Pyrate News

With Rise of Paul George, Pacers Should Trade Danny Granger

2013-06-03T16:48:00.000-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III

Date: June 3, 2013

The Indiana Pacers are currently playing in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. By forcing the defending NBA champs, and already two-time Eastern Conference Champs, Miami Heat to a game seven, they have shocked the world.

Danny Granger (33) would be a hot commodity on the trade market. Will the Pacers make the move? (Photo credit:cbssports.com)

Probably the biggest shock is that the Pacers are doing this without its best player: All-Star Danny Granger.

The 6'8" small-forward, who sometimes plays power-forward, was drafted in the 2005 NBA Draft. He was voted to the All-NBA Rookie 2nd Team, the 2009 East All-Star Team and won NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2009.

From 2009-12, he has averaged about 22 ppg and 5 rpg, while shooting 43% from the field and 38% from the 3PT line.

However, due to a left knee injury, he's only played in 5 games this season. He turned 30 in April and is set to make $14 million next season on an expiring contract.

All the reasons why the Pacers should trade him this off-season.

It's not that Granger can't comeback from his injury and return to his all-star form (Heat's Dwyane Wade had a similar injury in May 2007 and then lead the league in scoring in 2008); but, with Paul George, who essentially plays the same position as Granger, emerging as an all-star in 2013, why not, trade him and strengthen the bench for next season.

George just turned 23 in May. Only his third year in the league, his ppg, apg, rpg and spg have all increased each year since he was a rookie. If his incremental trend keeps up, he'll average approximately 22 ppg, 9 rpg, 7 apg and 2 spg in the 2013-14 season.

He's set to be a restricted free-agent after next season; but after a season like this, the Pacers will definitely sign him to an extension.

Plus, Lance Stephenson, who enters the last year of his deal next season, has overcame his shame from last year's playoffs and seems like a capable starting shooting-guard. He's only 22 and has shown tremendous upside.

With George and Stephenson anchoring these positions, there's no room Granger.

Granger's expiring contract should draw a lot of attention for teams wanting some cap relief in the 2014 off-season. A team like the Boston Celtics, that are obviously going into rebuilding mode, have some assets the Pacers would like and could probably pull off a trade.

If the Pacers make into the NBA Finals tonight, it would've been on the backs of George and center Roy Hibbert, who has blossomed into one of the best big men in the league. This combination should make for a great dynamic-duo for years to come.

Pacers management should do themselves a favor by trading Granger, while he still has some value, to sure up the bench for next season and the foreseeable future.

This way, they won't just make a title run this year but be a title contender down the road as well.

Rollercoaster week creates setback for 2013 Ford vehicles

2012-12-10T08:44:00.001-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III

Date: December 10, 2012

Last week was very strange week for Ford Motor Company. This was the first time I saw one automaker have bad news almost everyday for things completely separate from each other.

Ford's redesigned 2013 Fusion is drawing rave reviews from critics for its blend of style and performance.

They just keep recalling

It started the day after Thanksgiving. While everyone else was trying to digest their food or fight people for the last big screen on Black Friday, Ford released a press release saying it needed to voluntarily recall the 2013 Ford Escape SE and SEL models equipped with the 1.6-liter engine and 2013 Ford Fusion SE and SEL models equipped with the 1.6-liter engine for safety issues.

According to the press release, the recall is because people have reported their engines overheating, followed by vehicle fires starting in the engine while it was running. no injuries have been reported.

A big safety issue yes, but no injuries were reported.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this recall affects an estimated 80,000 vehicles. Fusions and Escapes with different types of engines are unaffected.

"We have identified an issue and are taking actions in the best interest of our customers," said Steve Kenner, director of Ford’s Automotive Safety Office, in the release. "It is important that affected customers not ignore this recall and contact their dealer as soon as possible. While we recognize the inconvenience recalls cause our customers, we are taking these actions on their behalf to help ensure their safety."

Then, just a week after its last recall, Ford again had to recall the 2013 Fusion. This time for because the vehicle may not have had the low beam headlamp projector coating properly cured during its manufacturing process.

According to the NHTSA, an improperly cured projector coating will become hazy with use, and over time, reduce the brightness of the low-beam lamp. This could decrease driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

More than 19,000 Fusions will be affected.

Ford recently dropped to second-to-last place in Consumer Reports annual reliability survey. Speaking with USA Today, Jake Fisher, head of Consumer Reports automotive test division, said Ford has released so many brand new cars that the bugs haven't been worked out of many of them.

Estimates aren't suppose to be exact

In other news last week, Consumer Reports also revealed that the 2013 Fusion and 2013 C-Max hybrids don't get no where near the 47 city/47 highway/47 combined mpg the Environmental Protective Agency tests got and Ford advertises.

In their tests, the Fusion Hybrid got 35 city/41 highway/39 mpg combined. The C-Max Hybrid got 35 city/38 highway/37 mpg combined.

While their test still prove the vehicles have excellent fuel-economy, with the C-Max Hybrid 10 mpg combined difference and the Fusion Hybrid 8 mpg difference, these two vehicles have the largest difference between Consumer Reports overall-mpg results and EPA estimates among any current models.

The previous largest difference was the Toyota Pruis C Two and the Toyota Prius with 7 and 6 overall mpg difference.

It should be noted that Consumer Reports and EPA estimates usually don't match-up, however their estimates and the EPA estimates are usually within 2 mpg of each other, according to Fisher, who told this to CNNMoney.

"Even though the fuel economy is excellent, if a consumer expects 47 mpg when they purchase that vehicle, they're going to be very disappointed," said Fisher.

Rammed off the throne

Yes, it was a week filled with bad news from the doors of Ford, and it all culminated into the loss of title.

Last week, Motor Trend named the 2013 Ram 1500 as its Truck of the Year, beating out the 2013 Ford F-150.

A year ago, the 2012 Ford F-150 held the Motor Trend's title as Truck of the year.

It's not that Ford did anything wrong to mess up the F-150 this year. Ram's truck was simply better. According to Motor Trend, they said that the "rest of the industry" needs to catch up to the 1500.

While this isn't as severe or life threatening as the recalls, it just adds on to the recent letdown of Fords 2013 lineup.

After the storm, comes the sunshine

However, it wasn't all bad for Ford last week. At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Green Car Journal magazine named the 2013 Fusion as the Green Car of the Year.

Judging took place before the recent recalls of the highly popular sedan.

According to CNNMoney, because of its relatively low starting price, different efficient models and performance, the Green Car panel, which includes environmentalists as well as celebrities like TV host Jay Leno, chose the Fusion over the likes of the Ford C-Max, Toyota Prius C, Dodge Dart Aero and the Mazda CX-5.

Also, Ford announced plans to "reboot" its struggling Lincoln luxury brand. While Ford will still own Lincoln, the plan is separate the two brands so Lincoln can have its own identity.

According to CNNMoney, to achieve this, newly named Lincoln Motor Co. will get its own product development team, designers a separate showroom at Ford dealerships with only Lincoln vehicles and Lincoln only salespeople.

Jim Farley, head of sales and marketing at Ford, will oversee Lincoln Motor Co. division. Farley was in charge of Toyota's Lexus luxury division before joining Ford.

"The company hasn't made this kind of commitment to Lincoln in decades," Farley said according to CNNMoney. He also said that Lincoln will get its first Superbowl commercial this year, its first in decades, with NFL hall-of-famer Emmitt Smith as the spokesperson.

Will these steps be enough to resuscitate the age-old brand? Maybe. However, Lincoln better not have make as many mistakes as Ford has made this week.

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Tesla Model S winning Car of the Year proves all cars should be electric

2012-12-06T23:16:00.000-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III

Date: December 6, 2012

Usually, all it takes is one great achievement to finally get people to pay attention. Hopefully, the statement made by Motor Trend will get the auto industry to realize that electric cars are't made for the future, but for now.

Last month, Motor Trend named the Tesla Model S as the 2013 Car of the Year. Why is this a big deal? The Model S is a 100% electric car.

The Tesla Model S proves that an electric car can be spacious and sexy and not look like a cramped toy car.

That's right. No gas and zero emissions for the car of the year. This is the first time in it's 64-year history Motor Trend named a completely electric car as the Car of the Year.

A new age for autos

The biggest question now, why aren't all cars electric?

Now, I know it seems like a weird question to ask; but from everything that I've seen and know, I truly believe that we are at a point where all newly produced cars should be all electric or at least a hybrid.

Let's look at the facts. For starters, hybrids will save customers on gas and electrics don't use gas at all. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, hybrids can save consumers between $500-$1,000 yearly over their non-hybrid counterparts. Also, both vehicles are better for the environment releasing little to no emissions.

The sad part about this belief is that it isn't shared with most of today's automakers. If they believed in electric cars, then they would build on current electric technology to make advanced electric cars and not the gas engine that has been around for the last 100 years.

A consumer product being around for a hundred years should warrant it's removal from the market anyway.

Automakers excuse for not exclusively building electrics is that people won't buy them and they will be a bottom line loss for the company. Really?

Now, I have seen technology come and go in the last decade; and usually when an industry thinks a certain technology is best, they produce only that technology and phase out the old, regardless of how many people are still using or want the old technology.

VCRs, CD players and regular tube televisions all got phased out to make room for DVDs, MP3s and flat-screens.

So, why can't the auto industry phase out gas cars?

Power demand in short supply

The biggest argument against letting electric cars take over the industry is the batteries don't last long enough to justify solely making them. This is a valid argument.

Even though the Model S can get 208-235 miles on a single charge, most electric cars get less than 150 miles on a charge, according to the DOE. Since the Model S boasts a price tag of $57,000 (after a federal tax credit), this is a high-end model electric car, but in the future a lower-end model will be able to achieve near the same amount on a single charge; but, only if most automakers begin the phase out process now.

IBM is already working on a lithium-ion battery that will allow electric cars to travel 500 miles on a single charge. Following up on this technology, we will then see affordable electrics achieving 200-300 miles on a single charge.

Another argument is there aren't enough charging stations around the country for consumers to invest in an electric car. Yes, this is true, but it is a flawed argument.

With more electric cars being sold, more charging stations will be built. When gas cars were being mass produced in the early 1900s there weren't a plethora of gas stations around either; but as more cars were sold, more companies built stations and the same will happen with electric cars.

Although, more and more public charging stations are popping up around the country already.

According to U.S. Energy Information Association, there are almost 8,000 public charging stations in the country, 25% of those are located in California. This may seem like a lot; but it still fails in comparison to the 150,000 gas stations across the country.

The EV Project is trying to help this cause. According to CNN, the project, which is jointly funded by DOE grants, has set up about 2,600 public charging stations in nine states and 21 cities.

Colin Reed, manager of the EV project, told CNN he and his team hope to create 5,000 public charging stations and 8,000 residential charging stations.

"We're trying to make charging a very ubiquitous part of your life," said Reed.

A changing of the charge

Even time is a factor. While refilling a gas tank takes less than five minutes, recharging a battery can take 4-8 hours. However, Volvo is working on a faster charger for electrics that will fully charge a battery in 90 minutes.

"We know that short recharging times and extensive operating range are a necessity for potential electric car consumers," said Lennart Stegland, Volvo Vice President of Electric Propulsion Systems, in a press release. "Even if you don't have enough time for a 1.5-hour charge, plugging in for just 30 minutes will give you enough power for another 80 kilometers of driving."

So, a quick 30 minute charge could get the car another 50 miles. That should be enough to get home or make it to a closer station near the your destination.

The technology is coming for electrics to drive gas cars out of town, but the process has to start now. Oil companies like Exxon and BP may not like it but its time for cars to move strictly to battery power.

In anticipation for the launch of its all electric Nissan Leaf vehicle, Nissan released a commercial that showed everything in the world running on gas power. This included an iPod, computers, a coffee maker, a printer, a microwave and various other things that all run on electricity. It all looked ridiculous.

This is just how ridiculous we'll look if we're still driving fully gas powered cars in the next decade.

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Can Blackberry make a comeback?

2012-12-04T12:58:00.000-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III

Date:December 4, 2012

Am I the only one getting excited about the revamped Blackberry lineup coming next year?

In my friend circle of Androids and iPhones? Yes. But with the rest of the world? No.

That's because Research In Motion, manufacturer of Blackberry, stock has been on the rise. With the assurance that Blackberry 10, the revamped operating system for Blackberry and the software that RIM is hanging the company on for survival, will be released Jan 30, RIM stock has went up nearly 80% since late September.

Will the Blackberry 10 OS save RIM?

However, just the mere arrival isn't enough to get me excited about the Blackberry devices. The things RIM are doing in anticipation for the devices have me excited.

For starters, RIM isn't just making a new OS, they're trying to be a leader in mobile technology. According to the Blackberry Developer blog, the mobile web browser the Blackberry 10 devices will use have passed Ringmark 1, a standard browsers must achieve to be produce the highest quality HTML 5 apps.

Ringmark is a browser test suite for building apps on the mobile web. Developed by Facebook, Ringmark "will help developers know, in a glimpse, whether their app can or cannot run on any given mobile browser. It will help mobile browser vendors build browsers that better serve developer needs and bring better apps and games to consumers," wrote Matt Kelly on Facebook's HTML 5 blog.

There's three levels on the ring test, Ringmark 2 being the highest, which RIM hopes to achieve before the launch of the Blackberry 10 devices.

However, even if it doesn't, it will still be one of the best OS on the market.

According to HTML5.com, a site that automatically test browsers compatibility with html 5, the beta version of Blackberry 10 achieved a 484 score out of 500. Compared to Apple iOS6 (386), Windows Phone 8 (320) and Android 4.0 (297), Blackberry could make them look like the old-school flip phones browsers.

Tizen is the only other browser to score higher than Blackberry 10, achieving a 485 score. It's also currently in beta form.

Also, starting this month until Feb 5, RIM is giving out 1,500 beta devices to developers so they can start making apps that utilize the OS of Blackberry. This should give owners of the new Blackberry a slew of apps to choose from so they won't miss the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Developers are really liking the new platform as well.

"I hope it's not too late for them because this product is great," said Mobtapp's Sean Green, who has built a shopping application for BlackBerry, to PC World.

Also speaking to PC World, Mario Angula, a user experience consultant for Tesseract Space, which builds applications for the publishing industry, said the new way the Blackberry funcitons is "real cool."

This will be key for RIM. To not only bring the casual smartphone user into the Blackberry fold, but also, lure devout Apple and Android users away from their iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S3s.

According to the International Data Corporation Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, in the third quarter of this year, Android still owns a majority of the smartphone market with 75%, Apple is far behind in second with 14.9% and Blackberry is lagging in third at 4.3%.

I guess it's safe to say Android and Apple don't have much to worry about anytime soon. However, that line of thinking is what got RIM in the predicament it's in now.

As early as three years ago, Blackberry was the leading force in the cellphone market owning 41.6%, according to comScore. At the same time, Apple was second with 25.3% and Google brought up the rear with 5.2%.

However, RIM's lack of belief that consumers wanted a fully-touchscreen phone instead of a QWERTY keyboard as well as not developing a bigger app store led Blackberry to fall out of favor with the average consumer quickly.

RIM doesn't want to want to make the same mistake twice. This time they're trying to get ahead of the curve.

"We’re no strangers to the importance of standardization – especially in support of Web technologies," said Kelly. "We’re diligently working to continue our support for the Ringmark standard and to provide developers an increased sense of confidence in the web as a platform."

Occupy Wall Street Buying Debt Of 99%

2012-11-16T19:22:00.000-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III

Date: November 16, 2012

There’s no question debt is a major concern in this country. Almost 80% of Americans are thousands of dollars in debt. Well, Strike Debt, an affiliate of Occupy Wall Street, thinks it has found the cure to help with the average American struggling in debt.

Strike Debt is attempting to buy and erase all the debt of the 99%. Can this really work?

They call it Rolling Jubilee. What this project allows Strike Debt to do is buy American’s debt for pennies on the dollar from the banks and lenders, and then erase it from the books completely.

“We believe people should not go into debt for basic necessities like education, healthcare and housing,” says the Rolling Jubilee official website. “Think of it as a bailout of the 99% by the 99%.”

Strike Debt relies on donated money in order to abolish the debt. The way it works is for every dollar they receive, they can buy and erase $20 worth of debt. They have already done a trail run and used $500 to get rid of $14,000 worth of debt. So far, they have raised almost $295,000 in total. That’s almost $6 million worth of debt gone.

The organization buys all forms of debt including medical, housing, credit card and some education debt. Unfortunately, they can’t buy all education debt. According to the website, a lot of the student loan debt has federal guarantees, so there’s no secondary market to buy it.

“We believe it may be possible to buy private student loans that are not guaranteed by the federal government; Strike Debt may attempt to purchase this kind of debt after doing further research,” said the website.

A large portion of Americans would love this type of debt relief. Earlier this year, student loans surpassed credit card and auto debt as the highest form of debt in the country.

The national effort started Nov 15 with The People’s Bailout. The sold out event was a variety show and telethon that featured live music, comedy and other performances. Each ticket purchased for the event was $25, $50, $100 or $250, which will be used to cut between $500-$5,000 worth of debt.

Now, before you and your friends decide to go and buy each others debt, you should know you can’t know whose debt you’re buying. That’s not how the process works.

According to the Rolling Jubilee website, various debt accounts are bundle together and sold as a whole. There is only a limited amount of information that can be obtained about the person whose debt is being bought.

“With 15% of Americans currently being pursued by a debt collector, looking for one person’s debt would be like looking for a needle in a haystack,” says the Rolling Jubilee website.

Regardless, Strike Debt efforts seem to be appreciated by the public. Various tweets have been posted praising them for helping out the lower/middle class.

“This is awesome: Rolling Jubilee – a bail out for the people by the people[,] sadly I think it’s US only,” said @schneiderhome.

This tweet by the @OccupiedTimes states, “The beautiful thing about the @RollingJubilee is it's taking radical direct action by (legally) using the system against itself. @StrikeDebt”

Of course, there are some people who aren’t too sure about the idea. Tim Worstall, business writer for Forbes, thinks that Rolling Jubilee is a good idea but it still has some issues to iron out.

“How on earth is anyone expected to finance a $300,000 purchase of a house without debt?” said Worstall in his column about the Rolling Jubilee. “But even the ill-informed can come up with a good idea which is what I think they have done.”

Worstall uses tax law as his main source of indecision. While the law states the IRS must collect on tax on all debt, with a few exceptions. The main one that sways Worstall on the side of this being a good idea is that gifts are an exception.

According to Worstall, any citizen can buy debt and then write it off as a gift. When this is done, no tax is payable upon that debt reduction. In addition, only individuals can do this and not companies or corporations.

“Yes, a reduction in the debt burden sounds like a very good idea. It’s one of the things that the economy really does rather need,” said Worstall. “And this is a way of achieving that while navigating through the minefield that is the tax system.”

This isn’t the first time Strike Debt has tried to the American people deal with the debt crisis. They also create a book called “The Debt Resistors’ Operations Manual.” This manual gives people tips and tricks on fighting the debt system. It was written by a collection of people all affiliated with OWS and striving to reduce the amount of debt in the country.

“Debt is the tie that binds the 99%, from recent graduates paying hundreds of dollars in interest every month on their student loans, to elderly homeowners underwater to the banks, to teachers and firefighters forced to take pay cuts because their cities are broke. Strike Debt links diverse individuals and communities to resist the debt system,” says The People’s Bailout website.

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NBA Anti-Flopping Rules Are A Joke Unless Enforced Properly

2012-11-06T04:36:00.001-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III

Date: November 6, 2012

Well, this didn't take too long. After only a week into the new season, the NBA has decided to enforce its new Anti-Flopping Rule. The two culprits in question: J.J. Barea and Donald Sloan, who both received warnings for their first time offense of flopping.

J.J. Barea and Donald Sloan (above) weren't the only ones flopping last week. Yet, they're the only ones to get warnings?

If you're asking yourself who are these players, you're probably not the only one. Barea is most notable for helping the Dallas Mavericks win the NBA Title in 2011. He turned that amazing playoff run into a long-term contract offered by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the off-season. Sloan has played for three different teams in only his two years in the league. For now, he plays with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Prime Examples

I know. You still have no idea who these players are. So, it's not surprising that the league chose these two players to punish first as opposed to a bigger name player.

I watched just about every national televised game during the NBA premiere week last week; and I refuse to believe that these are the only two players that violated the new flopping policy.

According to the NBA website, the anti-flopping policy states "A 'flop' is an attempt to either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call by exaggerating the effect of contact with an opposing player.

The main factor in determining whether a player committed a flop is whether his physical reaction to contact with another player is inconsistent with what would have been expected given the force or direction of the contact. For example, a player will be considered to have committed a 'flop' if he falls to the floor following minimal contact or lunges in a direction different from the direction of the contact."

So, out of the approximately 450 players and 40 games played in the NBA, Barea and Sloan are the only players to exhibit this sort of behavior.

In the words of ESPN NFL Analyst Chris Carter, C'MON MAN!

I hate everything about flopping and I'm glad the league is trying to get rid of it, but, unless they come down hard and heavy on ALL the players, it won't happen. This means superstars, all-stars, bench players and no names have to be held to the same standard or players and coaches are just going to laugh whenever a penalty is dished out.

Yes, Barea and Sloan committed obvious flops, but so did a lot of other players around the league. Take a look at Houston Rockets newly acquired guard James Harden play against the Atlanta Hawks.

Selling The Play For Profit

There was a certain play, where he came off a pick-and-roll, began to drive to the basket then stopped at the corner of the square for a pull-up jumpshot. The Hawks defender then leaped from behind to try and block the shot, but he missed and Harden made the basket. To add insult to injury, Harden fell to the floor after receiving a light tap on the wrist well after the shot was released, and the referee called the Hawks defender for a foul.

Is that not flopping? I don't understand how a tap on the wrist can cause a person's legs to give out from under them.

However, this is just one of the plays. I can't even count the number of phantom charges, dribbler neck jerking and body flails that defied the laws of physic I saw last week.

According to TNT NBA Broadcaster Reggie Miller, everything that appears to be flop is not actually a flop.

"That's called selling the play," said Miller during a live broadcast of a game last week. "He's not flopping, he's just selling the play."

Honestly, I would love for Miller to explain the difference because the league failed to mention the "selling the play clause" in the policy statement.

The truth of the matter is that Barea and Sloan are just being made examples. They are relatively nobodies in the NBA, playing for bad teams; so it won't cause a huge media uproar, but just enough to put the other players on notice that something could happen.

This is the wrong way to go about eradicating the sport of this disease.

Relaxed Penalties Equal More Flopping

Maybe the league doesn't want to get rid of flopping. Maybe they only want to give the appearance that want to get rid of it.

If the league truly wanted to get rid of flopping, wouldn't they use harsher penalties? Right now, it takes a total of five infractions on the rule to get a player "possibly" suspended from a game. The first violation is a warning, then violations 2-5 are minimal fines totaling $60,000.

For NBA players, $60,000 isn't a lot of money. This season, Barea is set to make $4.5 million and Sloan will earn $762,000. So, even if they get up to the fifth violation their bank accounts won't be hit hard at all.

Of course, for a superstar, their pockets are much deeper; so they too could care less about losing a potential $60,000 if it meant helping their team win.

The NBA average salary is $5 million. So, if the fines aren't comparable to what the players are earning, who's really going to care about breaking the rule.

Either increase the fine or create another penalty as punishment. ESPN NBA Analyst Jalen Rose feels penalites should happen in game.

I appreciate rules against "FLOPPING" but dislike the new penalties. Any punishment should happen DURING the game(personal/tech foul) #NBA
— JALEN ROSE (@JalenRose) October 3, 2012

Technical fouls or some other in-game penalty would be immediate and really hit home with players that the league doesn't want flopping on the court anymore.

According the league, they don't want to put that responsibility of judging flopping on the referees. However, they judge everything else about the game so I don't see what's so different.

Only time will tell if this new anti-flopping policy achieves its intended purpose. So far, two players warned have been warned, and we'll see how many more warnings and fines are to come.

Although, if nothing changes from what I saw last week, that number should be huge.

Image Credit: Raw Signal Basketball

Raul Ibanez's Historic Night Caps Off Great Night Of Playoff Baseball

2012-10-11T13:13:00.000-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III

Date: October 11, 2012

Wow! Yesterday was a perfect showcase of exactly why people love sports. Last night, there were two games in the MLB playoffs that exemplified heart, passion and historical greatness.

Raul Ibanez is greeted with cheers as he hits another walkoff HR for New York.

The second game of the night featured the Baltimore Orioles versus the New York Yankees.

In probably the most shocking move of the season, with New York down one run in the ninth inning and with Alex Rodriguez, one of the greatest home-run hitters, up-at-bat, manager Joe Giradi substituted him for Raul Ibanez, a 40-year-old average player.

"You're going to be asked a lot of questions if it doesn't work," Girardi said during his postgame news conference.

Well, it worked.

Ibanez not only hits a game-tying home-run, but then three innings later, he hits a walk-off home-run to end the game. He became the first player in MLB postseason history to hit a tying home-run in the ninth inning and walk-off home-run in extra innings.

Rodriguez, who wasn't concerned about being taken out of the game, said he had "never seen anything like it" and he couldn't think of a better guy this moment could belong to than Ibanez.

New York now has a commanding 2-1 lead in the ALDS. They need one more win to advance to the ALCS.

Some people took to twitter to share how they felt about witnessing history.

Ibanez pinch hitting for Arod: 2-2 w/9th inning game tying & extra inning game winning HRs. All-time great playoff game performance.
— Max Kellerman (@Max_Kellerman) October 11, 2012

Skip Bayless making a reference to the numerous clutch hits that Ibanez has recently hit for the New York.

Unreal. Ibanez does it again, makes Girardi look like even bigger genius for pinch-hitting him for ARod. O's just can't get the edge on NYY
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 11, 2012

The other game last night featured the Detroit Tigers taking on the Oakland A's. For a while, the game looked like it was over before ninth inning.

The A's entered the bottom of the ninth inning down three runs to one. They didn't make history, but they did make timely hits to get on-base, score and set-up Coco Crisp for a game winning RBI base hit.

"It's amazing," Crisp said. "The guys in front of me obviously did a fantastic job of getting on base."

Crisp was also the game 3 hero when he made a leaping catch to steal a home-run away from Prince Fielder enroute to the A's winning the game.

ESPN NBA Analyst Ric Bucher covers the Bay Area teams as a radio host for 95.7 The Game. He let people know this is nothing new for the team with the lowest payroll in the league and a team half filled with rookies.

Entire country just caught a glimpse of what the A's have done since July.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) October 11, 2012

The A's had 14 walkoff wins in the regular, including the one that won the club the AL West title against their division rivals the Texas Rangers.

This latest walkoff win evened up the series to force a series deciding game 5 in Detroit.

During the regular season, the MLB can be, for lack of a better word, boring. It's a long and tedious season, and it can go overlooked by the masses. But, when it comes to playoff baseball, few things, including the NFL playoffs, can compare to the excitement that a timely hit can bring.

What a night of baseball. I've had semesters in college shorter than these games (& with less scoring!) but they're so worth it.
— Tony Reali (@AroundTheHorn) October 11, 2012

What a great night for baseball. Tonight was for everyone who says "Baseball is boring" Both finishes were awesome
— Richard Brehaut (@Brehaut12) October 11, 2012

Image Credit: B.C.'s Sports: The Endzone

Thanks To Google, Apple Will Make A Car In Near Future

2012-10-10T21:54:00.000-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III

Date: October 10, 2012

Google has its giant foot in almost every technological industry today. The once search engine only website has branched out from its beginnings to explore mobile devices, mobile operating systems, an online marketplace, television and now-- cars.

From its roundness and unusual playful design, this concept Apple iCar could be just what Apple needs to leave people in awe.

Yes, Google has recently secured a license to legally test drive automated cars on California streets. This comes only months after getting a similar license in Nevada.

Automated cars are classified as cars that can drive on the street without assistance from a human. Using GPS, mapping sensors and other technology, the car will be able to navigate on the open road.

Google developing car technology like this leads to me to believe only one thing: Apple isn't far behind.

After a much hyped press conference for the unveiling of its new iPhone 5 last month, there were a lot of writers and consumers who felt like the new phone was an upgrade over previous generations but wasn't an innovation for the company.

This is what Apple has been missing since 2010 when it unleashed the first iPad on the world and opened up a whole new market. A new creation is needed for a company that has built its reputation on being a trendsetter.

See more pictures of the concept Apple iCar

An Apple car or "iCar" is on the way and here's why.

It's a well known fact that Apple hates Google; more importantly, Apple hates competition. After battling with Microsoft for much of the 90s and early 2000s over desktop operating system dominance, it now finds itself battling Google for the top mobile OS, and Google is winning the battling. To counter, Apple decided to get rid of the much favored Google Maps for its iOS 6 and replace it with its, so far flawed and panned, Apple Maps navigation app.

If Apple can't handle Google leading in the mobile world and in map navigation, no way would they let Google get a leg up on them in the auto industry.

However, Apple is actually no stranger to the auto industry. They have been working with various car companies including BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz on integrating its Siri voice assistant technology into these cars. Siri would work the same as it does on the iPhone. The driver would be able to push a button, probably located on the steering wheel for easy access, and then Siri will be able to help the driver with a variety of functions.

This toe that Apple has in the auto industry door will help propel the iCar into existence. Plus, with Google obtaining licenses for automated cars Apple should have no problem getting a license and developing technology that utilizes Siri as the automated driver.

The final reason why Apple has to make an iCar is because it's what its late-great founder Steve Jobs wanted. Although, he never got around to actually designing the car himself, Jobs had a vision for an iCar on the road. Even if Apple doesn't want to compete with Google for on the road supremacy, the least they could do is fulfill a wish of the man who made the company the top company in American history and develop an iCar in his memory.

People won't need a driver's license by the year 2040

An Apple iCar would be pretty interesting. Along with Siri being the automated driver, the passenger could have have their iCloud integrated into the car. This means that people will be able to listen to their iTunes music library, and audio books via the radio. In addition, they'll also be able to watch movies from their iCloud on any screen that comes in the car. The icing on the cake is that the car would also be able to act a as mobile hotspot so, people with iPod Touches and wifi-only iPads will be able to access the internet through their devices on the go.

The world is definitely in the age of technology and Google proved that this year. The only question is: will Apple be able to keep up and develop its own car? They need something big for the critics and consumers; more importantly they need something bigger than Google.

While Google is developing technology for automated cars is huge, if Apple can develop it's own automated car with everything I mentioned above, that will eclipse anything Google achieves. All Apple has to do is make sure when Google releases it's software for automated cars, its right there showcasing it's brand new iCar.

Image Credit: The Daily Disc

NBA Free Agency: Losers

2012-07-15T17:03:00.001-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: July 15, 2012

NBA free agency is suppose to be about making your team better for the up-coming season. Some teams have done that and others have done nothing and will have virtually the same roster as last year. However, some team's moves, or lack thereof, have caused them to land on this list of losers for the off-season. It's not so much what they have done is bad, they just won't help the team in the upcoming season.

Dirk Nowitzki will have his head down a lot this season thanks to the Mavs roster moves.

Orlando Magic

To trade him or not to trade? That is the question the Magic have been mulling around their offices since last winter when it became clear that Dwight Howard didn't want to be there anymore. Now, after numerous attempts to get him to sign a long-term extension have failed, they still haven't traded him. This off-season they botched their one opportunity to get Howard to Brooklyn (where he really wants to be) and failed to get arguably the third best center in the league in Brook Lopez (who signed a long-term extension with the Brooklyn Nets because trade discussions were taking too long). Furthermore, they haven't made any other moves that would convince Howard they can compete for a title now or in the future. Reports are the Magic are working with the Houston Rockets and Lakers on possible trade scenarios; but, they need to make one quick because the last thing they want is another "Dwightmare" of a season.

Atlanta Hawks

What the Hawks are doing this off-season makes them losers; however, they could end up being huge winners next off-season. I say this because they're trading for players with expiring contracts (they traded their best player Joe Johnson for a bunch of nobodies) in order to make cap room for next off-season when there will be some big names on the market, including: Chris Paul, Andrew Bynum, possibly Howard and their own Josh Smith. So, they decided it was time for an overhauled roster, since the team as it was constructed couldn't get past the second round. That's cool but needing to blow-up your team to do so is not. No one is going to play with 100% effort for a team they know they probably won't be playing for next season; and because of it, don't expect the Hawks to make it any where near the second round this season.

Picking up Steve Nash was good, but the Lakers still have major holes they need to fill.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have fallen a long way since their title run in 2011. It all started last off-season when they decided that winning one title was enough and now they should focus on clearing cap space. To do that, they got rid of players (like J.J. Barea and Tyson Chandler) that helped them win a title. This off-season, while it was clear they were in "win-now" mode by trying to sign hometown hero Deron Williams and trade for Howard, they failed to do either one. Also, they let more key players from their title team go to other teams (Jason Kidd signed with the New York Knicks and Jason Terry signed with the Boston Celtics). Now, they're in the same boat as the Hawks, trying to piece together a team for this season, just to release everyone next off-season and attempt sign multiple super-star players. This is dangerous because, as they know, there is no telling if a super-star will want to sign with the Mavs; and if not, the Mavs will find themselves, where they used to be, right back at the bottom of the league.

Los Angeles Lakers

I know want everyone is thinking. How can the Lakers be a loser and they traded for Steve Nash? Yes, they filled a need at PG; but, I don't think they have done enough to compete to with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nash is good, but he won't be able to keep up with Russell Westbrook. Also, they still need to fill their bench with 3-pt shooting, youth, athleticism and talent, which they still haven't done. Reports are they're working on a trade for Howard, which would help them in a number of areas, then I could take them off this list; but until then, they're losers for using a marquee name to try to mask the flaws they still have.

NBA Free Agency: Winners

2012-07-13T01:30:00.000-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: July 13, 2012

There's always competition to see who can "win the off-season." There are no actual games but signing key free agents or finalizing a blockbuster trade could be enough to get the fans, players and city excited about the team's upcoming season. It doesn't mean that the team will perform well; but, at least for the time leading up to the season, players and fans can have some bragging rights.

Ray Allen (left) and Rashard Lewis may be just want the Heat need to repeat.

Below are the teams who have given their fanbase the most optimism for the 2013 season.

Miami Heat

The defending champs have shown that they aren't complacent with just winning one title. The have revamped for next year in two huge ways. First, the addition of Ray Allen, the greatest 3-pt shooter of all-time, to their roster will surely open up the Heat's sometimes stagnant half-court offense. Second, adding Rashard Lewis gives them some versatility with their line-up because he can stretch the floor and can match-up with the three and four position. These two signings will no doubt have the Heat back in contention for the title next season.

New York Knicks

The Knicks had two things on their agenda this free agency: 1) Improve the PG position and 2) Get bigger inside. They accomplished both. The shocking move that brought Jason Kidd to Broadway had everyone stunned. He will obviously play a crucial role in mentoring and grooming Jeremy Lin into a great PG. Then bringing back former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Camby to come off the bench will give the Knicks one of he best one-two punches at the Center position with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler starting. With the Knicks re-signing J.R. Smith and supposedly matching Lin's offer sheet from the Houston Rockets, expected them to be a force next year.

Can Lamar Odom revive his career now that he's back with the Clippers?

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers had their best winning percentage season in team history last year. No doubt they want to build on that momentum. Trading for Lamar Odom was a huge move. If he can get back to his Sixth Man of the Year form from two years ago, this move could prove to be one of the biggest of the off-season. Also, re-signing Chauncey Billups was big as well. He'll probably be the playmaker for the second unit, which seemed like a fish out of water when Chris Paul wasn't on the court; or, he could play as the starting SG, like he did last season, but with the signing of Jamal Crawford they could start him instead. With Paul, the true MVP from last season, and Blake Griffin, the Clippers will be looking to go much deeper in the playoffs next season.

Brooklyn Nets

With the Nets going from New Jersey to Brooklyn, they had a lot riding on this off-season. They couldn't fail to land a big fish like they did two years ago when LeBron James and other superstars were free agents. They needed to make big splash, and they did just that in acquiring Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks. While Johnson is no superstar, he is a great 3-pt shooter and can create shots for himself off the dribble; and him being on the team proved enough to convince Deron Williams, one of the top five PG in the league, to re-sign with the team after flirting with the idea of playing in his hometown with the Dallas Mavericks. Although the Nets don't quite have the great "Big 3" they wanted (they couldn't finalize a trade with the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard) they do have a good "Medium 4" with Williams, Johnson, Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez. They should be enough to get the Nets back to the playoffs and be real contenders next season.

Who Is The 2012 NBA MVP?

2012-04-06T00:59:00.004-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: April 6, 2012

valuable: adjective; of considerable use, service, or importance.

Earlier this week, ESPN showcased four teams and four contenders for this year's NBA MVP Award. Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder took on LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Then, the late game, featured Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers versus Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers in a inner-city battle for dominance and the Pacific Division lead. All four players are doing incredible things for their respective clubs; however, Paul is the one and only true MVP this season.

While LeBron James (left) and Kevin Durant (center) have been getting more attention, the true NBA MVP is Chris Paul.

Now, before everyone gets that puzzled look on their face, let me explain.

First, let me remind you this is the Most VALUABLE Player Award. It's not for the best player in the league. It's not for the player who can put up the best stats. It's for the player who matters the most to their team.

Lets refer to the definition of valuable above. According to dictionary.com, for something to be valuable is has to be of considerable use, service or importance. Importance being the operative word, which brings me to my second point.

To gauge the importance of a player, I rely on an old question: If you take the player off the team, how far would its competitiveness fall in the league?

Lets start with James and the Heat. Take James off the Heat and they would still have Dwyane Wade (the 2nd best SG in the league), Chris Bosh (one of the top ten players in the league) and the best bench of any of the four teams mentioned. No doubt they would still make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and be a contender to win a title. What James does is great, but it only adds to a team that would be a contender without him.

Importance level of James to the Heat: Extremely low.

Now, lets look at Durant. Durant and starting PG Russell Westbrook are the two best offensive threats on the Thunder. With that being said, if Durant were taken off the team, Westbrook could still carry the load offensively for the team; and they would be successful. There's precedent for such a situation and it wasn't too long ago.

Last season, Derrick Rose (another super-athletic PG who was a streaky shooter and not that great at passing the ball) led an offensively challenged Chicago Bulls team, not only to the best record in the East, but to the best record in the league. All the other players had to do was play great defensive and hit an occasional shot.

I'm feel very confident in saying Westbrook could do the same thing with the numerous defensive minded players on the Thunder.

Importance level of Durant to the Thunder: Low.

Okay, now lets take Bryant off the Lakers. I know the thought is unfathomable, but for this situation it has to be done. If you take him off the team, the Lakers would still have the best offense front court in the league with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, both of which can score 30 points on any give night.

However, they would have a major hole in the backcourt that couldn't be half-way filled with anyone on the bench. Also, Gasol has fatigue issues and Bynum has injury issues, so the extra workload of carrying a team would probably way to heavy on them.

They would still make the playoffs; however, it would probably be a very low seed between the sixth and eighth spot. Their title hopes could still be there but it would seem more like wishful thinking.

Importance of Bryant to the Lakers: High.

Now, take Paul off of the Clippers. They wouldn't even make the playoffs and would probably be in the NBA cellar at this point in the season. One word would sum them up: terrible. They've had only one playoff appearance in the last 20 years! Now with Paul's arrival, they're the fourth seed in the Western Conference and two games behind the Lakers for the division lead.

They would still have an all-star in F Blake Griffin, but he's not at that point in his career where he can carry a team offensively or defensively. Plus, of the four teams, the Clippers have the worst bench with the least amount of scoring options.

Importance of Paul to the Clippers: Extremely high

To often in sports we mix up a player's value level with their statistical production; but,I hate to break this myth, numbers always lie. They only tell a portion of the value the player has to a team. I hope the people who vote for this award get it right. There's hope because the last three years they did, with Rose winning last year and back-to-back wins for James before him.

Of course, some people are still going to want stats to validate Paul being the MVP. Here's a statiscal reason why him winning shouldn't rely on statistics.

When Steve Nash won the award for the 2004-05 season, he was averaging less points, steals and more turnovers than Paul is this season, but he had two more assists per game. The numbers for the two player's are similar; and, just like Paul this season, there were plenty of players with better stats than Nash.

So, why did Nash win?

He won because he came to a franchise, the Phoenix Suns, that had a losing record the previous season and made them relevant in the league the very next season. The same thing Paul has done this year with the Clippers.

Nicki Minaj's "PF: Roman Reloaded" Fails To Fill The Shoes Left By "Pink Friday"

2012-04-05T09:20:00.003-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: April 5,2012

The highly anticipated sophomore album from Nicki Minaj is finally here. Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded sets to destroy any notion that her overwhelmingly successful debut album, Pink Friday, was just beginners luck and truly establish Minaj as a mainstay in hip-hop. However, Minaj hits the common sophomore slump with this one.

Honestly, PF:RR is not a good album; and, I can say that because, in comparison to her debut, it doesn't measure up. Everything that made PF great she went away from on PF:RR.

It relies on too many techno-inspired beats, too many gimmicky voices, too many features and not even lyrical content.

I take that back. Even though PF:RR has more features than PF, it's not a hindrance to the album; however, the quality of the features are a hindrance. While PF featured Eminem, Kanye West and Will.I.Am, PF:RR has Cam'ron, 2Chainz and Beenie Man. Why? I don't know. Neither of them add substance to the songs they're featured on and bring the quality of the album further down than it would've been had they not been on it.

The best song on the album is "Champion," which features Drake, Nas and Young Jeezy. Minaj gets semi-deep on her one verse trying to inspire up-and-coming girls. I guess to achieve their dreams? The overall message wasn't exactly clear; but, then again, the message of the whole album isn't clear either.

It really is confusing. The album is called Roman Reloaded, so I figure the majority of the songs would be starring Minaj's crazy, delinquent alter ego Roman Zolanski (a la Eminem with The Slim Shady LP). It could've been great. Minaj could've expanded on the craziness of Roman, fleshing out the character a little more, while displaying the great lyricism that was on "Roman's Revenge" from PF.

However, only the first six songs (which aren't great in either content or performance) have Minaj rapping as him, while the rest of the album is full of Minaj love ballads and techno-club rapping.

At the end of the album, Minaj proclaims to be "the female weezy"(weezy being her boss/mentor Lil' Wayne). Well, in a lot of ways, PF:RR proves this to true, and it's not a good thing. She shows low lyrical ability, with little to no substance behind it; and, the only people that will like PF:RR are her die-hard fans, who could care less about quality as long as new music from her is coming through their speakers.

Sounds like "the female weezy" to me.

I really wanted to PF:RR to be great. Unfortunately, Minaj didn't channel the same hunger and determination she had on her debut. As I mentioned earlier, it is common for an artist to make a great debut and then fall very short on their sophomore effort. The question now is, how will she come back from this? Will she continue down this path techno, dance, love songs; or will she get back to showcasing her rhyming skills and connecting more to her fans, which is how she got to this point in the first place?

Hopefully, she'll choose the latter.

3 Storylines To Follow During 2012 MLB Season

2012-04-03T23:39:00.003-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: April 3, 2012

Heavy rains are frequent, flowers are getting ready to bloom and pollen is covering everything everywhere. This can only mean one thing: spring is in full effect; and, with spring comes the start of the MLB season.

Jose Reyes is one of the main reasons all eyes will be on Miami this season.

The first pitch of the 2012 season is set to be thrown tomorrow, and with that pitch, teams will get all their questions answered. Was this player the right guy to add to the ball-club? Should we have hired that other coach? Did we do enough to win it all? Questions like these and any other executive decisions will be answered in due time.

However, I have my own questions that I can't wait to be answered about this upcoming season. Even though I'm a die-hard New York Yankee fan, I'm also a fan of the game; and, this season, I have other topics I'm going to follow alongside New York.

Here are three storylines everyone will be talking about throughout the 2012 MLB Season:

Can the Miami Marlins live up to expectations?

This past off-season was huge for the Marlins. Not only did they get the brand-new stadium they've been trying to get for the last couple of years, they also got the star power to bring people to the stadium. Jose Reyes led the National League (NL) in batting average in 2011 and was the best free agent on the market. Mark Buehrle is an All-Star, Gold Glove, World Series (WS) winning starting pitching, who can bring leadership and a winning attitude to a franchise that desperately needs it. Heath Bell has been one of the best Closers in the game, winning the Rolaids Relief Award two out of the past three years.

So, now that you have one of the best hitters in the game, a starting pitching to lead your rotation, a closer who can come in and seal a win for you at the end of the game, new uniforms and the new stadium, what are you going to do with them Marlins? No doubt, receiving all these riches, in a limited amount of time, comes with a win now mentality or else it would all seem pointless. The heat will definitely be on the Miami this season (where have I heard that before?).

Can Albert Pujols thrive under the bright lights of L.A.?

After ten years of service, nine All-Star appearances, three NL MVPs, two WS titles and multitude of batting awards, Pujols left his nest with St. Louis Cardinals to sign a ten-year $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Pujols has consistently played well his entire career, so the St. Louis media never picked on him. Even when he went through slumps and it seemed like he was over the hill, they stuck by him, waited it out and eventually he turned it on and started hitting like he usually does; but, will he be able to still play that way with a huge L.A. media judging his every move?

L.A. is not going to coddle him like St. Louis. How is Pujols going to handle all the media attention when he goes through his slumps? What if the Angels don't win at a high rate and the media starts questioning his contract? Or, what about when he commits a fashion faux pas on Rodeo Drive? The off-the-field media can be just as, if not more distracting. I hope Pujols thought about these things before signing to a big market.

Will adding an extra wildcard spot mean anything to the playoff run?

This year, MLB executives decided to add an extra wild-card spot to the playoffs. You can thank the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves for this rule. They set new standards of losing last season, when they both lost division leads by the end of September after coming into the month win a substantial lead. So, to help out the teams who play in the same division as powerhouses, as they both do, they put in this rule.

I have mixed feelings about this rule. One thing that's different in MLB versus other sports is that only four teams from each league get in the playoffs. That's three division winners and one wild-card team. It's harder and a little more meaningful to get in the playoffs in MLB compared to other sports. So, I don't like rule for that aspect; but, MLB needed to do something drastic to get different teams in the playoffs. I would've preferred if they took my idea on how to improve the league but we'll see if their idea adds excitement and helps up-and-coming teams get into the playoffs.

Image source here

Top 2012 NBA Free Agents

2012-04-01T08:47:00.004-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: April 1 ,2012

Remember last summer in the NBA? There were two main topics of discussion. The first was the NBA Lockout, which stopped all league activity until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was signed. The second was the 2012 free agency, which featured super-star Center Dwight Howard in a starring role.

Deron Williams (No. 8) will be the biggest fish to catch during the NBA free agency period.

Since that time, a new CBA has been signed and Howard decided to pass on free agency this year for next year. So, now that Howard is not on the market, who are the top names in this year's free agency?

To be honest, there aren't many. There are some big names, but most of them have their better days behind them. Other free agents are young, but have the possibility to be great, in the future, based on what they have shown so far in the league.

Below, are the top 2012 free agents.Half are *unrestricted, and the other half are **restricted.

Unrestricted Free Agents

1. Deron Williams PG; New Jersey Nets: Williams, the top overall free agent this year, has made it very clear that he would be playing somewhere else next season. With Howard not being traded to the Nets, expect Williams to be in a different uniform next year.

2. Steve Nash PG; Phoenix Suns: I would have never thought Nash would leave the Suns; but, judging by some recent comments of his, he isn't happy with how things are going there. Even at his age, he is still leading the league in assists per game (APG) and will be much sought after this off-season.

3. Ray Allen SG; Boston Celtics: This season will be the last hurrah for the original Big 3. Yes, unless the NBA's all-time leader in 3-pointers made takes a huge paycut to stay with the Celtics, Allen will be leaving. Although, the biggest question remains; do the Celtics want him back, or are they going into full rebuild mode for the future? At his age, he's still deadly accurate from behind the arc, runs around the half-court (usually tiring out his defender) and has one of the prettiest releases in the game; so, if the Celtics don't want him, another team will be sure to pick him up.

4. Jason Kidd PG; Dallas Mavericks: Kidd has said he wants to play at least two more seasons, at which point he'll be 40 years old; but, those two years probably won't be with the Mavericks. By letting key players (Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler, J.J. Barea) from their 2011 title winning team sign with other teams in 2011 free agency, billionaire owner Mark Cuban has made it clear that he is looking to retool the team around NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki and get younger in the process. Kidd will be one of the next players to go.

5. Tim Duncan C; San Antonio Spurs: Duncan isn't what he once was, but he still averaging 15 points per game (PPG) and 10 rebounds per game (RPG); and, he's a major reason why the Spurs have the second best record in the west (35-14). The chances of him leaving the only franchise he's ever played for and led to four NBA titles are slim, so don't hold your breathe; but, as we know with NBA free agency, anything is possible.

6. J.R. Smith SG; New York Knicks: Smith could become a free agent if he chooses. He has a ***player option next season and could use it to stay with the Knicks. Whether he stays or goes, depends on how far the Knicks go in the playoffs. If they make it to the second round or deeper, he'll stay. If they have an early first round exit, expect him to have an early exit out of New York.

7. Kevin Garnett C; Boston Celtics: Much like Allen, Garnett's time in Boston is more than likely over; and, he would have to take a huge paycut to stay. Also, much like Allen, it becomes a question of whether the Celtics even want him back because they're going to be one of those teams after Howard next season in free agency. The answer is probably not. Injuries have slowed the former NBA MVP down in recent seasons, so Garnett will be playing somewhere else next season.

8. Jameer Nelson PG; Orlando Magic: To me, Nelson is the most underrated PG in the league. People forget that he was an all-star three years ago; and, if it wasn't for an injury keeping him out the playoff run, the Magic could've had a better chance at beating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 NBA Finals. Sure, he's not Chris Paul or Derrick Rose, but he's still effective at running the offense. He does have player option, so he could stay with the Magic if he wants. Since Howard decide to stay, he'll probably also stay to make one final run at a title in Orlando.

9. Steve Novak SF; New York Knicks:I know many of you don't know this player. Heck, I didn't know who he was before the season started either. However, this season, he has turned into one of the top 3-pt shooters in the league and is a huge reason the Knicks are in playoff contention. Becuase of his shooting ability, there will be a lot of teams after him, but I don't think the Knicks will let him go so easily.

10. Spencer Hawes C; Philadelphia 76ers: Another relative unknown by the masses, but Hawes has been doing some good things for the Sixers. He can rebound, can post-up and can make a tight pass to cutting teammates. At 23-years-old, he's only going to get better.

Restricted Free Agents

1. O.J. Mayo SG; Memphis Grizzlies: Mayo will more than likely sign with another team this off-season, without much fuss from the Grizzlies. The day before the trading deadline last season the team actually traded him to the Pacers; but, due to paperwork issues, the trade was never finalized and he stayed with the Grizzlies. This summer, expect nothing to stop him from moving to a new city.

2. Brook Lopez C; New Jersey Nets: The Nets are a team with domino pieces. Howard didn't land there, so Williams is leaving; and, since Williams is leaving, Lopez is probably going to want to leave too. However, with the Nets moving to Brooklyn next season, they need a talented player to bring fans to the stadium every night, so they'll match any offer for Lopez. Their hopes will be to either sign one of the top guards in the 2013 free agency pool to play along side him (Yes, Paul could still land in New York), or use Lopez as a centerpiece to finish a trade with Orlando that would bring Howard to Brooklyn next season.

3. Roy Hibbert C; Indiana Pacers: Ever wonder why the Pacer are the fifth seed in the East right now? Here's one of the main reasons. Hibbert is a true big man of the game. He plays with his back to the basket, rebounds at a high rate, and defends the rim with the best of them. He showed signs of life towards the end of last season after the Pacers fired Jim O'Brien (who publicly belittled Hibbert for his play), and this season he has shown his true potential. With a shortage of big men in the league, expect a lot of teams to be going after him, but also expect the Pacers to match any offer.

4. Jeremy Lin PG; New York Knicks: Where would the Knicks be right now if they hadn't found this gem at the end of their bench? For a brief stretch in February, Lin was all the talk in New York City and the NBA. His former teams, that had cut him, all said they knew he had talent; but, there just wasn't any room on their roster for him. Well, this summer, I'm sure those teams, as well as others, will make room to acquire Lin. However, with the Knicks finally getting the PG they've been looking for, don't expect Linsanity to leave Madison Square Garden anytime soon.

5. Ryan Anderson PF; Orlando Magic: This has been Anderson's breakout year. His ppg and rpg are way above his career averages, and he's one of the best 3-pt shooters in the league. If the Magic want to keep Howard long-term, keeping Anderson in the fold would be a good place to start. Of course, with their salary cap issues, they may not have enough to keep him around.

6. Nicolas Batum SF; Portland Trailblazers: Batum is one of the few bright spots for a franchise that seems to have a dark cloud hanging over the arena. He consistently plays hard at both ends of the floor; and, even though he's small for his position, his long wingspan makes him a hassle to deal with. I'm sure the Blazers want to keep him in Portland to play alongside Lamarcus Aldridge for years to come. However, one thing I've learned about the Blazers franchise, its future is never written in stone.

7. George Hill SG; Indiana Pacers: Hill has starter talent, but has been the sixth man of the bench for his entire, although brief, career. When he was with the Spurs, he played behind Tony Parker and now with the Pacers, he plays behind Darren Collison and Paul George. I think Hill wants to prove he can be a starter in this league; and, since the Pacers have two young talented starting guards already, I don't see them spending starter money for a player to come off the bench.

8. Landry Fields SG; New York Knicks: Fields has been a good young player for the Knicks. He is an okay defender, can drive to the basket (although sometimes it seems like he's out of control) and has a nice mid-range jump-shot. The Knicks will want to keep him for the foreseeable future in the starting two-guard position.

9. J.J. Hickson PF; Portland Trailblazers: I've always liked Hickson; but, things haven't worked out well for him early in his career. He was traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Sacramento Kings, then waived by the Kings and then picked up by the Blazers recently. I can't understand why he can't find a home because he has a nice offense game, can rebound the ball, has tons of athleticism and hustles on defense. Well, he skills were on full display against the Los Angeles Clippers recently, where he started in place of the injured Aldridge. He scored 29 points, grab 13 rebounds and shot 68% from the field. If he keeps putting up numbers like this, he will definitely land somewhere for a long time.

10. Jodie Meeks PG; Philadelphia 76ers: Meeks was playing very well as a starter at the beginning of the season, when the Sixers jumped out ahead of everyone in the Atlantic Division. Then, Evan Turner, the 2nd overall pick from the 2010 NBA Draft, moved ahead of him in the rotation and his numbers dwindled a little. Even though, he can still contribute to the team, if another team decides to sign him, I don't think the Sixers will match the offer.

*Unrestricted Free Agent: A player can sign with any team he chooses.

**Restricted Free Agent: A player can talk to other teams and agree to a deal; however, the player's current team has the option to match the offer. If the team doesn't match within seven days, the player can sign with the other team. If the team does match the offer within seven days, the player will stay with the current team for the offer that was matched.

***Player Option: The player has an extra year on the original contract he signed with the team. He has the option to either stay for that year or forgo the year and become an unrestricted free agent.

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Trayvon Martin's Case Is Terrible... But What About Marlon Riley?

2012-03-28T11:55:00.006-04:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: March 28, 2012

It has been a month since 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was fatally shot on his way home from the store to watch the NBA All-Star events. George Zimmerman, his murderer, was a self-appointed neighborhood watch chief who hasn't been arrested for the murder because he claimed self-defense provoked him to shoot.

Signs like the one above have been seen a lot lately. But are the signs battling the right issue?

I've heard the 911 tapes of nearby neighbors reporting what they were hearing outside; and, the most apparent piece of evidence I hear is young Martin yelling "HELP! HELP!" right before a bullet is heard and his cries come to a screeching halt.

Did Martin deserve to be murdered? No. Should Zimmerman be in custody for the murder? Yes. While both action and inaction are confusing to me, there's one thing about this whole situation that really perplexes me.

Why are people rallying for Martin? Is it because he's a black person who was murdered by non-black person? Is it because he was a young adult and was murdered by a half-white half-Hispanic older adult? Is it because Zimmerman wasn't arrested initially? Is it because his father lived in a rich housing community? Is it because the national media decided to follow the story? Are any of these the reason or is it something else because I can't figure it out?

Everyone in this country and (thanks to social media) the world, knows about the Martin case. However, many have no idea about another young black male who was shot to death without just cause. His name is Marlon Riley.

I first read about Riley in a New York Times article earlier this year. Riley was visiting his girlfriend in a Brooklyn neighborhood, when he was stopped on the street by a gang member and asked if he was affiliated with a rival gang. Riley, who wasn't affiliated with either gang, had no idea what the gang member was talking about and had a confusing look on his face. When the 21-year-old looked perplexed, the gang member shot him in the face, killing him.

I read about this in January, but when I looked into the situation, Riley had already been dead for months. He was killed July 2011.

But I never heard about. There were no protest, no rallies, no national news media and no trending topics on Twitter for Riley, like there was for Martin. I'm guessing most of the country, and (despite all the social media) the world never heard about Riley.

So, why no rally for Riley? Is it because he's a black person who was murdered by another black person? Is it because he was a young adult and was murdered by a black teenager? Is it because his murderer was in a gang? Is it because he was killed in a low-income neighborhood? Is it because the national media decided not to follow the story? Are any of these the reason or is it something else because I can't figure it out?

Derrek Asberry, editorial writer for the Savannah Morning News and a good friend of mine, wrote a piece on the Martin case. In it, he proclaimed "this is not an African-American issue; this is an American issue. Any American, regardless of race, should be able to look at the facts and be able to say, 'That’s not right.' This is not a time for minority groups to rally for Trayvon."

Initially, I agreed with the statement; but after giving it some thought, I can only half-way agree. This isn't a time for people to rally for Martin, however, this IS a black issue.

Black people should be rallying against the issues and the injustices, not for the people. Here's why. Riley is gone, Martin is gone but the injustices that killed them are still alive. Even if Zimmerman gets convicted and sent to jail for years or life, there is going to be another black kid killed for no reason at all.

Martin's Case also brings to mind another black male who was killed unjustly. Troy Davis (remember him?). People held rallies, protested (all the way to the Supreme Court) and even made him a TT on Twitter. Then, all their rallies failed and he was put to death by lethal injection. Now, do you hear anything about Davis, his plight or the injustice that killed him? The answer is, an unsurprisingly, no.

The reason is because when people die, over time, we forget them. The same way people forgot about Davis, they'll forget about Martin. When they do, another slain black person will arise and people will rally for them and the cycle will start all over again.

But, if black people rally against the issues on a consistent basis, rather than for any given person every once in a while, then maybe we have a chance to save an innocent person in the future.

I'm not a very political person. I don't rally or protest issues. So, I don't like to judge people who do; but when I see people rallying for one person (just because a cop or a non-black person killed them), when hundreds of others, like Riley, are also being killed, that's when I feel like I need to say something.

What happened to Martin is a shame, but people need to stop focusing on Martin and start focusing on the issues of the black community. Gang violence and racism are still major enemies against black people in America. So, you can either rally and yell "STOP GANG VIOLENCE" or "NO MORE RACISM," or just wait for the next black kid to be murdered and yell "JUSTICE FOR ___(insert name here)____."

The choice is yours.

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2012 Grammy Awards Recap: The Good, The Bad, The Weird

2012-02-13T17:23:00.001-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: February 13, 2012

Last night, the 54th Annual Grammy Award Show aired. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't able to watch; however, Twitter and Facebook kept me updated with the events of music's biggest night.

Adele was the biggest winner at the 2012 Grammys. She won six Grammys including Album of the Year.

My favorite part of award shows are the winners of awards and seeing who got snub. It doesn't matter what award show it is, there is always someone I feel shouldn't have an award over someone else; and the Grammys are no different.

Here is my recap of the awards given out:

The Good

Obviously, the person who had the best night was British singer Adele. She won every category she was nominated in, including Record ("Rolling In The Deep") and Album (21) of the year, and took home a total of six Grammys. She was rolling in the gold by the end of the night.

Another big winner was Kanye West, who dominated the rap categories. His classic hip-hop album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was award graciously for its high production value, lyrical content, and powerful messages. West won the categories of Rap Song and Collaboration ("All Of The Lights"), Rap Album and others. Yes, all of the lights were shining heavily on West at the Grammys.

The Bad

My bad is J. Cole not winning best new artist. This is by far the biggest snub of the night. His album Cole World: The Sideline Story was one of the best hip-hop albums to come out all last year. The production, content and his performance was near the top of the game and I felt like he should've been rewarded for his efforts.

However, the main reason he should've won over Bon Iver, the band who did win, is because J. Cole is a true new artist in the music industry. Bon Iver has been releasing music since 2008 with their debut For Emma, Forever Ago. After four years in the industry, how can they still be considered a new artist? J. Cole made his label debut less than a year ago in September 2011.

Also, he should've received a nomination for best rap album. The only person nominated who didn't deserve it was Lil' Wayne with The Carter IV. I would've gladly switched The Carter IV for Sideline Story.

The Carter IV is not a quality hip-hop album and was only nominated because it sold a lot of records. Now, if this was the Billboard Awards, I would understand the album getting a nomination; however, I thought the Grammys were about rewarding the highest quality of music in the industry, and The Carter IV falls very short of that bar.

The Weird

The weirdest thing to me was Chris Brown's F.A.M.E. album winning Best R&B Album. Chris Brown cannot sing and shouldn't be rewarded for his studio produced voice. All I know is this, it's a sad day in R&B music when Chris Brown wins album of the year.

Also weird, Rhianna's Loud being nominated for Album of the Year. Really? This boggles my mind, especially when there are other albums (like West's Dark Fantasy) that were better. I just don't get it.

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To Think The Knicks Are Great Now Is Lin-Sane!

2012-02-12T15:52:00.001-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: February 12, 2012

This has been a crazy month for the New York Knicks (13-15). After looking like their season was just about over, with multiple injuries to star players Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudamire while already being almost ten games under .500, a nobody from off the bench breathed new life into the team.

"Linsanity" is sweeping across New York City thanks to Jeremy Lin getting the Knicks in playoff contention, but is the celebration premature.

Well, that nobody has a name now, and it's Mr. Lin. Jeremy Lin.

Lin, who was just days away from being released by the Knicks before his breakout game versus the New Jersey Nets (8-21), has led this largely under-performing team back from the depths of the league and has them in playoff position. In five straight wins, Lin is averaging 26 points while shooting over 50%, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. He is the first Knick to put up numbers like this in a five game stretch since Stephon Marbury in the 2004-05 season.

Add in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers (15-12) where Lin out-dueled "The Black Mamba" Kobe Bryant, and Lin has his teammates, coaches, Knick fans and the whole city of New York excited for what seems to be wild ride to the end of the season.

However, I can't pretend, like most fans, that the Knicks are completely rid of their problems.

One major problem is the play of Anthony and Stoudamire. I know the lockout this off-season cut into some practice time for these two to learn how to play together; but a lot of the times this season, it looks as though they have never worked on that aspect at all. Their offense consists of one pass to either two and the rest of the team standing around waiting for them to create some type of shot.

Of course, with Lin running the point now, that could change; but my best guess is that Lin will defer a lot to the two superstars because they're superstars and he's only had five good games.

Speaking of those five games, they weren't against the best in the league. Their only game against a playoff team was against the Lakers; but, I can't call them one of the best teams because their defense and offense (which reminds of the Cleveland Cavaliers (10-16) two years ago when a certain king use to rule) seems to be in a flux right now. No player, outside from Bryant, seems to know what they're doing on the court.

Until I see how well Lin performs against a defense like the Chicago Bulls (23-6) or Miami Heat (20-7), I can't be sure that he is the answer long term.

Also, lets not forget one thing, Lin is from Harvard University. Harvard athletes historically don't pan out well at the professional level.

Remember Buffalo Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick last season in the NFL? He and the Bills got off to a fast start to begin the year. They started 5-2, beat the divisional powerhouse New England Patriots and some were mentioning Fitzpatrick in the MVP discussion. Ftizpatrick even got himself a long-term deal with the team worth around $35 million. Then, after beginning so well, the Bills lost their next seven games, finished the season 6-10, and missed the playoffs.

So, I ask you, should we really give Lin the key to the greatest city in the world after only five games and act like everything is fixed with the Knicks?

Just think about it, how many Harvard grads do you know have had an impact on the NBA? Can't think of any? That's because there are none. Only two other players (Ed Smith and Saul Mariaschin) have come from Harvard and to play in the NBA, and they didn't last very long. So, I can't believe that five games from Lin has cemented his place in the league.

I'm extremely happy to see the Knicks winning games and finally playing with some enthusiasm. However, they should've had that spark coming into the season, with the main charge being Anthony and Stoudamire. Those two have to get healthy quick, so they can get some quality practice time in; and the Knicks coaching schemes, role-players play and chemistry have to improve drastically before I can say Knicks are Lin-credible.

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State Of The Union Address Didn't Answer One Major Question

2012-01-25T01:13:00.002-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: January 25, 2012

Last night, President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address. According to him, the union has come a long way since he took and office and it's only going to get stronger.

"The state of our Union is getting stronger. And we've come too far to turn back now," said President Obama. "As long as I'm President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum. But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place."

President Barack Obama (center) delivering his 2012 State of the Union address (Vice President Joe Biden (left) and Speaker of the House John Boehner).

This was the most he talked about the present state of the country. He spent the majority of the speech telling Congress his vision for the future of the union. His overall vision is equality across the board, creating a stronger economy with more jobs and less debt and building innovating technology for the future.

The way he plans on making these dreams a reality is by getting rid of the value system of politics and getting back to American values.

"So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I'm reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes," said President Obama. "No one built this country on their own. This nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other's backs.

And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we're joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong."

Of course, all these promises of a better country with politicians of different parties working together was greeted with rows of applause. However, what wasn't answered was how exactly was it going to change? What is going to make the two parties actually work together and build a better country for the poorer majority and not the richer minority?

Since Obama has been in office, the two sides have bickered and fueled the perception that politicians only care about themselves and their rich constituents.

I want to hear about what the government is going to do to change the mindset and operate effectively and efficiently. Not just a "leaner, quicker, and more responsive" government, but a government with reasonably thinking heads on capitol hill.

In case you all forgot, this is the major reason why the US credit rating was lowered for the first time ever last year.

According to washingtonpost.com, Standard&Poor (S&P) lowered the rating because “political brinkmanship” in the debate over the debt had made the U.S. government’s ability to manage its finances “less stable, less effective and less predictable.”

It said the bipartisan agreement reached that week to find at least $2 trillion in budget savings “fell short” of what was necessary to tame the nation’s debt over time and predicted that leaders would not be likely to achieve more savings in the future.

It rarely, if ever, happens the two sides work together to get things accomplished; and, just like S&P, I don't see that changing anytime soon.

I did notice, throughout the speech, President Obama spoke about getting rid of $2 trillion worth of debt as if it was a good thing though. Huh?

From the education system to the national debt to financial discrimination, America has a lot of problems. However, that's just what's on the surface. The underlying problem is how the republicans and democrats cling to "rigid ideologies instead of building consensus around common sense ideas."

Once that problem is fixed, everything else will make a turn for the better also; and, until that problem is fixed, all of President Obama's other dreams for the future of the union will not come true.

To see the whole State of the Union address go to Pyrate TV.

Tweets To Kyle Williams Are From Hurt, Not Hate

2012-01-24T20:55:00.000-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: January 24, 2012

If you haven't heard by now, the New York Giants have beaten the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling overtime game 20-17.While Eli Manning, Victor Cruz and the rest of the offense played nearly flawless and Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and the rest of the defense played very well (only giving up two huge touchdown plays), majority of the sports world seems to think the reason the Giants are going to the Superbowl is because of 49ers wide receiver/punt returner Kyle Williams.

Kyle Williams (above #10) trying to block out the crowd noise after a hard day on the job. However, I don't think it is going to be that easy to block out the fans on Twitter.

You don't believe me when I say almost everyone blamed Williams for the Giants victory. Just look on Twitter. The tweets that were being sent out Sunday night were numerous and continued on until through Monday night; and all of them said pretty much the same thing-- YOU SUCK!!! (for 49er fans) and THANK YOU!!! (for Giant fans).

More Than Just A Game

Now, I read through a lot the mentions about Williams and some were actually hilarious and creative for the moment. However, others were a little shocking to say the least.

The thing I found most interesting was other people tweeting the fans that were threatening Williams were taking things a little too far. They said it was just a game and shouldn't be taken that seriously.

I'm sorry to say but sports it's not just a game. Not in the United States of America anyway. Not when more people pay attention to their fantasy football team than to the presidential candidates and their particular platform.

No sports, the NFL in especially, is a lucrative business; where there's a lot of money riding on the players shoulder's. From the owners down to the gambling fans, fair or not, there's a lot of other people's money riding on the performance of the players; and, when a player performs as horribly as Williams did, some people get money taken out of their pocket.

Sometimes Emotions Get In The Way

Even for the fans who are non-gamblers, the game can still mean a lot. Those true die-hard 49er fans, who live-and-die with every play, literally do live-and-die with every play. I know because I'm the same way.

Whenever my Yankees, Knicks or Giants are playing, I go through emotional roller-coasters, especially during playoff games. For every ounce of happiness I felt when Williams fumbled the ball, 49er fans felt an once of heartbreak and loss. Some of those tweets were from people who were grieving because they realize that their season is over and they came so close.

Of course, the main culprit behind the end of the 49ers' season is Williams. No matter what any of his teammates say to the media they know, like we all know, without those two fumbles, the 49ers have a much better chance at winning that game. The picture below sums up how Williams' teammates really feel about him. Look at how Vernon Davis (with the helmet on) and Michael Crabtree (#15) are looking at Williams. You can't tell me they ain't thinking some of the things people were tweeting.

I'm not saying what the people were tweeting was right or wrong. All I'm saying is people should understand where the anger comes from and not jumped on people for their tweets and act like they have no connection to what's going on on the field. In this time of social media,it's so easy to express yourself at any given moment that sometimes those hurt feelings come out in a very hateful way.

To see both Williams' turnovers go to Pyrate TV.

AFC and NFC Championship Match-up Preview

2012-01-21T14:17:00.002-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: January 21,2012

AFC Championship Preview

Baltimore Ravens versus New England Patriots

This is going to be the ultimate showdown and prove which side of the ball wins in the playoffs. Will it be Ray Lewis and the Ravens star-studded defense; or will it be Tom Brady and the Patriots high-octane offense? Conventional wisdom would tell you defense wins in the playoffs, which would mean the Ravens should win. However, the offense they're going up against is just as powerful as they are and shouldn't be take lightly.

So, since both sides are equal (the Ravens ranked 3rd in defense and the Patriots ranked 2nd in offense), in terms of talent, this game is going to come down to both team's deficiencies . That is the Ravens' offense and the Patriots' defense. Joe Flacco and the rest of the offense have shown signs of greatness, but most of the time it seems like they've never played on the field together before. Their ineptitude at scoring is shocking to me considering all the weapons they have at their disposal. If Flacco can somehow manage to use all these weapons, I think he'll be able to slice through the Patriots' 31st ranked defense and pull out a win for the Ravens.

Result: Ravens 24- Patriots 17

NFC Champions Preview

New York Giants versus San Francisco 49ers

I'm just going to honest-- the Giants are going to win this game. There is nothing that can stop them. No one on the 49ers defense, no coaching schemes, NOTHING CAN STOP THE GIANTS!

Ok. Now that I got my biased New Yorker opinion out of the way, lets get on to preview.

I can't even lie-- this is going to be a very close game. It's not surprising either because these teams are built the same way. They're built to play hard on defense and control the ball on offense. Which is why this game will come down to turnovers. Eli Manning and Alex Smith have been known to lose the ball often; and, whichever one reduces the number in the turnover category will win the game for their team.

Result: Giants 31- 49ers 28

Tom Brady Showed Everyone Why Tim Tebow Won't Make It In The NFL

2012-01-15T19:13:00.001-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: January 15, 2012

In a game surrounded by Tim Tebow mania and talk of whether he could lead the Denver Broncos to the Superbowl, it was fitting to see Tom Brady put on one of the greatest quarterback performances in NFL playoff history and show everyone what a real quarterback looks like.

With a remarkable performance by Tom Brady (right), Tim Tebow's (left) deficiencies were highlighted even more.

Brady put on scoring clinic. He threw for five touchdowns in the first half, setting the playoff record for most passing touchdowns in the first half; and finished the game with a total of six touchdowns, tying the playoff record.

The New England Patriots won the game 45-10.

While this was going on, Tebow could barely complete a pass. However, that's nothing new. Tebow rarely completes a lot of passes during games, although, it seemed even more magnified last night.

The reason for this is because Brady was scoring at such a high rate of speed. By the end of the first half, Brady had more passing touchdowns, 5, than Tebow had passing completions, 3. Seeing a statistical mismatch like this increases the magnifying lens on Tebow's quarterback play and puts on full display his lack of skill at the position.

Yes, Tebow won two national titles in college; and he has done a good job leading the Broncos to a division title this year, but his lack of ability to throw the ball is the reason why he won't last as a NFL quarterback.

As much as I dislike Brady and the Patriots, I have to admit that Brady is the model of perfection when it comes to playing quarterback. From his calmness in the pocket, keeping his feet still, reading the coverage and throwing a perfect spiral. Now look at everything Tebow does. It's almost the exact opposite.

People want Tebow to succeed because they feel like he is a good person off the field and he may be. However, a quarterback needs more than a kind heart to win a Superbowl. It takes skill, hard-work and the determination to want to get better.

All he has to do is watch Brady's performance yesterday and try to play half as well as Brady played. If he needs more motivation, here's another alarming stat. Brady had 26 passing completions in yesterday's game. That's equal to the total number of passing attempts Tebow had for the entire game.

Unless Tebow realizes he has to make changes to his mechanics and how he plays overall, he will definitely be out of the league sooner than later.

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Iman Shumpert May Be Another Knick Draft Bust

2012-01-13T22:56:00.001-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: January 13, 2011

The New York Knicks have a history of being terribly bad at drafting players in the first round. Their picks over the last decade have done little to disprove this notation either; and, honestly, Iman Shumpert, their first round pick last year, may continue the tradition.

Can Iman Shumpert break be the first great first pick the Knicks have drafted in over two decades?

I haven't seen the Georgia Tech product play much in this short season, but from what I've seen I'm not sure if this kid has what it takes to be great. Last night's loss versus the Memphis Grizzlies is exhibit A.

It seemed like as soon as the game started he started jacking up shot after shot. By the middle of the first quarter, he was already 0-9 on his shots. He finished the game 5-20. On a team with Amare Stoudamire and Carmelo Anthony, I don't think it's within the team's best interest for an inconsistent rookie to run down the court and shoot the first shot he sees.

However, to be fair, Stoudamire did get benched early because of foul trouble and Anthony's left wrist was bothering him; but, even when they were in the game, Shumpert was still throwing up shots.

At first, I thought maybe Coach Mike D'Antoni told him to shoot more, but a quick camera shot of his face after another Shumpert heave proved otherwise. I can understand D'Antoni's frustration. It wasn't just the fact Shumpert kept shooting and missing, but he also was not passing the ball to wide open teammates. Here's the crazy thing-- he is listed as a point guard!

I'm not trying to jinx Shumpert at all. I want him to be great and break this tradition of terrible first round picks; but, the fact is that the Knicks haven't had a viable pick in the first round since David Lee (who now plays with the Golden State Warriors) was drafted in 2005; and haven't drafted a great player since Patrick Ewing in 1985.

That's a long time to not have drafted a great player considering they have had high draft picks numerous times over the last couple of years.

It would be in everyone's best interest if Shumpert can develop and be the great player he thinks he is now. After watching a couple of games this season, including last night, I know he has very long way to go before this is possible. I hope Shumpert works hard and listens to the coaches and veteran players around him to make this happen because the last thing the Knicks need is another first round draft bust.

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Kobe Bryant Is STILL The Best Player In The NBA

2012-01-12T19:59:00.004-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: January 12, 2012

The past two nights in the NBA have been very pleasant to watch. While I am a New York Knicks fan, I also happen to be a Los Angeles Lakers fan as well; and, the things Kobe Bryant has been doing to his opponents is nothing short of greatness.

Kobe Bryant has been flying above the rest of the league lately, showing his legs still have lift in them.(Noah Graham/Stephen Dunn/Getty)

He is also proving why he is still the best player in the league today.

On Tuesday night, Bryant scored 48 points in a win against the Phoenix Suns(complete with enough dunks and alley-oops that would make cross-town rival Blake Griffin jealous) and last night he scored 40 points against the Utah Jazz. These are the *two highest scoring totals of any player so far this season.

"Yeah, it's not bad for the seventh best player in the league," said Bryant, taking a shot at the ESPN player rankings that was released at the beginning of the season listing the **best players in the NBA.

According to ESPN.com, Bryant,33, has 324 points through his first 11 games this season, ranking him third in scoring since 1985 among players who were at least 33 years old. Do you know the two people ahead of him? Knick legend Bernard King and "His Airness" Michael Jordan.

However, it isn't just the fact Bryant is scoring at an unbelievable pace for his age that makes him the best player. It's the fact that his overall play seems to have risen to another level as well. Over the last five games, along with him averaging 36 points, he's averaging over five rebounds and five assists and shooting above 50%. Add in the fact he is the only superstar player on his team, making every shot that more difficult to get off, and you are witnessing a player that can't stopped.

I know alot of people would not agree that Bryant is the best player in the league, but honestly whose better? LeBron James? No he isn't. Isn't it ironic that on the same night Bryant completes back-to-back 40 point scoring games, two of the top trending topics on Twitter were #MoreClutchThanLeBronJames and #LeBrickJames for James' performance in the Miami Heat's game against the Golden State Warriors.

While James does have the physical attributes over Bryant and his overall numbers are better, the fact that he continuously comes up short at the end of games almost makes his great numbers meaningless. This is something else that separates Bryant. In all my years of watching sports, I have never heard anyone say Bryant couldn't hit the clutch shot or didn't come up big in the fourth quarter, whereas with James, it has been prevalent throughout his entire career.

Bryant may be in his 16th season but thanks to his "special" off-season knee surgery and all the people who said father-time was catching-up with him, he is still playing at an elite level; and better than every other player in the league.

*Update January 14: In last night's win versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bryant scored 42 points, making it his third strait 40 point game. According to ESPN.com, this is the first time he has scored 40 points in three straight games since 2007, when he did it in five straight games.

**Update January 14: Ric Bucher makes a new list of the top seven players in the NBA.

Update January 15: Even though the Lakers lost in a competitive match against the Los Angeles Clippers, Bryant still scored 42 points-- making it his fourth straight game with at least 40 points.

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Who's To Blame For the NBA Lockout?

2011-11-14T10:16:00.000-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: November 14, 2011

The NBA owners' Wednesday deadline for the National Basketball Players Association to accept the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) proposal has come and gone, with no announcement from the NBPA that they will accept it. Even though the two sides met Thursday and Friday, they couldn't get a deal done and it looks like we won't see any NBA action for a very long time.

NBPA President Derek Fisher and the rest of the players have the power to stop the lockout, but they continue to choose not to.

I've read a lot of reports about what's going on at these meetings and what both sides want in the new CBA. Thanks to USAToday.com, I've read the entire owners proposal to the players. From what I can see, the main points of disagreement revolve around:

The BRI Split

The Salary Cap/Tax System

Maximum Length of Contracts

Of course, both sides have contributed to keeping this lockout extended into the regular season, but which side should hold more stake than the other? To me, the answer is obviously the players.

I'm usually all for the "many" standing up to the "few elite," and I was initially on that stand in this situation as well. But, as time went on, and I began to think about it and hear more about the situation, I realize want the players want out of this deal makes no sense to me.

My main gripe with them is the Basketball Related Income (BRI) split. The NBPA managed to get 57% of the split in the last CBA. The owners say they lost a lot money because of this and they want to reduce the split to 50-50; or have a conditional agreement, where the NBPA receives between 49-51% of the split depending on the amount of revenue generated for that given year.

This seems more than fair. Either both sides get the same amount, or if the league does well, the players get more of the split. Why must this be so hard to compromise on?

But, giving that it's taking so long to agree to this, I'm guessing the NBPA doesn't want either. No, they'd rather put the whole season on hold, or bring it to an end, just to get a guaranteed 51% or 52%.

I saw a report that said each percentage is worth about $13 million dollars, so I understand the difference between the percentages. But, in my mind, I feel like the owners deserve that money more than the players do.

The NBPA wants that extra money to give to their current players and for their future players. But, that's all. The owners have to run an entire league. They have to not only pay the players. They have to pay the coaching staff, front office staff, security guards, concession stands, the electric, water, gas bill and etc. Of course, some of that 1% or 2% will go in the pockets of the owners; but majority of it will actually go to keeping the league running and that's what I agree with it.

Basketball is by far my favorite sport and I really want to see the NBA get back to business; and if agreeing to this current proposal will save a 72-game season, then why not agree to it? America's economy has taken a huge nose-dive since 2005 (when the last CBA was agreed to) and the owners have to keep the league going. Fortunately for the players, they can't just get fired like other people in this country, so just accept the deal.

I hate when I hear players on TV and Twitter say, "we really want to get a deal done so we can get back on the court for our fans sake." No they don't. They want to get a deal that's going to pay them the most money and this is the main reason why the NBA has yet to start.

I see the owners trying to bend over backwards to accommodate the players with more money, guaranteed contracts and more years on contracts; but I don't see that same thing from the players in trying to help the Owners keep the league healthy and make it grow.

If the players really care about playing again, they would get some sense of urgency and realize that the league is in danger. They have to decide what's more important: the growth of the league or the growth of their bank accounts.

The ball is in their court.

Will Henry Skinner Be Another Innocent Man Put To Death?

2011-11-08T20:27:00.001-05:00

By: Martin Rand, III
Date: November 8, 2011

Less than two months after Troy Davis, a man convicted of killing an off-duty cop in Savannah, Ga, was executed with little evidence against him, another man in Texas is going through a similar situation.

Henry Skinner is set to be executed. But are the courts about to kill an innocent man?

According to cnn.com, Henry "Hank" Skinner was set to be executed tomorrow for the 1993 killing of his girlfriend and her two adult sons. The only thing he's hoping will stop the process is DNA at the crime scene, which he says isn't his.

CNN writers Ashley Hayes and Bill Mears write:

"All the district attorney has got to do is turn over the evidence and test it, and let the chips fall where they may," Skinner told CNN's Kate Bolduan in 2009 in an interview from death row at the Polunsky Correctional Institution in Livingston, Texas. "If I'm innocent, I go home. If I'm guilty, I die. What's so hard about that?"
On Thursday, the Texas trial court denied Skinner's latest motion asking to have the crime scene items tested.
"We are deeply disappointed that the trial court has denied Mr. Skinner's request for DNA testing," Rob Owen, Skinner's attorney, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the trial court's order offers no explanation for its conclusion that DNA testing is not called for in this case."

The case then went to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which is Texas' highest criminal court. Luckily for Skinner, the court granted him a stay of execution. This will give him and his lawyers more time to prove his innocence with the DNA.

This is an interesting case to me because it makes me think, why are the courts so eager to kill a man who could be innocent?

While there seems to be some evidence against Skinner, if he's saying he's innocent, why wouldn't the courts want to look at every piece of evidence to make sure they're taking the right life.

I'm pretty sure a lot of people on death row proclaim they're innocence; but, if there is evidence to help possibly free a man, why does he have to go through hoops and hurdles just to get it tested?

In the coming days, as they begin to test the DNA for evidence, we could find out if it proves Skinner right and innocent.

Image source here

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