Papelbon Headed To Philadelphia

Papelbon has been one of the game's best
relievers since making that transition.

In the first big splash of the Major League Baseball offseason, free agent reliever Jonathan Papelbon has decided to leave the only organization he has ever know and head to the National League, agreeing to a four-year $50 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

It's a deal similar to that of the one Francisco Cordero, who is also a free agent this winter, signed with Cincinnati Reds prior to the start of the 2008 season. Cordero's deal was worth $46 million over four years.

The report comes just days after it looked as if Philadelphia was close to retaining the services of Ryan Madson, who saved 32 game for the Phillies in 2011. Apparently those talks broke down with Papelbon reportedly on board.

Papelbon, 30, leaves Fenway Park after six magical season with the Boston Red Sox.

Since making his Major League debut in July of 2005, Papelbon rapidly became one of the games best closers. The Baton Rogue native was a four-time All-Star for the Red Sox and becoming the fastest closer in history to record 200 saves since it was made an official stat in 1969, recording 219 saves since becoming the team's full-time closer in 2006.

His 219 saves are a club record, making his arguably the greatest closer in franchise history. Papelbon also totaled a 23-19 record during his Boston tenure with a 2.33 earned run average and rebounded after a terrible 2010 campaign.

Papelbon posted career-worsts in losses (7), ERA (3.90), blown saves (8), walks (28), WHIP (1.27) and home runs allowed (7) in '10 as his team also missed the postseason. But Papelbon dedicated himself to get better this offseason and was back to his dominant form.

Despite his ERA still being a little high at 2.94, Papelbon was 4-1 and 31-for-34 in save opportunities in for the Sox in '11. Although, two of his three blown saves came in the season's final month, a month Red Sox Nation won't soon forget. Both came at the hands of the never say die Baltimore Orioles, including blowing a one-run lead in the final game of the regular season and surrendering a walk-off base hit to Robert Andino, shattering Boston's playoff hopes.

That loss looks to be the last memory for Red Sox fans of Papelbon in a Boston uniform, not giving him an opportunity to pitch in the postseason, a place he has shined. In his 27 postseason innings, the hard-throwing right-hander has only allowed three earned runs, accumulating to a 1.00 ERA.

Papelbon was on the mound for the final out of the 2007 World Series , bringing home Boston's second World Series title in a four-year span after the club had experienced a 86-year drought prior to their improbable championship run in 2004.

Originally drafted by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2003 draft, Papelbon is a Type A free agent which means newly anointed general manager Ben Cherington and Co. will receive Philadelphia's first round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft and another supplemental first round selection for compensation if the rules stay the same in baseball's new collective bargaining agreement.

Papelbon celebrating the final out of the 2007
World Series, his first championship of his
career.

While Papelbon adds to Philadelphia's plethora of quality pitching, Boston is left with a daunting task, filling a void they did not figure to have.

Set-up man Daniel Bard is only 26 and looked to be the heir apparent in Boston, but a rough September has put that move into question. Bard blew all three of his save opportunities in the season's final month, while going 0-4 with a 10.64 ERA.

Slugger and the face of the franchise for almost a decade, David Ortiz shopping his services in free agencey and with the already sudden departures of manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein, Boston has seen a third key figure walk away from what looks to be a now troublesome organization.

Truly ending an era in Red Sox lore.

Welcome Home, Carson

Palmer could help Oakland reach the postseason
for the first time since 2002.

Born and raised in San Diego and a Heisman Trophy recipient while attending the University of Southern California, Carson Palmer was happy to be home Thursday.

Palmer and his Oakland Raiders seized first place in the AFC West with a convincing 24-17 victory over the high-powered offense of the San Diego Chargers. After losing each of the first two games he appeared in as a Raider, Palmer earned his first career win in the legendary silver and black.

The San Diego native went 14 for 20 while throwing for 299 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the win. Both of his touchdowns came with wideout Denarius Moore on the receiving end of them, doubling the rookie's season total. Despite losing a fumble, Palmer took care of the football, something he hadn't done in his two previous games with the Raiders.

In the six quarters Palmer had played in for Oakland prior to Thursday night's game in San Diego, he turned the ball the same number of times with 6 interceptions.

His 14.95 yards per attempt are also the highest total ever in a single game by a Raider quarterback, surpassing Daryle Lamonica's previous mark at 14.33, a record he set in a game against the Miami Dolphins in 1963, when both teams were members of the AFL.

But it wasn't t just the work of Palmer that handed Oakland their fifth win of the season.

With star running back Darren McFadden out for the second straight week, former Louisville tailback Michael Bush stole the show. Bush rushed for 157 yards, the second highest total of his career and the most for a Raiders running back in a game against the Chargers. The previous mark had been held by Clem Daniels, who rushed for a 144 yards against San Diego in 1964.

Bush also totaled 242 yards from scrimmage, the fourth most in franchise history and the most since Art Powell accumulated 247 total yards from scrimmage in a game against the '63 Houston Oilers.

At one time holding a 24-10 lead in the second half, Oakland had only surrendered a 14-plus lead to San Diego in their long and well documented history. The Raiders have now beaten the Chargers three times in-a-row after losing their previous thirteen meetings.

As for the Bolts, they have now lost four in-a-row, their worst losing streak since they lost nine straight in 2003. Normally notoriously slow starters, San Diego got off to a fast start this season, kicking off the year 4-1. That all has since been erased with Philip Rivers and Co. falling to second in the division and under .500 for the first time all year long, with a trip to Solider Field against the suddenly surging Chicago Bears (5-3) waiting in the wings.

In a division that it still up for grabs, it might be the arm of Palmer that decides the crown rather than Rivers, something nobody saw coming.

Paterno Fired

Paterno leaves behind an unfillable legacy,
but a tainted one at that.

Just hours after releasing a statement that he would make his retirement effective at the end of the NCAA football season, legendary head coach Joe Paterno, along with university president Graham Spanier, has been fired.

The decision comes from Penn State University's Board of Trustees amid the child sexual abuse scandal that has circled the campus for nearly a week, all thanks to former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Over the weekend Sandusky was charged on 40 criminal counts of sexual abuse, putting a dark cloud over Happy Valley.

This decision closes a chapter in one of the greatest coaching in sports history. Paterno leaves Penn States as the NCAA's all-time leader in wins (409), bowl appearances (37), bowl victories (24) and would have coached the most games in Division I history Saturday, but instead will remain in a tie for the all-time lead with Amos Alonzo Stagg, coaching 548 games in his career.

He remains the only coach in Division I history to total more than 400-plus victories in a career.

Paterno has been the face of the university for over six decades and coached the Nittany Lions for 46 years. 31 of the current coaches in the FBS had yet to be born when the 84-year-old coach begin his tenure in State College. As for Spanier, his 16-year run as university president has come to an end and, just like Paterno, will have to forever live with the information he did nothing with.

Tom Bradley, who oddly enough replaced Sandusky as the team's defensive coordinator following his retirement, was named Penn State's interim head coach.

For a man that has a statue and preached morals, ethics and integrity for more than half of a century, ultimately fell short of his own principles. For Paterno, it's not just an end of an era, but the end of a lifestyle.

Sad Day In Happy Valley

Paterno has been the face of
Penn State for the last 61
years.

Say it ain't so, Joe.

After six decades of achievement and grace, Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has said he will retire at season's end amid the sexual abuse scandal surrounding a university he has dedicated his life work to.

Paterno first came to Penn State as a 23-year-old kid, being hired as an assistant in 1950. He would serve at that post until 1966, where he was promoted as the head football coach, beginning a 46-year run as the most successful coach in NCAA Division I history.

The 84-year-old coach is the living identify of not only the football program at Penn State, but the university itself, putting State College on the map.

Nearly two week ago, Paterno recorded his 409th win in his illustrious career when his team pulled out an ugly 10-7 victory over conference rival Illinois. The win gave Paterno the most wins in Division I history, surpassing Grambling State legend Eddie Robinson for the all-time mark. Winning the only two national championships in school history in 1982 and '86, Paterno also holds the record for most bowl victories with 24 in his 37 appearances, also a FBS record.

However, all Paterno's victories didn't come on the gridiron.

Penn State has seen 49 academic All-Americans in their history, 47 whom have come under Paterno's tenure, good enough for third all-time among FBS institutions. In 2010, Paterno saw an astonishing 84 percent team graduation rate, second only to Northwestern's 95.

There are so many words to describe Paterno, mentor, educator and pinoeer, but it's what he didn't do that may forever define his legacy in Happy Valley.

Paterno was notified by then-graduate assistant and current receivers coach, Mike McQueary, on an incident he witnessed in the team's football complex in 2002. McQueary saw former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who has been charged with 40 criminal counts of sexual child abuse through his charitable foundation, sodomizing a 10-year-old boy in the shower.

It is unclear what exactly Paterno knew and when he knew it, but nonetheless he failed to follow up on an incident he reportedly discussed with university president Graham Spanier and Athletic Director Tim Curley nearly a decade ago.

Curley, along with vice president Gary Schultz, have stepped down from their respective positions and since have been released on bail after being charged with perjury and failure to report abuse. Curley at one point was Penn State's ball boy, one of the many administrators that have ties to Paterno.

On the other hand, Spanier still remains at his post, but will reportedly resign or be voted out sometime Wednesday, ending his 16 years at the helm.

The Board of Trustees have a meeting scheduled later this week to discuss the future of the university and it's football program. And while Paterno has said he will make his retirement effective at the end of the 2011 football season, the board might not have written the same final chapter in Paterno's tenure.

Paterno addressed his team Wednesday morning in a meeting that saw the iconic coach break into tears and leave the room to a standing ovation after announcing his future plans.

Sandusky was arrested over the weekend after
reportedly abusing 8 boys in a 15-year span.

No. 12 Penn State is scheduled to take on No. 19 Nebraska Saturday in their final home game of the season with all eyes not on the Nittany Lions seniors, but their fatherly head coach know as "JoePa".

If in fact Paterno is allowed to coach Saturday, he will surpass Amos Alonzo Stagg for the most games coached in Division I history with 549. His team is currently in first place in the Big Ten Conference at 8-1 and hope to play in their conference title game, for a shot to play in the Rose Bowl.

Paterno may have fulfilled his legal requirements, but his moral obligation was not. A legendary coaching career that should be celebrated is now forever tainted.

Haynesworth Out Of A Job

Haynesworth struggled in New England's first
home loss since 2008 Sunday.

After just eight games into the 2011-12 NFL season, the New England Patriots have waived embattled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

Teams now have 24 hours to claim Haynesworth off waivers and inherit the reminder of his current contract with the Patriots before New England releases him, giving the 10-year veteran the opportunity to hand pick his next destination, that is anyone that will have him.

Haynesworth played in only six games thus far and on the field for 133 plays of the 561 defensive snaps this season, that includes penalties. The 350-pound lineman only recorded 3 tackles for New England and no sacks.

Ineffective each of the last two and half seasons, Haynesworth was coming off a career year in 2008 when he set career-highs in sacks (8.5), forced fumbles (3) and solo tackles (41). A season that prompted the Washington Redskins to ink the former Tennessee standout to a seven-year $100 million contract. A deal that could have reached as much as $115 million based on performance and gave Haynesworth an NFL-record $41 million.

It was an investment Washington wishes they could have back.

Haynesworth played in 20 games for the Redskins, never forcing a fumble and gathering 6.5 sacks before being traded this summer to Foxborough for a 2013 fifth-round draft pick. Haynesworth was originally scheduled to make $5.4 million this season, but had his base salary reduced to $1.5 million for the chance to play for Bill Belchick and Co.

Belchick also took a gamble on another embattled superstar this summer, when he traded for the outspoken Chad Ochocinco. The former Cincinnati Bengals wideout has caught only 9 passes this season, accumulating to 136 yards and no touchdowns.

This isn't anything new as Ochocinco's numbers have been dropping off for some time, making him go from an elite receiver to subpar at best. Ochocinco averaged almost 80 receptions his first seven years in the NFL, but has yet to catch 80 or more passes since 2007.

In fact, the Los Angeles native has averaged only 50 receptions over the last four years.

While Ochocinco is still a member of the Patriot family, Haynesworth is not, but won't be out of a job for very long. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the market for a defensive tackle after placing former first-round pick Gerald McCoy on injured reserve Monday after tearing his right biceps in the team's 27-16 loss to the division-leading New Orleans Saints Sunday.

The Smoke Has Settled

Frazier handed Ali his first career loss in
the 1971 Fight of the Century.

Five weeks after being diagnosed with liver cancer and days after being placed in hospice, boxing legend Smokin' Joe Frazier has lost the biggest fight of his life. Frazier, 67, passed away Monday, bringing an end to one of the most recognizable lives in sports history.

Born in South Carolina, Frazier took up boxing at a young age and replaced an injured Buster Mathis in the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. There Frazier would come home with the heavyweight gold medal, the only boxing gold medal the United States won in '64.

Shortly there after Frazier would turn pro and ascend the heavyweight ranks.

After World Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali refused induction into the military, he was sent into exile and stripped of his title, a title that was later seized by Frazier. Ali would rise from the ashes and come calling for a shot to reclaim a title they both felt they lay claim to, setting up the "Fight of the Century".

In the heart of New York City and in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden in 1971, the fight lived up to the billing. After 15 hard-fought rounds, Frazier finally knocked down the Kentucky native, for only the third time in his career, with his legendary left hook. In a unanimous decision, Frazier would retain his title and hold that crown until 1973.

The Heywood Giant, George Foreman, would be the one to dethrone Frazier after knocking him down six times in only two rounds.

Frazier and Ali would do battle for a second time, this time the bout was a non-title fight, but saw Ali total a unanimous decision in a 12-round dog fight. Shortly there after Ali would capture the title from Foreman and give Frazier one last shot at glory.

In the epic 1975 Thrilla in Manila, Ali put his heavyweight title on the line and would face Frazier for a third time. Both past their primes, Frazier and Ali put on one final gut-wrenching battle, giving the fans one last look at two of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history. The fight would end after Frazier's trainer, Eddie Fudge, would not let him return for the 15th and final round, leaving his eternal opponent the prize he once fought so hard to hold.

He would fight one last time, but ultimately tally the fourth loss of his career, coming at the hands of the hard-hitting Foreman yet again and retire not long after.

Smokin' Joe owned a career record of 32-4-1 during his legendary boxing career with 27 knockouts. He would later be inducted into both the International and World Boxing Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights in the sports history.

A man that possessed the most vicious left hook in boxing history and will forever live in Ali's shadow, was a fighter and he died fighting. That's just the way he would have wanted it.

Melk Man Delivered To San Francisco