Monday, April 28, 2008

Yea I wouldn't want to run into him either

The next scrub QB for the Miami Dolphins can rest easy. At 6' 7", 315 lbs, top pick Jake Long will be protecting him for a long time to come.

Thoughts from the Weekend

The NBA and NHL Playoffs, early-season baseball and a couple of fantastic finishes in golf, but all anybody wants to talk about is the NFL Draft (OK, the golf one was a stretch...)

Some thoughts about the draft:
- Too bad the Giants didn't deal Shockey. Coming out of last season they had one glaring tradeable commodity, the perpetually-discontent tight end who almost singlehandedly killed Eli Manning's confidence over the past 3 seasons. That the Giants won the Super Bowl without him was in no way a coincidence: his absence gave Eli some breathing room and allowed him to seize control of his offense. Here's hoping the Giants' winning without him will bring Shockey down a few notches - I just can't wrestle the image from my mind of a Week 3 overthrow leading to Shockey chewing out Eli.
- At the top of the draft you will inevitably have some teams in need of a makeover, some more so than others. Teams have unsuccesful seasons for a number of reasons - injuries and/or off-the-field problems, player discontent or failure to connect with the coach, or a simple lack of personnel - and the function of the draft is to address the problems of the season before. Well, the Atlanta Falcons had to right a ship that was torn apart by every feasible problem that could plague a franchise, and, in doing so, they were forced to select a player who would immediately boost fan morale.
The Dolphins were in the position of having decent talent at a number of positions and had only to focus on specific needs. The Falcons, on the other hand, had to focus on "making a splash", even if it meant not necessarily choosing their highest rated prospect. That is why the Falcons, and the Raiders as well, are so much farther away from success than the other high-drafting teams. Those other teams, while having problems of their own, did not need an image makeover. That was not the case with the Raiders and the Falcons.
- Just to provide an example of what I discussed above: For the 2nd year in a row, the New York Giants selected a well-known, big-name wide receiver in the 2nd Round. Now, I am not contending that they did so to boost fan interest, because fan interest is at an all-time high. But drafting someone like Mario Manningham does provide the fans with a great offensive threat they remember from college, and that makes that guy all the more appealing. Being able to monitor the progress of big-time collegians does add some new level of interest for the team.
Do you know what can sometimes happen, though, when that philosophy wins out? You get last year's debacle in Miami in which the Fins drafted a big-name receiver way too high. Yes, they may have truly wanted Ted Ginn Jr, but the fact that fans already know him and like him makes the pick that much more enticing.
- Prediction: Ray Rice will be either as good or better than Darren McFadden over a 7-year span. For every Adrian Peterson, they are 4 Curtis Enis's. The same might be said for later-round running backs, but team's dont wager the future of the organization on it.
- Prediction: Matt Ryan is a great quarterback in this league for years to come. How quarterbacks play in the 4th quarter under pressure tells the most about long-term sucess, and he was built to lead that 2-minute offense.
- Prediction: Vernon Gholston is not with the Jets after his rookie contract expires. That was not the right pick for a Jets team that needs an Antonio Pierce-type on defense: a vocal leader who gives his all on every play.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Response to Epstizz

I like Epstizz's picks but there are a few things I disagree with. So, without further ado, here are my 2008 All NBA 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams.
* Note, I will be stricter about positions, so Baron Davis can only be a 1

1st TEAM

At the 1 - Chris Paul
A No-Brainer and possibly the most deserving of MVP candidates

At the 2 - Kobe Bryant
Also a No-Brainer and the likely MVP who, unlike Steve Nash, was able to flawlessly incorporate a new big man into his offense

At the 3 - Lebron James
The hands down MVP if his team, hampered all year by injuries and a mega trade, had won, oh, 8-10 more games; put up staggering numbers

At the 4 - Kevin Garnett
The fan-favorite and loveable loser was the toast of Boston this year, and deservedly so. While his offensive numbers were not eye-popping, his contributions to the Celtics can in no way be overstated

At the 5 - Dwight Howard
The toughest call of the first team, primarily because he's not a top 5 player; but Amare is a 4 and Yao missed half the year, so, by default, Dwight winds up here. That doesn't take away from his terrific breakout year

2nd TEAM

At the 1 - Deron Williams
Epstizz chose Steve Nash here, but I think Deron Williams had more to do with his team's success than Nash did with the Suns

At the 2 - Tracy McGrady
Epstizz had Manu in this spot, but I think T-Mac was more valuable this season. We have to forget the fact that the Rockets are not a threatening playoff team and remember the sensational regular season they had; the most glaring weakness with that team was if a defense learned how to stop T-Mac, the Rockets were very beatable...well that puts T-Mac in Lebron company

At the 3 - Paul Pierce
It's easy to attribute their success solely to Kevin Garnett, but aving watched many Celtics games, it was impossible to ignore the fact that Pierce was hands down, no question their best offensive player the entire season

At the 4 - Amare Stoudemire
The Suns were trying to make a case for his MVP candidacy, and they were partly right about his impact. After the Shaq trade he averaged around 30 points a game and was nearly unstoppable

At the 5 - Tim Duncan
Duncan plays the 5 in key situations, so we can put him here. He had a very productive year, as the Spurs always do. He notches this spot for the same reasons KG is an MVP candidate

3rd TEAM

At the 1 - Steve Nash
Nash has assembled some of the most remarkable shooting percentages we will ever see and is as clutch as anyone when the game is on the line. The total absence of any semblence of defense hurts his ranking here

At the 2 - Manu Ginobli
It is hard to laud great players on poor teams, which is why so many of the All NBAers hail from the same top-tier squads. Consideration was given to Andre Iguadola, Allen Iverson, Monta Ellis and the likes, but Manu ranks only behind Lebron and Kobe as the league's best closers; that's gotta be worth something

At the 3 - Hedo Turkoglu
Hard choice over Carmelo, but Turkoglu did it all this year, including serving as the team's late-game threat

At the 4 - Dirk Nowitzki
Very close call over Antawn Jamison; after all, the Wizard's power forward led his team, in the absense Gilbert, to a 5 seed in the East. But Nowitzki never quit this year and has the numbers to back up his case

At the 5 - Carlos Boozer
A minor stretch here, but Boozer is really the Jazz's center. He had another terrific year and the duo of him and Deron brings back memories of the 90s

Honorable Mention
Jamison and Butler, Carmelo and Iverson, Baron Iguadola and Miller (Andre, that is), Chris Bosh, and Baron Davis....get em next year

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

All-NBA selections: There's a New Kid on the Block




I know it's a little late, but here are my regular season All-NBA selections (not counting playoffs), let's see if the Fabs differs . . . also check out last-year's teams below for comparison

All-NBA 1st team (almost all no brainers):

PG-Chris Paul
overall dominance offensively and defensively

SG-Kobe Bryant
finally takes his team to the next level with Pau's help

SF-Lebron James
most difficult one on one matchup since MJ

PF-Kevin Garnett
single-handedly transformed the best team in the league offensively and defensively

C-Dwight Howard
edges Amare because he was more consistent over the course of the season,
although Amare made a huge leap after the Suns aqcuired Shaq

2nd Team:

PG-Steve Nash
still the heart and soul of a great team

SG-Manu Ginobili
carried Spurs all season offensively, a matchup nightmare for any team

SF-Paul Pierce
Best offensive player on the best regular season team in the league, also improved tremendously defensively

PF-Tim Duncan
only second time he has not made 1st team in his 10 year career

C-Amare Stoudemire
see Dwight

3rd Team:

PG-Deron Williams

a big pg who can shoot and play defense, what more could you ask for?

SG-Baron Davis

cheating a little here with position, but I couldn't leave Baron off for Iverson when Baron is so much more valuable to his team, he basically plays like a SG way

SF-Carmelo Anthony
I would argue that Billups is more valuable to his team, but we're out of PG/SG spots, so Melo takes it

PF-Dirk Nowitzki
the clear best/most valuable player on a 51 win team


C- Yao Ming
wanted to put Boozer here, but Yao didn't miss enough time to merit leaving him off the ballot

Toughest Cuts

1. Carlos Boozer: Utah might not be in the playoffs without him

2.Tracy McGrady: Houston definately would
not be in the playoffs without him, give him credit for carrying an overachieving/Yaoless Rockets squad

3. Allen Iverson: Still tearing up defenses at the age of 32 and still standing barely 6 ft and weighing barely 165 lbs

4. Chauncey Billups: It's tough omitting everyone from the 59 win pistons, but they're starting 5 is so deep that it's more of a collective effort, no one player is more valuable than the next

check out Hollinger's all defense teams


Below are last years teams for comparison:

2006-07 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (125) 634
Forward Tim Duncan, San Antonio (94) 573
Center Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix (36) 351
Guard Steve Nash, Phoenix (129) 645
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (128) 643

2006-07 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward LeBron James, Cleveland (64) 494
Forward Chris Bosh, Toronto (8) 234
Center Yao Ming, Houston (38) 333
Guard Gilbert Arenas, Washington 295
Guard Tracy McGrady, Houston (10) 278

2006-07 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Kevin Garnett, Minnesota (5) 225
Forward Carmelo Anthony, Denver (1) 142
Center Dwight Howard, Orlando (1) 108
Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami (1) 241
Guard Chauncey Billups, Detroit 86

This why the Suns are done . . . no one can guard Manu

Maybe Tim Donaghy did the Suns in last year

Suns v Spurs

In what is supposed to be a Round 1 battle for the ages, the Suns find themselves down 0-2 heading to Phoenix. On paper, or at least judging these two teams during the regular season, neither is noticeably more talented than the other; but there is one major difference between the two, and the reason San Antonio will triumph: the Head Coach.

Mike Diantoni was completely demolished by Greg Popovich last night, to the point where Diantoni was screaming uncle for the game to finish already. It wasn't even close, and for those people who think coaches have little to do with the outcomes of games needed only to watch Game 2 last night to understand exactly what Pop means to the Spurs.

The turning point came in the third quarter when the Spurs made a furious come back to take a double digit lead. And then, on multiple possessions, the Suns forced the ball to Boris Diaw in the post to exploit a mismatch - either Manu Ginobli or Tony Parker were guarding the much taller forward. Well, you know what? Popovich isn't an idiot, and that was the matchup he would live or die with...and he lived. Do you know why he was ok with pitting a smaller defender on Diaw? Because Diaw is TERRIBLE. This entire season he has been inconsistent and, at times, just awful. He has no shot, a decent - but by no means effective - post game, and no athleticism. So why was he their go-to guy? If Steve Nash was guarding, ohhh,.....no wait, I just tried thinking of a Spur, any Spur, with as little game but who plays as much as Boris Diaw and I couldn't come up with one. Let's say in an important spot the Hornets' Jannero Pargo was defending the Mav's Malik Allen; is it really the best move to force the ball to a mediocre player? Definitely Not. And look at Phoenix, they have one of the most efficient offenses the NBA has ever seen, they run a flawless pick-and-roll, and can get open threes whenever they want - and during their most important possessions of the game they relied on their 7th best player. I can't blame Diaw for this, that is clearly a monumental coaching mistake.

If there was ever a knock on Diantoni's run-and-gun offensive style, it was that it couldn't hold up in half-court pace of the playoffs. Here's Knock No. 2: the regular season is for mismatches; during the playoffs the stars take stage. Remember a few years ago when Lebron James passed out of a triple-team to a wide-open Donyell Marshall who clanked the game-winning attempt. Diantoni could have learned alot from that game.

Watching that game last night made me think 3 things:
1. It is obvious Diantoni has no idea how to coach Shaq in the playoffs. Yes, he made most of the important free throws, but the percentages will always even out; I think much blame here has to go to Steve Kerr for the oversight, but a good coach, like Pat Reilly, would figure it out.
2. There is a reason certain coaches have won the majority of the titles, and if the Western Conference Finals fields the Lakers and Spurs, it will be one of the best coaching matchups ever, and hence one of the greatest series we will ever see.
3. I've always been a huge fan of Diantoni and his rebellious style of offense, but I'm not so sure he's the right coach for this team. I mean, could you imagine Phil Jackson feeding Luke Walton the rock every play just because a smaller guard was on him? You stick to your guns in the playoffs, and his failure to do so should cost him his job.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Movie Review

I saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall the other day and just wanted to throw a few thoughts out there in case anyone is interested in checking it out.

First off, the movie was stop debauchery (as opposed to non-stop laughter). It was absolutely brilliant at some points and a little too sappy at many others.

Marshall followed the same basic storyline (ya know, boy meets girl, they fall in love, they get in a fight, they end up in love again) as its two similar predessors The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, changing only the cast and setting; but this isn't a bad thing. The film thrives on the performances of its leading males, Jason Segel and the guy who plays the British guy. Segel plays the role with the same subtlety and relatability as Seth Rogen in Knocked Up, but Segel is willing to bare a little more skin in creating one of the all-time great opening scenes.

It's hard not to categorize the film as a chick flick, but it is too crass to fit that mold. The closest thing that comes to mind is Wedding Crashers: They both have hilarious leading men, near-perfect role players, an entertaining love triangle, a love story between two very likeable people, and occasional but unforgettable moments of hilarity.

The major difference: Forgetting Sarah Marshall has the genius known as Paul Rudd.

Brief Hockey Thoughts

I do not consider myself much of an NHL fan and I can't remember the last time I watched a regular season game consisting of any team not named the New York Rangers. But then again, I am not much of an MLB fan, or a golf or a tennis fan; that doesn't mean I don't thoroughly enjoy watching my favorite teams/players compete. It's very difficult to watch anything when you don't have a personal attachment to the contest, be it emotionally or financially. The latter is really what, in many ways, makes the NCAA Tournament and to a lesser extent the NFL such riveting television: people have money and/or pride on the line.

As for sports like baseball and hockey, they have an obscure dimension to them that makes them, for the casual fan, hard to grasp and even harder to hold on to. One of the major reasons for the struggle to pay attention to hockey is the lack of a consistent star; in the NBA, if you watch a Cavs game, Lebron will almost all the time score somewhere around 30 points and make at least 2 plays that will amaze you. If you watch a Penguins game, the odds are Sydney Crosby scores one point, maybe 2, and that is all you are going to get. That one play might leave you in more awe than all of Lebron's plays combined, but it is only for an instance, and all too infrequent.

So with all that said, a strange thing happened yesterday: After seeing highlights of Game 6 between the Canadiens and Bruins (which featured 6 goals in the 3rd Period) I decided to tune into Game 7, and I was not disappointed. It was the first non-Rangers NHL game I can remember watching, and all I could think was, If only the regular season was anything like this. I remember watching Olympic hockey about 6 years ago and loving every second of it, and thinking all the NHL had to do was cut the season and number of teams in half and elongate the playoffs using the same Group Format as the Olympics. That would be too good to ignore. Alas, that will never happen, so at least we still have these playoffs. The Bruins lost in a blowout but the game was so much more entertaining than the score.

On that note, I want to discuss a few things about the Rangers, a team that I followed alot closer last year than this year. A trip to MSG and a post-game gathering with the players swung me violently back into fan-mode.

- There are different levels of players to like, different categories of guys you respect and appreciate. At the top are obviously your superstars, your Kobes and Lebrons who carry franchises. Then you have, in no particular order, the hustlers (David Lee), the old-timers (Paul O'Neil), and the gutsy who play through injury (Plaxico Burress). But there's that one group of guys that can transcend even the superstars if they play their cards properly...let's call this the Sean Avery Group.

Sean Avery is one of the most all-around entertaining athletes I have seen in a while, a new-age Mike Tyson who will instigate a fight and then knock you on your ass. There are not many like him. A few athletes make us laugh in press conferences, like Iverson, but it is quite a treat to be brought to tears during the actual game; well that is exactly what Sean Avery did when he pranced in front of Martin Brodeur in Game 5 like a man holding a giant match trying to light a moving candle. What he did may have led to a rule-change, but it also led to the mental demise of one of New York's bitter enemies. Backing it up in the post-game press conference only etched Sean Avery in my mental landscape as an eternal favorite: After fielding a question about why Brodeur refused Avery's handshake, Avery quipped: "Well I put my hand out there, but Fatso refused to shake it."

Well done Sean; if that guy can't attract a casual fan or two, hockey's got a tough road ahead of it.

- As for the actual hockey, the Rangers look great right now. Their star goalie, after letting up just 2 goals in the series' first 2 games, struggled abit in Game 3, and then he surrendered 3 a piece in the next 2 games. An outsider might consider this average play at best, but upon further review, the only things Lundquist couldn't stop was shaky ice and his defensemen's skates. Nearly every goal was excusable, a very good sign for things to come.

Few Thoughts About the Weekend

I missed most of the NBA Playoff games over the weekend due to Jewish holiday obligations, but from what I did see and from some highlights, a few things stood out:

- What the hell is wrong with the Pistons? People can blame Flip Saunders all they want, but this clearly comes down to some sort of mentality resonating through players minds that I'm not sure anyone less than Phil Jackson could tame. They are alot like Seinfeld at the end of their run, ya know, how the show was so great for a long time but then towards the end thought they could create garbage and people would laugh. That's the Pistons right now; I've never seen a team so confident from not winning anything in 5 years. I can picture Jerry's smirk in some of the final episodes, thinking to himself, this stuff is great...but it really wasn't. The Pistons are not going to be that great until they regain that edge that team's strive for, you know that edge I'm referring to, the one that takes .2 seconds to surface if one ESPN analyst publicly denounces your team's chances. Until either the Pistons grow up a little or experts begin hopping off the bandwagon, they're in for some trouble.

That said, if they can survive these first two rounds and meet the Celtics in the Conference Semis, they will be prohibitive underdogs which may actually spark a little interest in them, and I could envision an upset.

- I thought the Wizards would be a tough out in these playoffs, but the way it's gone so far, it looks like they're just a speed bump for the Cavs on their way to meet the 60 foot brick wall that is the Celtics. The Wizards just look a little off, like they don't have an identity since Gilbert came back to the lineup, and when there is even a shred of confusion or miscommunication, Lebron will tear you apart. The only thing the Wizards have been consistent in doing is violently punishing Lebron.

- I commented on the ESPN NBA blog Truehoop a couple of months ago that the Rockets had no chance in the playoffs, after seeing the Celtics manhandle them to snap their 22 game win streak. My reasons were that the Celtics exploited the Rockets and showed teams how to beat them - that is, contain McGrady and make him dish. It was the worst Rockets regular season defeat of the year, for that reason alone. Now, the Jazz are doing just that, and Houston kept relying on off-balance hook shots from Luis Scola during a 4th quarter that featured exactly one point from T-Mac.

I think it has been overlooked that a team that won 22 straight games in the regular season is poised to get swept out of the first round....again. What a sad ending to a superb regular season.

Friday, April 18, 2008

NBA Playoffs

They're back baby, and the Western Seeds are finally set, so let's get to some predictions, starting out West:

Lakers v Nuggets
The only true gimme series of any series to be played this year in the Western playoffs. The Nuggets on paper would be favored in this one, but after watching them for a season it's a wonder they even made the playoffs. This team has been downright ugly at different times this year it's impossible to think they'll put together a run to take down the West's top seed. Isn't it amazing that 4 of the five Nuggets starters were drafted 1st, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in in their respective drafts and they can't crack the first round? Goes to show how far a coach and some chemistry will get you in this league.
Lakers in 5

Hornets v Mavericks
Here is the NBA's version of the 12-5 that everyone's getting slobbery over...the thing is, I just don't see it. Ya, the Mavs have the experience and the knowledge and just beat the Hornets, but did no one watch the other 81 games of the regular season? The Hornets are a good freakin team, from top to bottom, and if they have any weakness - lacking a big time slashing shooting guard - it won't be exploited by the Mavs. Chris Paul will make Jason Kidd wish he was on the golf course with Richard Jefferson and I don't think Dirk has enough confidence in his teammates to pass the ball in crunch time. I see another flameout here.
Hornets in 6

Spurs v Suns
Now here is the Super Bowl of the first round, the Yankees Red Sox of the past few years. The Suns are in exponentially better shape to take down the Spurs than they were at any point in the past few seasons. They are clicking at the right time and they will always have one of the most devestating playoff closers in Steve Nash. Even though Tony Parker and Manu run wild in this one, it won't be enough because Duncan will be slowed considerably by that big guy on the Suns...and who is guarding Amare???
Suns in 7

Rockets v Jazz
The Fredo of the first round, a not-as-hyped series that could turn out to be the most competetive if not the most entertaining (even though both of those labels should accompany the Spurs Suns series). The Rockets, against my better judgment, have rebounded from their post-winning streak losing streak and are playing good ball; as are the Jazz. This is a tough one to predict because there are so many different factors, but I think Rafer Alston missing a few games will kill the Rockets. As will Deron Williams, for that reason.
Jazz in 7

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Quick Notes

1. The Masters
The Masters was set up so perfectly for Tiger Woods to roar back on the final day from 6 behind and capture his 5th Green Jacket, but the drama really never came. And it had nothing to do with great play from the leader, Trevor Immelman, and everything to do with Tiger simply failing to dazzle. The stage was set for Tiger to go low to win the tournament and I'm sure he thought he'd need more than only a 68 to win the title. But on Sunday, a day no longer associated only with God but now with Tiger as well, Tiger was average. Granted, there was a handfull of guys who shot under par during the 4th Round and none of them were in contention, but this is Tiger Woods. We have come to expect greatness from him, and in Majors prior he has shown signs of mediocrity. In last year's US Open he had a chance on Sunday to pass Angel Cabrera, and in last year's Masters he finished runner-up to Zach Johnson. If there is one fault with Tiger's career it is that he has never won a Major when trailing heading into the final round. I noted earlier that Tiger would sooner miss the cut than finish 2nd; but Tiger has struggled when entering round 4 off the pace, and until he finds a way to conquer those devestating Major courses on Sunday, he will have to settle for second place finishes.

2. The NBA Playoffs are about to start and if there's anything that is certain, it's that there will be 4 can't-miss series on the West and maybe one in the East, which is really a shame given that the first round lasts 2 weeks. The Lakers secured the top spot last night but not even they are a given to reach the second round, especially if they have to face the Mavs in the Round 1. The Western Playoffs will be a downright doozy, the headliner obviously being Suns Spurs if things stay how they are right now. That is a matchpup for the ages now that The Man Hired To Stop Tim Duncan is playing great basketball at the right time. There are legitmately 6 teams that could come out of the West if the chips fall properly, with the Mavs and Nuggets being the only two squads I couldn't see reaching the finals against the Celtics. But other than that, and probably the Rockets who lack the necessary firepower, the West is wide open. I had the Spurs winning it, but just like picking USC to reach the Final Four, it's increasingly difficult to pick a team that has to play a great team in every round. Whoever squares off against the Nuggets in Round 1 gets my vote to reach the Finals...teams need a gimme series in the playoffs, and that's the only one I see.

3. Who saw the Office or 30 Rock last week? I was kinda hoping they were still on strike throughout both episodes. So weak. So awkward. So lacking of funny moments. I thought the whole gimmick about the Office was that it was supposed to resemble a reality series; well how the hell did cameras get in Michael's condo. Stick to your guns and quit trying to find new ways to make people laugh...give me a few lines from Dwight and Creed and believe me, the laughs will come.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

One Game Too Late

What a Championship it was last night, and what a way to lose a game...
I had free throws killing the Tigers in their two previous games because of the abilities of the two teams they faced, Texas and UCLA. But I didn't think talent would be the issue against the Jayhawks last night and I thought Memphis would cruise to an easy win...and that's exactly what they were on their way to doing until all hell broke loose.
Even though I had Kansas winning it all in my bracket, that choice had more to do with the "If I hit I win" mentality than actually believing this team was good. I mean, what was the last great college basketball team that didn't have a true go-to-guy. This team was well-rounded and deep, but I didn't pick them because of stats like these: 4 guys averaged in double figures for the year, none at 14 points or higher; Rush and Chalmers, their two best players and leading scorers, did not amass 20 points in consecutive games ALL YEAR; and they barely beat a Davidson team that was smaller, slower, and whose best player was having an off-day. I just didn't see them staying in this game, let alone winning it.

But then it happened, just like it was written up. The Tigers couldn't avoid their free-throw woes at the most important time of the season. I compared this team to the Giants, in that the two teams had blatant shortcomings in two key aspects of their games, and there would come a time when those flaws reveal themselves. The hope is that they don't surface in a championship game. Well, just like the Tigers, the Giants fell victim to their subpar kicker. Unlike the Tigers, the Giants were able to maintain composure and triumph in overtime. If only CDR was given the same chance at redemption that Lawrence Tynes was blessed with.

That said, you can't contribute the loss solely to the Tigers' free-throw shooting. There was another noticeable difference between the teams that may have served as a blessing in disguise for the Jayhawks. They were less talented, but that is what saved them in overtime when they ran a flawless offense and scored three quick buckets to all but seal the game. The Tigers, meanwhile, relied too much on their top three guys. By the time overtime came around, Joey Dorsey had fouled out, Derrick Rose was limping and beaten, and CDR's confidence was crushed. A betting man would have wagered his house on Kansas dominating the overtime period. So, looking back on it now, it was Memphis' pregame advantage that really became their downfall, as Kansas perfectly executed down the stretch to grab their 3rd National Title.

Monday, April 7, 2008

The Masters Coming Up


The Masters starts this Thursday so I figured now would be a good time to offer some thoughts on Tiger Woods

I have been a huge fan of Woods for a long time now, much like millions of other Americans, but I think the magnitude of what he is doing may be overlooked because of the sport he chooses. There are very few athletes over the past few decades who have dominated their sports to the extent that Tiger has, from both a statistical and a winning standpoint.
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest American athletes of all-time, but he did not set a statitsical standard in the NBA; that was set long before by Wilt, Oscar, and Kareem. Taking nothing away from MJ's absurd streak of championships, it is often difficult to assess exactly how much of the credit belongs to him because he played a team sport with a Hall of Fame coach and another All-Timer. While I in no way think that Jordan is any less of an athlete, the neverending debates we hear everyday about whether Kobe or Lebron has a better supporting cast just shows that in team sports, it cannot be all about one player.
Unless, of course, you are Wayne Gretzky or Babe Ruth, who are the only athletes in sports history to crush prior records while winning championships (Had Wilt won more titles, he'd be on that list; had MJ averaged 50 a game during his prime, he'd be on the list). For baseball it is easier to compare players because the game is, in essence, one-on-one.
So where would Tiger rank in comparison to the other legends of sport? First we have to consider the magnitude of what Tiger has done and dispel one criticism of his career.

The major difference between winning championships in golf or tennis, as oppose to winning in the major team sports, is the idea of "peaking." Every year we see teams catch fire in the regular season and then fade in the playoffs. Just this year alone the following teams peaked in the regular season and then struggled in the post-season: Tennessee men's basketball, the Cowboys, the Mets, the Rockets, and, most epically, the Patriots. Then there are those teams that peaked at the right time: the Spurs, the Giants, Kansas and, most epically, the Rockies. As I noted before, only the truly great teams peak consitently come playoff-time (What does it say about the true merit of the Rockies making the World Series that they got off to a slow-start this year? Maybe they just weren't that good to begin with...)
Well, let's get back to golf. The reason winning the Grand Slam, all 4 majors in one calender year, is so difficult has less to do with the competition of the field or the severity of the golf course than to do with the near-impossible task of performing at your highest capable level on 4 separate occasions. Now combine this with the fact that golf is not one-on-one but Man v Field and Man v Nature and the result is a daunting notion. No golfer in the modern era has approached the sort of dominance Tiger has because golf is one of the hardest sports to dominate. For every Major victory Jack Nicklaus has, he has a 2nd place finish. That is as telling a statistic as any. The greatest golfer of all time, as it stands now, had a chance at doubling his record for Major wins but time and again fell victim to golf's challanges. I've heard experts say that Nicklaus's 19 Major runner-ups is an amazing feat as well. Well, who thinks Tiger will approach that number? He would sooner finish in 30th than accept a runner-up when the title was in reach.

Another bash on Tiger is the lack of competition present in golf right now. Nicklaus had Palmer, Watson, Player, and the likes. To that I say, it's not the lack of talent, but the mental strain Tiger has put on anyone challenging him in tournaments. What players will actually claim to be competing for first if Woods were in the field. Only the brash. What happened to the big 4 of Mickelson, Vijay, Goosen, and Els capable of stepping up to Tiger. That hasn't worked out too well. Els just recently won his first tournament in something like 4 years. 4 years!! That is not testament to a lack of skill, but to a culture in which trying to win has become such a mental and physical strain when opposing Woods that a top-5 paycheck would do just fine.

At the end of the day, it's always going to be difficult to compare success in golf with success in the major sports because of the idea that golf is more a game than a sport. But what he is doing is more impressive than any other accomplishments we have seen, and, when in 40 years ESPN makes a Sports Century and a Half List, Tiger's name should be resting firmly next to the Number 1 Slot, ahead of, respectively, Ruth, Jordan, Gretzky, and Ali.

The Final Four

I had a few thoughts about the first round of the Final Four. Let's look past the fact that I was dead wrong on both of my predictions and try to understand how and why the two favorites went down so easily.

The first game, Memphis v UCLA, was a simple case of the triump of athleticism. I don't know how I missed it, but we should have at least considered the possibility that Kevin Love could be contained by an opponent of Joey Dorsey's unique skill set. Love was limited considerably in a 12 point effort and most of the credit has to go to Dorsey for bodying up Love and never letting him get comfortable. -- Just a quick side note, for anyone who concludes from that one game that Love won't be a great pro because he won't succeed going up against bigger, stronger NBA players every night, shame on them; Dorsey is one-of-a-kind, he is gigantic, he reminds me of Ben Wallace in his prime....and there are very few NBA players out there who try that hard on a given night, let alone who have a similar body as Dorsey. Love will be just fine. -- But back to the game, the fact that, like UNC, UCLA had no alternative option past their big. Darren Collison had the worst game of his career and the other guys on UCLA just weren't game-changers. Memphis, on the other hand, had 2 superstars in Rose and CDR and an overlooked and underrated supporting cast.
Alot of people had this team in similar company as St. Joe's of a few years ago, when they had Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, mainly because both teams hailed from mid-Majors and experts thought the grind of playing consecutive games against the nation's best in the NCAA Tournament would eventually wear them out. But Memphis simply has too much talent to get worn out. At some point, talent will best strength of schedule as a team's most telling characteristic. After Memphis lost a heartbreaker to Tennessee, many said they were just products of a weak schedule. What we do forget was that Tennessee, another one of the most talented teams in the country, was at their season's peak when they barely clipped Memphis. Memphis is peaking now, though, and not even the class of the Pac-10 could stand up to the Tigers from Conference USA.

The second game, UNC v Kansas, had much of the same to say as the previous game. This game was won by superior athleticism and a great defensive game plan compliments of Bill Self. I spoke at length about how Memphis' glaring weakness, their free-throw shooting, would cost them at some point; I picked the wrong weakness. It was UNC's struggles from the 3-point line that cost them dearly in this game. They shot 5-24 (!!) from 3, many of those misses coming during an impressive comeback from 26 point deficit in the first half. And when it looked like UNC was right back in it, Kansas reestablished control the way they had in the first half, by pushing the ball up the floor and scoring easy buckets.
The Jayhawks also got a tremendous boost from its bench, including a truly-dominating, if not brief, performance by Cole Aldrich, who in 16 minutes had 8 points, 7 boards and 4 blocks. The 3-point-per-game-averager frustrated Tyler Hansbrough on the block, at one time ripping an offensive rebound from Psycho T's hands. Everytime Hansbrough touched the ball he was immediately collapsed upon by the Kansas defense and double, or even triple, teamed. Kansas had a game plan that they recognized from tape: when Hansbrough gets the ball inside, no matter how many bodies are on him, he's going up with it. He does not pass out of the post, and the Jayhawks drew upon that knowledge to humble the National Player of the Year. It took a very well-executed gameplan for Kansas to reach the finals.

The prediction: Memphis has too much talent for the Jayhawks. While they are both athletic, the Tigers have more skill to accompany the athleticism which will put them over the top. The Jayhawks don't have the size to match up with the Tigers 3 big guards. Russell Robinson, at 6'1, will get stuck having to guard someone 3-5 inches taller than him; let's just hope he's not on Derrick Rose or this one could be over quickly.
Tigers by 8

Friday, April 4, 2008

NCAA Tournament Predictions

With the Final Four kicking off in just over 24 hours, it's time to reveal my predictions:

Memphis v UCLA
I wrote before that if Memphis ever involved itself in a tight game with a good team their weaknesses would be highlighted. Well, Tigers, let me introduce you to the Bruins. UCLA is the best team Memphis will face all year, and the Bruins' combination of size and athleticism will be too much for the Tigers to handle. The two best freshmen in the game will be competing in this one (I'm not on the Beasley bandwagon) so, in that regard, it's going to be quite a pleasure to watch. Love and Rose are about as different as basketball players get; Rose succeeds because of his freakish hops and speed while Love succeeds because of his body positioning and awareness. But both players get it done, and if they go head-to-head down the stretch, this game could be an epic one. In the end though, Memphis will miss just enough free throws and Love will make just enough clutch plays.
UCLA by 4

Kansas v UNC
In one of the most talented Final Fours in a long time - that's what you get with 4 Ones making it - Kansas doesn't quite seem to fit in the picture. They have a great squad with depth and skill, they just don't have that gamechanger that the other teams possess. I think this game would have been better had Davidson upended Kansas in the regional and UNC had to face Steph Curry and Co. I think this game is going to be pretty ho-hum. As much as I still don't buy into all the UNC hype, they are far better than a Kansas team that looked lost for a while against Davidson last weekend.
UNC by 12

I tried my hardest to go the Fabiani route and pick Memphis v Kansas, I just don't see it happening. UCLA is the best team in the country right now and Kansas isn't good enough to beat UNC. It's pretty simple really.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

My favorite commerical of all time (I'm not kidding)

The Year of the Insider


If this year has proved anything to the observing public, it's that the Suits in control of our precious industries don't operate on a level playing field. This has happened time and again, from minor infractions to major crimes, and it's time to acknowledge that something is a little off about the current system. It applies to both sports (my area of "expertise") and, more importantly, in the real world of politics and economics. I don't have a very firm grasp on the latter issues, but I'll take my shots.

The most obvious transgressions recognized by the public are the ones that involve scrutiny and punishment. Bill Belichik and Eliot Spitzer may have less in common than me and my Aunt Sylvia, but their wrongdoings perfectly illustrate the abuse of power. The common bond is the belief that they were above the law and invulnerable to detection. That said, I want to discuss a more subtle, legal, but indefensible type of abuse.

Much has been made of the decline of the economy over the past year or so, but as destructive as the monumental collapse of some of our most important banks has been, it's hard to ignore the fact that they deserved the backlash. They took advantage of a flawed system and manipulated an asymetrical well of information to try and make that extra buck. Often times, in the past at least, those types of decisions paid off, but just like a drunk gambler, you have to know when to quit, or at least start lowering your bets. I want to relate that type of manipulation and exploitation to the world of sports.

As Epstizz so elegantly discussed earlier, Danny Ainge, in the span of a few days, changed a culture in Boston. But how is it that he has the wits and tact to pull off such a significant deal when other teams could not. I mean, did no other GM covet Kevin Garnett the way Ainge did? Was there really no other GM out there willing to part ways with something more than the package of Al Jefferson and a few role players? I find it very hard to believe. So maybe it wasn't Ainge's superior negotiating skill but an abuse of his situation. As convincing as any argument can be, I will never believe that Ainge actually thought that trade was an even one. An all-timer with a few elite years left for a possible All-Star and a few scrubs? No, Ainge manipulated the information-edge he had over everyone else. Ainge, though, isn't regarded as immoral; he's just a savvy businessman.

There is another person contaminating our sports world, that's right, 60 Minutes very own Jose Canseco. In a world where philanthropists take a backseat to philanderers, Jose Canseco is the cream of the media crop. Everyone wants a piece of him. He is the Joseph McCarthy of the 21st Century.

If he were a police officer, he would steal a kilogram of heroin from the evidence room, distribute it to non-addicts in his apartment and then tell the police his housemates were criminals. Sounds to me like entrapment...too bad entrapment doesn't exist in the court of social laws and logic. He has blackmailed ball players - finance my film or prepare to become a steriod user - and ignored confidences. All for the sake of his bank account. Had he been a better athlete with a longer career, maybe the steroid era continues on with Barry Bonds as the only casualty. But he needs more money, and the only concievable method is violating unwritten rules and abusing his databank of information.

So, I say, if the Subprime Debacle had anything to say about Karma (more likely with stupidity, but we can still hope), I'm bracing myself for the day you inherit the wind.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Celtics > Knicks




If you haven't seen, the Celtics just eclipsed 60 wins, their biggest win total in 22 years, 1986, the last year they won the championship, a 67 win team, one of the best in league history. Although unlikely, the Celtics can match this win total by winning out their remaining games. This will surely begin a fascinating era in the history of Boston sports, the Reign of Garnett.
Even before Danny Ainge was given the unenviable task of breathing life back into a dying team in the post-Bird era, he had single handedly destroyed everything he had been in charge of. Who can forget the trade of (basically) Brandon Roy for Sebastian Telfair? Or the acquisition of Raef LaFrentz? Or the signing of Brian Scalabrine to a 5 year extension at $3 mill a year?

So obviously this made Garnett the perfect fit for the Celtics. But what will we really remember about Garnetts's team?

God Bless Danny Ainge and Kevin Garnett

another hilarious starbury moment, referring to his wife as a ho

This sums up the knicks season

The Donnie Walsh Era

If you haven't seen, the Knick just hired Donnie Walsh as President of the team. This will surely end a fascinating era in the history of New York sports, the Reign of Isaiah.
Even before Mr Thomas was given the unenviable task of breathing life back into a dying team in the post-Van Gundy era, he had single handedly destroyed everything he had been in charge of. So obviously this made him the perfect fit for the Knicks. But what will we really remember about Thomas's team?
1. My friends' numerous run-ins with Eddy Curry at the local diner at 2 am. Now I'm no nutritionist, but I'm assuming those late-night cheeseburgers didn't do much to strengthen Curry's muscle mass. But who knows, maybe Thomas hired Ronald McDonald's health advisor.
2. Nate Robinson's many pick-up basketball games at the local New York Sports Club to prove to his fans that, even if he can't cut it in the NBA, he's damn good when being guarded by a 5'4 balding accountant. One story comes to mind, told to me by The Fab Files Enemy No. 2 Danny Wolffffe. A few weeks ago, the Knicks were down by 4 with just seconds left when Nate Robinson chucked up a deep three as the buzzer sounded. Forgetting the fact that the shot had no bearing on the outcome of the game, good ol' Nate-Dog shouted at the refs that the shot better be counted. "Count dat! Count dat!" Nate wanted those 3 extra points to show up in the box score...oh the winning attitude.
3. Let's not forget Stephon Marbury's oft-forgotten but outrageously epic threat to blackmail once-close-pal Isaiah in the media. I mean, WHO DOES THAT? I always thought blackmail was illegal, but there's Starbury, going off on some reporter about how he has dirt on Thomas. How does Jose Canseco get a 60 Minutes segment and Steph gets page 14 of the Daily News? Silver-lining: Marbury might be the most entertaining off-the-field New York athlete since Mike Tyson.

Let's just try to forget that the last 5 years ever happened, and maybe try to convince the owner of Coach Diner to explain to Mr Curry that they're all out of fries, but how would egg whites and wheat toast sound.

God Bless Donnie Walsh

Baseball Season

Let's get back to sports, and talk about the opening of the 2008 baseball season, AKA Yankee Stadium's swan song.

1. The Yankees opened up last night with a picture perfect win over the Blue Jays. I would have paid top dollar to have been there when Joba emerged from the pen in the middle of the 8th. Over the past decade, there were few moments in sports that exhilarated me more than Metallica welcoming Mariano Rivera to the mound with "Enter Sandman." Well, move over Mo. Joba is as big as New York right now and embodies the future of the Yankees. The crowd went crazy for him last night, and I don't see the excitement lessening any time soon. New York has waited months for the return of the Joba, and now that he's here, we're gonna enjoy it.
2. The Yankees have the most likeable opening day team since 1998. Period. I find myself saying this every year, but this year it is actually true. The glue of our championship teams was our rotation of blue-chippers, guys who were good but not coveted. Well we're back to dealing with homegrown Yankees now, and there's no one more loveable than a true Yankee. We didn't make a push for Torii Hunter, we stuck with tiny, pudgy Melky. Even though there is no doubt Santana is more valuable to a team than whatever the Twins wanted from us, we stuck with the chips we had. That is why, no matter how Hughes, Kennedy, Joba, Melky, Posada, Pettite, Cano and the Captain fare this year, we will cut them a slight break. Because these guys are real members of our family, for better or for worse.
3. Seeing Joe Girardi jog out of the Yankees dugout last night was like an episode of the Twilight Zone. I mean, who else over the last 12 years has meant more to New York sports than Joe Torre. Jeter comes close, that's about it. As much as I loved Torre, it is time for a change. They say any company muct change its brass to remain competitive. Granted, I could manage the Yankees to the playoffs, but we're in the business of winning championships. Moneyball might say that winning playoff games is 100% luck, but how could you contribute dynasties and the Sox blistering 7 game romp of the Indians and the Rockies a stroke of luck? It's more than luck, and any team needs the perfect fit at manager to succeed in the playoffs. The Yankees have found the right fit.
4. Predictions:
Sox, Tigers, Mariners, Mets, Cubs, Dodgers win divisions; Yanks and Phils are Wild Cards. Yanks v Mets World Series, Yanks Champs. Too easy...oh ya, and Jeter's the MVP.
Did I mention I'm a Sox fan?

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

It's Our Friend's Birthday


Quick shout out to The Fab Files close friend and avid reader, as well as Epstizz's and Agent Zero's Australia roommate, Andrew Kovacs. Kovacs pursues similar goals as us but through a different medium, the Radio.

http://gwradio.com/Links/listenlive/

Check him out, and wish him a Happy Birthday!

The Fab Files Enemy List

We're keeping a running count of enemies of the Fab Files. Becoming an enemy of the Fab Files is difficult, and once you make the list, it'll be a while before you come off. So, without further ado...

The Fab Files Enemy List:

1. Harrison Bergman

2. Danny Wolffe

Keep pushing my buttons and see where you'll be put next.

Some Wire Thoughts and More

Quick Hits:

1. A few brief thoughts about the final season of the Wire:
My biggest complaint was not the absurdity of the Serial Killer plot or the relentless and often over-simplified focus on the Newspaper. Many people point to these reasons as the downfall of the show's final season. Nay, I say. What bothered me most was that David Simon forgot what Wire fans cared about most - the characters. And every season had its obvious fan-favorites. Season 1 through 3 had Avon, Stringer, Bodie, and Omar. When Season 4 opened without Stringer, hope seemed lost, but we fell in love with Michael and the kids, and we still had Bodie and Omar. Well, Season 5 had no one to latch onto. We were expected to find our hero in Gus, but his character was so one-dimensional it was hard to favor him over the guys we truly connect with. That's what has become the Wire's specialty. Any show can feature a saint, not many can make an audience feel sympathy and passion for serial killers, child-murderers, drug dealers, and drunks. That was the problem with Season 5. Michael and Omar were given a backseat ride; the illustration of the Catch 22 that was innercity street life, once the most fascinating and brutally honest aspect of the show, had all but dissapeared; and the show focused on City Hall, the police department, and the newspaper, all concepts better off discussed on NPR. It's harder to respect a down-and-out drunk who creates a serial killer than, say, a kid who resorts to drug-dealing to protect and feed his baby brother. About halfway through the Series finale I lost my concentration as the episode bounced from the police station to the Mayor's office to the newsroom; I just wanted one Michael scene. 87 minutes later, and still no Michael. The show was amazing, I enjoyed every minute, I just wished the Wire stuck to its guns for its final hoorah.

2. If you read Bringing Down the House, don't see 21, it'll frustrate the hell out of you. After all, as hot as Kate Bosworth may be she is no goddamn Rams cheerleader. And for the rest of you, if you don't read, it's an entertaining movie.

3. The Fab Files friend, reader, and Logo-Graphic Maker (which, according to some, like The Fab Files enemy Harrison Bergman, is the only decent piece of material on my site) Ramon Desouza is in the process of creating a free sketch comedy. http://www.viralsandwich.com/
Check it out, I'll repost when it's up and running.

Drink Monster

AEPi Tufts is officially sponsored by Monster Energy drink, so

Monster is delicious, refreshing, and, if used in small quantities, will most likely not cause heart attacks and or other potentially fatal illnesses. So, come by 98 Professors Row at Tufts Univeristy and grab yourself a Monster Energy Drink. You may tweek out a little, but you'll be among caring friends.

http://www.monsterenergy.com