First of all I wanted to apologize for not blogging in the last week. Even though nobody reads this blog (at least they don't comment) as a journalist it is my job to update more frequently. That being said let's get to it.
The New England Patriots must be awful sick of losing to the Indianapolis Colts. On Sunday, they picked up a talented yet troubled wide receiver in Randy Moss. Moss was great in Minnesota. He came out and did his job each and every week, but he NEVER WON A CHAMPIONSHIP. Bottom line. You can be a good player, but until you win a championship you will never be a member of that elite class.
He was traded to Oakland, a place everybody, including Moss, thought he would succeed. I mean the Raider nation personality and Moss' personality go hand in hand. But it did not work out, and Moss was not happy about it. He would stop running routes in the middle of games, and start to pout on the sideline. Is this really a guy to take a risk on? For a fourth round pick absolutely, but what about some of the other things the Patriots have done this off-season. They signed Adeylius Thomas of Baltimore and Dante Stallworth of Philadelphia; two guys that have been known for attitude issues in the past. Then, on Saturday, they drafted a player in Brandon Merriweather, who has serious problems. If you remember the brawl between Miami (Fl) and Florida Atlantic this past college football season, Merriweather was the guy stomping on people with his cleats. What? New England is going to pick a guy like that with its first round draft pick?
In my opinion the Patriots organization wants another championship, and they want it now. Bill Billicheck probably thinks he can handle the attitude issues because he has done it in the past, but this was different. He handled Corey Dillon just fine, but that was one issue. And he was giving Dillon the ball all he wanted it. Look what happened as soon as Lawrence Maroney came in last year and took away some of his playing time; he hated it and wanted out. You don't think that is going to happen with Randy Moss, Dante Stallworth, Wes Walker, Javar Gaffney? Brady is famous for hitting all of his receivers, will Moss be okay with that? What about the fact that Moss is known to be a long ball guy while Brady likes to move down the field with short routes? What New England has done is risky at best, so don't pencil them into the Super Bowl just yet.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Why to watch?
Since it has been a relatively quiet day in sports and I am pressing for time, here are some reasons to watch the games I have recommended.
1. Cleveland Indians @ Minnesota Twins
The Indians won a thriller last night behind youngster Jeremy Sowers, and you better believe the Twins will be out for revenge. They definitely have the advantage playing indoors, and with ace of the league Johan Santana on the mound things should be interesting.
2. L.A. Lakers @ Phoenix Suns Game 2
The NBA Playoffs are now in full swing, and what better way to end your day then watch a couple of the league's best players? Kobe Bryant will be trying to carry his team on his back while Steve Nash dishes it to his teammates. Kobe couldn't do it by himself in Game 1, will tonight be any different?
3. San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks
There is one reason to keep an eye on this game: Randy Johnson. Johnson his making his first start with the D'Backs since 2003, and his first start this season after coming off the disabled list. He was the Arizona ace in the past, can he return to his old ways or has he become a has been?
4. Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls Game 2
Game 1 left us with a cry baby Shaq, and an accusatory Pat Riley. Wow, this is better then a reality show. The Bulls will look to take complete control of the series while Dwyane Wade will try to return to form. Can the Heat continue a quest at a repeat?
1. Cleveland Indians @ Minnesota Twins
The Indians won a thriller last night behind youngster Jeremy Sowers, and you better believe the Twins will be out for revenge. They definitely have the advantage playing indoors, and with ace of the league Johan Santana on the mound things should be interesting.
2. L.A. Lakers @ Phoenix Suns Game 2
The NBA Playoffs are now in full swing, and what better way to end your day then watch a couple of the league's best players? Kobe Bryant will be trying to carry his team on his back while Steve Nash dishes it to his teammates. Kobe couldn't do it by himself in Game 1, will tonight be any different?
3. San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks
There is one reason to keep an eye on this game: Randy Johnson. Johnson his making his first start with the D'Backs since 2003, and his first start this season after coming off the disabled list. He was the Arizona ace in the past, can he return to his old ways or has he become a has been?
4. Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls Game 2
Game 1 left us with a cry baby Shaq, and an accusatory Pat Riley. Wow, this is better then a reality show. The Bulls will look to take complete control of the series while Dwyane Wade will try to return to form. Can the Heat continue a quest at a repeat?
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Why not us?
The baseball season has officialy begun now that we have seen a spring weekend. The Yankees are battling the Red Sox while the Cubs take on the Cardinals.
Why can't the Cubs be a championship contender this year? Granted they have had a very slow start, but they have the roster that can really do some damage in October. Adding Alfonso Soriano, Mark DeRosa, and Cliff Floyd only made this lineup stronger. They have struggled at the plate so far this season, but you have to believe that things will only get better.
The pitching has been fantastic, especially the youngster Rich Hill. Hill has a 3-0 record and an ERA of less then 0.5 per game. Marquis has been better then advertised, and Lilly has been stellar. The one pitcher that has struggled is the club's ace, Carlos Zambrano. The big Z has a 1-2 record with a 7.77 ERA so far in April. But if you look at his numbers from Aprils in the past you will notice that he has struggled early in the season. Never has his ERA been below 4 in the month of April, so things will get better for him. He just needs to get his arm strength back up and feel more comfortable on the mound. Once that happens you better believe he will be in contention for the NL CyYoung.
So watch out for those Cubbies, because this year is the year to end the curse; 2007.
Why can't the Cubs be a championship contender this year? Granted they have had a very slow start, but they have the roster that can really do some damage in October. Adding Alfonso Soriano, Mark DeRosa, and Cliff Floyd only made this lineup stronger. They have struggled at the plate so far this season, but you have to believe that things will only get better.
The pitching has been fantastic, especially the youngster Rich Hill. Hill has a 3-0 record and an ERA of less then 0.5 per game. Marquis has been better then advertised, and Lilly has been stellar. The one pitcher that has struggled is the club's ace, Carlos Zambrano. The big Z has a 1-2 record with a 7.77 ERA so far in April. But if you look at his numbers from Aprils in the past you will notice that he has struggled early in the season. Never has his ERA been below 4 in the month of April, so things will get better for him. He just needs to get his arm strength back up and feel more comfortable on the mound. Once that happens you better believe he will be in contention for the NL CyYoung.
So watch out for those Cubbies, because this year is the year to end the curse; 2007.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Wade Will Be Ready
Finally. The NBA postseason is upon us after 5 painful months of regular season basketball, and the last two weeks of meaningless games. Today marks the start of the longest postseason in sports today; continuing into the end of June.
The day's most intriguing game, and ultimately the most intriguing series will prove to be the Bulls vs. Heat. Miami comes in as the defending world champions, but its team has been intact for only a small part of the season. Shaq was out for a while with injuries, then Wade's shoulder caused him to miss 2 months. But both are back now and are ready to make another playoff run.
Let me tell you why Chicago will not win this series. Because it do not yet have a guy that can take over games. When the Bulls were winning championship after championship in the 90s, Michael Jordan was there to lead them. Who is the Michael Jordan now? Who is even close? The argument seems to be Ben Gordon, but that is not the case. How can you expect a 6'3 guy to take over a game late? If the other team's best defender is on him he is harmless at best. The Bulls have every other piece in place; Luol Deng plays a similar role to Scottie Pippen, and Ben Wallace seems very much like a Dennis Rodman. Kirk Heinrich or Gordon could play the role as Steve Kurr, but the most important piece is still missing. Now by virtue of the Eddie Curry trade last summer the Bulls are going to have the option of swapping picks with the New York Knicks. So maybe they use that this summer and make a trade for that "premier" player. But this is not their year, the Heat win in 6.
The day's most intriguing game, and ultimately the most intriguing series will prove to be the Bulls vs. Heat. Miami comes in as the defending world champions, but its team has been intact for only a small part of the season. Shaq was out for a while with injuries, then Wade's shoulder caused him to miss 2 months. But both are back now and are ready to make another playoff run.
Let me tell you why Chicago will not win this series. Because it do not yet have a guy that can take over games. When the Bulls were winning championship after championship in the 90s, Michael Jordan was there to lead them. Who is the Michael Jordan now? Who is even close? The argument seems to be Ben Gordon, but that is not the case. How can you expect a 6'3 guy to take over a game late? If the other team's best defender is on him he is harmless at best. The Bulls have every other piece in place; Luol Deng plays a similar role to Scottie Pippen, and Ben Wallace seems very much like a Dennis Rodman. Kirk Heinrich or Gordon could play the role as Steve Kurr, but the most important piece is still missing. Now by virtue of the Eddie Curry trade last summer the Bulls are going to have the option of swapping picks with the New York Knicks. So maybe they use that this summer and make a trade for that "premier" player. But this is not their year, the Heat win in 6.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Overhaul Part II
Everything was going along fine. The Pacers were playing Detroit in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and looked like a championship contender for many years to come. But that was 2004 and this is now.
That team featured Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal, a dominant duo that could combine for 50 points on any given night. It also featured one of the greatest players of all-time; No. 31 himself, Reggie Miller. The biggest difference in the team that won 61 games in Rick Carsisle's first season and this year is the loss of Reggie Miller. It is not the brawl, the downfall of Ron Artest, the Al Harrington trade, or Jermaine O'Neal's injury. If Mr. Clutch was still on the roster the Pacers would be at least a 4 or 5 seed in the Eastern Conference every season.
He could shoot it from anywhere on the court, and could bring the team back regardless of the circumstances. And his teammates fed off of his energy. I asked Indy Star sportswriter Mark Montieth about Reggie and he gave me this response.
"Reggie was an amazing player. The players are usually required to be at the arena no later then an hour before the game, and some guys have trouble with that. Reggie was always there two and a half hours before the game going through his regular routine."
I think that pretty much tells the story. Indiana has nobody on its roster that even resembles Reggie in the slightest. To tell you the truth, there are only a few players in the league today that have his desire, instincts, and ability to take over a game. I would say that list is limited to Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Dirk Nowitski, Steve Nash, and maybe Chauncey Billups. Dwyane Wade is getting there but I don't know if he is as dedicated as some of the others listed.
It is simply amazing that after how bad the Pacers played all season they were still there at the end. Hold on to the lead against Miami on Friday and who knows. But when the off-season officially begins, it will be time for the Pacers to make another overhaul. If you could call last year's moves an overhaul. I don't mean trading two players with potential for two white guys with long contracts. It is time to make a major move that will move this organization in the right direction. Granted it is going to take a few years to become a true contender again, but something has to start going right.
Indiana will be without a first round draft pick in the upcoming draft, so it has to come up with one. The Pacers should trade away Jamaal Tinsley and O'Neal to get a top 10 pick. Jermaine has done everything in his power to make things work out in Indiana, but the front office failed to put a solid team around him. He will be better off somewhere else, and the Pacers will have the opportunity for a fresh start. If they can get a guy like Kevin Durant, or a Corey Brewer, or a Al Horford, then they can begin to build around him. It is kind of similar to what has happened down in Orlando. The Magic were a terrible team after trading Tracy McGrady a couple of years ago, but by drafting Dwight Howard they began the rebuilding process. Now they are in the playoffs and could be a true contender in the next couple of years.
But in my opinion the Pacers need to come up with at least two first round picks. It doesn't really matter where they come because this year's draft is going to be deep. I wouldn't mind if they kept a guy like Mike Dunleavy Jr. because I think he has a lot of potential. He is too unselfish, but is somebody can teach him to be a scorer I think he can put up 20 a game.
The last move for the Pacers to make will be to get rid of Danny Granger. Now I like Granger as much as the next guy, but he is the only other Indiana player that has any value whatsoever. The Pacers have to do whatever it takes to get back to being a contender.
Rarely is a city happy to see a season end, but Indianapolis will be overjoyed on Thursday morning to know that the Pacers are done for the year. But it will be calling at the top of its lungs "Reggie, come back! We can't live without you."
That team featured Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal, a dominant duo that could combine for 50 points on any given night. It also featured one of the greatest players of all-time; No. 31 himself, Reggie Miller. The biggest difference in the team that won 61 games in Rick Carsisle's first season and this year is the loss of Reggie Miller. It is not the brawl, the downfall of Ron Artest, the Al Harrington trade, or Jermaine O'Neal's injury. If Mr. Clutch was still on the roster the Pacers would be at least a 4 or 5 seed in the Eastern Conference every season.
He could shoot it from anywhere on the court, and could bring the team back regardless of the circumstances. And his teammates fed off of his energy. I asked Indy Star sportswriter Mark Montieth about Reggie and he gave me this response.
"Reggie was an amazing player. The players are usually required to be at the arena no later then an hour before the game, and some guys have trouble with that. Reggie was always there two and a half hours before the game going through his regular routine."
I think that pretty much tells the story. Indiana has nobody on its roster that even resembles Reggie in the slightest. To tell you the truth, there are only a few players in the league today that have his desire, instincts, and ability to take over a game. I would say that list is limited to Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Dirk Nowitski, Steve Nash, and maybe Chauncey Billups. Dwyane Wade is getting there but I don't know if he is as dedicated as some of the others listed.
It is simply amazing that after how bad the Pacers played all season they were still there at the end. Hold on to the lead against Miami on Friday and who knows. But when the off-season officially begins, it will be time for the Pacers to make another overhaul. If you could call last year's moves an overhaul. I don't mean trading two players with potential for two white guys with long contracts. It is time to make a major move that will move this organization in the right direction. Granted it is going to take a few years to become a true contender again, but something has to start going right.
Indiana will be without a first round draft pick in the upcoming draft, so it has to come up with one. The Pacers should trade away Jamaal Tinsley and O'Neal to get a top 10 pick. Jermaine has done everything in his power to make things work out in Indiana, but the front office failed to put a solid team around him. He will be better off somewhere else, and the Pacers will have the opportunity for a fresh start. If they can get a guy like Kevin Durant, or a Corey Brewer, or a Al Horford, then they can begin to build around him. It is kind of similar to what has happened down in Orlando. The Magic were a terrible team after trading Tracy McGrady a couple of years ago, but by drafting Dwight Howard they began the rebuilding process. Now they are in the playoffs and could be a true contender in the next couple of years.
But in my opinion the Pacers need to come up with at least two first round picks. It doesn't really matter where they come because this year's draft is going to be deep. I wouldn't mind if they kept a guy like Mike Dunleavy Jr. because I think he has a lot of potential. He is too unselfish, but is somebody can teach him to be a scorer I think he can put up 20 a game.
The last move for the Pacers to make will be to get rid of Danny Granger. Now I like Granger as much as the next guy, but he is the only other Indiana player that has any value whatsoever. The Pacers have to do whatever it takes to get back to being a contender.
Rarely is a city happy to see a season end, but Indianapolis will be overjoyed on Thursday morning to know that the Pacers are done for the year. But it will be calling at the top of its lungs "Reggie, come back! We can't live without you."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)