The Burress Debacle

Well, it's been a while, but I decided that I needed to weigh in on the recent shenanigans of New York Giants Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress.  For those who haven't heard the story, Burress carried a gun--loaded for that matter--into a nightclub and ended up 'accidentally' shooting himself in the thigh.  He then proceeded to leave the nightclub with one of his teammates, linebacker Antonio Pierce, and the two didn't make it to a hospital for the next two hours.

Now, what went on in those two hours is the mystery behind the scandal, but what isn't a mystery is the jail time that Burress is facing.  In New York, it is illegal to carry a gun without a permit, and the gun must be licensed and registered in the state of New York.  The penalty for breaking this law is a class four felony, and it carries a mandatory 3.5 years in prison.  Plaxico turned himself in on Monday, and now the waiting begins until the grand jury of New York decides whether to indict him.

I love sports.  Obviously I admire some of the greats for the way they play their respective sports on the field.  But many of the professional athletes today are turning into absolute wrecking balls.  Here's my opinion: it all starts with the money.  The amount these guys get paid, especially in the NBA, is absolutely insane.  Don't get me wrong, these guys can make a very substantial living but after a certain point, they are so deep in money that they create a false reality.  They start to believe that nothing is above them.  That nothing can stop them.  We see and read this about professional athletes all the time.  

Here's my verdict: Burress will get the full extent of the law and be sentenced to prison for 3.5 years.  The New York Giants will release him, but run into some difficulties with the huge contract that they offered him after winning the Super Bowl last season.  It's a sad thing, but the question will always be asked...why did he carry the gun into the club in the first place?  What also is sad, is that Antonio Pierce could be charged with something.  He helped Plaxico, in trying to conceal what happened.  I say leave him alone and put it all on Burress, but I'm sure New York law enforcement would like their hands on two professional athletes. 

So the question goes to you, what will happen to Plaxico Burress?

World Series - Intermission

I woke up to this morning to find myself stranded in Philadelphia in the bottom of the sixth inning in game 5 of the World Series. I think it would be absolutely awesome if the players were forced to get going on the game at any minute. Meaning, that they would have to sleep at the park, keep entertained, and basically wait for a break in the weather to start the game. This could happen at 2 in the afternoon, or 3 in the morning. However, we all know that this isn't the case. It would appear that the longest inning in World Series history will probably come to a close around 5:30 PST on Wednesday.

How are my predictions holding up you say? Absolutely awful. Obviously. At least let me state my defense as to why the Tampa Bay Rays may throw away one of the greatest turn around stories in Major League Baseball.

It all starts with Scott Kazmir. The guy in the post season is not the same player we have seen for most of the season. This is not a good thing. When one of your best pitchers suddenly becomes another player in the most important series of the year, there could be trouble. And what do you know? That's exactly where the Rays find themselves.

Offense. Where is it? Probably somewhere in between Carl Crawford going deep and B.J. Upton stealing bases. The Rays simply aren't hitting. The thing is, are the Phillies' pitchers even that good? Yes, I'm talking about everyone OTHER than Cole Hamels. Kentucky Joe looked like one of the best pitchers in the game Sunday night. I guess it helps when you hit a home run to help your own cause. However way you look at it, the Rays are getting absolutely DEALT when it comes to pitching. A good question would be to ask Evan Longoria how many times he would like to strikeout this series (9 times in 4 games).

Defense. Also, where is it? It was summed up when Navarro threw down to second in the bottom of the ninth of game 3. Was it necessary? No. Was hitting Bruntlett needed? No. But it happened. So deal with it. Yes, there was a passed ball, so deal with it. I just don't see why a throw down to second was necessary. Of course we know what followed. Intentional walk to the flyin' Hawaiian, followed by another to Greg Dobbs, and a Carlos Ruiz chopper down third with an infield of 5 players. Game 3 should have belonged to the Rays.

Can the Rays do it?

Wow, good question Joel. I'm very, very skeptic. However, am I still believing that they can?  Yes. Because if you know baseball, you know anything can happen.

How do they do it?

Obvious reasons. They have to get a solid outing of whomever comes out of the gate for them on the bump in the bottom of the 6th. They need to score immediately in the top of the 7th. If they can do this, they can build enough hope in their travels back to St. Petersburg. Having Evan Longoria see live pitching in this intermission is a MUST. The guy has to get his eye back. He looks like a fool up there. Iwamura needs to quit booting balls. There's a ton of things they need to do.  But for one, they need to somehow find the team that won the A.L. East without a problem.

Whenever we get this thing going again, that is.

The Fall Classic

People give up on hardball way to soon. It happens every year. College football rolls around, then NFL, then preseason basketball, WNBA Championships (just kidding) and everyone seems to forget that the MLB season started way back in April. Hey, I understand. 162 games, plus the playoffs is a lot of baseball. Some would admit that they don't even watch until this time of year because this is when players actually start playing. I agree with that about 50 percent. It took a lot of factors to get where both of these teams are now, but it's true, they do step their games up a notch come October. This is an obvious fact though, because their playing to stay alive. It's win, or go home.

This October, it's somewhat of a surprise of the two teams that will be playing for the World Series. I don't think anyone predicted these two teams to be here way back in Spring Training. But as the season rolled along (and this season the story is all about the Tampa Bay Rays) these two teams showed that they can compete. A world-class broadcaster was once asked what it would take to win a world championship. He simply replied, "Two solid pitchers." It's the truth. If you've got two solid arms leading you through the post season, it should buy your bats enough time to find some runs. When your pitching is struggling, it's a long shot for your team to make it to the series. So who are these teams two best pitchers that can guide their team to the championship? Well, let's take a look.

A.L. Champions: Tampa Bay Rays starting rotation (Season Stats)
Scott Kazmir (12-8, 3.49) 166Ks
James Shields (14-8, 3.56) 160Ks
Matt Garza (11-9, 3.70) 128Ks
Andy Sonnanstine (13-9, 4.38) 124Ks

Closer: David Price 14.0 IP, 12Ks, 3ER

- The two best for the Rays are Kazmir and Shields, who provide the most control on the bump. It's a good Lefty (Kazmir) and Righty (Shields) mix for the first two games. Kazmir struggled a couple times in the post season, but hung tough. I think these are two good arms to rely on. Garza and Sonnanstine are solid as well.

N.L. Champions: Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation (Season Stats)
Cole Hamels (14-10, 3.09) 196Ks
Brett Myers (10-13, 4.55) 163Ks
Jamie Moyer (16-7, 3.71) 123Ks
Joe Blanton (9-12, 4.69) 111Ks

Closer: Brad Lidge 69.1 IP, 92Ks, 15ER (41 saves)

-Knowing you have arguably the best closer in the game this year behind you is a definite bonus for this pitching staff. However, I don't feel like there are really two SOLID pitchers in this rotation. Cole Hamels is a given. The guy is just plain dirty. He's a southpaw with a fastball that wiggles. Jamie Moyer would be my number 2. The only problem with Moyer, besides the fact that he's 67 years old, is that he is hit or miss when it comes to performance. He doesn't strike a lot of guys out, but forces ground balls and pop fly's like a veteran should. But when he's off or gets hit early, he's useless. He did win 16 games for the Phils this season (and he's a former Mariner), so he does have that going for him.

Both of these teams have what it takes to manufacture runs for their ball club. It will all come down to what pitchers stay composed and what pitchers don't. The bullpen for both teams is decent, but I would say the Rays have more of an advantage in that department. With guys like J.P. Howell, Grant Balfour, and Dan Wheeler, the Rays should be able to hang tight until throwing the rookie in to close. When it comes to the Phils, you have J.C. Romero, Scott Eyre, and Clay Condrey to rely on. They are guys that can keep you in the game, but compared to the bullpen of the Rays, they just can't compete.

I'm not going to give the series to the Rays just yet. When you have guys like Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, and Chase Utley coming to the dish, the Phils should be able to score some runs. They all have improved their approaches to the plate this post season (even the strikeout machine Howard) and that means runs will be available. If the heart of this order gets hot, they can tack on some crooked numbers in any inning.

However, the Rays have a lot to play for. They are the surprise young ball club that has turned heads all season long. With the right mixture of managing and veteran players, this team has all the components of a championship team. I really believe that top to bottom, their order has guys who get great at-bats, and hit for power as well as to manufacture runs. All 9 hitters are capable of taking any pitcher deep. They've hit a ton of home runs this post-season, and I would expect that trend to continue in the world series.

My prediction: Rays in 6
What do you think?

Great Writing Part II

I'm sorry I've been on hiatus, but it's tough to be a graduate student and write more than I already have to. You may remember a post in the last few months about great writing. It was an old spice commercial and if you missed it you can just click here. But I wanted to post another commercial that I believe to be another great marketing ploy.

It's for Holiday Inn Express, and they are promoting their new "breakfast bar". So naturally the writers depict the breakfast bar as...you guessed it, an actual bar. They poke fun at the shenanigans that take place at your local pub, and use it in reference to breakfast. This was the one I thought to be the funniest, but there are many that are always good for a laugh. World Series prelude coming soon.

70-0 Routing Sends "I" Packin'

The University of Arizona football team opened their 2008-2009 season against the Vandals of the University of Idaho. Quite possibly the worst team in NCAA D-1 football, the Vandals uniforms may even be worse than their game.

After losing the opener 70-0, the Vandals thought it was time for a change in the program. They figured, start with the embarrassing pants they have to wear. Located on the buttocks of the pant sits a large 'I', where they want those who attend the game looking, instead of at their horrible play on the field. But the 'I' will be the first thing to go, hoping for a miraculous spark and change in their play on the field.

Man, I'd hate to be the equipment manager that has to remove over 80 sewn-in letters from the back seat of the teams' bottoms. Interesting move. We'll see if it works out for them.

Are The Olympics Live?

As a person who lives and dies by the media, I pick and prod at ways things could be done better when it comes to television, radio and the like. I'm sure most of us are avid Olympics watchers. The opening ceremonies alone were over 4 hours long, and those who watched got to see the largest LCD screen on the face of the planet. And then, the sports got underway.

Beijing is 15 hours ahead of us for those that live on the west coast. If you live in other places, do the math to determine how far ahead it is for your part of the nation, it's not tough. NBC, the leading broadcaster for anything and everything Olympics, usually has sports on in the early to late morning, then the big broadcast takes place in "prime time". Here's a secret for all of you who don't know already: those sports that you are watching in such high anticipation, hoping for the U.S. (or whatever country) to win the gold, have been over for quite some time.

The way I figure it, the sports that you are watching have been over for 3 hours. For those of us who have ESPN as our homepage, we cringe the minute we open our browsers because the headline usually reads: "Phelps wins gold" and we sit back and think, "no point in watching now".

Throughout all this, you are welcomed by the loving voice of Bob Costas saying, "Thanks for joining us, we'll have all the events for you LIVE tonight." Well actually, Mr. Costas, those events have been over for a while now, but thanks for the effort.

How does it feel when you turn on the television to watch that event you've been waiting 4 years for (maybe not but you're pretty excited) and they put up those four letters in the top right-hand side of the screen, then you realize, hey, this isn't live!?!

This has been the torture of my life these last 7 days. Knowing the outcome before I see it. It's almost as if I can see into the future. Do you think it's OK for NBC to lie to the public and say that the events are live? I sure don't.

Great Writing

From time to time, I like to post videos of commercials that I feel are truly written well. Here's one that I feel merits a post. It's a new (somewhat) Old Spice commercial. The marketing/writing package is just brilliant.

Going Yard

Heading into the All-Star break, it's interesting to look back at the first half of the season. There's been some ups and downs, some surprises, and hey, we've already seen one no-hitter. Two key trades have taken place with the home run hitting CC Sabathia to the Brewers and Rich Harden to the Cubs. With the addition of these two pitchers, the N.L. Central race just got a little tighter, and my pick for the N.L. Wild Card just got a little more solid.

But what about the home run hitters? Ryan Howard leads the major leagues with 28 HRs, but hasn't done much else, hitting .234 and has another league leading 129 strikeouts. Howard won't be heading back to this year's home run derby.

Who will be?

1. Lance Berkman - Houston Astros 22 HRs
2. Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers 23 HRS
3. Justin Morneau - Minnesota Twins 14 HRs
4. Josh Hamilton - Texas Rangers 21 HRs
5. Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays 16 HRs
6. Grady Sizemore - Cleveland Indians 23 HRs
7. Dan Uggla - Florida Marlins 23 HRs
8. Chase Utley - Philadelphia Phillies 25 HRs

No Yankees will be putting on a home run show for their home fans at Yankee Stadium. I'm not complaining.

Who will win?

Great question. The feel good story of this years derby is that Josh Hamilton is having a 71-year-old pitch to him. His name, Clay Counsil. He coached Josh's older brother Jason in American Legion summer ball, but never had the chance to coach this year's RBI leader. Hamilton will advance, but he won't win the derby.

Ryan Braun obviously has the gusto to do it, but will fail to advance out of the first round.

Justin Morneau, the last addition to the field and the player with the least amount of home runs, may come in looking to turn some heads and bust out a few dongs. My guess is that he comes up short as he did in last year's derby.

What about Evan Longoria? The kid should win rookie of the year. My gut tells me that his glove is better than his bat, and he'll also fail to get out of the first round.

Grady Sizemore. Guy is a player. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that he edges out Uggla by one or two to go to the semis.

Dan Uggla went on a tear a few weeks ago. He was out for 11 games because of an ankle strain but made a decent return. He finally hit a home run on Sunday against the Dodgers. He hadn't hit a home run in close to a month. He's got something to prove. But won't quite get the job done to advance to the semis.

Chase Utley is legit. Being a former second baseman, I love guys who can play the two-bag and bring some wood to the plate to match. Utley goes to the final but will lose in a close race against Berkman.

Lance Berkman is a hitting machine. The lefty has one of the smoothest swings in baseball. He's got a point to make. He's competed in this competition before, and wants revenge from losing to Miguel Tejada in 2004 in front of his home crowd at Minute Maid Park.

Semi-Finals: Lance Berkman, Chase Utley, Grady Sizemore, Josh Hamilton.

Finals: Lance Berkman vs. Chase Utley.

Winner: Lance Berkman

This year's derby doesn't have as much draw as others, only the fact that it's taking place at Yankee Stadium which gets demolished at the end of the season. However, the story that Josh Hamilton brings with him will definitely be something to watch.

Shout out: Jason Donald was the starting shortstop for the U.S. team in the Future's Game on Sunday. The U.S. only had three hits against team World, one of them collected by Donald. Donald is an Arizona Wildcat, and you can bet he's looking to take over once MVP Jimmy Rollins hangs 'em up for the Phillies. Nick Hundley, also a Wildcat, made his major league debut on July 4th for the San Diego Padres. Kid is a catcher who can do great things as long as he brings his bat with him to the dish. Watch for both of these players in the future.

The Beauty of the Wild Card

The wild card race for Major League Baseball is always one that comes down to the wire. Last year, the National League witnessed the tightest battle, with the Rockies and the Padres fighting it out in a one-game winner take all to get to the post season. The amazing story is that the Rockies not only won, but won their way through the divisional series, and the championship series to gain a berth to the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately, if we all remember, the story ended there, with four quick games and a sweep by the Red Sox for their second title in the last four years.

Nearly half way through the 2008 season, the National League again remains another close race, but just between two teams, St. Louis and Milwaukee. The real race that we will see come September will fall in the American League with 4 teams, if they keep the pace they're at. The unbelievable Rays, the untimely A's, the no wonder Yankees, and the up and coming Twins. A betting man would say the Yankees will blow the other three out of the water and win the wild card for the second straight year, but fans here in Oakland say the A's will give it the best shot they've got. The Rays will have to continue to play well and it's a very young team, which results in the classic "choke" come crunch time. The Twins will have the toughest time, mainly because no one is really hitting for them, and the pitching staff is is left with all the pressure.

I believe the ticket to the post season will be punched for the team who makes the best trades come July 31. The Yankees, being the team with the most leverage, but smart GM's can come up big. My question to the readers out there, is who will win the Wild Card?? Here are my picks as of June 26, 2008.

National League: It'll be close, but I'm going to go on a limb and say the Brewers will beat the Cards out in a one game playoff.

American League: As much as it pains me to say it, the Yankees will go on a tear in the second half and clinch the A.L. spot.

America's Tournament

One of the greatest smells in the world comes around 7 a.m. on any golf course in America. It's the smell of fresh cut grass, giving the course a fresh look for that hungry golfer looking for birdies.

This week the grass that gets cut out at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California, will lay at the feet of some of the best golfers in the world for the 108th meeting of the U.S. Open conducted by the USGA. Some of golf's greatest memories have happened at the U.S. Open. The putt in 1999 by Payne Stewart out at Pinehurst No. 2, to last year's winner Angel Cabrera lighting up a cigarette to calm the nerves on number 18 at Oakmont Country Club.











Just as in any other tournament he plays in, all eyes are on Tiger Woods to win his third U.S. Open in the last eight years. The hot story is if he will be the Tiger we all know after recovering from knee surgery in April. This will be his first tournament back since the surgery. Tiger says the knee is a little sore, but I'm sure a guy like him will play through the pain. So far, Tiger is 0 for 1 in majors this year, so we'll have to wait another year to see if Tiger can be the first person to win the Grand Slam of golf in the same year.

Day 1 is filled with great groupings, of course headlined by the group of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Adam Scott. Mickelson is ranked #2 in the world, and is still seeking his first U.S. Open championship. Other notable groups on Thursday are Stewart Cink, Sergio Garcia, and Vijay Singh, followed by Mike Weir, and the last two years' Master's Champions, Trevor Immelman and Zach Johnson.

It's America's tournament and ultimately, any member of the USGA has a chance to play. The field is always littered with a few players who have played their way through qualifying rounds to buy themselves a spot to play in the U.S. Open.

Players to watch: Jim Furyk (runner up in the 2007 U.S. Open), and Segio Garcia (a.k.a El Nino) winner of this year's Player's Championship in search of his first major of his career. Garcia finished second to Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship in 1999.

The Dreaded A.L. West and the downfall of the Seattle Mariners

Something unnatural seems to be taking place this year in the A.L. West division of Major League Baseball. The Angels have won the division 4 times in the last 5 years, and look to be the team to beat again this year. The A's are the surprise team of the division, keeping up with the Angels and somehow beating teams they shouldn't. Just yesterday they completed a 3-game sweep of the World Champion Boston Red Sox who brought the best record in the major leagues with them.

The Rangers are just as surprising, with a guy like Josh Hamilton on your team, you can win ball games. The pitching staff won't hold for a post-season berth, but they are still winning games nonetheless.

Then we arrive at the Seattle Mariners. A team that most baseball analysts expected to be over .500 at this point in the season. They added tremendously to their pitching staff by picking up Erik Bedard and Carlos Silva, to compliment the young fireballer in the likes of Felix Hernandez. Problem is, these guys aren't doing much for the team. Bedard (3-3, 4.70). Silva (3-4, 5.14). And Hernandez, who has lost 4 of his last 5 starts since the last time I wrote about him when he was then 2-0, is now 2-4. The problems are everywhere. They can't pitch and they can't hit.

Even Ichiro, the guy who is expected to give you at least 200 hits a year and a 300 average is batting only .289. Close but no cigar. The Mariners are hurting.

I think Richie Sexson knew something else when he charged the mound and threw his helmet at Texas' pitcher Kevin Gabbard. He knew the once worst team in the west was now better than they were. Any matter, Sexson is batting .197. Somehow the guy has 9HR. Whoopity do. They guy needs to go back to Milwaukee, they only place he did any good for the game.

So as the season drags on in the A.L. West, there are new faces vying for the top spot. But one team surely isn't. The Seattle Mariners.

Cashed Out Charles - Sports Headlines?

If you haven't heard, Charles Barkley is calling it quits when it comes to gambling. According to reports, Barkley failed to pay the Wynn casino on four $100,000 markers, that he took out on a loan in October of last year.

Barkley is no stranger to gambling as most of us know, but the guy who "hates the whole city of golden state", says he's going to put the dice aside for at least a year or two.

Is it just me, or are more things happening to athletes that aren't sports related these days? I can think of tons of examples. You've got OJ Mayo accepting thousands of dollars in high school and in college to keep him happy while busting 3-pointers. Jason Taylor, the one-time defensive player of the year for the Miami Dolphins, is more concerned with his acting career and a win on 'Dancing with the Stars' than his future in the NFL and the Dolphins organization.Bonds get his 4 counts broken down into 14 separate counts of perjury and obstruction of justice in the BALCO case. I'll reference the book that I'm reading once again, "Game of Shadows" and once you read it you will both hate Barry Bonds and appreciate the research these reporters did. Once the fastest woman in the world, Marion Jones, is in jail for six-months and boyfriend/runner Tim Montgomery will be joining her for fraud.

Don't even get me started on Clemens. The guy is going to jail.

Tons of NFL players not reporting to camps, and holding out on contract deals. The list goes on and on. The idea of having professional athletes as heroes for kids is quickly diminishing. As sports fans we all want raw, solid playing on the field, coupled with a life off the field that is respectable for all those millions they are making.

Give me a guy like Jon Lester. The man recovers from cancer, and pitches a no-hitter a year and a half later. These are the types of stories that guys like me want to write about. There is no end to these tales, and I'm sure the future holds just as much terrible stories about these athletes as we have been seeing recently. Just plain ridiculous.

Cycle for Gomez

In the box score, it doesn't look that hard to do. Most players get at least four at-bats a game, especially those who are the leadoff hitters. The cycle consists of every hit a player can get in a single baseball game. A single, a double, a triple, and of course the home run. Since the start of major league baseball, it has only happened 277 times. Given the talent that has been capable of accomplishing the feat in the history of major league baseball, this is a small number.

There is such a thing called the 'natural cycle', when the player hits the single, double, triple and home run in order in the same game.

To this day, there has never been a player who has hit for the cycle in a post-season game.

On May 8th, Carlos Gomez became the 277th player to add his name to the list who can say they've hit for the cycle in the major leagues. There's a lot to be said about Gomez. After a short stint with the Mets last season, he was traded to the Twins in the Johan Santana deal. The Twins are reaping the benefits in picking up a solid defensive outfielder with speed, who will hit for average and touch em' all every now and again. Gomez hit the cycle against the divisional rival Chicago White Sox and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in an American jersey come the all-star break. Hats off to Carlos Gomez.

The More You Read, The More You Know

I've recently taken an internship with a pre-game radio show for the Oakland Athletics. I work with a guy named Marty Lurie, who broadcasts before every game on 1550AM out of Oakland. There is a pre-game show that is done by the same guys who do the play-by-play, and this is the show that is directly before that.

I wanted to convey the crazy amounts of knowledge that these guys know about the game of baseball. Not only are they on the up and up with their team, they know every player, where they've played, big stories about them, and have their own opinions about how their career will pan out in the big leagues. My hat really goes off to these guys because they clearly know more about the sport then I do.

The amount of preparation that goes into each game is just plain dirty. Besides reading the sports page from every team's home city in the major leagues, these guys look at countless stat sheets, read the media guide and pick anything they can up from the stuff that they read. It's completely fair to say that MOST broadcasters know exactly what they are talking about. I'm reading everything I can get my hands on just so I don't look like a fool in the press box. So my posts are becoming less consistent, but you know what I'm doing now. Besides the text books I have to read and stories to shoot, edit and write, I'm reading an insane amount.

Undying Hatred = Bandwagon Hornets Fans

On Tuesday night, the playoff hopes of the Phoenix Suns, and the hopes of NBA playoffs fans spanning 49 states, died. The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Suns in game five of their first round series in the Western Conference playoffs.

I haven't seen this much hatred towards a particular team since the Yankees were actually good. Wait a minute, people still hate the Yankees. No matter, the Spurs flipped the 'most despised team in the NBA' switch after the win tonight. Polls coast to coast of sports fans have suddenly become enormous Chris Paul fans, and who can blame them? It's not hard to like a team lead by the great Byron Scott, who knows exactly what its like to make a push through the playoffs and win an NBA title.

Something that will definitely start to be talked about, is the Tony Parker vs. CP3 matchup. Third to King James and Kobe 'I've decided to change my number' Bryant, Parker is right in the thick of things when it comes to points per game. Whoopity Do. Now that Nowitzki is gone, Paul is in the top five as well. All the more reason for him to step up on defense and shut down Mr. Eva Longoria.

The Spurs and Hornets will hit the hardwood and start their semi-final series to get to the Western Conference Championship. I think it's pretty clear who the nation is rooting for. But my question to you is who will win it, and in how many games?

On another note: There are two possible game seven's lurking. Detroit leads Philadelphia three games to two, but game six is in Philly, and my boy Iggy is heating up for the Sixers. I like this series going to a game seven. The other is the refusing to say die Houston Rockets vs. the Utah Jazz. Utah leads the series, and game six heads back to Utah. I like Utah closing out the series back in SLC.

One more note: a city softball team in Alameda, CA called "Boom Goes The Dynamite" is playing Thursday night, hoping to get a win streak going, after coming back last week in the top of the seventh inning to beat Otaez 9-7. Wish them luck.

Here comes the...Nope.

So far, for the most part, the NBA playoffs have been better than expected. There's been some games that show some heart: the 76'ers up two games to one on the Pistons and the Raptors refusing to get thrown around by the Magic. And there's been the series of no surprise: the Celtics up two games to none on the Hawks, and the Lakers up two games to none on the Nuggets. Then to the series that just sits deep in your stomach like bad chinese food that you can't take back eating:

The matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns.



I don't even know where to begin. Maybe it's Tim Duncan's lack of personality and whiny attitude when it comes to being fouled. Maybe it's the fact that they "hack Shaq" so that they send the worst free-throw shooter in history to the line every .2 seconds. Or maybe it's the fact that Manu Ginobli's field goal percentage is higher than that perfect score I got on my test last week. Spurs fans obviously are happy, but for those of us who don't live in Texas (thank the man upstairs) we can't stand it.

Question is, can the Suns come back from being down three games to none? NBA Playoff history will tell you that accomplishing the feat is highly unlikely. What do you think?

Cason Point

With the NFL Draft coming up on Saturday, it makes me think about which teams the players you have seen play at the college level will go to, and if they will be successful at the NFL level. Now that the number one pick has been chosen, (Jake Long, OL/T Michigan) it will be interesting to see who will step up in the draft and who will fall.

I am most interested in where this guy is going to go. Antoine Cason, (#5 in the red jersey) had a stellar career at the University of Arizona. He finished with 15 career interceptions, and averaged just over 23 yards per interception return, which set a new school record. Cason didn't leave the NFL combine with scouts very happy though, finishing with a 40-yard dash time of 4.52. The top time for defensive backs was 4.31. Speed is important as a defensive back, and some scouts don't think Cason can compete with the speed of players at the next level. Nevertheless, #5 did walk away with a prestigious award this year:

The Jim Thrope Award. It goes to the best defensive back in the nation. Cason played a big role in the Arizona vs. #2 Oregon game where the Wildcats upset the Ducks 34-24. Cason finished the game with 2 TD's, one an interception 42-yard return, and the other a 56-yard punt return. The game was on a national stage, and I don't think there was any doubt that Cason was the player of the game. Best of luck Antoine in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Hoping For a Miracle On Ice

Part of being a journalist is to write to your audience. Although most of you that read this blog are nowhere near the bay area, indulge me on this one. The San Jose Sharks are heading to a deciding game 7 against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night in the Western Conference playoffs in the NHL.

San Jose had a stellar season to obtain the (2) seed in the playoff bracket, and is matched up the (7) seed Flames. Game 7 heads back to San Jose (about 15 minutes south of me). If fans like the ones below show up to the game, I'm calling the Sharks to win. The west coast doesn't have a strong following when it comes to the NHL. But that doesn't mean the game isn't popular. I still remember when the Kings were the team to beat. Mostly because of Gretzky and the hype of "the great one" but lately the attention is drawn to Pittsburgh's young gun center Sidney Crosby.

Fans here love the Sharks. They weren't too shabby when the Kings were the team on top of the Western Conference. It may be just me, but NHL playoff games seem to always go to a game 7. At least game 6. Bay area sports are just so-so, with the Warriors failing to make the playoffs, the Giants without Bonds, and the A's completely up and down. Who knows what will happen when the NFL draft shows us which players will join the 49ers and Raiders squads.

The Sharks are what's hot right now. People know the Cup (as in Stanley) is up for grabs now that defending champion Anaheim Ducks are knocked out of contention. Could the Cup end up in the city of San Jose? To tell you the truth, I don't have enough knowledge to back up any sort of argument that it is a possibility. But to see guys like this, that's just awesome.

No Game Clock in MLB

This post may lose it's validity after I post it, but currently, the Padres and the Rockies are deadlocked in a 1-1 tie heading into the bottom of the 21st inning.

The first runs of the game weren't scored until the 14th.

This made me get to thinking about the longest documented games that have been played in major league baseball. Here's what I found.

1. On April 18, 1981, a 33 inning game played between the Rochester Red Wings and the Pawtucket Red Sox who play in the triple-A International league. The game took 8 hours and 25 minutes to play over 2 days. The game was halted at 4:09 a.m. by the league's president.

2. On May 1, 1920, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves played a 26 inning game that was eventually called due to darkness.

3. On May 9, 1984, the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers played a 25 inning game that took 8 hours and six minutes that finally ended with a White Sox win 7-6.

Then it got me to thinking, what has to happen for the game to be suspended? Here's your answer.

According to the rules of major league baseball, the game can be suspended for a number of reasons:
1. A curfew imposed by law
2. A time limit permissible under league rules
3. Light failure or malfunction
4. Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on
5. Weather, if the bottom half of the inning can't be played
6. It is a regulation game, called with the score tied

These answers come straight from the rule book of major league baseball.

During my post, the game between the Rockies and Padres was completed in the 22nd inning, with a double to deep left center on his eighth at bat of the game by Troy Tulowitzki, scoring Willy Taveras. The Padres didn't respond in the bottom of the inning, and the Rockies won 2-1. The game took 6 hours and 16 minutes to play.

Now, put yourself in the seat of a loyal Padres fan. You come out to the game merely hoping for a Padres win, decked out in all the gear you can find in your closet. You witness nine long scoreless innings, and don't see any real action until the opposing team puts up one in the top of the 14th. Luckily, a score gets knocked in in the bottom of the inning to tie the game once again, and the winning run is on 3rd base. But he never reaches home. You wait another 8 innings to see the Rockies score once again, and witness the Padres put up a 0 in the bottom of the 22nd. That is one long drive home.

The last game that went more than 20 innings was played in 1993. What teams were involved?

Fiery Felix

I'm really pullin' for the M's this year. Signing Bedard will hopefully complete the rotation. But this post is dedicated to Felix. He's off to a great start.

He picked up his second win of the season tonight against Oakland. Currently, Oakland is off to the best start in the A.L. West, so every win against a team in the division is crucial.

Here's his stats: (2-0) 30.2 IP, 1.47 ERA, 24Ks

Felix is only 22 years old and this has been his best start since the M's brought him up 3 years ago. He struggled with injuries the last couple years, and this year he looks as fresh as ever. The great thing is that he can be a nine inning guy. He showed that tonight against the A's throwing a CG and only 115 pitches. That's what manager John McLaren likes to see.

Of course behind every good pitcher there has to be stellar defense, as well as a powerful offense. Luckily, both are picking up, and they can put something together to get the win. The wonderful word momentum comes back again. The M's are on a 2 game win streak with momentum going their way. It should be an interesting week. The M's face Oakland again tomorrow, then head south to face the other divisional leader, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Now That's Fast

1000 words

Speedtest

Playoffs Here We Come

I said it earlier, but the NBA has done a great job this year at getting viewers and making the sport more exciting to the average sports enthusiast.

With a win last night, the Lakers clinched the #1 seed in the West. A remarkable job, seeing as the conference was absolutely ridiculous. That puts them up against Denver (not the Warriors), and unless something goes terribly wrong, the Lakers should be on their way to the Western Conference Finals.

The Eastern Conference is led by Boston. It was thought in the pre-season that they would have broken the win record set by the '95-'96 bulls at 72-10. They currently 7 wins short with one game to play. If they are healthy and can get the performance that they are capable of from their star players (Garnett, Allen, Pierce) they should be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference playoffs bracket. Detroit can certainly put up a fight however.

The playoffs start on Sunday with the 76ers at Detroit, and the Raptors at the Magic in their game 1's. It's the start of a long playoff run for one 2008 NBA Team. I don't want to make a prediction until later in the week, but how sweet would it be to see the Lakers vs. Celtics in the NBA Finals? Brings back sweet, sweet memories of Larry and Magic.

Question of the week is: Can Howard Schultz keep the Sonics in Seattle?

Immel's the Man

A busy week has come and gone. 2 NCAA Basketball Champions decided, and a new Master's champion. His name: Trevor Immelman.

My hat goes off to him because he was the one that got around the golf course in the least amount of shots. Did Tiger have a chance? Most certainly. Golf scores are mostly determined on the green. Tiger didn't hit his putts. That's all there is to it. He had three chances within 10 feet in the last 6 holes for birdie. He missed them all.

I really am happy to see Immelman win it. It sounds like he has overcome some serious illnesses the last couple of years. There is only one thing I have against the win. Two weeks prior, Immelman, Ian Poulter, and Justin Rose played two practice rounds at Augusta National. This is legal because it is not the week of the tournament. I just have an ethical issue with this. Golfer's come out and are given two days to play the course the week of the tournament. These three played it two more times than everyone else in the field. Advantage? You'd have to be absolutely obtuse not to think so. Opening round scores verify this point. Look at the top three players after day one. You'll find your answer.

As a golfer, I am torn about how I feel about them playing 2 weeks before. I guess you could say that it is as close to cheating as you can get in golf. They have a look at the course in almost optimal condition, and they can hit numerous shots from numerous places.

I'm open to suggestion about what you all think. I tip my cap as he slides on the green jacket. But in the back of my head, I'm thinking about those 2 practice rounds that he played. If you want to win a tournament, do you go and play the course as many times as you can until you get it right? What he did is fully within the rules. So I'm leaving it alone. A tradition like no other.

How The Tables Can Turn

Imagine. After day one of the Master's tournament, you are tied for the lead. You make it through 14 holes of the 2nd round and you are two under par (that's pretty good). You head into the 15th, a 530 yard par 5, and hit one right down the gut. You decide to play it safe and lay up, giving you a nice sand wedge over the water and onto the green. Practice swing feels good, you have a decent lie, then the bad mojo starts to unravel. You catch one fat, and dunk it into the water. Two more feet and you were safe.

Well, shake it off. Take your drop and chip it close to get up and down for bogey. Or not. You hit it about 20 yards over the green, almost into the water that walks along 16. Now you're lying five, and you chip it up barely onto the green leaving you with a 30 foot down hill left to right putt that is so dangerous, that if you hit it just a touch harder than you need to, you could hit it right back into the water that you got into in the first place. Breathe easy and just 'tap it in'. The crowd gives the anxious sigh because you hit it a tad too hard and just barely stay on the green. Well to cap off the par 5 you hit your 7th shot to within 5 feet and make your putt for an 8. Folks in the business like to call it a snowman. You've just relinquished your under par round and you are now sitting at +1.

Heading into 16 you hope to get one back with a birdie. But the mojo has already set in and you walk away from the par 3 with a bogey four. You start the day two under, and finish the day two over. You've just dropped nearly 20 spots in a matter of 2 holes. Man, wouldn't that just be the worst? I mean how do you come out day 3 and make a move to put you in contention for Sunday?

Just ask Justin Rose.


This happened to him today in the second round of the Master's. I TiVo'd it, and watched it later in the day and I just felt sick watching this happen. This is a great argument how Golf is most assuredly a sport. This little thing people like to call 'momentum' shows up on the golf course, just as much as it does in a college basketball game, MLB game, or another professional sport for that matter. Justin Rose lost momentum today and instead the golf course took over. It's probably one of the weirdest funk's to be in. Nothing goes right, shots get worse and worse, and you can't put the ball in the hole. Ask any professional or amateur and they'll tell you this definitely happens.

Well we head into day 3 of the Master's tomorrow and Tiger is 7 strokes back. But I just gave an example of how one player lost 4 shots in 2 holes. It is very possible that Tiger can make up the shots. The leader, Trevor Immelman, fired two 68's back to back. Pretty good for a guy who came out 2 weeks prior to the tournament and played a few practice rounds. I mean, jeez, the guy should feel like a member playing the course that much in a span of 2 weeks.

Enjoy the weekend fellow golfers because it is a weekend that we all love. Can Tiger pull off a victory? We shall see. I'm just sad to see Fred Couples' streak of 23 cuts made at the Master's end. He's made the cut every single year he's played since 1983. Wow.

Suggestions

1. Watch the Master's this week. Preferably in high definition.

2. Pull for the Mariner's to get on a win streak.

3. Watch the Master's this week. Preferably in high definition.

Put Out The Torch!

If you have been following the news this week, you know that the 2008 Olympic Games Torch is making it's stop on it's way to Beijing in San Francisco tomorrow. The problem is, it's already been extinguished once a couple of days ago en route from Paris. The protesters are increasing and it may stop the long trip that the Torch has yet to make altogether. Many people have asked President Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies because of China's power and influence over many of the other countries in the east. After making the only U.S. stop in San Francisco, the Olympic Committee is going to evaluate if the torch should be extinguished to prevent future riots. Will it make the whole scheduled trip?

Quick Sports:
-Tiger refuses the invitation to play in the Master's Par 3 Tournament: Good idea?
-The Detroit Tigers dropped the 7th straight. Where are the bats? Especially Ordonez?
-The Golden State Warriors and The Denver Nuggets are tied for the 8th spot in the Western Conference playoff race. They play each other on Thursday. Can the Warriors prevail and win out their season to make the playoffs?
-The Lady Cardinal loses big time in the NCAA Championship game to the Vols out of Tennessee...aint that a shame

That's Why They're Free

Free throws are the easiest way to score a point in the game of basketball. There's no one in your face, you are stationary, and you practice them countless times in practice. Add the intensity of a championship game, screaming fans, sweaty palms, and about 4 million thoughts running through your head at the same time, it's real easy to miss.

Memphis showed that tonight in the NCAA Championship. They had the opportunity to win the game. Throw all the other shots made aside and take a trip to the line where Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose missed 4 of Memphis' 5 final trips to the line. That's five free points. Of course if you missed the game, it was 63-60 with 9 seconds left and Mario Chalmers pulled off a miraculous shot to tie the game at 63 and send the game into overtime.



It's said that an object in motion stays in motion. Kansas was in motion and rode out the momentum to win the 2008 NCAA Championship. And another poor pick on my part, but it's clear that if the FREE throws were made, the game could have been won by Memphis. Coach Calipari had this to say:

"And I sat there and I looked up and I said, 'Lord, if he makes this, these two, we're supposed to be national champs.' And if that's your will, I'm fine. And if he misses them and we're not, I'm fine with that, too.'

Looks like Jesus is a Jayhawks fan.

I'm just hoping that the Arizona Baseball team can get momentum. The Cats lost 2 of 3 against the Washington Huskies last weekend. Preseason #1, and now not even in the top 25 with a horrible 15-11 record. The Cats are at San Diego State on Tuesday and Wednesday before taking on Indiana State in Tucson this weekend. They need to walk away this week 5-0. Errors and poor appearances at the plate are what's costing wins.

Question: Detroit has started the season 0-6. Will they still win the ALCS and become World Champs?
Speculation: The Tucson Citizen is reporting that Rivlas.com has said that Chase Budinger will declare for the draft as well. I'm waiting to hear the official statement to make sure this isn't hear-say. If it is true, that's not good for the Wildcat basketball team.

Bye Bye Bayless/Bracket Busted

Ladies and gentlemen. The University of Arizona announced today that it's best player this year has declared for the NBA Draft. The thing is that he will go, and in the top 10 as a lottery pick. Here's my thoughts.

The NBA teaches college basketball players how to sell out on their college teams. Besides the rare Carmello Anthony case, if the team they decided to play college for doesn't win a national championship the first season they play, they just go to the NBA. Bayless, Durant, Oden, most likely Love, and the list goes on. I find this absolutely ridiculous. The only bad thing about the NBA is they over pay their players and turn them into money hungry players who now taint the beauty (don't laugh) of the game. Basketball is no longer a sport. I just declared it. We (and by we I mean owners), just throw money at these guys. So, in Bayless' case, he says, do I try and play college again? Or sign a contract that guarantees me a $1 million signing bonus? Hmm?? Stupidest thing out there. The NBA should only be allowed to give players $40-50 thousand a years to guys right out of college. That's plenty. I could go for days on how overpaid basketball players are. So I'll just stop there.

A guy who won't be entering the draft and also won't be playing in the national championship game is Tyler Hansborough. Tough luck, but my hat still goes off to the kid. Kansas stomped on UNC and Memphis man-handled the Bruins out of UCLA. There was talk that this is the worst tournament in terms of games, because SO many games have been decided by more than 20 points or thereabouts. Not many buzzer beaters, not much excitement. Just angry fans who are yelling at the TV for their team to clear a 19-point deficit in 1:20. My bracket got busted by the cops and taken to jail for life. North Carolina and UCLA will play in an imaginary game on Monday night before the championship game starts. UCLA wins so that my bracket stays intact. Not many people thought this was the way it would end, but it should still be a great game nonetheless. My prediction: Memphis beats Kansas 81-75. What's yours?

I'm On Steroids

I've decided to plug a book that I am currently reading. It's called Game of Shadows and the tag line is "Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steriods Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports." Here's my suggestion to those who may decide to read this book: It helps to have a general sense of the steroids issue that has encompassed both Major League Baseball (especially recently) and the Olympic games. Sports minded people may have a better appreciation for the book, because steroids truly has transformed the sport of professional baseball the last 20 years. This book clues you in on what exactly happened, and maybe even why it happened in baseball. It used to be just an Olympian thing to do, but found its way to the baseball diamond. The reason why I enjoy it and why you may as well, is that the guys who wrote it are not sportswriters. They are ultimately outsiders to the professional baseball. These are just two great investigative journalists that write for the San Francisco Chronicle who found a great story. The reason they had an edge is because of the location of BALCO ( Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative), literally 5-10 minutes from my house. So today's post, read a book and make yourself smarter. It's a beautiful thing.

Wild Wild West (not starring Will Smith)

Yes, I'm fully aware at what's on the line this weekend. The Final Four head to San Antonio and battle it out to see who gets to play for the National Championship. I've posted before but I'll say it again, North Carolina Beats Kansas, UCLA beats Memphis (I had Texas but they didn't show up in their home state) and lo and behold, we've got a Hansborough vs. Love matchup that will be one for the books. I'm serious.

But that can wait. The NBA has been under a lot of scrutiny the last couple of years with fights, suspensions, double-technicals and referees betting on games. It has been said that because of the showing at this years All-Star game of "The Superman" it catapulted the NBA into a new era and limelight. But who said they needed it? If you follow the NBA you already know that the race to make the playoffs in the West is the closest it has been in the last 10 years. One or two great teams will not make the playoffs this year. I heard one of them is Seattle (funny but not really). The East is already locked up as usual (how about the Hawks getting in the 8 spot?), but 6 1/2 games is currently the differential for the West. There's 2 weeks left in the season. This will be the make or break 2 weeks for most teams.

How about Byron Scott leading the New Orleans Hornets to the top of the West? Of course it's led on the court by Chris Paul out of Wake Forest, and they are turning a lot of heads. Don't start reminiscing about the Grandma-ma Larry Johnson years just yet though. San Antonio is currently only 1/2 a game back, and the "The Lake Show" is only 1.5. It's who will get that 8 spot that's the question. Will the Bay Area get another thrill and see their Warriors head into the post-season? Or will Denver and Dallas keep winning so that they will have no chance? I put it to you. I'd like to see the beard of Baron Davis make another trip to the playoffs.


In case anyone even knew, Seattle has won 17 games this year and look like a team that should be in Oklahoma City. Breaking news is that the state House committee passed a tax incentive package that could get the Sonics to OK City sooner. This of course makes owner Clay Bennett very happy. Here's my advice for the sonics: Before Kevin Durant came along you had VERY good picks in the NBA Draft. What did you do? You went overseas and drafted some of the worst foreign players that couldn't hang in the NBA. It's not the location. It's the front office. Seattle wants to support a good team, you just won't give them one. And come on, they've got the best mascot in the game. Who doesn't think that the "wookie" look alike Squatch is awesome? Goodnight.

A Tradition Like No Other

Ladies and gentlemen, the hiatus is over. It's amazing how not having an internet connection can slow you down in today's technological world. Nevertheless, it's time to get back into full swing, and truly no better way to do it then to talk about the greatest golf tournament known to man: The Masters. We're one week away.

The mystique that is Augusta National is as storied as the Constitution. Every first full week in April, Augusta, Georgia, is filled with out-of-towners. Sometimes WAY out of town. Tickets go for thousands of dollars. To say you have walked the grounds of Augusta National is every golfer's dream, both amateur and professional. The invitation to the tournament is extremely strict. This is NOT your average golf tournament. Here's what it takes to get an invite to play at Augusta:

1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)
2. US Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
3. British Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
4. PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
5. Winners of The Players Championship (Three years)
6. Current US Amateur Champion (6-A) (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year) and the runner-up (6-B) to the current US Amateur Champion
7. Current British Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year)
8. Current US Amateur Public Links Champion
9. Current US Mid-Amateur Champion
10. The first 16 players, including ties, in the 2007 Masters Tournament
11. The first 8 players, including ties, in the 2007 US Open Championship
12. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2007 British Open Championship
13. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2007 PGA Championship
14. The 30 leaders on the Final Official PGA Tour Money List for 2007
15. Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship, from previous Masters to current Masters
16. Those qualifying for the season-ending 2007 Tour Championship
17. The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for 2007
18. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the 2008 Masters

No sponsor exemptions, no exceptions. Numbers 6,7, 8 and 9 wet their pants every year because they get the invite. You are selected to play in this tournament because you have shown that you are good enough to play the game of golf. Interesting concept.

It all started in 1934 when Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts wanted to sponsor a tournament. It was originally called Augusta National Invitation Tournament, but was changed in 1939 to The Masters. Much better. Every year on Wednesday a Par-3 tournament is held. There's a 9-hole course inside the grounds that spans 1,060 yards. The course record is 20. The tourney begins Thursday and always ends Sunday with two happy arms waiting to slip into the exquisite green jacket. The tournament begins next week and guess who's playing? That's right, the 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2005 champion: Tiger Woods.

So who will Zach Johnson put the jacket on this year? I think everyone wants to see Tiger because the win would be 1 down in his quest for 4 in one year. That would truly be a feat.

Who will win the 2008 Master's? I put it to you. If you're a betting man, it never hurts to bet on a guy by the name of Fred Couples. You never know.

Tiger Really Is Amazing

It needs to be said so to get it out of the way, Arizona lost tonight to West Virginia in the opening round. My only commentary that I would like to give is that the Mountaineers made nearly every 3-pointer they attempted. In college basketball that is pretty impossible to stop defensively. So no elite 8, no national championship. The only thing to worry about now is if Bayless is going to go to the NBA, and how we'll be next year. One of the top point guards in the nation, Brandon Jennings, signed with the school so we should be good. Especially giving Jordan Hill the off-season to be even more dominant in the paint. So it's a shame but it needed to be said.

My dad sent me an email about a Tiger Woods commercial where he surprises groups on a course and if they can beat him in a closest to the pin challenge, they win a new Buick Rainier. That made me think of a commercial that Nike did a while back that was just awesome. I hope you enjoy it. This could be the year where Tiger wins every major tournament. The Master's is next on the agenda.

Best Commercial On Television

Staples' "Easy Button" campaign has had some ups and downs. I don't know the last time that you have been to a store, but they actually sell the easy buttons. Pretty hilarious. But they have made great strides lately with the commercial I believe to be one of the funniest out there right now. You can view it below. Why is it so good? This guy is hilarious, and the co-workers who just act like they don't even care just seal the deal. My favorite part is when he starts flailing his arms, and gives a high pitched scream. I hope you enjoy it. How is everyone's brackets holding up?? Picking Temple to beat Michigan State was a mistake. Where were you on that one Digger Phelps?

Exercising / Arizona to the Elite 8?

Thanks for welcoming me back from a two day hiatus in which I was too busy obtaining a 4.0 GPA. Now that's over with, it's back to the wonderful world of putting letters on a page and forming words and sentences out of them. Glorious!

To begin this post I'd like to take a paragraph or so dedicated to the wonderful world of exercising. According to the U.S. Census at this very minute on this very day, there are 303,669,778 people that live in the land of the free. I've often asked myself, how many people really do exercise? Sure, there's factors that prohibit people from exercising as well as I'm sure there are factors that inhibit exercising. I started to actually "exercise" about 6 months ago in the Evergreen State. Have I experienced a drastic change in appearance? No idea. But I do feel better and want to eat better. Key word being want. I also realize that some people get their exercise in different ways. There have been countless articles about what exercise can do for you besides give your body a little lovin'. I got this from a kid's health site that gave a few reasons why exercise is "good for you".



- Exercise benefits every part of the body including the mind (endorphins produced to make a person feel more peaceful and happy)
- Exercise helps people to lose weight and lower the risk of some diseases
- Exercise can help a person age well

Well, it is good for you, and at least your body will tell you "hey, thanks a lot buddy."



A lot of controversy has surrounded those selected into this years NCAA Tournament. I can't complain because Arizona got an at-large bid, but who knows how much it was really deserved. Does the nation seem to forget that Arizona took Kansas into overtime in the beginning of the season? Kansas was selected as a number one seed people. Well, the big story is that not one but two analysts on ESPN.com are saying that the WIldcats are going to be the stunner this year and get to the Elite 8. This includes hired "bracketologist" Joe Lunardi who studies college basketball all day long. I went out on a limb and said, sure, if Arizona is on their game they can beat almost anyone in the country. I followed suit and dare I say it, Arizona will make it to the Elite 8. The big win will come in the second round over Duke which I and about every other Arizona Wildcat would love to see. We'll see what happens but when it all comes down to it, UCLA is the best team in the nation, as long as they can get over the couple of injuries they sustained in the Pac-10 Tournament. They have all the tools necessary to win a national championship. Who knows though, this years bracket is so messed up, I wouldn't be surprised if Oral Roberts was crowned as the national champion on April 7.

**The Rockets 23 game winning streak came to an end when they faced the dominant Boston Celtics. Who saw that one coming? Allen Iverson putting his hand up to his ear upon his return to Philly? Come on. Tiger's run at the Master's...any takers? Who will win the NCAA tournament?