Best to Worst: Divisions in Baseball

1. American League East
NY Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays, Orioles

Realistically, any of these 5 teams has a legitimate chance at taking home this division title in 2013. Last year, no one expected the Baltimore Orioles to win 93 games and take the Yankees to the final week of the season to determine the division champ, but they did. Buck Showalter led his group on a remarkable campaign, which saw them in contention the entire season and clinch their first playoff berth 1997 as one of the American League's Wild Card squads.

Courtesy of NorthJersey.com

There's also the Rays, who have been a fantastic team since they dropped the Devil from their name in 2008, and are constantly loaded with young talent and the ever-important pitching. You also have a reloaded Jays team, the aging but dangerous Yankees, and the huge question mark that are the Red Sox.

In all likelihood, the Red Sox won't be contending for higher than 3rd in this division, but they're talented enough to win games and give teams trouble.

2013 Favorites on Paper: Toronto Blue Jays
Why: On paper is much different than actually getting the season underway and playing, but "on paper" is a favorite discussion of those who wish to scrutinize and analyze before the games are played. In this case, the Jays are the new, sexy team of the AL East. They made a blockbuster trade with Miami, landing a new shortstop (Jose Reyes) and two new starters (Mark Buerhle and Josh Johnson), then went out and traded for reigning NL Cy Young winner RA Dickey. In addition to those, they also signed the enigmatic Melky Cabrera. Add these fellas to a lineup that smashed 198 homers in 2012, and you have a recipe for a team that should find success relatively quickly.

2. National League East 
Nationals, NY Mets, Braves, Marlins, Phillies

The only two teams that, most likely, won't be in contention are the Mets and Marlins. What with the Marlins, once again, selling off their entire roster at the behest of the sideshow ownership led by Jeffrey Loria, and the Mets being the Mets. That being said, the other three teams in this division are solid.

The Nationals are coming off a stellar 2012, owning the best record in baseball and surprising the world with their dominance. The Braves are also young and extremely talented, ready to go with some new acquisitions, the most notable being the Upton brothers. The Phillies also surprised a lot of people in 2012, but not for the reasons they were striving for. Led by a stout rotation headed by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, many expected the Phillies to once again run away with the NL East. However, that was not the case. They struggled to score runs and stay healthy, and looked like a generally old and tired team throughout. If they can bounce back and provide their pitching depth with an offense capable of holding their own, they should be in good shape for a revamped run at the division.

2013 Favorites on Paper: Washington Nationals

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

Why: After a great season in 2012, the Nationals will be back to prove it was no fluke. Bryce Harper will be a year older and more comfortable in his new digs, and he'll have a new outfield counterpart in the form of Denard Span. Also, the likes of Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Adam LaRoche form one of the better infields in baseball because of their defensive prowess coupled with their solid offensive abilities. The Nationals are also blessed with one of the most stout rotations in all the land, boasting Stephen Strasburg, who will be a free bird in 2013, along with last years Cy Young contender Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman and recently-acquired Dan Haren. The Nats should be able to score with just about anyone, and out-pitch just about everyone.

3. American League West 
Athletics, Angels, Rangers, Mariners, Astros

Two years ago, this ranking would've seemed unlikely, or a stretch at best. But now, after a 2012 season which had two teams win over 90 games and another win 89, we have ourselves a fine division. The Oakland A's shocked everyone by capping an incredible season and topping the Rangers for the division crown in the last series of the season, and should be in a decent position to have another good campaign for 2013. The Rangers have been a steady powerhouse of the American League for 3 years running now, and the Angels will be reloaded for what should be a more successful run in 2013.

The only teams in this batch that really don't stand a chance are the Astros and Mariners. The Mariners have been inept for about a decade now, and despite improvements they probably won't be in any sort of position to make a run next season either. Their problem is they can't hit or score runs despite having a decent pitching staff. They should be better with the additions of Michael Morse, Kendrys Morales, and Raul Ibanez, but it won't be enough to get them anywhere just yet.

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Then there's the Astros. The Astros are just the Astros. Anyone who can name more than 6 players on this roster deserves a bonus because they're full of inexperienced youngsters who are just sniffing the bigs for the first time. They can't hit, they can't pitch, and they can't field as they were in the bottom 5 of each of these categories in 2012. It'll be a long adjustment period to the AL for the Astros, and they won't be good anytime soon. Nothing to see here.

2013 Favorites on Paper: LA Angels
Why: After calling up Mike Trout on April 28th, the Angels were the best team in baseball. They didn't make the playoffs, however, because prior to that date the Angels were abysmal. They dug themselves such a huge hole, that despite doing everything, and I mean everything, even Trout couldn't lead them into the postseason. That should all change in 2013 as he'll be there for the whole season, and he'll be joined once again by Albert Pujols who settled into the American League nicely after a minor acclimation period at the onset. Also coming to Southern Cali in 2013 is Josh Hamilton. The 2010 MVP will be a huge asset to the Angels, as he's arguably still the best offensive player in baseball and will add a new level of danger to their lineup. It also helps that they stole him away from the Rangers, their division foe. Combine their great lineup with the likes of Jered Weaver, CJ Wilson and Tommy Hanson holding down the fort on the mound, and you should have the talent to secure a division title in sunny LA.

4. National League Central
Reds, Cardinals, Brewers, Pirates, Cubs

Fortunately for the NL Central, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, they rid themselves of the Houston Astros for 2013 who would've weighed down the collective mean of the group. Yet they still have the Pirates and the Cubs, who haven't been good for a while, so there's that. The last two seasons the Pirates have teased baseball fans everywhere by contending for the division title as late as the All-Star break, but in classic Pirate fashion they faltered horribly down the stretch and finished under .500 to carry that streak to 20 seasons. Imagine that: 20 straight seasons of having lost more games than you've won. Ineptitude at it's finest. But they are improving. Andrew McCutchen should be their face for the next decade, and he shows huge promise, finishing 3rd in the MVP vote last season after a spectacular season. The Cubs, on the other hand, won't be good for a while.

The Reds and Cardinals are clearly the top dogs in this division, and the Brewers are a distant third. Sure, they have Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo as their centerpieces, but that's about it. They've got some aging veterans, and some unknown youngsters but should be a decent team with all things considered.

Despite losing Albert Pujols to free agency and Adam Wainwright to injury in 2012, the Cards still won 88 games and nearly made it back to the World Series. There's just something about this team that seems to always get the job done, and they should once again in 2013 if all goes well. They've got a very good lineup, and an extremely deep rotation, even with the reported loss of Chris Carpenter for the season.

2013 Favorites on Paper: Cincinnati Reds

Courtesy of Zimbio

Why:  They'll have Joey Votto, hopefully, for a full season which will improve their struggling offense undoubtedly. Even without him for much of the latter half of the season, the Reds still won the Central by 9 games, good enough for the largest margin of any division winner in the MLB. Their pitching, led by Johnny Cueto, is among the best in baseball and should be quite solid once again. If they can hit even remotely better than they did in 2012, the Reds should have no problem snatching this division once again for 2013. Also, lest we forget that this team was only one win away from a berth in the NLCS as well.

Mr. do-it-all Brandon Phillips will be back, and the addition of Shin-Soo Choo should be a good boost for the top of the lineup. If all goes according to plan, the Reds should have little trouble winning this division.

5. National League West
Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres, Rockies

Coming in with the second worst division in baseball, is the NL West. This is the division from which the defending World Champion Giants hail, but it doesn't mean this division is much of anything. Save for a couple seasons, the Padres and Rockies are perennial cellar-dwellers, and should be chalked up for 4th and 5th place finishes once again in 2013. The Diamondbacks defined mediocrity last season with their 81-81 record, and perhaps could be a tad better in 2013, but not by much. Best case scenario for them is likely 3rd once again.

The Giants and Dodgers, two arch-rivals of Southern California are the two teams to watch here. The Giants are obviously talented given their championship just a few months ago, and the Dodgers are loaded with their recent additions. The issue for the Giants is their inability to score runs. Just like they did in 2010, however, they defied all odds by winning a title with a subpar offense and phenomenal pitching. Yes, Buster Posey won the NL MVP and batting title, but he can't do it all himself. The pitching will need more support, and I just don't know that they can get it from this lineup. Another interesting question mark for them is Tim Lincecum. Will he resemble the two-time Cy Young winner of a few years ago, or will he continue his inexplicable downward spiral? He may be the difference between a division title, and a wild card berth.

Courtesy of Fan Duel

2013 Favorites on Paper: LA Dodgers
Why: On paper, the Dodgers have it all. If healthy, and that's a huge if, they have an outstanding outfield which includes Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, and Andre Ethier. They also acquired Adrian Gonzalez last August, and Hanley Ramirez in late July to provide more pop to their somewhat bland lineup. Add them to a rotation lead by 2011 Cy Young winner, and last years runner up, Clayton Kershaw and the recently signed Zack Greinke, and you're looking at a very dangerous team. If the Dodgers can stay healthy and continue to pitch well, they should certainly be considered the favorites for this division. The Giants should be their true test, but if they're firing on all cylinders they'll definitely be the cream of the crop of the NL West.

6. American League Central 
Tigers, White Sox, Royals, Indians, Twins

No offense to the Tigers, who made the World Series in 2012, but this division is downright embarrassing. Granted, they should be better in 2013, as the Indians should be improved, but it's still a division thats tough to watch. Last season, it took a meager 88 wins to win this division crown, and that's a number that 4 non-division-winners eclipsed last year. Had the Rays been in this division, they likely would have won 95-100 games and been a dominant force. Instead they played in the stout East and had to face the Yankees, Jays and Orioles regularly, winning 90 games in the process.

This isn't to say things can't get better. They were competitive in their own right and the division came down to the White Sox and Tigers in the last two weeks of the season. The Sox are young and on the rise with a good pitching staff, just probably not enough to grab this division just yet. The Royals always seem like they might get better, but eventually go back to being the old reliable of the bunch, losing somewhere in the vicinity of 90 games every year. I'd like to think they'll be better with the acquisition of James Shields, Wade Davis, and Ervin Santana, but I'm not exactly counting on it.

The Indians should be better with Terry Francona now leading the way, but it's tough to envision their pitching being much better than it was last year, which wasn't exactly good. As for the Twins, they pretty much had a firesale in the offseason, and you'd be hard-pressed to name anyone on their roster without the initials JM.

2013 Favorites on Paper: Detroit Tigers
Why: After reaching the World Series in 2012, the Tigers showed they can still ball despite their mediocre regular season. A team which included Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, and Prince Fielder was expected to win more than 88 games and contend for the World Series, and at least they did the latter. They've got a great lineup, which will only improve with the addition of a healthy Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter, and a deep rotation.

Courtesy of Sporting News

They have the only pitcher to win an MVP in the last 20 years, Justin Verlander, and he's got a solid supporting rotation around him with the likes of Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, and Max Scherzer. They also have the only player to win the batting Triple Crown in the last 45 years in Cabrera. Needless to say, Detroit has a lot of stars.

If Austin Jackson continues his growth to superstardom at the top of their lineup, and things fall into place the way they should, the Tigers should have zero trouble winning this below-average division. Playing the Royals and Twins upwards of 18 times a piece is a gift that I'm sure they'll capitalize on, and they should march onwards towards October with another division title in hand.

NBA Midseason Awards

With the NBA season more than halfway over, people will begin number-crunching and analyzing every statistic known to man in order to cast their votes for their end-of-season picks. If the season were to end today, these are who I see best fit to walk away with the NBA's major awards.

MVP- Kevin Durant, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder

Courtesy of Washington Times

The Durantula is the face of a franchise for a squad that has only been in existence for 5 years, and he's done an admirable job making them highly recognizable among the league's best during his tenure. In summation, Durant is one of the most electric players in the league today. At 6'9'', he is probably an oversized small forward, but it fits the dynamism of his game that much better. He can pull up from just about anywhere and hit a shot over any defender, drive through the lane and jam from 5 feet out, or drive and pull up, making his defender sprawl out trying to contest his shot. Between him and LeBron, you'll potentially have the next decades worth of MVP awards sticking between two guys the way they play. And aside from the aforementioned LeBron, you won't find a more unique and dangerous offensive threat with the ball in his hands.

And with the way KD has performed to this point in the season, leading the league in scoring for the 4th straight year and also leading the way in minutes played, it's hard to argue against him. Currently, his team has the 2nd best record in the NBA sans James Harden, and Durant is the biggest reason why. With him enjoying a career year in terms of FG percentage, 3-point percentage, and en route to blast his career-high in assists, Durant is certainly a worthy candidate for the highly coveted MVP award, finally snatching it from the firm grasp of LBJ.

Honorable Mentions: James (MIA), Kobe Bryant (LAL), Chris Paul (LAC), Carmelo Anthony (NYK)

Rookie of the Year- Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

In what's been a very solid rookie class, the one who stands out the most has to be Damian Lillard of Portland. Not only has he been a lightning rod in the Blazers offense, he's been a reliable ball handler who looks poised and experienced in a league suddenly loaded with point guard talent. He's been a catalyst for Portland's offense, being their primary floor general while averaging nearly 39 minutes per contest. His time played, coupled with his solid 18.5 PPG and 6.5 APG averages, makes you look at this guard out of Weber State and wonder what his future holds, as it certainly looks very bright.

Despite other big names such as #1 overall pick Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, both out of Kentucky, Lillard has flown under the radar as an generally unheard of rookie mixed in the shuffle of the other notable rookies. Especially being in a market such as Portland, Lillard is also missing out on a little bit of publicity that he may otherwise receive if he were performing at this level in the likes of Los Angeles, Boston, or Chicago. Despite that, Lillard is certainly a budding star in a league full of them, and he'll likely be recognized at the end of the season for his efforts.

Honorable Mentions: Davis (NOH), Kidd-Gilchrist (CHA), Andre Drummond (DET)

Most Improved Player - Paul George, SF, Indiana Pacers

Courtesy of NBA.com

This award, probably the most arbitrary of all of them, is hardest to decipher because of what is exactly it means. Does it mean that this player is simply getting more playing time and executing, or does it convey someone who has done more with the same opportunity he's had in previous years? Regardless, I'm giving it to Paul George as he has enjoyed the similar playing time as previous years, but he's rounding into more of a leader that the Pacers expected when they drafted him 10th overall in 2010.

What stands out the most is that Indiana has gone the whole season without Danny Granger thus far, and George is making the absence of him look seemingly insignificant. He's obliterating his career high for PPG (17.6), assists (3.7), rebounds (7.6), 3-point percentage (39%), and minutes played (38), and looking like a superstar in the process. He's helped the Pacers to the third best record in the East, and look like serious contenders in a conference where there are only a few who look legitimate.

George has finally turned into the all-around player that Indiana thought they were selecting 3 years ago, and they're reliance on him is certainly paying off.

Honorable Mentions: Jrue Holiday (PHI), Greivis Vasquez (NOH), Serge Ibaka (OKC)

Defensive Player of the Year- Joakim Noah, C, Bulls

In a year without the services of Derrick Rose being readily available, Joakim Noah has kept the Bulls afloat with his breakout year. After being selected to his first All-Star roster, Noah has continued to prove why he's one of the best big men in the league, and why he's a borderline superstar for different reasons.

What Noah brings to the table are the intangibles. He brings effort, hustle, emotion, and leadership night in and night out. He's the type of player you hate when you play against him, but love if he's on your side. Aside from the things you can't calculate in statistics, Noah is also averaging career highs in blocks (2.1) and steals (1.3) per game. He's a big-time presence in the paint, and he's truly turned into one of the most efficient defenders down low in the post, making ball-handlers second guess their decisions to enter the paint. Similar to Tyson Chandler of last year, Noah has always been a good defender, but has elevated his game this year and is worthy of being recognized as the leagues best for 2012-13.

Honorable Mentions: Chris Paul (LAC), Marc Gasol (MEM), Tony Allen (MEM)

Sixth Man of the Year- Jamal Crawford, SG, Los Angeles Clippers 


In what is turning into a two-man race between Crawford and JR Smith of the Knicks, I give the edge to Crawford because of the difference maker he has been since his debut in Clipper red at the beginning of this season. He's an incredible playmaker, becoming notable for his excellent ball-handling skills and ability to create his own shot. He's also provided a huge relief to the likes of Chris Paul, being able to keep him fresh and keep the offense flowing while #3 is resting up on the bench. Crawford and Eric Bledsoe have led a second-unit that is undoubtedly the best in the NBA, and one that could arguably be a starting five on some of the leagues less talented teams.

Crawford has been a huge lift to a Clippers team that has looked like serious title-contenders in 2012-13, and his role off the bench has put him in a position to win this award for the second time in his career.

Honorable Mentions: Smith (NYK), Jarrett Jack (GSW), Kevin Martin (OKC)

Coach of the Year- Mark Jackson, Golden State Warriors

Always a contentious category, Coach of the Year is given typically to a guy who has led his team to places beyond original expectations. Mark Jackson certainly fits this category.

After an uninspiring first season at the helm which resulted in no playoff appearance and being 20 games under .500, Jackson has turned his team around to the utmost extent. Currently sitting as the 6th seed in an ultra-competitive Western Conference, Jackson has made the most of his teams talent and has turned them into one of the most exciting teams in the league. Players like Stephen Curry, Jarrett Jack, and Klay Thompson are enjoying career years under the tutelage of Jackson, and he's proving why many people thought he'd make a great coach while he sat as an NBA color commentator for a number of years after his playing career ceased. If the Warriors can clinch a playoff berth, or even improve upon their current standing, Jackson should be a shoo-in for this award.

Honorable Mentions: Mike Woodson (NYK), Frank Vogel (IND), Tom Thibodeau (CHI)

Super Bowl Continues to Prove It's Greatness

A 34-minute blackout, filling an empty void with terrible impromptu broadcasting, and the ridiculousness of Phil Simms were 3 things that made all football fans roll their eyes in disgust during last night's 47th edition of the Super Bowl, yet that didn't change anything. By the time the final whistle had sounded, this year's Super Bowl had once again shown why it is the single greatest sporting event in North American sports, and why nothing will change that for the foreseeable future.

Courtesy of Forbes

After two weeks of build up consisting of never-ending reminders that the Harbaugh coaches are indeed brothers, Ray Lewis loves God and is retiring, and Colin Kaepernick is really fast, we finally arrived at Sunday night, ready for the opening kickoff. There was no more need for useless chatter building hype, and insane pricking and pronging into the most unnecessary statistics, we could finally just kick back and watch what was certain to be a great game. One in which the 49ers were the favorites, and it was widely thought that they'd walk off the field as World Champs at the end.

But wait, after a 3 and out to start their first drive, followed by two Ravens scores, people started wondering what was going on. Suddenly it was the Ravens that looked like the juggernaut, both offensively and defensively, and the Niners were scampering to pick up the pieces. Yet before it could get better, it had to get worse. Joe Flacco found a falling Jacoby Jones deep down the middle of the field, where he made the grab and sprung up untouched, eventually dancing and spinning around the constantly-exploited Chris Culliver to jog into the endzone for a 56-yard score. Luckily for the Niners, they managed to convince David Akers to actually kick not one, but two kicks through the uprights, giving them their only points of the first half. It was 21-6 at the midway point, and the 49ers were certainly wondering what was going on.

After deferring the opening coin toss, the Ravens were set to receive the ball first in the second half. The kickoff found the back of the endzone, sending Jacoby Jones 8 yards deep to field it. Rather than taking a knee, Jones made a run for it, but he made it count. He split the seam and sprinted up the middle of the field, breaking a tackle and busting loose for a 108-yard return to the house. It was the longest play in Super Bowl history and the Ravens had picked up right where they left off. Then the lights went out. Literally.

A 34-minute power outage sent CBS into a frenzy, scurrying to do whatever they could to fill this incredibly awkward void. Players killed time by stretching, tossing the pigskin, and doing whatever they could to stay loose. Finally, the lights were turned back on in the SuperDome and the game was resumed. But the Niners must have found some secret in the confines of the dark, because once play continued it was all San Francisco, and Baltimore was nowhere to be found. They went on to score 17 unanswered points in the third quarter, thanks to touchdowns by Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore, and were now within 5 points of the Ravens who had staked themselves to such a huge lead.

What was once a one-sided, purple-filled blowout was now an actual ballgame. The Niners, and Colin Kaepernick, were flexing their proverbial muscles and were showing that the first half was just a fluke. The Ravens began the 4th quarter with a long drive that resulted in a goal-line stand by SF, and only 3 points for Baltimore. The 49ers continued holding momentum by driving right back down the field, and capping the drive with a 15 yard touchdown run by Kaepernick, the longest rushing score by a QB in Super Bowl history. After another Baltimore field goal, Kap led the Niners on another drive with just over 4 minutes left in the game. They needed a touchdown to take the lead, but after having 1st and goal following a 33-yard rush by Gore, San Fran was stopped dead in their tracks. Three straight pass attempts to Crabtree resulted in San Fran turning the ball over on downs and essentially clinching the game for the Purple Pain.

Joe Flacco was named MVP, thanks to his 287-yard, 3 TD performance, and he tied Joe Montana for the most touchdowns in the playoffs without throwing a pick. A 34-31 victory sent Ray Lewis into the sunset a champion once again, and once again proved the old adage that if a team gets hot at the right time, they can certainly run the table. But this game was more than the Ravens being crowned champs, it meant that American football was once again crowned the king of the four major sports. Nothing can even hold a candle to the power that football holds in this country, and the Super Bowl encapsulates that in one event.

Courtesy of CNN

Even when it looks like it's going to be a blowout, the Super Bowl has this magical way of drawing the viewers attention. If the lights had gone out with the Ravens holding a 22-point lead, and they had lost, we'd be hearing about this being the reason they lost for the next 6 months, and nobody needed that. Luckily for our sanity, the Ravens held on to avoid that ridiculous notion, but the Niners at least battled back to make it one hell of a game.

Not to mention that the Super Bowl is one singular event. It's not a series, unlike the other 3 sports which all require the winner to win 4 games to be crowned. You can settle in for one Sunday night, and know that by the end you'll be assured to see a victor. If you want to do that for the other sports, you'd need to set aside a week or longer in order to find out who comes out victorious.

The greatness of the Super Bowl lies in it's suddenness and it's ability to provide the unexpected. There's also a reason why it costs $4 million dollars to advertise for 30 seconds during this game, and it costs around $3,000 to buy a ticket. This is the hottest commodity in all of sports, and it's pitting the two best teams in the league against one another for the entire world to see. Simply put, there's nothing else like it, and currently nothing can rival it. At the pace that it's going, nothing will be able to rival it anytime soon, either. Baseball seems to be losing it's luster, given it's constant controversy and reluctance to join the 21st century. It's also too boring. In an age where people need things done lightning fast, and prefer to multi-task than to do one thing, football fits us perfectly. It's insanely fast, wildly violent, and anything can happen at any second. Unlike baseball where there's practically a minute between each pitch, and basketball where you really don't need to see much until the fourth quarter, football provides us with immediate satisfaction and it is fully encapsulated in the wonderment surrounding it's biggest draw, the Super Bowl. It's the greatest show we have in this country, and it consistently proves why every single year.

The Fall of Alex Rodriguez

There was a point in time where Alex Rodriguez was the can't-miss prospect of baseball. He was the up and coming stud shortstop who could do it all, so much so that he bypassed playing college at Miami to be drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 1st pick of the 1993 draft. He saw limited action in both the '94 and '95 seasons, but in 1996 he stormed onto the scene in his first full season as a regular. He took his spot at shortstop and looked impressive with solid defense to go with his his balmy .358 average, 36 home runs and 123 RBI, finishing 2nd in the MVP vote. People took one look at this kid and thought, "he's the next great one".

Courtesy of ESPN

And they weren't wrong. He went on to play 5 full seasons in Seattle, finishing in the top 10 of the MVP voting each year, and averaging 37 HR's, 115 RBI and 25 steals. Then, he cashed in on his next opportunity. The Texas Rangers wanted him, and they were willing to cough up a good chunk of change for him to bolt from Seattle. He ended up signing a 10-year, $252 million dollar contract with them, by far the richest contract in the history of North American sports. But given the totally different state of baseball economics as opposed to the real world, why not? This was a franchise player who you'd have locked up for a decade. Someone who'd be worth the money, but he'd have to live up to it.

That's when he supposedly decided to dip his toe into the PED waters. He was just given this monstrous contract, and he needed to perform to show that he was worth it. And perform he did. Despite only spending 3 seasons in Texas, Rodriguez absolutely killed it. He lead the league in home runs each season, blasting 52, 57, and 47 in each season respectively, and averaged 132 RBI to go with a .305 average during his brief tenure in Arlington. He also won the 2003 MVP, even though the Rangers finished dead-last in their division and were a generally awful team.

That's when the Yankees stepped in and offered to take him off the Rangers hands. Texas was now realizing what a burden his contract was, and how badly it was hindering their growth as a franchise. After nearly sending him to Boston in a deal that would have netted them Manny Ramirez, the Yankees hopped in and grabbed him in exchange for Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees were now getting this superstar who had already garnered 345 career home runs courtesy of one of the most beautiful swings in baseball, and was still on a lightning pace to break the home run record along with countless other records, including Pete Rose's hits record.

To be able to elaborate upon Rodriguez's stint in the Bronx, you'd have to transcribe it into some sort of novella for it to be readable. In short, A-Rod was up and down with mostly ups as he stayed healthy. He twice won the AL MVP, with his most impressive season coming in 2007 as he bombed 54 home runs, 156 RBI and boasted a .314 average. In addition to leading the league in HR's and RBI, he also was the frontrunner in slugging (.645), OPS (1.067), total bases (376), and runs (143). All of this was aside from him switching positions to play third base, as Derek Jeter was the incumbent shortstop, and playing under the extremely bright lights of New York. Countless times Rodriguez was told to "earn his pinstripes" and was constantly berated over his ever-growing celebrity off the field, his sometimes questionable on-field antics, and his growth as one of the most enigmatic figures that baseball had ever seen.

Following the now-infamous ordeal surrounding the exposition of him as a former steroid user during his stint in Texas, Rodriguez came forth in 2009 and told everyone that he did in fact use steroids while with the Rangers, but he ceased use of these after Spring Training of '03. Now, on top of everything else he had to deal with, there was now this admission. However, it seemed as though this was a weight lifted from his broad shoulders as he went on to have his 12th straight season of 30 long-balls and 100 RBI, and absolutely dominate the postseason, something he had never done before. He had long been seen as a postseason failure, but in 2009 he delivered: batting .365 with 6 HR and 18 RBI, leading the Yankees to their first World Championship since 2000.

Since that season, Rodriguez has found himself riddled with injuries and unable to stay on the field for a full season. He hasn't even played more than 138 games since his MVP year of 2007, and his recently signed 10-year, $275 million dollar contract is looking more and more like a massive burden and mistake on the part of the Yankees front office. He still has 5 years left on that deal, and is owed more than $114 million, so it's impossible for the Yankees to simply just cut him. While he's still an above average third baseman when healthy, he certainly is not worth the money he's being paid and the baggage that he seems to always bring along for the ride. Especially now, as we are on the heels of another surprising report claiming that Rodriguez was among 6 players named on a list of ballplayers who received performance-enhancing drugs during the 2012 season.

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

This would be the second time A-Rod would be nabbed as a user, and it's especially disconcerting considering there was a point in time where he said he was done with them and hadn't used any since 2003. That would have to make one wonder how long he's actually been flying under the radar doing these things, and what this will ultimately mean to the rest of his career. It's been reported that the Yankees are willing to explore all avenues to void his contract if he is indeed disciplined by MLB for his reported use of PED's. All this aside from the fact that A-Rod is sidelined until at least the All-Star break regardless, as he is coming off major hip surgery.

Combine the injuries, with the off-the-field distractions, with his obvious decline in skill, and now the purported use of his steroid use and you see what is fueling the urge for the Yankees to want to cut their ties with the once-surefire Hall of Famer. All of this blossoming from a young high school kid who seemingly was supposed to be the next big thing to grace baseball. He surely was the next big thing, but maybe not for all the reasons Rodriguez would have hoped.

5 NFL Players That Could Change Teams

With NFL teams free to sign whichever free agents they desire beginning on March 13th, teams will surely be looking to improve upon a roster that they already have. While perhaps making a few marquee changes, most teams will sit pat and make a few low-key changes to bolster their squads.

There will also be a number of players that are not free agents, but will surely be made available via trade or restricted free agency. Here are 5 of the most intriguing of whom could be wearing different uniforms come next September.

5. Reggie Bush, RB

Courtesy of Naples News

Bush makes this list not because of his skill and playmaking, but because of the intrigue that he carries because of his aforementioned skill. Coming out of USC, Bush was considered the once-in-a-lifetime, can't miss prospect. He was simply electric at Southern Cal, smashing records and making opposing collegiate defenses look absolutely foolish. Then when the Texans passed him up with the #1 overall pick, people were absolutely beside themselves with shock. As it would turn out, the Texans made the right choice by passing on Bush and selecting Mario Williams who was a stalwart on their defense for 6 years.

Bush went on to win a Super Bowl with the Saints, and was later traded to Miami for a 6th round pick and some shoulder pads. With the Dolphins, Bush resurrected his career. He's rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, something he never did in New Orleans, and he's gotten a crack at showing what he can do as an every-down type back. There are still durability questions about Bush, and there are certainly still questions about the type of player he is and whether he can carry the load, but his skill-set and dynamic playmaking potential make him very intriguing for a team searching for a ballcarrier who can catch out of the backfield and make defenders miss.

With him being tabbed as "highly unlikely" to return to Miami in 2013, Bush will almost certainly find a new home and try to elongate his up-and-down career elsewhere.

4. Matt Flynn, QB

After signing a lucrative 3 year, $19.5 million dollar contract with the Seahawks last post-season, it was widely assumed that Flynn would compete for, and win, the Seahawks starting QB position. After his signing, Seattle went out and selected Russell Wilson in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft, presumably to groom behind Flynn. Then, Wilson went out and set the world ablaze, earning the starting gig outright and relegating Flynn once again to the bench. Only this time instead of backing up a Super Bowl winner, he was now backing up a 3rd round rookie.

After Wilson's remarkable rookie campaign, he is surely the face of the Seattle franchise for the foreseeable future. This makes Flynn expendable, especially considering they are on the hook for the remaining 2 years of his deal and he's making more than their incumbent starter. Luckily for Seattle, Flynn looked like a potentially excellent starter, as he excelled in his spot-starts in Green Bay and showed the ability to be at the helm of an NFL offense.

If Seattle doesn't cut him outright, they'll certainly explore a trade to ship Flynn out of town and give him a chance to start in the league. There is always a market for starting QB's in the NFL, and Flynn could turn into a hot commodity come free agency. Teams like the Jets, Bills, Browns, Jaguars, Raiders and Chiefs are all in need of a reliable QB, and Flynn could find himself in one of these towns next season.

3. Alex Smith, QB

Similar to Flynn, Alex Smith is a high-profile backup QB who drew the short straw. After starting the 49ers first 9 games in 2012, and doing an admirable job, Smith suffered a concussion and was forced out of action in Week 11. Enter Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick stole Smith's gig, and led the Niners to a Super Bowl berth. Now, Kap is the QB of the future for the Niners and Smith is on the outside looking in. Smith himself has tabbed this season as incredibly bittersweet, but has shown total professionalism in his handling of the unenviable position of losing your job. The worst part for him is that he was playing well, and he was only dethroned following a head injury, rather than being replaced for poor play.

Courtesy of SF Gate

After being considered a total bust as the 1st overall pick in 2005, Smith has turned his career around and is now a very respectable starter who takes care of the ball, and can lead a team if he has a decent supporting cast around him. Smith certainly won't stay in San Fran next season, and it's just a matter of whether the Niners will choose to grant him his release to test free agency, or trade him in hopes of getting something in return. A lot should be said for how well Smith has handled everything surrounding this season, and that'll certainly add to his intrigue as teams are always looking for poised, professional leaders.

2. Ed Reed, S

Following the Super Bowl, Ed Reed may have played his final game in the purple and black that he's worn his whole career. The future Hall of Famer will surely test free agency, and it's been reported that the Ravens are willing to let him walk if he finds something elsewhere. And while Reed will be 35 years old, and isn't as effective as the 28 year old Reed, he is still an extremely cognizant, hard-hitting safety. He's also still an innate ballhawk, and will be nothing short of valuable for a team looking to add a veteran presence to their secondary.

If Reed walks, look for veteran teams who have a legitimate title shot look to add him. Someone like the Patriots, who are always in desperate need of secondary help, could pounce on Reed immediately. Especially since Bill Belichick's fondness for Reed is no secret, and Reed's presence would emulate that of the Rodney Harrison addition of the early 2000's.

The Ravens will take a huge risk by letting Reed walk after watching Ray Lewis retire, as they'd be losing both heart and souls of their defense in a single offseason. But it's a risk they're apparently willing to take.

1. Victor Cruz, WR

In what would be the biggest shock of the NFL offseason, Victor Cruz could potentially find himself not playing for Big Blue in 2013. While it is highly, and I stress highly, unlikely that Cruz will leave New York, he is still a restricted free agent which could allow other teams to sneak in and steal him from the Giants. What makes pursuing Cruz dangerous is that whichever team signs him will be forced to give up a first round pick in the event they land his services, and we saw that no one was willing to do that for Mike Wallace just a season ago.

Courtesy of The Daily News

Another snag in that plan is that if Cruz does agree to sign an offersheet put forth by another team, the Giants will then have 7 days to match that, which they almost certainly would do. But why wouldn't they? Cruz is a focal point of the Giants offense after being an undrafted free agent out of Massachusetts, and they are the reason that Cruz has found immense success in this league.

In 2011, he began the season buried on the depth chart and found his way on the field due to injuries in front of him. Not only did Cruz take this opportunity by the horns, but he annihilated the Giants record book, hauling in 80 catches for a franchise-record 1,536 yards and 9 touchdowns. He then went on to win the Super Bowl with the Giants and become a household name among NFL fans. Cruz followed up his breakout season this year with 1,092 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns, showing he was no fluke.

He has no fear of going across the middle, and his crisp route running and elite speed has given defenses fits the past two seasons. Cruz is certainly a top-tier receiver in this league, and someone is going to give him a huge pay day in a few months time. While I stress that I still think the Giants will pay him graciously, we've seen weirder things happen and there's always the off-chance that Cruz could wind up elsewhere in 2013.

Why Tiger Woods Needs a Big 2013

Courtesy of Total Pro Sports

Tiger Woods is the man solely responsible for making the game of golf what it is today. He single handedly invoked a mass interest in the game of golf via his astounding play, his brashness, and his youthfulness. Golf had simply never seen anything like Tiger before. He was this egomaniacal, eccentric man who dominated the game of golf over the course of the better part of a decade the way no one has ever dominated a sport before. Watching him go to work was absolutely masterful, and he made the game of golf something that more people could appreciate.

Tiger burst onto the scene in 1996, and in 1997 he became the youngest player to ever win the Masters at the age of 21. Not only did he win the Masters, he blew away the competition winning by a then-record 12 strokes en route to what would wind up becoming the most magnificent and encapsulating PGA career of any golfer, ever.

Not only was Tiger the youngest to achieve Masters glory and don the famous green jacket, but he also become the youngest golfer to win a career grand slam, and the youngest to 50 career Tour wins. Additionally, he's one of only two golfers to garner a career grand slam 3 times, the other being the one and only Jack Nicklaus.

Following his early successes, Tiger became a household name and recognizable figure throughout the world. A young, black golfer was not something that had ever been the norm, but Tiger was simply rewriting every facet of the golf record book. He's gone on to end the PGA season as the money leader a record 9 times, win the Player of the Year award a record 10 times, win 14 major championships (second only to Nicklaus' 18), and become the only golfer to win each major by at least 5 strokes. Simply put, once Tiger Woods entered the realm of the professional golf world it would never, ever be the same.

With Tiger's continued success came continued fame and glory, he signed lucrative contracts with the likes of Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, and EA Sports. The latter of which still bears his name and image on their annual golf video game entitled "Tiger Woods PGA Tour". The legend of one Eldrick "Tiger" Woods was something to truly behold and it was continuing its uphill climb towards him becoming recognized as potentially one of the single greatest athletes to play any sport, in any time period. Due to his rapid ascension to superstardom, the interest in the game of golf was reaching heights that had never even been dreamt of. Young children were darting to golf courses to become the next Tiger, and television ratings were skyrocketing to numbers unheard of. He is such a renowned figure that him simply participating drew the likes of casual fans and diehards to the TV screen just to watch history happen.

It seemed that Tiger was invincible. Everyone loved him and he was turning the game of golf into something much more modern. He had no qualms with swearing, breaking clubs, and screaming with exuberance, thus reversing the old notion of golf being a "gentleman's game", and people looked past it because it was Tiger. He ran the show.

Following his now infamous infidelity scandal which erupted in late 2009, Tiger had briefly fallen off the face of the Earth. He suffered through a split with his wife, losing millions in endorsements, and watching his brand become somewhat of a joke. After spending a record-breaking 281 days atop the World Golf Rankings as the number 1 golfer in the world, Tiger saw his stock plummet as his golf game declined greatly upon his return to the Tour and at one point, he fell to number 58 in the world. A number that would have seemed wildly inconceivable a mere 6 months prior.

Courtesy of Guardian News

But Tiger regained his stroke over time, and has now risen back to number 2 in the world once again. He still has yet to win a major since his remarkable, 5-round effort in the 2008 US Open while he essentially played on one leg. Yet despite that, it doesn't quite feel like Tiger is done. In order for that to be true, Tiger needs a big year in 2013. He needs to prove his doubters wrong and show that he is, still, the single most talented golfer that has ever swung the sticks. Towards the end of the 2012 tour, you could see glimpses of Tiger rounding into shape, winning 3 PGA tour events and regaining a little bit of that swagger that made him such an enticing figure. But Woods must continue this success into 2013, and show he can still play.

However, in order for 2013 to be a real success, Tiger must win a major. To go another full calendar year without winning that elusive 15th major that he's been searching for since 2008 would be an absolute shame. It would be demoralizing for Tiger, and it would hurt his credibility among both avid and casual golf fans. If he fails to win a major for the 5th consecutive year, many would chalk Tiger up as being done professionally and turn their eyes to the new apple of the golf world's eye, Rory McIlroy. If Tiger wants people to still see him as the greatest golfer in the world, he must win a major or two, and defeat McIlroy in the process. Otherwise, Rory could go on to have another year like he did in 2012, and that'll be all she wrote for Tiger.

It's likely that in 20 years Tiger will still be revered as the greatest golfer ever, but if he falls off the cliff enough to officially pass the torch to McIlroy in 2013, he'll become an afterthought for the present. He'll be recognized as the player who could have, and should have, passed Jack for the most majors, and he should've done it in a breeze. Sure, he could win a few more events and eventually pass Sam Snead as the most decorated golfer of all-time, but it won't mean as much as passing Nicklaus' record.

In order for Tiger to be the greatest who ever lived, he must have a bounce back year and show the world he's not done yet. If he falters people will wonder how much greater the career of the world's greatest golfer could have been, and that'll be a question that lingers for eternity.

Top 5 MLB Outfields

On the heels of the Braves recent acquisition of outfielder Justin Upton from the Arizona Diamondbacks, they would seemingly be in prime position to send out one of the better outfields in the bigs on a day-to-day basis. But where does their crew stack up against 4 of the other best outfields in the league?

5. Oakland Athletics 
Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp, Josh Reddick

After a wild season in Oakland that saw the A's shock the baseball world and win the AL West crown over the vaunted Angels and Rangers, they'll be back with a similar lineup for 2013. One thing that will certainly be the same is their starting outfield which consists of Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp, and Josh Reddick.

Cespedes is definitely more recognized for his offensive skillset than his defense, but he's a talented defender as well. He doesn't have the range to get to everything in the field, but he's got an above-average arm and, generally speaking, he plays fundamentally sound. Crisp is also known for his highlight-reel catches, and his incredible speed to track down balls and steal bases. Rounding out their trio is Reddick, who is coming off a breakout season in 2012 which saw him blast 32 home runs to go with 85 RBI. He was certainly something the Red Sox could have used, had they not shipped him to Oakland for Andrew Bailey. He was also awarded for his stellar defense by reigning in his first career Gold Glove Award.

Their defense from left to right should be stout once again in 2013, both offensively and defensively.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers
Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier

Courtesy of Zimbio

The potential of this outfield certainly comes down to health. If healthy, it could be the best in baseball in terms of offensive production and solid defense. In center, you have Matt Kemp who is arguably the best 5 tool player in baseball when healthy. Unfortunately for Kemp, he missed 56 games scattered throughout the 2012 season and was never healthy enough to get a string together a steady campaign. However, if you take a step back and look at his 2011 campaign you see the potential of Kemp. In addition to his 11 outfield assists and respectable 5 errors, Kemp was an offensive machine. He blasted 39 taters to go with his 126 RBI and 115 runs, all of which lead the league in each respective category. He also swiped 40 bags, showing his dynamite speed. If a healthy Kemp is roaming centerfield, the Dodgers will be very happy.

His longtime partner in crime has been Andre Ethier whose defense is certainly sub-par, but he can bring it offensively and is a very nice complementary player to Kemp. Unfortunately he has a very undesirable contract which the Dodgers handed to him prior to last season, and they may be stuck with him as he rides the decline of his career.

Their newest addition will be Carl Crawford in left, whom they acquired after last years trade deadline from the Red Sox. If Crawford plays like he did in Tampa Bay, the Dodgers will be wildly happy. If he repeats his injury riddled performance in Boston, LA will be scrambling to make ends meet all season. At his best, Crawford brings otherworldly athleticism as he's lead the league in triples and steals four times each in his career, and has stellar defense to go with his solid offense. He's never had more than 5 errors in his career, and his 2010 gold glove award is a testament to his defensive prowess.


3. New York Yankees
Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson, Ichiro Suzuki 

From left to right, the Yankees have potentially the best defensive outfield in the MLB. With Gardner's ability to play left field like a centerfielder and track down everything, there was talks of him making that role official and switching spots with Granderson. While that has yet to be made official, Gardner is currently penciled in as the everyday left fielder, assuming he can stay healthy. Gardner's incredible speed also allows him to steal bases at a stellar rate, as he lead the league in swipes in 2011.

Granderson is also an above-average fielder with great speed. He'll make circus catches from time to time and is as reliable as they come in center. In 3 seasons in the Bronx, he's made only 5 errors, including zero in 2012. He's also a huge power threat in the middle of the Yanks lineup, blasting 84 home runs the last two seasons, but also stealing 35 bases in the same time span to prove his speed on the basepaths.

With Ichiro rounding out the trio in right, you know what you get from him: incredibly fundamentally sound defense, with a cannon of an arm and the ability to leap over walls when it calls for it. Despite just turning 39 years old, Ichiro can still bring it defensively and he's never made more than 5 errors in a single season, including only 1 last year in his time with both Seattle and NY. Ichiro can also still hit, despite his early season struggles in Seattle, as he hit .322 in his stint with NY, and he can still swipe bases with the best of them, having never stolen fewer than 29 bases in a given season.

This outfield should steal a ton of bases, and play sound defense. It's likely that you won't see too many balls find the gap with this trio roaming the outfield.

2. Atlanta Braves
Justin Upton, BJ Upton, Jason Heyward 

Courtesy of USA Today

Now this is one hell of an outfield. First you have the Upton brothers. Separated by almost 3 years to the day, these brothers tend to bring out the best in each other. They're known as two players with immense talent, just sometimes unable to harness it all into one effort. BJ, the elder Upton, began his career as a middle-infielder, but was quickly shifted to the outfield to maximize his skill-set. That proved to be the wise move, as BJ is definitely better suited to be in centerfield and his defense has improved annually. He can also steal bases at a high clip, as he snagged 31 last season and 42 as recently as 2010.  Combine all this with his ever-growing power and you have a new, dynamic centerfielder that the Braves should be excited about.

The younger Upton is a little more raw defensively, but his offensive growth has to be considered far greater than BJ was at the same point in his career. Justin has already topped BJ's career high in home runs, as he clocked 31 in 2011, and his RBI production is also a step-up from his older brother. If these two brothers can add a sibling rivalry to fuel their growth and success, it could make the life of their third outfielder a little bit easier as well.

That third outfielder, Jason Heyward, was tabbed as the next big thing for baseball when he came up as a rookie in 2010. He quickly lit up the league, winning rookie of the year and looking like a stud in the process. Then after a sophomore slump in 2011, Heyward looked good once again in '12. He hit a career high 27 home runs and 82 RBI, in addition to another career high with 21 stolen bases. He also nabbed his first career Gold Glove award, which certainly could be the first of many.

Overall, this is a young and extremely athletic outfield that can do a little bit of everything. The two new acquisitions conveniently came from the same family, and could be pivotal to the Braves overall success in 2013.

1. Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout, Peter Bourjos, Josh Hamilton

Courtesy of Yahoo!

What could, and should, potentially be the best outfield in the bigs comes courtesy of the other team in LA. The Angels should be sitting pretty with arguably the best outfield in the MLB, and they could be together for the forseeable future. Right now, many consider Josh Hamilton the best overall player in baseball. When healthy, Hamilton is a once in a generation type player who can hit for power and average and play stellar defense. Last year, considered a down year for Hamilton, he still hit .285 and hit a career high 43 home runs. Once he hit free agency, however, teams were reluctant to offer him a huge contract due to health concerns and the obvious insanity of handing out a 10 year deal to an outfielder who will be 32 in the second month of the season. The Angels stepped in and handed him a lucrative 5 year deal which will keep him in Anaheim through 2017 to pair with the All-World Mike Trout.

Trout is coming off perhaps the greatest rookie season any MLB player has enjoyed. Everyone knows the story, ranging from his 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases, to his amazing defense robbing just about everyone of home runs. He also finished 2nd in a hotly contested MVP debate, and lead the Angels to the best record in baseball following his call-up from the minors. All of this, and Trout is still only 21 years old. After playing centerfield for all of 2012, Trout will shift to left field in '13 to allow Peter Bourjos to step in center.

Bourjos is incredibly fleet of foot and showed huge upside during his only full-time gig in the majors in 2011. Unfortunately for Bourjos, the Angels outfield was a crowd in 2012 and it saw him ride the pine despite his undeniable skills. Now that things have changed and Vernon Wells is rightfully on the outside looking in and Torii Hunter is in Detroit, Bourjos will get his shot as the everyday centerfielder. If he plays like he did in 2011 and in limited action in 2012, Bourjos will certainly be a favorite for a Gold Glove and will provide a new element to the Angels offense.

This has to be the best outfield in baseball due to the wide-range of skill-sets each of these players brings to the table. There will be home runs abound in LA, along with stellar defense and stolen bases for days. If all are healthy, these 3 alone could help carry the Angels to the West crown.

What's Happened to the Patriots?

For over a decade, the New England Patriots have been the cream of the crop of the NFL. Year in and year out, they consistently win double-digit games, and are unparalleled in terms of their undeviated regular season success. The only time the Patriots have not won their division in the Belichick/Brady era was in 2002, following their first Super Bowl victory when they lost out on the division due to a tiebreaker, and in 2008 when they played without Tom Brady due to his torn ACL and still won 11 games, again losing out on a tiebreaker. The Patriots have become such a model of success that fans across the nation have grown such a disdain for this team that they root against them in almost any situation. Even players from other teams have grown to hate the Patriots and Tom Brady, likely because of their ruthless domination over them and the rest of the league. So much so that Terrell Suggs, a man who refers to himself as T-Sizzle, called them "arrogant pricks" following their triumph over the Pats in this year's AFC Championship, and that was probably the nicest thing he had to say about them.

Courtesy of Tumblr

One of the more confounding items pertaining to the Patriots is that despite all of their regular season success, and Brady surpassing Joe Montana for most playoff victories by a QB all-time, they have yet to win a Super Bowl since the 2004 season. They've made two additional trips to the Super Bowl, once in 2007 and 2011, yet their efforts were twice thwarted by Eli Manning and the Giants. Both games they could have, and arguably should have, won. But they didn't. Thus, Brady's playoff record currently stands at a still-impressive 17-7 and is 3-2 in the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, Brady was once 10-0 in the playoffs and 3-0 in Super Bowl games, so each of those winning percentages has drastically declined in recent years. Is there something from the Brady of old compared to the new Brady? Or is it something systematically with the team and coaching staff that isn't as successful as the old regime?

First things first, anyone that says Brady has declined as a player clearly isn't watching the same game I am. Yes, he's 35 years old and isn't getting any younger. But this experience has groomed him to become the QB he is. Since his last Super Bowl victory, he has garnered two MVP's and two Offensive Player of the Year awards, and has put up absolutely stout numbers throughout his career. This past season Brady managed to throw for 4,827 yards while completing 63% of his passes and tossing 34 touchdowns compared to only 8 interceptions. He was just as steady and consistent as he's always been, and people have grown so accustomed to seeing him do this year in and year out that it's taken for granted. What's more remarkable is that the revolving door of offensive coordinators Brady has had over his tenure has never been a hindrance to him. Granted, they all run similar schemes and game-plans in an effort to keep a semblance of continuity within their offense, but Brady has battled through these changes almost effortlessly.

But there's something missing in this equation. Before the AFC Championship a reporter posed a question alluding to his postseason experience and how that could help him in this game. Brady responded with a rather pertinent answer by saying, "Well there was a time when I was inexperienced and we did pretty well." Of course, that would be referring to Brady's three championship rings that he won within his first four seasons as a starter. Since then, when Brady has constantly been referred to as "experienced" he is 7-7 with no additional rings. He also seems to underperform in the more heartbreaking losses, and seems to disappear when the team needs him most. There was once a time where giving the ball to Brady, down by X amount of points and a game winning drive to be had, you'd sit back, smile, and watch him go to work. Nowadays, you bite your nails and wonder if Brady can get the job done. More often than not lately, he doesn't. He has zero playoff comebacks since 2007 and zero game-winning drives in the same time span. That can be attributed to the Patriots throttling certain teams in the playoffs and leaving no room for comebacks, but also shows how when the Patriots are down, Brady hasn't led a hard charge back.

But it obviously can't all fall on Brady's shoulders. Over the last 5 years the Patriots have had nothing short of a dismal defense year in and year out. They are constantly finding themselves beat in coverage, watching receivers fly past them, and are prone to big plays every single week. They're also young. Only Brady and Vince Wilfork are the remaining players from their last championship run and Brady's weapons are constantly reloaded with different receivers and backs. After their acquisition of Aqib Talib in 2012, their defense vastly improved and it gave them a new edge and a little bit more, dare I say, swagger. They had a big, dynamic playmaker on the outside for once, and it allowed other players to shift around to positions where they were more effective such as Alfonzo Dennard on the #2 receiver, Devin McCourty playing safety, and Kyle Arrington as the nickelback. It was also evident that without Talib, the defense takes a hit as it did in last weekend's Championship game when Talib left with a thigh injury in the 1st quarter.

If the Patriots are smart, they'll re-sign Wes Welker, as he is still Brady's favorite target, and they'll also re-sign Talib. They need him and they're unquestionably a better team with him on the field. Belichick also needs to have a solid draft, as he has made many questionable decisions the last few years with the exception of 2012 where he walked away with a very respectable group of rookies who played well in their allotted time, and give hope to the growth of this team, especially the defense.


The Patriots have shown that they're trying to maximize their time left with Brady, which realistically may only be 3 or 4 more years. They've loaded up at running back and established a very good ground game with the likes of Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, and Danny Woodhead in an effort to take the load off Brady's right arm. Their defense was also improved in 2012, especially after the aforementioned addition of Talib who cost them a 4th round pick. They're making necessary moves to help out their future first-ballot Hall of Famer, but it might not be enough.

Courtesy of SBNation

Then again, despite everything, maybe it's just the Ravens and the Giants that give the Patriots fits. In four of their last five playoff visits, the Patriots have exited the playoffs courtesy of one of these two teams. It's an anomaly and it's head-scratching, but it's the reality of it. Even when Brady bested the Ravens in last year's AFC Championship, he still played like a deer in the headlights and they were extremely lucky to walk away from this game as the victors.

If the Patriots, and Tom Brady especially, are going to win another Super Bowl title, they need to close in on it soon. They've created a culture where it is Super Bowl or bust every single year, and anything short of a title is of the utmost disappointment. That is unfortunately a product of their early dominance, and regular season supremacy, but it's a culture they embrace and strive in. All of these things culminate in wondering if the Patriots can win another title with their HOF tandem of Belichick and Brady, and how long it'll take for it to happen. If they don't, it won't affect their status as perhaps the greatest in their respective fields, but it'll make people wonder what happened to a team that conceivably could have won upwards of 5 Super Bowls in their day, but failed to win a big, must-have game in convincing fashion since maybe the 2007 AFC Championship.

The Two Great Closers

Mariano Rivera is a calm, humble man. He is a 5x World Champion, a 12x All-Star, and one of only two pitchers in MLB history to amount 600 career saves. His 608 saves is 7 ahead of Trevor Hoffman for most all-time, and Hoffman has long since retired, paving the way for Rivera to increase this cushion the longer he plays. To add to his already startling resume, Rivera is also the postseason pitching career leader for games played, saves (42), and ERA (minimum 50 IP, 0.70). It's rather safe to say that Mo has been there, and done that. What's also extraordinary is that Rivera has made his living with essentially two pitches: a fastball, and a cutter. The cutter is his signature pitch, and when you think of a cutter, you think of Rivera. He's sawn off endless amounts of opposing bats, and made so many batters look foolish on a pitch they are certain is coming that you wonder when they'll figure him out. Rivera has been the stalwart of the New York Yankees bullpen since 1996, and he's climbed the charts of the greatest pitchers of all-time while wearing those pinstripes. Needless to say, Rivera has plenty of reasons to not be humble.

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

On the other side of this spectrum you have Kobe Bryant. A man of such dedication and tireless work put into his craft that he doesn't feel the need for humbleness. Drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, Kobe has spent his entire career in Los Angeles wearing the purple and gold after a draft day trade. Since the first time Kobe put on that jersey, onlookers knew they were witnessing something special. In the 17 years that Kobe has been among the NBA elite, he has won 5 NBA titles, to go along with his 15 All Star appearances and MVP award. Last season he became the Lakers all-time leading scorer in a franchise full of superstars, and this year he became just the 5th player to reach the 30,000 point plateau in NBA history. Kobe Bean Bryant is a legend in the basketball world, and he knows it because he worked his tail off to get to this point, and he's not going to let anyone try to humble him.

There you have it, two 5x World Champions who are on the top of the world in terms of mastering their craft. They've spent countless hours that have lead them to the pinnacle of their careers, and it's worth noting that despite never sharing the same playing surface, these two superstar athletes share so much in common. They are feasibly two of the greatest closers in their respective sports, and it's hard to dispute that. Rivera's only job is to close games when the Yankees have been staked to a lead of 3 runs or less entering the 9th, and sometimes 8th, inning. He's closed out the game 608 times in the regular season, and has failed to close it out only 73 times. That's a remarkable success rate, and one that has been rivaled by no one in the immense history of the game of baseball. They say being the closer of a baseball team is a job that demands a certain type of bravado and gutsiness, and Rivera has taken that role and redefined it. Closers will forever be compared to Mo, and that's just downright unfair.

Courtesy of Tumblr

Kobe, on the other hand, is a closer by default. When the game is on the line, or the game is tight, #24 is called to action. Not only does Kobe want the ball in his hands in crunch time, but he demands it. Many have claimed that Kobe is a ball-hog and he doesn't pass up the rock when sometimes he should. But the fact of the matter is that Bryant is the second greatest shooting guard to ever play the game, settled only behind one Michael Jordan in this ranking. To not give him the ball, especially when the time and scenario begs for it, is just silly. It's simple knowledge that you'd rather live and die by the hands of your best player and best shooter, than to trust a role player who might find the moment too big for him. If it's the fourth quarter or overtime, I'm putting the ball in Kobe's hands 100 times out of 100. He's proven time and time again that no moment is too big for him, and he's as cold-blooded as they come. It's a facet of his game that is so reveled that people have continually criticized players like LeBron James for passing the ball away down the stretch, rather than putting the onus on themselves and going to work. People also contend that Kobe's regular season success rate of 31% on shots taken to tie or win the game is far too poor to make him "clutch". However, no one has the ability to create his own shot like Kobe when in times of need, and no one is as fearless in putting up those shots as he is. The reality of it is, if he doesn't take those shots, who's going to? It's fair to say that Kobe's reputation as clutch is a byproduct of the name he has made for himself, but he had to do something to earn that reputation in the first place, and being gutsy enough to take and make these shots has helped that.

Two incredible athletes who have earned their careers by becoming the best at what they do, but are two wildly different individuals. One is a man who plays with such an edge, and such intensity that he often barks at his coaches and teammates to get their attention. One who would attack on command simply to get his team a win, or hit that clutch bucket to put his team ahead. The other, a quiet man who has perfected his job with such pristine that he almost gets better with age. Dominating the competition with such class and respect for his opponents, that even arch-rivals and nemeses of the Yankees can't help but feel affection for the only man still wearing number 42 in the big leagues. Two men who will certainly be forever enshrined in their respective sports Hall of Fame in the coming years, and will be forever remembered for being two of the greatest to ever do it.

Will the Real Manti Te'o Please Stand Up

At the onset of the 2012 college football season, news poured out that the star linebacker of Notre Dame, Manti Te'o, had suffered two egregious losses in a span of a few hours. First his grandmother died, then hours later his girlfriend died after a battle with leukemia. All of this was a remarkable back story for one of the best players in the nation, and this inspiration kept Te'o going en route to leading his team to an undefeated regular season and a date in the BCS National Championship.

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

Now, courtesy of an intense Deadspin.com report, it is being uncovered that not only did his girlfriend not die from leukemia, but that she didn't exist at any point. Someone had deceived Te'o into believing a girl out there named Lennay Kekua was the love of his life. He carried on this relationship over the course of a year, and supposedly spoke with her on the phone daily and cared about her deeply.

The most baffling notion of this whole story is the fact that Te'o himself, and his parents, claimed they met her in person. His parents say she used to visit him in his home state of Hawaii, and he says he originally met her after a game versus Stanford in 2011. So then if he claims he met her, then she would have to be real, right? Apparently not.

According to Deadspin, this woman never existed and there is evidence to support this. They say Te'o never met Kekua, and that he maintained a relationship with her solely online. On its surface, this alone sounds strange, and Te'o's insistence of this relationship seems like the actions of someone who struggles socially. But with that in mind, there are millions of people who are in online relationships today. It is a relatively new phenomenon, and there are more people than just Manti Te'o who claim to be in love without ever having met their significant other. It is certainly odd, but surprisingly common nonetheless.

Now, Te'o is supposedly going to speak soon and address of all the madness. He has already released a statement, along with Notre Dame, that claims he was the victim of a hoax. Someone online lead him to believe that who he was talking to was a female whom he wound up caring for deeply. They then exacerbated this whole thing by concocting stories of a severe car accident she endured, followed by the discovery of cancer in her body which would eventually lead to her demise. Apparently Te'o believed it all, believed that was suffering yet another loss after the passing of his grandmother, and shared it with the college football world. Everyone felt his pain and sorrow, and even the biggest Notre Dame haters became more inclined to root for them because of Te'o and his remarkable story. Several months later, however, the truth has come to light.

The most pressing question of all is what happens to Te'o next? Per the deadspin report, there are numerous people and accounts that believe Te'o was not really duped, but was in fact a perpetrator of this incident all along. That he participated in the creation of this woman, and helped support this story by continuing to talk about her in the media and tell of his sob story. Would he do that for publicity? Perhaps for Heisman votes? Why would Te'o drag something like this on, and carry it into the light so extensively that ESPN did a whole behind the scenes story on him and the struggles he endured over the past year? Is this soft spoken Hawaiian-born man of faith secretly a malicious person who will do anything for some good publicity? Or is he just, unfortunately, incredibly naive?

Neither one of those things is the best look for Te'o moving forward. However if you had to pick your poison you would hope he is just remarkably naive and the victim of some disgusting, humiliating prank. "Catfishing", as it is commonly referred to, is the act of luring someone online into believing you are someone you're not, and continuing to carry on a relationship. It's become such a huge thing that there was even a documentary movie created about it, and there is now a television show of the same name. It now appears that Te'o is suddenly the most famous person among the scores of those who have been catfished.

Whenever Te'o decides to speak, not only should he be 100% honest with what actually happened on his end, but he should anticipate heavy fire coming from everyone who has questions. If Te'o speaks and isn't truthful, one would have to imagine that the truth will come to light eventually as it seemingly always does. If that is the case, Te'o could watch his reputation and his draft stock drop dramatically in the coming weeks. After a poor championship performance against Alabama, Te'o could be on a fast track to watching that stock potentially plummet if he becomes the face of a mastermind ploy for fame and fortune, and ultimately yield great untrustworthiness.

Simply put, this whole situation is unprecedented and wildly complex. The entire Deadspin report reads like something out of a Christopher Nolan script, as there are twists and turns and new names at every corner. Currently, no one knows what to think. Whether to feel bad for Te'o and console him for being at the heart of something so senseless and brutal, or condone him for creating something that is so baffling and cynical that it makes him look like someone who doesn't exactly have all his marbles. Either way, Te'o is about to endure a brutal few weeks of questions, picking, and pruning into this entire endeavor and attempts to expose him for who he really is.

It's just a matter of time until we find out if Te'o is still the gentle, kind spirited person he was portrayed to be over the course of his tenure at Notre Dame, or if he is this villainous schemer whose plan has been foiled to the utmost extent. Will NFL GM's see him as a worthy NFL linebacker, or a guy who can't be trusted in the locker room and ultimately has more cons than pros. It'll be an interesting few months until the NFL Draft, and soon we'll all find out who the real Manti Te'o is.

10 Most Intriguing MLB Free Agents for the 2014 Class

With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in almost a month to the day, there are many players who will be reporting to new teams and getting acclimated to their new surroundings. Unfortunately for us as fans, the free agent class of 2013 wasn't exactly mind-blowing. There were a handful of studs (Josh Hamilton, Zack Greinke), a couple solid guys (Michael Bourn, BJ Upton, Nick Swisher) and mostly a bunch of very respectable, but not All-Star caliber players.

Since most of the notable names have been taken off the board for the upcoming season, we'll fast forward to 2014 and take a look at the best players who could be swapping uniforms when it's time.

1. Robinson Cano, 2B 

Conceivably one of the top 5 overall players in baseball, Robinson Cano has made a name for himself on a team loaded with names over the years. Called up from the minors in May of 2005, Cano instantly blew up, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year race and giving himself a permanent position on the right side of the Yankee infield. He has seemingly improved every year in the big leagues, and owns a career .308/.351/.503 slash line. His power has been on the rise every season, and he topped off with a career high of 33 home runs in 2012. Cano is also one of the most natural hitters in baseball in recent memory, as he consistently hits for average and is among the league leaders in both average and extra base hits every year.

He's also a naturally gifted fielder, as he owns two Gold Gloves to accompany the four Silver Sluggers on his mantel. Many people, and Yankee haters, say that Cano is far too lax in his approach to baseball, as he makes stellar plays look effortless. But it's obvious the numbers speak for themselves over his career.

Cano has said he will be looking for a 10 year deal, and won't be giving the Yankees any hometown discounts. He probably won't wind up with those 10 years, but with Scott Boras as an agent you know he'll be going home with a good chunk of change in his pocket. If the Yankees are too stern in their approach to lower their salary, and let Cano walk to another contender, fans will be calling for the heads of those in the front office. Ultimately I think the Yanks cough it up and keep their superstar in pinstripes for the rest of his career.

Projection: Yankees, ~8 years, $200 million

2. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

The big issue with Ellsbury is his health. If he stays healthy, we all saw what he is capable of doing because of what he did in 2011. Finishing 2nd in the AL MVP race, Ellsbury had career highs in games played (158), home runs (32), RBI (105), and slash line (.321/.376/.552). Unfortunately for Ellsbury, and Sox fans, he can hardly ever stay healthy. Whether it's by running into walls, running into Adrian Beltre, or running into Reid Brignac, Ellsbury has had a rough go of it when it comes to staying on the field.

When he is on the field, he's a lightning rod at the top of any lineup. He can fly around the basepaths, as he's twice lead the league in stolen bases and once in triples, and he can hit for average and power in most situations. He's also a phenomenal defender in center field, as he can track down just about any ball in his vicinity and can make circus catches preserved for the likes of the Sportscenter Top 10.

2013 will prove to be a huge year for Ellsbury, because if he can stay healthy and produce he'll be in for a hefty payday following the season. If not, he could find himself shipped out of Boston in a trade and signing for minimal years come 2014.

Projection: Cubs, ~4 years, $60 million

3. Curtis Granderson, CF

Currently the Yankees everyday centerfielder, you'll be hard-pressed to say the same statement come 2014. Granderson is a decent fielder, as his speed makes up for some of his ambiguous routes, and a potent power hitter, topping 40 HR's each of the last two seasons. Granderson has also gotten markedly better at hitting left-handed pitching, as he was a liability for Detroit in this aspect, but has become a machine against lefties for the Bronx Bombers. Considering the Yankees want to drop their payroll considerably, and the increasing likelihood that Granderson will be demanding big money thanks to his play, and his reputation as being an all-around great guy and teammate, he will likely be roaming the outfield for another team in 2014.

His power and defense will be greatly appreciated on just about any team, but his playoff woes and steadily declining batting average may hinder what other teams are willing to give him. Fortunately for him, unlike Ellsbury, Granderson has no injury history to speak of and you can ultimately rely on him being ready for game day at all times.

Projection: Rangers, ~5 years, $100 million

4. Tim Lincecum, RHP

Big-time Timmy Jim was far from a big time pitcher in 2012, to the surprise of just about everyone. After 4 straight years of finishing in the top 10 of Cy Young voting, including winning the award in back-to-back years, Lincecum fell off the face of the Earth in 2012. He posted a hideous 5.18 ERA, allowing career highs in earned runs (107), walks (90), and home runs (23). Lincecum also posted a career worst K/BB ratio with a 2.11. It got so bad that Lincecum was demoted to the bullpen late in the season, and saw most of his playoff action from inside the 'pen as well.

If "The Freak" can channel his inner freak, and bounce back to form in 2013, he'll definitely be in line for a solid payday. Whether or not he stays in the city by the bay also depends on his performance in '13, as having another rough year will almost certainly make SF inclined to let him walk. If he improves upon his 2012 season, it'll be hard for the Giants to let him walk and see him fall back to form in another city.

Projection: Giants, ~5 years, $75 million

5. Roy Halladay, RHP

A two-time Cy Young winner himself, Doc Halladay is the model of consistency when it comes to starting pitchers. Although he'll be 37 come 2014, Halladay will likely still see another hearty contract barring something unforeseen. He most certainly had his worst year in a long time in 2012, but a lot of that can be attributed to being injured, and the all around inefficiency of the Phillies.

Typically Halladay can be chalked up for at least 17 wins and an ERA below 3.00 with about 200 strikeouts, but 2012 was an aberration from those numbers. The Phillies struggled, and so did Doc. A strained shoulder undoubtedly capped his effectiveness, and it clearly had a role in how he was able to pitch.

As one of 2 pitchers to pitch a no-hitter in the postseason, and the first since 1973 to hurl multiple no-hitters in a season, Halladay will be in line for bidders crawling over themselves for his services. Again, despite some unforeseen hindrance, Halladay will likely be fetching close to $20 mill annually and I'd be surprised if it doesn't come from Philly.

Projection: Phillies, ~3 years, $50 million

6. James Shields, RHP

Over the last 5 years, James Shields has been as durable as they come in the MLB. Starting exactly 33 games in each of those season, Shields has been especially effective in the latter two. In 2011, Shields tossed 11 complete games, by far the most in the MLB, and lead the Rays to a wild card berth in the postseason. He head their rotation once again in 2012, this time sans Matt Garza, and was a very respectable 15-10 with a 3.52 ERA and 223 strikeouts.

Unfortunately for Shields, the Rays sent him packing in a deal with the Royals that saw #1 prospect Wil Myers go to Tampa. He'll be the ace of Kansas City's rotation in 2013, but I'd be surprised to see him stick around KC much longer than this season. If he is once again effective, he'll be in for a good contract come 2014, but if he looks like he did in 2010 (leading the league in hits allowed, earned runs allowed, and HR allowed) then he'll be sorely disappointed come free agency.

Projection: Yankees, Red Sox, or Angels, ~5 years, $60 million

7. Carlos Beltran, OF

Yes, Beltran will be 37 come Opening Day 2014, but he's still a borderline Hall of Famer and his numbers support that. He enjoyed a very nice 2012 campaign in which he slugged 32 home runs to accompany his 97 RBI and mediocre .269 average. The Cardinals had a huge void to fill in the middle of their lineup with the departure of Albert Pujols, and Beltran did what he could to help replace some of those missing numbers.

Of course no one can replace the production of Pujols, but Beltran did a respectable job and complimented Matt Holliday rather nicely. Arguably one of the 10 greatest switch hitters of all-time, Beltran also has an extremely impressive postseason resume for any team hoping to add him come 2014.

If Beltran can replicate his production from 2012 as he continues to get older, he could still prove to be very valuable in the middle of any lineup to provide some pop and veteran experience.

Projection: Cardinals or Braves, ~2 years, $25 million 

8. Matt Garza, RHP

Garza has been one of the more consistent starters in the MLB over the last several years. Since his rookie season in 2006, Garza has yet to have an ERA over 4.00 or strikeout fewer than 125 batters. After being shipped to the Cubs in 2011 and having another standout year, Garza only managed to pitch half the season in 2012 due to an elbow injury.

For his career, Garza is under .500 at 57-61, but that can mostly be thanks to being on poor offensive teams. He has always managed to keep his teams in games, and he is the owner of a solid 2.46 K/BB ratio. Garza will certainly be an attractive piece for a contending team come 2014, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him traded from the North Siders in the midst of 2013 season and sign an extension with his new team. But until that point, Garza is definitely among the most intriguing pitching free agent options of 2014. If he reaches free agency, I'd expect Garza to garner something in a similar vicinity of his former teammate, James Shields.

Projection: Blue Jays, Yankees, or Red Sox, ~4 years, $44 million

9. Jon Lester, LHP

As an above-average left handed starter, Lester will be highly sought after come 2014. It won't be any thanks to his subpar 2012 season, but thats somewhat excusable due to the circus surrounding the Boston Red Sox lately. Sure, he could've played his part a little better and stepped up when his team needed him, but its hard to be a dominant pitcher on a team that has no other dominating aspects to it. His ERA was a shade under 5.00 at 4.82, and he allowed a paltry 110 earned runs to go with 25 long balls.

On the flip side, Lester is just two years removed from being a 19-game winner and he will still be just 31 at the onset of the 2014 season. He's also rather durable, pitching at least 190 innings in each of the past 5 seasons and has averaged 190 strikeouts in those years. In a league where starting pitching is always at a premium, a good season from Lester in 2013 should certainly net him a good chunk of change when he's set to become a free agent. It'd likely be wise for the Sox to lock him up.

Projection: Red Sox, ~5 years, $80 million

10. Derek Jeter, SS

"The Captain" as he is so commonly referred to, Derek Jeter has spent his entire 17 year career in pinstripes and theres no reason to think that will change. Jeter, who will be 40 come 2014, has an $8M option for '14 which could jump to $17M based on certain incentives. If this number sniffs $17M, it'd be likely that Jeter accepts that option and perhaps plays one final year in Yankee Stadium. If it stays at $8M then Jeter will likely opt out and hope for a 2-year extension from the Yanks, assuming he wants to play that long. But the way he speaks, it doesn't seem like he plans on going away anytime soon.

And why should he? Yes he's coming off a badly broken ankle from the 2012 ALCS, but he had one of his most productive seasons in years. He lead the league in hits with 216 to go with his .316 average and 15 HR's, his most since 2005.

If Jeter does anything it'll be either sign with NYY or retire, but it's extremely unlikely that he tries to squeeze out one final year with someone outside of the Bronx. So yes, he may only have one season left come 2014 and will likely stay in New York, but this list is about the best potential free agents. And Jeter can still play ball, so he's certainly fitting to round out this top 10.

Projection: Yankees, ~1 year, $15 million 

Other Notable Free Agents: Nelson Cruz, (OF), Brian McCann (C), Hunter Pence (OF), Carlos Ruiz (C), Michael Young (DH/3B), Michael Morse (OF), Shin Soo-Choo (OF), Josh Johnson (RHP)