Random Thoughts (April 29, 2009)

After watching him rise to a level that even his biggest supporters (myself included) probably thought was out of reach, Rajon Rondo has officially made himself indispensible to the Celtics. His amazing series against the Bulls (24.2 points, 10.2 assists, 10.2 rebounds, 3.2 steals) has vaulted his status from rising star into the realm of the best young point guards in the NBA. Rondo has transformed the "Big 3" of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett into the "Big 4." Expect to see Wyc Grousbeck open his checkbook this summer to ensure Rondo is a Celtic for a very long time... I avoided writing about the Red Sox during their eleven game winning streak because I didn't want to jinx their success. Now that they have finally lost, here are some quick-hit thoughts on their play in April:

• As much as I love David Ortiz, his time hitting in the third spot in Terry Francona's lineup has to be nearing an end unless he starts to produce like the Big Papi of 2003-2007. I am encouraged by his recent determination to hit to the opposite field but the Red Sox can not afford to have a singles hitter in the heart of their lineup. The options for Francona are limited -- J.D. Drew just doesn't play enough to warrant hitting him third -- but something will have to be done.
• We all loved the "Idiot" Red Sox of 2003 and 2004 but I think I like the intensity and passion of these Sox -- led by Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, and Jason Bay -- even more. These guys obviously love the game and their refusal to ever quit makes them a must watch for all nine innings.
• I will always be a member of the Manny Ramirez Fan Club but that doesn't mean I don't want Bay signed to a long-term extension immediately.
• It would be nice to see Jonathan Papelbon record a few 1-2-3 saves.
• It has to kill all Yankees, from George Steinbrenner to George Costanza, to see the Sox trot out Justin Masterson, Hunter Jones, and Michael Bowden to shut them down on national television.
• Ellsbury's steal of home was the play of the year. Take that Posada!

The Patriots draft has me very excited for 2009 and beyond. Bill Belichick once again refused to overpay for talent he did not want and instead recorded value picks in safety Patrick Chung, defensive lineman Ron Brace, cornerback Darius Butler, and tackle Sabastian Vullmer in the second round.

With the contracts of Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, Logan Mankins, and Stephen Neal all up after 2009, the Patriots need to be fiscally responsible. I applaud Belichick for going for value, both in terms of talent and finances, instead of trying to appease the media or fans with a first round pick.

Belichick's ability to fill the Patriots roster with quality talent that does not put pressure on their salary cap is the chief reason why they have dominated this decade...

It's almost May and the Bruins are still playing hockey. Gotta love it...

In my NHL playoff picks, I went 2-for-4 in the East and 3-for-4 in the West. For someone who doesn't watch too much hockey, I'll take those numbers.

I did lose the Devils, my choice to represent the East in the Stanley Cup Finals, in the first round...

Enjoy Jon Lester tonight...

Future of NBA in Great Hands

With the news breaking today that Bulls guard Derrick Rose has been named the NBA's Rookie of the Year, it gave me a good feeling as the Association continues to look past the post-Michael Jordan era. When Jordan hung up his sneakers (for the second time) after the 1998 NBA Finals, there was a genuine concern about the future of professional basketball. Jordan had been the consumate champion on the court as well as the perfect corporate spokesman off the court. His unique blend of basketball and salesmanship turned the NBA into a global company. The post-Jordan years saw the duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant win three titles (2000 - 2002), Tim Duncan and the Spurs win four titles (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007), a rebirth of the Bad Boy Pistons in 2004, the duo of Shaq and Dwayne Wade take the trophy in 2006, and the Celtics return to glory in 2008. In that decade, the NBA was carried by Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Wade, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitski, Paul Pierce, and Chauncey Billups. The league survived the retirement(s) of Jordan because it had a stable of stars to rely upon to keep the game exciting. As we look ahead to the next decade, the NBA looks like it will continue to flourish. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade will be the top stars that will carry the league but recent additions Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant (2008 ROY), Chris Paul (2006 ROY), Deron Williams, Brandon Roy (2007 ROY), Rajon Rondo, and Rose will lay the foundation for another decade of excellence on the hardwood.

NFL Mock Draft 3.0

This is the third and final version of TheBostonInsider's 2009 NFL Mock Draft. For reference, click here for version 2.0 and click here for version 1.0. As the history of draft day has shown us, there are always plenty of trades. I will not try and predict any of the wheeling-and-dealing that Saturday will provide, instead, this is a shot in the dark based on where each team is slotted to pick as of today. 1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia 2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor 3. Kansas City Chiefs: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College 4. Seattle Seahwaks: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest 5. Cleveland Browns: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech 6. Cincinnati Bengals: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia 7. Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri 8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama 9. Green Bay Packers: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU 10. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi 11. Buffalo Bills: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas 12. Denver Broncos: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC 13. Washington Redskins: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State 14. New Orleans Saints: Brian Cushing, LB, USC 15. Houston Texans: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia 16. San Diego Chargers: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State 17. New York Jets: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State 18. Denver Broncos: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Clay Matthews, LB, USC 20. Detroit Lions: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State 21. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State 22. Minnesota Vikings: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland 23. New England Patriots: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State 24. Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi 25. Miami Dolphins: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers 26. Baltimore Ravens: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC 27. Indianapolis Colts: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida 28. Buffalo Bills: Max Unger, C, Oregon 29. New York Giants: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona 30. Tennessee Titans: Hakeem Nicks, WR, N.C. State 31. Arizona Cardinals: Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois 32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois Random Patriots Draft Ramblings: After hearing Bill Belichick's comments about his ability to move up in this draft, I would not be shocked to see him package the 23rd pick along with one of his second round picks (34, 47, or 58) to move up to the 13th pick. The Redskins are desperate for picks... This is the draft where the Pats have to reload for the next decade. They have eleven total picks, with six of those selections in the top 97. Belichick has to nail this draft... Even though Vince Wilfork is saying all the right things about wanting to remain a Patriot for his entire career, I would like to see a possible Wilfork replacement chosen this weekend. Ron Brace of BC would be a great fit... Help for the secondary (William Moore of Missouri, Rashad Johnson of Alabama, Sean Smith of Utah, Patrick Chung of Oregon, Louis Delmas of Western Michigan, Darius Butler of UConn) and at linebacker (Connor Barwin of Cincinnati, James Laurinaitis of Ohio State, Cody Brown of UConn, Jasper Brinkley of South Carolina, Darry Beckwith of LSU) is a must... Enjoy Mel Kiper's hair...

2 Out Of 3 Ain't So Bad

What a weekend in Boston. The Bruins face-off with the Canadiens, the Celtics begin the defense of their championship against the Bulls, the Red Sox host the Orioles, and 15,000 maniacs are ready to subject themselves to the torture of a 24-mile race on Monday. Yesterday was a busy day in the Bean. The C's tipped off at noon and the B's and Sox both had night games. It wasn't a perfect day for the hometown teams but all things considered, yesterday was a success for Boston. The Celtics did lose but it was an entertaining game for those of us who enjoy basketball. Bulls rookie guard Derrick Rose's performance brought back bad memories of Michael Jordan's explosive series against the Celtics in 1986. Rose scored 36 points (on 12-for-19 shooting) and dished out 11 assists in the Bulls surprising 105-103 overtime victory. Now, it's not the time to hit the panic button yet. The Bulls needed Rose to play like a young MJ and they got huge nights out of Tyrus Thomas (16 points, including three important jumpers in the fourth quarter) and Joakim Noah (11 points and 17 rebounds) and they only beat the C's by 2 points in OT. Ray Allen also had his worst game of the season (4 points on 1-for-12 shooting). I don't expect Allen to be that bad or Thomas and Noah to be that good again in this series. As for Rose, watch out. This kid is amazing. However, Rajon Rondo also played a fantastic game (29 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists), so the C's know they can attack Rose on the defensive end. Yesterday's loss aside, the Celtics will take this series. Over at Fenway Park, the Red Sox used six quality innings from Josh Beckett and big nights at the plate from Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz to knock off the Orioles. The Sox lineup still is waiting for Ortiz to morph back into Big Papi but Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Jason Bay are hitting and Ortiz, Lowell, and J.D. Drew are showing signs that they are ready to heat up. Finally, back at the Garden, the Bruins hammered the Canadiens 5-1, taking a 2-0 lead in their first round series. The Bruins received points from 11 players, including goalie Tim Thomas (who also registered 30 saves on 31 Montreal shots), and netted three power play goals. Watching Patrice Bergeron beat down Josh Gorges with a barrage of left hands was another highlight. On the flip side of that, the B's could possibly lose Milan Lucic for Game 3 after he was tossed in the third period for high sticking Maxim Lapierre. Overall, it was a great day to be a sports fan in Boston.

Random Thoughts (April 16, 2009)

The world of sports broadcasting has taken some major blows in the past few days. Harry Kalas, the legendary voice of the the Philadelphia Phillies and NFL Films, passed away at age 73 on Monday. John Madden, the Hall of Fame Coach of the Oakland Raiders and NFL analyst, retired this morning. I wonder if Madden may replace Kalas as the voice of NFL Films. Madden's voice is so well known from his broadcasting and also for being the name and sound behind the popular "Madden NFL Football" video game series that he could almost seamlessly fill the void left behind by Kalas... The Japanese national baseball team should be picking up at least a part of Daisuke Matsuzaka's salary this year. The Red Sox pitcher was the MVP of the World Baseball Classic for his homeland but because he pitched so many stressful innings in March -- a time when most pitchers are just beginning to get into game shape -- his arm is already tired. The Red Sox were forced to place Matsuzaka on the disabled list yesterday with fatigue in his pitching arm. I wonder how much money the Japanese team made from winning their second straight WBC title. I bet it's plenty to repay the Red Sox a little bit for the loss on their investment... My ability to assess and comment on the NHL is akin to W's failure to lead the United States (lack of information cripples us both in our stated goal) but here are my predictions for the NHL playoffs: EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND (1) Bruins over (8) Canadiens; (4) Penguins over (5) Flyers; (3) Devils over (6) Hurricanes; (7) Rangers over (2) Capitals SECOND ROUND (1) Bruins over (4) Penguins; (3) Devils over (7) Rangers FINALS (3) Devils over (1) Bruins WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND (8) Ducks over (1) Sharks; (5) Flames over (4) Blackhawks; (3) Canucks over (6) Blues; (2) Red Wings over (7) Blue Jackets SECOND ROUND (5) Flames over (8) Ducks; (2) Red Wings over (3) Canucks FINALS (2) Red Wings over (5) Flames STANLEY CUP FINALS Red Wings over Devils If you are a betting man, don't take this into consideration... Enjoy Milan Lucic tonight...

NBA Playoff Thoughts

Now that it official that Kevin Garnett is out for the playoffs, the good folks in Cleveland can start preparing to host their second NBA Finals in three years... With the Celts chances looking slim, I am personally rooting for a LeBron-Kobe matchup in the Finals... I believed that the Bulls could upset the Magic but the Celtics defense -- even without KG -- will be too much for 'Da Bulls... Carmelo Anthony will join Tracy McGrady in the fraternity of "stars" who could never lead their team past the first round of the playoffs... If I were running the Spurs, Manu Ginobili's career playing for Argentina would be over. Kind of like how the Red Sox should end Daisuke's committments to the Japanese national team... The Rockets-Blazers matchup in the first round should be a lot of fun to watch... As for my playoff predictions: EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND (1) Cavaliers over (8) Pistons (Cavs break out the brooms in MoTown) (5) Heat over (4) Hawks (Too much D-Wade for Atlanta to handle) (3) Magic over (6) 76ers (The Sixers can't stop Dwight Howard) (2) Celtics over (7) Bulls (Derrick Rose shows America the future of the point guard position) SECOND ROUND (1) Cavaliers over (5) Heat (LeBron v. D-Wade will have me ready for June) (2) Celtics over (3) Magic (Pierce ends any debate about his HOF credentials) EASTERN FINALS (1) Cavaliers over (2) Celtics (A healthy KG would have made the difference) WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND (1) Lakers over (8) Jazz (Kobe & Co. roll over Utah) (4) Blazers over (5) Rockets (Brandon Roy emerges as a superstar) (6) Mavericks over (3) Spurs (Ginobili's absence can not be overcome) (7) Hornets over (2) Nuggets (Carmelo will be on the trade block this summer) SECOND ROUND (1) Lakers over (4) Blazers (Closer than you thought it would be) (6) Mavericks over (7) Hornets (The last time Jason Kidd will top Chris Paul) WESTERN FINALS (1) Lakers over (6) Mavericks (Too easy for L.A.) NBA FINALS Cavaliers over Lakers LeBron is just too much. 2009 is his year (just like 1980 belonged to Magic, 1981 belonged to Larry, 1991 belonged to Michael, 1994 belonged to Hakeem, 1999 belonged to David and Duncan, and 2000 belonged to Shaq and Kobe). Every superstar worth their $100-million sneaker contract finally realizes their potential and wins the ring and this is LeBron's time. He is a force of nature on both ends of the floor and he has the supporting cast to make up for his 2007 loss in the Finals to Tim Duncan and the Spurs. Kobe and the Lakers will try to play the role of spoiler but LeBron and the city of Cleveland will have their moment, finally.

Wake Saves Season

We are all aware of how bad of a start the Red Sox are off to but the panic level was too high for me in April. It's not like the Sox were 3-15 and spinning out of contention and they historically struggle on the West Coast. Still, it was a relief to see Tim Wakefield pitch a complete game in today's 8-2 win over Oakland. Wake carried a no-hitter into the eighth and the bats actually came to life, an encouraging sign as the Sox return to Fenway this weekend. Nice touch by MLB making every player wear #42 on the 51st anniversary of Jackie Robinson's major league debut. Hopefully 2009 Big Papi can channel that number into a performance worthy of Mo Vaughn in 1995.

NBA Awards

With the NBA regular season ending tonight, I thought it was an appropriate time to hand out the first annual TheBostonInsider NBA Awards. A note to all winners, the trophies are in the mail. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES: Derrick Rose, Bulls; Brook Lopez, Nets; O.J. Mayo, Grizzlies; Kevin Love, Timberwolves; Russell Westbrook, Thunder SKINNY: Rose has been the guiding light for a Bulls team that could pull the rug out from under Dwight Howard and the Magic in the first round of the playoffs. Rose scored 16.8 points and handed out 6.3 assists (with an impressive 2.5-to-1 assist to turnover ration) playing the toughest position in the NBA for young players. Lopez averaged a solid 13.1 points and 8.1 rebounds. Mayo can score (18.4) but he is not a great decision maker (1.2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio). Love and Westbrook are at the back end of a very good rookie class. WINNER: Derrick Rose COACH OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES: Erik Spoelstra, Heat; Doc Rivers, Celtics; Phil Jackson, Lakers; Mike Brown, Cavaliers; Jerry Sloan, Jazz; Stan Van Gundy, Magic SKINNY: Spoelstra took over a 15-win team from Pat Riley but he also inherited a fully healthy Dwayne Wade, who was hell bent on proving the last two years were abberations, and two very good rookies in Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers. Rivers guided the Celtics to another 60-win season, in spite of injuries to Kevin Garnett, Leon Powe, and Rajon Rondo (amongst others). Rivers gets bonus points for creating a spot for Stephon Marbury. Jackson has always struck me as sort of a phony but he has to get credit for getting the Lakers to bounce back from their horrible loss to the Celtics in the '08 Finals. Brown led the Cavs to their best ever season. It is a travesty that Sloan doesn't have like eight Red Auerbach trophies. Van Gundy is one of my personal favorites. WINNER: Doc Rivers DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES: Kobe Bryant, Lakers; LeBron James, Cavaliers; Dwight Howard, Magic; Kendrick Perkins, Celtics; Ron Artest, Rockets SKINNY: Bryant has done the impossible. He realized he had a talented but very soft front court and decided to bring the toughness to his team from the wing on a nightly basis. As much as he is hated, Bryant is up there with Jordan (and LeBron) as the best two-way players who ever laced up a pair of hightops. James is such a freak defensively that he can cover a quick point guard like Rondo one night to banging bodies inside the next. Howard is the anchor of a weak Magic defense and after watching him closely the last few weeks, he is susceptible to helping too much on penetration, allowing a dump off pass leading to easy points (a main reason why I think the Bulls and Rose will pull off the upset). Perkins has transformed himself into a lesser known but more talented inside presence than Howard. Artest is a force but he loses points because he gets to play alongside Shane Battier, a fine defenisve forward in his own right. WINNER: Kobe Bryant MOST IMPROVED PLAYER CANDIDATES: Rajon Rondo, Celtics; Devin Harris, Nets; Danny Granger, Pacers; Chris Anderson, Nuggets; Mo Williams, Cavaliers SKINNY: Rondo has evolved so much in his three years. He went from athletic freak who made some exciting playes as a rookie to a steady point guard capable of the amazing in his sophomore season to irreplaceable floor general on a team looking to repeat as champion. Harris is never gone to be Jason Kidd but the Mavericks will never forgive themselves for trading Harris for Kidd. Granger (25.7 points, 5 rebounds, 2.7 assists) is developing into a star in the relative obscurity of Indiana. I still have daydreams that Granger fell to the Celtics in the 2005 Draft instead of Gerald Green. Anderson bounced back from a serious drug problem to give Denver a real interior presence off the bench. Williams was already a very good player before going to the Cavs last summer but he has fit his game to flow with LeBron James and has made the Cavs into a legitimate championship contender. WINNER: Devin Harris SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES: Jason Terry, Mavericks; Nate Robinson, Knicks; Travis Outlaw, Blazers; Lamar Odom, Lakers; Flip Murray, Hawks SKINNY: Terry's 19.5 points almost his matched his career high in scoring average that he set back in the 2000-2001 season. He has been invaluable to the Mavs, providing an offenisve spark off the bench. Robinson is scoring (career high 17.3) but the Knicks suck and I don't care too much about big scorers on bad teams. Outlaw has been a part of an impressive Blazers squad. Odom is in the perfect role for him with the Lakers; he can fill in anywhere on the frontline and there is almost no pressure on him because of Kobe, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. Too bad (for him) that he'll probably leave for more money and more minutes as a free agent. Murray gives the Hawks 12 points off the bench each night. WINNER: Jason Terry MVP CANDIDATES: Kobe Bryant, Lakers; LeBron James, Cavaliers; Paul Pierce, Celtics; Dwayne Wade, Heat; Brandon Roy, Blazers SKINNY: This will be one of the hardest years to pick the MVP. Kobe, LeBron, and D-Wade have been unreal. I could list pages of statistics to make their cases but that is unneccessary. All three have hit heights that I always thought were reserved only for Jordan. Pierce and Roy make my list over Dwight Howard and Chris Paul because they have carried their teams to better records than they should have. The C's suffered through too many injuries to be a 60-win team and the Blazers looked to be too young to make the playoffs but Pierce and Roy wouldn't let their respective teams lose. WINNER: LeBron James

Random Thoughts (April 14, 2009)

Who was the guy that said the Red Sox would challenge the 1998 Yankees, who won 116 regular season games and the World Series? I would not want to be that guy... It's bad enough that he was too big of a jerk to be kept off the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team" and that he has ruined the Toronto Raptors, the CBA, the Indiana Pacers, and the New York Knicks, now Isiah Thomas has decided to take the head coaching job at Florida International University. Expect to see the Golden Panthers in the basement of the Sun Belt Conference sooner than later... So, will Hasheem Thabeet be the next Dikembe Mutombo or the next Shawn Bradley? A team at the top of the Lottery will know by this time next year... If I could be so bold, maybe it's time for Terry Francona to stop being so loyal to J.D. Drew. Drew is not a run producing hitter, he needs to be dropped from the fifth spot in the lineup... When will the real Jon Lester show up? Hopefully this weekend against the Orioles... Bruins-Canadiens in the NHL playoffs. It doesn't get any better... Watching "Something About Mary" on television reminds me that it was one of the best comedy movies of all-time. Franks and Beans... You know something, I'm sticking to my predictions of greatness for the Red Sox... Enjoy Daisuke Matsuzaka tonight...

Random Thoughts (April 6, 2009)

It's been a long and boring day. The rain washed out Opening Day at Fenway and my shift on the bar at The Baseball Tavern. I have officially searched every site on the Internet. I think that I might have applied for an assistant basketball coaching position at DePaul University. The national championship game can't start fast enough... Considering the job he has done with Kevin Garnett sidelined, it is worth mentioning Kendrick Perkins as a possible member of the NBA's All-Defensive team. When the C's acquired Perk on draft night in 2003 (along with the immortal Marcus Banks), no one thought that the pride of Clifton J. Ozen High School would amount to much. (Well, I actually did. Perkins was drafted the same weekend as my 22nd birthday. As I stumbled out of Fenway Park that Sunday, a news camera was shoved in my face, looking for a reaction to Danny Ainge's first draft. I gave him an "A ... for Auerbach" for acquiring Perkins and Banks. I may have inflated that grade just a little -- everyone of my students just nodded in approval -- but the big guy was a solid acquisition.) Perkins has become an enforcer for the Celtics. He rebounds and blocks shots, which allows Rajon Rondo to gamble at will on the perimeter. If the C's didn't have Perk, they would not have defeated the Lakers last year. He brings intensity to the paint, a trait all championship teams need... Anyone remember who Ainge sent to Memphis for the draft rights to Perkins and Banks? Answer below... So, Blake Griffin, your reward for leading Oklahoma to the Elite Eight and winning every "Player of the Year" award you possibly could has given you the right to be the top pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Here's hoping Griffin lands with his hometown Oklahoma City Thunder. A nucleus of Kevin Durant, Griffin, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook is something to be excited about. Here's hoping he avoids Sacramento or the second Los Angeles team. The Kings and Clippers are so helpless that even a talent like Griffin couldn't make too much of an impact... I can't wait for Tyler Hansbrough to prove all of his (many) doubters wrong when he becomes a professional. The 6-9, 250 forward will never be an MVP or All-NBA caliber of player but he will definitely make contributions to championship teams. He has too much talent and intensity not to be a rotation guy on a good team. I'd love to see him wearing the Green someday. No opponent would dare venture into the paint at the Garden with KG, Perkins, and Psycho T holding down the fort. No one really likes going in there now, with Big Baby Davis and Leon Powe being major reasons for that decision... You are correct if you said that Danny Ainge dealt the rights to Troy Bell of BC and Dahntay Jones of Duke to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for the rights to Perkins and Banks. Troy Bell is long since out of the NBA, while Banks and Jones are both on the fringes of NBA employment... How about a hand for the CC Sabathia era... I like the idea of the NBA Development League for their playoff seedings. The team with the best record gets to choose their opponent from the bottom half of the playoff qualifiers. Second place gets next choice, followed by third and fourth place. I would love to see David Stern adopt this notion. It would add intrigue to the early rounds of the playoffs and give some extra rewards to the teams with the best record in each conference... Enjoy Clark Kellogg tonight...

UNC-Michigan State Random Thoughts

Just a few more hours until tip-off between the Tarheels and Spartans at Ford Field. The winner will be the undisputed "Team of the Decade" in college hoops with the loser taking up third place behind Florida. UNC won the national title in 2005 and has appeared in four Final Four's (2000, 2005, 2008, 2009). Michigan State won the national title in 2000 and has appeared in four Final Four's (2000, 2001, 2005, 2009). They have identical resumes in their quest to pass Florida (national titles in 2006 and 2007, Final Four team in 2000) as the best team of the decade... In the battle of the coaches, I have to go with Tom Izzo. He took over at Michigan State in 1995 and has led the Spartans to the Final Four five times (1999 being the other appearance) and a national championship. His teams always play tough, hard nosed defense. They often overachieve and find ways to beat teams with more natural talent (ask UConn). Roy Williams is a fine coach who knows how to sweet talk high school All-Americans into making Chapel Hill their home during college but on the sidelines, making decisions and adjustments in game, he is no Izzo... The nation is falling in love with the underdog Spartans but can someone please stop for a minute and keep in mind that Tyler Hansbrough is about to end one of the most amazing college basketball careers of all-time? Ok, I'll step up. Hansbrough has scored 2854 points over 141 games (20.2 per game) and has snared 1212 rebounds (8.6). He has been a first team All-American three times (2007-2009), first team All-ACC four times (2006-2009), national player of the year (2008) and ACC player of the year (2008). He is the ACC's all-time leading scorer and had his number retired at UNC prior to the 2008-09 season (on account of winning national player of the year in 2008). He has led Carolina to the Final Four for the second consecutive season and is one game away from winning his first national championship and the fifth for the school (1957, 1982, 1993, 2005). Many people have overlooked Hansbrough, partly because his work ethic often gets more credit than his natural talents. Another reason for the ignorance is because he is the rare four-year star in the college game and in an era when people always want to celebrate what is new, Hansbrough is seen as yesterday's news. Win or lose, tonight will be the last time he takes the court as a college player. Make sure to enjoy the occassion... I like the Tarheels tonight. I don't think State can defend Hansbrough inside. Ty Lawson is the best point guard in the nation. Wayne Ellington is a deadly accurate shooter. The 'Heels also have depth at every position. As great of a ride as the Spartans have been on, Carolina just has too many weapons to be stopped. 89-76, UNC... Enjoy "One Shining Moment" tonight...

NFL Mock Draft 2.0

Since posting my original mock draft just over a week ago, a few things have changed on the NFL landscape. The Jay Cutler trade has shook up the first round, effecting more than just the Broncos and Bears and Plaxico Burress got the axe in New York, a year after leading the Giants to the Super Bowl. With that in mind, here is my updated mock draft (pick from original mock in parantheses). 1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia (Stafford) 2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor (Smith) 3. Kansas City Chiefs: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech (B.J. Raji) 4. Seattle Seahawks: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest (Curry) 5. Cleveland Browns: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State (Brian Orakpo) 6. Cincinnati Bengals: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia (Monroe) 7. Oakland Raiders: Brian Orakpo, LB/DE, Texas (Michael Crabtree) 8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri (Michael Oher) 9. Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji (Rey Maualuga) 10. San Francisco 49ers: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State (Everette Brown) 11. Buffalo Bills: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee (Jeremy Maclin) 12. Denver Broncos: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC (Malcolm Jenkins) 13. Washington Redskins: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama (Aaron Maybin) 14. New Orleans Saints: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC (Darius Heyward-Bey) 15. Houston Texans: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State (Chris Wells) 16. San Diego Chargers: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss (Andre Smith) 17. New York Jets: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State (Brian Cushing) 18. Denver Broncos (from Bears): Brian Cushing, LB, USC (Mark Sanchez) 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State (Eben Britton) 20. Detroit Lions: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU (Clay Matthews) 21. Philadelphia Eagles: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia (Moreno) 22. Minnesota Vikings: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida (Harvin) 23. New England Patriots: Clay Matthews, LB, USC (Connor Barwin) 24. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State (Pettigrew) 25. Miami Dolphins: Larry English, LB/DE, Northern Illinois (English) 26. Baltimore Ravens: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois (Davis) 27. Indianapolis Colts: Perria Jones, DT, Ole Miss (Jones) 28. Philadelphia Eagles: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona (Jermaine Gresham) 29. New York Giants: Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland (Hakeem Nicks) 30. Tennessee Titans: Hakeem Nicks, WR, NC State (Alex Mack) 31. Arizona Cardinals: Donald Brown, RB, UConn (Ron Brace) 32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati (William Beatty)

2009 MLB Preview

It has been such a long winter that the memory of David Price wiping out the Red Sox in the ninth inning of the ALCS had already faded into the back of my memory bank. Before I give my traditional baseball predictions, here is my annotated Red Sox ramblings, a little less than 24 hours from a washed out Opening Day (make sure to spend the rainy day in the basement of the Baseball Tavern!). Red Sox Ramblings: A World Series in 2009 would make the Sox the "Team of the Decade" ... at a time when most teams are hoping for the best with their top two starters, the Sox have the deepest rotation (Beckett, Lester, Matsuzaka, Wakefield, Penny) and bullpen (Papelbon, Okajima, Saito, Masterson, Delcarmen, Ramirez, Lopez) in the game ... John Farrell also has a stocked reserve of arms (Smoltz, Buchholz, Tazawa, Bard, Bowden) just waiting to get their chance ... Tito is by far the best manager in the game, the perfect combination of old-time baseball guru, new-age statistic machine, and psychologist ... the lineup (or the city) will never be the same without #24 but me thinks that if Ellsbury gets on base, Papi, Drew, and Lowell stay healthy, Youk and Pedroia keep on proving people wrong, and Bay carries the bottom of the order, that 850+ runs is going to be a reality ... still waiting on Saltalamacchia ... I hope the guys over at Barstool Sports get those "Team of the Decade" shirts printed by Halloween to steal the market ... AL EAST 1. Red Sox 2. Yankees 3. Rays 4. Blue Jays 5. Orioles The best division in baseball will be taken by a team that -- if all goes right -- will be the best team in baseball history. The Red Sox have the makings of becoming the 1998 Yankees. They have the most talented and deepest pitching staff in the game, a deep lineup that won't overwhelm anyone with star power but will wear down opposing pitchers all summer, a manager who is the best in his profession, and a general manager/ownership team who have the resources to fix any holes that open up over the next seven months. The Yankees are good but Jeter, Posada, and Rivera are getting close to the end, A-Rod is hurt (and confused), and they can't expect the Millionaires Club of Teixeira, Sabathia, and Burnett to carry them in their first year in the Bronx. The Rays aren't going to completely disappear but their bullpen has too many holes. The Blue Jays would be a great pick to win the AL West but the East is just too good. The Orioles have Matt Weiters, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Rich Hill to get them through another long summer. AL CENTRAL 1. Tigers 2. White Sox 3. Twins 4. Royals 5. Indians I have no rhyme or reason for the Central. The Tigers supposedly looked horrible in the spring but who knows what that means. I like Miguel Cabrera to have a monster year, they have decent pitching, and Leyland is a good manager. If Joe Mauer's back were 100%, I'd give the nod to the Twins. The ChiSox always seem to be in the mix. Everyone loves the Royals but after watching Coco Crisp for three years, I know he can't hit well enough to help KC. The Indians have a great bullpen and will be a popular team come the trade deadline (let's hope Mark Shapiro keeps Kerry Wood out of the Bronx). AL WEST 1. Angels 2. Rangers 3. A's 4. Mariners This division is like Conference USA in college hoops. There is a mix of mediocre teams that allows the one quality team (Angels/Memphis) to have a better season than their talent dictates they should but those weaknesses eventually get exposed come playoff time. With Vlad Guerrero loking like Red Fox, Teixeira crushing dingers in the Bronx, and Francisco Rodriguez closing games in Queens, the Angels are showing signs of breaking down. Still, John Lackey will win 18 games and Mike Scioscia will squeeze out 94 wins before the Red Sox execute another October sweep of the Halos. The Rangers have three top young catching prospects to dangle in their quest to find young pitching. The A's will sell Matt Holliday come July. Junior Griffey's return to Seattle at this age is kind of depressing. Should we even call him Junior at this point? NL EAST 1. Mets 2. Phillies 3. Marlins 4. Braves 5. Nationals The Mets are still a starting pitcher or three away from being a real threat to bring the World Series back to tradition filled Citi Field but I love thier new and improved bullpen and between Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, and Garry Sheffield there is 65-75 homeruns and 250-300 RBI's, enough production to protect David Wright and Jose Reyes. The Phillies are still very good but I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop on Brad Lidge. I'm looking forward to seeing the Phils in person in June. The Marlins would make all my dreams come true by sending Hanley Ramirez to Boston for Michael Bowden, Lars Anderson, Jed Lowrie, and Manny Delcarmen. I would even substitute Papelbon for Delcarmen if, and only if, Daniel Bard is the real deal. Does it make me old if I say that I remember when the Braves were great? The Nationals suck but keep a close eye on Elijah Dukes. NL CENTRAL 1. Cubs 2. Cardinals 3. Reds 4. Astros 5. Brewers 6. Pirates I'm looking forward to the first Lou Piniella-Milton Bradley clash. The Cards are in the envious position of signing Albert Pujols' checks every month. The Reds are everyone's darlings this spring but if I were a resident of the Queen City, I'd keep a close eye on the pitch counts of Johnny Queto and Edinson Volquez qith Dusty Baker in charge. Lance Berkman is a great player. I feel for the fans of Milwaukee, hopefully they will enjoy watching Sabathia balloon to 400 pounds with the Yankees as much as I will. Did the Pirates really sign two kids from India? At least they are trying. NL WEST 1. Dodgers 2. Diamondbacks 3. Rockies 4. Giants 5. Padres I still love Manny, he's a baseball player not the President of the United States. Stephen Drew and Justin Upton continue to upset older brothers all over the country. Ian Stewart was my "steal" in the late rounds of my fantasy baseball draft. I took Garrett Atkins just in case though. To this day I swear I bought a Tim Lincecum J-Shirt on my trip to San Fran but when I got home, I had a Dave Roberts one in its place. Karma? No, too many 12oz. curls. It must suck to be Jake Peavy, to keep himself interested this summer he should switch teams with Roy Oswalt and see if anyone notices. BASELESS BASEBALL PREDICTIONS AL PLAYOFFS ALDS: Red Sox over Angels (3); Yankees over Tigers (4) ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees (6) NL PLAYOFFS NLDS: Mets over Dodgers (4); Phillies over Cubs (5) NLCS: Mets over Phillies World Series Red Sox over Mets (4) (Barry and Elliot just shit their pants.) Individual Awards AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers NL MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals AL CY YOUNG: John Lackey, Angels NL CY YOUNG: Tim Lincecum, Giants AL MANAGER: Terry Francona, Red Sox NL MANAGER: Tony La Russa, Cardinals AL ROOKIE: David Price, Rays NL ROOKIE: Ian Stewart, Rockies (Yes, I did make this same prediction in 2007.) Special Awards AL HOMERUN CHAMP: Mark Teixeira, Yankees NL HOMERUN CHAMP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals FIRST AL MANAGER FIRED: Eric Wedge, Indians FIRST NL MANAGER FIRED: Manny Acta, Nationals AL BIG NAME TRADED BY JULY 31: Matt Holliday, A's (to Dodgers) NL BIG NAME TRADED BY JULY 31: Jake Peavy, Padres (to Cubs) AL INJURY THAT IMPACTS THE PLAYOFFS: Lulio Lugo, Red Sox (A-Rod, Mauer, and BJ Upton made this impossible. If Lugo gets hurt again, the Sox will either play Lowrie or make my dream trade for Hanley Ramirez, making this a win-win for Boston.) NL INJURY THAT IMPACTS THE PLAYOFFS: Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks

Random Thoughts (April 3, 2009)

The Jay Cutler saga has come to a tragic end ... for Jay Cutler. Cutler was in a position to become one of the most successful quarterbacks in recent NFL history. The Broncos new head coach, Josh McDaniels, orchestrated the greatest offense in NFL history with the Patriots in 2007. They have two tackles, Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris, that anchor a very good offensive line. They also have two of the premiere young receivers in football, Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. The future looked very bright in the Mile High City. Cutler has thrown that all away because of his inability to control his emotions. He was upset when the Broncos fired longtime coach Mike Shanahan (along with offenisve coordinator Jeremy Bates) and replaced him with McDaniels. When McDaniels explored possible trade scenarios that involved moving Cutler (who had asked for a trade when Shanahan was axed) in order to land Matt Cassel -- the former 7th round pick and career backup that McDaniels turned into a star when Tom Brady went down -- he publicly demanded a trade. There had been some talk that the two sides were working things out but on Tuesday, Cutler again declared his wishes to leave Denver. Wish granted. Yesterday the Broncos dealt Cutler to the Chicago Bears for a package of draft picks that could turn Denver into the team to beat in the AFC for the next decade. The Bears gave up their first round pick (#18) and third round pick (#84) in the 2009 draft, their first round pick in the 2010 draft, and veteran quarterback Kyle Orton. The Broncos now need to find a long term solution at quarterback. The rumors are already flying that the Broncos will do whatever they can to land Mark Sanchez of USC. Orton would serve as a short term answer behind center while McDaniels prepares Sanchez (or whoever the Broncos target) for the NFL. Cutler now finds himself on a team that has the defense to contend for a Super Bowl but an offense that couldn't score in a brothel with a fistfull of $50's. His best offensive lineman, Chris Williams, has a bad back and his best receiver, Devin Hester, does his best work fielding punts. Be careful of what you wish for... The Cutler trade has also turned the draft upside down. I will have an updated mock posted ASAP... Yes, it's officially time to worry about Kevin Garnett. KG was supposed to be back to full strength by now yet his status for the playoffs is clouded in mystery. After hearing tidbits of Danny Ainge's interview on WEEI yesterday, it seems inevitable that KG's knee will be surgically repaired when the season ends. If Garnett is not at 100%, I think he should go under the knife immediately. A banged up Garnett will not get the C's past the Magic or Cavaliers in the East. It is imperative that he get healthy now, so the C's can contend for the title again in 2009-10. It might not be the popular choice, but it is the right choice... Red Sox preview coming soon... The Bruins gave Tim Thomas a three-year extension that will pay him nearly $5 million per season. I like Thomas but does this mean that goalie prospect/prodigy Tuukka Rask is nowhere near ready to assume the duty between the pipes on Causeway Street? And with a shrinking salary cap, how do the Bruins plan on paying their young stars like Phil Kessel and Blake Wheeler? I take it as a good sign that I'm caring about the Bruins again... UNC over Villanova in a rout, UConn over Michigan State in what should be a classic. The Tarheels just have too much talent and too much depth for 'Nova. Jay Wright's team has played great basketball in March but they also had a good draw -- Duke wasn't built to win in March and Pitt had peaked as a team in February. UConn is also loaded but with Michigan State playing in their own backyard, I think the Spartans will bring their A+ game, making the Huskies sweat out a trip to the championship game. UNC over UConn on Monday... Enjoy Matt Saracen and the Panthers tonight...