Calm Your Ass Down

What to make of these first 2 games? Yes, the Lakers haven't looked good. No fucking shit. I warned everyone on Twitter before the year this won't be an easy task. Not after overhauling half the roster, and half the starters. If you're not a Laker fan, these may sound like excuses. Sorry, can't deny that reality. Fact of the matter is, while I didn't think they'd start 0-2, in no way did I think they'd just breeze out of the gate.

Other thoughts

- Princeton Offense:

I know it takes time, but I'm not too happy with it. I like the idea of more pick and rolls, since that is Steve Nash's specialty. If the staff wants to use the Princeton that badly, they should just put Pau in with the bench and let him and Jamison do it, since Pau seems to be comfortable with it, and Jamison has played in it before.

- Mike Brown: Let me make this very clear. I do not want Mike Brown fired yet. I will say this, though. I question the hell out of his decisions so far this season.

- Transition D: This was a problem of the Lakers last year. Do I think they'll be much better at it this year? Not really, but I think as the season goes on, with Dwight playing back into shape, they could at least improve a bit.

- Bench: Shitload of new guys, it's only been 2 games.

- Dwight: Looking OK so far, he's working his way back to 100%.

- Kobe: If there has been one upside to the Princeton, it's that it's allowed him to shoot a higher percentage, which is something people have given him shit about for years. Not that I cared.

- Games: I've heard a lot of people talk about lack of effort, when I merely see something I've seen from the Lakers for a while: Playing down to teams they should beat, and losing.

Overall, there's 80 games to go. I'm not worried. Do I think they'll have a shaky start? Based on what I've seen, yeah. But you don't play for titles in November. If you are a self-proclaimed fan, and are questioning them already, don't come crawling back when they reel off a long winning streak.

Movie Review: Benji

I haven't done a sports movie review on this blog yet, but after what I saw last night, I feel the need to. ESPN's 30 For 30 series, which is maybe the only thing I can't criticize about them, showed a documentary last night that brought tears to my eyes. A couple other ones I've seen there have done the same, but I won't get into that right now.

20-20

I haven't been here on a minute, since I've been so damn busy with school. Today, I celebrate 20 years on this Earth. In my lifetime, I've seen a lot and done a lot. Here, I'd like to make a list of something that I've thought about in my life.

What If?

I usually don't like thinking about the "what if" or "only if" situations in sports over the years, but there are some occasions when I cannot help it. This is one of those times. I've come up with a list of them, but this is different in that this will be driven by you, the readers, and you can come up with your own conclusions that you can either leave in the comment section or tweet them to me (@WestCoastAR).

WARNING: These may bring back bad memories.

NBA Rank...Whatever.

This week, the ESPN NBA Rank top 10 was released, and as usual, it sparked the firestorm. The main one being from my fellow Laker fans after Kobe was ranked #6, just missing the Top 5. I really like Derrick Rose, but I gotta respectfully disagree with him at #5. Why? I'll give you a big reason why. People like to bitch about Kobe's FG% and use it against him, but only .005 separated him and D-Rose last year, with D-Rose having the slight edge (.435-.430). Since that is always a key argument against Kobe, I feel the need to bring that up. The main argument for D-Rose was his value became apparent after his injury against Philly. I definitely do not disagree on that, but I still disagree with the ranking, and would probably switch the two. Overall, I never put much meaning into these rankings, as they have the same value to me as the cardboard box I throw away when I'm done at In-N-Out. Why am I talking about them, you ask? I use these rankings merely as a way to express my views about the NBA and to get my point across. This is my way of telling you everything I have on my mind.

Why do I not give a rat's ass about ESPN's rankings? Honestly, I feel that they put too much emphasis on Player Efficiency Ratings, a ridiculous stat of which I have been a vocal critic in the past. I cannot take seriously a rating system that ranks Manu Ginobili (32nd), Paul Pierce (52nd), and Chris Bosh (48th) higher than Isiah Thomas (131st), Scottie Pippen (113th), and Bill Russell (102nd). Also, it's subjective and subject to each individual voters' biases. Also, anyone with a blog *points to self*, a computer, and time to burn can make his or her own. Hell, I'll do my own right now:

1. LeBron James- On top of the world right now. Don't like the dude, but how can I not?
2. Kevin Durant- His skinny ass may be the deadliest shot in the NBA right now.
3. Dwight Howard- Best inside presence in the game right now, has his best ever shot at a ring.
4. Kobe Bryant- 17 seasons in, still a killer.
5. Chris Paul- He may be the best pure point in the NBA, but he's also a dirty ass Clipper.

See how easy that was? You, and anyone else reading it, can probably make his or her own. Granted, you'd probably do only a top 5-10 instead of a top 500. There are so many ways to do it, yet there is no definite answer to any of this. Was it meant to spark debate and discussion? I think so. Did it accomplish its mission? Hell yeah. My point is, it's a flawed system. I know nothing's perfect, but this is not something to rely on and look at like it has any impact on the NBA or the world.

Alex's Rules For Sports

In my nearly 20 years on Earth as a fan, I've come to realize certain things about sports that I want to just make rules about. You may love some of these rules, you may hate some of them, but I make these up purely because I want to speak my peace on certain things, so here are 20 rules I have about sports.

Week 1-2 Thoughts

With 2 weeks of the NFL season through, here is a sampling of some of my thoughts of the first 2 weeks, some of which may bear a resemblance to some of my game observations I've tweeted:

- Holy shit, these refs suck donkey ass.

- The bounty suspensions have fucked the Saints hard.

- The Raiders are fucking HORRIBLE!!!

- Got damn, the Eagles are 2-0 despite the turnovers.

- Imagine how much better the Eagles would be if they actually hung on to the ball.

- I was way off on my Chiefs pick to win the AFC West.

- Despite the loss, the Broncos look real good.

- Russell Wilson can handle pressure situations, and would be 2-0 if not for Butterfinger Edwards.

- LMFAO @ the Cowbitches.

- RGIII is gonna be a lot of shootouts this year with this D.

- KILLA CAM!!!

- Tennessee Titans, you disappoint me.

- RGIII is balling.

- FUCK YOU PHILIP RIVERS. FUCK YOU.

- The Niner D's front 7 is the rougher, tougher NFL version of Alabama's.

- Billy Cundiff = Ray Finkle

- How does the Skins D continue to leave Danny Amendola, Chimichanga, whatever the fuck his name is, open?

- Big Ben is having his way with the Jets D like they're a blacked out 19 year old.

- Chris Johnson should wear a ski mask the way he's stealing the Titans' money.

- Can't spell elite without Eli.

- Observations so far: Mmmmmmm.......DROP! #BeastieBoys #Pharcyde #OldSchool (Bears-Packers)

- Observations so far: Lovie Smith looks like Cleo McDowell in Coming to America. "Boy, you wanna keep working here, stay off the drugs."

- Observations so far: There's more scoring at a virgins' convention than there has been so far tonight. (Bears-Packers)

- Observations so far: The real refs are all laughing right now, watching this game, having dinner, drinking, and rolling a fat blunt.

- Observations so far: Definitely hide the women and children. There's a bunch of pissed off Raider fans tonight. #RaiderNation

- Observations so far: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, fuck with SeaBass.

- Observations so far: The Bengals are getting the No Vaseline treatment.

- Observations so far: The Ravens are like the church. They're gonna do everything in their power to keep you from scoring.

- Observations so far: Even if this TD doesn't stand, Bengals corners are getting burned like a dude with gonorrhea.

- Observations so far: If Ray Lewis tells you to do something, DAMMIT, YOU BETTER DO IT.

- Observations so far: The Broncos' D is getting fucked like a $20 hooker.

Hittin' A Homer

The other night, I saw what is probably my favorite Simpsons episode of all time, "Homer at the Bat," where Mr. Burns makes a $1 million bet with a rival businessman that his softball team can beat the rival's team. In order to ensure a victory, Mr. Burns recruits 9 of baseball's biggest stars to take temporary jobs at the nuclear power plant. However, before the game, 8 of the 9, with the exception of Darryl Strawberry, are unable to play for various reasons. The episode came out in 1992, and it made me think: Who would be in this episode if it were made today, 20 years later? Main considerations and factors to me are a combination of stats and star power. Find out below the jump. 

Bromance

While I'm in football mode, a basketball story got a lot of peoples' attention today and became widely discussed. That story was the revelation that LeBron James and Kevin Durant were seen training with each other in LeBron's hometown of Akron, OH. This is nothing new, as they did the same thing last year during the lockout. This one caused a particular stir as LeBron and his Miami Heat beat Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder in 5 in this year's NBA Finals. This raised a lot of controversy in the Twitterverse and the blogosphere, and even led the Wil Wheaton to my Sheldon Cooper (If you don't get the reference, watch The Big Bang Theory), Skip Bayless, to tweet this today:

NFL Preview

Welcome to NFL Preview 2012. I will try to give you all the information I possibly can on who's up, who's down, and who's primed for a Super Bowl run. You'll probably think I'm crazy or an idiot after seeing some of my picks.

So, here we go:

Throwback of the Week: Trojans Forever

With the expectations for my Trojans back up to where they were in the mid to late 2000s, I cannot help but think back on the Pete Carroll era. I remember my cousin Ricky telling me in '02 about the Trojans and how they were gonna be a good team that year. Sure enough, Carson Palmer helped lead USC back to elite status, and it only got better with Matt Leinart. '03, we got a split of the national title (I still maintain the BCS computers fucked them over), and we left no doubt in '04. '05, I thought we would do it again, but Vince Young played his ass off to pull it out. The next 3 years were more BCS bowls and more great memories, despite no national titles. As we all know, it ended controversially when Pete Carroll resigned after the 2009 season to avoid the sanctions that eventually hit USC. But, this does not take away from my argument that from 2002-2009, there was no better coach in college football than Pete Carroll. Consider these stats: 

- 91-13 record overall, 57-11 in the Pac-10 conference 

- 6-1 in BCS bowls

- Back to back national championships in 2003 (AP) & 2004 (unanimous)

- 34 game winning streak

- 3 Heisman Trophy winners

- 14 1st round NFL draft picks

 There are a lot of other accomplishments, but I don't have that much time. I know some of these were vacated by NCAA sanctions, but screw it. It may not exist in official records anymore, but it exists up here, *points at head*, in my memory as a fan. I know it was Reggie who took the money, but are other major football powers really innocent when it comes to players taking money and coaches turning a blind eye to it? It just so happened USC got caught. Ohio State got caught, though for some reason, they weren't fucked in the ass like the Trojans were. Miami and Oregon have also faced similar accusations in recent years. Some say "Ohio State players took less money." Doesn't matter, they did the same thing USC did yet faced less punishment. Don't give me that "lack of institutional control" nonsense either. Other schools have done the same thing yet were not punished as harshly as USC. We're still paying for the sins of Reggie Bush, and to a certain extent, Pete Carroll, but I wouldn't trade the memories and good times of 2002-2009 for anything. So, thanks for the memories Pete, Carson, Matt, Reggie, and the rest of the Trojans. I'll never forget you guys. 

Fight On!

It's official. The 2012 college football season is upon us. It should shape up to be a thrilling season, especially for my USC Trojans. I think, based on everything, they will break the SEC streak and walk away with the national championship this year, but we gotta play the games first. However, here are 3 reasons why I love their chances:

1. The Machine (aka the offense)

I think calling the USC offense a machine sounds about right. Where do I begin? I'll start with QB Matt Barkley. I don't need to explain too much about him, you already know a lot. The preseason favorite for the Heisman usually doesn't end up winning it, but I like his chances, especially when you consider he plays with 2 elite receivers in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, who combined for 184 receptions (111 for Woods, 73 for Lee), 2,435 receiving yards (1,292 for Woods, 1,143 for Lee), and 26 touchdowns (15 for Woods, 11 for Lee) last year. To add to returning starter Curtis McNeal, who rushed for 1005 yards and 6 touchdowns on 145 carries, Penn State transfer Silas Redd joins the backfield, adding to an already potent offense.

2. Key Players

USC's defense may not be considered the best in the country, but it can get the job done. Especially key to this defense will be returning senior safety T.J. McDonald, who, like Barkley, skipped a chance to go to the NFL to get one final shot at a national championship. Another key on D will be sophomore linebacker Hayes Pullard, who established himself as a defensive playmaker last year, becoming the first freshman to lead the Trojans in tackles in a season in 58 years. Ed Orgeron, who was Pete Carroll's defensive coordinator during the Trojans' championship seasons in 2003-04, is back in the defensive coordinator spot for the 3rd year of his second stint at USC. To me, this is important as Ed has championship and big game experience as a defensive coordinator. Despite losing lineman Devon Kennard and corner Isiah Wiley and a lack of depth, the Trojans D should be primed.

3. Determination

The third reason to me is determination. Matt Barkley and T.J. McDonald set the tone when they gave Trojan fans everywhere an early Christmas present last December by announcing they would in fact return for their senior seasons with the USC Trojans. The reason was simple. After two years of bowl bans, the two of them wanted to make it clear that they had unfinished business (winning a national title), which, perhaps not coincidentally, became the motto of this year's team. It is one of the oldest themes in sports: a team that is out to avenge or has something left to prove is generally hard to beat. Do I think the Trojans can win it all? Hell yeah. Now, all that is left to do is play the games.

My Top 5 Games of the Year

1. Oregon (November 3 @ The Coliseum): The game of the year. A potential preview of the Pac-12 title game, and a chance for the Trojans to remind Oregon that they are the better team, and this game could and probably will have major national championship implications, especially if both are undefeated. 

2. Stanford (September 15 @ Stanford): This should be an interesting game, as the Trojans face Stanford without Andrew Luck as the Stanford starting QB for the first time in 4 years, but should be interesting to watch regardless.

3. UCLA (November 17 @ the Rose Bowl): The crosstown rivalry is always a game to watch regardless of what the records of the teams are. UCLA wants to prove something with new coach Jim Mora, but that's a tall order against the Trojans.

4. Notre Dame (November 24 @ The Coliseum): Always a fun game for college football fans, the Trojans have some unfinished business in this rivalry game. The last time these 2 played at the Coliseum in 2010, Matt Barkley missed the game due to injury and Notre Dame pulled out a victory against the Trojans for the first time since 2001 in the rain. You know Matt wants another shot. 

5. Utah (October 4 @ Salt Lake City): Thursday night road games have caused issues for the Trojans in recent years, but Matt Barkley has a chance to change that against the Utes, who are considered by some to be a dark horse in the Pac-12.

One last thing: To all the Trojan fans around the world, wherever you may be...FIGHT ON!!!

The Mamba

34 years ago, on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kobe Bean Bryant was born. In those 34 years, we have seen many highs, lows, and moments in between. But one thing is for sure: there's never been a dull moment in Kobe's 16 (going on 17) years in the NBA. 

My Confession

In light of recent positive drug tests and suspensions for Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon, tonight I have decided to come forward and admit that I have used some of the same banned substances that Bartolo Colon tested positive for.

These substances are:

- In-N-Out (If you're not from the West Coast, look that shit up)
- Original Tommy's (same as above)
- Porto's (Cuban bakery in LA, all you need to know is their shit is addictive)
- The Habit (same as In-N-Out and Tommy's)
- Fatburger
- Ben & Jerry's
- Twinkies
- Ho-Hos
- SnoBalls
- Krispy Kreme
- Paletas (Mexican fruit ice creams, for all y'all who don't know)
- Carl's Jr.
- Mexican restaurants
- Chicarrones (Pork rinds, for all you non-Espanol speakers)
- Chinese buffets
- Italian food
- And, too many others to list here.

Alex

Alex Morgan. Where do I begin? You got it all. Looks, skills, and you look cool in a headband, unlike a certain NBA player who plays in Miami and shall remain nameless. You're a SoCal girl and a Laker fan (hell yeah), and I'm willing to overlook your love of the Angels (Doyers all day) and the fact you went to Cal (SC fan, Fight On!) (BTW, the Trojans gonna whoop the Bears' asses). You look nice out there on the soccer pitch and you just look cute in general, especially when you smile and when you celebrate a goal that you scored, assisted on, or watched one of your teammates score. I could go on and on about how beautiful you are, about that nice photo spread you had in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, but I don't wanna come across as a fucking perv. 

Instead, I write this because I've simply been amazed by your soccer skills. No doubt about it, you came up big for us in the Olympics. After all, you literally saved our asses against Canada with that goal in extra time. I mean that quite literally. We looked like we would have to go to penalty kicks like last year's World Cup against Japan, but you bailed us out, so in a way, we kind of owe this gold medal to you, and obviously the 3 goals and 5 assists you gave us were huge. Your playmaking is a big reason why you and your teammates got a gold medal now, and we got to enjoy the ride along the way. So, thanks for everything, Alex. I always am proud of great athletes from SoCal (except for Paul Pierce, fuck that bitch), and I look forward to seeing you play more in the future. 

P.S.: Holy shit, I feel kinda weird having a crush on a female who basically has my first name. 

Hustle

"Number 2: never let 'em know your next move. Don't you know Bad Boys move in silence and violence?"

- 10 Crack Commandments, Biggie Smalls

Well, he did it again. Mitch Kupchak has pulled off yet another blockbuster trade, and his second this summer. Dwight Howard is officially a Laker, and Mitch managed it without having to give up Pau Gasol. In case you missed it, here's the recap:

LA Lakers get- Dwight Howard, Chris Duhon, Earl Clark

Orlando Magic get- Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless, one protected pick

Philadelphia 76ers get- Andrew Bynum, Jason Richardson

Denver Nuggets get- Andre Iguodala

As you can see, this is a major trade, one that has the potential to shift the NBA landscape for the next several years. Miami is still listed as the favorite in Vegas and in many reporters' and analysts' minds. But make no mistake, the Lakers are back, and they're coming for the Heat. Will they win it this year? We don't know yet. That's why they play the games. But no matter what your team affiliation is, you gotta admit, the Lakers' chances are the strongest they've been in about 2 years. Remember this, the Lakers dragged themselves to the 3rd seed in a tough Western Conference with the shittiest bench in the league.  This may seem like a short article on something as big as the Dwight Howard trade, but believe me, this is only the beginning. With our new pieces, the only way to go is up.

Magic Mike

I know what you're thinking. What in the hell is a dude who bleeds Dodger blue doing writing about the Angels? I've insulted the Angels over the years, with the Mickey Mouse Club being my favorite insult, but, that's not what I'm here for right now. I'm here right now to talk about a dude that has, to be perfectly honest, amazed the fuck out of me. 

His name is Michael Nelson Trout, but we all just call him Mike. What has he done, you ask? Well, let's see. He's hit .348, 1st in the AL in batting, 1st in the AL in RBI with 81, and is 1st in the AL in steals with 31. Also, he's 2nd in the AL in slugging with a .601 average. Not bad for a rookie. In fact, I will go out on a bit of a limb, and say he's the best rookie I've seen in my lifetime. Consider this: The last players to reach 80 runs and 55 RBIs in the first 81 games of a season were Alex Rodriguez and Todd Helton in 2000. The last rookie to do it? A dude by the name of Joe DiMaggio, back in 1936. I thought he was pretty good already, but what really made me take notice of him was this catch he made against the Orioles, where he basically went all Spiderman on the wall, and climbed over to make the catch. I already knew of his hitting and base-stealing ability, but that made me, a lifelong Dodger fan, stand up out of my seat and clap. It was one of those "How the fuck did he do that?" moments in sports that comes along every so often. 

Over the past year, we've seen young players step up, and we've even come up with nicknames for them, such as Tebowmania and Linsanity. Despite the fact that Mike Trout has not gotten quite the media attention of those two nor has been given a catchy nickname, I believe he has the best future out of all of them. Dude is only 20. He doesn't even reach legal drinking age until August 7, little under a week from now. He's playing this well, and is only in his first full year? We've barely scratched the surface with him. He has unlimited potential, and who knows what he can do? First .400 hitter in 70 years? A couple of MVP awards and World Series rings? His future is limitless. So, Mike, this guy who bleeds Dodger blue gives you his respect. You've definitely earned it. 

A Love Letter to Skip Bayless

(I) fuck with your soul like ether, (Will) teach you- the king- you know you, (Not) God's Son across the belly, (Lose) I prove you lost already

-Nas, "Ether"

Baseball and Music

There have been two things I've loved greatly in my lifetime: sports and music. I enjoy both, feel very passionately about both, and both have helped me get through some rough shit in my life. Until now, I've never really thought about some connections between two of my loves, until now. With baseball season in full swing and pennant races about to heat up, it dawned on me that there are some connections with some baseball players and teams and musical artists and groups. Some of these may not make sense to you, but that's OK. I don't make sense half the time anyway. Here we go:

L.A. Dodgers- N.W.A./Red Hot Chili Peppers

Photo credit: Sons of Steve Garvey

Now, you may be thinking what do the Dodgers have in common with N.W.A. and the Red Hot Chili Peppers? Like both N.W.A. and RHCP, the Dodgers are a SoCal institution revered by many. Like N.W.A. and RHCP, they're one of the most iconic franchises not just in their sport, but in all of sports, much like both N.W.A. and RHCP are two of the most iconic music groups of all time, regardless of genre. N.W.A. was once considered "The World's Most Dangerous Group," and now, the Dodgers have some of the major leagues' most dangerous bats: Beast Mode, Dre, HanRam, and now the Flyin' Hawaiian, and like RHCP, they have their own unique style when it comes to winning, much like RHCP has their own unique style of music.

NFL Power Rankings: Training Camp Edition

With training camp upon us, I've decided to revise my previous power rankings a bit. In case you forgot how I do them, here it is:

Tier 1- Legit Super Bowl contenders
Tier 2- Decent/good teams, but lack something
Tier 3- More than likely miss playoffs, but may make it with a couple of breaks
Tier 4- Takes a miracle

Tier 1

1. New England Patriots   (Previous: 1)
Belichick, Brady, and Gronk want to take care of unfinished business.

2. Green Bay Packers       (Previous: 2)
An extremely efficient machine that is tough to beat.

3. New York Giants          (Previous: 3)
Only real question into this season is focus and drive after such an emotional Super Bowl win.

4. San Francisco 49ers      (Previous: 4)
With new receivers and a full training camp to learn Harbaugh's system, Alex Smith should be interesting to watch this year.

5. Baltimore Ravens         (Previous: 5)
Despite losing some offensive linemen and key defensive players, they continue to reload.

6. Houston Texans           (Previous: 6)
After losing a couple of key players on the lines, what can they do this year?

7. Chicago Bears              (Previous: 9)

Offensive line remains a question, but defense can compensate. Remember, they went 7-3 with that offensive line before Cutler went down last year.

8. Philadelphia Eagles      (Previous: 7)
Defense should get better with a full training camp to figure out Jim Washburn's Wide 9, Vick will be better than last year, though he was decent last year.

Fantasy Rankings Part 4: TEs

Now, we focus on tight ends, which are gaining importance in today's emphasis on passing in the NFL,  and should become more important in the future. Last season became the Year of the Tight End in fantasy circles, and this trend could continue.

1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

2011 stats: 124 targets, 90 rec, 1327 yds, 14.7 avg, 17 TD

2012 stats: 109 targets, 83 rec, 1216 yds, 14.7 avg, 13 TD

Upside: Big, physical, red zone threat, porn stars on the side

Downside: Coming off ankle ligament surgery, unlikely to repeat last year, more likely to be doubled

2. Jimmy Graham, Saints

2011 stats: 149 targets, 99 rec, 1310 yds, 13.2 avg, 11 TD

2012 stats: 131 targets, 88 rec, 1245 yds, 14.1 avg, 10 TD

Upside: Big play potential (13 plays of 25+ yds), targeted frequently, carries more of the offensive load w/o Meachem

Downside: Saints bounty distractions, defenses doubling him more, challenge to repeat last year

Fantasy Rankings Part 3: WRs

I'm back after a week off in Vegas and chillin'. So, let's get on to the wide receivers. This position may be almost as important as QB in today's fantasy, due to the empahasis placed on QB play and passing in the NFL now.

1. Calvin Johnson, Lions

2011 stats: 158 targets, 96 rec, 1681 yds, 17.5 avg, 16 TD

2012 projections: 160 targets, 94 rec, 1568 yds, 16.7 avg, 13 TD

Upside: Makes big plays, extremely tough to cover one on one, huge potential

Downside: Nagging hamstring/ankle/Achilles injuries, double teams

2. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals

2011 stats: 153 targets, 80 rec, 1411 yds, 17.6 avg, 8 TD

2012 projections: 159 targets, 86 rec, 1377 yds, 16.0 avg, 9 TD

Upside: Michael Floyd shifts some defensive pressure, good yard average, high yardage

Downside: Questions/inconsistencies at QB affecting numbers, numbers down from Warner years

Fantasy Sleepers

Blogger was fucking up last night, and I had originally done these last night as part of my fantasy RBs, but it deleted them. So here they are, my sleeper/alternative picks:

Darren Sproles, Saints

2011 stats: 87 rush, 603 yards, 6.9 YPC, 2 TD; 86 rec, 710 yards, 7 TD

2012 projections: 83 rush, 512 yards, 506 yards, 2 TD; 81 rec, 753 yards, 6 TD

Upside: Elusive, big play potential (big plays = points), playmaker

Downside: Production is up and down week to week, defenses game-planning more for him

Frank Gore, 49ers

2011 stats: 282 rush, 1211 yards, 4.3 YPC, 8 TD; 17 rec, 114 yards, 0 TD

2012 projections: 252 rush, 1111 yards, 4.4 YPC, 7 TD; 27 rec, 220 yards, 1 TD

Upside: Healthiest he's been in a while, still puts up solid numbers, good RB2

Downside: Workload reduced, signing of Brandon Jacobs, still risk for injury

DeMarco Murray, Cowboys

2011 stats: 163 rush, 895 yards, 5.5 YPC, 2 TD; 26 rec, 183 yds, 0 TD

2012 projections: 204 rush, 1061 yards, 5.2 YPC, 8 TD; 34 rec, 331 yds, 1 TD

Upside: High potential, quick & has good YPC

Downside: Coming off ankle injury, somewhat unproven (7 career starts)

Fantasy Rankings Part 2: RBs

Last week, I focused on QBs. Now, this week, we focus on that other part of your backfield, the running backs.

1. Arian Foster, Texans

2011 stats: 278 rush, 1224 yds, 4.4 YPC, 10 TD; 53 rec, 617 yds, 2 TD

2012 projections:  307 rush, 1488 yds, 4.8 YPC, 12 TD; 61 rec, 724 yds, 2 TD

Upside: Elite runner, good rushing and receiving numbers, versatile

Downside: Lost top blocker, hamstring/injury issues, good backup who can steal touches/TDs

2. Ray Rice, Ravens

2011 stats: 291 rush, 1364 yds, 4.7 YPC, 12 TD; 76 rec, 704 yds, 3 TD

2012 projections: 285 rush, 1331 yds, 4.7 YPC, 12 TD; 73 rec, 672 yds, 3 TD

Upside: TDs have gone up, versatile, useful as rusher and receiver

Downside: Lost top blocker, working new blocker into offense

Why I Do This

This is a departure from my usual material of commentary, opinion, and memories. I've been doing this for the last couple of months, and I plan to keep doing this for as long as possible.

I can remember Shaq and Kobe. I can remember being 7, being upset the Lakers were losing to Portland, only to see them come back and win, and in the Finals, after Shaq fouled out, thinking they would lose Game 4, only to see Kobe help save the day. Or when I was 8 and a half, hoping the Lakers went undefeated in the playoffs, and after watching the Finals, trying to copy AI's crossover.

I remember watching the Raiders play the Patriots, seeing the Raiders force Tom Brady fumble the ball, only to see the referee say that he followed the "Tuck Rule" and the Patriots keep the ball. I remember the next year, seeing the Raiders go to the Super Bowl and get the shit kicked out of them, and I haven't seen them recover since.

I remember being on the edge of my seat as Big Shot Bob Horry took the shot that ripped the hearts out of the Queens. I remember Game 7, when the Lakers went in to Sacramento and ripped the Queens' hearts out again. I remember Kobe going off for 40+ points 9 games in a row. I remember the Lakers getting Malone and Payton, I remember Kobe having to go to court and play on the court the same days, and I remember thinking they'd win another ring, only to have my heart broken against the Pistons. I remember Shaq being traded to Miami, and he and Kobe playing each other on Christmas.

I remember USC getting screwed out of the national title game in '03 by the BCS, dominating in '04, and coming oh so close the next year before Vince Young tore my heart out. I remember all the good times with Pete, Matt, Reggie, Carson and the rest of the Trojan Army. I remember the NCAA screwing the Trojans over. However, I know this new generation will give me new memories: Matt B., Robert, Marqise, and Curtis.

I remember Kobe going for 81, Kobe getting Gasol, and Kobe finally winning MVP. I remember the blown 24 point lead to the Celtics, and my heart breaking seeing the Lakers losing by 39. I remember Kobe's redemption the following summer, and never having to hear idiots say Kobe can't without Shaq. I remember the Lakers doing it again against those fuckin' Celtics coming back from 13 down the night I graduated high school. I remember seeing the confetti come down and Kobe celebrating on the scorer's table. I remember the heartbreaking way Phil went out the next year. I remember David Fuckin' Stern robbing us of CP3 and sending him to the JV team down the hall.

I remember the Dodgers. Going to games with my dad during the summer, seeing them play. I remember seeing them change owners a lot. I remember Eric Gagne walking in to Welcome to the Jungle with Game Over flashing on the scoreboard. I also enjoyed seeing Manny, then found out about him using steroids. I remember the playoff runs they made. I remember that game against the Padres where they came from behind, hitting 4 home runs in the 9th and winning in the 10th. I love Kemp, Ethier, Kershaw, Capuano, and the rest of them.

I remember the Kings having some rough seasons, but building up a core of Brown, Kopitar, Doughty, Quick, and Richards. I remember my excitement going into this season, and my disappointment as they struggled. I remember going into the playoffs, very few outside of Kings fans gave them a chance, then seeing them dominate. I remember seeing Dustin Brown lift the Stanley Cup and ending the frustration of Kings fans everywhere.

So, what's the point of me listing all the things I remember about my favorite teams? The point is, I've had a lifelong love affair with sports, and I do this as a fan, which is something my dad, uncles, and cousins have instilled in me over the years.

Point God

Well, just when the rest of the NBA thought it was safe to get back in the water, the Lakers trade for a 2-time MVP and future Hall of Famer in Steve Nash. This trade caught everyone by surprise, including me, as many of us believed he was most likely headed to either Toronto or New York. Now, as happy as I am about the deal, I know this does not guarantee the Lakers the NBA title. We still have to work on our bench, and get some better players to fill it out. However, we'll deal with that later. Right now, let's focus on Steve Nash.

I said I love this deal, but the only real issues I have are age and injuries. Steve Nash is 38 now, will be 39 in February, and has a history of back issues. Despite all of that, I love this deal for one simple reason: Steve Nash gives the Lakers an extra threat on offense. I know Steve is not the best defensive player, but his offensive capabilities make up for it somewhat. He is also the best facilitator the Lakers have had in a while. This is key, because while Phil's Triangle offense did not require a point guard to facilitate, Mike Brown's offense is more traditional and does require a point guard, and very few fill the facilitator role in today's NBA better than Steve Nash. Food for thought: Steve Nash averaged 10.7 (Fuck it, I'm rounding it up to 11) assists a game on a garbage Phoenix team last year that came within two games of making it to the playoffs. Think about that, now think about what he could do to this team. Steve Nash is one of the most creative ball handlers (pause) in the NBA today, and he could get it inside to Bynum/Gasol (maybe Howard?) or get it to Kobe, who will find more open shots due to defenses accounting for Nash. As a result, teams also cannot double Kobe like they used to because of Nash's presence. If they double Kobe, Nash is wide open for 3 or a layup. 

One question that has been posed has been, "How will Kobe deal with not being the main facilitator on offense now?" Also, I've hear people say "Nash will be effective, but he might have to pry the ball away from Kobe." If you're really wondering that, first of all, you didn't do any fucking research, and second of all, you're just lacking in in-depth knowledge. If you took the time to read the story or watch the coverage, you will know Kobe demanded Mitch Kupchak and the front office pursue Nash when he heard Nash was on the market. In fact, Kobe talked to Nash personally. Second of all, Steve Nash is not primarily a scorer. He is a passer, a playmaker. He will get his points and chances. This is a perfect fit. 

Fantasy Rankings Part 1: QBs

Today's the 4th of July, and today, I'd like to talk about something that's become a new American tradition: fantasy football. Full disclosure: I'm not a fantasy football player myself. So, you may wonder, why is Alex doing this? I'll tell you why. I know this is a major interest of many of my readers, so I'm doing this as a service for them. Since we're being honest, do you really believe the "experts" at ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and NFL.com really know more than you or I? They know about as much as we do. That being said, I'm going to give you breakdowns on the top 10 players at each position, plus the top sleepers as best as I can, starting with the QBs.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers

2011 stats: 343-502 (68.3 comp. %), 4643 yds, 45 TD, 6 Int, 60 Rush, 257 Yds, 3 Rush TD

2012 projections: 345-500 (69 comp. %), 4521 yds, 44 TD, 8 Int, 52 Rush, 217 Yds, 3 Rush TD

Upside: Excellent passing numbers, throws very few INTs, underrated rusher, strong arm

Downside: Very few, except for the occasional interception

2. Tom Brady, Patriots

2011 stats: 401-611 (65.6 comp. %), 5235 yds, 39 TD, 12 Int, 43 Rush, 109 Yds, 3 TD

2012 projections: 392-601 (65.2 comp. %), 4958 yds, 39 TD, 13 Int, 33 Rush, 142 Yds, 3 TD

Upside: Remarkably consistent, accurate, solid, safe bet

Downside: Getting older, passing numbers probably down slightly from last year

Way Too Early NFL Power Rankings

This is the first of my NFL power rankings, and here's how it'll work:

Tier 1- Teams I feel are legit Super Bowl contenders.
Tier 2- Teams I feel are going to be decent or good, but lack something that contenders have.
Tier 3- Teams I feel most likely won't make the playoffs, but have somewhat of an outside shot.
Tier 4- No.

Tier 1

1. New England Patriots
You already know what Brady will give you, but the defense needs to hold up.

2. Green Bay Packers
Defense should improve, and they will be motivated by unfinished business from last year.

3. New York Giants
Defending champs, but will the traditional Super Bowl hangover be there?

4. San Francisco 49ers
They were two fumbled punts away from the Super Bowl, and improved receiving.

5. Baltimore Ravens
Losing Suggs for at least half the season won't affect them as much as some believe.

6. Houston Texans
With Schaub healthy again, Arian Foster, and an underrated D, watch out for them in the AFC.

7. Philadelphia Eagles
They made improvements in the draft on D, and DeSean and LeSean got their contracts.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers
They're older and slower and have some personnel changes, but do not underestimate them.

Football

For the next 7 months, get ready for wall to wall football coverage. Everything from college to NFL.

The Indecision

In the latest chapter of the drama that has dragged on for the last 2 years, Dwight Howard has come out and said that, "There's only one team on my list and if I don't get traded there, I'll play the season out and explore my free agency after that." Most basketball fans and insiders, myself included, believe the team he is referring to is the Brooklyn Nets, the assumption being that Deron Williams will not leave for Dallas, stay in Brooklyn, and he and Dwight form the core of the Nets. Since this began about 2 years ago, teams such as the Lakers, Nets, Mavericks, Clippers, Rockets, Bulls, and even the Heat have been rumored destinations. Just based on appearance, it looks like this will dominate the NBA offseason news cycle until there is a resolution. 

Personally, as harsh as I was with LeBron after The Decision (and I was pretty harsh with him), I believe LeBron's Decision pales in comparison to this. Dwight Howard keeps leading everyone on, has them believing he will go to Brooklyn or LA, only to keep changing his mind again and again. He has demanded trades, only to take back those demands, signed an extension with Orlando only to want out later on, and managed to get his coach and GM fired. Now he claims he was "blackmailed" by the Magic into signing the extension. Much as I have criticized LeBron over the years, what Dwight has done has been far more destructive, and unlike LeBron, can't seem to make up his mind. I really don't want to devote more time and space to this dude, but here's something that made me laugh my ass off:

Alex's Game Plan

I have been an NBA fan throughout the nearly 20 (technically 19 and a half) years I have been on this Earth, and while I still love watching the NBA, there have been some issues recently that have crossed my mind as a fan. Now, as we enter the offseason, I would like to address some of them. 

1. Flopping

Flopping has always been a part of the NBA since Day 1. That's just fact. Teams have had specialists that take charges, or flop, depending on who you ask. Players like Derek Fisher (much as I still love him), Manu Ginobili, Vlade Divac, and Reggie Evans have all made careers out of flopping. To me, flopping has only gotten worse, and this year, it has gotten especially out of hand, with teams like the Clippers and Heat attempting to draw charges by flopping on most defensive plays. This is getting more and more blatant, and the NBA must put an end to it. 

My take: Penalize flopping by allowing the offensive team to inbound and restart possession from the time of the flop just like any normal foul, add flops in players' personal foul totals, and train officials to differentiate between an actual offensive foul and a flop. 

Think Blue

Picture courtesy of Stamford Advocate

I realized, I haven't written nearly as much on my Dodgers as I had planned to. But, I have a good excuse for it, with the Kings' Stanley Cup run and NBA playoff coverage I've been doing. A lot has happened since the last time I wrote a Dodger article. My boy Matt Kemp has missed about a month and a half worth of games, but the Dodgers have held up well without him. These last few games, however, have been disastrous. First off, the Dodgers were humiliated, embarrassed in a sweep in Oakland at the hands of the A's, then to make it worse, the Mickey Mouse Club, I mean, the Angels, took 2 out of 3 in Anaheim over the weekend, taking the Freeway Series 4-2, with the two wins over the weekend coming after the Dodgers blew early leads. To top it all off, the Dodgers were demolished by our hated black and orange rivals by the Bay (I won't even say their fuckin' names, that's how much I hate them) 8-0. Now, as I write this, the Dodgers are locked in another critical game with that team up north, and our division lead down to just 2 games. 

Despite the anger that you saw in the last paragraph, I am staying positive. I know this is a very talented team that has been able to survive, and has held up well, without Matt in our lineup. I know what this team is capable of and what their potential is, which is why you saw some of my frustration in that last paragraph. Do I think we can win this series against the Giants, and the next one against the Mets? Absolutely, but we have to play smarter, more disciplined, get our offense going, and most of all, not make stupid decisions that allowed us to blow leads in the last series. We do that, we will pile up the wins like we have done for most of the year, and stay in 1st place. We don't do any of the things I just listed, well, I don't need to explain. 

NBA Finals Wrap-Up 2012

As readers of this blog know, I am not exactly the biggest fan of LeBron James. In fact, I have been very critical of him. However, all bias and hatred aside, he played the best basketball of his career in these NBA playoffs. He finally silenced everyone, myself included, who believed he would never win a ring. Admittedly, this is hard for me to write, but I want to be fair. I'm giving the man his due for his performance. I've always known he was capable of this, but he has failed to deliver on it, which is a big reason why I've been so critical of him in years past, and this year too, until it became apparent he was finally going to win last week. How do I feel? I have mixed feelings, to be completely honest. On one hand, I have to give LeBron his due the same way I've given it to Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, and Dirk in the past, which I have no problem with doing. But, on the other hand, seeing LeBron, Wade, and Bosh holding the trophy made me feel that their win justified the whole concept of superteams, and that everyone else in the league would try to copy it. Full disclosure, I've always thought superteams were entertaining for the fans, and created a lot of storylines, but I've also felt that they're bad for the sport as a whole. I'll talk more about the issues surrounding the NBA later, but for now, as much as it pains me to say it, congratulations, Miami.

And now, one last question with @Mel_Loves_LAL:

We all know LeBron's Finals MVP, but who's your under the radar MVP?

Mel: Without question Shane Battier.

Thanks Mel, for your analysis during these Finals, and most of all, for taking the time out of your day to do so. 

Moment of Zen

Last night, on HBO's Real Sports, former Lakers coach Phil Jackson sat down with Andrea Kremer to discuss everything from the Lakers, to the Knicks and Heat, life after the NBA, and any possible chances he would some day come back to the NBA. In the interview, he made a number of interesting statements, to say the least.

On the Lakers: 

"Jim is a guy that saw Andrew as a kid and thought Bynum was going to be a great pick for our team. But in the process, I think he's wanted Andrew to have a bigger and bigger role, and I think he's hired his coach for Andrew to have a bigger and bigger role. And that kind of disjointed the symmetry of what the Lakers were really about this last year. Andrew is an All-Star center; he did a wonderful job. But what happened was it took Pau out of his game, and it took the team away from some of their game. So they changed the style dramatically." 

On Jim Buss taking control of the Lakers: 

"He wants to put his stamp on what he's going to do. And I think he's decided that he'll go in a different direction. He's got some ideas about how the game should progress, how talent should be picked up... He's a guy that believes a lot in statistics and in numbers and in stuff like that. I'm a guy that believes in what the product is and I see it, can touch and feel, watch (it) run up and down the court."

Those two statements, as a Laker fan, sum up how I feel about the Lakers at this moment. I feel that Pau was out of his game and out of his position because of the new emphasis on Andrew Bynum. Pau worked much better in the low post, but it seems to now be reserved for Bynum. I, personally, have not been a fan of Jim Buss' management style, and while Phil did not criticize Jim Buss, at least not openly, his statements about Jim did not ease my concerns about the team one bit. 

Phil also made a statement that caught my attention, particularly because of the influence he still holds in the NBA, despite being retired. He said, "I find myself watching hockey playoffs before basketball playoff games. Less commercials, more fun, much more action, yeah." He preceded that statement by saying, "Everything is done off the dribble. Everything is a screen-roll to a screen-roll to a screen-roll. So the innovation is very limited in what's going on." This speaks volumes about the state of the NBA today, when one of the NBA's most iconic figures, and to many people (including myself), the greatest coach in the history of the game says that. So, NBA, if you're listening, if Phil Jackson says your game lacks creativity, you need to work on it. 

NBA Finals Game 4: A Fan's Take

Another game, another game breakdown with Mel (Follow her on Twitter at @Mel_Loves_LAL). Miami overcame a 16 point deficit, and again held on to win, and now stand 1 win away from an NBA title. Game 5 is Thursday night at 6:00 (9:00 for the people out East). 

OK, this is a question that cannot be answered definitively or easily, but what is going on mentally with OKC?

Mel: In my opinion, the lack of experience, their frustration on missed foul calls, & all of the pressure that they are under has taken them out of their element and has forced them to try to be the great hero who silences the NBA's most hated villain. They are obviously not as ready for this moment as everyone thought they were.

What do you think has been Miami's greatest advantage this series (besides LeBron)?

Mel: Miami's greatest advantage thus far has been the stepping up of their role players namely Battier & Chalmers. They have been great for the Heat in this series. Miami seems to be locked in mentally. From the starting 5 all the way down the bench. That's a big plus for them.

What do you think the Thunder need to do in Game 5 to avoid elimination?

Mel: Everyone needs to play like they want it more than the Heat. They have to be locked mentally and focused on getting this series back on their home turf. They have to have the mentality that ALL of the remaining games are Game 7. Win or go home.

Last one, who wins on Thursday? 

Mel: I'm going to stay consistent with my pick. OKC wins Thursday.

Again, a special thanks to Mel Young for helping out again. 

NBA Finals Game 3: A Fan's Take

Here we are again with Mel (@Mel_Loves_LAL on Twitter) to break down another thrilling NBA Finals game. Game 3 was a fight to the finish, with Miami again surviving, this time on their home court, with Game 4 tomorrow night at 6:00 (9:00 for you East Coast people). 

Scale of 1-10, how concerned should OKC fans be after last night's game?

Mel: Definitely an 8. Not quite panic mode yet because OKC played their best game of the series last night, but still silly mistakes cost them the game.

Who do you think is the most overlooked player so far in this series?

Mel: Mario Chalmers. He's not producing major numbers on offense, but he's very tenacious on the defensive end of the floor and he  does the little things that don't show up on the stat sheet.

What do you think has been the biggest reason Harden has not played well? Is it nerves, good D by Miami, or a combination?

Mel: I'd say a combination of both, but moreso nerves. He's gone away from the player he was in the first 3 rounds. He's not attacking the rim enough or being aggressive enough. He's making bad decisions. He seems to be playing scared. It's not a good  sign for OKC. He's playing like he's not ready for this moment.

Last one, who wins tomorrow night?

Mel: OKC wins tomorrow night. It's do or die for them in my opinion. 

Thanks to Mel Young again for taking the time to do this.