Here is my article for guide Post this month. Enjoy!

The Team That’s Doing

It The Right Way

 

           

It is a new era in basketball history.  It all started a couple of years ago with the “Big Three” in Boston with K.G., Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.  That team went on to win a title its first year together.  The next year the Lakers went out and got Pao Gasol from Memphis and immediately went on a tear to back-to-back titles.  This offseason almost every major star switched teams.  Lebron and Chris Bosh teamed up with Dwayne Wade in Miami to form the newest “Big Three”.  Carlos Boozer went to the Bulls and A’mare arrived in New York to help the Knicks. 

            Throughout all that, The Oklahoma City Thunder have developed from the draft and are one of the top teams in the league.  Loaded with talent like superstar Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Jeff Green, the Thunder have become a serious contender. Just two years after a putrid record of 23-59 and just three years removed of a 20 season that led to the franchise moving form Seattle to O.K.C., the Thunder won 50 games last year and very well could win 60 this season. 

            A majority of the credit has to go to general manager Sam Presti and his crew.  The Thunder have had some of the most consistent drafts over the past three years and have a huge core of young talented players.  Only 4 of the 15 players on the roster are over the age of 27 and not a single player makes more than 6,8000,000 per year.  The fact that the Thunder are so young is very important for them because their core nucleus is still on their rookie contract which helps the small market team be able to keep all of their players.  Kevin Durant just signed a big extension this year but he took less money than some of the other big names this offseason because he wanted to stay in O.K.C. and he wanted the team to have enough money to sign the other players they need to.  There was an article in “Sports Illustrated” recently focusing on Durant but when he was asked to pose for the cover shot he said that he would only do it if his teammates were also in the shoot.  That shows just how much like a family the Thunder feel like.  The Thunder players are with each other almost 24/7 and feel a great pride in all being so close. 

            It is very refreshing to see a team built like the Thunder in an age of free agency and mega-contracts.  Hopefully the Thunder stay together for many years to come as they are one of the most enjoyable team to watch in the N.B.A.

So the blog has been dead since summer but i want to change that up.  The posts wont always be arguments but rather just a place for sports talk.  I will pick all the winners for this weeks NFL action so here we go.

Green Bay over Miami: even with all the injuries that Green Bay has i think they are a quality team and the Dolphins are reeling with two straight losses. I think it will be close but i have the pack by a touch down.

San Diego over St. Louis: The Rams have looked like a legitimate football team this year and Sam Bradford looks really good but Rivers is on pace for a historic season and i don't think the Rams can stop him.

Baltimore over New England: The Ravens may be the best team in football and are Super Bowl contenders and the Pats offense without moss will really struggle.

Pittsburgh over Cleveland: Big Ben returns in Coly McCoy's first NFL start and that means one thing, this will get ugly.  

Kansas City over Houston : After a hot start the Texans are looking like the real Texans again and the Chiefs are 3-1 and played the Colts very tough.  I think that K.C. is a playoff team and the Texans are 8-8 at best.

New York over Detroit: The Giants have the top D in the NFL and Hakim Nicks is looking like the top WR in the league.  The Lions have looked solid all year but i don't think they can hang around with the G-Men.

Atlanta over Philadelphia: If I had to pick the best team in the NFC i would pick the Falcons.  They have a solid run game and a good young QB as well as a decent defense.  The Eagles have QB issues and have been ravaged by injuries so far.  The game will be close but i see the dirty birds squeaking one out.  

Chicago over Seattle: The Bears are the ugliest of the 4-1 teams but they are getting their QB back and get the treat of a bad Seahawks team at home.

New Orleans over Tampa Bay: There is no way Drew Brees lets the Saints lose three in a row and although the Bucs have looked good they will get exposed this week.  

New York over Denver: The Jets have won four in a row after an ugly loss opening night.  The Broncos also have five defensive starters out this week.  I think this game will come down to who ever wins the turnover battle.

San Francisco over Oakland: The 49ers have been so bad that their fans started chanting "WE WANT CARR" last week.  I don't think either of these teams are very good but i say that San Fran finally gets a W.

Dallas over Minnesota: neither of these teams can afford to lose but whoever does is most likely out of the playoff picture.  I don't think that Favre is healthy enough to lead the Vikings over the high powered Dallas O.

Washington over Indianapolis: The Redskins have played solid football this year and the Colts once dominant offense has stalled.  I think McNabb comes out and proves that the skins are the real deal.

Tennessee over Jacksonville: After a big win in big D last week, the Titans can look to take control of the division with a win in Florida.  

So those are my week 6 picks... enjoy the big week of football!

NFL Preview: NFC East

Ryan: Because of all of the uncertainty surrounding all 4 teams in the division, the NFC East is the league's most interesting division. Longtime Philly icon Donovan McNabb is a Redskin, which is one of the stranger things I have ever heard, and Kevin Kolb has stepped up to be his replacement. The Cowboys look stacked as always, and the Giants seem to have talent, but are going through an identity crisis on both sides of the ball. Two years ago, there was no better division in football. That could be the case again, but it seems more likely that only one (maybe 2) of these teams will make the playoffs this season.

1st Place-Dallas Cowboys, 14-2
This might be an unreasonably high expectation for the Cowboys, but they really are flawless on offense. Tony Romo is a great quarterback, and I have always said that Felix Jones would lead the league in rushing yards if he was the full time starter (which might just be the case this year). Jason Witten is the best TE in the league in terms of receptions, and a receiving core of Witten plus Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Dez Bryant, and Patrick Crayton is probably the best in the whole league. DeMarcus Ware anchors a very solid pass rush, and Terrence Newman is the star of an above average secondary. Additionally, David Buehler kicks touchbacks like their extra points, and Mat McBriar is a fantastic punter. A flaw will surely emerge, and they might flounder in the playoffs, but Dallas is certainly the favorite in the NFC East.

2nd Place- New York Giants, 9-7
Eli Manning has developed into the best quarterback in franchise history, dropping 27 TD's and 4021 yards last season in what was the best statistical season a Giant QB has ever had. Injuries held the team down last year, with Antonio Pierce, Kenny Phillips, Aaron Ross, and other defensive stalwarts missing substantial amounts of time. The replacement players just did not cut it for the G-Men, and their once proud defense crumbled at the end of the season. Keith Bulluck, Antrel Rolle, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Deon Grant are all solid players that will give the Giants more depth and firepower on the defensive end. The Eagles and Redskins are also going to have down years, which will help the Giants' chances of getting back over .500. My favorite team will certainly have a shot at the playoffs this year, and hopefully can make another run towards the Super Bowl like they did 2 seasons ago. I just pray Tom Coughlin realizes how horribly ineffective Brandon Jacobs is, and increases the playing time of Ahmad Bradshaw and even Andre Brown. I don't care if Jeff Feagles comes out of retirement and takes handoffs, just take that lineman out of the backfield plleeeeaaasseeeeee!!! Jacobs is such an easy target for strong linebackers because he is so large, and doesn't seem to know how to take advantage of his size. If he could just destroy would-be tacklers like he did during the Super Bowl run that would be lovely, but the secret on how to stop him is out, and its time to move on.

3rd Place- Philidelphia Eagles, 7-9
Kevin Kolb, in my opinion, is an upgrade over Donovan McNabb at the QB position. He is the only QB in NFL history to throw for 300 yards in his first two starts, and he had some unbelievable statistics at the University of Houston (3809 Yards, and 30 TDs to only 4 INTs as a senior). However, McNabb was a great leader and knew how to win, skills that Kolb might not have this season. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are good receivers, but they might not have a good rapport with Kolb in his first season with the team. All in all, I predict a below .500 season for the Eagles, complete with many ups and downs and an overdose of criticism towards a QB that has enormous shoes to fill.

4th Place- Washington Redskins, 6-10
The Backfield of Extraordinary Gentleman has been assembled in Washington, with the key word being Gentleman. Larry Johnson, Clinton Portis, and Willie Parker are all over the hill running backs, and Donovan McNabb is an aging former superstar. Santana Moss is getting up in years, Chris Cooley is coming off a major injury, and Albert Haynesworth seems more interested in filling his wallet and waistline than plugging holes on the football field. The Redskins would be a force to reckon with if they were a few years younger, but I see Mike Shanahan's squad having serious chemistry issues and failing to come through in the clutch against the superior teams in the division.

Jason: The NFC East is a very tough division to predict. All the teams have the pieces to be contenders but all of them could falter and finish below .500. McNabb is a Redskin and hell hasn't frozen over so thats a plus. The Cowboys are a trendy pick to reach the Superbowl in their own stadium. The Eagles and Giants are both coming off disappointing seasons and are looking to bounce back.

1st Place- Dallas Cowboys, 11-5

While most people think the 'boys will cruise to the superbowl they have a tough schedule that could limit them. Their offense is stacked with Romo, Witten, and pad-hater Dez Bryant. After many distractions in previous years the Cowboys are primed to make a run. Wade Phillips isn't on the hot seat, Jessica Simpson isn't in the stadium, and they finally won a playoff game again. The defense played great down the stretch last year and should continue to grow. I think the Cowboys will win the division easily but won't dominate the league like many others think.

2nd Place- Philadelphia Eagles, 9-7

The Eagles have a new look to them this year. The most noticeable difference is new QB Kevin Kolb who is taking over for Donovan McNabb. Also, long time running back Brian Westbrook was released and just picked up by the 49ers. The offense can be very explosive with Jackson and Maclin at wide receiver. They also have LeSean McCoy in the backfield who can be very explosive. Their defense was suspect last year and could be a real weak spot. I don't think the Eagles can win the East but in the weak NFC they could sneak in as a wild card team.

3rd Place- New York Giants, 8-8

The Giants can go one of two ways. They can surprise people and make another run of they can have a weak defense and disappoint again. I think it will wind up being the latter. They have a very good QB in Eli Manning but he looked very bad in their first preseason game completing only 4 passes for 77 yards, 51 of which came on one broken play. There was also clear confusion between Jacobs and Manning on the play where Eli's head got a nice makeover. Their receiving corps is solid but still very young. Their D was injured for most of the year last year and it should be better this year. They got grandpa Keith Bulluck and a lineman who can do backflips. But seriously, they will be getting starters returning to their secondary and d-line which should help.  I do think that they do need a replacement for Antonio Pierce who was a leader on the field and in the locker room.  I don't think the Giants will improve this year and I expect coach Coughlin to be done after this season.

4th Place- Washington Redskins, 6-10

The Redskins should be much improved from last year, not saying much, I know. They brought in McNabb from philly and got Mike Shanahan to come out of retirement. Other than that, i think they will be just about the same team. Their run game shouldn't be any better this year and they dont have good receivers. Their defense has someone who takes a week to run 300 yards and not much else. Don't expect much from the 'skins this year because they aren't going anywhere.

Next up is the very competitive AFC North. Stay tuned!

NFL Preview: AFC East

DV Staff: We're back with an extensive preview of the 2010-11 NFL season! Beginning with the AFC East and finishing with the NFC West, we'll cover every single team in the league, division by division.

Ryan: The AFC East is one of the stronger divisions in football, featuring the perennial powerhouse New England Patriots, the reloaded Miami Dolphins, and one of the Super Bowl favorites; the New York Jets. Star power has crept into this division in the form of free agents and trades, namely Brandon Marshall, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Cromartie, and blazing fast rookie C.J. Spiller. Young quarterbacks Chad Henne, Mark Sanchez, and Trent Edwards look to create names for themselves, while Tom Brady looks to tack on another great season to his Hall of Fame career. It should be a thrilling race to the finish between the Jets and the Pats, but I think the Jets will nudge them out for the crown.

Place-Team, Record

1st Place- New York Jets, 13-3.
The Jets feature by far the league's most intimidating defense as well as the most inventive and intelligent defensive mind in all of football in Head Coach Rex Ryan. Although the Darrelle Revis contract situation is a troubling one, the Jets really do have a bright future. They still have two fantastic DBs in Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson, the rookie 1st rounder out of Boise State. Bart Scott and David Harris are two of the 10 best linebackers in the whole league, and Kris Jenkins is a force to be reckoned with on the D-line when healthy. The Jets also have a stellar running game, which should only improve with Shonn Greene's insertion into the starting lineup at RB, and they have improved in the passing game by adding former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes. LaDainian Tomlinson is also a Jet for at least this season, which just increases the star power and veteran leadership this team already has. The only huge question Mark is the QB Sanchez, who had 20 picks last year and looked lost, which is very bad considering his responsibilities mostly consisted of not tripping over his own feet while handing the ball to his backs. Still, a division title for the Jets is very likely, and the Super Bowl is a distinct possibility.

2nd Place- New England Patriots, 11-5

Maybe Tom Brady has never been the best QB in the NFL, but he has always been its best winner. Aside from that one absurd 50 touchdown season, Brady has never stood out that much statistically; rather its been his winning that makes him such a legendary player in this league. Even though Welker is still recovering from a serious injury and newly acquired Torry Holt is out for the season with a knee injury, I still believe Brady will keep this offense operating at a very high clip, maybe even at a higher rate than the Jets' offense. The Pats defense, however, is far from stable right now. Ty Warren is out for the season, and the core from the dynasty of old is just that; old. No Bruschi, no Seymour, no Warren, no Division Title. The best this team can hope for is a Wild Card spot, but there is just no way I envision them outperforming the Jets to an extent great enough to win the Division.

3rd Place- Miami Dolphins, 9-7

Brandon Marshall, in my opinion, is the 2nd best receiver in the league behind Andre Johnson. But Kyle Orton was not the QB for such an explosive athlete to catch balls from, as he rarely takes the chances required to take advantage of Marshall's skill. But this season, Brandon has taken his talents to South Beach, and I believe that the Henne to Marshall combo can do some incredible things through the air. That being said, the Dolphins have the misfortune of being in this top heavy division, and probably will win at most 1 game against the Pats and the Jets combined. Assuming they take 2 games from the hapless Bills, their division record will be 3-3, a record that will make it very difficult for them to compete for a playoff spot.

4th Place, Buffalo Bills, 3-13

Jake Locker...Andrew Luck...Ryan Mallett...mmmmmm. Oh, wait, we still have another season until the 2011 draft? Darn..okay, well..lets just tough it out, I guess. The Bills have pretty good young talent in C.J. Spiller and Paul Posluszny, but have very little else besides home field advantage. They may go winless in the division unless they can steal a game at home, and this season may just be chalked up to the development of Spiller and the rest of the young guns before they reload with a high pick in next years draft. Maybe they'll take a QB like Locker and stop putting all of their faith in a QB who's best season in college featured a 5 and 6 record...

Jason: Full disclaimer, I am a huge Jets fan.  With that in mind, this division is one of the best in the N.F.L. and should be competitive.  The AFC East has been owned by the Patriots for the last decade but now the Jets and Dolphins are making a push to be considered the top dog of the division.  The Bills don't have much to look forward to except next years top draft pick.  As Ryan pointed out there are many new players in this division including Santonio Holmes, Jason Taylor, and Karlos Dansby.  I think the Jets should win the division and one other team from this division will make the playoffs as a wild card.  

1st Place, New York Jets, 12-4

Generally after a team reaches the conference championship game the team stays intact however that was not the case with the Jets.  They added former MVP LaDainian Tomlinson, Superbowl MVP Santonio Holmes, all-pro Antonio Cromartie, Jason Taylor, and draft pick Kyle Wilson.  They have the best defense in the league run by Rex Ryan and anchored by current hold, out all-world Darrelle Revis.  Although Revis is the best defensive player in the league, the Jets don't want to give him 16 million dollars and they shouldn't.  Even if Revis doesn't play this season the Jets D still should be one of the tops in the league with Harris, Scott, and the return of Kris Jenkins.  On offense, Second year QB Mark Sanchez looked very good in the playoffs passing for 4 TD's and 2 INT's with a 92.7 QB rating.  Sanchez has also gotten new weapons.  L.T. is still a pass catching threat out of the backfield and Holmes will help open up the playbook.  Shonn Greene was very solid in the playoffs and the games he started in the regular season and should be ready to carry the main workload for the Jets.  Overall I think the Jets can finish 12-4 with their difficult schedule and win the division and perhaps the whole thing.  

2nd Place, New England Patriots, 10-6

The Pats have owned the division for most of the decade but their dominance has come to an end.  Unlike the Jets, the Patriots haven't made many moves this offseason.  Brady and Moss are getting older and their once formidable defense is no longer a big threat as made evident in their playoff loss at the hands of the Ravens.  Wes Welker has made a very speedy recovery from his knee injury suffered in week 17 and should be ready for the regular season.  The Patriots are also dealing with a holdout, that of guard Logan Mankins, and it appears that he won't be on the Pats this year.  They also lost their starting D-lineman Ty Warren.  The Pats still have tallent and one of the best cheaters, I mean coaches in the league and should be able to win 10 games and sneak into the playoffs.  

3rd Place, Miami Dolphins, 8-8

There is a-lot of hype in South Beach these days and not all of it is centered around the Heat.  The Dolphins had a nice offseason bringing in Brandon Marshall and Karlos Dansby.  They also have a young talented QB in Chad Henne.  The Henne to Marshall combo could be one of the most feared in the NFL for years to come.  The talent level is there but I don't think that it can translate into enough wins in the AFC East to make the playoffs.  

4th Place, Buffalo Bills, 4-12

There isn't much to look forward to in Buffalo.  They don't have a QB, defense, or wide receivers.  They do have electric back C.J. Spiller who could be special and is now thrust into the starting role due to injuries to the top two backs for the Bills.  The Bills are in the process of rebuilding and it will take a few years before they are relevant again.    

Thats it for the first division preview.  Stay tuned for the rest of out previews leading up to the start of the season which is less than a month away.  

Brett Favre Retires (Again)

Breaking news out of the N.F.L. this morning as Brett Favre has reportedly informed the Minnesota Vikings that he has decided to retire again.  The story has yet to be confirmed by the team but the Minneapolis Star Tribune and now ESPN are reporting the story.  Favre leads the league in all time wins, passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions and interceptions.  This is the third time Favre has retired now leading the league in that category as well.  Only time will tell if this retirement will stick but as of now the Vikings are looking for a new QB.  

Dez Bryant: Right or Wrong?

Just as freshman are hazed in high school and college, rookies are hazed in the NFL and all professional sports. This does not occur because the veterans are trying to humiliate their rookie teammates, but rather it is a reminder that these young guys with huge contracts do not run their new teams. Dez Bryant, former Oklahoma State star WR turned team castaway turned first round pick with a huge 5 year contract, recently refused veteran WR Roy Williams' attempt at hazing. Roy wanted Bryant to pick up his pads and bring them to the locker room for him, but Bryant defiantly said no and made Williams do it himself. Whether it be because Bryant didn't want to give the man he was competing with any satisfaction or because he has an attitude problem, Bryant did not back down from his actions, saying today "I feel like I was drafted to play football, not carry another player's pads."
And now, our opinions...! Is Bryant being a diva and thinking that he is different than everyone else? Or is he entitled to stand up to an unquestionably unfair system and to not be bothered with carrying a lazy veteran's pads?

Ryan: Since I have played sports my entire life, I have always been exposed to some sort of hazing, whether directly aimed at me or aimed at someone else. As a freshman coming up onto my high school track team, the senior members of the team would always look to embarrass myself and my freshman teammates at every opportunity before the first competition. And then at the first competition, I went out and beat all but 1 of said seniors. My performance earned serious respect, and I haven't experienced an ounce hazing since. Bryant has every right to refuse Williams in my opinion, provided that he backs up his arrogance with performance. Openly calling him out in the media is a little extreme, but Bryant is very proud of his abilities and is very well known for having this kind of attitude. Essentially, as long as Bryant has a good training camp and pushes Roy Williams to the extent he is capable of, then rookie hazing is very foolish. And Roy, watch your back, because Bryant is an unbelievable talent and could fill your unproductive shoes very quickly if you're not careful. Maybe you'll be carrying his pads soon if you don't focus on your game and don't transition back to the star you used to be.

MLB Mid-Season Awards

Ryan: A mathematical approach to the awards, sprinkled with a bit of reasoning.

American League

MVP- Miguel Cabrera, Detroit

Cabrera has finally cleaned himself up, and he is having one of the best seasons of his career. It has always been known that Miguel was one of the most, if not the most, naturally gifted hitter in baseball, but he always has had drinking problems that lead to poor fitness. These problems seem to be a thing of the past though, as Cabrera is batting .346 with 22 HRs and a league leading 77 RBIs. His scorching hot numbers compare only to Josh Hamilton's, but Cabrera leads him in key stats such as OBP, SLG, and runs scored. If it wasn't for Hamilton's record breaking month of June, Cabrera would be leading him in everything, so it will be interesting to see how their stats compare for the rest of this season.

ROY- Brennan Boesch, Detroit

Easiest award to pick by far. Boesch is batting a whopping .342 (MLB rookie leader), with 11 HRs (American League rookie leader) and 49 RBIs (MLB rookie leader). 'Nuff said.

Cy Young- David Price, Tampa Bay

It is truly incredible that David Price lived up to all the hype. The former first overall pick has had mild success before this season, and shown flashes of brilliance, but has never seemed like a superstar. Until now. Price leads the AL in Wins (12) and ERA (2.42), and already has 100 strikeouts. It is between Cliff Lee and David Price for sure, and I think the fact that Price leads the league in two major statistics gives him the edge.

National League

MVP- Albert Pujols, St. Louis

I originally picked Joey Votto for this award, but after looking at some statistics, I cannot pick anyone over Pujols. Votto has very comparable numbers to Pujols in the major stats, such as AVG, HRS, and RBIs, but the little things are what make Pujols the favorite. He has struck out 44 times, compared to Votto's 72, has walked more, has more doubles, and has more total bases. And recent studies have confirmed that Albert Pujols is actually 34% robot, and I would trust a proven hitting machine over and up and comer like Votto to win this award.

ROY- Ike Davis, New York Mets

WE LIKE IKE!! I dont know who should win this award betweeen Heyward, Ike, and Buster Posey from San Fran, but Ike has the best chant, and therefore is the ROY. Seriously though, this award is a crapshoot between those three rookies.

Cy Young- Josh Johnson, Florida

Who would have thought anyone could have picked someone without the name Ubaldo to win this award? Ubaldo does have more wins than anyone in the entire league, but Johnson simply has better numbers than any pitcher in the league. A jaw dropping 1.70 ERA coupled with only 28 walks issued (compared to Ubaldo's 46) and 10 more strikeouts creates an impossible to beat resume. The most important pitching stat is ERA, and Johnson's is far superior to the next best ERA (2.11 by Adam Wainwright). Ubaldo has the edge in wins, but Johnson trumps him in too many categories for the Cy Young not to be his.

Jason-

American League

MVP- Josh Hamilton, Texas

As great a year Cabrera is having, I think Hamilton is doing better. Hamilton leads the league in average at .353 and has 23 homeruns. The only category where he really trails Cabrera is RBIs (70 to Cabreras 83). After last season's disappointment, many thought that Hamilton's 2008 was a fluke but it clearly isn't as he is in the top 5 of every major hitting category.

ROY- Brennan Boesch, Detroit
As Ryan said this is a no brainer. Boesch has been a beast this year and no other A.L. rookie is even close.

Cy Young- Cliff Lee, Texas

Although he has struggled so far with the Rangers, Lee still has amazing numbers so far this season. His 2.59 ERA leads the A.L. and his .94 WHIP (walks, hits per innings pitched) is phenomenal. He is only 8-4 but part of that is because he started the season with the lowly Mariners. With Texas, the wins will come and so will the Cy Young.

National League

MVP- Joey Votto, Cincinnati

This award is really a toss up between Votto and Pujols and I think it will be decided by whoever wins the N.L. Central. If the Reds win I think Votto will get the award but if the Cardinals win it belongs to Pujols. However I do have to choose now and I think Votto will win the award. Votto now has more runs, homeruns, and SLG. percentage. Votto also only trails Pujols by .001 in OBP and his average is only 4 points less. As I said this will come down to the division winner but I think Votto should win this thing.

ROY- Gaby Sanchez, Florida

Sanchez has been having a stellar season. He leads N.L. rookies in AVG, SLG, hits, doubles, and total bases. He also has 42 RBIs and 10 homeruns. It is a very tight race between all the phenoms in the N.L. east and it will come down to the very end.

Cy Young- Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado

It's hard to pick anyone else for this award. I know Johnson leads the N.L. in ERA and WHIP but Ubaldo has been to dominant. Jimenez is 15-1 and his opponents batting average is just over .200. His WHIP is also just over 1 which is still very good. When you consider that Jimenez plays half his games at Coors Field it isn't a surprise that his ERA is higher than other pitchers but it's still a very respectable 2.38. Jimenez can rack up 25 wins this year and if he keeps the ERA down he should have no problem winning the Cy Young

Why Does Cliff Lee Keep Getting Traded?

Ryan: Don't you feel like a guy whose strikeout to walk ratio is an unbelievable 15:1 should not be shopped every single year? It's not like Cliff Lee is a mediocre pitcher that miiiiight be able to help a team get over the hump. He's the best damn pitcher in baseball, and is only rivaled by the likes of Ubaldo, Josh Johnson, Halladay, Lincecum, Carpenter, and Wainwright. Lee has won the Cy Young, pitched successfully in both leagues, tossed a Complete Game in the World Series, and had a season in which he was 22 and 3 with a 2.55 ERA. How can this guy continuously be shipped to team after team?
When he won the Cy Young in 2008 with Cleveland, he was inexplicably on the market the very next season. Maybe they thought that season was a fluke, but he never should have been traded after a historic season such as that. In 2009, he was the second-half MVP of the National League, pitched incredibly well for the Phillies, and was dumped in a trade for Roy Halladay, a pitcher considered to have the best durability in the MLB. Lee was expendable again here, because the Phillies staff already had an "ace" that was a lefty, if you want to consider Cole Hamels an ace. In Seattle this season, the Mariners already had a sensational young pitcher in the form of King Felix, and may not have wanted to commit large amounts of money to a pitcher that clearly deserved it.
So, yet again, Cliff Lee has been traded, this time to Texas. His situation continues to be incredibly puzzling, and it has only gotten worse this time around. The Rangers are bankrupt, and are currently being run by the MLB. They are in no position to resign Lee after the season is over, and he will hit the market again, this time as a free agent who can choose where he wants to sign. Hopefully, Lee will get some long-term stability this time around, and can settle down in one place and maybe, just maybe, live the life all superstar pitchers in the MLB live. One home, huge paycheck, loyal fans, and a chance to win the World Series.

Jason: I'll tell you why he keeps getting traded... MONEY!!!  Cleveland is a small market team who couldn't afford to keep him long term.  They knew that so they traded him even after his Cy Young.  The figured if they couldn't keep him they should get something for him so they traded him to the Phillies while he was on top of his game.  If Cleveland kept him until the end of his contract he would leave in free agency and they would get nothing. (see James, LeBron)  Also the Indians weren't contending.  Teams that are in contention don't trade an ace but teams that are out of the race try to get pieces for the future.  

Last season, Lee was phenomenal for the Phillies.  He had a great second half and one of the the best postseasons in history.  After the season, the Phillies decided that one lefty ace was enough in Cole Hamels so Lee was traded to Seattle.  The Phillies also wouldn't spend big money on a 30 year old pitcher.  The Phillies had the same thinking as the Indians, if they weren't going to keep Lee they should get prospects for him.  

This season has been another good one for Lee.  He is 8-4 with a 2.64 ERA and has been an inning eater however he has been doing it for the lowly Mariners.  Before the season, Seattle was a trendy pick to win the A.L. West however they are 35-52 and 15 games out of first so they shipped Lee of to division rival Texas.  In return the Mariners got a very highly regarded first base prospect.  If the Mariners aren't ready to win now they should build for the future which is what they are doing.  Also Lee is a free agent after this season and there was no way that Seattle could afford to keep him so they didn't.  

Now Cliff Lee is on the first place Texas Rangers.  who are bankrupt and in the process of being bought.  Now people would think, why would a bankrupt team trade for a soon to be free agent?  Simple, they want to win now.  There is a very slim chance that the Rangers will sign Lee to the mega contract that he will want.  The Rangers know that if Lee pitches the remainder of the season the way he pitched last season they have a great shot of reaching the playoffs and going past the first round. 

After this season Lee will have his needs sought after by the usual big spenders and will end up with a huge contract.  This will be the last time Lee gets a big free agent contract and he almost certainly won't be traded again with his new contract.  

LeBron Special Live Blog

Ryan: In all of my life, I have never seen anything quite like tonight's "The Decision" on ESPN. All of the sports fans in Chicago, New York, Cleveland, and Miami (and every other city) will be glued to their televisions as LeBron James announces where he will be playing basketball for at least the next 5 years. Most individuals would just let an agreed upon contract leak to the press, but not The King. Except for possibly Kobe Bryant, LBJ is the most well known player in the NBA, and he is taking advantage of that to the fullest tonight by hosting a 1 hour long special TV program featuring interviews, the decision, and who knows what else. All of the LeBron hoopla ends tonight, and I will be coming to you live with thoughts, comments, and very strong opinions, starting...NOW!

7:26- Just a little early, I know, but this is too ridiculous for me, I have to write about it. LeBron is so selfish for doing this its unreal. Remember how Wade and Bosh quietly announced that they were going to play together just yesterday? And how Kevin Durant used Twitter to announce his contract extension, not some ridiculous television special? This guy is so full of himself, I don't think he can help himself. ESPN knows people want to watch this, which unfortunately is true, and they keep showing camera shots of the currently empty room that LBJ is going to speak in. This is such a circus, I want it to be 10 already!

7:30- My sources tell me LeBron is signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

7:40- Anyone else realize that this got more attention than the World Cup, Wimbledon, and the MLB all put together? That's such a shame...I would never succumb to LeBron's shenanigans and spend 3 hours of my life writing a live blog about it...

7:45- LeBron's not even in his prime yet, why does ESPN have a segment entitled "Looking Back on LeBron" on SportsCenter...and OMG LeBron arrived at the Boys and Girls Club in Connecticut!! ESPN couldn't get a plate on the car what does that mean!?!? Oh wait he's not at the Boys and Girls Club, just some house, does that mean he's going to the Bulls? He's wearing sunglasses, that means he's going to the Knicks right? Ugh...

7:58- 1 HOUR UNTIL IT STARTS!!! More importantly...2 HOURS UNTIL IT'S OVER!!!

8:00- "LEBRON JAMES, WITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE" is still the best basketball quote ever. Nothing beats it. Nothing can.

8:10- Chris Broussard has reported that LeBron was favoring the Knicks, the Bulls, the Cavs, and the Heat at seperate times. I honestly can't believe that this Heat report is anything but the most recent "source". These reporters have been witch-hunting for weeks now, and I wonder how much of it is made up. Bill Simmons semi-accused Stephen A. Smith of making up a report about the Big Three going to Miami last week, and whether or not that is true, at least a few of these reports must be made up by either the "sources" or the reporters themselves.

Jason: I have to give my take on LeBronathon/LeBronocalypse because this is just too funny. I don't think I have ever seen a more egotistical maniac in the history of sports, and thats including T.O.

I think the ballsiest choice forLeBron would be the Knicks. He would be attempting to save basketball in New York. Winning one title for the Knicks will bring him more popularity than winning three titles with any other team. Also, if LeBron really wants to build his brand, which he clearly does based upon his new twitter account and website, than New York has to be his choice.

The choice that would show he truly cares most about winning now would be the Bulls. I think the Bulls have the most pieces in place to be a title contender for years to come. Joakim Noah is a beast on the boards and on defense. Also Derrick Rose has the ability to become one of the best point guards in the NBA and he is only 23 years old.

The safe choice would be the Heat. He would be going into a situation with Wade and Bosh where they could create a dynasty. I think that going to Miami would be a bad move for LeBron for a few reasons. First, he wouldn't be as big a star in Miami, it is after all Wade County. Also, even if he wins a few titles he still won't be considered one of the greats because he needed so much help. M.J. and Kobe built their teams but LeBron would be considered weak for having to play with another superstar and Chris Bosh (nowhere near the same level).

The choice good for the NBA would be if he stayed in Cleveland and tried to finish what he started. Leaving Cleveland would make him a villain, especially if he announced he was leaving on national TV. Leaving his home town has been compared to a nuclear bomb being dropped on the city. "The Leave" would be worse than the shot, fumble, and 1997 World Series, but not as bad as the drive or the departure of the original Browns. The Browns left more than 10 years ago and their owner still hasn't been welcomed back. If LeBron leaves his home town he will become the most hated person is Cleveland sports and never be welcomed back.

It's allot to digest but thats what could happen in just about half an hour in Connecticut. Speaking of the site of "The Decision", many of the kids at the Boys and Girls club in Connecticut are Knicks fans and have hung a sign saying, " Welcome LeBron... Please choose New York." We will know in just a few minutes what he chooses and how the NBA will be shaped for the next Decade.

Ryan: Great points, I actually agree with you this time. Don't get used to it. Anyway I'm back.

9:00- HERE WE GO!

9:03- Wiblon, Broussard, Barry, and Stuart Scott are all discussing it now...isn't it supposed to start? Where's the Drama King of the Hour...WE WANT LEBRON

9:06- Nice shirt LeBron. Purple is the color of the Kings...Sacramento?

9:12- If LBJ goes to the Bulls or the Knicks, the Eastern Conference will seize the throne of the best of the two Conferences. The Heat, Celtics, Magic, Bulls (without LBJ or with LBJ), and the Knicks (only with LBJ) would all have the talent to compete with the Lakers and the other Western Conference powers. This decision has such far reaching impacts, lets see what happens.

9:22- This is more intense than I thought it would be I'm so nervous...I've never seen this reporter before this is quite an opportunity for him. Mazeltov.

9:28- Some free agent just signed with the Heat.

9:28- This team is going to be so much fun to watch I can't wait. There has never, and will never be as large of a media circus as their will be in South Beach now that LBJ, Dwyane Wade, and CB4 are all in town. I think this was the safest move for LeBron, and the right move for him individually.

9:33- Poor Cleveland. They can never catch a break. But blame it on Dan Gilbert for not signing anyone to bolster the roster, and just seemingly assuming LBJ would fall into his lap. My heart goes out to the fans though. They didn't deserve this.

9:35- How will this team play ball together? Is every Heat game going to be similar to the All-Star Game? Food for thought: I can't wait until the Christmas Day special Heat vs. Lakers, where Bosh, LeBron, Wade, Chalmers, and some unimportant scrub play against the defending champs. The expectations for one team have never been higher than they are right now for Miami, but can the Heat even get out of the East? Can they win the Division?

9:37- I just realized, the Heat play in the Magic's division. This is unfortunate. Hawks, Magic, Heat. All in one division. Wow.

9:43- Alright, its over. No more LeBron drama. The stage is set for an epic trio of players that have only played together for the Redeem Team in 2008 attempting to wrench the NBA title from the L.A. Lakers. More comments to come, but the live blog is over. Thanks so much, I'm out.

Oranje Crush

The Dutch have reached the World Cup Finals for the first time since 1978 with their 3-2 victory over Uruguay in todays semi-finals match-up. Goals by Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst powered the Dutch over a feisty Uruguay team who got goals from star Diego Forlan and Maxi Pereria. The game was level at 1 at the half but the Dutch scored twice in a span of 4 minutes to seemingly put the game away however Uruguay wasn't done yet. Pereria's goal 2 minutes in to injury time made things very interesting. After that strike, Uruguay had a flurry of chances but couldn't connect on a clean shot before the clock ran out on their Cinderella story. The Dutch will go for their first world cup victory on Sunday against either Spain or Germany. The Dutch have been in the finals twice before but both times they were playing the host country. If Spain advances tomorrow it will ensure that a new name goes on the World Cup as neither Spain nor the Netherlands have won a World Cup. Amsterdam will be partying until Sunday and the when they play in their third finals and go for their first win.

Amare to the Knicks becomes official.

Amare Stoudemire has become a member of the New York Knickerbockers.  He has agreed to a lucrative 5 year 100 million dollar contract, the max amount he could sign for.  While it was debated earlier on the blog weather or not this was a good idea, most Knicks fans are very happy with the signing.  Many people, including myself, believe that this is only the first move for the Knicks and that this signing will lead to another marquee free agent wanting to join the Knicks.  With this signing it almost guarantees  the departure of David Lee who has been a very productive player in his time in New York.Stoudmire can sign the contract on July 8th and by that time the Knicks hope to have agreed to terms with another star.  After two years of waiting, the Knicks have signed a big name star but Knicks fans know that this signing isn't enough and are expecting more.  

World Cup Favorite?

Ryan: So, the Semi's are set. What a tournament its been so far; my goodness its been exciting. Star studded Holland vs. underdog Uruguay will play on July 6th to put one team through to the Finals. Wesley Sneijder has been a force during this tournament, scoring the game winner against Brazil in a huge upset two days ago, but Diego Forlan has put Uruguay on his back and carried them to the Semi's. What a stunning route Uruguay has taken to get this far, highlighted by the absurd ending to the Ghana game, with Suarez's intentional handball and Gyan's missed PK, followed by a 4-2 victory in the shootout. The other Semi, Spain vs. Germany, could very well have been the final if the tournament had been set up differently. Spain is finally coming into its own defensivly, but the shockingly poor form of Fernando Torres has prevented them from being the offensive power they should be. What more could be said about the way the Germans have played? Klose, Mueller, Ozil, and Schweinsteiger have played so well, running counter-attacks at an unmatched level. Although Mueller is banned from the Spain match, I still predict Germany will win, setting up a final with Holland. In a dramatic Final, I predict that the dominant force that is Germany will steamroll their opposition, and capture yet another World Cup title. What's your take?

Jason: I'm obviously going with my man Fernando Torres and Espana. He's bound to have a break out game. He's too good to not do anything the entire tournament. Spain also has David Villa who has been the second best player in the World Cup behind Klose, who could win his second golden boot. In the other semi-final game I think Holland will prevail fairly easily. Uruguay has had a great run including some very memorable moments,

(intentional hand ball), but Holland led by Wesley Sneijder has too much fire power for Uruguay to handle. Spain v. Holland next sunday and Espana will prevail.

Ryan: First of all, your man Torres is fresh off an ankle injury, and looks terrible. He can't score, and I don't believe he should even be a starter. Liverpool's Number Nine is one of my favorite players as well, and it's painful for me to watch him have such a hard time doing things he usually does so gracefully. Also, Spain, for all their star power, does not play well as a team. Villa is taking advantage of the opportunities Xavi and Xabi Alonso create for him, as well as the opportunities he creates for himself. But, he is the only player on the whole team that seems to remember he is one of the best in the world, and the team has really limped through the Cup, winning games by only 1 goal almost every time out. On the other hand, Germany has scored 4 goals on 3 seperate occasions, including blowouts of world class teams Argentina and England. The whole team is playing so well, and their counterattack is something not even Spain will be able to keep up with. The only reason Spain has a chance to win this game is because Mueller is out, but Germany is good enough to compensate for the loss of one player. It just seems too unlikely that the more talented side, Spain, will finally learn how to play as a team in the Semifinals of the World Cup. This is the team that lost to the USA last year and Switzerland just last month. As fun as they are to watch, I cannot pick them to beat the German juggernaut.

Amare to the Knicks

Ryan: What do you think about Amare going to The Big Apple? Personally, I think Lee is a better fit for the offense and is a far superior rebounder, but Amare is the big name they want so badly. He hasn't signed yet, but do you think signing Amare would benefit the Knicks? Save the Franchise? Screw the Franchise? Or my pick...perenial 6 to 8 seed, never advancing past the Conference Semi-Finals, and wishing they didn't sign a Power Forward who doesn't do anything but score (can't rebound, can't pass, can't block...ugh)

Jason: While I agree that Lee (20 ppg 12 rpg) may be a better player than Amare (22 ppg 7 rpg) the Knicks need to sign Amare over Lee because of star power. The Knicks desperately need a big name signing to ease the horrible public perception the currently have. Also one big name signing for the Knicks could lead to another. Lebron, Wade, and Bosh would be more intrigued by the Knicks offer if the have Amare. Lee doesn't have the same pull that Amare does. For that reason I believe that it is very important for the Knicks to sign Amare and do so quickly.

Ryan: Amare is a force, sometimes. D'Antoni's offense will do him wonders that's for sure. However, I know Bosh doesn't want to play with Amare, Wade would prefer playing with his buddy Bosh, and LeBron just isn't coming to New York. LBJ would play with Bosh, he would play with Wade, and he would play with Joe Johnson. Amare doesn't do anything but score, and this is why he and Steve Nash were never able to make the Finals. The big stars know that, and they won't be lured by Amare, despite his popularity with the fans.

It really bothers me that the Knicks want to cure their perception rather than win basketball games, I hate that argument (though I know it's the truth). A better strategy for them would be to, you know, try to put a winning team together. That usually is a better strategy than trying to be popular, and it will inevitably lead to that. Bring back Lee/sign Boozer to get good rebounding. Attempt to pry Brendan Haywood from Dallas to actually get some defense for once. Sign Felton to run the point, and get a fantastic 2-guard, like Joe Johnson. A starting of Felton, JJ, Gallo, Lee/Boozer, and Haywood has all of the tools a team needs to compete. But, the Knicks are going to sign Amare, not get anyone else, and ultimatley become less popular....so sad.

Rudy Gay

It appears the first domino has fallen on this years free agent class.  Via ESPN Rudy Gay has verbally agreed to stay with the Grizzlies for a 5 year 80 Million dollar deal.  That deal is much better than the 5 year 50 Million dollar deal that Gay turned down last year.  Sources close to Gay have also said that he has canceled a meeting with Minnesota who many believed he would sign with.  Although it doesn't appear the Gay signing will influence other signings it will be interesting to see if other free agents will soon follow and agree to new contracts.

Free Agency

Salmons, Delfino, and Gooden all signed with the Bucks, which is great for a team that showed a lot of promise at the end of last season. But really, a max contract for Rudy Gay?!? The guy was the second scoring option on his team last year but not even the third most effective, and thats about all the guy can do. All this talk about the economy going in the dumps obviously didnt reach the NBA owners, giving mediocre players like Gay a maximum contract. And Darko Milicic signed for big money, as did Gooden. Frankly, all these teams built up so much cap space, but it doesnt seem like their using it very well.
In other news, Dwayne Wade and Pat Riley want Amare and LeBron to play in Miami next season. This will take up all of their cap room, and give them 5 players on the team (in addition to Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley). Aside from the fact that this triumvirate features three guys that need the ball, namely LeBron and Wade, Chalmers and Beasley are just not good enough to fill out a starting five. Chalmers doesnt have any moves, and Beasley is undersized and uncommitted. Whereas the Michael Jordan Bulls had a Big Three surrounded by shooters and skilled players, this one is going to have two unproven players and a bunch of guys making the minimum around it. And although Pierce, Allen, and Garnett were surrounded by pretty average bench play, they had Rondo to set them up and run the break. Also, the year they first got together, they understood that it was their last hurrah and needed to win and win fast. LeBron, Wade, and Amare are all younger players and don't have this motivation. Obviously they are a superior bunch, in both talent and popularity, but I don't think this plan is in their best interests. They don't need to share the spotlight; they're fantastic players that could win without playing together. Too many stars spoil the broth, just ask the Athens USA Basketball Team.

N.B.A. free agency

There is 1 hour and until the N.B.A. is reshaped for the next decade.  No one  knows what will happen.  Will Lebron stay in Cleveland or join other stars like Dwane Wade and Chris Bosh in Chicago or Miami?  Will the Knicks sign anybody? What about the Nets and their new Russian billionaire owner?  With all the big names on the move the balance of power will drastically shift.  The clock is ticking.

Welcome!

Welcome to Dueling Viewpoints.  This blog is Jason Hoffman, and Ryan Press talking about everything there is to talk about in sports.  When we talk about sports it almost always ends in a disagreement, hence Dueling Viewpoints.  Nothing is off limits and everything will cause great debate. 

Enjoy, 

Jason Hoffman and Ryan Press