Player Profiles

I’m going to feature four rising young athletes starting with the last name P from the four major professional sports.

Dustin Pedroia: 2B Boston Red Sox, 25 years old
.324 BA, top five in AL in batting, MVP candidate

Pedroia is scrappy and steadfast, sprightly and spry. He has the grit you like to see from a young player on a big time ball club. It’s fun to watch this feisty player dive for balls in the infield and it looks like he is having a blast playing the game. Pedroia clocked two homeruns off Scott Kazmir in the second ALCS game. He has that rare power bat usually unknown at the second base position.

Zach Parise: LW N.J. Devils, 24 years old

Parise flies under the radar because of his sport and because the Devils have other prominent stars. Number nine scored two goals in each of the first two games for New Jersey, including an overtime winner versus the Penguins. Parise continues to improve and although has not perfected his game yet, has unlimited potential. His status should be alleviated with a successful 2008 Devil season on the ice.

Chris Paul: PG New Orleans Hornets, 23 years old

The Wake Forest product is a complete basketball player. His rebounding skills and selfless style are most impressive. Paul looks like he could pass for a high schooler but he was arguably the most valuable player in the league last year. He led the NBA in assists and steals. Paul played in Beijing for team USA where the point guard started 6 of the 9 games on his way to the gold medal. Paul is small but that enhances his maneuverability. Chris is a crowd pleaser and fan favorite.

Adrian Peterson: RB Minnesota Vikings, 23 years old
Explosive, electric and enigmatic as a runner, Peterson is so naturally gifted. Peterson poses peril when he has the pigskin in his palms. The former Oklahoma Sooner draws comparisons to Eric Dickerson. He went to the ProBowl in his rookie season and earned the game’s MVP award. He also was honored with Rookie of the Year offensively. Peterson is a polished professional who is a skilled blocker, runner and can protect the pass rush with precision. If Minnesota ever establishes the run, Adrian can single handedly win games.


Parting points: Did the Giants show up on Columbus Day in Cleveland? I hope they got every bad habit and mistake out of their system in that ugly setback.