May 15, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; A general view of American Airlines Arena before game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

In the first episode of FanSided Tonite with John Ackeren,  KingJamesGospel.com editor Vytis Lasaitis joins the show to talk 2013 NBA Playoffs. The question is asked, who, if anyone, can keep the Miami Heat from winning their second championship in as many years.

The Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat had a physical battle a year ago. Can the two teams duplicate or go beyond their 2012 performance?

We feature a segment called Chasing Black Helicopters. The topic today, The Zen Master. The Los Angeles Clippers fired Vinny Del Negro today. Is Phil Jackson on the Clippers radar, and if so will he consider the job?

The Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery. With another opportunity at the number one pick, the Cavs might have a shot at a playoff run next year. John  talks about their chances.

Join in the fun on the first episode of FanSided Tonite with John Ackeren.

Follow the show on twitter @FanSidedTonite

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Email the show at FanSided2Nite@gmail.com

Jan 5, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Charles Woodson (21) celebrates a play during the fourth quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran free agent defensive back Charles Woodson has been looking for a new team all offseason and he has finally returned to a place that he used to call home. The future Hall of Famer has agreed to a contract with the Oakland Raiders, who made him a top five pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. Woodson was coming off of a Heisman Trophy campaign at Michigan when he joined the NFL and he now has a chance to finish his career where he started.

The Raiders sent out a photo of Woodson signing his contract Tuesday evening on social media:

The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent defensive back Charles Woodson. twitter.com/RAIDERS/status…

— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) May 22, 2013

Many believed that Woodson would be looking to join a contender, but his deal with Oakland removes any of those beliefs.

Woodson will go down as one of the best defensive backs to ever play the game and it is rare that someone gets an opportunity to finish their career where they started.

It will be interesting to see how much of a contributor Woodson can be for the team on the field in 2013.

(H/T: NBA.com)

The NBA Draft Lottery is one of the most looked forward to events for fans of really bad basketball teams. While other fan bases in larger markets rejoice in playoff basketball, others are left only wishing they could be a part of the fun. For 14 teams every season, the fun is had in building for the future and for most that starts with good positioning in the NBA Draft.

Whether you agree with how it works or not, the NBA Draft Lottery is the kick off to the NBA offseason and it fully sets draft talk into motion. In years past, there has usually been a clearcut No. 1 prospect that teams are literally trying to hit the jackpot with and win the chance to select him. But this year the field is more even keel and as many three or four players are seriously in the running to be the top pick. But the question entering the night was who would that team be.

That team ended up being Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Washington Wizards weren’t projected to pick inside the top 3 but because they drew the right combination, the order got skewed slightly. The Toronto Raptors needed to pick inside of the top-3 to hold onto their first-round pick but because they drew the 12th overall pick, it will now be transferred to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the James Harden trade.

Cleveland winning the lottery for the second time in three years could be potentially huge for the future of the team. Due to there not being a clearcut No. 1 prospect this year, __ could go a number of different directions. The first of which is to trade the pick to a team like Orlando or Charlotte who are are looking for missing pieces and need one real standout to lead their young team to greatness.

Obviously the best option is to stay put and draft a massive piece for the future. Nerlens Noel is a popular choice, as the center out of Kentucky is coming off of a torn ACL but is still regarded as one of the best players in his class.

Ben McLemore from Kansas is another prospect garnering significant buzz as is Otto Porter out of Georgetown.

All of these names are possibilities at No. 1 overall and that’s a problem __ is happy to have. They’re picking first overall and they’ll set the tone for how the rest of the draft plays out underneath them.

Here’s a look at the final NBA Draft Lottery order:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9.  Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trailblazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Toronto Raptors (Belongs to Oklahoma City Thunder)
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz

The NBA Draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 27th.

Jan 12, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Gegard Mousasi after his defeat of Mike Kyle (not shown) in their Strikeforce MMA Light Heavyweight bout at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

UFC light-heavyweight contender Gegard Mousasi could be a force in the 205-pound division if he notches a few wins over a fellow title challengers, but he may have his eyes set at a championship run in another weight class in the top promotion in the world.

It is something that Mousasi has been mulling for the past year and now he has finally voiced what many fans were hoping he would choose to do.

“There’s a big chance that I will go to middleweight,” Mousasi said, according to MMAFighting.com “It all depends on the fights that I’m going to get. If I’m going to get a big name at middleweight, I’ll probably go down.

“It’s all about matchups. Let’s say they’re going to give me somebody like Vitor Belfort that’s maybe a contender. That’s the kind of fight I want.”

Not only does Mousasi like that he could get a contender at 185-pounds, he feels that his body is best suited for the weight class. It’s hard to disagree.

“To be honest, I believe middleweight will be much better for me,” Mousasi added. “I will give my opponent less advantages. But at the end of the day it’s all about skills. That doesn’t mean that size advantages always win, but like I’ve said, in the highest level, you don’t want to give the slightest edge to your opponent. Everyone is skilled, everyone has abilities. So that’s why I think middleweight will be much more suitable to my body frame.

“It’s all about the opportunity. I really want to go for this belt. I believe that style-wise, matchup-wise, I matchup much better against Anderson Silva than Jon Jones, but it doesn’t mean that I’m scared to fight at 205. Jon Jones is skilled and so is Anderson Silva, but at the highest levels, when you’re competing against the top levels, you don’t want to give anybody an advantage. So I don’t want to give a weight and size difference advantage also. That’s why I said middleweight.”

Mousasi certainly has the skillset to make an impact at multiple divisions in the UFC, but if his mindset is better at middleweight, that is the division he should take on.

Wherever Mousasi ends up, you would have to believe that he will be a contender for the title.

What do you think is the best division for Mousasi to maximize his talent? Sound off in the comments section and share your thoughts.

Mattingly, after speaking with Dodgers president Stan Kasten, addressed the media on Monday, and shared that he didn’t feel that his job was in jeopardy. He responded to an unpublished rumor about the team’s “need to win a series with Milwaukee” by saying that he simply hadn’t been fired by Kasten and company at the time of the interview.

With $215 million invested in payroll this season, rumblings that the Dodgers could look in a different direction are certainly not unfounded. At 17-25, the team is mired in a big-time rut, and when the league’s highest payroll resides in the basement of the NL West, there is certainly a problem.

However, some of the issues have been outside of Mattingly’s control this season. Hanley Ramirez and Zack Greinke have spent the majority of the season on the disabled list, the team’s fabled starting pitching depth has evaporated after injuries to Ted Lilly and Chad Billingsley, and Dodgers superstar Matt Kemp has exactly 2 home runs in 165 at-bats. The team is certainly talented at the top end, with the Adrian Gonzalez/Kemp/Ethier/Ramirez/Crawford five-some, and the Kershaw/Greinke duo, but the roster depth isn’t to the level that the expectations would indicate, and Mattingly hasn’t been noticeably bad this season.

Simply put, if the Dodgers don’t turn their record around in a hurry, Don Mattingly is a likely candidate to be fired. The merits of that move can be debated for hours and hours, but it’s a results-based business and since Stan Kasten and company can’t fire the players, Mattingly will be the first to go.

Murray is the reigning US Open champion after defeating Novak Djokovic in September to claim his first and only grand slam title, but the French Open remains the only tournament in which Murray has not reached the finals. In addition, clay is certainly regarded as his worst surface. He was able to reach the quarterfinals last year (where he fell to David Ferrer), but various reports have Murray turning his focus to the upcoming grass-court season, where he is a much larger threat to compete.

Rafael Nadal enters the French Open as the #3 seed and undisputed favorite to claim his record 8th title in the event. Nadal was able to cruise past Roger Federer in straight sets in last week’s Italian Open (the final tune-up event), and despite the fact that he isn’t the #1 seed (as the aforementioned Djokovic claims that honor), most experts feel that it is Nadal’s tournament to lose on the red clay.

Stay tuned for coverage as the action gets rolling at Roland Garros.

This Friday Fast 6 hits theaters, continuing the most unlikely franchise since Spy Kids. With such a landmark day approaching, what should you do to get ready? Watch the other five in the series so that you’re caught up with the plot? Pffft. The plot is only the stuff that happens between explosions. No, what you need to do is get yourself in the right mindset. After all, movies are that much more enjoyable when we’re able to relate to the characters. Here are some steps to take to put yourself in the shoes of the Fast 6 crew.

First, you’re gonna need lots and lots of Red Bull. This should go without saying, because you know you’ll need to be plenty amped before you walk into the theater, and you’ll never be able to reach the proper level naturally – the human body simply isn’t equipped. It would probably be more effective to ingest the energy drink via a direct IV, but I’m not a doctor and have no idea if that is medically safe. Either way, this unnervingly large intake of Red Bull will serve two purposes. First, it will ensure that you experience every explosion and race on a visceral level, without something like “rational thought” getting in the way. Second, it will put you firmly in the shoes of the generically-named former FBI agent played by Paul Walker, as it is a documented fact that Walker needs at least three cans before he even has enough energy to blink (seriously, that guy is like Keanu Reeves without all the emotion).

This obscene amount of newfound energy will be of use for the next part of the process: the workout. You see, everyone involved in Fast 6, from The Rock to the guy mopping sweat off the floor between takes, is in unbelievable shape. Normals like you and me find it hard to identify with these superior physical specimens, but with a little bit of determination we can at least try. Now you’re never going to get your entire body as jacked as Dwayne Johnson before Friday, so focus on one area, namely the forearm. Bulky forearms are the most versatile muscles in the entire franchise. They allow Vin Diesel’s crew to pull off some sick moves behind the wheel and to rescue their frienemies from danger with a sweet bro forearm grab (those who have seen Fast 5 know exactly what I’m talking about).

While you’re doing your forearm curls, you should probably also throw on some old professional wrestling videos. In the three-minute Fast 6 trailer alone we’re treated to a Rock clothesline and the girl who isn’t Michelle Rodriguez taking down the girl who is Michelle Rodriguez with a double leg flip thing. You’ll want to familiarize yourself accordingly.

Finally, no Fast 6 preparations are complete without a suped-up ride. I mean, there’s no way Tyrese would be caught dead in that Nitrous-less Toyota Corolla sitting all boring-like in your driveway. See if your local Enterprise has any Dodge Chargers or Mazda RX-7s to loan you, and make sure to get the bulletproof windshield option (that’s a thing, right?) and, of course, crash insurance. You should also be prepared to race the car next to you at every stoplight on the way to the theater, as it is the only way to stake your claim as both the fastest and the furiousest driver on the road. And if you can do any sort of front or back flip or 720 degree turn into the parking space, consider it a bonus.

There you have it. Do all of the above in the next three days and I guarantee you’ll get the most out of your Fast 6 experience. Now, where’d I put that case of Red Bull?

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

In an effort to save the game nobody ever watches, the NFL is moving to make the Pro Bowl more interesting by making it more like a game show and will likely appoint two players per year to be captains that pick who makes the team and who doesn’t. The rumored changes were all discussed Tuesday when NFL owners met with Roger Goodell in Boston to go over changes being made across the map to the NFL’s schedule of events.

The league has been trying to figure out a way to freshen up a stale event, as the Pro Bowl is a meeting of the most popular athletes in the country yet hardly anybody watches the game. Among the changes would be making the game more like a game show where players either compete in different events or just the style of the game is altered more so than it has been.

But the most likely change is to have two captains draft their Pro Bowl teams. The NHL currently uses this format to pick it’s all-star teams and the schoolyard, pickup game style is brings is refreshing for hockey. Why it works with hockey is that’s the way the game is played growing up. Sure there are youth leagues but if you’re out with friends on a chilly Minnesota morning, you pick teams and play, you don’t sign up and vote for teams.

Football is played the same way in neighborhoods all over the country and going back to the basics of football and it’s roots would serve the Pro Bowl well and could even make it a tradition rather than a boring day of football.

Goodell says that the captains idea could take effect as early as this year’s Pro Bowl, and a change to freshen up the Pro Bowl couldn’t come any sooner as the game seems to have been saved from the chopping block for at least another season.

At first glance, this is a bit of a startling move. However, if the Lions can get a positive deal to use Ford Field (and I assume that they can), they could potentially produce a profitable enterprise out of the college bowl ranks. The Lions are already in negotiations with the Big Ten conference about an annual tie-in with the game, and they would replace the “Big 10 vs. MAC” format of the Little Caesars Bowl by bringing in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) to produce the opponent.

There is always red tape in the bowl selection process (order of selections, conference tie-ins, etc.), but if Detroit can pull this off, it could be a win for the organization. There are some possible conflicts of interest within this (i.e. what if a team has a potential 1st-round draft pick there during the game?), but it’s a gamble that the Lions organization appears willing to take.

As the current proprietors of the Little Caesars Bowl can attest, the “bowl business” isn’t always a successful one. However, if the Lions can make this unique partnership work, it would not be a surprise to see more of the 32 NFL franchises following suit in the coming years.

Vogelsong has struggled for the great majority of the season, posting a 7.19 ERA in 9 starts, but he was cruising along to his best start of the season (5 innings, 0 ER) before exiting the game after the injury. The Giants have been able to sustain success (as they are just 1 game out of the NL West lead) without him at peak form, but with Barry Zito struggling, they were looking to Vogelsong to right the ship.

The proposed timetable for Vogelsong’s injury is 4-to-6 weeks but it is expected that he will need a rehab stint before returning to the big league club. That could place his return in late July/early August, and with the Giants in the race for a playoff spot, the injury really stings.

In addition to Vogelsong’s injury, the Giants also lost reliever Santiago Casilla to the DL on Tuesday due to a right knee issues. Casilla was the team’s default closer during part of the 2012 season, but he has labored noticeably during 2013, and Sergio Romo is locked into the closer’s spot at this stage.

The Giants trail the Arizona Diamondbacks by just one game entering Tuesday night’s play, and while the hit to their pitching isn’t a small one, the bigger concern is likely the performance of their “studs” in Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum. They will certainly wish Vogelsong a speedy recovery, but all eyes will be on the Giants rotation (and their 4.78 collective ERA) as a whole as the calendar turns to Summer.

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been 20 years since the Dallas Stars moved from Minnesota to the Lone Star state and management has decided it’s time for yet another change. They won’t be moving anywhere but the team will be getting a facelift on June 4th when new uniforms are officially unveiled as part of a “significant announcement” regarding the 2013-14 season, the team says.

“Since Tom Gaglardi took over as owner, we have been working diligently on a rebrand that is classic, simple and true-to-hockey,” said club president Jim Lites. “This event will showcase the results of that process to our loyal fans and will also provide us with an opportunity to announce several new developments about the future of our franchise.”

Gaglardi appeared on 1310 The Ticket to discuss what he could about the rumors of new uniforms and while he confirmed they’re coming on June 4th, he didn’t give away the goods just yet. According to the Stars owner, the team will be retooling the current logo as well has implementing a different color scheme.

“It’s been an interesting team, because we’ve had a history of changing our jerseys quite often.We end up in a place now with our current jerseys — which I quite like, I think they’re very simple and attractive and modern — but a couple of things bother me,” Gaglardi said on The Ticket. “One is that we’re the only one of 30 teams that don’t wear their primary logo on their chest. I don’t like that, I’m a bit of a hockey purist and that would be the one criticism I have of our current jersey.”

Some have suggested that the Stars may go back to what they used to wear back in their North Stars days with the classic green and yellow color scheme. This fits Gaglardi’s statement about not having the logo on the chest, but the Stars could move to a look they had when they arrived in Dallas, as that jersey combination featured a gigantic star on the chest.

As for the significant announcement, it could be the unveiling of a new head coach as well. Dallas has been looking for a head coach since they fired Glen Gulutzan after the season ended. Alternate Governor and Stars legend Mike Modano is expected to be a part of the festivities and he remains a dark horse candidate to take the job as head coach. After the Colorado Avalanche hired Joe Sakic and in a high ranking position and are rumored to be hiring Patrick Roy as head coach, it’s not outside of the box to think the Stars will have their new uniform unveiled on June 4th by their new head coach Mike Modano.

Apr 10, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of an NBA basketball during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 102-91. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NBA Draft Lottery takes place tonight and there are a number of ways that you can watch the NBA Draft order sort out. Of course, you can watch the lottery live on ESPN, but that is not your only option.

For those who are unable to get to a television set for tonight’s lottery, have no fear. You can watch all of the results on ESPN 3 and keep up with the the NBA’s game of chance. 

Here is the information you will need to watch the NBA Draft Lottery live and online tonight:

When: Tuesday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Disney/ABC’s Times Square Studios, New York City, New York
TV: ESPN
Live Stream:  ESPN 3/Watch ESPN (May be blacked out in some areas)

How do the odds stack up for tonight’s lottery?

1. Orlando Magic, 25 percent
2. Charlotte Bobcats, 19.9 percent
3. Cleveland Cavaliers, 15.6 percent
4. Phoenix Suns, 11.9 percent
5. New Orleans Pelicans, 8.8 percent
6. Sacramento Kings, 6.3 percent
7. Detroit Pistons, 4.3 percent
8. Washington Wizards, 2.8 percent
9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 1.7 percent
10. Portland Trail Blazers, 1.1 percent (Belongs to CHA of outside of top-12)
11. Philadelphia 76ers, 0.8 percent
12. Toronto Raptors, 0.7 percent (Belongs to OKC if outside of top-3)
13. Dallas Mavericks, 0.6 percent
14. Utah Jazz, 0.5 percent

Sep 29, 2012; West Point, NY, USA; Stony Brook Seawolves running back Miguel Maysonet (5) runs for a touchdown at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Photo Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

Former Stony Brook Seawolves running back Miguel Maysonet signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an unrestricted free agent following the conclusion of the 2013 NFL Draft, however, the team has decided to cut him loose after the first round of OTAs. It was a short life in Philadelphia for Maysonet, but he is getting a second chance after the Cleveland Browns claimed him on the waiver wire.

Rich Cimini of ESPN New York had the report:

Former Stony Brook RB Miguel Maysonet, cut yesterday by Eagles, was claimed on waivers by the Browns, per source.

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) May 21, 2013

Maysonet is an intriguing player. Unfortunately for him, the Browns have one of the deepest backfields in the league and it could be hard for him to find a spot on the final roster.

It will be an uphill battle for Maysonet to make the Browns roster, but he is talented enough that he could get a few more looks in camps and preseason if he is released in the early waves of roster cuts.

May 19, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) watches from the bench during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies in game one of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at AT

Sports fans are fanatic beings, but that sometimes boarders on psychosis. Thus was the case during Game 1 of the San Antonio Spurs Western Conference Finals matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, as star point guard Tony Parker reportedly received death threats during the game that had to be handled by local police.

According to Paul Berry, spokesman for the the San Antonio Sheriff’s Office, someone called 911 during the Spurs game against the Grizzlies making a threat against Tony Parker’s life.

“We received a call from San Antonio Police that there was a potential threat against Mister Parker,” stated Berry, via NBC affiliate WIOA. ““We immediately increased security both inside the AT&T Center and outside the AT&T Center.”

It’s unfortunately common for players to receive death threats before and after games but rarely is someone backwards stupid enough to call in a threat during a game. Given the world we live in, where terrorism runs rampant and in the shadow of the Boston Marathon Bombings, people are on even higher alert than they already were when it comes to people wanting to cause harm to others during live events.

Most likely, the call came from a drunken gambler who was upset at losing money over the way Parker was tearing up the Grizzlies defense and leading the Spurs to a Game 1 win. But even if the threat was baseless and wasn’t going to go anywhere, police must work on the assumption that all threats are serious.

Death threats are the turds that the mouth breathers among sports fans leave on the jewels of the game we all love. They go into the category of the drum guy who takes a foul ball from a little kid or that loud fan who tries to start a fight when his team is losing. There’s no place in sports for it and people who dabble into the darker side of fandom best hang it up and get their kicks elsewhere.

Feb 2, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; The Orlando Magic logo on a players shorts during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks won 107-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

We are just a few hours away from the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery where a bunch of representatives from around the league will sit behind podiums in their fancy suits as they wait to see where they will be slotted in the upcoming NBA Draft. The Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats have the best chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick, but you can never count out anyone in the NBA’s wild game of chance.

In just a few short hours, we will learn the top team and the next potential home for consensus top pick Nerlens Noel.

Here are the full 2013 NBA Draft Lottery odds for tonight:

• Orlando Magic: 25 percent
• Charlotte Bobcats: 19.9 percent
• Cleveland Cavaliers: 15.6 percent
• Phoenix Suns: 11.9 percent
• New Orleans Pelicans: 8.8 percent
• Sacramento Kings: 6.3 percent
• Detroit Pistons: 4.3 percent
• Washington Wizards: 2.8 percent
• Minnesota Timberwolves: 1.7 percent
• Portland Trail Blazers: 1.1 percent (pick belongs to Bobcats if outside of top-12)
• Philadelphia 76ers: 0.8 percent
• Toronto Raptors: 0.7 percent (pick belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder if outside top-3)
• Dallas Mavericks: 0.6 percent
• Utah Jazz: 0.5 percent

Tune in to FanSided.com following the draft lottery for the full results.

For the uninitiated in the Golf world, “anchor putting” is the simple practice of using a “belly putter” and holding the top of the club against one’s body while making the putting stroke. It is important to note that use of the “long putter” is not banned with this ruling, as the length of putters is not in question, but rather, the club simply isn’t allowed to be pressed against the body of the golfer while completing the stroke.

There has been significant push-back from the PGA of America throughout the 90-day period, as several teaching pros have cited a potential stunt in the growth of the game as a negative to the new legislation. Four of the past six major championship winners, including the ultra-popular Adam Scott, use “anchor” putting strokes, and Scott was the first player to ever win The Masters using the putting style.

The debate continues to rage within Golf circles as to whether “anchor” putting should have been outlawed, but with accusations of “cheating” by those in favor of the legislation, the rule passed with a majority. PGA Tour players will have a 2.5-year grace period to adopt a new stroke, and while it certainly won’t be an overnight change, it appears that the Golf community is attempting to give them ample time to adjust.

As the quotes and reaction come to light, it will be riveting to see how the big-time tour pros (Scott, Ernie Els, Keegan Bradley, etc.) react to the news, and in the long run, the health of the game should be monitored as a response to the negative feedback. Tiger Woods, who famously stated that he “hoped they’d go with the ban”, will certainly be happy, and numerous other pros (including Rory McIlroy) have publicly backed the ruling. The debate rages on.

May 14, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel (3) speaks with the media following organized team activities at Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills gambled big when they drafted Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. But while the gamble is one that has some fans in Buffalo excited about their team for once, there is significant work to be done before Manuel takes the field as the starter and leads the Bills. According to Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, the Bills rookie needs work on just about every aspect of his game and is still a raw prospect.

“Everything,” Hackett said when asked about what Manuel needs to work on. “He’s a young man that’s got to work on a lot of things from footwork to progressions to plays to formations, everything. Defenses in the NFL are obviously a little different. He’s got to work on that too. He’s got to work on everything.”

This really shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise, as in the days leading up to the NFL Draft, Manuel was still rising on boards and was a last minute case of a guy breaking into the first-round. Many teams didn’t project or mock Manuel as a first-round quarterback until hours before the draft and his enormous rise up draft boards was a shock to some.

But the Bills thought that of all the prospects in the draft, Manuel was the best available and took him as the first and only quarterback in the first round. There is work to be done, but that should be expected of a rookie and Bills fans have no reason to hang their heads while they twiddle their thumbs in anticipation of Manuel starting.

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA draft lottery is an exciting time for the franchises that didn’t accomplish anything worthwhile during the NBA regular season. Although the teams that have the highest chances possible usually win it, there have been instances that have fans and NBA executives wondering if the lottery is actually rigged.

In no way are we implying the NBA actually rigs the lottery but if I were to bet on the ones that were, these would be the 10 NBA lotteries that were likely fixed….

10. 1993- The Orlando Magic win the lottery for the second year in a row.

One year after the Magic selected Shaquille O’Neal with the No. 1 overall pick, Orlando struck gold again and won the lottery for the second year in a row. Coming off a 41-41 season, Orlando had only a 1.52% chance to attain the No. 1 pick. Orlando selected Michigan forward Chris Webber, before trading him to Golden State for Penny Hardaway and three future first round picks. 

9. 1997- San Antonio wins the lottery, pairs David Robinson with Tim Duncan.

After a season that saw David Robinson go down with an injury that sidelined him for most of the year, the Spurs finished with an abysmal 20-62 record. Things turned around quickly when the Spurs selected Wake Forest star Tim Duncan with the first overall selection. They were deemed the “Twin Towers” and won their first championship together in Duncan’s second season with the franchise.

8. 1999- Chicago Bulls win the lottery after Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson depart.

One year after the Chicago Bulls dynasty officially ended, they were rewarded with the No. 1 pick to help ease the pain. The front office selected Duke forward Elton Brand. Brand had an amazing rookie year, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first year. His stint in Chicago would last only two seasons, before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

7. 2004- Orlando Magic wins the lottery for the third time, selects Dwight Howard.

Dwight Howard was the best center to come out of the draft in years. After losing Shaquille O’neal to the Lakers in 1996, it was fitting the Magic would receive the pick and rebuild around another young stud in the paint.

6. 2010-Washington Wizards select John Wall.

The Wizards won the rights to John Wall after winning the lottery with a 10.30% chance. Irene Pollin–the wife of Wizard’s owner Abe Pollin who passed away in November of 2009- - was representing the franchise and received the special news. She was quoted as saying per ESPN.com:

“This is very, very special. I have been in this my entire adult life and to be here, representing my husband, this is very special to me tonight. I think it’s the culmination of my husband’s dream because he wanted another ring and maybe this will get us another ring.” 

5. 2003- Cleveland Cavaliers win the lottery , selects phenom LeBron James.

LeBron James was the best player to come out of the draft in years. He was considered to be a “can’t miss” prospect and was called “The Chosen One”. The Cleveland Cavaliers did everything possible to make sure they were in the sweepstakes to land the No. 1 pick. James was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and was seen attending Cavs games prior to his NBA debut  The Cavaliers indeed won the lottery and selected LeBron James with the No. 1 pick in the  star-studded class. 

4.  2011- One year after LeBron James leaves Cleveland, the Cavaliers win the lottery with a 2.8% chance.

In the 2010-2011 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Baron Davis to the Los Angeles Clippers for their first round draft pick. It turned out to be a wise decision. With only a 2.8% chance, the Cavaliers won the lottery and began to move on from the LeBron James era and selected Duke guard Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick.

3. 2012- The then New Orleans “Hornets” win the lottery after the NBA gave up ownership of the team.

There were whispers that a few NBA executives believed the 2012 NBA lottery was fixed. Some speculated if the Hornets were bought, they would receive the No. 1 pick in return. The Hornets were technically owned by the NBA for the 2011-2012 campaign. New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson bought the franchise and selected Kentucky forward Anthony Davis with the No.1 pick. Benson has since changed the name to the “Pelicans”. 

2. 2008- Chicago Bulls win the lottery with a 1.7% chance, selects home-town star Derrick Rose.

The Chicago Bulls pulled off one of the biggest upsets in draft lottery history. Many were expecting the Miami Heat (who had the NBA’s worst regular season record and the highest chance to land the No. 1 pick) to land Derrick Rose and pair him up with superstar Dwyane Wade. The tide turned when Chicago won the lottery with only a 1.7% chance. The Bulls selected Derrick Rose, who was born and raised in Chicago with the No.1 pick.

1. 1985-Patrick Ewing and the Frozen Envelope.

The  1985 was the first year the NBA installed the draft lottery. Many believe it was the biggest draft fix in history. Conspiracy theorists claim that the 1985 draft lottery was rigged and NBA commissioner David Stern wanted Patrick Ewing in the NBA’s biggest market: New York. Before the days of ping-pong balls, the picks were chosen via envelopes. Those who believe in the conspiracy say New York’s envelope was frozen so that Stern would know to select that one, which would give the Knicks the first overall pick. Whether it is true or not, David Stern did indeed grab the Knicks envelope and they selected Georgetown star Patrick Ewing with the No. 1 pick.

Feb 2, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Rashad Evans (left) throws a straight left at Rogerio Nogueira (right) during UFC 156 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

With the news that UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao has been forced out of the UFC 161 main event, the UFC wasted no time finding their replacement main event.

The UFC announced the new main event on Tuesday afternoon.

Barao is out of #UFC161 with an injury. Main event for 161 is now Evans vs Henderson.

— UFC (@ufc) May 21, 2013

Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira remains the night’s co-main event.

There is currently no word on whether or not the UFC will find a replacement for Barao’s opponent Eddie Wineland or if he will be removed from the car altogether.

UFC 161 is set to take place on June 15 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

Here is the current UFC 161 fight card:

MAIN CARD

• Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson
• Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua
• Patrick Barry vs. Shawn Jordan
• Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton

PRELIMINARY CARD 

• Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley
• Sam Stout vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
• Stipe Miocic vs. Soa Palelei
• Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac
• Yves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague
• Sean Pierson vs. Kenny Robertson
• Mitch Clarke vs. John Maguire
• Roland Delorme vs. Edwin Figueroa

Sep 9, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; General view of Reliant Stadium before the NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier in the day, the San Francisco area was awarded Super Bowl L and now we know who will be playing host to the following Super Bowl. After a vote between Houston and Miami for Super Bowl LI, the NFL decided to give the hosting honors to Houston.

Miami was really hoping to land one of the two games that were awarded on Tuesday afternoon, but their lack of a new stadium in South Beach caused the NFL to stay away from the area. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross will now likely make an extra push for public funding to make a stadium happen that will bring South Beach their first Super Bowl since 2010.

It is unfortunate that South Beach can’t host a Super Bowl, because they have the ability to provide the fans one of the greatest experiences, but their lack of a top-notch stadium only hurts them.

As for San Francisco and Houston, congratulations to the new host cities.

Hosting the Super Bowl does a great amount of good for the surrounding communities, so it was a major win for both areas.

It is a brilliant new gaming system and there is plenty of information for fans to be excited about. Fans can now only wonder when they can get their hands on the next generation system.

There is no official release date for the new system, but there is a strong belief that the console is set for a pre-Christmas release, which is great news for those hoping to get their hands on a new system for the holidays. Microsoft has also yet to set a price tag for the next generation system, but with all of the new features it will be worth the pretty penny to land one of these all in one systems.

What are you most looking forward to with the new Xbox One? Sound off in the comments section and share your thoughts and excitement with the rest of the gaming fans in the FanSided community.

Feb 1, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; General view of a Vince Lombardi Trophy at the commissioner

Although the San Francisco Bay Area was deemed the favorite to be awarded Super Bowl 50, there were rumblings that Miami could pull an upset.

That will not be the case as today, the NFL awarded the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50, also known as Super Bowl L.

Tech giants in the surrounding area put big money into the bid and with the 49ers $1.2 billion dollar state of the art stadium set to open in just a year, it was an obvious choice for NFL owners.

Santa Clara’s mayor and City Council were watching live coverage of the NFL’s decision in City Council chambers at City Hall, city spokesman Dan Beerman said.

“Everyone’s excited,” Beerman said.

San Francisco city officials were also anxiously awaiting the decision.

“We’re on the five-yard line and ready to go,” Mayor Ed Lee said Monday.

Jed York, the 49ers’ CEO, gave his team’s 15-minute presentation and representatives of the Miami organization delivered theirs at the Boston meeting.

The 49ers new stadium will still be in its infancy when Super Bowl 50 makes its way to the Bay Area in 2016 as Levi’s Stadium is set to open for the 2014 season.

It will mark the first time in 13 years that the Super Bowl will be played in California (last time was 2003 in San Diego), home to the first ever Super Bowl.

Houston, Texas, was awarded Super Bowl 51, or Super Bowl LI.

Jeff Gibson is a writer for FanSided partner BroJackson.com. For more great content, head on over to Bro Jackson and check out Jeff’s work.

Where would fashion be without sports? The better question might be: Where would sports be without fashion? Especially today, where most teams that aren’t the New York Yankees tolerate strangely placed piercings, dreadlocks that barely fit under helmets, and other fashion statements as long as an athlete produces.

Here I’ve tried to find some of the strangest mixes between the two worlds, while looking back at some trendsetting athletes we shouldn’t forget. Some of the eccentric fashionistas in sports past and present. Fashion statements that made us think, “How can anyone compete with that?” or better yet, “How does anyone compete against that?”

Eyeglasses (not goggles)

No offense to Amare Stoudemire or Reggie Miller, among many others, but goggles are made to withstand impact. I don’t even wear glasses playing slow-pitch softball. But, according to these guys, contact lenses are for sissies.

Champion: Chuck Muncie. Muncie passed away just a few days ago, leaving behind a legacy of being the all-time greatest glasses wearer in professional sports history. The former Saints and Chargers running back blended speed and power in a way no eyeglass wearer may ever come close to matching.

Runner Up: Reggie Jackson. Mr. October had the unfortunate circumstances of playing in a sport where eyeglasses can be pulled off without much hassle, otherwise he’d have topped my list.

Honorable Mention: Rick ‘Wild Thing” Vaughn. If only he was real, and not played by Charlie Sheen. Maybe then he’d have made the cut.

Neck tattoos

In college my mom was so mad when she spotted me on Skype with a lip ring that she told me she’d rather I’d have gotten a tattoo. It only lasted a year, but she should be grateful I’m not rocking what these three got inked around their Adam’s apples.

Champion: DeShawn Stevenson. Sun’s out, Abraham Lincoln’s out. Hmmm. Unless you can’t recognize the 16th President of the United States. In which case, the 5′s on each side clear up all confusion.

Runner Up: Wilson Chandler. Not sure what’s less annoying, posting pics of your kid daughter every three seconds on Facebook, or getting them tattooed below your chin so we get to see her 24/7. I wonder how many turtlenecks this dude gets each year for Christmas.

Honorable Mention: The Birdman. It’s not Abe Lincoln, it’s not a baby girl, it’s a… Free… Bird? The dude tries hard enough to at least get some recognition. Like every team getting a trophy in Little League. Maybe if his tats were glow-in-the-dark he’d have cracked the top two.

Kinesio Tape

Last year’s London Olympics served as an advertising gold mine for Kinesio tape manufacturers and promoters. It seemed every athlete was getting the tape slapped on their skin, even though it’s been around for a decade.

Champion: David Beckham. Men and women everywhere are thanking me for this. Whether for purposes of eye candy or inspiration to get some exercise. Plus this is about as much pink as I can handle in any given competition.

Runner Up: German Olympic Beach Volleyballer Katrin Holtwick. Talk about a happy trail. This girl is boasting nine of them.

Honorable Mention: Serena Williams. Are those gold? If so, how many carets are those things?

Necklaces

You’re not a five-tool player anymore if you’re not rocking some chains around your neck. Some hide it better than others. And let’s hope this Phiten craze ends soon so we get to start seeing some more creativity with this accessory.

Champion: Mr. T. Does anyone else come close? T would have been a hall of famer in any sport, what with his high IQ and athletic ability, but he chooses instead to pity fools and rock gold chains. Kinda like this guy, but with actual talent.

Runner Up: Jerome Williams. Sorry, boo. Gold chains trump puka shells. But you’ve got to give Williams some street cred for trying. Plus, the backstory may have forced his teammates to stash some tissues in their pockets.

Honorable Mention: David Ortiz. I don’t know what says athlete more than a man who’s too slow, too fat, and too weighed down by his jewelry to play a position in the field. Here’s to the DH.

Face masks (non-required)

Anyone can rock league-mandated gear. But it takes a fashion pioneer to even attempt such brazen disregard for league norms. Or extenuating circumstances. Some call them injuries–I call them swag makers.

Champion: Dave Parker. Straight out of a matinee horror film that stops until the theatre can re-spool the film. Parker may have only lasted one at-bat wearing this face mask, but he’s a mask half-on kind of guy.

Runner Up: Otto Graham. Busted mouths and broken teeth were the norm back in the early days of football. Until a stroke of genius sprang from the mind of a sideline trainer. And thus, Graham became the first NFL player to don the single bar, the first “face mask” in the NFL. Sadly, a few years ago, punters everywhere urged the league to ban the single bar, in favor of the more badass-looking Ray Lewis mask.

Honorable Mention: Calvin Murphy. This dude beat Trey Parker and Matt Stone to the punch line. Albeit, he probably should have chosen a baseball helmet over a hockey helmet.

Arm Sleeves

Even less research has been done on the benefits of these things than has been done for Kinesio Tape, unless you’re talking about the boost in confidence you get from having two different colored arms.

Champion: Allen Iverson. No, Mr. Iverson. Now we’re talking about arm sleeves. And your skinny wings fit inside the those things perfectly. Maybe you should have wrapped your whole scrawny little body in these sleeves.

Runner Up: Carmelo Anthony. I’m no Boston sportswriter, but I’ll vote for anyone sporting yellow or orange panty hose in public. No matter where you wear them.

Honorable Mention: Kobe Bryant, for trying, and then realizing he couldn’t pull them off.

High Socks

All baseball players used to rock the look. But now it seems relegated to those trying too hard, those goofing off, or those trying to distract the other team. Say what you want about stirrups, the Show is poised for a high sock renaissance.

Champion: Eric Byrnes. The former Oakland Athletic, now professional drinking league softball player, paid homage to the old school baseball style the few years he played in the Show. Let’s just say the look added distracted from his overall demeanor. One of the strangest and most unique players the MLB has ever seen.

Runner Up: Hunter Pence. Speaking of unique. Do all modern players rocking the high sock look seem a little off? This guy’s as normal as a 10-pack of beer. But see, the high socks give you special powers, like hitting a baseball three times on one pitch.

Honorable Mention: Andy Petite. He may not always wear high socks, but when he does the dude defies the quirky norm. He wears high socks like the Fonz wore leather jackets. Like Miguel Cabrera wears alcoholism. Want a role model for your kids? Have them look at Petite’s socks. Admire that thread count.

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Former Kentucky Wildcats freshman sensation Nerlens Noel is believed to be the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and tonight we will learn what team will have the opportunity to take him with the first pick of the draft. The Lottery will be held at Disney/ABC Times Square Studios tonight and the results will air on ESPN.

The Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic have the best opportunity to earn the top pick, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns sitting in the next best positions.

If you are unable to make it to a television to watch the lottery results, you can tune in online to catch the event. Here is all of the critical information you will need to watch the announcement of every pick.

When: Tuesday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Disney/ABC’s Times Square Studios, New York City, New York
TV: ESPN
Live Stream:  ESPN3/Watch ESPN (May be blacked out in your area. You can check the coverage map here.)

Here’s a look at each team’s odds to earn the No. 1 overall pick at tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery Odds:

• Orlando Magic, 25 percent
• Charlotte Bobcats, 19.9 percent
• Cleveland Cavaliers, 15.6 percent
• Phoenix Suns, 11.9 percent
• New Orleans Pelicans, 8.8 percent
• Sacramento Kings, 6.3 percent
• Detroit Pistons, 4.3 percent
• Washington Wizards, 2.8 percent
• Minnesota Timberwolves, 1.7 percent
• Portland Trail Blazers, 1.1 percent (Belongs to CHA of outside of top-12)
• Philadelphia 76ers, 0.8 percent
• Toronto Raptors, 0.7 percent (Belongs to OKC if outside of top-3)
• Dallas Mavericks, 0.6 percent
• Utah Jazz, 0.5 percent

Check back in with FanSided.com at the conclusion of the NBA Draft Lottery for the full results and stick with us leading up to the 2013 NBA Draft for the latest news and rumors. 

Apr 25, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro reacts during game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Clippers have finally done what many long suspected they’d do. After losing in the first round of the NBA Playoffs for two straight years, the team has announced that head coach Vinny Del Negro has been fired, per a report from Adrian Wojnarowski and Yahoo! Sports.

The Clippers have fired Vinny Del Negro, source tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 21, 2013

Del Negro took over the Clippers back in 2011 after being fired by the Chicago Bulls for essentially the same reasons he was fired in Los Angeles. Despite talented rosters in both Chicago and Los Angeles, Del Negro has failed to pull it all together and put a winning product on the hardwood even though his teams routinely make it to the postseason.

Talks of letting Del Negro go have been floating around even before the Clippers lost their playoff series to the Memphis Grizzlies. Stan Van Gundy is a name that has been attached to the Clippers for some time now and it’s no secret that he’ll be the guy Los Angeles makes a hard move to get this offseason.

With the firing of Del Negro, the Clippers are now the third high profile team to be looking for a new head coach as both the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets are also in the hunt for a top coaching candidate to lead their team into the future. Los Angeles has the draw to pull in a big name coach and they’ll need one to try and erase the lost seasons they’ve had under Del Negro.