"Who is the NFL's best quarterback of all-time?"

I know that opinions vary on this topic for many different reasons. I have my opinion, but I'll start off with a few names, and then statistics for those names.

Let's start with one of the most obvious.... Johnny Unitas. Unitas was the Professional football record holder for consecutive games with a touchdown pass until this season when New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees surpassed that mark, which stood for 52 years! Unitas played at Louisville in college, and played professionally from the 1950's through the 1970's. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers where Coach Walt Kiesley didn't think he was smart enough to quarterback a NFL team, so he cut him... I'm sure he regrets that decision. Unitas played the majority of his career for the Baltimore Colts, appearing in the Championship game multiple times, and winning 3 MVPs. He spent the last year of his career with the Chargers, far after his prime.

Later in history a young man named Warren Moon came along, playing at the University of Washington, going un-noticed by most, and it was in a time when race was a major issue in sports and society. Moon went un-drafted in the NFL, so he spent some time in the CFL(Canadian Football League) playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. He completed about 70% of his passes, throwing for 21,228 yards, 144 touchdowns, and 77 interceptions... winning Grey Cups and MVPs in under 5 seasons. He finally got an opportunity to be in the NFL where he played mostly for the Houston Oilers, also spending time with the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs late in his career. He completed 58% of his passes, for 49,325 yards, 291 touchdowns, and 233 interceptions with a 80.9 QBR(Quarterback Rating) winning one NEA MVP. Moon faced and overcame many trials and even more adversity in his pursuit of being a NFL quarterback, and still achieved a great deal of success.

Next I come to Joe Montana, who played three years and won a National Title at the University of Notre Dame. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and spent all but his last two years there, ending his career in Kansas City with the Chiefs. He played 16 seasons in the NFL, winning all four Super Bowls he played in while winning the MVP of the game three times to go along with his season MVPs in 1989 and 1990. He completed 63.2% of his passes, for 40,551 yards, 273 touchdowns, 139 interceptions, with a 92.3 QBR. He was a comeback artist, and is widely considered the best to play the position in the NFL.

Next we have Dan Marino, who played at the University of Pittsburgh, and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins, playing his entire career there. Marino is considered to have the strongest arm ever, breaking some players fingers with his passes before...ouch. Though Marino never won a Super Bowl, he did play in a couple, which is thought to be the only blemish of his career. He held many NFL passing records for a while. He completed 59.4% of his passes, for 61,361 yards, 420 touchdowns, 252 interceptions, with a QBR of 86.4, and winning one MVP.

Moving along I come to John Elway, who played at Stanford University, and spent his whole career with the Denver Broncos. Elway played in five Super Bowls, winning two in the late 1990's. He orchestrated game-winning drives, and is considered one of the most "clutch" players ever, and was named the "Comeback Kid". Elway threw for 51,475 yards, 300 touchdowns, 226 interceptions, with a 79.9 QBR, and winning one MVP.

We now come to Troy Aikman, who played at UCLA, drafted #1 overall by the Dallas Cowboys, and played his entire career there. Aikman led the Cowboys to three Super Bowls and was the game's MVP once. He completed 61.5% of his passes, for 32,942 yards, 165 touchdowns, 141 interceptions, with a QBR of 81.6. Aikman's career was somewhat shortened due to injuries.

Then the league saw Brett Favre, who was one of the most exciting players ever to watch. Favre played at the University of Southern Mississippi, and was drafted in 1991 by the Atlanta Falcons. He was traded to the Green Bay Packers where he spent most of his career, spending his last few years with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings. Favre was the most popular football player for most of the 90's, playing in two Super Bowls, winning one in 1996. He threw for 71,838 yards, 508 touchdowns, 336 interceptions, with a QBR of 86.0, winning three MVPs in consecutive seasons. He has the most passing yards and TD passes in history, but also the most interceptions, being well-known as a "gun-slinger".

In today's league there are two guys that may go on to be #1 and #2 all-time when they retire, the first being Tom Brady.

Brady played at the University of Michigan and was drafted #199 by the New England Patriots. He has played in five Super Bowls, winning three, and the game's MVP twice. He and Montana are the only two players in history to win multiple season MVPs as well as multiple Super Bowl MVPs. Brady has completed 63.8% of his passes, for 300 touchdowns, 115 interceptions, with a QBR of 96.4, and has won two season MVPs. He holds the single-season record for passing TDs with 50 in 2007, which he led the Patriots to a 16-0 regular season record.

And finally we have Peyton Manning, who played at the University of Tennessee, and was drafted #1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts. Manning spent all but this season with the Colts. He is currently with the Denver Broncos, with the Broncos front office being headed up by John Elway. Manning has four season MVPs, which is the most ever. He has played in two Super Bowls, winning one in 2006. Manning has completed 64.9% of his passes, for 55,081 yards, 401 touchdowns, 198 interceptions, with a QBR of 92.3.

Brady's and Manning's statistics do not include this season(2012).

With the numbers in place, it's hard to believe that none of these players won the Heisman Trophy in college, only one(Montana) won a National Title in college, and yet they all have had tremendous success at the highest level.

There are others that I feel I should mention, such as Bart Starr, Len Dawson, Fran Tarkenton, Jim Plunkett, Jim Kelly, and maybe even Drew Brees.

If Super Bowl rings are the credential then Montana, Brady, Aikman, or Elway is the best.

If statistics are it, Favre, Marino, Moon, or Manning is the best.

Whoever you may think is the best of all-time is surely a justified opinion.

You must understand that the league has changed since the 1950's and I don't feel that statistics nor Super Bowl rings should tell the entire story. I feel that the length of a career, with consistency of winning, put together with playoff performances along with the rings and stats should be the deciding factors.

In that case, my finalists are Brady, Elway, and Montana.

All-around.... Career Length+Wins+Playoff+Performance=Joe Montana.

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are still active in the NFL, with a long running and splendid rivalry versus each other.

I think at the end of it all Tom Brady and Peyton Manning could still end up as "Second-best" to Joe Montana.

"Is Victor Cruz the NFL's second-coming of Jerry Rice?"

Victor Cruz has been a major explosion for the New York Giants offense! Mario Manningham(49ers), who was Eli Manning's favorite target, and the hero in last year's Super Bowl, was not re-signed this year mainly because of the emergence of one Victor Cruz.

I am a well-known and dedicated "hater" of all New York sports teams, but I give credit where credit is due.

Let's look at the comparisons...

Both played at smaller schools.

Victor Cruz attended the University of Massachusetts, only catching 149 passes for just under 2,000 yards and not many touchdowns. Jerry Rice attended Mississippi Valley State University in the 80's, and broke a boat-load of NCAA records.

Other than Rice's 3 Super Bowl rings to Cruz's 1, the only visible difference I see is that Rice dominated at the collegiate level to where Cruz, who was an All-Conference player in the CAA(Colonial Athletic Association), wasn't anything special... or so we thought.

Both are about 6'1 and 200 pounds, which is considered to be a little under-sized for NFL wide receiver standards. Jerry Rice's ability to find open spots in defensive secondaries was overly impressive, and Victor Cruz shows similar attributes.

Cruz, like Rice, possesses a rare speed in pads enabling him to blow by defenders as if he is an
Olympic track star, making for huge gains and exciting scores!

Rice rarely ever dropped balls thrown his way, and I haven't seen Cruz let many balls get thru his hands either.

I know it's very early in Cruz's thus far explosive career, but he looks like a 5+ year veteran that will be making the Pro Bowl a scheduled vacation every year, which Rice made it to 13 times in his career.

Rice was drafted #16 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 1984-85(49ers traded with New England to get the 16th pick...ARGH!!), and Cruz wasn't drafted at all.

In Rice's first couple seasons he started 19 games, for a total of 135 catches, 2,497 yards, and 18 touchdowns with a long of 86 yards... Cruz, thru 14 starts so far in his first two seasons, has 132 catches for 1,254 yards, and 16 touchdowns with a long of 99 yards, and he still has more games to play for he is only half-way thru his second season.

Rice played for 20 seasons and is considered to be the best receiver to ever play in the NFL. Cruz is just in his second season, and has had no major injuries, so we'll see how long he gets to play in the NFL.

Though Rice was noticed in college due to his record-breaking NCAA career and Cruz wasn't noticed until the Giants invited him to try out, they seem to be dangerously alike in not just size and speed, but skill-sets and work ethic as well.

Good luck to Victor Cruz in his future, except when you go against my Patriots of course, and I will enjoy regularly viewing your highlights of big play after big play that you make, much like Jerry Rice when I was younger.

I see a smaller and very fast #80 at wide receiver in the NFL again, and doing great things every week.

I'll be cheering for the awesome UMASS boy in the future....

SALSA!!

"Does the WNBA still exist? YES!"

The WNBA(Women's National Basketball Association) was founded in April of 1996, with the inaugural season in 1997...and is bigger than ever now, over 15 years later in 2012!

Labeled and considered a joke by many in the beginning, the WNBA has grown, and it has experienced the pains and trials of growth as well.

It started off with only 8 teams, it currently has 12 teams, with a total of 21 teams having existed, having a little re-location of some franchises along the way.

Believe it or not... the WNBA has had competition!

The ABL(American Basketball League) was competition in the past, with some players like Dawn Staley and Nikki McCray defecting to the WNBA from there. The current competitor is the NWBL(National Women's Basketball League), though some teams from that league are going to be joining the WNBA soon.

The original spokes-persons for the league were Lisa Leslie(L.A. Sparks), Rebecca Lobo(N.Y. Liberty), and Sheryl Swoopes(Houston Comets). In the beginning the financial angles were difficult, with NBC(Televised 1st game) and the Lifetime Women's Network airing the games, ratings weren't great at first. However, thru the evolution of the league, it now airs it's games on ESPN, ABC, and NBA-TV.

The first dunk in a game was performed by Lisa Leslie(6'7), yes... I said the first DUNK!!

Other players have also dunked in games since then!

The league has had a couple well-known male coaches, like Bill Laimbeer of the Detroit Pistons "Bad Boys"in the late 80's into the 90's, and Michael Cooper of the 1980's Los Angeles Lakers' dynasty. Both have coached their ladies to WNBA titles.

In 2009, the economy was in the gutter everywhere, yet NBA Commissioner David Stern issued this statement, "The NBA is far less profitable than the WNBA. We're losing alot of money among a large number of teams." WOW!

The league's attendance currently ranges from 4,000-11,000 people per game, obviously depending on venues, and that is simply outstanding!

The sister of NBA Hall of Fame Guard Reggie Miller(Indiana Pacers), Cheryl Miller, played at USC, and is still considered by most to be the best women's player ever. She didn't get the opportunity to play in the WNBA, the league was founded a bit after her playing time, due to injury unfortunately. She did coach in the WNBA from 1997-2000 though. As a player she was drafted to play into a few professional leagues however, one being the USBL(United States Basketball League), a Men's League! In her time at USC she scored 3,018 points, grabbed 1,534 rebounds, winning the Naismith Award(Women's Player of the Year) 3 times. She led USC to the National Title in 1983 and 1984, and also won the Gold Medal in the 1984 Olympics.

The league's first big star played in Houston, but it wasn't Swoopes! The league's first MVP, Cynthia Cooper, who played with Miller at USC, won the award the first two seasons of existence. She won the Gold Medal in the 1988 Olympics and the Bronze Medal in the 1992 games.

Impressively, the WNBA has quietly been one of the most economically sound professional sports leagues, with a salary cap of $827,000($900,000 by 2013) per team, and player salaries ranging from for $51,000+ for 3+ year players... $101,500+for 6+ year players... and a rookie minimum salary of $35,190.

In the future the league will get even better with the shot-blocking, dunking phenom, Brittany Griner from Baylor, standing at 6'8, on her way, likely becoming the league's big star of the future.

So... Does the WNBA still exist? YES!

I would like to say FANTASTIC JOB! to commissioners Val Ackermen(1997-2005) and Donna Orender(2005-2010). I'm sure that the current commissioner Laurel J. Ritchie will carry on the success of their legacies into the future.

Well done ladies, well done.

"Is the reign of the New York Yankees over?"

I have said for about four years that the Yankees domination is over. In my opinion it started when the Red Sox made a 0-3 comeback in the ALCS in 2004. At that point a few other franchises began to match the spending that the Yankees have been notoriously proud of.

Not many baseball players want to play in New York anymore. First of all this is the only franchise to still have active players that have tested positive for steroids, and admitted to the use of steroids publicly. That is plenty of reason to not want to put your name in that mix. The New York media expects a World Series title every year, which is fair I suppose when the payroll is over $200 million a year(Highest in the league every season).

Since the passing of George Steinbrenner, R.I.P., his son Hank has done a fine job of wasting money and scouting poorly. He has allowed his emotions as a fan to cloud his judgement as a business owner to make the best decisions for the franchise.

If the New York players and New York media would express more appreciation for the talent they possess then maybe players wouldn't be so intimidated or turned-off to the idea of signing with the Yankees.

The lack of discipline for the big name players has clearly been a strain on the clubhouse, mainly Alex Rodriguez for an example. His most recent behavior and comments speak for itself, as well as his lack of production since his steroid ordeal.

The way that the front office signs guys for a couple months and tosses them away after they're done with you has opened players eyes as well. Ichiro and Ibanez will see that soon enough. The franchise promises these guys a World Series and a solid contract for big money, then turns their back on them at re-signing time. I have no sympathy for the players who get fooled into going to New York, they do end up with a great chance to get a World Series ring, but whether you do or not, the Yankees don't care about you. Guys like Hideki Matsui have been dropped when they are still productive players.

In the end of it all, the New York Yankees have treated their players poorly, allowing glamour, fame, and fortune... only to recycle them thru free agency and other franchises.

I am happy to see the arrogant fans and players get cut down to size, as well as seeing the playing field achieve some balance of competition around the league.

The Yankees have been a great franchise as far as winning is concerned, but definitely lacking in human relations.

They have put themselves on such a high pedestal that it has become a problem for the game of baseball. In the last decade, many franchises have competed financially with New York, as well as players having more desire for beating the Yankees instead of playing for them. The fact that the Yankees have received more "wiggle-room" for the intentional breaking of MLB rules and regulations than any club in the history of the league by players and executives is despicable.

Bud Selig almost ruined baseball by assisting the Yankees, allowing steroid use to be over-looked for their players and no other teams, as well as allowing them to routinely break the salary limitations has been a strain on the game's fan base and overall economy.

Is the Yankees reign over? YES!

I would like to say Thank You to baseball franchise owners for going the extra mile to compete, and ultimately defeat the New York Yankees in the salary battle. You have helped to make it enjoyable to watch the MLB playoffs and the World Series again! It's nice to know that there are 30 teams in baseball, not just the New York Yankees.

As a baseball fan, I am happy that all teams can compete on a level playing field for the most part now-a-days.

Now if we can just get some press coverage for other teams as well, then America's Past-Time will be exactly that once more!!

"Lance Armstrong's fall from grace"

Lance Armstrong is one of the most decorated athletes in U.S. history.

His achievements in Cycling include:
Bronze medal in Sydney, Australia in 2000
Gold medal at the World Championships in 1993
He has won five(5) Stage races, and four (4) Single day races(Not including the Tour de France)

In the mid 1990's he was diagnosed with cancer.

The entire country, as well as athletes all over the world, felt sympathetic for Armstrong, and supported him in those trying times.

He was able to not only forge a comeback, but he took the world by storm!

He won consecutive Tour de Frances from 1999-2005!

He also founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and held the title of Chairman as well.

Nike is one of, if not the biggest of endorsements that professional athletes could ever have in their careers, and they sponsored Armstrong thru his Tour de France victories.

I remember seeing a blinding amount of yellow "Livestrong" bracelets that helped to fund the fight against cancer via the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which became and still is a trend for support in various causes.

In June of 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency(USADA) charged Armstrong for using Performance Enhancement Drugs(PEDs).

Eleven(11) of Armstrong's teammates testified against him in the case. In August of 2012, barely two months later, Armstrong received a lifetime ban from the sport of Cycling. He was also stripped of all titles, and Nike dropped their endorsement of Armstrong.

A man who was a hero to all cancer patients, and to athletes and citizens everywhere, has certainly had a rather swift fall from grace.

I have no comment about this, I feel the facts say all that needs to be said.

I suppose that he does deserve credit for being a pioneer in regards to the fight against cancer thru his founding of the foundation, and the idea of a simple rubber bracelet, that still provide money for multiple causes.

Thank you for your work to help cure cancer, fortunately there can be no real ban from that.

"Why does the SEC get so much more credibility in the BCS than any other conference?"

If my numbers are correct... last year in NCAA bowl games, the SEC went 5-5, the ACC went 4-5, the Big-12 went 3-5, the Pac-12 went 2-2, the Big-10 went 3-5, and the Big East went 4-2. If those results are supposed to be any evidence of "SEC Dominance".... I don't see it. With those records in mind, how well do you think the SEC will do in the upcoming playoff format?

I think that the SEC gets far too much pull in the BCS system, and the major conferences bowl records last year speak volumes to support my opinion. A few years back in 2007, LSU went 10-2, they did win the SEC title, but had 2 losses, and still played for the Sears Trophy in the National Championship Game.

Alabama had a 11-1 record last year, did not even play for the conference title, and they were also awarded a chance to play for the National Championship.

Even though both teams won the title in those opportunities, should they have been there in the first place?

In the NFL, the NBA, and the NHL, a team has to win their conference title to earn the chance play for the BIG title. One of those SEC teams was unable to so much as play for the conference title, and the other lost two games the season they went to the BIG game.

I know that the NCAA's current format does not require a conference championship to compete for the National title, but I think that should be the #1 credential for the honor of participating in the National Championship Game.

I know that the SEC has a vast amount of great football players, and many go on to the NFL as top picks, but does that earn that conference a spot that another school somewhere else worked the same amount of games for, and won their conference?

As far as individual players from the SEC, and their skill levels at the collegiate level... it speaks for itself. However, I don't remember the last time a SEC player won a major award in the NFL... like the league MVP? The Defensive Player of the Year? Other than Peyton Manning with his 4 NFL MVPs, I can't name any, that's 1 SEC player, out of hundreds!!

Let's imagine that this year, in the 2012 season, that maybe Oregon-#3 or Oregon State-#8 from the Pac-12, or maybe Rutgers-#15, Louisville-#16 or Cincinatti-#21 from the Big East, or maybe Kansas State-#4 from the Big 12, or maybe Notre Dame-#5(Independent), were to win their conference titles, and go undefeated?

Mathematically there can be only one unbeaten team in the SEC, however, if Florida-#2, South Carolina-#7, LSU-#6 and Alabama-#1 were to all end up with one loss, leaving the SEC with no unbeaten teams... do you award a SEC team with the honor of playing for NCAA Title?

Even if two, possibly three teams from other conferences, win their conference title, and go undefeated?

Well, whatever way the title race shakes out, I know that hundreds of thousands, if not millions of college football fans cannot wait for the "Final Four"of NCAA football to finally begin in a few years!!

I think the SEC is a bit over-rated as an entire conference. If Texas A&M, that is coming in beating teams, in their first season in the SEC, combined with the bowl results, doesn't seem like an indicator of that, I'm not sure what does.

I hope that the upcoming playoff system will implement much more defined qualifications for participation... like not having more than 1 loss, along with being your own conference champion for starters!!

"Should MLB install more instant replay?" In the press conference last night after the ALCS, Yankees/Tigers game 2, Joe Girardi said, with conviction, that MLB has to make a change and install instant replay for more than just home-runs. In light of the New York Yankees long-time success, I think that statement is a testament to typical behavior of a sore loser. It wasn't long ago, in a couple post-season situations involving the Yankees, replay certainly would've reversed a few outcomes that favored the Yankees themselves. I don't recall anyone in the New York organization supporting nor requesting replay in MLB in those particular times. I suppose when it benefits your team it is acceptable, but when the shoe is on the other foot, uh-oh!! Maybe since the New York Yankees have said it, something may happen now. I agree that MLB should use replay, it would minimize human error by the umpires. In the defense of the umpires, it is extremely difficult to make most of the calls they are required to make, and no one individual can be perfect in that split-second they have to view, judge, and react on close plays. A prime example of a situation that desperately needed replay in baseball took place a week ago... remember the "Outfield Fly Rule" in the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves play-in game? Who's to say the Braves would've won the game? However, the scenario may have put the game in a much different position, had a replay system reversed that call. I think the Little League World Series replay seems to work pretty darn good. It is Accurate, it is Fast, and takes much less time than a manager arguing the calls, sometimes leading to the manager and sometimes players being ejected from games... leaving the fans and teams in a state of dismay for the remainder of the games. As a fan I would rather see the calls be made correctly the first time, having the outcomes of games be as certain as possible, for what has transpired in the game itself. Didn't we learn the importance of correct, accurate rulings by the sport's officials during the replacement referees short stint in the NFL? I agree with Joe Girardi, I just don't like hearing him step-up for replay after it hurts his own team, instead of when the Yankees, especially, have benefited from the non-existence of replay in the past. I have watched MLB go thru some very sad times under the current reign of Commissioner Bud Selig, who said in 2009 that he would step down as commissioner after the 2012 season... we'll see if he honors that statement. He has definitely ruined a few things in baseball during his tenure. An All-Star game ending in a tie... then attempting to do whatever he was attempting to do, he made it so that the Home Field advantage of the World Series is to be dictated by the All-Star game outcome. Unbelievably idiotic! If the A.L. team that gets to the World Series has a better record than the N.L. team that gets there, the A.L. team should have the earned home field advantage, it works that way in every other playoff round. MLB must retire Bud Selig as commissioner, and install a replay system similar to the already existing system that the Little League World Series has, and uses to near perfection I might add. The fans, managers, owners, players, and I imagine the umpires, would be overly pleased with it being in place in the future... hopefully sooner than later.

"The best decade in professional sports history" As a Boston sports fan thru & thru, I remember the days growing up, when I was only six or seven years old, and the Celtics won some titles with Bird, McHale, Parrish, D.J. and company. As I got older the Patriots didn't win much, if at all, with guys like Steve Grogan, Irving Fryar, John Hannah, and Andre Tippett. The Bruins would come close and not quite make it, with Cam Neely, mean hockey player, and Ray Bourque, old #77. And the Red Sox... With Jim Rice, a young Roger Clemens, and Wade Boggs before he defected to Yankee Stadium and rode the damn horse after they won one of their many World Series titles... well... let's just say I took my lumps from the Yankees more seasons than I'd like to remember. Things got a little better for the Pats, making it to the Super Bowl in 1985, and again in 1996, losing both of course. Rick Pitino came to Boston and ruined us for a while, though I am grateful that he did draft "Truth", Paul Pierce, the only good thing he ever did for the Celtics. But all of the sudden, out of nowhere, came Bill Belicheck, and a skinny little California kid, the #199th pick in the NFL draft, and we beat "The Greatest Show On Turf" in the Super Bowl in 2001, won it again in 2003 & 2004! The Red Sox became the only team in any sport to forge a comeback from being down 0-3 in a playoff series, vs the Yankees, going on to end the 86-year nightmare we endured for a few generations. The Celtics brought in Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen to join Paul Pierce and won a NBA title in 2007. In that same year, The Red Sox won another World Series, the Pats went 16-0, broke a bunch of single-season records, made it to the Super Bowl, fell just short of the Perfect Season, so close! Then in 2010-2011, the Bruins won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 39-years, the only one I've seen in my life! People used to say, "Hey dude, you guys will do it next year, you'll be better...", it has turned from sympathy into hatred for Boston sports. I can't say I'm upset about it, from 2001-2011 we have one at least one title in every major sport! Whatta decade for Beantown!! As a Bostonian/New Englander I was born to hate New York sports teams, kinda like vampires and werewolves in the movies, we are natural born enemies. But no matter what anyone, from anywhere says or thinks, the City of Boston has the most professional sports championships of all-time!! I am proud of where I come from, and I will never forget the best decade in not just Boston sports history, but the greatest decade in professional sports history! Cheers to Beantown!!!

"LeBron vs Michael" I would like to point out some facts, then share my opinion about the recent LeBron James vs Michael Jordan comparison. First of all there is no real comparison. Jordan has six titles in which he won the Finals MVP in each series. LeBron has one title, he has been to the Finals three times. Now... Jordan did not win a championship til he had Pippen on the team, whom is also one the NBA's Top 50 Players of all-time. James needed help, he went to Miami, in an in-mature, arrogant fashion, to team up with Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. One player cannot win a championship by himself in the NBA, but Jordan made all the players around him better, and never put blame on his teammates, unlike James. Let's go outside the titles to some other angles... LeBron James is 6'8, 270-lbs... Michael Jordan was 6'6, 225-lbs. I cannot name one instance when Jordan "Flopped", to where LeBron has made quite the impact doing exactly that, alot. James is two inches taller, and roughly 50-lbs heavier than Jordan. Jordan played in a center heavy league, against guys such as... Patrick Ewing(7'0), Hakeem Olajuwan(7'0), Dikembe Mutumbo(7'2), Alonzo Mourning(7'0), David Robinson(7'1), Rick Smits(7'4)... just to name a few, and he didn't flop, he just flat out took it strong to the basket against all of them, and successfully I might add. Defensively however, I think they are equally as great, Jordan has more Defensive MVPs, but he didn't have Dwight Howard to compete with for the award. As far as the business side of things, I can't recall Jordan ever having a contract issue, LeBron has his own stories in that department. Players wanted the opportunity to play along side Jordan, I don't see anyone lining up to be on the same team with LeBron James. If I recall correctly Jordan even went so far as to restructure his contract to make room for other players to sign on, regularly. Long story short... If you are going to compare anyone to Jordan, compare Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, or Larry Bird. All are the type of players who played to win, not for some self-assurance from the media. Is Michael Jordan the best NBA player ever? Hard to argue against him, but LeBron James lacks the credentials to come close. Plus the lack of good big men in today's league, which makes it easier than what Jordan faced thru the late 80's and all thru the 90's. LeBron is an amazing player, but he's nowhere near the caliber of Michael Jordan. Numbers speak for themselves, and the level of competition is not close.

"Are professional athletes that crucial to the world?" This post is targeted to all professional athletes. When you decided to become athletes you were told that it requires a life long commitment. You must eat, breathe, and sleep the sport you chose to pursue a career in. It only requires hard work, discipline(Which alot have regular problems with), and respect for the community you represent as well as the consumers(Fans) of your product. If someone wants to be a lawyer, doctor, or maybe a college professor, it requires tens of thousands of dollars, 4+ years of schooling, and a similar dedication to their respected fields of career choice. Most professional athletes are simply blessed with a natural ability, size, strength, or speed in most cases. You really are not much more than a circus act. I, the consumer, pay anywhere from let's say... $20-$200 for a ticket to go watch you play a game that children can understand and play. I go to the Zoo to see animals for similar reasons. Also because of the animals size, shape, or ability to do something that entertains me. You are in a profession that is a form of entertainment, nothing more. I feel, as a consumer of your product, that you are extremely unappreciative, disrespectful, and flat out arrogant as a whole. Can you build a house for a family to live in? Can you perform surgery to save someone's life? Can you do anything pertinent for the human race? Get over yourselves, behave like a mature adult, and live as if you have more purpose than to play a child's game in front of people in large masses. I understand that your bodies go thru tremendous strain over the course of your careers, but it's the same for a man or woman that works building homes, teaching people, flying an airplane, or transplanting organs. I know not everyone has some of the abilities, talents, or physical attributes that you do, that is all the more reason to appreciate the opportunity you have instead of treating it like you do. When is it enough money? When is it enough fame? All I see with the behavior exhibited most of the time is that it is too much of both. Sometimes it is a shame that such gifted individuals have such little respect for the communities they live in and represent as athletes.

R.I.P. Beano Cook, 1931-2012. He was a college football genius, greatly loved by ESPN and fans across the country.

The Yankees win in dramatic fashion. Typical Yankee Stadium action, 12 innings, pinch-hit homerun, and a win in the bottom half. Great, the Yankees did what a $200 million dollar payroll should do... WIN! Across the country in California there was a game of baseball as well, one equally as dramatic! In Oakland the Athletics trailed the Tigers 3-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, and came back to pull out the victory forcing Game 5! San Francisco also forced a Game 5 with Cincinatti, oh America's past-time is looking good right now!! In light of the "Outfield Fly Rule".... St. Louis is looking as sharp as ever, without LaRussa and Pujols. Hard to pick a winner right now, I am happy to see that MLB Umpires aren't consistently as bad as the replacement refs in the NFL a couple weeks ago. HOORAY FOR BASEBALL!! Game 5's, and potential Game 5's, I'm lovin' it!

R.I.P. Alex Karras, 1935-2012. Detroit Lions DE/LB, Alex Karras died today. He was part of the NFL's 1960's All-Decade Team and went on to become an actor after football(Webster, Blazing Saddles).

"Why are NFL players sobbing" I see that a few NFL players are upset, still, with Commissioner Roger Goodell. I can see a part of their complaints, but it seems to be an ego trip for the players more than Goodell. Paul Tagliabu, the previous commissioner, built the league up to what it is on TV today. He didn't enforce many behavioral or safety punishments while doing so. Goodell has hurt the "Untouchable", "Above the Law" attitudes that were rampant just a year ago. The game has less injuries now. And also guys like Micheal Vick(Who shouldn't be playing in my opinion) have been granted a second chance to participate in the most watched sport in the world after the horrible actions exhibited in his particular case. I don't see an abuse of power, I see an enforcement of Rules that have existed for decades but have not been applied. Sorry that the big deal is more of a personal issue to the Browns LB Scott Fujita and the Saints LB Jonathan Vilma. I don't hear too many other players, whom aren't doing anything to break NFL Rules, complaining too much.

"Manny vs Mayweather" Ok, to get things kicked off I must comment on the Paquiao vs Mayweather fight that may or may not happen. I saw Mayweather on HBO bitching at Larry Merchant about how he doesn't get a "Fair shake" from the boxing media. SHUT_UP!! You run off at the mouth every time there is microphone near you! You are the victim of your own actions! Manny Paquiao is willing to give you the bigger split of the purse, take a drug test before the fight, whatever it takes to get in the ring with you. You are a great boxer Floyd, but until you fight Manny your undefeated record will have that ? next to it. The fight that never happened vs Paquiao will be remembered beyond any fight you've ever won.

I am up and running now, officially. I'm sure I will need to make a few edge-ups on the blog, but I'll work the kinks out in time. WELCOME!!