Co-written with Brad Biel

December 9, 2009– Yes, it’s very early in the season. Yes, the Orange have enjoyed their usual fill of early season cupcakes. Yes, there are high hopes for this year’s team. Usually, it’s best to be realistic and not get caught up in the hype. The only problem with that? This year’s team may be even better than the hype. This year’s team may be even better than Melo’s Championship team.

Wins over overrated UNC and Cal on back-to-back nights during the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic added fuel to the fire. But look deeper and there’s something else going on with this team. There’s no doubt about it. This year’s team is… special.

There are certain pieces that a college basketball team needs to succeed. Without the right pieces, there’s no hope. A respected and disciplined coach who can get a bunch of dudes just out of high school to act mature. A big man who can control the paint and slow other big men. A guard who can handle the ball and control the flow of the game. A shooter who can put the ball in the hoop when his team needs a basket. The chemistry to take five talented individuals and create one talented team. We’re only six games into the 2009-10 season, but that doesn’t matter. It’s the pieces of this year’s team that are worth getting excited about. It’s how they work together. And it’s no coincidence: this year’s pieces are eerily similar to the 2003 Championship team. That’s something to get really excited about.

Both teams can easily go 8 men deep. Both have multiple double-digit scorers. Both are very unselfish teams with 6 different players averaging at least an assist a game. Both have enough talent that when one player has an off night, someone else can step in and pick up the slack.

With a similar make-up and chemistry, it’s no surprise that each team put up similar stats. After losing their first game to Memphis, the 2002-03 team won their next 6 games by an average margin of victory of 22 points. This year’s team has won their first 6 by an average of 25 points.

Each team’s per game numbers are almost identical:

2002-2003 season: 80 points/game, 40 reb/game, 15 assists/game, 8.5steals/game, 7 blocks/game

2009-2010 team through 6 games: 89 points/game, 38 reb/game, 20 assists/game, 15 steals/game, 7.8 blocks/game

Both teams are coming off of years where they lost their two leading scorers (’02 Williams-Shumpert/ ’09 Flynn-Devendorf). Some icing on the cake is that Boeheim has brought his team to the finals in 86-87, 95-96 and 02-03. Go ahead, crack open a math book. That’s an average of every 7-8 years. I think you see where this is going. Boeheim has his team right on schedule.

By looking at the raw numbers, it’s easy to see that this year’s Orange are a good team with the potential to be great. But it’s about more than numbers. It’s about having the right pieces. Let’s take a look at the pieces that this year’s team and the ‘03 Championship team have in common.

THE FIRST-YEAR MATCHUP NIGHTMARE (‘02 Carmelo Anthony, ’09 Wesley Johnson)

Both players are the team’s main scoring threat and a matchup nightmare. They hit the three, take defenders off the dribble and are extremely disruptive long-armed forces in the 2-3 zone. Although Johnson is a junior, this is his first year playing for the Orange, just like Anthony was in ’02.

THE WORK-IN-PROGRESS IN THE PAINT (’02 Hakim Warrick, ’09 Rick Jackson)

These two peas in a pod are consistently inconsistent. They may put up 20 points one night and show the talents of a future pro, or they may spend the night clanking bricks and knocking balls out of bounds and think you’re looking at a deer in the headlights who isn’t ready for big east play. Regardless of their offensive performance, both cause major issues in the 2-3 zone with their size and length.

THE MATURE-BEYOND-THEIR-YEARS FRESHMEN GUARD (’02 Gerry McNamara, ’09 Brandon Triche)

Freshmen guard play can almost assure you of a couple losses during the year but these freshmen have a very similar trait. Neither of these players is intimidated by the big stage and they understand how to play under control. We all know the conquests of G-Mac with the 7 three’s in the championship game and single-handedly winning a big east tournament. And Triche is no slouch either. He has shown the willingness to take a big shot mainly by using his 6’4’’ frame to get to the hoop and although he will not hit as many threes as McNamara, he has been more consistent thus far.

THE SEASONED SENIOR LEADER (’02 Kueth Duany, ’09 Andy Rautins)

Two Senior everythings for their respective teams. They play intense defense, can hit the three and want the ball in a big spot. These two players were and are the heart and soul of their teams and how they go the team follows. They create the tempo with their defense and hit the big three when we need it.

THE ALMOST-TOO-WILD WILDCARD (’02 Billy Edelin, ’09 Scoop Jardine)

Rocky times for these players at Cuse are an understatement if there ever was one. Edelin was suspended for 12 games his freshman year because of a ridiculous NCAA ruling while Scoop was suspended multiple games last year for a misunderstanding with a student ID. (There are other tribulations that they have gone through but that’s another article entirely.) They both provide a huge lift by finding the open man and can get to the rim at will. Both also have/had the luxury of playing with a former high school teammate (Edelin and Anthony, Jardine and Jackson).

THE ATHLETIC SECOND YEAR SPARKPLUG (’02 Josh Pace, ‘09 Kris Joseph)

They are currently competing for the two ugliest jump shots in school history (I think Pace will win this one), but they are a huge athletic burst of energy off the bench. These “do-whatever-it-takes” scrappers are players that every team needs to succeed, especially in the deep Big East. You need someone to dive on the floor/block a shot/hit a three/play shut down defense, and these two can do it. While they can’t seem to do any of these things consistently, the great thing about either of them is that they’re able to provide the necessary lift at the necessary time.

THE DEVELOPING BIG MAN (’02 Craig Forth , ’09 Arinze Onuaku)

Two of the most frustrating players in Syracuse history. Forth would regularly miss wide open layups while Onuaku misses wide open free throws. Which is worse? (That’s a rhetorical question.) It’s even more frustrating to think how good these teams would be if either of these players could hit 50% of these shots. Onuaku’s offensive game is much better, but for all of Forth’s faults he provided excellent defense and rebounding that Onuaku lacks.

Here are the straight-up stat comparisons between the 2002-03 team and this year’s team.

The most amazing part of all this? The 2009-10 squad may be even more talented than the 2002-03 squad. This year’s team is older, bigger, more unselfish, and most importantly, they love to play defense. This may be the most active defense Syracuse has ever had, and it’s going to cause match-up problems for every team they play in at least one position, if not all of them.

After six games, Orange fans have high hopes. This year, they should. Expect the game at Florida to be another big step forward. It’s Syracuse’s toughest game of the year and their last big out of conference game before the Big East schedule kicks in. We know the pieces of this year’s team can do it. Now it’s time to put it all together.

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The writing has been on the wall. The signs have all pointed to great things. A number of verbal commitments that would make the 2010 Syracuse recruiting class one of the best in the school’s history. But until those Letters of Intent are signed, all those fans who bleed Orange can only dream.

Top 5 Shooting Guard Recruit Dion Waiters

For those dreaming of the #5 shooting guard recruit in the country, the wait is over. After verbally committing to Syracuse before lacing up for his first high school game, Dion Waiters of Life Center (PA) Academy has officially signed. The 6′4” 215 pound shooting guard from Burlington, NJ will be sporting Orange next year.

Waiters is a strong, aggressive shooter who has some work to do changing speeds and becoming a leader, which is nothing uncommon for young guards. A big time scorer with a body built for contact, Waiters has a great first step. He knows how to accelerate and finish at the rim. After averaging 17 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists for Life Center last year, Waiters finished the season watching from the sidelines with a broken ankle.

Overall, he’s just one part of the reason Central New York is excited about next year. Now that Waiters is officially on board, Syracuse waits for signed Letters from their other verbal committers: small forward C.J. Fair and centers Fab Melo and Bave Moussa Keita.

Just as exciting is tomorrow’s planned announcement from highly-touted power forward Tobias Harris. Rumors are that he’s leaning towards Syracuse, but nothing is certain until he steps up to the podium. Until then, he’s just one more thing for Orange fans to get excited about. Harris, the 6′8″ Long Island native, is a consensus Top 10 recruit for 2010.

So while the 2009-10 college basketball season has just gotten underway, Syracuse already has a few things to be excited about for next year’s squad. Now it’s time to wait for the next sneaker to drop.

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A Preview of the 2009-10 Syracuse Men’s Basketball Team. Co-written with Brad Biel.

November 10, 2009– Last night in the Carrier Dome, the Syracuse Orange shrugged off a surprising exhibition loss against cross-city rival LeMoyne and kicked off their regular season with a 75-43 dismantling of Albany.

The biggest news last night was Boeheim winning his 800^th game as a head coach, all with his alma mater Syracuse. But that shouldn’t overshadow the team that won it for him. This is a very different squad from last year’s team that finished 28-10 (11-7 Big East) and fell to #2 seed Oklahoma in the 3^rd round of the NCAA Tournament.

Johnny Flynn’s pearly white smile now gleams off Minnesota’s hardwood. Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris also left the program early, both thinking they were NBA ready. So far, the NBA thinks otherwise.

Despite losing 3 starters, this year’s team enters the season ranked 25^th in the nation. Jim Boeheim has some talent coming in to replace Flynn, Harris, Devo and the energetic Kristof Ogenaut. Before we take a look at this year’s newcomers, a quick history lesson.

The last time the Orange lost its two leading scorers, Preston Shumpert and DeShaun Williams, all Syracuse did was replace their two veteran sharpshooters with two sharpshooting freshman. Two freshmen who became affectionately known throughout Central New York as GMAC and MELO. And all those two newcomers did was go off and win the 2003 National Championship.

When it comes to replacing pieces of a team, you never know who’s going to step up. With that in mind, here’s a preview of who might lead Syracuse in scoring this year.

Brandon Triche - PG (freshman)

At 6-4, Triche is a big guard in the mold of past Syracuse points like Adrian Autry, Lazarus Sims and Jason Hart. He has a sufficient outside shot and he can use his thick size to power into the lane. More than anything else, Triche has unique court sense for a player his age. Perhaps it’s his genes. His uncle, Howard Triche, was a captain on the 1987 Syracuse team that advanced to the NCAA championship game. Boeheim has so much faith in Triche that the other potential Flynn replacement, Scoop Jardine, has been pushed back to #2 on the depth chart. Scoop will still get minutes, especially when Triche makes mistakes. But Triche will have every chance to grow into Syracuse’s feature point guard.

“He can shoot it. He’s smart. He’s physical,” Boeheim told The Sporting News, discussing his new leading ballhandler. “He can’t go by people like Jonny, but nobody can. He’ll start right away for us.” When Syracuse first signed him, it was big news. Now that Flynn is gone, he immediately becomes a critical piece to this year’s puzzle.

Wes Johnson - SF (Junior)

In 2006, this 6’8” long-armed forward appeared out of nowhere to put up 12 points and grab 8 boards a game as an Iowa State freshmen. The reason for Johnson’s decision to become a rare Division I transfer remain unclear. Perhaps it’s related to a injury-riddled sophomore season that brought down his numbers and minutes, his poor grades, or his desire to make a name for himself in a more well-known program. Whatever the reason, Johnson knew what he was doing when he picked Syracuse. He thought he would fit into the Orange’s style of play under Boeheim and he’ll be a starter from the first tip-off. He joined the Orange two years ago but was only eligible to participate in practice last year due to NCAA regulations.

A silky smooth wing, Johnson resembles the typical Syracuse forward, with the ability to score both inside and out. He has the length needed to thrive playing on the wing in Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense. Boeheim created a stir last spring when he told ESPN.com that Johnson would be an upgrade over departed muscleman Paul Harris. It seemed like a swipe at Harris, but Boeheim simply intended to pump up his new multi-talented starting forward. Johnson still has to work on his midrange shot and dribbling ability, but for now his other skills and raw ability will more than make up for any weaknesses in his game. The better comparison for Johnson would be Hakim Warrick, who came to Cuse loaded with natural, raw ability, only to become a smarter, more well-rounded player during each of his seasons.

James Southerland - F (Freshman)

A natural ability to shoot attracted Syracuse coaches to Southerland. Southerland himself has long been attracted to the Orange, committing to the program when he was 16. His size, build and long-range shooting are reminiscent of former forward Preston Shumpert, who ranks eighth on the Syracuse’s all-time scoring list. At 6’7”, Southerland’s height and long arms give him the ability to see and shoot over smaller opponents. Still raw, his all-around game has yet to fully develop. He needs to learn how to put the ball on the floor and drive to the hoop. Until he adds that facet to his game, defenders can suffocate him on the perimeter and focus on neutralizing his outside shot.

Dashonte Riley - C (Freshman)

This 6’11” Detroit native chose Syracuse over Big East rival Marquette. He has the physical traits to be an impact player, but his intensity has been questioned in the past. He’s raw and needs time to develop, but considering the past foul troubles of Onuaku and Jackson, he’ll be counted on to step in and produce from time to time.

A quick review of who will be mentoring Syracuse’s youth movement:

Andy Rautins – After missing the entire 2007-08 season, Rautins was almost an afterthought in last year’s backcourt of Flynn, Devo and Harris. With those three gone, Syracuse will rely on his 3-point shot and veteran leadership. Little known fact: he also plays for The Canadian National team.

Scoop Jardine – Now splitting time at point guard with Triche. The percentage of the split is yet to be seen and will largely depend on if Jardine can show that his game has matured.

Kris Joseph – Another Canadian, this lanky 6’8” forward has amazing ability but still needs to learn how to use it. He’ll have some gravity-defying plays, but he’ll also frustrate the Carrier Dome faithful at times.

Arinze Onuaku – This fixture in the paint enters his third season as Syracuse’s starting center. With youth all around him, the offense will often go through Arinze, at least early in the season.

Rick Jackson – This beastly 6’9” 245-pounder transferred from center to power forward and fans know exactly what he brings to the court. Not much athletic ability, but the size to make a difference.

Losing three starters, this year’s team won’t resemble last year’s Flynn-led squad. Gone is the dominant backcourt, replaced by veteran power and size in the frontcourt. As history has shown us, a year of transition can be a good thing. Boeheim feels good about the talent he’s brought in and the veterans he has to work with.

The first big test comes next week when Syracuse plays in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden, taking on California in the first round and either Ohio State or North Carolina in the second. Winning Boeheim’s 800^th was a great way to start the season. But today, the only thing that matters is winning #801 and beyond.

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November 3, 2009 - Rajon Rondo, you can relax. No more contract extension talks distracting you at practice. No more wondering what restricted free agency is going to be like. No more asking yourself after every game “Will they be my team next year?”

On Monday, Danny Ainge put away his fangs, picked up his pen and inked Rajon Rondo to a 5-year extension for $55 million. Ainge had done everything in his power to make it seem like Rondo’s future wasn’t with the Celtics. During the off-season, a trade seemed imminent. Ainge refused to acknowledge Rondo was a premier point guard, believing instead that a stellar supporting cast deserved the credit. He didn’t like the idea of losing more payroll flexibility with KG, Pierce and Allen taking home a disproportionate chunk of the team’s money.

As the season got closer, Ainge lightened his stance and negotiations began. Both teams wanted a 5-year deal. But while Ainge had about $45 million in mind, Rondo’s agent Bill Duffy was asking for $55-$60 million. The kind of money reserved for a top 5 point guard. With his new deal, Rondo becomes the 8th highest paid point guard in the league. It’s a fair deal and a win-win.

Now that Duffy and Ainge have hung up their gloves, all that matters is that a deal was made. Even if it was only made thanks to a 48-hour deadline extension granted by the NBA for teams to resign their 2006 draft picks. The new deadline was last night at midnight, and in the end a record low 6 players signed extensions. (Rondo plus Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andrea Bargnani, Thabo Sefalosha and Renaldo Balkman. Simply put, the financial state of the NBA isn’t pretty.)

At 23, Rondo already has one championship. He happily forgoes the potential to make a little more money in free agency to win another. In the end, both sides got what they wanted. Rondo his deal and the Celtics their man. He’s going to be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come. Here’s why Rondo is the best fit for this team.

1. He’s young. With just three years of experience under his belt, Rondo has yet to reach his ceiling. His game has a few holes, which is why Ainge undervalued him. But what he isn’t great at yet are things that he can work on and the things that come naturally to him are things that can’t be taught. His premier defense, knack for steals and court instincts aren’t going away, while his jump shot, ball handling, decision-making and on-court leadership are only going to improve.

2. The rest of the Celtics aren’t. Pierce (32), Allen (34) and KG (33) are still superstars, but they’re in the twilights of their careers. Twilights that just happen to be better than most player’s career Highlights. With Rondo onboard, Boston continues to play for a championship this year, all while looking towards the future. It’s tough to do both. Five years from now when the Big 3 have retired, Rondo will still be wearing Celtics green.

3. He’s a student surrounded by teachers. The Big 3 aren’t just forces on the court, they’re seasoned veterans and natural born leaders. There’s a reason teams like the Clippers are never able to climb their way out of the cellar: No leadership. They have the youth and talent, but they don’t have the mentors. Rondo has the chance to do what few other young superstars have: the chance to mature correctly and learn from the best. Everything that KG, the Truth and Ray Ray teach Rondo today are things we’ll be seeing from Rondo for years to come.

4. The Big Three need their Big Shots. Unlike all the shoot-first point guards in today’s NBA, Rondo’s natural instinct is to get the ball into someone else’s hands. And the Big 3 plus the other vets like Sheed and Daniels need their shots. The last thing Boston needs is another scoring threat. Better yet, Rondo can score when he wants to. When KG went down last year, his scoring increased to almost 17 ppg. Rondo already has shown the potential to record a triple-double any given night.

5. Distractions aren’t cool. Rondo’s young. He’s never had to deal with the business-side of the NBA. And he’s already been vocal that a contract extension was in the front of his mind, pushing basketball to the side. A Rondo playing this season thinking about next year wouldn’t have been a productive Rondo.

The Celtics have started out strong in 2009. And with Rondo locked up, they’re only going to get stronger.

A LOOK AT THE NBA’S  TOP POINT GUARD SALARIES:

1. Gilbert Arenas, Washington $16.2M
2. Deron Williams, Utah $13.5M
3. Chris Paul, New Orleans $13.5M
4. Steve Nash, Phoenix $13.1M
5. Tony Parker, San Antonio $12.6M
6. Baron Davis, LA Clippers $12.1M
7. Chauncey Billups, Denver $12.1M
8. RAJON RONDO $11M
9. Monta Ellis, Golden State $11M
10. Mo Williams, Cleveland $8.8M
11. Devin Harris, New Jersey $8.4M
12. Jose Calderon, Toronto $8.2M
13. Jameer Nelson, Orlando $8.1M
14. Jason Kidd, Dallas $8.1M

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November 2, 2009– Earlier today Syracuse’s top wideout, and arguably their best athlete and offensive threat, made his way into Doug Marrone’s office. Junior Mike Williams told his coach he was quitting the team. As of yet, the reason for this decision hasn’t been made public. Williams had never been the best student, and rumors suggest that his declining grades are behind his unexpected decision.

Looking ahead, Syracuse has some big shoes to fill, but they won’t miss Williams’ big head. Earlier this year Williams had been suspended for unknown reasons, though that suspension ended up lasting all of one day. Williams had also been suspended in June 2008, after he was caught  “cheating multiple times in class.” But then a month ago he was telling people he would be back for his senior season.

He leaves the program currently ranked 6th in the nation and 1st in the Big East with 118.7 in receiving yards per game, while his 7.5 receptions per game are 9th in the nation. He had made a reception in 26 consecutive games, 4th-best in Syracuse history.

Williams next steps? Only he knows. Will he try to get ready for the NFL Draft, destined to become another loud-mouthed me-me-me wide receiver in the mold of T.O. or Chad Johnson? Does he think that quitting his team mid-season is the best way to get attention from NFL teams? Either way, this is a stunning turn of events, closing the curtains on what had been one of Syracuse’s few highlights this season. More information is bound to emerge, but one thing is set in stone: Syracuse moves on without their top offensive threat.

Here’s a timeline of Mike Williams’ storied and short-lived life at Syracuse. Greg Paulus, you’re on your own.

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In reality, it’s just the opposite. It’s being realistic.

This was a smart decision by the Red Sox. Ignoring steroids would have been wrong. They were everywhere and there was no way to stop them. No testing. A pact with the Player’s Union that prevented teams from doing anything on their own. And a commissioner who sat by the weigh side and let it happen. Back then, there was no testing. There was no reason not to use steroids. Denying the use of steroids would be like trying to teach high school kid’s abstinence: Completely unrealistic. Kids are going to have sex. They always have and that’s not going to change because some suit tells them to wait. And if kids don’t know how to screw, they’re going to make stupid decisions, not use condoms, and spread STDs around. And that is the real tragedy.

Same thing with baseball players. A good number of these guys come from the Dominican or other foreign countries, the sticks or the projects. The only thing they know about steroids is that it makes them stronger. Keeps them employed. And makes them filthy rich. They didn’t know the side effects. They didn’t know how often is too often. Without some common sense applied, they’d end like guys who spent their careers in the WWE. Lives ruined after their careers were over.

Boston was just doing the right thing. They knew steroids were a problem and they knew the contract with the Player’s Union meant they couldn’t do anything about steroids. Selig wasn’t doing anything and neither was anyone else.

The direct analogy to teenage sex education was so obvious even Merloni pointed it out at his press conference:

“It was like teaching your teenage daughter about sex education,” said Merloni. “The organization acknowledged that there were likely players using steroids and basically if you’re gonna use them this is how you use them so you don’t abuse them.”

You can go ahead and hate the Red Sox. But what was there other option? Doing nothing? That would have been a bigger tragedy.

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The Rams recently released Pisa Tinoisamoa. While he’s no run stuffer and a little bit undersized for a 3-4 defense at 6-1 and 240 pounds, he is a pure athlete and has always been very productive on the field. He’s someone who could take some snaps and pressure off Bruschi and Guyton. Junior Seau isn’t signed, but he’s now into his 4th decade and a role player at best. While he was solid at times for the Pats, and he’s said they’re the only team he’ll play for, he’s far from their first choice.

Neither side will be in much of a rush to get this deal done. The Dolphins are still in the mix, but things ended badly last time around with Bill Parcells. This deal has a good chance of happening by mid-June.

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Roger Goodell is looking to hold the first round of the 2010 draft on Thursday night. The second and third rounds would also be in prime time, on Friday evening, with the final four rounds coming on Saturday. Spreading the draft over three days and holding it during prime time will increase revenue and exposure. Good for fans of the draft, good for executives in the NFL.

Goodell said: “We think it can be very appealing from a fan’s standpoint and an audience standpoint.” And we all know how much Goodell likes widening the NFL audience. Games overseas. Thursday night games. Saturday night games. Rotating Sunday night games that feature the week’s best match-up. Now he’s even figured out a way to make more money out of the draft.

Next year’s draft party? It’s going to be quite the 3-day bender.

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“It definitely was a shock,” Campbell said, “when I started hearing Sanchez talk.” This talk coming only a few weeks after the Skins lost out on the Jay Cutler sweepstakes to the Bears.

Really? This chocked Campbell? He’s not exactly Peyton Manning. Or Tom Brady. Or Drew Brees. Last time I checked, he wasn’t even close to being in the same league as these franchise quarterbacks. Not even close.

Last time I checked, Jason Campbell was not a Pro Bowl quarterback. Last time I checked, Jason Campbell threw only 13 touchdowns last year: 19 QBs threw more than that. Last time I checked, Jason Campbell was a pretty average quarterback: Last year, in his best season, he ranked 19th of 32 with a QB rating of 84.3 as the Skins went 2-6 down the stretch to miss the playoffs. Last time I checked, Campbell is a former 1st round pick with 36 NFL starts, little to show for it, and a rookie contract that expires after this season with no talks of an extension.

Sure, Campbell can run a little. Got a decent arm. OK completion rate. And he definitely improved from a very blah 2007.

But none of these things a franchise quarterback make.

So how can Jason Campbell feign shock when his team goes out and tries to land a better quarterback? Does he think he wouldn’t be able to win the starting job anyway? Or does he think he’s the one of the few quarterbacks in the league who doesn’t have to compete for his playing time?

The Dictator Dan Snyder wanted to bring in Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez. Big deal. If either one of them had come into Skins camp and outperformed Campbell, they would have been named the starter. That’s the way it should be.

Football is a business. Mostly about winning, but that’s only because winning makes money. And that’s what sports are really about: Raking in cash. It’s no secret. The NFL is a well-greased money-making machine. Redskins owner Dan Snyder knows this.

And he knows a household name calling signals would appeal to a broader fan base.

He knows his crowds would have a field day watching gunslinger Jay Cutler heave the ball to Santana Moss.

He knows more people in this country know the name Mark Sanchez than Jason Campbell.

He knows a big name quarterback would be a constant presence in local media, something the mild-mannered Campbell is not.

He knows all this. Here’s something Campbell doesn’t know: there’s no loyalty in football. There’s no more hometown discounts. Management doesn’t care about fan favorites and there’s no more keeping popular aging vets past their prime. No more handing the ball to an average quarterback without trying to bring in a Brand Name Signal Caller® who would give the local media something to talk about and sell a bunch of jerseys at the same time.

Of all people, Dan Snyder loves big name players. He’s gone after and lured in Deion Sanders, Brandon Lloyd, Adam Archuleta, Jason Taylor, and most recently Albert Hayneworth adn D’Angelo Hall. Mark Sanchez, despite being unproven, and Jay Cutler, are big names. Names a casual football fan would recognize.

Jason Campbell? Not exactly a name that draws people to the stadium. No offense. He’s solid, just not flashy. And it’s no secret Dan Snyder prefers flashy.

Jason Campbell is good and he’s getting better. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he deserves to be replaced. His 2008 season was remarkably better than his 2007 campaign. But he’s quiet good. Boring good. No off-field issues. No post-game rants. No drama. He just does his job and does it well. Snyder wants an on-field general who draws attention.

So Snyder points to that “P” word that’s still following Campbell around. Potential. Despite throwing to speedsters Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El and ball-catching machine Chris Cooley, Campbell only managed 13 TDs last year, leading the Skins to a paltry 8-8 record. That’s not enough in today’s NFL. A whole season with only 6 INTs? It’s impressive, but overlooked.

While he may not have the results to show for it, he does have a great attitude. Talking abou the the near-trade, he said : “If I had acted rebellious or anything, that would have made the situation a lot worse. It would have affected a lot more people than myself, and I feel that’s not right. Those guys I work with every day, lifting weights and sweating, and then the fans that still support me.”

He seems like a smart guy, he’s a team player, and he plays an active role in the DC community. Sadly, the team he spearheads is owned by Dan Snyder, who cares about none of these things. The problem is, Campbell chose the life of an NFL quarterback, so there’s not much he can complain about.

Unless he wants to complain about having never been given a real chance to succeed. The Redskins are now on their sixth head coach in the 10 years since Dan Snyder bought the team. Last year, under first-time head coach Jim Zorn and his west-coast offense, Campbell had to learn his fifth offensive system in seven years. No quarterback is going to be successful under those conditions.

All this adds up to one thing and one thing only. Dan Snyder doesn’t want Campbell as his quarterback. He wants a Brett Favre. He wants a Peyton Manning. He wants little kids asking their parents for a Mark Sanchez jersey with his olive skin and celebrity smile.

While Snyder missed out on Sanchez, don’t doubt for a minute he won’t be drooling expect over some other top prospect next year. Teams, especially Snyder’s,  don’t care about loyalty. They care about making money, and they’re going to bring in the players that make the team the most money.

Next year, Jason Campbell better be ready to fight for his job again. Even if his 2009 numbers are better than last years. The NFL is a business. And in business, you don’t bitch and complain about competition. You go out and prove that you’re better than your competition in anyway you can.

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It came to an end when the active leader of pinch hit homers, Matt Stairs, did it again in the 8th. Bush knew it was gone from the moment it left the bat, crouching down on the mound and wishing it foul, as he watched it hug the right field line. A look of relief came over his face, he knew the game was still the Brewers to win, after all. Bush came out shortly after when he gave up a second hit to Shane Victorino after picking up the inning’s second out.

RIght before Stairs’ no-no ending at-bat, fellow pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs came closest to ending the no-hit bid, spinning a grounder down the third base line. Bill Hall made an outstanding play, grabbing the roller in foul territory before turning and firing it across the diamond to get Dobbs by a step.

For the Brewers, Prince Fielder had a big 3-run opposite field double in the 5th and the hot Ryan Braun jacked a two-run bomb against Cole Hamels in the 4th. Hamels left the game early, after getting smacked with a hard line drive from Prince Fielder, also in the 4th.

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