South Beach Talent, J29'10

Ultimate Narcissist
“I am taking my talents to South Beach next year.”

I still can’t get over that quote from LBJ. That 10 word sentence encompasses everything that is wrong with today’s athletes.

And did you expect anything less from a guy who wore a Yankee cap at Progressive Field for years?

That self-absorbed, I don’t give a damn about anyone or anything else dress code violation alone should have told the jock sniffing local sports fans & enabling local media he wasn’t staying put.

Could you imagine Larry Bird or Magic Johnson every talking like that?

Regardles, that's my new handle for awhile (South Beach Talent).

Pete Carroll
This guy takes himself way too seriously. He’s turning up everywhere on the television circuit pushing his new book which should be title “How I cheated like hell and got out of dodge before the posy caught up to me.”

And I am amazed no one has had the balls to ask him during these interviews why he skipped town before the NCAA came down on SC? Sports journalism is in a sad place right now. It’s all about kissing ass to get access and/or getting as much air time as possible.

Shelley Duncan
I took a shot at this guy a few weeks back. I apologize. I discovered he was the International League MVP last year posting 30/90 numbers. And from what I hear from someone who covers the Tribe daily, he works his ass off everyday, is a good teammate and plays the game the right way.

I like the underdog, so I hope he sticks around and can give the Tribe a decent right hand bat. Besides, I liked and rooted for his old man (Dave Duncan) when he was an Indians’ catcher ages ago.

Yea, I know he's (Duncan) not 24, but I like guys who grind it out and keep their nose clean.

Underdogs
Speaking of underdogs, am I the only one who is curious as to what type of team the Cavaliers will put together this coming season?

Hell, I may even buy a ticket to support Gilbert and company.

I was hoping they would land Matt Barnes, who can defend, plays with an attitude, is long and can play multiple positions. Unfortunately, the team will have to overpay free agents to go there right now. And in some cases, they still won’t come.

Regardless, I wish Byron Scott luck. He will need it. One thing is for certain, no one outside the Cavs’ locker room will have high expectations for 2010-11. Maybe Scott and company can use that as motivation for his troops. I will be watching to see how Scott and his staff handle this difficult franchise conversion.

Browns
Camp starts this weekend. How does 7-9 sound? I can’t imagine the Browns finishing with more than 7 wins – and that’s being relatively kind. They still have question marks at some of the most important positions on the field – quarterback, pass rusher, cover corner and wide receiver – and not necessarily in that order.

The sad truth is they are still a lot closer to being a poor 5-11 team than a playoff bound 11-5 squad. I hope I’m mistaken – but not likely.

What I am most amazed at is the fact that many in the local media along with the majority of fans are expecting a much better team based solely on the fact that the “Walrus” is in town running the show.

There’s only one problem, MH doesn’t throw the ball, catch it, sack the quarterback or cover NFL receivers for a living.

Super Bowl Picks
How’s Indianapolis and New Orleans sound? What again?

Yes, I know it’s tough to repeat in football because the playing field is level – unlike baseball, but I don’t see anyone better in the NFC than New Orleans, as long as they keep their QB upright.

And as long as Manning is slinging it in Indy, they will be in the hunt. I also still like New England because of Brady, but their defense has some holes.

I know it unfortunately won’t be the Browns and Lions playing in Dallas come February.

Notice, I always go with the teams with the QB. I never fell for the “you can win with a guy who manages the game” silliness we were being sold post-Trent Dilfer taking snaps in Baltimore. The same morons who were preaching that garbage 10 years ago are now telling the world you need a QB beacuse it's now a passing league.

What the hell have they been watching since the Reagan administration?

Which is it geniuses? And no, the rules haven’t changed that much since 2000. It has been a passing league for 30 years, not just the last five. Or haven’t you heard of Elway, Marino, Kelly, Fouts and company?

Yes, you can win big with a good running game, a very good defense and soid special teams – but it’s a lot harder to do so. Your margin for error is greater. Try coming from behind with that philosophy

NFL Lock Out
I’m told we are likely to have an NFL lockout prior to the 2011 season. Yea, that will go over well with fans during this economy.

Here’s my favorite part of the stupidity – the NFL Players' Association is holding seminars telling its players to save money in case the lockout comes. They are worried players won’t save and thus will eventually crack and push the union to making a bad deal just to get their checks again.

Can you imagine making $450,000+ a year – and that’s a conservative estimate of what a sixth rounder in his third year in the league makes – and not having enough money saved to keep your family upright for a few months? Amazing.

As NBA player rep Pat Ewing famously said during NBA labor negotiations years ago– “Yea, we make a lot of money, but we spend a lot of money too.” Classic!

Trading Deadline & More
The non-waiver wire deadline is fast approaching and the Indians were able to get a taker (Detroit) for J. Peralta and his $4 ½ million salary.

Peralta basically stopped hitting once he moved to third base – a position switch that should have been made years ago beacuse of Astrubal Cabrera being amuch better shortstop.

As I said many times, you can carry JP at shortstop when he consistently goes 20/80+ and .275 for you, but not if he’s going to go 12/70 and .260 for you. And since moving to third, he’s been that or worse. And third is still a spot that dictates offense first.

A question has been recently asked nationally as to why pitchers are starting to dominate again? Simple – steroids, or lack there of. Yea, there have been an inordinate number of no-hitters this season, but that’s simply an anomaly.

What is clear is that we have gone back (thankfully) in time to the pre-1990s era, where 30/100 is a very good power season at the plate, where a 4.00 ERA is just average again and doesn’t get you a 5 year/50 million deal, and where banging out 40 doubles is a good year. These are all good things.

Now if they would truly address revenue sharing and a hard salary cap, I might just begin paying attention again.

Fab 5
Not that you care – but here are the five baseball players I would pay to watch perform – Ricky Henderson, Joey Bell, Gaylord Perry, Ozzie Smith & Ken Griffey.

I chose Ricky because he’s Ricky. The best base stealer ever had a tremendous eye at the plate, could go deep right out of the gate and played with a swagger unmatched by any other pro athlete. He’s the only hot dog you couldn’t dislike. Why? Simple – because he’s Ricky. But forget all the nonsense and laughs. We are talking about the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time – and it’s not even close.

Joey Belle is #2 on the list, because in his prime before the hip problems, no one competed more at the plate than Joey. He absolutely never gave away an at bat. I respect that.

Gaylord Perry is #3 because he drove the opposition nuts – both when they were in the batter’s box, but just as important, in the dugout. No one got into an opposing team’s head like Gaylord. Even when he wasn’t loading it up, he made you think he was.

Ozzie Smith is #4 because he’s the best defensive player in the history of baseball in my humble opinion. I can’t speak for players before 1970, but in the last 40 years, no one has done it better while also playing the most important position on the field, this side of the pitching mound.

Ken Griffey is #5 instead of ARod – who I dubbed back in 2000 as potentially the greatest player in the game, because Griffey didn’t cheat and ARod did - allegedly. Early on when he was in Seattle and healthy, Griffey was the best player in the game, no questions asked. Injuries took a toll on his body, but in his prime, he was the ultimate 5-tool player.

Moron(s) of the Week
I’m driving to Akron to work this past week and decided to change from my CD playing Iron Maiden to a local radio sports talk show and what nonsense do I hear?

The two hosts are debating whether Ed Reed of Baltimore deserves to be in the Hall of Fame when he’s done playing. They actually debated this for a couple minutes. Amazing.

If Reed, arguable the game’s best defensive player when healthy doesn’t get into the HOF, then who the hell does?

One could even make the argument that for pound (Reed is about 5-11/200), he’s the best defensive player of the modern era – including my favorite Lawrence “I did not have sex with that underage hooker” Taylor.

I quickly turned off the radio and put Maiden’s “Fear of the Dark” back on the air.

Till next time - be good.