Sports Talk

Is Suh Out Of Control?

2011-11-29T16:20:00.000-05:00

Ndamukong Suh placed a phone call to commissioner Roger Goodell to apologize for his latest actions, but Goodell didn't think it was enough. Goodell handed a two-game suspension to Suh for stomping on Evan Dietrich-Smith. Many have debated what kind of punishment Suh should have received for his latest unsportsmanlike act. Only in his second season, Suh already finds himself fighting a "dirty" label.

On Thanksgiving Day, on the national stage, Suh committed arguably his dirtiest action when he stomped on Smith in the third quarter in what was a tight game. Following Suh's ejection, the Lions simply weren't the same and Aaron Rodgers took advantage offensively. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported on the FOX NFL Sunday Pregame Show that Suh's Lion teammates ripped him after the game for the act and getting himself tossed from the game.

During Suh's rookie season, during preseason, Suh violently brought down Jake Delhomme after he already got rid of the football, which drew a penalty. That was the start of what would be a brief career start filled with incidents labeled "dirty" by many around the league. This is Suh's first suspension for any of his actions, but as Kordell Stewart said on ESPN's First Take, the league should've sent a message to him long before.

Suh has started the process in filing an appeal, so we'll wait and see how that turns out. His call to Goodell could be in his favor in the appeals process, but that's not a given. If Suh misses the next two games, he'll miss an important road game in the Superdome against the New Orleans Saints, who just rolled the New York Giants. The following week is a home game against the division-worst Minnesota Vikings.

One thing that is glaring in the entire picture is the fact that Suh hasn't apologized to Smith himself. After Stevie Johnson mocked Plaxico Burress on one of his touchdown dances, Johnson thought it over and sent apology messages to Burress. Suh's action was much worse than Johnson's silly actions, yet Suh didn't find the need to get the guy's phone number or find him after the game to apologize.

That is what's wrong with Suh. He is not showing any responsibility for his actions and he isn't showing any genuine remorse. Matt Slauson of the New York Jets was teammates with Suh at Nebraska, and Slauson had some angry comments about Suh in general from their time there. Slauson believes Suh should get medical help because he isn't thinking clearly at all times. That is a possibility, especially since Suh tried to rationalize his actions after the game.

Hopefully this is a lesson for Suh. Many people are saying Suh won't have a long career because of his actions. His "dirty" actions have nothing to do with his potential longevity in the league. If Suh is productive and dominant at times like we know he can be, he'll have a long career. However, if he wants to avoid the fines, suspensions and negative labels, he ought to start correcting himself right now.
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Week 2 Recap

2011-09-19T17:06:00.000-04:00

QB Matthew Stafford threw 4 TD's in Sunday's rout.

Kansas City 3, Detroit 48

Coming into Week 2, this was looking like one of the easiest predictions of the week. The Lions did not disappoint in many people's predictions, as they rolled the Chiefs into humiliation. For the second consecutive week, the Chiefs offense did nearly nothing while the defense allowed at least 40 points. RB Jamaal Charles tore his ACL in this game also, so the Chiefs have lost their two best players in consecutive weeks. The Chiefs can be contenders for 0-16.

Next Week: Chiefs at Chargers, Lions at Vikings

Seattle 0, Pittsburgh 24

The Steelers got back on track, just as everyone expected, with a home-opening victory over the Seahawks. QB Ben Roethlisberger completed over 70% of his passes for nearly 300 yards and a touchdown in the easy victory. His favorite target happened to be WR Mike Wallace, who caught eight passes for 126 yards and was the recipient of Roethlisberger's lone touchdown pass. QB Tavaris Jackson wasn't bad, but their running game gave them absolutely nothing. The Seahawks only had 31 yards rushing, and Jackson led the team in rushing with 12 yards.

Next Week: Cardinals at Seahawks, Steelers at Colts

Green Bay 30, Carolina 23

QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense started off slowly, as the Panthers jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first half, and held a 13-7 lead at halftime. The Packers made adjustments that worked, as they outscored the Panthers 23-10 in the second half, while the defense picked off QB Cam Newton three times. Newton was fascinating again, throwing for 432 yards. However, his three interceptions were costly, as it afforded the Packers the opportunity to go ahead for good.

Next Week: Packers at Bears, Jaguars at Panthers

Tampa Bay 24, Minnesota 20

The Vikings appeared to be rolling in the second half, behind the strength of two touchdowns from RB Adrian Peterson. That all changed in the second half as the Buccaneers got their act together and made plays, reversing a 17-point halftime deficit and stunning the Vikings in the Metrodome. RB LeGarrette Blount scored two touchdowns in the second half, and QB Josh Freeman threw a touchdown pass in the comeback win. QB Donovan McNabb was much better than last week, throwing for 228 yards, completing 18 of 30 attempts. The second straight close loss leaves the Vikings searching for second half consistency.

Next Week: Falcons at Buccaneers, Lions at Vikings

Jacksonville 3, New York Jets 32

QB Mark Sanchez threw two first half interceptions, giving the Jaguars a chance to stay in the game. It wasn't meant to be, as QB Luke McCown threw four interceptions before being benched in favor of rookie QB Blaine Gabbert. Sanchez only threw for 182 yards, but threw two touchdown passes to WR Santonio Holmes and TE Dustin Keller. The bright spot for the Jaguars was RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who rushed for 88 yards. The benching of McCown will raise questions all week for coach Jack Del Rio as to who will be the starter next week.

Next Week: Jaguars at Panthers, Jets at Raiders

Baltimore 13, Tennessee 26

The Titans rode the arm of veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck in beating the Ravens, one week removed from the Ravens handling of the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers. QB Joe Flacco was off all day, completing less than 50% of his passes and throwing two interceptions. Meanwhile, Hasselbeck had 358 yards passing on that Ravens' defense when they decided to focus on stopping RB Chris Johnson. WR Kenny Britt had a career-high nine catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. WR Nate Washington also chipped in with 99 yards receiving.

Next Week: Ravens at Rams, Broncos at Titans

Chicago 13, New Orleans 30

The Bears took the early lead with a touchdown pass from QB Jay Cutler to WR Dane Sanzenbacher, but they fell hard after that. Playing on an emotional day after the death of LB Brian Urlacher's mother, the made mistakes offensively and defensively that cost them the game. QB Drew Brees completed 26 of 37 attempts for 270 yards and three touchdowns. Cutler, on the other hand, completed less than 50% of his passes but did not throw an interception. However, he was sacked six times and fumbled once.

Next Week: Packers at Bears, Texans at Saints

Bills' QB Ryan Fitzpatrick fired 3 TD passes in the comeback.

Oakland 35, Buffalo 38

In what clearly was the best game of Week 2, the Bills improved to 2-0 in a thriller which came down to the last minute. The Raiders jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead behind three touchdown runs from RB Michael Bush, RB Darren McFadden and QB Jason Campbell. However, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick turned the page on the first half performance, and was excellent in the second half with three touchdown passes. The Bills scored five touchdowns in the second half to make the comeback. Fitzpatrick threw for 264 yards while Campbell threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns, both in the second half as well.

Next Week: Jets at Raiders, Patriots at Bills

Arizona 21, Washington 22

The Redskins continue to dominate the Cardinals historically, winning their eighth straight matchup against them with a close one-point victory. This game was close throughout, with the Redskins up 3 at the half. The Cardinals had an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter, but they couldn't hold it. QB Rex Grossman threw two interceptions, but he also threw two touchdown passes and completed a key pass to WR Santana Moss on fourth down in the fourth quarter. QB Kevin Kolb threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough. K Graham Gano kicked the game-winning field goal for the Redskins.

Next Week: Cardinals at Seahawks, Redskins at Cowboys

Cleveland 27, Indianapolis 19

The Colts continue to look awful without QB Peyton Manning, as the Browns weathered an early deficit to defeat the Colts for the first time since 1994. RB Peyton Hillis ran for nearly 100 yards and two touchdowns, putting the finishing touches on the game with his last touchdown. The Colts are 0-2 for the first time since Manning's rookie season. While it appeared QB Kerry Collins was more comfortable early on, he reverted back to last week's form in the loss.

Next Week: Dolphins at Browns, Steelers at Colts

Dallas 27, San Francisco 24 OT

QB Tony Romo was criticized all week for his fourth quarter performance against the Jets last week, but it was completely different this week. Romo suffered a fractured rib in the first half, but came back in the game to lead the Cowboys back down 10 in the fourth quarter. WR Jesse Holley, who won a spot on the team via Michael Irvin's reality show, caught the first OT pass from Romo and took it all the way down to the one-yard line, setting up the game-winning field goal. It was a much needed win for the Cowboys, as plenty of doubt would've crept in if they would've started the season 0-2.

Next Week: Redskins at Cowboys, 49ers at Bengals

Houston 23, Miami 13

The Dolphins lost their sixth consecutive home game dating back to last season, while the Texans looked sharp again. QB Chad Henne looked brilliant last week against the Patriots, but was awful this week. He completed less than 50% of his passes for only 170 yards. QB Matt Schaub, on the other hand, completed 21 of 29 attempts for 230 yards and two touchdowns. RB Ben Tate rushed for over 100 yards, just as his counterpart RB Daniel Thomas did on the other side. Thomas' game was the one bright spot for the Dolphins.

Next Week: Texans at Saints, Dolphins at Browns

San Diego 21, New England 35

QB Tom Brady was his usual self, constantly going to no-huddle and lighting up the Chargers' secondary just as he did to the Dolphins last week. Brady threw for 423 yards, his second straight 400+ yard game. QB Cam Newton, as a rookie, has done the same thing this season. However, while Newton's performances has resulted in two losses, Brady's performance has led to two victories. QB Philip Rivers was on point as well, completing 29 of 40 attempts for 378 yards and two touchdowns. However, Rivers' two interceptions were costly, in addition to RB Mike Tolbert's fumble in the second half. WR Vincent Jackson was a bright spot, with 10 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns.

Next Week: Chiefs at Chargers, Patriots at Bills

Cincinnati 22, Denver 24

Rookie QB Andy Dalton was impressive in his second NFL start, throwing for 332 yards and two touchdowns. However, it wasn't enough as the Broncos were able to scrape by. QB Kyle Orton's numbers weren't pretty, but his two touchdown passes, both to WR Eric Decker, were huge. The Broncos were in a strange position once WR Eddie Royal got hurt. Since WR Brandon Lloyd was out, they were extremely thin at the receiver position. They put in beloved QB Tim Tebow to play the position shortly to fill in.

Next Week: 49ers at Bengals, Broncos at Titans

QB Michael Vick had the Eagles ahead before he left with a concussion.

Philadelphia 31, Atlanta 35

Once QB Michael Vick left with a concussion, the Eagles were doomed. Even though backup QB Mike Kafka showed flashes of greatness, the Eagles were unable to maintain their lead after Vick left and lost a close one. Vick, playing in front of his old home fans, was throwing with efficiency and picking his spots when he ran the ball. The Falcons, not a good blitzing team, found it extremely difficult to keep up with him and the offense. QB Matt Ryan was praised by analysts for his performance, but it was shaky at best. Although he threw four touchdowns, he threw two boneheaded interceptions and only threw for 195 yards. The Eagles still had a chance to win it. WR Jeremy Maclin, spectacular all day, dropped an easy pass from Kafka to seal it.

Next Week: Giants at Eagles, Falcons at Buccaneers

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Week 2 Predictions

2011-09-16T17:49:00.000-04:00

Kansas City @ Detroit

QB Matthew Stafford is looking for a 2-0 start.

After watching Week 1, this might be the easiest pick of the week. The Chiefs, coming off of a division title last season, looked horrible in their home opener against the Buffalo Bills. Losing 41-7 at home was bad, but things got worse when S Eric Berry was injured when Bills' WR Steve Johnson blocked him very low, giving him a season-ending injury. For the Lions, they lived up to expectations with an impressive road victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their home opener should be easy.

Edge: Detroit

Oakland @ Buffalo

Both teams started the season on the road, and both teams took care of business on the road to start off 1-0. There weren't any expectations for either team coming into the season, so their road victories were impressive. After this game, someone will be looking good at 2-0. Who will that be? QB Ryan Fitzpatrick had arguably the best quarterback performance in Week 1 of all. Their defense was impressive too, limiting the Chiefs' offense that looked good last year. The Raiders got a good win against the Broncos, but they committed a lot of penalties in a sloppy game.

Edge: Buffalo

Baltimore @ Tennessee

The Baltimore Ravens had their best performance in years when they stomped the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. QB Joe Flacco was very efficient, and RB Ray Rice was making plays out of the backfield, whether it was running the ball or receiving. The defense was stout, forcing seven turnovers and making QB Ben Roethlisberger look dreadful. The Tennessee Titans, on the other hand, were a disappointment on all levels last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Expect the same this week.

Edge: Baltimore

Jacksonville @ New York Jets

The Jets have a knack for making things look close when they really shouldn't be. Most people thought they would blow out the Dallas Cowboys, yet the Cowboys had the game won if it wasn't for several boneheaded mistakes. The last time the Jaguars played in New Jersey, they came out the victor, during Rex Ryan's first season. So it isn't set in stone that the Jets will win this easily. This is a trap game for them, and hopefully Ryan has put that in his players' heads. Look for the Jets to take advantage of QB Luke McCown behind center, coming with an array of blitz packages.

Edge: New York Jets

Cleveland @ Indianapolis

Both teams were extremely disappointing in Week 1, so it is very hard to determine who will come out as the winner. Most people, including myself, thought the Cleveland Browns would easily handle the Cincinnati Bengals, who were starting a rookie quarterback and rookie receiver. Instead, the Bengals won by 10, and left the Browns searching for answers. The Indianapolis Colts were dreadful, and it makes me wonder whether WR Reggie Wayne was right when he said the Colts were better off going to QB Curtis Painter than QB Kerry Collins. The Colts' defense is still fairly healty, so they should play well at home against the Browns.

Edge: Indianapolis

Arizona @ Washington

Both teams won their season openers at home, but they are completely different. While QB Kevin Kolb passed for 309 yards and two touchdowns, he was helped out by possibly the worst defense in the NFL, which the Redskins are far from this year. The Redskins were very impressive, albeit against a defense with a ton of injuries. QB Rex Grossman looked like a man on a mission to prove that these Redskins will come out as the division winner. Kolb didn't fare well against the Redskins last year when QB Michael Vick got hurt, so he'll look for redemption.

Edge: Washington

Tampa Bay @ Minnesota

Most experts probably didn't see the fact that the Buccaneers are overrated because they played a team in the Detroit Lions who are on the rise. The Buccaneers haven't lost to the Vikings since they both split from the NFC Central division in 2002. However, history is history and the Vikings have QB Donovan McNabb now. That's not saying much, especially after his horrible performance at San Diego. Still, the Vikings defense looked somewhat solid in making the Chargers work for their victory. This may not be as close as you think.

Edge: Minnesota

Green Bay @ Carolina

QB Cam Newton was the story of the week, passing for 422 yards in his NFL debut, an NFL record. He was playing the Cardinals' defense, who are not the Packers' defense. Granted, the Packers defense did give up 34 points to the New Orleans Saints and looked outright bad at times as well. However, an experienced quarterback will be lucky to have half the production he had last week.

Edge: Green Bay

Chicago @ New Orleans

Many people say the Bears looked good last week in their rout of the Atlanta Falcons. They only reinforced what I expected out of the Falcons, which wasn't much. However, that doesn't mean the Bears are an excellent football team. Going into the Louisiana Superdome will cause problems for QB Jay Cutler, and QB Drew Brees will pick up where he left off from last week.

Edge: New Orleans

Seattle @ Pittsburgh

After starting the season at Baltimore, the Steelers get a relatively easy season opener. The Steelers looked awful against the Ravens in a 35-7 loss, leaving Mike Tomlin speechless as expected. When the Steelers are winning, Tomlin has the answers. When they're losing, he doesn't know. Let's just say he's just a motivational speaker for his ball club. The Seahawks didn't look good against the San Francisco 49ers, and more importantly, QB Tavaris Jackson didn't look good. That's trouble for this franchise.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Dallas @ San Francisco

Even though QB Tony Romo received a lot of criticism for his failures in the fourth quarter, Romo was excellent for the first three quarters. Echoing the sentiments of Skip Bayless, if TE Jason Witten would just become a man and handle small S Jim Leonhard, the Cowboys would be 1-0. Instead, a lot of unfortunate circumstances have them in need of a victory now. The 49ers are 1-0 after an easy victory against the Seahawks, but the Cowboys are much different. This used to be a rich rivalry, but now it's a matchup of pedestrian football teams.

Edge: Dallas

San Diego @ New England

QB Tom Brady is coming off a 517-yard performance.

These two teams are regularly labeled Super Bowl contenders year after year, so this is clearly the best game this weekend. The Chargers didn't look too good in beating the Vikings, but a win is a win. The Patriots, on the other hand, beat the Miami Dolphins into embarrassment. QB Tom Brady was setting records all day, but 500+ yards won't happen against the Chargers. However, Brady and the offense displayed the kind of offense they were thriving in during their record 2007 season. This might be trouble for the NFL.

Edge: New England

Cincinnati @ Denver

Broncos' fans are calling for QB Tim Tebow to take over, but coach John Fox isn't budging. That's a good idea, because you don't want to make a change this early in the season to a quarterback you're unsure of. Simply put, Tebow cannot throw like an NFL quarterback yet, so he's not ready. The Broncos were sloppy in their home loss to the Raiders, and QB Kyle Orton was a part of that. Still, he kept the Broncos close and made them competitive. The Bengals surprisingly won against the Browns, but I'm still very unsure of what I'll see from this team. Makes for an interesting game or season.

Edge: Denver

Houston @ Miami

While the Texans rang up 34 points in the first half against the Colts, they didn't quite look good. QB Matt Schaub still threw a poor interception and his touchdown pass to WR Andre Johnson was tipped before it reached his hands. If the Colts' offense weren't disastrous, they probably have a chance to win the game. The Texans were given good field position all day as a result of QB Kerry Collins' poor play. That's a different outcome if he moves the ball more effectively. The Dolphins defense looked bad, but QB Chad Henne was surpringly good. If he can keep that up, they'll be better than I thought.

Edge: Miami

Philadelphia @ Atlanta

QB Michael Vick starts in Atlanta for the first time.

Most people are pitting this game as the most interesting matchup, only because QB Michael Vick is returning to Atlanta. However, the Falcons aren't all they're made out to be. Until they get consistent quarterback play from QB Matt Ryan, they'll forever be just a decent team. Their schedule is much harder this year, since they have to play the NFC North. The Eagles are a great team, when Vick is on top of his game. As shown in their game against the St. Louis Rams, they're only as good as Vick allows them to be.

Edge: Philadelphia

St. Louis @ New York Giants

Both teams are suffering from a rash of injuries heading into this game, so both teams should be thankful for an extra day to prepare. Rams' coach Steve Spagnuolo will be in the Meadowlands for the first time since the 2007 season, when he led the Giants' defense to a Super Bowl victory. He has done a good job leading the Rams, but they have injuries at real important positions heading into this game. The Giants hope to have DE Justin Tuck and WR Hakeem Nicks playing. Tuck is the most important defensive player and Nicks is the most important offensive player behind QB Eli Manning.

Edge: New York Giants

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Nuggets Don't Want Season

2011-09-15T00:05:00.000-04:00

F J.R. Smith is taking his talents to China.

F Wilson Chandler decided to take a chance and play in China.

Two weeks ago, F Wilson Chandler, who was scheduled to be a free agent once the lockout ended, announced he was signing with an organization in the Chinese Basketball Association. Chandler started the 2010-2011 season with the New York Knicks, but was sent to the Denver Nuggets in the big deal that sent F Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks. Nuggets' coach George Karl was impressed with Chandler's work, which helped the Nuggets stay in contention in the Western Conference.

J.R. Smith was also scheduled to be a free agent once the lockout ended, but he has followed Chandler's path and signed on to play in the Chinese Basketball Association as well. The league decided to not pursue any NBA players under contract, and stated whatever players signed there had to play the entire season. That eliminates Smith and Chandler for the 2011-2012 NBA season, should there be one.

There was no telling if the Nuggets management actually wanted to bring both of them back. If they did, this is a big blow to the organization. It's likely they wanted Chandler back, since he's still very young at 24, and can play multiple positions offensively and defensively. Smith always seemed to be a thorn in Karl's side, putting up ridiculous shots and not playing sound defense. At times, Smith was an electric scorer as the sixth man, putting up at least 35 points on several occasions.

Losing both of them would be detrimental to the Nuggets, who lost their superstar. No one knows if Chandler or Smith would've wanted to re-sign with them anyway, but the Nuggets cannot afford to lose two talented individuals. After the trade, they had about eight players who were capable starters in this league. Chandler, a starter with the Knicks, actually came off the bench behind F Danilo Gallinari, who was also traded to the Nuggets from the Knicks.

If there is a season, the Nuggets have some decisions to make. It seemed as if they were determined to trade G Raymond Felton, another member of the trade, this offseason. Now with the guaranteed loss of Chandler and Smith, do they proceed and trade another scoring option? That remains to be seen, but the season actually starting remains to be seen as well.

IF there is a season, the Nuggets contending for a championship won't be happening. Most people would make the argument that they are not capable of contending even with Smith and Chandler. The top four teams in the Western Conference this past season were the Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks and Thunder. The Nuggets, as crazy as it may seem, are capable of beating any of those four fielding the team they had after the Anthony trade.

Finally, let's see if the Nuggets are interested in bringing them back when they return to the states.

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Week 1 NFL Predictions

2011-09-09T22:13:00.000-04:00

Jay Cutler looks to get the Bears a division crown again.

Atlanta @ Chicago

Both teams had bye weeks in the playoffs last season, and proceeded to lose to Green Bay in consecutive weeks. This season, the Falcons have high expectations after giving up several draft picks in a trade to draft WR Julio Jones. Lined up opposite WR Roddy White, the Falcons are expected to have another great season. However, playing in Soldier Field is no easy task, especially for a team not used to success. This game should be close, but the Bears will come out the victor.

Edge: Chicago

Indianapolis @ Houston

The Colts received some very bad news when they announced QB Peyton Manning will miss this game. Then, Manning went on to have another neck procedure, which is sure to put him out for a couple of months. With that in mind, the Colts are doomed. These two teams met in the first game last season in Reliant Stadium, and RB Arian Foster introduced himself to the nation. After a breakout season, Foster may miss this game. However, the loss of Manning is too much to overcome.

Edge: Houston

Buffalo @ Kansas City

The Chiefs surprised many by winning the AFC West, but quickly bowed out to the Ravens at home in the Wild Card round. This time around, the Chiefs don't figure to be sneaking up on anybody this year. The Bills aren't considered by anyone to be a contender, but they do have promise with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Stevie Wilson, and RB Fred Jackson. With the Jets and the Patriots in the AFC East, the Bills will still be out of playoff contention, but they will be improved.

Edge: Buffalo

Cincinnati @ Cleveland

This is probably the easiest pick for analysts looking for a sure pick. There is nothing positive about what the Bengals are displaying this season. Rookie quarterback, rookie top receiver, and a lackluster defense is shaping up to be one of those Bengals' seasons Cincinnati fans are used to. The Browns are in the AFC North, where the Ravens and Steelers figure to dominate. That being said, the Browns will not being a contender. However, they are far better than the Bengals.

Edge: Cleveland

The Steelers and Ravens renew their rivalry in Week 1.

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Until the Ravens can prove they can beat the Steelers with QB Ben Roethlisberger, this isn't a fair rivalry. The Ravens beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh last season, but Roethlisberger was serving a suspension. Every time these two teams play each other, QB Joe Flacco looks dreadful, the game is always close in the fourth quarter, and Roethlisberger leads his team to victory. I expect the same on Sunday.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Philadelphia @ St. Louis

Backup QB Vince Young called the makeup of the Eagles' roster a "Dream Team." The Eagles have been the best team in free agency, and management should thank QB Michael Vick for being the force luring these free agents to Philly. However, their success depends squarely on the arm and decision-making of Vick. It seems as if he has regressed from what we saw in the middle of the season. The Rams, on the other hand, seem to be the logical choice to win the NFC West. The other three teams don't look quite as good.

Edge: St. Louis

Detroit @ Tampa Bay

These are two teams who have high expectations this season. For the Lions, this is new territory, as they have been the laughingstock of the league for a decade. Infusion of young talent through the draft the past couple of years have them looking high, trying to see what can be in the next couple of years. While their future looks bright, the Buccaneers went through the same deal last season and were denied the playoffs despite a 10-6 record. While the Buccaneers surprised most analysts with their improvement, only one of those wins came against a team with a winning record. This figures to be an interesting game between two young teams, but the home team figures to be the victor.

Edge: Tampa Bay

Tennessee @ Jacksonville

This might very well be the least interesting matchup of Week 1. This is also a matchup of teams with interesting issues at the quarterback position. The Jaguars may have shot their season down by releasing QB David Garrard. 30-year old QB Luke McCown takes over, and while the Jaguars believe there's a lot of potential in him, I'm not buying it. The Titans, on the other hand, could be the surprise team this season. If QB Matt Hasselbeck limits the amount of turnovers and makes good decisions like he's capable of, the Titans are very capable of winning the division. Let's see what they got.

Edge: Tennessee

Minnesota @ San Diego

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be in Landover, MD covering the Giants-Redskins game. They should be in San Diego covering this game, a much more interesting matchup. The last time RB Adrian Peterson played the Chargers, he set an NFL record in his rookie season with 296 rushing yards in a win. While there isn't much hype for the Vikings, they could very well surprise many folks as well. QB Donovan McNabb is in a much better situation than with the Redskins, and they have a defense that, if playing at the level of 2009, can take them places. On this day, however, the Chargers are the better team unless QB Philip Rivers gets injured.

Edge: San Diego

Carolina @ Arizona

Both teams are starting fresh, with new quarterbacks, hoping the future is bright. QB Cam Newton is facing the odds, immediately starting after being the #1 overall pick in this year's draft. Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning are two notable examples that have struggled mightily in their first season being the #1 pick. However, both of them have gone on to Hall of Fame careers, so there is upside with Newton. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are looking to see if QB Kevin Kolb can be the replacement for Kurt Warner. The Cardinals have a golden opportunity in a weak division, whereas the Panthers aren't so lucky. However, that may not be true for this game.

Edge: Carolina

New York Giants @ Washington

The Redskins should be applauded for their offseason moves. Other than the Eagles, they probably have had the most productive offseason, which is rare. On the defensive side, they signed DL Barry Cofield, DE Stephen Bowen, and S O.J. Atogwe. On offense, they acquired WR Jabar Gaffney, WR Donte Stallworth, and RB Tim Hightower. The only thing holding them back is their sketchy quarterback situation. Still, the Redskins can be a surprise improvement. The Giants have had the worst luck this offseason, but they have the most important pieces to their success.

Edge: New York Giants

Seattle @ San Francisco

This doesn't look like an interesting matchup, but Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh make it a bit interesting. Back in Harbaugh's Stanford days and Carroll's USC days, Stanford routed USC in their house in a stunning upset. However, up 48-21, Harbaugh decided to go for a two-point conversion, which didn't sit well with Carroll. During the postgame handshake, they both exchanged words that were not pleasantries. Let's see if the animosity is still there.

Edge: San Francisco

Dallas @ New York Jets

After coming up short of the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons, the Jets look to finally break the ice this season. They made headlines by acquiring WR Plaxico Burress and WR Derrick Mason, two veterans who have been around the block. This matchup pits Rex Ryan against his twin for the second straight season, so this figures to be an electric Sunday night game. The Cowboys haven't made many moves, but they have been on an interesting pattern of success these past couple of years. The Cowboys may bounce back this season, but a win in MetLife Stadium doesn't look to be in the cards.

Edge: New York Jets

New England @ Miami

The Patriots ended the season in disheartening fashion, losing at home to their division rivals after a 14-2 regular season. It's been a while since the Patriots have been very successful. QB Tom Brady will look to get the Patriots back to championship contention, while the Dolphins look to be in disarray. Sure, they acquired RB Reggie Bush. But they failed to land QB Kyle Orton, and seem to be stuck with QB Chad Henne, who seems to have made zero progress. If Henne does not show drastic improvement, this can be an abysmal year.

Edge: New England

Oakland @ Denver

The Raiders swept the AFC West last season, yet failed to make the playoffs. The likelihood of them sweeping the division again is unlikely, but there is promise with this franchise. QB Jason Campbell gives them a little bit of stability at the quarterback position, and if they get more out of their other offensive weapons and better defensive play, they could surprise folks. Hopefully, that isn't asking too much. The Broncos, on the other hand, don't quite know what they're doing at quarterback. A failed attempt to trade QB Kyle Orton has him as the starter, but in limbo. QB Tim Tebow figured to be the starter, but, in the eyes of John Fox, hasn't proven enough. That has angered some Broncos fans and Tebow supporters. Who knows what will happen for the Broncos going forward, but Orton still gives them the best opportunity to win games. Maybe, not this night.

Edge: Oakland

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RB Johnson Gets Paid

2011-09-01T15:42:00.002-04:00

RB Chris Johnson is now locked until the 2016 season.

It was just a matter of time before the Tennessee Titans realize they need RB Chris Johnson. From Johnson's camp, getting a deal done soon probably was urgent as well. Johnson hasn't made much money thus far in his career. To his credit, he did hold out until he got the pay he felt he deserved. With a four-year extension worth $53 million, Johnson will now be paid roughly $13 million a season, putting his yearly salary up with the top salaries in the league.

Some have made the argument that Johnson deserves to be paid among the elite NFL players in the league, leading the NFL in total rushing yards since he has gotten into the league. With the lack of productive wide receivers and offensive playmakers on offense, Johnson's productivity stands out that much more. Johnson most likely won't be able to play in the Titans' final preseason game in New Orleans, but his new extension assures him that he'll be ready September 11 in Jacksonville for the season opener.

Does Johnson really deserve to be paid among the elite NFL players? During his rookie season, the Titans were 13-3 and had the AFC's top seed. That success quickly ended when they lost at home to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. Johnson split rushing duties that season with RB LenDale White, who is no longer with the team. Johnson's second season was his best, rushing for over 2,000 yards as he became the primary back. However, the Titans got off to an 0-6 start, including a 59-0 loss at New England.

After QB Vince Young took over, he led them to an 8-2 record, but it was too late at that point. The 2010 season saw Johnson's production drop to over 1,300 yards, and the Titans weren't so successful either. They finished the season at a disappointing 6-10, in which the season went downhill during the second half of the season. Johnson is looked at by many as the best running back in the game, but his team hasn't shared his success.

This forces me to wonder - why pay top dollar for a guy who isn't bringing much success? Johnson isn't going to bring success for the Titans this year unless the defense plays better and QB Matt Hasselbeck has a more than decent season. Johnson will probably have around 1,500 yards, but if his team isn't doing anything, what sense does it make?

The Titans are banking on QB Jake Locker being the franchise quarterback for years to come, but that is only hope. The Titans still need to get better receiving weapons. WR Kenny Britt has showed promise at certain points, but hasn't turned out to be as productive as they would like. Couple that with his off-the-field troubles, and the Titans have some thinking to do with his future. If Britt gets in trouble once or twice more, he could be facing a lengthy suspension at the hands of Commissioner Roger Goodell. Then, what happens going forward?

The Titans lost in their battle with Johnson. But, if everything falls into place for the Titans, they will be just fine. That's a big IF however. That would mean Locker turns into a Pro Bowl quarterback, and Britt turns into a fine wide receiver. That would mean the Titans' defense, minus the departed DE Jason Babin, would be much better than last season as a unit.

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Vick Is Rich Again

2011-08-31T12:30:00.000-04:00

QB Michael Vick got his second $100 million contract.

Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick has signed a new contract worth $100 million over six years, with about $40 million guaranteed. This is Vick's second contract worth over $100 million. In 2004, he signed a 10-year deal worth $130 million with the Atlanta Falcons. At that time, Vick was 24-years old and primed to be the Falcons' franchise quarterback for years to come. However, the dogfighting ring issue in 2007 that eventually landed him in prison cost him a lot of money in the future.

When Vick was released from prison in 2009, it didn't seem as if a lot of teams really wanted his services. Teams with struggling quarterback situations at the time, like the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and the Buffalo Bills seemed to be questioning his off-the-field issues as opposed to getting him on board and looking to see if he can be the franchise quarterback he once was. The 49ers continue to struggle at the quarterback position, and it seems the Browns and the Bills have figured out their quarterback situation for now.

Surprisingly, the Eagles signed Vick to a two-year deal worth about $5 million. The Eagles already had QB Donovan McNabb and future franchise QB Kevin Kolb. All of a sudden, Vick was in a position where he probably didn't know if his NFL career would ever be where it was when he was in Atlanta. After the Eagles went 11-5 in the regular season, they bowed out to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round. The Eagles only scored seven points. McNabb was the starter, but it was Vick's touchdown pass to WR Jeremy Maclin that provided the only points of the game.

The Eagles got rid of McNabb in the offseason via trade to the division-rival Washington Redskins. That propelled Kolb to the starting position, and Vick as the backup. The Eagles came into the 2010 season with a lot of doubters. They didn't prove the doubters wrong in the first game against the Green Bay Packers, as they struggled mightily in the first half. A concussion for Kolb in the first half put Vick in the game, and Vick almost led the Eagles back to victory.

Vick would go on to start the next three games, which happened to be impressive victories at the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars, before starting at home against McNabb and the Redskins. Vick got hurt in the game, and the Eagles eventually lost. The Eagles won the next two games with Kolb as the starter, but it was clear the city wanted Vick as the starter. Vick went on to have a career game a month later against the Redskins en route to a 59-28 win.

Vick had one last hoorah at the Meadowlands against the New York Giants, leading them to victory after being down 31-10 in the fourth quarter. Vick wasn't impressive the next week in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and in the playoff game against the eventual champion Green Bay Packers, was lackluster offensively and was shut down in only scoring 16 points in the loss. Vick hasn't been impressive this preseason either, but several other players haven't been impressive either.

The Eagles gave Vick the franchise tag, worth $15 million for the season. If I were the Eagles, I would've paid Vick $15 million for the season and see if he can duplicate the success he had in the 2010 season. This could turn out to be a terrible investment if Vick doesn't pan out this season, and plays like he did against the Chicago Bears, the Vikings and the Packers. Only time will tell whether Vick is worth the money.

With Vick being paid that much money, where does that leave WR Desean Jackson? Jackson is only going to be paid around $500K this season, and his production thus far is not worth just $500K. The Eagles spent money this offseason, but none of it on Jackson. Jackson was Vick's reliable deep threat, as he is the fastest guy in the league.

Jackson took a crushing blow against the Falcons during the 2010 season when CB Dunta Robinson gave him a helmet-to-helmet hit going over the middle. Jackson may not want to go over the middle this season, and who can blame him? Another concussion can end his career, and he wouldn't have made a lot of money in his brief career. For Jackson, he needs to take care of himself and make sure he's around to potentially make a lot more money next offseason. With Vick, who's 31, it is Super Bowl or bust in the next two seasons.

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Eli's Statement

2011-08-17T14:03:00.000-04:00

Giants QB Eli Manning says he's in elite class with QB Tom Brady.

New York Giants QB Eli Manning was on Michael Kay's radio show on ESPN 1050 yesterday when Kay asked Manning a very good question. Kay asked Manning if he thought he was in the elite class of quarterbacks, in the top five or top ten quarterbacks in the game. Manning definitely answered that he thought his career was along the same lines as New England Patriots QB Tom Brady. Manning said Brady is better now than he was when he won the three Super Bowls, and he is improving every year like Brady.

Many sports analysts laughed at Manning's statements, claiming he isn't an elite quarterback and is not in Brady's class. ESPN contributor Michael Smith said Manning shouldn't even have made the statement because it's not his job to assess where he ranks among quarterbacks in the game. It was certainly surprising to hear Manning come out and speak on where he ranks among his peers, as he has been a quiet leader his entire career.

Smith makes a great point. It isn't Manning's job at all to answer Kay's question. Manning could've simply deflected the question or give a simple answer that leaves both sides happy. Making a statement like that could put more pressure on you, and pressure is the last thing any NFL player needs, let alone a quarterback.

However, Manning has to be the most disrespected quarterback in recent memory. When talking about the game's elite and the quarterbacks behind the elite, Manning is never put in any category. Manning was left off the NFL Network's Top 100 NFL Players of 2010 list, with quarterbacks like QB Donovan McNabb, QB Joe Flacco, QB Josh Freeman and QB Tony Romo on the list. Manning certainly had a better season than all of those quarterbacks, although Romo was hurt against the Giants in Week 7, thus knocking him out for the rest of the season.

When the Giants were in Houston to play the Houston Texans during the 2010 season, there was a Sportsnation poll question that asked whether Manning or Texans QB Matt Schaub was the better quarterback. An astounding 72 percent of voters voted Schaub as the better quarterback. Schaub isn't even in Manning's league, yet almost three out of four Americans believed Schaub is the better quarterback.

Manning's numbers this past season was pretty good, except for the interceptions. Manning led the league with 25 interceptions. However, we all know Manning isn't a 20-interception quarterback at all. Some of the interceptions came from the fact the receivers couldn't hang on to throws that were placed in their hands. Manning, along with New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, were the only two quarterbacks to have at least 4,000 yards passing, at least 30 touchdowns, and at least 20 interceptions. However, Brees is regarded very highly while Manning is an afterthought.

Manning, along with Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers, were drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Roethlisberger went 16-1 his rookie season with the playoffs included, and won a Super Bowl despite his subpar performance in his second year, immediately endearing him to the hearts of the fans and the analysts. Rivers has put up spectacular numbers in the past three years, etching his name among the game's greats. Both of them have personalities that make themselves different.

Eli is the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning, and considered by many to be a poor imitation of him. Eli is rarely heard from in the media, thus making him the forgotten man. When the Giants have made the playoffs in four of the six years with him as the full-time starter, analysts always said it was because of their defense or the running game. Since Manning became the full-time starter in his second season, the Giants have not had a losing season. The Giants did not make the playoffs this past year despite a 10-6 record. If it weren't for the defense's collapse at home against the Eagles, the Giants win the division.

Manning is certainly top-10 in the game, and maybe he can get more respect among his peers and the fans if he backs up his statement. The Giants cut OL Rich Seubert and OL Shaun O'Hara, so it won't be an easy task to have an elite season. However, Manning has dealt with the pressure of playing in the New York market for this long, so he will be good, and more importantly, the franchise is in good hands.

Get An Invite

2011-08-15T22:22:00.000-04:00

Texas A&M won't be headed to the SEC just yet.

Over the weekend, ESPN reported that Texas A&M were definitely going to join the SEC, becoming the third team to leave the Big 12. Also, the Aggies were looking to join the powerful football conference as soon as the 2012 season. Then, the next day, ESPN reported that the SEC was not interested at the moment in extending an invite to Texas A&M.

The SEC currently has 12 teams, six in the SEC East and six in the SEC West. Adding Texas A&M without another team would make it an uneven 13 teams in the conference, something they probably do not want. There has been other reports that the SEC is pursuing Clemson and Florida St. from the ACC. No word has come from Clemson or Florida St. about plans to join the SEC or stay put in the ACC.

If the SEC can get a 14th team to join, they will most likely extend an invite to Texas A&M to make it an even seven games apiece for each conference. The Pac 10 were able to get two teams in Utah and Colorado to expand to an even 12 teams. Expansion among conferences has certainly been trendy as of late, and it is a big money grab for those conferences. Even recent football powerhouse Boise St. changed conferences, going from the WAC to the Mountain West Conference.

With all of these changes happening, Texas A&M made themselves look bad by making it appear as if the SEC had a ton of interest in inviting them now. Will this affect Texas A&M's decision in the future if the SEC actually extends an invite? The SEC hopes that doesn't happen, but Texas A&M should feel a little slighted. The Aggies staying in the Big 12 is great, as they keep their rivalry with Texas going. Who knows what will happen in the future with Texas A&M, but the decision they make will come down to dollars and not sense.

Newton Over Clausen

2011-08-14T20:44:00.010-04:00

Even though QB Cam Newton was 8 for 19, he made impressive throws.

QB Jimmy Clausen wasn't too impressive in the first preseason game.

The Carolina Panthers beat the New York Giants 20-10 in both teams' preseason openers. The obvious story going into the game was the competition between last year's second round pick QB Jimmy Clausen and 2011 first overall pick QB Cam Newton. One preseason game isn't nearly enough to determine who should be the starting quarterback come September 11, but the country got a glimpse of what could happen in the near future.

Clausen's numbers were decent. He completed four of his seven attempts and one of the four completions went for a touchdown. However, one of Clausen's three incompletions resulted in an interception from LB Michael Boley, which was returned for a touchdown. Clausen rebounded to throw a touchdown to TE Greg Olsen before he turned the reins over to Newton.

Newton only completed eight of his 19 passes, but for 134 yards. However, he didn't throw a touchdown pass. Even if Newton's numbers don't indicate he was better than Clausen, he showed more maturity with his pocket presence and accuracy. A couple of Newton's passes were incomplete because they were thrown in coverage, but they were certainly on target. After playing in his first ever NFL game, Panthers' fans have to be impressed by what they saw from Newton and what they could get from him in the future.

Newton has three more preseason appearances to make before coach Ron Rivera has to make a final decision. The decision should be Newton. Newton's attributes as a developing pocket passer, in addition to his ability to run and take hits, gives the Panthers a great chance to improve. Clausen certainly won't be happy if Newton becomes the starter. Clausen's opportunity may not come with the Panthers, but if he improves his accuracy and pocket presence, he could be a good fit for another NFL franchise.

Edwards Signs With 49ers

2011-08-04T21:53:00.000-04:00

WR Braylon Edwards signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

WR Braylon Edwards, formerly of the New York Jets, signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers worth $3.5 million. Edwards was one of several marquee wide receivers that was on the market longer than expected, but nonetheless, it is a good signing for the 49ers. Edwards was decent for the Jets this past season, catching 53 passes for 904 yards and seven touchdowns. Edwards was instrumental to QB Mark Sanchez during the Jets' victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular season, catching eight passes for 100 yards in his best game.

Edwards' addition to the 49ers adds to an already explosive offense with first-year coach Jim Harbaugh. With RB Frank Gore, TE Vernon Davis, and WR Michael Crabtree, Edwards should bolster a competent offense. The only question with their offense remains QB Alex Smith's ability to run the offense. Harbaugh is showing faith in him, as opposed to drafting a quarterback with their first-round pick or getting QB Kyle Orton from the Denver Broncos.

Edwards' tenure with the Jets was somewhat successful, but he also provided a headache to the organization. Recently, Edwards and his friends got into an altercation at a bar in Michigan, adding to his troubles. This past season, he was arrested for DUI and he had an altercation with one of Lebron James' friends during his time with the Cleveland Browns. Even so, Jets' coach Rex Ryan still wanted Edwards to re-sign with the team for a little bit of money.

Many people say Edwards' subtraction and WR Plaxico Burress' addition is going to hold their offense back a little, but that will not be the case. The one subtraction that will impact their offense this upcoming season is WR Brad Smith's departure to the Buffalo Bills. Smith was their best special teams player, but he also ran the Wildcat offense, in addition to being a good fourth receiver. The Jets have just cut WR Jerricho Cotchery as well, and it is reported that they will sign veteran WR Derrick Mason, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens. However, without Smith, the Jets' offense will take a small step back.

Even with their changes on offense, the Jets staple is their defense. Rex Ryan is an excellent defensive coach and has gotten the most out of his defensive players. Their performance in the playoffs, including against the Steelers when they lost, was outstanding. Sanchez is merely asked to not make mistakes and hand the ball off to the backs. That is the Jets' formula for success, and as long as they stick to it, Edwards' departure doesn't hurt their offense one bit.

Orton or Tebow?

2011-08-03T17:49:00.000-04:00

QB Kyle Orton threw for 3,653 yards in 13 starts before he was replaced by QB Tim Tebow.

QB Tim Tebow completed 50% of his passes this past season.

The Denver Broncos were held up by the NFL lockout in trying to trade QB Kyle Orton, the starter for the majority of last season. Once the lockout ended, the Broncos started their pursuit for suitors who will offer a good deal for the services of Orton. About a week and some change later, Orton is still with the Broncos. It was thought that the Miami Dolphins would make a strong bid to acquire Orton, but they ended up signing QB Matt Moore, who went 1-4 as a starter for the Carolina Panthers last season.

It has now been revealed that Orton is taking all of the snaps with the first team in training camp. Many people have been behind the idea that new head coach John Fox should roll with QB Tim Tebow instead. The Broncos drafted Tebow with their first-round pick, to the amazement of myself and many others. However, he has captured the hearts of many and he is receiving a lot of support to be the starter.

The question to many NFL followers remain -- who should be the starter this season? Orton started 13 games, and had four games where his passer rating was over 100. In four of his first six games, he threw for over 300 yards, including a 476 yard game against the Indianapolis Colts. Interim coach Eric Studesville inserted Tebow for their Week 15 matchup against the Oakland Raiders. Tebow completed passes at a completion percentage of 50 percent or lower in two of the three games he started. Tebow was 1-2 as a starter, and Orton wasn't better with a 3-10 record in his 13 games.

With that being said, it is clear that Orton gives the Broncos the best chance to win football games. During the 2009 season, the Broncos started out 5-0 before bottoming out. Orton's accuracy and efficiency was one of the biggest reasons why. The Broncos have many problems on their defense, who gave up 59 points to the Raiders and 43 points to the lowly Arizona Cardinals. Tebow's passing ability in his three games as a starter was comical at some moments. His accuracy was way off during some of his passes, and from the looks of things, he doesn't appear to be an NFL starting quarterback anytime soon.

The Broncos feel compelled to start him sooner or later because they drafted him in the first round. However, that is management's fault that they thought that highly of him when no one else did. John Fox was not there when they drafted him that high. Management should not pressure him to start him because of that. Fox should start Orton because he makes them a contender in a division that's slightly questionable. What happens remains to be seen, but the Broncos will realize their mistake if they take Tebow over Orton.

Bynum's Apology

2011-05-11T19:36:00.000-04:00

Mavericks G J.J. Barea takes it to the paint
against Lakers C Andrew Bynum.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum has been suspended by the NBA for the first five games of the 2011-2012 season for his flagrant 2 foul on Dallas Mavericks G J.J. Barea in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Bynum joins Detroit Pistons F Charlie Villanueva as players who will be suspended for the start of next season for their transgressions in their last game. In the last game of the regular season, Villanueva got into a brief altercation with Cleveland Cavaliers C Ryan Hollins, then proceeded to try and go after him while he was in the locker room. The NBA suspended Villanueva five games also.

Bynum and Lakers F Lamar Odom received a lot of criticism for their hard fouls that ended in both of them being tossed. The Lakers were being blown out in the fourth quarter when frustration set in. After the game, Bynum and Odom were ripped for their transgressions. Bynum publicly apologized for the first time yesterday, and it sparked a debate as to whether Bynum was sincere in his apology. He didn't seem to care about the play at all the day it happened. Clearly, Bynum was frustrated the entire series with the Mavericks easy penetration into the lane possession after possession.

Bynum's apology certainly seemed sincere, contrary to what many media members think. Bynum had a couple of days to think about what he had done and how severe it could've been had Barea gotten injured on the play. Just because Bynum wasn't remorseful or contrite initially doesn't mean you can't have time to think about it and change your view. Bynum certainly didn't do the right thing by hitting Barea when he was so far in the air. However, Bynum did what many big men do once the paint is being attacked way too much. He took physical action, something that's usually applauded.

After the Chicago Bulls trashed the Atlanta Hawks the entire game during Game 3, Hawks coach Larry Drew said his team was too complacent and they weren't physical at all. Bulls star G Derrick Rose scored 44 points and was getting into the paint at will. Drew was publicly telling his team to be more physical in attempting to deter Rose from getting into the paint at will. Barea was getting into the paint at will all series long, and Bynum got tired of it. Why should he receive so much criticism? Bynum did what should've been done in the second quarter. Dribble penetration and open three-pointers are the reason the Lakers are on vacation. Had they done something about it earlier in Game 4, they would probably still be playing basketball.

Saints Win Rematch of NFC Title

2010-09-10T14:35:00.000-04:00

It wasn't pretty for both teams, but the New Orleans Saints were able to take a lead early in the second half and hold it for a 14-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Some predicted that Vikings' QB Brett Favre will not duplicate the success he had last season, where he threw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. It's too early to tell, but he wasn't as successful as the Vikings wanted him to be.

The Saints victory was the lowest scoring win for the Saints during the Sean Payton era. However, they will gladly take the victory. QB Drew Brees was accurate, completing 27 of 36 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. They scored early, jumping out on top with 12:56 to go in the first quarter on WR Devery Henderson's 29-yard touchdown reception. But the scoring stopped, until the Vikings scored nine the second quarter with K Ryan Longwell's 41-yard field goal and TE Visanthe Shiancoe's 20-yard touchdown reception. The extra point was blocked after the touchdown, giving them nine instead of 10.

The Saints started off the second half on a good note also, as they scored another touchdown from RB Pierre Thomas. From there, it was just stingy defense from the two teams and two missed field goals from K Garrett Hartley prevented the Saints from scoring more. Favre only completed 15 of 27 passes for 171 yards, and he threw his first interception of the season. This was the seventh consecutive time the defending champions who hosted the opening Thursday night game has won. The Saints will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers on Monday Night, and the Vikings will travel back home to host the Miami Dolphins for their home opener.

NFC West Preview

2010-09-08T21:45:00.000-04:00

The NFC West is by far the worst division in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and St. Louis Rams don't figure to be threats to many teams in the NFL. However, there is upside to this division. The Seahawks had an amazing draft, so there's a chance they can surprise people and capture the division crown. The 49ers already have an assembly of talent on their roster, so it's plausible for them to succeed. The Rams used their #1 overall pick on what they hope to be the future of their franchise in QB Sam Bradford.

The St. Louis Rams drafting of QB Sam Bradford was a step in the right direction. They let go of QB Marc Bulger, who for years has been very overrated. It'll be difficult for Bradford to succeed as a rookie and the talent that's on the Rams roster. He is also coming off of a major shoulder injury, so he could struggle with that in his pro career as well. The schedule isn't difficult for the Rams, but they'll still lose most of their games with a rookie at the helm. They'll finish 3-13, which is an improvement from the 1-15 mark they had last year.

The Seattle Seahawks fired Jim Mora Jr. after one year, and they are now trusting their entire franchise to the hands of Pete Carroll, who was mediocre in his head coaching stints with the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Carroll was very successful with the USC Trojans, winning two national championships. However, the NFL is different than college, and he has an aging quarterback in QB Matt Hasselbeck, who hasn't proven he has anything left in the tank. They also got rid of QB Seneca Wallace, so Hasselbeck will have to do good. They drafted pretty well, but made a dumb move by cutting WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently. They are giving the starting spot to WR Mike Williams, who was a bust in Detroit and Oakland and being real close to not having a career. The Seahawks have not improved and will remain at the 5-11 mark they finished with last year.

The San Francisco 49ers started off last season very well, highlighted with a close loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, their embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons was the beginning of a season in which they would fall back down to mediocrity. They finished at 8-8, and are now trusting QB Alex Smith to lead the way. With the competition in the division, combined with the talent on the roster, the 49ers should easily win the division. However, they won't be threats in the playoffs. They'll finish with a 9-7 mark and a division crown.

The Arizona Cardinals are two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, but a lot has changed since. QB Kurt Warner, who led them to the Super Bowl and a NFC Divisional Round appearance last year, retired, leaving the position to QB Matt Leinart. Coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't see anything in Leinart and quickly lost faith in him, handing the job to QB Derek Anderson, who only had one solid season as a starter. Leinart was cut, and now the explosive offense, with WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Steve Breaston, and WR Early Doucett, is now in the hands of Anderson. That will be a fail, as the Cardinals will fall to 7-9 and search for another quarterback next offseason.

NFC South Preview

2010-09-08T21:30:00.000-04:00

The NFC South is home to the NFL champion New Orleans Saints, but they will have competition from the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't be an easy out either. This division has always been so strange from the time it was created back in 2002. The Saints won the division last year with a 13-3 record, but only had an 8-8 record the year before. The Carolina Panthers won the division the year before with a 12-4 record, but were only 8-8 with the same team. The Falcons were good in QB Matt Ryan's rookie year, with an 11-5 record, but they regressed to a 9-7 record.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 3-13 last year, but they are actually optimistic about the direction of their franchise. They used their first round pick last year on Kansas State QB Josh Freeman, and he was able to get on the field as a rookie. They were 3-13 last year because of the instability at the quarterback position. They started three different quarterbacks last year, and they also got rid of all of their veterans. The year before, they were 9-3 before taking a nosedive and losing the final four games and missing the playoffs, a first in NFL history. They play Baltimore and Cincinnati on the road, but their schedule isn't that hard. I expect them to improve upon last season, to 6-10, falling short of the playoffs.

The Carolina Panthers were 8-8 last season, finishing off the season greatly behind QB Matt Moore. QB Jake Delhomme was awful after having a great season the year before, prompting the Panthers to cut him. They also drafted QB Jimmy Clausen, so they have a competition at that position. However, Moore is expected to be the starter, and they have a defense that ranked fourth in pass defense. They were also the third best rushing team, with RB DeAngelo Williams and RB Jonathan Stewart. Their success comes down to the play at the quarterback position, and I think they'll definitely struggle with Moore being the full-time starter. He'll be removed, and Clausen will enter and struggle as well. The Panthers will also finish 6-10, probably costing John Fox his job.

The Atlanta Falcons were 11-5 in QB Matt Ryan's rookie season, and things were looking great for the quarterback. He didn't have a bad sophomore season, but the Falcons were only 9-7, and barely missed the playoffs. Their pass defense was awful, close to the bottom of the league. They made a move to improve their pass defense, signing underrated CB Dunta Robinson. The only question is who will play opposite him. Their pass defense will improve, but not significantly. They will improve however, as a team, and will win the division with an 11-5 record.

The New Orleans Saints are the defending champions, pulling off an upset over the Indianapolis Colts. With much of their team remaining intact, they are some people's picks to have success again. Even though the statistics don't show an improved defense last year, they were certainly improved from the year before. Much of the credit should go to the additions of Gregg Williams and S Darren Sharper. Sharper will miss the first six games, and they also let go DE Will Smith in the offseason. Offensively, they are capable of lighting up the league again with proficient QB Drew Brees and his receiving core. However, they will have a Super Bowl hangover and finish at 9-7, just short of a playoff berth.

NFC North Preview

2010-09-07T22:34:00.000-04:00

The NFC North is a team with only two contenders -- the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. The Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions will not be impactful enough to ruin the party and become contenders this upcoming season. Last season, the Vikings won the division with a 12-4 record and made an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. They will be looking to build upon that and advance to the Super Bowl. The Packers finished at 11-5, but lost a heartbreaker in Arizona in the Wild Card Round. They are also looking to build upon their record and hopefully win the division.

The Detroit Lions finished the 2008 season at 0-16, the first for an NFL team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14 in the first year during the 1970s. There was only one way to go for the Lions, and that was up. They couldn't be worst than a completed defeated season. They improved to 2-14 last season, still a horrible season. The Lions drafted DT Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick, and they also signed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. They drafted QB Matthew Stafford with the #1 pick the year before, and they also have a good receiving threat in WR Calvin Johnson. They have to learn to put it together, and that may not happen this year, considering they play the NFC East and the AFC East. The Lions will finish 2-14 again.

The Chicago Bears weren't horrible after acquiring QB Jay Cutler. Cutler was very overrated coming in from the Denver Broncos, as the fans expected a lot from him. Instead, they got a 7-9 season, and Cutler threw for 27 touchdowns, but also threw 26 interceptions, a league high. They got the free agent prize, signing DE Julius Peppers to a long term deal. However, that doesn't fix nearly all of their problems, which happened to be a struggling offense. They hired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, but he is throw-happy and that will be a problem with Cutler. The difficult schedule also doesn't bode well for them, so they will regress this year. The Bears will finish at 6-10.

The Green Bay Packers finished the season only one game behind the Vikings, but had two humiliating losses to the Vikings. The Packers couldn't protect QB Aaron Rodgers at all, resulting in many sacks for the Vikings' defense. The Packers defense was in the top 5 last year, so their 3-4 defense should remain stout this year. Rodgers was a very potent passer last year, and some are expecting him to have a better year. Rodgers should have a better year as he gets older and wiser running the offense. The Packers will remain at 11-5, but they will win the NFC North division via a tiebreaker and they'll advance to the Super Bowl.

The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North division with a 12-4 record, and were a non-interception away from advancing to the Super Bowl. QB Brett Favre decided to return for his 20th season, so Vikings' fans are elated. However, asking Favre to throw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions is a tough thing to ask. Favre had his best season ever, but he won't have a season like that again. The Vikings will regress, because of Favre, but they'll still be a legitimate threat and playoff contender. They'll finish 11-5 also, but lose tiebreaker to the Packers.

NFC East Preview

2010-09-07T00:28:00.001-04:00

The NFC East will arguably be the most difficult division during the season, with all teams capable of beating each other. The Dallas Cowboys won the division last season with an 11-5 record, and the Philadelphia Eagles also made the playoffs as a wild card with an 11-5 record as well. The New York Giants and the Washington Redskins missed the playoffs, but both teams have improved from last season, and are talented enough to make a playoff run as well. The NFC East plays the AFC South and the NFC North, so it won't be an easy task, but each team is capable of having at least a .500 record.

The Washington Redskins acquired Mike Shanahan as head coach and QB Donovan McNabb from the rival Eagles in the offseason. Those two acquisitions are enough to improve the Redskins drastically. However, they've had their problems with DT Albert Haynesworth, and McNabb has to learn a whole new system. The Redskins also had problems protecting former QB Jason Campbell, so it'll be a challenge holding McNabb upright. The Redskins were 4-12 last year. They will be significantly better, but they'll finish at 8-8, not enough for a playoff appearance.

The New York Giants started the season 5-0 before struggling the rest of the season and finishing 8-8. The biggest reason for that was the defense, which gave up 40 points five times during the season. QB Eli Manning had his best season without a big-name wide receiver, but the Giants struggled to run the football. The Giants made sure they do the things necessary to fix their defense. They acquired S Antrel Rolle, drafted DE Jason Pierre-Paul and hired Perry Fewell as their defensive coordinator. Their offense, particularly their run game, will be better than last season. The Giants will surprise this season, and win the division with an 11-5 record.

The Philadelphia Eagles are in transition at the quarterback position for the first time in more than a decade. After trading QB Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, the Eagles are now trusting their offense to QB Kevin Kolb. There is no telling how Kolb will do. He's looked impressive at times during the preseason, but his performance was great. The Eagles are now a young football team, but their defense will remain good. The only question is their offense without McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook, who was cut in the offseason. The Eagles will struggle in Kolb's first year, finishing at 7-9 and missing the playoffs.

The Dallas Cowboys are the defending NFC East champions, and they come into this season as the most overrated team in the NFL. Some analysts have the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, where it will be played in their home stadium. The Cowboys have looked awful in the preseason. Teams have played well in the regular season after playing bad in preseason, but it's time to hit the panic button if you're a Cowboys fan. QB Tony Romo is good, but his connection with WR Roy Williams is still off and WR Miles Austin will not have a season like he did last season. The Cowboys will finish at 10-6, good enough to win the Wild Card, but they won't get far.

AFC West Preview

2010-09-05T21:08:00.001-04:00

The AFC West hasn't really been any different in recent memory. With the exception of the 2005 season, when the Denver Broncos won the division with a 13-3 record, the San Diego Chargers have dominated the division. The Oakland Raiders have been completely irrelevant since their appearance in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season. The Kansas City Chiefs have been mediocre at best after winning the AFC West title during the 2003 season. It doesn't appear to be much different this year.

The Oakland Raiders don't have much reason to be optimistic, but they did acquire QB Jason Campbell and released awful QB JaMarcus Russell. Campbell was okay at best with the Washington Redskins, always lacking a good offensive line. He doesn't have a strong offensive line with the Raiders either, so it'll be interesting to see how they perform. Nonetheless, I expect the Raiders to improve upon their 5-11 record from last season. It won't be as difficult because they play the NFC West division. They will finish at 6-10.

The Kansas City Chiefs were 4-12 last year, and there is no reason to think they'll be better this season. They hired Charlie Weis as their offensive coordinator, a move that many liked. Weis helped QB Tom Brady win three Super Bowls as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. They also picked up RB Thomas Jones, who had a solid season with the New York Jets last year. However, they have QB Matt Cassel and a bad offensive line. Cassel was severely overrated after his successful 2008 season with the Patriots. He will never have the same kind of success again in his career. The Chiefs will be 4-12, just like last year.

The Denver Broncos were surprising a lot of folks after starting the season 5-0, but they quickly faded, finishing at a disappointing 8-8. QB Kyle Orton was solid, not making many mistakes. Their defense were also solid at the beginning, but they faded over the course of the season, just like Orton. They got rid of WR Brandon Marshall and TE Tony Scheffler, their biggest offensive weapons. Drafting QB Tim Tebow does nothing for their success. Their schedule toward the end isn't that tough, but they'll still finish at 9-7, short of making the playoffs again.

The San Diego Chargers return the most important player -- QB Philip Rivers. WR Vincent Jackson has refused to sign a tender, and OL Marcus McNeill has refused to do so also. However, Rivers' success is the only thing that matters, and he can get the job done with WR Malcolm Floyd and TE Antonio Gates. The Chargers were 13-3 last year, and with their easy schedule, they should be 13-3 again. They will finish first or second again, with the Indianapolis Colts the only other team in the AFC that will matter. However, the Chargers will look to get past their postseason failures, as they lost to the New York Jets in their first playoff game last year.

AFC South Preview

2010-09-03T13:54:00.000-04:00

The AFC South is another division in the AFC with several quality teams who will be making a run at the playoffs. The AFC South, since the alignment took place in 2002, usually started and ended with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have won at least 12 games every year since 2003. However, the Tennessee Titans won the division in 2008 with a 13-3 record. As a matter of fact, the Titans and the Colts are the only two teams to claim AFC South division titles since the division was created.

The Jacksonville Jaguars finished last season with a 7-9 record, and they haven't necessarily improved to make people believe in them this year. They do have productive QB David Garrard, who led them to a 12-4 record and an AFC Divisional Round appearance in 2007, his first season as a starter. They also have RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who is very productive out of the backfield running and catching the football. Other than that, the Jaguars have nothing else, which is surprising that Jack Del Rio has been able to last that long as head coach. They place the NFC East and the AFC West, so expect the Jaguars to finish at 6-10.

The Tennessee Titans are just two years removed from their 13-3 record and AFC South division crown. They got off to a terrible 0-6 start, capped off with a 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots. However, they went 8-2 when Jeff Fisher benched QB Kerry Collins in favor of QB Vince Young. Young will be the starter this year, so expectations are a little high for the Titans. The difficulty of their schedule, combined with being in the AFC South, will get the Titans a 9-7 record, just short of making postseason play.

The Houston Texans once again come into the season with bigger expectations than the year before. WR Andre Johnson is the best wide receiver in the league, and QB Matt Schaub is pretty good also. They improved their defense by drafting CB Kareem Jackson, and they already have LB Brian Cushing, who'll miss the first four games, and LB DeMeco Ryans to go along with DE Mario Williams. However, the difficulty of their schedule and being in the same division as the Colts and Titans, will hurt the Texans quest for a playoff berth. They won't make any progress, finishing at 9-7 like the year before, and fall short of a playoff appearance.

While AFC teams like the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals have improved their roster dramatically, one team still stands in the way, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts haven't made any moves in the offseason, and they didn't need to. It starts off with arguably the best quarterback in NFL history with QB Peyton Manning, and the rest of the offense goes along. Their defense, if they can remain healthy, is also stout with S Bob Sanders, DE Dwight Freeney and DE Robert Mathis. The Colts will finish 13-3 and win the division again, and this time around, there won't be a fluke performance like the one the Saints had in the Super Bowl. Manning will capture his second title.

AFC North Preview

2010-09-01T14:04:00.000-04:00

The AFC North was much better than what people expected last year, and it was also surprising the way the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled after winning the Super Bowl the season before. With the AFC North playing the NFC South and the AFC East, this could be a tough year for the division.

Starting off with the Cleveland Browns, they are almost guaranteed to not succeed this season. They have a challenging road game against the defending champion New Orleans Saints, but they don't have another challenging road game. However, their games against division opponents will fail them again, but I do look for them to improve upon last season, when they were 5-11, simply because of QB Jake Delhomme. Delhomme did have a bad year with the Carolina Panthers last year, but he tends to have on and off years and I look for him to have a decent season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't do much to their roster last offseason, so many wondered why they failed to duplicate their success from the 2008 season. The answer is very simple -- defense. While many credit QB Ben Roethlisberger for their success, it's their defense that actually holds the key to their success. They looked sharp defensively in the preseason, but has had quarterback issues with Roethlisberger missing up to the first six games. The improved defense will be the reason why they improve upon last season, but they won't find their way in the postseason again with a 9-7 record.

The Baltimore Ravens fell short of winning the division last season, but still advanced to the AFC Divisional Round with their lopsided road win against the New England Patriots. The Ravens have gotten better also, which could be a little scary for other teams. Their offense is improved with the acquisition of WR Anquan Boldin. Their defense, surprisingly, will be the only question mark. They have been solid for a long time, but their secondary hasn't been that strong last year and don't look to be that strong this season. However, I expect them to improve upon last year also and win the division with an 11-5 record.

The Cincinnati Bengals won the division last season but played awful in the AFC Wild Card Round against the New York Jets at home. The Bengals have improved by getting CB Adam "Pacman" Jones and WR Terrell Owens, two headaches for most teams. However, they have looked sharp in the preseason, and the Bengals defense looks better also. The Bengals success depends on QB Carson Palmer, who has been overrated the past couple of seasons. They won last year because of their running game and their defense, not Palmer. If he is like last year, they will have the same success. That is exactly what's going to happen, and the Bengals will improve one game to 11-5 but succumb the division crown to the Ravens.

AFC East Preview

2010-08-30T14:40:00.000-04:00

With the regular season 10 days away, the upcoming NFL season is looking like a promising one for many NFL teams. The AFC East is looking like a division with promise. Starting with the Buffalo Bills, they have nothing to look forward to. For the fans in upstate New York, it will be another disappointing season. The Bills moves this offseason consisted of hiring Chan Gailey as head coach, and drafting RB C.J. Spiller with the ninth overall pick. The Bills haven't upgraded the wide receiver position or the quarterback position, two weak points on their offense. The Bills are also looking at matchups against the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, in addition to playing their division. This will be a lost season.

The Miami Dolphins may be the most overrated team in the NFL right now. They've upgraded their wide receiver position by acquiring WR Brandon Marshall and they have rising QB Chad Henne. They also signed LB Karlos Dansby, who has been an overrated linebacker. The Dolphins will be right where they were last season, around 8-8 or 9-7. Road games against the Packers and Vikings will certainly be losses, and they also play road games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. They will go 7-9 this season.

The New York Jets are another overrated team, as they have gone into this season with a lot of hype. The Jets did advance to the AFC Championship Game last year, so there is hope. Acquiring RB LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't do anything at all because they already have RB Shonn Greene. Their defense is certainly going to be top notch with Rex Ryan running it. The only question mark on that team is whether QB Mark Sanchez will improve. He hasn't shown anything in the preseason, so that is cause for concern. The defense will lift them to victory sometimes, leading to an 11-5 record and the division title.

The New England Patriots are the defending AFC East champions, but had an embarrassing loss in the first round at home to the Ravens. They still have QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss, and WR Wes Welker, who may not be 100%. However, their defense will be cause for concern. They didn't do well last season, leading to some bad losses. They addressed that by drafting CB Devin McCourty, but that isn't the complete solution. As long as they have a healthy Brady however, the Patriots will contend. I expect them to also be 11-5, but losses to the Jets will leave the Jets as division winners.

Paul Wants Out Of New Orleans

2010-07-23T00:04:00.000-04:00

Just two years ago, the New Orleans Hornets were one game away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Led by spectacular G Chris Paul and F David West, the Hornets won the Southwest Division with a 56-26 record and a #2 seed in the Western Conference. They easily dispatched the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, and almost beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs before succumbing to them in seven games.

That now seems a like a real distant memory, as it now has been reported that Paul wants a trade, particularly to the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, or the Mavericks. Paul has seen a lot of teams around the NBA get better, while the Hornets have failed to make any significant moves to keep up. F Lebron James' decision to join G Dwyane Wade and F Chris Bosh in Miami has headlined the summer of free agency. Paul is looking to make a move similar to the one James made.

Paul still has two years remaining on his deal. His desire to join the Knicks deals with the fact that they acquired F Amare Stoudemire via free agency and may acquire F Carmelo Anthony during next year's free agency period. Paul is looking to form another "Big Three" that can compete with the one in Miami, as well as compete for a championship.

This shouldn't be news to anyone because Paul announced at Anthony's wedding that himself, Anthony and Stoudemire will be the next "Big Three" in the NBA. Once he announced that, his days in New Orleans were automatically numbered. Unlike James, Paul isn't in control of his fate. The Hornets don't have to trade him, and it's hard to imagine a scenario where they do. Paul is among the top 3 point guards in the NBA, and one of the few players in the league who's very valuable to his team's success.

If Paul were to be traded to the Knicks, it would bring the Knicks back to the success they saw during the 1990s, when they were regulars in the playoffs. However, if Paul were to leave New Orleans, they would probably hate him the same way Cleveland hates James. Paul actually wouldn't be seen as a dark cloud in New Orleans, since their attention is to the Saints and how they'll follow up their championship. The only thing the city of Cleveland had was James, which is why he is hated.

The direction the NBA is headed in right now is not good. All of a sudden, there are stars thinking about joining other major stars to win championships at such a young age. When the Boston Celtics traded for G Ray Allen and F Kevin Garnett, both of those guys, along with F Paul Pierce, were veterans who have experienced failure many times. James is only 25 years old, and Paul is only 25 years old as well. He should be thinking about giving the Hornets a chance to surround themselves with pieces to contend for a championship. However, that may not be the case and the Hornets wouldn't be so bright if they get rid of Paul.

Ravens Success Dependent On Reed

2010-07-21T22:48:00.000-04:00

If the Baltimore Ravens expect to get to the Dallas on February 6, 2011, they'll most likely have to do it without the services of S Ed Reed, their playmaker and perhaps their best defensive player. Reed is recovering from offseason hip surgery, and he has stated that he is nowhere close to being ready to start the season. Reed is expected to be placed on the physically unable to perform list, and if he is still on that list when the regular season starts, he has to miss the first six games. Reed told reporters he won't rush coming back, choosing to be 100% healthy.

LB Ray Lewis and WR Anquan Boldin have both talked about getting to the Super Bowl, and many analysts agree with the notion that they will be Super Bowl contenders. That is doomed is Reed isn't playing the entire season healthy. Lewis simply isn't enough to get the job done defensively. Reed is the defensive player who does the most, catching interceptions and always looking to make a play once the ball is in his hands. The Ravens have been known for their stout defense since winning Super Bowl XXXV back in 2001.

The Ravens have offensive weapons with Boldin, QB Joe Flacco, and RB Ray Rice. However, Flacco is still learning the ropes of the position at the NFL level. Also, Boldin is now on a team who likes to run the ball more than throw. In other words, this team has more question marks on offense than most teams. This is the primary reason why their defense needs to be reliable. With Reed out, everyone will have to step up their production. The play from the corners the past couple of seasons haven't been so stellar, which is why Reed's speed from the safety position is very important.

The Ravens can still get this done without Reed. However, I cannot foresee that happening because of Reed's impact on that defensive unit. Reed has to get healthy before the regular season starts. If not, the Ravens will be in trouble. In their first six games, they have to see teams like the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals, who all made the playoffs last season. That is in addition to playing division rivals Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. A promising start to the season can easily turn into a 2-4 start, which will leave the Ravens in a bunch of trouble.

Heat Sign Ilgauskas, Rockets Sign Miller

2010-07-17T20:30:00.001-04:00

The Miami Heat have continued on their expedition to fill their roster, signing C Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas has been the fourth center this week to sign with the Heat. C Jamaal Magloire, C Joel Anthony, and rookie C Dexter Pittman all signed deals with the Heat earlier in the week. Ilgauskas spent the past 12 seasons of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After superstar F Lebron James bolted the Cavaliers for the Heat, the unsigned Ilgauskas saw it as a logical fit to join James in Miami.

The Houston Rockets also finalized a deal with C Brad Miller. The deal is reportedly worth $15 million over three years. Miller had numerous teams who were interested in his services. However, he was lured by the fact the Rockets have his former coach Rick Adelman and his former teammate G Kevin Martin on the team. That was enough to entice Miller to choose the Rockets. Miller spent the past season and a half with the Chicago Bulls, which was his second stint with the team after spending two seasons with them from 2000-2002.

The Rockets have acquired a great veteran center who will fit in well because of his knowledge of Adelman's style of play. The Rockets played decent basketball this past season, despite losing C Yao Ming for the season, having an unhealthy G Tracy McGrady, and losing F Ron Artest to free agency. They finished the season with a winning record, and with Ming coming back healthy, along with the addition of Miller, this Rockets team could cause problems in the Western Conference. This all depends on if Ming can stay healthy, something he has not been able to do in the past couple of seasons.

I'm not sure the Heat acquisition of Ilgauskas does anything for that team. Their acquisitions of Pittman, Anthony and Magloire doesn't do much either. This team will be similar to what James and Wade had last year. They both were the superstars on their respective teams with not much help. This time around, however, they have joined forces, along with F Chris Bosh, which definitely significantly increases their chances of winning the championship. That trio is all the Heat needs and they know they can fill the roster with a bunch of D-League players and still get the job done.

Ilgauskas will have no impact on that team, as he hasn't had any impact on the Cavaliers in the past couple of seasons. Magloire hasn't been that good in his NBA career, and Anthony is a young center with limited offensive moves. Wade, James, and Bosh will combine for about three-quarters of the team's total offensive output next season, which is why the other players aren't needed. They are merely taking up space on the team to fill out the roster.

Steinbrenner Greatest Owner In Sports

2010-07-15T08:17:00.001-04:00

George Steinbrenner passed away on Tuesday, nine days following his 80th birthday. He died of a massive heart attack on that Tuesday morning, and was pronounced dead shortly after. Steinbrenner was the owner of the New York Yankees, the greatest franchise in North American sports. Steinbrenner has been in declining health recently, which is the reason he turned over full control to his sons Hank and Hal.

Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees with a group of investors from CBS in 1973. At that time, the Yankees were long gone from their glory days of the 1950s and early 1960s. They weren't a good franchise at that time, with the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics being the dominant franchise in the American League. That soon changed once Steinbrenner took control. He didn't waste time turning the Yankees into contenders.

He signed Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson away from the Athletics to huge contracts, and in 1976, the Yankees won the pennant but lost the World Series. However, they went on to win the next two World Series championships, and made another appearance in 1981. The Yankees had gotten their winning ways back, but after 1981, that would change.

Hunter retired in 1979, and Jackson left the Yankees after that 1981 season. The Yankees saw the dark days again, with the historic Yankee Stadium being half empty on many nights. Their lone bright spot, Don Mattingly, started his career in 1982. He retired after the 1995 season, in which the Yankees made the postseason for the first time since that 1981 World Series appearance. Steinbrenner was also banned for life from baseball in 1990 for paying someone $40,000 to find "dirt" on Dave Winfield, who had a tumultuous nine seasons with the Yankees.

When Steinbrenner came back in 1993, the Yankees showed promise because Steinbrenner let the brain trust do their work. The Yankees contended in 1993, and were dominating baseball in 1994 before the baseball strike. After being eliminated in the divisional round in 1995 to the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees went on to win four World Series championships in the next five seasons. The Yankees also got another championship last season, giving Steinbrenner seven in his years as the Yankee owner.

Steinbrenner was not afraid to outspend the competition, which forced other teams to pay their great players. Steinbrenner should be thanked by players for having high salaries today. Before the 2009 season, the Yankees signed P A.J. Burnett, P C.C. Sabathia, and 1B Mark Teixeira to over $400 million in contracts. Steinbrenner was all about winning, and bolstered the team's value as well. The Yankees are now worth over a billion dollars, which is a far cry from the $10 million him and his investors spent on the team over 35 years ago. He will be missed, not only by New York fans, but by everyone in the business. It's hard to tell whether his absence will impact baseball now, but if he wasn't involved in baseball, it wouldn't be the sport that it is today.

Lee Traded To Rangers

2010-07-09T21:28:00.001-04:00

P Cliff Lee, who has been among the best pitchers in the American League this year with the lowly Seattle Mariners, has been traded to the first place Texas Rangers for 1B Justin Smoak and three minor leaguers. The Mariners also sent P Mark Lowe to the Rangers in the deal. It was looking inevitable that the Mariners were going to deal Lee before the trade deadline. It was just a matter of where. Other teams currently involved in playoff races have inquired about acquiring Lee.

It was reported earlier that the New York Yankees had a deal in place to get Lee. However, that deal fell through when the Mariners weren't so sure about the health about one of the prospects the Yankees were sending them in the deal. Lee was traded last season from the Cleveland Indians to the Philadelphia Phillies before the trade deadline. Lee helped the Phillies make an appearance in the World Series for the second consecutive season, but the Phillies lost to the Yankees. The Phillies won two games in that series, both with Lee starting.

Lee leads the American League in ERA with a 2.34 ERA. The Mariners were expected to be contenders coming into the season with the acquisitions of Lee, 2B Chone Figgins, and LF Milton Bradley. However, Figgins and Bradley have not contributed at all, and Lee has been the only bright spot. The Mariners now stand in last place in the AL West, behind the Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Oakland Athletics.

Lee can definitely be the pitching the Rangers need to make the playoffs. It has been more than ten years since the Rangers last appeared in the playoffs, and their offense hasn't been the reason. They have always been productive offensively, but has suffered from a lack of quality pitching. Lee instantly becomes their #1 starter and a pitcher capable of taking them deep into the playoffs. The Rangers are currently being owned by Major League Baseball and are in bankruptcy court, so this deal isn't finalized. Hopefully, it will be worked out and Lee can pitch for the Rangers down the stretch.

Lebron Chooses Heat

2010-07-09T00:44:00.000-04:00

F Lebron James has decided to join forces with G Dwyane Wade and F Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat, apparently taking less money to win a championship. James had an hour special on ESPN where he announced his decision to join the Heat, over the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Chicago Bulls, among others. It was reported all day that James would be joining the Heat, leaving the Cavaliers hanging dry. However, the Heat's work is just beginning, as they only have four total players on the roster.

The Heat also traded F Michael Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 2011 NBA Draft pick. All of the other eight players the Heat sign will have to be at minimum contracts, which could be very difficult. This now shifts the balance of power over to Miami, as they instantly have become the team to beat, even if the Los Angeles Lakers have won two straight championships.

There has been criticism from many about how James decided to reveal his decision to sign with the Heat. Many other players, such as G Kobe Bryant, got new contracts or contract extensions the traditional way, with a press conference. James decided to go out of his way to travel to Connecticut and reveal his decision to leave the Cavaliers, which didn't sit well in Cleveland. Everytime the Heat plays the Cavaliers in Cleveland, there will definitely be added security and extra police officers for the protection of James. James now has six years to get as many championships as possible under his new deal.More Than a Game

Russell Arrested

2010-07-06T09:19:00.001-04:00

Former Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has been arrested and released from jail after being caught with codeine syrup in his home in Alabama. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, in an offseason which has been horrible for Russell. In May, Russell was released by the Raiders, after a couple seasons of erratic play and a non-chalant work ethic. Russell was drafted with the first overall pick by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft, and has not lived up to his contract.

Russell even held out of training camp his rookie season to get the contract he wanted. That makes it even worse for him, as he failed miserably to live up to the contract. Russell was so terrible that he couldn't even last the duration of his rookie contract. Only one other top pick has been released that quickly, and that was QB Steve Emtman, when the Indianapolis Colts released him three seasons after he was drafted first overall.

Russell has also played so terribly that there probably isn't a team that's interested in signing him as a backup. Former overall top pick QB David Carr was released by the Houston Texans after several unproductive years with them, but he has been able to latch on to other teams as a backup quarterback. Russell may never get the chance to play in the NFL again. Even QB Ryan Leaf was able to go to a second team before his career was over. Russell will have to prove that he is willing to condition and work hard to get his body right. Also, more importantly, Russell has to work on his accuracy, which was a major problem.

Knicks, Stoudemire Agree On Terms

2010-07-06T09:18:00.001-04:00

F Amare Stoudemire has agreed to a five-year contract worth $100 million to join the New York Knicks yesterday. It was clear that the Knicks were Stoudemire's first choice, as he really only met and talked with the Knicks. The Knicks weren't really courting Stoudemire initially, but his interest in the Knicks was something the Knicks could not turn down. Stoudemire also made headlining comments a couple of days ago when he said Denver Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony and San Antonio Spurs G Tony Parker are ready to join him in New York when they become free agents next year. Stoudemire spent the first eight years of his career with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 21.4 points per game during his time there.

In addition to his personal success, the Suns have been as far as the Western Conference Finals three times in his eight seasons there. However, he has not been able to get them to the NBA Finals, and he'll try to start anew with the Knicks and his old coach Mike D'Antoni. D'Antoni led the Suns to two of the three Western Conference Finals appearances Stoudemire has been involved in. The Knicks signing of Stoudemire could lure another top class free agent over to the Knicks. F Lebron James and G Dwyane Wade are still available on the free agent market.

The Knicks have only made the playoffs once since 2001, and they failed to get a win in that lone playoff appearance. The Knicks have been set back by failed free agent signings, and bad trades. The Knicks had a bunch of overpaid players who didn't contribute much or nothing at all. When Donnie Walsh left the Indiana Pacers to join the Knicks, he made it a goal to get rid of all the bad contracts to have financial flexibility for the 2010 free agency period. He blew up the team during the 2008-2009 season, when the Knicks were playing decent basketball with G Jamal Crawford and F Zach Randolph. He traded both of them in the same week in separate deals, freeing up cap space. It may now pay off for the Knicks and the fans, who haven't seen a championship since 1973.

Colon Tears Achilles

2010-06-29T08:12:00.001-04:00

Pittsburgh Steelers OT Willie Colon has reportedly torn his Achilles tendon, making it unlikely that he'll play at all in the 2010 season. Colon will undergo more tests today to check the extent of the injury. If it is revealed that he has torn his Achilles tendon, he will need surgery and about six months to rehab, which pretty much runs up until December or January. It's a big blow to a team who already won't see QB Ben Roethlisberger for the first couple of games due to suspension. The Steelers also got rid of reliable WR Santonio Holmes, trading him to the New York Jets in the offseason.

This could really be the difference between an okay start and a horrible start for the Steelers. Colon was a mainstay on their offensive line, and with QB Byron Leftwich or QB Dennis Dixon having to play the first couple of games, protection will be more important. The Steelers struggled last year to defend their title, missing the playoffs on poor defense and poor special teams play. Their defense might get back on track, but with Colon's absence, in addition to Holmes' departure and Roethlisberger's suspension, they could be off to a bad start.

The Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North division, sweeping the Steelers in the season series last season. The Bengals haven't really changed their roster, so they're poised to make another run at the AFC North crown. The Baltimore Ravens came in second and made the playoffs. They also upgraded their offense by acquiring WR Anquan Boldin. They are poised, and probably the front-runner, to take the AFC North division. The Steelers should just prepare for the 2011 season, because it's looking pretty bleak for them this upcoming season.

James, Bosh, Wade Talk About Future

2010-06-29T08:11:00.001-04:00

According to sources, F Lebron James, F Chris Bosh, and G Dwyane Wade met in Miami over the weekend to discuss their futures. The possibility of those three teaming up with the Miami Heat was also reportedly discussed. The Heat only have money for two max contract players, but can acquire another one through a sign-and-trade deal. Stephen A. Smith reported on his radio show that the three agreed to join the Heat once the free agency period starts. However, it has been reported that James will still visit other teams and has not committed to leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This only makes it more interesting once July 1 comes, because there are huge names in this free agency market. Wade talked about a meeting between those three and G Joe Johnson last month, but it didn't happen. It was also reported that if there was credible evidence that anyone was discussing their futures together, they could be subject to a fine for tampering. I don't know how commissioner David Stern will approach this situation, because all of this talk is happening before July 1.

It wouldn't make sense for James to join Wade because those are two players who demand the ball on almost every possession. It will start off as a honeymoon, but quickly turn sour, with Wade's attitude. If only Bosh were to join Wade in Miami, it wouldn't help the Heat much, because Bosh has proven that he isn't a game changer. Toronto currently has a better assembly of talent than Miami, and Bosh still couldn't get the team to the playoffs. James should seriously look into Chicago, New York or New Jersey if he wants to leave Cleveland.

Thunder, Spurs Lose Ground

2010-04-08T17:19:00.000-04:00

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs lost ground in the Western Conference standings when both of them lost their games last night to the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns, respectively. The Thunder fell to eighth place from seventh, and the Spurs fell from sixth to seventh. The Portland Trail Blazers, who started the day in eighth place, is now in sixth place. All three teams have identical records at 48-30, but the Trail Blazers own the tiebreaker against the Spurs via head-to-head matchups and the Spurs own the tiebreaker against the Thunder via head-to-head matchups.

The Thunder suffered their second straight defeat, and they blew a 13-point-lead in the fourth quarter. F Kevin Durant scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, both team-highs, but he missed his final six shots as the Thunder went the final nine minutes without a made field goal, missing their final 13 shots. The Spurs were toe-to-toe with the Suns until the final two minutes of the first half. The Suns went on an 11-2 run to take a nine-point-lead into the half, and never looked back.

Both the Thunder and the Spurs have a tough schedule coming up, with three of their last four games against Western Conference teams with winning records. The Trail Blazers schedule is just as hard, with three out of their remaining four games against teams with winning records as well. All three teams are trying to avoid the eighth seed, where that team will most likely have to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. The Lakers can clinch their #1 seed if they beat the Nuggets tonight.

It was reported before the Spurs/Suns game that G Manu Ginobili of the Spurs was close to reaching a three-year extension with the Spurs. He was set to become a free agent at the end of this season. He has been playing extremely well as of late, but didn't have a good game last night after starting off hot. The playoffs start Saturday April 17, and there are still positioning that needs to be done.

St. John's, UTEP Get New Coaches

2010-03-31T10:54:00.000-04:00

St. John's basketball program has hired Steve Lavin as their new head coach, succeeding Norm Roberts. Roberts was fired after six seasons as head coach, not making the NCAA Tournament in any season. Lavin coached at UCLA for seven seasons, and he made the NCAA Tournament in six of those seven seasons. His last season, UCLA went 10-19 and Lavin was promptly fired after the season, in which he took a job as a college basketball analyst with ESPN.

UTEP also made a big hire, getting Tim Floyd as their new head coach. Their previous coach, Tony Barbee, left UTEP to take a head coaching job with Auburn. UTEP was in the NCAA Tournament this year, but lost to Butler in the first round. Butler is still in the tournament, playing Michigan St in the Final Four on Saturday. Floyd was previously head coach with USC, but left last year after allegations were made stating he illegally recruited O.J. Mayo. Floyd has continuously denied those allegations. USC is still being investigated by the NCAA, and the school decided to forfeit past wins on their own. USC also didn't compete in the Pac 10 tournament or the NCAA Tournament.

The hire of Lavin by St. John's is going to be interesting, because Lavin will have a lot to do in order to restore the prominence of St. John's basketball. This isn't UCLA, where a lot of top high school basketball players love to go. He'll have to hire assistants with great ties to the New York City area, and the surrounding area, to recruit the top basketball players in the area. I believe Lavin can get it done, because he has been able to study college basketball from afar as an analyst. He'll know what St. John's needs, and they could be back competing in the Big East, and in the NCAA Tournament.

The hire of Tim Floyd by UTEP could go either way. Floyd has NBA credentials as well, having coached the Chicago Bulls and the New Orleans Hornets. However, the latest allegations made against him during his time at USC could scare away parents of good basketball players he's trying to recruit. There is a possibility that Floyd can put the UTEP program in trouble, the same way Kelvin Sampson did with Oklahoma and then Indiana, and John Calipari with UMass, and then Memphis. However, it's a wait and see process with both coaches.

Final Four Set

2010-03-28T21:43:00.000-04:00

The four teams that will be participating in the Final Four are now set. It is probably the unlikeliest four that are in, however. Butler was the first to clinch a berth, with their win over Kansas St. Kansas St averages 80 points a game, but they were only able to score 56 points. Jacob Pullen, Denis Clemente, and Curtis KellyCurtis Kelly were responsible for 46 out of the 56 points, as Butler was able to shut down the rest of the team. Gordon Hayward led them with 22 points, and also contributed a game-high 9 rebounds. Butler will be playing in their first Final Four in their home state.

The second team to clinch was West Virginia, in a battle of 1 vs 2. West Virginia was able to handle the explosiveness of Kentucky, and Kentucky was unable to knock down three-pointers in the loss. John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins struggled to get going all game, and Wall eventually fouled out. West Virginia's offense was supposed to struggle without Darryl Bryant. That wasn't the case as Joe Mazzulla was able to get in the lane at will for 17 points. This is West Virginia's first berth in the Final Four since 1959.

Michigan St. and Duke were the last two to clinch with victories over Tennessee and Baylor respectively. Tennessee battled Michigan St hard, and it came down to the last 10 seconds. J.P. Prince fouled Raymar MorganRaymar Morgan with less than two seconds left with the game tied at 69. Morgan knocked down a free throw and missed the second purposely to put them ahead, leaving Tennessee with virtually no time for a final shot. Durrell SummersDurrell Summers led Michigan St. with 21 points. This is their second straight year in the Final Four. Last year, they lost to North Carolina in the title game.

Duke was able to outlast Baylor with a big run at the end. Nolan SmithNolan Smith and Jon ScheyerJon Scheyer led the charge, with Smith scoring 29 and Scheyer chipping in 20. Kyle SinglerKyle Singler, their other big threat, only scored 5 points and was 0 for 10 from the field. LaceDarius Dunn led Baylor with 22 points, and Ekpe Udoh chipped in 18 points in the loss. This is the farthest Baylor has ever gone in the NCAA Tournament. They weren't picked to compete in the Big 12 in the preseason, but they were competetive all year and they'll probably be that way next year also.

Duke will definitely be looked at as favorites, as they are the only #1 seed remaining. However, West Virginia looks to be the strongest team out of the four. Their length and toughness makes them a tough out, and Michigan St. can match their toughness as well. They also may get Darryl Bryant back for the Final Four, so that'll be a lift for them. West Virginia and Michigan St. will definitely battle it out in the title game, and West Virginia will come out on top in a sluggish, low-scoring affair.

Spurs, Bucks Get Close Wins

2010-03-23T16:53:00.000-04:00

The San Antonio Spurs overcame an early deficit against the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder to defeat them on the road 99-96. The Thunder built a 14-point-lead in the first half, but saw it go away in the third quarter, en route to their second straight defeat. Also, the Milwaukee Bucks continued their strong play with a home win against the Atlanta Hawks. John Salmons scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to put the Bucks over the top.

The Spurs and the Bucks have been hot as of late, with both involving unique circumstances. The Spurs have won 10 of their past 13 games, with all of them coming without Tony Parker. The Spurs have a rough schedule this week, with a road loss to the Hawks in the books already. They face the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, and the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

The Bucks have only lost two games since trading for John Salmons on February 18. They are now in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. If the playoffs were to start today, they would face off with the Hawks in the first round. The Bucks, with the excellent play from Salmons, the emergence of Andrew Bogut, and the play of rookie Brandon Jennings, have the Bucks looking like minor contenders in the East.

The Spurs and the Bucks can be sleepers come playoff time. The Spurs certainly have the championship experience on their roster, and the Bucks have shown they can compete with the likes of the Hawks and Celtics. The Spurs climbed to sixth place in the standings with the win, which could mean a matchup with the struggling Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks once looked like a team to contend with the Lakers, but they've looked bad since their home embarrassement against the New York Knicks. That could be a perfect matchup for the Spurs.

The Bucks have not necessarily shown the ability to compete with the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers with Lebron James. Until they can prove that, they'll only get as far as the second round at the very most.

Spartans, Boilermakers Win Thrillers

2010-03-22T21:32:00.000-04:00

The Michigan St. Spartans beat the Maryland Terrapins 85-83 in a thriller that resulted in Korie Lucious hitting the game winning three-pointer as time expired. A couple of hours later, their Big Ten counterparts, the Purdue Boilermakers, won their second round game against the Texas A&M Aggies 63-61 in overtime. Chris Kramer drove past the Aggies defense for the game-winning layup with 4.2 seconds left. B.J Holmes desperation three at the buzzer was short. Michigan St. will take on Northern Iowa in the Sweet 16, and Purdue will face Duke.

Purdue's advancement to the Sweet 16 is surprising to some because they are without the services of Robbie Hummel. Hummel is the team's second leading scorer behind E'Twaun Moore, and they struggled after his injury. They were embarrassed in the Big Ten tournament by Minnesota, only scoring 11 points in the first half en route to a 27 point loss. Purdue also faced Siena, who advanced past the first round of the tournament the past two seasons. The Purdue-Siena matchup were a lot of people's choice for an upset, but they were able to pull it out.

Michigan St. advanced, but they struggled to get past New Mexico St. in the first round, and they let a big lead against Maryland slip away as well. However, their problems have just begun. They are facing a Northern Iowa team who beat the overall #1 team in Kansas. They will also be without the services of Kalin Lucas, who tore his ACL during the game. Lucas is their leading scorer, and they struggle to get shots without him.

For Purdue and Michigan St., their runs in the tournament will end on Friday. Northern Iowa, even though a performance like what they had against Kansas probably won't happen again, were in the top 25 earlier this season. They are a legit basketball team with a legit big man presence in the middle. Michigan St. will have a lot of problems with Northern Iowa without Lucas. Purdue, without Hummel, will not be a factor against a healthy Duke team. Duke has three players who are averaging over 17 points a game.

This is March Madness, however, so anything can happen. A lot of people didn't give the Spartans a chance against Kansas in the Sweet 16 last year and Louisville in the Elite 8. They have to get on the court and perform.

Iverson Not Returning This Season

2010-03-02T12:52:00.000-05:00

The Philadelphia 76ers have announced that Allen Iverson will not be returning to the team this season. Iverson missed some time before the All-Star break and then the All-Star Game to be with his sick daughter Messiah. Iverson briefly came back after the All-Star break, but hasn't played for the 76ers since February 20. His daughter, who is 4 years old, seems to be going through a mystery illness. So far, doctors at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have reportedly not determined what is wrong with her.

This will most likely be the end for Iverson. Iverson had an excellent career -- a Hall of Fame career -- but it's going to end without a championship. If Iverson doesn't play anymore, he'll join the likes of Hall of Fame players like Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Patrick Ewing, who have had long careers and come away without a championship.

This is a sad ending for Iverson. It's logical to say that Iverson wanted to go out on his own terms. However, that isn't happening, and it isn't because of injury. It's because his daughter, his loved one, is suffering. This is not only a difficult time for Iverson, but it is a difficult time for his family. Iverson went through a crazy offseason in which he was trying to figure out what team he wanted to join.

The Charlotte Bobcats, New York Knicks, and the Memphis Grizzlies were among the teams this past offseason who were courting Iverson. The Grizzlies were able to land him in a one-year deal. That quickly turned sour as Iverson was expecting to be in the starting lineup. That wasn't the plan for Grizzlies' coach Lionel Hollins. Iverson only played three games, with none of them in front of the home crowd, before he took a leave of absence.

Iverson and the Grizzlies then decided to part ways with each other, and it turned out to be great for the Grizzlies. They started the season 1-8, and their record now stands at 30-30, which is 4 1/2 games out of the eighth and final spot for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Iverson joined his old 76ers team who were already struggling, and unable to get better with him. Making matters even worse, Iverson was traded to the Detroit Pistons from the Denver Nuggets last season for Chauncey Billups, and has seen the Nuggets soar, and the Pistons flop.

While Iverson has been a Hall of Fame player, with an NBA Finals appearance and an MVP award, he has not made teams better in his career, and that will be the thing people will remember.

Burress Sued While In Prison

2010-02-22T22:45:00.000-05:00

Former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress and his wife are being sued by Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. for $3.3 million. The lawsuit is regarding foreclosure on his Florida home. Burress bought the home, which is just north of Ft. Lauderdale, in 2005. Burress is now in prison in New York, serving two years for unlawfully and illegally possessing a gun. He shot himself in November of 2008 in the leg in a nightclub in Manhattan, and his time with the Giants ended shortly afterward, when he was released in the offseason. Burress was later convicted on the gun charges and sent to prison for two years.

The circumstances involving Burress right now is eerily reminiscent of what Michael Vick was going through during his dogfighting case. Vick went into bankruptcy after he went to prison, and there is a possibility Burress could be headed in the same direction. Hopefully, this lawsuit doesn't hurt Burress and his family financially. Burress is due to be out of jail in 2011, and he will be looking for an NFL job upon his release.

Yankees Sign Park

2010-02-22T22:37:00.000-05:00

The Yankees have signed pitcher Chan Ho Park to a one-year contract worth $1.2 million. Park, who is 36 years old, played with the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies last season. The Yankees plan to keep Park in the bullpen, as opposed to battling for the fifth and final spot in the Yankees starting rotation. The Yankees have not looked to expand payroll, but Yankees GM Brian Cashman saw an opportunity to get a reliable pitcher at a cheap price and he followed through. Park rejected a $3.25 million offer to stay with the Phillies, and his value dropped since then.

The Yankees acquisition of Park doesn't necessarily make them a better team. The Yankees still have their core players of C.C Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira. Those guys are going to be the players who will help the Yankees get another championship in 2010 if they do get there. However, the bullpen did lose a little when they traded Brian Bruney, so this acquisition helps. Their bullpen also wasn't too reliable, especially towards the end of the season, so if Park is effective, it can help.

McGrady Has Strong Debut

2010-02-22T22:25:00.000-05:00

The Knicks newest addition, Tracy McGrady, had a strong debut Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 26 points, with 19 of them coming in the first half. Eddie House, who was also just acquired by the Knicks, had 24 points in his Knicks' debut as well. However, the Knicks lost 121-118 in overtime, behind a strong performance from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant had 36 points, including the game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime. Westbrook almost had a triple-double, with 31 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds. Durant has now scored at least 25 points in 27 consecutive games, 13 away from Michael Jordan's record of 40.

The Knicks offense looked sharp with McGrady and House, in addition to All-Star David Lee. The Knicks simply played a better Thunder team. The Knicks should look better for the rest of the regular season, and that should help them in free agency. However, the Knicks may not be able to re-sign Lee, and McGrady may only be there for the rest of the regular season, even though he's expressed a desire to take less money to continue with the Knicks.

Knicks Get McGrady In Three-Team Deal

2010-02-18T17:52:00.000-05:00

The Knicks have acquired Tracy McGrady in a three-team trade that involved the Knicks, the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings. The Knicks also acquired Sergio Rodriguez from the Kings. The Kings acquired Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey from the Rockets, and Larry Hughes from the Knicks. The Rockets acquired Kevin Martin and Hilton Armstrong from the Kings, and Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries from the Knicks.

The Knicks have been looking to get McGrady for a long time, since his contract comes off the books at the end of the season. With the Knicks getting rid of Jeffries and Hill, they cleared a good amount of salary for next season, leaving them in position to make two key free-agent acquisitions in the offseason. McGrady will be looking to get playing time to resurrect his career.

This is certainly a good move for the Knicks. The Knicks needed to make this deal because they started shedding salary last season when they traded Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph in the same week. The Knicks had a legit shot at making the playoffs by keeping those two, but they decided to sacrifice two seasons for the big prizes. They have to complete the task and rid themselves of other salary to make a big splash in the offseason.

The only problem this may cause is if the Knicks don't get Lebron James. He is the big prize, and the Knicks got rid of their best talent just to acquire him. If they end up settling for Joe Johnson or a second-tier All-Star player, they may end up paying him first-tier money, for a player or two who won't get the Knicks a championship. Therefore, the Knicks now HAVE to get James, in addition to Chris Bosh, or Amare Stoudemire, or another quality free agent. They should also look to re-sign David Lee, even though that may not be possible.

Knicks May Add Hill To McGrady Deal

2010-02-16T17:25:00.000-05:00

The Knicks are trying to make a deal with the Houston Rockets to bring Tracy McGrady's expiring contract over. The Knicks are now considering throwing rookie Jordan Hill in the deal. The Knicks are clearly looking to get rid of Jared Jeffries, who has played nice defensively, and Eddy Curry, who hasn't really played at all this season. However, Hill hasn't produced at all this season, and he was the Knicks first pick at #8 in the first round of the 2009 Draft.

There was a proposed deal last week between the Knicks, Rockets, and the Washington Wizards, that looked attractive to all sides. That deal included Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, who were eventually traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Now the Knicks have to make their offer look attractive enough to get McGrady. The Knicks should also consider getting rid of Larry Hughes, who has kind of played his way out of Mike D'Antoni's rotation. The Knicks have until Thursday at 3pm, which is the trade deadline.

Robinson Wins Third Dunk Contest

2010-02-14T14:54:00.000-05:00

Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks won his third dunk contest during All-Star weekend festivities. It was his third win in the dunk contest, the most by any player in NBA history. Robinson beat out Toronto Raptors' rookie Demar DeRozan in the final round for the victory. The two participants eliminated after the first round was Shannon Brown of the Los Angeles Lakers and All-Star Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Robinson was defending his title from last season, where he beat All-Star Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic in the final round. In 2006, Robinson won his first dunk contest, amid controversy, after defeating Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers. In all likelihood, this will be Robinson's last appearance in the dunk contest, as he didn't express excitement in being in this year's dunk contest.

This could very well also be the last year Robinson is in a Knicks uniform. Robinson will be a free agent in the offseason, and the Knicks don't have any plans to retain him. The Knicks are trying to go after marquee free agents like Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, among others. The Knicks will probably try to re-sign David Lee, who will make his first All-Star appearance tonight.

Yankees Target Cuban Shortstop For Future

2010-02-13T11:12:00.000-05:00

The New York Yankees reportedly will be serious bidders on Cuban defector Adeinis Hechavarria when the Office of Foreign Assets Committee (OFAC) allows him to sign with MLB teams. His age and other information has to be verified by OFAC before he is eligible to sign in America. The Yankees have checked him out a couple of times recently, and sources say their interest has been there for a while. The Red Sox gave 19 year old shortstop Jose Iglesias $8 million, so Hechavarria will be commanding around $7 million in a signing bonus.

Current Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter will turn 36 years old in June. He has been the Yankees starting shortstop since 1996, the year the Yankees won their first championship in 18 years. Jeter has won five championships with the Yankees, getting his first one this past season in almost 10 years. The Yankees know Jeter's time is coming, where they'll have to look at a possible replacement for him. Jeter, however, will be the starting shortstop next year.

Miller Concerns Walsh

2010-02-07T00:05:00.000-05:00

Donnie Walsh's plans for the 2010 offseason is clear to many. He has Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Lebron James in his sights, and it's been debated whether he will come to the Knicks or not. Former Indiana Pacers superstar Reggie Miller said recently in an online question and answer session that James won't be coming to New York. He said the Knicks should get two other quality free agents.

While some executives don't take opinions that seriously, Walsh apparently did. Walsh wanted to know if Miller had any inside information regarding James' decision. Walsh contacted Miller, and Miller told Walsh that he knew nothing and what he stated was his opinion. That gives the Knicks some life, as Walsh has been clearing the roster of bad contracts past the 2010 season in order to free up cap space to obtain his services, hopefully along with another.

For now, the debate will continue on James' decision in the 2010 offseason. I think he'll come to the Knicks because there is a lot to accomplish being in New York. New York is the biggest sports market, in addition to the fact that the Knicks have been starving for a championship for almost nearly 40 years. It'll also benefit his endorsements, especially Nike. Coming to New York will benefit James better than staying in Cleveland or going somewhere else.

Gallinari To Rookie-Sophomore Game

2010-01-27T23:47:00.001-05:00

New York Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari has been invited to play in the Rookie-Sophomore game on NBA All-Star weekend. Gallinari didn't play in the game last year as a rookie because he was injured with back problems for most of the season. However, this year, he has been a bit of a surprise. He is averaging 14.6 points per game, and he also is first in three-point shots made.

Gallinari has been a major factor in the Knicks play this year. Despite the Knicks recent slide, which has put them nine games under .500 recently, the Knicks have been much better than last year and the contributions from Gallinari has been a factor. Gallinari has shown the ability to take over down the stretch in some games. His game resembles Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, but he is smaller than Nowitzki.

Gallinari won't be the only player from the Knicks in All-Star festivities. Nate Robinson will participate in the dunk contest for the fourth time on All-Star weekend. He has won two competitions already, including last year's dunk contest. David Lee may also be a participant of the All-Star Game. He is averaging over 19 points a game and 11 rebounds a game. The reserves for the All-Star Game comes out on Thursday January 28.

Edwards, Sheppard Disappointed In Role

2010-01-25T22:09:00.000-05:00

The New York Jets loss to the Indianapolis Colts 30-17 in the AFC Championship Game, and there were a couple of unhappy players on the Jets after the game. Wide receiver Braylon Edwards and defensive back Lito Sheppard both voiced their displeasure in their roles in the game. Edwards only had two catches for 100 yards, and Sheppard was told earlier in the week that Dwight Lowery would be starting in his place.

Edwards stated that he could've been more involved in the offense, and he also stated that the Jets could've scored more with him making big plays. Edwards caught a touchdown pass in the first half for the first score of the game for the Jets. However, he was a non-factor afterwards, only making one more catch and not having a catch in the second half.

Sheppard only played a limited role in the loss for the Jets. This was reminiscent of the NFC Championship Game last year between the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. Sheppard was on the Eagles in that game, and he played a very limited role in that game as well. Sheppard is due a roster bonus on March, and it's possible the Jets could cut him before that bonus is due to him.

Edwards does not own the right to complain about his involvement in the offense because he has dropped countless passes this season. That's a problem he has to correct before Mark Sanchez is able to look his way more. The Jets offense did fail to score in the second half, but that isn't because of Edwards lack of involvement. It has to be frustrating for Sheppard because he felt he was getting a fresh start after voicing his displeasure on the Eagles last year and in the offseason. However, head coach Rex Ryan simply did what he felt was best for the defense to succeed.

Knicks Still Covet Rubio

2010-01-25T21:55:00.001-05:00

While Ricky Rubio continues to play overseas for FC Barcelona, the Knicks continue to keep their eye on him. Rubio was drafted 5th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA Draft. They owned the 6th pick as well, and used that to select another point guard, Jonny Flynn. They also had the 18th pick, in which they used to select point guard Tywon Lawson. He was traded to the Denver Nuggets.

Rubio decided to go back to Spain instead of coming to the NBA to play. That may have been because of the lack of interest to play in Minnesota, or because the money he would've had to pay the club he was on to leave was too much. However, the Knicks have international scout Kevin Wilson, who lives in Barcelona, taking a look at Rubio.

Timberwolves general manager David Kahn used to work under Knicks president Donnie Walsh with the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks will definitely need a point guard down the road, as Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson will be free agents after the season. They are both not expected to be retained, in order to sign multiple quality free agents, starting with Lebron James. Walsh was told by Kahn that the Timberwolves were not looking to trade Rubio, but that could change.

The Knicks have to look at Rubio very carefully. Rubio has been the topic of discussion since before the draft, but he's only 19 years old and he has to prove himself overseas a little more before he can be trusted at the NBA level. It is wise for the Knicks to covet him though, because the Knicks won't have a point guard if they get Lebron James and another marquee free agent. They should also look to draft a point guard, with the potential loss of Duhon and Robinson.

Jets Season Ends

2010-01-25T14:38:00.002-05:00

The New York Jets ended their magical season in the AFC Championship Game after losing to the Indianapolis Colts 30-17. The Jets came into the game running the ball very well and playing very good defense, led by Darrelle Revis. The Jets got off to a great start in the first half, going ahead 17-6 on the strength of two touchdown passes from rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. The first one went to Braylon Edwards, who has struggled to make catches during the season and in the AFC Wild Card Game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The second touchdown pass went to Dustin Keller, who has become Sanchez's favorite target. Keller has caught a touchdown in all three games this postseason. The Colts managed to score a touchdown before halftime, which occurred on a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Austin Collie. The second half belonged to the Colts. They outscored the Jets 17-0, where Manning threw two more touchdown passes. Pierre Garcon caught 11 passes for 151 yards and had one of the touchdowns in the second half from Manning.

The Jets offense weren't able to get going in the second half. Rookie running back Shonn Greene got injured, and he didn't return, making it more difficult for the Jets. Greene and Thomas Jones combined for only 83 yards on 26 carries. The Jets defense also failed, giving up 377 passing yards to Manning, and 98 yards to Joseph Addai and Donald Brown on 22 carries. Revis was able to limit Reggie Wayne to only 3 catches for 55 yards, but Lito Sheppard and Dwight Lowery weren't able to contain Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon. The Jets season ended at 11-8.

Knicks Lose By 50

2010-01-24T15:47:00.002-05:00

The New York Knicks had their worst home game of the season, losing 128-78 to the Dallas Mavericks. This loss came with the absence of Jason Kidd and Erick Dampier. The Knicks were down by 16 at halftime, and it got worst in the 3rd quarter. The Knicks were outscored 38-13 in the quarter, going down by 41 points. The Knicks were down by as many as 53 points at one point in the game. The Knicks haven't beaten the Mavericks since January of 2006.

Jared Jeffries led the Knicks with 14 points, with 12 of them coming in the 1st quarter. Jeffries is only averaging 4.4 points per game this season. David Lee had another double-double, but only scored 11 points while grabbing 14 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry led the Mavericks with 20 points, and Drew Gooden stepped in and played nicely, scoring 15 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. The Mavericks shot 58 percent from the field, 55 percent from three-point land, and were almost perfect from the free throw line.

The 50 point victory is the largest this season, surpassing the 48 point victory the Knicks had over the Indiana Pacers on January 3rd. The loss for the Knicks is more embarrassing considering their playmaker point guard Jason Kidd didn't play. Seven Mavericks players scored in double figures, while only Jeffries and Lee did the same. Danilo Gallinari only scored 6, Al Harrington only scored 7, and Wilson Chandler only scored 9. Nate Robinson did not play because of a pulled hamstring. The Knicks next game is Tuesday at the Garden against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Playoffs Needed In College Football

2010-01-08T17:05:00.003-05:00

The college football season ended yesterday with Alabama claiming the national championship with a 37-21 victory over Texas. However, that seems to be the only important game in college football because of the BCS system. Shortly after the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl involving TCU and Boise State, who both went into the game undefeated as well, there was debate as to whether Boise State, who came out victorious against TCU, deserved a share of the national championship because they finished the season undefeated as well.

One thing should be clear. There should not be any shares of a national championship. Boise State's schedule, outside of games against Oregon and TCU, was very weak, therefore there isn't many people saying they should share the crown with Alabama. However, there shouldn't be any doubt at all. A clear-cut champion should be determined, and the only way that can happen is by a playoff system.

There were 34 bowl games during the bowl season and 33 of them don't count toward anything except bragging rights. Every other sport has a playoff system where a champion is determined fair and square. 68 teams were included in the bowls, which means a playoff system similar to college basketball can be the best fit. If 64 teams were included in the playoffs, which could span over the course of six weeks, that would be very logical with the seeding being determined by a committee.

With every proposal, there are issues that comes along with this. If a playoff system were to span six weeks, that could interfere with final exams and possibly the start of the spring semester. However, these final exams can be administered at another time and players sometimes miss school because of regular season games in September, October and November. Missing the first week of the spring semester wouldn't hurt.

This proposal won't be considered for another four years because ESPN signed a new agreement with the BCS, starting in 2010. A playoff system should be looked at following the 2013 bowl season, because it is clear that the majority of college football fans want a playoff system. It needs to happen rather sooner than later, because fans are being robbed.

Teams have found ways to do well within the BCS system. Two teams, Florida and Texas, kept a #1 and #2 spot in the rankings for most of the season until Florida lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Florida and Texas have scheduled light opponents for the most part to go undefeated and make the championship game. Oklahoma, who had high expectations, play tough non-conference opponents in BYU and Miami. Teams should be required to schedule at least one non-conference opponent from a power conference. We can then determine in the BCS system who's deserving of a national championship spot as well. I don't think Texas was deserving of a spot.

Arenas Tarnishing NBA Image?

2010-01-08T16:20:00.002-05:00

The talk of the NBA this week has been about the suspension of Wizards' superstar Gilbert Arenas, and his actions before the suspension. Arenas brought four guns to the Verizon Center, and it's been reported that Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton had a dispute about a gambling debt in which the guns were brought out. It was reported by the Washington Post yesterday that Crittenton pulled out his own handgun, loaded it and chambered a round. Crittenton has denied that, saying "I have done nothing wrong."

Commissioner David Stern maintained the stance before that he would let the legal process run its course before he makes a decision on the future of Arenas. However, earlier this week, Arenas constantly joked around with the situation, stating that he was more afraid of Stern because he is "mean." Arenas also did a pregame dance against the 76ers earlier this week with his hand in a gun motion pointing at his teammates. Stern clearly thought Arenas wasn't taking the situation seriously, and acted swiftly to suspend him instead of waiting for the legal process to conclude.

Stern made the right decision in suspending Arenas immediately. Stern needs to protect the image of the NBA, which many people think has a bunch of thugs. Other NBA players who have been in trouble with guns are Stephen Jackson and Sebastian Telfair. Telfair was involved with incidents regarding guns twice. Arenas didn't make a smart move by bringing the guns to the Verizon Center. He initially tried to justify the guns being in a lock box by saying he recently had a daughter and he wanted to get the guns out of the house. That's easy. Turn the guns in to local authorities. They'll be glad to get guns off of your hands. Bringing it to the arena was dumb because it could've turned disastrous.

Arenas wasn't completely wrong for making light of the situation. What good does it do if he constantly repeats himself and apologizes with a grim face to the media? It does nothing. He was still completely wrong and stupid for bringing them. Arenas should not be getting heat for his pregame antics before the 76ers game, or the countless interviews he's done where he's joking around. His contract also should not be terminated by the Wizards. They had to know the guns were there. If not, they would've said so at the beginning of all of this. The only way they should void his contract is if he does substantial time in prison. The Wizards are to blame as well and should get a hefty fine.

The actions of Arenas and Crittenton will damage the NBA's reputation, which has taken a hit with the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004 involving Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal. The gun incidents involving Telfair doesn't help either. The NBA shouldn't be looked at as a league of thugs but they'll have to do more community service outside of NBA Cares programs to show they really care and that they aren't thugs.

Gasol May Be Out Until Christmas

2009-11-12T00:08:00.003-05:00

Reports have it that Pau Gasol may be out until around Christmas. Gasol mysteriously suffered a hamstring injury in preseason and hasn't played a game yet this season. The Lakers have still been able to win games, only losing once this season, a home game to the Mavericks. For more, click on the link.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4646071

T.O. Sits Out Practice,

2009-11-12T00:04:00.002-05:00

Terrell Owens sat out practice, apparently with a strained hip. Owens practiced earlier in the week, so this injury is apparently new. It has been no secret that Owens has been frustrated with his productivity this season, with only one touchdown reception through eight games. For more, check out the link.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4644660

NL Gold Gloves Revealed

2009-11-11T23:55:00.004-05:00

MLB released the Gold Glove winners for the National League, and names that stood out were Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino of the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies. Adam Wainwright, arguably the best pitcher in the NL, won it at the pitcher's position. For the complete list, check out the link.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4645309

Abdul-Jabbar Fighting Cancer

2009-11-10T22:33:00.003-05:00

NBA Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has let it known that he is fighting a rare form of leukemia, which is called chronic myeloid leukemia. Abdul-Jabbar said doctors told him he can live a normal lifestyle and take medication to fight the disease. For more info, check out the story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4640518

AL Gold Glove Winners Announced

2009-11-10T22:24:00.003-05:00

MLB announced the Gold Glove awards winners for each position in the American League. Torii Hunter and Ichiro Suzuki both won Gold Gloves at their positions, which gives them both nine straight Gold Glove awards. For the complete list, check out the link.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4642325

Steelers Hand Broncos First Home Loss

2009-11-09T23:55:00.003-05:00

The Steelers beat the Broncos 28-10, which gives the Broncos their first home loss of the season. The Broncos's loss and the Steelers's win brings both teams to a 6-2 record, tied with the Patriots and the Bengals for the second best record in the AFC behind the undefeated Colts. Steelers's safety Ryan Clark didn't play in this game due to complications from a sickle cell trait the last time he played in the high altitude in Denver. For more on the game, check out the link.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=291109007

Isiah Thomas Loses In Debut

2009-11-09T23:45:00.003-05:00

Isiah Thomas made his college head coaching debut with Florida International University and lost to the defending champions North Carolina 88-72. Earlier this year, Thomas was going to pull his team out of the matchup because they were promised to play Ohio State. They instead decided to stay with the matchup and play North Carolina in the 2K Sports Classic. For the game recap, check out the link.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=293130153

Oregon Reinstates Blount

2009-11-09T13:11:00.001-05:00

Oregon has reinstated LeGarrette Blount, after he was initially suspended for the year after punching Boise State's Byron Hout in the opening game. Blount punched Hout in the jaw, dropping him and was acting very violently as he was taken off the field at the conclusion of the game. Oregon quickly suspended him for the entire year, but said recently they would consider reinstating him. Was it smart for Oregon to reinstate Blount? Check out the story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4637797

Chiefs Cut Johnson

2009-11-09T13:07:00.000-05:00

The Chiefs got rid of Larry Johnson, who got suspended from the team after using gay slurs on reporters and Todd Haley. Johnson was just 75 yards short of the team's rushing record, being held now by Priest Holmes. Was it better for the team to release him? Check out the story.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4637300

NFL Week 9

2009-11-09T12:57:00.000-05:00

Thomas Hurt by Magic Book

2009-10-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

Miami-- Former Detroit Pistons point guard and NBA legend Isiah Thomas is stunned by new revelations by former Los Angeles Lakers guard and NBA legend Magic Johnson's book that has come to light. The book, titled "When The Game Was Ours," was co-written by former Boston Celtics forward and NBA legend Larry Bird, and author Jackie MacMullen. The book states how Thomas and Johnson were good friends during their playing days. However, after Thomas allegedly spread rumors about Johnson being gay after testing positive for HIV, their friendship was no longer.

Thomas has denied spreading rumors about Johnson being gay and said he is hurt that Johnson would come out with this in public instead of to him. Thomas says his brother contracted HIV before Johnson and his brother died of HIV so he knows how people can get the virus. Also, the book says that Johnson is also responsible for Thomas not being on the 1992 Olympic team, where USA won gold. Before, it was widely reported that former Chicago Bulls guard and NBA legend Michael Jordan didn't want Thomas on the team. Jordan has denied that.

I completely agree with Isiah Thomas' stand on this. Why is this being revealed in a book? Why hasn't Magic Johnson ever confronted Thomas about this? Johnson is interested in only one thing. He is interested in selling this book and making a lot of money, as he always has done. Johnson and Thomas were seen laughing together and having a good time at Madison Square Garden when Thomas was the president of the New York Knicks. So how has their friendship been no longer for 17 years? Johnson is probably fabricating things and has MacMullen going along with this mess. Johnson also cannot be trusted if he does things like that.

Cable Won't Face Charges

2009-10-23T12:46:00.000-04:00

Napa-- Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable will not face charges after an investigation led to no credible evidence coming forward. In August, Cable was accused of breaking the jaw of Randy Hanson, one of the Raiders defensive coaches. The incident allegedly took place during a meeting with Cable and the defensive coaches in training camp, according to Hanson. Hanson said Cable blindsided him with a punch and repeatedly punched him, while also making life-threatening comments. Hanson has talked with the Napa County DA a couple of times, and the decision to not file charges came after a meeting with Hanson and the DA earlier this week.

Hanson's claims that Cable assaulted were not corroborated by other coaches from the Raiders' staff who were present when the attack allegedly took place. That made it hard for the DA to file any charges on Cable. The NFL had been monitoring the situation as well, and they have said that they will continue to follow up on the incident and decide whether Cable should be suspended or not. Coaches are subjected to the conduct policy along with the players. A number of players have been suspended under the policy but a coach has yet to face discipline from the policy.

There is no telling what happened in the incident where Hanson's jaw ended up being broken. However, the Raiders are happy this whole mess is behind them now, so they can focus on the New York Jets and every other opponent following them. The Raiders are 2-4 and they have a solid football team in my opinion. However, quarterback Jamarcus Russell has continued to hold them back, which is the reason they're not a playoff team. I am convinced that if quarterback Jeff Garcia was still on the team and their starting quarterback, the Raiders would be a playoff team. The Raiders should look for a quarterback in next year's draft.

Angels Force Game 6

2009-10-23T12:34:00.001-04:00

Anaheim-- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 of the ALCS to force a Game 6 in New York. The Angels struck quickly, scoring four runs in the first inning before Yankees' pitcher A.J. Burnett was able to get an out. However, Burnett settled down and was able to pitch effectively up to the seventh inning. Angels' pitcher John Lackey pitched a great game, pitching 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs. The Yankees scored those three runs because Lackey left them on base when he was taken out. Angels' pitcher Darren Oliver replaced him and gave up a 3 RBI double to Mark Teixeira.

The Yankees ended up tying the game at four from Hideki Matsui's RBI single that drove home Teixeira. The Yankees added two more that inning from Robinson Cano's two RBI triple. The Angels weren't done yet. They proceeded to get three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Vladimir Guerrero hit an RBI single with the game at 6-5 to tie it at six. Kendry Morales followed that with an RBI single of his own, giving the Angels a 7-6 lead. The Yankees loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with two outs, but Nick Swisher popped out to end the game. Game 6 is Saturday night in New York.

This loss by the Yankees probably brings back memories of 2004, when they blew a 3-0 series lead to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. The Red Sox went on to win that World Series. The Yankees have Andy Pettitte going up against Joe Saunders, so that should be a good battle. Saunders pitched well in Game 2 in New York as they lost in extra innings. Pettitte pitched well in Game 3 against the Angels, making one mistake when allowing the two run home run to Vladmir Guerrero to tie the game. I believe the Yankee bats will come alive early in this one, and Pettitte will be solid enough to edge out a victory.

UConn Corner Stabbed To Death

2009-10-18T22:49:00.000-04:00

Jasper Howard, defensive back for the Connecticut Huskies has died today after being stabbed at a campus party early Sunday morning. Earlier in the day, Howard, who's a starter, helped the Huskies beat the Louisville Cardinals 38-25 in UConn's homecoming game. Another student was stabbed as well in the incident but there is no update on that student. Police have not found any suspects and are currently looking to interview anyone who witnessed the violence. Howard, from Miami, was also believed to be expecting his first child with his girlfriend. Howard, an NFL prospect, was 20.

This incident has shocked students at this campus, because violence does not occur on a regular basis. Teammates and coaches were saddened by the news, which they learned later in the day. This hurts all of his loved ones, especially his family because Howard was doing many positive things, and his chances of going to the NFL was great. Darius Butler, rookie cornerback for the New England Patriots, played for UConn and was one of the players who helped Howard transition into college football.

Students probably feel unsafe because an incident like this occurred at a school function. On top of that, police haven't found anyone linked to this incident and are trying to get information from people at the event. There hasn't been any details either about Howard having any friction with other groups. However, Howard's death hits his family hard because his child won't have a father in his/her life. Also, Howard was one step away from making NFL millions, something he has worked hard for.

Edwards Traded To Jets

2009-10-07T22:31:00.000-04:00

Wide receiver Braylon Edwards has been traded from the Cleveland Browns to the New York Jets for Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik and two draft picks. Edwards got himself in an altercation Sunday night, hours after the Browns lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime. He punched Edward Givens in the face after the two exchanged words. Givens was taken to the hospital with a black eye and other bruises on his face. Givens is very good friends with Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. James called Edwards' act "childish" and James also stated that Edwards may be jealous of him. The NFL and police are currently investigating the matter.

While this came as a minor surprise, it is no secret the Jets have been looking for a wide receiver to help out Mark Sanchez. The Jets inquired about getting Brandon Marshall back in August and they were linked to potential tampering charges in relation to Michael Crabtree, who just signed with the San Francisco 49ers today. Edwards gives the Jets that big target that can help Sanchez, but Edwards led the league in dropped passes last season with 16. He's going to have to produce a lot more to win over the fans of the Jets. The Jets can possibly be in contention for the Super Bowl this season.

Edwards goes from an 0-4 team, to a 3-1 team. He has to be very greatful of that but he did not deserve to be traded for two players and two draft picks. Edwards only had one solid season, in 2007. He was definitely on the rise before that and he has regressed quite a bit since his breakout season. A lot of people have been saying Edwards is a trouble maker, but just because he was involved in one incident, that doesn't necessarily make him a trouble maker. Edwards just has to produce on the field, that's all.

Rockies Clinch Playoff Berth

2009-10-01T23:50:00.000-04:00

The Colorado Rockies have clinched a playoff berth after beating the Milwaukee Brewers 9-2. The Rockies, who were last in the postseason in 2007 when they were swept in the World Series by the Boston Red Sox, made a strong push the last two months and climbed to the top of the NL Wild Card race to stay. With the Rockies clinching a playoff spot, the Atlanta Braves have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. It is now clear which four teams in the NL will be in the playoffs. It will be the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Rockies. The matchups are not yet determined, because the Dodgers and Rockies are still fighting for the NL West crown, and all four teams are still battling for the best record.

The Rockies surprised a lot of people by making it this far. They fired Clint Hurdle earlier this season and everyone thought they were non-contenders. They overtook the Braves, who have a good starting rotation, and the San Francisco Giants, who have arguably the two best pitchers in their rotation in Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. The Rockies could possibly play the Phillies in the NLDS. The Rockies swept the Phillies in the 2007 NLDS so that could be revenge for the Phillies or the Rockies can duplicate the feat.

I believe the Rockies are a very good team. However, the Phillies, Cardinals, and the Dodgers are better. Therefore, I don't believe the Rockies will be getting past the NLDS. However, Wild Card winners have been to the World Series every year from 2002 to 2007. Last year, the Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays were both division winners. The last time that happened was when the New York Yankees played the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series. So the Rockies have a shot. But they'll have to overcome excellent teams to get to the World Series again.

Indians Fire Wedge

2009-09-30T23:24:00.000-04:00

The Cleveland Indians have decided to fire Eric Wedge, which will take place at the conclusion of the season. The Indians record is 65-93, far below what they were expected to do this year. Wedge became the manager in 2003 and has only been to the playoffs once, in 2007. In the 2007 season, they beat the New York Yankees in the ALDS, and were one game away from the World Series, losing to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. Wedge has the fifth most franchise victories, with 560 wins. It's not certain who the Indians will go after for the job.

The firing of Wedge should've came a long time ago. Managers who have been fired this season include Clint Hurdle of the Colorado Rockies, Manny Acta of the Washington Nationals, Bob Melvin of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cecil Cooper of the Houston Astros. With the exception of Hurdle, all of the managers were fired haven't been given enough time. Yet, they were still fired. Wedge should've been fired during the 2008 season. The Indians had no reason to fail after doing well in 2007.

All of the years other than 2007 haven't been successful either. It also didn't appear that Wedge was getting into his team for poor play. Wedge was a likeable guy by the players, which was his downfall. Managers get fired too soon nowadays, but Wedge got an opportunity to stay a while and he hasn't done anything in his years there. He deserved to get fired and I don't see anything in his track record to suggest he should be a manager again. He doesn't get the job done.

Cowboys Defeat Panthers

2009-09-28T23:39:00.000-04:00

The Dallas Cowboys beat the Carolina Panthers 21-7 on Monday Night Football to improve to 2-1. The Panthers are now 0-3, still in search of their first win. The game was scoreless in the first quarter, with both defenses playing solidly. The Panthers struck first on Jake Delhomme's touchdown pass to Dante Rosario in the second quarter. The Cowboys got their first score in the third quarter from a field goal from Nick Folk. Later in the quarter, Tashard Choice had a touchdown run to give the Cowboys a 10-7 lead. The Cowboys finished off the Panthers when Terrence Newman intercepted Delhomme's pass and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, giving them a 21-7 lead.

Delhomme and Tony Romo passed the ball better than in the past. Both Romo and Delhomme completed 22 out of 33 passes, but Romo threw for 255 yards and no interceptions. He also didn't throw for a touchdown pass either. Delhomme threw for 220 yards, but was intercepted twice, with the second one being a turning point in the game. The only offensive touchdown from the Cowboys came from Choice's touchdown run. Jason Witten had a big game receiving, catching 9 passes for 77 yards. Steve Smith was shut down by the Cowboys' defense, only catching 4 passes for 38 yards.

The Cowboys should be happy that Romo didn't make any mistakes, but they still have work to do. The Panthers are clearly being left behind at 0-3, and they continue to be inconsistent. This team was 12-4 last year, and they can't follow it up with another good season. This happened after they lost in the Super Bowl in 2004 and after they lost in the NFC Championship Game to the Seattle Seahawks in 2006. The Panthers should look to draft a quarterback in the next draft because Delhomme should not be around much longer. He's been too inconsistent his entire career after the Super Bowl appearance.

Iverson Going To Memphis

2009-09-10T00:21:00.000-04:00

Free agent guard Allen Iverson has decided to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies for one year worth reportedly $3.5 million. Iverson posted on his Twitter that he is headed to Memphis. Iverson now joins a team already loaded with scorers in Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, and Zach Randolph. Iverson had career-lows last year in points per game and minutes per game. He started the season with the Denver Nuggets but was traded early in the season to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups. Iverson will become a free agent in the exciting 2010 free agent class that will include Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh.

I think the Grizzlies' pursuit of Iverson is strictly about getting fans to come to the games. Iverson may not be as electrifying as he once was, but he can still fill up seats. I don't think this is a good idea to add him to a roster with Gay, Mayo and Randolph because they all want to score. Gay is not as established a scorer as Mayo, Randolph and Iverson, but they all want the ball and all want to score so it is not a good blend. The Grizzlies won't do anything next season, and Iverson will definitely look to boost his stock for the next free agency period.

BYU Jumps To Ninth Spot

2009-09-09T00:30:00.000-04:00

Brigham Young University (BYU) has jumped to the ninth spot from the 20th spot after beating third ranked Oklahoma on Saturday. There were a couple of other schools that got into the top 25 as well after winning their first game. The University of Miami got into the top 25 at 20 after beating Florida St. in Talahassee. Cincinnati also got into the top 25 at 23 after blowing out Rutgers in Piscataway on Monday. Schools that dropped out of the top 25 are Oregon after losing to Boise St, Florida St. after their home loss to Miami, and Iowa, after barely squeaking by Northern Iowa at home.

I believe Notre Dame's jump to 18 on the top 25 poll is premature. I don't understand the hype surrounding them and the hype surrounding Jimmy Clausen because he hasn't proven anything last season. People have him as a Heisman trophy candidate. I don't think he'll be close. They should beat Michigan as well next week but they'll most likely lose to Michigan St. I also don't believe BYU deserves to move up that many spots because Oklahoma's quarterback Sam Bradford, the defending Heisman trophy winner, was injured in the second quarter and will be out an extended period of time. I think this kills Oklahoma's chances of getting back to the championship game.

Jones Joins CFL

2009-09-02T00:08:00.000-04:00

Adam "Pacman" Jones has signed with Winnipeg of the Canadian Football League to a one-year deal. Jones played with the Dallas Cowboys last season. He played until midway through the season. He was suspended midway through the season for six games for getting into a fight with a team-issued bodyguard. He came back and played the last couple of games in the season, in which the Cowboys did not make the playoffs. They released him in the offseason to rid themselves of any further trouble after new allegation surfaced of his past troubles.

This doesn't do much for Jones because I don't believe an NFL team will sign him in the near future. Jones got a second chance at a long NFL career and he decided to get drunk and fight with a bodyguard. He hasn't shown much responsibility and hasn't shown that he is willing to leave all of the negative things behind him to make sure he will have a long career. If he wants to continue playing football, it probably will be in Canada if he doesn't screw that up.

Jets Name Sanchez Starter

2009-08-27T01:43:00.000-04:00

The New York Jets have named Mark Sanchez their starting quarterback. Sanchez, who was drafted fifth overall in this year's NFL Draft, was competing with Kellen Clemens for the starting quarterback job. Clemens has battled before to become the starting quarterback and hasn't been successful. Chad Pennington was able to be the starting quarterback over him after the Jets drafted him in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Clemens also lost out last season when the Jets traded for Brett Favre. Sanchez will start the next two preseason games and start the opener against the Houston Texans on September 13th.

This has to be heartbreaking for Clemens, but I completely agree with the decision of Rex Ryan. In their last preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sanchez struggled against the Ravens astounding starting defense but he showed flashes of brilliance and was able to bounce back from a couple of bad passes. Clemens wasn't so good and he wasn't playing good competition, playing against the bench players. Clemens now has to wait to see if Sanchez struggles and he might possibly get his chance then.

Rangers Win Wild One

2009-08-26T01:45:00.000-04:00

The Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees 10-9 in a wild one in which the Rangers almost lost a five-run lead in the ninth inning. The Rangers went into the ninth inning up 10-5 when the Yankees began to chip away. Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada hit RBI singles that brought the Yankees within 10-7. Robinson Cano hit a single that drove in two runs that made it 10-9. All of this happened with no outs but the Rangers proceeded to get the three outs necessary to close the game out.

These two teams are certainly contenders. The Yankees own the best record in baseball and the Rangers are one and a half game behind the Boston Red Sox for the wild card. These two teams could end up meeting in the playoffs if the Rangers happen to win the wild card and the Yankees stay atop the American League and their division. Joba Chamberlain pitched for the Yankees and he struggled at home. Oddly enough, Chamberlain has been very strong on the road and hasn't been effective at home. This is an important win for the Rangers because they need to keep winning games to make the playoffs.

Burress To Do 2 Years In Prison

2009-08-21T01:47:00.000-04:00

Plaxico Burress, former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants, will be doing 20 months in prison for pleading guilty to a lesser charge in a plea deal. Burress pleaded guilty of attempted criminal possession of a weapon. If Burress had not accepted the plea deal and taken the case to a grand jury, he could've done at least three and a half years if found guilty by the grand jury. Burress instead decided to take a lighter punishment, even though his lawyer Benjamin Brafman said that is still a severe punishment for the crime. Burress will be sentenced next month and will most likely begin his sentence immediately.

Upon learning of Burress' guilty plea and prison sentence, I was saddened by it. This wasn't something that should've been handled this way. New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg made matters worse by publicly stating that Burress would be prosecuted to the fullest extent. His public reaction was made to ensure the people that he is the best mayor for the city in an election year. That ended up hurting Burress. Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau didn't help either by publicly stating that the grand jury will convict him. It was almost as this whole thing was fixed and the grand jury were instructed to indict him.

At the end of it all, Burress was done wrong by the city but there's nothing he can do now. He has to serve the time and hopes he can get back in the NFL when he's released from prison. He'll be 34 at that point, so there will be doubt as to whether he can still play. I believe he still would be able to play at a competitive level. Also, Burress won't face any further punishment from the NFL, which helps him a lot in finding a team quickly after he's released. I'm glad Roger Goodell came to his senses a little bit and decided Burress didn't need any more punishment.

Lee Strikes Out 11 In Win

2009-08-20T02:07:00.000-04:00

Cliff Lee of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched an impressive game at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks, striking out 11 batters and only giving up two hits in a complete game. Of the 11 strikeouts recorded by Lee, four of them came against Mark Reynolds, who's among the NL leaders with 38 home runs and 83 RBIs. Lee is now 4-0 in his first four starts with the Phillies with a 0.82 ERA. This is similar to last season, when C.C. Sabathia was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Milwaukee Brewers. He went 4-0 in his first four starts as well. Lee was traded by the Indians to the Phillies just before the trading deadline.

Lee is certainly proving that he belongs on a contending team. When the Indians were in the ALCS in 2007 against the Boston Red Sox, Lee wasn't among the starting pitchers who were successful in their run. He had a monstrous year last season en route to a Cy Young award. I believe the Phillies are ready to contend with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals to repeat as NL champions and World Series champions. They have a front line starter who can win ball games in the playoffs, and the Phillies lacked that before they got Lee this season.

I still don't believe the Phillies have enough for the Cardinals or Dodgers. The Cardinals have probably the two best pitchers in the NL in Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. The addition of Matt Holliday has certainly helped, as he has been playing well alongside Albert Pujols. The Dodgers have fallen as of late, but they have a good front line starter in Chad Billingsley themselves. They also have a good hitting lineup, just like the Phillies even though the Phillies lineup is better. The Dodgers got perhaps the best hitter in the game in Manny Ramirez, however, so it's going to be real interesting come playoff time.

Favre Un-Retires Again

2009-08-19T01:12:00.000-04:00

Brett Favre flew to Minnesota on Tuesday morning and was taken to the facilities of the Minnesota Vikings, where the paperwork was completed and Favre signed a two-year deal worth $25 million. Just like that, Favre comes out of retirement again. According to ESPN sources, Favre will be immediately inserted as the starter in their preseason game Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Quarterbacks Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, who were in a quarterback competition, are now backups. Favre will also play his former team, the Green Bay Packers, on October 5th in Minnesota and November 1st in Green Bay.

This has gotten to an extremely annoying point now. Favre has clearly done this, knowing all along that he wanted to play for the Vikings this upcoming season. Favre did not want to go through a whole training camp. Training camp is over at the end of the month, and we're passed the halfway point of the month, so all Favre has to do is get in games and play, which is unfair to all the players who are putting in the work in training camp. Favre thinks he's above everyone in the NFL, and the Vikings are dumb to want him because he doesn't necessarily care about the players.

This is very unfair to Rosenfels and Jackson. They came into training camp thinking they were going to battle for the starting quarterback job. All of a sudden, it isn't a competition anymore. A man who may not be better than the both of them doesn't even have to work hard to get the spot. Favre automatically gets the spot. Also, how does this make the Vikings any better with him as their quarterback? Rosenfels did a decent job as the Houston Texans quarterback last season and Favre tanked the final couple of games to cost the New York Jets a playoff spot. I truly believe Rosenfels is a better quarterback than Favre at this point and he should be the starter.

Strasburg Agrees To Deal Before Deadline

2009-08-18T01:52:00.000-04:00

Stephen Strasburg, who was the #1 pick in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals, has finally signed with the Nationals shortly before the midnight deadline. Strasburg agreed to a four year deal worth $15.1 million. Strasburg has now received the highest MLB contract after being drafted. In 2001, Mark Prior got $10.5 million from the Chicago Cubs after they drafted him. The deadline for Strasburg and the Nationals to complete the deal was August 18 at 12am. They got the deal done just before that.

I cannot understand why Strasburg and his agent Scott Boras are commanding that much money. Strasburg has now put the pressure on himself to perform well for a team who looks lost and looks like they won't be going anywhere for a long time. Once Strasburg gets a chance to pitch at the major league level, he will be picked apart by the media if he doesn't have many strong games. He has a lot of upside. He has very good control and his fastball goes over 100mph. However, Strasburg has to get it done at the major league level, where it's much different than at the college level.

Bolt Sets 100M Record

2009-08-17T02:11:00.000-04:00

Usain Bolt of Jamaica set a record for the fastest time ever at the 100m, completing the race in 9.58 seconds. This is the third time Bolt has set the record in the 100m. He previously set the record the first time with a 9.72 time and then broke that with a 9.69 time. Bolt continues to shine after his impressive performance in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Tyson Gay of the United States came in second with a 9.71 time, which is a record for an American performer in the event.

Bolt, along with swimmer Michael Phelps, are continuing to perform at a high level. Gay's performance was pretty good as well. His time would've been the world record had Bolt not broken the record the first time. Last summer in the Olympics, some people felt Bolt was disrespecting his opponents and the sport by celebrating before the race was even finished. Others welcomed it because track and field needed a spark with all of the mess involving Marion Jones and the lack of a star in the sport.

I believe track and field is a sport that has been suffering, not because of the Jones situation with performance-enhancing drugs however. I believe track and field lacks the American superstar that gives the sport more viewers. In the late 1990s, Jones was a dominant track and field star and was beating almost everyone. Michael Johnson was doing the same in the mens competitions. He was constantly winning all of his track meets and that is why it was getting recognition in the United States. Now, there isn't that star in America that brings American viewers.

Braves Beat Phillies

2009-08-16T01:37:00.000-04:00

The Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 as Phillies closer Brad Lidge blows another save. The Phillies went into the bottom of the ninth inning up 3-2 when the Braves were able to score two runs from Garrett Anderson scoring from Lidge's error and from Omar Infante's game winning RBI single. This is eight blown saves on the season for Lidge. When the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, Lidge didn't blow a save the entire season. The win is important for the Braves to stay close to the Florida Marlins and the Phillies in the NL East race.

The Phillies will be in trouble if Lidge continues to struggle like this. They have a good offense and they have gone out and gotten quality pitchers such as Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez. Their pitching has been the problem this year, and the bullpen has been a problem as well. I don't necessarily think it's time to find a new closer however. I think the Phillies should rest him and let him clear his head. Then he can close once he's good enough to go.

Vick Signs With Eagles

2009-08-14T01:43:00.000-04:00

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The first year of the deal is for $1.6 million and the second year is an option for $5.2 million. Vick has been in prison for his role in a dogfighting ring and he has been in bankruptcy court coming up with ways to get out of debt. This two year contract definitely helps because he's getting NFL millions. The Eagles already have their quarterback in Donovan McNabb but he's been injury prone the past couple of seasons. However, it isn't clear what role Vick would have in the offense.

I think this is a good signing for the Eagles because at least they know they don't lose much if McNabb was to get hurt. However, Vick hasn't played football since the 2006 season so he could be very rusty. This doesn't bode well for McNabb. McNabb has never been secure in his place as the starting quarterback. This past season, he was replaced by Kevin Kolb in the middle of a game against the Baltimore Ravens for poor play and there was speculation as to whether it could be the end of the road for McNabb.

I think McNabb's job is safe but anything can happen. In the 2006 season, McNabb got hurt and Jeff Garcia came in and filled in well. He even played much better than McNabb in leading the Eagles to the divisional round where they lost to the New Orleans Saints by a field goal. After the season, there was rumors that McNabb's mother was bittersweet to see the Eagles succeed without McNabb. McNabb even demanded a reworked contract after his late season success this past season to ensure that he was safe with the team.

Pedro Gets Win In First Start

2009-08-13T01:20:00.000-04:00

Pedro Martinez has pitched his first game in the major leagues since September of 2008, and got his first win as well with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies defeated the Chicago Cubs 12-5, mainly from a lot of help from the offense. Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez hit home runs in the win, and they were up 12-1 in the fourth inning. Martinez pitched five innings, giving up three runs and striking out five batters. Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija pitched three and a third innings and gave up seven runs in the loss.

This was Pedro Martinez's first start since last September, when he played the Cubs as a member of the New York Mets. Martinez was decent in his first start, even though he was helped out by the offense of the Phillies. Martinez has room for improvement and he has a month and a half to improve. The Phillies want him to be more than serviceable, especially in the playoffs. Martinez does have a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox and has three Cy Young Awards.

The Phillies got Cliff Lee in a trade deadline deal to shore up their starting rotation. By starting Martinez, the Phillies demoted Jamie Moyer to the bullpen, who wasn't thrilled about it. If Lee, Martinez, and Cole Hamels can sharpen their games for the playoffs, then the Phillies could be right back in the World Series. However, I don't think Martinez will be effective. He'll be just as good as he was with the Mets the past couple of seasons, and the Phillies will end only relying on Lee for wins.

Tulowitzki Gets Cycle

2009-08-11T01:27:00.000-04:00

Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies completed the cycle in the Rockies 11-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. Tulowitzki drove in seven runs in the game as well, and got his triple in the seventh inning to complete the cycle, already hitting a home run, single and double. He ended up having five hits in the game. This is the sixth cycle of the Major League season. The other five that have cycles this season is Orlando Hudson of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers, Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer of the Minnesota Twins, and Melky Cabrera of the New York Yankees.

I am surprised at the amount of cycles being hit this year. Six seems like a lot, considering the degree of difficulty it is to get all four kinds of hits in one game. I'm impressed with Tulowitzki's cycle because he also had seven RBIs. He was turning his hits into runs. Four of his hits produced RBIs in the game. The only hit that didn't was his triple in the seventh inning. Once you're able to produce runs with quality at-bats, then you are certainly helping out your team in a big way.

The Rockies win pushes their record to 62-50. They are surprisingly contending for a playoff spot behind the Dodgers, and they're fighting with the San Francisco Giants also for a Wild Card spot along with other teams from other divisions. This is a complete turnaround from the time they fired Clint Hurdle earlier this season. Things like that tend to work sometimes. In the 2003 season, the Florida Marlins fired Jeff Torborg and replaced him with Jack McKeon 38 games into the season. The Marlins went on to win the World Series against the Yankees in the same season. This could work out for the Rockies.

Six Inducted Into Hall of Fame

2009-08-09T00:28:00.000-04:00

The Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony took place today, with six people being inducted in Canton as the class of 2009. Receiver Bob Hayes, offensive lineman Randall McDaniel, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebacker Derrick Thomas, defensive back Rod Woodson, and owner Ralph Wilson were the six inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hayes, who used to be a receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, and Thomas, who was a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, were posthumously honored. Thomas died in the middle of his career in 2000 and Hayes died in 2002.

Thomas, Smith and Woodson are three players I remember from my young days watching football. I certainly agree with Smith and Woodson being inducted because they had long careers and both of them certainly dominated defensively. Smith has 200 career sacks, which is the all-time career sacks record. Woodson has returned 12 interceptions for touchdowns in his career, the all-time record as well. Woodson helped every team he played on and helped the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders to Super Bowl appearances. He came out victorious with the Ravens while losing with the Steelers and Raiders.

Thomas, on the other hand, did not merit being in the Hall of Fame, in my opinion. Thomas was a very explosive linebacker. Thomas was part of the good Chiefs teams in the 1990s that was always making playoff appearances. However, his career only lasted 11 years, which isn't much for me as a defensive player. He was also a pass-rushing threat at that position. He holds the record for most sacks in a single game with seven, but that's pretty much all he did. I look for being a run stopper and being able to make tackles and pursue offensive players in the open. He didn't necessarily do that to a high degree.

Yankees Stun Sox In Classic

2009-08-08T02:31:00.000-04:00

The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox for the second straight game after losing the first eight. However, this game was not as convincing as the pounding they put on John Smoltz in Thursday's 13-6 win. The Yankees ended this game in the 15th inning, off of a two-run home run that gave the Yankees a 2-0 win. Josh Beckett started for the Red Sox and he was great, just like Yankees starter A.J. Burnett. Burnett and Beckett were teammates with the Florida Marlins 2003 team that won the World Series against the Yankees.

This is a huge win for the Yankees because they get at least a series split and they make the series a little bit better for themselves by being able to win a game in which Beckett pitched. The Red Sox continue to slip in the standings, now falling four and a half behind the Yankees in the AL East division race. The Red Sox need to pull it together soon or they probably won't be in the playoffs altogether. Right now, they're the front runners for the wild card race but the Texas Rangers are close behind.

In the 2006 season, the Yankees played a five game series against the Red Sox in August of that season and ended up winning all five games. That put the Yankees far ahead of the Red Sox in the division race, and the Red Sox never recovered. The Red Sox missed the playoffs altogether that season, and they fell behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the division as well, finishing third in the division. The Red Sox are in danger of this happening again, which they cannot afford at this time. They play the Yankees in Fenway Park in two weeks but by that time, it might be too late if they get swept by the Yankees.

Yankees Get First Win Against Red Sox

2009-08-07T00:19:00.000-04:00

The New York Yankees beat the Red Sox 13-6, beating them for the first time in nine tries this season. The Yankees had lost their previous nine, also including their final matchup last season, to the Red Sox. However, the Yankees were able to put some runs on the board against Red Sox pitcher John Smoltz. Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, Jorge Posada and Mark Teixeira were able to hit home runs for the Yankees in their rout. Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain didn't pitch that well, but Smoltz's horrible day got Chamberlain off the hook.

This is a big win for the Yankees, but it only gets harder the rest of the series. The Red Sox will send Josh Beckett to the mound tomorrow and will also send Jon Lester to the mound later this series. However, the Yankees offense has been clicking and it can continue against the Red Sox staff because there isn't one strong starter who is guaranteed to get a victory for them. Beckett is their closest to it, but he doesn't necessarily possess the control of his pitches to dominate games.

The Yankees will send A.J. Burnett, C.C. Sabathia and Andy Pettitte in this series to the mound. They are all capable of pitching well, but have also had their struggles. Burnett has been good this season, but not against the Red Sox in two meetings against them this season. Sabathia hasn't been strong lately, and Pettitte is a little inconsistent. The rest of the series could go either way, but the Yankees have a three and a half game lead on the Red Sox in the division so three straight wins by the Red Sox will still leave them behind. The Yankees, however, will like to create some distance between themselves and the Red Sox.

Manning Agrees To Extension

2009-08-06T01:15:00.000-04:00

Eli Manning, quarterback of the New York Giants, has agreed to a contract extension that pays Manning $97.5 million over six years. Manning and the Giants were in negotiations for quite some time but they were now able to get a deal done. $35 million is guaranteed for Manning, which makes him among the highest paid players in the NFL now. Manning is now being paid more than his older brother Peyton, who some regards as the best quarterback in the NFL. Eli Manning's deal keeps him with the Giants until 2015.

The Giants made a good move by locking up their franchise quarterback for the future. However, I don't think he's worth more than Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, the two best quarterbacks in the NFL. There are going to be some doubters and people are going to try to name other quarterbacks better than him. Manning has been able to do very well managing the offense and making plays as the quarterback, and that's why the Giants want to keep him much longer.

It is clear that Manning isn't better than his brother Peyton or Brady. However, many have said quarterbacks like Drew Brees, Jay Cutler and Ben Roethlisberger are better than Manning. I strongly disagree. Brees has certainly put up better numbers, but Brees can explode for five touchdown passes one week, and then throw four interceptions the next. He is very inconsistent and has only led the New Orleans Saints to the playoffs once in his three seasons. Cutler has only played one good season and he wasn't even that good anyway. He had the Broncos with a 8-5 record and ended up losing the final three to lose the division to the San Diego Chargers. He is also inconsistent. I would have to say Roethlisberger and Manning are evenly matched. Roethlisberger's playoff performances and regular seasons have never really been good, as he has relied heavily on the defense to get the job done. However, he did have an impressive final drive in Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals.

Burress Indicted

2009-08-03T23:02:00.000-04:00

NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress was indicted by a grand jury on three weapon counts for the incident in November 2008 where he shot himself in the leg in a Manhattan nightclub. Burress was with the New York Giants from 2005 to 2008, where he had three productive seasons. He made the Super Bowl winning catch in Super Bowl XLII against the New England Patriots in February 2008. He got a five year contract extension before the start of the 2008 season. The season had its rocky times, with him being suspended for two weeks early in the season and with the nightclub incident. He is currently without a team after being released by the Giants in April.

I expected Burress to be indicted, but I think Burress should've been applauded for pleading his case before the grand jury and showing remorse about the situation. He was still indicted because of the aggressiveness that the mayor showed immediately after the incident and the aggressiveness of the district attorney to prosecute Burress to the fullest extent. Now Burress is going to have to try his luck in a trial and his hopes of playing in football is dashed for this upcoming season.

I want Burress to be acquitted of the charges because of one thing. Burress did not shoot anyone in this incident, nor did he have any intent on doing so. The city of New York is trying to make an example of Burress and Bloomberg is doing this in an election year, which is unfair to Burress. Bloomberg needs to focus on his own issues insteading of using this unfortunate incident to be re-elected. I believe anyone who was in Burress situation, with no criminal record and no harm to others, shouldn't be charged, not just Burress.

Cabrera Gets Cycle in Yankees Win

2009-08-03T00:02:00.000-04:00

New York Yankees outfielder Melky Cabrera hit for the cycle in the Yankees 8-5 win over the Chicago White Sox to avoid a four-game sweep. It was the first cycle for the Yankees in 14 years, when Tony Fernandez hit for the cycle against the Oakland Athletics in 1995. In the second inning, Cabrera hit a three-run home run. He hit a double in the fourth inning and hit an RBI single in the fifth inning. He needed a triple to complete the cycle, usually the most difficult to get. He did it in the ninth inning when the ball sailed over Jermaine Dye and he raced in for the triple.

This is a big accomplishment for the Yankees and Cabrera. The Yankees haven't seen a cycle in 14 years, and they've gotten four championships and countless division titles since. However, this was a very important win for the Yankees because they were in danger of getting swept by the White Sox in four games. They started the second half of the season on a roll and this series brought them back to reality. They still had a division lead to protect and losing this game would've put the Boston Red Sox back on top of the division.

The Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 18-10, completing the three-game sweep of the Orioles and putting them a half game behind the Yankees in the AL East division. The Yankees and Red Sox play next weekend as well, so that series should go a long way in determining who gains control of the division. The Red Sox have beaten the Yankees all eight times this season, so it's important for the Yankees to get a series victory for their psyche and to potentially keep the division lead.

McCutchen Homers 3 Times In Win

2009-08-02T01:07:00.000-04:00

Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit three home runs in their game Saturday against the Washington Nationals, propelling them to an 11-6 victory. He drove in a career-high six RBIs, which has been a short career since this is his rookie season. McCutchen only had three home runs on the season coming into the game. After the game, he doubled his home run total to six home runs. This was the first time in Pirates history since 2001 to hit three home runs in a game. Aramis Ramirez did it that year in a game against the Houston Astros.

This is one of the highlights of another disappointing season for the Pirates. Overall, McCutchen has probably been the only highlight and bright spot of this Pirates team so far. McCutchen has shown tremendous speed since taking over for Nate McClouth in center field. McClouth was traded earlier in the season to the Atlanta Braves, clearing the way for McCutchen. The Nationals, the team McCutchen helped the Pirates beat, haven't been better. They own a major league worst 32-72 record and could be break the 1962 Mets record of 120 losses in one season.

The Pirates actually weren't doing that bad earlier in the season, when they had their full compliment of players. However, they've decided to make questionable trades and the Pirates fan haven't seen a commitment from the front office to turn this team into a winning team. They traded Jason Bay, their best player last year, to the Boston Red Sox. This year, they traded McClouth, who was their best player. They also traded Nyjer Morgan to the Nationals, Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants and Jack Wilson to the Seattle Mariners.

Trade Deadline Deals

2009-08-01T02:05:00.000-04:00

The MLB trading deadline was at 4 pm on Friday and a couple of teams made moves before that deadline. The Boston Red Sox were the most active team before the deadline, acquiring Cleveland Indians catcher Victor Martinez and Atlanta Braves first baseman Casey Kotchman. In the trade with the Indians, the Red Sox traded Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone, and Bryan Price for Martinez. Also, Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres was traded to the Chicago White Sox for four young pitchers. Peavy was traded to the White Sox earlier in the year but Peavy had a no-trade clause in his contract where he controlled his trade destinations and he did not waive the clause to go to them.

In other deals, Jarrod Washburn of the Seattle Mariners was traded to the Detroit Tigers, Scott Rolen of the Toronto Blue Jays was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, and Orlando Cabrera of the Oakland Athletics was traded to the Minnesota Twins. The player that got the biggest attention during the time before the trade deadline was Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay. He ended up staying with the Blue Jays after they didn't find an offer that was suitable for them.

The Red Sox were very aggressive in getting themselves two good hitters in Martinez and Kotchman. However, it will be hard to get playing time for both players, who were quality starters with their previous team. Martinez is a catcher and can also play first base. Jason Varitek is currently their catcher and Kevin Youkilis is their first baseman. Kotchman is a first baseman so he will also be behind Youkilis and Martinez possibly. This wasn't a good deal, logically, because it can make both players unhappy.

The White Sox have put themselves in a position to win the AL Central with their move acquiring Peavy. Mark Buehrle has been the only reliable starter for the White Sox. John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Jose Contreras have been disappointments, but the White Sox have hung around in the division race. The Tigers acquiring Washburn was also good because they now have a quality starter behind Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson to stay atop the AL Central. The New York Mets were probably a team that should've made a move to come back in the NL East race. Now, their season is all but over.

Ortiz and Ramirez On '03 PED List

2009-07-31T02:11:00.000-04:00

David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox and Manny Ramirez has been named as two players who were on that list of players who tested positive for peformance-enhancing drugs in 2003. Names that have come out already are Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa. Ramirez was already suspended 50 games for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Both players were on the Red Sox in 2003 and they were the two main parts in the Red Sox winning the 2004 and 2007 World Series. Ortiz told the media he would not hide and he will address the issue once he finds out more information. Ramirez didn't have much of a reaction, according to his statements.

This isn't shocking to me anymore because I now expect all of the good players in today's game to be linked to performance-enhancing drugs. I expect Albert Pujols to be named sometime down the line as well. It seems like this game is at a point where they should just move on and get the full list out. Also, Jose Canseco had comment on it and said he was not surprised. There was a time where no one believed anything Canseco was saying. But most of what he has said has proven to be true sadly.

Canseco suggested that these players can sue Major League Baseball for their names being linked. However, the FBI were the main ones who were a part of the testing for performance-enhancing drugs, not Major League Baseball. There isn't many good ways to sue the government so in all likelihood, their lawsuit wouldn't stand for that long. Ortiz doesn't have any explaining to do. This happened in 2003 and that was six years ago. It doesn't matter at this point.

Indians Trade Lee To Phillies

2009-07-30T00:40:00.001-04:00

The Cleveland Indians have traded pitcher Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies for prospects Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, Lou Marson, and Jason Donald. Lee won the 2008 AL Cy Young award and was posting a 3.14 ERA this season. The Indians haven't been contenders this year, just like last year, and they have traded a Cy Young award winner for the second straight season. Last year before the trade deadline, the Indians traded C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers. Sabathia won the 2007 AL Cy Young award en route to the Indians taking the Boston Red Sox to Game 7 of the ALCS.

The Phillies decided to make this move because Lee was always their Plan B. Roy Halladay, arguably the best pitcher in the American League and possibly all of baseball, was their original plan and they could still get him. The Phillies didn't give up J.A. Happ or Kyle Drabek, two players the Toronto Blue Jays asked for in exchange for Halladay. If the Phillies are able to get Halladay also, they would clearly be the favorites in my opinion to win another World Series.

I think the move to get Lee was a good one but it doesn't make them much better. I still think the Los Angeles Dodgers are better than them. They have a front line starter as well with Chad Billingsley, who I feel is better than Lee. They also have young Clayton Kershaw who can win games as well. Their offense, led by Manny Ramirez, is definitely solid. The Phillies offense is solid also but their starting pitching isn't that solid. Cole Hamels hasn't been what he has been in the past and Jamie Moyer has been up and down all year. The Dodgers are still the favorites in the National League in my opinion.

Eagles Defensive Coordinator Johnson Dies

2009-07-29T00:02:00.000-04:00

Jim Johnson, defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, has died at the age of 68. Johnson was responsible for the tough defenses that the Eagles brought out on the field during his tenure as the defensive coordinator. Eagles head coach Andy Reid hired Johnson to be the defensive coordinator, and the defense looked like the defense of the early 1990s. The Eagles made the playoffs in seven of the ten seasons he was leading the defense and made five appearances in the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance. Johnson coached the Eagles defense to their 2008 playoff run when they beat the top seeded New York Giants and lost to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game. That was his last game.

This is a huge loss for the Eagles football team and for all of football. Johnson has showed that his defensive schemes worked. It helped out the Eagles, who became a very aggressive unit under his command and constantly were among the top in major defensive categories. The Eagles were forces in the NFC East every season and made it hard for the Giants, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins to contend for an NFC East title. The only thing Johnson wasn't able to get in his time there was a Super Bowl ring, as they lost in their only opportunity to the New England Patriots in 2005.

As a fan of the Giants, Johnson and the Eagles defense constantly frustrated me as the Eagles would always get the better of the Giants this decade. Johnson frustrated a lot of teams with their aggressive style of play. Sean McDermott was already announced as the new defensive coordinator and he will not match the legacy Johnson left. The Eagles defense could struggle in his command because he may not be as aggressive as Johnson.

Vick Partially Reinstated

2009-07-27T23:46:00.000-04:00

Michael Vick was partially reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday, clearing the way for him to start playing in the NFL again. This partial reinstatement allows Vick to participate in the last two preseason games and take part in all practices and meetings. Once the regular season starts, he can participate in everything except games and Goodell said he is going to consider full reinstatement no later than Week 6, which is October 18-19. Sources close to Vick were shocked that he still could miss that many games, and that he would apply for full reinstatement starting Week 1. Vick isn't on any NFL roster yet and several teams said they wouldn't sign him.

I am glad that Goodell has decided to allow Vick to do some things on the football field. However, I don't feel like he needs to be suspended for any regular season games if he is on an NFL team. If you remember, Vick was indefinitely suspended before he went to prison and that suspension went through his jail time. Vick has gone through a lot, which was mostly caused upon himself. However, he has still gone through a lot and he is ready to get with an NFL team and get back on the field. Why hold him back from doing that? I think Vick has served enough punishment.

I am angry the NFL has reacted this way. Since the NFL has decided to come down on Vick like this, they should do the same thing to Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Vick was indefinitely suspended before he went to jail after he decided to plead guilty to get a lighter prison sentence. The NFL should suspend Roethlisberger indefinitely until this civi suit is resolved. Roethlisberger was accused of rape in a civil suit by a 31-year old woman and I think that is much bigger than dogfighting. I hope the NFL don't play the race card and decide to go easy on Roethlisberger because he is white. That'll be an abuse of power by Goodell and he should be fired for it. The tough guy act is already old.

Former Boxing Champ Forrest Killed

2009-07-27T02:12:00.001-04:00

Former boxing champion Vernon Forrest was shot to death Saturday night by two people who were trying to rob him of his Jaguar vehicle while he was putting air in his tires in an Atlanta gas station. Forrest also had a gun on him and proceeded to chase the two suspects with his gun before he was shot dead. It was confirmed that he suffered seven to eight gunshot wounds, with one to the head and others to the torso and thigh. Forrest had his girlfriends' son in the Jaguar when he was killed. Forrest was only 38 years old.

The boxing world has seen three former well-known boxers who have died too soon in the month of July. On July 1, Alexis Arguello was found dead at his home in Nicaragua. He was 57 years old. On July 11, Arturo Gatti was found dead at a Brazilian resort. He was just 37 years old and Brazilian police has his 23 year old wife in custody as a suspect in his death. Combining it with the world of sports, on July 4, former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was found dead alongside his girlfriend in a murder-suicide. He was just 36 years old.

This is getting much crazier everyday. Forrest was a good guy who was doing the right things for his community with his wealth. It's sad that people want to go around and steal cars. It's also sad that those two people decided to take his life in addition to trying to take his car. If they wanted to have the car and wanted to go about it by stealing it, that's all they should've done. If they would've gotten busted, they wouldn't have done that much time. Now, they're looking at doing a long time once they're caught because they took it a step further. Forrest had a good boxing career, only losing three times in 44 matches. He will be missed.

Rays Make Big Comeback

2009-07-26T01:43:00.001-04:00

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-9 in 12 innings. After the fourth inning, the Blue Jays led 8-0 after they scored two runs each in the first four innings. David Price, the Rays starting pitcher, only lasted three innings and gave up six of those runs as his struggles continue. The Rays started making their comeback in the seventh inning down 9-1. They scored four runs to come within four runs. Down two in the ninth inning, Carlos Pena and Willie Aybar both hit solo home runs to tie the game at nine. Jason Bartlett had the game winning RBI double in the 12th inning to complete the comeback for the Rays.

Comebacks of this magnitude are becoming a trend in the American League this year. Earlier this year, the Cleveland Indians came back down 10 to beat the Rays. Also, the Baltimore Orioles beat the Red Sox after being down nine runs earlier in the game and the Oakland Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins earlier this week after being down 10 runs. It is evident that the AL have better hitting lineups but these teams have to learn how to shut the door when they jump out to a huge lead.

The Rays have the distinction of being on both sides of comebacks, winning today against the Rays and losing to the Indians earlier this season. This gives the Rays an important win, however, because the New York Yankees lost. The AL East race is between the Yankees, Rays and Boston Red Sox. The Rays are now five and a half games behind the Yankees and four behind the Red Sox. Any of these three teams have a chance to win the division, based on whoever can finish the season strong.

Holliday Traded To Cardinals

2009-07-25T01:22:00.001-04:00

Matt Holliday of the Oakland Athletics has been traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Brett Wallace, Shane Peterson, and Clayton Mortensen, all of which are prospects. Holliday has been involved in trade rumors since the Athletics acquired him in a trade in the offseason from the Colorado Rockies. The Athletics never had intentions of keeping him that long. Also, the Athletics are at the bottom of the AL West, which most likely contributed to them getting rid of their best hitter.

Holliday was an excellent hitter in his career with the Rockies, consistently hitting a lot of home runs and hitting over .300. However, this season with the Athletics was very rocky. He got off to a poor start, and he only hit 11 home runs for the Athletics. His batting average is at .285, which was only that high after he got on a hot streak lately. I think Holliday's numbers this season is proving a little bit that he can't hit consistently out of Coors Field, which is a hitters friendly ballpark.

If Holliday resembles the numbers he put up with the Rockies, it will definitely be good for the Cardinals. This could be the piece they need to make a strong push at a World Series title. They have quality pitchers in Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. They also have the best hitter in the game in Albert Pujols. However, he has been lacking the protection needed in order for them to be a good offensive team. Ryan Ludwick, who batted cleanup behind Pujols, hasn't been the hitter he was last year, when he made an All-Star appearance. Now Holliday can occupy that position and help them out.