Hey all, I know I haven’t posted anything in a while, but I’m back.

WARNING This article might not sit well with some people, but this is my opinion, so don’t hate me.

Anyone catch that Jose Canseco special a few weeks ago? Honestly, I only saw a little of it, but it was pretty interesting. He is clean for the first time in years (and those who don’t know the amazingness of this feat, message me later), but he is pretty messed up. He has an amazingly low level of testosterone because of …you guessed it, steroids. So he’s trying to fix that, but that made me think about all the other junkies out there, and I have an idea, an epiphany, if you will. This is a two part plan. Part 1: We should give Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Tom Seaver, and Nolan Ryan an asterisk. Yes, you read that last statement right, give the Hall of Famers who every baseball knows and loves an asterisk. First of all, they did nothing wrong, they didn’t take steroids, mainly because they didn’t exist. But some of them had the chance. They weren’t illegal, but they were at the same time. Now for part 2: Fully accept Canseco and everyone else he corrupted. I don’t think they did anything wrong. They gained an advantage that anyone could’ve gotten, and they are rejected for that. And another thing, why do we hate Barry Bonds? Personally, I like him. I think he played his way, and he didn’t care what people thought…then he broke the most hallowed record in sport, Most Career Home Runs. Now, it was noticeable that certain players got…better in a way, and by better, I mean inhumanly muscular. If you don’t agree, just look at the stats of Bonds and Canseco, they went from 40-40 guys, to guys who said.”Pshh who needs to steal bases, that’s too hard, lets hit baseballs really far.” Now, I’m not supporting steroid use, I’m just saying that there was nothing wrong with it when it first was being used. And if you don’t believe me, go look at my cycling article. So, let’s give the “clean” players these asterisks, and the “juicers” will be at least not rejected as much. And lastly, I think we should have a new professional baseball league…JUICERS ONLY. Come on, you know it sounds intriguing. Canseco can be the Commissioner, Mark McGwire could be the head of the players union, and Bonds can be the poster boy. Now I know I said some things that were pretty far out there, and if you made it this far, I commend you, but lets not keep hating on Barry Bonds for doing something he hasn’t been proven guilty of.

Have You always been looking for something to write? Do you have the passion and looking for others that bleed the same sports you bleed? Do you have good knowledge about sports?

If you answered yes to any of these questions your in luck. Greatsportscoverage.wordpress.com is currently looking for dedicated sports writers and editors for their website. If you would like to reach out to the Mainstream and start a career in writing why not work for the best and most Intelligent sports writers blog on the internet. We give you the chance to be heard by the people and the people to hear you. We are currently accepting applications from any type of writer. Whether it be Auto Racing to Gymnastics. NHL to NCAA Basketball. If you know it well publish it. Our staff is currently filled with the best sports writers the editors know and we are looking to expand. Applications will not be accepted past specific dates so act qiuck because the sports world is moving faster than you can tell!

If you would like to send in your application please pick an headline, game, sporting event, or just your common knowledge about a sport and write a minimum 250 word article. Once completed with the article please send it to GSCmailbag@yahoo.com If you would like to speak directly with the sites editors or ask questions about us and the bloggers. Please feel free to message Phildog210 ( Phil Saponara) Jetsfan196 (Kenny Ducey) Nike Abbett Cody Manmiller Levi Wooten or any other writer that you find on our website.

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Cleveland Browns: The Cleveland Browns (3-6) play tonight on Monday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills (5-4). Brady Quinn (BRADY! BRADY! BRADY!) makes his 2nd career start tonight against a Bills defense ranked 13th. The Browns have had 11 days to prepare for this game so hopefully we will play like we did on our last Monday Night Game against the Giants. that Giants game just proves how much potential this team has. But potential only gets you so far, and then you have to work, and that is what this Browns team lacks. The Browns have dropped their past 2 games because their defense can not stop anybody, especially in the 4th quarter. They have been outscored 38-7 in the past two 4th quarters! Not acceptable. Let’s face it, the season is out of reach, so now is the time to star finding out who is hurting the team, and who can be beneficial to the future.

On a brighter note…

Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs are firing on all cylinders right now. They are 8-2 and on a 7 game winnig streak. They are dominating 4th quarters which championship teams do. LeBron James is playing like the game’s greatest player and the Cavs are winning. Mo Williams is doing what he should be. He is scoring, not as much as last year but it doesn’t matter when LBJ is on your team. Delonte West is hitting everything. Ben Wallace is playing like the Ben Wallace from Detroit. Z is Z. Consistent scoring Z. Anderson Varejao is FINALLY playing his role and it is tremendously impacting this team. “Boobie” is stepping up and making plays and not forcing anything. Need I go on with these compliments? The point is that everyting is going right with the Cavs right now. They are a fun team to watch and it is great to actually watch an offense. Not just LeBron vs. 5. Big game against the Pistons coming up on Wednesday battling for top spot in the division.

Cleveland Indians: Not much from the Indians fron considering it is the off-season but some great news…Cliff Lee won the AL Cy Young Award! Congratulations Cliff. A lot of rumors going on with the Indians and possible free agents and trades but we never know what is credible information and what is not.

THE Ohio State Buckeyes: The Buckeyes defeated Illinois last Saturday 30-20 avenging last years dissapionting loss to the Illini. Chris “Beanie” Wells rushed for 143 yards and 1 TD. QB Terelle Pryor also rushed for over 100 yards with 110 and 1 rushing TD. He also threw for a TD. Malcom Jenkins also had a safety in the solid win by the Buckeyes as they stay in the race for the Big Ten Title.

Akron Zips: The Zips lost a tough 4-OT game to the Buffalo Bulls in the last game at the Rubber Bowl. This put the Bulls in the top spot in the MAC East division. Although Akron is not nearly out of the race for the MAC Championship, this was an important game and a crucial setback for the Zips. On the basketabll side of things, in the season opener for the Zips they defeated Canisius 56-46. A young Zips team had a little more trouble with a not-very-good Canisius team. Some outstanding news from the Zips recruiting front, the Zips have signed highly touted recruit Zeke Marshall oout of McKesseport High School (PA). He was given a 91 rating by Scouts Inc. from ESPN, he is also the 7th best cneter out of his recruiting class and the 68th best overall player. This is a great signing for the Akron Zips program.

That is all for now. I might start doing a radio show but if not, I will stick with this column. See ya. CLEVELAND ROCKS!!!

Featured on greatsportsreporting.wordpress.com November 15, 2008- On Friday, Atlanta Braves GM Frank Wren said that discussions between the Braves orginization and that of the Padres. He said “We’ve moved on…We had our last discussion with San Diego yesterday”. The two teams’ discussions hit the wall Friday after San Diego’s asking price was too high for Jake Peavy. Wren would not release the names of specific Braves that were in the proposed deal, however it was rumored that SS Yunel Escobar, minor league OF Gorkys Hernandez, P Blaine Boyer, and P Charlie Morton were potential components of the trade.

This leaves the door wide open for the Chicago Cubs to pick up Peavy. As I said in my previous Jake Peavy article, the Cubs and Braves were the two leading contenders. However, Padres GM Kevin Towers said that there would be a third team in the mix, since Chicago is not giving them a deadline. Reported contenders were the Yankees, Dodgers, Cardinals, and Astros.

I see Los Angeles as the the “third team” Towers mentioned. The Dodgers may not get Derek Lowe back, as the Yankees are ready to make an offer for him, and since it is the Yankees, you know it is going to be a huge offer that would have a favorable chance if luring Lowe to the Yanks. If they do not get Lowe back, there will be a good spot in the rotation needing to be filled, leaving Peavy as a good candidate. The other factor is Manny Ramirez. If the Dodgers are unable to sign Ramirez, then they will save a lot of money salary-wise. They will have enough money to pay Peavy a good salary, making LA a better-looking place to go for Peavy.

On a brief note, Kerry Wood will not be returning to the Chicago Cubs after the Cubs recently aquired former Florida Marlins Closer Kevin Gregg. Wood called the exit “bittersweet” and he does look to go to a playoff conteder in the National League.

The New York Yankees acquired 1B Nick Swisher, and a pitcher from the White Sox for Wilson Betmit and two minor league pitchers.

Swisher hit 24 home runs last year for the White Sox, and came in a deal with the Oakland A’s a year before. Swisher’s deal signals the end for Jason Giambi, whom filed for free agency, but now will not see much of chance to come back to New York after this deal.

The Yankees may still be in the running for Mark Texeria though. Even though Swisher plays first base, he can double as an outfielder, and could play right field if needed. If the Yanks put Nady in Center and put Damon in Left, there’s a way Texeria and Swisher both play on the same team.

In other Yankees news:

The Yankees are reportedly spending $150 million for C.C. Sabathia, although, it’s hard to see if they will get him. He really wants to move back to California and the only teams that play in Cali. are: The Dodgers, The SF Giants, The LAA Angles, and Oakland A’s.

The Yankee offer is reportedly the largest offer he’s received to date. The Brewers did make an offer to keep him, but it’s likely he will not be returning to the Brewers.

America’s most beloved park turns 100 years old in 2012 and could celebrate it with an “All Star Game”. For the cathedral that has hosted so many major sporting events and teams in its lifetime none bigger than the Boston Red Sox, it would be appropriate to celebrate with a birthday bash like the “All Star game”. The Park that’s personality is described with adjectives such as; “Williamsburg”, “The Belly”, “Pesky’s Pole”, Fisk’s Pole, “Duffy’s Cliff” and of course “The Green Monster. A 2012 “All star game” only seems right. The last “All star game” in Boston was in 1999 and offered one of the most magical nights in all star game history. A hitter’s park the “Home Run Derby” is always a big hit. Although Fenway Park is mostly known for Baseball Fenway Park has been utilized for many other major events. One of the most famous campaign speeches in American political history was made at Fenway Park in the 1940 Presidential race, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised that he would not send American servicemen into foreign wars. During this time World War II was raging in Europe, but the United States was officially neutral, although it was aiding the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. This speech was noted repeatedly by Roosevelt’s opponents; even after Japanese Imperial Naval forces attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, causing the United States to enter World War II.

This “League” is mainly so that I can gain experience and exposure doing baseball play by play. I’ve set up a league in “Franchise mode” on MLB 08, and started it with an automated fantasy draft. After simming spring training, I sit on Opening Day 2007 with completely overhauled MLB organizations.

I’m going to preview all of the teams heading into the season, then start off with Opening Day for the Dodgers. LAD will be my team of choice for this project, but I will also cover some games in the AL, likely for the Angels or Rays. I’m trying to limit the number of teams I cover, so that I can make it a more true-to-life immersion experience. However, I will do what I can to keep up with the happenings around the league—after all, if I don’t, who will?

Oh, and for what it’s worth, the banner up top is merely a placeholder. I will whip up something a little better in the coming weeks.

Before I say anything, here’s the summary from the Sporting News:

"The 10 panelists who reviewed every ball hit in the majors this season ranked Jeter 22nd among shortstops. One called him “the least effective defensive player in the major leagues, at any position.” Ranking 22nd wouldn’t place Jeter as last, but James said of panel member Baseball Info Solutions, “They had analyzed the outcomes to determine who was best at turning hit balls into outs. One of their conclusions was that Jeter was probably the least effective defensive player in the major leagues, at any position.”

I’m about to be killed, but I kinda agree. I love Derek, but the truth is that he is the second or third best shortstop on his own team. Jason has long been saying that the Yankees need to leave first base open for DJ as he gets older, and I think that he may be right as well. The Yankees are lucky that defense matters so little in baseball. Otherwise, Derek would costing them games.

I wonder who will have a worse response to this news: Loyal reader Brandon Steinberger, or Michael Kay on 1050 ESPN radio at 3:00pm? My guess is Kay might actually explode when he hears this.

Okay Cardinals fans as the winter fast approaches that means winter meetings and that Spring Training is right around the corner. This off-season for the Cards should be an interesting one, with 6 players filing for Free Agency, including Braden Looper, and Russ Springer. I think the Cardinals will bring back Springer for his veteran experience out of the bullpen. I wouldn’t be suprised if they didn’t bring back Looper though, i think they should because he’s really becoming a solid starter for the team, he can eat up innings and go deep in ballgames. But theres always the possibilty that he can get rocked at any time during a game. Another rumor that is floating around is if the Cardinals will trade for star pitcher Jake Peavy. He would make a good addition to the starting rotation but we won’t be an easy player to get. In order to get Peavy the Cards would have to get rid of some young talent like Jason Motte, Jess Todd and maybe even Colby Rasmus. Peavy is a good pitcher and all but i think that the Cards cannot give up Colby Rasmus. I admit he usually starts off slow but once summer hits he really hits is offensive stride, hes a good defender and has a solid throwing arm. Motte and Todd are up and coming stars but i think the Cards can part ways with those two players. bottom line KEEP RASMUS WITH THE CARDINALS. Its gonna be hard to tell who the Cardinals will bring back next year, so we’ll just have to sit back and watch what happens. They have already inked catcher Jason Larue. Remember you can get all your Cardinals info at ww.stlcardinals.com or you can comment on this article and i can answer your comments and questions to the best of my ability in my next article that will be written sometime later this month.

As mentioned in the recent mini-episode of the 840 Sports Report, I have many things in store for my YouCastr page. In fact, I consider this the dawning of a new age for the 840 Sports Network, even as the sun begins to set on it. What do I mean? I will explain.

If only I’d had this site 6 years ago, who knows what would have happened? I could have broadcast all my games live with full archiving (or uploaded them soon after), garnered fans, fame, and recognition, sold ads, and the whole lot. I would have documented results and a continuous, proven track record of delivering solid broadcasts for six years and counting…and could have easily parlayed that into (maybe) an actual job.

Fast forward to today. This is the very tool I needed…but we’re entering that “almost too late” gray area. I can post my archives and let the world have access to them, but I don’t know how much use it will be going forward; it could make all the difference, or it could be a “perfect thing, but just too late” afterthought.

That said, I’m uploading my old 840SN recorded content, especially my Riverdale football. Not only is it great for documenting the histories (like for alums of RHS, MTSU, etc.) of current programs and defunct teams (like the ABA’s Nashville Rhythm and Long Beach Jam, or the NIFL’s Tennessee River Sharks)...but it also shows that I actually DID the games for such a long stretch. Not only that, but all those games are then archived online for anyone to listen to…including prospective employers. No resumes or CD needed, and no covering bad games with mere “highlight reels.” The good and bad will be there. Simple as that.

Also, the next big projects I’m undertaking? Training myself for baseball broadcasting by doing recorded and online ‘casts of baseball off MLB 08 The Show (possibly a franchise/season mode with franchise draft, so I can cover multiple games with score updates, different rosters and moves, a nucleus of players I get used to, etc.)...and likely latching on with a basketball program (such as MTSU) and broadcasting (live or delayed) a full slate of games. The basketball operation is something I’m tinkering with, and simply calling “Operation: Trident.” More information on that will be coming soon.

However, for now, just enjoy the archived RHS games, and know that more is coming. Simple as that.