Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Orlando Magic Live To Play Another Day

The Orlando Magic looked like a team that was playing loose and it showed on the scoreboard. They easily beat the Atlanta Hawks by a score of 101-76. This time Orlando did not need Dwight Howard to have a monster game because he did not. He was saddled in foul trouble, and thanks to a rout got a lot of rest for Game 6 in Atlanta.

Many guys stepped up for the Magic including J.J. Redick and Jason Richardson. Richardson tossed in 17 points while Redick came off the bench to put in 14 points. This is a game the Magic had to win and now they head to Atlanta where they have struggled. Even though the Magic have struggled all season they must feel better about themselves. If they win in Atlanta it is hard to tll what could happen in a Game 7.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Many Indicted In University Of San Diego Point Shaving Scandal

This should really not come much of a surprise to people. I would venture to say at smaller universities that do not have big college basketball programs this is more common than people think. Players know many times they can get away with it and make some good money doing it. These players from Sand Diego got caught. I wonder how many get through the cracks though and are never caught.

The indictment names Brandon Johnson, the school's all-time leader in points and assists who finished his college career last year; Thaddeus Brown, an assistant coach at the school in the 2006-07 season; and Brandon Dowdy, who played at USD in the 2006-07 season and at the University of California, Riverside, from 2008 to 2010. Seven other people were also charged.

Hopefully, this is a isolated case and we will not find out about anymore. It does make you wonder if there are many more out their in college basketball. Only time will tell if anymore exist, but for now these players and individuals are the ones that got busted.

Derrick Rose NBA MVP No Matter What Anyone Tells You

Many people may not want to admit to it, but Derrick Rose is this year's NBA MVP. Dwight Howard also has a case as well, but the truth is without Rose the Bulls would be lost. He does the little things that most people do not even think about. When the Bulls need a clutch basket he has been able to hit it this year. That was not the case last season. He also knows how to take over a game when he needs to as well, which was missing from his game.

Derrick Rose also knows how to keep his teammates involved in the game as well. He is an MVP player, but he is also a team player. It is never about Derrick Rose it is about the team which is something you do not hear enough anymore. He is a humble young man and deserves The NBA MVP trophy this season as he has earned it. Like it or not Derrick Rose is the league MVP no matter what others may think about it.

NFL, Players Association Getting Forced Mediation

Even though the NFL and The Players Association is not happy with it Judge Susan Richard Nelson told the NFL and NFL players that she will impose forced mediation on them early this week. The problem is both sides do not care about get a quick resolve in all of this no matter what they say in public.

The real losers in all of this is the fans who have to sit through this hoping there is an NFL season this fall. I think a good idea would be for fans all to boycott the first game of the season when it gets resolved. Imagine what an embarrassment the NFL and the Players would have if in Week 1 no fans showed up for the games. It will never happen, but something to think about as a statement from the fans about what they were put through.

Easton Conference Playoff Preview

Well not to much longer and we will be talking about the NBA playoffs, so today I thought we would look at the Eastern Conference and what we can expect. Right now the Chicago Bulls have locked down the number one seed with Boston and Miami at two. Boston does hold the tie-breakers if it ends in a tie. Orlando is fourth followed by Atlanta. Let us look at how this plays out in the end.

Without a doubt the Bulls are playing the best basketball of the Top 5, but the playoffs are much different than the regular season. In reality any of the Top five teams could make it to thew NBA Finals. I still like the Celtics to make it through the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are not battle tested and Boston has been through the playoff wars before. Miami is the x-factor in all of this. They have the talent to come out of this conference as well. In the end though I think it will be Boston. Even though the Celtics seem to be struggling a little they have the Big Three that have been battled tested before.

Can Kobe Bryant And Lakers Climb That Mountain One More Time?

The Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant has had a season of highs and lows. They went into the All-Star break getting hammered by the Cleveland Cavaliers and came out of it showing people they can still make a run at an NBA Championship. Fast forward to today and you have a team that has lost five games in a row. Can they turn it on in the playoffs and take another NBA Championship?

Last year I would probably say yes, but this year is a lot different. The Lakers are older and they seem to be much more inconsistent this year than they were last season. San Antonio and Oklahoma City are playing great basketball. The Thunder picked up Kendrick Perkins and that maybe the guy that can get the Thunder past the Lakers. Everyone knows the Lakers have the talent, but another championship this year maybe out of the question.

Tiger Woods Shows Glimpses Of Old Form Finishes Fourth At Masters

Many people have wondered if we will ever see the old Tiger Woods and the answer at least glimpses of it. Woods probably played some of the best golf of the weekend and fell short as he finished fourth at the Masters. Now he was in contention for most of the weekend, so he has to feel better about where his golf game is right now.

Tiger Woods has struggled since coming back from his layoff, but The Masters showed us he can still play the game of golf. Once he gets it all put back together he may still be able to win some tournaments. I do not think we will ever see the old Tiger Woods. I think that was lost when his twisted tale of infidelity was on stage for the world to see. No matter what we still can see Tiger Woods does still have some good golf in him.