The Spotlight

It's not easy being a professional athlete. It hasn't been for a very long time. Actually, it's even becoming more and more difficult to be a collegiate athlete. Nearly every professional athlete has worked extremely hard to get where they are today. Whether it was working hard to get in physical shape, working hard to outsmart their opposition or working hard in school to make it to their destination, they've worked at one or more of these things at some time or another.

You hear it all the time, and you may say so yourself, that professional athletes are spoiled brats who do nothing but blow their money and never grow up because of it. You know that that is not always the case. In fact, it rarely is. There are so many athletes who do the right things with their fortunes, give back to where they came from and don't overdo it with the "toys." And don't we live in America, the birthplace of capitalism? Since when it is a bad thing for a business to succeed and reward their employees with large sums of money? It is, and always has been, both a game and a business. Business is just booming right now.

Sure, many athletes are born with great size, strength or brains. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they haven't worked hard throughout their lives. And now they are at the pinnacle of their professions, better than 99% of the people who strive to do what they do. Since they're so good at their jobs, they are therefore put under the most pressure to perform and sustain that level of performance.

My mother is a graphic designer. She has deadlines to meet and I often see her on the verge of homicide when time is running low. Her head's spinning and she's confined to her little office, all on her own. It's a high pressure job, one of many around the world, that requires great focus and an outstanding work ethic. Imagine if she had to perform in front of 20,000 people, all prepared to boo at the very first slip-up. How about 60,000? Or 100,000?

Having to perform your job in front of so many fans every day has to be gut-wrenching. Hell, I got nervous for high school football games in front of about 1,000 fans. And I hardly touched the field. But that isn't the only hard part. People that are in the spotlight, and I'm not just talking about athletes, have it hard because someone always wants to bring that person down. Athletes are constantly being charged for rape, aggravated assault and various other serious crimes. If you ask an old person, they'll tell you that you live in a messed up society, that you're generation is destined for failure and that athletes, in particular, don't take their fame seriously enough.

I guess you could argue that. But you could also argue that they are targeted, that young people become more and more accessible (and that's not necessarily a bad thing) with time, that the media expands over time and that news (and rumors for that matter) are reported faster than ever. Today, athletes get traded to a team across country and you, sitting on your couch watching ESPN, know before that athlete does. Now, that is messed up.

Still, I think that today's pro athlete is becoming more and more aware of these circumstances. They're adapting to the constant cameras in the face, the relentless questions from reporters, the adoring fans begging for their John Hancock and the pressure of performing before so many people. But one thing that no one can prepare for is a physical attack to them or someone they love.

On the second day of this September, Jacksonville Jaguar offensive tackle Richard Collier was attacked outside an apartment complex in Jacksonville while sitting in his car. He was shot 14 times, including two bullets that fractured his spine, one of which hit his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He had wounds to the leg, leaving a blood clot. The clot was removed, but days later it was learned that blood was not circulating to his foot, requiring amputation. No one knows the motive behind this attack nor have any suspects been named. He and a former teammate were not even robbed. The attack seems to have been a random act of violence in a city known for it. Was he attacked because of his fame or fortune? Possibly. Many theories have been thrown around, but no one knows for sure. What is known is that it's a miracle that Collier came through this awful experience alive. The details have just recently been released and I didn't explain the half of it. Collier is fortunate to be alive. It could have been worse and I only hope for the best for both he and his family.

Collier was not a well-know player, starting only part-time, prior to this shooting and it is not known whether his fame or wealth had anything to do with the attack. However, one athlete who was targeted for his wealth was Sean Taylor. Anyone who follows football closely knows the story on Sean Taylor. He was an All-American safety at the University of Miami (Florida) and eventually an All-Pro for the Washington Redskins of the NFL. Taylor had his Florida home broken into and robbed during last football season while he was in Washington. He was then injured and headed home to rest for the two weeks he missed. While at home, his house was broken into (again) and he was shot in the leg. The wound resulted in the severing of a major artery and eventually death. No attack on anyone should ever be down-played or taken lightly, but this may be the most infamous attack ever on any pro athlete. The attack on Sean Taylor was news for what seemed like weeks and it's hard to explain how great a loss this was to the game of football.

Personally, I would love the money that comes along with being a professional athlete. Who wouldn't? But I'm not a big fan of high-pressure jobs or being physically harmed for no apparent reason. So, the next time you bad-mouth a pro athlete and call them brats (among other things), remember the hard work they put into their jobs, the pressure that comes along with these jobs and the fact that they walk around with targets on their chests each day.

4.4 speed? Psh.

It's hard to predict how someone will perform at the next level in any sport. Your forecast may be right more times than not, but Mel Kiper and Todd McShay are wrong their fair share. In football, it's especially hard to prognosticate how a running back will perform. People say you can't teach speed. Maybe that's true to some degree, but speed alone does not cut it in today's NFL.

I loved guys like Reggie Bush coming out of college. Bush was taken #2 overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Saints, although many - including me at that time - believed he should have been the first overall selection. In college, he was one of the most dynamic backs in history. His ankle-shattering moves were unlike anything we'd seen before. He simply blew by guys with no effort. He's what me and my boys call "sick-nasty." He had a game his final year at Southern Cal versus Fresno (I recall all the details because it was '05 and I needed the #1 Trojans to lose so my Nittany Lions could move up in the rankings) where the dude had 513 all-purpose yards. Five hundred and thirteen. That game includes his famous highlight where he ran up the middle, broke it left, went up the far sideline putting it in fifth gear, stopped on a dime, had his under armour sleeve torn off, cut it across the field and scampered (that was for you, Nick) into the endzone. Look it up on YouTube when you're finished reading this. At any rate, Bush has been a relative bust through two-plus seasons. He's off to a hot start (receiving, at least) this year but it's still early and compared to Mario Williams, the #1 overall selection from Bush's draft class, he's been a disappointment.

Then came the 2007 NFL Draft. This class of running backs was headlined by Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch. Both of these guys were great every-down backs in college and their styles of play, so far, have translated nicely to the pros. However, after Lynch was selected at #12 overall by the Bills, there was a major drop-off in talent at the running back position. The top backs in this draft (in terms of order of selection) that were known for their outstanding speed were two third-round guys.

Lorenzo Booker out of Florida State was taken early in the third at #71 overall. He came out of high school as the top recruit (according to Rivals100) in the entire nation. He was expected to be the next Warrick Dunn at FSU, but with more explosiveness. Booker turned out to be a bust at the Free Shoes University, much like Bush as a pro. Booker rushed for 2,878 yards and 50 touchdowns in his senior year of high school. At FSU, his career bests were 887 yards rushing and 6 total touchdowns and those numbers didn't even come in the same season. In fact, his yards per carry decreased each year in Tallahassee. This example clearly shows that his one-dimensional game didn't even cut it in college.

Twenty-two picks after Booker was selected in '07, a guy named Garrett Wolfe was taken at #93 overall by the Chicago Bears out of Northern Illinois University. Unless you are a serious college football fan, you probably won't remember the name. Let me give you the rundown. Wolfe's sophomore stats, his first season as a starter, looked like this: 11 GP, 1,773 total yds, an average of 6.5 ypc and 21 total TDs. He followed up that stellar campaign with a junior year in which he was named an All-American despite missing three games with a sore knee. That season he produced 1,802 total yds, scored 17 total TDs and averaged 6.5 ypc (again) in only nine games. Many doubted that the 5'7 Wolfe could do any better. So he did. He capped off his college career with a senior season that included a nation-leading 1,928 yards on the ground, a single-season career best of 247 yards through the air, 19 total TDs and he again averaged over six yards per carry. Think he didn't do it against top talent? Wrong. His best performances happened to come against Big Ten opponents throughout his career, including a game to open his senior season where he rushed for 171 yards while pulling in another 114 through the air (yes, 285 total) against #1 Ohio State at Columbus.

Another issue for the players I've listed, as is the case with many running backs because of all the hits they take, is their durability. Each of these guys were among the top backs coming out of college in their respective drafts, each was known for their speed, and each have histories of run-ins with the doctor. Who wants to waste a high draft pick (and don't say that third-round picks aren't valuable) on a third down back that gets banged up? LeRon McClain and Ahmad Bradshaw were taken in the 4th and 7th rounds, respectively, in 2007. In '06, Joseph Addai was taken late in the first round (#30 overall, twenty-nine spots after Bush) and Maurice Jones-Drew (who should have won ROY honors in 2006) went 60th overall.

Sorry about all the numbers. But I'm a stat kind of guy and those numbers were impressive. Anyway, are you starting to feel me here? I'm naming one-dimensional scat backs known for breakaway speed and little else. Maybe it's a little early for me to say all three of these guys are busts. But what they've shown us so far doesn't say much. Don't think Reggie Bush, Lorenzo Booker, Garrett Wolfe and their speedy counterparts have gotten enough opportunities for me to write them off? Okay. But if they were the real deal, wouldn't they get more chances to prove it? National Football League GMs and coaches need not be swayed by jaw-dropping runs they see on fuzzy YouTube videos. I'm no coaching guru nor do I scout professionally. But as far as I can see, and it's pretty apparent, speed may burn defenses but it can just as easily burn a team who reaches too high for it on draft day.

Catch-22

I'm going to say a name. When I do, say the first word that comes to mind...

Stephon Marbury.

I don't care what word you used to describe the former All-Star. It may have been confusing, confused, chaotic, disorderly, turbulent, tumultuous, agitating. Or even... asshole. You never know what really goes on behind closed doors. But he does seem like he could be a little selfish or hard to get along with. Yet, when it comes down to it, Wilt scored 100 points in a game. Selfish, much? Michael was known for getting in arguments with teammates. Difficult, much? One thing is clear: The guy has outstanding (although slightly declining) numbers. And the numbers never lie.

The national media has reported over the last couple of days that Marbury is expected to be released. Then they said he will report to camp. Now they say he's out again. Whatever the case, this guy has arguable Hall of Fame stats and I'm here to deliver them.

For his career, "Starbury" Marbury is a better shooter than Jason Kidd... Okay, maybe that's not saying much. But he averages 7.8 assists per game, better than Gary Payton's 6.7 average and just under Mark Jackson's average of 8.0 apg. Stephon turns the ball over less than both Kidd - highly regarded as the best point guard of his time - and Marbury's buddy, Isiah Thomas. He also averages more points per game - 19.7 - than both Thomas and John Stockton, who is among the best to ever play the point.

Coming from Philadelphia, I love Larry Brown and have lots of respect for Isiah Thomas as a basketball mind (although he seems a little slick and his recent troubles have only strengthened my feelings on the matter). Marbury didn't like either one of them. He's butted heads with each of his last two coaches because they demand respect and want things done a certain way. Problem is, Stephon also demands respect and wants thing done his way.

New coach Mike D'Antoni seems to be a lot like Coach Brown and Isiah Thomas in that respect, but maybe with a little more flamboyance. D'Antoni is a brilliant basketball coach. No team in the league has been more exciting to watch over the last few years than his Phoenix Suns. But D'Antoni seems just as slick as Thomas, and the chances he and Starbury make it through the year without a disagreement on something - anything - are not good. Stephon did attempt to make a good first impression on his new headmaster by attending the news conference that officially announced the hire. Still, Marbury was likely out of the plans before D'Antoni signed any contract. What I'm saying is, the presumed release of the 31-year old point guard comes as no shock.

There have been rumors that, assuming he actually gets the ax, Marbury will sign with Miami. If that's the case, the 2008-'09 Miami Heat starting lineup could look like this:

C - Mark Blount
PF - Michael Beasley
SF - Shawn Marion
SG - Dwayne Wade
PG - Stephon Marbury
Bench: Udonis Haslem, Jamaal Magloire, Dorell Wright, Mario Chalmers

That's not too bad for a team that finished 15-67 last year. Still, these are just rumors and as of this second, Stephon Marbury remains a New York Knick. And although we have no idea how it will pan out in October, the Knicks - assuming Marbury and his coach could stand one another - could really use his services. Plus, having grown up in New York, I'm sure the guy would love to stay at home. That is of course, if the basement-dwelling Knicks are aware of how good a player they have.

Javon Ringer for Heisman

Michigan State's star is on record-setting pace right now. Through four games, the senior tailback has averaged 174.8 rush ypg while scoring 11 touchdowns. Those eleven touchdowns are good for number one in the country. Just as remarkable may be that the guy has been named Big Ten offensive player of the week for the third straight time following his 39 carry, 201 yard, 2 touchdown performance against Notre Dame last Saturday. Michigan State may not be an elite team this season. Maybe not even in their own league. But if the Spartans turn out to be a surprise in the smash mouth Big Ten, Ringer will be the catalyst.

Since 2000, forty-nine Big Ten running backs (about 6 per year) have finished the season with 1,000 yards rushing (33 different players, 49 occurrences). Of those forty-nine times, once has a player topped 2,000 yards rushing (Penn State tailback Larry Johnson in 2002). As of today, Javon Ringer is on pace to become the second 2,000-yard rusher in the Big Ten this decade. In fact, his current pace would put him ten yards ahead of LJ's 2002 campaign. In that same span, and among those forty-nine 1,000-yard performers, thirty-four of them had 10+ touchdowns with four guys tallying 20+ scores. Ringer is on pace for 33 TDs.

Now, I'm not saying that Javon Ringer will finish with 2,097 yards and 33 touchdowns. But it is a possibility. You may argue that he has only played Cal, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic and Notre Dame. Okay, but I was in attendance for half of Larry Johnson's games in '02 and saw him get hot mid-season, topping 200 yards four times (including 327 yds @ Indiana) against Big Ten foes. Don't expect Ringer's load to decrease any, as the games will only get tougher.

I just threw a lot of stats your way. Thing is, they were only rushing numbers. Javon happens to also have 37 receiving yards and 200 kick return yards through four games. That means Mr. Ringer has 936 all-purpose yards through a third of the season. No Big Ten running back has won the Heisman Trophy this decade. But very few of those forty-nine 1,000-yard rushers were huge contributors to their special teams units. Javon Ringer is.

Whatever your excuse is as to why this guy shouldn't be seriously considered for college football's most prestigious (er, overrated, over hyped, biased, strictly offensive) award, consider this: The current generation of college football is different than any other. "Nobodies" can beat anybody these days. High school kids are finding opportunities to play big-time college ball at Utah, South Florida, Boise State and the like. Football recruiting is no longer monopolized by the Notre Dames, Nebraskas, Alabamas and Michigans of the world. Anything can happen, any time.

The top challengers for the Heisman so far are a running back from Georgia who plays in America's toughest conference, last year's Heisman winner from Florida who plays in that same conference and a few Big 12 quarterbacks who put up gaudy stats. But the "system" quarterbacks from Mizzou and Texas Tech are in just that, a system, and have very iffy defenses. I love the quarterback from Oklahoma but some say the Big 12 is just as difficult to come out of unscathed as the SEC is. What I'm saying is, there may not be a better chance to pull off the Heisman upset than this year.

All things considered, my vote goes to Javon Ringer. I know it's still early, but the guy is on pace for 2,808 all-purpose yards and 33 touchdowns in the Big Ten. This is the conference where running the ball and being able to stop the run gives you a great shot at winning the conference title. And Ringer sure can tote the rock. The Big Ten currently has nine of its eleven teams ranked in the top-42 in run defense. So clearly, MSU's conference opponents can provide stiffer competition to their Heisman candidate. But remember what I told you about Larry Johnson and how he ran over and around his conference schedule? So keep an eye open for my boy, the best running back in the Big Ten.