Is Derek Jeter a cheater?

                     My take on Derek Jeter's performance against the Tampa Bay Rays last night:  This morning on ESPN First Take, Skip Bayless said he's lost a little respect for Derek Jeter...but this time his expected ridiculousness mirrored the views of too many sports writers and fans.  There is not even an issue, Derek Jeter did NOT cheat, it is the UMPIRE's job to get the play right, to call the game correctly, but yes I will admit that A-rod or Manny would've been condemned by the media and the majority of fans for putting on a performance that deceives the umpires.  However, The umpire immediately awarded Jeter first base, Jeter was simply doing his job trying to get on base so the struggling New York Yankees would have a better chance to come back against the Rays.  Every other MLB player ever would've done the same thing, if not to that extent, and it's absurd that Derek Jeter is apparently expected to live up to some kind of higher standard.  Jeter did not cheat in any way, cheating implies that he broke the rules or enhanced his performance illegally or immorally, the umpires made a bad call and he did what he had to do so that they wouldn't reverse the call.  It's not like tennis or golf where you have to referee yourself, it's simply sportsmanship.  The Rays won the game any way, because the baseball Gods delivered justice in the matter, Jeter has never claimed to be better than anyone else.  He has never acted superior or judged others in MLB, he simply makes direct statements, tries extremely hard, has looks, has charisma, and is a leader on and off the field, which is why he has acquired so much respect over the years.  I for one, respect Jeter even moreso for being such a brilliant baseball player and doing whatever it takes to win, with diminishing skills and DH or retirement looming, he still finds a way to deliver in the clutch.  Jeter probably isn't even one of the top 50 players in the history of baseball, his talent has always been overrated, but he's a hall of famer, a winner, a leader, and a true New York Yankee and he should always be remembered as such.  





                           Derek Jeter is constantly voted by other MLB players in Sports Illustrated polls as the most overrated player in baseball, and I think that has a lot to do with how well-respected he is by the media, along with other teams general spite for the Yankees.  Derek Jeter is NOT the MOST overrated player in MLB (not a powerful statement) but he is ONE of the most overrated players in MLB, top 10 perhaps?  More insanely and to the point, as you've seen this year, who exactly is overrating Jeter?  Nobody seems to give him much respect in terms of his current ability and recent performance.  Sports writers across the country seem to bash him when its convenient.  He's been a good fielder some seasons, mediocre in others (not a real gold glover), he's never had much power, his average is never as good as people think (since '99), nor is his on base percentage, and anyone ( I MEAN anyone) would score 100 runs batting first or second in the New York Yankees lineup.  Based on this season alone, and his incredibly average stats, he is not a superstar PLAYER anymore.  It'd be hard to say that Jeter is one of the top 10 best shortstops in MLB at the end of this year, he's completely overpaid, and it'll be interesting to see how the Yankees handle his upcoming contract negotiations.  Like Tim Tebow, are Jeter's intangibles & leadership worth so much that the Yankees assume this season was an aberration statistically and give him another large contract ( Over-paying to an extreme extent based on performance alone)

                                  With all that said, Jeter has now become THE MOST UNDERRATED player in baseball.  Everything I stated in the previous paragraph is true, including the fact that he is still one of the more overrated players as well.  Confused?  I was too, until I figured out how to make sense of it all, and this was the only way to explain it.  His talent, ability, all-time greatness , overall stats, and aura have been OVERRATED by the majority of fans.  His leadership, value to the team, talent, ability, individual season performances and all-time greatness has been entirely UNDERRATED by sports writers and other MLB players.  For example, no sports columnists ever seem to bring up a few very important facts about Derek Jeter's career, like finishing top 5 in MVP voting in 3 different seasons, top 10 in 6 seasons, top 25 in 11 of his 14 seasons.   One year he wasn't in MVP voting was his first full season, when Jeter won the rookie of the year.  That means Derek Jeter has been one of the best 25, if not one of the best 10-15 players in baseball for most of his career.  Because Jeter does not hit home runs, he was robbed of an MVP award in 1998, when he clearly had the biggest impact on the pennant race but was not recognized as MVP because everyone knows he's not as talented as guys like Manny Ramirez or Ivan Rodriguez (at the time), in spite of being the best overall statistical player in terms of helping his team win games.  More impressively, 2006 was a joke, Justin Morneau was the best power hitter in the American League that season and helped the Twins make the playoffs.  Because Jeter was on such a vastly superior team, (talent-wise) and because sports writers across the country are biased in their hatred for the Yankees.  Jeter was the best player on the best team, he batted .343, with 97 rbis, 118 runs, a .417 obp, and 214 hits.  He also played well in the field, he won the gold glove (whether you think he deserved it or not is irrelevant) and got screwed.  Jeter should've won MVP in 2009, last year, if not for Joe Mauer having one of the best seasons a catcher has ever had.  However, he finished THIRD in the voting somehow, so he would not have finally won an MVP any way.  In 1999 Jeter has his best season statistically, .349 average, 104 rbis, 134 runs, .438 obp,  and 219 hits...yet he finished SIXTH in MVP voting.  However that season I feel it was much more justified, because he wasn't the most important player to his team, but if we're NOT handing out awards strictly based on statistics, than where are the MVP awards Jeter DESERVED to win?  Jeter won an all-star mvp and world series mvp in the same season, 2000.  Jeter's stats in the post-season, late season, and close-game situations are slightly below his average career stats, but in the playoffs or in a pennant race, Jeter would be facing the BEST of the best in pitching, and the most pressure.  He's not the most clutch player, but he's better than most with the pressure on.  Jeter also never won a batting title, but if you take player's home stadiums into account, and how they affect how many hits a player gets, Jeter would've won at least TWO batting titles in his career.   He has finished in the top 10 in batting average 9 times, top 10 in in runs scored 10 times, top 10 in hits 11 times...He is the all-time hits leader among shortstops and his .317 career batting average through the 2009 season ranks as the fifth-highest among active players. He has been among the American League (AL) leaders in hits and runs scored for the past ten years. He is the all-time Yankees hit leader, passing Hall of Fame member Lou Gherig in 2009.  Better than all those numbers (statistics are extremely important in baseball) is the fact that he's a WINNER.  Individual performances in particular games or with particular plays have been recalled and re-counted for years.  Jeters plays 100% all out all the time, but somehow gives extra effort in the biggest moments of the most important games.  He is Overrated, he is Underrated, he is loved and hated.  For those of you haters out there, remember that Derek Jeter didnt buy the Yankees their team or ruin baseball, baseball politics shouldn't affect your view of a great player.  However, Jeter lovers out there, He's had some spectacular seasons, but his consistency, clutch performance, and actual talent has always been sensationalized.  I am not a flip-flopper or one of the many media members who likes to live on both sides of the fence, I'm not contradicting myself, it's just that sometimes there's no ONE thing you can definitively state about any ONE person or player.  In this particular case, Derek Jeter is underrated by the general media (not the New York market in love with him) and he's scrutinized by opposing players whose collective careers couldn't hold Derek Jeter's jock strap.  New York Yankees fans, and even casual fans of baseball throughout America (and the rest of the world for that matter) seem to believe he's one of the best players in MLB history though, which is simply untrue.  As usual, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

                          

                              Now that I'm going to be criticized and ostracized as some kind of Yankee lover, I would like to distance myself from the average Yankee fan.  I am not boastful of all the talent we've stolen from other teams through free agency, however I do not hold the declining competition in the MLB against the Yankees organization.  I do not hate the super high powered market teams for spending as much money as they can, it's the way MLB works these days, and it's the system they've been given.   MLB has done a horrible job of producing competetive baseball in a majority of cities and states throughout the country, there needs to be parody like the NFL (which is so popular because any team can win on any given sunday)  It's not really possible for small market teams to compete on a consistent basis.  Also some of the teams that now receive money from the Yankees, like the Royals and Pirates ( who have had 20 consecutive losing seasons) don't seem to spend the money on the baseball team or the product they put on the field.  The Pirates are actually making a profit even though they are about to lose 100 games.  Why would teams spend money on players and scouts and coaching when they can suck as much as they'd like and still make money as a business.  The Yankees put so much money into the Organization from the start, and now they are seeing the benefits, and making a ridiculous profit because they've invested in a growing business oppurtunity.  Baseball probably could use a salary cap (seems unlikely though) but more importantly, Commisioner Bud Selig needs to find a way to help MAKE small market teams ATTEMPT to be reasonable competitors each year.  In the NFL, every fan of every team has hope at the beginning of the season, MLB needs to figure out how to move in that direction.  I like the true Yankees, the team that wasn't entirely bought, that had good chemistry and won in spite of a lack of talent, like the '96 team, Paul O'neil will always be my favorite player.  I don't care much about MLB these days, and that's a shame.  A-rod had one fairly clutch post-season last year and the Yankees won in the end... but A-rod off of steroids hasn't been as amazing a player as he once was, and he STILL has so much to prove.  Winning on the highest paid, most talented team in MLB isn't as much of an accomplishment, especially when A-rod didn't really produce much in the actual World Series.  This is why Jeter's performances in 96-00 were more impressive... Sabathia is way more important to these Yankees any way.  

                                           NFL, thanks for returning, please don't leave me next season.

Kim Kardashian's former Bush shamed (Help Wanted)

• We need more writers, obviously, there's been news, and we've had a flurry of updates recently and we're constantly working to make this blog look and feel more entertaining, my web site designer and friend from Louisiana is a sports enthusiast and a good writer, he'll write when he has time, but we're going to need more help to get this blog more popular faster.  Right now, we tend to get 20-30 different IP addresses checking this site out per day, a vast improvement since starting from scratch, but we'd like to get to a point where we have enough people as part of our blog's community to encourage much more interaction, comments, and even SOME followers.  Spread the word, or offer to help  tgl4093@yahoo.com   We're just getting started so if you want to join something with potential, we'd be happy to hear your input.  We chose http://www.blogspot.com/ because of the simple layouts and easy updating features.  We will be able to post videos of fans debating their teams or general sports, and that should be an exciting inclusion.  If you'd like to write for us as a featured journalist or write occasionally as a guest and friend to the site, here's what we're looking for:  We want people who are passionate about sports, be it their team, superstars, or their hometown.  Be honest, be smart, write inteligently AND most importantly, admit when you're wrong.  I have made a few bad predictions but things have gone pretty well so far.  But if the Yankees win the world series instead of my pick, the Rays, I will be the first to admit I was mistaken.  Too many sports writers and sportscasters are iffy and politically correct and agree too often with the mainstream media, we want individuals with their own theories & ideas and the ability to express those opinions.  Also, we welcome all new readers to this site, this is your sports blog so enjoy.  The best part of having a sports blog is immediately having a strong, real opinion about various sports politics and controversies, so here's a run down of some recent events that need to be discussed.



• Fanhouse.com columnist Kevin Blackistone opined that sexual harassment protection "doesn't shrink with the fit of jeans or disappear with the height of a hemline. Women in journalism, or any line of work, shouldn't be subjected to ... sexual innuendo for any reason."  That is factually truthfully logically morally correct, mr. Blackistone, but what does that have anything to do with the situation between Ines Sainz and the New York Jets?  The Jets whistled...hollered...commented...and a coach threw footballs close to her so his players could get a closer look, while others told her she was beautiful.  If that's considered sexual harassment, then men and women should no longer interact in any work environment.  The worst insult she heard was something along the lines of "This is our locker room!"...  She has already gotten enough free publicity and press from the media, this unnecessary spectacle took away from the signifigance of the game the Jets played.  Many male sports reporters in the New York locker rooms have been insulted, screamed at, and "harassed" forever, being a person seeking news in a locker room full of guys trying to compete with opponents trying to bash their skulls in leads to a sometimes less than professional atmosphere.  Either way this woman needs to disappear, the only reason anyone cares is because the collective old white male media finds her so damned attractive.  Fines better not be handed down unnecessarily, and the NFL should conclude their investigation determining there wasn't even an incident.  If the flight crew below has never complained of sexual harassment, than what right does a visiting reporter who clearly craves the sexual tension and attention from male professional athletes have to make herself the story?  SportsMastermind will never mention the name Ines Sainz again.  Starting....  

Now.

• Reggie Bush forfeited his heisman trophy today, and I am sick to my stomach.  Reggie Bush will never be a superstar in the NFL, so the NCAA just took away the greatest award he's ever been capable of winning.  Obviously, the onslaught of pressure and stories focusing on the accusations by the NCAA against Bush got to him, or they threatened to make an ordeal out of the situation if Bush didn't cooperate.  Regardless of what made Bush go to or stay at USC, or how many gifts he accepted in his time there...he was eligible at the time of his performances that season, and he was the greatest player in college football that year.  Too many athletes hear too many voices from friends, family, agents, and coaches telling them what to do, and they feel like they can't actually do what they might think is right.  USC still won those 14 games that were taken from them, in some kind of historical context, we all know USC still won those games.... we all know USC still won a championship with Reggie Bush.  It still happened, it still counts.  Reggie Bush didn't even cheat by using some type of performance enhancing drug or being involved in some type of cheating scandal that helped him on the field.  It's bad enough that students did not receive scholarships because of something they had nothing to do with.  It's bad enough that the hard working student athletes now attending USC as freshman or sophmores will not be able to have the amazing experience of participating in a bowl game, or competing for a national championship.   Vince Young was great, he lead Texas over USC the year Bush won the heisman, but Bush was still the overall best player, and 790 voters would still probably agree with me.  I don't blame Vince Young or the university of Texas for being willing to accept the award, it helps their resume, and it helps bring future high school superstars to Texas.  For students now to pay for what one student did FIVE years ago is INSANE.  NCAA politics are dumber and more ridiculous than the BCS system in itself.  College athletes can often come from POOR neighborhoods, with their families in need of financial support, with a million pressures from agents and scouts, and if they are to get injured during their collegic career, they may not ever make the huge paychecks one would get as a professional.  Not to mention the superstar college athletes who will never make it in the NFL (see Tim Tebow), even more importantly the ones who will never even be drafted and given a sizeable contract (see Michigan quarterback, Denard Robinson)  What Reggie Bush should've done was admit his guilt from the beginning.  He should've accepted the facts, the evidence, and told reporters, the university and the NCAA that he did accept inappropriate money & gifts from agents or whomever else.  Then, he should've declared that college students should be paid endorsement money since so many of them need to take it any way, and since they don't get paid for the billions of dollars they're helping the school programs and the NCAA acquire.  Bush should've accepted responsibility for his actions, said he'll pay the fines, the school, the NCAA, and do whatever it takes to give back to the community, and then said that where would be NO way he would EVER give back his heisman trophy.  The worst thing you can do when you make a mistake is to never admit fault and to never stand up for yourself and your beliefs in the face of adversity.  Bush showed his true character today, I only hope he's a better person and community leader in the one city that has embraced him, New Orleans.  Perhaps he learned ethics and media relations from spending so much time with the Kardashian family.  By the way Reggie, Miles Austin looks really happy.

• Back when Eric Mangini was head coach of the New York Jets, he whipped Kris Jenkins (starting defensive tackle) into shape, and refused to accept anything less than maximum effort in the gym.  Jenkins was unhappy, he complained constantly, wasn't a good teammate and his production suffered at his lower weight.  Kris is a classic example of someone who is fat and jolly, he hates working out and is way more confident when grossly overweight.  Rex has let Jenkins do his own thing, and obviously Jenkins has to work fairly hard just to get back on the field this year after tearing his ACL last season.  He may be fat, but he's a force and he always plays well out of shape.  He also plays less because he's out of breath after a few plays, but thats not the problem.  The problem is that when he was in shape that one year, his production was lacking, but his health held up and lasted throughout the season, and he played all 16 games.  The fat and skilled Kris Jenkins coming into this year was doomed to be hurt, as he usually is when taking care of himself isn't that high on his list of priorities.  Everyone knew he'd have some issues but noone expected this, especially in the first game of the season.  Kris Jenkins tore an ACL for the second straight season, he will be placed on injured reserve.  The Jets already showed how good they can still be without him during the second half of last season, but it's such a pity to see such a waste of talent.  The moral of the story is that what makes you happy, will also make you too fat to play football.  To put all this in perspective, Rex Ryan is still the fattest man alive!  

• Ryan Grant, starting running back for the Green Bay Packers is also out for the season with a right ankle injury he got against the Eagles in the opening game.  I feel like the only thing this really affects in the NFL universe are the fantasy players who drafted Grant in the second round, thinking he would score a good amount of points as pretty much the Packers only decent running back.  Contrary to popular belief, don't bother picking up brandon Jackson on your fantasy team because if they are going to be able to run again at some point this season, it will be with a veteran player they acquire in free angency or via trade.  Jackson just doesn't have enough explosiveness to burst through the holes that a good pass-blocking offensive line can create.  I like Ryan Grant to a degree, he's proven to be a solid player in his first couple seasons in Green Bay, but let's face it, he's not going to be the difference between the Packers winning the Super Bowl or not making the playoffs.  The Packers are lead by a strong, hard-hitting, agressive defense, a good coach who has a stud linebacker in sophmore Clay Matthews (who was unbelievable in the first game against Philly) As far as the Green Bay Packers offense, despite his subtle struggles in the first game, Aaron Rodgers IS the offense.  His arm will carry them deep into the playoffs.  He also has so many weapons surrounding him in terms of the improved line, recievers Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson, along with the very talented Jermichael Finley at tight end.  There is a reason that so many experts have been high on the Packers coming into this season, they have talent and depth.  There are at least eight other guys that would've hurt the team a lot more had the packers lost for the season, starting with Rodgers.  The Packers will not only overcome this situation in a few weeks, finding a solid veteran replacement to run the ball as a change of  pace from the high-flying passing attack they are sure to have, but this will wind up being only a minor obstacle in what becomes of the Green Bay Packers 2010 NFL season.   Go Pack Go!

New York, New York (technically New Jersey as well)

Oh silly Jets, how do I love to watch thee to be entertained, allow me to count the ways...



In case I gave the wrong impression in a previous post, (although my blog title pretty much summed up my feelings on the matter) the New York Jets may be far too arrogant based on their lack of a good quarterback, but they did nothing wrong to reporter Ines Sainz of mexican television.  Even respectable female sports media members like Jamelle Hill on ESPN, have said that the way she acts, talks, and the attire she wears undermines all respectable female reporters.  Erin Andrews has been on the sidelines for sunday and monday night football games, and she had to work hard earning a respectable reputation in order to fulfill the requirements of that gig.  Yes, it has become a trend for local sports networks to hire pretty women broadcasters who seem like they have a decent amount of sports interest and knowledge in order to draw higher ratings, and that's certainly ok.  But too many real female reporters have worked so hard to gain access to the locker room and build a respectable career as sports reporters like Jackie Macmullen or Robin Roberts, that its unfair for one woman with no credibility who is dressing in a manner so that she gets noticed is garnering so much publicity and unfair critism and attention to female reporters for the wrong reasons.  For so long, women sportscasters have been objectified, you can find a thousand web sites listing, ranking, and disrespecting females involved with broadcasting sports.  I think its fair, and even fun to speculate on the beauty of a career-minded woman, especially a beautiful woman who knows football or basketball.  It's what every single man is looking for...



(For the record, she knows how to use shirts & bras & cleavage to her advantage, her breasts aren't actually that big.  Her face is a bit thin, as with her lips and she seems a little old.  I love mexican women though.)

Ines Sainz was not harassed or disrespected in any way.  In Mexico, reporters are all about sex appeal, and women in show business are dressed far more provactively.  But for her to go to the Super Bowl and have athletes carry her around, measuring their biceps, and flirting her way through the locker room....it is ENTIRELY unfair and inappropriate for HER to criticize the Jets coaches and players treatment of her.  Jets players called her beautiful in spanish, hooted and hollered, and a coach threw passes near her so his players could get a better look.  There was no grabbing, touching, or fondling of any sort, there was no inappropriate comments, nothing vulgar or insensitive, and noone even asked her out on a date.  Although I'm not sure anyone knows how the entire interview she had with Mark Sanchez went... If it was just her outfit, that would be one thing, but her behaviour certainly warrants the players conduct.  That's right, the New York Jets were justified in whistling at her, she was obviously dressing and behaving in a manner to get attention.  The Jets should actually be praised for showing some restraint, seeing how her cleavage and tight jeans were screaming to be looked at.  She is in the wrong for saying that the Jets acted differently than any other team's players would have in the same situation.  The Giants players can say whatever they want, but unless they're all gay (not an insult, not questioning their masculinity, they ARE my favorite team) they very well might have acted the same way.  the Jets did nothing wrong off the field besides talking way too much.



Anyway, that story is already getting old and over.  Nothing will come of the NFL's investigation, I don't even feel like fines will necessarily be handed down.  Unfortunately this will be the last time we see a picture of her for awhile, but beautiful female reporters that make news are bound to return to the headlines someday.



Meanwhile back in the land of relevancy, the media built a giant JETS bandwagon for fans all across the country to jump on, and we're already seeing so many sportscasters, analysts, and commentators hop off.  All the talk about how great a coach Rex Ryan is, and how incredible the N.Y. Jets defense will be this year has come to a ridiculously sudden hault.  Either Baltimore's defense re-establishing themselves as one of the best overall units in the league somehow made the Jets defense look less impressive, or everyone has finally observed and concluded that Mark Sanchez is no leader, Thomas Jones is a HUGE loss, and the Jets offense is bad.  BREAKING NEWS, the Jets aren't that bad, their offense isn't as bad as it looked last night and Mark Sanchez can't possibly look like a frightened little bunny for the entire season.  The Jets are still a good team, and they're still going to fight for a playoff spot.  Why Darelle Revis wasn't covering Anquan Boldin last night, I will never understand.  However, if the Jets get off to an 0-3 start this season by not being able to score enough against the Pats next week or find a way to win in Miami, (I've already predicted they'd lose those division rivalry games) then they are in some serious trouble.  0-2 is hard enough to recover from, but the way the Pats looked last week must scare New Yorkers (& New Jersians) everywhere.  If the Pats defense is just average, but the Jets offense can only score 10-20 points (if they can even score that)  how do the Jets plan on stopping the Pats tremendous offensive attack?  I know we've seen close, low scoring games even in the era of the great Patriots offense during this particular rivalry, but I dont see that happening again.  The Jets have so many questions at linebacker, they need to blitz to get pressure it seems, and even their secondary (the side that Darelle Revis isn't on) looks inconsistent.



Even teams associated with the Jets in terms of location and name have had bad luck recently.  The Mets got off to a better start than anyone could've expected, and then absolutley flopped, failed, and faltered after the all-star break.  Mike Pelfrey went from having one of the best first halves in MLB New York Mets history, to not being able to win a damn game the rest of the season.  He has the stuff, apparently, but like most of the Mets, his mental toughness is non-existant.  David Wright and Jose Reyes have been two of the most promising young stars in the game for years now, Wright was being compared to A-rod just 3 years ago... Beltran is at the end of his career..  Delgado is now a minor leaguer...   Santana isn't the best pitcher in the game anymore (he's still the best clutch late season pitcher) and now he's seriously injured once again.  The Mets have wasted Johan's prime years with them, meanwhile K-rod buries himself into a deeper hole by the day.  The two good young players who have made a name for themselves this year, Ike Davis and Angel Pagan have potential but Jason Bay has been a big money bust.  The Mets are starting to look like the Knicks of the last decade, more money than most teams, sometimes even more talent, but they always seem to make the wrong plays, moves, and decisions.  For that matter the New Jersey Nets were bought by a russian billionaire, and they are still represented by Jay-Z...yet he couldn't persuade Lebron to come to the future Brooklyn franchise, nor could they acquire any big time free agents in the off-season. (Even the Knicks managed to get A'mare and make some good trades)  New York should thank it's lucky stars they still have the Giants,(they play in Jersey, but they represent New York...haters) Yankees (who have lost 7 of 8 games and are in second place) and Knicks (who will never get 'Melo or Tony Parker)

*sigh*  I'm moving to Boston... 

The Chiefs Win!!!

10-6 winners, 7-7-1-1 against the spread (I guess .500 was meant to be), the NFL has humbled my boasts for a week... but at least we're off to a better start than Mike Golic, Chris Berman (not an accomplishment), Adam Schefter and Chris Mortenson, in taking a quick look at the worldwide leader in sports, ESPN.  In fact the computer Accuscore and Mark Schlereth were the only ones who picked more winners....I will take you down next week, stupid robot!  Schlereth has been a terrible actor on absurd Soap Operas, and he once played an entire offensive practice after having pissed himself, so I salute him for this week, but pee pants can't get it right every week...



Meanwhile we all knew the Chargers had problems, and that the Chiefs and Raiders would be better than last season.  I suppose Oakland's awful first game against a solid Titans team threw my perception off.  I still don't see how the Chargers could lose this division, they always get off to a slow start, but I was hoping the curse of LT would be lifted.  Anything could happen on any given sunday but if the Chiefs or Raiders manage to actually win this division, I will shave my head.  A top 10 quarterback and a solid defensive front in a pathetic division usually means a playoff birth.  We shall see...

Women should dress appropriately or expect consequences in a MALE locker room.

This story was originally reported by Yahoo Sports and The New York Times.



With all the hubbub about "Hard Knocks" and the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, the New York Jets have something else to deal with – and unlike your average Rex Ryan soundbite, there's nothing funny about it. Inés Sainz of the Mexican television network TV Azteca, claimed that she was harassed by players and coaches in practice and in the team's locker room last Saturday. From the New York Times:





The New York Post reported that during drills, Dennis Thurman, the team's defensive backs coach, purposely overthrew passes that landed near Sainz on the sideline. The Post also reported that linebacker Jason Taylor(notes) volunteered to join the defensive backs. Players also reportedly made sexually suggestive comments in the locker room after practice ... In a statement released by the Jets, Johnson stressed to Sainz that "he expects all members of the Jets organization to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times."



Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins(notes) also reportedly told Sainz that "this is our locker room!" when another reporter asked Sainz if she was okay.



"I die of embarrassment!" Sainz wrote in Spanish on her Twitter account. "I am in the locker room of the Jets waiting for Mark Sanchez(notes) while trying not to look to anywhere!"



Team owner Woody Johnson has said that interviews with players and coaches will begin after the season opener as part of an investigation that also involves the league office. "Right now, we're working with the league and we're doing all the fact-finding, checking the facts, doing the interviews," Johnson said. "Interviews with the players will start [Tuesday]. We've talked to some of the non-players, but [Tuesday] we'll get into it all."



Johnson offered Sainz what was described as an "open apology."



"I called her the minute I found out about it, and I finally spoke to her later on in the day," Johnson told the media. "We take this very, very seriously, as you can imagine. We want all of our reporters, female or male, to be comfortable wherever they are, on the sideline, in the locker room or at a game. We have to make the working environment professional, representing the New York Jets well."



Sainz told CNN.com that she has acceped the Jets' apology. "I said thanks to him for the concern and all the rest of the team, because he promised that he is going to make everybody on his team respect ... women," she said. "And I think the important point is that women deserve respect in any profession, so I think it's going to happen."



The Association for Women in Sports Media has filed a complaint on Sainz's behalf, and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum has spoken with Joanne Gerstner of the organization.



Judy Battista, the NFL writer for the New York Times, told me Monday afternoon that as the alleged incident would have been ongoing, she was most surprised that the PR staff wouldn't have put a stop to whatever was supposedly going on.



Battista also said that she's never encountered such behavior from the players she's covered, and that she's not aware of any other female reporter (she estimates that there are at least four who cover the New York football teams on a regular basis) dealing with stuff like that.



Tara Sullivan of the Bergen County (N.J.) Record wrote an interesting article in which she enlisted the opinions of several New York Giants players on the matter. "Just be respectful," defensive tackle Justin Tuck(notes) said. "Some guys might not like it, but it's not that big a deal. For me, I've got six sisters. I know how I would want them to be treated. Not like that."



Giants executive VP of public relations Pan Hanlon spoke to Battista's concern.



I would expect [the PR staff] to intercede and make sure it doesn't go beyond the line. That's one of the many things we talk to the players about, that if they have an issue with the media, they should come to us. That's what we're here for. ... When we talk about the media, we don't make a distinction between male and female reporters. We remind our players that as a group, the media is to be dealt with professionally.



"No matter what you say about it, whether you want to try to be politically correct or whatever, it's uncomfortable," Giants center Shaun O'Hara(notes) said. "It's uncomfortable to me to have any media in the locker room and I think it's also for the women in the locker room. But all they want is to do their jobs and be treated fairly."



The Giants are willing to take every oppurtunity to show they are professionals, while the Jets "loose" environment will undoubtedly be called into question.  On the other hand, although female reporters should be treated as fairly and equally as possible in a male sports club/locker room atmosphere, it is their job to act professionally and respect the locker room they're allowed in.  An attractive woman who wears appropriate attire should never expect harassment, but what constitutes an "appropriate" outfit.



Let's take a look at the types of outfit she has worn while reporting on the sidelines, at practice or in the locker room and YOU be the judge:

And now, for no particular reason, Inez Sainz in a bikini.  This site is awesome, isn't it?

I hate me(dia)

I feel like this site needed a picture of a hot woman that I actually know.  RESPECT

If I wasn't listening to the overall general media's hype filled view of the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals, I would never have picked against the Pittsburgh Steelers or New England Patriots in this opening week.  My record would have two less losses, and I would look two times smarter with a 12-3 record to start the season.  I have always known better than to pick against the Patriots with a healthy Tom Brady, and the Steelers with a healthy Troy Polamalu.  Obviously the Steelers' demise without big Ben has been greatly exaggerated. Honestly, I didnt think Dennis Dixon would look too bad by the end of his four games as a starter, but he did a better than expected job at taking care of the ball.  I thought he would be more of a risk taker, not realizing how good Pittsburgh's defense still is.  After the first win, now it almost seems that Byron Leftwich's injury was a blessing in disguise and chance for this young gun to show his ability to manage a team.  Anyway, before I bought into all this off-season and pre-season hype of the Bengals and Falcons great teams, I knew the Pats would do well, and that the steelers were still solid, if not a playoff team. (because of a tough division)  Cincinnati had a top 10 defense last year but I'm not sure if anyone can really explain why, Benson's numbers weren't all that great, and T.O. is probably nothing more than a mediocre number 2 receiving option.  I knew T.O. wouldn't make this team that much better, if any, but Carson Palmer's inconsistency and inability to perform in the clutch has been seen time and time again.  I still think the Bengals will bounce back and make it to the playoffs, but they were overrated from the start.  After last season, supposedly the year of Matt Ryan and the Falcons... many analysts were on that bandwagon at the beginning of last year, and the Falcons blew it.  They won and lost some close games,  never putting together a strong run.  They are meant to be an 8-8 or 9-7 team this year and next year.  Their defense is average at best, they don't create enough turnovers, Matt Ryan isn't a top 10 qb, Michael Turner has worn down and the Falcons will never be any better than slightly above average.  In retrospect, I guess I picked the Falcons, because of my lack of respect for the Steelers offense, not thinking their running game had a strong enough offensive line without a great passing attack.... but I still should've picked those pats.



Also I noticed that all my friends now think they are better at predicting the outcomes of games, just because their favorite team won, or they thought they remembered telling me that the REDSKINS were going to beat the COWBOYS, even though it was a FLUKE. (not you Matt, you were right in your limited perspective)  If you think you can pick games better than the sports Mastermind, than pick them all. or at least 3-5 per week, and have evidence of YOUR picks on YOUR own web site.  The truth is that none of ya'll locals know how to do this better than I do, and your prediction record could never be as astounding.  OR write some comments, e-mails, replies, and give me your picks for the upcoming games, or any pick conflicting with mine, and I'll be able to take your expertise into account for the next time...  For the local teams next week, I'm already leaning towards picking the Giants over the spread and the Colts, while the Patriots beat the Jets in N.Y, even if the Jets are favored.   Good luck picking against me, ESPN, yahoo, CBS, and FOX, I'm about to make you all look ridiculous.

U.S.A is still the best at basketball, NFL shennanigans + random things to think about

Some things and thoughts have floated around my mind for days, possibly weeks, but the beginning of the NFL season has taken up so much of my sports-oriented time, we haven't had time to review and discuss the important matters taking place across the Sports World.  Now that the game previews for tonight are out of the way and we can all enjoy watching the Jets lose later, it's time to say the things everyone needs to know or already knows....just....READ

• Firstly, and most importantly to myself, the U.S. basketball team won the FIBA World Championship in FIBA's tournament.  It's certainly not as well-known or respected as winning a gold medal in the Olympics, but it's a great tournament, featuring the world's best players, in which the rest of the world views as extremlely exciting and important.  Case and point, the Turkey vs. U.S.A. final had a local crowd of 15,000 in Istanbul rooting for their fellow countrymen.  the NBA still has more of the world's best players and an NBA championship is still as valuable as an olympic gold medal if not moreso in reality  (even though Kobe said he was more proud of his medal)  That was based on the ability to represent his country, however, and not the level of competition.  Considering most of the top 20 best players in the world still reside in America, the NBA playoffs are still the highest level of play, despite its individualistic ideals.


•   Many people viewed this new U.S. team as the "B" team, without Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo, etc, but the truth of the matter is this young b-ball team played a much more cohesive game and put a more exciting product on the floor.  Kevin Durant proved how much better his defense is becoming, including his shot blocking ability, while continuing to be the best offensively dominant scorer in the world.  Durant won a scoring title last year in the NBA at the age of 21, but MVPs are in his near future.  These young players have proven that they can adapt to the world's game better than today's greatest superstars.  'Melo, Lebron, Kobe, and D-wade finished THIRD in this tournament 4 years ago, winning the bronze medal.  The media said this team was under-sized and couldn't shoot, but the young talent in the NBA, the future of basketball greatness, showed how much promise the sport really has. 


•  Lamar Odom was the only veteran who had any impact, he actually seemed to prove with his clutch rebounding and defense that he might've been a bigger part of the Lakers winning the last two titles than we ever could've imagined.  Derek Rose was incredibly fast to the basket, scoring at will at times, as well as being the best passer on the floor, the future assist leader in the NBA.  Even Kevin Love made some big plays, while young guards across the league showed off their talent. (Eric Gordon, Stephon Curry, Russell Westbrook)  The future of the NBA is so bright, and this tournament proves it.  The future stars in the league did something that the Superstars of today couldn't do last time around, and now we can look forward to another run at Gold in the Olympics of 2012.


• Second off, continuing our trend of NFL coverage, Calvin Johnson caught a ball in the endzone, got both feet down, a knee down, and never juggled or mishandled or dropped or let go of the ball!  No matter how you interpret what ever rule was quoted in the NFL rulebook/handbook, every other rule states that a receiver who CATCHES the ball and gets TWO feet or ONE knee down has made a complete catch.  I understand that it has to be completely defined before a player can start his endzone celebration, but IT WAS!  His feet were down.  Then his knee was down. He had the ball securely in his hand.  Anyone who says that they immediately knew that was NOT a touchdown is not only a liar, but an incorrect one at that.


• Chris Carter is one of the guys claiming he knew that Calvin had not established the catch before putting the ball on the ground and raising his hands in triumph.  I'm happy to see how wrong he is about this because it brings me to another point after this one, but first, C.C., stick with PLAYING football.  Coach Lovie Smith of the Bears has to challenge the call if there's any questions, that's his job, especially in such an important situation.  It looked and smelled and felt like a touchdown, but he used the ball to push himself up off the ground after the catch was already made and that's where Chicago's coach was hoping that the refs would misinterpret the rule and cost the Lions the game.  I hate to agree with Bob Costas, and disagree with Skip Bayless on the matter, but I've been given no choice.  Mr. Carter if you had made that catch as such back in your overrated playing days, you would've flipped your lid if they had reversed the CALL on the FIELD, which was that it was in fact A TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   You're a former player and receiver, have some sympathy and respect.


•  Speaking of which that guy who grounded his club because he didnt know he was golfing out of a bunker and didnt make the playoffs because of the resulting penalty got screwed too.  But golf is fun to play, not follow, here's hoping Tiger finds his way back to the top someday soon though.


• By the way, Chris Carter of ESPN, why don't you even show some respect to your fellow media mates whom have let you do what they do for a living with them?  After your pro football career, you would've been best to do us all a favor and retire quietly and peacefully into the night because you are wrong far too often and I don't just mean when it comes to predictions.  You have strong opinions on matters, but you don't respect the media or the opinions of analysts who have never played sports professionally.  Obviously, you know the X's and O's, the ins and the outs, strategies, schemes, and veteran players, but that does not mean that you know everything.  You absolutely know how to play the game of football, you are a potential Hall of Famer and I respected your ability on the field.  BUT unless you can predict the outcome of every game, unless you personally know every player, UNLESS you know the coach's strategy going into each and every week for specific teams, keep your disrespectful opinions to yourself. 


•  Players play, coaches coach, and analysts/experts analyze expertly.  Our job isn't to disect each and every play, we are good at our jobs and know more about more sports, because we study, research, and watch all the games.  We have statistics to consider, but we can also see that Kobe hits 3-pointers in the clutch, the Ravens and Steelers consistently play great defense, a HOF Quarterback has become a bigger part of building a championship team, etc.  We dont need to see that a running back can't find or burst through the hole to know that an offensive line has been ineffective....  All I'm saying is that if former players want to be involved with the media, they should respect everyone else's opinion and not act like they have MORE knowledge by having on-field experience.   We all played sports when we were younger, and we still do for fun, so just because you had the privilege and were blessed with the talent and good fortune to have a professional career doesnt mean you have to continue to rub it in our faces afterwards.  In other words, don't judge me or my media family Chris Carter, or I'll judge you.


• I don't care if Kevin Kolb could be the future of your organization and that he is thought highly of around the league, and I dont care if Andy Reid is or is not on the hot seat.  All that matters is what we saw in week one... when Kolb was in the game, the offense had no rythm and no confidence, when Vick was brought in for a few plays, good things happened.  Michael Vick brought a swagger, his speed was clearly back to an incredible level, but he didnt completely rely on his feet, he also has a laser rocket arm. (not necessarily an accurate one)  Vick almost brought the struggling Eagles back from a 20-3 deficit against a very solid Green Bay Packers defense.  Why Vick wasn't given a chance to beat Kolb out for the starting job at the beginning of Pre-season, I have no idea.  On a side note, isn't it ironic that Mcnabb convinced the Eagles organization to give Vick a chance?


• Reggie Bush should hide his heisman trophy somewhere safe, the NCAA is coming for it.  Their committee continues to discuss and their next meeting will focus on whether or not Reggie Bush should keep it, as the university's version of the trophy has already been thrown away.  Reggie accepted illegal gifts and money from recruiters, I'm sure there's no doubt...but who the hell cares?  I'm positive that tons of Superstar athletes have gotten away with this at a countless number of schools, but more importantly Reggie Bush was the best player that season in College football.  He had the best stats, the best performances and he was the most important player.  If he was ineligible at the time things might be different but he beat out Vince Young in the heisman voting fair and square.  Money may have had something to do with Reggie Bush choose to go to USC, but it had nothing to do with his talent or how he played on the field.


• EVEN more importantly than that entire situation are the penalties that have been assessed to the university because of Reggie Bush's past conduct.  No sanctions on USC during the present day will do anything to fix what happened back then.  You are taking 30 scholarships away from 30 deserving students who will now fall to a school that places less emphasis on education.  Eventually 30 students down the line who would normally be going to the lesser of college football schools as their last real option to go to college, will be out of the loop completely.  Certain high school students will be stuck in the poorest of neighborhoods as opposed to getting a higher education in college and a few possibly moving on to become professional athletes, all because Reggie Bush accepted gifts & money as a student.  It's nonsense to punish a school trying to help individuals create a brighter future, for something an individual did years ago, choices he's not being punished for financially.  The NCAA is absurd to expect college athletes, to wait, hoping to avoid injury, hoping some NFL scout finds and loves their talent...before they can get paid.  I'm not saying the schools should give the athletes something more than a free education, but they should certainly allow the athletes to recieve endorsements and make a living, for gosh sakes!


• It was clearly a penalty, the Cowboys lost, Romo needs to grow up and stop deflecting the blame.  Wade Phillips needs to stop making excuses and assert himself as the true leader of the team.  Jerry Jones need to be JUST a little more hands-off.  Otherwise the Dallas Cowboys franchise will continue to underacheive.  The only way to win without leadership is to have overwhelming talent like the Cowboys did in the 90's.  America's team, much like a lot of America, needs to be humbled.


• The Patriots defense isn't as amazing as coach Billichik's scheme made them look in the first half of their 2010 opening game against the Cincinnati Bengals, nor were they as bad as they were lazy and uninspired in the second half of the game.


• Conspiracy theory alert:  Virginia Tech lost to a terrible James Madison team this week, 5 days after their opening loss to Boise St.  Clearly, the NCAA didn't want TOO much BCS controversy at the end of the season, so they threatened/convinced VT to lay down and ruin Boise State's credibility.  It looks like any big conference one loss team will get into the BCS championship game over Boise State now.  Sorry heisman hopeful, Kellen Moore.


• We didn't predict, nor pay much attention to college football this week with the signifigance of the NFL's opening week.  The NFL has so much more talent, technique and excitement that it's hard to pay a lot of attention to an NCAA football game with so many flaws.  Plus we all knew there'd be no major upsets as of yet, but college football upset picks are coming to SportsMastermind soon, stay tuned.


• Nadal could...and will win his first U.S. Open title today, therefore becoming one of only a handful of players to acheive the career grand slam.  I'd like to believe that Roger Federer was better in his prime, particularly on grass, but Nadal gets more impressive each year.


• Having not discussed baseball in awhile, I will show my respect to America's favorite (not really anymore) sport by concluding this list with comments on respective teams.  The Padres were a great surprise all year, but their lack of an offense finally caught up to them, don't expect to see them in the playoffs.  I dont care if the Phillies win the division or the wildcard, they will be a force to reckon with in the national league's post-season.  Bobby Cox's Braves are so nicely balanced but less talented than teams like the Rockies, Dodgers and Cardinals... but I think they're getting in.  I loved Joey Votto three years ago, now he's actually good, go reds!  The Yankees are falling hard nearing the end of the season, their starting pitching struggles have been well documented, but Granderson and Jeter are hurting both ends of the line-up with their lack of production.  The Rays just keep on keepin' on, waiting for these last seven games against the Yankees, to claim the division as their own.  The Rangers and Twins have had their moments but they won't actually be able to compete.  The Tampa Bay Rays (My pick to win the World Series) are so good at pitching, even in the bullpen (unlike so many other playoff teams)  My only apprehension has always been the Rays' lineup but they seem to always find a way to score enough runs and/or out-pitch their opponent.  Their ability to hit and run, steal bases, and hit with runners in scoring position has got them this far.  A half game behind the Yanks, look for the Rays to steal the division, starting tonight.