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LeBron Raymone James (born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). James, commonly nicknamed "King James," and sometimes referred to as "The L-Train" by Austin Carr, was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA star while still in high school at St. Vincent - St. Mary High School, and was named Ohio's "Mr. Basketball" three times. At the age of 18, he was selected with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers and signed an unprecedented US$90 million shoe contract with Nike before his NBA debut. He has since set numerous youngest player records. During his first season, he received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and in the following four seasons received All-NBA and All-Star honors. He has led the Cavaliers to consecutive playoff appearances in 2006, 2007, and 2008; in 2007, the team advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1992 and the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. James is listed as a small forward, but often handles the ball and runs the Cavalier's offense as a point guard would. James was a member of the United States men's national basketball team that won the bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and he finished second in the league Most Valuable Player balloting in 2006. Contents [hide] 1 High school 1.1 Freshman year 1.2 Sophomore year 1.3 Junior year 1.4 Senior year 2 NBA career 2.1 2003–04 season 2.2 2004–05 season 2.3 2005–06 season 2.4 2006–07 season 2.5 2007–08 season 3 United States national team 4 Player profile 5 Personal life 6 NBA career statistics 6.1 Regular season 6.2 Playoffs 7 Awards and honors 8 References 9 External links [edit] High school [edit] Freshman year James attended St. Vincent - St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio; he was named the starting small forward for the Fighting Irish.[1] He averaged 21 points and 6.2 rebounds, and led the team to a 27–0 record en route to the Division III state title. Keith Dambrot, now Head Coach at University of Akron, was the head coach at St. Vincent St. Mary. Coach Dambrot started working with James doing $1 clinics at a local recreation center.[2] [edit] Sophomore year In his sophomore year, James averaged 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals.[2] He led the team to a 26–1 record and a Division III state title for the second straight season.[3] He was the first sophomore to be named Ohio's "Mr. Basketball" and also became the first sophomore player ever selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team.[3] As an avid football player, James was also named First-Team All-State as a wide receiver.[4] James accumulated more than 700 yards and was highly recruited by college scouts. [edit] Junior year In James' junior year his stats improved again. He averaged 29.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.3 steals and was again named Mr. Basketball of Ohio.[3] He also earned a spot on the All-USA First Team, and was named the 2001–02 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year. It was at this time that his nickname "King James" would become a household staple in Ohio. Dubbed "The Chosen One" by Sports Illustrated, James was the first high school basketball player on the cover since Kevin Garnett.James appeared in SLAM Magazine, which began his nationwide exposure. However, the St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball team did not defend its state title when increased enrollment forced the team to move up to the more challenging Division II (Ohio high school basketball has four divisions based on annual enrollment figures) and lost to Cincinnati Roger Bacon High School. James attempted to declare for the NBA Draft after the season ended, petitioning for an adjustment to the NBA's draft eligibility rules which at the time required prospective players to have at least completed high school. The petition was unsuccessful, but it ensured him an unprecedented level of nation-wide attention as he entered his senior year. By then, James had already appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. His popularity forced his team to move their practices from the school gym to the nearby James A. Rhodes Arena at the University of Akron. NBA stars such as Shaquille O'Neal attended the games, and a few of James' high school games were even televised nationally on ESPN2 and regionally on pay-per-view. Although his mother feared a football injury could hurt his chances in the NBA, James played his junior year of football and had 52 receptions for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. James fractured the index finger on his left hand in the first game of the post season, but did not reveal the injury until after the state finals, where his team lost. [edit] Senior year Gloria James created a firestorm of controversy when a bank took her son's future earning power into consideration, resulting in an approval of a loan used to buy an $80,000 Hummer H2 for her son's 18th birthday. The event prompted an investigation by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). Under the OHSAA guidelines, no amateur may accept any gift valued over $100 as a reward for athletic performance.[5] When James later accepted two throwback jerseys of Wes Unseld and Gale Sayers worth $845 from NEXT, an urban clothing store in Shaker Square, in exchange for his posing for pictures to be displayed on the store's walls, OHSAA stripped him of his eligibility.[6] James appealed and a judge blocked the ruling, reducing the penalty to a two-game suspension and allowing him to play the remainder of the season. However, James's team was forced to forfeit one of their wins as a result.[7] That forfeit loss was the team's only official loss that season. Despite the distractions, the Irish won a third state title, with James averaging 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.4 steals on the season.[3] James was named to the All-USA First Team and, for an unprecedented third time, and was selected as Mr. Basketball of Ohio.[3] He earned MVP honors at the McDonald's All-American Game, the EA Sports Roundball Classic, and the Jordan Capital Classic. Although it was a foregone conclusion, by participating in more than two high school all-star events, James officially lost his NCAA eligibility. James finished his high school career with 2,657 points, 892 rebounds and 523 assists.[3] [edit] NBA career [edit] 2003–04 season James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Facing the Sacramento Kings in his first NBA game, James recorded 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals and shot 60% from the floor.[8] After recording a season-high 41 points against the New Jersey Nets, James became the youngest player in league history to score at least 40 points in a game.[9] He averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game for the season,[10] and was named 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year; becoming the first Cavalier and youngest NBA player to ever receive the award.[2] He joined Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as the only three players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in their rookie season.[2] The Cavaliers improved by 18 wins and concluded the regular season with a 35–47 record, but failed to make the playoffs.[11] [edit] 2004–05 season James preparing to take a free throw against the Dallas Mavericks LeBron JamesIn the 2004–05 season, James was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game and recorded 13 points, 6 assists, and 8 rebounds, as the Eastern All-Stars defeated the Western All-Stars 125–115.[12] During the season, James became the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double, score 50 points in a game, and make the All-NBA Team.[2] He averaged 27.2 points, 7.2 assists, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game.[10] However, the Cavaliers failed to reach the playoffs again and finished with a 42–40 regular season record.[13] [edit] 2005–06 season In the 2005–06 season, James was elected to his second straight All-Star Game appearance and led the Eastern All-Stars to a 122–120 victory, with 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. He became the youngest All-Star MVP at 21 years, 51 days.[14] He was named NBA Player of the Week for an unprecedented three consecutive weeks and concluded the season with five honors.[15] He scored 35 or more points in nine consecutive games and joined Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as the only players since 1970 to accomplish the feat.[15] For the season, James averaged 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game,[10] and became the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 30 points. He also became the fourth player in NBA history to average more than 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a single season.[16] The Cavaliers made the playoffs for the first time since 1998,[17] and improved from a record of 17–65 in 2002–03 to 50–32 in 2005–06.[18] Following the regular season, James was named as one of the top candidates for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Although he finished second to Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns in MVP voting, he was awarded co-MVP honors with Nash by The Sporting News; an award given by the publication that is based on the voting of thirty NBA general managers.[19] James made his playoff debut against the Washington Wizards. He recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, as the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards 97–86.[20] He joined Johnny McCarthy and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to register a triple-double in their playoff debut.[20] For the series, James averaged 35.7 points, as the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards in six games.[21] In the process, however, James set a new record for turnovers in a 6-game series, with 34. In the second round of the playoffs, James and the Cavaliers lost in seven games to the defending Eastern Conference champion and divisional rival Detroit Pistons. James averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in the playoffs.[10] At the end of the season, James negotiated a three year contract extension, with a player option for a fourth year. The contract is worth US$60 million and begins at the start of the 2007–08 season.[22] Although it is for fewer years and less money than the maximum he could sign, it allows him the option of seeking a new contract worth more money as an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season.[22] [edit] 2006–07 season James was elected to his third consecutive All-Star game appearance during the 2006–07 season. He played a game high 32 minutes and finished with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.[23] In the regular season, the Cavaliers tied the previous season's record with 50 wins and clinched the second seed of the Eastern Conference on the last day of the season.[24] For the season, James averaged 27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.[2] He joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for three consecutive years.[25] In the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs, James led the Cavaliers to their first sweep in franchise history over the Washington Wizards in four games.[26] It was also the first time the franchise had won consecutive road playoff games.[26] For the series, James averaged 27.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 8.5 rebounds.[10] In the second round of the playoffs, James led the Cavaliers to a 4–2 series victory over the New Jersey Nets.[27] He averaged 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.6 assists in the series,[10] as the Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 15 years.[27] In the Eastern Conference Finals, James led the Cavaliers from an 0–2 deficit against the Detroit Pistons to win the series in six games. His performance in Game 5 was especially memorable. James recorded a franchise-record 48 points on 54.5% field goal shooting, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. In addition, James scored 29 of Cleveland's last 30 points, including the team's final 25 points in a double-overtime victory.[28] NBA analyst Marv Albert referred to James's performance as "one of the greatest moments in postseason history," while color commentator Steve Kerr called it "Jordan-esque."[29] In the 2007 NBA Finals, James averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists, as the Cavaliers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in four games.[2] For the postseason, James averaged 25.1 points, 8.0 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game.[10] He set a franchise record for double-doubles in a playoff season with eight and became the first Cavalier and the first non-guard in NBA history to have at least seven assists in eight consecutive playoff games.[2] [edit] 2007–08 season In the 2007–08 season, James continued his dominant play, earning his fourth consecutive All-Star Game appearance[30] and once again positioning himself as one of the frontrunners for the NBA Most Valuable Player award. James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for January 2008.[31] He won the 2008 All-Star Game MVP with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals as the Eastern Conference All-Stars defeated their Western counterparts, 134–128.[32] On February 19, 2008, James recorded his fifth triple double of the 2007–08 season by putting up 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists against the Houston Rockets. Five triple doubles in a season ties his personal and team records for triple doubles in a season. It was the 15th triple double of his career, another Cavaliers' record. He is the third youngest player to post 15 triple doubles, behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson.[33] He scored his 6th triple double of the season and 16th of his career against the Indiana Pacers the very next game. It was the second time this season that he had triple double in back-to-back games. The last player to accomplish that feat was Magic Johnson in 1988.[34] James was named NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, February 18 through Sunday, February 24.[35] It was the third time he has won the award this season and the 13th time he has won the award in his career. On February 27, 2008, against the Boston Celtics, James became the youngest person to score 10,000 points in his career at 23 years and 59 days, achieving the feat in style with a slam-dunk over 11-time All-Star Kevin Garnett, eclipsing the old mark by more than a year. James did so in 368 games, the ninth fastest in league history.[36][37] On March 3, 2008 James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February 2008.[38] It was the second straight month that he won the award. On March 5, 2008, James scored 50 points with 8 rebounds and 10 assists on the New York Knicks,[39] becoming only the third player since the NBA-ABA merger to record a 50-point 10-assist game.[40] On March 10, 2008, James notched his seventh triple double of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers. Seven triple doubles in a season broke his personal and team records for triple doubles in a season and 17 career triple doubles broke his team record as well.[41] On March 12, 2008, James scored 42 points against the New Jersey Nets and surpassed Austin Carr for second all-time in Cavaliers points scored. On March 21, 2008, James scored 29 points against the Toronto Raptors, taking him past Brad Daugherty's all-time Cavaliers scoring record of 10,389 points. Daugherty achieved this record over the course of 548 games, while James took only 380 games to score 10,414 points.[42] All told, James had propelled Cleveland to a 45–37 record, good for second place in the Central Division and the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Prior to Cleveland's first-round series versus the Washington Wizards, Wizards guard Deshawn Stevenson said James was "overrated," prompting James to say that he would not return the insult, as that would be "almost like Jay-Z [responding to a negative comment] made by Soulja Boy."[43] In response, Soulja Boy himself made an appearance at Game 3 of the series (played in Washington) in support of the Wizards, and his music was played over the PA system.[44] James would later say that he meant no disrespect to Soulja Boy with his comment, and that his young son is a big fan of the rapper. Jay-Z responded by producing a freestyle version of the Too Short single "Blow the Whistle", named "Playoff", in which he "disses" Stevenson and Soulja Boy on James' behalf.[45][46]. The Cavaliers would go on and win the series in 6 games (4–2), setting up a meeting with the Boston Celtics. The series was decided by the seventh game in Boston. James and opponent Paul Pierce each scored 40+ points, but the Cavaliers could not get a victory, thus losing the series (4–3).

Alex Rodriguez From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search "Arod" and "A-Rod" redirect here. For other uses, see Arod (disambiguation). This article is about the baseball player Alex Rodriguez. For the film editor, see Alex Rodríguez (film editor). Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees — No. 13 Third base Born: July 27, 1975 (1975-07-27) (age 32) New York, New York Bats: Right Throws: Right Major League Baseball debut July 8, 1994 for the Seattle Mariners Selected MLB statistics (through July 9, 2008) Batting average .306 Home runs 537 Runs batted in 1,556 Hits 2,337 Doubles 413 On-base plus slugging .969 Teams Seattle Mariners (1994-2000) Texas Rangers (2001-2003) New York Yankees (2004-present) Highlights and awards 12x All-Star selection (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) 2x Gold Glove Award winner (2002, 2003) 9x Silver Slugger Award winner (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007) 3x AL MVP (2003, 2005, 2007) 4x AL Hank Aaron Award winner (2001, 2002, 2003, 2007) Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975), commonly nicknamed A-Rod, is a natural-born American citizen of Dominican ancestry. He is best known as a power-hitting third baseman for the New York Yankees baseball club, after having played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers. Since 1996, his first full season, through 2007 he leads Major League Baseball in home runs (HR), runs scored, runs batted in (RBI), total bases and extra-base hits. He is currently first in runs scored and total bases; second in extra base hits and RBI, and 4th in hits among all players in baseball history prior to their 31st birthday. In addition, to this point in his career Rodriguez has more HR, RBI, runs scored and more base hits than all-time leaders Hank Aaron (RBI), Barry Bonds (HR), Rickey Henderson (runs scored), and Pete Rose (hits) did prior to their 31st birthdays. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs, breaking the record Jimmie Foxx set in 1939. He has been cited as among the best all-around players currently in baseball.[1][2][3] On October 28, 2007, Rodriguez, at the recommendation of his agent, opted out of the final three years of his contract with the Yankees.[4] On December 13, 2007, Rodriguez announced the signing of a new 10-year contract with the Yankees, reportedly worth $275 million and $30 million more if he breaks the all-time home run record of 762, making it the richest contract in baseball history.[5] Contents [hide] 1 Early life 1.1 Background 1.2 High school 1.3 University of Miami 2 Professional career 2.1 Seattle Mariners 2.1.1 1996: First full season and breakout year 2.1.2 1997-99 season 2.1.3 2000: Final season in Seattle 2.2 Texas Rangers 2.2.1 2001-02: Record-breaking seasons 2.2.2 2003: American League Most Valuable Player 2.3 New York Yankees 2.3.1 2004: First season with Yankees 2.3.2 2005: American League Most Valuable Player 2.3.3 2006 season 2.3.4 2007: American League Most Valuable Player 2.3.4.1 Opt-out controversy 3 Criticism 4 Personal life 5 Awards and honors 6 Achievements 7 Records 8 Career statistics 9 See also 10 Notes and references 11 External links Early life Background Alex Rodriguez was born in the Washington Heights section of New York City. When he was four, Rodriguez and his parents moved to their native Dominican Republic. After the family moved to Miami, Florida, three years later, Rodriguez's father announced his intention to move back north to New Jersey for a short time. He never returned, abandoning Rodriguez and his mother. His favorite baseball players when he was growing up were Keith Hernandez, Dale Murphy, and Cal Ripken. His favorite team growing up was the New York Mets[citation needed]. High school Rodriguez was a star shortstop at Miami's Westminster Christian High School. In 100 games he batted .419 with 90 steals. Westminster went on to win the high school national championship in his junior year. He was first team prep All-American as a senior, hitting .505 with 9 home runs, 36 RBI, and 35 steals in 35 tries in 33 games, and was selected as the USA Baseball Junior Player of the Year and as Gatorade's national baseball student athlete of the year. Rodriguez was the first high school player to ever try out for Team USA in 1993, and was regarded as the top prospect in the country. Rodriguez's former Yankees teammate, Doug Mientkiewicz, played baseball with him at Westminster. University of Miami Rodriguez signed a letter of intent to play baseball for the University of Miami and was also recruited by the university to play quarterback for its football team. Rodriguez turned down Miami's baseball scholarship and never played college baseball, opting instead to become eligible for the amateur draft at the age of 17. In 2003, Rodriguez gave $3.9 million to the University of Miami to renovate its baseball stadium. The new facility will be named 'Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park.' Rodriguez remains an ardent University of Miami fan and can frequently be found at Hurricane sporting events, as well as working out at the school's athletic facilities in the off-season. He received the University of Miami's Edward T. Foote II Alumnus of Distinction Award in 2007. Rodriguez had previously been named an "honorary alumnus" of the university in 2004.[6] Rodriguez batting as a member of the AAA Calgary Cannons in 1994. Alex Rodriguez with Leones del Escogido uniform, playing the 1994 Dominican Winter League season. Professional career Seattle Mariners Alex Rodriguez was drafted first overall by the Seattle Mariners in 1993. He was signed by Roger Jongewaard right out of high school. Rodriguez rose rapidly through the Mariners organization, and made his major league debut as the starting shortstop on July 8, 1994, in Boston at 18 years, 11 months, and 11 days of age, just the third 18-year-old major league shortstop since 1900. He was also the first 18-year-old major league player in 10 years, and the youngest position player in Seattle history. His 1st major league hit was a single off Sergio Valdez on July 9 at Fenway Park. Rodriguez's first major league campaign lasted just one month; the season was cut short by the 1994 Major League Baseball strike. Rodriguez then split most of 1995 between the Mariners and their AAA club, the Tacoma Rainiers. He connected for his 1st major league home run off Kansas City's Tom Gordon on June 12. Rodriguez joined the major league roster permanently in August, and got his first taste of postseason play, albeit in just two at-bats. Again, he was the youngest player in baseball. 1996: First full season and breakout year The following year, Rodriguez took over as the Mariners' regular shortstop (SS) and emerged as a star player, hitting 36 HR, driving in 123 runs, and pacing the American League (AL) with a .358 batting average, the highest for an AL right-handed batter since Joe DiMaggio hit .381 in 1939 and the 3rd highest ever for an SS. At 21 years and one month, he was the 3rd youngest AL batting leader ever behind Al Kaline (20) in 1955 and Ty Cobb (20) in 1907, and the 3rd youngest player in history with 35+ homers. He was also the 1st major league SS to win a batting title since 1960, and the 1st in the AL since 1944, and at 20 years, 11 months, was the youngest SS in All-Star Game history. He also led the AL in runs (141), total bases (379), and doubles (54) and ranked among the league leaders in hits (2nd, 215), extra base hits (2nd, 91), multi-hit games (3rd, 65), slugging (4th, .631), RBI (8th, 123), and on-base percentage (8th, .414). Rodriguez posted the highest totals ever for a shortstop in runs, hits, doubles, extra base hits, and slugging, and tied most total bases, and established Seattle club records for average, runs, hits, doubles, and total bases, in a season that statistical analysts consider the best ever by an SS.[7] He was selected by both The Sporting News and Associated Press as the Major League Player of the Year, and came close to becoming the youngest MVP (Most Valuable Player) in baseball history, finishing second to Juan González in one of the most controversial MVP elections in recent times.[8] He finished three points behind González (290-287), matching the 2nd closest A.L. MVP voting in history. 1997-99 season In 1997, Rodriguez's numbers fell somewhat, as he hit 23 HRs with 84 RBI and a .300 batting average that year. He hit for the cycle on June 5 at Detroit, becoming the 2nd Mariner to ever accomplish the feat, and at 21 years, 10 months, was 5th youngest player in history to do it. He was the fan's choice to start the All-Star Game at shortstop for the AL team, becoming the first player other than Cal Ripken to start at shortstop in 13 years. It was the first All-Star start of his career and his second All-Star Game in two years. Rodriguez rebounded in 1998, setting the AL record for homers by a shortstop and becoming just the third member of the 40-40 Club, (with 42 HR and 46 SB) and one of just 3 shortstops in history to hit 40 home runs in a season. He was selected as Players Choice AL Player of the Year, won his 2nd Silver Slugger Award and finished in the top 10 in the MVP voting. In 1999, he again hit 42 HR, despite missing over 30 games with an injury and playing the second half of the season at Safeco Field, a considerably less hitter-friendly ballpark than the Kingdome. 2000: Final season in Seattle Rodriguez entered 2000 as the cornerstone player of the Mariners franchise, which had recently dealt superstars Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey, Jr. Rodriguez put up great numbers as the team's remaining superstar; he hit 41 HR with 132 RBI and had a .316 batting average. He set a career high for walks (100) and became the first and only shortstop to have 100 runs, RBI, and walks in the same season. He hit well in the playoffs as well (.409 batting average and .773 slugging percentage), but Seattle lost to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. He was selected as the Major League Player of the Year by Baseball America and finished 3rd in the BBWAA AL MVP voting. Texas Rangers Rodriguez became a free agent after the 2000 season. He eventually signed with the Texas Rangers, who had fallen to last in their division in 2000. The contract he signed was at the time the most lucrative contract in sports history: a 10-year deal worth $252 million. The deal was worth $63 million more than the second-richest baseball deal. 2001-02: Record-breaking seasons Rodriguez's power hitting numbers improved with his move to Texas. In his first season with the Rangers, Alex produced one of the top offensive seasons ever for a shortstop, leading the American League with 52 HR, 133 runs scored, and 393 total bases. He became the first player since 1932 with 50 homers and 200 hits in a season, just the third shortstop to ever lead his league in homers, and was just the second AL player in the last 34 seasons (beginning 1968) to lead the league in runs, homers, and total bases; his total base figure is the most ever for a major league shortstop. His 52 homers made him the sixth youngest to ever reach 50 homers and were the highest total ever by a shortstop, surpassing Ernie Banks' mark of 47 in 1958, and also the most ever for an infielder other than a 1st baseman, breaking Phillies 3B Mike Schmidt's record of 48 in 1980.[9] It was his 5th 30-homer campaign, tying Banks for most ever by a shortstop. He also tied for the league lead in extra base hits (87) and ranked 3rd in RBI (135) and slugging (.622). He was also among the AL leaders in hits (4th, 201), average (7th, .318), and on-base percentage (8th, .399). He established Rangers club records for homers, runs, total bases, and hit by pitches, had the 2nd most extra base hits, and the 4th highest RBI total. He led the club in runs, hits, doubles (34), homers, RBI, slugging, and on-base percentage and was 2nd in walks (75), stolen bases (18), and game-winning RBI (14) while posting career highs for homers, RBI, and total bases. Rodriguez started 161 games at shortstop and one as the DH, the only major league player to start all of his team's games in 2001. He followed that with a major league-best 57 HR, 142 RBI and 389 total bases in 2002, becoming the first player to lead the majors in all three categories since 1984. He had the 6th-most home runs in AL history, the most since Roger Maris' league record 61 in 1961, and the most ever for a shortstop for the 2nd straight year while also winning his first Gold Glove Award, awarded for outstanding defense. His 109 home runs in 2001-02 are the most ever by an American League right-handed batter in consecutive seasons. However, the Rangers finished last in the AL Western division in both years, a showing that likely cost Rodriguez the MVP award in 2002 when he finished second to fellow shortstop Miguel Tejada, whose 103-win Oakland A's won the same division. 2003: American League Most Valuable Player In 2003, his last season with Texas, Rodriguez led the American League in home runs, runs scored, and slugging percentage, and won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award. He also led the league in fewest at bats per home run (12.9) and became the youngest player to hit 300 homers. Following five top-10 finishes in the AL Most Valuable Player voting between 1996 and 2002, Rodriguez won his first MVP trophy. A-Rod, a two-time runner up in the balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America, joined outfielder Andre Dawson from the 1987 Chicago Cubs as the only players to play on last-place teams and win the award. Following the 2003 season, Texas set out to move Rodriguez and his expensive contract. The Rangers agreed to a trade with the Boston Red Sox, but the MLBPA (Major League Baseball Players Association) vetoed the deal because it called for a voluntary reduction in salary by Rodriguez. Despite the failed deal with the Red Sox, the Rangers named him team captain during that off-season. This designation did not last long, however, as the New York Yankees had taken notice of the sudden trade availability of Rodriguez. New York Yankees New York's third baseman, Aaron Boone, suffered a knee injury while playing a game of pickup basketball which sidelined him for the entire 2004 season, creating a hole at third base. On February 15, 2004, Rodriguez was successfully traded to the New York Yankees for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later (Joaquín Árias was named as that player on March 24). The Rangers agreed to pay $67 million of the $179 million left on Rodriguez's contract. Alex Rodriguez taking his position at 3rd base at the beginning of a new inningRodriguez agreed to switch positions from shortstop to third base, paving the way for the trade, because the popular Derek Jeter was already entrenched at shortstop. Rodriguez also had to switch uniform numbers, from 3 to 13; he had worn 3 his entire career, but that number is retired by the Yankees in honor of Babe Ruth. 2004: First season with Yankees In his first season with the Yankees, Rodriguez hit .286 with 36 home runs, 106 runs batted in, 112 runs scored and 28 stolen bases. He became one of only three players in Major League history to compile at least 35 home runs, 100 runs and 100 RBI in seven consecutive seasons, joining Hall of Famers Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx. The 112 runs marked the ninth straight season in which he scored at least 100 runs, the longest such streak in the Major Leagues since Hank Aaron did it in 13 straight seasons from 1955-1967, and the longest in the American League since Mickey Mantle did it also in nine straight seasons from 1953-1961. During the 2004 season, he also became the youngest player ever to reach the 350 HR mark and the third youngest to reach the 1,000 RBI plateau. He was elected to the 2004 American League All-Star Team, the eighth All-Star selection of his career and the first as a third baseman. On July 24, 2004, after being hit by a pitch, Rodriguez and Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek scuffled, leading to a brawl between both teams. On defense, he had the lowest range factor among AL third basemen (2.39). He finished 14th in balloting for the AL MVP Award. In the 2004 ALDS, Rodriguez was a dominant hitter against the Minnesota Twins, batting .421 and slugging .737 while delivering two key extra-inning hits. Following the series win, Rodriguez's first season with the Yankees culminated in a dramatic playoff series against the team he had almost ended up playing for: the Yankees' bitter rival, the Boston Red Sox. In that series (ALCS) he equaled the single-game post-season record with five runs scored in Game 3 at Boston. One of the most controversial plays of Rodriguez's career occurred late in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS (American League Championship Series). With one out and Derek Jeter on first base in the bottom of the eighth inning, Rodriguez hit a slow roller between the pitcher's mound and the first base line. Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo fielded the ball and ran towards Rodriguez to apply a tag. As Arroyo reached towards him, Rodriguez swatted at his glove, knocking the ball loose. As the ball rolled away, Jeter scored all the way from first as Rodriguez took second on the play, which was initially ruled an error on Arroyo. However, the umpires quickly huddled, then ruled that Rodriguez was out for interference. Jeter was sent back to first base, his run nullified. The Yankees wound up losing 4-2. Rodriguez's behavior, perceived as unprofessional, inspired much derision from Red Sox fans. 2005: American League Most Valuable Player In 2005, Rodriguez hit .321, leading the American League with 124 runs and 48 HR while driving in 130 runs. He became the first Yankee to win the American League home run title since Reggie Jackson (41) in 1980. He also became one of only two players in Major League history to compile at least 35 home runs, 100 runs and 100 RBIs in eight consecutive seasons (Jimmie Foxx accomplished the feat in nine straight seasons from 1932-1940). Rodriguez established the franchise record for most home runs in a single season by a right-handed batter (broke Joe DiMaggio's mark of 46 in 1937). His 47 HR from the third base position are a single-season American League record. Alex hit 26 home runs at Yankee Stadium in 2005, establishing the single-season club record for right-handed batters (previously held by DiMaggio in 1937 and Gary Sheffield in 2004). On June 8, at 29 years, 316 days old, he became the youngest player in MLB history to reach the 400 HR mark. 2005 also marked the tenth straight season that Rodriguez scored at least 100 runs. On defense, however, he had the lowest range factor in the league at third for the second straight season (2.62). An offensive highlight of his season came on April 26, when Rodriguez hit 3 HR off Angels' pitcher Bartolo Colón and drove in 10 runs. The 10 RBIs were the most by a Yankee since Tony Lazzeri established the franchise and American League record with 11 on 5/24/36. Rodriguez won his second AL MVP Award in three seasons. He became the fifth player to win an MVP award (or its precursor 'League Award') with two different teams, joining Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Frank Robinson and Barry Bonds. Rodriguez was also named the shortstop on the Major League Baseball Latino Legends Team in 2005. 2006 season Alex Rodriguez reacting to a called strike in a game against Tampa Bay.Rodriguez was again an All-Star in 2006, and was 4th in the league in RBI (121), 5th in runs (113), 8th in home runs (35) and walks (90), and 9th in OBP (.392). He also led all AL third basemen in errors, with 24, and had the lowest fielding percentage (.937) and -- for the third straight season -- range factor (2.50) among them. Rodriguez's 2,000th hit, on July 21, 2006, was also his 450th home run. Six days shy of his 31st birthday, Rodriguez became the youngest player in baseball history to reach 450 home runs (surpassing Ken Griffey, Jr. by 267 days). He also became the 8th player to reach 2,000 hits before turning 31. Ty Cobb reached the mark while still 29, while Rogers Hornsby, Mel Ott, Hank Aaron, Joe Medwick, Jimmie Foxx, and Robin Yount all got their 2,000th hits at age 30. All 7 of the players are members of baseball's Hall of Fame. Rodriguez also became the 2nd player in Major League history to have at least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBI in 9 consecutive seasons joining Jimmie Foxx. 2006 was Alex's 11th consecutive season with more than 100 runs scored, the longest such streak in American League history since Lou Gehrig did it in 13 straight seasons (1926-38). Despite this success, it was one of his lesser seasons and was harshly criticized throughout the 2006 season. He has said that 2006 was his most difficult season as a professional. Prior to the season Rodriguez opted to play for team USA in the World Baseball Classic.[10] 2007: American League Most Valuable Player With the 2007 season came a new attitude. Rodriguez reported to camp lighter, having reduced his body fat from 16% the year before to 9%. Alex made light of this fact during a Late Night with David Letterman sketch filmed during Spring Training, which featured a shirtless A-Rod being rubbed down with suntan lotion. He revealed to the press that he and Derek Jeter were no longer close friends. Rodriguez also reduced his high leg kick at the plate, increasing his bat speed, making him less-apt to strike out and a more dangerous hitter.[11] In the Yankees' fourth game of the season, Rodriguez hit two home runs against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, including his 14th-career grand slam to end the game. The walk-off grand slam was the third of his career, tying the major league mark for game-ending grand slams shared by Vern Stephens and Cy Williams.[12][13] Rodriguez also began the season by becoming the ninth major leaguer--and first Yankee--to hit six home runs in the first seven games of the season. Rodriguez also became the first Yankee to hit seven home runs in the first ten games of the season.[14] On April 19, the Yankees came from behind to defeat the Cleveland Indians 8-6—with Rodriguez hitting a walk-off home run. WCBS Yankees radio broadcaster noted that Rodriguez had a better frame of mind, and the fans were beginning to accept him more after his two walk-off home runs. On April 23, Rodriguez became the first player in major league history to hit 14 home runs in a span of 18 games, and also tied the MLB record for most home runs in April. His total of 34 RBIs in April was 1 short of Juan González' AL and MLB record. On April 24, Rodriguez's 23-game hitting streak came to an end. In a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 30, Rodriguez sparked controversy when he shouted during a routine play and the infielder let the pop fly drop, costing the Blue Jays four runs. The Yankees went on to win the game, 10-5. On June 12, Rodriguez hit a mammoth home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks that hit off the front of the upper deck in left field. The home run was A-Rod's 25th of the season in only 63 games. That beat out his mark of the 2006 season, in which it took Rodriguez 113 games to reach 25. On July 12, Rodriguez hit his 150th career home run in a Yankees uniform. This made him the first player in major league history to ever hit 150 home runs for three different teams. He is also just the third player to hit at least 100 home runs for three teams; Reggie Jackson and Darrell Evans are the other two. On August 4, Rodriguez hit his 500th career home run against pitcher Kyle Davies of the Kansas City Royals. This made Alex the youngest player ever to reach 500 homers (32 years, 8 days). He is only the second Yankee to hit number 500 at home; Mickey Mantle on May 14, 1967 against Stu Miller was the other. On September 5, for the first time in his career, Rodriguez hit two home runs in one inning against the Seattle Mariners. On September 23, New York Magazine reported that Rodriguez was involved in a deal for a new contract with the Chicago Cubs that would include part ownership of the team. His agent, however, reported to ESPN that this was untrue.[15] On September 25, Rodriguez became the fifth player ever in major league history to record a 50-home run, 150-RBI season when he hit a grand slam. Derek Jeter was one of the first of his teammates to congratulate him.[16] In 2007, Rodriguez became the first player in major league history to have at least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBI in 10 consecutive seasons, surpassing Jimmie Foxx (9 consecutive seasons). He led the AL in home runs (54), RBIs (156), slugging percentage (.645), OPS (1.067), total bases (376), and times on base (299), and was 2nd in hit by pitch (21), extra base hits (85), and at bats per home run (10.8), 4th in on base percentage (.422) and sacrifice flies (9), 7th in walks (95) and plate appearances (708), 8th in intentional walks (11), and 9th in games (158). On October 24, Rodriguez won the Players Choice Award for Outstanding AL Player. On October 27, he won the Players Choice Award for Player of the Year. He also won the 2007 sliver slugger award for his position.[17] On November 19, 2007, Rodriguez was named the AL MVP for the third time in his career, receiving 26 first-place votes out of a possible 28.[18] Opt-out controversy The 2007 season marked the last year of Rodriguez's 10-year, $252 million contract before he opted out, effectively making him a free agent again. Rodriguez had repeatedly stated during the 2007 season that he would like to remain a Yankee for the rest of his career.[19] On October 28, 2007, Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, announced that he would not renew his contract with the Yankees citing that he "was unsure of the future composition" of the team. He received a slew of criticism from fans and writers alike not only for opting out, but also for not meeting with Yankee management before he did. He was further criticized for the timing of his announcement, during the eighth inning of Game Four of the World Series, as the Boston Red Sox were wrapping up their victory over the Colorado Rockies. After realizing that the situation was not handled very well, Rodriguez contacted the New York Yankees ownership directly, bypassing Boras. Subsequently, Rodriguez issued a statement on his website, saying that he wished to stay with the Yankees.[20] On November 15, 2007, the New York Yankees and Rodriguez agreed on the "basic framework" of a 10-year, $275 million contract. Rodriguez stands to make millions more if he breaks the all-time home run record as a Yankee. The contract was finalized on December 13. Criticism It has been suggested that some of the information in this article's Criticism or Controversy section(s) be merged into other sections to achieve a more neutral presentation. (Discuss) Reggie Jackson talking with Rodriguez during batting practice. Many unflattering comparisons have been drawn between Jackson's postseason career and Rodriguez's.Rodriguez has received the nickname The Cooler among players because of the perceived tendency for teams to turn cold when he joins them and hot when he leaves and because of his negative influence on team chemistry.[21][22] [23][24][25][26] Due to the unsuccessful nature of the Yankees 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 postseasons, along with Rodriguez's sub .200 batting average in the postseasons of 2005 and 2006,[27] Rodriguez has drawn much criticism in the New York area. Because of the Yankees' successful history, he is often compared unfavorably to other Yankees greats who have performed exceptionally well in the postseason, such as Reggie Jackson.[28] While Rodriguez won the AL MVP award in 2005 and played a pivotal role in the Yankees defeat of the Minnesota Twins in the 2004 ALDS, his recent postseason struggles have left fans frustrated. Rodriguez performed well in the earlier half of the 2004 postseason, hitting .320 with 3 home runs and 5 doubles in 50 at bats, but as was the case with the team in general, he ceased to pose an offensive threat during the final four games of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. The following postseason, Rodriguez went 2-for-15 in five games, and most recently, in the 2006 postseason, went 1-for-14 against the Detroit Tigers. Through 2006, Rodriguez was a paltry 4-for-41 (.098 batting average) with no RBI in his last 12 postseason games.[29] Much of the criticism regarding Rodriguez is focused upon his alleged inability to produce hits in clutch situations.[30][31] However, during the 2003-05 regular seasons, Rodriguez posted a .371 batting average with the bases loaded and maintained an on base percentage of .422. In 2006, his numbers improved to .474 and .500 respectively. In 2007, through July 14 he hit .444 and .455, respectively. Additionally, Rodriguez's other batting lines during this period included a .432 average with a runner on third (.333 in 2006), .381 with a runner in scoring position (.302 in 2006), and .392 with a runner in scoring position and 2 outs (.313 in 2006; .333 in 2007 through July 14th).[32] In May 2006, Rodriguez responded to the criticism directed at him, saying: “ "I could[n't] care less [sic]. In my career, I've been hearing it for a long time. It will never stop until you win five or six World Series in a row, and hit a Joe Carter home run. I've done a lot of special things in this game, and for none of that to be considered clutch, it's an injustice. I don't take anything personally; I enjoy it, it motivates me and I think it's comical. I think [for] anyone that drives in over 130 runs numerous times in his career, it's impossible not to be clutch."[33] ” In an issue of Sports Illustrated, Rodriguez surmised further reasons why he has become an apparent magnet for criticism, saying: “ "When people write [bad things] about me, I don't know if it's [because] I'm good-looking, I'm biracial, I make the most money, I play on the most popular team."[34] ” Nonetheless, sportswriters, fans, and teammates have continued to debate Alex Rodriguez's performance in the clutch. Some writers such as the New York Post's Joel Sherman have asked, "How do you disregard your eyes completely? How do you ignore that at the most intense moments Rodriguez seems to be carrying his 32-ounce bat and the weight of the world into each at-bat?"[35] In the same issue of Sports Illustrated cited earlier, teammate Jason Giambi also criticized Rodriguez, remarking:"...you've got to get the big hit."[34] However, Rodriguez and Giambi implied that the story was taken out of context, with Giambi claiming that his comments were part of a "pep talk", and not an argument, because he "was just trying to find a way to help him out."[36] Rodriguez agreed, "This is the most support I've ever gotten from any team. I couldn't be more proud." On July 29, 2007, former baseball outfielder and steroid-user José Canseco said that he was planning to publish another book about Major League Baseball, after his 2005 book Juiced. Canseco said the book has "other stuff" on Rodriguez, and called him a hypocrite.[37] Rodriguez has denied accusations of steroid use.[38] A potential former editor of the book said that Canseco "certainly doesn't have what he claims to have on A-Rod."[39] Personal life Rodriguez grew up with two half-siblings, Joe and Suzy, who were born in the Dominican Republic and are children from his mother's first marriage.[40] Rodriguez also has a half-brother, Victor M. Rodriguez, who was born to Alex's father Victor Sr. and his then-wife Pouppe Martinez in 1960.[40] The couple divorced a year later, and Victor Jr. was raised by his mother.[40] Victor Jr., who is an officer in the United States Air Force, fell out of touch with Alex for a period of 23 years, until they met at a Texas Rangers game in 2003.[40] He married Cynthia Scurtis, a psychologist, on November 2, 2002. The couple's first child, Natasha Alexander, was born on November 18, 2004. On April 21, 2008, Cynthia gave birth to their second child, Ella Alexander,[41] in Miami, Florida. On May 27, 2007, Rodriguez was spotted at a Toronto strip club with a blonde woman, later identified as Joslyn Noel Morse, an exotic dancer with Scores Las Vegas who was featured in Playboy's 2001 magazine "Playboy's Casting Calls."[42] The New York Post ran a picture on May 30, 2007. On July 2, 2008, the New York Daily News reported that Rodriguez and his wife had separated, after having "problems" for the past three months, since the birth of their second daughter.[43] This comes together with rumors published in Us Weekly magazine, about a possible affair between A-Rod and pop singer Madonna,[44] claims Madonna later denied.[45] ESPN reported that Cynthia Rodriguez filed for divorce on July 7, 2008, citing "emotional abandonment" and marital infidelity by her husband. Even though Mrs. Rodriguez signed a prenuptial agreement, the validity of any such agreement is subject to the normal challenges of a contract action, in addition to any limitation to private contracting imposed by New York State family law. She sought alimony, distribution of assets, child support including private school tuition, life and health insurance, and retention of the couple's $12-million marital home in Coral Gables, Florida.[46][47] Rodriguez owns a Mercedes-Benz dealership in League City, Texas.[48]

Biography Early life Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest child and only son of Joe and Pam Bryant.[2] When Bryant was six, his father left the NBA, moved his family to Italy, and started playing professional basketball there.[7] Bryant became accustomed to the lifestyle there and learned to speak fluent Italian.[7] At an early age, he learned to play soccer and at first his favorite team was AC Milan.[8] He has said that if he had stayed in Italy, he would have tried to become a professional soccer player, and that his favorite team is FC Barcelona. Bryant is a big fan of former FC Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard and their star player Ronaldinho.[9] In 1991, the Bryants moved back to the United States. Bryant earned national recognition during a spectacular high school career at Lower Merion High School in the Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion.[10] His SAT score of 1080[11] would have ensured his basketball scholarship to various top-tier colleges. Ultimately, however, the 17-year-old Bryant made the decision to go directly into the NBA. Bryant has stated that had he decided to go to college after high school, he would have attended Duke University.[12] 1996 NBA Draft Before Bryant was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, he refused to play for anyone but the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Bryant's agent Arn Tellum at the time, Bryant playing for the Charlotte Hornets was "an impossibility".[13] Nevertheless, the Charlotte Hornets selected Bryant, seeing that there was a chance to trade with the Lakers.[13] On July 1, 1996, then L.A. general manager Jerry West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac, to the Hornets in exchange for Bryant's draft rights.[14] First three seasons (1997-1999) During his first season, Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel.[15] Initially, Bryant played limited minutes, but as the season continued, he began to see some more playing time. He earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan-favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest.[16] In Bryant's second season, he received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard. Bryant was the runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award[17], and through fan voting, he also became the youngest NBA All-Star starter.[17] The 1998-99 season marked Bryant's emergence as starting guards Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones were traded. The results, however, were no better, as the Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semi-finals.[18] Championship years (2000-2002) Bryant's fortunes would soon change when Phil Jackson became coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999.[19] After years of steady improvement, Bryant had become one of the premier shooting guards in the league, a fact that was evidenced by his annual presence in the league's All-NBA, All-Star, and All-Defensive teams.[20] The Los Angeles Lakers became premier championship contenders under Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, who formed an outstanding center-guard combination.[21] Jackson utilized the triangle offense he used to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls, which helped both Bryant and O'Neal rise to the elite class of the NBA. Their NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 proved such a fact.[22] Post-Championship years (2002-04) In the 2002-03 NBA season, Bryant averaged 30 points per game and embarked on a historic run, posting 40 or more points in nine consecutive games while averaging 40.6 in the entire month of February. In addition, he averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, all career highs up to that point. For the first time in his career Bryant was voted on to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive 1st teams.[2] After finishing 50-32 in the regular season, the Lakers floundered in the playoffs and lost in the Western Conference semi-finals to the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs in six games.[23] In the following 2003-04 NBA season, the Lakers were able to acquire NBA All Stars Karl Malone, and Gary Payton to make another push at the NBA Championship.[24] Before the season began, Bryant was arrested for sexual assault.[25] However, with a starting lineup of four future Hall of Famer, O'Neal, Malone, Payton, and Bryant, the Lakers were able to reach the NBA Finals.[26] In the Finals, they were eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in 5 games. In that series, Bryant averaged 22.6 points per game and 4.4 assists. He shot a mere 35.1% from the field.[27] Phil Jackson resigned as coach, with Rudy Tomjanovich taking over.[28] Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant.[29] The following day, Bryant declined an offer to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and re-signed with the Lakers on a seven-year contract.[30] Departure of Shaquille O'Neal (2004-2007) Bryant was closely scrutinized and criticized during the 2004-05 season with his reputation badly damaged from all that had happened over the previous year. This first season without O'Neal would prove to be a rocky one.[3] A particularly damaging salvo came from Phil Jackson in The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul. The book detailed the events of the Lakers' tumultuous 2003-04 season and has a number of criticisms of Bryant. In the book Jackson called Bryant "uncoachable".[31] Then, midway through the season, Rudy Tomjanovich suddenly resigned as Lakers coach, citing the recurrence of health problems and exhaustion. Without Tomjanovich, stewardship of the remainder of the Lakers' season fell to career assistant coach Frank Hamblen.[31] Despite the fact that Bryant was the league's second leading scorer at 27.6 points per game, the Lakers floundered and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. This year signified a drop in Bryant's overall status in the NBA, as he did not make the NBA All-Defensive Team and was also demoted to the All-NBA Third Team.[32] Kobe Bryant defending Michael Redd in December 2005.The 2005-06 NBA season would mark a crossroads in Bryant's basketball career. Despite past differences with Bryant, Phil Jackson returned to coach the Lakers.[33] Bryant endorsed the move, and by all appearances, the two men worked together well the second time around, leading the Lakers back into the playoffs. The team posted a 45-37 record, an eleven-game improvement over the previous season, and the entire squad seemed to be clicking.[34] In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers played well enough (3-1 series lead) to come within six seconds of eliminating the second-seeded Phoenix Suns. The Lakers lost that game 107 to 96.[35] Despite Bryant's 27.8 points per game in the series, the Lakers broke down, and ultimately fell to the Suns in seven games.[35] In the 2006 off-season, Bryant had knee surgery, preventing him from participating in the 2006 FIBA World Championship tournament.[36] Bryant's individual scoring accomplishments posted resulted in the finest statistical season of his career. On December 20, 2005, Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks. Entering the fourth quarter, Bryant had, by himself, outscored the entire Mavericks team 62-61, the only time a player has done this through three quarters since the advent of the 24-second shot clock.[37] When the Lakers faced the Miami Heat on January 16, 2006, Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal made headlines by engaging in handshakes and hugs before the game, signifying the end of the feud that had festered between the two players since O'Neal's departure from Los Angeles.[3] A month later, at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, the two laughed and joked together on several occasions.[3] On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 points in a 122-104 victory against the Toronto Raptors.[38][4] In addition to breaking the previous franchise record of 71 set by Elgin Baylor, his point total in that game was the second highest in NBA history, surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.[39] In that same month, Bryant also became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games, joining Chamberlain and Baylor as the only players ever to do so.[40] For the month of January, Bryant averaged 43.4 points per game,[41] the eighth highest single month scoring average in NBA history and highest for any player other than Chamberlain.[3] By the end of the season, Bryant set Lakers single-season franchise records for most 40-point games (27) and most points scored (2,832).[42] He won the league's scoring title for the first time, posting a scoring average of (35.4). Bryant finished in fourth place in the voting for the 2006 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, but received 22 first place votes — second only to winner Steve Nash.[43] Later in the season, it was reported that Bryant would change his jersey number from 8 to 24 at the start of the 2006-07 NBA season. Bryant's first high school number was 24 before he switched to 33.[44] After the Lakers' season ended, Bryant said on TNT that he wanted 24 as a rookie, but it was unavailable, as was 33, retired with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bryant wore 143 at the Adidas ABCD camp, and chose 8 by adding those numbers.[45] During the 2006-07 season, Bryant was selected to his 9th All-Star Game appearance, and on February 18, he logged 31 points, 6 assists, and 6 steals, earning his second career All-Star Game MVP trophy.[46] Bryant scored 50 points or more in four consecutive games in 2007.Over the course of the season, Bryant became involved in a number of on court incidents. On January 28 while attempting to draw contact on a potential game winning jumpshot, he flailed his arm striking San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili in the face with his elbow.[47] Following a league review, Bryant was suspended for the subsequent game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. The basis given for the suspension was that Bryant had performed an "unnatural motion" in swinging his arm backwards.[48] Later, on March 6, he seemed to repeat the motion, this time striking Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jaric.[47] On March 7, the NBA handed Bryant his second one-game suspension.[49] In his first game back on March 9, he elbowed Kyle Korver in the face which was retrospectively re-classified as a Type 1 flagrant foul.[47] On March 16, Bryant scored a season-high 65 points in a home game against the Portland Trail Blazers, which helped end the Lakers 7-game losing streak. This was the second best scoring performance of his 11-year career.[50] The following game, Bryant recorded 50 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves,[51] after which he scored 60 points in a road win against the Memphis Grizzlies - becoming the second Laker to score three straight 50-plus point games, a feat not seen since Michael Jordan last did it in 1987.[52] The only other Laker to do so was Elgin Baylor, who also scored 50+ in three consecutive contests in December of 1962[53]. In the following day, in a game against the New Orleans Hornets, Bryant scored 50 points, making him the second player in NBA history to have 4 straight 50 point games behind Wilt Chamberlain, who is the all-time leader with seven consecutive 50 point games twice.[54] Bryant finished the year with a total of ten 50-plus point games,[55] becoming the only player beside Wilt Chamberlain in 1961-62 and 1962-63 to do so in one season. He also won his second straight scoring title that season. [56] During the 2006-07 season, Bryant's jersey became the top selling NBA jersey in the United States and China.[57] A number of journalists have attributed the improved sales to Bryant's new jersey number, as well as his continuing All-Star performance on the court.[58][59] In the 2007 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers were once again eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns.[60] MVP year (2007-present) Kobe Bryant being defended by Baron DavisOn May 27, 2007, ESPN reported that Bryant stated that he wanted to be traded if Jerry West did not return to the team with full authority.[61] Bryant later confirmed his desire for West's return to the franchise, but denied stating that he would want to be traded if that does not occur.[62] However, three days later, on Stephen A. Smith's radio program, Bryant expressed anger over a Lakers "insider" who claimed that Bryant was responsible for Shaquille O'Neal's departure from the team, and publicly stated, "I want to be traded." Three hours after making that statement, Bryant stated in another interview that after having a conversation with head coach Phil Jackson, he has reconsidered his decision and backed off his trade request.[63] On December 23 2007, Bryant became the youngest player (29 years, 122 days) to reach 20,000 points, in a game against the New York Knicks, in Madison Square Garden.[64] Despite an injury, described as "a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament, an avulsion fracture, and a volar plate injury at the MCP joint" of his shooting hand's small finger, that occurred in a game against the New Jersey Nets on February 5, 2008, Bryant played all 82 games of the regular season instead of opting for surgery. Regarding his injury, he stated, "I would prefer to delay any surgical procedure until after our Lakers season, and this summer's Olympic Games. But, this is an injury that myself and the Lakers' medical staff will just have to continue to monitor on a day-to-day basis."[65] Leading his team to a West best 57-25 record, they swept the Nuggets in the first round and on May 6, 2008, Bryant was officially announced as the NBA Most Valuable Player award, his first for his career.[66] He said, "It's been a long ride. I'm very proud to represent this organization, to represent this city."[67] Jerry West, who was responsible for bringing Bryant to the Lakers was on hand at the press conference to observe Bryant receive his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern. He stated, "Kobe deserved it. He's had just another great season. Doesn't surprise me one bit."[68] In addition to winning his MVP award, Bryant was the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team on May 8, 2008 for the third straight season and sixth time in his career.[69] He would then headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team with Kevin Garnett, receiving 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods, earning his eighth selection.[70] The Lakers concluded the 2007–08 regular season with a 57–25 record, finishing first in the Western Conference and setting up themselves for a first-round contest against the Nuggets. In Game 1, Bryant, who said he made himself a decoy through most of the game, scored 18 of his 32 points in the final 8 minutes to keep Los Angeles safely ahead.[71] That made Denver the first 50-win team to be swept out of the first round of the playoffs since the Memphis Grizzlies fell in four to the San Antonio Spurs in 2004.[72] In the first game of the next round against the Jazz, Bryant scored 38 points as the Lakers beat the Jazz in Game 1.[73] The Lakers won the next game as well, but dropped Games 3 and 4, even with Bryant putting up 33.5 points per game.[74] The Lakers then won the next two games to win the semifinals in 6.[74] This set up a Western Conference Finals berth against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers defeated the Spurs in 5 games, sending them to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. This marked the fifth time in Bryant's career and the first time without Shaquille O'Neal to go to the NBA Finals.[75] The Lakers then lost to the Boston Celtics in 6 games.[76] International career Bryant's senior international career with the United States national team began in 2006. He was a member of the 2007 USA Men’s Senior National Team and USA FIBA Americas Championship Team that finished 10-0, won gold and qualified the United States men for the 2008 Olympics. He started in all 10 of the USA’s FIBA Americas Championship games. He is ranked third on the team for made and attempted free throws, ranked fourth for made field goals, made 3-pointers. Among all FIBA Americas Championship competitors, Bryant is ranked 15th in scoring, 14th in assists, and eighth in steals. Scored in double-digits in eight of 10 games. He drained the game winner on a 14 feet (4.3 m) jumper above the foul line with second left in the game. He currently averages a .530 shooting percentage, with 16.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.[77] As a part of his international expansion, he is also featured in a Chinese reality TV show, called the Kobe Mentu show, which documents Chinese basketball players on different teams going through drills, preparing to play each other while Bryant gives advice and words of encouragement to the players while they practice.[78] On June 23, 2008, he was named to the USA Men's Senior National Team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[79] This will be his first time going to the Olympics. Player profile Bryant is a shooting guard who is capable of playing the small forward position. He is considered one of the most complete players in NBA history,[80] has been elected to every All-NBA Team since 1999, and has been featured in the last ten NBA All-Star games.[2] He is a prolific scorer, averaging 25.0 points per game for his career, along with 4.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.[81] He is known for his ability to create shots for himself, and is an adept outside shooter, sharing the single-game NBA record for three pointers made with twelve.[82] He has exceptional ballhandling skills and utilizes his speed and athletic ability to elude defenders to finish at the basket. Aside from this, he is also a standout defender, having made the All-Defensive 1st or 2nd Team 8 of the last 9 seasons.[2]

[edit] Early years Lynch attended Oakland Technical High School. In his 2004 season, Lynch was voted a PrepStar and SuperPrep All-American and was also voted as the San Francisco East Bay Player of the Year in which he amassed 1,722 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in only 8 regular season games, and an additional 375 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2 post-season games. In addition to being a star football player, Lynch was also an excellent track sprinter and played on Oakland Tech's basketball team beside former Cal star and current Boston Celtics forward Leon Powe. Marshawn also played defensive back in high school, accumulating 20 interceptions his senior year. His coaches put him at defensive end for one game, and he had 3 forced fumbles. Rivals.com had him ranked #1 in the nation as a Defensive Back, but he decided to stick to his passion at running back. Lynch also played some quarterback and wide receiver in high school.[4] Lynch ended his high school career as the 2004 No. 2 running back in the nation behind Adrian Peterson by Rivals.com. [edit] College career Lynch attended University of California, Berkeley playing for the Golden Bears where his major was social welfare. As a true freshman in 2004, Lynch was the primary backup to senior J.J. Arrington. Lynch carried the ball 71 times for 628 yards with 8 rushing touchdowns and an additional 147 yards on 19 receptions and 2 receiving touchdowns. In 2005, Arrington graduated and Lynch became the starting running back. Even though he missed 2 games due to a hand and finger injury, he still amassed 1,246 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns on 196 carries and an additional 125 yards on 15 receptions. In the 2005 Las Vegas Bowl, Lynch ran for 194 yards and 3 touchdowns on 24 carries and was named MVP. In addition to his great running ability, he also has a tight grip on the ball, fumbling just once in his career. Lynch wore jersey No. 24 his freshman year but switched to No. 10, his high school number. This switch placed him in sequence with his cousins Virdell Larkins (No. 9) and Robert Jordan (No. 11), also teammates at Cal.[5] In the 2006 preseason, Lynch earned a spot on the watchlist for the Maxwell Award, was named 8th best player in the nation by Sports Illustrated and earned several preseason All-American accolades. On July 22, 2006, the Cal football program officially launched the campaign for Lynch to win the 2006 Heisman Trophy with the opening of the website Marshawn10.com featuring Lynch's highlights from the 2004, 2005, and 2006 seasons. [6]. Lynch was named to the 2006 All Pac-10 team First Team[7]. Lynch not only earned various awards, he also scored the game-winning overtime touchdown against Washington, which he said was his favorite career highlight. After which Lynch spontenously drove around the football field in an injury cart, pretending to ghost ride (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqMsT_2teus&mode=related&search=). Lynch was also named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 and an AFCA (Coaches') All-America in 2006 In his final game for California, Lynch ran for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns against Texas A&M in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl on December 28, 2006. He shared the Co-Offensive Player of the Game award with teammate, quarterback Nate Longshore. On January 2, 2007, Lynch announced he would forgo his senior season and entered the NFL draft.[8]

Early Years Reggie Bush grew up in the urban Skyline neighborhood of Southeast San Diego.[1] and Spring Valley, California an unincorporated community in San Diego he often memorialized with "619", San Diego's area code, or "S.E." (Southeast San Diego) written in silver on the black anti-glare tape under his eyes during USC games.[1] Reggie's father abandoned him when he was born and his whereabouts are currently unknown. His step-father was a campus security officer at Samuel F. B. Morse High School, and his mother was a deputy sheriff at the county jail.[1] He attended Helix High School in La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego, also with San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Alex Smith. [edit] College career Bush studied political science at USC.[2] Bush often etched the number "619" on top of his black under eye markings as a tribute to the area code of central San Diego city / South San Diego county.[3] Before attending Southern California, Bush was the most highly recruited running back out of high school. His and others expectations during his college career were very high. When head coach Pete Carroll recruited Bush for Southern California, he envisioned using Bush as a five-way threat. The freshman quickly proved he could carry, catch, throw and return the ball with great skill. In 2003, he was a consensus Freshman All-American first-team selection and became the first Trojan since Anthony Davis in 1974 to lead the Pac-10 Conference in kickoff returns. His 1,331 all-purpose yards set a USC freshman record. ESPN's Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year amassed 521 yards with three touchdowns on 90 carries that year. He caught fifteen passes for 314 yards (20.9 avg) and three scores and averaged 27.3 yards on 18 kickoff returns with a touchdown. His number in 2003 was #5. Despite not having started any games in 2004, Bush finished fifth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, was named the team's MVP, earned consensus All-American honors and was a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He finished second on the team with 143 carries for 908 yards (6.3 avg) and six touchdowns, adding on 509 yards and seven scores on 43 receptions (11.8 avg). He returned 21 kickoffs for 537 yards (25.6 avg) and 24 punts for 376 yards (15.7 avg) and a pair of touchdowns. He became the first Trojan since Marcus Allen to lead the Pac-10 in all-purpose yardage, totaling 2,330 yards. He also threw for one touchdown, tossing a 52-yard scoring strike.[2] Bush had an excellent 2005 season, as he was a unanimous All-American first-team pick and the winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy. He was named the Associated Press 2005 Player of the Year, Pigskin Club of Washington D.C. Offensive Player of the Year, Touchdown Club of Columbus Player of the Year and was the recipient of the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and Doak Walker Award (nation's best running back). He led the nation with an average of 222.3 all-purpose yards per game and finished fourth in the NCAA Division 1-A ranks with an average of 133.85 yards per game rushing. One memorable moment, known as the "Bush Push", occurred against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. USC would then go on, undefeated, into a final Rose Bowl game loss.[2] Bush led the Trojans with 1,740 yards on 200 carries (8.7 avg) with sixteen touchdowns and ranked third on the squad with 37 receptions for 478 yards (12.9 avg), including a pair of scores as a junior. He returned 18 punts for 179 yards (9.9 avg) and a touchdown and gained 493 yards on 28 kickoff returns (17.6 avg).[2] In 39 games at Southern California, Bush started only fifteen times. However, he finished tenth in NCAA Division 1-A history with 6,551 all-purpose yards. He finished with 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns on 433 carries (7.3 avg) and 1,301 yards with thirteen scores on 95 catches (13.7 avg). Bush returned 67 kickoffs for 1,522 yards and a touchdown, adding 559 yards and three scores on 44 punt returns (12.7 avg). He also completed one-of-three passes for a 52-yard touchdown.[2] [edit] Awards On December 8, 2005, Bush was awarded the Walter Camp Award and the Doak Walker Award. On December 10, Bush won the Heisman Trophy, beating finalists Vince Young and former Heisman winner and teammate Matt Leinart. Additionally, he was named the 2005 AP Sportsman of the Year. [edit] Legacy By the end of the 2005 season, Bush had amassed 2,611 all-purpose yards and scored 18 touchdowns (15 rushing, 2 receiving, 1 punt return).[4] He was awarded the Heisman Trophy on December 10, 2005. He had 784 first-place votes while Texas quarterback Vince Young finished second with 79 first-place votes, with an overall edge in voting points of 2541 to Young's 1608. The 933 point margin-of-victory was the 17th highest of all time. Matt Leinart came in third with 18 first-place votes. Bush had the second most first-place votes in the history of Heisman voting at that time, only behind O.J. Simpson's 855 in 1968.[5] In the 2006 Heisman voting, Troy Smith of The Ohio State University passed Bush in number of first-place votes by 17, with 801, but Smith's 2,540 total points fell one short of Bush's mark.[6] Bush became the 71st winner of the Heisman Trophy, and the 7th USC player to receive the award. In addition to his Heisman Trophy, Bush also won the Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award, and was selected as the PAC-10's offensive player of the year. He and teammate Matt Leinart became the first pair of Heisman Trophy winners to play together in a single game in the Rose Bowl on January 4, 2006 against the University of Texas Longhorns since Charles White & Marcus Allen did so in both 1979 and 1980. USC lost 41-38. Bush had a decent performance, amassing a total of 279 all-purpose yards (82 rushing yards, 95 receiving yards, 102 kickoff return yards) and one touchdown scored, but he was overshadowed by his runner-up for the Heisman, Vince Young, and Bush's teammate LenDale White, who led USC in rushing with 123 yards and 3 touchdowns. Bush also attempted to lateral when he was tackled after a long run, but the lateral fell to the ground and was recovered by Texas. The bad lateral nullified a drive where USC may have scored, and set up a Texas scoring drive, potentially losing at least 10 points for the Trojans. This game gave Bush a total of 2,890 all-purpose yards for the season. In celebration of their stellar careers, Bush and Leinart appeared on the cover of the December 25, 2005 issue of Sports Illustrated; the magazine anointed the pair as the "Best in College Football" in 2005. Only 12th player in NCAA history to gain over 2,000 all-purpose yards twice (2,330 yards in 2004 and 2,890 yards in 2005). He was featured on the cover of NCAA Football 2007,[7] released on July 18, 2006. He was ranked #24 on ESPN's Top 25 Players In College Football History list. [edit] Controversy In January 2008, a new book, "Tarnished Heisman", was published. The book alleges that Bush received nearly $300,000 while he was still in college. Bush now faces the possibility of losing his Heisman trophy if found guilty[8][9]. [edit] NFL career [edit] 2006 NFL Draft Pre-draft measureables Weight 40 yd 20 ss 3-cone Vert BP Wonderlic 201 lb (91 kg) 4.33s X X 40.5 in (102.9 cm) 25[10] X * represents NFL Combine On January 12, 2006, Bush elected to forgo his senior season at USC and declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. Draft analysts predicted that he would be the first overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, held by the Houston Texans. However, in a surprising move on the night before the draft, the Texans signed Mario Williams, a defensive end from North Carolina State. The New Orleans Saints then selected Bush as the number 2 overall pick in the draft.[11] On January 3, 2007, Bush was 5th in the voting for Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. On April 23, 2006, a report surfaced raising questions about whether Bush's family received gifts in violation of NCAA policies. The school has requested that the conference investigate the matter. On April 26, 2006, three days prior to the 2006 Draft, he signed a multi-year endorsement with the athletic sportswear company Adidas, where he will promote football and training clothes and launched cleats in 2007.[12] On April 28, 2006, it was announced that Mario Williams signed a deal with the Houston Texans, meaning that Reggie Bush would not be the first draft pick.[13] Bush's representatives spoke that night with the New Orleans Saints, who said they intended to use their second overall pick to select the USC product. Reggie Bush was indeed drafted by the Saints with the second overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. The Houston Texans' decision to not take Bush was derided by many sports analysts. At the time, ESPN commentator Len Pasquarelli claimed that Houston selecting Williams ahead of Bush was one of the biggest mistakes made in NFL Draft history.[14] [edit] New Orleans Saints [edit] 2006 season Bush's selection by the New Orleans Saints in the NFL draft generated excitement and celebration among New Orleans Saints fans. By the end of the week after the draft, Reebok reported receiving over 15,000 orders for Bush's Saints jersey, even though his jersey number with the Saints had not yet been determined.[15] Bush had petitioned the NFL to wear number 5 on his jersey, which he has worn throughout his high school and college careers. However, in order for him to wear #5, the NFL would have to revise its numbering regulations, which require running backs to wear a number between 20 and 49. Bush was allowed to wear the number 5 during the Saints' mini-camp practices pending the NFL's ruling. On May 23, the NFL competition committee officially rejected his request, and on May 25, it was officially announced that Bush would be wearing number 25, acquired from Saints running back Fred McAfee. Although Bush had earlier pledged to donate a quarter of the money he receives from jersey sales to Hurricane Katrina victims if allowed to wear #5, he later said he would make that donation no matter what number he wears.[16] As part of the deal with McAfee to wear #25, Bush agreed to allocate half of that money to charities of McAfee's choosing. McAfee pledged to donate his share to Katrina victims in his home state of Mississippi. Bush is second to Peyton Manning in the NFL in endorsement deals, amounting to roughly $5 million. He has signed contracts with Pepsi, General Motors, Adidas and Subway restaurants. Manning is worth $10 million. Amazed by the warm reception he received from the fans in New Orleans, as well as the magnitude of the devastation caused there by Hurricane Katrina, Bush expressed excitement about playing with the Saints and has pledged to help the city recover from the hurricane. On May 15, 2006, Bush donated $50,000 to help keep Holy Rosary High School, a local Catholic school for students with learning disabilities, from closing.[17] In training camp, Saints receiver Joe Horn dubbed him "Baby Matrix" because of his seemingly impossible evasive maneuvers (obviously comparing him to the movie The Matrix, which features characters who move faster than humanly possible to dodge bullets). Bush's rookie season had both ups and downs, although as the season wore on, he became more productive and integral to the Saints' surprising success. In the first game of Bush's NFL career, he amassed 141 total yards against the Cleveland Browns. He carried the ball fewer times than his counterpart Deuce McAllister, putting off any speculation that he would immediately supplant McAllister as the starter in New Orleans. The Saints won the game by a score of 19-14. This effort lowered his league-worst rushing average among running backs to only 2.55 yards per carry. However, he finished the midway point of the season with 46 receptions, the most by any running back in the NFL. At only 6.8 yards per reception, Bush ranked 20th out of 29 qualified running backs in the league. At the midway point of the season, Bush had yet to score a single touchdown either receiving or running the ball; however, on November 12, 2006, Bush rushed for his first touchdown from scrimmage on a reverse against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[18] On December 3, Bush tied the Saints' single game touchdown record, held by Joe Horn, by scoring 4 touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers. He gained 168 all-purpose yards as he sparked the Saints to their 8th win of the season. On December 10, Bush scored a 62 yard touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys[19] in Dallas, contributing to the Saints' surprising 42-17 drubbing of the Cowboys in what was expected to be a more competitive match up that would be important to the playoff race. On December 24, Bush scored a 1 yard touchdown on a reverse against the New York Giants. Bush also had a career high 126 rushing yards on the day. On December 31, Bush scored a 1 yard touchdown against the Carolina Panthers, but only carried the ball three times, even though backfield counterpart Deuce McAllister did not play. This was because the New Orleans Saints had already clinched the #2 NFC seed in the playoffs. On January 13, in the NFC Divisional Playoff game, Bush ran for 52 yards on 12 carries and scored a touchdown and added 3 catches for 22 yards as New Orleans edged Philadelphia, 27-24 to earn its first NFC Championship Game appearance in the team's 40-year history. The game was also notable for the vicious hit that Bush absorbed from Sheldon Brown while attempting to catch a swing pass on the Saints' first play of the game. On January 21, in the NFC Championship playoff game, Bush caught a pass on the 22 and ran 78 yards downfield (eluding the Chicago Bears safety) for an 88 yard touchdown thrown by Drew Brees. This comeback was the first score of the second half and closed the gap from 16-7 (in favor of Chicago) to 16-14.[20][21][22] Reggie Bush was fined by the NFL after the game for $5,000 for taunting: which consisted of wagging his finger at All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher and doing a somersault after the 88-yard reception score. Bush apologized immediately after the event.[23] [edit] 2007 In the season opener of the 2007 season, Bush and the Saints lost to the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts 41-10. Bush was tied for a team-best 38 rushing yards on 12 carries. He also had seven yards on four receptions and a punt return for two yards in a disappointing opener for Bush and the Saints. The Saints following game was equally as disappointing as the Saints were beaten 31 to 14 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Reggie averaged only 2.7 yards per carry and 27 yards from scrimmage, over a third of which came on one play. Reggie scored 2 rushing touchdowns, both 1-yard runs, in the Saints week 3 loss to the Tennessee Titans. In that game Bush carried 7 times for only 15 yards in gains while catching 6 passes for only 20 yards. Bush finished the season with just 6 total touchdowns and 581 yards rushing, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. [edit] Media career and personal life Bush on the cover of NCAA Football 07French mobile game publisher Gameloft announced on November 21 that it had signed Bush as its cover athlete for Reggie Bush Pro Football 2007, which was made available in January 2007 across multiple wireless carriers and cell phones. This marks the second cover endorsement for Bush, who currently is on the box of Electronic Arts' NCAA Football 07, which is out now for Xbox 360, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PSP. Gameloft did not secure the NFL license for this mobile game, which means that actual team names, logos and NFLPA players (aside from Bush) will not be incorporated into the gameplay. He recently appeared on the video for Ciara's song "Like a Boy" and in a Commercial for Madden NFL 08. The video and appearances Bush made with Ciara has then circulated rumors of a romance between the two. This was denied by Ciara. Bush has also dined with Condoleezza Rice at the White House correspondent's diner and made an appearance in Las Vegas during the 2007 NBA All-Star weekend. On June 26, 2007, David Beckham's first major U.S. ad campaign since finishing with Real Madrid made its debut via the web. Titled "Futbol Meets Football", it pairs him with Reggie Bush in a 13-part video series, with additional television, radio, and online promotion by Adidas.[24] In May 2007, Reggie Bush began dating socialite Kim Kardashian. The pair were introduced by Kardashian's friend Paris Hilton and Bush's friend Matt Leinart. [25] In August 2007, he signed a deal with Sirius Satellite radio to be a weekly announcer for the 2007 season[26] In January 2008, a book was released entitled Tarnished Heisman. It claims that ample evidence exists that Bush and his family received more than $300,000 worth of cash and gifts while he was a student at USC -- a clear violation of NCAA rules. Even though these allegations have been talked about since his first year in the NFL, nothing has been proven and no penalty has been placed on either Reggie Bush or the University of Southern California.

Career High school Quinn attended Dublin Coffman High School in Dublin, Ohio and ranked sixth on the Detroit Free Press "Best of the Midwest" team and was listed at number 20 on ESPN's list of the nation's top 100 players as a preparatory student.[1] As a high school junior in 2001 , Quinn threw for 2,200 yards and 21 touchdowns to go along with 15 interceptions, posting a 9-4 record with which Coffman reached the Division I state semi-finals.[1] As a senior in 2002 , he threw for 2,149 yards, completing 143 of 258 pass attempts, and he threw 25 touchdowns with only four interceptions while also rushing for 108 yards and six touchdowns.[1] Quinn helped his team post an 8-3 record and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.[1] Brady was named the Columbus Dispatch and Ohio Capital Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was an All-State choice.[1] Brady was also named an All-Conference player in baseball as a junior and lettered three times.[1] He was also a member of Young Life, the Rock Solid Club and Who's Who Among America High School Students.[1] In the fall of 2002, then-Notre Dame head coach Tyrone Willingham offered Quinn a scholarship, acting on a tip from fellow recruit Chinedum Ndukwe's father.[2] College Quinn accepted Willingham's scholarship and attended the University of Notre Dame, where he "shattered" 36 Fighting Irish records during his four seasons with the team.[1] There were ten career records, twelve single-season records, four single-game records and ten miscellaneous records broken by Brady throughout those four years,[1] including the record for career pass attempts with 1,602, completions with 929, yards-per-game with 239.6, touchdown passes with 95, and the Irish's lowest interception percentage with 2.43.[1] Quinn also won 29 games as a starter at Notre Dame, which is tied for the most in school history.[1] He also ranks in the top ten in NCAA Division I history in career pass attempts (ranked seventh), passing yards (ranked tenth) and touchdown passes (ranked ninth).[1] For his college career, Quinn also had 32 interceptions in three years. Comparing Quinn to other Notre Dame top-10 quarterbacks, that is in line with Steve Beurelein (44 in four years), Terry Hanratty (34 in three years) and Joe Theismann (35 in three years). It contrasts with other top Notre Dame quarterbacks, such as Ron Powlus (27 in four years), Rick Mirer (23 in four years), Jarious Jackson (21 in four years) and Joe Montana (25 in three years).[3] In 2005, under the supervision of Notre Dame's new head coach Charlie Weis, formerly of the New England Patriots, Brady blossomed as a starting quarterback. He averaged 110 more passing yards per game than he had as a sophomore while nearly doubling his number of touchdown passes, throwing 32 in 2005 compared to 17 in 2004.[1] Quinn placed fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Reggie Bush, Vince Young and Matt Leinart.[4] Quinn was named to the 2005 AP All-America Team as a third-team quarterback[5] and the 2006 SI.com All-American Team as a second-team quarterback.[6] Quinn also received the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation's top passer of the 2005 season.[7] Brady Quinn, along with then-teammates Tom Zbikowski (#9) and Travis Thomas (#26) on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 2006 College Football Preview issue (2006-08-22).Prior to the start of the 2006 college football season, Brady Quinn was featured on the 2006-08-22 issue of Sports Illustrated's 2006 College Football Preview issue along with then-teammates Tom Zbikowski and Travis Thomas with the caption "Notre Dame: The Battle For No. 1."[8] Quinn was expected to lead his Fighting Irish squad as one of the best college football quarterbacks in the country. However, the team's #2 pre-season ranking[9] was put to the test in games against the Michigan Wolverines on 2006-09-16 in which the Irish lost 47-21[10] and USC Trojans on November 25, 2006 in which the Irish lost 24-44.[11] Arguably, these were the team's two biggest games of the season,[citation needed] and proved to be the team's only regular-season losses.[12] However, despite the somewhat disappointing season for the Fighting Irish in which the team finished ranked #11,[13] Quinn posted rather impressive numbers, finishing the season with 3,426 yards on 289 completions out of 467 attempts for a completion percentage of 61.9% and 7.34 yards-per-attempt.[14] He threw 37 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions, and was sacked 31 times.[14] Brady finished the regular season with a passing efficiency rating of 146.65,[14] which ranked him 18th in the country.[15] Quinn and the Fighting Irish were invited to the 2007 Sugar Bowl on January 3, 2007, where the team would face off against the LSU Tigers. However, Quinn would prove to be outmatched against the strong LSU defense, which held him to only 148 passing yards. Quinn threw only two touchdown passes, both in the first half, and the Tigers held Notre Dame scoreless through the second half of the game to defeat the Fighting Irish 14-41.[16] Following the 2006 season, Quinn won several awards, including the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[17] for the best college quarterback in the nation and the Maxwell Award[18] for the best college football player. Brady finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting behind Troy Smith and Darren McFadden.[19] He was also named the Cingular All-America Player of the Year[20] and was named to the 2006 AP All-America Team as a second-team quarterback.[21] Professional NFL Draft Coming into the draft Quinn was considered to be one of the top players in the country and was invited to attend the draft in person. Before the draft started, Quinn was labeled as a "franchise quarterback in the mold of Carson Palmer."[22] He was projected to be picked in the top ten and even could have been the number one overall pick.[23][24][25] While many suspected the Browns would select Quinn with the third pick, Quinn fell to the 22nd pick in the draft.[26] Following the draft, Quinn was criticized by Joe Theismann in a radio interview, claiming that Quinn looked "unprofessional" when he was on stage following his name being called.[27] Theismann was bothered by the appearance of Quinn's hair and the fact that he was chewing gum.[27] Quinn responded by saying that he apologizes to "anyone, obviously, who is a Notre Dame alum, or for those fans who thought I wasn't being very business like",[27] saying that he was there for a long time and that the last thing that he thought of after his name was called was whether he was chewing gum or straightening his tie.[27] "I was just trying to get on stage as fast as possible and get that Browns jersey in my hand," Quinn said.[27] Cleveland Browns Brady Quinn's NFL debut as a BrownAfter an initial holdout,[28] [29] Quinn signed a five-year deal with the Browns worth a reported $20.2 million, with $7.5 million guaranteed. He could make up to $30 million with incentives.[30] Quinn's 10-day absence from training camp had all but ensured he will not win the Browns' starting job.[31] Quinn's first NFL action came in the 4th quarter of the second game of the 2007 preseason. He was 13/20 (65%) for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. On September 11, 2007 starting quarterback Charlie Frye was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a sixth round draft pick, moving Quinn to second on the Brown's depth chart behind Derek Anderson.[32] On December 30, 2007, when Anderson hurt his pinky and wrist, Quinn made his debut in the Browns' final game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers. Although there was speculation that the Browns would trade Anderson to get back into the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft,[33] Browns' general manager, Phil Savage, later stated that he hoped to sign Anderson, and keep both quarterbacks for the 2008 season.[34] Personal life Brady's sister, Laura, is married to A. J. Hawk, a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers and a former All-American at Ohio State.[1] He is a second cousin to Zachary Ty Bryan, who starred as Brad on the television show Home Improvement.[35] Quinn graduated from Notre Dame with dual degrees in political science and finance,[36] and currently resides in Dublin, Ohio,[1] but during the Browns season resides in Avon Lake, Ohio.[citation needed]

[edit] High school years Maroney attended Normandy Senior High School in St. Louis, Missouri, where he garnered four varsity letters in football, three in track, two in basketball, and one in baseball. In basketball, he was twice named team MVP; in track, he placed third at the state meet in the 200-meter dash as a senior. Maroney holds Normandy High School's single season rushing record, with 1,903 yards in 2002. [edit] College career At the University of Minnesota, he split duties with current Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber III in 2003 and 2004 and then with Gary Russell in 2005. As such, he started only 14 of 36 games, but still became the first Golden Gopher and the third in Big Ten Conference history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. He gained a total of 3,933 yards with the Golden Gophers and was a two time All-Big Ten First Team selection (2004-2005). He was also selected a All-American by Pro Football Weekly and Rivals.com in 2005. [edit] NFL career Maroney declared for the 2006 NFL Draft after the completion of his junior season and was selected in the first round with the 21st overall pick by the New England Patriots. He was the second running back selected behind Reggie Bush. While splitting time with fellow running back Corey Dillon in 2006, Maroney was part of what coach Bill Belichick called the best running back corps he had ever coached. After Corey Dillon was released, Maroney became the starting running back for the Patriots. In Week 4, Maroney earned 125 yards and 2 TDs (of 11 and 25 yards) on 15 carries, a performance that earned him both FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week and Diet Pepsi Rookie NFL Player of the Week honors. In Week 7, he was voted AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a 74-yard kickoff return, while in Week 8 he had a 77-yard kickoff return (the two longest non-TD returns of the season outside of Antonio Cromartie's 91-yard kickoff return against the Oakland Raiders). Moreover, those two returns gave Maroney the longest kickoff return average among all NFL players.[citation needed] In Week 11, Maroney had 82 yards rushing, and four receptions for 34 yards, including a 19-yard reception that became his first receiving touchdown. In total, Maroney earned 1,722 all-purpose yards in his rookie season. Although Maroney rushed for 835 yards in the Patriot's undefeated regular season, he became a huge factor in the post-season, compiling 244 rushing yards and two touchdowns in only two games before playing in Super Bowl XLII.

IT'S JACK NICHOLSON AT HIS FINEST PERFORMING ONE HELL OF A PERFORMANCE AS A MAN POSSESSED BY GHOSTS IN A HAUNTED OLD ENGLISH HOTEL. WHAT MORE CAN I SAY.

anyone see this? GAI Founder Says Company Open for Business, Phones Back on Thursday Nov 13 2007 6:48PM Beckett News by Pepper Hastings Global Authentication Inc., has relocated, is processing orders and is negotiating to have a presence at this weekend's regional collectibles show in Rosemont, Ill., company founder and VP Steve Rocchi told Beckett Media Tuesday night. Rocchi said that all customer orders "are safe, have been safe, and are in our building as I speak." Global (GAI) expects to issue a press release in the coming days detailing additional funding from a venture capitalist outside of the hobby. Rocchi says phone service to GAI offices should be restored by Thursday. He did not know when the company's Website would again be operational. The company received a court-ordered eviction notice last week after negotiations failed with the landlord to settle back payments on the office lease. Rocchi said he had two days to break down the office and vacate, and applauded his employees' loyalty and hard work during the crisis. In his first interview since GAI's hasty relocation, Rocchi said the experience has left him with hundreds of messages each day on his cell phone and surprised at the reaction from the sports collecting community when GAI disappeared from the radar. "I expected some reaction when this happened, but I never expected the firestorm of emotion that I saw," on Internet message boards, blogs and Websites, said Rocchi, the former president of PSA before embarking on founding Global Authentication in February 2002. "Personally, it's been very stressful. But I had a son who was very sick at one time -- he's fine now, thankfully -- but that's stress, having a sick child," Rocchi said. "This is just life. Is it how I wanted it to play out? No. I had a lot to say, but I didn't have any time to communicate it. I didn't want to make a comment until I had some solutions as to where we would be. So here I am talking to you." Rocchi said that when GAI found out it had two days to move that he personally took charge of inventorying all of the customer submissions. "That was the most important aspect of the move. I took care of that myself so I personally knew everything was in order. The rest of the office, our staff was great, they stuck with it, and I couldn't ask for a more dedicated group," he said, citing that head grader Mike Baker and the rest of the GAI staff before the move still is on the payroll. Rocchi said he wants to attend the Chicago Sun-Times show this weekend "to show we are here and everything is fine for the future. I would just like for the people who have dealt with us in the past, they know our reputation. You know my reputation. We are honest people, and we will make good on all orders now and in the future." GAI's new address is now suite 109 at the same street address (232 Avenida Fabricante) in San Clemente. According to the broker for that property, David Bolt of CB Richard Ellis real estate, each suite is "a condo-like structure and each condo is owned by different owners."

The Who's Who of Card Grading by Henry Woodruff In this day and age of sports card collecting, many businesses make their money from selling cards and memorabilia, while others make their profit from grading cards and authenticating memorabilia. Companies such as these, whose main goal is applying consistent grading to some of the most sought-after cards on the market and the authentication of autographs and collectibles, are some of the most respected and profitable companies in the industry, even competing with the major card manufacturers in terms of gross income. Companies such as Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS), Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC) and Global Authentication Inc. (GAI) have come out as the leaders in this coveted service market. Let's take a closer look at each company. PSA is a division of Collectors Universe, a publicly traded company that is one of the few hobby companies listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. As one of the most respected names in the business, PSA offers a 10-point grading scale from 1 (Poor to Fair) to 10 (Gem Mint) and has graded some of the most rare and valuable treasures in the hobby. Remember the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner that sold for $1.265 million? PSA graded that find an 8, which labeled it as a Near Mint-Mint (NM-MT) card. After leading the way in establishing card grading, PSA continues to come out with new innovations including the PSA Set Registry, which comprises a list of complete or nearly complete sets of players or years of cards graded by PSA for each customer. Some of the nicest sets that have ever been sold have been part of the Set Registry. With a huge milestone of over 10,000 sets now on the Set Registry, PSA has great cause for celebration of one of its most popular features. PSA also authenticates autographs, tickets and other items, making it one of the most diverse companies in the hobby. Collectors enjoy going to www.psacard.com to read the latest articles on card grading, authentication and auction results and to take part in the site's active message boards. However, monitoring of the secondary market reveals that PSA may be falling behind in terms of realized prices to a newer, up-and-coming company, BGS. BGS, another one of the most respected names in the hobby, offers a 10-point grading scale from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Pristine) and increments of one-half point such as 9.5 (Gem Mint). A grade of BGS 10 is one of the rarest treasures in the industry, topping a PSA 10 by an almost exponential amount of money on the secondary market. Another important aspect of BGS’ grading system is the option for collectors to receive a second grade, using a 5-point grading scale, which focuses solely on the quality of the certified autograph found on many modern-era cards. BGS also lets collectors know exactly what is wrong or right with their cards by the inclusion of four sub-grades listed under the final grade. These sub-grades go hand-in-hand with the final grade, meaning you can only get a grade that is between 0.5-1 higher than the lowest sub-grade. For example, if a card has sub-grades of 9.5 for centering and corners, 9 for surface, but 8.5 for edges, the card will receive a grade of 9 (Mint). This has allowed collectors to better understand what characteristics are problems for certain sets and/or years. BGS has arguably become the leading force in the graded-card industry and often outsells PSA cards of the same grade on the secondary market, as many collectors have come to believe that BGS is the hardest company from which to get a high grade. Collectors frequently head to www.beckett.com, home of BGS, to use the site's price guides and take part in its active message boards. But another respected company, SGC, has begun to take a piece of the hobby's service market sector. SGC, a very well-known company who recently reached their 5th anniversary, is a grading company that, like PSA, seems to attract vintage and pre-war collectors, mostly due to the fact that many feel BGS has little expertise with vintage cards. Offering a completely different grading scale than the other main grading companies, SGC uses a 15-point system that begins at 10 (Poor) and goes up to 100 (Pristine). In comparison, a SGC grade of 86 (NM+) corresponds to a BGS grade of 7.5. Some collectors prefer this system which offers a wider range of grades between EX+ and Pristine, so that a SGC 88 (NM/MT) would often be able to garner a premium on the secondary market over a similar SGC 86 (NM+), whereas both cards would likely grade a 7 or 7.5 from the other companies. To some collectors, a grade that begins with an 8 just seems more attractive than a grade with a 7 in front of it and this may be the underlying reason that SGC cards sell better than some of their counterparts from other companies. Watch for SGC to continue to gain ground on both PSA and BGS in the future as more and more collectors head to www.sgccard.com to get their cards graded. GAI, the newest of these card-grading companies, was started by former PSA employees including Stephen Rocchi, the founder and former President of PSA, and Mike Baker, the former Director of Grading of PSA. This helps make GAI one of the most respected companies in the hobby. With a 10-point grading scale and one-half point increments similar to BGS, except that a GAI 10 is called Perfect, it appears to many collectors to just be a copy of the larger company. However, GAI is much more diverse than BGS, with their programs for authentication of Hollywood memorabilia, historical items, autographs and unopened packs of cards at the forefront of their respective fields. Also, with the first cards graded at each level, a certification is issued labeling that card as the "first graded". For example, if you are the first person to submit a 1960 Topps Mickey Mantle and it is the first card to receive a grade of NM-MT 8 from GAI, the company will designate your card as First Graded. This allows for sellers of these cards to receive a small, but welcome, premium over cards that are not considered to be the first graded of their kind. It is these kind of small, but hobby-friendly, details that are making GAI into one of the leading card-grading companies. Look for collectors to visit www.gacard.net more often when they begin to get long-promised features up and running such as population reports and message boards. So, as a collector considering card grading, which company should you use? Here is some additional information about the pricing of each company's services and the additional features they offer that may make your decision easier: Quite frankly, PSA is great for fans of vintage cards and graded sets due to the Set Registry and their experience with older cards. However, in order to directly use the PSA grading service, you must join the PSA Collectors Club by paying a substantial annual membership fee. Then, you must pay an additional amount per card based on the desired service level. These fees often add up for those collectors who only wish to send in a small number of cards each year. However, membership gives you several free card submissions and access to additional features such as the PSA newsletter, the Set Registry, the Sports Market Report (SMR) - a handy printed and online tool that helps collectors know the market value of their PSA graded cards - and population reports that list the quantity of each grade given to a particular card. BGS, on the other hand, does not offer as many additional features to its submitters, but does not charge a yearly membership fee. Instead, collectors pay a set amount per card based on the desired service level, then pay additional fees per card if it is a certified autograph card or a pre-1981 card. The company also provides free access to its population reports. For its part, SGC does not charge any fees except to get cards graded. In addition, they offer free online price guides and population reports, which are valuable tools for any collector. The company also now offers its own set registry and is known to be very responsive to customer inquiries. Their collector-oriented approach makes collectors feel that SGC really cares about its customers and arguably the best grading company for considering the needs of collectors. GAI also does not require an annual membership fee for those just wishing to submit cards for grading, as you simply pay an amount per card based on the desired service level. There is, however, a substantial fee in order to optionally become a GAI Premier Member. By becoming a Premier Member, you receive a number of memorabilia items, several free card submissions and access to their online submission status check and online grade check, which allows members to look at where their submission is in the process including what grades they have received before they actually receive the cards. So, who's the leader of this group? It's a close call between PSA and BGS, but one would likely say PSA due to their extensive experience in card grading, respected name and preference by vintage collectors. This "vintage advantage", according to many in the hobby, is largely due to the overwhelming popularity of the PSA Set Registry. Until the other companies realize how big the graded-set market is, PSA looks like it will retain this advantage. In addition, until the other companies catch up to PSA in terms of volume of older cards, which does not appear likely, the other companies will continue to be outsold simply due to the fact that people will think that PSA has more experience with older cards. It is similar to following the crowd. If a collector or even just a random person sees a high number of PSA cards listed on eBay compared to BGS, SGC or GAI, they are obviously more likely to go with PSA if they have to make that choice. In the end, you should simply look over the web sites, service levels, pricing and additional features for each company and choose the one that best meets your particular collecting needs and budget. Each of these companies is respected and likely to make your move into the graded-card world a positive experience.