America's White Boy

New Site: Drink Up Columbus

2011-04-09T01:43:00.006-04:00

I wanted to let my readers know about a new site that my friends and I launched this week. Drink Up Columbus is a new site that deals with bars, beers, and the social scene in Columbus, Ohio. We have a lot of talented writers and people who really love this city. Find out more about the new site and links to some of the stories so far, after the jump.

A few friends of mine, James Marks and Cheryl Harrison, wanted to start a site about local craft beer, liquor, and bars in Columbus, Ohio. We recruited a group of great local writers that will help set the scene of the city we love. Other topics that we are going cover are: homebrewing, food pairing, college bar scene, and a lot of other things going on in the Columbus area.

Here are a few links to articles that we have already posted on the site.

Campus Craft Beer Crawl: Mad Mex

Hal & Al's - Oasis In The South Side Desert

New Beer's Eve: The End Of Prohibition

The Usual Suspects, Part 1

Untappd: Foursquare With A Buzz

I hope that you check out the site and let me know what you think and follow 'Drink Up Columbus' on Twitter @DrinkUpCbus.

2011 MLB Betting Predictions - April 9th

2011-04-09T00:41:00.006-04:00

I usually wait for the first week of the MLB season to play out before I start my MLB betting line posts. I did rather well over the last few years when I have done these and I hope I can help lead some people in the right direction. My picks are against the spread and I also do over/under lines. Will the Red Sox make it two in-a-row against the Yankees? Can the Indians keep up their offense? Here are the MLB betting lines & predictions for April 9th, 2011.

Philadelphia Phillies +1 1/2 (Roy Oswalt) vs. Atlanta Braves -1 1/2 (Brandon Beachy) - Over/Under 7 1/2
Phillies - Over

After the way that the Braves rocked Cliff Lee yesterday, the Braves will be bet heavy today. The Phillies are a veteran team and will have revenge on their mind. You have to have a short memory in the MLB and they will get to Beachy early in this contest. The O/U is set at 7 1/2 and if this game goes the way I think, it will go over. The smart bet would be a parlay on the Phillies moneyline & the over.

New York Yankees +1 1/2 (Ivan Nova) vs. Boston Red Sox -1 1/2 (Clay Buchholz) - O/U 10
Red Sox - Under

The Red Sox started off bad this year, but they came out yesterday and took care of Phil Hughes early. Ivan Nova has better stuff than Hughes has right now, but you don't want the Red Sox to gain any confidence. Buchholz should handle the Yankees hitters and stretch the winning steak to two.

Kansas City Royals +1 1/2 (Bruce Chen) vs. Detroit Tigers -1 1/2 (Phil Coke) - O/U 9 1/2
Tigers - Over

Can you look at these starting pitchers and honestly think that they won't score a combined 10 runs? I'm scared at what Miguel Cabrera will do to Bruce Chen. The Tigers will win outright, cover, and this game will go over.

Tampa Bay Rays +1 1/2 (Wade Davis) vs. Chicago White Sox -1 1/2 (Philip Humber) - O/U 9
White Sox - Over

Wade Davis was rocky in his first start and the White Sox offense have looked very good. The Rays notched their first win last night, thanks to a Matt Thornton blow-save. The White Sox will bounce back and take care of business.

Chicago Cubs +1 1/2 (Matt Garza) vs. Milwaukee Brewers -1 1/2 (Chris Narveson) - O/U 8 1/2
Cubs - Under

Matt Garza's Cubs debut had flashes of greatness. He stuck out double-digit Pirates, but still had a few dumb mistakes. Chris Narveson also had a good debut, but the Cubs bats have looked in mid-season form, if only their bullpen was in the same shape.

Washington Nationals +1 1/2 (Tom Gorzelanny) vs. New York Mets -1 1/2 (Chris Capuano) - O/U 8 1/2
Mets - Under

If this game was being played in any other park with these two pitchers, the line would be 10, but Citi Field is huge. Gorzelanny vs. Capuano might get ugly, but as long as they keep the ball down, it'll go under. I might want to stay away from this bet, these teams are so inconsistent.

Oakland Athletics -1 1/2 (Gio Gonzalez) vs. Minnesota Twins +1 1/2 (Nick Blackburn) - O/U 8
A's - Under

Gio Gonzalez was the buzzworthy pitcher in fantasy baseball this year and he will have a solid year. The Twins are just trying to get healthy, so Oakland has a slight edge in this game.

Cincinnati Reds -1 1/2 (Bronson Arroyo) vs. Arizona Diamondback +1 1/2 (Daniel Hudson) - O/U 8 1/2
Diamondbacks - Over

I learned a rule in Vegas last year...never bet on Bronson Arroyo! It doesn't help that he is still dealing with mono, that's a huge red flag. I really like Daniel Hudson in this contest.

Los Angeles Dodgers -1 1/2 (Hiroki Kuroda) vs. San Diego Padres +1 1/2 (Dustin Moseley) - O/U 7
Dodgers - Under

Kuroda has had solid numbers of the last calendar year, but he doesn't get much respect. It will help him that the game is at Petco Park, the Padres will have a hard time going yard against him.

Toronto Blue Jays -1 1/2 (Brett Cecil) vs. Los Angeles Angles +1 1/2 (Scott Kazmir) - O/U 9
Blue Jays - Over

Name the last time that Scott Kazmir looked like a pitcher that should be on a contender? I'll wait...

Cleveland Indians +1 1/2 (Justin Masterson) vs. Seattle Mariners +1 1/2 (Doug Fisher) - O/U 7 1/2
Indians - Over

Masterson looked great his first time out this year and they rocked the Mariners yesterday. Seattle looks bad and Cleveland wants to pound their former skipper (Eric Wedge).

St. Louis Cardinals +1 1/2 (Jaime Garcia) vs. San Francisco Giants -1 1/2 (Matt Cain) - O/U 6 1/2
Cardinals - Under

This game should be very low-scoring, since both Garcia & Cain looked very good in their debuts. The Cardinals will miss Matt Holliday, but the Giants bullpen, mostly Brian Wilson, hasn't been dominating.

2011 Fantasy Baseball: Catchers

2011-02-17T16:06:00.006-05:00

The catcher position looks fairly top-heavy this year in fantasy baseball. You have a young group on their way up and a few prominent catchers that look to be transitioning into a designated-hitter role. I ranked the top 20 catchers and added some sleepers and busts to help you in your draft.

My rankings are based on a standard 5x5 league. If you have any specific questions about a different league, email me bobbymcrib@gmail.com

1. Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins - This was the easiest pick. He is the overall best player at this position and can't argue against it. He will be taken in the first-round of your draft.

2. Brian McCann - Atlanta Braves - Some people are a bit cold on McCann this year, but I have owned him the last three years in my NL-only league and he hasn't hurt me. There are some durability issues, but I think he has a great year.

3. Buster Posey - San Francisco Giants - He showed what he can do in the playoffs last year and his stock is high. You might have to take him rather early to own him, but if you're in a keeper league, he could be worth holding onto.

4. Carlos Santana - Cleveland Indians - His season was cut short due to a nasty injury at homeplate last year. He was the best prospect in the Indians farm system and excelled during his short time in the Majors. He will have a solid year and worth an every day start in your league.

5. Geovany Soto - Chicago Cubs - He has been up and down since he was promoted to the Majors. He bounced back and had a good year last season and I feel like he will improve on those numbers in 2011.

6. Victor Martinez - Detroit Tigers - ESPN has him at #2 in his rankings, but I fear that the move from Fenway Park to Comerica Park will hurt his numbers. He isn't surrounded with the same kind of talent as Boston. I would worry about taken him as the #2 catcher off the board, but feel like he is still a smart option at catcher.

7. Matt Wieters - Baltimore Orioles - Is this the year that Wieters finally puts it all together in the Majors? He was the best prospect in the minors a few seasons ago, but it hasn't translated to dominance yet. The Orioles line-up is much better and he has more protection around him. I think this is the year he becomes an All-Star candidate.

8. Miguel Montero - Arizona Diamondbacks - He missed a few months last season with a knee injury, but came back strong to finish the year. You could draft him later than some of the catchers below him in my rankings. He will give you solid power and .270-.280 batting average.

9. Mike Napoli - Texas Rangers - He won't be an everyday catcher for the Rangers, but he will find his way into the lineup. He will be moved around and play catcher, first-base, outfield, and maybe DH. It's scary to think about what kind of numbers he could have hitting in the small park in Arlington. He could have a career year without even getting 400 at-bats.

10. J.P. Arencibia - Toronto Blue Jays - He isn't a household name yet, but he put up great power numbers in the minors. The Blue Jays seem sold on him and I think he could be a steal of the draft if you get him late.

11. Kurt Suzuki - Oakland A's - He had a great first-half of the 2010 season, but dealt with an injury the second half and only his .223. He is a safety pick if you reach and go after a risky catcher. He will give you double-digit power and his batting average won't kill you.

12. Jorge Posada - New York Yankees - Is this the last year for Posada to be fantasy relevant? He can still rake at the plate, so he will get most of his time as the DH. He will still log some time behind the plate, but his defensive liability will keep that from happening much. He is s risky pick, but could be a nice value pick of other players in your league is scared off by his age.

13. Chris Iannetta - Colorado Rockies - Iannetta is a streaky player and difficult to rank. He even landed in the minors for a bit to work on his mechanics. The guy has power, but only hit .197 last season. He has the starting job in Colorado, but I wouldn't say that he has a complete stranglehold on the position. This is a risky pick, but I think he will hit 20+ homers this season.

14. Carlos Ruiz - Philadelphia Phillies - He is a very under-rated catcher that doesn't get much love from fantasy baseball players. He is kind of a one-trick pony with his batting average. The rest of his stats won't help you much, but won't hurt you either. If you draft a power hitter that struggles with batting average (Ryan Howard, Carlos Pena), you may want to pick up Ruiz to help balance out your batting average damage.

15. Nick Hundley - San Diego Padres - In only 273 plate appearances last season, he hit 8 homers and batted .249. He had a K/BB ratio of 66/25, which means that he has a decent eye at the plate. In a full season, expect 18 homers, 80 RBIs, and a better batting average than .249.

16. John Buck - Florida Marlins - Don't expect the same production out of Buck this season as last year in Toronto. He was swinging for the fences every time he was up at the plate in 2010. I'm hoping that the Marlins hitting coach will adjust a few things and make him become more of a complete hitter. He struck out 111 times in 409 plate appearances, but still amazingly hit .281. He's a risky pick, but could be a decent back-up catcher on your team.

17. Rod Barajas - Los Angeles Dodgers - He should benefit for playing a full season with one team. He joined the Dodgers mid-season from the Mets. He will give you some power, but average stats in the other categories. He won't hurt you in any of the other categories.

18. A.J. Pierzynski - Chicago White Sox - He isn't a guy that you should circle before a draft. He is a catcher that you will end up with at the end of your draft if you still need a backup catcher. He will hit 8 or 9 homers, hit .270, and drive in 50 RBIs. You know what you're getting with Pierzynski, you won't get any more or any less.

19. Miguel Olivo - Seattle Mariners - His home/away splits last season with Colorado has a gap as big as Bartolo Colon. It's a big red flag coming into the 2011 season, since Safeco Field isn't Coors Field. This is a risky pick, but he'll add a handful of steals to your team, if you choose to play him on those days.

20. Russell Martin - New York Yankees - I have owned Russell Martin in a keeper league the last three seasons. He never hurt me until last season. His numbers have declined every year that I have owned him, but I think he is worth a late-round pick. There isn't much pressure on him to produce in the Yankees line-up. He will even get you some steals, which isn't a category that you expect to help you in.

Busts
Jason Varitek - Boston Red Sox - He's a flashy name that people know and you could even bait another owner to draft him early if you wanted. He isn't going to play much of the season. He still has some pop, but I don't see him getting as many at-bats as he has in the past.

Chris Snyder - Pittsburgh Pirates - He is another player that has helped teams in the past. He moves to the Pirates and will add power to your team, but his batting average will kill you. Not worth the risk by drafting Snyder.

Yadier Molina - St. Louis Cardinals - He's another known player and is a better player in real-life than he is in fantasy. He will help your average, but there isn't any other category that you will benefit from starting Molina.

Sleepers
Jesus Montero - New York Yankees - He is worth taking a flyer at the end of the draft and holding on to him. He could pay off or turn into a trade chip. The Yankees current backstops are Jorge Posada & Russell Martin, both are injury risks and the Yankees love Montero. He is their catcher of the future and possibly a keeper for you in your league.

Brayan Pena - Kansas City Royals - You won't find many people that will draft Pena this year. He will be the starting catcher this season over Jason Kendall, but he will share time. He was serviceable in his short time up with the club last year and could turn into a solid backup.

Ryan Hanigan - Cincinnati Reds - It's not 100% that the Reds will give Ramon Hernandez the starting job out of spring training. Hanigan showed the same offensive skills that Hernandez has put up so far with the team. If you were thinking about draft Henandez as your backup catcher, I would hold off and wait for this position battle to show a winner.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia - Boston Red Sox - Salty will get his shot this season with the Red Sox. He only had 24 at-bats last season with the team, but he will be in a time-share with Varitek. He's only 25, but this is his third team and he is running out of chances. His back is against the wall and I like guys with something to prove. I think he runs with this opportunity and earns his spot on the team.

Can Indiana Pacers Make The Playoffs?

2011-02-10T06:16:00.005-05:00

The Indiana Pacers are currently 22-28 and hold a one game lead for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. They have a good shot landing anywhere from the 6th seed to the 11th seed in the conference. They are on a roll since firing Jim O'Brien and promoting Frank Vogel to head coach. Depending on what other teams do before the trading deadline, can the Pacers finally make the playoffs with Reggie Miller?

Since Frank Vogel took over head coaching duties, the Pacers have only one loss to the Miami Heat. They were leading much of that contest, but lost in the last minutes of the game. Vogel has done away with the "small ball" that O'Brien was trying the last few weeks he was in power and has been starting Tyler Hansbrough & Josh McRoberts at that position. He also said that he will start playing rookies Paul George & Lance Stephenson more. George has been playing a lot off the bench, but Stephenson has yet to see minutes this year. Indiana has responded and are playing with a fire and passion that was lost under O'Brien.

Larry Bird has been held under fire the last few years. He has been scrutinized about the personnel that he has acquired and seems to have changed his focus this year. He went with the best players available in the draft and didn't choose the "good character" guy over a risk. Stephenson was a huge risk, but in the 2nd round, not so much. I still think he could be a factor on this team, but he hasn't been given a shot. He could be useful in the D-League, but the Pacers haven't been apt to use that option in the past.

The Pacers have a few chips that they could try to move before the trading deadline. Mike Dunleavy, T.J. Ford, and Jeff Foster all have expiring contracts and are very capable players. Dunleavy has been starting, Foster has been coming off the bench, and Ford has been a healthy scratch. All three players can contribute to any team, but doesn't seem like the Pacers have them in their current or future plans. If they could get a serviceable power forward or defensive help for any of those guys, Bird should jump on it.

It looks like Indiana will be fighting the Knicks, Bobcats, Sixers, Bucks, and Pistons for the last three playoff spots in the East. The Bobcats and Pistons have been rumored to be sellers at the trading deadline, so that could end those teams hopes of making the playoffs. You never know what surprise team will jump up the standings after some trades. Can the Pacers make the playoffs this season? Absolutely, they have as good of a shot as any of the mid-level teams in the East. Will they make it out of the first-round? That is another story...I don't want to be positive right now.

Interview: Ken Dilger

2011-01-26T07:08:00.002-05:00

I had a chance to speak with former Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight-end, Ken Dilger. We spoke about NFL Playoffs, what happened to the Colts this season, and who was a better high school quarterback, him or Jay Cutler. It was great to speak with him and he was in Peoria, Illinois doing some great work for a charity. See what he's up to now and find out how you can contact him.

Me: I want to ask you about the Colts. I I want to asked you about the Colts. It was tough to see them struggle with injuries all season. What could they have done differently against the Jets in the playoffs?

Ken Dilger: When you have 19 or 20 guys on injured reserve and are missing Austin Collie & Dallas Clark, it's hard. The Jets game was very conservative. They didn't throw it down the field. They were nervous to make a mistake. They were out-hustled in the 2nd half.

Me: Did you question the late timeout?

Dilger: I did, anytime you have an offense trying to run down the clock and Sanchez doesn't have experience and ability. You let the offense run the clock. Everybody should question that.

Me: When Clark comes back, do you think they can use Tamme & Clark in 2 TE sets, even though Tamme's blocking ability isn't great?

Dilger: No, I don't think you will see that. you need one pass catching tight-end and Clark is better. I think you will see Brody Eldridge used more.

Me: The production that teams are getting from their tight-end position really spiked over the last few years. Look at what the Patriots did with two rookie tight-ends this year. What are your thoughts on the evolution of the position?

Dilger: It has been changing the last 15 years or so. The tight-end position became more of a pass catching threat. Guys like Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, and Heath Miller have changed the position. Every team is trying to find that guy. If you have a big tight-end that can run, you have a big mismatch.

Me: Who was a better quarterback at Heritage High School, you or Jay Cutler?

Dilger: {laughs} I would say it was me.

Me: Do you think he would agree?

Dilger: No, he won a championship there.

Me: Why did you change to tight-end at Illinois?

Dilger: I was a big kid and didn't have a weight program in high school. I gained 20 lbs that first semester and it was a natural progression to the position.

Me: Who do you have this week and who is your favorite to win in the Conference championships?

Dilger: You have two great matchups. Bears & Packers are hated division rivals. They know each other so well. It will come down to turnovers, which quarterback can managed the situation and atmopshere. The slight edge to the Packets because of Rodgers. The AFC, you have two hated teams with two great defenses. The Jets played well enough to win, but you go into Pittsburgh, Polamalu & Miller didn't play last game. You have to give edge to Pittsburgh across the board. It's a great match-up.

Me: Who would win between the Steelers and Packers in the Super Bowl?

Dilger: Steelers & Packers? Pittsburgh has more weapons on offense with Mendenhall and veteran wide-receivers.

Me: Are you saying Mendenhall because he went to Illinois?

Dilger: Of course, It doesn't hurt!

Me: Do you ever wear your Super Bowl ring?

Dilger: I do! I wear it out for special events like this one.

Me: What are you up to these days?

Dilger: I live in Indianapolis. I run a mortgage company here.

Me: A lot of current and former athletes use social media to keep in touch with your fans. How do you keep in touch with the fans? Twitter or Facebook?

Dilger: I'm on Facebook 3500 fans on there, I get asked a lot of questions. My wife thinks it's stupid.

Me: Tell me about why you're in Peoria today

Dilger: I am with the Febreeze TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE campaign. A family in Peoria was one of the finalists and put a photo and video of them in their basement in all their Colts gear. She didn't win, but we have a big presentation to give $10,000 to St. Jude Hospital in her name.

Me: Thanks for taking time to talk with me today. Good luck with with everything and it sounds like a great charity.

Lebron James Is Gollum

2011-01-13T05:05:00.005-05:00

After the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers by 50+, Lebron James decided to turn to his Twitter account to vent his anger. He tweeted that Karma's a bitch. I know things didn't end well with James and his old team, but to go the "drunk tweet"-like route, was a bit uncalled for. I am now convinced that Lebron James is turning into Gollum, from "Lord Of The Rings." King James is even losing his hair...yep, I went there. What else can James do to complete his transoformation?

I guess before I go neck-deep in nerdy "Lord Of The Rings" talk, let me explain Gollum. He's was a character first introduced in "The Hobbit" as "Smeagol." He was later referred to as "Gollum," because of a throat sound he made. He has a split-personality, so when he's "Smeagol," he thinks of good things and has good intentions, but when he's "Gollum," all he wants is the ring. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

When Lebron James was "Smeagol," he was fun-loving, pretended to take pictures with his teammates before games, and was loved by all. His greed and lust for a ring has turned him into "Gollum." He wants nothing to do with his fun-loving past and all he is focused on is his lust for a ring. I am guessing that he hates short guys with big feet, or Stan Van Gundy, who could possibly get in his way of winning a championship.

As you can tell, Gollum is lacking a lot of hair. We know that Lebron James took his talents to South Beach, but he left his hairline in Cleveland. I give it three years and he will look more like the "Lord Of The Rings" character...and he may still not have a ring.

Sweetbob's Top 50 Albums of 2010 (1-25)

2010-12-22T13:08:00.031-05:00

I used to be a music journalist before I started this blog. I worked for a ton of websites and even ran my own for a few years. I decided to dive back into the genre, since 2010 was a great year for music. I have spent the last few weeks listening to music non-stop and I have been a very tired boy. I have narrowed down the albums that were released in 2010 to a top 50 list. I had a battle with myself when picking the top album of the year. Here are the top half of my Top 50 Albums of 2010, with links to key tracks.

1. The Black Keys - BrothersKey Track - "Tighten Up"
"Brothers" is the sixth studio album by the band from Akron, Ohio, but they weren't well-known until this year. They had limited success with their previous albums, but for good reason, this is the album that is getting them major recognition. They have been nominated for a few Grammys this year, including "Best Rock Song" and "Best Alternative Music Album." They show their range with tracks like "Everlasting Light" and "Too Afraid To Love You" on the same album. The Black Keys have outdone themselves with this album with amazing musicianship and personal lyrics that made "Brothers" the best album of 2010.

2. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No MoreKey Track - "I Gave You All"
When making this list I went to my Twitter followers for a key track on "Sigh No More." I received 8 different tracks from about 30 different people, there are only 12 songs on the album. When so many people pick such a variety from the same album as their favorite, you have an album full of great music. I couldn't stop listening to "Sigh No More," when a friend recommended them back in March. Many of the lyrics and song titles on the album were inspired by the works of Shakespeare, John Steinbeck, and other authors. It sounds a bit nerdy, I know, but you will thoroughly enjoy this album.

3. The Arcade Fire - SuburbsKey Track - "We Used To Wait"
This album could have easily been #1 on my list, because I love it so much. I had this album in every spot in the top 5 in the preliminary phase of writing this post. If you compare their sound on this album with previous work, it's more "Funeral" than "Neon Bible." The Arcade Fire puts out amazing music and every record hasn't disappointed me yet. Until that time comes, they are one of the best bands out there and "Suburbs" is proof.

4. The National - High VioletKey Track - "England"
After the band released "Boxer" in 2007, I didn't think they could top it. "High Violet" surprised me and is a stronger album, I love when bands do that. With tracks "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and "Terrible Love" hitting alternative and mainstream radio, this has also been their best-selling album so far. The baritone voice of Matt Berninger is the perfect companion for the medley of instruments the band uses on "High Violet," this is a must-listen.

5. Darwin Deez - Darwin DeezKey Track - "Radar Detector"
This is my surprise on the Top 50 list. Darwin Deez is a band from Brooklyn, NY, but have yet to explode in the States. They have been touring in the UK over the past year and charted a few singles off their self-titled album there. They call their genre "genius pop," but it has also been referred to as "bedroom pop for the heartbroken." It's a fun album with up-tempo tracks like "Radar Detector," songs for the recently dumped ("Bad Day"), and songs about post-apocalyptic love ("The Bomb Song"). It's one of the best albums of the year.

6. Broken Bells - Broken BellsKey Track - "The Ghost Inside"
Danger Mouse is making a name for himself by working with out-of-the-ordinary artists. He has released albums with Cee-Lo Green as Gnarls Barkley and Sparklehorse over the past few years with great success. He now enlisted James Mercer from The Shins to collaborate on what they call "Broken Bells." I am a fan of The Shins and the albums that Danger Mouse produced in the past, so this was a no-brainer. I love the album from the moment I first listened to it.

7. Jonsi - GoKey Track - "Sinking Friendships"
My friend James over at Columbus Beer Guys had an extra ticket to go see Jonsi live a few months ago. I wasn't familiar with his solo work, only his work as the lead singer of Sigur Ros. I got the album a few days before the show and I didn't stop listening to it until it was time to leave to go to the show. I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of Sigur Ros, but respect them as a band. Jonsi's solo album "Go" is so creative and original that is stands out from the crowd. Also, if you have a chance to ever see him live, it's definitely an experience.

8. Beach House - Teen DreamKey Track - "Zebra"
It was released in January and I nearly forgot that it was even released this year. When I first listened to it, I reminded me of something that The Yeah Yeah Yeahs would put out, but better. They have spent most of the year touring all over supporting bands like Vampire Weekend and Grizzly Bear. They should be proud of this album and hopefully we'll hear more material from them in late 2011 or early 2012.

9. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted FantasyKey Track - "Hell Of A Life"
We all experienced "Kanye West overdose" back when he interrupted Taylor Swift at the MTV Music Awards. He realized that he needed to disappear from the limelight for a bit and it might have been the best thing that he could have done. He released so much material in a short period of time and his music became stale. When this album came out, I didn't listen right away, but after so many of my friends on Twitter kept raving about it, I caved in. "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" was refreshing to listen to and made me realize that I actually missed having something new to listen to from him. He believe he became a fan of music again and enlisted the help of other talented musicians like Justin Vernon from Bon Iver to help him. It was nice to see that he put his ego aside for a few minutes.

10. Vampire Weekend - ContraKey Track - "Horchata"
I had a hard time placing this album. I had it all over my Top 25 when trying to figure out the order. I haven't always been a fan of Vampire Weekend. I even had a heated debate about them with my friend Carlos when I was in Vegas for a friend's wedding, "Contra" changed my mind. The tracks "Holiday" and "Horchata" getting stuck in my head, it was hard to ignore them. It's one of the best albums of the year and an album can completely change one's mind.

11. Surfer Blood - Astro CoastKey Track - "Swim"
This is another album that was an early year release that nearly flew under my radar. Even though the album was released in January, it wasn't until a month ago when I first listened to "Astro Coast." It's a pure indie-rock album with catchy riffs and low-fi production.

12. LCD Soundsystem - This Is HappeningKey Track - "You Wanted A Hit"
When LCD Soundsystem releases an album, it's nearly guaranteed to land on many year-end lists. The consistent quality of their music is something to marvel. "You Wanted A Hit" is one of the best tracks off any album this year and the rest of the album is high-quality.

13. Gorillaz - Plastic BeachKey Track - "White Flag"
Damon Albarn said "I'm making this the biggest most pop record I've ever made in many ways, but with all my experience to try at least present something that has got depth." I would say that he succeeded and Gorillaz fans would agree with that statement. Each song is a different experience and the album should be enjoyed as a whole and not a la carte.

14. Warpaint - The FoolKey Track - "Bees"
Psychedelic art rock isn't something that I listen to often, but Warpaint's soothing vocals makes them a must-listen. They don't get too artsy with their arrangements and push the envelope too far. It's still mainstream enough to occupy even the casual music fan's ear. They toe the line with this album, but they go in areas that exciting and new.

15. Sufjan Stevens - The Age Of AdzKey Track - "Vesuvius"
I usually don't condone an artist to put out a song that is 25 minutes long, but Sufjan Stevens mad it work. "Impossible Soul," a track on this album, spans nearly ever genre during its 25-minute playback time. He could have released this track as an EP itself and probably would have been successful. The rest of the album is a mixture of orchestral and electronic themes. This is the first full-length album he has released in five years and hopefully we won't have to wait another five for his next effort.

16. Maximum Balloon - Maximum BalloonKey Track - "Groove Me"
Maximum Balloon, better known as Dave Sitek from TV On The Radio, gathered up a bunch of talented artists to help him on this project. He has Karen O, David Byrne, Theophilus London, Little Dragon, and many others to help out with vocals on the album. Sitek has produced albums for TV On The Radio, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Liars in the past and he is just adding to his resumé with this project. It's a fun album full of mainstream and experimental hip-hop that stretches his chops as a record producer.

17. Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist HistoryKey Track - "Something Good Can Work"
The best bands start when guys decide to start a band to get girls. I don't know if that's a true statement, but I would like to think that great things happen when people are motivated, no matter what the motivation might be. I first heard this band this summer on the local radio station here in Columbus, CD 101. The track "I Can Talk" was on a constant rotation and I noticed myself humming it all around town. It reminded me of The Fratellis meets Ra Ra Riot, two bands that I enjoy.

18. Gayngs - RelaytedKey Track - "Faded High"
I think I have a man crush on Justin Vernon. I mentioned that he helped with Kanye West's newest album and here I am talking about him again with his side-project Gayngs. The group actually has 23 musicians from bands Bon Iver, Rhymesayers, Doomtree, Megafaun, The Rosebuds, etc. The band's sound is big and will take you in different directions. You go from a slow jam ("The Gaudy Side Of Town") to a futuristic ballad ("The Last Prom On Earth") in eleven steps.

19. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II)Key Track - "Baptism"
If you want to throw a "hipster dance party," the first rule is that you must have Crystal Castles on your playlist. The energy level on this album is intense. The track "Not In Love" was later remixed with The Cure's Robert Smith on vocals. If that track was included on this album, I have a feeling that it would be much higher on my list.

20. Band Of Horses - Infinite ArmsKey Track - "On My Way Back Home"
This album starts where "Cease To Begin" left off. There is a seamless transition between their last two albums. They knew what works for them and they didn't stray away from the formula. I have to give them credit for that. They didn't go the MGMT route and say "let's try something different." Band Of Horses knows what their fans want from them and they deliver.

21. Ra Ra Riot - The OrchardKey Track - "Boy"
It helps to have connections and friends within the music industry. Ra Ra Riot their friends Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie) & Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend) mix their album. They did a fantastic job and enhances their superb talents and makes it pop. I was a fan of their last album "The Rhumb Line," but it did lack something. "The Orchard" hits on all cylinders and leaves me awaiting new material from the band.

22. Deerhunter - Halcyon DigestKey Track - "Helicopter"
I wasn't too familiar with Deerhunter's work before this album. They flew under my radar a bit. I recognized the name and had listened to a few tracks here and there, so when I gave this album a listen, my expectations weren't too high. I was locked in from the first track "Earthquake," since it wasn't what I was expecting. The genre of "ambient punk" could be just about anything. It reminded me of an Echo and The Bunnymen song, which I enjoy. The rest of the album was a trip and it's a fun album to listen to.

23. Spoon - TransferenceKey Track - "The Mystery Zone"
The indie-rock Gods, Spoon, have done it again. I enjoyed 2007's "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" and was anticipating this album for a few months before it was released. There aren't as many instant radio-friendly singles that pop out as they did when I listened to their last album, but these tracks blend together. It's not a concept album, it's just the way it was mixed.

24. Ben Folds & Nick Hornby - Lonely AvenueKey Track - "Picture Window"
When an amazing author decides to collaborate with you and write lyrics for your next album, you agree. Nick Hornby, author of "High Fidelity" and "About A Boy," wrote the lyrics this album. The lyrics on each track read like a chapter of a book. It's great to see someone who is so talented with words mesh minds with a gifted musician.

25. Motion City Soundtrack - Dinosaur LifeKey Track - "Her Words Destroyed My Planet"
You usually don't see too many bands tied to the "pop punk" genre on anyone's top albums of the year list. I had to change it up and add this one to my list. I thought maybe I was just a fan and I was brainwashed to like anything they put out. I was pleased to see that this album is the only album that Alternative Press gave a top rating too all year. They had a more mature sound, but still don't take themselves too seriously with clever wordplay.

HERE IS THE REST OF THE TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2010 (26-50)

Sweetbob's Top 50 Albums of 2010 (26-50)

2010-12-21T20:52:00.044-05:00

I used to be a music journalist before I started this blog. I worked for a ton of websites and even ran my own for a few years. I decided to dive back into the genre, since 2010 was a great year for music. I have spent the last few weeks listening to music non-stop and I have been a very tired boy. I have narrowed down the albums that were released in 2010 to a top 50 list with a few honorable mentions listed at the bottom of this post. Here are the bottom half of my Top 50 Albums of 2010, with links to key tracks.

26. Sleigh Bells - TreatsKey Track - "Infinite Guitars"
The best way to describe this Brooklyn-based band would be "noise pop." They formed in 2008 and their debut full-length album, "Treats," barely missed our Top 25. They are a band on the rise and from what I hear from my friends, put on a crazy live show.

27. Yeasayer - Odd BloodKey Track - "I Remember"
I wasn't a big fan of Yeasayer until I hear "Odd Blood" for the first time. I have a hard time believe that they produced this album themselves. I'm glad that they translated their success opening up for MGMT in 2007 into putting out such a solid album. I almost added "Ambling Alp" as the key track on this album, but "I Remember" is currently stuck in my head, it's catchy.

28. Deadmau5 - 4x4=12Key Track - "Raise Your Weapon"
I'm glad Deadmau5 decided to focus on music instead of math, because he consistently puts out solid albums. "4x4=12" is the Canadian artist's third album. Even if it's not as good as last year's "For Lack Of A Better Name," I had to add it high on my list.

29. Local Natives - Gorilla ManorKey Track - "Airplanes"
Local Natives have been describe as "psycho folk" in album reviews, but I think the critic was just trying to think up a new genre. "Gorilla Manor" is a modern take on traditional folk music, a breath of fresh air for the genre. They spent most of the year opening up for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. It should be time to headline their own tour to support this great album.

30. Lil Wayne - RebirthKey Track - "Runnin'"
2010 was a year Lil' Wayne would probably like to forget. He spent most of it in prison, but before his sentence he released "Rebirth," a rap/rock hybrid that came out early this year. Even though he relies heavily on auto-tune, he comes through with an superb album.

31. Hot Chip - One Life StandKey Track - "Hand Me Down Your Love"
I have a hard time trying to describe Hot Chip to people who haven't heard them. I want to say that they are "soul dance," but that would be painting them into a corner. This is the band's 4th album and if you haven't heard of them, get on iTunes and get out your credit card.

32. Girl Talk - All DayKey Track - "Jump On Stage"
I'm probably going to get hell from my friends for not ranking this album higher. I think "All Day" is one of the most re-listenable albums of the year, but had to consider that he is rearranging great music put out by other artists. I am going to see Girl Talk live in two weeks and I'm sure it will be amazing. Anyone who can put an Ol' Dirty Bastard rap over a Radiohead track is talented.

33. Cee-Lo Green - The Lady KillerKey Track - "No One's Gonna Love You"
Everyone loves his song, "Fuck You," but you will have to take a listen to his cover of the Band of Horses song, "No One's Gonna Love You." I love his work with Danger Mouse in the group Gnarls Barkley and he looks to finally put on a solo album that is getting critical-acclaim and flying off shelves.

34. Free Energy - Stuck On NothingKey Track - "Dark Trance"
Power pop albums aren't my cup of tea, but Free Energy's "Stuck On Nothing" stood out from other albums in the genre. LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy produced the band album and he got the best out of the band. "Bang Pop" is their best known track, but there are many others on the album worth a listen.

35. John Legend & The Roots - Wake Up!Key Track - "Our Generation"
I love John Legend and he had a hand in making Kanye West's latest album great. I also love The Roots, who you may see again later on in this list. When you combine the two, you are guaranteed to have something worth listening to.

36. Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon Vol II: The Legend Of Mr. RagerKey Track - "Scott Mescudi Vs. The World"
I thought that Kid Cudi would be a one-hit wonder when "Day N Nite" started to get played on the radio. He changed my mind when I heard his debut album, his second effort is just as good. Kid Cudi is making Ohio proud, even if he has a song on the album solely dedicated to the green herb, "Marijuana."

37. Kings Of Leon - Come Around SundownKey Track - "Pyro"
I was expecting big things from Kings Of Leon after their last album, "Only By The Night," was such a smash success. The band didn't seem comfortable with the instant worldwide success, after releasing other albums that they thought were just as good. "Come Around Sundown" isn't as radio-friendly, but I'm pretty sure the band is okay with it.

38. Matt & Kim - SidewalksKey Track - "Block After Block"
Matt & Kim put on a great live show and their album, "Sidewalks," is just as entertaining as buying a ticket. They are an energetic two-piece band and if you haven't heard of them, I'm sure you have heard a track or two at some point. If they are in a town near you, check them out and buy this album.

39. Gogol Bordello - Trans-Continental HustleKey Track - "Immigraniada (We Comin' Rougher)"
Speaking of energetic live shows, Gogol Bordello might take the trophy in that contest. I saw them a few years ago at a Warped Tour in Chicago and they rocked the tired, sun-poisoned crowd. "Trans-continental Hustle" is in the same ilk as their previous efforts, but under Rick Rubin's production (or lack thereof), they have released their best album to date.

40. The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild HuntKey Track - "Kids On The Run"
The Tallest Man On Earth (aka Kristian Matsson) is a Swedish folk musician you may not have heard a lot about. He has released other full-length albums and EPs over the last few years, but "The Wild Hunt" is his strongest. It's produced to sound like you are listening to it on low-fi vinyl. The production enhances the experience of listening to it and will remind you of early Bob Dylan.

41. Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness: Rock RecordKey Track - "All To All"
I had an ex-girlfriend who loved Broken Social Scene a few years ago and for some reason it completely turned me off on the band. I really can't explain why, but I decided to give them another shot with "Forgiveness: Rock Record." I'm glad that I reintroduced myself to the band with this album. I'm glad that I didn't let a past failed relationship keep me from listening to this album, I feel like I just had a break-through.

42. The Walkmen - LisbonKey Track - "Victory"
I have been a fan of The Walkmen and every other album in their discography would probably land in the Top 20 albums released in those years. "Lisbon" is a good album, but it didn't hit on all the buttons their past albums did. It still lands at #42, it's respectable, but go check out the rest of their discography before you listen to it and get back to me.

43. The Roots - How I Got OverKey Track - "Walk Alone"
I told you that The Roots might appear again on this list. It was a great year for the guy from Philly. They are getting mainstream popularity by being the house band on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and releasing great albums. This album is full of guest-stars and smart lyrics on every track. Also, I would follow ?uestlove on Twitter if you want to know more about the band, he's entertaining.

44. Seabear - We Built A FireKey Track - "We Fell Off The Roof"
Clash magazine described Seabear as "Sufjan Stevens meets an unplugged Arcade Fire." If that doesn't spark your interest, you aren't a music fan. The indie-folk band from Iceland haven't made a huge splash here in the U.S., but another album as good as "We Built A Fire," and they could become a household name.

45. Washington - I Believe You LiarKey Track - "1997"
After releasing an EP in 2008, Washington's full-length debut was buzz-worthy. Megan Washington, the band's lead singer, has a voice and style that screams a pop success. They may have not received the popularity yet, but "I Believe You Liar" is a very good album to build a career on.

46. Cloud Control - Bliss ReleaseKey Track - "This Is What I Said"
Are you in the mood for Australian indie folk music? I don't think I have ever said that to myself, but after listening to this album, it's now plausible. I'm glad that I stumbled upon this album in late November. It has been a staple on my iTunes for the last month.

47. Rogue Wave - PermalightKey Track - "Solitary Gun"
Rogue Wave is one of the longest-tenured bands on his list and they still have the magic touch. "Solitary Gun" is one of my favorite tracks on the year. The rest of the album is good, but the album makes this list based mostly on just a few tracks. I would wish for a more consistent effort, but I"ll take it. It's still worth a few spins, just not the strongest album they have released.

48. Four Tet - There Is Love In YouKey Track - "Circling"
I will admit this from the start, Four Tet may not be for everybody, but "There Is Love In You" perked up my ears. If you like artists like Bonobo and Aphex Twin, you could be in for a treat. I wanted to add it to this list because it doesn't sound like a lot of the stuff out there and needs to be recognized. Check out a few tracks online and decide yourself.

49. Avi Buffalo - Avi BuffaloKey Track - "Jessica"
Yet, another debut album from a young band cracks my Top 50. I must be in love with band on Sub Pop Records or formerly on the label. There have been quite a few that made it on here this year. Some critics have compared them to The Shins, which is an adequate, yet lofty, comparison.

50. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico DustyKey Track - "General Patton"
Big Boi is further separating himself from Andree 3000 with this album. I love Outkast, but if he keeps making good solo music, I can survive. I only ask them he releases on album with Sleepy Brown on a track, hearing him on a Big Boi track is starting to become predictable.

Honorable Mention
Caribou - SwimKey Track - "Kaili"
Once again, this band isn't for everybody, but still should get a mention as a "close by no cigar" album to miss the list.

Girls - Broken Dreams ClubKey Track - "Heartbreaker"
This album would have made the list, but I had a hard time putting an album with only six songs on the list.

How To Dress Well - Love RemainsKey Track - "Date Of Birth"
Just too many good albums and only 50 spots on the list.

Kate Nash - My Best Friend Is YouKey Track - "I Just Love You More"
I'm going to piss off a lot of ladies by not adding this on my list. I may have just missed a golden opportunity to earn some more female readers.

Die Antwoord - $O$Key Track - "Enter The Ninja"
A weird, unique band that I had to mention. If you can watch that video without being freaked out a bit, you should probably quit the internet and see a shrink.

Jimmy Eat World - InventedKey Track - "Action Needs An Audience"
An all-time favorite band with a solid album. It's not their best, but worth a listen.

Foals - Total Life ForeverKey Track - "What Remains"
Think early Travis & Blur albums...a decent brit-pop album.

Mason Puts Blue Jackets In Tough Situation

2010-12-18T01:45:00.006-05:00

It's hard to look at that picture of Steve Mason with the Calder Memorial trophy and not scream out "What happened?!" He has been one of the most inconsistent goaltenders in the NHL since his rookie season. Head coaches have let him start games, but they have a quick hook on the young man. He has the ability to register a shutout every time he's on the ice, but he's also prone to letting pucks get in the net in triplet. What can the Blue Jackets do to help Mason bounce back? The team must figure out if they want win now or build toward the future.

It's fair to say that Mason has been inconsistent, it's not an opinion it's fact. Fans and critics must remember that he has had three head coaches the last two seasons (Ken Hitchcock, Claude Noel, and now Scott Arniel). They have tried many approaches to help the young goalie out. Hitchcock implemented the "ride the hot goalie" method, but at times Mathieu Garon was in net multiple games in a row and Mason sat on the bench collecting dust. When Hitchcock was fired, Noel took over and modified Hitch's technique and let Mason go out there and he played very well down the stretch. He built up the anticipation that he will have a good season between the pipes. Arniel decided that he wants to see both goaltenders see action, but so far it's been a fairly even split. He has pulled Mason out of games quite a bit, but that isn't new to him, he leads the NHL in that statistic over the last two seasons.

Because Mason's rookie season was such a success, people forget that he's only 22 years old. His rookie campaign might have been an anomaly, it definitely isn't the norm for a rookie to come in and do so well. His 2.29 GAA and 10 shutouts were not expected so soon. Last year, he finished the year with a 3.05 GAA with 5 shutouts and a record of 20-26-9. The team could live with those numbers from a young goalie, but it was the inconsistency that frustrated the team and fans.

After the 6-3 loss in Edmonton Thursday night, Arniel said that Mason was 'in his own head." The head coach is starting to sound like a broken record when he comes to him. What can the Blue Jackets do? They are sitting near the 8th spot in a tough Western Conference. The team must decide if this is the year to push their young goalie or maybe it's time to let him regain his form in Springfield, their AHL minor-league affiliate. The team did send down another top-prospect, Nikita Filatov, just last week. It might be time to give Garon the starting job full-time and call up minor-league goalie, David LeNeveu. LeNeveu is 31-years old, spent nearly his entire career in the minors, with a cup of coffee with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2005-06 and 2006-07. He may not have the ability to dominate, like Mason shows flashes of, but he could keep the pipes warm while Mason gets his form back.

Mason is a fan favorite and the fans of Columbus are hungry for a winning team. This is the tenth year of the club and GM Scott Howson definitely wants to see the team reach the post-season for only its second-time in its history. Making a move like this would take a lot of faith in the process and that Mason wouldn't completely check-out. He already appears to be a bit fragile mentally. Fans are hoping that Mason can turn it around over the next few games, if he gets a chance to start. Their next game is at home against the Dallas Stars. Garon will likely get the start and will be looking to improve on his 7-3-2 record.

McNabb: It Was Not Sunny In Washington

2010-12-18T00:10:00.011-05:00

When the Phildelphia Eagles drafted Donovan McNabb, the fans booed him. It was a love/hate relationship for much of his career. He went to numerous NFC Championship games in a row and even made a Super Bowl appearance with the team, but the fans always blamed him when the team lost. He finally got his wish and was traded, but he ended up on the Washington Redskins. The team had a new head coach, Mike Shanahan, and a lot of question marks going into this season. The team announced today that he will be benched for remainder of the season. It wasn't always sunny in Philadelphia, but at least he was the starter. What's next for McNabb?

The Washington Redskins have been a trainwreck since training camp started and Shanahan and Albert Haynesworth got into a pissing contest about fitness. Shanahan made Haynesworth do a fitness test and wouldn't activate him until he passed. It took him far too many tries for someone who should be a top-tier defensive lineman to complete, but Shanahan was just trying to prove a point. It doesn't matter how much you are getting paid or what you have done in the past, you must earn your spot on this team. This philosophy didn't work with Haynesworth, he has had a poor season and finds himself inactive most weeks. Shanahan even bench McNabb in the final two minutes of a game earlier in the season for Rex Grossman. He stated that Grossman was better suited to run the two-minute offense. He later said that McNabb wasn't in shape enough to run the two-minute offense. It didn't sit well with McNabb and his season has been in a tailspin since.

McNabb is having his worst season since his rookie campaign. He has only thrown 14 touchdowns on the year and has thrown a career-high 15 interceptions and has fumbled seven times. He has never finished a season throwing more interceptions than touchdowns, but appears that his season is finished. He will be the back-up to Rex Grossman this week and then the remainder of the season, he will be the emergency quarterback behind John Beck.

The media made a large story about the Redskins signing McNabb to a five-year extension before the Philadelphia game. It was a large money deal, but barely any of that money was guaranteed. The contract was basically a deal would keep McNabb happy for the remainder of this year and would give Washington "first dibs" on signing him this off-season. In baseball terms, it's as if he signed a one-year deal with a team option for the next few years. If McNabb stays with the team this off-season and going into next season, he'll receive a $10 million dollar bonus. I would bet my house that he will not be in D.C. by the NFL Draft.

Where are some possibly locations for McNabb if Washington cuts him this off-season. The logical destination would be the Arizona Cardinals. Michael Wilbon reported last season that McNabb has a home there and the Cardinals need anyone who would be competent. Some other destinations, pending who the teams would draft in the upcoming NFL Draft would be Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, or San Francisco 49ers. He may have to bite the bullet and take a back-up role on a team. He can clearly still be competitive as a quarterback in the NFL, but he may need to get into better shape this off-season, since that has been in issue since his lone Super Bowl appearance. If McNabb needs motivation to get in better shape, let's take a look at the quarterback that is taking his starting job away from him. Here's a photo retrospective of Rex "Sex Cannon" Grossman.

2010 NFL - Week 15 Betting Picks

2010-12-16T16:56:00.007-05:00

I had a pretty average week with my picks last week. I was .500 and hopefully I'll hit my stride. Some games aren't on any sportsbook due to injuries, so I've picked the games that lines were available for. A few great games, but some real stinkers on the schedule this week. No one should watch Arizona vs. Carolina unless they have money on the game. Here are my betting picks against the spread for Week 15 of the 2010 NFL season.

San Francisco (+10) at San Diego Chargers (-10) - My pick is San Diego

The 49ers smoked Seattle last week, but they face a San Diego team that is fighting for the playoffs. Phillip Rivers will be back firing all over the field and should make for a long night for the 49ers secondary. Thursday night games often favor the home teams, I pick the Chargers to cover.

Houston Texans (+1.5) at Tennessee Titans (-1.5) - My pick is Houston

The Texans have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL, but the Titans haven't been able to pass the last few weeks, no matter who the quarterback is. Houston had a bad break in their overtime loss against Baltimore and they will bounce back against a Titans team that is struggling to keep their locker room together. I will take the points and moneyline, take Houston to win.

Jacksonville Jaguars (+4.5) at Indianapolis Colts (-4.5) - My pick is Indianapolis

In the last two weeks, you have the Jaguars, who grind out victories in the last minute of each game, and the Colts, who have given away games in the last minute. The Colts need to win out to win the AFC South. Austin Collie will be back and Peyton Manning will look like a Pro Bowler again. I'll pick the Colts to cover.

Arizona Cardinals (+2.5) at Carolina Panthers (-2.5) - My pick is Arizona

Unless you have money on this game, there is no reason to watch. Panthers are in line for the #1 overall pick and I don't see them winning this game to jeopardize that. I pick the Cardinals to win and taking the moneyline.

Cleveland Browns (+1.5) at Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5) - My pick is Cleveland

Joe Haden is turning into a shutdown corner and will give Carson Palmer fits this weekend. The last time these two teams played, Peyton Hillis ran all over the Bengals and expect a repeat performance. Browns will win this game outright.

Buffalo Bills (+5.5) at Miami Dolphins (-5.5) - My pick is Miami

The Bills have been having trouble getting the ball to Steve Johnson and will have trouble in this game. The Dolphins secondary is underrated and will rely on their running game to score in this game. I'll pick Miami to cover.

Philadelphia Eagles (+3) at New York Giants (-3) - My pick is Philadelphia

This will be an exciting game to watch. The Giants resurrected pass rush this season will try to cut off Michael Vick from scrambling. Vick will try to go deep to Desean Jackson against the Giants secondary. The Giants receiving corps is banged up, so the matchup against Eagles secondary will be one to watch. I will pick the Eagles to win outright and take the moneyline.

Washington Redskins (+6) at Dallas Cowboys (-6) - My pick is Dallas

Jon Kitna versus Rex Grossman! We have seen some bad quarterback matchups late this season, but this one might be the worst. Washington will try to push the ball threw the Cowboys line with Ryan Torain. Kitna can't throw the ball deep, but Grossman will try to throw the ball 40 yards and it will land in the hands of a Cowboys cornerback. I can't pick the Redskins, so I'm picking the Cowboys to cover...by default.

Detroit Lions (+5.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-5.5) - My pick is Tampa Bay

Players on the Bucs have been hitting the infirmary the last few weeks. The Lions are horrible on the road and Tampa Bay still have Josh Freeman. He will be the deciding factor on the Bucs covering against Detroit.

New Orleans (+1) at Baltimore Ravens (-1) - My pick is New Orleans

You can't count the Saints out in any game. Drew Brees has the ability to throw 400 yards in any game and the Ravens secondary can be throw on (see 4th quarter of Texans/Ravens game). The Saints are still in the hunt for the NFC South, they will come out motivated and will win this game outright.

Atlanta Falcons (-7) at Seattle Seahawks (+7) - My pick is Atlanta

Seattle is bad, I don't care if they are at home or not, they are bad. Atlanta should get out to a pretty big lead early and Michael Turner will take over. The Falcons cover this game easily.

New York Jets (+6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6) - My pick is Pittsburgh

The Jets haven't been able to score points the last few weeks and Troy Polamalu will cause all sorts of trouble for Mark Sanchez. This game could get ugly. I predict the Steelers to cover and could ruin the Jets seasons.

Denver Broncos (+6.5) at Oakland Raiders (-6.5) - My pick is Oakland

Kyle Orton looked lost without Josh McDaniels and Oakland has been running all over teams the last half of the season. Darren McFadden could once again have a career day, since Denver looks like they have quit. Oakland should cover and have 200+ yards rushing from their running backs.

These picks are for entertainment purposes.

Blue Jackets Need To Improve Power Play

2010-12-15T16:11:00.007-05:00

It is no surprise that the Columbus Blue Jackets are last in the Western Conference in power play percentage, they are near the bottom every year. Tonight they play in Vancouver against the Canucks who have one of the league's best power plays. They have scored on 25% of their chances and amassed 28 goals on the power play this season. The Blue Jackets have scored on 14 goals with the advantage, but only register a 11.7% rate. Something needs to improve if they plan on getting two points tonight in Vancouver.

The Vancouver Canucks (16-8-4) and the Columbus Blue Jackets (16-11-2) are two teams heading in opposite directions. The Blue Jackets have been reeling the last ten games (3-5-2) and the Canucks are moving up the Western Conference standings the last ten (6-3-1). Hendrik Sedin has been killing teams on the power play with half of his 16 goals on the season coming on advantage. Daniel Sedin has played well lately with 12 points in his last eight games. Their defense has been stopping shots from even getting to Roberto Luongo, so the Blue Jackets could have trouble getting shots on goal tonight. The Canucks were 3-1 against the Blue Jackets last season.

The good news for Columbus is that Kristian Huselius will be back on the ice tonight. He has been out and the Blue Jackets could use his leadership and offensive ability tonight. Rick Nash has been hot with 4 goals and 7 points in his last four games. They will need more than just him contributing tonight if they want to earn a win in regulation.

Mathieu Garon will face Roberto Luongo in the net tonight. Garon has not have much luck in Vancouver with 2-5 record and 3.68 GAA. Steve Mason has been worse with a 2-2 record and 4.64 GAA, so coach Scott Arniel might want to keep Garon out there.

The game starts at 10pm EST tonight and should be fun to watch. If the Blue Jackets can lasso the Sedin brothers and push the puck across the blue-line, they could stay in this contest. If Vancouver gets out to an early lead, Columbus will have trouble if the Canucks go into a defensive mode.

White Boy Of The Week: Peyton Hillis

2010-12-15T15:25:00.009-05:00

Peyton Hillis did something that I've been waiting 24 years for, he wiped Craig James off the record books. In 1986, James, "The Great White Hope," ran for 1,227 yards and was the last white running back to surpass 1,000 yards in a season. This weekend, in a loss, Hillis crossed that plateau and currently has 1,070 on the season. He has been a beast this season and exciting to watch. I'm glad to name Peyton Hillis as my "White Boy of The Week."

I have watched nearly every Cleveland Browns game this year, mostly because they show most of them here in Columbus, Ohio. I was doing some research on Hillis for this post and ran across an amazing nickname for him. "The Albino Rhino" has been thrown out there and I hope it sticks. His running style is violent and he tries to leap or run over his opponent. He is prone to fumbling, which he did last week, but he will get that fixed this off-season.

Hillis has 11 touchdowns this season and to go along with his rushing yards, he has 57 receptions, 446 receiving yards, and two additional receiving touchdowns. He is a dual threat and someone that a cornerback or safety wouldn't want to try to tackle in the open-field.

He was acquired by the Browns from the Denver Broncos for Brady Quinn. He was lost in the depth chart in Denver, but did shine when he was given an opportunity. He played his college ball at Arkansas, where he played fullback in front of first-round picks, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. There has been a few weeks this season that Hillis had more total yards in a week than both McFadden and Jones combined.

Congratulations goes out to Peyton Hillis, he is having a fantastic season and should get a hefty contract this summer for his achievements on the field. He is currently making near the minimum, the Browns have him at a discount. The Browns are an improved team with Hillis and next season with a healthy Colt McCoy and possibly an addition of a wide-receiving playmaker, the Browns will keep getting better.

Uh Oh...I Agree With Buzz Bissinger

2010-12-13T13:39:00.006-05:00

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Buzz Bissinger, is now the new sports columnist for The Daily Beast. He wrote the books "Friday Night Lights" and "Three Nights In August," the man knows his stuff. He is often very controversial with his take on current events and very opinionated on his Twitter account. He made a splash a few years ago when he went after Deadspin founder Will Leitch and all sports bloggers on Bob Costas's HBO show. Bloggers are supposed to hate him, but I kind of love him now. His latest take on the Cam Newton situation is a must-read, here's my take.

I could lose my "blogger card" for writing a pro-Bissinger post, but the man hit his article out of the park. He has a fresh take on the "biggest non-story story" to his college football this season. Cam Newton and his father, Cecil Newton, have been charged and convicted in the court of public opinion. Bissinger throws the spotlight back onto the NCAA, even comparing them to the mafia. His stance is that the NCAA are making millions of dollars on these kids and there are no guarantees that they will earn a dollar from the sport, especially if the player gets injured. He thinks that Cecil Newton allegedly low-balled Mississippi State and should have asked for more than $180,000 dollars. Bissinger thinks every player should receive the dollar value for how much his scholarship is worth. He calls it a "annuity," which is exactly what should happen. Bissinger even uses the comparison that "the school is pimp and the player is a high-priced whore." He isn't trying to defame the players by calling them "whores", he is just pointing out that is the role they play in the system that is in place. The school's pimp hand is strong, but you can't hate the player, just hate the game (NCAA).

It's no secret that college football is the biggest money maker for nearly every school. It helps fund other sports that lose money and Title IX sports that have to be offered. I am not against Title IX, but it is always brought up when people suggest that colleges pay their players.

I have an idea that isn't a new one, but should be thrown back into the discussion. Colleges and universities sell jerseys with numbers that correspond with players currently playing. That money goes straight to the institution and no dime goes to the players. I live in Columbus, Ohio and #2 jerseys (Terrelle Pryor) sell for a higher price than other numbered jerseys. Also, when Beanie Wells went pro, #28 jerseys (the number he wore at Ohio State) sold for a reduced price. Fans want to wear the jersey number of their favorite player. The players should get a cut of profits from their merchandise. You could either give them their share every year or the university could invest that money into a mutual fund and given to them after their eligibility runs out. Georgia player, A.J. Green, was suspended at the start of this season for selling his jersey, even though a fan could buy a similar jersey on the school's website or all over Athens, Georgia. He received less than $1,000 dollars for it, but was suspended for four games.

I don't know if I can go all out by comparing NCAA to the mafia or a pimp, but we should all agree that the system is broken. The rules that make up what define an "amateur," were written before college sports programs turned into Fortune 500 companies. If the system isn't fixed or definitions re-written, we could end up with another SMU scandal and the NCAA would have to basically dismantle an entire program to prove their point. Wait, I guess if a "high-priced whore" gets out of line, a pimp gotta go what a pimp gotta do, right?

Ohio State: Schedule Ruined Their Season

2010-12-13T12:42:00.015-05:00

Oregon and Auburn will meet in the BCS Championship game this season. Both teams were undefeated and even if Ohio State did the same, they wouldn't made it. They would have been left out with TCU. Their non-conference schedule is to blame, since they finished the season with a worse SOS than Boise State. What can Ohio State do to help their cause in the future? Can they make the big game with their current schedule in 2011 and 2012?

The Ohio State Buckeyes are perennial contenders to win the BCS Championship, but their lone loss to the Wisconsin Badgers, killed that goal this season. Their non-conference schedule was weak compared to other teams and not playing Michigan State this season, made their strength of schedule mediocre. It was the way the schedule fell and out of Ohio State's control...for the most part.

When your non-conference schedule consists of Marshall, Miami (FL), Ohio, and Eastern Michigan, you know that you need to dominate your Big Ten schedule if you want to jump up the polls. Miami (FL) was supposed to be their marquee matchup this season, but the Hurricanes had a disappointing season, which turned OSU's win into an average victory. The BCS is part of the checks & balance that the sport needed to keep the playing field more than just a beauty contest of the usual suspects. When Ohio State lost to Wisconsin, they were the #1 team in the country and the Badgers weren't looking like the team that finished the season scoring 70 points a game. Even if the Buckeyes beat the Badgers and finished the regular season undefeated, they wouldn't have made the BCS Championship game. Oregon and Auburn would have had a better computer average and left them left out, just like TCU.

Ohio State's 2011 schedule is a little harder with their non-conference schedule being home games against Akron, Toledo, and Colorado, and a road game at Miami (FL). Colorado and Miami (FL) will have new coaches, so you don't know what kind of first season those coaches will have. The addition of Nebraska to their conference schedule will definitely help their strength of schedule, but they don't face Iowa for the next two seasons.

In 2012, Ohio State's schedule ramps up, all four non-conference games are at home against Miami (OH), Cincinnati, California, and UAB. They hope that Cincinnati and California will be top 25 teams by then.

The schedule is set in stone for the Buckeyes until 2012 and I'm sure the "powers that be" are already hammering away at the schedule for the next four years after that. They need more marquee non-conference games, but it is hard to predict this far out. Miami (FL) home & home were supposed to be huge games, for both teams, but the Buckeyes picked them during the wrong two seasons. You don't want to schedule all top 25 teams or you will end up with a schedule like Notre Dame did for years and face all contenders with Navy thrown in. Ohio State do need a tune-up game or two in their schedule. The Big Ten schedule is grueling and playing contenders on top of it, could lead to the team tailing off at the end of the season.

The addition of the Big Ten Championship game will help every team try to get into a better bowl game. If Ohio State were undefeated and had a chance to play Wisconsin again or Michigan State at the end of the year, maybe they had a shot at leapfrogging Oregon this year.

The answer for what Ohio State needs is luck. You can only worry about your own team and schedule the best you can. You just cross your fingers that the other teams will take care of their business and when you play them, you come out with a win.

Jared Sullinger Dominates IUPUI

2010-12-10T12:28:00.006-05:00

My friend Matthew was kind enough to give me and three of my friends tickets to the Ohio State Buckeyes vs. IUPUI Jaguars men's basketball game. I was excited to see Jared Sullinger play in person. He came into the season was one of the top two freshman in the nation. The way Harrison Barnes has been playing for North Carolina, many now think that Sullinger is the best in the nation. How did he handle an under-sized IUPUI team with nine days rest? Just look at the boxscore...

First, I want to explain that I hate IUPUI. I went to IPFW and they are our rivals. It isn't exactly Duke/UNC, but I was hoping for a slaughtering. The game wasn't supposed to be close, the Buckeyes came into the game #2 in the nation and IUPUI was 4-5 on the season. The Jaguars perimeter shooting kept them in the game in the first half, they shot 50% from behind the arc. Ohio State looked rusty as a team and the game was tied 35-35 at the half. The Jaguars looked very hesitant about trying anything near the paint, since Sullinger was waiting there.

Ohio State started the 2nd half very poor and IUPUI kept shooting well from the perimeter. With ten minutes left in the game, the Jaguars had a nine point lead on the #2 team in the country. Thad Matta kept his starting five in the game and decided to run the offense through Sullinger. They kept pounding the ball inside and Sullinger would either score or get fouled. Sullinger made 16 of 23 free throw attempts on the night, struggled from the line early, but found his stride towards the end of the game. The Jaguars started to double-team him inside and to fight that off, he would kick the ball out to Jon Diebler and he made them pay. He was hitting every open shot in the 2nd-half. Ohio State dominated the last ten minutes and won the game 75-64. Sullinger finished the game with 40 points and 13 rebounds. His 40 points set a freshman scoring record at Ohio State and was only the 4th time since the 1940s that a Buckeye scored 40 points in a game.

What should you take from Sullinger's 40-point outing? IUPUI's tallest player on the court was 6'8 Anthony Williams, and he isn't a Wooden Award nominee, to say the least. You should take from this game that Ohio State will always have Sullinger inside to go to if David Lighty, William Buford, or Diebler is off from the perimeter. Ohio State is a very deep team this year, something they couldn't say last year. Aaron Craft looks solid at the point and if players get in foul trouble, you have freshman DeShaun Thomas for offense and Dallas Lauderdale as a big man defensively. Ohio State is one of the best teams in the nation and they are built for a run in the tournament. It know it is early, but this team could be better than the team lead by Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. in 2006-07.

2010 NFL - Week 14 Betting Picks

2010-12-08T20:31:00.008-05:00

The 2010 season has been unpredictable. The underdogs have covered more than they have lost this season. The Colts and Titans start off the week on Thursday and the rest of the schedule is pretty loaded. It should be an interesting week. There are a lot of road favorites this week, which could mean a tricky week. Here are my betting picks against the spread for Week 14 of the 2010 NFL season.

Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) at Tennessee Titans (+3.5) - My pick is Indianapolis

The Colts haven't looked very good the last two weeks, mostly because of Peyton Manning. They are banged up and he's trying to do too much. The Titans are coming into this game with a divided locker room and getting nothing from their passing game. Manning loves playing back in Tennessee, expect a bounce back and they will cover.

Oakland Raiders (+4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (-4) - My pick is Oakland

The Raiders are one of the most difficult team to forecast their performance. They are up and down, but they played one of their best games last week against San Diego. I know that a team from the West Coast traveling East doesn't do well, but the Raiders have hit their stride with Jason Campbell at QB. The Jaguars have looked good the last few weeks, but this game will be close, I'll take the points.

Cincinnati Bengals (+8.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (-8.5) - My pick is Pittsburgh

The Bengals are bad and you know the Steelers will handle their business against a division opponent. Big Ben is banged up, but Carson Palmer is bad. I expect them to cover and for the Steelers defense to score some points.

Cleveland Browns (+1) at Buffalo Bills (-1) - My pick is Cleveland

Both of these teams have been playing over their heads the last six games. Cleveland have been winning big games as an underdog and Buffalo has been taking legit playoff teams to overtime. Peyton Hillis will have a big game and expect Cleveland to cover and win outright.

New York Giants (-2.5) at Minnesota Vikings (+2.5) - My pick is Minnesota

The Giants ran all over Washington last week, but Tom Coughlin has a way of losing games in December. Leslie Frazier has the Vikings playing like a team that should be playing for the division, but it's too late for that. I expect the Vikings to win this game outright and take care of business at home.

Green Bay Packers (-7) at Detroit Lions (+7) - My pick is Green Bay

The Packers, even with all the injuries, seem to have learned to play with replacements and have looked very good. The Lions look to be playing Drew Stanton again at quarterback and the Green Bay defense could make him look like a novice. The Packers will cover on the road.

Atlanta Falcons (-7.5) at Carolina Panthers (+7.5) - My pick is Atlanta

Matt Ryan is awesome at home, but he has struggled on the road. Roddy White is a little banged up, but the Carolina defense is bad. The Panthers have a quarterback carousel going on and the Falcons have a stout defense. Atlanta will end up getting a lead early and force the Panthers to pass, which could turn ugly.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2) at Washington Redskins (+2) - My pick is Tampa Bay

The Bucs were dealt a big blow by putting starting DB Aquib Talib and starting OL Jeff Faine on injured-reserve. They shouldn't need them when they face the Redskins, who have their own problems. Tampa still aren't getting much respect with the line and they should cover with a two-point spread. Josh Freeman has turned into a pretty quarterback and has a knack for winning close games.

St. Louis Rams (+9.5) at New Orleans Saints (-9.5) - My pick is New Orleans

The Rams are currently leading the NFC West, I repeat the Rams are currently leading the NFC West. That should give them respect, but the division is bad and the Saints are defending Super Bowl champs. The Saints are finding their way back to their winning formula and Drew Brees has been finding receivers downfield. This will be close, but the Saints will cover.

Seattle Seahawks (+5) at San Francisco 49ers (-6) - My pick is San Francisco

This is going to be an ugly game to watch. Seattle and San Francisco have laid stinkers this season. This is a hard game to call, but with Seattle playing poor on the road, you have to give San Francisco the nod in this contest, no matter who is at quarterback.

New England Patriots (-3) at Chicago Bears (+3) - My pick is New England

I can't explain who the Bears are winning games this season. I can explain how the Patriots have been winning their games. New England is a balanced offense and their secondary are playing much better than earlier this season. If the Patriots can get pressure on Jay Cutler, this game could turn ugly. The Patriots will cover this game on the road.

Miami Dolphins (+5.5) at New York Jets (-5.5) - My pick is NY Jets

45-3 is all I have to say. The Jets won't let that happen again and not at home. The Dolphins looked bad last game and Chad Henne could be playing his way off the team. The Jets will bounce back and the Dolphins will be the perfect opponent to right the ship.

Denver Broncos (-5.5) at Arizona Cardinals (+5.5) - My pick is Denver

Josh McDaniels is out and the consensus is that he wasn't liked by many of his players. Now that he is gone, expect the Broncos to respond and beat a very bad Cardinals team and cover.

Phildelphia Eagles (-3.5) at Dallas Cowboys (+3.5) - My pick is Dallas

I watched every minute of the Cowboys game last week and they made the Colts look, well, like the Cardinals. Jason Garrett has the Cowboys playing well and their defense has kept up. Michael Vick has been amazing this year, but the Eagles defense appear to have holes in it. Garrett will watch tape all week and should make this game closer, I'll take the points.

Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Houston Texans (+3) - My pick is Baltimore

Joe Flacco gave away the game against the Steelers last week. He faces one of the league's worst ranked pass defenses this week, so it will be his time to redeem himself. Andre Johnson and Arian Foster will have trouble against the Ravens defense, so they will not be able to keep up. The Ravens will cover against the Texans.

These picks are for entertainment purposes.

2010 Men's College Basketball - All-Name Team

2010-12-08T11:07:00.007-05:00

Not everyone can have the last name 'Jordan' or 'Chamberlain', some of us have to go through life with a pretty ridiculous name. Most of these names are pretty rough to grow up with, but some are names you wish you may have, especially if you are named something bland like Joe Smith or Bobby Roberts. We had a few players graduate and are not on this year's All-Name Team, but we do have many new faces, which we will enjoy for the next few years.

Once again the smaller schools have stepped up their game and are well-represented on the team. The bigger conferences really need to step it up and start recruiting some soon-to-be household names. The Syracuse Orange did have three players make the list, Jim Boeheim knows how to recruit!

Jimmer Fredette - G - BYU Cougars
Blondy Baruti - F - Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Deverin Muff - F - Eastern Kentucky Colonels
A.J. Yawn - G - Florida State Seminoles
Andrew Dick - G - Texas Longhorns
Bak Bak - F - California Golden Bears
Robo Kreps - G - Illinois-Chicago Flames
Ryan Bacon - F - St. Peter's Peacocks
Ted Wang - C - Texas A&M-CC
Beloved Rogers - G - Prairie View A&M Panthers
Brendan Bald - G - Vermont Catamounts
Hippolyte Tsafack - F - Memphis Tigers
Scootie Randall - F - Temple Owls
Jihad Ali - G - Georgia State Panthers
Dinko Marshavelski - F - Northeastern Huskies
Papa Lo - F - Bryant University
Drake U'u - G - Cal Poly Mustangs
Casper ware - G - Long Beach State 49ers
Tripp Grooms - C - Citadel Bulldogs
Onochie Ochie - G - Southeastern Louisiana Lions
Pooh Williams - G - Utah State Aggies
Scoop Jardine - G - Syracuse Orange
Mookie Jones - F - Syracuse Orange
Fab Melo - C - Syracuse Orange
Storm Stanley - C - St. Francis (PA) Red Flash
Pawal Kielbasa - C - Chicago State Cougars
Zimmy Nwogbo - F - Charleston Southern Buccaneers
Gorkem Sonmez - G - Radford Highlanders
Billy Kidd - F - Delaware Fightin Blue Hens

Let me know if you have any other additions to this list.

Are Cubs Better With Carlos Pena?

2010-12-08T10:20:00.007-05:00

The Chicago Cubs may have missed out on signing Adam Dunn, so they signed another left-handed power bat to play first-base, Carlos Pena. Pena struck out 33% of the time last season, but he did struggle with plantar fasciitis. Was last season's .196 average due to injury or diminished skills? Are the Cubs a better team with Carlos Pena?

It was no secret that the Chicago Cubs wanted to sign Adam Dunn this off-season. He has murdered them at Wrigley Field as an opponent since he came up with the Cincinnati Reds. He bats left-handed, has excellent power, near the top of the league in on-base percentage, but also near the top in strikeouts. They would have played Dunn at first-base, which has been vacant since they traded Derrek Lee at the trading deadline. Since they missed out on Dunn, they needed to sign another power left-handed first-baseman and they chose former Tampa Bay Ray, Carlos Pena. Pena has many qualities that Dunn possesses, but they differ in two major ways. Pena's batting average and on-base percentage are very poor, but he does bring gold-glove defense to the position.

Pena and the Cubs agreed on a one-year deal worth $10 million dollars. It makes sense for Chicago to take a risk on Pena, since this is more of a tryout. If Pena turns things around and produces, he could get a longer deal after the season.

Pena, 33, will be reunited with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, who was the hitting coach with the Texas Rangers when Pena came up in that organization. His best season was in 2007 when he hit 46 homers, batted .282 and drove in 121 runs. He fell off a bit, but he has been selected to an All-Star game back in 2009.

The Tampa Bay Rays will miss Pena's power, but due to their payroll issues, they were forced to let him walk. They are also let Joaquin Benoit, Carl Crawford, and Rafael Soriano go un-signed. The team is also rumored to be trading shortstop, Jason Bartlett for cheaper talent. The Rays loss could be the Cubs gain, but time will tell.

Where will Pena hit in the order? He will probably bat 4th or 5th, depending on where new manager, Mike Quade, moves Aramis Ramirez in the order. The Cubs need to protect Ramirez in the order, something they have tried to do for awhile. Milton Bradley was supposed to do that, but that was a disaster. The Cubs batting order should look a little different next season, since they are attempting to move Kosuke Fukudome. Tyler Colvin had a breakout rookie campaign and he played his way into the starting lineup, making Fukudome expendable.

The Cubs are a more balanced team with Pena in the line-up, but fans have to know that he's a second-half player. If he starts the season off slow, don't worry, he usually turns it up after the All-Star break. Once the weather starts to warm up at Wrigley, he could be a very fun player to watch. The Cubs have no pressure this season, they aren't expected to be a playoff team. The pressure of the Rays being a contender could have gotten to Pena, so a year on the Cubs could turn back the clock...and let's hope so

Re-Do - 2007 NBA Draft

2010-12-07T19:48:00.005-05:00

You can't really judge any professional sports draft until after three years. I have done "NBA Draft Re-Do" posts since the 2005 Draft and they are always eye-opening. When you start to weed out the busts and players that never achieve their potential due to injury, sometimes you're left with mixed bag. This year was not different, luckily I didn't have to add Josh McRoberts as a potential NBA Lottery pick, that would have been ugly. Does Greg Oden even make the cut? Here is my 2007 NBA Draft Lottery, if the draft were held today.

After taking out guys like Brendan Wright, Acie Law, Spencer Hawes, and Yi Jianlian from the draft, after pick #6, it starts to get ugly, you have been warned.

1. Kevin Durant – Portland Trail Blazers - Portland would be a legit contender in the Western Conference with Durant as the leader of the team. They thought they had a sure thing by picking Greg Oden #1 in 2007, but he has been made of glass. Durant is an MVP candidate and will be for many years to come. (Durant went #2 to Seattle)

2. Al Horford – Seattle Supersonics – Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly Seattle) would have a true inside force with Horford in the paint. He has been improving every year since he's been in the league and who knows what kind of player he'll be in five years. (Horford went #3 to Atlanta)

3. Joakim Noah – Atlanta Hawks - Would Atlanta be a better team with Noah instead of Horford? That's a tough question because Horford is a much better offensive player, but Noah's defensive skills are more advanced. The Hawks would matchup better against Orlando if Noah went to the Hawks with this pick. (Noah went #9 to Chicago)

4. Marc Gasol – Memphis Grizzlies – Well, I guess if Gasol was drafted here, Memphis would still have Pau Gasol and he never got a ring. Marc Gasol is still improving and has helped Memphis become a playoff team in the West. (Gasol went #48 to L.A. Lakers)

5. Carl Landry – Boston Celtics (traded to Seattle) - If this draft re-do happened, the Thunder would have Horford and Landry being one of the best rebounding tandems in the league. The team would be cleaning the glass and would be a tough team to beat in when it comes to rebounds. (Landry went #31 to Seattle - traded to Houston)

6. Jeff Green – Milwaukee Bucks - A scorer that can make his own shot? It sounds exactly what Milwaukee has been missing since Rashard Lewis took the money and got out of town. (Green was picked #5 by Boston)

7. Thaddeus Young – Minnesota Timberwolves - This is the part of the draft where this re-do starts to go downhill. Young, due to injuries and busts in this draft lands at this pick. He would be serviceable in Minnesota, but not a big piece of the puzzle in the big picture. (Young went #12 to Philadelphia)

8. Rodney Stuckey – Charlotte Bobcats (traded to Golden State) - Stuckey would have been a godsend in a Don Nelson offense. He can score in bunches, but he has the tendency to disappear every few games. He would have been a nice compliment to Monta Ellis. A backcourt of Stuckey and Ellis would fill up the boxscore. (Stuckey was chosen #15 by Detroit)

9. Mike Conley Jr. - Chicago Bulls - Conley Jr. isn't the ninth best player in this draft, but the Bulls needed a point-guard (this was pre-Derrick Rose) and they would have picked him. He would have filled the need and they could have moved Kirk Hinrich to shooting guard. Conley would have probably been a bust here, they are lucky to have picked Joakim Noah here instead. (Conley was picked #4 by Memphis)

10. Wilson Chandler – Sacramento Kings - Chandler is a proven scorer in the NBA and the Kings needed a perimeter scorer in 2007. Chandler has been a solid player in the up-tempo offense for the Knicks and would have been a better choice for them than Spencer Hawes was. They wish this re-do was real life. (Chandler was picked #23 by New York)

11. Glen Davis – Atlanta Hawks - A frontcourt of Noah & Davis seems a bit outlandish, but it would work. Josh Smith could handle the offensive duties and help defensively by blocking shots. The paint would have a lot of bodies in it and they would forget that they actually picked Acie Law with this pick. I think all Atlanta fans would wish to forget Law and you would have funny YouTube videos to watch from Davis. (Davis was picked #35 by Seattle - traded to Boston)

12. Jared Dudley – Philadelphia 76ers - It took Dudley a few seasons to find his role in the NBA and he has been a solid player for the Phoenix Suns. Would the Sixers welcome a dead-eye 3-point shooter right now? Of course they would. (Dudley was picked #22 by Charlotte)

13. Aaron Brooks – New Orleans Hornets - I doubt having Brooks and Chris Paul on the same team would work in real-life, but it would be a lot of fun to watch. I would make sure that I would watch every game on League Pass. Their backcourt would be over-matched by bigger guards, but they could find a way to make it work. Hey, Brooks would be a better pick than Julian Wright. (Brooks was picked #22 by Houston)

14. Corey Brewer – Los Angeles Clippers - Brewer is a streaky player that some would say is a headcase, he would have been perfect for the Clippers! Brewer has been bouncing in and out of the rotation on Minnesota and he could have been a starter on the 2007 Clippers. Al Thornton, their actual pick, didn't stick with the team, but I have a feeling that Brewer would still be on the team today. (Brewer was picked #7 by Minnesota)

Next Three Picks - Marco Belinelli, Al Thornton, Ramon Sessions

35 Snarky Reasons To Watch Every Bowl Game

2010-12-07T17:07:00.010-05:00

There are 35 college football bowl games this season and to be honest, not all of them are worth watching. I do my best, or worst, to try and convince everyone to tune into every bowl game this season. I use cheerleader quality, famous alumni, Justin Bieber lookalikes, and Hawaiian shirts to coax you. Also, I added a picture of the USC song girls, just because you know you will miss them this bowl season.

New Mexico Bowl: December 18th: BYU vs. UTEP - This game is hard to promote. Jenn Brown is the sideline reporter and it could be funny to hear her try to attempt to pronounce BYU's Kalama Kaluhiokalani.

uDrove Humanitarian Bowl: December 18th: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State - NIU's head coach left to coach Minnesota and Fresno State was destroyed the last time they played on the blue turf. I suggest drinking until the blue turf starts to look like a lake and you think you're watching a water polo match.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: December 18th: Ohio vs. Troy - Justin Bieber plays wide receiver for Troy.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl: December 21st: Southern Mississippi vs. Louisville - Man Law #345 - If a bowl game is sponsored by meat, you must watch.

MAACO Las Vegas Bowl: December 22nd: Utah vs. Boise State - You may see a few Utah fans head explode just from being in Las Vegas.

S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: December 23rd: Navy vs. San Diego State - Drink every time Craig James says something that makes you want to punch him...you'll be blacked-out by halftime.

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: December 24th: Hawaii vs. Tulsa - Although nothing will beat the year Notre Dame played in this bowl and Charle Weis sported an Hawaiian shirt, it's always funny to see head coaches look like extras from an episode of Magnum P.I.

Little Caesars Bowl: December 26th: Florida International vs. Toledo - The legendary broadcast team of Dave Lamont, JC Pearson & Quint Kessenich will announce this game, enough said.

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl: December 27th: Air Force vs. Georgia Tech - The triple-option versus the triple option...quarterbacks might just want to sit this game out.

Champs Sports Bowl: December 28th: West Virginia vs. NC State - The over/under on the amount of WCW's NwO Wolfpac t-shirts in crowd will be at 30.5...and those will just be from West Virginia wrestling fans.

Insight Bowl: December 28th: Missouri vs. Iowa - Okay, nothing to watch here, the country is still laughing that a team that lost to Minnesota made a bowl game.

Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman: December 29th: East Carolina vs. Maryland - Ralph Friedgen will eat any ECU player that crosses his sideline.

Texas Bowl: December 29th: Illinois vs. Baylor - Baylor fans have a short trip and their fans should outnumber Illinois fans, should feel like a home game for Ron Zook.

Valero Alamo Bowl: December 29th: Oklahoma State vs. Arizona - I would just DV-R this game and watch Mike Gundy's "I'm A Man, I'm 40" rant on YouTube for 3 hours...could be more entertaining.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: December 30th: Army vs. SMU - June Jones takes his SMU team to play Army in the Armed Forces Bowl. What is Jones biggest regret? Leaving Hawaii or arguing with Jeff George?

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: December 30th: Kansas St vs. Syracuse - The announcers will spend more time talking about the Yankees signing Derek Jeter than the actual game.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: December 30th: North Carolina vs. Tennessee - Butch Davis versus Derek Dooley: A chess match! Okay, maybe it will be more like checkers.

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl: December 30th: Nebraska vs. Washington The nation finally realizes that Jake Locker is over-rated while Mel Kiper stands on the sideline with a boner for him.

Meineke Car Care Bowl: December 31st: South Florida vs. Clemson - Florida area & Southern belle cheerleaders...ESPN should just have a split-screen with the game and the sideline.

Hyundai Sun Bowl: December 31st: Notre Dame vs. Miami - I can't wait for all the awesome highlights from Warren Sapp, Raghib Ismail, Tony Rice, Rick Mirer, Bernie Kosar, and Michael Irvin. This game should have an 80's night promotion.

AutoZone Liberty: December 31st: Georgia vs. UCF - The eBay bidding for A.J. Green's jersey has no reserve and you can start your bidding now.

Chick-fil-A Bowl: December 31st: South Carolina vs. Florida State - Jimbo Fisher should wear a Bobby Bowden mask on the sideline so Steve Spurrier will call bonehead plays and lose.

TicketCity Bowl: January 1st: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech - Can we renamed this the "Hangover Bowl"? Northwestern's QB, Dan Persa, is out and the only shot the Wildcats have of beating the Red Raiders if an SAT test is the actual 4th quarter.

Outback Bowl: January 1st: Florida vs. Penn State - Joe Paterno may actually think he's playing the game in the Outback. The Gators should use a kangaroo as their mascot to really throw him off.

Capital One Bowl: January 1st: Alabama vs. Michigan State - The best two teams that aren't in a BCS bowl game. But we all know what usually happens when an SEC team plays against the Big Ten. Richardson and Ingram will score more times than co-eds on New Year's Eve.

Gator Bowl: January 1st: Mississippi State vs. Michigan - Remember when pundits were giving Denard Robinson the Heisman trophy after three games? He may need another amazing game to save Rich Rodriguez's job. If Michigan is down at the half, RichRod could be watching from a sports bar.

Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO: January 1st: Wisconsin vs. TCU - Wisconsin's rushing attack versus TCU's stingy defense. TCU will be Little Mac and Wisconsin is King Hippo. The key here is to hit him in the stomach when Bret Bielema opens his mouth.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: January 1st: Connecticut vs. Oklahoma - There's really only one reason to watch this game, hoping that UConn grad Molly Qerim attends the game and Fox shows her in the stands.

Discover Orange: January 3rd: Stanford vs. Virginia Tech - The last time Virginia Tech had this big of a game, they were beaten by Boise State. Andrew Luck is better than anyone on BSU, sorry Va Tech may have trouble in this one.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: January 4th: Ohio State vs. Arkansas - Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry will be storyline in this game. Ryan Mallett played his freshman year against the Buckeyes, completing one pass for eight yards. Call me crazy, but he will have better numbers in this game.

GoDaddy.com Bowl: January 6th: Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) - Tune in the game, watch for the commercials.

AT&T Cotton Bowl: January 7th: LSU vs. Texas A&M - Barrett Bailey, Patrick Peterson, Jordan Jefferson, David Detz, Jarred Joseph, Terrence Toliver, and Lazarius Levingston. LSU's team is sponsored by alliteration. Sounds like characters in a Dr. Seuss book.

BBVA Compass Bowl: January 8th: Pittsburgh vs. Kentucky - Dave Wannstedt was fired and Kentucky's head coach is named Joker. He may try the "pencil trick" to the new Pitt coach.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: January 9th: Nevada vs. Boston College - Kyle Brontzman will not be attendance.

Tostitos BCS National Championship Game: January 10th: Oregon vs. Auburn - Cecil Newton has big money riding on this game, courtesy of the Auburn University football boosters. Also, at this point, Oregon could wear jerseys that resemble the World League's Orlando Thunder.

Suck It Lebron, Cleveland Awarded Lingerie Football Team

2010-12-07T14:47:00.012-05:00

Lebron may have taken his talents to South Beach, but the Lingerie Football League awarded an expansion team to Cleveland. They were also looking at Columbus, but Cleveland beat them out. I am sad that they didn't pick Columbus, since I would be a season-ticket holder, but a drive up to Cleveland may need to happen. I did some research on this league and found out some facts that people need to know...also I posted some pictures of some of the players. This could be my most-read post once this is all said and done. Oh, and yes, the Cleveland Crush will be playing at Quicken Loans Arena.

Lingerie Football is 7-on-7 played in NHL, MLS, and NBA arenas and it started in 2009. It was a natural replacement for the defunct Arena League Football, right? It is full-contact with the women wearing shoulder pads and hockey-style helmets, but they've done away with field goals and punts. They must try for it on every fourth-down and after touchdowns, they can go for a one-point conversion on the two-yard line or a two-point conversion on the five-yard line. The field is only 50-yards long and 30-yards wide with eight-yard end zones, so it can fit in nearly any multi-sport indoor arena. They play two 17-minute halves and in case of a tie, they play an eight-minute sudden-death overtime period.

LFL League owner, Mitch Mortaza, knows his audience. He has been quoted as saying that "mostly that beer-drinking 21 year-olds and up" at the people who are the people who attend and watch the games. You can watch the games on Friday nights on MTV2. The Crush doesn't start until the 2011-12 season and they have only had one champion so far, the Los Angeles Temptation in 2009.

Don't worry Cleveland, you can boo and make chants when your team play the Miami Caliente. Feel free to make a Twitter account and diagram and plan chants when the Caliente score a touchdown.

Here are some pictures of the fine athletes of the Lingerie Football League. (click on photo to see full image)

White Sox Land Adam Dunn

2010-12-03T05:26:00.006-05:00

After many experts predicted that Adam Dunn would pick a National League team, he surprised many and picked the American League's Chicago White Sox. Dunn has made it clear that he doesn't want to be used as a designated hitter. The White Sox must have made a promise to the slugger that he will be used at first-base and maybe occasionally in the outfield. How does this impact the rest of the Majors and the team on the Northside?

Dunn and the White Sox have agreed on a 4-year/$56 million dollar deal. Chicago is in need of a designated hitter, even if they promised Dunn that he wouldn't play there, they could be playing a waiting game. Dunn is 31 years old and scouts have said that he would be best used at DH at this point in his career. Even though his defensive skills have dropped off, his bat has not shown signs of slowing down. He has hit at least 38 home runs the last 8 seasons and is an on-base percentage machine. He may strike out over 170 times a season, but he drives in runs and draws around 100 walks a season. His impact on a team is proven and will make the White Sox a better team. He will protect Carlos Quentin, Alex Rios, and Paul Konerko, if they re-sign him.

The White Sox finished 88-74 last season and the addition of Dunn will add some wins to that total. The Minnesota Twins are the cream of the division and this will close the gap between the teams. The Tigers, Royals, and Indians are all teams in transition and I see the AL Central as a two-team race in 2011.

The initial rumors of teams that Dunn would consider had the Chicago Cubs on top of that list. The amount of the contract may have blow the Cubs out of the water or the years of the deal. The Cubs need to wait a few years for a few bad contracts to come off the books before they add a contract like Dunn signed. They are in the market for a left-handed first baseman with power, Dunn would have fit their need. To make matters worse for the Cubs, Dunn has slaughtered them at Wrigley Field and has done very well there. They will see Dunn a few times over the next years during the cross-town rivalry games.

Dunn will do well at U.S. Cellular Field and will give American League pitchers fits, eventually. He has spent his entire career in the National League. There could be a learning curve for Dunn, since he is strikeout prone, it could take him the first half of the season to learn how to hit certain pitchers. The White Sox made a smart move, GM Kenny Williams has been known to take a gamble, but this is close to a sure thing.

It's Time For Cleveland Fans To Move On

2010-12-03T04:09:00.007-05:00

I missed the game when it was on tonight because of a medical problem, but I found a feed online and watched Cavs/Heat game in its entirety. I knew it was bad when the Cavs starting lineup consisted of Joey Graham and Anthony Parker, guys who should be a #9 and #10 guy on a contender. The game could have been worse if Lebron didn't sit out the entire 4th quarter. All Cavs fans should have tried to attend the game, because I hope everyone who watched this game got it out of their system, because it is now time to move on.

Lebron James came back to Cleveland and was showered with boos and expletives. He deserved every decibel of noise the fans gave him. I'm not even a Cavs fan, but I can relate to a passionate fanbase that yearns for a championship, I'm a Chicago Cubs and Indiana Pacers fan. If Reggie Miller left to go to the Knicks during his prime, I would have been in the crowd the next time he played in Indianapolis and given him everything I could dish out. Saying that, after the initial visit, even by halftime, the boos should start to go away. The wound is very fresh in Cleveland, but look at your lineup, you have holes from 1-12. The team isn't good and they are actually over-achieving right now. A record of 7-11 was not expected by any experts at the start of the season, some actually predicted that a record of 20-52 could be their season record. I'm sure the Cavs will make moves to improve their team and it will look quite different by the end of the season. Anderson Varejao looks like a player that many teams would like and Cleveland can get depth in return.

The Heat have looked mediocre at times this year and no one can be sold that they are a championship team this year. Any team with size dominates them in the paint and grabs a ton of second-chance points. Roy Hibbert looked like Patrick Ewing against the Heat last week. Two or three years down the road, the Heat will be a beast of a team and veterans will want to go there to win a ring and play for the league minimum. I know that's the last thing Cavs fans want to hear, but we know this is true. This has been a trend for years, just look at how loaded from top to bottom the contending teams are. Contending teams are magnets for veterans looking for jewelry.

Cleveland fans has been battered, chewed up, and spat upon by Lebron and his entourage. I hope tonight was the start of your therapy sessions. It's time to move on and think about the future. You will most likely end up in the Lottery in the upcoming draft (it's not a bad thing, you need to reload). Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, and many other guys could be there when you pick. This year's draft looks like it could be a pretty good class. Who knows maybe Ohio's own Jared Sullinger will be your next savior.

Josh McRoberts: My New Man Crush?

2010-12-01T15:10:00.009-05:00

If you have read anything on this site over the last few years, you know my stance on Josh McRoberts. I hate Duke, he made a horrible decision by going pro when he did, and he had a failed relationship with "The Hills" actress, Lauren Conrad. When he landed on the Indiana Pacers a few years ago, I wasn't exactly thrilled. He was a throw-in when Indiana traded Jerryd Bayless to Portland for Brandon Rush on draft night. Not many people expected that the Pacers would keep him around, but he has kept a spot on the roster since and even earning a few starts, due to injury, last season. He has made the most of his opportunities. Has he changed our mind?

The only player that has received more negative publicity on this site than McRoberts has been Adam Morrison, so what I'm about to tell you might surprise you. I am a fan of Josh McRoberts. I "liked" his page on Facebook to prove it. You have to like a guy who knows his role. He isn't going to light it up and take 20 shots a game, his job is to eat up minutes and grab rebounds. He only takes 3-4 shots a game and most of those are put backs on rebounds. It's something that other Pacers players should relish, because a player like Dahntay Jones, another Duke player on Indiana, has done so far this year too. Jones signed a 3-year deal before last season to become the Pacers defensive stopper, but he ended up trying to become Ron Artest and jacked up ugly shot after ugly shot. It was so bad that the Pacers tried to package D. Jones with Solomon Jones in a 2 for 1 trade, for anybody, so they could keep their 2nd-round pick, Magnum Rolle. They didn't receive any offers, so they had to keep the Jones boys and cut Rolle loose, who is now doing well in the NBDL.

Going back to McRoberts, he should be a fan favorite. He is from nearby Carmel, Indiana and he's white as a camera flash. Larry Bird may have went a different route in the draft this year and tried to take the best available players instead of playing it sage. Paul George, Lance Stephenson, and Magnum Rolle were all acquired on draft night. George plays the same position as Danny Granger, but his upside was the highest of any player left on the board. Stephenson was once known as "The Lebron of NYC," as the best prep player in the city, but bonehead decisions and lack of motivation dropped him into the 2nd round. McRoberts is a player that Bird imagined that he would go out and acquire. A "gritty" and "scrappy" role player that he can plug in and do their job.

No one expects McRoberts to do anything on this team, no pressure at all. Hibbert trimmed down and he's a beast inside this season, Granger is the leader and will lead this team in points, and Darren Collison is a slasher and can do whatever is left. The Pacers don't look that attractive on paper, but on the court, they are pulling off some improbable wins.

Within the last week, the Pacers smoked the Heat, pushed the Thunder to overtime, easily beat the Lakers on the road, and dominated the Kings at Sacramento. If you told me that the Pacers would be 9-7 after 16 games, I would have asked you to pee in a cup. This team could easily be 10-6 or 11-5, if a few balls bounced the other way. The production on this team is essentially the same team as last season, minus Troy Murphy and adding Collison and James Posey. Why is this team winning games? You have a few players on contract years (T.J. Ford, Mike Dunleavy) and Jim O'Brien came into this season fighting for his job. Players are accepting their roles and Ford seems to be happy and not sulking on the bench as the 3rd PG option. He has been very productive as the backup PG and looks to be mentoring Collison.

Are the Pacers a playoff team? In an Eastern Conference that looks very top-heavy, absolutely! I project that the 7th and 8th seeds in the East will be 4 or 5 games under .500. If they complete this Western Conference road trip undefeated or with a lone loss, they are setting themselves up for a pretty nice December and January. You can't win a season this early, but you can definitely lose a season this early. If Indiana headed into January with a horrible record, O'Brien would be a sitting duck and the Pacers would start looking for trade partners to move their expiring contracts for assets. It is setting up to be an interesting season in Indianapolis, if they can make the playoffs without Reggie Miller, maybe the fans can finally move on and accept this team. If I can accept Josh McRoberts, there's hope for peace in the Middle East.

I leave you with an alley-oop by McRoberts that happened last night against Sacramento, click here to check it out.