Which would be worse?

Performance Enhancing Drugs have left a lasting impression across the world of sports. For fans out there, youngsters especially , it seems there are fewer people to look up to.  For every week that passes there is another star busted for banned substances. The worst part? At this point it is difficult for fans to trust the stats, performances and careers of all those who still appear legit. 

Baseball fans have struggled with this the most over the past few years. Between the worthless home run race of 1998, the Barry Bonds saga and now Alex Rodriguez/Manny Ramirez/ David Ortiz; why should baseball fans trust their beloved sport?

Well, what if the worst is yet to come...what if all the "good ones" that are left are just as guilty as the aforementioned? What  would you say if Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Usain Bolt and LeBron James were all busted for PED's over the next twenty four months. Would you be surprised, upset or even shocked? Have sports fans lost the ability to be shocked? Has that all been used up? 

I mean what is the home run record to you? Is it 73 or 61? Have we ever seen a 6'9" point-forward that can average 27 points a game, barrel through post defenders and score at will inside? 

Have we ever been so privileged to watch a 6'5" 22 year-old world class sprinter shatter world records with out finishing the race in full stride?

We all thought we had a triple crown winner in Big Brown and even he was busted for being on steroids!

Albert Pujols is absolutely gigantic! He makes large-bodied players look small. However, his numbers have been consistent since he broke out in St. Louis. He hits for average, power and can spread the ball to all fields. Not to mention, he is an above average first basemen. 

I want to believe in Big Al. I really do. 

Derek Jeter has been giving his all since 1995, when he first got a chance to play shortstop for the New York Yankees. He has won the rings, always been a class act and continues to play at a high level. Now it is 2009, Jeter is batting .335 and is on pace for a 20+ home run season. I have been a Yankee fan my entire life and I still wonder/hope about the purity of The Captain's career. 

Mr. Bolt is younger than me. He has two gold medals and currently holds world records in the 100m and 200m dash. Not only has he broken records, he has absolutely shattered them. He wins races with his arms spread eagle, smiling from ear to ear. He finishes so far ahead of the rest of his WORLD CLASS peers that he could probably run the final stretch backwards. He IS the most exciting athlete on the planet right now! But, is he clean?

King James has been hyped since his freshman year at St. Vincent's St. Mary's High School in Akron, Ohio. Ever since we all saw him with his tattoos covered up, gold jersey and green head band he was supposed to replace Michael Jordan. James is a beast. He can get to the hole at will. His court vision rivals Magic Johnson's. He is unselfish, gritty and a true killer on the court. But have we ever seen anyone his size move the way he does? Are 6'9", 275-pound men supposed to go from baseline to baseline that fast? He is completely unstoppable going to the basket when he gets one dribble and tucks his head down. I don't care if he is guarded by Ron Artest and the rim is being monitored by Dwight Howard and Shaq! LeBron is the first of his kind.

So is Bolt.

I love sports. I also love, with all my heart, the performances these four men continue to deliver. For the record, I don't think any of them are cheating. However, it seems that everyone else is, which makes it difficult for fans to trust what we see these days.

What bothers me the most is that if it ever came out that Bolt, James, Pujols or Jeter did use steroids...I don't think I would be surprised. 

And that breaks my heart. 

Fantasy Football: Do it your way

Fantasy isn't a secret anymore. Fantasy is like Twitter now, everyone is getting into it. Fantasy is the World Series of Poker; once for poker players, now ten thousand strangers. Fantasy used to be hated on, used to have its lunch money taken... fantasy grew up. 

Fantasy has us all hooked. Sunday doesn't start at 1 p.m. anymore, it starts at 10 a.m. with injury updates, weather briefs and stressing over favorable match-ups. Stat trackers receive as much attention as the actual game. Fans find themselves rooting for their rival's QB when a playoff win is on the line.  Fantasy has a tight grip and we all love it. Admit it, you have more than one team too don't you.

It is a piece of cake to finish in the top five of a ten team league. It takes a couple hours a day of scouring for fresh news to crack the top three. What does it take to win? Well, luck.

If you understand football and are a seasoned fantasy player, you know the strategies and most rewarding tactics. But drafting 2 RBs, a stud WR and the best QB available before the fifth round doesn't solidify your league crown. Sorry.

Mix up the order people! Drew Brees has a strong chance of scoring you more points this season than LaDainian Tomlinson, Steven Jackson and DeAngelo Williams. So what do you do with the 8th pick overall? 

"Well I have to draft a RB first."

I guess, do you. But, how many RBs scored more points than Tom Brady in 2007 or Peyton Manning in 2004? 

If my draft position in any 2009 fantasy football draft is top-3, I am taking a RB (AP, The Burner, Forte are all studs). I am not sold on MJD, sorry dude. However, if at four or higher I am strongly considering a top QB or WR. Megatron and Larry Fitz are as valuable (if not more) as any second tier RB that would likely be available. Plus, if you are the brave soul that decides to shake things up in a draft and pick a non-RB early, everyone else is going to notice.

I guess my point is draft the best player available. I know, this is no earth shattering revelation. But, the first five picks are where you build your foundation. The truth is winning the league comes from all the picks thereafter. 

You know the ESPN commercial where that goofy dude is thanking Earnest Graham for being a free agent stud and helping him win the league. "I gotta find this years Earnest Graham, Earnest Graham." THAT IS HOW YOU WIN THE LEAGUE!

He wasn't drafted in the first few rounds. Most likely undrafted in nearly all leagues. Every year a dozen or so unknowns emerge as the x-factors owners need to separate themselves from the league. What wins leagues is finding the 2009 unknowns before the experts tell the world. Use your last two picks on potential break out players, when every other owner is looking for a kicker. Work that waiver wire! Offer what appears like a lopsided trade to a rival owner, only to cruise to victory with his overlooked back-up. 

Fantasy football is a big deal to many. People love it and millions of people enjoy it as much as the NFL season. But, the majority of people that participate seem to utilize the same strategies season after season. I see this in mocks all the time; people shocked SHOCKED that I drafted Anquan Boldin 20th over Brian Westbook. Yea, he could rush for 1500+ and score once a week. He also will be doubtful every week until next season (btw, go compare Boldin's numbers to Fitzgerald's.) Get guaranteed points. Think on your own. That doesn't mean ignore the wealth of information geared toward fantasy sports, just don't completely bank on it. 

Here are ten guys to look for later in the draft:

Kevin Walter WR - Texans

Jerricho Cotchery WR- Jets

Kellen Winslow TE - Bucs

Pierre Thomas RB - Saints

Derrick Ward RB - Bucs

Rashard Mendenhall RB - Steelers

David Garrard QB - Jaguars

Joe Flacco QB - Ravens

Ray Rice RB - Ravens

New York Jets - DEF