FANdemonium Sports

That's All, Folks

2009-05-11T20:11:00.004-05:00

www.CardinalsFrontOffice.wordpress.com

Well, it's been fun!

Just wanted to let everybody know that FANdemonium Sports may have seen its last days. I started this blog in October of last year, and I think it is time to "call it a day"...

After a good seven months and over 60 articles later, I have decided to bring FANdemonium Sports to an end.

For weeks, I was pondering the thought of possibly creating a new blog... One more centered and not quite as broad as FS. As you all know, I am a HUGE Cardinals fan. Sports are my life, but baseball is my favorite sport, and the St. Louis Cardinals are my favorite team. After reading this article on BloggingTips.com (http://www.bloggingtips.com/2008/10/28/blog-ideas-sports-blog/), my mind was made up. It explains how you want a blog based on something easy to write about and something you can always right about. With FS, it almost seems like a chore writing. With my new blog, Cardinals Front Office, I can think of something to write about and I can write continulously for hours about that subject.

Cardinals Front Office is obviously based on the St. Louis Cardinals, and is not your typical Cardinals blog. At CFO, I take on the role as the Cardinals General Manager, John Mozeliak. My dream is to be a GM. Well, at CFO, I get to take on that illusive role. I discuss issues as though I am the current General Manager, let you know what I would do, and tell you what I would do differently. Stay tuned for my next move!

In a shorter version:
I got tired of the "vagueness" of FS, and decided to create a blog more centered on a certain area. Doing that, I always have something I can write about, and it is just so easy to do.

I think I have done the right thing by switching. Cardinals Front Office has been up and running for four days now, and is doing awesome. The all-time high views/day at FS was 82. Yesterday, CFO ended the day at 73 views.

As I wrap this up, I just want to thank the following people or sites that made up FANdemonium Sports:

Cory Guinn
Lucas Cipkowski
Joseph Kelley
Jakob Kagel
DraftBug.com
CollegeBasketball247.blogspot.com
EnglandHouse.blogspot.com
ALL of the 2430 (and counting) viewers

If you don't mind, go by and check out www.CardinalsFrontOffice.wordpress.com. That is where I will be keeping my work for now.

I put SO much time into this blog, and I loved watching that view-counter rise, but today will likely be FANdemonium Sports' last. Again, thanks.

With that, I quote a famous doctor I know...

"Don't frown because it is over. Smile because it happened."
- Doctor Seuss

Thanks again,
Justin Hulsey

Draft Bug Blogger Freeroll

2009-05-06T22:24:00.002-05:00

DRAFT BUG

First and foremost, for those of you who do not know what Draft Bug is, let's explain what the site is all about.

A few months ago, Alex Zelvin (DB owner) got a hold of FANdemonium Sports. After talking to him for a while on Twitter and through email, we agreed on an affiliation with my site and Draft Bug. At the time, I did not know what Draft Bug was, but I am thrilled at the fact that I checked it out. If you like fantasy sports, then you have to click on one of the Draft Bug banners I have throughout this site. It is fantasy sports meets online poker. Here is the exact explanation Draft Bug offers its users on the actual DB site...

Draft Bug is a Fantasy Sports site that features shorter season lengths. We run daily, and weekly fantasy leagues instead of the traditional full season leagues you have seen for years. There are no season long commitments at Draft Bug. You can assemble a new fantasy team every day or every week, as many as you'd like. Our leagues have no free agency, no waivers, and no trades so you do not have to be constantly rearranging your roster. You draft a team, then sit back and watch them perform.

Our games operate very similar to "Sit+Go" tournaments found on online poker sites. Once a game is populated, it begins and off you go to draft your team. After that, all you have to do is root your team on to victory.

Being an affiliate has many benefits, but one of the best is being able to get involved with the different specials that Alex runs for all of the affiliates on Draft Bug. For example, this latest one (the one I am writing about) was the "Blogger Freeroll". A freeroll is simply a 100-man contest that DB hold every single night. You put in $0.00 (freeroll) and, if you do well, you have the opportunity to win $4.00. Even if you get second, you win a dollar. Maybe you think it sounds to good to be true, but you would be pleasantly surprised.

This Blogger Freeroll is a contest Alex put together only for his affiliate bloggers. I am one of them, so I played in the contest tonight. The only catch with Alex doing this was that he required all affiliates that joined the contest tonight, had to write a post telling everybody about it, how you did, who you selected for your lineup, and list who was all involved. The winner of the entire thing tonight gets their own post written for them on Draft Bug's blog.

This specific freeroll has 13 participants, and had a cap of 1400. The game is salary-cap based. Meaning, players cost a certain amount of money to have them on your team. You can't just select Pujols, Utley, Braun, Lincecum, etc, etc. You have to keep it under the 1400 cap; the good players are worth up to 300.

I have been playing every day for a couple weeks and have already collected $6.00 in pocket cash. So, I know a little bit on how to succeed on this type of thing. I will show you a in-depth view into my picks. Here's my lineup that has be sitting at 4th place right now:

C- Yadier Molina, 72 points
Yadi has had a great offensive season so far. I wanted a guy that has been consistent all season. Molina has batted in the mid-.300s all season so far. He is also a Cardinal, which means I get to watch him live. The best part about this pick is he is only 72 points. According to Draft Bug's salary point system, Molina isn't as good of an offensive catcher as AJ Pierzynski... he's a steal at 72 points.
Season: .322, 3 homers, 13 RBIs
Tonight: Molina drew a walk, but that was about it when it comes to offensive production. He got me 1 point.

1B- Jorge Cantu, 144 points
Cantu has been on a flat out tear lately. He has been one of the hottest hitters in the MLB. When I pick my guys, I like to find who is hot. Cantu defines hot right now. In the past ten days, Jorge has 15 RBIs. He has been playing at a high clip all season and has been my 1B for most of this past week.
Season: .310, 7 homers, 25 RBIs
Tonight: Cantu slugged two doubles and one home run, he drove in five RBIs, and scored twice. I could not ask anything more of him. Even while hot, he exceeded expectations. He got me 15 points.

2B- Mike Fontenot, 78 points
Fontenot was a risky pick. Outside of being a Cub, I'm not a huge fan of the guy. I do not know much about him other than he went to LSU where he won a College World Series with Theriot. I don't know a ton about him when it comes to fantasy. I have never had him on my team, but in the past week he has .316. There are not many hot 2Bs out there that are cheap.
Season: .256, 5 homers, 15 RBIs
Tonight: Fontenot did not play tonight. Apparently he was a game time scratch. I deserved that though. I was not comfortable with him in there and it proved a bad idea. He got me no points.

3B- Evan Longoria, 210 points
He was one of the studs on my team that I have to count on. Count on him all you want because he is going to produce. In the beginning of the season I predicted Longoria would be the MVP. Right now, he is playing at that caliber. The dude has 16 RBIs in the previous seven days! How is that possible? Almost two RBIs per game? I'll take him.
Season: .365, 8 homers, 34 RBIs
Tonight: Longoria continued to dominate with a double, an RBI, one stolen base, but also one strikeout. This guy is quietly becoming the second best hitter in the game. He got me 4 points.

SS- Ryan Theriot, 126 points
This was a ballsy pick with Theriot out of the lineup on Tuesday, but I felt he was the best guy I could get at the point range I was willing to pick at. Even if he didn't play, I would not lose points (which is possible: 2 Ks = -2 points). So, I took Theriot again today with the expectations of him rolling like he has been.
Season: .320, 3 homers, 15 RBIs
Tonight: Theriot did exactly what us Draft Buggers dread. He struck out. A strikeout = negative points, and that is what kills our night. He got me -1 points.

OF- Nick Markakis, 192 points
There is no going wrong with him right now. He is crushing the ball, along with the rest of the Orioles OFers. On Tuesday, Markakis was the difference in me finishing first or second. Sadly, he was on the other guys team, and I got second. With that in mind, I felt comfortable picking him even though he was worth almost 200 points. With that many points, you have to be certain he will get you 5+ points.
Season: .356, 4 homers, 28 RBIs
Tonight: Markakis did exactly what I needed him to do with a single, a home run, a run scored, and two RBIs. The last thing I wanted to happen was a near 200-pointer to suck. He got me 8 points.

OF- Carl Crawford, 222 points
I went against my entire fantasy philosophy with this pick, but I was hoping for a 3+ SB night. When I take a player as my top guy, I want him to be a hitter. I am talking 35+ homeruns, 110+ RBIs. I have never, ever, ever took Rollins, Reyes, or this guy in the first round of my regular fantasy league. Again, I do not understand the logic of taking a guy that will just get you average and SBs. Nonetheless, I felt the juice would be worth the squeeze if Crawford stole a few bags again.
Season: .306, 0 homers, 12 RBIs (*cough* 19 SBs)
Tonight: Crawford did do what I wanted him to do with steal a base. He also had a single, but struck out. Crawford was a bad choice, a rookie mistake, and I was a little embarrassed about taking him if you see where I am coming from. He got me 1 point.

OF- Colby Rasmus, 6 points
When picking these teams, you have to pick a diamond in the rough. Rasmus is my diamond. He is so low because he doesn't always start. However, I knew with Ankiel's injury that Raz would be in CF. Rasmus can hit the ball, too. If you think about it, getting a fast guy that can steal hit 25 homeruns with only six points is a crime. Again, like Molina, I benefit by him being a Cardinal. I'll be honest, if I have two guys that I have to decide from.. if one of them is a Cardinal, he is mine.
Season: .269, 1 homer, 6 RBIs
Tonight: Rasmus disappointed me tonight by striking out. He started, he played the entire game, but just had to strike out. There was a risk-factor with taking him. He has struck out quite a few times this season, and he did it again.

SP- A.J. Burnett, 209 points
This was my pride-and-joy pick when I selected my lineup last night. I was really expecting Burnett to throw an absolute gem. He has been okay so far this season, and I was hoping for the breakout performance that will come at some point soon. With only a few good pitchers pitching, there are not a ton of choices. I wanted to go with Santana, but did not have the cap space. Burnett did pitch against Tampa already this season and went eight innings, only allowing three runs. He has had an excellent career against Tampa, so I was comfortable with him in there.
Season: 5.40 ERA, 2 wins, 25 Ks
Tonight: Burnett did better than what he has done so far this season with six innings, allowed three runs, but did strike out eight. His eight Ks saved me. He got me 15 points.

RP- Jonathan Broxton, 138 points
Like I said, when doing this you have to look for steals. Right now, Broxton is the best closer in the game and he is listed as the 10th. That is nuts, so I took him. The Dodgers are on fire right now, and so is this guy. I have always loved Broxton, and just waited for him to move into the closing role where I knew he would succeed. He has been lights out. With the Dodgers, they have the lead in the 9th more often than not.
Season: 0.64 ERA, 8 saves, 25 Ks
Tonight: Broxton will likely not see action this evening. The Dodgers are up 10-3 right now in the 8th inning, so I doubt if Broxton will get the call. If he does not come in, he will of course, get me no points.

I liked my team going into tonight, but I had some mistakes.
1) Carl Crawford was a stupid pick. He can't hit as good as the other sluggers.
2) Fontenot did not even play. I caught wind of that too late. Only so much I could have done though.
3) I did not have the HR potential I wanted in there. I ended up with two homers. HRs are worth four points, so they are crucial.

Let's not forget the great picks though either! Markakis, Cantu, and Longoria combined for one single, three doubles, two homeruns, three runs, EIGHT RBIs, and a stolen base. Now those were some good picks, but it doesn't look like they were good enough. I have 42 overall points right now, and am in 4th place.

TheInsidePitch (www.theinsidepitch.com) and Future Of Fantasy (www.futureoffantasy.com) are battling it out for the win. There are two late games going on right now so this isn't a final, but TIP has 61 overall points with FOF with a nearby 59. Both of these guys are pretty damn good when it comes to this stuff, as you can tell.

Morale of the story:
Draft Bug is a crazy cool site. Click on one of the two Draft Bug banners I have throughout the site to check it out for yourself!

New Anti-Cubs T-Shirt is Out: "Zambrano Mows My Lawn"

2009-05-05T16:10:00.009-05:00

Wow.

That's pretty much all there is to say. Wow.

On the day that Carlos Zambrano goes on the DL, and on Cinco De Mayo, this shirt is available to buy. I do not know the specifics, but I hear that the guy who first wore it actually bought it from a street vender, wore it to multiple games, and several fans asked where he got it. Now, to my understanding, you can buy them online. I am sure the guy is making a killing, but that is incredibly racist.

Now, to be honest, I did laugh over it. I won't lie to you about it. Being a die hard Cardinals fan, I laughed at the jab towards Chicago and Zambrano. I DID NOT laugh because I am racist.

With that in mind, I am going to be the first to say I am relatively embarrassed that a fellow Cards fan wore, and sold, this shirt. I hate the Cubs, and Zambrano, but that just crosses the line as far as the Cubs Suck shirts go.

As embarrassingly racist as these t-shirts are, it would be just as ignorant to make the assumption that this type of behavior is typical of the fans of the St. Louis Cardinals. From reading the message boards that talk about this particular shirt, everybody thinks it is wrong. I live Missouri, about 40 miles from Busch Stadium, and you would be stupid to think we are all like this. While there may be Cardinal fans who would buy this shirt, about 85% of us think it is pretty over-the-top.

Cub fans haven't been entirely innocent in the realm of inappropriate T-shirt sales. You'll recall last year's tasteless "Horry Kow" shirts whose arrival corresponded with that of Kosuke Fukudome. Yeah, so I don't want to hear ANYTHING from Flub fans about it.

*comment section below this article, post a review at the bottom of the home page, follow on right sidebar under the article archive, and subscribe by sending me (StLDieHard24@gmail.com) your email*

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Sunday Debate: Should Steroid Users Be Allowed Into the Hall of Fame?

2009-05-03T22:57:00.005-05:00

Welcome to the newest FANdemonium Sports segment. It is called Sunday Debates. Every Sunday, I will think of a hot topic subject in the world of sports. Today’s subject argues one thing. Should MLB players who take steroids be allowed into the Hall of Fame?

So I will debate each point of view and then give you my opinion on the subject.

If you want to view my take on any topic that is suitable for a Sunday Debate, let me know about it. Email me any suggestions (along with anything else you want) at StLDieHard24@gmail.com.

I made a “Sunday Debates” section on the right side of the page under the “It’s FANdemonium, baby!” portion. There you will be able to view all of the Sunday Debates. Let’s get started with the seventh Sunday Debate.
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Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, and Jason Giambi all have a few things in common with each other. Most notable: They are all big-name steroid users that were busted for juicing. What’s interesting though is that all of these guys may be first-ballot Hall of Famers WITHOUT steroids. Take the asterisk off their name, and they are among the best to play. The question is, are these guys in the HoF WITH ‘roids? Here are the best arguments for whatever you think on the subject.

YES- Steroid users should be allowed into the Hall of Fame. After all, which ever way you look at it, these guys changed the game. They shattered records, won multiple World Series, and are known as some of the best to ever play. Some look at Mark McGwire as a savior of the game in the late 90’s. Barry Bonds owns the all-time home run record; the most prestigious record in all of baseball. Like I said before, Roger Clemens would have been regarded as the one of the best pitchers ever. Some things steroids just cannot improve. Steroids or no, they had to have some serious skill to be this good. ‘Roids can’t improve your ability to see the ball, and hit the ball.

Also, we have to realize the fact that not all ‘roid users will be busted. I bet my house that there will be a ‘roider that sneaks into the HoF. With that said, why shouldn’t these guys get in? Unless you can get every steroid user to come forward, maybe we should consider letting these guys in.

There are some specifics we must remember too. For some of these sluggers, these PEDs were not illegal when they were playing. These players had a chance to make there selves better. If they had stuff like this at their demand, should we blame them from trying to win? Let’s not forget that HGH and other PEDs were NOT illegal, and not against MLB rules, when some of these players took them.

NO- Steroid users should not be allowed into the Hall of Fame. They cheated. There’s no sugar-coating it, no grey areas… they cheated. While other players worked and strived to be great, there were guys that were sitting in the locker room with a needle in their ass. It is not fair to the players who worked their entire lives to be good.

Does anybody remember the Pete Rose? One of the greatest hitters ever, and he doesn’t get in for gambling. I personally think Pete Rose should be in the Hall. People gamble every day. Somebody just bet on a baseball game. Can you sit here and tell me that injecting yourself with stuff to artificially make you better is not as bad as gambling? Come on.

Why would you put a cheater of the game into that company? Condoning - or especially rewarding - the use of any banned substance that may provide an advantage for one athlete over another is ethically wrong and has no place for enshrinement.

CASE BY CASE- Steroid users should be viewed at case by case when filling out the Hall of Fame ballot. You cannot, essentially, make a rule that is put into place for every player that is busted. That is like saying you have to hit at least 300 homeruns to be considered for the HoF. It just doesn’t make since.

For example, some say Bonds should get in for how many HRs he hit. He is the all-time homerun hitter and you leave him out of the Hall of Fame?

The manner of which you come clean also factors into it. Alex Rodriguez decided to let it all out after we found out just a couple months ago. Now compare that to Roger Clemons and Big Mac who keep denying it or just doesn’t say anything at all. Wouldn’t you say you have more respect for somebody who regretfully comes clean over somebody who denies it for years? I have a hard time respecting any of these guys, but I would say yes.

We are nearing the end of the tunnel in the Steroid Era. While baseball tries to clean this mess up, I think it is slowing going to end.

I love this game. It is my favorite sport. I would like to think I know quite a bit about sports, but I think my expertise lies in baseball. For me, I just cannot bring myself to say yes to somebody that put a huge dent into the game I love. Think about this… For somebody who destroyed the game we once had, how could we possibly put them alongside the games greatest. No way. End of discussion.

That’s it for this Sunday Debate. Have a good week.

*comment section below this article, post a review at the bottom of the home page, follow on right sidebar under the article archive, and subscribe by sending me (StLDieHard24@gmail.com) your email*

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

FANTASY: Who's Hot and Who's Not

2009-04-30T23:08:00.004-05:00

We are a few weeks through the MLB season and things are starting to fall into shape. Just like every year, players start the season hot, and some start the season extremely cold. All you can do is hope you drafted right and don’t end up with a bust. The first month of the season is almost over, that means only five left. For some, the end could not come soon enough. Hopefully it’s not that bad, but here are some players you would kill to have on your team right now. As well as some you would kill yourself if you did own them. Not only will I help you out in that aspect, but I will try to explain why they are doing so well or why they are just flat out struggling.

Who’s HOT

Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Pujols is just doing his thing. He is hot right now, but the funny thing is that this is just normal Pujols. His team is in first place and he is certainly the catalyst. He has only swung and missed 11 times this year out of 75 ABs already. When you can do that, you rarely strikeout. In fact, Pujols only strikes out in 9% of his at bats. Here are some stunning stats for The Machine: He swings at only 20% of pitches that are out of the zone and 71% when it is a strike. When Albert does swing at a bad pitch, he makes contact 87% of the time! That number is up 12% from 2008. When he swings at strikes, he hits it 93% of the time.
Pujols is doing well…
… because he isn’t missing. If he swings, he will put it in play. That aspect of his game is considerably better than years past (just when we thought he couldn’t improve).

Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
I drafted Braun with my first round pick. It was the fourth pick and considered a reach by some. So far, it looks like I am a genius. One of the reasons I took him was because the real genius, Bill James, predicted a 41 HR season from Braun. Ryan is certainly not disappointing James so far. Braun’s OBP is up 145 points from last year, and brought his OPS up 120 pts. He has a .382 BABIP so far. For those of you unfamiliar with that stat, he has a .382 average when he puts the ball in play. I looked through all these players stats and looked which ones were considerably different from past seasons and the one Braun has that caught my eye was his line-drive percentage. A typical All Star player hits a line-drive 17% of the time. Ryan Braun hits a liner 25% of the time so far.
Braun is doing well…
… because he is making consistent solid contact. Even his outs are hit solid. He is locked in right now.

Zach Greinke, Kansas City Royals
In a previous FS post, I said that Greinke had superstar-type potential and my statement is looking prophetic right about now. KC has gotten off to a pretty good start, and Greinke is the one behind it all. His K/9 ratio is up three from last year, he is only averaging one walk per game, and has allowed no home runs so far. He is hitting his spot and doing whatever he wants. Want proof? 48% of his batters have grounded out.
Greinke is doing well…
… because he is locating his pitches. Zach is simply putting it where he wants and, like I’ve always said, a great pitcher beats a great hitter.

Danny Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks
I cringe every time I talk about Haren. If you are not aware, my St. Louis Cardinals traded him a while back when he was a young prospect. The year after, he exploded in his breakout season. A sensitive subject for me to say the least just because how great Haren is. When on, there are only a small handful of pitchers you can even compare to him. He made an interesting decision in the offseason by choosing to use his curve ball again. He dropped it for a couple seasons before using it again this year. 2006 was the last time he used it – his second best win total year. The unfortunate thing about him doing great is the fact that the D’Backs can’t get him a win. He is pounding the mitt, but his team refuses to score for him.
Haren is doing well…
… because he avoiding solid contact. The number of line-drives hits he has had against him is down 5%.

Who's NOT

Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
In Colorado, how can a player struggle? Seriously! They are like 12 miles above sea level. It is like playing baseball on the moon. All you have to do is make contact and the ball soars. Tulo was spectacular last season and everything pointed toward the start of an offensive explosion from the young shortstop. I said all he has to do is hit the ball. Well, he is having a hard time doing that. In 2008 he struck out 15% of his Abs. This season, he strikes out 30% of the time. He strikes out more than he hits safely. Kinda sad.
Tulowitzki is struggling…
… because he won’t take the bat off his shoulders. I mentioned the clip he is striking out at… but the scare thing is that he isn’t even swinging. In 2008, he swung at 45% of the pitches he saw. This season, that number is down 10%.

Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
Wasn’t this dude the Rookie of the Year? Well he hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype. But who are we kidding? That is the definition of a Flubbie, I mean Cubbie. I guess Soto is just going to suck now instead of sucking in only September and October. When he puts the ball in play, he has a .150 average. In his ’08 campaign that number was hovering around .340. Come on, Soto! Yadier Moline is batting over .300, by the way lol. What is even sadder is that he only has 5 line drives so far.
Soto is struggling…
… because he can’t get the ball out of the infield. Surely those coaches in Chicago can fix a simple groundball problem, right? Here is a staggering number for you… Over half of Soto’s at bats have resulted in a groundball out. Woah.

Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins
After Liriano’s unreal second half last season, he came into this season as a legitiment Cy Young candidate. But right now it looks like last year’s first half that got him sent down to AAA ball. His breakout season was in 2006 and it’s obvious he is not doing the same things as his 12-3, 2.16 ERA season. In ’06 he pitched 43% fastballs, 38% sliders, and 19% changeup. So far this year he has pitched 61% fastball, 27% slider, and 11% changeup. So basically he is an entirely different pitcher. The numbers do not lie. Out of all the batters that have got a hit off of him, 22% of them hit a liner into the outfield.
Liriano is struggling…
… because he is relying too much on his fastball, he is not using his best pitch – the slider – like he should be, and is simply making bad decisions. The pitching coach has to be aware of these numbers. I don’t understand why he hasn’t said lay off the fastball and throw that slider.

CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
Heading into draft time, I kept saying Lincecum over Sabathia and everybody thought I was an idiot. Well, not so much. While Lincecum is destroying everything in his path, Sabathia is having a hard time doing anything. He may have sat down all the batters he faced last season, but he is only averaging 3 Ks per outing so far. With that you look at how many guys he has walked, but it is no alarming stat there. This leads me to believe he is just throwing hit-able pitches. He has a similar problem to Liriano. Like I said with Liriano, he was relying way to much on his heater. While he isn’t throwing as many as FL is, Sabathia is still throwing 8% more than last year. I don’t know if you have played baseball yourself, but fastball is generally the easiest to hit. Let’s think this one through… It is the only pitch that is straight. It doesn’t matter how fast it is, it doesn’t move.
Sabathia is struggling…
… because he has been watching Francisco Liriano pitch. Liriano doesn’t lay off that fastball, and neither does Mr. Sabathia. CC needs to chill out, look at what worked last year, and try that. Something is out of whack, and he needs to figure that out before he is killed by Yankee fans.

If you are, unfortunately, an owner of CC, Liriano, Tulo, or Soto, don’t freak out and trade trade trade. Sit them for a week or two and see what happens. A lot of fantasy owners see a big-name player having a hard time and trade them, or even drop them. A month later, they are on this list under WHO’S HOT. Some of the biggest mistakes I have made as a fantasy owner are with this. Trust me; you will kick yourself all the way up to September.

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

NFL Rookie Most Likely To.....

2009-04-30T18:38:00.003-05:00

Now that the NFL Draft is complete and the official offseason has begun, many fans are looking through the first round of picks and evaluating each player. I have decided to go in a different direction and have my own fun with the first round. The following few predictions have a great possibility to come true and do not be surprised if I am correct in my picks.

Here are the NFL rookies most likely to...

Pass for 3000 yards: Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
-Sanchez is coming in to lead and already decent team in New York. The Jets finished last season at 9-7 and were one win away form making the playoffs. With the running game in tact from last year, the coaching staff just wants Sanchez to keep them in the hunt.

Rush for 1000 yards: Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos
-Denver is a breeding ground for NFL running backs. Moreno is a solid back with decent speed and an amazing ability for find a hole to run through. Look for the lineage to continue as Moreno should have a solid rookie campaign.

Compile 1000 receiving yards: Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
-Crabtree is will start out as the #2 wide receiver but look for him to learn from Isaac Bruce and become the number 1 target no matter who the quarterback may be in San Francisco this season.

Make 80 tackles: Aaron Curry, Seattle Seahawks
-The Seahawks drafted arguably the best player in the draft with the 4th pick overall. Curry plays sideline to sideline on defense and with the loss of Leroy Hill look for him to get the majority of the stops in Seattle.

Get 10 sacks: Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins
-With newly aquired Albert Haynesworth occupying blockers in the middle on defense Orakpo will have one-on-one matchups which he should easily win. His strength and motor wil allow him to get in the backfield and be an immediate defensive prescence in the league.

Make 5 interceptions: Malcolm Jenkins, New Orleans Saints
-Many believe that the Saints will move Malcolm Jenkins to safety and I agree. He has good size for a defensive back but not the elite speed needed to keep up in coverage. Jenkins instinct for the ball will allow him to roam freely in the middle of the field and pick off opposing quarterbacks with ease.

Score 10 touchdowns: Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
-Maclin will be getting the majority of the long balls in Philly which should provide for some longs scores. His ability to return kickoffs and punts also gives him a better chance to score, which he is used to doing.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Sunday Debate: A Look At the Heisman Race Beyond the Front-Runners

2009-04-26T21:37:00.004-05:00

So I will show and analyze some of the players that are considered top candidates - outside of the "big three" - to win the Heisman Trophy.

If you want to view my take on any topic that is suitable for a Sunday Debate, let me know about it. Email me any suggestions (along with anything else you want) at StLDieHard24@gmail.com.

I made a “Sunday Debates” section on the right side of the page under the “It’s FANdemonium, baby!” portion. There you will be able to view all of the Sunday Debates. Let’s get started with the sixth Sunday Debate.

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Spring football is under way, the NFL Draft is finally over, and we now know who will be coming back to light up the 2009 College Football season.

The 2008 Heisman Race was certainly one to remember; it was the closest since 2001, when former-Cornhusker Eric Crouch won the most prestigious award in all of sport. In the end, when all of the votes were tallied, Sam Bradford of Oklahoma became the 74th winner of the Heisman Trophy. Following Bradford; Colt McCoy of Texas was the first runner up and, last year’s winner, Tim Tebow, got 3rd in total voting.

After all is through, this may very well be how we remember that 2008 campaign… the memorable and to-close-to-call Heisman Race featuring the nation’s elite. I think that is safe to say that if it was any other year, and there was only one of either of these guys, they would have blown away the competition. All three of these Quarterbacks are Heisman-winning material.

But wait, they are coming back? Believe it or not, the three top vote-getters are all going to make another run at it this season. Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow will make an attempt at their second Trophy, while McCoy will try to receive his first Heisman statue.

Knowing that, most would think one of those guys will win the award, no? I can’t hardly argue that considering how incredible these quarterbacks really are. But, how often do the front-runners going in actually win the thing? Hardly ever. Last year it was Tebow, McFadden was favored heavily in 2007, Brady Quinn was almost handed the Trophy before the ’06 season, and we can do this all night. Do you notice the trend? None of the guys won it that year. All had good seasons, but none of them won it and it's like that way nearly every single year.

While the main guys of yesteryear are stealing the show already, there is some serious talent out there beyond Austin, Norman, and Gainsville.

On that note, let’s take a quick look at who will take home that bronze statue when it’s all said and done… if it isn’t the big three.

Todd Reesing, Kansas Jayhawks
He does not have the hype, or the swagger that most of the contenders do. Reesing is flying undetected, below the radar so far and nobody really realizes him as a legitimate contender. Kansas is not known for producing big-name QBs, but Todd has the skill set to be worthy of mention. Not to forget, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier are both coming back for another year – bringing 2000 yards and 20 TDs with them from the 2008 season.

Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
While Jimmy may not have near the hype that the last Heisman contender out of North Bend had, he does have some. Any QB at ND usually does. Clausen is nowhere near Quinn, but he’ll have the Notre Dame spotlight and the receiving corps to put up the numbers and the wins to be in the hunt for the big prize. He showed in the 22-of-26, 401-yard, five touchdown win over Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl that the offense has the potential to blow up, but the only chance of being in the Heisman hunt will be to come up with big wins. That means a big day at Michigan, a home victory over Michigan State, and most importantly, a tremendous performance against USC on October 17... preferrably a win in all of those.

Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State Cowboys
After throwing together a breakout year last season, and finishing well into the top-25, the Cowboys and their star QB are looking forward to running that explosive offense yet again. I love this guy and I love this guy’s potential at the collegiate level. He has the Heisman type of play the voters crave, and should kill the opposition with Kendall Hunter and Dez Bryant right there with him. Robinson can launch it down the field with accuracy, but also run very well when need be. Visualize the white Vince Young.

Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State Beavers
WOW. You don’t think so? Do you even know this guy lol? If you live on the east coast, you might not. For any of you people that think this kid shouldn’t be on this list, I will personally find you a tape of the USC/OreSt game of last fall. If a dude can straight up slither his way through THAT defense and make his way into the endzone twice with 190 yards, you are something special. He was a f-r-e-s-h-m-a-n this past season and was still the best playmaker in the Pac10. Before getting hurt he had 7 straight games of 100+ yard outputs, and totaled 1255 yards and 11 touchdowns… in seven games. I watched him during the USC game and immediately wrote his name down for two reasons: I knew he would be on this list and I knew I would forget how to spell his name.

Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State Buckeyes
He may be losing all of his sidekicks, but do not be fooled with this dude. Despite his main WRs and Chris “Beanie” Wells heading to Arizona, Pryor will have a massive season. He won’t have the talented Wells to hand off to but that should only mean he gets more chances to do more on his own. He’ll get more room to freelance, even for a Jim Tressel team, and he’ll get to run even more than he did in ‘08. Expect plenty of highlight moments and a barrage of face time on SportsCenter. But as it is with all Heisman candidates, it’s all about what he’ll do in the big moments. If he’s great against USC on September 12th and leads the way to a win, then it’s Heisman spotlight time. Remember me saying Zac Robinson is similar to the white Vince Young? Well Pryor IS Vince Young. He is the now the entire offense and the coaches will, while holding back in 2008, unleash him this year. He is a freak prodigy and now the nation’s newest superstar.

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

2009 NFL Draft Evaluations

2009-04-26T18:23:00.004-05:00

The 2009 NFL draft may lack the marketability and wow factor of players in previous drafts, but many consider this draft to be deeper top to bottom then others, meaning success can be had if managed correctly. It can also highlight how the idea of NFL parity is somewhat of a myth because of the current draft setup (top drafting teams must spend millions more than teams lower in the draft for a somewhat negligible talent difference) and because you still have teams that have no idea what they are doing (here’s to looking at you Oakland).

Best:

The Redskins, much maligned for their free agent spending and emphasis on getting big names rather than smartly acquiring talent, practically had Brian Orakpo fall into their laps. The Broncos, who had almost as bad a draft as the Raiders, passed up on the highly touted Orakpo to take a running back, as if new coach McDaniels didn’t see that his roster was already littered with running backs to choose from. Did you see the way Washington practically ran to the podium after the announcement of the Denver pick? Probably the fastest I have seen a team turn in a 1st round card. Considering Orakpo was ranked higher than his counterpart at the #3 pick, Tyson Jackson, you have to like teaming up Orakpo with new signee Albert Haynesworth.

I also thought the Ravens had a surprisingly good draft. While many would argue they still lack a big play wide receiver, the Ravens understand what their success is based on, and reloaded again with big guys up front in Michael Oher and gritty linebackers in Phillips and Kruger. Nothing flashy about these picks, but I guarantee you the Ravens will get production out of this group and continue to terrorize teams on defense and with their speed and toughness.

Worst:

For a model on what not to do, please see the Raiders of Oakland. It’s hard to feel more sorry for a team than the Detroit Lions, but the Raiders are a close 2nd. There’s almost no analysis to give because the picks they made in the 1st and 2nd round were so laughably bad that even ESPN didn’t know what to say. Why? Well they didn’t even have a profile on the Raiders 2nd round pick, Michael Mitchell, who wasn’t invited to the Combine.

I looked up Mitchell, not knowing him myself, and while he looks very explosive, he also lacks basic football traits. He doesn’t wrap up on tackles, and he plays too high. Mitchell might make a few flashy plays, but he will get swallowed up by a league that features much superior athleticism compared to the talent he played against at Ohio. While the Heyward-Bey pick created more controversy, the Mitchell pick was worse. The Raiders are drafting for speed, and while speed is an important trait, there’s a reason Usain Bolt isn’t in the NFL, as you must have football talent to match that speed.

*comment section below this article, post a review at the bottom of the home page, follow on right sidebar under the article archive, and subscribe by sending me (StLDieHard24@gmail.com) your email*

Joseph Kelley
opethguitarist@gmail.com
FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

America's Best Sports City

2009-04-25T15:10:00.006-05:00

Just this past week, ESPN.com released its first regional site, or city to be more specific.

The city they chose? Chicago. Which, needless to say, got me thinking. Why?

Of all the markets ESPN could have chosen, what made Chicago stand out and ultimately how does it stand up amongst the best sports towns in America?

After looking at it all, Chicago is up there no doubt. However, ESPN, they are not even in the top-5. I am positive that ESPN will get sites like Chicago’s for all or most of the major sports cities in America. Well, I decided to make it easy for them with my top-10 sports cities in the U.S. list.

This has almost nothing to do with opinion, so don’t hate me when I release this list. I did it based on a formula. You must note that this list has nothing to do with a team’s history… it is all current. New York City has almost 50 Championships in all, but that means almost nothing.

The formula is set on a few things. The city will get points for how many TEAMS it has. A city has four teams, four points. The city will get points for how many SPORTS the team represents. We are only basing this on the main four sports – pro baseball, basketball, football, and hockey... NO collegiate sports. A city has three sports, three points. The city will also receive points for the star system I made up. I rank each team in each city and give them stars (1-5). After that, I took all of the teams’ rank and average them to get a city rank. I doubled that number and give the city those points too. If a city gets three out of five stars, I doubled that to give the city six more points.

If there is a tie, it goes to the city’s star rating. After that it goes to number of sports, then teams. It isn’t really as confusing as it seems, so let’s just look at the teams.

10. St. Louis, Missouri
Teams: Cardinals (4 stars), Rams (1), Blues (4)
If there was anyway I could import a system to put the fans into the equation, St. Louis would be WAY up there. STL’s fans are the best in America, bar none. The Rams killed them if you look at it. When the Rams were good, this was the best sports city in America. They were given that title in 2000, but since then the Rams have fallen. The Cards and Blues are doing what they need to do, but the Rams are certainly weighing the city down here.
# of teams: 3
# of sports: 3
# of stars x 2: 6
TOTAL: 12

9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Teams: Pirates (1), Steelers (5), Penguins (4)
Pittsburgh got the tiebreaker over St. Louis on the fourth one. Both teams have same number of teams and sports, and even have the same rating. After that, we go to which city has the best team. Pittsburgh has a five-star team in the Steelers, so they get the bump. Just like the STL, there has to be a team to ruin it. The Steelers and Pens are near the top of their respective sport, and really save this city.
# of teams: 3
# of sports: 3
# of stars x 2: 6
TOTAL: 12

8. Denver, Colorado
Teams: Rockies (2), Broncos (3), Nuggets (4), Avalanche (1)
If Denver did not have any one of these teams, they wouldn’t even be on this list. There teams are not better than St. Louis’ or Pitts’, but they have four teams and four sports… which picks them up two more points than the previous two cities received. The Nuggets are in the NBA playoffs right now and are the highlight of this city. Thank Chauncey for that one though.
# of teams: 4
# of sports: 4
# of stars x 2: 6
TOTAL: 14

7. Detroit, Michigan
Teams: Tigers (3), Lions (1), Pistons (4), Red Wings (5)
Detroit isn’t called “Hockeytown” for nothing. The people of Detroit go absolutely crazy over hockey. The whole city embraces the Red Wings. But, don’t think that it ends there, as the Pistons and Tigers are both pretty decent. The Pistons may be on the decline, but they can still play with the best of them. During the past several years, Detroit has built a hard-working, blue collar basketball team, which reflects the people of Detroit. The Lions have been a poor team for a long time, but Lion fans are still common throughout the city.
# of teams: 4
# of sports: 4
# of stars x 2: 6
TOTAL: 14

6. Chicago, Illinois
Teams: Cubs (4), White Sox (2), Bears (3), Bulls (4), Blackhawks (4)
Despite what ESPN thinks, Chicago stands at No. 6 mainly because they do not have a dominant team… just a few good teams. Now, you may say the Cubs deserve that fifth star, but it isn’t happening. They are off to a little bit of a slow start this year (few games behind my Cards) and are playing well below expectations. Not to mention the fact that they choke every September, including last year. Right now, the main focus of Chicago is actually not on the Flubbies. The Blackhawks and Bulls are in the playoffs right now, which helps the city on this list.
# of teams: 5
# of sports: 4
# of stars x 2: 6
TOTAL: 15

5. Los Angeles-Anaheim, California
Teams: Dodgers (4), Angels (4), Lakers (5), Clippers (1), Kings (2), Ducks (3)
Unfortunately for LA, this is based on the current world of sports. Therefore, they don’t get the Rams who were once based Hollywood. If this list took history into affect, they would probably be No. 2. However, who says this town needs the NFL? Los Angeles is home to some of the most successful sports franchises in the game today. The Los Angeles Lakers are on their way to the NBA Finals, and are favored to win the entire thing. They are the most complete team in the NBA, and will likely take on The King for the Championship.
# of teams: 6
# of sports: 3
# of stars x 2: 6
TOTAL: 15

4. Atlanta, Georgia
Teams: Braves (3), Falcons (4), Hawks (4), Thrashers (3)
In years past, everybody crowned Atlanta as the WORST sports city in America… but things have changed. Atlanta has always been good, but Falcons have sucked – before last season – for a while. The Hawks were once the worst team in the NBA, and the Thrashers had no identity what-so-ever. However, the Falcons and Hawks are both playoff teams with great futures. The Thrashers are also on the rise, ending the year on a high note and totaling almost 80 points in the standings. People have been hating on ATL for a while now, but the Braves are no longer the only good team in the city.
# of teams: 4
# of sports: 4
# of stars x 2: 8
TOTAL: 16

3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is going to end up being the only state with two cities in the top ten, and I think that says a lot for the state. Different from the cities on the back end of this list, Philly is one of the only cities that simply does not have a bad team. With the baseball season still very young, you have to look at last year… and the Phillies won it all. Donovan McNabb is getting old and does not have many days left as the starting QB in Philly, but he can still get it done and the Eagles are still a pretty good football team. Just like Chicago, Philadelphia currently has two teams in the playoffs. The city is on a serious high when it comes to sports, and why should we be surprised? They just have four really good teams. Period.
# of teams: 4
# of sports: 4
# of stars x 2: 8
TOTAL: 16

2. New York, New York
Teams: Yankees (5), Mets (4), Giants (3), Jets (2), Knicks (1), Nets (2), Rangers (3), Islanders (1)
New York is the only city in the U.S. to be home to two teams in each of the major American professional sports leagues. Without a doubt, baseball is the city's most popular sport with the success of the New York Yankees and New York Mets. The Yankees are predicted by most to win the World Series with the acquisitions of Sabathia, Burnett, and Tex. When it comes to basketball the Knicks embarrass NY. They are not as bad as they were the past two years, they have a new coach, but they still suck. While most people think Knicks with NBA and NY, the New Jersey Nets have also developed a strong fan-base. The Nets have a stud PG running the show right now and have potential to be a serious playoff team. The NFL still remains as the Jets and Giants still garner the city’s attention, but each fall having to compete with the Yankees each October for media coverage. The Giants are pretty good, with a solid team all-around, but the Jets are in big trouble.
# of teams: 8
# of sports: 4
# of stars x 2: 6
TOTAL: 18

1. Boston, Massachusetts
Teams: Red Sox (5), Patriots (5), Celtics (5), Bruins (5)
Well this is completely ridiculous if you think about it. I’m not sure if any city, at any point in time, has ever had the dominance that Boston currently has. The Red Sox are the best all-around team in the MLB. The Patriots are the best team in the NFL when they have Brady hooking up with Moss. You may think they are a four-star team right now, but they won 11 games last year with the best player in the NFL watching instead of playing as the Pats’ QB. The Celtics are battling it out with the Bulls right now, and up 2-1. With Kevin Garnett, they may be challenging the Lakers again in the Finals. The Big-FOUR (Rondo) is amazing, and when they are all out there… they are simply dominant. The Bruins are also in the playoffs right now as the No. 1 team in the East. I don’t think there is any room for argument with this. If so, comment or email me because I would LOVE to hear it. When the four teams in your city are the best teams in their respective sport… you get this honor. Hands down.
# of teams: 4
# of sports: 4
# of stars x 2: 10
TOTAL: 18

*comment section below this article, post a review at the bottom of the home page, follow on right sidebar under the article archive, and subscribe by sending me (StLDieHard24@gmail.com) your email*

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumsSports.blogspot.com

Sunday Debate: Which Team Will Pull the Trigger on Mark Sanchez?

2009-04-19T22:39:00.008-05:00

Welcome to the newest FANdemonium Sports segment. It is called Sunday Debates. Every Sunday, I will think of a hot topic subject in the world of sports. Today’s subject argues one thing. Where will NFL prospect Mark Sanchez be drafted this upcoming Saturday?

So I will show and analyze some of the teams that are considered top candidates to draft him and then give you where I think he will end up..If you want to view my take on any topic that is suitable for a Sunday Debate, let me know about it. Email me any suggestions (along with anything else you want) at StLDieHard24@gmail.com.I will make a “Sunday Debates” section on the right side of the page under the “It’s FANdemonium, baby!” section. There you will be able to view all of the Sunday Debates. Let’s get started with the fourth Sunday Debate.
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T-minus six days until the NFL Draft and things are starting to fall into place. Matthew Stafford will go first, Jason Smith will go second, there’s a 90% chance Aaron Curry will go to the Chiefs with the No. 3 pick, but then it gets a little hairy.

The reason for that is because teams ahead of you may take your guy and you have to change your entire view on your upcoming pick. It goes the other way as well. If the Lions, for some reason, take a player that doesn’t have the name of Stafford, St. Louis then has an entire different approach with the second pick. Do we stick with Smith and address what we need? Or do we take one of the best ever QB prospects to come out of the draft with a best-value approach?

After the first couple picks there are tons of questions as to what happens. WR Jeremy Maclin could go in the top ten, or he could fall into the Rams’ hand at the 35th pick. QB Josh Freeman could go in the first round, but he could also fall into Day 2! However, probably the biggest question on Draft day lies in quarterback Mark Sanchez.

He has been impressing scouts since the day he declared. Some may say that he has a better future than Mr. Superstar that will go to Detroit. Just the way he carries himself awes people. I listened to him on 101ESPN last week, and was flatout impressed. I do not like the Trojans, and was never a huge fan of Sanchez while he was in So Cal, but after hearing him talk with the guys on 101… I’m pulling for the guy all the way. I would love to see my Rams trade to get a spot where they would be able to draft him after their second pick. I think he can turn a franchise around as soon as he walks in. He’s a winner, on and off the gridiron.

With that said… who will draft him?? I don’t think anybody knows (unless Detroit wants him), but we can all give it a shot as to who will land Mark. There are a few candidates, so let’s take a look.

St. Louis Rams, 2nd pick
As a huge Rams fan, do I not condone this, but it is a possibility. Bulger is a pretty decent quarterback when he has a good line. Actually he is – statistically- a great QB with a good line. There lies the problem though. The Rams have no line. If you think Sanchez will be any better, still without an offensive line, you are wrong. STL needs to build from the inside out in this draft. The Rams will have to pick a QB at some point, but I don’t think Sanchez is that man. Look for the Rams to go hard after Josh Freeman in the second round, or trade up to get a mid-late first round pick to get him. Even with that in mind, I would not be surprised if the Rams really consider the USC QB.

San Francisco 49ers, 10th pick
The ‘Niners need a lot of positions in this Draft. Quarterback highlights the list. Who do they have now? Think about it… do you know? Most don’t. Well, it’s Shaun Hill and JT O’Sullivan. Two guys that would likely struggle as a high school QB… Lol sorry guys. Seriously though, that is sad and the 49ers won’t win more than four games without a new QB. The problem is, with San Fran drafting at the 10 spot, Sanchez may not be available. But if he is, you can bet that the 49ers will take him.

Seattle Seahawks, 4th pick
Mark Sanchez will likely be out there when the fourth pick comes around. So, the question is whether the ‘Hawks should take an offensive lineman or somebody to back up the aging Matt Hasselbeck. If they were to take Mark, he would probably be holding the clipboard for at least a year – baring injury. Sanchez could very well find himself in Seattle by the end of this week. This may be the best fit for Sanchez. If you look at it, there are more Ryan Leaf’s than there are Peyton Manning’s. What I am saying is, if you push him into the starting position… who knows how he will respond. He could be Matt Ryan, but he could also be a train wreck. Again, in Seattle, he would be on the sidelines for at least a year. Realistically, that may be the best thing for him.

Jacksonville Jaguars, 8th pick
If the Seahawks do not pull the trigger on the former Trojan with the fourth pick, he will “fall” to the Jags with the eighth, and I don’t think they can pass it up. David Garrard is the current QB, but people aren’t really sure what to think about that. He is by no means a franchise QB. It does kinda seam like he is just there until the Jags find the franchise guy they are looking for. That guy may just be Mark Sanchez. I’m not real sure about the situation if they take Sanchez and who would start the season as the first-stringer. My bet would be that they would have an “open competition” for the spot. Mainly just between those two. During Training Camp, if Sanchez excels, he may start the season. If not, he could be on the sidelines for the season, or until Garrard slips up. David Garrard really regressed last season and Jacksonville will likely pull the trigger on Sanchez for some insurance. You could chalk it up as lack of weapons, and Garrard simply not having any help, but he just did not seem the same as he did in his stellar 2007 season.

This Draft is full of questions, but I did my best to answer the No. 1 ‘?’ heading into Saturday. When it is all said and done, I really think Mark Sanchez will become a Jaguar.

*comment section below this article, post a review at the bottom of the home page, follow on right sidebar under the article archive, and subscribe by sending me (StLDieHard24@gmail.com) your email*

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Why the Florida Marlins Hot Start is No Big Surprise

2009-04-18T16:12:00.005-05:00

The Yankees spent big bucks this offseason on free agent acquisitions, the Phillies are World Series champs, and the Rays were everyone’s favorite bandwagon. But what about that other team in Florida? Well, they are pretty good too.

This Marlins team reminds me a lot of the one that won the World Series back in 2003 that had Miguel Cabrera and Josh Beckett among other great players. The Marlins front office is great at building a team through the draft and their farm system, and maximizing as much talent as they can from as little funds as they have to work with.

When you think that their highest paid player (Wes Helms at $2.4 million) doesn’t even start for them, you start to realize what an achievement it is for their organization to be as successful as they are. Sure, they are cellar dwellers a lot of years because they can’t pay the big bucks it takes to land free agents like CC Sabbathia, but every few years they seem to be right in the thick of it competing for a World Series.

This will be one of those years. And it isn’t just that they’ve gotten off to a hot start, but because the organization has enough depth to truly compete deep into October and November. Hanley Ramirez is considered by many as one of the best players in the game - of course Pujols is at the top - yet you wouldn’t know it because ESPN only covers 3 or 4 big market teams. The Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets are their meal ticket.

If HanRam was playing for the Red Sox he’d be a household name. And it’s not just one player either, the Marlins pitching staff is young and extremely good. Their oldest starting pitcher is 26, which means there is little risk or worry of the staff breaking down or becoming injury prone. These pitchers can still take the punishment of 200+ innings and more when they get into the playoffs.

When you see the Marlins continuing to be successful throughout the summer and deep into the playoffs, don’t be surprised. This team is very good and has the greatest potential of any team in the league with all of their young talent. Don’t worry Yankees and Red Sox fans, the Marlins will lose some of this talent to free agency and be back to the cellar again soon. But for now, watch out.

*comment section below this article, post a review at the bottom of the home page, follow on right sidebar under the article archive, and subscribe by sending me (StLDieHard24@gmail.com) your email*

Joseph Kelley

opethguitarist@gmail.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

NBA Awards: It's Time to Hand Out Some Hardware

2009-04-18T13:19:00.004-05:00

Now that the NBA season is coming to a close and the playoffs are getting ready to take over, we must not forget about the individual players in the league. For much of the season there had been debate about who the Most Valuable Player is. In the next few lines you will see my pick for MVP along with predictions of who shoudl receive other awards from the NBA.

Rookie of the Year: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

-This season Rose, O. J. Mayo, and Russell Westbrook have each had moments where they seemed to be the ROY. However, the numbers do not lie (16.6 ppg, 6.2 apg) and Rose has done the most to state his case by being a true floor general while being the star of his team and a future star in the league.

Sixth Man of the Year: Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks

-No other player this season has had more of an impact off the bench than Jason Terry. He averages more points per game, 19.7, than most players in the leauge and his ability to provide a spark for the Mavericks is one that is hard to match.

Coach of the Year: Mike Brown, Cleveland Cavaliers

-The Cavaliers have finally lived up to potential and possess the league's best record, 66-15, and play stifling defense. Brown has surround his star Lebron James with the right mix of players and Cleveland is poised to make a run at the championship crown.

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

-Howard is the most dominating presence in all of basketball. Period. Howard averages 13.9 rpg and 2.92 bpg while anchoring the league's seventh best defense.

Most Improved Player: Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets

-Harris is no doubt the most improved player in the NBA this season. He is averaging career highs in minutes per game (36.1), steals per game (1.7), rebounds per game (3.7), assists per game (6.7), and points per game (21.3). Such dramatic improvements over the course of one season provide more than enough evidence to show Harris truly deserves this honor.

Most Valuable Player: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

-Most would argue that Kobe Bryant should get this award but no one can compare to the numbers King James has put up this season. James season averages of 28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.7 spg, and 1.2 bpg show that he does everything on the court for the best team in the NBA. Scary thing is, he is only 24 years old... good night!

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Sunday Debate: Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, or Hanley Ramirez?

2009-04-12T19:52:00.010-05:00

Welcome to the newest FANdemonium Sports segment. It is called Sunday Debates. Every Sunday, I will think of a hot topic subject in the world of sports. Today’s subject argues one thing. Who is the best baseball player on the planet? So I will show and analyze some of the top candidates and then give you, what I think is, the best baseball has to offer.If you want to view my take on any topic that is suitable for a Sunday Debate, let me know about it. Email me any suggestions (along with anything else you want) at StLDieHard24@gmail.com.I will make a “Sunday Debates” section on the right side of the page under the “It’s FANdemonium, baby!” section. There you will be able to view all of the Sunday Debates. Let’s get started with the fourth Sunday Debate.
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Who is the best overall baseball player in Major League Baseball? Notice something… I do not say the word “fantasy” once in that question. This has nothing to do with fantasy baseball, but everything to do with overall play. Although, honestly, I would take the same player with the #1 pick in my fantasy draft.

Different from past Sunday Debates, this one is a little more close-minded. When debating this topic, there are very few players that fit the description. You may get a career year here and there from decent players, but I am looking for consistency. I want the guy that you KNOW will put in the staggering numbers and lead his team to victory.

Even with Alex Rodriguez’s injury (probably is back early-May), I think he is part of the three-man discussion. After all, he may very well be the man that takes over Bonds’ spot atop the career HR list. Sure, he can’t win in October, and we ALL know that he roided… but can you honestly tell me that he is not one of the top-three players in the Majors?

Realistically, there are only a few players you can even mention in this debate. You have many great players along way that include Ryan Bruan, Jose Reyes, Rollins, Hamilton, etc, etc, etc… but there are three men that stand out. I don’t want give anything away but the initials are Hanley Ramirez, Albert Pujols, and Alex Rodriguez. Let’s do work.

Looking at stats, it may be misleading with Ramirez being substantially younger than the other two, and ARod being substantially older than both Han Ram and AP. The only way to make it close to fair would be to get a 162-game average. You gotta take a peek and here’s what we got:

Rodriguez: .306 AVG, 127 RBIs, 191 hits, 22 SBs, .578 SLG, .967 OPS, 3 MVPs
Pujols: .335 AVG, 128 RBIs, 200 hits, 6 SBs, .624 SLG, 1.050 OPS, 2 MVPs
Ramirez: .309 AVG, 73 RBIs, 199 hits, 47 SBs, .528 SLG, .908 OPS, 0 MVPs

Looking at those, it appears as if Pujols has the best numbers. The only weak part there for El Hombre, is his stolen bases. Ramirez and Rodriguez have him beat pretty well there, but he dominates the rest of the field on the hitting stats. I think when it is all said and done, both Pujols and Ramirez will both accumulate more MVPs than ARod. Speaking of stats, Pujols had better numbers yesterday than the entire KC Royals team has had over the course of the season! LOL

When I break these kinds of comparisons down, I like to look at the “most valuable player” aspect of it. If you take that player out of the team, what will happen? Can the team survive without the player? How valuable is he?

In ARod’s situation, well it is happening as we speak. The Yankees will be without ARoid for at least a month. Can they survive without him? Yes, they most certainly can. How much of a hit is it to lose him? Not nearly as much as Pujols’ and Ramirez’s impact. People will argue that it is because the Yanks are simply better than the Cards and Marlins (I can argue that point BTW). However, you cannot avoid the fact that a Pujols/Ramirez-less Cardinal/Marlin team is nowhere near contention.

Pujols is the most valuable of all three. He IS the St. Louis Cardinals. Things turned around for STL baseball when Albert “rose from beneath”. As a die-hard Cardinal fan, I can tell you that Pujols takes the Cardinals from a dead-last finish, to a playoff-caliber team. I ask you, fellow Cardinal fans. Where would we be without this man? Answer: Nowhere. On Albert’s shoulders, the Cardinals have become the best NL team of this decade. The start of the new millennium coincided with a new era of success for the Cardinals as the team, led primarily by Albert Pujols, won the NL Central in six of eight years. Not only have they consistently made the playoffs, the Cards have been in the Pennant game in 2005-2007, made an appearance in the World Series in 2004 and 2006, and have been crowned Champ in 2006. All because Albert Pujols.

While Hanley Ramirez is more valuable than ARod, he is a notch below Pujols. It is the same kind of deal with him and being the only thing Florida has, but even with him, they have a hard time winning. Again, he is younger than AP, so is it possible that he could take the Pujols role and lead the Marlins through the playoffs in the future? It’s possible, but as of right now, Pujols is the most valuable to his team.

He's a winner. Pujols just keeps winning games - with his bat, his defense, and his base running. We've talked about Pujols' statistics and his awards, but he just has a hard time losing. Since Pujols made his debut in 2001, the Cardinals have a regular-season record of 731-570, or the most victories in the National League. Only the Yankees (777) and Red Sox (741) have won more games than the Cardinals.

As Bernie Miklasz brilliantly points out in his recent article (http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/128641979), Pujols has been surrounded by some fine players, but don’t be fooled. I don't include Pujols in these listings, but since he became a Cardinal, the team has started 13 catchers, 18 first basemen, 19 second basemen, 14 shortstops, 22 third basemen and 42 outfielders. They've started 47 pitchers, and used 100 pitchers overall.

The cast keeps changing but the Cardinals keep winning. Wanna know why? It’s Albert Pujols. The St. Louis Cardinal Organization rides on his shoulders, and I think they should feel pretty safe with that analogy. Tony LaRussa is as good as it gets, and Dave Duncan is one of the best pitching coaches to live. But Albert is just phenomenal, and what he has done for St. Louis - and baseball in general – is beyond words.

The only on-field constant to the Cardinals’ game has been Pujols. St. Louis wins over 69% of their games when “The Machine” drives in a run; he has in 554 games. The Cards are 209-86 when Pujols hits a home run. Here’s another way to put it in perspective: Pujols has more game-winning RBIs (150) and go-ahead RBIs (246) than any major-league player. St. Louis has won over 150 games due to Albert. Nobody else can say they’ve done stuff like this.

Like I stated before this season, Pujols will have the best year of his nine-year career this season. Pujols has always had a nagging injury here or there to start the season. Whether it be elbow, obilque, or whatever it may be, the only season he has started 100% was his rookie campaign. Heading into the 2009 season, he is 110% and ready to kill the ball. He has not disappointed anybody so far. As of Sunday morning, he is batting over .425, with three homers, and nine runs batted in. The only players that have had a comparable start would be Miguel Cabrera, Adam Lind, and speedster Emilio Bonifacio.

Hitting is Pujols’ expertise, no doubt, but what sets him apart (way apart) from Ramirez and Rodriguez, is his intangibles. His defense, base running, and just pure knowledge of the game can only be mentioned with one other name. Willie Mays.

When Albert was drafted and brought up through the minors, the only flaw in his game was his fielding. Well, after winning a Gold Glove Award in 2006, I think it is safe to say that he is one of the best fielding first basemen in the game today.

If you have not had the privledge of sitting down and watching Pujols, you gotta give it a try. If you do, watch him on the bases. There is nobody in the league that runs the base paths like he does. So far in this young season, there have been two perfect examples of this:

During Friday’s game, Pujols was on third when Ankiel(?) hit a ground ball to the pitcher. The pitcher did what he was supposed to and looked Pujols back. After looking him back, he took one extra, unnecessary step (first thing AP saw) and then proceeded by almost lobbing the ball to the first baseman (second thing AP saw). After noticing that, Pujols – who was about ¼ of the way down the line – took off and beat the throw to the plate to score.

Another example of Pujols being Pujols came just today when Ludwick was up to bat. Pujols had just been walked and was standing at first base. Ludwick hit a bloop shot into left field, that the LFer caught on one bounce. Whether you believe it or not, Albert acutally went from first to third on the play. Don’t ask me how it was done (he isn’t even that fast). All I know is that this guy is sooo baseball-smart on the base paths, to where he can make up speed with knowledge like nobody I have ever seen.

Against Roy Oswalt Sunday, Pujols calmly launched two home runs; including a Grand Slam MOON SHOT and a casual three-runner. After yesterday’s game, Tony LaRussa, Chris Duncan, Skip Schumaker, and Adam Wainwright all said that Albert Pujols was THE best hitter/player the game has ever seen. You can hardly argue them considering they would be the people that know.

Pujols is running under the radar because he is in a relatively small market, but one of these days he will make a nice speech as a first-ballot HOF’er. Just thinking of that hurts. As a Cardinal fan, and sports fan in general, I cannot begin to imagine a Pujols-less St. Louis team. He has changed the way all Cardinal fans view the game, and unfortunately I think we take him for granted.

As every game passes… I won’t lie… I am getting closer and closer to agreeing with TLR, Duncan, Schumaker, and Waino. He is only 29 years old, and is already being talked about as the greatest hitter ever. If he isn’t now, he will be at some point. I firmly believe, baring something awful, that he will go down as the best player to live.

This debate isn’t even close, and really shouldn’t be discussed. The better debate may be this: Is Albert Pujols the Greatest Player Ever?

For now, he’s just doing what he does best – obliterating the opposition's pitching. Caps off to #5.

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

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2009 NFL Draft Preview

2009-04-10T14:03:00.006-05:00

With the 2009 NFL Draft quickly approaching, there are some huge questions that need to be answered. In two weeks, they will be… but if you can’t wait that long, we will give you some good ole Draft analysis from RANdemonium Sports.

From strengths to weaknesses and everything in between, this is the stuff you need to know about the prospects that will shape the NFL for years to come.

FS’ MOCK DRAFT (1-10)

Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
This is a similar situation that Atlanta had when they pondered over the No. 3 pick in last year’s draft. All the way up leading to the big day, they had Glenn Dorsey in mind. But when it came down to it, they realized that you need a QB to succeed. With the scrubs that they had leading their club, they knew that the Matt Ryan pick was the best one. Turned out ok, eh? In the draft, if you do not have a franchise QB, you do not pass one up. The Lions have no identity, and nothing to look forward to. With Matthew Stafford, they get a big, athletic, strong, QB that has star potential. Some scouts compare him to Peyton Manning. You cannot pass him up with the first pick.

St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
At the end of the 2008-09 season, nobody really knew who the Rams were going to take. Most knew that they needed an offensive line to protect a pretty good QB in Marc Bulger, but others pointed toward the best overall player in the draft, linebacker Aaron Curry. Either way, you cannot go wrong. However, the Rams have NOTHING on the o-line. You cannot move the ball if your QB is on his back two seconds after every single snap. With protection, Bulger can turn into the QB he was a few years ago. Smith is incredibly athletic ( a former tight end ) and is exactly what you look for in a lineman. With this pick, the Rams will have something to build upon and may become last season’s Miami Dolphins? Hopefully!

Kansas City Cheifs: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
With the Matt Cassell trade, the center of focus goes from QB to defense. There are all kinds of top prospects in this draft, but this guy is above all. It is pretty unanimous that he is as good as it gets in 2009. Some may argue that the combine is overrated, meaningless, and whatever… but nevertheless, Curry nailed the combine and really put his name on the top of every GM’s list. He is the complete OLB with amazing work ethic and strives to do one thing. Win. The Chiefs would be stupid not to get Curry. Unless the Rams take a value-over-need approach on the 25th, it looks as if Curry will land in KC.

Seattle Seahawks: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
This is another pick that is almost set in stone. The only way it would head in a different direction was if the Rams took Monroe. That would leave the ‘Hawks with another lineman in Jason Smith, who I have just a notch over Eugene. For the longest time, it looked like Seattle was going to have the perfect pick and draft Michael Crabtree or, Mizzou’s wideout, Jeremy Maclin. However, when the Seahawks signed former-Bengel receiver TJ Houshmandzadah, it opened up the spectrum for this top-5 pick. There are many directions the organization can take but offensive tackle looks like the best bet. Do not close your eyes on quarterback though. With Hasselbeck battling injury and aging, I would not be surprised at all if they pull the trigger on Mark Sanchez.

Cleveland Browns: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Here is, finally, a pick that could go a few different ways. The Browns have the QB position set with Quinn and Anderson, the defense is shaking so they may take a LB (Orakpo), but I see them going with the young but stellar Crabtree at WR. Crabtree has Larry Fitzgerald-like game and will be a star in the NFL for years. He has great speed, height, and bulk, with long arms. He can get up there to snag the ball where others cannot. Crabtree has the intangibles to be a top-tier wide receiver for a long time. After scoring 40 touchdowns in only two years, Crabtree will take his enormous potential to Cleveland in an attempt to rejuvenate the team. I can really see Quinn and Crabtree locking in with great chemistry. Both are young with All-Pro talent. Cleveland won’t regret this pick, and I think that is all they can ask for right now.

Cincinnati Bengels: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Cincy takes a real leap of fate here as they snag another troubled player. I am predicting this, but I am not advising this.

Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Mizzou
He will have to adjust from the spread offense to the NFL-style system, but Maclin’s big-play capability and explosiveness will help him fit right in.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Orakpo, LB, Texas
Some view Brian as a high-risk, high-reward type of player. He is a super-athletic, versatile, DE-capable kind of guy with incredible strength. However, his durability is a concern.

Green Bay Packers: BJ Raji, DT, Boston College
This is a pretty simple pick for the Packers here. They need a defensive tackle, Raji is the best one available, and will be available with the No. 9 pick. He’s a massive, powerful player who will excel in GB’s defense.

San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
Let’s be honest with ourselves here… Alex Smith is not getting it done. O’Sullivan is not an NFL starter whichever what you look at it, and Mark Sanchez provides the Niners with hope, and something to build on.

FS’ POSITIONAL RANKINGS

QB
1. Matthew Stafford (Projected 1st Rd. pick: Detroit Lions)
2. Mark Sanchez (San Francisco 49ers)
3. Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
4. Nate Davis
5. Rhett Bomar

RB
1. “Benie” Wells (Philadelphia Eagles)
2. LeSean McCoy (Arizona Cadinals)
3. Knowshon Moreno
4. Donald Brown
5. Shonn Greene

WR
1. Michael Crabtree (Cleveland Browns)
2. Jeremy Maclin (Oakland Raiders)
3. Percy Harvin (New York Jets)
4. Hakeem Nicks (New York Giants)
5. Kenny Britt (Chicago Bears)

OLINE
1. Jason Smith, OT (St. Louis Rams)
2. Eugene Monroe, OT (Seattle Seahawks)
3. Michael Oher, OT (Detroit Lions)
4. Andre Smith, OT (Cincinnati Bengels)
5. Duke Robinson, OG

DLINE
1. BJ Raji, DT (Green Bay Packers)
2. Brian Orakpo, DE (Jacksonville Jaguars)
3. Everette Brown, DE (Buffalo Bills)
4. Tyson Jackson, DE (Washington Redskins)
5. Peria Jerry, DT (Indianapolis Colts)

REST OF DEF (LB/SECONDARY)
1. Aaron Curry, LB (Kansas City Chiefs)
2. Malcolm Jenkins, CB (New Orleans Saints)
3. Vontae Davis, CB (Baltimore Ravens)
4. Rey Maualuga, LB (San Diego Chargers)
5. Brian Cushing, LB (Houston Texans)

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Sunday Debate: Which Team Is Most Improved for '09 Season?

2009-04-05T20:16:00.006-05:00

Welcome to the newest FANdemonium Sports segment. It is called Sunday Debates. Every Sunday, I will think of a hot topic subject in the world of sports. Today’s subject is the most improved MLB team heading into the '09 season. So I will show and analyze some of the top candidates and then give you, what I think is, the most improved team.

If you want to view my take on any topic that is suitable for a Sunday Debate, let me know about it. Email me any suggestions (along with anything else you want) at StLDieHard24@gmail.com.

I will make a “Sunday Debates” section on the right side of the page under the “It’s FANdemonium, baby!” section. There you will be able to view all of the Sunday Debates. Let’s get started with the second Sunday Debate.

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With the offseason officially finished, the 2009 MLB season is in full swing. Many teams did some shuffling with free agency, trades, and resigns. Some teams did it more than others, and some did it little at all. The Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series in 2008. I love the phrase, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” That is the exact mindset Philly had going into the layoff. Out of the 25 WS players, 22 of them are suiting up tonight against the Braves.

So let’s talk about the teams that made the most improvement. Surprise, surprise… it is not the Yankees.

Yeah, they picked up the biggest names on the market. They spent half of a billion dollars to improve their club. New York locked in the most dominant pitcher in the MLB last season in CC Sabathia, one of the best pure-sluggers in the league in Mark Teixeira, and another Cy Young capable pitcher in A.J. Burnett.

But, when it was all said and done, did they really make the stride we all think they did? There is no doubt about it; they improved. However, with the people that they signed, they also gave up a ton.

Mike Mussina was 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA. Sabathia was 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA, including the second half of the season in the mediocre National League Central.

Andy Pettite, who turned down a one-year, $10 million offer from the Yankees, was 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA. Burnett was 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA.

Bobby Abreu hit .296 with 20 home runs and 100 runs batted in. He also had a .371 on-base percentage. Swisher batted .219 with 24 home runs and 69 runs batted in. He had a .332 OBP.

And at first, Jason Giambi batted .247 with 32 home runs and 96 runs batted in, with a .373 OBP. Teixeira batted .308 with 33 home runs and 121 runs batted in, with a .410 OBP.

Overall, the Yankees replaced 34 wins with 35 wins. They replaced 52 home runs with 57. They replaced 196 RBI with 190. As you can see, they improved. But, in contrast to what everyone thinks, it wasn’t nearly as good as you may think.

Also, let’s not forget that the Yanks will be without their star for AT LEAST a month. Some think it could be a few months. I would think he would be back in uniform by mid-May, but still, that is a hit nonetheless.

Meanwhile, there are some other teams that are seriously going under the radar as the most improved. The team that has caught my attention more than any other (maybe for obvious reasons), is my own St. Louis Cardinals.

There have been questions surrounding the Cards from Day 1 of the offseason, but they have taken care of every single one in the past couple months. The closer? A hard-throwing, confident, BIG, rough-looking, long-haired, bearded, 26 year old righty that has been looming in the minors for years. He killed everybody in the Majors last season with and ERA under one. He has some serious potential, and has the swagger all closers need to succeed.

Carpenter? He is healthy, and throwing like he was in ’05. In three starts at the back end of 2008, he accumulated an ERA under two. The most comforting news is that nobody could touch him in the Spring. In multiple – healthy – starts, he brought them up and put him down like the Carpenter of old. A 0.81 Spring ERA helped all Cardinal fans sleep at night.

When the Cards take the field tomorrow afternoon, not only are the going to have all of their young hitters a year older (Schumaker, Ludwick, Ankiel, Rasmus, Freese, etc)… They have a more complete rotation with a healthy Chris Carpenter. When you add a good rotation with a near-dominant offensive lineup, you get good things.

To conclude this Sunday’s debate, here is my most improved team heading into the ’09 season.

The, don’t be surprised, Cleveland Indians. You got it; the less heralded (and more appropriately thrifty) Indians have made more significant changes in a weaker division.

They replace the troubled Borowski with Kerry Wood as the full-time closer. The rotation has improved as well with the addition of Carl Pavano, not to mention having a healthy Fausto Carmona after an injury-plagued 2008 season. The Tribe polishes the hot corner with an acquisition of an extremely underrated Mark DeRosa. The outfield will always be above par with Grady Sizemore out in Center.

Last year, the Indians finished in third place, just like the Yankees. They have traded away a handful of prospects and given only Wood a significant free agent contract. The difference of a solid closer and the leadership and versatility of Wood might be enough to overcome the White Sox 7.5 game advantage in the division last year.

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Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Which Team Is the Most Improved?

Guys to Watch Out For in the Masters

2009-04-05T00:02:00.004-05:00

The fairways are trimmed, the clubhouse is decorated, and the greens are meticulously manicured to perfection. Yes golf fans, it is time once again for the best golf tournament there is: The Masters! A field of the top players from all around the globe will be in attendance this weekend at Augusta National in Georgia. While the PGA Tour season has been interesting so far, The Masters is sure to make it all the more exciting for fans everywhere. With the return of the best player on the Tour and some rookies who have stepped up early this season, I want to take just a moment and let some of you know about a few players who will tee it up this weekend with a real chance to finish on top of the leader board come Sunday.

-Tiger Woods-
An obvious choice I know, but this list would not be complete without Woods' name on it. Since coming back from injury, he has finished in the top 10 in all tournaments entered; including a first-place finish two weeks ago in The Arnold Palmer Invitational. Tiger Woods is one of only three players in history to win at least four Masters. With his stellar putting ability and familiarity with this golf course, look for Woods to be atop the leader board all weekend.

-Padraig Harrington-
The 2008 PGA Tour Player of the Year, Harrington has won two of the last three major championships by playing smart, confident golf which is something every player must do at Augusta National. After missing a few cuts earlier this season, his game has improved slowly but steadily over his last three tournaments. Harrington is heating up at the right time and all players should beware.

-Nick Watney-
The 27 year old Watney is one of the top rated young players on tour. He has finished under-par in all eight tournaments he has entered including an victory in the Buick Invitational and a second-place finish in the World Golf Championship. His power from the tee joined with his accuracy on the green should prove to be a solid combination to allow Watney to put a scare into some of the more experienced players in the tournament.

-Phil Mickelson-
Mickelson has won two Masters with his last coming in 2006. He has two wins in seven events this season but missed the cut at his last tournament in Houston. Mickelson has suffered from illness of late but is expected to be back at full strength for this weekend. A healthy Mickelson in Augusta should put a scare into some players hoping for a chance to win.

-Rory McIlroy-
McIlroy has drawn a ton of attention in his first year as a PGA pro finishing in the top 20 in each tournament he has played in. Look for him to struggle a bit in his frist Masters appearance but do not be surprised if McIlroy makes a late push late in the tournament to finish in the top 10 if not higher.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

NBA Narrows MVP Race

2009-04-02T18:09:00.005-05:00

Now as you can read by the article title, I did conclude that this year's MVP awards will most likely go one of three guys, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, or Dwyane Wade. These three dynamic players have shown us that they can carry a team using their wide range of skills in each aspect of the game, to make their self and their team play at an even higher level.

Now lets get to the contestants

1. LeBron James is proving more and more to be one of the most dominant and feared players in the league. His team is carrying the best record in the NBA, has the best record in franchise history, and if the season ends with the same layout it has right now, teams will be dreading the Cavs home court advantage through out the playoffs and potential finals. So far they have only recorded one loss at home. Back to LeBron. LBJ this season is averaging 28.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. He has used his feared set of skills, versatility and his strength to make his own shots or break down a defense and some how launch the ball to the open man. He does it all with the court vision of a top performing point guard. But one thing that defenses had to adjust to this year is his improved jump shot. This gives LeBron a complete arsenal of skills which makes defenders have to play up on him not giving him too easy of a shot. Also, at the same time, not giving him that step too easily to get by the defender and power his way to the hoop. Now I’ve heard good nicknames before but nothing matches with a player more than “Video Game James”, because there’s not much this guy can’t do. And if that doesn’t put the icing on the cake, then I should also mention he has recorded 7 triple-doubles this season so far.

2. Now don’t slow down LeBron, because Kobe is trailing right behind you. This is a hard decision for the No. 2 spot between Dwyane Wade and Kobe himself. So I broke it down, and since Kobe was Mr. MVP last year and playing as talented as his MVP performance last year, I have to give him at least the second spot in my ratings. He deserves it. Now we all know Kobe can do to any defense in the NBA, and he has one of the best all around games in the NBA. This year, he has gave his Lakers the second best record in the NBA and been averaging 27.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5 assists per game. He had twelve games so far were he scored more then 35 points, including three 40+ games, and a 61 point game. Just another year for Kobe and possibly another MVP, it will - shouldn't, but will - be a close one.

3. It hurts even me to put Dwyane Wade at No. 3, but it’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. Let’s just say the competition isn’t easy. Although, with a guy like Dwyane Wade, it looks like nothing is hard for him. Last year the Heat went an amazing 15-67, with an injured Wade who only played 51 games that season due to a separated shoulder. If somehow you haven’t noticed he’s back, he will let you know. He is averaging 29.9 points, 5 rebounds, 7.5 assists per game. In another way to look at things, he ranks No. 1 in NBA for points per game, No. 8 in assists per game, No. 2 in steals per game, and is in the top-20 in blocks. A SG being that high in bpg is just sick. If this hasn’t convinced you this guy is the real deal, then just turn on the TV and watch the Heat’s game. We know now that this guy shouldn’t doubted when it comes to if he still has it in him, because it’s obvious he does.

When it comes down to realizing who is the top guy, who is most valuable to their respective team, and who the league just cannot do without... it is only one man. Sorry, but if you do not think LeBron James is the 2008-09 NBA MVP, then you do not know much about basketball.

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Lucas Cipkowski
thelovefornets@yahoo.com
FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

The On Going Story: Cutler May Be Out Soon

2009-04-02T13:10:00.003-05:00

The Broncos released a statement on Tuesday saying that they will grant Jay Cutler his request and try to trade him. This decision comes after just over a month of whining and pouting from Cutler after it was rumored that new head coach Josh McDaniels was trying to trade him for Matt Cassell.

The question that many are posing now is: Where will Jay Cutler end up? The following is a list of a few teams who I believe have a legit chance of landing the Pro-Bowl quarterback.

1. New York Jets: The obvious choice here since the Jets lost Brett Favre and are in desperate need of a proven quarterback. The Broncos are looking to improve their defense and the Jets have pieces to get a deal done. Also, the team has the 17th overall pick in the draft that they could dangle in front of Denver to get Culter in green and white.

2. Detroit Lions: The Lions have the most potential to get Cutler from the Broncos because they have the best trade bait of all: the #1 pick in the NFL Draft. They also have the 20th pick in the Draft and both of these would be enough to lure Denver into a trade.

3. Cleveland Browns: I know the Browns have Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson but Jay Cutler is much better than both these guys. The Browns best bet to get Cutler in uniform would be to package defensive tackle Shaun Rogers and Quinn in a deal and hope the Broncos bite.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs were part of the rumors that made this decision possible. When McDaniels was trying to trade Cutler, he was rumored to be going to Tampa Bay early on but the deal fell through. The only reason a deal would not be done this time is the fact that the Buccaneers do not have anything to trade but the 19th pick in the Draft which may not be enough.

5. Chicago Bears: Everyone knows that Chicago needs a quarterback and this could be their chance to get one. The Bears have a few draft picks and some interesting players that they could package in a deal for Cutler.

Cory Guinn
cryguinn@yahoo.com
FANdemoinumSports.blogspot.com

This Season's Tampa Bay Rays

2009-04-01T23:15:00.004-05:00

The Kansas City Royals have struggled during the past 20 years. We all know that, and except it. The way things have been going for them, nobody is eager to be a Royal. The few fans located in Missouri and Kansas are getting frustrated. Most of them have already abandoned their team. KC is one of the smallest market organizations (25th and 150 million behind NY). It has been a long time since George Brett – when the Royals actually won 90 games a year.

I don’t mean to beat a dead horse here. I am actually setting the stage for some really great news for those proud KC fans. Here it comes… You guys are going to be good. The 1980’s were a long time ago, but be ready to welcome in a new era.

Since the ’94 strike, the Royals have had one winning season, and have averaged 94 losses per year. However, the team that won 56 games in 2005 and last season won 75 is one of those franchises - like the Reds and Giants - that have been designated as this spring's fair-haired risers.

They have been put in the best division for it too. Nobody knows who will take the AL Central crown. All of the teams could be really good, but could also bite the dust. Most are picking the Indians to represent the Central come October, but all five teams could prove their selves worthy.

So let’s break it down starting with their rotation.

We all remember when Zach Greinke was labeled as the one destined to revive Kansas City. He came up, everyone was ready for dominance, and he was a total bust. You can’t argue that. At first, it looked as if he was baseball’s Ryan Leaf. Don’t be fooled though. Last year Greinke surprised most when he logged in an impressive 13-10 record, with a 3.47 ERA, and nearly 190 strikeouts. Some predict him to take home the AL Cy Young award. He is that good and has even more potential (only 25 years old).

Looking at the 2-5 spots in the rotation, we have Gil Meche, Kyle Davies, Brian Bannister, and Luke Hochevar.

Gil Meche is coming off another solid year. Meche was a great wingman to Greinke and notched another sub-4 ERA season. Kyle Davies may be one of the most underrated baseball players out there. If he pitches like he was toward the end of last year, we are looking at another 10-15 win guy. Hochevar reminds me of Greinke with a little less hype. The former #1 pick was rushed to the show too quickly and is now struggling, but do not doubt his sick potential. I say Bannister will get the #5 spot, but it is actually a toss up between Sidney Ponson, Horacio Ramirez, and Bannister. All three of the guys are pretty sub-par, so it is possible that there could be a midseason call up for this position. Maybe Daniel Cortes?

There is little debate as to how the bullpen looks. When you have one of the best closers in the MLB shutting the door in the 9th, you are typically going to be AOK. They also have solid relievers in Farnsworth and Ron Mahay to set it up for Soria. Everybody knows how up and down the ‘pen is year in and year out, but do not expect any real problems here.

The infield is where the Royals will be tried. The will make it or break it with their infield (we will throw catcher in there too). It is full of players who are young, maturing, and possibly ready to explode. The perfect example: Mike Aviles. Last year he came out of nowhere and stunned anyone who actually followed the Royals. In his rookie campaign, he put together a .325 average, to compliment 10 homers and 50+ RBIs. The other highlight of this group would be Alex Gordon. The Nebraska prodigy was, also, forced into the MLB by a bad team, and it hurt him. This could be the year he plays up to par. The other infielders include Mike Jacobs at first, Mark Teahan at second, and Olivo behind the plate.

There is no risk out in the outfield. It is fairly straight forward, and we should know what to expect… but who knows. The three vets that make up the outfield positions include the all-noble Coco Crisp, Jose Guillen, and David DeJesus.

Crisp, brought in from Boston, will finally get his shot at playing every day. He is going to steal all kinds of bases, has a .300 average to boot, and will provide excitement in center. Despite Guillen’s huge decline in the later part of the ’08 season, he still hit 20 homers and almost 100 RBIs on the year. Most say he will be a bust, but anything close to last year’s numbers is great. DeJesus is not the best hitter, not the biggest power threat, nor the fastest kid in the playground. Yet, when you put it all together, you get a guy who is going to be contributing in every category and likely to play all 162 games. Solid players.

The most important factor leading to KC’s possible success lies in the hands of a few players. Gentlemen by the names of Gordon, Aviles, and also Teahan. All, besides Aviles, have been hit and miss. Again, it is all due to the impatience of the organization and bringing them up way too early.

Teahen has also been the focus of a major experiment. He's been playing second base after a career at third and in the outfield. I still think he will be fine. His play with a bat in his hands is what makes people excited. He definitely has it in him to bat .275+, when adding 15+ homeruns, and 75+ RBIs. Best case senerio would be .300, 20, and 90.

Within the AL Central, the Twins, Indians and White Sox are all capable of winning 90 games, but they have some things that will worry some. The Tigers are very hard to read, but could also surprise people with all that offensive firepower.

So if the bullpen holds, they find two starters out of the Brian Bannister/Sidney Ponson/Horacio Ramirez group, and Gordon, Aviles, and Teahen indeed play at the level they should, the Royals can contend and bring life back to a Middle American franchise with a proud tradition worth revisiting.

Jay’s Prediction: 84-78, 2-3 spot in the AL Central

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Sunday Debate: Who Will Be USC's Starting QB?

2009-03-29T19:59:00.006-05:00

Welcome to the newest FANdemonium Sports segment. It is called Sunday Debates. Every Sunday, I will think of a hot topic subject in the world of sports. Today’s subject is the USC QB competition. So I will show and analyze some of the top candidates and then give you, what I think is, the 2009 starter for the Trojans. If you want to view my take on any topic that is suitable for a Sunday Debate, let me know about it. Email me any suggestions (along with anything else you want) at StLDieHard24@gmail.com.

I will make a “Sunday Debates” section on the right side of the page under the “It’s FANdemonium, baby!” section. There you will be able to view all of the Sunday Debates. Let’s get started with the second Sunday Debate.
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As college football gets started with their own “spring training” portion, there are very few big stories. There is one however, and it has somewhat been overlooked for a few months. Now that it has surfaced, it really is an intriguing discussion and everybody will have a close eye on USC from here on out.

Who's the next great USC quarterback? The battle to take college football's highest profile position began over the weekend. It's not as sexy as it has been over the years, but the Trojans have some big holes with their specialists.

The moment Mark Sanchez announced he would forgo his fifth year of eligibility and enter the 2009 NFL draft, the seeds were planted for a captivating quarterback competition. The combatants took the field for the first official spring practice this past Saturday striving for the starting spot.

It is the most sought after gig in the sport. People would do unforgivable things to be the Trojans’ QB. Every single starting QB that has played for Pete Carroll has been drafted. No other coach can say that.

Not to place anymore pressure on the quarterbacks in the mix, but consider the following: Sanchez threw 34 touchdown passes in helping the Trojans to their seventh consecutive Pac-10 title and 11-plus-victory season. That has never happened before Sanchez.

Again, I do not mean to any more undue pressure on these guys, but they have to fill the shoes of recent stars including: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel, John David Booty, and Mark Sanchez. If you noticed, Carroll had a guy waiting every time. When Palmer left, Leinart was waiting, etc.

I am pretty sure that he did not have somebody waiting after Sanchez left. If he did have somebody on hold, we wouldn’t be talking about this four-man race. Whether it was bad recruiting or something else, the bottom line is one of these four men will have the best job in College Football. They are expected to do some sick things. Let’s meet the panel, shall we?

Aaron Corp, Sophomore
When you are asked this, you probably think well who was the guy that backed up Sanchez and is he still in the system? The answers are Corp and yes. In fact, he is a third-year sophomore. He has some experience, which is why some believe he is a front-runner for the position. The speedy Corp, who was Sanchez's backup at the end of 2008, would be the most athletic quarterback to play for Carroll.
Career stats: 79.4 rating, 14 yards, 0 touchdowns – impressive

Garrett Green, Senior
The last guy being talked about here is Green. He has the most experience, and he is the most athletic out of all of the choices, but he is more of a receiver now after being a QB all his life. He will probably start the season as the fourth QB on the depth chart, but again, he is so versatile and athletic that we may see him at some point in time.
Career stats: 716.60 rating – oh yeah!, 34 yards, 1 touchdown

Matt Barkley, Freshman
This prodigy freshman killed in high school, so he was granted the top quarterback recruit of 2008, and where did he go? He went where everybody else would have gone. He graduated early from Mater Dei just so he could participate in spring practice. He is a dedicated, strong, tall superstar who will eventually make his way to greatness. The question is… Do you start him as a freshman? Or do you wait until he has matured into a freak? He went to the same high school as Matt Leinart and may be as equally good.
High School stats: 122.55 rating, 9487 yards, 79 touchdowns

Now, the what-will-be USC Starting Quarterback. Drum-roll please…

Mitch Mustain, Junior
Mustain, like Corp, is entering his third year and has the experience advantage. He is the man most used to the system they run over in Pasadena. Mustain has raw talent, unbelievable talent; He was the 2005 National High School Player of the Year unanimously. However, he often forces the ball into windows that are just not there. He is the type of guy that will throw 30 touchdowns, BUT will also hurl some 20 interceptions. Mitch was the highly-touted started at Arkansas before transferring. I believe that Mitch Mustain will be the started because of his experience in the system, his potential, and because USC does not want to push Barkley into the role before he is ready. Barkley is the best QB of the group, but you HAVE to be careful in these situations.
Career stats: 142.06 rating, 1057 yards, 12 touchdowns

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Hall-of-Fame Career Comes to a Close

2009-03-24T07:11:00.004-05:00

On Monday morning, pitcher Curt Schilling Announced his retirement from baseball after 20 seasons in the bigs.

Schillings career was spent with five teams (Oriols, Astros, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Red Sox) over the 20 year span. He broke into the majors in 1988 with Baltimore but the teams quickly gave up on him when they saw him as too immature, too unwilling to do the work required to succeed in the big leagues and they sent him to the minors following the 1990 season.

A lot of the people who knew Schilling best felt exactly the same way. He was a goofball, a funny guy, the life of the party, but he was never going to be more than that. Schilling credited a tough-love talk with Roger Clemens with getting him straightened out. Whatever it was, something clicked in his fifth big league season. From the 1992 season on, he was a rock, winning 20 games three times, pitching 200 innings nine times.

He pitched in four World Series winning three rings. The first in 2001 with the Diamondbacks when he joined with Randy Johnson to form one of the most dominant pitching duos in recent history. His final two rings came with Boston in 2004 and 2007.

Schilling's resume for the Hall-of-Fame includes an overall record of 216-146, a 3.46 ERA, and 3, 116 career strikeouts and he was a six-time all-star.

I remember watching this guy fool hitters in Philly, Arizona, and Boston and I cannot think of a much more dominant pitcher in this era. He was certainly one of the best the game has to offer. He is a lock for Cooperstown and is sure to be mentioned as one of the most clutch performers in MLB history.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Sunday Debate: Who is the Most Underrated Player in the NBA?

2009-03-22T18:41:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the newest FANdemonium Sports segment. It is called Sunday Debates.

Every Sunday, I will think of a hot topic subject in the world of sports. Today’s subject is the most underrated player in the NBA. So, I will show and analyze some of the top candidates and then give you, what I think is, the most underrated player in the NBA.

If you want to view my take on a topic, let me know about it. Email me any suggestions (along with anything else you want) at StLDieHard24@gmail.com. I will make a “Sunday Debates” shortcut on the right side of the page under the “It’s FANdemonium, baby!” section. There you will be able to view all of the Sunday Debates. Let’s get started with the very first Sunday Debate.

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You hear the term ‘underrated’ and ‘overrated’ all the time when talking about sports. Maybe a little too much.

The words are used to describe those that deserve a second look, for good or bad. Being underrated means they have the talent, dedication, and perseverance to be leaders. They know that they are underrated. Fans may know their name, but they aren’t necessarily a household name. Maybe they do not have the big stat on their profile, or they do not belong to a powerhouse, big-market organization.

Here are five of the most overlooked players in the sport, followed by the most underrated player in the NBA:

Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks
I have always had a thing for this guy. To me, he is one of the most complete players in the league… right up there with his colleague Dirk. When you are on a team with that guy, it is very easy to be under-appreciated. I mean, when you think of the Mavericks, you think of Dirk Nowitzki. He is currently in his worst season of his career and he is still averaging 19 points per game! His stats have improved every year of his career so far, and after he gets this injury-plagued season behind him, I would expect him to be back up to 25 and 8 per.

Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats
He is probably the most talented player I have to offer on this list. His overall game is right up there with the elite players’. He has a balance of quickness, athleticism, and strength that is almost impossible to guard. It is too bad that he is on such a terrible team. They are rebuilding with him and Augustine, but at the moment they suck. With a good, full supporting cast, he would be regarded as one of the best players in the world. He is currently averaging 17 ppg, 6 rpg, and 3 apg.

Stephen Jackson, Golden State Warriors
His stats are comparable to players who are in the MVP race, but yet some only know him from the melee in Detroit. He won’t go out and drop 30 every night, but he will put in a solid productive game every single night. Now that Baron Davis is gone, he is the main-man in Cali. He is tough, he is agile, and he brings very high shooting percentages. I would say he is the catalyst behind the Warriors’ complete turnaround. He leads Golden State while averaging 21 ppg, 5 rpg, and 7 apg. How many players out there can do that??

Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
Great personality, great fun, great player. That is the easiest way to describe this all-star. He is a skilled, versatile, power forward that can pretty much score and rebound at will. He made the All-Star team but had to pimp himself out (hilariously) through a Youtube commercial. Averaging 23 ppg and 10 rpg and doing his best to keep Toronto above sea level, if you will.

Now, the most underrated player in the NBA.

Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors
This one is a certified tragedy. The Spaniard has the number one assists-per-turnover ratio, the best free-throw percentage in the league, the forth highest assist per game average, and he didn't get voted into the All-Star game. What the hell, bro? Who knows.
He averages only 34 minutes per outing and since filling in for starting point guard T.J. Ford, has flourished beyond belief. If he played as much as other top-notch PGs do, he would easily have as many assists. He doesn’t even get the credit he deserves from his own team! His game has elevated, his confidence has elevated and he has elevated his team. He is an old-fashioned point guard, a true quarterback and a genuine playmaker averaging 13ppg and 9apg.

Honorable Mentions:
Hedo Turkoglu, David West, Tyson Chandler, and Chris Kaman

There is obviously room for disagreement here with lots of great choices. Who's your choice?

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com
CollegeSports-Fans.com A10 Correspondent

NCAA TOURNAMENT: Round One Recap

2009-03-21T00:50:00.008-05:00

Round 1 is complete and it has been everything anyone could have asked for. If it is a little bit of chaos you crave… well it has arrived. There were some incredible games, and incredible performances. Let’s run through and recap what all went down in the historic Round 1.

Biggest Upset
This was almost East Tennessee State or North Dakota State, but Pittsburgh and Kansas prevailed. No doubt about this one though, folks. Cleveland State shocked EVERYONE. Thirteen seeded Cleveland State got off to a quick start. They scored early, and they scored often. After a 17 point lead right off the starting block, they did not look back. When it was all said and done, Cleveland State killed Wake, 84-69. Cedric Jackson controlled the Demon Deacons with a near triple double (19, 7, 8).

Best Game
Well this one just got over about an hour or so ago. The Siena – Ohio State game was definitely the game of the first round. I said on Twitter (www.twitter.com/JHulsey) that this game would end with fireworks and was I ever right! Ronald Moore hit a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left in the second overtime— from the identical spot he made one at the end of the first OT—as the Saints beat eighth-seeded Ohio State 74-72 on Friday night.

Best Player Performance
A 16 has never beaten a one seed. Some say it is impossible, but I assure you that it will happen; sooner than later. Without this guy, we would be talking about East Tennessee State beating Pitt. Without Dejaun Blair, Pittsburgh would have been screwed. He is a presence in the paint, and he did what he wanted to do all day versus the 16. When Pittsburgh finally rose from the ashes, Blair was flexing his muscles once again with 27 points and 16 rebounds.

Most Impressive Team
After winning their first Pac 10 title ever, the Trojans marched in with swagger and confidence. They are playing with a healthy starting five for the first time since 2008. USC is big with a few 6’10”+ and a ton of 6’9”s. They can dominate block to block, but can also kick it out to hit the J. With their defense and athleticism, they have gone completely under the radar. I would not be surprised if DeRozan and Gibson pull off the upset against Michigan State.

Most Disappointing Team
Well I didn’t even have to research this one. It is Wake Forest, by far. This team has the talent to win a National Championship. They have some of the best athletes in the Nation on their team, but have gone only 7-6 since they beat Duke. Jeff Teague is a man among boys when he is on his game. The whole team has NBA players on it, but it seems as if they cannot gel to win games. Something is going on behind the scenes. Whether it is coaches vs players, players vs players, or whatever it may be… they can’t win with crap like that going on.

Most Dangerous Team
I mean, out of all the teams left, which team (other than seeds 1-4) is in the best place to win five more. Which team is the most dangerous? I’ll tell you; it is Arizona. Arizona has a 13 vs 12 game on Sunday against Cleveland State. If they win, and I predict them to, they will take on a Louisville (or Siena J) that they CAN beat. When evaluating teams, you look for a great PG, wingman, and post player. Nic Wise, Chase Budinger, and Jordan Hill. They have a great big three that can give problems to anybody. Watch out for the Wildcats… They are very dangerous.

Expect a similar article on the 2nd Round on Sunday or Monday! Stop back by then and check it out.

OH... Almost forgot. My bracket is still very in tact. I am 26-6 so far, I have all Final Four teams out there, but the Florida State and Wake Forest upset games killed me. I had both teams going to the Sweet Sixteen.

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

CollegeSports-Fans.com A10 Correspondent

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

A Closer Look at the No. 1 Seeds

2009-03-18T11:06:00.006-05:00

Tarheels, Panthers, Cardinals, Huskies...Oh My!!!

Connecticut, Louisville, and Pittsburgh helped the Big East, a group originally created for basketball only, become the first conference to put three teams on the top line. North Carolina, regular-season Atlantic Coast conference champions, was the other top seed.

Louisville is the top overall seed in the tournament and will play in the Midwest. The Cardinals will open against the winner of the opening-round play-in game yesterday, Morehead St.

Pitt is on top in the East, Carolina in the South and UConn in the West. The Huskies were in the West when they won their national titles in 1999 and 2004.

Of the four top seeds, coach Rick Pitino's Cardinals are the only team to win their conference tournament. Louisville entered the Big East conference tournament as the top seed, though Pitt and UConn were more highly regarded throughout the regular season, each spending time at No. 1 in The Associated Press poll.

Now that we know who the top seeds are, let's get to know them a little bit better.

Pittsburgh Panthers

-Over the past eight seasons, the Panthers have won 217 games -- but only 10 have come in NCAA tournament action. They haven't beaten a team seeded better than sixth and haven't advanced to a regional final in seven straight NCAA appearances. DeJuan Blair is a monster, top-five in the country with 12 rebounds per game, and Levance Fields distributes the ball better than just about anyone in college hoops today. Then there's Sam Young, averaging close to 19 points a game. This team is as balanced as they come. Anything less than a Final Four appearance will be a disappointment for this team.
CORY'S PREDICTION: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER-UP

North Carolina Tarheels

-Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green didn't come back to school because they couldn't bear to leave behind precious memories. They came back to win a national title. After being shocked last year by Kansas in the Final Four, only one result will satisfy. The preseason No. 1 sometimes looked indifferent on defense throughout 2009, but three losses can hardly be considered a disappointing season, and the Heels are still the favorite to win it all. They can score on anyone, but beware if they draw an efficient offensive opponent.
CORY'S PREDICTION: FINAL FOUR

Louisville Cardinals

-Cardinals fans have been waiting for a team this good since Pitino became their coach in 2001 and shot expectations into the stratosphere. The 2005 team overachieved to reach the Final Four and the current Cards could win it. Louisville is in the top five in blocks, thanks to Rick Pitino's fierce zone-pressure defense and the inside presence of Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels. If they hold you under 60 points, which they probably will, you're not likely to leave the court with a smile.
CORY'S PREDICTION: NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Connecticut Huskies

-Losing Jerome Dyson certainly put a huge dent in the Huskies' depth, and A.J. Price might have some trouble being essentially the sole outside shooting threat. However, having Hasheem Thabeet (2nd nationally with 4.5 blocks per game) in the paint solves a myriad of problems. UConn has struggled of late showing a lack of depth at the guard position and showing inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball. This team will go deep into the tourney partly on talent, partly on intimidation.
CORY'S PREDICTION: ELITE EIGHT

Justin Hulsey, FS founder/writer

Final Four: Louisville vs Memphis and Pittsburgh vs Gonzaga
National Championship: Louisville vs Pittsburgh

Champ: Pittsburgh Panthers

Cory Guinn, FS writer

Final Four: Louisville vs Memphis and Pittsburgh vs North Carolina

National Championship: Louisville vs Pittsburgh

Champ: Louisville Cardinals

Barack Obama, United States President

Final Four: Louisville vs Memphis and Pittsburgh vs North Carolina

National Championship: Louisville vs North Carolina
Champ: North Carolina Tar Heels

Justin Hulsey / Cory Guinn

StLDieHard24@gmail.com / cryguinn@yahoo.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

What is DraftBug?

2009-03-16T21:46:00.002-05:00

DRAFTBUG

Some of our viewers may be wondering what the DraftBug banners are doing all over the site. Well I am going to explain to you DraftBug, it's central idea, the FANdemonium Sports-DraftBug connection, as well as some of the exciting things DraftBug has coming up.

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Draftbug offers daily fantasy sports contests. They're currently running NBA, NHL, and MLB contests for members of the site. Baseball just started last night, and I can tell you that it will be awesome (even better than NBA & NHL). Football will, of course, resume in the fall. Players can enter real money or play money contests. Our standard format is 'salary cap', where players select a team for that day's games while remaining under a salary cap limit. We also offer 'live draft' contests where player take turns selecting players in a 'snake draft' style selection process. Results are determined based on players' statistical performance in that day's games. If you have ever been on any kind of online poker site, DraftBug is EXACTLY what you will experience... only with sports.

I STRONGLY urge you to at least sign up for DraftBug. Creating an account is 100% free. I am telling you all of this because FANdemonium Sports has just recently signed on as an affiliate with DraftBug. With this deal, I basically advertise his site with the DraftBug banners and links on my site, and he pays me for the referals I provide his site. May sound complex, but - in simpler form - I get 25% revenue generated from my referals. SO, if you sign up on DraftBug buy clicking on one of the banners on my site, I am creditted with that referal. If you decide to spend some money in attempt to win some serious cash, I get some of that.

Moral of the story: Go the FANdemonium Sports' home page, click on one of the DraftBug banners (DO NOT enter URL or google 'DraftBug'), sign up an account, and do with it what you want. I am just asking you to click on one of the banners, and sign up. If you want to earn some serious cash and are willing to throw out what usually is only a couple bucks, play with real money and help out FANdemonium Sports. :)

On Sunday, Draftbug opened its first baseball contest of the season. It's a $100 freeroll contest (you pay NOTHING but $100 in prizes are awarded), open to the first 200 entrants (currently around 50). The top 20 places will win cash prizes, with 1st place getting $24. No lie; you pay NOTHING and could win $24. Registration for the site and the contest are free! Unlike most Draftbug contests, which only last one day, the freeroll involves picking a team of 10 hitters within a salary cap prior to the start of the season. Points will be scored based on how many home runs your team hits during the month of April. More baseball contests will be opened later this week.

I am telling you, you want to check this site out. I joined the site and was immediately impressed. The site is amazing, and it will soon explode. Everyone will know what DraftBug is. It is the "next online poker". Not to mention, the guys that run the site are fantastic. They are always available on the site's chat room for any questions. Great guys, no doubt.

Listen... SIGN UP! Again, go to the home page of the site you are currently on, and hit one of the DraftBug banners. That way, I get credit for the referal.

If you have ANY questions about DraftBug and what it is all about, contact me. Even better, sign up and ask the guys over there. Real simple.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

The United Football League Quietly Becoming Big

2009-03-14T21:47:00.002-05:00

In a somewhat daring move, the new United Football League is moving forward with a three-year plan with willing investors and some big name coaches.

A group investors, including the likes of Wall Street investor William Hambrecht Google senior executive Tim Armstrong, are willing to gamble $30 million for the new UFL to work. The league's plan is to stick around until 2011 playing a small schedule in the fall in a few select cities.

The UFL will have four teams with games being played in San Francisco, Orlando, Las Vegas and New York. Each team will have a salary cap between $12 million and $20 million (yes, this league could provide Michael Vick a place to play if there are no takers in the NFL). However, the most impressive thing about this new league is the big names they have already attracted. On Wednesday, the league announced an impressive list of head coaches: Dennis Green, Jim Fassel, Ted Cottrell and Jim Haslett. They are each being paid roughly $500,000 this season to put a team together from a list of players who will be cut from NFL teams in June and in training camp. The coaches will hold a two-week training camp in September before the four teams take on a six-game schedule that ends just before Thanksgiving.

Do not be mistaken to think that the UFL will be like the minor leagues for the NFL. This new league has no affiliation with the big boys and could potentially provide problems in the future. One major problem for the NFL is that the UFL's presence will minimize the supply of players available for teams that need to fill holes throughout the season. From September to Thanksgiving, NFL teams that lose players are basically out of luck. It is hard finding players now. Imagine what it will be like with 200 players getting ready for the UFL season.

The key for the UFL is to survive for two years. If it can survive Year 1, the league will modestly expand in 2010 with a couple more teams and a few more games. Supposedly, the $30 million laid down by investors should carry the UFL into 2011. They are betting NFL owners will screw up labor talks in the next two years and have a lockout in 2011. If the NFL loses in labor, the UFL may win. If the NFL players are locked out, the UFL can offer them a home.

Of course, if NFL owners reach a deal with the players by next March, the UFL will be nothing more than a fall developmental league, which isn't such a bad idea either.

Cory Guinn
cryguinn@yahoo.com

FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

NHL's Team of the Future

2009-03-12T23:17:00.005-05:00

I am going to be quite frank in this piece. The St. Louis Blues are going to be dominant. Believe it or not.

You may call this St. Louis bias, and I am going to understand anybody thinking that, but I can tell you that I am more of a sports fan than I am any team fan. I look at each league as a whole, and you will notice that I do not write about one team all the time. I wouldn’t call it STL bias; I would just call it noticing things that the people outside of Missouri would not.

Today, the Blues announced that they have signed not one, not two, but three of the NHL’s top forward prospects. These guys aren’t just run in the mill prospects; they are 18 and 19 year olds that are on their way to being NHL stars.

It just shows how big the Detroit game was last week. Before that game, we were set to trade for former Blue defenseman and NHL vet, Chris Pronger. Pronger is one of the best in the league at his position and I am sure all Blues know all about that. The trade would have put us in great position for a playoff run.

Before the game, even the Blues coaches and officials agreed that the Red Wings game would dictate exactly which way we would head. If we won, we would trade for Pronger and gear up for the postseason. With the loss, we would still be striving for the playoffs, but we would take a more “for the future” approach. Well you could definitely say that after the Blues signed big-time prospects Phillip McRae, Anthony Peluso, and Brett Stonne.

Eighteen year old McRae was drafted by the Blues as the 33rd overall pick in the second round of last year’s draft. Since then, Phillip has been playing with the St. Louis affiliate in the Ontario Hockey League – London Knights. In 57 total games, McRae had registered 60 points (29 goals, 31 assists). He was part of the Western Conference All-Star team in the OHL this season, and is known to be an elite player in the league.

Peluso, 19, was drafted in the sixth round by the Blues in the 2007 Entry Draft. Anthony is certainly a scorer (19 goals this season), but was regarded more of as a scrapper and a fighter in the OHL when he played for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Brampton Battalion. He recorded 123 penalty minutes this year in the OHL, which ranked among the “best” in the entire league.

We saved the best for last. At the age of 19, Brett Sonne has proved he is one of the best young hockey players in the world. In a different league that McRae and Peluso, he is considered one of the best – if the best – players in his respective league (Western Hockey League). He was drafted in the same draft as Peluso in 2007, but as the 3rd round pick. A native of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Sonne has played in 60 games this season with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, and ranks third in the league in points (97), second in goals (47) and tied for 12th in assists (50). Yeah, he’s way good.

With today’s signees, STL has solidified themselves as arguable the NHL’s team with the best young talent and potential. The coach of Peluso, who knows more about all three of these guys than anyone, says that the three players – especially Sonne – could be a NHL All-Star within the next few years.

I will be the first to admit that hockey is not my expertise and I need to follow it more, but I know when I see young talent. I watch the Blues often, and I will be the first to tell you that the guys we currently have… will lead us to Stanley Cups in the next 10-15 years that this crop is with us. We have one of the best rookies in the league in Patrik Berglund, who is also leading the Blues with a 17 +/- ratio. Our leader in points, goals, game-winning goals, and assists, Brad Boyes, is 26 years old. Center Jay McClement, who has three shorthanded goals, is 26. David Backes is probably our second best player at the age of 24! Fan favorite T.J. Oshie is becoming a fantastic clutch player at 22. 6’7” brute Ben Bishop, the goalie of the future for St. Louis, is 22 years old and has a GAA of three as a rookie. Our “bouncer”, if you will, Cam Janssen is just a 24 year old rookie. Oh yeah, that’s not even mentioning our group of solid, young defensemen that include Eric Brewer (29), Barret Jackman (28), and No. 1 draft pick Erik Johnson (20). This sums it up: We are currently the first team OUT of the playoffs, and our average age is 23 years and 8 months.

Again, I am no Barry Melrose, but I do know young talent when I see it. This Blues team has potential like you would not believe. McRae, Peluso, and Sonne only build a stronger foundation for the next decade or so. I have said it before, and I will say it again… With this group of young stars, the St. Louis Blues will win Stanley Cups in the next 10-15 years. They will be great, starting next year when these three stud prospects put on the Blue note.

These guys are a year out of high school, they have amazing potential, and I cannot wait to see them in the STL.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

Are We Looking At The Best MLB Prospect EVER?

2009-03-11T22:08:00.004-05:00

You may not know him. Most people don’t, so you’re not the minority. The only people that know him are anyone close to the San Diego State Aztecs and people who cover baseball. He is not a household name, but he soon will be. Very soon. Sooner than most realize. He is the best. He is Stephen Strasburg.

Strasburg is a starting pitcher for the San Diego State Aztecs, and has been since 2007. He is built like a rock; the prototypical frame for a star SP entering the big leagues. He resembles a beast, standing 6’4” and 225 pounds on the mound.

He is 20 years old and has already been selected to an Olympic team. Stephen will be a junior for the Aztecs this coming fall, and was 8-3 with a 1.55 ERA and 134 SOs in only 93 innings pitched. On April 11th, he stuck out 23 University of Utah batters. So far this season, Strasburg has pitched 21 innings, and he already has 45 strikeouts. Out of the 60+ outs he has recorded, a whopping 45 of them were on Ks.

You know the team that has shocked the baseball world in the World Baseball Classic this year? Yeah, you know them as the Netherlands. Well, when in Beijing, Strasburg one-hit the Dutch over seven innings of work – striking out five of the first six batters he faced. He would have pitched the entire game if it wasn’t for two rain delays that consumed a total of 90 minutes, and eventually cancelled the game. Granted it is the Netherlands, but after that game their players described the pitcher as having the best “stuff” they had ever seen. In the Olympics as a whole, Strasburg logged a 1-1 record with a 1.64 ERA.

The dude is being recognized as the best MLB prospect to ever play the game. E-V-E-R. What about Mark Prior, you ask? Who was dominant with Southern Cal. His length, his long arms, his rock-solid mechanics… All are things that scouts look at, and Prior had them. Is Strasburg better than the all noble Mark Prior?? Apparently.

In an interview with Buster Olney of ESPN, a “longtime scout” explains how good Strasburg may be.

Onley: So just how good is Stephen Strasburg?
Scout: The best I’ve ever seen, and it’s not even close.
Onley: C’mon, better than Mark Prior?
Scout: Easily. I’m telling you, it’s not even close.
Onley: What do you see in him?
Scout: The day that I saw him pitch, his first fastball was 99 mph, and he was at 100-103 mph the rest of the way.
Onley: I heard he had a good fastball, but it’s straight as a string, right?
Scout: That's the thing: Whenever you see a fastball at 100 mph, it's always straight. No movement. But his fastball has a lot of movement, which really doesn't make that much sense, because it's on the hitter so quickly. His fastball cuts.
Onley: Wow. His secondary stuff must be a work in progress then, because that is the way it is with all guys that are overpowering at that age.
Scout: No. He's got a plus slider, at 93-94 mph, and he's got a plus changeup. Again, he's the best I've ever seen.
Onley: And how are the mechanics..?
Scout: They are absolutely fine. They look totally fine to me. No real concerns.
Scout: It's like watching someone play one of those baseball video games for the first time -- it's like the hitters are completely guessing where he's going to throw the ball. They're just swinging in a spot and hoping that's where he throws it, because they can't track it at all.
Onley: The way you are describing him, he is somebody that may be in the big leagues by the end of the summer?
Scout: [laughs] You could put him in a rotation right now, and he could be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter. Right now, he's better than A.J. Burnett.

You got it right. A guy that isn’t even in the MLB has been said to be better than the guy the Yankees paid 86 million dollars to pitch for them. In other words, the ace of the San Diego Aztecs, is better than the No. 2 free agent pitcher in this past offseason, and could be the ace of the Washington Nationals before the ’09 season is through.

That is of course if the Nationals take Strasburg. However, I don’t know why they wouldn’t. The Nationals suck. They are meaningless. I went to DC this past summer and saw more Texas Rangers’ hats than I did Nationals’ attire. Not to mention, nobody in the league needs pitching more than the Nats do. There is one problem though. Do you remember the whole Manny ordeal and not getting enough money? Manny’s agent is Sir Scott Boras, and Boras is KNOWN to pull that kind of thing all the time. Stephen Strasburg’s agent is Boras as well. Fantastic for the prodigy pitcher, but not so good for DC.

If the Nationals decided to pass on the freak, he would then land in the hands of the Seattle Mariners. They would almost have to take him considering the Lincecum situation and the M’s passing on home-grown Timmy on draft day – by the way, Lincecum is the top pitcher in the game today. With the addition of Strasburg, Seattle’s rotation would highlight Felix Hernandez, Brandon Morrow, and The Greatest Pitching Prospect Ever.

Most teams shy away from taking top pitching prospects in every year’s draft due to the risk (i.e. Mark Prior). But there is nobody at the college level that is even comparable to Stephen. He is the best talent we have seen in many drafts, and in the mind of some, the best talent we have seen ever. He is on his way to the big leagues, no doubt, and if somebody meets Boras’ asking price, we may see him by August.

This is the only time I have ever been upset at my team winning nearly 90 games.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

Top 15 Point Guards in the NBA Today

2009-03-08T18:34:00.004-05:00

During the Boston-Cleveland game the other night, the announcers debated on the top 5 point guards in the league today. It is a great subject to discuss, no doubt. There are SO many guys worthy of this list. In fact, when taking notes for this list I wrote down the guys that I thought could be in the top 10. Before I knew it… well… I had written 22 names. I would do a top 25 list, but you know I love hearing everybody whine that their PG isn’t on the list or aren’t quite as high as they like. I am sure I will hear it from you guys, especially on numbers 1-2. Let’s do work.

1. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
Nope, not CP3. He is the Utah Jazz. He is what brought them back. Utah is known for their one-guards. John Stockton is one of the best points to ever convert an assist but I assure you, Williams will reach his fame. Deron is one of my favorite players today – behind Shaq. You cannot go wrong with picking Paul or Williams at this spot, but I am a firm believer that DW is just as good as Chris Paul is.
2009 Stats: 19 PPG, 11 APG, 40 wins

2. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
At the young age of 23, Paul is just one year younger than my #1 on this list. He led the USA team to the gold medal in Beijing. Just like Boozer is to Williams, Tyson Chandler and Paul have a very close relationship that has led to tons of hookups between the two. Chris Paul is having an amazing year this year, but I just think Williams is the better all-around player.
2009 Stats: 21 PPG, 11 APG, 39 wins

3. Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets
Where would Dallas be if they still had this kid? Instead they traded this kid for a different, aging, and soon-to-be washed up Kidd. I will tell you where they’d be. The Finals. Whoever made that trade needs to be killed if you ask me. Too harsh? Well, Harris is on his way to establishing a high-powered offense in NEW JERSEY. Yi Jianlian, Brook Lopez, Carter, and Devin have created such a strong bond, the Nets actually have something to look forward to. He is only getting better.
2009 Stats: 22 PPG, 7 APG, 27 wins

4. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
Rondo is an amazing young talent and has improved every season he was in the NBA. The Celtics have almost turned into a big 4 because of him. Boston would be good without Rondo, but they are great because of this guy. He is leading the Celts in assists, he hustles for every rebound, and if he can’t get it he just goes up and steals the ball. He is a Jason Kidd type of guy. He may never be the player who drops 30+ every game, but he is and will be the player that turns in a 15 point, 10 assist, and 10 rebound game.
2009 Stats: 12 PPG, 9 APG, 49 wins

5. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Is this guy underrated or what? He has been brilliant this season and is the reason why the Spurs are still contending with that aging lineup. If you look at his stats, top to bottom, they look almost identical to Harris’. He has flirted with some minor injuries so far this year, but has still been able to lead his team to a #2 seed in the West so far. They have a huge game against Phoenix tonight where Shaq and Parker’s buddy Tim Duncan will square off.

6. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
Current hurt, but you cannot argue that he is a top 10 PG in this league.

7. Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
Mr. Triple-Double is unfortunately on the decline, but still worthy of a 7 spot.

8. Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets
In front of his home-town crowd in Denver, Billups is trying to get them Nuggets into the postseason.

9. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
This guy is always going to be rising up this list until he reaches Paul and Williams. Really impressed me so far.

10. Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers
A new team, a new city, a new offense... He is contributing but do you expect them to actually win?

11. Mo Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers
I would love to put this guy higher on this list, but who do I move down?? He is the main reason why this year’s Cavs team is the best in the LeBron era.

12. Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors
He is playing even better than his breakout year last season, and it is evident that he worked on shooting in the offseason.

13. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
This guy is on my fantasy team and I LOVE him. He is just solid. Westbrook, Durant, and Green will make OK City something one day… soon.

14. Mike Bibby, Atlanta Hawks
Another guy, like Nash and Kidd, on the decline. He is no longer in the shooting role. He is the one who distributes to ball to Johnson, Horford, etc.

15. Andre Miller, Philadelphia 76ers
He is yet another young gun PG that is rising up this list very quickly. Iggy, Dalembert, and he are what seems to be a bright spot in the city of brotherly love.

Chris Paul, Mo Williams, Chauncey Billups, and Andre Miller fans… please don’t hate me.

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

Budding Stars Who Will Soon Cash In

2009-03-06T15:35:00.004-06:00

With the NBA's age limit forcing most elite prospects to spend at least one year in school, the NCAA is rapidly becoming a freshman-dominated league. Who is this year's Kevin Durant or Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley? Well, maybe there aren't any players as dominant as those freaks, but here are three freshmen from the 2008-2009 class who are making a push for the top spot among their peers.

1. Willie Warren, G, Oklahoma
Warren is full of confidence and backs it up with his athleticism. He is averaging 15.1 ppg while shooting 38 percent from deep. Warren stepped up big in the Sooner's two games without Blake Griffin has had continued his high level of play even with the big man's return. His 6-4 frame makes him a huge PG in comparison to the rest of one-guards in the league. He is no doubt a legimate contender for Freshman of the Year and one player to look out for in the NCAA Tournament.

Off Season Forecast: Top 10 Pick (Indiana Pacers?)

2. Al-Farouq Aminu, F, Wake Forest
The Deamon Deacons are a freshman heavy team but no player stands out more than Al-Farouq Aminu. With his blend of pure athleticism and intangibles, Aminu is a star in the making. If he can improve his 3-point shooting, he will be impossible to guard. Aminu runs the floor and rebounds very well. He is almost averaging a double with 12.7 ppg and 8.2 rpg, while helping lead Wake to a possible Tournament berth.

Off Season Forecast: Top 7 Pick (Toronto Raptors?)

3. Tyreke Evans, G, Memphis
Evans is an all-around basketball player as evidenced by his season averages (16.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.1 spg). He has fill in nicely at the point guard position for coach John Callipari and is on the verge of leading the Tigers to yet another #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He is another big PG, and is even taller than Warren. Evans is my pick for Freshman of the Year.

Off Season Forecast: Top 15 Pick (Philadelphia 76ers?)

--------

I think we can all agree that these three players are some of the best that the college game has to offer... and will all soon be cashing in.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

One Man Found; Search Continues for Two NFL Players

2009-03-02T18:20:00.004-06:00

The search for four men – two NFL football players – that have been missing since Saturday night is a fourth of the way over.

The one man found was former USF football player, Nick Schuyler. The other three include another past South Florida Bulls player William Bleakley, Oakland Raiders’ Marquis Cooper, and the current free agent Corey Smith.

Cooper is a five-year journey man linebacker, a 2004 third-round pick, and has played for a total of six NFL teams. Corey Smith is known as an undrafted seven-year veteran defensive end, and has spent the past three years with the Detroit Lions.

The four were out on a fishing trip off the coast of Florida on Saturday. Later that evening, Schuyler said that they anchored the boat as a storm rolled in. As seas got rough, the boat evidently flipped over, and Nick ended up being the only one that held on.

Since then, Schuyler, who was wearing a life vest, had been hanging onto the 21-foot vessel found by a Coast Guard cutter 35 miles off Clearwater. Nick was conscious but weak as the Coast Guard reached him. He is now reportedly in a serious but stable condition at the Tampa Bay General Hospital. Coast Guard Capt. Tim Close described the situation and the events that led to it as he stated that Nick may not have lasted another 24 hours.

Coast Guard photos showed Schuyler wearing a yellow jacket and orange life vest and sitting on the hull of the capsized boat as a rescue cutter approached. A helicopter lowered a basket to haul him aboard. The search area is now "substantially smaller," based on where they found the boat and Schuyler, Close said. Searchers had previously covered 16,000 square miles of ocean.

There were multiple reports saying that Cooper was found, BUT CG officials insisted that he has in fact not been located yet. Search & Rescue teams remain confident that all three men will be found soon.

We can hope for a few things:
1) The three remaining men missing are all together.
2) The men have found something to float on, or have found land (39 degrees in Tampa today).
3) More importantly - The three will be found, and soon.

Let’s remember that all four of these guys are either former college players and current trainers (Schuyler/Bleakley), or they are NFL vets (Copper/Smith). They are obviously extremely fit and strong dudes; we know that without even ever seeing them. They should be able to survive in the elements for quite a while and – in a worst-case scenario – swim to live.

We can only hope and pray that the other three-fourths of the puzzle are put together quickly.

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

Down On the Farm: MLB's Future

2009-02-25T20:45:00.004-06:00

With the way things are run now in the minors, college, high school, and little league, it seems as if up-and-coming talent is getting better and better.

Unlike the past, young pitchers are now being heavily restricted on their pitch count in every level of play. Little league and high school actually have rules on how many pitches a player can have per day, and per week.

For those who don’t pitch, and put their focus toward hitting, the ways have also changed. Do you think Ralph Kiner had all those contraptions that them kids have these days? NO. They just hit the baseball. These days, there are millions of shindigs you can buy to “improve your game.”

Maybe that is the reason for all the freakin’ prodigy ball players out there. Steroids maybe be the leading reason for stars in the MLB, but you can hardly say it is the reason for the freak players ranging from all levels, little leagues-minor leagues.

Let’s take a look at those “freaks” we have roaming the farm:
*These are players that play in the minors, not MLB rookies (i.e. no David Price)

Tim Beckham, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
Most know him as the No. 1 pick in the 2008 MLB draft, but few actually know his game. He is the part of the reason I think that the Rays will DOMINATE the next 10 years. There are tons of players like this in Tampa’s farm leagues. He is an amazing athlete with A+ speed, excellent defense, and a bat to go along.

Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles
He is arguably the top player in the minor leagues. He is virtually the complete package. He has Y. Molina defense to go along with McCann offense. He absolutely crushes the ball, and may be one of the best offensive catchers in the game already! Between A and AA ball – mostly AA - last year, he hit .355/27/95. He will likely play MLB ball in ’09, but not until the second half.

Aaron Hicks, CF, Minnesota Twins
He was the Twins’ top pick in this most decent draft, and he deserved it. He was one of the best five-tool players in the draft. He has speed, defense, and a bat. He can make an impact on every single part of the game. In rookie ball, he batted .317 and 12 steals.

Matt LaPorta, OF-1B, Cleveland Indians
Yes, Cleveland does have something to look forward to. Surprising, I know. He is regarded by most as the guy directly behind Wieters on this list, with a similar game. He has fantastic power, which is the bright spot in his overall game. He totaled 22 homers last year in AA.

Gordon Beckham, SS, Chicago White Sox
The other Beckham. He was another stud in the 2008 draft, and yes, it was an extremely good draft. He has some rare power for a great middle-infielder who plays baseball like Physco T plays basketball. He puts 115% of his heart into his game, and wouldn’t even think about giving in. He batted .312 in Class A last season.

Jordan Zimmerman, SP, Washington Nationals
He may be the best starting pitcher the Minors has to offer. He put together an incredible season last year when he gathered 10 wins and only 3 losses, 2.80 ERA, and averaged 9.3 SOs per nine innings. Most of that with the AA Nats’ team.

Colby Rasmus, CF, St. Louis Cardinals
Last year was thought to be his breakthrough year, but when injury struck, he spend all of 2008 in AAA. He is without a doubt the most experienced player on this list, and the only one that spend last year in the AAA. Most of last year’s prospects that hung out in AAA, are on the MLB team this season. But with a deep STL outfield, he has been kinda screwed. He is a five-tooler that will soon destroy the MLB.

Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants
This former Golden Spikes Award winner, is right up there with Wieters and LaPorta if you ask me. He is an athletic catcher with outstanding defense and possesses moderate power and ability to hit for average.

Kyle Blanks, 1B, San Diego Padres

There is only one word to describe. Mammoth. A prototypical firstbaseman, he stands 6’6” and weighs an impressive 280 lbs. He simply bashes the ball. He is the next 40 HR guy to enter the MLB, not a question. In AA last year, he hit .325/20/107 and got on base 42% of the time! Just not fair.

None of these guys will likely see the bigs until the second half of the season. But when they do, they will begin to dominate… and they will continue to dominate. The cool thing about it is, there are players on this list that won’t even see the MLB, but there are also a few players on this list that are future first ballot Hall of Famers!

The End of an Era in Indianapolis

2009-02-24T15:54:00.004-06:00

One of, if not the best, quarterback-to-receiver tandems has officially been split up. The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to release receiver Marvin Harrison after he refused to take a pay cut and the team could not keep him around for the price he was asking.

Harrison is the teams all-time leading receiver having accumulated 14, 580 yards and 128 touchdowns over his 13-year career, all with the Colts. You could say that Harrison deserved every cent that he asked for, but you could also argue that he needs to stop being such a greedy brat.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Harrison hold several records including most receptions between a quarterback and receiver and most receiving touchdowns between a quarterback and receiver.

Harrison made eight Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl ring, and his 14,550 yards rank fourth on the NFL's career list. He is No. 5 all-time with 128 TD catches and holds all major single-season and career receiving marks for the Colts.

Over the past two seasons, though, Harrison hasn't been up to his usual standards. Mostly due to age and injury.

He has also had some legal issues. Mainly the shooting he was involved in almost a year ago. It was a simple argument that ended with Harrison chasing the victim out of a Philly bar... shooting him multiple times in the arm and hand. Yeah I know, not a very good shot. For those of you that do not understand the photo, well there's the explanation.

He missed all but five games in 2007 because of injuries, underwent offseason knee surgery and then caught 60 passes in 2008 -- far less than half of his NFL record 143 in 2002.

Recent speculation has Harrison going to the Philadelphia Eagles to team up with Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb. It would certainly prove to be a very interesting duo. Both guys played with each other in Syracuse and put up some serious numbers together. McNabb won the Big East ROY Award with Harrison at his side in 1995.

I know everybody would love to see Harrison reunite with McNabb in Philly... However, no matter where he chooses to go he will forever be known as one of the best receivers in NFL history and lock to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

www.FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

Ken Griffey Jr.: Welcome Home!

2009-02-18T21:14:00.003-06:00

Ah, yes… A good day just got a little better. 19 minutes ago, I received a text stating, “Ken Griffey Jr. is headed back to Seattle after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Mariners.” Is that awesome or what?

The former soon-to-be homerun king will go back to the city that had him on track to being one of – or THE - best players to ever lace up the cleats. With all this A-Rod, and performance-enhancing drugs in general, talk, you can only imagine what it would have been like to watch Griffey bash #755.

He would have too. With the Mariners, KGJ hit a total of 398 homeruns in 11 years (an avg of 37/year). He is going into his 20th season this year, and – at his SEA pace – he would be at #704. If he played a total of 25 years, which is possible without injury, he would have hit 904 home runs… a number that would likely never be touched. He was on pace to set some staggering career numbers, even other than HRs. In 25 seasons, he would have ended up with .297 average, 904 homers (all-time record), 2620 RBIs (atr), 380 steals, etc, etc, etc. The two most prestigious batting records, and then the crazy base running numbers, would make him the best player to ever play the game. All in good ole’ Seattle.

Junior is going back to the place that made him a household name forever. The city that scored him nine MVP awards (five in a row), nine all-stars, seven-time silver-slugger award winner, and 10 gold gloves. Can you say freak?

While there has always been talk of Griffey going back to Seattle, tonight the rumor goes true. Griffey was being actively courted by the Mariners and the Atlanta Braves, and ultimately decided with the Mariners after agonizing over the decision. Griffey was motivated by sentimental reasons toward Seattle, where he received an emotional hero's welcome when he last played there as a Cincinnati Red in 2007, and towards Atlanta for its proximity to home and the desire to be with his family during the season. While he has a better opportunity to win in the ATL, I wanted nothing more than him to return as a Mariner.

As this whole A-Rod BS continues to roll out, we see a good thing with Seattle & Griffey but there are still some interesting things yet to work their selves out.

Manny Ramirez-
It looks as if he will probably remain with the Dodgers. He is asking for a ridiculous amount of money considering his age, but I feel LA will realize they are nothing without him. Others interested include nobody.

Orlando Hudson-
This guy has clearly gone under the radar. It seems like nobody even realizes that he is a FA. He could be a steal for which ever team accquires him. Hudson will start to get desparate and worried now that Spring Training is nearing and I see him being signed very cheap. Arizona has shown no interest in him, so I see him landing in Kansas City or St. Louis.

Orlando Cabrera-
He may be aging, but I expect a few more good years from him. I would say he is a better pick-up than Hudson, but they are both potential risks. It appears as if the White Sox are no longer in need of him and will let him go. The Oakland A’s have shown some serious interest, along with Florida and Toronto.

Ben Sheets-
When he is healthy, he is one of the best pitchers the game has to offer… but come on, it’s Ben Sheets. He spends more time icing his arm than he does icing MLB ball players. He does have some serious stuff, however, and somebody will gladly take him. He says no way Jose to Milwaukee, and I anticipate him signing with Texas within this coming weekend.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

Two Man Race to the Top

2009-02-17T22:14:00.004-06:00

After very impressive performances from Blake Griffin and Hasheem Thabeet, two of the countrys top college basketball players, on Saturday, I began to think about the race for this year's NCAA Player of the Year. At the beginning of the season it looked as though the race for PoY would be between a number of players including Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, North Carolina's Tyler Hanbrough, and Davidson's Stephen Curry.

Curry has put up big offensive numbers, Harnagody has dominated but has not led his team to wins, and Tyler Hanbrough has underchieved just a bit. The way I see it, the race is between two players in Griffin and Thabeet.

Let us look first at Oklahoma's outstanding big man Blake Griffin. He has the size (6' 10", 250 lbs) to bang inside and the athleticism and finesse to take his game to the perimeter. With averages of 22.8 ppg and 14.2 rpg, he knows how to take over a game at any point. Griffin is expected to leave school after this year and enter the NBA Draft where he is sure to be one of the top two players off the board.

Now for Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet who is arguably the country's most dominant inside presence. The 7' 3" Thabeet controls the game on the defensive end more so than the offensive side with his 4.4 blocks per game. He also has averages of 13.5 ppg, and 10.8 rpg which shows that he does have some presence on offense. Having only been playing organized basketball for a few years Thabeet is expected to be one of the top two pick in the draft along with Griffin.

These two players have led their teams to #1 and #2 in the season rankings and I expect for them to be matched up against one another come tournament time in March.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

http://fandemoniumsports.blogspot.com/

2009 Fantasy Baseball- Breakouts/Sleepers/Busts

2009-02-16T20:09:00.013-06:00

The first Spring Training game is exactly 8 days, 15 hours, and 47 minutes from now and the MLB season is going to be here super fast. With all of this steroids (A-Rod) crap that is going on, people are forgetting that there is actually a season to be played. There are fools out there that are saying the MLB is becoming harder and harder to enjoy. I then say… you are being Jewish and the only thing that’s as good as baseball is fantasy baseball. With that, I welcome you to my 2009 Fantasy Baseball don’t/do draft lists.

I will run you through MY sleeper picks, MY busts, as well as MY breakout players. Anybody can take a look at a top-200 list and study what everyone at your draft will know. I feel that the key to dominating your fantasy league is scoring the unknown players that will shine, and avoiding the players that people want but will destroy a team – i.e. BREAKOUTS, BUSTS, and SLEEPERS. Hopefully the guys I play with don’t get a hold of this.

Breakout Players
Players that are underrated and will dominate the 2009 season.

Matt Kemp, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
The sky is the limit for this guy, and we may see greatness in ’09 from Kemp. He is approaching the prime of his career and I expect an enormous year. He is 24 years of age, and unless Manny is resigned, he will be the core of the Dodger’s lineup. He now has one full year under his belt, he will soon have one all star year under his belt.
Jay’s Prediction: .295 AVG, 24 HRs, 94 RBIs, 37 SBs

Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds
He is coming into his 3rd year of his major league career and is starting to look like another big left-handed first baseman I know. Ever since he starting bashing the ball in the minors, he caught everybody’s eye as a major power threat. He will fulfill his potential this year with the beginning of a fantastic career.
Jay’s Prediction: .310 AVG, 32 HRs, 101 RBIs, 5 SBs

Chris Perez, CP, St. Louis Cardinals
As a Cardinal die hard, I know quite a bit about this guy. I’ve been monitoring him since he started in the Cards’ farm leagues. He shared the closer role last year and proved that he was definitely the closer of the future for STL, and for the MLB. When he is on his best stuff, he looks like Mr. Rivera. Chris has one of the best fastballs in the league – often touching 100 mph -, and pinpoints it. In his 2008 big-league stent, he struck out almost two batters per inning. As a huge St. Louis fan, I am here to tell you that he will dominate as a closer throughout the next several years.
Jay’s Prediction: 3.02 ERA, 2-4 record, 1.25 WHIP, 74 Ks, 36 SVs

Bust players
Players that will not live up to all the hype.

Carlos Delgado, 1B, New York Mets
After a rock solid season last year, this aging first baseman might have seen his last good year. He is getting, umm, very old. At 37, he is considered dirt in the major sports world. He has numerous injuries every single year. My advice to you, do not draft this guy. Take young guns such as Conor Jackson, Joey Votto, etc that will be available at that time in the draft.

Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Seattle Mariners
I hate watching the Mariners, I don’t know about you but it is awful. His age is finally getting to him and I think this will be the year it really shows. He had is worst season in 2008 and has been declining since his first couple great years. He has never been a fantasy god; the only great stat is his average. This has also been on a downhill slump.
Jay’s Prediction: .290 AVG, 6 HRs, 38 RBIs, 32 SBs

Bengie Molina, C, San Francisco Giants
Molina #6 of 435, I’m sorry but you did not convince me of anything last year. He was a borderline free agent last year, but this year will be different. He is in a very difficult lineup to hit in, that and his age has me wondering when he will give in. He is a catcher, so the age will hit him sooner than others. I expect him to start out ok, but the second half will be rough.
Jay’s Prediction: .273 AVG, 11 HRs, 75 RBIs, Molina’s do not steal bases.

Sleeper players
Some unknowns who will make a mark on the 2009 season.

Nate Schierholtz, OF, San Francisco Giants
I didn’t even know who this guy was until I did some research yesterday for this post. He is the dude who barreled over the Chinese catcher in the Beijing Olympics. He batter over .300 for the Giants last year in just over 100 Abs. With Molina on the bust-list, do not be surprised if Nate gets more playing time than we all may think.
Jay’s Prediction: .289 AVG, 5 HRs, 51 RBIs, 15 SBs

Nelson Cruz, OF, Texas Rangers
He didn't even sniff the show until finally being called up August 25. He went 3-for-5 with a home run that night and hasn't stopped hitting since. In the 28 games he's played, he has six home runs, 23 RBI, 16 runs, three steals and has hit at a .320 clip. He hadn't hit better than .235 in each of his first two years with the Rangers and Brewers. He now looks to be the starting right fielder for Texas next year and will factor heavily into an absolutely stacked lineup.

Jay's Prediction: .296 AVG, 24 HRs, 83 RBIs, 13 SBs

David Purcey, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
This guys is a strikeout machine (more SOs than innings in his 10 big league starts), and Toronto looks to have some kind of replacement for Burnett. He will be in the starting rotation for Toronto this upcoming season. Most people do not know this guy at all, but he may soon be a household name.
Jay’s Prediction: 9-10 W/L, 4.05 ERA, 168 SO

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com

Recent Changes

2009-02-12T18:31:00.005-06:00

FANDEMONIUM SPORTS

For those of you that visit the site often, you have noticed a change in the format and the name of the blog.

I felt the the former name - The Jay Stick - needed to be changed to something that sounded a little more sports-like. After about a month of brainstorming ideas and new names for the site, I came up with what we have now.. FANdemonium Sports - for the fans, by the fans.

As I am sure you already know, the word "fandemonium" came from the word pandemonium which is often used in the sports world; meaning chaos, havoc, hell, wild uproar, medlam. The word originated in the book Paradise Lost; it was known as the capitol of hell. I changed it to FANdemonium, and it only makes sense. As the title indicates, the articles are for the FANS, and by the FANS.

You may have realized this already, but the old URL and link no longer works. It used to be www.thejaystick.blogspot.com, but with the new change, it was converted to www.fandemoniumsports.blogspot.com. Sure, it's longer to type and harder to remember but go ahead and click on that little star and add it to your favorites.

As well as the new name, the format has also changed. After some thinking and toying with the options you get with a blogger.com blog, I kinda figured out a loophole to make separate pages with your blog to give it a more actual site-like look to it.

If you look toward the right panel on the main page, at the top, you will see text reading "It's FANdemonium, baby!" This was actually taken from Dick Vitale when he yells, "It's pandemonium, baby!" Under that title, you will see five links; HOME, About FS, Advertising, Writers, and Contact. Clicking on those links will take you to exactly what they say they'll take you to. It helps clean up the main page and organizes everything much better.. as well as making the site look more professional.

Other than that, there has not been a whole lot else going on. We will continue to give you at least 2-3 articles per week as long as I'm running things. So snoop around, check out the changes, and come on guys, comment on those articles. It's sooooo easy. I want to hear your thoughts on everything.

If there is any other changes, you can bet I will let you know so stay tuned!

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.fandemoniumsports.blogspot.com

NFL Free Agent Market

2009-02-11T15:31:00.004-06:00

Now that the Super Bowl is over and the Pro Bowl has been played, it is time to start the NFL off-season. On Feb. 27, players will be able to declare free agency and every team in the league is looking to improve no matter if you are the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Dallas Cowboys. Here is my list of the top players who will be available free agents in a few short weeks.

1. Julius Peppers, DE, Carolina Panthers
Peppers has stated on more than one occasion that he wants out of Carolina. He has a wide range of skills that allow him to be an end in a 4-3 scheme or an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Peppers is strongest in pass-rush situations but he is no slouch against stopping the run and even dropping back into pass coverage every now and again. Do not be surprised to see Peppers sign with a team such as the Denver Broncos who are looking for a pass rusher or the Seattle Seahawks who could use him opposite Patrick Kerney.

2. Terrell Suggs, OLB/DE, Baltimore Ravens
There is not enough money to go around in Baltimore. Several players on the dominant Raven's defense will be free agents this off-season and without each players taking a pay cut, not everyone will be able to stay. Suggs has talked about keeping the defense together but there is no realistic way to make that happen. He is the best of the group and one of the youngest so I expect Baltimore to make him their top priority to sign him to a long-term deal.

3. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee Titans
Haynesworth is one of the few defensive tackles who can dominate a game. He can excel in a three- or four-man front, and he has the quickness and athleticism to attack from the edge off stunts and twists. The only reason Haynesworth is third on this list and not first his because of his tendecy to have the injury bug bite him at least once every season. Some say that this season is a fluke due to several subpar seasons, but look for him to have similar seasons with whatever team he lands on.

4. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Oakland Raiders
Considered the NFL's best cover corner, Asomugha's remarkable speed, quickness, and ball skills. He is so highly regarded around the league that offensive coordinaters often avoid his side of the field. The guy is a game-changer from so many perspectives. Many teams in the NFL are looking for a shutdown corner to turn their defense into a consistent contender including the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints.

5. Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants
Jacobs is the key to making the offense work in New York and they know that. With Derrick Ward also on the market, look for the Giants to focus on resigning Jacobs to a long-term deal. With the future for Plaxico Burress in question in New York, the Giants must sign Jacobs and make sure their key offensive weapon stays with them. However, the Giants have two solid running backs that take the back seat to Jacobs. I wouldn't be surprised if they went with the cheaper guy in Ward or Bradshaw.

6. Jordan Gross, T, Carolina Panthers
Though he sufered through injury and a bit of inconsistency this season, Gross is quick, agile and can play anywhere on the line. He has a mean streak so I could see him fitting in with a team such as the Steelers who need a major upgrade on the offensive line in order to protect their franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

7. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Houshmandzadeh is by far the best wide receiver on the free agent market. He is rumored to be a target for every team from Seattle to Jacksonville. I would not be surprised if he returned to the Bengals since a healthy Carson Palmer will be back under center next season. If he bolts, it will be for warmer weather in either Miami or Jacksonville.

8. Ray Lewis, ILB, Baltimore Ravens
There have been rumors of Lewis landing with the Cowboys or Jets and those are both possiblities. As I stated earlier, the Ravens do not have enough money around and Lewis does not want to take a pay cut to stay with the team. Look for him to be somewhere else next season playing behind a big defensive line that can protect him and allow him to pursue the ball.

9. Karlos Dansby, OLB, Arizona Cardinals
Dansby has already had the franchise tag placed on him once by Arizona and he was the most productive part of the defense in 2008. He has spoke about returning to the Cardinals but I would not be surprised if the right amount of money lured him away from the desert. Miami's Bill Parcells is a fan, and former Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley, the new head coach in Kansas City, is a fan as well.

10. Chris Simms, QB, Tennessee Titans
He is a tough quarterback with smarts and experience as a starter. Simms is able to fit into any system and be a solid starter or a quality backup. With Kansas City and Detroit both looking for a quarterback, Simms could be a top target. He may not have the appeal of other QBs out there, but I assure you, Simms knows what he is doing. I believe he is extremely underrated but will land a starting spot soon.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

http://www.thejaystick.blogspot.com/

National Signing Day Recap

2009-02-05T07:05:00.007-06:00

February 4 is just another day of the year for most folks but among high schools and colleges around the nation it is considered a national holiday. Feb. 4 is National Signing Day, a day where top high school football players hold press conferences in order to announce where they will be playing their football next season. In years past there have been many surprises and 2009 was no different.

Let us review the top 12 players and where you will be able to watch them display their talents in the upcoming seasons.

#1. Quarterback Matt Barkley, USC
The Trojans once again land the top recruit and continue their tradition of promising young talent at the quarterback position. Barkley had great size (6' 3", 222 lbs) and accuracy. His strengths are in his polished mechanics and footwork, also his ability to read and pick apart opposing defenses.

#2. Outside Linebacker Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Te'o shocked scouts and colleges alike with his decision to attend school in South Bend. Most experts believed he would choose either USC or UCLA, but Te'o wanted to play for coach Charlie Weis. He is a great pass rusher who plalys sideline to sideline and never gives up on a play.

#3. Athlete Russell Shepard, LSU
Les Miles stole away another top recruit from his SEC foes. Shepard was looking at Florida but chose to stay close to home and become a Bayou Bengal. He lined up at quarterback in high school but most college scouts believe him to be more in the mold of a running back because of his great speed and quickness.

#4. Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
Kirkpatrick has no noticeable flaws in his game and has tremendous coverage skills. With his height (6' 2") he is taller than most plalyers who play at his position. His talent in zone and man coverage are sure to keep Aabama atop the rankings for the next few years.

#5. Defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel, Florida State
A little small for a lineman (6', 267 lbs), McDaniel is quick, smart, and very productive. He is a solid prospect at the defensive tackle position but also has the ability of play guard on the offensive line. He may become one the rare two-way players in college football and become an even better athlete in the process.

#6. Running back Trent Richardson, Alabama
Richardson chose the Crimson Tide over Florida and LSU simply because of his playing style and ability. He has the power to run between the tackles and also possesses the speed to outrun defenders. With his compact frame and downhill running style, Richardson will be a high carry back who wears down defenses game in and game out.

#7. Safety Craig Loston, LSU
The SEC got the cream of the crop in recruiting classes and will continue to be the best football conference in America. Loston chose to go play for an LSU defense on the rise over Alabama and Texas A&M. He shows his versatility with his ability to play safety, wide receiver, and be a return specialist.

#8. Bryce Brown, Miami (FL)
Brown's ability to hit the hole with power and vision make him a promising young player. The Hurricanes needed an every down type of player in the backfield and found what they were looking for here. His thick frame and workhorse mentality ensure that Brown will contribute immediately in Miami.

#9. Outside Linebacker Jelani Jenkins, Florida
The main focus for Urban Meyer and his Gators this offseason was to build a defense that mirrors their fast paced, high-scoring offense. Jenkins is a bit small for linebacker ( 210 lbs) but he has the speed and play making ability to contribute right away for the defending National Champions.

#10. Wide receiver Rueben Randle, LSU
Randle's height (6' 3") make him and immediate impact receiver even if it is just in the redzone. The offense in Baton Rouge runs on speed and quickness and they receive both abilitys in this one players. Look for Randle to have the type of immediate impact that Georgia wide receiver A. J. Green had last season in the SEC.

#11. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert, Texas
The Longhorns may have found a predecessor to senior quarterback Colt McCoy by signing Gilbert. His strong arm and pocker pressence show that he has all the tools to be a college quarterback in the always challenging Big 12. Along with his ability to throw the deep ball, Gilbert's speed and scrambling ability must be respected by opposing defenses.

#12. Offensive tackle D. J. Fluker, Alabama
Fluker is the top prospect at tackle but plays on the defensive side of the ball as well. He is a mammoth of a man ( 6' 7", 325 lbs) who has better athleticism than you would think at first glance. With as great an upside and Fluker possesses, look for him to dominating the line for years to come for Nick Saban and crew.

Here is the list of the top five recruiting rankings by team:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Texas
4. USC
5. Florida

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

www.thejaystick.blogspot.com General Sports Writer

It Just Doesn't Make Sense

2009-02-02T21:31:00.004-06:00

Some things in life I just do not understand. Certain things that people do and say just do not make sense to me. Whether it is ignorance, arrogance, or (to sum it all up) stupidity, some things just piss me off. Apparently more than other people, because I haven’t heard too much fuss from what went on yesterday in the world of College Hoops.

There were two very physical plays in yesterday’s games that kind of stirred some things up. They were both a little different however. One was, in my mind, clean and I had no problem with the play. The other was bush league for, believe it or not, the team that RECEIVED the hit.

In the Michigan-Purdue game yesterday, with about 18:30 left in the second half, Manny Harris caught a pass around the left wing position. Like every single player is taught as a kid, Harris faced, he saw that the defender was in his face, and he carved out some room the way he was taught. He elbowed Chris Kramer in the face while doing so, leaving a pool of blood standing on the court.

There are tons of people complaining about the play. Most of them are Purdue fans, and most of them have never played basketball before. I’m not sure if people realize this, but that is what you are taught to do! I have played competitive basketball since 3rd grade, and Harris did exactly what he was supposed to do. You would not understand unless you have been in the situation, but he did what he needed to do. When you catch that ball, face the basket, and then feel the defender right up in your crotch... there is only one way to get the guy off.

Not only did Harris wrongly get ejected from the game, he actually got suspended for something that coaches have always told him to do. The NCAA rule contradicts everything that anyone has ever been taught to do in a situation like that. You are told to make room by swinging your elbows, and if someone gets hit then bummer.

I am reading things all over the web and I am apparently against what other people are thinking and I just cannot make sense of it. Everyone is using the term flagrant foul. I am going to use the term that I think is fit for the entire mess. That term rhymes with pull ship. It just doesn’t make sense.

I witnessed the other situation unfold, and there was much more retaliation by coaches, refs, and fans who actually threw all trash in sight onto the floor. It was a close game between North Carolina and NC State for the majority of the game, but as the clock winded down, the Tar Heels got the margin up to a comfortable 17 points. With six seconds left in the game, a NC State player brought the ball across half court. Not only was North Carolina going for the steal, they got the steal and proceeded to attempt a buzzer-beater alley-oop. A play that showed the true immaturity of the team.

The rivalry game ended in heated fashion when N.C. State's Ben McCauley (the only Wolfpack player near the play) rightfully delivered a HARD foul to North Carolina reserve Michael Copeland on the attempt with time expiring. Copeland then jumped to his feet like a little kid and ran after McCauley, forcing the officials to immediately step in to prevent pandemonium.

What I want to know is why on earth was North Carolina going for a buzzer-beater alley-oop??? Besides a possible two points, there is one thing that can come out of that. Trouble. Sorry for the comparison, UNC, but that is something I would associate Duke of doing! I play basketball on my high school team and I have NEVER seen any try for any kind of points in a situation like that in my eight years of playing. Aren’t you supposed to act more adult-like when you get older? It is pretty sad that kids 8-18 are acting more mature than you 19-23 year olds. You were winning by 18 points… anything that will come out of that play is bad. I tip my hat to the ref that came in like flippin’ Joe Frazier; stopping mad man Copeland from turning things into chaos. UNC, and especially Mike Copeland, needs to grow up.

PS, Michael: You are a Tar Heel reserve player. You were only in there because your team was up by nearly 20 points. If you are going to go out there, make a fool of yourself, and get your ass kicked… you should probably be playing at least five minutes/game. You play two minutes per, and haven’t played in 15 of the 21 games. Heck, when I Google your name, the whole first page is about some artist and a high school OLB out of Georgia. You’re a nobody, dude.

Mr. Roy Williams, sir, you are one of the more respected men in America, and I am sure you are on my side… But you need to get your ducks in a row. There are a few punks on your team that don’t deserve to be on one of the most prestigious college basketball teams ever. It just doesn’t make sense.

As I think it over, it just seems to me that the world of sports has things mixed up. The people that run things are confused. For God’s sake, as I was watching the Super Bowl tonight, I witnessed James Harrison of Pittsburgh (a thug) absolutely assault a guy. If you check out the video on you tube or anywhere else, you will see that he mauled the dude on Arizona. I mean, if off a football field, the guy would have been thrown in jail and charged with assault and battery. The result of the “unsportsmanlike” conduct was a ½ yard penalty due to the spot of the ball. The next play was a simple holding call on the ½ yard line that resulted in a freaking safety! It just occurs to me that the basics of the ramification system, when a player screws up, are just pathetic.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

NBA All-Stars: Who Got Snubbed?

2009-01-31T15:34:00.005-06:00

The votes are in and the NBA All-Star reserves have been announced. Both the East and West rosters are set and all that is left is to play the game itself. I want to first begin by introducing the starters and reserves for each conference then go more in-depth with players unfairly left off the All-Star rosters.

-Eastern Conference-

Starters:

Guards- Dwayne Wade, Allen Iverson

Forwards- Lebron James, Kevin Garnett

Center- Dwight Howard

Reserves:

Guards- Joe Johnson, Devin Harris, Jameer Nelson

Forwards- Paul Pierce, Danny Granger, Rashard Lewis

Center- Chris Bosh

-Western Conference-

Starters:

Guards- Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul

Forwards- Amare Stoudemire, Tim Duncan

Center- Yao Ming

Reserves:

Guards- Chauncey Billups, Tony Parker, Brandon Roy
Forwards- Dirk Nowitzki, David West, Pau Gasol
Center- Shaquille O' Neal

When I saw the list of reserves for this year's All-Star game, I was pleasantly surprised to see that all the players deserving of a spot on the roster got one. All but one or two that is.

I have a problem with the fact that Shaquille O' Neal made it on the team as a reserve for the West instead of Al Jefferson. Jefferson (22.7 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.6 bpg) has far better numbers than O' Neal (18.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.6 ppg) and is a far better player and athlete at this point in each man's career. The only reason that The Big Aristotle is a reserve is because the Suns are on a bigger national stage than the lowly Timberwolves. That being said, I do not believe that Jefferson should be punished for being on a terrible team with a poor television market. Jefferson deserves the spot over Shaq and I believe the coaches made a huge mistake.

Another minor problem that I see is in the out West once again. New Orleans Hornets forward David West made the All-Star squad for a second year in a row this year. Now I know that over the past few seasons he has made a huge impact in turning his team around but there is one player that has better numbers and is the best player on his own team, Kevin Durant. The Oklahoma City Thunder turn to Durant every night to provide offense and leadership, something that West does not have to focus on doing night in and night out. Durant (24.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.7 apg) has better overall number that West (20 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and is a more consistent performer. Some will argue that Durant will get to be at All-Star weekend in the Rookie-Sophomore game but that is far below where he deserves to be. KD is an All-Star and just like Jefferson above, he suffers from a small market on the national level.

Make no mistake, the teams were picked better than most years, but to not have Durant and Jefferson in there is a joke.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

www.thejaystick.blogspot.com General Sports Writer

Teams to Watch Out for in the Tournament

2009-01-26T22:51:00.006-06:00

64 teams get into the most well-known tournament ever, but most are pretenders. They may have got in because they won their weak division, or hit a hot streak when it came down to the conference tournament. Half of the teams in the tournament would get smoked by good teams that got stuck with the NIT. That is the system though, and it seems like most people are happy with it.

There are teams every year like Weber State, Vermont, or Cornell that don't stand a chance. There are teams like North Carolina, UCONN, and Duke that are the heavy favorites to reach the title game. But then there are teams that shock the world, and rise from the depths of the College Basketball universe. Last year it was Davidson, Western Kentucky, and Villanova that went way further than they were supposed to. Let's take a look at some teams that I think could be this year's March Madness sleeper.

I am going to try to steer clear from teams that everyone knows has the potential to get to the Final Four. If the bracket was out already, these would be teams in the 7+ seed range. My "projected seeds" are based on if the selection committee was to meet tonight and are simply my opinion on where the team would be placed.

#24 Florida Gators, 17-3 (projected 8 seed)
The Gators used to be a college basketball powerhouse, but now are stuck in "rebuilding". They have surprised a ton of people already. With big wins against Washington and Vandy, the Gators are the front-runner for the SEC Championship and more. This whole season was supposed to ride on Nick Calathes shoulders. He has done a great job; averaging 18 and 7. Let's be real though, Billy Donovan is the leader, the nucleus. Sure, he doesn't average any points, but he is one of the best coaches in the Nation and refuses to lose.

#23 Washington Huskies, 15-4 (projected 9 seed)
The season started rough, to say the very least. The Huskies started out with a loss to Portland for the first game of the season. After that, they fell to a couple of ranked opponents by a combined 28 points. They quickly turned things around after a 2-3 start with huge wins against Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon State, USC, and (most recently) #13 UCLA. The years of rebuilding are officially over. The Huskies and Coach Lorenzo finally have a talented team that can contend seriously in the Pac 10.

Missouri Tigers, 17-3 (projected 8 seed)
I know what you're thinking... Of course he is going to put his team on here. Well think again, because the Tigers are for real. I would know, I watch every single game and comb through everything they do. They are very, very, very good. Despite the extremely tough conference with teams like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Baylor, etc, they will be right at the top of the list come season's end. The have the perfect mix of experience and youth, with players like Lyons, Carroll, Tiller, English, Denmon, MP3, and everyone else. We have one of the (or the) toughest home court to play at in the country. We have not lost a game in our house in a long, long time... Don't expect us to.

#22 St. Mary's Gaels, 18-1 (projected 10 seed)
This is like the Utah and Boise State of College Basketball. They are tearing up the teams they play, but they aren't much to speak of. They remind me of a team called Davidson of last year. I don't want to jump to anything but these guys have something about them. We will see just how good they are when they square off against Gonzaga twice in the next month. Here is a nice way to put it in perspective. Kobe Bryant said, "He is just too quick and too flashy to guard." You know you have something going for you when one of the best players in the world says that about you. Patrick Mills torched the Americans in the Olympics for 20 points. Back for his sophomore year, Mills will once again lead the Gaels into the NCAA Tournament averaging about the same amount of points he dropped on Kobe.

#24 Minnesota Golden Gophers, 17-3 (projected 7 seed)
The Tubby Smith hype seemed a little overblown heading into last season, but the first year coach at Minnesota turned the Golden Gophers into a 20 win team in one season. What did you expect to happen after another offseason? The talent level has increased, the losing mentality is just about completely gone and Coach Smith has a roster that can make a run deep into NCAA tourney. They will be tested, and we will find out exactly what they are capable of as the Golden Gophers host Illinois at home, but then two road games against Michigan State and Ohio State.

Davidson Wildcats, 16-3 (projected 9 seed)
What better way to finish off this list than with the team that defines this list? Last year, the Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight in the t-ment on the back of sophomore Stephen Curry. Well, this year Curry is a junior and even better. They proved that they can compete with anyone in the Nation when they gave Oklahoma fits in November. Davidson is going to make a run at yet another perfect conference record, and will probably get it. The only thing stopping Davidson from doing things similar to last year, is Curry and his quest to become more NBA-ready. This whole season he has been focused on proving to recruiters that he can be a good point in the next level. I have seen time and time again players get TOO focused on that and cannot take care of what is at hand.

Sure, I do not have every single team that could make a run on here. If you disagree, or maybe I did not list your team that is on the outside looking in... Post your comment below so I can take a look at what you all think.

There may not even be a sleeper team this year. But if there is, I would be surprised if it was a team outside of this list.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

No Need To Worry, St. Louis

2009-01-22T19:55:00.004-06:00

I am ready for baseball. It is just that simple. Both basketball and football have been awesome, but when you live in or near St. Louis, you just have a natural passion for baseball. That’s just how it goes. It’s unavoidable, inevitable.

I am an avid sports fan and I love ALL sports. However, baseball is different. I closely follow the entire MLB, but I have a serious relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals. There’s no doubt that the Cards are my favorite team in all of sport. The way I see it, the Cardinal fanbase is an illustrious group. The best in all of baseball.

Cardinal fans will pack the new Busch no matter how the team is doing. Over the past few years, even the World Series year, we have had some really tough stretches. I’d be willing to bet that it was still standing-room-only. For those of you that have had the privledge of being able to attend a Cardinals’ game, you understand what I am talking about. It doesn’t matter the quality of play that the Cardinals are playing at, we still have the best fans in the MLB.
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This offseason has seemed very, very, very pointless for the Cards. At some times… Wait no, all times… it has been boring. St. Louis has signed a whole slew of great baseball players. My boy, Royce Ring, has recently been acquired. He torched the baseball world with an 8.46 ERA with the Atlanta Braves. Let’s give him a little credit though… He only played 22 innings all year and those stats are (hopefully) higher than they would be if he hung around all season. To think that an MLB pitcher would allow, on average, a point/inning, is hard to believe. But, hey, crazier things have happened.

We have locked in on a few other players. Khalil Greene leads the pack and he used to be great. He logged in a 27 HR, 98 RBI season the year before last. Not to mention, 36 year old reliever Trevor Miller. He is a career 4.45 ERA middle reliever, which is not that bad considering he's a reliever. We did resign Wellemeyer, Thompson, and Duncan, both on one-year deals. So no problem right? Ehh, I’m not sure.

There are some good things to look at. We still have, basically, the same team that won 86 games last year. 86 games, in some divisions, would have landed us a spot in the playoffs.

The Cubbies and the Brew Crew really haven’t done a whole lot either. Chicago actually lost their top prospect, Pie. It seems like all three NL Central contenders are kind of idling right now but I’m not convince that it will stay that way.

When you look at it, we really don’t have that bad of a team. Some people act like we are the Washington Nationals here with nothing to look forward to. Not true.

Pitching is going to be our biggest concern. There is talk of the Cards pursuing Randy Wolf, which would be a great move. What we have now though is looking like: Carpenter, Wainwright, Lohse, Wellemeyer, and Peneiro. Carpenter played great last year in the three starts that he did have, and they say that he will be 110% come the start of the season. Wainwright was injured part of 2008, but still recorded a solid 11-3 record. Lohse led STL in most major pitching categories with a 15-6 record and a 3.75 ERA. Wellemeyer was hot and cold with a 13-9 record but had a 3.71 ERA as well. I am anxious to see what Peneiro will do this coming year. He had a great 2007, but followed up with a very rocky ’08… So we will see.

The bullpen could be anywhere from the worst, to the best. Every team’s ‘pen looks that way before the season just because relievers are rarely consistent. The closer spot for us has yet to be filled. It could be another year of situational closing. I would go ahead put Chris Perez in there and give him the job he will have for plenty of years to come. But some people say Carp should be our 9th inning man. I do not like that change. Why take one of our best arms, put him in the closer role, and have the prodigy closer-to-be throw in the middle innings? Oh, Ryan Franklin you ask? NO. I don’t want to go through all that again.

Behind the plate, we have an all-star. Yadier Molina is in his prime. Not only is he the best defensive catcher in the MLB, his batting average as improved from .216 to .304 in the matter of two years. Remember the game when he threw the runner out falling down face-forward? Yeah, I know you do.

At first base, what is there to say? We have the best player in the MLB if you ask me. Two-time MVP award winner, Albert Pujols. I predict his best season so far and another MVP.

In the middle infield, we are really throwing the chips in. Adam Kennedy looks like the starter at second-base and he says that he is ready to contend against anyone who wants to compete with him at the position. Our new shortstop, Khalil Greene, used to be really good but has been on a slight decline lately. He put in a 27 & 98 season two years ago but had a terrible season in 2008 with a .213 average. He is a decent defensive player and is super fast, and often uses his hair as a cape..

Troy Glaus should keep his spot at third that he received last season. I almost screamed when I got a text today stating that he needs shoulder surgery, but thankfully he should be okay come April. Some people complain about his average, but I hate to tell you that it isn’t getting any better than the .270 he had last year. Everyone should be EXTREMELY happy with what he did last year. Not only did he defend the hot corner, he gave us his best offensive season since he was considered one of the heavy weights in the MLB.

The outfield is led by centerfield slugger Rick Ankiel, a man with a lot of potential in Skip Schumaker, and Mr. Ryan Ludwick. Rick just needs to do his thing, provide a huge bat, and gun down some more players. Schumaker busted through as a first-year starter and is now expected to do that. Ludwick guarantees that he will pop 50 homers this season and says him and Pujols will go 1-2 in MVP voting. What he needs to do is pull a Pujols-Rolen-Edmonds, and ask Ankiel if he feels like going 1-2-3 in voting.
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If I am the one that you are talking to, I will say that the Cardinals are going to be fine. On the other hand, to be a true contender, we need to get pitching help. The way things are looking right now, I am predicting a neck and neck finish with us and the Cubs come September. Milwaukee is good but I think they will be what we were last year.

I have four words for you Mr. DeWitt and Mr. “Mo”, I want some Wolf. You do that, and hello Cubbies.

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

http://www.thejaystick.blogspot.com/

NFL Rookies Under Review

2009-01-20T22:35:00.006-06:00

Every April the National Football League, better known to most as the NFL, hosts a draft where each team selects a few select players from the college ranks to join their professional team. Most teams have areas of concern that they feel can be fixed through getting the top talent through the draft. As I sat around on my couch after thinking about this past season I began to realize how many rookies made an immediate impact. The following players, some drafted sooner than others, show signs of having promising careers in the NFL.

-Quarterback Matt Ryan, 3rd overall pick, Atlanta Falcons

Ryan was brought in to revitalize an offense that was torn apart after former quarterback Michael Vick was arrested in the off season. The NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year played mistake free football while leading the Falcons into the playoffs with a 11-5 record. Ryan completed 61.1 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,440yards and 16 touchdowns.

-Linebacker Jerod Mayo, 10th overall pick, New England Patriots

The Patriots had an aging defense that was in need of a major youth movement. They drafted Mayo out of Tennessee to give them youth and energy. He made 128 tackles on the season in helping the New England defense return to dominating form. Mayo was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year after his strong season.

-Quarterback Joe Flacco, 18th overall pick, Baltimore Ravens

When Baltimore drafted Flacco they were hoping for him to be their quarterback of the future. Flacco, a little known quarterback from Division II Delaware, showed why the Ravens used a first round pick to draft him throwing for 2, 971 yards and 14 touchdowns while compiling 11-5 record and leading the team within one win of the Super Bowl.

-Running back Chris Johnson, 24th overall pick, Tennessee Titans

Johnson was the biggest surprise pick of last year's NFL Draft. The Titans have used him as their primary running back and it has paid off big. The first year Pro Bowler compiled 1, 488 totals yards and scored 10 total touchdowns for the team with the best record in the NFL this year at 13-3.

-Safety Kenny Phillips, 31st overall pick, New York Giants

Phillips was brought into New York to give the defense a big hitter in the secondary. He has made 67 tackles and one interception while helping the Giants’ defense prove deserving of last year’s Super Bowl ring and helping them return to playoffs once again.

-Wide receiver Eddie Royal, 42nd overall pick, Denver Broncos

The Broncos needed help on offense this season and got it in big way when they drafted Royal in the second round. He caught 91 passes for 980 yards and five touchdowns.

-Running back Matt Forte, 44th overall pick, Chicago Bears

Forte was drafted in the second round to give the Bears a much needed running game. Chicago got more than they expected when they plugged him into the starting running back role. While the Bears have struggled, none of the problems should be attributed to Forte who lead the team in rushing and receiving amassing 1,715 total yards and 12 touchdowns.

-Running back Steve Slaton, 89th overall pick, Houston Texans

Having played in a high-powered offense in college, Slaton had big expectations in the NFL. Most teams looked past him in the early rounds because of his size but the Texans needed a running game to stabilize their weak offense. He proved to be the most valuable part of the Houston offense while accumulating 1,679 total yards and 10 touchdowns.

If these few players continue to work hard and play up to their potential we should all expect to see them around for a long time in the National Football League.

We always love your thoughts and comments here at The Jay-Stick. It is so simple, no subsciption is required.

Cory Guinn

cryguinn@yahoo.com

http://www.thejaystick.blogspot.com/ General Sports Writer

Midseason Honors

2009-01-17T13:33:00.005-06:00

We’re about halfway through the season, and soon the fun will begin. As we approach the final stretch, let’s think as if we are already there. If the season ended today, what would the awards look like? One of my favorite things to do as a sports fan is awarding players, often well before the actual titles are handed out.

Note: These awards have nothing to do with pro-potential and all that mumbo-jumbo. Simply this year’s performance and the impact/value that the player brings to his team.

ALL-AMERICAN 1ST TEAM

G- Stephen Curry, Davidson
The most explosive player in the country just continues to do his thing. Unarguably the best junior in the Nation. Curry leads everyone in points/game, he is 5th in steals/game, 5th in assists/game, and he is making 38% of his threes. I could go on and on with stats but we all know that this guy should be on this list, no questions. He has had some off days when teams get smart and put (usually) two long-armed defenders on him to disrupt his shot, but then he will come out and light up the court again that next game. However, even when he does have an off night, you can still bet on him dropping 30. He is a scoring machine anywhere on the floor.

G- James Harden, Arizona State
This guy, as well as his team, has kind of gone under the radar all season. Before researching for this post, I didn’t even know a ton about him. That surprises me though. He is the leader of the #15 team in the Nation. Averaging 22 PPG, along with six rebounds, and four assists, the best thing about this guy is he is so young. Whether he will be back next year or not I do not know, but this sophomore is dominating the Pac 10. He shoots with a better percentage than Curry does – 54% FG and 42% from beyond the arc. Considering he has a ton of room to improve, he is one of the best that I have seen at the “and 1”. He has it down to a science, and when he goes to the line he knocks it down. He is used to being double or triple teamed and it just shows his maturity, unselfishness, and poise.

F- Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Say hello to the accolades, Mr. Griffin. This guy is just a ridiculous athlete, and will soon hear his name announced as the #1 player picked in the upcoming draft. He is a big, strong guy that dominates the post with his points and rebounds. He should get the rebound title this year, averaging 14/game. His 6’10” 250 lb frame lets him do whatever he wants in the paint. There is nothing wrong with this guy… Perfect low-post size, great hands, very athletic for a near- 7-footer, scrappy kind of player, battles on every play, he is able to get on it and run the floor, good enough ball handling to dribble on fast-break, still a good passer (3 assists per), is there anything else you need???

F- Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Even though “Physco T” was out the first couple games, and got off to a slow start, he has still done plenty to get on this list. Heck, he would make my All-Decade team. He is the heart and soul of the best college basketball team, possibly, we have seen in a while. He is the most intense (borderline insane) player that I have ever witnessed play in the collegiate level. He is a big-time scorer, a big-time rebounder, in a big-time conference. He is the perfect example on why players should hang around in college instead of leaving after their freshman, sophomore, or junior seasons. Due to him staying at Chapel Hill for the full four years, his game is more polished and he is a more mature player than the good majority of the Country. He is very experienced and comes through in the clutch better than most, which can also have to do with hanging around. North Carolina has had one of the toughest schedules of all the #25 teams, but still Hansbrough puts in 23 & 8 every night.

C- Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Thabeet is arguably the best pure center in the NCAA and has undoubtedly the coolest name. Thabeet is averaging a double-double and is an anchor in the third ranked Huskies squad. Thabeet better be looking over his shoulder because Arizona State’s Jordan Hill is gaining on him at the center position. He is improving constantly and still has plenty of room to grow. He does exactly what any team would ask of somebody like Hasheem. He clogs up the paint, takes care of the boards, and drills the hook shot. Teams do not go into the paint when playing UCONN because of this dude. If you drive, it is inevitable, he will block you. He averages 13 points/game, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, and makes his shot at a 67% rate. Last year’s Roy Hibbert is the closest that I can compare him to… but Thabeet is much better.

2ND TEAM

G- Darren Collison
G- Ty Lawson
F- Luke Harangody
F- Sam Young
C- Jordan Hill

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

F- Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Say hello to the accolades, Mr. Griffin. This guy is just a ridiculous athlete, and will soon hear his name announced as the #1 player picked in the upcoming draft. He is a big, strong guy that dominates the post with his points and rebounds. He should get the rebound title this year, averaging 14/game. His 6’10” 250 lb frame lets him do whatever he wants in the paint. There is nothing wrong with this guy… Perfect low-post size, great hands, very athletic for a near- 7-footer, scrappy kind of player, battles on every play, he is able to get on it and run the floor, good enough ball handling to dribble on fast-break, still a good passer (3 assists per), is there anything else you need???

Honorable Mention:
G- Steph Curry, Davidson

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

C- Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Considering the way he has played, what he offers to Georgetown, it is no stretch to call Monroe the best freshman in the Nation thus far. Greg has stepped up and contributed consistently for the Hoyas since day one, filling the Hibbert void. He has established himself as arguably the most important piece to the #12 Hoyas’ puzzle, and erasing any doubts that people had of him coming out of high school. In the game against UCONN, he owned the game that I put on the All-American team in Monroe’s position. On both ends of the floor, he showed everyone that he has the versatility, skill-set, and feel for the game better than most college vets. I have him as the #3 big-man in the NCAA, behind Thabeet and Hill.

Honorable Mention:
G- Willie Warren, Oklahoma

MAJOR CONFERENCE WINNERS

ACC- North Carolina Tar Heels
Big 12- Oklahoma Sooners
Big East- Pittsburgh Panthers
Big Ten- Minnesota Golden Gophers
Pac 10- Arizona State Sun Devils
SEC- Florida Gators

FINAL FOUR PREDICTION

I will leave the rest for you, but here will be the final four teams remaining. I hate to just pick the favorites so do not hate me if I go on a limb on some or all of these four.

Midwest- Clemson Tigers
West- North Carolina Tar Heels
East- Syracuse Orange
South- Wake Forest

If you wouldn’t mind, I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. All you have to do is write a comment and submit. There is no subscribing to anything. Just write one or two sentences and click.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

Carroll Embarrasses Himself

2009-01-16T12:53:00.005-06:00

On one of the biggest days of young Mark Sanchez’s life, classless Pete Carroll decided to voice his opinion. The man who coached Sanchez to four Rose Bowl wins (Mark sat the bench during the 2006 National Championship), 2008 First Team All-Pac10 honors, 2008 First Team All-American honorable mention honors, and a bright NFL future, really put a dent in a day that should have been one of Sanchez’s finest.

Before yesterday, I really looked up to Pete Carroll. I thought he was on a certain pedestal when compared to other coaches. It would be hard to argue that he isn’t the best coach in the college game today. He is USC’s coach, the most decorated team in NCAA history. They have a hard time losing, and year in and year out they have a title-contending team. By all means, do not get me wrong, I think Carroll is one of the best college coaches to grab the clipboard. But as a man, things are different.

The dude gets what he wants, when he wants it. Out of all of the college coaches the currently hold the job, he has a higher winning percentage than all of them. I cannot imagine the percentage of players he lands after recruiting them. I know if I was Mr. Superstar football player, USC would be right at the top of my list for where I wanted to go to school. For those reasons, you usually see Pete Carroll jumping up and down with a huge smile on his face like a little school girl. Life is good for Pete. However, yesterday, we saw him whining like a little school girl.

What he did was low, and he embarrassed himself.

It doesn’t happen often, but when Carroll has a bad day, apparently you know it. His star Quarterback left for the NFL before his senior season and he did not like that one bit. Like I said before, he acted like a girl in his press conference following Sanchez’s announcement. As Carroll sat only five feet away from Sanchez, he decided to completely rain on what should have been a joyous day for Mark.

What proved to be a very awkward press conference concluded with Carroll treating his former QB like some kind of traitor. "We don't see this decision the same," Carroll said. "Mark's going against the grain on this decision and he knows that. He knows coming out early is a tremendous challenge for a quarterback and the statistics don't back up that it will be easy the way he's going about it. I am disappointed in that the information that we have wasn't compelling enough to make it clear to him," Carroll said. "Our view of it is, and as you guys will see as you dig into this a little bit more, you'll see that these early entry quarterbacks are less than 50-50 successful."

After his statements, Carroll wanted nothing to do with Sanchez. He got up and walked out, not supporting Sanchez what-so-ever like he did with numerous of players prior. He treated Sanchez as if he was statistics, instead of a person. Like he was numbers, instead of an excellent Quarterback.

“Congratulations, son. You deserve this. You’ve earned your chance. You are ready for the next level. You made my life as a coach a tad bit easier, and I can’t wait to see you excel in the big leagues. Good job.” Carroll could have said a number of things to that effect. For Christ sake, congratulate the dude. HE brought YOU your Rose Bowl this year. I don’t care if you mean it, but the least you could do was say good job. Yet, it almost sounds like he doesn’t want Sanchez to do well in the NFL. He went as far as to post a big ole article about why Sanchez is making a bad decision, like he hopes to prove Sanchez wrong.

That press conference was live, in front of tons of people. Can you think of what the conversation is like between the two behind closed doors??

It was understandable for Carroll to say whatever it took to get Sanchez to come back to school. Whatever he said to Taylor Mays amazingly kept him on campus for another year. But once Sanchez made his decision to go pro, Carroll should have respected his decision and saved his "50-50 failure" talk for another underclassman down the road. The fact that he couldn't resist taking one last public shot at Sanchez's decision before leaving the press conference early says a lot about the kind of man Carroll is when things don't go his way. Luckily for him, those moments are few and far between.

Unlike your former coach, Mark Sanchez, I will be rooting for you. Well wait, I will be unless the 49ers take you at #9. Have fun in San Fran or anywhere else you land. I wouldn’t mind one bit seeing you play for my Rams at some point, and I wouldn’t go on a rant if you left.

Please let me hear your thoughts via the comment section below. It is very simple and does not require any kind of blogger.com subscription so feel free.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

BCS Bowl Preview

2009-01-01T19:59:00.004-06:00

Well, Happy New Year! The New Year means different things for some people. For some, it means a new start. Some people have New Year’s resolutions that last until April. In the sports world, it means that Conference games start soon in College Hoops. As well as, the start of the NFL Playoffs. MLB teams start to sign big-name players and set their teams for the start of Spring Training in a couple months. More importantly, however, is the beginning of the BCS Bowl season. Tonight marks the very start of the only bowls that count. I know this is meant for a different article but, do we really need 34 flipping bowls? I mean, come on, the San Diego County Credit Union Bowl? That is for another time though.

I was thinking of something to write about today on my day off and what better than running through the BCS Bowls? As the Rose Bowl starts as I speak, I will run through the BCS matchups while giving you constant updates.

First, as they sing the National Anthem, the Rose Bowl:

#5 USC vs. #8 Penn State. We finally have a great matchup for the Grand Daddy of them all. There are many times were the winner of the Pac10 or Big10 are playing in the BCS National Championship, but this year both teams will meet in the Rose Bowl.

Make no mistake about it, besides the Championship game; this might easily be the best matchup of all the bowls. Both teams are very similar. While having on-and-off offenses, both teams’ defenses are unbelievable. Both teams rank in the top-15 in all major defensive statistical categories.

You know Joe Pa is looking at the Oregon State game and what they did to get USC into the 4th quarter. Penn State will try to spread things out and throw the ball. Penn State must avoid the linebacking crew, however. Those three will destroy you if you let them.

As I am watching the game right now, USC is already showing that they will be firing down field all game. That being the only breaking point in the Penn State D... the pass defense. USC will lull you to sleep with running it to the outside, and then Sanchez will gun it downfield.

IF Penn State is with USC in the 4th quarter, I think that they will have a shot with an arguably better offense.

Jay’s Prediction: USC- 23, Penn State- 17

USC strikes first, 7-0. Now let’s look at the Orange Bowl:

#12 Cincinnati vs. #19 Virginia Tech. In another battle of Conference Champs, the Big East will take on the ACC. While those Conferences may not be the best all-around in the BCS, both of these teams have had impressive victories and deserve their spot here.

This will be a very interesting matchup in what is, honestly, not the most hyped-up BCS bowl this season. The high-powered Bearcats’ offense (led by Junior QB Tony Pike), will take on the stout Hokies’ defense. One has to give and I, personally, will be excited to see which one does.

The Hokies will have to get some serious production from Tyrod Taylor if they expect to keep up with Cincinnati. Turnovers have been a big problem for the Bearcats. VT will also have to force some interceptions, fumbles, etc. to hang around. With Tech only averaging 175 passing yards per game, they will have to find a way to move the ball.

Cincinnati simply has to do exactly what they have done throughout the season. Move the ball and score. If they can consistently move the ball, they will not have a problem with the Hokies’ shaky offense. Just take it to them and it will be all good. Let’s not forget to mention the Bearcat defense. The D-Line is what has done it for the Cats this season. They have led the Big East in sacks all season long.

Jay’s Prediction: Cincinnati- 24, Virginia Tech- 13

USC in control and driving, 17-7. How about some Sugar?

#4 Alabama vs. #6 Utah. The Crimson Tide will take on an undefeated Utah Utes team that dominated the MWC this year. They will be doing it without, arguably, their best player. An offensive lineman, Andre Smith was suspended for violating the team’s weight-control rule.

The guy will likely be the #2 pick in the NFL Draft, so this makes a huge impact on the game. John Parker Wilson will be forced to get rid of the ball quickly and make smarter, more accurate throws.

Smith will not affect Alabama’s MO, their defense. The Tide has dominated on that side of the ball all year, ranking in the top-6 in both total defense and total scoring defense. This matchup is very similar to the Florida game. The Utes have an extremely similar offensive attack to the Gators, led by star Quarterback Brian Johnson (2700 yards, 24 TDs).

To win, Utah will have to shun all doubters and defeat ‘Bama’s defense. Not to mention, shut down star WR Julio Jones, and put pressure on Wilson.

Alabama just has to keep their cool and don’t let the “heavy favorite” title hurt them. Utah is coming to play, so do not let a Boise State-upset occur. They need to contain Johnson while on defense and make smart plays on the other end. Hand the ball off, and then launch it to one of my favorites… Julio Jones.

Andre Smith won’t completely derail Alabama’s train.

Jay’s Prediction: Alabama- 30, Utah- 21

At the half, it is ALL USC, 31-7. Now a peek at the Fiesta Bowl.

#3 Texas vs. #10 Ohio State. For the 5th time in the past eight seasons, the Buckeyes are going to be hanging around Glendale, Arizona.

The last time that Ohio State was in Glendale, they got shackled 41-14 in the National Championship against the Florida Gators two years ago. It wasn’t the last time that the Bucks were embarrassed. In the only big games that Ohio State played this year, they were smacked around. The USC game looked like it was over before it began, and Penn State looked like the ’85 Bears.

Ohio State will be out to prove their self in another big game. The Ohio State/Texas matchup has always seemed to be a good one and, hopefully, Ohio State will look for some redemption. I am anxious to see how they respond to being the underdog.

The Buckeyes will need to score early and often in order to stay around. Nobody honestly expects the Buckeyes to win this game so why not open up the playbook and look to score, score, score.

They need to score a ton to win this game, but do not be fooled… Scoring 45 points does not necessarily mean you will win against this Texas team. The ‘Horns have a stellar offense anchored by Heisman-runner up Colt McCoy. Does anyone remember the last time a Longhorn was runner up for the Heisman? Do you remember what he did in his respective bowl game? Yeah.

Ohio State is going to be focused on Colt McCoy, and why not? Colt shattered the Comp % record with his 79% completion percentage to beat Daunte Culpepper (if my memory serves me right). The QB is amazing, we all know that… Texas needs to use some play action plays. The Buckeyes are going to be so focused on McCoy, they will get so confused when you throw some play action at them. Plays of that nature are used to get the defense sold on the run when, actually, the QB has it. Ohio State may be anticipating that too much and it, in a way, counteracts itself.

Ohio State will play great, they will play amazing in fact… but a few late turnovers doom the Buckeyes and Texas will sneak out of it with a W.

Jay’s Prediction: Texas- 31, Ohio State- 27

As USC continues to dominate the Nittany Lions, 38-17, here comes my outlook on the BCS National Championship.

#1 Oklahoma vs. #2 Florida. Every single year there are people whining about the BCS and I have expressed my thoughts on that, but this is the system they choose to use and this is the Championship. End of story. So let’s sit down and enjoy the game, because it will be a good one.

The College Football world hasn’t seen as much hype and buildup media-wise since 2005 when, my man, Vince Young squared off against Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush. You can only hope that this year’s game is anywhere close to the ’05 game.

Although Oklahoma is the #1 team in the nation according to rankings, history and the numbers show Florida as the favorite. First let’s look at the Heisman. Sam Bradford won it and numbers show that the Heisman winner, in most cases, do not win their bowl game. Heisman trophy winners are 2-6 in their respective bowl games since 2000, including 1-5 in the National Championship game.

We can talk about the Heisman “curse” all we want, and some people say it is irrelevant all considering, but check out Bob Stoops. Oklahoma’s head coach straight up struggles when it comes to winning BCS Bowl games. Since taking over in 2000, Stoops is 4-4 in bowl games. More importantly, he is 2-4 in BCS Bowl games and 1-2 in the National Championship.

The Sooners are statistically the underdog but if they are going to win, they need to keep to Sooner-football this season and what they did to win. Let’s be honest, there isn’t a decent defense in the entire B12 Conference. Bobby, I’m not going to tell you to not worry about defense… but do not think you are going to have a good defensive game because you won’t. This is going to be a showdown. A very high-scoring affair. Just do what you did to my Mizzou, Oklahoma State, etc, etc, etc and run up that scoreboard like no other. Just let Bradford do his thing. Your star RB is out but maybe it isn’t a bad thing.

Florida, obvious, MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST stop one of the best offenses in NCAA history (if not the best). They need to buckle down on defense and get to work. You have watched the tape, prepared, done whatever you need to do; you know what needs to be done to win. All you got to do now is execute. On the other end, don’t you worry… Oklahoma is going to score. Hopefully not 60+ like usual, but they will score, and you will have to match that.

Wow, it is going to be a good one. Oklahoma is just going to do their thing. Florida will put up a fight, but won’t keep up.

Jay’s Prediction: Oklahoma- 42 (nope, not 62), Florida- 35

Oh, what perfect timing. USC denies a Penn State comeback and continues Trojan tradition, 38-24.

Let me hear your thoughts in the comment section below. Please feel free to fill the board up, I appreciate them all.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

It's MVP, not POY

2008-12-26T14:40:00.004-06:00

Man, what a day of basketball yesterday, huh? I mean, Christmas basketball is always sweet, but we had the stars out for show. There were some nail-biting games, most of them being playoff(or Final)-previews. We had everything from a game where one team only scored 30 points in each half, to a buzzer-beating three to win the game, to last year’s NBA Finals matchup.

I got to thinking during the Lakers-Celtics game, and starting writing down some notes about the MVP of the league this year. I got to see a good portion of the candidates last night: Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, DAwight Howard, Amar’e Stoudemire, Shaq?, LeBron James, Brandon Roy. Although most of the candidates were there some did not have a game yesterday… namely, Dwayne Wade who could be a main contender till the end.

Those are the possibilities for MVP this season, unless someone rises from the mist. It is going to be another close race; there is not one clear-cut winner. Last year it was a two-man race with CP3 and Kobe. However, we will be lucky to see that this year. Different from last year, we are going to see likely a four-man race. The front-runners in my mind are Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, Kobe, and LeBron James. Don’t get me wrong, there very well could be a guy that ups his game and gets in the mix because we aren’t even midway, but I see it as these are the guys to beat. If you want me to break it down even more for you, I will. I, personally, think that this season’s race will come down to two men… the two best players in the world. Kobe vs. LeBron.

There was an interview with Kobe and Magic Johnson last night, and I found something very interesting in it. The magic Johnson asked Bryant when he was going to be ready to hand the torch off to LeBron as being the face of the league and best player. He noted that Larry Bird and he handed it down to Michael Jordan. MJ then gave it to Kobe. They were wondering when the time would come and we would see the Kobe-to-LeBron exchange. Well, if you ask me, when LeBron 1) wins the MVP award or 2) wins the Championship (likely same season)… that basically means that LeBron is the main man. Whether Kobe is ready or not. When one of those two things happens, that means that Kobe is forced to pass the torch, in my opinion. By the way, Kobe said that he will pass it on when he retires. It’s going to be earlier than that my friend. To view the entire interview, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzvVhV8frY8.

Back to the MVP discussion. One thing that I have always kept in mind when awarding a player is what the abbreviations stand for. MOST **VALUABLE** PLAYER. Keyword is “valuable”. It is not POY, Player of the Year. That means, stats do not mean much. It means it is not what a player does for himself and the box score, but what he does for his respective team. I think the phrase “team players” needs to be brought into the debate. What a player does to make the team better. A player’s team may suck but he averages 35 points. Well in that case, I don’t think he should even be in the race.

There has been people that think the MVP should go to the most valuable player of the team that wins the entire thing. Crazy or not, I don’t think that’s a half-baked idea.

Which team, in your mind, would be more screwed with out their star? Miami Heat? No, they have Marion and Beasley. Los Angeles? Nah, they have an entire team full of gunners (Gasol, Odom, etc). Well what about the Cleveland Cavs? Umm... let’s think… Who else do they have? Well… nobody. BINGO.

LeBron James is all that the Cavaliers have, and without him would they be anywhere? Without Kobe and Dwayne, their teams can still compete. Cleveland cannot compete without LeBron. He is the most valuable player, to his team, in the league.

James is tearing the league up; he looks like he is back in high school to be honest. He is averaging 27 points per game, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per. Those are, without a doubt, the best overall numbers his career has seen. But the big stat, that less and less people look at, is the 22-4. 22-4 and right behind the Boston Celtics. In the past, LeBron has been amazing but his team fizzles. This is the best group he has been with and he is playing at his prime. Well, I shouldn’t say that… Is there more in the tank? Have we seen his best?

‘Bron deserves it not just because of individual performance, but because of leadership. He is a team player; he is the most valuable player. Savor it Kobe, because the time is nearing.

As always, I urge you to leave your thoughts on this post in the comment section below. I really appreciate your responses.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com
www.collegesports-fans.com Mizzou/SLU Correspondent

Just When You Thought They Were Done

2008-12-24T15:23:00.004-06:00

On December 18, 2008 C.C. Sabathia signed a seven-year, 161 million dollar contract with the Yankees

On December 18, 2008 A.J. Burnett signed a seven-year, 82.5 million dollar contract with the Yankees.

On December 23, 2008 Mark Teixaira agreed on an eight-year, 180 million dollar contract with the Yankees.

Wow. Now come on, this is starting to get ridiculous. The Bronx Bombers have bought the top 2 pitchers on the market and the top hitter out there. The scary thing is that Manny Ramirez is still out there. Are they done? I have asked myself that and said yes twice now and have been wrong both times. Chances are they are not done. Which is very frightening.

It is starting to get unfair. They usually do about one of these every couple years, but three in the time span of 5 days? Every year the idea of the salary cap in baseball makes more and more sense. With the cap, none of this can happen and the Yanks are just like every other team out there. For example, my Cardinals NEED pitching. You know that we would love either of the pitchers that the Yankees got but everyone knows that there is no way in hell we will get them because of teams like the Yankees. We cannot afford to throw out that much money. The best way to describe this situation in baseball is with the old cliché: “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer”. It is that simple and it is soo true.

But, hey, who can blame the Yankees? They have the money to spend. If I was them, I wouldn’t be afraid of doing the same thing… why not? The odd thing is, they spend millions and millions on players like Sabathia and Tex and A-Rod and how many Championships have they won since starting this binge? Not very many. They undoubtedly have the best talent but we still see the small-market teams succeed. The Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series this year and they have the thirteenth highest payroll in the MLB at $98,000,000. It isn’t near as sexy as the Yankees’ $209,000,000 is it? What about the AL Champ, the Tampa Bay Rays? They had a $43,000,000 payroll which is, umm, second-to-last in the MLB. The funny thing is this… New York did not make the playoffs this year and only won 89 games. We all know that 89 wins isn’t going to be enough in a 3-team division now.

Although it does infuriate me that the Yanks are taking potential St. Louis Cardinals away from us because they have more money, I will give them some credit. They haven’t been shy about getting what they need to win. New York needed to do this to compete with Boston and Tampa next summer. They needed pitching and they got C.C. and Burnett. They need a defensive playmaker and more power in the lineup around A-Rod and they went and stole Teixaira. No matter if it is right or wrong, they need these key elements to win. All of this essentially takes the Yankees from 3rd place in the AL East, to World Series contenders. It also sets up some intriguing division races in September. Don’t blame them for spending money that they had. You would have done the same.

However, whichever way you look at it, these large contracts are extremely risky. 1) You are signing these players for seven and eight years. There are only a handful of players that have played in-prime baseball for more than 6-7 years. I don’t know if I would have the guts to sign a player to that long of a contract. Sure, the players want security and maybe that is what they were asking for but it is a definite ballsy move. 2) It’s New York and you are throwing out 180 million dollars. With it being the Big Apple, fans are used to Championships and they will not settle for anything less. Now you are throwing out contracts like this, and now New Yorkers are expecting a ring. Anything less and you are going to have people wanting blood. Underachieving is not an option in New York anyway… but now you are signing baseball’s elite and it will only increase that mindset. Not only have you bought Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixaira, you have bought even more pressure.

Let’s be honest with ourselves though, it’s the YANKEES!! You really think that all this cash is going to get you past the Divisional Series? In the meat of the era that we are talking about here with New York, they haven’t made it past the ALDS in the past 4 years. The face of the MLB, in buying all of these All-Star players, hasn’t made it to the World Series since 2003. They have not won a World Series since the “Subway Series” 9 years ago.

Money doesn’t buy happiness…
Money doesn’t buy wins neither.

Please remember to leave your thoughts in the comment section below. You know that I love to hear what you think about the subject.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
http://www.thejaystick.blogspot.com/
http://www.collegesports-fans.com/ Mizzou/SLU Correspondent

Ranked(?) Mizzou Takes on Illinois in Braggin' Rights Showdown

2008-12-22T20:11:00.007-06:00

Missouri has won 8 of the past 9 games. As a reward, they have been handed the #25 rank in the nation.Let's just hope that the Tigers do not get a big head after a hot start. That exact problem has crippled Mizzou the past several years going all the way back to the Quin Snyder scandal. Although, with what looks to be a good group, overconfidence (knock on wood) shouldn't be a serious problem this go around. But, hey, this team is good and do not get me wrong... You can strut your stuff and it is perfectly OK to have a little swagger in you. You've deserved it.

(9-1) #25 Mizzou will take on it's third real contest against the (10-1) Illinois Fighting Illini in the 28th Braggin' Rights Game in neutral St. Louis. For the first time in a long time, Mizzou is not only favored, they are ranked! It marks the first time that the Tigers have been ranked in exactly 90 weeks (December 3rd, 2003).

The Fighting Illini are not ranked and haven't been since 2005. However, Illinois is starting to get respect from some of the voters with 20 total votes. If the poll was to be extended, that would be good for #32. This would of been the 3rd consecutive year that neither team was ranked but that streak was halted with today's new AP Poll. At least one of the teams - usually both - have been ranked in 22 of the 28 meetings.

There is a ton at stake this year in the annual meeting, especially with MU. They are favored and expected to win. The pressure is on while they look to break the 8 year skid. With both teams teetering with being ranked or not, which ever team comes out ahead will begin to knife through the polls. Which ever team disappoints, will likely plummet. The game has had a history of providing a boost to the winner...

After a wobbly start that included what was then the worst loss in school history, by 52 points at Arkansas, MU's triple-overtime victory in 1993 propelled it to a national ranking within two weeks. The Tigers then went 14-0 in the Big Eight and advanced to the Elite Eight. In 1996, the Illini were coming off an 18-13 season. They beat Mizzou 85-69, jumped into the national rankings and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Both teams have really out-performed preseason expectations and will get a shot at receiving some well-deserved National attention. The game will be aired tomorrow night on ESPN2 at 6:30 CT.

The once untouchable Fighting Illini (Derron Williams, Dee Brown, and James Augustine) have really declined since the amazing run in 2004. Illinois was turned down by the Selection Committee for the first time in 8 years last year. On the other hand, Mizzou has been on a steady incline in the past several years. The Tigers have not danced in 5 years after making it into the Tournament 5 straight years.

Missouri and their senior leaders, DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons, have led the Tigers to a near perfect start. With the only loss coming against #7 Xavier, they have put together some impressive wins when playing previously ranked #15 USC and a very decent California team.

When looking at the other end of the spectrum, you will see that Illinois is 10-1, sure, but you also need to notice that they have had a pretty easy schedule. They hosted and lost their only game against a ranked team a couple weeks ago with Clemson. Other than that, it has been mediocre D1 teams or lower.

I will put it this way, this game is so big that former MU coach Norm Stewart actually spread palm leaves around the locker room and went as far as sprinkling salt on them for good luck when he was at the helm. You can think he is crazy all you want but he was an awesome coach and this just shows the significance of this game. Many think it is the reason that the Tigers have faded after several hot starts these past few years. Like I said, this game has an interesting way of lifting the one that wins and sinking the team that does not prevail.

Mizzou has lost in the final seconds of the past three Braggin' Rights Games. This year, Carroll (avg; 18 & 7) and Lyons (16 & 7) look to put the Fighting Illini away to build that resume for March.

As a diehard Missouri fan, I am very proud to say that the Mizzou program is looking up and getting better each year. We are now finally ranked. A win tomorrow would be huge, propelling us to God knows what.

Some predict us to do amazing things this year and I cannot wait. Last week, I was watching halftime of some College Hoops game and Dick Vitale himself said, "Mizzou will take the Big 12 and cruise through the NCAA Tournament till at least the Sweet 16... mark it down." I guess that is when it kicked in and I got the feeling that this group was special.

I predict some extreme accolades for the Tigers this year. We will look to go to the Tournament for the first time since 2003 and we aren't just going to go. They have the perfect formula if you ask me and they are good. Tomorrow's game will measure how good.

Please feel free to comment in the space provided below. I love to read your thoughts on my posts so comment away! If you need to contact me, my email address is also listed.

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

www.collegesports-fans.com Mizzou/SLU Correspondent

Too Early To Look at 2009's Heisman Race?

2008-12-16T21:52:00.007-06:00

Midst a season in which the Big 12 South Champion had to be decided on the 5th tie breaker of a 3-way tie, I consider it very fitting for this year’s Heisman race to be the closest since 2001 when Nebraska’s Eric Crouch won the most prestigious award in all of sports.

In the end, when all of the votes were tallied, Sam Bradford of Oklahoma became the 74th winner of the Heisman Trophy. Following Bradford, Colt McCoy of Texas was the first runner up and, last year’s winner, Tim Tebow got 3rd.

When the final votes were counted on Saturday night, it was Florida's Tebow, the award's defending winner, taking home 309 of the 904 first-place votes; nine more than Bradford. But it was Bradford, the soft-spoken humble kid from Oklahoma City, hoisting the award in the end. The Sooners’ QB joins Paul Hornung and Billy Sims as the only players to win despite getting 2nd in first place votes.

With first place votes being worth three points, second place votes worth two, and third place being worth one, the system added Bradford – who finished #1 in the Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest, and Far West regions – to the illustrious company. McCoy, who took the crown in the Midwest and finished right behind Bradford in the Southwest and Far West portions, came in 122 votes short. Tebow finished 151 votes behind Bradford and 29 votes away from silver despite dominating the South and receiving second in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

After all is through, this may very well be how we remember the 2008 campaign. The memorable and to-close-to-call Heisman Race featuring the nation’s elite. I think that is safe to say that if it was any other year, and there was only one of either of these guys, they would have blown away the competition. All three of these Quarterbacks are Heisman material.

What I think is kind of strange is the eerie pattern of everything going Oklahoma’s way. From Oklahoma getting the BCS rank they needed to jump Texas and compete in the National Championship on the 8th, to the freak 35-yard pass from Herrell to Crabtree to put Oklahoma back in the drivers’ seat, to McCoy beating Bradford out for the All-America team, to even McCoy schooling Bradford ON THE FIELD in the regular season matchup.. yet Colt is heading to Arizona to play the two-loss Buckeyes in the Fiesta bowl vs. Bradford who has a plane ticket to Miami and the Heisman Trophy as his carry-on to play for the BCS National Championship. See a common theme?

One thing I am starting to hate is hearing Longhorn fans bitchin’ and moanin’ over it all. Guess what guys? If your precious team would have taken care of the Red Raiders in Lubbock, McCoy would have had the Heisman and the game. And another thing, UT fans… Nobody can argue with the Bradford decision as Heisman. Oklahoma had the best offense in the history of the NCAA. He was the heart and soul of arguably the best college football offense to ever take the field. If you really look at it, Samuel may have had the best season EVER by a Quarterback in a BCS Conference.

Bradford, with the grace and confidence of a seasoned veteran, led the nation in touchdown passes (48) and passing efficiency (186.28). He didn't exactly do it against a soft schedule, either. When it mattered most — in three nationally televised games against Top 20-ranked opponents with a BCS title game berth on the line — Bradford soared to new heights. Consider these numbers in the Sooners' final three contests, each one in widely viewed primetime ABC/ESPN Saturday night affairs:

--14-for-19, 304 yards, four touchdowns in 65-21 win over No. 1 Texas Tech
--30-for-44, 370 yards, four touchdowns in 61-41 win over No. 12 Oklahoma State
--34-for-49, 384 yards, two touchdowns in Big 12 Championship Game win over No. 19 Missouri

His last seven games are the ones that set him away from the rest of the pack and earned my vote. In 257 attempts (remember that number), he threw 1 interception. Against teams that he played in those final seven games, only 1 INT in 257 attempts is straight up phenomenal. In those final seven freak games, the Sooners beat teams by a combined score of 419-205.

Really for me though, this year’s Heisman Race was set apart from every other one. It was about sometime more important that football statistics and records. These three men are very similar. I’m not talking about pass accuracy or throwing power, or touchdown passes. I’m talking about these guys as men. The crazy thing about the freak stats is that on the totem pole, they put themselves at about #4. For all of these men it is: Family, Teammates, and Faith in no particular order… then they worry about their self. During the entire presentation these three praised each other on how either of them could of received it and every one of them earned it. There was a very common theme, and that was mutual admiration. This year, there were a record number of votes submitted (904 of 926 ballots were processed). That’s because this year was different than all the others. I can only wish the best to all three of these men.

All of that, believe it or not, brings me to a question I asked myself on Sunday afternoon before I started writing all of this. Is it too early to start looking forward to 2009’s Heisman Race? Can it be even close to anything we had this year? Will any or all of these guys be back? Unfortunately that is very unlikely, but let’s take a look at what we, most likely, will have.

Most of the top players that would be Heisman candidates in 2009 will leave early, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of interesting prospects in the race. Here are the top 10 contenders for the 2009 Heisman chase among guys almost certain to stay in school.

10. Todd Reesing, QB Kansas
Todd Reesing deserves to be on this list. He may never win since he doesn`t go to a Heisman school but he`s every bit as good as any of the QB`s on this list and you could argue that he`s better because he has not had the supporting cast that any of these guys have had. With that said, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier combined for over 2000 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2008. Both are coming back… I will leave it at that.

9. Dan LeFevour, QB Central Michigan
In what seems like it will be his 7th year at Central Michigan, Dan will use his arm and his legs to score and try to lead his Chippewas to their third straight MAC title. He will need a Brennan-like season, meaning a perfect record and somewhere in the neighborhood of 55-60 total touchdowns, to compete for the award. As a junior in 2007, LeFevour passed for 20 touchdowns and added another 20 on foot so it isn’t out of the question.

8. Nate Davis, QB Ball State
Look for a monster year from Davis as Lewis and other RBs took away from his Heisman-potential season in 2008. His RBs are gone and he is the centerpiece. The coaches will expect and ask more out of him and they will get it. He'll put up the stats, the team will win, and he'll be the cause celebre for those looking to get a non-BCS player back into the mix.

7. Zac Robinson, QB Oklahoma State
I love this guy and I love this guy’s potential at the collegiate level and, if I could I would easily put him higher. He will, no-doubt-about it, be in the mix. He has RB Kendall Hunter and star WR Dez Bryant coming back so expect an even more explosive offense this coming year. With most of the BCS-Conference QB stars moving to the next teir, it is time for Zac Robinson to step in and take the heat.

6. Mark Sanchez, QB USC
It is hard to put any Trojan QB any lower than this considering the history and what they have done in the past. He should be higher, but he can blame the bust season that USC’s offense put together. The Men of Troy had to rely on their defense and, although it worked to an extent, it wasn’t good enough. He has stars coming back (ie Joel McKnight) and we will see if his natural talent turns into numbers.

5. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB Oregon State
For any of you people that think this kid shouldn’t be on this list, I will personally find you a tape of the USC/OreSt game of a couple months ago. If a dude can straight up slither his way through THAT defense and make his way into the endzone twice with 190 yards, you are something special. He was a f-r-e-s-h-m-a-n this year and was still the best playmaker in the Pac10. Before getting hurt he had 7 straight games of 100+ yard outputs, and totaled 1255 yards and 11 touchdowns… in seven games. I watched him during the USC game and immediately wrote his name down for two reasons: I knew he would be on this list and I knew I would forget how to spell his name.

4. Max Hall, QB BYU
Do I have him too far on the list? Well if I do then comment below but I would think not. This guy was a Heisman finalist if he and his team didn’t have huge meltdowns against TCU and Utah on their way to a perfect season and BCS buster. He had 3500+ yards in his junior year to go with 35 touchdowns. Let’s not forget that his main man and the nation’s leading WR, Austin Collie, are both coming back for another shot at perfection. Don’t tell anybody but next year… Max is spelled S-A-M.

3. Terrell Pryor, QB Ohio State
No matter what happens this upcoming year, Pryor will get the Heisman at some point. Why not 2009? He would be the Tim Tebow duplicate, winning it in his sophomore year. Not to mention, his game is pretty much exactly like Tebow’s. Beanie Wells is, most likely, heading to the NFL and it is now Pryor’s time to shine. He is the now the entire offense and the coaches will, while holding back in 2008, unleash him in ’09. He is a freak prodigy and now the nation’s newest super-star.

2. Colt McCoy, QB Texas
Colt SAYS that he is coming back but, come on, we know exactly how that stuff goes. It really all depends on what other QBs like Sam Bradford and Matt Stafford decide to do (both are heavily predicted to hit up the big leagues with Lions and Chiefs, YIKES!). If he does come back for his senior year, it would set up a wild ride from start to finish that featured two of the best we have seen in a while… Tebow vs. McCoy. Which could almost be titled “the most anticipated Heisman Race ever.”

1. Timothy Tebow, QB Florida
Who could have, in a million years, guessed this one? Timmy will be out for one goal in his senior season. That is showing that he is a becoming a better NFL passer and actually has potential after college. He is football’s version of Tim Hansbourgh. Tebow will, however, have pretty good passing numbers as he tries to prove himself to scouts. Another thing he will have to overcome is the media. I will say right now that he will not win it unless he matches the off-the-chart attention that the media gives him going into his super-year. Bottom line is that his career may just be too good to not be a two-time winner.

Time can only tell what next year brings. We are kidding ourselves if we think that these are the only people in the running. This is just a rough estimate, what do I know? We can only sit back and enjoy the show. It promises to be another good Race to the finish.

Please tell me what you think in the comment section below. Thanks!

Justin Hulsey

StLDieHard24@gmail.com

www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

www.collegesports-fans.com Mizzou/SLU Correspondent

Big-12 Championship Preview

2008-12-05T23:17:00.007-06:00

One of my keys that I follow when I am writing is backing my statements up. When I decide that I am going to post an article out here, I first find out what I will write about, I get my notebook that is full of side notes about the topic that I choose to write about, and I just write about whatever I know about the subject. If I feel that I need to know more or I do not have enough to create a solid post, I research and read article after article on the subject. At the top of every page of notes, I write in all caps “BACK IT UP” and underline it. I do this to remind myself that it is one thing to have an opinion, it is a complete other thing to prove your opinion, to provide details and examples of what your talking about, throw out stats (nobody can argue numbers), just back it up. It, in a way, ties into Billy Packer’s famous quotes, and one of my favorites, “I may be wrong, but I am never in doubt.” Packer knows what he’s talking about and that is a simply brilliant quote. In sports, team are tagged with certain titles and it is that team’s choice to back the notion up or to just let it hang their and it gets taken right from under you.

Back to subject. In case you weren’t aware of the big college sports weekend ahead, there are some huge games that will decide the layout of the BCS bowls announced on Sunday. One of those games is the Mizzou vs. Oklahoma game that airs on ABC at 8:00 pm. The bad news is I have a Championship basketball game to play in at 8:00 pm tomorrow night.

Although I cannot join the Texas Longhorn fans in watching the game, I can tell you that I am sick and tired of hearing people moan that the right team was not picked in the South division. I mean, come on what’s the point? There was a system in which you pick the team in case of a tie. In this case there was a 3-way tie and it then went down to the team’s BCS rank. Oklahoma had the better rank of the 3 teams and they made it in. End of story. Whether you agree with the whole situation or not, that’s the way it goes. If you wanted in so badly, Texas, you shouldn’t have lost to Tech in Lubbock on a 35 yard, final second, miracle play. If you would ask me, I would tell you that the best team got in and leave it at that.

You have to understand, this is a very hard blog to write keeping in mind that I am a die-hard Mizzou fan and have watched them throw a great opportunity away. It is difficult to admit but I can’t lie, Oklahoma appears to be in the driver’s seat leading to the BCS Championship game. They are in the fast line but let’s not sleep on #20 Mizzou.

Oklahoma has put on an absolute clinic this season, scoring at will. It is a weekly show and, no matter who you are or what team you root for, you gotta love tuning in to see OU bust through teams like it’s nothing. They have literally scored like no other team has.. Ever. Just take a look at the past three games. 61 points vs. Oklahoma State, 65 vs. Texas Tech, 66 vs. Texas A&M, 62 vs. Nebraska. I mean, seriously? Four straight 60+ point games? No way. Yes way, and it has almost become a joke. It is way too easy and, heck, how can you say defense even matters when you just cannot be stopped. For example, the game against OKST.. I sat there and watched Oklahoma score on six straight possessions thinking you gotta be kidding me. OU is averaging 53 points/game and 560 yards/game. With the dynamic offense, a nation’s top-3 o-line, and a defense that can at least hold a team under 60 the question may be asked.. Can they be stopped by anyone? According to the “experts”, not by Mizzou. Vegas has Oklahoma favored by 17 points and who can blame them?

Meanwhile, Missouri, who saw it's national title dream go up in a puff of smoke, or more like a Curtis Lofton big play, in last year's 38-17 Big 12 dream matchup title game loss to Oklahoma, can't stop anyone's passing game, and is coming off a loss to a mediocre Kansas team even though that was the best game I’ve seen this season. The best win this year was over a Nebraska team that hadn't quite hit its stride, the second-best win was against an Illinois team that's not going bowling, and against the two big boys on the schedule from the South, Oklahoma State and Texas, the Tigers lost in back-to-back weeks. Let’s be honest with ourselves here.. Is it possible that my Tigers are a tad bit overrated? In my mind there is a fine line between wasted potential and just straight up overrated and Mizzou is right on it.

So, with that in mind, the game is a blow out right?

Well how about we just keep our pants on here. Does anyone remember the 2003 B12 Championship between #1 OU and Kansas State when Darren Sproles lead the Wildcats to a stunning 35-7 victory? How about the 2001 title game when Chris Simms flushed the Longhorns right down the toilet with about 20 pick-6’s that led to a Colorado victory? Same thing with the Championship games of 1998 (A&M vs. K State) and 1996 (Texas vs. Nebraska). Unlike the SEC Championship which generally follows the chalk, the B12 has a history of wild upsets. Guess what.. Missouri has the potential to do the same exact thing as these other teams have accomplished.

Last year, Mizzou played as the #1 team in the nation and fell under the spotlight. This year’s game isn’t as sexy and, nobody is picking Mizzou even with the 4th best offense in the country averaging over 500 yards/game. Nobody is picking the team with nothing to lose over the team that has everything to lose. Everyone is expecting a 60-point rout but do not sleep on Mizzou. All bias-ness aside, MU has the potential weapons and talent on both sides to weasel their way into a football game. Oklahoma has only won the last three games of the regular season once since 1980. Realistically, Missouri will need its fair share of luck tomorrow going against Bradford with the worst pass defense in the B12 and we didn’t even see the big-3 (Herrell, McCoy, Bradford). With that said, Bradford had trouble with Missouri last year and (unlike the past year) the spotlight is on him and everyone is expecting SAMUEL to perform like the Heisman candidate he is. Very, very similar to last year’s game just switched roles.

It's the official end of the Big 12 campaign after the conference, more specifically the South, saved the college football season. One way or another, it'll be a show with lots of offense and plenty of big plays. It'll be fun no matter what happens. With these two offenses, it has to be.

Mizzou will win if…

...Oklahoma’s linebacking crew struggles. In OU’s only loss of the season to Texas, the Longhorns picked the back-up linebackers apart after the first string was injured and it ultimately led to a Texas victory.
...They can keep Sam Bradford off of the football field. We all know what happens when he is on it, and I can’t see him playing much DB. Missouri needs to ruin his Heisman campaign to have a shot.
...They can convert on 3rd downs (both sides of ball). Missouri has been a wash with 3rd downs on offense and defense. OU was 12 of 18 on 3rd downs against OKST and was one of the reasons they scored 60+.
...They can, of course, spark something in the secondary. If they play as badly on defense as they did in the Kansas game.. Consider it over with fellas.

Oklahoma will win if…

...They don’t let their guard down. If they are looking forward to that Championship game against ‘Bama or Florida then they better get their heads straight before it’s too late or it will be Texas playing them.
...Chase becomes a running back instead of a quarterback. The games that Chase had a significant total of rushing yards were two of the three games that Mizzou has lost so far. He had a 103 yard performance vs. KU and we lost. As well as the 50 yard total against Oklahoma State. If you want to win, Chase, do your job. And that is to say hike and get it into the hands of our playmakers (Maclin, Coffman, etc).
...They simply take what the shaky Tiger defense gives you. The secondary has been in a comma all season. Get the ball and chuck it to wide open defenders and move the ball down field.

Prediction:

Missouri will play well, but not well enough. It'll be a continuous trade of big blow after big blow with the Tigers hanging around after three quarters, but Daniel will make a few key mistakes and Bradford won't. The Sooners will open it up late and Bradford will have his Heisman stats padded enough to answer Tim Tebow's big game earlier in the day against Alabama. Oklahoma is going to BACK UP the notion that they are the team to beat.

58-45, Oklahoma

Please tell me what you think in the comment section below. Thanks!

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

A Merger Between SLU and The Valley?

2008-11-29T21:28:00.010-06:00

Ya know, the Saint Louis Billikens sure do seem to get an awful lot of attention considering the program. Respectfully, they are a mid-level Atlantic-10 team that has made a mere 6 NCAA Tournament appearances in their extensive history. Don’t get me wrong, having the spotlight on you when you cannot receive it through basketball is not necessarily a bad thing, and SLU has done a great job at doing just that. One of the reasons for that would have to be the firing of Brad “BS” Soderberg and the hiring of the great Rick Majerus at a time that no other teams were in the “you’re fired, your hired” phase just yet. With SLU doing this, Sports Center had no option but to say something about it.

Another reason for the attention might just be the continuous rumors of Saint Louis wanting to join the Missouri Valley Conference after becoming a member of the A10 just 3 years ago. Not only is SLU interested in joining the MVC… God himself, Rick Majerus, appears to be the mastermind behind the idea. Reports say that when Majerus agreed to coach SLU, he pushed the idea of joining the MVC as a precondition to taking the job.

This would not be Saint Louis’ first stent with the Missouri Valley Conference. After 37 years with the MVC, SLU departed in 1974. Since that date, Saint Louis has been a part of 7 different conferences including: Metro, Midwestern Cities, Midwestern Collegiate, Horizon, Great Midwest, C-USA, and the Atlantic-10. Saint Louis joined and later left those conferences with the intent of being part of more high-profile conferences. When SLU joined the A10 in 2005, it looked as if they had found the perfect match with what looked to be a very up-and-coming conference with mass-potential to be very solid. The Billikens entered the conference when both were peaking, but both have seemed to cycle down over the last few years. Although, I personally think that both are heading for an upswing soon. Especially with SLU absolutely dominating in the past recruiting year signing future stars that include: Brett Thompson (#25 C in nation, 8/10 star recruit), Kwamain Mitchell (#37 PG in nation, 8/10 star), and Brian Conklin (#47 PF, 8/10). *According to ESPN*. Not to mention the commitment of 3 different 8 star recruits so far this recruiting year. Is Rick Majerus the backbone of all the new recruiting? I think yes.

Honestly, though, I hardly blame SLU for wanting to get out of the A10. I’m not going to lie; the A10 referees suck something awful. Other than that is the fact that I live in the St. Louis area and, having all the channels, I still get to watch hardly any SLU games on TV. Let’s be straight up honest, the A10 has some issues... officials and TV packages leading the way. Unless the A10 is magically rejuvenated this year, my advice to SLU is to look somewhere else. I mean, why not? Heck, even the MVC Tournament is held in St. Louis, in SLU’s arena! Seeing that we are on the topic of geographics, how about someone look at a map of the states that have A10 schools in them that I have posted at the top of this post (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ten_Conference)? The nearest school is in Ohio! And while the MVC is not saying yes, they aren't exactly saying no to the idea. The MVC commish was quoted saying, “I can't imagine there is an institution that is a more perfect fit for our schools.” Of course, referring to Saint Louis.

While the MVC commish has put in his 2-cents, it appears that Saint Louis is going to keep all of this on the down-low for now. I’ll give them that because I know I would be pissed if the nearest possible city to play in, besides your own, was Dayton, OH. Do you guys have any idea how much money that is in expenses considering that SLU has 11 road games this ’08-’09 season? Where as, in the MVC, the FURTHEST city is Omaha, Nebraska.

In conclusion, the Saint Louis Billikens joining “The Valley” really does seem like a valid idea. I think it would be a great move if SLU intends on staying there for a little while. However SLU, if you are not ready for a long-term commitment, stay put, or go somewhere else. With recent success, The Valley has a pretty good image right now and I know that it would be in jeopardy if you are just going to pull a one-night-stand with them. It does get a bit annoying when Saint Louis is constantly moving from one conference to another aimlessly. Either way, I do think that the addition of SLU into the MVC family would somewhat spice things up a bit considering SLU already has rivalries with Bradley, Drake, and Southern Illinois. It would only heat up if SLU was to merge with The Valley. If the MVC was to add SLU, they would likely look into adding Butler as well to make it a 12-team conference, or possibly make Western Kentucky a full-time member.

Bottom line is that I totally LOVE the idea to be perfectly honest and hope that SLU would take advantage of the opportunity. Being in the MVC would mean stepping up competition-wise but do not be alarmed… Whichever way SLU decides to go, they really do have a bright future and are only getting better.

Please tell me what you think in the comment section below. Thanks!

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com

Another Chapter to the Plaxico Burress Story

2008-10-27T13:49:00.006-05:00

After a huge 21-14 victory for the New York – football – Giants, Plaxico Burress trots off the field happy. When talking to reporters he expresses that he is thrilled with his team’s big win, as well as his reunion with the team that drafted him 8th overall in the 2000 draft. The one thing that he did not do was apologize.

Tom Coughlin decided to bench Plax for the beginning of the Giants game on Sunday due to treatments the Burress skipped earlier in the week. The short version is that he was supposed to show up for treatments regarding his injured neck on Saturday morning. He never showed up, saying that his neck was fine and he didn’t see the treatments as necessary. New York’s Wide Receiver didn’t make a huge contribution while he was playing; only recording 15 yards in three receptions.

This seems to be an issue that the Giants, simply, cannot resolve. Their best offensive player is also their biggest heartache heading into Week 9. Burress has a total of 356 yards this year (59/game), 3 touchdowns, on 28 receptions. The part that New York is upset with is that he has zero remorse for the conflicts, and he continues to violate team and NFL rules. He just doesn’t care.

He has a track record of screwing up this year. He was suspended for 2 weeks earlier in the season for breaking even more rules and was fined a total of $45,000 by the NFL (criticized refs). Looking at the bigger picture, Plaxico Burress has been punished 5 different times in the past 4 weeks by either his team, or the NFL. Now, the Giants can live with the league hammering Burress for his comments about the refs. What they can't deal with is a star player who continually acts as if he can do anything he wants as long as he produces on the field.

With Plax continuing to think that he is above the law, his relationship with Tom Coughlin worsens and worsens. Burress says after the game that his job is to catch passes and that everybody will not always see eye-to-eye. He would later also state that it was a “simple miscommunication.”

It is obvious that Coach Coughlin and Plax do not get along. When asked about the situation after the game, Tom acted like the questions were not valid. On Sunday, after the game, Plaxico said that, “Coughlin doesn’t know me. I typically work with the WR’s Coach and the Offensive Coordinator and not Coach Coughlin. He doesn’t know how I do things,” and when asked about their relationship, Burress just says, “I would say it’s a working relationship.”

Though it's very easy to misread people when they talk around questions, that isn't the case in this situation. Burress has never been high on Coughlin's rules -- and there have been published reports that Burress has violated more of those than we'll ever know -- and this seems very much like a clash of wills. In fact, Burress has been making headlines off the field for months now, going all the way back to the offseason when he was lobbying for a new contract that he eventually received. My view on it? I think that Plaxico knows he can now do whatever he feels on doing because the Giants are stuck with him for another 5 years.

The thing that New York really needs to worry about is keeping this team together. Teammates such as Amani Toomer and Shaun O’Hara have publically said that they are sick of the whole Burress-situation. Sick of talking about him over the team’s success. A huge factor to last year’s Championship run was the team’s chemistry and it is obvious that the chemistry might be in jeopardy. Not only do they lose chemistry but if Plax is sitting on the sidelines, they lose a ton of big-play capability and young bucks (like Smith and Moss) are forced to step up and pick up slack. I would say that they are without-a-doubt the best team in the NFC but this whole thing leads to an enormous downfall. The question I ask you is... Can the Giants repeat as Super Bowl Champs while dealing with this mess?

Please tell me what you think in the comment section below.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
http://www.thejaystick.blogspot.com/

Ranking the Big-12 Quarterbacks

2008-10-13T19:49:00.006-05:00

This is, officially, the year that the Big-12 passes the SEC in conference dominance. This could possibly be the best Big-12 class that has ever been put together, and it shows. All this due largely in part to the Big-12 Quarterbacks who have been simply astonishing. It is almost guaranteed that at least 3 of the Heisman finalists will be from the B-12 and will be QBs. The Quarterbacks are so good that a guy like Oklahoma State’s junior Zac Robinson, one of only three quarterbacks in the nation to rush for more than 800 yards and throw for more than 2,800 last season, can't get a sliver of national attention. When it comes to QB rating, the Big-12 owns 4 of the top 5 spots, 3 of 5 in passing yards, 3 in completion %, 4 in TD passes, and on and on and on. The Big-12 Quarterbacks are simply blowing away opponents and putting up some hefty numbers doing so.

The proven talent at this position goes way deep in the conference. Yet each of them has something to prove either as an individual or as the leader of a team for the rest of this college football season. For example, Mizzou’s Chase Daniel(no ‘s’) must beat Texas and win in the Big-12 Championship to have a shot at the National Championship, as well as the Heisman Trophy. If 2008 continues to fulfill its headline as The Year of the Quarterback in the Big 12, it will be because these 12 players have overcome the hurdles that await them.

With that said, I have brought it upon myself to rank the top-5 Big-12 QBs from best to “worst”.

Note: These rankings have NOTHING to do with NFL potential or readiness but to do with their ability in the NCAA and how they conduct themselves on the football field.

1. Colt McCoy
In 2006, McCoy surpassed all expectations for a redshirt freshman. He even set a then-NCAA first-year record with 29 touchdown passes. Last season, that number fell to 22, while his interceptions rose from seven to 18. Mack Brown took all responsibility of McCoy’s “decline” saying that they put too much on him, asking him to lead that team as a sophomore, and also pointed out the Colt was simply not ready to be that guy that everyone thought he was.

After a year of maturing and preparing to become the leader of his team, McCoy is pwning everybody. Halfway through the season, you would have to admit that Colt has the Heisman firmly in grasp. McCoy, like Matt Stafford of Georgia, can combine the benefit of two years' experience with an easier brand of leadership that comes with age.

2. Sam Bradford
Bradford led the nation in passing efficiency as a freshman with a rating of 176.5, which was a tie for the seventh-best single-season rating in history. He threw 36 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, and he completed 69.5 percent of his passes. I would say Bradford has more than proven that he has received his vaccine for a sophomore slump.

Bradford is 2nd in the nation in TD passes and leads in QB rating, the list goes on and on. Sure, his team lost to Texas this past week, (which was why I flip-flopped him and McCoy) but Bradford still threw for a mind-blowing 390 yards and 5 touchdowns. His only Achilles heal might be interceptions. He threw 2 against Texas and is on pace for 12 on the year which might be a little more than desired when you consider he really isn’t throwing that much.

3. Chase Daniel
The senior from Southlake, Texas, has played his entire career as if he has needed to prove something. He had to prove Texas wrong after they stopped recruiting him after his Junior year in high school. He had to prove that a man of his size (6-0, 225) could play big-time quarterback. He had to prove that Missouri should be taken seriously in the conference and on national stage. Daniel has done all of that. He has thrown for 10,235 yards, 78 touchdowns and only 27 interceptions (all Mizzou records). Last season, he was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and finished fourth in the Heisman vote.

Now, he needs to prove that he can rebound himself and his team from an embarrassing loss to Oklahoma State that should have never ever happened. Daniel threw the ball 52 times for 390 yards, 1 TD, and (oh my) 3 INTs. Some think that the OKST game draws a close to all Heisman hopes for Chase but I would have to disagree. With big wins over Texas, Kansas, and then the B-12 Championship, not only would Chase become the front-runner again but would also propel his team back toward #1.

4. Graham Herrell
Like his predecessors in Lubbock, Harrell has stats on steroids. In 2007, Harrell threw for 5,705 yards and 48 touchdowns, both of which led the nation. But, like Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie and Cody Hodges before him, Harrell has garnered more stats than he has respect. Unfortunately, the skepticism will continue even while the Red Raiders challenge for the Big 12 South championship.

Most skeptics think the way they do because, yes, Texas Tech throws the ball like nobody out there. Herrell threw it 713 times last year and is on pace for 600 this year. He already has more attempts than most teams will gather all season. However, this year is different than last for Herrell. Herrell has only thrown 3 interceptions so far compared to last year’s 7 at this point in time. He finished with 14 last year and will be around 6 this year. That will grab many voters when they case their ballot. It takes an extremely good QB to only throw 6 interceptions on 600 pass attempts.

5. Todd Reesing
The Jayhawks went 12-1 last season in no small part because of Reesing. He is listed at 5-11, which must be in his platform cleats, yet Reesing threw for 3,486 yards, 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He also proved, as Texas Tech coach Mike Leach has said all along, that the spread offense doesn't need tall quarterbacks, only smart ones.

Todd is off to a very familiar start for himself in his Junior year, on pace for more pass yards but three fewer TDs. However, it is evident that the Jayhawks are not quite as good as their team last year but still has a respectable 16th ranking. He will have to show what he is made of with some ridiculous games left that include: #1 Texas, #4 Oklahoma, #7 Texas Tech, #11 Mizzou, as well as Nebraska. That means that Kansas only has two games left that they will be favored in and only one sure-thing win. Pretty stupid of me to say that though, as this season has been anything but sure-thing.

There you have it. There aren’t many (if any) conferences out there that can say their #5 QB is as good as Todd Reesing is, and there aren’t any that can say they have 5 QBs as superior that these men are.

Please tell me what you think at the comment section below.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com

Changes Under Way for the Rams

2008-10-07T15:51:00.005-05:00

Remember the Mike Martz years? The old saying is “you get a little good with the bad” right? Well that’s exactly what that era in Rams’ history was. You had the “Greatest Show on Turf” years when we dominated the league... but we also had times when you had to ask yourself what the hell is Mike doing? He is an offensive genius and I cannot deny him that.

Then came along Scott Linehan. A complete change from Martz, Linehan was calm, cool, and collective. After years with the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins, Scott had finally landed his first head coaching gig EVER. Expectations where high and the fans were looking for the glory years once more. Trust me, I was one of them.

Well that was then and this is now. Now Scott Linehan is fired. Last week Monday, Chip Rosenbloom gave Linehan the (expected) boot. Scott Linehan took control of an 8-8 team in 2006, and was fired September 29, 2008, after the team started the season 0-4 following a 3-13 performance the previous season. Linehan’s combined Rams’ record halts at 11-25 in three years. He was 1-1 in the playoffs, playing both games in his first season in ’04.

His firing was inevitable following a 0-4 start in which the Rams’ were arguably the worst team in the NFL. Losses to the Eagles (38-3), the Giants (41-13), the Seahawks (37-13), and the Bills (31-14) brought the combined score to umm about 116-29... making us the team with the worst offense and defense in the NFL J. It was so bad that I was convinced that Mizzou could beat them. The Rams’ have lost 17 of their past 20 games (8 in a row), most of them being absolute blow outs. During the Week 4 game against the Bills, signs even read “Congress: Bail out the Rams!!!”

It was no doubt that the Rams’ wanted Scott out as well. Two days after Linehan benched team QB Marc Bulger, Bulger and RB Steven Jackson publically ripped Linehan. Jackson saying, “I just don't like it at all. There are more people that can take the blame for this. I don't think it's fair that one person takes the blame. You don't put your head guy, the general, the staple center, and you bench him with no excuse. It's not right,” and Bulger reportedly saying, “I can’t and won’t ever play for that man again.” So now, Scott, you have your two biggest stars tired of you, what else could go wrong…. except for being fired!

Since then, Bulger (Rams’ highest paid player ever) has regained his job and will be starting Week 6. Speaking of, the road ahead is not easy. The Rams play the 4-1 Washington Redskins this week, followed by the 4-1 Dallas Cowboys the week after.

Linehan needed to be fired but he is not the only one. The team can also blame recent drafts, as well, for the recent suckiness. This year’s past draft was the best I have seen in a long time for the Rams after drafting future stars Chris Long, Donnie Avery, Justin King, and Keenan Burton but before that the drafts were awful. Sure, in 2007 we got Adam Carriker who has turned out to be not half bad but we also drafted Brian Leonard? Jon Wade? Who is he? In 2006, (the punk who always gets us pentalized) Tye Hill? Joe Klopfenstein? Claude Wroten? Again in 2005, Alex Barron is not playing like a 1st rounder three years ago. The rest of that draft class you ask? There are no current starters besides Barron. These guys are supposed to be really good by now! What’s going on, front office?

Back to the Linehan being fired... Who took his spot? Good ole Jim Haslett. Our former Defensive Coordinator who allowed 116 points! Hooray! Now, don’t get me wrong... I kinda like the guy but that sentence just does not sound right, “Defensive Coordinator who allowed 116 points!” I am just saying, some have a legitimate excuse to think he is the wrong man for the job. Believe it or not, Rosenbloom actually insists that Jimmy is, in fact, not the Interim coach but the full time, all out coach of the Rams. With Haslett taking the reins, former assistant coach and LB coach Rick Venturi will now take the Defensive Coordinating job.

In a recent St. Louis Post Dispatch interview with Haslett, they discuss a variety of things Haslett is going to change off the field to create more discipline that really impressed me. Take a look:

You’ve already made some interesting decisions. You wanted the bushes trimmed around the practice field, and you wanted some boxes and stuff cleared out of the lobby. Why?

“[…] The main lobby is not a holding center for boxes and stuff. If you are a guest and you walk in, the main lobby is the first thing you see. You don’t have stuff thrown all over your living room – boxes and garbage thrown around. And when the players walk onto the field, the bushes are about 10 feet high – they’re overgrown and there are weeds. That doesn’t mean you’re going to win or lose games, but I think it’s the appearance that, hey, this is a nice organization […].”

Also, you’ve taken the benches out of the indoor practice facility. Why?

“We are not sitting on benches. We’re not sitting on helmets. This is not the Greatest Show on Turf anymore where guys could just sit around and get up and practice. We’re not that type of team anymore. […] I don’t want guys sitting on helmets. I don’t want guys sitting on the railings. Sitting on bags. Sitting on the benches. You’re only out here for two hours. Concentrate on what you’ve got to do, and I don’t think we need to sit down.”

What is your general football philosophy? How do you go about the business of winning games?

“First of all, you’ve got to have good players. You’ve got to have the right type of players. I like guys that are tough, hard-nosed guys. That like playing the game. I don’t think you draft guys now unless they love the play the game. The money should not be an issue. On the field, I think field position’s big in the National Football League. You have to play well enough on defense. You’ve got to know what you have on offense. You’ve got to know what kind of players you have. Can you score a lot of points? Are you a grind-it-out football team? There’s more than one way to skin a cat. […].”

You can see the rest of this interview at www.stltoday.com.

For me, that is the best attitude the guy could have. He thinks outside of the box and knows what needs to be done off the field as well as on it in order to win football games. The dude knows what he is doing and has been in this situation before. In 2000, Haslett was hired in New Orleans to try and rejuvenate a 3-13 team the year before. Not only did he improve the team, he led them to a 10-6 record, their first ever playoff win, and a ton of accolades for himself including the AP Coach of the Year.

Who knows how this will all play out. Haslett has the swagger and the right mindset to turn the talent we have into some victories. We may be worse than before, or we just might decide to stop jacking around and get something done with this season before it’s too late.

Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com

Writing Positions

2008-10-05T12:33:00.001-05:00

We are always looking for help here at FANdemonium Sports! We currently have three writers, but are interested in getting a fourth.

It would be nothing too, too serious. There would be no definite pay but profit sharing is possible if you hang around. We would just be asking for at least an article per week regarding general sports (unless you specialize in a certain sport)... look at the previous posts for examples.

This is a great opportunity to get your stuff out there for 30-80 of different people per day. It looks great on resumes, and is just a fun thing to do with your free time - writing about sports that is.

If you ask any of the other two writers that put their content on this site, I am sure they would tell you that I am pretty laid back as to what you write. If I need something about a certain topic, I may send you an email... but about 90% of the time I just expect a weekly article. Basically, you can write about whatever you want as long as it is about something in the world of sports. I view it as a hobby, not a job... therefore, I would not treat you as an employee but as a friend that also likes sports.

Thanks. I appreciate your time, and look forward to hearing from you.

The FS Team

2008-10-05T12:00:00.012-05:00

Including myself, we have three writers here at FS... but we are always open to discussing a job with anyone.

Justin Hulsey
Founder / General Sports Writer
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
Justin is a 16 year old living in a small town about 40 miles away from St. Louis, MO. His life and passion is sports. Not only a few sports, but sports in general. He is set to attend Missouri University for Sports Journalism (after two years at ECC) after his high school tenure is through. Once he is out of college, he looks forward to getting his career started with newspapers on his way to the ultimate dream of working in Bristol. His favorite teams are the St. Louis Cardinals, Rams, and Blues, the Chicago Bulls, Mizzou Tigers, SLU Billikens, and the Texas Longhorns.
Started FS in October of 2008.

Cory Guinn
General Sports Writer
cryguinn@yahoo.com
Cory is a 19 year old college student at North Greenville University where he is majoring in Print Media. He writes for the school newspaper covering sports and hopes to one day own his own sports magazine with his top goal of being part of the ESPN crew. He has been an avid sports fan for all of his life and wouldn't want it any differently. He is a serious fan of the Duke Blue Devils, Texas Longhorns, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Braves, and Dallas Cowboys.
Writer Since: January 2009

Joseph Kelley
General Sports Writer- specializes in MLB

opethguitarist@gmail.com
Joseph Kelley graduated from the University of Houston in December 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and is currently hanging out in Spring, Texas. Joseph's expertise lies in the MLB and fantasy baseball, but he follows everything outside of hockey. He has participated in fantasy sports since 2004. He is in charge of the FBJ Writer's League and runs many custom leagues. He writers for two other sites as well... MLB Center and Fantasy Baseball Journal.
Writer Since: April 2009

You can contact any of these guys by emailing the address listed below their name. However, for issues regarding writing positions, advertising, or any other important matter.. contact Justin, FS webmaster, at StLDieHard24@gmail.com.

Thanks, and make sure you leave a review... located at the bottom of the home page.

About FS

2008-10-05T12:00:00.010-05:00

Well if you click on this link, then you are apparently somewhat interested in what FANdemoniumsports.blogspot.com is all about. Whether it be who we are here at FS or if you just want to know what the point of all this nonsense we write is, I am typing this up to let you know. I will try to cover how all this began, how it has gone, and how it is going. If you want to know anything else, feel free to contact me.

The site started in October of 2008 and has been chugging ever since. When it all began, the site was named "The Jay-Stick", but after wanting a more sports-sounding title I decided to make the switch to the current name, FANdemonium Sports (FS).

As I am sure you already know, the word "fandemonium" came from the word pandemonium which is often used in the sports world; meaning chaos, havoc, hell, uproar, medlam. The word originated in the book Paradise Lost; it was the capital of hell. I changed it to FANdemonium, and it only makes sense. As the blog indicates, the articles are for the FANS, by the FANS.

It all began with blogging on FanNation for a while until I wanted to take my stuff to the next level. I was familiar with Blogger and, therefore, decided I would start this blog. I did not know how long I was going to stick with it or how many people were going to check it out. I wasn't sure if I was going to get 40 views a month, or - our current average - 40 per day. With luck and persistant writing, it is choice B that has been working so far.

At the current moment, we are getting anywhere from 30-80 views per day. When I started this up, I had no idea what to expect. I knew that there would not be a ton of hits at first, but I have been pleasantly surprised thus far.

Other than myself, there are two other writers. Cory Guinn has been writing for FANdemonium Sports since February, and I couldn't have asked more from him. I wanted roughly one article per week and I get one every week, no exceptions. It is good quality material that I love associating with my site.

Lucas Cipkowski is our other writer here at FS. He specializes in the NBA, but can cover whatever needed when it comes down to it. He has been writing for us for about a month. Hopefully he will hang around for as long as possible.

Forget them guys though... In a nutshell, I am just a 16 year old that is crazy about sports. Am I an expert? I don't know... but I would like to think I know a thing or two. For that reason, I decided to throw together a spot to gather my work. Looking at things as a whole, I want FANdemonium Sports to be known as a place where you can find grade-A articles covering the world of sports. So far, I think we have accomplished just that.

Advertising

2008-10-05T12:00:00.007-05:00

You need a place to advertise your site? We can do it here at FANdemonium Sports! I will accept a link exchange 100% percent of the time so send me an email. Contact me at StLDieHard24@gmail.com for more info.

Sites that we current have sponsership agreements with include:

Betting Predictions and Tips

College Basketball 24/7

Complete Sports

Draft Bug

Get MO Nation.

NFL Draft Countdown

SportsBlogs

The Hater Nation

The Waiver Wire

Through the Mind of a Sports Maniac

If you want to see your name on that list, you NEED to get ahold of me so we can work something out!

FANdemonium Sports

That's All, Folks

Draft Bug Blogger Freeroll

New Anti-Cubs T-Shirt is Out: "Zambrano Mows My Lawn"

Sunday Debate: Should Steroid Users Be Allowed Into the Hall of Fame?

Should 'Roid Users Be Allowed in Cooperstown?

FANTASY: Who's Hot and Who's Not

NFL Rookie Most Likely To.....

Sunday Debate: A Look At the Heisman Race Beyond the Front-Runners

If not the big three, then whom?

2009 NFL Draft Evaluations

America's Best Sports City

Sunday Debate: Which Team Will Pull the Trigger on Mark Sanchez?

Which Team Will Pull the Trigger on Mark Sanchez?

Why the Florida Marlins Hot Start is No Big Surprise

NBA Awards: It's Time to Hand Out Some Hardware

Sunday Debate: Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, or Hanley Ramirez?

Who is the Best Player in the MLB?

2009 NFL Draft Preview

Sunday Debate: Which Team Is Most Improved for '09 Season?

Which Team Is the Most Improved?

Guys to Watch Out For in the Masters

NBA Narrows MVP Race

The On Going Story: Cutler May Be Out Soon

This Season's Tampa Bay Rays

Sunday Debate: Who Will Be USC's Starting QB?

Hall-of-Fame Career Comes to a Close

Sunday Debate: Who is the Most Underrated Player in the NBA?

NCAA TOURNAMENT: Round One Recap

A Closer Look at the No. 1 Seeds

What is DraftBug?

The United Football League Quietly Becoming Big

NHL's Team of the Future

Are We Looking At The Best MLB Prospect EVER?

Top 15 Point Guards in the NBA Today

Budding Stars Who Will Soon Cash In

One Man Found; Search Continues for Two NFL Players

Down On the Farm: MLB's Future

The End of an Era in Indianapolis

Ken Griffey Jr.: Welcome Home!

Two Man Race to the Top

2009 Fantasy Baseball- Breakouts/Sleepers/Busts

Recent Changes

NFL Free Agent Market

National Signing Day Recap

It Just Doesn't Make Sense

NBA All-Stars: Who Got Snubbed?

Teams to Watch Out for in the Tournament

No Need To Worry, St. Louis

NFL Rookies Under Review

Midseason Honors

Carroll Embarrasses Himself

BCS Bowl Preview

It's MVP, not POY

Just When You Thought They Were Done

Ranked(?) Mizzou Takes on Illinois in Braggin' Rights Showdown

Too Early To Look at 2009's Heisman Race?

Big-12 Championship Preview

A Merger Between SLU and The Valley?

Another Chapter to the Plaxico Burress Story

Ranking the Big-12 Quarterbacks

Changes Under Way for the Rams

Writing Positions

The FS Team

About FS

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