A Tall Order

It is a little difficult to grow on your own will. Yet, this is what basketball coaches and managers are asking players to do if they want even the slightest chance to perform in basketball’s highest caliber. It’s a little unfair I agree, but the thought of natural born players is becoming a true concept around the league. Players are much bigger in size than they were ten or twenty years ago, and it can only get higher. Players such as Yao Ming and Greg Oden are what NBA teams are looking for. A powerhouse that is too big or tall to handle for any ordinary 6’11” center to handle. And even the forward position ranges from 6’8” to 7 feet tall. Players such as seven footer Dirk Nowitzki show incredibly unique skill when they can throw up a three pointer with ease while still able to post-up in the paint. These remarkable traits are the epitome of an impenetrable all-star, and even the college all-stars that are felt to be “too small” or “not quick enough” are getting left in the dust.

But it’s time those players took a stand. Guys like Allen Iverson and former all-star Mugsy Bogues portray characteristics that are even more impressive than just being 7 feet tall. They reveal the greatest amount of skill, coerced to compensate for their lack of height. Iverson, the 2004-2005 leading scorer is a clear cut future hall of famer, mastering the crossover move and working it to perfection. Now who says you have to be tall to be good? Mugsy Bogues is known as one of the greatest and purest dribblers in NBA history, using his quickness and awareness to speed right by defenders. However, the desire for height remains the number one priority. Why? Well it is because height reveals a player with the most potential. A coach’s objective is to teach his players, aiding them in skills they lack. With a point guard under six feet tall, it is very difficult to teach him how to beat experienced defenders when he lacks speed or quickness. But when you have a 7 foot center that weighs over 300 pounds, you have a step on other teams that contain smaller big men, and you’re already ahead of every team in the game. The only problem is another Yao Ming is extremely hard to come by. Teams are in search of bigger, faster players, which is why the average small forward today is about 2 inches taller than the average small forward 15 years ago.

But that dilemma is about to change. This year’s NBA draft could just be the turn of the century. Critics are already praising these players in college, and they could be part of the greatest draft class in history. The top ten teams all contain future all-stars, and the best part about it is that almost each one is above 6’6”. Guys like 7’1” Greg Oden on #1 Ohio State, or player of the year candidate Kevin Durant, who measures at 6’11”, already have scouts eyeing them every day of the week. And it’s not just the height this time. These guys possess insurmountable skill, swishing three pointers and slamming down two handed jams. Conversely, life gets a little harder when you don’t have the capability to slam dunk because you’re just too short, even if you do score 18.1 points per game and dish out 5.4 assists per game. Yes, I am talking about All-American Acie Law IV. Law, who is 6’3”, has led Texas A&M to the top of the rankings, putting his team at #7 and turning the 2007 Aggies into a March Madness contender. Yet, he is felt to have a smaller chance as a top ten NBA draft pick. Why is it that the forward who averages about 18 points per game is thought to be on the short end of the NBA draft class? Two words: too short. Law, a phenomenal and complete basketball athlete, is already being criticized as a result of his height, even when he has carried the Aggies on his back throughout the entire season. But he still has the opportunity to prove these critics wrong. Although he is a few inches short of what the NBA desires in a scoring guard, which is about 6’6”, Acie, if picked late in the draft, will get the opportunity to drive down the court with other all-stars on his team, and set an example for other players challenged with height issues and disadvantages.

After all, it has happened before. Gilbert Arenas, the 6'4" point guard for the Washington Wizards, was an extraordinary player for the Arizona Wildcats, that is, until the sports analysts stepped in. Arenas was a top scorer among others that tried to step in his way. The critics and draft projectors, thought otherwise. They said he was too short, and influenced his pick as he dropped to the second round where he was acquired by the Washington Wizards. But Arenas didn’t give up. He wore the number zero, symbolizing the amount of people that believed in him during his transition from college basketball to the NBA. And that’s how many people were right about Arenas’s career. Gilbert did not stop playing just because someone said he wouldn’t do well. Instead, he went out and dominated other teams, and now is putting up almost 30 points per game, a task that would have been thought impossible for Gilbert to do 5 years ago in college. Arenas hadn’t stopped there though. He is still playing for revenge, threatening to bring a golden trophy to Washington and still proving to every team that they should have picked him when they had the chance. Arenas posted 60 points on December 17, a statistic that centers and power forwards seem to have trouble doing. So why is it that the big man is the most praised position today when one would rarely see a 7 foot player put up 40 or 50 points on a single night? Why is it that teams continue to reach for big men when guards, such as Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, are truly the most talented and complete players on the court. It could be because of the lack of big men today. Or maybe there is a new secret that coaches are beginning to realize that involve a monster in the middle. The question can only be solved by those that truly understand the game. All that is known is that the rarified secret is out there, and maybe, just maybe, a player such as the deeply interested Sun Ming Ming, who stands at 7’9”, will pass over a lucky team and take them down to the finals. That is, if they can handle the quickness and variety of today’s true threats: The Guards.

Now It's Time to get Serious

It's time to turn things around. That's what Ohio State Buckeye players are starting to think now that they know what it's like to live life on the edge. "I'm hoping we can learn from this game and know we can't just play around with teams in the first half," star center Greg Oden said after the near loss against Xavier. Even though the score ended in a seven point spread, Ohio State was on the verge of elimination. In fact, Buckeye fans better start bowing to Shooting Guard Ron Lewis. Lewis hit the amazingly clutch three-pointer over Xavier's Brandon Cole in the final seconds of regulation; I should know, I copied that picture to my desktop only minutes after the great win. "I was just trying to get an open look. I told Mike [Conley Jr.] before we even left the huddle, 'Just give me the ball.' That's what he did. He found me," said Lewis after the game. His ability to keep the Buckeyes alive through thick and thin leaves fans wondering whether God added a little extra umpf to that three-point prayer. But this near-upset may just be the spark Ohio State needs to take home the gold from March Madness 2007.

Although the Buckeyes were close to losing a shocking upset, they understand now what it takes to win and even what it takes to lose. A stunning upset would have been heart-breaking for Ohio State, and now that they realize what it would feel like to be sent home packing, there is no going easy anymore. As Mike Conley Jr. said, "We came too far to lose," and they won't stop now. If you are an Ohio State Buckeyes fan, or even just a spectator, get ready to see the true Ohio State basketball team. These guys are going to show no mercy, nailing three-pointer after three-pointer and grabbing rebounds as if they were a foot taller than everyone else. The true essence of Ohio State is soon to emerge and you won't want to miss it now. With big man Greg Oden in the middle, surrounded by phenomenal athletes such as Mike Conley Jr. and Ron Lewis, who put up an impressive 28 points in the second round, no one will stand in the way of these hungry Buckeyes. Red and White are going to be the only colors opponents will see when those jerseys come crashing at them full throttle. Be prepared to see a surging Ohio State fleet because they will not stop for anything, that is, unless it is big, gold, and has the big O.

The Abdication of "King" James

This is a comment I wrote on the lack of support LeBron James receives from his teammates. Or does he have what he needs in order to "go all the way?"

Now I'm not the biggest LeBron James fan there is, but I can still see the skills he possesses to lead an Eastern Conference Championship caliber team. However, he does not display them in his game. Those of you who say LeBron has no team around haven't even looked at the team. HELLO! First off he has himself. I know that sounds funny, but when you put up 29 PPG and over 6 assists and 6 rebounds you shouldn't need much else. Yet, he still has many weapons he does not utilize.

Larry Hughes, for example, is an elite scorer who averaged 22 PPG, 4.7 APG, and 6.3 RPG the year before he left Washington for Cleveland. And that was with TWO great players (Arenas and Jamison). He should be able to do the same things with LeBron but James does not utilize Hughes enough and does not work him into the game like Arenas did. Not to mention "King" James also has the 7 foot tall Ilgauskas. When combined with this powerhouse and a great but unappreciated Larry Hughes, LeBron should easily take the Cavs to the throne of the east. And just to add to his productive list of teammates, James has a solid Power Forward in Drew Gooden and a good alteration in the PG position (offensive minded Damon Jones and defensive specialist Eric Snow). Now I'm not saying LeBron is not great because I think he belongs in the "did he just do that" class of players.

But I feel that he is the lowest of the three All-Stars that came out of his draft (Wade and Anthony). If he wishes to show that he is the best he has to use his teammates and stop trying to carry the team on his back when he does not have to. That, and he also needs to learn how to handle the pressure situations, but that's for another story.

Originally posted on:
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The College Prospects

As March Madness draws closer, NBA fans begin to scout and rate their most desired prospects. Who will go where? Which player will shock the rest of the league? How good will the 2007 NBA draft really be? These are all questions that will be answered with time, and not even the General Manager's can truly answer them now. Here is a list of the top nine prospects (since everyone uses ten) that remain in college and will hopefully enter the NBA Draft this summer:

1. Kevin Durant (G/F, Texas)

Durant stands at number one in these standings because he is the most complete and talented of any college basketball star. He has single-handedly posed the Longhorns as a major threat to any ranked team in the NCAA polls. They have the potential to upset #1 seeds in the March Madness tournament, and due to Durant's skill, the players that surround him are becoming more skillful and dangerous. His 25.1 points per game and 11.4 rebounds per game leave analysts questioning why no one saw this athlete before college. Not only do his stats amaze critics, but the skills he contains are remarkable for his age. Kevin Durant is only a Freshman at Texas and he has already won the Big 12 Player of the Year Award. Durant, who also averages 1.9 steals per game and 1.9 blocks per game, stands as a 6'9" potential guard/forward, and is highly speculated as a possible first overall draft choice in this year's NBA draft. He could be on his way to a big signing and the dream that every college basketball star contains: living the rich life. His ability to drive for a dunk and sink three-point shots has defenders running everywhere on the court, still unable to halt the youngster from dropping over 20 points. Now that he has proven he can handle the higher ranked teams by scoring 32 points against #2 Kansas, and upsetting Texas A&M in a double overtime game, scouts and teams are beginning to think there is nothing this player cannot do.

2. Nick Fazekas (F, Nevada)

Fazekas just won Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Year, stands tall at 6'11", and has led Nevada to becoming a top ten nationally ranked team. Almost sounds too perfect for the NBA. Nick Fazekas is built for the sole purpose of dominating the paint in basketball, and so far, he has shown he can. Fazekas averages an astounding 20.9 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game. Not to mention he denies 1.5 shots per game, scores 57.3% of his shots from the field, drains 1.0 three-point shots per game, and hits 84.8% of his free throw attempts, a remarkable percentage for such a big player. Fazekas has no true weakness, big enough to post up in the paint and quick enough to run down court on a fast break. If Nick Fazekas is not picked within the first five opportunities, one lucky team will receive a player that is out to prove himself.

3. Greg Oden (C, Ohio State)

Greg Oden has received a lot of press since he has been in high school. As the most publicized player in college, Oden has gotten maybe a little too much attention. Oden, who measures at 7'0" and 280 pounds, contains the most potential of any other NCAA player today. He has the physical structure to go deep in the NBA, and has the skill to give him a jump on other players that come out of the draft. In fact, he averages a miraculous 15.3 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game. But the true talent is revealed through the overlooked statistics, in which Oden averages 61.4 FG% and a ridiculous 3.5 blocks. Greg Oden, with the help of his All-American teammates Jamar Butler and Daequan Cook, has driven the Buckeyes up the ranking page, putting his Ohio State Buckeyes at #1. With victories over #1 Wisconsin and #16 Tennessee at the time, the Buckeyes have an excellent shot at the Final Four. The only problem is Oden is contemplating his leaving for the NBA, as he may just mature one more year in Ohio before the money starts rolling in.

4. Tyler Hansbrough (F, North Carolina)

Hansbrough could be described as maybe the most solid player in this list. Although his stats don't quite portray his rank as #4, he truly deserves the spot. Hansbrough puts up 18.8 points per game to add to his 8.0 rebounds per game. These notable numbers stun critics around the nation as to why he is compared to players such as Durant and Fazekas with such lower averages. The answer: he gets the job done. Hansbrough's numbers, although not the best among college all-stars, are incredibly consistent throughout his college career. As a 6'9" sophomore, Tyler has taken the responsibility of leading the Tar Heels to a title, and he won't let anything stop him, not even a broken nose. In the closing seconds of the North Carolina-Duke game, Hansbrough was hit by Duke Guard Gerald Henderson. Even when the blood poured onto his shoe and on the court, Hansbrough got right back up and revealed his emotion. And even when he suffers a nose injury when he shouldn't have even been on the floor, Tyler is showing remarkable courage and stating that he is ready for the ACC tournament. Ultimately, the best part of Hansbrough's talent is his ability to perform in the most salient games. The incident with Henderson truly overshadowed the Forward's impressive game, posting 26 points and a ridiculous 17 rebounds against the rivaled Blue Devils. And when Ohio State threatened to jump to #1 on the ranking ballot in late November, Hansbrough had other ideas. He led the Tar Heels to a surprising victory, and put up 21 points to go along with his 14 rebounds. As a young and mature player under Coach Roy Williams, Hansbrough has proven he can only bolster upwards in the NBA draft rankings, which only leaves UNC scouting for another superstar.

5. Aaron Gray (C, Pittsburgh)

Aaron Gray is what we like to call in the sports world, a Beast. He stands at a monstrous 7'0" and has established Pittsburgh as a major threat in the March Madness tournament. Gray has posted terrific numbers, scoring 14.4 points per game and grabbing 10.1 rebounds per game. In addition, he sinks 59.1% of his shots from the field, a remarkable statistic. Overall, Gray is a prepared and experienced player for the NBA, having played at Pittsburgh for four years. His maturity and physical structure are a great combination for players that approach the professional level, and Gray is beyond ready for the draft. After suffering a small ankle injury, Gray was forced to sit out a couple games, and played injured against a top-ranked Georgetown team while faced with the tremendous Roy Hibbert, who stands tall at 7'2". Even when faced with the difficult tasks at hand, Gray continues to perform, giving the Panthers opportunities to come out of games with victories. With Senior guard Antonio Graves by his side, Gray comes face to face with the chance of winning the Big East title, and maybe even reaching the Final Four. The only problem Pittsburgh has right now is that they are 0-5 when competing against ranked teams. If the Panthers don't step up against talented teams quickly, Gray may be forced to sell his soul to the devil.

6. Joakim Noah (F/C, Florida)

Noah went from a "who cares?" player to a "how do you not know him?" player almost overnight. By this I mean that Joakim Noah became famous after his miraculous victory with the Gators in the 2006 March Madness tournament. After leading the Florida Gators over UCLA, Florida, as well as 6'11" Joakim Noah, became the talk around the nation. The one characteristic that truly strikes the public is the heart and emotion Noah puts into each individual game. He takes a loss as a personal and heart-breaking defeat. And he has had to deal with many of those as the defending champs have four losses against non-ranked teams alone. But when you see number 13 starts banging his chest profusely, you know the game is over if Joakim has something to say about it. His "sweet emotion" is what separates him from other players and truly adds that distinctive trait he contains. Noah's numbers are fairly solid with 12.2 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, and 1.7 denials per game. But more importantly, when the game is close and Noah is on the court, you can be sure he's going to lead his team down the court and assure them a victory, whether it's this year in the March Madness finals or in his final NBA season as an All-Star player.

7. Alando Tucker (F, Wisconsin)

Tucker may just be the most underrated player in college basketball today. His team is currently in third place, and only lost their number one seed because of a close loss to the giants of Ohio State. He averages over 20 points per game (20.1 to be exact) and runs up and down the court with the rest of his quick Badgers. He grabs 5.4 boards per game, a high number for a player only 6'6" in height, and is the go to guy when the pressure hits at the end of a game. Now tell me why you couldn't see this guy in the top ten? Tucker's agility and speed are only a couple reasons for his incredible talent. His height matches well with NBA sized guards. The only problem is Tucker plays the forward position. However, his ability to shoot mid-ranged jump shots and sink the occasional three make it seem as if switching to the guard role will not be so difficult. Tucker leads a smaller, yet hasty Wisconsin Badgers team and could take them far into the tournament, putting his name higher on the list eye-catchers.

8. Joey Dorsey (F, Memphis)

When I first made this list, I knew very little about Joey Dorsey. So I watched a couple Memphis Tigers games and looked up a couple numbers to really get a sense of him. If this was a list of the top defensive players, Dorsey would be at the top of the list. Blocking 2.5 shots per game and stealing 1.6 balls per game, Dorsey can be viewed as a young parallel to Ben Wallace. He takes all the right moves and knows how to make basketball a personal hell for players. At only 6'9" it becomes obvious that Dorsey defeats players with skill and intelligence, mastering the basic parts of the sport. And Dorsey isn't all about monstrous defense. He averages a solid 8.7 points per game, but a ridiculous 9.5 rebounds per game. Joey has the capabilities and potential any young athlete would want when thinking about pro basketball, and his time may come soon if he can bring his #5 Tigers far through the tunnel of tournament obstacles.

9. Roy Hibbert (C, Georgetown)

Roy Hibbert's most impressive trait has nothing to do with skill at all. In fact, it is impossible to train for, or practice for, or even work for. The advantage Roy has over any other player in college basketball is his preposterous height. Hibbert measures in at an incredible 7'2", and weighs almost 280 pounds of pure strength. With Big East Player of the Year candidate Jeff Green, Georgetown has a bright future ahead of them with the Big East tournament and March Madness. Once the Hoyas get the ball rolling, it will be very difficult for other teams to penetrate the giant defense, and even harder to cope with Green's durability matched with Hibbert's size and power. When a truck comes at you full speed what do you do? Get out of the way. Well, this is the issue most defenders are having with Roy Hibbert, whose powerful features and overwhelming size make it difficult for players not to jump for safety. Although Hibbert still has room for improvement, scoring only 12.7 points per game and crashing 6.4 boards per game, he has the potential to become one of many young shining stars to burst out early in the pros. Hibbert's defensive presence is an extraordinary impact for the Hoyas as he averages 2.4 blocks per game. And on the other end of the court, Hibbert remains a force to be reckoned with, scoring a tremendous 68.8% of his shots, even when he lacks the points and rebounds projected for a player of his stature. While Hibbert continues to discuss his plans to remain in the NCAA for another year, fans are already beginning to see the glimpse of talent he reflects.

On the Bubble: Acie Law IV (G, Texas A&M, 18.2 PPG, .516 FG%), Arron Afflalo (G, UCLA, ranked #4 team, 2.6 3PM), Al Horford (F/C, Florida, 8.9 RPG, 1.9 BPG), Josh McRoberts (F/C, Duke, 1.2 SPG, 2.5 BPG), Aaron Brooks (G, Oregon, 18.0 PPG, 37.1 minutes, 4.5 RPG at 6'0"), Brandan Wright (F, UNC, .660 FG%, 14.9 PPG as a freshman), Mustafa Shakur (G, Arizona, 1.6 SPG, 7.0 APG, 1.98 A/T)

My Sweet Fantasy

It's that time of year again. Yes, the players practice their swing, test the strength of their arms, and work the mouse and keyboard? Yup, no mistake there. The fantasy owners are beginning to scroll through the fantasy rankings and are predicting their picks in the suspenseful draft. And the keys to winning your league this year lie right here in this article. It's as easy as that. Just follow my predictions and thoughts and you'll be on your way to a golden trophy or a cash prize sitting on your front desk. The key to these leagues are the little picks that make the difference, and the lower ranked players that burst out as Cy Young winners or MVP surprises. So who will it be this year?

Sleepers

Pedro Martinez- With this pitcher you can't go wrong. He's a sure strikeout pitcher and is likely to get his wins behind the best offense in the National League. So why is he ranked so low? Injuries. Pedro suffered an awful right shoulder injury that sidelined him for part of the 2006 season. And now he's back. With Martinez you're guaranteed strikeouts, wins, and even a good ERA. How do I know? In his career he has averaged 10.20 strikeouts per nine innings, a 2.81 ERA, and 206 total wins. Not good enough? Well what about the fact that he is a three time Cy Young winner, and won the award in both the American and National League. Oh, and how about the fact that he is only two strikeouts away from the unreachable 3,000 career strikeouts. Like I said before, with this pitcher you can't go wrong.

Hideki Matsui- Another injured product, this Japanese slugger is one of many dangerous weapons courtesy of the New York Yankees. With a wrist injury in the 2006 season, Matsui was sidelined for 111 games. And now he has become even more feared. With players such as Rodriguez and Abreu surrounding him, Hideki is bound to hit dingers, since walking him is out of the question. Before last season Matsui played each of the 162 regular season games, smashing 23 home runs, but more importantly, 116 RBIs and hit with a .305 batting average. The last association Matsui wishes to be a part of is that of inconsistency.

Derrek Lee- What a surprise. Another injured player rises to the top of this list. Well it's no surprise, since he went from 8th ranked in the 2006 season to 31st in the 2007 season according to Yahoo Fantasy Sports. The 2006 Triple Crown candidate was phenomenal, bodacious, staggering, astounding. Anything I missed? He put up numbers critics thought were untouchable: 46 home runs, 120 runs, 107 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, and a .335 batting average. This is what the Chicago Cubs thought they would get from Lee every year of his contract. That was until he suffered the notorious wrist injury that only allowed him to participate in 50 games in 2007. But now he's back. And he wants revenge for the 2006 MVP trophy he felt he deserved. He still wants to prove his worthiness to Chicago, and when better than now? With the newly acquired Alfonso Soriano by his side, he will have more opportunities to drive in runs, and even score a little more himself. All of that and a couple more homers.

Big Busts

Chase Utley- Yes I know, Utley was superb last season and there is no reason for him to choke. Hey, I like Utley a lot and I think he really proved himself last season. But it's a new year, and Utley just has no gas left in his tank. With an unbelievable ,309 batting average, including 131 runs, 32 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases, Utley is going to have a tough time following with another ridiculous year. His numbers will remain fairly well, but if you're thinking about Utley as a top 15 pick, you are undoubtedly heading the wrong direction for a fantasy trophy.

Matt Holliday- Fantasy baseball is too difficult enough without the question of Holliday as a top 30 pick. This player is no where near his rank of 26 on yahoo rankings. As a player ranked ahead of Miguel Tejada and Andruw Jones, Holliday should be putting up even better numbers than his career year last season. With 34 home runs and 114 RBIs Holliday has shown he has potential. A .326 batting average also adds to his success, but many fans feel a repeat of last year is slim to none. Holliday is a good player, don't get me wrong, but to put him so far up with the risk of a bust by a player who was unknown last year is too dangerous. Not to mention Todd Helton, a huge impact on this team could be headed out of Colorado for good.

Hanley Ramirez- This player, I feel, was the hardest to put on this list. The number of stolen bases Ramirez robbed (51) is so astonishing, that I would not be surprised if comments blew up in my face over this placement. But Ramirez just cannot be trusted. Hanley, who posted 17 home runs and only 59 RBIs, is not a strong enough candidate to trust for anything besides runs and stolen bases. Although he did have 119 runs last year, matching a career high is extremely difficult. Moreover, even with these fantastic numbers in these two categories, Ramirez remains incomplete, only producing two out of the five categories. And don't forget, he's thought of as a 3rd round pick.

Always Reliable

New York Mets- Geez, talk about an offense. This powerhouse team is the epitome of a pitcher's worst nightmare, and I can see why. They contain hitters such as Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Lo Duca, and way more. And that's not even the end of it. With Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine, the pitching is pretty good. Not to mention one of the top five closers in baseball, Billy Wagner, with 40 saves and 94 strike outs. This team has everything. Stolen bases (league leading 64 by Reyes), home runs (41 and 38 by Beltran and Delgado), and RBIs (over 114 by three different players) are just some of the categories each of these players show consistency in. With the selection of any of the eight players mentioned, you're getting a performer who takes on any task.

Johan Santana- Johan has been the only pitcher for the last five years that is among the first round draft players. The two-time Cy Young winner has proven that he deserves to be at the top of the fantasy list with all those batters. In fact, last season Santana was the Triple Crown winner among starters who pitched at least 125 innings, leading the majors in wins (19), ERA (2.77), and strike outs (245). Not to mention he had a WHIP of only 1.00. This guy does it all. And now that Mauer, Cuddyer, and 2006 AL MVP Justin Morneau are getting the offense started, Santana has plenty of back up to support his arsenal. If you're a fantasy owner that is focused more on pitching rather than batting, the only way to win is by starting with the puissant Johan Santana.

Albert Pujols- The best of the best. That's what sports critics are starting to call Albert Pujols. Pujols, if he stays long enough, could be the record leader in career home runs, or even RBIs. This "work of art" is an epitome of natural born sports players, hitting home runs after home runs after home runs after, well you get the point. Albert hit 49 home runs, along with his 119 runs and 137 RBIs. And that was in only 143 games. Now that Pujols is coming off a World Series win, he is out to prove he is the best; and after showing aggravation over his loss to Ryan Howard in the MVP ballot, Pujols will blow out the competition, making it clear that the 2006 MVP voting was a fluke.

A Weekend with the Stars

This is a post I wrote for the Sweet Home Sports website magazine.

Well that was fun. This is the response given by most spectators after the popular all-star weekend which included an unbelievable dunk contest, followed by a phenomenal three-point contest, as well as a repetition in the skills competition. These events may have just been the highlights of the weekend.

When it came down to Sunday night, East versus West, the game was “ok”. Yes, the match-up between the best of the East versus the best of the West was just OK. And that’s stretching it. Players were just goofing off and, dare I say it, having a good time. What these players don’t understand is that the fans want to watch a fun and intense game. But the players felt otherwise. They were throwing alley oops to themselves, and in the case of LeBron James, some did not even complete them. The West crushed the East 153-132, as Kobe’s 31 points, six assists, and six steals were enough to name him the MVP of the game, but not enough to keep the fans in their seats.

So why did I go through the trouble of writing this article? It was the night before that left television sets running. Unknown stars began to shine and the families sitting at home were on the edge of their seats. The dunk contest began with a couple of lackluster, anonymous players, besides 6′11” Dwight Howard. And what did these players do? They made it so their jerseys were selling the next day. Defending champion Nate Robinson exploded, throwing alley-oops to himself while finishing his superb dunks in Michael Jordan fashion, who was in fact judging the contest himself. Even after time expired, he still put smiles on fans’ faces with his off the backboard 360 slam. Dwight Howard managed to stun the crowd with a sticker placement of his face, 12 feet 6 inches off the floor, while still completing the fanatic dunk. But the real story came with the winner of the losers. That’s right, Gerald Green, of the horrendous Boston Celtics really put on a show. And why shouldn’t he during this magnificent weekend? Green came out with ridiculous slams, causing the crowd’s jaws to drop lower and lower. Green came out of the gates hungry, catching a pass from teammate Paul Pierce off the side of the backboard, and putting it in with a two-handed slam. And that was the least impressive of the night. Green came out again, this time with a Dee Brown jersey, and jumped over Nate Robinson while still completing the dunk. Oh, and did I mention he covered his eyes in the process? This historic move gave him a bid to the final round when Green jumped over the scorers table, still having enough air to finish off a perfect windmill slam. And when I say perfect I refer to the judges, who scored Green with a perfect 50.

But that was not the only intriguing part of the night. Jason Kapono easily took the three-point contest without even trying. Kapono was well into the final round before he unleashed his true potential. As soon as the clock started, Kapono began draining three pointers as if they were lay-ups and received an unbelievable 24, crushing former champion Dirk Nowitzki and tying the final round record set by Mark Price of the Cleveland Cavaliers. And that’s not even the end of it. Dwyane Wade defended his trophy with another Skills Challenge win, making it a second consecutive victory and blowing out Kobe Bryant, the second place winner. So as the clock ticks closer to the start of the second half of the regular season, players begin to regroup, putting the past behind them, and preparing for buzzer beaters, explosive dunks, long distance-shots, and a weekend’s worth of action.

Cinderella Man

Six. That's not enough for the former NBA champion who wants another gold ring on his finger. That's right ladies and gentlemen, Scottie Pippen wants in. The 41-year old veteran desires a life in the old days, and what's better than winning another championship to add to your resume? Pippen understands his situation and believes that he still has the skills. So what are his chances to join the Bulls and bring them their first ring since Michael? Very slim. Pippen says he "would only do this for a contender," a selfish comment in my opinion. Pippen's late comment is truly a result of his passion for basketball.

His desire to play and want for glory have driven him where most past NBA all-stars go, back to the court. But according to previous statistics, history is not in favor for the comeback players. Michael Jordan, 3 years after his last season as a Bull, joined the Washington Wizards to put up 22.9 points per game, almost six points less than he had posted up last season. And the next season? A measly 20.0 points per game. Now those are still fairly good statistics for a 38-year old player. But for MJ, those stats are unacceptable. Moreover, Pippen is entering a new generation of basketball. What Scottie doesn't realize is that the game has changed since he left, revamping the role of the big man and the lack of defense. Pippen's superb defensive skills, along with the perfect combination of offensive aggressiveness, allowed Pippen to stand out amongst most NBA players in history. But his age is finally catching up. Scottie just can't keep up with his lack of conditioning and his fatigue will ultimately strike. Now I fully support Pippen's decision to return to fame, but it won't be easy for #33. He will have to learn to adapt, and he will have to do it without #23 by his side. If Pippen goes to a team like Miami or San Antonio, teams he is considering at the moment, he will learn to cope with the fact that he may not even start. With a player like Tim Duncan or Dwyane Wade, Scottie may not even be truly influential.

But Pippen's purposes lie far beyond his role as a player. In fact, he is acting more as a coaching figure and improving the game for his teammates, especially on the defensive end. As old as Pippen is, his knowledge for the game will never be forgotten, and his tranquil and pleasing personality is big enough to fit in any locker room. Pippen hopes to make a difference on and off the court, taking each player's attributes to the next level with his love for the game. Scottie, almost an emulation of Jordan, has always been known for his heart and passion for the game. He has shown that he can still handle the big league's, and wants to prove all those critics that say he can't succeed in his comeback. Although I concur with most of the statements made on Pippen, I sincerely wish he does prove each and every opposing critic wrong, especially me. By succeeding in his new career, Scottie Pippen would bring hope to the NBA, and hopefully spark a change in the game once again.

The Best in the Business

The votes are in and the players are waiting patiently. Which only event can you see an alley oop from Tracy McGrady to Kobe Bryant? That's right. The All-Star game is just five days away and you know what that means. The halfway point of the NBA season is near completion and everyone begins to ponder over the best of the best. I'm talking about the 2006-2007 MVP award. Although it is a bit early, too many fans are already on the edge of their seat waiting to read that sweet headline whether it's their favorite player smiling on the front of that Sports section in the paper. And where's the fun in the MVP poll without a little opinion.

As the players begin to blossom over the first half of the season, their rankings for MVP begin to emerge. Names like Steve Nash, Gilbert Arenas, and LeBron James are uttered on a daily basis. But who really deserves the honor. Although it seems unlikely, Nash is the favorite once again to take this year's trophy home. If the all-star Suns point guard wins once again, he will join Wilt Chamberlain and Celtic teammates Larry Bird and Bill Russell as the only players to win MVP three years in a row. And why not? Nash has clearly improved over the years, handing out a career best 11.8 assists and 19.3 points per game. But that's not all. Nash has set a personal record in three other categories, posting amazing numbers in field goal percentage (53.6%), three-point percentage (49.0%), and three pointers made (2.5 per game), all silencing the opposing critics. This 6'3'' play maker has controlled the Suns offense for three years now, winning the MVP award for the two full seasons he has carried them. And what happens to the Nash-centered team when he's gone? They lose two out of three games, both being home games against the young Bulls and pitiful Hawks. And what about last year when Nash was hurt? The Phoenix Suns managed to lose the three games without their star point guard.

So why shouldn't Nash win the MVP? Without Steve, the Suns look like a little league basketball team, kids just throwing up shots, hoping one of them goes in. And if that's still not enough to persuade you, then what else would? The only top candidates that are really on my list are Dirk Nowitzki, Gilbert Arenas, and LeBron James. And do these players even compete? Arenas is averaging almost 30 points per game (29.0 to be exact), and an astounding 6.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds. But is this really enough to compare him to such a high profile point guard like Nash? It's a blowout. Nash almost doubles his assists, and it wouldn't surprise me if he did at the end of the season. I know that Arenas averages ten more points and 1.4 more boards, but when you are surrounded by players like Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, and even Raja Bell, you don't have to put up 30 points a game just to give your team a chance to win. And why don't we look at the history. Besides the fact that the Wizards are slightly better this year, going from number four in 2006 to number 2 presently, these players emulate last years statistics. Arenas is practically miming his past stats (going from 29.3 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 3.5 RPG to 29.0 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 4.7 RPG). And Nash, although slightly as well, improved his attributes as well (going from 18.9 PPG, 10.5 APG, and 4.2 RPG to 19.3 PPG, 11.8 APG, and 3.3 RPG). And the outcome in the MVP race in which both these players were in extremely similar situations they are in now? Drum roll please... Nash won by a landslide, taking 57 out of a possible 125 first place votes. How big of a landslide was this? Second place was Kobe Bryant with 22 votes, less than half the amount Nash received. And how do other players such as LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki fair in this heated competition? Not too well considering both have surprisingly dropped since last year, lessening their possibilities for bragging rights.

So it's easy to see that Nash could be a clear cut winner if all goes according to plan. But usually that's not what happens. Maybe LeBron will go on a scoring rampage, putting up 35 PPG in the month of March. Or Nash might go up for a lay-up that wasn't there, and injure his elbow for a month in the process. Who knows? But one thing is for certain. This is the NBA, and anything goes, anything.

Clash of the Titans

As the minutes counted down prior to the Lakers-Cavaliers game, every basketball fanatic was asking the same question: Which NBA All-Star will take his team to victory tonight? The answer: Neither. Although the Cavaliers closed out the game on a 35-23 run, LeBron was not the reason to celebrate. In fact, it was the unpopular, looked over, and unsung heroes that climbed the mountain to victory, and yes, did it while carrying LeBron James on their backs.

The Lakers-Cavaliers match up is always an entertaining sports event. And as everyone knows, it is because of two constantly uttered names: Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Whether it's asking which one is better, or questioning who is closer to being the next Michael Jordan, the two continuously rank atop the season scoring leaders. But is this necessarily a good statistic? Before going into last night's game, the scoring leader in the previous four games, whether it was Kobe or LeBron, ended in a loss. And the tradition continued. Bryant, who is averaging an astounding 28.6 PPG (which many fans view as a low for him), put up 36 against the unrequited Cavs, doubling LeBron's measly 18 points (eight points under his 26.2 average). But Bryant came up 9 points short as the Cavaliers cruised to victory in Cleveland 99-90. However, unlike what most fans would believe if they heard the Cavaliers won, James was not responsible for the tight victory. It was two other Cavaliers, one of which has probably never been uttered from the mouth of any basketball fanatic: Sasha Pavlovic and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. These European heroes combined for 38 points and shot 50% (15-30) from the field. Pavlovic, who scored a team high 21 points, came up big in the fourth quarter, racking up 13 and giving the Cavs another tally in the win column. Isn't that funny? Pavlovic led the Cavaliers, not LeBron.

But the Cavaliers still have much to improve if they want to be considered the Eastern Conference Champions. The omnipotent Kobe Bryant was unstoppable, putting up jump shots, getting to the free throw line, and dunking over heads at will. Bryant shot 12-24 from the field, adding 7 rebounds and 6 assists to his impressive 36 points. Not to mention he shot a perfect 11-11 from the charity stripe. And that's not all. Kobe led his team in times of distraught, and down by eleven after the first half, gave the Lakers a three point lead entering the fourth and final quarter. But Bryant was out of gas. And who was there to help him? Lamar Odom? Andrew Bynum? No, no one picked up Kobe when he was down. No one took the shot during the pressure situations. And how did this result in the Lakers' favor? It resulted in a depressing nine point loss. Once Cleveland finally found an answer to Kobe's "immortality," they doubled him up and pressured him on every possession. Kobe went scoreless in the last 3:39 of the game and the Cavs came out hungry, surpassing the Kwame Brownless Los Angeles Lakers. So if someone were to ask me if I would rather take Kobe over LeBron I would respond with: "It's not important whether I have Kobe or LeBron, they're both incredible. The real question is who would the other four players on the court be?"

Temper Tantrum

Although I have been discussing a vast amount of basketball topics, I feel that the NFL is still in a debacle over one issue that has lasted several weeks. LaDainian Tomlinson, the 2006-2007 MVP, has continued his case over the Patriots victory celebration. He claims that Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots has "no class". Are you serious? Three time Super Bowl winner and the most respected coach in the present day NFL has no class? I think someone did not get enough sleep before the game.

Although I love watching Tomlinson run the ball and break records each day, I have completely lost respect for this athlete. Is he mad over the famous "Lights Out" dance that those Patriot players performed, or did his fuse go off when the Chargers watched the clock expire and their playoffs hopes retire? I think it could be a little bit of both. Moreover, Shawne Merriman should have been the one complaining, not LT. This obscene gesture that LaDainian has continued to dwell over will only hurt him and his team. Belichick, on the other hand, went on to coach the AFC to a pro bowl victory, and yes, without talking to Tomlinson. LaDainian has clearly overreacted on this situation and if anyone has no class, it's him. If Tomlinson is feeling any emotion right now it should be embarrassment because he has truly humiliated himself in-front of millions of fans. Now I don't feel that this problem will continue into the next season (at least I hope it does not), but I do see commentators and analysts discussing the hostility between LaDainian and the Patriots during their next meeting, and that is something that should not happen. It is Tomlinson's responsibility to resolve this issue once and for all. There are too many other issues involving coaching (and there are a lot of vacancies among teams) and free agency for this minor detail to blossom into a heated rivalry. This is an unnecessary matter that will only grow unless LaDainian Tomlinson proves to the public that he has "class".

Jews in Sports

A short comment written on modern and historic Jews in the sports world.

I watched Shahar Peer and Serena Williams' match a few weeks back and it was pretty intense. Even though Serena did ultimately dominate the entire tournament, Jewish athletes are beginning to emerge around the sports world. Historically, many Jewish athletes are popular not just because of their religion, but because of their skills as a player. Sandy Koufax, for instance, is a phenomenal pitcher, one of the best in baseball. And Hank Greenberg led the Detroit Tigers to World Series victories in his outstanding MLB career. And let's not forget about swim champion Mark Spitz who is credited as the greatest Olympian swimmer in history.

These sports figures not only reveal the success in Jews throughout the sports world, but also put their beliefs before their careers. Koufax is highly remembered for sitting out a World Series game on Yom Kippur. And what happened next? He pitched a magnificent game and ultimately won the World Series title. These players perfectly combine their culture with their daily lives, and choose what is permanent (religion) over what is temporary (their sport).

Originally posted on:
https://www2.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4096067883535400378&postID=6112961129379793185

The Man of Our Dreams

A comment discussing the issues with those beloved Chicago Bulls. And MJ, if you're reading, this you're the perfect man for the job.

I’m actually a Chicago Bulls fan myself. Born and raised in the city. But lately, I’ve just been to “wishy-washy” about this team. First, they go on a small slump to start the season, showing once again that they can’t win on the road. Then Skiles picks them up and leads them up to the great teams of the East. But they continue to lose road games and continue to shift from losing to winning to losing again too much. This team really needs to get it together if they really want to be considered a contender in the East. Now I know that Ben Wallace joined them in the offseason, which definitely stepped up the defensive unit, but they still don’t have what it takes. They NEED to win games in the end, those close ones that seem to creep away from them every time it comes. Not to mention the inconsistency. Who knows what kind of numbers Hinrich will put up, and whether or not Gordon will be hot or cold during the game. This team needs to be consistent, needs to focus more, and needs to step it up overall. They have too much young talent to throw their chances away and they have the best bench in the entire NBA. This team has what it takes and more, but they really need that elite player to hit the buzzer-beater or pull off the upset. Until they obtain that guy or at least use EVERY weapon on their team (and trust me they have at least 7 or 8), they won’t even stand a chance to teams like the Heat or the Cavs, who both have the big time players in Wade and LeBron. The only consistent behavior they maintain is being inconsistent.

Originally posted on:
http://sweethomesports.com/bulls/?p=53#comments

Offense: The New Defense?

As the first official post of this blog, I would like to bring up a topic that has come to every sports maniac's mind. As it is a quite popular statement, most people live by the "offense wins games, but defense wins championships" modo. This has been a true statement for years on end and even when the offensive minded teams go far in the playoffs or postseason, they almost never take it all. But recently it has been brought to my attention that the new saying is looking like "Defense wins games, but offense wins championships." Although defensive teams such as the Chicago Bears or San Antonio Spurs have been at the top of the list for present sports talks, the offensive teams have stolen the show.

Examples of these offenses can be seen throughout the sports world and are slowly growing. The Indianapolis Colts, the #1 offense in the game (maybe not statistically but you know they are) just took on the #1 defense, those Chicago Bears. I'm a huge Chicago Bears fan myself and I love the D that they bring to the table, but I think it's time they looked at the offense or they're going to kiss goodbye to another shot at that Lombardi trophy. The Colts showed offense does win championships and the Bears showed they need offense to win championships. I mean there is bad, and there is appalling, and then there is Rex Grossman. I stuck behind this guy through thick and thin, and it got pretty thick at times. But when you go to the super like that and come out the way he did, it doesn't surprise me that the defense has picked him up time after time (just look at the Bears-Cardinals game).

Now shifting to another sport, basketball, one offense has blown away every defense in the league. Yes, I am talking about those scorching Phoenix Suns and scorching is an understatement. To have TWO 15 game winning streaks in ONE season is unheard of. In fact, had they not lost those few games in the start of the season, they would be looking to take that best record in NBA history, which was set by the astonishing Chicago Bulls of 1996. This team has proven themselves over teams such as the Spurs and Pistons, and gone beyond. And the #1 team in the league overall, the Dallas Mavericks, are an offensive minded-team as well. Yes, they have been focusing on defense under coach Avery Johnson (who has really exemplified his true capabilities over this team), but when you have a 7 foot 3-point shooter you have to be excited to get the ball into his hands.

Both the Suns and Mavs, two teams with two MVP candidates (Nowitzki and Nash), have changed the face of basketball not only by impressing all those sports critics that believe in impenetrable defense, but also surprise the fans with no-look passes or one handed-dunks. Is it surprising that the two best offensive teams, not to mention best record teams as well, are the most fun to watch? No, of course not! These teams have caused players to do double-takes saying "did that just happen?" And teams like the Spurs or Pistons don't even have a chance. When you have a seven second shot clock like the Suns do it's hard enough just getting back to your side of the court before Nash dishes out a pass to Bell for an easy three. If no one takes charge soon it's going to turn into a sports blood fest; teams just drafting Quarterbacks or Point Guards and basketball games ending in scores like 150-140.