Two More Names Revealed on Steroid List

Major League Baseball should approach FOX and start a new reality series based on all the failed steroids tests. After all, there is a new episode almost every week now.

Reportedly the two newest names on the list are David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Manny was no surprise, but David Ortiz?

This is a guy that stated in an interview back in February that any guy caught doing steroids should be banned for a year. You still agree with yourself David?

What horrible thing to hear about if you're a Red Sox fan. The curse was broken in 2004, and both Manny and Ortiz are accused of failing tests in 2003. This definitely taints the 2004 World Series championship considering these two guys were vital pieces in the 2004 team.

You have to wonder how bad this will affect not only Ortiz for the rest of the season, but for the Red Sox as a whole.

It apparently didn't affect them last night as they defeated the A's, and Ortiz hit the game winning home run.

As bad as this looks for the Red Sox, teams like the Yankees have no room to talk. During that same time they had Jason Giambi and now they have A-Rod.

When the remainder of the list is finally released, every team will be affected by at least one steroid user, so don't come down hard on the Red Sox. The curse is still broken and the poor Cubbies still stand alone as the cursed.

MLB Trade Deadline Overview

In just two days this whole mess dealing with the trade deadline will be sorted out. No one could probably need it to get here more than Roy Halladay.

Halladay started what might be his last game for the Blue Jays on Wednesday night and ended up taking only his fourth loss of the season.

Even though Halladay still hasn't been dealt yet, there's still plenty of players who will be suiting up in new uniforms.

Cliff Lee to Phillies

Initially the Phillies were looking to acquire Halladay but obviously a deal could never be worked. Instead they settled for last year's AL Cy Young winner in Cliff Lee (7-9, 3.14 ERA). The Phillies look like the second best team in the NL after this acquisition. They were in desperate need of an ace since Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton have had consistency problems. As crazy as this may seem, there's still a small chance that the Phillies could end up with Halladay and really make themselves the team to beat.

Freddy Sanchez to Giants

This is a great pick up for the Giants who obviously needed to add a good hitter to the lineup that ranks 27th in runs scored in the MLB. Freddy Sanchez is hitting .296 on the season and has a career batting average of .300. It didn't take much to improve this lackluster hitting lineup, but Sanchez definitely did the job and will help the Giants make a push for that NL wildcard.

Matt Holliday to Cardinals

This deal is kind of old news now but it couldn't be left out. Matt Holliday makes the Cardinals a great pick to make a run at the NL championship. Holliday provides some protection for Albert Pujols in the lineup and really makes this lineup pretty good with the bat. The pitching has also looked solid as of late.

Jack Wilson to Mariners

The Pirates definitely look to be scrapping this whole season and looking ahead to the future after they dealt not only Freddy Sanchez, but now Jack Wilson. Wilson's numbers may not be lights out (.267, 31 RBI) but he will provide a lot of veteran leadership for this ball club. The Mariners are a good sleeper pick at pulling out the AL wild card as they're only 6 1/2 games back of the Red Sox coming into tonight. It's not a huge splash for the M's, but it can't hurt them.

Dasher the New Leader for the Blue Raiders

Just two seasons ago, Dwight Dasher stepped in after an injury to Joe Craddock and led the Blue Raiders to four big wins as a true-freshman. Dasher looked like the future of Blue Raider football.

As a true-freshman, Dasher threw for over 1,000 yards, threw nine touchdown passes, and had a quarterback rating of 131.

However, last season was a huge setback for Dasher as he struggled to only complete 17 passes and lost the starting job to Craddock.

Now Craddock has graduated, and Middle Tennessee is once again looking to Dasher to lead them back into the national spotlight. He won't have to wait long to get his opportunity as the opener is against Clemson.

Coach Rick Stockstill said recently at the Sun Belt Conference Media Days that Dasher has changed a lot from last season and that he has all the tools to be a good quarterback.

Even though the overall success of a team never completely rests on one player, Dasher will still play a vital role in whether the Blue Raiders can bounce back from a disappointing 5-7 season.

What makes Dasher so dynamic is his strong arm and his ability to flush the pocket and pick up crucial yards with his feet. He did that plenty of times during his freshman season as he rushed for 530 yards.

Things for Dasher may be a little easier than last season since almost every starting receiver from last season is back again this season.

Guys like Patrick Honeycutt, Malcolm Beyah, and Sancho McDonal all had solid numbers last season.

The top three receivers all had at least 200 yards receiving last season, so there will be plenty of help out there for Dasher.

All the pieces seem to be laid out for Dasher to take over as the catalyst for Blue Raider football, and now he just has to put those pieces together.

MLB Power Rankings: Week 15

1. Yankees (61-38): My preseason pick to win the World Series finally claims the top spot in the rankings, and it only took 99 games to get there. Nonetheless, the Bronx bombers have picked the perfect time to get hot. Last week: 3

2. Dodgers (62-37): The Dodgers are still the team to beat in the National League, but with the Cardinals acquiring Matt Holliday earlier this week, things aren't so certain now. However, this lineup is still good from top to bottom. Last week: 2


3. Red Sox (58-40): The tables have turned somewhat since the last time they played the Yankees, and they better keep their fingers crossed that they can continue to dominate the series, otherwise a wild card will be the best these guys can hope for. Last week: 1



4. Phillies (57-40): The Phillies need Roy Halladay otherwise they're just a first-round exit waiting to happen. Teams with good starting rotations win games in the playoffs, and the Phillies are average at best. Joe Blanton has gotten a lot better as he hasn't recorded a loss since June 24. Last week: NR


5. Cardinals (54-38): A big win against the Dodgers tonight and a huge acquisition of Matt Holliday has me thinking the Cards are now the second best team in the NL. Finally some protection in the lineup for Albert Pujols. Last week: NR



Almost In

Rangers (55-42): The Rangers are a solid team. Unfortunately they play in the AL, which will at least have two or three good teams miss the playoffs.

Angels (58-39): The record looks great, but there are a couple of things that's keeping them out of the Top 5. One, they can't seem to beat the Rangers this season, and two, their starting pitching is horrible. Even if they win the AL West, which is possible, they won't go anywhere in the playoffs until the pitching is figured out.

Dropped from the rankings: Giants (52-46), Angels (58-39)

Phillies Desperately Need Halladay

Even though the Phillies were recently on a 10-game winning streak, they still haven't looked like likely contenders to make another trip to the World Series.

They are currently the top prospects in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes, and they could really use him.

The trade deadline is July 31, so there is still plenty of time for this deal to go through. Many sources have already said that Halladay will no longer be a Blue Jay after this week.

As likely as it seems that Halladay is leaving Toronto, a deal just can't seem to be agreed upon with the Phillies. The latest offer from the Phillies has been declined by Toront according to sources from both teams.

By signing Roy Halladay, the Phillies would be right up there with the Dodgers as the top dogs in the National League.

The lack of consistency within the starting rotation is one major reason the Phillies have been so streaky this season. Even after the 10-game winning streak, both the Braves and the Marlins are within five games.

There are still some other possible places Halladay could go, including the Dodgers. If Halladay goes to the Dodgers then I say we just go ahead and crown the Dodgers champions now.

However, it's still not set in stone that the Blue Jays will see an offer that they like and send Halladay packing.

The Phillies have to do everything they can to get Halladay and keep pace with the Dodgers.

Hey Favre, It's Really Getting Old

When Brett Favre came back to the NFL and played for the Jets, I couldn't blame him that much.

It's understandable for a player to second guess his retirement, and get that desire to put back on the uniform and go do battle on Sundays. However, this whole saga with Brett Favre being "conflicted" about whether to come back or not is so beyond ridiculous that I've lost a ton of respect for him.

It wasn't enough that Favre held the Packers organization hostage two years ago, but now he's doing it again to ironically the Vikings.

Vikings training camp is just a week away and Favre still hasn't confirmed whether he wants to come back or not. He's basically blackballing the Vikings organization because he knows they desperately need a quarterback and that they'll wait for him even if it's a day before the first game.

Can you imagine how the other quarterbacks must feel, especially Tavaris Jackson who will likely be the starter if Favre doesn't come back.

If Favre does come back, Jackson and the other quarterbacks can kiss a competition for starter goodbye, because Favre will be the starter.

Many of the Vikings players have even told ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols that they want Favre to return, but that they should have had an answer by now and they're ready to move forward.

I hate to break it to you, Brett, but the NFL doesn't revolve around you and neither should the Vikings. You're past your prime and you're no longer even a top five quarterback. You need to bow out gracefully, if that's even salvageable at this point.

Buehrle Joins Elite Club Among Pitchers

Mark Buehrle did what the Giants' Jonathan Sanchez couldn't do less than two weeks ago. That was pitch only the 18th perfect game in baseball history.

What makes this achievement even more significant than it already is is that he pitched a perfect game against the Rays, which are statistically one of the better hitting teams in the majors.

There's another thing that makes this game eerily similar to Sanchez's no-hitter, and should've been perfect game, just two weeks ago.

It took another breathtaking catch in the ninth inning to save the perfect game, just like Aaron Rowand had to do to save Sanchez's no-hitter. This time the hero in the outfield was Dewayne Wise, a defensive replacement.

Wise's catch was a little bit more impressive than Rowand's catch as he stretched his glove over the fence to pull back in a home run.

This is what makes baseball America's pastime. Because of jaw dropping stuff like that, to say the least.

As rich and fertile as baseball history is, there were only 17 perfect games coming into this game, and two almost occurred in as many weeks. Sorry Juan Uribe, but you blew that for us!

Titans Offseason Status Report #3

The offense is looking better and better everyday as training camp draws closer.

The biggest bright spot might be rookie tight end Jared Cook, who was the third pick for the Titans in the draft.

Cook has been making some great plays during mini camp drills and with an offense that relies heavily on the tight ends, that's good news for Jeff Fisher and company.

It will be somewhat difficult for Cook to find playing time since there are three other tight ends on the roster. The two main guys will be Alge Crumpler and Bo Scaife.

There has been some suggestions that Cook could be moved over to wide receiver on some plays since he is so athletic and quick.

Jeff Fisher has already stated that he plans on having a lighter camp than normal to make sure his team is ready to hit the ground running when the season opens up in Pittsburgh.

Except for the rookies, obviously, a solid portion of the team is back from last year so it hopefully won't be as challenging to get things going in the right direction when camp opens up on July 30.

Another good omen for the Titans heading into training camp is that there shouldn't be too much of a quarterback controversy going on. Kerry Collins will most likely be the starter with Vince Young taking more time to learn the game as a backup.

Anytime a group of guys know exactly which quarterback will be leading their team once the season starts usually end up doing great things. Just ask the Patriots or the Steelers.

MTSU Has Tough Schedule In Store For 09'

The Blue Raiders will have plenty of opportunities this upcoming season to prove that they are ready to make the jump to the next level in the national college football scene.

As usual, the most difficult part of the schedule will definitely be the non-conference schedule which includes three teams that all made bowl games last season. In all the Blue Raiders will play five teams that made bowl appearances last season.

There will be little time once the season starts for the Blue Raiders to make adjustments as they start off the season in extremely hostile territory by taking on Clemson.

If the Blue Raiders can figure out a way to make a game out of that to boost their confidence up, then a loss won't be the end of the world.

One great thing about the schedule is the Blue Raiders will get six home games, something they haven't enjoyed since 2003. They went 4-1 last season at home, including a win over Maryland.

Another history making moment involved in this year's schedule is Mississippi State coming to town on October 17. This will mark the first time an SEC team will make the trip to Murfreesboro.

Don't count the Blue Raiders out from winning this game at home. Last season in Starkville, the Blue Raider were neck and neck with the Bulldogs until the midway point of the 4th quarter to end up losing 31-22.

The Floyd Stadium crowd will be rocking for this game and it's very likely that the attendance record will shattered for this game.

Memphis will also visit Floyd Stadium after the Blue Raider defeated the Tigers last season at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.

Even though this schedule is probably one of the most challenging this program has ever seen, a ton of great opportunities to put MTSU football in the national spotlight lies in it as well.

Some Interesting Notes About 09' Schedule

• First 6-game home schedule since 2003
• First SEC team to ever visit Floyd Stadium
• Combined 08' record of opponents: 64-76
• October 6th at Troy will be televised on ESPN.

Vick's Debt Has Been Paid

Michael Vick's official sentence from the court finally came to an end earlier today and now the former NFL star is ready to get back into the NFL.

As many players have already learned, Vick will have to convince a strict commissioner in Roger Goodell to let him back into the league. If the past has told us anything, Vick may still have his own punishment to pay from the NFL.

Vick has already hired an agent to get him back into the NFL.

Things don't look so great for Vick so far, however. Both the New York Giants and the New York Jets have already publicly declined having interest in Vick.

It would be hard as an owner to take a chance on Michael Vick. Even though he is a remarkable physical specimen that could end up helping a lot of teams, it could hurt any team that takes a chance on him in the public eye.

If a team does decide to take a chance on him, then he will most likely start as either a back-up, or a starter of a really bad team.

The one team I could see Mike Vick going to is the Miami Dolphins. Not only could the Miami fan base possibly be more accepting, but they love to run that wildcat offense that Vick would fit perfectly in. Not to mention they currently only have two quarterbacks listed on the depth chart.

Obviously, Vick would start behind Chad Pennington, who proved he's still a great starter in the NFL. However, it would be very likely you would see Vick put into certain packages that could involve some trick plays that would give a defense fits.

It really is hard to guess what's ahead in Vick's NFL career, if anything.

If Vick is lucky enough to get a second chance, then Vick will not only have to prove he can still play football, but he will have to prove to the public that he really has learned from his mistakes.

Watson Comes Up Just Short In Claiming the Claret Jug

After leading the British Open for almost the entire four rounds, Tom Watson just didn't have enough gas left in the tank to take home his sixth Claret Jug. It would've been his first since 1983.

Instead, Stewart Cink took home his first victory in a Major championship, and it was probably long overdue.

Cink had won five times on the PGA Tour coming into the The Open Championship, and had multiple top 10 finishes in past Major championships.

He almost came up short again, but instead sank a clutch birdie putt on hole 18 to force a playoff with Tom Watson.

Perhaps an even bigger story in this year's Open Championship was that Tiger Woods missed the cut on Friday for only the second cut in a Major championship in his career.

Even the really good golfers on the PGA Tour miss a number of cuts each year. That's probably why not seeing Tiger even participating in the final two rounds of a major championship was even more shocking.

The British Open had plenty of excitement thanks to the playoff between Cink and Watson, but this weekend proved that without Tiger and Phil in the mix, this sport just isn't nearly as exciting.

Final Leaderboard
1. Stewart Cink -2
2. Tom Watson -2
T-3. Lee Westwood -1
T-3. Chris Wood -1
T-5. Luke Donald E

Notables

T-8. Ernie Els +1
T-27. John Daly +4
T-34. Jim Furyk +5
T-38. Sergio Garcia +6
T-38. Vijay Singh +6

MLB Power Rankings: Week 14

1. Red Sox (54-34): The Red Sox sit three games ahead of the Yankees for first in the competitive AL East. They look to be the most balanced team in the MLB and are easily are favorite for the AL in the World Series. Last week: 2

2. Dodgers (56-33): The Dodgers suffered a loss for their first game after the All-Star break. Not to mention Manny went hitless in his return to Dodger Stadium. With this team's strong hitting lineup, they're still a solid pick for the NL champion. Last week: 1

3. Yankees (51-37): The Yankees start of the the 2nd half of the season at home against the Tigers. They need to have a solid start to the 2nd half to keep this themselves from tailspinning like they already have numerous times this season. Last week: 3

4. Giants (49-39): Another solid week for the Giants, thanks mainly to their pitching staff which almost threw two no-hitters last week. Jonathan Sanchez ended up getting the no-no and earned himself possibly a second change at having a spot in this lights-out rotation. Last week: 4

5. Angels (50-37): The Angels have snagged a spot in the Top 5 and more importantly lead the AL West. The only team they have to really worry about in the 2nd half of the season is the Rangers. Last week: NR



Almost In

Rangers (48-39): Don't lose hope on the Rangers. They're still a great hitting team and just need a little more consistency from their pitching staff as a whole. Despite trailing the Angels in the division right now, they've still won seven of nine this season against the Angels.

Cardinals (49-42): Without Albert Pujols, who knows where this team would be. Fortunately, they do have Pujols and they have a two game lead in the very cramped NL Central. Five teams are within 5.5 games of each other.

Dropped from the rankings: Rangers (48-39)

American League Wins Again

This year's All-Star game featured very little offense, but there was no lack of great defensive plays.

The American League won the game 4-3 and has now one 12 of the last 13 All-Star games.

The MLB's All-Star game carries a lot more weight than any other All-Star game because the winning league gets home-field advantage in the World Series.

Even though home-field advantage is a nice asset to have, it's not the end of the world for the eventual National League team that represents in the World Series. Just look at the Phillies last season.

There was very little offense in the entire game, especially from the National League. They were only able to put up five hits during the course of the game.

The game's MVP didn't even have an RBI.

Carl Crawford of the Rays took home the MVP honors with a single and a great catch at the fence that robbed Brad Hawpe's home run which would've given the National League the lead.

What's amazing about Crawford's MVP honors is that he didn't have a single RBI in the game. That hasn't happened since 1968.

Overall, just another uneventful All-Star game for the MLB.

Fielder Wins the Derby Crown

Another home run derby is in the books and another big time slugger took home the title.

Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers took home the title by beating out Nelson Cruz in the finals. He had a total of 23 home runs to win the title.

Last year's home run derby had a few more long balls mainly thanks to Josh Hamilton's first-round rampage where he hit 28.

Besides Fielder, only two other players hit more than five home runs in the first round.

The lack of the long ball can be widely attributed to so many refusals by American League players to participate in the derby, which I can't blame them for.

Both Josh Hamilton and Justing Morneau were just a couple guys who decided to not test the home run derby curse that seems to plague some players after participating in this event.

Hopefully for the Brewers, Fielder won't fall victim to the same curse.

Pujols Feels Overshadowed by Steroid Era

The steroid era has made almost every baseball fan suspicious over a guy that hits more than 20 home runs in a single season.

This issue could become even greater by the end of the season with Albert Pujols on pace to beat the former home run record of 61. He's got 32 now.

There is no reason why anyone should think Pujols has used steroids. Many of the former steroid users like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire had peaks and valleys in the career when it came to hitting home runs. Pujols has always been a consistent home run hitter ever since he's been in the league.

Pujols attacked the issue directly by saying he should'nt have to pay for the mistakes of players like Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez. He also went on to say, "I want people to look up to me".

Not only does this guy know how to knock the crap out of a baseball, but he actually has some brains too.

By proactively coming at the issue of steroids, it shows that he has nothing to hide.

I may be getting greedy here, but I don't want Pujols to just beat the original home run record of 61. I want him to beat the tainted record of 73 to really shut the book on the steroid era.

If Pujols can beat the record of 73, which will be tough to do, then we'll never have to hear anything about a tainted single season home run record. If anyone can beat the record of 73, wihtout the aid of steroids, it's Albert Pujols.

Preds Re-sign Sullivan, Ward

Last season was a major disappointment for the Predators after they missed the playoffs for the first time since the 02'-03' season.

The Preds took a step in the right direction to getting back to the playoffs by re-signing Steve Sullivan and Joel Ward, two key offensive players.

Sullivan has been injured for much of the past two seasons but looks to be healthy now and add a major scoring threat to a team that at times struggles to score goals.

While Sullivan was out last season, Joel Ward came in and really provided a nice spark for the Predators. Ward scored 17 goals last season, good for fourth on the team.

The Predators have always had the bad luck of playing in the same division as the NHL juggernaut that is the Detroit Red Wings.

It's still way too early to tell what the Predators will bring to the table for the 09'-10' season, but coach Barry Trotz as always brought consistent teams to do battle on the rink. I expect them to put another solid season together and make another playoff run.

Sanchez Throws No-Hitter In Most Unlikely Circumstance

Just two weeks ago Jonathan Sanchez was demoted to the Giants bullpen after starting the season with a 2-8 record and an ERA of over five.

It looked as if the no-hitter would be broken up with one out in the 9th inning after San Diego's Edgar Gonzalez hit one hard to centerfield. The entire waterfront-ballpark thought it was out, but instead Aaron Rowand made a spectacular, leaping catch at the wall to keep the no-no intact.

Sanchez took the final out by throwing a pitch right down the middle for a called strike three that froze batter Everth Cabrera. The place went wild.

To really put this all into perspective, Sanchez wasn't even suppose to start Friday night's game against the Padres. Randy Johnson was suppose to be the starter, but was put on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. That left the door wide open for Sanchez to get a second chance.

If this ends up proving to be a turnaround for Sanchez's game, then imagine how good this Giants pitching staff will really be? Pretty scary stuff. Well, if you're the opposing team.

After watching Sanchez's brilliant performance, the Giants' front office might have a little more trouble deciding one whether to trade this kid or not.

Sanchez's Stats

• 110 pitches
• 77 strikes
• 11 strikeouts
• 19 out of the 28 batters faced were thrown first pitch strikes
  
• No walks
• 1 error by Juan Uribe in the 8th (Would've been first perfect game in MLB in five years)
  

The Giants Are Back In Business

By far the biggest surprise in baseball as the All-Star break approaches has to be the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants were conceivably a last-place team coming into the season, and they started off shaky as well. However, the pitching kept their heads above water and now the hitting is finally starting to come around.

This team is built to make a big splash if they figure out a way to grab that NL Wild Card, and it mostly thanks to their stellar starting pitching rotation that features two All-Stars in Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum.

In case you didn't hear, Lincecum's streak of scoreless innings ended at 29 last night against the Padres. That's good for the best since 1970 in Giants history.

The mediocre stats of Randy Johnson and Barry Zito can largely be attributed to no run support. Both of these guys, especially Johnson, are capable of throwing gems at any moment and were proven aces at one point or another.

However, the bats have started to come alive in San Francisco as well.

One guy that just narrowly missed the All-Star game that has been swinging the bat very well is Pablo Sandoval. He's hitting .328 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI's.

Aaron Rowand and Bengie Molina also have decent numbers in the batter's box.

If the Giants continue to improve hitting the ball, then we could be looking at another version of the 2007 Rockies that made an unexpected World Series run.

Giants Starting Pitching Rotation

1. Tim Lincecum 2.33 ERA, 10-2, 149 K's
2. Matt Cain 2.42 ERA, 10-2, 93 K's
3. Randy Johnson 4.81 ERA, 8-6, 80 K's
4. Barry Zito 4.43 ERA, 5-8, 79 K's

UFC 100 Fight Card Could Elevate Sport to New Level

It's now been over 15 years since the UFC introduced to the world the idea of two men beating the crap out of each other in an octagon.

The UFC has unquestionably transformed into a world phenomenon since that day in Denver, Colorado.

On Saturday, the sports will celebrate UFC 100, and the fight card fits the title. This fight card might be one of the most anticipated fight cards in the history of the UFC.

Simply put, almost every fight you will see on Saturday night would have the power to be a main event at a normal UFC event. However, this is UFC 100 and UFC President Dana White made sure this UFC will be the most memorable to date.

The main event will be for the UFC heavyweight title as Brock Lesnar (3-1) will try to avenge his loss to Frank Mir (12-3), a fight that he owned until the few seconds it took Mir to secure his knee bar.

What's not intriguing about this fight? You've got a former WWE wrestler in Lesnar who is under a lot of scrutiny for getting a title shot when he was only 2-1.

The Lesnar enthusiasts will argue that Lesnar's lack of knowledge and experience in MMA was the only reason he lost that fight, and now he's more seasoned, if you will, to take on the technical specialist that is Frank Mir.

If that main even wasn't good enough, you also got an interesting fight between The Ultimate Fighter's most recent coaches, Michael Bisping (17-1) and the veteran Dan Henderson (24-7).

It was very obvious during the course of the last Ultimate Fighter that these two don't exactly plan on hanging out with each other anytime soon.

You've also got a fan-favorite in Georges St-Pierre (18-2) taking on Thiago Alves (16-3), which is for the Welterweight Championship.

There is a ton of buzz circulating among even the most casual UFC fans about this upcoming event. If UFC 100 lives up to the hype, it could elevate the sport to unmeasurable heights.

UFC 100 has the potential to gain so many fans to the sport that it could end up forcing the entire nation to respect it with the same sports as basketball, baseball, and even football.

Not only could it end up creating new fans, but it could turn casual fans like myself into absolute die-hard fans that can't get enough.

ESPN is already giving it more exposure than it ever has before as we lead up to UFC 100.

For the UFC, everyone will be a winner after the excitement finally comes to an end on Saturday night. Sorry boxing, but don't let the door hit you on the way out!

MLB Power Rankings: Week 13

1. Dodgers (52-30): Every NL team has seemed to play inconsistent this season except for the Dodgers. The Dodgers haven't lost more than two games in a row all season. Last week: 2

2. Red Sox (49-33): The AL East is still anyone's division at this point, but we all know it's going to come down to Yanks and the BoSox. That's good news if you're a Boston fan because they lead the season series 8-0. Last week: 1

3. Yankees (48-34): Could you imagine if the Yankees could've at least split the season series so far with the Red Sox? Not only would they have a three game lead, but the confidence to go with it. Joe Girardi and company should be counting their blessings for only being one game back. Last week: 3

4. Giants (45-37): The pitching was never in question coming into this season, but the hitting certainly was. They're slowly starting to creep up the NL batting ranks. They are fifth in team batting average (.262) and seventh in total hits (727).
Last week: 5

5. Rangers (45-36): The Rangers may have lost the division lead last night to the Angels, but there's still a lot of baseball to be played and they lead the season series over the Angels 5-2. Last week: NR


Almost In:

Tigers (44-38): The hitting continues to under-perform( .258 team BA) and the starting pitching continues to be average at best. They still somehow lead the AL Central but that won't last long because the Twins and the White Sox aren't too far off the pace.

Angels (46-35): Despite being a divisional leader over the Rangers, they still have a lot to prove. There's still some question marks at the mound where the team ERA sits at 4.67 and an opponent batting average of .275. Scary numbers for a pitching staff.

Dropped from the rankings: Tigers (44-38)

Celtics, Raptors Make Splash in Free Agent Market

A few big splashes occurred in the NBA free agent market over the weekend.

First and foremost, the Celtics added even more star-power to their already loaded roster. They added another big man in Rasheed Wallace from the Pistons.

We all know what Wallace is capable of as far as his basketball ability, but can he stay out of trouble. Wallace would be dumb if he didn't. This is by far his best chance, and maybe his last chance, that he'll ever get at winning another NBA title.

With the addition of Wallace, the Celtics become the favorite in the Eastern Conference. Not only have the Celtics added more size to their roster, but also another legitimate jump shooter as well.

Opposing defenses are going to have fits trying to plan for a team that can beat you from so many different directions.

The other major occurrence in the free agent market also happened in the same division. The Raptors added some great veteran leadership by picking up Hedo Turkoglu from the Magic.

This addition makes the Raptors a solid playoff pick for next year. Turkoglu has a ton of components that can help the Raptors next season, the major one being on the defensive side of the ball where the Raptors always seem to struggle. Turkoglu is the type of guy you can build a team around and the Raptors will benefit greatly from this addition.

It's somewhat of a surprise that Turkoglu signed with Toronto over Portland, which is where it looked like he was going to go at first. However, Turkoglu cited that he like the city of Toronto over Portland. If that's how you want to pick the teams you play for, more power to you, Hedo!

Both the Celtics and the Raptors instantly improved their teams with their acquisitions over the weekend, and the Raptors will probably be the only team that will even cause the Celtics to break a sweat in the Atlantic division.

Federer Surpasses Sampras, Gets 15th Grand Slam

After over four hours of back-and-forth tennis, Roger Federer finally made history and defeated Andy Roddick in five sets.

Even the most casual tennis fan would have been captured by the final set which Federer won 16-14.

Roddick proved that he deserved to be in the final match. He recorded an astonishing 50 aces and didn't lose a point where he served until the final point. Unfortunately, the Americans how to suffer another heartbreaking defeat in a final where they once led. Roddick took the first set 7-5.

No matter how you look at it, what Federer has done ranks among the same accomplishments as what Tiger Woods does in golf and what Michael Jordan did in basketball. After Sunday's victory, no player has probably dominated their respective sport more so than Federer.

It may be argued that this title isn't legit due to current number one ranked player Rafael Nadal could not compete in this year's Wimbledon due to his injury.

As much as it might have changed things if Nadal would have been able to compete, the point is he couldn't go and Federer could. That makes Federer's accomplishment all the more impressive that he could keep from getting injured throughout all of this grand slam titles.

Another great accomplishment in a sport that gets greatly overlooked in this country.

The NFL's True Ironman Found Dead at Age 36

The sports world lost one of its most classy, standup guys today and as a Titan fan, I'm truly saddened. Steve McNair was found dead just hours ago in a 2nd avenue apartment in downtown Nashville.

Everything is currently under investigation, but one thing is for certain. His life ended way too soon and every true Titan fan is in total shock and despair right now.

He took the Titans organization to great heights and showed everyone what it truly means to give it your heart and soul. McNair would've taken snaps from a wheelchair if the team would've let him. He played the game the way it is suppose to be played.

McNair took the Titans to the Super Bowl in the 1999-2000 season and made one of the most amazing plays I've ever seen a quarterback make. Just when you thought he was going to be sacked, McNair would shove you down like a ragdoll and run down the field for the first-down. If he didn't beat you with his legs, he would beat you with his arm.

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney told ESPN he was the toughest quarterback to take down and he was like "hitting a brick wall". He was one of many who could agree with that statement.

There's no question that the city of Nashville truley loved McNair. Despite being from Mississippi and ending his career in Baltimore, McNair called Nashville home and did so many great things within the community.

Aside from all of the various charities he did within the Nashville community, McNair put Nashville on the national sports scene.

He will be greatly missed, and as a Titan fan, I feel truly lucky to have had him play for my team.

2009 SEC Football Preview: West

The Alabama Crimson Tide took over the SEC west last season thanks in large part to Nick Saban's great coaching. They went undefeated in conference play in 2008, but can they do that again in a very improved SEC West?

1. LSU Tigers: Last season: 8-5 (3-5); 3rd (Won Chick-fil-A Bowl)

The dominance that LSU had exhibited over the SEC West finally came to an end in 2008. A lot of that was due to their struggling defense which gave up a ton of points. However, 2009 looks to be different.

The Tigers have a lot of players returning on both sides of the ball. This team will be much smarter than last season. The defense struggled to keep teams out of the endzone in the big games like Florida and Georgia. That same defense will be smarter and have more experience in 09'.

As for the offense, it also has a lot of starters returning. They have running back Charles Scott returning for his senior season and wide receiver Brandon LaFell led the SEC in receptions in 2008 with 63. Things aren't so certain at the quarterback position with Jordan Jefferson. He only has two career starts under his belt, but to his credit they were solid performances. He's also a threat to run which is always a plus in the college ranks.

The difficult road schedule is probably the biggest obstacle for LSU reclaiming the SEC West. They have to battle Alabama, Georgia, and Ole Miss on the road. If they can win two of those three crucials games, then the SEC West title will return to Baton Rouge.

Predicted 2009 Record: 11-1
Predicted finish: 1st
Key Players to Watch: Charles Scott, Brandon LaFell, Ciron Black

2. Alabama Crimson Tide: Last season: 12-2 (8-0); 1st (Lost Sugar Bowl)

The Crimson Tide started off the season 12-0 in 2008, and only the mighty Florida Gators stood in their way of going to the National Championship game. As many of you already know, the Gators stole the show and left Alabama with the Sugar Bowl. The Tide couldn't even save face after that, losing to Utah in convincing fashion.

Now the Tide have to figure out a way to finish out the strong start this season. The offensive side of the ball got hit extremely hard by the NFL draft. They lost John Parker Wilson, Andre Smith, and Glen Coffee, only to name a few. The inexperience on offense might keep Alabama from repeating in aruably the toughest division in college football.

The defense will be one of the best as always. The roster is loaded with seniors on defense and they will wreak havoc on every offense they face. The schedule doesn't look all that bad either. All of their tough games are at home with their toughest road game being at Ole Miss. Enough said. I still don't think they're balanced enough to beat LSU and they will have to settle for a respective second place in a loaded division.

Predicted 2009 Record: 10-2
Predicted finish: 2nd
Players to watch: Javier Arenas, Terrence Cody, Mike Johnson

3. Ole Miss Rebels: Last season: 9-4 (5-3); 2nd (Won Cotton Bowl)

The Rebels enjoyed their most successful season in 2008 since Eli Manning left. They topped it off by defeating Texas Tech, a team that had a good chance at the national championship game out of the Big 12.

Things looking very promising that the Rebels will have another successful season. The schedule is maybe one of the easiest in the SEC, which could hurt them if they want a national championship berth. Ole Miss has a realistic chance at starting the season 4-0 before their meeting with Alabama in Oxford. The Rebels really don't have a single road game where they're not going to be the favorite.

The roster is extremely balanced and junior quarterback Jevan Snead may be one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC outside of Time Tebow. The defense also has a ton of experience and firepower with two monsters lining up on each end of the defensive line. Both Greg Hardy and Kentrell Lockett will create chaos for opposing offensive lines.

The SEC is wide open for the taking and if the Rebels can figure out a way to win the games they are suppose to win, then only LSU and Alabama will be standing in their way of a BCS title game appearance. I'm just not ready to put the Rebels ahead of Alabama and LSU, but good times still clearly lie ahead for Rebel fans.

Predicted 2009 Record: 9-3
Predicted finish: 3rd
Players to watch: Jevan Snead, Greg Hardy, Shay Hodge

4. Auburn Tigers: Last season: 5-7 (2-6); 5th

Much like Tennessee, the 2008 season was one to forget for the Auburn Tigers. The achilles heal for the Tigers last season wasn't their defense, but their anemic offense that only reached the 20-point mark twice in conference play. The offense will have a little more experience under its belt for 2009, but whether that will produce points on the scoreboard is still a mystery.

New coach Gene Chizik will have to rely on his defense to win a lot of games. That may not be such a bad thing because the defense will be solid. The strongest part of the defense is definitely the secondary. The team has been reported to have an overload of secondary players and have been moving some to other positions. That's always good news.

Don't be surprised if Auburn pulls a few upsets this season, especially when they're at home. You can't forget, the SEC is a defensive-minded conference, and Auburn will thrive off their defensive play. They also get both Alabama and Ole Miss at home which will be huge for an Auburn team that will be tough to beat at home. Auburn will creep into a bowl game, but it still won't be the kind of season that Auburn fans were once accustomed to.

Predicted 2009 Record: 7-5
Predicted finish: 4th
Players to watch: Ben Tate, Josh Bynes, Walter McFadden

5. Arkansas Razorbacks: Last season: 5-7 (2-6); 4th

The Razorbacks had a very disappointing year following their loss of Darren McFadden to the NFL. They had a lot of big opponents on their schedule that they didn't even compete with, including a 42-point loss to Texas. They also lost a few games that they clearly should have won. With all that in the past, the Razorbacks have to look ahead to 2009. However, the road schedule doesn't look very promising. They have to play Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, and LSU all on the road. Talk about brutal.

If things couldn't get any worse with the schedule, they also have three games that will be on neutral sites, dwindling their home schedule down to only five games. They also lost the heart and soul of their offense for the second-straight year in quarterback Casey Dick. His replacement is Ryan Mallet, a transfer out of Michigan, who has a lot of potential but has consistency issues.

The offense definitely won't be the worst part about this team. The defense is ranked as one of the worst in almost every defensive category. They'll have to make a drastic improvement from last season if the Razorbacks want any chance at a bowl game. We're looking at a team that could be an SEC West title contender in 2010, but not in 2009.

Predicted 2009 Record: 4-8
Predicted finish: 5th
Players to watch: Michael Smith, D.J. Williams, Malcolm Sheppard

6. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Last season: 4-8 (2-6); 6th

This team just can't seem to get over the hump and every year they seem to get closer and closer. Last season they were just a few close games away from making a bowl appearance, particularly the 3-2 loss against Auburn.

It's hard to be optimistic when looking at the Bulldogs squad, but they have some bright spots. One great spot is at the running back position where senior Anthony Dixon figures to be a big part of the offense, including coming out of the backfield to catch passes. Dixon had 869 yards rushing along with seven rushing touchdowns in 08'.

The Bulldogs better hope that Dixon has a great year both running the ball and catching the ball, because the wide receiver position is down right ugly. The Bulldogs will probably have to rely heavily on short passes to their tight ends if they want to pass the ball at all. Mississippi State is also very thin on defense as they only have two starters returning. As much as I hate to say this being a sympathetic Vanderbilt fan, it looks like another year at the bottom is looming for the Bulldogs. Usually the SEC West is a little more up for grabs, but not this season.

Predicted 2009 Record: 3-9
Predicted finish: 6th
Players to watch: Anthony Dixon, Sean Brauchle, Pernell McPhee

2009 SEC Football Preview: East

The start of the 2009 NCAA football season is just two months away! Last year the Florida Gators reigned supreme once again in the SEC. Can anyone contend with them next season in the SEC East?

1. Florida Gators: Last season: 13-1 (7-1); Won Nat'l Championship.

The Gators were one missed extra point away from going undefeated last season, and there's no reason to think they can't do that again. They did lose a great weapon in Percy Harvin to the NFL, but they still have so many weapons that are returning. This team was so deep last year, and they'll be deep again in 2009.

Urban Meyer also has a solid draft class coming in, which really should be no surprise. The Gators also have a somewhat easier schedule than normal. Their non-conference schedule is basically a joke, with their toughest matchup being their annual Florida State game.

The Gators definitely have the tools to go undefeated, but since that's so hard to do I think they'll slip up somewhere along the way in the SEC. Florida has to travel to Baton Rouge to play LSU and that will be the toughest test of the season. The home team has won the last four matchups between these two, and LSU will hand Florida their only loss of the season.

Predicted 2009 record: 11-1
Predicted finish: 1st
Players to watch: Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes, Chris Rainey

2. Georgia Bulldogs: Last Season: 10-3 (6-2); 2nd (Won Capital One Bowl)

Georgia ended the 2008 season on a high note but still had to be disappointed with the overall result. Many had them winning the national championship going into 2008, but convincing losses to Alabama and Florida kept them from achieving that.

Now they have to fill the shoes of Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, and Mohammed Massaquoi. The offense definitely took a hard hit to the NFL draft, but this team will bounce back. They have a matured, fifth-year senior taking Stafford's place in Joe Cox. They also still have some great receivers, one being A.J. Green. Green caught eight touchdowns last season.

The big question isn't whether they can beat teams like Kentucky and Vanderbilt. The question is can they finally elevate to the next level and beat teams like Florida and LSU. They had a better chance last season than they will this season. Lucky for Georgia they're still second best thanks to what looks to be a down year for the SEC East overall. They start the season in pretty hostile territory as they take on Oklahoma State, which won't be easy. That result of that game could set the tone for the rest of the season.

Predicted 2009 record: 8-4
Predicted finish: 2nd
Players to watch: A.J. Green, Rennie Curran, Joe Cox

3. South Carolina Gamecocks: Last season: 7-6 (4-4); 4th (Lost in Outback Bowl)

One of toughest schedules in the SEC may end up holding the Gamecocks back this season. They have tough road games against Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. In this very weak eastern division they can still pull out four wins and finish third.

The Gamecock offense is what may end up keeping them from reaching a bowl game. Both quarterbacks struggled last season, but now one of those is gone, leaving sophomore Stephen Garcia to do the quarterback duties. He threw six touchdowns to eight interceptions last season. It doesn't help that he's playing against the best defenses in the country week in and week out.

South Carolina's defense shouldn't be taken lightly either. The defense will win some games for them and keep them out of the cellar. Not to mention having a coach like Steve Spurrier who always maximizes his team's potential.

Predicted 2009 record: 6-6
Predicted finish: 3rd
Players to watch: Stephen Garcia, Eric Norwood, Darian Stewart

4. Tennessee Volunteers: Last season: 5-7 (3-5); 5th

Last season was a season to forget as a UT football fan. Not only did they fail to reach a bowl game for the second time in recent years, but their long-time football coach Phillip Fulmer decided to step down after being the coach since 1992.

Now the Lane Kiffin experiment begins and despite violating numerous NCAA rules during this offseason this recruiting class has a lot of talent. The major recruit is running back Bryce Brown, who is regarded by many as one of the top prospects in the nation. Brown can beat you with his speed or his catching abilities. The secondary is also one of the strong points of the Vols. It might be one of the best in the SEC.

Something has to be figured out at the quarterback position, however. Neither Jonathan Crompton or Nick Stephens looked great last season. Crompton will probably end up being the starter thanks to his improved arm-strength, but another disastrous start to the season could end up being distaster once again on Rocky Top.

They will improve from last season, but not enough to make too big of a splash. Sorry UT fans, but these things take time. If the Vols can start the season of with two wins in non-conference action (Western Kentucky and UCLA) then that will give this team a ton of confidence going into the Swamp on September 19. We all know that anything can happen in college football. The Vols have a favorable non-conference schedule but will still struggle in the SEC.

Predicted 2009 Record: 7-5
Predicted finish: 4th
Players to watch: Jonathan Crompton, Eric Berry, Bryce Brown

5. Vanderbilt Commodores: Last season: 7-5 (4-4); 3rd (Won Music City Bowl)

What a great season for the Commodores in 2008, but can they repeat something that they hadn't done since 1984? The SEC still doesn't look as strong as it has in recent years and Vanderbilt has a lot of returning players from last season. The Dores did have two big losses on defense losing D.J. Moore and Reshard Langford.

The offense is still the weak spot for Vanderbilt, mostly due to the passing game that averaged only 112 yards a game in 2008. Coach Bobby Johnson has two choices at quarterback. He can either go with experience and take Mackenzi Adams, or raw talent with sophomore Larry Smith. Don't forget, Smith led the Commodores to a win in the Music City Bowl. They'll both battle it out for the starting job in training camp.

The linebacker position is the strongest part of the Dores defense and the rushing defense is expected to be solid. It's going to be hard for the Dores to reach their second-straight bowl game, but it's definitely not crazy to think it could happen. Bobby Johnson proved last season that he's turned out to be a great coach and that he's making the Vandy football program better and better. I like Vandy to sneak into another bowl game despite finishing towards the bottom in the SEC East.

Predicted 2009 record: 6-6
Predicted finish: 5th
Players to watch: Jared Hawkins, Chris Marve, Terence Jeffers

6. Kentucky Wildcats: Last season: 7-6 (2-6); 6th (Won Liberty Bowl)

The Wildcats have slowly improved over the past three seasons, almost like Vanderbilt. What held Kentucky back last season was their offense, again like Vanderbilt. Something has to give between these two teams in 2009. That something is coaching. I'm not sure if Rich Brooks is the right fit for a Kentucky team that has gotten a little better over the past few year, but still took a step back last season.

The offense has some promise but still has a lot to prove. The defense also has a lot to prove. They lost some great players on defense in the offseason, including linebacker Braxton Kelley and defensive end Ventrell Jenkins. It could have been worse if a few other players would've decided for the draft, but instead decided to stay in Lexington.

Kentucky's defense will keep them in a lot of games, but the schedule is so tough that I don't think the unproven offense will deliver in high-pressure SEC games. Kentucky will compete hard this season, but that won't be enough to break out of the cellar.

Predicted 2009 record: 5-7
Predicted finish: 6th
Players to watch: Randall Cobb, Micah Johnson, Trevard Lindley

MLB Power Rankings: Week 12

1. Red Sox (47-30): The Red Sox take over the Power Rankings despite giving up a nine run lead to the Orioles tonight. They're on top for now thanks to one of the most balanced lineups in all of baseball. Last week: 2

2. Dodgers (49-29): Even though they still cling onto the best record in baseball, this past week has been horrible. They had series losses against the White Sox and the Mariners this past week and the Rockies and Giants are slowly picking up ground on them in the NL West. Last week: 1


3. Yankees (44-32): What a difference one week can make in baseball. The Yankees are now on a six-game winning streak that includes a sweep of the Mets, which may not be all that impressive. They're pitching is getting better by the day to the point that even Chien-Ming Wang had a good start. Last week: NR

4. Tigers (43-34): For once the Tigers decide to stay in the Top 5 for two straight weeks. Their bats are finally starting to come alive as a unit and their division lead over the average AL Central is gradually starting to grow. Last week: 4

5. Giants (42-34): The Giants haven't been eight games above .500 this late in the season since Barry Bonds was suiting up for them. One player that has really helped fire up the bats in San Fran is Pablo Sandoval who is hitting .338, 11 HR, and 40 RBI. Last week: 5

Almost In

Rays (44-35): The Rays couldn't have made it any closer at cracking the Top 5. They're definitely making things even more interesting in that crowded AL East.

Brewers (42-35): Don't count the Brewers out just yet. They're in a very winnable division and also still have a great shot at getting the NL wild card if worse comes to worse. The pitching obviously has to get more consistent, but when you have hitters like Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, anything is possible.

Dropped from the rankings: Cardinals (41-38)