I Could Have Gone Pro

2010 Stanley Cup - A Tale of Two Goaltenders

2010-06-01T10:54:00.000-04:00

Through two games the Stanley Cup finals have proven to be anything but boring. With a first game score of 6-5 with thought we might be in store for a flurry of goals, but the netminders stepped up in game two with a 2-1 game that featured a mere 28 seconds of goal scoring through two periods.

Even for those who follow the NHL, many would not have been able to tell you much, if anything, about the two goaltenders highlighting this series.

Antti Niemi is only in his second year, having played in only 3 games last season and only 39 during the regular season this year. Despite his limited experience, Niemi has started all 18 postseason games for the Blackhawks and has been nothing short of amazing. He is 14-4 with a GAA of 2.41 and a 92% save percentage. Admittedly he has been helped by a young yet blistering offense as he has a 4-3 record when giving up 3 or more goals. Despite a few rough appearances, Niemi has held strong between the pipes and kept Chicago in a number of games and grabbing two shutouts along the way.

Across the ice is an equally surprising and anonymous goaltender, Michael Leighton. Leighton has been a journeyman backup, playing for 4 teams in 5 years, this being his second stint in Philly. Leighton started the season in Carolina and after coming back to Philly has split time with Brian Boucher. Leighton started only 26 games this year, but has come on strong in the playoffs starting 9 games, since Boucher was injured against the Bruins. Leighton is 6-3 with a GAA of 1.97 and a 93% save percentage. Leighton has three shutouts in 9 games and only two bad outings (both losses).

Though Chicago holds a 2-0 lead so far in the Stanley Cup finals, there is no telling what may happen, because with such a small sample size to go off of, either one of these goalies may make or break this series.

My prediction Chicago in 6.

Sorry I've been missing...

2010-06-01T10:24:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've been missing for the past couple weeks. Life's been a little crazy. New jobs for my wife and I have caused quite a change on the home front that is taking some time to get used to. Hopefully things will settle down and get a little back to normal. As for the blog I hope to get back to writing on the regular. So keep checking in.

Digital Artwork (Semi-sports related)

2010-05-19T15:10:00.002-04:00

So this will be a random posting, but I wanted to show off some random digital artwork that I've made. It's somewhat of a side hobby that I enjoy doing. Most of it is sports related, but a couple are random. Almost all were requests. Hope you enjoy. (Click on them if you want to use one as your computer background)

Kermit's Song.....Outside the Lines from ESPN

2010-05-13T18:09:00.000-04:00

This is a story I had never heard about, but found it to be quite incredible. It's a long read, but very well written and quite an amazing story. Kermit's Song by Tom Friend is the story of Kermit Alexander. The man who's tackle injured Gale Sayers ended up living the hardest life of all. Until fate gave him one last chance at peace.

Riverside, California - The old pro could feel the earthquake 3,000 miles away. He watched the endless television reports, on two knees, wondering whether his future had suddenly become his past. He looked for familiar faces in the rubble, but ended up with a throbbing headache instead. He cringed at the thought of more funerals and woke up that first night in a sweat, flashing back to a cup of coffee that was never drunk, flashing forward to a house that never had kids. He decided there was nothing worse than an empty home. And at that moment, no home was more barren than the old pro's.
The one person who had mattered most in his life was already gone. And now it seemed as if the earth was swallowing his second family whole, five at once. He had no way of calming his mind, no way of getting real news, because the phone lines were severed. But it was his gut feeling he'd seen the last of them. Three boys and two girls -- history. He decided if they were buried alive, it would be the end of him, that he would be the first man to die twice. He figured his obituary would read: "Former NFL star, 69, dies of guilt." He figured he'd just lie down and his whole remarkable, tortured life would pass in front of his eyes. Like this ...

Read the rest of it here: ESPN - OTL: Kermit's Song

Hey Kids....Cheaters win, not once, but twice!!!

2010-05-12T17:40:00.000-04:00

The Associated Press announced the results of the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year re-vote today. For those who didn't hear, they had to have a re-vote, because of the news that surfaced this past week about Brian Cushing, last year's winner. Apparently Cushing tested positive for an illegal substance back in September of his rookie season, but because of his appeal and the process that was involved, Cushing was able to play his entire rookie season. Cushing will now be suspended for the first four games of the coming season after losing his appeal.

Cushing was found to have tested positive for HCG. This is a new one to me, but apparently it is a drug one would take after taking anabolic steroids to stimulate the body's testosterone production. See this article from ESPN for more info: Cushing test flagged for HCG.

Based on this the AP decided that it was only fair to hold a re-vote for the award since Cushing conceivably received some sort of advantage from taking the HCG and possibly, by association, anabolic steroids. A total of 50 members of the press have a vote in this (i.e. Chris Mortenson - ESPN and Peter King - Sports Illustrated). Cushing received an overwhelming 39 of 50 votes on the original ballot with Jairus Byrd (6), Clay Matthews III (3), and Brian Orakpo (2) receiving the remaining votes.

Initially when I heard about this I commended the AP for holding a re-vote. I thought it was a good opportunity to show accountability for one's mistakes to the youth of America. I figured that with the way baseball players are vilified for taking steroids that the same would go for members of the NFL. I was so wrong.

After the re-vote your new (and old) NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is......Brian Cushing. Though the voting was closer, Cushing still won the award by receiving 18 votes. Byrd finished in second (13), followed by Matthews (12), Orakpo (3), and James Laurinitis (1). Two voters abstained and one was not available. I commend the 21 voters who changed their minds, but am stunned by the 18 who voted for a guy who broke the rules. Did he gain an advantage from taking the drugs? Who knows, but the fact remains that we just told America's youth that even if you cheat AND get caught, you can win not just once, but TWICE!

Dear Lebron...

2010-05-03T17:11:00.000-04:00

Congratulations on your 2nd (back to back) MVP award. I have to admit that I was curious what you might do this year with all the talk about this being your last season in Cleveland. I wondered how you would handle all of the talk about you leaving and how your teammates would handle it as well. I'm not sure you could have had a more statistically dominating season as an individual or as a team player. You lead your team to an astounding 61-21 record (technically you didn't play in the last 4 games, all losses, so 61-17) and the Eastern regular season crown. On top of that you were second in the league in scoring, 33rd in rebounding, and 6th in assists (29.7, 7.3, and 8.6 respectively). As deserving as you were of this award people continue to wonder if you can lead this Cleveland team to a title. Is the supporting cast of Mo Williams, Shaq, Antawn Jamison, J.J. Hickson, Varejao, Z, etc, etc, etc enough to help you get that elusive NBA crown? I have to say I'm not sure you could have done much more. The question is: Can they? After a season like this I hope you get the title you've played so hard for, but after the season is over you will be faced with a difficult task that has been the buzz all season. Should you stay in Cleveland or go to New York, New Jersey, or perhaps a surprise location? NBA fans across the land are anxiously awaiting the remainder of the NBA playoffs, but there are a few fans who can't help but look beyond this year in hopes of bringing your talents to their downtrodden squads. Let's break down what we know real quick and maybe we can venture a guess as to where you'll end up...

Cleveland: You've taken this team to an Eastern Conference Final and lost, but now have them back in the playoffs hoping you can achieve something more. Is an NBA Championship possible? Yes. Is this team capable of making that run more than once? Maybe. Mo Williams is a legit PG, J.J. Hickson is budding young star, and there is good helpers in Jamison and West. The question is the big men. Shaq is aging and Z is always a health risk. Maybe the draft can provide help here, because I don't think Cleveland has the money to go after one of the better big men and pay you.

New York: The Knicks are a joke, but they play in MSG, a basketball mecca. Could you pass up the opportunity to play in the biggest market AND at the same time resurrecting one of the most famous arenas of all time? New York offers budding young stars in Danilo Gallinari and David Lee (if they resign him). Head coach Mike D'Antoni is also believed to be as well respected a coach as there is among his piers and players from Team USA (a team you played on). New York also has big money. Maybe even big enough for two max contracts. So could your signing bring in D-Wade or Chris Bosh as help? That's is quite possible. Would that be enough to bring NY a title? Do they need more depth? Could they afford it with two max contracts?

New Jersey: Some may look at this and laugh, but if you look closer it is possibly the best choice of all. How? Let's see. NJ offers the possibility to play for a new billionaire owner that will want to make something special out of his $700 million investment. Also one of your good friends, Jay-Z, is a minority owner of the club already. With an interim coach you could probably help choose who you would want to play for. Admittedly, you may have to play in NJ for a year or two while the new arena is built in Brooklyn. That may not be glamorous, but once the new arena is built you would have the chance to turn it into the new "MSG". Why play somewhere in the shadow of greatness, when you have a chance to create a legacy of your own. As far as help on the floor, you have an All-Star PG in Devin Harris, a future star big man in Brook Lopez, solid young depth in C.D-R, Terrance Williams, Courtney Lee, and Yi Jianlian, AND NJ may have the #1 overall pick in the draft (J. Wall) AND may have the money for another max contract player or someone in the 2nd tier of FAs.

So Lebron, the choice is yours. We will give you a chance to enjoy your MVP award and we will watch as you try for your first NBA title, but just know that in the back of our minds we'll be wondering, in some cases dieing to know, what jersey will you be wearing next year. Time will only tell.

Oakland Raiders draft review.....

2010-04-26T14:26:00.000-04:00

As a Raiders fan I was particularly interested in what they had to do this past weekend. It's been a tough couple years and, though we won't know for another 3 years, we needed to have a solid draft this year. Most people like to just pencil in the fastest guy or the workout warrior to the Raiders and admittedly that is true more often than not. This year though it appeared the Raiders took a more disciplined approach to the draft and went after talent where they needed it and sprinkled in some speed and potential at the right times. So let's review the Raiders' draft.

Round 1: Rolando McClain, ILB - Alabama
This pick is brilliant. Though some question McClain's ability to cover the TE or a RB coming out of the backfield, McClain is an animal at ILB with his greatest strength being his ability to stop the run. The kid is an extremely dedicated film and gym rat who understands that you can always be better, no matter how good you are already. McClain credits Nick Saban for showing him the importance of putting in the time in the film room. Most importantly, McClain is a vocal leader, which is something this D has needed for a long time.
My thoughts on this pick: A+ (Best player available and position of need)

Round 2: Lamar Houston, DT - Texas
In the second round the Raiders helped to shore up a defensive line that has struggled mightily for a long time. Houston is a very athletic and strong DT that showed an innate ability to get after the QB this season. He has a quick first step and excellent lateral quickness along the line, but most importantly, again, his greatest strength is stopping the run. The Raiders have been one of the worst teams in the league against the run and clearly they have made it a point of emphasis early in this draft.
My thoughts on this pick: A (Position of need, but would Clausen or OT Charles Brown have been better value?)

Round 3: Jared (Edwin) Veldheer, OT - Hillsdale College
This is in an interesting selection. In the third round you can start to consider players who perhaps are a little more developmental. You shouldn't have to count on them to be starters in year one, but due to a lack of depth at OT, Veldheer may be thrust into a starter's role early on. Veldheer comes from a small school at a lesser division so there are questions as to how he will handle the change to this level. He has incredible size and agility and has shown a dominance at the level he played on. He has loads of natural ability, but needs to develop a nasty side and improve on technique to compete at the NFL level.
My thoughts on this pick: B+ (Position of need, sleeper, but would Colt McCoy have been better value?)

Round 4: Bruce Campbell, OT - Marland
The "Workout Warrior" has arrived. Campbell was dubbed a lock for the Raiders' first round pick after he wowed the world at the NFL Combine. Campbell has incredible size, strength and speed. He is also the only 315 lb man I think you could legitimately call "cut". The problem with Campbell is his lack of production on the field. He has all the talent to be an elite OT at the NFL level, but has poor technique and hasn't fully translate the "workout" to the field. Campbell is a project, but that's what 4th rounders are for. With the proper teaching Campbell has the ability to become an elite OG or OT in the NFL. With this pick time will tell the tale.
My thoughts on this pick: A (Position of need, incredible potential, but is back-to-back OTs the best strategy?)

Round 4 (via trade): Jacoby Ford, WR/KR/PR - Clemson
Speed. Speed. Speed. Al Davis loves speed and he is certainly getting that in Ford. Ford was far and away the fastest player at the combine, posting an astonishing 4.28 40 time. There are questions about Ford's ability to translate that speed to the field as well as his hands, but Ford makes this team as a return man and can develop as a receiver. Ford was overshadowed at Clemson by Spiller, but is an excellent return man in his own right. His top end speed is undeniable, but he is shifty too and has a knack for making people miss. The Raiders have had trouble in this area, as evidenced by their revolving door return men last year. Ford may be a bit of a project at receiver, but he makes the return game for Oakland a legitimate threat from Day 1.
My thoughts on this pick: B+ (Position of need, one of the best available return men in draft, but would a QB or CB be better choice here?)

Round 5: Walter McFadden, CB - Auburn
Cable was quoted as being surprised and thrilled to find McFadden at this point in the draft. Clearly he was high on their radar and may have been the reason they held off on a CB selection until the 5th round. McFadden is undersized, but has great fluidity in his hips and excellent speed. McFadden was timed at his Pro Day around 4.38 and had a vertical leap of 35.5 inches. He is an excellent athlete and could develop into a solid nickle corner in the NFL.
My thoughts on this pick: B (Position of need, good depth player with potential, but could DT Cam Thomas and OG Mitch Petrus have been better value?)

Round 6: Travis Goethel, ILB - Arizona State
Goethel plays with a high motor and shows potential as a solid special teams player that could develop into good ILB depth. The sixth round is a round where you look for special teams depth and sleepers. Goethel will need to show an ability to shine on special teams to make this squad.
My thoughts on this pick: ? (Special teams guy, but would QB Tony Pike or C Ted Larsen have been worth a look here?)

Round 7: Jeremy Ware, CB - Michigan State
Ware is another player that will have show an ability to shine on special teams. Thanks to his excellent top end speed he will likely get a long look in Oakland. Though he is undersized, he excels in man to man coverage and has good tackling ability. His 4.3 40 time at his Pro Day also couldn't have hurt in the eyes of Al Davis.
My thoughts on this pick: ? (Special teams guy, man to man coverage experience helps, but would OLB Dekoda Watson, DE George Selvie, or QB Zac Robinson been worth a look?)

Round 7 (compensatory pick): Stevie Brown, S - Michigan
Brown has experience at Safety and LB which gives him value as a player with versatility. His strength is as a run stuffer, so he will likely get a look as a situational guy for Oakland as they try to improve their run defense. He will likely need to show some skills as a special teamer to make the squad.
My thoughts on this pick: ? (Special teams guy, but should we have looked at DT Vince Oghobaase, C Jeff Byers, or OG Brandon Carter?)

Trades: Added Jason Campbell, Lost Kirk Morrison
Morrison was the teams leading tackler the last 5 years in a row, but too many of them took place down field after the player had been missed. Morrison has good speed and solid coverage ability, but has shown to be a liability at time against the run. Perhaps with a better D-line in front of him he could have been better, but with the addition of McClain this is a loss the team can absorb.

Campbell is definitely an interesting addition. We can't help but look at this addition as a signal of the end of Jamarcus Russell's time with the Raiders, which by itself makes this a good pick up. Campbell is not an elite NFL QB at this time in his career. Can he develop into that? Some think it is within the realm of possibility. Campbell has posted solid numbers behind a weak O-line throughout his career in Washington AND he has not had the same Offensive Coordinator for more than one season during that same time span. Now I understand that trend will continue when he arrives in Oakland, but a fresh start and some young and very talented skill players may be exactly what Campbell needs to turn into a solid QB. No matter what happens here, Campbell gives the Raiders a viable option at QB. Something that has been missing for a long time.

My thoughts on the trades: B+

My NFL Mock Draft....

2010-04-21T19:45:00.000-04:00

Well with one of the biggest non-sporting events involving sports about to descend upon us, I've decided to throw my hat in the giant ring that is Mock Drafting. Right off I won't claim to be as knowledgeable as say, Todd McShay, or have the ginormous hair, ala Mel Kiper, but I follow enough of the NFL and NCAA to think that I might be able to make a run at respectable. So without further ado here we go:

1. St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford, QB - Oklahoma
- At this point it is all but an foregone conclusion that Bradford will be selected #1 overall. The interested subplot that has been rumored is whether it will be the Rams who draft him or someone else who puts together a package to trade up.

2. Detroit Lions - Ndamukong Suh, DT - Nebraska
- Again we find ourselves wondering if the Lions will be the ones to pick in the #2 slot, as they have been rumored to be shopping this pick as well. Either way I would be stunned if the "the boy named Suh" drops past #2.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gerald McCoy, DT - Oklahoma
- Is there a position Tampa doesn't need help at? McCoy is the perfect 3-technique DT for the "Tampa Two" Defense and is worth the #3 pick overall.

4. Washington Redskins - Russell Okung, OT - Oklahoma State
- After a huge trade this offseason for Donovan McNabb, it only makes sense that Coach Shanahan drafts the top OT in the draft to protect McNabb's backside and Shanahan's investment.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Eric Berry, S - Tennessee
- Some may say this is too high to draft a Safety, but with comparisons to Ed Reed I think he is worth the risk. Reed was selected at #24, but if you asked Baltimore if they would have taken him #3 in that draft I imagine they wouldn't hesitate for a second.

6. Seattle Seahawks - C.J. Spiller, RB - Clemson
- Can you say Reggie Bush 2.0? I guarantee you that Pete Carroll can. Do they have bigger needs than RB? You bet they do. Can Carroll resist the possibility of utilizing Spiller like he did with Bush? No chance.

7. Cleveland Browns - Trent Williams, OT - Oklahoma
- Cleveland takes a long hard look at Dez Bryant, but decides that games are won in the trenches and that solid receivers can be had in later rounds. Williams has been flying up draft boards and could easily supplant Okung as top OT selected.

8. Oakland Raiders - Mike Iupati, OG/OT - Idaho
- Al Davis strikes again. Or does he. Iupati has been raved about since the draft talk has begun. Perhaps the Raiders select him a little high for where he is being projected, but if he's who they want what does it matter. Plus Cable may not be able to contain himself when given the chance to select a fellow Vandal.

9. Buffalo Bills - Bryan Bulaga, OT - Iowa
- The Bills jump all over Bulaga at #9. Expected to be gone by now (Oakland afraid to draft another Iowa OT?) Buffalo decides to anchor their line in hopes they can keep their QB upright, whomever that may end up being.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars - Earl Thomas, S - Texas
- Despite the sting of the recent first round safety "miss" with Reggie Nelson, the Jaguars find themselves staring at a player who is considered a far better "football player" then Nelson and they fill a glaring need in the secondary.

11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) - Rolando Mclain, ILB - Alabama
- Denver's young defense gets a serious boost here as they move to the 3-4. Mclain may be going off the board a little high here, but Denver is getting a very good player and unless Pioli out thinks himself this is the logical choice.

12. Miami Dolphins - Dan Williams, NT - Tennessee
- Miami has a desperate need for pressure up from on the defensive side of the ball and Williams can give them just that. The only 3-4 NT with a first round grade in this draft, the Dolphins are glad to see him available at #12.

13. San Francisco 49ers - Joe Haden, CB - Florida
- A guy who at one point was projected as a top-10 lock falls to a 49ers team in desperate need for help at CB. Haden's stock has fallen as of late due to questions about his speed, but thanks to a solid pro day the 49ers feel comfortable getting the top CB in the draft at #13.

14. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) - Anthony Davis, OT - Rutgers
- With the offseason trade for Whitehurst at QB and Spiller earlier this round it is clear that Pete Carroll is out to improve this offense and what better way to do so then to add a potential Pro Bowl left tackle in Anthony Davis. Whitehurst will need someone to watch his back and Davis is an excellent selection.

15. New York Giants - Derrick Morgan, DE - Georgia Tech
- With the potential for a draft day trade of Osi Umenyiora and Rolando Mclain off the board this has to be the pick for NY. Morgan brings a hard nosed approach that will fit in perfectly with Coghlan's coaching style.

16. Tennessee Titans - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE - South Florida
- JPP fits exactly what the Titans need and for him to be available at #16 the Titan have to be thrilled. He reminds Jeff Fisher of Jevon Kearse far too much for them to pass on him.

17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) - Jimmy Clauson, QB - Notre Dame
- The time has finally come for the Golden Domer to come off the board. After a nearly Brady Quinn-esque fall the 49ers reach to add yet another 1st round QB to their roster. Though Alex Smith showed signs of life last season I think they won't pass up the second best QB in the draft.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers - Maurkice Pouncey, OG/C - Florida
- This is a perfect fit. The Steelers want to get back to being a power running team and now need to be a run first team (thanks to Big Ben's little Ben getting him in trouble). Pouncey is the perfect man for the job. He is a load in the middle and can play any of the three interior positions.

19. Atlanta Falcons - Brandon Graham, DE - Michigan
- Graham is the pass rusher Atlanta has been waiting for and on top of that he has good range against the run and is very technically sound when it comes to tackling. Has experience at OLB and DE, but will line up with a hand in the dirt in Atlanta.

20. Houston Texans - Kyle Wilson, CB - Boise State
-Though they would have liked to see Haden still available, the Texans jump at the opportunity to add a player like Wilson. He fills an immediate need with the loss of Dunta Robinson this offseason and has the build, strength, and skill set to step in as a man-to-man CB from the get go.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Dez Bryant, WR - Oklahoma State
- The Bengals have shown in the past a willingness to overlook character concerns, especially at the WR position, and can't pass up a top-10 talent here at the #21 spot. Plus the idea of lining up Bryant and Ocho-Cinco together gives Palmer some needed help.

22. New England Patriots - Jerry Hughes, OLB/DE - TCU
- The Pats desperately need help at OLB and Hughes is just the man for the job. A premier pass rusher with solid discipline, a high motor, and the smarts to be a Belichick type player.

23. Green Bay Packers - Kareem Jackson, CB - Alabama
- Al Harris and Charles Woodson are both entering their 14th year in the league. This is a duo that is bound to call it quits soon and Green Bay takes one of the best players available to help prepare for that need.

24. Philadelphia Eagles - Everson Griffen, DE -USC
- A solid pass rusher who can get the job done against the run, provides the Eagles with a very dangerous combo of Trent Cole and Everson Griffen.

25. Baltimore Ravens - Demaryius Thomas, WR - Georgia Tech
- I'm well aware of the Ravens offseason signings of Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth, but Thomas is too good to pass up at #25 and gives them outstanding depth at WR to help their budding star Joe Flacco.

26. Arizona Cardinals - Sergio Kindle, OLB - Texas
- Arizona's need for help at all the LB'er positions makes this an easy selection. Kindle is an excellent pass rusher and a very solid tackler.

27. Dallas Cowboys - Taylor Mays, S - USC
- Jerry Jones is a little old school like Al Davis and can fall in love with a guy with the right size and speed combination. Safety and OT are needs for Dallas, but there aren't any OTs available here worth the pick.

28. San Diego Chargers - Ryan Matthews, RB - Fresno State
- The perfect compliment to Darren Sproles. Matthews gives them the powerful between the tackles runner they need to compliment Sproles. Matthews also has tackle breaking strength and sub-4.5 speed to get loose when the opportunity presents itself.

29. New York Jets - Jared Odrick, DT - Penn State
- The Jets d-line is getting old and could use an infusion of young talent. Odrick's relentless motor fits in perfectly with Rex Ryan and his desire to get after the QB. His versatility also allows him to line up along the line in a rotational role early on.

30. Minnesota Vikings - Devin McCourty, CB - Rutgers
- McCourty may be a bit of reach at this point, but the Vikings are in desperate need of help at the CB position and McCourty is the best available. He should be able to provide help on special teams immediately and by midseason could work his way into a starting role at CB.

31. Indianapolis Colts - Charles Brown, OT - USC
- The Colts are in need of some help at the OT position. There is little depth on their roster and Tony Ugoh has shown durability concerns early in his career. Brown gives them needed depth and is potential starter this year or next.

32. New Orleans Saints - Sean Weatherspoon, OLB - Missouri
- With the loss of Scott Fujita, the Saints look to add this tackling machine. Weatherspoon has excellent value at the end of the 1st round and will provide leadership as well as the ability to provide support against the pass and run.

So there you have it. My Mock Draft. I feel pretty confident that I got at least one right. We'll see tomorrow how I stacked up against the minds running the NFL war rooms.

2010 NC State Kay Yow Spring Game Photos

2010-04-19T16:46:00.000-04:00

I went out to the NC State Spring Football game this past Saturday to get my football fix now that March Madness is over. Despite their staring QB not playing and a few others who will see the field this season, there was definitely plenty to get excited about. Namely backup QB, Mike Glennon (#8). The kid has a rocket for an arm and a good head on his shoulders when it comes to knowing what to do with the football. Also it was exciting to see Nate Irving back on the field after a horrific car accident last fall nearly took his life.

It was a beautiful day for football and approximately 23,000 were on hand to catch a glimpse of what the future may hold for the Wolfpack. Here's a few shots I took from the stands throughout the game.

Albert Pujols...the man, the myth, the legend

2010-04-14T10:18:00.000-04:00

José Alberto Pujols Alcántara.....Albert Pujols.....Prince Albert.....The Machine.....El Hombre
Whatever you choose to call him, you can't go wrong with.....great.

The Man...

“He has a passion for the game, a love for the game. You can see it. You can sense it. He’s got natural God-given ability. A natural baseball player. A warrior. The man is good at every little thing he does.” - Former Cardinals hitting coach Mike Easler

Albert Pujols is entering his 10th year in "The Bigs" and has been nothing short of outstanding since getting here, but he doesn't just get it done on the field. In 2005, Albert and Deidre Pujols launched the Pujols Family Foundation, which is dedicated to "the love, care and development of people with Down syndrome and their families," as well as helping the poor in the Dominican Republic. Pujols has taken several trips to the Dominican Republic, by taking supplies as well as a team of doctors and dentists to the poor who need medical care. The Pujols Family Foundation also holds an annual golf tournament in which members from the Cardinals and other people play golf to raise money to send dentists to the Dominican Republic. A new center for adults with Down syndrome that will bear his name ("Albert Pujols Wellness Center for Adults with Down's Syndrome") opened in November 2009 in Chesterfield, Missouri. Albert made sure he was there for the opening.

The Myth...
"Let's say I retire 15 years from now. They're going to say, 'Well, he probably did it back then. He just didn't get caught.' I know that's what they're going to say. And you know what, man? It is sad, but at the same time, it doesn't matter. I know who I am. I don't care." - Albert Pujols regarding speculation that he has used steroids

The Steroid Era.....the era that "ruined" baseball. Whether it be Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, or Alex Rodriguez, the list goes on and on of players who took steroids or HGH, human growth hormone, to bulk up or to speed up their recovery or to (insert lame excuse here) it doesn't matter. The game has been tainted. Because of the number of players who have been tainted, anyone who has had great numbers gets a finger pointed in their direction and the name that comes up most is Albert Pujols. I can't say he did or didn't take anything, but he has denied it from day one and has even offered to be tested, but people still wonder. They use anything to cause people to question a man who's numbers have been steady his entire career. One such example is looking at photos from before and after. Check out these magazine covers for Muscle & Fitness in 2007 and then a Sports Illustrated cover from 2009. Some think Albert looks "deflated", as if he stopped taking steroids once testing ramped up, while at the same time some say it's the lighting at the shoot or that Albert lost weight to try and stay healthier. You decide.

The Legend...
"Albert Pujols may be the only player of the modern era, a hitter's era, that could retire after only 10 years and still be a lock for the Hall of Fame." - I Could Have Gone Pro Blogger Joe Borrelli

That's a pretty bold statement. I know, but if you look at what Pujols has done, while just now entering his 10th season, it is nothing short of amazing. Pujols is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in modern Major League Baseball; this is due in part to his impressive accrual of statistics and records before the age of 30. Nearing the end of the 2009 season, Pujols currently ranks within the top 15 players in major league history in four statistical categories: on-base percentage (twelfth), slugging percentage (fourth), on-base plus slugging (OPS; fourth), and adjusted OPS (tied for sixth). He also ranks in the top 250 players in major league history in a variety of other statistical categories such as career batting average (25th), career RBIs (175th), career runs scored (249th), and HRs (67th). He's also a World Series Champion, a three-time MVP, and was named The Sporting News Player of the Decade.

From 2001 to 2005, Pujols hit 201 home runs, second all-time for the most hit in a player's first five seasons. By 2009, he had reached the 350-homer plateau at the age of 29—the third-youngest to do so—and surpassed Ralph Kiner's record for most home runs in his first nine seasons. In so doing, Pujols became the first player to hit 30 or more home runs in the first nine seasons of his career, as well the second player to have 100 or more RBIs in the same timespan.

Pujols holds the Cardinals' franchise record for most career grand slams; he broke the record of nine previously held by Stan Musial. Musial and Pujols are also two of only four players in history to have a career batting average above .330 and less than 500 strikeouts at the time of their 300th home runs (Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio).

In his first 5,000 career at bats, Pujols had amassed 372 doubles, 358 home runs, and 14 triples for a total of 744 extra-base hits, the most in NL history, and is the second player in Major League Baseball to post nine consecutive seasons with 30 doubles, a .300 batting average, 30 home runs, and 100 runs batted in or better (Lou Gehrig). He has scored 100 or more runs in eight of his nine seasons.

Most impressive (to me) is the record he most recently broke. Most home runs by a player in their first 10 seasons. What is so impressive about this? He broke the record in just the 7th game of his tenth season. That means he has another 155 games to pad that stat. Here's a list of the people he passed with that home run. In parenthesis you'll see their career total and current all-time rank.

Career home runs through 10 seasons
1. Albert Pujols 371+ (371*, 67th)
2. Eddie Mathews 370 (512, T21st)
3. Ralph Kiner 369 (369, 69th)
4. Ken Griffey Jr. 350 (630*, 5th)
5. Alex Rodriguez 345 (583*, T8th)
6. Hank Aaron 342 (755, 2nd)
7. Ernie Banks 335 (512, T21st)
8. Frank Robinson 324 (586, 7th)
9. Ted Williams 323 (521, T18th)
10. Mickey Mantle 320 (536, 16th)

Stay clean Albert and stay healthy, because you may just be the last great hope for the Steroid Era.

Tiger's Return....

2010-04-08T12:17:00.001-04:00

The day has finally come. The return of Tiger Woods to the golf course. My feelings admittedly are mixed. I love the fact that he's back on the golf course, because he's just flat out fun to watch and he's good for the game. At the same time though is it OK to root for a guy who did what he did to his family?

In my opinion, I can't stand the way our society has become so gossip driven, where we have to know every single detail to every "star's" life. Give me a break. Hundreds of thousands of marriages around the world experience exactly what the Woods family is going through and I care as much about those as I do about Tiger's problems. Everyone has problems of some kind. It's a fact of life. It's going to be hard enough for them to salvage their marriage (if they choose to try), without the media constantly breathing down their necks every second of every day.

Personally I follow Tiger Woods for what he does on the golf course. The guy is possibly the greatest player I'll every see in my lifetime so I'm going to try and enjoy it. Of course I don't agree with what he did, but does that mean I can't root for him? Should I root for Phil Mickelson because when his wife was battling cancer, he stayed by her side? No. I root for the guy I like to watch on the course and that's it.

I think the Master's coverage will be better than most tournaments this year as they tend to focus on the golf more so than anything else, which is one of the main reasons I think Tiger picked this tournament for his return. I'm definitely looking forward to welcoming Tiger back to the course and hope that the announcers stick to how many shots Tiger has the course instead of how many women he had off the course.

Hoosiers all over again.....

2010-04-04T16:30:00.000-04:00

Well I have to admit that this is the matchup I've been hoping for since probably the Elite 8. I honestly didn't expect Butler to keep up their "Cinderella" run, but they've proven that they are a legit contender. We must remind ourselves that Butler isn't really a huge surprise to be here. We're talking about a team that has won 25 straight games, had a preseason ranking of #11(AP) and #10(ESPN), and who's only losses came this year to Minnesota, Clemson, Georgetown, and UAB.

Led by super sophomores G/F Gordon Hayward and G Shelvin Mack, this real life "Hoosiers" squad is scrapping their way through this tournament beating some of the tournament's best. The best part of it all is that not only does Butler epitomize the small town team in the movie Hoosiers, but they actually play in the gym where they filmed the movie.

As far as their opponent goes, Duke fits perfectly in the role of the big time program with their history and certainly their Coach. Suffice to say we have the makings of a legitimate David vs Goliath type matchup, with a small mid-major school, like Butler, taking on one of the giants of the game, in Duke.

As far as the game itself, this has the makings of a thrilling final despite the lack of a Syracuse, Kentucky, or Kansas. Many predicted that one of these three teams would be the ones hoisting the trophy at the end of the tourney thanks in great part to their athleticism, an adjective that certainly never came to anyone's mind when referring to Duke or Butler. Though it may be true that neither team is the most athletic in the tournament, they both subscribe to the old adage of "Defense wins Championships". Butler has held their opponents to an astounding 55.2ppg where as Duke has kept pace with 56.4ppg. That being said there is no reason to think that these teams can't put points on the board when they have to.

As much as I would like to see Butler win this game, completing the "Hoosiers" analogy and giving us another Cinderella (ala NC State '83 or Villanova '85), I just don't see it happening. As an NC State fan I must admit it is one of the harder things for me to do, but I have to give Duke credit here and the nod in this matchup. Duke has a significant amount of experience on this team and in all the right places. Their top 3 scorers, Scheyer, Singler, and Smith are all upperclassman and their coach has certainly "been here before", whereas Butler's coach is only 33 and their top scorers are a pair of sophomores. Another thing working against Butler is that currently 2 of their top three players (Mack and Howard) are currently question marks for the game. Mack had to leave the Michigan St game early due to dehydration and Howard suffered a minor concussion so he, too, is questionable.

All these things combine to make this game an uphill battle for Butler and for those reasons I'll predict that come Monday night Duke will be the 2010 NCAA Tournament Champions, but I know two things for sure:

1. Butler hasn't let anything get in their way so far and has nothing to lose.

and....

2. This NC State fan will certainly be pulling for the Bulldogs in hopes that Gordon Hayward can channel his inner Jimmy Chitwood or Bobby Plump and give us something we'll all remember.

Elite Eight Results and Final Four Projections.....

2010-04-01T16:52:00.001-04:00

"And the beat(ing) goes on...and the beat goes on" Well I split the Elite Eight at 2-2. I continue to hover slightly above .500 (37-27) and now wonder if I should pick what I would like to see in the final or what I expect to see. Odds are it will be neither one so here we go.

Here are my projections with my guess in bold:

Midwest:
5. Michigan St. vs. 5. Butler

South:
1. Duke vs. 2. West Virginia

As much as I'd like to see Butler continue on I think it will be hard for them or WVU to get past the coaching fo Izzo and K, but with this tournament anything can happen. Check back by Monday and I'll post how I did along with my picks for the Championship .....

April Fools Day...Sports Pranks

2010-04-01T16:44:00.000-04:00

I wanted to try and come up with a great post that could be taken some many ways, but instead I've decided to defer to the professionals (literally). Here is a small list of some of the greatest pranks in professional sports history (in no particular order).

Sidd Finch 1985: Sports Illustrated published a story about a new rookie pitcher who planned to play for the Mets. His name was Sidd Finch, and he could reportedly throw a baseball at 168 mph with pinpoint accuracy. This was 65 mph faster than the previous record. Surprisingly, Sidd Finch had never even played the game before. Instead, he had mastered the "art of the pitch" in a Tibetan monastery under the guidance of the "great poet-saint Lama Milaraspa." Mets fans celebrated their teams' amazing luck at having found such a gifted player, and Sports Illustrated was flooded with requests for more information. In reality this legendary player only existed in the imagination of the author of the article, George Plimpton.

Mark Cuban 2003: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban decided to make fun of himself for being fined by the NBA multiple times. He got into a fake shoving scuffle with a fake NBA official. The Dallas players, most notably reserve center Evan Eschmeyer, did not know about the prank and Eschmeyer ran over to restrain Cuban.

Orlando Magic 2009: at halftime of a game against the Toronto Raptors, the Orlando PR and Marketing team had a blindfolded fan shoot a half-court shot that was supposedly worth $100,000. After the fan missed, the crowd went wild thinking they had helped the Magic pull of a prank. But when the fan celebrated and told the crowd, "I actually just got laid off from work," it was then revealed that the fan was an actor and it was the crowd that was actually fooled.

Augusta National 1990: In its May issue, Golf magazine reported Augusta National, home of The Masters, would open to the public. After the club and the magazine received inquiries about booking tee times, Golf admitted it was just a joke.

And here's one failed prank:

NFL Draft 2007: The Oakland Raiders selected Jamarcus Russell with the #1 pick overall. Al Davis called Roger Goodell after he announced the pick and said "April Fools!" Goodell said "Al, April Fools Day was 27 days ago. You picked Jamarcus so he's now a Raider." As a Raider fan I find myself wondering if Al had a "senior moment" and that was actually the reason why he made that pick.

Dave Telep Carolina Challenge

2010-03-27T22:29:00.001-04:00

Seeing as I apparently am going to be just awful with picking NCAA tournament games this year I've decided to check out some basketball on a different level. I had a chance to check out the Dave Telep Carolina Challenge at Cary Academy this morning and had an opportunity to see some really good North Carolina highschoolers play. The Carolina Challenge is an event that hosts the top 80 highschool players from the state of NC, hand picked by Dave Telep.

The Carolina Challenge is designed to showcase the talents of the top rising sophmores, juniors, and seniors as well as to provide them with an opportunity to learn what it means and takes to become a college basketball player. This was my first opportunity to check out the event, which is in its 4th year. I must say I was quite impressed with how well it was put together and with the level of talent in the state this year.

Thanks also to PackPride.com as I was afforded to opportunity to take photos for them. I've included a couple below, but for more you should check out their site, whether it be for information on football, basketball, recruiting, or basically anything NC State. In order you see Jacob Lawson, Joseph Uchebo(#90), and Tyler Lewis.

Sweet Sixteen Results and Elite Eight Projections.....

2010-03-27T22:16:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure why I continue to even try. This year's tourney is simply impossible to predict. I managed an astoundingly bad 3-5 in the Sweet 16 and can honestly say that I should stop now while I still somehow remain ever so slightly above .500 (33-23). Yet I will press on. Here are my "best guesses" for the Elite Eight.

Here are my opening round projections with my guess in bold:

Midwest:
5. Michigan St. vs. 6. Tennessee

East:
1. Kentucky vs. 2. West Virginia

West:
5. Butler vs. 2. Kansas St.

South:
1. Duke vs.3. Baylor

Check back by Wednesday and I'll post how I did along with my picks for the Final Four.....

Sweet 16 Projections.....

2010-03-24T12:05:00.000-04:00

Here are my opening round projections with my guess in bold:

Midwest:
9. N. Iowa vs. 5. Michigan St.
6. Tennessee vs. 2. Ohio State

East:
1. Kentucky vs. 12. Cornell
11. Washington vs. 2. West Virginia

West:
1. Syracuse vs. 5. Butler
6. Xavier vs. 2. Kansas St.

South:
1. Duke vs. 4. Purdue
3. Baylor vs. 10. St. Mary's (Ca.)

Check back by Saturday and I'll post how I did along with my picks for the Elite Eight.....

Round of 32 results.....

2010-03-21T20:33:00.000-04:00

Let the confusion continue......what is going on in this tournament? Can a favorite win a game? I don't know anymore. 10-6 this round with astounding upsets for Kansas and Villanova. I heard on ESPN radio that 4.76 million brackets were submitted and only 12 people picked Kansas and Villanova to lose, so I guess I can't feel that bad about what I was expecting. Anyway you look at though this has been one heck of a tournament so far. This year is well on its way to being remembered as the year of the upset. I remember when George Mason went to the Final Four and how I thought it was the type of thing you might see once or twice in a lifetime. Well it looks like Northern Iowa, Cornell, Washington, and St. Mary's are all out to prove that it could be something we should expect to see a lot more of in the future of college basketball. Stay tuned for my Sweet 16 picks.....hopefully I can improve on my 30-18 record thus far.

Round of 32 projections.....

2010-03-20T09:55:00.001-04:00

Here are my opening round projections with my guess in bold:

Midwest:
1. Kansas vs. 9. N. Iowa
5. Michigan St. vs. 4. Maryland
6. Tennessee vs. 14. Ohio
Georgia Tech vs. 2. Ohio State

East:
1. Kentucky vs. 9. Wake Forest
12. Cornell vs. 4. Wisconsin
11. Washington vs. 3. New Mexico
10. Missouri vs. 2. West Virginia

West:
1. Syracuse vs. 8. Gonzaga
5. Butler vs. 13. Murray St.
3. Pittsburgh vs. 6. Xavier
2. Kansas St. vs. 7. BYU

South:
1. Duke vs 8. California
5. Texas A&M vs. 4. Purdue
11. Old Dominion vs. 3. Baylor
10. St. Mary's (Ca.) vs. 2. Villanova

Check back by Wednesday and I'll post how I did along with my picks for the Sweet Sixteen.....

Round of 64 results......

2010-03-20T09:42:00.000-04:00

Well I'd have to say that was one of the worst NCAA opening rounds I've ever had. I think the only thing I was successful in doing was selecting the teams who were going to lose in OT or by less than 3 pts. With an opening round record of 20-12 I must say I was quite disappointed in myself, but if I could have had one or two baskets go my way in the Florida, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, San Diego St, Marquette, and Texas games than that record could have easily been 26-6. Sadly "buts, ifs, and coulda, woulda, shouldas" are what makes March Madness just that...maddening. So for the Round of 64 I was 20-12. I can only hope the Round of 32 will be a little kinder to me.

Round of 64 projections.....

2010-03-16T15:28:00.000-04:00

Here are my opening round projections with my guess in bold:

Midwest:
1. Kansas vs. 16. Lehigh
8. UNLV vs 9. N. Iowa
5. Michigan St. vs. 12. New Mexico St.
4. Maryland vs. 13. Houston
6. Tennessee vs. 11. San Diego St.
3. Georgetown vs. 14. Ohio
7. Oklahoma St. vs. Georgia Tech
2. Ohio State vs 15. UC Santa Barbara

East:
1. Kentucky vs. 16. East Tennessee St.
8. Texas vs. 9. Wake Forest
5. Temple vs. 12. Cornell
4. Wisconsin vs. 13. Wofford
6. Marquette vs 11. Washington
3. New Mexico vs. 14. Montana
7. Clemson vs. 10. Missouri
2. West Virginia vs. 15. Morgan St.

West:
1. Syracuse vs. 16. Vermont
8. Gonzaga vs. 9. Florida State
5. Butler vs. 12. UTEP
4. Vanderbilt vs. 13. Murray St.
6. Xavier vs. 11. Minnesota
3. Pittsburgh vs. 14. Oakland
7. BYU vs. 10. Florida
2. Kansas St. vs. 15. North Texas

South:
1. Duke vs 16. Play In Winner
8. California vs 9. Louisville
5. Texas A&M vs. 12. Utah St.
4. Purdue vs. 13. Siena
6. Notre Dame vs 11. Old Dominion
3. Baylor vs. 14. Sam Houston
7. Richmond vs. 10. St. Mary's (Ca.)
2. Villanova vs. 15. Robert Morris

Check back on Saturday and I'll post how I did along with my picks for the Round of 32.....

NCAA Tournament - Who's going to win it all?

2010-03-16T15:05:00.000-04:00

Now that the NCAA Tournament brackets are out it's one of the best times of the year. NCAA Bracket Pools are popping up across the world. Whether you are in an online pool, in a pool with co-workers, or with friends this is that time of year where everyone is talking about the same thing. I love college basketball and to me this is one of the best events for any sport. So with each round I will be making my best guesses like everyone else and posting them here. Unlike everyone else I will not post an entire bracket here since I'm in a couple pools. Check back before and after each round and see how I do.

Back from the other side of the world....

2010-03-14T23:54:00.000-04:00

Well I'm finally back. Still not quite adjusted to the massive time changes from a trip that literally took me 15 hrs ahead and back. All things considered the trip went pretty well. As far as the flight out is concerned it went about as well as a 25.5 hr series of flights can go. I watched 3 movies and 4 TV shows. When I finally got to Saipan and gathered all my bags I just wanted to get to the hotel and get to sleep. I stayed at the Aqua Resort Club which turned out to be quite nice. The next day I went up and scouted out the jobsite. It was located at the top of Mt. Topachau, which is the highest peak on the island. The view from there was amazing. I could see the entire island. After staking everything out and realizing I'd have to do all my work by hand because the excavator couldn't access the site I decided to go do some site seeing. I went to a lookout and the southside of the island that views a place called Forbidden Island. It's a small island off the coast that juts up of the coast line with all side made of shear rock faces 60-70 ft tall. It was a really cool place to see. I found a trail from the lookout that brought me down to the coast adjacent to the island. I was able to get some really cool pictures and then headed back up. From there I headed up to the North side of the island to Banzai Cliff. It is a cliff that drops to the rough ocean approx. 50 ft. After WWII all of the Japanese males and their children that lived on the island went to the cliffs and jumped off into the ocean, because they felt they were a disgrace for losing the war. Pretty powerful stuff and a stunning sight to see as well. After that I headed back to the resort and called it a night.

The next day I got up and got my equipment ready for what I expected was going to be a tough day and I was right. I met the client and locals at the site and literally cut my way through the jungle with a machete to get to my exact test sites. I spent the next 5 hours digging and drilling in rock taking samples to analyze for out report. Needless to say, by the end of that I was beat and I had a wicked farmer's tan from the blazing hot sun. Working that close to the equator makes an amazing difference that I hadn't really expected since it had been cooler the last time I was in Guam and Rota last year. Thankfully I brought plenty of water and snacks to keep myself from dehydrating and cramping up. After finishing up I headed back to the hotel to clean up and grab some dinner. I called it a night early since I had a 4am flight the next day. After another 25.5hrs of flying from the other side of the world, stopping in 4 airports, clearing customs, and finding myself amazed that my bags all made it to Raleigh; I headed home. Finding myself never happier than to climb into my bed to try and catch up on some much needed sleep.

Here's a few pictures from the trip: (Hotel, Forbidden Island, View from the Top, Banzai Cliff, Sunset)

Off to Saipan...

2010-03-07T22:02:00.000-05:00

Well I'm off to the island of Saipan for the week. I'll be out there testing some soil to help design a foundation for a tower being built on the island. In case you are wondering, Saipan is located in the Northern Mariana Islands (near Guam) about halfway between Japan and Australia. I've never been to Saipan, but I have been to Guam and Rota (also in the Northern Mariana Islands), so I have an idea of what to expect. Some nice resorts and golf courses surrounded by an poor local culture. It's sad to see how the money is allocated, but I suppose it's what happens when you get a lot of tourists. I'm not exactly looking forward to this trip, because it will take me close to 24 hours to get there and then another 24 hours to get back. It's a brutally long flight. I'm trying to look at the bright side. It is supposed to be 85-90 there this week and when I finish work I should have some time to hit the beach or the golf course. Whatever I end up doing I'll try to get some pictures up when I get back.

Tiger and the Masters - Who needs who more?

2010-03-03T10:27:00.000-05:00

Now that Tiger Woods has bared his soul and returned from sex, drug, alcohol, and family rehab (depends on what magazine you read) it's time for him to get back in shape and get back to what he does best - golf. Looking at the current tour schedule Tiger has the possibility to get himself back in tournament shape in time for possibly three tournaments prior to the Masters.

The PGA Tour Schedule shows us that Tiger could possibly play in:

Tavistock Cup at Islesworth CC in Windmere, Florida - a tournament that Tiger has played in the last 5 years and who's website shows his picture on it's home page. Tiger has recently been quoted in the AP that he is returning home to focus on "golf and fitness" in what people believe is an attempt to play in the Tavistock Cup.
Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida - a tournament that Tiger has won 6 times included the last two years in a row, an impressive feet only topped by his own 4 straight from 2000-2003. Tiger clearly loves playing at Bay Hill and would likely not miss it if he does come back before the Masters.
Shell Houston Open at Redstone GC Tournament Course in Humble, Texas - a tournament that Tiger has never played in. If he were to miss one of the previous two or if he felt he needed an additional tune up this would be a potential tournament for Tiger as a final warm up for the Masters

The Masters Tournament is a Major and, for those familiar with golf history and Tiger Woods, you alreadyknow that is a big deal for Tiger as one of his personal goals from the beginning of his career was to eclipse Jack Nicklaus' career record of 18 Major Championships. Now the question I posed was "Who needs who more?" Lets take a look.

Tiger needs the Masters:

His life is in shambles from the affairs that he had. His personal life is all anyone appears to be focusing on. A return to golf would remove some of the attention from his personal life and put it back towards his golfing abilities and his run towards history. (See Kobe Bryant's return to glory after sexual assault case as proof that this works)
Tiger is at his best when he is in control and there is no place in this world where he can regain some sense of control in his life better than the golf course.
Tiger has shown he can overcome the pressure on the course, injuries, and a surge of very good young talented golfers. If he can come back and compete, if not win, at the Masters he will be able to get back some of the confidence we have grown accustomed to seeing, as opposed to the shaky Woods on display at his most recent press conference
And of course Tiger needs the Masters, because he can't afford to miss many opportunities at winner Major Tournaments if he wants to eclipse Nicklaus' incredible 18.

The Masters needs Tiger:

TV ratings for The Masters at Augusta National from 1977-1996 were quite consistent, averaging 9.5 million viewers for the 2 day CBS weekend broadcasts. Since 1997, and the start of the “Tiger Woods Era”, The Masters has averaged 11.7 million viewers, with noticeable peaks when Tiger was the winner (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005), or in the case of 2007, in contention on the final day and finished tied for second. (Nielsen TV Ratings)
The highest rated Masters of all-time for viewership was in 1997 when Tiger won his first Masters Championship. An astounding 15.8 million viewers were recorded by Nielsen.

Some may argue that I have left off the belief that more people go to the Masters if Tiger is playing so more money can be made, but this is not true. The Masters has sold out every year since becoming a Major and on multiple occasions has instituted a waiting list for getting tickets to the event.

According to the Masters website: Tournament or "Series" Badges (Thursday through Sunday) have been sold to those on our patron list which was closed due to demand in 1972. A waiting list began in 1972, and was closed in 1978. It reopened in 2000, and it too is now closed. No applications for "Series" Badges are currently being accepted.

This shows how the addition of Tiger Woods has not grown the popularity of the tournament at the actual tournament. Certainly the TV ratings show that when Tiger plays and is in contention more people watch, but with all of Tiger's personal problems and the pressure on both him and his family at this time, I think it is actually Tiger who needs the Masters more, than the Masters needs him.