On This Day In Red Sox History: Clemens Ties Own Record

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On September 18. 1996, the Red Sox played the Tigers at old Tiger Stadium in Detroit. The matchup was the second of the series, with the Red Sox having taken the first game 4-2. Roger Clemens was on the mound for the Sox in the midst of a stellar stretch to close out the season. He faced off with young left-hander Justin Thompson. Thompson would be an all-star the following season but was still finding his footing at the big league level.

Clemens’ 1996 Season

Roger Clemens had been struggling for much of the 1996 season, pitching to a 4.36 ERA by the end of his start on August 1st. He went on a dominant stretch over the final two months to close out his free agent season. Heading into this game with the Tigers, Clemens was 5-1 with a 2.17 ERA over his previous seven starts. Those numbers would only get better as the night wore on. The 34 year old Clemens would go on to strike out 20 Detroit Tigers batters on the night, tying his own Major League record set back in 1986 against the Seattle Mariners. He was the only person to ever accomplish the feat at the time.

Breaking Down Clemens’ Historic Strikeout Feat

Clemens struck out two batters in the first, then struck out the side in the second. He struck out two more in both the third and fourth innings before striking out the side again in the fifth. He gave up a leadoff single to Brad Ausmus in the sixth, but proceeded to strike out the next three batters. Clemens struck out two in the seventh and two in the eighth to give him 19 strikeouts through eight innings. He had struck out at least two batters in every inning.

Maybe he had worn down some from all the work, but the first two outs in the ninth inning were not by strikeout, leaving Clemens still one away from the record with one out to go. He came through, striking out Travis Fryman for the fourth time in as many at-bats to tie his own Major League record.

An incredible 14 of the 20 strike outs were swinging. Clemens got 32 strikes total on the night swinging. 101 of his 151 pitches on the night went for strikes. Six of the eight Tigers starters struck out multiple times, with Phil Hiatt striking out in his only at-bat off the bench. Travis Fryman struck out in all four at-bats, including the 20th punch out on the night. Tony Clark struck out three times.

Other Noteworthy Peformances

Bill Haselman was Clemens’ catcher for the game. When Haselman caught Clemens that season, The Rocket had a 3.10 ERA. In all other starts made by Clemens, his ERA was 4.71. In addition to his catching, Bill Haselman had a three hit game at the plate and drove in two runs. Joining him with three hits was September call-up Rudy Pemberton. Pemberton was a former Detroit Tigers farmhand and was having a heck of a September for the Red Sox. He had the only two extra-base hits for either team on the night, doubling twice amongst his three hits. Mike Greenwell had two hits and stole a base. Nomar Garciaparra stole the very first base of his Major League career.

The entire game is actually available on YouTube to watch. I watched it for the first time a couple years ago, as the night it happened I was relegated to listening to the game on the radio. If you aren’t a crazy fan like my and just want to see some highlights, enjoy the clips of all 20 strikeouts by Roger Clemens that night below.

What Will Aron Baynes’ Role Look Like This Season?

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Aron Baynes broke onto the scene last season as a serious impact player for the Boston Celtics. The New Zealand born 6’10, 260 pound big man appeared in all but one game for Boston last season, and started 67 matches. At the ripe age of 32 this season, Baynes appears to be leaving the stages of his prime and beginning his regression towards the depths of retirement.

Baynes entered the league at an older than normal age, debuting with the San Antonio Spurs on January 25th, 2013. He was undrafted out of Washington State. After spending three years with the Spurs, he signed with the Detroit Pistons where he spent the next two years. Last season was his first as a Celtic.

After playing so much time last year, the Boston faithful have to wonder if he will provide a similar impact this season. To really give you a good answer, we need to understand why he did so well last year for this team.

What role did Aron Baynes play last season?

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It only took five minutes for Gordon Hayward’s season to be over with a busted ankle. When Hayward went down, minutes opened up in the forward positions.

Jayson Tatum ended up playing the small forward position more then originally planned, and he did well. However, Marcus Morris started the first several games at the power forward. Head coach Brad Stevens felt that Morris would be better coming off of the bench and started giving the starting nod to Baynes, who brought a fierce defensive presence to the starting rotation.

Baynes ended up averaging 18 minutes per game and 6 points, while holding a defensive rating of 103. He also helped tremendously with second chance points, as he averaged 1.6 offensive boards per game. He shot 47% from the field for the season and 75% from the free throw line.

Will he see the field like that this season?

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Aron Baynes is a great complimentary piece to any team, and could probably start on half of the teams in the Eastern Conference. However, Baynes plays for the Boston Celtics, who have arguably the best roster, from top to bottom, in the NBA right now.

The minutes that Baynes had won’t be there this season. Between Hayward returning (providing he stays healthy), Jayson Tatum, and Marcus Morris, there isn’t a lot of time available. I would imagine that Stevens will move him to Center and play him between Al Horford and rookie big man Robert Williams III.

However, Aron Baynes will still make his presence felt on the court.

Main Image Credit: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Tom Brady Appears Questionable About Josh Gordon

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Tom Brady speaks about Josh Gordon

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady seems questionable about the trade the Patriots made for Josh Gordon. Josh Gordon has had his troubles on and off the field. Gordon told GQ in November that his ritual before and after games was drinking, smoking, and partying.

“We would stay at the team hotel and then players are allowed to go back home, get what they need, and then go to the game. So I’d leave the hotel early morning, go home, eat breakfast, do my little ritual, whatever it may be, some weed, some alcohol, and then go to the game. And then, I’d definitely be partying after every game, win or lose. Every game.”

Brady hasn’t had a big name receiver since Randy Moss

Tom Brady hasn’t really had a deep threat since Randy Moss. Moss was different because he never was into hard drugs off the field or in trouble with the law. Brady told Westwood One yesterday

“I hate to make projections and expectations, That’s not fair. I’ve never met Josh, personally — just like I hadn’t met some of the guys who have come in the last couple of weeks. We’ll see how it goes this week. Hopefully, he can work hard, put the team first, and end up helping us in any role that he can find for himself on the team.”

It doesn’t seem too promising, but Brady realizes at this point the Patriots are desperate and needed to do something at the position.

I can see why Brady would be questionable about the move. Gordon could be just like Chad Ochocinco or have a great season as Moss did. Belichick doesn’t put up with the distractions or the nonsense, so if Gordon does miss a meeting you can expect to see Gordon off the team quickly. Gordon is quick and can get open which is what the Patriots need especially with Edelman out until October.

No Need to Panic About the Patriots

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New England Patriot fans should not panic over the loss to Jacksonville. Every year the Patriots seem to have a hiccup or two in September, and every year people are in panic mode. 2018 has started the same way three particular seasons have started, but ended in February.

No need to panic

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Patriots Start Slow and Finish Strong

Let’s look back to September 7th 2014 against Miami. In Week 1 the Dolphins took it to the Patriots, holding the offense to zero points in the second half. New England dropped the first game of the season 33-20 to start 0-1. After that first game people were concerned, it wasn’t until Week 4 until panic set in throughout New England.

Monday night football against the Chiefs was a complete nightmare for fans, and a celebration across the country that the dynasty was finally over. New England was embarrassed on national TV, losing 41-14 leaving them 2-2 to start the season. Bill Belichick’s famous line, “we are on to Cincinnati” was repeated to every postgame question. Panic had set in by this point, all for nothing. New England didn’t panic. They went to Cincinnati and dismantled the Bengals 43-17. As the season went on the Patriots only lost two games after that, ending 12-4 to go on to win their first Super Bowl in ten years.

Two Years Later No Need to Panic Again Right?

In 2016 the Patriots got shut out at home 16-0 by the Buffalo Bills, again a bad loss in the first four games. Unlike 2014 the panic wasn’t as high, but there was concern. Just as it happened in 2014, New England started with an early loss, yet they only dropped one other game, ending the season 14-2. With a great playoff run, Patriots fans were once again in panic mode during the Super Bowl. Down 28-3 with just minutes left in the 3rd quarter, once again this team showed why they shouldn’t be doubted and how they Never panic. Another nail-biting situation, the Patriots went on to make the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history beating Atlanta in overtime.

Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports

Last year Patriots fans were in shock, more panic than ever

2017 started out with some reconstruction to the stadium, making room for a fifth banner. Fan’s were in a state of euphoria, as the Patriots had just won two Super Bowls in three years. Opening night had arrived, the circus was in town like Bill Belichick has said about banner games since 2001. Something else had arrived that night at Gillette, the Kansas City Chiefs. After all the fireworks and celebration, New England came out looking confused on defense. History was about to repeat itself once more in 2017. Kansas City embarrassed the Patriots on national TV again, beating the defending champs 42-27.

Again New England started the season 0-1, but it got worse as the defense couldn’t figure it out for the first four weeks, losing in Week 4 to the Carolina Panthers 33-30. Another 2-2 start to the season led fans to start getting worried again, just like usual the Patriots only lost one other game that year. Ending the season 13-3 and getting back to the Super Bowl again. Only this time the Patriots didn’t win the final game of the year, but it just goes to show, this is just what happens with the Patriots. They start off a little slow, not showing all their cards, still figuring things out. So should fans be worried about starting 2018 1-1? No, the answer is written in history. Especially this season with so much turnover from last year.

New England is going to take the first four games to figure everything out like they have been for years. September is an extension of the preseason for the Patriots to try different things, while they might start off slow fans should know by now they always finish strong. New England is on to Detroit after a familiar September loss, with a new WR and rookie RB Sony Michel. I’m here to say to anyone who is worried. Look at the recent timeline of events, there is no need to panic.

Bill Belichick Still Won’t Talk About Josh Gordon

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Bill Belichick Silent on Josh Gordon

The Patriots signed Josh Gordon, however, Belichick won’t talk about it. It’s not even known if Gordon is even in Foxborough yet for his physical. With Gordon’s very bad history of staying in the league due to his substance abuse issues, Belichick could be smart and not announce the acquisition yet. Again, Gordon is a higher risk than Randy Moss with off-field issues with substance abuse. New England isn’t the Cleveland Browns- they actually care about winning here.

Gordon Has Played in 41 Games and Caught 16 Touchdowns in His Career

Bringing in troubled players off the field has been a recipe for Belichick. However, is Gordon the worst out of the bunch? Let’s look at Corey Dillion, who had his troubles with the law from DUI’s to domestic violence arrests. In three years with the Patriots he rushed for 3,180 yards and 37 touchdowns. Albert Haynesworth didn’t have the work ethic on the field to keep up with the Patriots. His off-field issues were not as bad as substance abuse, but he did owe lots of child support. Chad Ochocinco couldn’t get the Patriots offense at all, which could be a concern for Gordon down the road.

As for Belichick’s conference call this morning he’s playing it smart. What if something happens and he fails his physical. Now Gordon can’t play on Sunday and could get released before he even steps onto the field. It probably is also the reason why Brady was a little skeptical of the troubled wide receiver too. Tomorrow is practice and Belichick will meet the media. By then Gordon should’ve already had his physical all set and ready to practice with his teammates. Also, the press conference will be a must watch. Again, the Browns aren’t the Patriots. One mess up and you’re gone.

RONALDO: Fifth Player in History to Reach 400 League Goals

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Photo courtesy:
FOX Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo is fifth player to reach 400 but has his sights set higher.

  1. Bican: 578
  2. Puskas: 514
  3. McGrory: 410
  4. Seeler: 406
  5. Ronaldo: 400

Breakdown of goals in his career 

SPORTING C.P.

Photo courtesy:
LIGA NOS

When he first broke through in Portugal with Sporting he notched 3 goals in Primeira Liga. In a friendly game versus Man United the legend of Cristiano Ronaldo was about to begin as Sir Alex Ferguson saw the potential of the young Portuguese player.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Photo courtesy:
ManchesterUnited.com

He then moved on to England with Manchester United where he began his scoring tally with 84 goals in the Premier League. His game was fine tuned under the tutelage of the leaders on the team and this helped him round out his all around play on the field.

REAL MADRID 

Photo courtesy:
RealMadrid.com

Next stop was Spain for Real Madrid in La Liga where he reached peak level and netted 311 goals. This is where his potential shined the most with the constant battles versus Messi and Barcelona bringing his talent to the CR7 we all know worldwide.

JUVENTUS 

Photo courtesy:
Getty Images

His latest endeavor has been for Juventus in Serie A in Italy where 2 goals in his most recent game got him to the 400.

After going through his own scoring drought which for Cristiano Ronaldo is big news, an easy tip into the net sent Allianz Arena into complete bedlum. It hasn’t been for a lack of opportunities or hard work that he had not scored a goal officially for Juventus in his Serie A games but the longer this lasted the more questions would have arisen about his age and if he had possibly lost a step. His scoring could not have come at a better time as Juventus are about to begin the Champions League tournament. He is looking to win his 6th UEFA Champions League title.

He keeps himself in phenomenal shape and will give everything he has on the training field and weight room to try and give himself the opportunity to go as far as he can with his potential.

Follow on Twitter: @SOURCEFRIAS

Red Sox Should Target Three Relievers This Offseason

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The bullpen has been a thorn in the Boston Red Sox’s side many times in 2018. To say that it is a bad bullpen is, quite frankly, a bad statement. However, it seems that they may not be a threatening bullpen to opposing teams. They can get the job done, but are they reliable to have a lock-down inning when needed? Red Sox fans loathe the moment when a relief pitcher comes in to a high leverage situation, in 2018.

This season has been a fantastic one as of now. Currently at 103 wins and one win away from clinching their third AL East title in as many years. The writing seems to be already on the wall for this impending postseason. The bullpen is barely trustworthy.

This is a small cloud that is seen in a huge ray of sunshine. Not to be redundant, but this Red Sox team is legitimately good. However, every team has its weaknesses and this is one that can carry into next season if not addressed. Don’t expect a trade, as the Red Sox don’t have a lot of pieces they can afford to give away for the time being. Thus, it’s never too early to look at who the Red Sox could sign in the offseason. Here are three serious options they should consider:

kimbrel

1. Craig Kimbrel

Hear me out on this one before you shoot me.

Yes, we all know that Kimbrel isn’t having a fantastic season. Yes, he is having the worst season of his career when it comes down to FIP. A statistic that is, of many things, very telling of how a pitcher could perform in the future.

When it comes down to who the Red Sox currently have that can take over in case of Kimbrel’s departure, it’s frightening. Currently the closer role would have to go to Ryan Brasier, who has been the most reliable pitcher this season for the Sox. Even then, Brasier is unproven (38.1 IP in his MLB career) and Kimbrel should not be replaced with Brasier just yet. Also, some current closers on the 2019 free agent market are not worth breaking the bank for.

Kimbrel knows what it’s like to pitch in Boston, experience the media, fans, ballpark and the pressure of a big market. He’s experienced success and struggles with this team. He knows what is needed of him, and he is the best available option in the 2019 free agency class. It’s time to trust Kimbrel again.

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2. Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller has been on my list of “Relief pitchers I want next season” and there are a lot of reasons as to why this still holds water. Since 2016, he is ranked first (high leverage situations) in average against, ERA, FIP, xFIP, WHIP, BB/9, and K/BB among all relief pitchers that will be a free agent in 2019.

He’s been to a World Series, seen success and failure throughout his career and is a seasoned veteran. Also to note, he has a 1.10 ERA in 32.2 Postseason innings pitched.

One final note is that he has also experienced what Boston has to offer, being that he was with the club for four seasons. He knows what is expected of him just like Kimbrel, and Miller can be the guy that can bring this bullpen to a new level if added.

Familia2

3. Jeurys Familia

Never would a former Mets player would be on a list of players that I would put my trust in, yet here we are.

Jeurys Familia has quietly put together a pretty good career up to this point. Albeit, he hasn’t looked unhittable since joining Oakland but that’s besides the point. His numbers in high leverage situations are very good and he does a great job at keeping the ball in the yard. Familia is someone that the Sox can potentially replace Kimbrel with if talks fall through. He’s proven to the world that he can close out games (51 saves in 2016) and can produce in a big market city.

One final note on Familia, is that he is younger than the aforementioned options. This is one less worry for when this team has to lock up some of the younger guys.

@ELJGON

An Unexpected Hero for the Red Sox?

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The Red Sox bullpen has far and away been the biggest struggle of this team. Craig Kimbrel has been lights-out lately, which is a great sign. Ryan Brasier has come out of the shadows in 2018; putting up a mid 1.0 ERA in about 30 appearances since he got here. Bobby Poyner is looking more and more like a reliable lefty specialist every day and Brandon Workman has been very effective with a 2.33 ERA in 39 appearances. After those four guys, that’s when it gets scary.

Matt Barnes had pitched his way to a 2.25 ERA up to August 5th, but it would only go up from there. In the month of August, Barnes would pitch to a 9.64 ERA that would raise his season total to 3.39. Hitters were also hitting with an OPS over 1.000 against him. Not very encouraging considering the fact that he was looked upon as the 8th inning man for a little while. Then come Heath Hembree and Joe Kelly, two guys who are currently pitching their way out of the postseason roster.

After starting the season with a 1.73 ERA, Kelly has raised it up to 4.19. He put up a 8.31 ERA in June, only to put up an 8.38 in July. He had a much better August and attained a 1.42 ERA in 12.2 innings, with hitters only hitting with a .675 OPS against him. However, he went back to his old ways in September, pitching to an ERA over 8.0 again thus far. Heath Hembree, on the other hand, had only one good month. One. That’s it, and that was back in June. Besides that, his ERA has consistently been over 4.0 Not good. The bullpen certainly looks worrisome going into October. However, there is someone who is able to help out with this problem. An unlikely someone most would probably say.

Steven Wright Is That Man

Steven Wright pitched out of the bullpen several times this season before starting four games in the rotation. Through his first three starts his knuckleball was dancing, and he only gave up one run in 21 innings. After giving up ten runs to Seattle in his fourth start he went on to the DL with left knee inflammation. He would make a comeback at the beginning of September, and little did we know his role back on the team was much bigger than we thought. Steven Wright is now a late reliever for this bullpen.

Ever since Wright has returned, he’s had six appearances, pitching seven innings and not giving up a single run. He’s struck out six and only allowed five hits. It’s safe to say Wright’s knuckleball has been dancing. The only problem is that it could end up dancing too much for the Red Sox own good. Wright is what he is, a knuckleball pitcher. It’s nothing against Wright personally, it’s just the knuckleball in general. Just like Tim Wakefield at times would make you nervous.

The Wright Guy

I’m not worried that Wright will come into a game, give up a bunch of hard contact and get shelled. The problem is you can’t control exactly where a knuckleball is going to go. Him coming into a game for one inning gives off a little uneasy feeling for that reason. He may come in and walk a couple of guys if he’s wild. And those guys may be able to move up on the base paths with a pitch that the catcher can’t grab. The last thing you need is a runner on third coming home in a postseason game because of a knuckleball that ends up being a wild pitch.

I’m not saying that Wright shouldn’t be a part of this bullpen. I am a big Steven Wright fan, and I definitely think it’s an intriguing idea that’s worked so far. Besides his six walks, Wright has looked really good. He’s just going to have to avoid putting guys on base via the walk. If he’s able to do that, the Red Sox may have a lethal postseason weapon in their hands. A hero that you didn’t see coming.

Who Is the Greatest Footballer of All-Time: Lionel Messi

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International championships or not, Lionel Messi is the greatest player to ever live. There is no one better. While some will argue Cristiano Ronaldo, or argue Diego Maradona is better. They are sadly mistaken. With Messi’s hat trick today, he has 48 career hat tricks and eight total in the Champions League, which gives him one more than Ronaldo’s seven. There is only one Messi and the world may never get someone quite like him ever again.

Messi’s Accolades

Let’s start with his club awards. Since 2004, Lionel Messi has brought nine La Liga championships in 14 years. That’s a 64% winning rate for him. In the five years, he didn’t win the league, Messi and Barcelona were the runner-ups four times. In Messi’s 14-year career with Barcelona, he has come in first or second place 13 out of 14 years. Messi has also helped bring Barcelona six Copa del Rey championships, two runner-ups, seven Spanish Super Cups, four UEFA Champions Leagues, UEFA Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups. That is a total of 32 championships for club. In comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo only has 25 total championships, and he has played for four different teams over his 16-year career. All of that only makes up Messi’s club championships. For is individual honors he’s won five Ballon d’Or, been the runner-up five times and came in third once. He’s won FIFA World Player of the Year once came in second twice, Won the World Cup golden ball and the FIFA Club World Cup golden ball twice. In terms of championships, no one even comes close to what Messi has accomplished over his 14 years career.

Stats

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Lionel Messi also has the stats to back up his accolades. Just for Barcelona, he has made 643 appearances scored 558 goals and registered 215 assists. That is only 17 goals less than Christiano Ronaldo, who has two years in hand on Messi. If you think Messi won’t score 17 goals in two years, you have never watched Lionel Messi play. Messi also has a higher goal per game average than Ronaldo with an outstanding 0.87 goals per game compared to Ronaldo’s 0.75 goals per game ratio. Now for internatonal play. Yes, Lionel Messi has never won any International competitions, but that doesn’t take away from his stats on the national team. In 128 caps he has scored 65 goals and tallied up 40 assists. Ronaldo might have better stats than Messi in some departments, but there is no doubt that Messi will eventually catch up to the majority of what Ronaldo has done. No matter where Messi plays, he dominates the field like no other athlete ever has. And that is why messi is the greatest footballer of all time

Williams

The Celtics With the Most to Prove this Season

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Who’s got the most to prove going into the 18-19′ season?

The Celtics enter the new season with an intriguing mix of players on the roster. They have a collection of established stars, developing contributors, long term projects, and unknowns. In this article, I’ll take a look at who on the roster has the most to prove to fans and the organization come October. Let’s get started.

Robert Williams, F/C

This one is a no brainer for most Celtics fans who have been paying attention this summer. Williams has a well-documented history of laziness. Two incidents specifically come to mind- the first where he overslept his introductory conference call. The other is when he missed his plane flight to the first summer league practice of the summer. There are certainly motivation problems here, and he needs to be whipped into shape.

The other major concern is his play style. Williams is a defensive minded player, and more than holds his own inside the paint on both ends. But his shooting is a major concern. He seems to be the only player on the roster who can’t make a shot from outside the paint. Williams has a lot to prove this season if he wants to silence his doubters.

Terry Rozier, G

I know it seems like Scary Terry has nothing left to prove after his emphatic showing at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs last year. However, this is the year where Rozier really has to show what he’s got. This is a contract year for him, and he’s got to keep up the production if he wants to get his money.

Rozier won’t get as many minutes as he got in the postseason last year, but it’s what he does in the minutes he plays that counts. It’s not like Rozier doesn’t have areas to improve in, either. A big improvement spot that comes to mind is consistency (Remember that horrendous game 7 of the ECF?). It’s time for Rozier to show out if he wants to get paid.

Gordon Hayward, F

Yes, Gordon Hayward has a lot to prove this season. After All-Star campaigns in Utah, Hayward only appeared in a Celtics uniform for five minutes this year. After Boston’s run of success, Hayward’s value became more and more downplayed as the year went on. He needs to show Boston fans the superstar player that the C’s signed last summer. He doesn’t need to post the same numbers that he was posting with the Jazz. However, he does need to show the fans that he can still play at a high level after the devastating injury that he suffered. Can he come back from it? Signs point to yes, but he needs to come out and shove it in our faces that he’s a top-tier talent.

Got any you felt were left off the list? Any you think shouldn’t have made it? Tell me on Twitter: @jackbuffett_