BCS More Like BS

I know I’m not the only one who hates this current college football system, if you can even call it that. All team sports have a playoff or tournament format except at the football collegiate level. Doesn’t it feel like every team makes it to a bowl game? Well Notre Dame posting a 6-6 record could not possibly have right? Wrong, they did and the only reason as to why is because they are Notre Dame. I forgot that mediocrity gets rewarded as well in this ridiculous BCS system. Paris Hilton could come up with a better formula for what teams play each other in these Bowl Games.{Though she probably doesn’t know what formula means} Sponsors continually have their own bowl games weeks after the conclusion of the regular season. There were 32 bowl games last year and have now expanded to 34. Great that’s all we need more bowl games. Companies range from Papajohns.com, Meineke Car Care, Outback, Roady’s Humanitarian, and the just recently added magicJack bowl game. I’m still waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out of a bush and scream “you got Punk’d, no more bowl games.” But he hasn’t yet and it doesn’t look like he will for a long time or at least until there is enough protest. Maybe are next president Barack Obama will help since he is also not a fan of the current BCS.

The worst part about BCS Bowl Games is that every year people debate over which two teams should be playing in the National Championship Game. It should never be a question left up to a bunch of sports writers and computers to decide. Did you know there are the BCS Standings, AP Top 25, and USA Today Poll which all cannot agree on a consensus number one team in the nation? The conclusion of this season, and every other season, has us scratching our heads with more questions than answers. Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech all finished 11-1. A triangle emerged with all of them losing to one another, yet Oklahoma was considered the best of the three. They somehow got the opportunity to play Missouri for the Big 12 title. And with a win, get the chance to play against Florida even though Texas defeated Oklahoma.

For those who argue that this system makes the regular season that much more important, the answer is NO! Just look at Texas they won every game except for a last second thriller to Texas Tech on the road. This system is ludicrous when you also realize there are still two undefeated teams in Utah and Boise State with a bunch of excellent one loss teams that will not be playing in the championship game. Are you telling me that USC, Alabama, Penn State, Texas, Texas Tech, and the many other talented teams on any given day could not beat Oklahoma or Florida? You seem to get rewarded for running up the score like Oklahoma did with the computer rankings, yet we tend to forget about the aspect of football called sportsmanship.

Those who believe Boise State upsetting Oklahoma was an awesome bowl game, it was; however, it should have meant even more. Boise State might have been the best team in college football in 2007, but we will never know. In fact, we will never know the best college football team on a yearly basis and I find that sad. Imagine if the NFL was like the BCS system. The Steelers under Ben Roethlisberger would have never won the Super bowl, and the greatest Super bowl of our lifetime would have never occurred. After all, the Giants were a wildcard and had no right playing the undefeated Patriots. {at least that’s what the computers would have said in the BCS}

The idea that every year multiple teams can make a case claiming they deserve a shot in the national championship game makes the winner seem less justified. The only way to solve this problem is simple: have a POST-SEASON! Nobody disputes a champion after they won the World Series, Super bowl, NBA Finals or March Madness. Critics of the BCS talk about a one plus format or playoffs between the best eight teams in college football at the end of the regular season, but I do not think that is enough.

The most fair and exciting way to conclude a regular season is to have the same tournament college basketball has, known as March Madness. A creative title such as December Dizziness or how about December Dreams could be given to the eventual winner of the tournament. Instead of having bowl games with close to 64 teams playing in them, have a tournament that would incorporate the most deserving 64 teams. Instead of having a regular season that ends in the first week in December with a month hiatus in between bowl games; a tournament could be installed. The regular season would be cut to only eleven weeks with teams having one bye week. Schools would play a total of five home and five away games making up their regular season. Then just like with college basketball, winners of each regular season conference would end up in the tournament while the rest would be at large bids. That way the regular season really does mean something. Whether you are a dominant university fighting for a top seed or a mid major school hoping to survive and reach the tournament. The season would end at the same time it does now while creating more thrilling games as the season reaches its conclusion. An actual winner would be crowned without any debate over who the best team truly was.

Can we please have a Brittney Spears like transformation to the BCS? I think it is finally time to change old traditions that are not effective anymore. I am tired of watching meaningless bowl games that have no real significance. I suggest not watching any bowl games unless you like witnessing games a month after the season. We are part of the problem as sponsors thrive on our revenue by going to these games. I refuse to watch a complete bowl game. The only reason I’ll watch parts of a game is to see players that will be drafted in the NFL. If college football went to a 64 team, knockout style tournament, universities would eventually make its profits back while satisfying the hearts of fans across the country.

New York "Glory Days"

While the Stock Market has been struggling of late, that’s not true for The New York Sports market. After the Giants improvable run to the Super Bowl title, there encore performance has been remarkable in its own right. With a 9-1 record and winning in the tough NFC East, there team only seems to improve as the post-season approaches. Losing the cornerstones of their defense, Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to injury, many worried they might not even make the playoffs heading into the season. Now, they have the best record in the NFC, and are arguably the best team in the entire National Football League. Ahmad Bradshaw could be a legitimate starter on any other team, but with the punishing Brandon Jacobs and change of pace Derrick Ward in the back field, he remains the best third string running back. Eli’s leadership and play on the field even has some considering him to be the better Manning {though I still slightly prefer the 6’5,230lb, laser rocket armed quarterback from the Sprint commercial}

Speaking of New York football, how about the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets. There is always that one game that defines a team’s season and this was their statement performance indeed. Beating the rival Patriots in Foxboro, they are now 7-3 with sole possession of the AFC East for the first time since 2001. The Jets defense has improved tremendously in just one season. They have not allowed a 100 yard rusher all year and are currently third in the league with 34 sacks after being 25^th a season ago. Brett the Jet has given them a new dimension to the offense. While at times he can become interception happy, he delivers when it counts the most. Favre only threw 7 incompletions in the overtime thriller to go along with 258 passing yards and 2tds. Thomas Jones leads the AFC in rushing yardage and has 9 rushing touchdowns a dramatic increase from last year’s lone touchdown.

Is it just me or do you see these two teams meeting in the ultimate game come February? The Giants are favorites to represent the NFC while the Titans are in the AFC. The Jets will have a legitimate chance to end the Titans undefeated streak playing them this coming week. A competitive game between the two should prove that the Jets belong in the upper echelon of NFL teams. Call me crazy, but the Jets do have the second best overall record in the AFC. Isn’t also fitting that the Boss, Bruce Springsteen will be performing at the halftime show of the Super Bowl? While not a New Yorker, a clear representative of the two since after all the Giants and Jets do play in East Rutherford, New Jersey. I can see it now as Tri-State area fans rejoice over the singing of “Glory Days” telling their children about this once and a lifetime New York Super bowl.

Even if it is not the dream matchup of the Giants-Jets on Super bowl Sunday, New York has other teams it should be proud of for a change. The Knickerbockers actually have a winning record after their first ten games. Usually this should not be newsworthy but with the Knicks recent struggles, it is difficult to use Knicks and win in the same sentence; so whenever the opportunity presents itself I will. Mike D’Antoni has this team playing competitive and exciting basketball, something that could not be said about them since 1999, the year they went to the finals. A Knick playoff spot is still premature, but if it were to occur, a coach of the year award for D’Antoni seems more than realistic.

And just when you thought I would not get desperate in regards to sharing my love for New York sports, the New York Redbulls make my article. I know most of my readers probably do no keep up on their MLS knowledge so I will keep it short. After beating back to back champions Houston 3-0 on the road and Real Salt Lake on the road 1-0{thanks to the goal posts for those few who did watch} New York will be playing in the MLS Cup finals for the first time in their 13 years of existence on ABC.

Around the NBA

AI and Billups Swap Uniforms

The Answer for Detroit may just be the man who’s been “talking bout practice.” Coming to the Pistons, Allen Iverson has a chance to make this offense dynamic, which is something they have not been able to say for a while. After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals 6 years in a row, Joe Dumars decided it was time to mix it up. The Pistons are gaining a former MVP and the third leading scorer in NBA history only behind Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. Besides his impressive resume, his contract terminates at the end of the season, so if they decide not to keep him, they will be well under the cap and serious contenders in the 2010 free agency class. This features superstars such as Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. Oddly enough all of these guys that the Pistons might be interested in were drafted in the same year as Darko Milicic, {great draft pick their Joe}

The Nuggets also benefit from this deal by bringing in two former players such as Antonio McDyess {though his contract is about to get bought out} and the hometown hero Chauncey Billups, who played his college ball at Colorado. This is the first time that Coach George Karl will actually have a true point guard run his team. As good as Allen Iverson was, the experiment with him and Carmelo Anthony was just not going to work. There was no chance of them reaching the NBA finals with the way their team was constructed. Both of them took too many shots without playing enough defense. Carmelo will be the unquestioned scorer now who will play alongside a point guard that actually looks to pass first. Billups is also a prolific defender. Look for Kenyon Martin to be productive again with a new floor general as well. The last time he was relevant was with Jason Kidd.{You might not remember those days but gas prices were close to a $1 and the economy was stable}The Nuggets will still probably be in the lower half of the western conference playoff race, but bringing in somebody with an NBA title does not hurt.

Starbury No Longer a Star

If you can, try to imagine you are a trial lawyer for a big law firm. One day your boss decides that while you may be the best lawyer in the entire practice, since your contract with the firm runs out at the end of the year, it is not worth going to court anymore. Well you assume this is just for one day. Your boss tells you; I mean for the rest of the year, you are going to be inactive. We do not need your services anymore. Still show up to work, but do not participate. Oh and by the way, we will still pay you your 21 million plus, just show up to work and not doing anything!

My Knicks sure have more fun making news then actually playing basketball. While not a trial lawyer, Stephon Marbury is on the inactive list and there is a better chance 2pac comes out with another new song then Marbury playing for the Knicks again. The Knicks Management has proven to be cheap by not buying out Jerome James contract in order to keep Patrick Ewing Jr. That’s right; we cut the son of our franchise’s best player in order to keep the injured, and ogre like figure, Jerome James. At this point, if Marbury is not going to play then why is he still here? Get rid of our losses now, so we can look towards a brighter future without the New York media writing about what Marbury’s next move is. Nobody cares and people at the garden just want to see good basketball preferably at Coach D’antoni’s pace of 7 seconds or less.

History in the Making

After a historic election with Barack Obama’s nomination, two historic basketball performances were made the next day. Tony Parker had 55 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds in an overtime win while Amare Stoudemire had 49 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. Parker joins a select group of players who have gone for 55 and 10 assists in a game. Only Oscar Robinson and Michael Jordan have accomplished this task. That’s Amore was quite dominant too becoming only the 7^th player in the last 20 years to record a 40 point, 10 rebound, 5 assist and 5 steal performance. King James was quiet compared to these two yet impressive in his own right with 41 points, 9 boards and 6 dishes.

Politics and sports usually do not go hand in hand, but it is at least worth noting these career performances. I do not think it is a coincidence that the NBA’s best players pulled of some of their best performances in their lives the day after America voted for the first black president. The NBA, a predominantly African-American league, showcased its talent the next night with players feeling a sense of pride after hearing the news. Barack Obama’s win surely did not have a direct effect on these players; however, it must have been in the hearts and minds of many of these players as they stepped onto the court. The future president is a huge basketball fan himself as he will be the first president to play a game of Horse or Around the World in the Whitehouse.

Devil in Disguise

Elvis was not singing about the baseball team that plays in St. Petersburg, Florida, but apparently there is more in a name than most people think. No longer in disguise and well on their way to making history, they will actually be playing on national TV as opposed to TBS. Nothing against TBS, but the Red Sox-Rays series captured the hearts of baseball fans across the country and could have been seen by even a larger audience if they played on FOX. Since the Florida franchise existed in 1998, they have been nothing short of horrible coming last in their division every year except once. Then they remove the name Devil from Devil-rays and are now playing in the World Series, though is World really the most appropriate name? How could it be called the World Series when all the teams in MLB, with the exception of those Blue Jays in Canada ay, play right here in the states? Yes, the best players come from all around the globe to play in the majors, but until a team comes from Spain, the Dominican Republic, Japan, or any other country it is tough to actually consider it the World Series. Either way the Rays have come from nowhere by playing an exciting brand of baseball with young talent and defying all odds {literally 100-1 odds to win the World Series before the season started}

Joe Maddon is the obvious manager of the year. Unlike another madden, who is known for his captain obvious statements and giant yellow circles that take up an entire screen, this maddon is actually intelligent. {Now all he has to do is create his own videogame} His methods might not necessarily be the most conventional, yet the results are indisputable. He has put his club in a chance to win it all even after tweaking his starters in games 5 and 6 plus surviving an epic scare after losing to Boston with a seven run lead. The most important thing he has done is allowing his team to play with a sense of purpose. His young core of talent has played with confidence throughout the entire season by overcoming adversity that has been thrown at them. Being able to win the AL East Pennant with the Redsox and Yankees chasing them was remarkable in itself, but beating both colored soxs {white and red} in the post season was a statement to the rest of baseball that these Rays are in fact for real.

Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton have become instant stars in the playoffs producing a ridiculous 13 homeruns and 26 RBI’s combined. There ages are respectively 23 and 24 which allows for Tampa fans to actually look forward to the future. Imagine free agents actually choosing to come to Tampa Bay not just for the warm weather, but to actually win baseball games. Their pitching has also been impressive not just in the playoffs but regular season as well. Matt Garza was the most underrated offseason acquisition in baseball from the Minnesota Twins winning MVP of the ALCS. While their future looks bright, the present seems imminent for them to capture World Series rings. The Philadelphia Phillies have not been to the big series since 1993 and most years would gain my support, but this year is different. This Rays team is headed for destiny and is too talented with hitters up and down the lineup. Their bull pen which has been the strength of this team all season long just got even better after the performance of first round pick David Price whose fast ball help record the final four outs in game 7. The Phillies are a great team but question marks remain with their starting pitching. The inconsistent Brett Myers, the AARP recipient Jamie Moyer, and your average Joe in Mr. Blanton are not exactly the most threatening opponents which is why the Rays will ultimately win the series 4-2.

Another possible team that can go from worst to first in just one year similar to the Boston Celtics is great for sports. Who knows, maybe the Dolphins are next? What makes this Rays team so fun to root for is that they give all dysfunctional organizations like raider nation, the Lions, and especially my Knicks a reason to believe that one day their luck will also turn around.

NFL Awards for the Month of September

A Quarter of the way through the NFL season so what does that mean? Well it becomes much easier to evaluate the contenders from the pretenders, futures that seem bright compared to those not quite right and teams that are playing pretty while others, let’s just say look shitty.
Most Impressive Team- Tennessee Titans
This is a tough one as many teams have risen above expectations. Nobody honestly could have thought your undefeated teams heading into week 5 of the NFL season would be the Titans, Bills, and Giants. {Ok maybe the super bowl champs you could have} The edge has to be given to the Titans slightly because what they have done so far has been with a backup quarterback in journeyman Kerry Collins. Yes he did take the Giants to the super bowl, but to be this good without your starting quarterback is pretty remarkable. Throw in a great defense, a touchdown machine in LenDale White {5 in 4 games} and an early front runner for rookie of the year in Chris Johnson and this is a team that will be playing deep into December.
Most Disappointing Team- Cleveland Browns
Many {maybe this was just me} expected the Browns to continue off last season’s success while possibly even winning the AFC North. Derek Anderson looked like the real deal after last season, but it seems imminent Brady Quinn may get his opportunity to start sooner than expected. {So stop doing those stupid EAS drink commercials and start getting prepared to play} Their opponents are not getting easier. After this bye week they face the Giants, Redskins, Jaguars, and Ravens, whose defenses are solid with each team having winning percentages of .500 or better. Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow, and Jamal Lewis’s performances have not helped either while their newest acquisition, Donte’ Stallworth, has still yet to play.
Biggest Joke of a Franchise- Cincinnati Bengals
Ocho Cinco is playing closer to Ocho Stinko. I do not understand why the Bengals receiver legally changed his name. If anything the team should legally change their name to the Cincinnati Trouble Makers. We all know their long history with players getting arrested, but apparently they wanted to add to that list with the signing of Cedric Benson. What a great way to clean up your image with fans. Between a boating incident in May and a drunk driving charge in June he just needs one more indictment to become their full time starting running back. By the way, Chris Henry comes back this week from suspension, I wonder if they will make a play at O.J. Simpson next?
Dumbest Owner- Al Davis
Lane became Lame duck Kiffin as he was supposedly going to be fired no matter what the Raiders record was heading into the bye week. He certainly is not the greatest coach ever to exist posting a 5-15 record; however, the team improved considerably under his leadership and were at least competitive {this just shows how bad they were before he got there} The last 2 seasons before Kiffin took over they were a combined 6-26. Since their 2002 Super bowl visit, it has been close between the number of hiring’s Al Davis has made and their total amount of victories.
Best Fantasy Value-Jay Cutler
This guy looks like a top 3 quarterback on any given week in fantasy matchups, yet he was drafted anywhere from the 6th to 8th round in most leagues. The Broncos high power passing game is dangerous for opposing defensive coordinators. He currently has the most fantasy points for a QB so good move to those who waited on him, as his value will only continue to increase as the season progresses.
Best Upset- Miami Dolphins 38 New England Patriots 13
Ronnie Brown had 4 rushing TD’s and 1 throwing doing his best impersonation of LaDainian Tomlinson. They completely humiliated the Pats who coming into the game won 21 consecutive regular season games. There last lost in the regular season was also to the Dolphins dating back to 2006. By the way the Tom Bradyless Patriots were the home team in this blowout and Las Vegas believed they were the favorites by 12.5. Way to get this one wrong bookies.
Biggest Bone Head- Terrell Owens
Yes on the field this guy is the best at what he does, off the field that’s a different story. His touchdown antics are sometimes fun to watch {I especially enjoyed his Usain Bolt impression} but he supposedly complained about not getting enough balls thrown his way after a loss to the Redskins. I do not think he will consistently be a problem, but c’mon a third of Tony Romo’s passes went your way, so do not annoy your quarterback like you did with Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb. Just shut up and play. The Cowboys have the most talented group of players, but will that translate into the most talented team? Between T.O., Tony Romo, Tank Johnson, and Pacman, {sorry} Adam Jones these guys certainly like the spotlight.
And Lastly
It Sucks to be…- Ed Hochuli
During the Broncos-Chargers game in week 2, this referee clearly made an incorrect call rewarding the football back to the Broncos after Jay Cutler fumbled it late in the fourth quarter. The Chargers still had multiple opportunities to win the game, but they could not stop the Broncos from not only scoring a TD, but a two point conversion that ultimately cost them the game. Rather than blaming themselves for blowing a fourth quarter lead, similar to week 1’s meltdown against the Panthers, the Chargers and their fans put the blame on Mr. Hochuli. {the one ref who quite possibly is in touch with Barry Bonds personal trainer}The real test for the Chargers will be come playoff time, and whether or not they can pull through in the clutch. It remains to be seen if they can win these tight games. Officials make mistakes not just in the NFL, but in all sports and it is an unfortunate part of the game. Teams have to learn to deal with it by evaluating their own personnel problems rather than criticizing officials. By the way Charger fans, stop sending death threats to a more than respectable veteran referee, if you guys are still annoyed by the loss, than put blame where it properly belongs… On the Defense.

Quaterbacks

The NFL regular season is almost here and with that comes Fantasy Football. So here is my list of the best Quarterbacks in order, but rather than just giving you a list like most other magazines I figured it would be more fun to rank and compare them to famous musicians:

1. Tom Brady-Lil Wayne

Hate both of them yet dominate in what they do

2. Tony Romo-Jessica Simpson

Up and coming stars plus the paparazzi loves them {and maybe cause they are going out}

3. Peyton Manning-Garth Brooks

Country boys who are extremely popular and hard to dislike

4. Drew Brees-Jimmy Buffett

Both just make you feel good

5. Carson Palmer-Sublime

Will never truly hit full potential

6. Derek Anderson-Spice Girls

Great supporting cast

7. Ben Roethlisberger-Bruce Springsteen

Nope your mom’s wrong, neither one is Jewish

8. Donovan McNabb-50 Cent

As tough as they come {injuries, Rush Limbaugh, shot 9 times}

9. Matt Hasselbeck-Phil Collins

Never gets enough credit yet they are really good

10. Brett Favre-Cher

Don’t know when to retire {Sorry I stole this one from Rick Reilly of ESPN}

11. Eli Manning-Janet Jackson

Successful but will never compare to that other sibling

12. Jake Delhomme- Elton John

Nobody wants to admit to it, but let’s face it you like both of them

13. David Garrard-John Legend

Smooth professionals whose personalities are both calm and cool

14. Marc Bulger-Third Eye Blind

Used to be really good but where have they been lately?

15. Jay Cutler-John Mayer

Both have potential to truly be spectacular

16. Kurt Warner-Tony Bennet

Somehow still playing?

17. Jon Kitna-Britney Spears

Anyone associated with the Lions or Kevin Federline can go under the category “complete mess”

18. Philip Rivers-The Jonas Brothers

One word: Overrated

19. Matt Schaub-Gavin DeGraw

Young with mild talent

20. Jason Campbell-Gnarles Barkley

Having 3different offensive coordinators in now his fourth season must make him feel “crazy”

21. Aaron Rodgers-New Kids on the Block

Literally! {and he looks a little like Joey McIntyre without the facial hair}

22. JaMarcus Russell-The Notorious B.I.G.

One has mammoth arm strength while the other was just a mammoth

23. Jeff Garcia-Def Leppard

Old and washed-up

24. Chad Pennington-Nickelback

Solid but nothing special

25. Vince Young-Blue Man Group

Entertaining, fun to watch but hardly the greatest

26. J.T. O’Sullivan-Hanson

Quick name 2 Hanson songs? At best he is a one hit wonder under Mike Martz

27. Kyle Orton-Daniel Powter

Hey Chicago fans, get ready to have a “bad day”

28. Tarvaris Jackson-Lanz {Shout out to Edison}

Both have potential but don’t count on it

29. Matt Ryan- Daughtry

Both of their futures seem bright

30. Trent Edwards- Bo Bice

Their futures on the other hand…not so much

31. Ravens Qb’s- Panic! At The Disco

More like panic behind center, which one of the three will it be?

32. Brodie Croyle-Bjork

They both suck or as Charles Barkley would say “They’re terrrrrible”

Fantastic "4"

He’s a Superhero! Well at least Jet fans would agree. Besides just being a living legend and a guarantee first ballot Hall of Famer, he is a top ten quarterback in NFL history looking to recapture the magic he had for 16 seasons in Green Bay. Brett a Jet! It just sounds compelling and brings true excitement to this team for the first time in quite awhile. Brett Favre’s jersey sales as a NY Jet skyrocketed with the most purchases in a single day. Their offseason was already productive, but #4 puts the icing on the cake making this team as promised earlier, worth writing about.

Of course there will be skeptics and disbelievers about Favre and the Jets marriage being simply a spectacle with no results in the end. Yes Favre is on the cover of Madden, and his gun slinging mentality might not necessarily fit Coach Mangini’s mantra of playing ultra conservative; however, the Jets are still a playoff bound team. Brett Favre will still have enough time in camp to become successful with his new receivers who are scarily similar to his old ones. Laveranues Coles is 5-11 who had 55 receptions last year. Greg Jennings also 5-11 had 53 receptions last season. Still do not believe me? Jerricho Cotchery who stands at 6 feet caught 82 passes for 1,130 yards with 2 Touch Downs. Donald Driver also a 6 foot receiver had 82 catches of his own for 1,048 yards with 2 Touch Downs. Besides the Coles-Cotchery connection, Favre has other strong options including the first round selection Dustin Keller and an old friend of his from Green Bay in Bubba Franks. Add Thomas Jones to the back-field with newly acquired seven time pro bowler Alan Faneca protecting center and this offensive may now be as productive as say one was in Green Bay a year ago!

Besides having a more than respectable offense then years past, this defense made significant upgrades as well. Adding productive veterans in Calvin Pace and Kris Jenkins will help solidify their defense. They further increased their line backing core, through the draft, by selecting Veron Gholston. Getting versatile players who not only fill a specific void in last year’s team but players that can rush the opposing quarterback and stop the run, will pay vast dividends for a team that runs a 3-4 defensive scheme.

While it is hard to argue that the Jets can win the AFC East with the New England Patriots standing in their way, history may support me on this one. The Patriots may be dealing with a super bowl hangover after falling one quarter shy of the perfect season. Seven of the last ten super bowl losing teams did not even make the playoffs the following season! On top of that, the Jets have an easier schedule then last year. Rather than playing the NFC East teams which delivered 3 playoff teams including the Super bowl Champion Giants, the Jets face the NFC West. Other then the Seattle Seahawks, the St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ners are as pathetic as the news of Clay Aiken artificially inseminating someone so he can become a father! With Oakland, Kansas City and the one win Dolphins of last year on their schedule twice, it seems fair to argue their win total of four will increase dramatically.

Last but not least, this trade for Favre is a low risk high reward type deal. Giving up a fourth rounder with the potential of it becoming a first rounder is worth it. If the Jets make it all the way to the Super bowl, fans will not care or remember they lost a first round pick in the process. The deal is simple, who would you rather have leading your team, the best quarterback in their history other than Joe Namath with Brett Favre or sticking it out with Chad Pennington whose arm strength is as powerful as my grandmother. I actually liked Pennington {though most New Yorkers could not be happier to see him leave}, but no person in their right mind can make a legit argument he is better than Brett Favre. Even years seem to be in the Jets favor as 2002, 2004, and 2006 were all playoff seasons. Now as 2008, approaches the playoffs seem more realistic than ever before and once you make it there anything is possible even if it is indeed a wild card spot. Just look at the other team from New York!

Summer's Slow While October Quickly Approaches

The NBA and NFL are in their off seasons, and I refuse to write about the overblown Brett Favre soap opera unless he ends up in a Jet Uniform. {If this happens a potential article could be in the works}A preview of the USA Olympic basketball team could have been expected, but there is nothing new and captivating to report. USA is expected to and should win gold. Anything less is failure. The players know it and so do the fans. The Nadal vs. Federer Wimbledon final was compelling to watch, but did you really expect a tennis article from me. Sorry to disappoint, though it was an amazing match to watch, especially when John McEnroe calls it the greatest tennis match he has ever seen. Tiger Woods is injured so there goes the relevance of watching golf. ESPN has tried to make things interesting by having their own Title Town Tournament which focused on choosing the best sport cities in all of America. You will never guess what won the best sports town in the entire country… Valdosta. Huh? Does anyone even know if this place exists or better yet what state it is in? {Here is my famous fun fact of the day- Valdosta is in Georgia} Well at least one thing is reliant for fans during the hot summer days, The MLB season also known as a marathon is still trotting along.

The AL East has by far been the most compelling division in baseball with drama at its premium. The Rays are young and talented and this whole notion of inexperience I am not buying. All teams with a core consisting of young talented players will eventually climb over that hurdle of being labeled inexperienced, similar to the 2003 Champion Marlins, 2005 White Sox, or last year’s Colorado Rockies. This season's Rays team is still in first place in their division as August approaches, and does not look close to letting this lead slip away. The Bronx Bombers will squeak into the wild-card spot thanks to surprisingly good starting pitching from Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, and Joba Chamberlain. The Yanks lineup is just too deep and with the additions of Xavier Nady and Pudge Rodriguez to the everyday lineup, they are just that much more dangerous for opposing pitchers. Being a part of Red Sox Nation, it also must be hard to justify that they are a better team after losing Manny plus two prospects. Jason Bay is a fine player, but how can he replace a future Hall of Famer in left field after “Manny being Manny” helped deliver them 2 World Series. With the loss of production and slight struggles in the bull pen they seem to have the greatest chance of falling just shy of the post season.

Many people are suddenly joining the Angels bandwagon and rightfully so. They have the best record in baseball and acquired the 2^nd biggest name during the trade deadline {behind Manny} in Mark Teixeira. He is a perfect fit for a team that has lacked incredible power and RBI numbers. With great starting and relief pitching, plus now a more formidable lineup, look for them to be representing the American League in the World Series.

As good as the Angles are, my pick to win it all might come as a surprise, but the Chicago Cubs after 100 years of disappointment will finally come through. The reason is simple; starting pitching. The formula for winning come October, revolves around quality pitching. The Cubs are deep with two legitimate CY Young Candidates in Carlos Zambrano {12-4} with a 2.80 ERA and Ryan Dempster {12-4} with a 2.90 ERA. The newly acquired Rich Harden is not half bad either with 39 strikeouts in his first four starts for the Cubs, and Ted Lilly also provides quality depth to their rotation. Besides their excellent pitching, they are the most complete team in baseball with more all-star selected players than any other team in the majors. They have star power throughout their lineup led by Alfonso Soriano at the top followed by Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, and Geovany Soto. They have a proven winner in Lou Piniella managing the team and the confidence to finally come over distractions if a Bartman incident were to occur. The Cubs just faced their biggest test of the season and responded by posting a four game sweep over their division rival Brewers in Milwaukee. These Cub players are ready to break the curse of not winning a championship similar to the Red Sox and White Sox. It has been a 100 years! Theodore Roosevelt was the president for crying out loud since they last held up a World Series banner. Once October rolls around, look for the cursed Cubs to finally turn their luck around in the form of a World Series Championship.

NBA Draft- Top 5 Winners and Losers

Winners:

Raptors: Before the draft even started, they received an all star in Jermaine O’Neal for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the 17^th pick which became Roy Hibbert. These three are all decent players, but the potential of having O’Neal and Bosh on the court together creates the most potent frontcourt in the Eastern Conference. O’Neal has been injury plagued throughout his career, but so too has T.J. Ford. It seems like a wash yet there still remains a large disparity in talent between the two. Jose Calderon has also blossomed into a pleasant surprise for the Raptors. The only thing that might scare me is that their frontline seems similar to the Knicks big men of Randolph and Curry. The difference is after two years if this experiment in Toronto does not work out, they are both free agents. In New York, Randolph and Curry are stuck for a while because both have horrible contracts.

Nets: While I don’t love them losing Jefferson for a guy who sounds like a Pokémon character, Yi Jianlian, it allows them flexibility to get under the salary cap to try and woo Lebron into playing for his buddy Jay-Z. They also got bigger with adding the best center in the draft, Brook Lopez, with the tenth selection. He reminds me of Chris Kaman, a serviceable center who will average close to 10 and 10 for his career. Ryan Anderson is also someone who can stretch the court and will see playing time. To top it all off, they got the biggest steal in the draft. Chris-Douglas-Roberts, nicknamed CDR, plays like Tayshaun Prince with an unconventional shot. He can get to the basket and is a long and athletic defender who’s a proven winner. It would not surprise me if he becomes Jefferson’s long term replacement, and at #40 this is not a steal, its armed robbery.

Grizzles: They gave up two nice players, Mike Miller and Kevin Love for a potential all star in O.J. Mayo. Every team seemed to want this guy coming into the draft and the Heat even debated taking him 2^nd overall. The Grizzles need a player who can bring fans to the stands. Their best player entering the draft was Rudy Gay. Fans do not want to wear “Gay” on the back of their jerseys. Mayo is their new leader and now they need to address additional forwards in the off-season. They also added the Kansas product, Darrel Arthur with the 27^th pick who was supposed to be a lottery pick. As my friend Larry David would say, that is “Pretty Pretty Pretty Good.”

Blazers: They got a scorer in Jerryd Bayless who the Heat potentially were thinking about trading down for. They fell in love with his talent because he can create his own shot and has great 3 point range. Bayless and Roy in the backcourt will be scary for opposing defenses to handle. They also may have the rookie of the year. {remember Greg Oden} This team is ready to take the next step by making the playoffs thanks to their young core of high character players.

Rockets: Surprisingly I have inside sources. {Shout out to “Chummus” and his brother} He was alongside scouts as they watched players perform for the Washington Wizards. He believed the most impressive shooter in the draft and biggest sleeper pick could be Donte Greene. Well, he fell to the right team in Houston. He can come in off the bench, average 15-20 min per game and knock down some perimeter shots. I’m also in love with Joey Dorsey’s game. He is an athletic, tough defender who should have also been a first round pick. This guy can flat out rebound and will find a way to earn minutes at the next level.

Losers:

Sonics: Why did they have 5 picks in the first place? It does not make sense when only 12 make an active roster. This is not the NFL where the more picks you have the better off you are. Russell Westbrook is a good defender and athletic combo guard who would fit an already talented team, not the rebuilding Sonics who do not even know where there home will be next season. His stock rose tremendously as the draft drew closer, but I question his overall skills as being the fourth best player. Kevin Durant needs another scorer on this roster. What they really needed was a Robin to assist their Batman. Instead all they got with Westbrook was a Joker.

Bobcats: We all know Michael Jordan can make a jump shot but not much of a draft aficionado. {He selected Kwame Brown #1 overall} With two picks in the first round and “What can Brown do for you” on the sidelines {nothing if it involves the Knicks} it looked like a potentially good night. That is until they took D.J. Augustin. Now I like Augustin, but they already have a young point guard in Raymond Felton. They need a center so they can shift Emeka Okafor back to his natural position at the 4. The best center in the draft, Brook Lopez, was still on the board and could have fit a Larry Brown team with his scoring around the rim and shot blocking ability. Then they selected Alexis Ajinca who might not even play this year. What are they waiting for? They haven’t made the playoffs since the existence of their organization, so you would think now is the time to find players that can contribute right away?

Kings: Memo to the Maloof Brothers- If you like a player that no other GM has any interest in there is a thing called trading down. Jason Thompson may be great, but nobody else projected him to be a lottery pick. The Rider prospect taken in the first round was surprising in itself let alone going 12^th overall was downright stupid. If they traded back and took him later in the draft, they would have been able to acquire other needs to help build around for the future.

Dallas: This seems unfair to criticize a team that had no first round picks, but anyone who watched them in the playoffs can agree the one thing they lacked was youth. With a new coach and outlook I was expecting them to try and trade one of their veterans {Devean George, Eddie Jones, Tyronn Lue, Jamal Magloire, or Jerry Stackhouse} for a possible first round pick or just younger players. They were not even involved in any rumors, so they better use the offseason to improve their bench or else they will look old again and run off the court come playoff time.

Knicks: I like Danilo Galinari. Let me repeat that I like the so called “Italian Stallion” at the 6^th spot. The NBA is changing with most teams having international players on their roster. It was time for the Knicks to take a gamble on adding a European of their own. Plus guards like Eric Gordon and Jerryd Bayless who were still available, are great scorers, but the Knicks already have a bunch of selfish guards who shoot first in Marbury, Crawford, and Robinson. What was disappointing about draft night was that a point guard of the future was not established. Marbury’s contract ends after this season and he is the only true point guard on the team. The offseason will be vital for them to land a floor general that can flourish in Mike D’Antoni’s system. Hopefully the new guys running the show know what they are doing, which I believe they do.

From Worst to First

As much as I hate to admit it… Boston is the best sports town. The Red Sox winning the World Series and Patriots running the table only to fall one quarter shy of another Super bowl{which also would have completed a perfect season} was quite impressive. Even Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution made it to the cup finals in back to back seasons. I know the MLS is considered as fake as Pamela Anderson’s tits but it helps make my argument plus I enjoy watching my New York Red Bulls. {and yes Red Bull is responsible for more than just giving you wings and jaggerbombs they also do have a soccer team.} With the Boston Celtics capturing NBA hardware for the first time since 1986, a potential dynasty is in the making.

You know what The Mighty Ducks, Bad News Bears, and every other sports movie has in common? These teams are absolutely terrible from the beginning and by the time the credits roll around they somehow find a way to win. You have all seen this script play out before, and can certainly say it about the Boston Celtics who had the biggest turn around in just one season. They couldn’t win a game last year. In fact they couldn’t even win the NBA Draft Lottery! The team a year ago was as pathetic as watching the drunk David Hasselhoff eat a burger off the floor.GM Danny Ainge was on the hot seat, yet remained patient in keeping Doc Rivers as head coach. Acquiring Ray Allen was a heavily criticized move at the time. Then Ainge’s former teammate and friend, Kevin McHale, delivered Ainge a generous gift. This included Kevin Garnet for Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair {the shittier cousin of self proclaimed Starbury and creator of $15 shoes} and a bunch of other scrubs. The big 3 erased memories of last season’s worst record by winning a league high 66 games.

The Celtics run in the playoffs was entertaining to watch and included two games 7’s with the Hawks and the Cavs. {aka the Lebrons}The finals actually drew ratings unlike previous seasons that have been uneventful. Usually the Spurs are involved whose boring brand of basketball is less exciting to watch than my bobble head collection. The Celtics v. Lakers rivalry was renewed making an intriguing finals matchup. The Celtics game 4 win became an instant classic after trailing by 24 points. Role players such as Eddie House and James Posey chipped away at the score to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Then the Celtics had a Kimbo Slice performance to win the title by 39. Did Odom and Gasol even show up in this series? Where was Phil’s famous triangle? Even Kobe didn’t have that breakout game? The answer was assistant coach Tom Thibodeau’s scheme that made Boston the best defensive team throughout the course of the season. Paul Pierce deservedly earned Finals MVP after shutting down Kobe Bryant throughout the series as well as putting up big scoring numbers of his own.

What is scary to think about these Celtics is that they can easily be back here next year with Pierce, Garnett, and Allen still in their prime. The words role player get thrown around a bunch by sports writers and commentators, but the Celtics role players, as The Rock would say, knew their role. {and shut their mouths you jabroni} Kendrick Perkins is a young and developing center while Rajon Rondo has all the tools to be a great point guard if he can develop a jump shot. Like the Red Sox and Patriots who have brought home multiple championships in recent memory, so to will these Boston Celtics.

With the # 1 Pick

It’s that time of year again. The time where Steven A. Smith yells for no apparent reason, the time where teams gamble on some goofy looking European, the time where big name players are swapped for picks, and the time where we get to debate who should go #1 in the 2008 NBA Draft.

The Bulls are officially on the clock with a little less than 3 weeks to go. What are their options? Trade the pick all together? Select the Chicago native Rose? Take Beasley? While the first option could be intriguing, it seems as silly as giving Billy Joel the keys to your new Porsche. The Bulls are young and talented and with a new coach and season approaching, they are only one key player away from being a legit playoff team in the East again.

Derrick Rose is a gifted talent who can run the point position for many franchises. The Memphis point guard may even be the better NBA professional; nonetheless, he is not the better fit for this currently constructed team. The Bulls already have three guards who log in plenty of minutes. Ben Gordon won the NBA Six Man Award and is a lethal shooter, while Larry Hughes was brought in by the Bulls front office in a mid-season trade this past season. Though Kirk Hinrich had his struggles last year, he still is a capable young guard that has averaged 6 assists throughout his entire career. These three guards are important to the Bulls long term success as Derrick Rose would only crowd the backcourt. [similar to the way Mexicans crowd a minivan]

The future of the Bulls is looking bright with a young core of talent, but has a whole the size of Rosie O’ Donnel’s ass at power forward. This is why on draft day a different Michael should be selected in the hopes of returning to the Jordan glory days. Beasley was a stud at college in the Big 12 averaging 26 and12 per game. He brings exactly what the Bulls need, a guy who can demand a double team and score “down low”. [Did R. Kelly record this song before or after he raped a little girl?] A versatile player who can score with his back to the basket would be a nice compliment to the offensively challenged Jokaim Noah and Tyrus Thomas. The Chicago Bulls were in heavy discussions to try and land Kevin Garnet or Paul Gasol, but were unable to complete a trade thus allowing them to slip away. Last time I checked the Celtics and Lakers with the addition of these scoring big men were playing in the NBA Finals. With the help of a dominant power forward in Beasley, the Bulls can also be in the mix next year.

Truth be told, both prospects leading the top of the draft board will be superstars at the next level. Beasley vs. Rose is like choosing between which Jessica [Simpson vs. Alba] you would rather for a night. Do you go with Jessica Simpson; freak in bed but not the smartest tool in the shed with some character concerns similar to Beasley, or do you go with the safe pick in Jessica Alba like the way scouts are drooling all over Derrick Rose after his performance during the March Madness Tournament? Either one of them would be fine choices, but I am taking Daisy Duke on my evening out or in this case giving the edge to Michael Beasley.