Frank Thomas and Craig Biggio Should Be Elected To The Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014

The reverence that fans and players hold for the Baseball Hall of Fame is a difficult entity to quantify. While the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, serve the same function as the Baseball Hall of Fame, which is to recognize the achievements of people in their sport and preserve their history, there is something distinctively special surrounding the aura of Cooperstown. Whether it is the elegance of the museum, the grandeur of the Plaque Gallery, or the rich numbers that characterize the history of baseball, from the "First Class" of Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson to the 2012 Class of Barry Larkin and Ron Santo, the Baseball Hall of Fame has been distinguished as the most lavish and splendid sporting Hall of Fame.

Comparing different ballplayers is a large reason why fans are so enamored with the game, and the Baseball Hall of Fame serves as the representative platform for the judgment and assessment of players' careers. Nonetheless, there is no clear way to determine the merits of a player's Hall of Fame candidacy. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame mission statement, the goal of the museum is "honoring, by enshrinement, those individuals who had exceptional careers, and recognizing others for their significant achievements." Obviously, this statement could not get much broader, which leaves a large area of interpretation for each voter when contemplating Hall of Fame candidates. A common, yet very effective way for people to consider the caliber of a player is by comparing him to other players in the Hall of Fame, and seeing how his career matches up. However, juxtaposing the legacies of players who played different positions, or who competed during different eras, can be quite an onerous task.

For instance, by most accounts, Roger Hornsby is the greatest power hitting second basemen of all-time. The longtime St. Louis Cardinals slugger had three seasons in which he hit more than 26 home runs and racked up a career total of 302 long balls, which is terrific production from a second basemen. Nonetheless, if Hornsby's power numbers were to be compared to for example, outfielder Dale Murphy, they may not look as remarkable since he had 6 seasons of at least 30 home runs, and fell just short of 400 for his career. However, it needs to be remembered that for a middle infielder, Hornsby's numbers are unparalleled since teams typically do not rely on their second basemen for power.

Furthermore, the fact that Hornsby and Murphy played during radically different baseball periods should not be overlooked. When Hornsby was competing from 1915 to 1937, pitchers dominated the game and home run numbers were ridiculously low. In 1918, Tillie Walker and Babe Ruth led the league in homers with just 11. Even as the game progressed, and hitting numbers began to improve, Bill Terry's 20 home runs in 1927, which today would be an average season, were the 6th most in the entire league. In comparison, during Dale Murphy's career from 1976 to 1993, only once did the league leader in home runs hit fewer than 38 long balls. In fact, in 1993, 62 players blasted at least 20 home runs. This proves that while at first glance Murphy may appear to be the more prolific power hitter, considering the position that Hornsby played, and the era in which he played in, his power numbers are much more impressive.

One of the many difficulties in assessing if a player should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame is that a variety of diverse factors, along with a multitude of different numbers, have to be extensively evaluated in order to truly evaluate a hitter or a pitcher's career. The position that he played, the time period he played in, the level of success of his team, the intangibles he brought on the field and in the clubhouse, and how his career compares to other Hall of Famers is all relevant information in terms of a player's chances of making it to Cooperstown.

The 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot will be one of the most interesting selection processes of all-time. In one category are the players that have strong connection to performance-enhancing drugs, like Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro. In another category are the comprehensive list of pitchers that are up for selection like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Mike Mussina, Jack Morris, Lee Smith, and Curt Schilling, all of whom make very compelling Hall of Fame cases. Players like Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza, and Tim Raines will also be hoping that their voting numbers will increase from last year. However, of all the batters on the ballot, the only two that deserve to be enshrined in the 2014 class are Frank Thomas and Craig Biggio.

When the best major league hitters since the 1990's are discussed, names like Ken Griffey, Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thome, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield, Chipper Jones, Albert Pujols, and Manny Ramirez are often tossed around. However, one of the most prolific and efficient hitters of all-time, Frank Thomas, is often overlooked. Nonetheless, the Big Hurt, as he is affectionately known, did enough over the course of his career that he should become the 45th MLB first ballot Hall of Famer, and the first since Rickey Henderson was inducted in his first year on the ballot in 2009.

Frank Thomas is one of the most sublime power hitters in the history of baseball. The Big Hurt's isolated power, which is a measurement of a player's pure power, is indicative of his slugging ability. In 1994, Thomas had a isolated power of 0.376, which was the best in the American League that season and to this day, is the fifth highest for any player in the AL not named Ruth, McGwire, Gehrig, or Foxx. However, the impressive part about Thomas's career is that while he had a few seasons that will go down in baseball lore as some of the best of all-time, he was a very consistent and dependable superstar. In fact, Thomas had a 8-year stretch from 1991 to 1998 where his average isolated power was 0.271, which is exceptionally high. To put that in perspective, Eddie Murray, who was a first ballot Hall of Famer and hit 504 career home runs, had an average isolated power of 0.214 during the best 8-year stretch of his career, from 1980 to 1987, with the Baltimore Orioles. Furthermore, Andre Dawson, who made it into the Hall of Fame in 2010 and hit 438 career home runs, had an average isolated power of 0.215 during the best 8-year stretch of his career from 1984 to 1990. The Big Hurt's numbers compare very favorably with these two Hall of Fame power hitters. Thomas's career isolated power of .255 is the 25th highest all-time, ahead of great power hitters and Hall of Famers like Harmon Killebrew (.252), Hank Aaron (.250), Willie Stargell (.247), Willie McCovey (.245), and Frank Robinson (.243).

Additionally, Thomas's slugging percentage, which is another stat that shows a player's power, depicts why he was one of the most feared hitters in the game during the 1990's and early 2000's. The Big Hurt is one of just 9 players, along with Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby, Mark McGwire, Jeff Bagwell, Jimmie Foxx, and Ted Williams, to have a season with a slugging percentage of at least .729, which he did in 1994. Thomas was also amongst the top 10 in the league in slugging percentage 8 times, in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2000, which is another example of his steady production. Only 21 players in the history of the MLB have every appeared in the top 10 of the slugging percentage list more than 8 times over the course of the career, and every one of them that is eligible for the Hall of Fame is already enshrined in Cooperstown. The Big Hurt's career slugging percentage of .555 is the 22nd best all-time, ahead of Hall of Famers like Ralph Kiner (.547), Hack Wilson (.544), Duke Snider (.539), Mel Ott (.533), and Mike Schmidt (.527).

Thomas hit at least 32 home runs 9 times in his career, including 5 seasons in which he topped the 40 home run plateau. He finished in the top 7 of the league in home runs for a season 6 times, in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, and 2003, and during his prime from 1993 to 2000, he averaged more than 35 home runs per year. For his career, Thomas hit 512 home runs, which makes him apart of the 500 home run club along with 25 other members. Of those 25 members, 11 of them were first ballot hall of famers, Ruth, Williams, Mantle, Banks, Mays, Robinson, Aaron, McCovey, Jackson, Schmidt, and Murray, and aside from the retired members that have strong connections to steroids, Bonds, Sosa, McGwire, and Palmeiro, every player that is a part of this club, and was eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame, is currently enshrined in Cooperstown. While hitting 500 home runs doesn't guarantee a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, it is a number that goes a long way in helping a player's candidacy, and represents the prodigious amount of success Thomas enjoyed during his 19-year career.

However, the most extraordinary part about Thomas's career is that unlike some other power hitters, who swing for the fences and hit a lot of home runs, but also strike out at a very high rate like Reggie Jackson, Thomas was very effective at constantly getting on-base for his team. A vast majority of great power hitters who are in the Hall of Fame never came close to getting on-base nearly as much as the Big Hurt. Despite the fact that many people consider him the greatest third basemen of all-time, only twice during his illustrious career did Mike Schmidt have a single-season on-base percentage of at least .400. Furthermore, Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, who hit 573 home runs, only eclipsed the .400 on-base plateau 3 times in his career. In comparison, Frank Thomas had an on-base percentage of at least .400 in 10 of his first 11 years in the MLB, from 1990 to 2000 with the White Sox. For his 19-year career, Thomas had an on-base percentage of .419, which puts him 19th all-time and well ahead of other Hall of Famers like Joe DiMaggio (.398), Cap Anson (.394), Rod Carew (.393), and Joe Morgan (.392). The Big Hurt is one of just a few players in the history of the major leagues to possess the rare ability to hit for power as well as for average. Thomas's 521 home runs and .419 on-base percentage puts him in rarefied air, as he is one of just 8 players along with Babe Ruth (.474 OBP, 714 HR), Ted Williams (.482 OBP, 521 HR), Jimmie Foxx (.428 OBP, 534 HR), Mickey Mantle (.421 OBP, 536 HR), Mel Ott (.414 OBP, 511 HR), Jim Thome (.402 OBP, 612 HR), and Manny Ramirez (.411 OBP, 555 HR) to have hit 500 home runs and have a career on-base average of at least .400. Thomas's carrer weighted on-base average, which takes into account nearly every standard hitting category, was .416, with his best season in 1994 coming in at .500. To put this in perspective, Dave Winfield, a first ballot Hall of Famer in 2001, had a weight on-base average of .364 over his career, and Paul Molitor, a first ballot Hall of Famer in 2004, had a career weighted-on base average of .361. Although Thomas is considered a power hitter like Schmidt and Killebrew, his batting skills were certainly not limited to his ability to hit for power, as demonstrated by his aptitude for getting on base.

While fans will always remember the Big Hurt for his tremendous power, he was a very patient hitter at the plate, and in contrast to many star players, he was more than willing to work the count and take a walk if necessary. Thomas's poise and diligence at the plate is substantiated by the fact that he finished with 1,667 career walks, which puts him 10th on the all-time bases on balls list in MLB history. Not only did Thomas lead the league in walks in 1991, 1994, and 1995, but he finished amongst the top 9 in bases on balls for 8 straight years from 1991 to 1998, every year drawing at least 109 walks. Typically, a player that walks a lot is often pitched around because the opposing teams fear his ability to drive the ball. For example, the players who drew more career walks than Thomas, including Hall of Famers Babe Ruth (2,062), Ted Williams (2,021), Carl Yastrzemski (1,845), Mickey Mantle (1,733), and Mel Ott (1,708) got fewer pitchers to hit than most hitters because of their prowess at bat. Thomas's walks were a primary reason why his White Sox teams were able to score so many of their runs as he got on-base so often via free passes.

Frank Thomas's statistics are very similar to the great Willie McCovey, who was a longtime outfielder for the San Francisco Giants and played 22 years in the big leagues, from 1959 to 1980. Like McCovey, Thomas is in the 500-home run club, had a career slugging of over .500, and had multiple seasons with at least a .900 OPS (13 for Thomas including 7 over 1.000 and 11 for McCovery including 3 over 1.000). Finally, McCovey and Thomas were both guys who put the ball in play at a very high rate. On average for his career, McCovery struck out just 70 times per season, while Thomas struck out just an average of 73 times per season over his 19-year career. To put that in perspective, Mike Schmidt struck out an average of 105 times per season during his 18-year career, and Reggie Jackson struck out an average of 124 times per season during his 21 year career. In 1986, McCovey received 81.4 percent of votes from the writers in his first year on the ballot, which is a similar number that Thomas should get next year on his first year on the ballot.

While it would not be prudent to argue that Thomas's stats are anything but Hall of Fame worthy, it is impossible to deny the steroid implications surrounding baseball during Thomas's entire career. As shown by last year's Hall of Fame ballot, players that have a strong link to PED's like Clemens, Bonds, Sosa, Palmeiro, and McGwire are falling well short of the required 75 percent that is needed to gain entry into Cooperstown. However, more than most other players, Thomas was very outspoken against steroids from the beginning of his career, and he was one of the very first players to demand Commissioner Bud Selig implement PED testing to ensure a level playing field. After the Mitchell Report, an investigation into steroids and HGH in the major leagues, was released in 2007, the only player in all of baseball to meet with George Mitchell, the US Senator that conducted the report, to talk about the drug culture in the MLB and how to stop it was Frank Thomas. Despite his large, 250-pound frame, Frank Thomas appears to be squeaky clean in terms of steroid usage, which would lead many to assume that his Hall of Fame induction will be coming in 2014.

Craig Biggio's career was not flashy, or notoriously renowned, but the Houston Astros great should always be remembered for his versatility, ingenuity, and resourcefulness, despite not possessing all the best physical tools. Although Biggio was never a big time power hitter, a stolen base master, or a hitting machine, he did a little bit of everything well, which makes his career unique and special. Biggio was one of the most fundamentally sound baseball players of all-time, which is a large reason why the Astros flourished during his 20-year MLB stint. Prior to Biggio, from 1962 to 1987, Houston made the playoffs just three times over the 26-year period. However, Biggio was the catalyst behind the Astros successes during the 1990's and 2000's, leading the team to 6 playoff appearances in 9 years from 1997 to 2005, including the franchise's first World Series in 2005. Biggio has meant more to the Astros than arguably any other player in baseball history to his respective team, which definitely puts him in Hall of Fame territory.

Biggio was a constant producer at the top of the Astros lineup from his rookie season in 1988 to his final year in the big leagues 2007. The New York native was one of just 6 NL hitters in the 1990's, along with Paul Molitor, Lance Johnson, Ellis Burks, Tony Gwynn, and Dante Bichette, to have a season with at least 210 hits. Biggio accomplished the difficult feat in the prime of his career in 1998. During the pinnacle of his career from 1995 to 1999, Biggio averaged 186 hits per season. In 13 of Biggio's 20 seasons in the MLB, he had more than 150 hits, including 8 seasons in which he had at least 170 hits. To put this in perspective, Rickey Henderson, who had 3,055 career hits and was a first ballot Hall of Famer, only had 6 seasons of more than 150 hits and just 2 seasons in which he had at least 170 hits. Furthermore, second basemen Joe Morgan, who had 2,517 career hits and was also a first ballot Hall of Famer, only had 5 seasons in which he had more than 150 hits, and never had a season where he reached 170 hits. For his career, Biggio had 3,060 hits, which puts him a part of the exclusive 3,000 hit club, along with 27 other revered members. Of those 27 members, an incredible 19 of them were first ballot Hall of Famers, Cobb, Aaron, Musial, Wagner, Yastrzemski, Molitor, Mays, Murray, Ripken, Brett, Yount, Gwynn, Winfield, Henderson, Carew, Brock, Boggs, Kaline, and Clemente, and aside from the retired members that have strong connections to steroids, Palmeiro, or have been banned from the Hall of Fame, Rose, every player that is a part of this club and was eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame is currently enshrined in Cooperstown. Typically, if a player hits 500 home runs, has 300 wins, or accumulates 3,000 career hits, like Biggio, they are Hall of Fame bound.

While it is easy to see that Biggio had various impressive statistical categories, he was not a player that was only great at one aspect of the game, but rather he was more of an all-around ballplayer in the field and at the plate. Thus, a great sabermetrics stat to truly evaluate the impact Biggio had on his team is through wins above replacement, or WAR, which measures a player's overall contribution to his team and, for Biggio, would take into account the variety of talents he showed on the field. While WAR can vary depending on the formula that is used, his average WAR during the prime of his career from 1993 to 1999 was a very impressive 5.8. To put that in perspective, second basemen Bill Mazeroski, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001, had an average WAR of 2.8 during the best 7-year stretch of his career from 1962 to 1968 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Furthermore, Billy Herman, who made it into the Hall of Fame in 1975, and was a longtime Chicago Cub second basemen, had an average WAR of 4.7 during the best 7-year stretch of his career from 1935 to 1941. Obviously, Biggio's WAR numbers compares very favorably with these two Hall of Fame second basemen. In 1997, Biggio had a remarkable WAR of 9.4, which would be the best of his career, and the second best WAR in the league that season, only trailing behind the NL MVP Larry Walker.

One of the most impressive parts about Biggio's career is his adaptability to play multiple positions for his team. Unlike many star players, Biggio was more than willing to use his versatility in the field. When the Astros great came up to the MLB, he was a catcher and he played behind the plate to begin his career for four seasons from 1988 to 1991. However, Biggio willingly moved to second base in his 5th year in the league, where he played at a Gold Glove level from 1992 to 2002. Despite his defensive prowess in the middle infield, Biggio went to the outfield for two years in 2003 and 2004 before playing his last three seasons back at second base from 2005 to 2007. Regardless of the fact that he was constantly changing positions, Biggio excelled in the field, as shown through the Hoban Efficiency Quotient for defense. In 1991 at catcher, Biggio had a HEQ-D of 481.045, which was a higher rating than all but two of Johnny Bench's seasons behind the plate, who many people consider the greatest defensive catcher of all-time. Furthermore, Biggio had an average HEQ-D of 385.874 in his best 7 defensive years at second base, which is considered to be nearly a superstar rating. Even in the outfield in 2003, Biggio had a HEQ-D of 364, which is outstanding for a regular outfielder, and even more so for a converted outfielder that was a longtime catcher and second basemen.

Craig Biggio's statistics are very similar to the great Robin Yount, who, like Biggio, played his entire career with one team, the Milwaukee Brewers, and was a 2-time AL MVP in 1982 and 1989. Biggio and Yount were both very well rounded players despite the fact that their stats may not blow you away. For example, although neither Biggio nor Yount had a career batting average better than .285, they each are apart of the prestigious 3,000 hit club. Furthermore, while neither Biggio nor Yount ever reached the 30 home run mark, they both were very successful in driving the ball into the gaps, as Biggio had 7 seasons with more than 40 doubles, including 2 seasons with more than 50 doubles, while Yount had 4 seasons in which he hit at least 40 doubles. Additionally, while neither Biggio nor Yount ever had 115 runs batted in over the course of a single season, they were both constantly getting on-base for their teammates to drive them in, as indicated by the fact that Biggio had four seasons in which he scored at least 120 runs, including a career high of 146 in 1997, while Yount had two seasons where he scored at least 120 runs for his team. Finally, like Biggio, Yount was an exceptional fielder, as he won a Glove Gold award in 1982 at shortstop. However, which makes them even more similar is that while they're each Gold Glove caliber players in the middle infield, they were both very versatile, as Yount converted to the outfield towards the tail end of his carrer, much like Biggio. In 1999, Yount received 77.5 percent of votes from the writers in his first year on the ballot, which is a similar number that Biggio should get in just his second year on the Hall of Fame ballot.

Looking back at Biggio's career accomplishments is quite impressive to say the least. The Seton Hall University attendee was a 7-time All-Star, 3 more than any other Houston Astros player in franchise history. Biggio also won four straight Gold Glove awards at second base from 1994 to 1997, making him one of just eight middle infielders in MLB history along with Bobby Richardson (2B, 1961-1965), Bill Mazeroski (2B, 1963-1967), Bobby Grich (2B, 1973-1977), Dave Concepcion (SS, 1974-1977), Mark Belanger (SS, 1973-1978), Tony Fernandez (SS, 1986-1989), and Ryan Sandberg (2B, 1983-1991) to win at least four consecutive Gold Glove awards. Finally, Biggio won the Silver Slugger, which is considered the best offensive player at each position for a season, 5 times (1989, 1984-1985, 1987-1988) and only Ryan Sandberg won the award more times for a second basemen. The last career honor that Biggio will be adding to his already splendid resume will be as a 2014 Hall of Fame inductee.

Top 10 Most Intriguing NFL Games

The release of the NFL schedule has become its own holiday, as the gaiety surrounding the unfolding of the pro football slate leaves fans in presentiment over the season to come. There are a few things about this year's schedule that are very conspicuous, including the multitude of players returning to their old stomping grounds, and the prodigious number of impressive prime time matchups. While the NFL is very unpredictable, it appears as if the schedule sets up very well for the Chargers, Cowboys, and Steelers. Meanwhile, the Saints, Packers, and 49ers all figure to have a much more rigorous regular season slate. Here are 10 NFL regular season games that should be amongst the most fascinating of the year:

Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos in Week 1:

The anticipation for the first game of the NFL season is a unique phenomenon. After nearly 7 months without an NFL game (not counting the preseason as an official contest), the opening kickoff is a sight that all football fans so desperately welcome. However, the opening night of the NFL will have a little different feel this season. First, due to a scheduling conflict with the Baltimore Orioles and Major League Baseball, the Ravens will not open up the 2013-2014 season at M&T Bank Stadium. The defending Super Bowl Champions have hosted the NFL kickoff game every year since 2004, but due to traffic and parking issues that would have been created if the Orioles and Ravens both had home games, the Ravens will head to Denver in week 1. The game will also feel a little abnormal because of how different the Baltimore Ravens will look on both sides of the ball. The Ravens were depleted in the offseason, as the team lost center Matt Birk (retirement), wide receiver Anquan Boldin (traded to 49ers), middle linebacker and team leader Ray Lewis (retirement), linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (signed by the Dolphins), outside linebacker Paul Kruger (signed by the Browns), cornerback Cary Williams (signed by the Eagles), safety Ed Reed (signed by the Texans), and safety Bernard Pollard (cut and later singed by the Titans). However, Baltimore did add pass rusher Elvis Dumervil, who will open up his 2013 campaign against his former team, along with safety Michael Huff, who will have his work cut out for him against the great Peyton Manning.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets in Week 1:

Oh how serendipitous this week 1 game has turned out to be. No offense to either the Bucs or the Jets, but typically a matchup between these two out of conference teams doesn't conjure up to much excitement or emotion. However, the Revis saga in New York has finally come to a conclusion, as the Jets traded the all-pro corner to who else but their week 1 opponent, Tampa Bay, for the 13th pick in this year's draft and a 2014 conditional pick. Revis, who signed a 6-year, 96 million dollar deal with the Bucs, will try to revamp a Tampa Bay secondary that ranked dead last in passing yards allowed per game in 2012. Along with newly acquired safety Dashon Goldson, who signed a 5-year, 41.25 million dollar deal in the offseason, the Bucs are hoping to fill up gaps that were wide open for opposing quarterbacks last season. However, for Revis, his return to New York will be more than just about improving his new team's secondary; it will be about showing the Jets his dissatisfaction with how he perceived he was treated in the form of a shutdown defensive performance. Revis was very frustrated with New York's handling of his trade rumors, and their unwillingness to comply with some of his demands concerning his injury. Thus, when he visits MetLife Stadium, Revis will be looking for personal revenge, which should provide a thrilling contest between two teams that may not even be in playoff contention come January.

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins in Week 1:

The Eagles-Redskins week 1 divisional matchup on Monday Night Football has two main headlines that will both prove to be very compelling. First, football fans around the country are fascinated to see what Chip Kelly has in store with his innovative and inventive offensive schemes. The former Oregon head coach likes to run his hurry-up offense, which creates havoc for defenses that have difficulty containing the speed and pace of their opponents. The Eagles certainty have very dangerous weapons, which fit quite nicely into Kelly's offense, as he will use the quickness of LaSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, and Jeremy Maclin to spread out defenses and exploit any holes deep in the secondary. Kelly's up-tempo style has never been seen before in the NFL, so coaches around the league will be watching to see how his offense will fare against a defense that ranked 5th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game last season. The other major storyline is obviously Robert Griffin III, and whether he will be able to return for the opening week of the season a little more than 8 months after tearing his ACL in the team's playoff loss to the Seahawks. If the gifted QB is able to play in week 1, all eyes will be on his mobility. Although RGIII can certainty be a very proficit pocket passer, his athleticism gives him an added dimension that is so difficult to account for defensively. If Griffin lacks the quickness that he possessed before the surgery, it could attenuate his unique ability to allude defenders and make plays with his feet.

Denver Broncos at New York Giants in Week 2:

Any time that two brothers rise up to play at the highest level of professional sports, it creates a unique interest amongst fans who are struck by the fortune of theses siblings. Whether it is the Lopez twins of the NBA or the Upton brothers of the MLB, relatives reaching the apex of sports is a very attractive commodity. However, when two brothers have combined to win 3 of the past 7 Super Bowls and are future hall of famers, it reaches a whole new level of fascination. Although Eli and Peyton have admitted that they are uncomfortable playing against each other, the Manning battle will be one of the most watched NFL games all season long. In their two previous meetings, Peyton has come out the victor in each occasion. In 2006, Peyton and his Colts knocked off Eli and the Giants 26-21 and in 2010, Peyton topped Eli once again in a 38-14 blowout. From now until their week 2 battle, Peyton and Eli will both be fielding a lot of questions about facing off against one another. However, while it is such a cliche, the game will come down to Peyton and the Broncos offense against the Giants defense and Eli and the Giants offense against the Broncos defense. Nonetheless, a Manning duel is good for the NFL and for its fans; just maybe not the best thing for the Manning family.

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks in Week 2:

Before Jim Harbaugh came to San Francisco and before the Seahawks were blessed to have Russell Wilson fall in their laps, the NFC West was the laughing-stock of the NFL. From 2004 to 2011, the NFC West never had more than one team with a record better than .500 and in 2010 the Seahawks became the first team to ever win a divison despite having a sub .500 record. However, coming into the 2013 NFL season, by many accounts, the two best teams in the NFL reside in the NFC West. Not only do the 49ers and Seahawks have rock solid defenses to go along with their huge offensive lines and fearless running backs, but they also have dynamic duel threat quarterbacks in Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson that can single-handedly propel their team to a victory. As if having top 5 defenses in 2012 wasn't good enough, both teams drastically improved in the offseason on the other side of the ball. The Seahawks made a very daring move by acquiring Percy Harvin from the Vikings and then signing him to a new 6-year, 67 million dollar contract. Although Harvin's toughness and willingness to persevere through difficult stretches has been questioned, there is no doubt that the offensive speedster is a very unique and talented wide out when on the field. San Francisco also made a significant upgrade with the acquisition of Anquan Boldin, who was arguably the biggest reason behind the Ravens Super Bowl run last season. Boldin's matchup with Seattle corners Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner could be the determining factor in the team's first divisional matchup in Seattle.

Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3:

Eagles fans are notorious for their nature to become disgruntled with not only the opposing team, but with their own team. The booing and petulance of the Philadelphia fan base is sometimes seen as vile and iniquitous, and former head coach Andy Reid was at the end of many of those taunts, specifically towards the end of his tenure with the Birds when the team failed to make the playoffs two straight years. When Andy Reid returns to Lincoln Financial Field, this time as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, the reaction from the Eagles crowd should be very interesting. There are some supporters of Reid who have very fond memories of all the Eagles accomplished with him at the helm. In 14 seasons with the team, Reid led the Eagles to the playoffs 9 times (2000-2004, 2006, 2008-2010). Philly also reached the NFC Championship game 5-times including four in a row from 2001 to 2004. However, there are some fans who refuse to forgive Reid for his numerous errors in terms of clock management in late game situations, and that are still very bitter that the Eagles never won a championship despite all of the great teams that Reid had at his disposal. Chip Kelly's arrival in Philadelphia, along with the addition of Alex Smith in Kansas City, has given both clubs a reason to look forward to a positive season, but for one game, there will be a lot of looking back.

Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts in Week 7:

For 14 incredible years, Peyton Manning was the Colts and the Colts were Peyton Manning. While Indy obviously had other legendary superstars like Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Dwight Freeney, Manning meant more to the Colts than any other quarterback to a team in NFL history. Just look at 2011 when the Colts, without Manning due to his neck surgery, went 2-14, the team's fewest wins since they went 1-15 in 1991. The city of Indianapolis was so devoted to Manning that ticket sales were originally down for the beginning of last season due to people's resentment that the Colts let Manning go. The former number 1 pick was held in such high reverence from the Colt faithful that it was difficult for many to move on. While Andrew Luck more than proved last season that he is worthy of all the praise he has received, there will always be a special place in Indy for Peyton. Although it will be very difficult for Manning to play against his former club, the affection from the fans for all Manning accomplished with the team will be a spectacle to see. There have only been a few times in the history of sports that a superstar of the same ilk as Manning has returned to the city he once patrolled in another uniform. Thus, the matchup between the Broncos and Colts will not only be a high quality football game between two playoff teams from last season, but it will also be a matchup with unique emotion.

New England Patriots at Houston Texans in Week 13:

There is really no way around this statement: the Patriots absolutely owned the Houston Texans last season. In their regular season matchup in Foxborough, the Patriots clubbered the Texans 42-14. When the same two teams met in the Divisonal Round of the AFC Playoffs, the Patriots dominated once again at Gillette Stadium, this time coming out on top 41-28 in a game that wasn't even as close as the score indicates. In both contests, Tom Brady picked apart the Texans defense, which instead of mixing up coverages, continued to rely on man-to-man defensive schemes. Despite the fact that Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning are all-pro secondary players, it is a very perilous plan to play one coverage against a quarterback of the caliber of Brady. By not giving him different reads, Brady was able to sit in the pocket and become comfortable with the same defensive look over and over. Futhermore, the Pats limited the pressure of J.J. Watt on the quaterback, which gave Brady added time in the pocket that most QB's don't get against Watt and the Texans. This largely explains why Brady was able to throw for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns in the first game and 344 yards and 3 touchdowns in the second encounter. The Texans will greatly benefit from playing the Patriots in the friendly confines of Reliant Stadium. However, if J.J. Watt is unable to disrupt Brady's rhythm, it could be another long day for the Texans against New England.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens in Week 13:

Any time the Steelers and Ravens square off, you can expect the smash-mouth, physical style that these two teams always bring to the field. Over the past 10 years, no rivalry in the NFL has been more meaningful than the clashes between Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Since the formation of the AFC North in 2002, the Steelers or the Ravens have won the division 9 of the 11 times. As previously mentioned in this article, the Ravens are going to look like a much different team this season. However, the Steelers have also made some significant changes after finishing 8-8 in 2012, their worst record since a 6-10 campaign in 2003. Without some of the usual Pittsburgh suspects like running back Rashard Mendenhall, wide receiver Mike Wallace, linebacker James Harrison, and cornerback Kennan Lewis, the Steelers are going to have a fresh face in 2013. The relationship between Ben Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, which at times was a very strenuous and arduous partnership, will have to improve in order for the Steel Curtain to find success in 2013. In their matchup with the Ravens in the finale of the Thanksgiving Day games, the Steelers will have to prove that they can run the ball on a Baltimore defense susceptible to the ground game in order to open up the down field attack for Big Ben.

Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers in Week 14:

While there are a multitude of interesting matchups on this year's schedule due to the storylines of players returning to former teams or brothers squaring off once again, the Falcons-Packers game is so compelling just because of the high quality that both teams play at. Atlanta and Green Bay's championship aspirations were both cut short by the San Francisco 49ers last season and each team will be Super Bowl or bust once again in 2013. This late-season contest, which could possibly decide home-field advantage for the NFC in the playoffs, has the very real possibility of being an offensive slugfest. With Julio Jones quickly becoming one of the best wide outs in the NFL, the Falcons now have the most explosive wide receiver tandem in the league with Roddy White and Jones. Futhermore, with the return of Tony Gonzalez, despite his constant suggestions that he was going to retire, the Falcons could certainty pick apart a Green Bay defense that lacks a true shutdown corner. Much like the progression of Jones, the emergence of Randall Cobb has added a totally new dynamic to an already loaded Packers offense. Cobb's quickness and ability to play in the slot provides a perfect mix for the smooth route running ability of Jordy Nelson and the intermediate game of Jermichael Finley. Additionally, Atlanta is a nice matchup for a Packers offensive line that greatly struggles with the pass rush, as the Falcons registered the 2nd fewest sacks in the NFC in 2012. The Falcons-Packers week 14 contest could be the most enthralling and back-and-fourth game all season long.

Midwest Regional Breakdown

The Midwest region is undoubtedly the most daunting section of the NCAA tournament. While Louisville highlights the region as the number 1 overall seed in the whole tourney, Duke is a very formidable two seed, as the Blue Devils are 18-1 with Ryan Kelly in the lineup, which includes a non-conference win over Louisville in the Bahamas. As a three seed, not only does Michigan St. have size inside with Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix, but any team coached by Tom Izzo is a dangerous threat in the big dance. To cap off the top four seed line in the region, Saint Louis is one of the hottest teams in the country, as the Billikens have won 15 of their last 16 games with their tenacious defense and pertinacious playing style. The team that comes out of the Midwest region and advances on to the Final Four will certainly have to go through a rigorous path to get to Atlanta.

Key Players To Watch:

Missouri's Phil Pressey:

Phil Pressey, who led the SEC and was 8th in the nation in assists at more than 7 per game, is one of the quickest and most effective guards in the country. Although Pressey is undersized at 5-11 and is sometimes turnover prone by forcing the ball into the lane, the point guard is one of the best passers in all of college basketball. His ability to penetrate and attract defenders allows the Missouri big men like Laurence Bowers and Alex Oriakhi to finish with easy baskets at the rim. Pressey could cause Colorado St. a great deal of trouble in the round of 64, especially if Dorian Green, the Rams second leading scorer, is not fully healthy due to his right ankle injury.

Creighton's Doug McDermott:

Every college basketball fan has become accustomed to watching the panoply of moves that Creighton's Doug McDermott possess. The 2-time Missouri Valley Player of the Year can stroke the three ball, overpower smaller defenders in the post, use his mobility and quickness as a 6-8 forward to score around defenders, as well as get to the free throw line for easy points. Most importantly, McDermott, who is coached by his father Greg, knows how to get open, as his movement without the ball frees him up for isolations and easy baskets. Although the Blue Jays have some nice complimentary scoring pieces like three point threat Ethan Wragge and slasher Grant Gibbs, McDermott, who was second in the nation in points are more than 23 per game, will have to carry a bulk of the team's offense. Creighton and Cincinnati will prove to be an intriguing round of 64 match-up because of the contrasting style of the two teams. While the Bearcats heavily rely on their three guard attack of Sean Kilpatrick, Cashmere Wright, and JaQuon Parker, the Bluejays like to pound the ball inside with McDermott.

Possible Round of 64 Upsets:

#12 Oregon over #5 Oklahoma State:

Considering the fact that Oregon are massively under-seeded, their round of 64 encounter with Oklahoma St. should prove to be a tight contest. Although the Ducks did not receive much respect from the selection committee, the Pac-12 tournament champions should not be underestimated or deprecated. While Oregon can rely on E.J. Singler for a key shot in crunch time, the team is predicated on their balanced offensive attack, as six Ducks averaged at least 8.5 points per game during the season. If Oregon want to pull off the upset, their back court of Damyean Dotson and Dominic Artis will have to try and contain the Cowboys dynamic duo of Marcus Smart and Markel Brown. Although Smart's size is often an issue for smaller back courts, Dotson is one of the biggest guards in the country and he shouldn't be pushed around by the highly rated NBA prospect. If the Ducks are able to neutralize the Cowboys back court, their front-court of Tony Woods and Arsalan Kazemi could be too much for the Cowboys big men.

#11 Saint Mary's over #6 Memphis: 

Although Memphis went undefeated in Conference USA and won 30 games for the first time since 2009, the Tigers have not proven that they can beat high quality opponents. With their only three RPI top 50 wins coming over Southern Miss, Memphis is a team that could face a scare from a hot shooting Saint Mary's team. While the Tigers are much more athletic than the Gaels and could pose a problem on the glass, Matthew Dellavedova is the biggest scoring threat on the entire floor, as the Australian point guard is one of the best shooters in the country. Although Dellavedova struggled from three in the WCC tournament (1-18 in three games), the all-conference first-teamer found his stroke in the Gaels first four win over Middle Tennessee, as he nailed 5 of his 7 three point attempts. Saint Mary's will miss shooting guard Jorden Page, who is out with a knee injury, but Jordan Giusti is a solid defender and will be able to irritate Memphis guards Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, and Geron Johnson. The Gaels should also be in a nice rhythm after getting some of their early tournament nerves out in their first round victory. However, the x-factor in the game will be Adonis Thomas because if the versatile small forward shows up to play, he is a match-up problem for Saint Mary's.

Marshall Henderson Is Good For The NCAA Tournament

Sports are notorious for creating immortal legends, exalted superstars, and sublime leaders. Names like Montana, Jordan, Mays, Robinson, Orr, and Nicklaus have become glorified for their immeasurable impact in the world of sports. While these renowned and celebrated figures have become the model for legendary status, much like a movie or a book, sports are also synonymous with villains. Every fan has an envisage in their head of an athlete that just gets under their skin with their antics, attitude, and behavior. Whether it is Bill Laimbeer, Christian Laettner, Michael Vick, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, or Art Modell in Cleveland, sports certainly have their fair share of vilified characters. In fact, look no further than Marshall Henderson at Ole Miss to find college basketball's new antihero.

College basketball has provided an unprecedented amount of excitement this season due to the myriad of upsets amongst the top teams. TCU had a 2-16 record in the Big 12, but the Horn Frogs miraculous beat the Big 12 regular season and tournament champion Kansas Jayhawks. South Florida began their Big East campaign with a conference record of 1-14, but their sole win came over Big East regular season champion Georgetown. Penn St. lost their first 14 Big Ten conference games until they knocked off Michigan and put a dent in the Wolverines chances at a regular season Big Ten title. However, while the shocking results have certainly been thrilling, fans have become petulant with the lack of quality players and teams in the college game. Due to the one and done rule, teams are constantly having to recycle their squads because so many underclassmen are leaving for the NBA after just one season. In last year's draft, 5 of the top 10 picks were freshman, leaving a huge talent void at several schools. With so many young players still maturing and developing (see Perry Ellis at Kansas), the parity in college basketball is readily apparent, as many of the top teams lack real star power. Without high end superstars like in years past, college basketball is lucky to have an vivacious and sprightly player like Marshall Henderson in the big dance.

The adjectives often used to delineate Henderson may not seem to have the most positive connotations. The junior guard is often described as arrogant, audacious, insolent, and impetuous, and his on-the-court behavior is subject to much attention, as experts often vituperate the fact that he plays with such much emotion and flare. However, Henderson's in-your-face attitude and fiery playing style makes him one of the most exciting players to watch in the country. His unpredictability turns every Ole Miss game into a unique and riveting experience.

Mississippi's slim victory over Auburn at the end of January began the country's fascination with Henderson. With Ole Miss in the top 25 for the first time in nearly 3 years, their battle with the Tigers was a heated affair, which undoubtedly meant that Henderson would be at the center of the tight contest. With 6.4 seconds left and the game tied at 61, Henderson, an 88 percent free throw shooter, drained both of his foul shots and the Rebels went on to survive 63-61. Following the game, the always spontaneous Henderson ran over to the Auburn fans and began to taunt the student section. Holding his Rebels jersey out and mocking the fans, Henderson began to show his passionate, yet impulsive nature. The polarizing guard had a simple response when asked about the incident, "That was me. That was my heart just going out. Just going over there. We are Ole Miss, take that. You just came here for two-and-a-half hours just to yell and scream for no reason because you just lost the game." And thus, college basketball found a player that was so appealing, and yet so provocative at the same time.

The excitement that comes along with Henderson continued throughout SEC play. The flamboyant and theatrical guard had a game against Kentucky in which he had a heated confrontation with his head coach, and threw ice at his own student section all in the first half. There was the SEC tournament final against Florida where Henderson did the gator chomp all the way up the floor after nailing a fade away three pointer to cap off a 33-15 Ole Miss run to begin the second half. While Henderson's antics are certainly extravagant, it would not be prudent to doubt his passion for the game or his intensity.

Often times in sports, the in-your-face and over ebullient player on a team is not the star, but rather a role player that provides a spark and added intensity. However, the fact that Henderson is Mississippi's best player and is one of the most prolific shooters in the country makes his entire act that much more fascinating. The Utah transfer led the SEC in scoring at more than 20 points per game and was also second in the nation in three point makes at nearly 4 per game. With his quick release and ability to find openings on the floor off screens, Henderson shot nearly 40 percent from behind the arc in Mississippi's 5-game win streak at the end of the season. While at times Henderson's shot selection is not always the best, as evidenced by his poor game against Mississippi St., where he made just 3 of 18 threes, the sharp shooter has the ability to catch fire at any time.

Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy also deserves a lot of credit for allowing Henderson the freedom he needs on the court. Kennedy, who led the Rebels to their first SEC tournament title since 1981 and the program's first NCAA tournament appearance since 2002, has allowed Henderson to play with his unique passion and fervor, which makes the guard flourish and gives the team their identity. Kennedy said, "I think he's [Henderson] been readily open with the fact that if he didn't play with that edge, he wouldn't be a guy that could lead the SEC in scoring... His passion comes from a good place, it really does."

#12 Ole Miss opens up the NCAA tournament in Kansas City against the #5 Wisconsin Badgers in the west region with the winner taking on #4 Kansas St. or #13 Boise St/#13 La Salle. The stifling Wisconsin defense, which ranked 9th in the country in points allowed at just under 56 per game, will be geared to slow down Henderson and will be focused around chasing him off the three point line. However, the entertaining and compelling Henderson will certainly provide some magical tournament moments, and his radiant and resplendent personality are a must watch for college basketball fans.

The Predicament of the Baseball Hall of Fame

Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once said, “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.” Legacy and immortality are very difficult to quantify, but no matter how adamantly baseball players profusely deny it, they care about how the public looks back on their playing career. Juxtaposing the legacies of players from vastly different eras is quite an onerous task (just imagine trying to compare the careers of catchers Mike Piazza and Roy Campanella) and it has become even more difficult because of the recent performance-enhancing drug (PED) implications that will forever pollute the indelible image of baseball. However, comparing different ballplayers is a large reason why fans are so enamored by the game and the Baseball Hall of Fame serves as the representative platform for the judgment and assessment of players’ careers. 

The Hall of Fame voters recently made a statement when they elected to shun any player from entering the hall, who they had suspected might have used PEDs. The task of the Hall of Fame electors is to essentially answer the question, “Do the statistics compiled by a certain player along with his intangibles show evidence that he is amongst the greatest of his era?” The voting for the Hall of Fame is certainty not a perfect science and the sports world was left in pure dejection after there were no inductees to the hall for just the first time since 1996 and only the second time in over 40 years since 1971. However, players that used PEDs should not have been voted in baseball’s most prestigious club as the “memory of their name” will always be identified with tainting baseball’s legacy and their drug usage has certainty not left an “inheritance of a great example.”

Players that used or alleged used PEDs were not on a level playing field with the rest of their counterparts on the diamond. The unprecedented statistics that ballplayers like Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, and Roger Clemens were able to amass over the careers need to be looked at with a grain of salt, as their numbers are completely inflated due to their drug usage. 

Some fans argue that while Mark McGwire may have taken steroids, the performance enhancing drugs didn’t teach him how to catch up to a fastball or how to hit a breaking ball. However, anybody who makes it to the MLB is obviously good enough to contend with the greatest players in the world, and PEDs give major leaguers an extra edge, which could propel them from an average player to one of the most dangerous in the league. For example, in 2010 Melky Cabrera hit .255 with the Atlanta Braves and knocked out just 4 home runs. However, when he began to take steroids, his batting average leaped all the way up to .346 and he hit a career high 18 home runs two seasons ago. 

Steroids allow baseball players to build endurance, strength, and muscle, such as Barry Bonds, who went from a speedy 185-pound outfielder on the Pittsburgh Pirates to a stocky 230-pound power hitter on the San Francisco Giants. PEDs also allow players to recover from injury at a much faster rate. Andy Pettite, who testified in court that Roger Clemens told him in 1999 or 2000 that he was using steroids, has admitted that he was able to return quicker from elbow surgery because of human growth hormone usage. 

With all this in mind, voters were justified in their decision to not elect players like Bonds or Clemens into the Hall of Fame because steroids gave them an unfair advantage over the other players in the league.

The Baseball Hall of Fame is a museum that shows the history of America's national pastime, and honors the careers of the most outstanding ballplayers of all-time. Some people contend that by not putting players like Bonds and Clemens into the hall, the voters are neglecting a major part of baseball's history. However, just because the Hall of Fame may not induct steroid guys into its elitist fraternity, doesn't mean that players connected to PEDs won't have any part in the hall in terms of its artifacts, videos, and photos. The paradoxical nature of PEDs is that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's home run chase to catch Roger Maris's single-season home run record in 1998 was one of the most exhilarating events in baseball history, and it brought the game back to the forefront of sports after its embarrassing strike in 1994. However, McGwire and Sosa didn't do it the right way, which is damning to their own careers as well as to the history of baseball.

More than any other sport, baseball is a numbers game and its fans cherish its past history and stats. If somebody says 71,838 (the NFL career passing yards record set by Brett Favre) or 38,387 (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA all-time scoring record), very few fans would know the significance of those statistics. When somebody says the number “56,” baseball fans immediately think of Joe DiMaggio’s hit streak in 1941, while “714,” the number of home runs Babe Ruth hit in his career, is revered by fans. Numbers are sacred in baseball, which is why the steroid era has infuriated so many people, as PED usage has tainted the game.

Although many people agree with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s (BBWAA) decision to not elect PED users into the hall, that doesn’t mitigate some of the other head-scratching judgments that the journalists from the organization have made in their Hall of Fame voting history. While a preponderance of the writers are very fair and accurate voters, it is baffling that some of the journalists still refuse to elect players into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. The fact that Willie Mays, arguably the greatest baseball player ever, and Stan Musial, by many accounts the greatest left-handed hitter of all-time, were both left off more than 20 Hall of Fame ballots in their first year of eligibility is an absolute abasement and disgrace.

Furthermore, statistics are set in stone once a ballplayer ends his career, and it is up to the writers of the BBWAA to determine if a player is Hall of Fame worthy. It makes little sense how Andre Dawson could receive 67 percent of votes in his 8th year on the Hall of Fame ballot, but the next year receive more than 77 percent of the Hall of Fame votes. Dawson's career was cemented once he retired from baseball in 1996, so it is puzzling that "The Hawk" can receive an additional 50 votes from one year to the next when nothing about his baseball career actual changed.

We should get some Hall of Fame clarity next year when Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas are all eligble for the ballot. Maddux (355) and Glavine (305) are both 300 game winners, and Frank Thomas is one of just 9 players along with Willie Mays (.302 BA, 660 HR), Babe Ruth (.342 BA, 714 HR), Ted Williams (.344 BA, 521 HR), Hank Aaron (.305 BA, 755 HR), Jimmie Foxx (.325 BA, 524 HR), Mel Ott (.304 BA, 511 HR), Manny Ramirez (.312 BA, 555 HR), and Alex Rodriguez (.300 BA, 647 HR) to have hit 500 home runs and have a career average of at least .300. Hopefully, the writers will do everybody justice by voting in all three of the deserved first ballot Hall of Famers next year.

Adrian Peterson Deserves The NFL MVP Award

As the NFL playoffs head to the Divisional Round and we reflect on the outstanding season in the league, it is hard to say that this year was anything less than extraordinary. The variety of intriguing storylines such as the success of the rookie quarterbacks and the historic record chases by Adrian Peterson, Calvin Johnson, and J. J. Watt created a tremendous amount of interest across the league. Like every year, the great individual and team performances were mixed with a multitude of bizarre moments such as the replacement officials simultaneous catch ruling in the Packers-Seahawks game or Jim Schwartz illegal challenge on a play that was already getting reviewed. The 2012-2013 NFL season was a year to remember.

The NFL MVP award has become a glorified honor for the best quarterback in the league the last 20 years. Since 1994, the award has been captured by 15 quarterbacks including both Peyton Manning and Steve McNair when they split the honor in 2003, and just 5 running backs. There is no doubt that the NFL is driven by the quarterback position and that the league has become reliant on the vertical passing game. While the play of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers shouldn't be overlooked, Adrian Peterson deserves the MVP award this season.

The fact that Peterson tore his ACL and MCL in December of 2011, and returned for the first week of this season, makes his entire year that much more special. Although Peterson started out the season a little slow for his standards and had just one 100-yard rushing game through the first 6 weeks of the season, he ran for at least 100 yards in 9 of his last 10 games and averaged nearly 160 yards and a touchdown per game over that stretch. If you don't even take Peterson's first 6 games into account, he still would have been the 2nd leading rusher in the league. While Peterson's 2,097 yard season was just 9 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record, he still became just the 7th running back to ever rush for 2,000 yards along with O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Jamal Lewis, and Chris Johnson, and he accomplished the feat just a year removed from a horrid knee injury.

Peterson's value to the Vikings in their surprising run to the playoffs can not be understated or minimized, as a preponderance of Minnesota's offensive attack was contingent upon AP. With a passing game that was dead last in the NFC in yards per game and a weak receiving core, especially after Percy Harvin was sidelined with an ankle injury, Peterson carried the load for the Vikings week-after-week. Despite the fact that defenses knew Peterson was going to get the ball, his rare combination of power and speed was unable to be corralled all season long. In the Vikings week 17 victory over the Packers to send them into the playoffs, Peterson carried the ball a career high 34 times and rushed for 199 yards and a touchdown despite 7 or 8 Packers in the box for the vast majority of the game.

Obviously, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers all have very compelling cases for the MVP award as well. Manning completely transformed a Broncos offense and his command of the team and his consistency was astounding. Brady had another typical Tom Brady year, as the New England quarterback didn't throw an interception in 11 of 16 games this season. Finally, Aaron Rodgers led the league once again in quarterback rating and had a very impressive 39-8 touchdown to interception ratio. However, the award should still go to Peterson, as he had one of the greatest single-season efforts in running back history.

Chip Kelly's Offensive System Can Work In the NFL

Over the past ten years, the NFL has seen a dramatic transformation in the way the game is played and it is no longer your father's league. With a bevy of new rules benefiting the vertical passing game, teams are throwing the ball at a historic rate. For example, Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford attempted 727 passes this season, which is an average of more than 45 passes per game. Furthermore, old NFL cliches are becoming quickly outdated. The notion that rookie quarterbacks need time to develop and can't play right away and that college coaches can't be successful in the pros is being discredited. Rookies Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson all led their respective teams to the playoffs and Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden both had fairly good years. In the NFC West, two former college coaches, Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll, both led their teams to the playoffs and the Bucs showed promise this season under former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. The NFL is quickly molding into a new type of league and Oregon head coach Chip Kelly and his unique offense could definitely be very effective.

Although the college and pro games are obviously played at much different speeds, it would not be prudent to discredit the success that Chip Kelly has had at Oregon. Since Kelly was named the head coach in 2009, the Ducks have had an incredible record of 46-7 (33-3 in conference) including four straight appearances in BCS bowl games, which has only been matched by Miami, USC, and Ohio State since 1998. Kelly has run the most dynamic offensive system in the country with the Ducks, which makes his NFL coaching prospects so enticing. In each of the last three years, Oregon has finished the college football season in the top five of rushing yard per game, yards per game, as well as points per game, which displays just how proficient the Ducks have been on offense. Despite the undeniable talent gap between the pros and college, the collegiate game is swiftly becoming much more advanced and the difference between the NFL and college game has never been smaller. Although Kelly's success with the Ducks certainly doesn't mean that he will experience the same feats in the pro game, it is an indication that his offensive attack can work at the next level.

One of the main criticisms of Chip's spread offense is that it can only prosper with a quick and mobile quarterback under center and a speedy running back along side him in the backfield, which is what Kelly has had at Oregon. While Chip's high-powered offense would definitely flourish with a duel threat quarterback like Cam Newton, RGIII, or Russell Wilson, it can still be very effective with a pocket passer. Kelly's offensive system is predicated on its tempo more than anything else and therefore if Kelly had a quarterback that lacked mobility, he would just increase the pace of the team's offense. For example, Kelly has made numerous visits to the New England Patriots, upon Bill Belichick's request, to show the team his up-tempo offensive style. With their no-huddle and faster pace, the Patriots led the league with an average of 74.4 plays per game, which in comparison was almost 14 more plays per game than the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants ran during the season. Kelly's offense is all about tempo and speed, which is starting to become a popular trend in the NFL, and this exemplifies why so many league executives are attracted to him.

The Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles have all set up meetings with the Oregon coach, and all three of the clubs seem to be very interested in his services. Each of the teams could use an offensive revamp, as they all finished outside of the top 20 in points per game this season. Aside from the promising improvements that Kelly could bring on the offensive side of the ball, his "win the day" mantra of playing hard every day, and the fact that all of his players seem to very much like him as a coach, could bring a much needed cohesion to an NFL team, especially one with the talent level of the Philadelphia Eagles.

What I Am Thankful For In Sports

There are clearly a lot of things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day: your family, your friends, the men and women who fight to protect this country, twitter, and obviously sports. While most Americans associate Thanksgiving with turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, my Thanksgiving is dominated by football, even if the Lions and Cowboys, who have both hosted Thanksgiving Day games every year since 1978, have only won a combined 3 division titles in the last 15 years. With a feast of games on Turkey day (pun intended) including three big NFL matchups (Texans-Lions, Redskins-Cowboys, Patriots-Jets) and a newly installed college football in-state rivalry (TCU-#16 Texas), the Thanksgiving Day action should fill the bellies of hungry football fans (last pun, I promise). Here is what I am thankful for in sports on this 391st Thanksgiving Day.

Despite the fact that the LA Kings championship run as an eight seed was incredible to watch last year, I am thankful for the NHL lockout because now America doesn't have to pretend that we actually care about hockey. For the National Hockey League to be locked out for the 3rd time since 1994 and the 2nd time in the last 8 years is an absolute disgrace. I would advise Gary Bettman, who has dealt with more labor stoppages since he became NHL Commissioner in 1993 than ever imaginable, to not travel to Canada anytime in the near future.

I am thankful that Chelsea fired Roberto Di Matteo because at this rate, I have a chance to become the Blues manager. The European Champions, who fired Di Matteo a little more than six months after he completed the FA Cup and Champions League double, have had more managers since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003 than Egypt have had Presidents. The London club have now had 9 different managers in a six year span since September of 2007 (Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Ray Wilkins, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti, Andre-Villas Boas, Roberto Di Matteo, and Rafa Benitez). In fact, neither one of their last two managers, Andre-Villas Boas or Roberto Di Matteo, lasted 10 months with the job. Good luck to Rafa Benitez because looking at Chelsea's past managerial history, come a year from now, he will likely be watching the Chelsea games from his couch like the rest of us.

I am thankful for Cleveland sports teams because whenever I am feeling down in the dumps about the Red Sox, I remember that it could be worse: I could be a Cleveland sports fan. The Browns have made the playoffs just twice in the last 23 years, while the Indians and Cavaliers have lost superstars left and right including CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, and some guy named LeBron James. Cleveland sports teams are like a sequel to a bad movie; you think that they might improve, but they just wind up terrible once again.

I am thankful that J.J. Watt is a pro football player because he is much too talented and way too hard of a worker to be delivering pizzas in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Watt, who I kid you not, worked for pizza hut after he dropped out of school because he no longer wanted to play tight end for Central Michigan, is now one of the most dominant defensive ends in the NFL, and he is the front-runner to win the Defensive Player Of The Year Award at the mid-season mark. The former Wisconsin standout (he transferred to the Big Ten school in 2008 and played 2 years there) deflects more balls at the line of scrimmage than anybody else in the NFL and his 13.5 sacks are 2nd most in the league, only behind San Francisco's Aldon Smith (15).

I am thankful that Novak Djokvoic is the world's number 1 ranked tennis player. While I enjoy watching the Serbian's mastery on the court, it is a nice bonus that his girlfriend, Jelena Ristic, is a spectacle to see on her own. Since Ristic is shown on TV more than Rob Ryan during the Cowboys games, it is undeniable that Djokovic brings the total package to his matches. But in all seriousness, Djokvoic deserves a lot of credit for reclaiming the number 1 ranking from Roger Federer and winning the year end ATP World Tour Finals.

As hard as this is for me to say, I am actually thankful that #1 Notre Dame is undefeated because outside of Gainesville nobody wants to see #4 Florida in the BCS National Championship Game. The Gators, whose offense has looked so anemic this year that you wonder how they have only lost one game, would likely wind up in the National Championship if they were to beat #10 Florida St. and Notre Dame were to lose to USC. This Florida team, which at home needed two touchdowns in the last two minutes to beat Louisiana-Lafayette, would not be able to score against any of the top college football teams.

I am thankful that Andrew Bynum's hair is one of the main talking points of the early NBA season; now if only the big 7 footer could get onto the floor for the 76ers. Although Bynum should have a nice role in Doug Collins's offense, the injury prone center is still suffering from right and left knee setbacks, which could keep him out until January. Hopefully, Bynum can return to action for Philadelphia shortly, because then people can start talking about Bynum and basketball, along with his hair of course.

Andrew Bynum then

Andrew Bynum now

But enough about me already. What are other people in sports thankful for?

Toronto Blue Jays fans are thankful for their new best friend, Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. After Loria decided that he was fed up with the Marlins large payroll, his fire sale saw the team's two best pitchers (Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle) and star shortstop (Jose Reyes) head north of the border to Toronto. Now that the Marlins shed nearly 150 million dollars in the mega-trade and their opening day payroll is currently projected at less than 40 million (in comparison the Padres and A's are arond 55 million) it is evident that Loria cares less about his team than a male audience cares about the new Twilight movie.

Washington Redskin fans are thankful that they now have a real quarterback with Robert Griffin III. Nothing against Jason Campbell, Tood Collins, Rex Grossman, and John Beck, but the Skins haven't had a real quality quarterback since the Stone Age. Ok, more like Joe Theismann in the 1980's but it feels like forever. Not only is RGIII the most dynamic quarterback to ever play in the NFL, but his Heisman Trophy socks were beyond awesome. In any case, Washington should be thankful for their rookie sensation.

Although the Luck vs RGIII debate will rage on for years, we can all agree that Griffin trumps Luck in the sock department.

Finally, Tim Tebow is thankful for God, but who didn't know that one already.

Under the Radar College Basketball Teams To Watch

It doesn't take a brain surgeon or an ESPN expert to predict most of the top college basketball teams by the end of the season. As evidenced by the last few years, most, if not all of the teams that are ranked inside the preseason top 15, remain a legitimate National Championship contender throughout the college basketball campaign. Last season, all the Elite Eight teams were ranked in the preseason top 13 (North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio St., Syracuse, Florida, Louisville, Baylor, and Kansas) and Pittsburgh, UCLA, Arizona, and Texas A&M were the only preseason top 25 teams that failed to make the Big Dance.

Although the top teams at the onset of the season are almost always in contention to make a run at the title, there are always a few teams that fly under the radar and surprise everybody during March Madness. While the common examples of the shocking NCAA tourney runs include George Mason in 2006 and VCU in 2011, there are often teams from major conferences that aren't expected to have a great season and perform well above expectations. Last year two Big East teams, Marquette and Cincinnati, were not expected to be one of the top five teams in their own league, but both made runs to the Sweet Sixteen. Xavier and North Carolina St., despite both finishing their respective seasons with 12 losses, also made surprising trips to the Regional Semifinals as double digit seeds.

In opposition to how the BCS and chaos go hand in hand, you can expect the same stability at the top of college basketball once again this year, as top clubs like Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Duke, and Florida should all wind-up with top seeds in the tournament. However, as always, you can expect a bevy of overlooked teams to fare far better than expected.

Oklahoma St. Cowboys:

Since Eddie Sutton resigned as head coach of Oklahoma St. due to his alcohol related medical issues, the Cowboys have not been relevant in college basketball. The program, which has a storied tradition that goes back to the days of coaching legend Henry Iba, have been waiting to restore themselves in the increasingly friendly Big 12, especially with the departure of Missouri and Texas A&M. Despite getting just a handful of votes in the preseason polls, the Cowboys should be in contention for their second Big 12 title since they joined the conference 16 years ago in 1996.

The job that Cowboys head coach Travis Ford has done in recruiting has given the fans in Stillwater their biggest hope for a successful season since they reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2005. Ford, who played in college at Missouri and then Kentucky, has been able to lure two straight top ten recruits down to Stillwater. Two years ago, small forward Le'Bryan Nash, who was rated #10 by the ESPN recruiting rankings, picked Oklahoma St. over Kansas and Baylor. Last year, shooting guard Marcus Smart, who like Nash was rated #10 by ESPN, picked Oklahoma St. over Oklahoma and Texas. The combination of Nash and Smart has proved to be lethal in the early season for the Cowboys.

Le'Bryan Nash, who shared Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors with Baylor's Quincy Miller last year, is one of the most athletic players in the country and is a big time scorer, especially when he can get into the lane. Nash is complimented by the all around game of Marcus Smart. Not only is Smart a terrific shooter, but he can also see the floor exceptionally well. The two playmakers have combined for an average of nearly 34 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists through the team's first four wins over UC Davis, Akron, Tennessee, and North Carolina State.

Anybody who watched Oklahoma St. manhandle #6 NCST in the Puerto Rico Tipoff Final saw the threat that the Cowboys pose to any team they play. Nash and Smart are two of the best players in the country and will be the catalysts for the Cowboys very underrated squad all season long.

Maryland Terrapins:

In ESPN The Magazine's "College Hoops Tip-Off" issue, the Maryland Terps preseason ranking was 111th overall, which slotted them behind schools like North Dakota State, Middle Tennessee, Wagner, and Tennessee State. The same magazine projected Maryland to finish 9th in the ACC, only ahead of Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Boston College. Despite losing their top two scorers, Terrell Stoglin and Sean Mosley, the Terps will far exceed their low preseason expectations.

Not only does Maryland have a consistent distributor at point guard with Pe'Shon Howard, who is averaging nearly 8 assists through the team's first four games, but the Terps also have one of the best players in the country that very few people have even heard about. Alex Len, a 7-1 center from Ukraine, is a dominant force in the post for the Terps and he is already showing dramatic improvements from last season. The future NBA lottery pick is one of the most skilled big men in the country and he showed in his performance against #3 Kentucky, where he had 23 points and 12 rebounds in a tight 3-point Maryland loss, that he is dealing with the physicality of playing down low much better than he did last year.

The NCAA's decision to grant former Xavier small forward Dezmine Wells immediate eligibility has been a huge bonus for Mark Turgeon and his team. Wells, who was a top 50 ESPN recruit last year and has immense potential, can do everything on the floor and provides a toughness that Maryland has lacked the past couple of years. Wells, along with talented shooting guards Nick Faust and Seth Allen and highly touted freshmen Jake Layman and Shaquille Cleare, will be the key components for a Maryland team that failed to make the tourney last season.

If the Terps can get some solid contributions from their supporting cast, they have a great chance of rounding out the top 4 of the ACC behind the highly ranked Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, and North Carolina State Wolfpack.

Pittsburgh Panthers:

Pitt has been a mainstay at the top of college basketball and the Big East ever since Jamie Dixon took over the program in 2003. In his first 8 years as head coach of the Panthers, Dixon led the team to at least 24 wins every season except for 2004, and the club reached the Big East tournament championship game four times. Dixon's incredible record of 214-58 in his first eight years as the program's head coach, is evidence of Pitt's ascension to the top of college basketball.

Despite being a preseason top 10 team in 2011, the Panthers had a very uncharacteristic season last year, as they finished 5-13 in the Big East, their worst conference record since 1999. Although the Panthers were unranked in the preseason polls following their disappointing 2011 campaign, Pitt should return to their dominant Big East ways this season.

While Pittsburgh will miss the three point shooting of point guard Ashton Gibbs, who led the team in scoring the last three seasons, Tray Woodall now has the opportunity to run the show for the Panthers. Woodall is a very unselfish guard and when he does decide to pull up, he is a very effective mid-range and three point shooter. Along with Woodall, veteran big men Talib Zanna and J.J. Moore will provide consistent scoring for the Panthers.

So many people, like myself, are looking at Pittsburgh as a surprise club this season due their key additions of Trey Zeigler and Steven Adams, who should fit nicely with the other veteran pieces on the team. Zeigler, who played at Central Michigan last year and averaged 15.8 points and 6.7 rebounds, chose to transfer to Pitt rather than Duke or UCLA and was granted an NCAA waiver to play right away because his dad was fired as head coach of the Chippewas in March. Although Zeigler is still fitting in with the Panthers and could improve his jump shot, he is one of the most versatile guards in the country. Adams, who was the #6 overall recruit in this year's class according to ESPN, is a big seven foot body and can rebound with the best in the country. Although it may be a little early to expect Adams to shine offensively, he will be a big presence on the defensive side of the floor for the Panthers, especially with his ability to block shots.

The Jets Should Start Tim Tebow

Timothy Richard Tebow. Just uttering the name of the former Heisman Trophy winner steers up controversy, emotions, and heated arguments amongst fans and naysayers. Never in the history of the NFL has a backup quarterback, who has completed just 5 passes through the first 10 weeks of the season, been the talk of every radio show and television newscast in the country. Mark Sanchez has had to answer more questions about Tim Tebow than anybody could have imagined when Woody Johnson and Mike Tannenbaum traded for the polarizing QB from the Broncos back in March.

Although Rex Ryan continues to say Tebow will have an expanded role in the Jets offense, week after week Tebow is only on the field for a few snaps each game. With the Jets sitting in a 3-6 hole and in grave danger of being out of playoff contention with 5 or 6 games left in the season, it is time they turn the ball over to Tebow. Not only does the two-time college National Champion give the Jets a wide range of play choices with his dynamic ability to both pass and run, but Mark Sanchez has played so poorly the last couple of weeks that the Jets absolutely need a change behind center.

The struggles of Mark Sanchez, especially in the last two Jet losses, is the main reason gang green need to make a change at quarterback. If the Jets do in fact make a switch behind center, it would be more about Mark Sanchez losing his role due to his poor play rather than Tim Tebow taking over the quarterback job.

There have been glimpses this season where we have seen an effective Mark Sanchez, specifically in the Jets 29-26 overtime loss to the Patriots in Foxboro. Although the Pats secondary does rank dead last in the AFC in passing yards allowed per game and has been getting torched all season, Sanchez looked in rhythm with his receivers and was throwing the ball on time all game long.

However, moments of promise have been few and far between for Sanchez and the team's offense. Aside from the Patriots game, the Jets passing attack has been extremely lackluster. No team in the NFL fears gang green's air attack whatsoever, as only the Jacksonville Jaguars have thrown for less yards in the AFC than the Jets. Sanchez is also the only NFL starting quarterback to have thrown for less than 140 yards in more than two games this season, as he failed to eclipse the 140 yard mark in games against the Steelers, 49ers, Colts, and Seahawks. Not only has Sanchez held on to the ball for too long in the pocket, which has resulted in sacks and turnovers, but the former USC quarterback's accuracy has also failed him, as he ranks dead last in the league with a 52 percent completion percentage.

As a duel threat quarterback, Tebow can bring unique qualities to the Jets that the inept offense has been lacking all season long. Although Mark Sanchez is mobile in the pocket and can move around to evade sacks, Tebow can extend plays like no other quarterback in the NFL, which would allow the Jets poor receiving core more time to create separation down the field. Tebow's running ability would also prove to be a weapon for the Jets rushing attack, which is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry through nine games. With defenses keying on Tebow's running prowess and stacking the box, it would leave openings in the secondary for the Jets much-maligned receivers as well.

Obviously, Tebow has his limitations as a passer. Although his ability to throw the deep ball is very underrated, his accuracy is a source of concern. However, Tebow would bring something different to a Jets offense in need of a change, as the offensive attack has sputtered all season long.

While Mark Sanchez deserves the lion's share of the blame for the Jets 3-6 start, there have been a multitude of failures for the Jets not only on the field, but in management as well as in the front office.

Frankly, the Jets just don't have the talent that was there when they reached the AFC Championship game in back-to-back years in 2009 and 2010. While the Jets "ground and pound" style was in the top four of the NFL in both of their playoff years, only four other AFC teams have rushed for fewer yards per carry than the Jets this season. While Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson were proven running backs, Shonn Greene is nowhere near a top flight NFL back. The Jets also have limited talent and big play ability with their wide receivers. Whereas in 2010 gan green had Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Brad Smith at their receiver positions, with Holmes out for the season this year, the Jets receiving core of Stephen Hill, Chaz Schilens, Jeremy Kerley, and Clyde Gates is almost laughable to think about. Although Stephen Hill, who the Jets drafted in the second round from Georgia Tech, has electrifying speed, he has dropped far too many passes in his rookie campaign.

The Jets coaching staff has also miss managed their use of Tebow in their "wildcat" package. The former Florida QB has not had nearly enough snaps to make the plays that he is capable of making, as the Jets continue to use their dynamic playmaker for just seven snaps per game. Also, when Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano does use Tebow behind center, he is way too conservative with his play selection. Rather than let Tebow sit in the pocket and observe the field and allow him to make plays, Sparano continues to have Tebow fake the ball to the running back and run it straight up the gut, which every defense player is expecting, for three or four yards.

If Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum brought Tebow in to be a factor rather than to sell hot dogs, PSL's, and make the back pages of the news, than why has Tebow's role been so small in the offense? Also, if Tebow is going to be rarely used, why bring him into the fold and create a tremendous amount of pressure on Mark Sanchez?

If the Jets fail to beat the St. Louis Rams this week, their season will essentially be all but over and considering how poorly Sanchez has played in the Jets last two losses to the Dolphins and Seahawks, gang green need to turn to Tebow. With the Jets three games out in the AFC East as well as three games behind the Steelers and Colts in the AFC Wild Card, it is now or never for New York.