By Seth Rubinroit

Reporting from Singapore- Three-on-three basketball is very common on playgrounds in America, but the United States boys’ basketball team was still very surprised when they arrived in Singapore for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.

“It is way different than anything I have played basketball-wise,” said center Kyle Caudill. “It is not like three-on-three pick-up at the gym. It is way faster and non-stop action.”

The games consisted of two five-minute periods on a half court. The shot clock was just ten seconds, and only reset when the ball changed possession, not on offensive rebounds. Players had to clear the ball, which wasted precious time from the short shot clock. The referees called fouls, but they let the players get away with a lot.

“It is really physical,” said point guard Sterling Gibbs. “The defenders use their hands a lot. It is a lot different than playing the game back home.”

With only four players on the squad, it was difficult to run a complete practice.

“We do more one-on-one drills at practice, but we still have a lot of organized plays,” Gibbs said.

The United States squad was very talented, and came into the tournament heavily favored. All four players are entering their senior seasons of high school, and will attend college basketball powerhouses beginning in 2011. Kyle Caudill, a center, is committed to Boston College. Forward Angelo Chol is undeclared, but is being pursued by multiple top programs. Point guard Sterling Gibbs is committed to Maryland, and guard Brandan Kearney is committed to Michigan State.

The team did not do as well as they hoped. Defenders packed the paint, which made it difficult to get the ball into Caudill and Chol, and for Gibbs and Kearney to drive to the basket. The U.S. finished fourth after losing to Serbia in the semifinals, and Greece in the third-place game.

Still, the players had a great time spending part of their summer vacations in Singapore.

“It was a great experience,” Brandan Kearney said. “It was one of the best that I have had in my life.”

By Seth Rubinroit
Photo by Sam Rubinroit

To promote the release of the video game Madden NFL ’11, EA Sports hosted the Madden NFL ’11 Pigskin Pro-Am in Malibu. The flag-football game included legendary NFL players competing against Hollywood stars. Below are quotes accumulated just before the Pigskin Pro-Am from NFL legends answering football’s biggest questions.

Eric Dickerson was one of the best running backs in the history of the NFL. He was the 1983 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here are his thoughts on the best running back in the NFL today:
“There are a couple of guys that are really good. Adrian Peterson, who reminds me of myself. Chris Johnson, who is really good. Running backs go through stages. They have a four or five year window, and then somebody else comes along. Those are the top two guys right now, but four or five years ago it was LaDainian Tomlinson, and seven years ago it was Marshall Faulk, and nine years ago it was Emmitt Smith. It goes through progressions.”

Running back Marcus Allen was inducted into the Pro Football and College Football Halls of Fame. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XVII. At USC, he won the Heisman Trophy. Here are his thoughts on new USC Athletic Director Pat Haden:
“Pat is great. Now that Mike has retired, I do not think there could have been a better pick than Pat Haden. He understands what it is to be a Trojan, he has high expectations for the program and the players, and he is a man of integrity. I am looking forward to what is going to transpire the next couple of years.”

Cornerback Eric Dickerson was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection. He won two Super Bowls. His prediction for Super Bowl XLV:
“New England-Minnesota”

Tight end Shannon Sharpe was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, and a three-time Super Bowl winner. Here are his thoughts on training camp:
“I really enjoyed it and the time with the guys. I hate now that so many teams are having their training camp at their facilities, and allowing the players to go home at night, because that is the time that you really build a team and a bond. You really know what a guy likes, so I enjoyed being in the dorms with the guys, playing cards, going to the movies, hanging out, and all that.”

Quarterback Kurt Warner was a two-time AP NFL MVP, and the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV. He retired at the end of the 2009 season. Here are his thoughts on his replacement with the Arizona Cardinals, Matt Leinart:
“I am excited for Matt. He is primed and ready to step into that position and really excel. I am looking forward to watching him. I have had a few conversations with him, and I know that he is excited about the opportunity. It is all in his hands now, and I think he is going to relish that opportunity and take advantage of it.”

Tight end Tony Gonzalez is a ten-time Pro Bowl selection, and holds the NFL record for most receiving touchdowns by a tight end. Last season was his first with the Atlanta Falcons, and the team went 9-7. Here are his thoughts on the 2010 Falcons:
“I think we will do well. It has the potential to be the best team that I have ever played on, because of the talent we have. We are pretty loaded. If we keep doing what we have been doing, and get better, we are going to be pretty good.”

Linebacker Kirk Morrison, who led the Oakland Raiders in tackles in each of his five seasons in the NFL, was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. Here are his thoughts on the 2010 Jaguars:
“I think we are going to look good. I like our chances. We were close last year, and this is my first year, so I will bring what I have done in Oakland, and hopefully that pushes us over the top and gets us to the playoffs and hopefully the Super Bowl.”

By Seth Rubinroit

In 2001-2002, the Los Angeles Lakers were on top of the world. Led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. Two seasons later, however, the team was broken up when O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat.

Power forward Samaki Walker was a starter on the 2002 Lakers championship team. He provided a solid defensive presence, and averaged 6.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Playing alongside O’Neal and Bryant, Walker saw first-hand the tension between the two superstars that caused the team to trade O’Neal.

“I believe in my heart that Kobe and Shaq wanted to win and coexist,” Walker said. “I think that it was important to block out the media and what was perpetuated, but those guys bought into it. I definitely think that if they did not break up the team, they could have won more championships. No question about it.”

The Lakers run of championships ended during the 2002-2003 season, when the Lakers lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals, and the distance between O’Neal and Bryant grew.

“It sort of brought the team down a little bit,” Walker said about the O’Neal-Bryant feud. “But, you had guys in the locker room like Derek Fisher and Rick Fox, who were good character guys, who would not allow the media or anyone else to bring the atmosphere down.”

One of the tipping points in the relationship of the two superstars was when O’Neal waited until just before training camp to have an operation on his injured toe. He was quoted as saying, “I got hurt on company time, so I’ll heal on company time.” With O’Neal sidelined, the Lakers won only 11 of their first 30 games.

“I think one of the issues with Shaq was that Kobe wanted Shaq to lose some weight when his toe was injured, and went public with it,” Walker said. “I enjoyed playing with both guys, and their competitive spirit, but I just wish it was handled a different way.”

Even with issues that existed between O’Neal and Bryant, Walker believes that his 2001-2002 Lakers would beat today’s Lakers, although he enjoys watching Pau Gasol and calls him “the best big man in the game today.”

“I do not think this Lakers team could have beaten the old Lakers team,” Walker said. “Shaquille O’Neal was too dominant. As skilled as Pau Gasol is, you cannot teach dominance. With players like ‘Big Shot Rob’, you had a lot of components on the old Lakers team that had all the signs of champions.”

While on the Lakers, Walker had to “guard” O’Neal everyday in practice.

“Guarding him would not be the term that I would use,” Walker said “Nobody could guard Shaq in practice or in the game. The only person that could guard Shaq was Shaq, especially at the free throw line. Other than that, he was too strong and dominant for any one person to guard.”

Despite his reverence for O’Neal, Walker would start his team with David Robinson, his teammate with the San Antonio Spurs.

“David Robinson was more of a skill player than Shaquille was, and a better shooter. He was one hell of an athlete,” Walker said. “Shaquille O’Neal was powerful and dominating inside, and he used his brute strength to take over. David Robinson was a better shot blocker. You are talking about two great centers of the era. Obviously, Shaquille O’Neal is a guy you want on your team because of his physical presence on the block. But David Robinson is one of the best guys who has played in the NBA. He was a great character guy, and he was good for the locker room. If I had to pick a guy for my locker room, it would definitely be David Robinson.”

As O’Neal nears the end of his career, the debate between Lakers fans has heated up as to whether O’Neal deserves to have his number 34 jersey hung in the rafters of Staples Center. O’Neal led the Lakers to three NBA Championships and earned three NBA Finals MVPs. However, since leaving the Lakers, he signed with the archival Boston Celtics, and turned off fans with his comments regarding Bryant, including rapping, “Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes.”

Walker believes that Bryant would “absolutely not” want O’Neal back on the Lakers, but he believes that the Lakers should retire O’Neal’s jersey.

“I think the relationship has been frosted, but I think they should retire his jersey,” Walker said. “However, this is a business, and business connections and relationships mean everything. Does he deserve it? Yes. Did he tarnish the legacy he had in Los Angeles? Absolutely.”

After leaving the Lakers, Walker played for the Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, and the Indiana Pacers. He has also played overseas in Korea and China. He now helps the basketball players at Stoneridge Prep High School, where basketball agent Angela Hagen was recently named the athletic director, and former UCLA Director of Basketball Operations Joe Hillock was named the head coach. Walker has been tutoring a 7’6” player on Stoneridge Prep who is only 16-years old, and recently arrived in California from Africa.

National Basketball Player’s Association’s Jeff Lamp on Potential NBA Lockout

By Seth Rubinroit

With the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement set to expire on June 30, 2011, there have been concerns that there will be a lockout during the 2011-2012 season. Billy Hunter, the Executive Director of the National Basketball Player’s Association (NBPA), was quoted in July as saying, “I’m preparing for a lockout right now and I haven’t seen anything to change that notion.” However, Jeff Lamp, a career counselor for the NBPA, believes that an agreement can be reached.

“I do not think that it is inevitable,” Lamp said about a NBA lockout. “It is hard to say. I do know that they are probably fairly far apart right now. But, as we get closer to the collective bargaining agreement running out, I think they will get closer and closer. I do not think anyone wants to see any kind of a work stoppage.”

As it stands, the league is claiming that teams are losing money, and is calling for changes to help the teams return to profitability. The NBPA is mostly content with the current system.

“I think the Player’s Association feels that they have a good system in place, and I do not think they are very anxious to see that system change very much,” Lamp said.

After playing as an All-American at Virginia, Lamp played six NBA seasons for four teams: the Portland Trailblazers, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Lamp was a member of the Lakers during the Showtime Era, winning an NBA Championship in 1988. He has noticed several changes in the NBA since he played.

“Back in the Showtime era, there were a few teams that had a lot of really good players. The Celtics, Detroit, and the Lakers had a lot of great talent,” Lamp said. “These days, the Lakers have a lot of great role players, and two or three superstars in Kobe, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. In the NBA now, you have one, two, maybe three superstars and a lot of role players.”

Lamp was asked who would win in a matchup between the 1988 Lakers and the current Lakers team.
“It is hard to say. These guys are so big and athletic, and especially with the current Lakers, they are so long,” Lamp said. “It would have been a great matchup. I am a little prejudiced because I think our team was one of the greatest teams put together, and I feel fortunate to be a part of it. I wish we could go back in time and play it.”

These days, Lamp enjoys mentoring up-and-coming basketball players. He worked at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, and is involved with the NBPA’s Career Development Program. He also helps the basketball players at Stoneridge Prep High School, where basketball agent Angela Hagen was recently named the athletic director, and former UCLA Director of Basketball Operations Joe Hillock was named the head coach.

“We try to help them become as good basketball players as they can,” Lamp said. “But what we really want is for them to be prepared for life when they are not on the court.”

By Seth Rubinroit

Extraordinary athletes such as Bo Jackson, Brian Jordan, and Deion Sanders made it look easy to play two different sports professionally. However, former Olympic sprinter Marion Jones is finding out first-hand why the feat is so rare as she competes in the WNBA.

“No, it has not been a smooth transition,” Jones said in an interview after a game against the Los Angeles Sparks. “It would be a smooth transition if I could stand here and say that we have won every basketball game, that I am playing a lot of minutes, and that I am averaging however many. But I never expected it to be smooth.”

At one point, Jones was considered to be the world’s fastest woman. However, she admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, which cost her the five medals she won in the 2000 Olympics, including three gold medals. She was also sentenced to six months in prison for lying about her use of steroids.

Upon being released from prison, Jones began training for a career in professional basketball. Jones is far from a basketball novice; she was the starting point guard on the University of North Carolina’s NCAA championship team as a freshman, and she was the MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament as a senior in 1997. However, since then, she had not played basketball competitively for more than a decade, turned 34 years old, and had three kids.

“I am a different kind of player,” Jones said. “I think that people underestimate life experience in sports, and I certainly have a lot more of that than in college. I think my quickness and my speed is probably more than it was in college. I am a smarter player because I have had to really learn my role on the team, and I cannot simply rely on athletic ability because everybody out there has been blessed with a huge amount of talent.”

Despite the questions surrounding Jones, new Tulsa Shock head coach Nolan Richardson decided to give her an opportunity. Richardson won the NCAA Championship as the head coach of University in Arkansas in 1994. He popularized the up-tempo “40 Minutes of Hell” style of play. As a result, Richardson was looking for quick, athletic players.

“Coach has to use almost everybody on the team,” Jones said. “There is no way that you could play his style of basketball with only five people. It would be impossible. He has assembled this team player by player because we are athletic and can get up and down the court. We have bought into his system, which is chaos and trapping all over the court.”

Jones, the WNBA’s oldest rookie, has not put up outstanding numbers. She is averaging 2.7 points, 1.2 rebounds, and .6 assists per game in limited minutes. However, in a recent game against the Sparks, Jones played the most minutes of the season, 21, and showed her potential, accumulating 11 points, three assists, and two steals.

“I know that Coach Nolan has me on this team for a reason, and it is because I can play basketball, not because it is a gimmick. I know a lot of people are interested in this story, thinking, ‘Can she really play? Is she on the team for attention?’ But it is not like that,” Jones said. “Overall, I still think I have a lot to learn in the game, and I have a lot of potential. I am certainly not satisfied.”

Jones said that the training for sprinting and basketball is significantly different. “Night and day,” Jones said. “On the court, it is stop and go, so I think it is more of a challenge. In track, once the gun goes off, it is full steam ahead.”

Even if the training is different, it appears to be working for Jones. Her teammate, Jennifer Lacy, stated that Jones is the fastest player in the WNBA. To which Jones responded, “That is a stretch,” laughing. “I could probably get out there up and down the court with the best of them, but I do not know about that.”

It has been a decade since Jones became a household name during the Olympic Games in Sydney, but she is not slowing down.

“It has been quite a journey for me,” Jones said. “Everyday in practice and every basketball game I feel I am growing as a player, and everyday that I am playing this game I am getting better. As long as I am going in that direction, then I know that what I am doing is right.”

A Great Day in the Pits
Story by Sam Rubinroit
Like the majority of people on the West Coast, I have never had much interest in NASCAR. I know the big names– Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Jimmie Johnson, but there was just not the connection I feel to the Lakers or the Dodgers, my local teams. Because I never understood the allure of the sport, it never tempted to me to go sit in the baking heat in the middle of the desert to watch a bunch of cars take laps for three hours. However, this all changed dramatically when I got an invitation to view a race from the viewpoint of a driver, from the sponsor meet-and-greets to the pre-race preparations.
On October 11, for the first time ever, the Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR’s version of the playoffs, came to California when the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana hosted the Pepsi 500. Typically held over Labor Day weekend, the race is known for the brutal heat and exorbitant temperatures, but, luckily, due to the later date of the race, the temperatures were in the mid-60s under overcast skies.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived at the track was the sheer size of everything, from the track to the grandstands to the RVs parked on the infield of the racetrack. My day began with a lap in the pace car, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by former NASCAR driver and current NASCAR Director of Cost and Research, Brett Bodine. As the official pace car driver for Sprint Cup events, Bodine handles the 110 MPH car as easily as if we were taking a leisurely drive down the street. As he pulls the car to within inches of the wall, one hand on the wheel, he explains to me the basic strategy of a driver while periodically glancing over at me for emphasis. Even at only half the speed a driver would typically race, the lap just flies by and, before I know it, I am back at the finish line, thanking Bodine as I attempt to regain my wobbly legs.
I have been made an honorary pit crewmember for David Ragan, driver of the #6 UPS car. In his third year in the Sprint Cup Series, Ragan is an emerging driver for Roush Racing. In 2007, he was runner-up for the Spring Cup rookie of the year, and earned the Rookie of the Year title for the Nationwide Series. The Pepsi 500 on Sunday is the culmination of a busy weekend for Ragan, who finished 9th in the Copart 300 Nationwide Series race the day before.
“I’ve heard that a NASCAR driver is just someone who drives around in circles for 500 miles and that it’s not a sport,” Ragan says. “But then you could say in basketball you just throw a ball around for an hour and try to get it in a hoop. When you look at everything more in-depth, it’s a lot more technical. When it’s 110 degrees outside, you need to get in your racecar and it’s 140 degrees and you have to go drive 500 miles. It takes a pretty strong, athletic person to do that.”
Even before getting into his car, Ragan has business to take care of at the track. Sponsorship is a major part of a team’s financial viability, and the drivers therefore have obligations to meet-and-greet representatives from their different sponsors prior to races. With the race less than two hours away, Ragan is shuttled to various meetings around the track, one with local UPS employees being honored for their service, and another with major UPS clients to thank them for their business. Ragan also attends the mandatory drivers’ meeting, which every driver must attend under penalty of fine, taking in the specifics of the race, from number of laps to correct entry into the pits. The meeting begins with the introduction of the honorary members of the race, including Christian Slater, the driver of the pace car, Kelsey Grammer, the Grand Marshal, and Jesse McCartney, who is to sing the national anthem, and ends with a prayer for the safety of the drivers and fans.
After the meeting, the drivers and crew complete the final preparations of their cars, after which the cars undergo the NASCAR “sticks and scales” inspection to ensure that all cars meet the required height, weight, and other necessary measurements. The drivers then enter the track for introductions, and after they get introduced to the roaring crowd, they take a lap around the track in the awaiting cars from a Corvette owners club.
With the race less than 10 minutes away, Ragan takes some time to prepare himself for the race, sitting with his girlfriend and stretching out. At six feet tall, Ragan has to fold himself into his car, where he is held snuggly by his customized driver seat meant to reduce movement in case of an accident.
For the start of the race I am positioned in Ragan’s pit, sitting next to his spotter, girlfriend, and engineer. I am equipped with headphones that allow me to listen in to Ragan’s ongoing dialogue with his spotter, and I watch as Ragan’s pit crew prepare themselves for the first pit stop.
One aspect of a race that is not apparent on television is the sheer volume of sound. The cars are built to maximize speed and efficiency, not to muffle sound. Nearly everyone in the pit area wears either headphones or earplugs, and removing them is like exposing yourself to the sound of an airplane taking off inches from your head.
It is clear that Ragan’s crew has practiced every aspect of a pit stop to the point where they become almost reflexive. Most pit crewmembers are former college athletes, and, during the week, they train together with specific weight programs and other exercises aimed at shaving precious milliseconds from their pit stop time.
“The crew has been here Sunday morning 5 or 6 hours before the race, checking the car for any loose nuts or bolts and getting everything warmed up and up to temperature.,” says Ragan. “It’s a 7-day-a-week job for many of these guys, and the crews are a major part of the team. They are in charge of making sure your car is running right and nothing is breaking or falling off. I couldn’t do my job without them, so it’s [important] to have a good relationship.”
As Ragan’s car approaches the pits, the crewmembers perform a carefully choreographed routine, jumping out in front of the car at the precise instant and removing the lug nuts in a way that maximizes both speed and accuracy. Many crews watch tape of their most recent stops to see what worked well and what they need to improve upon.
The life of a NASCAR driver is intense preparation in the days leading up the race and sponsor meet-and-greets and pre-race rituals all culminating with a 3-hour, 500 mile race. But the rewards are enormous; Jimmie Johnson won the race, earning $302,801 and a 12-point lead in the standings over Mark Martin. Ragan came in at seventh, a more than respectable finish for the young driver, earning $117,500 in winnings.
Being able to see what NASCAR is really about– the immense pressure a driver and crew is under and the physical prowess that is required– my entire view of the sport has changed. Now, when I see a race on T.V., rather than flipping past it on the way to watching the Dodger’s playoff game, I will linger on the channel long enough to see a few laps and learn who is in the lead and how the standings have changed. Most Californians do not understand NASCAR but if they did, they would understand why families-in-the-know regularly drive hundreds of miles to experience a race

60’6” separate you from your target. As many as 50,000 people in the stadium, and millions of television viewers, are all watching you. It is your chance to show the world that you have the same heat as the professionals, but you are only a slight miscue away from embarrassing yourself. It is enough to make even the most skilled athlete falter.

Notables have been throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at baseball games since President William Howard Taft in 1910, but with varying degrees of success. President George W. Bush was celebrated for his ability to throw a strike. President Barack Obama was lucky that the St. Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols was able to dig his pitch out of the dirt. Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gracefully threw a skyhook after an awkward throw. Other celebrities have lived in YouTube infamy for their throws. Comedian Adam Carolla bounced his first pitch, asked for the ball back, and proceeded to throw the ball over the catcher’s head at a Dodger game. At a game in Japan, singer Mariah Carey held on to the ball too long, and the ball rolled to home plate. At a Boston Red Sox game, actor Mark Wahlberg threw the ball wide of home plate, and it bounced and hit a fan in the butt.

At a recent Dodgers home game, I was able to observe up-close as four Olympic athletes prepared to throw a first pitch. The Dodgers were celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and extended the honor to 1976 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner, sprinter and two-time Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene, and women’s basketball Olympic gold medalists Tina Thompson and DeLisha Milton-Jones.

The four Olympic athletes came onto the field at Dodger Stadium about an hour before the game started. They were each presented with a customized Dodgers’ jersey that had their last name and a number, as well as a baseball inscribed “First Pitch Dodger Stadium 2009.” Jenner talked with Dodgers legend Steve Garvey about Jenner’s childhood baseball experiences. Thompson and Milton-Jones brainstormed ideas to liven the first pitch, such as pretending to pick off a runner at first base before throwing the pitch. Yet, despite their athletic ability and previous experience on a large stage, all four athletes showed signs of nerves.

As game time approached, the athletes began to warm-up. Greene learned that he would be catching the pitch from Jenner. Greene admitted to me, “My job is easy. All I have to do is catch the ball. Hopefully [Jenner] does not make me move too far.” Greene set a world record in the 100m with 9.79 seconds, but he was worried about not being fast enough to reach for an errant ball from Jenner. Milton-Jones and Thompson played catch, but the baseball frequently got passed each of them.

Milton-Jones was the first up. She threw the ball to Dodgers’ catcher Brad Ausmus, but it bounced before it reached him. Determined not to bounce the ball, Thompson threw a high archer to Dodgers’ second baseman Orlando Hudson. Finally, demonstrating his varied athletic skills, Jenner threw a solid pitch to a relieved Greene.

If even Olympic athletes have nerves about throwing-out the ceremonial first pitch, it is easy to understand why other celebrities tend to embarrass themselves on the pitching rubber when given the ball.

By Seth Rubinroit
Photo of Watch by Sam Rubinroit
Photo of Pujols courtesy of Reactor Watch

For years, all eyes have been on St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols. But, everybody should also be watching his watch.

Pujols has achieved unprecedented success on the baseball diamond. He is only 29, but he has already been the National League Rookie of the Year, an 8-time All-Star, and a 2-time National League Most Valuable Player. In 2006, he led the Cardinals to a World Series Championship. For his career, he has a .334 batting average and 355 home runs. He is well on his way to having a Hall of Fame career.

Off the field, Pujols has had a large impact as well. He was recognized for his efforts when he won the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award. He recently partnered with Reactor Watches to raise money for the Pujols Family Foundation, which helps the impoverished in the Dominican Republic, as well as individuals with Down syndrome.

“We could never afford to pay Albert for what his services are worth” Reactor Watch founder Jimmy Olmes said. “What we did instead was we made a very special watch for Albert. The watch costs a lot to make, but not nearly as much as Albert could get in a raffle for his Foundation.”

The Albert Pujols watch contains about 2.5 karats of flawless diamonds. It is customized to have the St. Louis Cardinals logo, an MVP ’08 inscription, and a large number five, which is Pujols’ number. Only two of these watches were made; one is worn by Pujols, and the other one will be raffled off to raise money for the Pujols Family Foundation. The watch would retail for $15,000, but it expected to bring in about $35,000-$40,000 because it is very limited addition, and will be autographed by Pujols.

Additionally, Reactor Watches donated dozens of watches to the Malibu Golf Classic, which also supports various charities and takes place August 14 at Malibu Country Club.

For more information about the Pujols Family Foundation, visit PujolsFamilyFoundation.org and ReactorWatch.com.

By Seth Rubinroit

Photos by Sam Rubinroit

When the masses rush to the store on August 14 to purchase the popular EA Sports video game Madden NFL ’10, they will see the face of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on the cover.

“I was honored, especially going on it with a guy like Troy Polamalu,” Fitzgerald said about the cover. “It was the first time they had two cover athletes, so it is great. I am excited.”

Larry Fitzgerald

“I believe in god, and Troy does to,” Fitzgerald said. “He has led our path this far, and He is not going to lead us in the wrong direction.”

At the Madden NFL ’10 Pigskin Pro-Am celebrity flag football game in Malibu, California, Fitzgerald, who served as a coach, had a chance to talk to Jerry Rice, the former San Francisco 49er who is considered the best wide receiver of all time.

“I know Jerry pretty well personally, and we talk about offense,” Fitzgerald said. “He has been a great mentor to me throughout my younger days, and continues to be.”

Fitzgerald was the third pick in the 2004 NFL Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh. In college, he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the top college football receiver. In 2008, Fitzgerald had 96 receptions for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has made three Pro Bowls, and won the 2009 Pro Bowl MVP. In the playoffs, Fitzgerald set NFL records for the most receiving yards, catches, and touchdowns in a single postseason, helping the Cardinals reach their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

In order to reach the Super Bowl again this season, the Cardinals “need to work hard, and not let complacency set in,” Fitzgerald said. “I think we will fair pretty well.”

To see Fitzgerald coach NFL legends such as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and John Elway in the Madden NFL ’10 Pigskin Pro-Am celebrity flag football, tune into the NFL Network, ESPN2, VH-1, and SPIKE in the days leading up to the August 14 release of Madden NFL ’10.

Boycotting Madden?

T.J. Houshmanzadeh, a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, made headlines when he decided to boycott playing Madden NFL ’10 because his overall rating was too low. His ranking is not among the ten highest wide receivers.

Last season, Houshmanzadeh had 92 receptions for 904 yards and 4 touchdowns, which were all below his 2007 numbers.

Several NFL players could empathize with Houshmanzadeh.

“I am probably going to boycott the game too if I get a bad rating, but they do a good job when it comes to the ratings,” DeMarcus Ware, Pro Bowl linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys, said with a smile.

Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen on NFL’s Best Running Back

By Seth Rubinroit

Photos by Sam Rubinroit

Who is the best running back in the NFL today? To find out, I asked some of the best running backs of all time as they arrived at the Madden NFL ’10 Pigskin Pro-Am celebrity flag football game in Malibu, California.

Barry Sanders

“Adrian Peterson is probably the best running back,” said Barry Sanders, the 1988 Heisman Trophy winner who is enshrined in both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. “LaDainian Tomlinson is still running well, but I am going with the young buck, AP. He is young, has fresh legs, and is a dangerous football player.”

Peterson, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings out of the University of Oklahoma, was the 2007 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has earned a Pro Bowl selection in both of his NFL seasons, and was named the 2008 Pro Bowl MVP. In 2008, he rushed for 1,769 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Tomlinson, who plays for the San Diego Chargers, holds NFL records for the most total touchdowns in a season, most rushing touchdowns in a season, and most points scored in a single season. He was the 2006 NFL MVP, and he has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times. However, in 2008, while dealing with injuries, Tomlinson had a career-low 1,110 yards, and the fewest touchdowns since his rookie season, 11.

Marcus Allen, winner of the 1981 Heisman Trophy, Super Bowl XVIII MVP, and 1985 NFL MVP, is not ready to give Peterson the title as the top NFL running back.

Marcus Allen

“I still love LT down in San Diego,” said Allen, who is enshrined in both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. “People say he lost a step, but I do not think so. I think he has had injuries at inopportune times, and I think he will come back strong. After that, Adrian Peterson is probably the most dominating back in the game today.”

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NFL’s Best Young Quarterbacks

The running back position was not the only position that the players at the Madden NFL ’10 Pigskin Pro-Am were talking about. Players were quick to praise their respective team’s young quarterback.

Tony Gonzalez, who holds NFL career records for most receptions, yards, and touchdowns by a tight end, was recently traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Atlanta Falcons. In the upcoming season, the ten-time Pro Bowler will be catching balls thrown by AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan.

“You hear a lot of good things about Matt Ryan, and when I saw him in person, I understood why he is who he is, and why people are making such a big deal about him,” Gonzalez said. “He has such an understanding of the game, and he is a leader. It is really a rare thing. You just do not see that out of rookies.”

Playing with Ryan will ease some of the pain Gonzalez has felt since being traded from the team he spent the first twelve years of his career with.

“It is a good opportunity. It is sad to leave KC, but it worked out for both sides,” Gonzalez said. “To have an opportunity to play on a team that is on the rise, and to be with a quarterback like that, will be a good way to end my career. Hopefully we get into the Super Bowl.”

At the same time, legendary running back Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions was singing the praises of his former team’s new quarterback, Matthew Stafford. Stafford, the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of the University of Georgia, will try to turn around a team that went 0-16 last season.

“We have high hopes for him,” Sanders said of Stafford. “We have to get a leader in there at quarterback. We have a good young receiver [Calvin Johnson], and drafted a tight end [Brandon Pettigrew out of Oklahoma State]. We know [Stafford] has the tools, so we expect big things.”

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Linebacker in Limbo

Linebacker Donnie Edwards, who was last with the Kansas City Chiefs, remains a free agent.

“I am in the hovering pattern,” Edwards said. “I am an airplane hovering and waiting to land. Hopefully something happens soon, and I land, and hopefully win the Super Bowl.”

Edwards, who went to UCLA, is one of the few NFL players with both 20 career sacks and interceptions. Last season, the thirteen-year veteran had 35 tackles in seven games while battling knee injuries.