Wahoo Wire

This past week in sports marks an historic first: a buzzer-beating Chump of the Week. I was all ready to give the award to the most befuddled, embarrassed, and self-destructive franchise in professional football this side of Al Davis. But then, hours before the entirely arbitrary deadline of Wednesday night, a certain prominent baseball announcer snatched defeat from the jaws of Chump anonymity. It’s a tough edition to win, considering the caliber of malevolent also-rans: Mark Sanchez’s five picks (losing to the Bills), Jeff Reed’s second recent drunken run-in with the law, and multiple college football controversies all take a back seat this week. Interestingly, this week’s Champ nomination is almost more shocking than his counterpart (hint: it tangentially involves Madonna). Enough with the ambiguities; let’s get to it.

Champ: Alex Rodriguez

Never thought you’d see that headline, right? Call him what you will (A-Fraud is a personal favorite), the 30 million dollar man is finally producing big-time numbers in October. It’s not like he’d been bad in previous postseasons; Rodriguez carried a lifetime .279/.376/.483 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) line, with seven homers in 147 at-bats, entering this year’s ALDS against Minnesota. But he’s been on fire recently, especially this past week in the ALCS against the Angels, boasting a .375/.450/1.000 line in the first four games of the series with three dingers and five RBI. More importantly, the Yankees are winning, and A-Rod has come up with some clutch hits to silence his critics, if only for another week. In the past six months, Rodriguez’s public persona has upgraded from tainted steroid user/philanderer/washed-up player, to postseason hero/New York media darling/Kate Hudson’s boyfriend. Not a bad slash-line if I do say so myself.

Courtesy of buzznewsroom.com

Honorable Mention: Tom Brady, CC Sabathia, Eddie Royal, Ryan Howard

Chump: Steve Phillips

Speaking of alleged womanizers, stunning news came from most non-ESPN media outlets Wednesday evening of Phillips’ escapades. Phillips, who does studio analysis and occasionally announces games for the Worldwide Leader, admitted to an extramarital affair with an ESPN production assistant. According to reports, Phillips dumped his former fling, who then sent psychotic phone calls and letters the way of his wife. The scandal is bad enough that ESPN mandated Phillips take leave of absence, a move that may end with his termination. Even worse, this is the man’s second such career-threatening incident: his reign as General Manager of the Mets was marred by his admission of multiple infidelities with women – admissions that contributed to his dismissal from the team. The news is saddening from the perspective of Mrs. Phillips (who recently filed for divorce) and her four sons, but utterly contemptible otherwise.

Courtesy nydailynews.com

Honorable Mention: Washington Redskins, Mark Sanchez, Jeff Reed, Ohio State football coaching staff