Crosby with just 22 years old has become a living legend after that goal against the United States, at his short age he has won a goal medal and a Stanley Cup already, the worst for the part for the opponents is that he looks in pretty good shape to repeat with the Penguins this year.

Pittsburgh is second in the East conference just behind the Washington Capitals but is hard to bet against the Penguins whenever the NHL odds listed them as favorites.

They own a four games winning streak including wins against the Rangers and the Sabres after the Winter Olympics break.

Also keep in mind Sidney Crosby lead his teams with 84 points meaning of course he is the go to guy for this offense.  He has scored 44 goals and 40 assists in 65 games played so far in the season, something that left no clue about who is the star of this team.

Consider that the next best player is Evgeni Malkin as he has 68 points result of 23 goals and 45 assists.

In addition the thing about this Penguins team is that they get unfired when they need to as Crosby an company seem to be money in the bank whenever the hardest games arrived in the schedule.

No. And let me tell you why.

A few years ago, LT was the premier running back in the NFL. THE. PREMIER. RUNNING BACK. I personal think that in his prime, no one could touch what LT did. He holds the records for most touch downs in a season and made people look

But the past few seasons, LT has been less than par when it comes to getting the job done. He has been mediocre at best during the season, and well below par during the off season when it matters the most. If he plays during the playoffs, that is. One season, he decided that an “injury” would keep him from playing in that game. As I recall, the San Diego quarterback in the same game blew out a knee, wrapped it, and came back. That shows dedication for you.

So should San Diego be worried that LT is leaving? Not really.

Darren Sproles continues to have great seasons year in and year out. So giving Sproles the full time job will allow the Chargers that sharp run offense that they need in correlation with the amazing pass defense with Rivers and his receives. However, I do believe that the Chargers do need that bigger, stronger back from the short yardage type plays.

But that is just my opinion. I would love to hear yours.

Pretty obvious, right? Don’t get me wrong. Thierry Henry gets paid to win games. And when push comes to shove, he was doing what he does best (no, not cheating) winning a game. But when you make a statement as below:

you are bound to piss people off.

Here is the biggest thing that gets me: The stadium was pack. Millions of viewers saw the hand ball. The entire Irish defense saw the hand ball. And the line judges and the ref didn’t? I know you can’t go back and replay (although I think the Irish are hoping for that) – but FIFA can punished the refs for not doing their jobs which is calling a fair game. Herny is right, he isn’t the ref. He did what he gets paid to do. The refs get paid to call a fair game and that they did not. I think every single one of those refs should have consequences for the game.

But that is just my opinion. What is yours?

And just an FYI: After Maradona’s “Hand Of God” Argentina won the world cup. Is history going to repeat itself?

The article states that player transfers, in season tournaments and regulations are three things that other sports should steal.

But there was another comment that irked me a bit in the article. Hench writes: “They can keep their 0-0 draws and constant offsides flags, but the transfer market, in-season tournaments and relegation are three ideas worth stealing.”

I am a huge soccer fan. And I like the article for the most part because Soccer is a well design sport. And I completely agree with taking the transfers, mid-season tourney and regulations into other sports. But the part of where “They can keep their 0-0 draws and constant offside flags” pissed me off.

Mr. Hench, are you trying to tell me that 11 guys battling 11 other guys for 90 minutes only to result in no points is a bad game? Some of the most exciting games I have ever seen have been 0-0 draws. Would you rather see cames that goes into the 100+ points like basebasketball? I would have like to been in that conversation:

Mr. Basketball: “Let’s start a sport, but just to have the players feel good about themselves, let’s give them 2 points per score!”

Mr. Football: “2? Ha! Let’s give them 7!”

And those offsides call? It is called pushing the envelope. It is called trying to see how far you can go without breaking the rules. It is called strategy. It is called technique. And other sports should look into.

Mr. Hench, I agree that other sports should follow Soccer. Soccer is a world wide sport in all aspects of the game. So next time you try to write an article about soccer, I recommend watching a game first before you try to write about it.

Baseball is having a rough time. Between Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Jose Canseco, MLB cannot seem to finds its way out of the drug scandal light.

Now there are reports that you have been suspended for 50 games because of an “unnatural testosterone” as well the female fertility drug hCG.

I know that you went to the doctor for a “personal health issue” and thought it was OK to take whatever he gave you, but here is my question to you:

Why would you not go to the team doctor? Is that “Personal Problem” really too personal for your teammates, your brothers, to hear or know about?

Also, Mr. Ramirez, If I went to see my doctor, and he gave me a FEMALE fertility drug, I would throw up some red flags and I am not a professional athlete.

You are 36 and one of the most feared players in baseball. And now you will be watching your team for the next 50 games.

So in conclusion, Mr. Ramirez, whether or not it was a mistake to take those pills or not, I personally think you could have gone about this whole incident in a little bit more of a professional manner. After all, you are a professional.

Signed,

Still a Fan

25. Lance Berkman, Astros, $14,500,000 -Ok, the #25 guy on the list might actually be a guy who deserves his pay (although DESERVING 14.5 mil is a reach). A lifetime .302 hitter, he is a consistent player, always around .300 and at 33 years, still has a few good years of baseball.

24. Miguel Tejada, Astros, $14,811,415 -How old is this guy? In an interview, he gets busted! He has also been busted for steroids. At 34 years old and a lifetime .285 hitter, paying him 14.8 mil is a little far fetched.

23. Mariano Rivera, Yankees, $15,000,000 (tie) Fact-Rivera is a great closer. Fact-Rivera is close to 40 years old. Fact-Rivera’s stats have been falling consistently every year. Fact-Rivera is NOT worth 15 mil a year.

22. Derek Lowe, Braves, $15,000,000 (tie)-Ok, D. Lowe is turning 36 this year, but his stats are OK. 3.74 career ERA. He isn’t a bad player, but Atlanta, 4 years for 15 mil each year @ 36? Really?

21. Ryan Howard, Phillies, $15,000,000 (tie) One of the few guys on this list that maybe worth the money. This guy is a workhorse and a threat every time he steps up to the plate. My only concern is he has a high strikeout count. Not a bad pay raise every year though ($355,000 is 2006, $900,000 in 2007, $10 Million in 2008, $15 million in 2009)

20. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels, $15,000,000 -At 34 years old, injuries are going to start plaguing him (started 2009 off with a sore right shoulder). But a great player with a .323 lifetime avg with  a decent OBP and a great Slg percentage.

19. Jason Schmidt, Dodgers, $15,217,401 -Really? Seriously? A 36 year old pitcher who has a lengthy resume of injuries, including season ending surgery in 2007, And LA-you are paying him over 15 million dollars-HE IS NOT EVEN PLAYING RIGHT NOW!

18. CC Sabathia, Yankees, $15,285,714 Sabathia is probably one of the strongest pitchers in the bigs. He is a big guy (6 foot 7, 290 Lbs) that throws a ton of innings every year and gets a ton of strike outs every year. Worth the money? Eh. He is a streaky pitcher that has issues locating fastball sometimes (See opening day start 2009)

17. Tim Hudson, Braves, $15,500,000 -Here is another guy that MAY be worth the money if he stays healthy. Great, explosive stuff and a long game guy.

16. A.J. Burnett, Yankees, $16,500,000 -One of the Yankees inflated salaries. Burnett is on a contract year and is a streaky pitcher. He has fits where he is Cy Young material, then he has fits where he flames out. Not worth the 16.5 mil NY has been feeding him.

15. Todd Helton, Rockies, $16,600,000 This guy is ALMOST worth his money. But at 35 years old and coming off a back surgery, who knows how productive he will be. But anyone with a career .328 average, .428 On base percentage and a .573 slugging percentage is a threat.

14. Aramis Ramirez, Cubs, $16,900,000 Wait-Who? Going through this list, I had no idea who this guy was. Even after googling him, still had NO IDEA about this guy. Apparently he is a big thing in Chi town. It is hard for me to say whether he is worth the money because I don’t know about him. ESPN likes the kid. He is young. SO maybe. I will be watching him this year, so check for the update soon.

13. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs, $17,000,000 – Another guy that MAYBE worth his money. Hits for power, hits for avg, has speed, great defense. But he may have hit his peak (no more 30/30 years) and be gradually slowing down. But still a huge threat in Chicago.

12. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, $18,000,000 (tie) -Here is another guy worth the money. As long as his legs can stay healthy, he will hit for a high average, get on base, steal a base, and score runs. What any good offense needs.

11. Torii Hunter, Angels, $18,000,000 What makes Torii Hunter a good player is his defense. He is getting older so his offense is slipping a bit. But paying a guy close to 20 mil for defense is outrageous!

10. Barry Zito, Giants, $18,500,000 -NOT WORTH THE MONEY! This guy is all hype. His ERA for his career is high 3′s, he was throwing an 84 MPH fastball last year, and doesn’t look to be improving. It’s like paying a high school pitcher 18 mil to pitch in the bigs. WHY?!

9. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs, $18,750,000 – A streaky pitcher at best, Zambrano has the potential to be worth his money. But his temper and lack of consistent starts (No hitter one game, 7 runs the next?) keeps him from truly being worth his salary. But at 27, if he gets his stuff together, watch out.

8. Johan Santana, Mets, $18,876,139 -Is Johan Santana one of the top pitchers year in and year out? Yes. Is his stuff worth 18.8 million? I am not sure on this one. He is one of the strongest pitchers in the majors, as well as is consistent through the entire year. But 19 mil?? Hmm…Tough One.

7. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers, $18,971,596 -If you can’t tell by know, I am not a fan of teams paying people whose best years are behind them a ton of money. Ordonez is 35 and his power numbers are dropping. But he still is a consistent player, but not 18.9 million consistent.

6. Carlos Lee, Astros, $19,000,000 -Here is another tough one: Is a player’s salary about defense, or offense? Lee’s defense is sub par. He has no range, no arm, and high number of errors a year. But, a career avg of 150 games, .290 batting average, 29 home runs, 102 RBIs, 90 runs scored is nothing to shake a stick at. He is not worth 19 million, but he is worth a good chunk.

5. Carlos Beltran, Mets, $19,243,683 -An underrated player if you ask me. Consistent player, plays everyday, hits for power, runs the bases, great all around player. Worth the 19.2 million? Maybe. We will have to see if he lives up in 2009.

Now we get into the big dogs. The 20 mil guys.

4. Mark Teixeira, Yankees, $20,625,000 -This kid is worth it. He is young, strong, fast and healthy. Offense, defense. He will blow up in the next few years. This was a great grab by the Yankee’s. Finally spending money on decent players. Unlike the next guy..

3. Derek Jeter, Yankees, $21,600,000 -NOT WORTH THE MONEY! He is a pop star. He is the David Beckham of MLB. No game, all sales. True, he puts butts in the seats in New York. But his speed: Gone. His 100+ RBI: GONE. His .350 avg: GONE!  He is 34 years old! And with SS like Ramirez, Reyes and Rollins, his skills now are sub par. But he sells tickets. So for that, I guess he is a good investment for New York?

2. Manny Ramirez, Dodgers, $23,854,494 -I have a tough time with Manny. On one side, he is still at power threat at 36. When he gets locked in, you can’t pitch him anywhere. He has a great eye and killer bat speed. That is, when he gets locked in. There is always that Manny Being Manny deal. But, I think his threat at the plate, just his threat, is enough to make pitchers wary. So good investment in my opinion.

1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, $33,000,000 -Ah. Good old Mr. Rodriguez. This is the easiest for me. There is NO WAY he is worth this kind of money. He is going into Jeter status with his star power. Is he still threat at the plate? Yes. Is that a 33 million dollar threat? Absolutely not! He has no defense (he might break a nail). I am baffled that NY pays this guy this much money!

There you have it. That is what I think about the top 25 players in the bigs in 2009. Feel free to let me know what you think-Who I got wrong, who I got right-I know you Yankee fans are going to grill me for Jeter and Rodriguez, but I love to hear. Let me have it!

]]> http://crazyworldofsports.com/2009/04/top-25-money-makers-in-mlb-worth-it/feed/ 0 http://crazyworldofsports.com/2009/01/lt-done-as-a-charger/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lt-done-as-a-charger http://crazyworldofsports.com/2009/01/lt-done-as-a-charger/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:41:09 +0000 sports http://crazyworldofsports.com/?p=62 Hey San Diego Fans…

  MSN sport writer Jason Whitlock writes the 10 truth no one wants to hear in the NFL. Want to know what number 7 is?

7. LaDainian Tomlinson will never start another game in a San Diego uniform.

 
Don’t expect to see L.T. donning those powder blues next season.

Man, this is a bad day for me. LT and Peyton Manning are two of my favorite players, but I have to keep it real.

LT’s injury saved the Chargers. With a healthy LT, Sproles never gets his chance to dominate the Colts. Darren “Seabiscuit” Sproles is an every-down back. Yes, he’s small, but the Biscuit, like the legendary undersized thoroughbred, is made to run with the big dogs.

I’ve been watching Seabiscuit make fools of bigger men ever since he starred at Olathe North High School, 20 minutes from my home. When he signed with Kansas State, I had my doubts. He put a clown suit on me and everyone in the Big 12.

What he did to the Colts on Saturday — 328 all-purpose yards — did not surprise anyone who saw him play in high school and college. The Biscuit is off the chains.

LT should be on the trading block this offseason. He’d be a wonderful addition to the Patriots.

Time to speak out Charger fans. Tell me what you think. Being an SD boy, I am going to send your opinion to Mr. Whitlock.

GO CHARGERS!!

The article is written by Stephanie Simon of the Wall Street Journal. Her father just celebrated his 30th anniversary of his running streak. In other words, he has ran every day for 10,987 consecutive days. The last time he took a day off was in 1978, after he finished a marathon. 

The article goes on to explain how he as ran with broken bones, flu, and back spasms. He has ran through all type of weather, and even plans layovers on trips so he can get a run in. 

And he isn’t alone. The U.S. Running Streak Associations (yes, there is such a thing) lists 31 members who have been running daily for 3 years. 

Everyone who has a streak like this, whether it is running, going to the gym, or playing in consecutive baseball games, have a story of inspired persistence. 

Why do people do this? What makes people become so stuck on a routine, that they are in the routine for years at a time? Well, everyone you ask will give you a different story. Some feel it is their daily commune with God. Others relieve stress. For others, it is structure. 

Regardless of why people go through such rituals, they all have one thing in common: In a world of drugs in sports, pro stars becoming criminals, and other aspects of sports that are dragging down what sports actually mean, there are still some good that is coming out of sport. 

Keep on trackin everyone.