What in the world is going on in sports right now?
Noses are being broken, women are getting slapped by Ron Artest, former Atlanta pitcher and current star of ""Pros vs. Joes"" John Rocker admitted to taking HGH while he was playing: Everyone involved with sports is nuts right now. Even those not involved with sports are getting in on the action, as Forbes Magazine named Kevin McHale and Billy King two of the top three general managers in sports today.
Not that it's all bad. Take away the domestic violence and some very interesting happenings are entertaining fans everywhere.
Take Chicago, for instance. Windy City GMs have made some extremely questionable moves recently. Now I'm not a Bears fan, but even I know that Chicago got completely hosed in the Thomas Jones trade. Let's trade one of the more consistent running backs of the past five years and a 1200-yard rusher in Jones for an early second round pick. Not only that, let's throw in our second round pick for good measure.
This is one of the worst trades I've seen in the NFL in a while, as Jones might be the most underrated running back in the NFL while Cedric Benson hasn't really proved he can stay healthy or be a feature back.
There's also the Lance Briggs situation. The Bears placed the franchise tag on Briggs, but he hates the organization so much that he said he will do ""everything in [his] power to keep from playing there."" Well done, GM Jerry Angelo (named No. 8 in the Forbes list) and the rest of the Bears' front office, you alienated one of the best linebackers in football.
Chicago's baseball GMs haven't been exempt from the crazy gene lately either. The White Sox signed Javier Vazquez to a three-year contract that will pay him an incredible $11.5 million a season. This for a guy who is a combined 22-27 over the past two seasons with an ERA above 4.5. He also has given up 58 home runs in that span. He's a decent, reliable pitcher, but paying him that much money is ridiculous.
White Sox GM Ken Williams must have learned the overpaying mediocre pitchers lesson from Cubs GM Jim Hendry. Ted Lilly did win 15 games last season, but he also lost 13 and rarely went past six innings. That's not somebody I'd give $10 million a season to, but that's just me. Hendry also gave more than $6 million a year and the third spot in the starting rotation to Jason Marquis, who was 3-10 with a blinding 6.72 ERA after the All-Star Break last season. Sorry Cubs fans, but even with the huge amount of money spent in the offseason, you're probably in for another rough year.
NFL GMs are not quite as out of control, but a couple have flirted with the ""just plain nuts"" tag lately, especially with offensive line signings. Browns guard Eric Steinbach, Cowboys tackle Leonard Davis and Bills guard Derrick Dockery all got huge contracts over the past week, with each of them earning more than $7 million a season. None of these three are spectacular, and the Arizona Cardinals didn't think Davis played consistently enough to resign him. If the Cardinals don't think you're playing well enough as an offensive lineman, you've got problems. Way to go Dallas.
Kobe Bryant was his usual crazy self again Tuesday night, hitting Timberwolves guard Marko Jaric in the face after flailing his arms following a shot in an attempt to get a foul called. The first time he did this against Manu Ginobli, it could've been an accident, but Tuesday was a mirror image of the Ginobli incident. Maybe Raja Bell needs to clothesline Bryant again, that would stop his flailing, face-hitting tendencies. Bryant deserved at least a three-game suspension instead of the one game, not just for hitting Jaric but for crying over the rare time a foul isn't called when he shoots the ball.
But none of these things can really compare to the madness that starts in a week. Get your brackets and your excuses for not going to class next Thursday and Friday ready sports fans, because the best part of the sports year is coming!
Hopelessly optimistic Cubs fans can feel free to yell at Zach at zlkukkonen@dailycardinal.com.
