Best player in the NBA? Derrick Rose. Ummm...No.

In an interview yesterday, Chicago Bulls point guard, Derrick Rose was asked who the best player in the NBA is right now. His answer: "Derrick Rose."

Not only an incorrect answer, but speaking in the first person really isn't endearing you to anyone.

Rose won the NBA MVP award three years ago while leading his Bulls to the best record (62-20) during the regular season. His per game averages that year read 25 points on 44.5% shooting, 7.7 assists and 4 rebounds. They won their first two playoff round and then ran into the Miami Heat, who proceeded to stomp the Bulls in the Conference Finals four games to one. In the five games against the Heat, MVP Rose averaged 23.4 points, yet shot a brutal 35% (42-120) from the floor. The following season, Rose once again led the Bulls to the NBA's best record. He then torn the ACL in his knee in the first game of the playoffs against Philadelphia and we haven't seen him on a basketball court since. Correction. We have seen him on the court...in a nice suit on the bench.

                     The Heat in the playoffs again? Hold up on that comeback.

It's good for an athlete to have the confidence to say that he's the best player in the sport even after not playing for an entire season. Sports are all about having an edge over your opponent, and self-confidence is key.

Rose should have said the intelligent thing, maybe shown some humility, and admit that the best player in the NBA, hands down, is LeBron James of the Heat. James has won the league MVP award four of the last five seasons, and the last two Larry O'Brien championship trophies belong to him and the Heat.

Many have been critical of Rose for taking so long to return from injury. Adrian Peterson of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings tore his ACL and MCL on December 24, 2011 yet was able to return to the field just nine months later. Peterson also went on to rush for 2,097 yards, the second most ever in a single season, and won 2012 NFL MVP. Rose hasn't played in a game in since April 28, 2012. That's 15 months and counting. At least when the NBA season tips off again in late October, he should be very well rested.

While Rose is still a great player, he has a ton to prove once he finally gets back on the court. LeBron, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant and a sprinkling of others might have plenty to say to Rose about who is the NBA's best player right now. Rose will have his chance when his Bulls open next season in Miami against the champs.

Good luck with that.

P.E.D. Problems: Ryan Braun joins Rafael Palmeiro in the lying idiot club

"Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids, period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never." - Rafael Palmeiro while speaking at a Congressional hearing on March 17, 2005.

                                            Pointing a finger angrily at people means NEVER.

Flash forward to August 1, 2005. Palmeiro is suspended by Major League Baseball for testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. During his career, Palmeiro launched 569 home runs and collected 3,020 hits. Both benchmark numbers that typically earn entrance in to the Baseball Hall of Fame. I guess integrity means something to the Baseball Writers of America since Palmeiro's best result in the Hall voting came in 2012 when he garnered 12.6% of the vote. You need 75% to gain election to the Hall, so it's safe to say that Palmeiro won't be joining that club anytime soon.

You would think that today's players might have learned a lesson from Palmeiro. Think again. Yesterday, Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers was suspended for the remaining 65 games of the season for his involvement in the Biogenesis of America performance enhancing drug investigation. Braun is no stranger to failed drug tests. In 2011, he failed a test that measured elevated testosterone level in his system. Braun successfully appealed the results and was never suspended because questions surrounded the way in which the sample was handled. 

Part of Braun's statement after the suspension was overturned included this little gem. "It is the first step in restoring my good name and reputation. We were able to get through this because I am innocent and the truth is on our side." Well, Mr. Braun, considering you just made a behind-the-scenes deal with MLB to suspend you for the remaining 65 games this season even before they released the findings of the Biogenesis investigation, it must mean that the truth is that you also used PED's and suffer from Palmeiro's disease.

        He forgot the finger point. Do not pass go. Do not collect your millions of dollars.

Many more players are going to be suspended in the coming days once the full results of the Biogenesis investigation are revealed. Hopefully, the guilty will just admit they made a mistake and save some of their integrity.

 Are you ready, Alex Rodriguez?

How to annoy a Met fan 101

I take a lot of pride out of being a fan of the New York Mets, which also leads to me taking crap from pretty much everyone, but I digress. This week, Citi Field, home of the Mets, is hosting the Major League Baseball All Star Game and all of the festivities that come along with it.

                                       
            Hey, ESPN. That's the Mets logo, not the Dodgers, Giants or Yankees.


Tonight, ESPN is broadcasting the Home Run Derby and during the introductory highlight package, I suddenly see clips of the Yankees and the Dodgers and Giants mixed in with a couple Mets' moments. Normally, the host team and baseball are celebrated during this mid-season break. I understand that New York is not only home to the Mets and Yankees, and was the former home of the Dodgers and Giants before they both left for California in the late-1950s, but for once I expected the focus to be on Mets baseball. Obviously, they don't have the long winning tradition and championships that the Yankees have. They don't have the mystique that The Bums from Brooklyn had back in the days of Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax and Duke Snider. The Giants had Willie Mays and won seven World Series titles while playing at the Polo Grounds. Yet, this is supposed to be about the Mets, who certainly have enough history of their own to fill an opening montage.

Mike Piazza's post-9/11 homer. Mookie Wilson's ground ball that got through Bill Buckner's legs. Casey Stengel and the Not-so-Amazin' squad of 1962. Doctor K. Jesse Orosco's glove launch after striking out Marty Barrett to win the 1986 World Series. The Franchise, Tom Seaver. The Kid, Gary Carter. Cleon Jones settling under that final fly out in 1969 and sinking to one knee to crown the true Miracle Mets. Robin Ventura's Grand Slam Single. Johan Santana's long over due no-hitter. Darryl Strawberry going deep. Tug McGraw and Ya' Gotta Believe. Keith Hernandez's golden glove. Jose Jose Jose! Captain Wright doing it all, and the promise of a Happy Matt Harvey Day right now, and for years to come. Fine examples, I'd say. Clearly, there is plenty of history from the boys from Queens to fill up a highlight reel.

I will always celebrate New York and the rich baseball history it has, but tonight should have been solely about the Mets and their rich history. Maybe I'm too loyal and being a little selfish here, but the Mets deserve a little bit of the spotlight during this annual display of baseball greatness. With a slight bow to Darren over at The 7 Line here, I'll always stay true to my boys in orange and blue. It's just a shame that ESPN did not.

Tebow goes to Gotham City

If you've read any of my earlier posts here, you know I'm a Tim Tebow supporter. I'm not delusional by any means. Right now, he's not a great quarterback in the NFL. Saying he's a good quarterback is even a stretch. He runs the ball well and has those football intangibles. Namely, he finds a way to win. While in Denver last season, he turned a 1-4 start into an 8-8 finish and AFC West title. He defeated defending AFC champion Pittsburgh in his first playoff start and tossed the game-winning 80-yard touchdown to Demaryius Thomas in overtime. Then he got steamrolled in New England next week by Tom Brady and the eventual AFC champion Patriots. Not a bad season for a guy that very few thought deserved a starting job.

So when Peyton Manning was cut by Indianapolis a few weeks ago and ended up signing a five-year/$96 million deal with the Broncos, the Tale of Tebow seemed to be coming to an end. Fear not, fans. The Tebow Circus will now make its way to the big city thanks to a stunning trade made by the New York Jets yesterday that saw the them send their fourth and sixth round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft to Denver for Tebow and a seventh rounder.

                                     Best selling backup QB jersey...EVER!!!

You have to wonder what exactly the Jets are thinking. They pursued Manning, but dropped out early on, and handed incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez and three-year contract extension. Now, Tebow comes to town and is anointed the backup. My guess is that Tebow is there to push Sanchez since he really hasn't had to worry about being benched the last few years, seeing as how the 40-something Mark Brunell has been his backup. Jets' brass has said that Tebow will be used in various game situations. New offensive coordinator Tony Sparano ran the "Wildcat" formation with success in Miami, so expect plenty of Tebow in those sets, some goal line situations, but very little else. Sanchez is the starter. He's been to two AFC championship games in his first three years in the league. He's "The Sanchise" until he falls on his face and gets run out of town. If that happens, we can talk more about bringing Tebow to New York being the wrong or right move. Right now, he's just the highest profile backup in the NFL.

Tebow's leadership has never been questioned and there's no questioning winning. Football is a team game and he has had plenty of help on both sides of the ball as both a Gator and then a Bronco. Look for Tebow to help the Jets look good and mend the discord that haunted the locker room last season, while the Jets make him look good when he's under center.

Baseball Hall of Fame writers are lacking

Baseball writers voted last week for Hall of Fame enshrinement and of all the credible candidates only Barry Larkin received over the 75% necessary to gain election. Larkin is very deserving and if I had a vote he would have got mine. I've been stewing all this time on how he's the only guy to get in this year. I'd have also voted for Jeff Bagwell, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff and yes, Mark McGwire. This could get into a steroid debate, but let's save that for another time.

My biggest beef here is the fact that Bernie Williams only received 55 votes (9.6%). This guy did everything on a Yankee team that won four World Series titles during his 16-year career. .297 career average, 287 home runs, 1257 runs batted in (five times over 100 in a season, which is one more time than Mickey Mantle did it, by the way), five All Star selections, four Gold Gloves in center field. Then, take his post season stats into perspective. He's first all-time in RBI's, then he's second all-time in hits, homers, doubles, runs scored, total bases, trailing Hall of Fame lock Derek Jeter in most of those categories, and Manny Ramirez, who would also be a Hall of Fame lock if not for that tiny little steroid issue he had, in the homer department.

So baseball writers? Why? Isn't the post season something that separates the legends from the regular season greats? Isn't this why the votes seem to rise every year for Jack Morris? Morris rose to 66.7% in the voting this year, and will probably have the door to the Hall open for him next year. Everyone remembers his post season efforts. Anchoring the Tigers pitching staff to the title in 1984 with two complete game victories in the World Series, and the 10-inning shutout he threw in 1991 against the Braves in Game 7 to win it for the Twins. Those post seasons overshadow the fact that his career regular season ERA was 3.90 and that he didn't break the magical 300 win plateau. Morris was a work horse. He won 254 games and he probably gets my vote as well, but only 55 votes being cast for Bernie is shameful. The guy was a class act and probably just as big a leader as Jeter was on those Yankee championship teams.

Explain to me how you don't vote this guy for the Hall. Please.

25 years and counting

Currently watching the Cardinals-Rangers World Series, Game 6, with Texas needing three more outs for their first ever championship, I felt it time to reflect on the 25th anniversary of my beloved Mets only World Series title of my life.

I went to bed crying after the Red Sox homered twice in the second inning to go up 3-0. Thankfully, my mom woke me up when the Mets tied it at 3. Ray Knight homered soon after my waking, putting the Mets ahead for good. Darryl Strawberry hit a monstrous home run in the 8th for some insurance. In the ninth, Jesse Orosco delivered the 2-2 pitch. Marty Barrett swung and missed. I went ape shit and this is what it looked like on the field.

                                                         VICTORY!

Thanks Mets! Now go out and get me another one before I die.

"Behind the bag!"

                                                            MOOK! 

25 years ago today, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully uttered these three little words. Mets' fans all over New York, including myself, age 9, went crazy. Just moments prior, Boston was leading Game 6 of the 1986 Series 5-3, with two out and no one on base. They were on the verge of their first title since 1918.

Then it happened.

Gary Carter singles. Kevin Mitchell singles, Ray Knight singles home Carter. Bob Stanley uncorks a wild pitch to Mookie Wilson that allows Mitchell to come home and tie it at 5. Then it's Mookie's "little roller up along first..." Bill Buckner watches it go through his legs. Mets win. See you in Game 7.

No matter how many times I watch it, or talk about it, it will never not make me smile.