MLB All-Star Game 2016: National League Deserving Starters/Actual Starters

            Major League Baseball fans did a tremendous job voting in the most worthy players to start for the American League in the 2016 All-Star Game at Petco Park in San Diego. The starting infield features undoubtedly the AL's best players at each position—Baltimore Orioles’ Manny Machado (third base), Boston Red Sox’s Xander Bogaerts (shortstop), Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve (second base) and Kansas City Royals’ Eric Hosmer (first base). 2015 World Series MVP Salvador Perez (Royals) led all players in voting and will rightfully spearhead the backstop duties for the AL, while Boston's David Ortiz—posting another superb season in his final year in MLB—will be the AL’s starting designated hitter. The face of baseball and arguably the AL’s most dominant hitter, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels will be one of the AL's outfielders for the Midsummer Classic. Joining him will be a pair of young Red Sox’s: Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. An argument could made for Texas Rangers outfielder Ian Desmond to start over Bradley Jr.—though voters were likely swayed by Bradley Jr.’s 29-game hit streak, the longest of the 2016 MLB season.

            The NL did not have the same luck putting forth the players whom most warranted starting jobs. And considering the All-Star Game decides home-field advantage in the World Series, it’s worth griping about the screw-ups caused by fan selection (many blame the overzealous Cubs' fans for skewing the voting tallies). Of the eight fan-picked players (the designated hitter slot will be determined in the coming days by NL Manager Terry Collins), only three should actually be starting the Midsummer Classic based off their performances thus far in 2016. A position-by-position look at the deserving starters versus the actual starters:

*Stats accurate as of 7/6/2016

Catcher

Deserving Starter: Wilson Ramos, Washington Nationals

The 28-year-old Venezuelan, Wilson Ramos leads National League catchers in home runs (13), RBIs (46), batting average (.335), on-base percentage (.390) and slugging percentage (.554).

Actual Starter: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

A three-time World Series champion and one-time MVP, Buster Posey is set to start behind the plate for the NL All-Star squad. Posey is hitting .289, with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in 277 at-bats for the NL West-leading Giants this season. Posey has registered a 2.4 WAR (wins above replacement), the highest mark among NL catchers in 2016. Posey merits All-Star recognition, but Ramos has outplayed Posey and should be the NL's backstop come first pitch of the Midsummer Classic.

Fans likely voted Buster Posey to start the All-Star Game because of his career success. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

First Base

Deserving and Actual Starter: Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

The power hitting lefty in the Cubs’ lethal offensive attack, Anthony Rizzo is on pace for his best season to date of his young career. Rizzo ranks first among NL first basemen in WAR (3.2), OBS (.964), SLG (.563) and RBIs (61). The cleanup hitter of the Cubs, currently holding the best record (52-31) in MLB, Rizzo has mashed 20 homers—tied with Milwaukee’s first baseman Chris Carter for fifth-most across the NL.

Second Base

Deserving Starter: Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals

Daniel Murphy, who signed with the Nationals in free agency after his breakout postseason performance in the New York Mets’ run to the World Series, sports the highest batting average (.349) in the NL. The NL East-leading Nationals’ best hitter at the season’s midpoint, Murphy leads all NL second basemen in WAR (2.7), OPS (.969), SLG (.581), hits (110), RBIs (56), doubles (23), and places second in home runs (14), behind the Mets’ Neil Walker (15).

Actual Starter: Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs

Ben Zobrist joined the Cubs this offseason, reuniting with former Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon. Zobrist has been critical to the Cubs’ success with his batting and fielding prowess. He is batting .291 with a .398 OBP to go along with 11 dingers and 43 RBIs. He leads all NL second basemen with 55 runs scored. He also ranks second in field percentage (.993), trailing only Arizona’s Jean Segura (.994). Zobrist has maintained these fielding numbers—committing just two errors on the year—despite being called upon to start contests in right and left field. Zobrist has played commendably, but Murphy has been on another level this season.

Shortstop

Deserving Starter: Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers

One of three Dodgers’ All-Stars (Cy Young candidate Clayton Kershaw, closer Kenley Jensen), first-year pro Corey Seager is riding a 18-game hit streak and is batting .304 with 17 homers and 41 RBIs on the season. At 22 years and 69 days old, Seager is the youngest All-Star position player in Dodgers franchise history.

Actual Starter: Addison Russell, Chicago Cubs

Russell has no business representing the National League in the All-Star Game—let alone starting the Midsummer Classic. His fielding numbers are down from a season ago and the 22-year-old is batting just .242 with 11 homers and a mere .338 OBP (90^th among MLB players). Seager and Colorado’s Trevor Story, a pair of rookie sensations, have significantly outplayed Russell. The list goes on for NL shortstops with far better 2016 campaigns than Russell—most notably Washington’s Danny Espinosa, St. Louis Cardinals’ rookie Aldemys Diaz, San Francisco’s Brandon Crawford and Milwaukee’s Jonathan Villar.

Third Base

Deserving and Actual Starter: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

Kris Bryant became the first player in MLB history to hit three homers and two doubles in the same game in a victory over the Cincinnati Reds in late June. He has belted a MLB-best 25 home runs this season with 64 RBIs—the second-most in the NL.

Outfield

Deserving and Actual Starter: Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets

Acquired days before the 2015 trade deadline, Yoenis Cespedes has been masterful in his short time in New York. He carried the once-anemic Mets’ offense to a division title, and later—behind timely home runs from former Met Daniel Murphy—helped the club win its first pennant since 1986. Though the Mets, owners of the second wild-card playoff spot at the moment, have had their share of struggles from the plate, Cespedes has produced all season long, batting .299, with 21 homers and 51 RBIs.

Deserving Starters: Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins and Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies

Following a dismal 2015 campaign, Marlins centerfielder Marcell Ozuna is now on pace for a career season. Ozuna has a slash-line of 310/.363/.540 with 17 home runs and 47 runs batted in to keep the Marlins afloat in the NL Wild Card race.

Marcell Ozuna earned his first trip to the All-Star Game—but not in a starting role.
(Sam Mitchell/USA Today Sports)

Carlos Gonzalez has hit for power and average in 2016. He leads NL outfielders in hits (110), ranks third in batting (.316), fourth in homers (18) and tied for fifth in RBIs (51).

Actual Starters: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals and 
Dexter Fowler, Cubs

Bryce Harper is the reigning MVP, but the upcoming All-Star Game at Petco is supposed to represent the best performers of the 2016 season. Aside from smacking 18 homers, Harper’s numbers are down in almost every hitting category. He is batting .258 and slugging only .487 (27^th among NL position players). And despite being on the team with the third-best record in the NL, Harper posts a measly 1.8 WAR (41^st among NL position players).

Dexter Fowler hasn’t played since being placed on the disabled list on June 18 with a right hamstring injury, putting his status for the All-Star Game in jeopardy. Manager Joe Maddon wants Fowler—a first-time All-Star—to play in the game but has emphasized that his outfielder’s long-term health is most important. At the start of the season, Fowler went neck-and-neck with Murphy for the league-lead in batting as he hit .347 in April. Fowler batted .295 in the month of May, before a June slump (.207) brought his season average down to .290. His low RBI total (29) further represents why the Cubs’ switch-hitting outfielder is not starting-caliber material.

ESPN's Double Standard Exposed in Network's Failure to Discipline Jemele Hill for Ignorant Tweet

                ESPN distributed a memo in January to its employees that depicted a clear message: abstain from making bold political statements.

                Former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher and three-time World Series champion, Curt Schilling learned the hard way the consequences of ignoring the network’s demands.

                A member of ESPN’s team since 2010 who was featured as a color commentator/analyst on “Monday Night Baseball,” Schilling got the boot after sharing a Facebook post on his personal page that retorted to the controversial House Bill 2 North Carolina Law that prohibits transgender people from using bathrooms that do not match with their birth-designated genders.

                USA Today's For The Win website took a screenshot of the tone-deaf Facebook post Schilling shared.

Curt Schilling shared this insensitive meme on his Facebook page. (Retrieved by For The Win)

                Clearly mocking the idea that transgender people should be allowed to enter the bathroom of their choosing, Schilling gave his own thoughts on the issue, making it known he believes transgender individuals should be required to use the bathroom that aligns with their birth genders. Schilling said: “A man is a man no matter what they call themselves. I don’t care what they are, who they sleep with, men’s room was designed for the penis, women’s not so much. Now you need laws telling us differently? Pathetic.”

                ESPN promptly fired the former MLB player, citing that his “conduct was unacceptable.”

                Schilling’s outspoken political stances are well-documented, and were likely a factor in the network dismissing him of his duties. He was suspended in August by ESPN—removing him from working the Little League World Series broadcasts—after tweeting a graphic (now deleted, but can be seen below) that compared radical Muslims to Nazis.

The tweet Curt Schilling sent, and then deleted, comparing radical Muslims to Nazis. (Retrieved from ShoeBat.com's website)

                Disregarding ESPN’s request to eschew political remarks subjected Schilling to discipline from the network. But why then has Jemele’s Hill’s distasteful tweet—regarding the Orlando shootings and why she believes it’s unfair for Americans to criticize homophobia in Islamic cultures—not rendered her to punishment?

Jemele Hill was not reprimanded for her contentious tweet about the Orlando shooting. (Jarrad Henderson/Detroit Free Press)

                The ill-informed tweet (shown below) by Hill, a co-host of ESPN's show, His & Hers, was a direct response to the Orlando shooting, in which the shooter vowed homage to ISIS before killing 49 people and wounding 53 more inside of a gay club on early Sunday morning.

So in a country where we have done everything possible to undermine the LGBTQ community, we are suddenly lecturing Islam on homophobia. Oh.

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 12, 2016

                Hill failed to adhere to ESPN’s rules by posting this tweet. To compound matters, Hill’s tweet was disgustedly ignorant. Not only does she assert that the United States “undermines the LGBTQ community”—which could not be further from the truth as the country’s acceptance of the LGBTQ community is undoubtedly at an all-time high—she has the audacity to state that the U.S. should not “lecture Islam on homophobia.”

                Oblivious to world issues, Hill must be unaware there are 10 Muslim nations where homosexuality is punishable by death. These nations practice some form of Sharia law—an Islamic law that enforces death upon homosexuals. It’s well known that ISIS stones gays to death and has been doing so for a long time. So yes, the U.S. indeed has every right to critique Islam on its homophobic practices. Hill ignored these disturbing truths and spewed out an idiotic tweet that offended many of her followers and other Twitter users.

                And yet, ESPN, a network that leans heavily left on the political spectrum, chose not to suspend Hill for her ill-advised tweet. By not suspending Hill, the network’s double standard for conveying political statements was exposed. It’s apparently acceptable for ESPN employees to make edgy political remarks, so long as these comments are in accordance to a liberal mindset.

           Comment on a political issue with a conservative view and ESPN believes its employee has overstepped his/her boundaries and deserves a suspension and/or a job dismissal. This is, unfortunately, a prime example of modern-day hypocrisy—in this instance coming from the world’s biggest sports media conglomerate.

Theo Epstein's Magic Displayed in Two of MLB's Best Teams

            The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs feature two of the most potent offenses in baseball. What else do the two first-place teams have in common—other than their infamous championship droughts (the Cubs are still seeking to end theirs) and fervent fanbases? Their rosters are in large part the doing of Theo Epstein, the President of Baseball Operations for the Cubs who served in the same capacity for the Red Sox from 2003-11.

Theo Epstein helped break the 'Curse of the Bambino,' guiding the Boston Red Sox to a World Series title in 2004. He won another championship with the Red Sox in 2007. (Brad Mangin/Getty Images)

            Epstein’s lasting impact in Boston is arrayed in the Red Sox's intractable offensive attack. 10 (seven hitters) of the 25 players on the Red Sox’s current 25-man roster are from the Epstein regime. Jackie Bradley Jr., one of the league’s best defensive outfielders who just registered a 29-game hit streak, was one of four first-round picks (40^th overall) from the 2011 MLB Draft—Epstein’s final draft with the Red Sox. Boston's other first-round picks included reliever Matt Barnes (19^th), catcher/outfielder Blake Swihart (26^th) and Henry Owens (36^th). Mookie Betts was selected in the fifth-round of that draft, while third baseman Travis Shaw was taken in the ninth round.

            Bradley Jr. ranks fourth in the American League in batting (.331) and posts a .409 on-base percentage with nine homers and 37 RBIs.

            Barnes has emerged as one of Boston’s most reliable arms in the bullpen. The right-hander sits with a 2.81 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP and 25 strikeouts on the season.

            Swihart serves as a platoon player, backing up Christian Vázquez behind the plate and making spot starts in left field.  

            Lefty-hurler Owens—the only of the aforementioned players from the ‘11 Draft not currently on the Red Sox’s 25-man roster—has spent most of 2016 in the minors with Pawtucket, but did start three contests, recording a 5.11 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched.

            Another defensive whiz in Boston’s talented outfield, the leadoff hitter Betts—the talk of MLB after smacking five home runs in a seven at-bat span—posts a .288 average with 14 homers and 42 RBIs from his perch atop the lineup.

            A former ninth-round selection, Shaw looks destined to be on the American League All-Star squad. He ranks first among AL third basemen in doubles (18), tied for second in RBIs (35) and hits (59), third in batting (.295), and fourth in slugging (.510).

            The AL's leader in batting, Xander Bogaerts (.347 average) is also from Epstein’s tenure. The talented shortstop was signed as an amateur free agent in 2009. A year earlier, Epstein selected Vázquez, currently manning the Red Sox’s backstop, in the ninth round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Epstein signed reliever Junichi Tazawa in December 2008. The right-hander made his MLB debut in 2009, then spent the next season in Triple-A, before becoming a mainstay in the bullpen since 2011. Tazawa became the Red Sox’s setup man for their 2013 World Series Champion team and has recorded a 2.25 ERA this season.

Mookie Betts, left, Xander Bogaerts, center, and Jackie Bradley Jr., right, were all brought to Boston by former GM Theo Epstein. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

            The now-maligned right-hander Clay Buchholz was a first-round draft selection in 2005. Shifted to a relief role after enduring some abysmal starts, the two-time All-Star Buchholz was once a critical part of Boston’s on-field success. He debuted in 2007, throwing a no-hitter in September of that season, and was the third-best starter on the 2013 title team—recording an otherworldly 1.74 ERA in the regular season to go along with a 4.37 ERA in the postseason.

            The 2007 AL Rookie of the Year and 2008 AL MVP, Dustin Pedroia was picked in the second round of the 2004 MLB Draft. One of Epstein’s first moves as Boston's GM was signing designated hitter David Ortiz to a meager one-year, $1.2 million contract before the start of the 2003 season. The rest, they say, is history.

            Now spearheading the Cubs' front office, Epstein has built a dominant, youthful roster through the draft and trades, while adding accomplished veterans via free agency in each of the past two offseasons. Sporting a MLB-best 36-15 (.706) record, the Cubs' turnaround from the cellar of the National League Central to World Series favorites began when Epstein traded Andrew Cashner to the San Diego Padres in 2012 in exchange for Anthony Rizzo, now one of MLB’s elite first basemen. 
          Less than two years later in separate deals made just before the 2013 trade deadline, Epstein acquired shortstop Addison Russell and Jake Arietta. Arietta transformed from a backend starter on the Baltimore Orioles into arguably the best pitcher in baseball. 
          Epstein’s rejuvenation of Chicago’s roster can also be traced to the draft with star third baseman Kris Bryant and outfielder/catcher Kyle Schwarber—first round picks in 2013 and 2014, respectively. 

Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo will be counted on to lead the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.
(Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports)

            Epstein has bolstered the Cubs’ starting rotation the past two offseasons by signing lefty ace Jon Lester and the right-handed Jason Hammel (who was originally signed in 2014, traded later that season in the deal that netted Russell, and then signed back with Chicago in 2015), and adding two-time World Series champion John Lackey this past winter. 
           The batting order was retooled in free agency by signing Dexter Fowler before the start of the 2015 season, and inking two-time All-Star Ben Zobrist and one-time All-Star Jason Heyward (who is struggling mightily) to contracts this past offseason.

            Rizzo, Arietta, Bryant, Lester, Hammel, Fowler and Zobrist are all expected to represent the National League in the upcoming All-Star game. Likely joining them in the festivities will be closer Hector Rondon, who Epstein selected in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft. Rondon has been nearly unhittable this season, as evidenced by his incredulous 1.04 ERA.

            And oh by the way, Epstein brought Joe Madden, one of MLB’s most respected managers, to the North Side of Chicago.

            Not only is Epstein—the owner of two World Series rings (2004 and 2007) from his Boston days—responsible for Chicago’s current roster and the heart of Boston’s batting lineup, a tip of the cap should also go his way for his role in the Red Sox’s 2013 title. 13 of the 25 players on the Red Sox’s 25-man roster for the ’13 World Series were from the Epstein-era. Of course, Ben Cherrington—Boston’s general manager from 

2012-15—deserves just as much praise for signing Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, Koji Uehara and Jonny Gomes, all free agent additions who excelled in their first seasons (2013) with the Red Sox en route to their unheralded championship run. Still, Epstein’s mark on that roster should not go unnoticed.

            An Epstein-centric World Series of Cubs vs. Red Sox this October is a real possibility, and would further demonstrate the immense impact he has had on each of these franchises. The headlines would be off the charts with Epstein trying to break the curse of the Billy Goat in Chicago, just 12 years after reversing the curse of the Bambino. The attention geared towards Epstein, coupled with bringing the Cubs to their World Series since 1945, could solidify his status as the best executive in baseball. Not bad for a guy who once left Fenway Park in a gorilla suit to avoid reporters.

*Stats accurate as of 6/2/16

LeBron's Self-Induced Drama a Plea to Reclaim NBA Center of Attention

            In LeBron James' letter to Sports Illustrated announcing his return to Cleveland in July 2014, the four-time NBA MVP sounded like a mature, changed man. He admitted his mistakes in the handling of his departure from the Cavaliers in 2010, noting ‘The Decision’—a deplorable nationally televised event that made him look like the most self-absorbed player in league history—was something he wishes he never took part in.

            LeBron recognized it was the way he left Cleveland—not the act itself of defecting to Miami—that was his demise among the public. In explaining why he was coming back to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent, LeBron depicted in his letter the love he holds for his former Miami Heat teammates and the team's front office, relishing in the success the team enjoyed in his four-year tenure in Miami. He made it clear he was leaving the Heat, who he led to four straight Finals and two championships, for one single goal: To win a title for championship-starved Cleveland.

LeBron set his sights on winning the Cavs their first championship in franchise history. Will his self-imposed drama ruin Cleveland's title plans? (Tony Dejack/AP)

            In the Cavaliers' 2014-15 media day, LeBron objected to reporters who referred to him, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love as a Big Three, declaring they were just three members of a team. This was a far cry from the LeBron from four years prior when he danced on the stage at American Airlines Arena with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh after the three stars infamously celebrated uniting together to play for the Heat. LeBron confidently asserted on the stage that night the new Miami trio was talented enough to win "not five, not six, not seven" but eight championships.

            The narrative of LeBron returning home to Cleveland to bring the City a title nearly came true in his first season back with the Cavs. Even with a rocky start to the regular season, LeBron led the Cavs to the 2015 NBA Finals, despite Love dislocating his left shoulder in the first-round of the playoffs and subsequently missing the remainder of postseason. The Cavs also lost Irving due to injury, as the star point guard fractured his left knee cap in Game 1 of the Finals which required surgery and sidelined him until December of this season. Devoid of his two star running mates, LeBron propelled the Cavs to a 2-1 series lead before falling to the eventual NBA Champion Golden State Warriors in six games in one of the most prolific player performances in Finals history.

            Nine months removed from the Finals loss to the Warriors, LeBron is acting like his former pettish self which once made him the league’s most hated player. He is sending out cryptic tweets which have led analysts, mainly Stephen A. Smith, to speculate the 12-time All-Star could bolt Cleveland again. LeBron galvanized controversy with these tweets and furthered the hysteria by working out with Wade in Miami in one of the Cavs’ off-days, leading some to believe LeBron had regrets of leaving South Beach.

            You can blame the media for stirring the pot in somewhat unfounded speculation that LeBron will leave Cleveland again. LeBron almost certainly will remain with the Cavs for the rest of the career. As you may recall, he promised to “never forget” where he “came from,” a quote of his which remains on his personal Twitter background.

            The reality, though, is the onus falls on LeBron for causing a media frenzy. With Stephen Curry dominating the league in unprecedented fashion and well on his way to a second consecutive MVP crown, LeBron is not the center of attention in the NBA for the first time since the self-declared ‘King’ was drafted No. 1 overall in 2003. From an outsider’s vantage point, LeBron simply can't deal with no longer being the face of basketball.

LeBron  James is struggling to accept that Stephen Curry is now the talk of the league. (Ben Margot/AP)

            LeBron, who tweeted “Do not take his greatness or anyone for granted,” felt compelled to remind the NBA and the City of Cleveland he has the power to change the landscape of the league by walking away from his current team. It’s undeniable that any team who lands LeBron becomes an instant title contender. But why is LeBron even bothering to bring up his excellence via social media? By all accounts, he is threatening to leave the Cavs—a franchise he has a stranglehold over—by sending out messages that evoke NBA followers of his greatness.

            In typical self-induced LeBron dramatic fashion, this childish, fake threat is all for show. He is bluffing leaving Cleveland, where the fans worship him like a God. LeBron cares way too much about public reception and his legacy—which he’s made clear by discussing continually where he places among the NBA’s All-Time Greats—to depart the city he refers to as "The Land." Ditch Cleveland and the basketball world will consider him “persona non grata.” He came back to the Cavs not only to win Cleveland a championship for the first time since Jim Brown ran the Browns to an NFL Title in 1964, but to cleanse the mess of ‘The Decision.’  

            LeBron would never risk tarnishing his brand by decamping Cleveland. But these tweets and hollow quotes from LeBron swing the center of the league's attention back his way. And apparently that’s what 'The King' cares about most.

Celtics' Franchise Four Shafted in ESPN's All-Time Rankings

            ESPN.com wrapped up its All-Time #NBArank list of the 100 greatest players in league history on Wednesday. A heavily scrutinized list, ESPN’s expert panel gave almost no method to their madness, outside of “basing their voting on peak performance and career value.”

            The rankings were none too kind to Larry Bird (Ranked No. 6), Bill Russell (No. 7), John Havlicek (No. 28) and Paul Pierce (No. 45)—widely considered the four greatest players in the history of the renowned Boston Celtics franchise.

The Mount Rushmore of the Boston Celtics Franchise (John Havlicek, Bill Russell, Larry Bird and Paul Pierce from left to right) all deserved a higher placing in ESPN's All-Time Rankings.

Understanding the Truth: Pierce Severely Underrated in Rankings

            Pierce, the Celtics’ franchise all-time leader in three-pointers, free throws and steals, was curiously ranked behind Bob Cousy (No. 39) and Kevin McHale (No. 31) among Celtics’ greats. Pierce—a 10-time All-Star and one-time NBA Finals MVP—ranks second in scoring in franchise history, fourth in PER (player efficiency rating), second in Offensive Win Shares, fourth in Defensive Win Shares, third in overall Win Shares and second in Value Over Replacement—all marks above both Cousy and McHale.

            Cousy’s dominance cannot be denied: He led the league in assists eight times (1953-1060), appeared in 13 All-Star Games (1951-1963) and won a league MVP (1957). The 6-time NBA champion dominated an era devoid of substantial guard talent. Most pundits surmise that his talents would not have translated to today’s NBA game, unlike other Greats from his era. And while Cousy won six titles (1957, 1959-1963), he was never the best player on any of those teams—that honor belonging to none other than Bill Russell.

            Similar to Cousy, McHale won more titles than Pierce—but was never the best player on any of his three championship teams. McHale even merged into a reserve role—albeit he did it in extraordinary fashion, becoming arguably the greatest sixth man (he won Sixth Man of the Year in consecutive years from 1984-85) in league history—for the Celtics’ titles in 1984 and 1986. Pierce, meanwhile, was in fact the best player on the 2008’ title team (though Kevin Garnett had a greater impact on the team’s regular season success) and was the face of the franchise for each of the 15 seasons he spent in Boston.

            The biggest disrespect towards Pierce, perhaps the most clutch player of his era, came in the rankings among small forwards. He failed to make the top-10 for the position. Pierce, who ESPN selected as the 11^th best small forward, ranked behind Dominque Wilkens (No. 44, 10^th among SFs), James Worthy (No. 43, 9^th among SFs), and Rick Barry, (No. 37, 8^th among SFs) to name a few.

            Wilkens, who failed to reach the Conference Finals in his 16-year career, has scored the 12^th most points in NBA history, ahead of Pierce (currently 16^th). But Wilkens—along with Worthy (98^th all-time in scoring) and Barry (60^th all-time in scoring)—ranks behind Pierce in every other significant statistic—rebounds, assists, free throws, three-pointers, steals and blocks.

            Barry and Wilkens each own an NBA scoring crown, but it should be noted that the season scoring champion for the league is measured in points per game—not total points. This in itself is ridiculous because players should be rewarded for staying healthy and playing as many games as possible. (Imagine the MLB giving the home run crown to the player with the most homers per contest, instead of total home runs. ) Pierce led the NBA in total points scored in the 2001-02 season but failed to win the scoring title as Allen Iverson averaged more points per contest.

            The lack of postseason success for Wilkens should omit him from the top-10 of small forwards. Worthy owns three rings, but was the third piece in the “ShowTime” Los Angeles Lakers dynasty of the 1980s behind Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The tandem of Magic and Kareem did the heavy lifting for the championship teams (1985, 1987, 1988) that Worthy was a part of.

            Barry enjoyed roughly the same postseason success as Pierce—winning a title and a Finals MVP—but putting him ahead of The Truth feels wrong. As previously noted, Pierce ranks ahead of Barry in every statistical category, and furthermore, was more of an elite one-on-one player. In addition, Pierce, a criminally underappreciated defender, is No. 22 all-time in defensive win shares—third among small forwards behind only Scottie Pippen (No. 16) and Havlicek (No. 12).

Paul Pierce's (ranked No. 45 overall by ESPN) omission from ESPN's top-10 small forwards of all-time is puzzling, to say the least. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

            Other retired players that were baffling to see ranked ahead of Pierce, who is 4th all-time in three-pointers (most among forwards), included Bill Walton (No. 42) and George Mikan (No. 33). It’s too soon to rank the young active Greats—Chris Paul (No. 29), Stephen Curry (No. 23) and Kevin Durant (No. 22)—so high this early in their careers. Assuming "CP3" attains some shred of postseason success, all three are well on pace to establish a more eminent legacy (particularly Curry) than Pierce.

Hondo’s Greatness Undervalued

            Havlicek ("Hondo") is the all-time leading scorer for the most successful franchise in NBA history. An eight-time NBA champion (1963–1966, 1968–1969, 1974, 1976) and 13-time All-Star (1966–1978), Havlicek is 13^th on the league’s all-time scoring list (LeBron James will soon pass him). A one-time Finals MVP (1974), Havlicek’s array of talent goes beyond scoring. He made five NBA All-Defensive First Teams (1972-1976) and is the all-time leader in defensive win shares (74.09) among small forwards.

            Despite the aforementioned accolades, Havlicek is found as just the seventh-best small forward in league history, according to ESPN. Pippen (No. 25, 6^th among SFs) was a masterful defender (10-time NBA All-Defensive First Team) and the ultimate sidekick to Michael Jordan. Havlicek, too served as a complimentary player, as Russell was the spearhead of the Celtics’ 11 titles from 1957 to 1969. The difference between Pippen and Havlicek lies in offensive prowess. Havlicek was a far more effective two-way player and the second greatest scorer of his era (Wilt Chamberlain owns that era's honor).

            Elgin Baylor (No. 24, 5^th among SFs) somehow landed above Havlicek in the rankings. An athletic freak, Baylor ranks third in points per game, behind Jordan and Chamberlain. He is one of two small forwards (the other being Larry Bird) to finish with 10 NBA First Team honors. Baylor, though, never accomplished ultimate postseason success. The championship-deprived Baylor also failed to capture an MVP trophy.

            Baylor did reach five NBA Finals before Chamberlain joined the Lakers in 1968, losing each time to Russell and Havlicek’s Celtics. The tandem of Chamberlain and Baylor reached three Finals together, losing twice to the Celtics and once to the New York Knicks. Chamberlain eventually won a title with the Lakers in 1972—the season after Baylor retired. Baylor finished his career with an egregious 0-8 record in the Finals.

            The most shocking ranking for small forwards has to be Kevin Durant (No. 22, 4^th among SFs). In the midst of just his 9^th NBA season and still yearning for his elusive championship, Durant has no business being ranked ahead of Havlicek. If Durant can win a title, he can certainly earn his current status on ESPN’s list. The 27-year-old has four scoring titles—third-most behind only Jordan and Chamberlain—and an MVP crown already. Durant himself says it’s too early to be ranking him this high. Let’s wait five years or so and reevaluate his place among NBA Greats.

Bill Russell Left Out of Top-5…How?

            The greatest winner in the history of the four major American sports, Russell was placed seventh in ESPN’s all-time rank. Winning a whopping 11 titles, Russell carved his legacy from the late 1950’s onward to the entire 1960’s. Second all-time in rebounding, Russell won five MVP awards—second-most  in NBA history.

            Russell is the greatest Celtic of all-time and should be ranked above Bird (No. 6). Russell was the best player in the league for the entirety of his 13-year career. Bird’s higher ranking on the list is likely accounted for his ability to score, distribute and consistently come up with clutch, late game heroics in an unprecedented manner. Since the two Celtics Greats played in a different era, the argument is at least plausible.

            How, though, could the ESPN panel rank Chamberlain ahead of Russell? Yes, Chamberlain accumulated more career points (a remarkable 30.1 points per contest) and rebounds (an otherworldly 22.9 rebounds per game). And sure, he was able to post a 100-point scoring effort and lasted two seasons longer than Russell. But Russell’s teams owned Chamberlain’s—particularly in the playoffs. Russell won eight of the nine head-to-head playoff series, including two NBA Finals (1964 and 1969). Russell also dominated the regular season matchups, winning 82 of the 142 contests against Chamberlain. Chamberlain put up the gaudy stats, but it was Russell who almost always came up on top in team wins.

Bill Russell Owned the Head-to-Head Matchups Against Wilt Chamberlain. (Kevin Regan/Getty Images)

            And is it really fair to rank both Magic and Kareem ahead of Russell? The two got the pleasure of playing alongside one another to wreak havoc against the league for over a decade. But the reality is Magic’s status has to be downgraded a bit because he was in the presence of Kareem, who owns a record six NBA MVPs.

            Kareem over Russell—maybe? But Magic ahead of Russell is blasphemy. Russell’s large edge in titles (11-to-5) is a clear difference maker. Both players were unstoppable in their facet of the game: Russell dominated the glass, while Magic manned the floor with an incredible vision and passing expertise. But the biggest difference is Johnson played in the shadow of Kareem.

            Going forward with the consistent theme that players shouldn’t be evaluated until their career is coming to a close or completely finished, LeBron James simply cannot be ranked ahead of Russell at this juncture. Russell should be ranked no worse than No. 3 as only Kareem and Jordan can compare to his greatness.

Larry Legend Deserves to Top Magic and Wilt in All-Time Rank

            Larry vs. Magic is the most celebrated player rivalry in the history of the league. The two guided the two most decorated franchises for a decade-plus, restoring popularity in the NBA. Magic got the best of Larry in the postseason, winning two of the three NBA Finals showdowns. That alone, though, does not make Magic the better player.

            While Magic was able to play literally every position on the floor, Bird was the more dynamic force. Bird was the far better scorer and featured an elite outside shooting range, something Magic did not possess. A four-time league assist leader, Magic was a whiz when it came to collecting steals. He led the league in steals in consecutive seasons (1980-1981, 1981-1982) and ranks 20^th all-time in steals. But it was Bird who was the superior defender, making three All-Defensive Second Teams. Magic never made an All-Defensive Team.

Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson remains the most illustrious player rivalry in NBA history. (Andrew Bernstein/Getty Images)

            Magic and Larry each won three NBA MVPs. Magic has the edge in titles (5-to-3) and Finals MVPs (3-to-2). But Bird had something that Magic lacked: the ability to take over any game in a moment’s notice. Johnson was an above average scorer and an elite passer but Bird’s combination of scoring and distributing was far more tantalizing. And with the game on the line, no player was more reliable than Bird with his unmatched clutch intangibles.

            Bird should be ranked no worse than No. 5 (he could be placed fourth and ahead of LeBron for the time being). Wilt’s postseason failures against his respective rival, Russell, should place him a notch below Bird, who thrived in the postseason.

Dolphins' Loss Clinches AFC East Title for Patriots

The New England Patriots (11-2) won their seventh consecutive AFC East title, thanks to the Miami Dolphins' 31-24 loss to the New York Giants on Monday night. 

Since Tom Brady became the starter in 2001 under head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots have captured 13 division titles in a 15-year span. The two exceptions came in 2002—when the defending champions went 9-7 and missed the playoffs—and 2008—the season Brady suffered a season-ending ACL tear. The Patriots finished 11-5 behind backup Matt Cassel, but failed to qualify for the postseason.

The dark days of the franchise are long over for the Patriots, who won just five division championships in the team's first 51 seasons (1960-2000). 

The NFL's most prolific franchise of the 21st century, the Patriots have dominated division opponents—posting a 71-19 record in the regular-season against AFC East teams since the start of the 2001 season.

Brady was proud to learn that his team had been crowned the AFC East champions yet again.

"I didn't know until this morning," Brady said. "That's pretty cool. It is a great achievement for our team. I didn't know that was possible last night or else I probably would have stayed up and watched a little bit longer. Obviously there was some tie-breaker that we came up with or something. That's great. That's what you start with, winning your division. We talk about that every year. We've done a good job in our division thus far, being 4-0. We'll have a chance the last two weeks of the year to finish strong, after this Titan game."

Tom Brady Accepts Blame for Patriots' Loss: 'About as bad as you can do for a QB'

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did not mince words when asked about his performance in his team's shocking 35-28 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. The future Hall of Famer threw two interceptions in the defeat, one of which was returned 99 yards for a touchdown by the Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins.

“The first interception was bad quarterbacking,” Brady said. “The team trusts you to put the ball in your hands and make good decisions with it, and that was a terrible decision. So it’s unfortunate because those cost you the game, and I’ve got to do a better job.” 

It was a rough afternoon for Tom Brady, who threw two picks in New England's second straight loss. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

With the score knotted at 14 and 7:42 remaining in the third quarter, Brady tried to force a pass to receiver Danny Amendola at the goal line on third-and-5 that Jenkins returned to the house.

“It was just a dumb play,” Brady said of his pick-six pass. “There was really not much chance of a completion, so I should’ve just probably thrown it out of the back of the end zone or found someone else to throw it to. We would’ve kicked three points...That's about as bad as you can do for a quarterback."

Brady threw another interception later in the quarter. He completed just 29-of-56 passes with a season-low 71.4 passer rating.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick claimed the Patriots did not executive properly in any phases of the game, including defense and special teams.

“Just overall, we obviously didn’t do anything well enough (Sunday),” Belichick said. “Didn’t do enough on offense, turned the ball over, gave up two third-down touchdowns on defense, didn’t play well in the kicking game. Just really didn’t do anything well enough to really win.”

The second consecutive loss for the Patriots (10-2) dropped them to the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoff picture as the Denver Broncos (10-2) moved into the No. 2 seed. The Cincinnati Bengals (10-2) vaulted to the conference's top seed.