The Mets are out of the playoff picture. The Pirates have clinched yet another consecutive losing season. The US Open is coming to a close. And Shawne Merriman is stealing headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Yep, the 2009 National Football League season is about to start! And I’ve decided to break my three-week long hiatus to bring you a breakdown of how each team will finish and how the playoff seeds will shape up. Here it is, my triumphant return from surgery!

AFC West

First Place: San Diego Chargers

Record (Division): 12-4 (5-1)

First Draft Pick: Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois

Key Player: Shawn Merriman, LB

Analysis: After winning four straight games to make the playoffs, the Chargers are even stronger with the healthy return of Shawne Merriman. The defense can return to its dominant form as long as he can lay off the tequila, and Philip Rivers is ready to complete the trifecta of 2004 first round quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl. LaDainian Tomlinson is healthy, Darren Sproles has emerged as a competent backup, and Chris Chambers, Antonio Gates, and Vincent Jackson are ready to haul in some touchdowns. Look for this team to be a force in the AFC

Second Place: Denver Broncos

Record (Division): 5-11 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

Key Player: Kyle Orton, QB

Analysis: You can use whatever word you want- turmoil, disruption, clusterf**k- but none of those do justice to the s**tstorm that was Denver Broncos training camp. Josh McDaniels alienated his two top players, and ended up losing his franchise QB in Jay Cutler and minimizing the effort of his Pro Bowl receiver in Brandon Marshall. Is Marshall an egotistical headcase? Absolutely. But it looks like he’ll play, and hopefully for Denver, Orton has gotten all of his interceptions out of the way in the preseason and he can manage this offense. Denver will need an efficient offense, their defense is suspect at best.

Third Place: Kansas City Chiefs

Record (Division): 4-12 (2-4)

First Draft Pick: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

Key Player: Matt Cassel, QB

Analysis: Todd Haley was the perfect rookie coach to bring to Kansas City. The Chiefs have been rebuilding their defense for years now, but their offense has been stagnant. Haley was the coordinator of The Greatest Show On Turf v2.0, and with Matt Cassel at the helm, he’s ready to put together a solid offense in KC. It won’t happen right away, as the defense is still too young and Cassel is already fighting injuries. It will be another rough year for the Chiefs as they will be looking forward to 2010 very soon.

Last Place: Oakland Raiders

Record (Division): 4-12 (2-4)

First Draft Pick: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Key Player: Darren McFadden, RB

Analysis: Al Davis just needs to go away. I understand bringing in Richard Seymour to prove to the current team that he wants to win now, but he fails to understand that this current team can’t win now, even with Seymour. However, the 2011 first round pick does not matter to the 2009 team, which needs Darren McFadden to be the player he was at Arkansas. If McFadden can shoulder the load and take some pressure off of quarterback JaMarcus Russell, then the offense has a chance to consistently produce. The offensive line has yet to gel though, so if Oakland has any shot of winning, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will need to return 24 interceptions for touchdowns, which is entirely possible because he has a 99 Madden rating.

AFC South:

First Place: Indianapolis Colts

Record (Division): 13-3 (4-2)

First Draft Pick: Donald Brown, RB, UConn

Key Player: Anthony Gonzalez, WR

Analysis: Jim Caldwell will not lose the Colts any games because his name is not Tony Dungy. The strange aspect of the Colts this season is that Peyton Manning will not be throwing to his favorite target, Marvin Harrison, anymore. Reggie Wayne has been the number one receiver, but now it’s time for Anthony Gonzalez to become the second option that Wayne once was. If Gonzalez can grab 80 receptions, Brown can be a successful backup to Joseph Addai, and the defense can bend and not break, this team will be its usual perennial force.

Second Place: Tennessee Titans

Record (Division): 12-4 (5-1)

First Draft Pick: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

Key Player: Keith Bulluck, LB
Analysis: The Titans had the best record in football last year because of a superb running game and a stout defense. With DT Albert Haynesworth in Washington, Bulluck not only must captain the defense, he must shore up the middle of the defense with The Freak and Kyle Vanden Bosch on the outsides. Moving the ball will not be as easy since the league had a full year to prepare for the Titans rushing attack, and Kerry Collins is one year closer to retirement. Still, Tennessee will be tough to beat, and will give the Colts a run for the AFC South title.

Third Place: Houston Texans

Record (Division): 9-7 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Brian Cushing

Key Player: Matt Schaub, QB

Analysis: For the third straight year, the Houston Texans have been the favorite sleeper pick. For the third straight year, they will leave people saying, “Next year, Texans are gonna shock the NFL!” They’ll play good football- that defense has too many young, talented players like Mario Willaims for Houston to be out of games. The offense needs to show some sort of consistency, and as much as running back Steve Slaton needs to avoid a sophomore slump, Schaub must stay healthy and connect with Andre Johnson if the Texans are going to stay competitive all year.

Last Place: Jacksonville Jaguars

Record (Division): 3-13 (0-6)

First Draft Pick: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

Key Player: David Garrard, QB

Analysis: It doesn’t matter that the Jaguars will lose more than 75% of their games, because no one can watch them besides those poor saps known as “Jaguars Season Ticket Holders”. One has to feel for head coach Jack Del Rio, who just hasn’t been provided with comparable talent in the AFC South, and will most likely lose his job before the end of the year. If I’m Maurice Jones-Drew, I really harp on my injury and just avoid the beating. It’s not worth it.

AFC North:

First Place: Pittsburgh Steelers

Record (Division): 14-2 (5-1)

First Draft Pick: Evander Hood, DT, Missouri

Key Player: Rashard Mendenhall, RB

Analysis: The defending Super Bowl champions look primed to make another run at the Lombardi trophy. The intriguing story with the Steelers is how quickly Mendenhall can take over for Willie Parker. Parker is in the last year of his contract, and it seems head coach Mike Tomlin is ready to hand over the reigns to his second-year back. The defense is the same, the passing game is the same, so if the running transition goes smoothly Pittsburgh will find themselves at the top of the AFC.

Second Place: Baltimore Ravens

Record (Division): 9-7 (4-2)

First Draft Pick: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi

Key Player: Joe Flacco, QB

Analysis: The Ravens lost a lot of key defensive role players to the New York Jets, as they followed Rex Ryan to East Rutherford. The defensive system is still in place, but new role players add unknowns to a team that barely made the playoffs last year. Look for linebacker Terrell Suggs to be the go-to guy to disrupt opposing offenses. For the Ravens to have a chance at getting back, Flacco will need to show wide receiver Derrick Mason a lot of love for coming out of retirement. Having a three-headed monster at running back with Ray Rice, LeRon McClain, and Willis McGahee is a nice luxury though.

Third Place: Cincinnati Bengals

Record (Division): 8-8 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

Key Player: Carson Palmer, QB

Analysis: I even surprised myself with having the Bengals at 8-8, but they are playing the AFC West, which gives them three wins. Everything seems to be coming together for the Bengals this offseason, and if wide receiver Chad Ochocinco can become an elite player again with Palmer, this team has a fast defense that can be productive as Keith Rivers comes back, so a .500 season is not out of the question. Also, look for Cedric Benson to re-emerge and be a factor on the ground.

Last Place: Cleveland Browns

Record (Division): 2-14 (0-6)

First Draft Pick: Alex Mack, C, California

Key Player: Brady Quinn/Derek Anderson, QB/QB

Analysis: Head coach Eric Mangini is doing anything he can to regain the nickname “Mangenius”, but by not announcing his starting quarterback, the only nickname I feel is applicable would be “Mangina”. There is no difference between Quinn and Anderson, so defenses don’t have to prepare for two different quarterbacks, as is Mangini’s reason for withholding the information. With below average RBs, below average defense, and an unnamed QB, expect this team to be at the bottom of the barrel this year.

AFC East

First Place: New England Patriots

Record (Division): 13-3 (5-1)

First Draft Pick: Patrick Chung, SS, Oregon

Key Player: Jerod Mayo, MLB

Analysis: With the recent trade of the NFL’s “Big Baby”, Richard Seymour, and the retirement of defensive signal caller Tedy Bruschi, the Patriots have given Mayo the keys to the defense. The offense will be gluttonous under the control of quarterback Tom Brady, but with a weak defensive backfield, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year needs to be a stud to keep the Patriots from ever being outscored.

Second Place: New York Jets

Record (Division): 9-7 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

Key Player: Bart Scott, LB

Analysis: Sanchez is obviously an important piece of the puzzle as a rookie quarterback, but the Jets invested a lot of money into Scott to be a leader on Rex Ryan’s brand of 3-4 defense. Scott was a versatile part of Ryan’s team in Baltimore, and he’ll be called upon to assist LB David Harris, NT Kris Jenkins, and safety Kerry Rhodes in the transition. On the offensive side of the ball, Sanchez needs to limit mistakes while running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington shoulder the load.

Third Place: Miami Dolphins

Record (Division): 7-9 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

Key Player: Ted Ginn Jr, WR

Analysis: The Dolphins will come back to Earth this year. As odds balance themselves out, Miami will suffer the injuries they did not face last year. Most susceptible is two-time Comeback Player of the Year Chad Pennington. Considering the other Chad, backup quarterback Henne, is the future of the organization, an injury wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Ginn will need to be the No. 1 he was drafted to be if the Dolphins want to enjoy any success, and with their aging defense, that window is closing fast.

Last Place: Buffalo Bills

Record (Division): 5-11 (1-5)

First Draft Pick: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

Key Player: Demetrius Bell, LT

Analysis: Dick Jauron needs to be fired. Bills fans have been begging this team to win something other than seven games this season, and they will. That number will be five, as Jauron has made poor decision after poor decision. The offense has tons of potential with QB Trent Edwards and WRs Terrell Owens and Lee Evans, but there is no offensive line to protect Edwards and his two concussions. If Bell can’t be a wall, this team can’t win.

AFC Playoff Seeds

1)    Pittsburgh Steelers

2)    New England Patriots

3)    Indianapolis Colts

4)    San Diego Chargers

5)    Tennessee Titans

6)    Baltimore Ravens

AFC Playoffs

First Round: Colts def. Ravens, Chargers def. Titans

Second Round: Chargers def. Steelers, Patriots def. Colts

AFC Championship: Patriots def. Chargers

AFC Champions: New England Patriots

NFC West:

First Place: Arizona Cardinals

Record (Division): 9-7 (4-2)

First Draft Pick: Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio St.

Key Player: Beanie Wells, RB

Analysis: The Cardinals will refuse to follow the trend where Super Bowl losers fail to make the playoffs the following season. Their passing attack remains a focal point of their team, but a tough schedule could lead to inconsistencies similar to last season. For any sort of regularity, Wells has to break through as a dominant rusher, balancing the offense and drawing more defenders into the box, opening things up for QB Kurt Warner and receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.

Second Place: Seattle Seahawks

Record (Division): 8-8 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

Key Player: Matt Hasselback, QB

Analysis: No one is doubting Seattle’s defense, but the offense has a lot to prove this season. Their running game features a plethora of mediocre backs, so don’t look for the backfield to carry the Seahawks. The team goes as Hasselback goes, and Hasselback goes as far as his back can support him. He’s looked healthy in the preseason, but excuse me if I’m just a bit skeptical.

Third Place: San Francisco 49ers

Record (Division): 6-10 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Key Player: Josh Morgan, WR

Analysis: Shaun Hill earned the quarterback job, and we know Frank Gore is the starting running back, but there is mass pandemonium at the wideout spot. Michael Crabtree is nowhere near a contract as he and Richard Seymour sit in their playpen, and Isaac Bruce can’t be a number one despite his numbers last season. Josh Morgan showed great upside last year, and for the 49ers to have a competent offense, he’ll need to realize that potential. On the defensive side of the ball, they can hold their own with the leadership of Patrick Willis, but the offense needs to give them time to rest. Any game where the defense is on the field for 35+ minutes is a sure loss.

Last Place: St. Louis Rams

Record (Division): 3-13 (2-4)

First Draft Pick: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

Key Player: Jason Smith, OT

Analysis: The Rams are in no way better than they were last year, and facing the AFC South instead of the AFC East is no relief. Steven Jackson has been injury prone, and to say the same about Marc Bulger is an understatement. Jason Smith needs to protect the pocket right away, or it will be the same story over and over again.

NFC South:

First Place: New Orleans Saints

Record (Division): 11-5 (4-2)

First Draft Pick: Malcolm Jenkins, CB/S, Ohio St

Key Player: Reggie Bush, RB

Analysis: Last year, Drew Brees was a dropped pass away from breaking Dan Marino’s single season passing yards record. This year, Marques Colston, Brees’ top receiver, is completely healthy. Gregg Williams has been brought in to improve the defense as the coordinator, and he has many years of success on his resume. The wild card here is Reggie Bush. If he can be the dynamo that he was drafted to be, bet on the Saints to average 50 points a game.

Second Place: Atlanta Falcons

Record (Division): 10-6 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi

Key Player: John Abraham, DE

Analysis: The Matt Ryan era in Atlanta continues, and it should without a hitch. Roddy White signed a multi-year deal, Michael Turner is arguably the best running back in football, and the offensive line is hard to break through. The defense, however, is very young, and they’ll need Abraham to be as healthy and disruptive as he can be if they are going to contend for the NFC South. The good news: it’s a contract year.

Third Place: Carolina Panthers

Record (Division) 8-8 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

Key Player: Jake Delhomme, QB

Analysis: The last time we saw Delhomme, he threw more passes to the Cardinals defense than he did his own receivers. We know what DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are capable of. We know how indefensible Steve Smith is. We know what a beast Jon Beason is at middle linebacker. Jake Delhomme needs to keep his head on straight and stop thinking he’s Brett Favre. Which, coincidentally, is what Brett Favre needs to do.

Last Place: Tampa Bay

Record (Division): 4-12 (2-4)

First Draft Pick: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

Key Player: Derrick Ward, RB

Analysis: Byron Leftwich will not be the quarterback all year. The defense will not stop a lot of teams, if any. Antonio Bryant will not duplicate what he was able to accomplish last season. The only way Tampa maintains some level of respectability is if Derrick Ward can control the ball on the ground and keep the offense going and the defense resting. The offensive line is good enough to open up some holes, he just needs to find them.

NFC North

First Place: Green Bay Packers

Record (Division): 12-4 (5-1)

First Draft Pick: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Key Player: Aaron Kampman, OLB

Analysis: This team is going to be fun to watch. Aaron Rodgers is in his second year at the helm, and he projects to have over 4,000 yards again, throwing to the likes of Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and James Jones. Ryan Grant is healthy, shoring up the offense. The defense is also in their second year, their second year in a 3-4 scheme. Now that everyone knows their assignments and are healthy again, the X-factor is Aaron Kampman, who moved from DE to LB for this scheme. If he understands all of his assignments and executes, there will not be a single hole in this defense, which makes the Packers a scary team in the NFC.

Second Place: Minnesota Vikings

Record (Division): 8-8 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Key Player: Brett Favre, QB

Analysis: Being a Jets fan, and already hearing of his injuries, I can safely say that Favre will not lead Minnesota to a Super Bowl. Adrian Peterson is the best running back hands down, and the defense is almost immovable. But the wide receiver core is almost as thin as Favre’s 40-year-old arm. And if he wears down, do you want to trust Tavaris Jackson? Better yet, does anyone trust Brad Childress?

Third Place: Chicago Bears

Record (Division): 7-9 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose State

Key Player: Greg Olsen, TE

Analysis: When the Jay Cutler trade was made, I thought it was an instance of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. After the preseason, I still believe the same. Jay Cutler is a good quarterback, not a great one. Good quarterbacks are made by their receiving corps. Great quarterbacks make their receiving corps. The defense will be the typical, hard-nosed defense led by mastermind linebacker Brian Urlacher, but Greg Olsen will have to help open holes for Matt Forte, as well as get open on passing plays, because he’ll be the only one.

Last Place: Detroit Lions

Record (Division): 3-13 (1-5)

First Draft Pick: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

Key Player: Calvin Johnson, WR

Analysis: 3-13 is not a bad season when you consider the Lions went 0-16 last year. This team is rebuilding and I applaud the decision to start Stafford from the beginning. If I were to start asking questions about each position, I’d have 21 to ask. Which leaves me with Calvin Johnson. He’s a top-5 wide receiver, and Stafford will lean on him all season until he decides he can trust anyone else on this lowly team.

NFC East

First Place: Philadelphia Eagles

Record (Division): 12-4 (4-2)

First Draft Pick: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Key Player: Asante Samuel, CB

Analysis: The NFC Beast is always tough, and it’s going to take the most effort to win out of all of the divisions in football. The Eagles have the depth, the experience, and the talent to pull ahead of the pack. Quarterback Donovan McNabb has his rhythm, a good receiving corps headed by Desean Jackson, and the defense has a strong front seven, even without Stewart Bradley. The defensive backfield is the biggest question mark, and Samuel needs to be a lockdown corner in the absence of Brian Dawkins over the top.

Second Place: New York Giants

Record (Division): 11-5 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC

Key Player: Domenik Hixon, WR

Analysis: I refuse to discuss the Plaxico Burress matter or Eli Manning’s contract, but the fact is Hixon and all of the receivers will need to step up for the team to win 11 games. Coach Tom Coughlin is known as an outstanding motivator, so this shouldn’t be a problem. Either that, or the facts that the starting running back, Brandon Jacobs, hits like a linebacker and the defensive line can sack the opposing quarterback on any given play should contribute nicely.

Third Place: Dallas Cowboys

Record (Division) 8-8 (3-3)

First Draft Pick: Jason Williams, LB, Western Illinois

Key Player: Roy Williams, WR

Analysis: DeMarcus Ware will single-handedly win two or three games by terrorizing opposing offenses, but the others must be won with offense, and for the first time in a while that’s a serious question. Tony Romo has yet to prove that he’s a winner, Marion Barber has yet to prove that he can be a feature back, and Roy Williams has yet to prove that he can produce with a big star on his helmet. If Williams can be the number one he was in Detroit, then that gives Romo an extra target, which begets Barber to have more running room.

Last Place: Washington Redskins

Record (Division): 6-10 (2-4)

First Draft Pick: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

Key Player: Albert Haynesworth, DT

Analysis: I hate Jason Campbell. Let it be known, I do not like him as a quarterback. I do not think he can win, I do not think he makes good reads, I do not think he makes accurate passes. I don’t trust Clinton Portis to stay healthy, and I don’t think Santana Moss is a number one receiver anymore. However, the fact that I don’t like a team doesn’t mean they can’t win some games, because like/dislike is not a good way to measure wins/losses. If Albert Haynesworth proves he’s not just a contract-year performer, the Redskins defense could be top-10.

NFC Playoff Seeds

1)    Green Bay

2)    Philadelphia

3)    New Orleans

4)    Arizona

5)    New York Giants

6)    Atlanta Falcons

NFC Playoffs

First Round: Saints def. Falcons, Giants def. Cardinals

Second Round: Packers def. Giants, Saints def. Eagles

NFC Championship: Packers def. Saints

NFC Champions: Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl: Patriots def. Packers

Analysis: Richard Seymour cries, chokes on binky.

There’s your 2009 NFL Season. Now the blackout rules don’t even matter- you already know what’s going to happen.

He’s an MVP. He’s a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He’s the all-time TD leader. And he’s lost my Hall of Fame vote (if I had one).

Brett Favre has irresponsibly returned to the NFL for a second time in as many seasons, this time dragging the circus on well into August. I have been listening to every radio show I can, reading every article I can, and have seen this story on ESPN all day. In my infinite disgust, I want to break down all of the people that are affected- most of them negative- in the wake of Favre’s return.

NFL

I’ll get the lone positive out of the way. Favre’s return provides the NFL with two more must-see games: October 5th when the Vikings host the Packers on Monday Night Football, and November 1st when the venue changes to Lambeau Field, and NBC makes it the Sunday Night game and millions will watch pure hatred pour from the stands onto a purple number 4. Also, as if there weren’t enough Packers and Jets Favre jerseys sold, now a million new fans will shoulder a name now synonymous with Benedict Arnold.

The Traitor Himself

Sure, he gets to play football again. Sure, he gets $12.5 million a year for two years, assuming he doesn’t back out of his contract so he can retire, think about coming back, re-retire, and then come back again. Is that worth the hatred of fans everywhere, the disgust of the media, and the friendship lost from long-time supporter Peter King? Personally, as a Jets fan, I’m very happy he left our team. With him sticking around, we never would have drafted Mark Sanchez, and I think he will be the first true franchise QB the Jets have had since Broadway Joe Namath.

But this man is basically throwing away 16 years of good will with Green Bay. All the broken fingers he caused, the fist pumps he threw, the leaps he made into the hands of thousands of different adoring fans, gone at the signature of a piece of paper with the heading, “Minnesota Vikings”. That’s not worth throwing away for a year of violet uproar. He’s slapping the collective face of Wisconsin in telling them that their encouragement has meant as much as a sheet of Charmin.

Packers Fans

The other side of dissipating admiration, these fans have had 16 years of incredible memories turn sour on this defection. After almost two decades of obscurity, a young QB from Mississippi came along and grabbed the bull by the horns- or the cheese by the head. Favre made the Packers matter in modern football after years of “the Packers are a great historical franchise.” After just five years, he won a Super Bowl and brought the Lombardi Trophy back to the hands of its original owners, not to mention the home of its namesake. For years to come, the Packers were in the NFC elite, reaching another Super Bowl and a plethora of playoff games.

Now, he’ll be doing this for the Vikings. And it’s not like he was pushed out to the Jets this time, he voluntarily signed with the Purple People Eaters and is attempting to bring them the same glory he brought to the Packers. Did I forget to mention that they are NFC North rivals? The memory these fans have of Favre will not be a light-haired, baby-faced quarterback running around the field with his yellow helmet raised in the air so that the crowd could clearly see the most famous “G” in sports (before Gatorade’s new marketing campaign). No, for Packers fans, they are hoping they won’ t be able to remember seeing his name on the back of his jersey because he’ll be on his back so often.

If you were the 49ers, would you want to remember Montana this way as a Cowboy? If you were the Steelers, would you want to remember Terry Bradshaw this way as a Brown? This is what Packers fans feel.

Ted Thompson

Mentioning the Jets situation sparked a memory of two years ago, when Favre first pulled this stunt. Ted Thompson was ready to move forward with Aaron Rodgers, and Favre was thinking about retirement. Knowing he couldn’t bench the Wisconsin icon, he pressured Favre into a decision, and Favre chose retirement. Three months later, with Rodgers already given the starting job, Favre reneged on his decision and applied for reinstatement. He was told by the Packers that he could back up Rodgers as they couldn’t halt the young quarterback’s growth any longer, and he was too proud to accept and subsequently requested a trade.

At the time, Thompson was under mass scrutiny for forcing Favre out of Green Bay. Now, fans are rejoicing due to the fact that there is stability in the organization. Minnesota has two disgruntled quarterbacks on the depth chart, New York had their franchise quarterback search suspended for a year, but now the Packers are in year two of the Aaron Rodgers era, and things look very promising. If the Vikings don’t win a championship this year, and I don’t believe they will, Thompson goes from villain to superhero.

Brad Childress

At the beginning of Matchstick Men, Nicholas Cage has a daughter that comes out of nowhere. You want to think that she can help pull him out of his errant ways, but you know deep down she will be the one to screw him. As it turns out, she does both. This is exactly how I felt about Brad Childress. I’ve never really trusted him from day one, and I have no idea why not, it’s not like he ran over my dog or anything.

Disregard my trust, look at the two quarterbacks originally fighting for the starting job. Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels were promised an equal opportunity to win the top spot on the depth chart. Jackson was the heir apparent and Rosenfels got himself traded so that he could have a chance to start. There has been one preseason game, and time was still needed to tell who would be the best fit. They were playing at a disadvantage, however, as since the fire to come back was sparked, Childress has only thought about one thing: 4.

Hypothetically, let’s say Favre’s tendon tears in Week 5. Jackson and Rosenfeld, whoever gets the nod, are going to be looking over their shoulders the entire time, wondering which interception or fumble is going to be the one that gets them yanked. And they have every reason to be afraid, because obviously neither of them were good enough to win the job to begin with. Neither of them trusts Brad Childress right now, which doesn’t bode well for the Vikings if Favre does suffer an injury.

Personally, I hope Minnesota crashes and burns this season. If this Favre-led team fails to make the playoffs or make it out of the first round, you could see Childress get the Mangini treatment. He’s been with the team long enough, he hasn’t produced well enough, and if they can’t get to a Super Bowl with Brett Favre, it’s the end of the line for him. He’s in a lose-lose situation: if he does well, he was supposed to, and if he doesn’t, he’s fired. Childress will reap what he’s sown, and he has sown seeds of lies and deceit with his  Machiavellian antics.

Minnesota Fans

You poor, poor things. Take it from a Jets fan: this will not end well for you. Allow me to take you back to our 2008 campaign. The Jets started off 8-3, in first place by a game in the rough AFC East. Favre was the toast of the town, the Frank Butler to our Broadway Joe, and he certainly got his gun. We had dreams of our first Super Bowl in 39 years, finally eclipsing the Patriots, and we did not care one bit that Tom Brady wasn’t there. If we had won the championship, I still would have given the MVP award to Bernard Pollard.

Alas, we finished the season at 1-4 over the last five games, missing the playoffs and losing to the arch rival Dolphins on the last game. His arm couldn’t withstand the season, he threw incompletion, after incompletion. Our hopes and dreams, crushed beneath the tattered arm of our quarterback and his 22 interceptions. Unfortunately, Vikings fans, it does not end here.

With Favre breaking down or getting injured, that means the full workload shifts to Adrian Peterson. Sure, Peterson is an elite running back and has the ability to carry a team on his back. With a broken down Favre, angry Sage Rosenfels, or dejected Tavaris Jackson, there’s no passing game. And that means no playoffs. So why are you wasting Peterson’s energies and risking injuries for a lost season? All Favre is doing is giving you less Adrian Peterson in the future and more time every January to yourself. It’s not worth it, or the $80 you just spent on a new Favre jersey.

Minnesota Vikings

Forget not making the playoffs, look at the microscope they are under. There’s talk of conspiracy regarding the signing, expectations (no matter how false) are exponentially increasing, and now their season is Lombardi Trophy or bust. I like Adrian Peterson, I think Jared Allen is a beast, but they just don’t have the staying power or the locker room influence to stay afloat. Favre does not bring influence into the locker room. By the end of his Jets tenure, he was hated by players, specifically team leader Kerry Rhodes. How is Favre supposed to rally the players who he jerked around so much just to avoid the rigors of mini-camp. He hasn’t had to struggle for the upcoming season, so why should the team struggle for him?

Michael Vick

Vick really had a chance to start the rebuilding process. His signing was hot, he was using the attention to promote his new way of living and the support of animal rights agencies, and he was getting back to doing what he did best- playing football. Favre took all of that away. He needed the attention, he missed it, he hogged it for himself when he didn’t need it. Vick needs it. Legitimately cannot succeed without his buzz, and now he’ll need to perform on the field to regenerate that. I’m not saying that can’t happen, it’s just a huge step back for Vick, and I hope he can come through.

—————————————

Before I close this article, I really want to accent how disrespectful I think this whole thing is. In March of 2008, Favre held a press conference and cried before all of us, telling us how sad he was to leave the game of football, but how it was the right decision. We were upset to see such a great icon leave the sport, but we understood that it was best he leave on top. He was the most prolific quarterback of our generation, and we would always remember him as such. It was official, he retired.

He then spat in the face of the Packers and the league by applying for reinstatement, destroying the positive effects of his press conference by going back on his word. He lied to football. He lied to us. He lied to commissioner Roger Goodell. But it was one time, so we let it slide, and after last season, he again said it was over. In his own words, he said he couldn’t see himself ever playing football again, and was granted his release from the Jets. He broke that promise to us not once, but twice this summer, keeping the Vikings, Jackson, Rosenfels, Childress, Goodell, and everyone who cares about the sport in limbo, all because of some little game he wants to play to see how much we actually care about him. And it’s the job of the media to continue to cover him, no matter how sick of him we are.

There’s a relationship between the athlete and the fan. The fan supports the athlete in spirit and finance in return for good play and to be a strong role model, someone they can look up to. What is Favre teaching us? That it’s ok to consistently vacillate on every decision we make? That it’s perfectly fine to lie to someone and negatively effect the lives of those who surround us in the workplace? Think of Rosenfels’ family, who just moved to Minnesota from Houston because they thought the patriarch would have a shot at the starting job. Now, he’s second or third string, and may request another trade, so much burden on a family because of one man’s vanity. Shame on you, Brett Favre. You wouldn’t like it if someone put such a strain on Deanna, so why do it to someone else?

This whole situation is despicable. I do not risk injury on Favre or any of the Vikings, but I sincerely hope they go 3-13, Childress is fired, Favre is ridiculed out of the league, and Minnesota football plummets just as my football did.

Would that end really justify the means?

Questions or Comments? Email Matthew at matthew.wolfe86@gmail.com

Not an article as much as a warning. The Wolfe is showing his teeth, threateningly growling. There will be an angry post by the end of the night. Considering I’m not even a Packers fan, I should not be this livid– but I am. My “v” key may break as I write my post tonight.

Keep aware, The Wolfe is ready to attack.

With the conclusion of the Yankees sweep of the Red Sox, I got this very uneasy feeling. Was it that my cross-town rivals are solidifying themselves as a postseason favorite? No. Was it that my prediction of another MVP award for Alex Rodriguez might actually come to fruition? No (although certainly shocking and rare). Was it that Tom Brady, another of my rivals, was on an episode of my favorite show, Entourage, and I actually enjoyed watching him? Maybe, but that’s not the point.

The uneasy feeling that rumbled in the pit of my stomach was because I knew this was going to happen. Not because of a prediction. Not because of my instincts. But because I’ve seen this before. We all have.

If you will, take a trip back with me to 2006…

It’s the dog days of August. The Yankees are in first place in the AL East after staring up at the Red Sox almost all season, but are about to engage in a five-game series with Boston. This is the series that can make or break either team’s playoff hopes. As usual, it is the most talked about series in all of baseball and dominates ESPN programming.

The Yankees won the opening double header by scoring an average of 13 runs. They went on to sweep the series. The sweep took New York to a 6 1/2 game lead in the AL East and the Red Sox opened up the Wild Card for the rest of the AL. The Yankees made the playoffs and the Red Sox did not.

…now back to 2009.

It’s the dog days of August. The Yankees are in first place in the AL East after staring up at the Red Sox almost all season, but are about to engage in a four-game series with Boston. This is the series that can make or break either team’s playoff hopes. As usual, it is the most talked about series in all of baseball and dominates ESPN programming.

The Yankees won the first game of the series by scoring 13 runs. They went on to sweep the series. The sweep took New York to a 6 1/2 game lead in the AL East and the Red Sox opened up the Wild Card to the rest of the AL. The Yankees will almost certainly make the playoffs, and the Red Sox don’t look like they can beat anyone right now.

Now, there are certainly a ton of differences with the two series. In ’06 it was in Boston, in ’09 it was in New York. In ’06 it was the offense that won the games, in ’09 it was the pitching. Still, it felt exactly the same. You have to play the game, but you just knew this wasn’t going to end well for the Red Sox. The timing, the circumstances; everything made it feel like the Red Sox needed a miracle to win just one game.

Well, the oil burnt out and the sea laid dormant. If things hold true to how ’06 unfolded, the Yankees will face a first round exit from the AL Central winners, the Red Sox won’t make the playoffs, and an undeserving NL Central team will get hot at the perfect time and steal a World Series.

In other news, the NFL preseason opened tonight. Thank God for parity.

Questions or Comments? Email Matthew at matthew.wolfe86@gmail.com

The year is 2004, I have just gone to college, the Patriots will win another super-bowl, the Lakers lose in the finals to the Pistons, and the Red Sox win their first World Series in a long, long time. All of these events were awesome, (sans the Red Sox thing) but all pale in comparison to the rise of sports video-games in 2004. Yes gamers everywhere, 2004-2005 was a great season for us. ( I say 2005 because Video Games tend to have the year on the cover be one year ahead of when they came out i.e Madden 10 is coming out this year)

Almost all of the sports either came out with great games, or were riding high on games that came out the previous year. I will be focusing on the baseball and football franchises because they were the standouts of that year. (Save some love for NBA Live 2004 with the fantastic freestyle controls, and also NBA Street Vol.2 which came out a year before)

We start with MVP Baseball 2005 by EA sports, the best game in the MVP Baseball series. This game was awesome,  fielding felt natural, the hitting had a great rhythm to it, including a nifty player eye system where you could tell what ball is coming by looking at the pitch, it had fielding that felt responsive, great graphics, a fantastic franchise mode, and a terribly addicting mini-game to add to the fun. It sold well, and got even better reviews, yet it was the last in the series.

Next up is the fantastic ESPNNFL 2K5 game by 2K sports. This game, along with Tom Brady and the Patriots, single handedly got me into football. I remember like it was yesterday, my hairy colleague Wolfe bought the game for a fantastic $20 dollar price (yes 20 dollars!), and had to explain to me the difference between inside and outside linebackers. I would come over so many times to play his franchise, a franchise that included a fine QB called  Michael Vick, and a RB by the name of Ricky Williams. (Man how things change in 5 years) I would later decide to get the game myself and become addicted, the graphics looked next gen, the gameplay felt amazing, sound and commentating were top notch, there was a fantastic online mode, you could play classic games in NFL history, all that and its truly revolutionary presentation. Why was it revolutionary? A halftime and post game show hosted by Chris Berman, Sports Center type replays and commentary, post game interviews where every player sounded like a humble black guy, and a kinda nifty if not gimmicky first person mode,it was fantastic. This game also got amazing reviews, and sold very well. Yet, like MVP Baseball 2005,  it was the last in its series.

Why did this happen, two fantastic franchises from two different companies at the peak of their game( Pun intended), yet no more were made. Whose fault is it?

EA SPORTS AND MONEY!!

Madden had been the most established football franchise of the past 10 or so years before 2k5 came out. When the sales and ratings of 2k sport’s football game came close or surpassed that of their own, they got worried that their most established franchise was getting beaten by its own game. So they did the only thing they could, bought themselves out of trouble. They contacted the NFL and signed an exclusive agreement to the NFL license, including names of players, and team names. 2k sports couldn’t do anything, the NFL 2k series was over. Only EA and official publishers, A.K.A Nintendo, Microsoft or Sony, could make games.

Now this did not go over well with 2k sports, they finally beat madden, and by making the better game they lost their acclaimed franchise, so what did they do?  Exactly what EA did.

They contacted MLB and signed an exclusive agreement with them for the players, and team names. Only 2k and the official publishers could make MLB games. No more MVP baseball for EA Sports.

Where did that leave us, the noble gamers?

Well Ea had its Madden franchise, and while it had been good, Madden basically dumbed itself down for the next few years. Want an example? Madden NFL 06′ for Xbox 360 had an extremely  bad franchise mode,  no fantasy drafts, no co-op games, you could not edit the player names or ratings, and could not challenge plays. In exchange we got decent graphics and QB vision. (which was taken out 2 years later)

As for Baseball. Well we were left with the MLB 2k series. While no major features were taken out, the gameplay just did not feel right. The most important aspect to any game is the gameplay, and while the concepts of a baseball video game were their, none of them connected with each other and flowed like they should in a baseball video game, players moved and threw the ball awkwardly, batting just did not feel right, the franchise mode was incomplete, there was no intensity in the batter-pitcher match ups. It just did not feel right.

Well that was then, this is now.

Now just because EA and 2k could not get the license for the names and teams of their respective sports, that did not mean they did not try to make games featuring the mechanics of the actual sport. Ea did come out with MVP 06:  NCAA baseball, which did feature the same gameplay principles of the MVP Baseball series, however, frankly no-one wants to play as nameless college players.

2k sports also came out with All-Pro Football 2k8 featuring legends of Football’s past all playing on made up teams. A noble idea, but the gameplay just didn’t feel right, no-one bought the game, and no sequel was made.

As for Madden and MLB 2K well……

Madden, after years of being lazy by taking out features already implemented in 2k5 and their previous Madden games, has perhaps finally caught up to the presentation and gameplay of NFL 2k5. ( I say perhaps as I have only played the demo and not the full game of Madden 10, but based on the demo, previews from gaming websites, and Madden 09 being a solid game, it is looking good. Expect a full review in the coming weeks.)

The MLB 2k series, however, has been a colossal disappointment. They have never been able to get the polish and smooth gameplay of MVP Baseball, and have been surpassed by the MLB: The Show series, a series of games made by a Sony gaming division.

Yes it stinks fellow gamers, but will we ever see another Baseball game from EA, or Football game from 2k sports?

Well yeah, probably.

Both contracts end in 2012

So in 3 years i’ll be playing NFL 2K13 on my xbox 720

And I will still be better than Wolfe.

Questions or Comments? Email Greg at  gman03@me.com

Today, Packers general manager Ted Thompson admitted to the press that he was, in fact, interested in bringing former Falcons quarterback and convict Michael Vick into training camp. Due to Vick’s troubled past and questionable future, some fans groaned at the notion that Vick could be wearing green and yellow and playing for one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. The most notable of these fans is my old roommate Poul.  Poul is excited about the notion that Greg Jennings works out with Larry Fitzgerald, dreams about B.J. Raji, Clay Matthews, Nick Collins, and AK-74 completely disarming opposing offense, and worries about the negativity that Vick may bring.

He hasn’t played QB in two years. He was responsible for the deaths of many enslaved canines. He won’t play in the first six games of the 2009 regular season.

And he can’t, I repeat, can’t hurt the Packers.

That’s right. This move would be low-risk/high-reward for Green Bay, and that’s for a multitude of reasons. The most basic reason is fiscal- Vick has absolutely no leverage in negotiations for the reasons listed above. Given what has transpired over the past few years, and the predicament he faces with the league office and commissioner Roger Goodell, not even Drew Rosenhaus could get him a guaranteed contract. Could you imagine those negotiations?

Rosenhaus: My client is the most dynamic athlete ever to play quarterback in the NFL. We want two milion in guarantees and another four in incentives.

Thompson: Yeah, but he hasn’t played a down in two years.

Rosenhaus: That may be true, but he is the only quarterback to beat your franchise in the playoffs at Lambeau, and reached the NFC Championship game in 2004. Give us 1.5 million guaranteed.

Thompson: He won’t play in the first six games of the season.

Rosenhaus: Haven’t you seen highlights of his run against the Vikings? He can do that twice a year for you. One million.

Thompson: I own three pitbulls.

Rosenhaus: ….will you at least pay for his equipment?

Now, the football side of things. Last year, we all saw the emergence of the Wildcat offense, which is now being incorporated into many offensive playbooks. Is there a better player to be the focal point of a Wildcat play than Vick? Regardless of his career completion percentage (53.8%), he would be a constant threat to throw the ball. And when he doesn’t, he’ll burn you for the first down, and then either torch you for the touchdown or pitch the ball to the option back. It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t played in a while, he always had the sharpest instincts on when to make cuts with the football or how to scramble. Instincts don’t leave, and those will translate to him as a Wildcat receiver.

Aaron Rodgers catches a breather with Vick in the offense. This is Rodgers’ first Favre-less season. Granted, Favre didn’t take a snap for the Packers last season, but with his un-retirement, there were constant comparisons to their statistics and records. Now, the spotlight is solely on Rodgers and whether or not he can bring the Packers to the playoffs and avoid a sophomore slump. Vick can help open up the playbook, and keep the opposing defenses on edge, giving Rodgers a lot more breathing room and bigger windows to throw to. With constant uncertainty, and a stronger running game, he’ll be facing seven or eight players in the box, leaving Jennings more open space than he’ll know what to do with. Rodgers’ pass yards may drop, but his efficiency will go through the roof.

Physically, Vick has to be ready to go. He spent 18 months in prison, and he probably sent 59 minutes of every hour working out and staying in shape. Frankly, I don’t know what else there is to do in prison. And on the flipside of Vick missing two years of football, he also missed two years of hits. Suddenly, it seems there’s a ton of gas left in the tank and miles left in the tires. And we know he can’t test positive for steroids, unless he has a heightened testosterone count from those lonely jailbird nights.

(Yes, that was a drop the soap, prison joke. Watch the first half of Shawshank Redemption and tell me you couldn’t see it happening.)

Now, what makes Green Bay such a desirable location for a player of Vick’s public stature? First things first, it’s a small market– Vick would be eaten alive in New York, Dallas, or Boston. Second, it’s a small town. There’s not a lot to do up there besides eat cheese and play football, so Vick can easily stay out of trouble and not go down the same road as Adam Jones, aimlessly meandering into strip clubs or random dogfights. And last, Green Bay cares about one thing: winning. If you contribute to the Packers winning the NFC North, the whole state of Wisconsin will forget about the dogfighting. If Vick scores a touchdown, the city would be so elated that they’d ask him to sign their poodles. And while Vick can block some pressure from Rodgers, this wouldn’t be Vick’s team. Vick could never be blamed for a Packers loss, but could play a huge part in a Packers win. His image could be turned around by a 10-6 season.

Vick will be playing in the NFL next season. If Atlanta wasn’t the team he scorned and owned by the friend he betrayed, I’d say he winds up there. The Packers seem to be a great fit. Thompson is crazy enough to sign him, head coach Mike McCarthy is a smart enough man to use him, and the locker room is strong enough to manage him. If he succeeds, his career is resurrected, his image bandaged– not healed– and his pockets deepened. If he fails, he was expected to, and he can do his service to the country by speaking to schools about the dangers of illegal activities.

Or he could always sign with the AFL.

Questions or Comments? E-mail Matthew at matthew.wolfe86@gmail.com

If there is any single moment in the 47-year history of the Mets organization when we’ve been implored to believe in the Mets, it’s right now. It’s just for all the wrong reasons.

Disregard the team for a second, although they’ll be tackled later. Manager Jerry Manuel has called out his trainers. GM Omar Minaya has made a few moves that just haven’t worked out, either due to underachieving or gross negligence. VP Tony Bernazard induced Willie Randolph’s firing, got in the faces of both K-Rod and a CitiField employee, and then ripped his shirt off and challenged the entire Double-A Binghamton team to brawl. And the beloved owners, the Wilpons, have sat idly by and watched the opening of the glorious new stadium be tarnished by injuries, poor front office behavior, and Bernie Madoff.

What is it that Mets fans believe in? Instead of believing that Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, and JJ Putz can come back and save this season, Mets fans “gotta believe” that drastic changes must be made. There’s a stink to the Mets, a stigma that prevents any positive occurances. It’s time to make some changes.

First, the team. Coming off the books after this season are Carlos Delgado, JJ Putz, Livan Hernandez, Alex Cora, Gary Sheffield, Fernando Tatis, Brian Schneider, Billy Wagner, and Elmer Dessens, totalling $38 million off the payroll. First, re-sign Alex Cora. He is not a starter, but he provides great depth off the bench. Second, decline the options for Wagner and Putz, who are not worth the combined $16.6 million next year. Schneider is the only other player who might stick around, simply because the depth of free agents at the catcher’s position is so thin. Cora and Schneider sticking around costs the Mets about $5 million

Now there are holes in the bullpen, outfield, first base, and rotation. I say leave Daniel Murphy at first base. He’s done a solid job defensively while learning on the job, and you can’t have the absolute best at every position. In the vacant LF spot, there are the big free agents– Jason Bay and Matt Holliday– and some value free agents– Bobby Abreu or Randy Winn. Bay or Abreu works here. Bay would require a long-term deal, but he’s got a great bat, a decent glove, and can provide protection batting after Wright or Beltran. Abreu doesn’t have the power to knock it out of CitiField anymore, but he can hit it into the gaps as well as anyone, and he can still leg out some triples and steal some bases. Winn is listed purely for his speed, but he can’t hit nearly as well as Abreu. Considering how fiscally conscious the Wilpons are, Abreu is probably the pick here at around $5 million.

In helping the bullpen, the Mets should eat some of Luis Castillo’s contract and trade him for a middle reliever. Then, partner Jose Reyes with his new double-play buddy, Orlando Hudson. Is that too much to ask for? O-Dawg said that he wants to play for the Mets. Well, look at this, the Mets have a spot for him, and for $4-$5 million, it’s unavoidable. It needs to happen. His defense and his stick trump Castillo in every way, and will provide a ton of excitement for the Mets crowd. All aspects of this deal into consideration, this is a net $6 million of payroll.

After tacking on another $4 million for more bullpen help, such as Danys Baez, Joe Beimel, or Scott Eyre, to name a few, the Mets have $18 million to spend on rotation and roster depth. There are two big-ticket starters in free agency this year (provided they don’t receive contract extensions): Rich Harden and John Lackey. These are two pitchers who can go deep into games, and completely shutdown another team’s offense. Lackey seems to be the way to go here, simply because of Harden’s injury history. Lackey comes in for $14 million/year. Other potential starters could be Brett Myers, Erik Bedard, and Justin Duchscherer. And in reserve, bring back free agent Endy Chavez, who is an obvious bright spot over the past few seasons.

With these changes, the Mets roster shapes out to look like this:

SS- Reyes, LF- Abreu, 3B- Wright, CF- Beltran, RF- Jeff Franceour, 2B- Hudson, 1B- Murphy, C- Schenider, P

Bench: Cora, Chavez, Jeremy Reed, Omir Santos, and throw in Juan Uribe to the mix

SP: Johan Santana, Lackey, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, John Maine/Jonathan Niese

RP: Francisco Rodriguez, Pedro Feliciano, Bobby Parnell, Sean Green, Pat Misch, Maine/Niese, and a lefty reliever like Joe Beimel

That team wins 97 games, barring injuries. And it will be Jerry Manuel that leads them. I do not think that Manuel is the best manager for this job; I believe that the way he handles his players and plans for matchups are questionable at best. Granted, he’s dealt with a ton of injuries this year, but it seems his call-ups and starters are the result of a combination of darts and a blindfold. However, it is these injuries which keep his job secure…for now.

As for the front-office, I don’t care if Fred Wilpon and Tony Bernazard are friend. For the sake of the organization that is incredibly under fire, he has to go. He has taken too many liberties, made too many decision out of poor judgment, and it really says something when the VP of Personnel, the ASSISTANT to the GM is making the most noise from your organization. He has contributed to making the Mets the laughing stock of the MLB, and at the very least he deserves to be the first casualty. It’s time to separate business from pleasure.

Which brings me to Omar Minaya. When Minaya came to the organization, he came with much fanfare and brought hope to a struggling Mets organization. He brought Carlos Beltran to the Mets, he brought Pedro Martinez to the Mets, he brought Carlos Delgado to the Mets. He gave the Mets at chance to win the World Series in 2006.

But they didn’t.

Seven and a half games up in the division in mid-September, he had the Mets ready to go back to the playoffs in 2007.

But they didn’t.

He got rid of Lastings Milledge and brought in Brian Schneider and Ryan Church,  some fresh blood who would help the Mets overcome the prior year’s collapse and bring them back to the playoffs.

But they didn’t.

2009 was supposed to be the year the Mets returned to greatness. He bolstered the bullpen, he brought back Ollie, he brought in the best closer in the game. And it still fell apart. After all this disappointment, albeit some out of his control, when is it time for Minaya to be the fall guy?

It’s gotta be right now. Minaya’s gotta go. Bernazard’s gotta go. Manuel’s gotta be put on a short leash or he’ll go. And the Wilpons gotta realize you gotta spend money to make money, and you gotta give New York’s second team a winning product if CitiField is gonna be packed every night. Will the Wilpons do right by their fans?

Ya gotta believe.

Questions or Comments? E-mail Matthew Wolfe at matthew.wolfe86@gmail.com

The All-Star Break has come and gone. But here at Binder To Wolfe, we’re not quite ready to usher in the second half of the MLB season. So with that being said, Binder and myself (Wolfe) are going to hand out our first annual BTW Midseason MLB Awards.

Our awards will be divided much like the actual awards, by league and covering MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year. Some answers are predictable, and some answers are wrong. And those would be Binder’s.

NL MVP:

WOLFE: Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals- There was just no way around it. He’s a triple crown threat with a .332 avg, and National League leading 32 HR and 87 RBI. Also, when you factor in that he walks twice as often as he strikes out and that he boasts a 1.179 OPS, it’s his bat that keeps the Cardinals in the NL Central race. The pitching has been good with Wainwright and Carpenter performing at very high levels, but the Cards just don’t score if Pujols isn’t in on it. Did I mention he also plays a Gold Glove first base?

BINDER: Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals- (see wolfes answer)

AL MVP:

BINDER: Jason Bay, OF, Boston Red Sox- It almost pains me to say this, but I’m going to give it to Jason Bay. I always wondered how the Red Sox were going to get past not having Manny and Ortiz in their lineup (Manny got traded, and Ortiz may as well not have been there), but somehow Bay has almost carried the load for them. Here are his stats: 56 R, 81 H, 20 Hr, 72 rbi, with an ops of .907. While his batting average is low at .260, let’s look at some important stats regarding that. Against the Yankees his average is .448, with runners in scoring position it’s .333, and with the bases loaded it’s .400. His defense has been stellar and the Red Sox are still in first place, even with injured pitching and inconsistent offense.

WOLFE: Alex Rodriguez, OF, New York Yankees- If this were the beginning of June, I’d have to agree with you, Binder, but Bay has tailed off way too much for me to give him this prestigious midseason award. The problem with picking Jason Bay here is the “value” aspect of the MVP. Even with Bay cooled off, the Sox are still winning games in the AL East and hold the lead. Ironically, however, I’m giving it to someone with a lower average. A-Rod’s value far surpasses his numbers, even though since the day he has returned, no one in the American League has hit more HR (17) or driven in more runs (50). Yes, his average sits at a mediocre .256. But do you think Teixeira’s surge in the middle of May was purely coincidental? Absolutely not, he had A-Rod’s bat behind him. Tex himself would have been an MVP candidate if not for his bland April. Again focusing on the glove, Rodriguez has made some stellar plays at the hot corner, and guess which American League team has won more games since A-Rod’s return. I’ll give you a hint: It’s not the Red Sox.

NL Cy Young:

WOLFE: Dan Haren, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks- Tim Lincecum, even at his young age, may be the best pitcher in all of baseball. That being said, I’m giving the midseason NL Cy Young award to Dan Haren. I don’t focus much on the W-L record, it’s a good stat, but not nearly the strongest. At 9-5, Haren still leads the National League in ERA (2.01), quality starts (17), and his whip is simply ridiculous at (.81). His K/BB is 129/16, and that’s with never having to face Mark Reynolds. With ace Brandon Webb on the DL, Haren has been stellar as the number one starter on this staff, even though his win-loss record doesn’t show it. Maybe if Mark Reynolds stopped feeding Lincecum and Chad Billingsley strikeouts, Haren would have 11 or 12 wins.

BINDER: Tim Lincecum, RHP, San Francisco Giants- Wolfe you ignorant slut. While Dan Haren’s stats are actually surprisingly good, you cannot ignore the awesomeness that is Tim Lincecum (Tim is also a better name then DAN). While all of their stats are close, only one really separates one from another and that is the win-loss ratio- Tim is 10-2, Dan is 9-5. Even though you chose to ignore it, you really can’t. Haren does have a slight statisical advantage in almost every category, but Lincecum has two shutouts compared to Haren’s zero, and Lincecum  has only allowed 4 HRs as opposed to Haren’s 12. He has had the unbelievable pressure of being the ace of this staff and repeating what he did last year. He is also doing this at such a young age, and he has blown away expectations. Who else has a virtual version of himself that likes the song, “Dance All Day Love”.

AL Cy Young:

BINDER: Zack Greinke, RHP, Kansas City Royals- I think Roy Halladay has been the best pitcher in baseball for the past few years, and if not for injury, and the past two weeks, he would have gotten the vote. BUT I shall give it to Zack Greinke. While his numbers have gone up lately from ridiculously low to somewhat-ridiculously low in terms of ERA and WHIP. He also has 10 wins on a team that frankly, isn’t that good. Five complete games with two shutouts, 128 strikeouts to 21 walks, a WHIP of 1.08, and a measly ERA of 2.12 in the tougher American League, is outstanding. Too bad the Royals extended his contract to four years; he could have been a Met.

WOLFE: Zack Greinke, RHP, Kansas City Royals- I agree with my dear friend Binder, but unlike him, I will elaborate on my decision. Even if Halladay stayed healthy and didn’t miss two or three starts, Greinke deserves this award based on his consistency as a starter. Has he cooled off? Sure, but he still leads the AL in quality starts (15), and as Greg pointed out, leads all pitchers with five complete games. He solidifies the bullpen by going deep into games, minimizes mistakes which eliminates a lot of home run threats, and he keeps his defense on their toes by letting them make plays. You know, when he’s not striking out 129 batters over 127.1 innings. He even made Orel Hershiser’s scoreless IP streak seem attainable- and it isn’t.

NL Rookie of the Year:

WOLFE: Colby Rasmus, OF, St. Louis Cardinals- The Cardinals get their second award from me, with Colby Rasmus getting the nod here. Rasmus tore the minor leagues apart, and when Rick Ankiel suffered his horrific crash, it was the rookie’s chance. Cheddar leads all rookies in hits (75), home runs (11), and RBI (34). Hitting .278 in 270 AB is nothing to scoff at, and we’ll be hearing a lot more from Rasmus in years to come.

BINDER: Colby Rasmus, OF, St. Louis Cardinals- I can’t argue that.

AL Rookie of the Year:

BINDER: Andrew Bailey, RHP, Oakland Athletics- Andrew Bailey is the AL rookie of the year and here is why: in 51.2 innings he has a measly 1.92 ERA, a WHIP of .97, and while his 10 saves are kind of low, he has 60 strikeouts. Neither Mariano Rivera or Jonathan Papelbon have 60 Ks. HE’S ALSO FROM JERSEY!

WOLFE: Ricky Romero, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays- While Bailey was the lone rookie representative in the 2009 All-Star Game, he is not my AL Rookie of the Year. His ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts are all very impressive, but I can’t bring myself to give an award to a reliever who is 10/14 in save opportunities. Romero gets my award with his 7-3 record, 3.00 ERA, and respectable 1.26 WHIP in 87 innings. He averages almost 7 innings per start, which provides great relief for a depleted Blue Jays bullpen. I think facing batters three times a game is more of a struggle than facing three batters once, so Romero is the big winner.

NL Comeback Player of the Midseason-

WOLFE: Todd Helton, 1B, Colorado Rockies- Todd Helton is far and away this year’s comeback player of the year. Here are his 2008 stats and 2009 stats:

2008- .264/.391/.388, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 79 H, 16 2B.

2009- .319/.399/.517, 10 HR, 57 RBI, 95 H, 25 2B.

He’s certainly returned to his old form, is softening the blow of the Matt Holliday loss, and is helping Colorado stay alive in the Wild Card race. Helton has always been the consummate professional, and it’s good to see his average back over .300.

BINDER: Todd Helton, 1B, Colorado Rockies- I couldn’t really care less.

AL Comeback Player of the Midseason:

BINDER: Victor Martinez, C, Cleveland Indians- In an injury-shortened season, along with a weak supporting cast, Martinez didn’t have much of a chance at success. This year, the team is still under-performing, but Martinez has bounced back very well. Look at how the stats compare:

2008- .278 avg, 2 HR, 35 RBI, only 74 hits

2009- .294 avg, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 97 hits, and for the first time in his career has more walks than strikeouts.

His team may not be having a comeback season, but he definitely is.

WOLFE: Russell Branyan, 1B, Seattle Mariners- Martinez is coming back from an injury-riddled season, but Russell Branyan is coming back from an entire career. Branyan is on pace to break career highs in ABs, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and total bases. He hasn’t mattered in the MLB scope since 2002, and he’s been a great boost to the Seattle offense.

NL Manager of the Year

WOLFE: Ken Macha, Milwaukee Brewers- Ken Macha is my NL Manager of the Year, as the Brewers have no business being competitive at all this season. In the offseason, they lost their two best pitchers in CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, Manny Parra forgot how to pitch, and they’ve dealt with injuries to Trevor Hoffman, Bill Hall, and the disappearance of Corey Hart. Yet somehow, the Brewers have been atop or close to the top of the NL Central since day one, and it’s mostly because of great managing by Macha.

BINDER: Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodgers- My pick is Joe Torre. Here are facts that Wolfe thinks are coincidences. While Torre was the manager of the Yankees, they made the playoffs every year and were the best team in baseball, winning four World Series. When Torre left, the Yankees missed the playoffs. Coming off a 4th place season in which they went 82-80, Torre lead the Dodgers to a division title with a record of 84-78. Everyone thinks, however, it was because of Manny. In 2009, the Dodgers are the best team in the majors with a 56-32 record, and this is with Manny serving his 50-game suspension for banned substances. Bottom line, Torre goes to the Yankees and they are the best team, then he goes to the Dodgers and in a year they are the best team. Awesome coincidence.

Considering how the baseball off-season shook out, it was pretty safe to assume that the free agent period in the NBA would be similar. The only difference is that there would be no prolonged holdouts by players who think they deserve more money, because the money simply isn’t there.

That is, except if you’re the New York Yankees, or their basketball equivalent Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban’s misguided quest to a title continues as fervent and futile as ever…and comedy ensues (especially for Knicks fans- think Erick Dampier and now Jason Kidd)

Assumptions aside, I’ve been very surprised to see what teams got which players, so let’s break down the same faces in different places.

Vince Carter, SG, Orlando Magic: The Magic knew that Hedo Turkoglu was going to hit the open market, and that they probably were not going to be able to afford him after a misleading playoffs (more on that later). The Nets were aware that they are not contenders and needed to dump VC’s contract. It was a match made in purgatory. The Nets receive a capable young player to replace Carter in Courtney Lee, and a more-than-capable backup point guard in Rafaer “Skip to My Lou” Alston. Neither costs a lot, but New Jersey won’t be doing much damage this year. I just don’t see this working out nearly as well for the Magic. You’re getting back a guy who can create his own shot, and can probably make a jumper from anywhere on the floor. But just because he can, doesn’t mean he will. We saw Turkoglu hoist ill-advised three-pointers in vain last year, and VC brings more of the same.

What’s really lost here is size. Turkoglu was 6’10’’, and Marcin Gortat is likely leaving town. The starting five looks like Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Michael Pietrus, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard and absolutely no bench, which means Orlando’s unique combination of size, athleticism, and ability is gone, and with it, another Finals appearance.

Hedo Turkoglu, SF, Toronto Raptors: Well, we just talked about his departure, so let’s discuss his arrival, shall we? Here’s a big guy with some handle, he played point forward for the majority of the fourth quarter minutes in the playoffs. Does this mean he’s re-revolutionizing the position? Hell no. If I have to see his off-hand swatting defenders away one more time, if I have to see him make a terrible pass in traffic that gets taken for an easy lay-up, IF I HAVE TO SEE ANOTHER 29-FOOT JUMPER WITH TWO HANDS IN HIS FACE…I probably won’t mind because it’ll keep the Raptors behind the Knicks in the Atlantic Division. This is what the Raptors have to look forward to, though, and what may drive Chris Bosh back to the states.

I’m not saying Turk is all bad. He brings tremendous size to Toronto’s front line, and gives them a legitimate long-range threat they haven’t had since the departure of—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—Jason Kapono. He has a ton of playoff experience and he can be a positive influence in the locker room. A starting five of Jose Calderon, DeMar Derozen, Hedo Turkoglu, Chris Bosh, and Andrea Bargnani looks great, but again, where’s the bench? And for God’s sake, keep the ball out of Hedo’s hands at the end of  regulation.

Ron Artest, SF, Los Angeles Lakers: This was the first sign of the economy’s effect on NBA free agency. Artest isn’t a superstar, but in the current NBA climate he’s a $10 million player. This is the Patriot effect though, players will come at a discounted price if you give them a better-than-average shot to win a championship. Beyond the fiscal properties, on paper this move makes all the sense in the world for the Lakers. The window is closing as Kobe rises in age, and three years of Artest will be a solid jolt into a team that may fall into complacency after attaining the Shaq-less ring. There’s no question Artest is hungry, and he’s a better all-around player than Ariza was. The key to this deal was that the only player in the entire NBA that had an defensive success against Kobe, now suits up in purple and gold and will be squatting beyond the arc while Kobe penetrates and kicks. The starting five of Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol, and a healthy Andrew Bynum actually causes me physical pain, and I go into diabetic shock when you remember that Lamar Odom still might come back. On paper, well, do we really need to play the regular season?

Those intangibles will kill you though. I hate to bring up the past, but does anyone remember that this is Ron Artest, the most volatile and destructive player of our era? Am I the only one that thinks he still festers a hatred for Kobe after the elbow in the Western Conference Semis? It probably won’t be until the playoffs, but I’m expecting a full-out heel turn by Artest, I’m talking Wrestlemania XV, Triple H-giving-X-Pac-a-Pedigree-effectively-ending-DX-and-subsequently-the-Attitude-Era heel turn. Jim Ross on the microphone:

JR: Oklahoma City is up two points with just five seconds left, You know this ball is going to Kobe. This game truly has been a slobberknocker! Fisher in-bounds to Kobe off the announcer’s table, Kobe dribbles, what’s Artest doing…OH MY GAWD! SPEAR! SPEAR! RON ARTEST JUST SPEARED KOBE TO THE GROUND! The Staples Center is livid and Artest can only smile and laugh! What’s this? He’s breaking away his Lakers warm up suit. IT’S A CELTICS JERSEY WITH THE NUMBER 18! ARTEST HAS DEFECTED TO THE CELTICS!

(God. If you’re listening. Please?)

Trevor Ariza, SF, Houston Rockets: This signing may be the worst of this off-season, but you can’t blame the Rockets as much as you can blame the Lakers. Ariza struggled on teams with limited talent, beginning with the Knicks and moving to a young Orlando team before landing with LA. Surrounded by Bryant, Gasol, Bynum, and Odom, he was consistently the fourth or fifth option on the court, and was often found unguarded due to a slew of double teams. If he couldn’t capitalize there, he would have been out of a job. He found his niche with the Lakers, and was nothing more, and never will be more than a bit player to a stacked team. With Yao’s career in jeopardy, and Tracy McGrady being T-Lack, I’m hard-pressed to believe that Ariza is going to be the one piece that propels the Rockets to contention.
Now, if Yao is able to salvage his career, and McGrady can make a resurgence in the middle of the season, this team can compete. In Alston’s absence, Aaron Brooks showed the same lightning he had at Oregon. Luther Head, Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Carl Landry, and Chuck Hayes are a great group of role players, and they provide Houston with some promise. A championship is completely out of the question.

Richard Jefferson, SF, San Antonio Spurs: Well, I’m pretty sure I already know where the Executive of the Year Award is going. Let’s just skip all the crap and go straight to this starting five: Parker, Ginobli, Jefferson, Duncan, and generic space-waster #4. If you move Duncan to the 5, what a great opportunity for DeJuan Blair to learn on the job with a group of guys who consistently get the job done, and a coach with the Midas touch.

Getting back to Jefferson, he’s not the plus defender that Bruce Bowen was. Then again, Bowen isn’t the plus defender he used to be either. Look at the firepower Jefferson brings. Great speed, good ball handling, beautiful jumpshot, and jumps out of the gym. The Spurs look as close to an even match for the Lakers as anyone in the league now, and they’ll be the one thing they haven’t been all decade long—fun to watch.

Charlie Villanueva/Ben Gordon, PF/SG, Detroit Pistons: These deals are about a week old, and I still have no idea what to make of them. Ben Gordon put on a show in the Bulls-Celtics series, as if Vinny Del Negro whispered “free agency” into his ear during every time out. Chuck-Vil-A has always been pretty consistent, pushing double-doubles every night, never doing anything spectacular but never doing anything stupid, and might even prompt a few Detroit fans to shave off their eyebrows. It’s like the opposite of Ben Wallace’s afro. Couple this with the departure of Allen Iverson, and you have a very loose clubhouse, which is great.

Rasheed Wallace left though. Is Kwame Brown going to be Villa’s right hand man? Is Jason Maxiell the center of the present? Neither of those guys can give what Sheed gave the Pistons. Here’s the starting five: Stuckey, Hamilton, Prince, Villanueva, and Maxiell/Brown, with Gordon coming off the bench. I wouldn’t put too much stock in this team. They’ll score triple-digits every game, but they’ll have a hard time stopping anyone.

Rasheed Wallace, PF/C, Boston Celtics: His nickname is no longer Sheed. That’s too plain. No, now Wallace shall be known as Aflac, because if Kevin Garnett gets hurt and misses work, it won’t hurt to miss work. Here’s what Aflac brings to the table:

- A wily veteran who can complement the shooting of Ray Allen and Paul Pierce
- A big man who can bang down low on defense, but can expand the offense with his 3-point range
- Experience at PF when needing to spell KG (or if he gets injured), as well as at center to share the post with KG
- Tons of playoff experience, including a ring that came against the Lakers back in 2004

It’s obvious that Aflac was meant to join this team before we even realized. I implore you, find a hole in this starting five: Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Garnett, Aflac. Not only that, but Kendrick Perkins, Eddie House, and Glen “Get Out of My Way Kid” Davis coming off the bench, this team has to got to be the Eastern Conference favorite. I can’t think of another big move this off-season that would even rival the Celtics…

Shaquille O’Neal, C, Cleveland Cavaliers: After some February talks and post-playoff rumors, here is quite possibly the most entertaining pairing in all of basketball. King James, meet Shaq Diesel, the Original Superman, Wilt Chamberneezy, Big Aristotle, Big Shaqtus, Shaqovic, the self-proclaimed “Greatest of the Universe”. Now, I could tell you what seems to be the popular thing to criticize about this trade, and blab on and on and on about how Shaq cannot defend the pick and roll. That’s too boring. Shaq brings something to Cleveland that was lost in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Fun. If you watch the regular season, you’ll notice that when Mo Williams, LBJ, Delonte West, and the rest of the Cavs were laughing and having a good time, they were also winning. When the pressure was on against the Magic, they stopped having a good time and got serious. And lost in embarrassing fashion. Check out the starting five: Williams, West, James, Varejao, and Shaq. You’ve got your shooters, your slashers, your bangers, and you’ve got F-U-N. But when it’s go time in the playoffs, Shaq has been there enough to know when it’s playtime and when to unleash the warrior. And even at his age, he’s got a few battles left in him.

Jamal Crawford, SG, Atlanta Hawks: This was the deal I probably understood the least. Granted, Acie Law and Speedy Claxton had no future in Atlanta. Does anyone remember that guy, though? The one that’s really really good that plays the same position as Crawford? Yeah, that Joe Johnson guy. The guy who played in all but three games last year and averaged 21.4 points a game last year. Unless Jamal Crawford learns how to play point guard within a few months, he’ll never play (I know Crawford had some time at PG for the Knicks, and that is why I still said he needs to learn). Crawford doesn’t factor in to the starting lineup, and he won’t make this team any better or worse. I don’t get this move, and unless Crawford puts up 15 points in 10 minutes every game, I never will.

Jason Kidd/Marcin Gortat, PG/C, Dallas Mavericks: I’ll get Gortat out of the way first. He’s a body who will spell Erick Dampier very well, and probably steal some of his minutes as the season progresses. I don’t know much about his skill set, but I just have a hunch. Now onto Jason Kidd. THANK YOU MARK CUBAN! I was so worried that my beloved Knicks were going to dump LeBron’s money on the aging superstar. But that’s what you, Mark Cuban, the George Steinbrenner/Daniel Snyder of the NBA, are here for. In a floundering economy, you still find it within your budget to re-sign an over-the-hill point guard who has lost more than a step, can’t defend the new breed of guards, and in his old age probably doesn’t have the eyesight he used to. Ok, that last one was a stretch, but you’re not going to convince me otherwise with these crutch stats about his increased field goal and 3pt percentage either. The only reason Cuban grabbed onto Kidd so tightly was so he didn’t look like an idiot when he gave Devin Harris to the Nets. Not traded, gave.

Did JJ Barea deserve the job? No. But instead of signing Kidd and Gortat and trying to sign-and-trade for Shawn Marion, take this money and get Marion and Gortat, then trade for another PG somewhere. Hell, Phoenix is looking to dish, if you love aging point guards, go after an old fling in Steve Nash. At least you’ll never have to question his shooting. Or if you’re dead set on out-bidding the Knicks, jump on the Nate Robinson bandwagon and put him at point guard. Jason Kidd, at this point in his career, doesn’t have the juice to win a championship. Not with the current Mavs team at this point. Their starting five is unchanged, so get ready for a 5th seed and an early playoff exit.

So there you have it. The Raptors got a little better, the Magic got a little worse. The Mavericks got older, and the Cavaliers got funner. The Celtics, Spurs, and Lakers got beastlier (that’s a word now), and the Pistons and Hawks befuddle me, for different reasons. And the Knicks…well they added Darko Milicic.

Championship.

(What? I left out the Zach Randolph/Quentin Richardson trade? Please, people haven’t cared about Q since Van Wilder.)

Questions or comments? E-mail Matthew at matthew.wolfe86@gmail.com

Today, I witnessed the greatest tennis match of my life. It was better than Agassi/Sampras. It was better than Agassi/Blake. It was better than Nadal/Federer at Wimbledon last year.

It was like Roger Federer was Muhammed Ali and Andy Roddick was George Foreman, except they were both giving each other the rope-a-dope, waiting for the other person to tire out and then mount a vicious offensive.

Personally, I was rooting for Roddick, but witnessing a classic Federer collapse into the record books was certainly a worthy consolation prize. As the 5th set passed game number 20, my excitement grew exponentially in anticipation of either glorifying moment.

With Federer on match-point, preparing to break Roddick’s serve, I was ready to accept what was behind door number two. After returning the serve, Federer watched as Roddick’s forehand sailed wildly in the air, with no chance of landing in play. It was the record-breaking Grand Slam, his 15th trophy, in the most grueling match he’s ever been a part of.

And we got nothing. There was no victory seizure, no joyous waterfall of tears. Is it selfish to ask for a wild display of emotion after a championship set that went 30 games? Absolutely. But doesn’t he owe it to A-Rod and all the Wimbledon greats in attendance, including Pete Sampras, the man who he surpassed for the most Grand Slam titles all-time?

For all you readers about to blow up at me and leave comments saying that Federer is a class act and how dare I insinuate that he would disrespect the all-time greats, I do not, nor have I ever believed that he takes his success and his elders for granted. It became clear, however, whom he does take for granted. The man whom he is now 19-2 against.

Roddick.

The ball fell, and Federer just hopped, pumped his fist, and yelled. Not so much his usual “thank God I won this title,” more like “jeez, it’s about time I ended this.” The “Rod” in A-Rod may as well have stood for Rodney Dangerfield, the man who repeatedly begged for respect.

Of course, there was nothing but praise for A-Rod after the match, but then Federer said this about Nadal to ESPN’s Chris Fowler, “I hope he comes back strong. I’m quite confident that he will…it’s a shame he dropped to number two without being able to defend his ranking.”

Sounds innocent, sure. Am I the only one getting the feeling that Federer really wanted to beat Nadal to put him over the top? Nadal is the only player who has consistently pushed, and beaten Federer. As Federer gets old in tennis years, Nadal is hitting his prime. You think maybe Federer is getting a little vain and wants to prove himself against the very best and only the very best? He was so disappointed to play Roddick instead of Nadal that he almost let Wimbledon slip away and didn’t give Roddick (or Sampras) the glory of a championship breakdown.

Federer is the greatest player of all-time. The record books will show that. And I can’t say that Federer told me that he’s feeling a little insecure and wanted to beat the number one ranked player. Compared to the norm, however, something was off, and something was missing. We were given a great show, and the fifth and final act was outstanding. The curtain call was highlighted by Roddick’s, not Federer’s tears, and chants of the loser’s name.

At least someone gave him some respect.

Questions or Comments? E-mail Matthew at matthew.wolfe86@gmail.com