Grave Digger

It is only a few weeks before spring training begins for Major League Baseball and one of the greatest hitters in history still can’t find a home.

Manny Ramirez has effectively dug his own grave. For the past few years, he had an annual off-season tantrum where he requested to be traded from the Boston Red Sox. Every time he did this, it was no surprise that the organization wouldn’t submit to his demands. It was just “Manny being Manny.”

During last season, it erupted.

First there were reports that Ramirez refused to play for the Sox. Then there were reports that several of his teammates refused to play with him on the team. It finally led to him being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline.

Once he got to LA, Ramirez said he was happy, even though manager Joe Torre made him “trim” his hair. He had one of the greatest second halves of a season anyone has ever had, hitting over .390 with 17 homeruns and 53 RBIs in 53 games.

But for all of his talent, can we be surprised that nobody wants to sign this guy? Let’s take a look at his potential suitors and what has/hasn’t happened.

The Yankees have spent a ridiculous amount of money so far on pitchers C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and first baseman Mark Tiexeira. So why wouldn’t a team that can out-spend everyone else want the slugger? Wouldn’t they love to stick it to their rival? Simple, he is too costly for them. Manny wants at least a four year deal worth at least $25 million a year. For a 36 year old with temper tantrums? Even Brian Cashman won’t go there.

Then there are the cross-town Mets. It might have been the biggest insult to Manny when last week the team said no thank you to him. This is a team that has melted down at the end of the year for two years straight. Last year, Manny carried the Dodgers on his back to the playoffs. That has to sting when a team that NEEDS you, doesn’t WANT you.

For a while, the San Francisco Giants were flirting with Ramirez and his agent, Scott Boras. But after dumping a truckload of money on the greatest bust in the history of the world and history, Barry Zito, I think the Giants purse may be a little too tight for his wants.

Back to the Red Sox? That’s laughable. He burned every bridge in Cleveland when he left for Boston. The Angels are “satisfied” with their outfield. And neither Chicago teams will even take a look at him.

So where will Manny end up? By the looks of it, back with the Dodgers. A few months ago they offered him a two-year deal worth around $45 million. By the looks of it, that’s the best deal he’s going to get.

Ramirez’s options are either lower his demands or retire. In this economy, take what you get.

Surprise, No Surprise

The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl and everyone is SO surprised.

Should we be surprised? Not really. OK, well maybe, but that’s just because it’s the Cardinals. But for the past four years now there has been the one team that has fought on the road and gotten to the Super Bowl. Unless you have some form of Alzheimer’s or have suffered a head injury, these are things you should remember.

In 2006, the same Pittsburgh Steelers that are in this year’s game were the “Cinderella” story. They first beat a Carson Palmer-less Cincinnati Bengals. That didn’t take much. But next on the list were the “unstoppable” Colts. That was the year they began the season 13-0, before losing to San Diego (as I predicted). It was the year Peyton Manning broke Dan Marino’s single season touchdown record. The Colts had everything going for them, except a kicker that could make a fourth quarter field goal. Following that they beat the Broncos, which really didn’t look too difficult either. And then they played Seattle in the Super Bowl. These were the Seahawks that locked up the number one seed in the NFC and were favored to win with MVP Shawn Alexander. Still, the Steelers won and as a Browns fan, I wanted to puke.

In 2007, it was the Colts’ year for redemption. After finally predicting that they would win the Super Bowl the year before, I swore I would never pick them again. Now, this year they started as the three seed, so winning the Super Bowl shouldn’t be that much of a surprise, except for the fact that their defense was notoriously horrible at stopping the run (sound familiar?). They got passed the run-happy Chiefs in the first round and then the suddenly redeemed Jamal Lewis and the Ravens. It was like their defense suddenly remembered how to tackle or something. The biggest shocker was that in the AFC championship they finally beat the New England Patriots, who they had lost to two straight times in the playoffs. Their road block so to speak. When the Super Bowl came, they were up against a number one seed Chicago Bears that was known for its menacing defense and inconsistent offense. It was no surprise that they were able to stop Rex Grossman and help Tony Dungy become the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl.

And then there’s last year and the tale of Eli and the Giants. The biggest shock wasn’t that they got into the playoffs, after their annual late season meltdown. It wasn’t that they defeated their division winner and number one seed in the Cowboys (honestly, Romo is the world’s biggest choke artist, pretty boy) who beat them twice in the regular season. And it wasn't that they beat Brett Favre in the playoffs in Lambeau (he has been more of a liability in the clutch for the past few years). The shocker came when they beat the unbeaten New England Patriots. A team that had broken almost every single season offensive record. The Pats were favored in the spread by 13.5. But a fourth quarter, fourth down pass from Eli Manning to David Tyree eventually led to a touchdown and a win.

So without getting into the details, should we really be shocked that the Cards are now in the Super Bowl? I know they got smashed by the Pats 47-7 only two weeks before the playoffs and that they got murdered by the Eagles by 28 points only a few weeks prior to that. I know they were winless on the east coast. But if there’s a constant theme here it’s that these teams have gotten hot at the right times and that anyone in the playoffs has a chance to win any game.

The Arizona Cardinals are no different. Don’t be surprised if they win because they came into the playoffs 9-7 as the four seed. Only be surprised because… they’re the Arizona Cardinals.

The Amazing Mr. Tebow

Arguably the greatest college football player ever as a second day draft pick? I don’t think so.

According to many NFL scouts, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, Florida QB Tim Tebow would not be drafted until the third or fourth round in the draft. Now, while I am not a professional draft analyst, I really have to disagree with the whole notion that Tebow could not be a successful passer in the NFL.

However, I do see where they are coming from.

The first argument against the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner is that he comes from a certain college system. Alex Smith, the first overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2005 NFL draft, played under Florida coach Urban Meyer while he was at Utah. By the looks of it, Smith is now out of a job. He did not play at all this past season due to a shoulder injury and will probably be released by the 49ers. His career QB rating is 63.5, with 19 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. In his defense though, he has had a different offensive coordinator with a different system every year.

But there is a huge difference between the two quarterbacks. First off, Tebow is far more physically talented than Smith. He is bigger, stronger, faster and more accurate. He also plays in much more talented and difficult conference. The Mountain West Conference doesn’t even compare to the excessive speed and skill of the SEC. Smith played against the defenses of New Mexico, BYU, and TCU in his route to a BCS Bowl berth. Tebow, on the other hand, had to get passed Georgia, LSU, and Alabama on his route to two National Championships.

The other knock on Tebow is his similarities to two other “run-first” quarterbacks who were not successful in the NFL; Michael Vick and Vince Young. While Vick may never play in the league again because of actions off of the field, it is unfair to make comparisons to Young. Mainly, because Young just completed his third year in the NFL, and wasn’t even given the chance to start after getting injured and benched in week two.

But Tebow has qualities that Young doesn’t. First off, he is a far better leader. Many great college quarterbacks, like Young and Smith, don’t make it in the NFL simply because they are not strong leaders. Tebow is. He takes responsibilities for his actions and carries the team on his back when he needs to. Those are qualities that are rare among quarterbacks at any level. It is one of the qualities that separates the elite quarterbacks from the rest of the bunch.

And Tebow is not a true “run-first” quarterback. A real "run-first" guy is someone who chooses to run the ball when the play still calls for him to throw it. Can you blame the guy for having skill with his legs?

He has also defied every criticism that people have thrown at him. When he was a freshman, and Chris Leak was the starter, Tebow was only used to pound the ball for a few short yards.

After his freshman year, critics and analysts doubted that he could be the full time starter. Not only did he answer that question, he broke the NCAA record for touchdowns scored by one player in a season and won the Heisman. Coming into this year they doubted that Tebow could win by passing more than running. Well, his numbers say it all as he threw 30 touchdowns and only four picks as the Gators won another national championship.

So, when people doubt his ability to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, what do you think Mr. Tebow will do?