Baller Alert's Athlete of the Week: Malcolm Smith - blogged by @LoveRubyWoo

Every athlete strives to be great, but in the world of professional sports, it takes a combination of mental and physical strength, hard work, dedication, and God-given talent to be a cut above the rest. Whether it's on the the turf, on the hardwood, on the diamond, or in the ring, some players have what it takes to stand out and be the best of the best. They never cease to amaze us as they put it all on the line for the sake of the game, so it's only right that we recognize who these star athletes are and give credit where it's due.

Here at Baller Alert, we want to give a shoutout to the one athlete that really shined this week. You did your thing out there and we salute you!

Athlete of the Week: Malcolm Smith (Oakland Raiders Linebacker)

Remember Malcolm Smith, the Super Bowl XLVIII MVP from the Seattle Seahawks? Ever since his big game, things have been relatively quiet for him. This past offseason, he joined the Oakland Raiders and has proved to be a solid addition to the team so far. However, this past Sunday, he had one of his best games yet and people are starting to remember again why he was once named the Super Bowl MVP. The Raiders had their biggest win of the season on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. Oakland completely dominated in the first three quarters, outscoring San Diego 37 to 6, and ultimately won 37-29. Smith was a huge contributor throughout the game, showing Philip Rivers and the Chargers offense that he is a force to be reckoned with. He started off the game with an interception on the Chargers' first drive, which resulted in a Raiders' touchdown two plays later. And that was just the beginning. Throughout the course of the game, Smith also racked up 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss, two passes defended, and a sack on Rivers. The man was on fire! With a 3-3 record, the Raiders still have a long way to go if they want to make the playoffs this year. But if Smith and the defense can continue to dominate on their side of the ball, and if the offense can build on their chemistry week after week, it might just be enough to give the Raiders a legitimate shot. 

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