Too Much NFL Draft

Mel Kiper: NFL Draft guru

Hello everybody, I want to apologize for the long gap between this post and my last one. With the school year winding down I had quite a bit of homework to do, but now it's bloggin' time once again! Last night ESPN televised the first round of the NFL Draft in primetime and there were quite a few surprises. The NFL and the NBA are two exciting drafts to watch, especially to a die-hard fan. The casual fan can probably make it through two days of the NFL Draft and can probably watch the entire NBA Draft since it is only two rounds. However, the NFL Draft is the most overhyped thing in sports. Seriously, the Super Bowl ended nearly three months ago and ever since the final seconds ticked off ESPN has had Mel Kiper and Todd McShay analyzing the draft. Who cares what they have to say?!?! It's unbelievable how two guys can get a job off of guess work. Again, I think the NFL Draft is fun to watch but I don't need the hype and analysis for three months leading up to the event.

Mock drafts are silly because they are never true. Sure, they are fun to read but does the world really need a new one from ol' King Kiper every single week? Hold on, don't think to hard because I can answer that one for you-- NO. I can handle the analysis the week before the draft and during draft day but the mock drafts every week for three months and the constant Sportscenter segments irk me. Yet, I shouldn't be surprised that's how it is because that's the way ESPN operates these days. The sports juggernaut can't simply report on a story. They must drill it into the viewer's head with every single minute detail they can possible give. They have given a new meaning to the term "maximum coverage" and that's not necessarily a good thing. There was so much coverage on the draft last night that ESPN was scrolling tweets from NFL players at the bottom of the screen. That's the sort of thing where I just want to say stop. We can only handle so much coverage, so much opinion and so much analysis. ESPN throws so much at it's viewers that it becomes irritating and boring. By the time tomorrow rolls around we don't even want to talk about the topic with our friends or the people at the workplace. The subject seems worn out.

LeBron James on ESPN for The Decision

This summer may have been the worst ever for two reasons. The Brett Favre Saga and the Miami Heat Big Three being assembled. ESPN had a field day with both stories and was even generous enough to televise The Decision live with LeBron James and Jim Gray. Gosh, that was great to see LeBron sitting on stage with little kids (who he donated money too) sitting all around him and Jim Gray, the only broadcaster with low enough standards and morals to appear on the show, interviewing him. The event became a complete mockery and the famous line, "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach," will forever be etched into our minds. Just when you thought that was the worst of it, it got worse! ESPN showed highlights of the Heat's big bash to introduce their three superstars and Sportscenter was clogged with stories on Miami. Every single person seemed to have an opinion and ESPN was their platform to speak about the Heat.

Around the same time, Brett Favre was going through his annual dilemma on whether to play football or not. Looking at the calender I would say in about exactly two weeks we could hear from Favre saying that he wants to come back this upcoming season. Last summer was the worst it has ever gotten with teammates going down to Mississippi to basically kidnap Favre and bring him to Minnesota. ESPN was there for that and Ed Werder followed Favre around like a lost puppy, broadcasting his every move to the world. Finally when a decision had finally been made the analysts could come out and start guessing where the Vikings would finish.

It was an unbelievable time for The Worldwide Leader in Sports and one that, for me at least, wrecked public opinion of the company. ESPN has almost become the sports reality network and no small detail slips by them. The Heat's tears, Brett's nude pics and Cam Newton's latest workout are all covered 24/7 for all fans. Again, I love to watch the draft and I love to watch sports but ESPN has gone too far with their coverage. It's one thing to be The Worldwide Leader but stop throwing so much information at fans about one topic. To all my readers: have fun watching the next three days of draft coverage. After that, Mel Kiper will go back into hibernation until next February.

Losing in Cleveland Since 1964

There is no such thing as The World of Wadley jinx and, before I go any further in this post, I want to say that I'm not trying to start one right now. But really, let's give some love to the Cleveland Indians. Check that, I meant the first place Cleveland Indians, but let's not jinx it. You read it right, the Indians sit atop the AL Central Division standings with an 11-4 record, comfortably ahead of the White Sox, Tigers and Twins. Still, saying the words "first place" and "Cleveland" in the same sentence are almost laughable in the sports world and rightfully so. The city, which has three professional sports teams in the Indians, the Browns of the NFL and the Cavaliers of the NBA, has not won a major pro sports championship since 1964 when the Browns won the NFL title and that was before the Super Bowl era. The Cavaliers have failed to win an NBA championship since they joined the league in 1970-71 and the Indians haven't won the World Series since 1948, when Bob Feller was just 29 years old. Cleveland is the most tortured sports town in America, but the thing is, they have come so close on numerous occasions.



Jordan hits the shot over Ehlo in '89



1964 was a long time ago if you couldn't figure that one out. That's 47 years since the last major pro sports championship in the city of Cleveland. Think about all that has changed and happened since then. Lyndon Johnson took office in 1963 and Barack Obama is the eighth President of the United States since then. Nikita Khrushchev was in his last year of power in the Soviet Union and man had not yet walked on the moon. Michael Jordan wasn't even two years old yet and Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain dominated the NBA. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees in seven games for the World Series and we hadn't even been introduced to greats like Mike Schmidt or Reggie Jackson. While Cleveland has suffered for those 47 years, there are other cities that have been living the good life. New York hasn't really had a problem, winning 20 pro sports championships since '64 and Boston has 18 to their credit. Los Angeles has won 12 with 11 of those courtesy of the Lakers and Chicago, despite the Cubs woes, have won nine championships since Cleveland's last. Shoot, even Green Bay, who only has the NFL's Packers, has four Super Bowls in the past 47 years. 

Chicago Cubs fans like to complain that there team hasn't won since 1908 and, yes, that has to be awful but at least they have the pleasure of other city teams bringing home the trophy. The White Sox, Bulls, Bears and Blackhawks have combined for 21 championships since 1908 so, while Cubs fans may cry about their baseball team, they have had plenty to cheer about in all the other sports. Cleveland fans can't say the same. How crazy is it that none of the three pro sports teams have been able to get it done? It doesn't matter what season it is there has been heartbreak and sorrow for Cleveland fans. That has to be tough to deal with because the questions "how?" and "why?" just can't be answered.

Edgar Renteria celebrates his series winning hit
in the 1997 World Series (NY Times)

The Indians won two AL pennants in the 90's yet failed to win the World Series in either of them. In 1995 they fell to the Braves in six games. In 1996 they repeated as divisional champs, but lost in the Division Series. 1997 brought another AL pennant but, again, the Indians lost, this time to the Florida Marlins. They won their third AL Central title in a row and upset the Yankees in the Division Series. All signs pointed to this being the year the drought ended, but it was not meant to be. With the series tied in game seven, the Indians led 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth. However, Jose Mesa blew the save as the Marlins tied the game with two outs. Edgar Renteria would then hit his famous game winning hit in the 11th to give the Marlins the World Series title. The Indians were one out away from the title and blew it, a heartbreak for the city. In 2007 the Indians again won the AL Central crown and featured superstar pitchers Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia, but they lost in Game 7 of the ALCS to the Red Sox. Since then they have struggled to win games, never finishing better than .500.

Fans can still see Michael Jordan take the ball the free throw line, rise up and sink the game winning jumper over Craig Ehlo. They can see Jordan jump up in the air, fist-pumping in celebration while Ehlo crumples to the floor in defeat. It was Jordan's game and series winner in 1989 that sealed the Bulls first round upset of the Cavaliers. Five years later Jordan would hit another game/series winner in the second round of the playoffs against Cleveland and the Cavs are considered one of the greatest victims of Michael Jordan. In 2003 the team drafted LeBron James with the first pick in the draft and he was supposed to lead the Cavs to the big one. The King, as they called him, was a hometown kid and lit up the NBA right away. He led Cleveland to the Finals in 2007 but they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Perhaps the biggest blow came this past summer when LeBron went on national television to announce that he was signing with the Miami Heat amid free agency. Cleveland fans felt betrayed by their hometown son and proceeded to burn his jerseys in the streets.

Mike Davis' interception on Red Right 88

The city of Cleveland and the Browns have been through a lot together and the Browns have not produced many winning seasons since their return to the NFL in 1999. Art Modell pulled the team out of Cleveland and moved the Browns to Baltimore in 1996, but the NFL replaced them in '99. It got off to a rocky start when the Browns used their first draft pick on quarterback Tim Couch and they have only had one winning season since their ressurection. Of course there are the infamous football plays in Cleveland history such as Red Right 88, The Drive and The Fumble that have haunted Browns fans for forever. The outlook never looks good for the Browns and 2011-12, if there is a season, is no different.

Despite all this, Cleveland fans remain true to their teams. The Cavaliers boasted the highest attendence in the NBA this season and the Indians hold the record for consecutive sellouts. The Dawg Pound is a fixture at Browns games no matter what the team's record is. With the Indians in first place, at what point do the Cleveland fans start believing? Surely they can't hold this lead on the division too much longer with other heavyweights in the AL Central but, no matter where you live, you have to sympathize with the Cleveland fans. They have been through more than any other city and have suffered more than any other American sports city but they don't call it "Believeland" for nothing.

NBA Keeps the Madness Coming

By: Nate Wadley

Everybody loves college basketball and this year’s NCAA tournament was arguably one of the best. Upsets came early and often with Cinderellas, VCU and Butler, playing in Houston for the Final Four. Butler defeated the Rams and would proceed to face the Huskies of Connecticut in the championship. UConn won, Butler lost, and March Madness came to an end. Or so we all thought. With the first weekend of the NBA Playoffs coming to a close, upsets have been abundant and the lower seeds aren’t playing around.

For starters, the eight seeds in both conferences now have a right to assume that they can advance to the second round. In the East, the Indiana Pacers had the Chicago Bulls with their backs to walls for nearly the entire game until Kyle Korver’s clutch three gave the Bulls their first lead of the game with just under a minute to play. However, despite the heartbreaking loss, the Pacers revealed that this seven game series won’t be a walk in the park for the league’s best team.

Moving to the eight vs. one matchup in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies recorded their first playoff win in history against the Manu Ginobli-less San Antonio Spurs. Yet that can’t be the excuse for the Spurs. The Grizzlies failed to give in to one of, if not the, most dominant team in the past decade. With Zach Randolph leading the charge with twenty-five points and fourteen rebounds, the Grizzlies shocked the Spurs in a 101-98 win in San Antonio.

The two vs. seven game followed the same story line. The Los Angeles Lakers lost by nearly double-digits to the New Orleans Hornets.  Behind Chris Paul’s thirty-three points, fourteen assists, and seven rebounds, the Hornets took down the defending champs and quieted the Staples Center, racking up an impressive 109-100 win. Many had debated if the Lakers would turn it on now that the playoffs are upon us, and they played fairly well. But there comes a time where reputation and history doesn’t matter anymore. The teams that show up to play will win, and the fact that the Lakers are defending champs gives New Orleans that much drive to win this first round series.

And yet the Lakers weren’t the only two seed that struggled in their first game. The 76ers jumped out to an early 31-19 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Miami Heat, surely anxious because the world has both high expectations and unbelievable hatred for them, settled down and allowed the “Big 3” to carry them to a 97-89 win over Philly.

Yes, it is a seven game series. However, teams that can make their presence felt early and show that they will not be intimidated stand a good chance against the powerhouses. The lower seeds have now let the league know that despite being a sub-.500 team, they can hang with the NBA’s best. With top seeds falling already, it’ll be interesting to see just how many games each series will need for a team to advance.

Nate Wadley is the brother of Zach Wadley and is a contributor to the World of Wadley site. He is a junior in high school.

Better Late Than Never: Bulls Take Lead Late to Clip Pacers in Game 1

It took 47 minutes and 12 seconds, but Kyle Korver's clutch three pointer with 48 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Chicago Bulls their first lead of the game against the pesky Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their first round matchup. Derrick Rose played like the MVP he will soon be, scoring 39 points, grabbing six boards and dishing out six assists while Luol Deng sparked the team and the United Center crowd on his way to a double-double. The Bulls' defense was not its normal stingy self but, when it mattered most, Chicago got the stops they needed and took Game 1, 104-99. The Pacers shot lights out from the field and finished the game 10-18 from behind the arc, good for 55%. Danny Granger and Tyler Hansbrough propelled a Pacers attack that caught many Chicago fans by surprise and Indiana had four players finish the game in double figures.

The Pacers looked like an experienced playoff team for much of the game and it took it right at the number one seeded Bulls. Granger came out and said before the playoffs that he would rather face Chicago than Miami or Boston and that made headlines leading up to today's game. After a slow start, he turned it on and knocked down four threes while shooting 50% from the field. Hansbrough played phenomenal and consistently knocked down 15-foot jumpers over Carlos Boozer. Despite his hot shooting, Boozer refused to crawl up into Hansbrough's space and Psycho T hit ten shots, finishing with 22 points. For a moment it appeared Hansbrough was going to be lost for the game after he was unintentionally elbowed in the side of the head by the Bulls' Kurt Thomas while battling for a rebound. Hansbrough laid on the court for some time and then had to be helped into a chair in the tunnel because he could not keep his balance. However, he returned with 5:33 left in the game and scored seven more points.

Chicago struggled for much of the game and seemed very passive on defense. The United Center crowd was quiet because the Bulls were trailing but Luol Deng and Joakim Noah did their best to fire everybody up. After a hard foul from Hansbrough on Rose, Deng and Noah both got in Hansbrough's face and Deng was whistled for a technical foul for delivering a shove. The Pacers' Darren Collison missed the technical free throw and Rose sank his shots. Deng stood near halfcourt and urged the fans to get rowdy. Yet, the Pacers answered with another run and made it a ten point game again. The Bulls trailed by six with 2:31 remaining and Derrick Rose grabbed a defensive rebound, threaded the needle to Joakim Noah who slammed it home and sent the Madhouse on Madison into a frenzy. After Noah's dunk, Indiana scored only one point off of a Roy Hibbert free throw and the Bulls put the finishing touches on their remarkable comeback. Rose would score seven points after that dunk and assisted Korver's go-ahead three with 48 seconds left. It was truly a team effort down the stretch.

Every time Rose stepped to the free throw line there were deafening MVP chants that probably shook the building and he played like an MVP. While the rest of the Bulls stumbled out of the gates, Rose showed up to play and it was evident by his relentless drives to the hoop that were unstoppable for the Pacers defense. On one particular sequence, he blocked a layup on the defensive end and then dribbled into the lane, spun through three Pacers and made a layup while falling away. The only blemish on Rose's performance was his 0-9 shooting from behind the arc, something he will have to fix if the Bulls are to make a run deep into the playoffs. He finished the game 10-23 from the field and hit 19 free throws. His 39 points are a playoff career high for him and he showed why he is one of the best closers in the game of basketball.

Many will want to throw all the glory on Rose, and he is deserving of most of it, but the Bulls have to be happy with the contributions of Kyle Korver and and Kurt Thomas. Korver was brought in to do one thing: hit shots from deep. He did that, going 4-4 and hitting the biggest shot of the game. Thomas was steady off the bench while Boozer sat with foul trouble and played solid defense in his 24 minutes. Ronnie Brewer wasn't as effective, and that could be because of his sprained thumb, but if the Bulls bench plays well then there is a realistic chance for them to advance to the Finals. It may not have been the way the Bulls wanted to win Game 1 of the series but in the playoffs a win is a win and now Chicago holds a 1-0 lead with Game 2 Monday at 9:30 ET.

(Photos by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Too Up Close and Personal?

By: Nate Wadley

Athletic events that are nationally televised nowadays feature a camera angle from virtually every corner of the court, field, or track. Referees as well as fans around the world find the different perspectives as a great advantage for use of replay as well as receiving a better perspective. And yet, one camera angle has recently gotten the best player in the NBA a hefty $100,000 fine.

Kobe Bryant was caught on camera voicing his frustration with an official which resulted in Bryant yelling a homophobic slur. With the clip of Bryant sitting on the bench and screaming at the referee being shown all over SportsCenter, Bryant has been criticized for speaking out harshly against the gay community. Should Bryant have used the word he said? No. Should the camera have been zoomed in right on his face for the whole world to see his rant? No. It is precisely the “up close and personal” approach that camera men are using that caused Bryant’s language to be leaked to the world. I do realize that people have to know every little thing that athletes say and do because, well, they are professional athletes and we look up to them. Yet the cameras have begun to do more damage than good.

Bryant yelled out the slur in the heat of the moment and with his team struggling as of late, tensions were high and his emotions got the better of him. It is not right that the public now sees him as a man against the gay community because, once again, he spoke out in anger, not in true feeling. Athletes must be granted at least a little more privacy than the media gives them today.

Young athletes and even little kids have their role models which tend to be these highly-paid and respected athletes. If cameras continue to show these athletes swearing and yelling at the referees then what do the young athletes begin to do? Follow the example set by their idols.

Today, everybody believes that professional sports are full of thugs and idiots. Now do not get me wrong, the NBA, MLB, and NFL have their fair share of colorful characters. But the biggest problem is the behind the scenes access that we are granted. People are able to see every little thing an athlete does and the minute he or she messes up, we know about it via television or newspaper. Athletes deserve their privacy and if the media continues to shove their cameras where or when their cameras do not belong, athletes’ reputations will steadily go down.

Photo courtesy of eurweb.com

Nate Wadley is the brother of Zach Wadley and a contributor to the World of Wadley site. He is a junior in high school.

NBA Western Conference Playoff Preview

It's been wild out in the West but the playoffs are finally set and there are several great matchups. Much like the East, the first round could be very unpredictable and the best teams may not be in the Finals. The fifth seeded Denver Nuggets have looked outstanding since the Carmelo trade, yet they must play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. The Thunder are the young, exciting team that most people think are ready for a breakout year after taking the Lakers six games last year in the first round. Los Angeles is the second seed and is hoping for another three-peat, but they are limping into the playoffs, losing five of their last seven. Dallas has never fared well in the postseason and nobody is giving them much of a shot and then there are the San Antonio Spurs, sitting atop the bracket with the number one seed. Like always, it seems the Spurs are the forgotten team for some reason despite posting the best record in the West. Their age may be a factor, as could Manu Ginobli's elbow injury, but Greg Popovich has won four titles and don't count San Antonio out just yet. Other young teams like the Blazers and Grizzlies will try to pull off upsets in the first round and leave their mark on the 2011 postseason. Now, let's get to the picks.

1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 8. Memphis Grizzlies

If Rudy Gay had not suffered a season ending shoulder injury then the Griz could have a realistic chance in this series. Without him they can't win four games against the Spurs but they should be able to take one or two. Memphis has Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, a double-double machine, and their post presence will be very valuable against the Spurs inside duo of Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair. When it comes to post play it is about even, however, if Ginobli is able to play then the Spurs can dominate the perimeter. Everybody knows what they are going to get from Ginobli and Tony Parker, but the key perimeter players for the Spurs are the young guys, George Hill and Gary Neal. Both are deep ball threats and run the new, fast-paced Spurs offensive attack well. In a rough playoff series, they will be counted on a little bit more to give Parker and Ginobli some rest time. If the Grizzlies are to win then they need everybody to be clicking on all cylinders every game and hopefully steal one the road. They may win a game or two at home but this upset would be more surprising than the Warriors beating the Mavericks a few years back. Prediction: Spurs in 5

4. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5. Denver Nuggets

Make sure to tune in to every single game of this series because it is the best first round matchup the playoffs have to offer. The Thunder are a team that has constantly been on the rise since drafting Kevin Durant and the Nuggets are a team many thought were left for dead when they traded away but Carmelo, but instead they played phenomenal, reaching the 50 win mark. Give a shoutout to George Karl that coaching masterpiece. He can also thank his backcourt of Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton, both former Tar Heels. Together they average 27 points and 13 assists for a team without a superstar. No matter though, they have more than enough firepower to defeat the favored Thunder. Give some love to Thunder point guard, Russell Westbrook, a man who has been overshadowed at his position by Derrick Rose and even on his own team by Kevin Durant. Durant and Westbrook are the best duo in the NBA. Now they have Kendrick Perkins in the middle and that has made them a true championship contender. Perkins knows how to win and he is the bully the sometimes soft Thunder needed. This series will be the best and should go the full seven. Prediction: Thunder in 7

3. Dallas Mavericks vs. 6. Portland Trail Blazers

It's always hard to pick the Mavs to win a playoff series because they have such a terrible reputation in the postseason. Sure, they have one of the best players in the game with Dirk Nowitzki but he is a one-man show and that doesn't work in the playoffs. The Blazers, on the other hand, are an intriguing young squad that has seems to always be plagued by injuries but with a healthy lineup they have the potential to win this series. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are a poor man's Durant and Westbrook, but they are two players to keep an eye on in the postseason. Aldridge has had a career year, averaging 21 points and nearly 9 boards and many think he was the biggest all-star snub. Throw in Gerald Wallace and the Blazers have a solid core of players. The Mavs have had a great year but that's the norm for them. It's also the norm to then choke in the playoffs; call them the Kansas Jayhawks of the NBA. Here's their chance to change that image. Prediction: Trail Blazers in 6

2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 7. New Orleans Hornets

Much like the Grizzlies, if the Hornets had David West then they could make some noise but that's not going to happen against the defending champs. There's only one name people need to know right here: Kobe Bryant. Kobe is on a mission to get that sixth ring and it will be hard to stop him. The Lakers dynasty could be coming to an end with Phil Jackson mulling retirement and the core group of players getting older, but they have enough in the tank to parade the streets of LA one more time. If Andrew Bynum is healthy then there is no stopping the Lakers in the West. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Kobe and Bynum is just too much for Chris Paul and his band of Hornets. Expect a sweep in this series. Prediction: Lakers in 4

If the predictions hold true then I would go with the Thunder of the Spurs and the Lakers over the Blazers. LA would then advance to the Finals where they would defeat the Bulls for their second three-peat since the millenium hit. The West is typically the stronger conference but there seems to have been a power shift to the East. Despite that, expect the West to pull off one more championship before the East wins the next few. The Lakers are too determined and too experienced for the Thunder to beat them just yet but Oklahoma City's time is near. Playoff action starts Saturday at 1 p.m. ET with the Chicago Bulls facing the Indiana Pacers.

NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

Well, it appeared the Boston Celtics threw in the white towel last night and gave the Big 4 the night off and the subs promptly lost in overtime to the lowly Washington Wizards. With that loss, and Miami's win over the Atlanta Hawks, the playoffs are now set in the Eastern Conference. Like I said yesterday, this year's playoffs are going to very hyped up and rightfully so. There are four or five contenders in the East and many questions that will be answered in the coming weeks. The Chicago Bulls have won 60 games to date and are the top seed while the Heat are second and Boston is third. Many would say one of those three teams will represent the East in the Finals but watch out for the Orlando Magic and maybe even the New York Knicks. I've broken down each first round matchup and predicted the winners starting with the Bulls vs. Pacers so let's take a look...

1. Chicago Bulls vs. 8. Indiana Pacers

Could this be the start of another Chicago Bulls dynasty? It very well could be with the defense the Bulls have under rookie head coach, Tom Thibodeau. There's also that fella named Derrick Rose who has become one of the game's best players and should receive the MVP honors this year. Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are a great tandem in the post with Boozer providing the scoring and Noah grabbing boards and bringing energy. Luol Deng is not talked about much but he has had a great season and will be counted on this postseason to take the pressure off Rose. The Bulls bench has also been very effective this season and they will need to be ready in the first round because the Pacers are always putting fresh bodies out on the floor. As many as 12 players see good time game in-game out for Indiana but they need Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert to come up huge if they hope for a first round upset. Locking down Rose is impossible but slowing him up would be huge for this young Pacers bunch. Don't expect an upset but don't be surprised if the Pacers steal one from the Bulls in Indianapolis. Prediction: Bulls in 5

4. Orlando Magic vs. 5. Atlanta Hawks

If big, bad Dwight Howard can keep himself from getting suspended because of technical fouls then the Magic should win this series for the second year in a row. However, the Hawks did win three out of four in the regular season so maybe there is some substance to that. Atlanta has five players who average double figures with Joe Johnson leading the way at 18.5 per game. What the Hawks need is for Al Horford to play great and Zaza Pachulia to be the irritant he is and get inside Howard's head. Jameer Nelson is always steady at point guard and Atlanta's Jeff Teague is faced with the task of stopping him. Teague has started a handful of games since Mike Bibby's departure and the playoffs could be a something of a coming out party for him. Kirk Hinrich has playoff experience with the Bulls and is reliable. This series is hard to predict but I'm going to guess that Dwight Howard can go seven games without being a cry baby and take the Magic to the second round. Prediction: Magic in 7

3. Boston Celtics vs. 6. New York Knicks

This so called "rivalry" has supposedly heated up this year but until now that was a lie. Now that the two teams are meeting in the playoffs things probably will heat up and we should be treated to a great series. If the Celtics hadn't made the idiotic move of trading Kendrick Perkins then I would say Boston would win easy but that's not the case anymore. If you're looking for an upset special this could be it. The Knicks can score in bunches and the Celtics seem very vulnerable right now. They haven't been the same team since the trade and they seem to have lost their edge. By no means am I saying the Knicks are a great team, but they are capable of winning this series. Carmelo Anthony is the best closer in the game right now and that means better than Kobe for all you Laker fans. He and Amare came to New York for a reason and, while they are a few years away from the ultimate destination, they can take the first step this season. For the Celtics it's championship or bust. Prediction: Knicks in 7

2. Miami Heat vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers

We all remember that little pow-wow the Heat had at the beginning of the season when LeBron made the claim that they would win something like 11 NBA championships together. It seemed silly then and it seems silly now. Miami won't win more than four championships and they won't win this season. That said, they won't have a problem in the first round against the 76ers. With LeBron and Dwyane Wade, the Heat have two of the best finishers in the game and that's what a team needs to advance in the playoffs. Message to Erik Spoelstra: give Wade the ball for the last shot if it's needed!!! LeBron has been awful and lost his chance!! Okay, back on topic, Chris Bosh needs to play like an All-Star in the postseason for the Heat to advance far. For the Sixers, they are a young team with a veteran coach and they have a nice story this year but they don't have a chance to beat the Heat. Kudos to Doug Collins and staff but Miami will be moving on easily in this series. Prediction: Heat in 4

If those predictions hold true I would then pick the Bulls and the Heat to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and the Bulls would win to advance to the Finals. With a potential lockout looming, make sure to watch as much playoff basketball as possible because who knows when we will see it again. The East has made a comeback and now has several solid teams and is filled with superstars. That's a change from the past and these playoffs are where the conference can really showcase that. Four of the top candidates for MVP will be playing in the East and should all advance to the second round. Stay tuned in the coming days for the Western Conference preview once that bracket is set.

Melo's Clutch Jumper Tops Pacers, Playoffs Looming for Both Teams

On Sunday night I had the chance to attend the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers game at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and, wow, was it a treat. The two teams went back and forth all game long, with no team able to extend their lead much past seven, and with four seconds to go, Carmelo Anthony drilled the go-ahead basket that proved to be the game winner. The Knicks won 110-109 for their seventh win in a row and moved up into the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. Anthony finished with 34 points despite sitting a prolonged period of time in the second half due to foul trouble. New York was without Amare Stoudamire but Anthony and Chauncey Billups stepped up in his absence. For Indiana, it was a disappointing defeat after playing well for the majority of the game, but failing to find consistent offense down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Danny Granger scored 17 points in the first half but was held to three in the second half and his potential game-winning jumper was blocked by Anthony.

After watching Indiana play it is clear they aren't going to be a breeze for the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. Do I think the Bulls will lose the series or that it will go seven games? No, not a chance, but the Pacers are a young, scrappy bunch and they should play the Bulls to a few tough games and, perhaps, steal one from them. They are the only Central Division team that beat Chicago this year and they match up well with the Bulls lineup. The Pacers play 11-12 guys and are a deep team, but the one thing they are lacking is that superstar and closer. Danny Granger can be that guy but last night he wasn't. A superstar can't score only three points in the second half and disappear in the final five minutes of the game. That's one thing the Bulls have going for them. Derrick Rose has been phenomenal this season and the MVP trophy is all his, no arguments. He is averaging 25 points, 4 rebounds and nearly 8 assists per game and has perfected that closer role for the Bulls this year. The Pacers use three point guards in Darren Collison, A.J. Price and T.J. Ford with Collison getting most of the minutes. There may not be a faster player in the league than him and how well he matches up with Rose will surely dictate how the series will go for Indiana. In the post the Pacers have Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert to go up against Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. Granger and Luol Deng will be a nice matchup to watch and then Paul George will guard Keith Bogans/Ronnie Brewer. The Pacers are on the way back to success but with such a young, inexperienced team don't expect an upset over Chicago.

New York is the mystery team in the East. They can be really good, like this seven game win streak, or they can be just plain awful like their six game losing streak at the end of March. With Anthony, Billups and Stoudamire in the lineup, the Knicks can score at will but the one thing hindering them is their defense. It is their style to score 100+ points and give up the same amount and that's not good come playoff time. Sure, they can guard somebody but they don't. They will face either the Celtics or the Heat and both teams can match the Knicks point-for-point while playing solid defense. If the Knicks play the Heat they won't win. They could push the series to six or seven games but, just like Mike D'Antoni's Phoenix teams, the lack of defense will hurt them. However, if the Knicks play the Celtics then they have a realistic shot at beating them. Without Kendrick Perkins or Shaquille O'Neal in the paint, the C's have lost their identity and they no longer seem like the big, bad bully on the block. Both the Bulls and the Heat have thumped Boston in the past week and New York may be able to pull of the upset.

The Eastern Conference playoffs should be very exciting to watch. Are the Heat good enough to make it to the Finals? Are the Celtics still the same, old Celtics we have come to expect? Are the Bulls really as good as their record indicates? There are questions all around the conference as the playoffs get ready to start and it should be a wild few weeks. It's fun to see teams getting into playoff mode and games getting chippy (take a look at Jermaine O'Neal's foul on LeBron James from Sunday) and who will emerge to take on the Lakers, Thunder or Spurs out West? They say the NBA is where amazing happens and we should be treated to some amazing basketball starting in just a few days.

Photo courtesy of Darron Cummings (AP Photo)

Sox Score A Lot, Give Up A Lot

After their 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon, the Chicago White Sox pushed their record to 5-3. There are still plenty of questions about this year's White Sox team but one thing is for sure: they can score runs. As of now they are leading the MLB in runs scored and are third in batting average but the troubling thing is that they have given up plenty of runs as well. On Opening Day the Sox looked magnificent at the plate, jumping out to a 14-0 lead over the Cleveland Indians. Mark Buehrle cruised through five innings of shutout ball but then gave up four runs in the 6th inning. When all was said and done, the White Sox came out a winner, 15-10. That's not exactly the ideal way to win. Yet, that's the way Ozzie Guillen and his Sox are going to get the job done this year for the most part and fans are hoping it can carry them all the way to the Fall Classic.

In their eight games Chicago has scored 56 runs which is first in the MLB and they rank in the top five in team batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. They are a complete team because they have players who will get on base at the top of the order, such as Juan Pierre and Gordon Beckham, and they have the power hitters to knock them in. Last year Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin hit a combined 103 home runs. This season, after eight games, they have four home runs which puts them on pace to hit 81. Surely that number will rise and the Sox will need it to because the pitching staff and bullpen can be questionable.

If Jake Peavy can ever get healthy and pitch a significant amount of games for the White Sox they will greatly benefit from it but, for the time being, they are without the former Cy Young award winner and that means there is a drop off at the fifth spot in the rotation. With Peavy in the rotation, the Sox can have Buehrle, Peavy, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Edwin Jackson as their five and that is pretty solid. However, Floyd has been known to struggle early in the year and after one outing his ERA is above five. Buehrle is the complete opposite because he usually starts out excellent but breaks down in the second half. They will need both pitchers to be on top of their game for the entire season if they are to win the Central and make a run in the postseason. I say all that to say this: the starters will get the job done for the White Sox a lot of the time. They will pitch a solid 5-7 innings but after that, what Ozzie needs more than anything, is his bullpen to step up and do the job. Matt Thornton's performance has already been questionable but much of that is due to the defense behind him. Keep an eye on Chris Sale because the young closer could be to the Sox what Adam Wainwright was for the Cardinals in their '06 World Series title.

Chicago has not won a Central Division title since 2008 but things look bright in 2011. They have one of the most powerful lineups in all of baseball, a pitching staff that, if healthy, can be one of the most effective in the league and they have two relievers capable of being all-stars. Will they be able to put it all together? Who knows, but early indications show that the offense is clicking and the starting pitching is there. If the bullpen can become more effective then watch out. We may see another Fall Classic on the Southside of Chicago.

Ramirez Retires Unexpectedly, It's Just Manny Being Manny

From his early years in Cleveland...

In a shocking story, Manny Ramirez has announced his retirement from the great game of baseball after he was reportedly involved in an issue with the MLB drug policy. It's not clear if Ramirez tested positive for a banned substance, but if he was then he would have to serve a 100-game suspension. Rather than face the prospects of sitting out for a good portion of the year, Ramirez informed Major League Baseball that he would retire. Manny is an interesting character and deciding if he should get the call to the Hall of Fame depends on how you viewed him as a player and person. Personally, I loved Manny. Manny being Manny. Manny crushing home runs for the Red Sox and leading the Idiots to the World Series title twice. Manny catching a fly ball and running up the wall to high five a fan. Manny disappearing into the Green Monster during a pitching change because he had to take a leak, only to reemerge moments before the next pitch. You want my opinion? Manny Ramirez was fun and he was one of the greatest hitters in the game while bringing the fans that joy and laughter. However, there is another side of Manny that may keep him out of Cooperstown and it will be interesting to see how things play out when he is eligible in 2016.

You would be hard pressed to find a hitter in the game today who will retire with an average above .300 but Manny sits comfortably at .312 with over 2,500 hits. Those numbers are very impressive and if you don't believe me consider this: Manny has a higher average than Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. All of those players, minus Rose, are in the Hall of Fame. Rose is the all-time hits leader and would surely be in the Hall of Fame if it weren't for the gambling issues. Ramirez hit for .300 or better 11 of his 18+ seasons and hit over .325 six times. He led the MLB with a .349 average in 2002 and in 2000 batted .351. His 2,574 hits put him 82nd on the all-time list which doesn't seem that impressive but he has more hits than Mantle, Eddie Mathews and Joltin' Joe Dimaggio. Frank Thomas, Sammy Sosa and Jeff Bagwell are recently retired players whose names have come up in Hall of Fame discussions and Manny has more hits than all of them. Manny Ramirez was a better hitter than Joe Dimaggio, Mike Schmidt, Mickey Mantle or Ernie Banks. All four of those players are in the Hall of Fame.

...to his World Series years in Boston...

When it comes to home runs Manny is 14th all-time, ahead of Schmidt, Mantle, Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams. The 500 Home Run Club has become sort of watered down and lost its significance because so many players have reached it in the past few years but Ramirez is one of 14 players to have more than 550. The next player to reach that mark should be Albert Pujols and that will take him quite a few more years. Despite the loss of it's significance, that achievement cannot be overlooked. Then there are the RBIs. Ramirez ranks 18th all-time in runs batted in and had 12 seasons with 100+. Only Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx have more 100+ seasons and they are all in, or going to be in, the Hall of Fame. In 1999 he had 165 runs batted in which led the league and that is also the most RBIs in a single season since 1938. Wrap your mind around that one. Manny is one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all-time and maybe, just maybe, that can make up for his lack of talent in the field.

Of course, other great players in the Hall of Fame couldn't play a lick of defense so Manny wouldn't be the first, but that is one of the major knocks on his career. While he may be a better hitter then most of those players mentioned above at the plate, he is definitely inferior when it comes to playing the field. And then there is the steroid issue. It's not something that I really want to go in depth with because it is such a complicated subject. Should those players be inducted into the Hall of Fame? I think so, but I do think they should have to wait awhile. For Manny, this is the third time his name has come up in steroid use but think about this: sure he may have used steroids that did, or did not, help his hitting numbers but most of the pitchers he was facing probably were too. Most people just want to pin the blame on the hitters but they fail to see that pitchers were juiced too. It wasn't an uneven playing field because both sides were doing it. So yes, Manny did do steroids and I am not saying that is okay at all, but he was facing pitchers that were doing the exact same thing.

...Manny was loved wherever he went.

Looking at his hitting numbers and his World Series titles it seems Manny must be a lock for the Hall of Fame. The lack of hustle, defense and the steroid use are blemishes on his fine career and some people will want to hold him out because of it but we should appreciate the great hitter. Whether Manny makes it to the Hall of Fame or not, we will remember him for the joy and fun he brought to the game of baseball. I'll admit it, baseball can be a boring sport, but Manny was somebody who everybody wanted to see. He was almost always smiling and was a character that was larger than life for a time. Nobody saw this retirement coming but it's just another case of Manny being Manny.

The Biggest Busts of the NBA Draft Since 2000

With the NBA Draft looming a few months away and college players already making their ill-advised decisions to enter their names, I thought it would be appropriate to look at the worst draft picks since 2000. I have compiled a list of the ten worst and, wow, some of them are horrific. Every year there are those players who come into the draft and the common fan knows they won't be good, yet a team always picks them. Also, when I say bust I am saying that because they did not live up to expectations and that doesn't mean they were bad necessarily. It could mean, in the case of Shaun Livingston and Marcus Fizer, that injuries have greatly affected their careers. Also, a player could have off the court issues that derail his time on the floor. At the time I'm sure all of these players seemed like a great pick for that team but they all failed to reach their potential and that is why I call them a bust. There have plenty of those busts since the millenium hit and here is a look at ten of the biggest busts since 2000:

1. Chicago Bulls entire draft class of 2000
Okay I cheated on the very first entry and put an entire class in the top spot but, seriously, this may be the worst draft class of all-time. It's no wonder the Bulls were terrible for the early part of the 2000s because look at who they drafted. Jerry Krause used two lottery picks on Marcus Fizer from Iowa State (4th pick) and Jamal Crawford from Michigan (8th pick) and neither of them were the answer for Chicago. Fizer lasted just four years in Chicago and averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds, which is decent but not what you would expect from the 4th pick in the draft. Crawford has taken a different path in the NBA. He also lasted just four years in Chicago but has now been a key piece for the Atlanta Hawks these past two years. For the Bulls he averaged 11 points but was never the answer for a struggling franchise. As if that's not enough, the Bulls had three second round picks and selected A.J. Guyton of Indiana and Jake Voskuhl and Khalid El-Amin from UConn. Those three put together only averaged 13.8 points and Voskuhl and El-Amin only played a year in Chicago. And to think that this was all just a prelude to the Eddy and Tyson Blunder...

2. Darius Miles, LA Clippers (3rd pick, 2000) From: East St. Louis High School in Belleville, IL

You can't really understand the hype around Darius Miles unless you are old enough to remember the months leading up to the draft. The kid came straight out of high school and appeared on a Sports Illustrated cover with Kevin Garnett for the 2000 NBA Preview issue. The cover read, "Young and Youngest: Kevin Garnett, 24, welcomes Darius Miles, 19, to the NBA" and Miles looked as if he may live up to the hype. He averaged 9 points and 6 boards his rookie season and was named to the NBA All-Rookie team, a first for a player straight from high school. However, he clashed with coaches and violated the league's substance abuse policy and is now out of the league. For his career he averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds for his seven year career, no where near what people expected from him.

3. Kwame Brown, Washington Wizards (1st pick, 2001) From: Glynn Academy in Brunswick, GA

Kwame Brown was the first pick for the Washington Wizards and was a major flop. Actually, he still is. Yet, he was chosen before Joe Johnson and Gilbert Arenas. Brown is now playing for his fifth team and his best season came in 2003-04 when he averaged 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. Other than that he has been consistently below five points and five rebounds while averaging 22 minutes for his career. He is another player to come straight out of high school and he was often called the best player in his class and earned a spot on the McDonald's All-American team. He has never played like the player he was supposed to be but has traveled from team to team, consistently giving them 5 points and 5 boards a night.

4. Eddy Curry, Chicago Bulls (4th pick, 2001) From: Thornwood High School in South Holland, IL

The Baby Bulls, as they were nicknamed then, were awful. Eddy Curry was labeled "Baby Shaq" in a magazine and he could not have been farther from that. The 4th pick in the draft, Curry averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds his rookie season and did make steady improvement every year for the Bulls. However, when a player enters straight from high school he has so much hype surrounding him that it is hard to live up to expectations. Curry has averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds for his career which is decent, but not what people expected from a kid nicknamed "Baby Shaq." Curry has had numerous problems off the court including an alledged sexual harrassment and a foreclosure on his house.

5. Dajuan Wagner, Cleveland Cavaliers (6th pick, 2002) From: Memphis

I read an article in Sports Illustrated recently and John Calipari was quoted as saying he encouraged Dajuan Wagner to chase his dreams and enter the NBA Draft. Yeah he did and not only did he encourage Wagner to enter, he revoked his scholarship so Wagner would be forced to enter the draft. Well, good advice Cal, the kid played only 93 games in the league before he had to quit due to health problems. A phenomenal scorer in high school, Wagner never quite found that stroke in the NBA. He averaged 9.4 points per game and is now trying to make a comeback one more time.

6. Darko Milicic, Detroit Pistons (2nd pick, 2003) From: Serbia

Alot like Miles, Darko was hyped up so much and the Pistons selected him second overall. Ahead of Carmelo Anthony. Ahead of Dwyane Wade. Ahead of Chris Bosh. Heck, they picked him ahead of Kirk Hinrich who has had a solid career. Milicic currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves and is having his most productive season to date, averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds. He was featured in magazines and people couldn't wait to see this Serbian import but then he failed miserably. He appeared in only 34 games as a rookie and averaged a measly 2 points and 1 rebound. He may have found a home in Minnesota but he will never be the player we were expecting to see.

7. Adam Morrison, Charlotte Bobcats (3rd Pick, 2006) From: Gonzaga
He was arguably the best player in the college game in his final season at Gonzaga and many thought he could turn out to be a solid NBA player. He had the long floppy hair, nasty trash 'stache and was playing with diabetes-- you had to love him. He averaged 28 points his junior year at Gonzaga but in the NBA he has not amounted to much and is currently a free agent. He has battled injuries but won two titles as a benchwarmer for the Lakers. He averages 7 points and 2 rebounds for his career and has only played in 161 games. The last team he played for, the Washington Wizards, waived him and he has not been picked up since.

8. Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis Grizzlies (2nd pick, 2009) From: UConn

I wrote about Thabeet in an earlier post and he was chosen specifically because of his "upside." He was a great rebounder and shot blocker and the Grizzlies made him the second overall pick which has proved to be foolish. He is now playing for Houston Rockets and for his career he has averaged 2 points, 3 boards and one block. He has played in 115 games but averages only 10.9 minutes per game. He came to an all-time low when he was demoted to the D-League for six games. This year he is averaging one point, one rebound and one block.

9. Shaun Livingston, Los Angeles Clippers (4th pick, 2004) From: Peoria Central High School in Peoria, IL
I'm seeing a trend here and it's not good. Livingston is the third player that tried to jump from high school to the pros from Illinois to appear on this list. Unlike Miles and Curry, Livingston was going to be a great player and you have to feel sorry for him. His career was derailed by a series of severe knee injuries and if you're into gruesome stuff go ahead and Youtube that. He is now on the Charlotte Bobcats, his fifth team since being drafted and he is trying to become a role player. He has shown flashes of what he was capable of but will never be the player he could have been because of the injuries. He averages 7 points and 4 assists for his career. In his rookie season he averaged 7 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists.

10. Sebastian Telfair, Portland Trail Blazers (13th pick, 2004) From: Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, NY

Okay, there are plenty of players who could round out this list but Telfair has to be included. Thank God he wasn't a top 10 pick but 13 is still pretty bad. If anybody was hyped, it was this kid. ESPN did a documentary about him and he appeared on several magazine covers. The Sports Illustrated cover shows what people thought about him. He was going to be the next big thing...until he wasn't. Telfair is playing for his fifth team and has had off the court trouble in the past. He averages 7 points and 3 assists for his career and has appeared in 37 games for the Timberwolves this season. He is averaging 7 points and 3 assists in 19 minutes per game.

There are a few common themes after looking over this list. Most of the players have become journeymen already. They have played for multiple teams, come off the bench and produce little. All of them came in with tons of hype but could not live up to the expectations. Five of the players on the list came straight out of high school and that is a testament to why the NBA needed the age limit rule. Players need to stay in school and strongly consider if they are ready for the NBA. Most of them aren't. This is a man's league where few succeed and you have to be great to be on the top. There have not been as many failures since the age limit rule went into effect and the NBA and NCAA should agree to add on to it and make players stay two or three years. These are 10 sad stories and nobody wants to see somebody fail.

March Madness Limps to the Finish Line

They are the Little Engine that Couldn't. Two years in a row the Butler Bulldogs have taken the nation by storm, advancing all the way to the National Championship game, and last night they lost again, this time to Connecticut. In what may have been the ugliest championship game of all-time, UConn and coach Jim Calhoun won the school's third title, all since 1999. It was no small feat considering that the Huskies finished ninth in the Big East and then reeled off five wins in five nights to win the conference tournament and then won six games in the NCAA Tournament. They went undefeated in tournaments and on neutral courts and featured arguably the best player in the nation, Kemba Walker, and a host of talented freshmen. Butler brought back almost every key piece from last year's run and it seemed as though they would win the big one this year. However, they struggled from start to finish and will keep the national runner-up description.

It started off bad when Shelvin Mack had a three pointer blocked and missed two easy layups and it only got worse from there. The Bulldogs shot a horrendous 19% from the field and there may as well have been a lid on the basket. Mack led the team with 13 points on 4-15 shooting. All of his field goals were from deep, where Butler managed to make nine treys. However, they finished the game 9-33 from behind the arc which is good for 27%. It was a historical shooting display for all the wrong reasons and it cost Butler the national championship. It's not that they played bad and it's not that UConn played well. Butler did what they normally do. They were scrappy, played good defense and worked the clock on offense, but they could not get a shot to fall from anywhere and that's why they lost. People cannot make a big deal of Kemba Walker because his play wasn't that great by his standards either. He had almost single-handedly carried the Huskies to the championship game but he shot 5-19 and did not have one assist last night. Butler executed their game plan but the shots didn't fall.

It's a sad ending to a fairy tale story. The Dawgs advanced to the championship game last year, in their hometown, and had a halfcourt shot just miss that would have been a game winner. This year they made a remarkable return but fell short again. However, the ending may be sad but take time to appreciate what just happened. This may never happen again but, somehow, Butler did it. They advanced to the championship game twice. Small schools don't do that. That's reserved for the UCLAs and Kentuckys of the world. It would have been nice to see Butler celebrate last night but it wasn't meant to be. Surely the will be back in the tournament next year but we shouldn't expect to see them in our Final Four brackets. If they are then it is the most impressive thing in college basketball since UCLA's winning streak.

For Jim Calhoun and UConn it was a great ending to a remarkable run. Left for dead and sitting at ninth place in the Big East tournament, Kemba and the boys went on an 11-game winning steak to capture the school's third national championship. Calhoun now joins elite company (John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Bob Knight, Mike Krzyzewski) as one of only five coaches to win three championships with the same school. He has won them all since 99 and each time the Huskies came out of the West Region. UConn also became the first Big East school to win the championship since the conference expanded back in 2005. In 2004 the Huskies won the title and started a freshman but since then, no championship team has started a freshman. Last night this UConn team put three out on the floor to start the game. If you watched UConn from start to finish this season you could see the improvement of the players. Jeremy Lamb had a great tournament and became a force on the offensive end. Shabazz Napier, another freshman, ran the point which allowed Kemba to work off the ball and get more open shots. Alex Oriakhi was the inside prescence a team needs and he recorded a double-double last night in the championship. They started the year as a one man show but ended the year as a complete team.

It was a great win for UConn and a sad loss for Butler but the thing that people will always remember about this game is how poor it was. Neither team shot the ball well and Butler barely managed 40 points. It's a sad ending to what was a great tournament. Two mid-majors made the Final Four, no one or two seeds made it to Houston and brackets were busted early and often with plenty of upsets. This will surely be a March Madness to remember but it would have been nice to see it end in a better fashion. However, it did not and now we can start to look into next season. Stay tuned for an update of the preseason top 25 for next year and congratulations to the UConn Huskies on winning their third national championship.

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Assembling the All-Time MLB Team

A few months ago I posted an article on the all-time NBA team which has gotten many views and no one has argued with my roster either so I'll assume I got it right! Now that Opening Day has come and gone for the 2011 MLB season, I thought it would be appropriate to compile the all-time MLB team. Now, much like the basketball team, players must be retired at least five years to be eligible for selection and I will choose a 25 man roster. The only exception to the retirement rule will be relievers because that is relatively new to the game of baseball. The team will consist of five starting pitchers, three relievers and 17 position players. The team listed for each player is the one they went into the Hall of Fame with. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts about who they would select and please leave a comment with your opinions. Here is my all-time team:

Catcher: Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds (1967-1983)

Bench was one of the key pieces to Cincinnati's Big Red Machine that captured a World Series title. He is one of the best hitting catchers of all time and won Rookie of the Year Award in 1968 and two MVPs in '70 and '72. Bench was also a great behind the dish, winning 10 Gold Gloves. Bench played in four World Series, batting .279 and hitting five home runs. He also led the league in runs batted in three times and home runs twice. A 14-time All-Star, Bench was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Batting Average: .267     Home Runs: 389     RBI: 1,376     Hits: 2,048     Steals: 68

First Baseman: Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees (1923-1939)
The "Iron Horse" played along Babe Ruth and is the first of many Yankees to make the team. Gehrig held the record for most games played in a row for a long time before Cal Ripken, Jr. broke it in the mid-90's and he should remain second on that list for a long time. Gehrig played at the same time fellow greats, Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg, were playing but he was the best of the three. Gehrig batted .340 for his career and was just seven home runs shy of 500. An RBI machine, he led the league five times in that category and was tops in home runs three times. He was a two-time MVP and played in seven World Series, winning six of them. Gehrig was inducted into the Hall of Fame by a special election in 1939.

Batting Average: .340     Home Runs: 493     RBI: 1,995     Hits: 2,721     Steals: 102

Second Baseman: Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds (1963-1984)

Also a member of the Cincinnati Reds during their heyday, Morgan is widely considered the best second baseman of all time. A diminuitive 5 foot 7 inches didn't stop Morgan who collected two MVP awards and racked up 10 All-Star game appearances. He also won a Silver Slugger award and five Gold Gloves. Morgan played for five different teams but his best years came with the Reds. He was a thief on the base paths and also drew plenty of walks, leading the league four times. Morgan was a part of two World Series titles and appeared in two more. Although he did not perform up to par in the postseason individually, no one can discount his rings.

Batting Average: .271     Home Runs: 268     RBI: 1,133     Hits: 2,517     Steals: 689

Third Baseman: Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (1972-1989)

The first member of the 500 home run club to make the team, Schmidt provided the pop for Philly for two decades and shined with the glove in the hot corner. Schmidt racked up many awards and accolades in his career, including three MVPs, 10 Gold Gloves and six Silver Sluggers. He led the league in home runs eight times and RBIs four times. He appeared in two World Series, winning one of them over the Kansas City Royals in 1980. In that series he was phenomenal, batting .381, hitting two home runs and collecting eight hits. He was named the World Series MVP that year. A 12-time All Star, Schmidt was inducted into Cooperstown in 1995.

Batting Average: .267     Home Runs: 548     RBI: 1,595     Hits: 2,234     Steals: 174

Shortstop: Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates (1897-1917)

An oldtime player, Wagner never hit for power but, boy, could he hit. He is the first member of the 3,000 hit club on the team with 3,420 hits in his 21 seasons. Wagner is probably the first great player in the game of baseball and he also has the most expensive baseball card in history to his name. He was a stocky 5 foot 11, 200 pounds yet he ran well, stealing 723 bases. In 1909 he led the Pirates to a World Series victory, batting .333 with six RBIs and six stolen bases in the seven game series. "The Flying Dutchman," as he was called, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936 as part of the original class.

Batting Average: .328     Home Runs: 101     RBI: 1,733     Hits: 3,420     Steals: 723

Leftfield: Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals (1941-1963)

Stan "The Man" Musial dominated in St. Louis for 22 seasons and edged out Ted Williams in the closest race for a position yet. Musial was an outstanding hitter with over 3,500 hits and came up just short of 500 home runs and 2,000 RBIs and the craziest thing is that he missed 1945 because he entered the US Navy. That could have been another MVP and World Series year for him and he definitely would have reached those two other milestones. The Cardinals won three World Series in his first four seasons and Musial has countless awards to his name including 20 All Star appearances and 3 MVPs.

Batting Average: .331     Home Runs: 475     RBI: 1.951     Hits: 3.630     Steals: 78

Centerfield: Willie Mays, New York/San Francisco Giants (1951-1973)

Mays is the definition of a five-tool player and for that reason, along with his eye-popping stats, give him the slight edge over other centerfield greats such as Cobb, Dimaggio and Mantle. He patrolled centerfield for 22 seasons and 21 of those came with the Giants. He played center in New York at the same time Mickey Mantle played for the Yankees and Duke Snider played for the Dodgers. Neither of them shined as bright as the Say Hey Kid. He is a member of the 3,000 hit club and the 600 home run club. He won Rookie of the Year, two MVPs, 12 Gold Gloves and was a 20-time All Star. He also won a World Series.

Batting Average: .302     Home Runs: 660     RBI: 1,903     Hits: 3,283     Steals: 338

Rightfield: Babe Ruth, New York Yankees (1914-1945)

When it comes down to just numbers, Hank Aaron may have the Babe beat but what Aaron doesn't have is the seven World Series rings that Ruth have or the legend the Babe owns. He is the Sultan of Swat, the Great Bambino. He is Babe Ruth--the most well known player ever in the game of baseball. He ranks third all time on the home run list behind Barry Bonds* and Aaron and was a lifetime .342 hitter. He has an MVP to his name and led the league in home runs 12 times. He also led the league in RBIs six times and was named to two All-Star teams.

Batting Average: .342     Home Runs: 714     RBI: 2,213     Hits: 2,873     Steals: 123

Pitching Ace: Walter Johnson, Washington Senators (1907-1927)

The game of baseball has changed since the eras of Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Cy Young and for that reason there may be a few of them left off the roster. It's unlikely they could pitch as successfully against today's hitters. However, the Big Train was said to have a fastball that could compete with today's pitchers when it comes to speed. He piled up 417 wins in his career, something that is unthinkable today. He struck out over 3500 hitters and led Washington to a World Series title in 1924. He was then inducted into the original class of the Hall of Fame in 1936. 

Win-Loss: 417-279     Strikeouts: 3,509     ERA: 2.17     Innings Pitched: 5914.1

Rest of the Pitching Rotation
Nolan Ryan, Texas Rangers (1966-1993)
Win-Loss: 324-292     Strikeouts: 5,714     ERA: 3.19     Innings Pitched: 5,386

Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks (1988-2009)
Win-Loss: 303-166     Strikeouts: 4,875     ERA: 3.29     Innings Pitched: 4,135.1

Tom Seaver, New York Mets (1967-1986)
Win-Loss: 311-205     Strikeouts: 3,640     ERA: 2.86     Innings Pitched: 4,783

Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals (1959-1975)
Win-Loss: 271-174     Strikeouts: 3,117     ERA: 2.91     Innings Pitched: 3,884.1

Rest of Position Players
Catcher: Yogi Berra, New York Yankees (1946-1965)
Batting Average: .285     Home Runs: 358     RBI: 1,430     Hits: 2,150     Steals: 30

First Baseman: Jimmie Foxx, Boston Red Sox (1925-1945)
Batting Average: .325     Home Runs: 534     RBI: 1.922     Hits: 2,646     Steals: 87

Second Baseman: Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals (1915-1937)
Batting Average: .358     Home Runs: 301     RBI: 1,584     Hits: 2,930     Steals: 195

Shortstop: Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs (1953-1971)
Batting Average: .274     Home Runs: 512     RBI: 1,636     Hits: 2,583     Steals: 50

Third Baseman: Eddie Mathews, Milwaukee Braves (1952-1968)
Batting Average: .271    Home Runs: 512     RBI: 1,453     Hits: 2,315     Steals: 68

Outfield: Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox (1939-1960)
Batting Average: .344     Home Runs: 521     RBI: 1,839     Hits: 2,654     Steals: 24

Outfield: Hank Aaron, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1954-1976)
Batting Average: .305     Home Runs: 755     RBI: 2,295     Hits: 3,771     Steals: 240

Outfield: Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers (1905-1928)
Batting Average: .366     Home Runs: 117     RBI: 1,938     Hits: 4,189     Steals: 897

Outfield: Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees (1936-1951)
Batting Average: .325     Home Runs: 361     RBI: 1,537     Hits: 2,214     Steals: 30

Relievers
Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley

As you can see, there are some significant snubs from the team. Mickey Mantle sticks out the most in my mind. Yet, that's the way it goes when there are only 25 players on the team. I would love to hear readers' own takes on this because there are so many great players that would make great combinations. There are also plenty of players in the game now that could easily work their way onto a roster like this. Let the debating begin...