Kerry Wood: The legacy that never was

In 1998 I was 10 years old and Kerry Wood was just coming onto the major league scene. At this time I was just starting to get really into baseball and you couldn't go a few minutes without hearing about Kerry Wood.

He was a phenom in high school, throwing the ball hard and fast but also having a good breaking pitch. He was accurate, passionate, probably the best thing you could of wanted.

In the 1995 draft the Chicago Clubs used their fourth overall pick to select Wood.

Three years later he would make his first MLB appearance. Four games after that he threw, what many consider, one of the most dominant pitching performances in the history of baseball. On May 6, 1998 he threw for nine innings against the Houston Astros, allowing one hit and no walks while tying a major league record with 20 strikeouts.

I remember after hearing this the "experts" talking about how dominating he will be, the Cubs will win the world series, so on and so forth.

The thing I remember was that he not only threw it fast but it threw it hard. For people who don't really follow baseball or played baseball that may not seem different to you. Though I know there were several times when I played a pitcher would throw the ball fast but it never seem to come in that hard and others would throw it not as fast but it was a hard thrown ball. It's a term that many players use now-a-days but it's still hard to explain to a non-advid baseball fan.

Anyway, it seemed like the sky was the limit. Until he missed the last month of the season with elbow soreness.

Which then in turn led to him getting Tommy John surgery the following year.

In 2000 he struggled and missed a few starts.

2001 he was back in full form striking out a ton of batters, throwing the ball well and not getting hurt. He would continue this all the way through 2003 where he had a bunch of career highs, strikeouts, wins and ERA.

He was selected for the All-Star game and helped lead the Cubs to the playoffs, I mean, he even hit a home run in the playoffs. The first since 1984. Though the Cubs lost to the Marlins who would go on to win the World Series.

From 2004 and on it would seem Wood was never really the same as injuries plagued him. He continued to get injured as many hard throwing pitchers do.

His career slowly became a "what he could of been" type of player.

Though looking back, there are a ton of players that are like that and don't amount to half the things Wood did.

I mean, Wood does have three MLB records; fastest to reach 1000 strikeouts in MLB history in 134 games; fastest to reach 1000 strikeouts in MLB history in 853 IP; Tied the most strikeouts in a 9-inning game with 20.

After everything he decided to call it quits in the middle of the season and retire. Today the Cubs put him in against the cross-town rivals the Chicago White Sox when Wood would throw against one batter, striking him out.

It seems like a some what fitting end to his career. I don't think he will be remembered the way he should be, a pitcher with a short dominant career. Instead, most will remember him for being injured or over hyped or something else.

I think he will become one of the players that when I get older and talk to friends I will say, you remember him? While my kids will have no idea about him since he didn't do anything s to really stand out and separate himself from just being another baseball player.

Junior Seau and other athletes have it all, right?

Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be a professional athlete.

They  have it all, the fame, the glamour, the money, considered as heroes to many. They have it all, right?

Junior Seau isn't the first athlete, nor will he be the last, to commit suicide but it makes you wonder why. We always compare our own lives to theirs and get upset when things like this happen because we claim they have no reason to do this.

I was talking about this to some people and we thought about what makes a person tick, what makes them go on. I know for me personally it's that I want to do better then my parents, I don't think I am a better person, but I want to do more. It's a common thought in psychology that we "compete" with our parents.

Neither of mine went to a four year university, so I did and graduated. Now, that doesn't make me better but it is a driving force to want me to do better in my life.

I see the way they live, which is good, but I want to live better. I want to make more money, retire sooner then they do, all of these small competition like things. I think almost everyone is like this. I currently always have something that I want to get. A new car, a house; something to drive me to work harder, make more money, to live a better life and be happier.

What happens now when I am an athlete, a "hero", a huge public figure, have more money than I know what to do with. What next? What do you do when you have everything that's a physical object. For over half your life you know how to buy things to make you "happy" but we know money doesn't buy happiness. So what next?

Start a foundation? Make others happy? What if you do that. What next? Tell your children you love them, knowing they are teenagers and don't really want much to do with their parents, especially when they are divorced.

Some keep buying more things till they have no money left. Some do hard drugs to get that feeling. Some must find other things, like turning to their own family. It makes me sad that these athletes turn to suicide for relief and I wish the best for their families. Though as you look at your own life you need to realize that if you are happy, you have everything and that's all you need.

If  we as human beings have nothing to strive for, nothing to keep us going, nothing to wish and dream for. Do we really have anything?

My Draft Review

The NFL draft has come and gone. There were a ton of trades and moves for teams to get what they want. Some I think were good, others, not so much. Here are my thoughts.

1. Colts - Andrew Luck: A sure fire kid. Last year they said he would be a first round pick and be one of the best. He stayed in college, got his degree and worked on his game. He is a for sure QB that will be great.

2. Redskins - RG3: I think I am the only person in the country not sold on him. He is a great athlete, but that doesn't mean he will be a great QB. I know he had all these stellar numbers, but his team didn't play defense so he was on the field a lot. I don't know, I guess it's just me, but I don't think he will be any good.

3. Browns - Trent Richardson: I don't really like Alabama but it's hard to ignore this guy. He is a man among boys. Huge physical athlete, fundamentally sound, and is fast for how huge he is. Should be good, if the Browns line can block for him. Richardson can only carry 3 athletes at once.

4. Vikings - Matt Kalil: Left tackle is one of the most underrated positions in football. This one is a big pickup for the Vikings. You need a good left tackle to be a good team and this is a good start for any team. If Christian Ponder is your future, this is the best pick you could of made to help him out.

5. Jags - Justin Blackmon: I keep hearing them compare to these kids who are bigger and more physical and stuff like that. The one thing I like about this kid that is the most important thing. He catches the ball. I know it sounds stupid, but I find it surprising how hard of a time a lot of these athletes have catching a floating ball.

6. Dallas - Morris Claiborne: "Experts" love him because he is physical. The one thing that stands out. He doesn't have good fundamentals. In my eyes, that makes him terrible. I don't care how physically gifted you are, if you are 20 years old and been playing this game for a decade and can't play the basics, you aren't going to be good. The first bad pick in the draft in my opinion.

7. Bucs - Mark Barron: Probably one of the most physical safeties in a long time. Can run up and really hit. Solid athlete, a lot of people over looked him and I am happy that he got a decent spot in the draft. Though being a safety and drafted so high, he has a lot of pressure on him.

8.Miami - Ryan Tannehill: So let me get this straight. Ever since anyone has watched him he wasn't any good and maybe a second round pick. He never really won a lot of games in college and now that he is done, and ESPN decided they needed someone else to talk about besides Luck and RG3, now this kid is good? I know Miami needs a QB, but this kid is overrated. He will be a bust, I will say it now.

9. Carolina - Luke Kuechly: I was hoping Buffalo would get this kid. More tackles than anyone else in NCAA history. This kid is going to be good, a sure bet, the linebacker version of Andrew Luck if you will. I hope to see him do well, though I still want Cam Newton to fail, so the team should fail still.

10. Buffalo - Stephon Gilmore: Thank god Buffalo didn't make a stupid pick. This kid is going to be good, he is smart, physical, knows how to play the game. Coverage game is a bit weak but he will figure it out, I hope, and I think he will help Buffalo right away.

11. Kansas City - Dontari Poe: You want to know why KC sucks? It's for reasons like this. Yes this kid is a great physical athlete. Though, it's only when he wants to be. He didn't try that hard in college and now that he gets paid he will? Though what happens when he thinks he isn't getting enough money? Then he won't play. This kid will not be good.

12. Eagles - Fletcher Cox: Eagles traded up and really wanted this kid. There is a good reason for that, he is a athlete and a half. He will be a great very strong linebacker and athletic linebacker.

13. Arizona - Michael Floyd: A ND kid. So naturally I don't like him. Though fundamentally is very strong. Makes good plays, does the right thing, so I think he will be decent. But I think Arizona needed a lot of other things over a wide receiver. I think that pick was just to give St. Louis the finger.

14. St. Louis - Michael Brockers: Really St. Louis, that's what you went for? Yeah, don't help Sam Bradford out. Anyway, the kid is a decent athlete. He stays with the play and that's important, he doesn't give up a lot but he is a young guy and doesn't have a lot of experience.

15. Seattle - Bruce Irvin: Really? This is a stupid pick. Yes he is physical and fast but I don't think he is a top 15 pick. He can't stop the run..... I guess they don't think anyone will run against the Seahawks. I think as he got drafted I heard Bruce Irvin go, "really?" Oh good, he has spent time in jail already and arrested a few times....Solid pick Seattle, solid.

16. Jets - Quinton Coples: Might as well read the Dontari Poe. The kid doesn't try half the time, he doesn't do anything. That's sad in general. Well at least I can continue the J-E-T-S SUCK SUCK SUCK, chant.

17. Bangles - Dre Kirkpatrick: At least we are getting back to kids who deserve to be drafted first round. He is a hugeeeee hitter. Not a big interception machine, but I think it's a solid pick. I think it's more important to be a good tackler then anything else and he is a good tackler.

18. San Diego - Melvin Ingram: Chargers needed some defense and this kid is a solid pick. The worst thing about him is his short arms.... really? He is going to be good, arm size doesn't make or break you.

19. Chicago - Shea McClellin: I love Boise State players. They are a bunch of kids that no one wanted because they are not big enough, or strong enough, or what ever excuse. Boise State is full of players that want to prove everybody wrong and that's the best part of this kid. He is going to go out and want to prove the doubters wrong.

20. Tennessee - Kendall Wright: A fast kid but I don't think this is what Tennessee really needed. It will definitely be a good kid. to me the big thing is consistency and he is a consistent player.

21. New England - Chandler Jones: A solid athlete, and a good pick for the Pats. They needed a pass rusher and a lot more but this is a solid start.

22. Cleveland - Brandon Weeden: Now I think Weeden is going to be good but you have a solid athlete with Colt McCoy. Now I know they don't like that he is 89 years old but he can win and he can throw the ball. The kid has a CANNON. I think he deserved the pick and probably should of been higher. I just don't think Cleveland should of picked him.

23. Detroit - Riley Reiff: First B1G kid to get drafted. The Lions need a offensive line to help out Stafford. Another good pick.

24. Steelers - David DeCastro: Well, Pitt is overrated and need a line and I hate them. Steelers love big physical players, it fits their system. Still, I hope they finish last in the NFL.

25. New England - Dont'a Hightower: Obviously New England wants to work on its defense. I guess when you finish last in the league you can only go up and they are going to be decent. The kid is a stuck and a physical athlete.

26. Houston - Whitney Mercilus: Another B1G kid. Houston lost half its defense, so they needed someone. Don't know how good his run defense is but he can get to the QB and in a pass happy league that is huge.

27. Bangles - Kevin Zeitler: Badger Badger Badger. Good pick.

28. Green Bay - Nick Perry: He shows glimpses, of sometimes doing something decent. He is overrated in my opinion. He can be good.... when he wants to be.

29. Vikings - Harrison Smith: Another ND kid. So naturally this is a terrible pick. The Vikings couldn't play defense much but this kid should help... maybe.

30. 49ers - A.J. Jenkins: They needed a wide receiver. Kind of a stretch to grab this kid. Though he is a smart kid and a hard worker, should do well.

31. Bucs - Doug Martin: Boise State kid. So you know he is good. Though the Bucs need a lot more than that.

32. Giants - David Wilson: Who cares what they pick, Giants won't be good for years to come.

BCS football tournament?

There may be a four team tournament to decide who gets to play in the BCS National Championship.

While I like this idea, and I think it's going in the right direction, it still isn't quite right. So there are 120(?) teams that can make bowl games and now you are going to pick four of them to play it out to win the BCS title. (I don't remember the exact number of NCAA 1 teams that can make the bowl games).

I have never agreed with the BCS system. It doesn't prove who the best team in the country is. It would be the same as the NCAA basketball Tournament were to only allow the Top seeds play for the national championship and the rest of them just play to see who gets the rest. All the excitement of the tournament would be gone. Not just for the championship but to see more upsets, that's what makes sports great.

Lastly, the way they want to decide who the final four teams are, are based on a computer. That has been a problem with college football in general. A computer can't watch how players play, how much skill they have, the heart and effort. If it was always up to a computer teams like TCU and Boise State would never have a chance, no matter who it beat, because the conference they play in is too "weak". That's also another issue in its self.

Anyway, I think it's a good thing the BCS committee is finally listening to people and is heading towards a four team tournament, though it needs a lot of work.

LeBron James will probably be the MVP this year, who cares?

Besides the fact that it's the NBA, does it really matter that LeBron James will most likely win the MVP.

Don't get me wrong, he is an amazing athlete, one of the best to play the game right now (not even close to being the best though) and will probably go down as one of the best all time. Though non-stop on the news has been about James winning another MVP title.

Though it makes me think of this.....

Now besides the fact I love Jason Segel, I love this quote even more.

LeBron James will probably be one of the best regular season players to ever play, but in the playoffs and/or finals, he is terrible.

He refuses to take good shots, he refuses to be the guy at the end of the game, so I don't see why he should be considered one of the best.

Now I know earlier I said he would be, but honestly, why should he be. What defines a players legacy is how he won and how many times he won. Patrick Ewing, sure a great player, never won, so that's how he is always referred to.

Dan Marino, should be considered the best, but he never won. So he is known as a great regular season player.

All I am saying is that James should be taken out of the argument of one of the best ever, until he wins. Too many times I hear others talk about how he is in the top-5 or top-10 all-time.

Why?

What did he do?

Nothing

Dirk Nowitzki was about to go down as one of the greatest ever to not win, he was happier to win the championship and to stay with the team that raised him from nothing because he knew one day he would be good enough to win it with what ever players were there.Think about that Lebron.

Living a childhood dream, kinda.

On Saturday I got to tryout for a minor league baseball team. Sure it wasn't as glamorous as trying out for a major league team or something like that, but it was definitely an amazing experience.

First off, this idea started months before when my mom told me I should. Mainly because I don't have a "real" job. So I said why not way back then, I thought there was no way I wouldn't find real work by the tryouts, I was wrong.

Anyway I had to buy a wooden bat and all the rest of the stuff I had. I played catch with some friends, went to the batting cages a few times, nothing serious but just wanted to get back into the swing of things (no pun intended).

About two months before tryouts I started working out more to make sure I was in some shape. By the time the day came, I was some what confident of my ability to play.

The night before I packed my baseball bag and got everything together. The one thing I didn't have were sliding pants which I lost but I figured shorts and high socks would do.

I woke up nice and early, 7 a.m. and got there by 8 a.m. Had to fill out some paperwork, attach a number to my shirt and sit and wait.

It didn't take long for the coaches to get us out on the field.

First thing we did, stretching.

Now I stretched a lot but this was some intense stretching. I have never done so many skips, lunges, runs, sprints and such just to warm up. It was kinda over the top.

As I was doing this I looked around, there were about 50 of us, not including pitchers and catchers. They were in a different area.

Of the 50 I noticed two of them were at least 50 years old. One of them didn't make it past stretching.

Anyway, by the end we got ready to do a 60-yard dash. I was the first to go. I am almost positive I was the fastest. This is all I really had going for me.

Though I did notice some things about others running

1. I truly don't understand how people can have such terrible form.
2. My favorite was the guy that ran same arm same leg. (You usually pump your arms opposite of your legs)
3. Several people would start like they were on the base, on the starting line sideways. Why would you do that? That slows you down.
4. One guy in a full MLB uniform, Darryl Strawberry uniform might I add, I think skipped when he was suppose to run. I didn't understand it but it was awkward.

Anyway, it looked bad.

Second, we had to field two ground balls and throw them to third base. I didn't do as well as I wanted since I one hopped everything, which I use to never do, but compared to the others, I looked amazing.

Many kids tried to gun it and would of hit many innocent fans in the stands if it were a real game.

Others couldn't of made it to second base if they tried.

After that we had to do two more throws to home plate. I once again one hopped it and was a bit upset.

Though once again, people managed to throw it all over the place, killing people if they would of been in the stands.

After all of this, the outfielders went back in the dugout and waited for infielders to do their drills.

After that, we had to shag balls during batting practice. I was apart of the second group to go.

You were aloud eight swings, so don't miss the ball.

Now I was nervous for this because we had a guy pitching who was trying to hit certain spots and see how you swing. I never swung a wooden bat before and I haven't hit a ball that was thrown to me in over eight years. I was a bit nervous.

But I made solid contact, five of them would of been base hits and the other three were fouls.

Some kids hit home runs while others struck out. 

At the end they thanked us for our time and told us they had our information and if we were needed they would call us. I feel like it was the same as someone saying, "we will keep your resume on file" and by on file they mean throw it out.

So I enjoyed the experience, may not do it again but it was fun and it was nice to live out that dream.

For now I am just going to sit back and wait for that multi-million dollar contract to be sent in the mail.

The greatest play I have ever seen!

I don't like flashy plays or anything but this should be on Sports Center top ten for at least a year.

What was that? That is awesome!

Though, if they did that during practiced and seriously worked on that, that's sad. Their coach should go over other things, but if this is something they messed around with at home, then that's awesome.

I didn't want to write anything complicated or long winded but I thought if you like sports, you would like this play.