the ManSpeak

Michael Vick Is Once Again a Franchise Player

2011-01-30T11:49:00.000-06:00

The Philadelphia Eagles have announced that they will
place the "Franchise" tag on quarterback Michael Vick.

Michael Vick's story is well known, so there is no need to hash out the brutal details of his past.

But what has become relevant over the course of the 2010 NFL season is that Michael Vick has been on the comeback trail both on the field and off.

Now it looks as if the trail has come full circle.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles plan to place the franchise tag on their superstar quarterback.

An official signal that Vick has once again become a franchise player.

Vick regained his pre-conviction form in 2010, showing the flashes of brilliance and escapability that is unparalleled in football.

But Vick also showed improvement as a pocked passer, throwing for 3,018 yards, 21 touchdowns, a 62.6 completion percentage, and a 100.2 quarterback rating, all career highs.

The Eagles have put all of their faith and trust in Vick as placing the vaunted franchise tag on the quarterback all but guarantees that Kevin Kolb is out in Philly.

But who would've thought that Vick would have ever become a franchise quarterback once again?

Would you thought it possible that after basically going broke that Vick is once again among the top 5 highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL?

Even if you hate the man for what he did for those animals, this is truly a remarkable story.

San Diego State and BYU Square Off in Mid-Major Showdown

2011-01-25T23:52:00.000-06:00

Jimmer Fredette, who leads the nation in scoring, will try
to lead his BYU Cougars over the 4th ranked and
undefeated San Diego Aztecs on Wednesday night.

The Mountain West Conference has received plenty of publicity over the past year primarily because of the success of some of the conferences football programs. The TCU Horned Frogs come to mind.

But the conference is competitive in other sports as well and that talent will be on display Wednesday night as the undefeated and 4th ranked San Diego State Aztecs travel to Provo, Utah to take on the 9th ranked BYU Cougars in a Mountain West Conference showdown.

Who would've thought that two teams from the Mountain West would be playing each other with a combined 1 loss on the season. The teams have combined for a 39-1 record.

But much like in football, teams from the Mountain West Conference, as well as other mid-major conferences still don't get the credit they likely deserve, even after Butler danced all the way to the NCAA Finals before succumbing to Duke.

San Diego State has been particularly surprising this year, coming out of the gates with a 20-0 record, including victories over high quality teams like Gonzaga and Wichita State, two teams destined to dance with the Aztecs this March.

San Diego State is led by their senior point guard D.J. Gay, who averages 12.8 points and 3.2 assists per game whiles serving as the Aztecs on court and emotional leader.

"(Gay) has been the lynchpin," Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said of the smallest player (6-0, 170 pounds) on the Aztecs roster. "He's been our point person. ... He keeps a level of composure that permeates throughout our locker room."

In the meantime, in case you haven't heard or him, Jimmer Fredette, the 6 foot 2 inch senior guard for BYU, is leading all of NCAA Division 1 basketball in scoring at 26.7 points per game.

Fredette isn't the only Cougar that can put the ball in the net, as BYU is 5th in the nation in scoring, netting 85.2 points per game.

The Cougars shoot an amazing 37.5% as a team from 3 point range, an amazing percentage.

As the ACC, SEC, and Pac 10 struggle, the nation is in for a treat as these two teams from the tiny Mountain West square off in what could turn out to be one of the epic regular season battles of this years college basketball season.

Fredette is confident that it will be fun to watch.

"It's going to be crazy," Fredette said of Wednesday night's showdown. "If we play well, our crowd will be into it. We need our crowd to rattle them a little bit. But it's going to be a great one."

Does the NHL Have a Concussion Problem?

2011-01-15T11:38:00.002-06:00

The NHL's concussion policy is as unclear as Sidney
Crosby's head.

Sidney Crosby is not only the NHL's best player, he's also the league's most marketable player.

So when the star of the league goes down with a concussion and is about to miss his fifth consecutive game it starts to bring up the question: Does the NHL have a concussion problem? Sidney Crosby is wondering...

"I didn't like them," Crosby said of the hits, according to Yahoo. "You talk about head shots and dealing with them, and that's been something that's been a pretty big point of interest from everybody -- GMs and players."

The league can't afford to have guys like Crosby missing action because of head injuries suffered from vicious hits that players can not do anything to avoid.

Now that "Sid the Kid" is down with a head injury, will Gary Bettman actually follow through with a promise made?

Prior to start of this season, and likely in response to the brutal hit Boston Bruins center Marc Savard took last season, the NHL instituted a new rule that gave referees the authority to assign major penalties to players who are deemed to have purposely hit somebody in the head.

It hasn't worked.

Crosby is just one of a handful of players this year that have missed time due to head injuries.

St. Louis Blues forward David Perron hasn't played since November 4th, when he took a sever hit to the head from San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton. There is not an eminent time-table for Perron's return.

Thornton was suspended and the play received plenty of league-wide scrutiny. Many felt the suspension of two games was too short. Others felt there shouldn't be a suspension at all.

But when these injuries occur, what else is the NHL to do?

Crosby is wondering as well.

"There's no way to protect yourself. Those are things that hopefully they pay more attention to. It's easy saying that, being in this situation, but those are two hits, looking back, that I can't say I should have done something different or had my head down. I wouldn't change anything."

Can the NHL make the playing surface bigger, making it more difficult for some of these "shoulder-hits" to occur?

Can the league improve the equipment, possibly making the helmets players wear better and able to protect the heads of players more effectively?

Or is there nothing that the NHL can do and this is just a case of society coming down on the NHL and NFL for injuries that science has just recently uncovered? Are fans just worried about something that has always existed and has just recently been brought to their attention?

Has the NHL always had a concussion problem and now we finally know it?

The NFL can overcome such negative publicity. It is widely popular among everybody in America and even a players strike will likely not reduce the league's success.

The NHL on the other hand, can not handle any negative publicity as the league continue to try and find goodwill among fans and position itself in a positive light in American pop culture.

What the NHL should do about these head injuries is as unclear as Sidney Crosby's head.

But there is one thing for certain. The league needs Crosby back on the ice.

Dwight Howard Misses Yao

2011-01-07T20:16:00.000-06:00

Dwight Howard misses Yao Ming.

Dwight Howard has become one of the most vocal of the NBA superstars. The proof is in his league leading 11 technical fouls.

But on Friday, Howard was not speaking to or about referrees or coaches. He was talking about fellow center and currently injured big man Yao Ming.

"I just want him to get healthy -- that's it," Howard said. "I think a lot of people try to pressure him to get back as soon as possible. Once you're away from the game for a while, you always try to rush and get back. And I think that's what he did."

"It's tough. He's 7-foot-5 and, you know, he weighs a lot," Howard said. "And it takes a toll on your ankle, your knees and your feet. And just as well as anybody else who plays basketball for a long time, you have to protect your knees, your feet and your ankles. I just hope he gets better. That's it. I love playing against him. He's a great person. So, I just hope he gets better."

While Howard's technicals and powerful dunks get most of the attention, its statements like this that make Howard so easy to like.

This sort of sincerity between two competitors is good to see and rivals the late 1980's relationship between Los Angeles Lakers guard Magic Johnson and Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas.

Sure, there really isn't an on court rivalry since Yao has been injured so often, but it is great to see that two players on different teams from different countries care about one another. They want to see each other do well. Its great to see that there is a camaraderie not just among teammates, but among colleagues and competitors as well.

Frankly, its refreshing to see how human these professional athletes can be.

Howard is right. Its unfortunate we don't get to see more of Yao on the court. Everyone is being cheated the chance to see these two big men go head-to-head.

Garza Deal Still Leaves Cubs Looking Up

2011-01-07T19:48:00.000-06:00

Will Matt Garza make the Chicago Cubs contenders in 2011?
Doubtful...

Today the Chicago Cubs made a deal that would bring Matt Garza over to the friendly confines in exchange for four high prized prospects.

This tells me two things:

1. The Rays are desperate to rebuild

2. The Cubs know they are behind and needed an upgrade to compete in the N.L. Central

Either way, the deal is a stellar move by the Cubs, as Garza is an absolute beast on the mound.

Garza was 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA and 150 strikeouts for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010, impressive numbers that he did this while pitching in the offensive-minded A.L. East. Garza also no-hit the Detroit Tigers in an impressive and dominating performance.

Garza has great stuff.

While Garza will help the Cubs, he hardly will make a big enough difference to close the gap between the other N.L. Central teams.

The Cincinnati Reds easily won the division last season behind N.L. Most Valuable Player Joey Votto and a young dynamic starting pitching staff. The Reds haven't made any moves this off-season, but you figure they will be better simply by the maturation of their young, talented players.

The St. Louis Cardinals have Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, and now they have added Lance Berkman. This gives them the scariest middle of the lineup in the division, but more impressively about this team is the pitching staff led by Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. The Cardinals will be in the mix of things in 2011.

The Milwaukee Brewers probably have made the biggest splash of the off-season by acquiring Zack Greinke and Shawn Marcum that will give them a starting pitching staff that rivals anybody. Oh, by the way, Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun still play for the Brewers too.

And then there are the Cubs. Even with Garza you figure they will have trouble competing against a division that suddenly, dare I say, looks among the toughest in baseball.

Sure Starlin Castro is an exciting young player, but the North-siders still fall short when you compare them to the three other quality teams in the division.

Matt Garza will help the Cubs no doubt, but the Baby Bears still look like a fourth place team on paper.

Mizzou Program Better with Gabbert Leaving Early

2011-01-04T19:22:00.000-06:00

Blaine Gabbert has decided to go to the NFL, but what does
that mean for the Missouri Tiger football program?

Yesterday, University of Missouri junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert announced his intention to leave school prior to his senior season in order to pursue a chance to play in the NFL and be a first round pick in the upcoming draft.

This is the best thing to happen to head coach Gary Pinkel's program since they were ranked number one for one short week during the 2007 season.

Sure, Mizzou will miss Gabbert's talents. Gabbert threw for 3,186 yards and 16 touchdowns while completing 63.7% of his pass attempts. Numbers like these and his NFL ready 6 foot 6 inch frame and rocket throwing arm are the main reason ESPN's Todd McShay has Gabbert ranked as the 2nd best quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft.

The "Blaine Train" will certainly be missed.

But Gabbert leaving early as a likely first rounder will make the Missouri Tiger football program better than ever before and may be the final stepping stone to the program becoming among the elite in all of college football.

Here are the 3 ways that Gabbert leaving early helps the Tigers the most:

1. Recruiting - Mizzou has had first round draft picks in the past in Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, but the program hasn't had anybody leave the program early.

Head coach can not go into top flight recruits living rooms and tell them that he can make them ready for the pros. That Missouri is a place kids can come, play in a major conference, and prepare themselves for a chance to be a first round draft pick. Gabbert is proof.

2. Franklin - James Franklin, a true freshman quarterback out of Texas is ready to take the reigns already. Franklin played sparingly in the Colorado game when Gabbert left with an injury and also saw time during mop-up duty. He is the real deal.

Franklin completed 11 of 14 passes and rushed for 23 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns.

Franklin gives the Tigers a legitimate dual threat both with his arm, which is very accurate, and his ability to run the ball, which will make the Mizzou potent offensive attack even more difficult to stop.

Franklin resembles former Mizzou quarterback and current New York Jets all-purpose threat Brad Smith.

Brad Smith helped carry the Mizzou program to its current level. Franklin will look to carry Mizzou to the top.

3. Credibility - As the Tigers enter 2011 in the New Big 12, competition will be needed more than ever. Another star player moving on to the NFL not only will give the program credibility among other teams in the conference, but also with the program's own fan base.

Mizzou is known as a program that does not travel well to bowl games and with another player moving on to the NFL, it will only enhance the team's image and give people in the state of Missouri pride, which can only lead to a fuller Faurot Field.

Gabbert to the NFL will help Tiger Country grow which can only help the team on field get better.

Thanks Blaine for coming to Mizzou and making yourself and the program successful. Your achievements will be felt in Columbia for years to come.

Is Jeff Bagwell a Hall of Famer?

2011-01-02T13:17:00.001-06:00

Jeff Bagwell hit 449 home runs in his career, but is he
worthy of joining the Hall of Fame with steroid rumors flying?

Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell is eligible and appears on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this winter. And, for the first time among the mainstream media, suspicion of steroid use throughout Bagwell's career has been questioned.

Steroids or not, Bagwell's numbers make him Hall of Fame worthy, especially when you factor in what he did for baseball in the city of Houston.

Bagwell hit .297 for his career and bombed 449 home runs, the kind of numbers that automatically qualified a player for the Hall of Fame before the steroid era.

But Bagwell has been pegged to be guilty by association, not only because of the time period in which he played the game, but also with some of his close relationships in baseball, including the deceased Ken Caminiti, an admitted rampant steroid user.

That being said, I believe Bagwell did steroids.

I also believe he belongs in the Hall of Fame because he helped make baseball relevant in Houston and was certainly a great player during his tainted era.

Bagwell denies he used steroids throughout his career. Here is a snippet of a few of the quotes from an interview with Jerry Crasnick that can be found here.

"I never used [steroids], and I'll tell you exactly why: If I could hit between 30 and 40 home runs every year and drive in 120 runs, why did I need to do anything else? I was pretty happy with what I was doing, and that's the God's honest truth. All of a sudden guys were starting to hit 60 or 70 home runs and people were like, 'Dude, if you took [PEDs], you could do it too.' And I was like, 'I'm good where I'm at. I just want to do what I can do.'

"I know a lot of people are saying, 'His body got bigger.' Well, if you're eating 30 pounds of meat every single day and you're working out and bench pressing, you're going to get bigger. You can go to every single trainer and they'll say, 'He was the first here and last to leave, and that dude worked his ass off.'

"Here's my whole thing when people ask me about the Hall of Fame: Would I be honored to death to be in the Hall of Fame? Of course I would. But it doesn't consume me at all. I loved every single part of what I did as a baseball player. But I've got my kids, I've got my family, and getting in the Hall of Fame isn't going to affect my life one way or the other. And it won't make me feel any better about my career."

NBA Fines Starting to Look Like NFL

2011-01-02T09:45:00.000-06:00

The NBA needs to make sure we are talking about stars and not how
many technicals coaches like Stan Van Gundy receive.

Much has been made of the NFL and the hefty fines they levied on players like Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison for dangerous hits to the head. The number were unprecedented, with chunks of $50,000 being levied for single attacks on helpless players.

The NBA wants to get in the fining business too.

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was fined $35,000 on Sunday and Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce was fined $15,000 for throwing an object into the stands. Earlier this week, Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal was also fined $35,000 for criticizing officials.

Somebody had a nice week of income.

I ask again, and it drives me crazy, when players are fined these absurd amounts of money, in any sport, where does the money go?

Either way, Van Gundy's fine was levied because he went off to reporters regarding the treatment of his star center Dwight Howard, who not only leads the league in powerful two-handed dunks, but also in technical fouls.

"They're [referees] looking for him, there's no question," Van Gundy told the media. "They make a call on him, they're looking to see his reaction. Other guys get away with stuff. He's not going to. He's going to have to accept that. They're looking for him. Every one of them. So that's the way it's going to be."

"Why he's been the guy to get all the technicals? I don't know," Van Gundy said. "Other guys get away with stuff. He yelled, 'Damn' after he missed a shot. I guess, 'damn' is a technical and 'bull----' is OK, based on what I saw tonight."

The NBA needs to be careful to make sure the play of star center Dwight Howard is the news story.

We don't need to be talking about fines or technical fouls.

Danario Alexander Key For Rams Division Title Hopes

2011-01-01T23:08:00.001-06:00

Danario Alexander hauls in a touchdown catch against the San Diego
Chargers. Can he do the same Sunday against Seattle?

When things have gone well for rookie wide receiver Danario Alexander, they've gone well for the St. Louis Rams this season too.

In games in which Alexander has had 2 receptions or more, the Rams are 4-0 this season.

All the reason for head coach Steve Spagnuolo to make sure Alexander is on the field as much as possible against the Seattle Seahawks in a show down for the NFC West title and a spot in the NFL playoffs.

While Alexander has unexpectedly contributed in big ways for the Rams, 2010 was not all rosy and perfect for the 6 foot 5 inch wide receiver out of the University of Missouri.

Alexander injured his knee severely just prior to the NFL combine in the spring. The injury was a large reason why the talented wide receiver, who led the nation in receiving yards in 2009, went undrafted and wasn't even picked up as an undrafted free-agent until two weeks into training camp by the Rams.

Despite these difficulties and obstacles, Alexander has overcome everything that has been thrown in front of him.

He has become rookie quarterback and likely NFL Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford's best and favorite deep threat and gives the Rams offense space in the running game and short passing attack.

If the Rams are going to accomplish the unthinkable and make the playoffs just one year after going 1-15, they will need Alexander to be on the field.

If the Rams are going to march up to the Pacific Northwest and defeat the Seattle Seahawks on their home field for a chance to play in the playoffs, Alexander will be a factor.

Danario will start 2011 better than he started 2010. He's overcome to much not too.

Big East Overrated in College Hoops

2011-01-01T21:18:00.000-06:00

Is the Big East really that good? Their record against the AP
Top 25 suggests otherwise.

As the calendar turns to 2011 and conference play begins, there is one thing that seems to be blatantly obvious about the state of college basketball. All the pundits claim that the Big East is the supreme conference in college basketball.

Sure the Big East currently has 5 teams in the top 10 in the country and two others in the AP Top 25 to join them. Sure the conference only has two teams with losing records and the likes of Syracuse and Connecticut ranked in the top 5 in the country.

But the Big East isn't really that good and they haven't really been tested. I say this and point to one glaring statistic.

The Big East is just 10-12 versus the rest of the AP Top 25, hardly a record that resembles easily the best conference in basketball.

Yes, the Big East is stacked from top to bottom with quality teams.

Yes the Big East probably has the most NBA prospects.

Yes the Big East plays a physical brand of basketball.

But their record against the rest of the nation's elite teams suggests that they aren't head and shoulders better than everyone else. 10-12 is just mediocre.

I am in the opinion that the Big East is the best conference in basketball, but I also think that the Big 12 and Big 10 are right behind them.

Teams like Kansas, Ohio State, Missouri, Kansas State, and Purdue can bang with the powers in the Big East on any night.

The Big East's 10-12 record against the Top 25 proves it.

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Crosby vs Ovechkin In Rain

2010-12-31T18:27:00.000-06:00

Alexander Ovechkin will be able to celebrate New Year's
Eve as the Winter Classic has been moved to 8 p.m. ET

The Winter Classic has been ultra-popular for the NHL over the past couple of seasons, including last year's memorable game at Chicago's Wrigley Field.

This year the game will be played against Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin's Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

There could be one problem in this match-up between the two best players in the NHL.

RAIN!

The NHL decided to move the game in order to avoid rain in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon and to also avoid 50 degree temperatures, conditions that certainly could play havoc on a playing surface that must be frozen.

At night, it will be colder and likely the rain will be over.

"As coaches and players, we don't care if we go at midnight," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Let's go."

The star players are on board with the late start too.

"I don't see anything wrong with playing under the lights here," Crosby said. "I think that'd be pretty nice. We should all be enjoying ourselves no matter what the scenario."

Ovechkin, known for enjoying himself off the ice, is happy about the later start time too.

"You can sleep, you can eat normal food, steaks and spaghetti, and take a nap," he said. "You can celebrate New Year's, too."

The Winter Classic this year could be a complete flop with rainy conditions and a drunk Alexander Ovechkin.

But the NHL has accomplished its goal with this even either way. Everyone is talking about hockey.

Hopefully Crosby and Ovechkin can play some good hockey on prime time television.

LeBron James Forgot He Is Rich

2010-12-22T22:36:00.000-06:00

Evidently LeBron James doesn't feel he gets paid enough to play on
holidays.

LeBron James isn't happy about playing on Christmas Day.

"If you ask any player in the league, we’d rather be home with our families," James said. "I think the people that even set the games up would rather be home with their family during this day. It’s not just a regular holiday. It’s definitely one of those days that you wish you could wake up in the morning with the kids and open up presents."

Wait a second LeBron, isn't there a reason you make some $20 million per season?

Did you forget so quickly that you are paid all of that money to entertain the masses?

I'm sorry, but there is zero sympathy for you, your family, and your kids on this, especially after you just got done buying a $9 million mansion on South Beach.

Do you think you could do that on a $35,000 a year salary?

If you didn't play on Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Kwanza, Veterans Day, Presidents Day, and Easter you wouldn't be rich and have a sweet shoe contract with Nike that pays for the gifts your kids "unfortunately" have to open on Christmas Eve.

It must be rough for your kids.

If you want Christmas off, void your contract, quit the NBA, and go work in a steel mill back in Akron with those fans you deserted this past summer.

Don't think about getting a better job than that, because 9.8% of America is unemployed and you don't have a college education.

Here is some advice LeBron; grow up, play basketball, win games, and keep your mouth shut. You don't earn your paycheck by spatting off about how rough your life is.

Everyone in the world would trade their life to be 6 foot 8 inches tall with a 40 inch vertical leap and the natural strength of a tight end.

If some of us had that much god given talent, we may have won an NBA Championship by now.

And we probably wouldn't complain about playing on Christmas.

Detroit Lions vs Tampa Bay Bucs - Upset Special

2010-12-19T10:30:00.001-06:00

Will Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Bucs choke at home against
the woeful Detroit Lions? I think so.

The Detroit Lions are coming off a home victory versus the powerful Green Bay Packers, a game that saw their defense knock out Aaron Rodgers.

Their confidence is at an all-time high. But the team has yet to win on the road and are 4.5 point underdogs as they travel to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Bucs.

"Winning on the road is something that we need to do as a football team," Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said. "One win isn't going to -- say you get one win and then all of a sudden we're going to be undefeated on the road for the next decade -- that's not going to happen. But it will be a step and it is something that we need to accomplish."

The Lions, despite being eliminated from the playoffs are hungry for a road victory.

Meanwhile, the confidence of the Tampa Bay Bucs seems to be wavering, even as they have positioned themselves for a chance at a playoff spot.

"You talk to your team about making good decisions all the time," Tampa head coach Raheem Morris said. "Obviously, you're frustrated with anything that diverts attention away from your team. ... It's diverting away from us being positive and 8-5, and just talking about that stuff."

I think this game is ripe for an upset.

Tampa has squandered some games the past couple of weeks and could choke down the stretch. They will playing under an extreme amount of pressure knowing that they must defeat the Lions.

The Lions on the other hand are building a program and a huge step in the right direction is a road victory against a good team like the Bucs.

I'm predicting that the Lions get their road win and the Bucs basically eliminate themselves from playoff contention with a disapointing loss.

Detroit Lions 23 Tampa Bay Bucs 21

NFL Picks - Week 15

2010-12-19T10:08:00.000-06:00

It looks like Matt Cassel will play today against the St. Louis Rams, but
will he be running for his life on the road at the Edward Jones Dome?

There are at least 8 games on the schedule today that have direct impacts on whether teams can clinch playoff spots or stay alive and need some help and somehow sneak in.

Lets see if we can handicap some of these contests against the spread.

(11-2) Atlanta Falcons vs (6-7) Seattle Seahawks (+7)

Seattle is fighting for their playoff lives in the dreadful NFC West. But the Falcons, clearly the better team in this game, have to travel across the entire country to the rainy Pacific Northwest, which is never an easy trip.

I think Matt Ryan and Roddy White and company pull out a win on the road, but it will be a close game, so I'm taking Seattle and the points. Atlanta 24 Seattle 20

(8-5) Kansas City Chiefs (+3) vs (6-7) St. Louis Rams

Matt Cassel is rumored to be playing, despite having emergency surgery less than 14 days ago. Cassel wont be 100%, but the Chiefs running game led by Jamaal Charles will. This a must win game for the Rams though to ensure they win the NFC West and secure a playoff spot.

Sam Bradford and company have played 3 consecutive road games. I think the rookie comes up huge in this monster game between division leaders. I'm taking the Rams to cover. St. Louis 24 Kansas City 17

(10-3) New Orleans Saints (+2) vs (9-4) Baltimore Ravens.

Easily the most intriguing match-up this week between two of the NFL's top teams.

The defending Super Bowl Champs have looked like the defending Champs of late. Meanwhile Ray Lewis and the Baltimore defense have looked like what they are too, which is old.

I look for an exciting game that will turn into a shootout. New Orleans wins on the road. New Orleans 33 Baltimore 30

San Antonio Tops NBA Power Rankings

2010-12-18T19:00:00.001-06:00

Tony Parker has had his troubles off the court, but he has helped
drive his San Antonio Spurs to the best record in the NBA

The Orlando Magic are certainly doing their best to compete with the starting lineups the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat can run out every single night.

They needed to do something in order to stay competitive in the NBA's Eastern Conference and acquiring Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkoglu, and Jason Richardson will certainly help Dwight Howard, but will it have a last impact at the end of the season?

It is hard to say, but at this point the Magic are looking up at the top of ManSpeak's NBA Power Ranking not at the Celtics or the Heat, but instead, the San Antonio Spurs.

1. San Antonio Spurs - 22-3

Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker are relentless.

Duncan has won 4 NBA titles in his career and while his numbers are a bit down from his norms, (14.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG) this may be the best Spurs team to date.

The Texas Big 3 are getting help from role players like Richard Jefferson as well.

The Spurs are among the oldest teams in the league though so it will be interesting to see how they hold up through the rigors of the long NBA season.

2. Boston Celtics - 20-4

With Rajon Rondo leading the way, it should come as no surprise that the Celtics lead the league in team assists per game.

Its Rondo's leadership at the point on offense and Kevin Garnett in the middle on defense that make this team so good.

The Celtics have 6 players who average double figures in points. Sharing the ball and spreading the wealth will keep the Celtics in contention come playoff time.

3. Dallas Mavericks - 21-5

Dirk Nowitzki is a leading MVP candidate, averaging 24.5 PPG and shooting an insane .558% from the field.

He has a strong supporting cast too, especially with how well Caron Butler has been playing of late

4. Miami Heat - 20-8

The Heat have rattled off 11 victories in a row and likely will continue their torrid stretch as LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have truly learned how to play together.

I think the Heat's success depends on Chris Bosh though. If he plays well in the paint, the Heat become virtually unbeatable.

5. Chicago Bulls - 16-8

The Bulls have quietly been awesome over the past two weeks, winning 7 games in a row.

Derrick Rose is a beast at point guard, but the injury to Joakim Noah will effect the team over the next 8 to 10 weeks.

On the outside looking in:

6. Orlando Magic - 16-9 - Hedo coming back will have Magic in Top 5 quickly
7. L.A. Lakers - 20-7 - As Bynum continues to heal, Lakers will soar.
8. Oklahoma City - 19-8 - Durant gets the pub, but Westbrook has been sensational this season.
9. New York Knicks - 16-11 - One Melo trade from being a contender.
10. Utah Jazz - 18-9 - Deron Williams is the best point guard in the league. Period.

John Calipari Wants the NBA in Kentucky

2010-12-18T18:02:00.002-06:00

Is Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Caliparit pointing towards
Louisville as a possible landing spot for an NBA franchise?

John Calipari almost always has interesting things to say. His view on a possible expansion or a team like the New Orleans Hornets moving to another U.S. city is a bit of shocker.

"This state is driven by the city of Louisville," Calipari said. "Anything that's good for the city of Louisville is good for our state. I believe [the NBA] is good for the city of Louisville, which makes our state even better."

That's great Coach Cal, sticking up for the state of Kentucky and drawing attention away from your team's disappointing 7-2 start.

But quick I have a quick question. Isn't there already a team of paid players in the state of Kentucky?

Ok, maybe that was a little bit below the belt, but I'm unsure how far away from the truth that really is.

But it is certainly interesting that Calipari is vouching for the city of Louisville.

The Louisville Cardinals and Coach Cal's Kentucky Wildcats have a long standing rivalry and are two of the most storied basketball programs in college basketball history.

For Coach Cal to say something positive about the city of Louisville could be a bit risky because of this rivalry, but his point is valid.

The NBA would thrive in Louisville, a basketball city that is passionate about the game. And Coach Cal is also right about it not affecting his program as tickets to Wildcats games are always sold out, even in years in which the team is struggling or rebuilding.

Coach Calipari might be right on this. If a team like the New Orleans Hornets decides to move to Louisville, the entire state of Kentucky could flourish. So would his minor league basketball program he runs out of Lexington.

NFL Picks - Week 14

2010-12-11T19:00:00.001-06:00

Tom Brady is likely going to be the MVP of the NFL, but can he
lead his Patriot into Solider Field and defeat the Chicago Bears?

The NFL season is coming to a close and there certainly are some key match-ups in Week 14.

Kansas City has a chance to basically seal the AFC West division title with a win on the road at the San Diego Chargers.

The New England Patriots are traveling to Chicago to face the surprisingly tough Bears at Soldier Field.

And does anybody have any doubt that the New York Jets will get back on track at home against the Miami Dolphins?

Lets pick some games and you'll find out.

(6-6) Miami Dolphins (+6) vs (9-3) New York Jets

Last week against the New England Patriots the Jets were embarrassed on national television.

"We got pummeled, we played terrible, but it's one game," Jets head coach Rex Ryan said.

The question is, will the Jets be able to get back on track?

The defense was not able to phase Tom Brady last week and the exotic blitz packages did not work.

But Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne is no Tom Brady so the match-up you would think goes in favor of the Jets.

There is one problem though. The Dolphins have a 5-1 road record this season and their running style of play is conducive to also negating the blitz and winning on the road.

Pay attention to the match-up between Brandon Marshall and Darelle Revis. I think Marshall has fun on 'Revis Island.' Miami Dolphins 23 New York Jets 21

(10-2) New England Patriots vs (9-3) Chicago Bears (+3)

Tom Brady is easily the MVP of the NFL at this point in the season.

But how will the MVP handle the Chicago Bears at blistery and frozen Soldier Field against one of the league's top defenses?

The Bears have turned their season around and are easily one of the most overlooked teams in recent history. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler knows how big this game is for his progressing Bears.

"We can't be satisfied with where we are right now," Cutler said.

The Bears sound motivated and they should be as this is easily the biggest test they have had all season.

I think the defense gets it done for the Bears in an ugly game in ugly conditions. You won't see a Bill Belicheck team be unprepared very often, but it will happen in Chicago. Chicago Bears 24 New England 17

(8-4) Kansas City Chiefs (+10) vs (6-6) San Diego Chargers

It has been well documented that Matt Cassel likely will not play after having emergency surgery this week.

The odds-makers seem to think that this is a big deal judging by the huge 10 point spread.

The Chargers have injuries of their own though, with TE Antonio Gates still nursing a painful toe injury and running back Ryan Matthews likely to miss again this week.

The Chiefs will definitely miss Matt Cassel, but look for them to let their newly minted running back Jamaal Charles to lead the Chiefs to at least cover the spread. I say they still beat the Chargers even without Cassel. Kansas City 27 San Diego 24

(6-6) St. Louis Rams (+9) vs (9-3) New Orleans Saints

This is pretty simple.

If the playoffs were to start today, the defending Super Bowl champs would be going on the road to St. Louis to face the Rams at the Edward Jones dome.

The Saints will punish the Rams in this possible playoff preview, especially since the Rams will be without top corner back Ron Bartell, not good when you are facing Drew Brees and one of the top offenses in the NFL.

The Saints will romp the Rams and easily cover this spread. New Orleans 38 St. Louis 13

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Is Deron Williams the Best PG in the NBA?

2010-12-11T10:52:00.002-06:00

The NBA is quietly taking note of just how good
Deron Williams has become.

"Deron Williams took a close game and took it over in the second half. He dominated us," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said after his Orlando Magic lost to the Utah Jazz 117-115 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Van Gundy is the only coach saying what the whole league already knows.

Deron Williams is the best point guard in the entire NBA. Period.

The point guard out of the University of Illinois and member of the golf medal winning Team U.S.A. in the 2010 Beijing Olympics has molded himself into the most powerful, dominating leader on any team in the league.

And at this point in the still young NBA season, Williams has the Utah Jazz at the top of the Northwest Division. You have to even consider Williams as an MVP candidate, especially if the Jazz continue their success.

Williams, is third among all point guards in points per game with 22.2, fourth in assists with 10.0 per game, and sixth in rebounds with 4.0 per game.

Williams, who averages a double-double, has 12 on the season, second most among point guards in the league.

These are all stats that certainly support the argument, but its Williams presence and leadership that he provides to the Utah Jazz that makes him the best point guard in the league.

Williams isn't the quickest or flashiest of the electrifying point guards in the league, but he is the strongest both in body and in mind.

"He's a terrific defender, he's got a lot of things he can do well," Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan said of his terrific point guard. "Not many people have the kind of athletic ability he has, and he's a strong guy. You remember Oscar Robertson? He was a strong guy, too.''

Its his overall game that makes him so special. Take Williams off the Jazz and instead of being a first place team, they are likely among the worst in the league.

No other team relies on one player to handle the ball and make so many decisions.

The best thing about Williams is that he is still going to get better. He is only 26 years old and entering the prime of his career.

There isn't much more that Williams can do. He's already reached the ceiling.

He's the best point guard in the league.

Yankees Must Have Cliff Lee to Compete

2010-12-11T09:56:00.001-06:00

As Cliff Lee ponders whether to remain with the Texas
Rangers or to join the New York Yankees, we must ask
ourselves how are the Yankees going to compete with
the Red Sox if they do not get Cliff Lee?

The Yankees and Boston Red Sox often not only compete on the field, but also in the front office via their free agent signings and trades.

At this point, the Red Sox are well ahead after their signing of outfielder Carl Crawford and acquisition of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

This year, signing Cliff Lee to keep up with the Red Sox is more important than ever for the New York Yankees. Its not because Lee is an outstanding pitcher, great teammate, or marketable player that makes it so important for him to end up in pinstripes.

Its simply important, because he is left-handed!

Boston's acquisitions are certainly quality and will allow the Sox to be a force throughout the 2011 season.

But, their powerful lineup is heavily dependent on left handed hitting. In 2010, the Red Sox lineup had the sixth highest batting average against in the league at .268. Against left-handed pitching, the Sox actually ranked third with a .274 average.

That number figures to drop significantly in 2011. Lets look at the Red Sox proposed lineup for 2011 and their averages against left handed pitching.

Hits      Player                         vs. LH         vs. RH
RH       Dustin Pedroia            .236            .304
LH       Carl Crawford            .256            .332
RH       Kevin Youkilis            .404            .275
LH       Adrian Gonzalez          .337            .278
LH       David Ortiz                 .222            .297
SW      Jason Varitek              .222            .235
LH       J.D. Drew                   .208            .277
RH       Marco Scutaro            .282           .273
LH       Jacoby Ellsbury            .318           .294

While Gonzalez seems to do pretty well against left handed pitching, Crawford, Ortiz, Varitek, Drew and even Pedroia tend to struggle against left handed pitching.

Which strengthens the case that the Yankees should pay whatever it takes to get Cliff Lee in pin-stripes.

Paired with former teammate and current Yankee millionaire C.C. Sabathia, the Yankees would have the horse to slow down the Red Sox left-handed dependent lineup.

And lets not forget about free-agent pitcher and long-time Yankee post-season star Andy Pettite. Another left-handed starter that would figure to be a vital cog in the Yankees rotation if the two teams can come to terms that make sense. Petitte may make sense if the Yankees lose out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, but having both will really put the Yankees in position to stay with the Red Sox.

I'm generally against the Yankees buying all the players in the league, but this is a case where it is justified by the Yankees to open up the wallet in order to compete with a division rival.

You build your team to compete against division rivals and the signing of Cliff Lee at any dollar figure will give the Yankees the best shot against the Red Sox in 2011.

Adrian Peterson - Week 13 ManSpeak NFL Player of the Week

2010-12-09T21:41:00.000-06:00

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson had 3 touchdowns
against the Buffalo Bills in week 13.

Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings have had a tough go of it most of the season.

Its well documented.

While most of the stories resulting from the Vikings 38-14 thrashing of the Buffalo Bills centered around Brett Favre injuring his shoulder during his first attempt, Adrian Peterson's performance against the Bill went highly unnoticed.

Maybe that has been the problem for the Vikings all season long. Too much Favre and not enough of AP!

Peterson had 16 attempts on the ground for 107 yards, including 3 touchdowns against the Bills, good enough to earn him Week 13 ManSpeak NFL Player of the Week honors.

With Favre out of the lineup, the Vikings went to the running game. Peterson wasn't the only one with success in the Vikings backfield, as rookie Toby Gerhardt also touched it 12 times for 54 yards.

I'm sorry, but isn't this result blatantly obvious? So much focus on Favre has been detrimental to the success of the Vikings season.

Yes, I understand that the game was against the lowly Bills, who are among the worst teams in football. But the focus on the running game was the biggest strength of this team before Brett Favre arrived in Minnesota, and unfortunately throughout most of the season, it has been forgotten.

Its too late for the Vikings to salvage what has turned to easily be the most disappointing season in the NFL this season, but Adrian Peterson was good enough in week 13 to earn his player of the week honors.

Holliday Contract a Steal For Cardinals

2010-12-09T18:37:00.002-06:00

Matt Holliday will look to earn his $16.667 million in 2011
for the St. Louis Cardinals

Last year the St. Louis Cardinals made a splash when they signed Matt Holliday to an 8 year, $120 million contract to play left field and protect the mighty Albert Pujols.

Many criticized the Cardinals brass for this deal, saying it was too much money and too many years for Holliday, especially when the organization still has to lock up their pride and glory future Hall of Fame first baseman Pujols.

So how does that contract look now?

Well, when you compare it to the dollars that teams are throwing around for the hottest free agent outfielders this off-season, it looks as the though Cardinals got a steal with their contract with Holliday.

Earlier this week, 32 year outfielder Jayson Werth signed a 7 year, $126 million dollar contract with the Washington Nationals.

Earlier today, 29 year old outfield Carl Crawford signed a 7 year, $142 million dollar contract to roam the outfield and base paths at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox.

Lets remove the names from each of these players stat lines and you decide who is the better value.

Player Average HR's RBI's OBP Runs SB's

1         .307       19      90      .356   110    47
2         .296       29      85      .388   106    13
3         .312       28      103    .390   95      9

Obviously the stats for all three players are very good. But lets unveil the player and their annual salary.

Player 1    Carl Crawford      $20.28 million per season
Player 2    Jayson Werth       $18.00 million per season
Player 3    Matt Holliday       $16.66 million per season

Holliday is absolutely a steal and the best value of the three for the money.

Yes Werth and Crawford steal more bases and score more runs, but Holliday hits for a better average, drives in more runs, and gets on base more often.

I'm happy that Jayson Werth got a huge pay check and I think that Crawford makes the Red Sox scary good, but Holliday looks to be the better value between the trio.

Lets see if the money the Cardinals saved by locking up Holliday last year will go towards locking up "El Hombre" for the future.

Why is Boise State Playing Utah?

2010-12-07T21:05:00.000-06:00

Rather than getting a shot at a big-time football school,
Boise State will face Utah in the MAACO Bowl in Las Vegas.

Boise State had the ultimate chance to become the biggest Cinderella in the history of athletics.

And then, Broncos place-kicker Kyle Brotzman missed two chip shot field goal attempts against Nevada to ruin the story for all the orange and blue crazed kids out there.

But why does one miscue mean that Boise gets matched up with Utah in a bowl game?

Is it coincidence, or on purpose?
If college football is all about money, and clearly it is, then why on heaven's earth is Boise State matched up with Utah in a game being played in a desert?

Don't we want to see Boise State against the big guys? Don't we want to see if Boise can run with the big dogs so next year when they are miraculously 10-0 again and clamoring for a shot at the National Championship that we might consider them worthy?

Another nice job by the NCAA and the BCS schools to avoid any confrontation or massacre that may occur if Boise were to say knock off LSU or Michigan State.

I'm not saying that Boise belongs in the BCS this year because they do not.

But why couldn't we see Boise State match-up against a team like the Missouri Tigers from the Big 12, who are 10-2 on the season and were really a bad loss at Texas Tech away from playing a BCS game?

Or how about Boise State against the Alabama Crimson Tide? Why not give the Broncos a chance against the reigning BCS Champions? Is their doubt in the minds of the powers that be that Boise might dare upset the big SEC Power?

I personally don't think Boise State really is that good. Losing to Nevada the way they did when they had a perfect undefeated season so close is preposterous and sad.

But I want to see the theatre and I think that schools like Boise State and San Diego State deserve the opportunity to play, and heaven forbid, thrive when the bright lights are shining. Give these teams that want to be recognized on the national stage the spot light the chance to display what they have in front of the best schools the BCS conferences have to offer.

And maybe a couple of things would get accomplished.

1. We'd know if these small schools are truly capable of hanging with the big boys.
2. A lot of people would make a lot of money!

We aren't going to learn anything by watching Boise take on the Utes in the battle of the mountain range that take place in a desert.

The NCAA and the BCS schools squandered yet another opportunity to make the game of college football bigger, better, and more profitable than ever before.

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Angry Jeter Should Worry About Future

2010-12-07T18:17:00.000-06:00

The Yankees made their shortstop happy,
kind of, for the next 3 years.

Derek Jeter let it be known how he felt about the recent contract negotiations he had with the New York Yankees.

He was angry.

Of course he is not angry with the 3 year, $51 million dollars that the Yankees handed their most lauded star, which was probably $21 million more than fair market value.

Instead, Jeter was angry about the "process."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't angry how some of this went," Jeter said at the news conference.

"I'm going to be honest with you guys, the thing that bothered me the most was how public this became. This was a negotiation that was supposed to be private. It was an uncomfortable position I felt I was in. It was not enjoyable experience because throughout the years I've prided myself on keeping things out of the papers and out of the media. This turned into a big public thing. That is something I was not happy about. I let my feelings be known."

It is understandable how Jeter could feel slighted by how the Yankees to a certain extent. Sure Jeter means more to Yankees fans than any single player to any franchise in professional sports across the entire world.

But he really shouldn't be angry about the money and it by no means is disrespectful to pay a 36 year old shortstop with limited range, little power, and a declining batting average (.270 last season) $17 million a season for the next three years.

Look at it this way. Derek Jeter is going to make $17 million for the next three seasons. World Series MVP Edgar Renteria might be completely out of baseball in 2011.

What Jeter should be angry about is how selfish he is acting in the last couple seasons of his "playing" career.

Jeter, easily the most be-loved Yankee since Mickey Mantle, should be playing his cards in a way to get a forever contract with the Yankees as a front office manager and minority owner of the club.

If Jeter really wants the "paycheck", asking for ownership and continuing to be "Everything Yankee" should be in his best interest.

When I say "Everything Yankee," I mean he should display the prideful, honorable, hard working, and proud attitude that he has exemplified throughout his entire 15 year Hall of Fame career. Not the selfish and rich scum that non-Yankee fans view most in pinstripes as.

Jeter got his contract and he is not happy how it was handled. That's fine.

What will be really interesting is how he will handle being the highest paid 9th place hitter in the league.

Oh, and how he'll handle life after baseball if he manages to damage his future in the Yankee front office.

Is the Madison Square Garden Renovation a Good Idea?

2010-11-29T17:38:00.000-06:00

How would you like a bird's eye view of Amare Stoudemire dunking
on an opponent? Its going to happen!

Madison Square Garden is often times referred to as the "Mecca of Sports."

I've never personally been there, but it is on the bucket list of things to accomplish and visit before I pass.

That being said, I am excited to see that this historic arena is getting a face lift.

There is one problem though, will it be safe?

The architects plan on building a bridge that overhangs the court at the top of the arena, high up in the rafters.

"We believe the bridges will be a signature element of the transformation and provide fans with one of the most unique and desirable locations in sports and entertainment to watch games, concerts and events," MSG President and CEO Hank Ratner said. "We will be adding video boards, TV screens and additional statistical ribbons to the back of the bridges to enhance the experience for fans sitting in the upper deck.''

Sounds cool and all, but didn't somebody just fall from the stands at Solider Field in Chicago and die at the Bears vs Eagles game yesterday?

How long until this renovation becomes a disaster and somebody dies when they fall from the rafters of MSG?

Alcohol, sporting events, and heights don't mix well, at least not as well as vodka and tonic.

What happens when some crazed Pearl Jam fan at a concert tries to keep up with the number of drinks Eddie Vedder takes and falls flat on the stage?

Improving the experience at stadiums and sporting events is important to every professional franchise and organization in each of the major sports as they try compete with high definition television and amazing sports packages from the likes of DirecTV.

But how is Madison Square Garden planning to keep these people on the catwalks safe? How big will the outrage be if somebody does fall and die from one of these unique bridges?

I plan on making it to Madison Square Garden before these bridges are completed.

I dont' want to see anybody else die.

Mizzou Cracks Top 10

2010-11-29T15:21:00.000-06:00

Mizzou coach Mike Anderson knows his Tigers will be tested for
the first time when they take on #16 Georgetown at the
Sprint Center in Kansas City on Tuesday night.

The University of Missouri basketball program has cracked the Top 10 in both the AP Top 25 and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll despite not really playing well in any of their contests to date.

In the latest rankings, 5-0 Mizzou is ranked 9th in the AP Top 25 and 8th in the Coaches Poll, something Big 12 experts didn't forsee when the picked the Tigers to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 this season.

Mizzou readies for a showdown against #16 ranked and undefeatd Georgetown on Tuesday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Tigers know that they haven't played a full game yet this season, and Tuesday's match-up against the Hoyas has to be different.

"It's just something we've got to fix," said junior forward Laurence Bowers. "We know we're coming out flat. We're not coming out intentionally that way."

Part of the problem for the Tigers is how they have started the game against some weaker opponents. Mizzou coach Mike Anderson knows that it is unacceptable.

"We're a team of energy. That's the brand we've established. I thought that first half, we didn't have any. We probably left (it) in customs coming back from Cancun."

Despite winning the 2010 Cancun Challenge, the Tigers really haven't been challenged thus far this season, with their most meaningful victory being an 83-71 thumping of LaSalle of the Atlantic 10 in the Cancun Championship.

The Hoyas are going to be sure to let the whole nation know if Mizzou is worthy of their Top 10 ranking.

Keep an eye on the Mizzou pressure defense going up against Georgetown's Princeton-style offense. Should be an interesting match-up in western Missouri.