MKRob’s Sports Blog

San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman has decided to forego surgery and play the 2008 season with two torn ligaments in his left knee. Doctor’s have told him that he could very well suffer a career-ending injury if he risks playing this year. Merriman seems to not care about the possibility of further damage to his knee.

Reaction: The line has to be drawn at some point. I can understand playing hurt but this is taking it too far. You are risking a possible Hall of Fame career on one year of playing at maybe 70%. I believe that this is not a very smart move on Merriman’s part but I always say “whatever floats your boat” The only thing I can think of in this situation is maybe Merriman has some kind of clause in his contract that will pay him X amount of dollars for playing this season. Otherwise, God Bless him throughout this season and hopefully he does not injure himself permanently. Maybe he will change his mind.

Top 10 Conference Games

Florida vs Georgia: November 1st
LSU at Florida: October 11th
Georgia at LSU: October 25th
Oklahoma vs Texas: October 11th
South Florida at West Virginia: December 6th
Ohio State at Wisconsin: October 4th
Missouri vs Kansas: November 29th
Clemson at Wake Forest: October 9th
Michigan at Ohio State: November 22nd
Auburn at Alabama: November 29th

Top 10 Non-Conference Games

Ohio State at USC: September 13th
Auburn at West Virginia: October 23rd
Alabama vs Clemson: August 30th
Georgia at Arizona State: September 20th
Kansas at South Florida: September 12th
Florida at Florida State: November 29th
Illinois vs Missouri: August 30th
Arkansas at Texas: September 13th
Michigan at Notre Dame: September 13th
Oklahoma at Washington: September 13th

Nine-year-old Jericho Scott was banned from playing in the Youth Baseball League of New Haven for being TOO GOOD??? Scott is a right-handed pitcher whose fastball tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the league told his coach that the boy could not pitch anymore. Scott took the mound anyway and the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, Scott’s coach said.

League officials said that they will dismantle Jericho’s team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Scott’s coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned his position.

But Vidro says he didn’t quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league’s field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.

Reaction: This story is absolutely ridiculous, if a child is blessed with a specific talent, does that give people a right to ban him? No its not right, he should the same rights and privileges as all the other kids in the league to play. This is probably why New Haven is not even a statistic when it comes to pushing out talent, they chase everyone away. I believe this kind of talent would be welcomed in major baseball states like California, Florida and Texas. According to the league, Scott has not hurt anyone, which means he has pretty good control. I can’t believe that one team actually refused to play with Scott on the mound, that teaches the kids to be quitters and when someone great pitches, they refuse to play. If this is happening in youth baseball, I can only imagine what the high school programs are like.

Imagine one of the requirements of making a high school team in New Haven is to go home if  the opposing teams’ pitcher is someone who throws over 90 mph. LOL!!!

High School #1 says “We are putting Joe Blow on the mound today”

High School #2 says “We refuse to play because he throws over 90 mph, we only play against pitchers who throw under 85 mph.”

This to me is awful and I would be embarrased to say that I even played on one of these teams that refused to play Scott’s team. UNBELIEVABLE!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3553475

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Basketball Player and Basketball Coach
Playing Career: Milwaukee Bucks (1969-1975) and Los Angeles Lakers (1975-1989)
Coaching Career: Head Coach Oklahoma Storm- USBL (2002-2005), Special Assistant Coach Los Angeles Lakers (2005-present)

Serena Williams, Tennis Player
Turned pro in September 1995

Mahlon Duckett, Negro League Baseball Player
Detroit Stars (1940-1949) and the Homestead Grays (1950)

Dawn Staley, ex-Basketball Player and Basketball Coach
Playing Career: Richmond/Philadelphia Rage (1996-1999), Charlotte Sting (1999-2005) and Houston Comets (2005-2006)
Coaching Career: Temple University (2000-2007) University of South Carolina (2008)

NFL retired defensive tackle Warren Sapp, ex-Olympic sprinter and 100 meter record holder Maurice Greene and U.S. Volleyball Gold medalist Misty May-Treanor will be the athletes that will participate in the seventh season of Dancing With the Stars. The new season starts September 22nd at 8 p.m.

Other contestants include singers Lance Bass and Toni Braxton, All My Children soap star Susan Lucci, ex-Married With Children actor Ted McGinley, stand-up comedian/roast master Jeff Ross and Kim Kardashian are just some of the names that will participate.

You know I have to root for the old Miami Hurricane Warren Sapp. GO WARREN!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3552445

Between Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, its a toss up of who I’ve seen make some of the most impossible catches in college football. He has the potential to break all the receiving records the NFL has to offer. He’s a bigger Randy Moss with better body control. On this highlight tape you will see just about all the amazing catches he made while he was at Georgia Tech. See it for yourself.

The New York Giants Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora is going to have season ending knee surgery. Umenyiora was hurt in the second quarter of Saturday’s preseason against the New York Jets. The initial reaction from the injury was that it there was isn’t any ligament damage. But after the MRI on Sunday it revealed that he tore his lateral meniscus.

The Giants pass rush is now limited to Justin Tuck, Fred Robbins and Mathias Kiwanuka. Umenyiora had 13 sacks last season and now their super-talented Justin Tuck will have to pick up the slack. This just kills one of my All-MKRob defensive players for this year. I already believed that they wouldn’t win the Super Bowl this year, but they are definetly out of it now.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3551499

After 12 years of not winning gold in basketball, The U.S. finished their quest for gold and redemption late Saturday morning as they defeated Spain 118-107. The Redeem Team was led by Dwyane Wade and his 27 points off the bench, Kobe Bryant finished with 20 points and LeBron James finishing with 14 points. James not as much as a scoring threat compared to past games, but was a killer on the boards.

Like the women, the men blew out every opponent they faced, until they got to the final. The Spain National Team came closer than anyone to beating the Redeem Team losing by 11 points. They were led by Rudy Fernandez, 22 points and Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol finishing with 21 points. Overall, the Redeem Team represented the U.S. very well and accomplished their mission. GREAT JOB USA!!!

Here are my Top 10 Heisman Candidates this year:

Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri

Pat White, QB, West Virginia

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Todd Boeckman, QB, Ohio State

Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

My choice: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

Wells has all the tools to become a Heisman Trophy Winner. He plays at Ohio State,  which plays in a sorry conference where their best competition this year is Illinois and Michigan and they are decent, but are not up to par with the SEC. Everyone knows that the Heisman is not about the “BEST PLAYER” its about the “BEST PLAYER, ON THE BEST TEAM.” So with that being said, Ohio State will probably when all their games and he will be the focal point of their offense. If Wells doesn’t win it, its because they lose two games this year.

Those of you who are screaming TIM TEBOW!!! I really don’t blame you but the chances of him winning it twice is slim to none, especially in the SEC. I know he did the improbable last year by winning the award as a sophomore, but the chances of this one is even slimmer. All I can say is GOOD LUCK to all the candidates.

As expected the U.S.A. Women’s Basketball Team hammers Australia to win the Gold in Beijing. After toying with the competition in the Olympics, they finished Australia off in the same fashion. They beat them 92-65. Kara Lawson led the U.S. in scoring with 15 points and not far behind were Los Angeles Sparkes teammates Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker with 14 points each. This win gives Lisa Leslie her fourth gold medal, tying her with Teresa Edwards for the distinct honor of the only two basketball players to win a total of four gold medals ever. Now it’s the men’s turn. CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!!!

The Boston Celtics have signed veteran small forward Darius Miles after his two-year hiatus from the NBA. Miles was diagnosed with a career ending knee injury. The Celtics worked him out twice and they are very impressed with his physical condition. Miles last played in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2005-2006 NBA season. Welcome Back Darius!!!

The team of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Asafa Powell and the great Usain Bolt won a Gold medal for Jamaica after breaking the world record in the 4×100 relay in a time of 37.10. This means Usain Bolt now has three goal medals and three world records on his track resume. GOOD JOB JAMAICA!!!

Steven Jackson finally ends his holdout by signing a new deal with the Rams. Jackson agreed to a two-tier deal that could be worth up to $49.3 million. It’s either a three-year extension worth $29.3 million with 21 million guaranteed, or a five-year contract worth 49.3 million with the highest dollar amounts in the fourth and fifth year.

The contract is for five-years through 2013 with the option of the last two years being voided out depending upon Jackson’s performance in the first three years. I think all renewed contracts should be done this way, especially for the guys that play well and feel they deserve big money, get the big money and slack off afterwards. GREAT JOB RAMS!!!

NFLPA Executive Director and Hall of Fame Raiders guard Gene Upshaw died Wednesday night of pancreatic cancer. Upshaw passed away with wife Terri, sons Eugene Jr., Justin and Daniel by his side. Upshaw dies at the age of his Hall of Fame jersey number. R.I.P. Gene Upshaw #63.

Jamaica is adding to its medal total everyday as Veronica Campbell-Brown won struck Gold today in the 200 meter final with a personal best time of 21.74. American sprinter Alyson Felix will bring home the Silver, she finished in a time of 21.93 and Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart finished in 22.00 seconds flat. Stewart just squeaked by American Muna Lee who came in fourth with a time of 22.01. CONGRATS USA!!!