Just yesterday Sam Bradford, Rookie Quarterback for the St. Louis Rams and the number one overall pick in this past year's NFL Draft signed a 6 year 78 million dollar deal with a chance for it to be worth as much as 86 million. That’s way too much to be paying any player let alone a guy who missed his last college season with a shoulder injury and who also has never thrown a pass in the League. The worst part though isn't just the amount he is going to be paid over the short span but that 50 million of that is guaranteed. Sam Bradford now can have a career ending injury 2 games in and be set for life and what can the team do about it? Nothing! Look at WR Dez Bryant, the number 24 overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys. He signed a 5 year deal worth 11.8 million dollars, 8.3 mil of that guaranteed and now just a couple of days into camp he is out 4-6 weeks with an ankle injury.

I think everyone knows who the financial burden for these huge contracts fall on. The Fans of Course! What type of penny pinching owner would even think about digging into their own pockets to fuel a championship contender? Not any that I know. Ticket prices have increased at an extremely fast pace and player salaries have done the same.  Why do we keep paying these huge ticket prices?  The responsibility for the rising prices fall on the fans, we just shouldn't be paying them.  I also don't know anybody that needs to be making 14 million a year. If I had their talent I actually wouldn't want that, so my team could go and spend the extra cap space to bring in players to make the team a championship caliber team. What needs to happen in the next CBA is a set salary for rookies at each draft spot.

In no way should an unproven QB such as Bradford or even last years number one pick, Matt Stafford ( 5 year, 72 mil 41.7 guaranteed) be making as much, or more in a lot of cases as some of the better signal callers in the NFL. Joe Flacco, QB for the Ravens took his team to the playoffs in both of his first two seasons while becoming one of the best in the game. His salary, 5 years 11.9 million dollars seems like nothing when you compare it to what these kids are going to make. You never see him complaining though because he is a class act and he knows that he is getting paid more than fairly to play a game.

The NFL and commish Goodell needs to come up with a set system for rookie pay days because before long we will see a 100 million dollar rookie turn into a bust and send a franchise into disaster status for years to come because of one bad investment.

-A.- MVP Sports Talk

While rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals is hogging all of the attention another rookie pitcher has quietly helped his team to near the top of their division.  Mike Leake (above), pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, just a half a game out of first in the NL Central is right now one of the top contenders for the National League Rookie of the Year award, has a 7-1 Win/Loss record,  73 strikeouts, and a solid 3.45 ERA yet nobody outside of Reds Land seems to be paying him any attention.  Right now everyone is just pressed over Stephen Strasburg, his triple digit fastball, and why he should have, or should not have made the allstar team (I'm happy that he didn't, he hadn't had enough starts).  Now why would people ignore the real phenom here for a flamethrower that hasn't even been in the bigs for two months?  Maybe its because Strasburg's changeup has been clocked faster than Leake's fastball, maybe its that Leake  has two less strikeouts in 60 1/3 more innings, or maybe its because of Strasburg's miniscule 2.32 ERA and 1.07 WHIP?  Right now I don't know, But what I do know is Mike Leak deserves some respect and hopefully he will get it in the voting for National League Rookie of the Year.

-Andrew F, MVP Sports Talk

This article was taken from the archives and edited with updated stats (July 8, 2010)

From the Archives of MVP Sports Talk, July 9, 2010

On then night of July 8, 2010 at 9:28 PM the hopes and dreams of millions were shattered, one city's economy was smashed so hard it may never rebound, and one man, a hero just minutes before is now one of the biggest villians in all of sports.  This of course is LeBron James, who in the dead of night and in similar fashion to the Browns, bolted Cleveland.  Mr. James had a different destination though, he was bound for South Beach and the Miami Heat, seemingly betraying his hometown team.  "What is so bad about switching teams?" you might ask.  Well, it wasn't that he switched teams, it was the way that he did it.  In an hour long special on ESPN in Greenwitch, Connecticut LeBron fed his huge ego and acted good guy by having all revenue donated to the Boy's and Girl's Club all while become the most hated man in Cleveland.

While feelings of hatred, denial, and betrayal flow around Cleveland a feeling of rebirth and hope have washed over the city of Miami because this move adds even more star power to what has been an amazing offseason for the new NBA Favorites.  They resigned superstar guard and Heat Icon Dwyane Wade, inked allstar foward Chris Bosh, and now the biggest splash of all.  They gave King James a brand new throne and most importantly a chance to win Multiple NBA Championships.  There is always a small chance that superstars don't mesh, but if their play on the US National Basketball Team is any indication this trio of stars is ready to take the NBA by Storm.

This move is bad news for pretty much the whole of Cleveland, even those that are not Cav's fans because the city's whole economy was based off of the king and his image.  It also devalues the Cavaliers franchise by about $200 million and will cause lots of air pollution based off of the number of jerseys that will be burned.  Although I do regret that this move demolishes the city's economy, and I think that he could have done in in a more subtle an less egotistical way, I firmly believe that LeBron made the best move for him to win today and into the future.

 -Andrew F, MVP Sports Talk

From the Archives of MVP Sports Talk

Daniel Nava, the 27 year old from Redwood City, California and rookie Left Fielder for the Boston Red Sox has had a long and winding path on his way to the bigs.  Here is his amazing and inspiring story.  Daniel was always a small kid, especially during high school. He was only 4'8 70 lbs during his freshman year and by the time he was a senior he had only grown to 5'5 but had gained 80 pounds, increasing to 150 lbs, a little bit over the average weight for his size.

 When he got out of high school he decided to attend Santa Clara University where he tried to walk on and was denied a spot on their baseball squad. He proceeded to be the manager of the team during his freshman and sophomore years before the cost of tuition caused him to transfer to the College of San Mateo, a junior college in San Mateo, California. During his first year there he saw an old friend that encouraged him to try out for the team. He did, made it, and by the end of the season he had performed so well that he was named a Junior College All- American. Santa Clara University, the same school that rejected his services just three years before, was so impressed with Nava's performance that they offered him a full scholarship to attend their school for a second time. In the one season he played at Santa Clara he performed well enough to show that he lived up to the scholarship he received batting around a .400 clip and with an On Base Percentage just a smidgen below .500 while earning First Team All- West Coast Conference honors. He also stole 15 bases without getting caught once and showed patience at the plate as he drew walks more often than he was put down on strikes.

After Nava graduated from Santa Clara he was undrafted and decided to sign with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League, and Independent League. (A league with teams that have no affiliation to Major League Clubs) Like with Santa Clara, the Outlaws rejected Daniel on his try with the team but brought him in a year later when a spot opened up. The move paid its dividends for the Outlaws because in 2007 Nava smashed 12 round trippers while having an outstanding batting average of .371 and a Ruth like OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.100. Following this amazing campaign Baseball America named him the number one prospect in the Independent Leagues.

 The Red Sox, with the urging of their assistant director of pro scouting, Jared Porter, bought out the contract of Nava for only $1. Of course the total of the deal would add up to $1,500 if the Red Sox didn't release Nava right after spring training. As it turned out, that move was a huge bargain for the BoSox who sent him to Low A Lancaster after spring was over. At Lancaster, Nava continued his surprising run to the top batting .341, slugging 10 homers, and driving in 59 in only 85 games. His performance earned him a call up to High A Salem where he continued to dominate batting .339 before another call. This time he was sent to AA Portland where he played 32 games, batted .364 with 4 homers and an amazing 25-12 BB/K ratio earning the Red Sox Minor League Player of the Month for August/September.

Nava began 2010 with AAA Pawtucket and was there for about 2 months before an array of injuries left the Sox outfield depleted. The man who said he could hardly lift a 32 ounce bat just 10 years ago was now on his way to play in the same uniform and in the same position as Red Sox Legends Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice. He finally got his chance on June 12, 2010 where he debuted as a starter in Left Field against the Philadelphia Phillies. The first pitch he ever saw in the Majors was while the bases were loaded and he abruptly cleared them. The man that couldn't even make his college team had just hit a grand slam on the first pitch he ever saw in the bigs becoming the second player to ever do so. He also became the only player to hit a grand slam on the first pitch he ever saw in the majors while in interleague play. He continued to after his hot start reaching base safely in each of his first 13 games. Currently through 26 games Nava is hitting .294 with 10 doubles.

 In Hollywood this story would end with Nava going on to make the MLB Hall of Fame but this is reality, not Hollywood and when the regulars return from their injuries unless one of them has a major drop off this is probably the last we hear of Daniel Nava in a Sox uniform. In this past month he has taken us on a wild ride and hopefully he will have another chance to play regularly because as he enters the prime of his career he has shown potential to be a breakout player in the Majors for years to come.

 In short, this amazing young man persevered after he was cut from his college team, went undrafted, and had his independent league contract bought out for a mere $1 is playing solid ball on the game's highest stage for one of the most prolific teams in all of baseball.

-Andrew F check out my blog at http://mvpsportstalk.tk/

From the Archives of MVP Sports Talk July 17, 2010

Just another Ovechkin Crosby comparison

For the past five years one of the biggest debates in all of sports is who is a better hockey player, Alexander Ovechkin the flashy Left Winger for a revived Capital's Team or Sidney Crosby the golden boy of Team Canada and star center of the Pittsburgh Penguins.  I believe it is pretty obvious to us all that Ovechkin is the more talented of the two but being more talented does not automatically mean he is better because being a complete player means that you have to have leadership skills, the talent, the work ethic, and the desire to go out and win your team hockey games.

Both young men have great claims to the title of being the top player in the game but there can only be a single player that is the BEST in the sport.  Here I will go 1 by 1 on certain aspects of their game to see who the edge goes to for the NHL's top player. 

EXCITEMENT

Sidney Crosby is a great player who excels at all aspects on the offensive side of the game and can make all fans jump to their feet with his open ice skills or while he is on the break away BUT

Alexander Ovechkin has been a one man show setting of fireworks ever since he arrived in the District from scoring goals while sliding on his back, to setting of the crowd with his creative celebrations, all the way through the sound of the bone crushing hits he lays on players Ovechkin keeps the crowd riled up throughout the whole night.

Edge to Ovechkin 

LEADERSHIP

This one has to go to Crosby, He has hoisted the cup as a captian, Ovie hasn't hoisted it at all.  Plain and simple.

Edge to Crosby  

GOAL SCORING

Although Crosby led the league in goals last season and has improved his shooting to an outsanding level Ovechkin has what is argueably the best shot in all of the NHL so in this case Ovie is first Crosby is a close second.

Slight Edge to Ovechkin 

PLAYMAKING

Ovechkin is a better playmaker than many give him credit for and doesn't show his abilities a lot because he has assumed the role of Sniper on a revamped Caps team but Sid the Kid is the overall best playmaker in the game.  He has the quickness and the pinpoint passing to make things happen on the break or in open ice.

Edge to Crosby 

DEFENSIVE ABILITY

Crosby has improved on the defensive end and his quickness helps him make up if he gets beaten.  He also has fast hands on the pokecheck but Ovechkin wins this batgtle because of his all around defensive play.  He can poke check, he isn't afraid to drop in front of a shot, and he will deliver bone crushing hits, which have gotten him in trouble, but usually his checks are clean.

Edge to Ovechkin 

TOUGHNESS

This is a weak spot for Crosby who falls just a little bit too easily after less than shattering hits and one of Ovechkin's stronger suits because he seems to like recieving hits as much as he likes to dish them out.

Edge to Ovechkin 

On this scale Ovechkin seems to be a slightly better player winning 4-2 in my ratings but its just what I think.  Please share your opinions with me by commenting and voting in our poll on the left side of my blog page.

-Andrew F Visit my blog and vote in our Crosby vs. Ovechkin poll at MVP Sorts Talk

From the archives of MVP Sports Talk July 4, 2010

Bryce Harper

 Drafted: #1 overall 2010 MLB Draft, Washington

Pos: Catcher (will probably be converted to OF)

DOB: October 16, 1992

 Height: 6'3

Weight: 205 lbs

Mission: With the help of flamethrowing pitcher Stephen Strasburg turn a Nationals franchise with a history of losing into a World Series Contender. Ever since he was 12 years old in 2005 and Baseball America Listed him as the best hitter in the country in his age group, Major League Baseball Scouts have been drooling over him. Well what does everyone want to ask when they hear this? "Who is this kid?" of course. Well this kid is Bryce Harper, whose legend just kept growing after he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated last June, an accomplishment made even greater by the fact that he was only 16 years old at the time. He can fire the ball at 96 miles an hour, faster than most Big Leaguers can throw, he has amazing baserunning skills and anticipation, but his biggest asset of all is his raw power. When he was just 15 years old and a freshman in high school he smashed a 570 foot tater in a game. Then during his sophmore year he became the first sophmore to be named Baseball America's Player of the year and at a home run derby at the Ray's Tropicana Field he blasted a ball that was still alive and well when it crashed into the dome wall as the longest homer hit at the park a good 502 feet later. He also has the work ethic to make things happen for his career. Instead of staying in high school for his junior and senior years where he would have ended up playing and dominating the same competion he had for years he earned his GED and enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, a junior college so he could enter the draft this summer. In the draft, as everyone expected, the Washington Nationals chose the 17 year old Bryce with the #1 overall pick and for the second straight year they have to deal with the relentless Scott Boras, arguably the best agent in baseball. Both Bryce and the Nationals want to get him signed quickly so they could get him on the field to show his talents, bring in money for the Minor League Clubs, and to continue his rise because as everyone knows in baseball, no one is a sure thing.

-Andrew F

From the archives of my blog.  Check us out at MVP Sports Talk