(Almost) Mid-Year Predictions/Awards

Well, seeing were nearing the mid-point of the year in the NHL, I think it's fair to make a good judgement of where teams stand, and how they are going to fair for the rest of the season. So far, Gary Bettman and the NHL could not have asked for a better season. The Chicago Blackhawks have risen from the ashes truly as a young-and-gun team ready to prove to the league that they are the real deal. The yet again seemingly impenetreable New Jersey Devils are locked in a wrestling match with the defending Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins in one of the most interesting division races we may have seen in years. It's a great year for hockey, and everyone should be loving it.

First of all, I would like to hand out my awards for the mid-year. They may be the front-runners, but still have a long way to go.


Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie) -
Under no circumstances should this go to anyone else but Ryan Miller. As of 36 games, Miller posts a 1.89 goals against, and a .939 save percentage. A career year for Miller so far, he looks to lead the Sabres to the promised land, or at least a return to the playoffs after a two year drought.

Honorable Mentions: Martin Brodeur(NJD), Miikka Kiprusoff (CGY) Evgeni Nabokov (SJS)

Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman)
The Norris Trophy may be the hardest one to hand out at this point, but I would have to hand it to Duncan Keith. Chicago is off to one of its best starts in recent memory, and Keith is the biggest reason why. Keith consistently puts in great effort night in night out, going more than 26 minutes on a consistent basis. He is 3rd in TOI, and is a solid +9. Look for Chicago to go deep into the playoffs because of its solid defense corps., led by Keith.

Honorable Mentions: Drew Doughty(LAK), Mike Green (WSH), Jay Bouwmeester (CGY)

Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
Another very tough one, but I'll take a walk on the wild side (bias aside) and go with the 19 year-old defenseman Tyler Myers. The Sabres are second in the east in goals against, and have one of the best goalies in the league. But one of the main reasons he is so good is Buffalo's defense, led by Myers. He has confidence and playmaking ability beyond his years. He isn't afraid to lead the rush. He leads all rookies in TOI and is 7th in scoring. He still has much to prove, but has been the best rookie thus far.

Honorable mentions: Ryan O'Reilly (COL), John Tavares(NYI), Matt Duchene(COL)

Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward)
Well, this guy can do it all, and will for a long time. Jonathan Toews is another reason why the Blackhawks are good again. He leads all centers in+/- and is a key penalty killer for the Blackhawks. He can score, too, but isn't afraid of making that shot-block and defends just as well as he scores. Keith and Toews will bring the Blackhawks deep into the playoffs with their strong defense.

Honorable Mentions: Pavel Datsyuk (DET), Alex Burrows (VAN), Joe Thornton (SJS)

Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP)
Joe Thornton is the best hockey player in the world. He is one of the most prolific passers in the history of the game, and is an exceptional penalty killer. He leads the league in scoring with 51 points in 37 games played. I will not say he is the sole reason the Sharks are near the top of the league, but he is a large part of that. Adding Dany Heatley to his line was an amazing aquistion over the offseason.

Honorable Mentions: Ryan Miller (BUF), Sidney Crosby (PIT), Ilya Kovalchuk (ATL)

Seems to be the gist of who's doing what in the season so far individually, team wise though...

Northeast Divison: Buffalo Sabres. Look for the Sabres to ride the goaltending of Ryan Miller and their spectacular defense into their second division title in four years. They will not be true contenders until they make a move for a big time scorer. Ottawa and Boston look to make the playoffs as well, carrying strong records into late December. Montreal isn't living up to their potential, again, and will not make the playoffs until they do. Toronto also has potential to sneak in especially with sniper Phil Kessel back from surgery.

Atlantic Divison: New Jersey Devils. Why? Martin Brodeur and their defense. Similar to Buffalo? I think so. And that is why Pittsburgh will not win this division. Marc-Andre Fleury and their injuries will stop them from winning the division, but definitely not the playoffs, nor going very deep into them. The Rangers and Flyers just plain suck and the Islanders still have kinks to get out before they become real contenders anytime soon.

Southeast Division: Washington Capitals. Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin are scoring left and right, and making a case for the best defense is a great offense. The Thrashers are quietly having a good year behind the leadership/goal scoring of MVP candidate Ilya Kovalchuk and goaltending of Johan Hedberg. Florida or Tampa may sneak in, but chances are slim, both teams are way too inconsistent. Carolina is the worst team in the league, 'nuff said.

Northwest Division: Calgary Flames. As much as I would love to see Vancouver here, both them and Colorado will fall to the superior goaltending and defense combo of Calgary. Calgary has some of the best defense in the league, led by Bouwmeester and Dion Phaneuf, and perennial offensive force Jarome Iginla. Goaltender Miikka Kipprusoff is off to yet another awesome year as well. Vancouver is way to inconsistent despite the return of Daniel Sedin. Goaltender Roberto Luongo needs to pick et up if they are expected to do anything . Colorado is young and unexperienced but are playing exceptionally well and are a lock for the playoffs. Vancouver better get its act together, or else they may be in danger of not making it like their counterparts Minnesota and Edmonton (sadly).

Pacific Division: San Jose Sharks. Again, Thornton, Heatley, Marleau. These guys are virtually unstoppable, look for them to very deep and avenge their first round lost to the Ducks last year. The Kings are having a great season and should make the playoffs, especially after the return of Ryan Smyth to help Anze Kopitar score goals again. Phoenix is riding the strong play of goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and are quietly having their best year in recent memory. Dallas is having an OK year too, but have to play consistent in order to make the playoffs. Talk about living up to their potential, the Ducks are the saddest story in the NHL this year for me. No one likes to play defense on that team, but they seem to be on the rise after going 5-2-3 in their last 10.

Central Division: Chicago Blackhawks. The most predictable division in the NHL is not so predictable anymore. The rise of the Blackhawks has created quite the disruption in this division. Led by Pat Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith, the Blackhawks look to go deep into the playoffs with the best defensive corps. in the league. Also, where the hell did the Nashville Predators come from. They have come out of nowhere to contend with the Blackhawks lgetimately for the division title. The Red Wings are having a poor year and are on the bubble for making the playoffs, but have no fear, they will make the playoffs. The Blues and Jackets are bad and I don't feel like writing in vain about their chances of making the playoffs, sorry.

STANLEY CUP CHAMPS???

Way to early to tell, and really shouldn't even be being talked about, but...I predict to see the Buffalo Sabres or New Jersey Devils in the East, and the Blackhawks or Sharks in the West. The Northeast Division was the only division not to win a Stanley Cup in the past decade...they are due. Im just saying. And the two teams from the west are nasty and no one can deny it.


Go Canada,
Reggie Dunlop

Why Nirvana Sucks

I could not help myself after being bombarded by vh1 countdowns putting Nirvana's now legendary 1991 album "Nevermind" ahead of Beatles records and Kurt Cobain reaching #12 on Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitarists list. I understand that today's generation for the most part listens to garbage but come on really? These are the guys who are supposed to know better who are putting a semi talented grunge band on the highest of rock pedestals, not brainless Lil Wayne devotees (though some will cross over). It sickens me, mostly because none of the arguments they use to justify this overhyping really make any sense. Allow me to explain in a five step argument I call why Nirvana Sucks

1. The album was "groundbreaking". How so? It had the usual shiny AOR production of a junky early 90s album not unlike a horrible Ozzy Osbourne power ballad collection or a tragically polished Replacements record. The sound may have been different than what was normally on the radio at the time, but it wasn't new. Didn't Neil Young distort his guitars a lot like two decades earlier on Live Rust, etc.? Isn't Nirvana at their heart pretty much a punk band that sold out for the mainstream audience they got? Nothing really new or groundbreaking about that.

2. Kurt Cobain was a "talented writer". Yes it's true his blinding genius opened new doors with such revelations as "Rape Me" and "Territorial Pissings". His lyrics are twisted and occasionally clever but they aren't Bob Dylan by any stretch. The repetitiveness of his masterpiece "Smells Like Teen Spirit" says all you need to know about his songwriting abilities. Special thanks to Weird Al Yankovich for ripping that overrated overplayed song a new one.

3. Nirvana "broke down the doors for alternative rock in the mainstream". Oh they did? Well we will just forget about all those new wave artists of the early 80s, u2, joy division, the cure, the replacements, etc. Let's just forget everyone before them that was alternative and made it possible for them to actually succeed with less talent than their forebearers. Even if we do that their peers of the time-Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, the pre Pearl Jam bands Mother Love Bone and Temple of the Dog, even the Red Hot Chili Peppers that SAME YEAR put out albums that were every bit as alternative and in the case of RHCP and Pearl Jam every bit as successful. It would've happened with or without Nirvana.

4. Nirvana is "highly influential". Ok on who exactly? Other bands who suck. Discounting Foo Fighters, who can't be counted being as they have Nirvana's drummer running the show, nobody good as come about as a result of Nirvana's work. Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd. Buckcherry, THESE are who Nirvana influenced and that's not a good thing. Thank you for making radio suck more Kurt Cobain.

5. Cobain was a "rock god" Damn this rock mythology crap. Sure it works for Hendrix and Allman and Morrison, guys who had talents of some sort. But Cobain had a psycho girlfriend and serious mental health issues. Not saying the above three didnt but at least they could play or sing. Cobain can do neither. Show me a solo or even a song he can play by David Gilmour, Eddie Hazel, Tom Verlaine, or hell even by a Greenwood. Nothing Nirvana recorded justified him being ranked higher than these men who were far more technically proficient and talented than him. And sure as hell nothing justified his work in any way shape or form being counted above, alongside, or even in the same sentence no same BOOK as the work of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, the Rolling Stones, James Brown and every other truly deserving rock greats that their album was ranked ahead of. My apologies to Dave Grohl, who I believe is far more talented to Cobain and has a solid rock band in Foo Fighters. Do you know why they are solid? They admit and pay homage to their forebearers much as Pearl Jam does, to Zeppelin and the Who and the rest of the hard rock archetypes. They don't assume or blow up self images of themselves. They aren't considered life altering groups; they're just good. Just face it. Nirvana sucks

Top 10 Steals of NFL Draft

Dexter McCluster-Ole Miss RB/WR It’s true that he may go in the first round but he probably won’t go as high as he should. McCluster has done everything for a disappointing team and still gets his numbers in SEC competition. With a skill set not terribly different from Marshall Faulk, he could be a franchise changer.

Mardy Gilyard-Cincinnati WR Another example of a guy whose stock will likely rise but even on an undefeated team he doesn’t get the attention he deserves. He is the best the college ranks have to offer and he will prove it on Sundays.

Toby Gerhart-Stanford RB Not the fastest running back you’ll ever see but Gerhart knows how to take a hit and still get yards. There is always room in a rushing attack for a bulldozer and nobody takes the punishment like him. Some team will be very thankful to have him when the cold weather comes next winter.

Golden Tate-Notre Dame WR Another receiver who doesn’t quite get the credit he deserves. He has more to do with Jimmy Clausen’s successes than anything else and with a professional throwing him the ball he will look even better.

Freddie Barnes-Bowling Green WR I know what you’re thinking. MAC numbers so what? Well Barnes can run. And catch. And has played quarterback before…there will be takers for Mr. Barnes come April and plenty of them.

Tim Hiller-Western Michigan QB Again MAC players get the bad rep for not facing top flight opponents. But the fact of the matter is Hiller is just plain talented and extremely smart with the football, a big plus for a young NFL bound gunslinger.

Sergio Kindle- Texas DE/OLB His move to the defensive line has taken away his big numbers and the spotlight somewhat but make no mistake, Kindle will be a playmaker on some defense next season.

George Selvie- South Florida DE Selvie’s struggles the last two years have soured some on him but I think the lack of help on the defensive line had more to do with his failures than his own performance. Double teamed almost routinely in games, I have a feeling a better situation could let him start racking up sacks again.

Daryl Washington- TCU MLB On a defense known mainly for having Jerry Hughes, Washington is pretty much the other guy who makes plays. He’s fast, aggressive and just doesn’t miss tackles. Watch out for him.

Kyle Wilson- Boise State CB A WAC player? You must be joking you say. But Wilson has as much experience playing corner at the collegiate level as anyone in his four years and that counts for a lot at such a hard position. He may not become a lockdown corner but he’s a good No. 2 with good hands and blazing speed. He’s not a bad return guy either.

Best Individual Rivalries In NBA History

I was watching a promo for the Laker vs Cav game that is coming up and it made me think up an interesting post to write. In the NBA the best individual rivalry is Lebron James vs. Kobe Bryant. Even though this rivalry has lasted only 4 years some are comparing it to the greatest rivalries in NBA history so I decided why not write about what I feel are the best individual rivalries of all time.

5) Lebron vs Kobe: While this rivalry is young and they have not played each other in the finals yet this is still one of the best rivalries of the decade. The difference in the way they play with Kobe using his outside jump shot and post up game to do damage while Lebron favors using his immense physical gifts to get to the rim. There contrasting styles are very fun to watch especially because I feel when they play Kobe brings the best out of Lebron because he forces him to use all his skills. If they can both carry there teams to the finals, this rivalry could be one best ever.

4) Shaq vs Duncan: The best battle of big men since the days of Russell and Chamberlain. Since the beginning of the decade all these two have done is combine to win seven of the decades championships. With the changing of the way basketball is played the days of dominant post players is more than likely coming to an end so this could be the last great match up of big men. What was unique about this rivalry was the difference in play, Duncan's fundamental beauty against Shaq's physical dominance in the post. This rivalry could have been one of the best if they would have meet in the finals, but even without this happening it is still one of the all time greats.

3) MJ vs 90's: I have to include his Airness on the list even though he did not have a main stay of a rivalry throughout his career. It comes down to three guys in particular who tried to be but just could never get the best of Michael. The first was Isiah Thomas, the tenacious point guard of the Detroit Pistons who kept MJ from getting to the finals two years in a row. Thomas dirty play against Michael forced him to learn how to use his teammates better and eventually rise above and win three championships in a row. Patrick Ewing is really the only consistent rival of Jordans career, he always gave Michael problems for almost the entire decade but could never beat Jordan. Last but not least Karl Malone possibly the best Power Forward of all time played against MJ two times in the finals. Almost pushing Jordans bulls to the limit in 98 but like all the others before him could never put him down.

2) Wilt vs. Russell: The greatest battle of centers of all time and it is not even close. The classic match up of the hard worker vs the flashy big shot. No two centers have ever dominated the game like Russell and Chamberlain. Russell defensive skills are the best in league history and Chamberlain is probably the most dominant offensive post player ever. To watch them play was so special because there were really no other players in the league of there size and strength. Even though Bill won more rings the games they played against each other are still fun to watch to this day.

1) Magic vs. Bird: Anyone who loves basketball knew this was gonna happen. This legendary rivalry didn't start in the NBA but in college with Magics Michigan St. team beating Birds Indiana St. team in the NCAA finals. Once Magic and Bird entered the NBA they helped usher in the new era of basketball and there rivalry is what fueled it. It was such a good match up not only because bird was the blue collar worker with the deadly outside jump shot and Magic was the leader of west coast flash and up tempo style. But also where they played, with Bird in Boston a blue collar city of hard working people. Magic in the exact opposite playing in L.A. the flashy media frenzy city that loves entertainment. This only fueled there meetings to the point it was expected for the Celtics to play the Lakers in the championship every year. Even though Magic holds the slight edges in championships there rivalry is still one of the best of all time not just in the NBA but in all sports.

How To Fix Notre Dame Footbal

Being a ND fan is tough right now but for fans who believe that Notre Dame will never be back to a powerhouse program again, is just wrong. If ND can do some simple things they can once again be put into the conversations with USC, Florida, and Texas as a national powerhouse.

1) Hire a true college head coach. People forget the difference between the pro league and the college level, because a college coach is much more of a teacher than a game planner. In the pro league you don't have to coach the players, because they have already learned most of the fundamentals in college. This is one thing Charlie Weis struggles with, being an pro style coach he does not preach the basics. When your players do not have the basics down you cant expect to get much done like pass blocking and tackling if the players are not coached correctly.

2) The coach must be comfortable with the media and not let him bother him. Charlie Weis comes across as an cocky jerk threw the media. Is Weis that maybe, but we will never know because this is what the media shows him as. When hiring a coach make sure he can handle the pressure of coaching at the most watched and popular team in the country.

3) Whoever coach is hired recruit smartly not just to look good on rivals. The great coaches spend as much time looking at lineman as they do hot shot running backs. Pete Carroll is a master of this, why because can you remember when USC ever has a bad offensive line no because they never do. The best of the best have dominate offensive lineman and that is why they can run the ball and there QB doesn't get killed like Clausen did his first two years at ND.

4) Hire coach who is going to connect with the players and make them believe in what he is selling. The best kind of coach in college football is what I call the RA RA coach. By that I mean a coach who is so enthusiastic that the players will buy into the game plan and mentality you want. I again mention the devil of ND football Pete Carroll. He is the best RA RA coach because he is so excited about the job that his players follow his example and perform the way he wants them too.

If ND can do perform all of these steps we will hopefully get back to the status Notre Dame should be as a national powerhouse always contending for a BCS berth.

UFC 106

As you may know UFC 106 is tommorow night and here are my picks for the night

For the undercard, I am going with Brian Foster, Caol Uno, and George Sotiropoulos over Jason Dent. I hope George dominates Jason Dent because my personal take on Jason Dent is that he did not represent Ohio gyms well enough on the ultimate fighter and to put it simply I think he sucks.

For the fights on Spike TV, I am going with Kendall Grove over Jake Rosholt and Ben Saunders over Marcus Davis (upset of the night). I have always been a Kendall Grove fan thus I am pulling for my boy, and im looking forward to a great fight between Saunders and Davis. This fight is going to be interesting because we are gonna see if Davis can rebound after his tough loss against Dan Hardy. I like Ben Saunders alot because he is such a chill fighter. He keeps a cool head and does not let the pressure get to him. Davis is going to be feeling alot of pressure to rebound so he can get back into the top of his division, and when the bombs start flying (both of these guys are going to want to stand) Saunders is going to come out on top.

Now for the main card, I am going with Paulo Thiago, Nog, Amir Sadollah, my favorite Anthony Johnson and Forrest Griffin. I got Nog by submission, but that is never that hard to call. Im interested to see how Sadollah reacts to being back in the UFC after being plagued with injuries. I liked him alot on the ultimate fighter and I am defintely pulling for him. This brings us to Anthony Johnson vs Josh Koscheck. This will be fight of the night. It is a clash of competiting styles. Johnson the man with the knockout power at any given moment, and Koscheck the decorated wrestler. Koscheck will look to take the fight to the ground ASAP, but I think in the process he is going to leave himself open for the knockout punch. Johnson is going to win in a highlight reel finish. Griffin vs Tito will be a three round decision going to Griffin. Tito is resilient but he is going to get gassed. Griffin is going to work him with leg kicks and defend Tito's attempts to take him down. Thus, the decision will inevitably fall to Griffin. Deep down I want to see a Griffin knockout, but hes going to be more cautious during the fight after getting his ass whooped by Silva (nothing against Griffin because Silva is the best fighter on the Earth).

The Swami has spoken...enjoy the fights!

Mock 2010 NFL Top 10 Draft Picks

The title says it all. Based on standings as of Week of 11/15/09

1. Detroit- Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska. An absolute monster who will give the Lions at least one worthwhile defensive lineman

2. St. Louis- Eric Berry, SS Tennessee. Tagged as the next Ed Reed and he very well could be with his smarts and playmaking ability.

3. Cleveland- Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida. Desperate for something resembling a pass rush, the Browns reach far to get one. Or they trade down for a running back.

4. Tampa Bay- Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma. McCoy is a run stuffing machine, just what the doctor ordered for the Bucs.

5. Oakland- Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma. Al Davis suddenly realizes he cant just draft speed anymore and takes a much needed quarterback to get smacked behind a pathetic line.

6. Kansas City- Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State. The Chiefs get some much needed blocking for Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel.

7. Buffalo- Taylor Mays, S USC. The Bills secondary needs an enforcer. Enter Mays.

8. Seattle- Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State. You can never have too many offensive weapons and at this point how could you possibly pass on this guy? Jahvid Best is not out the question here either.

9. Washington-Colt McCoy, QB Texas. Tired of Jason Campbell's monumental failures, management bypasses other needs in favor of a tough quarterback with leadership skills, experience, and a winning attitude.

10. Tennessee- Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois. Are there better players available here? Certainly. But Vince Young desperately needs SOMEONE to throw to to open up Jeff Fisher's master running plan. Benn is a big play threat who won't drop anything within three feet of his hands. Yes you read that correctly.

A Ten Step Plan For Fixing A Broken Franchise

I don't pretend to be an expert in front office affairs in any professional sport. But based upon personal observation and reading the deal from the minds of those in the know about such things, I have noticed certain patterns amongst struggling organizations that have fueled this list of ten general steps to restore an NFL franchise to at least a competitive nature. For regional sake, the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns will be the examples for those most desperately needing to do these.

1. Find an Owner who cares- Cleveland fans hate Randy Lerner, who simply sits back and watches a horrible team sell out and make him rich every single year. Hopefully recent fan protests have gotten (a little) attention and he starts caring (a little). Let's face it his dad died and he got stuck with this team. Selling it to an avid sports fan who will take immediate and constant action, think halfway to Jerry Jones, would be a step in the right direction

2. A Front Office That Contains Continuity, Class, and Connections- A stable nucleus of personnel people is necessary for any organization. Indeed, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers can attest to this. Starting with a knowledgeable GM with experience and negotiating skills is crucial. This has been sorely lacking in Detroit which up until presently was run by Matt Millen. Enough said there. The people up top have to be good communicators who can handle any situation, be it extensions, holdouts, trade demands, or raises, with respect and understanding for the player/agent, but also with savvy. I will address this more in #3. But also, having men in charge who know other GMs around the league and have an understanding of how to trade for improvement without giving up a ton, and are then able to trade with several different teams (not just the New York Jets for example) given the opportunity is very important.

3. The Ability To Make Wise Business Decisions- Hand in hand with the above statement is a GM's ability to wisely invest the team's money. This applies to draft picks and free agents equally. Draft picks notoriously make too much money these days so it's important that the GM has the foresight to understand the team's needs vs. the need for one individual player. Forking over large amounts of money to a player like Derek Anderson after one solid season is not a good decision. Aggresion in the free agent market is good, you can't get better without taking chances, but one has to be careful about who they are chasing. Is this player going to be good in two years but wants a four year deal? Such decisions are too important to be taken casually which is sometimes the case when a team allows its desperation or preference for a player interfere with their judgment.

4.Experienced, Smart Evaluators of Talent- First class scouts and coaches are a must whenever possible. The draft is a fantastic way to better your team in a hurry if conducted well. Filling needs with quality players who have played a considerable amount of football and done it against a fairly high level of competition is a priority. Yet you also need those smart people who can dig and find a Marques Colston or Kurt Warner lying in obscurity and can successfully unearth them at virtually no cost or risk in the last rounds. After, you need coaches who can develop and communicate with these players, rookies and veterans alike and help them mesh into a successful team unit. GMS should be very careful about who they hire to run things. Coaches with previous head coaching gigs are preferable (I don't care if you coordinated for Bill Belichick, it doesn't make you a good coach by default Charlie Weis/Romeo Crennel/Eric Mangini) and hopefully with some degree of success and no history of issues with controlling your team (a Tom Cable, to be specific).

5. Players Who Fit The System and Play At a High Level- CONSISTENCY is the name of the game and your team won't hold together on either side of the ball without it. Again we go to the Patriots for an example. Belichick finds a QB who can master his system and does exactly what is asked of him in Tom Brady. Brady fits the system well because he can hit those short routes, run a good play action, and gets rid of the ball quickly without turning it over. Thus, he can succeed and with a good line and receivers that can get open and run crisp routes, the offense is consistently good. Same deal on defense. Get tackles who can stuff the run, edge rushers who understand the scheme and defensive backs who know their assignments and can make adjustments if need be. And most importantly, these players need to execute on a consistent basis night in night out. This way, the team can gel much more effectively since they always know what to expect from their teammates and come to rely on them to play the game hard, with intelligence and play their game correctly when they take the field.

6. The Development of The Trenches- The lines are the most important part of the game in my opinion. As was always harped upon by John Madden, the battle in trenches usually decides the outcome of the game. If you get good blocking, you will have holes to run through and your offense will have a better chance of success through the air as well with more time to throw. If your defensive line gets pressure, linebackers will be freed up to get in the backfield to nullify the run and pass game alike. As such, finding strong, quick linemen with good hands and footwork on both sides of the ball is a must. If you don't have these good lines, you will have problems in some way.

7. The Run Game Established- Going along with #6 is the establishment of a run game. I know teams like the Saints have no need for a single workhorse back since Drew Brees can make it rain all day through the air but I feel the majority of teams do. You need that back that can grind out the easy yardage between the tackles without coughing up the ball. You need a guy that can help you move the chains and run out the clock late in a game. Most importantly, you need a guy that can punch it in at the goal line for the score. Again, a good line is important in aiding this along but if you have a Steven Jackson lined up back there you will still have the ability to establish a run game regardless of how mediocre your line is. From there, you can work the passing game of your offense into the mix and move the ball for some scoring opportunities.

8. More Football Players Than Athletes- I understand athletic players are good even necessary in some situations (receivers, return specialists, pass rushers etc.)but they don't always make your team better as a whole. Football players who understand how to play the game and play it smart are more valuable in the long run even if they are a bit less athletic than the other guy. A team that doesn't make stupid mistakes and commit stupid penalties increases its chances of winning by a large margin. Besides, what good is a fast receiver if he can't catch the ball or run a route (Detroit fans I believe may remember Mike Williams)? Al Davis will never get this one.

9. Leadership- Every team needs its leaders on and off the field. They are generally veterans and that makes a huge difference. You need a warrior (or two)who will play through injuries and doesn't bother with crap like bonuses and extensions, someone who is vocal but not an asshole with his teammates. One who will criticize and encourage in equal doses when need be and understand when these situations are and aren't called for. Probably most importantly, they then must go out and lead by example on the field. The Browns got this half right with Willie McGinest, forgetting only that he was too old to move.

10.Build Around Your Stars-They often come with baggage, exorbitant egos and the contracts that come with them, but every team has and needs star players. Having more than two is a luxury but one that is attainable and desirable. Snagging a handful of young stud talents is a fast way to get into contention and improve your team's performance come playoff time when the stakes are high and you need that extra clutch performance only a star player can deliver. Some stars fade fast and burn a team it's true (Larry Johnson) but that does not take away from the fact that having them is a necessity if a team is going to make that extra push towards a Super Bowl trip.

How far is too far?

Government. It is a topic of discussion some relish while other cringe at the very thought of the word. It is essential yet often overlooked. A government, in this case, is going to be defined as a set of rules and regulations which allow or disallow members to do or not do things (the definition is a bit watered-down but bear with me). My question to you all is how far should the government be allowed to enter into its members' lives? Absolute freedom of government brings about problems such as the ability to do any drugs, steal anything you want, or even take the life of another. It brings society to a Darwinian approach, allowing those who can survive to do so and those who die out, well too bad. On the other end of the spectrum, absolute protection with government develops the problems of no freedom and, arguably, no progress. If the government was allowed to intervene in our lives whenever, we would be subject to its power whether or not we wish it so. Progress would be hindered merely because experimentation breeds advancement. With the government invading the private sector and socializing businesses, they assume control of everything, possibly not allowing them to experiment with new products/capital gain/price settings. Without the ability to try new things, people will have a significantly worse chance of developing new things and therefore advancing in society.

So, my question posed to you all is this: Where is that perfect balance of government intervention? Should government only intervene when harm is done to another, be it physical or mental? Or should the government act as a block to prevent that from ever happening in the first place and protect more than allow freedom?

Pondering Reality

Over the past few days I have been pondering our existence on earth. The thought that comes to mind most when I think about existence in daily life is the question of reality. This may be hard to grasp for those who don't have big imaginations, but if you take the time to think, it could be possible. I wonder, "What if water was a drug?" Sometimes I worry about the power of society and Big Brother. I have recently watched the movie Scanner Darkly and it brought about some strange thoughts. In the movie the main character becomes addicted to a drug that he is forced to use by the government. He hallucinates and terrible things start happening to him all as part of a spy operation being put on by the government. At the same time, the government sends all addicts of the drug that they are administering to the spy to a plantation where they work as slaves to harvest that very drug. By this time, however, the main character's mind is already eaten away by the drug and he is diminished to something less than human.

My question is; what if this or something similar to this was happening today and we have no idea about it? What if by drinking water everyday, something that scientists have "proven" is a necessity for human existence, we are actually putting hallucinogens into our bodies and we are simply in a dream world? Or what if when we are sleeping we are actually experiencing reality and what we know as the real world is simply made up of dreams? What if everything that we know today was made up and carried out by the government as part of a master plan? And what if Big Brother was watching our every move?

This is something that brings about lots of thought and takes a lot of imagination, but logically, any of this is possible. Think of the ideals that Hitler instilled in the minds of the Germans back in the 1930s. The justified slaughtering of innocent people simply because they believe in something different... This is a perfect example of government manipulation of the masses in order to make progress toward a common goal.

Just something I have been pondering in my spare time. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts....

Big Ten Awards

Despite another muddled and mediocre season in the Big Ten, several individual efforts deserve widespread recognition. Here are some of them:

Offensive Player of The Year: John Clay, RB Wisconsin. 1,124 yards, 12 rush TD

Offensive Newcomer of The Year: Joey Elliot, QB Purdue 2,821 yards, 18 pass TD

Offensive Freshman of The Year: Adam Robinson, RB Iowa 705 yards, 5 rush TD

Most Improved Offensive Player: Blair White, WR Michigan State, 61 rec, 854 yards, 8 rec TD

Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Jones, MLB Michigan State 125 tackles, 7 sacks

Defensive Newcomer of The Year: Tyler Sash, S Iowa 76 tackles, 2 FF, 6 int,def TD

Defensive Freshman of The Year: Chris Borland OLB Wisconsin 46 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3 sacks

Most Improved Defensive Player: Ross Homan, OLB Ohio State 84 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 4 int

Most Surprising Team: Northwestern 7-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten, upset Iowa

Most Disappointing Team: Illinois 3-7 overall, 2-6 Big Ten, lost 6 of first 7 games (only win was vs. Div I-AA Illinois St.)

Best Coaching: Jim Tressel, Ohio State, 9-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten. Clinched Rose Bowl berth

Worst Coaching: Ron Zook, Illinois, 3-7 overall, 2-6 Big Ten, only road win against Minnesota.

Most Improved Team: Iowa, 9-2 overall, 5-2 Big Ten, may still clinch BCS at large berth

The Types Of People Who Should Not Be Allowed In The Gym

I am writing this post because after working out today I had to deal with most of the types of people that I am discussing and these people must be identified and dealt with. Please understand that if you workout often you see these people and I bet they bug you as well, so heres the list.

1) The guy who wears a t-shirt that is held together by an inch of thread. I am sorry but would it kill you to wear a normal shirt. If you want to wear a sleeveless shirt that is fine but myself along with the rest of the people working out do not want to see your entire stomach it is just gross and uncomfortable.

2) The guy who has to breath and yell extremely loud when working out. Look I understand that when pushing yourself in an exercise you might become strained and letting out a deep breath or noise is understandable but doing it every time very loud is totally unnecessary. The only reason you do it is because you want to draw attention to yourself and you know it.

3) The guy who converses with the people more than work out. Listen the gym is a place to workout not talk the entire time and take up a machine or exercise area. If you want to talk to your friends do it somewhere else that does not bother the other people trying to workout.

4) The guy who is constantly flexing and and looking at himself in the mirror. There is nothing wrong at looking at yourself in the mirror but do it in private and not in a public place. There are other people around and it is extremely awkward. So just keep the flexing at home.

5) The guy who is overly sweating and does not clean up after himself. Coming from a natural sweater I know that my body will leave some sweat once I am done with an exercise. So like everyone should do I clean up for myself with the spray bottle that is in the gym. It is not that hard and it would not kill you if just remembered to do it.

6) The guy who wears a wife beater to the gym. There is nothing wrong with wanting to show off your body but the fact is people who wear wife beaters in public and especially to the gym are complete idiots. Your not impressing anyone and you are just making people who workout look bad.

7) The guy who is staring constantly at you to learn your workouts. There is nothing wrong in wanting to learn a new way to exercise but staring at a person with the concentration of a motion camera is weird and off putting. So next time just kindly ask the person to show and tell you about the exercise you are interested in.

8) The guy who critiques you in your exercises. I like everyone else who is dedicated to working out is always trying to improve the way you workout but not at the expense of the creepy guy who is trying to show how to workout. Listen if a person wanted help with there form or how they workout they will ask for it, not be told by some random guy they do not know or who might not know what the person is trying to accomplish with there workout.

9) Finally the guy who hogs an exercise area or machine for an extended period of time and will not let someone else work in. This is maybe the most annoying person on the list, is it really so hard to finish your exercise in between 10 to 20 minutes at the most. any exercise that takes longer that 20 minutes means that you are either talking with other people too much or just trying to be an ass to someone. If you are at any exercise area or machine and you go past 15 minutes and someone asks you if they could work in and you don't let them your a huge jerk. Just let them work in and be nice because at the end of the day it is not like you own anything in the gym.

Closing up I am not trying to mean, but just let the people that were discussed know how the rest of the people in the gym feel, and that they do not have to do a lot to change the way everyone thinks of them. So hang in there if you are on this list change is not hard to change and it will only benefit everyone else in the gym and who does not want that.

Inalienable truths of MMA

By observing my title you probally know what I will be writing about and that is MMA. For everyone who doesn't know MMA stands for mixed martial arts. To preface myself I am a huge MMA fan, and as of now I have acquired a 7-0 amateur record. What I hope to accomplish with my blog is to give my take on current gossip surrounding the MMA community, upcoming fights, whos hot whos not, possible winners, the aftermath of when Dana White does something stupid...etc. When I was wondering how to start my blog I decided to list out what I consider to be some inalienable truths/things I firmly believe about the UFC/MMA. Hope you enjoy



1) The UFC needs a strike. Fighters bust their bodies for salaries that barely cover medical costs let alone training costs.



2) This strike needs to be led by veteran fighters when they retire...or else it will fail



3) Who is best suited for leading this strike...Chuck Liddell, Rampage Jackson, Randy Couture to name a few



4) The reason Fedor will NOT fight in the UFC is because he does not want to fight Brock Lesnar

Why? Brock has nothing to lose in this fight, but Feder has everything to lose...and dare I say it Brock actually has a shot of winning



5) The UFC needs a 195 lb weight class...the fights that would come at this weight would be absolutely insane and great to watch



6) Anderson Silva is the most complete fighter and he will retire with the belt-he is the most complete fighter around and frankly I think he's more machine than man

7) This is a strictly personal one but if you want to get in fighting shape use the book Training for Warriors by Martin Rooney...best workouts I have ever done

Thats all I got for now, but I am always up for discussion if you agree or disagree..peace

Playoffs In Division I College Football

Division I college football is one of the most exciting sports to experience firsthand or watch on television. The atmosphere is unbelievable. The bands are playing, 100,000 people are shouting. There are parties all around the surrounding area for days. The players play for pride, not cash or egotism (in most cases). It’s what many call the purest sport that exists. There’s only one problem with it. Division I; unlike all the other divisions of college football, does not have a postseason playoff system. Rather, the teams that get to play for a national championship every year are awarded the opportunity by a system called the BCS (Bowl Championship Series). This is a great injustice that has to be addressed immediately.

The BCS system itself is as odd and senseless a system as it is unfair. The BCS is basically what you would call an equation where the variables are the media, college football coaches, and six computers. Members of the media and coaches across the country vote for and rank teams from 1 to 25 A certain number of points are awarded for each vote given to a team and together that will account for two thirds of the BCS points. The other third comes from the six computers, which each use different formulas of measuring how good a team is that after hours of research make no sense whatsoever to the average person. On top of that, the highest and lowest totals of the six computers are thrown away completely leaving the last four to be averaged. Why is that? That’s a fair question that no one seems to know the answer to.

Then there is the matter of its unfairness. A small college team has no chance to win a national championship under the current format. Prestigious programs will generally earn more votes regardless of how good the team actually is (see Notre Dame), and while it is understandable that the media and coaches will not rank a school that plays weaker teams in weaker conferences high, if a team does well enough, say goes 12-0, don’t they deserve a chance to prove themselves? It would appear to be most fair if they did. One of the very few times a small conference team was invited to a major bowl (only one team from the “Little Six” conferences is invited to one of the five big bowls each year by rule) in 2006, Boise State University beat a heavily favored Oklahoma team in one of the most exciting Fiesta Bowl games ever, affirming the argument that you never know which team will win on any given day in college football.

But the BCS rarely allows such scenarios to play out. Boise State finished 13-0 last season but were shut out of the BCS picture completely. It could very well happen to them again this year and perhaps TCU as well. In fact, there have been times when the BCS has even prevented the two best teams from playing for the national title. Due to the fact that the BCS doesn’t begin to be factored until the eighth week of the season, it fluctuates wildly over a short amount of time, negatively impacting teams that lose late in the season due to the fact that they then cannot regain points by the time the season is over. This is exactly how Ohio State got into the national championship in 2008; several teams lost and by BCS rank they were hoisted up to #2 and got the chance to be pummeled by LSU. In 2005, there was even a tie in the BCS at the end of the season, which the BCS was designed to prevent, and the computers chose Oklahoma in the tiebreaker and they were promptly killed 55-19 by USC.

Hours could be spent going over the system’s flaws but this is unnecessary. The fact that several coaches of teams that have benefitted from the BCS system spoke out in favor of a playoff system instead is very telling. Urban Meyer, coach of 2007 national champions Florida, has repeatedly argued that a playoff is “most fair to everyone around the country”. Several more, such as LSU coach Les Miles and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, have also supported switching to playoffs (though Tressel has several times recanted his feelings likely due to pressure from commissioner Jim Delaney). No argument is more compelling however than that by Penn State coach Joe Paterno, 50+ year veteran of the college football world. "To be frank with you, I don't know what the reasons are not to have a playoff," Paterno said during a speaking appearance in Pittsburgh. "You can talk about missing class and all that kind of stuff, [yet] you see basketball go on forever. You have a lot of bogus excuses, but obviously the majority of people who have the say don't want it."

The switch to a playoff just makes the most sense. All the other divisions of college football have the system and have no complaints about it. Most other college sports have a playoff system. Why Division I needs such special treatment and a system that doesn’t do its job well enough is a mystery. Why not give teams that have lost just once, or play in a smaller, less seen conference, a chance to show their true worth? What is there really to lose? Not sponsorships or money, as some greedy conference commissioners grumble, for there will be plenty of air time and advertising space to go around. There’s nothing preventing the retention of the other minor bowls for teams with worse records to allow the teams some postseason competition and TV time and money for their school. Those games don’t really count for much now in the BCS anyway.

The system proposed by Yahoo sports analyst Dan Wetzel is an excellent one that deserves wide recognition. In his system, 16 teams would advance to a playoff bracket similar to one in the NCAA Basketball Tournaments where #1 plays #16, etc. The media and coaches alone would rank teams during the regular season (no BCS) and the NCAA Committee themselves would rank the teams bracket style, also like basketball. The champions from all eleven football conferences would automatically receive bids leaving the last five spots as at large for five of the best remaining teams. This is not a perfect system, there is no such thing, but it is far fairer to everyone involved. Several experts including ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon, former Clemson coach and expert analyst Terry Bowden, and of course President Barack Obama support the switch to playoffs. Obama told 60 Minutes that “this is important…I think any sensible person would say that if you've got a bunch of teams, who play throughout the season, and many of them have one loss or two losses, there's no clear decisive winner that we should be creating a playoff system". Recent votes of the American Football Coaches Association have indicated a nationwide trend towards support for a playoff system.

This should not even be an issue in a sport as important as Division I football. The BCS is a stupid and flawed system that deserves to face a death sentence. As a sports fan I am outraged as all sports fans should be at the mere existence of this atrocity. College football needs playoffs for fairness and support for the unpredictability the sport holds every season; change is needed and the time for change is now.

NBA Award Predictions

The NBA season has just begun and even though I am a little late I will try to give my best predictions all of the end of the year awards.

Rookie Of The Year

1) Blake Griffin (PF Clippers): Even though he is still hurt and will be out a few more weeks I still believe that he is going to put up great numbers. He is so strong and explosive I could easily see him put up 19 and 9 a game once he gets the proper minutes. Also the fact that he is playing for a potential playoff team will give him the nod.

2) Brandon Jennings (PG Bucks): Jennings just had a 55 point explosion in his last game. Even though it was against the warriors that is still quite impressive. I am afraid though that his body is too weak to endure the whole NBA season. Also if you watched his game against the bulls in the fourth quarter Derrick Rose really started to put a body on him and Jennings only had 2 points in the quarter. This is most likely what opposing teams are going to start doing to him every game.

3) Taj Gibson (PF Bulls): Gibson is my dark horse for the award even though people might think this is coming out of left field you have to look at his recent numbers. Since Tyrus Thomas broke his arm Taj has been inserted into the lineup and produced quite well having 3 games of having over ten points and over 5 rebounds in the game. I feel that he could average over 15 points and over 6 rebounds and if Griffin has a slow start there is no other rookie who can average those power numbers for a playoff team.

Most Improved Player of the Year

1) Kevin Durant (SF Thunder): I know that he might be a stretch but why does most improved player always have to be a journeyman to a star in the league why cant it be a star to a legit superstar which is what I feel Kevin Durant is becoming. You have to face the facts that this guy could end up averaging 27, 8, 6 a game this year that is almost Lebron numbers and he is doing it in the West and in only his third year. This guy could end being the nemesis to Lebron for the next decade if he keeps up this pace.

2) Andrea Bargnani (PF/C Raptors): I still dont understand why this guy is not being noticed yes he came into the league with a large amount of hype and was supposed to be the next Dirk and even though in his first two years he did not quite live up to that he has now become a serious player in league. He did what he was supposed to do over the last few off seasons and bulked up so he can not be pushed around any more. With that added weight and his great outside shot I could see him averaging Dirk like numbers of 24, 7, and 4 and that is no easy task considering he is battling for touches with Bosh and Hedo.

3) Joakim Noah (C Bulls): Trust I am not trying to be bias it is just that so far Noah is having a great season already having 6 double doubles in his first 9 games. If he can keep up this pace and average around 14 and 11 he could have the biggest leap in stats of anyone in this group.

6th Man of the Year

1) Jason Terry (SG Mavericks): The jet is back again and looking to defend the title that he won last year and I see no reason why he cant. Especially considering that he now much more comfortable then last year in the this role and will easily be the favorite to win the award once again.

2) Rasheed Wallace (PF/C Celtics): The Sheed is back in Boston and so far looks fresh and buying into the team concept in Boston. With his outside shooting he will flourish in Bostons excellent half court offense. If he can keep it together mentally he will give Jason Terry a run for his money.

3) Manu Ginobili (SG/SF Spurs): One of the best 6th men of all time is looking healthy and poised to regain his old title. It will all depend how well his body has healed in the off season and if his first step is still were it was two years ago. If it is watch out Western Conference the Spurs will be for real.

Defensive Player of the Year

1) Dwight Howard (C Magic): This is as close to a one horse race as there is in the NBA. Superman is only going to improve from last year and there is almost no one who can out muscles Howard in the paint.

2) Ron Artest (SF Lakers): In his prime Artest was a freak able to guard the 2, 3, and 4 on any team in the NBA. He is now older but still can guard any SF in the game today the question will become in the playoffs will he be the player of old that scared any player that had to go against him or will age finally catch up and see Artest not be the defensive stopper we are all used to seeing.

3) Kevin Garnett (PF/C Celtics): The old vet who still plays with passion of a young kid. There is no denying that Kevin Garnett when healthy is one of the most intimidating players in the NBA but how healthy is his knee. If healthy he can give Howard a good run for the title.

Most Valuable Player

1) Lebron James (SF Cavaliers): Lets face it Lebron is freak there is almost no aspect of the game he does not do well. The only thing that can stop the L-Train from going back in MVP's is that the Cavs got a 350 pound center to clog the middle. Considering that Lebron is at his best when he drives to the lane this could cause his numbers in points and rebounds to drop just slightly but most likely not enough to stop another King crowning.

2) Carmelo Anthony (SF Nuggets): Melo has come into this season in the best shape of his career and is looking scary good. With his jump shot looking better than ever and the increase improvement in his passing he could finally ascend to the level of his draft counterparts Wade and James.

3) Dwayne Wade (SG Heat): Sorry Kobe its time for 03 draft class to take over the league and rounding out the list is Flash. After his MVP caliber season of last year D-Wade looks to repeat his season of last year and lead the heat deeper into the finals. I feel if can duplicate or exceed his amazing numbers of last year he might finally get the nod for the MVP.

My First Blog

Hello my name is Bill Fitzgerald, I am from Oak Brook, Illinois which is a suburb of the great city of Chicago. I attend John Carroll University, which is just outside Cleveland. My blog will be about sports, media, news events and just life in general from the point of view of a kid from Chicago living in Cleveland. I hope that enjoy my articles and those of my other floor mates, we will try not to be biased but it should be fun and I hope you enjoy.