- Not having a playoff is college football is not a big deal. College football thrives on controversy. If you want a playoff, stop watching BCS games. If you can't do that, then stop complaining. It's like the people who complain that TV is too perverse, then sit down and watch CSI or Law and Order.
- John Smoltz is headed to the closer role when he returns. Awesome, now Atlanta has as many closers as they do starters.
- Al Horford just misses ROY. I think he deserved it, but I really don't mind that he didn't win. I can't say Kevin Durant wasn't worthy of it. Al Horford reminds me Dwight Howard. Howard himself didn't win the ROY either. He fell just short of Emeka Okafor. Which would you take now? Horford will be a major player in this league.
- Speaking of playoffs and the NBA, can we do something? The playoffs started in April and won't end until July. Do you mean that I could actually slip into a two month coma and when I wake up, there still won't be a NBA title given?
- Everyone, can you please stop giving draft grades? It's the most absurd thing in sports next to preseason rankings in football.
I'm not much of an NBA guy. I know what's going on, but it's just hard to get into it until playoffs time. Well, I'm in full NBA mode. By full, I mean a little. I'd still rather talk BCS, plus one, the 2010 NFL Draft, Braves pitching rotation, but come on. The NBA will crown a champion soon. Well, not soon..in about three months.
My question is this: What happened? In the East, Boston/ATL is knotted up. Same with Rock City and Philly. Orlando/Toronto was closer than the 4-1 series looked. And Jay-Z is having problems knocking Soulja Boy off the charts. While the West teams have dominated. Wasn't the Nuggets/Lakers series supposed to seven? Yeah, not even close. Hornets took care of the Mavs easily (surprising easy). Defending Champs took the best of what the Suns had and easily eclipsed them (see what I did there). The only series of interest in the West is Jazz/Rockets.
Wasn't every series in the West going to be a knock down drag out? Where eight seeds could beat one seeds and you don't know who to pencil in. Didn't the Celts and Pistons have reserved seats for round two after four game sweeps?
All I have to say is beware of three seeds and their point guards. Both PGs have seemed to flip the switch.
Lance Briggs to the Redskins - Great move for Bears in my opinion. There is tons of defense in the top 10 picks and maybe even a QB that they need so bad. I'd trade the disgruntled LB and my 31st pick for the sixth pick overall.
I don't think Billy Donovan is going anywhere. He's saying the things he has to say while his team is still playing. The president said Billy can go look, but he won't let him leave. Donovan will be a well paid man in Gator Country next year. Florida fans have got to love having both Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan as coaches.
Anyone else besides the states of Florida and Ohio State excited about another rematch? Could this be the next big rivalry? We'll have to see. I for one would love to see the Gators repeat over the Buckeyes. It'd make it that much sweet. I know OSU would love to finally stick it to the boys from Gainesville. It's amazing how far these football schools have come in basketball. I'm calling Ohio State vs Florida in Omaha this summer!
Does anyone else smell something fishy about this tourney? After no upsets in the opening rounds, the high seeds sweep through. Throw in some questionable calls and it makes you take notice.
I'm also finally getting excited about basketball again. Grant Hill killed my love. Well, next year his $16 million plus will be off the books in Orlando. Throw in a scoring threat that Jameer Nelson can pass to and another year of progress from Dwight Howard and the Magic could start to make a deep run in the playoffs. (I know they are a few years away, but at least they will be competitive)
Please Orlando don't resign Grant Hill. Please!
Peyton Manning is hilarious. "I'll kill a snitch." SNL is hardly watchable anymore. Justin Timberlake is the only decent host in the last two years until Manning this last Saturday. The only skits that are somewhat funny are Target (sometimes), Two A-holes (always), Blizzard Man (which only I find funny apparently) and Bronx Beat (most of the time). Peyton's
United Way is up there with Omletville. (I'm only comparing SNL skits from recent years. There is no way anyone could beat Steve Martin era or Adam Sandler era)
Baseball update. It's about to start. Dice K mania is everywhere. I say he has 12-14 wins with an ERA of about 3.50 or so. Hitters will eventually find him out. If pitches come across the plate, Major League players will find ways to put it into play. MLB has turned into an offensive game, I don't see one pitcher changing that.
Could Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz really be retiring next year? What will happen to the Braves? Will John Smoltz wear another uni? If Atlanta is out of the running, will Andruw Jones change his mind about the no-trade clause? Can Chipper stay healthy for a full year anymore? Will their starting pitching mirror their bullpen last year? The Braves have lots of questions. Every team does this time of year.
Will baseball ever have a salary cap?
I don't care if A-Rod leaves the Yankees without winning a title. If I'm correct, Derek Jeter didn't win one while A-Rod was there either. The Yankees just aren't as good as they once were. They just don't have the pitching anymore.
P.S. Kobe is not better than Jordan. It's an injustice that you even mention the two together.
The NBA salary cap is set at $53.135 million for the 06-07 season. So I checked out si.com’s NBA salary report to make the best possible team that fits under that salary cap. Let’s take a look:
Starting five:
C - Yao Ming – $12, 455,000
You’re going to need a presence down low. What better than the 7’6” Ming?
PF - Dwight Howard - $4,806,720
Follow up that 7’6” nightmare with 6’11” Howard. He’s a beast down low and you’re almost guaranteed a double-double.
SF - Lebron James – $5,828,090
At a little under $6 mil, LeBron is a steal. You won’t be able to keep him long, but one year is all you need with this team.
SG - Dwyane Wade – $3,841,443
What else can you say about the SI, Sportsman of the Year? He's what everyone wants in a teammate.
PG - Kirk Hinrich - $3,192,628
He’s young, quick with great vision. He’s Steve Nash with better range and without the reckless abandonment.
Off the bench
C - Emeka Okafor –$4,300,560
Coming off the bench, Okafor can keep the middle clear of any flying objects.
PF - Chris Bosh – $4,235,220
He’s the younger, cheaper version of Kevin Garnett.
SF - Josh Howard – $1,667,603
I took Howard over Carmelo because he’s cheaper. That’s the reason.
SG - Ben Gordon - $3,862,080
Former sixth man award winner could be valuable backing Wade.
PG - Jameer Nelson - $1,272,120
Quite a surprise for the price. Jameer can handle the ball and take that deep shot if needed.
SF - Shane Battier - $5,393,300
Defensive specialist. Every team needs one coming of the bench.
Total - $49,187,161 (Below the cap, now I can get those leather seats for the box seats.)
There are thousands of choices I could have made. What would your team look like?
Is the game not like how you remembered it? Would you like to see it sped up or see some more life in it? Here are some minor changes that could make your favorite sport more enjoyable.
Soccer
Ditch: Dives–Nothing is worse than watching soccer and seeing someone take a dive. Be a man. It’s supposed to be an honorable game. Treat it like such.
Add: Another ref or two to help get these calls right. That would be less expensive than say Instant Replay.
Football
Ditch: Holding- If it’s happening on every play, just make it legal. It slows the game down way too much.
Add: 10 Second Celebrations-If the celebration last longer than 10 seconds, call a 15 yard Excessive Celebration penalty. Come on, you know you want to know what Chad Johnson is going to do next.
Baseball
Ditch: Designated Hitter-If you can hit, you should be able to pick up a glove and play some D. If you can pitch inside, maybe you should get hit every now and then. You aren't an athlete if you DH, you are just taking batting practice every third inning.
Add: Salary Cap-Come on, you really think the AL is better? They just spend more. The AL East could fund the War of Terror and still have some money left over to build a few hundred schools. Baseball will never be considered a fair sport until a Salary Cap is in place.
Basketball
Ditch: Million Dollar Shoe Contracts-Anyone who knows shoes knows that no Iverson was a tight shoe. The T-Macs are ugly and the Jordan’s keep getting worse. Don’t even get me started on the horrifying LeBrons. I would rather play barefoot. Put the attention back to where it belongs...the play.
Add: Rules to the game-Remember when traveling was traveling? Now it’s a way to make it on the plays of the day. I didn’t know you could take three steps after you stopped dribbling. This is what we are teaching our kids. I know it may add some pizzazz, but please call it like more like the NBA and less like And 1.
I'm not trying to be a sports writer. I just want to share some different views with you.
Sid Bream sliding into home may be my favorite sports memories.
