American League
Starters
1B: Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
2B: Robinson Cano, Yankees
3B: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
SS: Derek Jeter, Yankees
OF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
OF: Curtis Granderson, Yankees
OF: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox
C: Alex Avila, Tigers
Reserves
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2B: Howard Kendrick, Angels
3B: Adrian Beltre, Rangers
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
OF: Michael Cuddyer, Twins
OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
OF: Matt Joyce, Rays
OF: Carlos Quentin, White Sox
DH: Michael Young, Rangers
C: Russell Martin, Yankees
C: Matt Wieters, Orioles
Pitchers
RHP: Josh Beckett, Red Sox
RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
LHP: David Price, Rays
RHP: James Shields, Rays
RHP: Justin Verlander, Tigers
RHP: Jered Weaver, Angels
LHP: C.J. Wilson, Rangers
LHP: Gio Gonzalez, Athletics
RHP: Aaron Crow, Royals
RHP: Brandon League, Mariners
RHP: Chris Perez, Indians
RHP: Mariano Rivera, Yankees
RHP: Jose Valverde, Tigers
National League
Starters
1B: Prince Fielder, Brewers
2B: Rickie Weeks, Brewers
3B: Jose Reyes, Mets
SS: Placido Polanco, Phillies
OF: Lance Berkman, Cardinals
OF: Ryan Braun, Brewers
OF: Matt Kemp, Dodgers
C: Brian McCann, Braves
Reserves
1B: Gaby Sanchez, Marlins
1B: Joey Votto, Reds
2B: Brandon Phillips, Reds
3B: Chipper Jones, Braves
SS: Starlin Castro, Cubs
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
OF: Jay Bruce, Reds
OF: Matt Holliday, Cardinals
OF: Hunter Pence, Astros
OF: Justin Upton, D-backs
C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals
Pitchers
RHP: Matt Cain, Giants
RHP: Roy Halladay, Phillies
LHP: Cole Hamels, Phillies
RHP: Jair Jurrjens, Braves
LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
LHP: Cliff Lee, Phillies
RHP: Tim Lincecum, Giants
RHP: Ryan Vogelsong, Giants
RHP: Heath Bell, Padres
RHP: Tyler Clippard, Nationals
RHP: Joel Hanrahan, Pirates
LHP: Jonny Venters, Braves
RHP: Brian Wilson, Giants
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Why a Playoff system should replace the flawed BCS in College Football new and improved
This was a paper I did for school, I got an "A"
Flawed, unfair, even unconstitutional and illegal; all words used to describe the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), a computerized system which ranks teams and ultimately decides bowl matchups including the National Championship, has been one of the most controversial topics in all of sports the past few years. Because the BCS is a computer run system, there is always a chance for flaws with humans putting in results. Also it uses a computer determined strength of schedule rating, something many believe cannot be determined until the end of the season. In addition to being flawed, the BCS is unfair. If a team is not in one of the six conferences (Pac-12, ACC, Big12, Big 10, SEC, Big East) that automatically send their conference champion to one of the five BCS bowl games, they are a long shot to make one of the bowls and pretty much denied a chance to compete in the Championship game. On top of all this there are investigations both inside the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and by the Federal Government regarding misuse of NCAA money by the Fiesta Bowl employees and antitrust laws being violated by the BCS. There is one simple solution to all of these problems: swap the BCS with a college football playoff. A playoff would give multiple teams in every conference a chance to compete for the ultimate prize. If the NCAA does not institute a college football playoff, the process of determining a National Champion will be flawed for years to come.
The potential mistakes that can be made when a human inserts game scores into a computer are numerous, and this is one of many flaws in the BCS system. Last season in the final BCS rankings an error like this occurred. The day those rankings were released, CBS Sport’s Jerry Palm reported a blunder made by Wes Colley, who didn’t put the score of the Appalachian State-Western Illinois Division IAA playoff game into the computer. This mistake had a massive impact on the rankings and four teams in the top 25 had to be swapped around. In addition to this mistake, the BCS does not double check the rankings and only Colley’s formula for the ratings, and not that of the whole BCS, are available to the public (Palm). Another flaw in the BCS is that if a team loses one game, especially for a team that is in a non- BCS conference, could be detrimental to their whole season, and losing two is out of the question if they want any shot at the national championship. If a playoff system is instituted it would add some breathing room for teams that may have an early season slip up. ESPN football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. compared the need for a college football playoff to the NFL saying “In the NFL, I have always believed that the teams playing their best football in mid-to-late November have the best chance to reach the Super Bowl. In Division I-A football, teams need to peak right away and maintain that consistency throughout the season, from beginning to end. With one slip-up, a team's chance for a national championship could be over” (Kiper). He also wondered why under the system, a team could smash another in the conference championship game, but then lose out to that same team for a BCS bowl bid a week later. To explain this he referenced Colorado and Nebraska questioning how can Colorado dominate Nebraska 62-36 and win the Big 12, yet somehow lose out to the Huskers for a spot in the Rose Bowl” (Kiper)? These issues would be fixed by giving teams a chance to play head to head in a playoff.
In addition to the BCS being flawed, it is also an unfair system to many teams, especially those outside of the automatic bid conferences. An example of unfairness in the BCS would be in 2007. That year the University of Hawaii was the only undefeated team in college football with bowls left to be played, but at the time they were ranked an absurd number ten behind multiple two loss schools. The unfairness went even further when instead of being invited to play in the National Championship, they were invited to the Sugar Bowl and watched the Championship be played by a one loss school (Ohio State) and a two loss team (LSU). Terry Mitchell made a point about how if it is used, keep the BCS to a minimum saying “The BCS has no business jumping one-loss teams over undefeated teams or two-loss teams over one-loss teams. Instead, it should consider strength of schedule to fill the role of a tiebreaker among teams with identical records. For example, if the season ends with three undefeated teams, the BCS should select which two get to play for the championship. If there are exactly two undefeated teams, then the BCS wouldn’t have anything to decide – those two teams would automatically play for the title. If there is one undefeated team and a bunch of one-loss teams, the former would automatically get a bid to the championship game and the BCS would select their opponent among the latter” (Mitchell). Other examples of non- BCS schools being unfairly misplaced out of the National Championship game are a 12-0 Boise State for an 11-1 Florida (2006) and a 12-0 Utah squad replaced by either 12-1 Florida or 12-1 Oklahoma (2008). With a playoff these teams would have been able to all play head to head to see who really was the best team in college football that year.
On top of all of the flaws and unfairness, some BCS officials might not be the most honest people in the world. According to a report by Katie Thomas of the New York Times, it was revealed that officials of the Fiesta Bowl (employees of the BCS) used bowl money to funnel funds to politicians, fly elected officials for the state of Arizona around the US, throw thirty- thousand dollar birthday parties for the Chief Executive Officer, and even racked up a bill of over one thousand dollars at a strip club. According to Thomas the allegations of political contributions were among the most serious and troubling writing "The most serious revelations involve nearly a dozen employees who told investigators that the chief executive and others working for the bowl encouraged them to make political contributions, then reimbursed them with phony bonus payments” (Thomas). This news made the NCAA question their control on BCS officials as well as think about if the Fiesta Bowl should be allowed to remain a BCS game. Eventually they were allowed to, but the incident helped raise questions about whether the problems would be solved if a playoff was set forth.
Another investigation is going on right now, but this one doesn’t involve a single bowl game, it involves the whole BCS. Recently the Department of Justice released a statement saying they were investigating if the BCS violated Anti- Trust laws. According to the Associated Press “BCS executive director Bill Hancock told the Associated Press on Thursday [June 2, 2011] that a Justice Department attorney last week asked for a voluntary background briefing on how the BCS operates. Hancock said he agreed to provide one, but that no date has been set yet” (The Associated Press). This would be the first time in over five years that the BCS and the Justice Department has gotten together to talk about potential violations of anti-trust laws. If the Justice Department determines that anti-trust laws were broken by the BCS, then college football and the NCAA would most likely be forced to switch to a playoff system giving them a completely fair way to determine an undisputed National Champion.
If a playoff is installed in college football no longer would the system be flawed and unfair. No longer would BCS officials be able to corrupt the game on and off the field. No longer would the National Champion be able to be at all disputed. A playoff is right for the game and the fans, and needs to be implemented immediately.
Flawed, unfair, even unconstitutional and illegal; all words used to describe the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), a computerized system which ranks teams and ultimately decides bowl matchups including the National Championship, has been one of the most controversial topics in all of sports the past few years. Because the BCS is a computer run system, there is always a chance for flaws with humans putting in results. Also it uses a computer determined strength of schedule rating, something many believe cannot be determined until the end of the season. In addition to being flawed, the BCS is unfair. If a team is not in one of the six conferences (Pac-12, ACC, Big12, Big 10, SEC, Big East) that automatically send their conference champion to one of the five BCS bowl games, they are a long shot to make one of the bowls and pretty much denied a chance to compete in the Championship game. On top of all this there are investigations both inside the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and by the Federal Government regarding misuse of NCAA money by the Fiesta Bowl employees and antitrust laws being violated by the BCS. There is one simple solution to all of these problems: swap the BCS with a college football playoff. A playoff would give multiple teams in every conference a chance to compete for the ultimate prize. If the NCAA does not institute a college football playoff, the process of determining a National Champion will be flawed for years to come.
The potential mistakes that can be made when a human inserts game scores into a computer are numerous, and this is one of many flaws in the BCS system. Last season in the final BCS rankings an error like this occurred. The day those rankings were released, CBS Sport’s Jerry Palm reported a blunder made by Wes Colley, who didn’t put the score of the Appalachian State-Western Illinois Division IAA playoff game into the computer. This mistake had a massive impact on the rankings and four teams in the top 25 had to be swapped around. In addition to this mistake, the BCS does not double check the rankings and only Colley’s formula for the ratings, and not that of the whole BCS, are available to the public (Palm). Another flaw in the BCS is that if a team loses one game, especially for a team that is in a non- BCS conference, could be detrimental to their whole season, and losing two is out of the question if they want any shot at the national championship. If a playoff system is instituted it would add some breathing room for teams that may have an early season slip up. ESPN football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. compared the need for a college football playoff to the NFL saying “In the NFL, I have always believed that the teams playing their best football in mid-to-late November have the best chance to reach the Super Bowl. In Division I-A football, teams need to peak right away and maintain that consistency throughout the season, from beginning to end. With one slip-up, a team's chance for a national championship could be over” (Kiper). He also wondered why under the system, a team could smash another in the conference championship game, but then lose out to that same team for a BCS bowl bid a week later. To explain this he referenced Colorado and Nebraska questioning how can Colorado dominate Nebraska 62-36 and win the Big 12, yet somehow lose out to the Huskers for a spot in the Rose Bowl” (Kiper)? These issues would be fixed by giving teams a chance to play head to head in a playoff.
In addition to the BCS being flawed, it is also an unfair system to many teams, especially those outside of the automatic bid conferences. An example of unfairness in the BCS would be in 2007. That year the University of Hawaii was the only undefeated team in college football with bowls left to be played, but at the time they were ranked an absurd number ten behind multiple two loss schools. The unfairness went even further when instead of being invited to play in the National Championship, they were invited to the Sugar Bowl and watched the Championship be played by a one loss school (Ohio State) and a two loss team (LSU). Terry Mitchell made a point about how if it is used, keep the BCS to a minimum saying “The BCS has no business jumping one-loss teams over undefeated teams or two-loss teams over one-loss teams. Instead, it should consider strength of schedule to fill the role of a tiebreaker among teams with identical records. For example, if the season ends with three undefeated teams, the BCS should select which two get to play for the championship. If there are exactly two undefeated teams, then the BCS wouldn’t have anything to decide – those two teams would automatically play for the title. If there is one undefeated team and a bunch of one-loss teams, the former would automatically get a bid to the championship game and the BCS would select their opponent among the latter” (Mitchell). Other examples of non- BCS schools being unfairly misplaced out of the National Championship game are a 12-0 Boise State for an 11-1 Florida (2006) and a 12-0 Utah squad replaced by either 12-1 Florida or 12-1 Oklahoma (2008). With a playoff these teams would have been able to all play head to head to see who really was the best team in college football that year.
On top of all of the flaws and unfairness, some BCS officials might not be the most honest people in the world. According to a report by Katie Thomas of the New York Times, it was revealed that officials of the Fiesta Bowl (employees of the BCS) used bowl money to funnel funds to politicians, fly elected officials for the state of Arizona around the US, throw thirty- thousand dollar birthday parties for the Chief Executive Officer, and even racked up a bill of over one thousand dollars at a strip club. According to Thomas the allegations of political contributions were among the most serious and troubling writing "The most serious revelations involve nearly a dozen employees who told investigators that the chief executive and others working for the bowl encouraged them to make political contributions, then reimbursed them with phony bonus payments” (Thomas). This news made the NCAA question their control on BCS officials as well as think about if the Fiesta Bowl should be allowed to remain a BCS game. Eventually they were allowed to, but the incident helped raise questions about whether the problems would be solved if a playoff was set forth.
Another investigation is going on right now, but this one doesn’t involve a single bowl game, it involves the whole BCS. Recently the Department of Justice released a statement saying they were investigating if the BCS violated Anti- Trust laws. According to the Associated Press “BCS executive director Bill Hancock told the Associated Press on Thursday [June 2, 2011] that a Justice Department attorney last week asked for a voluntary background briefing on how the BCS operates. Hancock said he agreed to provide one, but that no date has been set yet” (The Associated Press). This would be the first time in over five years that the BCS and the Justice Department has gotten together to talk about potential violations of anti-trust laws. If the Justice Department determines that anti-trust laws were broken by the BCS, then college football and the NCAA would most likely be forced to switch to a playoff system giving them a completely fair way to determine an undisputed National Champion.
If a playoff is installed in college football no longer would the system be flawed and unfair. No longer would BCS officials be able to corrupt the game on and off the field. No longer would the National Champion be able to be at all disputed. A playoff is right for the game and the fans, and needs to be implemented immediately.
Works Cited
"The BCS: Legal, or Unconstitutional?" Sports - CBSSports.com Sports News, Fantasy Scores, Sports Video. 5 Nov. 2010. Web. 1 June 2011. <http://uradufuss.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6181208/25670661>.
Jr., Mel Kiper. "Mel Kiper - Playoff Is Only Cure for BCS Woes - ESPN.com." ESPN: The Worldwide Leader In Sports. 11 Dec. 2001. Web. 03 June 2011. <http://espn.go.com/melkiper/s/2001/1210/1293013.html>.
The Associated Press. "Justice Department to Meet with BCS This Summer | AccessNorthGa." North Georgia News | AccessNorthGa.com. 2 June 2011. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=239218>.
Kinslow, Tom. "Fiesta Bowl Investigation: Report Reveals Parties, Trips and Strip Clubs | Bleacher Report." Bleacher Report | Entertaining Sports News, Photos and Slideshows. 29 Mar. 2011. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://bleacherreport.com/articles/648260-barry-bonds-evan-longoria-shaka-smart-and-tuesdays-top-sports-buzz/entry/57326-fiesta-bowl-investigation-report-reveals-parties-trips-and-strip-clubs>.
Mitchell, Terry. "The Unfairness of the BCS Is Now Showing." CommenTerry. 28 Nov. 2007. Web. 04 June 2011. <http://commenterry.blogs.com/commenterry/2007/11/the-unfairness.html>.
Palm, Jerry. "Glitch Leaves LSU, Boise State in Wrong Order in Final BCS - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com." Sports - CBSSports.com Sports News, Fantasy Scores, Sports Video. 6 Dec. 2010. Web. 02 June 2011. <http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/14395939/glitch-leaves-lsu-boise-state-in-wrong-order-in-final-bcs>.
Staples, Andy. "BCS Computer Error Reveals Massive Flaw in College Football System - Andy Staples - SI.com." Breaking News, Real-time Scores and Daily Analysis from Sports Illustrated – SI.com. 7 Dec. 2010. Web. 02 June 2011. <http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/12/07/bcs-math-error/index.html>.Thomas, Katie. "Fiesta Bowl Spending and Donations Questioned." Editorial. The New York Times 30 Mar. 2011, B11 sec. 29 Mar. 2011. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/sports/ncaafootball/30fiesta.html?_r=2&ref=sports>.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Potential Canditates for the Head Job at Ohio State
As most people know, the biggest news in college Athletics was the resignation of Ohio State Football Coach Jim Tressel amid numerous NCAA violations and an alleged cover up of the evidence. With the resignation, Ohio State, one of the most prestigious jobs in college athletics is open for the first time in a decade and there are numerous candidates for the spot. Here we will talk about why or why not certain candidates would, or would not take the job.
Top Three
Urban Meyer- This is my choice for the Ohio State Job. Meyer is from Ohio, was an assistant coach at the University in the 80's and said that it was one of the jobs his wife could not veto (Michigan and Notre Dame were the others). With the job for the season probably taken by interim Luke Fickell he could take the time off to be with his family to recover his health and be with his family. Also he is the big name that would fit at OSU has the personality to coach a big time college program like he showed at Florida. One cause for concern for Meyer hopefuls is that he released a statement saying I am committed to ESPN and will not pursue any coaching opportunities this fall. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the people at ESPN this spring and remain very excited about my role with the network this fall. It is to be noticed that he said this fall and may be open to the idea of taking the post in 2012.
Bo Pelini- Like Meyer, Pelini is another Ohio guy and this could come into the decision process if he is approached. He attended college at Ohio State and played football there from 1987-1990 so he has connections and reason to go there to lead his Alma Mater. He was an assistant coach in the NFL for eight years and has been a coach at prestigious institutions such as LSU and Oklahoma. Most recently he has turned around a Nebraska team and has led them to a 3-1 bowl record in his four years there. The one question is, would he want to leave all that potential that Nebraska has on the table to take a job that will possibly be smothered in NCAA Sanctions?
Bob Stoops-Stoops, like both Myer and Pelini, is an Ohio native and one of the best known coaches in college football. Over the past twelve seasons, which he has spent at Oklahoma he has compiled a 129-31 record and won a national championship while coming in runner up in three more. If he takes the Ohio State job he would also be leaving one of the country's most unstable conferences for one with a wide fan base and no signs of decline. Stoops is 50 and if he was to take a new job, this would be the one.
Other Candidates
Jon Gruden- Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach
Gary Patterson- TCU
Mark D’Antonio- Michigan State
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Top Three
Urban Meyer- This is my choice for the Ohio State Job. Meyer is from Ohio, was an assistant coach at the University in the 80's and said that it was one of the jobs his wife could not veto (Michigan and Notre Dame were the others). With the job for the season probably taken by interim Luke Fickell he could take the time off to be with his family to recover his health and be with his family. Also he is the big name that would fit at OSU has the personality to coach a big time college program like he showed at Florida. One cause for concern for Meyer hopefuls is that he released a statement saying I am committed to ESPN and will not pursue any coaching opportunities this fall. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the people at ESPN this spring and remain very excited about my role with the network this fall. It is to be noticed that he said this fall and may be open to the idea of taking the post in 2012.
Bo Pelini- Like Meyer, Pelini is another Ohio guy and this could come into the decision process if he is approached. He attended college at Ohio State and played football there from 1987-1990 so he has connections and reason to go there to lead his Alma Mater. He was an assistant coach in the NFL for eight years and has been a coach at prestigious institutions such as LSU and Oklahoma. Most recently he has turned around a Nebraska team and has led them to a 3-1 bowl record in his four years there. The one question is, would he want to leave all that potential that Nebraska has on the table to take a job that will possibly be smothered in NCAA Sanctions?
Bob Stoops-Stoops, like both Myer and Pelini, is an Ohio native and one of the best known coaches in college football. Over the past twelve seasons, which he has spent at Oklahoma he has compiled a 129-31 record and won a national championship while coming in runner up in three more. If he takes the Ohio State job he would also be leaving one of the country's most unstable conferences for one with a wide fan base and no signs of decline. Stoops is 50 and if he was to take a new job, this would be the one.
Other Candidates
Jon Gruden- Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach
Gary Patterson- TCU
Mark D’Antonio- Michigan State
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011
HOFer Killebrew dies of Esophageal Cancer
Today Hall of Fame baseball player Harmon Killebrew, who over his twenty-two year career swatted 573 home runs, good enough for eleventh all- time, passed at seventy-four from esophageal cancer. Last week the thirteen time all-star saddened the baseball world when he announced that he was going into hospice care to ride out the rest of his life peacefully.
Killebrew, who was nicknamed "killer" was the centerpiece of the Washington Senators/ Minnesota Twins Franchise for twenty-one of his twenty-two years and players in the organization felt strongly about the loss of him today. Twins president Dave St. Peter said "No individual has ever meant more to the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins territory than Harmon Killebrew," and that Killebrew's legacy will be the class, dignity and humility he demonstrated each and every day as a Hall of Fame-quality husband, father, friend, teammate and man." Minnesota Catcher and perennial all- star Joe Mauer also mourned the loss saying "He has treated me like one of his own. It's hard to put into words what Harmon has meant to me. He first welcomed me into the Twins family as an 18-year-old kid and has continued to influence my life in many ways. He is someone I will never forget and will always treasure the time we spent together."
The impact he has made on baseball and on others will exist forever, and we join in offering condolences to his family and to the Minnesota Twins Organization for their loss.
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Killebrew, who was nicknamed "killer" was the centerpiece of the Washington Senators/ Minnesota Twins Franchise for twenty-one of his twenty-two years and players in the organization felt strongly about the loss of him today. Twins president Dave St. Peter said "No individual has ever meant more to the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins territory than Harmon Killebrew," and that Killebrew's legacy will be the class, dignity and humility he demonstrated each and every day as a Hall of Fame-quality husband, father, friend, teammate and man." Minnesota Catcher and perennial all- star Joe Mauer also mourned the loss saying "He has treated me like one of his own. It's hard to put into words what Harmon has meant to me. He first welcomed me into the Twins family as an 18-year-old kid and has continued to influence my life in many ways. He is someone I will never forget and will always treasure the time we spent together."
The impact he has made on baseball and on others will exist forever, and we join in offering condolences to his family and to the Minnesota Twins Organization for their loss.
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Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Sorry Guys
I haven't been able to post in a while, I have been busy with some other writing duties. I'll try to put something up by the end of next week.
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