Spartans Lucas Among Finest Freshman

Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Kyle Singler. These are the names of the nation's elite freshman in college basketball. If you talk to Texas head coach Rick Barnes, I think he would advise that one more name be added to that list. Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas, a freshman from Detroit, carved up the Longhorns vaunted pressure defense Saturday night for 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while turning the ball over just once. Lucas' breakthrough performance spearheaded the Spartans 78-72 victory over previously unbeaten Texas, and for much of the game he looked like the best player on the floor.

So much of the hype surrounding this match-up of top-10 teams focused on preseason All-American Drew Neitzel and Texas guard DJ Augustine, an early favorite to win the Wooden Award. Both players had fine games, but it was Lucas who stole the show. Texas ran a box and one, focusing much of its defensive attention to Neitzel, and Lucas made them pay. He entered the game at the 17:34 mark of the first half and immediately hit a jump shot for Michigan State's first field goal. He carried that momentum through the first half, when 11 of his team high 18 points were scored. His most impressive play came during the momentum turning 28-13 run where Lucas converted an acrobatic reverse layup through two Texas defenders.

"The Jet," as Spartans coach Tom Izzo likes to refer to him as, told reporters after the game that he took his match-up with Augustine personally because all week long he had to hear about how great the Texas point guard was. It wasn't hard to notice that Lucas elevated his game to another level, a level that, if he can play at consistently, could help elevate Michigan State to its fifth Final Four in ten years. He would outplay Augustine on this night, scoring at will and stopping his dribble penetration on the defensive end, which is important because he may run into similar match-ups later in the season, like say, in March.

The most important element Lucas brings to Michigan State is his ability to run the offense at a pace that has eluded them since their last Final Four run in 2004-05. With all due respect to Neitzel and Travis Walton, Lucas can find another gear and get into the paint at will, which translates into easier scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Like most freshman, Lucas is bound to hit a wall at some point in his first season. Fortunatly, Michigan State has the depth and ability to overcome that if and when the moment arrives. Because of this, he will have ample opportunities to elevate his game and his team to another level in games that dwarf the significance of a December win over Texas; games played in late-March and maybe, just maybe, early-April.

DTM

Pistons Still the Class of the East

The Eastern Conference has received more love from the media over the first eight weeks of the NBA season since the days of MJ. The Celtics have garnered the most attention with their 20-2 start headed into Wednesday's action. You also hear an awful lot about the emergence of the Orlando Magic behind Dwight Howard and the fall of Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat. The team that gets the least amount of publicity is the Detroit Pistons. They headed to Boston Wednesday night for a showdown with the Celtics carrying a three game win-streak and an 18-7 record. Shockingly, you get more stories about Lebron James and his 11-15 Cavs then you do about the boring old Pistons. While all the major media outlets outside of the Motor City continue to look elsewhere for compelling stories, here's a news flash for all of you NBA lovers out there: the Eastern Conference championship runs through Detroit, not Boston.

You could tell the Pistons were playing with a chip on their shoulder Wednesday night in Boston. I know that is the most overused phrase in sports, but for once it is being accurately applied. Sportscenter talked at nausea about the Celtics dominance this past week and even went as far as to compare these Celtics to the 1996 72-10 Chicago Bulls. Detroit players such as Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Tayshaun Prince- players who have, you know, actually won a championship- noticed this and kept it stored in the back of their minds. Then they went into the Boston Garden and defeated those unbeatable Celtics 87-85, while overcoming a seven-point halftime deficit. Understand that this game will have little bearing on the result of a possible playoff series between the two, but don't misunderstand what it means now. The Pistons went to Boston and won a tight game in spite awful performances from Wallace and Prince and despite the average outing from Boston's Big Three. This shows that the Celtics are not better then the Pistons now, and they have much to improve upon if they intend on being a notch higher in May.

If you go back into the archives of this blog to my NBA Preview, you will see that I have never been big on the Celtics. In fact, I had them finishing second in their own division to the Toronto Raptors. You don't have to go any further then the box score from Wednesday's duel with Detroit to see why. Of the 85 points the Celtics put on the board, the bench managed to score two of them. Two. Doc Rivers used five guys off his bench for a combined 52 minutes and got five points, seven rebounds, three assists, three turnovers and nine personal fouls. There is a problem when the best statistic your bench gives you is personal fouls. Let's just go all the way and say that Celtics not named Allen, Pierce or Garnett combined to score 24 points on 11-25 shooting. If you are a Boston fan and those numbers don't scare you then this will: the Celtics out shot the Pistons (49%-40%), were +3 on the boards, and were just -1 in turnover differential. Boston outplayed Detroit in just about every facet of the game, but couldn't find a way to finish them off.

There are three things you can point to for reasons why the Pistons are better now, and likely will be come playoff time. Number one is point guard. The Pistons have Chauncey Billups, a former NBA Finals MVP, running their team, while the Celtics have Rajon Rondo, a second year guard without a jump shot running theirs. Number two is depth. Detroit brings a nice balance of dependable experience- Lindsey Hunter and Ronald Murray- and fresh young legs- Jarvis Hayes and Jason Maxiell- off the bench, while Doc Rivers is sending in Scott Pollard, James Posey, and Eddie House. Just tell me the last time Scott Pollard had any role for a real contender. You got it! It was in fact the Kansas Jayhawks in the late 90's! Lastly, the Pistons have been there. Since this nucleus came together in 2004, they have won the NBA Championship, lost in the NBA Finals and lost in the conference finals twice. They know how to win close games in December or June, and they know their bread and butter down the stretch. The Celtics have three great options to go to for a final shot, but it's better to know who is going to have the ball in the final seconds more often then not. They have not played together long enough to know that answer at this point, and that hurt them down the stretch Wednesday night.

Boston lacks the depth and playing experience with one another, and while they have three bona fide superstars in their lineup, they have someone who should be playing their senior season at Kentucky running their team. Until these issues are addressed Boston will merely be the Boys of Winter, while Detroit absorbs the Eastern spotlight in late-May and early-June.

DTM

Dolphins Win! Thaaaa Dolphins Win!

December 10, 2006. That was the last time the Miami Dolphins had won a game before this afternoon. It had been 371 days of poor decision making and even worse luck, all of which resulted in 16 consecutive losses dating back that glorious 21-0 victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots last winter. That will be the first and last time I mention anything about losing because that's all any Dolfan has known for some time now. Today is about winning and what a great feeling it is. After the game, most players spoke about not knowing how to react after Greg Camarillo ran the last few yards of the 68 he needed for the game's winning score. Most fans, including myself, could relate. I simply sat and smiled with my hands raised towards the heavens while, to my surprise, just about everyone in attendance at the Indigo Joes Sports Bar in Mooresville, NC clapped and cheered.

Everyone from the front office down to the fans deserved the applause. This team, despite some recent grumblings, never quit, and the same could not be said for the other 31 NFL teams had they been faced with this situation. Take a look at the Ravens. They have four wins, but have lost eight straight and quit on this season a long time ago. As for the fans, they deserve the applause for sticking it out. Week after week, loss after loss, the team gave fans reason after reason to utilize their Sunday free-time in another way. So for you Dolfans out there who stuck it out, give yourself a pat on the back.

You had to feel a victory was coming for these Dolphins. Six losses by three points or less and two overtime losses showed how competitive the team has been throughout '07. This season has been about injuries at key positions and the ball always bouncing the other way. That was not the case Sunday as the ball bounced the Dolphins way a couple different times, and those bounces proved to be the difference. In the second quarter, Kyle Boller put a ball right on the numbers of receiver Mark Clayton. The ball popped out of Clayton's arms as he hit the ground and fell into the arms of Michael Lehan as he headed for the turf. The Dolphins converted that turnover into three points. Then in the overtime Matt Stover missed his 44-yard field goal attempt wide left, which set up Cleo Lemon's game winning touchdown pass three plays later. These were the breaks that eluded them all year, and they found a way to take advantage.

As can be said for a majority of Dolphin victories the past eleven years, they don't win this game without Jason Taylor. Last year's Defensive Player of the Year had his best performance of the season, making a number of game changing plays throughout. He started off by sacking Boller for a six-yard loss on 3rd and goal on the game's opening possession, forcing Baltimore to settle for a field goal. He blocked Stover's 50-yard field goal attempt just before the half, a play that may have contributed to Stover pushing the overtime kick wide. And just before that failed attempt in overtime, Taylor got into the backfield and tackled Willis McGahee for a five-yard loss, which made the field goal that much harder to convert. JT finished the day with five tackles, two sacks, four quarterback hurries, and a blocked kick- all on a nagging right foot. Attitude and effort reflects leadership, and Taylor deserves much of the credit for keeping this team together all year despite all the losing and negativity surrounding his previously winless team.

As a reward for their first victory, the Dolphins will travel to New England next weekend where they will likely be four touchdown underdogs. But now is not the time to discuss the prospect of another loss, or the impending doom that always seems to be surrounding the team. Now is about Dec. 16: Baltimore- 22-16 (OT), W. It's time to bask in the sweet aura of victory; something that had eluded this prestigious franchise and its faithful followers for much too long.

DTM

Handicapping the AFC Wild Card Race

Here's my outlook on how the AFC will turn out. Look below for my NFC outlook and for the explaination of how I broke it down.

AFC:
- Teams in the race: Buffalo, Cleveland, Denver, Jacksonville, Tennessee
(In alphabetical order, not in projected order of finish)

1. Buffalo Bills (6-6): 11
Will make playoffs because: They have won five of their last seven games.
Will miss playoffs because: Despite their run, they have yet to beat a team with a winning record and are sitting at .500 despite giving up 90 more points then they have scored this season.

2. Cleveland Browns (7-5): 17
Will make playoffs because: Of the teams remaining on their schedule, only the Bills (6-6) have a record of .500 or better.
Will miss the playoffs because: Similar to the case of the Chicago Bears, they are from Cleveland meaning if it can go wrong it will. We saw glimpses of disaster with their loss to Arizona last week.

3. Denver Broncos (5-7): 11
Will make playoffs because: They will win out, while the Chargers collapse, thus Denver wins the division.
Will miss playoffs because: The above scenario will not happen and they have no shot of making the playoffs unless it's through a miracle run to a division title.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4): 17
Will make playoffs because: They play great defense, run the ball effectively, don't turn the ball over, and have proven more often then any of these other teams that they can play with, and beat, anybody in the NFL.
Will miss playoffs because: Injuries happen and if David Garrard goes down again, this promising season could take a sudden turn for the worst.

5. Tennessee Titans (7-5): 13
Will make playoffs because: Their quarterback is Vince Young, and while you point out every one of his 1,000 flaws, don't forget that it all comes down to winning and that's all the man does.
Will miss playoffs because: Of the contenders their remaining schedule is the most difficult (SD, @KC, NYJ, @IND), and their defense has begun to crack in recent weeks. Albert Haynesworth's presense will be key to their hopes.

The AFC picture is much clearer then the NFC's, but I still see it coming down to the final week. Denver has no real shot, but again, they are only two games out of their own division with four to play so I felt it necessary to include them. Buffalo's season has been admirable despite their lack of a quality win all season, but their's will end next week when they lose to Cleveland, giving the Browns a key tiebreaker.

It will come down to the Jags, Titans and Browns, and it's very unfortunate that one of these teams has to be left out because all of them would be in the NFC bracket and could very well advance to the conference title. The Jags already hold a one game edge and have home games against Oakland and Carolina, so they are in. I see the Browns and Titans going 2-1 over the next three games, meaning the final week will decide the AFC's last playoff team. As much as I hate to go against Vince Young, his Titans travel to Indy in Week 17, while the Browns get the 49ers at home. Since I don't see the 49ers going in to Cleveland and ending their season prematurly as they did to Denver in Week 17 last year, I'm going to go with the Browns. Jacksonville and Cleveland will complete the AFC picture.

NostraDTMus

Handicapping the NFC Wild Card Race

Within the past five minutes I have noticed a statistic that is rather alarming. All eight division leaders in the NFL lead the second place team by at least two games. This shows that the NFL, a league once filled with parity, is turning more into a league that is top heavy and not much else- similar to the NBA. So with one month left in the season and the division races pretty much wrapped up, I decided that it would be a good time to handicap every team's chance in each conference of stealing the two wildcards. To break it down for you, I will allocate a number to each team and give one reason why they will make it and why they may be left out. The number will represent the teams odds of grabbing the wild card, and is based solely on the schedule they have remaining. Each game is worth five points; if the team has great odds to win the game they will receive five points, while if the odds are very poor they could receive a one or somewhere in between. This will be based on teams that I believe have a realistic shot, not a mathematical one. So for example, the Panthers are 5-7, but they are very bad and will not be included here. I'll start today with the NFC, followed by the AFC tomorrow.

NFC:
- Teams in the race: Arizona, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, New Orleans, NYG, Washington
(Alphabetical order, not order of finish)

1. Arizona Cardinals (6-6): 14
Will make playoffs because: Only one team (Seattle) remaining on their schedule has a record of.500 or better.
Will miss playoffs because: They struggle to run the ball and relying on Kurt Warner to carry an offense was so five years ago.

2. Chicago Bears (5-7): 10
Will make playoffs because: Rex Grossman is looking like the first rounder he was.
Will miss playoffs because: Devin Hester can only save your (behind) so many times. Oh yea, and they're from Chicago, meaning if it can go wrong, it will.

3. Detroit Lions (6-6): 5
Will make playoffs because: Riding their current four game skid, teams will forget they exist, similar to the way they did during their 6-2 start, and they will run the table to a wildcard berth.
Will miss the playoffs because: They have what could be the most difficult four game stretch to end the season (Dal., @SD, KC, @GB), and are low on confidence riding a four game losing streak.

4. Minnesota Vikings (6-6): 15
Will make the playoffs because: No team is better at running the ball and stopping the run.
Will miss the playoffs because: Tavaris Jackson is their quarterback!

5. New Orleans Saints (5-7): 11
Will make the playoffs because: Of the wildcard contenders, Brees, Bush and Colston is the most potent offensive threesome.
Will miss the playoffs because: They turn it over way too much and have too many teams to jump.

6. New York Giants (8-4): 14
Will make playoffs because: They lead every other NFC wild card contender by two games with four to go.
Will miss playoffs because: The Giants are 7-14 after Nov. in the Tom Coughlin era, and everyone would be talking about another swoon had they not staged a miracle comeback in Chicago on Sunday.

7. Washington Redskins (5-7): 10
Will make playoffs because: Some divine power is rooting for them heavily.
WIll miss playoffs because: They can't run the ball (Portis has just two 100 yd rushing games this season), and the Sean Taylor travesty will understandably be too much to overcome.

The final month should be very interesting because a number of these teams play eachother, meaning each team can help their own cause by knocking off another contender. Based on how they are playing now and the games that remain on the schedule, I believe the Giants and Vikings will complete the NFC playoff picture. I can't tell you how badly I wanted to put in Arizona over the Giants because I still feel like they will choke, but I also refuse to endorse the Cardinals. With that said, I am completely sold on Minnesota despite their quarterback troubles. If you can run the ball and stop the run you will go far in this league and, as I said in their analysis, no team in the NFL is better at doing those two things then Minnesota.

What two teams will earn the wildcards in the AFC? Check back tomorrow for my outlook on that. Until then, GO SPARTANS!

DTM

Computers Got it Wrong Again

For the last time, can college football just get a playoff system? Honestly, it has gotten to the point where the government should hold a Congressional hearing and take over, similar to the way they did with the drug testing policies in professional sports. That was pointless because athletes will always find ways to get around drug tests, but there is no getting around how wrong and unfair this BS BCS system is. Somehow, LSU was given a ticket to the national championship game despite losing at home a week ago. In a sport with a system such as the BCS, it has been proven time and again that the later in the season you lose, the more it negatively affects your status. Not this time. Instead, LSU is granted a free pass, and a trip to a game that a few other teams deserve to be playing in.

In my universe, Virginia Tech would be playing Ohio State for all the marbles. Tech's last loss came on Oct. 25 to Boston College; a game they lost in the final moments on an incredible throw by Heisman candidate Matt Ryan. They just avenged that loss yesterday by defeating the Eagles 30-16. Their only other loss was to LSU, but that came on Sept. 9 in Week 2, which should make it almost irrelevant. After that heartbreaking loss to BC, Virginia Tech was looking at a schedule where three of their five remaining games would be on the road and two of those would be against ranked opponents. The Hokies won their final five games by an average margin of 19.8 points. Tech is the hottest team in the country and it's a shame that they were overlooked by a machine that continues to show its incompetance year after year.

It was also funny to me that Kansas, not Missouri, got the invite to the Orange Bowl. Kansas had a great year, and I believe that they should get more consideration for the title game then LSU seeing as how they have one loss and were at the top of the Big 12 all year, but I digress. Didn't Missouri just go to Kansas and beat the Jayhawks a week ago? And I believe it was Missouri, not Kansas, who won the Big 12 North and earned a trip to last night's conference title game. Not to mention that the computers had Missouri ranked sixth in the BCS, with Kansas two spots behind. Missouri was #1 in the country less than 24 hours ago and now they find themselves playing in a non-BCS Bowl Game. Is there anyone out there who doesn't see that as a serious problem?

Georgia also has legitimate beef here. They finished 10-2 and a tiebreaker away from playing LSU for the SEC Championship last night. They have won six straight since losing to Tennesse in early October and have beaten ranked Florida, ranked Auburn, and ranked Kentucky in the process. Georgia has the same SEC record as LSU, has the same number of overall losses, and their last loss came almost three months ago, whereas LSU lost a week ago. How then did LSU get in over Georgia? You say because LSU won the SEC title? Well to that I say Georgia was just as deserving to be in that game as LSU and they're basically being disciplined for being idel this weekend. Remember, after LSU lost to Arkansas last Saturday, everyone on television and radio agreed that LSU had blown their final chance to cement itself as a National Championship contender.

In closing I would just like to propose this final question: Had LSU beat Arkansas, but lost last night to Tennessee to end up with the same record would they still be playing for the National Championship? No, no, and no. If that were the case, Virginia Tech would be playing Ohio State, and that is just as it should be. Hopefully this debotchery is the final straw in the failing BCS system, and we can let a playoff decide who is the true National Champion.

DTM

Heisman belongs to Tebow

This season's Heisman Trophy race should not be as close as all the analysts are suddenly making it out to be. The only real debate should be about who will be joining Tim Tebow in New York to watch him accept the award for the nation's best player. Despite an incredible effort by Arkansas running back Darren McFadden against LSU, he shouldn't even be included in the final three, let alone win the award. While he posted Heisman-worthy numbers in 2007, McFadden likely will be done in by the three games where he failed to rush for over 90 yards. He rushed for 43 yards in a loss to Auburn, 61 against Florida Int., and 88 against Miss. St. In a game where championship aspirations are shattered by one loss, it's hard to believe that the voters won't look at those performances and give D-Mac's invitation to New York to somebody else.

The three players who deserve the spotlight on that December night are Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, West Virginia quarterback Pat White, and Tebow. Both Daniel and White have had incredible seasons and their individual efforts have put their teams in position to reach the National Championship, and if recent history is any indicator, that should count for something. The last time the Heisman Trophy was given to a player whose team did not reach the National Championship was 2002, when USC's Carson Palmer won the award. That trend should be broken this year as Tebow has delivered one outstanding performance after another this season.

Tebow finished the regular season with 3,135 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, and he rushed for 838 yards and 22 touchdowns. The kid accounted for 51 touchdowns in 12 games this season! A number of teams across the country didn't produce that much offense this fall. Want an idea for how much Florida relies on this super-sophmore? In nine wins, the Florida offense scored 45+ points eight times. In their three losses, the team averaged 23.6 points, and coincidentally, those three games were Tebow's worst performances of the season. He scored at least four touchdowns in every win, and totaled eight scores in the three losses, which isn't all bad. The most impressive part about his overwhelming production is that he is doing it against SEC competition, which is the class of college football.

While Tebow registered a number of heroic performances throughout 2007, there were three games where his numbers were eye-popping.

Mammoth performance #1: 9/15 vs. Tennessee (59-20 W)- 299 yds passing, 2 TD/ 61 yds rushing, 2 TD

Mammoth performance #2: 11/10 @ South Carolina (51-31 W)- 304 yds passing, 2 TD/ 120 yds rushing, 5 TD

Mammoth performance #3: 11/24 vs Florida St. (45-12 W)- 262 yds passing, 3 TD/ 89 yds rushing, 2 TD

How many times has one player accounted for seven touchdowns in one game the way Tebow did against the Gamecocks? I don't have the official number, but I would say it's an extremely rare occurance. A sophmore dominating the college football world the way Tebow has in 2007 is also an extremely rare occurance and that is why he should win college football's most prestigous award running away.

DTM

2007 showing why College Football needs a playoff

Southern Cal, California, South Florida, Boston College, and Oregon.

The above is the list of schools to reach the nation's #2 ranking, only to lose shortly thereafter. It started with USC, who spent four weeks at #1 before suspiciously falling to #2 in week five. That weekend, USC was upset at home by Stanford. Cal moved into the #2 spot for the following weekend and lost to Oregon State. South Florda followed suit by losing to Rutgers after taking over Cal's position. Boston College moved to #2 and stayed there for two weeks before getting upset by Florida State. Finally, Oregon lost Dennis Dixon in the first quarter and subsequently lost to Arizona, ending their national championship hopes.

Here's a prediction for you: Kansas defeats Iowa State this weekend, moves to #2 in next week's rankings, then loses at home to Missouri, effectively ending their improbable championship aspirations. And that is just the problem with college football. It is absurd that a team can lose their shot at the National Championship in the period of just three hours.

College football needs a playoff system. Desperatly. This season has shown just how unbelieveably exciting and intriguing a bracket would be. Look at the above list. USC, Boston College, and Oregon could all beat anyone in the country on a given day and win the National Championship. On the flip side, they have shown that they can slip up and lose to anybody. Stanford? The 2007 Seminoles? ARIZONA? Who would've ever thought? College athletes, as great as they seem, are flawed. They are a collection of 18-22 year olds, who aren't far removed from their high school days. They make mistakes- a lot of them- and that's why we've seen the powers fall more frequently this season. That is the beauty of college sports, particularly college basketball, which has the greatest postseason set up of all sports- pro and college.

There is no reason to think that a 16 or 24 team playoff would be any less exciting. This season, more than any other in the past, has shown that any team is capable of winning every Saturday. Appalachian State won in Michigan for God sakes! Imagine the top 24 teams in the country fighting for the championship. College football's playoff might actually be more exciting then March Madness because every team in the bracket would have a shot, and there would be no watered down talent in the bracket. The only problem with upsets in college basketball is when those "lesser teams" go upset crazy, they ruin the later rounds because the top seeds that make it through will almost always win without the dramatics that fans long for in march.

Think about a Boston College v. West Virginia match up. That would be a pretty good National Championship indeed. With a playoff system however, that would be a first round game in this year's bracket! Or how about a second round game between the winners of Oregon/Michigan and Florida/USC? I'm not a big college football fan, mainly because they don't have a January Madness, but I can promise you that I would be college football biggest fan if and when they decide to go to this format.

This plea to the NCAA shouldn't be about me, or you, or the television ratings, or sponsors. It should be about the student athletes and coaches who dream about playing for the National Championship their whole lives, only to lose that dream in the matter of hours. Every team deserves a chance, and that is what March Madness provides teams in college basketball.

To the higher ups in college football, it's your turn to follow suite. With a playoff system the "Curse of #2" wouldn't be a curse, just another bump in the road for a championship caliber team.

Until next time,
DTM

Dolphins should let Ricky have one last run

For much of yesterday, I was torn on what the Miami Dolphins should do with the arguably the biggest enigma in the sporting world. That would be Ricky Williams, who was reinstated by the NFL yesterday after an 18-month suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy for the umteenth time. At first I thought of all the times Ricky has burned the Dolphins and their loyal fans, such as myself, the past three years and thought "the hell with him." After listening to Jason Taylor talk yesterday, it seems like he shares my initial reaction. However, the more I thought about it, the more I think the Dolphins would be foolish for not bringing back Williams.

There are a number of reasons to bring him back and let him play the final six games of the season, and there is only one legitmate rebuttal. The only "yea but" that comes to mind would be that he'll burn the franchise once again. This can't happen. Well it could, but it is very unlikely. When Ricky is actually playing football for a team, he has displayed that he cares very much about the game and is a very hard worker. It is incredibly unlikely that after just being reinstated, and with it likely being made very clear to him that this is his last chance in the NFL, he would go roll a joint and smoke it. If that actually were the case, he would still likely get through the season before it was discovered that he failed a test. Keep in mind that his last failed test was in Dec. 2005, and it wasn't discovered until five months later. The Dolphins season will be over in seven weeks, so he'll finish the season one way or the other. When you look at it, the only way he could burn the team would be to fail another test, which would effectively end his NFL career, meaning the team wouldn't receive that sixth round pick they're likely to receive when they attempt to trade him this winter. Ouch!

On to the reasons why Cam Cameron and GM Randy Mueller; who drafted Williams in '99 then traded him to Miami in '02. First and foremost, the likelyhood of him playing out the season and playing well is good. Despite their winless record, the Dolphins have one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL, and one of the league's most underrated offensive lines. If he were to come in and play well over the final six games, it would bring Miami another draft pick. Cameron and Mueller talk until they're blue in the face about the importance of building through the draft, and while it will be a late second-day pick, something is better then nothing which is what they would get if they just cut him.

That brings me to my next point. If they just release him, any team can take him. There are some very good teams that would almost certainly take a flier on Ricky; i.e. New England and Green Bay, who is desperate for a running back. Williams could make the Dolphins look very foolish for just releasing him and letting a 9-0 or an 8-1 team get him for the veteran's minimum.

This will sound funny, but at this point in the season, the team needs Ricky. They have already lost Ronnie Brown and have journeyman Jessie Chatman starting in his place. Behind Chatman is another journeyman (Patrick Cobbs) and 3rd round pick Lorenzo Booker, who got injured on his first play of the season last week against Buffalo. So go ahead and release Ricky, but what happens if Chatman goes down? The Dolphins almost certainly would be rummaging through the waiver wire to bring in to start instead of turning to Cobbs or Booker. In that instance, the team would really be slapping themselves over releasing Williams.

The team needs something.. anything, to keep the fans coming to the games for the final month and a half of this miserable season and what better figure then Ricky Williams? Warranted or not, Williams brings a media circus, meaning an 0-9 team would be getting much more publicity then they deserve. Williams would would instantly become the Dolphins best player on offense and the fans would fall back on the love side of their love/hate relationship with him. You can bet that Dolphins Stadium will be significantly more packed for their final three home games, regardless of their record, if Williams is on board and getting carries. I, for one, would be much more intrigued.

And finally, get this Miami: HE MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP YOU WIN A GAME!!! I know winning has become a foreign concept for this once proud franchise, but getting on this season is a possibility. In fact, five of their nine losses have been by three points or less. Who knows, maybe Ricky will make that key reception, or bust that game clinching ten-yard run that will prevent the offense from punting and causing the inevitable (a last second loss). Once again, he will instantly become the offense's most polished and accomplished player.

I probably could've saved you and me both a lot of time by saying only this: you're 0-9... what do you have to lose?!

Until next time,
DTM

Dissecting the issues in Chicago

As you may have noticed, I predicted the Chicago Bulls to break through in 2007-08 and win the Eastern Conference. As of today, they are actually making me look like a professional member of the media; one who makes predictions thinking they know it all, but in reality are just as lost as a member of your high school goth club. The Bulls are 1-5 through six games and are coming off a 30-point home loss to the Toronto Raptors. They have also lost home games to the 76ers and Clippers, and have a road loss to Milwaukee. It's not quite time to panic, as the Bulls started 3-9 last year and finished with 49 wins and a playoff sweep of the then-World Champion Miami Heat. Here's a look at five things that have put Chicago in their current state, things they must address if I am going to look any smarter than my sister when it comes to sports predictions.

1. Lack of post presence: If you know anything about the NBA, you know that the Chicago Bulls, even in their championship years, had a serious lack of a player who could score on the low blocks. They start Ben Wallace, a $60M waste who is averaging an overwhelmingly bad 3.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 27 minutes of play. Wallace is known for his defensive prowess and rebounding, so you figure those numbers will improve, but again, he gives you nothing in terms of offense. They have Tyrus Thomas at the four. Thomas is a great athlete with a ton of potential, but cannot play with his back to the basket, and gets pushed around by bigger, stronger forwards. A few nice players come off the bench- Joe Smith, Andres Nocioni- but are very similar to Thomas offensivly. Until the Bulls get a reliable post presence who can take attention away from the perimeter shooters, they will struggle.

2. Dying by the jumper: As TNT's Charles Barkley put it this week at the half of the Bulls/Pistons game, "You don't live by the jumper, you die by the jumper. The Bulls are dying by the jumper." Surprise, Surprise, Sir Charles was right. As a team, Chicago is shooting 38% as a team. Other then Luol Deng and Nocioni, the team's most reliable scorers are off to miserable starts shooting the ball. Ben Gordon is shooting 35%, Kirk Hinrich 32%, Chris Duhon 37%, Thabo Sefelosha 21%. These four players all are primarily jump shooters, and if they're all on on a given night, very few teams can beat them, however, that is very unlikely. Similar to Wallace's early troubles in his area of expertise, you figure the Bulls shooting percentages will go up because these guys are good shooters, but they need to find a way to get more points in the paint and more easy buckets in transition to offset the early shooting struggles.

3. Defense has been offensive: Stellar defense has been a staple of Scott Skiles teams the past couple seasons. The Bulls are consistently in the top-5 of points allowed and shooting percentage against. Opponents are shooting 43%, and 37% from three point land. In case you are unaware, that is very bad, especially the three point percentage. They are also allowing 96 ppg, which would finish about middle of the pack at seasons end, but it's a problem when your offense is only averaging 86 ppg. The team is full of energy players and capable defenders, and knowing the offense is struggling, the team should be that much more focused defensivly. They are also sitting at -3 for rebounding average on the season. Again, Ben Wallace was mistakenly given $60M to make sure that doesn't happen. He is killing the Bulls and my fantasy team.

4. Very little bench production: Of the team's 86.5 point average, the bench is averaging 32.2 of those points. That doesn't look bad at first glance, but you have to look a bit deeper to see the problem. Skiles has 11 players playing 17 minutes or more, so he goes very deep into his rotation. Seventeen minutes is more then enough time to find an offensive rhythem in a game, and very few are actually doing that for Chicago. Andres Nocioni has been admirable, averaging 11.7 points, and Joe Smith is putting in 8.7 a clip. As you see there, two of the six players bench players are accounting for 20.4 of the 32.2 points the bench produces. That means four players getting decent minutes are doing very little to justify their time on the court. The biggest problem lies at point guard where Chris Duhon is providing no relief from Kirk Hinrich's early struggles from the field when he comes into the game. Point guard is the team's most important position, especially when you have nothing on the low blocks, and the Bulls are getting nothing from either of theirs.

5. Kobe trade rumors: The front office made a mistake by getting active in the Kobe-chase just days before the regular season started. This clearly affected the team's best player, and bargaining chip, Luol Deng, and that has had a resonating affect on the team as a whole. Kobe is not only a drain on his own organization, but he's now proving to be a drain on other teams as well. Look, Luol Deng is not Kobe, but he is budding into a bonafide superstar, just ask the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons. His numbers aren't bad right to this point, but he needs to be on the floor longer then his 33 minute average and the offense needs to go through him. What Skiles should do is give him the extra three minutes that he's instead giving to the league's best chucker, Ben Gordon. Deng is the team's best player, certainly their most efficient player on offense, and becoming a lockdown defender on defense. If the team is going to crawl out of this early hole, it's going to be because of Deng. If that is going to happen sooner rather then later, the front office needs to make it clear that this kid is not for sale, so that he may focus on getting his current team right, rather then thinking of going to another.

Until next time,
DTM

Remove the asterisk

Former Dolphins head coach Don Shula came out and said today that if the New England Patriots finished the season undefeated then there should be an asterisk placed next to their accomplishment. The elevation of the term "asterisk" to the level of something that has become pop-culture is getting a bit out of hand. According to Shula, the Patriots should be mentioned in the same sentence as the Asterisk King, Barry Bonds. According to me, Don Shula should be mentioned in the same sentence as Rich Cotite because, despite all his coaching prowess, he failed to win a Super Bowl in his final 22 seasons as head coach and that includes twelve seasons with the greatest quarterback of all time at the helm. Throw in the fact that he drafted horribly aside from his selection of Marino, but then again, how could blow that pick? Anyway I digress, lets view each case and determine whether an asterisk should truly be applied.

Barry Bonds: I'm required by law to start with Bonds and I may be tarred and feathered by the three people who read this blog after they read this argument, but here goes. People believe Bonds all-time home run record should have an asterisk next to it. Barry Bonds was a 3-time MVP and a 6-time Gold Glove winner before he allegedly used steroids, so he wasn't exactly a slouch before then. Going into the 2001 season, the year he hit his record setting 73 home runs, Bonds hit an average of 33 home runs per season. The three seasons that proceeded 2001, he hit 46, 45 and 45, numbers that are not abnormal for Bonds because he has hit at least 40 home runs in six different seasons. Now get ready for this because you're going to love it. In the 2005 season, Bonds played 14 games and hit five home runs. If you average Bonds highest home run total in a season (73) and his lowest total (5) you get 39 home runs. That's a whopping six home runs more then his career average in a season. If Bonds played the whole 2005 season and was sitting at 800-something home runs, I could see people's argument for the "asterisk," however, his five home run season pretty much negated the incredible jump on the record his season with 73 home runs in 2001 gave him. What I'm trying to say is Bonds would still have great odds of breaking the home run record with just an average 2001 season and a full-2005 season. Now you're saying that's hypothetical, but isn't too the idea that he used steroids? People forget that six years later, despite all the suspicion, Bonds has yet to be convicted of doing anything illegal. It's time to Iet it go people, move on. Bonds is the best baseball player of all-time not named Babe Ruth, and the best home run hitter of all-time. Period.

2007 New England Patriots: The Patriots are 9-0 and winning their games by an average of 23 points. Included in that average was their 24-point thrashing of a Jets team that is 1-8, and basically 0-8 because their only win came against a team that is still winless. Now, had the Patriots not videotaped the Jets signals, does anybody really think the Jets would've beaten the Patriots that day? Anybody? No? Didn't think so. The Patriots didn't use signals against the 7-1 Cowboys and won in Dallas by 21. No signals were used in their big win in Indy this weekend either, and they found a way to win. It's actually possible that the Patriots could've won by more had they not taped the Jets signals because watching the Jets do anything might have such a negative effect that it makes you worse for however brief a time. Why they did this to begin with is beyond me because it's clear that they didn't need the advantage, but that is what makes Bill Belichek the champion that he is; the man is always looking for the advantage. Have the Patriots taped teams signals since Spygate? No. Would their record be any different had Spygate never occured? Negative. Are the Patriots going to go undefeated? Probably. But that's what makes the timing of this statement by Shula so perplexing. There are seven games left in the season, and a few decent opportunities for the Patriots to be beaten. Then there's the postseason where anything is possible, just ask the pre-2006 Colts. My guess is Shula knows his '72 Dolphins would get murdered by the '07 Patriots as badly as the '07 Dolphins did, and he wanted to make his precious record look a bit more legit. Whatever the reason, Shula should just keep his mouth shut and move the asterisk he intends to put on New England's pending perfect season next to his name for "greatest coach of all-time," because any coach who can't win multiple Super Bowls with Dan Marino should've never been in the business to begin with.

Is Bonds ALLEGED actions, and Belichek's Spygate scam unethical and illegal? Absolutly. But as you should now realize, there is no reason to not acknowledge the greatness of both parties. In all likelyhood, both parties would likely be in the same position they are now- atop the record books- with or without the unethical actions that people feel warrant America's new favorite term: an asterisk.

Until next time,
DTM

McGrady on a mission

The first 10 years of Tracy McGrady's NBA career has been a rollercoaster ride of sorts. There have been many ups, but arguably more downs for this enigmatic superstar. The ups include his two scoring titles, seven All-Star appearances, a 62-point game against the Wizards, and most notibly, for me at least, his 35-second barrage against the Spurs in 2004 in which he scored 13 points to lead his team back from a 10-point defecit in the last half minute. Those INDIVIDUAL accomplishments are all well and good, but the downs of his career are highlighted by his teams failure in the postseason. It's amazing that a player with T-Mac's ability has yet to be out of the first round in six tries. Granted he has only been the "favorite" once, last year against the Jazz, but as we saw even in that series, the Jazz had a much tougher and deeper roster than his Rockets. McGrady has endured four Game 7 losses- two with the lowly Magic and two with Houston- with the latest appearing to hit him the hardest. Remember last year when he left the podium speechless following the Game 7 home loss to Utah? While many people say professional athletes don't care about the results, only the money, it's clear that McGrady cares about winning and cares about his legacy.

Before Thursday night's game in Salt Lake City, McGrady said something along the lines of "this game isn't about revenge, it's about coming into a tough environment and getting a win at a place where we haven't won in awhile." All very true, but if you had the privilage to watch last night, it was clear T-Mac was out to exorcise a few demons that remained from last spring. He went off on the Jazz for 47 points, and added four assists and four rebounds in Houston's 106-95 victory. He kept the Rockets in the game in the first quarter when they trailed by as much as 12, and kept the Jazz at arms length the rest of the night, despite a few Utah runs. McGrady showed the aggression thay may have been lacking in the final five minutes of Game 7 last year when his Rockets had a five-point lead and the momentum. He didn't settle for jumpers, although he did hit two big ones late. All night long he was blowing by whichever helpless defender Jerry Sloan assigned to him, whether it was Ronnie Brewer or Andrei Kirilenko, and finishing with authority. Some may attribute his play not so much to a new found aggression, but to the new offense Rick Adelman has brought to town. It may be a mixture of both, but it was clear from the beginning that the head and heart of T-Mac were in this game from the start. Late in the game when he hit one of his deep jumpers to put another dagger into a Utah run, McGrady put his right index finger to his mouth to silence the same Utah crowd that he could not in three tries last spring. It had to be a liberating feeling for him and his Rockets teammates that felt the same disappointment after the playoff series loss.

Through the first two games of this young season, numero-uno appears to be on a mission. He is 28 years old, in his 11th season, and despite his talk in the preseason, the window is closing on his chances to claim the championship that has eluded him to this point. While McGrady has always been very confident publicly, I believe this is something he truly realizes, and I also believe that he sees this team as one that can win big. He had to know coming in that the first month or so would be a rough adjustment period with all the new faces and the installment of a completely new offense, because through the first two games he has carried the team late in games, and has been efficient doing it. He had 30 points on 20 shots against the Kobe's, and 47 on 27 against the Jazz.

He loves his new coach, has raved about his the new offense, has great chemistry with his partner in crime (Yao), and has dreamt for years of having a bench this deep. The pieces are there for T-Mac and the Rockets to do something big this season and the highest of highs can be reached if he truly is what he appears to be thus far: a man on a mission.

Until next time,
DTM

5 Observations from NBA's Opening Night

1. The Kobe Bryant situation needs to be resolved. Since the Lakers traded Shaq three summers ago they have been a one man team, but rarely have I seen one player blantantly attempt to steal the spotlight like Kobe did last night. For about 45 of the 48 minutes of last night's game, it was the Kobe show. He took 32 shots and 27 free throws while the rest of the team stood helplessly and watched. This will not change for a variety of reasons including Kobe being Kobe and his feeling that his teammates are worthless, which is why the team needs to trade him and move on. The fans will get over it, it's LA for cryin' out loud. It's time both sides come to the realization that Kobe will take this franchise no where without Shaq or a complimentary superstar and his daily drama will do nothing but suck the life out of the team. Count your losses, ship him off, and look to the future with a young star like Luol Deng.

2. The Rockets are a work in progress. This is a scary thought for the NBA because for the 2.5 quarters where they were in rhythm, they looked as good as anybody. The Jeff Van Gundy defense is still there, holding Kobe to 45 points on 150 shots, and the offense looked like it will really benefit McGrady and Yao in the long run because it is an offense that involves everyone, thus they will have the energy when they need it in the late stages of ball games. However, it took them five minutes to score a point in the game last night and they had just two field goals in the game's final five minutes when they nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Turnovers were a big problem down the stretch and they showed a serious lack of composure in the final 90 seconds, something that has sadly become a staple of the franchise the past few years. With that said, it was the first game of the season and these struggles can be attributed to a new coach, a new offense, and a load of new faces. Once these Rockets hit their stride, the city of Houston may once again be referred to as Clutch City.

3. Pardon me for stating the obvious here, but the Spurs are going to be one tough load to bring down this season. As you may have noticed in my NBA preview, I have the Suns winning the NBA championship. That pick was based more on my wishful thinking that the Rockets will beat the Spurs in the West-Semis meaning the Suns would completely avoid playing them. The reality is, the Spurs will be there all season long and it is going to be very difficult to keep them from repeating. Tony Parker is a darkhorse for MVP, Tim Duncan so "boringly" went off for 24 and 13 last night, and they had five guys off their bench play 12 minutes or more. That is what we call a deep squad. As hard as it is for me to admit, if the Spurs stay healthy, this will finally be the year we see them repeat.

4. Andrei Kirilenko holds the key to Utah's success. I know they have soon-to-be-perennial All-Stars Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, but Kirilenko's play will ultimatly determine how far the Jazz advance this year. Last night the fragile foreigner, who recently begged to be released from his contract with the team, had 9 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 blocks in the Jazz 117-96 bashing of Golden State. If that isn't a complete stat-line then I don't know what is. Kirilenko, with his long arms and versatility, can bring so much to the Jazz, especially defensively, if he can keep his face dry and his head on straight. The Jazz have a nice deep team of nobody's that play very well together and are coached by one of the games legends in Jerry Sloan. However, the success or failure of the Jazz in 2007-08 rests on the shoulders of Kirilenko.

5. It's great to be back. The start of November is such a great time of year in that the NFL is at its mid-season point, but more importantly, basketball season is getting underway. The NBA season started with a bang last night with a very competitive game between a Portland team on the rise and a team they aspire to be one day, the World hampion Spurs, and ended with a crazy finish between the Kobe's and the Rockets. If opening night was a sign of things to come then this NBA season is going to be one of the best in recent years. As Charles Barkley said last night, the league is deeper then it has been since his playing days. There are no more easy games. Thats right people, parity in the NBA has returned. It's going to be a great season, and I expect to see many surprises come April and May. However it plays out, I'm sure of one thing: It's great to have the NBA back.

Until next time,
DTM

Yankees Universe and Props to Jon Lester

Now that the Yankees managerial search and the A-Rod "will he or won't he" situation has been settled, it's time for some reflection. Starting with Brian Cashman's decision to offer former Yankees catcher Joe Girardi the job to be the next manager, I couldn't be more in favor of this decision. A week or so ago I wrote right here that the Yankees shouldn't hire Don Mattingly because they didn't need to replace Joe Torre with someone who poses as Torre because that would completely defeat the purpose of getting rid of him. They needed a guy with experience, and while it isn't much, Girardi has some. In his opening act as a Major League manager, Girardi took a Florida Marlins team who most predicted to lose 120 games in 2006 to the brink of a playoff birth, which earned him the NL Manager of the Year Award. A pretty good debut, I'd say. He's made in-game decisions, and has been dealing with pitchers his whole career; he called two perfect games in his career. Mattingly has never worked with pitchers, has made no in-game decisions, and most importantly, has managed the same number of games as you and I. Girardi is a hard-line manager who will get in your face and tell it like it is. This is a big change from the calm demeanor Joe Torre used so well, and it was a change the Yankees needed, which is why Cashman made the right decision.

As for the A-Rod situation, I have to think about 80% of the Yankees organization breathed a sigh of relief last night when his agent Scott Boras so classlessly text messaged to Yankees GM Brian Cashman that A-Rod had decided to opt out. Classless is a word that summarizes Rodriguez rather well. Not even a phone call from Alex to tell the team that paid him some $100M the past four years that he would be testing the free agent waters. Classless. Couldn't find a day to fly down to Tampa to at least hear the parameters of the record extension the Yankees were going to offer him. Classless. Quite frankly, the Yankees owe Rodriguez nothing. They won much more in the pre-Rod era then in his four years there. He was 8 for his last 59 in the postseason and hitless in his last 18 postseason at-bats with runners in scoring position. I think it's some coincidence that the Curse of the Bambino ended in Alex's first season as a Yankee, and a new curse has been placed on the Yankees because they have yet to advance past the 1st round since. Call it the Curse of A-Rod.

Boras stated that Rodriguez opted out because he was unsure of the status of Rivera, Posada and Pettitte. That is a baldfaced lie. Everyone knows that all three of those players will be back. They, unlike Rodriguez, will not turn down record money and a chance to win a title every year for the remainder of their careers. He opted out because he never fit in to New York, because he could never be #1 in the hearts of New York fans and escape the shadow of the better, more clutch player, Derek Jeter. A-Rod could never handle New York and the postseason expectations that came with being a Yankee. The daily drama he brought to the clubhouse, warranted or not, was a drain on everyone in the organization, and that is why I believe a large majority of Yankees Universe breathe a heavy sigh of relief when the news spread that he was gone. Hopefully he knows that, no matter what he accomplishes from here on out in his career, Alex's Hall of Fame legacy will be somewhat tarnished because he failed in pinstripes, and that is something people will always remember.

A quick word on Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester. Lester won the clinching game in the World Series last night, just a few short months after overcoming lymphoma cancer, which has taken the lives of more then 18,000 people in 2007 alone. I hate the Red Sox, but I know a great story when I see one, and this is one that deserved mention. Congratulations Lester, all things considered, it was a performance for the ages.

Until next time,
DTM

My Visions of the '07-'08 NBA

Below are my predictions for the 2007 NBA season. I want you to be aware that these are based on what we know as of October 28, 2007. I'm giving you the eight playoff teams in each conference and major award winners.

Western Conference:

1. Phoenix Suns (Pacific champs)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Southwest champs)
3. Houston Rockets
4. Dallas Mavericks
5. Denver Nuggets (Northwest champs)
6. Utah Jazz
7. Golden State Warriors
8. LA Lakers
Just Missing: New Orleans Hornets/Memphis Grizzlies

Eastern Conference:

1. Chicago Bulls (Central champs)
2. Detroit Pistons
3. Toronto Raptors (Atlantic champs)
4. Boston Celtics
5. Miami Heat (Southeast champs)
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
7. New Jersey Nets
8. Washington Wizards
Just Missing: Orlando Magic/New York Knicks

Playoffs:
West 1st round winners: Suns, Spurs, Rockets, Nuggets
West Semis: Suns over Nuggets, Rockets over Spurs
West Finals: Suns over Rockets

East 1st round winners: Bulls, Pistons, Raptors, Celtics
East Semis: Bulls over Celtics, Pistons over Raptors
East Finals: Bulls over Pistons

NBA FINALS: Suns over Bulls

Awards:

MVP: Yao Ming, Houston Rockets. 2. Carmelo Anthony 3. Chris Bosh
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant, Seattle Sonics. 2. Al Thornton 3. Luis Scola
Coach of the Year: Scott Skiles, Chicago Bulls. 2. Mike D'Antoni 3. Rick Adelman
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic. 2. Bruce Bowen 3. Ben Wallace

1st Team All-NBA
G Deron WIlliams
G Steve Nash
F Carmelo Anthony
F Lebron James
C Yao Ming

2nd Team All-NBA
G Tracy McGrady
G Kobe Bryant
F Kevin Garnett
F Chris Bosh
C Tim Duncan

A Quick Word on the Celtics

Before I issue my NBA Preview this weekend, which will start with the Eastern Conference, I couldn't wait any longer to state my feelings on the Boston Celtics. First I'll give the readers the floor. As fast as you can, without looking it up, name one player on the Celtics not named Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen or Paul Pierce. Take a minute. Ok, its been five minutes, time's up. I am a basketball junkie and the only other player I could name, Rajon Rondo, I have followed since he arrived at Kentucky as a college freshman. Fans and analysts all across America are handing the Celtics the Eastern Conference title, and a few too many people are saying the Celtics are going to raise their 17th championship banner next November.

You'll see this weekend just how many teams in the East I feel are better than the Celtics. I'll tell you now that it isn't many, but the fact that there are teams in the East that are better tells you that they won't win the NBA Championship because no one in the East can beat whichever team emerges from blood bath that is the Western Conference Playoffs. Apparently many NBA insiders and analysts haven't seen the ADIDAS "It takes five," ad campaign. Well with respect to ADIDAS, yes it does take a strong starting five. But it also takes a deep bench. And a coach.

Start with the starting five. Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Garnett, and Kendrick Perkins. The middle three, as we know, are great and the teams success hinges on their play. But Rondo, while high on potential, is still an inexperienced second year PG with no jump shot, and who the hell is Kendrick Perkins?

I had to look up their roster to see who is coming off the bench for the Celtics and I'm guessing Tony Allen, James Posey, Eddie House, and everyones favorite red head, Brian Scalabrine, should get some minutes. Aside from Allen, this makes for a very poor bench that sorely lacks in athleticism.

The biggest problem of all in Beantown is the head honcho. Doc Rivers is the coach. Doc Rivers. Could you ever see Doc Rivers talking to Jim Gray while accepting the NBA Championship Trophy? Doc Rivers. The same coach that has notched 58 and 63 loss seasons. That would be a great total in Major League Baseballs 162 game schedule, but it's not so great in an 82 game sked. Doc Rivers!

The Celtics improved themselves greatly this past offseason, but as you can see, it is a bit premature to crown them NBA, or even Eastern Conference champions. If the ADIDAS claim was "It takes 3," and that in fact was true, the Celtics would be set because they have one of the best, if not the best, trio of players in the NBA. Unfortunatly, until the NBA switches to a 3 on 3 floor game, the Celts will remain what they are: a three man team coached by Doc Rivers.

GO ROCKIES,
DTM

Hate to say I told you so..

While I didn't come out and state that I thought the Red Sox would come back from a 3-1 series defecit to claim the AL pennent, had you read the post regarding the ALCS, you would've had the impression that was my premonition. As it turns out, my gut feeling was right and the damn Red Sox are moving on to the World Series for the second time in four years. While watching Red Sox Nation celebrate another improbable comeback at Fenway last night was horrific and stomach turning, it did not come as a surprise. Ever since the Red Sox fell behind 3-0 to the Yankees four Octobers ago, they have rallied behind their leader, Manny Ramirez (I know its crazy, but stay with me), and his ridiculous "I don't care if we lose, there's always next year" demeanor. It's this attitude that keeps the Sox clubhouse loose, yet quietly confident, in times of desperation while other teams try to put them away and ultimatly fail because they don't know how to deal with the pressure of the moment. There's a saying in sports that says a teams personality comes from their captain and their coach. If that is the case, then you would have to say that Man-Ram is the unquestioned leader of the Red Sox because they all take on his personality in times of trouble. And did you hear any of the players or coaches respond negatively last week when Manny came out and said "if we lose it's not the end of the world, there's always next year?" No, you didn't, because, thanks to Manny, they all felt the same way!

I believe the Red Sox have something the Yankees have lost and something that teams like the Indians and Rockies are searching for: a champions swagger. The Yankees of old used to play just like these Red Sox, where determination, not "I don't care," pushed them to four World Series titles in six years. They had a swagger about them where they knew no matter the score or situation that they would not be denied. They have since lost that swagger as the new age Yankees curl up into a ball whenever adversity hits them in October, which has been in the first inning of Game 1 of the ALDS the past 3 years. My point is, the Red Sox clubhouse probably felt they only had to win one game to win that series when they trailed 3-1, and that was game 5 in Cleveland. You just knew that based on the fact alone that the Indians are from Cleveland that they would fold and the fans would burn down the city in response. The Indians couldn't handle the pressure that the Red Sox handle so well, or just pay no attention to at all, and that is why they are going back to the October Classic.

As for my World Series prediction, I'd first like to say that it was difficult to pick against either team because the Rockies are the hottest team on earth in any sport right now. In fact, if the Rockies were to play football on a neutral field against the Patriots, I would pick the Rockies. However, you would have to think the Red Sox go into this series with the momentum because they have been playing and playing well, outscoring Cleveland 30-5 in the final three games. On the flip side the Rockies will have been off for eight days by the time Game 1 rolls around. I don't see the Rockies pitchers dominating the Red Sox line up the way they did the Phillies and DBacks, and I think their week off will effect their rythem at the play. Sadly, I don't see this series getting back to Fenway, but I do see the Rockies getting a game, which will end the streak of three straight World Series ending in sweeps. I have the Sox in 5 and, as a result, a stomach ulcer.

GO ROCKIES,
DTM

Who is College Football's Best QB?

Of all the great quarterbacks in college football this season- 11 of the 14 players in ESPN.com's Heisman Watch play the position- I believe the countries best quarterback can be found in this group of three: Kentucky's Andre Woodson, Boston College's Matt Ryan, and Louisville's Brian Brohm. I refuse to put Tim Tebow in the Top 3 because any quarterback that is a better runner then they are a passer just can't be considered.

When coming to my decision on which of these three was the nation's best I looked at three areas in order of importance: team schedule, numbers, team record, and the player's best performance. I awarded each player points based on these four things, with the player being rewarded 3 for the highest grade and 1 for the lowest. Remember that all of this is based on what the players have done through the weekend of October 13th. Based on those numbers, here is what I came up with:

3. Matt Ryan, Boston College

- Schedule: Of the three QB's, Ryan's Boston College Eagles edged Brohm's Cardinals for easiest schedule. Ryan's stiffest test came @Georgia Tech, who is not ranked. Aside from a decent GT team, the Eagles have played the likes of UMass, Bowling Green, Army and NC State. Points: 1

- Numbers: 192-304, 2,148 yards, 63% completion, 17 TD, 6 INT. Ryan's numbers are comparible to only Woodson's, as Brohm's numbers, as you will see, dwarfs the other two. Because Woodson's numbers have come against a much stiffer schedule, I believe Ryan has the weakest numbers of the three. Points: 1

- Record: Ryan's Eagles are 7-0 and the highest ranked of the three quarterback's teams. While the schedule has been the softest, Ryan doesn't make the schedule, thus he lands the highest mark for record. Points: 3

- Best Game: Ryan went 30-44 for 435 yards, 1 TD and no turnovers in a 38-28 road victory at Georgia Tech, which ended up being the toughest game on the Eagles schedule. Points: 1

Total points: 6

2. Brian Brohm, Louisville Cardinals

- Schedule: As stated above, Brohm's competition has been slightly more difficult then Ryan's. Both have played only two notable teams and Brohm's (@Kentucky, @CIncinnati) were unquestionably more difficult then Ryan's (Wake Forest, @GT). Points: 2

- Numbers: 230-338, 2,993 yards, 68% completion, 24 TD, 6 INT. Brohm's numbers aren't just the best between these three QB's, but they may just be the best numbers in all of America. Brohm has thrown for over 400 yards in three games, including a 555 yard effort in a loss to (gulp) Syracuse. Points: 3

- Record: Louisville is a disappointing 4-4 this season despite starting off as a BCS Championship contender. Those losses include home losses to Syracuse and Utah, and a bad road loss against UCONN. Points: 1

- Best Game: One would have to say it was his 555 yard, 4 TD performance against the Cuse, but since they lost that game to possibly the worst program in college football, I went in another direction. He had a fine performance against in-state rival Kentucky, going 28-43 for 366 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. Unfortunatly the team lost 40-34, and Brohm was outdueled by the QB who I feel is the nations best... Points: 2

Total Points: 8

1. Andre Woodson, Kentucky

- Schedule: To this point, Woodson has played one of the nation's toughest schedules, which comes with playing in SEC territory. Woodson has already played at Arkansas and South Carolina, and home against then #1 LSU and Louisville. Not to mention, he has to go to Florida tonight, which has no bearing on these rankings. Points: 3

- Numbers: 156-245, 1,786 yards, 64% completion, 21 TD, 4 INT. Woodson's numbers were similar to Ryan's, but again he was given the edge because of who the numbers came against. It's alot harder to throw for 300 yards against the likes of Arkansas and LSU then it is Army and Notre Dame. However, his numbers, like all QB's, aren't in the same area code as Brohm's. Points: 2

- Record: Kentucky is 6-1, with their lone loss coming at South Carolina. While Kentucky's 6-1 record is probably more impressive and improbable than Ryan's 7-0 record, a loss is a loss. Points: 2

- Best Game: Woodson has mostly performed admirably against the stiffest of competition. Coincidentally, his worst game came in UK's only loss of the season, which shows how much they depend on the effectiveness of their star QB. His best game came last weekend against mighty LSU as he went 21-38 for 250 yards with 4 total TD (3 passing) and 2 INT's. Woodson's efforts helped lead Kentucky back from a 13-point 4th quarter defecit to claim a 43-37 OT victory, knocking LSU from their #1 rank. Points: 3

Total Points: 10


Andre Woodson's performance against some of the nation's best teams is what makes him the nation's best quarterback. It could also be argued that Woodson has spearheaded Kentucky's improbable 6-1 start with much less talent around him then that of Brian Brohm or Matt Ryan. Brohm and Ryan may be better NFL prospects then Woodson, but I feel, through this criteria, that he is the best QB in America through the games of October 13th.

Until next time,
DTM

Torre's Decision Best For Both Sides

Joe Torre's essential resignation this afternoon marks a sad day for myself and all people associated with the orgranization. That being said, I do believe Torre's decision to decline the Yankees embarrassing offer was best for both sides. The Yankees, Randy Levine in particular, should be ASHAMED with how they handled this situation. And that's where I'll start when explaining why this decision is best for both the Yankees and Joe Torre.

Regarding Joe Torre, this is the right decision for a number of reasons, but I'll just highlight one: had he accepted a one year contract today, the countdown to his firing would've immediatly begun. A one year contract, especially for managers, basically says you're hired, but you're fired at the first sign of trouble. It's no secret that everyone in the Yankees front office, sans Brian Cashman, didn't want Torre back. There is no question that if the Yanks got off to a slow start in '08, which has become commonplace over the past four years, Torre would've been fired before June. He didn't deserve such treatment and therefore his reason to turn down the offer was justified. I don't feel I need to get into the numbers of the deal because that is all you'll hear for the next few days, but just know that for a man of Torre's stature, the numbers were insulting enough for Torre to walk away.

From the Yankees point of view, Torre's decision was the best case scenario for no reason other then it was time for a change. Clearly they too felt this way, otherwise they wouldn't have lowballed Torre to the point where it became obvious they wanted him out. But I do believe the Yankees organization needs a new leader. It has become clear through the lack of progress in the last three postseasons that the Yankee players need to hear a new voice. You know when a team goes into the postseason as Major League Baseball's hottest team and flame's out in the first round to a lesser opponent that something just isn't right. I know the Yankees have a flawed pitching staff, but pitching hasn't been the team's reason for success since 2001. Their bread and butter has been the offense and the same lineup that carried them from April 'til late September was the same lineup that couldn't hit a basketball if it were pitched right down the plate in October. Joe Torre was admirable in digging the Yankees out of their early holes and most analysts will argue until they're blue in the face that the team would've folded by early July if they were under any manager other than Torre. Thay may be true, but if that were all his doing, couldn't those same magic words or managing styles have saved the Yankees from another early exit this past October? Joe Torre had taken this group as far as he could and it was time for a change.

I love Joe Torre. His first year as manager in '95 was the first year I began following baseball, so him at the helm is all I know. I will miss Torre for the same reasons that every Yankees fan will miss him. I think baseball will miss him as well, but I don't think the team will miss him as much as people think, provided Rivera, Posada, and Pettitte don't go elsewhere as a result of him being gone (that has already been added to my nightly prayers). The Yankees are loaded with talent and that will not change. They need to choose a manager that is the opposite of Torre, an in your face Lou Pinella type, because it will be a different voice for the players to hear. Going out and hiring a manager that poses as Torre (Don Mattingly), or a manager strikingly similar to Torre (Tony LaRussa), would do the franchise no good because no one is better at managing like Joe Torre then Joe Torre. Hopefully Joe finds happiness in Maui or wherever he ends up, and here's to hoping the Yankees make the right choice.

Until next time,
DTM

ALCS Far From Over

With today being an ALCS off day, I figured now would be a good time to issue a serious warning to the city of Cleveland and its suddenly proud franchise, the Indians: You have not wrapped up the ALCS. Not by a long shot. Take this warning seriously because it's coming from a Yankee fan who is still coming to terms with seeing his team blow a 3-0 lead in the 2004 ALCS against a similar, but an arguably better Red Sox team. Here are some facts for the Indians to consider before they have their locker room celebration prior to game 5:

1. The Red Sox have been here. If they had the heart and determination to overcome a 3-0 defecit, which had never been done before, I see no reason why they would throw in the towel now being down 3-1 with two of the remaining three games (if necessary) in Fenway Park.

2. Both teams throw out their aces tomorrow night, Sabathia and Beckett. If Beckett can get the Sox to game 6, it will really be a toss up as far as who has the edge in game 6 and a possible game 7. Game 6 would be Schilling vs. Carmona in all likelyhood, and while many would be quick to give the Indians the edge here, never underestimate Curt Schilling at home in a must win playoff game. Again, just reference the Yankees, who he beat in game 6 of the '04 ALCS in New York to force a game 7. If a game 7 was again forced by a stellar Schilling, wouldn't you give the Red Sox line-up the edge against Jake Westbrook in Fenway in a winner takes all ball game?

3. Reason #3 is more binding than either of the first two. The longer this series goes, the more it favors the Red Sox. I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but just look at the 2004 ALCS. The Yankees lose game 4 in extras, "no big, still up 3-1." Lose game 5 in extras, "eh, no big we're going home, no way we lose both games in Yankee Stadium." Lose game 6, "alright now we're in some trouble, but the Curse of the Babe alone will lead us to victory." The next night the Yankees were pondering why they went after Kevin Brown so hard that offseason instead of locking up Andy Pettitte, which should have been their first priority. Brown lasted an inning and a third, and the Yankees already trailed 6-0. My point is, if Boston sends this thing back to Fenway, the Indians are in trouble. And if they don't close it out in game 6, I would bet these Indians give everyone in the city of Cleveland another reason to jump off a bridge.

The odds are with you Cleveland, and history is on your side. Only 10 teams have recovered from a 3-1 defecit, but only one team is SPORTS HISTORY has recovered from a 3-0 defecit, and you're looking at them. Tread carefully.

Until next time,
DTM

Ode to Chris Chambers

First off I'd like to say congratulations to Chris Chambers for his release from the maximum security prison that is the Miami Dolphins. I'd also like to thank the front office of the Dolphins for once again being stupid and inhumane by not ending the Miami misery of future Hall of Famers Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor, for if not for those two, I would have no desire to watch the Dolphins play on Sundays. I would also like to say shame on you to those same people regarding the same issue because those two deserve better. They have done everything imaginable for the franchise and deserve the chance to retire a winner. Trading them from an 0-6 team to a 3-3 team with a chance is the least the franchise could've done for two players that will one day enter Canton as Miami Dolphins regardless of where ever they were shipped.

But moving along, this entry is a fitting farewell to Chris Chambers. In sending off Chambers, I'm gonna play a game called Thank You/Damn You, because so often in his 6+ years in Miami, one minute you'd be thanking God he wore 84 for Miami and the next you'd be wondering why he was making $84 a year, let alone the $7M a year salary he was granted. So here goes, my first installment of Thank You/Damn You..

1. Thank you for your fantastic rookie season, which inspired so much hope into the minds of Miami fans everywhere that the franchise had finally landed the #1 receiver they had been searching for since the Duper/Clayton tandem, but damn you for sitting out the playoff game at the end of that season against Baltimore because of a sore knee. Fittingly we scored 3 points, lost, and havent played a playoff game since.

2. Thank you for never turning into the whining, whoa-is-me premadonna receiver that otherwise covers the landscape of the NFL. You had more to actually cry and complain about during the last 6 years then Terrell Owens and Randy Moss ever had at any stop in their careers. If Owens played for Miami, he may have actually went through with suicide and Moss would have likely just retired rather then playing "when he wants to." Damn you for the same reason because maybe if you were a bit more demanding and a lot more of a "me, me, me" player, you may have been given more opportunities.

3. Thank you for giving me what still to this day is the greatest catch I've ever seen in a football game week 1 of the 2003 season against the Houston Texans (now I know this blog is Ultra-Biased, but youtube this reception and see for yourself, if you don't you are just as biased as me and we dont want that now do we?). Damn you for being able to make sickly acrobatic, improbable one-handed snags such as this one, yet struggling to find the consistency and concentration to catch the basic slant that so often bounced off your chest and into the hands of the nearest defender.

4. Thank you for the finest season I've seen out of a Miami receiver in 2005- your only Pro Bowl season- where you posted 82 catches for 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns. In the final 6 games you scored 7 touchdown and had the best single-game performance I've seen out of a receiver against Buffalo with 15 catches for 238 yards and the game winning touchdown as time expired to cap a 20 point 4th quarter rally. Damn you for putting up such incredible streaks as this, while at the same time disappearing in games and posting a string of performances that are equally as pathetic, such as the one you left Miami with: 14 straight games without a single touchdown reception.

5. And lastly on a personal note, Thank you for taking the time to meet and talk briefly with me at the Holiday Inn in February of 2002. I appreciated the autograph and you acknowledging my sporting of Michigan State apparel at the time of our meet and greet. And damn you for torching them time and again your junior and senior year as a member of the Wisconsin Badgers.

Farewell for now Chris Chambers, and thank you for all the highlights in an otherwise dismal time in Miami Dolphins history. I promise I won't be saying "damn you" if you win a ring as a member of the Chargers.

Until next time,
DTM

'72 Dolphins in Trouble?

The most talked about issue in the sports world today revolves around the greatness of the New England Patriots. And while you are probably tired of it, I know I am, you had better get used to it because as much as it pains me to say this, the Patriots are 6-0 and there is no end in sight to their winning streak. They have now won 11 of their last 12 games dating back to last year, with the lone loss coming in the AFC Championship game where they blew an 18 point second half lead. Now understand that I'm not proclaiming they are going undefeated, but what I am saying is the odds of them going undefeated are greater then them losing a game. Nine games remain and six of them (Miami x2, Buffalo, Jets, Philadelphia, and Baltimore) are almost sure victories, and you can pretty much add their home game against Washington to that list as well simply because Jason Campbell has never faced Bill Belicheck and that almost certainly spells disaster. That leaves an AFC Championship rematch in Indianapolis and a home visit from the Steelers as the only two real threats left on the Patriots schedule. I give them the edge against Pittsburgh because the game is at home and the Steelers likely won't have enough weapons to match New England's fire power. The Colts are the last team standing here and I honestly can't predict what will happen because it's such a great rivalry and the games have been down to the wire and unpredictable. Here's a warning for Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning: I wouldn't suggest falling behind by 18 this time because Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell won't be dropping wide-open game clinching touchdowns in the 4th quarter this time around. If the Pats leave Indiana at 9-0, and the team stays healthy they more than likely will join the Dolphins as the only team to run the table in the regular season.

Until next time,
DTM

Welcome to my blog

I created this blog because a number of my friends have recently requested that I create an on-line sports blog. After much thought I decided it would be a fun thing to do so here I am. Most people who read this will be my friends, but for those of you who slip up and accidently find this blog, know that I am an insane sports fan. I follow football, basketball and baseball and think I know everything about those three sports. That is not accurate, but I know my fair share and that is what this blog will consist of....my opinion on the issues and happenings in those three sports and probably not much else. So read up and feel free to drop a comment every now and then, I like hearing what others think of my insane opinions. I'll try to post something as often as possible and let me end my first post by saying Matt Holliday just jacked a solo shot over the wall in left field giving the Rockies a 1-0 lead. The kid is a stud and the Diamondbacks are in real trouble.

Until next time,