Ortiz and Manny Took Steroids

Well it looks like Mr. Blogged about this back in May and isn't surprised, blogged about this back in May and isn't surprised. Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz have just been found to be on the mysterious list of 104 players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs back in 2003. Back in my piece about A-Rod coming back in May when he was found on the same list I said that Ortiz would eventually be found on the list and probably Manny too. Here is the direct quote I wrote back in May.

"Because now, Red Sox fans, the best player from your World Series teams has been suspended for using (performance enhancing drugs) and I am sure that he won't be the last player to be caught either. We all know Big Papi has shrunk since then. I wonder if he is on the same list as A-Rod was on with the other 100 people...hmm...maybe Manny too?"

Now to all the Red Sox fans out there, it has been confirmed. What we knew all along and you were afraid to hear is now out there for everyone to see. So now the two best players on your World Series teams in 2004 and 2007 tested positive for PEDs in 2003. Say what you want about the Yankees, but their two best players didn't juice to get it done. There is no cloud of suspicion over Bernie, Williams, Mariano, and el capitan Derek Jeter. The two championships the Red Sox won will now be known as the least legit of the last 50 years. I love it. Anytime you brag about having won these there will be an instant counterpoint that you could not have won without Manny and Ortiz juicing. I can use the very same counterpoint when you bring up A-Rod since two of your guys were on the SAME LIST.

The new age bash brothers, you can now compare these guys to Canseco and Mcgwire. Those championships are now tainted and you know what else? I'm not buying those magic eyedrops Ortiz took when he was sucking so bad this season and all of a sudden found his way again. It wouldn't surprise me if he was back on HGH. You could tell the guy was desperate to get back to where he was. Would it really surprise you? Does any of this news surprise you or does it just sting that those Red Sox teams will now be notorious for cheating their way to two championships?

One last thing I would like to say is that I believe this list should absolutely be revealed. I don't know how reporters are finding these names out one at a time, but it seems that the powers that be have a motive to release the big names one or two at a time in order to make news. The whole list should be revealed, which is something Red Sox fans might not have wanted before, but I believe we are on the same page now, no?

Ricky Rubio Update

Two. The number of fingers Ricky Rubio is holding up is probably the same number of years it will be before he comes over here (thumb doesn't count). Unfortunately it looks like the hope of bringing him into the NBA this season is fading. GM David Kahn is flying over to Spain to talk to Rubio's Euro Team, DKV, in hopes of lowering his buyout. What the hell is that gonna do? He's gonna go over there, not know anyone, and ask them to lower the buyout? Why would they? DKV wants him back more than they want the buyout and it looks like they will have him.

I've heard Kevin Love and Jonny Flynn talk about Rubio and they have convinced me that they can be a playoff team with him there. Minnesota has a good young core. Anchored by Big Al Jefferson, up and comer Love, and some nice role players. They could be the best passing team in the NBA in a few years as we all know Kevin Love's affinity for the outlet pass. It's just too bad it won't be this year. So how do I think this will all play out?

It's been said by sources close to Rubio's camp that Minnesota, although not where he would have liked to play, isn't the problem. The root of the problem is the high buyout, over $6 million. That factored in with him slipping to the 5th pick put him in a difficult position. The reason being because of the drop in money from the 3rd to 4th to 5th pick looks like the difference in him being able to pony up the buyout money.

There is a best case scenario, a worst case scenario, and what I ultimately think will happen, which no one has even talked about.

The best case scenario would be that he get traded to a bigger market. This would up his endorsements and give him more than enough money to pay the buyout this year, especially if it gets lowered somehow, maybe by the court. This doesn't seem likely, but he should still have enough money with the endorsements he could get now to pay off the buyout. This really shouldn't be such a big deal. So what? He might not be pulling in a million bucks his first year, but he will be one year closer to that second contract, not to mention he was only making like 100 grand for DKV. I don't know why that's not an option. Maybe Ricky was calling Minnesota's bluff to leverage a trade, but the T'Wolves aren't blinking.

The worst case scenario, and what a lot of people seem to think is the most likely, Ricky stays with DKV for two full years then comes over to Minnesota. The reason its two years is because the buyout will drop to zero by that time. Meanwhile you have Minnesota who has been developing Flynn for two years now as their starting PG. Where would Rubio fit in? You can't really give Ricky the starting job and he doesn't make sense coming off the bench. I guess you could try playing the both of them at the same time and see how that works...

The way I see this playing out is right in the middle of the best and worst case. I believe Ricky plays for DKV for one more season. His buyout goes down by a few million if he stays for one season and seems affordable enough. He really wants to play in the NBA and I don't think he can wait two years. He's an 18 year old kid living in the now generation. Honestly, I'm amazed he's not doing everything he can to raise that money this year. I'm also amazed that more people aren't talking about this as a possibility. Remember, you heard it here first!

A look ahead to the 2010 NBA Draft

It's never to early to look at a preview for next year's draft. The 2010 draft will be a much stronger draft than the past one because the incoming freshman class is a good one and many of them are expected to be one and done. There are also a lot of blue chip soon to be sophomores that stayed in school when they could have been lottery picks this year. In this piece I am going to look at what might be next year's top five players eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft.

1. John Wall PG 6-4 182 lbs Kentucky Fr. - Consensus seems to be that he is the leading candidate to be the number one pick next year. He will most certainly be one and done for Coach Calipari. A point guard with elite athleticism that allows him to make plays in transition very well, whether it's going to the rim or finding an open teammate. He is still a raw player and he is going to have to work on polishing his game on the college level. This kid could be the reason Kentucky is in the championship hunt again.

2. Ed Davis PF 6-9 225 lbs UNC So. - If Davis came out this year most scouts believe he would have went right after Blake Griffin at number two. He opted to stay in school and I think he made a good decision because he did not get enough minutes to get that confidence you need. Will be a premier big man next year with Hansbrough gone and a very likely top 5 pick.

3. Greg Monroe PF 6-11 250 lbs Georgetown So. - Monroe is a player I had the chance to watch a in a few games last season. Right when you see him you can see he oozes with potential. He was a little thin last year coming in to his freshman year, but he showcased a lot of skills and post moves. Not a typical back to the basket type of PF. He has plenty of face up moves and if he improves his strength he will be a top 5 pick.

4. Donatas Motiejunas PF 7-0 220 lbs Lithuania 18 - The next big-time European prospect is this guy. Fluent in English already, his game is developing very nicely. He is playing against a lower level of competition however scouts compare him to Toni Kukoc. Has a certain cockiness that helps and hurts him. Doesn't always have his motor going at full speed, but if he continues to improve he will be a surefire lottery pick next year.

5. Derrick Favors PF 6-9 215 lbs Georgia Tech Fr. - Ultra athletic, but a bit raw on offense, Favors is another kid with lots of upside. His defense his ahead of his offense right now, but he will still score plenty in college just from his athleticism. Will be teamed up with Gani Lawal at Georgia Tech and should get plenty of minutes. If his offense progresses then he will have a serious shot of being taken number one next year.

One more player I wanted to touch on briefly is a kid making a lot of noise in high school. He is only going into his junior year, but it seems that people think he is the best player in high school already. Mike Gilchrist is making serious waves as the number one player in the 2011 class. At 6-7 185 he will project as a SF. His game is already polished and seems like he can do everything well. You may not hear about him for a while, but he is a kid to keep your eye on when he comes to college.