Thhhaaaaaaaaaattttttt Close

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Another year, another bottle popped for Shula, Mercury, Griese and the rest of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the last and only team to ever go undefeated. The Green Bay Packers have fallen line with other great teams that have tried and failed to beat the pressure and go undefeated.
In honor, or dishonor, depending on your opinion or affiliation, of the Packers inexplicable loss to the Kyle Orton led Kansas City Chiefs, I have compiled a list of the 5 OTHER teams that have gone to the promised land only to miss it by Thhhaaaaaaatttttttttt much. It's crazy to think of the teams that came so close. They are easily some of the best offenses and defenses in the history of the NFL. So with that, your list of those that got Thhhaaaaaaaaaattttttt Close.

1985 Bears

First Loss: Week 13

Opponent: Miami Dolphins

Score: 24-38

Breakdown:

Marino may have been the only qb ever
to been able to defeat these Bears.

IT was a fairy tale kind of game as the Miami Dolphins, owners of history's only undefeated season, thwarted the eventual Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears attempt at a perfect season under the lights on Monday Night Football. The Bears where coming off three wins during which they outscored opponents 104-3. This defense, one of history's greatest, the vaunted Buddy Ryan 46 defense, was a hard blitzing defense that focused on forcing the quarterback to make a perfect throw against tight man coverage with at one free blitzer in his face nearly every play.

McMahon's injury hurt the
Bears chances to go undefeated.

So how could they be defeated? Two reasons. Their starting QB, the incomparable wild man Jim McMahon, was out of the game. The second? Possibly the only thing that could beat that defense in a year that  year (and the only thing that DID). Statistically, the great QB of all time, Dan Marino. The Dolphins used the Bears aggressiveness on defense to the their advantage. Because of Maraino's ability to hold the ball what seems like a lifetime longer than most quarterbacks, coupled with his ability to make that perfect throw so often, the Dolphins were able to pass to the middle of the field with ease and precision. The constant blitz left gaping holes in the defense, which allowed Marino to attack it with his tight ends and crossing patterns, and thus forced the secondary to make plays they had not been asked to make most of the year. The result? The Dolphins would hang 38 points on what would become a top 3 all time defense. That's one way to protect your franchise records.

Rest of the season:

The Bears bounced back nicely, finishing the rest of the regular season unscathed, then bulldozing through the playoffs with two shutouts, ten points allowed and a 46-10 victory in Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots. 

1998 Broncos

First Loss: Week 15

Opponent: New York Giants

Score: 16-20

Breakdown:

This game was what we all love to call, and rightfully so a trap game. The 1998 Broncos were the 90's darling team and its greatest team.  They made 13-0 relatively easy and never met much a challenge season, with on 5 games decided by 7 points or less.
They made the trip to the Meadowlands to face the Kent Graham New York Giants, who were having another ho-hum season at a blistering 5-8. The Broncos fought to a workman like 16-13 lead behind a strong game by Terrell Davis, rushing for 147 yards on 28 carries.
However, Kent Graham, with an angel on his back and possessed by the ghost of Johnny Unitas, storm down the field and hit a strike to Amani Toomer in the corner of the end zone, who made an amazing catch falling out of the end zone. Initially, it was called an incomplete pass, but to the delight of Amani Toomer and chagrin of Bronco nation, a second official ran in to overturn the call, end the Broncos run at perfection and cementing the 98 Giants in history as the only team to beat the 98 Broncos.

Rest of the season:

The Broncos would loss their next game as well, but then win the next four, including three in the playoffs in rout to John Elway's and the Denver Broncos second consecutive Championship, sending off Elway in style, as this would be his last season as the Broncos quarterback.

2005 Colts 

First Loss: Week 15

Opponent: San Diego Chargers

Score: 17-26

Breakdown:

The 2005 Colts were strangely similar to the other streak breakers on this list. Like the 85' Dolphins, they had one of history's top 5 qb's. Like the 98' Giants, they were losing nearly the entire game against the Chargers. And, like both streak breakers, would not see nary a minute of play during that years Super Bowl.
As luck would have the Colts ran into the Chargers who with this game, would begin an incredible December, going 21-1 from that game through the 2009 season. The 05' Drew Bress led Chargers used a quick punch score, a tough running game led by Ladanian Tomlinson and Michael Turner, and a stout defensive performance against Peyton Manning during his record breaking prime years to win the game without any true doubt to the outcome.
The Colts would try to comeback but would not get close again after Manning threw an interception into the end zone to seal their loss to the Chargers.

Rest of the Season:

The Colts would loss 2 of the next 3, including a memorable loss to eventual Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, in a game that featured a controversial Troy Polamalu interception and an anxiety-driven sequence that saw future Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis fumble at the goal-line, which was nearly returned for a game sealing touchdown by Nick Harper, who was tackled by a shoestring by the time Super Bowl Champ Ben Roethlisberger.

2007 Patriots 

First Loss: Super Bowl

Opponent: New York Giants

Score: 14-17




Breakdown:

THIS was the team. They were destined. No one could beat them. No one could get them to call of the dogs as they beat, battered and blistered teams to a pulp every week. They won by 19.7 every week. Moss broke the receiving TD record with 23. Tom Brady broke the passing TD record with 50. Wes Welker had 112 catches. Troy Brown had 102. Randy Moss 98. Some say, that only the Patriots could beat the Patriots. Or an act of God. Or simply, Karma for the way people thought they "carried on" late in games as they ran up scores.

Well, after defeating the New York Giants (nearly eliminating them from the playoffs. They "snuck in at healthy 10-6, outlasting the 9-7 Washington Redskins)

Then, the playoffs started. And the Pats started slowing down. A pair of stout defensive lines in the Jaguars and Chargers gave a glimmer of how to take down the juggernaut Pats. You cut off the head and the beast dies. You get to Brady and the offense flat lines.
In Super Bowl XLll, the rematch of the Giants game from week 17, the Giants Trio of Micheal Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, who combined for 32 regular season sacks, got to Brady three times out of five sacks and kept him frazzled the entire game, allowing, Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress and David Tyree to orchestrate a Super Bowl classic of a game winning drive to stun the 18-0 Patriots and seize the Lombardi Trophy while avenging their week 17 loss to the Pats.

2009 Colts


First Loss: Week 16
Opponent: New York Jets
Score: 15-2






Breakdown:

This is easily the most controversial loss of all the teams to flirt with an undefeated season, especially when one considers the end result. New Head Coach Jim Caldwell, with the support of his starters threw the game in an attempt to prepare the team for the playoffs, and guarantee that the majority of their  team was healthy entering the playoffs. The strategy worked to a degree. They made it to the Super Bowl but lost to the same quarterback who ended the Colts 2005 bid at a perfect regular season - Drew Brees - and his electric offense in the Saints. Ironically, the Colts would defeat those same Jets that they forfeited to in ending there perfect regular season bid, which gives credence to the thought that they had a great chance to get to the Super Bowl unscathed. 

So as history shows us, its incredibly tough to go undefeated, let alone make it to week 13 without a blemish in the loss column. Only 6 teams have done it, and none made it through a full season and playoff run without feeling defeat. But, in a slight mental victory for the Pack and its faithful, every NFC team and every team not named the Colts made it to and won that season's Super Bowl. But the formula has been unleashed on how to handle if not defeat the nearly unbeatable Packers. Pass rush, athletic cover corners and a  solid run game to control the clock and keep Green Bay off the field will give any team a chance to get the Packers on edge. Now that makes for an exciting finish to an already amazing season.

Bill Cowher, Meet the Dolphins

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James Walker, blogger for the AFC North division on ESPN. 

"The Dolphins didn't handle the Sparano situation well and that will not look good among the coaching community. Miami also plans to retain general manager Jeff Ireland, doesn't have a franchise quarterback and has to compete with winning programs like the New England Patriots and New York Jets in the AFC East. Top coaching candidates may see other jobs around the league as more attractive"

Jerome Bettis, former all-pro, Cowher RB and current commentator for the NFL Network

"It would have to be farfetched -- and this would never happen -- it would have to (be) something like Andy Reid gets fired or something crazy," Bettis said. "Something to that degree." ... That's the type of scenario that Coach Cowher would have to really give some thought, because now you're not coming in coaching a last-place team. You've got a quality football team that needs direction and understanding." 

"I don't think a Miami job will entice him because there are so many issues, No. 1 being the quarterback position," Bettis said. "The one thing I do know is he's not going anywhere that doesn't have a solid quarterback already in place."

If we are to listen to the ideas of others we might forget to see the reality of some situations. Both James Walker and Jerome Bettis have great knowledge of these situations and respected opinions. But one thing about the NFL is the unexpected is always right around the corner. And if you take a look at what it takes to make Cowher happy and what the Dolphins have to offer, you might be surprised with what you find. 

1) An established team

First things first, Bill Cowher wants to walk into a good situation. He's not going to want a Jaguars team that has a rookie quarterback he probably would not have wanted or a defense that is light years away from Super Bowl or mid-90's Steelers quality. Kansas City has an opening, stars on both side of the ball, great fight, great fans and great upside. Downside? Meet GM Scott Pioli. He's going NOwhere. That leaves potential openings in Minnesota and San Diego. But Minnesota has Adrian Peterson and nothing else and Norv Turner just seems to be that cat with 9 lives, so we can rule them out. 

The Dolphins? More established than you think.

Defense

They have a great defense. Yes, THAT Miami Dolphins defense. YES, the 2011 version. They are sneaky third in the league in Rush Defense. As for their 25th ranked Pass D? You can attribute that to three gashings courtesy of Tom Brady, Eli manning and Philip Rivers. Remove those outliers and the Defense jumps to a respectable 11th overall. And on top of that, since the offense has learned to control the clock with Reggie Bush and smart passing, (2nd in the league in Time of Possession for the past 6 weeks with a 4-2 record) the defense is able to use its assets and play fast and quality defense, similar to what the Steelers used to and still value. 

Davis is starting to join the conversation of  top 3 corners in the league.

Davis is starting to join the conversation
of  top 3 corners in the league.

Now imagine how quickly this defense would turn around in a 3-4 Zone Blitz scheme that Cowher would undoubtedly deploy? 3-4's need linebackers with speed for the edge and cover skills for the middle (Taylor, Wake, Dansby and Burnett are perfect fits) Ends and tackles that take up blockers, (Merling is a start and DT is abundant in the coming draft, a Cowher specialty) and Man to Man corners that can hold their own (Vontae Davis is a star and Sean Smith is a solid starter). Cowher would only have to add his scheme to let this Defense reach its potential. The sacks would add up quick and the corners would do excellent jobs of capitalizing on quarterback mistakes because of the rush. A match made in heaven in my opinion. 

Offense 

The offensive line is strength. Jake Long is a true star and lead while Vernon Carey, Young Mike Pouncey and Incognito play with a mean streak similar to what Cowher loves for his teams to push the defense back with the running game. Anthony Fasano, for all his receiving ups and downs, is a great run blocker, the real reason he is still in Orange and Teal. He is cut from the same mold of Mark Bruener, a favorite from Cowher's Pittsburgh days.

Marshall could finally reach his potential with a leader and disciplinarian like Cowher.

Marshall could finally reach his
potential with a leader and
disciplinarian like Cowher. 

At running back there may be a snag. We know that Cowher loves a bruiser and the Dolphins just don't have one. Reggie has developed a great attitude over the past few weeks and is really trying to run guys over when on the field, contributing to his recent 100 yard efforts, and Daniel Thomas is a great, strong and young complement to Reggie. But Cowher may want someone that can tote it 30 times a game that he can trust at the goal line. 

The receivers do well in their ability to catch the ball and create, when the ball gets to them in timely fashion. Brandon Marshall is a tar. Along with Devon Bess, they play with chips on their shoulder and are both threats in the receiving games. A true compliment to them is that they have finally put into their games the ability to block down field and seek that block to spring the runner. If you watch the film, Bush gets big yardage when he can hit the hole and have help at the second level, where the TE and WR's have been flourishing in their down field blocking. 

That brings us to another sticking point in bring Cowher to South Florida

2) Quarterback.

Cowher won only when he drafted his QB 
in 2004. In Ben first season Pittsburgh
was 15-1.

This is one piece of the team that many would feel as the though the most experience would be warranted from Cowher to bring him into the fold. The Dolphins have a competent passer in Matt Moore, but he, like Tommy Maddox, is not a franchise style or Super Bowl type QB. But what the Dolphins do have over any other team is the ability to add a star quarterback through the draft immediately, with the perks of:

a) Not ruffling feathers of the current incumbent and causing locker room/Front Office friction (Jaand Gabbert, Minnesota and Ponder, KC Cassel and Pioli)

b) A draft class for Qb's that rivals 2004, during which Cowher hand pick his man in Ben Roethlisberger

c) Setting the tone of his tenure with the franchise with his kind of Quarterback

Cowher gets to pick from, Robert Griffin III (Heisman and pro style in college), Mark Bradley (Great leader, measurables and pedigree coming from USC) Landry Jones (Great competitor and numbers) and to a lesser extent, if they can jump high enough, prized QB Andrew Luck (Highest rated QB prospect ever).

It’s not as if the QB position would be a drawback. Cowher could choose his guy; build around him while finally being the guy to bring the first Franchise QB to Miami since Marino retired.

And don't be surprised if said QB gets hands on training with Marino, good friend and co-worker of Cowher, from Pittsburgh, living in Miami. 

However, moves like that might require

 3) GM Power  

Is Ireland worth missing out on Cowher?

Is Ireland worth missing out on Cowher?

And that may be the sticking point. This is where it gets scary for Miami fans. Do the Dol-fans want a new GM. Hell yes. One that doesn’t draft like a Sputnik? Missed on Ginn Jr. Missed chances at three prime needs in 2010 draft (passed on RB Mark Ingram in 1st round, DT Marvin Austin in 2nd round, and QB Ryan Mallet in the 3rd). Offended Dez Bryant to the point of undraftable in 2010.  He's done a good job somewhat on the defense but Cowher's track record (and yes I realize that Cowher was never a GM in Pittsburgh, but his power over decisions in player personnel decisions was strongly apparent.) is amazing in the draft an beyond it. His ability to find players that fit and play the right way is uncanny. Hines Ward, Jason Gildon, Joel Steed, Mike Vrabel, Max Starks, and Joey Porter where all deep draft picks that he found and made stars. Wondering what he could add to the Dolphins squad is as easy as looking at his teams that ruled the AFC Central and North for years is all one needs to do.

However, Steve Ross may be able to afford Cowher but must find away to let Cowher run things unopposed. Cowher's distaste for Front Office opposition is one well chronicled in the Pittsburgh area and is the main reason he has waited so long to return.

 This will probably end the same as it has the past few years. Some flirting, some courting, some questions, but no connections. But there will be no doubting Ross doesn't want to repeat what happened last year in missing his man in Jim Harbaugh. Cowher is the number one target for Ross. He's wants him and he'll ante up. But ultimately, it is up to Team Cowher to see the potential that the Dolphins have to pull 2011 49ers on the league. A match made in heaven? Maybe not. But the best option for Cowher? The only way a better situation comes along is if Mike McCarthy suddenly retires. This is it for Cowher, time to dust off the chin and get started.

CP3 and Griffin are nice, but what else?

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Chris Paul to the Lakers! Nixed. Chris Paul to the Knicks! Never was on the table! Chris Paul to the Clippers? Sterling won't do it. Lakers back? Lakers gone. Clippers back, back, back, Home run!!!

There you have it. Donald Sterling's Clippers are, on paper, better than the Lakers, or at least comparable. Star player with bad knees? Check. Star youth with sky high potential but scary health risk? Check. Strong defensive coach? Check. But what else do the Clips have? What else do they need to become a the best team in the West, let alone the best team in their own city?





Well for starters, last year's arguably number 1 and 2 point guards in the Western Conference now belong to the Los Angeles Clippers. Number one obviously being Chris Paul. The second? He just came through the back door while everyone watched Chris Paul walk through the front. Chauncey Billups. Be sure that I know that this is not 2004. Billups is far from what he once was, but is still a major talent and a major asset to the team as a locker room presence (he helped harness the insanity that was Rasheed Wallace and focused the lax Carmelo Anthony into an elite player). What Chris Paul doesn't already know as the league predominant floor general Billups knows and mastered in his days as Detroit's finest. He is a fighter who earned his role in the NBA and can teach this squad how to fight to the top. And don't forget to mention that Billups defensive capabilities, and ability to shoot the rock and play without it allows the Clippers to run both he and Paul simultaneously.

He may be tough to get but Aaron Afflalo could be
the difference from a good showing this year and
trip to the finals.

At the same position the Clippers have Mo Williams. Subtract Billups winning history ad intangibles, we have a poor man's Billups. Lower totals across the board but, for a back up, potentially number 3 point guard, Williams is as good as it gets and, expendable. Considering that the Clippers need a legit shooting guard to take advantage of the room Paul and Griffin will allow them while Billups is not on the floor, the Clippers need to use Williams and his $8 million dollar salary and flip him for  a sharp shooting, defensive minded guard. Aaron Affalo, the burgeoning name on the free agent market could be had in a sign and trade. Though he is close to a new deal with the Nuggets, the Clippers still have assets to make the trade work. Lesser options include Nick Young, shooting but no D, Willie Green, solid but not great, O.J. Mayo, who could benefit from a solid locker room and tough coach in Vinnie Del Negro, or Jamal Crawford, but I think he would be too expensive and too Jekyll and Hyde. I like Afflalo or Mayo here.


Caron Butler is a good SF. Don't fool yourself into thinking he's overpaid, under-talented, or overrated. I believe the role he is set to play on this team, the contract he signed and the way he plays the game are a perfect fit for this team. Now his balky knee isn't as great of an addition. There's only room for Paul and Griffin's knee's around here so he needs to stay healthy. But when he is healthy he's scrappy, he plays solid team defense and shoots a solid clip from the strip and within the ark. And he has a reason to play with a chip on shoulder this season, with all the doubts he has been faced with and the truths he has had to face (like that he is not a franchise player and hasn't played more than 50 games in a year since 2008.) If Butler can p,lay a solid 25 a game for 50 plus games and his back up is solid, the Clips should be set with a classic, gritty swingman on the wing.

As for his backup, well for one thing its looking more and more that Ryan Gomes and his $4 million dollar contract will become an amnesty victim. The best option here is a solid two faze player, shooter and defender. There aren't many left that can play the wing and I won't pretend to know any that are available on the trade market. But the way things are shaping up with the amnesty clause and free agency, the Clippers will be able to find a player worth taking a flyer on. Maurice Evans is solid on Defense with a decent stroke from 3, and should still have a place to stay in La-La Land. As long as he keeps the ball out of his offensively when he's not shooting the corner 3 he would be a great, experienced and cheap addition to the bench, or someone like him.



And lastly, we have DeAndre Jordan. Lets get this straight. The kid is a beast. Had Blake Griffin not be 360 dunking on everybody in the league we would have noticed DeAndre's progressive growth to #BEASTMODE status as Blake's huge partner in dunking crime. Aside from his freakish athleticism that rivals Dwight Howard's jumps, the opportunity to grow into a Tyson Chandler on caffeine with Chris Paul in town is about as apparent as what your about to witness if you see a dog alone in a room fool of people food. Your gonna see some hunger. For three season, DeAndre has averaged, per 36 minutes, a nice .649 shooting percentage, nearly 11 rebounds, nearly 3 blocks and 10 points per. And that includes only one year with Blake make space and three fighting for time from Chris Kaman. It is insanely easy to see that the addition of Paul, who witnessed and nurtured Chandler's growth into a force in the middle, and  his natural growth as a player in the NBA (three years experience and is only 23) can truly vault him into top 3 center territory. How's that for a bold prediction.

No matter what happens, with the NBA's version of Occupy New Orleans Front Office officially broken up by the trade police for vandalizing further the NBA's appeal, this will easily be the most fascinating team to watch grow together.  More than the Heat because we won't hate them. More than the Lakers, well because they got CP3 and Jim Buss didn't. And more than any other team because this will go amazingly well, or, horribly wrong. Either way, I'm ready to see what Chriffin and friends have in store for us this season.

George Steinbrenners influence on Arte Moreno and Jeffrey Loria

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The One That Got Away

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"How can he leave St. Louis?", "What about the life he built there?", "Why does the money matter?", "He should have gave St. Louis a hometown discount."

These are just a meager sampling of what people have been saying about Albert Pujols jumping ship to the become a Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim. For some it seemed like he was gone just like that. One minute he was raising his second Commissioner Trophy in celebration with his team, his coach and 2,8452,98 of his closest friends in the Greater St. Louis Area. And then he became a free agent, and then was gone. Just like that. But this was not merely a here one second, gone the next kind of deal. This seems like a love story gone wrong. One that was nurtured and constructed by Pujols desire to be great for the city of St. Louis and the Cardinals organization to build around him, to support him through thick and thin with the likes of Jim Edmonds, Yadier Molina, Mark Mulder and Mat Holliday. Each year committing more time and effort to building a team for Pujols that could win or have a chance to win every year. But the key to every team that ever had a chance to sniff the playoffs in the 2000's was Pujols and Pujols alone. He put in the time. He made himself take batting practice till his hands bled. Then wrapped them up and hit some more (true story). He won the MVP's. He sacrificed for the team, playing multiple positions for them before they felt he was worth a permanent spot. He built a major rapport with the city through the Pujols Family Foundation, the Pujols 5 foundation, support for the ADA, and countless camps meet and greets and other efforts that he made to make the city of St. Louis his family. 

Pujols' Family Foundation supports families in the the
Dominican Republic and The Greater St. Louis Area.

But now it feels like a marriage fallen victim to regrets and wandering eyes. 

The St. Louis Cardinals had their chances and are now left with regret. And the more I have read between the lines of their tumultuous contractual history with Albert Pujols the more I see the Cardinals at fault for failure to secure a legend and to supplement him accordingly with help. 

If you look at the points which the Cardinals and Pujols tried to work out deals it sure looks like the Cardinals were low balling in an attempt to get to a point in his career where a his stats would no longer warrant the type of raise he was in line for and when the market over spending wouldn't affect negotiations.

 It came up after 2008, when Pujols won his 2nd MVP, and Teixeira went Bankroll on the Yanks to the tune of 8 years 180 mil. An MVP plus a lesser Talent getting 22.5 per, would have kept the Cards from grabbing Holliday from the A's and wrapping up Pujols. Result? They chose Holliday over Pujols. 

 

The Cardinals decision to invest in Holliday after one rather than
Pujols boggles the imagination.

Next was the 2009 offseason, one during which Pujols goes all Pujols on us and leads the in OBP, SLG, OPS, Home runs, Intentional walks and gets his third MVP. This coincides with Ryan Howard getting a 5 yr 125 million dollar deal with a built in No Trade Clause. Cardinal’s response? Low ball to Pujols and double down on Matt Holliday for a 7 year 120 million dollar contract that everyone in the Milky Way Universe heard slap Albert Pujols dead in the No surprise that Pujols responds by saying he no longer wants to talk contract and is clearly gearing up for free agency. 

2010. Pujols screws himself by ONLY lead the league in Home Runs, Runs, RBI's and OPS+ and finishing only second in the MVP race. And right after his So-So season, the GM's flip out and start spending money like its black Friday.  Carlos Go 51 over 6, Jayson Werth, 

126 over 7, Troy Tulowitzki, 119 over 6. And lastly, Carl Crawford, 142 over 7. 

 

Big money. Long Deals. Free agents over paid. Cornerstones locked up. Cornerstones, taken care of and rewarded by their squad

This was the second worst possible scenario for the negotiations between Pujols and St. Louis. The Card's saw these prices and knew that they messed up. That they should have paid Albert before this. When he was ready, when they should have. But after he saw them give their biggest contract ever to Matt Holliday, saw other home grown talents lock up by their clubs, rewarded for much lesser resumes, and saw the free agents mop up the green on the ground, it was the last straw. 

Pujols was hurt. Not physically. Not financially as he was still raking in 16 mil last year, but emotionally. The Team and the city he poured his blood sweat and tears into had basically decided that he wasn't worth money, the risk, the reward. They chose to milk him for what he was worth and go their separate ways. And you could see it. His first half splits were not a factor of age but of mental anguish. His team used him and was ready to throw him away. For ten years these were his first half averages

And his splits for last year’s first half:

Clearly his mind was elsewhere. And then seemingly, he broke. In only the way the greats break. He took it out on his opponents. From June to the World Series, Pujols was well, Pujols. He rebounded nicely with .319/.375/.584 line then went bonkers in the playoffs with a .353/.463/.691 line. He knew that this would be his last year in Cardinal Red and wanted to leave like a champ. And he did just that, while also leaving a nasty   and lasting taste in the mouth of Walt Jocketty and the St. Louis faithful. Bittersweet goodbye indeed.

Pujols could have given the Cards a home town discount. He could have stayed to continue contributing, in person, to his charities and camps in St. Louis. How Could he leave St. Louis? The better question was how could St. Louis let him go? It wasn't the money that mattered. He'll make less money in this contract than he could in Miami or St. Louis due to the insane California state tax structure. It was the RESPECT that mattered. 

Or lack thereof. 

Stern Warning

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Until I make my triumphant writing return this weekend, enjoy this pic.