Alex Rodriguez or Mark Sanchez: who gets it worse?

Earlier this year I blogged about how Tony Romo and Andy Roddick get crushed by the media because of their inability to walk on water. The criticism of Romo has not relented as his Cowboys are a mediocre 2-2 and have had two very bad lossess to Seattle and Chicago. Roddick retired. Nothing left to say about him. Mark Sancez and Alex Rodriguez play in the media capital of the world and every move they make is scrutinized. No matter the excuse or justification surrounding what they have done or not done, the New York media absolutely destroys them. The problem i have with it written or said about both men is that they have been both set up to fail or have put themselves in situations where they have no one to blame for their failures. Let me elaborate...

Alex Rodriguez has been linked to two players his entire career. Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra played the same position that Alex did and they were supposed to revolutionize the position both offensively and defensively. They have done just that. The difference between the three is that Derek Jeter is a 5 time World champ, has 3000 plus hits and generally recognized as this generations greatest leader of men. Nomar's career was interrupted several times because of injuries. He could have been apart of the Red Sox teams that won two world titles. His trade to the Cubs, then Dodgers, marred what could have been a Hall of Fame career. What Alex does not possess that the other two seem to have is likability. He has been critcized from day one because he not as "quiet" as Jeter or Nomar. He was teamed with Ken Griffey Jr. and never seemed to learn the importance of being simply just being seen and not heard will give you longevity in this league. people critcize him because he signed the largest sports contract in American sports. He is getting paid 24 million dollars and is only hitting .179 in his most recent two post seasons. He has not hit homeruns or driven in runs like he was paid to do and people question his commitment and even if his gaudy career number were a by product of steroid use. Last night, the word is that Alex cannot hit a fastball anymore. I can understand a fastball going 97-100 miles an hour, but 89, 90, 91? If the Yankees could trade him he would have been gone years ago. He has had only one stellar post season and that was in 2009. There is nothing the Yankees can do other than move him down in the lineup or flat out buy him out. Alex has brought most of his critcism on himself. He has been quoted in books and magazine articles criticizing Jeter. These next few games will be interestin to say the least.

Mr. Sanchez is a completely different story because he has not come to New York telling the world that he is the greatest thing since butter pecan ice cream. Sanchez's problem is simply the Jets failed him. They give him receivers and then they take them away. He had Braylon Edwards for a season. He had Plaxico Burress for a season. They Jets brass got rid of both of them. His go to guys Dustin Keller is oft injured and Santonio Holmes is the most overrated number 1 receivers in the game. He had a good Super Bowl because the Cardinals were focused on stopping Hines Ward. He made the catch for the ages and hasn't produced since. NOt only do the Jets take away his weapons, they bring in a lockerroom divider in Tim Tebow. Tebow stands there and says all of the politically correct things to say and gains the respect of half the locker room. Last year in Denver he took a mediocre Denver Bronco team to the second round of the playoffs. He is not better than Sanchez, but different. I can complete more passes than Tebow, but Tebow just finds a way to just win. Maybe the defense knows that they have really buckle down and play hard to stay in the game because if there is 2 minutes on the clock and they have a chance Tebow can win the game. Sanchez spoiled Jet fans by leading the Jets to the championship game in his first two years. In both games, the Jets literally were one good half from winning. They dominated the first half against the Colts and dominated the second half against the Steelers. Sanchez last night played as hard and determined a game as i ever seen him play. He did not allow Mr. Foster to run for 152 yards. He did not create the confusion on the sidelines which forced the Jets to burn important timeouts. Give the man a break and give him some talent to throw to. If he does not produce with the talent given him, then by all means bring in Tebow. He is going to need therapy...

Winning will quiet everyone in both Alex's case and Sanchez's..The Yankees must get to the next round. The Jets better beat the Colts this weekend. The world is watching...

I am tired of..

You know what I am tired of in sports is hyperbole Monday or overreaction Tuesday. I listen to sports radio shows or talking hairdo shows on a daily basis and you would swear that the broadcasters are personally invested in each team and player around the leagues.  This past 10 months in sports we have heard every comment one can make about Tony Romo, Mark Sanchez, Jay Cutler, Albert Pujols, Lebron James,Tim Tebow, just to name a few. I am so tired hear about these men.  I am tired of hearing radio hosts say that they don't buy into the hyperbole Monday or Overreaction syndrome of sports and then they do. Dan Patrick started this kick about Peyton Manning's arm strength is not what it should be.  Manning apparently cannot complete passes over 20 yards and that teams should just jam his receivers and dare the Broncos to beat them deep.  Even though this season Manning is averaging over 280 yards a game passing, something is still wrong with his arm.. Even though last week against the Raiders he was 30-38 for 338 yards something is still wrong with Mannings arm. The two losses against Atlanta and Houston( who are both unbeaten still) Manning played poorly in the first half but rallied his team back to have a chance to win each game and someone says something is still wrong with his arm. 
Then there is Mark Sanchez. Everyone criticized ESPN for all of this extra coverage of the New York Jets. Mark Sanchez is going to need therapy soon if he is not already in therapy.  The Jets have played Pittsburgh, San Fransisco, Miami, and Buffalo.  The first two teams are defensive machines that beat up every quarterback. San Fransisco has wins against Green Bay and Detroit who have two qb's that threw for a combined 9700 yards last year.  The Niners made them look foolish. Sancez is being set up to fail because the most important thing to the Jets is to be "Paper Champions" and get headlines instead of victories.  I can say this because they did nothing to improve their team on either side of the ball.  they brought in no weapons to help Sanchez.  They brought in Tebow to create problems for the team. i am tired of hearing about Tebow and quarterback controversies especially in New York. This is not Denver.  There is a quarterback in the division named Tom Brady who knows how to win games. There is no Carson Palmer, Matt Cassell or Phillip Rivers lurking in this division who all under achieve. The controversy is bad for football because it takes away from the good things that happening around the NFL.  Matt Ryan has been phenomenal.  Arizona is getting a redemptive performance from Kevin Kolb. Rookie quarterbacks are playing at a level that no one has ever seen. Sanchez deserves to be treated with much more respect than he gets.  He has no one to throw too.  Keller is always hurt. Holmes is a overrated diva. He has no running game.  Shon Greene was supposed to inherit the throw and he has disappointed.  I am tired of people blaming the wrong person.  Watch the games and learn something about them before you pinpoint the problems. 
Tony Romo on Monday night was 31-43 which is over 60 percetnt completeion ratio and Joe Theisman and the rest of America blames him for the loss.  Yes he threw 5 picks. How many balls did Dez Bryant drop that would have kept drives alive? I am tired of hearing about Romo did not do this or Romo did not do that.  How about the balls that Austin dropped? Dallas is 2-2 and tied with the Giants and the Redskins.  Mike Vick has 9 turnoversand the Eagles are in first place. The Eagle fans want to get rid of him too. The  Cowboys come back from their bye week with a game against the Ravens.  The Jets play Houston on Monday.   I cant believe that I am defending the Jets and the Cowboys.  I must be really tired..

The New York Jest.. I mean Jets..

I usually root for all New York area teams in all sports.  I watch the Yankees, even though I am a Met fan.. I watch the Islanders and Devils even though I love the Rangers.. I watch even the Nets even though I bleed orange, blue and white for my Knicks.  I would much rather watch the Buffalo Bills than root for the New York Jets.  The Jets make me sick. I am absolutely floored with all of the media hype that surrounds this team.  This team won a Super Bowl in 1969 and has not been to one since.  They have been in four AFC championship games and have not been able to play two successful halves of football.  They could have easily defeated Miami in the 80's but let A.J. Duhe dominate them in that game.  They dominated Denver in the first half but Vinny ran out of gas in the second half.  They confused the Colts offense in the first half and ran all over their defense but could not stop Peyton in the second half.  They looked scared in the first half against the Steelers but in the second half regrouped enough to win the game but could not get off the field on the Steelers final drive. They talk more s*** than any team that has not won a damn thing.  Their coach is brash, comical, innovative and a"Ryan".   They play great defense at times and if they did not have to face Tom Brady twice a year, they probably would have the statistical number 1 ranked defense in the league.  Last year they finished 5th in defense I believe and they live and die by a blitz scheme that either makes Ryan look like a genius or a fool.  They have no pass rush so they whatever they can to get the quarterback.  Darrell Revis is a superstar, but most teams make him a non-factor in games. 
Why do I call them the Jests?  We live in an age of sports where when you hear the players speak all they talk about is winning the ring.  Players very rarely talk about themselves, especially those who have not won anything.  Except maybe during a contract dispute or if a player is Terrell Owens, you usually never hear so much about players who haven't accomplished anything.   Everyday and I mean EVERYDAY, there is a news story about teh Jets.  Whether it is Tim Tebow running with his shirt off in the rain, Rex Ryan losing 108lbs., whether it is Sanchez throwing better than Tebow, Revis hurting his groin, Mangold's sister going to the Olympics as a weightlifter, the jets the jets, the jets... I am having system overload about a team that was 8-8 last year.  They lost to the Giants last year when Victor Cruz scored on that beautiful 99yard pitch and catch from Eli.  They did not even make the playoffs and most people this year dont think they will either.  Look at the AFC. 
The Patriots will win the East.  Houston will win the South. Baltimore or Pittsburgh will win the North.  Denver is the trendy pick out West.  So that means the Jets have on spot to win.  The must beat San Diego, Oakland, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Kansas City who gets eveyone back from a team that went to the playoffs when they were healthy, for the last spot.  Are they more newsworthy than the ten teams I have already mentioned?  I can understand the over coverage of the Denver Broncos.  They just signed Peyton Mnning to a long term deal and he is of course Peyton Manning.  I can understand all of the coverage of the Saints.  They have no head coach. Have several lawsuits pending against the league, players suspended, coaches suspended, Brees contract and subsequent comments about comissioner, Super Bowl being held in New Orleans. Just to name a few.. But the Jets?  The coach says everyday that Sanchez is his guy. New York fans are not like other city fans.  We recognize if a player can play or whether or not he is hype, or garbage.  Giant fans had a dilemma when the battle was between Simms and Hoss.. Both got a ring and the ring Hoss got was impart due to the season that Simms had created.  Jet fans will not clamour for Tebow if Sanchez is struggling because they already know that Sanchez is a better quarterback.  They have nothing worthy to debate because they are not going anywhere!!!
Yes I respect that the Jest have been to the AFC title game 2 of the last three years and have amazed us with creative ways in which they have won games against pretty good teams.  They have some good players, but need to concentrate on better locker room comraderie than being on Sportscenter talking about Super Bowls.  Dont you remember Santonio Holmes melt down last year when this team needed him in a big moment and game? I know that the best part for some are the characters that in the league.  Usually we are touting them for their humor or candor because they have done something on the field worth noticing.  Win something first Jest fans and then I will call you by your real name. I am sick that i had to take the time out to write this blog about them..