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• Your Rankings: Who is MLB's best player? | Chat: Jerry Crasnick on World Series, 2 ET

A lot of Yankees won their first World Series Wednesday night. CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira are first-time champions. Robinson Cano hadn't won a ring. And you don't hear people making a fuss over Brett Gardner. But, yes, Alex Rodriguez is a little different.

Criticized for years as a failure in the clutch, Rodriguez seemed to hit bottom with February's admission that he had used performance-enhancing drugs while with the Rangers. A quick refresher on how SportsNation felt about him at the time.

• 71 percent of SN said the revelation diminished their opinion of A-Rod.
• 67 percent of SN said the revelation put A-Rod's Hall of Fame chances in doubt.
• 48 percent of SN didn't believe A-Rod had been steroid free since 2004.
• 40 percent of SN though the controversy would impact A-Rod's on-field play.

And now? Well, 78 percent of voters think winning the World Series changes Rodriguez's legacy -- and almost a third of voters think it changes it significantly. But which part of 2009 will ultimately have more to do with his place in history?

• "As a Red Sox fan, I have respect for Jeter, Mussina, Rivera, Mattingly, Girardi as they are and were great Yankees players who just do the talking with their bats and their gloves. Those are guys who go out, play, and don't cheat. But A-Rod? I'll never have respect for A-Rod. He is a cheater both on and off the field." -- GeoffCalver
• "I'm glad we don't have to hear that he's a choker anymore, but I can't bring myself to be happy for him. He cheated and ultimately did more harm than good to the game of baseball." -- FearVladimir

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd considered renaming "SportsNation" TV the "Fall Classic."

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results are as of this afternoon (ET).

• 

  Who was more impressive Sunday?

  Brett Favre threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Percy Harvin had five returns for 175 yards to go with 84 yards receiving.

• 

  Is Kate Hudson partially responsible for Alex Rodriguez's postseason success?

  After a slow start in the World Series, A-Rod has batted in three runs in the past two games and the Yankees lead the Series 3-1.

• 

  What do you think of Florida suspending Brandon Spikes for one half?

  Was his punishment for apparently attempting to eye-gouge a Georgia player too lenient, too harsh or fair?

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd will be wearing No. 4 jerseys after they get off the "SportsNation" TV set.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

• 

  If you were a Packers fan, would you catch Brett Favre on a Lambeau Leap?

  Green Bay fans already have mixed emotions about No. 4's return, and a touchdown celebration probably would pour salt into open wounds.

• 

  Can the Yankees win without Alex Rodriguez?

  The slugger is 0-for-8 in the first two games of the World Series and made an error that allowed a run Thursday night. He hasn't looked comfortable at the plate.

• 

  Who fires up a crowd more?

  Musical stars Jay-Z and Alicia Keys pumped up the Yankee Stadium crowd before Game 2. Philly's hometown asset is the fuzzy, lovable Phanatic.

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd will be blocking kicks all day on "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

Are you rooting for or against Alex Rodriguez?
A-Rod has finally broken out in the postseason and is saying all the right things. Of course, he still plays for the Yankees.

What should the NFL do to better protect officials?
Umpires could be outfitted with helmets or repositioned in future seasons to prevent injuries from collisions between players and officials.

Which was more impressive?
Was Reggie Bush leaping into the end zone or Adrian Peterson crushing William Gay a more spectacular play?

What do you think of Mark McGwire becoming the Cardinals’ hitting coach?
Is it a big deal that the slugger has never addressed questions about PEDs, or is it time to stop talking about the past and look to the future?

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Vote on ALCS: Which Angels hitter is most dangerous in the clutch?
• Postseason Quiz: Do you know how to run the bases better than the pros?

Remember back when CC Sabathia was a postseason question mark, and Alex Rodriguez was the postseason answer you knew you didn't want? In other words, remember last week? Now people can't get enough of the Yankees' latest primetime playoff performers.

Sabathia had allowed 22 earned runs and 22 walks in his first 25 postseason innings. But after a strong outing against the Twins in the division series, he now edges out Philadelphia's Cliff Lee as SportsNation's first choice to start a must-win game.

• 57 percent of SN, including 71 percent in NY, say pitch Sabathia on short rest in ALCS

And after driving in 17 runs in his first 39 postseason games, A-Rod drove in six in three games against the Twins. But with the game on the line in the ninth inning, would you rather have Rodriguez at the plate than Derek Jeter?

“

This is the right move. With the 3 off days it only makes CC pitch on short rest once that is game 4, and it makes the bullpen deeper. Starters only need to go 6 innings. Joba 7th, Hughes 8th, Mo 9th game over.

” -- con1030

“

Jeter in the regular season: .317/.388./459. Jeter in the post season: .311/.380/.477. So no, Jeter isn't "clutch", he's just a damn good player.

” -- yanks23242

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd promise not to retaliate against each other with anything more than words on today's edition of "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics, vote on the biggest stories and chat during the show, on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of afternoon ET.

Do you consider Alex Rodriguez a clutch baseball player?
A-Rod hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 15th Friday to beat Boston 2-0. He hit another home run last night. Is that clutch?

Would you use some of your trick plays during an NFL preseason game?
Titans punter A.J. Trapasso faked a punt and then scored on a 40-yard touchdown carry. Should you save tricks for a real game or test them?

Does Ozzie Guillen's warning protect his batters?
Does Guillen's warning mean any player can now take a shot at the White Sox and the Sox won't be able to respond without getting in trouble?

Are the Red Sox too old to win a World Series title?
The Sox senior players, Jason Varitek, Mike Lowell and David Ortiz, went 3-for-33 with one RBI against the Yankees. Are the Red Sox too old?

Would playing a round of golf with Tiger Woods bring out the best or worst in your game?
Would you be so in awe of Tiger that you'd use a driver instead of a putter? Or would you play your best?

Is Tom Brady's best football ahead or behind him?
Tom Brady led the Patriots to a perfect regular season and a near-perfect postseason. Can he ever do better? (Vote below!)

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd are better than two grand slams in the same inning. Check them out on "SportsNation" TV.

Ignore the pitch counts, discuss the hot topics, vote on the biggest stories of the day and chat during the show on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET.

What are your thoughts on public displays of affection?
Kate Hudson and Alex Rodriguez went public with their romance this weekend. And there are all those happy couples and proposals in the stands.

Does being rated the nation's No. 1 party school help or hurt recruiting?
Penn State is at the top of the list this year. Who doesn't want to have fun at college? What's this talk of going to class and practice, anyway?

If you went to jail for two years would your job welcome you back?
Roger Goodell is giving Michael Vick a chance, if any team will sign him. Would the bosses where you work be as accommodating?

Is trash talking among athletes good or bad for sports?
Alberto Contador has nothing nice to say about Lance Armstrong. Good thing they'll be racing on different teams next year in the Tour de France.

Should Shaq be allowed to do whatever he wants?
The big guy is everywhere: Twitter, TV, Cleveland. Besides being a basketball behemoth, he's also a cultural colossus.

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

"SportsNation" TV's performance today won't determine home field for any playoff series, but Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd will run out every grounder and play as hard as they can, anyway.

Share your thoughts, vote on the biggest stories of the day and chat during the show on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET.

Whom did Jessica Simpson distract more?
Cowboys QB Tony Romo reportedly split with Simpson, with whom he vacationed in Mexico, during the bye week before the playoffs in January 2008.

Was Blake Griffin's Vegas performance a big deal?
The top draft pick, and latest Clippers chosen one, scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his summer league debut Monday.

Would you throw a strike on a ceremonial first pitch?
President Obama, like Presidents Bush and Nixon before him, will toss out the first pitch at the All-Star Game in St. Louis.

Would Allen Iverson help or hurt the Clippers?
A.I. could be playing in Los Angeles next season, but first the team wants to know whether he'd be willing to come off the bench.

Would you watch more than one Home Run Derby event per year?
Prince Fielder won this year's Derby, but a one-night contest hardly settles who is the best home run hitter in baseball.

And our final question ...
Alex Rodriguez, slowed this season by a hip injury and various off-field scandals, is hitting only .256 with 17 home runs at the All-Star break.

What is "SportsNation" TV and how do you make your voice heard on the broadcast? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

SportsNation is pretty definitive that a lot of players with big numbers won't be making induction speeches in Cooperstown. But as more and more names are crossed off the list due to performance-enhancing drugs, will the plaque-making industry go under entirely?

It appears fans tired of disappointment are turning to Ken Griffey Jr. as a beacon of legitimacy. Among the four active players who either have 500 career home runs or are within striking distance, Griffey is the only player with anything close to unanimous support for the Hall of Fame.

SportsNation's Hall of Fame Approval Ratings
Ken Griffey Jr.: 97 percent
Jim Thome: 64 percent
Gary Sheffield: 50 percent
Carlos Delgado: 50 percent (if he reaches 500 home runs)

And what about Ivan Rodriguez, who Wednesday night set a record for career games caught? A guy with double-digit totals in Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances, Pudge has the support of a healthy -- but far from unanimous -- 67 percent of SportsNation.

It used to be that hitting 500 home runs was an instant ticket to Cooperstown. More and more, it seems like the benchmark guarantees a player won't have to worry about navigating the backroads of upstate New York. But while a solid majority of fans now disqualify Sammy Sosa based on his reported use of performance-enhancing drugs, there is a sizable voting block that contends his numbers, 609 home runs and all, just weren't good enough.

Performance-enhancing drug concerns disqualify him
Mark McGwire: 64 percent (January, 2009)
Sammy Sosa: 65 percent (June, 2009)

He deserves to be in Cooperstown
Mark McGwire: 29 percent (January, 2009)
Sammy Sosa: 20 percent (June, 2009)

Numbers weren't good enough
Mark McGwire: 7 percent (January, 2009)
Sammy Sosa: 15 percent (June, 2009)

• Ticket to Cooperstown: Which active players with 500 home runs will make it?