St. John's Red Storm Bedevil #3 Duke at Madison Square Garden

Facing their eighth consecutive ranked opponent in a four-week span, the St. John’s Red Storm men’s basketball team (12-8) dug deep to pull out their finest showing of the season.

In front of a sellout crowd of 19,353 at Madison Square Garden Sunday afternoon, the resurgence of the St. John’s basketball program continued with a stunning 93-78 upset of the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils (19-2).

Buoyed by a stifling defense that limited the Blue Devils to 29.6 percent shooting (8-of-27) and forced the ACC powerhouse into committing 11 turnovers, the Red Storm took early control of the game as they proceeded to jump out to a 46-25 lead after the first 20 minutes of action.

St. John’s shot a blistering 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the field in the first half and buried 60 percent (3-of-5) of their three-point shots—exactly the type of start the Red Storm needed to score their third upset of a ranked opponent this year.

The Blue Devils played more to character in the second half, shooting 51.4 percent from the floor and scoring more than twice as many points as they did in the first.

But St. John’s was equal to the task as they shot an even better percentage from the field (59.3 percent) and nailed clutch free throws to consistently keep Duke at bay.

"I thought our team from the outset executed with precision on offense and brought great intensity to the defensive end of the floor," Red Storm first-year head coach Steve Lavin said.

"We were able to maintain a high level of basketball for 40 minutes and that was the difference."

Senior guard Dwight Hardy led five Red Storm players in double figures with 26 points, including senior forward Justin Brownlee, who posted 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Nolan Smith’s 32 points and Kyle Singler’s 20 points paced the Blue Devil contingent, who had no other player score more than seven points in the game.

"It's not an Xs and Os thing today," Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

"I felt we were not ready to compete, we had blank expressions on our faces and guys weren't talking and that's my responsibility. Our program didn't do well today and that is all our responsibilities."

The loss snapped Duke’s string of 20 consecutive victories over non-conference opponents.

With 11 games left in the regular season, including nine games in the Big East and three against ranked opponents, the Red Storm have a long and difficult road ahead if qualifying for their first NCAA Tournament since 2002 is to come to fruition.

However, quality victories over No. 15 Notre Dame, No. 21 Georgetown and most importantly, No. 3 Duke, along with owning the No. 2 strength of schedule in the country, will hold tremendous weight with the Selection Committee if St. John’s ends the season on the bubble.

Nevertheless, as one of the top five recruiting classes prepares to make its way to Queens, it’s safe to say that St. John’s basketball is back with a flourish.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

By RMM with No comments

Fans Run Onto Field During 2011 NFL Pro Bowl

After being away for a season, the NFL Pro Bowl returned to Honolulu, Hawaii and a couple fans decided near the end of the game to get their fifteen seconds of fame.

Nearing the end of the 4th quarter, two fans made a beeline for the field and made it, they were promptly tackled by police officers.

Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett enjoyed the festivities:

By Ben Chew with No comments

X Games Official Gets Wiped Out By Snowmobile

For those of you that didn't know, the 2011 Winter X Games is well underway and sadly for race official, Val Meyer, his X Games stint is over.

During the X Games Snocross final, Meyer was hit by a snowmobile driven by Bobby LePage:



(Courtesy of Zach is God)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Fantasy Drafthelp: Why Tulow is Two

In last week’s edition of our fantasy newsletter, we unveiled our early Top 100 for the 2011 fantasy baseball season. It was unusual in one key regard; more about that below. Many of our draft boards end up being controversial in one way or another, particularly in the placement of players at the very top. In that regard, our 2010 football draft board was actually the exception to the rule in that it had a top five (CJ/Peterson/Rice/MJD/Gore) that was not much different from most others in the industry.

When we differ from many other sources, it’s not because we’re setting out to do so deliberately. Such contrivance is ineffective on the whole. Our approach is simply, to process the available information through the prism of our “value drafting” approach and go wherever that path takes us.

In examining the top of our board, it’s clear where the major point of contention for most fantasy owners would lie. Not only do we buck this year’s pervasive trend of putting Albert Pujols at #1, we’ve bumped him to #3 to make room for Troy Tulowitzki directly after our leader, Hanley Ramirez. Now, we’ve placed Hanley at the top for the past few years, so that’s not a huge surprise. But Tulow at two? Consider his placement on some other leading industry draft boards this year: 4, 4, 5, 6 and 11. Incidentally, while we don’t generally reveal which institutions place which players where, we are making an exception to note that one of the #4 rankings for Tulow came from Matt Berry at ESPN. Inasmuch as Berry has mistaken our past criticism of him for a personal jihad, we do try to point out where we agree with him as well as where we violently disagree – so we give him credit to being relatively close to our position while still not getting there altogether.

There are several valid aspects to why we placed Tulow where we did and why the fact that our brethren have not fallen into line is, frankly, irrelevant:

^ The first and foremost point we would make in our defense is that the shortstop position is historically weak this year in fantasy. As always, power is the key separator at the position – all the more so in this “post-steroid” era – and there are no reliable mashers aside from Hanley and Tulow. You have to go back to the time before the ARod/Nomah/Jeter emergence in the mid-‘90s to find a time when the crop was this fallow.

^ Speaking of how thin the position is, consider this: he has been criticized for periods of injury (2008, 2010) or ineffectiveness (2009). But after the first two months of 2009, he had huge numbers (.326, 27 HR, 76 RBI, 80 R, 16 SB) that look even more eyeball-popping when extrapolated over the whole season (.326, 40 HR, 114 RBI, 120 R, 24 SB). Now take a look at the numbers of his legendary two month-stretch at the end of 2010: .335, 18 HR, 56 RBI, 40 R, 4 SB. Extrapolate those over the course of the full season and you’re looking at the following: .335, 54 HR, 168 RBI, 120 R, 12 SB. For two years in a row, over a prolonged period of play, he has been the best hitter in baseball – again, at a time of absolutely historic power shortage at his position.

^ Last year, we had TT ninth on our board when our peers had him generally slotted from about 15^th to 18^th. Now look at where they’ve put him this year. Advantage, FDH. So if we were right about him then, that lends credence to the thought that we are right again this year.

^ Tulowitzki is 26 years old this year and his upward trend shows that he is in line to keep progressing – and is just one year shy of the “Magic 27” campaign when hitters really come into their own. So decades of science indicate that we haven’t seen the best of him by a longshot.

^ He forms, along with fellow first-round Rockie luminary Carlos Gonzalez, the best 1-2 punch in baseball at this moment.

^ You would worry about many other players getting the security of a long-term contract – but not Troy. He’s no Shawn Kemp, that’s for sure. His intensity is notable in a profession littered with “red-ass” players, so nothing at all should flag in that regard. He knows how great he has a chance to be and he wants to fully live up to the vast potential.

You can tell from the points made here that our reasoning is multi-pronged, and although we have enumerated just how much we consider Tulow to be a special talent at just the right point of his career ascent, our biggest issue comes back to positional scarcity. If you own Hanley or Tulow, you possess an asset in a reliable power-hitting shortstop that only one other team in your league also has. To extrapolate on this a bit further, in AL-only leagues this year, you shouldn’t draft or bid high on ANY shortstop inasmuch as there is no real point of separation in the field between the top players. But in mixed leagues, you can’t go wrong with either of the shortstops from the teams added to MLB in the 1993 expansion.

By Rick Morris with No comments

New York Mets Agree to Terms with R.A. Dickey on Two-Year Deal

When a baseball franchise signs a 36-year-old pitcher who has a career record of 33-37 with a 4.70 ERA, it usually doesn’t qualify as making noise in the offseason. But, relatively speaking, this is the second-biggest splash the New York Mets have made since the end of last season.

According to a source privy to the negotiations, the Mets avoided salary arbitration with right-handed knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey by agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with a club option for a third year. The deal is pending a physical scheduled for Monday.

Dickey, an eight-year MLB veteran, filed an arbitration request to earn $4.7 million during the 2011 season, with the organization countering at $3.35 million, prior to coming to terms.

After being called up from Triple-A Buffalo nearly two months into the 2010 season, Dickey went on to have the best season of his career, posting highs in wins (11), ERA (2.84), strikeouts (104), starts (26), complete games (two), innings pitched (174.1), opponents’ batting average (.251) and WHIP (1.19).

In addition, among Mets starters, Dickey finished first in ERA, tied for second in wins (Johan Santana), and second in quality starts (19).

So, in a brutal New York winter, where the Mets have made non-descriptive transactions such as the signings of catcher Ronny Paulino, second baseman Russ Adams, left fielder Scott Hairston, and pitcher Boof Bonser, Dickey’s return to the starting rotation is one of the team’s best offseason moves to date.

Thus far, the Mets’ top move was agreeing to terms with Mike Pelfrey, the team’s best starting pitcher last season, to a one-year, $3.925 million contract to circumvent the arbitration process.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

By RMM with No comments

New York Knicks' Amar'e Stoudemire Among Starters for NBA All-Star Game

When the 60th NBA All-Star Game is played at the Staples Center on Feb. 20, Big Apple hoop fans will be treated to the sight of Amar’e Stoudemire being on the floor for the opening tip.

Barring injury, Stoudemire, the fifth leading vote-getter in the Eastern Conference, is slated to become the first New York Knicks player to start an All-Star Game in nearly two decades.

Since signing as a free agent last summer, Stoudemire has infused new life into a franchise that was once regarded as the laughingstock of the league.

This season, Stoudemire is averaging a career-high 26.1 points per game, second only to Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant. Most importantly, though, Stoudemire has the Knicks poised to make the playoffs for the first time in six years.

Surprisingly, given the franchise’s rich history, Stoudemire is just the fifth Knick selected to be an All-Star starter since fans began voting in 1974. The last Knickerbocker to start was Patrick Ewing in 1992. The Hall of Famer was elected again five years later, but couldn’t play due to injury.

Stoudemire will join Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Dwight Howard to complete the Eastern Conference starting lineup.

The players voted onto the Western Conference starting roster included Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Yao Ming.

Sidelined for the rest of the season after playing only five games, Ming will be replaced by a player of NBA Commissioner David Stern's choosing.

The All-Star reserves will be selected by the 30 NBA head coaches, who must vote for seven players within their conference, including two guards, two forwards, a center and two players regardless of position. Coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their team.

If a player is unable to participate in the All-Star Game, Commissioner Stern will select a replacement. The reserves will be announced February 3 on TNT.

Notes

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers was the overall leading vote getter.

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic was the leading vote getter in the Eastern Conference.

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, who received over two million votes apiece, will be playing their first All-Star Game as teammates.


Eastern Conference All-Star starters

Derrick Rose (G) – Chicago Bulls

Dwyane Wade (G) – Miami Heat

LeBron James (F) – Miami Heat

Amar’e Stoudemire (F) – New York Knicks

Dwight Howard (C) – Orlando Magic


Western Conference All-Star starters

Chris Paul (G) – New Orleans Hornets

Kobe Bryant (G) – Los Angeles Lakers

Carmelo Anthony (F) – Denver Nuggets

Kevin Durant (F) – Oklahoma City Thunder

Yao Ming (C) – Houston Rockets


2011 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING

EASTERN CONFERENCE

FORWARDS: LeBron James (Mia) 2,053,011; Amar'e Stoudemire (NYK) 1,674,995; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,407,601; Paul Pierce (Bos) 804,838; Chris Bosh (Mia) 571,734; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 504,610; Danilo Gallinari (NYK) 390,658; Josh Smith (Atl) 387,843; Luol Deng (Chi) 291,118; Danny Granger (Ind) 279,522.

GUARDS: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 2,048,175; Derrick Rose (Chi) 1,914,996; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 1,587,297; Ray Allen (Bos) 890,951; Raymond Felton (NYK) 397,301; John Wall (Was) 337,368; Gilbert Arenas (Orl) 312,903; Brandon Jennings (Mil) 301,225; Jamal Crawford (Atl) 246,130, Joe Johnson (Atl) 224,571.

CENTERS: Dwight Howard (Orl) 2,099,204; Shaquille O'Neal (Bos) 906,284; Joakim Noah (Chi) 432,127; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 301,896; Al Horford (Atl) 287,083; Roy Hibbert (Ind) 250,614; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 215,123; Brook Lopez (NJ) 166,844; JaVale McGee (Was) 146,474; Ben Wallace (Det) 113,443.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

FORWARDS: Kevin Durant (OKC) 1,736,728; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 1,299,849; Pau Gasol (LAL) 1,100,772; Blake Griffin (LAC) 1,033,646; Tim Duncan (SA) 839,599; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 785,120; Lamar Odom (LAL) 529,854; Kevin Love (Min) 492,173; Luis Scola (Hou) 411,576; Rudy Gay (Mem) 284,021.

GUARDS: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 2,380,016; Chris Paul (NOH) 1,281,591; Manu Ginobili (SA) 748,840; Steve Nash (Pho) 718,934; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 660,244; Deron Williams (Utah) 657,806; Tony Parker (SA) 436,958; Jason Kidd (Dal) 394,793; Monta Ellis (GSW) 390,237; Vince Carter (Pho) 353,143.

CENTERS: Yao Ming (Hou) 1,146,426; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 974,546; Nene (Den) 599,048; Marc Gasol (Mem) 524,932; Emeka Okafor (NOH) 435,218; Brendan Haywood (Dal) 352,811; Marcus Camby (Por) 279,026; Chris Kaman (LAC) 196,268; Andris Biedrins (GSW) 175,547; DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) 152,976.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

By RMM with No comments

Criticism Of Jay Cutler Blowing Out Of Proportion

It’s amazing how the most talked about quarterback after a conference title game comes is from the losing team.

After trouncing the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the playoffs, Jay Cutler was preparing for the biggest game of his life as the Green Bay Packers were headed into Soldier Field for the NFC Championship game.

What started out as an opportunity to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in his career ended up becoming a nightmare that the former Vanderbilt quarterback just can’t wake up from.

After one half of below-par play, Cutler would end up playing only one series in the second half and watched the rest of the game on the sideline as a spectator due to a knee injury.

It wasn’t so much getting hurt that was the problem, but what would come next. Former and current NFL players observing Cutler began shooting comments and negativity at him with the new form of bad mouthing and trash talking in the 21st century: “tweeting”.

According to the Bleacher Report, numerous messages from other NFL players began popping up on the Twitter website aimed at the Bears QB.

Asante Samuel: "If he was on my team I'd be looking at him sideways."

Maurice Jones-Drew: “All I'm saying is that he can finish the game on a hurt knee... I played the whole season on one..."

Darnell Dockett: "If I'm on chicago team jay cutler has to wait till me and the team shower get dressed and leave before he comes in the locker room! #FACT."

The situation has now even balloned to a point that the paparazzi found it necessary to film him walking around in Los Angeles with no limp or walk as if it were a scandal.



The line between playing through injuries and being tough appears to be thin according to those who spoke about Cutler not returning for the rest of the second half. There is an understanding as to why they would say such harsh words when numerous players play hurt and do whatever they can to remain on the field.

Yet, it’s hard to debate the toughness of a player who was sacked twelve more times than the quarterback who ranked second in that category. Despite taking so many shots by the opposition, Cutler only missed one game during the regular season.

So the big question in this whole fiasco: is this issue getting out of hand?

There are several reasons why the negativity circling around Cutler isn’t necessarily valid.

The first reason centers around the reaction from his teammates and those within the Bears organization. While Cutler is the QB of the team, everyone associates Chicago with LB Brian Urlacher. As he goes, so do the Bears, and when he speaks, his words usually resonate with the rest of the squad. So when he chimed in after the game about his quarterback, it’s more substantial in merit than what others tweet.

"Jay was hurt," the linebacker said, according to an ESPN article. "I don't question his toughness. He's tough as hell. He's one of the toughest guys on our football team. He doesn't b****. He doesn't complain when he gets hit. He goes out there and plays his a** off every Sunday. He practices every single day. So, no, we don't question his toughness."

The second part to this issue is the timing. It’s understandable to wonder about an injury when the player isn’t in the locker room getting medical attention or limping noticeably, but to publicly criticize him without any medical assessment is unfair. There should be no reason to bash someone’s durability and heart unless it was diagnosed that he wasn’t hurt or that his injury was so minor that he could have returned.

What about if he actually returned to finish out the game? Prior to the injury, he couldn’t even compile a single scoring drive. How effective could Cutler have been if he played the second half with an injured knee after playing awful at full strength? If he would have returned, third-stringer Caleb Hanie would have never orchestrated two scoring drives and the score might have not have been as close as the 21-14 score the game ended at.

Another concept to consider is the issue of jealousy. Is it possible that there may be a hint of that floating around with the tweets coming from players who weren’t playing in the game? Is it possible that they wish they could have been in the position the 27-year-old quarterback was in with a chance to win and head to the Super Bowl?

That feeling could have heated up as those who lashed out Cutler saw him sitting solemnly on the sidelines watching the game, just as they were. The big difference was that his team was playing in the game, and theirs weren’t.

Regardless of the negativity and why it’s unfair, the fact is that it is easier to kick a man while he is down. It is also extremely sad and disappointing to see all the bad feedback Cutler’s peers have poured upon him. It’s bad enough that he has to deal with losing the game that would have catapulted him into the Super Bowl.

Hopefully one day, Cutler will reach that pinnacle and vindication over all the doubters will be his.

Then, just maybe, he could finally awaken from this nightmare.

By Norcal JW with No comments

New York Knicks Top Forbes List Of NBA's Most Valuable Teams

In the past three years, either Kobe Bryant or LeBron James have taken home the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the National Basketball Association’s MVP, but neither superstar can claim to play for the most valuable team in the league.

According to Forbes.com, the New York Knicks now hold the distinction of being the NBA’s most valuable franchise, supplanting the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

The value of the resurgent Knicks rose from $586 million to $655 million in the past year, an increase of 12 percent. The rise was directly linked to the free-agent signing of Amar’e Stoudemire, who has helped the team earn victories both on court and in the boardroom with sponsors.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Knicks sold out their full season-ticket inventory, while their parent company, Madison Square Garden, Inc., signed a sponsorship deal with JPMorgan Chase that’s worth at least $30 million annually over 10 years.

With superstar forward Carmelo Anthony on his way to the Big Apple and ongoing renovations at the Garden, the Knicks could very well own the top spot for several years to come.

Although the name LeBron James doesn’t appear anywhere on the Knicks’ roster, he drastically impacted the fortunes of two teams when he took his talents to South Beach.

After signing James to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Miami Heat’s worth increased 17 percent—the best percentage rise in the league—to $425 million.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ valuation plummeted 26 percent—the largest decrease—to $355 million.

The average value of a franchise increased one percent to $369 million, down from a peak of $379 million two years ago.

Forbes’ Most Valuable NBA Teams

1. New York Knicks - $655 million

2. Los Angeles Lakers - $643 million

3. Chicago Bulls - $511 million

4. Boston Celtics - $452 million

5. Houston Rockets - $443 million

6. Dallas Mavericks - $438 million

7. Miami Heat - $425 million

8. Phoenix Suns - $411 million

9. San Antonio Spurs - $404 million

10. Toronto Raptors - $399 million

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

By RMM with No comments

When Inbounding Goes Wrong Then Right....

Just when you have thought that you have seen it all in the world of basketball, the below clip comes at you and says, "You haven't seen this yet!".

It comes to us from high school hoops game between Sacopee Valley vs. A.R. Gould, watch what happens off this freak inbounds play:



(Courtesy of The Last Angry Fan)

By Ben Chew with No comments

NBA Future Under A Great Insurance Policy

The NBA sure sounds like an all-state insurance company commercial: meaning that they are in good hands.

For many of the big superstars the league has leaned upon since the mid to late 1990s, it appears there ability is waning. Shaquille O’Neal has played sparingly over the past few years, former high school draft picks Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant are starting to break down, and former franchise stars like Tracy McGrady and Baron Davis are now relegated as role players.

Those players listed above (as well as others who fit that criteria) have been supplanted by the youngsters during their prime, who are now the superstars and marquee names they used to be. The faces of Lebron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade are plastered everywhere when it comes to headlining games and promotions for the league.

Yet, with all the promise of their current talent, the NBA faces the issue (as all sports do) about the next generation and if they can maintain the popularity when your stand out players near the end of their career?

The NBA faced that problem after Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson left, but were lucky that the next line of players picked up where they left off (that group is the one first discussed with headliners like O’Neal, Bryant, and McGrady). Now that torch is passed on to James and his fellow comrades.

So who will be next in line when that group nears the end of their route and need to pass the baton?

Here’s a look at the next line of stars (all 25 years old or younger) in the NBA that have potential to represent the next generation:

Blake Griffin – Forward – Age: 21

It’s the evolution of the big men: Darryl Dawkins to Shawn Kemp to Amar’e Stoudemire to the next one – Blake Griffin.

The top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Griffin was unable to showcase his talents in his inaugural season after he had to sit out with a knee injury. A devastating blow to a Los Angeles Clippers organization known for its bad luck, it actually became a blessing in disguise when the 2010-11 year got under way.

As the season progressed, it has become “the Blake Griffin Show” with the way the former Oklahoma Sooner has been playing. He is the talk of the NBA and fans come out to see his extraordinary combination of strength and quickness. He dunks the ball with such ferocity, that rims appear to quake when he rises up towards them. He also has a strong knack for swallowing up rebounds like a vacuum sucking dirt off the carpet.

He continues to develop his overall game and gives opposing coaches nightmares when they imagine how great of an inside presence he could become.

Monta Ellis – Guard – Age: 25

Sometimes, evolving into the greatness a player could be takes trials, tribulations, and time to reach. When they finally begin to meet that criteria, it is definitely bitter sweet.

Monta Ellis is the epitome of how tough life can be for an NBA player who wants to become elite. After being drafted out of high school as a second round pick in 2005, his career has been like an ocean: sporadic waves that hit highs and lows.

First, he was named the most improved player in his second season, then signed a big multi-year deal to be the face of the Warriors after his third season. He would then get into a moped accident that kept him out for most of his fourth season, and was thrown around in numerous trade talks during his fifth season.

Now in his sixth season, Ellis is finally becoming an all-around player and a leader for the Golden State Warriors. He is the fourth leading scorer in the NBA and is becoming a dangerous shooter from all spots on the court. Match that with his deceptive quickness and his boldness for attacking the rim for a man of his stature, and you’re looking at the rise of one of the best guards in the league.

Kevin Love – Forward/Center – Age: 23

For many of the new, youthful faces that join the NBA, they enter as a high draft pick that usually means playing for a small market and/or an inferior.

Add former UCLA big man Kevin Love to that list. The 23-year-old phenom is one of the best kept secrets in the league primarily because he plays for a franchise that has been in the doldrums of the NBA for years.

That hasn’t stopped the combo forward/center from playing at a lights out level this season. While he’s not the freakish athlete that Griffin is, Love’s toughness and high basketball IQ allows him make the right play and be in the right position all the time. This uncanny ability is the reason he is currently the NBA’s leading rebounder over others with flabbergasting leaping ability like Stoudemire or Dwight Howard.

He’ll probably never win a high jump or a 100-yard dash match, but Love makes the game look easy and will continue to do so in the future.

John Wall – Guard – Age: 20

A dance isn’t the only way the public will know about this young sensation after a few more NBA seasons.

Just on the very of growing up at the young age of 20, John Wall is quietly making the jump from collegiate leader of the Kentucky Wildcats to the savior of the Washington Wizards.

The reason for the silence is mostly attributed to Griffin, who is the hottest rookie that people are talking about this season. Despite that, the speedy point guard is deserving of equal accolade with how his play this season. He’s currently fifth in the league in assists and is completing that task with little support on a rebuilding team.

Along with his vision running the offense, the speed and quickness he possess is remarkably frightening. Sometimes he looks so fast that it seems as if he’ll never be able to stop himself right when he approaches the rim. The problem for those defending him is that he’s so strong and composed, even with that breakneck velocity, he’s always able to score or make a great pass.

After some refining and polishing, Wall won’t be just dancing for the fans, but by every defender in the NBA as well.

There will always be new and promising players that enter American professional sports outlets; it is the NBA, though, that appears to have the edge in the hopeful outlook for the future. There are even current superstars that are extremely young, such as Howard (25), Kevin Durant (22), Derrick Rose (22) and Rajon Rondo (24) that will only get better in time.

The public’s got to feel a great assurance with the future of pro basketball; because like a good neighbor, the NBA will be there.

By Norcal JW with No comments

Top Five Lessons New York Jets Should Have Learned This Season

As the sting from a loss in their second consecutive AFC Championship Game gradually subsides, the New York Jets can look back on the 2010-11 season with a mixture of hope, pride and shame.

Thus, similarly to the proverbial game of life, Gang Green, individually and collectively, can glean a myriad of lessons from the occasions where they failed and succeeded, both as players and as men.

So, the offseason presents a prime opportunity for the Jets to reflect and mature, to become better, not bitter, for the euphoric highs and wretched lows that are part and parcel of a grueling 16-game National Football League schedule.

Therefore, it is imperative that the Jets carefully and introspectively look back on a season that could have easily been lost due to self-inflicted wounds, and move forward with renewed perspective on what it truly means to be a winner.

5. Talk is cheap

From their appearance on HBO’s reality documentary series Hard Knocks to cornerback Antonio Cromartie questioning the manhood of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward prior to the AFC Championship Game, the Jets weren’t bashful about speaking their minds.

And with the addition of established stars in Cromartie, LaDainian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes and Jason Taylor via free agency and trades last year, it was clear the Jets were assembling a team built to win the Super Bowl this season, an observation made known by the team to any and all who would listen.

“Honestly, we’re here for our Super Bowl. If we don’t get there, nothing else matters.” – Kris Jenkins

“Don’t be timid about saying it. That’s your goal. Write it down. Say it. Read it. Talk about it. It’s fine. It’s not false bravado. It’s real, and that’s what we want. I think we have the players to do it.” – Mark Sanchez

“Anything short of the obvious is a disappointment. At the end of the day, to beat the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship or to beat the Saints or Vikings, we have to put it all together. It’s not enough just to have the manpower on paper.” – Braylon Edwards

“This is definitely different than any other year I’ve been in. It’s a true sense of Super Bowl or bust. This team is built for that. It’s been talked about over and over again. Guys understand that.” – Brandon Moore

Ultimately though, for all their braggadocio, the Jets would fall short of punching a ticket to Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium, proving once again that Gang Green’s bark was worse than their bite.

4. Cheaters never win

While in the throes of a two-game losing streak, the Jets became the subject of an NFL investigation for the third time in a three-month span, including the notorious Brett Favre-Jenn Sterger inquest.

During a Week 14 game against the Miami Dolphins, Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi deliberately tripped Dolphins rookie cornerback Nolan Carroll as he was running near the sideline to cover a punt.

In the aftermath of this incident, Alosi issued an immediate apology before being fined $25,000 and indefinitely suspended from the team.

The Jets maintain Alosi acted alone despite player testimony and visual evidence suggesting head coach Rex Ryan and special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff were fully aware Alosi engineered the formation of a wall along the sidelines, leading to the tripping fiasco.

To add insult to injury, the Jets lost the game to their division foes, 10-6, dashing all hopes of winning the AFC East crown.

3. Women should be treated with respect

Prior to the start of the season, the Jets embroiled themselves in controversy when Inés Sainz, a reporter for Mexico’s TV Azteca, became victim to a hostile and unprofessional working environment as she attempted to interview quarterback Mark Sanchez.

In accounts provided by the New York Post, Jets defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman purposely overthrew footballs to players during a drill for defensive backs so that the passes would land near Sainz on the sideline.

This was followed by defensive lineman Jason Taylor, a husband and father of three children, volunteering to take part in the drills even though he isn't part of Thurman’s unit.

Rex Ryan, a husband and father of two sons himself, also got involved when he had Thurman run a pattern near the sideline and intentionally overthrew him in Sainz's direction.

If this wasn’t enough, Sainz was greeted by catcalls and hooting in the Jets locker room at the conclusion of practice to which defensive tackle Kris Jenkins declared, “This is our locker room!” when Sainz was asked if she was OK.

"I die of embarrassment!" Sainz wrote in Spanish on her Twitter account. "I am in the locker room of the Jets waiting for Mark Sanchez while trying not to look to anywhere!"

As a result, the NFL launched an investigation in the wake of a complaint made by the Association of Women in Sports Media against the Jets.

Needless to say, this was inexcusable and egregious behavior from grown men, many of whom are husbands and fathers, including the head coach.

2. Friends don’t let friends drink and drive

Less than two weeks after the Inés Sainz scandal, enigmatic wide receiver Braylon Edwards was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Police officers initially stopped Edwards for excessive tinting on his white Land Rover but Edwards’ bloodshot, watery eyes and the strong smell of alcohol in the vehicle prompted further investigation.


Subsequently, Edwards consented to and failed a breathalyzer examination, where it was determined his blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit, leading to his arrest.

Among the four passengers in Edwards’ vehicle at the time of the arrest were teammates D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Vernon Gholston.

Fortunately, this error in judgment on the part of all three Jets players did not result in anyone getting hurt, but the potential alone should have been reason for pause on the evening in question.

1. The future looks bright

In the past 31 years, the Jets have not enjoyed a more successful two-year run than they have experienced under Rex Ryan, whose résumé now consists of 20 regular season victories, two consecutive playoff appearances, four road playoff victories in six games and two consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances.

And with an aggressive front office committed to making the moves necessary to keep them in title contention, the Jets will be a force to be reckoned with for several years to come.

So, Gang Green does have reason to hold their heads high, especially after they clawed back from a 24-0 deficit against the Steelers to pull to within one touchdown of completing an improbable comeback.

The Jets can learn from this experience, as well as the mistakes they made throughout the season to sabotage themselves.

If they do grow from these trials and tribulations, Rex Ryan will have pulled off his most masterful coaching job yet.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

By RMM with No comments

Ronaldinho Scores Behind the Goal During Practice

During a practice at Flamengo, Ronaldinho proved why he is one of the best goal scorers in the world of international futbol.

Watch this impressive goal he scored during a practice from behind the goal:

By Ben Chew with No comments

The Greatest Miniature Golf Shot Ever

For those of you that don't know, I am a rather well-versed in the world of miniature golf.

The below video might be one of the most impressive shots that I have ever seen since the 1978 Putt-Putt Grand Nationals in Mankato, Minnesota:

By Ben Chew with No comments

New York Knicks Can Build Champion Without Trading For Carmelo Anthony

As reported here, the New York Knicks recently offered a package for Denver Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony that included Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler and a future first-round draft pick.

However, the Nuggets front office declined the proposal, leaving Knicks president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh no other option but to sweeten the deal if Anthony is to don a Knicks jersey this season.

The most obvious question is why the Knicks, or any other NBA team for that matter, would aggressively pursue a trade for the three-time All-Star, who has made it abundantly clear he wants to play in New York when he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

"That's like the ultimate dream at the end of the day," Anthony, a Brooklyn native, said in an interview with ESPN. "Who wouldn't want to go back home to play?”

So the Knicks’ willingness to part with a promising rookie in Fields, the top rebounding guard in the league, and a budding star in Chandler (16.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) to acquire ‘Melo just doesn’t add up.

Wouldn’t it make more sense for the Knicks to sign Anthony as a free agent, to play with Fields and Chandler, as well as Raymond Felton (17.5 ppg, 8.7 apg), Danilo Gallinari (15.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and Amar’e Stoudemire (26.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg)?

The NBA’s precarious labor situation could result in Anthony leaving a significant amount of money on the table in the aforementioned scenario. Nevertheless, playing in the league’s largest media market, Anthony, who’s averaging 23.5 points and eight rebounds per game this season, would more than make up for the difference in endorsements.

If Anthony is willing to sacrifice up-front money for the greater good of his future team, the Knicks could bring another player into the fold to instantly transform New York into championship contenders next season.

With the addition of Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler (9.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.25 blkpg), an unrestricted free agent this summer, New York would have the rebounding and shot-blocking presence that would allow Stoudemire to play a natural power forward.

That said, head coach Mike D’Antoni could potentially roll out a starting rotation comprised of Felton (PG), Fields (SG), Anthony (SF), Stoudemire (PF) and Tyson Chandler (C), with capable reserves in Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas, Bill Walker, Shawne Williams and Ronny Turiaf.

Like the Jackson 5 classic tune declared, it’s as easy as 1-2-3, but the Knicks appear insistent on turning this situation into a complicated algebraic equation.

To reiterate, New York is Anthony’s preferred playing destination, and he’s an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Therefore, since the Knicks have the high ground, why are they in a rush to mortgage their future to bring a superstar into town this season that they can sign in July while keeping the current roster intact?

Mikhail Prokhorov got hip to the game when he broke off negotiations for a blockbuster deal that would have sent ‘Melo to the New Jersey Nets.

When will Donnie Walsh finally wise up and follow suit?

The Nuggets may act like they’re holding all the cards in the Car-Melodrama, but if the Knicks call Denver’s bluff the whole pot will come to the Big Apple, and so will the franchise’s first championship in nearly 40 years.

Do the math.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

By RMM with 4 comments

The Ball That Didn't Bounce During the Australian Open

Over the weekend, the Australian Open had a number of memorable moments which includes the below video.

Before Maria Sharapova's third round match, Sharapova encountered a dead spot on the court.

One of the officials decided to test it out and it provides us with a relatively interesting sequence of events:



(Courtesy of Busted Racquet)

By Ben Chew with No comments

The Brett Favre Parody of The Lebron James Nike Commercial

Previously on Outside the Boxscore, we featured the infamous Lebron James Nike Commercial where he asked us about what should he do.

Well, the below video decided to parody that commercial with Brett Favre as the new individual of note:

By Ben Chew with No comments

The Intruiging Possibilities For Super Bowl XLV

Just how intriguing can this year’s Super Bowl be? Let’s now look at what are some of the match ups and scenarios that could be possibilities after the AFC/NFC championship games end:

Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Two historic franchises could frame the ultimate David and Goliath-type of match up if they have their way in their conference finals.

The Steelers would be the out-right favorite as the stronger team on both sides of the ball that could brew up headaches for the Packers coaching staff. Pittsburgh is a team that has seen it all, done it all, and facing a potent Green Bay offense will not scare their defense.

After playing through two road games though, the Packers could surely enhance their confidence going into the Super Bowl if they could knock off the Bears in Chicago.

Key Match Up: Aaron Rodgers arm vs Troy Polamalu’s Defensive Instincts

Chicago Bears vs Pittsburgh Steelers

If you are a fan of old school football, bone-crunching tackles, and an all out war between two sides, pray that this will be the two teams that come out of championship week successful.

Both teams have strong beliefs that they have the best defense in the league; but can you blame them? They both play in divisions that require top notch, smash mouth hitters on the defensive side of the ball. Toughness is the identity both defenses wear on their sleeves like tattoos.

Yet, despite having the ability to stop their opposition from scoring, putting up points will be more of a problem for both squads. Both are capable of making plays on offense, but that will be a more difficult task to accomplish against the other’s defense. So if you like high scoring and big offensive plays, you better hope this isn’t how the Super Bowl ends up when the dust clears on championship weekend.

Key Match Up: Chicago’s Offense vs Pittsburgh’s Offense

Chicago Bears vs New York Jets

This is quite an intriguing match up for teams whose offenses are like old, rundown cars: sometimes they have trouble starting and often end up stalling towards the end of the ride.

While the Jets defense is not on an elite level as the Bears or Steelers are, their resume during this post season run says otherwise. If you can contain a Colts and Patriots offense (led by Peyton Manning and Tom Brady) from scoring more than your offense that is questionable in terms of when it will show up, then you should have that swagger of feeling elite. Yet, both New England and Indianapolis don’t have defenses like the Bears do.

The key on both sides will be special teams, as each have weapons that can make big splashes in the return game (Devin Hester for Chicago and Antonio Cromartie for New York). Field position will be the ultimate key in a game where both offenses need as much help as possible.

Key Match Up: Chicago Bears Special Teams vs New York Jets Special Teams

Green Bay Packers vs New York Jets

Who wouldn’t want to see these two storied franchises, who combined to win the first three Super Bowls ever played, go up against each other for a title for the first time ever?

This match up would have the most common playing field in terms of talents and strength if these historic teams were to face off against each other. Both have young quarterbacks that are looking to prove they belong in the discussion as elite talents. Their offenses are similar in that they are stronger at one facet of the game (Jets running game and Packers passing ability) than the other (Jets passing game and Packers rushing ability).

Both defenses are exceptional, especially against the pass, but it is the Jets that have the advantage on stopping the ground game than the Packers are. It would also be an intriguing match up on the sidelines with Ryan’s abrasive, boisterous personality against coach Mike McCarthy’s calm, serene demeanor.

Key Matchup: Packers Run Defense vs Jets Run Offense

Anyway you look at it, the potential battles that the Super Bowl may entail is exciting to imagine. Aside from the great match ups, this year’s game or winner could give a refreshing new look for one of the most watched sports events every year. Of the remaining teams, only the Pittsburgh and Chicago are also the only teams of the last four that have played in the game since 2000 (and only the Steelers have won a title since the turn of the new decade).

Intriguing…isn’t it?

By Norcal JW with No comments

An Unexpected Final Four For The 2011 NFL Playoffs

We are inching ever so close to Super Bowl 2011 and just trying to figure out who will play for the Vince Lombardi trophy is puzzling. The NFC and AFC Championship games will feature four teams who many had no belief would make it this far, let alone the playoffs.

Who could have ever seen this coming?

The NFC side will showcase the sixth seed Green Bay Packers, who stormed through Phildelphia and Atlanta, against their division rival and second seeded Chicago Bears, who dismantled Seattle with ease after a first round bye. The boastful New York Jets, who shocked both Indianapolis and New England in their house, will battle the enduring Pittsburgh Steelers, a team fresh off a hard fought victory over the Baltimore Ravens, for the AFC title game.

This is definitely a season where betting on the underdog could churn a hefty pay out. It is stunning to see a playoff picture with notable absences in the playoffs over the past few years (those usuals include New England, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Philadelphia). Even more surprising is how they were all shocked by teams most gave no chance to win.

How could these franchises be just one step away from the professional football title game when they were never in the discussion to reach this far at any point this season?

Let’s look at the 2010 journey for these four squads.


Chicago Bears


Prior to the start of the season: The Bears are like the old, historical pirates that people hear stories about: lost at sea with no compass to direct them, yet somehow they find their destination. It was only five years ago that this team made it to the Super Bowl, only to lose at the hands of Peyton Manning and his Colts. Since then, they have had only one winning season and no playoff appearances. It looked like it would be another season of watching from home with the Vikings loading up again and Green Bay looking ready to take the next step.

During the season: That outlook on the season was very much a skewed according to the Bears. With Cutler’s improvement and a defense that looked like the one from five years ago, the Bears appeared back to their winning ways. They started out hot, winning their first three and taking top billing over the NFC Central, but sputtered a bit as they entered their bye week losing three of four. They would recover to rip off five straight wins and they would lock up the division, as well as the second seed of the playoffs.


Green Bay Packers


Prior to the start of the season: For the cheese heads, it was all about taking down their rivals Minnesota Vikings and their former messiah Brett Favre after they watched him march the Vikes to the 2009 NFC Championship game. Aaron Rodgers finally got a taste of the playoffs in 2009, and he revived faith in an organization that he could begin a new chapter in the Packers history book.

During the season: The franchise and its fans rode that same hope as the Packers would go on to a 6-3 record to start the season. As the year progressed, it was obvious that the Vikings ship was sunk and the only barrier that stood between Green Bay and the division title were the Bears. They would remain neck and neck with Chicago after their bye week, but a Rodgers concussion quickly halted their chance to take over the division. They would win the last game of the season, luckily securing them the final spot in the playoffs.


Pittsburg Steelers


Prior to the season: After winning another title during the 2009 season, the Steelers looked ready to return back to the promise land. With QB Ben Roethlisberger still under center, and defensive beasts Troy Polamalu and James Harrison making big plays, it seemed inevitable. The Ravens would erase those happens after taking the last spot of the playoffs away from them. Then, prior to the start of this season, Roethlisberger was suspended for the first four games of the season and it looked like 2010 had a high probability of replicating the 2009 season.

During the season: Lucky for the Steelers, Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch were able to keep the team afloat with three wins in the four games Roethlisberger was suspended for. After their bye week and Roethlisberger’s activation, the team continued floating higher and higher in the standings. They would go on to win nine of their last twelve games of the season and only trailed behind the Patriots for the best record in the AFC.


New York Jets


Prior to the season: If anyone selected the Jets as one of the participants in the AFC title game in 2009, then give yourself a round of applause. What the achieved that season was miraculous, despite the bellowing from their rambunctious leader Rex Ryan that this team was a Super Bowl contender. That success led to their own reality show, in which those same prophecies that Ryan had been loudly protesting became the moniker of the show. Despite the hype, most felt that his bantering was nothing more than hot air and that the team would not be able to duplicate their overachieving success from 2009.

During the season: Those J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets! would show off early that coach Ryan’s boldness was felt throughout his players. They would start the season 5-1 and looked to finally prove the naysayers wrong in that they were an elite team. Then, after winning four of their next five after their bye week, the Jets would stumble by losing back-to-back games and concerns were raised that QB Mark Sanchez may be starting to choke. They would go on to win two of their last three, eventually capturing the final playoff spot.

It’ll be interesting to see how the final two stages of the season play out and what scenarios will be brought up for the Super Bowl. Both conference championship games will be exciting when they are played out and will produce a participant for the NFL title that no one expected.

Unforeseen endings will most likely be the theme heading into the final game, just as it has been for the first two rounds of this year’s playoffs.

By Norcal JW with No comments

Fantasy Drafthelp: Early Top 100 for Baseball

NOTE: Hanley and Tulow are 1-2 overall based on their extremely disproportionate value at the position, a gaping difference of these two over the field at the position that is unusual in most years.

1 Hanley Ramirez SS

2 Troy Tulowitzki SS

3 Albert Pujols 1B

4 Joey Votto 1B

5 Ryan Braun OF

6 Miguel Cabrera 1B

7 Carlos Gonzalez OF

8 Evan Longoria 3B

9 Josh Hamilton OF

10 Chase Utley 2B

11 Robinson Cano 2B

12 David Wright 3B

13 Matt Kemp OF

14 Adrian Gonzalez 1B

15 Roy Halladay SP

16 Felix Hernandez SP

17 Ryan Howard 1B

18 Matt Holliday OF

19 Ryan Zimmerman 3B

20 Tim Lincecum SP

21 Justin Morneau 1B

22 Buster Posey C

23 Cliff Lee SP

24 Adam Wainwright SP

25 Josh Johnson SP

26 David Price SP

27 Zack Greinke SP

28 Kevin Youkilis 1B

29 Brian McCann C

30 Alex Rodriguez 3B

31 Carl Crawford OF

32 Dan Uggla 2B

33 Clayton Kershaw SP

34 Justin Upton OF

35 Mat Latos SP

36 Tommy Hanson SP

37 Mark Teixeira 1B

38 Nelson Cruz OF

39 Rickie Weeks 2B

40 Dustin Pedroia 2B

41 Ian Kinsler 2B

42 Brandon Phillips 2B

43 Aaron Hill 2B

44 Prince Fielder 1B

45 Carlos Santana C

46 Joakim Soria RP

47 Joe Mauer C

48 Matt Cain SP

49 Jayson Werth OF

50 Shin-Soo Choo OF

51 Mariano Rivera RP

52 Carlos Marmol RP

53 CC Sabathia SP

54 Jered Weaver SP

55 Roy Oswalt SP

56 Victor Martinez C

57 Cole Hamels SP

58 Neftali Perez RP

59 Alex Rios OF

60 Jason Heyward OF

61 Pablo Sandoval 3B

62 Andrew Bailey RP

63 Adrian Beltre 3B

64 Heath Bell RP

65 Mike Napoli C

66 Vladimir Guerrero DH

67 Jay Bruce OF

68 Jose Bautista 3B/OF

69 Francisco Liriano SP

70 Jon Lester SP

71 Yovani Gallardo SP

72 Dan Haren SP

73 Chris Young OF

74 Andre Ethier OF

75 Delmon Young OF

76 Andrew McCutchen OF

77 Justin Verlander SP

78 Aramis Ramirez 3B

79 Hunter Pence OF

80 Jorge Posada C

81 Bobby Abreu OF

82 Jimmy Rollins SS

83 Kendry Morales 1B

84 Alexei Ramirez SS

85 Billy Butler 1B

86 Adam Dunn 1B

87 Chris Carpenter SP

88 Grady Sizemore OF

89 Ted Lilly SP

90 Brett Anderson SP

91 Joe Nathan RP

92 David Ortiz DH

93 Paul Konerko 1B

94 Jose Reyes SS

95 Mark Reynolds 3B

96 Chris Perez RP

97 Madison Bumgarner SP

98 John Lackey SP

99 Johnny Cueto SP

100 Jose Valverde RP

By Rick Morris with No comments

Denver Nuggets Reject Knicks' Offer for Carmelo Anthony

When billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov slammed the door on a blockbuster deal that would have sent Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets, the New York Knicks emerged as the favorites to land the Denver Nuggets superstar small forward.

And Knicks president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh didn’t waste any time in pressing their advantage, as Anthony has publicly expressed that New York is his preferred playing destination.

According to ESPN 1050 Radio, the Knicks offered Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler and a first-round draft pick to the Nuggets for Anthony, who’s averaging 23.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season.

The first-round draft pick the Knicks included in the proposed trade has yet to be acquired, but a rumored deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves for power forward Anthony Randolph is likely to yield the pick New York placed on the bargaining table.

Nevertheless, the Knicks will have to go back to the drawing board, because Denver’s front office rejected the latest offer for their highly sought-after three-time All-Star.

This begs the question of exactly what combination of players and draft picks it will take for New York to consummate a trade with Denver.

Fields, a second-round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, is averaging 10.1 points per game, shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range and leads all guards in rebounding (7.4), opening many eyes around the NBA to his high basketball IQ and willingness to put the team ahead of individual accomplishments.

In his fourth year in the NBA, Chandler is on the cusp of stardom, averaging career highs in points (17.4), rebounds (6.3), blocks (1.40) and three-point shooting percentage (35.3 percent).

As a result, Chandler’s tremendous promise will be a valuable selling point for Donnie Walsh in future negotiations with the Nuggets.

So although the Knicks failed to entice the Nuggets in this round of negotiations, it appears only a matter of time before the Car-Melodrama finally ends and Anthony is playing in front of a capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden, right alongside five-time All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

By RMM with No comments

Kim Clijsters Tells Reporter Todd Woodbridge, "I'm Not Pregnant"

If I have learned anything about the fairer sex is that you never speculate if they are pregnant or not.

Well, tennis reporter Todd Woodbridge decided to do just that when conversing with another female player about Kim Clijsters over text messages.

The only problem is that Kim received knowledge of said messages and let's just say she took it in stride:

By Ben Chew with No comments

New York Jets Must Keep Mark Sanchez Clean in AFC Championship Game

When the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers take the field in the AFC Championship Game, among the main goals for both teams will be to place the opposing quarterback under constant siege and ensure their own signal caller remains as comfortable in the pocket as possible.

In the Divisional Playoffs, the Jets demonstrated how the brilliant execution of this stratagem can alter the outlook of a game from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.

Coming into the playoffs, the New England Patriots ranked second in the AFC (fifth in the NFL) on the New York Life Protection Index, the authoritative measure of a team’s aptitude in pass protection, while Gang Green narrowly finished outside the top five in the conference, coming in at No. 7 (11th in the NFL).

However, the roles were dramatically reversed in the third clash between the heated division rivals last week.

The Patriots defense didn’t register a sack or a single quarterback hit during the entire contest, allowing Mark Sanchez, the Jets’ second-year field general, to enjoy the best game of his young career.

Sanchez tied a franchise single-game postseason record by throwing three touchdown passes, joining Chad Pennington, Joe Namath, Pat Ryan and Vinny Testaverde, and registered a sparkling quarterback rating of 127.3 in guiding the Jets to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.

And Sanchez’s glowing success can primarily be attributed to an offensive line charged with the duty of keeping his uniform squeaky clean, an assignment that has truly been taken to heart in the postseason.

During the regular season, the Jets tied for 4th in the conference in fewest sacks allowed. But in the playoffs, the Jets not only lead the AFC in this category, they rank first in the league.

Surprisingly though, the Patriots offensive line, who were second in the AFC in fewest sacks allowed, was uncharacteristically porous against the Jets, surrendering five sacks and seven quarterback hits.

As a result of an unstable pocket and solid coverage in the secondary, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was never able to get into the rhythm that made him the overwhelming favorite to win the NFL’s MVP Award.

The rest is Jets history.

But the Pittsburgh Steelers will be the Jets’ stiffest challenge to date.

The modern-day Steel Curtain recorded a league-high 48 sacks this season, a key ingredient to an AFC North Division-winning 12-4 campaign.

Pittsburgh’s second-ranked defense sacked opposing quarterbacks 44 times in their 12 wins, an average of 3.67 sacks/game and 91.7 percent of their sack total, while registering only four sacks in their losses.

In addition, the Steelers averaged 4.92 quarterback hits per game in their wins and 3.75 hits per game in four losses.

So, as evidenced, in order for Pittsburgh to be successful, one of their primary goals will be to generate a tremendous amount of pressure on Mark Sanchez, which they failed to do against the Jets (one sack, two quarterback hits) last month in a 22-17 loss.

This is where the Jets must duplicate their success in Indianapolis and New England, a task much easier said than done.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Jets defense tied for fourth in the AFC with 40 sacks, but the Steelers offense was second in the conference in sacks allowed (43) and ranked 26th in the league on the New York Life Protection Index.

But although pass protection isn’t high on the list when gauging Pittsburgh’s success this season, it still doesn’t change the Jets’ defensive goal to make it as long of a day for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at Heinz Field as they made it for Tom Brady in Foxborough.

Essentially, the game will boil down to the battle in the trenches, especially between the Jets offensive line, in concert with their pass protection schemes, and the Steelers defensive line, combined with the blitz packages they will bring to the table.

Who will win?

Any guess is as good as the flip of a coin.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

By RMM with No comments

Blake Griffin Goes Coast To Coast For Poster Dunk

It seems like only a matter of time until Los Angeles Clippers Blake Griffin makes another great play that hits this website.

During last night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he went coast to coast with this impressive dunk:

By Ben Chew with No comments

New York Yankees Turn Brett Favre Into a Dirty Word

With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report in less than a month, free agent Andy Pettitte remains undecided on whether he will pitch another season for the New York Yankees, which has crippled the team’s efforts to round out the starting rotation for 2011.

Prior to succumbing to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series, the Yankees’ top offseason priorities were to lure Cliff Lee to the Bronx and re-sign Pettitte, shortstop Derek Jeter and closer Mariano Rivera.

But plans to hit for the cycle went painfully awry when Cliff Lee signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and the 38-year-old Pettitte balked at returning for a 17th season in the majors, including number 14 with the Yankees.

In the first half of the 2010 season, Pettitte, Major League Baseball’s all-time postseason wins leader (19), went 11-2 with a 2.70 ERA to earn the third All-Star selection of his career.

However, a groin injury limited Pettitte to only four starts after the All-Star break, where he posted a record of 0-1 with an ERA of 7.47.

Nevertheless, after such a strong overall season (11-3, 3.28 ERA), the Yankees were fully prepared to welcome Pettitte back into the fold this year, to the tune of approximately $12-13 million.

Apparently though, the grizzled left-hander, who’s been with the Yankees for five World Series Championships, seems more inclined to quietly ride off into the sunset than to take the mound to pitch another game in pinstripes.

The quandary for New York is that Pettitte has neither committed to pitching at any point during the upcoming season nor filed his retirement papers with MLB, drawing comparisons from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman to another professional athlete notorious for being a central figure in this type of melodrama.

“Being from Texas and having to be in New York for six months out of the year can be hard because he has kids and he’s missing important time with them,” Cashman said at Tuesday’s Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting.

“He’s opting not to play right now but that might change it might not. I told him don’t ‘Brett Favre’ us. You got to be all in and fully dedicated to play. Do I need him? I need him, but I don’t want him to play if his heart’s not in it.”

"Brett Favre" us.

It does sound like a dirty phrase when context is taken into consideration, doesn’t it?

Arguably, Pettitte is already "Brett Favre-ing" the most valuable franchise in baseball today, a position, no innuendo intended, the Yankees have not found themselves in often, if ever, in their storied history.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

By RMM with No comments