Tim Brown: PetSmart Has Some Bite

Players who completely dominate on the field and change the game are few and far between. Although the skill set needs to be there, attitude and drive are a part of it as well.

On the gridiron, being a dominant player means having many facets to your game. I lined up as a wide receiver in my playing days, and in order for someone to dominate at that position, he needed to not only be able to go long, but also run those bruising crossing routes over the middle and come down with the ball time and time again.

Those short and intermediate routes may be less glamorous but are hugely important when the game is on the line. Special players can keep the defense guessing at all times and always on their toes.

I have said publicly many times that I think Randy Moss, who has played for the Vikings, Raiders and now the AFC champion New England Patriots, is a great player but limited in his ability to take over a game. He is a one-trick pony ... a great one-trick pony but a one-trick pony nonetheless.

How does this relate to investing? It has two common themes that can be in contrast at times but that I believe are important. The first is that just because a player, or a stock, is a one-trick pony, doesn't mean they can't be a valuable part of any portfolio. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The caveat here is that you need to be aware of what you have, and of both the risk and potential reward.