Marshall's Maturity Crucial for Chicago

It wasn't long ago that Brandon Marshall fit the stereotype of a NFL wide receiver perfectly. There were plenty of highlight grabs and touchdowns, but also plenty of prima donna Keyshawn-esque moments of demanding the ball. Off the field Marshall racked up a slew of legal troubles and has been arrested multiple times, which made the question, "is this guy worth the trouble?" an often-asked one. Thanks to treatment for his borderline personality disorder plus the maturation into a team leader, the only trouble surrounding Marshall now is how defenses are going to go about stopping him.

Whereas Marshall seemed to have once studied the Randy Moss Guide to Being a NFL Wide Receiver, he has now taken a leaf out of Larry Fitzgerald's book and simply let his play do the talking. No longer does he pop up on Sportscenter for arrests or suspensions, but instead for putting up All-Pro numbers. In his first season with the Chicago Bears last year Marshall had a career year, racking up career highs in receptions (118), yards (1,508) and touchdowns (11). The Bears need that type of production from him, but they also need his leadership.

Two years ago Marshall wasn't exactly the guy coaches wanted to mentor their rookie wide receivers. Now, he's the perfect man for the job as second-year wideout Alshon Jeffery looks to improve off of an up-and-down rookie season. Marshall has always been a precise route-runner, but now he is in a position to pass on knowledge to Jeffery and other young receivers about things like playing smart (Green Bay, Week 15) and not letting emotions get the best of them (Washington, Preseason Game 2).

By treating his BPO and maturing, Marshall has given the Bears exactly what they need and has given himself the opportunity to fully show off his talent. Chicago is the farthest thing from a wide receiver factory and Marshall basically rewrote the record book in just one season. He owns the franchise records for single-season receptions and yards and he became the first Bear to record 1,000+ receiving yards and make the Pro Bowl since 2002. Chicago has longed for a playmaker at the wide receiver position for years and now they have a top five guy in Marshall.

Chicago is in a tough division and the defense lost their heart and soul with the retirement of Brian Urlacher. To overcome Green Bay and Minnesota the offense will have to score more, while the defense will have to continue it's stellar play. Marshall will again be Jay Cutler's top target and, if the offensive line can keep Cutler upright, these two can work wonders. Hopefully, their work translates to a playoff appearance -- somewhere Marshall has never been in his career.

Brandon Marshall's maturity pays dividends in multiple ways for he and the Bears. He stays on the field, performs at a high level and doesn't cause distractions. Being asked to mature and harness a disorder is no easy task, but Marshall did it. That should make the Bears' next request sound pretty simple -- how about another career year?

A-Rod Drama Should End with Lifetime Ban

How will we remember Alex Rodriguez? Will it be for the towering home runs and flashy glove work on the left side of the infield? Or will it be for the contract, the steroids, the arrogance and the constant drama? With the latest developments out of the Bronx on A-Rod's quad strain and the Biogenesis scandal hovering over his head like a black rain cloud about to burst, something tells me we won't remember Rodriguez for what he did on the field. That's quite a shame because he is one of the best players to step foot on the diamond, but he created his own demise and everything that he will be remembered for was by his own doing.

Rodriguez says he's ready to play after suffering a quad strain, but the Yankees say he's not. Now A-Rod says the Yanks are doing all they can to keep him off the field. That's a storyline you don't hear everyday. However, Rodriguez attracts this type of drama and, again, it's his own doing. Getting a second opinion on an injury is fine, but A-Rod never told the Yankees and never actually saw the doctor in person. After creating a media firestorm two days ago, he then reiterated that he wanted to play and said, "Enough doctors...let's play."

There's a slight problem though. What if you aren't wanted? It sounds ridiculous that a team plagued with injuries to every superstar on the roster wouldn't want Alex Rodriguez, but it seems true. It makes perfect sense. Ryan Braun's lies came crashing down on him earlier this week and it's assumed that A-Rod won't be far behind and that would spell doom for the Yanks.

Despite all the injuries, New York is still very much in the AL East race and bringing Rodriguez back into the clubhouse could be disastrous for them. If he comes back now then the media is going to rush into that clubhouse and talk about the injury and the Biogenesis scandal and, instead of an asset, A-Rod becomes a distraction. Besides the scandal, the Yankees are smart for taking their time with him because he is a big investment. There's a lot of money left to pay A-Rod and the last thing the Yanks want is an injury that keeps him off the field for the entire season or longer.

The injury is just a small part of this drama though. The real focal point is the scandal and whether or not a suspension is coming A-Rod's way. If so, then he should be done. This isn't his first rodeo with PEDs and what's worse is that he once apologized for taking them then went around the country speaking out against PED use. Yet now these reports surface and Rodriguez is, once again, looking like a fraud. If he is found guilty that warrants a lifetime ban no question.

Can you blame the Yankees for not wanting this guy around? I don't want to jump to conclusions and say that he did or did not take PEDs and that a suspension is a sure thing, but Rodriguez did something to get his name brought up in those reports. That's enough for me. He was somewhere he shouldn't have been and dealing with people he shouldn't have been around. Despite all his great plays, clutch home runs and outstanding play, the Yankees are better off without him.

When that black rain cloud that is the Biogenesis scandal bursts and Alex Rodriguez has to face the media he will be a shamed man. There won't be any apologies this time because there won't be anything that can cover up this stain the second time around. All there will be is the remains of a fat contract for an arrogant, drama queen who just so happens to be one of the best players we have ever seen. But will we even remember his play?

Braun's Mistake is Permanent to His Reputation

Baseball is a changed game. It's a changed culture. Sure, there are still those that embarrass themselves and disrespect the history of the game by using PEDs, but the game has changed in the sense that players are calling for harsher penalties and the tolerance is at a minimum around the league. Ryan Braun is finding out the hard way and it's assumed that Alex Rodriguez won't be far behind him. It doesn't matter what sport it is, a superstar standing at a podium spilling half-hearted apologies for using PEDs has become the norm for this generation. Braun fit right into that category yesterday as he gave a sad apology, if it could even be called that.

Let's rewind the clock to February 2012 when Braun stood at a podium in Arizona and vehemently denied any wrongdoing after it was reported in December 2011 that he was being investigated for elevated levels of testosterone. At the time he was in such denial that he went to great lengths to profess his innocence. "I truly believe in my heart and I would bet my life that this substance never entered my body," he said.

Now it's 2013 and Braun was in front of a microphone, but singing a much different tune. "As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect. I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences for those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization," he said.

Hey guys, did you hear that??? Ryan Braun realized he's not perfect! Seriously? What a dumb thing to say. Did he think he was like the second coming of Jesus Christ or something? At any rate, we're all glad he realized he's not perfect. Oh, and he just now realizes that he made some mistakes. So when he was taking those substances he didn't realize it was a mistake? Ryan Braun is no fool and I wish he wouldn't act like he was so naive. He's a smart individual. He's smart enough to lead us on this trail of denial for more than a year and he almost got away with it.

Of course, he couldn't get this far without crushing a few people along the way, namely the tester Dino Laurenzi Jr. Oh, and if you're wondering, Braun didn't even mention Laurenzi the other day when he was spewing his lame apologies. We may never know what Braun does in private, but I hope he apologizes to Laurenzi after completely ruining his reputation so that he could avoid a suspension in 2012.

Braun had an excuse for everything, a reason for why his name popped up in investigations and he stepped all over those in his path to try and maintain his innocence and reputation. Like I said, he's a smart guy for leading us on this long. However, he had to know this would be the end eventually. He saw the Rafael Palmeiro finger wag, the Mark McGwire silence, the ballad of Floyd Landis and the Oprah interview with Lance Armstrong. He's seen Barry Bonds become the most hated man in baseball and he saw countless others admit and give a half-hearted apologies for taking PEDs. He had to know that eventually the truth would be revealed.

But maybe all that lying went to his head and he actually believed it to be truth. Who knows. Here's what we do know: MLB players aren't forgiving him anytime soon and many have called for stiff penalties. Matt Kemp said he should be stripped of the 2011 MVP award and Skip Schumaker said Braun should be suspended for life and that "he makes me sick." There is no tolerance for this sort of thing in the MLB any longer and the commissioner should listen. No game will ever be 100 percent clean, but a stiff penalty to a star like Braun will certainly grab everyone's attention.

Ryan Braun is a fraud and he is a cheater. He's not the first and he's not going to be the last. When he returns to the field in 2014 he may still hear the cheers in Milwaukee when he hits a home run, but on the road and among his peers his reputation will never recover from this. It's a mistake with permanent ramifications and it's unfortunate that Braun was the last one to realize that.

Ballpark Overview: Busch Stadium

This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit my second MLB park of the summer and, while I had visited Busch Stadium before, it was nice to go back because there are changes being made to the park that will improve it even more. The home of 11-time World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals opened in 2006 and was christened with the club's 10th World Series title that season. The Redbirds added another in 2011 and the park has also hosted an All-Star Game.

Busch is a beautiful ballpark, nestled right under Interstate 64 with views of the Gateway Arch and the rest of the St. Louis skyline beyond center field. Two large scoreboards sit in right-center field and Big Mac Land occupies the second-level seats in left field. The Cardinals pay homage to their history in several places throughout the park and the retired numbers can be found below the scoreboard and also on the left field wall. The World Series years are honored on top of the scoreboard with a flag flying for each winner and the club routinely refers to themselves as the "11-time World Champions" on the scoreboard.

Outside the park there are 11 statues and 10 of them are located on the corner of Clark and Eighth Streets. Another Stan Musial statue stands at the Gate 3 entrance on the third base side of the stadium. There are also several gestures to the old Busch Stadium which stood on the same ground. The outfield wall and foul lines are marked and the old out-of-town scoreboards are inside the park and they were left just the way they were when the final out was made at old Busch.

Concessions aren't bad at Busch and I can personally recommend the foot-long bratwurst sold at Dizzy's Diner. There are also nachos that are quite large, Dippin' Dots, Ben & Jerry's ice cream and an Asian and Mexican market. In short, there are plenty of choices for fans who decide to eat at the park. Another nice touch is that after the game there are free Snapple beverages being offered to fans outside the park.

Fan gear and memorabilia shops aren't hard to find either. The official team store is located out in left field with a smaller one down the first base line. In center field there is also an Authentics shop with game-used bats, bases, helmets and plenty of autographed pictures, etc. The Fredbird Store is also inside the park and offers kids (or grownups) to make their own Fredbird doll kind of like the Build-a-Bear workshop. Speaking of kids, the interactive games and other activities are located beyond center field.

What's exciting about Busch is that across the street in left field where the old park used to sit, the franchise is building the new Ballpark Village. The plans say there will be restaurants, shops and even rooftop seating. It will allow fans more options before the game and will also give the left field area some life.

Busch is one of the better parks I've been too and the fans make it a great place to watch a game. It's long been said that the Cardinals have the best fans in baseball and it's easy to see after watching a game at the park. The food is good, the views of the city are nice and team is the best in baseball at the moment. I would definitely say this is one of the top destinations for any baseball fan.

Time Will Tell if This Band of Pirates is Legit

You may do a double take, but you aren't seeing things when looking at the MLB standings. At the All-Star Break the Pittsburgh Pirates really are the second best team in baseball with a 56-37 record and one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. The franchise that has perfected the art of losing hasn't had a winning season since 1992, so if you were born since 1990 then you have no memory of Pittsburgh ever being a winner. That's futility at it's finest right there.

However, the winds of change are sweeping through the Steel City. The Bucs have flirted with success the past two seasons, only to bottom out in the second half and finish under .500 once again. Last season they were close, but 79-83 still won't get the job done and the playoffs continued to evade the franchise. But this year -- no, not this year. This year there is something different about the Pirates and saying "playoffs" and "Pirates" in the same sentence is no longer a funny joke.

It all starts with Andrew McCutchen for Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old All-Star got off to a slow start this season, but has recovered to hit .302 with 10 home runs, 49 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. A team needs a star if they are to win and Pittsburgh has one in McCutchen. The centerfielder obviously believes in the franchise and the direction they are headed in because he inked a six-year extension worth $51.5 million in 2012. In past years he was the lone bright spot, but not this season.

Starling Marte has emerged as a reliable every day player with a batting average of .291, 28 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. At only 24 years of age, Marte is a player that figures to factor into the Pirates plans for years down the road and both he and McCutchen should man their outfield spots through at least 2018 when McCutchen's deal ends. Then there is Pedro Alvarez, another All-Star, who provides the pop in the lineup with 28 home runs. Like Marte and McCutchen, Alvarez is young at just 26 years and the Bucs finally have a solid young core they can find hope in.

Yet none of this is possible, and the playoffs certainly aren't a possibility, if not for the pitching depth that Pittsburgh has. Pitching wins when it comes to the playoffs and the Pirates have the starters (Francisco Liriano, A.J. Burnett, Jeff Locke) and the bullpen (Jason Grilli, Justin Wilson, Mark Melancon) to make a run. That's what has prohibited the Pirates from staying afloat in the second half the past two seasons, but again, it seems this club is different.

Obviously no one really knows if the Pirates will be in the playoffs come October, but time will tell if the losing will finally come to an end. A team must learn how to win before they can actually do it and Pittsburgh has been going through the process the last two seasons. Now, with a 20-game cushion from that dreaded sub-.500 and just 69 games remaining maybe Bucs fans can finally try and figure out where they are. After all, 19 games over .500 this late in the season certainly is uncharted territory.

Johnny Manziel Has Some Growing Up To Do

Johnny Manziel may be the biggest star in the history of college sports. That sounds crazy to say, but it might be true. Tim Tebow was pretty big during his time at Florida, but Johnny Football completely took over the college football universe during his Heisman Trophy-winning freshman season. Since delivering his acceptance speech he has done anything, but fade away from the national spotlight. He has basked in it and become the center of it -- and not always for the right reasons. Once again, Manziel finds himself in the middle of controversy this week and it begs the question: is Johnny Football's star too bright for the college ranks?

Manziel is a 20-year-old sophomore at Texas A&M and burst on to the national scene after a November 10th upset of No. 1 Alabama. Johnny Football carved up the Tide, completing 24 of 31 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 92 yards. The Aggies jumped on 'Bama early, leading 20-0 after the first quarter and then holding off a rally at the end, winning 29-24. The legend was born on the night and Manziel would go on to be the first freshman to hoist the Heisman in New York City.

After winning the award Manziel and the Aggies still had business to take care of against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl. No problem. Manziel looked like he was on another planet, setting a Cotton Bowl record with 516 total yards and leading A&M to a 41-13 pounding over the Sooners. Manziel didn't just score four touchdowns (two in the air, two on the ground), he showboated his way to all four. With every score the taunting grew and this was a kid who couldn't be stopped.

He also can't be stopped off the field. It's a problem. After winning the Heisman, Manziel appeared at several NBA games courtside and in the locker room with stars like LeBron James and James Harden after the games. There may actually be nothing wrong with that, but it seems highly suspicious. Manziel can't accept any gifts or benefits so, in order to go to those games, his family would have to buy the tickets. That may have happened, but who knows. It's controversy that Texas A&M doesn't want or need.

He also has a June 2012 arrest on his record and has countless photos of his partying stacked up against him. He's a 20-year-old college student. I get that. 20-year-old college students go out and party. However, Manziel is not your typical 20-year-old college student. He's different and he needs to hold himself to a higher standard. That might mean cutting out the partying and avoiding controversy at all costs.

Avoiding controversy for Manziel is no small task though. Earlier this summer he caused a stir by tweeting, "Bulls--t like tonight is the reason why I can't wait to leave College Station... Whenever it may be." The tweet was deleted not long after it was sent, but sources later said it was influenced by a parking violation he received. This past week Manziel was back in the headlines after he left Manning Camp early. Several media outlets reported that he was hungover and had been partying, but the Manning family denied those reports saying he was ill and dehydrated. Manziel has since apologized to Texas A&M for his early departure and was reportedly upset that he had to leave. Again, maybe he really was sick, but it seems highly suspicious. And the only reason it seems suspicious is because Manziel has created his own reputation.

Life is going to change very soon for Johnny Manziel. He wants out of College Station and guess what -- that's potentially just a year away. Then he can go to the NFL, make millions of dollars and either be a star like he should be or fade into obscurity and continue being a clown. A year may seem like a long time, but it's really not when you have as much maturing to do as Manziel does. He's like the real-life Peter Pan -- The Boy Who Never Grew Up.

Let's not give the kid a pass and say, "Well he's just 20 years old. Of course he's not mature yet." How long are we going to make that excuse for him? For his sake when is someone going to sit him down and tell him exactly what he needs to hear? He's not a kid anymore and that's just the way it is. If he doesn't like the spotlight and attention then stop playing football, but as long as he is in the spotlight he needs to grow up and carry himself in a more positive manner.

One of the best parts about Manziel's football game is his ability to scramble out of trouble. It also seems to be a skill he has adapted to his life. Time and again, he scrambles out of trouble, but that isn't going to happen much longer. And when he can no longer scramble out of the mess he's made for himself it could cause him to lose millions of dollars and years of fame and then he will really find out how bright the spotlight can be. It's time to grow up Johnny.

Fair or Not, Questions Surround Chris Davis' Quest for History

Chris Davis is doing something remarkable on the baseball diamond. His 37 home runs at the All-Star Break is something baseball has only seen three other times and yet it is not a feat that's being greeted with fanfare like it should be. That's not Davis' fault. He is a victim of other players' past mistakes with steroids and those players, namely Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, have made baseball fans skeptical of any man who dares challenge the great Babe Ruth and Roger Maris.

It's easy to be especially skeptical of Davis. This is not Miguel Cabrera or Albert Pujols. Davis was far from a star, let alone a superstar, before the 2013 season began. He's 27 years old and is in his sixth year in the MLB. His previous season high in home runs was 33 last year and in 2011 and 2012 he hit just six combined. Still, there were signs that he could be something special. He hit 21 homers when he was just 23 years old, but bounced back and forth between the bigs and the minors in the next few years.

Davis has calmly denied using steroids and understands the suspicions. He has a good answer for every question thrown his way and says he changed various things in his swing, which have helped him improve. He's passed all three drug tests this season for what it's worth, and that's not much. He has also said that 61 is still the record and, right now, it seems likely that he could challenge that mark.

But will he? He has 37 home runs at the break. The only other players to accomplish that mark were Bonds, McGwire and Reggie Jackson. Bonds and McGwire were steroid users and Jackson fizzled out and finished the year with just 47. Davis is also a participant in tonight's Home Run Derby. It's hard to say if that will affect his swing during the second half of the season, but it has ruined hitters before.

Let's say he does challenge the 61 mark. How will he be treated? Will fans cheer him or boo him? Will it even be a big deal to many of us? The rampant steroid use has almost made the home run lose some of its luster. Rather than cheer for the guy, we would rather be indifferent or skeptical because that way, if he's found to have used PEDs later on, we aren't let down.

Still, Davis has said all the right things, passed the tests and is having a fantastic season. It's worth the watch to see how he finishes the year and, whether he breaks the record or not, keep our fingers crossed that five years down the road we don't see his name pop up in a report of steroid users. If he does it wouldn't be the first time a home run hitter let us down...or the second...or the third.

The Case for Yasiel Puig to be an All-Star

As much as I love baseball I am willing to admit that, at times, the game can seem to drag. The first month is exciting and the last few are great as the playoff races heat up, but the middle of the summer is called the "dog days" for a reason. It's a long season and it's easy for fans to lose interest. There aren't many players in the game who excite the masses every night they take the field. How many players really have that drop-everything-and-watch-this type talent whether they are at the plate, in the field or on the bases? Not many. But one man has emerged as that type of talent and he has taken the baseball universe by storm. Yasiel Puig is that man and Yasiel Puig should be an MLB All-Star.

I know he only made his debut on June 3rd, but in the 34 games he has played he has been absolutely incredible. He's 55-135 which comes out to a .407 average and he's hit eight home runs to go along with 19 RBIs. Puig has shown flashes of speed, swiping five bags so far and he has three assists from the right field position. He's the definition of a five-tool player and the Dodgers have gone 21-13 since his debut. He has rejuvenated the ball club that many believed would win the NL West and LA is now just one game below .500.

It's been a little bit more than a month since Puig entered the league and common logic says he is not deserving of the All-Star game because he hasn't been around long enough to really prove himself. I get that. At the same time, this is an exhibition game. Let's not kid ourselves and think that the players really care about the home field advantage in the World Series. They don't. If they did then they wouldn't play 40 players in the game, pitch 15 different guys and goof around. The game is for the fans and the game is for fun. For that reason, Puig should be an All-Star.

This is an exciting time for the game of baseball. Young players like Puig, Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Manny Machado are giving the league fresh faces to root for and baseball should market these guys all they can. The game is for fun and no one at the present moment brings more excitement and fun to the game than Puig.

The final vote ends tomorrow and you can place your vote by clicking right here: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2013/fv/ballot.jsp

Ballpark Overview: Great American Ball Park

It's a mission of mine to travel the country and take in a ball game at every Major League Baseball park. It's a goal shared by many in this country and I recently completed a trip to Cincinnati to see the Reds take on the Giants at Great American Ballpark. It was the 17th park I have been to and on the way home I decided that every park I go to, I might as well share my thoughts on here. In the few hours I spent at the park I could not see everything, but here were some things I took away.

The ballpark is built right on the Ohio River and is the second park that has been built in the general area. Riverfront Stadium was constructed on the same ground, but Great American Ballpark has been the Reds' home since it was erected in 2003. With beautiful views of the river and the Cincinnati skyline surrounding the park, GABP is nestled nicely in the downtown area. Restaurants, bars and other attractions are just a block away and there is plenty to do besides catch a game.

However, catching a game is definitely something you won't want to miss. With any team, the atmosphere at the park is better when there's a winner on the field and that's exactly what the city of Cincinnati has right now. With stars like Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips, the crowd is energized and there is a buzz around the park. From the standpoint of pure baseball, you will see a good team on the field.

While sitting in your seat make sure to take in all that park boasts from the smokestacks in center field to the large scoreboard that sprawls out over the left field bleachers. The smokestacks give the park a nice touch as they represent the steamboats that would make their way up and down the Ohio River in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. During the game they emit fireworks when a Reds players hits a home run and blow flames when a Cincy pitcher records a strikeout. The scoreboard in left is the sixth largest in the MLB.

Around the concourses there are plenty of games and activities for kids to take part in which makes the park very family friendly. Make sure to check out the statues in Crosley Terrace when you enter the park. The four statues honor the four greatest players to call Crosley home. Once inside, make a point to see the two large mosaics that pay homage to the "The First Nine" of the 1869 Red Stockings and "The Great Eight" of the famed Big Red Machine.

Another neat feature is the Reds Hall of Fame on the park's west side. Inside, the club honors the top players in their history and there is plenty to read and learn. Inside the Hall of Fame is a large wall with baseballs from top to bottom that represent each one of Pete Rose's hits. Just outside the window is the Rose Garden that shows the general area where Rose's record-breaking hit landed years ago in Riverfront Stadium.

Also, if you're going to a ball game then you obviously have to grab a bite to eat. Of the parks I've been to I'm not sure there has been a better selection of concessions. Frisch's Big Boy and LaRosa's Pizza dot the concourses and there is also a Kroger market, a sushi market and a slushie stand with more flavors of slushie than you can imagine. 

There is plenty of history to be appreciated at Great American Ball Park and it's a great place to take in a game. I would definitely say it's one of the best parks I've been to and a place that you should make a point to travel to. A beautiful park, good food, plenty of history and a great team. It doesn't get much better than that.