BECAUSE I'M WORTH IT by Steve Tannen

So the conversation over cordials turned to a bit of anger from a buddy over the Dodgers pondering a 100 million dollar deal for ace lefty Clayton Kershaw.  The usual line of thinking about priorities, values and all that crap!  Yes, I said crap.  A professional sports franchise with a value in the neighborhood of a billion dollars isn't paying salaries it can not afford.  Here are some numbers for annual TV deals alone for the Big 3.  NFL:  3 billion annually from it's network partners through 2022.  NBA:  A mere 950 million.  MLB:  Last October signed an 8 year, 12.5 billion dollar deal.  You do the math.  This doesn't include dough from licensing, stadium deals, concessions, parking, local cable, ect.
So, in those sports, who would you guarantee 100 million dollars, starting the next season for 5 total years.  Last week we went with our Elite 8 of current jocks who would make the Ultimate Hall of Fame.  Let's keep that theory?  Again, call the show from 3-6pm on our Oregon Fuel Injection Hotline at 541 284 8542, text me now at 541 321 0824, tweet at me @sportstalk953 or email:  stevetannen@live.com
My suggestions based on the most recent numbers cranked out this season:  No wrong answers, it's your $$.
I'm leaving out anyone in the neighborhood of 30 and older for sanity sakes.

NFL:  Colin Kaepernick, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, AJ Green, DeMaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, DeSean Jackson, TY Hilton, Calvin Johnson, Shady McCoy, Eddie Lacey, Kiko Alonso, Luke Kuechly, Navorro Bowman, Robert Quinn, Richard Sherman, Lavonte David

NBA:  Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Kevin Love, LeMarcus Aldridge, Damien Lillard, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, John Wall, James Harden, Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, Paul George, Blake Griffin

MLB:  Clay Kershaw,  Chris Sale, Jose Fernandez, Felix Hernandez, Steve Strassburg, Max Scherzer, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Buster Posey, Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, Paul Goldschmidt, Freddie Freeman, Andrew McCutchen, Troy Tulowitzki, Jon Lester

ULTIMATE HALL OF FAME by Steve Tannen

Yesterday's MLB Hall of Fame vote got me thinking about exactly who we are watching.  How many of the current performers will receive the ultimate honor in their sport.  Let's narrow it down.  I'll give you my list by sport.  No cheaters so don't look for Aroid or David Ortiz.  I'm also leaving off Mariano Rivera because he's retired and a lock.  My list is a guideline.  Of the dozens of athletes you find below, pick your Elite 8 for our fan Hall of Fame.  Send me your list via text 541 321 0824, Twitter @sportstalk953 call the show or email it to stevetannen@live.com

MLB:  Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander, Ichiro Suzuki
NFL:  Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson, Tony Gonzalez, Calvin Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Jered Allen, Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu
NBA:  Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Kevin Garnett, Dwayne Wade
NHL:  Sid Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Martin Brodeur, Jaromir Jagr, Teemu Selanne
GOLF:  Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els
TENNIS:  Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic
OTHER:  Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Shaun White, Floyd Mayweather

Curious to see who you pick!

TEMPORARY INSANITY by ST

No question some Duck fans are still harboring resentment over the 2001 snub when Nebraska was sent to vie for the title against Miami in their rightful place.  The first BCS poll of 2013 would have ticked me off as well....if I were a Florida State fan.  No question they've compiled the most impressive resume as we speak.  I would never cast a ballot based on anything but the games that have been played this season.  Last year is meaningless.  Tradition has no value.  Who have you played and beaten thus far.  Alabama's best win had been Texas A & M but the Aggies just fell to Ole Miss.  Sure the Rebs just kayoed LSU but that only pushed their record to 4 & 3 overall and just 2 & 3 in the SEC.  Oregon's wins?  Please!  That national stage dismantling of the Huskies in Seattle has dwindled significantly in value with the Dawgs in the throes of a 3 game losing streak that included 2 blowouts.  The Duck opponents, outside of patsie Nicholls State have gone a combined 4 & 18 in their conference games.  Washington State has 2 Pac 12 wins, UW 1 and that Tennessee win over a decimated Georgia team was the Vols first in league.  Cal, Colorado and Virginia are zero for their conference.  Florida State tore up Clemson at Death Valley when the Tigers were #3 in the nation.  Certainly Maryland was overrated at 25 at the time but the Noles set a record for margin of victory over a ranked team with a 63-nothing thumping.  That said, it's meaningless.  If Oregon and Alabama win out, they will play for the final BCS Championship.  Consider the Nole lead in the standings over Oregon.  It would be like two students taking a test with 1000 questions.  FSU got 935 questions right with the Ducks correctly answering 932, but many exams remain.  Oregon has three teams left ranked in the BCS Top 25, while Florida State has one.  Duck fans, take a breath, they win out there is no issue!

COLT LYERLA FROM A FOOTBALL PERSPECTIVE by ST

Let's get this part over with.  Colt Lyerla is 20 and will turn 21 on November 13th.  He's a young guy.  Here's hoping he's okay mentally and physically.  It's a game.  Not as important as those two.  It's October 7th, the Ducks are ranked 2nd in the nation, very much in the race for all of it with 5 consecutive wipeouts and the biggest game of the season on the road in Seattle.  I don't buy any of the positive spin.  Amicable parting of the ways?  So all his mates and coaches are good with his quitting?  Okay, your call.  There is no possible way this enhances his NFL prospects.  Name a great player who left school at this juncture and the career path landed in Canton or Disney World after a Super Sunday performance.  Brady, AP, Peyton, Calvin Johnson, JJ Watt, or whoever if they were healthy, finished their collegiate career in a bowl game then got drafted.  Injuries are a different deal like the Rob Gronkowski case.  Missed his last year at Arizona with a bad back.  Colt is testing history which generally counter punches with tenacity. 
There seem to be 2 extreme schools of thought.  Ducks won't miss a beat with the fast emerging Johnny Mundt and the newly healed Pharoh Brown.  Maybe.  The fact remains Colt's mere presence in the offense equals accountability from the defense.  He's a crazy playmaker with mad skills.  He will be missed.  Other's think it's a distraction.  Not when the whistle blows.  Oregon's next man up has been drilled into everyone's head and it's not like Marcus Mariota will drop back to pass, look for #15 and take a bad sack or throw a pick. 
For 2013 in particular Lyerla has 2 catches and none since the Virgina game and has accounted for zero of the Ducks 41 touchdowns and 296 points.  Different deal if he'd been an offensive focal point, a go to guy for Mariota or Scott Frost to lean on.  He's obviously had half a foot out the door for weeks now.  What this all means exactly remains to be seen, but from a selfish football only point of view, I'm calling minimal ripple if anything at all now that his departure is etched in stone.

NO BENEFIT, ALL DOUBT AND YOU HAVE ZERO FIGURED OUT by ST

So Von Miller of the Denver Broncos becomes the latest high level jock to run afoul of his sports drug policy and rather than accept his punishment or admit what he did, we get the adamant denial.  It's the system, the collector, the test and I will fight this to clear my good name.  Then we find out he's another lying, cheating, greedy pinhead.  From Ryan Braun to Lance Armstrong and very soon, Alex Rodriguez these clowns get away with everything from the moment it's determined they're special at a given sport.  The world around them becomes a variation on "enabler".  While our American judicial system operates on innocent until proven guilty, that does not apply to athletes and PED's.  If they're in the news for a failed test or suspicion of using, they're probably guilty!
I love the NFL.  Giants can't win a game and they look awful.  Can't run.  Can't protect Eli Manning.  The 49ers have been exposed as somewhat fraudulent.  Their defense leaves much to be desired.  Chip Kelly and the Eagles went from redefining the game of pro football after 2 quarters to open the season against the Redskins to will this work?  The NFL is another world from college as far as talent, speed and adjustment.  Oregon fans know the pressure that warp speed offense puts on the defense.  It took time to tweak the recruiting and the ace capability of Nick Aliotti and his staff to work in concert with the offensive philosophy.  No lock it works at this level.  Miami has been a great story.  Some raised an eyebrow during the 2012 draft when the Fish jumped up to take Ryan Tannehill, the QB before Johnny Manziel at Texas A & M, with the 8th overall pick after Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III went one and two.  Ryan flashed as a rookie engineering wins over playoff teams, Seattle at home and the Bengals in Cincy.  This is year 2 under head coach Joe Philbin, a career offensive coach who was the coordinator in Green Bay from 2007 thru 2011.  Those were some high octane Pack attacks. 
I'd comment on some of the college action, but it seemed lopsided blowouts were the theme which we will cover on both Crunchtime and Sportstalk this afternoon.  Have a great week!

ALL TIME MLB FRANCHISE PLAYERS by ST & You!

I used me as the final vote if it was necessary.  But of the established franchises here is what you had to say!
While Ichiro received limited support, the greatest in Mariner history hands down was Griffey Jr.  The other locks were George Brett of the Royals, the Padres Tony Gwynn, Robin Yount of the Brewers and I pulled rank calling it for Tom Seaver of the Mets.  Here are the rest in no particular order.
BRAVES:  Hank Aaron with some support for the winningest lefty ever Warren Spahn, and a call or two for Greg Maddux
RED SOX:  Pretty tight but Ted Williams emerges over Cy Young and Carl Yastremski.  One Met's fan did cast a ballott for Buckner.  Meany!
ORIOLES:  This was a wow with Cal Ripken, Jim Palmer and Brooks Robinson.  Frank Robinson was too prominent with the Reds so I went Brooks by a nose over Cal and didn't sleep much last nighit.
ASTROS:  2 horse race, Jeff Bagwell & Craig Biggio.  I don't think Bagwell gets into the Hall.  Biggio will so he's my guy.
REDS:  I eliminate Rose via the D-bag rule and went with the greatest catcher in the games history, Johnny Bench.
PHILLIES:  It was all about the 1-2 punch of Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.  With apologies to the Brooks Patrol, Schmidt is the greatest 3B ever thus my selection of Michael Jack Schmidt!
PIRATES:  Wow!  Clemente or Honus Wagner.  Some historians say Wagner in the conversation with Ruth, Cobb, ect as the greatest ever.  Love Roberto.  One of my faves, but had to go Wagner.
YANKEES:  Babe Ruth.  Why?  Because he's Babe Ruth.
INDIANS:  All old time guys like Nap Lajoie, Tris Speaker but the answer is Rapid Robert Feller.  Among the most dominant righties ever to toe the slab.  Love that cliche!
CUBS:  Thought about Cap Anson as the 1st ever to 3000 hits in MLB history.  Love Ryno, Fergie Jenkins, but there is only one Mr. Cub.  Here's to you Ernie Banks.  Let's play two!
ATHLETICS:  Though he played some prime years in NY, Rickey Henderson is in the running with XX Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons.  Gotta go Simmons.  Drove in over 100 all 12 yrs with A's.  Batted .387, .392, .351, .365, .381 and .390.  "Bottomed" out at .322.
DODGERS:  One of the toughest calls of all.  Duke Snyder, Jackie Robinson, Yasiel Puig.  I'm going Sandy Koufax.  No pitcher remotely approached his 6 yr run starting in 1961 the past 70 years.  Regular season and World Series dominance.
ANGELS:  Nolan Ryan though this could change in 16 years with Mike Trout.
WHITE SOX:  Big Ed Walsh is among the least known, dominant pitchers ever with a career ERA of 1.82 but the answer is the Big Hurt, Frank Thomas.  Apologies to the Luis Aparicio fans.
CARDINALS:  Painful to eliminate Bob Gibson, Stan Musial or Rogers Hornsby.  Three words.  Stan the Man.
GIANTS:  Down to the trifecta of Christy Mathewson, Mel Ott and Willie Mays though I seriously considered Tito Fuentes.  Say Hey by a nose.
SENATORS/TWINS:  The always classy late great Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett and Walter Johnson.  You can make a case The Big Train is the greatest righty of all time.  Walter Johnson.
TIGERS:  Came down to the man they call "Six" Al Kaline, Hank Greenburg, Charlie Gheringer and the winner despite some personal "shortcomings", Tyrus Raymond Cobb.
Reply here, call the show, text your thoughts to 541 321 0824 or email stevetannen@live.com

NOT SURE I CAN DO IT by ST

I can't pinpoint the exact game but it was during the 1966 season, I'm five years old when my dad took me to my first game at Yankee Stadium.  Mantle was in the lineup.  He was born in 1935 as a Yankees fan and even though he busted my dad's chops, his dad, my grandpa was a Yankees fan.  I'm next in line.  Got my driver's license on Tuesday October 4th, 1977.  17th birthday.  Drove to Yankee Stadium for Game One of the World Series versus the Dodgers one week later, a 4-3, 12 inning victory.  I'm invested in this franchise like many of our listeners are in the Ducks.  Childhood team.  It's personal.  I did not watch last night's game against the White Sox.   I can not bring myself to cheer on the team with a slime ball like Alex Rodriguez staining my beloved pinstripes.  So he gets a big hit and I'm high fiving?  I don't think so.  I get that we've seen many, many unseemly characters in the sports we follow but this guy is garbage!  He's delusional.  He doesn't have the character or the balls to simply admit what everyone knows.  When asked point blank about his documented PED's use last night he played the "not the forum" card.  Really?  Innocent people scream it from the mountain tops.  Lying scumbags use their lawyers and double speak to avoid the facts of the issue.  Save the "everyone" did/does it crap.  There are a bunch of players coming out vocally against these Biogenesis pigs.  They want more severe penalties, perhaps even a lifetime banishment for getting caught that first time.  The union leadership will be more defensive when it comes to their members, so the real change must come from within.  Keep your eye on that because it represents a change in mentality.  They no longer circle the wagons in these situation, some are pointing the finger of accusation and I think that is a cause for hope.  As for my fanaticism for those guys in the Bronx, it's on hold.  The new question?  Has Alex Rodriguez ever played a season in the major league's clean?