Sherman's Talk Makes Me Lose Respect for Him

Richard Sherman has always gathered attention throughout his career. From his controversial words to his appearances on ESPN, to his appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Sherman has been big in the media. However, this past week he has gained more attention than ever due to his post-game blow up following the NFC Championship game. During sideline reporter Erin Andrews’ interview with Sherman, he began yelling about wide receiver Michael Crabtree, saying “I'm the best corner in the game, when you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you're gonna get. Don't you ever talk about me." He followed this statement up by saying “Don't you open your mouth about the best, or I'm gonna shut it for you real quick,” (quotes thanks to espn.go.com). Commissioner Rodger Goodell would later fine Sherman $7,875 for his comments while he also spoke out personally on the matter, standing against Sherman’s comments.

            Sherman would continue the latest buzz with his retaliation of getting caught up in the moment and how he was only showing passion for the game. Here, I would like to speak to Sherman personally. I have no tolerance for players like him. Sherman has made comments like this many times, both on and off the football field. He has made personal comments towards people, denouncing them and their abilities, while trash-talking himself into infamy.

            During an interview between Sherman and ESPN analyst Skip Bayless, Sherman is quoted (to Bayless) “You will never accomplish anything… I don’t think you’re the best in anything. In sports, in media, in anything. In my 24 years of life, I’m better at life than you… I am going to crush you on here in front of everybody because I’m tired of hearing about (my skills),” (the entire interview can be found by a simple youtube.com search). It was at this time I started to lose respect for Richard Sherman. He was not on a football field, pumped with adrenaline from the game. Sherman, sitting in studio, was simply being his egotistic self.

            I personally believe that there should be no tolerance for talk like this in the NFL. Regardless of who someone’s stature, nobody can talk like this to others while millions are viewing. During his interview, Sherman mainly argues that his performance and statistics back up his words, which ultimately give him the right to speak how he did. It is true that Sherman has more interceptions in his first three years than any other player has ever had and he can cover any receiver better than I have seen in the NFL this year, but the best abide by the same rules as everybody else. A point of comparison; If a student receives an A on a test, do they earn the right to belittle all the other students? What about in the workplace? Sherman certainly thinks so.

            Richard Sherman is a great athlete and NFL cornerback. His abilities have the capability to speak for themselves, but Sherman keeps ruining the chance with his attitude and words. This shouldn’t be able to go on for as long as Sherman is in the league. Commissioner Goodell must do something more than a fine and a speech. I like Sherman’s skills, but his words are a little too much for me. My favorite athletes all have class, unlike Sherman.

Alex Rodriguez's Lawsuits Lead to the Want of His Banishment

     Earlier in the week, Major League Baseball's Players expressed their want of Alex Rodriguez's expulsion from the union. Following Rodriguez's lawsuit against the union, the lawyers of the union said that it is not allowed. They gave a statement saying they wanted to give Rodriguez his fair share of support as a paying member of the union. Myself and many others believe this was the wrong decision.
     Rodriguez has been about himself his entire career. He announced his free agency during the 2007 World Series even though Major League Baseball has an unwritten rule that no announcements regarding the MLB will take place during the World Series in order to give the Series the only attention at the time. He has filed many lawsuits against the MLB and other organizations and people regarding his suspension and has spoken out many times about how he did not do steroids when many others have given evidence saying he has. Rodriguez so far is the only player to create such a story about steroids. Although he is not the only one that has taken his case to court, he is the only player that has created such public attention towards himself. Because of this, he gets his bad self-image and others do not want to support him.
     During an interview with the TV show "60 Minutes" Rodriguez's supplier Anthony Bosch made statements that he supplied Rodriguez and later said he "was in fear of his life" when Rodriguez's associates told him they would kill him in order to prevent him from speaking out about the topic (read the full thing here). To me this is a serious problem.
     Why should the Player's association, full of players that do not want to support him, give him their support just because he is a paying member. This man has made the whole thing about him, almost as if it is the league against him trying to destroy him, all because of a 211 game suspension. Rodriguez doesn't deserve the support from the league due to his actions. If it were up to me, he would get a greater suspension and Major League Baseball should try to ban him for life. The League deserves better than a player sending death threats and suing his employer. Rodriguez has been paid 311 million dollars to date. Why does he need more for his lawsuit? The Player's association should make him go to court alone, along with revoking his allegiance with the union.
     Am I the only one who thinks this way about Rodriguez? Leave comments or ideas if you agree or disagree!

Predictions for NFL Championship Games 2014: Which Teams will Earn the Nod

     This week brings us arguably the four best teams in the league. Games that can be full of offense or defense, neither will fail to bring excitement. Both games are very worth watching this week. Let's begin with the first game on Sunday:
NE Patriots vs. DEN Broncos (3 p.m.):
This is the game Sports Fans have been waiting for all season long. Brady-Manning showdown XIV. The Broncos will be going all out not just because their next game would be the Super Bowl but because of the outcome of their seasonal game. They came out with a strong and wide lead, only to have Brady shine and take his team from behind and winning 34-31. With Brady bringing his record to 9-4 against Manning, Manning will definitely remember that. This year Manning's MVP worthy numbers and team bring something different to the match-up this year; It brings Manning a very good chance of getting to the Super Bowl this year. The Patriots have suffered many injuries and offensive woes, but yet find themselves in a tough Championship Game.
     But it has always been about Tom Brady. It will always be about Tom Brady. Even if the Broncos win, everybody will talk about Tom Brady. But for good reason. Belichick and Brady have this six sense where they always succeed. They find ways to win games no matter what, especially in the playoffs. Even with Manning's MVP worthy year and the great team owner Pat Bowlen has, it will always be about Tom Brady.
New England 34 Denver 27

SF 49ers vs. SEA Seahawks (6:30 p.m.):
     The harder of the two games to predict. If I was a betting man, I would not bet anything on either side because this game has no clear favorite. Even with the line giving SF more than a field goal, and this game will surely be about field goals, I still think there is no clear favorite. The 12th man in Seattle will definitely play a huge role. The last time the 49ers came to Seattle, their defense and the 12th man were able to hold Kaepernick to 127 yards and picked him off three times with no touchdowns. Those numbers should swing the favor to Seattle, but SF has played great throughout the playoffs and Harbaugh has begun to establish himself as one of the best coaches in the game right now. If anybody has a chance to beat the Seahawks at home, who are 15-1 in the last two years, I think it is San Francisco.
     But alas, a winner must be decided. A game that will be about field goals, I think the home field advantage will help the Seahawks and propel them into the Super Bowl
Seattle 23 San Francisco 19

2014 MLB Hall of Fame picks: Why the Writers are Lacking Basic Knowledge

     Today, Major League Baseball announced who the writers elected to the Hall of Fame as the class of 2014. Congratulations to the three players chosen: Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Frank Thomas! All three players deserve the recognition based on their numbers, but the selection still comes with puzzlement. My problem comes with Frank Thomas being selected during his first year of eligibility.
     Frank Thomas was a First Basemen turned DH (Designated Hitter). He did win an MVP award playing First one year, but the majority of his great statistics came as a DH. The role of the DH is to sit on the bench and wait until it is their turn to hit without ever taking the field. The writers of baseball are saying that this is all a player needs in order to be selected as a first ballot Hall of Famer. Oh, and don't let me forget, they still have not elected Barry Bonds, the league's home run leader into the Hall. Bonds did Thomas' job better plus played the outfield every game, and he doesn't deserve the nod?
     Many of the writers say this is because Bonds used steroids, forever classifying him and all the other greats as tainted. Forever the era of baseball he played in will be known as the steroid era. I guess the writers didn't realize that Thomas played during this era as well. Myself and many other people are wondering how come Thomas gets in automatically while Bonds does not? What makes Thomas excused from the "steroids era?"
     I grew up watching this kind of baseball. I grew up watching players crush balls out of the park, watching Bonds, Sosa, and McGwire smash records. I thought this was okay and I bet at the time, many others did too. Looking back not so much, but during the time I believe people did. So why are the writers voting for what they see now and not from what these players did for my generation. I never cared for Frank Thomas, hardly even knew who he was growing up.
     I don't want to take anything away from Frank Thomas. He put up great numbers and definitely deserves the recognition. However, what I long for is to see the greatest players I grew up with get the same recognition. The writers write off (look at the pun I made!) Bonds, Sosa, and McGwire as not deserving the recognition but give it to Thomas, who put up less great numbers than all three and played during the "steroid era." I believe that if Bonds, our home run king who everybody my age grew up watching and admiring, doesn't deserve to get in, then Thomas doesn't solely on the fact that he put up less significant numbers.
     Does Bonds deserve a first ballot nod? I'm not sure. Even with all the great numbers, he did cheat. But hopefully the writers will eventually give him recognition down the road when steroids figures itself out. For my picks? I chose Maddux, Glavine, Mike Mussina, and Curt Schilling.

NFL Wildcard Predictions + Super Bowl predictions

     One of the best times of the year is coming up this weekend as the NFL Playoffs begin. Great for so many reasons, it strikes sports fans as one of the best times in sports because it is football all weekend long. With games (of great importance) happening twice a day all weekend, nothing excites fans more.
     I now present to you my picks for this weekend's games, but first I would like to prime you with my super bowl predictions. I have been saying this for a while now, and I believe the Super Bowl will showcase the Indianapolis Colts vs the Seattle Seahawks. The Colts look like that team that nobody thinks of that makes it all the way. Luck is a great QB and with solid defensive play, I believe this team will be the one who comes out on top. For the Seahawks, playing at home the entire way will clinch them the spot. Seattle is the best home team and that's not changing now. So you heard it hear first, the Colts are going to the Super Bowl. But if I'm wrong, I will probably look like a fool. On to the Wild Card predictions...

Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts (Sat., 4:25)
Wouldn't it be ironic if I pick the Chiefs here? hahahahahaha..........not happening. The Colts are going to take this game at home. Luck is going to carry the team throughout this game. He will end up with 250 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, looking like an established QB. On the down, losing 5 out of their last 7, The Chiefs offense will put up a good fight as well, led by running back Jamaal Charles. However, their down slide will continue and Charles won't be able to carry the team to victory. Colts win 23-20.

New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia Eagles (Sat., 8:10)
This game can go so many ways. The Eagles have looked good at times under Chip Kelly's new offense and other times they have looked flat. If New Orleans were playing at home, they would be a lock for the win. But they have struggled away this year and outside the division (5-1 in division/ 6-4 outside). I think Drew Brees' postseason experience will give them the advantage in this game and the win. Saints win 34-28.

San Diego Chargers @ Cincinnati Bengals (Sun., 1:05)
The Bengals have been perfect at home, scoring 30+ points in their last 5 home games. However their track record under the regime of Dalton have not performed well in the playoffs. They have lost badly to the Texans in the past two years with Dalton looking pretty flat. However, this year they are not playing the Texans and are at home. It won't look pretty, but Dalton gets the job done this year. Bengals win 17-13.

San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers (Sun., 4:40)
The 49ers come into this game with a 6 game winning streak, with wins against the Seahawks and Cardinals. They have looked pretty good in all 6 games on defense, which will help them. But one of my philosophies is that a good offense wins games during the playoffs. The Packers have one of the best offensives when everybody is healthy. We saw that last week with Rodgers rallying a late win for the Packers, racking up 300 yards and 2 TDs. I believe the offense continue into this week and the Packers take an upsetting win from the 49ers, beating them in the 4th quarter. Packers win 38-35.