How USA Basketball will do

This might be a question that you are asking yourself, so this blog will tell you how they will fair.

In years past, the USA Basketball team was simply composed of All-Stars. Too much personality, and not enough win in that team. This years version again has it’s fair share of All-Stars. But now instead of a PG that wants to score all the time, they have a true PG. They have actual Role Players, they have players that actually play defense.

The 14 finalists contending for the 12-man 2006 USA Basketball Men’s World Championship Team roster include: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).

This team has the best young talent in the NBA, as well as a couple exprienced veterans. Expect big things from Wade and LeBron. I can’t predict anything other than the US winning it all.

 Expect a few tough games, but in the long run (including in the next Olympics) this team will have chemistry like no other, and be unstoppable.

College Football Preview #6

The Next installment of my College Football Preview will deal with the weakest of the BCS Conferences: The Big East. You wondering who will win the Big East this year?

1. West Virginia
2. Louisville
3. Pittsburgh
4. South Florida
5. Connecticut
6. Rutgers
7. Cincinnatti
8. Syracuse

Two teams here have a shot at doing something big, West Virginia nad Louisville. If either team goes undefeated, odds are they could be in the national championship game. Prediction: Neither team goes undefeated.

This conference has 2 (maybe 3 with the third at Pittsburgh) good QBs. And it has 2 great RBs. That’s just about it. There are a few other good players, and 2 good teams; but this conference is easily the worst of the BCS Conferences.

NFL Chooses next Commish

Roger Gooden was choosen today to be the next Commission of the NFL.

Goodell, who never stopped rising through the ranks during his lifelong service to the NFL, was chosen on the fifth ballot, beating four other contenders in a vote that took only three hours.

He becomes just the fourth commissioner since World War II, having started his NFL career as a public relations intern a quarter-century ago and having served as Tagliabue’s second-in-command for most of the last decade.

“We’ve had the two greatest sports commissioners in the history of professional sports, Paul Tagliabue and Pete Rozelle, and I was fortunate to work for both of them,” said Goodell, who shook every owners’ hand afterward. “I look forward to the challenge and thank them again for their confidence.”

Goodell remained the favorite even through a four-month search conducted by a committee headed by Rooney and Carolina’s Jerry Richardson. There was no question that he was the choice of the league’s most important owners all along, but none declared any allegiance until the finale.

source:http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-nflcommissioner&prov=ap&type=lgns

BREAKING NEWS

PARIS – Earlier today it was announced that Tour de France winner Floyd Landis’ “B” sample tested positive for both excess and synthetic testosterone.

Landis’ camp released a statement saying “The French are simply trying to catch Floyd ridin’ dirty.”

The statement went on to say that “You have to remember something about the French. To them, any amount of testosterone is an excess, and since it doesn’t occur naturally in their bodies it has to be synthetic. We intend to prove this in the appeals process and have his name cleared.”

The appeals process could take six months.

Technorati Tags: Floyd Landis, Tour de France, testosterone, satire

Dehydration?

I don’t really care too much about the Tour De France, but this is news-worthy.

Phonak was notified July 27 that Landis turned up a testosterone-epitestosterone ratio of 11:1 — nearly three times the 4:1 limit — after speeding his way back into contention during Stage 17.

Ever since, the cyclist and his defense team have offered varying explanations, including cortisone shots taken for pain in Landis’ degenerating hip; drinking beer and whiskey the night before; thyroid medication; and his natural metabolism.

The latest theory — dehydration — appears to contrast with events. Landis pushed ahead at the 45-mile mark July 20 and rode the rest of the stage alone, which he later called an “advantage” because he was constantly near his team’s car and the liquids it carried. He constantly splashed his face and drank fluids as he rode up the Alps.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_ylt=AqlUAeZmshzvLFpRsX59F4R.grcF?slug=ap-landisdoping&prov=ap&type=lgns

I won’t give this too much thought, because this is pretty stupid. Is there anyone that isn’t tried of his excuses?

College Football Preview #5

Don’t think I’ll go as indepth as the ones before, but this is what WILL Happen in the Big Ten this year.

First Standings:

1. Ohio State University
2. Michigan
3. Iowa
4. Penn State
5. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota
7. Northwestern
8. Michigan State
9. Purdue
10. Indiana
11. Illinois

Of Course Troy Smith is the Offensive Player of the Year since I had him one of the QBs of the year. And Being that I think he is the best defender in the nation right now, Paul Posluszny is the Defensive Player of the year.

Infact, that’s all I’ll do for the Big Ten. For now atleast.

Is Oklahoma gonna win the Big 12?

This is a question you might have wanted to ask yourself, a week ago.

 Today news come out about Oklahoma’s starting QB, sophmore Rhett Bomar.

Rhett Bomar is gone, dismissed Wednesday by Bob Stoops for reportedly getting big wages for a job where he didn’t work much.

An internal investigation reveled that Bomar was working about 5 hours a week for an Oklahoma City car dealership, but he was paid for 40 hour work weeks totaling $18,000.

The No Fun League

Sportscenter ran a piece today about Chad Johnson and his celebrations. It made me remember all the touchdown dances we saw last year. From Steve Smith’s Swordfighting to Chad Johnson’s Putt, last season people would tune into games just to see what they would do next. Of course this offseason the NFL stiffens penalities for Touchdown celebrations.

In a vote of 29-3, the owners gave officials power to penalize a team 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff for excessive celebrations anywhere on the field. Spikes, dunks, Lambeau Leaps, spins, dances and simple celebrations will be allowed. But penalties will be given for any celebration other than that.

source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2389062

But they also had had numerous communications from officials of youth football leagues, saying that more and more youngsters were imitating NFL players. And they said a group of players, most of them defenders, who talked to them during meetings in Indianapolis last month agreed the demonstrations were a bit over the top and should be modified.

source: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9345607

So in other words, you have to be on your feet when you celebrate (No proposal for Chad, or boating like a Viking for Steve Smith). You can’t use a prop (No Putting for Chad, or Cell Phone from Joe Horn). And lastly, defenders are embaressed. If you don’t wanna be embaressed because Steve Smith is sword-fighting in your endzone, don’t let him score. I think I speak for most fans (and the people that Chad Johnson says tune in just to see the what they’ll do next) when I say, I thought the NFL stood for the National Football League, not the No Fun League. Let them play, let them make plays, and let them celebrate afterwords. Not only will the players have more fun, the fans will have more fun. That means ratings go up, and you make more money. Everyone is happy, so NFL what are you thinking?

College Football Preview part 4

This entry will be shorter I hope.

 I just want to first point out a few truths in college football.

Allow me to quote one of my favorite blogs real quick:

Taking a sincere look at the Irish program over the years, two things are clear: first, the Irish are almost certainly the best program of all time, and second, the Irish are almost certainly the most over-rated team in any given year. This year is no different. Much like Cal, try to find a quality win by the Irish last year – Navy? a 7-5 Michigan team?

MLB Trade Deadline

 Who were the winners and losers? First here’s what happened

Monday, July 31

• Los Angeles Dodgers get Julio Lugo; Tampa Bay Devil Rays minor-league 3B Joel Guzman and OF Sergio Pedroza.

• Dodgers get RHP Greg Maddux; Chicago Cubs get SS/3B Cesar Izturis.

• New York Mets get RHP Roberto Hernandez and LHP Oliver Perez; Pittsburgh Pirates get OF Xavier Nady.

Mets get RHP Scott Linebrink; San Diego Padres get LHP Oliver Perez and RHP Heath Bell.

 • New York Yankees get 1B/OF Craig Wilson; Pirates get RHP Shawn Chacon.

• Padres get 2B Todd Walker and cash; Cubs get minor-league RHP Jose Ceda.

• St. Louis Cardinals get RHP Jorge Sosa; Atlanta Braves get minor-league RHP Rich Scalamandre.

• Texas Rangers get RHP Kip Wells; Pirates get minor-league pitcher Jesse Chavez.

• Rangers get DH Matt Stairs; Kansas City Royals get minor-league RHP Joselo Diaz.

• Colorado Rockies get LHP Jeremy Affeldt and RHP Denny Bautista; Royals get 1B Ryan Shealy and RHP Scott Dohmann.

• Detroit Tigers get 1B Sean Casey; Pirates get minor-league P Brian Rogers.

• Cincinnati Reds get LHP Rheal Cormier; Philadelphia Phillies get RHP Justin Germano.

• Reds get RHP Kyle Lohse; Minnesota Twins get minor-league RHP Zach Ward.

NFL TE Rankings

Of course Antonio Gates is the man. I take him over some WRs, but the rest?

1. Antonio Gates, SD
2. Tony Gonzalez, KC
3. Jeremy Shockey, NYG
4. Todd Heap, BAL
5. Alge Crumpler, ATL
6. Heath Miller, PIT
7. Randy McMichael, MIA
8. Jason Witten, DAL
9. Chris Cooley, WAS
10. L.J. Smith, PHI

NFL WR Rankings

Sorry TO, you aren’t as good as Torry Holt.

1. Torry Holt, StL
2. Steve Smith, CAR
3. Chad Johnson, CIN
4. Marvin Harrison, IND
5. Terrell Owens, DAL
6. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI
7. Chris Chambers, MIA
8. Randy Moss, OAK
9. Anquan Boldin, ARI
10. Roy Williams, DET

As a side note, if you can, avoid TO. I don’t think he lasts long.

NFL RB Rankings

Everyone asks, Do I draft LJ or Shaun first? I say, neither.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
2. Larry Johnson, KC
3. Shaun Alexander, SEA
4. Clinton Portis, WAS
5. Tiki Barber, NYG
6. Rudi Johnson, CIN
7. Ronnie Brown, MIA
8. LaMont Jordan, OAK
9. Carnell Williams, TB
10. Steven Jackson, StL

NFL QB Rankings

I’m going to rank various positions, so that you readers might have a step up in your Fantasy drafts. These are what the top QBs are.

1.  Peyton Manning, IND
2. Carson Palmer, CIN
3. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA
4. Dante Culpepper, MIA
5. Tom Brady, NE
6. Donavan McNabb, PHI
7. Marc Bulger, StL
8. Kurt Warner, ARI
9. Eli Manning, NYG
10. Trent Green, KC

And just a note, this is for Fantasy Purposes, and doesn’t nessesarily reflect how good the QB is, more or less the situation they are in.

College Football Preview Part 3

Here’s what WILL happen in the ACC this year.

I’ll predict every ACC related game, and tell you how they will finish