I'm back baby!!!!! AKA The REAL Decade in Review - Part One of ???

Here it is.  1/1/11.  I warned you all a few months ago if you follow me on Twitter (@WordOnTheFarm) that this was the date of my return.  As the end of 2010 came near, it was looking less likely that a new laptop would be coming my way to allow for this return.  Thank God for school, because the extra money that I got this fall was enough to get the laptop, so now I'm back baby.  I'm not sure how many of you all missed me (if anyone at all), but too bad.  The Farm Is Back!

Now, I could do the easy thing and come back with a 2010 in review blog.  Who said I do anything easy?  No, this one is going to be epic.  This is going to be a TRUE decade of decadence review.  Don't give me this Aughts in Review from 2000 to 2009.  The world wasn't created at year 0.  The world didn't go from 1 B.C. to 0 to 1 A.D.  It went from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D., and therefore, the true decade just past (2001-2010) is the decade that needs to be reviewed.  I expect that this review will take two or three blog posts, just because of the sheer magnitude of how much needs to be covered.  I'm going to start off with the ten biggest stories of the past decade.  I don't think I'm putting these in any particular order, just because they all have their degree of impact on the sports world of the past decade.  (The first five will appear in today's blog, the next five will be in the followup.)

#1. Daytona 2001.  The Intimidator's untimely death.  Dale Earnhardt was running in third on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, trying to protect teammates Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr to give Waltrip his first career Winston Cup win in 463 career starts.  Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader were running up hard on Earnhardt trying to pull ahead and catch the two other DEI cars.  The videos speak for themselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIGR07z5bpI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTHwbzWkYMA&feature=related


#1a. 2001 Pepsi 400.  In the first race at Daytona International Speedway following Dale Earnhardt's death, another highly emotional story unfolded as Dale Earnhardt Jr would go on to win the Pepsi 400.  Hollywood could not have written a better script for this race and the result.

#2. The Tiger Slam.  This will be the first of two appearances for Tiger Woods on the top ten list.  Granted, most of the titles that constitute the "Tiger Slam" were won in the year 2000, but the 2001 Masters was the culmination of what would have to be considered the greatest run of any professional golfer in the modern era.  Tiger had won the 2000 U.S. Open, 2000 British Open and the 2000 PGA Championship, and had already won the 1997 Masters.  Tiger would go on to win 9 majors during the decade, 13 World Golf Championship events, and 47 tournaments overall.  More on Tiger in a bit.

#3.  The New England Patriots.  In February 2002, the New England Patriots shocked the NFL world by defeating the St. Louis Rams to win Super Bowl XXXVI, 20-17 on a last second field goal by Adam Vinatieri.  The Patriots entered the game as a double digit underdog by the Vegas oddsmakers, yet were able to slow down what had been dubbed "The Greatest Show On Turf".  This was the coming out party for quarterback Tom Brady, who wasn't even the starting quarterback to begin the season.  Brady came in as the backup to Drew Bledsoe, who was injured during the second game of the regular season.  On the way to Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots would win their opening playoff game against the Oakland Raiders in a controversial manner.  Known as the Tuck Rule game, Tom Brady was hit by Charles Woodson on a corner blitz and appeared to fumble the ball.  However, after review, the play was called an incomplete pass because Brady's arm was moving forward at the time of the hit.  The Patriots would go on to win Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX, completing what many people have called the most dominant run in NFL history because of the salary cap that teams were forced to adhere to, unlike the Cowboys of the 1990s and the 49ers of the 1980s.

However, in 2007, the Patriots were also involved in one of the most publicized scandals of the decade with Spygate.  The New York Jets filed a claim with the NFL after week one that accused the Patriots of videotaping the Jets plays during the game on the field.  After a lengthy investigation by the league, the Patriots were fined a record $500,000 and were forced to forfeit their 2008 first round draft pick.  Even after the Spygate incident, the 2007 Patriots would go on to become the only team in NFL history to go through a 16-0 regular season.  However, the Patriots would not finish the season undefeated, as the New York Giants would go on to upset the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

#4.  The 2004 MLB playoffs.  The Curse of the Bambino.  Yankees-Red Sox.  The carryover from the epic 2003 ALCS showdown.  The Yankees would start the 2004 ALCS in dominating fashion, winning the first three games of the series, including game three by the ridiculous score of 19-8.  You would think the series would be over right?  WRONG.  The series was just getting exciting.  David Ortiz would give the Red Sox life in extra innings in game four, hitting a walk-off home run to cut the series deficit to 3-1.  Ortiz would do it again in game five, hitting a walk-off single to make it three games to two.  Curt Schilling would return in game six in what became known as the "Bloody Sock" game, pitching with a torn tendon sheath in his right ankle and give the Red Sox a lift, forcing a game seven.  One game from an epic collapse, the Yankees would ultimate choke away the series, with Johnny Damon hitting two home runs in game seven and the Red Sox romping their way to a 10-2 win in the final game of the series.  The Red Sox would go on to win the 2004 World Series, ending 86 years of futility.  Not to be outdone, the 2005 Chicago White Sox would break their own futility, ending 94 years of frustration by winning the title.

#5.  The Decision.  Where would LeBron go?  That was the storyline after the Cleveland Cavaliers season ended in the 2010 playoffs with another disappointing loss.  LeBron hosted meetings with various teams during the offseason, and led to what is being called an ill-conceived television special on ESPN hosted by Jim Gray.  The questions Gray was allowed to ask were basically softball questions designed to promote the fluff that LeBron had to say.  The catchphrase "I'm taking my talents to South Beach" has become a joke amongst the players who go to Miami and beat the Heat.  The over the top celebration of the Heat's signing of Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and their initial struggles during the 2010-2011 season made this spectacle look even more ridiculous.

Well DUHHHHHHHHHH

The Word of the Day is DUH.

(Just a quick note.  I've added a few new blogs to my network as great reads.  I hope you read those blogs as well as this one.  They are all very entertaining.  As you see at the top, I've also added a new logo, created at cooltext.com.  Hope you enjoy it.  Shameless plug: Please click on the advertisements you see on this page.  It would be nice to make money off this blog, but since I don't have any direct sponsorships yet, it would be nice if you click on the ads to help make me some much needed money for the holidays.)

Albert Pujols was just named the unanimous winner of the 2009 National League Most Valuable Player award.  Well duh.  Prince Albert was clearly the best player in baseball, and if he wasn't named a unanimous winner of the NL MVP award, it would have been the biggest travesty since, well, yesterday's AL MVP announcement that Joe Mauer only got 27 of 28 first place votes.

Speaking of which, what in the hell were you thinking, Keizo Konishi?  Miguel Cabrera was the best player in the American League?  By what criteria?  Most cheeseburgers eaten during the pre-game buffet?  Most hot dogs eaten at first base during the game?  Most times caught on camera picking his nose?  There is no justifiable reason that Miguel Cabrera was the best player in the American League.  Miguel Cabrera wasn't even the most valuable Detroit Tigers player this year.  Justin Verlander was.  In fact, if I had a ballot for the American League MVP, it would have looked something like this:

1. Joe Mauer
2. Derek Jeter
3. Kendry Morales
4. Ben Zobrist
5. Kevin Youkilis
6. Mark Teixeira
7. Zack Greinke
8. Aaron Hill
9. Miguel Cabrera
10. Jason Bay

Cabrera deserved to be in the top ten this year.  But the fact that he drank himself off during the month of September when the Tigers needed him most says enough about his character that he should not have been anywhere near the top of the ballot.

Speaking of dumb votes, what in the hell is Placido Polanco and Jeremy Affeldt doing getting MVP votes?  Really?  Polanco was at best the FIFTH best second baseman in the American League this past year, and even that is probably generous (Hill, Zobrist, Cano, Pedroia, Roberts come to mind before I even consider Polanco).  And a SETUP man in the National League is in the top ten?  The fact that Adrian Gonzalez finished TWELFTH should show that there is no way in hell that Jeremy Affeldt should have been considered a top FIFTY player in the National League, let alone top ten.  These voters should have their ballots revoked IMMEDIATELY.

College basketball season started in earnest last week.  After watching the Coaches vs Cancer classic last week, I want to know what the coaches of the Big East were thinking putting Syracuse SIXTH in the conference in their pre-season ranking.  They looked very impressive against Ohio State and North Carolina last week.  Mark my words right now.  Syracuse WILL be a Final Four team this year.  Since I really didn't do a college basketball preview, I'm going to announce my Final Four teams here as I think we will see Syracuse, Kansas, Duke and Texas as the last teams standing.

What took the Titans so long to give the reins to Vince Young.  All he does is simply win games.  He may not put up the best numbers (see Boller, Kyle), but he gets the job done.  Eight straight regular season wins for Vince.  If they had pulled the plug on Kerry Collins earlier, we might be talking about the Titans as a playoff contender.  Now, however, even if they win out, there is virtually zero chance that the Titans will make the playoffs.

My NFL MVP Watch:
1. Brett Favre.  Unheard of idea four months ago, but 21 TDs, 3 INTs and leading the NFL in QB rating shows that The Gunslinger is more than just a gunslinger.

2. Peyton Manning.  He is carrying this Colts offense to an undefeated season with guys named Garcon running the routes.

3. Drew Brees.  It's nothing that he did that is causing him to drop in my eyes.  It's just that Favre has been unbelievable.  Looking forward to seeing what he can do against Patriots defense.

4. Tom Brady.  He's BACK.  Enough said.

5.  Wes Welker.  Hear me out here folks, because this isn't just because of my Patriots fandom.  The Patriots didn't have Welker in week two, so the Jets could focus on shutting down Randy Moss because the Pats didn't have enough depth at WR.  Result: Jets win.  Welker is back the second time around, and he torches them for 15 catches and nearly 200 yards, getting first downs on nearly every single reception.  Result: Patriots win.

My Top Three Heisman Candidates:
(Before I begin, this is probably the weakest crop of Heisman candidates in recent memory.  At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.)
1. Case Keenum, Houston.  He is putting up staggering numbers.  If Houston had any type of defense, they would be in the discussion for BCS buster.

2. Mark Ingram, Alabama.  Ingram is carrying the Crimson Tide towards the BCS title game.  Yes, I said it.  Alabama will beat Florida to go to the BCS title game.

3. C.J. Spiller, Clemson.  Spiller is probably the most versatile player in college football this year.  This year's version of Percy Harvin.  That's right.  Percy Harvin.

Tomorrow:  NFL and College picks.  Probably won't be another blog after tomorrow this week due to Thanksgiving holiday, not that I will be celebrating it.  It is also the 11 year anniversary of my half brother's tragic passing due to a car accident.  I will be working instead to keep my mind off it.

The Weekend In Review

Thank you for reading the debut of Word On The Farm.

The word of the day is Ugh.

You all know the streak had to end sooner or later. 26 innings of shutout ball to start his playoff career. Then, in an instant, he yakked up a two run lead almost as fast as Brad Lidge. (Oh wait, he ACTUALLY did save a game last night for the Phillies.) Now the rumors are already flying about whether the Red Sox are going to trade Jonathan Papelbon and let the kid Daniel Bard take the closer role. Papelbon is in his second year of arbitration, and could command upwards of $9 million per year. (That is strictly a personal guess based on what he is currently making now.) Financially speaking, it wouldn't be a bad move for the Sawx, as Bard will be making league minimum money next year, and middle relievers are a dime a dozen.

So what should the Red Sox do with the money. Simple. KEEP JASON BAY. Whatever it takes. After the Mark Teixeira debacle last year, can the Sox really afford to take another PR hit by seeing Bay succeed somewhere other than Boston? JB carried the Sox offense for the first four months of the season until they got help from V-Mart.

I hate to say it, because I've been a big fan of his since he came up to the bigs in 1997, but Jason Varitek needs to retire and join the Sox front office staff. He has nothing left in the tank either offensively or defensively. Catchers age quicker than just about any other position in sports. That's right. All of sports, not just baseball. 'Tek has been around the game a long time, and is one of the smartest men in the game. It's time for him to take his knowledge and use it to work his way up the management level. I think he becomes a major league manager in no more than five years, if he leaves Boston.

It's nice to see A-Rod finally showed up for a playoff series. It's about time DJ got some help. Speaking of DJ, the people who makes the plaque in Cooperstown can start etching his name right now. The heads up play he made last night to nail Nick Punto in a 2-1 game at the time was classic Derek Jeter. Probably the second best play he has made in his career (behind the play he made to nail Jeremy Giambi in the playoffs in 2001). I only wish that ESPN and everyone else who claims the play he made in July 2004 to dive into the stands against was his best would shut up, because it wasn't even close. The only reason people think it was big was because he ended up in the stands with a bloodied nose. HE MADE THE CATCH FOUR STEPS AWAY!!!! HIS MOMENTUM CARRIED HIM INTO THE STANDS, NOT THE CATCH. You can look it up.

What happened, Bill Belichick? Did you feel bad that you were putting a whooping on your pupil Josh McD? What is the excuse for Randy only getting one catch this week? He had a better game on DEFENSE than he did on offense, and that's inexcusable. Get this man more touches Bill. And draft a running back. A GOOD running back. Maroney's a bust. Take a couple of these draft picks that you always seem to have in hand and trade up to get a power back.

Can I just say for the record that I have never seen three teams in the NFL worse than what the Browns, Raiders and Rams are doing right now? If you combined the best players on those three teams, they would STILL finish below .500. In the NFC West. The worst division in the NFL. I can name at least three college football teams right now that I would put as a favorite in Vegas over all three of those moribund, pathetic teams. Give me the Gators, the Longhorns, and the Crimson Tide right now as at least a 7 point favorite. I think USC and Oklahoma could give them a run for their money too.

The Redskins aren't too far behind on this train of suckdom. How can you barely beat St. Louis, lose to Detroit, barely beat Tampa Bay, and then lose to Carolina, and STILL have your job? I hear there's a help wanted ad being placed in the Washington Post for a soon to be vacant head coaching position. I hear Bill Cowher and Mike Shanahan already turned down the job because Dan Snyder is a dunderhead. (Dunderhead. A word that rarely gets used but is a perfect definition for Snyder.)

I think Eli just threw another touchdown pass against the Raiders.

I think Terrell Owens is requesting a trade from Buffalo. If he's not, that's probably the biggest upset so far this year.

The United States clinched a spot in the World Cup. Yawn. Wake me up after we actually win the damn thing. Then I might care about soccer. Might.