USA Soccer Update

Hello… you play to TIE the game. Ok so they did not beat England, but as a USA fan, you should be happy walking away from the game with at least one point. England deserved to win outplaying the Americans especially in the second half. The game was a tale of two goal keepers. One was remarkable, making his World Cup debut {and just happens to be from the same great state as Tony Soprano and Bruce Springsteen} the other was as dreadful as watching Celebrity Rehab. Tim Howard led the Red White and Blue with 6 crucial saves while playing with injured ribs. The Brits Robert Green on the other hand as I am sure you have seen, will most likely receive a lifetime V.I.P. pass into the Sports Center Not Top Ten. The goal he allowed to Clint Dempsey was pathetic. England is a world class team yet there goalie proved otherwise. Better to be lucky than good sure explains the USA game against England.

Slovenia and Algeria are the next two opponents on tap for USA with both being winnable games. No disrespect to either club, but results of a tie or loss would be considered a vast disappointment. Look for the 20 year old striker Jozy Altidore to get his name in the scoring column with Landon Donovan continuing to impress providing speed out of the midfield. There is no reason why the USA should not be able to get out of their group. After that, it is anybody’s guess as to how far they will go, but I am expecting a trip to the quarterfinals. The one thing that remains a question mark for this team though is their defense. A positive you can take out of their last game is that after giving up a quick goal, the U.S. was able to shutout 3rd ranked England for the remaining 85 minutes of action. If the Americans are to advance in the World Cup, it will be on the shoulders or rather ribs of Tim Howard who without a doubt is one of the best goalies in the world.

LBJ to NYK

Everyone has their own spin on the Lebron James saga. Rumors have surfaced such as John Calipari or Phil Jackson leaving their respective organizations to coach the King. Other stories consist of Lebron following his friend Jay-Z to play in New Jersey or the web which has a ridiculous soap opera of Lebron’s current teammate Delonte West apparently sleeping with his mother. {Google this if you don’t believe me} His zip code will remain unknown for at least another month, but the answer to the million or rather billion dollar question should be New York. Of course I am biased here and do not dispute this for one minute, HAVING SAID THAT it makes the most sense from all perspectives to live in the city that never sleeps.

Besides winning titles like he ultimately will accomplish, he also wants to become the global icon and richest athlete in the world. New York is the destination where that becomes a reality. Lebron would surpass Tiger Woods as the most famous active sports star thanks to Tiger’s Hugh Hefner like impersonation. Living in the city is an attractive proposition and too tempting for him to pass up. Now I know your saying he already is a worldwide star and does not need New York, but putting on a nightly show at the Garden is different than anything he has ever done. The entire city would shine with Lebron being at the center of the spotlight. New York not only provides celebrities at courtside but arguably the most passionate basketball fans. New York was 5th in total attendance last year after another horrible season. Imagine if they were actually winning?

In addition to being the biggest act in town, he also wants to win multiple championships and New York can surprisingly now provide that thanks to their league leading cap space. Other teams have superstars to pair along with Lebron, but their remains serious questions regarding these potential suitors. Let us take in-depth look into some of these scenarios:

The Chicago Bulls
They are becoming the emerging favorite in this sweepstakes, but I am not sold. Chicago has Derrick Rose but can two players who demand the ball in their hands constantly be effective alongside each other? They also have Joakim Noah a nice young player, but last time I checked isn’t he a clone of Anderson Varejao. {Strong defender, yet terrible when it comes to having offensive skills or decent looking hair} It is difficult to imagine a team with its starting lineup of Lebron James, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, and Taj Gibson being that much better than the current Cavaliers roster. This does not sound like a team of legit title contenders considering they will not have additional cap space to sign another significant player.

Also there is another major reason Chicago is not the answer and it is because of a guy named Michael Jordan. If you think the New York Media is bad which it is, Chicago and the national coverage would be even worse. Even if it is not fair, James will directly be compared to Jordan for the rest of his career. No matter what he achieves with the Bulls, anything less than 6 titles will be considered a failure. Winning two rings for example in any other market is a success except in the Windy City. Playing in Jordan’s shadow is not the ideal circumstance for a free agent of James’ caliber.

The New Jersey Nets
Since they lost the draft lottery and the rights to John Wall, this seems to be less realistic. Remember they had a grand total of just 12 wins this season and were the worst team in the league. To make the argument that by going to the Nets he will become a champion seems about as ridiculous as Lindsay Lohan cleaning up her act. They have young talent, a rich Russian owner, and cap space which are all appealing characteristics; however they are still missing the skill and glamour to be competitive instantly. Playing in Newark for two or three years before moving to Brooklyn and never even being the most famous team in your own state seems quite undesirable as well.

The Miami Heat
They could make a serious run at James pairing him with another star in Wade. A move to Miami offers great weather, a chance to win, and the possibility of bringing the Hall-of-Fame coach Pat Riley out of retirement. The question then becomes is James that unselfish? Meaning would Lebron accept the role of co-star. He would still be an all-star but never a legit MVP candidate. Since James would be joining Wade’s team after all, he would never be considered the most valuable player on his own Heat squad let alone in the entire league.

This is the ultimate battle over alter egos. While they genuinely like each other, it is hard to imagine Lebron being able to accept that Miami would never solely be his team. If he truly wants to win putting aside everything else, South Beach might be the answer. Although, a stay in Florida also means making less money than his team mate Dwayne Wade. While on the surface this could work, I do not see the premier free agent of the NBA taking less money than he is worth. He surrounds himself with a team of smart business men and they will convince him he should at least be the highest paid player on his respective team. Rightfully so, Lebron will feel he deserves to be treated like royalty since after all he is a king.

The Cleveland Cavaliers
Lebron’s heart is probably telling him to remain in his home state; on the other hand his brain should be screaming to get out. He must be tired of having a team with the best regular season record only to get knocked out early in the post-season. It is not like the Cavs are improving anytime soon. They have no real cap space to make significant improvements and are only getting older. Shaq is no longer the dominant force he once was. Antawn Jamison, Moe Williams, and the Big Z are all nice complimentary pieces, but not overwhelming reasons to convince a superstar of James stature to stay. Other than JJ Hickson, there are no young exciting players on the Cavs roster. They are a solid team and will remain that way for an extended period of time, but they have not proven to be champions. Any team Lebron plays for will be an instant playoff contender, which is what Cleveland has now become. I understand he wants to be loyal to his fan base, but at some point he has to look at his legacy and realize there are better options to win now.

So that brings me back to the Knicks, the only team that can provide the combination of everything valuable to him which includes winning, the glamour of being a superstar in a super market, and developing talent. It may be ironic, but out of all the teams previously mentioned only the Knicks provide stability in their head coach. Mike D’antoni was his assistant coach during the Olympics who he enjoyed playing for. Lebron’s criticism towards former Cavaliers Coach Mike Brown was that their offense was not creative enough during the playoffs, something D’antoni could never be accused of. The other teams James is linked with all have coaching vacancies or question marks about their current coach. {If it meant getting Lebron or keeping Dwayne happy, the Heat would dump their current coach by the wayside} Some suggest this is tempting for James to have to ability to pick his new coach, but I look at this as a weakness of the other franchises. It is important to have an established coach and philosophy that a team has on a nightly basis with Lebron already being on record for admiring Coach D’antoni’s style of play.

Besides the coach, the players surrounding James are obviously important in his decision. Since he is after all the marquee player, other free agents will be attracted to him and not the other way around. If Lebron signs with the Knicks, don’t you think Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, or another free agent will want to join him in New York? The Knicks compared to the rest of the league are the only team that can afford to sign not one but two max free agents this summer. The Knicks are hoping to follow the similar blueprint laid out by the Boston Celtics; bring together a group of stars that have never won a title and collectively achieve greatness.

Role players such as the sharp shooting Danilo Gallinari and the slashing forward Wilson Chandler would be great complimentary players to play off of James. While not as popular as other teams’ stars, they are better fits to play alongside him. What also is not being talked about is that Eddy Curry will come off the Knicks payroll the following year. This means the Knicks would be allowed to spend an extra 10 million on free agents in the 2011-2012 season. So, if they do struggle, they would have the necessary cap room to once again improve their roster and sign a free agent to be like Carmelo Anthony or Tony Parker.

At the end of the day, arguably the best basketball player in the world deserves nothing less than the best stage to perform on and supporting cast. As Lebron’s buddy Jay-Z put it, New York is the, “concrete jungle where dreams are made of. There’s nothing you can’t do, now you’re in New York.”

Baseball's Back

2010 is the start of a new decade, and possibly another dynasty. The Yankees are the champs, yet they were able to improve through their off-season acquisitions. Adding a centerfielder with Curtis Granderson’s caliber adds a new element to an already powerful team. He improves their offensive lineup, and their weakness {if they had} gets a boost with his defensive intangibles. They also brought back the former Yankee in Javier Vasquez for the fan favorite the “Melk Man.” Cabrera was a role player, now they have quality starting pitcher who was the ace of the Atlanta Braves. He gives the Yankees an amazing rotation that also includes C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, and Phil Hughes. You have to think the Yanks cannot go another season with both Burnett and Pettitte avoiding the DL at some point in the season, which is why Vasquez’s role will become even more important. The Pinstripes did lose the MVP of the World Series in Hideki Matsui though they did sign veteran Nick Johnson who can fill in adequately at DH. Brett Gardner shows great speed on the bases and will split time with the veteran and underrated Randy Winn to replace Johnny Damon. This Yankee team seems to have no real holes and looks again like the cream of the crop.

If the Yankees remain the best team in baseball, then the Seattle Mariners remain the luckiest. They received the best pitcher in last season’s post season Cliff Lee, for prospects. Cliff Lee alongside Felix Hernandez is as good as a 1-2 punch there is. If Eric Bedard can remain healthy, {big if} then it is a great 1-2-3 tandem. They also brought in the versatile Chone Figgins who they literally stole from their rival Angels. He is an underappreciated player who at the top of the order can work nicely with Ichiro Suzuki. Defensively this team will be one of the best in the game. If this is not the season that the Halos lose the AL West Division then I do not know when it is. Losing Jon Lackey to the Red Sox and Vlad to the Texas Rangers takes away the heart and soul of this team, which is why I see Seattle winning the division.

The AL Central is a complete coin flip. Any team in any given year can win this division, with the most dramatic regular season finishes usually occurring. The Twins always seem to be the safest pick, except they lost their dominant closer Joe Nathan. Without him, I look for the White Sox to emerge from this competitive group. Maybe the least publicized move of the offseason was getting Jake Peavy. I know they technically got him in the middle of last year, but he was not healthy and now we truly get to see him at his best. Their pitching is good enough with a mixture of veterans like Mark Buehrle and young guns like Gavin Floyd and John Danks. Their hitting is fine as well, with bounce back years expected from both outfielders Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios. Juan Pierre is a nice addition who will play the role that Scott Podsednik used to have when they won a world series. They aren’t superior in any one category but are solid in all areas across the board to win the division.

The Wildcard spot belongs to The Redsox. They signed Jon Lackey who is a great pitcher especially in the post-season. He does particularly well against the hated Yankees. Their major question remains can they replace the HR and RBI productivity lost with Jason Bay gone? They added Adrian Beltre who defensively helps, but his best offensive years are in the past. They also inexplicitly brought in Mike Cameron to play centerfield, who is about as old as Betty White. Overall though their pitching rotation could be the best in the majors, and you know if they struggle early with the bat, a mid season trade is more than likely. {Early prediction; they trade for Adrian Gonzalez} Look for them to once again be in the post-season.

The other team that made it to the World Series may have made the most news this offseason by shipping away their best pitcher Cliff Lee for ace Roy Halladay. It is not an everyday occurrence to see two CY Young award winners being traded for one another. Prospects were dealt along the way and it is tough to guess if any of them will ever become stars, but Halladay will have more pressure than the average pitcher coming to an already proven winner in Philadelphia. {Remember this is the city that booed Santa Claus.} Halladay not only has to be dominant, but he has to be better than the guy whose numbers include a 4-0 record, 33 strikeouts, and 1.56 ERA in the post-season. If he is not better than Cliff Lee, it will be difficult to argue they made a great trade even though they are bringing back a stellar pitcher in return. If they were able to keep Cliff Lee along with Roy Halladay rather than immediately trading Lee for more prospects, then I would have said World Series Lock. Instead they went the safe route and did not want to jeopardize their future. While I understand why, is still tempting to imagine a pitching rotation of Lee, Halladay, Hamels, Happ and Blanton. Nevertheless, this is the easiest division to predict. The Phillies are still on top, with teams like the Mets and Braves chasing them during the course of the season.

The Cardinals also had a good offseason, nothing spectacular but that’s what they manage to do. They resigned arguably the best free agent in Matt Holiday who with Albert Pujols is as frightening for opponents to see as Keith Richards on a good day. Adding Brad Penny to the rotation is also a silent but effective move. While terrible with the Red Sox, he improved tremendously when he bounced back to the NL and finished last season on the Giants. Plus Pitching Coach Dave Duncan can get the most out of his veterans, so I look for him to have a nice season. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are two of the finest pitchers in the game. The Cardinals balance of great pitching and hitting should allow them to be considered the favorites to repeat as NL Central champs.

San Fran will be the NL West winners this year. While runs will come at a bare minimum, they now have more bats than last year to at least score some runs to support their amazing pitching staff. They brought in veterans like Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa who should help their new superstar Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval reminds us of a young Guerrero who has a legitimate chance at NL MVP or at the very least to be in the discussion. The real key to this team though is the starting rotation. Tim Lincecum is the reigning NL CY Young and should once again pitch well. Matt Cain is also in his prime and will be a nice source for strikeouts. This is a team on the rise, and can capture its first division title since the days of Barry Bonds.

I look for the Dodgers to capture the Wild Card slot in a real tight race. The Mets, Braves, Rockies, and Brewers will all be in the hunt, but at the end of the day look for Joe Torre’s team to rise above the rest. Their hitting is potent with rising talents like Matt Kemp, James Loney, and Andre Ethier. Don’t count out Manny either. Even though he may be off steroids or fertility drugs, he still is dangerous with the bat in his hands. Although, the best thing they have going is their bull pen. It is one of the strongest in baseball with Jonathan Broxton as the closer. This give them the edge to make it to the playoffs.

ESPN Entertainment Sports Programming Nonsense

I think it is a fair assumption to make that pretty much every guy has watched Sports Center at some point in their life and most watch it on a regular basis. Whether it is the first channel you turn to when waking up, the channel you put on out of pure boredom, or the last channel you watch before going to bed, everyone knows the sound of da da da da da da. So what I am about to write may seem like blasphemy, criticizing the very channel that gets us by throughout the week, but I believe it is well deserved. This latest coverage of Tiger Woods is what put me over the edge. His 13 minute press conference on Friday did not deserve the amount of attention it received. ESPN discussed way too many specifics of his speech that were simply not important. Sports fans had to deal with many of these pointless topics such as why Tiger Woods did not take questions, the amount of people in the actual room, why his wife was not there, and the camera angle in which he was speaking at. The only question people should care about is when he will be back on the golf course. {and this was not even answered} His news footage was running for close to 24 hours on the network and the bottom line of ESPN had its own segment devoted to Tiger Woods. It got to the point where you literally had to change the channel.

I am not arguing that Tiger Woods did not deserve coverage because he clearly is the world’s greatest athlete, but there are other stories worth paying attention to that were overshadowed by Tiger’s Press Conference. USA Olympians winning gold such as Apolo Ohno, Lindsey Vonn, and Shaun White, the start of Spring Training for baseball clubs, NBA trades made at the deadline, and bubble teams trying to make the March Madness Tournament.

Now ESPN has done this before, over killing stories similar to the radio over playing Lady Gaga songs. Do any of these annoying topics ring a bell; Brett Favre, baseball players admitting to Steroids, the summer Free Agent Class of 2010, and Danica Patrick? The average fan cares about the news of many of these topics, but not to the point that ESPN commits to these stories. Sure they want to know where Brett Favre will be next year or if Lebron James is leaving Cleveland, but speculative stories with little reporting does nobody any good. To guess where one will play next season months before the start of their respective seasons or to overanalyze the responses’ after Mark McGwire and A-Rod gave interviews seems tiresome for fans.

I still love ESPN and always will. Sports Center has made the slightest changes which try to keep the show as fresh as possible such as switching to new anchors at noon, and moving to Los Angles. We as fans still watch and do not really care about their gimmicks, but as an audience all we are asking for is more highlights and less gossip. The Entertainment Sports Programming Network {ESPN} spends way too much time looking at the “E”ntertainment when they should do a better job at focusing on the “S”ports, since after all their target audience last time I checked are sports fans.

Western Conference: Questions and Answers

1. Los Angles Lakers
Question- Can Kobe Bryant legitimately start being compared to dare I say Michael Jordan?
Answer- This is the most complete team in the league and should be favored to win back to back championships. Yes, they lost Trevor Ariza, but replacing him with Ron Artest will be an instant upgrade. Coach Phil Jackson will get the most out of Ron Artest who combines Dennis Rodman’s antics with Scottie Pippen’s defensive swagger.{Something Jordan was familiar with} If the Lakers do in fact repeat, Kobe would only be one ring away from Jordan, and at least be allowed to be in the same sentence as “His Airness”.

2. San Antonio Spurs
Question- Does Tim Duncan and company have one more title run in them?
Answer- Richard Jefferson was not a good, but an excellent off-season acquisition. He helps make this team younger and more athletic, something they desperately needed. Health will be their major concern as the season unravels. Barring an injury to injury prone players such as Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, this team should be playing in the Western Conference Finals. Dejuan Blair will also play an important role off the bench and looks like the biggest steal in this year’s draft as a second round pick.

3. Portland Trail Blazers
Question- Can this be the year that Greg Oden starts playing like a number one pick?
Answer- He will probably never live up to the expectations set for him, because the number two pick in the 2007 NBA Draft was Kevin Durant. He is having an amazing start to his career and could possibly even win the Scoring Title this season. Oden though will be a solid pro, and may even stay healthy enough for a large stretch of the season. Add Andre Miller to this team, and they now become a complete team who were missing a true point guard. {No disrespect to the former Terrapin Steve Blake but c’mon} Brandon Roy is also the most underrated All-Star in the league and will produce huge numbers once again.

4. Dallas Mavericks
Question- Is Rick Carlisle a good enough coach to take them to the next level?
Answer- Adding Shawn Marion to a front line that already consists of Dirk Nowitzki is quite a tandem. Throw the impressive Josh Howard into the mix alongside last season’s 6^th man of the year, Jason Terry and this team has real potential. Did I forget to mention they also have a future Hall-a-Fame point guard in Jason Kidd? Remember it was only a few years ago that they had the best record in the West and went to the finals only to lose to the Heat. This team could be the sleeper team to make a big run come playoff time, and yes their head coach is qualified to take them there.

5. Denver Nuggets
Question- Was last season a fluke, or are they a legit contender?
Answer- Carmelo Anthony is an amazing offensive talent, and if it wasn’t for being in the same draft class as Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, he would get even more attention then he already does. This team has loads of talent and with the veteran Chauncey Billups leading the way, they are a serious threat once again; however, I do see them slipping in the standings this season by a couple of games to some of the teams mentioned above.

6. Phoenix Suns
Question- Can they win consistently without Steve Nash’s buddy Mike D’Antoni?
Answer- They will find a way to be back in the playoffs after missing out on last season’s festivities. A full year under Alvin Gentry, Nash’s refueled fire after signing an extension over the summer, and Amare Stoudemire trying to cash in on a big pay day, as he becomes a free agent next season, should all be reasons that motivate this team into getting a playoff berth. Losing Shaq also may not have been as bad as originally thought, because this offense clearly did not flow properly with him in the lineup.

7. Utah Jazz
Question- Who will be their future starting power forward?
Answer- Carlos Boozer becomes a free agent at the end of the season, and Paul Millsap had a breakout year. They would like to keep both for the future, but realistically will not be able to afford both. If the Jazz start losing early or find a trading partner in the middle of the season, Carlos Boozer could be shipped out. If that does become the case, then chemistry questions on the court may arise. Overall this team is solid and well-coached which should lead them to another playoff spot for Coach Jerry Sloan.

8. New Orleans Hornets
Question- Can their perimeter play improve?
Answer- Chirs Paul is the game’s best point guard. Getting Emeka Okafor will improve their interior play alongside David West {whose game reminds me of Karl Malone}, yet they have no steady outside shooting. Peja Stojakovic helped this team reach a high playoff seed two years ago, but his health always remains a question. Morris Peterson is not exactly the shot making shooting guard one great team envisions while the signing of James Posey has yet to pay off. They still have talent, but are not good enough to be a major threat in the Wild Wild West. {Especially now that they fired Byron Scott}

9. Oklahoma City Thunder
Question- Will their lack of experience ultimately cost them from missing the playoffs?
Answer- Unfortunately yes. This team may provide similar entertainment as the Phoenix Suns have with youngsters such as Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook. This team will be around for a while especially now that they added the rookie James Harden. They still need help along their front line, but after suffering a horrendous season last year, they will be a playoff team in the near future and for years to come.

10. Houston Rockets
Question- Can Aaron Brooks win Most Improved Player?
Answer- He is my early favorite to take home this award, as a career year is in store for him. The reason for this is because there are no other scorers on his team. Without Yao Ming and Tracy Mcgrady, Aaron Brooks is their only legit option on offense. Signing Trevor Ariza is a nice pickup, but he is not a 20 point scorer and is more of a 10-15 points per game type player. Luis Scola, Shane Battier, and Carl Landry are great role players, but without their all-stars in the starting lineup, it will be difficult for this team to be back in the playoffs.

11. Los Angeles Clippers
Question- Does Number 1 overall pick Blake Griffin develop quickly?
Answer- No one is sure if he is a starter, star, all-star or franchise player. He plays with as Walt Clyde Frasier would say, “A reckless abandon.” In English, he is as tough as nails, but I am a little concerned that he may pan out to be similar to another number one draft pick in Kenyon Martin. Both are great players that just cannot seem to stay on the court. Blake Griffin also has to develop his jump shot to be a complete player. He seems like he will be a star, but not someone who can save an entire franchise which is what the Clippers need.

12. Golden State Warriors
Question- Can their young talent blend well with their veterans?
Answer- They have promising players in Stephen Curry and Anthony Randolph, but there older guys are not the most ideal players to look up to. Monta Ellis was in a motorcycle accident last year after lying to the Warriors front office about the incident initially, while Captain Stephen Jackson {who apparently does not have a little Captain in him}finally got traded. The last time I checked, this is not the right formula for winning, and thus they will once again be a mediocre team in the Western Conference.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves
Question- How many point guards can one team have?
Answer- They signed Ramon Sessions after a breakthrough year with the Milwaukee Bucks, drafted Johnny Flynn with the 6^th overall pick, and have their 5^th pick Ricky Rubio playing overseas in Spain. They need one of these three to develop to team up with Al Jefferson to form a nice one-two punch. The T-Wolves still need help with their perimeter scoring, but are at least moving in the right direction.

14. Memphis Grizzles
Question- Will the Allen Iverson experiment work?
Answer- If I wrote this two weeks ago, when I originally planned, I would have said maybe. Ask me this question now, it’s a no brainer. A guy who still thinks he deserves 30 plus minutes at the age of 30 on a young team just does not work. Iverson can still play, but a championship contender does not want him because he takes too many shots, and a young team does not want him because he takes away too many minutes. If Iverson retires like this it is a real shame since he is a Hall-a-Famer. As far as the Grizzles season goes, Aerosmith sang it best, “Same Old Song and Dance.” More Losing!

15. Sacramento Kings
Question- How will the Jew do?
Answer- Omri Casspi became the first Israeli to be drafted into the first round of the NBA. {I am sure he celebrated with some Brisket and Matzah Ball Soup.} His development along with Tyreke Evans are the only reasons for playing this season because let’s face it; this team is not anywhere close to being in the playoff hunt. Both rookies will have successful NBA futures, but they are going to need more help around them before they become competitive.

Eastern Conference: Questions and Answers

Here are a series of important questions and answers that will help define all 15 teams in the Eastern Conference as we head into opening week of the 2009-2010 NBA regular season. The Western Conference list will be added shortly as well. The teams appear in order of where I think there standings will be at the end of the season.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Question- Will Lebron James win his first NBA ring?
Answer- Shaquille O’Neal has won with both Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade, so logic would say that King James is next, though I am not quite sold. The East has two other powerhouses in both Orlando and Boston. Even if the Cavs are able to get past them, they still have the defending champion Lakers to deal with. O’Neal quietly had a productive season last year, but at age 37, is it really realistic to count on him being healthy again? The Cavs supporting talent overall I just do not trust come playoff time, yet finishing with the most wins in the regular season seems more than plausible.

2. Orlando Magic
Question- Will the loss of Hedu Turkoglu cost them their season?
Answer- While they do lose their point forward and defensively are weaker, the Magic were able to pull off well… Magic. Adding Vince Carter, the hometown hero, will make fans soon forget about the Turkish product. Having Dwight Howard in the middle, only the best center in the league, and Rashard Lewis, who stretches the floor by knocking down three pointers, could combine to make the best threesome outdueling Boston’s big three. It is also easy to forget that they are bringing back a healthy Jameer Nelson at point guard, who was only an all-star last year. They are my favorites to repeat as the Eastern Conference Champions.

3. Boston Celtics
Question- At their age, can they maintain the pace of an entire regular season?
Answer- Rasheed Wallace fits this team’s persona perfectly, but having four 30 year olds in their starting lineup could bring about mixed results. This team is clearly built for the post-season and will have experience on their side, yet they have to get through a regular season first. Garnett is already coming off a serious injury and expecting them all to be healthy at their ages is risky. If they are able to get through the marathon of a season without any lingering health concerns, then I can see this team making a serious run, considering their starting five may be the best in the game. The explosive Rajon Rondo running the show at point guard also makes them an intriguing contender.

4. Atlanta Hawks
Question- Is this the year they breakthrough to the Eastern Conference Finals?
Answer- Jamal Crawford will finally get a chance to play for a winning team who alongside Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson make for an excellent backcourt. They do have the talent and have improved in the last two seasons, but unless they add a power forward before the trading deadline, they are only advancing as far as the second round.

5. Chicago Bulls
Question- Derrick Rose is clearly good, but is it too soon to call him great?
Answer- Not too soon at all. He will not suffer a sophomore slump like many do, and is truly the real deal. As a rookie, he was able to lead his team to one of the most entertaining first round playoff series against Boston in quite a while. The loss of Ben Gordon will hurt, but Luol Deng will be back and should make up the point differential. Brad Miller and John Salmons will now have a full season to flourish while this team is still young, well coached, and hungry; all important ingredients for winning.

6. Washington Wizards
Question- Does Gilbert Arenas want to talk or play?
Answer- Both, but as a Wizards fan that is what you want. He is the NBA’s version of Chad Johnson. {I still refuse to call him Ochocinco} They run their mouth about anything and everything, but when they play well so does their team. This season, Gilbert should be healthy and have plenty of scoring help. Jamison, Butler, as well as the new additions of Randy Foye and Mike Miller will make for an explosive offense. New coach Flip Saunders will bring a winning attitude to this team and they could be a scare for opponents to play come playoff time.

7. Miami Heat
Question- Does Michael Beasley become a legit number two threat for Dwayne Wade?
Answer- {I hope so because I just drafted him on my fantasy team.}We all know what the MVP runner up can do in Dwayne Wade, but without a successful sidekick this team is not too good. Jermaine O’Neal is constantly hurt so it is up to Beasley, in only his second season to become a star. The depression issues should obviously raise serious concerns about his state of mind, but with more opportunity and getting starter’s minutes, he will improve enough to help out the explosive Wade, and at least give this team a playoff berth.

8. New York Knicks
Question- Can they become competitive so free agents actually want to come to New York?
Answer- The answer’s probably not, {but I am biased so I’ll say yes.} Danilo Gallinari needs to prove to his critics that he can stay healthy while being productive for an entire season. Wilson Chandler’s role is also important as the Knicks look to improve under D’Antoni’s system. It is reasonable to think that another season under D’Antoni leads to additional wins and they were only 7 wins away from making the playoffs last year. The real mystery that remains is their roster next year. I don’t want to start speculating, {but it is too tempting not to.} The Knicks have actual money to spend on free agents next year which includes a list of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, and many others. I’m not saying they get any, but one seems possible, and if their current players show improvement, we could be looking at a respectable team for the future.

9. Detroit Pistons
Question- Have they lost their identity?
Answer- Yes, adding Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are great {from a fantasy perspective.} As a team though, they lost exactly what brought them their NBA Championship which was their defensive swagger. Without Billups and Rasheed Wallace, they will have no tenacity and leadership. They did bring back Ben Wallace, but he was talking about retirement and has never been the same since he originally left. They will have good individual play, yet no team chemistry and thus miss the playoffs.

10. Philadelphia 76ers
Question- Can rookie Jrue Holliday replace Andre Miller?
Answer- Andre Miller is one of the most under rated players in the league which is why I believe he makes Portland an instant contender while hurting his former team. Jrue Holliday may become a star, but not this quickly and Louis Williams is a shoot first guard which is not what they need from their potential starting point guard. Elton Brand has also never really fit into this squad and health always remains a question with him. On the bright side, Philly fans might get a chance at enjoying back to back World Series victories.

11. Indiana Pacers
Question- This team plays hard, but does it have the talent to make the next step?
Answer- They have a smart team, similar to their President Larry Bird, except one key difference is that they lack Larry Legend’s skills. Rookie Tyler Hansbrough and second year man Roy Hibbert will be solid pros but nothing incredible. While Danny Granger is a player who fills up a stat sheet, he has no real help around him. Similar to the Heat with Wade, if Granger doesn’t get a second star around him, another losing season is in store for them.

12. Toronto Raptors
Question- Can they keep Chris Bosh happy?
Answer- The Raptors need a quick start to their season, because if things get ugly early they will turn from potential buyers to sellers in the market early. I see them as being the most active team come mid-season with the potential of them giving up on Bosh, realizing that as a free agent he could be gone after this season. Bringing in Turkoglu should help with the improving Bargnani, but at the end of the day I do not think they can make the playoff push that many are predicting.

13. Charlotte Bobcats
Question- Who is going to score their points?
Answer- No one, which is why as much as you would like to argue on behalf of one of the greatest coaches, it once again will be a long season for the North Carolina connection of Larry Brown and Michael Jordan. Getting rid of Emeka Okafor for the offensively challenged Tyson Chandler seems puzzling. Their leading scorer may have to be Gerald Wallace who averaged a respectable 17 points last year, but he should not be the best player on your squad. The rest of their team plays great defense and are role players, yet they lack a true star to stay competitive for the course of an entire season.

14. New Jersey Nets
Question- Can their new Russian owner play for the team as well?
Answer- The Nets are in as big of a mess as Steve Phillips. Devin Harris will be an all-star in this league for years to come; however, they are also playing the wait until 2010 game and have no other stars around him. Sure they have some young guns in Courtney Lee and Brook Lopez, but they do not have nearly enough experience to compete even in the bottom half of the measly east.

15. Milwaukee Bucks
Question- Will the rookie set a future NBA trend for going abroad instead of going to college?
Answer- Brandon Jennings will have an opportunity to prove himself and silence the critics because he and Michael Redd are about the only positives the Bucks have to offer. If he has a successful rookie campaign, you may start seeing other prospects drop out of school to make money while playing overseas. I think Jennings will have a nice season, but going to college will still be the preferred choice for most youngsters and playing in Europe will be a rarity rather than regularity. As far as their season goes Drew Rosenhaus said it best… Next question?

Running Backs

Are you ready for some football? While all of you have probably already done your fantasy drafts{except if Mike Simpson is your commissioner}here is my list of the best Running Backs in the NFL this season. Last year I wrote about fantasy Quarterbacks, but this latest addition looks at the half back position. I decided to continue the theme of comparing fantasy players to stars in the music business, so I hope you enjoy.

1. Adrian Peterson-Dave Matthews Band

They can both put on one amazing live show

2. Matt Forte-Santana

Elevate the level of their surrounding talent

3. Michael Turner-Sting

Have proven they can be a superstar on their own

4. Maurice Jones Drew- O.A.R.

I love how now they are becoming more main stream

5. DeAngelo Williams-Kayne West

Yep, they are both going to be around for a while

6. Clinton Portis-Red Hot Chili Peppers

Consistently deliver quality work

7. Brian Westbrook-Jay-Z

When performing they are the best in the business; however, one takes time off due to injury, the other takes time off to be with Beyonce

8. LaDainian Tomlinson-Green Day

Unlike fine wine, as they get older, their talent diminishes

9. Frank Gore-Rob Thomas

Both gifted, yet have no real help around them

10. Brandon Jacobs-Earth Wind and Fire

Wind left for Tampa Bay, but Earth will be just fine, especially now that Fire gets thrown into the flames {this was already the nicknames given to the Giants tandem of running backs last year just in case you didn’t know where I was going with this one}

11. Steve Slaton-Sean Paul

They be “burnin” their opponents whether it’s on the football field or dance floor

12. Marion Barber III-Aretha Franklin

Successful, big {figuratively and literally}, tower over their competition, and you better show them “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”

13. Chris Johnson-Milli Vanilli

Ok so maybe he did not fake his identity, but they kind of have the same hairdo going

14. Steven Jackson-Justin Timberlake

Better off going solo for any future success

15. Ryan Grant-Eminem

Trying to make a comeback, but who knows how that will go

16. Knowshon Moreno-Taylor Swift

Young, new, and potential for future success

17. Kevin Smith-Motley Crew

Isn’t being a part of a winless team the definition of a “Motley Crew”

18. Thomas Jones-Metallica

Whether it has to do with a new contract or Napster can you guys please stop complaining

19. Reggie Bush-Ozzy Osbourne

Sure they are entertaining to watch, but it’s hard to take them seriously as being part of the elite

20. Willie Parker-Will Smith

Incredibly successful who share awesome nicknames, “Fast Willie” and “Big Willie”

21. Ronnie Brown-Puff Daddy

Multi talented individuals who can do a plethora of things including running and throwing for touchdowns, orchestrating the wildcat offense, raping, producing, fashion, etc…

22. Joseph Addai-Stevie Wonder

Versatile entertainers but can’t seem to SEE open running lanes

23. Marshawn Lynch-Marilyn Manson

Just two hideous looking individuals {sorry, I speak the truth}

24. Darren McFadden-Kings of Leon

Might take longer then expected, but will eventually breakthrough

25. Derrick Ward-Sonny Bono

I’m just not sold that they can take their act solo

26. Chris Wells-Rihanna

Have unfortunately already taken too much of a beating

27. Laurence Maroney- Will. I. Am of Black Eyed Peas

It’s too crowded for them to enjoy individual success {Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and Fergie of course}

28. Willis McGahee- Coldplay

“You know how I know you’re gay, you listen to Coldplay,” or root for a player with a gay sounding last name… McGahee

29. Larry Johnson-Bobby Brown

Famous for beating up their spouses and way past their prime

30. Cedric Benson-Lil Kim

Complete jokes that are only famous for getting in trouble with the law

31. Jamal Lewis-2Pac

Both dead… I think?

32. Julius Jones-Garbage

An explanation really isn’t necessary