With the sainted Brett Favre in the news lately whining about wanting to come back and play again, it has dredged up all the reasons I dislike the man, and added a couple of new ones. Here are the things about him that really stick in my craw:
5. Everybody loves him - I tend to dislike those teams/persons/things that everyone likes. I always pull for the underdog, for the lesser-known, and am annoyed when someone is made out to be Mr./Ms. Perfect and that not loving him/her is absolutely unthinkable. Favre is one of these people. Broadcasters, analysts, everybody related to football seems to have a non-sexual crush on Favre. Now, I don't blame Brett for that, but it is still a reason I loathe him, especially because...
4. Everybody always talks about him - Okay, we get it. He's a great quarterback, he's tough, he's played through some difficult situations and has achieved some incredible feats. I've heard about them... over, and over, and over, and over. Can we just please talk about something else? I hear there's a guy named Bonds who hasn't been talked about enough.
3. He can't make up his damned mind - For a man who is supposedly a maverick or a gunslinger or some other romanticized Wild West cliche, he sure can't make a decision. If he showed as much restraint and forethought when he played football as he does when thinking about whether he wants to play football, he might not be the career leader in interceptions. But no, when he's not flinging around a football, he's wishy-washy and indecisive. Maybe the Packers need to send a linebacker blitz after him during the offseason to get him to make a decision. What compounds this problem is that his indecisiveness makes reason #4 exponentially more annoying because all anyone can talk about is what he's going to do. When he finally "retired" earlier this year, I was able to survive the weeks of tributes and gushing about him because I thought it meant I wouldn't have to hear about him anymore. But noooooooo, he just had to get "the itch", which means not only will he be around longer, but when he re-retires, we'll have to go through all this garbage again! Which brings us to...
2. He's selfish - I understand that it's tough deciding when to retire, that you only get one life and you have to make the most of it, but come on! If you think you might want to play again, then don't f-ing retire! If you retire but get "the itch", put on some Gold Bond or BOOM, tough-actin' Tinactin, as the Brett-Favre Fan Club President John Madden would recommend, and gut it out. The itch will pass. Don't go changing your mind and screwing with your team, your fans, and especially those who despise you and wish you would disappear. Let the Packers move on, like they had been planning. Let your fans honor your career, then move on and find someone else to admire. And let the rest of us be rid of your annoying presence. Don't give a big middle finger to everyone by coming back and then demanding you get your job back, or else you'll go work elsewhere.
1. He's given me reason to not hate the Packers as much - This may be Brett's greatest crime of all. For all the reasons he's given me, a Vikings fan, to despise the Packers, to pull something like this is just a low blow. Why has he given me reason to think better of the Packers? Because of the way they've handled the situation, by telling him he can't come back and expect his job back, and that they won't just release him to go play elsewhere. They've told him they're doing things on their terms and that, as much as he's done for the franchise, he can't call the shots. I respect that, and it pisses me off. Leave it to Brett to be the one person who could douse the flames of my hatred for the Packers.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Top 5 Worst Draft Picks - 2003 NFL Draft
Part IV in my series examining the five worst first round NFL draft picks each year since 2000. The 2003 was one of the more polarized drafts, with most picks either falling into the category of huge success or spectacular bust. Led by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Carson Palmer at #1 overall, 10 of the 32 first round picks, including six of the first 11 taken, have made the Pro Bowl already. The rest, however, have left much to be desired.
5. Bryant Johnson, #17 Overall Pick, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals - Johnson's most noteable accomplishment in the NFL is having been drafted by the same team that drafted Anquan Boldin in the second round of this same draft. Johnson was third in the NFL in receptions among rookies in 2003, but his teammate Boldin, taken #54 overall, was the leader. Johnson certainly never lived up to the Pro Bowl talent of his teammate, and with the Cardinals selecting another receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, in the top 5 in the 2004 draft, Johnson has never been more than a third option. He joined the San Francisco 49ers on a 1-year contract in 2008 after his rookie contract expired. Players selected later: RB Willis McGahee #23, TE Dallas Clark #24, RB Larry Johnson #27.
4. Jonathan Sullivan, #6 Overall Pick, Defensive Tackle, New Orleans Saints - Sullivan led a short and ineffective career in New Orleans. He failed to produce anywhere near the level of a #6 overall pick, and was traded to the New England Patriots prior to the 2006 season for backup wide receiver Bethel Johnson. Sullivan was arrested the same month he was traded on marijuana, among other things, charges and was released by New England in October of 2006. He has been out of football since. Players selected later: DT Kevin Williams #9, DE Terrell Suggs #10, CB Marcus Trufant #11.
3. Kyle Boller, #19 Overall Pick, Quarterback, Baltimore Ravens/Rex Grossman, #22 Overall Pick, Quarterback, Chicago Bears - I lump these two quarterbacks together because their careers have followed very similar paths. Selected around the same time in the first round, each joined a strong defensive team that had significant aspirations, and neither was able to deliver. Boller has spent most of his time in Baltimore struggling to keep the starting job, despite starting 16 games in 2004. He missed 7 games in 2005 with turf toe and in 2006 the Ravens acquired Titans QB Steve McNair in a trade and he would lead the team the next two years. Even when McNair was hurt, which was a lot in 2007, Boller struggled to keep the backup job ahead of rookie sixth round pick Troy Smith. Grossman has been the subject of much disappointment in Chicago as he's shown flashes of being a quality quarterback and he has the physical tools, but he has been wildly inconsistent (to be kind) and has had games where he seems to be making plays for the other team. Despite this, since drafting Grossman, the Bears have made little attempt to upgrade the position with Brian Griese being the only veteran given a shot in 2006 and 2007 and no high draft picks invested in a replacement. Grossman lost the starting job as a rookie to the stellar tandem of Kordell Stewart and Chris Chandler, and missed most of 2005 with a broken ankle. And good news Bears fans, he's expected to compete for the starting job again in2008. Players selected later: RB Willis McGahee #23, RB Larry Johnson #27, QB Tony Romo (Undrafted).
2. Byron Leftwich, #7 Overall Pick, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars - Leftwich, a big quarterback with a huge arm, was expected to be the franchise QB the Jags needed to succeed Mark Brunell. Leftwich had some injury concerns in college but Jacksonville overlooked these to make the pick ahead of the Minnesota Vikings who had traded up, presumably to take Leftwich, then mysteriously missed their pick. (The Vikings ended up taken future Pro Bowl tackle Kevin Williams at #9.) Leftwich would play well for Jacksonville when he started, but recurring ankle injuries began to derail his career, and as he continued to miss time, backup David Garrard began to emerge as a quality quarterback himself. After the two split time at the position in 2006 due to Leftwich's injuries, Leftwich returned to the starting lineup for the playoffs, a controversial move by coach Jack Del Rio. The Jaguars offense struggled in the postseason on the road at New England, losing in the first round. Early in the following offseason, Del Rio named Leftwich the starting QB to the surprise of many. Leftwich would struggle in the preseason and be cut just prior to the start of the season. He would eventually sign with the Falcons and earn the starting job in week 5, playing well before again going out with an ankle injury, and though he returned briefly in week 11, he would lose the starting job to Joey Harrington and he was cut following the 2007 season. Players selected later: DT Kevin Williams #9, DE Terrell Suggs #10, CB Marcus Trufant #11.
1. Charles Rogers, Wide Receiver, #2 Overall Pick, Detroit Lions - Rogers is another player, like Leftwich, whose career never really got going because of injury issues. A popular pick by Lions fans at the time, Rogers was coming from nearby Michigan State University and expected to be the wide receiving threat that second year QB Joey Harrington needed to get the offense going. Unfortunately, just five games into his rookie campaign, Rogers broke his collarbone and was forced to miss the entire season. The following year, on the third play of the season, Rogers again broke his collarbone and again was forced to miss the season. In his third year, 2005, Rogers was suspended by the NFL for four games for his third violation of the league's substance abuse policy. It was later reported that Rogers failed drug tests each year while at Michigan State. Rogers would play very little after returning from the suspension and would be released just days prior to the 2006 season. Players selected later: WR Andre Johnson #3, CB Terence Newman #5, DT Kevin Williams #9.
Up Next: 2004, the year of the Wide Receiver.
5. Bryant Johnson, #17 Overall Pick, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals - Johnson's most noteable accomplishment in the NFL is having been drafted by the same team that drafted Anquan Boldin in the second round of this same draft. Johnson was third in the NFL in receptions among rookies in 2003, but his teammate Boldin, taken #54 overall, was the leader. Johnson certainly never lived up to the Pro Bowl talent of his teammate, and with the Cardinals selecting another receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, in the top 5 in the 2004 draft, Johnson has never been more than a third option. He joined the San Francisco 49ers on a 1-year contract in 2008 after his rookie contract expired. Players selected later: RB Willis McGahee #23, TE Dallas Clark #24, RB Larry Johnson #27.
4. Jonathan Sullivan, #6 Overall Pick, Defensive Tackle, New Orleans Saints - Sullivan led a short and ineffective career in New Orleans. He failed to produce anywhere near the level of a #6 overall pick, and was traded to the New England Patriots prior to the 2006 season for backup wide receiver Bethel Johnson. Sullivan was arrested the same month he was traded on marijuana, among other things, charges and was released by New England in October of 2006. He has been out of football since. Players selected later: DT Kevin Williams #9, DE Terrell Suggs #10, CB Marcus Trufant #11.
3. Kyle Boller, #19 Overall Pick, Quarterback, Baltimore Ravens/Rex Grossman, #22 Overall Pick, Quarterback, Chicago Bears - I lump these two quarterbacks together because their careers have followed very similar paths. Selected around the same time in the first round, each joined a strong defensive team that had significant aspirations, and neither was able to deliver. Boller has spent most of his time in Baltimore struggling to keep the starting job, despite starting 16 games in 2004. He missed 7 games in 2005 with turf toe and in 2006 the Ravens acquired Titans QB Steve McNair in a trade and he would lead the team the next two years. Even when McNair was hurt, which was a lot in 2007, Boller struggled to keep the backup job ahead of rookie sixth round pick Troy Smith. Grossman has been the subject of much disappointment in Chicago as he's shown flashes of being a quality quarterback and he has the physical tools, but he has been wildly inconsistent (to be kind) and has had games where he seems to be making plays for the other team. Despite this, since drafting Grossman, the Bears have made little attempt to upgrade the position with Brian Griese being the only veteran given a shot in 2006 and 2007 and no high draft picks invested in a replacement. Grossman lost the starting job as a rookie to the stellar tandem of Kordell Stewart and Chris Chandler, and missed most of 2005 with a broken ankle. And good news Bears fans, he's expected to compete for the starting job again in2008. Players selected later: RB Willis McGahee #23, RB Larry Johnson #27, QB Tony Romo (Undrafted).
2. Byron Leftwich, #7 Overall Pick, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars - Leftwich, a big quarterback with a huge arm, was expected to be the franchise QB the Jags needed to succeed Mark Brunell. Leftwich had some injury concerns in college but Jacksonville overlooked these to make the pick ahead of the Minnesota Vikings who had traded up, presumably to take Leftwich, then mysteriously missed their pick. (The Vikings ended up taken future Pro Bowl tackle Kevin Williams at #9.) Leftwich would play well for Jacksonville when he started, but recurring ankle injuries began to derail his career, and as he continued to miss time, backup David Garrard began to emerge as a quality quarterback himself. After the two split time at the position in 2006 due to Leftwich's injuries, Leftwich returned to the starting lineup for the playoffs, a controversial move by coach Jack Del Rio. The Jaguars offense struggled in the postseason on the road at New England, losing in the first round. Early in the following offseason, Del Rio named Leftwich the starting QB to the surprise of many. Leftwich would struggle in the preseason and be cut just prior to the start of the season. He would eventually sign with the Falcons and earn the starting job in week 5, playing well before again going out with an ankle injury, and though he returned briefly in week 11, he would lose the starting job to Joey Harrington and he was cut following the 2007 season. Players selected later: DT Kevin Williams #9, DE Terrell Suggs #10, CB Marcus Trufant #11.
1. Charles Rogers, Wide Receiver, #2 Overall Pick, Detroit Lions - Rogers is another player, like Leftwich, whose career never really got going because of injury issues. A popular pick by Lions fans at the time, Rogers was coming from nearby Michigan State University and expected to be the wide receiving threat that second year QB Joey Harrington needed to get the offense going. Unfortunately, just five games into his rookie campaign, Rogers broke his collarbone and was forced to miss the entire season. The following year, on the third play of the season, Rogers again broke his collarbone and again was forced to miss the season. In his third year, 2005, Rogers was suspended by the NFL for four games for his third violation of the league's substance abuse policy. It was later reported that Rogers failed drug tests each year while at Michigan State. Rogers would play very little after returning from the suspension and would be released just days prior to the 2006 season. Players selected later: WR Andre Johnson #3, CB Terence Newman #5, DT Kevin Williams #9.
Up Next: 2004, the year of the Wide Receiver.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Random Ramblings on a Tuesday Morning
{NOTE: You no longer have to sign up to post comments on this blog. All comments will be reviewed prior to posting, but you do not need a google or gmail ID to post them. - Chris}
Yesterday when I posted my blog entry, around 9:30 a.m. central time, I had no idea that the topic I chose was going to become the theme of the day on ESPN. When I got home from work and flipped on "Pardon The Interruption" yesterday afternoon, I was amused to see the subject of "Best sporting event of 2008" as a message in their mailbag. Next thing I know, the same topic surfaces again in their final segment of the show, with hosts Bob Ryan and Michael Wilbon debating the merits of the Federer/Nadal match among the best events of the year. Neither agreed with me that the Super Bowl would be #1, but I'm not surprised as it's not nearly as fresh in our memory as Wimbledon or the U.S. Open.
Then hours later I tune in to SportsCenter to find that "Best sporting event of 2008" is a major topic, and in fact their poll question of the night was on that same topic. So what am I supposed to think? Of course they stole my idea. It's so obvious. So desperate are they for ideas, they have to steal them from lowly bloggers like myself. Shameful, really.
+++++
It's July 8th, do you know where your baseball team is?
In my lifetime I have been most closely associated to two cities: Denver, Colorado where I grew up and near where I went to college (Go Rams!) and Houston, Texas where I and much of my family resides. So naturally my preferred baseball teams are the Rockies (38-52) and the Astros (41-49). It's not easy to admit that right about now.
Yes, it may be true that the struggles only add to the sweetness of success. I will admit that the Rox incredible playoff and World Series run last year was that much more enjoyable because I had stuck with the team through all the losing seasons that were over by August. But you know what, there's also something to be said for having a team that you always believe is in contention. Just ask Red Sox or Yankees fans if they'd prefer their teams were terrible for the next 5 years before becoming good for a brief championship run. I think we all know what they'd say.
So to be sitting here on July 8th, with my favorite team (the Rockies) 14 games below .500 (but only 6.5 games back in the division!) and my second favorite team 8 games below .500 and in dead last (behind the Pirates!) in their division, is a little depressing.
Only 12 days until the earliest NFL training camps start opening. Go Broncos and Texans...
+++++
When is the right time for a sports team to officially decide to give up on a season and look towards the future? All 4 of the major sports in this country have a mid-season trading deadline (although that rarely affects anything in the NFL), but is this a good time to start thinking about rebuilding? Or should teams start earlier (see Cleveland Indians trading CC Sabathia) or hold on for a miracle run (see 2007 Rockies, 2005 Astros)?
Let me know what you think.
Yesterday when I posted my blog entry, around 9:30 a.m. central time, I had no idea that the topic I chose was going to become the theme of the day on ESPN. When I got home from work and flipped on "Pardon The Interruption" yesterday afternoon, I was amused to see the subject of "Best sporting event of 2008" as a message in their mailbag. Next thing I know, the same topic surfaces again in their final segment of the show, with hosts Bob Ryan and Michael Wilbon debating the merits of the Federer/Nadal match among the best events of the year. Neither agreed with me that the Super Bowl would be #1, but I'm not surprised as it's not nearly as fresh in our memory as Wimbledon or the U.S. Open.
Then hours later I tune in to SportsCenter to find that "Best sporting event of 2008" is a major topic, and in fact their poll question of the night was on that same topic. So what am I supposed to think? Of course they stole my idea. It's so obvious. So desperate are they for ideas, they have to steal them from lowly bloggers like myself. Shameful, really.
+++++
It's July 8th, do you know where your baseball team is?
In my lifetime I have been most closely associated to two cities: Denver, Colorado where I grew up and near where I went to college (Go Rams!) and Houston, Texas where I and much of my family resides. So naturally my preferred baseball teams are the Rockies (38-52) and the Astros (41-49). It's not easy to admit that right about now.
Yes, it may be true that the struggles only add to the sweetness of success. I will admit that the Rox incredible playoff and World Series run last year was that much more enjoyable because I had stuck with the team through all the losing seasons that were over by August. But you know what, there's also something to be said for having a team that you always believe is in contention. Just ask Red Sox or Yankees fans if they'd prefer their teams were terrible for the next 5 years before becoming good for a brief championship run. I think we all know what they'd say.
So to be sitting here on July 8th, with my favorite team (the Rockies) 14 games below .500 (but only 6.5 games back in the division!) and my second favorite team 8 games below .500 and in dead last (behind the Pirates!) in their division, is a little depressing.
Only 12 days until the earliest NFL training camps start opening. Go Broncos and Texans...
+++++
When is the right time for a sports team to officially decide to give up on a season and look towards the future? All 4 of the major sports in this country have a mid-season trading deadline (although that rarely affects anything in the NFL), but is this a good time to start thinking about rebuilding? Or should teams start earlier (see Cleveland Indians trading CC Sabathia) or hold on for a miracle run (see 2007 Rockies, 2005 Astros)?
Let me know what you think.
Monday, July 7, 2008
What a year to be a sports fan
From steroids to gambling to cheating to game-fixing refs, virtually all sports around the world, and in the U.S. in particular, have come under heavy scrutiny of late and are facing image problems in one form or another. Despite all these issues that have recently been brought to the forefront, the products on the field have been some of the best a sports fan could hope for, and I could easily argue that this has been the greatest year ever to be a sports fan. Almost every time you turn on the T.V. to watch a major sports event, you have been treated to an all-time great performance or an epic contest. So with that in mind, here are my top 5 best championship events in sports in 2008 (keep in mind some may have been missed since those listed are only the events I watched live).
Honorable Mention #1: Euro 2008 - The final of the European soccer championship last weekend was some very high quality soccer, but the drama was somewhat lacking due to the impressive style with which the Spanish won. The best match in the tournament, Turkey's improbable 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Czech Republic, would easily make the top 5 list if not for the fact that these are only events which directly determined the champion.
Honorable Mention #2: Stanley Cup Finals, Game 5 - This 3 overtime epic barely misses the cut do to one thing: the winner of the game did not win the title. Had the Pens used the thrilling late-night victory to propel themselves to a series win, which would have meant overcoming a 3-1 series deficit, then this game may well have found it's way into the top 2. Alas, the veteran Red Wings regrouped to seal the series in game 6 in Pittsburgh, and leave this as a great game, even if it's simply a footnote in the series.
5. NBA Finals, Game 4 - Unimaginatively labeled "The Comeback Game" by ESPN.com's Bill Simmons, game 4 was arguably the deciding game of the NBA Finals this year with the Celtics overcoming a 20+ point third quarter deficit in Los Angeles to earn the first road win for either team in the series. With the win giving the Celtics a statistically insurmountable 3-1 series lead, the final two games lost some luster as it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Boston would take home the title. It's because of this, and because I had no real rooting interest in the series, that this game makes only the #5 spot on the list. It was an incredible win, but I personally didn't feel chills while watching.
4. NCAA Basketball Men's Championship Game - Over the past several years, the title game of the NCAA basketball tournament has been less than gripping, and often the entire Final Four turns out to have little excitement. This year appeared to be on the same course as Kansas and Memphis dispatched of their foes without too much struggle in the semifinals, but we had no idea what was in store in the final. What happened that Monday night in early April was one of the most exciting finals in NCAA tournament history, thanks largely to the coming of age of Memphis freshman point guard and 2008 NBA Draft #1 overall pick Derrick Rose. Rose seemed to take the game over in the final 10 minutes, helping Memphis turn a close game into a potential runaway with Kansas struggling to keep up. But Kansas persevered, and Memphis's fatal flaw, free throw shooting, was exposed as the Jayhawks completed an impossible comeback, down 8 in the last minute and a half, and eventually won going away in overtime. Had the overtime portion been as exciting as regulation, this game likely would have made it higher.
3. U.S. Open Golf Championship, 18-hole Playoff - This may forever go down as the greatest "Injured star willing himself/his team to a Championship" event of all time. Knowing that he was not 100% entering the 4 day event, Tiger Woods fought through pain and the PGA Tour's toughest course of the year for four days, even leading after 54 holes going into Sunday. Then, the sports world was stunned as relative unknown Rocco Mediate, a man who had never won a major and would be expected to be well beyond his prime, pushed the World's No. 1 to the brink, only to watch from the clubhouse as Woods sunk a cold-blooded 12 foot putt on #18 for birdie to force the playoff the next day. What followed was one of the most incredible rounds of golf of all time, with the star and the no-name battling back and forth, each holding as much as a 3-stroke lead, with Woods nailing yet another birdie putt on 18 for the title. The result would gain further amazement value over the next couple days as the full extent of Woods' injuries (a torn ACL and a broken leg) became public knowledge. Were it not for the inherently slow nature of golf, this would have been an easy #1.
2. Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Men's Singles Final - A match that upon its conclusion was dubbed by many, including former tennis great John McEnroe, as possibly the greatest match of all time, was an easy choice for this list. The competitors, the "aging" superstar on his best surface and one he's owned for the past five years (Roger Federer) against the rising star that has dominated the clay courts but has never won a major on any other surface (Rafael Nadal). The stakes were simple: either Federer wins and sets a modern record for consecutive Wimbledon titles won, or Nadal wins and signals a changing of the guard and proves once and for all that he has the game to win on any surface. Like a classic "Rocky" film, the aging Federer fell into an early hole, losing the first set before completely choking away the second set, blowing a 4-2 lead to fall 6-4, Federer seemed to be on the ropes. But then the rain came, and midway through the third set the players had a break to regroup. And regroup Federer did, fighting back to win the third in a tie break and then scratching and clawing to a breathtaking fourth set tiebreak win, erasing a 5-2 tiebreak deficit. With neither player showing any sign of losing his service games after the second set, the match seemed destined to be called on account of darkness, but with the final set tied 7-7, Nadal finally stole a break, and despite Federer's valiant efforts in the final game, Nadal again held serve, being broken only once in the match, and won his first Wimbledon title.
1. Super Bowl XLII - Even if you had no real interest in either the New York Giants or New England Patriots, you still were rooting for someone in this game. You had no choice. It was one of the biggest Super Bowl underdogs of all time against the unstoppable 18-0 juggernaut. What's more, it was a rematch of a week 17 game that was meaningless in the standings and yet still turned out to be the best game of the entire regular season. The Giants had accomplished the improbable, winning 3 road playoff games en route to the Super Bowl, a feat matched by the 2005 Super Bowl champion Steelers but not expected ever to be equalled. The Patriots had cruised for more than half of the regular season, but were not blowing anybody out in the second half of the season or the playoffs and were starting to seem almost mortal. Still the Vegas wiseguys opened the line at Patriots by 14 and it held at 10+ even as game time arrived. I myself told a friend of mine that the only result that would surprise me would be a Giants blowout win. Anything else seemed possible, but I certainly didn't expect what happened. The defenses dominated. Only 5 weeks after the teams previously met in a 38-35 shootout at Giants Stadium, neither team was able to muster much offense throughout the game, with the Giants d-line constantly pressuring Tom Brady while the Patriots stuffed the Giants running game. Despite the defenses dominating, the game never felt like it was dragging with each possession gaining importance as the game moved along. When the Pats offense finally seemed to find its stride midway through the fourth quarter, and they broke into the endzone for a 14-10 lead, the game felt like it was over. But time was nowhere near up for the G-Men, and the much-maligned Eli Manning took the game in his hands, moving the Giants confidently down the field, aided by the most spectacular catch in Super Bowl history (argue if you want, but it's true). Finally, with under a minute to play, Manning hit Plaxico Burress for the touchdown and a 3 point lead, and the Patriots were stunned. 17-14 has already become a black mark throughout New England, and fans will never hear the end of 18-1, the would-be perfect season ended by the likes of Eli Manning and rival New York.
Honorable Mention #1: Euro 2008 - The final of the European soccer championship last weekend was some very high quality soccer, but the drama was somewhat lacking due to the impressive style with which the Spanish won. The best match in the tournament, Turkey's improbable 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Czech Republic, would easily make the top 5 list if not for the fact that these are only events which directly determined the champion.
Honorable Mention #2: Stanley Cup Finals, Game 5 - This 3 overtime epic barely misses the cut do to one thing: the winner of the game did not win the title. Had the Pens used the thrilling late-night victory to propel themselves to a series win, which would have meant overcoming a 3-1 series deficit, then this game may well have found it's way into the top 2. Alas, the veteran Red Wings regrouped to seal the series in game 6 in Pittsburgh, and leave this as a great game, even if it's simply a footnote in the series.
5. NBA Finals, Game 4 - Unimaginatively labeled "The Comeback Game" by ESPN.com's Bill Simmons, game 4 was arguably the deciding game of the NBA Finals this year with the Celtics overcoming a 20+ point third quarter deficit in Los Angeles to earn the first road win for either team in the series. With the win giving the Celtics a statistically insurmountable 3-1 series lead, the final two games lost some luster as it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Boston would take home the title. It's because of this, and because I had no real rooting interest in the series, that this game makes only the #5 spot on the list. It was an incredible win, but I personally didn't feel chills while watching.
4. NCAA Basketball Men's Championship Game - Over the past several years, the title game of the NCAA basketball tournament has been less than gripping, and often the entire Final Four turns out to have little excitement. This year appeared to be on the same course as Kansas and Memphis dispatched of their foes without too much struggle in the semifinals, but we had no idea what was in store in the final. What happened that Monday night in early April was one of the most exciting finals in NCAA tournament history, thanks largely to the coming of age of Memphis freshman point guard and 2008 NBA Draft #1 overall pick Derrick Rose. Rose seemed to take the game over in the final 10 minutes, helping Memphis turn a close game into a potential runaway with Kansas struggling to keep up. But Kansas persevered, and Memphis's fatal flaw, free throw shooting, was exposed as the Jayhawks completed an impossible comeback, down 8 in the last minute and a half, and eventually won going away in overtime. Had the overtime portion been as exciting as regulation, this game likely would have made it higher.
3. U.S. Open Golf Championship, 18-hole Playoff - This may forever go down as the greatest "Injured star willing himself/his team to a Championship" event of all time. Knowing that he was not 100% entering the 4 day event, Tiger Woods fought through pain and the PGA Tour's toughest course of the year for four days, even leading after 54 holes going into Sunday. Then, the sports world was stunned as relative unknown Rocco Mediate, a man who had never won a major and would be expected to be well beyond his prime, pushed the World's No. 1 to the brink, only to watch from the clubhouse as Woods sunk a cold-blooded 12 foot putt on #18 for birdie to force the playoff the next day. What followed was one of the most incredible rounds of golf of all time, with the star and the no-name battling back and forth, each holding as much as a 3-stroke lead, with Woods nailing yet another birdie putt on 18 for the title. The result would gain further amazement value over the next couple days as the full extent of Woods' injuries (a torn ACL and a broken leg) became public knowledge. Were it not for the inherently slow nature of golf, this would have been an easy #1.
2. Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Men's Singles Final - A match that upon its conclusion was dubbed by many, including former tennis great John McEnroe, as possibly the greatest match of all time, was an easy choice for this list. The competitors, the "aging" superstar on his best surface and one he's owned for the past five years (Roger Federer) against the rising star that has dominated the clay courts but has never won a major on any other surface (Rafael Nadal). The stakes were simple: either Federer wins and sets a modern record for consecutive Wimbledon titles won, or Nadal wins and signals a changing of the guard and proves once and for all that he has the game to win on any surface. Like a classic "Rocky" film, the aging Federer fell into an early hole, losing the first set before completely choking away the second set, blowing a 4-2 lead to fall 6-4, Federer seemed to be on the ropes. But then the rain came, and midway through the third set the players had a break to regroup. And regroup Federer did, fighting back to win the third in a tie break and then scratching and clawing to a breathtaking fourth set tiebreak win, erasing a 5-2 tiebreak deficit. With neither player showing any sign of losing his service games after the second set, the match seemed destined to be called on account of darkness, but with the final set tied 7-7, Nadal finally stole a break, and despite Federer's valiant efforts in the final game, Nadal again held serve, being broken only once in the match, and won his first Wimbledon title.
1. Super Bowl XLII - Even if you had no real interest in either the New York Giants or New England Patriots, you still were rooting for someone in this game. You had no choice. It was one of the biggest Super Bowl underdogs of all time against the unstoppable 18-0 juggernaut. What's more, it was a rematch of a week 17 game that was meaningless in the standings and yet still turned out to be the best game of the entire regular season. The Giants had accomplished the improbable, winning 3 road playoff games en route to the Super Bowl, a feat matched by the 2005 Super Bowl champion Steelers but not expected ever to be equalled. The Patriots had cruised for more than half of the regular season, but were not blowing anybody out in the second half of the season or the playoffs and were starting to seem almost mortal. Still the Vegas wiseguys opened the line at Patriots by 14 and it held at 10+ even as game time arrived. I myself told a friend of mine that the only result that would surprise me would be a Giants blowout win. Anything else seemed possible, but I certainly didn't expect what happened. The defenses dominated. Only 5 weeks after the teams previously met in a 38-35 shootout at Giants Stadium, neither team was able to muster much offense throughout the game, with the Giants d-line constantly pressuring Tom Brady while the Patriots stuffed the Giants running game. Despite the defenses dominating, the game never felt like it was dragging with each possession gaining importance as the game moved along. When the Pats offense finally seemed to find its stride midway through the fourth quarter, and they broke into the endzone for a 14-10 lead, the game felt like it was over. But time was nowhere near up for the G-Men, and the much-maligned Eli Manning took the game in his hands, moving the Giants confidently down the field, aided by the most spectacular catch in Super Bowl history (argue if you want, but it's true). Finally, with under a minute to play, Manning hit Plaxico Burress for the touchdown and a 3 point lead, and the Patriots were stunned. 17-14 has already become a black mark throughout New England, and fans will never hear the end of 18-1, the would-be perfect season ended by the likes of Eli Manning and rival New York.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Top 5 Worst Draft Picks - 2002 NFL Draft
Part 3 of my series ranking the five worst first round draft picks in each NFL Draft since 2000. The top 6 picks of the 2002 draft includes five legitimate busts and one player that has looked dominant at times but has also gone through major bouts of inconsistency. While #2 overall pick Julius Peppers may be the best player selected in the top 10, it's hard to decide who deserves the title of worst. Let's grind this one out.
5. Wendall Bryant, Defensive Tackle, #12 Overall Pick, Arizona Cardinals - Bryant led a short NFL career, playing just 3 years and starting only 9 games for the Cardinals. Bryant played just 3 games in his final season and finished his brief career with 1.5 sacks, certainly not the production a team is seeking with the #12 overall pick. Players selected later: WR Donte Stallworth (#13), TE Jeremy Shockey (#14), DT Albert Haynesworth (#15).
4. William Green, Running Back, #16 Overall Pick, Cleveland Browns - The Browns really should have seen the writing on the wall before drafting Green, but his potential and physical tools overshadowed his multiple suspensions for marijuana in college. After a decent rookie campaign, Green had a tumultuous second season that was cut short by a four game suspension for a drunk driving and marijuana arrest. While suspended, Green was stabbed in the back (yes, literally) by his fiancee and suspended for the remainder of the season "for treatment purposes." He would return and have an ineffective year in 2004, including getting ejected before a game against the Steelers for fighting with Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter. He finally had an injury-riddled final season in 2005 and was released prior to the 2006 season. Players selected later: WR Javon Walker (#20), S Ed Reed (#24), CB Lito Sheppard (#26).
3. Patrick Ramsey, Quarterback, #32 Overall Pick, Washington Redskins - The first selection of the Steve Spurrier era in Washington, Ramsey was a record-setting college QB expected to light up the NFL. Unfortunately, Spurrier's system simply didn't translate into the NFL and Ramsey was the poster child for its failure, nearly leading the league in sacks in his only full year as starter in 2003. When Joe Gibbs returned to the team as head coach in 2004, Ramsey was moved in and out of the lineup due to injuries and ineffectiveness of Mark Brunell, whom Gibbs traded for upon his return. Ramsey was finally dealt to the New York Jets prior to 2006, and spent that season backing up Chad Pennington before moving on to backup Jay Cutler in Denver in 2007. Players selected later: C LeCharles Bentley (#44), RB Clinton Portis (#51), QB David Garrard (#108).
2. Joey Harrington, Quarterback, #3 Overall Pick, Detroit Lions - In a first round, and really a draft altogether, that saw poor quality at the quarterback position, Harrington earns the #2 spot. Named the starter prior to his rookie season, Harrington would start every game of his first two years in the league and post NFL record lows of yards per attempt each season, the two lowest totals since 1960. Harrington's ineffectiveness would eventually lead to his benching in the 2005 season for veteran journeyman Jeff Garcia. Later in the year, with the team still struggling offensively, Harrington would return to the starting role and play decently enough, although it wouldn't be enough to keep him in Detroit. He was traded to Miami following the 2005 season and spent the year as a backup/replacement for Dolphins starter Daunte Culpepper who spent much of the year injured. A roller-coaster 2006 season, including a game where he compiled a rating of 107.4 and a game with a rating of 0.0, Harrington was released and eventually signed with the Atlanta Falcons to back up Michael Vick. When Vick was suspended and imprisoned, Harrington was thrust into the starting role but was too inconsistent and ended up splitting time with former Jaguar QB Byron Leftwich. Harrington has signed to return to Atlanta in 2008. Players selected later: OT Bryant McKinnie (#7), S Roy Williams (#8), DT John Henderson (#9).
1. David Carr, Quarterback, #1 Overall Pick, Houston Texans - David Carr's failure to be the franchise quarterback for the expansion Texans helped the team become the least successful expansion team in NFL history, although the blame is certainly not entirely his. Carr was seemingly doomed to fail from the beginning as the franchise never built an adequate offensive line (starting with their #1 expansion draft pick, left tackle Tony Bosselli, who never played a down for the team) and made numerous questionable personnel moves in its first few years. Carr's struggles on the field were compounded with a confidence and cockiness that consistently rubbed the fans the wrong way, earning him little respect among the fan base despite the praise his "talent" received from NFL insiders. When The Texans replaced their first coach Dom Capers in 2006 following a 2-14 2005 season, new coach Gary Kubiak agreed to an option in Carr's contract worth an additional two years, a big mistake. Carr would go on to struggle again in 2006 and lead the Texans to another 6-10 record while further alienating fans, prompting the team to cut him after the season and trade for a new QB. Carr would sign on with Panthers as a backup in 2007, but he would again find the fans' bad graces and even lose the backup job to undrafted rookie Matt Moore. Carr also gained the not-so-flattering nickname "Mr. Mittens" for wearing alternating white and black gloves on both hands during home and away games. Carr was signed to be a backup for the New York Giants in 2008. Players selected later: DE Julius Peppers (#2), OT Bryant McKinnie (#7), S Roy Williams (#8).
Next up: 2003 and the birth of the Lions Wide Receiver fetish.
5. Wendall Bryant, Defensive Tackle, #12 Overall Pick, Arizona Cardinals - Bryant led a short NFL career, playing just 3 years and starting only 9 games for the Cardinals. Bryant played just 3 games in his final season and finished his brief career with 1.5 sacks, certainly not the production a team is seeking with the #12 overall pick. Players selected later: WR Donte Stallworth (#13), TE Jeremy Shockey (#14), DT Albert Haynesworth (#15).
4. William Green, Running Back, #16 Overall Pick, Cleveland Browns - The Browns really should have seen the writing on the wall before drafting Green, but his potential and physical tools overshadowed his multiple suspensions for marijuana in college. After a decent rookie campaign, Green had a tumultuous second season that was cut short by a four game suspension for a drunk driving and marijuana arrest. While suspended, Green was stabbed in the back (yes, literally) by his fiancee and suspended for the remainder of the season "for treatment purposes." He would return and have an ineffective year in 2004, including getting ejected before a game against the Steelers for fighting with Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter. He finally had an injury-riddled final season in 2005 and was released prior to the 2006 season. Players selected later: WR Javon Walker (#20), S Ed Reed (#24), CB Lito Sheppard (#26).
3. Patrick Ramsey, Quarterback, #32 Overall Pick, Washington Redskins - The first selection of the Steve Spurrier era in Washington, Ramsey was a record-setting college QB expected to light up the NFL. Unfortunately, Spurrier's system simply didn't translate into the NFL and Ramsey was the poster child for its failure, nearly leading the league in sacks in his only full year as starter in 2003. When Joe Gibbs returned to the team as head coach in 2004, Ramsey was moved in and out of the lineup due to injuries and ineffectiveness of Mark Brunell, whom Gibbs traded for upon his return. Ramsey was finally dealt to the New York Jets prior to 2006, and spent that season backing up Chad Pennington before moving on to backup Jay Cutler in Denver in 2007. Players selected later: C LeCharles Bentley (#44), RB Clinton Portis (#51), QB David Garrard (#108).
2. Joey Harrington, Quarterback, #3 Overall Pick, Detroit Lions - In a first round, and really a draft altogether, that saw poor quality at the quarterback position, Harrington earns the #2 spot. Named the starter prior to his rookie season, Harrington would start every game of his first two years in the league and post NFL record lows of yards per attempt each season, the two lowest totals since 1960. Harrington's ineffectiveness would eventually lead to his benching in the 2005 season for veteran journeyman Jeff Garcia. Later in the year, with the team still struggling offensively, Harrington would return to the starting role and play decently enough, although it wouldn't be enough to keep him in Detroit. He was traded to Miami following the 2005 season and spent the year as a backup/replacement for Dolphins starter Daunte Culpepper who spent much of the year injured. A roller-coaster 2006 season, including a game where he compiled a rating of 107.4 and a game with a rating of 0.0, Harrington was released and eventually signed with the Atlanta Falcons to back up Michael Vick. When Vick was suspended and imprisoned, Harrington was thrust into the starting role but was too inconsistent and ended up splitting time with former Jaguar QB Byron Leftwich. Harrington has signed to return to Atlanta in 2008. Players selected later: OT Bryant McKinnie (#7), S Roy Williams (#8), DT John Henderson (#9).
1. David Carr, Quarterback, #1 Overall Pick, Houston Texans - David Carr's failure to be the franchise quarterback for the expansion Texans helped the team become the least successful expansion team in NFL history, although the blame is certainly not entirely his. Carr was seemingly doomed to fail from the beginning as the franchise never built an adequate offensive line (starting with their #1 expansion draft pick, left tackle Tony Bosselli, who never played a down for the team) and made numerous questionable personnel moves in its first few years. Carr's struggles on the field were compounded with a confidence and cockiness that consistently rubbed the fans the wrong way, earning him little respect among the fan base despite the praise his "talent" received from NFL insiders. When The Texans replaced their first coach Dom Capers in 2006 following a 2-14 2005 season, new coach Gary Kubiak agreed to an option in Carr's contract worth an additional two years, a big mistake. Carr would go on to struggle again in 2006 and lead the Texans to another 6-10 record while further alienating fans, prompting the team to cut him after the season and trade for a new QB. Carr would sign on with Panthers as a backup in 2007, but he would again find the fans' bad graces and even lose the backup job to undrafted rookie Matt Moore. Carr also gained the not-so-flattering nickname "Mr. Mittens" for wearing alternating white and black gloves on both hands during home and away games. Carr was signed to be a backup for the New York Giants in 2008. Players selected later: DE Julius Peppers (#2), OT Bryant McKinnie (#7), S Roy Williams (#8).
Next up: 2003 and the birth of the Lions Wide Receiver fetish.
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