It’s a struggle to get billionaire owners to see themselves as the public views them. When you’re heavily isolated and surrounded by yes men, it’s easy to think your plan for league domination is flawless, and your various exploits are on the level and wouldn’t get any person without an army of lawyers at least five years in prison.

Of course, the good owners don’t get the same shine as the shitty ones, but there seem to be 10 repulsive examples for every standup one. So, in honor of the owners’ lack of self-awareness, I thought offering up their James Bond supervillain comp might help drag them back to a reality where they’re not demigods.

In the ensuing slideshow, I’ll provide the comp and a brief explanation of why I paired the two.

Also, for those of you expecting to see henchmen, this is just the egomaniac with the money, and not the metal teeth or steel-rimmed bowler hat. I’m not trying to get sued (again) and rich people have an itchy lawyer finger. The commissioners are the ones doing the real dirty work anyway, so they’re more apt for that comparison.

OK, there are a million of these flicks and just as many plotting owners so let’s get started. (Remember, these owners haven’t actually done anything these Bond villains did during these films.)

Professional sports are like many other industries. The goals of management and the employees are not always aligned.

Employees — in the case of pro sports, the players — are looking to perform as well as possible, and also looking to gain as much wisdom as possible at their current location so they can continue to improve. Management wants employees to do those things, but always wants it done in a way that manages costs and maximizes profits.

How that last part is achieved varies across professions, but in sports that might mean it’s in the organization’s best interest to lose games. That most certainly is the case for the Carolina Panthers and Utah Jazz.

Their goals were not the same at the beginning of their respective seasons. The Jazz had jettisoned their two best players, and all of their key contributors, with the exception for Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley. In Charlotte, the Panthers saw a path to a playoff berth in a weak NFC with a strong defense and the return of Christian McCaffrey, so they acquired 2018 No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield in a trade to play quarterback. What was sent away in that deal, as opposed to what the Jazz received in return for trading Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, the price comparison is a bicycle to a Mercedes-Benz.

After six games, the Panthers turned out to be in the same position as the Jazz — arguably the worst team in the league. So they went full firesale and traded McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers. On Sunday, the Panthers’ very next game, they pounced on the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a dominating performance, with former XFL quarterback P.J. Walker outplaying Tom Brady.

In Salt Lake City, through three games into the 2022-23 NBA season, the Jazz are one of four remaining undefeated teams. They throttled one of the preseason Western Conference favorites — the Denver Nuggets — in their season opener, and pulled out two hard-fought overtime wins against the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans. Lauri Markkanen is playing some of the best basketball of his life — averaging 24 points per game — Clarkson is still a threat to get hot at any moment, and the Jazz are still only playing their best scorers a shade under 20 minutes per game. The last season in which Collin Sexton didn’t go down early with injury, he averaged 24.3 points per game on 47.5/37.1/81.3 shooting splits.

The prize for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL and NBA is truly grand in 2023. The best quarterback prospect is Bryce Young, who is a Patrick Mahomes-like final drive from Hendon Hooker away from still being undefeated, and top-prospect Patrick Wembanyama of France, who plays basketball like literally no one before him.

Management for the Panthers and the Jazz have every right to think that these two players can quickly make them one of the more relevant pro franchises, but where their interest conflicts with the employees is a lot of players currently rostered likely won’t be on either team should they win the ultimate prize: The No. 1 pick.

Losing is not fun on any level of competition. No one wants to practice, then exert game energy to come up short over and over again. Even the athletes who make great money, their competitiveness is a large part of the reason why they are professionals. Also, knowing that these bad teams that they are currently on will likely not be their final stop in their careers, they need to continue to play as well as possible so they can go on to have a financially lucrative career while the terrible team that they currently play for may or may not achieve their tanking goals.

In the NBA, the Western Conference is top heavy with about as many good teams as there are playoff spots, so the Jazz will most likely be in the lottery. If they finish with one of the four-worst records they will have the best odds at the No. 1 overall pick, and if they have the fifth-worst record, they have a 12.5 percent chance as opposed to 14. For all that the Jazz’s roster lacks, they do have veteran talent, and Danny Ainge might have to find a way to get rid of some of that veteran experience to be sure and anchor the Jazz into the bottom five.

The Panthers have already lost five games, and prior to their Week 7 upset victory, three consecutive defeats were by double digits. However, as bad as they have looked, to stay in depths of the NFL ocean will require consistent descent. The Houston Texans do appear to be what they were projected to be — the worst team in the league. Also, the hopes for that Detroit Lions turnaround that started with an entertaining season of HBO’s Hard Knocks, have quickly been dashed. Also, the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars could find themselves in that cluster of bad NFL teams.

Sure, the players are happy and productive employees right now for the Panthers and Jazz, but that doesn’t mean much for those franchises’ bottom lines in the future. They need stars to build around, and next year, two of the biggest enter both leagues.

Landing one of those two is what would be considered winning for management, but all they can do is get rid of talent. In this profession, ironically because of the control management has over players’ contracts that allows them to be moved as quickly as the bosses see fit, what they have no control over is how the players’ work. The players’ job is to play hard and attempt to win, regardless of how much their employers have to hide their disappointment with every victory.

Jerry Jones is a salesman and says whatever is needed at any given time. When Dak Prescott went down with an injured thumb in Week 1, Jones seemed ready to replace him permanently in favor of Cooper Rush after just a couple of games. Prescott returned for Dallas’ Week 7 matchup, which they won over the Detroit Lions, 24-6. Jerry hopped right back on the Dak train, explaining in too much detail how happy he was to have his franchise quarterback return to the field.

We’ll file that comment under the “too much information” category. Jones loves being the center of attention, and if it takes him saying something controversial about his team, that’s what he’ll do. No NFL coach, owner, or player, for that matter, ever wants a QB controversy during the season. Jones claimed he wanted that after the team got off to a good start with Rush under center in place of Prescott. The Hall of Fame owner/general manager even said he’d walk to New York for that.

“That means we’d won,” Jones said. “If he comes in and plays as well as Prescott played … I’d walk to New York to get that.”

After expressing that he’d gladly welcome a QB battle between Prescott and Rush, Jones recanted and said there was no scenario in which the team would opt for Cooper over Dak. Once again, Jones was saying what he felt needed to be said at the time. This is what the 80-year-old Cowboys owner is known for: grandstanding. Jones possesses one of the biggest mouths and egos in football, and that’s saying something.

It’s no secret that Jones has never been Prescott’s biggest fan, going back to when he replaced Tony Romo in 2016. Jones wanted to throw Romo back in there once he could return, but the Cowboys had played so well under Prescott that there was no turning back. The moment had passed for Romo, and Dak continued as a starter and hasn’t looked back.

Jones even doubted Prescott after signing him to a four-year, $160 million deal in 2021. Jones admitted he’d overpaid for Prescott at the press conference following the signing while sitting directly beside him. The bitter negotiation lasted two years as Dak’s side undoubtedly won that pissing contest, leaving Jones upset over what he was forced to pay.

There’s always a time and place for everything, and no matter how Jones felt about the negotiation, he didn’t need to put his newly “overpaid” QB on blast in that manner. He’s never done that with any other free agent in a public forum like he did with his Pro Bowl QB. Jones didn’t even do this to Brandon Carr when Dallas signed him away for Kansas City in 2012 on a five-year, $50 million contract. I’m sure Jones regrets every penny of that deal, but he never voiced it the same way. With Prescott, it’s been a different story since he stepped in for Romo.

The first legit chance Jones gets to replace Prescott, please believe he’ll jump at the opportunity. As the owner, it’d be nice if he just stayed out of the way, to begin with, but you don’t see other owners openly disparaging their QBs the way Jones has done Dak since he walked through the doors in Dallas. Rush isn’t good enough to replace Prescott on an equal playing field, but let the Cowboys come across a player that could legitimately challenge Prescott, and you’ll see Jerry’s true colors come shining through once again. 

“New York Yankees” and “inferiority complex” are two combinations of words that have probably never met in a sentence for over 100 years or so. This is the New York Yankees, the absolute biggest symbol of American exceptionalism, even when it’s a sport that no other place plays. They’re the Yankees, the most glamorous, the most assured, the most famous team we have. And while they and their fans’ inclination to act like the only people in the room annoys the piss out of just about everyone else, you had to admit for the longest time that it was deserved. There really isn’t much more of a throughline in American sports, maybe even American culture, than the Yankees throughout their entire existence.

Except now. The Yankees haven’t acted like the Yankees, haven’t acted like the big bad on the block, and now they keep getting their ass kicked when it matters most.

Maybe it’s not as bad as watching their historical punching bag become the more successful organization in this century. They have lost an ALCS, an ALDS, and an AL Wildcard to the Red Sox, though it’s been spread out. They also trail in the championships count 4-1. If that wasn’t enough for the Yankees to realize they’ve lost their place, then the past few years of running into an orange and blue painted wall should be.

The Yankees are on the ass-end of yet another beating from the Astros for a host of reasons. Bad and timid management would be a start. Sure, the Yanks have a big payroll, except it’s all in the wrong places. They took on salaries other people didn’t want. Were they surprised that a 37-year-old red-assed Josh Donaldson would run out of gas somewhere in June? That Giancarlo Stanton would get hurt and be handcuffed by the superior pitching in the playoffs?

These are the Yankees, they don’t paper over their cracks. Why was an overmatched rookie starting at shortstop? Why was he replacing a slappy, glove-only candidate who definitely wasn’t named Carlos Correa or Cory Seager?

Why was the rotation after Gerrit Cole buttressed by Nestor Cortes, throwing 70 more innings than he ever had, which of course led to physical problems? Jameson Taillon, a Pirates cast off? What was this bench?

The Yankees basically boiled down to what Aaron Judge, and Stanton when healthy, could do and not a whole lot else. Speaking of Judge, when was the last time a Yankee went on a “Fuck You” World Tour against them because they wouldn’t pay him? These are the Yankees, with their modern, now-fake cathedral to themselves of a ballpark and their own network, and their offer to Judge would have paid him less than FranciscoLindor or Nolan Arenado or Carlos Correa or Corey Seager. Now he’ll make more than all of them, and he’ll probably do it somewhere else. Since when do the Yankees try to get away with trying to get a discount? These are the Yankees, and discounts are supposed to be the territory of the plebes. The Bombers cut whatever check is necessary.

That inferiority complex spreads beyond the club. The bleacher creatures haven’t stopped moaning about the Astros and 2017, and yet they’ve gotten kicked to the curb by them twice since. Also…THE YANKEES GOT CAUGHT CHEATING TOO. What they’re really complaining about is that the Astros were just better at it than they were. And either they still are, or it didn’t matter, and either way it means the Yankees are deficient.

When the Yanks hit the skids in the middle of the season, Yankees observers couldn’t wait to scream how they were always a mirage and would never be able to run with the Astros. And now that they’ve proven they can’t run with the Astros, they’re still screaming. If the Yankees were never good enough, shouldn’t those around the team be nodding their heads in satisfaction now? It shouldn’t have been a surprise. Neither they nor the team should get it both ways.

It’s just so strange, and really an admittance of defeat, to see the Yankees act like the little guy. To hear them complain about the Astros for five years. To bemoan the injustice of it all, when they are supposed to be the injustice in the world. To watch them come in second or worse in bidding for free agents. To have basically half a roster. To not have a plan to counter any of that.

Even while winning 99 games in the toughest division, the Yankees kept acting and playing like they had no chance to actually win the pennant. And then they didn’t. The Yankees don’t cower. They don’t accede. They don’t project defeat.

But this version did, and it’s exactly what they got.

If there were American coaches who were hoping that Jesse Marsch could be the first through the wall as a Yank managing in the big five leagues in Europe, they might be discussing a retreat right now.

Marsch’s Leeds United lost again on Sunday, 3-2 to Fulham, their eighth straight game without a win and their fourth straight loss.

Generally, when the fans start singing about wanting your exit and longing for the guy who came before you, there’s no way back. The atmosphere becomes poisonous and spreads to the players, if it hasn’t already. And those fans aren’t going to be placated by what the stat sheets say.

Because those stat sheets say that Marsch’s Leeds aren’t as bad as the results and the standings say. Except that’s the ultimate ammunition for the “Watch the game, nerd!” crowd. But it’s true. Leeds’ expected-goal difference for the season is ninth-best in the league, which is in direct opposition to their 18th place standing right now. Only once in their last four losses have they not gotten the better of the xG in the match. On Sunday, they had way more of the ball (58 percent to 42 for Fulham), more shots, more passes. Same story the week before, and the same story the week before that. Leeds are doing the things before the things that matter quite well.

Except… the things that matter. Leeds can’t finish, and Leeds can’t defend. Watch Fulham’s goals on Sunday and it looks like they’re playing against crash-test dummies. Look at how easy all this was before Willian had a tap-in:

And Leeds didn’t do much to address this half of the field in the summer. They brought in Tyler Adams and Marc Roca to protect the backline in midfield, and those two have been fine to good, but the actual defense wasn’t addressed. That trench you built in front of the castle walls is nice and all, but matters a lot less if the walls have giant holes in it. Robin Koch and Liam Cooper have been the most commonly used central defensive pairing, and Leeds’s shots per game and shots on target against per game are middle of the pack in the league. Still, no central defenders were added in the transfer market.

Where the problem might really lie, defensively, is that Marsch’s keeper sucks mondo ass. Illan Meslier gave up seven more goals than his post-shot expected goals said he should have last season, and he’s already at -2.9 barely a quarter into this season. He doesn’t make any big save Leeds needs to turn a match. That -2.9 mark is third-worst in the league.

The problem of “finish” is just as acute at the other end of the field. Again, Leeds’ rank in shots and shots on target per match are in the top half of the league. But they can’t get anything to touch twine. The attack was basically hinging on the very rickety legs of Patrick Bamford. Bamford only played in nine games last season because of injury, and while his 17 goals from the previous season suggest he can be a linchpin striker, it’s still only one season of proof.

Luis Sinisterra was brought in during the summer, but his biggest tally was 12 goals in the Dutch Eredivisie, where you get 10 goals for spelling your name correctly (Jozy Altidore will agree). Brendan Aaronson was another to support the attack, but Aaronson doesn’t score all that much, and his contributions are more through energy and causing chaos with his running than genuine inspiration.

Well, Bamford hasn’t been able to locate which way he’s facing so far this season in nine appearances, and there’s no one else stepping up. He’s had a couple one-on-ones the past two matches that would have swung this for Leeds and blew them both. He’s just out of sorts, and his lack of pace has always been something of an issue. Leeds needed a Bamford-insurance plan in their transfer dealings, and they didn’t get one.

But that’s too easy to absolve Marsch. Here’s a problem: They surrendered two goals after the 74th minute against Fulham. They gave up goals in the last 10 minutes of the first half against both Leiceister and Arsenal. They gave up a winner in the 76th minute to Palace before that. Marsch’s team just runs out of gas thanks to his high-intensity style.

And teams have worked it out. They slow things down for a while, play around Leeds’ press for half-an-hour or so, let them punch themselves out, and then profit. And Leeds don’t have much punch to come back. They had one shot on target in the last 15 minutes on Sunday. One shot on target in the last 20 against Leicester. Two shots in the last 15 against Arsenal, and all of these while trailing. Marsch hasn’t really shown a Plan B when his “get the fucking thing up the fucking field fucking quick” main tactic doesn’t work.

The longing for Marcelo Bielsa by the Leeds fans isn’t fair. Leeds definitely would have been relegated if Bielsa had stayed, as they were getting utterly throttled week in and week out. But that’s the gig at Elland Road, considering Bielsa was the guy to get them up and keep them there for a season. And Marsch’s humble-guy-act-as-long-as-the-cameras-are-on act wasn’t going to win too many people over. The huddle on the field after his first match, his touchline antics, his habit of inspirational quotes all give a very big, “LOOK WHAT I’M DOING!” feel. It’s going to lessen his runway.

The schedule will as well. They go to Liverpool and Spurs before the World Cup break, and also host a buoyant Bournemouth, too. Fans may accept a loss at Anfield, but should they not beat a recently promoted side at home no matter current form, and that could be curtains. If it isn’t, Leeds face a gauntlet of City and Newcastle right out of the World Cup break. It might get worse before it gets better.

Marsch’s ways didn’t work at Leipzig because he wanted to run a Red Bull system for a team that wasn’t really constructed. Now he wants to run a Red Bull system in a league that is almost certainly too punishing to survive in doing so. At the end of the day, Marsch’s bonafides are two league titles with the richest club in Austria that’s continued to win that league without him. If a beachhead for American managers was going to be established in Europe, maybe Marsch wasn’t the guy to do it. No matter what the analytics say.

Don’t be fooled by the 49ers’ Week 7, 44-23 loss to the Chiefs. San Francisco is good, and they’re only going to get better as the season moves along. Kansas City has rolled over many teams similarly during Patrick Mahomes’ tenure. Remember, there isn’t a Chiefs equivalent in the NFC. The Niners possess the formula to be the most dangerous team no one wants to face heading into the NFC playoffs come January.

Oh, how soon we forget. It was just last year when San Francisco was in the same position. They were 3-4 after seven games following a butt-kicking at home against Indianapolis, 30-18. The 49ers went on to win eight of their last 11 games to close the season at 10-7. They used that momentum and made a run to the NFC Championship game, where they lost to the Rams, 20-17.

This loss to Kansas City is a setback, but the Niners will be fine. Once Elijah Mitchell returns from an MCL sprain (he could return by early November), they’ll have a three-man rotation in the backfield. If there’s one aspect of football Kyle Shanahan loves more than any other, it’s the running game. As the season progresses, newly acquired Christian McCaffrey will become more comfortable in this offense, making them the most dynamic in the NFC.

The 49ers rotation at running back will be great for McCaffrey, who’s been injury prone over the past couple of years. From 2017-2019 McCaffrey didn’t miss one game for the Carolina Panthers. In his last two full seasons as a Panther, McCaffrey only played in 10 of 33 possible regular season games. So, not being forced to carry the entire offensive load in San Francisco should be a huge benefit.

In his first game as a Niner, McCaffrey showed glimpses of what to expect once he’s up to speed in Shanahan’s offense. He played just 22 offensive snaps (28 percent) but rushed for 4.8 yards per carry and had two catches for 24 yards. McCaffrey was traded less than 72 hours before this game kicked off Sunday. It was amazing that he even suited up for this one. This offense could look completely different in a few weeks, with McCaffrey, Mitchell, and Jeff Wilson Jr. running and catching the ball out of the backfield.

San Francisco’s defense took a hit Sunday as they came into the game as one of the better defenses in the NFL and ranked top five in many categories. Although the 49ers did give up a brutal 44 points to Mahomes and the Chiefs, they’re still giving up just 19 points per game on average for the season. That still ranks in the league’s top 10 for points allowed. They gave up 529 yards to the Chiefs and still rank No. 7 in that category and third in average yards allowed per game. San Francisco merely ran into a better team that wears you down with a great offensive scheme, quarterback, and all the ways they can beat a defense.

Luckily, the NFC doesn’t have a team anywhere near the Chiefs or Buffalo Bills, for that matter. The Philadelphia Eagles are the team to watch in the NFC right now, and that’s it. The Giants are playing great, but no one trusts them with Daniel Jones leading the team, and then there’s the Dallas Cowboys. The NFC East has been much better than advertised, but the Eagles are the only real threat to the Niners advancing in the postseason. And they might even be fools gold by the time January rolls around based on their schedule.

So, San Francisco looks like they’ll be in pretty good shape once they get some key guys back from injury and McCaffrey is fully acclimated. They might only win nine games, but that should be enough in the NFC to make the tournament. With so much parity, there could be an 8-9 team to make it in the NFC. Currently, 12 of the 16 NFC teams hold a record of 3-4 or better, and if the Bears beat the Patriots on Monday Night Football, that’ll make 13. The NFC playoff race will undoubtedly come down to a few games in Week 18.

These Niners will be in the thick of that race, and don’t be surprised when they’re “upsetting” your favorite team. I’m looking at you, Eagles. Once Shanahan gets his guys on track, they’ll be the scariest team entering the playoffs. You can count on that.

There’s still that Jimmy Garoppolo issue they’ve had for a while now, but they’ve clearly overcome his shortcomings before, and with the supporting cast around him, they can do it again.

As the target of a chorus of boos, fuck yous and a barrage of middle fingers, Republican Senator Ted Cruz somehow managed to outshine the Houston Astros as the most detested figure in New York.

Cruz drawing fire away from an Astros squad that was exposed for cheating the Yankees out of the 2019 AL pennant is on brand. When Senator Cruz is not spreading misinformation, supporting coups, peacing out for Cancun when his state is in utter chaos, and continuing his campaign to remain the most hated man in Congress, his hobbies include rooting for cheaters (The Astros, not the Yankees).

On Sunday night, the Senator from Texas took his head-ass up to Yankee Stadium for Game 4 of the ALCS series between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, sitting behind home plate. During the course of the game, Cruz received a steady dose of those “New York values” he’s belittled in the past.

Here are some of the highlights from one New York legend.

• “Remember when Trump called your wife ugly!! And then you nominated him!”
• “You fucking piece of shit!”
• “Remember when those insurrectionists wanted to murder you!!”
• “Get the fuck out of New York!!”
• “Eat my dick you asshole!!”

Cruz, who seemed to convince himself that the jeers were cheers, more like Bronx Cheers, much like he convinced himself 45 won the electoral college, appeared to egg disapproving Yankees fans on by smirking and giving the thumbs up toward the boo-birds. It’s not out of character for Cruz. The cretin has been so detestable his adult life that condemnation bounces off of his armadillo-thick skin.

There are a multitude of reasons for New Yorkers to despise Cruz. But especially in New York City. During a 2016 Republican Primary debate, Cruz clumsily disparaged New York with comments that made him the bane of the city’s five boroughs.

“There are many, many wonderful, wonderful working men and women in the state of New York, but everyone understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal or pro-abortion or pro- gay-marriage, [and] focus around money and the media,” Cruz said in 2016.

His tasteless remarks even set up a lob to Trump for a soundbite that delivered one of the few humanizing seconds of his political existence, which compelled New Yorkers to double down on their loathing of Cruz.

Ultimately, it’s probably best for the country that the Astros won this outright or else Cruz would have rallied a vote to award a victory to the Astros anyway. Yankees fans are an obnoxious group of frontrunners, but they redeemed themselves for one night. On the plus side, now that the Yankees’ playoff run has come to an unceremonious end, its fans get to awaken to a 5-2 Jets squad and the 6-1 Giants.

For sure, all the Bryce Harper bashers are in hiding today.

It wasn’t long ago that he was ridiculed and downplayed after he bolted the Washington Nationals as a free agent, only to see his former team win the World Series the next season without him.

The cry was: “Who needs Harper?” “Good riddance” was thrown around a lot when talking about the slugger.

Man, those Negative Nellies could have not been more wrong.

He was a star from Day 1, when we saw all the videos of him launching monster home runs on YouTube.

He was supposed to be the next face of MLB. Yes, must-see TV.

And while we’ve seen Harper do incredible feats in his career already, Sunday was what we’ve all been waiting for. Harper’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning gave his Phillies the lead en route to a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 5 in Philly.

Harper’s blast sent the Phillies — who were the National League’s lowest-seeded team in the postseason — to the World Series for the first time since 2009. The city is electric and buzzing.

No one expected the Phils to get here. After all, the season started so poorly that manager Joe Girardi was canned after a 22-29 start.

Almost never does a team make such a dramatic move during the season and reach the postseason. In fact, the Phillies became just the seventh team to do so. Now, they have a chance to win a World Series, the franchise’s third (1980 & 2008).

And the biggest reason why it’s within their grasp is Harper, who finished the NLCS with eight hits, five RBI and two homers. He was named the NLCS MVP.

That’s what the face of a franchise does, if he’s truly that.

That’s why the Phillies gave him that 13-year, $330 million contract. They wanted him to lead their franchise to the World Series.

At the time of the signing, many thought the Phillies were crazy, and that it wouldn’t pay off for them. And there were doubts about Harper’s ability to lead the way. Peeps were wrong. Dead wrong.

Being big in big moments is the only way you truly validate your career.

All the personal accomplishments are nice — Harper won the NL MVP in 2021, his second (he won in 2015 as well) — but winning on the big stage and delivering in the clutch can’t be beat.

Enter Mike Trout.

The man is a great baseball player and has all the tools. Many think he’s the best all-around player ever. And all the stat geeks have numbers to back up this claim.

But he will never truly be seen that way by the masses because he hasn’t won a thing. In fact, his team has never even won a playoff game in his career, let alone a playoff series.

We’ve never seen Trout come through in a big spot with the season on the line.

To be honest, most of his numbers are hollow. Most of the time, his only meaningful at-bats come in April and May. Normally, the Los Angeles Angels enter August out of playoff contention, and he’s just playing out the string.

Sure, you still have to go out and compete.

But there’s a difference in playing and competing when the result of the game hangs in the balance.

That’s why Harper’s blast was so huge, meaningful.

Had the Phillies lost Game 5 at home with a chance to clinch, who knows what could have happened.

His team would have had to go back to San Diego and try to close it out there. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who had the best record in baseball, didn’t make it out of there alive.

Same goes for teams that met Harper’s Phils. In this postseason, Harper has five homers, is batting .419 with a 1.351 OPS. His bat enabled the Phillies to beat the St. Louis Cardinals, the reigning World Champion Atlanta Braves and now the Padres.

“No matter who was on the mound, No. 3 is made for that type of a moment,” said Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins about Harper. “And he did it again. None of us were surprised.”

And those who were are in hiding today. They won’t be watching the World Series. They don’t want to see Harper in a place they were convinced he’d never get to.