Professional Golfer Phil Mickelson has in my judgment let time pass him by and not maintained his edge to be able to win any additional Professional Golf Tournaments. To this point in the 2009 Golf season Phil Mickelson looks as if he needs to be playing in a foursome with the rest of the over the hill duffers like me.

When one views Phil Mickelson attempting unwise and clearly stupid golf shots the questions needs to be asked, does Phil Mickelson care anymore? Maybe he does and maybe he does not, I certainly do not understand how someone with so much ability does so much to prove otherwise.

With the Master's Golf Tournament fast approaching in April 2009 I cringe to think how he (Mickelson) will go and perform with the many greats of the game that will be in the field for the Masters. With Tiger and Vijay and Retief and so on and so on, will Phil Mickelson even make the "cut" at the Masters in April?

Brett Favre has advised the New York Jets, through his agent, that he will be retiring from the National Football League and specifically as quarterback of the New York Jets, retroactive to the end of the 2008 football season.

Favre holds multiple records including most victories as quaterback 169, most consecutive games played 291, most touchdowns and most passing yards and most interceptions.

Brett Favre, in my judgment, made the same error in judgment as did Johnny Unitas and Joe Namath, staying one year too many. Brett Favre began the 2008 season on a high note and ran out of stamina by mid-season.

It is regretable that professional athlethes do not know when to leave for their own sake. Mickey Mantle retired at 36 years old, probably a year or two too late, his skills having eroded due to injury. Brett Favre will be remembered as a great quarterback having at least won one Superbowl. However Favre also leaves a year too late and a shell of himself.

The revelation that Alex Rodriguez had used steroids while a member of the Texas Rangers should not be treated like a big surprise. The only reason Alex Rodriguez admitted to Peter Gammons that he did use a banned substance is solely because the New York Yankees were probably behind the scenes threatening punitive action against Alex Rodriguez.

There are few people in the Baseball community that are more narcissistic than Alex Rodriguez. He is no more a great ball player than any journeyman player. I regret the fact that the New York Yankees have invested so much energy and money in a person that will probably have his skills eroded in another two ot three years.

Baseball needs to take a good hard look at the overall affect the game has on the youth of America. Would you want your child or grandchild to emulate Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens etc. etc. Their character is not much to talk about.

The real quality players in the game of baseball may be some of those that remain unsigned, maybe.......

It is not a surprise, at least not to me, that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003. If anyone thinks for a moment about the history of baseball and that hallowed designation "Home Run King" then they may wonder how someone like Hank Aaron, so well respected and only about 6 foot tall and 180 pounds could hit all those home runs.

When he was in his prime, most of his career, he never hit more than 47 home runs in any given year. Even Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio never hit 50 home runs in a baseball season. They each had tremendous ability and were basically slight in stature. Ted Williams was known as the "splendid splinter". I remember when he played.

Back to Rodriguez, Bonds, McGuire et al. They all resembled Arnold Schwarzenegger in their physique. I will acknowledge Baseball in General ignored what was happening. The owners and leaders of the game were too busy counting revenue dollars to worry about the integrity of the game.

When a baseball player had a 40 home run season that was considered pretty wonderful. Even Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle only had two 50 plus home run seasons each. Ruth had four 50 home run seasons and he certainly was not accused of taking steroids with his bulging belly physique.

The issue of steroids and Major League Baseball will remain center stage for a generation or more. What should be done about these players and the Baseball Hall of Fame? They simply should not be a part of the Baseball Hall of Fame.