Combine Thoughts....

Watching the combine has got me thinking, why come to the combine if you're not going to participate. I don't believe its an accurate assesment watching a player in their Pro Day. For one, it's in their environment of their choice. You don't get a real sense of their competitive side as they aren't competing with any one. Two, for the most part they arent going to know their teamates at mini camp and training camp anyway. So why not just participate in the combine, show everyone what you have in terms of talent and go from there? Today's the 2nd day of on field drills and its for the offensive skill positions. Of the top 5 reated QB's only 1 is throwing, that is crazy!!! So teams aren't really going to know what they're getting outside of game tape, I think the NFL should make it a requirement to participate in the Combine if you recieve an invite. I don't belive you should be able to accept the invitation and not fully participate. The only reason that should be okay is if you are injured, at least in my mind there is no other valid reason. Don't you hate when your team drafts a player based soley on their Pro Day Performance? Wouldn't you like for your team and their scouts to get more time to access these players? If a player doesn't go to an All Star game or participate in the combine, all the have is their Pro Day performance. Do you think that's fair, to the players or the teams?

1st Day of Field Drills at the 2010 Combine

Today was a huge day for the offensive lineman in this years draft. Unlike years prior, there are great lineman to be had this year. ALOT, I mean ALOT of teams can benefit from the offensive lineman in this year's draft. Due to draft needs as every year, very talented players will end up sliding down to the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Teams with 2 picks in the 1st round should consider themselves very lucky, they may be in line for a franchise offensive lineman. This is a deep draft, overall other than the quarterback position there are players everywhere. Bruce Campbell is the equvalent of Vernon Davis in terms of athleticism for his position. At 316 pounds he ran a sub 5 second 40 yard dash that is ridiculous, absolutely absurd. The downside is that he's going to need to work on his technique and leverage which he is already aware of, like Davis you are not going to see an athelte like this every day. You have Russell Okung and Trent Williams looked great in drills as well, Bryan Beluga looked good as well even though there are concerns about his arm length. This is an equally as deep class of tight ends, they are very athletic and very strong. Jermaine Gresham, Rob Gronkowski, Athony McCoy and Andrew Quarles are names that fans need to become familiar with. Other than Gresham I'm sure that the other players names are not known by the average fan. I enjoyed the 1st day of the draft and can't wait to see the players at the other positions perform the on field drills. Do you think your team needs a tackle, and if so which tackle would be your 1st choice for your team?

MVP Race

Last year the race for MVP was extremely tight and I believed that the award was given to the wrong person. Not that they weren't deserving of the award, just the wrong person in my opinion. I am sorry to say that I am afraid that it will go to the wrong person once again this year. LeBron James is amazing, there is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the most talented players in the NBA and a potential triple double threat every night. The kid is absolutely amazing, yet I am being drawn closer to the Kevin Durant camp in this race. Last year I think D-Wade was more deserving of the award simply for what he did with less, if you had taken both stars off their teams I still believe the Cavs were better than the Heat. I think Cleveland is built to where LeBron does everything, don't get me wrong but Miami lacks the supporting talent. Now back to this year, KD (Kevin Durant) has put this young franchise on his back and has them 10 games over .500 in the Western Conference!! Like the Cavs aka the "LeBrons", the Thunder are being called the "Durants" this year. The Durantula just ended a streak of 29 consecutive games of scoring at least 25 points, the only person who had done that longer was some guy named MICHAEL JORDAN!! They are both averaging similar numbers, 29.8 ppg and around 7 rebounds a game. LeBron has the edge in assists 8.5 to 2.9, only reason there is the supporting cast. Other than Durant, there are no prolific spot up shooters on his team. Russell Westbrook who is absolutely amazing to watch, is not a jump shooter yet. Jeff Green is a "jack of all trades" type of player, and James Harden is still a rookie learning the ropes. Mo Williams, Delonte West, and Anthony Parker might not sound like the greatest group of NBA players but they can all knock down the open shot. Having Shaq down in the paint doesn't hurt either, for that creates even more space for these guys to spot up and knock down the open jumper when the time calls. I'm just not a fan of the best player on the best team gets the award, seriously if your team is stacked and can survive without you I'm gonna look at the team that has no chance without you. If you take away Kobe or LeBron from their teams, they obviously wouldn't contend for a championship but don't tell me they would be lottery bound. Talent wise top to bottom those rosters are stacked, take the Durantuala away and what's left...Nick Collison? All I'm saying is let's not be so quick to fall into what has now become a popularity contest, and truly dissect and research the members of this race. It's called the Most Valuable Player award, not the Most Popular Player award. Who do you think deserves this years MVP award?

USA "upsets" Canada in Hockey

Canada is besides itself right now because they lost in "their" sport, on "their" soil, in "their" olympics. I heard that this is the 30 year anniversary of the "Miracle on Ice", I think that was a great story and that last night's game has nothing to do with the one 30 years ago. I think the media is going a little crazy by creating the perception that the gap of talent between Canada and the US is as equal to the talent gap between the US and the rest of the world in the 80's. For one, they are playing in an NHL size rink and that limits the space that the supposedly more "talented" teams have to operate. Secondly, the guys on the Canadian roster play with the guys on the US roster. There is no "awe" factor at all, yes Canada has more "skill" maybe and limitless combinatinos of talent in terms of line strength. Now the US is not getting the publicity and or respect that the Russias and Canadas of the world, but they are not a bad team at all. They are just young, they do have a roster loaded with "NHL" talent. I do not believe this was that big of an upset other than on paper. If you ask me, I think Russia has a better team than Canada in terms of the types of players they have. Gritty, hardworking, and physical teams are always better than highly skilled finesse teams in my book. Canada is obviously the latter, Russia is definetely as physical as it is skilled, and the US has a nice blend of both. So how much of an "upset" was this in your eyes? A huge win at best, defintely not to be mentioned with the "Miracle on Ice", right?

Tim Tebow...

I had a conversation with a friend of mine last week about Tim Tebow and his NFL stock. I had vehemently pronounced that he didn't have the "skill set" that would enable him to be overly successful in the NFL. As a 49ers fan I think of what Urban Meyer did to Alex Smith in terms of setting him up to fail on the next level by not instilling the fundamentals needed to succeed at the next level at that position. I just finished watching a segment on Sports Center showing what Tebow has been up to, the guy has 4 coaches drilling him on these very fundamentals that I as well as others believe he was lacking. I'm not going to lie to you, the guy on tape doesn't look anything like the guy who one 2 titles and a Heisman at Florida. I've never had anything against Tebow the person but prior to seeing this tape I felt bad for him because of the lack of preperation he had in operating from under center. I would like to commend Tebow for the work he has done and the coaches for giving this kid what he needs to be successful on the next level. Do I believe that you can fix what's wrong with your game in 6 months after being successful the other way in 4 years? Yes, everyone is different and I have never been one to question Tebow's drive or will to be successful. So I guess what I'm saying is that I have reversed my position, and I do believe that Tim Tebow may be the best QB of this draft down the road. I do not believe that it will be with in the next couple of years, but I do believe when he gets his chance and he continues progressing in his new schooling he will be ready to succeed. Seriously he's not the same guy we saw at Florida or the Senior Bowl, I hope everybody gets to see the segment I saw because the change is that obvious. His release point is high, footwork is smooth, the ball comes out quick, and his confidence is through the roof. His new coaches have done a remarkable job and I really look forward to Tebow's pro day to see him throw, he does not plan to throw at the upcomming combine. What do you think of Tebow's future in the NFL?

Tiger Woods Apology

I just WALKED away from Sports Center....I never thought that was possible. Tiger Woods owes us NOTHING, Tiger only owes his family contrition and remorse. The rest of the world, NOTHING!!! Why can't this country accept that a person's personal life is their personal life, athletes owe us nothing. It should be enough that he is being accountable, he doesn't even have to do that. We will never live their lives, never know what they go through. Yes we are all human, yet we live in 2 totally different worlds. I think it's unfair for an athlete to have to answer to the public, us normal people don't. If you or me were to do what he did no one would care, not one tiny bit. Yes they're famous, no they are not required to be role models. I am a huge fan of sports, yet my mother got it across very early that you idolize no man. Not to be confused with being a fan, but you do not idolize any man. He is a great golfer, that is his gift he was blessed with. That does not make you a great person or a perfect person. There is no such thing, any person can be a role model and even those people are imperfect. He didn't ever lead us to believe he was a great person, we don't even know Tiger Woods. Just the media's perception of him, an that's something they created not him. These athletes are blessed with inhuman abilities within their crafts, not inhuman overall. They are as flawed as the rest of us, I wish people would understand that. Outside of his family he owes us nothing, it is not for us to decide his sincerity or lack there of. That is between he and his wife, only the two of them. I heard someone say he was arrogant, I wonder if the person who said that would be as comfortable speaking in front of the world about their personal indiscretions. Tiger needs to be praised for being a man and holding himself accountable. Everyone talking should think before speaking and ask themselves how they would feel if they were in his shoes? There is no such thing as a "humble" athlete, the great players can not be humble for that leads to complacency. If this happened back in the day, it wouldn't be that serious at all. The media was no where as involved as they are now, these types of things weren't news. It's not sports related therefore it's not our business. Athletes are people, every athlete and or celebrity is not a role model. Parents are role models, these people are to be lauded for their gifts not necessarily their personalities. Whats your take on this? Do you believe athletes are required to be role models, or to be admired for their talents?

Why the Heat should stand firm

There's about 50 minutes left before the NBA Trade Deadline. Miami was trying to get Amare Stoudamire from the Suns for Michael Beasley and a 1st round pick. The Suns as of now have not seemed to keen of that deal, there's also a rumor of the Heat trying to aqquire Jazz forward Carlos Boozer. I don't know what Miami sees, but if I were them I would just be patient. Amare has mentioned that he would like to be in Miami, Phoenix doesn't want to pay him 17.7 milion next year. If he's not traded, Amare can opt out and the Suns get nothing in return. Here's a very possible scenario in my mind for Miami, wait for free agency and throw the neccessary amount of money at both Amare and Rudy Gay. Toronto has said Chris Bosh wasn't getting traded, but no one said he's definitely resigning to the Raptors. If he chooses to walk (which I think he will) that is another possibility for the Heat, unlike the folks in Cleveland who are beginning to sweat over the decision that Lebron James will make. Miami's superstar actually wants to be in Miami, so just get the guy some help. The possibilities are endless, Wade is more than capable of playing the 1. If Gay and Stoudamire end up in Miami, Beasley could slide down to the three and a big could be picked up in the draft. Gay is capable of playing the 2, and Stoudamire is capable of playing either the 4 or the 5. With those aquisitions the Heat would be contenders. Let's not forget Joe Johnson is in line to be a free agent as well, so many things can be done in the offseason. Miami also has 2 top 20 1st round picks, there is no need to panic if a deal does not materialize by 3pm today. Do you think Miami lost out by not completing any trades today?

Talent or Will

Sidney Crosby,Magic Johnson,Wayne Gretsky,and Lebron James are all extremely talented athletes. So fundamentally sound in every aspect of their games, these players were able to do anything and everything in their perspective sports. They have and will go on to have great careers and post many lofty statistics. All of the players above were oozing with talent, and were armed with vastly superior physical gifts. James and Johnson are players that do not have a true position, they are able to create so many different mismatches with their size and skill set. At 6'8 and 6'9, a player should not have the handle or vision of a point guard. Neither should they possess the tools to play well in the post, these two will go down as players that have reveloutionized the game. Yes there are players their size, but they are not equipped with the tools to handle these guys. In that respect they are unstoppable. Crosby and Gretsky are magicians with the puck, agile as dancers, possess supernatural vision. Crosby and Gretzky were blessed with natural skills that are rivaled by none in hockey. What they bring to the table cannot be taught, you simply hope for them to have an off night. You don't just hand out nicknames like "Magic, King, Sid the Kid, and The Great One." Only the truly deserving get names like that.

Michael Jordan, Alex Ovechkin, Dwayne Wade, and Mario Lemiuex are just as good as the players mentioned before. Jordan is arguably the greatest to ever don a pair of sneakers. "Super Mario" was as much a legend in hockey as that guy mentioned earlier. The difference here is what made them great, I don't think we knew what these guys were bringing to the table. I can't think of one person looking at a young Jordan or Lemieux saying this guy is gonna go down as one of the greatest. Obviously they were talented enough to get there, neither was "oozing" with talent. Their greatest gift and most powerful weapon in their arsenals was their will. They refused to settle, to lose, and they would impose that will on their teams as well as their opponents. They weren't physically imposing as their counter parts mentioned earlier. Jordan wasn't the greatest shooter and Lemieux wasn't the fastest skater. They are things you can work on, but not things that they were blessed with. Yet they dominated their opponents, and were capable of carrying franchises. Ovechkin is just as exciting as Crosby, although he's not blessed with the same set of skills Ovechkin has managed to win 2 MVP trophies already. Wade was picked 5th in the draft the same year as LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Of the 3, he's the only one with a title. Down 3 games to none, Wade willed his team back into the series and on to victory. The Heat beat the Mavs 4-1. Wade is fresh of his first scoring title, having little to no help Wade put the Heat on his back and have them in position to make the playoffs. So a players "will" is just as great a weapon as superior talent. Which group of players do you covet more? Or which qualtiy do you covet more, talent or will?

Who dat dea gon beat dem Saints??

What a game!!!! The New Orleans Saints are the Super Bowl Champs!!! Did anyone other than myself for see this being the result? I originally thought the Jets were going to be the Saint's opponents in the Super Bowl, but the Jets weren't ready so the Colts were there instead. The game unfolded like many thought it would. with the Colts storming ahead to a 10 nothing lead. I'm sure all the pundits were ready to call this game in favor of the Colts and their "powerful offense." Then the 2nd quarter began and the Colt's nightmare began. After having the ball for most of the 1st quarter, the Colts had the ball just once in the 2nd quarter. The Saints offense that sputtered at the start of the game had come alive. Drew Brees controlled the clock as the Saints went down the field, but they had to settle for a field goal. Then the "genius" that is Sean Payton struck, the Saints went for an onside kick and recovered it. The Saints made Super Bowl history by going for an onside kick before the 4th quarter. Brees drove the Saints down the field again only to by stuffed by the Colts on the 1. The Saints were stopped on 4th down and the Colts got the ball back with a minute and change left to go. The Saints defense made a HUGE stop forcing the Colts to punt, after the gutsy decision to go for it on 4th down the Saints closed the gap with a field goal to end the half. Peyton Manning did more work stretching on the sideline to keep warm than work on the field in the quarter. Going into halftime the Colts were up 10-6, how many of you still thought the Colts were going to prevail?

The Saints were to kick off to begin the 2nd half, and they recovered the onside kick!!! Two onside kicks equals two onside recoveries giving the Saints possesion to begin the half. This half was to be different than the first, Brees was on fire and the Colts defense had no answer. Saints go down and score to get the lead, Manning changed that on the ensuing drive leading the Colts down the field for a TD. On this drive Manning made a magnificent throw on the run over the top of two defenders and dropped the ball into the pocket of Dallas Clark for a huge gain. Leading 17-13, the Colts defense came back onto the field and held the Saints to 3. Saints kicker Garrett Hartley made Super Bowl history being the first kicker to make 3 field goals of 40 plus yards. Remember how Manning and the Colts were supposed to kill the Saints 26th ranked defense? Well they continued to stifle the Colts, the Colts had to settle for a field goal attempt....and missed it!!! Brees took them right down the field for the lead. Payton decided to go for 2, Lance Moore made an unbelievable catch at the goal line that was initially ruled incomplete. The Saints challenged the call and the rule on the field was overturned, 2 point conversion was good!! Manning and the Colts get the ball back with 5 minutes or so left in the game. The announcers( biased in my opinion) were speaking of overtime and what not. The Saints had not given up on their plan to pressure Manning, they stuck with their game plan and this drive would be no different. Up to this point the Saints had not forced any turnovers, Tracy Porter decided to change that by stepping in front of a Manning pass intended for Reggie Wayne. Porter made a great read and got an exceptional jump on the throw and received some down field blocking en route to a touchdown. Saints were up 31-17, and that's how it ended.

Drew Brees had 7 incompletions, just 7 on his way to tying Tom Brady for the most completions in a Super Bowl with 32. Brees has been performing at a high level like this for some years now. Maybe now people will respect his prowess as an elite quarterback, and start to include him in those conversations regarding the top quarterbacks in the league. Brees has put up similar numbers to those of Brady and Manning, he almost broke Marino's single season passing record last year. What does he have to do to get the love he deserves? No disrespect to Manning or Brady, but Drew Brees is just as good a quarterback and he proved it on the ultimate stage. Give him his due...please!!! Brees out dueled both Mannings, Brady, Favre and Warner this year. Just counting the postseason he took down 3 of the 5, Drew Brees and the Saints definitely earned their title. So please don't think that Manning and the Colts lost this game, Brees and the Saints took it from them. The better team won.

UCONN Women

61 and counting, West Virginia was the latest victim of the Huskies win streak. The Mountaineers matched the Huskies level of play for a half before Connecticut turned it into a rout winning 80 to 47. Winning is nothing new to the Huskies, the current defending champs have hardly been challenged this year. It's not for the lack of trying it's just sheer dominance on their part. They are 9 wins from tying their own record of 70 wins, Coach Auriemma has them playing at an unbelievable level. Do you know that in route to winning the national title last year the Huskies won every game by double digits and only trailed once? The one time they trailed was due to the possesion change after the half. Think about that for a minute, not even once did they lose by 9. That is insane and to follow it up with this year's performance? I respect Pat Summit for everything she's achieved in her illustrous career, but she has nothing on what Geno Auriemma has done during his tenure at Connecticut. Seriously he's on the verge of his second 70 game win streak, not to mention another chance at a perfect season? This story has flew under the radar only because its's "Women's College Basketball," for this reason I hope the Huskies exceed the all time record of 88 wins in a row held by the UCLA Mens team. What do you think the odds are of the Huskies extending this streak, or their odds on winning back to back championships?

Transition Year

I am a die-hard UCONN Huskies basketball fan. The women are great as usual,perfect even. The men... just lost to Louisville last night. If this was last year or the year before I would be outraged none other than for the ways they have lost. After some deep thinking, I have come to accept that this is a "transition year." Losing players to the NBA or graduation hasn't affected the program that much in past years because of stability at 1 position. I truly believe that this is the first time in a few years that Uconn doesn't have a seasoned point guard. You might say Kemba Walker played last year as a freshman on a Final Four team. Why this is absolutely true, Kemba Walker was not the starting point guard. When Jerome Dyson went down with an injury last year, Walker started with AJ Price in the backcourt. Price was the primary ball handler and the floor general. Walker was able to play off the ball and attack and occasionally run a set. He wasn't fully handed the keys to the team, this year the team is his to run. Dyson who is back for his senior year after last year's injury is projected to be a combo guard on the next level. In college he is Uconn's shooting guard, Dyson is needed to carry the load offensively with this year's team. Walker has the tools to exceed on this level as well as the next. He just needs some "seasoning," this year is going to be an integral part in his development. Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien's departure hurt more than people think. The starting center and power forward this year are true freshman, TRUE FRESHMAN!!! Yes Stanley Robinson and Gavin Edwards are seniors, but they are not enough to make up for what was lost. Edwards hasn't started in his Uconn career, Robinson has just fully reached his potential this year. That leaves Alex Ohriaki and Ater Majok to fend for themselves in the post. Those two are both 6'10 and both very very "raw." They need this year to develop.I believe this "down" year as some are calling it is great for the program. When so much production has been lost, it takes time to rebuild.

The big knock on this year's team is the lack of perimeter shooting. Dyson and Robinson are slashers with the ability to shoot on the perimeter. Price was the perimeter threat last year, his perimeter oriented mentality allowed Uconn to stretch the floor. I read a blog the other day saying that Jim Calhoun does a terrible job recruiting shooters and that nothing was truly gained in the 2009 recruiting class. I strongly, I repeat strongly disagree. Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Jamal Trice and Darius Smith can all stretch the floor. Coombs at 6'7 and 210 pounds plays the same position as senior small forward Stanley Robinson. Jamal Trice a 6'6, 220 pound shooting guard plays the same position as senior Jerome Dyson. Darius Smith's development at the point guard is not only stunted by Kemba Walker, but combo guard Donnell Beverley. So it's not that those kinds of players weren't recruited, it's the limited opportunities available to them. How can they prove their worth if there's barely any minutes for them to play?

My anticipation for next year is driving me crazy. Trice and Coombs will get the opportunity to start alongside Walker(as long as he doesn't leave for the NBA) with Oriahki and Majok. The 2010 recruiting class is headlined by small forward Roscoe Smith(6'9, 195 pounds), who has already been compared to fellow Baltimore native Rudy Gay. Jeremy Lamb (6'4, 170 pounds) a lanky shooting guard has unlimited range and a knack for scoring. Michael Bradley and Cleveland Melvin are supposed to bring depth to the front court. What has me salivating is the sheer size and length of next year's team. Oriahki already has an intimidating body as an 18 year old, another year in the weight room would make him a force in the post. Coombs is a do it all small forward who will surely benefit from being in this year's rotation. Most importantly Walker will be the upperclassman point guard that the program is used to, I believe he will flourish next year and then hand the reins over to Darius Smith.

The folks over in Chapel Hill are going through similar growing pains, hopefully they can find the silver lining in this "transition year." Who do you think is going to regroup quicker, UNC or UCONN? I'm not going to share my biased answer.