Texas two-step

The 2009 Major League Baseball season recently hit the 81-game midway point. For the first time since 2004, 18 teams were at or above .500 on July 9. But, October births aren't earned in the early stages of summer. The grueling months of July, August and September separate the teams on the fence and the clubs destined for the playoffs.

Like it or not, we're here

Texas Rangers (47-36, one game lead in AL West) — The rangers have been near the top of their division for all of 2009.

I'll admit it; I sometimes say things that I don't mean. I specifically make bold predictions only to be different. Here's what I wrote in my American League preview for Sinclair Community College's newspaper The Clarion in April:

"Potential suspects to steal playoff berths for the postseason regulars include the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles.

I am completely sold on all three teams, but there is something to the Rangers. Though they lack pitching, Texas' offense is absolutely frightening. Led by Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler (above) and Michael Young, the Rangers should easily exceed the 5.2 runs per game average they boasted last season and win a tough AL West."

I hadn't bought into what I had written at the time, but I went with it because it was a different approach. I got tired of seeing the experts selecting the Anaheim Angels to take down the West.

It's hard not to believe what Texas has done so far. With Hamilton only participating in 38 games, the rest of the Rangers offense made giant strides in productivity.

Outside of leading baseball in HRs, Texas is generally ranked in the middle of the American League pack in a number of offensive categories.

Surprisingly, the Rangers pitching has been the anchor to a winning record. Led by Kevin Millwood, Texas starters are nine games over .500. In 2008, Rangers starters were four games under the .500 mark.

With Hamilton coming back to full strength and Kinsler ready to bust out of a dark slump, I expect Texas to continue its winning ways and become the last to stand in the AL West.

Doing what must be done

What's going on in the NBA's free agency period is raising goosebumps down the arms of NBA fans everywhere. And it's not even 2010.

A year before the most hyped offseason in the history of the league, the 2009 offseason is turing into a serious boosting stage for a bunch of already talented teams.

I'm no Los Angeles Lakers fan, but I was a huge fan of Ron Artest (left) joining the NBA Champions.

It's extremely exciting to see teams play for the present and a title run. I loved what Artest said on ESPN's "Sportscenter" on July 2 about taking a pay cut to play for the Lakers.

"I'm playing to win," he said. "I'm not playing for the money no more."

Too many times are we seeing free-agents head off to shaky franchises for some extra dough. After Kevin Garnett set aside his ego to move to Boston, I think players started to realize that legacies are made when you win; not how much money you make.

With Shaquille O'Neal in Cleveland, Vince Carter in Orlando and Artest in L.A., the NBA is going to experience a suspenseful season.

I can't remember the last time when five teams own a legitimate shot to take the title in the 2009-10 season. Boston, Orlando, Cleveland, San Antonio and L.A. should all collide when next seasons playoffs roll around.