Leading Ladies of Daytime Shine Brightly

By Allan Brown

The Emmy is the highest honor a performer can receive.

And while 7 of the 10 actresses I've chosen as the best to ever grace the daytime drama stage have been honored with that award, three of them have not - one, in fact - never even received a nomination.

Whether these actresses have been honored - or ignored - come Emmy time, in no way takes away from their vast contributions to the genre nor their phenomenal talent, either.

In my last blog, I chose my 10 best actors and, in this one, I'm selecting the actresses who I feel are the most outstanding to ever appear in soap operas.

To say that the genre is a woman's one is no understatement. With that said, it was much more difficult for me to select only 10 leading ladies to appear on this list. I gave strong consideration to the following, who just missed my cut.

Jane Elliot, Robin Strasser, Genie Francis and five-time Emmy winner Heather Tom narrowly missed the final cut, testament to just how loaded this category actually is.

And Emmy wins weren't necessarily a huge barometer for my choices, even though the majority of my selections do have multiple Emmy awards on their mantle.

So without further ado, here are my choices for the 10 best actresses to ever appear in daytime dramas. And, of note, except for my #1 choice, it was extremely difficult to put these splendid actresses in any kind of order, as they are all unique, they are all talented and were all game changers in the industry.

10. MAEVE McGUIRE (ex-Nicole, The Edge of Night, ex-Elena, Another World, ex-Kate, Search for Tomorrow, ex-Judith, All My Children.) As Nicole on the late, great EON, McGuire turned a a haughty performance as a bad girl turned good. good enough to be the lead of that show during its heyday. Her romance with Adam (Donald May) was arguably the greatest romance in that show's 28-year history. McGuire then used her unique abilities to portray two entirely different characters on AW and AMC, the latter a homophobic snob who was nothing like the other two major roles she had previously played. An underrated, true superstar of the genre, she received nary even one Emmy nomination in her 30-year daytime career, yet is still fondly remembered by those who were witness to her nuanced, sophisticated performances.

 9. SARAH BROWN (ex-Carly/Claudia, General Hospital, ex-Julia, As the World Turns, ex-Aggie, The Bold and the Beautiful, ex-Madison, Days of Our Lives.) When Brown exploded onto the daytime scene as the original Carly on GH in 1996, she immediately screamed superstar. Three Emmys and four other roles later, Brown proves that she can do it all, naughty, nice, romantic and devious, with equal fervor and depth. Daytime isn't the same without her commanding presence in it.

 8. VICTORIA WYNDHAM (ex-Rachel, Another World, ex-Charlotte, Guiding Light.) Wyndham was able to transform Rachel from a hated villainess to a beloved heroine without losing the former's fangs. Rachel could - and did - stand up for whatever she believed was right, even if it was only in her own mind (think trying to bribe Blaine divorce Jamie, Rachel's son.) Of course the love of a good man (Mac, portrayed by my #1 Best Actor of All Time, Douglass Watson) helped Rachel make that transformation, but she never lost her edge. Her fight scenes with Watson were legendary. Her chemistry with all of her leading men (Watson, David Canary and later Charles Keating) was electric. The leading lady of the now-defunct soap for its last 24 years, Wyndham played it all and did it with class, dignity and panache. Another Emmy-less actress on this list, it's difficult to reason as to why she never collected the honor in her three nominations, especially when witnessing her work in retrospect some 20-30 years later via YouTube.

 7. JUDITH LIGHT (ex-Karen, One Life to Live.) One need only watch Light's tour de force performance on the witness stand - perhaps the greatest soap moment in history - to see why Light is on this list and won two Emmy awards. Her later success in primetime proved what soap fans already knew, she could balance high drama with humor and a special presence that is illuminating. 

 6. ELIZABETH HUBBARD (ex-Lucinda, As the World Turns, ex-Althea, The Doctors.) A two-time Emmy winner, Hubbard inexplicably never won the honor for her 26-year portrayal of Lucinda on ATWT, maybe because she just made it look too easy. Her Lucinda was over the top, yes, but so on spot, that fans to this day, wonder why she didn't take daytime's highest honor for that role. A true treasure, Hubbard is one of the few actresses in the business who could make reading a phone book seem like an Emmy moment. Fortunately, viewers who missed - or weren't even born - during her TD run can now watch her tremendous Emmy-winning performance on the Retro TV reruns of the classic medical drama.

 5. SUSAN FLANNERY (ex-Stephanie, The Bold and the Beautiful, ex-Laura, Days of Our Lives.) As opinionated off screen as her B&B character was on screen, Flannery, winner of four Emmys (three for B&B) is a daytime treasure. In lesser hands, Stephanie would have been the most-hated character on daytime, but in Flannery's capable ones, she turned that character into B&B's most loved and integral one on the show. Although Flannery retired from daytime - and Stephanie succumbed to cancer - a few years ago, I wouldn't be opposed at all to B&B using that old soap cliche of the unknown twin separated at birth being written into the show should she ever decide to make a return to the genre.

 4. KIM ZIMMER (ex-Reva, Guiding Light, ex-Echo/Bonnie, One Life to Live, ex-Nola, The Doctors.) A larger-than-life persona, both on and off screen, Zimmer may not be everyone's cup of tea. But, her four Emmy wins prove the Academy members know brilliant acting when they see it. No one wears her heart on her sleeve as well as Zimmer. Her performances are raw, they're nuanced and their mesmerizing. The 'Reva in the Fountain' scene is arguably the second single best performance by an actress in the history of the genre (Light's courtroom confession on OLTL is undoubtedly #1) and is one I could watch over and over without ever getting bored. Zimmer can play heartbreak and pathos better than anyone in the business.

 3. ERIKA SLEZAK (ex-Viki/Niki, Jean etc....One Life to Live.) Holder of the all-time most Emmy wins by an actress in a daytime drama with six, Slezak deserved every one of those golden trophies. As Viki, Slezak portrayed the 'to the Manor Born' heroine to perfection. Yet, it was when her alter personalities emerged that Slezak was able to let loose and hit it out of the ballpark. OLTL wouldn't have made it past 10 years on the air, much less 42, without her commanding presence and stellar, depth-filled performances.

 2. MAURA WEST (Ava, General Hospital, ex-Carly, As the World Turns.) The only actress on this list who is currently still in the genre, West is a treasure and has been ever since she first hit our screens as Carly on ATWT 20 years ago. She turned that girl from the wrong side of the tracks into the show's lead heroine in its last 15 years on the air and then found a second role of a lifetime (and third Emmy Award) as GH's Ava, a charaacter who could have easily been used and discarded in one simple story cycle, in the hands of a less capable actress. When West is on the screen, you can't help but watch, she's that good. In my opinion, there's no current actress on soaps who even comes close to matching West.

 1. BEVERLEE McKINSEY (ex-Alexandra, Guiding Light, ex-Iris, Another World, Texas, ex-Emma, AW, ex-Myrna,GH) This one wasn't even close, McKinsey is the finest actress to ever grace our daytime screens and the only one in the top five to never have won an Emmy. She didn't need one. Her divine talent spoke for itself. From the deceitful Daddy's Girl on AW to the classy, yet not one to suffer fools gladly, Alex on GL, McKinsey's characters, like the actress herself, didn't suffer fools gladly. While Iris was the most layered and complex villainess ever to appear on daytime, McKinsey - like West now - was fortunate enough to find another role of a lifetime in Alex. In both roles, she could turn at the drop of the dime, delivering heartfelt, even syrupy lines, in one moment, and venomous, hateful ones the next, both with equal aplomb and fervor. Both roles were complex and both displayed McKinsey's wide range of abilities to perfection. Go to YouTube to watch McKinsey's spin as Iris and then watch some of her GL work (especially the Country Club scene where she rips into Michael Zaslow's Roger to see her range and gusto) if you don't believe me. McKinsey made every scene special, every scene golden. That she never won an Emmy for Iris - or even received a nomination for Alex - is not just a travesty, it's downright criminal.

Daytime's Finest Actors Raise Genre to High Level

By Allan Brown

The soap opera ain't what it used to be.

Before the Trial of the Century - that would be the O.J. Simpson Murder Trial for those too young to remember - and before reality TV became the guiding force of primetime television, forcing huge budget cuts and mass cancellations of many of the daytime dramas, soap opera was king, the cash cow, whose revenues provided the monies the networks needed to back their primetime series.

To put into perspective just how huge soaps were in the 70s and 80s, some 30 million people witnessed the wedding of Lucas Lorenzo Spencer to Laura Webber Baldwin on General Hospital, a ratings record that stands to this day and a number that is sure to never be shattered.

Soaps were in vogue and college students jam packed student unions to watch the latest developments in their "stories," as they were affectionately called by the viewing faithful.

My, how times have changed.

The Nielsen numbers of the 70s and 80s equal - if not surpass - even the largest ratings of today's most popular primetime hits.

Of course, that was before cable and before reality TV.

It's too bad because if you didn't grow up in that special era, you didn't get to witness the magic of the genre, or the powerful performances of the stars who shone in them.

Many of those stars continue to turn in powerful, Emmy-worthy performances each day. Some have left the genre and others have passed.

The recent death of five-time Emmy winner David Canary, who was so superb as Adam and Stuart on "All My Children," got me to thinking who were the biggest and the best daytime stars of all time.

So, here is my purely subjective list of the actors and actresses who out performed all the rest in the genre.

BEST ACTORS OF ALL-TIME:

10. ERIC BRAEDEN (Victor, The Young and the Restless.) Some 35+ years ago, Braeden was hired for a short-term run on the #1-rated daytime drama, but Creator William Bell saw something special in the actor and changed the character from a straight villain to a multi-dimensional leading man, who can still play bad better than anyone else in the genre, while provoking sympathy and empathy from the audience. It doesn't hurt that Braeden's romantic pairing with Melody Thomas Scott's Nikki to this day is the leading coupling of the show and the stuff that supercouples are made of.

 9. GERALD GORDON (ex-Nick, The Doctors, ex-Mark, General Hospital.) Anyone watching the reruns of the 60s/70s classic soap, "The Doctors" on Retro TV can see why Gordon made this list. His Nick Bellini bellowed, but beneath the surface possessed a heart of gold. Gordon was able to perfectly capture the essence of the character, which was the breakout male lead in the soap's early days.

 8. CHRISTOPHER BERNAU (ex-Alan, Guiding Light.) Bernau's untimely passing in 1988 deprived him of an Emmy that he so rightfully deserved for portraying the complex, dastardly, yet romantic Alan. That it took a couple of recasts to get the role right after Bernau's death is testimony to his phenomenal talent. He could - and did - play it all, evil, deception, family man, businessman and romantic lead with equal aplomb.

 7.  JAMES MITCHELL (ex-Palmer, All My Children.) Mitchell was pure magic with any of his couplings on the now-defunct AMC, be it romantically with Donna, Daisy or Opal, or as a nemesis to Cliff and later Adam, Mitchell balanced the character delicately and made him a fan favorite - and, sadly, a perennial Emmy bridesmaid - during his 30 years on the show. His sophistication in the role was only exceeded by the humor he put into it, nicely balancing the despicable deeds his character often made.

 6. MICHAEL ZASLOW (ex-Roger, Guiding Light, ex-David, One Life to Live.) That Zaslow made two completely different characters memorable is testament enough to his Emmy-winning talents. Roger was downright despicable, yet complex enough to have fans rooting for him during most of his tenure on GL. His OLTL character was a romantic lead, a crusader for all that is good. Two completely different characters, both of whom became classics in the soap world and made Zaslow a huge fan favorite.

 5. PETER BERGMAN (Jack, The Young and the Restless, ex-Cliff, All My Children.) That Bergman was able to pull of the recast of the century when he took over for multiple-Emmy nominee Terry Lester in the role of Jack some 26 years ago and quickly make the role his own, was worth at least one of Bergman's three Emmy awards. That he believably was able to portray Jack the Cad as a multi-layered lead was worth at least another. Many - myself included - questioned whether Bergman, who had spent almost 10 years playing noble, perpetual good guy, Cliff on AMC, was up to the challenge of portraying such a different, more complex role, but by the time he won his third Emmy, no one took this exceptional actor - or his talents - for granted anymore.

4. DAVID CANARY (ex-Adam and Stuart, All My Children, ex-Steven, Another World, ex-Far Wind, The Doctors.) The Emmy winner's death not only prompted this blog, but had me remembering all of his roles. How Canary was able to portray and differentiate between twin brothers, Adam (the classic never do well) and Stuart (the brother with a heart of gold) so seamlessly was like watching a master class in acting. As a recast Steven on AW, he brought a completely different sensibility to the role when compared to huge fan favorite George Reinholt, who preceded him in the role and on The Doctors, he was able to just play pure lunatic. A true treasure of the daytime community, Canary will be missed, as actors like him simply don't come around all that often.

3. LARRY BRYGGMAN (ex-John, As the World Turns.) That Bryggman only won two Emmys for ATWT is the real head scratcher here. Like Zaslow, Bryggman was able to bring a multi-dimensional aspect to his character, which could have been hated (after all, Larry, like Michael both portrayed marital rapists at junctures during their stints on their respective shows.) but, he instead - through concise, purposeful interpretation into the work - turned John into of of daytime's most fascinating and complex characters. And, of course his chemistry with Elizabeth Hubbard's Lucinda was purely magical;. ATWT needed a character like John - and an actor like Bryggman - during its final years on the air. Anyone who witnessed his triumphant return to the show in its waning days in 2010 was left wondering what could have been if only Bryggman had remained on the canvas after disappearing - literally - into thin air in 2003.

2. ANTHONY GEARY (ex-Luke,ex-Bill  General Hospital.) Daytime's most celebrated actor - with 8 Outstanding Lead Actor trophies to his credit - he is arguably the genre's most well-known actor. Hired for a short stint as the villainous Luke Spencer, his immediate chemistry with Genie Francis' Laura made them the most popular couple in soap history. Aside from that, the recently retired Geary could do it all. An atypical looking leading man, he could play romantic, evil, hero and even, yes, the soap staple, multiple characters, and make each one his own. A rare blend of compassion and humor made Geary daytime's quintessential leading man and deserving of all 8 of his Emmy awards.

1. DOUGLASS WATSON (ex-Mac, Another World.) Although he only won two Emmys in his 15-year stint as AW's leading man, Watson should have at least won two more and was in the middle of an Emmy-worthy story at the time of his untimely death in 1989. His Mac was gentle, romantic, heroic and, yes, even volatile, and he could cry better than any actor on this list - save, maybe, Bergman. He set the bar high for his co-stars and his explosive chemistry with leading lady Victoria Wyndham (Rachel) kept AW at the top of the ratings throughout most of the mid-to-late 70s. His undeniable charm and acting ability made all around him even better performers and the Mac/Rachel/Iris triangle, which was a triangle despite the fact that Iris (the fabulous Beverlee McKinsey, who Watson shared just as much chemistry with as he did with Wyndham) was his daughter, was one of the most unusual, yet riveting stories soaps ever saw. That he is so fondly remembered by fans and co-stars some 26 years after his death is a strong testament to not only his exceptional acting ability, but his reputation as one of the nicest men in the business. Geary has more Emmys, but, in my book, Watson, a theatrically trained performer, was the best actor to ever appear in soaps.

In my next blog, I'll rank my top 10 best actresses of all time.

NUTS, BOLTS, GIFT BASKETS & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

By Allan Brown

OK. Granted, hockey isn't America's Sport.

In fact, when it comes to fan support, it barely makes the top five as far as professional sports go.

But Tampa Bay is Hockey Paradise and its Lightning are the most popular NHL franchise in the Southeast - or Southwest, too - for that matter.

No other proof is needed other than to look at the attendance figures the Tampa Bay Lightning post in comparison to the other 'warmer' weather teams.

In fact, the Lightning rank ahead most of the other more traditional cold climate hockey teams, as well, save for Chicago, Montreal, Detroit and Toronto - all "Original Six" squads - and Calgary, which barely edges out Tampa Bay for that last spot in the top five. Coming in sixth place for attendance in a league dominated by cold-climate teams is quite an accomplishment. Arizona, Florida and Carolina take up three of the bottom four positions on the attendance chart for this season - the NY Islanders are sandwiched between the Coyotes and the Panthers, which is not surprising, as New York is "Blue Shirts" country.

Having recently returned from a trip to watch the Bolts take on the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., where there were arguably just as many Lightning fans - maybe even more - than Florida ones, it certainly made me think, that must be how the Tampa Bay Rays feel when their stadium is full of opposing jerseys rather than their own.

With an average attendance thus far this season of 19,092 - just 19 fans short of the Flames 19,111 - it's obvious the Lightning can score fans.

It's scoring on the ice that they have seemed to have a problem with.

Last year's top-scoring NHL franchise is currently tied for 16th place in that statistic, with a paltry 53 goals. Top-ranked Dallas and Montreal have 74 goals in comparison.

Shaking up the lines hasn't worked. Bringing up players from the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, hasn't panned out, either.

The latter move, of course, was more of a necessity than a mandate since close to half of the team's scorers have been hurt as of late.

You can't blame the lack of scoring on netminder Ben Bishop, who seems too often to come under fire on social media for some 'soft goals' he has let in. The truth of the matter is, the Bolts wouldn't have even been in contention in many of those games without Bish - or #2 goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy for that matter, either.

What's left at this time, is simply a "Come to Jesus" meeting between the team and Head Coach Jon Cooper. The Lightning were able to hand the New York Rangers their first loss in 10 games last Thursday, but still could only net two goals in that victory. All fans know right now is that something has got to change. And, hopefully - propelled by that win versus their Eastern Conference nemesis - perhaps, the tide has turned.

In Saturday's 5-0 win versus the Anaheim Ducks - the team most preseason analysts chose to win it all this season - the Bolts looked like the squad of old, firing on all cylinders and helping BIshop earn his first shutout of the season.

So, maybe that "Come to Jesus" meeting was held following Monday's disappointing loss and maybe, just maybe, the Bolts woes have came and went.

Bolts fans are faithful ones, though, so the lack of scoring on the ice shouldn't affect the attendance off of it.

NEW ALL-STAR GAME PLAN HOPES TO LURE MORE FANS OVER TO THE NHL'S SIDE

Speaking of faithful fans, there are none more devoted than hockey ones.

Small in number, but quite vocal and loyal, they are constantly trying to get their friends to come into our inner circle.

The NHL might have done something in its own right to achieve that goal.

The league announced last week that it would change up its All-Star Game in Nashville this January and form teams comprised of three players from each division to play against one another. The team that ultimately wins the tournament will split $1 million between them.

Good move?

I say, why not try it?

The new three-on-three overtime play the league initiated this season has proven to be exciting and could be responsible for a slight bump in NHL ratings. 

The most common reason non-NHL fans give for not watching hockey is that they just don't understand the game.

Of course, as an avid hockey fan, I simply don't understand that, as hockey is a fast-paced, fight-filled, three hours of sports enjoyment and far less boring than a MLB game, but, what the hey, if the three-on-three works for regular season games, it might bring in more viewers for the All-Star Game, as well. It's not as if the contest determines home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, like the MLB All-Star game ridiculously does for the World Series, so, no harm, no foul.

And anything that can attract more interest in the sport and has the backing of the Great One - that would be Wayne Gretzky - simply the best NHL player who ever lived for you non-hockey fans - works for me.

The same goes for the shootout that hockey purists hate, but non-hockey regulars seem to enjoy, and for that reason, alone, is why I support its continuation.

PRO SPORTS REGULAR SEASON OVERLOAD

Watching the final game of the World Series on a Saturday night, November 1, got me to thinking.

Why are professional sports seasons so dang long?

Of course, the answer to that is the Almighty Dollar,.

The leagues know how to stretch a season out until the all-important television 'Sweeps' periods where viewers are closely monitored and advertising rates are determined. That's why Major League Baseball now goes through November and the Super Bowl - once played in mid-January at the latest - is now the first Sunday in February.

That's not likely to change.

However, baseball already extends from February - if you count Spring Training - to November, and the NHL and NBA from October to June. Sorry, but 82 games in the NHL is just about 20 too many for the players in what is arguably the toughest sport to play with the most injuries sustained by players. Likewise, 162 games are about 20-25 too many for a sport that isn't the most exciting to watch, save Opening Day, the final month of regular play and, of course, the postseason. The only sport that has a semblance of a shorter season is, of course, the NFL, and like just mentioned, even that season has gotten lengthier over the years. And if the NFL has its way it will eventually get even longer, although mention of an 18-week season seems to have died down - for now.

Baseball would be much more exciting if the regular season ended in September and the NBA and NHL in March, For argument's sake, the NBA could actually start in late November and run through May to give sports fans a professional sports championship to watch then. And, that would make it end during May Sweeps - see advertisers and networks, I am thinking of you.

Of course, I don't believe for one minute that any of my above-mentioned proposals will ever actually come to pass, not just because of lost television revenues, but because of the money teams would lose from ticket sales, food vendors, gift shops, etc... with shorter seasons. A man can dream, though, right?

ODDS AND ENDS

Just some random thoughts as we prepare for Thanksgiving.

Was it just me or did A-Rod actually do a really good job as a commentator for Fox Sports for the World Series? He showed a witty and more relaxed side to him and his knowledge of the game was, of course, not a question, to begin with. It seems to me that he probably has a good gig lined up once he decides to retire.

Staying with baseball, so Derek Jeter has finally responded to a four-year-old story that alleged he gave his sexual conquests gift baskets containing memorabilia signed by him. He denied the gift baskets, so does that mean that the alleged conquests were accurate?

Just asking.

And he said he never commented on the report until now because if he actually responded to all the rumors printed in the scandal sheets - and, to be fair, in the general media, too - he would be giving credence to the rumors. Wonder then, why he chose to actually talk about this one.

Again, just asking.

In College Football, had I written this column on Saturday, I would have legitimately questioned why the Florida Gators weren't ranked ahead of Alabama in the College Football Playoff Rankings, especially since the Gators defeated Ole Miss, who beat Alabama, who beat LSU, who narrowly won versus Florida (well, you get the drift.) However, after escaping with a narrow overtime win versus Florida International (yeah, you read that right, FIU)  yesterday, the answer to that question answers itself. And, prior to Saturday's games, Oklahoma State would have been my darkhorse to make the final four, but a 10-point loss to Baylor squashed that dream for the Cowboys. Maybe the CFP hierarchy know what they are doing, after all.

As for Ohio State handing its Head Coach Urban Meyer his first loss as a Buckeye, well, it was bound to happen sometime. Still, say hiring Meyer, who I would rank as the best active collegiate coach in the game (Sorry Bama Fans), was the best move the OSU Athletic Department did since they hired Woody Hays, what, like 60 years ago?

As for the NFL, I'd give you a Super Bowl prediction, but I don't want to jinx any particular team that I like and that I think might have a chance to win it all.

Hmm. I wonder what team I might be referring to.

Anyhow, since Aaron Rodgers apparently needs his Jordy Nelson in order to be complete, am going to say that the Arizona Cardinals look to be the favorite to reach the Super Bowl in the NFC.

Enjoy the NFL this Thursday.

Get fat, stay fat, enjoy all the holiday fixings and see you next time, Under Review.

Happy Thanksgiving.

HEISMAN BOOM OR HEISMAN BUST?

By Allan Brown

Around this time each year, the hopes and dreams of a select few college football players come to fruition.

They are the chosen few who are selected as finalists for College Football's highest honor, the Heisman Trophy.

And while winning that award is certainly no guarantee of future success in the NFL, the thrill of standing on that stage in New York City - where the award is handed out annually - is certainly the highlight of the chosen one's collegiate football career.

However, for every former winner like Paul Hornung, Roger Staubach or Marcus Allen, there's a Matt Leinart, Troy Smith or Tim Tebow who doesn't quite make it big in the much-more competitive NFL.

Those stories are for another day, another column.

Let's concentrate, instead, on the varied accomplishments of recent titleholders, who are currently at the top of their game, and who prove the worth an award such as the Heisman carries onto the professional football field.

Some in the media say winning the Heisman is a curse. And many of the 90s and early 2000 winners - think Leinart, Chris Weinke, Danny Wuerffel and Gino Torretta - might make one think that the recipient is, well, indeed, cursed.

The following players, however, prove that the award is anything but cursed.

Let's take Cam Newton for example. He is having the season of his career, leading the Carolina Panthers to a, thus far, perfect season, while posting legitimate League MVP numbers along the way.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Newton holds the record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season with 14 and has continuously ranked in the top 100 of sports writers lists of top NFL players four years running.

Then there is Carson Palmer, who is the only quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards for three different teams. His Arizona Cardinals are poised to challenge Newton's Panthers for top NFC honors this season. What is particularly impressive with Palmer is that he has overcome multiple injuries over the past 13 years that could have ended a lesser player's career.

Injuries have also plagued the Rams' Sam Bradford, but the quarterback, who has the all-time record for consecutive passes without an interception for a rookie, trails on. The same could be said for Cleveland's Johnny Manziel, who while he has struggled early in his first two years in the NFL, is certainly poised to prove his worth now that he has been named the starter for the Browns.

Neither has reached the highest plateau of their career and time will ultimately tell whether those two former Heisman winners can excel to the levels of other former winners like Newton or Palmer. Both, however, definitely possess that 'never give up' mantra on the field that served both of them well in their collegiate careers. And of note, Johnny Football, in particular, has faced many personal adversities off the field, but has continued to preserve. That makes me believe that he will overcome that phantom Heisman curse and become a major player in the league in the years to come.

The verdict is still out, as well, on the two most recent Heisman winners, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. Both, however, have shown great promise in their rookie NFL seasons.

Yes, both have made typical rookie mistakes and both play for teams that are rebuilding and may take years to contend. However, both have posted commendable numbers to date. And while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have definitely had huge problems, Famous Jameis' play isn't one of them. His leadership has kept the Bucs competitive and he has no control over an abysmal defense that has let him down when he has put the team, one, two and even three touchdowns ahead in a game. The Titans, who have already had a head coaching change this season, may take significantly longer to be a legitimate contender once more, yet Mariota's play, thus far, gives the Titan faithful hope that they have found their franchise quarterback.

As for the 2011 winner, Robert Griffin III, his career may be on the ropes, yet I firmly contend that he would be on this list of Heisman booms had it not been for a torn LCL and ACL suffered in a 2013 playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. His numbers prior to that injury - including a record rookie passer rating - certainly suggest that he was headed for NFL greatness in the quarterback  position. The refusal to remove Griffin from that playoff game by then Washington head coach Mike Shanahan - has in my opinion - possibly ended Griffin's career and certainly has contributed to his ineffectiveness in the QB position since he returned from his injury two-plus years ago.

Hopefully, Griffin can rebound and may be better served by being traded to another team. However, two other former winners need no such move. Both are posting respectable numbers for their respective squads.

Running backs Reggie Bush and Mark Ingram both continue to toil away and while Bush has had an up and down career, he does have a Super Bowl ring with the New Orleans Saints and is a vital cog in a totally rebuilt San Francisco 49ers offense that has yet to gel. Time will tell if he can recover from a torn ACL suffered in a game earlier this month that, effectively ended his 2015 season. While he has not had a booming NFL career to date - only one 1,000 yard season - Bush can hardly be considered a bust, either,  as he continues to find work in the NFL.

On the other side of the country, Ingram continues to improve as a member of the Saints. A Pro Bowler, he had his best season - posting 1,109 yards from scrimmage - last year - and has solid numbers this year, especially if you own him in your Fantasy Football League. Ingram's not yet reached the peak of his career and - putting aside a disappointing 2013 season - he continues to improve.

Former Heisman Trophy winners like Bradford, Manziel and the freshman class of this season have yet to prove their worth. However, the varied accomplishments of many of their recent predecessors indicates that if their was, indeed, a Heisman curse, it may well have been eradicated.

Of course, like anything in the wacky, unpredictable world of professional sports, the ultimate verdict is definitely still Under Review.

Bad Boys, Even Badder Antics

BAD BOYS, EVEN BADDER ANTICS

By Allan Brown

Greg Hardy is certainly not a positive role model for today's youth.

Neither are a now seemingly repentant Alex Rodriguez nor an out of work Ray Rice.

In fact, I would maintain that even the King, LeBron James, or a former player whose morals are of the utmost esteem as Tim Tebow shouldn't be either.

That's not because those two aren't deserving to be looked up to, but because I maintain that our youth's role models, the ones they really should be looking toward for hero status, should be found closer to home.

Family members, friends and even extended members of a youth's inner circle should be setting the standards for excellence that will help our next generation stay on the straight and narrow.

That's what I truly believe.

However, I am not naive enough to believe that are professional athletes aren't, in reality, the real role models that our youth - and, heck, even adults like me - actually look up to.

It's time then that these athletes start living up to the hype.

Many may feel - like former NBA star Charles Barkley - that all they owe their fans in a solid performance on the field.

And maybe that is all they owe us.

But the reality is that circumstances in our youth's real world sometimes mean that those bound by blood aren't actually in their life or aren't setting a good example with their own actions (a fact that is sad in and of itself) and in place of familial ties, our teens, instead, look to their heroes on the playing field, for guidance and to show them the way to act in their own life. Many idolize these players and emulate their every action.

So why can't these stars, who seemingly have it all, start acting like adults instead of pre-adolescent bafoons who have a huge ego and an even greater sense of entitlement?

Hardy, a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, is just the latest in a long line of professional athletes who have made the headlines for their antics off the field, as opposed to their performance on it.

And he should receive the same type of treatment that former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice received for his arrest on assault charges for attacking his then girlfriend - now wife - last year. Rice was not only suspended by the league, he is now persona non grata with every team in it. Why Hardy, who allegedly choked his girlfriend in a rage, last month isn't receiving the same treatment is beyond me.

These are just two of many examples that, unfortunately, I could write an entire book about rather than just a blog column.

There's A-Rod's year-long suspension from Major League Baseball last year for performance enhancing substance use. Closer to home, there's former Tampa Bay Lightning star Ryan Malone's arrest - and subsequent trade - last year for drug possession, New England Patriots' LeGarette Blount arrest on drug charges while playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Blount and then teammate Le'Veon Bell both were allegedly smoking marijuana.

You get the drift.

Highly paid - and idolized - professional athletes abusing their fame. The list goes on and on.

And what about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who has spent the good part of this year facing public ridicule - not to mention possible suspension - for his alleged part in the Deflategate scandal? Seems like something minor when compared to the above-mentioned acts from our athletes, but it's still worth noting, as the Pats QB may be the biggest role model of them all amongst our youth.

If he's indeed innocent, I apologize, however, it's difficult to believe that he is entirely free of culpability in the Deflategate issue.

As for A-Rod, he served his suspension, admitted his culpability and had a triumphant return to the baseball field this season.

I do believe in second chances.

These athletes are human. They make mistakes. And those who make mistakes, admit them and then learn from them can actually end up being the best role models.

They could eventually turn back into exceptional role models, like I feel Rodriguez has tried to do.

It's up to them.

All of these athletes have dominated the news for their bad boy antics, yet are still looked up to by thousands of young children as acceptable role models.

I think as a society we need to expect more from our athletes. If they disappoint, we need to raise our own standards and look toward those who are more exceptional role models.

Like Tebow and James.

Like good family man Ryan Callahan and exceptional netminder and overall good guy Ben Bishop, both of the Bolts.

Then there's Rob Gronkowski of the Pats. His antics off the field are often silly, yet they are harmless and his charitable work is noteworthy. Or how about former NFL quarterbacks Steve Young and Kurt Warner, who both overcame professional adversity to become not only Super Bowl champions, but exceptional contributors to many worthy causes, while both leading an exemplary personal life, as well.

Since our youth can't always rely on those within their own village to be those role models, our athletes - like it or not - assume that role.

It's too bad they don't take that job more seriously.

Until that happens, bad boys will, no doubt, continue to dominate the headlines.

They will continue to be Under Review.

The Rise and Autumn of the Tampa Bay Lightning

UNDER REVIEW - The Rise and Autumn of the Tampa Bay Lightning

By Allan Brown

In 1980 the Cleveland Browns were dubbed the 'Kardiac Kids' of the NFL.

Under the auspice of quarterback Brian Sipe, they were able to pull off surprising, sometimes miraculous wins, en route to a division championship, but couldn't get past the divisional round of the playoffs. They were nicknamed the 'Kardiac Kids,' and yes, for some unknown reason, (maybe the K is to make it align with the K in Kids) the spelling is correct. However you spell it, those Dawgs have forever been linked in the annals of NFL history.

In many aspects, the Tampa Bay Lightning were the 'Kardiac Kids' of the NHL last season, giving Bolts fans near heart attacks in many regular season games that were either decided by a shootout or by a come-from-

behind win in the last minutes of the game.

And, of course, who could forget that first-round playoff series versus the Detroit Red Wings, where most NHL loyalists wrote them off before the Lightning rebounded in the last two games of the series to defeat the men from Hockey Town, 4-3, to advance to the next round of the second season?

Then there was that Tyler Johnson goal with 1.1 seconds left to put the Bolts up three games to none in that semi-final series versus the Montreal Canadians. The Lightning did let the Habs back into that series, but, in typical Tampa Bay 'Kardiac' fashion eventually slammed that door shut and took out Montreal to win the series four games to 2.

The rest is history.

The Lightning eventually won the Prince of Wales Trophy given annually to the Eastern Conference champion and put up a gallant fight before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.

That Lightning team remained pretty much intact going into the 2015-16 season last month with only left winger Brenden Morrow gone.

Fielding a squad deep with scoring prowess, a former Vezina Trophy Finalist in goal and an increasingly improving defense, most felt the Bolts were primed for Eastern Conference greatness - and another Stanley Cup appearance - this season.

The expectations were high.

Extremely high.

Unfortunately, though, this Lightning team has yet to meet those high expectations.

While it may be too soon to hit the panic button on this squad, the cause for concern is definitely real.

Last year's squad never lost three games in a row. This year's team has already dropped four in a row and five of six.

So what are the reasons behind this year's slow start?

The theories are many. Of course, you know what they say about opinions, everyone has one.

Here's mine.

First off, a team coming off a deep Stanley Cup run has the disadvantage of having maybe 6-8 weeks of vacation as opposed to five months. Part of the reason for the Bolts sluggish start could simply be attributed to that. No NHL team has made it to two back-to-back Cup appearances since both the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins did it in 2009. So definitely, the odds have been stacked against the Lightning from the get go.

Great teams, dynasties, however, rise to the occasion. They get hungrier due to past success. To date, the Lightning haven't shown that hunger.

Not in the least.

The team that led the NHL in scoring last year is currently tied with the New York Rangers for seventh place in that category. There have been numerous games where the Bolts either failed to light up the lamps at all or were limited to just a single goal.

Ben Bishop, a Vezina Trophy Finalist for the league's outstanding goalie in 2014, isn't exactly posting Vezina-type numbers this season, with a .917 save percentage good for a 20th place tie in the league in that percentage. He ranks 16th in goals against average at 2.34 and has a 5-6 overall win/loss record as of this writing. What is especially troubling is that Bish has let in quite a few soft goals thus far.

Bishop deserves a little slack, tho, as he has played in a league-leading 12 games thus far as backup goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been sidelined recovering from a blood clot near the left collarbone that required surgery and had prevented him from playing until last week.

Hopefully, once the regular rotation in goal can return to normal, so will Bishop. To his credit, Vasilevskiy has looked brilliant between the pipes, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.00 GAA and .939 save percentage.

While the netminding issue seems to be resolving itself, the scoring issue has to be of concern for Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper.

And apparently it is.

Cooper broke up the most successful line in hockey last season, the second line known as the Triplets, after the trio - comprised of Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov - failed to make an impact early in this new campaign. Johnson, in fact, didn't score a goal until last week. It is worth noting, however, that all three are in the top five in assists while surprisingly, a defenseman, Victor Hedman, leads the squad in that category. Another D-man, Anton Stralman, is currently in the top five in that statistic, as well.

That in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, but does signify the problems the team has had on offense so far this year.

While it remains to be seen whether the Triplet line will return to form on a regular basis, their lack of productivity as a trio definitely raises concern among the Lightning faithful. For now, it appears Palat will remain on the number one line with Captain Steven Stamkos and Ryan Callahan, while TJ and Kuch will play with Alex Killorn.

The mention of the Captain's name also brings up an interesting dynamic that shouldn't be affecting the team's play, but certainly coukd be impacting it ever so slightly.

Stamkos' contract expires this season and rumors of a trade to a myriad of teams, most notably the Toronto Maple Leafs, continue to make the rounds. Has the possibility of leaving Tampa Bay impacted the Captain's play this season?

It seems not.

Stamkos leads the team in goals scored with seven and while his three assists lowers his overall point total, nothing seen on the ice indicates the Captain has given up on Tampa Bay. The constant speculation on his future, though, could have some slight impact on the team's overall play, though mention of that is purely speculation.

In fact all Lightning fans can do right now is merely speculate. 

While there may be other scenarios that could be brought up when addressing possible reasons for the problems with this squad,  mention of them now is premature. The bottom line is the team has certainly not played up to expectations, it has definitely not played to its full potential in a full 60-minute contest thus far this season.

And while it is still way too early to rule this currently underperforming squad out, time is of the essence.

Every team has targeted the Lightning this year and the Bolts have to simply start rising to the occasion - and not just when they are playing Buffalo, who they have manhandled in two games to date this season.

Until they do that, until they start showing why they are the defending Eastern Conference champions, this current incarnation of the Bolts will continue to give their fans cardiacs of a different kind this year.

And until the Lightning can start proving they are the squad to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference, they are definitely a team that needs to be put Under Review.