Injury-ridden Postseason Calls for Shorter Schedule

Derrick Rose. Rajon Rondo. Danny Granger. Kobe Bryant. David Lee. Russell Westbrook. What do all of these players have in common? Answer: All of them are sitting out injured while their teams compete in the NBA Playoffs. Yes, the playoffs are definitely in full swing, but something just doesn't seem right. So many of the game's brightest stars are sidelined with injuries that fans have had to watch the likes of Andrew Goudelock and Nazr Mohammed play key roles for their teams. While those stories are nice, the game is not putting the best product on the floor in the most competitive time of the season.

With the news that Russell Westbrook would miss the remainder of the season, the West suddenly became a little bit more open. Now, rather than an obvious Heat-Thunder rematch, the Spurs, Nuggets or Clippers may emerge. That is, if the Nuggets can first get past the Warriors who have injury troubles of their own. David Lee tore his hip flexor after Game 1, but Golden State has bounced back nicely. Still, can they maintain their play without one of the most productive big men on the court?

In the East, two of the game's best point guards are absent from the postseason. Rose has missed the entire season while Rondo has been out since late-January. While the Bulls look like they will defeat the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, there is no doubt a healthy Rose would help this team tremendously. For the Celtics, a first round exit seems imminent and, while Rondo may not have been able to prevent that, he would have helped the C's cause greatly because of his quickness and the Knicks' point guards' age.

And then there's Kobe Bryant. Why I must see ESPN debate his tweets is beyond me and it definitely doesn't seem right. The fact that the playoffs are on and the Lakers should be in an enticing series with San Antonio, but don't have Kobe is just plain wrong. One of the league's best players is sidelined in one of his final seasons. That's a major blow to the game and it's been a major blow to that series as the Spurs have mopped the floor with the battered Lakers.

On top of all that, players like Joakim Noah, Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson and Steve Nash have battled injuries that have kept them off the court or limited their minutes in the first round. Far too many stars are dealing with injuries for this playoffs to be as great as it's potential.

But how to prevent something like this? In reality, this can't be prevented. Injuries happen all the time and for whatever reason the stars are falling like dominoes. That said, the NBA could shorten their regular season schedule and that may help. During the lockout-shortened season the schedule was just 66 games long compared to the normal 82. Adapting the 66-game schedule would benefit the competition, the health and the players.

82 games is a lot and it means that not every game means something. There are plenty of throwaway games and that's why teams rest their better players often. David Stern has said he would like to limit this somehow and the simple solution would be to shorten the schedule. By doing so, the regular season would be more competitive and teams would not have the luxury of so many throwaway games.

The shorter schedule would also help the health of players as the wear-and-tear on their bodies would not be as great. This could potentially mean that less stars are injured and the playoffs would have the best players on the floor. It's a move that the league should look in to because it helps them out in multiple ways.

The NBA is entertainment and the best entertainment is when the best players are out there. This playoffs may still be good, but it won't contain the brightest stars. That's something that the league can't have and it's something the fans don't want. If the NBA wants to improve their product then my advice is to shorten the schedule.

Phil Jackson: The NBA's Most...Unwanted?

Jackson captured 6 rings in Chicago

News broke about a week ago that Phil Jackson was "itching to return to the NBA". It was not exactly hard to believe after the urgency he approached the vacant Lakers job after Mike Brown was fired early on in the season. Now, any human being that knows who Phil Jackson is and knows of his history would have to assume that Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss would have skipped the interviews and hired Phil Jackson as soon as Mike Brown emptied his locker. Yet in a move that confused and even angered the basketball world, the front office of the Lakers hired the underachieving and overrated Mike D'Antoni.

I still have not gotten over that move. Yes I understand that with Steve Nash at the point you have someone who has run the offense and is a Hall of Famer to say the least. The front office also said that D'Antoni was a better "fit" for this particular Lakers squad. How? How does that make sense when you have three starters in Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, and, obviously, Kobe Bryant who have run Jackson's triangle offense and have won championships under him? Sure the point guard is the captain of the offense and controls the show, especially with such a brilliant play-maker and leader like Nash in that role, but why would you choose to have one player who knows the offense rather than three?

D'Antoni's first year has not been one to remember

So right off the bat the Lakers made a mistake just by misjudging their personnel on the floor. That doesn't even come close to the mistake the Lakers made in choosing the personnel they would have on the bench. These two coaches could not be any different. Phil Jackson is perhaps the greatest coach of all time and his eleven championship rings speak for themselves. He knows how to handle egos as well as having multiple Hall of Fame players on the floor at the same time. D'Antoni on the other hand couldn't have any success with what should have been a pretty successful Suns squad not to mention a contending Knicks team. Yet D'Antoni was pushed aside in both jobs and proved he couldn't live up to the expectations of a large market team like New York.

However, what's done is done and D'Antoni is in charge of what has been a disappointing and in some ways embarrassing Lakers team. Injuries are a factor, yes, but the bottom line is when Pau Gasol was out D'Antoni still had three future Hall of Famers on the floor. I can't help but think Phil Jackson would have whipped this team into shape and made them a top three team in the West like they should have been.

Fast forward to today with Phil Jackson itching to return as a coach. Cleveland, though not as appealing as coaching in Chicago or LA, is a team on the rise with a star point guard in Kyrie Irving and the possibility of LeBron James returning seems likely. The obvious choice is Phil Jackson, right? Guess not, the Cavaliers brought Mike Brown back in place of Byron Scott. I just don't understand the decision. Yes Mike Brown had success with the Cavaliers. Yes he coached them to a Finals appearance in 2008. The bottom line is, however, that he is not Phil Jackson. His career has not been full of success like Phil Jackson's. He does not win like Phil Jackson. Mike Brown is not Phil Jackson.

Will Brown and LeBron be reunited in Cleveland?

It doesn't make sense to leave Phil Jackson out in the cold. Two teams have now turned him down in favor of mediocre coaches. The Lakers could be in a much better spot than they are and the Cavaliers future could look a little brighter if they had Jackson on the sidelines. I'm a fan of Phil Jackson and the decisions made by the two clubs that turned him down will forever confuse me. The Cavaliers stated they thought Jackson would "not be interested in the job" and stopped pursuing him. The offer could have at least been put on the table for Jackson to take or leave rather than just writing him off from the start due to a hunch or something a source had said. To me, they should have at least confronted Jackson and had him tell the organization to their faces that he was not interested. With that being said, what has the world come to when Hall of Fame coaches with eleven rings are turned down for coaches that combine to have no rings?

2013 Western Conference Playoff Preview

The definition of must-see TV is quite simple. The answer lies with the Western Conference first-round playoff series and all four have the makings of being great. From top to bottom there are intriguing match ups and, while there may two favorites, it does appear that this could be the Wild West with an upset thrown in at some point. Oklahoma City and San Antonio finished neck in neck in the regular season and the Denver Nuggets weren't far behind. History was made in LA, but it wasn't from the Lakers. The Clippers were the ones making all the positive headlines and secured the fourth seed, which means they have an extremely difficult match up with Memphis. As for the aforementioned Lakers, they are sitting in the seventh spot with out Kobe Bryant, but don't blow them off. Steve Nash, Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace still make a good squad. The young Warriors and Rockets teams are fresh to the playoff scene with these current rosters, but should give a good series. It's going to be a fun end to the season in the West so let's take a look at the first round.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Houston Rockets
The intriguing story line in this series is the Thunder going up against their old mate James Harden. It's not likely that the Rockets win this series, but they may steal a game or two depending on how Harden plays. The Rockets have no trouble scoring the basketball (2nd in the league), but the problem lies with the defense. Houston allows a 102.5 points per game which is 28th in the league. That won't win them the series against two of the most dynamite scorers in the league in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant and the league's third best offense. In three games this season Harden averaged 29 points against OKC, but the surrounding cast of Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik must be a force all series long. If not, the Thunder will march right over Houston in dominating fashion. OKC lost in the Finals last year and it's well-recorded that teams must take their lumps before being crowned kings. The Thunder have been working towards that elusive title for a couple of years and this season looks like it might be the year. Prediction: Oklahoma City in 5

How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
OKC          105.7                              43.6                                   21.4                                      96.5
Houston      106.0                              43.4                                   23.2                                    102.5

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Los Angeles Lakers
Wouldn't it be exciting if Kobe was healthy?? Obviously it would be a totally different series and the Lakers would have a solid chance of advancing. They still have a shot, but it will be difficult without their heart and soul. Let us not forget though that Steve Nash is a two-time MVP, Dwight Howard carried a team to the Finals and a host of Lakers are champions. Still, this is the San Antonio Spurs we're talking about. Health is the key to both teams this series. Nash is expected to play in Game 1 and the Spurs expect to have everyone ready to go. If healthy there is no way a Gregg Popovich-led Spurs team loses in the first round. Tony Parker has had health concerns, but he will carry San Antonio. Tim Duncan will also be key as he will match up with Dwight Howard. If he gets Howard into foul trouble then LA has no chance. Dwight must be at his best for LA throughout the postseason as does Pau Gasol. No Kobe means it's everyone else's time to shine. Prediction: San Antonio in 6
 How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
San Antonio 103.0                              41.3                                 25.1                                      96.6
Los Angeles 102.2                              44.8                                 22.2                                    101.0

3. Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Golden State Warriors
Pay attention to this series because there are plenty of young stars that will be a joy to watch. The point guard match up of Ty Lawson and Steph Curry is the focal point of the series and the two have very contrasting styles of play. Lawson is a cat-quick floor general who can attack the rim at will while Curry is the premier deep threat in the NBA. Curry broke the record for three pointers made in a single season and he and the Warriors will be a tough game at home in Oracle Arena. The Nuggets will miss Danilo Gallinari due to injury, but Wilson Chandler is more than capable of taking on the extra burden. The inside game belongs to the Nuggets, but the backcourt match up is nearly even. This is a series that could go six or seven games, but at the end of the day the Nuggets are the better team. Prediction: Denver in 6
How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
Denver          106.1                            45.0                                   24.4                                    101.1
Golden State 101.2                            45.0                                   22.5                                    100.3

4. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies
The high-flying, exciting Lob City will have a difficult first round match up against the grind-it-out Grizzlies. It's two conflicting styles of play and a series that should be tightly contested. Chris Paul is no stranger to playoff basketball, but the Clippers are still somewhat strangers to the playoffs. Last season they were defeated in the first round, but this year could be a different story. LA has played well all season and knocked down milestone after milestone, but it's time to perform in the postseason too. Many left Memphis for dead when they traded Rudy Gay, but they have been just as good and the inside tandem of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph could give Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan fits. That's where this series will be won -- in the post. Mike Conley has a massive assignment on Paul, but the Griz rely on their inside game. If LA can keep that in check then they will win the series. Prediction: Los Angeles in 7
How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
Los Angeles 101.1                              41.6                                   23.9                                      94.6
Memphis        93.6                              42.7                                   20.9                                      89.3

2013 Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

Out West there is some argument as to who will emerge the victor. In the East it's quite a different story. The New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony have been a great story this season. The Indiana Pacers seem to have returned to the success of the '90's. The Brooklyn Nets went through a re-branding process and then turned in a top four finish in the conference. The Chicago Bulls played admirably all season long with their MVP sitting on the sidelines. Obviously, there are plenty of great story lines in the East, but those will be put to bed in due time. It's the Miami Heat's world when it comes to the NBA and LeBron, DWade and the Gang only reinforced that thinking with a 66-16 record. Any man with a brain would have to consider the Heat the favorite to win the title again, but these playoffs should give fans some great series. Let's take a look at the Eastern Conference first round match ups.

1. Miami Heat vs. 8. Milwaukee Bucks
Saying Heat vs. Bucks is synonymous with saying David vs. Goliath. Unlike the original story though, Goliath will win this series with ease. The Heat are better than the Bucks in every way and this should be a sweep if Miami means business from the opening tip. Miami was 2-1 versus Milwaukee in the regular season and the Bucks may steal a game at home. However, Miami was built for the playoffs and they have looked brilliant this season and have shown no signs of weakness. LeBron James is an MVP and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have done their jobs as well. For Bucks fans, enjoy watching Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis because it is likely the last time they will suit up together in Milwaukee. Prediction: Miami in 4
How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
Miami            102.9                              38.6                                    23.0                                     95.0
Milwaukee      98.9                               44.0                                   22.9                                    100.4

2. New York Knicks vs. 7. Boston Celtics
Is this an exciting series or what? New York is led by Carmelo Anthony who captured his first scoring title this season while Boston is led by veterans, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. When Rajon Rondo injured his knee midway through the season many thought the Celtics were done, but here they are. They may be the seven seed, but they are dangerous. The question is, can the older players endure a long, tough series and stay healthy? Garnett, Pierce and Jason Terry have all been banged up, but when healthy Boston is a title contender. The other key to the series for the C's is Jeff Green. They will need his offense, but more importantly his defense on Anthony. New York is hoping to get past the first round and anything less will make the season failure. That's something the Knicks don't need, nor does Carmelo. However, count on the experience of Boston if they are healthy. The championship window isn't closed just yet. Prediction: Boston in 7 
How They Stack Up

                  Points                          Rebounds                              Assists                            Points Allowed
New York       100.0                              40.6                                    19.3                                     95.7
Boston            96.5                              39.3                                    22.8                                     96.7

3. Indiana Pacers vs. 6. Atlanta Hawks
Pacers fans endured some hard years after the Malice in the Palace, but Indiana is back and they look very good. Full of budding stars, the Pacers have to be breathing a sigh of relief for not drawing the Bulls or the Celtics in the first round. Both teams would be a harder match up than Atlanta because, if history tells us anything, the Hawks are the kings of mediocrity. Count on them to be in the playoffs, but count on them to not win anything. This year should be no different. Indiana is far too difficult of a match up because of their size and athleticism. Jeff Teague versus George Hill should be a phenomenal point guard duel between two rising stars, but the key is Indiana's Paul George. The All-Star will probably be guarded by several different Hawks, but he should be able to score on anybody. Even if ATL decided to put Josh Smith on him that will give David West a mismatch. Bottom line: match ups aren't in the Hawks favor. Prediction: Indiana in 5
How They Stack Up

                  Points                          Rebounds                              Assists                            Points Allowed
Indiana            94.7                              45.9                                    20.3                                     90.7
Atlanta            98.0                              40.9                                    24.5                                     97.5

4. Brooklyn Nets vs. 5. Chicago Bulls
This could be a great series, but as with most of the Bulls' season it will be about who isn't on the floor rather than who is. Derrick Rose most likely isn't going to suit for Chicago and so the Bulls will have to get the job done without him like they have all year long. They have to be healthy though if they are to win. Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson have been banged up lately, and both players' status is uncertain. Luol Deng has shouldered the load for Chicago this season, but will he run out of gas? He averaged 38 minutes per contest this season and that could catch up to him. For Brooklyn, they have enjoyed a healthy Deron Williams this season and he is playing great basketball. If Noah is out then look for Brook Lopez to dominate. However, if Chicago is healthy then they get the slight edge in this series. Prediction: Chicago in 6
How They Stack Up

                  Points                          Rebounds                              Assists                            Points Allowed
Brooklyn         96.9                              42.8                                    20.3                                     95.1
Chicago          93.2                              43.2                                    23.0                                     92.9
   

Negative Judgement Surrounds Positive Athletes

After completing one of the most dominant college careers of all time and becoming the number one pick in the WNBA Draft, Brittney Griner came out and publicly stated that she was gay. Let the ESPN comment boards be filled with the biting words that so many have thrown Griner's way. This will not get into a moral issue nor will I type this post in a way that would offend anyone whether they are a member of the gay community or not. But with Griner's coming out, she has received even more criticism than ever before and for what? For having a different view on relationships? For not living up to someone's standards when it comes to physical appearance? For not having a soft-spoken voice? What this whole career has proven is that Americans cannot accept excellence without a little negativity. Very few people have sat back and enjoyed the ride that Griner took the Baylor Lady Bears on these past few years, rather they have filled ESPN message boards with offensive comments about her body, her voice, or anything else you could think of. But since when has looks or someone's voice made a difference in their game? The biggest question in my mind when people begin talking about Griner and her supposed imperfections is, quite simply, so what?

Griner enjoyed historic success at Baylor

I'm not going to act as if I have never made an ill-advised comment about Brittney Griner because I have. Yet as I sit back and think about all that she has done, and all that she has accomplished, it makes me wonder why I focused more on her appearance instead of the history she was making. That's what brought me to realize that we simply don't accept an athlete that is doing everything right. We can't just appreciate an athlete without placing a negative label on them.

Obviously the biggest victim would have to be Brittney Griner as of right now. But what about Tim Tebow two seasons ago? About as perfect a role model as a parent would want their kid to have, Tebow emulates exactly what a professional should be: a hard-working, clean-mouthed, well-spoken leader. Sure he's unorthodox, sure he's not a top quarterback in the league, and sure "Tebow Time" seemed too good to be true, but few people really cheered for Tim Tebow in that incredible late-season run. Instead of cheering for a kid who had done everything right, the media and fans of opposing teams focused on his faith, on his sideline prayers, and on his unorthodox throwing motion. Trying to pass them off as attempts at getting attention or being overbearing, Tebow was put under a spotlight simply for his faith in God.

Again, the question comes to mind: So what? Why should it matter what his views on Christianity are? There's nothing wrong with having a relationship with God, and each individual has their own view and opinion but at the same time should respect the views and opinions of others. The same with the situation Brittney Griner is in. Why can't we just enjoy those athletes that give us every reason to cheer for them? Tim Tebow led a few great Florida football teams to glory as well as being a Heisman finalist three years in a row. Brittney Griner broke college records in multiple catagories on her way to becoming a three-time All-American. Neither athlete has made headlines for being in trouble with the law or really done anything negative that has caught the public eye. Does anyone care that they have been a positive influence in their sports?

"Tebowing" was thought of as attention-seeking

It comes back to the fact that so many athletes are contaminated with steroids, sexual assaults, drug abuse, DUIs, along with everything else. The thing is, it's hard to find a "clean" athlete in today's world which is why we feel skeptical when one comes along. We have such a negative outlook on our athletes because we're tired of being let down by the Mark McGwire's and Sammy Sosa's of the world. We're afraid to love an athlete because eventually it seems that every athlete gets into trouble, so we try to find these little imperfections and try to convince ourselves that a certain athlete isn't as great as they seem. It's about time we stopped trying to belittle the clean athletes of the world and just enjoy the ride they take us as sports fans on. Brittney Griner is gay and Tim Tebow is a Christian. So what?

Scoring Title First of Few Individual Awards for Melo

Before I get into this topic, I would like to yet again say that my thoughts and prayers are still with those in Boston and those who were affected by the life-changing incident this past Monday. My last blog covered a little bit about how the marathon affected the nation and the sports we all love and in no way, shape, or form are we all ready to return to normalcy. The images we saw on the news still stick in our minds and we grieve for those who are hurt. With that being said, I wish to discuss the latest news that Carmelo Anthony has won his first scoring title.

Melo has been all smiles all season, and deservedly so.

It was announced this morning that Kevin Durant would not play in the Thunder's final game, leaving him what would have had to have been a 70-point performance away from his fourth straight scoring title. Carmelo Anthony absolutely dominated the month of April and averaged 36 points per game since the first of the month, and that's no April Fool's joke. In a word, Melo was absolutely dominant this year. It didn't matter how you guarded him, who guarded him, or where you guarded him. The bottom line was that Melo had a Hall of Fame season and will gladly accept the first scoring title to be presented to a New York Knick since Bernard King in the 1984-1985 season.While shooting his way to the league's best 29 points per game accompanied by an impressive 45% field goal percentage, Carmelo Anthony will make his way into Knicks history with this incredible season.

But what about Melo's career as a whole? Is it really that admirable? Sure he's a six-time All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist, but has Carmelo Anthony's career really been that extraordinary? If you look at the statistics, his career is definitely above average, but he hasn't done anything that will make future generations remember him for.

The road to Melo's first Finals appearance runs through Miami.

So what makes Melo worth remembering? It certainly won't be his 33% three point percentage, nor is it his three assists per game. Melo's teams have also been a non-factor in the playoffs with Melo only seeing second round play once in ten years. While with the Nuggets, Melo only won the Northwestern Division three times out of his eight seasons in the Mile High City. Needless to say he never won the conference championship and never even sniffed the Finals.

That carries right over to the City that Never Sleeps when he joined the Knicks in 2011. This year was the first year Melo's team won a division title and they boast the two seed in the East. With the playoffs looming, this brings us to Carmelo's playoff statistics. Essentially, Melo's statistics don't differ from his regular season averages which you could say is good because that means he doesn't disappear. On the other side of that, however, it doesn't appear that he elevates his game either. Players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Derrick Rose all have seen an increase in the point production when it comes time to chase a title, Melo has not.

With the postseason comes postseason awards which Melo has basically been nonexistent, he has been named to the All-NBA team five times: once to the second team and four times to the third team. He has never been an MVP finalist until possibly this year and as a whole his name just simply hasn't been in discussion for postseason awards. We won't even get into defensive awards because Melo doesn't exactly overexert himself on the defensive end. All in all, Melo will be a player people look back on and remember but my guess is very few people will say "Man I wish I could go back and watch Carmelo Anthony play." He's a top ten player of the generation but not one that will be as big of a name down the road if his career continues down the road it's going. No disrespect to the phenomenal half-court offensive player that Carmelo Anthony clearly and honestly is, but the hype is backed up by very, very few accolades.

Boston Marathon Explosions Devastate the Nation

Piazza's home run was the biggest in Shea Stadium history

It's been about three hours since news broke about the explosions in downtown Boston that caused 86 injuries and 2 deaths (at press time) to both spectators and participants in the race. While the Boston police and the White House search for evidence and suspects, we're left with nothing but a mouthful of questions. Why would someone do this? Who would be inhumane enough to do this? The list goes on. The fact of the matter is, what was once our nation's crutch after a serious act of violence or manslaughter is now the site of all the violence. Yet as we have seen before, sports have been the healing factor for numerous tragic events.
Who could forget watching the New York Mets take on the Atlanta Braves ten days after the 9/11 attacks? A game that many thought was being played too soon turned into a healing moment for the entire nation. With the past week being filled with nothing but numbness, uncertainty, and anger, how could anyone think about sports?

Patches worn for the Sandy Hook shooting

It was Mike Piazza that became the American Hero with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead 3-2. I'll never forget it. I was in second grade, only seven years old and at the time the only thing I cared about was why the sports world was put on hold for ten days. I didn't understand what 9/11 meant or even what had happened. At seven years old, I wasn't able to comprehend how monumental both the attacks and Piazza's home run were. Yet I remember seeing that ball sail over Shea Stadium's center field wall, followed by the stadium's chanting of "USA! USA! USA!" For that moment, the nation was healed. For that glorious 15 seconds, the world seemed to be back to normal. Mike Piazza provided joy that every American, Mets fan or not, was in desperate need of.

Yet 9/11 isn't the only tragedy that sports have attempted to heal. Most recently there has been the shootings in Aurora, Colorado and in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. We've seen athletes from all sports meet with the families, speak publicly, and don special patches on their uniforms to remember those that were affected or killed. But here's the thing: I hate those patches. I hate that events like said tragedies occur which prompts the remembrance of victims. The world won't ever be perfect, but I would love to see a day when these events no longer happen and we no longer have to see a patch with a ribbon on a jersey. What a wonderful world it would be if such violent acts didn't happen.

That brings us to today. Where do we go from here? Sports have always been a major part of the world and for something like this to happen at a sporting event that provides pride and triumph is deeply saddening. How do we respond when our source of healing is the source of the hurt? Our hearts and prayers go out to those in Boston and those around the nation that are affected by this horrific occurrence. For now, the only thing we can do is stay strong, trust in God, and love each other. Don't take anything for granted, whether it's your family, your school, or the sport you play. Today shows that anything can happen at any given time. Take advantage of the time you have here on earth, tell people you love them, and give your all 100% of the time.  Life isn't a guarantee, it's a privilege.

For those that believe sports are nothing but a game, I strongly disagree. The world has benefited from the influence of sports plenty of times before, and there is not a doubt in my mind that the nation will look to sports for a source of encouragement once again. Don't say that it's just a game when sports can heal a nation, if only for a moment. Prayers go out to Boston as well as to those reading this post. May God bless you all. Stay strong.

Does Winning Really Take Care of Everything?

Tiger Woods is back if anyone has failed to notice yet. The number one ranking in the world once again belongs to him and he has already racked up three victories in five events this season. That winning is what we once were accustomed to seeing from Woods, the indisputable top golfer in the world since the time he teed it up on Tour. The infamous 2009 sex scandal ruined Woods' career, but it seems like everything has turned around.

The wins are starting to pile up like the old days and Tiger recently announced that he is dating U.S. Olympic skier Lindsay Vonn. Forgive me, and I'm sure several others, if the sex scandal has been pushed to the back of the mind. Tiger has pushed those memories out of our minds by returning to his former self. We're guilty of that often. The best players and coaches can make us forget their mistakes with one simple thing: winning. That's exactly what Woods has done this year and as the Masters gets underway tomorrow he seems like the clear favorite.

Winning takes care of everything. Everyone knows it, but for Woods to broadcast it, well that takes some arrogance that only the best possess. Following his win in Orlando a few weeks ago, Woods and Nike released an ad with a photo of him and the caption "Winning Takes Care of Everything." What a bold statement to make. There are so many people that may agree with Woods, but what about those that don't? What about Elin Nordegren? Do you think that she believes that winning takes care of everything after her ex-husband slept with so many women behind her back that you would need more than 10 fingers to name them off? Tiger's kids probably don't think that this winning has taken care of everything either. The reality is that their father wasn't doing the best job he could for them. Does winning automatically make him the father he should be for them? Steve Williams and Tiger probably won't rekindle their friendship just because Tiger is winning again either. So let's be honest: winning may make us forget some things, but it sure won't fix the relationships that once were at the forefront of Woods' life.

There is an arrogance that comes with being the best -- and arrogance that only men like Woods, Ali and Jordan have had. This ad released by Nike is a perfect display of that arrogance from Woods and it shows that he truly has returned to his form. Yes, he is winning and has a girlfriend that seems like a great girl, and right along with those things comes that arrogance that the best possess.

Hate it or love it, here he comes. He's back and he's looking for another green jacket. Respect the player that is Tiger Woods because he is the greatest that our generation will see. We've tried to make others the "next Tiger Woods" but that's not going to happen. This is it. And so there has to be appreciation of Woods' golf game, but that doesn't mean there has to be an appreciation of anything else he does. One of those things would be the Nike ad. It's so off base and wrong that its laughable. Does Woods really believe that? It's sad if he does.

So as The Masters begins on Thursday there will be Woods with his three victories, new girlfriend and old swagger back in his step. There will be Nike basking in his greatness and counting up the dollars. There will be the fans that have since rediscovered their adoration for him. And surely we won't get through the weekend without a mention of that 2009 scandal. Yet, who really cares if that scandal does get brought up?

Because winning takes care of everything right?

Louisville Set to Make History

Louisville fans across the nation have been dancing the night away lately, both literally and figuratively. The Cardinals have reached the title game in both men's and women's basketball which has given the program that has always been in the shadow of Kentucky something to brag about. With all of the pandemonium surrounding these two Louisville teams, however, comes two very special, and in one case horrific, reasons for their inspiration.

 Griner struggled against Louisville's physicality

The women's team at Louisville began the tournament as a disregarded five seed who finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Big East. With a 29-8 record at the end of the regular season, the Cardinals were pitted against Middle Tennessee. After disposing of the Blue Raiders by 25 points, Louisville moved to the second round where they took down the fourth-seeded Boilermakers of Purdue. The Cardinals now faced the biggest challenge of anyone in the tournament and that was to take on the powerhouse Baylor team from Waco, Texas. Led by national standout and dominating force Brittney Griner, the Lady Bears were riding on a 32-game win streak and the hopes of what was sure to be another national championship. Yet after a gritty and very physical performance from the underdog Cardinals, the Lady Bears found themselves on the losing side of an 82-81 final, snapping their winning streak and their title hopes.

So Louisville's magical run was now in full swing; they had taken down two teams that were higher seeds than they were and one of which was equipped with quite possibly the greatest women's college basketball player of all time. March Madness at it's finest, right? What more inspiration and encouragement could you want after taking down the top ranked team? But the Cardinals weren't done. While some teams, in any sport that is, tend to have "big game hangovers" Louisville took down two number two seeds in a row to advance to the national championship. With those two wins over Tennessee and Cal, the Cardinals are looking at possibly capping off what has been an unbelievable tournament run.

Pitino is one of the best in the Sweet 16

And with all that has been going on in the women's game, the same excitement has been present in the men's game. Louisville came into the tournament as the number one overall seed and was playing unbelievable basketball. The Big East champions cruised through the first two rounds, taking down the sixteenth-seeded Aggies of North Carolina A&T which was followed by a 26-point routing of the Colorado State Rams. That brought the Cardinals into the round that Rick Pitino might as well call home: the Sweet 16. Pitino boasted an unbelievable 10-0 record in the Sweet 16 and had won those ten games by an average of 22 points, a stat that didn't bode well for the twelfth-seeded Oregon Ducks. However, Oregon came out and gave the Cardinals everything they wanted before eventually falling short 77-69, sending Louisville dancing into the Elite 8 to face Mike Kryzewski's Duke Blue Devils.

As if being the number one overall seed and being ousted in the Final Four last season wasn't enough inspiration, this particular Elite 8 game provided Louisville with more reason to win than any team in the tournament. It doesn't need to be relived or explained, we all saw it. Kevin Ware's gruesome and horrific leg injury is one that will go down as one of the worst injuries in sports history and will be a defining tournament memory whether the replay is shown or not. The image of the Louisville players falling to the floor and crying showed just how close this team is and how sincere these athletes are toward each other. With Ware being taken to the hospital, Louisville came out with a tenacity and an urgency that Duke, quite simply, had no chance against. The Blue Devils fell 85-63 which left Louisville just two games away from completing their season with a championship.

Fans have adopted the slogan "Win For Ware"

Peyton Siva and Co. would then face the pesky Shockers from Wichita State in the Final Four just this past Saturday. Trailing much of the game, the title hopes for Louisville seemed to be dwindling. Yet with the help of their famed aggressive full court pressure, the Cardinals came roaring back to beat the Shockers by four, placing them in the championship against the red hot Michigan Wolverines. The championship game is to take place tonight in Atlanta.

There has been a lot to cheer about if you're a Louisville fan. Nothing short of good basketball has been played this March and if the Cardinals can come out on top these next two nights they will be the first program to win both a men's and women's NCAA division one basketball championship since Emeka Okafor and Diana Turasi led the UConn Huskies to the same achievement in 2004. Ironically enough, the Louisville women's team will have to beat the Huskies this year to take the crown. On the other hand, Louisville has its hands full with the tenacious inside game of Mitch McGary and the outstanding shooting Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Nik Stauskas bring to the table. A chance at history is just hours away, best of luck to both Louisville squads.

"Business Look" is Long Gone, All About Show

It doesn't take a whole lot to notice that with each generation the choice of clothing changes. 30 years ago, "skinny" jeans and "booty shorts" were deemed unacceptable and were, in a word, offensive. Fashion will always change, it's part of the way society works. But in today's world, in this day and age where fashion is not so fashionable, if you're a professional athlete chances are you, stereotypically speaking, have dressed like a clown at least once.

Westbrook and KD displaying their "fashion"

A few years back, the NBA established a dress code for the players' pregame and post game outfits. It's silly to think that grown men would have to be told what to wear and yet we continue to see certain players try to draw attention to themselves through their choice of attire. The different colored skinny jeans, the off-colored sport coats, and the glasses without lenses need to go and go now.

What happened to professionalism? When I played high school ball, every game day the required outfit consisted of dress shoes, dress pants, dress shirt, and team sweater vest. Even if our record wasn't impressive, we never walked into a gym and looked like bums. We looked classy and we looked like a team. You rarely see that in the NBA today. Guys like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and LeBron James litter the internet with their choice of clothing and there cannot be any other explanation for their choice of clothing than for the added attention. It's a shame that the professional athletes kids look up to can't dress professionally and business-like to go to work. Every doctor I've seen has on dress pants and a dress shirt. All of my teachers and professors come to class every day in that very same attire. Why do athletes need to try to stand out so much?

Glasses without lenses are "in"

It's not just about the individual either. It will always be about representing your organization or ball club. To me that means that handling yourself with class should be implied. Why make a spectacle of yourself and pass yourself off as someone who either A.) loves attention or B.) doesn't care about honoring a league rule? You leave your house, you drive however far to the arena, you walk in a back door to the locker room. Is wearing a suit and tie so taxing that it can't be done for no more than 45 minutes? Not to mention if you play like a dog and have a bad performance, it will be even harder to take you seriously in the post game press conference if you're sitting there with 3D movie glasses on and a shirt you bought from the Baby Gap.

All I'm saying is that we hold these professional athletes to a standard unlike any other profession. Sports drive society and these athletes have more responsibilities than just playing ball. If they're supposed to set good examples for younger kids and represent an organization then look the part. Put on a shirt and tie and look presentable before and after the game. It's just as much of a responsibility to dress appropriately as it is to play hard. Each generation has a different taste in fashion, yes, but what certain players are wearing is hardly fashionable. It needs to stop. 

Under-appreciated and Under-hyped, Ichiro is One of the Best

He's never in the public eye, he has never had a run-in with the law, and he'll never be caught on film yelling at a teammate or manager. So why don't we, both everyday sports fans and media personnel, discuss the phenomenal player that Ichiro Suzuki is? It is easy to see that Ichiro will be one of the best hitters to ever step on an MLB diamond, yet he rarely even makes Sportscenter highlights. He is perhaps the most under-appreciated star with very little recognition to the greatness he has achieved.

Ichiro stormed into the league in 2001

Coming into the league at the age of 27, Ichiro wasted no time in taking over as the best hitter in the MLB. In 157 games, the rookie accumulated 242 hits while batting an unbelievable .350. Not to mention he swiped 56 bases which led the league. He won Rookie of the Year and was named AL MVP in that same 2001 season and certainly lived up to the hype that followed him overseas when he first came from Japan. Yet as we have seen so many times as of late, very few players that come from Asia pan out to be as successful as we believe they should be. Players like Hideki Matsui and Daisuke Matsuzaka enjoyed a little success, but have never been big-time, must-have players. Ichiro donned the teal and navy blue in Seattle and made a name for himself that was sure to stand out.

And boy has he stood out. The man has been in the league for what is now his 13th year and has 2,607 hits at print time. 13 seasons and almost 3,000 hits? Absolutely unheard of. Bear with me as we dive into a little math lesson. If we average it out, Ichiro has averaged just over 200 hits in his previous 12 seasons. He came into the league at age 27 which is when most players enter their prime. Imagine if Ichiro came in like Bryce Harper at age 19. Hypothetically speaking, if Ichiro even had 150 hits in each of those eight seasons before he reached the age of 27, he would still have 3,807 hits.

With that being said, let's give him more credit. Say he did in fact average 200 hits per season since he came into the league at 19 (again hypothetically). This would then be his 20th season and he would have around 4,000 hits. Pete Rose's record stands at 4,256 in his 24 seasons of ball. Ichiro would only be 256 hits short with 4 years less of experience in the league! If Ichiro came into the league at age 19, averaged 200 hits per season as he is right now, and played 24 seasons like Pete Rose did, he would end his MLB career with about 4,800 hits. Let me say that again, 4,800 hits.

Ichiro's blazing speed has helped him swipe 452 bases

Again, that was all hypothetical and for fun. But look at what Ichiro has done for the game of baseball and we haven't even taken the time to appreciate it. His name won't come up in any steroid scandals, and he has the potential to join the 3,000 hit club despite coming into the league at the age of 27. His career batting average is currently at .322 which accomodates his 10 Gold Gloves and 10 All-Star selections. He is without a doubt a first ballot Hall of Famer and with his second season as a New York Yankee underway, he doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon. He is one of the greatest hitters to step up to the plate, and it's about time we recognize the honest greatness of Ichiro Suzuki.

Kobe's Great, but How Great is He Really?

The sports world yearns for superstars in every sport in every season. We want to root for those who have achieved feats that only the best can achieve. We want to glorify those that outperform the rest of the professionals around them. At the same time, as fans we are quick to heap praise on athletes without really studying the past and making an educated comment. So often we proclaim athletes as "the best" or "top five..." and that may not be the case. Sure, there are plenty of great players to set foot on the hardwood, but sometimes we are too quick to say that someone is better than so-and-so or one of the top five best players ever. Take Kobe Bryant for example.

I want to make it clear before I go any further that I am not diminishing anything Kobe has done in his brilliant career. He is one of the hardest working, most dedicated players that the game has ever seen and he has maintained a consistency over the course of his career that is hard to match. His stats are impressive and he has five rings to go along with those numbers. He has an MVP on the shelf and two Finals MVPs as well. His resume is loaded and he will go down as one of the greatest players to play the game. However, how great is he compared to others? So often fans put him in Michael Jordan's territory or say that he is a better player than LeBron James. Does he have an argument to be the best Laker of all-time? No doubt, but it's not by much.

Here are some facts to look at when stacking Kobe up against the other greats. As of now he averages 25.5 points per game. That is less than Jordan, Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor (a former Laker). Kobe's 5.3 rebounds per game are less than the other three as well. His 4.3 assists per game isn't bad, but it too is less than Jordan and Robertson's and just a shade above Baylor's. His shooting percentage is at 45 percent, but that's below Jordan and Robertson's as well. Baylor is right behind Bryant at 43 percent. Clearly, when everything is added up, Kobe's stats are at the bottom of this group when it comes down to him versus other great shooting guards in the NBA.

He does have five championships which is one shy of Jordan's six, but he has been the Finals MVP of just two of those. Jordan was the MVP of all six of his. Then there is the fact that Kobe's numbers in the playoffs are the same as his career numbers. Is he a winner? Obviously. Does he raise his game in the postseason? Statistically no he does not. MJ's averages all went up in playoff time.

Talking awards and accolades, Bryant once again fails to live up to His Airness' legend. He has one MVP award which puts him four behind Jordan. MJ won 10 scoring titles compared to Kobe's two. Where Bryant can match MJ is in All-NBA and All-Defensive First teams. Both players have been named to 10 and nine respectively. Another thing, although it's a small one, is the fact that besides the two scoring titles, Kobe has never led the league in anything. Jordan led the league in steals three different times.

Then there is the question of whether or not Kobe is the best player of his generation? Well, if you consider LeBron James part of his generation then, quite frankly, no he's not. Kobe simply cannot compare to LeBron in any facet of the game. James averages more points, rebounds, assists and steals and shoots a higher percentage from the field. Also, the game plan used to be to make James shoot from deep, but he is actually shooting the same percentage from three as Kobe and he is only going to continue to improve. Obviously, LeBron's numbers are over a shorter period of time, but there's no doubt that James is in the best years of his career and he has quite a cushion on Kobe in every category.

The career of Kobe Bryant is odd. It's a magnificent one no doubt about it, but there are certain things about his career that have question marks next to them. He has five titles, but he wasn't the man on three of those teams. He has only one MVP award and only two scoring titles. Those are things that just don't sound like the stuff of the greatest ever. He's great no doubt, but he is not in the same ballpark as Jordan. He is probably slightly ahead or even with Robertson or Baylor, but you could argue they were better than him too. LeBron James will finish as a better player than Kobe as well if his career finishes the way we expect it to.

When Bryant retires it will be a sad day for the game of basketball. He has provided fans with so many unforgettable moments and he almost always puts on a show. Once he retires then the debate can really begin, but as of now Bryant is not the Greatest of All-Time and he's borderline top 10 of all-time. That's still incredible, but it doesn't seem to be the thinking of most fans. Kobe is great, but the hard truth is that we shouldn't add the "-est" to the end of that great.