2006 wrap-up: sports moments that left their mark

2006 is almost over and what a year of events. I can't believed what happened. The St. Louis Cardinals swept the Tigers in the World Series. The baseball deals were huge. Outfielder Vernon Wells received a 7-year $136 million contract from the Blue Jays. The Cubs extended a near identical offer to acquire Alfonso Soriano. Top free agent pitcher, Barry Zito found a new home finally (just on the other side of the Bay) in San Francisco on a long-term deal worth more than $130 million. Now there are two Barrys in town. One is known for being a veteran, dynamic team leader and the only found a way to reach historic marks, pursue a homerun record only to lie to FEDs, force his personal trainer to serve time in jail by denying he ever stuck a syringe in his client's ass or used steroids.

In college basketball Bobby Knight approaches a career record, needing another win to pass Dean Smith to become the all-time wins leader. A loss to UNLV delayed the celebration so 2007 looks to be the special year for Knight. His relentless hounding of refs and pushing his players to the limit characterize his will to succeed and will make him a memorable coach. The NCAA champs, lead by star forward Joakim Noah look to make a repeat to the Sweet Sixteen if not the Final Four. George Mason rised to semi-stardom in 2006 by upsetting UNC in the Final Four.

Youth are today's generation of superstars in the NBA, lead by Carmelo, Wade, and Lebron. The Miami Heat captured their first NBA title as Dwayne Wade exploded with outstanding scoring performances against the Mavericks. Lebron guided the Cavs to the postseason in only his third season, setting a series of franchise records. Lebron is about to turn 22, the NBA hasn't seen nothing yet. At the tail end of the year, Allen Iverson received no love from Philly and was pulled from the lineup only to sit and wait. A wish came true as the Denver Nuggets grabbed him in a trade for Andre Miller. Now the top 2 scorers in the league are in the same lineup. Well, I guess the Sixers will become 2006's New York Knicks.

No one will forget the now infamous Madison Square Garden free-for-all between the Knicks and Nuggets. At least 10 players were ejected with 6 receiving suspensions. The incident served as a flashback to the barbaric incident at the Palace of Auburn Hills between the Pistons and Pacers a few years ago. Apparently, Pacer guard Stephen Jackson learned nothing from the brawl because he was reported to have fired gun shots outside a Indianapolis strip club earlier this year. To think the NBA held more focus on a new synthetic-fiber basketball for regulation play rather than players bringing weapons to games (If you're a fan it's best to watch out for any concealed pointy objects because it just may be a shank or brass knucks). With all the series of uncanny events, 2006 was still a good year in sports.

Kidd gets slapped with fine for criticizing refs

The NBA has tightened up their policies in some areas to the point where there is no breathing room. The Nets' Jason Kidd was fined $20,000 for calling the officials "three blind mice." Obviously, he was frustrated because it was a close game against the Pistons and he felt a couple calls didn't go his team's way. The Nets lost 92-91 at Detroit Tuesday night. You can't fault Kidd for voicing his opinion. I mean after all, it's freedom of expression (plus I'm sure the refs did miss several calls). The NBA never penalizes officials for their incompetence at times.

Sure they can't be accurate on every play, but some games refs are horrible, making everyone wonder if they really do need glasses. The older refs are loyal to the game, seem respectable, however should retire due to their poor vision and delayed reactions. Commissioner Stern needs to take this into account and not be so quick to hand out punishments to NBA players. Guys like Kidd only want to make sure it's a fair game and have every possible chance for their team to win.

Besides it's not like the criticism will ever stop. Players already complain frequently that they get hit with too many personal and flagrant fouls. These are the players who are slowing down progress, making games less enjoyable. It's not misconduct to voice a legitimate excuse that changed the outcome of a game. The NBA, whether they likes it or not must listen to their players. Otherwise more conflicts will arise.

Wade dazzles crowd on Christmas day

Dwayne Wade had a Merry, Merry Christmas enjoying a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 40 on hot shooting from the field. Without Shaq in the lineup the Heat needed the offensive punch from their star guard. No one could bring shame to Wade's game on the magnificent holiday. His performance was a sight to see like lighted decorations on houses. Leading Miami over the Lakers for most of the game, Wade shot 12-20 FG (15-16 FT), adding 11 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals.

No one in the Lakers' starting lineup or bench scored more than 16 points. Kobe couldn't find his touch nor strategy to stop Wade. The 101-85 triumph was sealed in the final 3 minutes of play as Lakers defense tried to double-team Wade, therefore leaving Miami teammates wide open. When a guard like Jason Kapono can capitalize by sinking a couple three-pointers in the 4th quarter then you know the game is wrapped up. The Heat did have an advantage since both Lamar Odom and Chris Mihm were out with injuries. Shaq may of been sidelined, but that didn't prevent him from cheering his team on and whispering words of encouragement to his superstar teammate.

Everyone thought it was going to be a one-on-one battle between Wade and Bryant, but it turned out to be one-man show. Seeing how easily 'Flash' distributed the ball to teammates the Heat should feel comfort in knowing he is willing to do whatever it takes to help them win rather than be a ball hog. If he's hot of course he'll take more shots, but that won't interfere with his top priority. With the win the Heat have pulled within a game of .500 at 13-14. They trail Washington and Orlando in the Southeast division.

The performance from a key veteran has risen. My hat is off to Zo as his defensive prowess continues to one of the team's strenghts. Mourning has compiled consistent numbers in Shaq's absence, although guys like Jason Williams and Antoine Walker must step it up a notch and give the Heat another reliable, consistent scorer. I expect Wade to finish the season as one of the top 3 scorers in the league.

Arenas drops it like it's hot in Wizards overtime thriller

The Phoenix Suns didn't know what hit them when Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards rolled into town. The star shooting guard's 54-point explosion with the help of his Wizards teammates snapped the Sun's 15-game win streak. Caron Butler scored 34 points in the win as well. After being snowed in at Denver, the Suns didn't get much practice in the next day. The way they played though it didn't seem to matter. Rim rocking alley-oop slams erupted in the 4th quarter Friday night. Amare Stoudemire came close to tipping in the winning basket as the game clock expired. He finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Coach D'Antonio gave Arenas all the motivation he needed. By not selecting him to be part of Team USA a few years ago it pushed Areans to elevate his game. Areans has already scored 60 points this season in another overtime victory against the Lakers. He wanted to prove a point and it came across loud and clear. The Wizards improve to 14-12, which I have to say is kind of below expectation yet it's still early in the season. The main two teams in the East they have to be most focused on are Miami and Orlando. Even with Shaq out the Heat have a potent lineup with good depth off the bench.

With Areans leading the charge with an All-Star cast including Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler the Wizards have plenty of octane in the tank. Brendan Haywood has also been playing inspiring basketball averaging around a double-double per game. Rotating center, Etan Thomas and him still must keep their tempers in check and co-exist. Washington has 3 days off for the Christmas break and will return home to face the Grizzles on Dec. 26. They can't take this team lightly and should be ready for a battle. Gilbert can rely on his teammates to give him a pick me up if he has an off-night.

Chicago native found guilty of stealing baseball players' identities

A Chicago man almost got away with what would've been one of the biggest crimes in baseball history. Some shady jerk named David Dright had his home searched by Lake County, Illinois investigators after an anonymous player notified authorities about Dright stealing his personal information. There they found social security numbers, dates of birth, infant death records, and canceled paychecks. Information the man stole was also connected to current Major Leaguers, Moises Alou and Jim Thome. After confiscating all the material Dright had in his possession police discovered he had stolen close to 90 baseball players' identities. Wow, what a scumbag!

I can't believe he was getting away with so many cases of identity theft. This all developed after Dright shifted through a trash bin outside of SFX Baseball Inc., a sports agency representing Major league and minor leaguers in Northbrook, Illinois. It's evident this Dright character was a sneaky SOB with time on his hands. What's even more astounding is that the agency didn't shred this information (Hey idiots! It's private, confidential information you're just tossing away in a public trash bin).

Now Dright has a long time to think about how stupid he is for actually believing he could continue to pull this slick shit off. Bond is set at $250,000 as he remains at Lake County jail. I guess with incompetent practices from sports agencies and pesky, low-life eavesdroppers around the corner no professional athlete's name is safe. You'd think agents would do their best to protect their clients' personal documents.

This guy could really piss off former Major League stars if any material surfaces he stole proving they used steroids. Then this man may be getting a lot of unexpected, bulked-up visitors at the jail. Congress could finally have the dirt they needed on players like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Plus these two still have a crap load of money left. God only knows what will turn up next.

Suspensions handed out for MSG melee

Again the NBA can't have get through an entire season without a fight breaking out. The Knicks and Nuggets now have to suffer the consequences after players let their anger get the best of them. Carmelo Anthony, which I would have never expected to react the way he did will serve a 15-game suspension whereas Nate Robinson, Marty Collins, and J.R. Smith get slapped with 10 games. Also, both teams were fined $500,000. I don't understand why the NBA thinks it get prevent further bad behavior by posing such a small fine.

NBA players as everyone knows are making millions a year so why not at least take away bonuses or extra incentives they normally receive when a chaotic event erupts. To be fair, on the contrary teammates who intervene to break up the fighting and don't inflict any physical harm shouldn't be punished. They should be commended for doing the right thing. I did see Knicks forward David Lee coming over and trying to pull back Jared Jeffries. The same goes for the Nuggets' Eduardo Najera, who was only trying to help defuse the situation. Several others were ejected for coming off the bench, which made no sense since they didn't seem to throw any punches or kicks.

There are much work left to be done to clean up the NBA. Superstar players like Anthony are hurting their image and reputation. It's one thing to defend yourself, but it's another to blatantly strike a person because you're angry. Also, this incident could've been avoided if the Knicks' Marty Collins would've accepted the loss and not made such a stupid decision to wrap up J.R. Smith on the fast break. Everyone knows New York is frustrated and are in a funk, but that doesn't mean it's okay for players to act uncivilized and fail to contain their emotions. Plus Isiah Thomas needs to keep his mouth shut if he can't be of a positive solution instead of part of the problem. The NBA must tighten up their policies and start taking drastic measures to drive a strong message home to players.

Bobby Knight fast approaching historic record

One great college basketball coach is on the verge of passing another. Bobby Knight is 3 wins away from moving ahead former Tarheels coach Dean Smith for the all-time record. Knight picked up his 877th career win against Centenary last Saturday. The already legendary coach has lead Texas Tech to a 8-3 start. They face Arkansas (8-1) today at Bud Walton Arena. Knight will join a select group in the record books which not only include Dean Smith, but also Kentucky's Adolf Rupp and John Wooden. The Red Raiders plan on returning to the Sweet Sixteen again this season.

The hot temper and flair for the dramatic are the characteristics fans and players most familiarize with Bobby Knight. He coached the Indiana Hoosiers for 29 seasons before being fired in 2000 for violating school's 'zero tolerance policy'. Even though he's physically demanding and voliate at times on the court, I must admit he's a great motivator. This is the main reason why he has led Texas Tech to 20-win seasons in his first 4 years there. In his career, Knight has only experienced two losing seasons. The first came in 1970-71 with his Army club, who went 11-13 and last season Texas Tech finished with a 15-17 record.

This year is sure to be different as Knight eyes his 890th win to seal his name as the all-time leader in the record books. I know there will plenty of games where Knight get infuriated with his players and the refs. College basketball could witness another repeat of the chair-throwing incident back in 1985. This time he might toss a fan or time clock at the score's table. That would be memorable...a classic moment to etch in sports history.

Cavs and Lebron continue to shine at home

Luckily for the Cleveland Cavailers last night Adam Morrison or Raymond Felton didn't get hot. The 104-101 victory was insured by the hustle and contribution off the bench from Anderson Varejao. He finished with 16 points (4-10 FG) and 10 rebounds. With the effort the Cavs improved to 10-2 at home. Still they've got to deliver more as a team against non-contenders like Charlotte. Lebron didn't have to be overpowering on offense, allowing the rest of the lineup to take the scoring load off his shoulders. He didn't shoot even 40% from the field, though had 7 assists.

Cleveland fans know Lebron will have off-nights. They'd feel more confident if Big Z and Larry Hughes start boosting their scoring average per game as the bench fill quality minutes, making big defensive stops late in the game. The Cavs have to cut down on allowing the opposition too many offensive rebounds. The Bobcats snatched 14 boards Wednesday night. Cleveland can't survive against teams like the Spurs, Rockets, and Jazz by failing to shut down the inside game.

I know Cleveland is still in good position in the Central division despite only holding a 13-8 record, but they should seriously consider working out a deal for Allen Iverson. It's true they don't have the right talent to trade now. Other than Larry Hughes and Big Z there isn't anyone else feasible enough to be traded. Lebron and Gooden will stay put after signing big contracts in the off-season.

I feel the Cavs have yet to find a guard that truly compliments 'King James'. Eric Snow could serve a better purpose off the bench, bringing his veteran knowledge and leadership with the younger second unit. We'll see if the franchise will pull some strings later in the season. They'll have to grow closer as a team and suffice until then. No doubt, Lebron will erupt with magnificent all-around performances, but he can't do it all every game.

The league has spoken: the NBA brings back leather ball

For months much complaining has gone on about the NBA's new microfiber composite ball. Players haven't got used to the new ball, stating that it bounces off the rim different, makes dribbling more of a challenge, and cuts their hands. Sure it sounds like they're whining over spilled milk, although what was wrong with the original regulation ball in the first place? I realize Commissioner David Stern wanted to convey a more conservative, environmentally conscious image. Somehow an animal activist group such as PETA must have played a role in the Commissioner's decision. Still leather comes from animals it's only natural that they'd want to get involved.

The original basketball is set to return January 1. I don't know why the NBA is waiting until the New Year. Superstar players normally would be scoring 10-15 points more per game with the leather ball. It has a good grip and that's what they've been used to for so long. Commissioner Stern's decision to do a switch around only hurt team and player statistics. Fans come to games to see high scoring and when teams fail to score over 85 points it's a true disappointment. They don't feel they receive their money's worth.

One facet NBA players don't have to worry about is shooting on goals with double rims. Those are the worst because if you have a high arching shot you're screwed. Plus it's hard to know what direction the ball will bounce off the rim, making rebounding physically straining. Top defensive players in the league like Duncan, Ben Wallace, and Kevin Garnett experience a drop in numbers. It's good the NBA will return to it's normal style basketball.

Everyone will be happy when the ball doesn't get stuck on the side of the rim and fast breaks aren't ruin due to the lack of grip. After the lst of the year I know Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Kobe Bryant will have huge scoring performances. They'll be on fire with nothing to effect their rhythm, exploding with some triple-threat boo-yaas!

Iverson wants out of Philly

So the 76ers and Allen Iverson have finally come to an agreement on one thing: it's time for him to depart. Neither are happy about the current situation. I'm surprised AI wasn't traded a few years ago. Everyone knows what he's trying to accomplish and that's win a championship. Let's face it he isn't getting any younger. Besides, he's been carrying the franchise for nearly a decade, being the only superstar player on the team. For a guard in the league, who averages over 30 points almost every season he deserves better.

I can't say I blame Iverson for demanding a trade. Last season Philadelphia failed to make the playoffs and their chances of clinching a final spot in the East this year are slim. The franchise does have other young, budding star in Andre Iguodala. They need to sign other veterans and young rising talent to bring new life to the team. Obviously, the 76ers have their mind made up as they ordered Iverson to sit out the last 2 games. Management has even gone as far as banning him from the building. Wow, they must really be bitter.

The Sixers are 5-13, tied with the Celtics for last place in the division. I don't see Philly getting any better for the rest of the season without Iverson. The only other remaining veterans are Kevin Ollie and Chris Webber. Philly will have to develop more around their young up-and-coming players, Steven Hunter and Kyle Korver. Well, it's up in the air as to where Allen Iverson will find a new home. Trade rumors are hinting that the T-wolves are interested and Kevin Garnett is encouraging management to grab him. Personally, I'd like to see 'the Answer' in a Cavs' uniform alongside Lebron James. Then again that's just wishful thinking on my part.

Honoring Larry Bird on his birthday

Every once and a while I like to give a tribute to historic sports legends. This Celtic star is an icon in basketball and is a household name among Bostonians (I guess that's what you'd called them). Larry Bird, an NBA Great turns 50 today so happy birthday! He's already a member of the NBA's Hall of Fame joining a class including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Jerry West, and Oscar Robertson. Bird lead the Celtics to 3 NBA championships and was awarded the MVP 3 consecutive years.

It seemed inevitable that Bird would later move on to be a part owner of the Indiana Pacers after his retirement. After all he grew up in French Lick, Indiana where he played college ball. At Indiana State, the 6'9 standout played 2 years and averaged over 30 ppg after sitting out a year as a transfer student. People thought there was friction between Bobby Knight and him, but Bird denies such a claim. He was named an All-American his junior year. Even in high school he was a natural talent. He played for Springs Valley High School where he averaged 30 ppg and 21 rebounds. That is astounding for a teenager who's still developing skills.

Despite having a year of eligibility left in college, Bird was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978. Legendary coach, Red Auerbach knew he was the real deal and took him under his wing. Superstar players evolve every year in the NBA, but none possess the same essence and great overall ability Bird did. I remember him most for his sweet rainbows and sharp shooting. Unlike many stars today, Bird only signed a contract for $3.5 million his rookie year and never made close to $10 million a year in his career. It shows everyone how times have changed. Larry Legend, one of the best of all-time will live forever in basketball history.

The disappearance of former NBA stars

To me it seems like 5 years since Latrell Sprewell suited up for a basketball game or even attempted to choke out a former coach. The once All-Star shooting guard last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Where is he now? I haven't the foggiest clue (probably running his own drug distribution network, lol). Others have yet to be seen or heard from like Keith Van Horn, Nick Van Exel, Penny Hardaway, Vin Baker, and Doug Christie. They wanted a break from their professional basketball careers.

Former New York Knick, Antonio Davis is now a busy family man who stays at home, taking care of his children. This is the same player, who got caught up in controversial situation about a year ago when he thought a fan was harassing his wife during a game. Luckily the incident didn't turn out to be ugly. Davis could've started a fight and threw a punch, but he didn't. It's good to see some NBA players have self-control and don't go berserk in heated, tense moments (like Stephen Jackson, Ron Artest, and Rasheed Wallace). Davis claims he doesn't miss the game that much. What a liar he turned out to be, of course he does. He's still in his early 30's and there is time for him to win a championship.

I kind of miss seeing many of the veterans from the Jordan era. That's why I think the guys mentioned above are trying to call it quits to soon. I have to admit though they're no where as good as they used to be, but that's typical. What happened to Penny Hardaway? He's such to be such a phenomenal player when he played with Orlando in the early stages of his career. Once he left things were never the same. He got to be a 'lost' talent that most everyone forgot about or showed little interest in at all.

The same goes for Van Exel and Vin Baker who played with such confidence. Their best years are gone so they feel there is no reason to continue playing. I think it comes down to making excuses and being too lazy to stay in shape. Then again they may have personal issues to attend to which are most important at the time being.

Knicks trying earnestly not to stink up the league again

Oh how the New York Knicks are making strides in a new season. Sure they'll finish towards the bottom of the Eastern conference, but they refuse to have the worst record (we'll wait and see). Isiah Thomas has took over, giving this franchise some inspiration to play at a higher level (above high school ball). Larry Brown's first and only season as head coach just didn't work out well. I mean he previously coached the Pistons to an NBA title so why did New York expect him to do the same for them? He was working with young, undiscliplined talent that didn't have the right mix of chemistry. Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis are the only real veterans and they can't resurrect the franchise, especially when they're injured.

I know what most basketball fans are thinking, the Knicks still suck because they're off to a 6-12 start and only have a slight advantage of the Celtics for 4th place in the Atlantic division. This team has rising talent which is often overlooked. That's right I'm talking about second-year guys, Nate Robinson and Channing Frye (injured). Also proven scorer, Quentin Richardson is beginning to step up his game averaging 14 points. There is still plenty of room for growth and at least, for the most part, they have a more positive environment.

One of the best moves they made was getting rid of Jalen Rose, who did too much trash talking and jawing at the refs. His attitude was a bad influence on the younger players in my opinion. Let's face it sooner or later he was going to be arrested for drug possession, assault and battery, or even both (One Knicks' player always does). Playing in Madison Square Garden, fans kind of expect players to be hard-nosed and fearless. They don't mind seeing a flagrant foul or two (elbow to the head, low blow, or sucker punch to the face), if anything it excites them and sends them into a uproar. That's New York Knicks basketball in a nutshell.

Tonight the Raptors are in the Garden and unbelievably will pose a threat. With off-seasons additions, T.J Ford and Fred Jones in the lineup, the Knicks actually have to play some defense, which means playing tight inside and outside for them to have a good shot of winning. Richardson and Curry will have to be the go-to-guys on offense. Investing more playing time in Nate Robinson would also be a smart decision by Isiah Thomas. New York averages around 98 ppg and should avoid trading baskets tonight because garnering a victory by outscoring Toronto in a shootout is very unlikely.

Tarheels roll over No. 1 Ohio State

UNC's 98-89 victory Wednesday night against Ohio State wasn't short of spectacular. It was a sharp shooting exchange between the two teams. Outside the Big Ten it was Ohio State's first loss. Tyler Hansbrough and freshman Wayne Ellington combined for 40 points as the Heels were able to make a run late in the second half. Freshman Ty Lawson chipped in with 13 points and 5 assists. The Buckeyes were hot from three point land, shooting 50%. Sustaining the offensive firepower was tough, but the Tarheels were up to the challenge.

Luckily Ohio State's Greg Oden was unable to play due to injury as he watched from the sidelines in street clothes. The Carolina defense finally took over in the second half, stopping their opponent beyond the arc explosion. Armed with a new strategy, Roy Williams gave his troops the direction and motivation they needed. They went on a 17-2 run, which involved them getting some quick fast-break points as well as off transition from turnovers. UNC started to make a turnaround with close to 4 minutes left in the first half as Bobby Frasor dished to Tyler Hansbrough at the basket for a big flush.

Even though UNC came out on top, I got to give props to the Buckeyes' Ron Lewis who finished with 30 points (13-for-26 FG). He kept them within a short margin until late in the second half. North Carolina improves to 5-1 with the win. Their next opponent will be Kentucky on Saturday. I'm sure Chapel Hill will be rocking for the upcoming, high energy and competitive contest. The Heels look to provide frills throughout the nearing new year.

The Hall Of Fame comes a calling....but not for McGwire

The baseball world has spoken. Around 74% of active participants in a recent poll voted no to electing Mark McGwire into the Hall Of Fame. I'm not surprised at all. Too many people feel he's cheated his way to historic records and smeared his career achievements. During the congressional hearing concerning steroids in March 2005 McGwire gave most everyone the impression he was guilty by failing to comment about his career and what went on prior to 1998. I don't see why any chair member in baseball would vote for him now because he has yet to come forth and be honest. Fans know players do illegal stuff behind closed doors sometimes and are willing to forgive.

The St. Louis star slugger would've been included on the 2007 ballot which includes inductee hopefuls such as Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., Andre Dawson, Paul O'neil, Albert Belle, Don Mattingly, Bobby Bonilla, Bret Saberhagen, Lee Smith, and Dale Murphy. Most of these stars played with intregity and didn't leave the game with questionable ethical actions. If McGwire wants to get elected into the Hall he has no other choice, but to be bold enough to admit his mistakes and accept his fate. I want to believe there are some fans who still have compassion for him and will be open-minded until hearing the truth (if it ever surfaces).

Everyone will remember the magical homerun chase in 1998 between McGwire and Sammy Sosa. The 70 homerun the first baseman hit could be insigniciant, having an asterisk beside them in the record books. However, even with McGwire admitting he used steroids MLB can view his stats from the early part of his career and still see he was a homerun hitter, a clutch performer, and just may be that will give him merit and some credibility. His 583 career homeruns will also be took into consideration. Going down in history though only as a cheater and liar will truly tarnish his career as baseball and fans will see pass all other honorable achievements.

Utah Jazz on a roll, win eighth straight game

Whatever has happened to the Utah Jazz has really motivated them to play outstanding basketball. Coming off a 114-108 victory against the Lakers last night, the Jazz move to 12-1. The player of the game was Carlos Boozer, who scored 26 points on 13-26 shooting from the field and grabbed 16 rebounds. The young star forward continues to impress and get better as the season rolls along. Deron Williams finished with 15 points and 10 assists, contributing to the win. Utah shot 54% on field goals for the game, which is incredible. Not to take anything away from the Lakers, but they'd looked unstoppable in the paint.

At the moment the Jazz are sitting atop the Northwest division in the Western conference, owning the best record in the NBA. They're going to be a tough opponent to beat in the West this year. The rally in the fourth quarter against Los Angeles showed what Utah is capable of in pressure situations. Yet it's still early in the year and their record could change drastically in the second half, but if they are injury free the competition will be in for a surprise. I think too many times in the past this team has been underestimated and now that's why they're so driven and motivated to win.

Tonight they travel to Golden State, where the Warriors are 6-3. However they'll be without Baron Davis, who is sidelined with a rib injury. He's their central point of the offensive attack so mainly Utah will have shut down Jason Richardson and Monta Ellis while playing good interior defense to pick up their 9th consecutive win. I have a feeling the Utah Jazz will take the Western conference by storm and garner a top seed in the playoffs.

Gonzaga's Derek Raivio lays up a finger roll against UNC. A/P Julie Jacobson

NIT not kind to Tarheels

Before a heated battle against Gonzaga Wednesday night in New York, UNC received a warm greeting from the partisan crowd. Everyone among packed stadium anticipated that the Heels would walk away with a victory and advance into the next round. It was not to be as the 'Zags tight D and sharp perimeter shooting were too much for Carolina. Sure it was a close game, down to the wire with 1:30 left before Gonzaga completely pulled away. Gonzaga senior, Derek Raivio (21 points) made a couple bad decisions late in the second half and turnovers that could have cost his team the game.

UNC freshman, Brandan Wright had a good game, finishing with 21 points. His free-throw shooting, however, was shaky as he went 7-for-14 from the line. Gonzaga's defensive strategy shut down Tyler Hansbrough for most of the game, double-teaming and pressuring him hard inside. The main difference though in the game was Gonzaga's three-point shooting (53%). Now the Bulldogs move on to play Butler Friday night in pursuit of a NIT championship. No one expected such a high tempo, back and forth game between UNC and Gonzaga.

The Tarheels, ranked #2 in the country coming into last night's game fall to 3-1 as the 'Zags' improve to 5-0. The competition will become more fierce for Carolina in the coming month. They'll face Tennessee, Ohio State, and Kentucky. The freshmen are counted on to fill more quality minutes on the floor while giving a lift off the bench. I expect them to come together better as a team and be motivated to play usual Carolina basketball under Coach Roy William's leadership.

UVA off to a good start

The Virginia Cavailers have looked like a more fresher, energized team than last year. Their two star guards, J.R. Reynolds and Sean Singletary return to be part of a potent backcourt. The starting lineup also includes Mamadi Diane (averaging 20.0 ppg) and Laurynas Mikalauskas, who showed he can play a solid inside game. UVA will need help this season from post player, taking the scoring load off Reynolds and Singletary at times. The Cavs are 2-0 after victories of Morgan State, 85-66 and Arizona, 93-90.

ACC play is sure to be much more tighter than in the past couple years since Duke or North Carolina isn't as strong due to players leaving for the NBA. Virginia has as good a chance as most conference opponents in entering the NCAA tournament this year. In the coming weeks UVA is scheduled to play UNC-Asheville, Maryland Eastern Shore, Purdue, NC State, and Hampton. The competition will start to heat up though in December when they play rival ACC teams. Their defensive strength will be put to the test and Coach Dave Leiato must work on sound strategies to offset the opposition's scoring threat.

For the last 3 years or so the Cavs haven't thrived at having explosive inside scoring from their big men. This year Cav fans should see much more production in the paint. I predict that Sean Singletary will increase his points per game to at least 20 as he finished last season with around 18 a game. Having a new home, John Paul Jones arena may bring new life onto the basketball court and help this developing Cavs team exceed expectations. Good luck in the new season Cavs!

Can Wade weather the storm without Shaq?

The Miami Heat have the pressure riding high on them. After their rise to championship stardom many expect them to overcome and conquer again. Shaq is further injured and could be out for 4 weeks or longer for knee surgery. Obviously, not much has changed from last year's squad except the addition of rookie Robert Hite. Miami has got off to a slow start and critics think their season is starting to crumple. Give me a break, it's only the third week of the season. The blowout to the Knicks though was embarrassing and probably was a humbling experience.

Dwayne Wade, the leader of this team, has all eyes on him to step up big and take control. I remember how dominating he was in the Finals last year. If he can duplicate those past performances I think the Heat will be okay without Shaq for an extended period of time. Starter, Udonis Haslem is averaging solid numbers: 12.6 ppg 9.5 rpg. The older players, Zo and Payton though will have to fulfill their roles and contribute regularly. Mourning may not have lost some spring in his feet, but he can still be a force on the defensive end with his shot blocking ability.

Miami's 3-5 record doesn't dictate how they will play the rest of the way if they decide to commit and push themselves as a collective unit. Their depth and strength will be tested as they upcoming road games includes stops at Atlanta, New Orleans, and San Antonio. They'll be for some high scoring affairs if they don't play effective interior defense. Zone defense could be a necessary strategy to stop Tim Duncan. Antoine Walker will have to add his scoring touch to help out Wade. For now they'll have to put their focus on winning and forget about Shaq's injury.

Tarheels knock off Winthrop 73-66

Thanks in part again to Sophomore Tyler Hansbrough's hot shooting (9-13 FG) UNC prevailed over a Big South opponent to garner their second win. The 20 point performance from the 6'9 forward/center was enough to seal the deal. The Heels have a good returning lineup which includes Reshaun Terry, Bobby Frasor, Marcus Ginyard, and Tyler Hansbrough. A 7-point margin, however is not the the type of victories the Tarheels ring up against non-conference opponents. Terry, who is a proven scorer had an off-game, shooting 1-for-6 in the game and finished with 3 points.

Coach Roy Williams definitely doesn't have the team he did 2 years ago. The loss to George Mason in the Tournament was a surprise, but also a great learning experience for the freshmen. The early part of the schedule is unfavorable for the Tarheels. They're set to face Ohio State, Kentucky, Gonzaga the Rutgers, Saint Louis in November and December. The bench will have develop more and fill quality minutes. UNC will be put a test in the first half of the season. Luckily they'll have two sharp shooters, Wes Miller and Danny Green available off the bench.

The Tarheels will play Gardner Webber on Nov. 19. They shouldn't have any problems picking up another win. It should be tighter competition this year in the ACC as J.J. Redick, Robert Hite, and David Noel are gone and now in the NBA. There will be plenty of excitement in the air in college basketball, especially when tournament time rolls around.

Lebron and Jones lift Cavs' to win over Knicks

The poor New York Knicks can't catch a break to save their lives. Last night Cleveland rolled into the Garden and handed them their third loss at home. The 102-96 victory was sealed by Lebron James and Damon Jones, who both scored 29 points apiece. The Cavailers move to 5-2 on the season and have yet to face their toughest competition. If guys like Jones can put together good scoring performances then the load will be relieved off Lebron. Against New York they shot around 46 % as a team.

Though Damon Jones had a big game (7-10 3PA-M) I've not seen much offensive output from Drew Gooden and Big Z. These two normally crash the boards well and play good defense, but that won't be enough to propel the Cavs to the top of the Central division permanently. The Cavs were able to pull away from the Knicks Monday night in the 4th quarter despite Nate Robinson's best efforts (14 points). I imagine the chorus of boos grew louder and louder late in the game (and that was for just the Knicks). It could've been a much easier contest for the Cavs, nevertheless a victory is a victory and they'll take it.

On the schedule this week the Cavs will travel back home to face the Trail Brazers and Timberwolves before going to Washington D.C. to meet the Wizards on Saturday. I think a good sound strategy for shutting down Kevin Garnett and Zach Randolph will needed. The Cavs, Wiz contest is sure to be entertaining and it may be shootout between James and Arenas. Look for Lebron to bring it to hoop strong along with his power game. Woooooo! Go Cavs!

BD, motivates and believes in his team

BD keeping it real in Golden State, season outlook

The star qualities of dynamic point guard, Baron Davis are a blessing to the Golden State Warriors. They're lucky to have a veteran who knows how to effectively run the offense and always get teammates involved. His explosive first step, acrobatic offensive moves, and precise dishing define him as a player. He was brought over from the Hornets to inject energy to a sinking franchise and lead them to playoff contention. In two seasons the mission has yet to be accomplished. This is not Davis' fault because he did everything within his power to push this team over the hump.

Sunday the Warriors whooped up on the Pistons in route to a stunning 111-79 victory at home. Baron Davis completed a fantastic performance with 20 points, 9 assits, and 5 steals. He's averaging 20 ppg thus far. Earlier this week the Warriors snap the Hornets undefeated streak (4-0). Much of the Warriors' lineup and bench includes young, undeveloped talent. Small forward, Mike Dunleavy is becoming more of a scoring threat and Jason Richardson exhibits speed and vertical, aiding in many fast break points off transition. Ike Diogu and Mickael Pietrus are showing further promise, becoming stronger inside players.

At current the Warriors are 4-3 and it's early in the season, but many critics feel they won't clinch a final playoff seed in the West. No doubt about it, entering the postseason will be tough again. If Davis remains healthy for most of the season and starters Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson average at least 15 ppg a piece while the bench holds up their end of the bargain I think it's more than possible. Then again I still feel Golden State needs to acquire another durable veteran who can provide a scoring lift and relieve pressure from Baron Davis. The stakes will be high for the Warriors in 06-07, but I expect them to finish a couple games above .500 and be able to sneak into the playoffs.

Gators start season off right with a win

Being crowned NCAA champions last season was a time to relish for the Florida Gators. This weekend they wrapped up a win in their first game against Samford 79-54. Joakim Noah, the key star in last season's rise in becoming national champs delivered with a double-double, scoring 11 points with 15 rebounds and 6 assists. Florida won their 16th straight home opener under coach Billy Donovan. The Gators shot 58 percent on field goals for the game. In their run through the tournament they were able to overpower Villanova, George Mason, and UCLA.

The 2006 NCAA championship banner was placed in the rafters at home. Most of the Gators' lineup consists of juniors including Noah, Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, and Al Horford returning. Brewer averaged 19 points and 6 rebounds a game in the 05-06 campaign. Their two seniors, Lee Humphrey and Chris Richard will have give the team a lift by scoring more often this year. The Gators still have a good crop of young talent continuing to grow and develop.

On the upcoming schedule Florida will face North Florida on Nov. 14 then resume their home stand as they take on the Jacksonville Dolphins. After that the Chattanooga Mocs come to town on Nov. 18. They have a favorable schedule for the first 2 months. I think the Gators given their strength inside the paint, will shoot over 46 percent overall from the field and dominate some of the smaller teams in the South Eastern Conference. They will face their most daunting challenges against Kentucky and Kansas.

Labor union complains over increase in technical fouls

I knew it wouldn't take long before someone within the NBA came forth and cried over the new league policy on technical fouls. Commissioner Stern is now under scrunity by the Labor Union. They want him to tone down the enforcement by refs and let the NBA get back to it's old style of play (mugging and murderering people...I'm sorry that's off the court). Honestly, players shouldn't be whining at all since they won't have anything to worry about if they play the game clean. We know certain stars with big egos (Rasheed Wallace) will always put in their 2 cents worth, try to maime opponents and then act they never touched anyone.

Why can't players and NBA insiders be satisfied with the new stance on unnecessary less brute, physical play? Some of the ballers who learned their skills on the streets before they went pro need to make the adjustment. Trying to uppercut someone in the paint or clothesline them as they drive to the basket is indeed a foul, accept it. Guys must follow the rules whether they like it or not. Otherwise, they need to be suspended and fined. Sometimes such a penalty isn't enough to drive the message home. This is when I think it may be appropriate to dock their pay. They need to know they can't be allowed to be play basketball with reckless abandon.

Technical fouls won't be as much an issue if players keep their cool and play tough defense. The arguing with officials on almost every call only slows down the game and infuriates fans. Before long trash covers the court and riots break out in the stands. No one wants to witness such a travesty, especially those seated courtside who have a good chance of getting cracked in the head with a fold-out chair. The violence off the court can't be controlled, but on the court the NBA should continue to do everything in their power to maintain order. Getting rid of new Bill Lambeer and Dennis Rodmans will be best, avoiding tarnishing the game.

Wizards teammates duke it out in Washington

Last night's 106-103 loss to Orlando didn't make current matters any better for the Washington Wizards. This week Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas got into an fight after comments made by Haywood's agent, who claimed the starting center position was given to Thomas over personal issues rather than professional ones. Apparently, there had been tension between the two players since the start of the season or prior to the season. The incident started when Thomas questioned Haywood about his agent's comments then threw a punch at him. In defense, Haywood slammed his teammate to the floor and preceded to tear out two of his dreadlocks (Ouch! Was that really necessary?). The rest of the team broke up the fighting.

Coach Eddie Jordan needs to sit down with both players and explain exactly why he made the decision he did to put together his lineup and be upfront about it. Brendan and Etan seem to have big egos and need to accept their roles on the team regardless of outside distractions which involve blaming others and sulking. There should be no conflicts at all. Brendan is probably jealous because he was the starter much of last season. He'll have to prove himself coming off the bench now and if he's lucky maybe Jordan will make him a starter off and on. Why can't these guys just get along? The bickering will only be a strain on the team.

The Wizards are 1-2 in the early going and look to rely on the sharp shooting from Gilbert Arenas. The trio of Jamison, Areans, and Butler make the Wiz a formidable opponent when they're all hot yet they still need a fiercesome big man in the paint at center that can contribute good numbers on a regular basis. It's up to Haywood and Thomas to put their differences aside and commit to helping their team win close games. I'm sure whomever starts at center will shoot over 53% on field goals and pull down their share of rebounds. What Washington, much like many contenders in the league must have is defense and that come from the inside.

If the two squabbling teammates can make amends the Wizards can concentrate on basketball, forget about such nonsense distractions, and start a winning streak. Antawn Jamison should be getting more shots per game and rely less on the three as opposed to scoring in the paint where he's unstoppable at times. Antonio Daniels will still be running the point. His ability to get others involved and avoid turnovers will be key in Washington's success. No matter who's on the court, Haywood and Thomas both must avoid foul trouble to keep a physical, large presence guarding around the low post.

Baller, Jalen Rose finds new home in Phoenix

Jalen Rose no longer has to suffer as a New York Knick. He has took his skills and attitude to the Phoenix Suns. His presence at the SG or SF position will give extra depth to an already reliable bench. Both the Heat and Pistons tried to pursue Rose, but it was the Suns who sealed the deal. With Amare Stoudamire's health still in question this Western conference contender needed another scorer. Honestly, I have never liked the former Michigan standout, but he will should give this team a nice boost. Rose signed a one-year contract with Phoenix after being put on waivers.

The fast-paced, high-powered Suns offense is a good fit for the veteran 6'8 small forward, shooting guard. Knowing Steve Nash, he'll find a way to get Jalen involved in the offensive attack. Rose who will now play for his 6th NBA team averaged just under 13 points per game last season for the Knicks in 26 games. If another injury resurfaces this could turn out to be a bum deal for the Suns. Also known for his street style of play, trash talk, disfavor with refs, he is probably going to run into problems with the new NBA policy for ejections. He as well as other star players may not be able to handle the stricter enforcements.

Rose, 33, feels he is now in position to finally win a championship. I hate to tell him, but he had a better chance of reaching the promise land with Miami. Oh well the decision has already been made. Rose, however does join an all-star cast which includes Steve Nash, Amare Stoudamire, Boris Diaw, and Raja Bell. The strategic offensive game plan is catered to Jalen, who isn't known for his defensive ability. He can now look forward to being at the top of the league instead of the bottom.

Cavs and Lebron win home opener against Wizards

What a first game performance from second year star, Larry Hughes. With his help the Cavs edged the Wizards 97-94. The veteran guard scored 28 points (11-15 FGA-M), grabbed 9 rebounds while dishing out 5 assists. That proved to be the difference in the game. Let's not forget about Lebron James either. "Prime Time" as I will refer to him as dropped 26 points with 10 rebounds and 5 assists. It was a close game, until the final minute when Cleveland went ahead and made the crucial stop on the other end.

Luckily for the Cavs Gilbert Arenas had a rare off-game, shooting 2-12 from the field. I like what the Cavailers lineup is capable of, but they may need additional offense from Drew Gooden and Big Z on nights when James is pressured by stifling defense, which could mean triple-teaming at times. All and all it was a good opening game for Cleveland. As a team they shot 47% for the game, which is decent. They're scheduled to play the Spurs Friday night at San Antonio. This will be an early season challenge for them.

The Cav's bench will also be tested on the defensive end. Shutting down Tim Duncan is never a piece of cake. This year I think Donyell Marshall should rely less on three-pointers and play more another the low post. They'll need his big body around the paint for put-backs and to discourage drives to the basket. I think King James (Prime Time) is going to be a bit more prepared for the upcoming matchup on the road. I wouldn't be surprised if he scores 35 and collects another triple-double in his young career.

NBA opens season tonight, Wade center of attention

Well, the much anticipated basketball season kicks off tonight. I was so excited that I thought the first game would be played Monday...not quite. The Miami Heat lock up with the Chicago Bulls. This will be a rematch from the first round of the playoffs and feature a great matchup between Shaq and Ben Wallace. Sure Chicago lost Tyson Chandler, but they gained an incredible inside defender in Wallace. His shot blocking and ability to rebound on the offensive glass will give his new team a significant competitive advantage. The two Eastern Conference contenders could very well see each other in the playoffs again.

Tonight all eyes will be on Dwayne Wade to lead the Heat to victory as the same with Kobe Bryant. The Lakers will play the Suns at 10:30 p.m. PT on TNT following the Heat vs. Bulls. I'm sure, recent Hall of Famer, Charles will have his share of colorful commentary in the broadcast studio. I expect D Wade will improve his ppg from last season (27.2) He even averaged 6.7 apg, which if he can duplicate then the Heat will be tough to beat, especially if he shoots an incredible FG % again (49.5 in 05-06) Veteran stars Alonzo Mourning, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams.

It's evident that much of the scoring for the Lakers will be relied on Kobe Bryant, who finished last season with 35.4 ppg and shot 35% from three-point land. The superstar guard claims he's more focused on helping his team win another champioship rather being the best player (scorer) in the NBA. The Lakers did acquire another good shooter in Vladimir Radmanovic, who came over from the Clippers. Much of the same lineup returns including Lamar Odom, Smush Parker, and Chris Mihm. I look for second-year player, Andrew Bynum to get more playing time and give Los Angeles a lift off the bench.

Phoenix will probably keep the game close tonight with the Lakers. Unless Nash or Bryant goes on a tear I think it will come down the final 4 minutes of the 4th quarter. I pick the Heat to win against the Bulls for the simply reason of the Shaq/Wade connection. Also, they have several scoring options off the bench. Rookie guard Robert Hite from Miami University will get to show his skills, but not tonight most likely. He may later become another scoring threat for the Heat. It's going to be a thrilling night for the official start of the NBA season.

06-07 MVP?

Lebron's Cavs predicted to finish second in East

Finally the basketball season is almost here. Opening night for the NBA season starts Monday. The Cleveland Cavailers are expected to make some noise in the Eastern Conference this year and finish second behind the Bulls in the Central. Lead by Lebron James this team will be in good position to make a repeat appearance in the postseason. The lineup hasn't changed much from last season except for the departure of Flip Murray, who went to the Pistons. The Cavs picked up David Wesley, a good veteran outside shooter. Other than that they retained most of last year's unit.

The competition is well balanced in the Central division now that Ben Wallace is with the Bulls. First place will be attained most likely by the best defensive team. The Cavailers finished last season over 10 games above .500 and avoided a second half collapse. They went on to beat the Wizards in the first round of the playoffs then lost to Detroit after tying the series at 3. Both Drew Gooden and Lebron James signed contract extensions. If all goes well Larry Hughes will play a full season and add another scoring weapon in the back court.

With Lebron averaging just under 32.0 ppg in 05-06 I like Cleveland's chances if everyone can stay healthy. I have a feeling the franchise records Lebron shattered a year ago will be nothing compared to what he does in the upcoming season. The loss of Flip Murray will hurt a little so it may be necessary for Cleveland to acquire another ball handler and scorer to come off the bench. Many believe Coach Mike Brown gave this franchise direction, but everyone knows that Lebron James will make them a contender. A championship may not be far off in the balance.

Commissioner Stern discourages gun possession

Well, it looks like David Stern is really starting to worry about NBA players and guns. While Stern feels it's okay to have a gun at home for security he doesn't condone anyone carrying a gun on the streets (which really means not to any NBA game or event). Why is there such an immediate concern for gun control? Everyone knows crazy, unintelligent athletes will buy firearms with intent to use them whenever they want. I don't think it's necessary to have a handgun, semi-automatic, or M-80's handy when the urge to bust a cap in someone arises. Statistics spouted by Stern show that people who carry guns are actually less safe and increase their chances of getting wounded or killed. That all depends though on the situation and what actions they take.

I don't think this would be such a big issue if the NBA's collective bargaining agreement banned possession of licensed guns (or put a restriction on such use along with heavy fines if rule is broken). It only prohibits players from traveling with guns on team business or road games. Like this has stopped NBA ballers in the past. Pacer's guard, Stephen Jackson's recent incident outside a Indianapolis strip club has ruined such a luxury for the entire NBA. By him firing at least 5 shots then lying saying he got hit by a car is a perfect example of why the NBA can't trust anyone.

It's always some lame, dumb excuse with these out of control bad boys like Jackson: their cellphone was stolen, a drug dealer got 'over on them', a homeboy dissed them and had a secret relationship with their wife or girlfriend, and a violent debacle occcurred with a player didn't pay a hooker in full and their pimp got involved. In the '50s, '60s, and '70s this wouldn't have been a problem. For the most part, athletes were respectful and civilized. Now no one can feel safe because some of today's basketball stars want to take stupid risks and put other lives in danger. Thanks a lot NBA ballers!

Kenny Rogers: guilty of cheating or plain mishap?

The last 2 days all the sports media keeps talking about is what was on Kenny Rogers' pitching hand in Game 2 of the World Series. He claims it was mud rubbed off spit and dirt on baseballs in the bullpen he was using to warm up with before the game and others are confident that it was indeed pine tar. Obviously, it was cold during game time and after all it is October, but the umpires didn't question the veteran southpaw until afterwards. What is the point of doing this at the conclusion of a game? This delayed reaction is quite odd and makes fans wonder if the umpires were doing their job.

If Rogers was guilty of using pine tar for a better grip on the baseball in the 7 or 8 innings he pitched then MLB needed to assert a balance of fairness and power here. They could've even restarted Game 2 even though doing so would create another wave of controversy and make the Tigers mad. I'm pulling for Detroit, but MLB can't allow any cheating to disrupt or alter the championship from either side. Someone in MLB has some explaining to do and have this mess sorted out. Issuing an statement to the media explaining what actually happened would be appropriate.

When I was watching Game 2 on television I couldn't tell what Kenny Rogers had on his hands. The only people who knew for sure were his teammates, the umpires, and Cardinal players. They had the best look at him throughout the game. Apparently, Tony La Russa was upset when questioned again about the incident Monday and let his feelings be known to the media. He saw a dark smudge on his Rogers' pitching hand, but was uncertain as to the substance. La Russa wanted to put the dirtclump case behind him. The focus resumes on the rest of the World Series.

Tonight there will be mixed emotions on the field and in the stands as the Cards return to St. Louis. Chris Carpenter gets the start at home where he owns a 1.81 ERA this season. I know Cardinal fans will be yelling and screaming in Game 3 tonight and giving Kenny Rogers a bunch of crap. Until firm evidence that he used pine tar is presented they should reserve judgment and not blame him for their team losing. I think it's unusual if Rogers has used pine tar throughout the postseason and people are just now noticing it. It's still unclear to critics what was really on Rogers' hands...may be it really was just dirt.

New look Rockets believe they're championship material

This off-season the Houston Rockets have made wise investments by acquiring Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells. The organization is heading in the right direction, but are they strong enough to win a NBA title? With Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming returning Houston will make a roar in the Western conference, consequently their shot at the championship will have to wait. I don't see Houston brushing by the Spurs, Mavericks, or Suns. They still lack a top quality bench. The two superstars can't be expected the carry the scoring load every game.

Bonzi Wells a good perimeter shooter, can have big scoring performances, but is sometimes too selfish with the ball. He'll need to set up his teammates more and be more of a complete player. Coach Van Gudy has better additional talent to work with yet he can't control whether or not his players get injured. Anything can happen during the early months of the season. McGrady's influence on the younger players will dictate how well they'll play as a team.

I expect for Yao to average around 21 ppg and pull down 12.5 rpg. Shane Battier will be a great low-post player and a good defensive stopper. The Rockets are still developing, though the sky is the limit for them in 06-07.

NLCS all tied up 3-3

It's been an amazing run for the New York Mets (at least New Yorkers can be proud of one team this year). I'm not saying I think they're going to lose the NLCS, it's just been a pleasant, memorable journey for a franchise that used to be ridiculed and lived under the shadow of the Braves...not anymore. Luck would have it that the Cardinals and Mets are notched at 3 games a pieces and play the deciding Game 7 tonight in New York. Yesterday's hero was Jose Reyes who led the game off with a solo homer. He went 3-for-4 with a RBI. Shawn Green also added 2 hits for good measure and help the Mets complete a 4-2 victory over St. Louis.

Starter John Maine pitched a good game, going 5 innings while allowing zero runs and striking out 5 batters. As crappy as the Cards played down the stretch of the regular season I'm surprised the series has gone to a Game 7. The Mets made easy work of the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs, sweeping them 3-0. Tonight they'll need timely hitting from stars, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, and David Wright. Oliver Perez, who won Game 2 will take the mound against Jeff Suppan. This move by Mets' manager, Willie Randolph may backfire since Perez is 3-13 in the regular season and not known for pitching past 6 innings. Still I wish them the best, go Mets!

Fan Interference and the consequences that should follow

I'm not too happy when I see a stupid spectator at a baseball game try lunge for a foul when it's still in reach for a outfielder or infielder. With intensity and pressure at high points in the playoffs leave it to some moron in the stands to interfere and ruin a perfectly good play. Making such a poor split-decision is just a way for fans to show off and creates enemies amongst them. Besides getting a hand crushed or a face planted to the ground by attempting a catch in foul territory these people can also drive a send a ballpark crowd into an uproar.

Yes, there will always be someone oblivious to what is going on in a critical playoff game, but that doesn't mean they should only be punished by being escorted out of the stadium. A fan, whether conscious of an what's transpiring or suffering from a lack of judgment needs to deal with the real consequences. That means an "anything goes" environment in the stands. If other passionate fans feel the need to hurl trash and heckle this person that I'll refer to as the "screw-up" then so be it. I wouldn't condone violence usually, but it may be necessary to send a loud message like, DON'T BE A POMPOUS ASS BY CAUSING INTERFERENCE AND SCREW UP THE WHOLE GAME!

It would be a good idea if mascots also got involved in the heckling and backlash. Finally they'll get a chance to get back at the cruel fans who always go out of their way to make their day hell. They can show idiot fans how it feels to be kicked in the butt, have pitchers of beer tossed at them, be the victim of crude, obscene jokes, striped stark naked behind the bleachers except for their costume head piece then photographed, and pummeled by Louisville sluggers (okay, maybe that's exaggerated, but mascots do take a beating whether physically or mentally). Inappropriate behavior for mascots however, would be giving various spectators the bird or any nonverbal hint that they're planning to cut a fan's throat. That is just way out of line.

Fan interference is becoming a bigger problem today. MLB and other sports must enforce swift, fair punishment to those who come to major sporting events only to be jackasses. You can wonder why they'd want to create so many enemies within short distance of themselves while invoking hostility. The world of sports would be better if fans refrained from committing ignorant, selfish acts and not pissing off an entire crowd.

Tigers sweep A's, advance to World Series

It has been a miraculous season for the Detroit Tigers. After waiting 22 years Detroit has won the pennant and will return to the World Series. It was a thrilling game today as the ALCS ended on a clutch 3-run homer by Maggolio Ordonez in the 9th. The Tigers stunned the A's, sweeping them in 4 games. Early in the game Oakland took a 3-0 lead before the Tigers stormed right back and tied the game in the 6th inning. Ordonez's first homerun tied the game and the second blast sealed the victory. Placido Planco, who's been playing injured went 3-for-5 with a run scored today and was named the MVP of the ALCS.

Detroit's starting pitching was phenomenal in the series. Verlander, Rogers, and Bonderman all pitched at least 5 innings a piece and allowed an average of 2 runs a game. On a roll in the playoffs the Tigers have won their last 7 games. They made quick work of the Yankees by taking the ALDS 3-1, shutting down the Yankee batters with controlled, precise pitching. Brandon Inge and Craig Monroe are helping fuel the offense with a pair of homers in the AlCS. The 6-3 deciding victory today showed just a glimpse of what the Tigers are capable of doing. 2006 looks to be the year this franchise wins another World title since 1984.

I'd like to see the Mets and Tigers in the World Series. Both teams were known for being unlikely contenders and underdogs in the past 2 decades. If they do face one another Detroit will have the advantage with a healthy, dominating starting rotation. It will be up to Kenny Rogers, Ivan Rodriguez, and Magglio Ordonez to be team leaders and influence the younger players.

The NBA tries to eliminate post-whistle complaining

Commissioner David Stern is working on tackling an issue which has been a nuisance for referees during many NBA basketball games. I can't say that this 'issue' will ever go away completely. Star players with big egos are known for arguing calls and jawing at officials. Why does the NBA think this will change? A zero tolerance policy has been issued to all active players during training camp. Well, the NBA will have to come up with a stronger enforcement than that to shut loud-mouth whiners up, especially those who think they're bigger than the game itself.

Personally, I think the policy could be a big advantage and disadvantage depending on how a game is officiated. For players who always complain (whether a call is legitimate and on the money or not) they should be fined at least 10% of their day's pay, which is hardly anything. On the opposing side, there are a couple blind and batty referees in the NBA. Those guys should be forced to perform drills on the court to test their overall vision. If they can't determine a call within 20 seconds 10-15 feet from the basket (or can't see an obvious foul) then they fail the preliminary test and should be fired.

Merely slapping players with small fees and warnings isn't acceptable anymore. Not only should they get tossed for constant bickering with refs (plus malicious intent to harm), but also suspended for a series of games and lose bonuses from their contract. Dramatic affirmative actions may be necessary to invoke corrective behavior. Just in the past year the NBA has required players to formal dress attire to all home and road games. A new basketball will be used in the coming season, which exhibits a different style than previous regulation basketballs. Good luck to the NBA on their 'no tolerance policy', we'll see how long it lasts (and before another pro baller gets arrested for drug possession and getting in a fight and firing a gun outside a strip club).

MLB Managers up for grabs

After disappointing seasons for their respective teams managers, Joe Girardi, Felipe Alou, Dusty Baker, and Lou Pinella were terminated. Now their availability has spurred interest around baseball. The Marlins expected Girardi to resurrect the franchise in just one year. The former baseball player has a sharp mind for the game, but he can't pull off miracles on his own. Florida doesn't have the team chemistry and talent they had 3 years ago when they leaped to the World Series and defeated the New York Yankees. That's all a distant memory.

Despite losing in the first round of the playoffs Yankees owner, George Steinbreiner, elected to keep Joe Torre around. I'm glad that Lou Pinella was not hired because I feel he has a greater purpose to serve for a team crying out for help in the NL. After one of the worst seasons in over a decade the Chicago Cubs are in dire need of direction. With Baker gone, the club could use a vocal leader in the dugout like Pinella who knows how to motivate players. This was a far comparison from Baker, who seemed passive and reserved for most of the 2006 campaign with Chicago. Right now they're interviewing Joe Girardi for the position, an ex-Cub (played on team in the early 90's).

I have no idea where Alou and Baker will go, their background and credentials will help them find a job somewhere even though they finished the year with unpredictable low overall records. San Francisco has got the short end of the stick with both managers as they failed to achieve a World Series title. Baker carried the Giants to the World Series in the late 90's, however came up short against the Angels. There is still much uncertainty as to how many other coaches will be put on the chomping block this off-season. If teams like the Marlins, Cubs, and Giants want to become contenders they've got major restructing to do between now and 2007.

Tigers, Mets heading to league championship series

What a weekend it's been as the rich and mighty Yankees got knocked clean off their feet and were sent packing by the Detroit Tigers. How would've thought the underdogs were nabbed the series 3-1 over New York? The Tigers advance to the second round to face the Athletics in a best-of-7 series for the first time since 1987. I'm glad the Yankees once again were humbled, proving just because you're the most wealthy franchise in baseball doesn't mean you're the best. Jeremy Bonderman recorded the win in the deciding game Saturday in Detroit. He held the Yankee hitters at bay, pitching 8.1 innings yielding 2 earned runs off 5 hits and a walk. Magglio Ordonez and Craig Monroe both homered in route to a 8-3 victory.

The Yanks didn't know what hit them as their opponents outplayed them in the ALDS. They won the first game at home then lost the next 3 to Detroit. Randy Johnson and Jaret Wright didn't pitch effective nor hung around very long. The reason why the Tigers were successful was because they got to New York's starting pitching early, gaining the momentum. The pressure was obvious, A-Rod (1-14 series) and Derek Jeter couldn't deliver in the clutch. The whole lineup had no answers against Kenny Rogers in Game 3 as he pitched a shutout, striking out 8 batters.

On the other side of town, recent events aren't so gloomy for the Mets as they easily sweep the Dodgers in the NLDS. Even without Pedro Martinez the club pulled together and wreaked havoc on the Dodger's pitching staff. Nomar got injured again in Game 2, unable to play yesterday (Well, his presence couldn't have saved the Dodgers anyway...plus he was bound to get injured sooner or later). Paul Lo Duca and Shawn Green were the heroes in Game 3 as they both collected at least 2 hits a piece and drove in 4 runs combined. Despite the offensive attack from New York neither starting pitcher lasted past the 4th inning.

Greg Maddux got banged around for 4 runs on 7 hits while Steve Traschel was yanked after 3.1 innings of work though only allowed 2 earned runs. Unless the Padres make a major comeback it looks like the Cardinals and Mets will meet in the NLCS. Playing good or decent won't cut it for St. Louis, they'll need more than the long ball from Albert Puljos. I'm look forward to seeing Carlos Beltran, David Wright, and company to tee off on Cardinal pitching.

Minnesota up against the wall, down 2-0

After a historic run in the second half of 2006 to pass the WhiteSox and Tigers then claim the AL Central division title the Twins are in danger out being eliminated in the playoffs. They seemed to have took the Athletics too lightly. Obviously, there were a few risks and defensive miscues that lead to their defeat Wednesday. Tori Hunter diving catch attempt was just off the mark and as a result the A's Mark Kotsay was able to pull his team ahead with a 2-run inside-the-park-homerun. In the playoffs such mistakes can cost you the series. The Twins still have hope as they send Johan Santana to the mound in Game 3.

In Game 1 Santana recorded the loss despite a solid pitching outing in the ALDS. The bats in Minnesota's lineup will have to ignite and it will be up to Hunter, Mauer, and Morneau to do the damage. The offense should score early and often against Rich Harden otherwise it will be a straining task to get back into the game. The one good thing working in the Twins favor is that Oakland is 0-9 in Game 3s since 2000. They should be thankful that they're not facing Barry Zito.

Allowing Esteban Loaiza to go 5 innings and give up 6 hits through 5 innings without driving in baserunners also hurt the Twins yesterday. I see how Joe Mauer holds up behind the plate. If takes a beating with foul tips, pitches in the dirt, and collisions at the plate it may effect his production from the offensive end. Winning 3 straight is no easy feat for any team in the postseason, but with the Twin's power and good bench they should be able to score enough runs. They'll need to get at least 6 innings out of their starting pitchers though. We'll see what happens in the series. It's do or die for the Twins.

From "Greenies" to blatant steroid accusations

This week another piece of controversy and entertainment has spurred in the baseball world. After Jason Grimsley sounded off to some reporters about his experience with steroids and other illegal performance-enhancing drugs somehow the following star players got thrown into the mix: Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada, and Andy Pettite. First of all, none of these guys deserve to be directed accused of steroid or antemphaine use without hard evidence. That is just plain ignorant and lack of decency by sources writing such information. I understand them being offended and angry, especially Tejada who detested being linked to steroids through Rafael Palmeiro (It's a shame when your own teammate tries to throw you into their personal issues).

Monday Pete Rose appeared on the "Late Show" with David Letterman and was asked if ever used supplements or illegal drugs to boost his performance. Rose replied, "The other dietary source he used were "greenies", which are no more than diet pills. Today in baseball this would be a banned substance since it fits under the category of supplements. Everyone wants to entice Rose to bet on baseball again. Letterman, in the interview asked who Pete liked in the playoffs, who favors the Padres and Twins. He also mentioned concerning banned drugs if he ever took steroids he would've got 5,000 career damn hits. I don't doubt that at all. Rose with all his knowledge could be a valuable asset to any sport's better this fall. I've wouldn't be surprised if Rose shows up for a few playoff games.

Playoff Predictions

The way the playoff picture has shaped up saddens me that several teams who were in contention in the final week are eliminated. The Phillies, Reds, and Astros all had a good shot, but blew it. This proves a theory: teams are sometimes destined to flop and land our asses when everything is riding on the line. Coming down to the final day, it was extremely close though as the Padres and Cardinals (bunch of pansies) clinched their division today. Honestly, how pathetic is that for contenders?

Minnesota claimed the AL Central title with a 5-1 win over the White Sox. They had actually worked their way back in the division and went neck-and-neck with the Tigers the final two weeks. Both teams earned spots in the playoffs. Their work will be cut out for them as the join the Yankees and Athletics in the upcoming postseason showdown. I expect the Twins to advance to the second round and play at least 5 games in the ALCS. Most of the weight will be on Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano. With Joe Mauer winning the AL batting title he will be expected to deliver in the clutch too.

Even though I despise the Yankees they'll find a way to advance into the second round by either knocking out the Tigers or Athletics in the 4 or 5 games. Whether Randy Johnson is 100% or not New York is still strong overall. A sporadic injury to Derek Jeter or Jason Giambi would cost them significantly and make the series interesting. Of course the Yankees will have home field advantage and that will give them perhaps a psychological edge (Once those wild fans get in an opposing player's head, it's hard not for them to start feeling the pressure and lose focus).

In the National League the Mets are bound and determined to make an impact in the postseason (that's because they make rare appearances and get tired of hearing to the booing at Shea Stadium). They, however will have to succeed without Pedro Martinez who is undergoing surgery and will miss the postseason and possibly half of next season. What a devastating blow! You can count on the high-powered lineup to do their share of damage, lead by an all-star cast which includes Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, and Cliff Floyd. They defend their turf and take care of the Cardinals. It may go to 6 games, but I doubt it. Then they have a challenge with the Padres or Dodgers. Their best bet will be face San Diego and pray Jake Peavy doesn't shut down their offense. I say come on Mets and screw everyone else.

Baseball ribbing continued

Yesterday I left off on a joke about Royals and Yankees' fans. After seeing how most of the division races turned out it feels necessary to poke fun of a few teams. That and I need a distraction to take my mind off my favorite team (Cubs) not making the playoffs for the third straight year. It looks like Kansas City will finish the 2006 campaign with the worst record again, those 100 losses have to hurt. Tampa Bay is in the same boat and doesn't really have anything positive to note closing out the season.

In the past decade the Detroit Tigers held their worst records in club history. Now look where they are, heading to the playoffs for the first time since 1987. Fans from the Motor City won't have their hearts crushed just yet unlike those from Boston (Now all they have to look forward to is the Patroits succeeding and their precious 'clam chowder'). Luckily this year the New York Mets will be the talk of town and won't have to listen to the vicious insults from Yankee fans.

This postseason if lightning strikes twice and there is a Yankees, Mets matchup in the World Series everyone will know if passionate fans at the game pull a wild stunt like leaping from the upper deck their motivation won't be a catch a foul ball, but to brutally assault an opposing fan. I wouldn't be such a devilish act past that crazy New York crowd (don't be surprised if they carry knives, fish hooks, or guns with them). The Royals, Devil Rays, Cubs, Marlins, and Braves will be free of such controversy, but more concerned about who will they will have to fire.

A team that struggles to make the postseason year after year, but never actually improves is similar to a homicidal maniac who is granted a pardon and tries to be sincere with a judge, claiming he's trying to get his life back together. Then he goes on another killing spree. There is no moral lesson here (except don't committ murder) for a baseball team, though if they ever want to succeed and be a contender they must go above and beyond. This means do some wheeling and dealing, spend a chunk of money to get adequate talent. Otherwise it will be more of the same, fans being enraged and freely leaping from the seats onto the field because they can't stand it anymore.

Baseball joke

What do Yankees and Royals' fans have in common?

They're both tempted enough to committ suicide by leaping from the upper deck. Royals fans have more legitimate reasons for wanting to do this though. More to come later...

Hall of Fame bound Griffey hits clutch homer for Reds

Thanks to the Ken Griffey Jr. clutch pinch-hit dinger in Monday's game against the Cubs his team's playoff hopes are still alive. He help narrow the margin to 3.5 games in the NL Central. With the homerun in the 8th inning at Cincy Griffey moved into 10th place on the all-time homerun list at 563. After years of injuries, Griffey has finally played close to a full season since 2001. On the season, the veteran slugger has 27 homeruns, 72 RBIs, and a .253 average, which is no where close to his best.

There is no denying his ability and devotion to the game. He in elite company in the record books with legends such as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Babe Ruth. I have always enjoyed watching Griffey play, there is such zest and silent determination about him. At the moment the Reds are praying that the Cardinals and Astros lose their next 3 or 4 games. This must happen if the Reds are pull into the driver's seat and clinch a playoff birth.

Whether the all-star centerfielder is hurt or not I'm sure he will do everything possible to give an advantage and get them into the playoffs. Whether it's tape measure blasts or electrifying diving, leaping catches Ken Griffey Jr. in my book is still the total package. The stats don't lie: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=2148

Best of luck to the Reds!

Failed Attempts: Disappointments for postseason contention

Another long, tiring season is about to come to a close as teams are still in the hunt for October. I realize that the playoffs will be thrilling once again, but it just doesn't feel right that several fan favorites won't make an appearance. Today the Red Sox were knocked out of contention after the Twins triumphed over the Orioles. The White Sox are in jeopardy of clinching a playoff birth for consecutive years. Rumors are floating around that Boston is planning to trade Manny Ramirez again. Critics are criticizing his lack of effort and commitment to the team. Maybe Manny being Manny isn't cutting it anymore.

At mid-season the AL West was wide open. Injuries and lack of good pitching prevented the Mariners, Angels, and Rangers from making a strong second half run for the pennant. The Athletics made a smart decision by keeping Barry Zito before the trade deadline in late July. He provides much depth to a young, talented pitching rotation. Vladmir Guerrero, Mark Teixeira, and Ichiro Suzuki will have to wait until next season for another chance at the postseason. The Angels haven't been pushovers, obtaining an 83-71 record. They know what Toronto must feel like in the East.

In the National League the resounding pity for Reds, Cubs, and Astros cease to matter as none of these teams will make the playoffs. When will Cincy be strong enough to climb atop the Cardinals and have a healthy roster for the whole year? They'll have to acquire extra bonafide pitching in the rotation and bullpen if they are to succeed in the near future. Once again the Chicago Cubs hit rock bottom and became the laughing stock of the NL. Only two other teams in baseball have worse records (Royals (58-96), Devil Rays (59-95). In the earlier months it didn't look like St. Louis was going to run away with division, but they did.

Despite the homerun chase Barry Bonds pursues, the Giants are on the verge of extending a playoff drought since 2002. Even if he hit 40 dingers it wouldn't been enough to propel the Giants. The Braves will most likely be sitting out and watching the action in October on TV for the first time in more than a decade. New York is the hot team in the NL this year, I don't care what anyone says. Atlanta at least won't happen worry about getting knocked out in the first round. This upcoming postseason isn't what I expected or am satisfied with at all. 2007 better not be so disappointing.

Pitchers who can hit the long ball

After hearing about the overall solid performance that Dontrelle Willis had Wednesday there is an elite company for pitchers who are good at hitting homeruns. Willis' two homers, 3 RBI offensive output was enough to at least tie the game against the Mets yesterday. The Marlins, behind Willis' 8 innings of work (7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) prevailed 6-3. It's a rarity these days for pitchers who can slug for power. The Cubs' Carlos Zambrano has 5 homeruns for the season.

I think for a bench player or utility guy it's embarrassing when of a starter pitcher on the team has more homeruns. That's not what you call a confidence builder. If you think about a pinch hitter probably gets around 15-20 less at-bats than a starting pitcher in the NL, though sometimes gets to play as a fill-in and receives at least 3 at-bats per game. My theory is if a pitcher has a higher batting average than a bench player plus a good on-base percentage and more homeruns why not use them as pinch hitters.

I know many coaches don't want to run the risk of injury to a pitcher or effect their natural strong arm by swinging a bat. The only defining difference is that they could drive in the deciding run to win a game in late innings. Managers knew to look over such statistics and take this into consideration. I wouldn't be surprised if teams used pitchers to pinch hit in the playoffs this year. The Mets may want to test a strategy with Tom Glavine since he is known for being a good contact hitter. A team can't go wrong if this move is effective.

Rose apology on signed baseballs spur collectors' interest

When everyone thought talks and confessions of Pete Rose were over, a new hidden treasure is discovered. 30 signed baseballs were took to an auction house in New Jersey where the prized memorabilia will be up for bid in April. Sooner or later baseball fans and MLB should've know something like this would surface. Old "Charlie Hustle" had a few tricks up his sleeves. The career hits leader was clever on and off the field. See he had a backup plan for another backup plan, which was if he didn't get into the Hall of Fame or be reinstated in baseball he was still going to make money from the sport.

I imagine Commissioner Selig is pissed and up arms over the news. The only reason the autographed baseballs will be released for sale is because a memorabilia collector who used to be limited partner in the New York Yankees died back in December. The man's family contacted Robert Edwards Auctions to sell the valuable collection. Rose had orignially signed the baseballs for friends and didn't what them to sell them. That's all changed after the most recent owner passed away. As a collector it's fun to hold on to historic pieces of memorabilia, but in the back of their mind they're always thinking about making a profit.

You can't blame someone for wanting to sell something like an autographed signed ball by Pete Rose, especially since it's a rare specialty item when an actual apology note encoded, "I'm sorry I bet on baseball". I would be best though if a couple of the baseballs were kept when the auction starts because it may hold more sentinemental value for others, maybe close friends of Rose who is still living. I've got to give Rose his props because he wanted people to remember him for doing the right thing plus create a valuable collectible piece to someone's collection.

David Ortiz wallops a solo homer in Game 1 of the doubleheader.

Red Sox, Yankees series: serious than ever

A ton of good games are played during this time in the season. Teams are competing for the wildcard and pennant. Watching two historic rivals face each other in mid-September is thrilling. Not only because the score can be in either team's favor in any inning, but also there is a great possibility that a chaotic outburst will erupt. When tension rises too high and players get steamed that's when punches are thrown and benches clear.

I still remember the 2002 or 2003 ALCS series when Pedro and ole' Don Zimmerman squared off. First of all, the former Yankees skipper was too old to be getting involved plus he has one melon of a head (Man, his head looked like it was going to split wide open when he hit the ground). In the same respect Pedro did the wrong thing by shoving him to the ground. They both were talking trash like crazy. That day everyone on both sides got all riled up.

With two weeks left in the season the Red Sox find themselves in desperation mode to clinch a playoff spot. Boston is 10.5 games behind the first place Yankees in the East. They're playing a doubleheader today at Boston and have already wrapped a 6-3 victory in Game 1. David Ortiz hit his 49th homerun of the season while Kevin Youkilis creamed a 3-run double in the 7th to pull Boston ahead. Former Red Sox, Johnny Damon (sellout) claimed the Yankees will going to clinch the division title sooner or later. This clown has got some kind of nerve to rub it in his former's teammates faces. If I were Curt Schilling I might just be inclined to bean him.

The BoSox can count on one man for sure, Big Pappi. Knowing that he has a flair for the dramatic and a genuine disgust for the Yankees he could make things interesting down the stretch. He may also have some choice words for Derek Lee and company. These guys all should really put their egos aside and just play the game. However, baseball fans know this won't ever happen. Checking the score at the moment the second game is tied 2-2 in the 3rd inning. With a sweep at least Boston can gain ground in the wildcard race and maybe cause a psychological effect on New York. Big Pappi hit a few more dingers tonight and send those Yanks packing with their heads between their tails. Go REDSOX!

NBA teams out west pulling strings in off-season

Trying to work on tweaking lineups and developing into contenders, the Hornets, Nuggets, and Rockets are signing key off-season acquisitions. The Western Conference will be tighter than ever this coming season. Houston garnered 4 quality veteran players in Antawn Jamison, Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier, and Brad Miller. With the payroll expanded they won't have room for anyone else. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming will return to keep much needed depth in the lineup.

After suffering through the crisis in New Orleans, the new look Hornets are serious about making a roar in the West and clinching the playoffs for the first time is over 6 years. They signed a blockbuster deal to acquire former Pacer Peja Stojakovic. This was a intelligent move by Hornets management, though it may not be enough to get them into the postseason. They've lost J.R. Smith, whom is on the Denver Nuggets. With Chris Paul still at the point they lack another powerful post player besides David West.

To come along with the addition of J.R. Smith Denver also obtained veteran forward Joe Smith. I like the Nuggets chances because they have a stronger bench and proven scorers in Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby. I don't predict them to be one of the top seeds yet they will most likely finish 3rd ot 4th in their division. If the backcourt off the bench does their part and contributes on regular basis Denver will be in good shape.

How about those Twins!

Since the early part of the season it looked as if the Tigers were destined to win the pennant this season. With other teams tumbling in the AL Central the unexpected Minnesota Twins began to seize every opportunity. They were counted out in the first half. With the dominating pitching of Johan Santana coupled with the excellent work of a strong bullpen the Twins are locked in and aimed at nabbing a playoff spot. They're a mere 1.5 games back from the Tigers for first place. Three teams in the division obviously aren't going to make the postseason.

After activating Francisco Liriano off the DL the Twins are as strong as ever in their rotation. To top it off Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are leading the team in batting average, homeruns, and RBIs. With their new addition, Phil Nevin plus outfielder Rondell White the offense is fine. The Twins have took the AL by storm, though predicted to finish 3rd or 4th in the division. Santana has earned 18 wins and leads the AL in strikeouts (230). He is arguably the best pitcher in baseball right now.

Owning a 83-59 record in September is sweet, however to fend off the competition hot on their tails the Twins may need to win 94 games or more to reach the playoffs. They're in good shape at the moment, but don't think for a minute the Tigers or WhiteSox aren't as eager to splash into the playoffs. If Mauer, who is shooting for a batting title, keeps up his hot hitting Minnesota just might claim the pennant. Then again it's tough to determine until the final week when tension is high and the best baseball is played. Good luck to the Twins in their quest for a playoff birth.

Broadcaster files restraining order against stalker

Since taking over the broadcast position as the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971 Bob Uecker has coped with much grief and heart ache (mainly because the Brewers had sucked for so many years). Now the 72-year-old prestigious radio personality has filed a suit against a stalker. He claims she's been following him around ballparks and hotels all across the country for the past 6 years or so. This is spooky for anyone. The sad part about the case is that the woman is 45. Can't she at least find someone around her own age to stalk? I say leave the old guy alone and don't try any crazy shit.

After hitting this nutcase with a restraining order and having her prosecuted with a felony charge in court maybe Uecker can now have peace of mind and get back to enjoying his life. Allegely this lady who hails from Prospect Heights, Illinois sent Mr. Uecker unwanted gifts and approached him about helping her with charity work. I think he was smart for not entertaining the idea, refusing to let her suck up his limited free time. Today you never can be too sure about a stranger's intentions. One minute these loonies can be persuading a person to give money to charities, the next they can lead their prey off to a secluded area, tie them up in the trunk of a car and kidnap them.

I don't know when stalkers started targeting senior citizens, but even in this case someone like Bob Uecker can be vulnerable, unable to defend himself given the right criminal tactics and tricks. Where do these psychotic fans get off by chasing after old sports broadcasters? If they get frills from stalking such public figures then Hugh Hefner must have it real bad. Besides with all the tension and anxiety from repeat occurrences you know there is a good chance of someone Uecker's age having a heart attack (He could also be enjoying a delicious hot dog at the ballpark and then boom)! Such a health problem can occur when a stalker continues to come out of freaking nowhere and stand right behind you, smiling like a mental patient.

The civil case filed back in June could put this woman behind bars for 3 years if convicted. A man that's a member of the Radio Hall of Fame and won the Ford Frick award in 2003 shouldn't have to put up with this shit! He's a respected and loyal figure in the sports community that deserves to be admired from a distance and not smothered all the time by deranged fans. With the case pending maybe this woman will learn to 'get a life' and stop scaring off older men.

Marlins rookie records first no-hitter of the year

Anibal Sanchez has to be feeling pretty good about himself. After taking 2-of-3 from the D-backs, finishing the series with a no-hitter from Sanchez Wednesday night the Marlins find themselves back in the wildcard chase. Much of this can be credited to Coach Joe Giradi, who lifted this team somehow and has got them playing inspired baseball despite a low team payroll. If anything this team is proving they can outplay other teams in the NL that far greater star power.

Florida is 70-69 and only a few games back in the wildcard. This team has always had a lot of fight in them and are known for being a scrappy bunch. With Dontrelle Willis and other prodigy pitchers in the rotation this team is still very much alive. The upcoming series they have are against the Phillies, Mets, and Braves. Look for the unexpected to happen. These underdogs are about to quit and give up hope on their season. It's now or never for the fighting Fish.

Pitching a no-hitter vs. hitting for the cycle

Sunday's game between the Nationals and the Cardinals was as close to historic as possible. Ramon Ortiz went 8 innings without yielding a hit. The no-hit bid was broken up in the 9th by Cardinals' shortstop Aaron Miles. This got me to thinking about pitching a no-hitter compared to hitting for the cycle. I think it's much harder to throw a no-hitter because so many factors come into play. As a pitcher, first of all you've got to have good stamina and control for entire game. Plus there is so much pressure on pitchers. If they walk a batter then tension intensifies, especially in late innings.

On the other side of the coin, hitting for the cycle is easier because players usually have 4-5 at-bats and can learn more about how to hit a certain pitcher further into the game. The fact that there is no real strain if they don't get a double, triple, single, or even homerun to complete this feat relieves any pressure from a batter. It also helps tremendously if a player is fast. The only major obstacle a player really has to overcome is being walked in light of getting another hit.

For a pitcher trying to achieve a record-breaking performance they have to be concerned with pitch counts and mechanics. If something suddenly starts nagging their arm the hitless streak could very well be in jeopardy. You never know what's going to happen at the mound late in a game. The best thing a pitcher can do is not think what they're on the verge of accomplishing, but put their full concentration on pitching. That's much easier said than done of course. I don't care what everyone says, it's a rarity these days to complete a no-hitter compared to hitting for the cycle.