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?

ALL OF THE ABOVE by ST

Ryan Braun, Alex Rodriguez, Pete Rose.  All in the news this week.  Braun and Arod for more evidence they're cheaters.  Rose because it's Hall of Fame week and dummy always shows up in Cooperstown cause he's a desperate, pathetic clueless clown.  The conversation about what is worse using PED's or betting on baseball is for morons.  Why differentiate?  They both spit in the face of fans, the game and clean players.  Rose was interviewed on Dan Patrick and said it's important to admit the mistake.  So so happy I was stopped at a light or I might have crashed.  This from a guy who in 1989 was investigated via something called the Dowd Report.  The pile of evidence was so overwhelming he and his legal eagles decided to accept a lifetime ban rather than have this material presented to authorities outside baseball.  It included the possibility he was involved in distributing steroids, maybe cocaine and he definitely was hiding cash earnings from Uncle Sam.  He actually claimed he was unaware a lifetime ban was part of the deal.  That's exactly like Barry Bonds saying he didn't know the "clear" and "creme" his BALCO buddy was applying was illegal.  What a crock.  From 1989 through early 2004 he insisted he never bet on baseball.  Then it was time for the release of his book and suddenly it's "well I bet on baseball".  15 years and suddenly he comes clean because he heard dollar signs.  I'll go one further having dealt with bookies and degenerate gamblers for a period from about high school until I was in my early 30's, so up until about 20 years ago. If you think a losing gambler like Rose didn't bet AGAINST the Reds when he was in a hole you are a gullible moron!  Look, Aaron Hernandez, Rae Carruth, Michael Vick or OJ Simpson are the scum of the earth.  You want to ask what's worse?  There is the line.  Those trying to split hairs over liars and cheaters are wasting our time.  I put them under one slimy umbrella!

ONCE POWERFUL ESPN by ST

Read an article about the declining ratings at ESPN.  This is not surprising.  When I arrived at The Score in May of 2008, we were an ESPN affiliate but one of my first segments was about including a "G" in ESPN for gossip.  I felt the former worldwide leader had lost it's way.  Once upon a time it was the sole destination for highlights and insight into the games and athletes we follow.  Then along came the individual special networks like MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL & the Golf networks.  Of course you had the majors like CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox as players.  It seems to me that when ESPN was seriously challenged, rather than hunker down and upgrade the quality of their product, they deteriorated into a TMZ, sensationalistic style.  Then you have the repetition insanity.  Believe it or not it's been 8 years since they were showing video of Terrell Owens doing belly busters in his driveway as he held out from the Eagles.  It then morphed into Brett Farve's version of "should he stay or should he go" and bottomed out with their Tebow coverage. 
As far as the faces of the network I think Chris Berman has become somewhat of a caricature.  Once a source of unbridled humor and a unique approach, it's gotten a tad painful to watch.  When you roll out Skip Bayless on a daily basis you're credibility is going to take a hit and there is no way around it.  I'd love to hit him with a shot of sodium pentothal because there is no way he actually believes some of the opinion he expresses.  I think the devils advocate, disagree for the sake of offering another side that holds no water is a huge reason they're in trouble.  Everything is not debatable.  There are not 2 sides to every story.  I still love ESPN and will always be grateful for really bringing it all into our living rooms every day and night through all of the sports seasons.  The bottom line is like a family member you care about you hold them to a solid standard and when it begins to slip you criticize in the hopes it will provide a wake up call.  Look forward to your thoughts on this when we sign on at 3pm for Crunchtime and roll into SportsTalk.

THE ONLY CORRECT ALL STAR BALLOT by ST

When it comes to rankings, Hall of Fame, we all believe we are right.  I know I do.  So here is the lone accurate ballot with fan choice noted.

American League:
Begin with Chris Davis of Baltimore at 1st and Miggy Cabrera at 3rd.  Both fan choices.  Fans went Robbie Cano at 2nd over Dustin Pedroia.  Wow is this close.  Equal with the glove.  Gonna go Cano because he HAD to come up big with all those injuries.  Dusty is one of many Bosox raking.  Lot more cover.  I'd go Jonny Peralta of the Tigers in a tight one over the fan pick JJ Hardy of the Orioles.  Better average, close in ribby's, more hits and runs.  Joe Mauer is a no brainer at catcher.  Now healthy he's reclaimed his spot among the games elite.  The fans chose Adam Jones of Baltimore, Jose Batista of the Jays and Mike Trout of the Halos.  I pull Batista in favor of Jacoby Ellsbury.  Felix Hernandez starts.
National League:
Molina catches.  Honorable mention to Buster in Frisco.  Fans picked an outfield of Carlos Beltran of the Cards, Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies and Bryce Harper of the Nats.  Harper has missed too much time injured.  He's out.  In his place is the guy who robbed the Reds last night, Carlos Gomez.  The best glove in center.  Slight edge over the Pirates McCutcheon.  Joey Votto will start.  Not on my team.  Touch and go but I'm putting the Cardinals Alan Craig in his place.  69 ribbies to 40 edge.  Would not engage in a heated debate over this as Votto is a stud.  The fans blew it at 2nd with Brandon Phillips.  Matt Carpenter is the easy lock pick hitting .316, second in the majors in runs scored.  While Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies is tremendous, he's injured, rehabbing and missing at least a month.  Jean Segura of the Brewers is the answer.  Came over in the trade for Zach Greinke.  Leading the NL in hits, 2nd in assists at that critical SS position.  David Wright of the Mets at 3rd was EZ.  I start Clay Kershaw of LA.