Favre's Shadow Not Big Enough to Cover Rodgers

Packers fans couldn't have asked for a better ending to the 22 week long cinema that ended on Sunday. A fitting end for Packers' Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has had the media on his back since summer of 2008 when Favre unretired and the Packers decided Rodgers will be the the starting quarterback moving forward. The media put a monkey on his back, saying it's hard to replace a legend, just ask Jay Fiedler and Brian Griese who replaced Dan Marino and John Elway, respectfully. Brett Favre was more than a legend to Packers fans. He ended the 29 year Super Bowl drought. When he was traded to the Jets, it caused Packers fans to be divided--some turned into "Favre Fans" holding a grudge against Ted Thompson. In terms of record, the 2008 season was a digression, finishing 6-10. Despite missing the playoffs, Packers fans saw a bright future with Aaron Rodgers, who threw 28 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and 4048 yards in his first full season starting. Now, two seasons later, Rodgers won his first super bowl and was the Most Valuable Player--something Favre never did.

The Packers' defense, ranked number two in points allowed, played a very important role in the super bowl win, but it was Rodgers's 304 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 turnovers that ultimately won the game. It was Rodgers who went to Disney World. It was Rodgers who went on Letterman, Rodgers has become a star. Being Favre's successor, it's only natural to compare the two. Now that Rodgers is a star, will the comparisons to Favre increase or decrease? Whether or not the comparisons continue, Favre's shadow is no longer big enough to cover Rodgers. I don't think Aaron Rodgers will ever get as big as Favre, but now that Favre has filed his retirement papers for the second time and Rodgers has matched the total super bowl victories as Favre, no Packers fan will ever wish Favre is still the Packers quarterback.

Man, I hate the Bears

For the most part, a Packer fan's Monday morning (or Tuesday) is determined by a Packer victory. And if the Bears lose, that's just like extra sprinkles. To me, however, if the Packers win and the Bears don't lose, the day is a wash--that is how much I hate the Bears. Sunday's game was especially nerve wracking for me, as you can imagine. It's not that I was wasn't confident that the Packers would win, it was the small percent chance the Bears knock out Rodgers and Flynn comes in unprepared--similar to the week 14 loss to the Lions. Luckily Julius Peppers's helmet-to-helmet cheap shot didn't knock out Rodgers.

What makes me nervous about the Super Bowl is not that I don't think the Packers are the better team, because they are, but the fact the Packers didn't put away the Bears early and it came down to a Sam Shields interception. The Packers offense didn't finish strong. Before the kneel to end the game, the Packers' last five possessions ended with punts. I hope the weather was the excuse to why the offense didn't score in the second half. I hope Nick Collins was too busy thinking about how he was going to celebrate his first Super Bowl appearance while Earl Bennett was running past him for a 30 yard touchdown, bringing the Bears within a touchdown in the 4th quarter. The Bears should have felt helpless and over matched while B.J. Raji was doing his fat man shimmy shake in the end zone. But I'm afraid for the Packers against the Steelers, because there is no reason the Bears--the Packers biggest rival--should have had enough hope to put together a 4 play, 60 yard touchdown drive.

I can't complain, the Bears are done this season and won't have the luxury to ruin a high draft pick in April, and the Packers have a chance to win their second Super Bowl since the Bears won their last one.

Melo Should Consider Clippers

Carmelo Anthony has made it abundantly clear that he wants out of Denver, first choice being the New York Knicks. However, New York doesn't have the assets to give Denver. The New Jersey Nets stepped in, offering a package that would include 3rd overall pick, Derrick Favors, but they were waiting for Anthony to sign an extension, until yesterday when owner, Mikhail Prokhorov announced that the Nets were terminating trade talks for Anthony (conveniently announced the week after Denver threatened New Jersey to keep the trade talks private). Going to New Jersey would be counterproductive for Anthony, he wouldn't be on a contending team and the Nets are second fiddle to the Knicks.

If Carmelo wants to play in a big market and doesn't mind being on a team that is second fiddle in their market, he should consider the Los Angeles Clippers. That sounds crazy, I know. Who would want to play for the Clippers with the Lakers in town? Who would want to play for Donald Sterling, universally known as the worst owner in professional sports? The biggest reason Carmelo Anthony should consider playing for the Clippers is Blake Griffin. The Clippers star rookie is 2nd in the league in double-doubles and is one of six players who average a double-double. Griffin isn't even the leading scorer for the Clippers--that honor goes to Eric Gordon, who averages 23.9 points per game. Griffin (23 years old), Gordon (22), and Anthony (26) would be the biggest rival to the Heat's trio of Lebron, Wade, and Bosh. The difference is the Clippers trio all play different positions add different dimensions.

What makes this deal more realistic is the pieces the Clippers have that they can trade to Denver. Right now the Clippers have a projected lottery pick (sitting 3rd to last in the Western Conference, 6 games out of the playoffs), last year's 8th overall pick, Al-Farouq Aminu, last year's 18th overall pick, Eric Bledsoe, and Chris Kaman all available to be traded. Let's say all those guys go in a deal, plus Craig Smith to match Carmelo's $17 million contract, the projected starting lineup would be:

PG: Baron Davis
SG: Eric Gordon
SF: Carmelo Anthony
PF: Blake Griffin
C: DeAndre Jordan

This team is not your mother's Clippers. A playoff run this year isn't likely, but the next 3 years with that trio they are a lock for the playoffs and will contend for the the title.

So Carmelo, would you rather be the man in New Jersey/Brooklyn or be part of a trio in LA and make franchise history?

Bears not Rodgers's Kryptonite

Despite popular belief among sports columnists, the Bears have not shut down Aaron Rodgers. In two games this year he threw a total of 545 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and completed 72% of his passes. He also ran for a touchdown. The scary Bears defense only sacked Rodgers twice and caused one fumble, not recovering it. Rodgers's stats were better in the week 3 loss to the Bears than their week 17 win. Rodgers's worst game was against the Jets in week 8, 170 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, only completed 44.1% of his passes. But the Packers won that game. The Jets are a good team, they aren't planning for their first round pick right now, they are planning for the Steelers.

To think if the Bears shut down Rodgers then they are going to win is inaccurate. Don't get me wrong, shutting down Rodgers is helpful, but let's not jump on the Bears bandwagon. If Rodgers has 170 yards passing and 0 touchdowns, then there is a good chance Jay Cutler is going to have less than 200 passing yards and multiple turnovers. Cutler has a combined 389 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions, a 56% completion percentage, and was sacked 9 times. Packer fans want to see Aaron Rodgers to have a big game statistically in a win over the Bears, but realistically, they don't need it. However, the biggest factor stopping Rodgers, considering it is medically proven that one you have had a concussion that it is easier getting another, is the weather and the possibility of a hard field. Other than that, expect at least 200 yards passing, a touchdown or two, very few turnovers, and most importantly, a Packer victory.

Burress is Wearing the Wrong Uniform

Plaxico Burress was finally sentenced, and now he is—shamefully—in jail for at least the next 20 months and possibly the next 24. Burress concealed a loaded handgun into a New York City club. To top it all off, the gun fired a bullet into his leg, he had to be rushed to the hospital, and no one called the police. Burress later agreed to a plea agreement that stated he attempted criminal possession of a weapon. It is no debate, Burress broke the law—he didn’t even have a license! Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way in favor of guns, especially handgun possession; however, I do not think Plax should be in jail, away from football(although if he wasn’t in jail he would deserve a suspension of some sort), and most importantly away from his family for the next two years. This belief doesn’t just stem from my opposition to jails and prisons; it comes from the fact that the only reasons we have to force people to confinement is to punish them for their actions, and to keep them away from society. Isn’t there a sufficient alternative punishment? Don’t you think getting shot was a significant punishment already? If not, how about some community service too?

Let’s consider the situation a little bit more. Just a year before this incident, Sean Taylor was killed while at his home, and he was without a gun while the murderers had at least one gun. Sean Taylor was at a major disadvantage. Once again, I am not in favor of guns, in my country I’d eliminate all handguns, but if Taylor had a gun, he’d be on track for his fourth Pro Bowl selection. And then this summer, Steve McNair was murdered by a gun too. Once again, he was unarmed. McNair’s murder might not have been prevented even if he was armed, but it is another example of a celebrity being a target. Plaxico Burress broke the law, yes, but can you blame him for being a little paranoid? The media over covers celebrity murders, and Plax didn’t want to be the next.

Even though it sounds un-egalitarian, we live in a society where celebrities should be held to different rules and laws. They have to deal with being photographed in public, sex-tape scandals, and sexual harassment accusations far too often, only because they are rich and famous. Not to say the everyday person does not have to deal with these problems, but the problems aren't at the same level. If you were late to work or a meeting, would you receive a $1,500 fine? Professional athletes have that kind of pressure on them. They deserve different standards. I understand that Plaxico Burress broke the law and he is supposed to be punished for it. But two years of jail time is way too much. He already shot himself and lost his job, there has to be an alternative way of teaching him and other celebrities a lesson. Because that is ultimately the point of the sentence, right? Really the best solution to this problem is to ban possession and purchase of handguns all together and force people to fight with battle-axes.

Adios Bandwagon Brewer Fans

A slow start to the 2009 baseball season for the Brewers could be the demise of their solid bandwagon fan base. Not all Brewer fans are bandwagoners, however, a good portion of younger fans fit into the bandwagon category. So far the Brew Crew are 3-6, and honestly, how can you expect things to get much better? Yes, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and J.J. Hardy are all off to slow starts. To even things out, Corey Hart already has 3 homers (on pace for 54) despite batting only .250. Mike Cameron is playing out of his mind, batting .370, 3 homers, and an outstanding .500 on base percentage. The Brewers’ biggest offensive issue is the number of strikeouts they have. They are fourth in the majors in total strikeouts. It is also hard to compete when only one out of five starting pitchers have an ERA under six. Based on previous seasons, you should expect Suppan and Gallardo to pitch significantly better and Dave Bush to pitch a little better. I expect the Brewers to win around 81 games, and finish third in the NL Central, after the Cardinals and Cubs. As a result, most of those bandwagon Brewer fans will lose interest with the team, sadly. If you are unsure if you are a bandwagoner, answer a few questions:

If you are in College or older, do you remember Big Ben, John Jaha, Cal Eldred, Pat Listach, Bill Wegmen, and Greg Vaughn?

Are you aware the Brewers were in the American League?

Do you know the significance of 1982?

What position did Robin Yount play?

If you can’t answer these questions, but still wear a Prince or Braun jersey, or reminisce about how fun last season was, you are a BANDWAGON Brewer Fan. Coming this September if I miss a game, I won’t be able to rely on you for the score because you won’t be watching the out-of-playoff-contention Brewers. As a loyal fan, I hope I am wrong about the Crew and they finish in first and make the playoffs again, but it looks like they are an Ace away, plus more. Well just wait bandwagoners, the Bucks have new management and won seven more games this season than last season. If they progress this well again, that’ll put them in the playoffs. Then you can watch Wisconsin sports again.

Most Ironic, Unfit Nickname Ever

Not only is Ryan Theriot the starting shortstop of my least favorite team of all-time, the Cubs, but he also has the lamest nickname since I've been following major league baseball. Thus he really never had a chance for my sympathy. For those of you unaware, his nickname is "The Riot." He is obviously called this name because of his last name; however, he does not deserve the nickname. He does not resemble a riot even a little bit. He's 5'11, 175 lbs, considerably small for a professional athlete. As a matter of fact, if I were a Cubs fan I would be embarrassed to have him play shortstop, the position with the longest throw to first base in the infield. I could not justify calling a player with a weak arm who only had 24 total extra base hits last season The Riot. Not even a riot, but The Riot. The Riot of all riots. Maybe I am the last person to recognize the irony here, because Theriot is the opposite of a riot. If he was a riot, similar to Manny Ramirez, he would not be in the league. The reason Ramirez gets signed is that he has a .314 career batting average and 527 homers. Theriot is closer to The Regulated, than The Riot. Similar to players such as David Eckstein, and Craig Counsell, Theriot is known as a player who plays really hard, but has little talent. As some of you saw against the Brewers on April 10th, instead of going for the inning ending double play, he unsuccessfully attempted to throw out Ricky Weeks at home--showing off how weak his arm really is. I am not saying that he should not be in the league; he is batting .500 this season, and batted .307 last season. Those kind of numbers are worthy of a roster spot. However, I would not give him the nickname "The Riot." I understand it is his last name, it can be split into the two words. But if a player had the last name Thecocksucker, we would not do the same for him.