Robby McKittrick Sports Communications & Journalism Portfolio

For the first time in Dustin Pedroia’s long tenure with the Boston Red Sox, he is receiving real criticism from the fans and the media. This past week, there were reports that Pedroia was one of the many Red Sox players who applauded David Price for mocking and yelling at Dennis Eckersley. Some reports conflicted with each other, however. Some reports said that he did clap for Price, others said that he did not. The possibility that Pedroia did show public appreciation for Price’s actions resulted in a backlash from the media and fans. Writers and talk show hosts started questioning Pedroia's ability to be the leader of the Red Sox. “This is why we need David Ortiz in the clubhouse. Pedroia can’t do the job, so we need Big Papi back." That has been the message all week long. If there is one thing that Pedroia has earned in his 10-year career it is the benefit of the doubt. Pedroia has played at a consistent level every single day for his enti...

The average NBA player makes roughly $6 million per year. The average MLB player makes about over $4 million per year. The average NFL player earns above $2 million per year. The great players in these leagues make much more than the league average. For example, James Harden just signed a massive contract that would have him making around $40 million per year. Clayton Kershaw is the highest paid MLB player, making $32 million per year. Andrew Luck signed a contract that pays him about $25 million per year in the NFL. People often complain about professional athletes making too much money. However, if you complain about athletes making a lot of money, then you should complain about any performer who makes millions of dollars. You should complain about actor George Clooney or rapper Eminem for their large salaries. All of these professionals are paid to entertain an audience. For some reason, it is the fact that these professional athletes play sports that bothers pe...

Why is Pete Rose not in the Hall of Fame? The short answer is because he gambled on baseball, and that is against the rules. Pete Rose should not have bet on baseball. But the fact that he did should be irrelevant to his Hall of Fame status. What is the baseball Hall of Fame supposed to represent? It should consist of the best players of all time. In terms of stats, it is undisputed that Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. He is the all-time leader in hits with 4,256. Think about that number for a second. It’s absurd. To obtain 4,000 hits, a player needs to average about 200 hits for 20 seasons. The best hitters in the game may obtain 200 hits for a number of years. But to sustain that over 20 years is unbelievable. Did gambling help him achieve over 4,000 hits? No, it did not. So why is it that betting on baseball keeps you out of the hall of fame? According to the requirements posted on the baseball Hall of Fame’s website for getting int...