No one knows how long Shortstop Michael Young and first baseman Mark Teixeira will be together in Texas. Young is signed for 2007, with a club option for next year, and negotiations are underway to extend his contract.
Teixeira is under contract for 2007, but 2008 will be an arbitration year. That means Teixeira will be eligible to become a free agent after the 2008 season, and since Scott Boras is his agent, the money to keep him will be the main issue.
“Well Tex is a little different, (than Michael Young)” says Rangers Owner Tom Hicks. “We'd love to have Tex, but Tex has an agent who has a process he follows that, we'll respect that process. So, our conversation with Tex will be down the line.”
An extension for Young would be similar to Chase Utley and Vernon Wells. Utley received $85 million dollars while Wells received a $126 million dollar contract. That makes the median average annual salary around $15 million dollars.
“We're talking to him, (Michael Young)” says Hicks. “We'd love to do something. It’s a business and he's got an agent who's doing his job for him, but Michael is the kind of guy I think who should be the face of this franchise, he has been, and he should be.”
Fans know that unless something is done, time is running out for both players.
“If I thought that way, I'd be thinking to the future,” say Young. “I'd be thinking about what lies in store for both he and I, but for me, its always like this. Last year, it was 06 or die, the year before it was 05 or die, and I'm taking the same attitude this year. This team is going to get everything I have for the 07 season. After that, we'll take it as it comes.”
For Teixeira, the future is now.
“You always want to win now, after June, July or August, when your out of the race, you start thinking for next year,” says Teixeira. “You start thinking for next year. You know its here. One more year, and it may not be anymore in Texas, so we're just going to go out there and play hard to win here because we want the fans to be excited about Texas again.
There is no question that the Rangers would like to have Young and Teixeira to have long productive careers in Texas, but in the end it will come down to two things, one is money, the second is their desire to be on a team that can win a championship.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
Lincoln Kennedy Trys Comeback at Age 36
Lincoln Kennedy has been out of pro football for the past three seasons, but this year at age 36, he's trying to make a comeback with the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football league.
“It’s just trying to get acclimated,” says Kennedy. “It’s like that old theory, once you learn how to ride a bike, you learn how to ride it. You may not be as proficient as if your riding every day, but once you get back on you know what you’re doing.”
Kennedy retired from pro football in 2003 after a career that included three trips to the pro bowl as a member of the Oakland Raiders. He was drafted in the first round 1993 by the Atlanta Falcons. He never won a Super Bowl, but he did play in one, losing in Super Bowl XXXVII against Tampa Bay. Talk about credentials.
“Yeah the guy is a three time pro bowler, All American, and the guys look up to him, just from the standpoint from what he's done,” says Desperados Head Coach Will McClay. “He's come in, and fit in within the group. He's realized that he's got a lot of things to learn. He’s fit in well, so that's clearing the first hurdle there.”
“I’m not sitting here to say I'm going to go another ten years,” says Kennedy. “I mean that's not realistic. I don't want to be George Blanda playing this game. I'm trying to get this last bit out of me. I want to finish off what I started a long time ago when I said i want to play 12-years professionally. I finished with 11. I came up a little short of my goal, so I want to see that 12th.
Kenney has no idea how long he'll be able to play the indoor game, but as long as he likes football and is still able to play, it really doesn't seem to matter.
“What I'm doing right now, at this particular point of my life, is that you play for just the year that your in,” says Kennedy. “Let everything fall in front of you. Come as they may. I didn't leave with an injury. I left because I was burned out. I was mentally burned out, and when I reenergized mentally, and put that focus back into perspective I was able to come out.”
Kennedy admits his body has been slow to catch up, but if he can make it a12th year, there is certainly nothing wrong to shoot for 13.
“It’s just trying to get acclimated,” says Kennedy. “It’s like that old theory, once you learn how to ride a bike, you learn how to ride it. You may not be as proficient as if your riding every day, but once you get back on you know what you’re doing.”
Kennedy retired from pro football in 2003 after a career that included three trips to the pro bowl as a member of the Oakland Raiders. He was drafted in the first round 1993 by the Atlanta Falcons. He never won a Super Bowl, but he did play in one, losing in Super Bowl XXXVII against Tampa Bay. Talk about credentials.
“Yeah the guy is a three time pro bowler, All American, and the guys look up to him, just from the standpoint from what he's done,” says Desperados Head Coach Will McClay. “He's come in, and fit in within the group. He's realized that he's got a lot of things to learn. He’s fit in well, so that's clearing the first hurdle there.”
“I’m not sitting here to say I'm going to go another ten years,” says Kennedy. “I mean that's not realistic. I don't want to be George Blanda playing this game. I'm trying to get this last bit out of me. I want to finish off what I started a long time ago when I said i want to play 12-years professionally. I finished with 11. I came up a little short of my goal, so I want to see that 12th.
Kenney has no idea how long he'll be able to play the indoor game, but as long as he likes football and is still able to play, it really doesn't seem to matter.
“What I'm doing right now, at this particular point of my life, is that you play for just the year that your in,” says Kennedy. “Let everything fall in front of you. Come as they may. I didn't leave with an injury. I left because I was burned out. I was mentally burned out, and when I reenergized mentally, and put that focus back into perspective I was able to come out.”
Kennedy admits his body has been slow to catch up, but if he can make it a12th year, there is certainly nothing wrong to shoot for 13.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Hall Of Fame Racing Prepares For Second Year
It was Roger Staubach's 65th birthday, but it could just as easily have been a celebration for the start of Hall of Fame Racing's second season. Last year, the team owned by Staubach and Troy Aikman finished the year without any wins. For two former quarterbacks used to winning, that may have been the hardest adjustment of all.
“I remember when we coming in 17th and we're high fiving each other,” says Staubach. “it was last year at Daytona, and we're like in a state of shock. We didn't know what was going to happen.”
Driver Tony Raines finished nearly 98-percent of the races he started, and in NASCAR, that's always a good start.
“Ha ha, we did that pretty well, says Aikman. “If you win prizes for that, then we would have won something.”
Even better news is that the team finished high enough last year to be locked in for the first five races this year. Last season, Raines had 29-starts for Hall of Fame Racing, and this year he is guaranteed to be in the field for only the second time at Daytona.
“Having been through everything, that's a plus,” say Raines. “As a group, we're not nervous, we're not going in there looking around, and looking over our shoulders, we know what we need to do now, we've been there.”
“He's ready,” says Aikman. “He's ready to race a full schedule, and we're looking forward to now seeing how he'll do, under better circumstances, and also what we feel is a good crew chief, should help him.”
So while Staubach is celebrating a birthday, Hall of Fame Racing is celebrating the beginning of their second year. But the event they're all waiting for is that first celebration in the winners circle.
“I remember when we coming in 17th and we're high fiving each other,” says Staubach. “it was last year at Daytona, and we're like in a state of shock. We didn't know what was going to happen.”
Driver Tony Raines finished nearly 98-percent of the races he started, and in NASCAR, that's always a good start.
“Ha ha, we did that pretty well, says Aikman. “If you win prizes for that, then we would have won something.”
Even better news is that the team finished high enough last year to be locked in for the first five races this year. Last season, Raines had 29-starts for Hall of Fame Racing, and this year he is guaranteed to be in the field for only the second time at Daytona.
“Having been through everything, that's a plus,” say Raines. “As a group, we're not nervous, we're not going in there looking around, and looking over our shoulders, we know what we need to do now, we've been there.”
“He's ready,” says Aikman. “He's ready to race a full schedule, and we're looking forward to now seeing how he'll do, under better circumstances, and also what we feel is a good crew chief, should help him.”
So while Staubach is celebrating a birthday, Hall of Fame Racing is celebrating the beginning of their second year. But the event they're all waiting for is that first celebration in the winners circle.
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