NBA Western Conference Preview

As promised here is the NBA Western Conference Preview. Almost always the stronger conference, the West will again be dominant in 2011-12 and that's because of veteran teams like the Spurs and Lakers that are experienced in the playoffs and young teams such as the Thunder and Clippers that demand viewers' attention. Also, let us not forget that the Dallas Mavericks have assembled a team that could have the potential to repeat. I would say there is no clear cut favorite out West and as many as five or six teams have a legitimate shot to represent the conference in the Finals. Here are my picks:

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Dallas Mavericks

3. Los Angeles Lakers

4. Denver Nuggets

5. San Antonio Spurs

6. Los Angeles Clippers

7. Portland Trail Blazers

8. Memphis Grizzlies

9. Utah Jazz

10. Golden State Warriors

11. Minnesota Timberwolves

12. Houston Rockets

13. Phoenix Suns

14. New Orleans Hornets
15. Sacramento Kings

Teams to Watch

Dallas Mavericks: Always keep an eye on the defending champs in any sports and the Mavs are no different. They lost some pieces to the puzzle from a season ago such as J.J. Barea, Caron Butler and Tyson Chandler but they were able to add Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Delonte West. The supporting cast is what will propel the Mavs through the playoffs. Carter, West, Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood all bring experience and multiple talents to a deep roster. Dirk Nowitzki had a fabulous playoffs and if he, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry don't show their age this year, Mark Cuban and the Mavs could be hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy again.

Los Angeles Clippers: This is new territory for the Clippers franchise. They are actually a hyped up team with tremendous expectations. And why not? They made the HUGE trade that brought the best point guard in the league, Chris Paul, to LA and signed two veteran role players with Finals experience in Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler. Throw in the freakishly athletic inside duo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and "Lob City" might be the most exciting television this season. Still, how high can expectations be for a franchise that has never been a winner? In their preseason games the Clips looked good but they aren't deep in the post and their bench is very young. Either way the Clippers are finally relevant and that will create some exciting storylines throughout the season.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Maybe the T'Wolves won't receive that much press, but mark my words, they will be a contender in a few short years. Start with Kevin Love, a double-double machine. He is the star this organization needs and he is consistent. Michael Beasley and Derrick Williams (2nd overall pick) will also be in the frontcourt. If Darko Milicic and Brad Miller can just give Minnesota steady play they will be fine. Gone is Jonny Flynn and in is Ricky Rubio at point. The T'Wolves finally got their man and America will soon find out if he is all he's hyped up to be. He and Wes Johnson will team up in the backcourt and J.J. Barea and Wayne Ellington will come off the bench. This team has serious potential but won't win quite yet due to youth. However, don't sleep on them.

Los Angeles Lakers: Everyone is down on the Lake Show after the Chris Paul trade fiasco that ended up with Lamar Odom in Dallas and Paul in the wrong locker room at the Staples Center. Now, LA will have to move on with it's core group of stars led by Kobe Bryant. Pau Gasol, who was nearly dealt to Houston, is back in a Lakers uniform and says he is fine, despite the trade rumors. LA needs Gasol to have a monster year with no Odom and little production expected from the bench. Maybe even more important will be the play of Andrew Bynum. His potential is great but his knees have to hold up for LA to play deep into the playoffs. I expect the Lakers to still be a good team but don't be surprised if they drop off a little bit.

Players to Watch

Paul (center) with new teammates Griffin and Billups

Chris Paul: The man who has caused the most commotion this offseason will finally be able to just play ball on Christmas Day. He should have a terrific year, benefitting from the athleticism of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan along with the veteran play of Chauncey Billups. CP3 is the best point guard in the league and continues to prove it. This year he could put up his best numbers yet and people are expecting something great from him in LA.

Kevin Durant: Here is my pick for the MVP this season. The Durantula has emerged as the best scorer in the NBA and he should lead his team to a Western Conference championship for the first time. He has talented teammates at every position which allows him to do his thing without double teams coming his way every night. He has already been a scoring champion and I expect he will be again this season. With his size and his ability to shoot he may be the hardest to guard in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant: For the first time in a long time Kobe Bryant isn't the most talked about basketball player in Los Angeles, California. People seem to have pushed the Lakers and Bryant to the side for Chris Paul and the Clippers but don't forget about Kobe. He is the best player in the league and for those who say he is too old to be the "old Kobe" why don't you check his numbers from last season. His 25, 5, 4 averages match his career numbers and indicates that we haven't seen the last of Kobe.

Western Conference Rookies to Watch
Derrick Williams, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves (2nd overall pick)

Enes Kanter, forward, Utah Jazz (3rd overall)

Jimmer Fredette, guard, Sacramento Kings (10th overall)

The West is always deep and this year is no different. I will predict the Oklahoma City Thunder to defeat the Dallas Mavericks for the Western crown but, in reality, there are six teams that have the potential to play in the Finals. It all starts tomorrow and the NBA is right in saying that we should expect BIG things.

NBA Eastern Conference Preview

There was a period of time when the Eastern Conference was an afterthought in the NBA and perhaps that period isn't over quite yet. Since the Chicago Bulls dynasty ended the East has only won three of the 13 Finals and has lost the last three. However, the conference keeps getting stronger and 2011-12 will be the second year Miami's Big 3 are together, Derrick Rose and the Bulls have playoff experience and the Knicks are hoping Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire can stay healthy the entire year. Questions are all around in the East though, as many are wondering if this is the last year we will see Deron Williams in a Nets uniform and everyone wants to know where Dwight Howard will be playing by the time the season ends. Los Angeles? New Jersey? Chicago? Dallas? The possibilities seem endless but for now it appears he will don a Magic jersey this season. Here is a quick look around the East with teams and players to watch along with predicted order of finish:



Rip Hamilton and Derrick Rose



Predicted Order of Finish

1. Miami Heat  

2. Chicago Bulls

3. Boston Celtics

4. Orlando Magic

5. New York Knicks

6. Atlanta Hawks

7. Indiana Pacers

8. Milwaukee Bucks
9. Philadelphia 76ers
10. Charlotte Bobcats
11. Washington Wizards
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Detroit Pistons
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. New Jersey Nets

Teams to Watch


The Big 3 in South Beach



Miami Heat: Everyone knows of the Big 3 and last year they certainly needed time to adjust to each other. Their slow start along with their inability to defeat Chicago prevented them from finishing first in the regular season. However, Miami looked unbeatable in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls yet couldn't figure out how to win against Dallas in the Finals. LeBron's fourth quarter woes have been talked about over and over, but some of the blame rests on Dwyane Wade's shoulders. Going into Year Two of this experiment, Miami has to figure out whose team this is. Who gets the ball in late game situations? In the Finals Wade and James passed the ball back and forth like a hot potato, neither of them taking the big shot. Once that problem is solved, watch out. Chris Bosh should be more comfortable in his role this season and the Heat also added a defensive stopper/3-point threat in Shane Battier. He and a healthy Mike Miller will stretch opposing defenses.

Chicago Bulls: Last year's 62-20 record may have been a surprise to some, especially when we look at how much Derrick Rose had to do for the team to succeed. This year the Bulls could be even better due to the signing of Richard Hamilton. Although Rip is older, he is still a knockdown shooter who moves well without the ball. He will attract a defender on every play, sometimes two. That will give Rose more freedom with another scorer on the floor. So, while Rose's scoring may dip, expect his assists to be on the rise. Ronnie Brewer is another Bull whose production should increase. Brewer's mid-range jumper looked solid in two preseason games and coaches have lauded his play in the shortened training camp. Essential to Chicago's success will be a healthy Carlos Boozer. The big-name signing from a year ago will have to give the Bulls more over the course of the season.



Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony



New York Knicks: The Knickerbockers are an interesting team from the standpoint that they have two superstars but not a great supporting cast. The signing of Tyson Chandler was huge because he will run the floor and play defense, but doesn't need to score to be happy. Amare Stoudemire will handle most of the post scoring and Carmelo Anthony will complete a frontline that is one of the better ones in the league. If Stoudemire and Melo stay healthy then the Knicks can make some noise, but as we saw in the playoffs last season, when one goes down the Knicks are going no where. The backcourt is a question mark for New York. The signings of Baron Davis and Mike Bibby would have been great if this was 2002 but it's 2011 and those two are old and their stars don't shine as bright anymore.

Indiana Pacers: This is my number one team to keep an eye on. The young Pacers finished 8th in the East last season and were highly-competitive with the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. They had a great offseason, signing David West and trading for George Hill and they have a big lineup with West, Danny Granger, Paul George, Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert. For the Pacers to become successful they need Granger to become their go-to-guy. He has to become and all-around player and be the star this team needs. Indiana has the point guards in Darren Collison and Hill to get him the ball. Inside, the Pacers depth is key and this young team may be ready to reestablish itself as a perennail playoff team like they were in the 1990's.

Players to Watch
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls: Obviously all eyes will be on Rose after his magnificent MVP season last year. As stated above, Rose's scoring may not be as high this year, but hopefully that's because it doesn't need to be. The addition of Rip Hamilton and a healthy Carlos Boozer will mean DRose can be more of a point guard and facilitate for his teammates. Defenses will be aimed at stopping Rose, but so far not many have been successful.

Dwight Howard

Chris Bosh, Miami Heat: The forgotten man of Miami's Big 3, Chris Bosh should have a great year in South Beach. Last year was an adjustment for him as he wasn't the featured player any more and he didn't know what his role was on the team. All of that is figured out now and Bosh can go back to being the 20 and 10 guy that he is. While LeBron and DWade steal all the spotlight, it's hard to deny that Bosh's performance is the key to a Miami title run.

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic: With so many distractions how will Dwight Howard play this season? They can say they aren't going to talk about where he will end up playing, but the reality is that it will come up everyday. Fans of other teams will try to woo Howard to their team and the media will constantly be debating whether he will wind up in LA or stay in Orlando. This could have an effect on his play, as well as his team's.

Eastern Conference Rookies to Watch
Kyrie Irving, point guard, Cleveland Cavaliers (1st pick)
Tristan Thompson, power forward, Cleveland Cavaliers (4th pick)
Kemba Walker, point guard, Charlotte Bobcats (9th pick)

The East is very top heavy with the top four teams head and shoulders above the rest. However, many teams are trying to become contenders and in a shortened season like this, depth on the roster will help a lot. Expect the Bulls and the Heat to square off for the Eastern Conference title again and don't be surprised if the Boston Celtics go through a rough stretch due to age. Their championship window is closing and this may be one of the last years they have a legitimate shot with this group of players. Please comment with your opinions! Western Conference Preview coming soon!

Gonzaga's Success Brings High Expectations

Every Monday when I log onto ESPN.com I check the updated college basketball polls to see what changes occured the past week. Normally I don't look over it too hard, just a quick glance to see where my favorite team is and where other interesting teams are ranked. This past Monday something caught my eye though. As I looked up and down the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and the AP Top 25 poll I noticed that Gonzaga was not ranked in either. How could this be?? Mark Few's Gonzaga Bulldogs have been a perennial Top 25 team since they burst onto the scene with Casey Calvary way back in 1999 with an Elite 8 appearance. Since then they have qualified for the Big Dance every year and made a Sweet 16 appearance four of those years. Because of that, America has come to expect big things from the Zags and to see them out of the Top 25 is almost unthinkable.

Here's the odd thing about Gonzaga: despite their successes they have recently been overlooked when it comes to mid-majors. Sure, they qualify for the NCAAs every year and have been to the Sweet 16 four times but they haven't made the Final Four. I say that like it's unbelievable that they haven't, but again, the expectations for Gonzaga are quite different from other so-called "mid-major" programs. George Mason sent shockwaves through the college basketball land in 2006 when they upset several powerhouse teams to make the Final Four, a first for the program. Butler has been the Cinderella the past two seasons, finishing as national runner-up and VCU appeared in the Final Four last year as well. That's three quality programs who have qualified for the Final Four, but none of them stack up with Gonzaga. When will we see the Zags in a Final Four? It seems long overdue.

How good has Gonzaga been since the 1998-99 season? Consider these numbers: 13 NCAA appearances, 4 Sweet 16's, 1 Elite 8, 12 Honorable Mention All-Americans or higher, 1 National Player of the Year, 3 NBA first-round picks. Under Mark Few the Zags are 314-82 and they simply don't lose at home. Since the McCarthey Athletic Center opened in 2004, Gonzaga is 93-7. What that number doesn't tell you is all the teams that won't come to "The Kennel" to play the Bulldogs. Big name programs would rather Gonzaga came to them or, instead of playing them on campus, would opt to play them at Key Arena in Seattle. Tom Izzo and Mike Brey took their teams into Spokane this year and, while Izzo and Michigan State escaped with a seven point victory, Brey's Notre Dame team was dominated by 20. The Zags demand respect and they are willing to travel all over the globe to get it.

Since 98-99 Gonzaga is 21-40 against Top 25 teams and they have defeated the third-ranked team three times and the second-ranked team once. Also, expect it to be a hard-fought game when they match up with a top team. Only five of those 40 losses have been by 20 points or more. There's not many teams in America who can say they have played 61 ranked opponents in that span and there are none of Gonzaga's size that can say that. Forget Butler when it comes to determining who is the best mid-major program. Gonzaga is the top dog.

The expectations for the program are always going to be high. That's a nice problem to have if you are Mark Few, but the question I have constantly been asking myself is, "When will Gonzaga appear in a Final Four?" Perhaps that isn't fair but they routinely show they are competitive on the national scene and that they have players capable of playing at the next level. It doesn't appear that this year will be the year, but how much longer will it be before Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are playing in early April?

Clips Dominate Lakers, But It's Only the Preseason

Finally the NBA season has started. It’s been a rough summer and fall for fans, players, and coaches as the lockout continually plagued the league. Yet now the preseason games have started and we’ve had a taste of what this shortened 66-game season will be like. CP3 looks to hang the Clippers’ first banner, Rip Hamilton will play alongside the reigning MVP in Chicago, and Lamar Odom will be leaving LA and teaming up with Dirk and the Mavs.

There’s been plenty of offseason excitement and a lot of hypothetical talk about how each team will perform in the coming season, but the preseason is always a time of frustration for me. The media affects the world more than any other aspect today. When it comes to sports, the minute a team that should be one of the best plays a mediocre game, sportswriters everywhere begin to say that that certain team isn’t what it used to be. It’s one game and a preseason one at that. Take last night’s Lakers/Clippers game; the Lakers have to adjust to a new coach, six new players on the roster, and their best player dealing with a divorce. Not exactly ideal conditions to start your year, especially when Mike Brown is now walking the sideline. Phil Jackson left a legacy that few if any coaches have. To replace him with a man that has not enjoyed even a tenth of his success, much less had any time to gel with his new players, and expect a win right away is senseless.

The lockout held teams from playing together and learning each other’s styles. The first few minutes of last nights’ Lakers/Clippers game was purely a run-and-gun, street ball-esque game. There was little organization on offense and it was easy to see that the players were not yet comfortable with one another. That’s exactly why the NBA has preseason games, they’re considered a tune-up for when it really matters beginning on Christmas day. However, the media is constantly looking to nit-pick every little fault and blows the whole situation way out of proportion.

In no way am I attempting to make an excuse for anyone, but there comes a point in time where you can’t take everything so seriously. The season is long for a reason and if you watch sports at all you know that anything can happen. Each day, each game is different. If we were to make our predictions based on preseason games, the St. Louis Rams would be playing in the Super Bowl this year after enjoying a 4-0 preseason record.

My point is this, it’s the first week that the players have been in a game environment since June at the latest, don’t jump to conclusions on any team. The Lakers are the Lakers, regardless of who’s on the court; Kobe is one of the best leaders and executers the NBA has to offer and won’t suffer through a losing season. For those of you saying that “Kobe’s lost his touch” or “It sucks Kobe’s gotta go out like this”, just be patient. Would I pick the Lakers to win the Finals this year? No. It’s somewhat of a rebuilding year; they’ve got a lot of spots to fill and a lot of guys need to take more responsibility and step up. However, the media needs to chill out with the talk of the Clippers suddenly owning LA. It’s one game. There are still 66 real ones left to be played.

Top 5 Toughest College Basketball Venues to Play In

If I were to take a poll of all the athletes in high school or older, and ask them if they’d rather play a home game or away game, almost 100% would say that they would rather play in their own house. It’s a no-brainer; you know the playing surface better, and you don’t have to deal with any traveling. Yet, for me, and the conference I play in, possibly the most intimidating factor of an away game is the student section that shows up. I’ve played in gyms where there were 600 students yelling right in my ear and riding me the whole game. Say what you want about “blocking out the crowd”, but after awhile you can’t help but hear them try to get under your skin.

You see it all the time in college sports as well. The Cameron Crazies, the Izzone, and many other student sections around the nation instill fear in every team that comes into their gym or arena. Chants, trash talk, and just general hysteria can affect a player. Here’s a look at the top five venues that I believe are the toughest to play in if you’re an NCAA college basketball player.

1. Cameron Indoor – 737-150. That’s the record the Duke Blue Devils have accumulated since Cameron Indoor opened in 1935. One of the most storied programs plays in one of the smallest gyms. It also is home to the Cameron Crazies who don’t hesitate make sure their presence is felt the minute warm-ups start. Everyone’s decked out in Duke gear and even some of the alumni come back and fill the seats behind the hoops. The hardest part of playing their might have to be taking the ball out of bounds on the sideline where the Crazies are standing. The minute you cross that sideline, hundreds of hands are pointed right at your face, as close as mere inches behind your head while their voices are ringing in your ears. The Crazies give their players that much more confidence and clearly cement their spot as being part of the number one venue that’s toughest to play in.

2. Allen Field House (The “Phog”) – The Big 12 as I knew it doesn’t really exist anymore, but back when it did, Kansas was nearly unbeatable at the Phog. Losing only twice in 45 games hosted by the Jayhawks, the Phog has become a place few athletes on visiting teams enjoy playing in. Banners from recent years fill the rafters and the students all around the arena are screaming out the “Rock, Chalk” chant. It’s one of the most original and impressive chants college basketball has to offer and it’s tough to top the tradition that the Jayhawks have created in the Phog.

3. Rupp Arena – I’ll be the first to say that I’m not a fan of Kentucky at all. They’re stubborn and make excuses for everything that doesn’t go their way (stereotypically speaking). But those darn Wildcat fans know how to get the job done. Rupp Arena’s been open for 35 years now and the Wildcats have lost 65 games while winning 465 and John Calipari has yet to lose a game in the storied arena. Blue banners line the rafters of the arena and a sea of blue circles the hardwood. Loud from start to finish, UK fans arrive early and stay late. They’ll bash anybody they can whether it’s opposing players, opposing coaches, or the refs. They’ll chant what they want, when they want, and don’t care about anything but the Wildcats coming out on top. Combine that with the swag that Kentucky’s young team plays with and you’ve got an arena that’s not easy to play in.

4. The Kohl Center – Surprised? Wisconsin’s not a perennial top 10 team, they haven’t been to a Final Four in 11 years, and they won’t lead the nation in scoring, rebounds, or assists. So what makes Wisconsin so tough to play against at home? Try the record of 155-12 that Bo Ryan has racked up since taking over the Badgers. At one point, back in 2008, the Badgers had a home win streak of 38 games. The Badgers simply don’t lose at home. They’re fans are there and support the team, but they aren’t necessarily anything special, not when compared to the Cameron Crazies or the students of KU. However, Wisconsin is guaranteed to put on a show for their hometown fans which means the visiting team better be ready for a fight.

5. Carrier Dome -- Doubling as a football and basketball facility, the Carrier Dome on the campus of Syracuse University is one of the largest college basketball venues. The Dome holds the college basketball attendance record of 34,616 back in 2010 when Syracuse defeated Villanova. With orange everywhere and so many people, 'Cuse is hard to bring down on it's home court. Although much of the space in the Dome goes unused during basketball contests the place can still be deafening and the sheer size of the building is intimidating. There are plenty of tough places to play in the Big East but the Carrier Dome is at the top.

There are many more arenas that are difficult to play in, but these five are the toughest and the teams have demonstrated it with their records. The unique thing about college basketball is that the arenas are indoors and the seating is close to the floor. Unlike football, the student sections are right on top of the players, and because it's indoors, the noise is contained inside. This is a topic that could be debated hard so if you have a different take feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Hoosiers Shock UK with Watford's Clutch Trey

The Shot

Forgive me if I sound like a hardcore Indiana Hoosier fan throughout this post. I am not, and probably never will be, but I love college basketball and Saturday night was a night that almost all of college basketball could smile about. The Indiana Hoosiers, a once-proud program, have recently been the laughing stock of the Big Ten and college hoops. All the glory and honor that was built by Bob Knight was torn down in a matter of days by Kelvin Sampson. The program was in ruins after Sampson's short stint as head coach that lasted from 2006-08 and was marred by illegal recruiting violations. Tom Crean was hired to clean up the mess and in his first season the Hoosiers struggled through a 6-25 season that included just one Big Ten win. The road back to prominence isn't easy, as many in Bloomington have found out. But with Christian Watford's clutch three pointer at the buzzer to defeat #1 ranked Kentucky, Indiana took a major step forward.

Walk into Assembly Hall on the campus of Indiana University and it's hard to miss the five red banners hanging from the rafters that commemorate IU's five national championships. The last one is from 1987 when Bob Knight patrolled the sidelines. 2002 was the last time Indiana qualified for the national title game and it's also the last time that they advanced to the Sweet 16. It's been rough for Indiana fans since that title game appearance. Four years since then they have failed to make postseason play and Crean's record through his first three seasons is just 34-66. Adding to the embarassment is the fact that IU's biggest rivals have all had recent success. Illinois has been in the top half of the Big Ten for several years in a row and was national runner-up in 2005. Purdue just said goodbye to two of it's greatest players and they have won at least one game in the Big Dance the past five years. Even in-state mid-major Butler has been national runner-up two years in a row. Other traditional powers such as Kansas, Duke and North Carolina have won titles since 2002 while Indiana's greatness has become just a thing of the past. The road is indeed a rough one.

However, Crean has finally been able to recruit the players he needs to be successful and that is highlighted by fab freshman Cody Zeller. Crean inherited a team that had just one scholarship player returning but now has a group of players hungry for success that have seen the bottom and would rather not stay there. IU only has two seniors that see any sort of time and the junior and sophomore classes are made up of highly-talented players. Players like Watford, Jordan Hulls, Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey have helped the team improve in the win column every year since Crean's arrival, and with a few more wins, IU will have already topped last year's win mark of 12.

Still, it hasn't been anything close to easy. Perhaps the team's most talented player, Maurice Creek, has sat out multiple seasons due to knee injuries and his latest one sullied the most excited thoughts Hoosier fans have had in years. Not to be defeated, though, Indiana has won it's first nine games and stands at number 20 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Poll. Are they back? It may be too early to tell but it sure seems so.

Indiana has proven that, once again, Assembly Hall is a scary place to enter if you're an opponent and they can compete with the best in the nation. Zeller has lived up to the hype and leads the team in scoring with 15.0 points per game. Four other players average in double figures and to think that Zeller is the only one worth note on this team is ludicrous. This is a complete team that will finish in the top five of the Big Ten.

And then what about next year when Crean gets his hands on one of America's best recruiting classes? Three top 100 recruits will invade Bloomington to team up with Zeller, Watford and the rest of the core group of Hoosiers. It's not a crazy thought to think that Indiana could be in the top three of the Big Ten next year. Tom Crean has rebuilt this program from the ground up. Fans and university heads have been patient with him and now they are getting what they want and deserve. College basketball is better when traditional powers are good. Remember how refreshing it was to see UCLA in the Final Four three years in a row just a few seasons ago? Sure, Butler is a nice story and we love to see those but there is something about Indiana going up against Kentucky in a clash of college basketball titans. Both teams are highly skilled and it makes the rivalry more fun than it's been in years. College basketball needs IU to be competitive and they are once again.

Indiana fans are excited as they should be after knocking off the number 1 team and let's allow them to be excited. Look at what they have endured. There will always be the handful of Purdue and Illinois fans who can't give respect when respect is due and there will be those Kentucky fans who will search for every excuse in the book, but IU played a great game and got the job done. It's not a bad thing to say good for them, no matter what team you root for. A competitive Indiana team only spices up NCAA basketball and we can benefit from that. Because after all, we're all fans of college basketball.

Stern Stops CP3 to Lakers Deal

Still Enemies: Paul and Bryant will continue to play against each other
in the West after Stern vetoed the trade

For a little over an hour last night their was excitement among NBA fans everywhere. News broke that New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul had been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three team deal that also sent Lamar Odom to New Orleans and Pau Gasol to Houston. For weeks it had been rumored that LA wanted Paul and Orlando big man Dwight Howard. Along with Kobe Bryant, the trio would create a Big 3 that would dominate the West and challenge Miami for the NBA title year after year. With the deal last night, LA moved one step closer to assembling the team they and their fans have been dreaming of. Social media sites blew up and ESPN was in a frenzy...and then David Stern stepped in.

The Hornets, as of last year, are league owned yet Stern and the league never interfered with the trade negotiations. However, minutes after the deal was done, Stern put his foot down and stopped the deal. Chris Paul tweeted, "WoW" and Lamar Odom tweeted, "When a team trades u and it doesn't go down? Now what?" Paul was reportedly working with NBPA head Billy Hunter and sources say he may take legal action against the NBA. The buzz around the league is that several owners, Dan Gilbert and Mark Cuban have been named, complained to Stern about the deal. Owners in small markets do not want their teams raided for their superstars by large market franchises such as LA, New York or Chicago. New Orleans, being from a small market, would be losing their best player to Los Angeles. Since Stern technically owns the team, owners complained that he shouldn't give up the team's best player. What this sounds like is a bunch of whiny babies not getting their way.

The small market owners and Stern are not in favor of "superpowers" and that's exactly what they think is happening here with Paul being dealt. However, there are so many things wrong with Stern's decision to stop the deal it's not even funny. Owners, and some fans, are acting like the Lakers are getting Chris Paul gift wrapped to them without giving up much. That couldn't be further from the truth. If the trade ever goes through, LA is losing two of it's top three scorers, the Sixth Man of the Year, 33.2 points and 18.9 rebounds per game. Gasol and Odom have won two titles with the Lakers and been major contributors to those teams. The Hornets and Rockets weren't getting a couple of bums in the deal.

If anything, the Hornets are smart for dealing Paul now. They saw the cloud of drama that hung over Denver last year while the Nuggets tried to figure out what to do with Carmelo Anthony. Eventually Melo would be traded to New York, but Denver had to deal with the constant rumors and media scrutiny for half of the season. No organization wants that and CP3 has made it known he will be catching the first train out of New Orleans if he reaches free agency. The man simply doesn't want to be there. He is going to do the same thing Melo did and demand a trade all year long. The Hornets are wise to move him now and avoid the drama and controversy that will surely come their way. Also, the Hornets were going to get something for Chris Paul. Stern, who probably thinks he is doing the right thing, just failed miserably. What if the Hornets can't come up with a deal to trade Paul? Then he leaves in free agency and the Hornets get nothing for him. Then they can thank David Stern for that one.

Stern has not had a very good six months as the
commissioner of the NBA

What does this mean for the other teams? Today Dwight Howard has requested a trade to the Brooklyn Nets. If that happens then the fantasy of he, Paul and Kobe playing together in LA will probably never happen. For at least an hour it looked like a strong possibility but now it seems impossible. David Stern didn't accomplish anything positive by blocking the trade. He kept a disgruntled superstar in New Orleans who will basically hold the team ransom until he gets what he wants and he caused problems for LA. They now have two stars who feel unwanted and aren't sure of where they stand in the organization. Even Houston is angry with the commissioner because they needed Gasol to replace the spot left by Yao Ming's retirement.

David Stern has had one of the worst six months anyone could possibly have. He did a miserable job handling the lockout and, in my mind, came out as the loser of that situation. Now, he has angered at least three teams in his own league and has made three stars unhappy. I have no idea what he thought he would accomplish but he has put a lot of people in an awkward spot. What's he going to do now? Stop Dwight Howard from going to the Nets? Stern made one of the most foolish decisions ever. Howard will most likely be in Brooklyn by the end of the week and Paul, Odom and Gasol will be at home, avoiding training camp. The three organizations have one man to thank for that: David Stern.

Pujols Bolts for LA But Don't Compare Him to LeBron (100th Post)

Albert Pujols: A Cardinal no more

The deal has only been made public for about thirty minutes, and already I’ve been hearing the statement “Pujols is just like LeBron.” Really? Just because he left St. Louis doesn’t make him like LeBron.

Pujols spent his first ten years in the league with the Cardinals and it doesn’t exactly take a genius to figure out that he staked his claim as one of the best players in the game just a few seasons into his career. He racked up two Gold Glove awards, one Batting Title, and two World Series rings. He’s been named MVP three times and was named NL Rookie of the Year in 2001. If you compare his stats through the first half of his career to LeBron’s, they’ve enjoyed much of the same success. LeBron won two MVPs back-to-back in 2009 and 2010, he made a trip to the Finals in which his team got swept (mind you he had to face the most dominant team of the decade in the San Antonio Spurs), and he was named Rookie of the Year in 2004. It’s not a secret that the two stars are the best in their respected businesses.

You can’t argue statistics, they’re set in stone, but you can argue character and personality. Pujols brought St. Louis baseball back to the top, and LeBron James brought Cleveland basketball up from the bottom. They were their cities’ most beloved athletes and were treated like kings (no pun intended, LeBron). However, the fact that someone could say “Pujols is just like LeBron” is downright ignorant. I’m a Cubs fan, I should hate Pujols, but you can’t hate the player Pujols is. He’s about hard work, never making excuses, and always being humble.

That’s not to say that LeBron is necessarily a polar opposite of that; I will say that LeBron recognizes when his team needs to improve and when LeBron himself needs to make adjustments. That brings us to the next two subjects on the list in never making excuses and always being humble. After Pujols failed to cut off a throw from the outfield that ultimately seemed to cost St. Louis Game 2 of the World Series, he refused to talk with the media yet still owned up to his mistake. He knew that as a big-time player he should’ve made that play, but he screwed up, accepted it, and moved on. LeBron, on the other hand, struggles with making excuses. After Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Championship this past year, in which the Bulls absolutely embarrassed the Miami Heat, LeBron blamed his poor performance on the head cold he was currently suffering. Give me a break, Michael Jordan dropped 38 points in a game where he had the flu and had to basically be helped off the floor by Scottie Pippen. Kobe Bryant played how many games with a sprained ligament on a finger that was on his shooting hand? Dirk Nowitzki played the entire Finals series with the same injury just on his non-shooting hand. Great players don’t make excuses, they learn from mistakes and admit to them and use them as motivation to get better.

And who could forget the way that the two went about their free agency decisions? I heard about Pujols from my Sociology teacher during school. Sources simply told Buster Olney of the deal and then ESPN.com was filled with news shortly after; nothing was heard from Pujols. I could be wrong, there might be an hour long program on ESPN dedicated to Pujols telling us of his move to the Angels, but Pujols doesn’t care that much about being the center of attention; he’s more of a “pick up your lunch pail and go to work” kind of guy.

So is it fair to say that Pujols and LeBron are alike? When you’re discussing their dominance and mind-boggling statistics, absolutely. When you’re speaking of Pujols’ decision to move to LA as opposed to LeBron’s decision to move to Miami, don’t even say that. Pujols isn’t calling any of the other free agents and asking if they want to team up with him, and he isn’t going to predict the amount of championships the Angels will win. Pujols, though the amount of money is definitely outrageous and over-the-top, is never going to be the selfish player that LeBron made himself look like throughout his free agency.

St. Louis will certainly be bitter with Pujols for leaving, I bet most of us will be, but that city has far too much tradition and has had far too much success to let Pujols’ exit set them back too far. It’s sad to see Pujols leave knowing he could’ve been the best Cardinal ever, but his legacy in St. Louis will no doubt last forever.

An Early Look at Euro 2012

By: Joe Wiens
Though the first match isn't for another 6 months, the 2012 European Football Championship officially kicked into high gear last Friday with the final draw in Kiev, Ukraine.  The 2012 European Football Championship will be the last European championship containing 16 nations; in 2016, the tournament will expand to 24 teams.  Hardcore soccer junkies often consider the Euros the greatest soccer tournament in the world due to the overall quality of the squads, combined with deepest continent talent pool, creates a more competitive atmosphere than the World Cup.  Also, the Euros have been notorious for fielding unexpected champions, such as Greece in 2004 and Denmark in 1992.  After all of the qualifying matches, four pots were organized based on UEFA national team coefficients and a random draw decided the four groups.  For those who are unfamiliar with the process, each group must consist of one team from each different pot.  Pot 1 automatically included the two hosts, Poland and Ukraine, and they were joined by two 2010 World Cup finalists, Spain and Netherlands.  Perennial contenders were placed in pot 2: Germany, Italy, England, and Russia.  Constant challengers Croatia, Greece, Portugal, and Sweden composed Pot 3; and Denmark, France, Czech Republic, and the Republic of Ireland completed pot 4.  A very early breakdown of the group stage:

Group A: Poland (Co-Hosts) (FIFA World Ranking - 66), Russia (12), Greece (14), Czech Republic (33)

Striker Robert Lewandowski's play will
determine Poland's fate in the group stage

Easily ranks as the weakest group of the four, Group A features of a couple nations formerly under communist rule.  Russia, arguably the worst team in Pot 2 (Russia, Germany, Italy, and England), drew Poland from Pot 1, avoiding the likes of Spain and the Netherlands, and Greece and the Czech Republic, two of the less talented teams in their respective pots, igniting much rejoicing in Moscow.  The Russians qualified with relative ease through a stout defense, allowing only four goals in 10 qualifying matches.  Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, who bagged four goals through qualification, will cause trouble up front for many sides.  Many are downplaying the ultra defensive 2004 European Champions, Greece, even after an impressive undefeated record in qualifying, toppling the Balkan powerhouse Croatia to win its group.  Greece's possesses the most balanced attack of any squad to the Euros racking up 14 goals in qualifying, but no player scored more than two goals.  Although hosts Switzerland and Austria did not make it out of their respective groups as host countries in 2008, expect the Poles to fare better in front of home crowds and battle for a second place finish.  Watch out for young Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, he's scored 10 goals in 15 matches for Borussia Dortmund (the German League champions and current leader), and his club teammate, midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski, twice voted Polish footballer of the year in 2008 and 2010.  The Czechs stumbled through qualifying, needing to defeat Montenegro 3 -0 (on aggregate) in a playoff to secure its place in the Euros, and will be the long shot to get out of the group.  Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky will be pulling the strings in midfield for the Czechs and look out for left back Michal Kadlec, the defender loves to get forward on the flanks, scoring four goals in qualifying.  Teams in this group will rely on their defense to earn points so don't be surprised to see many low scoring matches.

Group B: Netherlands (2), Germany (3), Portugal (7), Denmark (11)

Keep your eyes on Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who
will surely produce a few jaw-dropping moments 

Ouch.  If there has been a better example of a group of death, in any recent European championship or World Cup, I would like to see it.  Group B boasts the 2010 World Cup runner up in Netherlands, a ruthlessly efficient German team, a fabulously skilled Portugal side, and a qualifying group winner in Denmark.  The Netherlands scored an astounding 37 goals in 10 qualifying matches, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar accounting for 12 of them, and posted an outstanding plus 29 goal differential.  Dutch striker Robin van Persie has been in sublime form for his club team, Arsenal, notching 14 goals in 14 games.  Yet less than a month ago, Germany thrashed Netherlands 3-0 in a preview of the group and tournament favorites. Germany went a perfect 30 for 30 in qualifying points in a group that included a talented young Belgium squad and respectable Turkish team (28^th in FIFA rankings).  Now well versed in Joachim Loew's counter attacking system combined with the emergence of the next generation of great German footballers (Mario Goetze, Marco Reus, Andre Schurrle), this group is Germany's to lose.   However, the best player in the group is Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo; the FIFA Player of the Year nominee has already plundered 17 goals in 14 league games for Real Madrid this year.  Portugal possesses a shot at advancing past the group stage if only for the tremendous individual talent on its roster from Ronaldo to Nani to Danny.  Portugal advanced through defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff 6-2 (on aggregate) after placing second in its qualifying group to – who else – Denmark.  It's doubtful the Danes make it through this group, but if they do, it will be because their young starlet Christian Eriksen orchestrates a marvelous attack.

Group C: Spain (1), Croatia (8), Italy (9), Ireland (21)

Midfielder Luka Modric will be a vital
source of Croatia's attack

Group C consists of three top ten teams in FIFA World Rankings, yet it is not even the toughest group of Euros - that is precisely what makes the European Championships so special - the sheer depth of talent.  The defending World and European champions, Spain, qualified without dropping a single point, and must be considered the prohibitive tournament favorite.  Things aren't going as swimmingly as they usually do for the world champs though, La Furia Roja lost 1-0 in a friendly to England at Wembley last month, a slight cause for concern, but anticipate Spain's usual cast of characters (midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, forward David Villa) to dominate opposition.  Spain holds an embarrassment of riches; second string players like Manchester City's David Silva, Malaga's Santi Cazorla, and Valencia's Roberto Soldado would star for almost any other nation.  Croatia faltered in qualifying to Greece, but defeated Turkey 3-0 (on aggregate) in qualifying playoffs to punch its ticket.  Croatia has a fantastic number 10 in Luka Modric, who made Euro 2008's Team of the Tournament, to feed its forwards, Ivica Olic and Eduardo.  A changing of the guard is taking place for Italy, 2006 World Cup winners and national team stalwarts Fabio Cannavaro, Francesco Totti, and Luca Toni are no longer on the roster.  Striker Antonio Cassano led the Azzurri in scoring during qualifying with 6 goals, but suffered a stroke nearly a month ago.  It appears Cassano will be able to return to the pitch within 6 months, but if he is unable to recover then Italy will lean heavily on American born Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi to find the back of the net.  The Irish are the underdogs of the group, captained by the talismanic striker Robbie Keane, who tallied 7 goals during qualifying (tie for 3^rd most).  Ireland finished second in its qualifying group to Russia, but prevailed against Estonia 5-1 (on aggregate) to advance to their first major tournament since 2002.

Group D: Ukraine (Co-Hosts) (55), England (5), France (15), Sweden (18)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a striker with immense skill, must
overcome his unsteady temperament to help Sweden out of
group stage

England rejoiced last Friday with a very pleasing draw; getting the co-hosts in Ukraine, a France team that imploded in South Africa, and a Swedish side with a vulnerable back four.  England will still struggle without its world class striker Wayne Rooney, who received a three match ban for a dangerous tackle against Montenegro.  Devoid of its greatest goal scoring threat, England will be hard pressed to find a number 9. However, several players are in fine form for England right now including Arsenal's Theo Walcott, Tottenham's Scott Parker, and Manchester City's James Milner; but turmoil could derail the squad due to the antics of its unstable captain, John Terry.  Speaking of unstable, France will most certainly perform better than it showed in the 2010 World Cup under Raymond Domenech.  Hiring Laurent Blanc gave Les Bleus credibility once again; Blanc will utilize perhaps the deepest pool of talent, outside of Spain, in Europe.  Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, and Marseille striker Loic Remy have all played terrific soccer of late; expect the trio to play a large factor in France's results.  Not known for defensive prowess, France may have found new strength at the back under Blanc, especially a budding star in Valencia center back Adi Rami, conceding only four goals through 10 qualifying matches.  The Swedes show flashes of potential, overpowering the Netherlands 3-2 in an October qualifying match, but lose games it should put away like a 2-1 loss against Hungary in September.  If Milan striker and Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has 8 goals in 10 games for Milan, remains in superb form, Sweden has more than chance to advance to the quarterfinals.   Ukraine is one of the tournament's weakest teams, but a proper send off necessary for one of the best stars of the past decade and the best player in Ukraine history, Andriy Shevchenko.  One can only hope that Shevchenko, Ukraine's captain, pulls off the kind of magic for the home side that the world was so used to seeing in his Milan glory days. 

Joe Wiens is a contributor to The World of Wadley site. He is currently a sophomore studying Finance at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.

Ron Santo is Finally a Hall of Famer

In the midst of a quickly-faltering Bears season, Chicago has reason to rejoice now that Ron Santo has FINALLY been elected to the Hall of Fame. It took 32 painful years (both literally and figuratively) as Santo battled the voters in 2003, 2005, and 2008 as well as battling diabetes. The man is very deserving of the being in the Hall, but it angers me that it took so long.

I’m a Cubs fan and my earliest memories of Cub games were listening to Ronnie and Pat Hughes on the radio when my dad would pick me up after school. I’ll never forget hearing Ron Santo’s exasperated expressions when an error was committed or the excitement that overcame him when the Cubbies would pull out a win. He was the man I grew up listening too and was part of the reason I became a Cub fan.

The radio broadcasts only scratch the surface of who Ron Santo really was, though. He was a 9-time All-Star, a 5-time Gold Glove Award winner, and is currently fourth in most home runs hit in Cubs history. Santo never won the honor, but finished in the top five for MVP voting in 1967 and 1969. The statistics can speak for themselves, but Santo was also a big part in creating some of the most memorable moments on the North Side.

Who could forget Ronnie’s famous heel click which began after a win at the Friendly Confines in June of 1969? The win kept them atop the division but soon became a trademark for the beloved third basemen. Another memory, this one a little more negative for Cub fans than the heel click, is that of the black cat scurrying past Santo in the on-deck circle in that very same 1969 season. The Cubs were just a game and a half up on the Mets during this particular game at Shea Stadium when the feline crept past Santo and stared into the Cubs dugout. The cat would soon become famous and join the goat on the list of Cub curses (only to have Steve Bartman come 34 years later).

I’m beyond happy that Ron Santo finally achieved his dream of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Having your name enshrined in Cooperstown is the highest honor for any ball player. Yet it angers me because Ron Santo was considered for election more than once and never got it. Now here we are a year after his death and he’s the first man inducted into the class of 2012. What’s different now that he’s gone? His stats haven’t changed since he was alive and the honor is well over-due. Don‘t get me wrong, I completely understand that Santo played with guys like Brooks Robinson which makes it a little easier to understand why he didn’t get in the first year he was eligible. But it took 32 years? I grew up listening to Pat Hughes continually say year in and year out how he wished that “this year would be Ron’s year” to get into the Hall of Fame. And I have the utmost respect for Ron Santo simply sitting there and agreeing. He never complained, never spoke out about not being inducted, he simply sat there and thanked Pat Hughes for pulling for him.

That’s who Ron Santo was; he wasn’t just a baseball player, or a radio broadcaster, he was a decent and solid man. In a world where it’s hard to find a good role model in sports, Ron Santo exemplifies what a true role model is. In his lifetime, he helped raise $40 million for diabetes research and was always friendly to the fans. He was a caring man and one that people around Chicago loved. His personality made the radio broadcasts a joy to listen to and he created plenty of memories for Cub fans that will last forever. Don’t worry, Ron, you were a Hall of Famer in the hearts of Chicagoans long before you were a Hall of Famer in Cooperstown. It’s an honor that should have been given a long time ago. Congratulations to you, Ronnie.

Experience from the Inaugural Big Ten Football Championship

View from the Lucas Oil pressbox for the opening kickoff of the Big Ten title

It was a historic night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana Saturday night. The Michigan State Spartans, champions of the Legends Division, battled the Wisconsin Badgers, champions of the Leaders Division, for the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship. It was the first championship game played in the 106-year-old football conference and featured two teams that had already played an instant classic earlier in the year. The event didn't fail on any level, unless you count the ending of the game as a failure. Indianapolis was a superb host, as they always are for big sporting events, and the game itself was incredible from the opening kickoff.

I've been to four Final Fours in Indy and a couple of Big Ten basketball tournaments. The city has perfected those two events but taking on the football championship was a completely new task to everyone involved. I had the opportunity to volunteer in the media department and there were a few minor things that could have gone smoother but overall I thought the Big Ten was very well prepared in all facets. Lucas Oil was the ideal venue for the game because of the closed roof and it's proximity to other attractions in Indianapolis that fans would want to visit. 64,000+ people showed up to see the game and the stadium looked full, which is always a good sight to see. Think about it: 64,000 people attended a game between Michigan State and Wisconsin down in Indianapolis. How many will there be if it's Michigan and Ohio State? Or what about the first time Indiana or Purdue qualifies? Not that I see that second scenario happening anytime soon, but the point is that this was highly successful and the two schools in the game weren't close to Indy at all.

I can't see the game being anywhere but Lucas Oil. It was a one-year contract but the game will most likely stay in Indianapolis. The only other venues that have a closed roof are the Metrodome in Minneapolis, which has no chance, and Ford Field in Detroit. Don't be surprised if the game is played in Detroit sometime in the near future but I wouldn't bank on the Big Ten officials voting to play the game in an outdoor stadium such as Soldier Field.

If you watched the game then you know it was a great game from the start. The first five drives resulted in touchdowns and for awhile it seemed that the punters wouldn't be needed. Wisconsin running back, Montee Ball, scored four touchdown with three coming on the ground. He is now within two rushing touchdowns of tying Barry Sanders' single-season mark of 39. Russell Wilson, quarterback of Wisconsin, also wrote his name into the record books by throwing for three touchdowns. It was his 37th game in a row with a TD pass which broke Graham Harrell's mark from 06-09 with Texas Tech.

With the score 42-39 Wisconsin, it apeared that Michigan State would have a chance to at least tie the game with a field goal but twice they couldn't get the job done, the second because of a running into the punter penalty. It may not have ended the way fans wanted but overall the game and the atmosphere were exactly what I expected from the first Big Ten Championship. Fans from all teams in the conference showed up to witness the historic game and it did not disappoint. Indianapolis was a great host and we couldn't ask for a better game. It's hard to argue against the Big Ten being the best conference in America today.

Marlins Making Offseason Moves

It’s only a few days into the month of December, literally give or take a month since the season has ended, and the Marlins have already had quite the exciting off-season. It all began with the rumor that free agent and stand-out shortstop Jose Reyes could possibly be signed. If Hanley Ramirez can adjust his attitude, the Marlins will without a doubt have a very strong infield. With the potential of this deal slowly becoming more of a reality, the Marlins hired former White Sox manager (and professional loud-mouth) Ozzie Guillen to take the reigns as their new manager. Guillen struggled mightily in his last year in the Windy City, but he has what it takes to turn a ball club into a World Series-caliber team.

Yet the personnel of the team is not the only part of the ball club that received a makeover thus far, the organization changed its name and logo from the Florida Marlins to the Miami Marlins. A new logo has been drawn out and certainly doesn’t lack any color. To accompany the logo is the new stadium that is expected to be ready for Opening Day in 2012.

Maybe this is what’s best for the Marlins, a new coach and a new logo symbolizes a new beginning. After winning the club’s second World Series in 2003, the Marlins proceeded to struggle through four losing seasons in the last eight years. It’s been a rough time down in the Sunshine State for Marlins fans (and by that I mean the average 19,007 fans that show up to support).

However, throughout all the talk of welcoming Ozzie Guillen, trying to bring in Jose Reyes, and the excitement of the Marlins own stadium and new appearance, the biggest bit of news that would certainly make the Marlins a force is that of Albert Pujols paying the front office a visit. No, you’re not imagining things; THE Albert Pujols has talked to the Marlins organization. Can you imagine? A man with two World Series rings, perhaps the most popular athlete in the game, and a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer heading down to join one of the MLB’s most suffering clubs. It’s hard to believe, but it just may happen. Miami doesn’t have it easy, though. They still have to beat out the rest of the league to win Pujols over and it surely won’t be as easy as saying “sign here.”

It must be something about the city of Miami. I’ve been there before and the city is definitely one of my favorites. Just the atmosphere and weather is enough reason to live there. Yet professional athletes seem to be attracted to that city more than any other. Should Albert Pujols join the Marlins, he would have to duke it out with DWade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James to see who the city’s most beloved athlete was. Gee, that sounds like an awful problem to have.

The city of Miami has certainly struggled in the sports world for the past few years with the exception of the Heat’s run to the NBA Finals last year. As of late, the city has not been able to offer a perennial contender. The Heat’s “Big 3” gave the city reason to believe that sports could somehow become a big deal down in Miami and the Marlins offseason goals have given the baseball fans that same reason to believe. “Rome wasn’t built in one day,” is a quote you may remember LeBron James using during last year’s season. But who’s to say, if the Marlins manage to acquire both Reyes and Pujols that Rome couldn’t be built in a season or two down in South Beach?

Tim Tebow Just Wins

Go ahead and say what you want about Tim Tebow. He has a terrible throwing motion, only completes a handful of passes per game, and has a quarterback rating that looks like a good college student's GPA. However, is best at what matters the most and that's winning. Tim Tebow just wins. After the Thursday night defeat of the New York Jets he is now 4-1 and the Denver Broncos are 5-5 and second in the AFC West. It's already impressive that Tebow is winning these games but what makes it all the more heroic is that he is doing it under the most intense scrutiny.

There has never been a backup player in any sport who attracted so much media attention and there has also never been a backup more criticized than Tebow. There are plenty of scrubs running around on NFL Sundays such as Rex Grossman, John Beck and Curtis Painter and none of them are dissected or ripped apart by Merrill Hoge on ESPN. Why Tebow? What makes him different? For some reason we just care about this guy more. He is intriguing on the field because he does things so much differently than a "real quarterback" does. Off the field he is open about his faith and that sets him apart from so many others in the league. Whatever the reason, analysts everywhere have shared their doubts about why Tim Tebow will never be a good quarterback and, despite all that, he keeps on winning games which is all that matters.

There can't be more exciting fourth quarter player in the NFL. He's the kind of guy that always seems to find a way. He might be the worst quarterback for three quarters-plus but, as the Jets found out, he can be the greatest quarterback in the final few minutes with the game on the line. Last night the first 11 drives for the Broncos resulted in just 134 yards of offense and the previous eight possessions ended in punts but on the final drive Tebow rallied his troops, leading the team to a 95 yard game-winning drive. Tebow accounted for 92 of those yards, 35 through the air and 57 with his legs. He took the game into his own hands and calmly led his team down the field against a defense that had pounded him the entire game to that point. The win was his third comeback win this season and after he said, "I love winning but I wish it wasn't this stressful." Well Tim, I don't have a problem with it, considering it's some of the best entertainment in the NFL.

I know that he may never shut up all the idiots like Merrill Hoge but Hoge has to feel like an absolute moron every week when the Broncos win. He LOVES ripping apart Tim Tebow on national television and week after week Tebow pulls out a win. So go ahead and keep ragging on him but the guy is a winner. Tony Romo and Mark Sanchez may have better mechanics and what not but Tebow has already shown he can win games consistently, something those two struggle with at times. To win under the kind of scrutiny he is under is remarkable. But that's what he does. He makes those around feel the passion he has and he inspires his teammates better than most. Does he make them better players? I don't know about that, but he does make them want to be there. His passion rubs off on others and the Broncos now have something special in Denver.

Time will tell if Tebow can keep this up for the entire season or for an entire career. Maybe he can lead the Broncos to the playoffs and if he wins there his legend will only grow larger. It would be nice to see him keep winning and maybe, just maybe, shut the critics up. That may never happen. One thing is for sure though, Tim Tebow will always be fun to watch

Izzo Becoming One of the All-Time Greats at MSU

By now, everyone has heard and seen that Coach Mike Krzyzewski has captured his 903rd win and passed Bob Knight on the all-time wins list. Congratulations to you, Coach K. It’s an honor well-deserved and well-earned. Yet, in the midst of all the hubbub about Duke and Coach K, I want to call attention to another coach. Tom Izzo has been the head coach at Michigan State for seventeen years now and, though he’s received a lot of recognition and admiration from analysts and fans alike, I still feel that he’s underrated.

Taking over the Spartans in 1995, Tom Izzo has certainly achieved more than some coaches achieve in their entire careers. He has been named National Coach of the Year four times which tops Coach K by one. He also reached his first final four as early as his fourth season. Izzo has brought and maintained a standard that Michigan State has upheld all these years. To compare him to other big-name coaches, Bill Self has been a head coach since 1993, has spent his last nine seasons with the renowned Kansas University, and has only reached one Final Four. It took Self fourteen seasons to get there and hasn’t visited since. Another big name that hadn’t taken a trip to the Final Four so quickly is John Calipari, who it took eight years to get there. Izzo has brought success to Michigan State and lots of it.

It’s not merely numbers that can define Izzo’s career, though. Rather, it is his passion for his players year in and year out. When offered the big time money to go coach the Cleveland Cavaliers, Izzo turned it down and returned to Lansing. Along with that adversity came the injury of former point guard Kalin Lucas as well as disciplinary issues with Korie Lucious. But Izzo stood firm. It didn’t matter that Lucious was one of the top performers at the time; Izzo dismissed him from the team and told the shooting guard that they would discuss his future with the team later on. The situation was handled without much media interference or opinion and Izzo still found a way to win. The man has the character and integrity that should be present in all coaches.

Another thing about Izzo is that, even when his team is not projected to be as successful as the previous season, he doesn’t shy away from the powerhouse teams. Lots of coaches begin their seasons with Division II teams or the lowest of Division I schools. Though the Spartans’ preseason schedule does consist of a few cupcake teams, Izzo began the year facing the championship-caliber Tar Heels of North Carolina, followed by the Blue Devils of Duke. How’s that for an early season wakeup call? The Spartans were unranked, and are currently the only team in the Big Ten without a win. Don’t take that 0-2 record as the Spartans starting off on the wrong foot, though. Michigan State handled UNC for much of the first half before falling short by twelve points, and also put up a great and aggressive effort against Duke on Tuesday.

That’s another aspect of Izzo that I admire greatly; Izzo teams don’t ever give up or quit. Duke was up 61-41 with only nine minutes left to play in the second half, yet Michigan State found a way to claw its way back in by cutting the lead to five in the final minute. A twenty point deficit, Coach K’s 903rd win on the line, and everyone in the arena expecting Duke to win, and yet Tom Izzo and his players never gave up. That’s what I love about Izzo’s coaching style. Players get frustrated, yes, but Izzo brings that intensity, that “I’m gonna give you all I got” mentality that is hard to come by. He never takes a seat and never gives any indication of giving up before that final buzzer sounds.

If I were Coach K, I’d be very proud of the fact that my milestone win came against a man like Tom Izzo. Coach K ought to know that he truly had to earn that win because, even though the two coaches have known each other for quite some time, Izzo was not going to simply hand Coach K win number 903. Izzo has been present at six final fours and has walked away with one NCAA championship. But it’s his willingness to lead and toughness to outlast the other teams that make him such a top-notch coach. He’s never been in trouble for illegal recruiting and has made Michigan State a perennial contender. Coach K said it best when he called Tom Izzo “a great man and Hall of Fame coach.” But before Izzo’s name is enshrined, he’s got a few more seasons to worry about and a few more Final Fours to play in.

A Fan's Frustration With Philly's "Dream Team"

By: Luke Habeeb

Let us rewind eleven weeks to September 11, the start of the NFL season for the Philadelphia Eagles. The attention this team had received prior to the first kickoff was unprecedented in Philly, and everyone, from ESPN analysts to Vegas bookies, were choosing them to win the Super Bowl. This offseason, the Eagles played “New York Yankees” in the NFL and brought in Nnamdi Asomugha (All-Pro), Ronnie Brown (Pro-Bowler), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Pro-Bowler), Cullen Jenkins (Super Bowl winner), and Jason Babin (Pro-Bowler), to add to their already star-studded lineup. After Week 1, everything was going according to plan. The Eagles beat the St. Louis Rams handily, and were soaring high in Philly. But what happened?

Since Week 1, the team has gone 2-6, losing games against mediocre teams like the Bills and Cardinals. What irks me is the way the team lost. In all six losses the biggest one came against the New York Giants, a good team, and only by 13 points. The average margin of defeat in every game is a mere 5.8 points, less than one touchdown. Add that to the fact that the Eagles have lost five games in which they were leading in the fourth quarter, and I am not a happy camper. They have been in every game, virtually every snap, but boneheaded fourth quarter mistakes cause the team to wane. Turnovers in the red zone (after Sunday the team has 7, the most in the league), along with the inability to prevent teams from long, time consuming drives cause the team to lose focus and, in turn, give the game away.

Sunday’s game against the Cardinals was a prime example: Up 14-7 in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals drove down the field and tied it up on a good catch by Larry Fitzgerald. The offense proceeded to fail to score on its next drive, not a big deal with the time remaining. When Asomugha intercepted John Skelton on their own 26 yard line, the offense could not even register a first down and settled for a mere 3 points. Skelton then led Arizona on a game winning, 87 yard touchdown, making the star studded Philly defense look like the Indianapolis Colts scout team. After the game, LeSean McCoy said, “Late in the game, we are not going for the jugular and finishing the game the right way. It's the attitude.” McCoy has the right attitude, but he couldn’t do much with the mere two carries he received in the final quarter. Asante Samuel, one of the best players on the lackluster secondary, also had some words about the way the team has been finishing lately, "It's something we've got to figure out with seven games left. We're a good team, I don't know how far we are off of things, but it's real tough. We keep giving up the game in the last minute. It's frustrating.”

Asante, you have no idea. Try being a fan during this mess. I pour my heart and soul into this organization, buy jerseys, I even buy my girlfriend gear to wear, and how am I rewarded? With a 3-6 season, tied with the Redskins at the bottom of the division. Wait, aren’t the Redskins starting Rex Grossman? I don’t even know who their starting running back is! I can’t name more than ten players on their roster and I’m an avid football fan. How the heck are the Eagles in the same place as them? It has been a dreadful season, and I can’t imagine it getting much better. What will make me happier is if the Philly CHANGES THE DEFENSE TO MAN COVERAGE (This is a whole other topic, don’t get me started). I mean seriously, with Samuel, Rodgers-Cromartie, and Asomugha, opposing teams’ receivers shouldn’t be getting any looks, but for some reason, the package defense is zonal? Please tell me how that makes sense. This all roots back to Jim Johnson’s death (RIP, we miss you dearly), and Andy Reid’s decision to make Juan Castillo, the OFFENSIVE LINE COACH, the new defensive coordinator for this loaded defense. Wait, so an o-line coach (a fairly good one at that) has been managing the defense all year, while the offensive line allows Vick to get absolutely nailed game after game, snap after snap?! Yes, this makes complete sense, Andy. This team has the talent to go undefeated the rest of the year, but it’s highly unlikely. The only other scenario in which I will be satisfied with the season is if they somehow screw the Cowboys or Giants from a wildcard playoff spot.

Luke Habeeb is a contributor to the World of Wadley site. He is currently a freshman in college studying Political Science at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.