Yes We Can! NFL Style.

Those Who Can’t Play, Write

By Chad Brown

What are my thoughts about the NFL ’08 season? I feel like I’ve gone away from blogging for a few weeks and the playing field is turned upside down! In the words of Vince Lombardi “What the hell’s going on out there?” OK, the Lions still stink, thank goodness for that league staple. Anyway, I’ll have more to say about this season in subsequent weeks. For now, in honor of President-Elect Barack Obama, here are 32 editions of Yes We Can. No matter how prolific or how putrid your favorite team’s season is right now, more (or less) is always possible. Also, while we at Alpha Blog Sports congratulate the Democrats on winning the White House, there will be no excessively favorable coverage for Chicago or DC’s sports scenes. I have, however, petitioned the writing staff of The Office for a Joe Biden appearance sometime this season.

NFC East Yes We Can…
New York Giants (8-1), lead the division and conference. ’07 was no fluke.

Washington Redskins (6-3), compete for a wild-card spot in Jim Zorn’s first season as head coach.

Dallas Cowboys (5-4), play better at quarterback than Brad Johnson. By the way, T.O. had nothing to do with this one.

Philadelphia Eagles (5-4), continue to screw up short yardage and goal line situations that cost us football games.


NFC North, Yes We Can…
Chicago Bears (5-4), stop the run and rush the quarterback. Overcoming Rex Grossman is another story.

Minnesota Vikings (5-4), make a run at the NFC Norse title as long as Adrian Peterson is running wild and opposing quarterbacks are giving up safeties.

Green Bay Packers (4-5), return interceptions for touchdown with alarming frequency. Gotta cross “beat the Vikings anytime, anywhere, any way” off the list.

Detroit Lions (0-9), earn the first pick in the ’09 draft and not blow it on a wide receiver.


NFC South, Yes We Can…
Carolina Panthers (7-2), have one of the worst passing days ever and still beat the Raiders handily.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3), extend Florida’s run of good luck with a playoff berth and at least one more quarterback change.

Atlanta Falcons (6-3), continue to make everybody forget that the ’07 season ever happened. Bobby who?

New Orleans Saints (4-5), hope that Drew Brees’ arm compensates for our non-existent defense.


NFC West, Yes We Can…
Arizona Cardinals (6-3), provide University of Phoenix Stadium with a playoff game involving the home tenants.

San Francisco 49ers (2-7), keep Mike Singletary’s volume down (questionable) and his pants up (probable, we hope).

Seattle Seahawks (2-7), produce more moral victories than actual ones in Mike Holmgren’s swan season.

St. Louis Rams (2-7), open up the head coaching search to candidates beyond Jim Haslett.


AFC East, Yes We Can…
New England Patriots (6-3), still come to play each week no matter which offensive or defensive stalwart gets hurt.

New York Jets (6-3), get through a sentence about this improved team without mentioning a certain grizzled, gun slinging, game managing quarterback.

Miami Dolphins (5-4), show what a difference the Tuna and a legitimate quarterback make. Stone crabs for everybody

Buffalo Bills (5-4), reminisce fondly about the days of 4-0 and first place. Where have they gone?


AFC North, Yes We Can…
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3), join the Patriots in taking the Manning brothers off the team’s Christmas card mailing list.

Baltimore Ravens (6-3), enjoy having a productive and creative offense to complement that suffocating defense.

Cleveland Browns (3-6), have two goals for the rest of the season; play hard regardless of the score and avoid further staph infections.

Cincinnati Bengals (1-8), avoid being victory free and keep our players out of court.


AFC South, Yes We Can…
Tennessee Titans (9-0), bring the pain and bring the AFC South title to a southern-based team, for once.

Indianapolis Colts (5-4), credit Peyton Manning alone for about three of those wins and staying in the wild-card hunt.

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5), run the ball again, even if only against the Lions.

Houston Texans (3-6), hope that Andre Johnson returns to his October form. Unbelievable!


AFC West, Yes We Can…
Denver Broncos (5-4), plan to outscore everybody down the stretch because the defense is _______ (fill in the blank).

San Diego Chargers (4-5), be the best NFL team in California by default.

Oakland Raiders (2-7), count the weeks until this season is over.

Kansas City Chiefs (1-8), play to win the game, even if that means coming up agonizingly short as of late.

Some random ish about Sports and Politics -- Seven Signs of the Apocalypse

From the possible resurrection of the Cold War, to the shocking sight of Roy Jones Jr. being toyed with in the ring, and newfound sanity in Knicksland, here are seven signs our world will never be the same.


1. The Evil Empire is back. No, I'm not referring to the New York Yankees who figure to break the bank this offseason by opening the vault in a bid to sign free agent standouts like C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira. I'm referring to Russia, the brooding giant who's looking to re-establish itself as a dominant international player following the humiliating collapse of the Soviet Union. Puppet-master Vladimir Putin looks like he's itching to test President-elect Barack Obama. The day after the U.S. celebrated Obama's historic win, a stone-faced Kremlin said it would station missiles near Poland -- a NATO protectorate. Are we in store for a Cold War sequel?

2. And speaking of tests, looks like Mike D'Antoni survived his first major one since taking over as coach of the New York Knicks. The frenetic New York media made 'much a do' about nothing regarding D'Antoni's decision to excommunicate Stephon Marbury from the active roster. After arriving for training camp in arguably the best shape of his life, Marbury played well during the preseason and appeared willing to play the good soldier in his final year as a Knick. But D'Antoni apparently wants no part of Marbury, benching the $21.9 million point guard. Despite chants of "We Want Steph," from fans and hot-headed criticism of the move on the airwaves and in the tabloids, D'Antoni is sticking to his guns. And the Knicks are 4-2. Sanity finally reigns at Madison Square Garden.

3. Speaking of MSG, hopefully this is the last time we'll ever see former champ Roy Jones Jr. in a boxing ring. Jones was pummeled at the Garden Saturday night by undefeated Welsh legend Joe Calzaghe in a bout that should end Jones' viability as a pay-per-view caliber fighter. In a sight that conjured images of a washed-up Muhammad Ali being battered at the hands of Larry Holmes, Jones covered up and absorbed a total beating over the final 11 rounds of the bout. After enduring a first round knockdown, Calzaghe overwhelmed Jones -- who bled profusely for the first time in his career after the Welshman opened a nasty gash over the former champ's left eye. And since he couldn't knock him out, Calzaghe proceeded to mock and taunt the helpless Jones, who gamely fought to go the distance.

4. While the sight of Roy Jones Jr. being utterly humiliated was strange, an even stranger sight will be tolls booths on the East River crossings if New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has his way ... Slowly but surely, the little guy is being priced out.

5. Speaking of being priced out, longtime Jets season ticket holders Bob Yost and Stephen Giaramita won't be attending Jets games when the club moves into its new home next season. In order to keep their lower-level seats on the 49-yard line in the new stadium, Yost and Giarmita would have to pay the club $25,000 for the right to buy their tickets. Then they'd pay $700 a game for the seats. The Jets and Giants -- who'll share the new stadium -- say the fees are necessary to foot the bill for their shiny new $1.7 billion stadium. Did these teams really NEED a stadium this expensive? Six years ago, the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles opened gleaming new buildings which cost a tad over $300 million to build -- in a much better economic climate no less.

6. Too bad Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall wasn't able to make his tribute to President-elect Barack Obama after scoring a touchdown Thursday night. Marshall planned to commemorate Obama's historic victory by putting on a black and white glove and raising his fist in a move reminiscent of Tommie Smith and Juan Carlos' black power salute at the 1968 Olympics. He was stopped by teammates since such a move would have resulted in a 15-yard penalty, which could have been crucial in such a tight game. But maybe, just maybe -- wrong was right this time, and winning a game wasn't the most important thing.

7. On another note, why does New York Jets kicker Jay Feely wear large gloves on each hand in relatively warm weather? He's a kicker. Last I checked that means he doesn't catch, block, pass, tackle -- or really anything that gloves may assist him with.

Where have you gone Juan Carlos and Tommie Smith? Today's athletes stand for nothing more than $$$

By Colin Benjamin

The China Olympics have begun, but amid the revelry of competition between the world's best athletes, will any of these superstars "seize the time" and speak out against China's repression of Tibet or their support for the genocidal Sudan
government?

Don't expect the NBA/Team U.S.A players to say anything. "We're coming to play basketball," LeBron James said. Said Kobe Bryant: "Our focus is to play basketball, that's what we are here for, that's what we do best. We're not politicians or government officials."
He also seemed to issue a warning to other players saying "Don't say anything stupid." Dwayne Wade said, "it's not about
us making a stand or taking a position. It's about us playing our position." Wade added this: "It's not our home...This is a business trip for us. We'll let the politics take care of itself. There might be some people that get into it,
but that's not my focus."

Supposedly, NBA Commissioner David Stern has encouraged those players whose conscience urges them to speak to do so. Somehow, I find that hard to believe.
"I say be your own person," Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball managing director said. "One might say, 'well I am just here to play basketball and the Olympics are about sport. The Olympics are about bringing countries together.' But if your heart is telling you something...then be your own person. We're not muzzling anyone"

Team USA Coach Mike Krzyzewski stated "Our country allows you to do that (speak out.") However, he also said "We look at the Olympics as sport, not a political forum. But that doesn't mean our guys don't have the right to speak out on any issue." For some it's never the right time to speak for justice. If the Olympics aren't a political forum why do nations like China clamor to host them? And how vain are these people who can't seem to comprehend the futility of a world where
people care more about superficiality than the cries of the suffering masses?

Unfortunately, these days most Black superstar athletes seem totally devoid of any civic responsibility. They are disgraceful benefactors of the legacy of real sports heroes like Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith and John Carlos. First, the man: Muhammad Ali.

Has there ever been another American athlete with more righteous courage than Ali? At the height of his career, Ali sacrificed millions, his championship belt and freedom because his conscience wouldn't allow him to sign on to the slaughter of the Vietnamese. Ali could've easily signed on to the carnage, and as a celebrity he would never have faced combat. But he never wavered and used his celebrity status to oppose the Vietnam War.

In the face of these cowardly comments made by these pampered, self-absorbed Black athletes let's examine something that happened in the 1968 Summer Olympics, in Mexico City. On October 16, of that year two Black athletes, John
Carlos (born in Harlem) and Tommie Smith, took a dramatic stand for justice.

Smith and Carlos, track and field stars, placed first and third respectively in the 200 metre race; after accepted their medals, they proceeded to raised their fists wearing Black gloves and socks to show their solidarity with the masses of poor Blacks. Needless to say, these two men were excoriated. First, they were expelled from the Games. Back "home," in America, they were
pilloried in newspapers and in magazines; like Time which ran a piece entitled "Angrier, Nastier, Uglier. Sportscaster, Brent Musburger spewed venom calling the pair "Black-skinned storm troopers." Moreover, they were subjected to death
threats by some in white America.

Unfortunately, the brave legacy these Black men bequeathed means little to today's Black basketball superstars. But, as these neutered Negroes reject any responsibility to speak up against China's repression and partnership with the
genocidal Sudanese government this isn't the case with Joey Cheek. Cheek, a former Olympic speed-skating champion, co-founded a group named Team Darfur. Team Darfur is an international organization of athletes dedicated to raising awareness on the Darfur crisis. Cheek was to have attended this year's games. But a few hours before his flight, the Chinese government revoked his visa. They refused to give a reason for their actions.

Interestingly enough, while Britain's Prince Charles and German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to forgo the opening Olympic festivities, in protest of China treatment of the people of Tibet among other things, President Bush attended. When asked why he was attending Mr. Bush claimed he didn't want to offend the Chinese people. Question: would he feel that way if the Olympics were being held in Cuba? Facing mounting pressure, Mr. Bush issued a statement supposedly to prod China to clean up its human rights abuses. But given the scandalously criminal behavior of his administration, what kind of moral force
do his words carry?

It's not hard to see what going on here. In 1980, America boycotted the Moscow Olympics and in 1984 Russia returned the favor in Los Angeles. During those Cold War days Americans were brainwashed with the "Red Scare" and Cuba then an ally
of Russia broke the ultimate rule by defying the hegemonic Monroe Doctrine which declared Latin America and the Caribbean the backyard of America.

For decades, Americans have been told that communism is evil. So, why is America so buddy-buddy with China? Could it be the profits American corporations make, due to the cheap labor that China's government extracts from its people?
Nike also makes a killing from sweat-shop labor. Is this why these NBA players are united in their shameful silence?

What Can I Say? Couldn’t Stay Away. The NFL Is Back And So Am I.

Those Who Can’t Play, Write

By Chad Brown

Was going to start this post with an “Ah, good times”, as the NFL is back (that being the portion of the National Football League not consumed with the Brett Favre drama) and so am I. However, that’s kind of difficult to do considering the recent deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes. RIP fellas.

Nevertheless, the season, and with it my posts, will go on and that’s a good thing. This has been an epic summer of sports and I have a feeling that this trend will extend to the gridiron come this autumn. My NFC and AFC preview capsules are coming up later this week—and who knows where they’ll end up this time around. I’d also like to thank everybody who took a listen to my NPR appearances this summer.

Really appreciated the kind words from my sport fan friends and Chad fan friends; as long as I’m invited back to the sportsblogger’s roundtable, I’ll keep sending out the MP3s. It’s an honor to be included in the conversation with established, knowledgeable and down to earth sportswriters/bloggers.

Ok, so here are some preliminary thoughts, trends, Chadisms regarding the NFL ’08. None of which involve reports of # 4 navigating Interstate 280. Seriously, I’m pleased, and still somewhat surprised that Favre is a New York Jets after 16 seasons as a Green Bay Packer, but the coverage leading up to Wednesday night was beyond any adjective. At least the WorldWide Leader in Sports has ceased to be FAVRESPN for the moment. Or at least shifted the coverage’s geographic focus.

A few points regarding the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Induction Ceremony; I thought that Darrell Green and his son were excellent as enshrine and presenter. I understand that Green played Cornerback over a twenty year period that produced some of the greatest teams, players, games and coaches in NFL history. Having said that, I echo SI.com’s Peter King in wondering what Green and son meant by saying that there were maybe two future HOFers in today’s game. Am guessing he didn’t mean Tom Brady or Peyton Manning (not that they’re not, in my opinion, but he is a defensive all-timer).

Second point, much simpler. Art Monk’s induction was looooong overdue and he deserved all four minutes of that standing ovation. Makes you wonder if Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain will get half of that at the Republican National Convention next month, in terms of length and fervor.

Finally, I noticed that Andre Tippet—whose final season as a New England Patriot coincided with Bill Parcells’ first year as Pats coach—thanked then defensive coaches Al Groh and Romeo Crennel in his speech, but made no mention of the Tuna? Maybe to appease Owner/Presenter Bob Kraft who, along with the other presenters, did a terrific job.

Trying to predict the next Super Bowl Champion? (Memo to Antonio Pierce, this is not meant to disrespect the New York Giants) Look at the teams who have either lost/added a running back through free-agency, trade or the draft. It might not mean anything, but since ’99, most of the eventual Super Bowl Champions—with the exception of the ’03 Patriots—have benefited from a new backfield presence. In the cases of Pittsburgh in ’05 and the Giants in ’07, that replacement was already on the roster and just needed the opportunity to play full time. Does this mean a Super Bowl Swan Song for Mike Holmgren’s Seahawks and a possible worst to first for the Oakland Raiders? Let’s not get crazy here.

Also, football fans and teams should be excited if your starting running back sets a new single season touchdown record, your quarterback sets a single season touchdown record, your offense scores the most.points.ever, and you have a shoe-in candidate for league MVP on your roster. Just don’t bet on winning the Super Bowl, let alone playing in it, if you make it out of your first playoff round. Observe:

Last running back w/td record to win Super Bowl: Emmitt Smith, (25 tds, 1995). Since then, Marshall Faulk (26 tds, 2000), Priest Holmes (27 tds, 2003), Shaun Alexander (28 tds, 2005) and LaDainian Tomlinson (31 tds, 2006), have combined for a grand total of two playoff victories (both Alexander’s) in the postseason following their stellar campaigns.

Last MVP to make the Super Bowl and not stink up the joint: Kurt Warner, Rams, 1999

Of the three highest scoring offenses in NFL history, two featured Randy Moss, one couldn’t make it out of Minnesota, and the two that appeared in their respective Super Bowls scored a combined total of 23 points.

Dan Marino (48 td passes, 1984), Peyton Manning (49 td passes, 2004) and Tom Brady (50 td passes, 2007) were incredible during their respective regular seasons and had at least one standout postseason game. But, when facing the eventual Super Bowl Champions of those seasons, they generated 16, 3 and 14 points, two total touchdowns and didn’t give their defenses much help. Now, do these statistics mean anything for the 2008 season? Not necessarily, just know your pigskin history. Stuff happens.

Just to get it out of the way early, no NFL team is going undefeated and no team will emerge from the ’08 campaign unvictorious.

Having said that, chances are good that the New England Patriots will have another great season, the Miami Dolphins will lick the bottom of the AFC Barrel, Jason Taylor will go sackless against AFC East competition and Jessica Simpson will be banned (however unfairly) from the state of Texas should the Dallas Cowboys fail to win a playoff game.

My thoughts on the Packers rift with Favre and vice versa. Long term, his Green Bay legacy will be fine. There were many more good times than bad ones over the course of those 16 years he spent in Green and Gold. Even if the memories and ownership of those good times border on fanatic. However, both sides are at fault for letting this happen. While Favre had/has the right to change his mind, the Packers were right to not let him be bigger than the team with his indecision and interviews with Gretta. This has been going on for a few years, the only difference being that he said yes when they needed a decision. As for the Packers, forget about all of the earlier platitudes; as of last season, this guy quarterbacked your team within an overtime period of the Super Bowl (again, no disrespect to the G-Men). If you’re not going to realistically consider bringing him back, let him go elsewhere, even if it’s out of the division. More details to come in my Packers and Jets previews, within the context of their respective teams.

John Edward’s political career may be dead, Herm Edwards hasn’t done much to impress in Kansas City, but the Edwards on the come up in ‘08 is Braylon. He and K2 could be even better in Cleveland’s offense if all goes according to form. But first, Braylon, enough of running sprints in socks. Let those stitches heal.

A New York Giants team without Wellington Mara, Bob Tisch, Ernie Accorsi, Tiki Barber, Michael Strahan or Jeremy Shockey? The squad will bring it, no doubt—3 straight years in the playoffs for Coughlin’s crew. Just feels weird, is all.

Best of luck to Shockey and former Jets MLB Jonathan Vilma in New Orleans; they’ll make some noise in their new NFC South home. Also looking forward to Warrick Dunn’s return to Tampa Bay. In all of the “Will Brett Favre come to Tampa” and “Will Jeff Garcia escape captivity” talk, Dunn’s been overlooked. Always felt bad that he wasn’t part of the team’s Super Bowl run and can’t wait to see what Jon Gruden has cooked up for him and Earnest Graham. And no, I cannot confirm reports that Doug Williams was seen throwing the ball at a Bucs training camp practice.

Never thought that I’d congratulate anybody for getting out of Miami, but good for Jason Taylor for moving to a contender (sorta) in Washington. Was that one of Gang Green’s selling points to Favre, that he wouldn’t have to worry about #99 messing with him twice a season? Also, with Taylor a Redskin and former Fins teammate and current brother in law, Zach Thomas, a Cowboy, yet another juicy twist in the longtime Redskins-Cowboys rivalry emerges.

Does the Madden Curse still count if the player on the cover is active, but no longer in THAT uniform? Speaking with obvious bias, I hope not. Vince Young’s relatively good fortune should be a harbinger of good things.

Is it strange that we’re this far into pre-season play with no visual evidence of Peyton and scant sightings of Brady?

Also, it’s time to end this Manning family monopoly of the Super Bowl MVP award!

Two game suspension and his importance to the Carolina Panthers aside, does anybody else think that Steve Smith has a butt kicking coming to him this season? I wouldn’t condone it any more than I did his assault on Ken Lucas. Still, karma is unpredictable.

Just to acknowledge a current member of the Packers’ roster; Aaron Rodgers, stay healthy and productive. This team is in much better shape than the old, broken down squad Lombardi left behind in ’69 or that Ron Wolf permitted to flatline after TO ended the quest for a 3rd straight Super Bowl appearance in the late 1990s.

Finally, if you had said in June of ’07 that PacMan Jones would be on a team other than the Titans in ’08, I could accept that. If you would’ve mentioned that Michael Vick might miss some games due to events in Virginia, that’d be plausible. Throw out the possibility of Favre wrestling with retirement after a great season, I wouldn’t think you were off. One year later, Adam Jones is a Dallas Cowboy, Vick’s number is no longer 7 and #4’s colors are Green and White. Hands up from everybody who saw all that coming. Ok, thought so.

Whatever. I’m just glad the NFL is back. Now off to watch the Olympics.

Coming Soon, NFC Previews.

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Aaron Isaac Feldstein

Mid-Season Awards

Necessary Roughness
by Aaron Isaac Feldstein

It's amazing to think the baseball season is already half over. I mean, it must be because I'm already getting stuff in my e-mail asking me to sign up for Fantasy Football. And although it may be hard to notice through all the Brett Favre talk, the first half of the season has been a tremendous one.

That being said, here are my mid-season Awards.

Gold Glove: Rick Ankiel
-Playing a position for St. Louis once held by the magnificent Jim Edmonds, it's only fitting this former pitcher continue the greatness the Cardinals fans have come to know from that position. Numerous diving plays and a couple no hoppers to third will help this man earn this award at the end of the season too.

The Jose Offerman Award (The opposite of the gold glove): Dan Uggla
-After watching all 15 innings of the All-Star game, Uggla is the man who kept making it interesting for all the wrong reasons.

Silver Slugger Award: Ryan Howard
-It may have taken a couple months, but this former MVP has finally found the power swing that has made him a terror to opposing pitchers. It's also funny that this former Home Run Derby Champion wasn't selected to the All-Star game. He's only leading the league in long balls.

The Josh Hamilton Award (Feel Good Story): Josh Hamilton
-What this guy went through in his life, most can't even imagine. And yet, here he is capturing the hearts of baseball fans with a superb showing at the Home Run Derby and making the Rangers a plus-.500 ball club. Not to mention his stats are pretty good too! (.310, 22 HRs and 95 RBIs)

Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria
-This kid started the season playing for the Triple-A Durham Bulls. After a spring training where he was noted as the next big star, he was demoted before the season even began. Longoria could've easily packed it in and become a minor-league journeyman. Instead, he came back two weeks later and made the Tampa Bay Rays a contender. His 16 home runs, 23 doubles and 53 RBIs were good enough to get the fans to the ballot box and earn him a spot on the All-Star team.

Biggest Disappointment: The Cleveland Indians
-For awhile there, I thought this spot was going to be reserved for the Detroit Tigers or the entire NL West. Well, either can still work. But the Indians were a game away from the World Series only nine months ago, and now they are sitting in the cellar of the American League and they traded away their ace. Now, I understand injuries haven't helped this team, but come on! The Kansas City Royals have a better record than Cleveland.

Biggest Surprise: Tampa Bay Rays
-It's hard for me to put them down as a surprise. After all, I did pick them as my sleeper team this year (Team under .500 last year that will make noise this year). But what the Rays are doing in a division with money spending behemoth's like the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays makes their run at the playoffs that much more amazing.

Biggest Idiot of the Year: Jonathan Papelbon
-Look, I know the Red Sox closer didn't mean to make it sound like he should close the All-Star game instead of Mariano. But he did, and he knew it. Then, he goes down 6th Ave in New York, waving around his World Series ring and doesn't expect to get booed and have people yell obscenities to him and his wife. Get a clue Papelbon! You play for the Red Sox and have been more successful than the Yankees the last four years. Of course they are going to yell things at you. Do I condone the actions of my fellow New Yorkers? NO! But Papelbon, you should have known better.

Smartest Man of the Year: Doug Melvin
-The Brewers GM went out and quickly got CC (no periods) Sabathia and made a playoff contending team into a potential World Series team. Instead of waiting around till the end of July for the trade deadline, he went out and sent Matt LaPorta over to the struggling Indians. LaPorta will be a good player, but the Brew Crew already have enough bats. What they needed was another arm, and they got a pretty good one. Now let's see if Melvin can go get some bullpen help, because he's not getting it from Eric Gagne.

Relief Man of the Year: Brad Lidge
-I know, I should have given this award to Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but as an A's fan I just couldn't do it. However, Lidge is an amazing story. It seemed like he was never going to be able to come back from that Albert Pujols home run in the 2005 NLCS that quieted thousands of Astros fans. But he has. A trade to the Phillies has proven to help Lidge become a perfect closer. (20 saves in 20 attempts). It might help that he doesn't have to see Pujols in the other dugout 19 times a year.

Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon
-What Maddon has done in Tampa Bay is make the players and the fans forget that the second Florida team has lost at least 90 games a year every year since it's inaugural season in 1998. Now, only a 1/2 game out of first in the East, the Rays are the story of the year. Don't look for them to fall off the map either.

Cy Young Award: Justin Duchscherer
-Boo! Homer pick! I know. But look at it. This former middle reliever has become the ace of a staff that had two pretty good pitchers up until the last few weeks. He doesn't have over powering stuff. A great curve ball and beautiful pitch placement has Duchscherer holding the best ERA in the majors (1.82). If he continues to pitch this way, he will end the season with 20 wins and an ERA under 2. That is good enough for the Cy Young in my opinion. (Honorable Mention: Cliff Lee and Edison Volquez).

Most Value Player: Josh Hamilton
-If Alex Rodriguez can get the MVP for a last place Rangers team, why can't Hamilton get it for a third place OVER .500 Texas team. Hamilton has a chance to hit for the triple crown, if his pal at second base Ian Kinsler will lower his batting average a bit. Either way, Hamilton is a huge reason the Rangers are actually contending for the wild card for the first time since 2004. Hamilton should continue this awe-inspiring season with a strong second half. Unless the home run derby messed up his swing. I doubt that.



There is only two and a half months left in the season before we hit playoff baseball. One thing is for certain, the second half looks to be just as exciting as the first half.

Experiencing a Piece of Golf History

Necessary Roughness
by Aaron Isaac Feldstein

It is the legendary golf course of North Carolina. Its fairways have been played on by legendary golfers Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. It’s the course that held one of the most exciting finishes in U.S. Open history back in 1999. It’s the course I was lucky enough to walk a week ago.

That course is Pinehurst No. 2.
Although my golf game is about as good as Anna Kournikova’s tennis skills, I’ve appreciated the game since I was a little kid. My father played in numerous tournaments growing up, and has the tacky pants to prove it. I’m a golfer’s son, and that is why hiking the fairways of Pinehurst No. 2 meant so much to me.

The day I visited this unforgettable place of golf lore was the 4th of July. As I drove up with my girlfriend, Morgan Reich, and her father, Mr. Michael Reich, whose tee times allowed me to walk the remarkable course, old men and women decked to the nines in flamboyant patriotic hats and vests smacked the croquet ball around. This was my first taste of what Pinehurst had to offer.

Then I walked through the doors.

The hallways were decorated with incredible pieces of the Pinehurst history. First was the statue of the famous Putter Boy. Sculpted by Lucy Richards back in 1912, this former sundial has become the face of Pinehurst. The Golf Lad, as he is known as, was created for advertising and graces numerous hats, t-shirts, posters and golf equipment. Several framed pictures of the putter boy go down the halls, including a great picture of the Golf Lad imitating Payne Stewart’s famous pose.

Plaques and frames of all the tournaments winners hang on the walls, some with the names like Hogan, Sam Snead and Peggy Kirk Bell.

Window displays of legendary golfers embedded into the walls as you walk the hall and get closer to the golf shop.

Stewart has numerous pieces of memorabilia of his tremendous ’99 U.S. Open victory at the No. 2. The final day score card sits in front of the bust dedicated to the golfer who died in a plane crash only months after his second open win. Next to Stewart was Bell’s memorial. Considered one of the pioneers of women’s golf (along with Babe Zaharis), the Ohio native, who started playing when she was 17, had numerous trophies that she won at Pinehurst fill her window, along with a book and video by Bell instructing women how to play better. It was a display that meant the world to Morgan, a female golfer for Towson University. It meant so much, I made sure she took a picture standing next to it whether she wanted to or not.

Finally, two pictorial wings branched off the hall dedicated to the two U.S. Opens held at No. 2. The first was Stewart’s ’99 victory followed by Michael Campbell’s win in 2005.

The hall breaks like a fork in the road, leading to the regular Pinehurst Pro Shop, or the Pinehurst No. 2 Pro Shop. Numerous items were available for the 2008 Amateur Championships, which is going to be played there in about a month. I couldn’t resist picking up a few things for myself.

I quickly headed outside into the blistering heat to get a glimpse of the magnificent statues that sit behind the 18th green. There was a statue of Donald Ross, considered to be the founding father of American Golf Course Architecture. The Scotsman is famous for such courses as No. 2, the Seminole in Florida and Oakland Hills in Detroit. In 1899, Ross was asked by the Tuft family to help design a few courses on their land, in which they paid a dollar per acre. Ross maintained the courses for 47 years, and made No. 2 legendary.

Next to Ross stood a statue dedicated to Robert Dedman. The founder of ClubCorp, a organization that quickly became the world’s leader in golf, private clubs and resorts, helped restore Pinehurst to glory and was a major factor in the famous course acquiring the ’99 and ’05 U.S. Opens.

The final statue is of Payne Stewart’s famous pose when he sunk the famous 15-footer to beat Phil Mickelson in ’99. It’s a pose that will forever go down in PGA history.
After the Reichs did a bit of practicing on the famous large putting green and the driving range known to players as “Cardiac Hill,” it was time to hit the course.

Or was it?

Just as the Reichs were preparing to tee off with the Stricklands, a crowd walked up the 18th fairway watching two young men battle in the quarterfinals of the North & South Amateur Championships. The match play tournament is held throughout the summer every year at Pinehurst, and this particular match was a dead heat at the last hole. One of the competitors hit a nice chip shot from the right side of the green and landed next to the hole, then putted for par. This sent the match into sudden death, but more importantly set our tee time back about 20 minutes.

But none the less, we were finally able to hit the course that Ross considered “the fairest test of championship golf I ever designed.” On this day it would be, as the foursome of vacationers were about to play tournament tough pin placements.

The Reichs and the Stricklands were up for the challenge. Especially thanks to their caddies Jon and Jimmy G.

Jimmy G was an outgoing caddie from Brooklyn, which gave me a little sense of home. He could talk your ear off about anything, whether it was about the course (which he affectionately referred to as “she”) or a secret drinking society found in the trees of Pinehurst. Jimmy G’s knowledge of the course was impressive, but his command of the greens was phenomenal.

Jimmy G was not the veteran caddie on the course that day. That title belonged to Jon. Jon was the ying to Jimmy G’s yang. Where Jimmy G walked up on the green and immediately told the Reichs where to place the ball, Jon sat back and quietly gave his 53 years of expertise to the Stricklands. The African-American caddie had helped many golf greats including Gary Player, and when asked how many hole-in-ones he had seen, laughed with an answer “too many to count.”

Whether it was the quiet Jon or the thunderous Jimmy G, both knew how to attack the crowned greens. As Morgan told me days before, Pinehurst No. 2 greens were like a fist covered with grass. They were nice and flat next to the pin, but if you didn’t hit that small safe haven, your ball would roll off the green quicker than Michael Phelps in the 100 meter butterfly. It was a fate Mr. Strickland found out on numerous occasions.

The wide open fairways were breathtaking, with trees on both sides and a landing area a jumbo jet could sit on. But it wasn’t until the fourth tee when I was able to engulf Pinehurst’s true beauty. A massive drop from the tee to the fairway on this par-5 really complimented the tree line that surrounded the hole.

The day continued and the players fought through a bit of rain, a few lost shots and an annoying camera man before we came to the final three holes. Three holes that a golf enthusiast will tell you hold some of the most memorable moments in the sport’s rich history.

First was the 16th, the only hole on the entire course that has a water hazard. The hazard sits right off the tee, so it never comes into play. Well, except once on July 4th, 2008.

This spectacular par-5 is where, according to one random golfer at the beginning of the day, Payne Stewart really won the open in ’99. On that fateful day, the hole played as a par-4 and Stewart sunk a 20-foot double-break putt to save par and was the beginning of the end for Mickelson.

Next was the par-3 17th. A hole that was the demise for Tiger Woods in both the Opens played at Pinehurst. In ’99, Woods was charging towards the leaders until he bogeyed the second to last whole of the tournament. In 2005, Woods three-putted the hole for bogey and lost to Campbell by two shots.

The hole wasn’t as challenging for Mr. Reich. After hitting a tee shot left of the green in the pine needles, he was able to chip a wedge inches from the hole giving him a near gimmie putt for par. It was a putt he made easily. Well played, sir.

As the sun began to set behind the famous clubhouse, the seven of us walked up to the 18th and glanced down at greatness. This was the hole that sent Stewart’s caddie jumping into his arms. This is the hole that made Campbell raise his hands in victory when he became only the second New Zealander to win a golf major.

This was the hole we were about to play. What an honor.

After taking a few pictures, the Reichs and Stricklands went down the fairway like they had been playing there for years. Good shot after good shot put the group on the green faster than we wanted to be. And before we knew it, it was over.
They had just played 18 at Pinehurst No. 2.

Mr. Reich and his daughter both ended the day on a high note, sinking par putts to end the day. And as we sat there in the rocking chairs, drinking a beer from the Verdana Bar and reminiscing on the day that was just about end I started to realize a few things.

I’ve been to a few famous stadiums. I’ve been to Camden Yards where Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game record. I’ve seen the Athletics sweep the Yankees at the House that Ruth Built. I’ve watched the apple pop up in the center of Shea Stadium and soon, I will sing Sweet Caroline at Fenway Park. But I’ve never walked a golf course with as much history as this one.

Damn, I wish I played.

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