Blockbuster deal in the works, Mets hope to lure in Santana

There has yet to be a big trade in MLB and one team is on the verge of completing a mega deal. Finally it looks like Johan Santana has found a new home in New York with the Mets. He's been the hottest acquisition in the off-season. I'm glad the flame-throwing southpaw looks to be joining the Mets instead of the Yankees. What I question about the deal is why the Twins agreed to trade him for 4 prospects. Do they think this is the best decision? They could at least obtain a veteran star hitter to add to their lineup or bench. Johan can propel the Mets to atop the NL East and enter the playoffs after a disappointing late season collapse in 2007.

Still a few kinks have to be worked out before the deal is finalized. Johan has to waive has no-trade clause and not be offered a contract extension. The deal the star pitcher expects is a 6-year contract worth $150 million. I don't see why the Mets wouldn't extend such an offer. Negotiations will continue as a deadline late Friday afternoon has been set to arrive at a finalized deal. The Mets will be able to compete with the Phillies and the Braves in what may shape up to be a tight NL East race. If the deal is sealed I still think the Twins are dumb for not getting a better mix of talent for arguable the best pitcher in baseball.

Warriors slap around Knicks, Biedrins snags 26 rebounds!

As usual the New York Knicks walk off the court after a road loss with a bitter taste left in their mouth. Sure, still a better record than Miami, but how long is that going to last? Isiah Thomas continues to take most of the blame for the team's dismal performance. Sunday didn't help matters either for his future coaching spot in New York as the Warriors welcomed their foes with open arms at Oracle Arena in Oakland. I'd like to say Golden State whooped up on the Knicks instead the game resulted in a 106-104 final in favor of the Warriors. Baron Davis and company will take a win however they get it (even against the most mediocre teams).

The real headliner of the game was GS center Andris Biedrins who dominated in the paint, ripping down 26 rebounds! I know this was against the Knicks yet it's still an unbelievable feat. The last time any player in franchise history exceeded such an effort was in 1981 when Larry Smith had 31 against Denver. Biedrins added 11 points for good measure to go along in the scoring effort with Monta Ellis' 24 and Baron Davis' 22 points. Despite the Knicks horrendous shooting on threes (18%) they managed to stay ahead until the 4th quarter where the Warriors went on a 17-5 run. The two teams traded baskets in the final minutes, but it was Stephen Jackson's free throws near the end that sealed the win.

Free agent reports claim the Warriors and Chris Webber are in negotiations. Despite his past feud with Coach Don Nelson the two are willing to put their differences aside. I think the veteran would make a good reserve to fill quality minutes off the bench and provide another reliable scorer. Webber's defense may be the real question. He's getting older and doesn't possess quite the leap in his step or quickness anymore. Still I think Golden State can really better from having a experienced leader like him on the court.

Duke dishes out loss to Virginia Tech

The Duke Blue Devils ran their win streak to 6 games after a 81-64 outcome Thursday night against Virginia Tech. Holding off any spurts late in the game Duke was able to keep a decent lead and makes stops when needed. This one didn't evolve into a high-scoring affair and leading scorers only had 16 points a piece, which were freshman guard Kyle Singler and Tech's A.D. Vassallo. Duke lead the game 42-38 at halftime and carried the momentum over into the second half. They didn't look back after maintaining a substantial lead early in the second half.

It wasn't a good night for Virginia Tech shooting from behind the arc as they hit just 15% of their shots to Duke's 36%. The closet the Hokies came to a lead change was in the second half when A.D. Vassallo connected on a three to notch the score at 42-41. From there on Duke took advantage of their opponents poor shooting and didn't allow the Blacksburg crowd to energize the atmosphere. The Blue Devils are now 4-0 in the ACC and ranked no. 4 with a 16-1 overall record. They have yet to face UNC which will most likely be their toughest challenge on the schedule. Both teams have lost only 1 game.

MLB free agents: Kenny Lofton expected to move to new team for 20th time

There was always free agent and trade talks during the off-season in baseball. It's too bad no real big names have come up other than Johan Santana. Okay, players that anybody cares about for that matter. Of course, Barry Bonds is on the block for bargaining bidders. I can't see him playing as a DH in the AL. He's still up against the steroids scandal and will deny and fight until the end it looks like. Few teams won't be willing to take a chance on old Bar-roid. If they do it will only cause a black cloud to loom over the team and drops of blood with dirty syringes to be found in the clubhouse.

Who else is available in the free agency? Well, once again Kenny Lofton is up for grabs (yeah, real big surprise here!) and I believe is trying to set the record for playing for every current MLB baseball team! The speedy centerfielder has been around and tossed from one place to the next. I think Lofton has yet to play for the Twins, Nationals, Rockies, Diamondbacks, and Royals. Most likely he'll be heading back to the NL then get traded in a year. With his speed and uncanny likeness to Major League's Willie Mays Hayes character he's hard to argue he only belongs on the Cleveland Indians. They both have a better chance at stealing home than hitting a homerun in a game.

The Texas Rangers have decided to pass up on extending a contract to Sammy Sosa. He might as well forget about any multi-million dollar deals coming his way and just be glad he can stay in MLB. Wherever he ends up I don't believe Sosa will serve much of role because his best years are over. He can still play in the outfield and and platoon at the DH, but the power numbers just won't be there anymore. The only real decent free agent on the market is Mike Piazza. Oakland has apparently parted ways with the veteran catcher. Any teams looking for another quality hitter in their lineup should cash in on Piazza. His numbers have been down in recent years, but he is a clutch performer. He'd make a nice addition to a team that has yet to win a World Series in about a century.

I'm sure other names will pop up on the radar for MLB teams looking to mix it up in the market. If more active and former players are brought up in the steroids investigation as the season starts the fans probably won't be coming out to the ballparks in droves and sales on souvenirs and at food concessions will drop big time. The worst case scenario for fans would be to find out their favorite player uses steroids during the middle of a game and plummet to their death by jumping from the upper deck because they can't take it anymore. Let's hope freak incidents like that don't happen.

Hoosiers push win streak to 12 with win over Penn State

The Indiana Hoosiers are on a roll as of late. Prevailing over Penn State this past weekend 81-65 they recorded their 12th straight victory and 27th at home. A game more dictated by defense the Hoosiers were able to wear out the Nittany Lions with a series of stinging plays in the second half. Indiana freshman guard Eric Gordon set the tone on offense, scoring 25 points. D.J. White sparked a complimentary with 22 points. The Hoosiers had a slow start, but finished the game shooting 57% from the field to Penn State's 44%.

Cutting down on the turnovers a major factor in route to the home team's victory. They had only 2 in the second half. Their defense clamped down, not allowing Penn State to get in any type of rhythm. Guard Talor Battle was the high scorer for the Nittany Lions with 20 points. So confidence with his starting lineup, Coach Kelvin Sampson left them in for the entire second half. Fatigue didn't seem to set for the 5 starters who pulled out the stops to earn a 16-1 record. The Hoosiers had ran a win streak as far as 12 games in 15 years.

Baron Davis nets 40, Warriors down Bulls

The intensity of the NBA Western conference is really starting to rise. There are several tough teams and so many difficult decisions to make for All-Star selections. One star guard definitely proved he belonged in this year's All-Star game. Last night at the United Center in Chicago the Warriors continued to demonstrate their prowess on the offensive end. I have to say the Bulls hung with them for most of the game despite eventually losing 119-111. Baron Davis tied a career high with 40 points on 13-of-23 shooting. He caught fire in the 3rd quarter and ignited the offense. The fast-paced transition game of the Warriors couldn't be contained by their opponent.

When 3 of the starting players score 20 or more points a piece then it's going to be an uphill battle for their counterparts. Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis combined for 47 points and as a team had 10 steals which lead to several fast break points. Despite the outcome the Bulls out shot the Warriors 50% to 46%. With GS gets out and runs the floor like they did Friday night it's hard to stop them. Their small lineup allows them to beat teams off the dribble and make them pay from both the inside and outside.

With the win the Warriors obtain a 24-17 record. If they can stay within 3-5 games of the Lakers and Suns around the All-Star break they'll still be in good position in the West. Few teams can match their run-and-gun, high tempo style of play. Now everyone knows there are several guards deserving of an All-Star selection in the West, but there are limited spots. If Baron Davis doesn't get chosen I will be stunned because he's played like a man possessed in the first half, averaging 22.5 points per game and around 9 assists. A few other star guards are worthy of such an honor too so it's going to be interesting to see who gets the most votes.

Good ACC matchups on tap for tonight

This is the time of the season I enjoy watching college basketball. ACC rivals are meeting at each other on the schedule and the games are tightly contested with emotion on the court running high. Tonight Duke (13-1) plays Florida State (12-5) with high-octane offense anticipated. Seeing how both teams' defense will hold up is the influencing factor. The Blue Devils are tough at home, but let's see how well they deal with pressure on the road. Look for Duke's Greg Paulus and Florida State's Tyrese Rice to be the two key players in the game.

UVA will take on Virginia Tech in what will most likely be a scrappy, up-and-down affair. The Cavs look to bounce back from their lost to Duke this past weekend and improve their 10-4 mark. Senior guard Sean Singletary (17.9 ppg) has tried his best to carry the scoring load, but he'll need his teammates to step up in bigger roles in order to pull off a victory against a conference rival. VT won't make this an easy contest as they'll push to exceed their 1-1 start in the ACC. Look for Tech's Deron Washington and A. D. Vassallo to have big scoring performances.

At the top of the conference and ranked no. 1 still in the nation the Tarheels will battle Georgia Tech will may be the game that gets out of hand. The only team that has served as a real challenge this season for North Carolina has been Clemson. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets aren't playing at the same level at this point and I don't feel they feel have such a pleasant game even though they are playing at home. Tyler Hansbrough continues to dominate in the low post, averaging around 21 points per game and 8 rebounds. If the sharp-shooting Wayne Ellington and him get hot look out Georgia Tech! UNC will definitely kick it into high and work to excel to 18-0.

Road roaring Hornets outlast Rockets, 87-82

The New Orleans Hornets are quietly putting together a magnificent season, posting a 15-5 mark on the road so far. Sunday they pulled out the stops to beat the Rockets, 87-82. Off a few steals the Hornets converged on a fast-break dunk and a free-throws late in the 4th quarter. With the win the Hornets snapped the Rockets' 5-game win streak. Chris Paul controlled the style of play for the young road team as he delivered 19 points and 11 assists. He's the glue that holds the team together. Without him forget about them being 25-12 and trailing the Mavericks by just a game in the Southwest division.

David West was the high scorer in Sunday's game with 26 points. He's proven his ability to be big scoring threat on any given night. He's another essential part of the Hornets' formula for success this season. All season the Hornets have been overlooked. Even at home the attendance has been low and on the road the players seem to excel at a high level. Strangely enough, they thrive off being ignored by the league. The Western conference is going to get real tight when it comes to capturing final seeds for the playoffs.

The Hornets have only had one televised game during the season, which was blowout against Miami. I've got to think these guys will be getting more exposure in the coming months. As a team they're averaging around 97 points per game and yielding about 93...not bad at all. Awaiting them this week on the schedule are the Bobcats, Sonics, and Bucks. I don't think any of these matchups will pose a problem. Keep up the hot streak Hornets!

NCAA wrap-ups and scores

Thursday night hot action brewed in the Pac-10 and Big Ten. Wisconsin knocked off Illinois 70-60 in a fierce match-up. The three-ball dagger was the big momentum changer for the Badgers in the final minutes of play. Trevor Hughes sank two huge threes to add to Wisconsin's lead. He finished the game with 22 points. Illinois lost their third straight game and dropped to 8-8 overall while their foes bumped up their mark to 13-2. The conference leader looks crisper than ever on the court.

Over in the Pac-10 Stanford whooped Oregon State in clash which resulted in a 66-46 finale. The poor performance for Oregon State can be contributed to 30% shooting from the field and having only 1 player score in double-digits. That will basically doom any team. The Cardinals on the other hand managed to capitalize on second-chance opportunities with their 16 offensive rebounds. They just took full control in the second half with the Beavers reeling without an answer on offense.

In a good Big East battle Louisville pulled out a win against West Virginia, 63-54. Both teams squared off to gain ground in the conference. It was Louisville's defense which clamped down hard and made the difference. The Mountaineers' Joe Alexander was the high scorer with 22 points, but it wasn't enough to save the day. His teammates provided little support as they combined for 32 points. Earl Clark help fuel the Louisville offense adding 11 points while snagging 12 boards. Both teams are now 11-4 in the Big East.

NBA's D-league provides less than flattering status for players

Believe it or not there are people who haven't heard of the NBA's Development league. It's not a big deal to basketball fans, but it sure is to the aspiring players. Being recognized in public and being allowed in upscale clubs and restaurants seems to be the main problem for these young athletes. Reading the NBA Experts Blog posted by D-league Dakota Wizards player Rod Benson I understand their struggles to gain acceptance amid the mainstream sports click and celebrity icons. This guy though complains about having to wait in a line to get in LA restaurant then never being admitted inside (He ought to be grateful the bouncer didn't hurl him onto the sidewalk for looking at him the wrong way).

I guess it's kind of discouraging to know as a D-league player you can't get a table inside a trendy hot spot or be allowed to go to the restroom to take a whiz....sure seems like crappy treatment to me. If fairly unknown players want to get VIP treatment why don't they just lie and hope people fall for it? From Rod Benson's experience, I know how he must feel (like a discarded, random bum), but if he saw football star Keyshaun Johnson not getting in the establishment then there was no chance for him and should've forgot about it. If he thought he could follow an entourage inside without being noticed or getting the crap beat out of him then I'd say go for it.

The NBA D-league, players must realize is a stepping-stone to the pros not the crem-del-la-crem of the sports talent. Instead it's more like the 'Bottom of the barrel wannabe something other than broke list'. Guys in this league can't expect glamour and fortune when they're playing in an arena where only the first 3 or 4 rows are filled. I feel for the low-level athletes like Benson, receiving any type of notoriety is difficult. For him to get ahead and be famous he'll probably have to sleep with a celebrity. Then he's sure to be a shoe-in among the star power elitists!

Tarheels remain undefeated after buzzer beater in OT

I knew ACC play would bring out the best in the Tarheels as well as their competition. Last night in Little John Coliseum it was a frenzied up and down battle between UNC and Clemson. Both teams brought their A-game with non-stop pushes to the basket and bunches of lead changes. As a college hoops fans you couldn't ask for better game. Wayne Ellington stole the show, netting the game-winning three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left. The Tigers set up in a zone defense for the final possession and got burned when trying to go for a steal on the left wing. Ellington was the player of the game with 36 points (11-19 FGA-M) in 90-88 thrilling victory.

With the pass Ty Lawson made in the corner to Ellington he almost turned it over and the game could've gone into double overtime. Tyler Hansbrough took a charge with under a minute in the second half then hit a free-throw on the next possession to tie the game. Although the junior forward was held to 7 shots he delivered with the big plays when the Heels truly needed them. Hansbrough also grabbed 14 rebounds. Free-throws were a major factor in the game, especially in the closing seconds. North Carolina's shot 80% from the line to Clemson's dismal 52%.

Both ACC teams were playing out of control at times with drives to the basket and rushed shots. UNC racked up 19 turnovers compared to the Tiger's 13. So far the Tarheel's undefeated streak stays intact at 15-0. The game really could've gone either way, but the Heels would have not still be ranked as the no. 1 team in the coach's poll. They are a couple other undefeated them in the nation which include Vanderbilt, Memphis, Kansas, and Mississippi. The best record UNC ever had in a season was a 32-0 mark in 1956-57.

Much of the remaining schedule for Tarheels have them playing their conference rivals: NC State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Duke. Wednesday the Tarheels will look to dispose another out of conference foe in North Carolina-Asheville. This one is expected to be another blowout as the no. 1 ranked team awaits their top competition. I expect more big games from the top starting 3 players in Hansbrough, Ellington, and Lawson.

Hornets kick it up a notch, buzz off Warriors

What a strong message the New Orleans Hornets are sending the rest of the Western conference. This team won't be denied. New Orleans is very much a contender and is intent on continuing to prove it. Last night lead by big games from Tyson and Chandler and Chris Paul the Hornets capped a 116-104 over the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Baron Davis was left with a bitter chill after suffering a defeat from his former team. The star point guard scored 26 points and handed out 8 assists.

The player of the game was no doubt Tyson Chandler who had a major-influencing double-double, which consisted of 22 points and 22 rebounds! The Hornets Center is on a tear! Finding a way to slow down the Warriors and control the tempo was the solution. Much of Golden State's offense is fast-paced, slashing drives to the basket and points off transition. Luckily the Hornets managed to limit such chances and played good defense. Chris Paul played a major role in the win, scoring 24 points (10-20 FGM-A) and dished out 13 assists.

Everyone in the Hornets starting lineup scored in double figures and as a team shot 44% from three-point land while holding the opposition to 30% shooting from beyond the arch. Advancing to 101-88 lead with around 6 minutes left in the game the Hornets never gave the home team much breathing room. They stayed on the offensive and controlled the boards. All but 11 points came from their starting lineup. The league sooner or later will have to take the Hornets seriously because at 22-11 they are a force to reckon with and a unestimated threat in road games.

Who's more grizzled a coach: Bobby Knight or Mike Ditka?

There are several great coaches in sports history, but two prestigious names come to mind. I'm talking more about the fiery types who won't hesitate to get in an official's face and spew obscenities with a drop of a hat. I think Bobby Knight and Mike Ditka are two of the most grizzled coaches of all-time. One is retired of course and the other one occasionally gets in trouble for 'accidentally' shooting a neighbor with a pellet gun (he may have been drinking and got a little trigger happy). Neither one of these veteran sports icons seemed to show any weaknesses in coaching in their respective sport.

From the intense moments on the gridiron at his peak, Coach Ditka would get so wrapped up in the game and watch the refs cheat his beloved Chicago Bears team out of yardage due to bad calls that he'd get the impulse to land a tackle with a full head of steam. That or he'll suit up to play himself in the 4th quarter after getting riled up from a series of missed scoring opportunities near the 20-yard line. His pacing back and forth on the sidelines, directing instructions to the quarterback gave a clear indication he was reaching a boiling point. This raw emotion transferred over to his team which resulted in a turn in momentum. Deficits were erased and wins became etched into history. Ditka had a fiery passion for the game, but was he more grizzled than Bobby Knight?

Some of the best years for Indiana Hoosiers fans was in the early to late 90's when Bobby Knight was the coach. He always pushed his players to the limit and tested their strengths and weaknesses. There is a reason why he is one of the top coaches in college basketball. He moved past Dean Smith in 2006 for the all-time wins record in NCAA history. He's led Indiana to dubious records for a string of seasons and to a couple national championships. Seeing him explode with temper so hot it could ignite building a fire only seems to fuel his team's passion and energy.

Their performance overall is linked to his emotion and direction. Knight make statement to refs by tossing fold-out chairs across the court. He'll stomp out of the coach's box, debate a call before getting ejected for calling an official a blind SOB who needs glasses. His discipline he teaches his players and always striving for perfection are two striking qualities which make Knight one of the most grizzled coaches of all-time. I think he's got a little bit of an edge over Ditka...though it's pretty darn close.