Another 2007 QB draft pick cast aside

The 2007 draft of quarterbacks has to be one of the worst ever QB class in the league. With the failures of JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn (lucky to be on a team), John Beck (where is he now?), add Trent Edwards to the list. On Monday, Bills released Edwards the day after Ryan Fitzpatrick took his starting spot and kept up with New England Patriots in a 38-30 loss. A big fall for Edwards after showing promise in his rookie season which he started nine games. The next two seasons he regressed with him missing half the season in his third year due to injury. Despite winning the starting job in training camp, he played poorly in the first two games causing the team to make moves last week and to finally cut him after the third game of the season. While Jaguars snapped him up he will likely be backup QB. This leaves Kevin Kolb as the last hope to be regular QB starter from that year draft, but its been put in the backburner when Michael Vick took over his spot when he was KO'd in the first game of the season. None of the QBs drafted in that year have done anything special from Drew Stanton (6 games), Jeff Rowe (0 games, 0 passes), Troy Smith (14 games, mostly used for Wildcat plays), Jordan Palmer (3 games), and Tyler Thigpen (started 11 games in 2008; now a backup in Miami). With Edwards cut it puts the exclamation mark on the 2007 QB draft class as the most disappointing, horrendous, and quickest flame out from a position ever.

Bobby Cramer made it

Here's another player that finally made it to the big leagues: Bobby Cramer. The picture on the left taken when he was at Double-A A's affiliate Midland Rockhounds in 2007. For Cramer he came in the hard way. Originally drafted by Seattle Mariners in 2001 he didn't play til 2003 when he signed with Tampa Bay Rays. After two seasons in their minor league system they released him. He was out of baseball for two years working jobs as a substitute teacher and pipeline maintenance. Oakland brought him back to baseball in 2007 which pitched the season through their A and AA club. A's released him in 2008 and he spent the year playing in the independent Golden Baseball League. In 2009 A's signed him back playing through all through all levels of their minor league system with various success including battling a fatigue arm. This year he played through the club's Mexican and Pacific league putting up impressive resumé for the A's to give him a September call-up. Cramer got the call at age 30 (and soon to be 31) and the start in his first major league game. He pitched 5 1/3 inning giving up 4 hits and a run in a win against the Royals. Cramer long way to the majors showed you can never give up if you have the mentality to play the game. Great job well done Bobby Cramer on making it to the majors and getting your first win.

Matt Leinart lays a rotten egg

When Matt Leinart landed at no. 10 in 2006 draft Arizona Cardinals thought they got a steal. Turns out being a bust after four seasons with the team becoming the first player chosen from the top 10 of that year's "heralded" draft released from a team. What's strange that the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner was projected as first player chosen in 2005 if he left USC early. Alex Smith got chosen first overall of 2005 draft by the 49ers and is STILL with the team. For Leinart he lasted four mediocre seasons with the Cardinals. What was his downfall? His relax carefree attitude questioning his dedication? Was it the timing of his broken collarbone allowing Kurt Warner to take over as starter and never relinquish it? Did Warner set the bar too high with the team that Leinart couldn't able to leap over it? It's possibly be all three happenings. When Warner retired it was Leinart turn to take the starting role. Turns out Leinart looked average on the field struggling at times as starter during preseason despite a somewhat high completion rate, but with low passing yards. His play caused a concern for coach Ken Wisenhunt look into Derek Anderson as possible starter. After final two preseason games which Anderson played fairly well as starter while Leinart play was up and down coming off the bench, Anderson manage to squeak in as starter. It was enough for Cardinals to cut Matt Leinart blowing his chance as a starting quarterback. What thought to be laying a golden egg turns out to be a rotten one four seasons later.

Rich Harden was the Real Deal on Monday

In 2002 I remember when I first heard the player name Rich Harden. He was part of Oakland A's Double-A affiliate, Midland Rockhounds for half the season. In 2003 he started the season back in Midland and in two games, both on the road, he pitched 13 perfect innings. I never get a chance to saw him because the A's quickly sent him up to AAA. His pitching dominance continued in AAA that saw him get a late season call up to Oakland. I took notice becoming a fan of him dubbing him "Real Deal" Harden. I bought and collected his cards and ordered his jersey. I knew he was All-Star in the making. In his time in Oakland he was wheeling and dealing on the mound. Despite having one of best young arms he has one problem: being healthy. Each year he spent time on the DL with an arm injury. After three half seasons with the A's and being a risk he was shipped off to Chicago Cubs, a team I loathe, in 2008. While he shined in the second half with the Cubs, in 2009 it was different story he was had up and down season finishing with 9-9 record with 4.09 ERA. Signed an one year contract with Texas Rangers hoping to live up the billing as the "Real Deal." Instead he struggled on and off getting pulled out of the games five times after pitching less than 5 innings. Also five times he pitched past the 5th inning and this was after 15 starts. He also dealt with the arm injury issue putting him on the DL for six weeks. Looks like his shining star was fading fast and so was his "Real Deal" moniker. Then came Monday pitching against the Twins in his 16th start. He became the "Real Deal" tossing 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball with 6 strikeouts before getting pulled. The no-hitter kept on til bottom on the 9th when Joe Mauer broke it up. While it was heartbreaking for him to lose a no-no yet it was great moment. On that night "Real Deal" Harden was the one I heard, read, and watched: a dominating pitcher on the mound. Job well done Real Deal.

NASCAR screws Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski got screwed by NASCAR. Kyle Busch got loose in the turn and Brad Keselowski force to bump him and take the lead. Busch retaliated bumping Keselowski into a spin. You expected a penalty out of this but NO! Busch wasn't given a penalty and ends up winning the race. Busch admitted to spinning him out. Likely next week NASCAR will fine and might put Busch on probation but its too little too late. What Brad Keselowski did was a racing incident. What Busch did was blatant. This is second potential win Brad Keselowski lost in Nationwide series adding along top 10 finishes lost in Sprint Cup because a driver spun or wrecked him. Ever since NASCAR slapped the handcuffs on Brad Keselowski drivers have taken advantage of Brad Keselowski wrecking and spinning him on the track with no consequences til days after the race. It's complete joke NASCAR kept screwing Brad Keselowski just to "teach him a lesson." Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch are current NASCAR poster boys while Brad Keselowski is more of an old-school driving style and a rebel against the current NASCAR system. Hey I know that style! It's the style Dale Earnhardt and Tim Richmond drove. The Intimidator became a legend in NASCAR and a 7-time champ. Richmond would have won a championship if it wasn't for his untimely death. Is no one in NASCAR to "emulate" them? NASCAR should be ashamed for continual screwing of Brad Keselowski.

Jim Gray is a douche

This hack of a sports reporter known for douchebaggery in the media with his interviews and claims. He known for bombing Pete Rose with did he bet on baseball question during live TV raining on his special moment:

Players took notice and gave him a payback when Chad Curtis dismissed him on live TV.

He never fails with more of his douchebaggery riding on anyone coattails from LeBron James to Barry Bonds. Last week his idiot self got himself in the news for every wrong reason again. He claimed golfer Corey Pavin has guaranteed Tiger Woods a spot in the Ryder Cup. This led to Pavin denying there was a guarantee during a press conference.

There's more to the story as off camera Gray got in the face on Pavin. Reports that Pavin's wife recorded the entire thing. Hope that video gets release showing Gray being a douchebag. It may get all his media credentials revoked and will no longer allowed to work in sports ever.

Happy endeavors Roy Oswalt

Roy Oswalt is no longer an Astro. He's now a Phillie as he approves the trade to Philadelphia. I seen "Big O'" pitched twice in my trips to Houston catching an Astros game. Both games he was impressive and victorious. He's impressive pitcher that deserves better than the garbage Astros signed and put on the field currently right now. Going to miss "Big O" in Houston. Good luck in Philly!

Chone Figgins is a lazy bum

Here's another player underachieving his worth than the money he's being paid for: Chone Figgins. In the offseason he signed four-year, $36 million contract. So far he's hitting a lousy .229 with 22 RBIs. Not worth the money paid for and has ripped off the Mariners with his laziness. He took laziness to the extreme when he let a throw go when it was within reach allowing Mike Cameron running with a sports hernia to stretch a double to a triple. Manager Don Wakamatsu had enough and benched him. It resulted in a dugout fight between the two. The player that replaced him, Josh Wilson, proceed to hit a double. Wilson making the minimum and proceeds to get the job done. How about taking money from Figgins from that game check and give it to Wilson for doing his job? Mariners should not only bench him but trade his lazy ass to any team that will use him as a salary dump.

George Steinbrenner dies

George Steinbrenner died at age 80 of a massive heart attack. You gotta give the devil his due. He was a hands on owner that did anything to have his team win the World Series from signing players to big money contracts and hiring/firing any manager that did/didn't get the job done. George gets to enjoy one last World Series win last year in the first year of their brand new ballpark. He's a character and an owner that loves his team to win. He will be missed.

Can Beasley breakthrough or be busted?

While talk continue to surrounded of a newly formed superteam in Miami the Heat made a small transaction to clear up cap room. The transaction? Trading Michael Beasley to the Timberwolves for a 2011 second round pick. That is how much this guy is worth now after two years in the NBA. From 2nd overall pick in 2008 to being salary cap trade bait being worth a 2nd round pick.

He was highly touted being "NBA ready" coming out of Kansas St. Instead becoming a budding star like Derrick Rose his attitude and lazy work ethic showed up with a trip to a drug rehab. While he improved his points per average by almost a point from his rookie season Derrick Rose, the player taken ahead of him, became an All-Star and the face of the Bulls. Not a good way to start off NBA career with Rose off to a hot start and the players picked after him such as O.J. Mayo and Russell Westbrook becoming a nucleus pieces of their team.

With a new change of scenery from Miami to Minneapolis he gets a "re-start" to his short NBA career. Hopefully he becomes the monster scoring machine like he was at Kansas St. and not fall into his old habits. It's make or break time for Beasley to show off potential and become a team/league star player or becoming a journeyman with the word "bust" hanging over his head.