Jacksonville Jaguars Season Preview

2012 Record:  2-14

2013 NFL Draft Selections:

Round          No.         Pos.        Player                       Ht.        Wt.      Age       College

1             2           OT          Luke Joeckel             6-6       306      21        Texas A&M

2             33         S             Johnathan Cyprien     6-0       217      23        F.I.U.

3             64         CB           Dwayne Gratz            5-11     201      23        Connecticut

4*          101         WR/PR     Ace Sanders              5-7       178      21        South Carolina

5            135         RB           Denard Robinson       6-0       197      22        Michigan

6            169         S             Josh Evans                6-0       205      21        Florida

7            208         CB           Jeremy Harris            6-2       185      22        N.M. State

7*          210         CB           Demetrius McCray      6-0       185      21        Appalachian St. Free Agency Additions: WR Mohamed Massaquoi CB Marcus Trufant Offseason Storylines: After the 2012 season, the Jaguars fired Head Coach Mike Mularkey after just one season.  They hired Gus Bradley, the former defensive coordinator of the Seahawks, as his replacement.   With the second overall pick in the draft, the Jaguars took Offensive Tackle Luke Joeckel. Wide Receiver Justin Blackmon is suspended for four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.   2013 Strength of Schedule:  The Jaguars have the 13th toughest schedule in the league.  The combined record of their opponents in 2012 was 129-125-2. 2013 Season Outlook: There will be a quarterback competition in training camp between Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne, Matt Scott, and Mike Kafka to determine the starter for the beginning of the 2013 season.  Gabbert is the leading candidate.  Gabbert has struggled, since being drafted in 2011, with a career completion percentage of 53.8%.  If he does not perform well this year, he will lose his starting job.   The Jaguars are a struggling franchise with seven total wins in the past two seasons combined.  Considering they are in a division with the Colts and Texans, I do not expect them to be competitive this year.

Referee Giving Him the Business

Listen to the call by the referee...

Patriots release Aaron Hernandez

According to ESPN, the New England Patriots have released Tight End Aaron Hernandez.  This comes just a couple of hours after Hernandez was arrested at his home.  Hernandez has been brought into custody, but the charges have not been released to the public.  They are expected to be released when he appears in court today.

Hernandez has been a suspect in the murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player.  Police have searched Hernandez's home twice, after Lloyd's body was found near Hernandez's home.  As of right now, it is uncertain whether Hernandez has been arrested for murder, obstruction of justice, or something else.

Hernandez has been in trouble in the past, including failed drug tests at the NFL Combine.  By releasing Hernandez, the Patriots illustrate that they will not put up with any misconduct.  Much like the police, the Patriots have kept quiet about the investigation.

Unfortunately for Hernandez, it does not look like the day will be getting any better for him.

Here is some footage of the arrest:

Former Packers Turned Vikings

Yesterday, former Packers Linebacker Desmond Bishop agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings.  He was released last week by Green Bay after missing all of last season with a torn hamstring.

Bishop joins a long list of former Packers that have signed with the Vikings.  Here are some of the other notable players.

• Greg Jennings
• Brett Favre
• Ryan Longwell
• Darren Sharper
• Robert Ferguson

Now, the Packers and Vikings are not the only rivalry to have this relationship.  The Boston Red Sox players have the habit of switching to the New York Yankees.  Here is a list of former Red Sox that have become Yankees.

• Kevin Youkilis
• Babe Ruth
• Wade Boggs
• Mark Bellhorn
• Derek Lowe
• Johnny Damon
• Roger Clemens

The take away from these lists is that sports is a business.  For the most part, players do not show loyalty to their teams.  Instead, they go where the money is.  With that said, there are some exceptions to these lists.  For example, Brett Favre signed with the Vikings to get back at Ted Thompson.  In addition, Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees, so it was not his choice to change teams.  However, the decision to switch teams by the majority of the players on these lists was motivated by money.  

Ultimately, Packers fans will continue to complain about their players switching to the Vikings, and Red Sox fans will still point out that multiple Yankees players originally played for the Red Sox.  However, in the end, it all comes down to a five letter word—money.

Wimbledon Preview

It is a good time to be a tennis fan.  Wimbledon begins today at the All England Club and will continue through July 7.  Here are some of the headlines:

• Roger Federer got the three seed and Rafael Nadal is the fifth seed.  Consequently, they could potentially meet in the quarterfinals.
• Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are taking verbal jabs at each other's personal lives.  Serena Williams is the one seed and heavy favorite to win the tournament.  Sharapova is the number three seed.
• Venus Williams withdrew from the tournament due to back issues.

It should shape up to be an interesting two weeks.

Christian Ponder and Vikings Prediction

The Minnesota Vikings had a good offseason to say the least.  They signed WR Greg Jennings, the former Packer, to a five-year contract.  Furthermore, they had three first round picks, which they used on DT Sharrif Floyd, CB Xavier Rhodes, and WR Cordarrelle Patterson.

Two of these offseason additions should make Christian Ponder a very happy man.  Greg Jennings is a veteran Wide Receiver with great hands.  Yes, he has been plagued by injuries, but he is definitely an upgrade from last year. Furthermore, they added Cordarrelle Patterson to the receiving core.  He is 6'2, 216 pounds and ran a 4.42 40 yard dash.  He is somewhat of a risk, because he is unpolished and needs to refine his skills.  However, he has the raw attributes that you cannot teach:  size and speed.  He can always learn the other skills, such as route running, and he has Greg Jennings, a seasoned veteran, to help mentor him.  Patterson is a physical specimen and has the potential to be a star.

Consequently, I expect Christian Ponder to have a big season.  In addition to Jennings and Patterson, Ponder also has WR Jarius Wright and TE Kyle Rudolph to throw to.  Moreover, he has the best running back in the game, Adrian Peterson.

All of these factors point to Christian Ponder, and the Vikings, having a breakout season.  Last season, he had a completion percentage of 62.1%, ranking 13th among NFL quarterbacks.  Furthermore, he had 18 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions, which is respectable.  Keep in mind that he put up these numbers with a sub-average receiving core.

Now, he has two new weapons to throw to, which should improve his numbers immensely.  Additionally, with a great running back and the ability to run play action, he is set up to have a great year.  This will be his third season, and it is time for him to establish himself as a good NFL quarterback.

Ultimately, with the offensive upgrades and additions to defense, I expect the Vikings to have a good year.  My biggest concern is that they play in a tough division and have the 10th toughest schedule this year, including games at the Seahwaks, at the Ravens, and at the Bengals.

However, with their offseason acquisitions, I expect them to be competitive this season and to build on their success from last season.

Feel free to leave your comments! I would love to hear your thoughts.

Boom Goes the Dynamite

This video is a classic.  It is worth watching again, if you've already seen it.  If you haven't seen it, you should watch it.  While he is talking, pay attention to what is actually on the screen.  Whenever you're having a bad day, just think of this guy.

See Fishing Bloopers and NFL Funny Video for some more entertainment.  

Thoughts on NBA Finals

David Stern has to be a happy man.  This was one of the greatest NBA Finals that I can remember.  It was entertaining and intense.  Last night, I was waiting for someone at Buffalo Wild Wings to press the red button and extend Game 7.  Unfortunately, it did not happen.

Congratulations to the Miami Heat for a well-deserved win.  They battled back in Game 6 and carried their momentum into Game 7.  It was a hard earned victory.

At the same time, I can't help but feel badly for the Spurs.  They were so close to winning this series, and they let it slip away.  This is a crushing defeat, yet they still showed great sportsmanship.  They handled themselves with class and poise in defeat.

All in all, it was a great NBA Finals, and David Stern has to be feeling pretty good.  Personally, I hope that the Stanley Cup Finals can continue the great string of games that we have had, because I still haven't settled down from Game 6.

NBA Flops

In honor of tonight's Game 7 between the Spurs and Heat, here is a video of some of the worst flops...

Poor Bill Belichick

I am going to stay away from talking about Game 7 of the NBA Finals, because ESPN has probably beaten that dead horse.  Instead, I am going to talk about Bill Belichick.

I can't help but feel badly for him.  This is a guy that hates attention and likes to go unnoticed.  He is the Gregg Popovich of the NFL.  However, his team has received more media coverage in the past week than it normally does in an entire offseason.

1. First, we find out that Rob Gronkowski needs back surgery.  The guy has already had four forearm surgeries and has turned into a cutting board.  This latest surgery has brought up questions about Gronkowski's durability and future.  Belichick cannot be happy.
2. Then, the Patriots sign Tim Tebow, who is the epitome of media coverage.  Last season, ESPN camped out at the Jets' training facilities during the summer, solely because of Tim Tebow.  Obviously, Bill Belichick likes Tebow, but I doubt that he likes the attention that will come with him. 
3. Those two occurrences are enough to give Belichick a headache, but, of course, everything comes in threes.  The Patriots other tight end, Aaron Hernandez, is a person of interest in the shooting of a man close to his home this week.  Police, armed with a search warrant, rummaged through his house on Tuesday looking for evidence in connection to the murder.  In addition, according to ESPN, there is a lawsuit against Hernandez for allegedly shooting a man in February.  Wow.

Bill Belichick isn't exactly adored by NFL fans, but he doesn't deserve this.  This is just a nightmare.  

Statistics from Game 6

Here are some statistics from the thrilling Game 6 between the Heat and Spurs:

• LeBron shot 40% (6-15) with his headband and 45.4% (5-11) without the headband (@MikeAndMike on twitter).  This raises the question, should LeBron wear the headband in Game 7?
• Tim Duncan did not score in the last 21:30 of the game (@ESPN_Numbers on twitter).
• Tim Duncan did not play the last 19 seconds of regulation.  Tony Parker did not play the last 31 seconds of overtime (Los Angeles Times).  
• According to @darrenrovell on twitter, White Glove International is selling 6 courtside tickets to Game 7 for $35,000 a seat.  
• In the last 15 postseasons, no one has more game-tying and go-ahead 3-point FG in the final 10 seconds of the 4th quarter/overtime than Ray Allen (5-8) (@ESPN_Numbers on twitter).
• Ray Allen made a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter to tie the game up at 95.  It was his only 3-pointer made in the game.  

Here is the video of Ray Allen's 3-pointer that tied 

the game up:

US Open Hole in One Shawn Stefani

Yesterday at Merion, Shawn Stefani aced the 17th hole.  It was the first hole in one ever at a U.S. Open at Merion.  He was very fired up to say the least.  Here is the video:

U.S. Open Phil Mickelson

A guy with multiple major wins is on top of the leaderboard at Merion, and his name is not Tiger Woods.  In fact, Tiger is not even close at nine over par.  Instead, it is lefty Phil Mickelson leading the field at one under par.

Mickelson has flown under the radar, with all of the attention going to guys like Woods and McIlroy.  I can't think of a more deserving person to win today, and I can't help but root for Mickelson.  Today is his 43rd birthday, and it is also Father's Day.  He is a great person off the course, has a "family first" mentality, and is a true professional.  If he were to win today, it would be his first U.S. Open victory.

When he takes the walk up to the 18th green today in the final pairing, I hope it is the walk of a guy about to win fifth major.

Baseball Meltdowns

Golf

The smell of the grass.  The birds chirping.  The ping of a club connecting with a ball.  A white blur slicing into the woods.  Golf.   At least that's my perception of it.

Although I am horrendous at golf, and I get frustrated at times, it is still one of my favorite sports.  There is nothing better than playing 18 holes at the local golf course.  Life is momentarily on pause, and you can leave all of the stress at the first tee box.

Golf is unique in that it is one of the few sports that you can play most of your life.  Moreover, it is a sport for businessmen, in which more business deals are made on the golf course than in the office.  There is nothing like it.

As the US Open tees off today, you will find me in front of the television.  The skill of these players is mesmerizing at times, and it is unbelievable to watch them perform under pressure.  Some collapse and some rise to the occasion.  The mental toughness and focus that is required to win a major is unmatched. The walk of the final pairing on Sunday is one of the great moments in professional sports.

I can't help but be attracted to the sport.

Please feel free to leave your comments. Thank you!

Robert Griffin III Recovery

According to ESPN, RGIII is now able to do "explosive sprinting".  Furthermore, the Redskins quarterback said that he plans on being ready for the start of training camp in July.  That would be about seven months since tearing his ACL in the NFC Wild Card loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

If RGIII can come back and perform like he did last season, it would be the second time that someone came back and excelled after an ACL injury (Adrian Peterson being the other one).  As the video showed in Adrian Peterson Rehab, Peterson had an intense rehab and came back to win MVP.

If RGIII successfully came back and performed well, it would change the perception of the ACL tear.  Before, I considered it as essentially ending one's career, and I thought that nobody could ever fully recover from the injury.  However, if players continue to have success, it may just turn into an injury that just takes a while to recover from, instead of career threatening.

Now, it could just be that James Andrews, the surgeon for both players, is amazing, but I think that the main reason is the advances in technology and medicine.  The technology for the surgery has improved and there are new rehab "toys" that they can use.

Regardless of the reason, it will be interesting to see how RGIII does this season.

What are your thoughts?

Statistics of the Day

30 - That is the number of days that Chad Johnson will spend in jail after violating probation.  He was in court yesterday and was taking a plea deal that would keep him from going to jail.  However, he playfully slapped his lawyer on the butt, which set the judge off.  She said that he was not taking the matter seriously and sentenced him to 30 days in jail.  This will not help his chances of making it back into the NFL.  Here is the video:

10/11- Tom Brady has started all 16 games in 10 of 11 seasons since 2002 (@ESPNNFL on twitter).  Obviously, there is no quarterback controversy in New England.  Tom Brady is the starting quarterback.  Consequently, don't expect Tim Tebow to be getting much playing time if he makes the team, because Brady doesn't get injured.  

5- Tim Tebow's jersey number that he will wear for the Patriots.  

24- That is the number of hours that ESPN will be covering the Tim Tebow signing today. (just kidding)

3- Don't forget, tonight is Game 3 of the NBA Finals.  The series is currently tied between the Spurs and the Heat.

2008- That is the last time that Tiger Woods won a major, when he won the US Open that year.  He will look to end that drought in this week's US Open at Merion.  Woods will be paired with Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott, the Masters champion, for the first two days.  

Fishing Bloopers

Here is a funny video to brighten up your Monday.  The guy in the video is Bill Dance, a fisherman that has his own show.  Enjoy...

See NFL Funny Video for another good laugh.

Please feel free to leave comments!

Major League Baseball Needs Change

Baseball is a dying sport.  It is losing popularity in the United States to others sports, such as lacrosse and soccer.  It cannot compete with football, yet the MLB remains stubborn and refuses to change because of traditions.  However, baseball will have to change if it wants to remain relevant in the eyes of the public.  Here are my proposals:

1. Build Indoor Stadiums

Nobody wants to go to a game when it is 40 degrees and raining.  In the northern states, the weather is nasty for the first month of the season, and it is miserable for the fans and players.  When northern teams are building new stadiums, they should follow the model of the Milwaukee Brewers and build stadiums with retractable roofs.  This would make it more comfortable for players and fans, in addition to eliminating game delays (see Indoor Stadiums).  Although this is not a short-term solution, it could done over time.

2.  Shorten the Season
The MLB season runs for seven months, and fans lose interest by the end of the regular season.  By September, many people have turned their attention to football and could care less about baseball.  In my opinion, the MLB should shorten the regular season by a month (see Shortening the MLB Season).  This would mean that the World Series would be played at the end of September, so the weather would still be nice.  Furthermore, it would make the regular season more competitive, because teams would have fewer games to secure a playoff spot.

3. Instant Replay

As I stated in Instant Replay in Baseball, it is time for baseball to implement instant replay.  Follow the NFL system and give both managers two challenges for the first eight innings.  For the ninth inning and beyond, have all challenges be initiated by an umpire in the booth.  Baseball is a slow-paced game and having instant replay is not going to affect the speed of the game significantly.  If you could get the call right, why wouldn't you?

4. Salary Cap
How are teams like the Brewers and Royals supposed to compete with teams like the Yankees and Red Sox?  Small market teams cannot compete with these large market teams, because they cannot afford to spend truck-loads of money on free agents.  Moreover, these small market teams cannot afford to pay their owns stars and end up losing them to free agency.  Major League Baseball should implement a salary cap, because it would narrow the gap between teams and make the league more competitive.  In turn, it would make baseball more enjoyable to watch for fans (see Salary Cap in Baseball and Salary Cap in Baseball: Part II).

Ultimately, Major League Baseball is going to have to make some changes, in order to stay popular.  We live in the 21st Century, and they must change with the times.  They cannot remain stagnate and expect to stay relevant.  We live in a new era with new capabilities.  Why not embrace it?

Coupon for a Free ebook

Here is a coupon code for my new ebook, The Guide to Fantasy Football Glory.  The coupon makes my ebook FREE (previously $2.99) and expires on June 15.  Enter the following code prior to completing the checkout.  Please feel free to leave your honest review on Smashwords.  I appreciate your feedback!

Code: XK62V 

You can get my ebook on Smashwords at:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/324029

Thanks!

Indoor Stadiums

It's April.  It is 40 degrees.  It is raining.  It is the opening day of baseball.  In Milwaukee, they have the retractable roof closed, and everyone is comfortable.  Conversely, in Minneapolis, there is a rain delay, and at Wrigley, they have postponed the game due to bad weather.

This inclement weather continues for the next month, and there are rain delays and game postponements.  When the weather is nice enough to play a game, it is still cold and nasty.  Consequently, in the northern states, both the fans and players are miserable.

This is why they should start putting retractable roofs on new baseball stadiums.  Obviously, you are not going to put a retractable roof on Wrigley Field, but they can start putting them on new stadiums that they are building.

Just look at the Milwaukee Brewers.  When fans buy tickets to see them at Miller Park, they know that the game will not be cancelled.  Furthermore, they know that they will be comfortable, because the retractable roof will be closed if the weather is bad.

In contrast, for outdoor stadiums, fans are taking a chance when they buy tickets to a game in April.  It could be 60 degrees and sunny, or it could be 40 degrees and raining.  Most likely, it will be the latter, and they will be cold and miserable when watching the game.  Or the game could just be cancelled altogether.  Yes, I know that they get the ticket to the rescheduled game, but what if they have to work that day?  Then, they completely miss out on the game.

Moreover, the players don't want to play in these conditions.  It is uncomfortable to them and increases their chances of getting injured.  Furthermore, if the game gets cancelled,  they then have to play double headers to make up those games or play them on one of their off days.

I'm not saying that we should put roofs on every new stadium.  I'm just saying that cities above a certain latitude should put retractable roofs on new stadiums that they build.  It would benefit both the fans and the players.

We have the technology to implement retractable roofs into our new stadiums.  Why not use it?

The Guide to Fantasy Football Glory

My new ebook, The Guide to Fantasy Football Glory, is now available at Smashwords.

Find me on Smashwords at: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/sportsfan000

Sample or purchase my ebook at Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/324029

In the book, I offer advice and tips for building a championship Fantasy Football team.  If you're in a league with prize money, this book might pay for itself!

A Happy Sports Fan

It is a good time to be a sports fan...

The French Open is finishing up, and the Stanley Cup Playoff series is finishing up.

The NBA Finals is just beginning, and it looks like it could be a good one.  Furthermore, the US Open is next week, and Tiger is a favorite to win.

The only thing that could make this any better is football.  Only 90 more days.

Baseball is in the air, summer has started, and sports fans have it made for the next couple of weeks.

Z3NMMPM37P9H

Shortening the MLB Season

The MLB season runs from the beginning of April to the end of October.  That is seven months.  By the beginning of August, most fans have lost interest and have turned their attention to football.  They get bored of baseball, because the season is so long.  The teams have already separated themselves into good and bad, and, for the most part, nothing is going to change.  Some teams are 20-30 games behind the leader of the divison and have no chance of making the playoffs.  Furthermore, by the end of October, it is cold and nasty in the northern states, meaning there is bad weather for the World Series. 

In my opinion, Major League Baseball should shorten the regular season by a month.  This would put the end of the regular season at the end of August, before football starts and would keep fans interested going into the playoffs. 

Furthermore, it would mean that the World Series would be played at the end of September, when the weather is still nice.

Additionally, a shorter season would increase the incentive for players to work harder, because they would have less games to play.  They wouldn't have to worry about playing for another month, so they will try harder in the remaining games.  Moreover, it would lead to a more competitive season, because teams would have less games to secure a playoff spot.  They would have to start "scrambling" a month earlier to try and get into the playoffs.

On the whole, I think that shortening the baseball season would be beneficial for the fans, the players, and for the competitiveness of the game. 

Please feel free to leave comments. 

JaMarcus Russell Comeback

JaMarcus Russell might be returning to the NFL.

According to ESPN, he has a workout scheduled for Friday with the Chicago Bears.  Russell, a former number one overall pick, is regarded as one of the biggest busts in NFL history.  However, reports state that he has lost a lot of weight and is in very good shape.

In my opinion, I think that signing Russell could be a good idea.  A team could get him for cheap, and he would be a low risk and high reward signing.  He has an extremely strong arm and is able to make all of the NFL throws.  Furthermore, you could sign him for a one year contract and get rid of him if he doesn't work out.

He could come in as a back-up quarterback with no pressure to perform.  Moreover, he would benefit greatly from learning from a veteran quarterback, like Jay Cutler.  Also, the new Bears coach, Marc Trestman, is an excellent quarterback coach and could play a big role in reviving Russell's career.

The worst case scenario is that it doesn't work out and you release him after one year, with minimal damage.

Ultimately, in a quarterback driven league, it can't hurt to take a shot on a guy with first round talent.

Salary Cap in Baseball: Part II

Based on numbers from the USA Today, it is evident that there is a link between a team's payroll and their success (see Salary Cap in Baseball).  The higher the team's payroll, the more games the team will win.  This is no surprise, because, with a higher payroll, a team will have better players.  However, small market teams are unable to afford these payrolls and cannot compete with large market teams.  Consequently, baseball should implement a salary cap to even the playing field.  

A salary cap would prevent large market teams from dominating free agency.  With a salary cap, small market teams would be able to pay free agents, because there would be a limit on spending.  Therefore, larger teams would not be able to constantly outbid them.

Furthermore, small market teams would be able to re-sign their players, instead of losing them.  In the current system, players will grow up in a small market team's farm system and become stars in the majors.  They stay with the team for a few years, because they are under contract.  However, once they are free agents, they leave on the first flight out and the small market team cannot afford to replace them.

If small market teams are able to sign free agents, then they will become better.  At the same time, this means that the larger teams are not getting all of the stars, so the gap between the teams will narrow.

Ultimately, a salary cap would give small market teams a chance and would lead to a more competitive league.

Please feel free to leave your comments!

Salary Cap in Baseball

I am a Cubs fan, even though I live in Wisconsin.  Obviously, I have nothing to brag about considering my Cubs have a record of 23-32.  Despite their poor record, they are not in last place in the NL Central.  Currently, the Brewers hold that title with a record of 21-34.

The Brewers have had a very good team for the past few years thanks, in part, to Ryan Braun.  My friends always brag about how much better they have been than the Cubs.  I always smile and take the abuse, because I know it is true.  However, I also tell them that the Cubs will probably win a World Series before the Brewers do.

This is probably true, because the Brewers are a small market team and cannot afford to keep their star players.  Yes, they signed Ryan Braun, but they have also lost other stars like CC Sabathia and Prince Fielder to free agency.

The reality is that they will never be able to keep stars around, because they are unable to pay them.  Instead, the teams with the most money will sign the stars.  Consequently, the teams with the most money will win the championships.

According to USA Today, the Yankees have the highest payroll at $228,835,490.  They also have a record of 31-25 and have won 27 championships.  In contrast, the Brewers have the 18th highest payroll at $82,976,944, which is the second lowest payroll of the teams in the NL Central.


If those numbers don't convince you, then maybe these will.  The Astros have the lowest payroll in baseball at $22,062,600 and have the second worst record in baseball at 20-37.  The team with the worst record in baseball, the Marlins, have a record of 16-41.  The Marlins have the second lowest payroll in the MLB at $36,341,900 (USA Today).

While there are exceptions, there appears to be a direct relationship between a team's payroll and their record.  Based on the previous numbers, it is reasonable to conclude that the teams that spend a lot of money have better records.  However, it is not possible for small market teams to spend that much money.  Therefore, the MLB should institute a salary cap.

A salary cap would prevent large market teams, including the Yankees, from monopolizing free agency.  As a result, it would give small market teams a chance and would lead to a more competitive league.

To be continued...

Please feel free to leave your comments.  I would love to hear your thoughts!

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/fantasy/baseball/salaries/2013/all/team/all/

Game 7

Game 7 is where careers are defined.  It is where champions are discovered and legends born.  It is when an entire season comes down to one game.  Everyone is watching and the pressure is at its peak.

That is what makes the Game 7 so great.

Tonight, when the final buzzer reverberates through AmericanAirlines Arena, the Eastern Conference Champion will be crowned, and the champion will move on to play the Spurs in the NBA Finals. Game 7 will be known as the culmination of a great upset or as a stepping stone for an emerging dynasty.

Tonight, LeBron James has an opportunity to silence the critics and add another accomplishment to his resumé.  At the same time, he can choke and garner the criticism of everyone.  

Tonight, as a fan of basketball, I am hoping for a dogfight to the end, because it has the potential to be another great game in NBA history.  Ten years from now, I hope we are watching this game on ESPN Classic.

Tip off is in a few hours.  I can't wait.

Please feel free to leave your comments!  I would love to hear your thoughts.

NFL Funny Video

This video is hilarious.  It is called The NFL: A Bad Lip Reading.  Some parts are a little bad and are not intended to offend anyone.  Enjoy!

Instant Replay in Baseball

If you could minimize human error, why wouldn't you?  If you already have the technology, why wouldn't you?  If you could silence the critics, why wouldn't you?

Why wouldn't you install instant replay in baseball?

Now, I understand that baseball is America's pastime, and it has a long standing tradition.  However, if you can get the call right, why wouldn't you?

While it can minimize human error, you can never completely eliminate it.  Humans will make mistakes.  That has always been part of the sport.  Yet, at the same time, you can greatly reduce the number of mistakes made by the umpires.

Here is my proposal:
Adopt the system used by the NFL, which has been proven to work.  Give each manager two challenges for the first eight innings.  For the ninth inning and extra innings, have all challenges originate from an umpire in the booth, following the NFL model.  Have the home plate umpire or the crew chief make all determinations.

Make all balls and strikes calls unchallengable, because the strike zone is somewhat subjective.  Each umpire's strike zone is a little different, and you can't standardize the strike zone.  It is just part of the game.  However, I would make all other plays challengable.

Some people argue that replay would slow down the game too much.  However, let's face it, baseball is not a fast paced game.  It is no secret that baseball can be slow at times, and implementing replay is not going to affect it that much.  In addition, football, a fast paced game, has replay, and it does not hurt the game.

In fact, I would argue that replay enhances the quality of the game.  It allows officials to ensure that the call is correct, so the integrity of the game is upheld.  It keeps the game fair, and the players and fans happy.

We live in 21st century, the age of technology.  If you can improve the game with technology, why wouldn't you?

I would love to hear your thoughts on instant replay in baseball.  Please leave your comments!

Athletes Under Arrest

It seems like everyday, I get a text from ESPN telling me that another professional athlete has been arrested.  From Yovani Gallardo's DUI to Titus Young's three arrests in one week, professional athletes have become the epitome of stupid decision making.

I can't help but shake my head.  The make millions of dollars each year.  Why can't they hire a personal driver or a bodyguard to stop them from making poor decisions? There is no doubt that they can afford it.  Instead, they do something dumb and put their career in jeopardy.  Consequently, they make the MLB and NFL look like a group of criminals.

Moreover, these athletes are supposed to be the role models for our children.  Our kids look up to these athletes, yet these adults continue to act like children.

Professional teams should start putting their players in daycare during the off-season.  Maybe then, the arrests would stop.

I would love to read your thoughts!  Leave your comments!