You don’t see this very often. There is no surprise that Detroit Tigers fireballer Justin Verlander won the Cy Young award for the American League this season. Going 24-5 with 250 strikeouts and a 2.40 ERA will usually land you that award. However, it’s well-known that position players usually get the MVP award because they [...]
Remember when no one wanted Lance Berkman? The longtime Houston Astros slugger had hit 35-years of age and was left for dead. There is no way he had anything left in the tank. Then, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and knocked the cover off the ball. And he was rewarded for his efforts [...]
Who said that the Cleveland Cavaliers needed LeBron James? Everyone acted like as soon as he bolted for Miami, the team would go in the tank. Not true. The Cavs are still out there on the hardwood setting records. Last night, they set a big one. Following a 111-105 defeat at the hands of the [...]
In a not-so-stunning announcement, we’ve learned that Cincinnati Reds 1B Joey Votto absolutely dominated the voting to win National League MVP in baseball. He received 31 out of 32 first place votes to easily defeat St. Louis Cardinals’ 1B Albert Pujols and Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies. Votto was stellar this year (even if [...]
Stunning news from Michigan, Roy Halladay from the Philadelphia Phillies was awarded the NL Cy Young award today from people who vote on such matters. It was unanimous and rightfully so. Halladay went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 33 starts. Those who follow the Phillies know that he probably should have [...]
It may be small consolation to San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, but it’s still a decent award. After not collecting a single OTR award this season, Posey’s frustrations were mitigated a bit when he won a World Series title and now he’s been named National League Rookie of the Year. One of the few [...]
This is a new award for us, but we created it mainly with Washington Nationals centerfielder Nyjer Morgan in mind. Already appealing a seven-game suspension for throwing a ball at a fan in the stands, Morgan started a benches-clearing brawl today against the Florida Marlins. And for that, Morgan wins OTR’s Gentleman of the Week [...]
At OTR, we usually congratulate ourselves for doing a great job. It happens a lot. We aren’t in the business of congratulating others unless, 1. we somehow benefit, or 2. they did something like threaten their family with a golf club or shove their girlfriend down a flight of stairs. But today, we are willing [...]
The recent smackdown on USC was clearly something that the school wasn’t thrilled about. And with Pat Haden taking over the A.D. job from Mike Garrett, it seems that one of the first order’s of business was to distance the school from former RB Reggie Bush. In an announcement about Haden’s hiring, the school said [...]
After hearing about Houston Texans LB Brian Cushing’s four-game suspension for steroid use, the Associated Press decided to conduct a re-vote for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. It turns out, Cushing still won and we aren’t sure how. The committee knowingly voted for a guy that had a positive PED test in September [...]
In 1994, Russian forward Oleg Salenko won the Golden Boot (tied actually) award for the World Cup, which goes to the player who scores the most goals in the tournament. Amazingly, Salenko won the award despite getting knocked out in the first round. We guess that’s what happens when you put home five in one [...]
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks has been named the NBA’s Coach of the Year after his team finished with 27 more wins (50-32) than the previous year. PHOTO CAPTION: Rarely seen, Brooks exhibits bad coaching, Kevin Durant is on the sidelines Brooks will also be given the NBA’s Thank God Kevin Durant Is On [...]
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Rockets guard Aaron Brooks will be named the NBA’s Most Improved Player on Thursday, according to a person with knowledge of the voting. PHOTO CAPTION: Chris Rock is set to play Aaron Brooks in the summer thriller ‘Most Improved’ The 25-year old averaged 19.6 points per game this past [...]
Orlando Magic big man Dwight Howard is making this look easy. He repeated as Defensive Player of the Year for 2009-2010 by garnering 110 of 122 possible first place votes, earning 576 total points. Superman indeed! Atlanta’s Josh Smith was second with 136 points and Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace was third at 113 points. Howard led [...]
Eli Manning’s lesser-known brother Peyton Manning was voted the NFL’s MVP on Saturday, becoming the only player to win the award four times. Peyton Manning plays quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, a team that started the season 14-0 before losing the final two games to avoid the distractions of an undefeated season. Thusly, causing a [...]
Ndamukong Suh has become the first defensive player to ever win The Associated Press College Player of the Year award. If this doesn’t tell you what a raft of crap this award is, then we don’t know what will. Just like the Heisman Trophy, the award should be described as “the best player who plays [...]
