I'm not usually one to start campaigning for someone's MVP candidacy less than a third of the way through the season, but with the way Detroit Pistons' point guard Chauncey Billups has played so far this season, maybe I should.

Tonight, Billups put forth another ho-hum performance talleying 21 points, 13 assists, and 7 rebounds in a 113-106 win over the hapless Toronto Raptors in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated.  Those numbers are just a microcosm of what Billups has been doing for Flip Saunders and the Pistons all season long.

Chauncey has been the catalyst for Detroit's franchise best 23-3 start to the '05-'06 season.  He simply does what his team needs him to do on any given night.  If his team needs him to hit a big shot, he comes through - just like he did in a double-overtime victory over Memphis eight days ago.  If they need him to distribute and get his teammates involved, he does that as well - ala his NBA season high 19 assist performance against Sacramento two weeks ago.  Whatever is asked of him, Mr. Big Shot delivers.

Chauncey currently ranks in the top ten in four offensive categories.  But the most important stat of all is the one in which he leads the entire league - assist-to-turnover ratio.  Billups dishes out an incredible 4.69 assists for every turnover he commits.  Interestingly enough, Chauncey's backup, Carlos Arroyo, ranks fifth in this category.

But for Billups, the statistics only begin to tell the story.  His floor leadership, calmness under pressure, and ability to make everyone on the floor better are qualities that only a few select NBA players possess in today's game.  And that is something that cannot be overlooked.

Certainly, Larry Brown must be credited for helping Chauncey become a complete point guard during his two-year tenure in Detroit.  But under Flip's guidance, Billups has been given more freedom to be aggressive offensively and take advantage of physically inferior adversaries.  And in turn, because teams compensate by switching and double-teaming, this has opened up offensive avenues for the likes of Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace, thus making Detroit a more potent offensive unit collectively.

When it's all said and done, I'm sure Allen Iverson, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will all have superior numbers to that of Billups (as they do now) and they will likely be the front-runners for MVP honors.  But hopefully, the writers will look beyond the numbers when deciding who to vote for because if Chauncey continues to play at this incredible pace, his intangibles will more than make up for his lacking stat line.

But hey, I'll admit that there is way too much season left to start talking about MVP candidates right now.  Besides that, the premise of this blog was to simply praise Billups for his consistent play and his role in the Pistons' tremendous start, not to promote him as the next NBA MVP.  So with that, I'll simply settle for an appearance (perhaps even a start?) in the All-Star game this February.  Lord knows he has deserved that type of recognition for the last two years at least, and he definitely deserves that recognition this year.  

If not, it will be the biggest miscarriage of justice in sports since the Colorado Buffaloes were given a fifth down in a game against Missouri.        

I should preface this piece by stating that I love the three major team sports showcased in this country (baseball, football and basketball)  almost equally.  Heck, I've even grown to love hockey - thanks to the help of my father explaining the rules and intricacies of the game, and the fact that I live near Detroit where it's seen as a capital crime not to be a fan of the Red Wings.  But if I had to choose one game that is a cut above the rest, it would have to be America's national pastime... baseball.

In the past, I've been involved in several spirited debates over this very subject.  People who disagree with my stance always say the same things:  "How can you stand to watch an entire baseball game?  It's so boring!  There's not enough action.  I fall asleep after the third inning" ... yadda, yadda, yadda!  After a while, it becomes so redundant that I simply reply with a profound line from a Metallica song ("Hollier Than Thou") that says, "boredom sets into the boring mind!"

But since this blogging contest is about conveying our shared passion for sports and everything it has to offer, I thought I'd use this opportunity to blog about why I think baseball is truly the greatest game on Earth.

Now sure, there are the obvious reasons why baseball is so grand.  The walkoff home runs, the no-hitters, the record chases, and the pennant races are just a few palpable examples of the allure of the game.  And while those examples are essential to the love I have for baseball, there are other more subtle reasons why baseball is so unique, and why it is, in my humble opinion, the best game on the planet.

To qualify the above statement, I provide you with three not-so-obvious reasons why baseball is still the king of all team sports:

1)  By the Numbers

It goes without saying that numbers and statistics are prevalant in every sport.  But with baseball, numbers are a defining entity as well as a mathematician's dream come true.  In addition to the simple usage of numbers as it relates to the score, individual stats, the distance from home to first, home to pitcher's mound and home to the center field wall, numbers are used to calculate other important numbers as well. 

Think about all the different ratios and averages that are calculated during a baseball game and season:  strikeout-to-walk ratio, on base percentage, slugging percentage, stolen base percentage, save percentage (or save vs. blown save ratio) batting average and earned run average - just to name a few.  All these numbers can be broken down further within the context of a game, and all are vital to a manager's in-game strategies (more on that later).

Numbers are also a key component in the complex scoring system in baseball... imagine that!  Each position in the field is designated a number so the scorekeeper can easily summarize each play.  Let's face it, it's much easier to write "4-6-3" on the scorecard than it is "second base to shortstop to first base."  And at the end of the game, the final numbers don't just dictate who won and who lost, they tell the entire story of the game.  For example, if the Yankees finish a game with a line that reads 5-10-0 as opposed to the Red Sox 2-4-2, it tells us that the Yankees slapped around the Sox pitching pretty good and played great defense to boot.  Meanwhile, the Red Sox had trouble getting runners on base and played sloppy in the field.  The final numbers in any other game (sans the stat line) only tell who won and who lost, nothing more.

Numbers also decide many in-game strategies in baseball.  How many times have you watched a game and saw a stat flash across the screen saying Joe Blow hits just .201 vs. lefties as opposed to .313 against righties?  As soon as you see that stat, you see the manager waltz out of the dugout and motion for the south paw.  Just as quickly, the opposing manager is likely to call Mr. Blow back to the dugout and look for either a) a right-handed batter who hits lefties well, or b) a hitter who has had great career success against the pitcher coming into the game.  It's a tremendous cat-and-mouse game that is solely dependent on the numbers.

2)  The Game Within the Game

Another aspect I love about baseball is "the game within the game."  What I mean when I say this is simply what is happening in between each pitch.  Whether it's a base-runner attempting to steal a sign, a third-base coach relaying a hit-and-run sign from the bench, or the outfield shifting one way or another because of the way a hitter is being pitched, there are always countless "games" taking place that the camera just can't show to the audience.  That is one of the many reasons why I prefer attending a baseball game live instead of watching it on TV.

It is during these periods that most casual on-lookers complain that the game is too slow.  They claim there's too much stalling in baseball, that players are more concerned with grabbing their crotch, tapping the bat to their cleats and spitting on the ground than they are getting a hit and coming through for their team.  While that claim may be true for a few select players, for the most part, this is where all the real action is taking place. 

When a hitter steps out of the batter's box, he's probably doing it for one of two reasons:  1) He missed the sign, or is unsure of the sign, and merely steps out to make sure he knows what he's supposed to do on the next pitch.  OR...  2) The pitcher is taking too long and the hitter feels like his muscles aren't relaxed enough to swing freely and his concentration is beginning to dwindle.  Once this happens, the signs from both benches could change entirely.  To me, that is the meat and potatoes of the game.  I love to play the guessing game as to what each manager will do next.  For instance...

What pitches will they use to try and get the hitter out?  Last time they struck him out with a curve ball.  But I think that might be what he is looking for this time around.  Maybe they should crowd him with a fastball and try to sneak it by him.  Is the hit-and-run on?  Or will they try to bunt the runner over?  Will they walk hitter A to pitch to hitter B?  These are all questions and concerns I'm constantly pondering to myself when I watch a baseball game.  It is truly a thinking man's game.

3)  Time is Never an Issue

The other unique, underlying aspect of baseball that separates it from the rest is that it's the only team sport (at least to my knowledge) that is not controlled by a clock.  Think about it.  When you watch a basketball game, you pretty much know when a game is going to be decided - even a close game.  When the game comes down to its final seconds (whether it's regulation or overtime), that final possession will basically make or break that team's fate.  Same with football for the most part.  Although in the NFL, the overtime periods are sudden death.  Still, when a team drives inside the opponent's 30, you pretty much know the end is near.  In baseball, the game can continue for hours and the finish can come in an instant, without warning or provokation.  Look no further than last October for a prime example.

The Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros played an 18 inning, 5 hour 50 minute marathon that promptly ended with one improbable swing of a rookie bat.  I remember watching this game in utter disbelief.  After Lance Berkman and Brad Ausmus' late-inning heroics, the game took several gut-wrenching twists and turns as each team had opportunities to win it in the extra innings.  As a fan, you were glued to the set knowing that if you walked away for even one second, you could miss the play that decides the game.  As it turned out, that's exactly what happened to me.  A prior commitment prohibited me from seeing the dramatic ending to that legendary game.  But as disappointed as I was that I didn't get to see it live, I was comforted with the thought of all the dramatic finishes I had witnessed in the past, as well as all the improbable endings I'm sure I'll see in the future. 

In retrospect, there are literally hundreds of reasons to watch and enjoy the game of baseball, as there are for any other sport.  But the numbers, the game within the game, and the timeless aspect of America's pastime make it completely unique to any other athletic endeavor. 

So if you're one of those critics who say there isn't enough physical action in baseball to keep you interested, take these three concepts into consideration and see if it changes the way you feel about it.  If it doesn't, then it's simple - baseball isn't the game for you.  But if it does, you'll never watch a baseball game the same way again. 

After a convincing 22-3 victory over their arch-rivals, the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, the Denver Broncos find themselves sitting in an enviable position - locked into the second seed in the AFC playoff picture with a first round bye and at least one home playoff game forthcoming.

Of course, they can also thank their friends in Buffalo for their integral role in the proceedings.  The Bills played Grinch to the Christmas dreams of the Cincinnati Bengals by virtue of a stunning 37-27 upset of the Bengals on their home turf.

Still, the Broncos more than earned their spot and now they'll be rewarded with their first home playoff game since 1998, which coincidentally was the AFC Championship Game that year.  The Broncos defeated the New York Jets in route to their second straight World Championship.

Despite the joy and jubilation being felt amongst loyal Bronco fans in Colorado and beyond this holiday season, things weren't so promising just four months ago.

Going into the 2005 season, prognosticators were hailing the defending AFC West Champions, the San Diego Chargers, as the team to beat in the division.  The Chargers were coming off a surprising 12-4 campaign in '04 and returned all of their multitude of offensive weapons (Brees, Tomlinson, Gates and McCardell)for the '05 season.  Therefore, barring injuries, there was no reason to think San Diego couldn't repeat the successes of the previous year.

In addition to the Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs were expected to make some noise in the AFC West as well.  The NFL's number one offense from a year ago added several impact players on the defensive side of the ball to ensure that they wouldn't be the proverbial one-legged fighter in an ass-kicking contest.

Heck, even the Oakland Raiders, with their off-season addition of Randy Moss, received more hype and publicity than the Denver Broncos.  And after week one, it appeared that all the pre-season snubbing was warranted as the Broncos were man-handled by one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2004, the Miami Dolphins, 34-10.

However, the Broncos rebounded the following week with a huge 20-17 last-second win over the division favorites, the Chargers, and went on to win five straight games in all, including impressive home victories over the Chiefs and Patriots and a road win at Jacksonville.  They would win 12 of the next 14 overall.

In a normal season, the Broncos' regular season exploits would garner tons of media love and respect.  But with the Colts chasing history, the Bears' defense taking the NFC by storm, and the Bengals finally resurging to glory after fifteen years of mutiny, there just wasn't enough room on the front page for Denver Broncos praise.

Nevertheless, Mike Shanahan kept his team focused week after week.  Whether it was the play of the defense, the power running game, the right arm of the oft-criticized Jake Plummer, or a combination of all the above, the Broncos stampeded through the competition on their way to a 12-3 record with one meaningless game at San Diego left on the schedule.  The next big contest on the docket will be a home playoff game in mid January.

So the question looms... was Denver being ignored all season or were they simply taking care of business under the radar?  Personally, I think it's more of the latter than the former.

First of all, not even taking into account the play of the Indianapolis Colts (which is a huge reason why we don't hear much about the Broncos), the AFC as a whole houses nine teams with a winning record.  Six of those nine teams already have double-digit wins with one game still to play. 

Secondly, the Broncos don't possess a game-breaking, highlight machine like John Elway or Terrell Davis anymore.  They don't have a Peyton Manning, a LaDainian Tomlinson, or a Chad Johnson that fills up the film room on ESPN's "NFL Primetime".  Instead, they have a collection of very good players who play very well together.  You won't find any Broncos' players ranked in the top five in most individual statistical categories, but as a team they're rank 2nd in the NFL in rushing offense, 3rd in rushing defense, and 5th in total offense.  Those are stats that championship teams are comprised of.

Finally, it's not like the Denver Broncos have been completely forgotten.  They've played a number of games in front of a national audience, including an early season Monday night drubbing of Kansas City and a huge Thanksgiving win over the Cowboys.  And now that the Colt's pursuit of perfection is over, experts are finally beginning to realize that the Broncos have been right there all season long and possess both the physical attributes as well as the intangibles to be right there in Detroit come February.

Whether or not that actually happens is certainly arguable, but if it does, you may have to flip over to page 2 to find out.  Okay, that may be exaggerating the point a bit, but you get the picture.

I can see it now... 15 years from now on Christmas Day, the Atlanta Hawks will square off against the L.A. Clippers in a rematch of the previous year's NBA Finals (did I just blow my credibility with this piece in the first sentence?) and the top story on Sportscenter will be:

Shaq and Kobe exchange words inside a Santa Suit Shop in Massapeekua!

SC anchor:  "Breaking news coming out of Massapeekua, NY.  Former 12-time NBA MVP Kobe Bryant and his arch-nemisis 'Big Daddy' Shaquille O'Neal were seen exchanging pleasantries at a Santa suit shop as both were purchasing Santa Claus suits in preparation for separate charity events where each would be playing the part of St. Nick for under-priveleged children.  Let's send it out to our award-winning Shaq/Kobe correspondent Rachel Nichols for more on this story."

Rachel Nichols:  "After seventeen years of not speaking, or even acknowledging each other's existence, Shaq and Kobe apparantly buried the hatchet today at a Santa suit shop in Massapeekua.  I asked both legends what this conversation meant in the grand scheme of their illustrious rivalry."

Kobe Bryant:  "Shaq and I just aired out some stuff that's been sorta under the surface for a long time.  We talked a little basketball.  We talked about our families and everything.  It was a great conversation and I really feel good about our situation now."

Rachel:  "Is it safe to say that the uneasiness between you two is a thing of the past?"

Kobe:  "I wouldn't say it's a thing of the past necessarily, but I definitely think that some fences are finally being mended."

Rachel:  "Despite Kobe's encouraging words, Shaq was not quite so positive when discussing the impromptu meeting."

Shaq:  "It was nothing.  He was there, I was there.  We said hello to each other and that was about it.  Nothing has changed."

Rachel:  "Well Shaq, Kobe indicated to us that fences were mended and the rivalry is just about over.  Are his claims untrue, or was this simply a case of Kobe sending the media a message that he's being the bigger man?"

Shaq:  "I don't know.  I don't have a fax machine so I didn't get that message.  I'll be sure to check my email when I get home.  Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Santa suit to return and another rap CD to finish.  I think this one's going aluminum!"

Rachel:  "Don't you mean platinum?"

Shaq:  "Platinum?  My name's 'Big Daddy', not 'Puff Daddy'!" 

Rachel:  "Well there you have it.  Two different outlooks on a by-chance conversation between two very different personalities.  No matter how you look at it, today's interaction is without a doubt the biggest turn of events in this on-going saga since Shaq was traded to Miami amid rumblings that the two larger-than-life superstars could not co-exist some sixteen years ago.  This is Rachel Nichols, ESPN."

SC anchor:  "Thanks Rachel.  Rachel Nichols will continue to follow the two former teammates wherever they go.  We'll have more on this story as it develops."

This fictitious dramatization, while a tad whimsical and proposterous, is a prime example of how extremely annoying and unnecessary this story has become. Unfortunately, with every channel or page you turn, it seems virtually impossible to escape it.  But in case you've been living under a rock for the last three years, here's a quick synopsis:

KOBE AND SHAQ HATE EACH OTHER'S GUTS!!!

Now isn't that a great story?  Isn't that what professional basketball should be all about?  One dynamic, outspoken personality taking one verbal shot after another against his bitter personal rival; a fantastic, yet incredibly dull athlete who's media persona is about as endearing as Joe Namath trapped in a dry county.  Yeah, that's the stuff dreams are made of!

All sarcasm aside, I find this "rivalry" to be very mind-numbing these days.  It's just so yesterday's news and what's worse, it's taking away from what should be the biggest story in the NBA - who is playing the best basketball.

In case you didn't notice (and unless you follow the NBA closely year after year, you probably didn't), the "other game" in yesterday's Christmas Day double-header was a rematch of last year's grueling, seven-game NBA Finals.  It was also a contest between the last two NBA Champions.  And in case you also didn't notice, it was a game pitting the two best teams in their respective conferences against each other.

The San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons battled it out in a physically demanding four quarters of basketball yesterday.  Detroit came out on top in the end, 85-70.

Chauncey Billups led the Pistons in scoring with 20 points, while Ben Wallace provided the emotional spark and energy the Pistons needed by chipping in with 10 points and recording a game-high 21 rebounds. 

The Pistons outrebounded the Spurs 57-30 for the game, including an 18-6 edge on the offensive glass.

Admittedly, the game probably meant more to the Pistons who were looking to avenge last season's Game 7 loss to the reigning World Champions.  But the Spurs were in need of a victory as well, entering the game losers of two of their last four.  After Sunday's disappointment, the losing number now becomes three of five.  

The Spurs played the game without one of their biggest contributors in swingman Manu Ginobili, who missed his eighth straight game with a sprained right foot.  The offensive firepower and intensity that Ginobili adds to the Spurs' arsenal was almost as lacking as the hype for this game.

"We're very honored, but we realize that it is a great responsibility to play in the JV game," said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich prior to the game.  "We have to do a good job to make sure the fans stay around to watch the varsity game."

Of course, Popovich's comments were made tongue-in-cheek, but that doesn't change the fact that they were substantiated.  The matchup of the NBA's best teams was pushed aside for the sexier matchup between the league's two biggest individual cash cows.

At the end of the day, the Lakers/Heat game proved to be the better contest overall.  But that doesn't change the fact that the Spurs/Pistons matchup should've been the bigger game going in.

But hey, the NBA is a marketing league first and foremost, especially when it comes to its media coverage.  And neither the Spurs nor the Pistons possess a marketable superstar (read - media darling) that best represents the true vision for the present and future of the league.

But don't fret sports fans, because when the Spurs and Pistons clash again this June, I'm sure ESPN will keep us abreast of what Kobe and Shaq are saying about each other.

After all, the real story isn't about who can play the best basketball, it's about who can talk the best smack... right?

UGH!!!!     

Over the course of the last few days, ESPN has been conducting an informal poll asking fans across the country how today's USC team would stack up against National Championship teams of the past.

In the first edition, they asked fans how the '05 Trojans would fare against the '91 Washington Huskies.  Then they matched them up against the '02 Ohio State Buckeyes, followed next by the '69 Texas Longhorns.  And today they pondered who would win between USC and the '97 Michigan squad, which actually shared the National Title with Nebraska.

In the coming weeks, they'll countdown eight more National Championship teams hand-picked by their "esteemed panel of College Football experts" from SportsNation to match up against the high-powered Trojans.  I guess this is their way of finding out if USC is the best college football unit ever assembled?

Never mind the fact that it's utterly ridiculous predicting the outcome of a fictional game between two teams from different eras.  But to actually break it down by examining individual matchups like Kirk Herbstreit and Mark May have been doing and using that as a precursor to determine the winner is beyond the realm of stupidity.  Last time I checked, winning a football game had more to do with coaching, game-planning and overall team intensity than simply who has the better players.

Now let me preface by saying I realize that the Trojans are the defending National Champions and own one of the longest winning streaks (34 games) in NCAA history.  And by virtue of these outstanding accomplishments, they are more than deserving of such strong accolades and continuous media attention.

But before we start matching them against the likes of the 1994 Penn State Nittany Lions, the '95 Nebraska Cornhuskers, or the '55 Oklahoma Sooners, why don't we see how they fare against the 2005 Texas Longhorns?  Remember them?  In case you've forgotten through all of this SC media lovefest, Texas is the other team vying to be recognized as the undisputed NCAA Champions.  And I'd dare to claim that they have a better chance of winning that game than many "experts" are giving them credit for.

Therefore, in the interest of fairness, ESPN would've been much better off waiting to conduct this poll (and subsequent Sportscenter segment) after the Rose Bowl has been completed.

Of course, if Texas actually wins the game then all of their work in preparation for this poll would be for naught.  But hey, isn't that better than conducting it before-hand and ultimately looking stupid for hailing the nation's runner-up?

Just some food for thought!