By Scott Woodall
Professional Sports hasn’t seen many dual sport athletes lately. But Jessica Alba in a bikini has got me thinking maybe good things come in two in Oakland .
So, I was wondering. Picking from the young crop of talented 2010 MLB prospects – who could feasibly play a second pro sport? Most notably NFL Football, in addition to MLB Baseball. Ala Deion Sanders or Bo Jackson. I don’t even want to think of anyone playing NBA Basketball and MLB Baseball. The thought of a lanky 80’s Danny Ainge in a Toronto Blue Jays uniform, or Michael Jordan catching air while striking out for the White Sox makes me shudder. I will spare you the photos I was going to post.
Who could be the next Bo Jackson?
That outfielder in the Washington Nationals system, prospect Michael Burgess sprang to mind. But from pictures, I thought he was a bigger man. Although he looks built like a brick shite’ house - he is only listed at 5’11” and 195 pounds. So, he’s hardly tall enough to become a stellar wide receiver, and doesn’t have the bulk to be a lineman.
So let’s move on.
What about Jeff Samardzija? Hmmm…another WR possibility. But he seems way too content with his choice to become a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. Whether Wrigley Fields future mound bear lands in the Cubbies rotation, or as a reliever is still anyone’s guess, but I think Notre Dame & football are in "The Sharks" rearview mirror. Sorry Jeff, despite your pretty convincing Bo Knows impersonation - you are not likely the next Bo Jackson either.
So who is?
Well. Here’s a thought. What about the Oakland A’s Brett Wallace? He already is on the cusp of playing for the Oakland A’s – so why not follow in Bo Jackson’s foot steps & play for the very same Raiders Nike Bo played four seasons for?
Hmmm. Okay, wait. Before you send your angry letters. Keep in mind baseball is still months away & so we’re just having a little fun here.
He’s young, turning just 23 this year. He’s a pretty big guy by baseball player standards.
In fact, according to NFL.com the average player in the National Football league is 6’1 1/2" and 245 pounds. Ironically, our Sonoma, California hero stands in at exactly 6’1" 245 lbs! He’s obviously athletically gifted, despite some shortcomings defensively at the hot corner. He throws right, but he bats left handed, and was a Triple Crown winner not once, but twice while attending Arizona State University .
So, no doubt to some degree he has already figured out the art of hitting – and his keen eye projects well for the inevitable transition to the Major Leagues. But could he learn the rigors of a NFL playbook on top of a 162 game MLB schedule? Hmmm.
The 4 and 8 Raiders, who according to NFL Power Rankings are still not exactly Super Bowl contenders. And so maybe as the Raiders celebrate their 50th year as a franchise they need to think outside the box?
Despite hanging in tough for Bruce Gradkowski, and their recent victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers - is the notion of the Men in Black, who are not that chalked full of talent, utilizing a fullback with redwood sized thighs any given Sunday insane?
Hell, if I really wanted to poke a stick at the Oakland A’s franchise and/or Raiders Nation
(Yikes! No Thanks!)
I could point out that it’s not as though Brett Wallace would get burned out by playing in too many MLB or NFL playoff games! But a statement like that would possibly be detrimental to my health.
But seriously, will the blue chip prospect & key player in the 2009 season trade deadline deal that sent Matt Holliday to the St. Louis Cardinals consider donning a NFL Raiders helmet anytime soon? That might be a tough bet to make. BetUS Sportsbook Long shots are fun, and certainly can warrant a ton of money if you gamble your predictions right, but here’s the cons to our argument for Brett Wallace in the NFL:
First of all. Wallace, to our knowledge outside of the tossing a football around in the back yard with his father Larry Wallace – has never played any organized football.
Secondly, I think Billy ‘Moneyball’ Beane is probably too smart not to covet his precious acquisition without having plenty of legal smeagol contract stipulations that would rule out such a dual sports balancing act.
The only pro sports ring Brett Wallace will ever potentially wear is a World Series ring. Hey! Stop snickering, pompous Yankees fan! The A’s could be this years AL version of the 2009 San Francisco Giants. They are a raw but talented group, who I think could be a lot of fun to watch if Beane can try and maintain this nucleus for a little longer than the 15 minutes he’s allowed the last few ‘A’s teams’ to gel!
And finally, Wallace’s favorite movie is The Natural
. So, if he plans to emulate Roy Hobbs, he’s probably more apt to be pounding baseballs towards light towers – rather than getting pounded on during the MLB off season.
With the A’s recent acquisition of former Chicago Cub Jake Fox, as well as the rising star of the Stockton Ports Chris Carter. (Not the former Minnesota Viking Chris Carter, and not the Red Sox Chris Carter. Man, there are too many darn Chris Carters!) the A’s seem bound & bent on finding ways to score runs and drumming up ways to create some much needed power and offence.
Wallace making the team right out of the gate next season may have got a little more difficult with the Jake Fox signing. But a solid Spring Training will make the likelihood of him putting on a Green and Gold jersey come April much closer to reality than wearing silver and black on his back while flirting with the Oakland Raiders Cheerleaders in between plays next Fall.
One thing is for sure. The A’s proved last season they are not afraid to start youth when their 2009 Opening Day roster began, handing the ball off to Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson every 5th day right at the onset of the season.
I think they will continue this Baby A’s trend throughout 2010. So, if you are banking on a Deep round Fantasy Baseball Sleeper in 2010, don’t let the A’s Jake Fox signing scare you away from Wallace too much. The bat of Brett Wallace will indeed find ways into the A’s lineup in 2010, but Raiders Nationand Darren McFadden will just have to kick things up a notch, and find other things to cheer about!
And no, we won’t start any heinous rumors of Brett Wallace
It’s been a pretty wild Winter for trades and free agent signings – but thus far the Halladay deal, unless a Matt Holliday package can top it will be the biggest MLB swap of this offseason. Either way, spring training will see lots of new faces in Arizona , and Florida dugouts! How long before pitchers and catchers report!? I can’t wait!
