Strasburg to Have Tommy John Surgery

Rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his throwing arm. The news comes only a few days after Strasburg was placed on the 15 day DL for what was originally believed to be a strained ligament.

Can Nationals' fans ever catch a break? Talk about a punch to the gut. Just 2 weeks after signing the next big thing, Bryce Harper, a year after signing the current big thing, Strasburg, Washington fans had something to look forward to. They had potentially the best pitcher and best hitter in the game 5-10 years from now. They had the makings of a dynamic young core that could be together for years. Now all they have to look forward to in 2011 is Bryce Harper's minor league stats.

Strasburg will spend the better part of a year (or more) rehabbing his right arm. Fan favorite Adam Dunn is likely to vacate our nation's capital as a free agent. Harper won't sniff the big leagues until maybe September. How quickly things can turn sour.

But what's the reality of the situation? Will Strasburg ever be Stephen Strasburg again, or will he be another quality front end starter with limited potential? The answer remains to be seen. I could go through all the trouble of looking up statistics for pitchers pre- and post-Tommy John, but I don't have the time for that. Instead, I'll give you my honest opinion.

Eh. No biggie.

Hold up. What? No biggie? Yeah, that's what I said. In all honesty, did the Nationals have a shot in hell at competing for anything next year? 4 months ago I would've said no before the Reds and Padres convinced me otherwise. Now I'll say not likely. Strasburg would've had a shot at a Cy Young, but that's about all Nats', and baseball, fans are missing out on.

Barring any major setbacks Strasburg will be ready for the start of the 2012 MLB season, hopefully along with Harper. And let's face it. Tommy John is a big deal, especially in the short term, but in the long term most pitchers come back either throwing harder or with a reconstructed delivery that aleviates a lot of pressure off of the shoulder or elbow. His nasty curve will probably lose some of its bite due to a loss a torque, but potentially this procedure could make Strasburg even more filthy, or just more effective.

As a baseball fan, I just want to see Strasburg in the best hands available in order to come back at 100% and not a minute sooner. Strasburg is a special talent that has lived up to his billing and hype in an age where that just doesn't happen anymore. Frankly, this wasn't just a punch to the gut for only Nationals fans, but all baseball fans including myself.

Blame It On the M-M-M-M-M-Mormons

Just when we think the waters that are college athletics had calmed and settled, the Mormons had to go and screw it all up. Wednesday the BYU Cougars attempted to move from the Mountain West Conference into college football independence. The Cougars were also moving to the Western Athletic Conference for their sports.

This move is strictly about money, which they need a lot of to feed all their wives. The MWC's current TV contract only allows each team to profit $1.3 million through 2013, a number that the Cougars believed they could top on their own especially since the number might shrink when renegotiated after the departure of their geographic rival, the Utah Utes, to the Pac-10/12. BYU also has to share any money allocated from a bowl appearance with other MWC members instead of hoarding it for themselves like they could as an independent. The Cougars were also inquiring about a Notre Dame-esque at-large stipulation with the BCS. (The Fighting Irish automatically qualify for the BCS as an independent if they finish the regular season in the top 8 of the BCS standings with at least 9 wins.)

Well Thursday the Mountain West Conference fired back in a big way. Before BYU could finalize their move, the MWC swooped in and convinced the WAC's 2 remaining athletic programs of any worth, Fresno St. and Nevada, to come aboard beginning in 2011. Suck it Mormons. OK not quite. This move will keep BYU in the MWC and create a very deep football conference that could potentially make a great case to be incorporated into the BCS. Even after the exodus of Utah, once the 2011 begins, the MWC will contain Boise St., TCU, BYU, Fresno St., and Nevada. 2 of those teams, Boise St. and TCU, matched up in the Fiesta Bowl of the BCS just last season, and Boise St. is preseason ranked #2 in the country this season.

Ranking the QBs of the SEC Part 2

It's time to polish this list off. Are you ready? Of course you are.

6. Cameron Newton - Auburn Tigers - Once seen as the next coming of Tim Tebow at Florida as he beat out current Gator QB, and #3 on my list, John Brantley,however Newton couldn't help himself from conforming to racial stereotypes and purchased a stolen laptop. He was then arrested for theft and unceremoniously left the school and transferred to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas where he led the Buccaneers to a Junior College National Championship. Now Newton finds himself back in the SEC, only this time he's under center at Auburn. Newton definitely has the potential to climb up my list, but until then he sits at #6.

5. Jordan Jefferson - LSU Tigers - I still don't understand the disdain for Jefferson outside of south Louisiana. Hell, JJ won't even turn 20 until just over a week before the 2010 season begins. In his first full season as the starter in his true sophomore year, JJ threw for 2166 yards while completing 61.5% of his passes and 17 TDs to only 7 INTs. Not to mention he was sacked 34 times which was alone more than every team in the SEC's total sacks given up except South Carolina. Jefferson played pretty well in 2009 considering what was in front of him.

4. Stephen Garcia - South Carolina Gamecocks - Garcia is another QB, like Jordan Jefferson, that people love to hate. The only difference is even Garcia's own head coach, Steve Spurrier, seems to talk crap about him. Also like JJ, last season was Garcia's first full season starting as a Sophomore. And to continue the comparison, Garcia was also sacked more times, 37, than 10 other SEC teams were except for LSU. Garcia also matched JJ's 17 TDs threw the air, while adding 4 more on the ground, but threw more INTs with 10. This season should see significant improvement under the tutelage of the 'Ol Ball Coach. If the Gamecocks are going to make waves around the SEC, Garcia is going to have to lead them there.

3. John Brantley - Florida Gators - Never has there been this much hype surrounding a Florida QB since...well, Brantley's predecessor Tim Tebow. Tebow set all kinds of records while in high school, and Brantley came in a couple of years later and broke them all, and for that I love him. Put it this way, John Brantley is so good that just when Urban Meyer thought he didn't want to coach again without Tebow, he remembered he had this guy standing around serving Gatorade on the sidelines and did an about face. It also doesn't hurt that Brantley is walking into a beautiful situation. The Gators are still loaded with talent at the skill positions and have offensive guru Urban Meyer roaming the sidelines.

2. Greg McElroy - Alabama Crimson Tide - 2508 yards. 17 TDs. 4 INTs. 14-0. And don't call it a fluke. McElroy hasn't lost a game as the starting QB since middle school. McElroy is the prototypical game manager, and all Nick Saban does with game managing QBs is win National Championships. Just ask Matt Flynn. If McElroy was at any other school in the SEC, he would struggle to crack the top half of my list. However, McElroy is at the University of Alabama where he is trying to win back-to-back NCs. There's no fluke about that.

1. Ryan Mallett - Arkansas Razorbacks - Ryan Mallett ran away with the #1 spot in this poll, as he was a unanimous choice as the top QB in the SEC garnering the only first place vote given out. As a RS Sophomore Mallett threw for 3627 yards with 30 TDs and only 7 INTs. If you're looking for a flaw in Mallett's game, you don't have to look far...down the field that is. Mallett only completed 55.8% of his attempted passes mainly because he was often enamoured with the long ball and failed to check down. Mallett and head coach Bobby Petrino have spent most of the offseason watching film to correct the issue. Now are you ready for the scary part? Historically, QBs under Petrino's wing have made huge strides in year 2. Welcome to year 2 of Ryan Mallett and Bobby Petrino.

Carmelo and Denver Growing Apart

Who saw this coming? You mean to tell me that an NBA player is looking at forgoeing any sort of loyalty just for the opportunity to play in one of the largest television markets with other superstars rather than try to actually win something on their own?

That'll Teach Her!

Keep the Florida trash out of here!

And This Is Why the NFL Preseason Is Retarded

Eli Manning got his forehead busted open Monday night while going after a loose ball.

As much as I hate the preppy prick who thought he was too good for an NFL franchise, I hate to see this kind of stuff happen. I understand coaches want their players to get their sea legs under them, but I'm pretty sure they'd also like to keep their blood in them.

Ranking the QBs of the SEC Part 1

I don't know why I'm doing this. Frankly, I think I'm a glutton for punishment, among other things. 5 out of 12 teams are breaking in a brand new starter under center, or in the shotgun if you're John Brantley at Florida. That leaves this list way too open and uncertain. Let the fun begin.

12. Matt Simms/Tyler Bray - Tennessee Volunteers - This is an enigma. Do you start the 4 star true freshman with a promising future in Bray? Or do you start the son of former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms who has bounced around from Louisville then JUCO? Does it matter? Either way you're screwed if you're a Volunteer fan.

11. Larry Smith - Vanderbilt Commodores - Remember when Vanderbilt recieved only their 2nd bowl invite in their school's history and won the Musci City Bowl in their own backyard 16-14 over Boston College? Seems like forever ago, huh? For Larry Smith it was. It was Smith's 2nd ever collegiate start and he actually played well going 10-17 for 121 yards with 0 TDs or INTs. So coming off their first winning season in 53 years, Commodore fans were stoked about Smith and the 2009 squad...that went 2-10 overall and 0-8 in SEC play. Was it all Smith's fault? Of course not. However, his abysmal stat line didn't help (46.7% completion 4 TDs to 7 INTs). Expect more of the 2009 Larry Smith over the 2008 version.

10. Chris Relf - Mississippi St. Bulldogs - I'm going to assume that there isn't a QB controversy in Starkville with Chris Relf and Tyson Lee because I like to believe that Dan Mullen is actually a pretty good coach and not a ra-tard. Why should Chris Relf be the starter? Well for starters he threw more TD passes than Lee, 5 to 4, in 180 less attempts, 221 to 41. And Lee threw 14 INTs to Relf's 3. Ah yes, and Relf led the Bulldogs' attack when they absolutely clobbered Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. So why is relf ranked so far down on this list? Frankly? Because he's black and I'm a racist. Oh, and just because he offers Mississippi St. they're best option at QB doesn't mean he's actually worth squat.

9. Mike Hartline/Morgan Newton - Kentucky Wildcats - Two years ago Mike Hartline looked like the heir apparent to Andre Woodson's throne in Lexington. Then halfway through last season when a knee sprain allowed freshman Morgan Newton to step in and assert himself as the Wildcats' QB of the future. Maybe. First year head coach Joker Phillips has one hell of a decision on his hands choosing between these two, and I don't quite understand why. They both have one job: Get the ball to Derrick Locke or Randall Cobb. It's that simple. I could even do it. This is like Houston Nutt trying to decide if Casey Dick or Mitch Mustain was better suited to hand the ball off to Darren McFadden or Felix Jones.

8. Aaron Murray - Georgia Bulldogs - UGA is going to need a big time year from RS Freshman Aaron Murray if they plan on contending in the Eastern Division in 2010. Big expectations from a freshman, right? Well maybe not. Murray graduated early from high school early in 2009 as a 4 star recruit so he could report to Athens for spring workouts, and was redshirted as Joe Cox took the snaps last fall. Murray will be counted on to lead a potent Bulldog offense that returns every offensive starter except at QB.

7. Jeremiah Masoli - Ole Miss Rebels - Last year Masoli led the Oregon Ducks to a Pac-10 title and the Rose Bowl. This year Masoli was supposed to be a Heisman contender and carving up Pac-10 defenses once again. Instead, Masoli is a thug, among other non-flattering ways I could describe him, and got himself kicked off the team, and thanks to an NCAA loophole, finds himself in Oxford using his last year of eligibility to try to keep Houston Nutt and his Rebels out of the SEC West cellar. Probably not gonna happen.

To be continued...

Actual Offseason Hockey News!!!

It's surprising when we break out NHL news that doesn't involve the Stanley Cup, but folks, we're doing it, mainly because it involves someone royally screwing the pooch, and I love when that stuff happens.

K-Rod Punched His Father In-Law

IN THE FACE!

NFL Referee Says His Blown Calls Decided Super Bowl XL

Veteran referee Bill Leavy told the Seattle media Friday that he missed a couple of calls late in the game that he believes helped the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 back in 2006.

Wait, what? This is not OK. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I'm OK with the fact that he feels severe remorse for "missing a couple of calls", but this happened almost 5 years ago. Let it go. Let Seattle let it go. There's no need to make them relive that day when just 8 months ago they were forced to accept Pete Carroll as their head coach. They're still not over that yet Bill.

And apparently neither are you.

Maybe Leavy just needed to get this off of his chest once and for all, but in today's technological age where all we do is question officials, the last thing players and coaches need is another excuse to blame the referees no matter what the sport. We don't need them blaming themselves now.

Jim Joyce was one thing. That guy knew he made a mistake and quickly apologized for it. He didn't wait 4 and a half years, nor did he help decide the outcome to the freaking Super Bowl.

Point is, Leavy should've kept his damn mouth shut. Suck it up, be a man, and move on.

Russell Okung Signs With Seattle

Why do we care? Because every pick from the 2010 NFL draft is now under signed by their team! That means no hold outs!



Wait a second. I've just got some news. It has just come to my attention that there is one remaning player left unsigned. Sorry Sergio Kindle. Even Chad Jones knew to almost kill himself after he got paid.

USA Today Preseason Rankings

USA Today released their 2010 NCAA football preseason rankings this morning, and while they might be worthless, they do signify that the start to the college football season is a month away.

Get excited! I sure as hell am!

Ranking the Coaches of the SEC Part Duex

Now that I've got you on the edge of your seats, let's finish the countdown.

6. Houston Nutt - Ole Miss Rebels - The Right Reverend has slowly climbed up these types of rankings put out by various members of the media over the years mainly due to longevity. While Nutt has had moderate sustained success, he has never gotten a team over the hump having never been to a BCS game in 12 seasons as a BCS coach. The closed he came was in '06 at Arkansas when the Hogs climbed as high as #4 in the polls the week before Thanksgiving. That team, in typical Nutt fashion, lost its last 3 games of the season once expectations were raised to finish 10-4. Nutt has always fared well as an underdog and tends to go against the grain with whatever the national media thinks his team will do. Luckily for the Rebels, Ole Miss was picked 5th in the West by the coaches and dead last by the media.

5. Mark Richt - Georgia Bulldogs - Before Richt was hired to coach the Bulldogs in '01, only Tennessee and Florida had represented the SEC's Eastern Division in the annual Conference Championship game. Since then UGA has played for the SEC title in Atlanta 3 times, winning twice, and losing a divisional tiebreaker to UT once more. Richt has averaged 10, yes 10, wins a years over 9 seasons since taking over for Jim Donnan. So why is he #5 on this list? Every coach above him has at least 1 National Championship to their credit. Those speak volumes. Maybe that's why there have been some grumblings out of Athens that have Richt on the proverbial "hot seat". Personally, I think they would be nuts to can him, but UGA folks are spoiled.

4. Steve Spurrier - South Carolina Gamecocks - The Old Ball Coach would've found himself at or near the top of this list a decade ago. However, after stops in Washington, DC, with the Redskins, and now South Carolina, Spurrier seems to have lost some of his magic from his days in Gainesville when he won the '96 National Championship and 6 SEC Championships. Some believe, as I do myself, that the game has simply evolved from the years when Spurrier's fun 'n gun offenses were considered unstoppable. While Spurrier has yet to have a losing season in Columbia, he has yet to win more than 8 games. He has, what most consider, his most talented Gamecock team this season, but will he finally relive the glory days?

3. Les Miles - LSU Tigers - Yeah. Yeah. I know. Les Miles at #3? What about his 8-8 SEC record over the past 2 seasons? Or the Ole Miss game last year? Or that he never answers a question with a straight answer? Or that he can't even wear a hat correctly, instead just places it gently on top of his head? Laugh all you want, but let the number speak for themselves. In 5 seasons at LSU, Miles has won 1 National Championship, 1 SEC Championship in 2 appearances, won 2 BCS games, 4 top 10 recruiting classes, and 1 SportsCenter commercial. Love him or hate him, the man has had success.

1b. Urban Meyer - Florida Gators - Success seems to follow Meyer around, and it's no coincedence. Meyer led the Utah Utes to their first undefeated season in '05, and they became the first BCS-Buster with a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and upset of Pittsburgh. Upon replacing the much maligned Ron Zook at Florida, Meyer has only gone 57-10, won 2 National and SEC Championships, 3 BCS victories, and coached Tim Tebow. And he did all of that even with serious health issues that sidelined him during the offseason!

1a. Nick Saban - Alabama Crimson Tide - Lil' Nicky may not be liked anywhere but Tuscaloosa, but it's because he's one hell of a coach. And because LSU fans feel like they're entitled to everything and everyone. Regardless, Saban is known for his swarming defenses, smashmouth running games, white, game managing QBs, and for being an all-around prick. Sounds like the makings of a great coach. And Satan, I mean, Saban lives up to the billing. He's won 2 National Championships, 3 SEC Championships in 4 appearances, and ranks a top of my list.

Ranking the Coaches of the SEC

We'll go 7-12 today, and cap it off tomorrow with numbers 1-6. Let's do this.

12. Robbie Caldwell - Vanderbilt Commodores - I'm still not sure if I'm supposed to feel sorry for this guy or not. Yeah, sure, he got his first major head coaching after 35 years, but it's taking over for Bobby Johnson at Vanderbilt with a team that went 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the SEC last year. Why does taking over for BJ matter? BJ took Vandy to their 2nd bowl game in history 2 years ago, and when he resigned recently, word is all 12 Vandy fans were speaking as if the had just lost the Bear in Nashville. Suddenly Commodore fans feel as if they deserve a bowl game every now and then. Now there's no grace period for Caldwell. God speed and good luck Robbie. I'll be surprised if Vandy reaches more than 1 win in '10.

11. Joker Phillips - Kentucky Wildcats - Although Phillips has equal coaching experience as Caldwell, the Joker has been the head coach in waiting for some time now in Lexington, therefore he gets the nod at #11. Joker was Rich Brooks OC for the past 5 seasons and brings back a couple of playmakers in Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke, as well as Mike Hartline and Morgan Newton, both with experience under center. The Joker will need to pull a few tricks from up his sleeve if he wants to add to 4 consecutive bowl invites for the Wildcats.

10. Derek Dooley - Tennessee Volunteers - If you were to look at Dooley's overall record, which stands at 17-20 at Louisiana Tech in the WAC, you'd be forced to wonder why Tennessee looked to him to return the once proud program to glory. First off, Dooley comes from outstanding pedigree. His father, Vince Dooley, coached at UGA for 25 years winning over 200 games, 6 SEC Championships, and 1 National Championship. Second off, Dooley has coached and learned under his father and current Alabama coach Nick Saban at LSU and the Miami Dolphins from '00-'06. These things don't directly translate to wins, but the Rocky Top faithful are sure praying they do, but with road games at LSU, Georgia, and South Carolina and Oregon, Florida, and Alabama marching into Knoxville, Derek Dooley's record may fall a game or two more under .500.


9. Dan Mullen - Mississippi St. Bulldogs - Nick Saban may have been named the '09 SEC Coach of the Year, but Dan Mullen did one hell of a job his first season in Starkville. Mullen took a Bulldogs teams with far less talent than the rest of the SEC and came up 1 yard short of making a bowl game while trudging through the nation's toughest schedule. For 8 years Mullen was current Florida head coach Urban Meyer's (who you'll see much later in this list) right hand man at Bowling Green, Utah, and Florida as QBs coach and OC. Apparently he learned a lot with Meyer, and if he continues to build up the Mississippi St. program, he won't be too far under him on this list in year's to come.

8. Gene Chizik - Auburn Tigers - When Auburn pulled the quick trigger on Tommy Tuberville after the '08 season many Tiger fans were stunned. When Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs returned after meeting with Tuberville's successor, Gene Chizik, many Tiger fans were not too pleased, and a few made sure he knew it. Chizik's hire was quite the shock. Although many Tiger fans knew Chizik as the man who led the defense from '02-'04, including the magical 13-0 year that didn't equate to a National Championship, they also knew him as the guy that left to accept the same role at Texas the vrey next year and had led the Iowa St. Cyclones to a 5-18 record the previous 2 seasons. Opposing fans laughed at the state of Auburn football, and the national, and Crimson Tide, media had quite the field day with the story. However, amidst the hoopla, Chizik put together a great staff and pulled out an 8-5 season capped off by an Outback Bowl victory. During the offseason he also brought in a top 5 recruiting class.

7. Bobby Petrino - Arkansas Razorbacks - Petrino is a guy that could find himself a few notches higher on this ladder if he can lead the Razorbacks to the type of season Hogs fans and media members are expecting. Arkansas will feature a high powered offensive attack led by preseason Heisman contender QB Ryan Mallett, but if the Razorbacks want to make it a special season they have to patch the large holes on the defensive side of the ball. Petrino was left with a rather empty cupboard in Fayetteville by predecessor Houston Nutt, but his players are now older, more mature, and potentially ready to breakthrough. If Petrino can take Arkansas to its first ever BCS game, he will never high to buy another drink in the state. That is, unless he leaves for greener pastures as most would say his reputation would have him do.

Darrelle Revis Holds Out

I believe players should be compensated fairly for their talents. I also believe players should honor their contracts. Especially their rookie contracts. Above all else, I also believe players should not, under any circumstances, hold out and alienate the organization, his coaches, and most importantly his teammates. That last sentence was for you Darrelle.

3 years ago Revis hadn't done a single thing in the NFL when he signed his first ever pro contract. Nowadays Revis is considered the top CB in the entire league, and he feels like he should be paid like the top CB in the league...after his current contract expires. The day a player underachieves compared to his salary and holds out until his contract is restructured so that he'll make less money, I'll give the go ahead for players to hold out for more money like Revis.

The Jets made a lot of offseason moves giving their fans loads of optimism and high expectations, but with their team's best player, and arguably the league's top defensive player, sitting on the sidelines and forgoing first-team defense reps fans have to be a little worried. Revis' agent is talking as if Revis is trying to do more than make a statement and appear in camp after doing so. According to Neil Schwartz Revis was "extremely deliberate in this decision making process" and Revis' "actions will speak louder than words...his absence will be deafening". That's some tough talk from a Jew.

So what is New York to do? Every organization has to be careful in these situations as they do not want to set a dangerous precedent. It's hard to do what's best for the team and organization all at the same time. If the player gets exactly what they want, what's stopping every disgruntled player on the roster from following suit? However, how does the front office negotiate in such a way that doesn't rub the player the wrong way while talking the terms down into it's budget? I don't have the answers, and neither does A.J. Smith.

As I mentioned before, Revis is without a doubt the Jets best player. Hands down. No question. So how much would he be missed if he missed actual, meaningful game time? When considering his talent, surprisingly, not as much as you'd think. New York brings back Dwight Lowery, who started opposite Revis for the Jets top ranked defensive unit last year, traded for San Diego starter Antonio Cromarite, who had 10 INTs in '07 and is very fertile, and newly signed first round draft pick Kyle Wilson out of Boise St.

Obviously none of the CBs currently in camp are comparable to Darrelle Revis, but none of them would be considered a weak link on the defensive side of the ball. The Jets are a sexy pick to win the Super Bowl this year in Dallas mostly because of Revis' ability to shut down an opponent's #1 WR, however head coach Rex Ryan believes the Jets can still compete for a Super Bowl without Revis. Whether they can or not has yet to be seen, but I guarantee Rex Ryan and the rest of the Jets organization and fans would rather not roll the dice and instead give Revis what he wants. Once again talent will win out.