A change in motion with baseball trends

With anything that has flair usually another rhythm and reason changes an element for the worse. Tradition meant something with utmost class and integrity was there in baseball. I have yet to see it restored. The most professional trait of the game was sportsmanship. Now as with previous years too much focuses on popularity and marketing appeal with nothing showing the true desire behind the game. Players have cheated to screw up historical accomplishments where asterisks should be marked. If anything the steroids era messed the true quality and American way about the game. Plus there are too many greedy asses around and an abundant of so many freaking foreigners who can't speak a lick of English. That sure as hell isn't the American Pastimes for which it stands to me!

Sports tagline with meaning

Every year the sports marketing grows more with significance aimed at brand value. So many baseball players like to enjoy their talent once it's displayed. Such ways to bring in the fan base and money involves the taglines generally. Such catchy is what is required for the most. An example would be along the lines as this: If it's a top of the line with prestige it's nothing other than the best. If it's A-Rod it will leave astray and full of entity without true value in the end.

Throwing beer to the wind no big deal for a fan

When idiotic matters arise in MLB fans throw caution to the freaking wind. With the latest incident against a Phillies' player in Chicago it seems as if courtesy doesn't exist at times. Apparently some moron at Wrigley Field thinks it's funny to soak an outfielder who makes a mistake with a pitcher of beer just because that spectator didn't like something he did. He gives a crap if these types in the bleacher paid admission. The point is it's completely irresponsible and stupid.

How can anybody enjoy a damn baseball game especially if it's a beloved franchise which goes the usual highs and lows each season? The excellence to the game just isn't evident at this turn in the year. Whether it's a problem with player issues, team management, and belligerent fans nobody seems to really change much in baseball. It's all about who has the most to boast and look extravagant with it's comes a hot streak or off and on popularity. The Phillies won the World Series last year and pretty much earned their rings yet other continue to f--king struggle because nobody seems to give a damn then jumps on the bandwagon. They want to ride the wave to success then jump off when the going gets tough. In regard to those, who gives a flying crap about you!

All these controversial events in baseball alone show why sportsmanship just isn't there sometimes along with decency in crowds. If a person can't get what they want right when the getting is great then they turn vengeful in a way or display an act of ignorance. Everybody want to have fun in the summer when go to the ballpark, but too much focus on one negative causes the majority to lose momentum in the right direction and makes others feel uncomfortable in an usual friendly, high energy atmosphere. Thanks to the moron fan just like a former young fan at Wrigley years ago people never seem to learn when it comes to interference. I used to really enjoy the game. It's not what it used to be at all anymore.

Griffey, M's squeak out 3-2 victory

The Mariners managed to pull off a 3-2 win yesterday against Toronto. Ken Griffey Jr. returned to the lineup for a 2-for-4 performance with 2 RBIs. In the 5th inning the Mariners struck first with a run in the 5th inning. With a good start from Seattle's R. Rowland Smith the game stayed within reason. Ichiro supplied extra offense with just enough from relief to close the ball game.

Who said Ken Griffey Jr. is washed-up or still can't cut it? I've noticed how sometimes fans rant and rave over the stupidest things yet when a man of his distinction comes back with a bit of flair and produces it's kind of surprising. Such an organization should be so fortunate to have a veteran, talented star such as Griffey. The young players fill in with great potential and energy, although sometimes it's the leadership in the others that make the difference. The Mariners have to contend soon with the following teams: Texas Rangers, Royals, and Rays.

All-Star jubilee with lame results

Apparently, the Great National Pastime isn't quite what it used to be these days. The true devout players are confused sometimes I think over personal team issues. Well, it wasn't much to behold with a 5-4 final. With much to nobody's surprise or my concern at all the President made an appearance to throw out the first pitch. Fans came to see a spirited affair between both leagues by some of the best talent in the game today. Everybody who enjoys baseball can't always get what they want.

Even I didn't get to watch most of it due to other distractions. Seeing as the game takes place in certain cities each year is fine, but there was nothing dazzling about the contest. Who can people pretend to put on a fake impression to much of the non-delight of the crowd. No one came to see the President walk himself to the mound and toss the little ball to home plate. The loyal fans wanted to see action on the field and of course homeruns. That doesn't always happen. Last year it seemed the damn Commissioner allowed the game to be prolonged for extra exposure and ratings. If the season doesn't get better with excitement and can't refrain from commercial appeal then the hell with watching baseball for the most part for me.

Randy Johnson is not done yet, new home is with Giants

For a man in his 40's Randy Johnson has surpassed measures which few pitchers today can match. His time in the majors has been worthy of remembering. Coming up with the Expos I'm sure he was overlooked. His strikeouts totals now are over 3,000. Most fans reminisce at times about his days as a Seattle Mariner. He overpowered batters with his velocity on pitches. There will never be another pitcher like him!

Now as a member with the Giants nobody really cares much about him. I still do because despite it all he's my favorite player ever. Fans among others spout off too much about who is next best talent and forget about the quality players still around in the game. For a once dominating pitcher Johnson still has a good fastball and value to any MLB team. Why people underscore is beyond me.

I'd typically like to see on a team where he can be seen as an asset again such as in Chicago. For reasons which are obvious such veteran leadership sometimes makes a reasonable difference. If baseball owners cared more about quality rather than whatever else is on their mind than the national past-time could hold higher esteem and value again. Pitchers like the Big Unit don't last forever.

Monopoly money in baseball: throwing it to the wind

Today owners and managers really think they're top sh*t. Whether it's wheeling and dealing and just plain stealing a person's time they don't truly care about the fans. Well, at least not most of the owners. It's not what talent a franchise has these days yet how much freaking greed they crave to fuel their idiotic business lifestyles. I don't care how good something looks on paper if it results in the same old stupid clusterf**k of problems each season with failure no one truly is happy. It's like throwing a bunch of money is the air to see if it floats despite the fact hope and moral decreases big time.

Fans in general will always be there to fill seats yet without success things go awry. Too much time is pissed away agruing over money issues and withholding too much pertinent information. When idiocy alongside selfishness and utter bottled up feelings are not displayed face-to-face then usually doom happens to those who least expect it. I tired of reiterating these damn points on this page because baseball owners never get the freaking message! Go luck with the season f**kers!

Ichiro aims to please with hit streak, Mariners win

In Seattle everything isn't all gravy with performance. However, keeping the franchise looking sharp is Ichiro Suzuki and Ken Griffey Jr. Nothing seems to ever stand in the way to the point of self-destruction. Those who believer the elder veteran star is washed up are plain stupid. In his late 30's the one known as 'Junior' pretty much still has strong will and courage. Last night the team squared off against the Orioles and prevailed 8-2. The runs came in form mainly of extra base hits.

Eric Bedard pitched with a sterling rhythm, aiding the cause as a starter. Here is his stat line:
6.1 IP 4 H 1 R 1 ER 3 BB 7 K 0 HR. Griffey Jr. fueled the offense with a 3-for-5 offense that included 2 doubles. As the lead-off man Ichiro is awesome this year. He's batting .353 with 16 RBIs. With the victory Seattle bumps their record to 25-28. They look towards rebounding from a trite previous season with disappointment. Their aim is at advancing past .500 with hope at notching second place in the AL West. Good luck to them in their pursuit!

The American Dream in baseball

In a year with changes rearing the baseball world will be short changed if it's another year to forget. Rather than tolerate the usual cheating behind the scenes and foreplay in the locker room with instruments I don't care to discuss. Every team chases glory with intent to win the pennant. That's not possible for all so who knows how the powerhouses in sports will formulate.

Where on earth were the teams like the White Sox with Shoeless Joe Jackson? With controversy and speculation which lead to ultimate demise in the playoffs. All the players involved got away with cheating for a while than got caught, therefore being humbled and suspended. No fan likes a corrupt, fixed game which happened that year. Standards have to be upheld in the new era otherwise a slew of problems emerge which take too much time to correct. I anticipate a somewhat bewildered baseball season yet enjoyable.

Ken Griffey Jr. is back in Seattle, home again where he belongs

Ken Griffey Jr. has made another transition in his late great baseball career. After departing Cincy then moving on to the WhiteSox the star veteran slugger has found his place back where he started. The Mariners have offered him a contract to play for a year worth $2 million. He'll have to work on staying healthy this off-season and be ready to spring into action. I have a feeling Griffey will be used as a DH and avoid having to play the outfield so often to conserve his energy. I'm so glad to hear the news because he certainly has always belonged with that franchise in my own eyes.

Seeing him get a shot at momentous occassion for a grand finale possibly approaching his career end would make it sweet. The team as of now has much restructure needed I do believe with the lack of star power and chemistry to give them the drive needed to succeed this coming season. It's going to take a while for adjustments probably to have the roster suitable for the right mix of talent to be displayed. With Spring Training underway Ken Griffey Jr. will have to work out the kinks and get the timing back a little at a time. The 39-year-old has is a excellent low-ball hitter and can even make the extra effort with dazzling catches on the field. I wouldn't rule out this future baseball Legend by stretch of the imagination.

Tarheels stomp way to 89-80 triumph

What another impressive season so far for the Tarheels. With all conference challengers UNC has not backed down at all. Their win against rival NC State showed their got plenty game left for the remainder of the year. Prevailing 89-80 this helped bump the Tarheels record to 24-2. Paving the way for the game was Tyler Hansbrough as usual with a dominant 27 point, 7 rebound showcase. The Wolfpack put up a fight in the first half giving their share of collective efforts. UNC held a good advantage in the first half and exploded with prowess hitting 63% of their shots in the latter half.


Embarking on a quest for a title run UNC will look to run rampant in the NCAA tournament. They still have much left to accomplish until they hit March Madness. Keys components to team strategy will be Danny Green, who netted 19 points in the victory over N.C. State as well as Wayne Ellington. The pair bring energy and spark transition which the Tarheels feed off each other. I hope to see this excitable UNC team make headwaves in the tournament this year. They have to finish off their conference opponents until then with great things to develop.

East take a beating in All-Star game, MVP award shared

Well, what a disappointment for the East All-Stars. Lebron James and company had quite the spirited battle on their hands. The West had all the right moves with a sweet scoring shoot, prevailing 146-119. I thought Dwayne Wade and Lebron would have made a bigger impact in this 2009 eventful clash. The duo combined for 38 points while the bench supplied 54 total points. Of course, the main attractions came from the West as they unveil a few new choice talents. Brandon Roy was one of the newcomer who put on a nice show, finishing the game with 14 points (7-of-8 FG) with 5 assists.

The MVP award was delivered to Kobe Byrant and Shaq. For reasons unknown to me the trophy was shared despite that the veteran center only played 10 minutes while dropping 17 points. This was completely unnecessary since his limited action and performance wasn't deserving of splitting this award. Nobody needs to be glorified and honored like him while the rising stars and other talent needed to be given further recognition and consideration. The leading star for the game was Kobe Byrant who rattled in 27 points while fueling the offensive efforts for the West. As usual the East had their trouble overcoming a more potent Western conference squad. Better luck next I suppose.

Davidson's Curry busts out for 39 against Wofford

Davidson has a shining star which had heighten their success by leaps and bounds. They own a 21-4 record. That's garnered after dusting off the Wofford Terrriers yesterday in a 78-61 victory. Stephen Curry shot lights out for 39 points on 14-of-24 shooting from the field. He drilled 5 three-pointers. A big edge in comparison for the Wildcats were offensive rebounds. They snared 14 opposed to 4 by Wofford. This young, gutsy Davidson team is one of the best overlooked contenders in the southern conference and the nation.

No team will deny Davidson from making noise in the tournament come March Madness. They've got a good supporting cast which has okay depth off the bench. The true warrior and leader, Curry is keeping them on top while averaging 29.1 ppg. Their nifty win Thursday showed they can make easy work of less developed teams as guys step up like Andrew Lovesdale to contribute 10 points and 9 rebounds. Their focus now is keeping up the winnings ways and garnering a top seed for the tournament. Up next on their schedule is Furman, Citadel, and Butler. Stephen Curry will aim to improve on 38% shooting from beyond the arch and draw Davidson closer to fantastic regular season finish.

UNC vs. Duke, a classic epic battle ready to unveil

College basketball fans enjoy rival week. Since I'm a big ACC fan it's natural for my interest to be spurred for the Duke vs. UNC clash set for tonight. With one of the top scorers in the nation in Tyler Hansbrough against a lethal outside shooting Blue Devils team the match-up is sure to be another hit in collegiate history. The Heels with seniors Danny Green and Hansbrough on board are 4-0 against their nemesis at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The two dominant contenders have swapped wins and losses yet the intensity is always the same.

Jon Scheyer is expected to take his share of threes, giving Duke a jump start on offense while point guard Greg Paulus gets his teammates involved, running the well crafty plays set out by Coach K. Duke will have their hands full in trying to contain Tyler Hansbrough who is averaging 22 ppg along with 8 rebounds. I'm sure the resilient, tough senior won't forget the incident in the past from a flagrant foul which injured his nose and caused blood to flow. These battles do tend to get ugly as much as they're fierce. Leave it to Ty Lawson to run the show, use his speed-demon ability to fret the Blue Devils' defense. He has come up with inspiring, excellent performances in the last few weeks.

Roy Williams knows these games are so highly anticipated and come down to the wire. He's got to utilize the best of his talent. Which means not allowing the freshman who is still learning to fill too many minutes and urging the ball to go inside more to the big fella. Wayne Ellington can get the hot hand with his clutch streaky shooting. In another ACC encounter this year the sharp-shooter almost set a new mark in school history for three-pointers made in game which Hubert Davis holds at 9. One thing which will be crucial will for UNC not to allow the Blue Devils to whip them on the offensive boards. This epic battle could very well be decided on who plays better interior D and makes the most off second chance scoring attempts. I look for the Tarheels to rise to the occasion!

A-Fake: The saga to cheat baseball history resumes

If the ever lingering nonsense legal ramblings tied to Barry Bonds won't fizzle out there is another new problem in baseball now. After discovering that A-Rod tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003 which has come seemingly out of no where to the forefront. Chasing a historic mark in his career A-Rod is yet another player trying to surpass the homerun record yet has brought further shame to baseball. He has been caught like many others in the past: a cheater which got ahead by using performance-enhancing drugs. Way to go A-Roid!

How many players does it take to be caught to fully destroy the game? After Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi, and Sammy Sosa being busted players ought to be removed from baseball for at least a year until they show progress through a drug rehab program. If they don't refrain from using illegal performance drugs than they aren't allowed to return to baseball. It's as simply as that. Too many players had their bouts with overdosing years ago and now it's apparent there is no way to control rampant drug use in the Major Leagues. Fans are fed up with hearing about new players being revealed and how they have tarnished the game.

Since the Mitchell Report only a few names have surfaced linked to testerone, hormone-growth, and anabolic steroid use. A-hole was one player who kept quiet for too long after signing a whooping ass contract for over $30 million a year for the Yankees. Geez, I wonder why their franchise is in turmoil. After the whole controversy between Joe Torre and Bernie Williams, Giambi's cover-up for a while, playoff expectations fizzle away, and now the new shock to the organization with their superstar things have took a downward spiral. The Yankees were lucky to have one thing though work out last year. That was not having A-hole participate in the Derby for the All-Star at Old Yankee Stadium.

Lebron James outpowers weakened Knicks, loses triple-double in game

Earlier this week Lebron James busted out for a huge game against the Knicks which resulted in a 107-102 win for Cleveland. The superstar forward had a breakout game with 52 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds. The scorer's records actually showed him having another rebound to accomplish a triple-double. The mistake was wiped clean from the books. As it stood Lebron didn't obtain another dubious mark yet the Cavaliers remain atop the Eastern conference. Nobody in the league can deny him his points in the paint when he's determined and gets in that hot mode.

The Knicks have suffered their 3rd loss in 5 games yet Al Harrington did his part with an impressive 39-point explosion. Steady progress cannot be made without enough reliable support as New York is slipping behind in Atlantic division. After having Kobe pop 62 points a few nights prior to Lebron arriving in town the Knicks have caught more than just bad breaks. Obviously, Eddy Curry's absence is effecting their inside offense with more left to be desired on the other end of the court. Lebron had actually scored 20 points in that game at MSG for the first quarter and could have shattered the new mark set. There is likely more historic games to be played at the Garden later this year. Still they may not be favorable for the Knicks.

UNC threads the needle, wins on last-second heroics by Lawson

What a scramble the Tarheels experienced in hostile territory last night against Florida State. Saving the game at first was Danny Green, who made a great move to come up with a steal and convert on a 3-point play. This forced a 77-77 tie with around a minute or less to play in the second half. With the Seminoles leading most of the game, it was an uphill battle for UNC. Ty Lawson, with full momentum dribbled the ball upcourt with a couple seconds to spare and drilled a buzzer-beater to end the game, 80-77! The odd part was he was supposed to call a TO yet didn't didn't take the option with the time restraint.

The comeback was big for the Tarheels, who actually shot a mere 38% from the field compared to Florida State's 47%. The dispersement in rebounds favored UNC though as they grabbed pulled down 10 more than the Seminoles (39-29). Tyler Hansbrough didn't have one of his best games, being held to 8 points. This is why having his teammates made valuable contributes paid off in the end. Danny Green busted out with 20 points (4-of-7 3P), 7 rebounds, and 6 steals. I'd have to get the nod to Ty Lawson for player of the game. His 21 points on near flawless shooting and ability to find teammates was a major boost to vamp the Heels' comeback.

The slick, quick point guard didn't appear to feel the pressure as he sunk a running 3-pointer just before the game clock expired. He compiled only 4 assists yet sprung up so much energy for North Carolina in the second half. Combating the efforts from FSU's Toney Douglas who scored 32 points, Lawson made the difference. This contest gave the no. 5 team a scare. UNC will have to learn to cut down on turnovers as they prepare to face the rest of the ACC contenders remaining on their schedule. I know those 21 turnovers last night were a rare occurrence. The Tarheels will have to bring their game face as usual leading up to the tournament and be on the ball!

Clemson shell shocks Georgia Tech with 73-59

In another scrappy ACC encounter the Clemson Tigers continues to prove why they're one of the top contenders in the conference. Without much flash from the scoring department the squad clamped down on defense, pressuring their opponent to take risky, low percentage shots from the outside. From the field Georgia Tech actually shot better at 40% compared to Clemson's 37.5%. The high scorer for the Tigers, Terrence Oglesby finished the game with 18 points. He nailed 5 three-pointers yet experienced an off-game due to a dreadful cold. The stifling defense was enough to give Clemson the edge.

Going through a rough spell now the Yellow Jackets have fell to 9-10 without much support at times from their bench. They were no match for Clemson's high-octane outside shooting and relentless measures in the back court. Trevor Booker is a big part of their success around the post. He grabbed 11 rebounds in Sunday's win. So far things are looking good for the Tigers as they own a 17-2 record. No team looks forward to facing them on their home turf and will pose a major challenge in the ACC tournament. If the Tigers can get K.C. Rivers and Raymond Sykes more involved they'll boost their overall performances I think. In the coming weeks this sparkling team will meet up with Duke, VT, and Florida State.

The Lebron vs. Kobe duel

I have to admit it was an impressive display by both Kobe Byrant and Lebron James the other night in L.A. With an injured-laden squad the Cavs were making the most out of a bad situation. Without two key pieces to their lineup, Cleveland hung with the Lakers for most of the game. Unfortunately, the 105-88 outcome went in the Lakers' favor. The contest got away in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter as Byrant nailed a couple high-degree difficulty shots which couldn't be defended as better. Lebron James had his own as usual putting together a 24 point performance. He also collected 9 rebounds with 4 assists.

Having the upper hand in this particular matchup, Kobe showed why he's one of the top players in the NBA and just how potent the Lakers are at home. He delivered 20 points and 12 assists in the victory. With the win they escalated their record to 32-8. Only losing 3 games at home L.A. is the team to beat in the West. Paul Gasol and Lamar Odom are co-existing well and give the team so much depth and versatility. Plus they have a few good jump-shooters who can get hot and take pressure off Kobe at times. I'd like to see the Cavs and Lakers have a few epic battles later in the year. Lebron must be saving up one of the best performances for such an occasion.

By the numbers Kobe and Lebron are near identical as far as scoring is concerned: both averaging about 27 ppg. They have a keen sense too for knowing where teammates are on the court and getting them involved. Seeing those clutch shots by Kobe kind of gives him a slight edge in hitting those shots during crunch time. Yet that's where experience goes into play. Trust me King James will be right there as well as he gets more games under his belt. Fans can't expect him to waver in closing moments during big games. Plus taking into consideration the hard shots and bruises he takes makes him a strong player with great will power. Another duel in store may unveil Lebron and Kobe shooting lights out in a overtime thriller!

Overtime thriller shows Terps overtaked 76-73 in Florida

What a tough break for the Maryland Terrapins Sunday in Tallahassee. Springing up and down the court it was hard-nosed battle. Florida State pulled out the overtime win, however outplaying Maryland in the waning minutes. The 76-73 final pushed up the confidence level for the Seminoles as they progressed to a 15-3 record overall. Most of their scoring came from guard Toney Douglas who drilled home 25 points along with 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Only one other player for Florida State hit double figures in scoring.

Junior Landon Milbourne was the leading scorer for the Terps with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. With low field goal shooting percentages on both sides this was a duel mainly determined by defense. Maryland out rebounded their opponent on the road 38-35 yet in OT failed to stop Douglas who had 7 points in the extended frame. Usually Maryland is good at shutting off the inside. Since this game was in Florida the Terps found themselves at a disadvantage of course. They drop to 12-5 overall and 1-2 in the ACC. Their next games will come against UVA, Duke, and Boston College. At the rate they're going it's a good possibility they'll hang near the top of the conference and bid for a tournament call this year.

UNC tramples over UVA in 83-61 victory

The Tarheels geared up for another ACC match-up last night after starting off 0-2 in the conference. With another strong effort from Tyler Hansbrough the Heels didn't have any trouble in Charlottesville. His teammates went the extra mile as well enlisting their contributions on both sides of the court. Running the show, Ty Lawson notched 19 points and had 9 assists. With UNC leading by as many as 27 points in the game there still to be no answer to cut off their inside/outside arsenal. UVA tried with earnest efforts to stop the streaky shooting, but to no avail. Hansbrough lead the way with 28 points and 12 rebounds.

With the absence to point guard Sean Singletary UVA doesn't have real experienced player to run the offense. Despite that the Cavs possess a 7-7 record and are 1-2 in the ACC. The up tempo, hard-driving style by North Carolina was too much for them to handle Thursday night. No one actually expected UNC to fall 2 straight games against conference rivals. Without their top defensive specialist in Marcus Ginyard the Heels are still flying high with 15-2 mark. A healthy starting five is important to their basketball program yet their talented bench will pick up the pieces at times.

Tyler Hansbrough is on his way to have another record-breaking season. His double-doubles are among leaders in Tarheel history. He's giving tremendous strength to the team while increasing his trips to the free-throw line at times as a senior. With the sharp-shooting Wayne Ellington on cue and an all-around gem in Danny Green the Heels will definitely have their share of epic battles late in the season. Their upcoming encounters will be against Miami, Clemson, and Florida State. The Tarheels will jockey for position to get ahead in the ACC.

Lebron wills triple-double in Cavs 102-87 victory

Yesterday was all show and no tell for the Cleveland Cavs' Lebron James. He stuffed down 30 points while collecting 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over the Grizzles. To make an empathetic statement for a somewhat stifled bench due to absences Lebron put on a show as usual. As a whole the Cavaliers shot 53% from the field in the game. With Big Z and Ben Wallace out of action it took a good team effort even against the struggling Memphis Grizzles. Delonte West aided the scoring caused by dropping 19 points while dishing out 4 assists. With momentum in their favor Cleveland jumps to 30-6 on the season.

The bench contributed 28 points for the Cavs. No one will be a bigger threat when they're hot in my view within the Eastern conference this year than those determined Cavaliers. With a long schedule still remaining they will have upcoming encounters with the Hornets, Kings, Raptors, and Lakers. There is no question about what King James brings to the table on any given night because his heart, will to win, and fierce competitiveness make him a strong candidate once again for MVP honors. That will come later in the year. The focus now for the Cavaliers is staying healthy and grinding it out for the rest of the way. Good luck to the Cavs in their pursuit for a top spot in the Eastern conference.

UCLA cranks out tight win against USC

Sunday it was a battle between several top ranked teams in college basketball. UCLA went toe-to-toe with the USC Trojans in a tenacious exchange. The final score was 64-60 in favor the Bruins. These two California rivals probably had a strong feeling it was going to be an intense battle on the court. This game came down to defensive stops. Obviously, there wasn't a breakout individual scoring performance as the top scorer for UCLA, Darren Collison finished with 18 points. His crafty 6-of-9 shooting from the field enabled a flurry of offensive support when needed while also contributing with 5 free-throws.

The major difference which enabled the Bruins to prevail was at the free-throw line. UCLA shot 70% to to USC's lackluster 60% from the charity stride. No one off the bench for the Bruins managed to contribute much, but in the end that proved to be irrelevant as the no. 7 team knocked off another powerhouse in the West. Scrappy, pressure defense got the job done for UCLA. Don't think for a minute that those Trojans will take the defeat lying down and not come out to fight another day. With the victory, UCLA improves to 13-2 on the season. I look for more impressive positives to generate from this team in the near future.

Off-season trades and signings: what's right from wrong

With the winter season settling in, baseball is far from most sports' fans mind these days. Ready to make transactions in the off-season both the Braves and Cubs have swung deals to make changes within their rosters. Atlanta vying for a run in 2009 let John Smoltz depart to the Boston Red Sox where he was a staple for that franchise. Not only did the Red Sox get lucky, but also reeled in other players such as Brad Penny, Rocco Baldelli, and A.J. Burnett. Pitching is what Boston has their mind on right now. They've made wise acquisitions before Spring Training starts.

Unfortunately, as f---ing usual the Chicago Cubs have made the wrong decision in signing on outfielder, former Texas Ranger Milton Bradley. I'm very unsatisfied with this out-of-the-blue type of settlement. Bradley had a good season in 2008, but isn't worthy in my view to receive a contract for 3 years for $30 million. Then to have him sport no. 21 on his jersey doesn't seem to fit right at all with the Chicago fans. Instead of scouting the markets for a top tier player who can have an impact the franchise as usual took the easy road. Rather the Cubs should have found the right talent who will have great chemistry with the rest of the team.

In comparison the Red Sox, who served as contenders in the past couple years have made wise investments while to my dismay at this time the Cubs have used their intellectual club resources the wrong way. This means Bradley may not be the best fit to play in the outfield. Why does it have to be this way every year for the Chicago Cubs? One of the smartest things this franchise can do is learn from their mistakes in the past and refrain from their old ways of thinking. A new age is on the horizon and if older, less modernized strategies aren't used than it's going to be another disappointing season in the NL Central. That's a what is seen as a forewarning by this loyal, unhappy Cubs fan.

Oklahoma whips up on Maryland Eastern Shore in 100-64 wallop

Yesterday the fighting force within the Oklahoma Sooners came out in collective strength in easy victory over the Maryland Eastern Shore. In a 100-64 ass-whooping the Sooners made light work of a less developed team, but displayed a commendable team effort. Their spirit was apparent on the court yet it was just another win to add to their rising season with more good things to come in the near future. In just 22 minutes on the hardwood Blake Griffin lead a head of steam for Oklahoma finishing the game with 20 points on 9-for-14 shooting from the field. He was a beast on the court snatching up 16 rebounds! Fueling the way also with a nice secondary effort was Tony Crocker who contributed with 15 points and 2 assists.

Why has college hoops at times neglected giving credit to surprising contenders such as Oklahoma who have seemily come out of no where with a 14-1 record. Way to go Sooners! You team spirit is shining through with true colors. As a college basketball fan I know this up and coming elite team will be on a roll for the season and have their work cut out for them later in the NCAA tournament come March Madness. Thinking ahead they will have to prepare for challengers such as Texas, Kansas State, and Nebraska. For the month the Sooners have to hang around with the top runners up in the Big 12 because at the moment this gutsy team from the Mid-South will have their share of memories and take on all obstacles in their path.

Luckily Kansas is playing a little coy this season, but will look to make a run in late season. That I feel will be their toughest opponent in the Big 12. This motivated group of college athletes on this squad will toward better days. They must remember laying their morals by the book and remain from any type of distraction will be in their best interest for a great season. Dealing with issues on the court and away from the game will enhance their play while keeping their chin up. Working their butts off in practice will make all the difference when it comes to crunch time later this season. Good luck the rest of the way for the Oklahoma Sooners!