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Thoughts at the All Star Break

Baseball's All Star game is unique in that it's the only exhibition game to have a respect for its own history.
The NFL's Pro Bowl takes place after the Super Bowl, or, to put it another way, approximately 160 hours after the world has stopped caring about the sport. On a positive note, it's held in Hawaii, a bastion of NFL history if ever there was one. NOT!
The NBA? Ok...the Slam Dunk competition has some history, I'll grant that. Spud Webb. Dominique Wilkins. MJ. The game itself, though? It's not basketball...unless you believe defense isn't part of the game.
The NHL? Adopting the North American All Stars vs World All Stars gained extra attention for about 25 minutes. It is now what it always has been: offense. I feel sorry for the goalies, though. There is a skills competition, but where's the resonance? Where's Al Iafrate smacking a 94-mph slapshot? For that matter, who's Al Iafrate?
Soccer? Golf? Tennis? Lacrosse?
Mud Wrestling? Curling?
I have a baseball bias, but I am aware of the existence of other sports. The All Star competitions of other sports taken together and multiplied by each other don't stack up to baseball's. Bo going deep in 1989...Ripken's swansong in 2001...Williams' walkoff home run in 1941...Reggie hitting the power transformer in 1971...Rose breaking Ray Fosse in half in 1970...Carl Hubbell striking out five hall of famers in a row in 1934...and many more, including the embarrassing tie in 2002.
And the Home Run Derby...although it's a blasphemy against the game itself, what other skills competition sparks anywhere near that level of interest and reverence? People watch that competition in droves. Of all people, who would have ever guessed that Miguel Tejada would not only win this year, but set a record in doing so, when three other competitors had over 1,700 career home runs combined, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 3,000 all together? Not me.
I would have bet on Alex Rodriguez if anyone, simply because Enro...I mean, Minute Maid park is so friendly to right handed hitters. But there you have it. The Miggy Mash, as some have called it.
I didn't watch, by the way.
I did heartily enjoy watching Roger Clemens get the living crap kicked out of him in his home park, though. I have tremendous respect for what he's accomplished on the field (320 wins against 163 losses, 4,220 strikeouts). I grew up watching him pitch from time to time, including the first time (of two) he struck out 20 hitters in a game as it happened on television. He's the best pitcher of the last 25 years and could quite possibly be one of the top two or three of all time.
But he's always been the enemy and I like to see him lose. Call me mean-spirited. Still, he's a virtual lock to pass Nolan Ryan on the all time wins list (Ryan had 324 against 292 losses)..
Ryan was on hand as well in Houston. Someone I know said he thought that Ryan was the greatest pitcher who ever lived based on his 5,700+ strikeouts and his 7 no-hitters. I disagree completely. He was the most unhittable pitcher, maybe, since he never gave in to a hitter. Ever. He pitched for some rotten teams (leading the league in ERA once with a record of 8-16, which still amazes me).
I saw Nolan Ryan on my 12th birthday at Memorial Stadium. The Orioles always did well against him; they ended up winning the game and taking first place. Although he was well past his prime, he still had a mean fastball. He'd pitch a couple more no-hitters before he was through.
Ryan was one of a kind, but not number one all time. Top twenty, maybe. He walked too many hitters. He didn't play to his defense.
Is Clemens better? His record is much better over fewer games pitched. ERA is nearly identical (3.18 career to Ryan's 3.19). With 6 Cy Youngs...Clemens gets the nod for me. Ryan was unhittable, but never transcendent.
So I decided to take a look at a list I posted in an earlier rant. I'll take it point by point.

AL East Champ: Boston

Still possible, but looking less likely. There's a rumor that Randy Johnson may come in a trade, with Nomar leaving for parts unknown. That could alter the balance of power somewhat.

AL Central Champ: Kansas City

Uh...no.

AL West Champ: Oakland (to choke in the Divisional playoffs again)

That AL West is a beast! It's still up in the air.

AL Wild Card: ...Yankees

Yankees look like the favorite to win the East. If not, they'll nab the wild card.

AL MVP: David Ortiz

Possible. Vlad Guerrero will probably take home the honors, though.

AL Cy Young: Mark Mulder

If he continues at his current pace, he'll win.

NL East Champ: Philadelphia

They lead now. They have the talent. Will they do it? We'll see.

NL Central Champ: Houston

Their manager just got the ax. Highly doubtful.

NL West Champ: Arizona

See AL Central above...

NL Wild Card: Chicago

With Prior, Wood, and Maddux...they may just still win the division, let alone the wild card.

NL MVP: Richie Sexson

Hard to predict those early season injuries. Not going to happen.

NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson

Outside chance, but not likely, especially if he somehow returns to the American League.

World Series Champ: Boston over Chicago, seven games

That would just be way too cool. I don't think it's going to happen, though.

I did watch a whole two innings of the All Star game, actually. The 45 minutes of ceremonial stuff and associated commercial barrage were too much for me, in the end. Too bad.