SI's King 500 list...

Okay so in the latest edition to Sports Illustrated (NFL Preview) they give a top 500 present day football player list a lot of debatable issues so I'll get right to it...

Top 10
1) Peyton Manning QB Colts
2) Tom Brady QB Patriots
3) LaDanian Tomlinson RB Chargers
4) Julius Peppers DE Panthers
5) Jason Taylor DE Dolphins
6) Champ Bailey CB Broncos
7) Brian Urlacher MLB Bears
8) Drew Brees QB Saints
9) Carson Palmer QB Bengals
10) Walter Jones OT Seahawks

Does everyone else see the Offensive Tackle at number 10! Over Shawn Merriman, Ed Reed, Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, and many more. Not only is that on there, but Phillip Rivers is #39 over players like Marvin Harrison, Vince Young, Frank Gore, Donovan McNabb, and Ray Lewis. What a ridicule, I mean I think even Chargers fans should agree with me when I say Rivers is no long term solution and too bad Eli is a stubborn selfish little girl because he is a heck of a lot better than Mr. Rivers. Oh yea speaking of Marvin Harrison, Andrea Johnson is ranked higher than him. While Harrison is ranked at #42 Johnson is ranked #33. Kind of bold I say, I mean Johnson will be great in the future, but the BEST reciever in the game today is Marvin Harrison, well him and Torry Holt are up there together. I find this funny though, SI ranked, despite having been suspended for the year, Pacman Jones at 110. They said this woul dbe his rightful place had he behaved himself. Well in my opinion had he behaved himself he would have a rightful spot on the list and if he is on there then where the hell is Mike Vick? The highest ranked Tight End is Antonio Gates, ranked at #15. Over Holt and Harrison, I love GAtes, but once again not good enough to be over Holt and Harrison. Now I'm not sure if I agree with this one either, Reggie Bush at #19 over guys like Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson, and Shaun Alexander. I mean Bush is good...GREAT actually, but needs a littl emore experience to above those three guys. Anyways here is a list by position...

Top 10 QBs
1) Peytong Manning Colts
2) Tom Brady Patriots
8) Drew Brees Saints
9) Carson Palmer Bengals
18) Marc Bulger Rams
20) Matt Hasselbeck Seahawks
38) Phillip Rivers Chargers
41) Vince Young Titans
72) Donovan McNabb Eagles
85) Ben Roethlisberger Steelers

Top 10 RBs
3) LaDanian Tomlinson Chargers
19) Reggie Bush Saints
30) Steven Jackson Rams
34) Larry Johnson Chiefs
36) Shaun Alexander Seahawks
71) Frank Gore 49ers
84) Maurice Jones-Drew Jaguars
96) Brian Westbrook Eagles
97) Joseph Addai Colts
115) Laurence Maroney Patriots

Top 10 WRs
22) Steve Smith Panthers
24) Torry Holt Rams
33) Andre Johnson Texans
42) Marvin Harrison Colts
48) Chad Johnson Bengals
58) Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals
63) Calvin Johnson Lions
68) Reggie Wayne Colts
69) Devin Hester Bears ***Also listed as a KR (why he is so high)
80) Javon Walker Packers

Top 5 O-Lineman
10) Walter Jones T Seahawks
23) Steve Hutchinson G Vikings
39) Jason Peters T Bills
46) Marcus McNeil T Chargers
50) Shawn Andrews G Eagles

Top 30 Defensive Players
4) Julius Peppers DE Panthers
5) Jason Taylor DE Dolphins
6) Champ Bailey CB Broncos
7) Brian Urlacher LB Bears
11) Shawn Merriman LB Chargers
12) Ed Reed FS Ravens
13) Dwight Freeney DE Colts
14) Kevin Williams DT Vikings
16) Aaron Kampman DE Packers
17) Jamal Willaims DT Chargers
21) Adalius Thomas LB Patriots
25) Tommie Harris DT Bears
26) Richard Seymour DE Patriots
27) Adrian Wilson SS Cardnials
28) Troy Polamalu SS Steelers
29) Kerry Rhodes SS Jets
31) Antoine Winfield CB Vikings
32) Aaron Schobel DE Bills
35) Lance Briggs LB Bears
37) Ty Warren DE Patriots
40) Asante Samuel CB Patriots
44) Casey Hampton DT Steelers
45) Nnamdi Asomugha CB Raiders
47) Rashean Mathis CB Jaguars
49) Nate Clements CB 49ers
51) Shaun Phillips LB Chargers
52) John Henderson DT Jaguars
53) Bart Scott LB Ravens
54) Pat Williams DT Vikings
55) Brian Dawkins FS Eagles

Fantasy Football Draft Guide

I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I know a thing or two about drafting a near perfect team in fantasy football...

Rule #1 Do your homework...Read up on reciever quarterback relationships, make sure you know about all injuries, and make sure your guy has a starting spot.

Rule #2 When drafting a runningback make sure you look at his offensive line's ranking, typically the higher the offensive line rating the better the runningback will be.

Rule #3 Find out your league's scoring system and you first pick should be the position that can score the most points which is typically the runningback in most leagues, but every know and then there is a league where the quarterback can score the same amount as the runningback so make sure to do your homework.

Rule #4 When drafting a wide reciever, try to draft a reciever-quarterback combo, which means draft recievers and quarterbacks from the same team...for example, Marc Bulger and Torry Holt

Rule #5 NEVER...NEVER EVER second guess yourself, always go with your first instinct, second guessing usually results in bad moves.

Rule #6 This is for leagues with a time limit during their draft. Make sure you prepare a couple rounds ahead and also have a backup plan because if your not prepared or your guy gets drafted and you don't have another guy to draft your time could run out.

Rule #7 Don't be afraid to take a risk, sleeper picks (if you have studied up on them enough) can always benifit you and can sometimes turn out to make or break your season.

Rule #8 It's okay to draft a high profile tight ends before drafting any recievers. In such a case last year I drafted Antonio Gates before any recievers and he was among the top recievers. Only do this with high proifle tight ends though such as A. Gates, T. Gonzalez, and A. Crumpler. Also, don't forget to try and pair up your tight ends with your quarterback.

Rule #9 Defenses and Kickers are a very unimportant aspect your team, pick them as late as possible, no questions asked.

Rule #10 Try to stray away from picking favorite players or favorite team players unless they could really benifit your team.

Rangers 30, Orioles 3

What an embarassment...WOW, that's all I can muster up is wow...This is unbelievable, what a comeback, lol. The Texas Rangers were trailing the Baltimore Orioles 0-3 going into the top of the 4th. It happened when there were 2 on with 1 out and Ramon Vazquez came up to the plate batting in the ninth spot in the lineup and he hit a three run bomb. The Rangers scored five in the top of the 4th. Then in the top of the 6th they scored nine runs...NINE RUNS! Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a solo jack in that inning. Then they scored ten runs in the eigth where Saltalamacchia hit another jack. Finally in the top of the eighth inning, Vazquez hit another homerun and the Rangers scored six runs that inning. The reason I meantion Saltalamacchia and Vazquez is because they batted eight and ninth, in respective order, in the lineup and they each had 7 RBIS! A ridiculous game in which the Rangers also had twenty-nine hits. Talk about raising your team ERA, hate to be the Orioles.

R.A. Watch #3

Rick Ankiel started in RF and batted 2nd in the lineup. Ankiel played his best offensive game of his career blasting two home runs, his first multi-homerun game of his career. His first homerun came in the 1st inning with Aaron Miles on base and his second homerun was a solo shot in the 7th. Ankiel is showing that he can play with the rest of the position players in the majors. Braden Looper came away with the win and Derek Lowe was hit with the loss in the Cardinals 6-1 victory over the Dodgers.

Rick Ankiel

Game: 3-4 2HR, 3RBI, 3R

Season: .417 3HR, 6RBI, 4R

PGA Championship Day 2

What a day for Tiger Woods! He had eight birdies going into the 18th hole and rimmed the ninth birdie out, leaving him with eight. What a great day for him moving him from 23rd to 1st with an overall score of six under par. What an amazing day for him and great excitement for the championship. Daly slipped from 2nd to 9th with his overall score being par. For others today was totally opposite from Woods' day, today was CUT day. The cut was made at five over par and among those who got cut were Furyk, Singh, and Cabrera. Phil Mickelson edge in at two over par. Now the field gets tougher and much more competitive.

Leaderboard thru August 10th (Day 2)-Cuts were made
1. Tiger Woods -6 started in 23rd
2. Scott Verplank -4 started in 13th
T3. Geoff Ogilvy -3 started in 6th
T3. Stephen Ames -3 started in 3rd
5. Woody Autsin -2 started in 3rd

Notables
T9. John Daly E started in 2nd
T15. Retief Goosen +1 started in 13th
T15. Graeme Storm +1 started in 1st
T19. Phil Mickelson +2 started in 53rd
T30. Luke Donald +3 started in 36th

For the Full Leaderboard visit ESPN's PGA Championship Leaderboard

R.A. Watch #2

Rick Ankiel batted in the 6th spot playing Right Field today and went 1-4 with 2Ks in today's 1-2 loss to the Dodgers. The win was picked up by Beimel and Wainwright was sattled with the loss.

Rick Ankiel

Game: 1-4 2Ks

Season: .250 HR, 3RBIs, R

1-4 w/ a HR (R. Ankiel Watch)

RICK DID IT BABY!

Atta boy. Rick Ankiel's first game was a success. He started off 0-3 with 2 strikeouts, but in the bottom of the 7th with 2 on and 2 outs Ankiel went deep. A great was to start off his new major league career in Right Field. The Cardnials routed the Padres 5-0. Joel Piniero got the win while Chris Young was sattled with the loss.

Rick Ankiel

Game: 1-4 HR, 2K, 3RBI

Season: .250 HR, 3RBI, R

Rick Ankiel Watch

I'm gonna be following this great story about this amazing ballplayer. If you think about Rick Ankiel you think Cardinals pitcher from years back, but when he lost control and couldn't pitch any more, you would think he would do what most pitchers that lose control do, quit. He didn't though, he loves the game and said to himself that he would just have to move to another position and work it out and he has. He has been playin Rf in the minor leagues for a couple years now and this year he didn't start on the cardinals major league team, but the Triple A Memphis team. He played great batting .267 with 89RBIs and 32HRs which lead the Pacific Coast League. Not only this, but he started in RF in the Triple A all-star game. Now tonight, August 9th, 2007, he will bat 2nd and play RF for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Padres and ERA league leading pitcher Chris Young fresh off the DL. Can't wait to see how Ankiel's career prgresses from here.

PGA Championship Day 1

I know, I know it's only the first day, but Daly in the lead right now! Say what!? He is golfing -3 although Storm is golfing -5, but he isn't finished, he is currently on the 16th hole. Then there is Senden(Aus) -3 through 13 so far. Now this isn't quite the predictions all the EXPERTS had now is it? Tiger Woods is golfing +1 golf right now, although in my book he is still the favorite I guess...I mean There is no way that Daly holds onto the lead let alone the Top 5, I'll bet money on that. Now with Woods in 34th though I still think he can make a push on 4 strokes behind Daly, plus its only day 1. We'll have to see what happens after Day 2 to really have an idea what could happen this weekend at Southern Hills.

Leaderboard thru August 9th-Still in progress
1. Graeme Storm -5 Thru 16
T2. John Daly -3 F
T2. John Senden -3 Thru 13
T2. J.J. Henry -3 Thru 9
T5. Arron Oberholser -2 F
T5. Padraig Harrington -2 Thru 15
T5. Woody Austin -2 Thru 15
T5. Mike Small -2 Thru 7
T9. Mark Wilson -1 F
T9. Markus Brier -1 F

Notables
T16. Retief Goosen E F
T16. Sergio Garcia E F
T34. Tiger Woods +1 F
T34. Phil Mickelson +1 Thru 12
T67. Vijay Singh +3 Thru 14
T104. Jim Furyk +5 F
T121. Fred Funk +6 F
T151. Angel Cabrera +11 F

For the Full Leaderboard visit ESPN's PGA Championship Leaderboard

Holdout too long?

Did Brady Quinn holdout too long? Was he right to holdout and ask for more money as a 22 overall pick. Here is my take, Quinn is just in denial mode. He still to this day must not beleive he was drafted 22nd, he thinks he was a top 10 draft pick. So he wants to play in Cleveland and the fans are excited about having him on the team, excited about a new start, but STOP. He decides to holdout, a rookie, holding out. How does that look in the eyes of every Brown fan who has been going through pain and suffering ever since Jim Brown decided to retire early for a movie career in Hollywood. Brady Quinn just had his fans turn on him, maybe even his team, well probably his team. No one wants to see some young guy come in thinking he is some kind of hot shot. Absoulutely ridiculous, but not only that he might have ruined a chance at starting. I really hope this helps him in the long run, I mean he shows SOME promise, but this holdout, just the start of the end. Brady Quinn is no Vince Young that's for sure...

756

Barry Bonds...

Should there be an asterisk after his name or record?

756*? Barry Bonds*?

NO...This is one of the greatest achievements ever and he deserves the people's utmost respect. This record shows the durability and talent this man has. He has never been tested positive for steriods and I would like to say if he did oh well, give anyone steroids doesn't mean they can even hit the ball. Baseball takes such great skill, especially hitting, the most difficult part of the game. No one knows the perfect art of hitting at all times, Bonds has it once and a while and other players such as Ted Williams has had it too. The hand eye cordination, it takes to hit a ball from 60 feet away coming at you at 93mph, must be phenominal. Which Bonds' is, he is the most feared hitter in baseball, the greatest player in our generation and yet one of the most hated. I think Bonds is one of the top 5 players ever to play the game of baseball. Bonds should be appreciated for this record and all other records he has. I say this, conragts Barry, you've made everyone proud, especially your dad, you deserve this.

Barry Bonds 756