The Greatest Of My Time

I have been a baseball fan for an incredibly long time. For most of my life really. And in my time, there have been 3 players that existed during my time that were head and shoulders above the rest. There are a lot of players that I wanted to see play, because of their particular skills or abilities, like Greg Maddux, Ichiro and Vladamir Guerrero, or last name, like Sammy Sosa and Elias Sosa, but none could compare to the three greats of "my" generation. One has been disgraced by the steroid era - Barry Bonds; one continues to pummel the ball like it's his job (hint: it is) - Albert Pujols, and the other showed such tremendous ability at all 5 skills that it is ridiculous - Ken Griffey, Jr.

Ken Griffey, Jr. had some tough shoes to fill. His father, Ken Griffey, was a pretty darn good baseball player himself. Senior played in the majors from 1973 through 1991, was a member of the "Big Red Machine" earning 2 world series titles, was a 3 time All-Star, including MVP of the 1980 All-Star Game.

Ken Griffey, Jr. was so much more. He played from 1989 through this season, 2010. He hit .284 with 630 homers, 2,781 hits, and 1,836 RBIs. He was a 13 time All-Star, including the 1992 All-Star game MVP. He was a 10 time gold glove winner, a 7 time silver slugger winner, and a member of the All-Century team. He was also the 1997 MVP. But Jr. was much more than stats and awards. Watching him patrol center field with reckless abandon was like watching Mozart conduct a symphony, like watching Picasso paint, like watching me write this post. (OK, so I got a little carried away). Griffey is THE greatest defensive centerfielder since Mays, and perhaps is even better than Mays. By watching Griffey, you simply knew he was great, even if you never saw a statistic of his.

He has been recently chastised about being a bad "guy", or at least a bad "teammate". The story about him not being able to pinch-hit earlier this year because he was asleep in the clubhouse made its way around the airwaves. In my experience, this can not be further from the truth.

Now, I do not know Griffey, Jr., but I have had the occasion to meet him on two occasions: once at a charity golf tournament and once at events surrounding the BCS Championship game. At the first, I was a volunteer caddy, but I had clubhouse privileges for food and drink (note - not locker room privileges). Most caddies did not have such privileges (it's a long story). After the round, I walked into the clubhouse to eat, as did a few of the caddies that had such privileges. The "bouncer" told us that we had to leave, not realizing that we were allowed to be there. Included in the group was Griffey's caddy for the round. Griffey, Jr. saw what was happening, and even though he had no idea that we were actually allowed to be in the clubhouse, told the bouncer that he was leaving if we were not allowed in. He then invited us to his table where we talked about fantasy football and baseball for the entire meal. The conversation was particularly funny because Griffey's quarterback was Drew Brees, sitting at the next table.

My second time meeting Griffey, Jr. also had to do with a charity event. The BCS Championship game was held in Miami in 2009. As a kickoff to BCS week, the baseball player Brad Wilkerson, a UF alum and resident of South Florida, hosted a charity event. Griffey, Jr. attended the event out of respect for a fellow baseball player. At the event, Griffey, Jr. purchased half of a box that was being auctioned for the charity. When we all arrived at the tailgate for the game (I was not part of the people invited to the box, but went to the game anyway), Griffey was parading around the grounds with ... his children. He couldn't have cared less about being a celebrity, he simply wanted to take his kids to the game, and help a fellow major leaguer's foundation while he was at it. Certainly, most of us could not purchase a box to a BCS game, but, we all would bring our kids (if we had them) to a game of such import if the situation arose. He was just being a regular dad.

And although baseball seems to be in good hands with a great quality, and quantity, of young guns, we will certainly miss seeing the likes of Griffey, Jr., who will forever be patrolling centerfield, at least in my mind. And as a baseball fan, let me simply say ... Thank you! The Hall of Fame is going to be lucky to have you as a resident in five years.

Underrated Television Actresses

As I am working this fine Saturday, I have decided to take my break by adding a bit to our blog. I was going to work on my Ken Griffey, Jr. story, but since one of our illustrious readers has been waiting so long to read it, I figured that I would write something that I know she would dislike first, before I write the Griffey post. So, I have decided to write about my Top 10 Underrated Television Actresses.

These actresses are not usually the stars of their shows, nor are they the most well known and focused upon starlots. Nevertheless, the are great contributors to television, and will likely be much more well known in the very short future.

I define appearing on television as appearing regularly - whether on a current series or in syndication. Why? Because I can.

10. Cote de Pablo - NCIS

Her Ziva David is much more intense and dangerous than Caitlyn Todd ever could have been. A great choice by the network, and necessary for the show to continue. Her Mossad agent character is certifiably badass - just don't let her drive.


8/9. Norah O'Donnell/Erin Burnett - NBC Family of Networks

Not the most famous of newscasters, but very important nonetheless. Erin Burnett is a frequent contributor to the Today Show, Meet the Press and Morning Joe.


7. Michelle Beadle - SportsNation

It takes a strong personality to put the blowhard Colin Cowherd in his place. Beadle more than fits that bill as co-host of ESPN's SportsNation.

6. Grace Park - Hawaii Five-O

They have already started running promos, so I am going to count it. Besides, she has appeared on Battlestar Galactica and The Cleaner, so she more than certainly qualifies.



5. Marsha Thomason - White Collar

Currently on White Collar, she is likely most recognizable from Las Vegas, where she played the pit boss Nessa. Even on Vegas she was the least known of the female characters (Vanessa Marcil, Molly Sims and Nikki Cox), yet she still held her own.

4. Navi Rawat - Numbers/Burn Notice

She had a brief part in Burn Notice this season, but if you recognize her it is from Numbers, where she plays the brilliant professor Amita. Although overshadowed by the other male characters, she often provides lucrative insight into the pending investigations.

3. Eva La Rue - CSI Miami

As crime scene investigator Natalie Boa Vista, La Rue actually makes the cheesiness that is the writing and David Caruso acting tolerable.


2. Giada de Laurentiis - Food Network

She is on every show not populated by Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri. Definitely holds her own in the cooking shows.


1. Christina Hendricks – Mad Men

OK, so I had to go with one person that was pretty well rated.

Waiting for College Football

As we approach the commencement of college football season, I feel that this is the appropriate time to unveil my preseason All-American team. At the urging of Jorge O., it is time to have a beer in hand, breakfast on the stove, and college football on the television. A few rules, although there are more than 11 offenseive and defensive players listed, the team is selected to account for the various offenses and defenses used around the country (trip receivers, spread, 3-4, 4-3, etc.). I chose to explain my picks in some instances, and not in others. Why? Because I can. Now here are the Pepster Preseason All-Americans.

Offense

QB - Kellen Moore, Boise State; Case Keenum, Houston - I had Moore as my second team NCAA All-American QB last season, and he returns. Keenum will put up tons and tons of stats. Moore may finish undefeated and gain a birth in the BCS Championship game. If I had to pick a surprise third QB, it would be Christian Ponder of FSU.

RB - Mark Ingram, Alabama; Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech; Jazquizz Rodgers, Oregon State; Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh; John Clay, Wisconsin - Ingram and Williams are returning from my post-season All-American list last season, even though Ingram may not be the best running back on his team (see Richardson, Trent). Williams is my preseason player of the year. Lewis and Clay will both post lots and lots of yards, and are likely conference player of the year candidates, especially Clay behind that big Wisconsin line.

WR - A.J. Green, Georgia; Michael Floyd, Notre Dame; Julio Jones, Alabama; Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma - I having been touting Green for a couple of years, and Floyd was likely Notre Dame's best receiver last year. It is now time for Jones to show the fruits of all of that talent of his. Broyles could catch 90 balls.

TE - D.J Williams, Arkansas; Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame - Ryan Mallet could make a real star out of Williams.

T - Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin; Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh - Look for both offensives to strive this year.

G - Rodney Hudson, Florida State; John Moffitt, Wisconsin - Hudson was a Pepster All-American last year, and Moffitt will lead the interior of a great running game at Wisconsin.

C - Mike Pouncey, Florida - Only because his brother Maurkice is gone.

Defense

DE - Adrian Clayborn, Iowa; Cameron Heyward, Ohio State - Both very experienced, and both will wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Heyward is the son of former NFLer Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, so he must be tough.

DT - Jared Crick, Nebraska; Stephen Paea, Oregon State - Crick learned by playing next to the best, Ndamukong Suh, last season, and more than holding his own. Paea is a small mountain.

LB - Von Miller, Texas A & M; Greg Jones, Michigan State; Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina; Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State; Dont'a Hightower, Alabama; Sean Spence, Miami - All athletic beasts that will make a ton of tackles. OK, maybe Spence was a bit of a homer pic.

CB - Patrick Peterson, LSU; Brandon Harris, Miami; Janoris Jenkins, Florida - Harris among the leaders is passes defensed last year. Jenkins will make sure that Gators fans do not miss Joe Haden too much.

S - Rahim Moore, UCLA; DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson - The easiest position to select on the team, as both were high talents last year among the NCAA interception leaders

Special Teams

K - Matt Bosher, Miami - A little homerism, but, he is just the kicker.

P - Drew Butler, Georgia - Again, he is just the punter.

R - LaVon Brazill, Ohio University - A great returner, and he is from nearby my hometown.

Forgive me for any typographical errors, I didn't feel like proofreading this. I simply want to start college football season. Stay tuned for my weekly college football updates.