Funeral for a Friend

Hear that? Aretha Franklin is warming up her pipes. The fat lady is beginning to sing. And for most Red Sox fans, including myself, we never thought we'd be saying that on the first day of September. But losing three straight must win games to drop your hometown team from 4.5 games back to 8 games back will do that to a baseball fan. This season has had some good moments, and it's had some bad, but ultimately the sinking feeling that most Sox fans got during the offseason played itself out onto the field. For better or for worse, this was a transition year. And as the lowly Orioles continue to shovel the final bit of dirt into the grave that has become the 2010 Red Sox season by knocking Lester around the park, let's see what happened to make this all come to a head.

First off, the thing that crippled the Red Sox the most this season was injuries. It started with Mike Cameron (he's missed 84 games so far this year and won't be back after season ending surgery). Then Jacoby Ellsbury soon followed (114 games and likely out for the rest of the year). Then Josh Beckett (12 starts). Then Victor Martinez, Dustin Pedroia, and Clay Buchholz (22, 55 and out for the year, 4 starts respectively) were all injured in one trip to San Fransisco. The final blow to this team was the loss of Kevin Youkilis (26 games and counting), leaving the Sox with a depleted lineup (Darnell McDonald and Bill Hall have been practically every day players on this team. I'm just as depressed as you are) without the services of their 1,2, and 3 hitters. Not to mention that even role players such as Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek missed significant time, hurting the team's depth. And it showed. The Red Sox went from scoring about 4.5 runs per game in April to nearly 6 runs per game in May and June. It wasn't until the rash of injuries in July that the Sox came back to earth. In August, they scored a measly 4.3 runs per game, their worst monthly total yet. And just when the injuries looked like they were subsiding, and Pedroia and Ellsbury were on their way back, they get hurt again. It's just been too much to bear.

But that's not the only reason for Boston's struggles this season. The bullpen has been absolutely HORRENDOUS outside of Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon. Let me put it this way. It's like when you go to a restaurant and order a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. You eat it, and it's terrific, right down to the last noodle. Then a week later, you go back to that same restaurant and order that same plate of spaghetti, only this time you take one bite and immediately feel like your going to puke your brains out. That first order of spaghetti is the 2009 Red Sox bullpen. The second order? The 2010 Red Sox bullpen. And the sad thing is, I wasn't exaggerating at at all. With the exception of one and a half meatballs (Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon at times) the Sox 'pen this year is the worst plate of spaghetti I've had in a long time.

Another reason that the Sox have been down this year is the work of Theo Epstein. Yes, I'm very much aware of the Adrian Beltre signing. In fact, The Panther has been one of the only reasons for me to watch the Red Sox this season. But other than that, Theo's moves this offseason have come up short. Lackey hasn't come close to living up to his billing (or his contract for that matter. I just realized I'll be a junior in college when his contract is up. Great.). Cameron barely made it through a quarter of the year before shutting it down for good. Scutaro has performed admirably out of the leadoff spot in Ellsbury's absence, but he hasn't performed up to his numbers in Toronto and has been a liability defensively for stretches. Plus he proved once again you never should sign players to term, high priced extensions in the middle of the season (I'm looking at you Josh Beckett), and failed to address the bullpen at the trade deadline when the team desperately needed help in that area (Oh, and Kerry Wood has been lights out since he signed with the Yankees. I will now take a nap on red hot coals.). He's made it clear as day that this is a transition year. If I had to give him a grade, I'd say he'd get a C. And that's being generous.

Yet another reason for the Red Sox being out of the race so early is the under performance of their two highest paid pitchers, Josh Beckett and John Lackey. Combined, they are 16-12 in 43 starts with a 4.98 ERA. Not exactly what you expect from a duo making a combined $30.8 million this year. Throw in the fact that this team has not been an offensive juggernaut by any means this year and relied on that this team was built on pitching, then Lackey and Beckett have been downright awful.

I had some fun with this Red Sox team. I enjoyed David Ortiz's return to prominence. I had fun watching Clay Buchholz contend for the Cy Young (an award he deserves but probably won't get). And I LOVED watching Adrian Beltre play every day. And I admired how the team which was so depleted scrapped and clawed and battled to stay in the race as long as it could. But between injuries, under performing pitchers, and seemingly careless personnel moves by the front office, this team couldn't quite make it to where they wanted to be. It's a shame. For now, it's looking like I'll be uttering a phrase well known to Red Sox fans everywhere: "Wait 'til next year".

But I can't help but wonder what could have been.

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Question for the Boston Sports Fan? Email him @ bosox102@hotmail.com

What Are We Witnessing?

"This fall I'm taking my talents to South Beach, and join the Miami Heat."

Just one sentence. That's all it took to send the NBA world into a frenzy. Just one sentence may have decided the championships and MVP awards for the next five seasons at least. LeBron James, the best player in the world entering his prime, is joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat to form the lastest incarnation of a "Big 3". And as good as that sounds, I'm not alone in saying that I have a bunch of questions. For LeBron, was it the right decision? And will this attempt at creating a superteam actually work? And how many titles (if any) can this team win? Let's start with the first question.

First off, LeBron was in a no win situation. Let's face it. If he went to New York or New Jersey people would have said "He only cares about money, winning isn't that important." If he went to Chicago, people would have said "He's trying too hard to be like Jordan. What an ego." If he stayed with the Cavs, people would have brought up the whole "Yeah, he stayed in Cleveland, but they aren't going anywhere. He must have stayed for the money." And now that he's gone to Miami, people are calling him a "coward" because he's "looking for the easy way out by playing with another superstar in Wade and an elite power forward in Chris Bosh." No matter what choice LeBron made, he was bound to tick someone off. Even Bill Simmons, once a great James supporter who has been soured on him by this whole ordeal said in his column before the decision was made: "In May, after the Cavs were ousted in the conference semifinals, I wrote that LeBron was facing one of the greatest sports decisions ever: "winning (Chicago), loyalty (Cleveland) or a chance at immortality (New York). I never thought he would pick 'HELP!'"

Personally, I think that's selling LeBron short. I don't understand why everyone is hating on a choice where a star player is considering taking less money in order to win not one, not two, but three or more championships. This is an attempt at creating a dynasty. That being said, I'm not sure that it was the greatest choice. I think that Chicago would have been a better fit for LeBron, a team with a bona-fide second banana (Derrick Rose), an excellent rebounder/post scorer (Carlos Boozer), a high energy post defender/great rebounder (Joakim Noah) and a good perimeter scorer (Luol Deng). Everything was set up perfectly for multiple championship runs. And, there was a supporting cast with defined roles, which is the biggest hole in the "Superteam" approach. So do I think LeBron made the right choice? I can't really say. But I don't think that he made the best choice. I would have gone with the Bulls if it was me.

Now as for whether this plan works, that is much tougher. Miami now has the best top 3 in the NBA. However, they don't have any real role players. The question you have to ask yourself is, does that really matter? I mean, you have two of the three best players in the NBA. Plus, you have one of the top 5 power forwards in the NBA. That's a lot of talent, regardless of the supporting cast. Also, keep in mind that LeBron's Cavaliers won 66 and then 61 games the last two seasons with much less than Bosh and Wade. Also, assuming the Big Three does as they say they will and take less money in order to play together, then maybe the can go out and get a quality role player (like Mike Miller, who has reportedly agreed to a 5 year $30 million contract). Then maybe they can get some other pieces to add size up front, like a Juwan Howard or a Zydrunas Ilgauskas, or, just maybe Shaquille O'Neal. If they can fill out the roster that way, then Miami will be in buisness.

The next question has to be can LeBron and Wade (two alpha dogs in their own right) coexist on the same team? Most people are saying yes, but I have to disagree. I think that Wade will end up being the crunch time scorer and ultimately the team's alpha dog, while LeBron will be a super athletic mix of Magic Johnson and Scottie Pippen: Makes amazing plays on the offensive and defensive end, controls the pace of the game, takes over at times, and will get his 25 points, 8 rebounds, and around 9 or 10 assists in the flow of the game. But the only way that will work is if the egos of both players cooperate, and I believe that they will.

And now for the final, and most important question of all: How many championships will this team win? And will they win this year? The answer to that, as I said earlier, depends on how Miami fills out the roster and how the egos of the three stars cooperate. While most NBA fans don't think that this will work, I disagree. I think this is a choice based around winning, and Wade, LeBron, and Bosh are all willing to make the sacrifices necessaryto win multiple titles. I think that in the next five years, I think that Miami wins 4 titles. Will they win this year? I say...yes. Again, they need to bring in more role players, but the Heat are just as good as any other team that they have to play. The Celtics are getting old, the Lakers are getting old too (and, as the Thunder proved last year, aren't exactly invinceable), the Bulls will be improved, but I'm not sure if they'll be better than the Heat, and Orlando has Vince Carter so they won't be winning anything. I predict 63 wins for Miami in 2011, the top seed in the East, and a Finals victory over the Lakers in 6 games.

This decision by not only LeBron but Wade and Bosh as well has changed the future of the NBA. For better or for worse, we are headed in a far different direction than if King James had just stayed with Cleveland. Not only titles could be swung, but MVP awards as well (you think LeBron can keep winning MVP awards with Wade and Bosh in his spotlight? Not likely. Congratulations Kevin Durant on winning the next five MVP awards). And whether you liked the move or not, you have to admit that next season is going to be exciting. I know I'm excited.


And besides, as long as the Lakers don't win and Kobe doesn't get another ring, I'm happy.
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You can follow the Boston Sports Fan on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/gregis111

The Countdown Begins

In approximately three weeks, the biggest free agency period in any sports is set to begin. The NBA is usually not the funnest off season, but this one is going to be good. With players like Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh all becoming free agents, this could get a little wild. But I'm hear to tell you exactly where everyone is going. Okay well maybe not exactly, but its my best guess, so give me credit. Well, here goes nothing.


Players are ranked in order, starting with number one.


1. Lebron James-I honestly hope he goes to the Cleveland Browns. They need it. In 2010, according to my crystal ball, Lebron will be playing for the New Jersey Nets. They lost the lottery, but there is no way Mr. Russian Accent is going to let Lebron go. He wants him, Lebron wants money. Mr. R.A. seems to have a lot of money, and Lebron wants some. I do believe he will win a championship in Nets uniform, but I don't know if it will happen soon. From what I see, Lebron likes to win, but loves money more. If he wants to win, he'd stay in Cleveland. If he wants money, he'll go to Mr. R.A. and just swim in money. Enjoy a miserable 5-6 years in New Jersey, Lebron.


2. Dwayne Wade-This man is smart. He wants to win, and that's why he'll be receiving passes from Derrick Rose next year. Yup, Chicago Bulls are going to take D-Wade. Why you say? Well Wade is the best player on the worst team. The Heat are terrible and even with Beasley, they really have no other good player than Wade. They seem like they have no intention on trying to keep Wade, unless they get another player during the offseason, but I don't see that happening at all. He's going to realize this summer that he is destine for better things. Also, Chicago has been in the playoffs the last two years, and with Wade, they could maybe be one of the favorites in the East next year. While James enjoys 5-6 years of misery in Jersey, Wade will have the opposite in Chicago.



3. Chris Bosh-This guy loves the spotlight. There is nothing more he likes than to be the center of attention. So hello New York Knicks. Now I know its not the likely pick, but it works. He loves attention. New York loves cocky attitudes. This is an absolute perfect marriage. Bosh will be on a team that needs another superstar. I'm not sure they get it this year. But I do say that they retain David Lee. This is easily the best big man team in the league if this happens. Though this team still needs a lot of work, this is a great start. Enjoy the spot light Bosh, if you last long enough.


4. Carlos Boozer-According to all my video games, Boozer is going to the Detroit Pistons. But he's staying right where he is. Utah is a great place for him to be. Deron Williams is a great point guard and this team can be built around those two. He'll be one of the only superstars to stay home and its a smart move. He's their most important player, and he has Paul Millsap behind him. He a back up that should be a starter. He helps Boozer because Boozer can afford to take a game off or two and be healthy. Most superstars can't do this. Be smart Carlos, stay where you belong. Utah can be a great team and Boozer is the key.


5. Amare Stoudomire-Pheonix needs him. He in a way needs them. Why? Because he can't play defense like these other big guys. The Suns don't play D at all. So why would Amare want to leave a team that just plays offense? Sounds like the perfect storm for Amare to stay. But I do think the Miami Heat will have to make a run at this guy. I just don't think he wants to go to Miami because of what he has in Pheonix. Though he will eventually hurt the Suns in the long run, this man will get paid and he will stay a Sun.



6. Dirk Nowitzki- I never understood why he opted out of his deal. There is no way he could leave the Mavs, the team that raised him from the beginning. I look at it now and say, good choice Dirk. He couldn't of picked a better year to try to get the last big contract he will get. Now that he is out on this market will a bunch of other stars out there, the Mavs are going to really have to pay him to make him stay. Teams could easily dive in and take Dirk. The Mavs won't and can't let him go. He stays with them and the Mavs continue to work the trade market.



7. Joe Johnson-No one wants this guy more than Atlanta. No one needs him more than the Boston Celtics. Yes, I said it. I believe the Celtics make some trades and Johnson becomes a Celtic. They need a scorer. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce can be, but not consistently. Joe can offer that to them. He would fit so good in the Celtic system. Just think, Rondo and Johnson running the show. If this happens, look out world. This team could be scary good come playoff time. Johnson is an amazing closer of games, and Rondo's explosiveness compliments him very nicely. Book it, Johnson to Celtics this offseason.



8. Ray Allen-Don't ask me why, but I see him going to the Hawks. I can see him and Johnson flip-flopping. Hawks need leadership and Ray offers a lot. The time for the Hawks to start playing like a veteran team is now, and who better than Ray Allen. Coming off two finals appearances in three years, this man can lead. Also, he's a pretty decent shooter. This could be what the Hawks were missing. But I also think Ray is done. This is his last good year and after this, he won't have it anymore. I hope he proves me wrong, but I just see the end of the road for him and the Celtics know it.



Well there are my top 8. If they are right, there right. This should be fun no matter what happens. We will never see a free agent class like this again, so lets just sit back, relax, and watch the show.

Surprise Surprise

Wow. That was the word that I uttered after Jameer Nelson missed an off balance three as time expired in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals. Wow. The Celtics had just defeated the Magic 95-92, to take a 2-0 lead in the series nobody thought they would win. Wow. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. For the first time in Celtics history (and trust me, that's a lot of history) Boston had won the first two games of a series on the road. Just a month ago we were saying how the Celtics looked old, washed up. A week and a half ago they were about to go up against the best team in the NBA during the regular season, and didn't have a chance. Now? Now the C's are only two wins away from the NBA Finals, and have 3 home games to do it. I was speechless. How did this happen? Am I dreaming? No, this isn't a dream, it's reality, and a very good reality at that.

Going into the postseason, I had grown to hate the 2010 Celtics. They didn't hustle. They were lazy. They lacked the heart of a champion. The Celtics finished 27-27 after a 23-5 start. They had lost a league worst 14 games that they had lead in by at least 10 points at some point. I hated Sheed. I hated the energy. Most of all, I hated how they didn't care. I hated everything about them, and I was looking forward to watching them be upset by Miami in the first round or get blown away by the LeBrons in round two. I thought they had no chance at the title. Boy, was I wrong.

Against Miami, it was evident that this wasn't the same Celtics team from the regular season. They hustled. They played great defense. They looked like they cared. When Quentin Richardson pushed Paul Pierce out of bounds and indirectly (or directly) got KG suspended, The Celtics turned it up a notch. If it wasn't for a Dwayne Wade explosion in Game 4 of that series, the Celtics would have swept Miami no problem. But I still wasn't so sure that the Celtics new found defensive intensity that was reminiscent of the 2008 championship team was for real. I mean, come on, its Miami. Their backup plan after Dwayne Wade is Jermaine O'Neal's corpse/the artist formerly known as Michael Beasley/Mario Chalmers. Not exactly a killer supporting cast. Anyways going up against mighty Cleveland and LeBron James, I was curious to see if this new Celtics team was the real deal or if they would be wiped aside.

That's when the Celtics came out and dominated the Cavaliers in one of the most one-sided six game series ever. With the exception of a late game collapse in Game One, and a no show in Game Three, Boston was in control of the series throughout. Garnett made me look like a fool for picking Jamison over him in my series preview by abusing him throughout (seriously, what was I thinking? Jamison could have charged KG of rape for what he did to him...oh wait I forgot that was Kobe's thing). Rondo was absolutely sensational, darting and weaving in and out of Cleveland's defense. The Celtics put the clamps on Lebron, and I'm convinced the Cavs' supporting cast went into a coma. Then, in Game Six, which was the best Celtics game I've ever been to (New York Knicks! New York Knicks!), Boston pulled off the upset that nobody saw coming.

That brings us to the Eastern Conference Finals against Dwight Howard (my second favorite non-Celtic) and the Orlando Magic. Once again, despite their previous successes, the Celtics were counted out against a Magic team that went 8-0 in the first two rounds. But the Celtics are locked in right now. There's no other way to put it. They beat the Magic in the first game by a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated. Then, in Game Two, Orlando choked down the stretch (with Vince Carter pulling his patented big game choke by missing two crucial free throws in the final minute. I think we should start calling him The Mailman for the way he mails games in). And now, the Celts are taking home a 2 games to none lead and are in full control of the series.

Does this mean the Celtics have won the series? Not a chance. But with every series, every game, every quarter, I'm feeling more and more like this is a team of destiny. With the defense they are playing, they can beat anyone. Including the Lakers. It's only a matter of time. Go Celtics.

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A Wild Weekend

It's been a week and I have finally digested the 2010 NFL draft. Since I've been watching the draft, this was one of the wildest yet. The trade market was in full swing led by the New England Patriots (what else is new). I'll admit that I was pulling for the Patriots to grab Dez Bryant 24th overall, but they swung that to Dallas who took Dez. I still like the Devin McCourty pick because it improved our much needed corner back situation. With Devin and Leigh Bodden at the corners, I'm ready to say that our defensive back situation is complete (after only 3 years for looking to solidify it). I will get to the other teams in a minute, but let's just talk about the Patriots draft for a little.



The tight end situation is looking really good right now, with the Patriots taking Rob Gronkowski in the 2nd round and then grabbing Aaron Hernandez in the 4th. The Patriots never have really used the tight end position as another receiver, but with these two picks, I think we all know what Brady's third option will be this year. The Patriots also picked up a receiver named Taylor Price in the 3rd round. I haven't heard much about this guy, but apparently he's pretty good. He's got great hands, and Belichick will use him as a return man until Wes Welker makes his return. Many people (including me) think that this is not enough at the receiver position. That's why the Patriots signed Torry Holt. The veteran receiver will hopefully fill in nicely this year, as the 3rd receiver option for Brady. Oh, and I forgot to mention someone who everyone is forgetting. Brandon Tate (or as I like to call him, The Next Moss). This kid is HUGE. Just wait, he's going to be nasty in a few years. Patriots went physical in the entire draft.



Now, for the other teams. First, the Denver Broncos. Josh McDaniels has officially ruined the Broncos. Denver was headed in the right direction with Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler as the core offensive players. Since McDaniels took over the reigns, everything is going down hill. Tim Tebow in the first round? Hello, McFly!!!! Anybody home? come on Joshy boy! You are better than this! Yeah, he's a winner and a great person and never gives up, but if you don't got the talent, you don't got it. And Timmy, you don't got it right now. You just don't draft a work in progress with the 25th pick overall (that's me and that's probably why I write the articles and not drafting players). Next is the Jets. First off, I hate them, and everyone who plays for them (except Ty Law, 'cause he was a stud). But I am scared of them this year. They had a solid draft and took, what I think, is the second biggest steal of the draft in Joe McKnight. McKnight has all the tools to be an elite back, but just hasn't put everything together at once yet. The Jets have a scary back field and their receivers aren't too bad either. This draft (well this whole off season) was very good for the Jets. Now for San Diego. They are a great team, but they don't have a real powerful running back. So they trade up and grab Ryan Matthews from Fresno State. I am just as confused as you are. Now I heard he was one of the best running backs out there this year, but why would the Chargers trade up for him. Why not C.J. Spiller? I hope Matthews works out good for San Diego, but as of right now, they are one of my biggest losers of the draft.

I could go on and on with teams, but now I want to look at players. One player that I'm really upset about is Taylor Mays, safety from USC. Last year, he was projected a top-5 pick. How he fell to the 49th pick (by the, you guessed it, 49ers) is beyond me. He has all the talent of Eric Berry and Earl Thomas. I actually believe Mays has more potential than Thomas. It's just surprising he fell that much. Now, to Colt McCoy. I think he is the biggest steal in the draft. If you're looking for a winner (cough, McDaniels, cough) this is your guy. He's won more games than any college QB ever.....ever! He can offer you a lot more in the passing game than Tim Tebow. I believe that McCoy will win the starting job for the Browns and help turn them around. He will be a pro bowler one day. Jimmy Clausen is the other quarter back who fell. And he fell because he is not a good player. Think back to your days in say Little League when your team had that player who everyone thought was so good, yet couldn't even hit the ball. Thats Clausen. He is supposed to be this great amazing player, but he's just not. I hope the Panthers know that Clausen will only be a good back up. It's too bad, the Panthers could have had Colt.

I have three bold predictions from this draft, and here they are:
1. Colt will have more Pro-Bowl selections than Clausen and Tebow combined.
2. Dez Bryant will be the best offensive player of this draft, that is not a quarterback.
3. Sergio Kindle should have been higher, and will show it in the 2010 season.

Bam. Done. That's what I got from this years draft. Take it or leave it.

Celtics-Cavs: Its on!

When the Celtics closed out the Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat last Sunday, there was only one thought that crossed my mind: Bring on LeBron. And I got my wish when a few hours later the Cavaliers took care of business and finished their series with the Bulls (and that ridiculous and annoying Joakim Noah. God I hate that guy). That gave us the second round matchup that many Celtics fans feared getting when the C's were shuffling down the stretch. Cleveland, the NBA's best team in the regular season, versus the 2008 champion Boston Celtics, an aging contender looking to make a last run at the title. The Big Three (featuring Rajon Rondo) taking on all-world talent and two time MVP LeBron James. So in preparation to what should be a great series, I've decided to break it down blow by blow, position by position. Here we go:


POINT GUARD: RAJON RONDO VS. MO WILLIAMS
Okay, anyone who knows me knows that I am going to be extremely biased here. Rondo is my favorite player on the Celtics and my second favorite player in the league (trailing only the incomparable Tim Duncan). Don't get me wrong, I think Mo Williams is a good player and is the perfect match for the drive and dish game of LeBron. Williams is a very good three point shooter and had a great series against the Bulls. Both Rondo and Williams are All-Star caliber players. But I can't emphasize enough how much Rajon Rondo has done for the 2010 Boston Celtics. He's been the one constant in a season filled with inconsistencies. He's run the show night in and night out, and might just have been the most valuable player for Boston this year (for the record, Rasheed was the least valuable player. But you probably knew that anyway). I'm taking Rondo in this matchup, and you can't convince me otherwise.

EDGE: Celtics

SHOOTING GUARD: RAY ALLEN VS. ANTHONY PARKER
Okay, I understand on paper this looks like a mismatch, and honestly, it is. Ray Allen had an excellent second half, and should be hot coming off a series against Miami where he couldn't miss. Plus he's a Hall of Famer. Anthony Parker is a role player. He's a good perimeter defender, he hits open threes, he's tailor-made to play on Cleveland. However, he's no Ray Allen. If Shuttlesworth shoots like he did against the Heat, then the Celtics have a VERY good shot at stealing this series and the ring right off of LeBron's finger.

EDGE: Celtics

SMALL FORWARD: PAUL PIERCE VS. LEBRON JAMES
It was nice to see Pierce got to drink from the fountain of youth. For the first time in a while, he looked healthy and was taking the ball to the hole with the enthusiasm that we've grown used to seeing. If this was any other matchup, I'd think long and hard about giving the Celtics the edge here. Unfortunately, LeBron is the best player in the NBA. I know, he's got issues with his elbow, and I know, Pierce out dueled LeBron before, but things are different this year. James is on a mission. He's been putting up arcade stats all year, plus he's coming off a series where he averaged 39-10-9 in games 2, 3, and 4. He's been so good this year that my buddy Pat Davis (who is also known as the Panda), a known Kobe lover, has finally agreed with me that James has surpassed Bryant. Regardless, this is a great matchup and hopefully its at the level of the 2008 Eastern Conference Semis. But I gotta go with LeBron here, simply because he's the best in the league.

EDGE: Cavs

POWER FORWARD: KEVIN GARNETT VS. ANTAWN JAMISON
I'm going to sound crazy here, but I'm taking Jamison. I know, I'm just as surprised as you are. No, I haven't lost my mind. Listen. KG hasn't really been KG since his knee injury last season. Sure, he's shown flashes, and that's all fine and good, but don't be fooled. He can't do it for an entire game. Not anymore. I'm hoping that he can turn back the clock and give us some vintage Garnett performances, but I just don't know. Meanwhile Jamison has been the best deadline acquisition this year. He's a perfect fit for the Cavs as he can stretch the floor with shooting and is also a talented post player. He gives Cleveland the versatility that they lacked last year. And I still can't figure out how he gets the ball in the basket with that crazy scoop/floater/layup thing that he lofts over defenders with ease. Any time you have a player who does things you never seen before you have to take him, right? Right? I'm really trying to talk myself into this one.

SLIGHT EDGE: Cavs

CENTER: KENDRICK PERKINS VS. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
Perk's going to have his hands full in this series. No more picking on Jermaine O'Neal's corpse. Although, it's not like he's facing Shaq circa 1999-2002. This version of O'Neal isn't going to crush anyone for 35 minutes a game. Current Shaq goes in the game for 20-22 minutes, tries to get the opposing team's big men in foul trouble, and hopes to pick up about 12 points and 7 or so rebounds in the process. Not to mention that Perkins is probably one a handful of players strong enough to muscle up with the likes of Shaq and Dwight Howard. And O'Neal was thoroughly outplayed by Joakim Noah (I feel sick just mentioning his name) for the last four games of the Cavs-Bulls series...

EDGE: Even

CELTICS BENCH VS. CAVALIERS BENCH
Fortunately for the Celtics, Glen Davis has decided to show up for the playoffs. Which is good, because it's saved me and countless other Celtic fans from having to watch that lazy thief Rasheed Wallace lumber up and down the court. Unfortunately for the Celtics, because Sheed has packed it in and Marquis Daniels and Nate Robinson are useless (what a shocker), they're pretty much stuck with a bench rotation that consists of Davis, Tony Allen (my least favorite Celtic pre-Sheed) whatever minutes Wallace gives them, and 37 year old Michael Finley. Oh boy. On the other side, the Cavs have a diverse unit that has hustlers like Anderson Varejao, J.J. Hickson, and Jamario Moon (if Moon hits his threes like he did against the Bulls then the Cavs become very dangerous); a good perimeter scorer in "Craziest NBA Player" Finalist Delonte West, and the one of the better shooting centers of all time in Zydrunas Ilgauskas. This is a mismatch.

EDGE: Cavs (and it's not even close)

COACHING: DOC RIVERS VS. MIKE BROWN
I'll keep it short and sweet. Doc has a ring. Brown does not. Doc, while he may not be a great coach, certainly hasn't destroyed a good team. Brown is lucky he has LeBron bailing him out. Doc is a good coach. Brown is not.

EDGE: Celtics.

BOTTOM LINE
I was impressed with the Celtics in round one. They finally started playing championship defense, and showed some heart for the first time all year. If they can keep it up, they have a real shot at this thing. However, I can't help but think that this is finally LeBron's year. I hope I'm wrong, but the Cavs are just too deep, too motivated, and the Celtics will have to play an almost perfect series to beat Cleveland. And from what I've seen this year, I'm not so sure that's going to happen. Boston will need some big performances from its stars if they want to win this series.

VERDICT: Cavs in 7, but I really hope I'm wrong on this one.

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Celtics Turn Up The Heat

Its April vacation this week, and there's nothing going on. You know what that means? I think the time is right for my first ever Simmons-style running diary. And what better topic area could I write about than the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat facing off in Game 2 of their first round series? Here goes nothing!

8:06 p.m. We're coming to you live from the Boston Sports Fan's basement! The Celtics and Heat are just about to get things underway. Glen Davis is in the starting lineup for the suspended Kevin Garnett, which is certainly better than seeing that out of shape slob Sheed in there. I still can't believe KG threw that elbow. He's got to be smarter than that. It better not cost the C's game 2.

8:08 Pierce pulls up and hits a three for the first basket of the game. I have a feeling he's in for a big game tonight after Quentin Richardson's comments about how Pierce is an "actress" (which were pretty accurate, but that's neither here nor there).

8:10 RONDO PULLS UP FOR A THREE AT THE SHOT CLOCK BUZZER AND NAILS IT! I LOVE THIS GUY! WHY AM I TYPING IN ALL CAPS ALREADY?

8:13 Rondo hits Perk with a beautiful fast break lob pass for an easy layup. I dare you to find a better point guard on the break not named Steve Nash than Rondo. Go on. I dare you. Timeout Miami, as Boston has jumped out to an 11-4 lead.

8:17 Jermaine O'Neal's corpse has swatted Glen Davis 4 times already. Fantastic. If the Celts lose tonight, I'm blaming Garnett.

8:23 Sheed comes in and immediately bricks an 18 footer, quite possibly the most predictable outcome to a shot of these playoffs. Then Miami takes the long rebound and turns it into a fast break 3 by Richardson. I swear, whenever Wallace comes into the game whatever lead the Celtics have evaporates within 2 minutes. Every time.

8:29 Pierce with an awkward running jump hook thing for two. He has 7 points here early. Then down on the other end after a Miami basket Rasheed is called for a technical. I hate this guy. Why is he still allowed to play? Why couldn't the Celtics have signed Jamal Crawford or Anthony Parker? And to think we still have to watch two more seasons of this. I feel sick. 23-20 Celtics.

8:33 The first quarter ends with the score tied at 23. Wade quietly has put up 8 points. Early trends: The Celtics are looking a little lethargic on their rotations, as Richardson and Chalmers have been left wide open on multiple occasions; Ray Allen needs to shoot; Jermaine O'Neal must have taken caffeine pills before the game because he's all over the place with 5 blocks. And Sheed continues to be useless.

8:38 Sheed posts up and scores. Why he insists on ignoring his killer post game and just sits at the three point line clanking threes off the back of the rim remains a mystery to me.

8:46 Ray takes his first shot of the game...and swishes a three. The Celtics need to get him more involved here, unless they want Pierce and Rondo carrying the offense tonight. I'm not so sure I want that. Celtics lead 31-29.

8:52 Miami turns the ball over for the 3rd straight possession, and they haven't scored in the last four minutes of game time. Baby Davis lays it up and in (he seems to have recovered from
Jermaine O'Neal repeatedly smacking the ball back at his face earlier) Celtics lead by 6.

8:54 Davis swishes a little jumper and its a 12-0 Boston run! Clark Kellogg just called him the "Ticket Stub". I like the sound of that. Then after a missed shot by Wade, Ray Allen nets another 3. The lead is now 11. It's becoming more and more obvious that nobody on the Heat can score other than Wade.

8:59 Shuttlesworth cuts to the rim, blows by Chalmers (who I've decided has to be one of the worst starting point guards in the league) and lays it in for an easy 2. Its a 19-0 run for Boston, and a shell shocked Eric Spoelstra calls a timeout. The Ticket Stub has 10 points and 6 rebounds and finally looks like the Glen Davis from the second half of last year.

9:04 Miami is 12/37 from the field so far in the first half, make it 13/37 as Michael Beasley drains a jumper to end the 21-0 run. The Celtics are in the drivers seat now as they lead 46-31. Although, the way that the Celtics have held onto leads this year means that this game is far from over.

9:08 Wade bricks a three, he's 5/9 for 10 points, but really hasn't been that effective. The Celtics are throwing the kitchen sink at him, and it's working. I mean, c'mon, would you be scared of Wade kicking it out to the likes of Mario Chalmers or Carlos Arroyo? I didn't think so. And that's why D-Wade is leaving after this year unless Miami brings in someone else.

9:10 The teams head into the locker room with Boston leading 49-33. Glen "The Ticket Stub" Davis leads all scorers with 14 points. Davis has also added 6 boards. Meanwhile Rasheed Wallace has been in the game for 7 minutes. His +/- is -11. NEGATIVE FREAKING ELEVEN! And the Celtics have a 16 point lead! He's so sensationally bad I'm speechless. Also, the Celtics out rebounded Miami 29-15. I don't think I realized how bad the Heat were until this game. With the exception of Wade, the rest of the team is shooting 9/32 (23%). Right now Bulls and Knicks fans are salivating. There's no way that Wade stays in Miami after the season. Also, whatever Jermaine O'Neal took before the game must have worn off. He's 1/8 from the field and has gone back to being a zombie with shot knees.

9:27 Quick side note: Charles Barkley might just be the funniest man alive.

9:32 And we're underway here in the second half. Clark Kellogg just said that Dwayne Wade's 9 shot attempts were not enough. And while I agree with him, it's not Wade's fault that nobody on the team can hit uncontested jumpers.

9:36 Davis is fouled on a transition layup. He's 9-10 from the line tonight. I don't think I can emphasize enough how great he's been (and how awful Rasheed has been)

9:39 And now Davis drains a 20 footer. Big Baby has 17 points. Kevin Garnett who? Timeout Miami, with the score 56-37.

9:41 I absolutely love those NBA Playoffs commercials where they play little sound clips from press conferences to a beat (that's my focus focus focus). Pretty awesome stuff.

9:44 Ray Allen drains back to back treyballs, and it's 62-37! Another timeout by Miami! Allen has 16 points on 6-8 shooting. The Celtics' championship defense looks like it's back, although I can't decide whether the C's are playing that good defense or if Miami just sucks. Probably a combination of both.

9:51 Boston is on a 18-0 run, and they now lead by 32. I still cant believe how well Glen Davis is playing (he's posting a 21 point and 7 'bound night). Ray Ray has picked up the slack and is 5/6 from downtown with 19 points.

9:54 Make that 6/7.

9:58 Wade hits a three to give him 18 points on the night. He's the only Heat player in double figures. Hear that? That's the sound of Wade selling his house in Miami after the game.

10:00 I wish I could put a price tag on Erik Spoelstra's face right now, but I can't. There really are some things that money can't buy.

10:02 Allen hits ANOTHER shot from deep. He's 7/8 and I'm pretty sure he's made 6 in a row, but I lost count. I think it's safe to say he's in the discussion for greatest shooter of all time. He has 17 points in the 3rd quarter alone.

10:04 Wade slams home a putback off a rebound to make it 84-59. He's heating up, but it's way too little, way too late. In other news, the Red Sox are losing (again) 6-4 at home to Texas. Apparently they have allowed 8 walks and 9 steals. I will now light myself on fire.

10:10 The buzzer sounds and at the end of three quarters, the Celtics have a 26 point lead. I think it's safe to say that this one's juuuust about wrapped up. Of course, whenever I say things like that I jinx the team, so I'm going to keep my mouth shut until this one's really over. Rondo has only 5 points, but he also has 11 assists and 6 rebounds, and has controlled the tempo of the game.

10:14 Darnell McDonald smokes one over the monster and the Red Sox have tied the game at 6! Now I have just one question. Who the hell is Darnell McDonald?

10:17 RONDO FOR THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has 8 points now. No, I don't know why I'm so excited.

10:21 TNT is showing the Suns-Blazers game (I don't blame them), so I've been forced to switch to ComcastSportsNet. It's Tommy Heinsohn time!

10:23 Erik Spoelstra still looks dazed and confused, like someone just took a crap in a brown paper bag, lit the bag on fire, and left it on his front doorstep.

10:24 Sheed lets a routine pass slip right through his fingers, then Tony Allen stole the pass in transition, then missed a wide open layup. Ladies and gentlemen, my two least favorite Celtics players!

10:27 All the Celtics starters are out now, which means its time for Nate Robinson and Michael Finley to close this one out. Gotta love them NBA blowouts. Celtics lead this one 99-66 with 5:52 left to go.

10:30 Surprising stat of the night: Kendrick Perkins has a game high +/- rating of +43. That's a pretty impressive number. (In case you were wondering, plus/minus is my favorite non-traditional basketball stat). Also, the Celtics have out rebounded Miami 46-24.

10:32 SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED........misses the three (his +/- is still -11). Beasley hits a three to join Chalmers and Wade as the only Heat players in double figures. Wade has more points (29) than Chalmers and Beasley combined.

10:41 The final horn sounds, with the final score being Celtics 106, Heat 77. Apparently Boston heard my mini-rant at the end of the first quarter, as they closed out on the shooters (Miami shot only 38 %) and Ray Allen shot the ball, and shot it well (25 points on 9/13 shooting, including 7/9 from beyond the arc). Glen Davis filled in nicely for KG, providing 23 points and 8 rebounds, as well as countless high energy plays.

So what does this dominating win mean for the Celtics? Nothing, other than giving them a 2-0 series lead and some confidence heading to Miami. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if the Celtics come out flat in Game 3. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if they won handily in Game 3. I honestly couldn't tell you anything about what's going to happen in the next game (other than Rasheed Wallace will suck, you can be sure of that one). This season has just been too unpredictable. But one thing is for sure: If the Celtics can bring this kind of defensive intensity and energy like they have in the first two games in this series to the rest of the postseason, then they they can beat anyone this year. Even Cleveland.


(Oh and the Red Sox won 7-6 on a walk-off hit by that Darnell McDonald guy. Things are looking up.)

Oh, The Possiblities!

"Anything is possible". Every Boston Celtics fan knows what that means. Its quote of the 2007 Championship won by those Celtics. Lead by the second coming of "The Big Three", the Celtics won their 17 NBA title. The season before was one to forget. With the second worst record in NBA in 2006, the Celtics were poised to win either the 1st or 2nd overall pick in the upcoming draft. To save any Celtics fans from that feeling of missing something in their heart, I'll stop there. Yeah, I know, it still hurts. Now, lets say the Celtics never traded for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. I know that trying to play the "what if" game isn't really fun, but just think. KG could have used his "get out of jail" free card and not come to the Celtics. Same with Ray Ray. Hey, we could still be that awful team from '06 still. Based on my expert analysis and bold predictions, here what could of happened in the 2007 season.



2007 season. The Celtics did draft Jeff Green, but he was traded. Lets say he stays with us, because no deal is made for Ray Allen. Also, the Celtics would still have Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West. Both were kind of already on there way out so lets say one leaves. I would say Wally is out, due to under performance, even though West isn't too far behind. West stays for '07. This trade also means no Glen Davis, who is a decent player now. But the Celtics do get Jeff Green. Green has a lot more upside than Davis, so it works out in that regard. Now for the big trade. KG stays in Minnesota (or goes to L.A. like I thought he would before) and the Celtics keep all those picks. The Celtics would also still have Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and promising talent of Gerald Green . I still think Gomes and Telfair were going to be traded or released so lets eliminate them from the team. So from my estimation, here's what the team's starting lineup would have looked like:

PG-Rajon Rondo

SG-Gerald Green

SF-Paul Pierce

PF-Jeff Green

C-Kendrick Perkins

6th man-Delonte West

Not bad. Not good. Decent is appropriate here. I would say Doc Rivers would go crazy during this season and he would be fired. Not his fault at all. I just think Doc isn't a great coach, he just has three veteran players around him that really "coach" the team. But I really think Doc would have been fired without the trade for the big three. There's 2007 without the Big Three. I don't know about you but I think I'm happy the way 2007 turned out. Even if we are paying for it now (and possibly till KG's contract is up). Let's just enjoy the three years of misery...I mean of hopeful possibilities for these Celtics.

Magic and Bird, the Great Debate

The other day my buddy Ryan Cahill asked me a very interesting question: If you had to choose between Larry Bird or Magic Johnson which one you want to build the team around? He also asked how many rings would they have won if they had played together for their entire careers. Let's tackle the first question to start because, lets face it, it's waaaay more complex and I have nothing else to do except break down one of the greatest player matchups of all time. And to answer your question, no I don't have a life. Moving on...


QUESTION 1: If you had to choose between Larry Bird or Magic Johnson, which one you want to build a team around?



Okay, this was a vague question, so I asked Ryan (who my friends and I call "The Wizard" for his basketball exploits...it's a long story) to make it a little clearer. We decided that it wouldn't be over the course of their careers, but instead at their respective peaks. Now that makes the question even tougher. Had it been "If you had to build a team around Magic or Larry's whole career knowing how it would turn out, who would you choose?" I probably would have to take Magic. I know, I know, I just committed Celtics heresy, but I'll repent later. Magic would be the pick in that scenario, simply because his body didn't give out like Bird's did. Both players had terrific careers, and Larry Legend definitely had the upper hand from 1980-1986. But back and leg injuries derailed Bird and gave Magic the opportunity to surge past him. The deciding factor for me was that you could still win a championship with Magic from 1980-86 when Bird was the consensus better player (the Lakers proved this by winning in 1980, 1982 and 1985), but you weren't winning a championship with Bird and his back problems from '88-'92 when Magic was the better player.

Now for the tougher matter. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, Magic's longevity as well as a 5 to 3 championship edge gives him the slight edge over Bird in terms of career success. But when talking about the two players at their peaks, the question changes. According to "The Book of Basketball" by Bill Simmons (a fantastic book if you're into the NBA. Bill Simmons is my hero. Okay I'm done now) Larry Bird had a 5 year peak in which he averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. Larry shot 51% from the field, and was a 90% free throw shooter over that stretch. Bird's 4 year playoff peak was equally as impressive. The Legend averaged 24-10-10 in postseason play during that peak. For the record, the book doesn't mention what years Larry peaked at, but I'm assuming its from '83-'87 seasons. During those five seasons Bird was the best player on two championship teams and two runner ups (he could have won another ring in 1987 too if, you know, Len Bias didn't OD on coke and rob the Celtics of continued domination into the '90s. Dammit.) , won three consecutive MVP awards from '84-'86 and was a runner up in 1983, played on the best team ever (the 1986 Boston Celtics), won two Finals MVP trophies ('84 and '86), and made the All-NBA First team five times. If that's not impressive I don't know what is. And that's not to mention that not only was Bird a sensational scorer, but he was a great rebounder, solid defender in his younger days (not so much as he got older and fell apart), and by far the greatest passing forward of all time.

That being said, Magic had an impressive apex himself. According to The Book of Basketball, during Magic's 3 year peak he averaged 22-7-12, and during his two year playoff peak of 19-7-15. Not to mention that he was 6-9 and played freaking POINT GUARD! (Quick tangent: I would kill to have Magic's size and basketball skills. I'm not kidding. I would literally take somebody's life if it meant could play like Magic. Unfortunately I'm 5-11 and white with no leaping ability whatsoever so that ship has probably sailed. Anyways...) Assuming that Magic's peak was from '87-'89, then during those years he won two championships, won 2 MVP awards (and won a third in 1990), won the Finals MVP in 1987, and made three All NBA First teams. I know that list isn't as long as Bird's, but keep in mind that Bird had two more years of being at top form.


So what's the verdict? I would hands down take Bird's peak over Magic's. First of all, it was two years longer, and more impressive statistically. Also, while Magic's career might have been longer, Bird was transcendent before the injuries took their toll. Magic was great, don't get me wrong, but Larry could do everything that Magic could do in his prime, except that Bird was a better scorer and rebounder. Of course, Magic's scoring numbers don't completely reflect his scoring ability since Johnson was the point guard after all, but to say that Larry didn't have the more complete offensive game from '80-'86 is foolish. I mean, the man took a 15 foot jumpshot with his left hand in a playoff game against the Pistons in '88 because he was bored. And he made the shot! There's a reason why he was called the Legend.

QUESTION 2: How many rings would they have won if they had played together for their entire careers?

Now this is easy. If they had played their whole careers on the same team (Would it have happened under any conceivable situation? No. But that's not the point) they would have won at least 10 titles. This is not debatable. In fact, it's more likely that they would have won every single year. Let me put it this way, if you put two of the top 5 players of all time on the court together, in their primes, they would probably win 70 games every year. Forget 72-10. That would be a habit for a team that featured Bird and Magic. The way that those guys played, they could score at will but were also the most unselfish players on the court. The NBA today needs more guys like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. I wish I could have seen them play. Because in the end, it doesn't matter who's the better player, all that matters is that we were fortunate enough to watch them compete at the highest level. If only I was around to see it.

Hometown Discount?

He signed. The most coveted free agent of the 2011 class that never actually hit the market is gone. Locked up by his own team. Joe Mauer is now a Minnesota Twin for the next 8 years. I don't know about you but I think 184 million dollars is a lot. I can guarantee that almost all of us will never see that amount of money in our lives. And they call that a "hometown discount"! I mean come on! A hometown discount that just made Mauer the richest person in Twins history? That, to me, is not a hometown discount. 23 million dollars a year, and we're calling this a hometown discount? Now I know Mauer would of got close to 250 million on the open market, but that is still outrageous. Lets look at some more so called "hometown discounts".

Albert Pujols, baseball's chosen one, was drafted by the Cardinals and is still in that uniform. He signed a seven year, 100 million dollar contract back in 2004. This was another of those so called "hometown discount". I know Pujols is amazing, but when it was signed, it was the richest contract in St. Louis history. So my question is why are we calling these hometown discounts if they are the most money ever given to a player in the teams history. It doesn't make any sense.

Derek Jeter is another "hometown discount". He only got 189 million dollars over 10 years. Yeah, discount my ass. Seriously, that's awful. There is no way you can even say that that is a discount. Of course, the Yankees would be the team to dish out that type of money. I know he was probably worth every penny, but its not a discount.

Okay, so now that I have vented about how ridiculous they are, lets look at real discounts. The contract that Justin Upton just signed this off season is a real hometown discount. It was 6-years 51.25 million dollars. Yeah, its a lot of money, but it is a great deal for the D-backs. Its under 10 million a year. Compare that to the deal Mauer has, and its obvious what the "hometown discount" is. Another good discount is the 6-year deal only guaranteed 17.5 million dollars signed by Evan Longoria. The contract has an option for 3 more years and it can reach a total of 44 million dollars. Nine years, and only around 5 million a year? Now that is a hometown discount! The Rays really lucked out.

I love seeing players stick with the team they have grown up in. I think it is awesome because it shows the loyalty and appreciation of that player for that organization. But I also think that everyone has a price limit. I would take the solid player that is willing to take less money to play for me than the superstar that wants 30 million for 10 years. And this is why I will never be a general manager.

It's Me. Wait, who?

Some of you may know of me. Most don't. I'm Tommy. I am a Boston Sports Fan and have always been. I am a Denver Nuggets fan.....some people say that it is my down fall. I like every sport and will write about every sport. My first article will (should) be up this weekend. Be sure to look at it, it will be amazing. Enjoy the future articles to come.

MLB Preview Time!

Well it's everyone's favorite time of year! Let's face it, who doesn't like to predict the outcome of the Major League Baseball Season? I know I love it. Baseball is maybe the best sport of all time to follow, and it all begins at the beginning. Keep in mind that I put a ton of painstaking research into this preview.....what do you mean don't believe me? Fine suit yourself. Well I don't want to keep you waiting, so here are my picks (predicted 2010 record in parentheses, * denotes playoff team):


AL EAST

1. New York Yankees (99-63)*The defending champs had a busy offseason, acquiring All-Star centerfielder Curtis Granderson from the Tigers and pitcher Javier Vazquez from the Braves. They have an excellent lineup anchored by A-Rod and Mark Teixeira. They have a great rotation with CC Sabathia at the head. And they have the greatest closer of all time in Mariano Rivera. Not to mention they finished 5th in the American League in fielding percentage last season. The thing about the Yankees is that they don't have any glaring weaknesses, and on paper are simply the best team in all of baseball. I will now go for a swim in a vat of boiling water.

2. Boston Red Sox (94-68)*Try not to be a homer, try not to be a homer...Okay, for starters, the Red Sox are an enigma offensively. There are more questions in this lineup than on an episode of Jeopardy. Will Papi produce? What will Adrian Beltre contribute offensively? If Mike Lowell is still on the team by the start of the year, what will his role in the lineup be? Will J.D. Drew spend an extended period of time on the DL with a broken eyelash? And is a mid-season deal for Adrian Gonzalez destined to happen? All are pressing matters. However, if the offense can hold its own and be fairly productive, the starting rotation is shaping up to be brilliant. The Big Three of Josh Beckett, John Lester, and free agent addition John Lackey along with Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield and Dice-K make for possibly the deepest rotation in the game. Oh, and they have Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th. They also shored up the defense by signing Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron to two year deals. If the offense can steadily produce, it should be a good year for the Sox.

3. Tampa Bay Rays (89-73)After the impossible 2008 season that saw them win 97 games and make their first World Series appearance ever, Tampa Bay fell back to earth a bit in 2009. They are a very good team, but how they do this season, as always, depends on how the young guys do. If players like B.J Upton and David Price rebound from their disappointing 2009, then the Rays will almost certainly be in the playoff hunt. But if those guys are inconsistent and struggle, it could be a season that never quite lives up to its potential. The biggest move that the Rays made was the signing of Alfonso Soriano to bolster the relief corps and give them the true closer that they lacked last year. The Rays are a playoff caliber team, but unfortunately they play in the same division as New York and Boston.

4. Baltimore Orioles (74-88)
They have some excellent young positional players such as Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Matt Wieters, but their rotation leaves a lot to be desired. Sure, they brought in Kevin Millwood, but honestly the O's don't have the firepower to contend in this stacked division, at least not this year. I did enjoy the signing of Miguel Tejada though.

5. Toronto Blue Jays (66-96)By trading away Roy Halladay, the Jays officially declared that they were in rebuilding mode. There really isn't anything to get excited about on this roster. There's no ace, no real slugger other than Adam Lind, not much of anything. Jays fans better look to the future, because the present is anything but pleasant.


AL CENTRAL

1. Chicago White Sox (88-74)*Two words: Jake Peavy. What, you forgot about that trade too? You weren't alone. After spending most of 2009 on the DL, Jake is back in action. The White Sox have a deep rotation that features Peavy, Mark Buerhle, Gavin Floyd, and John Danks; as well as one of the better closers in the game in Bobby Jenks (who also possessed the craziest facial hair since Scott Spiezio decided it would be a good idea to dye his soul patch bright red). They might struggle to score runs at times, but I feel like they're the most rounded team in the division.

2. Detroit Tigers (87-75)I have a feeling that Miguel Cabrera is going to have a huge year. Even more massive than his usual .320/30/110 that he puts up year after year. After a 2009 where he hit .324 with 34 homers and 103 RBI, as well was inducted into the Wife Beater Hall Of Fame (along with fellow 2009 inductee Shawne Merriman), I'm predicting huge numbers from Miggy in 2010. As for the rest of the Tiger team, they have an ace in Justin Verlander, but traded away last season's #2 Edwin Jackson. They also dealt away starting center fielder Curtis Granderson. All in all, i just don't see this team making the playoffs this year unless Rick Porcello has a great year and gives them a 1-2 punch at the top of that rotation.

3. Minnesota Twins (86-76)
"Never count out the Twins." That has been the defining quote of this franchise over the past decade. They just seem to scratch and scratch and almost always seem to be in the hunt. They have one of the best 3-4 tandems in all of baseball in Joe Mauer (who is the best left handed hitter in the game) and Justin Morneau (2nd in the majors in RBI since 2006). They also have one of my favorite players, Denard Span, and acquired Orlando Hudson and J.J. Hardy to shore up their middle infield. My biggest problem with this team is that they don't have a true ace, and their rotation seems pedestrian at that. Plus, Joe Nathan is likely out for the year, meaning that Jon Rauch will be closing out games. Watching the 2003 and 2005 seasons that the Red Sox submitted really showed me the importance of a dominant closer. Jon Rauch will have a tough time filling Nathan's shoes.

4. Kansas City Royals (74-88)
The Royals really aren't all that good, but they do have a few young stars to watch in Zach Grienke and Billy Butler. This is also a make or break year for third baseman Alex Gordon, who has yet to live up to his billing coming from the minors. He better rebound quickly from an injury plagued 2009 or else he could be one of the biggest busts in recent memory. All in all, the Royals are getting closer, but are still a ways away from being an actual contender.

5. Cleveland Indians (64-98)Not much could have been more disappointing for Cleveland fans than having to sit through Game One of last year's World Series. Watching Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia face off in the championship in uniforms with the cities "New York" and "Philadelphia" must have been heart-wrenching to watch. And this year, they don't have much to look forward to. Other than Grady Sizemore and prospect Matt Laporta, there's no point in even watching this team this year. Looks like another year in transition for the Indians.


AL WEST

1. Seattle Mariners (92-70)*They might have the best 1-2 combination out of any team at the top of their rotation with Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee. It wouldn't surprise me if King Felix wins the Cy Young this year. The Mariners are also great defensively. If this team does have a weakness, however, it is their offense. They did bring in the super-versatile leadoff man Chone Figgins in the offseason to tag team with Ichiro at the top of the lineup. But who's driving those guys in? Jose Lopez? Franklin Guitierrez? The ghost of Ken Griffey Jr.? I just don't see it. Milton Bradley is the only true threat in this lineup, and he's one of the most unpredictable players in the league (and that's a dramatic understatement). However, the Hernandez/Lee combo is too juicy to pass up. I might be horribly wrong on this one, but my gut tells me I'm right.

2. Texas Rangers (89-73)
Man oh man this team can hit the baseball. Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, and newcomer Vladimir Guerrero should be the main parts of one of the best lineups in the league. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they have the pitching to balance their offense. If you're counting on Scott Feldman to be your ace, and Rich Harden to stay healthy and be your #2, you are going to have pitching issues. Not to mention this team has a habit of fading and fading fast once the calendar turns to August. Texas also has the most coked up manager in the league, for what it's worth. They will contend, but I'm not sure the have the pitching to make it to the post-season.

3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California, USA, on planet Earth (88-74)Like the Twins, this team has the experience but is missing too many parts to win the division. They lost Vlad Guerrero, Chone Figgins, and John Lackey, and replaced them with Hideki Matsui, Brandon Wood, and Joel Pinero. While this is the most balanced team in the division, they are also a team in transition. The lineup is anchored by Kendry Morales, who will have to replicate his MVP caliber season if the Angels are to win this division. Brian Fuentes is "closing" out games this year, but he is treading on thin ice. The Angels should compete, but will fall short this season.

4. Oakland Athletics (63-99)Oh, where to start with this team. The days of Moneyball are long gone. The lineup has little to no pop (or average, for that matter). Come to think of it, they have the worst lineup in the American League. And they don't have nearly the pitching to bail them out. The A's signed Ben Sheets to a one year deal to be the ace. Really? Ben Sheets? The guy has had more elbow injuries than a teenager who has his own laptop with Internet access! (Related side note: Andrew Bailey was just diagnosed with tennis elbow. Highest of high comedy) This could get ugly very quick.


NL EAST

1. Atlanta Braves (95-67)*
I like this team. A lot. To the point where I firmly believe that they will be one of the top 3 teams in the National League. Don't believe me? First, check out their rotation. Derek Lowe, Tim Hudson, and 2009 "Best Name in the Bigs" award winner Jair Jurrjens head one of the deepest rotations in the National League. Plus they have the highly touted Tommy Hanson, who pitched well in his rookie year and should build on that success. Billy Wagner proved that he could still pitch effectively in his stint with the Red Sox last year, and he will be taking over the closing duties. The Braves are no slouch offensively this year either. Nate McClouth has emerged as a solid everyday player. Chipper Jones continues to get even better with age. Brian McCann is possibly the best hitting catcher not named Mauer. They also signed Troy Glaus who will provide them with some pop at first base. And Melky Cabrera is a quality addition. I would be very surprised if they didn't make the playoffs, and I expect a ton of success from Atlanta this season.

2. Philadelphia Phillies (93-69)*The back-to-back defending National League champs return as one of the front runners again in the league. They have basically the same lineup, with the addition of Placido Polanco and his massive head as the only new impact player. The biggest change made in Philadelphia was made early in the offseason when they acquired Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays. While they lost Cliff Lee in the blockbuster trade, I still think they made an upgrade here by bringing in one of the top 5 pitchers of the decade. The rest of their rotation is solid, but the Phillies are counting on Cole Hamels to rebound from a disappointing 2009. The Phillies are returning with a similar roster, and it should translate into more success.

3. New York Mets (80-82)
The Mets made a big splash by signing leftfielder Jason Bay to a 4 year deal. Unfortunately, Citi Field showed a tendency to kill home-runs (just ask David Wright), which is Bay's strongest attribute. The aforementioned David Wright needs to step up his power game, which took a big hit last year. But the success of this team hinges on one player: Johan Santana. If he is healthy, the Mets have a shot. But if he continues to has elbow problems, then it will be another disappointing year in New York.

4. Florida Marlins (78-84)
I don't know how they manage to be somewhat competitve almost every year despite having a $5 payroll, but they do it. Last season the Marlins were right in the thick of things all season long. This year they don't look spectacular on paper (with the exception of Hanley Ramirez, who looks spectacular both on paper and on the field), but you never really can tell. The Marlins will be on the fringe of the playoff race this season.

5. Washington Nationals (62-100)
The Nats were god awful last season. God awful. 103 losses netted them "Baseball Jesus" Stephen Strasburg. Newly acquired catcher Ivan Rodriguez (how the mighty have fallen. This is clearly the baseball gods getting revenge for Rodriguez stealing the AL MVP award from Pedro in 1999) claimed that Strasburg's stuff is "on the level of Nolan Ryan". Washington better hope so, because they really aren't much better than last year.


NL CENTRAL
1. St. Louis Cardinals (94-68)*Without a doubt, they are the best team in this divison. Unless you've been living under a rock the past ten years, you know that the team is built around super-slugger Albert Pujols. The guy is incredible. You can pencil him in for .330/40/120 every single season. The Cards brought back Matt Holliday to give Pujols the protection that he deserves in this lineup. They also have a good rotation headed by Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Carpenter is the key to the season. He needs to stay healthy (something he's had problems with in his career) because when he's not on the DL, he's one of the top 5 righthanded pitchers in the game. The Cards have a good balance of offense and pitching, and should take this division rather easily.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (88-74)Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are quite possibly the best 3/4 combination in all of baseball. Unfortunately, the rest of the team really isn't anything spectacular. Let's face it, any team that signs Greg Zaun to be their starting catcher probably isn't making the playoffs. The rotation does feature some talent in Yovanni Gallardo (who is going to be sensational this season, mark my words). But overall, the Brewers don't really blow me away with anything after Braun and Fielder. Except for Jeff Suppan's contract. Jeff Suppan sucks. I hate that guy.

3. Cincinatti Reds (79-83)
Now that I got my unprovoked shots at Suppan out of the way we can focus on more important things......like Cincinatti's decision to spend $30 million on unproven Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman. Somehow I don't think that is going to turn out too good. Cincy does have a decent rotation with Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, and one of the better closers in baseball in Francisco Cordero, however they just don't have the bats or the depth in their pitching staff to be serious contenders.

4. Chicago Cubs (76-86)
In 2008 the Cubs won 97 games. They are falling fast. And the culprits? Bad contracts that would make even Mike Dunleavy blush. The Soriano signing from a few years back is turning out to be one of the all-time terrible contracts. Zambrano hasn't lived up to his huge deal. And since signing an extension with the Cubs, While the Cubs do have some talent, they just aren't that good. They can't win the division the way they are currently constructed. The curse of the billy goat lives on for another season.

5. Houston Astros (73-89)
Houston has fallen on some tough times. Gone are the days when they were a serious contender in the National League. This is a team rebuilding. Roy Oswalt is on the back 9 of his career, and while they have some stars in Oswalt, Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence, and Carlos Lee, the 'Stros don't have enough of a supporting cast to be any better than a 75 win team at best. But on the bright side, they do have Humberto Quintero. I don't what that means either.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates (61-101)
Reasons to like this team: Andrew McCutchen. Other than that, there's nothing else to really look forward to, with the exception of third base prospect Pedro Alvarez. Pittsburgh has had a total of 17 straight seasons with a losing record. Not even the Detroit Lions have a streak that long. It's really a shame.


NL WEST
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69)*
The Dodgers are definitely the best team in the division. After staving off a late run by the Rockies, LA went to the NLCS where they were defeated by the Phillies (again) and Pedro's jehri curls. While I'm convinced that this is the best all around team in the division, especially if Chad Billingsly can return to his 2008 numbers after a disappointing 2009, I do have a problem with the major moves that they made this offseason. Mainly, there were none. After failing to get past the Phils for a second straight year, Los Angeles reloaded by signing...wait for it...Reed Johnson and Ronnie Belliard. Yeah, I'm just as confused as you are. Fortunately they have enough firepower both hitting and pitching to win this division, but I'm more than worried about the lack of new talent and how well Manny Ramirez does in his first season off the juice.

2. San Fransisco Giants (84-78)
I'm going to ignore the fact that the only offensive threat on this team is Pablo "Kung Fu Panda" Sandoval, and just say that I think that the Giants are a legitimate contender simply because of their pitching staff. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are electric at the top, and they have Jonathan Sanchez (the guy who threw the no hitter last year) and Barry Zito too. But seriously, they did make some adjustments to their lineup, bringing in Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff to add some pop. While they have some great pitching, I just don't think they have enough offense to get them into the postseason this year.

3. Colorado Rockies (81-81)
Colorado captured lightning in a bottle for the second time in three years in 2009, riding the momentum from the firing of manager Clint Hurdle and his orange head to a wild card berth. They are a solid team, but they lack a true ace. While Ubaldo Jimenez has shown flashes, I'm not sure he is really #1 starter material. The biggest problem with this team is that there are just too many question marks, too many "potential (insert role here)". Obviously if everything goes their way the Rockies are a bona fide playoff team, but not everything will go their way.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks (79-83)
The Diamondbacks have some serious questions about Brandon Webb's health. When he's healthy, he's the perfect 1A to Dan Haren's 1. But Webb missed most of last year and still hasn't fully recovered going into this year. Arizona also traded for starter Edwn Jackson who is coming off a career year in Detroit. But the question with this team lies in their lineup. Justin Upton is the best hitter (and the leader of my fantasy team), and Mark Reynolds is a serious power threat, but there are tons of question marks after that. Conor Jackson hasn't progressed as they thought he would. Same with Chris Young. Also, I can't trust Chad Qualls as the closer.

5. San Diego Padres (58-104)
Let's see...they have the worst lineup in the league even with Adrian Gonzalez. They also have the worst pitching staff in the league. The only reason I'm even bothering to write anything about them is because I reaaaaaaaaaaaaaally hope that Gonzalez ends up in a Red Sox uniform by July 31. Also, you can seriously ask the question of just how bad this team will be if they actually end up trading Gonzalez. I feel really bad for new GM Jed Hoyer right now.


Now that I've blown you all away with my rundown of the MLB, I'm going to attempt to boldly go where few have dare to go before: I'm going to predict the postseason without having seen one pitch of the regular season. I know, I know, this is crazy, but someone's gotta do it.

DIV. SERIES

Yankees over White Sox 3-1 (Yanks are most complete team in the bigs)Red Sox over Mariners 3-1 (Mariners aren't nearly as balanced as the Sox)Braves over Cardinals 3-2 (Braves continue strong regular season)
Phillies over Dodgers 3-1 (Dodgers lose to the Phillies again!)

CHAMP. SERIES
Yankees over Red Sox 4-3 (I hate this pick. Let's just not talk about it)
Braves over Phillies 4-3 (In the battle of NL East Titans, Braves come out on top)

WORLD SERIES

Braves over Yankees 4-3 (Only because I hate the Yankees)
WS MVP: JAIR JURRJENS (Just kidding. But not really.)

So there you have it. Your 2010 World Series Champions will be the Atlanta Braves, their first title in 15 years. Wait, why are you laughing? I'm serious! Stop! Fine you'll see! Just you wait.



Seriously it's not that funny.

The Sports Fan Strikes Back

I'm baaaaack!

After nearly a four month hiatus, during which the Patriots exploded (so much for that prediction), the Red Sox entered a "transitional" phase, and the Celtics continue to confuse everyone in the New England area with their inconsistant play, I have returned. And why? Well I'm not sure. But I did have to write a paper for my English class recently, and since I twisted the topic to be sports related, I figured now was the right time. So without further ado, I give you my take on what it takes to make a championship caliber basketball team.

Basketball is a magnificent sport. When played at its highest level, it is beautiful to watch. From elegant passing to high flying slam dunks to graceful post play to swarming defense, basketball can be a spectacular sight to see. Very rarely does a team reach this level of play, but when they do, it spells trouble for the rest of the league (an example of this would be the 1986 Boston Celtics, a team that had superior passing, defense, and scoring ability to everyone else that year). But how does a team reach that basketball nirvana? What pieces must be in place for a team to gel and reach the pinnacle of their abilities as a team? First, you need a star player. Second, you need at least one capable second fiddle. Thirdly, you have to surround those two or three players with role players. If those three criteria are met, you will have yourself a championship-caliber basketball team.

First off, in order to have a championship team, you have to have at least one star player, but no more than two. This is not debatable. Every great team has had at least one go to guy (Michael Jordan of the Bulls of the 90’s and Tim Duncan from the Spurs of the 00’s are two examples) and in some cases, two (Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant of the 2000-04). You need to have a star player because every team needs a player who can lead them on the court by carrying the team on his back when things get rough. Star players change the way the game is played, because they force the opponent to adapt to them and focus on them because if they don’t, he will beat them. A star player on a championship team also must be well rounded. He not only has to be able to score, but be able to stop his opponent from scoring as well. He must also be able to know when to defer to his teammates and make them better. If a superstar is too selfish, the team will go nowhere and will never win it all (*cough* Kobe pre 2009 *cough*).

Secondly, every superhero needs a sidekick. Even Batman had Robin to back him up. In basketball, the superstar of the team can’t do it all by himself (unless the star is LeBron James, who led a team that would have won about twenty games without him to the NBA Finals in 2007). Michael Jordan never would have won without Scottie Pippen and Shaquille O’Neal never would have been able to win three titles with the Lakers without a young Kobe Bryant. Therefore, it is logical to have a talented sidekick or two (preferably two) to help carry the load. This type of player often could be the leading man on his own team, but is the second banana to the star on this team. It’s important that this player knows his role and doesn’t try and undermine the hierarchy of the team, or else there will be an ugly end result both on and off the court. The sidekick (or sidekicks in the ideal case) has to be able to step up if the superstar has an off night. While he or they may not be able to carry a team at a championship level, the team definitely can’t win it all without them.

The third thing you need to do in order to have a transcendent basketball team is to surround the star and his sidekick(s) with solid role players that complement their skills. For example, if your star is an all-world power forward or center (like, say...Tim Duncan), and your sidekick is a gifted perimeter scorer, then it makes sense for you to fill out your starting five with a veteran point guard who can manage the game and make plays when called upon, a good perimeter defender who can give the opposing team’s best outside scorer headaches, and another big man who can rebound and play low post defense. As for the bench role players, it’s important that the team has a deep group with varying talents. The ideal bench usually features a sixth man (a fringe starter who contributes the most minutes of the bench players and can effectively fill in for a short stretch if someone is injured), a good perimeter defender, a lights out shooter, a well-rounded forward or center who can come in and score, rebound, and defend (Leon Powe of the 2008 Celtics was an excellent example of this) and a couple high energy guys who can give your team a spark. When a team has a supporting cast like that, they are very tough to beat.

That is the recipe to building a winning team. You need a superstar player to lead the way, a sidekick or two that will help lighten the load on the star, and role players that fill out the team and complement the more talented players’ abilities. But none of these factors will form a winning team unless they have one specific ingredient: selflessness. No team, no matter how talented they are, can win a championship without sacrificing for the good of the team. Many a team have never lived up to their potential (such as those same Lakers from the beginning of the 2000s; had Kobe and Shaq been able to coexist, they could have won three more titles) because the players couldn’t put the team first. However, if a team follows this guideline, it is guaranteed that they will reach the highest level that they can possibly reach, and at the end of the season they will be crowned a champion.

(Funny, I think I just described the San Antonio Spurs of the 2000's)