After beating the Steelers and winning Super Bowl 45 Sunday night,  Aaron Rodgers is now officially an
elite quarterback. In my opinion, you have to do to things to be an elite
quarterback in the National Football League.

First, you have to be well . . . great. You
have to make other guys better. Do you think Wes Welker would put up the stats
he puts up with Tom Brady if say Colt McCoy was throwing at him?

The second thing is pretty simple, yet
hard to accomplish. You have to win at least one ring. When you win a ring it
means that the quarterback is great and tough. He makes his teammates better,
and he is a leader on and off the field.

For example look at Aaron Rodgers, Drew
Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady
(the quarterbacks of last six Super Bowl champions) and tell me that they
aren’t great, they aren’t though, they don’t make their teammates better, and
they aren’t a leader on and off the field. You can’t.

In the case of Roethlisberger I question
his leadership after his actions that got him a four game suspension from the
NFL. After that, his teammates didn’t even select him as a team captain. I mean
most teams have their quarterback as their captain.

At the end of the day though the Packers
won and will be going to the Whitehouse (they has potential for awkwardness
since Obama is a Bears fan).

Who are the elite quarterbacks in
the game of football. Based on the top fantasy quarterbacks for the 2010 season
they are Michael Vick, Rodgers, Brady, Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers, and Drew
Brees.

You can make a solid case for both Rivers
and Vick. However, they don’t have rings. Disregarding the “ring status” for a
second though, Rivers is very close to becoming elite. I’m not sold on
Vick just yet though. Incase you were wondering, Roethlisberger was the 17^th
best fantasy QB in 2010, while Eli was number 11. Roethlisberger and Eli
Manning to me aren’t good enough though to be elite QBs.

That means that Rodgers, Brees, Brady,
and Peyton Manning are the four elite QB in the NFL. To me though it is Brady
(my biased opinion shows here), Brees, (and here, he actually went to the same
summer camp I go to when he was a kid), Manning, and the Rodgers.

When it comes to Peyton versus Drew I
think Peyton is the better player. However, I think Brees is the better leader
by a long shot, which is why I ranked him ahead of Peyton for now.

Lastly and briefly, can you still say Aaron
Rodgers and Brett Favre in the same sentence? I believe the answer is yes. Do
people still say Joe Montana and Steve Young in the same sentence? So why can’t
you compare Favre and Rodgers. Whether Rodgers likes it or not, he will also be
compared to number 4.

His last name barely fits on his jersey, he
couldn’t throw the ball back to the pitcher last year, and he’s only hit
twenty-three home runs in his career. Yet, Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be catching Josh Beckett, Jon
Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, and Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2011.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was drafted by the
Atlanta Braves with the thirty-sixth pick in the 2003 draft, one pick before
Orioles all-star outfielder Adam Jones.

In 2006 with the braves class A
affiliate, the Rome Braves, Salty had his best year of his young career. He hit
.314, with nineteen home runs, and eighty-one runs batted in. After his
breakout season Baseball America ranked Saltalamacchia as the eighteenth best
prospect in Major League Baseball.

The following year, Saltalamacchia became
the starting catcher for the Mississippi Braves (AA). In twenty-two games,
Salty hit .373 with seven big flies.

The same year, in 2007 Saltalamacchia was
called up on his twenty-second birthday after an injury to Brian McCann and
then made his major league debut.

On July 31, 2007, also in the same year, Elvis
Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison, Beau Jones, and Saltalamacchia were
traded to the Texas Rangers for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay.

Fast-forward three years latter and
Saltalamacchia was put on the disabled list after the first two games of the
2010 season. He was then sent down to AAA because he couldn’t do one of the
simplest things in baseball. Eventually and thankfully, Salty learned how to
throw the ball back to the pitcher.

On July 31, 2010 Jarrod Saltalamacchia
was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Chris McGuiness, Ramon Mendez, a player to be named later (Michael
Thomas), and some money. He was then sent to Pawtucket.

Saltalamacchia was eventually called up after
an injury to Kevin Cash. In his first appearance in the Red Sox starting line
up on August 12, Saltalamacchia went 2-4 with a run scored.

So far, in his time in Bean town, Salty went
just 3-19 (.158), with one RBI, two runs scored, and no home runs. Yet, despite
those stats, the Red Sox are letting Jarrod Saltalamacchia control one of the
best pitching staffs in baseball.

Do the additions of Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon make the Rays contenders again? My answer is no.

After losing Grant Balfour, Jason Bartlett, Joaquin
Benoit, Randy Choate, Carl Crawford, Matt Garza, Brad Hawpe, Dioner Navarro, Carlos
Pena, Fernando Perez, Chad Qualls, Rafael Soriano, and Dan Wheeler the Rays
think that by signing two outfielders, one 37 and the other 38, they along with
the rest of America thinks they are “good” again.

I mean I think that the Rays’ general manager, Andrew
Friedman, is one of the best in baseball. However, what the heck is he
thinking!

First off, the Rays didn’t really need any more
outfielders/ designated hitters. I mean Desmond Jennings, B.J. Upton, and Ben
Zobrist make up maybe one of the best outfields in baseball, even without
Crawford. Now, either Johnny Damon or Desmond Jennings will have to sit on the
bench. That is, unless, Jennings gets sent down to AAA.

However, Zobrist could also be moved to shortstop,
second base, and first base. If Zobrist does get moved to the infield, in my
opinion he would most likely take Dan Johnson’s spot at first.

Then at D.H. you have Matt Joyce and/or Dan Johnson
(depending on Zobrist) who aren’t the best players in the world, but they both
are capable of being an everyday D.H.

The problem with me is that I don’t understand why
they signed both Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon. Their outfield has enough
depth with Justin Ruggiano as to fourth outfielder and Joyce can play the
corner spots.

Jennings is ready for the majors so he shouldn’t be
sent down to AAA. I understand signing Damon or Ramirez to D.H. Yet, I think
signing both of them may have been the Red Sox’s “fault.”

Everyone knows that they Rays have had a pretty bad
offseason. I mean just look at the first sentence of this article. The Red Sox
on the other hand “stole” Carl Crawford and Dan Wheeler. So, I’m assuming that
these moves were made to say that they Rays aren’t just going to roll over.

Also, another obvious reason is attendance. I mean
the Rays have always had low attendances. Heck, Carl Crawford said he signed
with the Red Sox in part to the fact that he knows that there is going to be a
full house every night. I mean Damon has an “attendance clause” for crying out
loud.

However, from Damon and Ramirez’s point of view this
is the perfect team. Damon could be “getting back” at the Yankees for not
resigning him. Also, I’m not exactly sure Damon likes Beantown anymore. Manny
might be trying to “get back” at Boston. I mean that’s just not how you want to
end your stay anywhere. Most likely though, both of those things are false.

But what can you expect from the two of them. Well, I
believe player A, will hit fifteen-twenty home runs, drive in over
seventy-five, and bat anywhere from .250 to .290. Player B will hit ten to
twenty homeruns, drive in either around fifty or eighty, and bat around .250.

Who do you think are player A and B? Player A is
Johnny Damon. Player B is Manny Ramirez. Damon has the potential to have some
nice power numbers this year while the odds are he’ll have a higher batting
average then Ramirez.

Manny though, has an injury history. If he stays
healthy though I think you might be able to see some of his old form return.

Regardless of the performance, baseball fans need to
play close attention to the Rays this year. It could be the last year that two
of baseball’s greatest players play.

Also, in a completely off topic story, am I the only
one that found it ironic that Tom Brady got foot surgery after playing the
Jets?

Photo Credits

1.)  http://carolsxsblog.blogspot.com/2005_04_01_archive.html

2.) http://blog.mlive.com/cutoffman/2010/03/detroit_tigers_links_johnny_da_1.html

3.) http://www.loudsportsshorts.com/baseballs/manny/manny-ramirez.html

                As
I sit here writing, I am still trying to figure out exactly why the New England
Patriots had to lose to the New York Jets. I mean any team but the trash
talking, cocky, annoying Jets. I would have rather gotten killed by the Steelers
next week, murdered in the Super Bowl by the Packers or Bears, heck even lose
in the divisional round to a team like the Seahawks then lose to the foot
loving Jets.

Now I know that when I turn on Mike and
Mike tomorrow, Mike Greenberg will be sitting there saying how much he loves
Mark Sanchez and how good the Jets are.

Any team but the Jets. Any team. Any
team. I would have just loved the Jets to shut up. I mean after the week
thirteen loss, the Jets actually shut up! That was arguably the best two days
of the football schedule, the two days when the Jets were absolutely quiet.

But now though I think I’m beginning to
understand why exactly the Patriot loss still stings so badly and why it is
still keeping me up at night, two nights later.  My conclusion is, Boston sport fans have been spoiled since
2001.

Name one other city with just one NFL,
NBA, and MLB with stars like Tom Brady, Paul Pierce, and David Ortiz. You just
can’t.

Since 2001 the Patriots have won three
Super Bowls (2001, 2003, 2004), The Red Sox have won two World Series (2004,
2007), and the Celtics won the NBA Finals back in 2008. That’s six
championships out of the possible twenty-seven, or over 22%, of all the possible
championships in the NFL, MLB, and NBA, since 2001.

No offense to anyone, but many Boston
sport fans, myself included, can be brats when it comes to sports.

 Oh this guy isn’t doing good trade him. We have a weakness at
this position, so we have to get the best guy out there. When we don’t get what
we want, we let people hear it. Same thing for New York, Philadelphia, Chicago,
etc. fans. Again, no offense.

However, that’s part of the “beauty” of
large marker sports. In Kansas City and Baltimore fans are more laid back for
the most part. Again, no offense. Fans are so dedicated and passionate about
winning. They accept nothing but the best. Look at the crazy fans at football
games that paint their whole body. They are either Raider fans, or fans of the
Patriots, Jets, Giants, Eagles, Bears, etc. When you grow up around a winning
culture, you don’t know how to deal with defeat. Do you get angry or sad? Does
it last a few days or a few weeks?

Recently though, I’ve been learning how
to deal with defeat (unfortunately). The Celtics lost game seven of the NBA
Finals, the Red Sox didn’t even make the playoffs, and now the Patriots are
potentially “done” with their dynasty.

When you’re a kid, you can’t imagine that
your team will lose. I mean they’re your team.
When your team does lose it teaches you a great lesson in sportsmanship and how
to deal with defeat. I am just now getting that lesson though.

I have a friend who is a Cleveland sports
fan and trust me he has got that lesson . . . big time. Today though, I realize
that when I’m practically screaming at the TV after a Kevin Garnett alley oop,
or a Tom Brady touchdown, or a David Ortiz home run. There is some ten-year-old
kid either upset or mad that that had to happen against his team. But he doesn’t know that he is learning maybe the most
valuable lesson in sports.

Looking back, I wish there was a time
when I was that ten-year-old kid. I wish I had learned that lesson sooner then
latter. The “bad” news is that the Celtics look to be making another title run
and the Red Sox have restocked to win another ring. On second thought, I think
that lesson can wait another year. J

When you don’t know how to deal with
defeat and accept nothing but the best and you don’t get the best it stings more
then anything.

-Photo Credits

1.) http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/tomase-pats-spied-on-the-rams-before-sbxxvi

2.) http://connect.in.com/red-sox-tickets/photos-1-1-1-                    72693d71aaca1b6b9cf5cbfeec0dac4d.html

3.) http://gallery.neoseeker.com/Lesley%20Pro_04/photostream/2020860158

P.S. Rex Ryan owes me for not making the title Dazed, Confused, and De-feet-ed

 He
was born in Northridge, California and raised in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. His
name is probably the second most mispronounced name on the Red Sox behind
Jarrod Slatalamacchia. But, Ryan Kalish (KAY-lish) is making a name for himself
self in Bean town. He may have only eighty-four major league at-bats under his
belt, two home runs (one of which I saw, his first, in New York), a .238
batting average, and just ten RBIs but the outfielder deserves to be starting
in left fielder on Opening in 2011.

            First
off, I’m not turning the page for the year the Red Sox can and will make the
playoffs. I’m simply just looking at the potential roster next year. Both J.D.
Drew and Mike Cameron will most likely be gone after the 2011 seasons is over.
So the obvious choice would be to trade one of those two players in the
offseason. It would make more since to trade Cameron as that allows Ellsbury to
move back to center, where he has played most of his career.

            While,
Jacoby does not have the best arm for an outfielder his speed would be wasted
were he to play in left with the Green Monster as his backdrop. Which is why he
never should have moved to left in the first place.

Anyway, while Daniel Nava, Darnell
McDonald, and Bill Hall have had nice seasons there simply is not enough room
and are simply not better then Kalish, Cameron, Ellsbury, or Drew.

The point is though someone is
going to get traded. I doubt Ellsbury would get traded partially because I am
not sure there would be an takers till we know he can still play ball. Cameron
would most likely be a one-year rental as I expect him to retire after his
current deal. As for Drew, he is often regarded as one of the most overpaid
players in major league baseball, meaning the Red Sox would most likely have to
toss in some money.

So what can we expect for Mr.
Kalish in the future? Well, in that very bright future I can see him hit .325
with fifteen homeruns, and 100 RBIs. Eventually, I think he’ll be a line drive
machine and hit doubles off the monster every game. However, next year I think
maybe a .290 average with five-ten home runs with any where from 60 to 85 runs
batted in.

He could see time in the two, five,
six, or seven holes depending on injuries. He will most likely play all three-outfielder
spots. But at the end of the day the most important thing is that Kalish is
nearly a five-tool player. He can hit for contact, field (he has one error and
44 put outs), he can throw (he has two outfield assists), he has decent speed
(he’s faster then Big Papi J),
and the power will come as he reaches his prime.

He might turn out to be a six-tool
player, meaning he can hit in the clutch. I have said it before and I will say
it again, some players, like Alex Rodriguez just can’t hit in the clutch and
choke up. And for the record I think A-’Roid last year in the postseason was a fluke.

Kalish’s first homerun was at Yankee
Stadium and the other was a grand slam. In his first game against the Tigers he
had two hits in four at-bats with an RBI and a run. Is that a sign of greatness
in the clutch or just a fluke? I believe the answer is greatness.

            Kalish
was often over shadowed in the minors by prospect Josh Reddick but know with
the opportunity to play full time Kalish is showing he is just as good if not
better then Reddick.

Photo Credits

1- http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/Opening-Time-Ryan-Kalish-goes-deep-deserves-at?urn=fantasy-260896

2- http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/daily_headlines.html

*Sorry I forgot to post this a few days ago.

After 1,648 hits, 326 home runs,
1,090 runs batted in, 1,592 games, and parts of twelve seasons, Lance “The Big
Puma” Berkman is leaving Houston to play with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez,
Mariano Rivera and the rest of the New York Yankees in the Big Apple.

It’s a bittersweet day in Houston.
On one side, the team is starting over and getting younger. On the other side,
you are losing a franchise player who played his college career (with the Rice
Owls) and pro career in Houston. Berkman has given the city of Houston so many
memories, good ones and bad ones.

Personally, I have two distinct
memories about Lance Berkman. The first autographed baseball I ever got was
Lance Berkman’s on my ninth birthday. However, In spring training of 2008,
while I was trying to get autographs, he went off the field, in a golf cart,
into the clubhouse, (the Astros clubhouse at their spring training park,
Osceola County Stadium, is on the other side of the left field fence) totally
ignoring the fans.

That day, Miguel Tejada, Jose
Valverde, Hunter Pence, and Wesley Wright, among others came a signed for the
me and the rest of the fans. I understand that fans do get a little crazy
sometimes. Ex-Astro Roy Oswalt use to only sign to small groups of fans while
with the Astros but spring training is different. Which, I understand.

Anyway, it has been a gradual
decline in power since 2006 when “Fat Elvis” hit 45 home runs. Since then, he
has hit 34, 29, 25 and 13 (in 85 games this year). And with the exception of
2008 when he drove in 106 runs his RBI totals have gone done every year since
2006 when he had 136 of them.

Now, I expect his power numbers to
increase with the dimensions of Yankees stadium and not having to face Josh
Johnson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Roy Hallady, or Mat Latos (who has a 0.99 WHIP) along
with the rest of the National League pitchers. However, the one thing that
could make his disappointing season even more disappointing would be if he
can’t play ball in the spotlight of New York City.

In return for Berkman the Astros
are getting relief pitcher, Mark Melancon who has a career 4.87 ERA in twenty and
a third innings pitched and Jimmy Paredes, a low A infielder who is 21 years
old.

In Melancon the Astros are getting
a righty who has not really figured it out yet. In 20.1 innings in the majors
he has allowed eleven earned runs, walked ten, hit four, and allowed twenty
hits.

Yet, he will help the terrible
bullpen (sorry Astro fans but it is true) the Astros have. The Astros current bullpen
of Matt Lindstrom, Brandon Lyon, Wilton Lopez, Tim Byrdak, Gustavo Chacin,
Nelson Figueroa, and Fernando Abad (who was just called up) has a surprising ERA
of just 3.33. Much better then I thought considering five of the seven-man
bullpen we not on the opening day roster.

However, there are eight others
(not including catcher Kevin Cash) who pitched out of the bullpen this year,
Brian Moehler (DL), Jeff Fulchino (DL), Alberto Arias (DL), Wesley Wright (SP),
Chris Sampson (not on active roster), Casey Daigle (not on 40 man roster),
Sammy Gervacio (not on 40 man roster), and Gary Majewski (not on 40 man roster)
the ERA becomes 4.85, the fourth worst in baseball. Only the Cubs, Brewers, and
Diamondbacks have a worse bullpen ERA.

Obviously, you do not know what you
are getting in Jimmy Paredes because of him playing A ball. However, Paredes
has been compared to Erick Aybar. Of the Angels. He has batted .282 with 36
stolen bases and 59 runs in 99 games with the Charleston River Dogs. I think he
will eventually play in the majors and maybe be a solid shortstop, a position that
Adam Everett, Julio Lugo, and briefly Tommy Manzella, and Miguel Tejada have
had since 2001.

Wednesday Clay Buchholz and Jed
Lowrie returned from the disabled list. And while, Buchholz didn’t do that good
(Lowrie to me looked great) they are playing.

In order to activate Buchholz and
Lowrie Boston designate Ryan Shealy for assignment and sent Dustin Richardson
and Fernando Cabrera to Pawtuckett (AAA). The Red Sox active roster now has 25
players.

With the emergence of Daniel Nava,
Darnell McDonald, and some nice play lately by Kevin Cash, Michael Bowden, and
Atchison, whom do you send down in place for Jeremy Hermida, Jacoby Ellsbury,
Mike Lowell, Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, Jason Varitek and Josh Beckett.

Jeremy Hermida

            As
soon as I finished writing Hermida’s name NESN said that Daniel Nava has been
optioned to Pawtuckett. It is a shame that Nava has to go back down after doing
a great job filling in for Hermida but at the end of the day either Darnell
McDonald or Nava had to go down and Boston chose Nava. He will probably be back
up in September unless another outfielder gets hurt.

Jacoby Ellsbury

            Ellsbury
might not be back as soon as Hermida but unless there is another injury among
the outfielders it looks like Darnell McDonald will be sent down. Obviously, a
shame that he has to be sent down but he will be back in September with Nava unless an injury happens.

Mike Lowell

            Mike
Lowell is an interesting case. He will start his rehab Thursday. He has
publicly said that he is frustrated and honestly who could blame him. He has not
gotten many starts at third and with Big Papi stepping up not many at
designated hitter. He has done a decent job in a few starts at first base. I
think he will probably get traded before the deadline so it doesn’t really
matter who gets sent down.

            I
think that Lowell might get Boston maybe a left-handed relief pitcher or a
decent prospect. Eric Patterson will probably get sent down but might get
called up after Lowell’s trade. If Lowell does not get traded then Patterson
will get sent down, designated for assignment, or maybe even get traded.

            If
Lowell just gets traded for a prospect who is not ready yet then look at either
Nava, McDonald, or Aaron Bates to get called up. There are many possibilities
with Lowell so we will just have to wait and see.

Dustin Pedroia

Depending on Lowell Eric Patterson
or Michael Bowden will probably get sent down.  If Lowell does get traded for a prospect, Pedroia might just
take Lowell’s roster spot or the player that take Lowell’s spot depending on
when Pedroia comes back. Another guy who could get sent down would be Scott
Atchison. When everyone gets healthy there will be only one long reliever in
the Red Sox bullpen if any. Meaning Bowden, Atchison, or both (with Wakefield
getting moved back to the – bullpen) will get sent down.

Victor Martinez/Jason Varitek

Pretty obvious here, Dusty Brown
and Kevin Cash with be sent down if not designated for assignment.  Brown will probably be taken off the
active roster before Cash. Especially if Varitek comes back before Martinez because
even with Wakefield most likely moving back to the bullpen the Red Sox need a
knuckleball catcher.

Cash should be back up in September
if he is not designated for assignment but I doubt he will be because I think
the Red Sox have learned that it helps to have a backup knuckleball catcher. As
for Brown unless an injury happens I see him spending the rest of the year, and
September and hopefully October in Pawtuckett.

Josh Beckett

            He
will be back Friday so Michael Bowden will probably get sent down for Beckett
to comeback. However, with the possibility of Bowden being used as trade bait
he might stay up in the majors and have Scott Atchison get sent down. One more
thing to take notice of is that Atchison has been used a lot lately and after
seeing Buchholz struggle in his return the Red Sox might want a fresh, rested
long reliever, in Bowden. If Beckett doesn’t struggle then Atchison might be
called back up in place for Bowden.

Obviously, my
“projected” moves can change with a roster move, trade, or injury so with that
said these would be the changes I would start with if I were Theo Epstein.

1.) Hermida- Nava

5.) Ellsbury- McDonald

3.) Lowell- Patterson

7.) Pedroia- Atchison

4.) Martinez- Brown

6.) Varitek- Cash

2.) Beckett- Bowden

(The number next to
the players name is the order in which I’m guessing they will return.)

With all of that said
who knew it would be so hard to send down guys like Daniel Nava, Darnell
McDonald, and Scott Atchison, players who most of you have not heard of before
this season and the beginning of the year. The Red Sox may have had as many
injuries as the 2009 Mets but the only difference is that the Red Sox are still
in contention.

Everyone now has heard about Chris
Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade teaming up down in Miami. Now Wade will
probably be the leader, James the star, but where does that leave Bosh? The
rebounder?

If the Heat want to win they must
learn to all be the playmaker and superstar. I think that if one player
averages ten more points then the other two stars then the Heat will not win
the championship. James and Wade need to average 20-25 points each while Bosh
needs to average 10-15 points per game and 5-10 rebounds.

The Celtics showed that one ball
hog that is a superstar cannot win it by himself. The Celtics beat the Heat, Cavs, Magic, and nearly the Lakers. Actually they beat, Wade, James, the Magic, and
nearly Kobe. The Magic’s superstar, Dwight Howard cannot hog the ball because
he plays in the post as a center. The Magic’s “potential ball hogs” were Jameer
Nelson, Matt Barnes, and Richard Lewis, all-stars but not superstars.

Why is Howard a first all-NBA team
player? His point guard. Howard is a good player but if his starting point
guard was not so good he would drop to the third all-NBA team.

A point guard can completely make a
big man better or worse. For example, Pau Gasol has been better in LA not
because he is a Laker but because of Derrek Fisher. Amar’e Stoudemire needed
Steve Nash to be a superstar.

Bosh has never played with a good point guard. In Toronto he played with a couple of point guards including Jarrett Jack. In Miami his point guard will probably be Mario Chalmers or there is a very small chance maybe Wade starts at point guard. The Heat’s point guard last year, Carlos Arroyo is a free agent.

Point guards who are free agents included Arroyo, Rafer Alston, Eddie House, and . . . Allen Iverson. I honestly think Allen Iverson would not only fit in with the Heat, but also help them.

Iverson’s agent has said his client is back and ready to play in the NBA. I believe Iverson went to rehab and I think he has learned to be a better teammate and even if he hasn’t he will quickly learn to pass the ball with the king, D-Wade, and CB4.

Amar’e Stoudemire needed Steve Nash now in New York he has Raymond Felton. Bosh never had a Nash or even a Felton. While Chalmers is better then Jack he is not better then Iverson or even Felton.

Obviously, Iverson has had his problems with drinking and gambling and if he doesn’t work out release him and you still have Chalmers. No one really wants AI so the Heat could get him cheap.

Iverson is not the same player and if he joins the Heat he does not need to be. Wade, Bosh, and James will have career lows in points but career highs in assists. If AI joined the Heat he also would have career highs in assists.

At the end of the day Iverson is a basketball hall of famer. If he never plays again it would be a terrible way for him to go out. If he played with three of our generations greatest and won a ring.

Amar’e Stoudemire, Paul Gasol, and even Tim Duncan are way better with a good point guard. How good would Bosh be if he had an all-star point guard or even Allen Iverson?

Photo Credits

1- http://dimemag.com/2010/07/chris-bosh-puts-the-heat-on-lebron/

2- http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2008/11/09/2008-11-09_allen_iverson_could_be_the_pistons_answe.html

LeBron James has hurt if not ruined
his chances at being compared to Michael Jordan . . . or has he? And if he has
is it his fault? Well, no one should be compared to Jordan. Not Kobe, LeBron,
or anyone. There is one Kobe, one LeBron, one Jordan, one Russell, one Bird,
and one Magic. It is so annoying to me when legends get compared to all-stars
and players from different generations.

Anyway, back to my point. Kobe,
Jordan, Russell, Bird, and Magic played with one team and won a ring with that
one team in fact they won a total of 30.

However, Kobe had Shaq, Jordan had
Pippen, Russell had Cousy, and Magic had Kareem. LeBron? He had well . . . Big
Z and as much as I respect Big Z he is not a Shaq or Kareem. Sure he had Mo
Williams, Antawan Jaminson, and Shaq but for a combined 3 and a half seasons. Williams
and Jaminson are all-stars but not legends. Shaq last year was 37 and not the
Shaq Kobe played with. LeBron now has Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to help him win a ring.

To keep reading press Continue reading ‘King James’ . . .

The bottom line is Kobe, Jordan,
Russell, Bird, and Magic had serious help and I guarantee that any of those
legends except maybe Jordan could not win a ring with the 2003-2010 Cavs.

The other bottom line is that it
is not LeBron’s fault for leaving Cleveland; it was the former general manager’€™s fault, Danny Ferry. Obviously, LeBron made
the decision but if the Cavs had dumped some salary to get LeBron some help or
just made better moves LeBron could still be a Cav and I think Ferry knows it,
which is why Ferry left.

The Cavs knew James wanted to win a
ring and with the current Cavs roster even with James could not win a
championship and they could no€™t do anything about it.

One thing that could have helped
James stay might have been draft picks. In 2004 with the tenth and the Cavs
only pick they selected Luke Jackson ahead of Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, J.R.
Smith, and Jameer Nelson among others.

In 2005 they did not have a single
pick in the draft.  In 2006 they
did pretty good with the 25th, 42nd, and 55^th picks, Cleveland
selected Shannon Brown, Daniel Gibson, and Ejike Ugobaja. Brown though played
one year with the Cavs. Gibson is still a Cav and is a solid bench player.
Ugobaja never played with Cleveland or any NBA team.

In 2007 they didn’t have a pick in
the draft either. They used their only pick, the 19^th pick, in the
2008 draft to draft a solid bench player in J.J. Hickson. However, they could
have drafted Mario Chalmers, Chris Douglas-Roberts, or Patrick Ewing Jr. Ok
Ewing Jr. has never played in the NBA but his dad could have coached.

In my opinion we have not seen
enough of the 2009 draft class to say whom teams missed out on and the 2010
draft class obviously has not played in the NBA yet.

The Cavs went for need ahead of
talent and it worked out in some cases (Hickson and Gibson) but didn’t in other
cases (Jackson and Brown). If the Cavs had drafted Al Jefferson, Josh Smith,
J.R. Smith or Jameer Nelson LeBron might still be in town . . . or not and his
legacy could be completely changed.

Imagine Jefferson, Josh Smith, J.R.
Smith, or Nelson playing in the 2007 Finals. Jefferson would most likely have
guarded Tim Duncan or Fabricio Oberto. Josh Smith would have most likely
guarded Bruce Bowen. J.R. Smith probably would have guarded Michael Finley.
Lastly, Nelson would have guarded series MVP, Tony Parker. Obviously, I am
assuming that all of those players would have started and still be on the team
three years later among other factors. If that had happened LeBron might still
be the king in Cleveland and/or have a ring on his finger.

Photo Credits

1. http://www.nba.com/heat/news/on_stage_interview_wade_bosh_james_2010_07_10.html

2- http://www.g5leadership.com/blog