Did The Saints Make A Mistake In The Way Brees Got The Record?

Drew Brees has always been about team first and this time the team help him get an elusive record. Brees set the NFL mark for yards passing in a season, breaking a record Dan Marino held for 27 years, and New Orleans wrapped up the NFC South title with a 45-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Now I am glad that Drew Brees got the record, but the way he got it may come into question down the road.

Breaking records are great and nothing wrong with them when they are done the right way. Routing the Falcons to just get the record was something that should have been avoided. Bress still had another game to play and could have gotten the record next week. To keep Brees in to get the record and run up the score I cannot agree with. The interesting thing about this game is both Atlanta and New Orleans could meet on the playoffs. If that happens you can be sure they will remember how the Saints decided to run the score up on them.

Japan Stuns U.S. Claims 1st World Cup Title

No matter how you look at it, you have to give the ladies from Japan credit as they fought back and never quit. Even when down they found a way to win and claim their first ever World Cup Title in Soccer. The Japanese women won in a penalty shootout 3-1 to claim the title. The United States have no one to blame but themselves for this loss.

They let the Japanese  fight back into the game twice. The United States had plenty of chances to close them out, but could never get the job done. When that happens it usually comes back to haunt you and that is what happen to the United States women's soccer team. Give the United States women credit they did well, but this loss will be a bitter pill to swallow. On the other side Japan got the job done and deserves to be called World Cup Champions.

Tennesse Titans Have Quarterback Issues This Season

When Vince Young was let go the Tennessee Titans had no idea that Jeff Fischer was going to leave or Kerry Collins their starting quarterback would either. This has put the Tennessee Titans in a real bad position when the strike is settled. Right now the Titans are looking at Chris Simms and Rusty Smith as their quarterbacks. This has to send shivers now the fans of the Titans right now.

With the strike going on the Tennessee Titans cannot really do anything, so there hands are tied right now. It is a possibility they could talk Collins out of retirement, but you just do not know. Getting rid of Vince Young really put this team in a bad spot. With the strike about ready to end it looks like the Titans have a lot of work to do. One of the main things to do is find a quarterback, but there are other teams whom have the same idea. It will be interesting to see how this plays out for the Tennessee Titans.

Has Barry Bonds And Roger Clemens Beat The System?

It seems Major League Baseball and the Feds had a clear cut case against Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens when it comes to using steroids. Most baseball observers believe they have used them, but proving that in court has been another whole issue. The Federal government has struggled to get convictions and Clemens was just awarded a mistrial, so you do not know where it is headed that's for sure.

Now even if both players walk away free men it really does not change the opinion of the public as a whole. Most   everyone agrees they both used steroids and that opinion will never change no matter of the court outcome. Just as Mark McGwire has come clean it's time these two players do as well. If not they will always be considered cheaters in the public eye. Admitting they did steroids will still brand them cheaters, but at least the public will have some respect for them. The way it stands right now they are just two guys the public would rather hear nothing about.

MLB Schedule July 17, 2011

Chi White Sox
Detroit
1:05pm ET

NY Yankees
Toronto
1:07pm ET

St. Louis
Cincinnati
1:10pm ET

Philadelphia
NY Mets
1:10pm ET

Cleveland
Baltimore
1:35pm ET

Washington
Atlanta
1:35pm ET

Pittsburgh
Houston
2:05pm ET

Kansas City
Minnesota
2:10pm ET

Florida
Chi Cubs
2:20pm ET

Milwaukee
Colorado
3:10pm ET

LA Angels
Oakland
4:05pm ET

San Francisco
San Diego
4:05pm ET

Texas
Seattle
4:10pm ET

LA Dodgers
Arizona
4:10pm ET

Boston
Tampa Bay
8:05pm ET

MLB Scores July 16, 2011

Florida 13
Chi Cubs 3
Final

NY Yankees 4
Toronto 1
Final

Chi White Sox 5
Detroit 0
Final

Boston 9
Tampa Bay 5
Final

Philadelphia 2
NY Mets 11
Final

LA Angels 4
Oakland 2
Final

LA Angels 3
Oakland 4
Final 10

Pittsburgh 4
Houston 6
Final

Cleveland 5
Baltimore 6
Final

Washington 5
Atlanta 2
Final

Kansas City 3
Minnesota 4
Final

St. Louis 4
Cincinnati 1
Final

Milwaukee 8
Colorado 7
Final

LA Dodgers 2
Arizona 3
Final

San Francisco 3
San Diego 11
Final

Texas 5
Seattle 1
Final

Ohio State As Much To Blame As Tressel For Compliance Issues

Even though Jim Tressel has become the guy everyone blames for the Ohio State Buckeyes free fall, the Ohio State University must take equal blame as well. It seems that years ago their were compliance issues with Jim Tressel and the school did little about it. All that was done was drafting a letter telling Tressel he is doing a poor job in the compliance area, and put in his file.

This means that the Ohio State University knew their were problems in this area, but never really fully addressed it apparently. Ohio State was winning football games and going for Big Ten and National Championships, so people did not care. Yes, the University was not happy about it, but they turned the other cheek when they could have put their foot down. If they would have the Ohio State football program would not be where it is at right now. Sure Jim Tressel had a big hand in it, but you must also blame the University as well for having a blind eye to it.

Kyle Busch Grabs 100th Win In Nascar As He Wins In New Hampshire

Kyle Busch just continues to win as he took his 100th career Nascar win Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Busch has won a 100 total races in the Truck, Nationwide, and Cup series. Busch and Harvick almost got into another dust-up, but Nascar warned Harvick if he did they would park his car.  Busch has 22 wins in Sprint Cup and 29 in the Trucks Series.


Richard Petty is NASCAR's career leader with 200 wins and David Pearson is second with 106. Petty won all of his races at the Cup level. Pearson won 105 races in Cup and one in Nationwide. Busch has 100 wins spread over NASCAR's top three national series. Busch is just 26 years old and has many years ahead of him. If he stays healthy and drivers for a competitive owner there is really no telling how many wins Kyle Busch could end up with. Like him or hate him you have to give him credit he does win Nascar races no matter what series he races in.

Joe Girardi Thinks Toronto Maybe Stealing Signs Who Doesn't These Days

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi thinks that Toronto may have some system that is letting them steal signs from the Yankees. After two straight losses, you could probably hear the frustration in his comments as the Blue Jays had their way with the Yankees in the first two games of the series. Now with C.C. Sabathia shuting down the Blue Jays today, I doubt we will hear about sign stealing at Girardi's news conference.

The truth is it would not come much of a surprise to me if every team in baseball stole signs somehow. No matter what any team tells you they will take whatever advantage they can get. If you do not think so, your sadly mistaken. I am sure the Yankees do it just as much as any other Major League ball club does. It is something that is not suppose to happen, but it does all the time. People just do not talk about it much unless they get burnt by it. Guess Girardi felt a little burnt by it.

It's Official! Deron Williams Signs To Play In Turkey

Well it's official if there is an NBA lockout Deron Williams will be playing basketball in Turkey. Williams' contract with Besiktas is worth $5 million, sources told ESPN.com's Chris Broussard. Sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein last week that Williams would not be required to report to the Turkish club before the end of August or early September and that his deal with them would include an immediate out that allows him to return to the NBA as soon as the work stoppage ends.


Now by signing with the Turkey ball club Williams knows he will have a paycheck coming and playing basketball if there is a stoppage. He also has a clause that let's him come back in case they settle the lockout quickly. It would not surprise me to see more NBA players doing the same thing. You cannot blame them they love to play the game and this is one way to keep in shape. It also could help the players move ownership to a deal quicker as well. The NBA does not want to lose their talent outside the United States, but that is what could happen.

Is The NFL Strike Nearing The End?

NFL Football fans are hoping the NFL strike is winding down as both sides seem poised to settle it. Many people thought that it would end close to this time and I was one of them as well. The NFL and it's owners stand to lose a lot of money along with the players if they do not reach a deal. It's sad that it even came to this and the NFL fans had to sit through this, but hopefully it is about over.

It will be good to talk about football once again with the season basically only a few months away. The Hall Of Fame game is in August and that really is not too far away. If the NFL wants a pre-season they will need to settle by next week. Maybe soon we can start writing and talking about NFL football instead of the strike. There are really no winners in the strike and having NFL football again is what everyone wants anyways.

Whoa! Pirates Tied For First Place!

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been the laughing stock of baseball for much of the last 15 years, but that is not the case anymore. When the Pirates decided on Clint Hurdle you knew things would be changing, but no one thought they would change this fast. Right now, the Pirates are tied for first place and they have a lot of confidence in what they can do.


Jeff Karstens threw a five-hitter and Andrew McCutchen tripled and drove in two runs as the surging Pirates opened the second half of the season with a 4-0 victory over the Astros on Friday night. Andrew McCutchen has played well for the Pirates, but it has been the pitching that has carried the Pirates all season long. As long as the Pirates get good pitching and timely hitting it looks like Clint Hurdle has his ball club in for the long haul. Losing seasons seem to be a thing of the past now for Pirates fans.

MLB Schedule July 16, 2011

Florida
Chi Cubs
1:05pm ET

NY Yankees
Toronto
1:07pm ET

Chi White Sox
Detroit
4:10pm ET

Boston
Tampa Bay
4:10pm ET

Philadelphia
NY Mets
4:10pm ET

LA Angels
Oakland
4:10pm ET

LA Angels
Oakland
2nd Game

Pittsburgh
Houston
7:05pm ET

Cleveland
Baltimore
7:05pm ET

Washington
Atlanta
7:10pm ET

Kansas City
Minnesota
7:10pm ET

St. Louis
Cincinnati
7:10pm ET

Milwaukee
Colorado
8:10pm ET

LA Dodgers
Arizona
8:10pm ET

San Francisco
San Diego
8:35pm ET

Texas
Seattle
10:10pm ET

MLB Scores July 15, 2011

Florida 1
Chi Cubs 2
Final

Cleveland 6
Baltimore 5
Final

Chi White Sox 8
Detroit 2
Final

NY Yankees 1
Toronto 7
Final

St. Louis 5
Cincinnati 6
Final

Boston 6
Tampa Bay 9
Final

Philadelphia 7
NY Mets 2
Final

Washington 1
Atlanta 11
Final

Pittsburgh 4
Houston 0
Final

Kansas City 2
Minnesota 1
Final

Milwaukee 0
Colorado 4
Final

LA Dodgers 6
Arizona 4
Final

LA Angels 3
Oakland 5
Final

San Francisco 6
San Diego 1
Final

Texas 4
Seattle 0
Final

MLB Schedule For July 15, 2011

Florida
Chi Cubs
2:20pm ET

Cleveland
Baltimore
7:05pm ET

Chi White Sox
Detroit
7:05pm ET

NY Yankees
Toronto
7:07pm ET

St. Louis
Cincinnati
7:10pm ET

Boston
Tampa Bay
7:10pm ET

Philadelphia
NY Mets
7:10pm ET

Washington
Atlanta
7:35pm ET

Pittsburgh
Houston
8:05pm ET

Kansas City
Minnesota
8:10pm ET

Milwaukee
Colorado
8:40pm ET

LA Dodgers
Arizona
9:40pm ET

LA Angels
Oakland
10:05pm ET

San Francisco
San Diego
10:05pm ET

Texas
Seattle
10:10pm ET

WNBA Scoreboard July 12, 2011

Washington 71
Seattle 79
Final

Los Angeles 84
San Antonio 74
Final

Kyle Busch Wins At Kentucky

When Nascar put Kentucky on the schedule a lot of promises were made about what great racing this track would provide. The truth is last night it was a very boring race that Kyle Busch won. He led 125 of the 267 laps to win for the second time in three days. It was mostly single file and follow the leader which is not racing in my opinion. Another drawback was around 20,000 fans never made it to the event because of a massive traffic jam on I-71. I have traveled I-71 many times and this should not come as a shock to anyone being it is a two lane highway in that area. Hopefully, the racing will improve and they can fix the issues they had in the first race their.

1. Kyle Busch, Toyota
2. David Reutimann, Toyota
3. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
4. Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
5. Carl Edwards, Ford
6. Matt Kenseth, Ford
7. Brad Keselowski, Dodge
8. David Ragan, Ford
9. Kurt Busch, Dodge
10. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

MLB Schedule For July 10, 2011

Tampa Bay
NY Yankees
1:05pm ET

Toronto
Cleveland
1:05pm ET

Houston
Florida
1:10pm ET

Colorado
Washington
1:35pm ET

Chi Cubs
Pittsburgh
1:35pm ET

Baltimore
Boston
1:35pm ET

Atlanta
Philadelphia
1:35pm ET

Minnesota
Chi White Sox
2:10pm ET

Detroit
Kansas City
2:10pm ET

Cincinnati
Milwaukee
2:10pm ET

Arizona
St. Louis
2:15pm ET

Oakland
Texas
3:05pm ET

Seattle
LA Angels
3:35pm ET

San Diego
LA Dodgers
4:10pm ET

NY Mets
San Francisco
8:05pm ET

MLB Scoreboard July 9, 2011

Tampa Bay 4
NY Yankees 5
Final

Minnesota 3
Chi White Sox 4
Final

San Diego 0
LA Dodgers 1
Final

Atlanta 4
Philadelphia 1
Final 11

Toronto 5
Cleveland 4
Final 10

Chi Cubs 6
Pittsburgh 3
Final

Colorado 2
Washington 1
Final

Cincinnati 8
Milwaukee 4
Final 10

Houston 1
Florida 6
Final

Detroit 6
Kansas City 13
Final

Baltimore 0
Boston 4
Final

Arizona 6
St. Louis 7
Final

Oakland 6
Texas 7
Final

Seattle 3
LA Angels 9
Final

NY Mets 1
San Francisco 3
Final

MLB Scores June 26, 2011

Arizona 3
Detroit 8
Final

Boston 4
Pittsburgh 2
Final

Oakland 1
Philadelphia 3
Final

Cincinnati 5
Baltimore 7
Final

Colorado 4
NY Yankees 6
Final

Tampa Bay 14
Houston 10
Final

Chi Cubs 3
Kansas City 6
Final

Washington 2
Chi White Sox 1
Final

Minnesota 2
Milwaukee 6
Final

Toronto 5
St. Louis 0
Final

NY Mets 8
Texas 5
Final

Atlanta 1
San Diego 4
Final

LA Angels 2
LA Dodgers 3
Final

Cleveland 1
San Francisco 3
Final

MLB Schedule June 14, 2011

St. Louis
Washington
7:05pm ET

Cleveland
Detroit
7:05pm ET

Florida
Philadelphia
7:05pm ET

Texas
NY Yankees
7:05pm ET

Baltimore
Toronto
7:07pm ET

NY Mets
Atlanta
7:10pm ET

Boston
Tampa Bay
7:10pm ET

Milwaukee
Chi Cubs
8:05pm ET

Pittsburgh
Houston
8:05pm ET

Chi White Sox
Minnesota
8:10pm ET

San Diego
Colorado
8:40pm ET

San Francisco
Arizona
9:40pm ET

Kansas City
Oakland
10:05pm ET

Cincinnati
LA Dodgers
10:10pm ET

LA Angels
Seattle
10:10pm ET

Luke Fickell Has Tough Road Ahead

Luke Fickell had the dream job a coaching job beside a great mentor in Jim Tressel. He thought the relationship would last for a very long time, but it came to an early end for Fickell. Now all Luke Fickell can do is try to move all and take what he has learned from the experience and get the Buckeyes back on track.

According to Fickell he had no idea what was going on until it became public. He was already going to be head coach for five games, but now he has a chance to become the full-time coach for the college he once played for. Luke Fickell has no preconceived notions on how things will work out. He knows unless he wins he will be gone after one year.

It will be tough on Fickell as everyone will be watching the program and making sure they stay clean. He knows he must do it the right way and Tressel has taught him a lot. It still though will come down to wins and losses for Fickell. The chances that he stays on past one year maybe slim, but you never know what could happen. We will just have to wait and see what Fickell can do.

Could This Be Dwight Howard's Last Year With The Magic?

Dwight Howard has always said he would like to remain in Orlando, but will become a free agent in 2012 as he will not sign the two year extension Orlando has offered him. This really does not come as a shock as Howard has indicated he is keeping all his options open for 2012. He wants better players around him who are committed to winning an NBA Title. What does this means for the Orlando Magic?

It's really pretty simple Dwight Howard will probably not be an Orlando Magic after next season. The truth is Orlando has really no room to make any moves to get good players to help Howard. In the end, it looks like Orlando may have to make a move they did not want to make and that is trade Dwight Howard.

Orlando would love to keep Howard, but unless they can make some moves he will leave in 2012 anyways. I guess it is probably best to trade him and get something for him. Losing him to free agency and getting nothing in return will hurt Orlando a lot. Right now we will have to see how this plays out, but would not shock me to see Dwight Howard playing somewhere else in 2012.

Brewers Sweep Cards Take Over First Place

Brewers GM Doug Melvin knew in the off-season some changes was needed if the Brewers were going to be contenders once again. He fired Ken Macha and brought in Ron Roeincke which was a move many people question. He also brought in Shaun Marcum and Zack Grienke to help the pitching rotation as well. Prince Fielder was also kept and all these moves have the Milwaukee Brewers now sitting in first place.

Today, was just like any day for the Brewers they got good pitching and great hitting to get a 4-3 win and a sweep over the St. Louis Cardinals. Fielder, who went 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs, and a home run now has 58 RBIs to extend his lead in the NL. Prince Fielder is batting over .300 and is one of the main reasons the Brewers are doing so well right now. It is not just Fielder though as many hitters through the lineup are also doing well.

Pitching has been a real bright spot and Shaun Marcum pitched another great game. Kameron Loe and John Axford finished it up out of the bullpen. Right now Milwaukee is playing well and have all phases of their game working for them. Milwaukee also has a deep bench which also helps give the manager many different choices everyday. We will have to see if Milwaukee can keep this up all season long.

MLB Scores June 12, 2011

Seattle 7
Detroit 3
Final

Cleveland 1
NY Yankees 9
Final

Boston 14
Toronto 1
Final

Arizona 5
Florida 1
Final

Chi Cubs 3
Philadelphia 4
Final

Tampa Bay 9
Baltimore 6
Final

NY Mets 7
Pittsburgh 0
Final

Atlanta 4
Houston 1
Final

St. Louis 3
Milwaukee 4
Final

Oakland 4
Chi White Sox 5
Final

Texas 1
Minnesota 6
Final

LA Dodgers 10
Colorado 8
Final

Kansas City 9
LA Angels 0
Final

Washington 2
San Diego 0
Final

MLB Schedule June 12, 2011

Seattle
Detroit
1:05pm ET

Cleveland
NY Yankees
1:05pm ET

Boston
Toronto
1:07pm ET

Arizona
Florida
1:10pm ET

Chi Cubs
Philadelphia
1:35pm ET

Tampa Bay
Baltimore
1:35pm ET

NY Mets
Pittsburgh
1:35pm ET

Atlanta
Houston
2:05pm ET

St. Louis
Milwaukee
2:10pm ET

Oakland
Chi White Sox
2:10pm ET

Texas
Minnesota
2:10pm ET

LA Dodgers
Colorado
3:10pm ET

Kansas City
LA Angels
3:35pm ET

Washington
San Diego
4:05pm ET

Cincinnati
San Francisco
8:05pm ET

MLB Scores June 11, 2011

Cleveland 0
NY Yankees 4
Final

Boston 16
Toronto 4
Final

Chi Cubs 1
Philadelphia 7
Final

Cincinnati 10
San Francisco 2
Final

Texas 1
Minnesota 8
Final

Seattle 1
Detroit 8
Final

Atlanta 6
Houston 3
Final 10

NY Mets 2
Pittsburgh 3
Final

Tampa Bay 7
Baltimore 5
Final 11

St. Louis 3
Milwaukee 5
Final

Oakland 2
Chi White Sox 3
Final

Arizona 9
Florida 5
Final

LA Dodgers 11
Colorado 7
Final

Washington 2
San Diego 1
Final

Kansas City 5
LA Angels 7
Final

Early MLB Scores June 11, 2011

Cleveland 0
NY Yankees 4
Final

Boston 16
Toronto 4
Final

Chi Cubs 1
Philadelphia 7
Final

Cincinnati 10
San Francisco 2
Final

Texas 1
Minnesota 8
Final

Why Lebron James Must Win This NBA Finals?

As Lebron James teammate Dwayne Wade once said, to be an elite player you must close out games. People remember those who do that, and forget those who do not. Lebron James has a ton of pressure on to get the ring in this NBA Finals this year. Yes, it is only his second appearance in the Finals, but with The Decision and all that has went down failure now is not an option for King James. If he does not win this Finals I do not know if he will ever be able to live it down.

Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Lebron James boasted about how many championships they would bring back to Miami. James has a chance to fulfill that promise he made to the Miami Heat fans. The Cavalier fans heard the same promise that never was realized. If Lebron James fails to deliver in Game 6 and the Heat get beat all eyes will be on James. It will be an epic failure for a player many have called the next Michael Jordan. As we have seen he is not the next Michael Jordan evident by his NBA Finals play.

James can look back if he fails and blame only himself. He has all these handlers around him crafting his every move. The one place that they cannot help him is on the basketball court or public perception. It seems in both areas James is lost and only one thing will solve that problem. It's an NBA Championship and it is his for the grabbing. The question is can he take it or will this just be another epic collapse that we have seen so many times before from King James. Only time will tell us the answer and that time is fast approaching for him.

Heat vs Mavs Game 6 Preview: Is This The End For King James

The Miami Heat will be in front of their home crowd and will that make enough of a difference to stop the Mavs in Game 6. This series has been close throughout and each team has had their chances to win games and lose them as well. Lebron James has not been the player the Heat fans had hoped for when they reached the NBA Finals. Has Lebron wilted under the pressure? So far, it seems that way and unless something crazy happens that will probably continue.

Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade can't count on their sidekick to show up in the fourth quarter because he has not done anything in that quarter for them. Miami will need good production from their bench if they want to win Game 6. For the Mavericks it will be the same formula that has won before and that is plenty of Dirk and keep it close to the end. Dallas knows Miami has struggled closing out games and Dirk is one of the best closers in the the game.

Game 6 could be the end of the road for King James unless him and the Miami Heat pull this game out. Miami plays well at home, but I do not see Dallas letting this opportunity slip away. I look for Dirk to have a big game and the Dallas Mavericks do close out the Miami Heat and King James. It will be close throughout the game, but I like the Mavericks to win.

MLB Schedule June 11, 2011

Cleveland
NY Yankees
1:05pm ET

Boston
Toronto
1:07pm ET

Chi Cubs
Philadelphia
4:10pm ET

Cincinnati
San Francisco
4:10pm ET

Texas
Minnesota
4:10pm ET

Seattle
Detroit
7:05pm ET

Atlanta
Houston
7:05pm ET

NY Mets
Pittsburgh
7:05pm ET

Tampa Bay
Baltimore
7:05pm ET

St. Louis
Milwaukee
7:10pm ET

Oakland
Chi White Sox
7:10pm ET

Arizona
Florida
7:10pm ET

LA Dodgers
Colorado
8:10pm ET

Washington
San Diego
8:35pm ET

Kansas City
LA Angels
9:05pm ET

Yankees Get Feisty In 11-7 Win Over Indians

After getting swept by the Boston Red Sox at home the New York Yankees were not in a good mood and took in out on the slumping Cleveland Indians by a score of 11-7. The Yankees struggled in the Red Sox series and was not in the mood to see their players get hit with a baseball anymore.

JoeGirardi and Acta got into a heated argument when both benches and bullpens emptied after Teixeira was hit behind the shoulder by a second-inning pitch from struggling Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona. No punches were thrown and there appeared to be little pushing and shoving— if any. Plate umpire Dale Scott issued warnings to both teams, and there was no further trouble.

Alex Rodriguez hit a colossal home run, Curtis Granderson also connected and New York as they made the Indians pay for plunking their player. The Yankees needed this win to get back on track. Losing to their rival Boston Red Sox like they did took a lot out of them and they needed a win like this to feel good about themselves again.

MLB Scores June 10, 2011

Chi Cubs 5
Philadelphia 7
Final

Cleveland 7
NY Yankees 11
Final

NY Mets 8
Pittsburgh 1
Final

Tampa Bay 0
Baltimore 7
Final

Seattle 3
Detroit 2
Final

Boston 5
Toronto 1
Final

Arizona 4
Florida 6
Final

Atlanta 11
Houston 4
Final

Texas 9
Minnesota 3
Final

St. Louis 0
Milwaukee 8
Final

Oakland 7
Chi White Sox 5
Final

LA Dodgers 5
Colorado 6
Final

Dallas vs Miami Game 5 Preview

Tonight's matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat should be very interesting. This Game 5 could very well determine who will win the 2011 NBA Championship. If Miami wins it you can write off the Dallas Mavericks as the Mavericks would have to win two straight games in Miami and very tall order indeed. If Dallas wins they know they only have to win one more game to be called NBA Champion.

Game 5 will come down to two indivduals Dirk Nowitzki and Lebron James. Dirk has been sick and in Game 4 he gutted it out to help his team get the win. He is suppose to be feeling better and hopes to lead Dallas to a Game 5 win. For Lebron James many feel he checked out in Game 4 and must perform much better if the Heat want to win. Many people were comparing James to Jordan, but after this Finals that comparison needs to stop. Jordan would never check out on his team.

In the end, this game is going to come down to Dirk and Lebron. Whoever has a better game will be celebrating at the end. The team that wins will have a big advantage going into Game 6 and the other will be at a disadvantage. I like Dallas at home in front of the home crowd. I think James will give another sub-par performance and that will hurt the Heat enough to give the Mavericks a Game 5 win.

Terrelle Pryor Skips Senior Season As The Fallout Continues

Terrelle Pryor through his attorney has decided to forgo his senior season which was going to be cut short anyways. I do not think that Pryor was going to play a down this season after the investigation by the NCAA was done.

Pryor's statement through his lawyer read “In the best interests of my teammates, I’ve made the decision to forgo my senior year of football at The Ohio State University,” Pryor said in a statement issued by Columbus lawyer Larry James. Pryor will probably enter the NFL supplemental draft.

Pryor had already been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for accepting improper benefits from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner. The NCAA is looking into all aspects of Ohio State’s once-glittering program, from cash and tattoos to players, cars and other potential violations.

Pryor leaving is probably the best thing for him and Ohio State. This way the school can move on from this horrible situation that has engulfed the football program. Pryor came in hoping to bring the Buckeyes a National Championship, but in the end he brought them nothing but shame.

Can The Mavs Even The Series With The Heat Tonight?

The Dallas Mavericks have been the team in the playoffs always with a series lead, but now everyone will see how they respond to being down. They probably will like they have all season and that is come out and play a great game. The one thing that killed the Mavs in Game 1 was poor rebounding. They will need to clean that up if they want any chance to win this series. You cannot let a team with Miami's talent second and third chances, if you do it will be a loss.

Dirk Nowitzki is the team leader for the Mavs and he will need to have a monster game for Dallas if they want a chance to win. He cannot do it alone though and other players will need to step up their games if they want any chance of winning this series. You do not win the NBA Finals with just one guy. Everyone has to help and Dirk needs some help if the Mavs want to win an NBA Championship.

Tonight's game may hinge on rebounding and second chance points like Game 1. Both teams are evenly matched, so it will come down to who executes the best down the stretch. In Game 1 it was the Miami Heat that did that, and the Mavs faltered. It will be interesting to see how the Mavs handle Game 2, but this is a game the Mavs really need.

Shaq Calls It A Career And Retires Through Twitter

Shaq Daddy or Shaq Diesel or any other day you want to call him by will be missed as he announced his retirement today. Shaq played in 19 NBA seasons and always gave a show for the fans to enjoy. He will go down as one of the greatest centers to ever play this game. Power was his game and no one could handle him when he got down on the blocks. He was the original Superman in the NBA and will be missed. I have posted some of his accomplishments below.

• 15-time NBA All-Star
• 28,596 career points (5th all-time)
• 2000 NBA MVP
• 3-time NBA Finals MVP (2000-02)
• 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year
• Notable nicknames: The Diesel, Shaq Fu, Superman, The Big Daddy, The Big Shaqtus, The Big Shamrock
• 13 seasons with 20 PPG and 10 RPG (most in NBA)
• 5,250 postseason points (4th all-time in NBA)
• 216 postseason games played (3rd all-time in NBA)

MLB Schedule June 2, 2011

Pittsburgh
NY Mets
1:10pm ET

Texas
Cleveland
7:05pm ET

Minnesota
Kansas City
8:10pm ET

San Francisco
St. Louis
8:15pm ET

Washington
Arizona
9:40pm ET

Houston
San Diego
10:05pm ET

Tampa Bay
Seattle
10:10pm ET

MLB Scores June 1, 2011

Philadelphia 1
Washington 2
Final

Texas 3
Tampa Bay 0
Final

Chi White Sox 7
Boston 4
Final

Houston 3
Chi Cubs 1
Final

NY Yankees 4
Oakland 2
Final

Baltimore 2
Seattle 1
Final

LA Angels 0
Kansas City 2
Final

Minnesota 2
Detroit 4
Final

Cleveland 13
Toronto 9
Final

Milwaukee 3
Cincinnati 4
Final

San Diego 3
Atlanta 4
Final

Pittsburgh 9
NY Mets 3
Final

Florida 5
Arizona 6
Final

San Francisco 7
St. Louis 5
Final 11

Colorado 3
LA Dodgers 0
Final

Lebron James Was Clutch In Heat Win

Throughout his NBA career Lebron James has made some great shots and played some great games. Last night though may have been his best game yet. The reason I say that this one meant something and he knew that. James drove to the basket at will and the Chicago Bulls had no answers for him. Down the stretch, James hit the shots when the Heat needed him too. This was something that he did not always do when it counted.

Lebron James like him or hate him he can play the game of basketball. He knows what to do and when to do it. He knew his team needed him and came through when it counted the most in the fourth quarter. That is what superstars do and he did just that. Many people judge James for things he does, but the one thing we all can see he can play the game of basketball with the best of them.

MLB Schedule May 19, 2011

Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
12:35pm ET

Washington
NY Mets
1:10pm ET

Houston
St. Louis
1:45pm ET

Minnesota
Oakland
3:35pm ET

LA Angels
Seattle
3:40pm ET

NY Yankees
Baltimore
7:05pm ET

Colorado
Philadelphia
7:05pm ET

Tampa Bay
Toronto
7:07pm ET

Chi Cubs
Florida
7:10pm ET

Detroit
Boston
7:10pm ET

Cleveland
Chi White Sox
8:10pm ET

Texas
Kansas City
8:10pm ET

Atlanta
Arizona
9:40pm ET

Milwaukee
San Diego
10:05pm ET

San Francisco
LA Dodgers
10:10pm ET

Kareem Wonders Why Such A Long Wait For His Place In Laker History

Names like Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Chick Hearn, Wayne Gretzky and Oscar De La Hoya all have statues outside The Staples center, but no Kareem Abdul Jabbar just yet. Kareem feels he have been slighted, but according to the Lakers there is no timetable for the next statue. They have told Kareem he is the next in line for one, but that has still not made him happy.

Jabbar won five world championships as a Los Angeles Laker and remains the NBA's all-time leading scorer. He does have a valid point and should have been honored by now. I can understand how he feels. Jabbar wants to enjoy the honor as nothing is a given in life. The sooner the Lakers do it this can be dropped. Until they do Kareem and others will wonder why one of the greatest Lakers ever has not got what he deserves.

Could Dwight Howard Actually Get Traded?

With the Los Angeles Lakers probably being dismantled is it time for the Orlando Magic to think about moving Dwight Howard before he becomes a free agent. Howard will play this coming season, but after that you just do not know. One option that Orlando may want to look into is trading him to the Lakers. The Magic could also send Arenas or Hedo as well which would free up some cap space for Orlando. If the Magic could get Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum this is something to consider.

The reality is I will be surprised if Dwight Howard sticks around as he can see with what he has now there is no way he can win an NBA Championship and he understands that. He would love to bring one to Orlando, but he also must be honest with himself. The current Magic roster will never win a NBA Championship.

Orlando has to look long term here and what is best for the franchise. Trading Howard is something they do not want to do, but in the end they may have no choice. With a lockout possible and his contract coming up a trade maybe the Orlando Magic best option.

Andrew Bynum Issues Apology Gets Suspended For Five Games By The NBA

Andrew Bynum came out today and did the right thing any gave an apology to J.J. Barea. In part here was his apology:

"My actions ... don't represent me, my upbringing, this franchise or any of the Laker fans out there that want to watch us and want us to succeed," Bynum said. "Furthermore, and more importantly, I want to actually apologize to J.J. Barea for doing that. I'm just glad that he wasn't seriously injured in the event and all I can say is, I've looked at [the replay], it's terrible and it definitely won't be happening again."

Bynum plans on talking to Barea as well to apologize, but it was good to see him admit his mistakes. People make mistakes in judgement and Bynum is human just like everyone else. Hopefully, he will learned and become a better player because of it.

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.

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.

Lakers, Heat Going In Opposite Directions As Playoffs Near

The Miami Heat went into Boston in a statement game and made a loud statement with a easy 100-77 route of the Boston Celtics. It was kind of surprising how easily the Heat won the game. No matter what anyone tells you the Celtics really miss Kendrick Perkins and his toughness in the middle. With Shaq still out it could be tough on the Celtics in the playoffs.

For the Los Angeles Lakers their rollercoaster season continues as they now have lost five games in a row after a 120-106 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This loss may not seem huge right now, but the Thunder gave the Lakers all they could handle in the playoffs last season. It is hard to get a read on the Lakers as one day they look great the next day they do not. I guess we will have to wait to see what they do in the playoffs.

NHL Scores April 10, 2011

Detroit 4
Chicago 3
Final

Boston 2
New Jersey 3
Final

Edmonton 3
Colorado 4
Final OT

Pittsburgh 5
Atlanta 2
Final

Dallas 3
Minnesota 5
Final

MLB Schedule April 11, 2011

Texas
Detroit
1:05pm ET

Tampa Bay
Boston
7:10pm ET

Colorado
NY Mets
7:10pm ET

Chi Cubs
Houston
8:05pm ET

Oakland
Chi White Sox
8:10pm ET

St. Louis
Arizona
9:40pm ET

Cincinnati
San Diego
10:05pm ET

Cleveland
LA Angels
10:05pm ET

Toronto
Seattle
10:10pm ET

LA Dodgers
San Francisco
10:15pm ET

MLB Scores April 10, 2011

Kansas City 9
Detroit 5
Final

Washington 7
NY Mets 3
Final 11

Colorado 6
Pittsburgh 5
Final

Texas 3
Baltimore 0
Final

Philadelphia 3
Atlanta 0
Final

Florida 1
Houston 7
Final

Oakland 5
Minnesota 3
Final

Tampa Bay 1
Chi White Sox 6
Final

Chi Cubs 5
Milwaukee 6
Final

Toronto 1
LA Angels 3
Final

LA Dodgers 2
San Diego 7
Final

St. Louis 6
San Francisco 1
Final

Cincinnati 8
Arizona 10
Final

Cleveland 6
Seattle 4
Final

NY Yankees 0
Boston 4
Final

NBA Schedule April 11, 2011

Boston
Washington
7:00pm ET

Orlando
Philadelphia
7:00pm ET

Charlotte
New Jersey
7:00pm ET

Miami
Atlanta
7:00pm ET

Cleveland
Detroit
7:30pm ET

Toronto
Milwaukee
8:00pm ET

Utah
New Orleans
8:00pm ET

Dallas
Houston
8:30pm ET

Golden State
Denver
9:00pm ET

Oklahoma City
Sacramento
10:00pm ET

Minnesota
Phoenix
10:00pm ET

NBA Scores April 10, 2011

Chicago 102
Orlando 99
Final

Boston 77
Miami 100
Final

New Orleans 89
Memphis 111
Final

Detroit 112
Charlotte 101
Final

New Jersey 92
Toronto 99
Final

New York 110
Indiana 109
Final

Phoenix 90
Dallas 115
Final

Sacramento 104
Golden State 103
Final

Oklahoma City 120
LA Lakers 106
Final

MLB Scores April 10, 2011

Kansas City 9
Detroit 5
Final

Washington 7
NY Mets 3
Final 11

Colorado 6
Pittsburgh 5
Final

Texas 3
Baltimore 0
Final

Philadelphia 3
Atlanta 0
Final

Florida 1
Houston 7
Final

Oakland 5
Minnesota 3
Final

Tampa Bay 1
Chi White Sox 6
Final

Chi Cubs 5
Milwaukee 6
Final

Toronto 1
LA Angels 3
Final

LA Dodgers 2
San Diego 7
Final

St. Louis 6
San Francisco 1
Final

Cincinnati 8
Arizona 10
Final

Cleveland 6
Seattle 4
Final

Bulls Get 39 Points From Derrick Rose To Hold Off Magic 102-99

The Orlando Magic played without their superstar Dwight Howard and it showed especially on the defensive end of it. The Bulls shot over 60 percent and Derrick Rose led them to a 102-99 victory. Magic guard Jameer Nelson hit a shot at the buzzer, but it came to late and the Magic fell to the Bulls.

This was a very important game for the Orlando Magic as they needed to prove they could play with a team like the Bulls without their superstar. They did and came up just a little short. The problem for the Magic is when Howard is in the game they never seem to get this kind of effort from everyone. Overall, Stan Van Gundy has to be happy with this performance, but I am sure he will have some complaints like he always does.

Manny Ramirez Enters Hall Of Shame After Announcing Retirement

Manny Ramirez was a player we cheered for and hoped better of, but we all should have known better. Manny never took the game of baseball that seriously, just ask many of the teammates through the years he has played with. He enjoyed playing the game, but it was not something that was real serious to him. I guess that was Manny being Manny.

Now that he has retired instead of facing an 100 game suspension for a failed drug test, we can now officially enter Manny Ramirez into the Hall Of Shame with a number of other players. Many hit over 500 home runs, but will never be in the Hall Of Fame. I think Many Ramirez could care less, as he never took the game that seriously, so why would he care. At least Manny got into one Hall the Hall Of Shame.

Kentucky Wildcats Continue To Get Bumper Recruiting Classes

The Kentucky Wildcats and Coach John Calipari have a good thing going it seems. Doron lamb, Terrence Jones, and Brandon Knight made a big impact on Kentucky’s run into the Final Four. These three could leave for the NBA, but Wildcat fans have nothing to worry about. Calipari has one of the best recruiting classes coming in this fall.

Kentucky’s incoming freshman class includes three of the nation’s top six prospects in 6-foot-2 point guard Marquis Teague,6-7 small forward Mike Gilchrist and 6-10 forward Anthony Davis. The class also features 6-9 forward Kyle Wiltjer, the nation’s No. 25 prospect. Anthony Davis is the one player who could be the next big star. Look for most of these incoming freshman to see plenty playing time. I do not know how John Calipari does it, but he continues to bring in top recruits to his program. His newest crop has plenty of talent and will have a big impact on the Wildcats this fall.

Don't Diss Rajon Rondo Could Come Back To Bite You

The Chicago Bulls made a statement in their route of the Boston Celtics the other night. Rajon Rondo was a guy who took everything in and kept to himself. Television announcers were not kind to Rondo and how they felt Derrick Rose dominated him. In fact many people felt Rose is much quicker than Rajon Rondo. If there is one thing people should know about Rajon Rondo is is best not to diss him.

Just when you think Rajon Rondo cannot compete that is when he is the most dangerous. Rose is having an MVP year, but do not sell Rajon Rondo short. This is the same Rondo who asked to cover a bigger more powerful Lebron James in a game. One word of warning do not diss Rajon Rondo he hears what people are saying and he will have a rebuttal on the court.

Matt Kenseth Ends Losing Streak At Texas Motor Speedway

Everyone was wondering if Matt Kenseth would ever win another race, well the wondering can stop as he dominated the race Saturday in Texas and took the checkered flag. It end a 76 race losing skid and even Kenseth had to be wondering when he would get back to victory lane.

Kenseth led 169 of 334 laps at the 1½-mile, high-banked track for his 19th career victory, his first since California in February 2009 when he won the first two races of that season. Matt Kenseth can drive a race car there was never no doubt, but it just goes to show you every week you never know who could find their way into victory lane.



1. Matt Kenseth, Ford
2. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet
3. Carl Edwards, Ford
4. Greg Biffle, Ford
5. Paul Menard, Chevrolet
6. Marcos Ambrose, Ford
7. David Ragan, Ford
8. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet
10. Kurt Busch, Dodge

NBA Schedule April 5, 2011

Milwaukee
Orlando
7:00pm ET

Charlotte
Cleveland
7:00pm ET

Detroit
Washington
7:00pm ET

Minnesota
New Jersey
7:00pm ET

San Antonio
Atlanta
7:00pm ET

Toronto
New York
7:30pm ET

Philadelphia
Boston
7:30pm ET

Phoenix
Chicago
8:00pm ET

LA Clippers
Memphis
8:00pm ET

Sacramento
Houston
8:30pm ET

Oklahoma City
Denver
9:00pm ET

Golden State
Portland
10:00pm ET

Utah
LA Lakers
10:30pm ET

NHL Schedule April 5, 2011

Tampa Bay
Buffalo
7:00pm ET

Washington
Toronto
7:00pm ET

New Jersey
Pittsburgh
7:30pm ET

Philadelphia
Ottawa
7:30pm ET

Chicago
Montreal
7:30pm ET

Colorado
St. Louis
8:00pm ET

Atlanta
Nashville
8:00pm ET

Columbus
Dallas
8:30pm ET

Vancouver
Edmonton
9:00pm ET

Is Dwight Howard Headed Out Of Orlando?

Dwight Howard will have a tough decision when 2012 gets here. Will he stay with the Orlando Magic or we he test the free agency waters. Many people feel he will test the waters and I really cannot blame him one bit. The Magic continue to surround him with players it seems who do not have the desire to win a championship like Howard. Most of his teammates stand around and do nothing, but collect a check.

Howard is getting tired of it and went off on his teammates the other day. You really cannot blame him as he is tired of losing especially since he has a very talented team. Howard is getting frustrated and when that happens a player wants out. Unless Orlando makes some changes for the better look for Superman to fly right out of Orlando.

Will Kendrick Perkins Trade Come Back To Haunt Boston?

The Boston Celtics has always been a smart team in the moves they make during the off-season and during the season. This latest move though has to get you wondering what they are thinking. Boston sent Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City and acquiring forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic. Now Green and Krstic are very nice players, but in reality the Celtics post a big piece of their swagger with Perkins gone.

Kendrick Perkins is one of the few big men in the league who does not need help guarding people. Shaq gets into foul trouble pretty easy, while Perkins does not foul out very often. The Celtics got smaller and are hoping Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal get and stay healthy. That is a big thing to hope for, but I guess they think it is possible. I think down the stretch and the playoffs they will wish they had Kendrick Perkins especially if they play against Dwight Howard and the Magic. Perkins was one guy who gave Howard a lot of trouble. I guess we will have to wait and see how this all plays out.

NHL Schedule February 25, 2011

NY Rangers
Washington
7:00pm ET

Pittsburgh
Carolina
7:00pm ET

Phoenix
Columbus
7:00pm ET

Ottawa
Buffalo
7:30pm ET

New Jersey
Tampa Bay
7:30pm ET

Florida
Atlanta
7:30pm ET

San Jose
Calgary
9:00pm ET

St. Louis
Edmonton
9:00pm ET

Minnesota
Anaheim
10:00pm ET

Around The Diamond: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies Preview

It is time for our Spring Training Preview and were going to start it in the National League with the 2011 edition of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies made a big splash in the off-season with the signing of Cliff Lee. Adding Lee gives the Phillies the best rotation in baseball bar none. The Phillies can throw Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, and probably Joe Blanton. That is starting pitcher any baseball club would be happy to have. The bullpen is anchored by Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson. Not that they will need them much with the starting pitching that they have right now.

On offense the Phillies lost Jayson Werth which was an important bat in the lineup. They should still be fine though as they have a lot of talent. Below is a tentative batting order for the Phillies.

1. Jimmy Rollins (SS)
2. Placido Polanco (3B)
3. Chase Utley (2B)
4. Ryan Howard (1B)
5. Carlos Ruiz (C)
6. Domonic Brown (RF)
7. Raul Ibanez (LF)
8. Shane Victorino (CF)

They still have the potential to score a bunch of runs. A healthy Jimmy Rollins could be the key to everything. If he can stay on the field and off the disabled list the Phillies could be the best team in baseball. On paper the Phillies should be an World Series favorite.

Around The Diamond: 2011 Atlanta Braves Preview

When you talk about the 2011 Atlanta Braves two things come to mind right away Bobby Cox and Chipper Jones. This will be the first time in a long time the Braves will be led by someone besides Bobby Cox. The Braves have hired Fredi Gonzalez to take over for Bobby Cox. Getting Chipper Jones back is also something many people will be watching very closely. The Braves have lost quite a feel people from last years team.

Manager Bobby Cox (Retired)
RP Billy Wagner (Retired)
RP Takashi Saito (Released)
RP Michael Dunn (Traded)
RP Kyle Farnsworth (Released)
OF Matt Diaz (Released)
OF Melky Cabrera (Released)
OF Rick Ankiel (Released)
1B Derrek Lee (Released)
1B Troy Glaus (Released)
UT Omar Infante (Traded)

That is a lot of players for the Braves to lose and the list additions is much shorter and nothing really earth shattering either.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez
2B Dan Uggla (Trade)
RP Scott Linebrink (Trade)
RP George Sherrill (Free Agent)
RP Anthony Varvaro (Waivers)
OF Joe Mather (Waivers)

Picking up Dan Uggla was a good move as he is a player that I really like and the Braves had an issue at second base last season. The starting pitching for the Braves have been in the past their strong suit and they have a nice rotation for this coming season as well. Tim Hudson,Tommy Hanson, and Derek Lowe are three good ones to build around for the Braves. The bullpen was good last season, but will take a hit in 2011. Gone are Billy Wagner, and the departure of Takashi Saito will hurt them.

The projected lineup below is what the Braves will probably go with barring and injuries or setbacks in spring training. I like their starting lineup and if Chipper Jones can stay healthy they should be fine. I think for the Braves it will come down to their pitching and how well the bullpen performs. Do not count this team out as they have enough talent to contend.

CF Nate McLouth
LF Martin Prado
3B Chipper Jones
2B Dan Uggla
C Brian McCann
RF Jason Heyward
SS Alex Gonzalez
1B Freddie Freeman

Jeff Fisher Out As Titans Coach Does This Open The Door For Vince Young

It came as a shock to many people yesterday when Jeff Fischer and the Tennessee Titans parted ways. I guess we all should have seen this coming. Bud Adams the owner did not really stand up for his coach a lot in the Vince Young turmoil, so this maybe is not as big as a shock as we think. Fisher was not given a contract extension, so that could have had something to do with it as well. Does this open the door for Vince Young?

Bud Adams said he was getting rid of Vince Young, but that could have changed now. I think Adams all along wanted to keep Young and now with Fisher leaving it opens the door back up for Vince Young. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the end. No matter how you look at it this soap opera did not end well.

College Basketball Scores January 27, 2011

Michigan 61
25 Michigan St 57
Final

Maryland 66
Virginia 42
Final

19 Vanderbilt 81
Miss St 74
Final

Boston Coll 68
3 Duke 84
Final

USC 63
Arizona St 61
Final

DePaul 60
S Florida 71
Final

20 Illinois 49
Indiana 52
Final

UCLA 74
Arizona 85
Final

Oregon 67
Stanford 59
Final

Oregon St 57
California 85
Final

Womens College Basketball Scores January 27, 2011

20 Georgia 48
S Carolina 57
Final

21 Florida St 102
Boston Coll 93
Final

N.C. St 77
16 Miami (FL) 84
Final

25 GA Tech 78
VA Tech 57
Final

Michigan 69
24 Ohio St 66
Final

Miss St 55
5 Tennessee 81
Final

22 WI Green Bay 66
Butler 62
Final

10 Michigan St 64
18 Iowa 66
Final

4 Stanford 91
Oregon 56
Final

17 Kentucky 74
Mississippi 68
Final

Arizona St 60
11 UCLA 70

NBA Schedule January 28, 2011

Memphis
Philadelphia
7:00pm ET Add to Calendar TV: SS, CSP
Milwaukee
Toronto
7:00pm ET

New Jersey
Indiana
7:00pm ET

New York
Atlanta
7:30pm ET

Detroit
Miami
7:30pm ET

Denver
Cleveland
7:30pm ET

Orlando
Chicago
8:00pm ET

Washington
Oklahoma City
8:00pm ET

Minnesota
Utah
9:00pm ET

Sacramento
LA Lakers
10:30pm ET

Boston
Phoenix
10:30pm ET

Charlotte
Golden State
10:30pm ET

NBA Scores January 27, 2011

Miami 88
New York 93
Final

Houston 106
Dallas 111
Final

Boston 88
Portland 78
Final

The Super Bowl Hair Show Troy Polamalu vs Clay Matthews

It seems hair is the main subject early in this Super Bowl as Troy Polamalu and Clay Matthews have plenty of it. Polamalu hair is sponsored, and reportedly insured for $1 million, by Head & Shoulders. Matthews for his part has signed a one-year deal with Unilever’s Suave brand. The deal includes media appearances before and after the Super Bowl and a production day should the company want to film a commercial with him. All of this from their hair, but luckily for both players they have much more going for themselves.

Both attended USC and both are All-Pros on defense for their respective teams and each one can have a big impact on this years Super Bowl. Many people may talk about their hair, but the truth is both are excellent football players. In fact they may be two of the best defensive players in the NFL. Each one brings a special talent to the table and that includes a great set of hair. No matter who wins the Super Bowl the one thing that is for sure we have never had hair talk before.

Notre Dame Men's College Basketball Making An Impact In The Big East

Last night the Notre Dame mens basketball team went to Pittsburgh and proved they were no fluke by defeating the No.2 team in the land by a score of 56-51. Notre Dame got 19 points from Ben Hansbrough and 16 points from Carleton Scott. Notre Dame has continued their impressive run so far this season. They have now beat No.2 Pittsburgh, Georgetown, and UConn.

Notre Dame plays tough defense and has some excellent shooters. This team is loaded with seniors and they run their offensive sets very well. The Fighting Irish play exceptional at home and are tough to beat on their home floor. Right now they are playing well and could be a tough matchup when March Madness gets here.

Orlando Magic Need To Learn How To Play D-E-F-E-N-S-E

The Orlando Magic are up to their own tricks again not realizing that you cannot outscore every team that you play. Getting it done on the defensive end is something that they must learn to do. I think trading for a defensive stopper should be in the Magic future. Until they do that they will just be a team that gets into the playoffs only to lose.

Dwight Howard is really the only defensive stopper they have, but when he gets into foul trouble that is all they have. Brining someone in may be the only choice that they have. I really do not see anyone on their bench that can get the job done. Unless Orlando gets better defensively it will be another fast exit out of the playoffs. Dwight Howard maybe getting tired of it and him signing long-term may be effected as well. Get Howard some defensive help is the answer to the Magic problems.

Do We Still Consider Jay Cutler A Quitter?

Before the facts we all considered Jay Cutler a quitter for not finishing the game, but now with an MRI we find out he was injured. Does this change anything about the perception about Cutler and how it played out? Now every person has a different threshold of pain and may his is not as high as others. I know most players would tell you they would try to give it a go and they would have to carry them off the field.

Cutler was injured, but when you are playing for a Super Bowl berth you have to not give up. Like I said before Favre and others would have stayed on the field. Emmitt Smith played a whole game with a separated shoulder. It's something you have to do when you want to get to the Championship level. No one really knows how bad Cutler's knee was except him and he will never tell. I guess we are all to sit and wonder why. The telltale sign for me was all the players who went to Twitter and ripped on Cutler. That speaks volumes to what the game means to people and individuals.

College Basketball Scores January 24, 2011

15 Notre Dame 56
2 Pittsburgh 51
Final

Baylor 61
Kansas St 69
Final

NHL Schedule January 25, 2011

NY Islanders
Pittsburgh
7:00pm ET

Florida
NY Rangers
7:00pm ET

Anaheim
Columbus
7:00pm ET

Toronto
Tampa Bay
7:30pm ET

Buffalo
Ottawa
7:30pm ET

Montreal
Philadelphia
7:30pm ET

Minnesota
Chicago
8:30pm ET

Edmonton
Phoenix
9:00pm ET

NHL Scores January 24, 2011

Toronto 4
Carolina 6
Final

NY Rangers 2
Washington 1
Final SO

St. Louis 3
Colorado 4
Final

Nashville 1
Calgary 3
Final

Dallas 1
Vancouver 7
Final

Boston 0
Los Angeles 2
Final

NBA Schedule January 25, 2011

Denver
Washington
7:00pm ET

Cleveland
Boston
7:30pm ET

LA Clippers
Dallas
8:30pm ET

Charlotte
Sacramento
10:00pm ET

Utah
LA Lakers
10:30pm ET

NBA Scores January 24, 2011

Detroit 103
Orlando 96
Final

Cleveland 101
New Jersey 103
Final

Memphis 100
Toronto 98
Final

Phoenix 95
Philadelphia 105
Final

Washington 106
New York 115
Final

Oklahoma City 89
New Orleans 91
Final

Houston 129
Minnesota 125
Final

Milwaukee 83
Chicago 92
Final

Sacramento 96
Portland 81
Final

San Antonio 113
Golden State 102
Final

Did Jay Cutler Quit On His Team And The City Of Chicago?

Today is probably a day that Jay Cutler should just stay in bed. Do not read the newspaper,turn on the television, or go to the Internet. Cutler is not the most liked guy right now in the City of Chicago. Jay Cutler was not able to go back into the game because of a hurt knee and any chance of Chicago making a Super Bowl went out with it. Cutler was defended by his teammates after the game, but for how much longer is the question.

When you play a team sport there will be times that you have to play injured it is part of the game. When you are playing for a Super Bowl spot you just cannot give up as easy as Cutler did. Would Brett Favre sit out with a bad knee if he had a chance for a Super Bowl. It does not work that way as you must leave everything on the field. If the Bears would have lost with Cutler on a bum knee the fans and city would have understood. Just sitting on the bench and not giving it your all is hard for people to fathom.

I guess we will never know how bad Cutler was hurt unless he has a MRI done to his knee. The bottom line though is you have to play through it and give it every ounce of effort you have. If it was a regular season game you could understand that, but he was playing for a chance at a Super Bowl those things do not come around often.

NHL Schedule January 24, 2011

Toronto
Carolina
7:00pm ET

NY Rangers
Washington
7:30pm ET

St. Louis
Colorado
9:30pm ET

Nashville
Calgary
9:30pm ET

Dallas
Vancouver
10:00pm ET

Boston
Los Angeles
10:30pm ET

NHL Scores January 23, 2011

Philadelphia 4
Chicago 1
Final

Florida 2
New Jersey 5
Final

Buffalo 5
NY Islanders 3
Final

Atlanta 1
Tampa Bay 7
Final

Nashville 3
Edmonton 2
Final SO

NBA Schedule January 24, 2011

Detroit
Orlando
7:00pm ET

Cleveland
New Jersey
7:00pm ET

Memphis
Toronto
7:00pm ET

Phoenix
Philadelphia
7:00pm ET

Washington
New York
7:30pm ET

Oklahoma City
New Orleans
8:00pm ET

Houston
Minnesota
8:00pm ET

Milwaukee
Chicago
8:00pm ET

Sacramento
Portland
10:00pm ET

San Antonio
Golden State
10:30pm ET

Carson Palmer Wants Out Of Cincinnati It Seems

Carson Palmer has had a rough past two seasons and it seems that he has had enough. According to various sources Carson Palmer will seek a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer is tired of losing and he may even retire if he does not get the trade he wants. Palmer is financially secured, so money is really not an issue for him.

Like everything these are unnamed sources, so you do not know how much to put into it. I can understands Carson Palmer's frustration and maybe it is time for him to move on. It seems right now him and the Bengals are not seeing eye to eye on a lot of things. When you start losing this is what happens to you. People want out and we will see in the end if that is how it works out for Carson Palmer.

Is Nascar Trying To End Jimmie Johnson's Dominance?

It seems that Nascar could be changing how they give out points as the 2011 Nascar season approaches. Now almost everyone will agree that the point system should have been scrapped a long time ago. If changes are made were they designed to slow down Jimmie Johnson dominance in the sport. Johnson has dominated the Chase and has won five championships in a row.

Getting a new points system will not really bug Jimmie Johnson that much. Him and his team will just adjust and go after another championship, because that is what he does. Many people think that the change comes at a weird time. Did Nascar do it to stem the tide that Jimmie Johnson has built? Many think they did, but in the end we will see how this all plays out. I think it will have little effect on Jimmie Johnson.

Can The Jets Stop The Steelers?

This could be one of the best AFC Championship games in a very long time. The New York Jets travel to Pittsburgh to see who will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Most people are picking the Pittsburgh Steelers to move on. I am not in the thinking as I think the Jets can stop the Steelers. Many people are overlooking what the Jets have done, so far in the playoffs. Beating Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in consecutive weeks on the road was impressive.

If the Jets want to win they will need to do a few things. The first thing that they must have happen is not turn the ball over. This means Mark Sanchez must play mistake free if they want to win. Santonio Holmes is a guy who must play big, and I think he will. Holmes use to be a Steeler and even though he said he holds no grudges the way he was sent packing had to hurt. Look for him to have a big game against the Steelers.

On defense the Jets must stop the run when the Steelers have the ball. To beat Big Ben you must make him one dimensional to beat him. If he is forced to pass he will make plays, but he will also make mistakes as well. He does not protect the ball all the time in the pocket either. The Jets can win this game and I like them to win 21-14.

NHL Schedule January 21, 2011

NY Islanders
Buffalo
7:30pm ET

Montreal
Ottawa
7:30pm ET

Tampa Bay
Florida
7:30pm ET

Dallas
Calgary
9:00pm ET