By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
In just two years in the major leagues, Woodland (Calif.) native Dustin Pedroia has accomplished just about everything a baseball player could hope to do in a full career.
After helping the Boston Red Sox win a World Series title in 2007, the second baseman was named Rookie of the Year in the American League. His sophomore season has proven to be even better. He was named to the All-Star Game, won a Gold Glove, earned a Silver Slugger award and last week was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player.
Reaping in the awards is nothing new for Pedroia. A standout for the Wolves in 2001, Pedroia batted 445 and was named the league’s most valuable player. He also earned the Sacramento Bee’s Metro Player of the Year honor and was named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Team. A three-year starter at shortstop at Arizona State, Pedroia was drafted in the second round by the Red Sox in 2004.
Warren Sapp Dances with the Stars
Before he became known for being light on his feet on the reality TV show “Dancing with the Stars,” Warren Sapp terrorized quarterbacks in the NFL for 13 seasons. A six-time All-Pro selection, Sapp finished his career with 96.5 sacks and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999.
Two years ago, Sapp was also honored as one of the 33 greatest players in the 100-year history of high school football in the state of Florida. A graduate of Apopka High School, Sapp played linebacker, tight end and punter.
Drew Brees helps Saints set record
The New Orleans Saints set a team record Monday night for the most points in a game in a 51-29 win over the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Drew Brees had a big hand in the record as he threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns.
Brees is on track to break Dan Marino’s record of 5,084 yards in a season. He has 3,574 yards in 11 games and is averaging 325 yards per game. If he continued at that pace, he would end up with 5,200 yards for the season.
Brees was a record-setting quarterback in high school as well. At Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, Brees threw for 3,528 yards and 31 touchdowns his senior year in leading Westlake to a 16-0 record – the only undefeated season in school history. Brees was also named the Texas Class 5A offensive player of the year.
Tim McGraw hosts Saturday Night Live
Country music star Tim McGraw tried his hand at live comedy last week as he hosted Saturday Night Live. The singer is the son of former Philadelphia Phillies reliever Tug McGraw and Tim was recently in the news after he sprinkled some of his father’s ashes on the mound while throwing out the first pitch at the World Series.
Tim McGraw was a standout athlete at Monroe Christian High School in Louisiana. According to an interview in ESPN the Magazine, McGraw was all-district in football, basketball and baseball. Although he reportedly went to Northeast Louisiana University to play baseball on a scholarship, he eventually dropped out and went to Nashville to begin a career in music.
Sam Bradford joins Heisman race
Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford moved to the top of the Heisman Trophy race over the weekend with his team’s 65-21 demolishing of Texas Tech. Bradford threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns against the previously undefeated Red Raiders.
For the season, Bradford ranks second in the Big 12 behind Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell with 3,710 yards. However he leads the Big 12 with 42 touchdown passes. Bradford set an NCAA record for freshman quarterbacks with 36 TD tosses two years ago.
Oddly enough, coming out of high school Bradford was not one of the top prospects in the country. He threw for 2,029 yards and 17 touchdowns in his senior year at Putnam City North in Oklahoma City and was thrust into a starting role as a freshman for the Sooners when Rhett Bomar was dismissed from the team.
