Recently in Jacobs' Chatter Category

Posted By: Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

What’s your first thought when someone asks, “How good is Miami’s ice hockey team this year?”

If your response sounds something like, “I didn’t think Florida colleges played hockey,” you’re missing out.

Miami University will face off with Boston University on Saturday at 7 PM for the NCAA National Championship, and I couldn’t be more excited. I also refuse to put "Ohio" after the school's name like all the television networks do. After all, there is only one Miami University and it was founded 36 years before Florida was even a state!

I’m assuming my personal profile has gone mostly overlooked by readers, but if you happened to click on it, you’d find that Miami is my Alma mater. After spending 4 years supporting the team as a fan and covering them for the school paper, I grown to love everything about Miami hockey.

Football has always ruled the Ohio sports world. However, it’s become an afterthought in Oxford, Ohio since “Big” Ben Roethlisberger graduated (sadly the year before I began as a freshman).

It’s the first time the RedHawks have ever made it past the second round of the NCAA tournament, and they will meet an intimidating Terriers team who bravely thwarted a potential upset by Vermont.

I’ll be watching the game in the heart of enemy territory, with a few of my good friends from the BU men's crew team. I look forward to a hostile environment, cheering my squad on, and can only hope for the opportunity to shamelessly rub a win in their faces, as the Miami fight song triumphantly trumpets from the television speakers.

One of the most endearing traits of Boston sports is the overconfidence exuded by fans, however those watching will be unpleasantly surprised with Miami’s impressive abilities. I won’t go so far as to guarantee a Miami victory, however I can ensure you that it’s a game you won’t want to miss.

Do you think BU will emerge triumphant? Let us know what you think.

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

Steroids, money, and controversy.

That's all baseball has been for the last few months. A-Rod, Manny, A-Rod, Manny. It's like a merry-go-round you can't get off of, fun and interesting at first but exponentially duller with each rotation. Eventually it's just nauseating.

While it's been all good news for Red Sox fans, there are many people, like myself, who are plain tired of hearing about Rodriguez, 'roids, and regret. The latest news is that he may be out a month or two due to hip surgery. Sure that's good news for Sox fans, but it has no relevance until the season starts. It’s worse than watching daytime television.

So what does matter? The World Baseball Classic, to me at least. And if you're a baseball fan, it should for you too.

The WBC is about national pride, heritage, and the love of the game. Maybe a little cheesy, but that doesn't make it untrue. And believe it or not, in 2006 we weren't the best. Not even close.

USA’s squad failed to qualify for the semi-finals and finished 8th out of 16 teams. We were embarrassed, and rightfully so. The U.S. underestimated the skill of unheralded teams like Japan, Cuba, and Mexico, who played harder and worked together better than the boys in red, white, and blue.

That's why it saddens me as a fan to see so many players choosing, or in some cases being forced, to stay with their Major League teams. Smart business maybe, but how can you call yourself a patriot or a fan when you applaud a Major League team for banning a star from representing his country?

Albert Pujols, arguably the best hitter in the game, is stuck with his St. Louis teammates while his Dominican Republic team is forced to play Eric Aybar at first base.

Why? Because insurance won’t cover any potential injury after his offseason surgery. Pujols says he’s 100% healthy and he expressed his desire to play, but simply can’t.

How about reining Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum? He casually declined to play for his country, so that he can stay and train with the Giants. He’s only 24 years old, he should be able to handle the extra load.

The list of non-participants goes on and on, especially for the U.S. However, one team bucking the trend is Boston, and yet again I find myself applauding Red Sox ownership.

The Red Sox have a total of six players that they will let play in the Classic, including DH David Ortiz, 1B Kevin Youkilis, 2B Dustin Pedroia, LF Jason Bay, SP Daisuke Matsuzaka, and RP Javier Lopez.

Of the six, Ortiz, Matsuzaka, and Lopez are all significant injury risks, but also key elements to their national teams. While the choice could come back to bite the Sox, they shouldn’t be ashamed for letting a man represent his country. Either way, Theo and the boys can always take solace in the fact that they didn’t deal for A-Rod.

As for the USA, we have something to prove in this year’s WBC. So why does it seem like Spring Training part II to so many people? The US faces off against Canada on Saturday afternoon, and the Rogers Centre in Toronto should be packed with thousands of unwelcome, screaming US fans.

We take for granted that baseball is our game. We feel that we own it, and that we’re the best at playing it. But neither of those statements is currently true.

Not only did the ‘06 WBC prove we’re not the best, but also that we’re apathetic. We don’t care to send out very best players, or to cheer harder as fans. How do you feel that the most passionate baseball fans are currently located in Japan?

I hope that makes you somewhat angry. Or that you disagree. And that you all prove me wrong.

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

There seems to be only one relatively controversial story this spring for the Red Sox, and it’s the position battle for shortstop.

The contestants are veteran Julio Lugo and sophomore Jed Lowrie, who split time last season due to Lugo’s quad injury (261 at bats for Lugo and 260 for Lowrie). Lugo is projected by many to be the starter, and boasts a higher batting average (.268), on base percentage (.355), and stolen base total (12) from last season.

However, Lowrie is not far behind Lugo in most categories hitting .258 with a .339 OBP and a steal. Additionally, he drove in 46 runs (24 more than Lugo). The RBI’s can’t realistically be attributed to batting order position, as both men hit near the top or bottom of the order. Even if Lugo hit at the top of the order more often, Lowrie also scored 7 more than Lugo (34 total).

And yet, I still haven’t gotten to the most valuable aspect of Mr. Lowrie. His defense.

Lowrie played 49 games at shortstop last season, and didn’t commit a single error. By contrast Lugo played 81 games at short, and committed 16 errors. Lugo’s .945 fielding percentage pales in comparison to the likes other top shortstops, even the increasingly defensively challenged Derek Jeter (.979).

Sure it might be easier to give the job to Lugo because he has more experience and because Lowrie selflessly devote himself to a bench role. But shouldn’t manager Terry Francona be thinking about wins and production?

Lowrie provides the Sox with better numbers on both sides of the ball, and the 24 year-old has much more room for improvement than Lugo, 33. Given the opportunity, Lowrie could very well blossom into the division’s top all-around shortstop.

The good news is that no matter which direction Francona goes, there won’t be a media circus.

There are no contract disputes, major injuries (don’t worry I was knocking on wood before even typing that), and best of all there’s no Manny being Manny.

This is a classic case of no news being good news. GM Theo Epstein has put together a well oiled and hard working machine, that I believe, will pump out runs and wins with surprising efficiency.

Dustin Pedoria, Kevin Youkilis, Jonathan Papelbon, and Jason Bay have emerged as the new leaders in Boston and, unlike stars on the past, use their performance on the field to do a majority of the talking. I don’t anticipate any whining about trades or effort this season, something that can’t be measured by statistical experts.

This incalculable and mysterious element, often referred to as “chemistry,” is what will enable the Sox to surpass the Yankees. In Joe Torre’s book The Yankee Years, he cites clubhouse chemistry, a desire to win, and hard work as the foundation of his 1990’s dynasty teams. Do those elements sound pleasantly familiar to anyone else?

In “Yes We Can” news, it’s safe to say there was a collective sigh of relief throughout Red Sox Nation last night after seeing Josh Bard effectively catching, blocking, and smothering every single Tim Wakefield knuckleball.

No need for previous stats here, everyone remembers the steady stream of passed balls in 2006. Repeat after me, “Yes. He. Can.”

Who's your pick for the starting shortstop position, and how do you think the Red Sox and/or Josh Bard will fare this season?

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

“Baseball” and “salary cap.” The two just don't seem to fit very well together.

After raking in $420 million in salary from the Yankees alone this off-season, I'm sure the Players' Association despises the idea. However, Red Sox ownership isn't on the same page.

Wednesday, team president/CEO Larry Lucchino and owner John Henry revealed that they're in favor of a salary cap for Major League teams. Initially I was shocked to hear that the Red Sox, who last year possessed the fourth largest payroll in the Majors, wanted to limit their spending.

Why pull yourself down towards teams like the Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Florida Marlins, and Tampa Bay Rays? Boston's ability to throw $100 million-plus at top free agents, in any given year, is an advantage few teams can boast. With a salary cap, there'd be significantly less money to spend.

In 2008, the average MLB team's salary was about $87.6 million, compared to Boston's $133,440,037. If a salary cap was instituted, I'm guessing it would be somewhere near the league average (maybe $90 million for 2008).

Using this example, that's almost $45 million that the Sox could have saved in one year alone. No matter what the exact cap number, in the long run it would likely save ownership hundreds of millions of dollars.

But not being able to splurge on top free agents will hurt though, right?

While having deep pockets has been one of Boston's big advantages, it is far from their most important asset. The reason the Red Sox broke “The Curse,” and have since had success is because they are smart. Wicked smart.

The more I think about it, the more sense it makes for Lucchino and Henry. Together with GM Theo Epstein, the three have formed one of the most potent and efficiently run franchises in the game.

Unlike the impatient organizations in New York, the Sox have built their core using the draft and minor league development. Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Jed Lowrie, Clay Buchholz, and Justin Masterson have all been developed by the Sox's system, with most of them traveling through Lowell.

Not only have the Sox been able to find and develop the talent, they've been able to keep it, by signing young players like Youkilis and Pedroia to long-term deals. (And word from Fort Myers is that Papelbon may be the next to sign a long-term deal).

Believe it or not, a salary cap could be an advantage for the Sox. Money that formerly was spent on payroll could be used to improve their already impressive scouting and player research departments. I'd be willing to bet anything, that the guys upstairs at Fenway are salivating at the prospect.

As a Red Sox fan, I'd place my trust in Lucchino, Henry, and Epstein. I have no doubt that they will continue to outwit the other MLB franchises, and put a potential winner on the field every year.

A salary cap would enable the Red Sox to become an even more efficient team, and therefore more dangerous, every single year. We'd all be getting richer, especially John Henry.

What do you think about the potential for a salary cap and its good/bad effects?

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

It seemed too good to be true.

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to have a few days off and attend NBA All-Star weekend with my father, purely as a fan. No interviews, no deadlines, and to my chagrin, no press pass.

Before this weekend I’d never had the opportunity to attend any All-Star festivities, but it just so happened that the NBA superstars were in Arizona, where my parents now spend a majority of their winters.

I have to admit that while I was looking forward to watching all the great players like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant, there are other All-Star games I would rather attend given any opportunity. Nothing against the league or its players, it is simply not one of my favorite sports to watch live.

No matter what sport, All-Star weekends have always contained more glitz, glam, and marketing than any other “game” on athletic calendars…it’s all about the show, and this year’s results could have won some Oscars.

Kobe and Shaq sharing an MVP trophy and Dwight “Superman” Howard emerging from a phone booth, to face off against an emerald-clad “Kryptonate” Robinson in the finals of the dunk contest. These storylines couldn’t get any juicer, even if A-Rod was there.

I was expecting to be mildly entertained by both Saturday and Sunday night, but also somewhat bored and disappointed. To my surprise, I found myself yelling, gasping, and jumping up with the rest of the fans. The place was rocking, especially on Sunday. It all seemed to work out perfectly for the NBA. Maybe too perfectly.

The dunk contest in particular, seemed to be totally scripted, and oddly rehearsed. I felt bad for Rudy Fernandez and J.R. Smith, both of whom probably could have dunked from half court, blindfolded and still received lower marks than either Howard or Robinson.

Howard received two sets of perfect 50’s from the panel of Suns “greats,” for dunks that were no better than Fernandez’s first two. Granted it took Rudy a while to get his second, albeit spectacular, dunk to flush, but he received the lowest scores of the night on both his attempts.

The way that Howard and Robinson waltzed into the final was simply ludicrous, a fact that Ludacris, who was ironically in attendance, would undoubtedly agree with. There was something too convenient about it all. Howard’s custom rim, Robinson’s green uni, shoes, and ball. They all screamed, “Media Stunt!”

As far as the MVP goes, I’m not sure why Kobe had to share the honor. Was it Shaq’s entrance dance with the “Jabbawockeez” that put him over the hump? (Check out the video, here, on YouTube, it's worth a laugh). While it was fun to watch the “Big Shaqtus” break it down, he only played 11 minutes, and Kobe had a much greater impact.

However, this type of problem hasn’t been limited to the NBA this season. Did anyone watch the NHL shootout contest? Maybe not, but I was one of the few who did and was appalled by Alexander Ovechkin’s “winning” goal. It was terrible, he didn’t even score on his first whack at the puck. He won only because he has the biggest name in the sport.

Bryant, O’Neal, Howard, and Robinson had success this past weekend for the very same reason…to make the perfect headline. All-Star games are a popularity contest, similar to high school proms, we’ve known that for a long time. But isn’t the competition, despite a lack of defense, supposed to be real?

When it was all said and done however, I had fun. More fun than I had expected, and the same was true for my Dad. To be honest, does it really matters all that much anyway? After all it’s just the All-Star game.

What did you think about the NBA Dunk Contest and All-Star game? Was it all too good to be true?

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

Even though it’s still mid-February I’m excited. Ecstatic is really a better word for it. Baseball is finally back!

With temperatures in the high 40’s and 50’s the past few days, it’s clear that Spring is knocking on our door, and with Wednesday’s sunny weather in particular, we all remembered why we love New England. But there’s something else that I’m even more excited for…baseball.

As of yesterday pitchers and catchers began reporting to their respective camps in Arizona and Florida. Yes, that means Josh Beckett, John Smoltz, Dice-K, Jonathan Papelbon, and even Jason Varitek are in Fort Myers to begin working out the kinks.

It’s a day I look forward to all year long, and I can’t help myself from constantly smiling as I write this. My co-workers probably think I’ve gone insane, “the Joker” style.

Over the next few days position players will begin filtering into the locker rooms, diamonds will be meticulously manicured, and the heavenly sound of wood impacting leather will reverberate throughout the country.

However, the athletes, general managers, and owners aren’t the only ones who will have all the fun this spring. Fantasy sports sites everywhere are finally opening registration for their baseball seasons, and I’m one of the millions of eager fans to come pouring though the virtual turnstiles.

Fantasy football claims to be the “ultimate” cyber sport, but personally I think it’s boring. Sure, it gives a meaningless Lions-Texans game some shred of importance, but really it’s for amateurs. With almost no knowledge of the game you can assemble a competitive team. Just watch one episode of SportsCenter and you’re ready to go.

Fantasy baseball takes knowledge of the game, it’s players, and a dedication to your team. With so many stats and positions the live drafts may take hours, but in the end they’re worth it. Every squad has it’s own personality, a unique touch provided by each virtual manager.

Maybe you like to go with a combination of speed, batting average, and strike-out pitchers. Maybe it’s stockpiling as many power hitters as possible, and punting the closer position. It all takes planning and strategy.

Personally, my favorite fantasy league provides me with a way to stay connected with friends I’m lucky to see once a year now that college is over. The 12 of us started the league five years ago, and plan to continue it… forever.

Some people complain about having to update their squads everyday, but I take pride in running out the best team possible on a daily basis. Just like the “real” sport itself, fantasy baseball is about more than just the game. It’s about pride, fun, and friendship.

After all, if I’m good enough I’ll be taking money from my best friends, which is always a good feeling.

If you’ve got any fantasy questions, sleepers, or top picks let us know!

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

Guess what sports fans? I’ve found another February event that went overlooked in my previous post on the 5th. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. It’s got “Sports” in the title, so it clearly has something to do with sports, right?

I consider it an educational and informing sports magazine with a few creative pictures thrown in. After all, those swimsuit designers have to sell their products somehow. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

But in all seriousness, it is rather curious how grand of an event one simple magazine issue has become. It’s spawned fan clubs, TV shows, and millions of loyal followers. The models behind the little bits of fabric and body paint have become more famous than most movie stars.

Pictures that were once confined to plastic, and the top shelves of magazine racks, have become widely accepted, largely because of some vague association to sports. But who’s complaining?

The annual edition has fascinated men and women alike, prompting a debate of which drop-dead gorgeous model should grace the cover. Personally, I know almost as many women who buy the issue as men. And all of them have their own personal favorites. Marisa Miller, Bar Refaeli, Brooklyn Decker, Veronica Varekova, Anne V, the list goes on and on.

In addition to these professional hotties, SI always throws in a few sexy female athletes to boot. Among this year’s crop are perennial part-time model Danica Patrick and my favorite Russian tennis vixen, Daniela Hantuchova (for a photo check back to my Jan 22 post).

Whatever excuse you use to pick up this year’s cover girl, Refaeli, doesn’t really matter. And even though I am one of some 65-plus million “sports” fans that will, I can help but feel a little self-conscious when flipping through the pages in public.

What are your thoughts on this year's SI Swimsuit Issue?

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

Unfortunately for baseball, Alex Rodriguez is guilty. That much is clear. In today’s interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Rodriguez said his piece and I’m guessing he’ll leave it at that. He did arguably the best thing he could in this situation. He took the Andy Pettite route rather than deal with all the twists and turns of the Rodger Clemens path. Kind of like tearing off a band-aid, his admission was quick and painful. But should we believe him?

When in doubt, I always go back to the stats. Stats are the nuts and bolts of baseball, at least in the mind of sportswriters, and normally provide some sort of answer. So when I recently went back to analyze Rodriguez’s stats I was expecting to find something telling.

From 2001 to 2003, the three years A-Rod admits to steroid use, he averaged 52 home runs, 131 RBI’s, a .305 batting average, 127 runs, 83 walks, 15 steals, and 126 strike outs. These numbers are remarkably similar to his career averages of 44 home runs, 127 RBI, a .306 average, 127 runs, 78 walks, 22 steals, and 130 strike outs. They’re actually nearly identical, except for the one big steroid category, home runs.

Over those three years Rodriguez averaged eight more homers than his career average of 44, and achieved his all-time season high of 57 in 2002. A result of steroid use, no doubt…right?

I wouldn’t be too sure. Remember that A-Rod was playing in Texas. The Ballpark in Arlington is arguably one of the better “hitter’s parks” in Major League Baseball, and eight more homers isn't exactly a crooked number. ESPN.com provides some interesting stats on Rangers Ballpark to back this up, here.

So it makes sense that A-Rod was able to pop a few more fly balls over the fence in Texas. Also, Rodriguez hit 54 homers in 2007 for the Yankees, in a park that’s not exactly kind to right handed hitters.

One thing that has made A-Rod one of the best players in history is his remarkable consistency. No matter where he’s played, whom he’s played with, or what the media has said, he produces in the regular season. But such consistency makes me wonder, is A-Rod telling the whole truth?

Wouldn’t we have seen some notable impact of steroids during those three years? A more noticeable jump in his numbers somewhere, like Barry Bonds’ 73 dingers in 2001? Maybe A-Rod is somehow immune to the effects of steroids. Or perhaps there were, and have been, more years of steroid use for A-Rod. Maybe he turned to performance enhancing drugs during his difficult times in the Big Apple, too.

After all, he’s faced more scrutiny and pressure there than any other time during his career. He’s been labeled a “choke artist” by fans across the country, especially in New York. Wouldn’t it make sense that he kept juicing?

Over the next few months his story will be tested, more users will be named, and possibly more light shed on the whole matter. Maybe he’s telling the truth, maybe not. But if you’re going by just the stats, Rodriguez’s numbers tell a different

What do you think? Is A-Rod telling the truth, or has is there more to his story? Take a second to let us know.

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

Put down your remotes, fold up your football jerseys, and pack away the game-time goodies.

Unfortunately February is here, bringing with it absolutely no worthwhile athletic action. Take a second, sit back, and try to come up with one. Anything?

The Super Bowl, the highlight of February has already come and gone. You may not have even realized it was played in February, but XLIII was the one and only athletic event of significance until March. Sad, but true.

When you're addicted to sports, four weeks of deprivation isn't considered a withdrawal. It will leave you curled up in a gutter somewhere, begging for a fix.

Sure, 27 days may look short on paper, but living through them is another story, filled with frustration, anticipation and regular season basketball. There's nothing on ESPN besides relatively meaningless games and World Series of Poker re-runs.

OK, so there is NBA All-Star Weekend, but since when do All-Star festivities count as actual sporting events? It's fun to have LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Paul and Shaq all on one court, but the game itself is all show, no defense and minimal effort. Unless you're watching from the stands it gets boring.

You can make an argument that it's worth watching the dunk contest in its entirety, but even that has the potential to be disappointing. After all, Brent Barry has won the thing before. Hopefully previous championsHoward and Nate Robinson can provide some sparks, but they can hardly carry an entire month.

They will have help from the Duke Blue Devils when they host bitter rival North Carolina on the 11th. But won't the game in Chapel Hill on March 8 be more important? Not to mention what happens once March Madness begins, just a few weeks later.

In March, hope truly springs eternal. In addition to all the Madness, baseball is back. The boys of summer head down to Florida and Arizona, to begin gearing up for what can always be a successful season. And that's the beauty of the game. The potential for a greatness lies within every team.

Last season's Rays are a perfect example. While the people of Kansas City and Baltimore shouldn't get their hopes up too much, Red Sox fans know that feeling all too well. However, none will say it's anything but beautiful.

Baseball legend and one-time Boston Brave Rogers Hornsby said it best, "People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

There's no question, February is the worst month of the year. It's the black hole of the sports world, bereft of any significance. But don't let it bring you down. Strap in, tighten the flaps, and get out your cold weather gear. There's only one more month left, luckily for us, it's also the shortest of the year.

Do you agree? If not, when do you think the worst sports month of the year takes place?

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

Ok, so I'm a little late with this one, but to be honest I wanted to give the over-hyped picture as little press as possible. But when I heard that he may now face criminal charges, I couldn't help myself.

One thing is for sure, Michael Phelps has made a few big mistakes in his life (a DUI after Athens, and now this). A result of multiple gold overdoses perhaps? Maybe just simple immaturity? We'll never know for sure. Whatever the case, he’s definitely in hot water for his “regrettable behavior,” aka smoking a bong. But why?

The now infamous picture depicts Phelps taking a nice rip from the glass pipe, during a party in South Carolina (see left). Apparently the uber-athlete was too stupid or way too stoned to realize what such a picture would do to his image.

Everyone was waiting to hear what’s going to happen with Phelps’ sponsors, and to the media’s dismay it was all very anti-climactic. His sponsors gave him a light slap on the wrist, and Phelps is still in business. I bet Omega actually gave him a raise after getting their bling posted on every TV station and website known to man.

Lets remember that pot is not a new issue in the U.S., where it is legal in multiple states (for medical purposes only of course). I get that the picture is terrible for his pretty boy image, and his sponsors should be upset. What I don’t get are the criminal charges S.C. Sheriff Leon Lott are trying to drown Phelps with.

C’mon, criminal charges? Really? Has he ever seen the movie Super High Me? If so, comedian Doug Benson better run for the hills. Lott should go find a Phish cover band concert in Boulder, CO on April 20th (4/20/09), and just chill, man.

If Phelps weren’t famous this would just be one picture of some dude smoking weed, among millions, posted on the Internet. Really boring stuff, not proof of criminal behavior. In three years or so, as Phelps is taking home enough gold to fund an Obama stimulus package, it will be a non-issue anyway.

What do you think about Michael Phelps and his controversial picture?

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

Would anyone like to venture a guess of how much money Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, makes for one year of work? $1 million? $3 million? I’ll give you a hint, it’s a lot more than you and me. Try $18 million!

I just read this little tidbit, here, on ESPN.com and was blown away. In 2007, granted before the recent economic woes, Selig was paid a total of $18.35 million for his services as MLB commish. Whhhhat!? I just don’t get it. If someone can explain this craziness please do so immediately.

Does the man bathe in Cristal on a daily basis? Sure he has dealt with the ongoing steroid scandal, and has pulled the league through multiple labor disagreements with few problems (at least compared to the NHL). But in all seriousness, what does he do to earn such an inflated figure, and will he make just as much despite the current economy?

In ’07 he got paid more than every single player except for A-Rod, Jeter, and Giambi. How does that make sense? Barack Obama, the President of the United States, is going to make only $400,000 this year.

On the other hand, Rodger Goodell is set to make over $11 million. But it seems to me that Goodell has more of a direct impact on the NFL. Just a few years ago Selig couldn’t decide how to end the All-Star Game.

I could be wrong about Selig, but I need to know the answer to this question…before my mind explodes.

Did you have a similar reaction or not? Let's hear it...

Posted by Kevin Jacobs, Sun Staff

I woke up this morning with a feeling of hope for the United States of America, but was immediately ripped back down to reality.

No, I’m not talking about bad news from Wall Street or Washington, but from “Down Under”. Andy Roddick lost to Rodger Federer in straight sets, again (6-2, 7-5, 7-5). Roddick is now 2-16 versus the Swiss master, and in my mind Roddick has become one of the biggest disappointments in U.S. tennis history.

I grew up a die-hard Agassi fan, and have never really embraced Roddick as a player or personality. However, I took solace in the fact that when the great Andre retired, there would be another powerful American to take his place, Roddick. While his serve and forehand are indeed powerful, his mind is definitely not.

Despite my skepticism, I stayed up past 1:30am on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning to watch an extremely fit Roddick run circles around 3rd seed Novak Djokovic. By the second set, a Roddick victory was inevitable, as Djokovic simply couldn’t handle the 130+ degree heat of Melbourne, Australia.

Anyone who’s watched Roddick play in the past knows he has the skills of a champion, just not the makeup. He’s played in four Grand Slam finals, with only one victory in the 2003 U.S. Open. But guess who he lost to in three Grand Slam finals? Iceman himself, Rodger Federer.

However, he seemed to be in the best shape of his career. “Maybe he has finally turned the corner,” I thought, “His mental ability has finally caught up to his incredible physical gifts.”

Unfortunately, I was wrong. I pushed the past aside and put faith in my fellow American. I thought he would at least give Federer a run for his money. This is the last time I give him the benefit of the doubt.

To make things worse, there don’t seem to be any American “greats” on the horizon. James Blake can be thrown into the same category as Andy Roddick, disappointment. Young guns like Marty Fish, Sam Querrey, and Ameir Delic, are solid players, but none appear to possess the ability to contend in every tournament. They don’t have that intangible “something,” the mental edge that separates the best from just being really good.

If anyone has a chance at greatness out of that group I think it’s Fish, but I won’t be placing bets anytime soon. For now we’ll have to be content with European domination, and do our best to endure this American tennis recession. OK, let’s just be honest and call it a depression.

Any thoughts or comments on Andy Roddick, Rodger Federer, U.S. Tennis, or the Australian Open?