Wahoo Wire

Today marks the return of a little segment we like to call Champ and Chump of the Week, where I make my pick for biggest winner – and hopefully, bigger loser – of the sports world’s past seven days (as of Wednesday). Disagree? Let me know on the message board where I messed up. Let’s get on to it:

Champ: Melanie Oudin

Only 17 years old, Oudin came from nowhere to steal the heart of every American who cares remotely about tennis. The teen won her first four matches at the US Open, reaching the quarterfinals before nerves and the number nine player in the world overmatched her, 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday. Though she played poorly in her ouster, Oudin’s charm and penchant for streaky play turned her into a crowd favorite in under a week’s time. Now, ranked around number 50 in the world, Oudin seems poised to inherent the title of American tennis darling once the Williams sisters are through dominating.

Honorable Mention: Albert Pujols, Max Hall, Derek Jeter

Courtesy of examiner.com

Chump: LeGarrette Blount

The stand out in a week full of Chumps (quick aside: which relationship will prove a bigger disaster, Merriman and Tila Tequila, or Brandon and Virginia Football?), Blount takes the cake because of the Ron Artest-inspired performance (should his nickname just be Ron Artesque?) seen here. His post-game meltdown not only cost the senior running back his final collegiate season, but severely hurt his draft stock: Blount entered the Boise State contest ranked as high as the second-best RB by some scouts, and now might not get drafted. The damage to his reputation, plus the almost certain loss of guaranteed money, and the blow his suspension dealt his team make him a true Chump.

Honorable Mention: Shawne Merriman, Al Groh/Gregg Brandon

Courtesy of espn.go.com