Goodbye A-Rod, Hello Geno

MLB

On the heels of Ryan Braun's suspension, in the ongoing Biogenesis scandal, The New York Post has reported that Major League Baseball has come to a decision, and is ready to hand out suspensions this week. The report states that 15 as of yet unnamed players, have cut a deal to serve a 50-game suspension, which will put them out for this year, but able to play Opening Day 2014. Alex Rodriguez isn't going to be so lucky. A-Rod is looking at the best, a 200+ game suspension, that will keep him out until Opening Day 2015, where he would likely retire, and collect a $60 million check from the Yankees for the 2015-2017 seasons. If A-Rod refuses to accept that deal, then he is facing a lifetime ban, which essentially tears up his contract.

When the suspension drops, it puts an end to a tumultuous nine years for A-Rod in the Bronx. Rodriguez has experienced the highs (two MVP seasons and a World Series ring), and the lows (benched by Joe Girardi in the 2012 Playoffs and his struggles with the New York fans and media) of playing in the Bronx. His ten-year extension that he signed in 2007 will go down in history as one of the last moves made by late owner George Steinbrenner. Rodriguez will finish 5th on the All-Time Home Run list with 647 long balls, and he leaves an additional $30 million on the table for failing to hit milestone homers 660 (Griffey), 714 (Ruth), 755 (Aaron), and 762 (Bonds).

The suspensions will likely be one of the last major moves made by commissioner Bud Selig, who is retiring after his 21-year run as commissioner. Selig will forever be connected to the steroids scandal, which rocked the sport since the early 2000s. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are likely never going into the Hall of Fame because of their reported steroid use, and other players such as Mike Piazza may never get in because of strong rumors that he was on the juice. The game is considerably cleaner than it was ten years ago, but there is always going to be a cat-and-mouse game between new drugs and tests that are able to catch them.

NFL

Thank God Football is Back!!!!! The Jets began their training camp this week, and I am optimistic about their 2013 campaign. They should be the the second best team in a very weak division. I'll go over this in more detail in the coming weeks with my NFL Preview, but the Jets have a solid defense, and an offense that has to improve from last season. 

One of the main stories in camp this year will be the quarterback competition between rookie Geno Smith and veteran Butt-Fumbler Mark Sanchez. I'm torn on my feelings here. While Mark Sanchez played some of the worst quarterbacking I've ever seen last year, I feel like a lot of it had to do with the fact that he had a revolving door of receivers to throw to. Even if Santonio Holmes isn't able to play the first quarter of the season, Braylon Edwards has great chemistry with Sanchez, Stephen Hill can hopefully show some improvements catching the ball, since he's proven that he could get open, and Jeremy Kerley, who I like, I like a lot (but not more than Brandon Inge) in the slot. At this point, Sanchez is really playing with house money, as most Jets fans expect him to be God-awful, so there aren't any high expectations playing games with his mental state. 

On the other hand, you have Geno Smith, whose draft stock fell considerably during the second half of his last season at West Virginia. We don't know how he's going to fit in the NFL, and how he is going to deal with the pressure of playing in New York. With the success last season of Luck, RG3, and Russell Wilson, you have to remind yourselves that this is a boy entering a man's game, and just five years ago most rookie quarterbacks weren't expected to start Week 1 of their first season. We'll get our first real taste of Geno on August 9th when the Jets kick off the preseason against the Lions. 

While I'm on the subject, the fact that there is a controversy whether Rex Ryan or John Idzik have the final say on who the starting quarterback is going to be, proves that you either have to give Rex some job security or just fire him now. I'm a big Rex supporter, and the front office isn't doing the right thing leaving him twisting in the wind. The team is not built to win now, so while it would be beneficial to begin giving younger and unproven players a larger role, Rex is trying to save his job by playing the veterans. That is especially the heart of the issue in the quarterback competition. 

In more Jets camp news, we have a cornerback holding out, and his name isn't Darrelle Revis. Rookie Dee Milliner is already reminding fans of the ex-Jet by looking for more guaranteed money in his rookie contract. Milliner is one of just four first-round picks that are still unsigned. Hopefully the two sides can reach an agreement soon, since we are counting on Milliner to start Week 1 opposite Cromartie, and he can't afford to miss too much practice.

UFC

UFC on Fox 8 happened last night, and it doesn't really seem like anyone cared. If a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound?

As good as the fall/winter is going to be, the 2 August Pay-Per-Views combined with a stacked Fox Sports 1 Debut card on August 17, left last night's show lacking something. It isn't Dana White's fault that the Rory MacDonald- Jake Ellenberger put the crowd to sleep, but I don't like headlining these Fox shows with the Flyweight Championship. No disrespect to Demetrious Johnson, but the division has less than 10 fighters in it. The challenger, John Moraga had previously only fought on the prelims. 

Fox could be a very beneficial tool when used to build young fighters, or set up big championship fights that people would want to order on pay-per view. It doesn't help the company when you just throw together a second rate card. Once people think that the fights are skippable, than you start to lose your base audience.