Play of the Day

First pick of the website. I like it alot.

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NOTRE DAME -13 over Navy.

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The talent gap is what it is supposed to be again. It will be visible on the field. Jimmy Claussen is a Heisman hopeful; this will be the first time he is playing a Navy team with this much confidence. Navy still runs the option well, but it is not as effective as it has been in years past. Navy has never been known for their defense, and are especially acceptable to anyone with a good passing game who can protect their quaterback. Notre Dame's defense isn't good, but they really struggle with defending the pass. They can defend the run.

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I think Ohio State was sleep-walking through their 4 point win over Navy, and I think Notre Dame is better than Pitt, who beat Navy by 13. And Navy lost to Temple last week.

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To top it off, there is not a chance that Notre Dame over looks Navy. Weis is a that point where even he realizes another obvious slip up, and he could add the the 10% unemployment rate. Weis owes Navy a pounding. It comes today. Notre Dame covers.

Just Some Thoughts on the Grizzlies

Now if that headline doesn't grab your attention.... well maybe not. But I just got done watching the Grizzlies lose in OT to the Kings. Here's my take on the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies may be the most awkward team to watch. It's blatantly evident that they are full of "score first" guys. The looks on the faces of the Grizzles after (take your pick) throws up an awful forced shot with :16 still left on the shot clock are priceless. Between O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Allen Iverson, and Zack Randolph, it's pretty much a competition as to who can throw up the most shots without getting an assist. It's like whoever gets the ball first will drible the air out of it until they get the minimun amount of space needed to chuck up a shot. Z-Bo is absolutely the most obvious with it, and that is saying alot when he has to contend with O.J and A.I.

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The egos in that lockerroom must be enormous, and I would venture to guess that after any game at least two of those four are pissed off because they think they should be getting more shots. Rudy looked frustrated in the fourth, and Allen couldn't have been happy that he sat from the 4:58 mark in the fourth quarter in a game that was still very much up for grabs (he only logged 17 minutes). I think you'll see A.I think score first even more becase he'll feel he has to justify getting some burn. Rudy will be looking around saying, "I better get mine, because I'm in a walk year and if I pass the ball I'll end up taking 10 shots a night and averaging 10 points!"

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O.J. really looks like he just wants to play offense and score. (Quick Note: In OT, Mayo drives after driblling the air out of the ball hoping to get room for the shot, forces his way into the paint amongst the trees and smartly drops a no-look bounce pass to a wide open Gasol. Only problem? Gasol is so used to O.J. just forcing crap shots up, he was getting in position for the offensive rebound and didn't even see the pass until the whistle blew and it was a turnover. Comical.) Z-Bo is hard to watch. I'm not exagerating when I say that when he touches the ball it will either be a shot or a turnover, he is just hell bent on putting up the rock. He's showing signs so far that he has gotten to be more of a ball hog than he was during his time in New York in D'Antoni's system. And the scary part is, through four games Z-Bo is averaging a 2.5 attempts less that he did the last two years, and Rudy 3 less from his average the last two years. O.J is on pace to throw up 3 more than he did as a rook (from 15 to 18), and A.I. is going to get 15 up a game when he gets his legs back.

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So not only does this have the makings of your quintessential NBA 1-on-1 Offense that basketball purists hate and what many college hoops fan say makes the NBA is unwatchable, but it has all the ingredients to stunt the growth of the very promising looking Marc Gasol, their future point gaurd Mike Conley, and contributing rookies DeMarre Carroll, Hasheem Thabeet, and Sam Young. Just when the Grizzlies have stock-piled some young talent and actually could have a bright outlook with just a couple more years of patience (and really what's a couple more years at this point), they decide to go for broke (going broke for them is going for the 8 seed), not worrying about the development of their impressionable young squad and bring in 2 characters with a detailed past of disrupting locker rooms and guys that look for their shot and their shot alone. Hopefully it pans out for them and they contend this year. If they aren't whiffing the 8 seed come the All-Star break, expect GM Chris Wallace to try to get something for Rudy Gay in February after he failed to reach an extension with Gay by today's deadline. And Grizzlies fans can't be too optomistic that he'll make a good deal consdiering his track record.

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All this talk about the offense and I haven't even gotten to the defense. Oh yeah, that's right. There's none to speak of. Case in point tonight. With the game tied and a one second difference on the game clock to shot clock, the ball goes to Z-Bo. You guessed it, he doesn't pass. But he does make some kind of fat man dribble move that you would be more likely to see at the Y than an NBA court, gets a half inch of space, those up a very difficult high arching fadeaway, and..... he tickles the twine. Only problem? 6 seconds left on the clock. Not a smart shot, and not smart basketball. This gave the Kings just enough time to draw up a backdoor play to beat Mike Conley for the game tying lay-up and take the game into O.T. I have a feeling that the Grizzlies are going to make alot of coaches look like geniuses this year with the last second shots that they fail to defend as the opposing coaches play is executed to perfection.

And the Pitcher rested on the fifth day. Or Fourth. Or Third...

The non-stop topic on talk radio shows in New York and Philly had to do with one thing: Who to pitch when and on what rest.

It's annoying, both sides have good points, both sides are totally convinced of their stance and unwilling to compromise, and both sides are convinced they know more the Joe Girardi and Charlie Manuel. I happen to think boh managers are right. Here's why.

Let's start with the Manuel and the Phils. He decided to wait and start his ace Cliff Lee on full days rest. Cliff Lee hasn't started on 3 days rest, has pitched 262 innings this year, and has turned in an all-time body of work for a starting pitcher in the playoffs going on full dyas rest or more. He shut out the Yankees, in their home park, against a DH, in the biggest game of his life, five days ago. One would have to feel pretty confident that at home, against a Molina instead of a Posada, and a Gardener instead of a Cabrera, and a Pitcher instead of a DH, that Cliff Lee is going to turn in a pretty good performance. Nothing is a guarantee, but if you could pick a spot to pitch him, this seems like a nice fit. Oh yeah, and it's an elimination game, Which leads me to my other reason that Ole Uncle Charlie was right...

Manuel knew that with the series tied at 1-1, that there could only be one eliminatoin game: Game 5. It would either be the Phils playing to Clinch, or playing for their lives. Or the other option? A pivital swing game with the series tied at 2-2. In any of those scenerios, I would rather have my ace, who I have all the confidence in the world in, than Joe Blanton.

And my explanation as to why Girardi is right is even shorter. You are up 3-1. Even if you were tied at 2-2, or down 3-1, my thinking wouldn't change. I have three starters. All of them are at least above average. But especially in my seat that I'm in now, just needing one more game, he's doing the right thing. I am going to at worst throw my 3 best starters out there all on 3 days rest, and hope that they are good enough to win it with the best closer ever, and a murderer's row lineup that can go off for a 5 spot at any given point in a game. Burnett, Pettite, Sabathia. Win one. I like my chances if I am Girardi.

So see, everyone wants to second guess. I just want to give these guys credit for getting to this point, having years of professional playing and managerial experience and behind them, and give them the benefit of the doubt that they know a bit more about baseball and their own team than I do.

Donaghy's Claims Still Ignored

A couple days ago, excerpts from a book the shamed NBA referee Tim Donaghy authored were released. The claims were massive. They were big enough to shake the integrity of the NBA at it's core. NBA referees manipulating the OUTCOMES OF GAMES. For years, the NBA was sarcastically referred to as about as real as pro wrestling. The NBA and it's lifers wrote those claims off as bitterness from angry degenerate gamblers who lost money on games who were scapegoating blame on the league and the referees. But Donaghy has given ripe and real examples of what went on behind the closed doors of both the referee's locker room and the NBA front offices.

All the NBA has to say is that this is a desperate man, a troubled man, looking to make a buck. That's the easiest and smartest defense to take. And they are doing just that. AND THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

Donaghy's claims have proven (in my eyes) that all the "conspiracy theorists" had some, at least some, validity. I am not saying that every game can be pin pointed as a fix, or every theory is now confirmed, or even that there aren't bitter degenerate gamblers out there who are still wrong on some games that they think we fixed. BUT - KINGS v LAKERS 2002, HEAT v MAVS 2006, two of the most recent and widely criticized PLAYOFF series, in which writers have long smelled something wrong with, can now move up the ladder from very plausible to EXTREMELY PLAUSIBLE.

And since Donaghy only mentions the 2002 WCF in which the Lakers were handed. we'll stick to that. The best way I can put the odds that something was wrong with that series is this:

IF THE 2002 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS CONSPIRACY WERE ON
"MYTHBUSTERS", THEY WOULD HAVE THE EVIDENCE TO SAY "CONFIRMED!"

How is this going by the way side. Only a couple articles stating how Donaghy made some believeable accusations, but also as quick to point out Donaghy is desperate. Donaghy gives examples of 'games' the referees used to play. He sites real examples, names names, both players and referees, and quotes other referees talking openly about influencing a game. He tells of 'points of emphasis' that the league passes down to the referees before the game, that Donaghy took as not so subtle hints. Some stories on the excerpts quote NBA GM's as saying as much as, 'Yeah, that sounds about right.'

I just dont get how there is not serious, serious OUTRAGE on behalf of the fans, and imparticularly the writers and some of the better basketball blogs. This is as close as we will probably come to knowing that NBA series were fixed! Teams were pushed along. There is no talk of an asteric going down in the record books about the Lakers 2002 Championship. Why not? In baseball, all you hear about is asterics. How come no one is calling for the 2002 Playoffs to be erased from the record book?

It's just simply amzing that the NBA came off about as scot-free as one could when faced with this much in-your-face evidence. Donaghy is a shady guy and a felon, fact. But to ignore his first hand account stories, which seem to validate years and years of specualtion, is just ignorant. We may have been watching a script play out in 2002 and 2006, and everyone seems fine with that. It's sick. Someone grow a set and put everything out there. Someone bigger than little me with 5 readers ask if we were watching a script play out in 2002 that was hand-written by the NBA.

Deadspin's Book Excerpts:

http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-from-the-book-the-nba-doesnt-want-you-to-read?skyline=true&s=i

Dwight Howard=Impressive...Yi=Not

Went to the Nets home opener tonight as they hosted the defending champs out of the East. A very good turn out from Jersey fans was a welcome sight to my eyes, but the gate was no doubt helped by two things: Superman coming to East Rutherford and VC returning to the Meadowlands for the first time since the trade. (Side Note: Very happy that Net fans gave Carter a very nice welcome. The Net fan base is not the most tuned in or educated when compared to other NBA cities to put it midly, but the appreciation they showed should make Net Nation proud. For as bad as VC was in Toronto (quitting on them), he played his heart out for the Nets in a mostly half empty Meadolands even when it was apparent they weren't close to being a contender. Some predicted he would lead a mutiny last season, but instead he just went to work and played his guts out for an over achieving Net team.)

I had decent seats in the lower level, and I would pay double next time to go see the Magic when they come here for one reason: Dwight Howard is a MAN. He seemed as though he got every rebound he desired. Seemingly every bucket of his was an emphatic jam. Big dudes bounced of him like they were back up point gaurds. Leaving the game, I looked up to see how many points he ended with, and my I was in shock when it only said 20. The Magic could have given him the ball every time down the floor and I think they'd have made it out of town with a W (if you allowed someone else to shoot FT's for Dwight, of course.) I know I'm not breaking any news by saying what a beast this man is, but TV does not do it justice. I know the Nets are already mathematically eliminated with 80 games left and don't have the best frontline, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he was a man amongst pre-teens. Brooke Lopez picked up 5 fouls quicker than Superman changes in a phone booth. Lopez was coming off a career game in the opener and Howard just ate his lunch tonight.

And for those who care, or don't already know, Yi is perhaps the worst starter

in the league. Coming off an opener that inked him 17 and 12, and where he went strong to the rim, dunking emphatically a couple times, took jumpers in the flow of the offense and looked like he was maybe making a turn for the better, he looked like the Yi that we all know and love. He was invisible on D. INVISIBLE. That is an understatement and I can't stress it enough. Brandon Bass and Ryan Andersen combined for 29 points off of him. It was embarassing watching Andersen take open three after open three and drive past "the chairman" as if he was sitting in one. Bass just beasted him. And for every "strong" finish that Yi shows, he settles for
about 4 fade away no-chance-in-heck prayer jumpers, usually in the beginning of a possesion. He's the most frustrating Net to watch, by far.

I'm not trying to be a beat writer here, but coming home and seeing Howard and Yi on opposite ends of the domination spectrum, I just had to write about it. Yi looks like he never practiced D in his life, and Howard was more impressive than LeBron in person (ans I've seen LeBron twice live against my Nets, in better seats, and in one of those games he dropped 38). Dwight was just a blocking, rebounding, and dunking machine. Yi is just ... hard to watch. So NBA fans, when Dwight is coming to your nearest arena, clear the date; you will get your money's worth.

Photos: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

NBA PICKS _ '09-10 SEASON

I'm writing two days after the season started. I know. Thanks.

If that makes the following picks invalid, oh well.

NBA SWEET 16 - Order of Finish (1-8)

East: ______________West:
Boston _____________Lakers
Cleveland ___________Denver
Orlando ____________San Antonio
Atlanta _____________Portland
Washington __________Dallas
Philadelphia __________New Orleans
Miami ______________Utah
Chicago _____________Phoenix

Semis: Boston over Washington, Cleveland over Orlando, Lakers over Dallas, Denver over New Orleans

Conf: Cleveland over Boston, Lakers over Denver

Finals: Lakers over Cleveland


I know, no one cares, but in case this blog slips through the cracks and finds some readers, I'll be able to show how smart I was from the very beginning.

Short Summary: I like the Cavs (0-2 as of this post) mainly because I don't trust Boston staying healthy or staying sane ('Sheed, Rondo, Big Baby, DOC) and I think Orlando has gotten worse by losing Hedo and adding VC. I am not a VC hater by the way, just a Nets fan that has actually been watching these past years. He is not Vin-sanity anymore. He's more likely to give you a high-light lay-up than high-flying dunk, and he is as streaky as they come shooting. I'll take Lebron and whomever he is on the court with at the time to take the East. Something else people don't realize about the East this year is that there might be an above .500 team watching come April from the 9 spot. That hasn't come close to happening since... well i don't know, a while though.

In the West, I like the Lakers. How can't you. Only question mark is Artest, and I just have a hunch he'll be alright. Remember, these type of mental cases seem to toe the line for the first couple years then wear out their welcome. If he even comes close to pulling his wieght, I think they'll dance to another title behind Kobe and Co.

Two Sleepers that could make that playoffs that I didn't pick: Raptors and Clippers.

Oh, and some FA picks for THE SUMMER: Lebron stays a Cav, D-Wade becomes a Clipper, Bosh and Joe Johnson are Knicks, and Amare to Sacto.

Finally, Some Win Totals:

Nets UNDER 28.5

Miami OVER 40.5

Washington OVER 41.5

Sacto UNDER 24.5

Denver OVER 52.5

OKC UNDER 34.5

Welcome ...

Hey all, how's it? In writing this blog, I'm just hoping to give you an educated and interetsing view on sports that you will enjoy enough to come back and visit. It will cover all 4 major pro sports, college hoops and football, announcers, referees, sports programs, sports personalities, and I'll even throw in a couple of my picks if I happen to like any lines that day. There will be no particular order in which I post. No method to the madness. Just my take on what's on my mind in the sports world. Not trying to reinvent the wheel, just trying to create a blog that keeps you coming back...at least once a month. Small victories.


This blog will be sports-centric, covering everything from the ice to the hard court, and the grid iron to the ball field. I'll give you my take on something, and feel free to rip it or agree. Have at it.

BY THE WAY: My allegences lie with: METS, NETS, JETS, ISLANDERS

:AND TAKE: