Friday, August 10, 2007

Matchup 14: Alex Rodriguez vs. Tom Brady

ALEX RODRIGUEZ--CREDENTIALS

  • Youngest player to 500 home runs
  • Singed the biggest sports contract, ever
  • Two-time American League MVP
  • ESPN somehow decided that his 500th home run deserved equal billing with 756
  • ESPN has also decided that he will break Barry Bonds's home run record soon
  • Beneficiary of the ESPN/Yankees/Scott Boras Client hype machine
  • When he does well, he's the greatest offensive player in the history of baseball
  • But when he slumps (usually in the postseason), we're subjected to arrogant statements like "He's not a real Yankee" and "He hasn't 'earned his pinstripes'"
  • Always compared negatively to Derek Jeter, who has apparently "earned his pinstripes"
  • Credited by some for breaking the Red Sox Curse
  • Tries to slap the ball out of gloves
  • Yells at infielders trying to catch fly balls
  • The tabloid headlines with the stripper
  • His wife and her t-shirt
  • ESPN thinks crap like the last two bullet points qualify as sports news
TOM BRADY--CREDENTIALS
  • Three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback. Only Bradshaw and Montana have more
  • Two-time Super Bowl MVP
  • Did this in spite of being drafted in the sixth round
  • Won 21 straight games with the Patriots
  • Won 10 straight post-season games with the Patriots
  • Raiders fans still complaining about the Tuck Rule. The Tom Brady legend began only because of that play
  • ESPN's comparisons to Peyton Manning (he's better because Peyton isn't clutch and can't win it all) no longer valid
  • ESPN's "golden boy" of the NFL. He is to the NFL what Derek Jeter is to baseball
  • Dates supermodels
  • Does this while also fathering illegitimate children. Like Matt Leinart's, ESPN would rather not talk about this

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