Stock Up, Stock Down Week of May 4th 2009
By
STOCK UP
Carl Edwards – Going into the final lap at Talladega over the weekend Carl Edwards was in complete control and ready to add another Cup Series victory to an already stellar resume. But as he was coming down the stretch, newcomer Brad Keselowski had other ideas. After a horrific crash that could have been tragic had it not been for a catch fence that saved the lives of hundreds of fans, Edwards got out of his car and ran to the finish line. Add this to classic to the covers of men’s magazines showing off his yoked up physique , the classy way he constantly handles himself and the composure he kept during the wreck and Edwards’ stock is through the roof.
Red Sox – After sweeping a nine game home stand for the sixth time in team history, Boston has taken control of their rivalry with the Yankees and turned what used to be a regularly heartbreaking experience into a rally 
cry. The Sox, behind in the first two games of the series, lumped up Mariano Rivera and A.J. Burnett which made Yankees fans cringe. Jacoby Ellsbury’s theft of home plate in the series finale was the nail in the coffin and the type of highlight that defines a season.
NFL Draft – Just to prove how much of a stranglehold the NFL has on America, their Draft had higher ratings than some NBA playoff games this weekend. The fact that we tune in for hours on end to see players who have not played a down of NFL football get picked by their future team speaks volumes of the type of captivating product the League delivers, regardless of the event.
STOCK DOWN
John Tortorella – The New York Rangers coach threw a water bottle at a heckling fan. When that wasn’t enough and the heckling continued (not surprisingly), he decided to brandish a stick and go up into the stand to 
confront the guy. By no means do we excuse the idiot who was making homophobic remarks towards Tortorella directly behind the bench, but you have to, as a coach, keep your cool and let it roll off your back.
Oakland Raiders Draft Committee – The draft is a crapshoot and everyone realizes it. But when you take a player (CB Mike Mitchell), who on everyone’s board was a 6-7 round type prospect, in the second round that you could have probably signed as a free agent you have problems. Not to mention they will have to bury $25-35 million into WR Darius Heyward-Bey when they could have traded down or possibly grabbed him with their early pick in the second round. That’s why they are the Raiders!
Washington Nationals – At this point in the season, the Nationals were supposed to be hovering around .500, celebrating the acquisition of Adam Dunn and getting ready to welcome pitching sensation Stephen Strasburg’s arrival to the staff after drafting him with the number one pick in the MLB Draft. Unfortunately they are 4-14 and looking a 2010 first round pick directly in the face. With their propensity not to buy for draft picks, even those decisions could become negative stories in the nation’s capital.
- Colin Cowherd
