Time to Sniff Out the MLB's Current Frauds

There's plenty unusual suspects that are sitting at the top, or near the top of the standing right now. Most of the time these surprise teams get exposed for the frauds they are early in the playoffs, if not during August.

Here's a few surprise teams and whether they are frauds or legit.

1. Padres (58-39, 1st in NL West): The Padres have been playing good baseball all year long, but it's really hard to figure out why. They rank outside of the top 20 in all the major hitting categories, including 25th in batting average. But then again, their pitching has been spectacular as they lead the MLB in ERA at 3.27. Pitching is so important come playoff time and that will make them very dangerous in the wide open National League. Verdict: Legit
2. Reds (55-45, Tied for 1st in NL Central): It was just recently that the Reds lost 1st place to the Cardinals. This team has a lot of talent in the batter's box anchored by Joey Votto. However, this team has been streaky as of late losing to teams like the Astros and the Nationals. They're somewhat thin at the starting pitching rotation with Johnny Cueto being the most viable option. Verdict: Fraud
3. White Sox (53-44, 1st in AL Central): It's been a while since the White Sox have been relevant in the AL Central. The AL Central will go right down to the last day of the season just like last season with the Tigers and the Twins still in the picture behind the White Sox. One of the selling points of the White Sox is the fact that they're not horrible at anything, but then again they're not reall all that great at anything either. They rank somewhere in the middle in most of the major statisitical categories. In the end I see the Twins winning this division and the White Sox being nowhere near the top of the AL wildcard standing. Sorry sox fans, it was fun while it lasted. Verdict: Fraud
4. Giants (56-43, 2nd in NL West): Here's another team that at one time was relevant every year in the playoff race, but of recent time has been pretty much a cellar dwellar. The Giants finally have some hitting to back up that solid pitching rotation. Buster Posey has proven to be one of the best hitters on this team (he's hitting .479 in July and .371 overall). Aubrey Huff and Juan Uribe have also been dependable this season. No team will want to play them in the playoffs with their pitching rotation. With that said, they'll sneak in as the NL wildcard team. Verdict: Legit

Magic Johnson Joins In On Criticism of LeBron

The bandwagon of criticizing LeBron's recent decision to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh just added the biggest member yet; Magic Johnson.

Magic said in a story done by the Bloomberg News that he would have never joined Larry Bird back in his day. He went on to basically say he wanted to beat Bird, much like LeBron should be figuring out a way to beat the other NBA superstars like Wade.

This is a tricky subject here. On one hand Magic looks a little bias to his Lakers and the fact that he chose to enter the draft to get the chance to play with Kareem Abdul-Jabar. However, that situation doesn't compare to LeBron's situation because Magic was a rookie at the time with no NBA experience.

Of course any rookie is going to jump at the opportunity to play with an NBA superstar. It's completely different from playing in the league for seven years and realizing you can't win on your own, so you decide to take the "easy" way out.

You can't fault LeBron too much because the cornerstone of being considered the greatest has become based on winning championships rather than personal achievements.

With the giant ego that LeBron has it would be dumb to think that LeBron is doing this for anything other than one day being known as the best ever to play the game.

I do believe that LeBron made the wrong decision by choosing Miami over Chicago. The Bulls are a more complete team and it would be considered LeBron's team from day one.

It's Dwyane Wade's team in Miami no matter how great LeBron thinks he is. LeBron and Bosh are the two sidekicks and Wade is the king.

Titans, CJ Finally Reach Agreement

This was a long time coming. The Titans and Chris Johnson finally agreed on a deal that will make sure Johnson reports to training camp, which let's be honest is all we really care about as Titans fans.

The two sides have left people wondering all summer long but finally we can breathe a sigh of relief and get ready for the upcoming season.

Johnson increased his pay by about $2 million for next season. He was only due to get $550,000 before the holdout got underway. In that sense Johnson should look at this as a victory and now it's time to focus on football and not the dollar sign.

The Titans offense looks promising next season if Johnson can even play half of the way he did last season. The receivers will be more experienced and hopefully Vince Young can finally get his act together.

Ever since Steve McNair departed from the team it has seemed that the quarterback position has plagued this team from going anywhere far.

People should just be careful as to where they put their expectations for Johnson next season. I'm guessing he'll put up anywhere in the ballpark of 1,200 to 1,500 yards, but anyone who thinks he'll get more may be putting the bar a little too high.

Defenses always figure out ways to adjust to running styles. Don't get me wrong. Johnson will be his explosive self and he'll win a few games for the Titans, but other Titans players will need to step up as well if this team is going to reach the postseason.

Is Any Player Worth a 17-year Deal?

One of the longest deals I've ever seen was done in the NHL tonight as Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils agreed to a 17-year, $102 million deal.

Signing any player for that long is just mind boggling to me. So much can happen over the next 17 years.

This works from both sides. Why would Kovalchuk want to tie himself up to that team for so long. It's not like we're dealing with the Red Wings here. The Devils are usually an alright team, but there's no way I would want to be stuck with a 17-year contract if I was talented as Kovalchuk is.

These lengthy deals happen more often then you think in the NHL, but they usually don't go past 11 or 12 years. The idea behind this is the team pays the majority of their money to the player in the early part of the contract and it shrinks during the last part of the contract. For example, Kovalchuk will only be getting $550,000 a season in the last five years of the contract.

Kovalchuk played for a Thrashers team that is obviously going nowhere anytime soon, and he rejected almost the same amount of money but for five years left. Obviously he would rather spends an extra five years in New Jersey than being stuck in Atlanta.

Once again this deal just seems extremely risky for both sides. It's just crazy to think that if Kovalchuk finished out this contract it will be in the 2026-2027 season!

Bobby Johnson Steps Down After Eight Tough Seasons

At first I wasn't sure how to feel when I heard that Bobby Johnson was stepping down from coaching less than two months before the season starts against Northwestern.

It's a tough position that Vandy now finds itself in, if it wasn't already hard enough.

The timing is horrible, but the reason is not. According to Johnson himself, he decided to call it quits because "football isn't life, it's a way of life". Amen to that. He has his priorities straight. I just wish he would've done this a lot sooner.

However, you can't condemn the man too much. It's tough thing to do leaving what he calls his way of life. He probably second guessed himself a few times before finally coming to grips with what he had to do.

He also went on to say that he would basically feel terrible if he was asked if he was doing the best he can just to leave in December.

At first glance Johnson's coaching slate at Vanderbilt looks terrible and people who don't follow Vanderbilt probably don't understand why people may be upset about this.

Let me just say this. Coaching at Vanderbilt is an uphill battle from day one because you're coaching at a school where athletics is a distant second to academics. In fact, Vanderbilt doesn't even have an athletics department technically.

Despite Johnson had Vanderbilt competing week in and week out. You can't expect a coach to just walk into Vanderbilt and make them an SEC champion. It's almost impossible.

Johnson did the best he could with the talent he had and did so much with so little. You put Johnson as the coach at a bigger program and I guarantee you he has success.

The team has been handed down to interim coach Robbie Caldwell will take over and get a chance to win the job.

But there are rumors swirling around the Phillip Fulmer and even Tommy Bowden will hear talks from Vanderbilt for the job. If a big named coach gets the job at Vanderbilt then recruiting could get a lot better for a school that has little to draw the top football prospects.

Those possible coaching replacements leave a shred of hope left for Vandy fans.

Cleveland Fights Back Against LeBron

Fans in Cleveland will be fuming over the LeBron James ditching them for Miami for years and years to come.

It didn't help that LeBron poured salt on the wound by going on national television to make this announcement that he was leaving.

LeBron had every right to leave if he felt that he coudn't be successful in Cleveland, but natives of Cleveland has every right of being disgusted over LeBron using an hour of primetime television to make sure everyone knew about it.

Videos of fans burning LeBron jerseys must have bruised LeBron's enlarged ego a bit. Eventually that huge banner on the high rise building was also taken down.

Needless to say we were all witnesses to LeBron's obsession with everything being about him. Even more so than Terrell Owens.

We've already seen Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert go off on LeBron. Here's a few quotes from that statement that was released shortly after the announcement:

• " You (Cleveland) simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal"
• " I personally guarantee that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win an NBA championship before the self-titled former 'king' wins one"
• The self-declared 'king' will be taking the curse with him down south"

There was plenty more to this drawn out statement to Cleveland fans and here's the link if you want to check it out in its entirity.

Fans and players alike have to be happy to see their owner stepping up to the plate in this situation. Yes he is a little crazy for thinking that the Cavaliers will win an NBA championship before LeBron James will win one but at least he's passionate about his team. A majority of owners just care about the boat loads of cash they pull in.

He felt betrayed and no one else has more of a right to feel this way then Dan Gilbert. All this nonsense about Gilbert's comments being racist is just absolutely ridiculous. Jesse Jackson needs to just do us all a favor and stop acting like it's still the late 1800's.

As for LeBron and the Miami Heat, people couldn't have jumped on the bandwagon any faster. Unless the NBA starts allowing more than one ball on the court at the same time, then this thing isn't a done deal. The Lakers are still a more complete team and the favorites in my book.

I've been saying this for a while now. Don't sleep on the Chicago Bulls. This team is really good and they could easily be a top three team in the East. You also can't forget about the usual suspects of the Magic and the Celtics.

Nothing is said and done about the stacked Miami Heat turning into a championship team, much less a dynasty. Take a deep breath people.

George Steinbrenner: July 4, 1930-July 13, 2010

Known predominantly as the most powerful owner in all of sports, George Steinbrenner died of a massive heart attack earlier today.

We lost a great owner whether you loved him or hated him. In fact, most of us loved to hate him just like his beloved Yankees.

Many, including myself, criticized the way Steinbrenner threw his millions of dollars around to stack his teams which gave him unfair advantages over other owners.

However an interesting point was made on ESPN radio and I can't deny how valid it actually is. Other owners and fans alike can be upset about how much more money Steinbrenner had than their own ball clubs, but his teams that he built filled up the stands in opposing ball parks.

Ever seen a Royals game sold out? Not for a regular game you haven't, but if the Yankees are in town then that ballpark is getting the highest attendance it will see all season.

I remember back when the Rays were the Devil Rays and better yet the worst team in baseball. They barely had a higher attendance than some high school programs probably get. But when those Yankees came to town that ballpark filled up like the Devil Rays were a dynasty.

Those owners get that extra money for all those Yankee fans filling up their seats.

Yes, he was the villain but sometimes the villain is the most important character in the movie, or in this case the sport. He rebuilt a Yankee organization that had fallen behind the Mets when he took them over in 1973.

The best thing about Steinbrenner was that he cared so much about winning. He was actually passionate about his team and wasn't just in it for the money. I respect that so much after growing up in a world where sports is becoming more and more about the dollar sign and less and less about the actual game itself.

You can't hate the man for using his money wisely. What was he suppose to do? Equally share his money? I wouldn't do that if I was in his situation, and neither would you.

He bougth the team for around $10 million and now the team is worth over $1.5 billion. I'd say that was a good investment Mr. Steinbrenner.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Steinbrenner family tonight.

The Yankees Under Steinbrenner

• 7 World Series championships
• 11 AL pennants
• 16 division titles
• Worth jumped from $10 million in 73' to $1.65 billion today
  

UT Turns Down Chance To Play USC

There was plenty of bad blood created between the Vols and the Trojans after Lane Kiffin decided to unexpectedly split for Southern Cal.

Lane Kiffin came right out and proposed settling the dispute on the field for the 2011 kickoff game, but the Vols declined.

I'm sure every UT player who was ditched by Kiffin was foaming at the mouth at getting the chance to get even with the coach that ditched them like a prom date.

This game would have generated so much in television rating but unfortunately we won't see it in 2011, but it is a possibility in the following couple of years.

The UT athletics director said that the schedule was tough enough, and I can definitely understand where he's coming from. After all they play in what I think is the best all around conference in college football.

The Vols have already gotten one back on Kiffin by getting one of his players who transferred just last week. It was defensive end Malik Jackson who decided to make the transition to Tennessee.

I see a rivalry in the making for sure and hopefully these two teams will meet real soon, but in the mean time both programs have a lot of work to do to return to glory.

Reviewing All Of LeBron's Options

The free agency landscape is finally starting to take shape, but of course there's still one major thing that is missing and that is where in the heck LeBron James in going to end up.

We'll find out live on ESPN tomorrow night as LeBron has announced that he will have a one-hour TV special that will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of America.

Everything is pretty much laid out on the table for LeBron to make his decision. Here's the significant deals that have happened so far:

• Amar'e Stoudemire signs with Knicks
• Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh sign with Heat
• Carlos Boozer signs with Bulls

LeBron stands to benefit from all of these situations, but each situation offers a diferent opportunity for LeBron.

If LeBron truly cares about nothing but being a part of a possible dynasty, then he needs to take less money and go to Miami and join Wade and Bosh. This would undoubtedly be the best trio of stars the NBA will have ever seen if it happens.

If the most important thing to LeBron is starting his own legacy and maximizing his global brand then he'll go to the Knicks. He'll be in the biggest market in the world playing in New York.

If the most important thing to LeBron is remaining loyal to his hometown and the city that has embraced him so much for the first seven years of his career then he'll stay in Cleveland. Of course he'll greatly sacrifice his chances of winning an NBA championship anytime soon, but that wallet will be a lot fatter.

As great as all of these scenarios are in their own unique way, Chicago is still the best destination for LeBron. By signing with Chicago he would be going to a team that is already at the very worst the third best team in the Eastern Conference with the recent addition of Carlos Boozer.

How's this starting lineup sound: Derrick Rose, LeBron James, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah.

But does LeBron want to play in the enormous shadow of Michael Jordan? If he's smart he'll let that go and give himself the best opportunity to not only win multiple championships, but still play in a great basketball market.

Hands down Chicago is the best fit for LeBron after the addition of Boozer.

Knicks Sign Amar'e, Get Closer To LeBron

Nothing like adding a guy like Amar'e Stoudemire to get yourself closer to signing the real prize which is LeBron James.

Basically the Knicks are still the same team they were before adding Stoudemire because in return they're going to lose their best player in David Lee, who is also a power forward.

Last season Stoudemire averaged 23 points and nine rebounds, while Lee averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds.

But the key here is LeBron James. Big surprise. LeBron wanted to play alongside Stoudemire last season but the Cavaliers settled for Antawn Jamison.

Now LeBron is not only lured to New York's glamour, but now has a superstar that he's already expressed he wants to play with.

Seems like a no-brainer that LeBron is heading to the Big Apple, but not so fast.

Subtle hints are being made that LeBron is going to stay in Cleveland. He's in Akron right now doing his Nike camp so it's very likely we won't know his decision until the end of the week.

Even though I'm sure Wade will love to play with the likes of Amar'e Stoudemire, I can't see him going anywhere but Chicago or Miami.

Here's how I think it will all shake out:

1. The Amar'e addition will entice LeBron to go to New York and increase his global brand image along with putting himself on a playoff team in a watered-down Eastern Conference.
2. Dwyane Wade will ditch Miami and go to Chicago to be closer to his kids and will pull Chris Bosh with him, making Chicago a good favorite for Eastern Conference champions.
3. The city of Cleveland goes into a state of emergency as ALL of their sports teams are horrible once again.
4. Boozer ends up with a desperate Miami squad that just lost the face of its franchise.
   

I realize that I could end up being way off, but at this point its anyone's guess as to what is going to happen within the next three days or so.

At least one dominoe has fallen and it landed in the Big Apple.

My Odds on Where LeBron Will End Up

• Knicks: 40%
• Cleveland: 20%
• Chicago: 20%
• Miami: 10%
• New Jersey: 5%
• Anywhere else: 5%
  

Did Strasburg Deserve Spot on All-Star Roster?

Despite the boat loads of hype Stephen Strasburg has received throughout the season, he was denied his first bid at becoming an All-Star.

He'll get plenty of All-Star selections throughout his career.

The question here is whether Strasburg would have deserved the All-Star selection if he had gotten it? He's only appeared in five games this year and no matter how impressive you are, there are other guys that have put in the work during the first part of the season.

National League manager Charlie Manuel cited that as the reasoning behind not selecting Strasburg.

The pitchers he did pick were right on the money in my book. Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies was a no-brainer. Jimenez just recently had his ERA creep above one. It sits at 2.27 no, and he has 14 wins.

I'm not as crazy about the Roy Halladay selection, but you can't blame Manuel for making a pick from his team. Halladay is only 9-7, but some of those losses can be attributed to the Phillies' horrible hitting slump they went through for a month or so. You also can't forget about the perfect game he threw.

Some of the other notable NL pitchers will be Tim Lincecum, Tim Hudson, and Adam Wainwright.

We'll have to wait one more year to see Strasburg light guys up in the batter's box during the mid-summer classic.