Alfonso Soriano is one happy camper tonight. He just signed a deal with the Chicago Cubs that stretches up to 8 years and 136 million dollars. Yep, you read it correct, 136 million dollars. Soriano had several large market teams hunting to add his bat to their lineups and had enough respect to be labeled the top Free Agent. Now that he is off the radar of many teams, they will turn their attention and checkbooks to the remaining bats that are available. Problem is, the price tag associated with these few remaining power bats is on the rise, primarily due to how much Soriano ended up making.

So what is the big deal? With teams able to freely spend and large market clubs shelling out insane amounts of money for top players, the less fortunate clubs have no choice but hope and pray they are able to compete with lesser talent. How does that make MLB more competitive? The luxury tax that high spending teams have to pay is a drop in the hat compared to what is spent and its spread out amongst all the teams. That hardly makes the playing field even. Until baseball is able to understand and accept that the sport would be much more competitive if they would cap the spending, this surplus of contract dollars will continue. Do you think 136 Million dollars for 8 years is justified?

- Matt Riedl

Who would have picked the Dallas Cowboys to be the team to hand the Colts their first loss? Alright, the entire state of Texas can put their hands down now. With the Colts fired up for this away game no one could see that turnovers and missed opportunities would be the straw that broke the camels (or should I say colts) back. The Indianapolis Colts didn’t look like their normal selves, turning the ball over more than usual and being stumped by the Dallas defense. Manning threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and lost a fumble. Although Manning threw two touchdown passes, he seemed confused and disoriented, a far cry from his usual commanding presence at the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys often made Peyton Manning, who had been (and probably still is) a runaway choice for league MVP, look mostly ordinary by mixing up coverage and keeping constant pressure on him.

So are the Cowboys actually a better team as the final score suggests? No, but even a broke clock is right twice a day and it would appear that the numbers or fate was in the Cowboys corner this week.

Now that the Colts don’t have the pressure of the perfect season hanging over their heads, will they right the ship and come back guns-a-blazin’ next week against the Eagles? Who knows, but one thing is for sure; there will be no pressure on Coach Dungy to make a decision on sitting or playing his stars in preparation for the postseason.

I would be interested in finding out what you think about the Colts and their season so far? Do you think they are a better team than the Bears who share the same W/L record? Do the Colts have what it takes to go all the way this year?

- Matt Riedl

Left-hander Kei Igawa was posted by the Hanshin Tigers on Friday.
Because the MLB offices are closed for Thanksgiving, bids for Igawa won’t be due in until Nov. 27. It looks like this is how the Tigers wanted it so MLB teams had a couple extra days to get into a bidding war. The Padres, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Yankees, Braves, Mets, Cubs and Indians have all been linked in the media as being interested and possibly making a bid for Igawa. If teams start getting desperate before that time, the bidding could reach into the 20 million range, a small price compared to the 50 million the Red Sox bid to negotiate with Matsuzaka.

So who would be interested in a lefty starting pitcher who consistently throws strikes and racks up 15 wins a season regularly? There isn’t a team out there that wouldn’t want to add him but the bidding process caters to teams that have extra money to spend beyond just the players contract. Igawa looks to cost around 10 million a year in salary, which could make the final cost including the bid amount right around 30 million dollars. Is he really worth it?

- Matt Riedl

The NHL’s winningest goaltender, Patrick Roy was inducted Monday into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Roy was elected in on his first year of eligibility after amassing 551 regular-season wins and 151 playoff victories — both NHL records. He may be one of the most decorated NHL goalies of all time, amassing three Conn Smythe Trophies (1986, ‘93, ‘96) as playoff MVP and three Vezina Trophies as the NHL’s top goalie (1989, ‘90, ‘92). He also found himself on the winning team of the Stanley Cub 4 times during his 19 year career in the NHL. No one deserves to be in the Hall of Fame more than Roy whose day to day play showed up regularly on Sports Center Highlights and Great Hockey Compilations with heart thumping music added in the background.

So, who do you view as the greatest goalkeeper of all time?