Pujols Payday



Times were so much simpler then



When I was a kid 'Payday' meant one of two things to me.   The first of which was a fantastic delectable peanut treat and the second was a highly under rated board game.   As I have gotten older the word "Payday" means one thing and one thing only.   We all know what payday means to each and everyone of us.   What is means to Albert Pujols is something totally different.  As Pujols starts his 11th season with the Cardinals his number are unprecedented.   At 31 years old he has put together a number log that make both stat geeks and fantasy sports enthusiasts get hot flashes.  With 1,900 hits, 402 home runs and 1230 RBI his numbers, for his age, are on par with only one other: George Herman Ruth. 

As the Cardinals and Pujols try to pin the tail on the contract donkey we ask "How much is he going to get?"  Let's start off by putting the cliches on ice.  You'll start hearing them all if you haven't already.  My three favorite.   "All athletes are greedy", "No one deserves that much money" and "How much is enough?" Isn't it amazing that fans get all worked up when an athlete who entertains hundreds of thousands get all worked up over how much they make but when a CEO of an oil company or an S & L makes five times that amount no one bats and eye.   So back to the task at hand, "How much is he going to get?"

The Cardinals have two things going for them and one thing working against them.   The two bright spots are that both the Yankees and Red Sox have first baseman that they seem to be very happy with.  Therefore you can eliminate two major suitors with deep pockets.   So who would be the cardinals big competition if Pujols decides to test the free agent waters?  How about a team that has about $30 plus million coming off the books at the end of this season?  Smile Northsiders it may just be a great year to be a Cubs fan. So how much money would the Rickett's family be willing to spend on arguably the best player in the game? 



Baseball is better for Ruth leaving Boston



The similarities between Pujols and Ruth are quite staggering.  They are the only two players with career batting averages over .320  to go with seasonal home run and RBI averages of 40 and 120 respectively.  They both slug well over .600 and have an OPS of 1.000.  Ouch....brain freeze.  I am not a stat geek, I am not a stat geek.   In Pujols we are watching this generation's Ruth.   But could we be approaching what would be the biggest similarity of them all?  Could Albert Pujols be on the move from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs?  Would this be the biggest act of "treason" we have ever seen in baseball?  Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs both ended up in New York after leaving Boston but they had at least one bus stop prior to.  I can't think of one anthlete in the range of their prime that has left one organization for its arch rival.  One thing I know for sure.  You can count me in as one of the people that hopes this happen. 

I really don't cheer one way or another when it comes to players and outcomes anymore.  I just want great match-ups, great story lines, and entertaining events.  And let's face it there really is only one rivalry in baseball that is worth its weight in any precious metal.   We all know what Ruth going from Boston to New York did for that rivalry.  That was before TV, the Internet, and well even nationwide radio use.  It was so long ago the players used trains for road trips.  In today's media age Pujols from the Cardinals to Cubs would reignite that rivalry to what it once was.  

So how much is he going to get?  It doesn't matter to me at all. I really doesn't  So long as the Cubs pay $1 more than the Cardinals. 



Cub Fans...Tell me this doesn't make you smile!



I Can Drive 45

As January ends we close in on another Super Bowl.   As Super Sunday turns 45 I feel there are plenty of reasons to be excited and grateful.  How can't you like this match-up? The Sporting World's biggest game and two of its most storied and tradition rich organizations hooking up in what is the modern day version of the Roman Colosseum in Dallas, Texas.   There are several reasons why I enjoy the Super Bowl.  Some of them old, some of them new.  Some of them will continue on forever.

People like to "break down" the game and give you in depth analysis of what is going to happen.  The truth is that none of those people have a clue of what is going to happen.   This game is more than just a game. 
It is the biggest event, sporting and non sporting, in America every year. I know why I enjoy this game so much.  And I am going to give you a reason for every year that this extravaganza is held. 

45.   Media Day- Yep its a freak show and why not? The freaks make this thing what it is!
44.   The Big Inflatable Helmets the Players run out of during introductions. 
43.   Six hour pregame show.  Too long?  Hey you don't have to watch it. 
42.   The squares sheet. 
41.   Everyone actually watches it. At least the start.
40.   The High Stakes.  Every play is under the microscope.
39.   The moment you realize your are watching a classic. (1989-49ers, 2002-Pats, 2009-Steelers)
38.   The clean Lombardi Trophy before all the fingerprints.
37.   Everyone complaining about the halftime show.  I agree, it's boring. Let's sacrifice people next year. 
36.   The instant Greatest Super Bowl? or Worst Super Bowl Ever? debates. 
35.   Disney shunning the MVP.  (Ray Lewis-2001, Ben Roethlisberger-2011?)
34.   Prop Bets
33.   The kid, at the party, that is actually watching the game. 
32.   The guy, at the party, that gets mad because people are talking.
31.   The woman, at the party, that criticizes what the national anthem singer is wearing.
30.   The how much of each particular food is consumed nationwide stat.
29.   The ridiculous amount of post-game confetti. 
28.   Players holding up Newspapers w/Winning Headlines after the Game.
27.   People sprinting of the field as clock strikes 00:00. 
26.   Immediately Following the Game-Sports Illustrated's Championship Gift Pack Offer
25.   Commemorative Coin for the Opening Toss (That you can buy online!)
24.   The New "Jordan's" Commercial- 1990-1994
23.   Bud Bowl-Of course the beer bottles weren't geared towards kids!
22.   Players getting in trouble before the game (see Barrett Robbins & Eugene Robinson)
21.   Memorable Commercials
20.   The immediate commercial debates that pour into game play. 
19.   Football Legend carrying Lombardi Trophy to podium with players on both sides form a line to touch it.
18.   The guy who bet too much money and is about to lose his mind.
17.   Guy at the party who wears a jersey of a player and team not playing in the game.
16.   Interviews with coaches that lost in conference championship game.  Poor Rex Ryan and Lovie Smith.
15.   Players on podium in post-game celebration that say they have the greatest fans in the world.
14.   Footage of old Super Bowls and realization those guys would get worked over today. 
13.   Also realizing that no one has ever died after seeing Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction.
12.   Someone thanking God for the win.  He must really not like the Vikings and Bills. 
11.   The guy that saw the upset coming all along just as the clock hits 00:00. 
10.   No one answering the door as Publisher's Clearing House goes Live.
9.     Actors from a show, on the same network airing the game, sitting in a group watching the game. 
8.     The guy who swears Leon Lett cost him big money in his squares pool in 1993. 
7.     Impressed that they get the stage up and down that fast at halftime. 
6.     Celebrity Guest Picks-Guy Fieri thinks the Colts will win.  I am sold.
5.     The Hype
4.     The Extra Week
3.     The mostly controllable environment. Teams playing in optimal conditions. It gives us the best game. Won't happen in NY in 2014
2.     The Day After-I can watch the highlights for days.
1.     Dynasties being built-49ers, Boys & Steelers.