600 Home Runs Doesn't Mean That Much Anymore

Alex Rodriguez should at some point hit his 600th home run of his career. Yet I can't help but feel nothing for this moment which should happen here soon and should actually be a big moment for him and us fans. I don't necessarily think it has anything to do with the fact that he cheated and since we're finding out that a majority of the big names that took some form of performance enhancing drugs it is no surprise that he did. Of course since there was no real performance enhancing drug testing in baseball at the time he is given a pass and so he should he wasn't necessarily breaking any rules of the time. He has also admitted this to everyone publically unlike Jose Canseco, Darryl Strawberry, or one of the other endless names of drug users in baseball from the 80's onward. He's not even facing perjury charges like Barry Bonds and didn't write a book like Jose Canseco did about his sorry life. He's just been plain mediocre in the playoffs and has been selfish for the majority of his career.

He has made in gross salary over the last three years $94,000,000. Even if 1/60 of that which I believe is

(1/60) of 94 000 000 = 1 566 666.67

I could quit writing this stupid blog (which about 7 of you if that read anyways) and maybe do some good for me or someone else I had that kind of money. Unlike these idiots like A-Fraud, Paris Hilton, any member of the Kardashian family. I could finally at the very least get my masters degree and start teaching or something. Right now I can barely even afford to run this computer! Having said that let's take a look at the numbers for Mr. Rodriguez shall we.

He's a career .304 hitter which is not bad and that alone would probably get him in the Hall of Fame now that he's won a ring. Of course we mentioned the Home Runs which again as of right now is 599 for his career also a good number. Although, that really to me hasn't been enough for a guy who has made more money than anyone in MLB history up to this point.

Thus far in his 17 seasons of playing he's only been in the postseason 8 out of those 17 seasons. His lifetime batting average in the playoffs thus far is only .302 and he hit less than .300 in 5 out of a possible 13 playoff series he has been in. Most notably the .250 he hit in the World Series last season or the .133 in the 2005 ALDS.

I get that he has produced more offense in the regular season than pretty much any player in the game in the last 2 0 or so years. I also get that he has won MVP awards, won Gold Glove awards, and even decided to humiliate his agent and re-signed with the Yankees without him present. Yet there have alw ays been brighter and better stars on the biggest stages even on his own team, especially that of one Derek Jeter who has been in the playoffs every year in his career, currently batting a career .315 for the regular season and .313 in the postseason and as far as we know didn't illegally dope with anything. Well maybe Mariah Carey but she's married now so that doesn't count.


If A-Fraud breaks the 600 mark tonight or reaches it soon kudos to him. I'm just not that excited by this mark and I don't think you should be either, especially since he seems to be worried about money owed to him from another baseball team instead of winning.

T.O. to the Bengals?

I was going to think of a witty joke about how being a jailbird and wearing orange automatically makes you a member of the Cincinnati Bengals but I couldn't think of anything funny. It has been rumored over the last year or so even while our dear old friend Terrell Owens was playing for the Buffalo Bills that he was going to Cincinnati. Well today those talks have heated up and there is actually interest for the 36 soon to be 37 year-old wide receiver.

If Owens were to actually play for one of the following teams the landscape of the team would be interesting to say the least. The current teams to my knowledge for his services are the Rams, Bengals, and coming late to the party the J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS!

Now in my opinion the best option for Owens if he can get a deal done would be to go to the Cincinnati and walk down Pete Rose Way and eat Cincinnati Chili at Skyline. I'm a little biased having lived there for awhile. I'll provide the quarterback stats of course and let you THE PEOPLE decide on where Owens should go. That's right all seven of you!

Carson Palmer - Cincinnati 2009 Stats
Palmer passed for over 3000 yards (3094 to be exact) threw for 21 Touchdowns and had a rating of 83.3. He also fumbled the ball 6 times and threw 13 interceptions. Palmer was drafted in 2003 out of USC and has been to the playoffs to add to his resume. Clearly the most experienced of the quarterbacks out of these three teams. Owens of course with the Bengals would have to take a back seat to the artist formerly known as Chad Johnson turned Ochocinco. I believe this would be the best fit for both Palmer and Owens. Owens unlike Palmer's former teammates and even some current ones have kept out of trouble. Owens of course doesn't have the speed he once had nor does he have the ability to get that separation down field, but TO would be a good number 2. It isn't like this is still the Bungals team of old where Scott Mitchell is still begging to get on the team, or maybe he is still there outside of Paul Brown Stadium holding his "Will Work for a Chance to Throw Interceptions sign." If T.O. gets an offer here he should take it!

Sam Bradford - Rams
Bradford doesn't really have any stats of consequence so it is doubtful he will be the starter right away. He hasn't even signed yet for that matter. If he is then expect him to have the same kind of rookie season that Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, or even Ryan Leaf had. Anywhere from 1-5 wins for this rookie. More than likely though the starter will be A.J. Feely. Feely in 2007 when he last actually played threw for 681 yards, 8 interceptions, and 5 Touchdowns in 3 appearances. Unlike Bradford, Feely has 10 years NFL experience under his belt and he's been around a bit. Luckily for Owens there isn't a true number one on the Rams right now in the receiving core. He would of course make the most money here I believe, but he would be on a team that again won't win more than 5 games and the deal wouldn't be for more than a year I would guess. This of course is an absolute long shot as well. Since they stink out loud having only won a game last season they need to get younger and better quickly. If they had a solid team around them than yes I cou

Mark Sanchez - Jets
Edwards. He may even end up being a number three receiver behind Sanchez in his rookie season with the Jets made the playoffs and even made it all the way to the AFC championship game. Granted it was their defense that seemed to will them that far, but to Sanchez's credit he didn't give any one team the game away either in 2009. He threw for only 12 Touchdowns, 2444 yards, and 20 picks this past season. A rating of only 63.0. Not exactly hall-of-fame numbers, but not bad for a rookie either. Personally I think that the Jets aren't even real contenders in acquiring the services of Owens. Just like if he were to sign with the Bengals the best Owens could be is a number two receiver behind BraylonJerricho Cotchery. There is also the running back play as well which LaDainian Tomlinson was recently signed after his release from the Chargers. He will command at least 15-20 carries per game. This would then mean less throws to T.O. Even if the Jets make an offer I would think that he's probably already considered this. At this stage in his career though you'll have plenty of time to get not only the popcorn ready, but a full steak and potato meal together. If there are any other teams out there that would even consider signing Owens I don't think they're necessarily nuts they just have to already be well established. Yes, I know he is about as narcissistic as they come, but it isn't like he ever held a city hostage like Brett Favre or Lebron James. He's never had any problems with doping, crime, or terribly under performed like Braylon Edwards did when he was playing for the Browns. Shoot, even Roy Williams of the Cowboys hasn't even come close to what Owens produced while he was in his last season in Dallas. I hope Owens does sign with someone because then I'll get to hear all of those stupid little quotes from him about him and only him.

Raja Rings the Bell Back in Utah

The last time that Raja Bell played in a Jazz uniform, Raul Lopez was proving to all of us he was just another Spanish guy and Carlos Boozer missed the first of many games in his career here in Utah.

In fact, as of April 1, 2005, this was the roster here below.

NO. PLAYER                      POS   HT   WT  YRS      DOB  FROM   
==  ======                      ===   ==   ==  ===      ===  ====   
2  Randy Livingston             G   6-4  210   8    4/2/75  LSU
3  Kirk Snyder                  G   6-6  225   R    6/5/83  Nevada
5 I-Carlos Boozer               F   6-8  258   2  11/20/81  Duke
6  Howard Eisley                G   6-2  185  10   12/4/72  Boston College
10  Gordan Giricek               G   6-5  210   1   6/20/77  Croatia
13  Mehmet Okur                  F   6-11 249   1   5/26/79  Turkey
15  Matt Harpring                F   6-7  231   5   5/31/76  Georgia Tech
19  Raja Bell                    G   6-5  210   3   9/19/76  Fla. International
22  Curtis Borchardt             C   6-11 238   1   9/13/80  Stanford
24 I-Raul Lopez                  G   6-0  175   1   4/15/80  Spain
25  Keith McLeod                 G   6-2  190   1   11/5/79  Bowling Green
31  Jarron Collins               C   6-11 252   2   12/2/78  Stanford
43  Kris Humphries               F   6-9  235   R    2/6/85  Minnesota
44  Ben Handlogten               F   6-10 240   1  11/16/73  Western Michigan
47 I-Andrei Kirilenko            F   6-9  205   2   2/18/81  Russia

I- Injured List

Coach: Jerry Sloan

I wonder what Keith McLeod and Ben Handlogten are up to. I would like to think they are somewhere on a cruise ship with Adam Keefe and David Benoit just livin' the dream. In all seriousness, though, I am not sure if this is the best move the Jazz could have made, but it is a good move.

After canceling on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, Bell agreed to a 3-year deal worth around $10 million with the Jazz. It looks like Wesley Matthews' offer from the Blazers, a five-year $34 million offer, will not be met by the Utah Jazz, barring Bell passing his physical.

Bell in his two seasons for the Jazz averaged about 12 points a game and almost 40% from downtown. In his last full season of play (2008-09), he averaged 13 points a game for Charlotte and just under 10 for Phoenix after being moved there in that same year. Matthews only averaged 9.4 points in his one season in Utah, however, he's still young and can only get better.

Of course, Bell who is almost 34, isn't going to be asked to do everything, but one thing I believe that has been missing from this team since the run of 2006-07 is the veteran leadership role, which Bell can fill. Yes, Derron Williams can be this guy. No question about it, but can he do it alone? Well, no, and that's why Bell was brought in. That and the Jazz needed a less expensive alternative.

Then, of course, there is also the acquisition of Al Jefferson. Jefferson averaged over 17 points a game for the Timberwolves last season along with 8 boards a game. He seems to not only be happy to be here in Utah, but to actually be playing with a playoff team. Even without his services, the Jazz were at least an 8th seed in the West.

You then have to consider what is going to happen to Paul Millsap? Millsap signed a 4-year roughly $32 million dollar deal last year that starts this year. Could they possibly trade Paul? The answer to that is yes, but all indications right now point towards no.

You also have to consider Mehmet Okur? Okur is coming off of a ruptured Achilles tendon injury that at his age may not make him as productive as he was. Now, it is possible that he comes back to play and is fine, but he isn't nearly as athletic, as say, Vinny Testaverde after he ruptured his in 1999.

It is looking more and more like the starting five for the Utah Jazz could be Deron Williams at the point, Raja Bell or CJ Miles at shooting guard, Andre Kirilenko at the small forward, Paul Millsap at power forward, and Al Jefferson at center. Of course, this is all speculation at this point by me. Although, don't be surprised if any of these moves actually happen.

While I am sure that the Jazz will be competitive, the real question remains that with these moves, does it just set them up for another early exit from the playoffs? Depending on what seed they get in the playoffs, the Jazz could end up in the conference finals. It is also possible they could end up tanking it as well. Only time will tell.

It really could be worse, we could be talking about Gordan Giricek, Raul Lopez, Howard Eisley, and Ben Handlogten starting for the Jazz.

Lebron James is a Narcissist! Not a Criminal!

Congratulations to the people in Cleveland, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles (Clippers), New Jersey, and I guess pretty much every other city that is pissed at Lebron James. You lost again!

Look! The Lebronathon is finally over, move on!Thank goodness it is over because I was getting ready to think I might have to kidnap the so-called King like Daniel Stern and Dan Aykroyd kidnapped Damon Wayans in the movie Celtic Pride just so he's not on TV anymore.

I also agree with many that he shouldn't have signed with Miami to basically be a glorified Scottie Pippen. Old BIG nose is probably laughing his butt off somewhere right now just thinking about how Michael didn't ever leave Chicago to get a ring and I made my shots to help him get his rings. In fact at this point the Heat will be the 2001 and 2003 Yankees. All the talent with no championships. Now I get that this is a huge upgrade, but Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and yes even Kobe Bryant would have not done it this way.

Lebron James was as his former owner Dan Gilbert put it "a coward." He is ducking behind the talent that the Miami Heat have now so he can win a championship without having to do much and then probably go get more money somewhere else. He may even continue to win rings with the Heat and never have won one where he was the dominant player making the people around him better like Michael Jordan.

Now that's over let us remember one thing and please keep this in mind. THIS WAS HIS CHOICE!!!!! You people make him out to be more than he is which is just another selfish basketball player. I mean sure he did this the wrong way with his self proclaiming ESPN show, but it isn't like he did anything any of these guys did!



He didn't allegedly rape anyone, he didn't cheat on his wife, he didn't illegally bring a gun into a night club, start a dog fighting ring, or even take performance enhancing drugs! If you don't like it than quit paying for tickets, quit watching games, and quit buying the stupid team apparel that is terribly overpriced like the pink jerseys. You the fans quit going and quit following these guys and I guarantee much of this all goes away. Besides if you really want justice just think about all those women he'll have to pay off because they keep having his babies.

If you really want to be upset at anyone be upset with Dan Gilbert. He is the one who hired James' cronies, the one who let James get away with all sorts of things, the one who let James act like a little spoiled brat for years, and the one who essentially bronzed his jock strap! Oh and unless the Cleveland Cavaliers fans haven't noticed he may want to win, but he certainly isn't committed to do it otherwise he would have tried a little harder.

One final note, RIP George Steinbrenner. Now you have plenty of time to argue with Billy Martin about anything you want.