NHL Playoffs

NCAA Mens Title Game

We are only a few hours away from tip-off, the title game features two mentally tough teams. Both teams have upperclassmen point guards, both teams have 2 very good coaches, and an unbelievably strong will to win. Butler didn't get here easily, nor did Uconn. Butler got back to this game after being in this very game last year when they lost to Duke, they lost their best player in Gordon Hayward to the NBA Draft and found a new identity for THIS year's team. As for Uconn, not much was expected out of this bunch. The only name that was known outside of Storrs, was that of Kemba Walker the Junior point guard. This young team was picked to finish 10th in the Big East and they almost did that, they finished 9th with a 9-9 Conference Record. Few people, including their own fan base thought this team was capable of a run like this when the season started. Each of these teams reflect their Coaches, Butler is sound and prepared. Uconn is tough and extremely fiesty, each team has also showed us that they don't like to lose. Both teams have won some nail biters on route to this Championship game, neither team cares about the margin of victory only the fact that they won. This will be an extremely competitive game between 2 schools who don't care how it gets done, as long as they reach the desired result. Butler has the experience, but Uconn has the better athletes, which one will be the reason this game is decided?? Will Kemba Walker be able to lead this young team one more time, or will Shelvin Mack be able to lead his veteran team to the victory that eluded them last year at this time?? Can Matt Howard keep Butler in the game on the boards or will Alex Oriahki and company be able to lock down the paint and control the boards?? Only 40 minutes will decide it, who do you have?? Brad Stevens and Butler, or Jim Calhoun and Connecticut......

2011 MLB Season Preview

The Not So Great Debate

Lockout is Official

The NFL Lockout officially started early this morning at 12 am, this now means the Owners and the Players Union will work this out in court. I had hoped that this past week that was used as an extension would help the 2 sides meet, but now I truly understand what the Union was trying to do all along. They were planning to "force" the Owner's hands into litigation( going to court) the whole time, the reason being "the bigger picture," if the Union is able to win in court it will prove the NFL violated the Anti-Trust rules and there will be an 2011 NFL Season in it's entirety. Secondly, it's not what the Leauge wants at all. The NFL doesn't want to be dragged through court where all there dirty secrets will be exposed, they have been "stealing" money for years now from the players and keeping it all on their end. They've been able to get away with it for so long by blaming the players, calling them greedy and unappreciative and what not. As I've said many times our country as a whole, believes whatever is told to them for the most part. The NFL is the most dangerous professional sport there is, there are studies shown that NFL players don't live normal healthy lives once their playing career is over. Most of you might be saying that's not the League's problem but more of the Union's problem, I strongly disagree. The League gets an astronomical amount of money for doing nothing, it's not their lives out there on the line yet they wish to do things like extend the season to 18 games??? If you truly cared for anyone or anything else other than yourself you would never even SUGGEST an idea so foolish!! NFL contracts are not like other professional sport contracts, only part of the deals are guranteed. So keep that in mind when you see those "$100 million dollar deals" because the players are not seeing all of that money, that's why Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have had multiple 10 year deals in their careers....think about it. They're not getting that money, but the owners get that revenue that those top dollar players generate for their teams though. I am a fan of this going to court, the general public will finally get to see how filthy NFL owners really are. When you do dirt in the dark, it always comes to light and it may come out sooner than later at times but either way light will shine. Just be patient, I've been saying all along that we will have football next year and that the 2 sides will work something out. What commisioner would want their name affiliated with THIS??

Miami's Troubles...

So the Miami Heat have lost 5 games in a row, with a match up with the defending Champion Los Angeles Lakers waiting for them on Thursday. In the past week or so they have lost games in every way imaginable, still only a few things come mind. Their lack of defensive intensity for a full 48 minutes, their issues with their bench, and TRUST. The Miami Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the league, WHEN they're disciplined and follow their assignments. One of the things that get the Heat in trouble is the lapses they have, they will focus on D long enough to build a 20 point lead and then watch carelessly as it goes away. I really don't care what they do offensively because they at least focus on that end of the floor, it's the defensive side of the ball that irks me. The bench issue is a HUGE problem as well, most teams build leads and then put their subs in to protect the lead or at least trade baskets to keep it even if they can't build on it. Well Miami does neither, they wilt and force their starters back into the game. The Heat never enter the stretch of a close game with fresh legs, the reason because their bench cannot be TRUSTED to do their jobs!! Obviously they're bench isn't the strength of their teams, but good teams have good benches as was the case when the Spurs took the Heat to the woodshed. The Spurs starters rested as their reserves continued the onslaught, some say the issue with Miami's bench is talent when I think it comes back to TRUST. Their bench hardly knows each other because they're hardly on the floor together without one of the big 3!! Spoelstra needs to trust his bench and his rotations, rest the big 3 TOGETHER some times and maybe the bench can develop some chemistry. I don't want to point out names, but defensively one of the things that bothers me the most is the hard-hedge when it isn't needed!! Hold your perimeter players accountable, every time Bosh hedges Bron leaves to help and Bron's man is left wide open. Any team that runs a pick and roll on Miami ends up with a wide open 3 by a player who had nothing to do with the pick and roll. It's sad, I'm not going to back off of my statement of Miami as my pick to represent the East this year yet they need to do something. I truly think they won't be back until Haslem gets back, he's a huge part of their team let alone their bench. His absence still doesn't excuse what kind of ball the Heat have been playing, they need to get it together because anyone and everyone is walking into THEIR arena and beating them right now!! What do you think is wrong with the Heat??

Combine Notes 3/2/11