A-Roid Strikes Again

Just when you thought that steroid cloud that was over Alex Rodriguez's head was starting to pass, another allegation has come out.

A writer for Sports Illustrated has a book coming out entitled "A-Rod" which says Rodriguez took steroids as early as when he was a star player in high school. If this newest allegation is true then I can't help but think that Rodriguez is one of the biggest frauds in the history sport.

Not only did he use steroids while he was in the majors, but now he most likely used steroids to possibly even get to the majors? With the talent A-Rod has he probably still would have went pro without the aid of steroids, but probably would not have been as nearly hyped up.

The result was flashier numbers in high school which eventually got him those hefty contracts as a professional. I've always thought Rodriguez was a egotistical jerk but this just seals the deal.

Rodriguez won't even discuss the issue with reporters saying "I'm not going there". Of course you're not A-rod, because you're fraud!

Whenever he does come back this season he will have enormous pressure on himself to put up great numbers. Not average numbers, but great numbers. The leash on A-rod is so short right now and he's playing in a city that has little patience for their players.

A-rod makes Barry Bonds look like Cal Ripken Jr. If the Yankees make the postseason, don't worry the choke artist will come through. He'll come into the postseason as arrogant as ever because he hit a few home runs and then he'll choke like he always does. Book it.

Can the Heat Win Without D-Wade?

The Eastern Conference playoffs have been extremely exciting as opposed to the Western Conference playoffs, which has had about as much excitement as watching the MLS Playoffs.

There's another great Eastern Conference playoffs matchup tonight as the Hawks host the Heat for Game 5 of their series. The series is knotted at two games apiece and with both teams losing a game on their home floor.

However, the Heat may have been in position to wrap up the series tonight if Dwayne Wade could have avoided getting injured. Wade was obviously in a lot of pain in Game 4 and was nowhere near 100 percent. After all, the NBA superstar did throw up four air-balls, so there had to be something wrong with him.

Some analysts are even speculating that Wade will even sit out tonight's game. Here's a look at the production of the Heat's starting lineup after four games of this series:

1. Dwayne Wade- 25.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.8 apg
2. Mario Chalmers- 7.8 ppg, 3.8 apg
3. James Jones- 11 ppg, 1.5 rpg
4. Udonis Haslem- 8 ppg, 8.5 rpg
5. Jermain O'neal- 16.5 ppg, 6 rpg

Important Bench Players:

1. Michael Beasley- 7 ppg, 6 rpg
2. Daequan Cook- 7 ppg, 2.8 rpg

Whether Wade sits out or not tonight, other players are going to have to pick up the extra load because Wade will definitely not be at his best. I can see Wade maybe scoring 15 points and grabbing a couple rebounds but that's it.

If Jermaine O'neal controls the paint and Chalmers manages the game effectively, then the Heat have a chance.

Another huge x-factor in this situation is Michael Beasley. If Beasley can get back to the way he played in the first two games of the series, the Heat have a good chance at pulling out a win in Atlanta tonight.

MLB Power Rankings: Week 3

1. Red Sox (13-6): The Red Sox have won 11-straight games and finally look like the team many expected. That includes a sweep of the Yankees. Last week: NR

2. Cardinals (14-6): The Cardinals continue to play solid baseball and lead the division by 2.5 games over the Pirates. They've definitely owned the Cubs so far this season. Last week: 4

3. Blue Jays (14-7): I keep waiting for this team to fall off the map like the Marlins have done, but they keep playing solid baseball. They better continue if they want to make the playoffs eventually. Last week: 5

4. Dodgers (13-7): The Dodgers were looking like the best team in the majors before dropping two straight to the Rockies and the Giants. They still should take the NL West with no problem. Last week: 1

5. Tigers (11-8): Man did this team start of slow, but now that opening series loss to the Blue Jays doesn't look so bad, and they lead the AL Central. Brandon Inge looks great with 7 home runs. Last week: NR

Almost In:

Pirates (11-8): The Pirates have some impressive wins this year, but I'm still not too sold on these guys just yet.

Mariners (12-7): The Mariners' record would probably be a lot better if they weren't almost dead last in runs scored with 80.

Edwards Has Stong Words for NASCAR

Another big crash occurred at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday afternoon, and Carl Edwards was the centerpiece of the crash.

Edwards was just seconds away from the victory before attempting to block Brad Keselowski causing his car to flip into the fencing used to separate the fans from the track. Seven fans were injured but fortunately none were severely injured.

It might have been one of the best finishes NASCAR has seen, but at what price do some of these great finishes come by? Certainly it's not a fan's or a driver's health, but Edwards definitely had a strong statement after the race.

"NASCAR puts us in this box [restrictor-plate racing], and will race this way until they kill somebody," Edwards said. That statement is a powerful one that had to be directly aimed at NASCAR officials.

Former NASCAR driver Bobby Allison retracted the statement and said that the potential for danger is part of the excitement and that there's nothing wrong with that.

I wonder if Allison would be singing a different tune if someone had been killed or seriously injured Sunday. The satisfaction of the fans is very important, but not as important as someone's life.

In no way am I saying that restrictor-plate racing should be abolished, but there is nothing wrong with examining the procedures and equipment we have in place now to make sure there is a middle-ground between excitement and safety.

Seven injuries is seven too many and obviously something may need to be tweaked. I'm sick and tired of officials from anything, whether it be sports or not, waiting to change things until someone is killed. A life shouldn't have to be lost to make things right. Simple as that.

NFL Draft Day 1 Winners and Losers

Like many expected, the Detroit Lions took Matthew Stafford as the #1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

They're paying Stafford a maximum of $78 million over six years, with $41.7 million being guaranteed to go in Stafford's pocket. This hefty deal seems to be a big risk for the Lions. If Stafford somehow ends up being a bust, then the Lions could continue to be one of the worst franchises in the league. However, if Stafford becomes an elite quarterback, then this could be the pick that turns this franchise around.

Day 1 Winners

1. Lions ( Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew)
   
2. Bengals (Andre Smith, Rey Maualuga)
3. Broncos (Knowshon Moreno, Robert Ayers, Aphonso Smith, Darcel McBath,Richard Quinn)

The Lions added obviously a very talented quarterback in Matthew Stafford and added a great target to help Stafford out in Brandon Pettigrew.

The biggest steal in the draft so far was the Bengals snatching up Rey Maualuga in the 2nd-round. A great linebacker that could end up being the face of this franchise. You also can't forget the great addition of Andre Smith on the offensive line.

The busiest team on draft day #1 was definitely the Denver Broncos. They had five picks and addressed all of their needs with some great picks. Knowshon Moreno is a versatile running back that can do some many things for you on offense. They also had a value pick in the 2nd round in Aphonso Smith from Wake Forest. Great first day of the draft for the Broncos.

Day 1 Losers

1. Cardinals (Chris "Beanie" Wells)
2. Dolphins (Vontae Davis, Pat White, Sean Smith)

I understand that Edgerrin James is way past his prime, but I just don't think Beanie Wells is the right choice here. He's got some health issues and he really doesn't fit the Cardinals' style of offense. Pittsburgh's Lesean McCoy would have been a better fit for them as he can also turn into a viable receiver for Kurt Warner.

Some may think the Dolphins had a descent draft day, but not me. Their first pick was Vontae Davis out of Illinois. This pick may turn out to be a good one, but Davis has had is moments where doesn't play well at all. I really don't like taking Pat White. White was a great college quarterback thanks to the quirky offense of West Virginia, but I'm not so sure thats going to translate to the NFL. Pat White reminds me of a Vince Young, if that gives you any idea of why I see them as a Day 1 loser.

The Battle for Pennsylvania

Series Overview

The Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins at least have to go to a Game 6 to settle this first-round playoff matchup. The Flyers made the series 3-2 in favor of Pittsburgh Thursday night by shutting out the Penguins 3-0. The next game will be played at Philadelphia on Saturday.

Simon Gagne leads the Flyers in goals with four and Evegni Malkin also has four goals in the series to lead the Penguins.

The Penguins have had the Flyers number as of late and ended the season for the Flyers last season. The Flyers have done a descent job at containing Sidney Crosby but can they keep it that way in Game 6? This series definitely isn't over but the Penguins have to figure out a way to stop giving up all the shots on goal. They got lucky they won Game 4 despite being outshot 46-26.

The Titans Need to Pick a Wide Receiver at No. 30, But Will They?

The Titans won't officially be on the clock until Saturday, but they might as well be on the clock now.

If you haven't already noticed, this year's draft class is probably one of the strongest in terms of wide receivers that we have seen in recent years. The Titans have the #3o overall pick and have a great chance at getting a quality wide receiver at that pick.

Some people are saying the Titans need to focus on the defensive side of the ball and bolster up the secondary and the defensive line. Their reasoning behinds this is simply because we lost Albert Haynesworth and because cornerback Nick Harper is aging.

Even though both of those things are true, it's a whole lot easier to find quality defensive players in the later rounds than it is to find a quality wide receiver in the later rounds.

Just look at the Titans wide receiver picks in the last 3 years:

2008 Lavelle Hawkins
2007 Paul Williams, Chris Davis, Joel Filani
2006 Jonathan Orr

None of these receivers have done much in terms of production with Joel Filani and Jonathan Orr not even with the team anymore. The combined career numbers for the other three receivers is 10 receptions for 90 yards and no touchdowns.


This is the year the Titans have to break away from the habit of drafting receivers in the third round or later. There's going to be some great options out there when the time comes for the Titans to make their pick. Here's the possibilities:

• Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina)
• Percy Harvin (Florida)
• Darius Heyward-Bey (Maryland)
• Juaquin Iglesias (Oklahoma)
• Mohamad Massaquoi (Georgia)

All of these prospects put up great numbers for their respective schools and at least two of them will be available for the Titans.

There's also rumors swirling that the Titans front office has made an offer to the Cardinals to sign Anquan Boldin. Obviously if the Titans find a way to sign Bolding then things change for the draft. However, I don't think that's going to happen before Saturday so the Titans have to be perpared to pick up a wide receiver.

To add on to everything else, the Titans need a future number one receiver for the sake of Vince Young for whenever he finally returns as the starter. Young needs confidence in his receivers has has never had that luxury in his short career.

The Titans haven't picked as wide receiver in the first round since 1998 when they picked Kevin Dyson out of Utah, but hopefully that will change on Saturday.

The Washington "Natinals"

This story will end up on sports bloopers for years to come! As if it couldn't get any worse for baseball's worst team, now they apparently can't even spell their names correctly.

Last Friday night Nationals players Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman had the team name misspelled on their uniforms. Instead of reading "Nationals" the two uniforms read "Natinals".

Wow....Can the Nationals catch a break this season. Not only have they started 3-10, but now their two best players are sporting misspelled uniforms?

The company that supplies their uniforms, Majestic Athletic, issued a public apology Tuesday night. It may seem like this isn't that big of a deal, but when you're supplying uniforms for the MLB, mistakes like that can't be made.

Perhaps the "wardrobe malfunction" was a blessing in disguise. After all the Nationals are 2-2 since then and have been at least competitive.

Harvin, Tate Damage Their Own Draft Stock

We see it time and time again in the sports world. Athletes who have it made self-destruct by getting into legal troubles.

With the NFL Draft less than a week away, former Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin and North Carolina wide receiver Brandon Tate tested positive for marijuana during the NFL scouting combine.

This is obviously going to make team think twice about drafting the two receivers and ultimately hurt their draft stock.

I can't understand why players do this to themselves. Both of these guys had to know they had great chances at making it to the NFL, so why mess with this stuff knowing you're going to get tested? Especially in a no-nonsense league that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is running.

I still think Harvin will get picked up in the early part of the second-round and still wouldn't be greatly surprised if he still went in the later part of the first-round. Harvin has a ton of talent and some teams just might not be able to pass that by.

As for Brandon Tate, his draft stock could be hurt a lot more. Tate does hold an NCAA record for combined kick return yards but that's not nearly enough to pull him out of the hole he dug himself into with this.

He already has injury concerns after missing half of his senior season with a knee injury and is still recovering from that. There's no telling how far back he'll fall after this. Possibly all the way past the third-round.

It's a shame that these gifted athletes act this carelessly with their unique skills that many of us don't have. Hopefully both of these men will learn something from this and turn their ways around in the NFL.

MLB Power Rankings: Week 2

1. Dodgers (10-3) Dodgers move ahead of Marlins riding an 8-game win streak.


2. Marlins (11-2) Got demolished by the Pirates 8-0 tonight, but still a solid team.



3. Cubs (7-5) They started off sluggish, but now they've taken two of three from the Cards.


4. Cardinals (8-5) The first part of their schedule has been a little weak, but a big series with the
Mets lies ahead.


5. Blue Jays (10-4) The Blue Jays have won every series so far this season, but have yet to
sweep anyone.


Almost In: 1. Red Sox: The Red Sox are coming off a sweep of Baltimore and finally look like
the team we expected.

2. Yankees: The Yankees have been extremely inconsistent this season. A big
series with the Red Sox starts this weekend and will tell us a lot.

Ovechkin Caught Watching Rangers Practice

This might be one of the funniest stories I've heard in the sports world in a long time.

Alex Ovechkin, the best goal-scorer the NHL has seen since possibly Wayne Gretzky, was caught "relaxing" in the stands while the Rangers were going through practice Monday morning.

What really made this story so funny was Ovechkin's response to reporters when they asked him why he thinks the Rangers asked him to leave. His simple, yet funny response...."They're afraid of me".

Ovechkin is probably right and who wouldn't be? The guy has eclipsed the 50-goal mark three of his four years in the NHL and combined that with at least 100 points three of the four years.

I'm sure Ovechkin just wanted to see what would happen and that is so funny to me. He left as soon as they asked him to and I don't think he was trying to cheat or anything like that. I mean, why would he need to? He's the best in the game right now.

Thanks for giving me something to laugh about today Alex!

NFL Draft Questions: Who Ya' Got?

Every NFL team entering the draft has at least two positions they need to build on during the draft.

This draft has a ton of option at wide receiver and defensive tackles, and sometimes you can only narrow it down to two players and then just pray that you make the right choice from there.

Who Ya' Got?
1. Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez?

Matthew Stafford has an absolute cannon for an arm and has descent accuracy, but another huge selling point for me is that he was an SEC quarterback. Anytime a quarterback as talented as Stafford comes out of the SEC and played against some of the best defenses in college football, you know he's going to be a solid NFL quarterback.

For Mark Sanchez it just isn't that simple. There is no doubting Sanchez's talent, but he only started for one season and that raises some concern for me if I had the pick.

Verdict: Matthew Stafford

2. Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin?

Both of these receivers had great quarterbacks getting them the ball. Maclin had more yards and more receptions than Crabtree with 102 receptions and 1260 yards, but Crabtree was an absolute touchdown machine with 19 TD's.

When it comes to NFL readiness I would have to take Crabtree due to his scoring ability. Standing at 6'3'', Crabtree will be a valuable asset inside the redzone. He reminds me of a Plaxico Burress, minus the stupidity of shooting yourself in a nightclub.

Verdict: Michael Crabtree

3. Knowshon Moreno or Chris "Beanie" Wells?

This may be one of the toughest choice to make. Both running backs had their moments in 2008 that made them look like future NFL stars.

Moreno is probably one of the most versatile running backs in this year's draft, but Wells has him beat in power running.

This choice will vary greatly on a team to team basis. In the end, I think both running backs will be good in the NFL, but Moreno can do more things for you on offense. He's a better receiver than Wells and has much better speed, which is extremely important in the NFL.

Verdict: Knowshon Moreno

Whats Wrong with the Yanks, BoSox?

Even though it is still extremely early in the season, Yanks and Red Sox fans have to be concerned with how their teams have started the season.

The Yankees (6-6) are my World Series pick but as of now they don't even look like a Wild Card team coming off an embarrassing 22-4 loss to the Indians earlier today. The Red Sox look even worse but have been playing a little better as of late.

I think both teams will come on strong in the middle of the season like they always do, but just what's the problem for these teams.

For the Yankees, it's just a lack of team chemistry. The Yankees are constantly criticized for trying to "buy" championships and they are constantly changing their roster during the offseason.

Alex Rodriguez will be back in a couple of weeks and he'll add instant production on offense.

The biggest problem that has plagued the Red Sox (4-6) is not being able to score runs. up until Wednesday's win over the Athletics, the Red Sox had not scored over five runs in a game.

Eventually the Red Sox will find their offense and things will turn around. They're coming off scoring 10 runs against the Orioles on Friday so maybe things are changing in Boston.

The Yankees and Red Sox start their first series on April 24th at Fenway Park.

NBA Playoff Scenarios: Western Conference

The Western Conference playoffs look to be a little more exciting than the Eastern Conference, at least for the first-round action. The potential for upsets is way higher in the Western Conference as well. Here's the scenarios:

Western Conference

#8 Jazz vs. #1 Lakers

Jazz will win if: Deron Williams spawns into John Stockton and Carlos Boozer spawns into Karl Malone. Just a month ago I had the Jazz in the Top 5 of the Power Rankings, but a lackluster finish to the season has made me change that thought real quick. As if things can't get any worse, Jerry Sloan has no confidence in his team and the team they have to play beat them in the season finale 125-112.
Lakers will win if: As long as Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum play the way they did the entire regular season, this will be a sweep. The Jazz are a good home team, but the Lakers are just too strong for the slumping Jazz.
Prediction: Lakers in 4

#7 Hornets vs. #2 Nuggets

Hornets will win if: A solid team effort will make this series much closer than it looks on paper. We all know Chris Paul will show up and play great, but if his supporting cast plays good as well, the Hornets could steal this series. That means Tyson Chandler and David West.
Nuggets will win if: The Nuggets have to minimize their turnovers against the Hornet which love to run the court. Chauncy Billups and Kenyon Martin are the x-factors. If they play up to their capabilities, the Nuggets will win this series convincingly.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7

#6 Mavericks vs. #3 Spurs

Mavericks will win if: They continue to play the way they played to end the season. The Mavs had one of the toughest schedules in March and April and still managed to pull out seven wins and make the playoffs. Josh Howard is the x-factor for the Mavs.
Spurs will win if: They figure out a way to replace the production of Manu Ginobli. Players like Roger Mason, Matt Bonner, and Michael Finley will have to step up their production. That is a big "if".
Prediction: Mavs in 7

#5 Rockets vs. #4 Blazers

Rockets will win if: Yao Ming establishes himself as the dominant force and the offense runs through him. The Rockets seem to go away from Yao way too much and they can't do that in this series. The Blazers aren't particularly strong in the low post so the Rockets have to exploit that with Yao.
Blazers will win if: If the Blazers use their speed to push the tempo up and make Yao Ming almost non-existent, whether it's foul trouble or just good defense, then the game will swing their way. The Blazers might be the hottest team coming into the playoffs and that usually spells success.
Prediction: Blazers in 6

NBA Playoff Scenarios: Eastern Conference

The 2009 NBA Playoff bracket is set with very little intriguing matchups in the first-round. But as many sports fans know, and Kevin Garnett for that matter, anything is possible. Let's examine the scenarios for each playoff matchup:

Eastern Conference

#8 Pistons vs. #1 Cavaliers

Pistons will win if: Somehow Chauncy Billups sneaks into a Pistons uniform and they play like 2004 championship team.
Cavaliers win win if: If Lebron plays even average, the Cavs will win in five.
Prediction: Cavaliers in 5


#7 Bulls vs. #2 Celtics

Bulls will win if: Bulls completely dominate the paint and Derrick Rose plays the best basketball of his life.
Celtics will win if: They win at least one of two when the series shifts to Chicago. Other than the Cavaliers, the Celtics are the best home team in the NBA.
Prediction: Celtics in 5


#6 Sixers vs. #3 Magic

Sixers will win if: The Sixers figure out a way to contain Dwight Howard. Also, if Andre Iguodala has a couple 30-point games, things could definitely shift towards Philly.
Magic will win if: As long as Dwight Howard dominates the paint and comes up big on the offensive glass. The Magic are a bit out of sorts right now so second chance points might turn out to be big.
Prediction: Magic in 6

#5 Heat vs. #4 Hawks

Heat will win if: If Dwayne Wade doesn't have to do it all on his own. Wade is one of the best in the NBA, but he needs his supporting cast to step up. Players like Jamario Moon, Udonis Haslem, and Mario Chalmers have to have solid performances.
Hawks will win if: If they play in any way like the team that took the Celtics to seven games last season. The Hawks defeated the Heat by two just two nights ago with a strong performance from the bench. They'll need more of that in the playoffs.
Prediction: Heat in 7

Titans Release 09' Schedule, And It's Not Pretty.....

The Titans will not have much time to get things right once the season starts on September 10th.

The first eight games on the schedule all feature teams with playoff potential, starting with the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

The two divisions the Titans are matched up against, besides their own divisional opponents in the AFC South, are the NFC West and the AFC East.

The NFC West is definitely the NFL's weakest division, but those four games don't come till the second half of the season.

On the other hand, the AFC East is one of the NFL's elite divisions. All four AFC East teams you can make a reasonable case for going to the playoffs next season.

Overall the Titans have some of the toughest road games you can get stuck with, having trips to Pittsburgh, New England, Indianapolis, and New York Jets.

Some other solid teams that are making trips to Nashville are the Cardinals, Chargers, and Dolphins.

The schedule leaves the opportunity to end strong but to start off horrible. Maybe that could be a blessing in disguise considering that historically the Titans start off strong and finish weak.

We've seen it some many times where a team gets hot down the stretch and makes a Super Bowl run. The Titans and their loyal fans still have that to hold onto so don't jump ship just yet.

One more thing to remember is this: If the Titans do have another 12-13 win season, analysts and opposing fans alike will have NO EXCUSES to say the Titans are overrated like last season. That's for damn sure!

Tennessee Titans 2009 Schedule (* denotes 09' playoff team)

9/10 @ Pittsburgh *
9/20 HOUSTON
9/27 @ NY Jets
10/4 @Jacksonville
10/11 INDIANAPOLIS *
10/18 @ New England
10/25 BYE
11/1 JACKSONVILLE
11/8 @ S. Francisco
11/15 BUFFALO
11/23 @Houston
11/29 ARIZONA *
12/6 @Indianapolis *
12/13 ST. LOUIS
12/20 MIAMI *
12/25 SAN DIEGO *
1/3 @Seattle

There's a New Face in the Sun Belt Conference, And You Probably Know Him

Perhaps one of the biggest coaching hires in the history of the Sun Belt Conference in any sport was made as NBA legend Isiah Thomas was hired at Florida International.

What a random coaching acquisition this is. This is by no means a knock on the Florida International basketball program, but Thomas has just went farther and farther down the ladder since his playing days ended.

Thomas has went from coaching in the NBA, to coaching a Sun Belt program. This is great for a Florida International squad that is coming off a 13-20 year, but not so sure it's great for Isiah.

Let's look at the possible scenarios: Thomas signed a five-year contract, so if Thomas turns Florida International into a Sun Belt champion over that time, then odds are FIU will work as a bridge to a better coach job.

However, anything short of a Sun Belt Championship will do nothing for Thomas because the Sun Belt Conference has little to no respect in the NCAA. Especially it's basketball programs outside of Western Kentucky.

As a student at a Sun Belt school (MTSU), I am very excited about this deal because I'll get a chance to see Isiah Thomas when he takes his team to play the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro.

My best wishes go out to Isiah Thomas, but if Florida International continues to be just an average team in a mediocre basketball conference, then mark this chapter of his coaching career as another failure.

FIU's Season by Season Record Since 2005

2008-2009 13-20
2007-2008 9-20
2006-2007 12-17
2005-2006 8-20

No Place Like Home for the Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are now a remarkable 39-1 at home this season following their pounding of the Boston Celtics 107-76 on Sunday. If that final score isn't enough, the Cleveland held the defending champs only nine 1st quarter points.

The Cavaliers can lock up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs by just winning one of their final two games, and that's only if the Lakers win their final game against the Jazz.

With such a dominant record at home, I can't see the Cavaliers not making it to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.

The Celtics are still the favorite to face the Cavaliers in the Easter Conference Finals despite getting manhandled in their last outing.

The Magic have been average over their last 1o games which isn't what you want going into the playoffs. The Celtics are also a strong team at home so if the Celtics and the Magic meet, I look for the Celtics to win in six games.

The Western Conference isn't that simple. The Lakers would seem to be the favorite, but the West is much more balanced than the East.

We all know what the Spurs are capable of being one of the most consistent teams in NBA over the past decade, so don't count them out despite losing Manu Ginobli for the playoffs.

The Blazers, Mavericks, and Hornets are also teams capable of making some noise in the playoffs.

The Nuggets, however, have looked excellent as of late. They've won 12 of their last 14 including big wins over the Hornets and Mavericks.

The Nuggets have a great chance to upset the Lakers and sneak into the NBA Finals. Even though I think they have the best chance, I see them losing in seven games to the Lakers.

As good of a home team the Cavaliers are, they're just average on the road. The Lakers have more veteran leadership and have the return of Andrew Bynum to bolster their inside presence.

The only home loss Cleveland has suffered this season came to the Lakers 101-91 on February 8th.

I think the Lakers will be able to steal one in Cleveland again and take home the NBA title in seven games, helping Kobe Bryant get that monkey off his shoulder of not being able to win an NBA title without Shaq.

Rest in Piece Nick Adenhart

Nick Adenart, one of the great up and coming pitchers in baseball, was tragically killed late Wednesday by a careless drunk driver. This happened just hours after pitching the best game of his life, throwing six scoreless innings against the Athletics.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends that have been affected by this tragedy.

Adenhart was a member of the Angels and their farm-system for four years and manager Mike Scioscia knew he was going to be a good one. Wednesday night's performance proved that.

Friday was the first game back for the Angels since the incident, with images of Torii Hunter patting Adenhart's picture on the centerfield wall and Jerrod Weaver writing Adenhart's initials on the mound.

The Angels would go on to win the game 6-3 over the Red Sox, and the whole team will rally this win and the rest of the season around Nick Adenhart's memory.

1986-2009

MLB Early Season Surprises

The 2009-2010 MLB season is a week into action and there is already plenty of surprises to be had:

Florida Marlins

As great as a 4-0 start is, don't jump all over the Marlins just yet. They beat up on the what could be the worst team in baseball, the Washington Nationals, for three wins. However they did take an impressive series-opener from the New York Mets.

I wouldn't take too much from this perfect start, but nonetheless, they are undefeated for the first time in franchise history.

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles started off the season in very impressive fashion by taking two of three from the Yankees. They then turned around and took the series opener from the Rays to put them at 3-1 overall.

I know it very early in the season, but those are some huge wins against AL East rivals.

Toronto Blue Jays

Could the AL East be even stronger than we already anticipated? The Blue Jays have started off 5-1, taking three of four from the Tigers, and the first two of a three-game series with the Indians.

This team still has a lot to prove, but scoring 42 runs in the first six games of the season is mighty impressive.

Phillies/ Rays

Last season's World Series contenders have a combined record of 3-5 to start the season.

Masters Update-2nd Round

The 2nd Round of the Masters is underway in Augusta, Georgia and everyone is waiting for Tiger Woods (-2) to make is signature comeback. As of right now, there's a lot of ground to make up, even if you're Tiger.

Tiger Woods has a habit of always making his comeback on Saturday and Sunday in Major tournaments. Tiger might have to have one of his biggest comeback in his illustrious career to win his 5th Masters, which would put him only behind Jack Nicklaus.

Currently Chad Campbell is stealing the show as he sits at the top of the leaderboard at 9-under par, including a 2nd round score of 2-under par.

Campbell was actually in reach of a Major tournament record for lowest first round score but had bogeys on 17 and 18 to end the day. Campbell wasn't the only one to end slow.

Tiger had a shot at going to -4 after the 1st round but let a fairway shot get away from him on 18 that ended up in the crowd of spectators. Tiger went on to bogey the hole. However, Tiger was still pleased with his opening round score.

Here's the leaderboard as of noon today:

1. Chad Campbell -9 Thru 12
2. Kenny Perry -6 Thru 8
3. Jim Furyk -6 1:52 PM
4. Todd Hamilton -5 Thru 17
5. Huner Mahan -5 Thru 10

Notables

• T13 Tiger Woods -2 Thru 7
• T23 Vijay Singh -1 1:30 PM
• T44 Phil Mickelson +1 1:52 PM
• T44 Sergio Garcia +1 2:03 PM
  

2009 NFL Draft: Who Should the Titans Take?

The 2009 NFL Draft is right around the corner and all 32 teams are scrambling to figure out the next piece to the puzzle of building a Super Bowl franchise.

The Titans have the 30th overall pick in the draft and many are speculating on who they should take with that pick. This draft is extremely heavy on wide receivers and the Titans may go that route.

The need for a dominant wide receiver has been a need ever since the Titans came to Nashville in 1999. The Titans have a great opportunity to get that future #1 wide receiver in this draft.

One pick that is in many people's mock draft is North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. Nicks is extremely versatile and stands at 6'1''. Having a tall receiver like Nicks would be extremely beneficial for Kerry Collins, and even more so for Vince Young.

Other positions that are in need is cornerback and defensive line. Nick Harper seemed to slow down a step or two last season, and a future replacement might be needed.

Former Vanderbilt star D.J. Moore would be a great option for the Titans and may still be on the board when the Titans' second round pick rolls around.

That would be a huge steal for the Titans if they could snatch him up in the second round. Moore is extremely dynamic and would give you the option of inserting him into some offensive packages along with Chris Johnson.

Here are some possible first round picks for the Titans:

1st Round Possibilities

1. Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
2. Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
3. Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
   
4. D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt

2009 NCAA Tournament Thoughts- National Championship

Tonight the NCAA men's basketball championship is up for grabs between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Michigan State Spartans.

North Carolina is looking for the 2nd national title in five years while Michigan State is looking for their first one since 2000.

Very few predicted the Spartans to make it this far, and sadly I am no exception. I didn't think the Spartans had enough to get past Kansas in the Sweet 16. However, the Spartans have kept proving me wrong and they're going to have to do it again tonight against my National Championship pick.

The Tar Heels have proven throughout the tournament that they can beat you from so many directions. The Tar Heels have used a balanced attack to win every game by double figures during the tournament.

The starting lineup for the Tar Heels completely dominated Villanova in the Final Four getting a combined 60 points from Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough, and Ty Lawson.

One stat comparison that leaps off the page when looking over this matchup is the points per game average among the two teams. The Tar Heels averaging almost 90 points per game while the Spartans averaged just over 60.

The Spartans will have to figure out a way to slow down the high octane offense that the Tar Heels like to push. If the Spartans can slow down the pace of the game and turn it into a half-court game, they may have a chance.

I'm still sticking with my original national championship pick and going with the Tar Heels. Even if the Spartans do slow down the pace of the game, the Tar Heels just have too many weapons they can beat you with.

If Lawson is having a bad game, then Ellington, Green, or Hansbrough will pick him up.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this game close approaching 10 minutes to go in the game, but the Tar Heels will pull away and win by eight.

North Carolina over Michigan State, 79-71

2009 MLB Preview: American League

Tonight marks the start of the 2009 MLB season with the Phillies hosting the Braves.

American League action doesn't kick off til tomorrow with the featured series of the American League with the Rays and the Red Sox beginning a series at Fenway Park.

The AL East may be the strongest division from top to bottom we've seen in a long time. The Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees all have stacked rosters that could lead them to a World Series championship.

Going from one extreme to another, the AL West may be the worst division in baseball with every team seeming to be average at best.

AL East

The AL East will come down to the final week of the season once again to determine the division crown. And sadly once again, a great team will be left out of the playoffs in 2009. But which one will it be?

The Yankees have shown how much money they have again this offseason by acquiring some big players like C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, AJ Burnett, and Nick Swisher. They're starting pitching rotation will be one of the best in all of baseball. A big question looming is how Alex Rodriguez will respond to getting caught using steroid back in February.

The Red Sox will be the same solid team they always are and the addition of veteran John Smoltz will only add to this already deep pitching rotation. I see the Rays on the outside looking in when the season draws to a close. In any other division I would give them the division crown, but not in the AL East.

AL Central

The Chicago White Sox won a tight division race with the Minnesota Twins last season, but this season may feature two different team racing to the end.

The Minnesota Twins will be the one of the better hitting team in the American League, but their pitching may lose a lot of games for them down the stretch.

The Cleveland Indians seem like the balanced team that will pull this division out with solid hitting and pitching. The acquisition of Kerry Wood will be huge for them when it comes down to closing out big games.

One dark horse in this division is the Kansas City Royals who have looked really good in spring training. I don't think they'll have enough to win the division or get a Wild Card, but the Royals definitely have a shot at 85 wins this season.

AL West

So the question you face when analyzing the AL West is, which average team will come out on top?

The LA Angels have been the dominant team as of late, but with the loss of K-rod and a sub-par hitting lineup, the Angels will fall up short this season.

This entire division faces a lack of pitching, so the better hitting team will probably pull out the divison. The Oakland Athletics will be among the league-leaders in runs scored. This lineup has a ton of power along with great base-hitters with Eric Chavez, Orlando Cabrera, and Matt Holiday. You also can't forget the key additions of Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Giambi.

This lineup will be scary for any opposing pitching staff and that's why they'll pull out the weak AL West.

AL Division winners: Yankees, Indians, Athletics
AL Wild Card: Red Sox
AL Champ: Yankees

2009 MLB Preview: National League

MLB Opening Day is now just two days away with the Phillies taking on the Braves at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The National League produced the World Series Champion last season with the Philadelphia Phillies, but this season looks to be somewhat of a down year for the National League. Let's look at it division by division:

NL East

The NL East will be the strongest division this season with the Phillies and Mets being the favorites to win it. Sports Illustrated has the Mets as their World Series Champ but I wouldn't go that far. The Phillies win this division in another tight division race, with the Mets snatching that Wild Card.

The Phillies are just too balanced in every phase of the game, starting with their lights-out pitching that includes starting pitcher Cole Hamels and arguably the best closer in Brad Lidge.

NL Central


Perhaps one of the strongest divisions in recent year, a dropoff is expected for the NL Central in 2009. The Cubs continued the curse by getting swept by the Dodgers. Will this season break the curse? Highly unlikely. They may win their division if they can beat out the Brewers, but once the playoffs start, I don't see them doing any damage. Some may be wondering where the Cardinals are in this preview. The Cardinals will be non-factors this season, limping to a 70-75 win season. Sorry Cards fans.

The Cubs win the division by a few games over the Brewers only to continue the curse by losing in the first round.

NL West

The NL West may end up being the most lopsided division in all of baseball when 2009 comes to a close. With Manny Ramirez returning to the Dodgers, this team has the potential to win 90 games and completely dominate this division. It may be close early, but the season is 162 games, so be patient. Dodgers win this division by 10 games, and this division once again is mediocre.

NL Division Winners: Dodgers, Phillies, Cubs
NL Wild Card: Mets
NL Champ: Phillies

Cutler Fed Up With Denver and Wants Out

The Cutler fiasco has finally reached the point of no return. Cutler wants out of Denver and numerous teams are ready to make an offer for him.

The problem for Denver is, no matter what comes out of it, they're going to be worse off than they were with Cutler. Of the several possible teams that want Cutler, none of them have anything better than Cutler to offer. Here's some of the possibilities:

• Cleveland- Derek Anderson/Brady Quinn


• San Francisco- Shaun Hill


• New York Jets-Kellen Clemens


• Detroit- Daunte Culpepper

Of these four teams, Cutler's best fit would seem to be the Jets. The Jets have already proven what they're capable of with a gun-slinger type quarterback (Brett Favre). Their defense improved tremendously last season, and Cutler would have a more balanced offesne to work with.

However, the Broncos most likely are not going to trade him to an AFC team where Cutler can hurt them down the road. I could realistically see the Lions dealing their #1 pick and maybe another draft pick to get Cutler.

It's hard to pin-down the exact team Cutler will go to because there are so many teams that need a quarterback right now, but I'm positive it will be an NFC team.

Either way, the Broncos are in trouble. Their defense is horrendous. They have no running game, and their biggest offensive threats in Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall now have no quarterback to get them the ball.

The only positive for Denver is that they play in the worst division in the NFL and where even a BAD team can win the division and earn a first-round playoff exit. Congrats Denver!