Not Another Sports Chat

It has Been a While

2005-12-20T13:16:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a while since I have written on NASC, and a lot has happened since then. I have become enthralled with soccer. It is odd, because I am an American, and according to tradition we are supposed to hate soccer. But that is not the case, in fact it seems that I am watching more and more soccer, slowly becoming addicted to the world's sport.

But enough about me. I am back, and feel glad to be back.

Weekend Wrap Up

2004-12-12T19:35:00.000-08:00

Now that the weekend is all but over (it always goes to fast) we must note all of the "highlights" in the world of sports:

Coach K. of the Duke Blue Devils has now amassed 700 wins.

Tiger Woods won the Target World Challenge by two strokes, with a score of -16. I guess the wife is keeping him in check now. It's been a while since Tiger has won, and it's about time!

For the fourth straight week Eli Manning (New York Giants) has flopped. Here are the brilliant stats that Eli produced: 4/18 27 yds. 0 TD 2 INT. Those are close to pro-bowl stats! No wonder Eli was drafted over Ben Roethlisberger (who is now 11-0 as a rookie).

After being fired from Notre Dame, Tyrone Willingham has been given a second chance from the Washington Huskies. I wonder who was more desperate?

That was short. All I know is the Lacrosse season is almost here!! Now the question is: Why am I getting so excited over one of the most boring sports? Heck, even bowling has more excitement than Lacrosse and that is saying something. Oh well. All I have to say is go out and buy the Toots and the Maytals new cd. True Love.

I'm going back to the Philadelphia v. Washington game. So good night.

What's Next for Leinart?

2004-12-12T14:38:00.000-08:00

Now that Matt Leinart has won the Heisman trophy, a share of the national title, and a bid for the 2004 National Title, what's next for Leinart?

The NFL. Period. Why would he waste another year in college, when he could go high in the first round of the draft (or number one)? Remember what is valued more in this country: fame and money, over intelligence and a college education. With ESPN leading the way, it is almost certain Leinart will go Pro.

Its great to know, that our values are in check!

Why Stern is Eliminating Artest

2004-11-22T17:27:00.000-08:00

As we all know, Friday night was a spectacle we all wish did not occur, except Commissioner David Stern. Since the day Ron Artest walked away from St. John's and made himself available for the draft, to the moment he threw the first punch (Friday), Stern had wanted to eliminate him. How could a kid from the slums make it to the NBA and be such a troublemaker? Well Artest did it, and Stern resented it. Sounds comparable to the battle between Howard Stern and Michael Powell (FCC Commissioner). However, in the battle between Artest and Stern, it seems Artest has lost. Now you must understand that I am all for the punishment, however, if there is punishment everyone should receive punishment that represents their actions (no one should be singled out: Artest). A few days have passed, and Stern Rules Out Drastic Remedies for NBA. Seems a bit odd, especially when the NBA has just witnessed a great act of stupidity. Oh well. I still have to deal with my Lakers and their growing problems.

I'm Back Again With a little bit of Everything: NBA, Hockey, Football

2004-11-22T09:58:00.000-08:00

For the past few months I have not written anything. It's been quite hectic and I am sorry. However, I am back now.

All I have to say is: the sports world could not be any worse. For one, the debacle that occurred in Detroit was embarrassment of extreme proportions. Not only were the players out of hand, so too were the fans. Are we going to have to start putting fans in a cage like rabid dogs? I hope not. But then again, Friday night brought us close to that point. I understand that Ron Artest was deserving of his suspension, however, I believe Ben Wallace deserved more than just a six game suspension (especially when it was Wallace who started the fight). That is just my opinion, and for what it is worth. Furthermore, when looking at the suspensions that have been issued, (maybe its my paranoia) but it seems to me that Commissioner David Stern has a vendetta against the Pacers, and even more so with Artest.

"I respect David Stern, but I don't think that he has been fair with me in this situation," Artest said in a statement released by the players union in which he also expressed his regrets. (espn.com)

It was sick watching this, and let's hope this does not happen again.

But it did! If you were watching the Clemson/South Carolina game on Saturday, you would have seen more fighting. What has the world come to? This is not hockey (and even hockey has found a way into the 21st century). Something has to be done, but at least, no other games were marred by acts of stupidity.

One more bit, then I have to leave. After watching the New York Giants/Atlanta Falcons game on Sunday was unimpressed by Eli Manning. Eli is slow, cannot make quick decisions, and has an arm that makes Drew Bledsoe's arm look like great. He has a lot to learn before he can reach Ben Roethlisberger's ability; everyone who had watched college football last year knew Eli was "weak." Oh well, at least it was not my money.

It's good to be back!!

Woods Ahead

2004-08-21T15:16:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods still has a chance to win, amazing isn't it? There have been numerous times today, that Woods looked like he was going to loose it. (missed fairways, bad putting etc.) However, he kept his cool and shot even par, to be -6 overall.

Vijay Singh is tied for 36 (-3). He has no one to blame, especially when Tiger is tied for second.

The Goofs Strike Again

2004-08-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Charges have outdone themselves. I thought the Philip Rivers fiasco was enough. But no, they fooled us, they did something even better. The Spanos Goofs made LeDainian Tomlinson the most paid running back. That's not all. San Diego has rubbed everyone's face in the fact that they are going to pay Tomlinson more than $50.5 million. "He's the best running back I've ever seen," [coach] Schottenheimer said. "He's a terrific, terrific player, and all the superlatives about him as a player I think are exceeded by the fact that he is a greater person." (nfl.com) He might be able to run, but I don't think he can carry this franchise on his back. There still is a huge possibility of injury and or off-field problems. When you look at the majority of the backs in the NFL, they start to decline in their 5th year (i.e. Priest Holmes-Leg Injury, Ricky Williams-Drugs, Jamal Lewis-Drugs, Duce Staley-Leg Injury) So as you can see, its a huge gamble to place your future in the hands of a running back.

Now here is the kicker. San Diego refused to pay their first round draft pick $50 million, even though Rivers was going to be instrumental in the turn around of this pathetic franchise. Just goes to show you where their goals are. They would rather have the most expensive running back instead of a successful program.

PGA update: Briny Baird is now the leader at Whistling Straits with a score of -8.

Darren Clarke (-7), Ernie Els (-6), Justin Leonard (-6) and Stephen Ames (-5) round off the top five. Notables: Vijay Singh (5th), Phil Mickelson (17th), Shigeki Maruyama (44th), Sergio Garcia (56th), Mike Weir (78th), Tiger Woods (100th) and John Daly (143rd).

PGA Update

2004-08-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods still has a chance to win Whistling Straits, especially now that he is tied for 116th place!! Darren Clarke still leads the tournament with a score of -7.

Struggles at Whistling Straits

2004-08-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

The way things are going right now, Tiger Woods is not even close to winning at Whistling Straits. In fact, there still is time for Woods to miss the cut. He is currently +2 (or tied for 43rd place) through 12 holes. The leader right now is Darren Clarke with a score of -7. However, more importantly, Ernie Els is in second place with a score of -6 and is making a strong statment that he is the number one player in the world. For more information, please visit the PGA leader board.

A new Contract and an Impossible Feat

2004-08-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

Kellen Winslow Jr. has finally signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns. With all of the incentives and bonuses, the contract is worth about $40 million. Both sides are now happy: Winslow is the most paid tight end, and Cleveland has one of the top rookies (and on top of that, Winslow is one of the only rookies, this year that can make an immediate impact).

San Diego is still stuck in its mess, with Philip Rivers looking to be a potential impact in the 2005 season, with another team (and that team could possibly be in the European League). Both sides lost this battle: Rivers will not play, and San Diego will continue to be a non in the NFL. At least the media will have fun trashing the Spanos Goofs. Because as things are going right now, San Diego looks worse off than the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Jersey Nets. And both of those teams have no clue what they are doing. The Lakers have placed their future with Kobe Bryant (an alleged rapist and a ball hog) and the New Jersey Nets have tried to place their future with Jason Kidd (even though he has made it clear that he wants a trade). There is not much any of these teams can do. The only difference is that San Diego does not have a player for the future. Yes I know LaDainian Tomlinson is one of the best running backs in the league, however, he is going to leave as soon as his contract is up (look at what Jake Plummer did when he had the chance to leave the pathetic Arizona Cardinals, he went to Denver).

Enough talk about what San Diego cannot do, lets move on to the PGA. The PGA is preparing for its next Major Championship at Whistling Straits, a grueling 7,514-yard course (longest in major championship history), with more bunkers than most people can handle, and water obstacles that can make strong men cry. It's a course that will put these "professionals" to the test, to really see what they are made of (and if they are deserving of all that money). Now here is what I don't understand. The PGA, the media and the players all complain when the course is too hard (i.e. Shinnecock). They all like a course where scoring is high, and the competition is not so tough. Like the tournament two weeks ago, when Vijay Singh (the man who refused to play against Michelle Wie because he was afraid he might loose to a girl) came in second at the Mercedes Championships with a score of -21. He came in second with a score of -21! That's not golf In fact, every tournament Singh played in after the U.S. Open (in which he came in 28th, with a score of +13) he averaged -8. And on top of that, Singh received $600,000 at the Mercedes Championship (even though he was not challenged.) As you can see the players on the PGA tour do not like to struggle.

So why the hell are they playing at Whistling Straits? A course considered to be the hardest in the history of the tour. All we are going to hear for the next 4 days is how unfair this tournament is. How everyone is against them, and that the course is no good. The media is not going to be happy, because the scoring is not going to be high. And in their mind, the only reason people watch golf is to see high scoring. I don't know about you, but I watch golf to see some competition!! It's boring when the score is high. I want to see these guys struggle, because that is when they are truly playing at their best. That is when these guys have to shine, and work their ass off for that prize. It is a treat for the viewer. Especially this weekend, when Tiger Woods is going to try and retain his top ranking at an impossible course. Because that is when heroes are made! When everything is on the line and it looks like you are about to loose. That is golf!

So, as you can see, I am looking forward to this weekend for some exciting play, lots of competition and the great backdrop that is Whistling Straits.

San Diego Does it Again

2004-08-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

San Diego sure as hell cannot get anything right. They were shunned by Eli Manning in the NFL draft and they cannot come to terms with their top pick: Philip Rivers. So in the end, it looks like San Diego is going to loose this pissing contest. They are going to end up with no quarterback (unless you consider Drew Brees and Doug Flutie quarterbacks), no wide receiver (David Boston who was traded to Miami), and it even looks like LaDainian Tomlinson(San Diego's best player) is on the outs. Could this fiasco get any worse? Yes, it can. The fans, the media and the football analysts are all up in arms about San Diego's tactics. For one thing, San Diego guaranteed Rivers $10 million in bonuses if he wins the Super Bowl and appears in the Pro Bowl every year for the next seven years. A feat that has never been accomplished, even by the footballs greatest players. What also is angering people is that San Diego made the Contract negotiations public. Something that is supposed to be kept private, until the dotted line is signed. Oh well, San Diego has never really followed the rules, and now they can add Rivers to a long list of failed quarterbacks. I guess San Diego did not offer enough money to make it worth while to lead the worst team in the NFL. Even Arizona, as bad as they are, have a solid offensive unit with Josh McCown, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.

The Olympics are three Days away and I could not be any happier. That means its now only 20 days until the Olympics are over. I lump this wonderful event together with ESPN: the MTV of sports. Its the only thing that Disney seems to not have destroyed yet. Except, that ESPN has found a way to destroy sports. Go figure. They have boiled it down to the nonsense Disney is used to putting out. Shame on ESPN for trying to make sports into another Disney product. We already have enough Disney crap, we do not need another. ESPN is the enemy of sports, and we must realize that. They have found a way to corner the sports market. Nothing else exists on T.V. Its either ESPN or nothing. We must stop this atrocity. What happened to the days when we could watch sports and have our own opinions- be able to decide if what we are watching is right, instead of listening to Stuart Scott for advice. We are better than ESPN, they are just another corporation trying to destroy a good thing.

Iverson Saves USA

2004-08-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

ESPN missed the shot, the viewer's missed the shot, but for whatever reason Allen Iverson was right on target, scoring the game winning basket. USA prevails. At first there was doubt about his ability to lead the US basketball team; but those doubts were all but erased today. His height does not hinder him, and so far his mouth has not gotten in the way. Only time will tell if he can live up to the hype. As for ESPN, its pathetic how they cannot even capture the game winner, they were more interested in preparing for more coverage, more airtime and the possibility of overtime. And what does overtime mean: more money, and why, because their sponsors are being televised longer. So in the end, the television station that claims to be the ultimate source of sports, failed to live up to its name. This was not the first and will never be the last time ESPN will fail-as long as Disney owns ESPN.

The Amazing Money Race

2004-08-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Football has finally caught up with its sports counterparts, and begun paying rookies an exorbitant amount of money; $50 million+ (of that $15 million+ is guaranteed.) So even if the rookie does not pan out to be the star he was thought to be, he could leave football and never have to work again. And this is not including endorsements, which provides athletes with the majority of their income. (Ex. Tiger Woods has earned about $3,000,000 in tournament winnings; however, he has received over $90,000,000 in endorsement money.) You do the math.

So here is a young player coming out of college. He had a successful career at College X, has a name that people will buy into, and has a very bright future. So now, the worst team in the NFL decides that this player is going to be the key to turning their program around, and selects him number one in the draft. This team is not going to give him a weak salary; they are going to want to give him a salary that makes everyone envious. So he receives a salary never before received by a rookie, and makes history. All the pro teams are scrambling to match this player's salary, and before you know it teams are capping out so as to make sure they are not left out. Every rookie now receives an unprecedented salary and huge guaranteed bonus.

Is this where it stops, no. Now, some of these rookies will be demanding more money than what is being given, because a friend of theirs got X amount of dollars and they now feel left out. And before you know it, that player has now received the most money, and he was picked 25th (and still no one knows if this player is going to even make it past his first year.) And this is just the beginning, because the shit has really hit the fan now. The rookie who was drafted 6th, and was touted as being the best player in his position EVER, refuses to sign with his team. The reason: he is not being offered enough money. That team is shitting bricks now, because they were already offering him more money than the most paid player at that position (and he has been in the league for over 10 years, and is a potential hall of fame player.) Go figure. So almost a dozen players have not been signed as a result of contract disputes. And these teams don't know what to do because they still have to overpay for their veterans, or those players will refuse to play. And that is no good, because everyone looses and there will be no football. This is the same thing that has convoluted baseball and basketball. However, we cannot underpay these players, because all we will be doing is going back to what we had 50 years ago where players had no rights and all they were was property. As you can see there is a huge problem.

That, however, is not the end. Let us now go back to the player we were talking about before. He was drafted number one, given the largest rookie salary ever. And now...Company Y wants to make him the most marketed person on the planet. So they give him more money than he knows what to do with, and they over-saturate the market with merchandise named after him. Everyone in the world wears his clothes, eats his food, and shits on the same toilet he shits on. Millions of dollars are made in a few months, and he is considered a success. However, the team he plays for thinks differently. The amazing rookie season he was supposed to have ends in disaster. His numbers were low; he was hit with various fines and was dealt a season ending injury. What is this team to do? They cannot get rid of him because too much money is ridding on him. They cannot start him next season because he is still injured. The team is fucked; there is no money for a free agent and their rebuilding ends just as quickly as it begins.

The targeted players:

Kellen Winslow Jr.

Eli Manning

Robert Gallery

Philip Rivers

Larry Fitzgerald

Roy Williams

I'm just getting started. The United States has been trying to break into the international sports world for a long time. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird have all helped bring basketball into Asia, where it is growing pretty rapidly. Baseball and football, however, have not enjoyed the same success. Both sports have tried to create international leagues and both have failed. Not much international support was given. One reason why they have failed, there is no money in it. And why is there no money, because it is being spent on player's salaries in the United States. The funny thing is, is that baseball continually complains that it is broke, and yet it finds ways pay its players more and more money. So stop fucking complaining, and figure out a way to balance both domestic and international levels. Here is a solution. Stop trying to force baseball and football down foreign people's throats, and try working with what they have: Soccer. Soccer is the most watched sport in the world, and is also the most lucrative. So why not field a team, and try joining this international phenomenon. It's just a suggestion...

So now the sports world has something to complain about. Aside from my rant I would like you to check out blogshares.com. It is a fantasy stock market that trades blogs, something that I find to be very interesting. For now, I am going to take a break.

Layout Change: Finally

2004-08-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

Well I finally updated/changed my layout. I hope you enjoy it.

End of Tyson Era

2004-07-31T10:08:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words. Mike Tyson....(You fill in the blank)

Finally

2004-07-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

Mike Tyson has been knocked out in the fourth round by the underdog Danny Williams- Now maybe we can finally get rid of Tyson. Tyson's fall resembles the fall that the Laker's will have in the 2004-05 season. All I have to say is that I am glad I did not buy the fight.

Well good night....

Update

2004-07-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

I a currently working on redoing my layout, so please be patient with me. For the time being, I want to pose the question, should Willie Williams have been accepted by the University of Miami even though he was arrested 10 times as a juvenile?

The Picks

2004-07-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

Dave's Fantasy Football Picks:

QB: Tom Brady (NE)

WR: Chad Johnson (Cin), Keyshawn Johnson (Dal), Larry Fitzgerald (Ari)

RB: Shaun Alexander (Sea), Edgerrin James (Ind)

TE: Bubba Franks (GB)

K: Jason Elam (Den)

DEF: Miami

Bench: Quincy Carter (QB), Duce Staley (RB), Muhsin Muhammad (WR), Marcus Pollard (TE), Jay Feely (K), Indianapolis (Def)

Food for Thought

2004-07-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

Once again food eating has reached the top of the sports world. This time, however, in a very odd fashion. A couple from Nevada swept the competition in this year's Watermelon eating contest. Rich LeFevre ate 11.22 pounds (World Record) of watermelon, while his wife devoured 9.78 pounds to become the Watermelon Eating champions.

For more information on this amazing feat please read their feat is to eat. The big question is, are you that hungry to eat over 11 pounds of watermelon for only $1,000? Your hospital visit alone would cost you that much.

Is it Fraud?

2004-07-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

What is up with this new show Stump the Schwab? If this isn't fraud, what is?

Story of the day, ref shoots and kills coach.

Team in Turmoil and Drugs Once Again

2004-07-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last wrote, but I am now back. A lot has happened since Sunday. Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins has retired after 5 years in the NFL. I guess the drug tests finally got to him and he could not withstand the controversy. Or maybe it's the fact that he forgot to take his anti-anxiety pills and lost total control. Well, his reduced salary did not help. In the end, Williams's decision to retire hurts the Miami Dolphins more than it hurts his reputation.

A team that was already struggling to survive was further dismantled when its star running back decided to split town. (He was last seen in Japan.) The Dolphins last hope was in Williams, who carried the offense on his back, last season. However, when he was needed most, Williams was not there to help. Most of the time his head was in the clouds, as a result of smoking marijuana...Now what are the Dolphins to do; last year Williams carried the ball 80% of the time, leading the league as one of the top running backs, a threat every time he stepped onto the field. Well, you sure as hell cannot rely on a back that has not started since college. And free agency will not help, since Eddie George has already been signed, and the NFL draft has long past. So what was to be an OK season has just turned into a disaster.

As we all know Lance Armstrong has won his 6th straight Tour de France. Next challenge: escape drug allegations. Maybe Armstrong should team up with Marion Jones, and the two of them can cry together when they are found guilty.

According to an EPSN interview boxer Mike Tyson is a changed man. That is the same thing the media was saying when Michael Jackson became white, go figure.

"I just don't want to be in this business anymore," Ricky Williams told the paper. "I was never strong enough to not play football, but I'm strong enough now. I've considered everything about this. Everyone has thrown every possible scenario at me about why I shouldn't do this, but they're in denial. I'm happy with my decision...I'm finally free. I can't remember ever being this happy."

Rookie Steals the Show

2004-07-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

Ernie Els just cannot figure out these tournaments. Every time he gets close to winning, he seems to fall apart. This was evident today at the British Open, when a 38 year old rookie (Todd Hamilton) upset Els in a sudden death playoff. When it came down to separating himself, all Els could do was Boogie. Maybe Els, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods should team up and choke together, because they all seem to be doing this individually and by working as a team they would make their loosing a helluva a lot easier. All I am offering is a helping hand, something I wish not to give to Marion Jones.

For more on Hamilton's win or Els loss, please visit ESPN. Oh yea, boycott the ESPY awards, they are a disgrace to the sporting world and a mockery of its fans.

Wet Noodles, Hot Women and Lots of Basketball

2004-07-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

Well I am back finally.

Not much more to say about that. What I can talk about, however, is the Summer Pro League. For one thing, my ass still hurts from sitting and watching 10 straight hours of basketball. The seats at the Pyramid just got harder and harder as the night wore on, and the air conditioner seemed to be broken (this was evident by the amount of sweat that was pouring down my face.) I was partially disappointed with the Summer Pro League this year, because the SPL Girls were not there flaunting their bodies. Damn. Can't always get what you want.

As you can see, the SPL girls were definitely needed. I especially like the last one!

Now that I got that off my chest I can start talking about basketball. The quality of talent, presented this year, was so-so. There were a few good rookies that showed some promise: Kevin Martin of the Sacramento Kings- Though he has a very thin frame, Martin proved that he could take command of the floor with great passing abilities, fluid shots and tremendous elevation. His dunks were near-picture perfect, however, his body was lacking in size. Given a few years of training and playing time, Martin will definitely be a star in the NBA. Jerry Dupree- Currently, Dupree is not on a NBA team. Instead he is in a free agency pool vying for the NBA's attention. And that is exactly what he did at the SPL. A former USC standout, Dupree posted 30 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds. After the game, numerous NBA scouts pursued Dupree. If he does get on an NBA team, he will definitely be on Sports Center's highlight reels in the near future.

I have to get going, so I will tell you about one more player:

This player deserves the title of WET NOODLE...his name is Shaun Livingston. You might remember him from the NBA Draft (he was picked fourth by the Clippers) or his high school play at Peoria High School in Illinois. Whatever it was, this kid has no potential. He averaged 18 points in high school. 18 points against kids who will never make it to the pros or even college. And yet the Clippers still take him. All of the nba analysts have said that Livingston has great court vision and lots of potential (or upside- a phrase I find to be very fucking stupid.) However, he needs a lot of work on shooting and playmaking. That is definitely a solid player if you ask me. Now get this, Livingston could not play in the SPL because he had a wart removed. (That was definitely a huge operation because those warts can be very tricky.) During the Clippers game, Livingston sat on the sideline with Coach Dunleavy. Now what was Dunleavy doing, diagramming plays for Livingston. Makes you question the draft position he received. Oh well.

Be back tomorrow for more.

I'm Back, A few key players are not

2004-07-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have returned from my vacation. And I must say, a lot has gone on during my departure: with Shaq going to the Miami Heat, Kobe Bryant Resigning and Michael Phelps struggling in a few of his races.

Tomorrow I am going to completely return, however, today I am going to be at the Summer Pro League. (The Post-Post Season put on by the NBA, where Rookies and second tier players are given a chance to practice and refine your skills.

Its good to be back and I will write more later!

Jones and a Break

2004-07-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

The "wonderful" Marion Jones has crashed and burned. Supposedly one of the best sprinters in the world (even after being accused of cheating), Jones met her match this weekend in Sacramento, California. By placing 5th in the 100 meter race, Jones was not able to qualify for the Olympics. Tough break for a woman who has taken steroids. Maybe she did not take enough THG this weekend, as a result, of all the allegations against her. Oh well, better luck next time. Just remember, Tim Montgomery will always be there for you, to lend a helping hand.

Well I am going to be on vacation this week, so until next time...or whenever the Lakers get their head out of their ass and start thinking of the future (which sure as hell is not with Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and Rudy T) I will be resting and preparing for my return.

Manning=Big Bucks, but does it equal Super Bowl?

2004-07-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts has been paid an unprecedented $98 million for a lifetime contract. Well the colts have their quarterback, they seem to have their coach, now all they have to do is figure out how to win in the post-season. $98 million sure as hell doesn’t win you a Super Bowl, but it is a step in the right direction. Manning has proven himself as an all-star quarterback, with his on-field play calling; now it is time for him to guide his squad to the big dance. However, if you recall- Tony Dungy was the former Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he could never figure out how to win in the post-season. He was always one step short of his goal. And when he finally was let go, Dungy's replacement was Jon Gruden who orchestrated a Super Bowl win in his first year as coach.

Now it is time for dinner, catch you guys later with update on the Lakers and the Shaq's possible new team.

An Overview of the Sports World: Tuesday Night Recap

2004-07-06T22:04:00.000-07:00

Well I finally worked out some of my kinks, and re-organized my blog. So enjoy.

Before I go to bed, I would like to go over a few things that have gone on in the sports world today;

Marcus Vick of Virginia Tech was arrested for reckless driving and possession of marijuana. Previously in May, Vick was arrested at a drinking party with three underage girls. And as a result, Vick has been indefinitely suspended. Tough break for the young star, maybe he will learn next time to keep to himself and play FOOTBALL. That is why the VT gave him a scholarship, not to screw around.

The Los Angeles Lakers still have not found a coach to replace Phil Jackson. Roy Williams, Coach K and Pat Riley have all turned down the Lakers, leaving Rudy Tomjanovich for further questioning. Maybe there is still hope in Rudy, if not then the Lakers need a miracle to bail them out of this mess.

In an attempt to create a winning franchise, the Denver Nuggets have added former WNBA coach Michael Cooper as an assistant. The Nuggets are also in talks to possibly pick up Manu Ginobili. Lakers better watch out next year, the Detroit Pistons will not be the only dark horse champions.

And lastly, tomorrow I will be doing a special on outsourcing and how it is affecting the Sports World as we know it.

Well that is all. Good Night.

A Coaching Vacancy, Money, THG and the Olympics: What a Monday!

2004-07-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

And the search continues...

Coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke University, turned down a 5 year-$40 million deal to coach the Los Angeles Lakers. Well I guess Kobe Bryant was not able to get his way, once again. (It has been noted that one of the incentives for Coach K to come to Los Angeles, was that Kobe had handpicked him for the job.) Tough luck Kobe, maybe you should stick with those picture perfect dunks and court appearances. It seems you are winning new fans everyday with those antics (so why stop when you are ahead?) For more information on Coach K's decision to stay with Duke please visit Kobe Isn't a Good Match for Coach K and Krzyzewski Rebukes Lucrative Lakers Offer.

So who are the Lakers going to turn to now, when their top pick refuses to take the money? Well, Rudy Tomjanovich is still ill, Pat Riley is old, and Coach B (Henry Bibby) well he is just an ass with a high profile job who likes to place speaking bans on his players. As you can see the Lakers are in bind and their future is still in question. To further complicate matters, Kobe is still threatening to test free agency, possibly leaving the Champion Lakers for the loosing Clippers. If that happens, then the Lakers are going to be in real deep shit.

And so the Lakers Soap Opera continues to run full throttle, even though the season has ended. No re-runs are needed or high profile sequels. Because the Lakeshow continues to impress and provide quality entertainment for its viewers.

As you can see, not much is really happening right now in the sports world. With Wimbledon and Euro 2004 over, all we can do now is continue to watch Tiger Woods fall flat on his face at tournaments designed to pad player's stats. The next sports event is the Olympics. Finally, I can now watch 1200 hours of cheating, crying and commercials; with a side order of triumph and THG. Next thing you know, BALCO is going to be sponsoring the Olympics (which is not to far from the truth right now, when the majority of athletes are already showcasing their products.) Now that is what I call quality T.V. Tobacco companies and BALCO uniting to provide quality sporting entertainment, while sucking the viewer's life out with inane commenting and lifeless production. The way things are going with the Olympics, controversy will steal the show once again. All we need now is Neil O'Donnell, Pete Rose, Barry Bonds and Tim Montgomery on the Olympic Committee and we will be set.

For those interested, please visit BALCO Timeline for more information on the wonderful world of Sports doping. And remember, only 39 days until the Olympics! So be prepared for maximum entertainment.

Euro Update

2004-07-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

Quick update before I leave:

Greece stuns Portugal in the Euro 2004 tournament. 1-0. This was a weekend for underdogs!!

I will be back later tonight.

The Tsunami has Struck

2004-07-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

World Record Broken Today

(2003)

Takeru "The Tsunami" Kobayashi beat his previous world hot dog eating record of 50.5 hot dogs today (4th title in a row). What started off as a quite, calm Sunday morning, ended in total disgust and amazement. Kobayashi crushed all of his opponents with a record breaking 53.5 hot dogs in 12 min. After the competition ended, Kobayashi looked like he was ready to eat 50 more hotdogs! "I could have done a lot lot more!" said Kobayashi.

I don't know about you, but I usually get sick of hot dogs after two. Currently there is no information on any websites, however, ESPN news is replaying the amazing contest every 10 min. So make sure you tune in to witness this amazing feat.

Well Wimbledon is officially over and Andy Roddick once again falls on his face (literally). He sure knows how to hit the ball, after that Roddick is inept when it comes to tennis. Better luck next time. Congratulations Roger Federer.

The big question of the day is: Can Tiger Woods win? Or will he just flop again. After coming off an amazing day, Saturday, can Woods best his 65? He is only 4 off the lead, however, that can be easily overcome. To do this, he has to be a lot more accurate of the tee, and continually slice the ball into the trees. I have faith Tiger can pull it off.

Once again please visit the Blog Search Engine for the best collection of blogs on the net.

What a Night!

2004-07-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

It is quite amazing what you can miss while you are asleep. I wake up this morning to find that the tennis world has been turned upside down. Who would of known that so much could happen overnight. However, it does make some sense, as a result of the time difference. Me being in the United States and Wimbledon being in England.

But besides that, I was quite amazed with the results at Wimbledon. Maria Sharapova lived up to all of the hype and defeated Serena Williams. She proved that she is the next best thing in the tennis world. Not only with great looks, but also with raw talent and style. Sharapova defeated Serena, no that is understatement, Sharapova crushed the best woman in Tennis. She proved that every match is worth fighting for. That no matter how weak or strong your opponent is, you have to come prepared. And it is evident that Serena did not come prepared. What that tells me, is that Serena had no respect for Sharapova. And she got what she deserved. A defeat at the hand of a teenager.

What is daddy going to do now? Who is he going to blame for his daughter's loss? Who can he scream at now that Wimbledon is over? Maybe he should consult that chip on his shoulder, and blame the whole world that Serena was racially discriminated against. That her loss was unfair. NO.

I know what I say is harsh, however, it is the truth. The man in is a nut. The only difference this time is that no one is going to listen to him. The Williams reign has come to an end. Someone else now holds the throne.

That is enough of my rant. So once again congratulations Miss Sharapova on a job well done. For more on Sharapova's win please visit Sharapova shows she's ready to dance.

Also please visit the Blog Search Engine. It is the best listing of blogs on the internet. I cannot say enough about this site. So please visit it.

Football: The Prep-ping Begins

2004-07-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

All I have to say is finally, scout.theinsiders.com is allowing all visitors to view their "locked" information. Now I can get down to business, and track the up and coming prep players. Just recently, theinsider released their National Hot 100 (A list of prep players they believe that have the most potential to succeed in the college level.) So far the list is pretty solid, with the top ten consisting of 3 Wide Receivers, 2 defensive linemen, 2 cornerbacks, 2 quarterbacks and 1 offensive lineman. What I don't like about this group is the fact that they are not very tall. The average height of the top 10 is about 6-2. That is cutting it for a lineman, but a 6-0 Wide Receiver or Quarterback is ridiculous. Unless some of these kids have an amazing vertical, they will not succeed in the next level. From what it looks like, however, there are numerous prep players that have yet to prove themselves. By summers end, we should have a good idea of who is good and who is not. For more information on prep sports and the National Hot 100 please visit scout.theinsiders.com.

That is all I have for now, I expect to write again sometime tomorrow morning. Not to late I hope. For now, I am off to watch Blazing Saddles.

Good Night.

Is LA the new Krzyzewskiville: Quite Possibly

2004-07-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

The search for a new Laker coach might be over. Now that the Laker organization is looking at legend Mike Krzyzewski. At $8 million a year, it is going to be a hard deal to refuse. But the money is not everything when it comes to coaching in the pros. Numerous college coaches have jumped into the pro ranks, and the majority of them have failed. Yes there is a lot of money; however, job security is not the same.

One factor that will be in Coach K's favor is that the Laker organization is one of the best in the league. That, however, cannot be said for Mike Montgomery who will be coaching for Golden State next year (a team who has had a different coach every year in the past decade.) So what is going to be the deciding factor? What do you think: Kobe and Shaq. If in fact, the duo stays in Los Angeles, the potential for success would be the same as this year. (If nothing else, the current roster can get you to the NBA Finals. Which would be a good start for any rookie coach.)

24 years at Duke and a lifetime contract, that is what Coach K will be leaving if he decides to go pro. Who could ask for a better deal? A job for life at a organization that holds you in God-like standards. It's going to take a lot of thinking to make the transition. And the way things are going (with the meetings and all) it looks almost like a done deal. However, nothing is finally until it is on paper: Just ask Shaun Livingston about that.

So with the rumors flying, and the money flashing, Coach K is going to have to make a decision soon. Now is possibly Coach K's chance to get back at all the players that went pro early. When you look at it, the majority of them are on crap teams (Clippers, Chicago.) Coach K would be starting at the top, and would prove once again that he is the best at what he does.

Is LA going to be the new Krzyzewskiville? Only time will tell

Wimbledon Update: A new Era has Arrived

2004-07-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

All right I'm back. Enough playing around with politics, I have realized that sports are my main stay.

So I will pick up right where I left off. Serena Williams has just defeated Amelie Mauresmo. What a game I must say. Mauresmo took the first set 7-6, however, Serena just out played her opponent in the next two sets. I don't know how much Serena really beat her, or if it was just Mauresmo's body that let her down? I know, I cannot really take anything away from anyone, but an injury can play a huge factor in a game.

I would like to congratulate Maria Sharapova on her victory over Lindsay Davenport. At 17 years of age, Sharapova is the second youngest player to reach the championship match at Wimbledon. Now the real test comes. Does Sharapova have enough to defeat Serena? Not many players have been able to stop Serena from steam rolling them. However, a weakness was unearthed in today's match. Serena is weak in her volley, and that was proven in the first set against Mauresmo.

Now it is up to Sharapova to take advantage of Serena's weakness. She has to prove to the world that she is not just another sexy athlete, but contender that is here to stay. We already have one Anna Kornakova (and always need another), however, we also need players to compete and give the William's sisters a run for their title. The time has come for someone to put the William's sisters in their place. They are good and all, but they act like animals. Especially that grungy old bastard of a father that sits in the corner with a HUGE chip on his shoulder. You know the one I am talking about. He always throws a fit when one of his daughters looses. The man we have all learned to hate. The man who has given a bad name to American Tennis a bad name. Yes, you know him-the father of the Williams sisters. Its time to end their reign, and bring in someone new. A player who is worthy of the championship. Who deserves to be crowned the champion. We have arrived into the new era. Let's hope this teenage phenom can live up to her status, and crush Serena.

The championship match will occur on Saturday, and all I have to say is that Sharapova has to come prepared.

Check this Out!!

2004-06-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Check out The Bamboozled Mugwump!

Sports and Politics

2004-06-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Actually, what I said last night, was not entirely true. I am going to continue covering sports, however, I will be adding my political opinions as well. So as to provide you with the two most important things in life: Sports and politics.

Sports to Politics

2004-06-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

Starting tomorrow, I will be changing the theme of my blog to a more political aimed theme. For starters, I will soon be a freshman and college and I am a liberal (to a certain degree.) So follow me, and view politics in the eyes of the youth.

Till tomorrow.

Good Night.

A Blockbuster Trade in the Making- Lakers not included

2004-06-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

And so, the first of the blockbuster trades has just occurred. Tracy McGrady will be a Houston Rocket next year, along with Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines. While Steve Francis was sent to Orlando. For more on this trade please see Francis' meeting with Magic Triggers trade.

Before I go on, I am happy to announce that Neil Smith has finally joined me. I will start off by asking Mr. Smith what his thoughts on the T-Mac trade are. So what do you think?

First of all, I would like to say that I am pleased to join Dave on his Blog. Now, about the T-Mac trade, Houston got what they wanted. They were able to get rid of Francis and provide Yao with quality support (Players that actually want to play with the team.) All Francis was good for was making picture perfect shots (or that is what he thought) and asking for more money, that was it. He was not the "franchise" player, in fact, it was Francis who ultimately ruined Houston's chance in the playoffs. Francis is an overrated, overpaid, and looser if you ask me. He has done nothing for the team, and now he can rot in Orlando. It was the best thing Houston could have done. It reminds me of the Terrell Owens deal with Philly. The only difference, T-O did not know when to shut up and T-Mac has anger management issues. So overall I think the trade was solid.

Neil. You proved that Houston benefited from this deal, but how did Orlando deal with it? Especially, now that Orlando has both Dwight Howard and Steve Francis.

Come on David, that's simple. The top high school player teaming up Francis, there is a lot of "potential." Potential for a flop. I can see it now, the Orlando Magic have renamed themselves to the Los Angles Clippers. Well, sorry folks, but I have to cut out. I will be back in a few days.

Thanks again Neil.

No problem.

In other news, the infamous boxer Mike Tyson claims that he has been able to put his past behind him. "I may have a checkered past, but I've grown since then...I think I deserve another chance to prove my checkered past can be swept away." (ESPN.com) Sounds a bit cheesy to me, especially from a man who claimed he was clean after returning from prison. As far as I know, he has bit off more than he can chew. We will see what happiness when he pays off his debts again. All I have to say is, I definitely feel a lot safer knowing Tyson is re-entering society!

That is all for now.

Wimbledon and the end of the World? What a Morning.

2004-06-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

That was quite an interesting morning. Not one I would like to repeat again. You know what I mean. You get out of bed, and it seems that everything you do is wrong, and even when you work your ass off to make it right things just get worse. Then the next thing you know, the whole world is coming to an end, and you haven't even begun to enjoy the day. That was what my morning was like. And thus, I must tell you about the book I began reading, so as to escape from this "catastrophe." It is a story that most of you have heard of, and have most likely read. If not listen up. It is story written by Douglas Adams, entitled, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

So far (I am only on pg. 32) the story is extremely funny and very interesting. His writing style is unique, compared to the majority of literature I read (Joseph Conrad, Shakespear, and the Los Angeles Times.) His sentences are long, and at times make no meaning at all. And yet, the more you read it, the harder it is to put the story. But what I find most intriguing about THGG is that the beginning deals with the end of the world. Coincidence? Possibly. But who cares, it is funny, time consuming and gets my mind off my morning. As I said before, I have not read much. However, from what I have read thus far, I would recommend the THGG to anyone who enjoys a good laugh, and has an expansive imagination. For more on THGG, please visit The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy at Amazon.

Now that I feel more relaxed, I can start talking about sports again.

Well, the youthful domination of Wimbledon has almost come to an end. Serena Williams easily took care of Tatiana Golovin (age 16): 6-2, 6-1; and Lindsay Davenport dominated Karolina Sprem 6-2, 6-2. As you can see there was no competition, which is sad. However, Golovin did prove one thing, you don't have to be ugly to be able to compete. Just my opinion. I can't see why Sports Illustrated had Serena in their swimsuit edition. They should have used Golovin and Maria Sharapova (who is considered to be the next Anna Kournikova! She has all the looks, and she can play.)

Aside from the young players, Davenport and Jennifer Capriati both have a chance to defeat Serena. The reason, both players can outlast their opponents. Though, they might not have the strongest serve at Wimbledon, their volley keeps them going. If you can get passed the serve, than the point goes to the player who can survive the longest.

Update: Maria Sharapova has defeated Ai Sugiyama 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 and will face Davenport in the semis. For more on this please visit Davenport faces rising star Sharapova.

Finally, the international sporting community is dealing with its "doping" problem. Far to long, athletes have abused the drug policy and have gotten away.

To end this morning's little chat, I would like to express my concerns about the ESPY Awards. Now they claim these awards are decided by the people. They say that it is the fans who are given the privilege to choose their favorite athletes. They market the televised show, and try to make a big deal out of it. However, I would like to point out that these awards mean nothing. The MVP awards have all been passed out (these are the awards that the athletes place on their resume, not the ESPY awards). And as we all know, they are not subject to the fans decisions: I.e. Rookie of the Year award in the NBA. So why does ESPN waste our time with these nonsensical awards? To milk more money out of the viewers. So I propose to everyone of you to boycott the ESPY awards, and prove to ESPN that the fans matter, and that we are the backbone of their organization. And with out us, they would be nowhere.

And about Neil Smith, I am sorry that he was unable to come yesterday, however, he will be here shortly.

Until next time...

The Arrival

2004-06-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

Neil Smith is coming, be prepared.

Winning Under Pressure

2004-06-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

That was quite an interesting weekend, I must say. Fullerton found a way to win the College World Series, after redeeming their pitching game; however, that cannot be said for Michelle Wie, who after a stellar weekend at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links chocked on her final putt. "Nothing really worked out for me today from start to finish. I just played terribly," Wie said. "I think I played the worst that I've played all week. I only made four birdies, and I made a lot of bogeys, and I gave a lot of strokes away." (the.honoluluadvertiser.com) Lets hope that this loss is not the end of Michelle Wie. A loss was inevitable, and maybe this one will make Wie work harder in the future. I still see Wie competing in the men's tour in the next few years.

On a side note: While writing, ESPN2 was on in the background. The show that was airing was "NBA Finals Films: 2000 Los Angeles Lakers." This show brought back some great memories of the Lakers. In 2000, the Lakers played as a team, they had a bench worth relying on and Phil Jackson looked like he was a coach in control. None of that was evident in the 2004 team. For one thing, team play was non-existent; it seemed as if only Kobe and Shaq were on the floor. And the bench, was weak (there is nothing more to say about it.) There was a huge difference in game play between the two teams. It was as if years had passed since the 2000 championship, and the Lakers of 2004 had forgotten what it was like to win.

2000 Los Angeles Lakers

"It was just a team...they would have to do it together." (ESPN2)

2004 Los Angeles Lakers

(nba.com)

Now for a little Wimbledon. I am sad to say, that coverage for Wimbledon is blacked out in my area. You would think, with all of the problems that have surrounded the tournament, that Wimbledon officials would want all the viewers they could get. That would be too logical though. So I must report on what I have read. According to espn.com, Maria Shaparov and Karolina Sprem are continuing to dominate at Wimbledon. For more on this please visit Sprem continues unforeseen run. This is good and all, however, both women have to find a way to defeat Serena Williams, the two-time defending champion. And so far, no one has been able to slowdown Williams. Only time will tell if these two teenagers can deliver an upset.

(heraldsun.com)

Maria Sharapova

(cbc.ca)

(Karolina Sprem)

In Euro 2004, the tournament is definitely firing up. As Greece has continued to dominate the tournament, they must now turn towards a seemingly unbeatable Czech Republic. This match up will prove to be an exciting game, pitting an underdog against an international behemoth. For more on this please visit Greeks looking for another upset in Euro 2004 semifinals.

Starting this afternoon, a good friend of mine, Neil Smith will join me in an interview. If you have any questions for Neil, you can contact him at: sm_neil@yahoo.com.

Pitching is the Key

2004-06-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well as I was saying last night, one thing is going to win the college world series: Pitching.

So far Texas is winning the Pitching battle.

Starting next week, look out for my Football Coverage. Pre-season starts in about a month!

What a Week in Sports: College World Series, Wimbledon, Nba Draft and Mike Tyson?

2004-06-26T21:41:00.000-07:00

A Week In Sports

"Hell yeah! We did it guys!"

That was a close one, however, Fullerton's bull pin was able to save the game. Now if only Fullerton can repeat that tomorrow, the World Series will come back to California. But you know how winning can go to people's heads. Talking about winning going to one's head, Mike Tyson is back in the news.

"Hmmm, I think I am going to sue Al Davis after I am finished with Don King."

Tyson has 38 million dollars in debt and is planning to enter 7 fights in the next 3 years to pay for half of his debt. He has to hope those 7 fights are against weak opponents so that he has any chance of surviving. He is now 38 years old, and is soon going to need a walker to help him stay up. Maybe he will come out with only a few scratches, unless he decides to fight Lenix Lewis again. Hehehe. Just look at the determination in those eyes, and that brilliantly placed tattoo.

"I think I missed something, nah. I must say, this seat is quite comfortable."

This year's Wimbledon has been quite interesting. First with the rain, then with the infamous call, then with the rain again. What is next for this circus,

Vs.

Dennis Rodman playing Jennifer capriati in a single's match?

"Don't worry there is always tomorrow. I only missed one shot."

Much controversy surrounds David Beckham, both on and off the field. I guess you can call him the Kobe Bryant of European Soccer. There have now been three claims that Beckham has had sex with women outside of marriage. Sound familiar? Beckham's play on the field is not helping his image. There is even a possibility that Beckham might leave his captain position on the England team. Maybe he Beckham should start contacting Tyson's lawyers, because the way things are going he might spend his off season in a courtroom.

"At least this is not the seventh hole of the U.S. open!"

Well it looks like the USGA has gotten their way with the Booz Allen Classic. So far the course is proving to be quite easy. Since Adam Scott, the leader is currently 18 under par. There is a lot of competition in that course.

"I think its time to finnally start shaving."

The NBA draft was disipointing, with a very weak pool. And as a result, the draft was over run by high school and international players. My analysis of top 4:

1. Dwight Howard: He should go to college. He is to thin, to inexperienced, and does not have the drive or strength to succed as a pro forward.

2. Emeka Okafor: A solid C-F, who has experienced what it takes to win a championship. However, he is a bit short, and his back problems might curtail his production.

3. Ben Gordon: At 6-3, 200 pounds Gordon is a pretty tight package. He has the speed and the play making ablities, however, his heigth might restrict his production.

4. Shaun Livingston: In my opinion, the worst pick in the draft. Now I know all of the analysits are saying he has potential, and lots of upside (whatever that is), however, his downside overshadows his abilities. He is to thin, a very streaky shooter, and not mature enough to compete in the pros. He should spend four years in College where he has a chance to still be playing in five years, instead of being another top pick flop.

College World Series

2004-06-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

Huge double play has just occured. Texas is playing Fullerton straightup, and even though they came into the 5 inning down 3-1, they ended up leading Fullerton 4-3 at the top of the 6th. We have a game here tonight. Fullerton is going to have to step it up in the pitching game if they want any chance to win this one.

Prep Stars, Wimbledon and how to spend your time when nothing is on T.V.

2004-06-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

It is 11:15 am (Pac time) and I am just starting to wake up. It took me two shots of Espresso to start thinking straight. The T.V. is on in the background, Wimbledon I think. But whatever it is, the channel is most definitely ESPN. For whatever reason I have been watching ESPN nonstop since school ended. Go Figure. Not much is really happening since Serena Williams is not playing, and Jennifer Capriati match has just begun. (Newsflash: Wimbledon is rained out for the second time.) I change channels to ESPN2 and I am greeted with the NHL draft. Now that is exciting! Hehehe. The only thing it is missing is Dick Vitale in the background making his inane remarks, thinking that he is the best damn sportscaster alive. (yea right) Him, Bill Walton and Brent Musburger could make my most annoying sportscaster list. Just goes to show you how thrilled I am about hockey.

So to pass the time I pick up my ESPN magazine and start reading. Lance Armstrong is emblazoned on the front cover, however, I have already read about him in Sports Illustrated. (Funny how both magazines end up covering the same thing, so much for competition.) I then flip to the contents section of the magazine. Two articles interest me: one on the next Tennis prodigy, and the other on Brandon Rush (brother to JaRon and Kareem.) Before I go on I would like to note that this magazine is not my favorite sports magazine. It is basically just a watered down version of Sports Center, in print. The pictures are pretty good, however, there is to much emphasis on layout and not enough on the actual article. This magazine makes Sports Illustrated look good. Now that I have explained my displeasure of this magazine I can continue.

The first article I read was entitled: Changeover. It is about an up an coming tennis prodigy, who is 14 and of African American descent. The article begins by talking about his struggle in the tennis world, as a result of his age and skin color. Everyone against him, calling him a "faggot" and telling him that he does not deserve to be in the pros. That is where the article begins to lose steam. It soon turns into a three page sob story about how Donald Young has had a hard time in the pros. Yet it forgets to mention that if he makes it, he will be paid millions of dollars in both endorsements and winnings. That is definitely a heart wrencher. Its time to move on to the next article, about Brandon Rush. The article begins talking about how he has had it hard, being in the shadow of his older brothers. The article then delves into the hardships of JaRon and Kareem, and the scandals surrounding their careers. The article ends by talking about how Brandon has molded himself into a top notch prep star at Mount Zion Christian Academy (same school that Tracy McGrady went to.) No wonder he has been able to turn himself into a star, he has ridden on the back McGrady's success.

Now if you excuse me I must return to watching the Food Network.

Fahrenheit 9/11

2004-06-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

Its about an hour away until I am going to Fahrenheit 9/11 and I am pretty excited. I am going to go in with an open mind and some pretty high expectations. It is quite calm right now, not much happening at either my house or the Sports World. Well then, I will report back after seeing the movie!

A full Serving of Controversy

2004-06-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

I never thought the week would come to an end. After watching the sports world crumble under controversy, yesterday, I had no clue what to expect today. Everywhere I looked something was wrong. At Wimbledon, Venus Williams was supposedly robbed of a win as a result of a bad call. "I'd like to think that one point doesn't make a difference," she said, "but, obviously, it was a wrong call." (ESPN.com)... In Euro 2004, English fans were angry over the "lack of good plays" by England's David Beckham during England's loss to Portugal...Lance Armstrong was highlighted in this week's Sports Illustrated for the up and coming Tour de France. Yet, what could have been an article praising Armstrong's success, the article spent most of the time discussing the controversy that has surrounded him. "Armstrong had had four years of sticky relations with the French, especially in 1999 and 2000, when drug rumors about him flew and spectators would yell, 'Dope! Dope!' as he passed."...Talking about dope, let's move to the Olympics where sprinter Tim Montgomery has been linked to a steroid scandal and might be banned for life. "Tim Montgomery faces being banned for life and stripped of his Olympic gold medal and world 100 metres record after allegedly admitting to a federal grand jury he used human growth hormone (HGH) and a steroid he described as being like a "magic potion"."(sport.guardian.co.uk/.html)

As you can see, yesterday was quite the circus. However, the controversy is not as bad, if you sit down and think about. The bad call at Wimbledon really did not affect the final outcome of the match. Williams was so far down, that one point would not have made a difference. Even Williams "refused to blame her defeat on that one decision. She said: "I don't think one call makes a match."(ESPN.com)...England's loss against Portugal cannot be attributed to one player, and as a result there is no controversy...The controversy over Lance Armstrong is just jealousy. He has proven that he is the best at cycling and the world has got to learn to deal with it. It is the same thing that plagued Tiger Woods, and what ultimately happens is the athlete gives up and T.V. ratings go down. (Everyone looses in a situation like this.)...In regards to the steroid controversy, if you are a paid pro athlete you should not have to resort to taking drugs. That is why we pay you millions of dollars, to utilize your abilities.

That was a lot. Wipes sweat off face.

I must say that the NBA draft was disappointing. Most of the players that were drafted were not prepared to play in the next level. Eight high school players and eleven underclassmen went in the first round. These kids have not fully developed, and yet they are deemed ready to go up against seasoned NBA veterans. I will follow this up later today with my analysis of the NBA Draft, and what I think of Dwight Howard and Shaun Livingston.

Going to see Fahrenheit 9/11 today!

Upsets at Wimbledon

2004-06-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

The unthinkable has just occurred, Venus Williams was upset. She was beat by nineteen year old Karolina Sprem in the second round. Who would have known? I guess I was almost right with my prediction, however, I chose the wrong Williams. Now Wimbledon will be a good tournament. Congratulations Ms. Sprem on a job well done.

NBA Draft: 4 hrs. 20 min.

Title Change

2004-06-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

I have changed the title from The Grind to Not Another Sports Chat. This is still the same blog, just with a new face.

A Change for the Future: Presidential Race up in Arms

2004-06-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

I am going to try something new. Along with reporting the hot topics in the Sports World I am going to start discussing politics. And I would like to start with a political cartoon I found to be quite amusing:

Well there definitely is a storm brewing in American politics. This is especially evident with the upcoming election. The big question is: Who do you choose? A man who cannot follow his dad's orders, or a politician who looks like he is scared of his own shadow.

It’s a big decision, and at the moment the future of America is up in the air. Maybe News Corp. should team up with Disney and create the ultimate reality show: Survivor: Presidential Edition.

All Washed Up

2004-06-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

It seems like everything is going wrong with Wimbledon. First the fans are in an uproar because they cannot watch Euro 2004 at the England Club. Second, the tournament has been washed out and the way things are going, play might not resume until Sunday.

(wimbledon.org)

Who knows what is going to happen next at Wimbledon:an earthquake, a riot, Serena Williams getting swept in the second round. All are great possibilities, yet the answers are yet to come. At this rate, however, the anticipation for Sunday will genrate more excitment than if the Dodgers were playing at home. Oops did I say that? Yes I did. Baseball is no longer America's past time. Baseball's popularity internationaly was quelched years ago when Nike and the NBA gained a monopoly in the world market. Oh well.

NBA Draft:14 hrs. away.

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Okafor vs. Howard: Show of the Century

2004-06-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

The Battle of Now

Emeka Okafor

VS.

Dwight Howard

(NBA.com)

Date: 4 pm Pac., Thursday, ESPN.

What to expect: A fast paced, white knuckled race for the best player in the 2004 draft.

What I think: We already know what I think. Howard should go back to school, get rid of those braces, and put some weight on. As of now, he will not last one year in the pros as a starter. There is no way a franchise (new or old) can ride on this 18 year old's shoulders.

What is at stake: Millions of dollars, the future of a franchise and numerous executive jobs. Remember guys, keep those classifieds ready.

Future impact: Long term. Do not expect much out of the top ten in the first year. Okafor has potential to be good; however, his size will hold him back.

All we can do now is sit back, and hope the Clippers make a wise choice for once.

Its a Multimillion Dollar Dilemma: What are we to do?

2004-06-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

Around and around we go, the finish is nowhere in sight and yet something big is about to occur. That is exactly how the NBA teams are feeling right now as the 2004 draft nears. Some teams need some major rebuilding, others need to deepen their bench, and a select few need to figure out what they are doing (ie. Lakers, Clippers, Magic and Hawks.) However, this draft is not going to provide many answers. As a whole, the 2004 draft has to be one of the weakest in years. Eight high school players have been projected to go in the first round. Eight. What happened to the good old days of spending four years in college and honing your skills so as to mold a strong pro career; I guess those days are long gone.

According to Dwight Howard, (the possible 1st pick and a forward from an Atlanta Christian Academy) high school players have a more open mind than college players and that is why they should be allowed to go pro. Yes, they have a more open mind and hand for quick money and a quick retirement. In Sebastian Telfair's case, he has the potential to be a real good shoe salesman for Addidas. However, as much as we complain about high school players going pro, not much is going to be done since the NBA is a business and the players are just their assets. High School players are considered long term projects that could prove highly beneficial later on.

An example of this is Jermaine O'Neal. For the first four years of his pro career, O'Neal averaged about 3.75 pts and 11 min. per game. Not so impressive. However, eight years after entering the pro ranks O'Neal averages 20.1 pts and 35.7 min. per game. Big difference. Now I know you are going to say that this is pointless, however, lets take a look at a player who went to college before going pro: Dwayne Wade. In Wade's first year he averaged 16.2 pts a game and 34.9 min. a game. Further, Wade was essential in his team's playoff run. As you can see, the high school player's development was exponentially longer than a player that has gone to college. (Information from NBA.com)

So as we can see, the immediate affect of player is greater if they come from college. But what about LeBron James? His team failed to make it to the playoffs, while Carmelo Anthony (a college player) led his team to the playoffs. By drafting a high school player, the NBA team is taking a huge gamble. Yes the player might pay off in the end, however, more than likely the player will flop. (i.e. Tyson Chandler, 1st round pick from Compton Dominguez High School)

As you can see, therein lies the dilemma for NBA teams. Do you follow the growing trend of drafting high school players, or do you draft an established college player? Only time will tell. My advice for Orlando, choose Emeka Okafor and trade him for a veteran forward.

A Match Made in Heaven

2004-06-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

Ah, the war continues to rage in the US Open controversy. Now it is the Shinnecock course chief who is dealing the blows.

The Chief

"Nobody [on his staff] was hanging their head, I'll tell you that," Michaud, who spent five years getting the course ready, told Newsday in Tuesday's editions." (ESPN.com)

"We had the flexibility to make it a U.S. Open championship," he told Newsday. "I didn't want to tick anybody off, but when you get guys swearing at you, when you get guys who usually don't say anything throwing their clubs, you know you've done your job." (ESPN.com)

VS.

Everyone Else

"I think they lost control of the golf course,"Tiger Woods said after shooting a final-round 76. "It's terrible for our national championship." Even Goosen was critical, saying of the greens: "I hope they get them back alive again." (ESPN.com)

"I think they're ruining the game," said Jerry Kelly. "They're ruining the tournament. This isn't golf. Period."

Who is going to win this epic bout? Both sides have a viable argument, however, only one side can win.

Judge's (Me) Score Card:

The player's, the media and everyone else win the first round with an unbelievable amount of screaming, complaining, name calling and just plain childish acts. Round 2 goes to the Chief, for being able to defend his course against the golf snobs and prove that it is the golfer not course that wins the tournament.

Round 3 is about to begin. Who do you think is going to win?

Golf: A Pure Sport?

2004-06-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

I am back. What a weekend. Graduation is over, and it is definitely a huge relief. Grad night was a blast, all I did was hang out with friends and gamble all night long. (For the record, I am never touching a craps table again.)

Now on to what really matters. Over the weekend various events rocked the sports world. First, the wrong person won the U.S. Open- Relief Goosen. Though he played a great round of golf, Phil Mickelson was the "designated" winner. This is evident by the USGA and the Media's complaints. They complained that the seventh hole was to hard, the U.S. Open was not fair, the greens were watered at the wrong time, and the Shinnecock Hills golf course was just too complicated.

You know what really happened, Mickelson chocked. He pulled a Greg Norman. When it really mattered, Mickelson could not cut it, the pressure was to great. People might say "How can you say this, you don't golf." My answer to this is, Mickelson is a PROFESSIONAL, that is why we pay him millions to play golf.

To continue my discussion about golf I would like to bring your attention an article written on the PGA's web site. It is entitled:

U.S. Open TV ratings are up, but not as high as when Tiger won in 2002

Now let me get this straight. The TV ratings are not as high as last year when Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open. This cannot be. The golf world hates Tiger Woods. Well lets read on:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The overnight ratings for Sunday's coverage of the final round of the U.S. Open were up 13 percent from last year, but 32 percent lower than those for Tiger Woods' victory in 2002.

NBC's coverage of Retief Goosen's victory over Phil Mickelson at Shinnecock Hills got a 6.3 rating with a 15 share, up from the 5.6/13 earned last year when Jim Furyk won at Olympia Fields.

Neither year came close to 2002, when Woods held off Mickelson at Bethpage Black to win the second of golf's four majors by three shots. That got a 9.3/21, the highest for the U.S. Open since Nielsen Media Research began tracking overnights in 1975.

Sunday's overnight was also lower than 2001 (7.0/17), when Goosen won in a playoff, and Woods' victory at Pebble Beach in 2000, which got a then-record 8.8/21.

NBC's coverage of the third and fourth rounds this year got an average rating of 5.6/14, up slightly from last year's 5.5/13.

The telecasts for the final two rounds began at 12:30 p.m., moved up from 1:30 p.m. last year.

Overnight ratings measure the 55 largest TV markets in the United States, covering nearly 70 percent of the country. Each overnight rating point represents about 735,000 TV homes. The share is the percentage of televisions in use tuned to a program.

The media's and the USGA's complaints about TV ratings are a bit to late. Maybe they should have accepted Tiger Wood's talent and used it to increase viewership instead of complaing. It seems as if all the golf world knows who to do is complain and stick out their hands for free bees. Hell anyone can do this. So why listen to them now when they have ruined something that could have profited golf? They shall fry in their own grease. Hey, Tiger Woods does not need golf, he is being payed $90 million by Nike. All he has to do is where Nike clothing, play in a few tournaments, make a few international guest appearances and he will still be considered the most payed athlete in America. Now who has the last laugh here?

The Return

2004-06-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a few days since I posted last, however, I have been through graduation and just have not had enough time. I will be posting full time again on Monday.

The Lake Show has been Closed

2004-06-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

The production was successful; popular in its own right. There was action, drama, despair and success and it was considered the best show in town. However, that show has come to a crashing close with no kudos to spare. The critics, the gurus, the fans and the band wagoners were left dumb struck. Who would of known that the Detroit Pistons would win? The Lakers did not thinks so, neither did the Pacers, Nets, and Bucks. No one believed in their potential. And yet Joe Dumars and the Pistons have come out on top. "We had high expectations." (Ben Wallace, ESPN News) Just look at the records for Detroit's Playoff games: Pistons-Bucks (4-1), Pistons-Nets (4-3), Pistons-Pacers (4-2), and Pistons-Lakers (4-1).

During the interview on ESPN News, Kobe Bryant stated that he fought with the team, and worked for the team. Where was this effort? I have watched the entire series and Kobe was non-existent. He was just the man in the background (maybe he needed another court case to spruce up his game play?) The only one who cared to show was Shaq. In fact during his interview, Shaq was the only player that praised the play of the Pistons and the coaching of Larry Brown. "They flat out beat us." (Shaq) Go figure.

"This Summer is going to be a different summer...Everyone is going to do what is best for them." Shaq (ESPN News) It definitely is going to be a different summer. Its time for a change, the entire team needs to be revamped. Top to bottom. It might even be time for a new coach, Phil has had his time in the spotlight. He hasn't been able to coach at his potential since the first championship against New Jersey.

For now, Congratulations Detroit Pistons on a job well done. Coach Brown you finally achieved your ring. Now for the more important issue: how to keep this championship team intact.

A Magazine and the Night: the future of the NBA draft.

2004-06-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

Its been a quiet night; not much is on that is of interest. Well not much that will distract me from my work. MLS is not until the weekend, football is not for another couple of months and Baseball is not even close to the middle of its season (its just begun for that matter.) Thus, what is left?

ESPN Magazine. About mid-afternoon I received my weekly issue. I kind of find this magazine to be a waste. To me the magazine is just a written copy of Sports Center (a childish sports talk show on ESPN.) But nonetheless it does pass the time. On the cover of this particular issue is the up and coming high school superstar Dwight Howard. Now Howard is only 18 years of age. Yes LeBron James was the same age when he came in, however, James was not skinny as a rod and weak in the paint. At least James had a body of a man, and a competitive spirit of a warrior. All Howard has is the braces on his teeth and the pimples on his face. A few months back I was able to see Howard in action during the MacDonalds All-star game. Though he was named the co-mvp-, his play was far from it. The majority of the time he went to the hoop he was either shut down or forced to shoot (not something you want to see in your top basketball prospect.) The kid does have potential, and that is to be the next Dikembe Mutombo, we all remember him from the Philly-LA finals game.

This brings me to the question of: Why do High School players have to go pro? Yes they get the money, but the majority of them flop. Even the ones that have succeeded reached their potential years after entering the league (i.e. Kevin Garnett.)

The overall NBA draft is weak this year. I know, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. Okafor is good, but is not a team leader like Melo', James and Wade. Thus the teams must choose wise, and prepare for the future instead of relying of the pool for the present.

I am going to start something new, the question of the night. Please post your comment, and or e-mail me at dave_world@hotmail.com :

The Orlando Magic have the top pick, who should they choose?

The Morning After

2004-06-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

It hurts, I know it hurts, however, we must truck on. The Lakers had their chance in the spotlight and now it is time for the Pistons to take the throne. With the attitude that Kobe has shown us, the Lakers have no chance tomorrow night.

I know you are going to say I have given up faith, but the possibility of the Lakers coming back from 3-1 is slim. We must now think of the future and try to find a way to replicate the Lakers of old. Its possible, but the management is going to have to completely gut the team and start over. Maybe next time Phil will not listen to the media and think he is the greatest. Yes, he does have all the rings, but he is still human and is still vulnerable.

"Well, a disappointing night tonight," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We got caught off-guard in the fourth quarter and were not able to handle the run they made in the fourth quarter sufficiently." (Associated Press)

Phil you were more than caught off-guard tonight, you were out coached.

"My shots, some of them were good and some of them stunk - that's pretty much every game with me," Bryant said. "I think everyone's a little down right now." (Associated Press)

Its a bit late Kobe to feel down, you had your chance to win this series game one. But you could not figure it out. You guys had a chance to turn things around game two, however, you listened to your ego. Its a bit to late to feel sorry for yourself.

"We can play with this team," insisted O'Neal. "We haven't played well yet or shown it yet." (Associated Press)

So far guys, you cannot even play with yourself. You guys are losing the game before you even step on the court. All I know is that the Pistons have master Piston and Laker ball, they rule the court right now. You guys are just standing around, not knowing what to do next.

"But the possibility of boxing out Wallace, one of the league's best rebounders, never occurred to the superstar-laden Los Angeles Lakers, even though it is one of the fundamental rules of basketball, even though by that point their fast-fading championship hopes hinged heavily on every play." (Chris Broussard, http://www.iht.com/articles/524811.html)

Even the fundamentals are eluding the Lakers. They must now realize they have been beaten by a better team.

Once again congrats to Larry Brown and Joe Dumars for a job well done with Pistons.

Jackson All Zen-ed Out

2004-06-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

Well game Four has come to a climatic close. (At least I was listening to the game in my car, instead of watching the horrifying footage.) The Lakers were left dumbfounded, as the Pistons paraded around like little school children during recess.

Could it be that Jackson has lost his touch? Well for one thing, Jackson did not help his team when they needed him most. He did not energize them, motivate them or for that matter coach them. When all is said and done, the great coach that was Phil Jackson was out coached by ringless Larry Brown. All Jackson could do was sit and watch and practice yoga. As we all know, Jackson is an avid "Zen man." And during this game he out zen-ed himself.

I must give Larry Brown a round of applause for the fantastic job he has done with Pistons. He turned them around from a one-sided team (Carlisle era) to a full bodied defensive force. But we cannot forget about Joe Dumars, the man who has made the Pistons success possible (i.e. Larry Brown, Rasheed Wallace acquisition and even the Darko Milicic draft.)

So where do the Lakers go now? Only Phil knows, only Phil knows.

NBA Finals Update

2004-06-13T18:58:00.000-07:00

Laker-Pistons:

The way the Pistons are playing they are going to win the game. Low score at the half and Kobe is being contained. All that the Pistons have to do now is foul out Shaq.

For the Lakers to win this one everyone needs to work together. They have to put away the crap they have dealt with in the past games and play like there is no tomorrow. Further, the Lakers have to find a way to win the rebounding battle, if they cannot do this than Detroit will be the 2004 NBA Champs.

Update:
If the poor passing continues the Lakers might as well not walk out of the locker room. They embarrassed themselves enough, its time to act or pack up.

Update #2:
I want to point out something, look at the fouls for both the Lakers and the Pistons. Lakers have 20 and the Pistons have 8. Now if that is not odd than I do not know what is. Yes the Lakers are playing bad, and yes the Pistons are winning, however, the refs don’t have to take advantage of the game. If the Lakers lose, those refs will look a wee bit suspicious. I know I am going to be marked a conspiracy theorist, however, it would seem the game might be fixed. You decide.

The Truth About High School Sports

2004-06-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

For numerous decades, high school sports have been considered the purest form of athletics. Each high school roster was filled with both talented athletes and athletes who just liked to play the game. It was a way for students to take a break from their grueling studies and enjoy time with their friends. It was a family event, and many parents were just proud to see their son or daughter participate in a school activity.

However, this did not last long. As the pressure from college and pro teams mounted, high schools around the nation had to "raise their standards" to meet the requirements for the next level. As a result, high schools began recruiting. In some cases, high schools bribed students to come to their school instead of going else where. This sounds more and more like a business than a high school.

In Southern California, the recruiting scheme has reached epidemic levels. Numerous football schools (namely Mission Viejo High School, Mater Dei High School and Los Alamitos High School) have been caught recruiting athletes all over the nation. Is this wrong? Yes. At the high school level sports are supposed to be for everyone. If in fact this is changed, than there is no need for high school sports. They are as bad as the corrupt college programs. Has it come down to that we only work for money? Where is the honor that is supposed to be in high school sports? When looking at numerous high school athletic divisions they all boast Victory With Honor. And yet there is no honor. Not when the schools are bribing students to come play for them. These kids are still young; we should not corrupt them with the plotting of the adult world. Football is not the only high school sport, all high school sports; all high schools throughout the nation are guilty of recruiting.

That is the truth about high school sports. What should be done lies your hands. If nothing is done, than high school sports will just become the minor league of pro sports.

Saturday Sports Wrap Up

2004-06-12T20:30:00.000-07:00

The day is coming to a close, and I am about to turn the T.V. off. However, before I do that its time to recap the day.

College Baseball:

-Long Beach State def. Arizona (9-4)
This match is going to come down to the strength of pitching. Long Beach is the strong favorite, being led by all-star right handed pitcher Jered Weaver. However, Arizona did win the first game in which they came back from a five run deficit. What to expect for game three: close high scoring game that will be won by the pitching squad and the strength of the outfield.

-Arkansas def FSU (4-2)
From what I saw, Arkansas outwitted and outplayed FSU. If Ark continues to play this way into Omaha there are not many teams that will be able to withstand their intensity. However, they will have to be able to stop the fast moving Texas Longhorns.

If these teams keep playing with this intensity, this years college World Series will turn out to be a intense one. Now on to the LPGA. So far Annika Sorenstam is proving to be the outright winner of the McDonalds tournament with a -7. Having watched Annika a few times, I was impressed by her accuracy to the fairway and the strength of her swing. However, I do not think she is the best in the LPGA. That title rests with the young Michielle Wie. Now there is going to be doubters because she is to young, and the fact that she has succeeded playing in the men's tournament (where she will become a permanent competitor in the next few years) will only cause people to criticize her ambitions. And yet Freddy Adu and LeBron James can play in the pros without as much as a question. Go figure. Wie will have her chance to shine.

I will end the night with a discussion on the NBA finals. For the past couple of months I have been watching the Lakers and Pistons rise and fall. Both teams have proven to be the best and the worst in their respective divisions. The Pistons found themselves in a tight place against the New Jersey Nets. Kidd and Kittles led the Nets to some hard won victories that took a lot out of the Pistons. However, the Pistons found a way to win. The series against the Indiana Pacers was reminiscent of an Ali fight. There was much bad blood in the air with Rick Carlisle on the opposite side line fighting his "Detroit Pistons." In the end, it was the seasoned coach and the spectacular play of Billups that pulled Detroit to the Finals.

On the flip side, you have the Lakers. The Drama Queens of the NBA. For a time there (and even into the Finals) the Lakers could not find their true identity. One night Kobe would pull the Lakers from the clutches of defeat for a victory, the next night it would be Kareem Rush. Phil, you have to start coaching.

The fourth game is Tomorrow, and if the Lakers cannot win tomorrow there is not much hope left. For the Lakers to win, they must win on the transition game. For the Pistons to win, they have to keep their defense strong and they must foul Shaq.

Well that's all for tonight.

A&M vs. LSU

2004-06-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

I just turned my T.V. on, and the score is 5-4 A&M (its only the 3rd inning.) The way its going the score could be higher than most college football games. Go figure. LSU is playing strong with their outfield playing tight, not allowing much to pass them. Yet they have to pick up their hitting, if they want to win this one.

The Beginning

2004-06-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Hello,

This is my first of many posts about the sports world. For the next unknown amount of time I will be discussing various topics in sports, analyzing games, players etc., and posting my predictions.

Here we go....

The Galaxy have just won their sixth game, proving that Los Angeles has finally found a competitive soccer team. Now all that is missing is a professional Football team.

Well the Buick Classic is well on its way with Loren Roberts in the lead at seven under par. Though Tiger is a no show at this tournament, it does not mean it is weak. Mike Weir, Fred Funk, Shigeki Maruyama and Jay Haas, to name a few, did not make the cut. So what seemed to be an uneventful tournament, has become quite a competitive game. No wonder Tiger did not show, his ability to handle pressure in the past few years has really set him back. My prediction: Fred Couples coming out on top during Sunday's round.

Baseball, though not one of my favorite sports, I do follow it. The College World Series is nearing, and for whatever reason I watched Texas thrash Vandy. It was somewhat interesting. Lets hope Long Beach State can pull it off tonight.

Enough of this, on to what really matters: the NBA finals.

The Lakers are in a bind. They never should have lost that first game. All they are doing is playing into Detroit's game play. However, you cannot take anything away from the Pistons and Larry Brown (if things continue, Brown might end up with his first ring) I am hoping this does not happen. Prediction: Lakers win Sunday by a margin of 15+.

Well its dinner time, I will be back.