Iverson to China?

Reports are filtering in that former #1 draft pick and face-of-the-Sixers-franchise, Allen Iverson plans to take his talents to South... Beijing? As a fan of the NBA, this is depressing. Iverson is a past league MVP and three-time scoring champion. He is considered by most to be destined for Springfield, Massachusetts. As a die-hard Sixers fan that grew up during Iverson's prime years and single-handedly sparked my interest in basketball, this is devastating. When life seems stuck in neutral, sports are a great reminder of how quickly things can change for the better or (in Iverson's case) the much worse.

Iverson could perhaps be the most polarizing athlete in the history of Philadelphia sports to the national media. More than Chamberlain, Barkley, Dykstra, Burrell, Lindros or McNabb. But to Philadelphia, he was, is and will always be a hero. He is one of the most interesting cases of misunderstood athletes.

Thug Life. Iverson was raised in Hampton, Virgina by his single 15-year-old mother. Life was difficult. He fell in with with a core group of friends, calling themselves Cru Thik. In high school, he was a two-sport star. He managed to win the State Championship in both Football (QB, CB and KOR/PR) and Basketball in the same year. His senior year he was involved in a Bowling Alley brawl divided along racial lines. ESPN did a 30 for 30 on it called "No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson." It is unbelievably compelling. Needless to say, when the Sixers drafted him, his perception was that of an uneducated thug.

No Stranger to the Spotlight. Iverson blew up expectations and had the entire city talking about his ceiling potential. He won Rookie of the Year in a very strong class (Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash) and demonstrated his devastating crossover on a pretty good player. He followed up this performance with a scoring title in only his third year. Iverson was good. We just didn't know how good until his fifth year.

Carrying a team city on his back. I remember 2001 so vividly. We started the season 10-0. Everything was clicking. All of the key role players were in place to make a title run (Theo Ratliff/Dikembe Mutombo, George Lynch, Tyrone Hill, Matt Geiger, Aaron McKie and Eric Snow). Iverson was unstoppable. He won the MVP and scoring title, averaging 31.1 points/game during the regular season. No one else averaged more than 12. In the playoffs, he stepped it up, scoring 32.9 points/game. They blew by Indiana in the first round, but went 7 games with Toronto and Milwaukee. At one point during the Toronto series, he traded 50 point games with Vince Carter.

Game 2: Iverson, 54 points - Sixers win
Game 3: Carter, 54 points - Raptors win
Game 5: Iverson, 52 points - Sixers win

After winning the Eastern Conference Championship, they took game 1 from the Lakers in LA and every Philadelphian learned the name Tyronn Lue. It was an incredible time to be a Sixers fan. Despite the loss, there was optimism for the future. Iverson was only 25 (entering his basketball prime) and there was plenty of time to surround him with dangerous players and perennially compete for a championship.

Snowballing. This was the first and last great year for the Sixers. Starting with his infamous press conference in 2002 and ending with a domestic dispute with his wife, Iverson seemed distracted. He still gave a blue-collar effort on the court, but his off court shenanigans left many fans wondering if he put in the Kobe-like work ethic to sustain for the long-term. I guess we all know the answer to that now.

Journeyman Starter? I didn't follow Iverson's career too closely after he left Philadelphia, but I did watch his return to the city of brotherly love. I get very emotional watching my teams, but rarely does something compel me to shed tears. Iverson received a minute and a half standing ovation fighting back tears. He pandered to the crowd with his signature hand cupping the ear and kissed the 76ers logo at mid court. A decade's worth of emotions, frustration and unrealized expectations all coming out in one moment. Yet, that night, we were all family again. His 2nd return was not as anticipated. At this point in his career, Iverson was brought back to sell tickets. Still, it conjured those old feelings that when Iverson was starting, we had a chance to win every game.

Now, after a decade of hall-of-fame caliber play, Iverson is an alcoholic and carries a seemingly insurmountable gambling debt. He only knows how to do one thing well: play basektball. Unfortunately for him, not a single NBA team wants him. It's incredible to think that it has come to this for him. Iverson must go to China, just to survive and continue to provide for his family. Best wishes and like always, I'll still be rooting for you.

What's in Ruben Amaro's Cupboard?

In order to obtain Roy Halladay, Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro Jr. had to "empty the cupboard." They shipped off coveted prospects LHP Kyle Drabek, C Travis D'Arnaud and OF Michael Taylor to Toronto. But Amaro, stressed to find his cupboard bare, needed to restock with unproven talent. He shipped Cliff Lee (who had a year remaining at a paltry $8 million) to the Mariners in exchange for RHP Phillippe Aumont, OF Tyson Gillies and RHP Juan Ramirez.

Let's check in with our newest cupboard ornaments, shall we?

RHP Phillippe Aumount - the 6'7" 21-year-old performed so poorly in Double-A Reading this year that he was demoted to Single-A. He posted a 7.43 ERA before being sent down.

OF Tyson Gillies - the 6'2" 22-year-old was batting only .238 in Double-A Reading this year before being arrested for felony cocaine possession. Are you fucking kidding me?

RHP Juan Ramirez - In 73 Innings of Double-A Reading ball, Ramirez has gone 3-3 with an unspectacular ERA of 5.18.

What a lovely cupboard you have Ruben.

NFC South Preview

Over the next few weeks until the NFL season begins I will be doing division by division previews. You can check out my previous division previews here:

• NFC North

Next up is the NFC South.


Last Year's Record: 3-13 (4th in Division)
Last Year's Story: A year removed from a 9-7 record and a near-playoff berth that they squandered in the last week of the season, the Buccaneers looked to build on their chances with new TE acquisition Kellen Winslow and a slew of talented rookies including eventual QB-of-the-future Josh Freeman. The offseason was a transitional mess otherwise. Long-time defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin left for greener pastures to join his son in Tennessee and Raheem Morris, then defensive backs coach, was promoted to replace him. Inexplicably, Jon Gruden was fired in January, paving the way for Morris to become the NFL's youngest head coach (33). What a way to get thrown into the fire.

With the departure of aging veteran QB Jeff Garcia, training camp became a QB battle between Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown, taking precious snaps away from Josh Johnson and Freeman. Leftwich won and McCown was shipped off to Jacksonville. After starting 0-2 he was benched during week 3 and replaced with Johnson. Johnson proceeded to go winless up until their bye week when he was replaced by Freeman. To make matters worse, Tampa lost their starting C Jeff Faine in the first game of the season.

When Freeman took over after the bye week, he led the Buccs to a 38-28 upset at home against Green Bay. Down 28-17 with about 12 minutes remaining in the game, Freeman drove down the field twice, throwing for touchdowns both times. In his first NFL start, his final stat line was 14/31 with 205 yds 3 TD 1 INT good for a QB rating of 86.1. Not too shabby, especially when you consider the talent around him. WR Antonio Bryant and Winslow were nice targets, but neither force a team to gameplan around them. RB Derrick Ward was acquired in the offseason from the Giants, but was an extreme disappointment as a sidekick to Cadillac Williams. Ward played in 14 games but only amassed 400 yards and 1 TD. Williams, meanwhile, played in all 16 games putting up a slightly more respectable yet unspectacular stat line of 800 yards and 4 TD.

The other side of the ball had a very respectable pass defense. Led by CB Aqib Talib (5 INT) and FS Tanard Jackson (5 INT) they ranked 10th in pass yards allowed per game. This was the sole area in which the defense excelled. The line was unable to generate much pressure, sacking the QB only 28 times (good for 26th in the league) and giving up an astounding 158.2 yards/game and 4.8 yards/carry (both good for last in the league).

Key Additions: DT Gerald McCoy (3rd Overall), DT Brian Price (35th Overall), WR Arrelious Benn (39th Overall), SS Sean Jones (Eagles), WR Reggie Brown (Eagles), P Brent Bowden (172nd Overall)

Key Subtractions: WR Antonio Bryant (Bengals), QB Byron Leftwich (Steelers), DL Jimmy Wilkerson (Saints)

Injuries: WR Maurice Stovall (ankle), TE Kellen Winslow (knee) - both are probable for the start of the regular season.

Predicted Finish: 3-13
The Buccs are young, inexperienced and lacking talent at the skill positions, but have a relatively easy schedule to navigate this year. Unfortunately I think they'll still be the stomping ground of the NFC South.

Let's get the positive out of the way first. Josh Freeman can play in this league. The question is whether he can play with Reggie Brown and rookies Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams (101st Overall) as his top 3 receivers. Brown couldn't even hold down a roster spot in Philadelphia and relying on green wide receivers with a QB that still needs to mature could be a recipe for disaster. Without strengthening the offensive line or RB positions in the offseason, the Buccs are expecting a bounce back from Cadillac and Ward. I don't see it happening. Defenses can simply stack the box and play the pass coverage man-to-man. Neither RB is talented enough to overcome this.

The defense is young, but could see significant improvement this year. McCoy and Price are very talented and will anchor the line for the foreseeable future. The secondary is still strong and was able to improve their depth with the addition of Jones. The linebackers need to improve, but have a very solid middleman in Barrett Ruud. They should be just as effective against the pass with the ability to generate more pressure up front, but only slightly better against the run. I don't expect them to finish last this year, but I do expect them to give up a ton of points. Unless the offense is consistently firing on all cylinders, the Buccaneers won't win many games.

Offensive MVP: Josh Freeman
Defensive MVP: Gerald McCoy

Fantasy Boom: Kellen Winslow - Young QBs are notorious for targeting the biggest guys on the field. This will be no exception. Winslow is the most talented athlete on the field for them. He must remain healthy.
Projected Stats: 85 rec 850 yds 6 TD
Fantasy Bust: Derrick Ward - Cadillac Williams is still the feature back, so Ward will have to make the most of his carries. Ward stands at only 5'11" 228 lbs and will probably not see time in goal line situations.
Projected Stats: 120 car 500 yds 3 TD
Fantasy Sleeper: Josh Freeman - Although he threw for more interceptions than TDs last year, his talent is obvious. The Buccs have found their franchise QB and he should benefit from another year under the center, but consider him a deep, deep sleeper without much talent surrounding him.
Projected Stats: 3000 yds 15 TD 24 INT


Last Year's Record: 8-8 (3rd in Division)
Last Year's Story: The Panthers were coming off a successful '08 campaign, riding the coattails of stud RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to a first seed bye before being upset at home against the Cardinals in a complete meltdown by Jake Delhomme (6 turnovers).

Delhomme, in a bid for consistency, proceeded to open the '09 season in the same way with 4 INT in a week 1 home loss against Philly. He was erratic the rest of the season, leading the team to a 4-7 record and throwing for 8 TD and 18 INT, until he was benched in week 13 for Oregon State product Matt Moore. The Panthers had weapons-o'-plenty with their running back tandem (combined 2250 yards 17 TD) as well as superstar WR Steve Smith (982 yards 7 TD), leading some to believe that the poor record should be attributed mostly to Delhomme. Moore set out to prove those pundits right as he led the Panthers to a 4-1 record while throwing for over 1000 yards 8 TD 2 INT at 61.6% (a QB Rating of 98.5). Moore did this against decent opponents as well, beating a Minnesota team that was still trying to clinch a first round bye in week 15, blowing out the Giants at the Meadowlands in week 16 (and effectively ending their playoff hopes) and beating the Saints during the last week of the season (albeit without their starters).

Overall, the defense could be deemed a success last year. They crushed opponents' passing attacks, limiting them to 191 yds/game (4th Overall) and were able to prevent the opposition from scoring over 20 points/game (9th Overall), but failed miserably against the run (22nd Overall). Hellacious DE Julius Peppers led the team with 10.5 sacks, but no one else was able to get much pressure. MLB Jon Beason continued to be an absolute beast (142 tackles, 1 FF 3 INT) earning his second Pro Bowl trip and CBs Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble were solid as well. Despite Delhomme's 18 interceptions, the Panthers actually posted a positive turnover differential (+6).

Key Additions: QB Jimmy Clausen (48th Overall), DT Ed Johnson (Colts), WR Brandon LaFell (78th Overall), WR Armanti Edwards (89th Overall)

Key Subtractions: DE Julius Peppers (Bears), WR Muhsin Muhammad (retired), QB Jake Delhomme (Browns), LB Na'il Diggs (Rams), DT Damione Lewis (Patriots), DT Ma’ake Kemoeatu (Redskins)

Injuries: WR Steve Smith (arm) and RB Jonathan Stewart (heel) were both banged up in training camp, but should be fine by the regular season.

Predicted Finish: 9-7
It's difficult to predict how well the Panthers will do this season. I think they can be anywhere from mediocre to a legitimate playoff team. The offense improved greatly at QB, but it remains to be seen whether Matt Moore can find consistency as a starter across a full season. Fortunately, in his limited appearances, he has few turnovers and seems to let his weapons work for him. Moore could have a very good season and fly under the radar. The lack of a #2 receiving option with the retirement of Muhsin Muhammad will definitely hurt, but the superior ground attack will force opponents to stack the box. Moore should have enough time behind a solid offensive line to produce.

The one glaring issue is the defense. The Panthers lost 4 starters from their front 7. Julius Peppers will be the most impactful loss. He led the team with 10.5 sacks last year. DEs Tyler Brayton and Everette Brown (combined 7.5 sacks last year) look to fill his shoes. Ed Johnson should help with the run defense, but he was injured too often in Indianapolis and has only played in 5 games the past two years. The secondary remains largely the same and there is no reason to suspect a drop-off in production.

It will be interesting to see what they do with Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen. Moore will be on a short leash if he fails to live up to expectations and Clausen would be expected to take over the reins. If Moore is good, the Panthers will have an interesting dilemma on their hands. Clausen was the most NFL-ready QB coming out of this draft and could be used as trade bait.

Offensive MVP: Steve Smith
Defensive MVP: Jon Beason

Fantasy Boom: Steve Smith - I think it's about time Steve Smith started being the best Steve Smith in the league again. His stats in 4 games with Moore: 19 rec 378 yards 3 TD
Projected Stats: 80 rec 1200 yds 10 TD
Fantasy Bust: Dante Rosario - the Panthers are weak at TE. Rosario will be the main option, but with Jeff King and Gary Barnidge in the equation, they figure to spread the ball around. Rosario will suffer.
Projected Stats: 30 rec 280 yds 1 TD
Fantasy Sleeper: Jonathan Stewart - Entering his 3rd season, he has scored 10 TDs in each of the past two years while boasting a YPC of 4.9. If he can stay healthy, he should see his touches increase.
Projected Stats: 240 car 1300 yds 10 TD


Last Year's Record: 9-7 (2nd in Division)
Last Year's Story: Matt Ryan improved in his 2nd full year as a starter and went 9-5, throwing for close to 3000 yards 22 TD 14 INT and a QB rating of 80.9. He was resilient for most of the season, but sat out two key games in the thick of the playoff race due to turf toe. This ended up being the Falcons undoing as they lost both games and failed to make the playoffs. RB Michael Turner experienced a breakthrough season in '08 and led the NFL with 376 carries, but was hampered by an ankle injury and missed most of 6 games in '09. RBs Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling carried the load in his absence, the latter being the better of the two. TE Tony Gonzalez continued to give linebackers nightmares at 34 years old, boosting his already stellar Hall of Fame resume. The one major concern on offense, besides injuries was a lack of a 2nd receiving option behind dynamic Pro Bowler Roddy White. Combined, Gonzalez and White caught 17 TD passes. The rest of the team? 9.

The defense was inconsistent, ranking 28th against the pass. Part of this was due to a terrible pass rush which finished 26th in the league in total sacks. DT Jonathan Babineaux (6 sacks), DE John Abraham (5.5 sacks) and DE Kroy Biermann (5 sacks) supplied the majority of the pressure, but after them the depth falls out. The team was not able to replace DT Peria Jerry, who succumbed to a season ending ACL tear in September. The front 7 were decent against the rush, finishing 10th in the league. They were led by LBs Mike Peterson and Curtis Lofton. FS Thomas DeCoud (3 INT 2 FF) and CB Brent Grimes (6 INT) were the lone bright spots on a pass defense that was otherwise torched by the opposing QBs, giving up 300 yards by an individual passer 6 times. Despite the lack of consistency in the secondary, the Falcons posted a turnover differential of +3.

Key Additions: CB Dunta Robinson (Texans), LB Sean Weatherspoon (19th Overall), DT Corey Peters (83rd Overall)

Key Subtractions: CB Chris Houston (Lions), CB Tye Hill (Rams)

Injuries: WR Mike Jenkins (shoulder) - out 3-5 weeks. A team already depleted at WR cannot afford to have Jenkins miss a lot of time. Worth keeping an eye on.

Predicted Finish: 10-6
They say you hit your stride during the 3rd year of your NFL career. If this is true, it's great news for Matty Ice and the Atlanta Falcons. With a feast of weapons at the skill positions, the only thing that should hold the Falcons back from a spot in the playoffs this year is the injury bug. I expect the Falcons to contend for a wild-card spot, but they aren't good enough to challenge the Saints for the division yet.

Turner should have a bounce-back year and will get over 300 carries if he can remain healthy. Coach Mike Smith loves running the ball. The team ranked 11th in attempts last year and 2nd in '08. Tony Gonzalez is on the decline, but until he has an unproductive season, I won't write him off. Gonzalez has only missed two games in his 13 year career. Astounding. The injury to Mike Jenkins could be decisive if Turner is unable to get back to '08 form. Roddy White is a top 5 receiver in this league, but Ryan will have little else to throw to. The offensive line remains intact from last year returning all five members. They should benefit from this consistency.

The defense improved in an immediate area of concern: cornerback. 6-year veteran Dunta Robinson was brought in to play opposite Grimes. The Falcons also strengthened their front 7 with the drafting of Weatherspoon and Peters. Both are expected to receive significant playing time this year. The defense will improve their pass coverage without dropping off the production in their run defense.

Offensive MVP: Matt Ryan
Defensive MVP: John Abraham

Fantasy Boom: Roddy White - the only thing holding him back from upper-elite WR fantasy status is the lack of a #2 option across from him. Teams will try to shut down White -- but they won't be very successful.
Projected Stats: 100 rec 1400 yds 8 TD
Fantasy Bust: Jason Snelling - the "bust" aspect of this will depend largely on the health of Turner. If Turner is back, he will get the lion's share of the load, rendering Snelling useless.
Projected Stats: 80 car 300 yds 2 TD
Fantasy Sleeper: Matt Ryan - he sports a positive TD/INT ratio with only 2 seasons under his belt. Ryan has a strong arm and many weapons around him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish in the top 10 for fantasy QBs.
Projected Stats: 3800 yds 24 TD 14 INT


Last Year's Record: 13-3 (1st in Division), 3-0 Playoffs, Super Bowl Champions
Last Year's Story: This is the one story where I have nothing negative to say. The Saints annihilated their competition to start the season 13-0. Annihilated may even be taking it easy. The Saints somehow managed to outscore their opponents 466 to 274 during this run. The offense claimed the 4th best passing attack and 6th best rushing attack in the league, notching over 30 points 12 different times (including the playoffs).

Drew Brees did not have his best statistic year, but he did have his best all around year, flinging for 4388 yds 34 TD 11 INT at a RIDICULOUS 70.6 % (QB Rating 109.6). The ball was spread around with no receiver scoring over 9 TDs, but 8 different guys were able to contribute 2 or more. WRs Marques Colston and Devery Henderson combined for 1900 yards and 11 TDs. TE Jeremy Shockey contributed significantly as well. The three-headed ground attack consisted of RBs Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Mike Bell. Bell had the most carries, but Thomas contributed the most yards. Bush was a threat on the screen as well. All-Pro Jahri Evans flanked a fantastic offensive line which only allowed 20 sacks on Brees all year, ranking 4th in the league.

The offense needed to be this good, because the defense was porous. It ranked 26th against the pass and 21st against the run. The defense also gave up 20 or more points 13 times (including the playoffs) and ranked 20th in the league in points allowed/game. All-Pro Darren Sharper had a career year, picking off 9 passes and returning 3 of them for TDs. DE Will Smith (13 sacks) leads a line of savvy veterans, none of whom stand out as superstars. The line as a whole was mediocre at bringing pressure, tallying 35 sacks (good for 13th in the league). CBs Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer form one of the best tandems in the league and accumulated 6 interceptions between themselves. MLB Jonathan Vilma is a stud, but the rest of the linebacking corps is sub-par. The Saints ranked 3rd in the NFC with a +11 turnover differential. Even though the defense had what could be considered a down year, does it really matter? The team won the Super Bowl. Enough said.

Key Additions: DE Alex Brown (Bears), LB Clint Ingram (Jaguars), DE Jimmy Wilkerson (Buccaneers) CB Patrick Robinson (32nd Overall), OT Charles Brown (64th Overall)

Key Subtractions: RB Mike Bell (Eagles), OT Jammal Brown (Redskins), LB Scott Fujita (Browns), DE Charles Grant (Dolphins)

Injuries: WR Robert Meachem (toe) has missed some training camp, but is expected to be fine.

Predicted Finish: 13-3
I don't see any reason why the defending Super Bowl Champs couldn't repeat this year. Their super-powered offense is wholly intact and the defense improved through offseason acquisitions.

I don't think the offense will be as great as they were last year when they averaged 31.9 points/game, but then again I don't think they have to be. Sean Payton is an offensive mastermind and will still have this team firing on all cylinders. Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas will be enough to carry the load. The Saints' WR corps is one of the best in the league and TE Jeremy Shockeyy has a knack for making the big catch. The offensive line is one of the best in the league and should remain that way. Last year's absurd 70% completion rate by Brees is what happens when an elite QB gets time to let the play develop (See: Tom Brady, 2007).

The defense has improved in all areas and the additions of Brown and Ingram will provide some much needed depth. Sharper is a ball-hawk and should have another stellar season. The addition of Robinson will strengthen the secondary as well. The defense is still not one of the league's elite units, but they have enough veterans and playmakers to get by from week to week.

Offensive MVP: Drew Brees
Defensive MVP: Will Smith

Fantasy Boom: Drew Brees - do you really need a reason?
Projected Stats: 4400 yds 30 TD 10 INT
Fantasy Bust: Jeremy Shockey - with too many options on offense, Shockey's looks have suffered. Since 2006, he has seen a decline in receptions every year.
Projected Stats: 45 rec 500 yds 2 TD
Fantasy Sleeper: Pierre Thomas - with Mike Bell gone, Thomas will get more touches. It's a good thing too since he racked up an impressive 5.4 YPC last season.
Projected Stats: 200 car 750 yds 8 TD, 20 rec 160 yds 2 TD

K-Rod Breaks Hand, Face, Career in One Punch

No, Francisco Rodriguez did not reveal his identity as Superman, but he did do something extremely dumb. The Mets' struggling closer was in an altercation with his girlfriend's father over the weekend and threw a strike that actually hit the zone. Apparently, no one has been working with him on his punch mechanics and he ended up tearing a ligament in his right thumb.

Now I can forgive the fact that K-Rod resorted to pugilism to settle a dispute. There is really no other way a man can defend his honor against the grandfather of his children other than to lead him roughly by the collar away from the family room at Citi Field and pop a few shiners into his skull. What I can't possibly believe is why he threw the punch with his freaking pitching hand. Come on, Franny (new nickname), how dumb can you be?

Eagles vs Jaguars Preseason Thoughts

As far as anticipation goes, August sits at the top of my list of months I can't wait to get through. Even though it was only the first preseason game, you could feel the excitement. No other sport lends itself to the same off-season withdrawal. The game was practically sold out to watch the second and third string teams scrimmage for the right to earn practice squad slots. This is the equivalent of watching and caring about the NBA D-League and yet, I (and the rest of America) can't get enough of it.



The tunnel is a defining moment for career reflection. This will be the first time Kevin Kolb steps out as a starter. The first time (future Hall of Famers) Brandon Graham and Nate Allen will get their taste of the unforgiving Philadelphia crowds. They sway back and forth, eyes closed, ruminating about where they came from and where they're going to the background noise of the adulating masses. Everyone is 0-0. Like the inspiring Nike World Cup commercials, there is a common theme that dances around every player's mind: Write the Future.



Sadly, this is the time I most remember Brian Dawkins who used to crawl out of the tunnel like a Wolverine (which earned him the awesome nickname "Weapon X"). Miss you, Dawk.



Where's Waldo? -- (Hint: Andy ate him)



Kolb, in command of the huddle.



Our first team offense played pretty well for two first quarter drives. They broke into the red zone both times, but were unable to convert, settling for two David Akers field goals. Some observations:

• I think Desean Jackson will do okay in this league.


• Jeremy Maclin looks like he added 30 lbs... of muscle.


• We are starting to see the good and bad of Kolb. He is very accurate and consistent, but likes to force it into coverage more than Mcnabb. One thing we can definitely expect this season: more interceptions. Mcnabb holds the NFL record (or close to it) for career avg attempts in between interceptions.


• The offensive line looks solid. This is especially impressive because third-string center Mike McGlynn is starting in place of Jamaal Jackson and Nick Cole.


• Jason Avant might be the most underrated WR in the league.

The first team defense was even more impressive than the offense. They were only on the field for two posessions, but held the Jaguars first team offense to consecutive three and outs and a total of 10 yards.

• Asante Samuel, yes Asante Samuel, delivered the best hit, crunching Jaguars TE Mercedes Lewis on a crucial third down for a minimal gain. I've been as critical as anyone about Asante's ability to tackle, but it's great to see him lay out like this in a preseason game against a bigger guy.


• The linebackers look FAST. Ernie Sims and Stewart Bradley might become the next "Thunder and Lightning" duo. Akeem Jordan looks great as well. On one play he surged into the backfield by himself and took out Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew for a loss of 2 yards.


• Brandon Graham got into the backfield on nearly every play. He seemed overly excited and ran past the quarterback several times, but was always within arms length reach. After the game he admitted that he had a little too much adrenaline and wanted to perform for the crowd.


• My only complaint was that Nate Allen needs more reps. He was on the field for six plays. While Graham played a little with the second team, Allen never stepped onto the field again.

NFC North Preview

Over the next few weeks until the NFL season begins I will be doing division by division previews. Up first, the NFC North.



Last Year's Record: 2-14 (4th in Division)
Last Year's Story: Heading into QB-of-the-future Matthew Stafford's inaugural season, the focus was toward building for the future. With a promising young core of WR Calvin Johnson (23), RB Kevin Smith (22), TE Brandon Pettigrew (24) and Stafford (21) the Lions looked poised to grow consistency together and surprise as a potential sleeper team. The only thing consistent was their inconsistency. Stafford looked like a rookie at times and a sure-fire franchise QB at others. Johnson fought through double coverages without a reliable second option. The offense even showed flashes of greatness at times, gritting it out in a last second comeback win at home against Cleveland on week 11. Okay greatness is pushing it, the Browns are awful. As the season wore on, the quad of youngsters were also hit by an injury train. Combined they missed 16 games between each other and were only on the field together for 8 regular season games.

As for the other side of the ball, the numbers tell most of the story. The Lions' defense ranked last in Total Yards, Yds/game, Pass Yds/game and Pts/game. Their Rush Yds/game was only slightly improved at 25th. The early loss of veteran Jared Devries to the defensive line threw rookie Sammie Hill into the fire. The line was porous at best, succumbing to individual rushers gaining over 100 yards 8 different times. The secondary was mired in injury with 6 DBs finishing the season on the injured reserve. The lone bright spot was the LB corps which received fast-paced high intensity play from Julian Peterson, Ernie Sims, Larry Foote and youngster DeAndre Levy.

Key Additions: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (Titans), DT Ndamukong Suh (2nd Overall Pick), RB Jahvid Best (30th Overall Pick), WR Nate Burleson (Seahawks), TE Tony Scheffler (Broncos), OG Rob Sims (Seahawks)

Key Subtractions: LB Ernie Sims (Eagles), LB Larry Foote (Steelers)

Injuries: SS Ko Simpson - Missed most of training camp with a knee injury after missing most of last year. He is the starting SS. Worth keeping an eye on.

Predicted Finish: 3-13
The defense improved on paper. They shored up the defensive line with the drafting of Suh and signing Vanden Bosch to a four-year deal worth $26 million. Both players should make an immediate impact. The losses of Foote and Sims will hurt. Newcomer Zach Follett will replace Sims having played in 10 games and amassing a total of... 10 total tackles. The front office brass apparently had enough faith in him to let Sims go. Foote will be replaced at MLB by Deandre Levy who proved to be a capable starter and ended up playing in all but one of the team's games. Whether he can perform consistently at that level without Sims or Foote to help back him up remains an unknown. The secondary shouldn't face the smattering of injuries they had last year, but then again they aren't that talented to begin with. I expect improvement from this defensive unit. The only way to go is up anyway.

The offense should face similar returns from their off-season investments. Best could be a sleeper for Offensive ROY. He'll split time with a (hopefully) healthy Kevin Smith. This tandem should demand respect and free up space for Megatron. CJ will also benefit from the veteran presence of Nate Burleson, a possession receiver that runs good routes. A legitimate second option for Stafford. In addition, with Pettigrew healthy, the Lions have two starting-caliber tight ends. Neither of them have proved themselves to stand out yet, but both should be serviceable. The acquisition of Rob Sims will prove to be valuable. Longtime veteran Jeff Backus is a rock at LT. The offensive line should benefit from an additional year together and some veteran depth.

I admit, they have improved themselves on paper. They are young and FAST. It will be exciting to watch them this year, especially if Stafford can limit his turnovers. So why give the Lions only one extra win from last year? Well that little thing called a schedule. The Lions face the enormous task of playing the NFC East and AFC East. Quite possibly the two strongest divisions in football. And if not, well then they're playing in the toughest division. The only sanctuary is a home game against the Rams and an away game in Tampa. The Lions' record may not improve much, but their play will. The future looks a little brighter in Motown.

Offensive MVP: Calvin Johnson
Defensive MVP: Ndamukong Suh

Fantasy Boom: Calvin Johnson - Megatron is an elite WR poised for a big year. Expect more consistency between him and Stafford.
Projected Stats: 88 rec 1300 yds 9 TD
Fantasy Bust: Tony Scheffler - He'll be splitting reps with Pettigrew. The Lions have too many weapons in the red zone.
Projected Stats: 35 rec 475 yds 3 TD
Fantasy Sleeper: Jahvid Best - He's a homerun threat with a decent offensive line. If he can be anywhere near as dominant as he was in college, the Lions may have stumbled upon California gold.
Projected Stats: 200 car 770 yds 5 TD, 30 rec 280 yds 3 TD



Last Year's Record: 7-9 (3rd in Division)
Last Year's Story: Never shy in the off-season, Chicago blew a load of draft picks to rescue Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler from the evil clutches of Denver coach Josh McDaniels. With their franchise QB firmly entrenched and RB Matt Forte coming off of a breakout rookie season, the Bears looked to be in the driver's seat, having come one game away from making the playoffs in '08. In the opening day game against Green Bay, Cutler proved to be erratic, throwing 4 interceptions as the defense blew a 4th quarter lead to complete the meltdown. This would set the tone for the season. After throwing for 4500 yds 25 TD 18 INT at 62.3 PCT in '08 Cutler regressed to 3600 yds 27 TD 26 INT at 60 PCT. The blame should not be heaped on Cutler though. With return-man specialist Devin Hester as the #1 WR, Forte unable to hold onto the ball and a past-their-prime O-Line led by Orlando Pace and Olin Kreutz, the Bears stumbled in '09.

Chicago's defense was consistently mediocre throughout the year, unable to stop any high-powered offense from having their way. Part of this reason is that defensive centerpiece, LB Brian Urlacher went down to injury in the first game of the season and never returned. Having produced more than 34 turnovers in each of Lovie Smith's first five seasons, the bounces simply did not go their way in '09 with only 28 turnovers and 35 sacks. Although they ranked 10th in turnovers forced, they were a -6 overall.

Key Additions: DE Julius Peppers (Panthers), RB Chester Taylor (Vikings), Mike Martz (Offensive Coordinator), FS Major Wright (75th pick)

Key Subtractions: DE Alex Brown (Saints), DE Adewale Ogunleye (FA)

Injuries: None

Predicted Finish: 7-9
Color me skeptical, but I'm not convinced Julius Peppers is the pole to vault this team into the playoffs. Firstly, the team lost Brown (6 sacks) and Ogunleye (6.5 sacks). I doubt Peppers will be much more productive than both of them combined. He is heading into his 9th season and has only topped 12.5 sacks 3 times. The linebackers should be much improved with Urlacher and Pisa Tinoisamoa healthy. Urlacher is heading into his 11th season. I wonder how much longer he can be a dominant force in this league, especially since he must come back from a season-ending injury. The cornerbacks are solidified with Zach Bowman and Charles Tillman, but the safety slots are up for grabs. In competition are incumbents Danieal Manning and Chris Harris as well as Craig Steltz and rookie Major Wright. The group as a whole should be slightly improved, barring injuries.

The offense is a different story and one that is not as easy to predict. Jay "Crybaby" Cutler will benefit from Mike Martz and his ability to mold Hall of Fame QBs (see: Kurt Warner), but who exactly will he throw to? TE Greg Olsen is his most legitimate threat but WRs Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are not #1 options on most teams. Secondaries blanketed them last year forcing a ton of missed balls and broken routes. Forte's return to dominance could be possible with the addition of Taylor, but they will be too dependent on a makeshift offensive line to predict absolute success. The Bears got rid of a washed-up Pace, but will use training camp to determine the best possible combination of lineman to use come September.

Offensive MVP: Jay Cutler
Defensive MVP: Julius Peppers

Fantasy Boom: Greg Olsen - Cutler will improve under Martz's direction and Olsen is his guy.
Projected Stats: 70 rec 720 yds 9 TD
Fantasy Bust: Matt Forte - He will be forced to split time with Chester Taylor behind a huge question mark of an offensive line.
Projected Stats: 240 car 900 yds 6 TD
Fantasy Sleeper: Johnny Knox - Despite a raw rookie season, Knox has shown flashes of brilliance and could surprise this year.
Projected Stats: 60 rec 680 yds 5 TD



Last Year's Record: 12-4 (1st in Division) 1-1 Playoffs
Last Year's Story: A friend challenged me to write this blurb without mentioning He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Unfortunately I don't think that's possible. The Unretired One even put Adrian Peterson on the media back stove and dominated the headlines. As Favre went, so did the Vikings. None of this was more evident than a week 3 miracle catch in the back of the end zone by Greg Lewis against the 49ers. Conversely, the season ended not so miraculously with an overtime interception in the NFC Championship game. (Sidenote: Favre has now thrown interceptions in his last career passing attempts for the Packers, Jets and Vikings -- as long as he stays retired... please stay retired). Among the supporting cast, Adrian Peterson wasn't as dominant as his previous version, racking up over 100 yards in only 3 games. Percy Harvin proved to be a breakout star, winning Offensive ROY. Visante Shiancoe emerged as a dangerous red zone option and Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson anchored a solid line.

The Vikings' D was spectacular against the run, but less than impressive against the air attack. The best defensive line in the league featured a Pro Bowl caliber player at every position. Pat and Kevin Williams anchored the middle and were flanked at the ends by Jared Allen (arguably the best DE in the league) and Ray Edwards (8.5 sacks). The unit topped the league with 48 sacks. LB Chad Greenway had a great year, but lost the freedom to move around when MLB E.J. Henderson went down with a broken femur in December. CB Antoine Winfield was not able to stay healthy either. The secondary persevered and only gave up 2 individual 300 yard passing games, including the playoffs. Still, they were not able to force many turnovers, with only 11 total interceptions on the year as a team, tied for 26th in the league.

Key Additions: CB Lito Sheppard (Jets), CB Chris Cook (34th Pick), RB Toby Gerhart (51st pick), DE Everson Griffen (100th pick)

Key Subtractions: RB Chester Taylor (Bears)

Injuries: None

Predicted Finish: 11-5 (Favre) 8-8 (sans)
If Minnesota is jilted by Favre, this season could turn ugly quickly. Backup QB Tavaris Jackson played reasonably well in short stints last year, but hasn't played consistently since '07. QB is too important a position to leave up to an unknown. If Favre does return, I don't see him having the MVP-caliber season he had last year (4200 yards 33 TD 7 INT at 68.4% 107 QB Rating). He'll be 41 in October and is coming off major ankle surgery. AP will be AP. Percy Harvin and Vishanthe Shiancoe will both take another step forward. Shiancoe spent four years in New York with Coughlin, but was unable to break out until '08.

The defense added depth where they were weakest: the secondary. The signing of veteran Lito Sheppard was a great move. Sheppard was a Pro Bowler in his time with the Eagles. While he may have lost a step since those days, he will still be a valuable backup to rotate into their nickel schemes. If the linebackers can stay healthy, the Vikings' front seven could be the best in the league. This defense is dangerous. The balls didn't seem to bounce their way last year only recovering 13 of their 23 forced fumbles. The poor luck should regress back to the mean.

I seem to have the Vikings improving in almost all aspects, yet gave them a worse record than last year. This is because they got worse at the most important position, quarterback. Tavaris Jackson cannot be Brett Favre. Neither can Favre for that matter (or at least the '09 version of him). It's one thing to come back from major ankle surgery at 25 (and still extremely difficult). It's a completely different thing to do it at 40-41. Poor quarterback play can destroy a team. We saw how the team rose and fell with Favre's performances last year. This year will be no different. Only Favre will be worse.

Offensive MVP: Adrian Peterson
Defensive MVP: Ray Edwards

Fantasy Boom: Adrian Peterson - No brainer here. He has a great line to support him and doesn't need to rely on the QB to get his touches. He should get even more carries this year.
Projected Stats: 330 car 1400 yds 17 TD, 30 rec 350 yds 4 TD
Fantasy Bust: Brett Favre/Tavaris Jackson - Yes, they have weapons at their disposal and a solid line, but the same was true last year as well. Neither of them will have last year's season.
Projected Stats: Favre: 3900 yds 28 TD 23 INT, Jackson: 3000 yds 22 TD 23 INT
Fantasy Sleeper: Vikings D - not really a sleeper, but when you consider the number of huge games they could have it will spike your week-to-week total. They are still the best in the sack business and will get more interceptions than last year if they remain healthy.



Last Year's Record: 11-5 (2nd in Division) 0-1 Playoffs
Last Year's Story: In QB Aaron Rodgers' second full year as a starter, the offense thrived. Rodgers threw for over 4000 yards for the second consecutive season, becoming the first person in NFL history to do so. He is not without a plethora of weapons. Bonafide star WRs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver lead an impressive receiving corps. RB Ryan Grant has rushed for over 1200 yards in the past two years. The Packers left some points on the board last year, but it wasn't the fault of the skill position players. The offensive line suffered miserably against the pass rush, giving up a league high 51 sacks. While constantly running for his life, Rodgers completed 64.7% of his passes and boasted 30 TD to only 7 INT -- good for a QB rating of 103.2. Despite putting up the 6th best yards/game and 3rd most points/game over the course of the regular season, the Packers were handed a Wild Card round exit courtesy of the Arizona Cardinals. Rodgers threw for over 400 yards and had 4 TDs, but a fumble recovery returned by Karlos Dansby in overtime sealed their fate 51-45.

The defense put up impressive numbers in some gaudy categories. They led the league with 30 interceptions and a turnover differential of +24. At 33, CB Charles Woodson had possibly the best season of his 12-year career: 9 INT 4 FF 2 SCK 74 TCK 3 TD. He received NFC Defensive Player of the Month award 3 times and was the AP Defensive Player of the Year. Assisting him in the secondary were Pro Bowl S Nick Collins(6 INT) and veteran CB Al Harris. The Packers sat heavily in a base 3-4 and leaned heavily on their linebackers to perform. Luckily, they hit a homerun in the '09 Draft with LB Clay Matthews. The USC rookie posted 10 sacks in route to a Pro Bowl season.

Key Additions: OT Bryan Bulaga (23rd Overall), DE Mike Neal (56th Overall), P Chris Bryan (Undrafted)
Key Subtractions: DE Aaron Kampman (Jaguars), DE Mike Montgomery (Vikings)

Injuries: DE Johnny Jolly (Suspended)

Predicted Finish: 12-4
The entire season rests on the stability of the offensive line. I think they'll be better. Of the 51 sacks they gave up, 41 of them came in the first 9 games. In their remaining 7 games, they went 6-1. First round draft pick, tackle Bryan "Baby Beluga" Bulaga is saying and doing all of the right things so far. He might have earned himself a spot on the line by the time the real games begin. Another fact to consider... Rodgers was sacked 14 times in his two losses against Minnesota. His QB Ratings in those games: 110.6 and 108.5. It's scary to think what he would be capable of with better protection in front of him.

The defense still has a ton of playmakers on it. The losses of Jolly and Kampman will hurt, but the Packers will continue to rely on their athleticism at linebacker. Clay Matthews will benefit from an off-season of NFL conditioning and veterans A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett will continue their solid play. Green Bay's secondary remains one of the best in the league. I expect them to be near the top of the league in turnovers and turnover differential again. The Packers tend to give up a lot of points, but they will make enough plays to keep themselves in games. Fortunately, the offense has enough firepower to win those high scoring games.

The Packers will win the division and compete for a Super Bowl this year. Playing at Lambeau in December should give them a decisive advantage.

Offensive MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Defensive MVP: Clay Matthews

Fantasy Boom: Aaron Rodgers - Like I haven't heaped enough praise on him yet. Rodgers will dominate fantasy this year.
Projected Stats: 4700 yds 38 TD 8 INT
Fantasy Bust: Packers D - not in the sense that they won't create a lot of turnovers, just not as much as last year and with fewer touchdowns. Their schedule is not very forgiving. They will face teams that can put up points.
Fantasy Sleeper: Ryan Grant - as teams gameplan for Rodgers, space will open up for Grant. Couple that with another year of experience for an upgraded offensive line and you have a formula for overachievement.
Projected Stats: 260 car 1400 yds 10 TD, 30 rec 160 yds 2 TD

How I'm Spending My Time

I often get asked what I do with my time now that I have it all to myself. The answer is blogging (okay, just kidding). Yes, I've been incredibly lazy with this blog and it was never really my intention to stop making posts, but I've been trying to get into a rhythm with screen writing. The goal is to make finding "the zone" habitual. Not everyone is Buster Posey from the outset.

The savior of my fantasy baseball team.

On an average day, the milestone I try to shoot for is 5 quality pages. There are some days where I'm barely able to get a sentence down and other rare days when I go off for 20+ quality pages. I have yet to figure out how to buck myself from this Eli Manning feast-or-famine trend. The curriculum at many graduate schools includes a healthy dose of reading, writing and watching. I conceived my schedule to accommodate for these very things. Here is a routine day of productivity.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Wake up, eat breakfast, read.

Not a morning person at all. I like to read during breakfast to give my mind some push-ups. On hangover days it feels more like dead-lift squats. I've been reading two books at once. One is usually a book on writing and the other is creative fiction.

I just finished a book on writing and life titled "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott. Her "unique" message stems from a story about her younger brother who struggled with a book report about birds. Overwhelmed by the task before him and on the verge of tears, her father provided the simple solution: "just take it bird by bird." Good advice. Mostly though, Anne comes off as a self-indulgent, insecure religious nutbag with sentences like

"I started telling myself that if you want to know how God feels about money, look at whom she gives it to. This cheered me up to [sic] no end, even though my closest friends have lots of money."

Look at the future I have to look forward to!! Although for me God isn't a she, he's a shemale.

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Work out

Hardcore XXX action

My good friend Tony Horton drops by every morning to pump up my self-esteem and massive pythons. Alright fine, garden snakes. P90X works really well. I know this because I'm no longer translucent in a mirror. Here is the first 3 weeks regimen:

Monday: Chest and Back
Tuesday: Plyometrics
Wednesday: Shoulder, Biceps, Triceps
Thursday: Yoga
Friday: Legs and Back
Saturday: Kempo
Sunday: Stretch

I do it right in the living room (with no shirt, obviously) and have my very own yoga mat. I can downward dog with the best of them, but my specialty is child's pose.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Lunch and Blogs

Nothing is better than a good meal after an intense workout. The caveat is avoiding the massive food coma that hits just as exhaustion settles in. I use this time to detox and catch up on the world. Most of the blogs I read are of the Philadelphia sports variety, but I also catch up on the film industry, technology, humor and other wordly news.

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Writing

My current project is a feature-length romantic comedy titled "Occidentally in Love". It's an Oregon Trail story that incorporates many of the elements from that lovely childhood educational computer game. I hope to have it finished by the end of August, but more realistically I'll have a completed first draft in September.
This is my second feature-length movie and as such I've learned a lot about the process. I've approached the task of writing this story more legitimately than when I wrote "State School." Each index card on the board represents scene beats. Each beat represents progress for my characters and plot. A beat can encompass multiple scenes and is denoted by a positive or negative tone. If a beat starts positively, it must end negatively. Adjacent scenes must reflect the opposite, like a stack of alternating batteries.

I find that it's easiest to use a cork board like this so that scenes can be moved around. Occidentally is a little over 50% specced out and 30% written.

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Script + Movie

This is my favorite activity. I'll read the script for a movie and then watch the movie. If I like a particular scene, I'll pause and re-read to get a feel for how the writer set everything up. Besides actually writing, this gives me the most valuable reps for beefing up my ability. It's also a huge self-esteem boost.

Recently, I did a Read/Watch on "Raiders of the Lost Ark." I read a third draft of the script and realized that George Lucas is NOT a gifted screenwriter. At all. It's so interesting to see his vision versus the actual shooting script. Almost every scene in the actual movie is given a "ticking time bomb." The script is not written in that way.

Lucas is a master of structure, though, and this is probably the most important aspect of screenwriting. The story was so succinct and cohesive that the person who re-wrote it was able to go back and add dramatization and suspense without interrupting character development or plot. I've spent a ton of hours on the structure of Occidentally to make sure it can stand on its own. The major criticism I received from State School was that it had no plot or premise and wasn't an original idea.

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM: SPORTS

Okay I lied, this is my favorite part of the day. I'm a proud 4/4 fan and follow each Philadelphia team regularly and religiously. Tomorrow I will be attending the Eagles first pre-season game against the Jaguars and there will be photos and thoughts on the off-season progress forthcoming.

I will also be doing a division-by-division NFL preview with my predictions.

10:00 PM - 1:00 AM: Misc. Writing/Reading

I'll usually write for the rest of the night if I haven't put in my 5 quality pages. Otherwise, I'll work on my structure and subplots or write short comedy sketches.

------------

This is a fully productive day. Most days I am forced to run errands or get sidetracked by other things. Somehow, I need to make all of these activities a habit so that I can control my Avatar state and get into a euphoric writing zone.

Aang knows best

Lebron Joins the NWO

Last week, The Sports Guy did an all-Lebron mailbag to appease the broken hearts of Cleveland fans. Frank from Oakland had this to say:

I'm trying to figure out where I've had a feeling like this before. Then I remembered: This reminds me of Hulk Hogan at the moment he drops the big boot on the Macho Man Randy Savage to team with the Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) and essentially form the nWo. These are the only two times when I have said to myself "No! Why are you doing this! Evil! Evil! EVILLLL!"

Which led to this fantastic video being made.

Tosh.O Redeems Crying Giants Fan

Last year, when the Eagles beat the Giants at home to all but end their playoff hopes, the initial video on here went viral. As part of a running series, comedian Daniel Tosh redeems him. Hilarious stuff.

Fan Voting has Far-Reaching Effects

With the midsummer classic fast approaching, a quick look at the all-star roster would be enough to make any follower of baseball sick to their stomach. Like every year, there is no shortage of snubs or people to complain about them. Fans turn sports into a brilliant and elaborate spectacle, but are they given too much power in ultimately deciding a player's legacy?

Here is a quick breakdown of how each league chooses it's all-stars.

MLB - Fans choose starters. Players select 16 (8 pitchers and one backup player at each position). Managers select 9 players to fill the roster to 33. Fan Internet vote for the 34th spot on each team.

NBA - Fans vote for starters. Coaches vote for the reserves with the caveat that they cannot choose players on their team. Commissioner chooses replacements.

NHL - Starting lineup and goaltender chosen by fans. Reserves chosen by Hockey Operations Department in coordination with GMs.

NFL - Fans, players and coaches each have 1/3 say of who gets voted in.

At first, I planned to do a lot of research to see how many times a player was "snubbed" from being selected to an all-star roster, however, my own individual bias would make that process highly subjective. What I've realized is that there is no way to make this process objective. By taking fans out of the equation, could we make it less subjective?

The problem with being snubbed from an all-star roster spot has much to do with an athlete's legacy at the end of his career. When the pundits look at their Hall of Fame ballots across all sports, all-star appearances can weigh heavily on their minds.

When China votes Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady onto the all-star team every year (deserving or not), those appearances stack up. In 50 years, will we remember Yao Ming as a semi-bust who could never stay healthy or live up to his full potential or will we just see 7-time all-star (not all deserving) and forget to dig deeper? Stats don't lie and when there isn't a single person alive anymore that can remember when Yao played, that's what they'll turn to.

So here is my question to you: Should fans continue to have a heavy influence on all-star game rosters (and potentially influence whether they become hall-of-famers) or should we leave it up to the people that are closer to the game and follow it for a living (players, coaches, owners and media)?

I'm opting toward the latter.

Lebronukkah Live Blog

Lebron James plans to announce his decision on which team he will join next season (and for the next 5 years) on a humble public appearance deemed “The Decision.” Here is my liveblog of this ridiculous spectacle.

8:53PM: For the last three hours Sportscenter has speculated and respeculated about where Lebron is going. Personally I’d like to see a live feed of David Stern shitting his pants as Lebron signs with the Italian league for $400M.

8:58PM: Bob Holtz was just asked what kind of celebration there would be in Miami if Lebron signed there... probably somewhere between balloon animal clown and unadulterated flash mob.

9:01PM: Who is narrating the intro? You’re telling me with this budget they really couldn’t get James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman?

9:02PM: Stu Scott just announced that there will be blanket coverage of this event (similar to blanket defense). Why isn’t the panel wearing Lebron James snuggies?

9:05PM: Only 2 other players in NBA history have switched teams after winning an MVP: Wilt Chamberlain and Moses Malone.

9:07PM: Lebron looks like a nervous farmer who accidentally slept with his neighbor’s underage daughter and is about to confront him.

9:11PM: Stop bringing up the Olympics like its and indication of how they’re going to play with each other.

9:17PM: Broussard, Wilbon and Barry are predicting Miami. On a related note, I’m going to vomit.

9:19PM: Lebron chose to air his Vitamin Water commercial during the special. Big Choice Water. Decision Water. Egomaniac water.

9:24PM: I really like interviews where nothing of substance is being said. So... all sports interviews.

9:25PM: Lebron just said he’s already told the team who he’s about to sign with. Jim Gray responds “The other 5 teams must be waiting on pins and needles.” I bet they are Jim Gray, now that they know they didn’t get a call. Idiot.

9:27PM: Miami. Fucking Miami.

9:28PM: Suicide rate in Cleveland tonight?

At this point I was distraught and had to make a few phone calls. I feel like I’m in a never ending nightmare where I’m being chased by David Stern’s wet dream down a long dark hallway. Lebron James is a Miami Heat. For the next five years the East is incontestable.

As a fan of history, the Finals match up is intriguing. Phil Jackson vs. Pat Riley (presumably). Kobe, Lebron, Bosh, Gasol, Artest and Wade on the same stage. Lots of personalities and story lines. My eyes would be glued to the television.

As a fan of the current state of the NBA this sucks. The sixers won’t be able to compete in the East no matter how good Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday become. Lebron’s legacy will forever be tarnished in my mind. Forget the comparisons to Jordan I was really hoping for. He’s now going to win Championships with 2 future hall of famers.

The most sickening part of this is that Kobe actually becomes more likable than Lebron.

The Inevitability of Tiger Woods

This issue has been beaten to death by every pundit, blogger and celebrity with a craving to regurgitate their messy opinion all over us. I don't want to get into the moral dilemma. It bores me. Instead I'd like to focus on the cultural aspect of this issue and see if it could have been prevented. Is Tiger Woods morally bankrupt? I doubt it. Is he addicted to sex? Laughable. Tiger is simply a product of our society and how we esteem phenoms. His inability to withstand the social pressures of celebrity could have a lot to do with a lack of example in the world of golf.

I needed a small sample size for phenoms, so I set the cut-off point for age at 25 years old. I wanted to see athletes that won early and often in their careers. I also needed a cut-off point for the year. The media and their 24/7 coverage plays a large factor in this, so going back too far would eliminate that culture from the equation. The results are hardly surprising. Golf is an old man's game; there are very few prodigies.

Since 1970, there have been only 9 golfers to win a major championship under the age of 25. Of those nine, only three of them were able to win multiple championships before turning 26.


The Jackel's career followed his hair and peaked early

1) Brit Tony Jacklin won his second major, the 1970 U.S. Open, at 25. He failed to win another, although experienced a great deal of success in the Ryder Cup.


How could anyone tell those jackets were green?

2) Spaniard Seve Ballesteros won the 1979 British Open at 22 and followed up his performance with a win at the 1980 Masters. He won three more majors (1983 Masters, 1984 British Open, 1988 British Open) after turning 25 for a career total of five.

3) Woods won the Masters in 1997 at 21. He became the youngest person ever to win the Masters (and the youngest to win a major since 1922). Tiger then went on to win 5 more majors before turning 26, including four straight championships from 2000-01. He has 14 total majors, placing him 2nd all-time on that list.

Tiger not only blew away expectations, but continued that sustained success. Seve and Tony are great, but they can't touch Woods. He garnered a tremendous amount of attention from the media and became an American icon. The face of golf. With all of this attention came the social pressures as Woods dove headfirst into the culture of American celebrity.

A recent series of articles on ESPN Insider can shed some more light on this. They have a blog in which current star players from all the major sports anonymously talk about life as a professional athlete in the 21st century. In both NBA Player X and NFL Player X's columns, they talked about the culture of their sport. When a brash and immature rookie phenom enters the league they have a large number of veteran players (on their team no less) to show them how to stay out of trouble. The younger athletes listen because the older guys have just gone through it. It doesn't become a game of "when I was your age" because the difference is only a few years apart.


Watson and Nicklaus, ready to relate to a young whippersnapper

When Tiger blew up the golf world in the late 90s, what example could he follow? The two closest American comparisons I could find to Woods were Tom Watson (8 championships, first at 25) and Jack Nicklaus (18 championships, first at 22). In 1997, when Woods won his first championship, Watson was 48 and Nicklaus was 57. Is a 21-year-old really going to take life advice from these guys? Probably not. Neither Watson or Nicklaus had to deal with the 24/7 news cycle or the omnipresent internet.

Golf had never seen someone like Woods and while this certainly doesn't excuse his behavior, it sheds some light onto why his homely malfeasance became a spectacle. There was no one for Tiger to look up to in the golf world, but himself. Our society placed Tiger on a pedestal and he took that entitlement and flaunted it. As a product of both our culture and the archaic nature of golf, a phenom's social downfall was inevitable. It happened to be Tiger Woods. He now becomes the example that future phenoms will steer clear from duplicating.