The NBA All-Star Game is to be held on Sunday, and we have every reason to believe it will be a terrific event for fans and families alike.
But how does it compare to the games in the other professional sports?
Certainly, all of the games have their own strengths and weaknesses, but which one is the best overall? Here is a comparison of the games for the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB.
It’s no news to any Reds fan that Joey Votto may not be with the team past the 2013 season. An unfortunate truth of being a team with salary constrictions is that you can’t always afford to keep your star players. Ask the Brewers and Mets how they feel going into this season after watching Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes depart for greener pastures.
It’s a deflating feeling to watch a player leave your favorite team but let’s take a look at one of the more intriguing and overlooked players in the Reds farm system, 2007 third-round draft pick, Neftali Soto.
Philadelphia has had its fair share of interesting athletes throughout the years. Along with interesting characters, Philly sports figures have also been known for their infamous quotes.
Whether it was directly after a loss, or a miraculous fourth down reception or at a World Series parade, some Philly sports stars really knew how to blow a gasket or pump up a crowd.
No matter if it’s the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, 76ers or Big 5 basketball, these quotes will definitely bring back some memories.
So without further ado and/or eloquence, here are the best/most ridiculous/most passionate quotes in Philadelphia sports history.
Warning: Some quotes have rather distasteful language
So, who would you choose as Philadelphia‘s Top 12 pro athletes? Who is your No. 1?
Indeed, how does one choose the best of the best who represent this sports-crazed town on our fields, rinks and courts? It is not an exact science, but I mostly considered the following three factors:
1) Current performance level
2) Overall contribution here
3) Popularity and/or buzz generated
After mulling it over, I decided on what I will call The Deserving Dozen—12 athletes who combine enough of the above criteria to compete for the title as Philly’s best.
In so doing, I was careful to have at least one representative of each of the four teams. Philadelphia Union fans, please accept my apologies.
As this is not an exact science, I have not shown the “scores” I tabulated for each.
So, feel free to similarly agree or disagree at its conclusion, even if you don’t show your work.
Let us begin.
One note: The pitcher (pictured) above made the list, but how high does Cliff Lee rank?
From an immediate perspective, the most important storyline from Friday’s Cardinals vs. Phillies game was the end result. Philadelphia was favored by most people to win the World Series, but they will be watching the NLCS and World Series from home.
The second most important storyline was that Phillies’ slugger Ryan Howard suffered what appeared to be a very serious injury on the game’s final play.
Now, we don’t know the extent of the injury just yet. Still, Achilles’ injuries are very serious. Howard himself believed that it was a torn Achilles, which could have him sidelined for a year.
Since his first full season in the league (2006), Howard has averaged nearly 44 homers and and 133 RBI. His production has tapered a little bit in the last few seasons, but he is still one of the game’s premier sluggers.
If the injury is as bad as expected, Howard will miss anywhere between six and 12 months. That would have him missing some or all of the 2012 season.
Still, Philadelphia will be okay, and they are still the favorites in the National League East.
If you don’t believe me, take a look at the pitching rotation: Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, and Vance Worley. While the bullpen could use some work, that is a vaunted pitching rotation that will keep them in any game they play.
Offensively, they still have stars like Chase Utley, Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino, and possibly Jimmy Rollins to produce runs. Even if Rollins goes, that’s not exactly a lineup with a lot of easy outs.
Lastly, first base is a position with some depth. You can pick up a first baseman for relatively cheap in free agency that will go a long way in making up for some of Howard’s lost numbers.
Any way you slice it, Howard’s loss is going to hurt. Even if his playoff production has been less than stellar, his offensive numbers are just massive, even in down years. In his six full seasons, Howard has never failed to hit 30 home runs or drive in 100 runs.
But even without Howard’s presence in the middle of the order, Philadelphia is still a playoff team in 2012.
Of course, the hot stove season could change that, but it’s hard to see a division rival improving enough to scare the Phillies.
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The New York Mets have a tremendous talent who is playing in what may be his final home stand as a Mets player. His name is Jose Reyes. Every baseball fan is beginning to salivate over the potential of a healthy Reyes being added to their team. And why shouldn’t they?
Jose Reyes is the most dynamic single player in the game today. He is the prototype of a leadoff hitter. He has speed. He has power to hit in the gap. He creates runs where there is nothing to create. He changes the game when he is base. The opposing pitcher is distracted by his speed and hurries his pitches. Reyes is a different breed of player in the league.
When he hits the open market, teams will begin fighting over him. He is easily the most-coveted free agent coming into the market.There will be several major names available, but few teams will be able to afford them. Reyes is the one player every team is willing to take a chance on. He is the most obvious choice for any team to want to add.
This sounds oddly familiar. The NBA had a similar scenario just a year ago. LeBron James decided to leave the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he had great success in turning a franchise around in order to test free agency. Sound familiar now?
The Mets signed Reyes as a teenager. They brought him up when they were struggling. He, along with a few others, led them to the NLCS just a few years ago. He has had success here. Now, he is curious about his worth on the free-agent market. LeBron James turned his experience into a mockery and a nationally-televised event for advertisers and ESPN to benefit from.
While I doubt that will happen with Reyes, still, there are a lot of similarities between the two. Both have had several teams trying to court them. LeBron James had President Obama trying to convince him to consider the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks, the Nets, the Bulls, the Lakers, the Celtics and the Cavs were all rumored to have interest and players courting James.
Jose Reyes has had former teammate Carlos Beltran speaking up for him to come to San Francisco, Ryan Braun has suggested he’d love to have Reyes in Milwaukee. Red Sox players have spoken up for him. Alex Rodriguez stated that Reyes is the best player in baseball this past summer. They are all lining up to make their pitch for their respective teams.
Both James and Reyes were and are considered the single game-changing free agent at the time of them entering free agency. Both were homegrown talents looking for greener grass somewhere else. Just like the Cavs were in the final running for LeBron, the Mets will be in the final running for Reyes.
After all, it’s hard to let go of what you already know. Change is hard. Reyes is settled in and happy in New York. The trouble is when all the other teams get involved in offering him a deal, his free agency will explode into a media storm.
Imagine this: the Phillies (who will be thinking of parting with Rollins), the Yankees (who may be thinking of Reyes more to hurt the Red Sox), the Red Sox (who have platooned shortstops for years to no avail), the Angels (who need speed since they lost Chone Figgins), the Brewers, the Dodgers, the Nationals, the Rays, etc all get involved in the sweepstakes for Jose Reyes.
Then Reyes has to choose not just location, but money. Let’s say the Mets offer him $50 million and two years less than the Phillies or Yankees, don’t blame him for taking it. No one in their right mind would turn that difference down. Who would turn down that much money to take a hometown discount? No one.
The Mets will need to make a longer and more expensive offer than they want to if they decide they need him. Otherwise, get used to seeing him somewhere they don’t want him to be. That’s what the Cleveland fans had to face when LeBron James landed in Miami with two other All-Stars (Wade and Bosch). A team that stood in their way when James was with Cleveland, now James is with the enemy.
Mets fans will not be happy with the end result. The buildup of bidding in the market will push Reyes out of the Mets’ reach. This is not a scenario fans or the Mets really want, but it may be a reality. The Mets claim they need a closer next year. They will need to sign at least one starting pitcher and two others for the bullpen. They will need an outfielder too.
There are too many holes to fill to spend that much on Reyes. They already have a fortune locked in to Johan Santana, Jason Bay and David Wright. If they add more to it for Reyes, they will be way over their self-imposed cap maximum of $120 million after signing everyone else.
Logically speaking, Reyes will have to accept a much more disappointing offer from them than he expects if he wants to stay. Like LeBron, the temptation may be too great for him not to leave.
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Brady and Moss both had great 2007 seasons, but were they good enough to crack the top 20?
The athletes on this list had absolutely amazing and dominant seasons. There are some names you know will be on this list and there may be some you did not expect.
The list consists of athletes from sports that are big in America: football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, tennis, etc. Sorry soccer fans but there are no soccer players on the list. Also there are no rugby, cricket, Formula 1 racing, or athletes from other sports that are popular around the world but not in America.
So here it is; the 20 greatest individual seasons in sports history.
Opening day is only seven days away, which means it’s time to ponder and predict what the Philadelphia Phillies will accomplish in the 2011 baseball season. They go into this season with one of the best pitching rotations in baseball history and are the presumptive favorites to represent the National League in the World Series.
From Ryan Howard’s potential bombs over the left field fence at Citizens Bank park to Raul Ibanez’s crucial role with the absence of Jason Werth, we look at these 10 bold predictions for the 2011 Phillies baseball season.
2011 predictions are on every sports fan’s mind as the holidays near. Here are predictions for 2011 in the sports world:
MLB:
Adrian Gonzalez wins the American League MVP award after taking advantage of friendly confines of Friendly Fenway Park.
The Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the World Series behind a masterful four-hit shutout by…Pedro Martinez.
Derek Jeter hits the midway point of the season with a sub .700 fielding percentage. He’s still the most liked man in New York.
Zack Greinke wins the National League Cy Young Award and helps the Milwaukee Brewers to the National League Championship Series.
Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer combine for the best offensive duo in Major League Baseball, leading the Minnesota Twins to the American League Championship Series.
Carl Crawford finishes second behind Adrian Gonzalez in American League MVP award voting.
After missing out on signing Cliff Lee, Nolan Ryan comes out of retirement to sure up the Texas Rangers bullpen.
The Baltimore Orioles win the American League Wild Card before falling to Minnesota in the Divisional Series.
San Francisco’s Brian Wilson signs a sponsorship deal with Armani and cleans up his act. He mentions Major League 2 as his favorite movie.
The New York Yankees trade the naming rights to the new Yankee Stadium to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Felix Hernandez.
Albert Pujols signs a 10-year, $300 million extension with the St. Louis Cardinals.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says something politically incorrect to a group of reporters, but none of them hear him clearly because of his thick accent.
Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana hits .320 with 28 home runs and 110 RBI to lead the Cleveland Indians back into relevance.
NBA:
LeBron James and the Miami Heat fall to the Boston Celtics in a heart-wrenching Game 7 after being up 3-0 in the series.
The New Jersey Nets select Duke’s Kyrie Irving with the first pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Carmelo Anthony leads the New York Knicks to the Eastern Conference semifinals where they lose to the Miami Heat.
Dirk Nowitzki earns his second NBA MVP award while leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Shaquille O’Neal assumes the name of The Big International and becomes the biggest—figuratively and literally—star in Turkey.
Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder knock off the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals before falling to the Mavs in the Conference finals.
Joakim Noah returns to the Chicago Bulls, who go on to win 16 straight games from February to March and clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Blake Griffin holds his Rookie of the Year trophy up proudly.
Antoine Walker averages 12 points, four rebounds and seven missed three-pointers in four games with the Memphis Grizzlies in March.
Glen Davis of the Boston Celtics wins the NBA’s Sixth Man award.
NFL:
Brett Favre retires, maybe. Well, I’m not sure. But he might. Or he might not.
Sal Alosi goes 2-1 in a “celebrity” boxing circuit. His lone loss was a disqualification and came after tripping his opponent.
After undoubted success with its first outdoor home game in 30 years, the Vikings tear the rest of the Metrodome’s roof off and play under the cold Minnesota sky.
Versus announces the launch of a new reality show called Straight Cash, Ocho, starting Randy Moss and Chad Ochocinco.
Tom Brady cuts his hair after being asked to play George Harrison in a Beatles reunion.
Donovan McNabb runs windsprints throughout the offseason while Mike Shanahan watches silently.
Alex Smith, Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Matt Flynn become the next batch of great NFL quarterbacks.
The Dallas Cowboys become the first team to host a Super Bowl party next to where the Super Bowl is being played.
The NFL Players Union and its owners will agree on a new collective bargaining agreement in April, days before the NFL Draft.
The Minnesota Vikings sign free agent quarterback Michael Vick to a four-year deal.
The New England Patriots defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, pushing Tom Brady and Bill Belichick up another level among the greats.
The Cincinnati Bengals acquire free agent wide receiver Randy Moss and go winless in their first eight games of the 2011 season.
Jenn Sterger is hired by ESPN as an NFL analyst.
Tom Brady is named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.
Back to full strength, the Indianapolis Colts finish the regular season 16-0.
College Basketball:
The UConn women win another NCAA championship with an undefeated record.
Duke finishes with a 32-1 record, erasing a February loss to Temple with a win in the National Championship game.
College Football:
Jim Harbaugh takes over at the helm for the Denver Broncos.
Iowa lands itself in a BCS Bowl, despite offseason investigations into drug use.
Syracuse knocks off UConn for the Big East championship, clinching a BCS bid.
Mark Cuban loses $500 million in a failed effort to develop a College Football playoff.
Boise State goes 11-0 and fails to make the National Championship game.
Cam Newton is the first pick in April’s NFL Draft and becomes one of Jimmy Clausen’s go-to weapons in Carolina.
Golf:
Tiger Woods wins the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in his best season ever on the PGA Tour.
Sergio Garcia finally wins a major, taking home the PGA Championship.
Hockey:
The Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup over the Dallas Stars.
Tim Thomas helps lead the Boston Bruins to the Eastern Conference finals.
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With Alex Rodriguez’s recent 600th career home run causing many fans to roll their eyes or talk smack about the 13 time All-Star, I rank the top 25 most significant steroid driven seasons of all time. All of these players are believed to have used steroids during the seasons mentioned. The only catch is that no player appears on this list more than once. Every player ranked below has either admitted to using illegal steroids, has been suspended for use, has appeared on the Mitchell Report, or at the very least, has been heavily rumored to have cheated.
25. Eric Gagne, 2003, (1.20 era, 55 saves, 0 blown saves, 137 k’s in 82.1 innings) This was the second of Gagne’s three consecutive dominant closing seasons for the Dodgers, as Gagne became the first relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in 11 years. Gagne broke the record for consecutive saves, eventually reaching 84 during the 2004 season. Ironically, while Gagne did not blow any saves during the regular season, Gagne blew a save during the 2003 All-Star Game, which helped the A.L. earn home field advantage in the World Series.
24. Brady Anderson, 1996, (.297, 50, 110). Before 1996, Anderson had been a solid leadoff man for many years in Baltimore, whose previous career high was 21 home runs. But in 1996, Anderson shocked the world by hitting 50 home runs while helping Baltimore reach the postseason for the first time in 13 years. Anderson was voted in to his first All-Star game in 1996 after hitting 30 homers by the All-Star break, and was also voted into the 1997 All-Star Game, likely due to the popularity he gained from hitting 50 home runs the season before. Anderson never went on to hit more than 24 home runs in a season, which raises the question: Are we supposed to believe this guy didn’t do steroids?
23. Rafael Palmeiro, 1999 (.324, 47, 148). When the Cubs traded Palmeiro to Texas after the 1988 season, the Cubs organization hinted that it was due to Palmeiro’s lack of power. Palmeiro was a frequent .300 hitter and made multiple All-Star appearances throughout his 20s, but did not put up serious power numbers until the Steroid Era. From 1995-2003, Palmeiro hit at least 38 home runs in a record 9 consecutive seasons. Also worth mentioning, Palmeiro is one of four players in history with 3000 hits and 500 home runs over a career. Palmeiro’s most significant season was probably 1999, when he set career highs in Batting Average, Home Runs, RBI, On Base percentage, and Slugging Percentage, while leading the Rangers to a franchise high 95 wins.
22. Greg Vaughn, 1998, (.272, 50, 119) From 1996-1999, Greg Vaughn rejuvenated his career by hitting over 40 home runs three times in his 30s, including 50 in 1998. At the time it was easy to overlook Greg Vaughn’s impressive home run total in 1998 because his 50 home runs ranked just 3rd in the National League, behind McGwire and Sosa.
21. Richard Hidalgo, 2000 (.314, 44, 122) Richard Hidalgo hit 44 home runs out of nowhere for the Houston Astros in the first year of Enron Field, which immediately earned him a 30 million dollar contract at the age of 25. Hidalgo proved to be somewhat of a bust, never reaching 30 home runs ever again, while hitting under .260 throughout the rest of his career.
20. Bret Boone, 2001 (.331, 37, 141) This was Boone’s 10th major league season, but he miraculously shattered his previous single season career highs by 13 home runs, 46 RBI, 93 total bases, and 64 points in his batting average, all for the 2001 Mariners who won 116 regular season games. Boone went on to have just one other All-Star season before being released by the Mariners and Twins in 2006.
19. Javy Lopez, 2003 (.328, 43, 109, .678 SLG ) Javy Lopez is one of the better hitting catchers of all time, but unfortunately steroids were likely a factor. Javy Lopez hit 43 home runs in 2003, including 42 as a catcher, which remains the all time record for a single season.
18. Jose Canseco, 1988 (.307, 42, 124) Canseco admitted having used steroids as early as 1988. Now famous for being one of the most outspoken players regarding the steroid era, Canseco won the A.L. MVP in 1988, became the first 40-40 player, and led the A’s to 104 wins and a World Series appearance.
17. Kevin Brown, 1998, (18-7, 2.38 era), Brown won a career high 21 games back in 1992 with Texas, but did not become a consistent dominant force until the steroid era. In 1998, Brown struck out a career high 257 batters, while leading the Padres to their only World Series appearance in the last 25 years. Brown’s 3 year run of dominance from 1996-1998 earned him a 105 million dollar deal for 7 years, the biggest contract ever at the time.
16. Mo Vaughn, 1995, (.300, 39, 126) Vaughn had several great seasons from 1995-2000, including an MVP season in 1995. The Red Sox, led by Vaughn, won the AL East in 1995; their only division title from 1991-2006.
15. Albert Belle, 1995, (.317, 50, 126) Belle had his best season in 1995, hitting a career high 50 home runs, and could have hit even more had the season not started 18 games late due to the strike. 1995 was an unbelievable season for Belle, who led the A.L. in home runs, as well as doubles.
14. Juan Gonzalez, 1998 (.318, 45, 157) Juan Gonzalez was one of the best hitters in baseball from 1992 until 2001, hitting 35 home runs 7 times in those 10 years and winning 2 MVPs. His 157 RBI in 1998 were the most in the American League in 49 years.
13. Jeff Bagwell, 1994, (.368. 39, 116) Bagwell was rumored to have started taking steroids in 1993, the first .300 BA and 20 home run season of his career. 1994 was Bagwell’s best season, though strike shortened, as he won the NL MVP and posted an extremely high 1.201 OPS.
12. Andy Pettite, 2005 (17-9, 2.38 era) Pettite will be remembered most as a Yankee. However, arguably Pettite’s best season was 2005 when he had a career best 2.39 era and helped the Houston Astros win their franchises only 2 post season series, before losing to the White Sox in the World Series.
11. Ken Caminitti 1996 (.326, 40, 130) 1996 was Caminitti’s only 30 home run season, as he helped lead the Padres to a division title. Caminitti won the MVP that season and became a very popular San Diego player, until he later admitted that he took steroids during the 1996 season.
10. Jason Giambi, 2000 (.333, 43, 137) The Oakland A’s, from 1999-2006, were best known for their big 3 starting pitchers; Hudson, Mulder, and Zito. However, from 1999-2001, Jason Giambi tore up the league for the Oakland A’s. Giambi enjoyed an MVP season in 2000, while the Oakland A’s scored 947 runs with a lineup built around Giambi, who had a .476 on base percentage for the playoff bound A’s.
9. Mike Piazza, 1997, (.362, 40, 124) Piazza put up probably the best hitting season for a catcher of all time in 1997. His .362 BA tied an MLB record for catchers and his 40 home runs were one short of Todd Hundley’s record for catchers, but this was likely the product of a 62ndround pick exceeding expectations in big part due to steroids.
8. David Ortiz, 2003 (.288, 31, 101) David Ortiz was released in 2002 by the Twins, but miraculously turned his career around the following season, in 2003 with Boston, and ended up averaging 41 home runs from 2003-2007, while helping the Red Sox win 2 World Series.
7. Manny Ramirez, 1999, (.333, 44, 165) No player in the last 60 years has had more RBI in a single season than Manny Ramirez had in 1999, driving in 165. That season, the Cleveland Indians had one of the best offenses of all time, scoring a rare 1009 runs, with Ramirez in the middle of the lineup, driving in Lofton, Vizuel, and Alomar on a nightly basis.
6. Alex Rodriguez, 2002, (.300, 57, 142) A-Rod recently admitted to steroid use during his 3 years in Texas, from 2001-2003. Rodriguez had great statistics in all 3 of his seasons with Texas, but his 2002 season featured a career high 57 home runs, 1 more than Ken Griffey Jr. ever hit in a single season.
5. Roger Clemens, 1997, (21-7, 2.05 era) Clemens was arguably the best major league pitcher from 1986 until 1992, a span in which he won 3 Cy Young awards, winning at least 17 games all 7 years. However, Clemens failed to win more than 11 games in any of his last 4 years in Boston, before somehow turning things around in Toronto. Clemens won the Cy Young award and the pitcher’s triple crown in each of his 2 season with Toronto, and his 2.05 era in 1997 was the lowest of any of Clemens’ record 7 Cy Young seasons. Clemens later went on to win 2 more Cy Young awards, with the Yankees and Astros, at the ages of 39 and 42.
4. Luis Gonzalez, 2001, (.328, 57, 145) Luis Gonzalez was one of the better hitters in the league from 1999- 2003, but nobody expected the kind of protection Gonzalez enjoyed in 2001, as Gonzalez demolished his previous season high of 31 homers by cranking out 57. This season also included Gonzalez enjoying the game winning hit in the bottom of the 9th in game 7 of the World Series, as well as a Home Run Derby title. 2001 defined Luis Gonzalez’s career and was one of the best seasons of all time, but was likely influenced by steroids.
3. Sammy Sosa, 1998 (.308, 66, 158) It was difficult to decide between 1998 or 2001 as Sosa’s most significant season, but while Sosa hit 64 home runs and drove in a career high 160 runs in 2001, Sosa won his only MVP award in 1998 and hit a career high 66 home runs, becoming just the 2nd player ever to crack 61 at the time. Sosa averaged 57 home runs from 1998-2001, hitting the most homers ever by a player in a 5 year period. Somehow Sosa managed to have 3 seasons in which he hit 63 or more home runs, but did not lead the NL in homers.
2. Mark McGwire, 1998, (.299 70 147) 1998 was the year of the epic home run race between McGwire and Sammy Sosa, and the year that most defines the steroid era. McGwire’s 62nd home run excited America, breaking the 37 year old, record. However, these days it seems like people forget how great of a moment it was at the time, after all of the steroid allegations. McGwire posted unbelievable statistics in 1998, with not only 70 home runs, but a .470 On Base Percentage and .752 Slugging Percentage; numbers that were exceeded by Bonds in the first half of the 2000s.
1. Barry Bonds, 2001, (.328 73, 137) Bonds was one of the best all around players before the steroid era really began and may have been clean throughout that period. Towards the end of 1999, after an elbow injury, Bonds’ career seemed to be on the decline . However, Bonds suddenly tore up the league like nothing we have ever seen in the the first half of the 2000s, highlighted by 2001, when Bonds broke the all time single season home run record, set 3 years before by McGwire. Bonds set several OPS records from 2001-2004 and Bonds remains the all time leader for both single season home runs and all time home runs. Notably, Bonds never hit more than 49 homer runs in any season other than 2001.
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