Month: January 2010 (Page 2 of 65)

      Orlando Hudson needs to get real

      January 30, 2010 /

      Orlando Hudson is in no position to ask for $9 million next year. On December 1, the Dodgers chose to not offer Hudson arbitration and to everyone’s surprise, he still remains on the market. The Nationals have emerged as the only serious contender, which should be a clear sign of Hudson’s current value.

      Fact is, $9 million is far too much money for a 32-year-old second baseman. True, Hudson does come with plenty of positives worthy of a decent contract. With a career batting average of .282, four Gold Gloves, and a perfect club-house personality, he’d be a key player on any team. However, Hudson can’t expect that kind of money when he doesn’t steal bases, hits for minimal power, and has a questionable back. For his body type, Hudson should steal about 20 bases per season. Also, if he wants to continue hitting higher up in the order, 10 home runs won’t do. Brian Roberts, Aaron Hill, Robinson Cano, Chase Utley, and Brandon Phillips are currently the most productive second basemen in the game. Cano, now 27 years old, will make $9 million next season — the same amount Hudson is seeking. In 2009, Cano hit .320 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs, all the while helping the Yankees to a World Championship. Do Hudson and Cano really compare?

      No, they don’t.

      The Nationals are reportedly offering Hudson a one-year, $3 million deal. If the Nationals are serious, they’ll increase the amount to about $5 million. In that case, Hudson would be a fool to look elsewhere.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      MLB

      Coach K thinks NCAA’s one-and-done policy is a ‘sham’

      January 30, 2010 /

      Per SI.com (via the Dan Patrick Show)…

      “If [a kid is] good enough, he should be allowed to come right out of high school,” Kryzewski said.

      But Coach K thinks if a player does go to college, he should take academics seriously.

      “If they go to college, they should be there long enough to take core courses that could eventually lead to a degree,” Kryzewski said. “Otherwise it’s a sham.”

      When the NBA age-limit rule was implemented, I conducted a study that found that players that were drafted straight out of high school had a higher success rate than players that were drafted out of college or via international ball.

      I think the best system would be to allow high schoolers to be drafted, and if they go undrafted, they’re able to enter college. Once they do enter college, they’ll have to play a minimum of two years. That way, the players that are NBA-caliber at 18 can go straight to the league, while those that need seasoning will have to put in a couple of seasons on the collegiate level. The two-season minimum is to ensure that these players will put in some academic effort while in school (which will hopefully result in a degree somewhere down the line). One season isn’t enough. Right now, players have to pass just six hours in the first semester to be eligible to play for the entire year. That’s a joke.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      College Basketball, NBA, NBA Draft

      T.O. indicates that he’s as good as Jerry Rice

      January 30, 2010 /

      If Terrell Owens had the same quarterbacks as Jerry Rice did, then he would be closing in on Rice’s receiving records. At least that’s what T.O. says.

      From USA Today:

      “I know hands-down I’d be close to Jerry Rice’s records if I had been with quality quarterbacks like he had. He had Joe Montana and he finished with Steve Young. That wasn’t a dropoff.

      “Say I had been with a guy like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Drew Brees all of my career. Are you kidding me?”

      Owens was with a good quarterback in Philadelphia but he got himself ran out of town. Jeff Garcia and Tony Romo aren’t half bad either, although T.O. would have you belief that he’s been playing with Henry Burris and Joey Harrington his entire career.

      Nobody has ever questioned T.O.’s talent, but what chaps people’s hides is that he’s always the one making these types of comments. He always has to remind everyone that he’s at a disadvantage for whatever reason, whether it’s the quarterback, the playcalling or the lack of touches that hold him back. He’ll never be the type of player that looks in the mirror and finds fault in himself, even though he drops more passes than anyone.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      Serena sneaks by crafty Henin in Australian Open final

      January 30, 2010 /

      Serena Williams defeated Justine Henin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to win her fifth Australian Open singles title. Thing got ugly in the second set, but Williams’ gradually calmed down and summoned her power to down Henin.

      From FOXSports.com:

      Williams withstood a determined challenge from Henin before securing her fifth Australian Open title and 12th Grand Slam singles championship overall.

      Henin, who had most of the crowd support at Rod Laver Arena, couldn’t match her fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters’ feat of winning in her Grand Slam comeback tournament. Clijsters won last year’s U.S. Open on her return from a two-year retirement after getting married and having a baby.

      Williams won the last four games Saturday to clinch the final in just over two hours, falling on her back in celebration after match point before shaking hands with Henin at the net.
      The American holds an 8-6 lead in career meetings between the pair, including a 6-2, 6-0 win in Miami in 2008. At the time, it equaled the worst loss for a reigning No. 1, and Henin quit tennis two months later.

      Henin won the Australian Open title in 2004. She quit from the 2006 final with stomach problems while trailing Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 2-0.

      Williams’ 12th singles major matched American great Billie Jean King’s career total. King was at the stadium on Saturday night to take part in a pre-match ceremony to honor the 40-year anniversary of Margaret Court’s four Grand Slam tournament wins in 1970.

      Henin’s effort needs to be recognized. The Australian Open was only her second tournament since coming back from retirement. She beat four seeded players before facing Serena in the final. Given the lack of depth in women’s tennis, I think Henin will climb the rankings very quickly.

      As for Serena, there’s no one better in women’s tennis. At 28 years old, she should be playing at the top level for a while longer. She might need to stop playing doubles with sister Venus, however. Although they nabbed the doubles title at this year’s Australian Open, it’s getting tougher for them to completely annihilate opponents.

      With Henin and fellow Belgium Kim Clijsters back in action, women’s tennis is finally more competitive. Thankfully, this puts an end to Serena rolling over flimsy Russians in Grand Slams finals. The competition should make for some exciting tennis.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      Tennis

      McKinnie kicked off NFC Pro Bowl roster

      January 30, 2010 /

      Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie has been dismissed from the NFC Pro Bowl squad after missing four of five practices and attending just one team meeting. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, McKinnie also missed the team photo.

      McKinnie has been Tweetering (or is it Tweeting? Ah screw it…) all week about enjoying the Miami nightlife, so apparently he has partied his way out of Miami. Giants’ offensive lineman David Diehl will likely have to play the entire game now because the NFC only had three tackles on its roster.

      If McKinnie wasn’t going to take the game seriously, then he should have forfeited his game check like some of the other NFL players who have bowed out of the Pro Bowl. There was no sense in him taking up a roster spot just so he could be an idiot for a week. He could have done that on his own time.

      One would have thought that since this was his first Pro Bowl that he would have taken the honor seriously. But instead he embarrassed himself and the Vikings by being kicked off the team.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑