey’s swing was magical. His swing was so fluid and quick that it’s probably the single most beautiful thing that I’ve ever seen in sports. It was that swing that put butts into the old Kingdome in Seattle back when the Mariners weren’t that great and people showed up just to watch the player they affectionately referred to as “The Kid.” It really was similar to what Nationals Park in Washington will see every fifth day for the rest of the season when young phenom Stephen Strasburg takes the mound.
The pitcher (you name one, Griffey probably took them deep) would go into his wind-up and throw that ball no matter how fast or with how much movement and Griffey would put that sweet swing on it and hit it what would seem like a mile. It was gone. He knew it immediately, the pitcher would know it immediately and you watching on TV (or if you were lucky in the ballpark) would know it immediately. Then he’d do something that you wouldn’t see from every ballplayer … he’d smile … smile that kid smile that he always seemed to have on his face from day one until his last day in baseball.
You could tell that Griffey truly loved playing the game of baseball and it was that meshed with his epic talents that made him the most lovable athlete that I think I’ve ever seen in any sport.
The great thing about Griffey is that in an era that we now know was tainted by steroid use, with great sluggers like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire using, we truly believe that Griffey was a clean player. It might come out one day that we are all wrong and that will be a horrible day in my life and any baseball purist’s life, but we’re pretty sure that Griffey was clean.
Griffey finished his career with 630 home runs, which is fifth all time. This brings us to the disappointing point of Griffey’s career.
How can 630 homers be disappointing?
Griffey, without a doubt in my mind, should be the all time home run leader in baseball history and not Bonds. The day Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s home run record my baseball loving heart broke a little because I knew he didn’t do it cleanly. Griffey would have had injuries not thoroughly destroyed the back half of his career.
In four seasons (not counting this one), including three consecutively (2002-2004) Griffey played in less than 100 games. In 10 of his 21 seasons (once again, not counting this one) he played in less than 140 games. If we assume that a healthy Griffey plays in 155 games for those 10 seasons, than he missed an estimated 569 games in his career. That’s three and a half seasons of missed playing time. In his prime, Griffey was averaging almost 48 home runs a year. So, Griffey really should have ended his career with around 800 home runs. No baseball player has ever hit 800 home runs in a career.
With Griffey’s retirement most of those legendary baseball players that I grew up watching have now gone (I think Chipper Jones and Ivan Rodriguez are the only two remaining). Unfortunately, I’ll never forget that injuries put somewhat of a damper on Griffey’s great and hall of fame career. But, one thing I’m glad that I never will forget is the sweetest swing that I’ve ever seen.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
I've Seen Sidd Finch and His Name is Stephen Strasburg
I have seen Sidd Finch pitch and his real name is Stephen Strasburg.
If you haven’t heard the name Sidd Finch that’s because he’s the greatest pitcher that never ever did pitch. Finch never even breathed. In fact, Finch only lived in the vivid imagination of
great sports writer George Plimpton.
Plimpton made the story of Finch up for an April Fool’s joke in a 1985 issue of “Sports Illustrated.”
Finch was a specimen that nobody had ever seen before. He was a New York Mets prospect who pitched with only one shoe on, which happened to be a heavy hiker’s boot, and could top his pinpoint accurate fastball out at an incredible 168 MPH. Finch had trouble deciding whether he wanted to play baseball of the French horn.
Well, two weeks after the story ran it was announced that Finch was indeed a hoax, because some people out there actually believe the story. Plimpton passed away in 2003.
However, it would appear that 25 years later Finch has been resurrected in the form of 21-year old Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg.
As previously mentioned, Finch was unreal … but, I couldn’t believe my eyes last night when I saw Strasburg’s major league debut. The young Cy Young in making pitched seven innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs and struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates. His fast ball topped out in the triple digits, though 168 MPH is physically impossible, 100 MPH does just fine in the big leagues. And, as great as his fastball was, his curveball seemed even better. He struck out every Pirates batter at least one time and frankly made Lastings Milledge, Neil Walker and Ronny Cedeno look like little leaguers out there.
I know what you’re probably thinking now … “Well, they are the lowly Pirates.”
However, trust me when I say that Strasburg’s wicked curve would’ve made Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter and Joe Mauer look like a fool last night.
The Nationals won the game 5-2 to give Strasburg a win in his debut. His 14 strikeouts were one shy of the all time record of 15 in a major league debut set by Karl Spooner and J.R. Richards. Spooner and Richard both pitched further into the game than Strasburg did. He was moved after seven innings (one more than he was expected to go) because he had reached his pitch count. I guarantee Strasburg would’ve broken that record had he come out for just one more inning.
After all, he seemed to be just getting warmed up … he struck out the last seven batters that he faced before leaving the game.
Strasburg has already drawn comparisons to Walter Johnson, who many call the greatest pitcher to ever live. He might be Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens all wrapped into one, but he could just as easily be a bust like Kerry Woods, Mark Prior and many others.
For one night though … I can honestly say that I watched Sidd Finch … er … Stephen Strasburg thoroughly dominated his major league debut.
If you haven’t heard the name Sidd Finch that’s because he’s the greatest pitcher that never ever did pitch. Finch never even breathed. In fact, Finch only lived in the vivid imagination of
great sports writer George Plimpton.
Plimpton made the story of Finch up for an April Fool’s joke in a 1985 issue of “Sports Illustrated.”
Finch was a specimen that nobody had ever seen before. He was a New York Mets prospect who pitched with only one shoe on, which happened to be a heavy hiker’s boot, and could top his pinpoint accurate fastball out at an incredible 168 MPH. Finch had trouble deciding whether he wanted to play baseball of the French horn.
Well, two weeks after the story ran it was announced that Finch was indeed a hoax, because some people out there actually believe the story. Plimpton passed away in 2003.
However, it would appear that 25 years later Finch has been resurrected in the form of 21-year old Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg.
As previously mentioned, Finch was unreal … but, I couldn’t believe my eyes last night when I saw Strasburg’s major league debut. The young Cy Young in making pitched seven innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs and struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates. His fast ball topped out in the triple digits, though 168 MPH is physically impossible, 100 MPH does just fine in the big leagues. And, as great as his fastball was, his curveball seemed even better. He struck out every Pirates batter at least one time and frankly made Lastings Milledge, Neil Walker and Ronny Cedeno look like little leaguers out there.
I know what you’re probably thinking now … “Well, they are the lowly Pirates.”
However, trust me when I say that Strasburg’s wicked curve would’ve made Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter and Joe Mauer look like a fool last night.
The Nationals won the game 5-2 to give Strasburg a win in his debut. His 14 strikeouts were one shy of the all time record of 15 in a major league debut set by Karl Spooner and J.R. Richards. Spooner and Richard both pitched further into the game than Strasburg did. He was moved after seven innings (one more than he was expected to go) because he had reached his pitch count. I guarantee Strasburg would’ve broken that record had he come out for just one more inning.
After all, he seemed to be just getting warmed up … he struck out the last seven batters that he faced before leaving the game.
Strasburg has already drawn comparisons to Walter Johnson, who many call the greatest pitcher to ever live. He might be Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens all wrapped into one, but he could just as easily be a bust like Kerry Woods, Mark Prior and many others.
For one night though … I can honestly say that I watched Sidd Finch … er … Stephen Strasburg thoroughly dominated his major league debut.
Top 20 Unwritten Rules in Sports
20 Unwritten Rules of Sports
1. Don’t bunt to break up a no-hitter or a perfect game. (Baseball)
About 10 years ago San Diego Padres catcher Ben Davis successfully bunted for a single to break up a no-hitter by Curt Schilling. A few weeks ago Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria tried the same thing during Dallas Braden’s perfect game and thankfully was unsuccessful.
2. Don’t run up the score if you’re leading by a lot. (All sports)
The most notorious team that I’ve ever seen do this was the New England Patriots. Win a game with humility.
3. Don’t onside kick while leading. (Football)
The only time I ever remember seeing this was when I attended my first UCA Bears football game and Coach Clint Conque had the Bears onside kick at the end of a game with a huge lead. One of the Bears starting players actually got injured on the play. I always thought it kind of served Conque right for doing such an unsportsmanlike thing.
4. Don’t intentionally foul at the end of the game to keep another team from shooting a three to tie or win. (Basketball)
Some coaches do it and other coaches refuse to do it. I admire those coaches that refuse to do it. I’ve said multiple times I’d rather get beat than foul in that situation.
5. Don’t celebrate when losing.
Nothing looks dumber than when a linebacker celebrates a sack down by 14 or a NBA player celebrates a dunk down by 20 or when a pitcher celebrates a strikeout down five. If I were a coach I’d fine and sit any player celebrating while losing.
6. Don’t give an athlete a record they don’t deserve. (All sports)
The only time I’ve ever seen this was when Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre laid down to give Giants defensive end Michael Strahan the NFL’s single-season sack record. Make the guy earn the record.
7. Don’t shoot the ball as time expires when leading (Basketball)
Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic notoriously did this two years ago in the NBA playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs.
8. Don’t shoot 3-pointers when you’re up 10+ with less than a minute to play (Basketball)
Kobe Bryant (twice; made one) and Derek Fisher both shot 3-pointers against the Celtics during game one of the NBA Finals with an insurmountable lead with under a minute to play.
9. Don’t foul on defense when losing by more than 10+ with less than a minute remaining. (Basketball)
Too many NBA and college basketball teams do this and it’s always for naught. All it does is prolong your loss.
10. Don’t run a play when you can run the clock out. (Football)
11. Don’t show up a pitcher by admiring a home run. (Baseball)
I swear if you do you’ll get a fastball in the back.
12. Don’t show up a batter by celebrating a strikeout. (Baseball)
Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano and a few others are notoriously bad about this.
13. Don’t steal a base when you’re up by 5+ runs late in a game (Baseball)
Rickey Henderson did this about 10 years ago against the Milwaukee Brewers and Brewers manager Davey Lopes wanted his head for it.
14. Don’t yell at infielders on the basepaths while their trying to make a play. (Baseball)
Alex Rodriguez juvenilely did this a season or two ago while running out a pop out against the Toronto Blue Jays.
15. Don’t try to plant seeds with referees, umpires or officials to try to get favorable calls. (All sports)
Lakers coach Phil Jackson has done this on three different occasions in this year’s NBA playoffs alone.
16. Don’t swing at the first pitch following back to back home runs. (Baseball)
17. Don’t work the count when you’re up or down by a lot. (Baseball)
18. Don’t lean into a pitch intentionally to get a hit by pitch. (Baseball)
19. Don’t swing on a 3-0 count while leading. (Baseball)
20. Don’t walk across the pitching mound when going back to the dugout after an out. (Baseball)
Alex Rodriguez offended A’s pitcher Dallas Braden by doing this earlier the year. The mound is the pitcher’s territory; it isn’t like he’d walk through the batter’s box while you’re working.
1. Don’t bunt to break up a no-hitter or a perfect game. (Baseball)
About 10 years ago San Diego Padres catcher Ben Davis successfully bunted for a single to break up a no-hitter by Curt Schilling. A few weeks ago Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria tried the same thing during Dallas Braden’s perfect game and thankfully was unsuccessful.
2. Don’t run up the score if you’re leading by a lot. (All sports)
The most notorious team that I’ve ever seen do this was the New England Patriots. Win a game with humility.
3. Don’t onside kick while leading. (Football)
The only time I ever remember seeing this was when I attended my first UCA Bears football game and Coach Clint Conque had the Bears onside kick at the end of a game with a huge lead. One of the Bears starting players actually got injured on the play. I always thought it kind of served Conque right for doing such an unsportsmanlike thing.
4. Don’t intentionally foul at the end of the game to keep another team from shooting a three to tie or win. (Basketball)
Some coaches do it and other coaches refuse to do it. I admire those coaches that refuse to do it. I’ve said multiple times I’d rather get beat than foul in that situation.
5. Don’t celebrate when losing.
Nothing looks dumber than when a linebacker celebrates a sack down by 14 or a NBA player celebrates a dunk down by 20 or when a pitcher celebrates a strikeout down five. If I were a coach I’d fine and sit any player celebrating while losing.
6. Don’t give an athlete a record they don’t deserve. (All sports)
The only time I’ve ever seen this was when Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre laid down to give Giants defensive end Michael Strahan the NFL’s single-season sack record. Make the guy earn the record.
7. Don’t shoot the ball as time expires when leading (Basketball)
Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic notoriously did this two years ago in the NBA playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs.
8. Don’t shoot 3-pointers when you’re up 10+ with less than a minute to play (Basketball)
Kobe Bryant (twice; made one) and Derek Fisher both shot 3-pointers against the Celtics during game one of the NBA Finals with an insurmountable lead with under a minute to play.
9. Don’t foul on defense when losing by more than 10+ with less than a minute remaining. (Basketball)
Too many NBA and college basketball teams do this and it’s always for naught. All it does is prolong your loss.
10. Don’t run a play when you can run the clock out. (Football)
11. Don’t show up a pitcher by admiring a home run. (Baseball)
I swear if you do you’ll get a fastball in the back.
12. Don’t show up a batter by celebrating a strikeout. (Baseball)
Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano and a few others are notoriously bad about this.
13. Don’t steal a base when you’re up by 5+ runs late in a game (Baseball)
Rickey Henderson did this about 10 years ago against the Milwaukee Brewers and Brewers manager Davey Lopes wanted his head for it.
14. Don’t yell at infielders on the basepaths while their trying to make a play. (Baseball)
Alex Rodriguez juvenilely did this a season or two ago while running out a pop out against the Toronto Blue Jays.
15. Don’t try to plant seeds with referees, umpires or officials to try to get favorable calls. (All sports)
Lakers coach Phil Jackson has done this on three different occasions in this year’s NBA playoffs alone.
16. Don’t swing at the first pitch following back to back home runs. (Baseball)
17. Don’t work the count when you’re up or down by a lot. (Baseball)
18. Don’t lean into a pitch intentionally to get a hit by pitch. (Baseball)
19. Don’t swing on a 3-0 count while leading. (Baseball)
20. Don’t walk across the pitching mound when going back to the dugout after an out. (Baseball)
Alex Rodriguez offended A’s pitcher Dallas Braden by doing this earlier the year. The mound is the pitcher’s territory; it isn’t like he’d walk through the batter’s box while you’re working.
Joyce's Blown Call is Worse Than Denkinger's
I’ve been watching four hours of sports talk radio this morning with “Mike and Mike in the Morning.” The biggest story is of course the blown call by baseball umpire Jim Joyce that cost Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game on a close play at first that would have been the 27th and final out of the perfect game.
Multiple times this morning I’ve heard that Joyce’s call was the second worst call in baseball history behind Don Denkinger’s controversial call in the 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals.
For those of you that don’t know or remember, here’s a rundown of Denkinger’s call from 25 years ago. It was during the ninth inning of game six with the Cardinals up in the series three games to two and up in the game 1-0 with a chance to win the World Series. Cardinals closer Todd Worrell was on the mound and leading off the inning for the Royals was infielder Jorge Orta. Orta hit a roller to Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark and Worrell was forced to cover the bag. Clark flipped the ball to Worrell who stepped on the bag a half step ahead of Orta, but Denkinger incorrectly called Orta safe. The next batter Steve Balboni singled, putting Orta into scoring position. Royals catcher Jim Sundberg hit a bad sacrifice bunt that Worrell fielded and threw Orta out at third base on. With out the Royals had runners on first and second, but both runners would soon move up on a passed ball by Cardinals catcher Darrell Porter. Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog decided to intentionally walk Hal McRae to load the bases and possibly set up a double play. The next batter Dane Iorg hit a single to score both the tying run and the winning run.
In game seven, Royals ace Bret Saberhagen pitched a five-hit gem and the Royals won the game 11-0 and the World Series.
Now that you’ve been caught up, I’m going to tell you why Denkinger’s missed call is no longer the worst call in baseball history and has now been surpassed by Joyce’s missed call last night.
1) The St. Louis Cardinals have won 10 World Series
At the time of the 1985 World Series the St. Louis Cardinals organization had won nine World Series (they have since won one in 2006), which ranked second all time behind the New York Yankees. When it comes down to it what would another World Series championship really mattered?
Also, the almost exact same Cardinals team had another chance to win the World Series in 1987 when they lost to the Minnesota Twins in seven games, with Twins ace Frank Viola carving them up much like Saberhagen had in game seven of the ’85 series.
2) The Kansas City Royals Have Only Won 1 World Series
The 1985 World Series is the only World Series the Kansas City Royals have ever won … so let them have it. The Cardinals have had multiple chances to win the World Series since then. They’ve been to the World Series three times since the 1985 loss and have won once. The Royals haven’t even been back to the playoffs since their 1985 title and have frankly been one of the worst teams in baseball. Just let them enjoy their one title.
3) The St. Louis Cardinals Gave Up in Game 7
I’ve mentioned that Bret Saberhagen put together one of the finest pitching performances in World Series history against the Cardinals in game seven. Cardinals ace John Tudor, simply did not. Tudor gave up five runs in the first three innings and was lifted for Joaquin Andujar, who was a starting pitcher coming into the game in relief. At this point the Cardinals simply stopped trying and began feeling sorry for themselves. Andujar, not happy about the circumstance, charged Denkinger (who was umping at home in this game) twice to argue the strike zone. Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog came out to defend Andujar and got tossed, after all, you can’t argue balls and strikes (umpiring rule #1). Following Herzog’s ejection, Andujar charged Denkinger one more time and was ejected himself and had to be held back from teammates for fear of attacking Denkinger. The Cardinals essentially let something in game six affect them in game seven.
4) The Cardinals Could Have Easily Gotten Out of the Ninth Inning in Game 6
One infield single to lead off an inning isn’t going to kill a team. Steve Balboni who singled following Orta had previously popped up a fly ball into foul territory that Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark could’ve caught, but dropped. Then when Sundberg’s bad bunt got Orta out at third the Cardinals only needed two more outs with the Royals having runners at second and third. But, then Darrell Porter’s passed ball allowed both runners into scoring position, who ended up scoring on Dane Iorg’s hit. The Cardinals had multiple choices to get out of the inning with the World Series win in their hands, but frankly blew it.
5) Perfect Game Might be the Rarest Accomplishment in All of Sports
Only 20 times in baseball history have perfect games been thrown … so, in a sport that has lasted about 150 years, they obviously don’t come around often. World Series come around every year … heck … the Cardinals have been there three times since ’85. No pitcher in baseball history has ever thrown two perfect games in their career. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely Galarraga will ever get the chance to make history again. Most players don’t get these chances and Galarraga had his taken from him with Joyce’s bad call.
People like to say that Denkinger cost the Cardinals a championship. Honestly he only cost them one out in a game. The Cardinals lost that World Series on their own. Galarraga didn’t lose his perfect game on his own … Joyce lost it for him.
These five reasons are why Jim Joyce’s blown call ruining Armando Galarraga’s perfect game are why it’s the worst call in baseball history. Denkinger’s honestly doesn’t even compare.
Multiple times this morning I’ve heard that Joyce’s call was the second worst call in baseball history behind Don Denkinger’s controversial call in the 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals.
For those of you that don’t know or remember, here’s a rundown of Denkinger’s call from 25 years ago. It was during the ninth inning of game six with the Cardinals up in the series three games to two and up in the game 1-0 with a chance to win the World Series. Cardinals closer Todd Worrell was on the mound and leading off the inning for the Royals was infielder Jorge Orta. Orta hit a roller to Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark and Worrell was forced to cover the bag. Clark flipped the ball to Worrell who stepped on the bag a half step ahead of Orta, but Denkinger incorrectly called Orta safe. The next batter Steve Balboni singled, putting Orta into scoring position. Royals catcher Jim Sundberg hit a bad sacrifice bunt that Worrell fielded and threw Orta out at third base on. With out the Royals had runners on first and second, but both runners would soon move up on a passed ball by Cardinals catcher Darrell Porter. Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog decided to intentionally walk Hal McRae to load the bases and possibly set up a double play. The next batter Dane Iorg hit a single to score both the tying run and the winning run.
In game seven, Royals ace Bret Saberhagen pitched a five-hit gem and the Royals won the game 11-0 and the World Series.
Now that you’ve been caught up, I’m going to tell you why Denkinger’s missed call is no longer the worst call in baseball history and has now been surpassed by Joyce’s missed call last night.
1) The St. Louis Cardinals have won 10 World Series
At the time of the 1985 World Series the St. Louis Cardinals organization had won nine World Series (they have since won one in 2006), which ranked second all time behind the New York Yankees. When it comes down to it what would another World Series championship really mattered?
Also, the almost exact same Cardinals team had another chance to win the World Series in 1987 when they lost to the Minnesota Twins in seven games, with Twins ace Frank Viola carving them up much like Saberhagen had in game seven of the ’85 series.
2) The Kansas City Royals Have Only Won 1 World Series
The 1985 World Series is the only World Series the Kansas City Royals have ever won … so let them have it. The Cardinals have had multiple chances to win the World Series since then. They’ve been to the World Series three times since the 1985 loss and have won once. The Royals haven’t even been back to the playoffs since their 1985 title and have frankly been one of the worst teams in baseball. Just let them enjoy their one title.
3) The St. Louis Cardinals Gave Up in Game 7
I’ve mentioned that Bret Saberhagen put together one of the finest pitching performances in World Series history against the Cardinals in game seven. Cardinals ace John Tudor, simply did not. Tudor gave up five runs in the first three innings and was lifted for Joaquin Andujar, who was a starting pitcher coming into the game in relief. At this point the Cardinals simply stopped trying and began feeling sorry for themselves. Andujar, not happy about the circumstance, charged Denkinger (who was umping at home in this game) twice to argue the strike zone. Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog came out to defend Andujar and got tossed, after all, you can’t argue balls and strikes (umpiring rule #1). Following Herzog’s ejection, Andujar charged Denkinger one more time and was ejected himself and had to be held back from teammates for fear of attacking Denkinger. The Cardinals essentially let something in game six affect them in game seven.
4) The Cardinals Could Have Easily Gotten Out of the Ninth Inning in Game 6
One infield single to lead off an inning isn’t going to kill a team. Steve Balboni who singled following Orta had previously popped up a fly ball into foul territory that Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark could’ve caught, but dropped. Then when Sundberg’s bad bunt got Orta out at third the Cardinals only needed two more outs with the Royals having runners at second and third. But, then Darrell Porter’s passed ball allowed both runners into scoring position, who ended up scoring on Dane Iorg’s hit. The Cardinals had multiple choices to get out of the inning with the World Series win in their hands, but frankly blew it.
5) Perfect Game Might be the Rarest Accomplishment in All of Sports
Only 20 times in baseball history have perfect games been thrown … so, in a sport that has lasted about 150 years, they obviously don’t come around often. World Series come around every year … heck … the Cardinals have been there three times since ’85. No pitcher in baseball history has ever thrown two perfect games in their career. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely Galarraga will ever get the chance to make history again. Most players don’t get these chances and Galarraga had his taken from him with Joyce’s bad call.
People like to say that Denkinger cost the Cardinals a championship. Honestly he only cost them one out in a game. The Cardinals lost that World Series on their own. Galarraga didn’t lose his perfect game on his own … Joyce lost it for him.
These five reasons are why Jim Joyce’s blown call ruining Armando Galarraga’s perfect game are why it’s the worst call in baseball history. Denkinger’s honestly doesn’t even compare.
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