LeBron, Put Up or Shut Up

On the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated is LeBron James, who sat down for an exclusive interview with SI writer Lee Jenkins. Ordinarily, I would not comment on interviews done in magazines, but I feel that this needed to be addressed. If you know me through my Twitter account, you know I am not exactly a big LeBron fan, to put it mildly. Statistically, LeBron has had a great season, there is no questioning that. Even his biggest critics, myself included, will acknowledge that. However, as I, and many other people will tell you, those numbers are irrelevant and that LeBron's story will truly will be written in May and June, in the playoffs. Last year, LeBron famously melted down in the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. He added fuel to the fires of his detractors by wilting in the 4th quarter during the Finals. In the article, LeBron describes the aftermath:


"On the night last June when the Mavericks beat the Heat in Miami for the NBA championship, James drove to his house in Coconut Grove and did not come out for two weeks. "I couldn't watch TV because every channel -- doesn't matter if it was the Cartoon Channel -- was talking about me and the Heat," James says. "On the Cooking Channel it was like, 'So we're going to make a turkey burger gourmet today, and LeBron James failed!'"

Not to sound like an asshole, but, tough shit, buddy. 


Many superstars have lost in the Finals or early in the playoffs, but what made them great is that they found ways to bounce back the following year or within a couple of years. Magic Johnson is an example of this. The Lakers blew a 2-1 series lead in 1984 and lost to the Boston Celtics. Magic, in particular, was scrutinized for his late game mistakes in Games 2 and 4, which the Lakers would both lose in overtime, and which turned the series in the Celtics' favor. He endured an entire summer of being called "Tragic Johnson" from the media and fans. The following year, however, Magic was more determined than ever, and helped break the Celtic curse and bring a title back to L.A. 


Another example was Michael Jordan. In 1990, the Bulls lost to the Pistons convincingly in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Many people questioned whether the Bulls would ever beat the Pistons, and amazingly the following year, they not only conquered the demons by beating the Pistons but would also win the NBA Finals that year and the following two years. In 1995, he came out of retirement at mid-season, only for the Bulls to fall in the Eastern Conference semifinals to a young Orlando Magic team led by Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. The following year, a more determined MJ helped lead the Bulls to the highest single-season win total in NBA history, and followed that up with an NBA title that year and the following two years. 


One of the more remarkable examples is Kobe Bryant. The Lakers lost the 2004 Finals to the Detroit Pistons, and a lot of blame was placed on him for losing that series, mostly due to his performance. The departures of Shaquille O'Neal and Phil Jackson were also blamed on him, and he faced a ton of criticism for that too. After a couple of down years that included a trade demand, Kobe won MVP in 2008 and the Lakers went back to the NBA Finals, only to lose to the Boston Celtics. He was blamed for that loss too, and took major criticism for it. However, the following year, Kobe found himself again, and won the NBA title not only that year, but would also get revenge on the Celtics the following year. 


So, my point is, LeBron, you can either learn from Magic, Michael, and Kobe, and do something about it through your actions, or you can just say that you're gonna change things this year. LeBron, you say there are no more excuses. It's one thing to say it, but another to actually do it. It's time to put up or shut up. 

NBA Playoff Mega-Preview Part 2, The East

I just finished Part 1, The West, and now on to Part 2, The East. 

(1) Chicago Bulls (50-16) vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers (35-31)

Bulls: The Bulls, for the second straight year, finished with the best record in the NBA. This is more impressive when you consider that the reigning NBA MVP, Derrick Rose, has missed 25 games this year due to injuries (Credit to Coach Thibodeau). This is an excellent team, with sharpshooting forward Luol Deng, a finally healthy Rip Hamilton at the 2-guard, and with the physical Joakim Noah at center. Along with them, the Bulls have a solid bench with Omer Asik at center, forwards Taj Gibson and Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Watson, and John Lucas III in the backcourt. The major keys, though, are Rose's health, and starting power forward Carlos Boozer. Boozer has to improve in the playoffs if the Bulls want to bring an NBA title back to the Windy City. 

76ers: This was a team, that, early on, was labeled as a surprise team in the East. However, they faded in the second half of the season, but managed to hold on enough for the 8th and last playoff spot. Don't let that fool you, though. This is a tough, gritty team that will not go down without a fight. The 76ers are led by small forward Andre Iguodala, and also have one of the best young backcourts in the NBA in Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday. Along with that, is the inside muscle of Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes. The 76ers also have some solid bench players such as guards Lou Williams and Jodie Meeks, and forwards Thaddeus Young and Nikola Vucevic. Coach Doug Collins will no doubt have them ready. 

Summary: The Bulls are overwhelming favorites in this series, and have the talent to do so. But, the 76ers will not go down easy and the Bulls will have a fight on their hands. This will be a physical series, as both teams are very good defensively and will fight for every board and every loose ball. Derrick Rose, when fully healthy, is the most explosive player in the NBA. Despite recent injuries, I feel Derrick should be able to get his and get the ball to his teammates. However, do not overlook the 76ers by any means.

Verdict: Bulls in 5, could easily be a sweep, though I think all or almost all the games will be fairly close.  

(2) Miami Heat (46-20) vs. (7) New York Knicks (36-30)

Heat: The Heat are in year 2 of the "Heatles," "Big Three," or whatever you wanna call it, experiment, and the pressure and stakes are higher than ever. Especially for LeBron James, who also is under the most pressure of any player. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, after sitting out at times this year, are back for the playoffs. This team is under enormous pressure to bring the championship they promised to Miami in July of 2010. The Heat have been very inconsistent this season, at times looking like contenders, and maybe the best team in the NBA, at times looking like pretenders. Also under pressure is coach Eric Spoelstra, with Pat Riley closely watching him, he could find himself out of a job, and the Heat could find themselves making major changes should they fail to bring home a title again. 

Knicks: The Knicks were struggling for most of the year, then Mike D'Antoni resigned, whose unpopularity with Knicks players, especially Carmelo Anthony, was not exactly a secret. After his resignation, the Knicks turned their season around a bit, and improved their play, especially on defense, under the watch of new coach Mike Woodson. Amare Stoudemire has managed, despite talk of chemistry issues between him and Carmelo, and the Knicks have survived without the phenomenon that was Jeremy Lin thanks to Iman Shumpert and Landry Fields. Also, the addition of Tyson Chandler helped in a major way. This team is playing better and starting to come together at a good time in the season.

Summary: The Heat are favored in this series, but the Knicks have been playing better as of late. Miami obviously has the Big 3, who can take over a game, but the real question is, can their role players step up? For example, Chalmers has hit some shots, but is not someone who you can look to like a D-Wade. Another question I have is: Can the Knicks raise the intensity level against the Heat? They have played better as of late, but you need to raise your intensity to beat a team like the Miami Heat. However, the Knicks have an inside presence defensively in Chandler that the Heat do not have. This could complicate things for the Heat and make life difficult for them. 

Verdict: Heat in 7, I think this series is a lot tougher than a lot of people think, but don't say I didn't warn you if the Knicks pull off the upset. 

(3) Indiana Pacers (42-24) vs. (6) Orlando Magic (37-29)

Pacers: This is a very interesting team to say the least. They do not have that one Kobe-type superstar that stands out. What they do have, though, is a collection of players that fulfill their roles. They are led by the frontcourt of Roy Hibbert at center, and David West and Danny Granger at the forwards. In the backcourt are two amazing young players in Paul George and Darren Collison. Also, they have a very good bench with Lou Amundson at center, Tyler Hansbrough and Dahntay Jones at the forwards, and Leandro Barbosa and George Hill at the guards. Plus, they have a potential Coach of the Year candidate in Frank Vogel (My award picks and All-NBA teams are next week). 

Magic: The Orlando Magic season has been defined by one name: Dwight Howard. First it was the "Will he or won't he be traded" saga, then it was his coach Stan Van Gundy's admission that Dwight wanted him fired, then it was his refusal to play for Van Gundy anymore. Somewhat ironically, he will miss the playoffs due to back surgery. The Magic still have some long-range shooters in J.J. Redick, Ryan Anderson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Jason Richardson, plus point guard Jameer Nelson. Glen Davis will fill Howard's spot in the lineup, but the Magic will miss his size and defensive presence down low, in the post. 

Summary: The Magic are already depleted with the loss of Howard. This makes the challenge of facing a team like the Pacers all the more difficult. The Pacers' depth and size is a tough enough challenge to face with a full team, but with a depleted team without its inside presence, that makes it an even tougher task. I fully expect Hibbert and West to have their way with the Magic frontline now that Howard is out, and Granger, who I feel is underrated and underappreciated, can kill the Magic with his shooting range. 

Verdict: Pacers in a sweep, it's possible the Magic win a game, but with how good the Pacers have played, I find it hard to imagine.

(4) Boston Celtics (39-27) vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks (40-26)

Celtics: The "Big 3" are attempting one last shot at glory. This could very well be the last run for the Big 3, as Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett's contracts expire after the season, and both could very well be gone. Those two, along with Paul Pierce, and the fourth member of the Big 3, Rajon Rondo, are primed and ready for one more run. However, they have some good, solid players aside from those 4, such as forward/center Brandon Bass and guard Avery Bradley, who performed well in Allen's absence this season. They have the talent to at least go on another run, but their biggest opponent is not the Heat or the Bulls. It's Father Time.

Hawks: The Atlanta Hawks make their 5th straight playoff appearance with mostly the same core (Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford). However, Horford will miss at least the first round, and maybe more. This could prove to be costly for the Hawks, as they need an inside presence. The Hawks also have one of the best young guards in the league in Jeff Teague, who is a slasher and can drive to the hoop. Ivan Johnson and Tracy McGrady have shown flashes when called upon off the bench. Overall, the Hawks are an above-average team, but they lack some pieces needed for a deep run in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Summary: The Celtics are older and wiser, and I feel that gives them the edge in this series. KG, Pierce, and Jesus Shuttlesworth, aka Ray Allen, have fought many battles over the years, and even gone to 2 NBA Finals, winning one and falling just short the other time. In leadership, KG, Pierce, and Allen still control the team, but on the court, it is very clear that Rajon Rondo has taken over. He is their best playmaker and their best player now. What I find interesting in this matchup will be the matchup of the point guards, Rondo and Teague. A matchup of one of the league's best point men versus one of the league's most underrated should be very interesting to watch. 

Verdict: Celtics in 7, their experience is too much for the Hawks, plus Al Horford is out. 

Assuming all these predictions come true, here's what I think will pan out in the East after the 1st round:

Conference Semis: Bulls over Celtics, Pacers over Heat

Conference Finals: Bulls over Pacers 

NBA Playoff Mega-Preview Part 1, The West

It's that time of the year again, people. The NBA Playoffs. Two months of action on a basketball court, it doesn't get any better. This year's playoffs should be particularly interesting with many storylines and potential subplots that could decide series. So, enough of that, and let's get straight to my 1st round picks, and I will also try to predict the rest of the playoffs best as I can.

Western Conference

(3) Los Angeles Lakers (41-25) vs. (6) Denver Nuggets (38-28)

Lakers: They are led once again by the ageless Kobe Bryant. At 33, and in his 16th season, he continues to play at a very high level and remains the best closer in the game, despite his struggles at times. The big question mark in this series is at the small forward spot, as Metta World Peace was suspended 7 games for his elbow on James Harden. It is likely that he will be out for the entire series, and that he will not be back until Round 2, if the Lakers make it there. While Devin Ebanks or Matt Barnes cannot replace Metta especially on defense, though Barnes himself is a solid defender. One particular advantage the Lakers have in this series is their pair of 7-footers, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. Look for the Lakers to go those two early, then have Kobe close out games late and take the big shots. 

Nuggets: Despite injuries and setbacks, the Denver Nuggets have survived the regular season and fought their way to the playoffs. Coach George Karl has them playing very well and they have a very deep team. The Nuggets have a potent backcourt led by Arron Afflalo and Ty Lawson, with two very solid reserves in Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez. In the frontcourt, the loss of small forward Wilson Chandler to surgery will undoubtedly hurt them, but they have Danillo Gallinari and Javale McGee, along with Al Harrington, Kenneth Faried, Chris "Birdman" Andersen, and Corey Brewer for depth. The Nuggets play a very fast-paced game, which can work out to their advantage, but can also hurt them sometimes on defense.

Summary: The Lakers have one of the best power forward-center combos in Gasol and Bynum, and also have the best closer in the game in Kobe Bryant. Point guard Ramon Sessions, who the Lakers acquired at the deadline, could make the Lakers' matchup with the speedy Ty Lawson a bit easier. Another problem for the Nuggets is that they do not have a true #1 closer like the Lakers, and that could hurt them late in games. This will be a tough series, and the Lakers' lack of depth does not make it any easier. In fact, a number of analysts have said this could be an upset in the making. I, however, am not one of those people. In my view, Kobe and the two 7-footers will be just too much for the Nuggets in the end. 

Verdict: Lakers in 6, could end in 5 if everything goes right, with 7 a real possibility too. 

(1) San Antonio Spurs (50-16) vs. (8) Utah Jazz (36-30)

Spurs: The San Antonio Spurs have once again flown under the radar and are #1 in the West for a second straight year. They are a very deep team, led by their core trio from championships past, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan. Even though the supporting cast has changed, the results remain the same, and the Spurs have continued to win. The supporting cast is very strong and includes forwards Stephen Jackson, Kawhi Leonard, and Boris Diaw, guards Danny Green, Gary Neal, and Patty Mills, and centers DeJuan Blair, Tiago Splitter, and Matt Bonner. The Spurs are a very good shooting team, especially from the perimeter. Also, the Spurs are led by one of the best coaches in the history of the NBA, Gregg Popovich, a 4-time champ.

Jazz: The Utah Jazz are a rough and rugged team with a very strong frontcourt, led by the duo of Al Jefferson in the middle, and Paul Millsap at power forward. Along with the Lakers and Grizzlies, the Jazz have one of the best power forward-center combos in the NBA. Their supporting cast is not to be overlooked, though. With vets Devin Harris and Raja Bell in the back court and second-year man Gordon Hayward filling out the frontcourt, along with Earl Watson, C.J. Miles, and Derrick Favors, this is a scrappy bunch that will make you fight for every possession, every rebound, and every point, especially down low. Despite their seeding, this is a team that should not be underestimated by any means. 

Summary: The Spurs have a number of players who can really shoot the ball anywhere, especially from downtown. With the core of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili, and Popovich on the bench, they have a championship pedigree. That combination of long-range shooting and experienced core should be very dangerous in this and whatever other series they play. However, the Utah Jazz did not get this far by being pushovers. They play a gritty, tough brand of basketball that  will wear you down physically over the course of 48 minutes. However, the Spurs carry the memories of last year, when they were also a #1 seed and were knocked out in the 1st round by the #8 seed Memphis Grizzlies. 

Verdict: Spurs in 5, but don't be surprised if it goes 6. 

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19) vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks (36-30)

Thunder: For most of the year, the Thunder owned the #1 seed out West before a series of late-season losses moved them down to #2. However, this team still goes into the playoffs as one of the favorites, led by their dynamic young stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Their frontcourt of Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins gives them defensive presence, and championship experience, in Perkins' case. James Harden, who was famously elbowed by Metta World Peace and suffered a concussion, has been cleared to play, and will almost certainly play in this series. Plus, they have a solid bench filled out by guards Derek Fisher, who brings championship experience, and Thabo Sefolosha, along with forwards Nazr Mohammed, Nick Collison, and Daequan Cook.

Mavs: The defending champs took a step backwards this year. The losses of Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea almost certainly played a role in it, along with the Lamar Odom fiasco. However, the core of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, and Jason Terry off the bench remains, and this could be a dangerous team once again when the playoffs begin. This is a team that has plenty of experience to go around, and will be a tough out. They've traveled this road before, they know what it takes, and they truly believe that they have another title run in them. Along with the core group, Delonte West, Brendan Haywood, Brandan Wright, and Vince Carter provide some support for the Mavs. 

Summary: The Thunder are young and athletic, and love to run up and down the court. They love to play a transition game, forcing turnovers in hope of turning them into easy points. The Mavericks are one team that has a formula to beat the Thunder, which they used in last year's Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks were able to beat the Thunder by keeping the ball away from Kevin Durant and forcing Russell Westbrook to win games by himself, and it worked. However, this Thunder team is a year older and a year wiser, and will be much harder to beat. This will still be a tough series for both teams, though. 

Verdict: Thunder in 6, but do not be surprised if the Mavericks pull it out. 

(4) Memphis Grizzlies (41-25) vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers (40-26)

Grizzlies: Last year's Cinderella playoff team is at it again, although this time, they will not be able to sneak up on everyone. The Grizz's specialty is a bruising, physical brand of basketball that will wear down basically any team. They are equipped to beat a lot of Western teams and have the resources to do so. They have what may be the best frontcourt in the league, with Marc Gasol at center, Z-Bo, Zach Randolph, and Rudy Gay at power and small forward, respectively. They also have one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA in Mike Conley and a defensive minded guard with championship experience in Tony Allen at the 2. Also, Lionel Hollins has established himself as one of the NBA's best coaches with his defensive-minded approach. 

Clippers: The so-called "Lob City" entered the season with a lot of hype, after Chris Paul was acquired in a trade with New Orleans after an original trade to the Lakers was vetoed. This is a young, athletic team that loves to run. Chauncey Billups, who was supposed to add veteran leadership and experience, was lost, but Randy Foye fills the job with his long-range shooting. Caron Butler can also shoot, and the Clippers have a forward-center combo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan that is athletic as they come. Plus, the Clippers have some bench players in Mo Williams (for shooting), and Kenyon Martin and Reggie Evans (inside game, rebounding). While this is no doubt a talented team, there are questions about playoff experience.

Summary: The Grizzlies are a very physical, knock-you-down type of team, and that style, while far from the most exciting to watch, is very useful in the playoffs, especially in half-court sets. That poses a problem for the Clippers, as they are most effective in transition, and with observations that Blake Griffin, despite having the ability to power his way to the rim and dunk, can be easily pushed around by physical bigs, and has been the target of hard fouls. I expect Griffin to get his points, but I also expect Gasol and Randolph to force the issue with him and give him a tough time inside, and as a result, Griffin will be denied rebounds and putbacks he usually gets with ease. 

Summary: Grizzlies in 6, but won't be shocked if it goes 7 either. 

Assuming all my predictions come true, here's how I view the rest of the Western Conference playoffs to pan out:

Conference Semis: Lakers over Thunder, Grizzlies over Spurs

Conference Finals: Lakers over Grizzlies

Odd Future, NFL Style






Warning: Occasional strong language. If you are easily offended, please skip over.

The NFL draft starts tonight, and while a part of it definitely interests me, especially just seeing who goes where, part of me feels that the true excitement lies not in knowing which teams get which players, but in seeing how those picks work out as time goes on. Many times, we as football fans have witnessed players coming out of college labeled as "can't miss," "The Next Peyton Manning," "The Next Ray Lewis," and so on. Teams pay big money for the top picks, and fans gain hope and optimism that their team's pick can turn things around for them. Inevitably, if a top pick falls short of expectations, he is labeled a bust and a failure, but usually, we reserve judgment on those type of things after 3 or so years. I can remember, from personal experience, being excited when my Raiders drafted JaMarcus Russell in 2007. To me, he seemed like the quarterback of the future, a key piece in the Silver and Black's return to contention. The first warning sign was his holdout from training camp that year. At the time, it did not concern me as much as it probably should have, but looking back on it, I should have known. Then, that season, when he finally got on to the field, I could not believe what I was seeing. I saw him make stupid decisions that led to three and outs, and interceptions. I thought to myself, "This is the dude we gave a fuckin' $68 million contract to?" It was a disastrous first season, but I held on to some hope. The next season, things only got worse and worse. By the end of that season, I said "Is there any way we can get rid of this motherfucker's contract?" Then after another year of poor play, JaMarcus was released by the Raiders in May of 2010, shortly after the 2010 Draft. I was happy as hell when he was released, as he had performed terribly and his big contract was finally gone. He's run into some legal issues since then, and while I feel kind of bad for the dude, I believe he had a good thing going and threw it all away once he got to the NFL.

So, the moral of this story is, sometimes what you think is a good thing may not be so good, and you'll realize it was bullshit all along. I know Andrew Luck and RGIII are amazingly talented players, and seem like good, humble, and smart guys. However, we will never truly know how good they are until a few years out.

NFL Schedule Picks and Predictions, Part 2

Tuesday, I started my NFL schedule picks and predictions with the AFC East. Now, I will give you part 2 of an 8-part series. This part focuses on the AFC North.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens- The Ravens are coming off a heartbreaking loss in the AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots. This is a team that is built on defense, led by the ageless Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, and Ball So Hard University's most famous graduate, Sizzle, aka Terrell Suggs, reigning Defensive Player of the Year. However, they are not lacking on offense either, as they are led by running back Ray Rice and quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Ravens open the season with the first game of a Monday Night doubleheader hosting the Bengals in Baltimore, then face two tough games: a trip to always hostile Philadelphia to face the Eagles, then a tough Sunday Night primetime AFC title game rematch with the Patriots. They then play the Browns at home on Thursday Night then go to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, never easy to face on the road. Their last 2 games before their Week 8 bye are at home against the Cowboys and a trip to Houston to face the Texans in a playoff rematch. They come out of the bye to face the Browns in Cleveland, then host the Raiders the following week. The next three weeks after that are treacherous, to say the least (@ Steelers Sunday night, @ Chargers, vs. Steelers). After a DC-Baltimore showdown with the Redskins in Washington, they close out the season with the Manning brothers in back to back weeks at home (vs. Broncos, vs. Giants), followed by a season-ending trip to Cincinnati to face the Bengals.

My prediction: Overall, I think the Ravens go 12-4. The Ravens go 6-1 before the bye, with a win over the Patriots and the lone loss coming in Houston. After the bye, the Ravens go 6-3, losing in Pittsburgh and San Diego, then in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals were a surprise team last season, led by two great young players, QB Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green. They also have a strong defense led by DE Geno Atkins. However, the Bengals' success has forced others to take notice, and they cannot sneak up on opponents like they did last season. This time, other teams will gameplan around Dalton and Green. However, they are still considered to be a team on the rise and a possible future contender.

The Bengals open up with a very tough road game on Monday Night in Baltimore against an always tough Ravens team. However, a nice 5 game winning streak is possible with these opponents: (vs. Browns, @ Redskins, @ Jaguars, vs. Fins, @ Browns). Then, the Bengals get another tough one, this time on Sunday Night in primetime hosting the Steelers, before a Week 8 bye. In Weeks 9-10, the Bengals get the Manning brothers back-to-back at home (vs. Broncos, vs. Giants), then play 3 straight AFC West opponents (@ Chiefs, vs. Raiders, @ Chargers). The Bengals then face a rough 4 game stretch to finish the year hosting the Cowboys, then take a trip to Philly for a Thursday Night game with the Eagles, then the Bengals face two tough divisional opponents the last 2 weeks when they travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers again, and finally, the Bengals end the season hosting the Ravens.

My prediction: The Bengals go 5-2 before the bye, with losses to the Ravens and Steelers, then go 5-4 after the bye, with a big win over the Ravens to finish off the season, giving them a 10-6 record, and they should be in the hunt for a playoff spot throughout.

Cleveland Browns- The Cleveland Browns are a team that seems to be in a constant state of rebuilding. When they have found/drafted players to build around, their production either drops off or they sign larger contracts elsewhere. Since the return of the Browns to Cleveland in 1999, there has only been 1 playoff appearance, and only 2 seasons of .500 or better. They're likely to draft Alabama RB Trent Richardson, but most Browns fans will tell you, there's still a long way to go.

The Browns open up against the Eagles at home by the lake, then face 5 more tough opponents in a row: (@ Bengals, vs. Bills @ Ravens Thursday Night, @ Giants, vs. Bengals). The following week, the Browns face Andrew Luck in Indianapolis and hope to take advantage of his inexperience in the NFL. Then, two more tough home games follow after that before a Week 10 bye: First, they host Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, and the Chargers, then host Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and the Ravens the following Sunday. The Browns come back from the bye traveling to Dallas to face the Cowboys and hosting the Steelers the following week. The next 3 weeks are somewhat easier, but not much easier (@ Raiders, vs. Chiefs, vs. Redskins). Having completed the home schedule, the Browns will close out the season on the road in back-to-back weeks, facing Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Denver, then traveling to Pittsburgh, to face their hated archrivals, the Steelers.

My prediction: Sorry, Browns fans, it looks like another rough season. The Browns go 2-7 before the bye, then coming off the bye, go 2-5 for a 4-12 record. However, I will say 5 or 6 wins is not a stretch.

A Tribute to Brian Dawkins

Brian Dawkins, one of the best defensive players of our generation, retired Monday after a 16 year NFL career. Despite not winning a Super Bowl ring, he had a long and accomplished career, earning 9 trips to the Pro Bowl, and 6 All-Pro selections. I personally feel his best chances at a Super Bowl were from 2002-04, but enough about that. While he spent the last 3 years of his career with the hated Denver Broncos, which was honestly hard for me as a Raider fan, most football fans, including myself, will remember the 13 seasons he spent wearing the green and white of the Philadelphia Eagles. In Philadelphia, he established himself as one of the NFL's most versatile defenders and hardest hitters. When watching him play with the Eagles, you were just as likely to be see him going after an opposing quarterback as covering an opposing receiver downfield. A prime example of his versatility was in 2002 against the Houston Texans, when he became the first, and so far only, player in the history of the NFL to have a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, and a touchdown in the same game. His impact on his team was also felt in the locker room. He became the unquestioned leader of the Eagles, and fulfilled that same role with the Broncos when he arrived in Denver. To me, it is no coincidence that the Eagles defense began to slip after the Eagles let Brian go. 

What I truly loved about Brian, though, was the heart, passion, and effort he brought to every single game. It did not matter if he was injured or not or if his team was winning or losing, he would go out there and play with full intensity until the final whistle. This is what made him such a well-respected player, even by fans of rival teams. Brian's style of play impressed me so much, that it was a major reason why I would cheer for the Eagles as my "backup team" in the playoffs if the Raiders were out of contention. Even in his 3 years with the Broncos, despite the fact I absolutely hate the Broncos and I hated to see him wear that blue and orange uniform, I still loved and respected Brian the same way I did  when he was in Philadelphia playing for the Eagles. So, all I have left to say is, Brian, I'll miss you and what you brought to football. You may not have been considered the most athletic, the flashiest, or the quickest, but you made up for it with heart, passion, and intensity, and that is what made you one of the greatest.  

An NFL Films segment on Brian: 

How Barcelona and Real Madrid Took Over The World

This has been a big week in soccer. There's the Champions League semifinals, in which Barcelona fell short against Chelsea, and Real Madrid hopes to come back against Bayern today. Also this past week in soccer was what is considered to be one of the great rivalries not just in soccer, but in all of sports, period. El Clasico, between Barcelona and Real Madrid. It has always been a major rivalry, even transcending sports. In Spain, El Clasico is not only about regional pride, but has also carried major political significance in its history. Internationally, it has been the most watched single game outside of the World Cup final or the Champions League final. Now, thanks to social media and online streaming, it has grown bigger than ever. What I saw on Saturday was not just a matchup between the two best teams in La Liga, in Spain, or in Europe. What I saw was a matchup between what I think are the two best teams on Earth.

I know what you're thinking. Alex, didn't you just mention Barca lost to Chelsea in their semifinal and Real is struggling against Bayern? Yes, I mentioned those facts, but those things happen sometimes. Now, let's get back to what we were talking about, Barca and Madrid. Just looking at the lineups for these teams sounds like an all-star game today, with players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Mesut Ozil, and Xabi Alonso for Madrid, and Lionel Messi, Carlos Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio, Gerard Pique, and Victor Valdes for Barca. These two teams have combined to win the past 5 La Liga titles, and with Real Madrid leading, the two will combine for the last 6 La Liga titles. Plus, these two have frequently gone deep into the Champions League tournament the last several years, with Barca winning two titles. No matter how you slice it, these two have two of the best resumes of any soccer (or football, or whatever the hell you wanna call it) club in recent memory. With all due respect to Chelsea, Manchester United, and any other elite clubs, these two are the best around right now.

KeMVP

So far this season, Matt Kemp has been playing amazing for the Blue Crew. In fact, he is batting .455, and has 9 home runs and 22 RBIs. It may seem like a stretch, since there are a lot of other great players out there, but I truly believe that no one over the past year has played better in all of the MLB or has been more valuable to his team than Matt Kemp. Matt has carried his team in so many different ways, and has been a huge part of their success. The Dodgers, last year, went 82-79, good for 3rd in the NL West. In my view, this proved to be costly in the MVP voting, as Ryan Braun ended up winning. To me, the only reason Ryan Braun won the MVP was this:

Brewers- 96-66, NL Central champs
Dodgers- 82-79, 3rd in NL West

That's it. A playoff berth was the only reason Ryan Braun won the MVP. But, to me, Matt was more valuable to his team, which is what this award is really about, not necessarily the best player on the best team or one of the best teams, which is what I think the writers made it about. The fact Ryan Braun won MVP became particulary upsetting to me after it was revealed Braun failed a drug test and tested positive for steroids. It left me wondering about Ryan Braun's production and I came to the conclusion that steroids had robbed a more deserving player of an MVP award. I know it's early, but this year, it looks like Matt is playing with a vengeance and out to prove who the true MVP is. So, this should serve as a notice to the rest of the MLB. Matt Kemp is coming for you, and he's pissed off. He's hungry, he wants revenge, and he wants to take what's rightfully his, the NL MVP trophy.

Can't Stop The Reign, or Why I Think The Los Angeles Kings Will Win The Stanley Cup

 
Hockey is a sport that I have grown to love over the years. However, I have not truly gotten into hockey until the past few years. That being said, I have been a Los Angeles Kings fan throughout, and have seen them go through the highs and lows (some highs, but mostly lows). I can vaguely remember them in 2001, beating the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs and pushing the eventual champs, Colorado Avalanche to 7 games. This current Los Angeles Kings team, to me, may be the best L.A. Kings team I can remember in my lifetime (I was only a baby when they went to the Stanley Cup Finals in '93). On Sunday night, the Kings completed a major upset of the #1 seed Vancouver Canucks, owners of the NHL's best record, and the President's Trophy, the award given to the team with the best regular-season record, and did it in convincing fashion, winning the series 4-1. Canucks fans may complain they were without Daniel Sedin, one of the Sedin twins, for most of the series, but what they overlook was that they were still heavily favored without him. OK, enough about those chokers. Back to the Kings.

The Kings now face the #2 seeded St. Louis Blues, an excellent defensive team who allow the fewest goals per game in the NHL, which surely means a tough series for the Kings. However, I believe they will win that series and go all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, and bring Lord Stanley's Cup to L.A. Why, you ask? A major reason is the man in the picture. Our goaltender, #32, Jonathan Quick. To me, Jonathan has been playing the best out of any goalie in the NHL this season, but especially down the stretch in the regular season, and in the last series with Vancouver. Another reason is right wing Dustin Brown. In the Kings' series vs. Vancouver, he recorded 4 goals and an assist for 5 points. Not just that, as a whole, the Kings seem to be coming together as a team and peaking at the right time under the guidance of coach Darryl Sutter. Few, if any, teams have played as well as the Kings have the past couple of weeks. This is all the more remarkable considering they, at one point, stood at 10th place in the West, out of the playoffs, and that they fired their previous coach, Terry Murray, in December. All that turmoil and trouble is in the past now, and the Kings are looking forward to the next round. I know they'll be ready, and I truly believe in my heart, they will raise the Stanley Cup in June.

An Open Letter To Ron Artest /Metta World Peace

Dear Ron/Metta,

You've been a Laker for 3 years now. In that time, I've seen the good (Game 7 vs. the Celtics, post-game interview, all the times you've come up on D for us, the bicep kiss after every big play), I've seen the bad (defensive lapses, bad shooting), and I've seen the ugly (the elbow Sunday on Harden). Despite what happened Sunday and the 7 game suspension given to you by that fool Stern, I still support you. I'm not condoning what you did. I think you did something pretty stupid and showed some bad judgment at that moment. You've taken an absolute beating from the media the last couple of days, and I think they're wrong for it. Yeah you did something wrong, but they're overreacting and acting like you killed someone. It's all bullshit to me. For example, that fuckin' hypocrite Bruce Bowen said you should be suspended for 10 games. Is he serious? His entire career was all about cheap shots and dirty plays. All I'm saying is you can be yourself and do all your shit, just keep your emotions in check a bit. Even though you're in deep shit with the league, just know this: Not just me, but Laker fans everywhere have got your back.

Love,

Alex Reyes

NFL Schedule Picks and Predictions

With the NFL offseason in full swing with the Draft this week, and speculation on who's going where, I'd like to focus on another thing: the upcoming 2012 NFL season. I know it's a little early, but like Christmas , it'll be here sooner than you think. So with the release of the new NFL schedule last week, I would like to give my take on each of the 32 NFL teams, and my early predictions on them division-by-division, starting with the AFC East.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills- The Bills are a team that I had a hard time predicting for. They made some good offseason moves, such as signing Mario Williams away from the Houston Texans to improve their defense, and have a rising star in receiver Stevie Johnson. Last year, they were hot out of the gate at 5-2, but faded after that, going 1-8 the rest of the way and finishing 6-10.

They have a tough schedule the first 6 weeks, after 3 winnable games to start (at Jets, vs. Chiefs, at Browns) they then have to face the Patriots at home in Week 4, then they go out West the next 2 weeks to face the 49ers in San Francisco, and a potential trap game lies the following week in the dome in Arizona against the Cardinals, then face the Titans at home in Week 7. After a Week 8 bye, they face two very tough opponents on the road. Mario Williams returns to Houston to face his old teammates in Week 9, followed up by a trip to Foxboro and a rematch with the Patriots. After those 2 games, they have a number of winnable games (vs. Fins, at Colts, vs. Jaguars, vs. Rams, vs. Seahawks, at Fins, vs. Jets) which could allow for a hot finish, but could also have a number of trap games, depending on who's hot at the time.

My prediction: They face some tough teams and probably go 3-4 before the bye week, then go 6-3 afterwards, to finish 9-7. They have the potential to win even 10 games, and with the way the schedule is set up, it would not surprise me too much.

Miami Dolphins- The Dolphins spent a lot of the offseason trying to pursue a QB, and for a little bit were considered to be in the mix to sign Peyton Manning after the Colts released him. They are still in what has been a continuous rebuilding process since the retirement of Dan Marino. The Dolphins are led by Reggie Bush, who had his best year in the NFL last year.

Miami's schedule opens with a tough game against the Texans in Houston in Week 1, then they have winnable games each of the next 3 weeks (vs. Raiders, vs. Jets, at Cardinals), then face a tough Bengals team in Cincinnati in Week 5 and host the Rams in Week 6 before the bye in Week 7. It doesn't get any easier for them afterwards, having to travel to the Meadowlands to face their rivals the Jets in Week 8, then face Andrew Luck and the Colts in Indianapolis in a potential upset game in Week 9. The Dolphins then face 3 treacherous games in Weeks 10-12 (vs. Titans, at Bills, vs. Seahawks), then have back-to-back games against 2 potential Super Bowl contenders: (vs. Patriots, at 49ers). They then face the Jaguars and Bills at home before wrapping up the season in Foxboro against the Patriots.

My prediction: The Dolphins go 2-4 heading into the bye, then go 3-7 the rest of the way to end the season 5-11. The Dolphins face a number of tough teams, such as the Texans, Bengals, Patriots, and 49ers.

New England Patriots- They lost to the Giants and fell just short of the Super Bowl title (again), but this is a team that has shown they can contend consistently every year. They added Brandon Lloyd, who should give them another receiving threat to go with Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski. They have the NFL's easiest schedule percentage-wise (.453), which could work in their favor.

The Pats open the season with two winnable games (@ Titans, vs. Cardinals) before a Sunday night showdown in week 3, of last year's AFC Championship against the Ravens in Baltimore. After a Week 4 trip to Buffalo to face the Bills, a Brady-Manning showdown in Foxboro follows in Week 5 when the Pats host the Broncos. The Pats then have 3 winnable games (@ Seahawks, vs. Jets, @ Rams) in Weeks 6-8 before the Week 9 bye. Their first 4 games after the bye are also winnable (vs. Bills, @ Colts, @ Jets on Thanksgiving, @ Dolphins), leading up to a Monday night game against the Texans in Week 14, which is followed up by a Sunday night matchup with the 49ers in Week 15, which will be very tough games for the Pats. After the back-to-back tough games, they close out the season with 2 more winnable games at Jacksonville, then the regular-season finale at home against the Dolphins.

My prediction: The Patriots go 7-1 before the bye, losing in Baltimore, then also go 7-1 after the bye, with a loss to the 49ers, giving the Patriots a record 14-2. Overall, the Patriots can and should be able to take advantage of the easiness of the schedule.

New York Jets- This is a team with a number of storylines going into the season. The main being the arrival of Tim Tebow, and the potential quarterback competition between Sanchez and Tebow. This leaves me wondering: Who will be the Jets' starting QB at the end of the season? Will Mark Sanchez hang on to his job, or will the fans' chanting for Tebow when Sanchez struggles convince Rex Ryan to give him the starting job?

The Jets open the season at home against the Bills, a potentially dangerous opponent, then face a tough Steeler team in Pittsburgh Week 2, a rematch of the 2010 AFC Championship Game. The next 2 games after that (at 49ers, vs. Texans on Monday night) will be tough to say the least, and could make or break their season. After facing the Colts at home, they have the Patriots in New England and the Dolphins at home before a bye in Week 9. They then face two potential trap games (at Seahawks, at Rams) before a nationally televised Thanksgiving night home game with the Patriots. Afterwards, they face another potential trap hosting the Cardinals in Week 13. They then face the Jaguars and Titans, both on the road, and then wrap up the season with a home game against the Chargers and a road game in Buffalo Week 17.

My prediction: The Jets go 2-6 before the bye, struggling through their games, then go 4-4 after the bye to finish with a 6-10 record. The Jets, while having the 20th toughest schedule in the league based on winning percentage, face a loaded schedule and a some tough games.