That Rather Awesome NFL Draft DJ Steve Porter Remix

With the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft in the books, we can celebrate the fact that we have six more rounds to get through.

The guys over at ESPN Sports Center decided to get DJ Steve Porter to do a little remix of the best soundbytes from ESPN's coverage of the NFL Draft from the past:



(Courtesy of Steelers Depot)

By Ben Chew with No comments

2011 Outside the Boxscore NFL Draft Live Blog - Round 1

As per usual, it's time for another quality Outside the Boxscore liveblog featuring our friends over at Fantasy Draft Help.

So, come on by and grab some popcorn as we analyze the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft and chime in with our usual witty humor:

By Ben Chew with 1 comment

Jack Edwards Rather Confusing Regal Rant

I'm not sure if NESN announcer Jack Edwards has been watching too much coverage of the royal wedding or if he was trying to make an analogy regarding the Boston Bruins moving onto the second round after beating the Montreal Canadiens in seven games.

All I do know is that the below video rant is still entertaining and confusing at the same time:



(Courtesy of Cosby Sweaters)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Alabama Tornado Nearly Hits Brian-Denny Stadium

We would like to send our sincere condolences to our friends in Alabama who dealt with one of the worst tornadoes ever recorded.

The below video comes to us from Tuscaloosa resident Clay Hasenfuss who was filming near Alabama's Brian-Denny Stadium which was nearly hit by the twister:


Tuscaloosa Tornado (4/26/2011) by sportsxbrooks

If you wish to donate to the Red Cross of Alabama, feel free to click this link.

(Courtesy of Sports By Brooks)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Arizona Diamondbacks Front Office "All-Star" Lip Sync

This season, the Major League Baseball All Star Game is in Arizona and the way that the Arizona Diamondbacks creative team and front office wanted to celebrate was to lip-sync to Smash Mouth's hit song, "All Star".

So, enjoy the below video and get your game on:



(Courtesy of Deadspin)

By Ben Chew with No comments

One Half Shapes The Future For Two Franchises

As the buzzer sounded for the end of the first half during the fourth game between Memphis and San Antonio, the Grizzlies players headed into the locker room with a two-point deficit. They understood the ramifications if they were to lose this one; a trip back to Texas with the series tied.

Most teams would buckle under the pressure of trying to pull off a big upset over the top seed, especially when comparing the two franchise’s roster experience in the postseason. The core of San Antonio have been together for nearly a decade and have already accumulated numerous championships in that span, while Memphis has only four players on their roster who have actually played during the playoffs.

With those credentials, the smart bet would be on the Spurs to even up the series and the Grizzlies to falter in the second half.

Unfortunately for Tim Duncan and his pals, Memphis didn’t care about the odds.


In one of the most stunning halves of play in NBA playoff history, Memphis came out swinging by converting countless big shots and swarming San Antonio with shut down defense that created hordes of uncharacteristic turnovers by, arguably, one of the savviest teams in recent memory. Once the middle of the fourth quarter hit and a twenty point deficit stood before them, all Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Richard Jefferson could do was sit on the bench and stare dumbfounded out at the hardwood court before them as their reserves finished up the game.




By the time the horn sounded for the end of the game, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Marc Gasol huddled the rest of their team together for their end game, informal team meeting with their raucous and boisterous home crowd shrieking proudly behind them over their win.

Although both teams will go back to San Antonio no matter what the outcome of game four was, that second half changed the outlook of the series and possibly the future of both franchises.

When the seeding for the playoffs were set, it appeared to be a cakewalk for the Spurs. The Grizzlies were a young team that was missing their best player in Rudy Gay and appeared to have insufficient personnel to take on the deep and experienced number one seed in the Western Conference. Just getting a win would be victory enough for a franchise that entered the 2011 NBA Playoffs without ever winning at home in their postseason history.

Now, Memphis has become the hunter and the Spurs are the defenseless prey hoping to somehow evade their now inevitable demise. The Spurs would be the first top seed to get knocked in the first round by an eighth seed since the Warriors beat the top seeded Mavericks in 2007.


Along with a humiliating first round defeat would be the probability that this is most likely the dynasty’s last round of dominance.

With Duncan’s output declining rapidly at the age of 35 and Ginobili’s body breaking down, another title run after this season appears highly unlikely. Teams like Oklahoma City, Chicago, Miami, and Memphis have core players that are entering the prime of their careers in their mid twenties. It would only be a matter of time before the Spurs would be leap-frogged over by other up-and-coming dynasties.

Along with the aging veterans, there doesn’t appear to be an answer as to who will lead this team back to prominence in the future. Although five of the key players are under the age of 28 (Parker (28), Gary Neal (26), Tiago Splitter (26), George Hill (24), and DeJuan Blair (22), aside from Parker, they are only role players who have nowhere near the pedigree or the potential their elder counterparts had at their age.

To put it blatantly: don’t expect the Spurs to come into the Western Conference as the number one seed anytime soon again.

On the flip side, the second half in game four can be a jumping off point for a possible, future dynasty in Memphis.

If anything, those 24 minutes could be the blueprint for their future. They exemplified a team that would never give up, always work hard, and wouldn’t buy into the hype of playing a higher seed. Those are qualities that are not easy to teach such an adolescent squad and harder to maintain when a team is put in a spot they have never experienced before.

For many franchises with a similar roster to the Grizzlies (they have ten players under the age of 26 and only one player over the age of 30), getting a lead on a veteran team and being one win away from their first playoff series can be the start of something bigger down the road. Even if they somehow lose this series, expect this to be a great learning experience in how to be a contender in future postseasons.

One great example is examining the two number eight seeds from the 2010 Playoffs.

The Chicago Bulls entered the Eastern Conference as the last seed and made the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Their young core never experienced the postseason before and relished every moment of it, even though they were bounced out in five games by Cleveland. They rode last year’s experience to become the overall top seed in the East this season and recently took out Indiana to advance into the second round.

On the other side of the bracket is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were the last team to clinch a Western Conference playoff berth in 2010. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook’s squad was a young team at the time and got their team to the postseason for the first time since they were the Seattle Supersonics in 2005. They pushed the Lakers to six games before they were eventually defeated. Determined to use that series as a building block for their future, they entered the 2011 NBA playoffs as the fourth seed and are now one win away from being a second round team.

Those examples should prove helpful for Memphis as they go forward building a contender.

No matter what happens at the conclusion of this series, the second half of game four will forever live in infamy for both franchises as the turning point in their futures

By Norcal JW with No comments

Rex Ryan's Guest Appearance of CSI: NY

It's been awhile since I have seen an episode of CBS's "CSI: NY" but when Rex Ryan makes an appearance it probably a good idea to tune in.

In this week's episode, Jets head coach Rex Ryan and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum make a special guest appearance as themselves.

Below is your first taste of it:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Ryan Rayburn's Glove Causes Miguel Olivo Home Run

Poor Ryan Rayburn, he is going to be featured on blooper reels across the nation with the below blunder when the Tigers outfielder misjudged a Miguel Olivo fly ball.

Somewhere Jose Canseco is smiling:



(Courtesy of The Victory Formation)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Dancing With The Stars 2011, Week Six: Hines Ward Shower Caps Up!

As we move to week six of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is still alive in the competition and he is pulling out all the stops.

This week, he and his partner Kym Johnson did Viennese Waltz to Boyz II Men classic, "End of The Road":

By Ben Chew with No comments

Stone Cold Steve Austin Rick Rolls Us

Currently, WWE wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin is a reality show host on the USA network for the wrestling reality series, "Tough Enough".

Recently he's been posting videos to his Twitter feed and he decided to bring out the Rick Roll for old times sake:



(Courtesy of Force of Wrestling)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Pro Golfer Ben Crane Is A Dancing Machine!

For those of you who have no idea who professional golfer Ben Crane is, you will remember his name after watching the below video.

Watch as "Ben Crane, PGA golfer" becomes "Ben Crane, Dance Machine":



(Courtesy of With Leather)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Chicago Cubs Fan Tries To Throw Home Run Ball Back, Woman Gets Doused With Beer

Over the weekend, the Chicago Cubs took on the Los Angeles Dodgers and one Chicago Cubs fan was trying to throw a Matt Kemp home run ball back onto the field.

Unfortunately, he didn't see the fan behind him with two full beers as he knocks one of them out and drenches a woman wearing black sunglasses:



(Courtesy of The Big Lead)

By Ben Chew with No comments

NHL Announcer Flubs Boston/Montreal Game 5 Winner

One thing that I do know about play by play announcers is that the job requires you to make sure that you who won the game.

During the end of Boston's epic double overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in game five of their first round playoff series, Versus Dave Strader made a little mistake in declaring who won the game:



(Courtesy of Awful Announcing)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Fantasy Drafthelp: NFL Draft Features

Today, we serialize our just-released PRO FOOTBALL DRAFTOLOGY 2011 – the only guide you need for this week’s NFL Draft. We bring you our draft overview, 2011 rookie class fantasy analysis and first look ahead to the 2012 draft.

2011 NFL Draft Overview

A year after the NFL Draft brought a deep bumper crop of talent into the league, the cruel cyclical nature of star availability comes into focus with the 2011 event (April 28-30 at Radio City Music Hall in New York). With only the defensive line providing a truly overwhelming pool of new pros, this draft will be sufficiently bereft of excitement that it seems fitting that it is being held under the storm clouds of the present lockout. However, teams will be fortunate enough in the sense that the draft will be slightly more impactful than exciting.

Alabama DT Marcel Dareus and UNC DE Robert Quinn head up the incredible D-line class. The depth of the crop is such that players with questions that are minor compared to their talent are sliding down the board. Da’Quan Bowers is having to deal with some doubts about the state of his knee and the fact that Nick Fairley only really dominated for one year means that it might take a little longer than originally anticipated for some team to croon to this Biz Markie impersonator “You got what I need.” Also on defense, LSU CB Patrick Peterson and Texas A&M OLB Von Miller are among the best to come out at their respective positions in the last decade, with Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara joining them in Top 10 worthiness.

Offensively, the only can’t-miss skill position players are both SEC wide receivers, AJ Green of Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama. It’s not certain that another WR will make the first-round cut, just as it is no longer thought for sure that either 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram of Alabama or any other running back will make the Thursday-night trek to the podium symbolizing the top 32. The top QBs, 2011 Heisman winner Cameron Newton of Auburn and Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert, both have very high upsides and accompanying question marks. At all positions on both sides of the ball except the defensive line, early-round bang for the buck is very necessary.

2011 NFL Draft Fantasy Overview

As noted above, impact players at the skill positions are few and far between in this year’s NFL Draft. As such, you may be able to count on one hand the players who will be able to make a serious fantasy impact in their maiden seasons this fall (although fantasy players in keeper leagues will want to check out our feature below on a huge QB/RB/WR rookie crop in 2012).

The two “can’t miss” fantasy selections in this year’s draft are both at the wide receiver position, AJ Green of Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama in that order. However, WR is a rare position for the true #1 fantasy production in a rookie season, so our enthusiasm for them is more of a long-term proposition. TE Kyle Rudolph of Notre Dame is the only one worth mentioning.

None of the QBs most likely to contribute (probably Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert, Auburn’s Cam Newton, Washington’s Jake Locker or Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett in that order) will give much this fall.

RBs who can optimistically be at the #3 level this fall? Mikel Leshoure of Illinois may have the best chance to contribute on most downs due to his speed for his size. Alabama’s Mark Ingram, Virginia Tech’s Ryan Williams and scatback Taiwan Jones of Eastern Washington could also be of moderate use to your fantasy team this year.

First Look Ahead to 2012 NFL Draft

Above, we noted the cyclical nature of the talent pool when it comes to the NFL Draft. Given that this year’s collection of skill position players is fairly abysmal, it should therefore come as no surprise that the 2012 crop could indeed be historic, one of the best ever in terms of the combined QB-RB-WR studs.

If the NFL lockout played a part in scaring some players back into school for another year, teams with high picks will be the ones to reap the rewards one year hence, because there will be many super-skilled franchise players available. At QB, Andrew Luck has to hope that his decision to return to school looks better at that time than Jake Locker’s does now — and it is not off to a promising start with former coach Jim Harbaugh playing the role of Lucy yanking the football away to his Charlie Brown. Nevertheless, Luck leads an amazing class that also (potentially) includes USC’s Matt Barkley and Oklahoma’s Landry Jones. The impact RBs are led by Alabama’s Trent Richardson (with a higher ceiling than former teammate and 2010 Heisman winner Mark Ingram), Oregon’s LaMichael James, Clemson’s Andre Ellington, Arkansas’ Knile Davis and Washington’s Chris Polk. And at WR, South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery leads a group that may one day be regarded with the legendary Class of ‘96 (i.e. Marvin Harrison/Terrell Owens/Keyshawn Johnson/Terry Glenn/Muhsin Muhammad/Joe Horn/Amani Toomer). Those just behind Jeffery include Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd, Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles and Arkansas’ Greg Childs.

Also on offense, TEs Dwayne Allen and Michael Egnew figure to be picked way ahead of anyone at their position in ‘11 and OTs Matt Kalil and Jonathan Martin will be picked very high based on their skills as defenders for Barkley and Luck, respectively.

Defensively, it’s much harder to project who will be rated very highly in 2012, since some of the most physically gifted players still have more to prove on the gridiron this fall. The ones with the best chances to parlay their skills into the top half of the round include DTs Jered Crick of Nebraska and Jerel Worthy of Michigan State, DEs Quinton Coples of UNC, Courtney Upshaw of Alabama and Andre Branch of Clemson, CBs Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama, Janoris Jenkins of Florida and Stephon Gilmore of South Carolina, S Janzen Jackson of Tennessee, ILB Vontaze Burflict of Arizona State and OLB Zach Brown of North Carolina.

By Rick Morris with No comments

Steve Zakuani Breaks His Leg In Brutal Soccer Tackle

During yesteday's MLS match between the Seattle Sounders and the Colorado Rapids, Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani broke his right tibia after being tackled by Colorado's Brian Mullan.

It happened in the first four minutes of play and the video is somewhat hard to watch:



(Courtesy of FootBasket)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Bobby Ryan's Incredible Multiple Deking Goal

During my time in the worldwide blogsphere, I have seen some impressive NHL goals but this one by the Anaheim Ducks Bobby Ryan might rank up their as one of the best.

In game five of their playoff series against the Nashville Predators, Ryan showed that he can deke with the best of them:

By Ben Chew with 1 comment

2011 NFL Schedule Posted; But What Good Is It With No CBA?

The new schedule for the NFL was released to the public recently amidst a crisis period in the league.

What is most intriguing and ironic with the schedule coming out is the fact that no one has a clue as to when the league will actually start. With the league on a temporary freeze as they figure out a new collective bargaining agreement, no teams are allowed to make transactions with other players and franchises or even talk to those currently on their roster. Essentially, the NFL Draft is the only active event going on in football until both sides can come to an agreement.

So with all the silence and standstill of activity, why would posting an NFL schedule have value at this point in the year?

The lockout leaves the league and its followers in the dark as to when an agreement will be reached and football activities will commence. With a schedule now set and a opening game posted for early September, the league may have dug themselves in a deeper hole. If both sides don’t attain an agreement in June, July, or even August; what kind of football will we see if players report in late?

Working out with coaches, specialists, and teams is one way football players can practice and maintain their skill. The problem is that all football players are incredible specimens that have talents most regular people can only replicate in their dreams. Having a less than five second time in a 40-yard dash, throwing a perfect spiral fifty yards downfield to a player running a fly pattern, reading an offense and beating them for an interception, or hitting them so hard that they fumble are not typical human abilities.

Athletes in other sports have talents that are superior to regular people just as the NFL players do, but they have an easier time at keeping themselves in game shape. A hitter can have a pitching machine throw as hard as they want or pitchers can throw virtually anywhere. A basketball player can work on a variety of dribbling, rebounding, passing drills or have someone stand in front of them with a broom up when they shoot.

To put it in other words: simulating real-time football is extremely difficult in comparison to simulating real-time basketball or baseball.

There is no way to manipulate the speed, intensity and magnitude of a football game because of the huge requirement of all 22 players on the field. Being that it is the ultimate team sport, if the lockout extends to the end of summer and the league stands pat on keeping the schedule as it is, expect a very ugly first month or two of football. Training camp and OTAs happen specifically to prepare for the pounding of the football season. Losing or cutting that time for the players will cause a big drop-off in how the year will look early on.

Another issue will be if the lockout marches deeper into the year.

If you are a fan and supporter of the NFL, you may find their most hyped matchups of the year going on early in the season, but will any of those games go on if the lockout rolls through September and October? While the league is keeping an open window of time in case a resolution isn’t reached, there is still a great possibility that those contests will end up being lost and inaccurately advertised.

Refer back to the 1982 NFL season to vision what a shortened season due to a lockout would look like. During that year, a strike began in mid-September and lasted nearly two months with no games being played. When a resolution was reached, football finally kicked off but with only nine games played during the regular season and the playoffs and Super Bowl commencing around the same time as it usually does.

If the current NFL lockout extends to the point that games are lost, don’t expect to see them returning at a later date.

Aside from the problems that come up with a schedule going public and no CBA in place, there can be only one logical reason as to why the NFL would do this: promotion..

The lockout has been on display for the public to witness and players jumping onto various social networks to explain their feelings on the stoppage. The owners and the league have been no where to be seen during this period and very little understanding where they stand on the situation, which has, in turn, given the appearance that they should be garnering more of the blame than the players.

Publishing the schedule helps to give assurance that they will do all they can to make sure that a season will be going as planned. This gives visibility that the league will work alongside the players to make sure that a fair conclusion is reached. Essentially, while all the players are going through the media and internet to voice their hopes and fears, producing a schedule is the league’s own way of voicing their belief to the fans that this conflict is only a minor bump in the road and that the season will go on as designed.

The only of excitement that can be generated with the 2011 schedule is that there is a glimmer of hope that a resolution is not far down the road for the NFL. The public is tired of hearing the accusations shot back and forth between players and owners, and would love nothing more than to know that they can finally get ready for a new football season.

Yet, optimism will only wane as time moves forward; and if the schedule dictates that the first game will start on September 8th, 2011, then the league better find a conclusion to keep their word.

By Norcal JW with No comments

Lebron James Goes Behind The Back And Wade Gets A Slam Dunk

During game three of the Sixers/Heat first round match-up, Lebron James made this rather nifty move to go behind his back and then feed Dwayne Wade for a dunk:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Robot Throws First Pitch At Philadelphia Phillies Game

It's only a matter of time until the robots take over the world and if you are begin to fear that possibility, look away from the below video.

The Philadelphia Phillies invited some University of Pennslyvania students and their robot to throw out the first pitch:



(Courtesy of Fox Sports)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Brian Wilson/Cody Ross Lip-Sync With YouTube Sensation Keenan Cahill

For those of you who don't know who Keenan Cahill is, Cahill has gained YouTube fame for lip-syncing popular music.

Recently, San Francisco Giants Brian Wilson and Cody Ross appeared in one his videos where he lip-syncs to Taio Cruz, "Dynamite":



(Courtesy of SF Gate)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Carrie Underwood Looks On As Husband Mike Fisher Fights

It is no secret that Nashville Predator Mike Fisher is probably not as famous as his paramore, country singer Carrie Underwood.

However, it that relationship provided us with this rather interesting video of Fisher getting into a fight with Underwood looking on:



(Courtesy of NESN Daily Blend)

By Ben Chew with No comments

2011 Dancing With The Stars Week 5 Recap: Sailor Hines

As we move to week 5 of ABC's Dancing With The Stars, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward was looking to make a statement with his version of the Rumba.

I have a sinking suspicion that his teammates will have this one on repeat when he gets to training camp:

By Ben Chew with No comments

TJ Ford Beats the Buzzer With Half Court Heave

Although the Indiana Pacers are down 2-0 in their series with the Chicago Bulls, they have looked impressive to say the least.

Last night, TJ Ford beat the buzzer at the end of the third quarter with this half-court heave:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Speedy Dwayne Wade Gets A Steal and A Slam

So far, the team that looks like the favorite to win it all is the Miami Heat after taking a two-game series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers.

In game two of that series, Dwayne Wade shifted into overdrive with this impressive steal and slam:



Bonus: Here is the Mario Chalmers to Lebron James Alley-Oop also for your viewing pleasure

By Ben Chew with No comments

Sean Avery Breaks Stick While Leaning In During Faceoff

New York Rangers left-winger Sean Avery had a rather embarrassing moment happen yesterday during the Rangers-Capitals game three playoff affair.

During a faceoff, Avery leaned into his stick which promptly decided to break:



(Courtesy of Deadspin)

By Ben Chew with No comments

NASCAR's Aaron's 499 Ends In Photo Finish For Jimmie Johnson

With all the playoff basketball and hockey, you might have forgotten that NASCAR held the Aaron's 499 on Sunday in Talladega.

The race was one of the closest in NASCAR history as Jimmie Johnson won by less than 0.002 seconds with a little assistance with teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.:



(Courtesy of Now Public)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Shannon Brown Put-Back Dunk vs. Hornets

Although the Los Angeles Lakers lost game one of their series against the New Orleans Hornets, Shannon Brown still made the highlight reel.

Late in the 4th quarter, watch this impressive put-back jam off of a Derek Fisher miss:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Fantasy Drafthelp: Early Season Baseball Buy Low, Sell High

BUY LOW

^ John Axford

^ Chris Carpenter

^ Shin-Soo Choo

^ Carl Crawford

^ Cole Hamels

^ Ryan Ludwick

^ Carlos Santana

^ Max Scherzer

^ Jayson Werth

^ Matt Wieters

SELL HIGH

^ Lance Berkman

^ Starlin Castro

^ Sam Fuld

^ Paul Maholm

^ Aaron Harang

^ Matt Harrison

^ Derek Lowe

^ Jose Tabata

^ Mitch Talbot

^ Josh Tomlin

By Rick Morris with No comments

Etan Thomas Gets Invited To Dwight Howard's Block Party

Yesterday, Dwight Howard tied an Orlando Magic playoff record with 48 points in their game one loss against the Atlanta Hawks.

However, Dwight is also known for his defense and sadly for the Hawks Etan Thomas, he showed him an example of it:

By Ben Chew with No comments

2010-11 NBA Playoffs In 3...2…1…Go!

After 82 games of powerful throw downs, hotly contested rivalry battle, and game-winning buzzer beaters, we will be beginning our arrival into our next destination. Those franchises that remain from the regular season melee will be put to the test with only the top notch teams remaining. Some players will be limping into battle with their comrades, while others will be getting ready to join their squads after an injury-plagued stint on the sidelines.

Nevertheless, there is no turning back, as every game is as important as the next. Four wins out of every seven games will advance you forward, but the magic number to be crowned as champions is sixteen.

So get ready everyone. Mark your calendar for the full schedule of games on each day. Get that HD television remote control in your hands and get ready for some high octane tension.

It’s time for this year’s NBA playoffs.

It’s funny to think that the Lakers win over the Celtics in that amazing game seven of the NBA Finals was almost a year ago. Those images of the two teams leaving it all on the Staples Center floor feels as fresh as if it were yesterday.

Yet, happily it is a new post season, which means new memories will be made and history will be written once again.

To quote Mel Gibson and Danny Glover from the film Lethal Weapon 4:

“It’s beautiful!”

This 2010-11 playoffs keeps a few similarities from last year, but contains a few alterations.

The Lakers will defend its title, but they will go in as the second seed and not first like they did one season ago. Chicago acquired the last spot in the Eastern Conference in 2010, but now stands as the leader of the pack with home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Cleveland, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Phoenix, and Utah were the teams from last year who aren’t back in 2011. Replacing them will be New York, Philadelphia, Indiana, New Orleans, and Memphis.

Here’s a look at the first round match ups:

Western Conference

No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs No. 8 Memphis Grizzles

It feels as if the Spurs always enter the playoffs with little admiration. The way they get through each season is like James Bond infiltrating an enemy’s lair; they always appear to complete their mission without making a sound. This year is no different; despite being the top seed in the West, the belief is that they won’t come out as the conference champion.

Memphis will hope that to be true early on. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol will be able to contend with Tim Duncan and the size of the San Antonio front court. Mike Conley will try to keep up with the “energizer bunny” that is Tony Parker. Yet, without Rudy Gay and the disappointment O.J. Mayo has been this season, don’t look for any big shockers in this match up. The Spurs are just too deep for a Grizzlies team that has only three viable options.

Series Prediction: 4-1 Spurs

No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs No. 7 New Orleans Hornets

Everyone will proclaim the Lakers as the favorite coming out of the West, and they are deserving of all the adulation. As back-to-back champions of the league, their player personnel isn’t very different from their first title run in 2009. The only change is that they got deeper as each year progressed. This season, they go into the playoffs with Andrew Bynum down (again) and a few other supporting cast members banged up as well.

Chris Paul will take any opening he has for the upset. He remains the key to what the Hornets do in this series, but it will be a tremendous task to escape the first round without David West at his side. The star point guard will have more weight on his shoulders without his sidekick big man. Even though no player on Los Angeles can contain Paul, the countless parts of the Lakers and the Hornets’ inability to score will be their downfall.

Series Prediction: 4-2 Lakers

No. 3 Dallas Mavericks vs No. 6 Portland Trailblazers

The question whenever the Mavericks prepare for the playoffs is which team will show up? Will it be the team that went to the NBA Finals in 2006 or the team that was stunned by the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors the following year? It’s always an illusion when the Mavericks enter the post-season, mostly because their impressive regular season play disappears as they falter in the playoffs.

They will have the arduous task of trying to knock off the Trailblazers, who is their first opponent in the playoffs. After another season where injuries seemed to get the best of their team, Portland will hope they have enough. If Brandon Roy can magically return to the superstar he once was, that would help in accomplishing the upset. This one will go the distance, with Dallas winning in a thrilling final game at home.

Series Prediction: 4-3 Dallas

No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs No. 5 Denver Nuggets

Aside from the Chicago Bulls, the Thunder are the team that jumped up the polls higher from a year ago. Last season, they entered the playoffs as the last seed and faced off against the Lakers. Now, they are in the top half of the Western Conference and ready to take the next step by advancing in the playoffs. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant will push to make that happen, and now have Kendrick Perkins and his post-season experience on their side.

Denver knows all about being in the playoffs, having been there since 2004. This year is more of a shocker since they sent their team leaders Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the “Big Apple”. After they were sent away, the idea of holding on to a playoff spot seemed impossible with the roster they had. Low and behold, Coach George Karl was able to man the ship and keep them headed in the right direction.

Both franchises have a component that is necessary to be a contender; an extensive group of players that can make an impact. The only difference is that the Nuggets don’t have the superstar to take over a game when the game is on the line. Durant and Westbrook supply that for their team, thus making them the favorite to win this series.

Series Prediction: 4-2 Oklahoma City

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs No. 8 Indiana Pacers

As the biggest improved team in the league, Chicago put themselves in a prime position to take a big step forward. Not since they had Mr. 23 playing for them have the Bulls been this high a seed or even make it past the first round of the playoffs. Derrick Rose has already accomplished one goal, now he will hope to fulfill his team’s second goal of advancing forward. He has all the right parts to make that happen, now that the Bulls are the hardest working team in the league (thanks to Coach Tom Thibodeau).

With all that before them, the Pacers will hope to be like a strong axe cutting down a big, Redwood tree. They have a few guys who can pierce the trunk of Chicago’s core. Danny Granger will have to be out of this world with his game like Neo from the Matrix. A player who can score from all over the court, he’ll have the privilege of having a strong post presence in Roy Hibbert and a floor general in Darren Collison.

Even with those weapons, Indiana will struggle with Chicago’s suffocating defense and Rose will decimate their team on offense. Don’t expect the Pacers to escape with a win.

Series Prediction: 4-0 Chicago

No. 2 Miami Heat vs No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

Probably the team with the most expectations since the start of the season, Miami tumbled early on in being that team of destiny. It looked as if the Heat would not crack the top half of the East and possibly even being a spectator during the playoffs. Then they struck the NBA like lightening striking the atmosphere. Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh bounced back to carry their team to the second seed and a great opportunity to make a run in the post season.

Making a run late in the season to make the playoffs is what the 76ers did as well. No one expected much from Philadelphia and they were never a highly touted team as they clinched a spot in the post-season. A big reason they are not the talk of the town is because of their personnel. No player on their roster averages more than fifteen points per game. If they hope to pull off the upset, it will be because their team can topple the whole Heat roster overall.

The chances of that happening are quite miniscule, so bank on Miami to take this series with ease.

Series Prediction: 4-0 Miami

No. 3 Boston Celtics vs No. 6 New York Knicks

Boston would love nothing more than to repeat their 2010 experience through the Eastern Conference playoffs. They will have their usual mainstays in Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett leading the way for the fourth consecutive year. The biggest bonus will be what they can get from the O’Neals’ in the paint. Both haven’t played a great deal during the regular season and are key to how long they last in the playoffs in 2011.

The Knicks know that their whole season changed when they made the big acquisition of getting Anthony and Billups from Denver. Already equipped with their superstar Amar’e Stoudemire, New York now have multiple options to destroy their competition. While the depth of the team is not what it once was, they are still competent enough to send some shock waves during their first season back in the playoffs.

That first shock wave happens here, as the Knicks will be the first team to shock the playoffs and knock off a favorite.

Series Prediction: 4-2 New York

No. 4 Orlando Magic vs No. 5 Atlanta Hawks

The New York Knicks may have changed their roster significantly, but Orlando had a full makeover done to their whole team. That began with the big trades to start the season that brought over Hedo Turkoglu, Gilbert Arenas, and Jason Richardson. The Magic will hope that perimeter improvement will be a big load off Dwight Howard’s shoulders. Alleviating pressure off their big man will be the only way they march forward during the post-season.

Moving on up in the playoffs is what the Hawks were known for recently. They were heralded as one of the up-and-coming teams that would be a signature in the second and conference final rounds of the post-season. Yet, they have started to descend downward and are now in the bottom half of this year’s brackets. Joe Johnson and Al Horford will do what it takes to push the team back in the right direction.

Atlanta will definitely push hard against Orlando, but they won’t have enough up their sleeve to knock off the Magic.

Series Prediction: 4-3 Orlando

By Norcal JW with No comments

Pro Golfer Kevin Na Cards 16 On Single Hole At Valero Texas Open

Yesterday was the opening round of the 2011 Valero Texas Open and golfer Kevin Na was one under heading into the 9th hole.

Then, Na proceeded to take sixteen strokes until finding the bottom of the cup. If you're thinking, "That has to be a record".

You are right!:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Sidney Crosby Parody Song In Honor Of Rebecca Black's "Friday"

Previously on Outside the Boxscore, we featured a parody music video done by some Vancouver Canucks fans to Cee Lo Green's "Forget You".

Well, someone decided to do a Rebecca Black parody of her song, "Friday" about Penguins star Sidney Crosby.

The real question not answered was, "Which seat would he take?"



(Courtesy of Benstonium)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Vancouver Canucks Fans Parody Cee Lo Green's "Forget You"

As it has been noted in the past, I'm not really a big fan of these fan parody music videos.

However, this one parodying Cee Lo Green "Forget You" by these Vancouver Canucks fans might actual change my mind.

Okay, probably not but still worth a view:



(Courtesy of Deadspin)

By Ben Chew with 1 comment

Dallas Clark's Acting Debut on CBS Criminal Minds

Previously on Outside the Boxscore, we featured Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings appearance on CBS hit drama, "Criminal Minds".

Well, Colts tight end Dallas Clark recently caught the acting bug and was a given a shot to work his magic on Criminal Minds:



(Courtesy of Terez Owens)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Martin St Louis Take Hockey Stick To The Face, Loses Two Teeth

The NHL playoffs officially started last night and Tampa Bay's Martin St Louis lost two teeth.

It happened in the second quarter when he took the stick of Pittsburgh's Zbynek Michalek to the mouth:



According to the St. Petersburgh Times, St Louis had a double root canal surgery following the game.

(Courtesy of Puck Daddy)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Alec Baldwin/John Krasinski Battle Over Red Sox/Yankees In New Era Commercial

The Major League Baseball season is officially about two weeks old but I would be remiss if I didn't post the below New Era commercial featuring actors Alec Baldwin and John Krasinski.

What's it about? C'Mon YANKS AND SOXS!!!!!!:

By Ben Chew with No comments

2011 Dancing With The Sports Stars Week 4 Recap: Sugar Ray's Last Dance

As we move to Week 4 of ABC's Dancing with the Stars for Classical Week, the competition heated up as Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward and his partner Kym Johnson busted out with an impressive paso doble.



Meanwhile, former boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and his partner Anna Trebunskaya decided to change it up with a Waltz:



Sadly for Sugar Ray, he landed in the bottom three and the viewers decided that former boxing champ would not add Dancing With The Stars Champ to his mantle:



However, the one positive for Sugar Ray is that the loss came with the perk of being a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

By Ben Chew with No comments

2010-11 NBA MVP Has Been Kissed By A Rose

When looking back on this season in professional basketball, the exemplary play of one special individual stands out from all his other cohorts. The theme that best defines what he has done this year can be best explained through a lyric from the R&B artist Seal.

“Now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom on the gray.”

While LeBron James and Dwight Howard are bright illuminations this season, the rose that is blooming over those two is none other than the Chicago Bulls’ own Derrick Rose. The former Memphis Tigers star is well on his way to winning his first MVP at the young age of 22.

With his team in cruise control on their way to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Rose is the driving force at getting them there. The trip upwards has been no easy drive for the point guard and his team. Other opponents were regarded as the favorites at the start of the 2010-11 season.

The defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics have one of the deepest lineups in the league and a roster filled with former (and current) All-Stars and MVP winners. There’s the Miami Heat, who were delegated as the team of the future and favorites in the East this year after the off season. The Orlando Magic have a plethora of shooters surrounding the most dominant big man in the game, who causes havoc in the paint on both ends of the court.

Despite all that stood before them, it is the Bulls that are now the toast of the league and Rose deserves to reap the benefits of their 2010-11 success with the highest personal honor in the NBA: the Most Valuable Player award.

What the young point guard has done this season can be classified as incredible, even possibly unheard of given what he has to work with. Although the Bulls were able to nab one of the top free agents during the off season in Carlos Boozer (who, by the way, is having his worst output statistically since 2005-06), this team didn’t have a huge makeover with their player personnel. Aside from a few minor changes with their role players, this is essentially the same team that was the final seed of the Eastern conference with a 41-41 record a year ago.

Now, they are twenty wins better this season and will go into the playoffs with the best record in the East. Those improvements can be attributed to Rose, who has increased his performance and abilities immensely.

Even though the third year player entered the league as a cornerstone that any general manager can build his team around, his skills were still limited and constricted depending upon his point of attack on the court. A ball of fire that can get to any spot on the court with his deceptive quickness and impressive body control, the book on Rose was to keep him on the perimeter because of his inability to hit from three-point range.

In just this season alone, he has made four times as many treys as he has scored in the first two years combined. Such a vast improvement has allowed his game to expand because defenders must now take his range seriously, which creates more space for him to attack the rim.

Although his shooting from behind the arc is the biggest eye-opener this year, it isn’t the only reason why he is such a better player this season. Aside from field goal percentage, Rose’s statistics are up in every major category (assists, steals, blocks, points, free throw percentage). These increases illustrate his willingness to become a better player and leader for his team, which is evident given what he and his team have achieved in 2010-11.

Those achievements should pay off with the point guard hoisting the MVP award, which would be even more amazing due to the history of past winners at his position. Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, and Steve Nash are the only point guards to ever win this award. With basketball being a pre-dominantly big man sport, it’s mind-boggling to see a player with such a small stature take control of the NBA as Rose has this year.

In the end, seeing anyone other than Rose win the MVP would be a slap in the face to him. The idea that someone else can contend with him for the award is laughable and every ballot will most likely have first place next to his name.

Rose has been blossoming all year long, but he’ll be in full bloom when the lights of the United Center shine down on him and he’s hoisting the MVP trophy in front of his fans.

By Norcal JW with No comments

Carson Wiggs Hits 67 Yard Field Goal In Purdue Spring Game

With dreams of autumn in the air, the best thing for the college football fan to settle for is their school's annual spring football game.

Purdue kicker Carson Wiggs decided to show that his leg is ready for the season right now as he hits a 67-yard field goal in Purdue's Black and Gold Game:



(Courtesy of Bleacher Report)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Charlie Davies Penalty Kick Celebration Malfunction

Over the weekend, DC United forward Charlie Davies scored on a penalty kick to grab tie versus Los Angeles Galaxy.

Davies appeared to want to celebrate with the Volkswagen Car that was directly behind the goal.

Only problem for Davies was that the car was locked and then he had to improvise by doing "The Bernie":





(Courtesy of SB Nation DC)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Tom Brady Gets Emotional Thinking About 2000 NFL Draft

Back before Tom Brady was the international man of NFL mystery, he was mystery to most NFL scouts.

Sure, you probably heard the story of how Brady fell to the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft and became a superstar in the NFL today with the New England Patriots. ESPN recently did a project as part of the "Year of the QB" campaign entitled, "The Brady Six" about Tom's progression into the NFL.

Below is the infamous draft day interview and Tom lets the waterworks out a little near the end:



(Courtesy of Flopping Out)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Fantasy Drafthelp: 2011 Stanley Cup Playoff Draft Board

OVERALL

1 Daniel Sedin

2 Alex Ovechkin

3 Claude Giroux

4 Henrik Sedin

5 Dany Heatley

6 Alexander Semin

7 Nicklas Lidstrom

8 Roberto Luongo

9 Henrik Zetterberg

10 Dan Boyle

11 Ryan Kesler

12 Danny Briere

13 Jeff Carter

14 Steven Stamkos

15 Christian Erhoff

LEFT WING

1 Daniel Sedin

2 Alex Ovechkin

3 Alexander Semin

4 Milan Lucic

5 Alexandre Burrows

6 Ville Leino

7 Scott Hartnell

8 Chris Kunitz

9 Ray Whitney

10 Thomas Vanek

11 Sergei Kostitsyn

12 Michael Cammalleri

13 Tyler Ennis

14 Andrei Kostitsyn

15 Ryan Smyth

CENTER

1 Henrik Sedin

2 Henrik Zetterberg

3 Ryan Kesler

4 Danny Briere

5 Jeff Carter

6 Steven Stamkos

7 Pavel Datsyuk

8 Mike Richards

9 Joe Thornton

10 David Krejci

11 Patrick Marleau

12 Jonathan Toews

13 Nicklas Backstrom

14 Patrice Bergeron

15 Anze Kopitar

RIGHT WING

1 Claude Giroux

2 Dany Heatley

3 Johan Franzen

4 Martin St. Louis

5 Patrick Kane

6 Ryan Clowe

7 Corey Perry

8 Marian Gaborik

9 Teemu Selanne

10 Bobby Ryan

11 Mikael Samuelsson

12 Brad Boyes

13 Shane Doan

14 Nathan Horton

15 Jason Pominville

DEFENSE

1 Nicklas Lidstrom

2 Dan Boyle

3 Christian Erhoff

4 Brian Rafalski

5 Zdeno Chara
6 Lubomir Visnovsky

7 Brent Seabrook

8 Tomas Kaberle

9 Duncan Keith

10 Drew Doughty

11 Keith Yandle

12 Dennis Wideman

13 Shea Weber

14 Kris Letang

15 Ryan Suter

GOALIE

1 Roberto Luongo

2 Tim Thomas

3 Jimmy Howard

4 Antti Niemi

5 Marc-Andre Fleury

6 Ilya Bryzgalov

7 Sergei Bobrovsky

8 Ryan Miller

9 Jonathan Quick

10 Michal Neuvirth

11 Pekka Rinne

12 Corey Crawford

13 Carey Price

14 Henrik Lundqvist

15 Dwayne Roloson

By Rick Morris with No comments

Soccer Player Answers Cell Phone During Amateur Match

I'm pretty sure this has happened to most of you during our days, your waiting for an important phone call but it comes at the most inopportune time.

Well, it happened to soccer player Matthias Hilbrands during a amateur match versus Fortuna Veenhusen and he handled it in stride:



(Courtesy of The Huffington Post)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Another NBDL Fight? Another NBDL Fight

In the recent months, the NBDL has gotten a little bit out of control with coaches and players fighting to make it to the NBA, literally.

During a recent game between the Rio Grande Valley Vipers/Springfield Armor, former Villanova star Scottie Reynolds and former Texas star Connor Atchley got into a little fight.

Oh did I say little fight?, I meant full-out brawl:



(Courtesy of College Blab)

By Ben Chew with 2 comments

Tornado Disrupts Youth Soccer Game in China

In my total time of blogging on the Interwebs, I've seen some pretty extraordinary delays happen during sporting events.

The below video might be the most extreme, it occurd during a youth soccer in China when a Tornado/Wind Funnel disrupted play and led spectators running for cover:



(Courtesy of Gawker.TV)

By Ben Chew with No comments

2011 NCAA Championship Game: Highly Anticipated; Disappointing Showcase

First off, congratulations to the University of Connecticut Huskies for winning the NCAA national title. Their run through the tournament was impressive and they were the team that most deserved to cut down the nets at the end of the championship game.

Butler also deserves credit for another incredible push to get to their second consecutive title game. They have accomplished feats in the past two years that most big programs from power conferences could never even come close to reaching. Brad Stevens should be showered with high praises for those nearly impossible accolades.

With all that said, the actual championship game was a total nightmare and UConn was pretty much handed the trophy.

Clearly, the Final Four match ups prior to the title game suited both the Huskies and Bulldogs. When Connecticut faced off against the Kentucky Wildcats, they went up against an opponent whose talent level rivaled their own. The Butler vs VCU game put two Cinderella teams up against each other lead by brilliant coaching and gutsy, hardworking players who all bought into their team’s goal.

After escaping through their games, the final game was set and manifested itself into a hyped up title fight. Kemba Walker leading his squad, who were non-ranked at the start of the season and not viewed as a championship contender, against Matt Howard and his team, who weren’t even considered as a possible challenger last year let alone this season. The game was viewed as two teams of destiny locking up in an epic battle of talent (UConn) vs scrappy play (Butler).

In the end, all we got was a game that was there for the Bulldogs taking, but their lack of skill ended up making them runners up for the second consecutive year.

Here’s what was learned from the NCAA championship game:

1) 2009’s Butler team wins the 2010 Championship against UConn

As this year’s championship game progressed, coach Stevens must have been wishing badly that Gordon Hayward stayed for another season.

It’s just too bad that 2010 brought upon so much exposure for the team and the young star. With two years of remaining eligibility left, Hayward decided that he did all he could for his Bulldogs and declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft.

In an article in the May 2010 issue of Sports Illustrated, the topic of jumping to the pros came up with his family right after Butler’s loss to Duke for the title. His father chimes in “What else is he going to do? Get Butler all the way back to the final…”

Sadly for Stevens, while the quote sounded ridiculous at the time, it would have made all the difference in the world. Their inability to hit shots became the Achilles heel of the team, with the only cure to remedy the situation currently playing for the Utah Jazz.

Aside from possibly Jeremy Lamb, the Huskies would have had no answer for Hayward and his stroke could have given renewed energy for a team that looked desperate to make a bucket. A few shots going in could have made the biggest difference and swung momentum in their favor.

While Hayward was smart for jumping when his stock was at its highest; surely himself, Coach Stevens, and the Butler community must be wondering what might have been if he answered yes to his father’s rhetorical question.

2) If Stevens Wants To Stop Coming In Second, He Should Jump Ship

If Duke, North Carolina, or Michigan State were to make back-to-back appearances to the NCAA championship, pundits would say that it’s because of the program as well as the coaching. A school with such pedigree and recruitment privileges allows high level talent to recycle in consistently, meaning that they are more likely to make deep runs in the tournament year in and year out.

If a mid-major, or a relatively unknown college, were to make consecutive title runs as Butler did, the reason isn’t squarely because of recruiting or the talent they have, it’s because of their coach.

Stevens is a brilliant mind who brings out the best in each of his players. In each of the past two years, he’s pushed his program to the farthest regions of the tournament because they all buy into what he’s selling. Similar to Shaka Smart at VCU, Coach Stevens can get his guys to believe that winning requires each player to do their part and sacrifice personal desires for the good of the team.

Yet, despite maximizing all the talent and uniting his team to buy into his philosophy, he’ll find himself in the same circle down the road if he sticks in Butler.

The 2010 Duke and 2011 UConn teams illustrated that while having a team that plays well together can go a long way, talent is what ultimately puts you over the edge. Butler will be a program that can hang with the big boys, but it will never be one of them.

So what should Stevens do?

Easy, just head to a bigger program.

It will be understandable if Stevens doesn’t move anywhere and continues to try to build his program into a possible powerhouse. Yet, that may take years and it may only happen with one class of kids he brings in rather than consistent regeneration of talent that goes through the big programs each year.

Joining a new program with big exposure would do wonders for the 34-year-old coach. The idea of gaining All-Americans and a highly touted class would make any team an instant contender with Stevens at the helm. His high basketball IQ and ability to mesh his players into a team would be an unbelievable combo with big-time talent.

Stevens will have time to figure out his future and Butler will always be there for him. Yet, at this juncture in his life, the young coach is at a crossroads: stay on at Butler and take a lengthy period of time to possibly build the program into the second coming of Duke or move onward to a new school and become an instant winner?

By Norcal JW with No comments

Dancing With The Stars 2011, Week Three: Hines Ward/Sugar Ray Leonard Get A Little Flavor

As we move to week three of Dancing With The Stars, Sugar Ray Leonard decided to use a little of his boxing skills to win the judges with his paso doble:



Hines Ward and his partner, Kym Johnson do a rather entertaining version of the Samba:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Luther Is Back! - 2011 Edition Of One Shining Moment

After a massive outcry from college basketball fans, CBS decided to reinstate Luther Vandross version of "One Shining Moment" for the NCAA Tournament.

So, grab some popcorn and turn up the bass:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Fantasy Drafthelp: 2011 Fantasy Golf

For the seventh consecutive year, in 2011, we at FantasyDrafthelp.com are conducting a fantasy golf draft as a means of demonstrating to the readers, viewers and listeners of FDH content how to take their enjoyment of golf to the next level with a pool to be enjoyed among friends. As with any sports that we cover, we furnish suggested league guidelines for your convenience. So we'll start with that, then furnish our draft board.

FDH Fantasy Golf Suggested League Guidelines

^ A standard serpentine-style draft serves as the best place to begin. The ideal distribution of talent would be as follows: 5 teams drafted by 7 owners.

^ Because there are only a handful of tournaments that include a cross-section of the world's best golfers, we urge you to use only these events for your league's scoring system. In so doing, the emphasis is kept on the skill level of the golfers as opposed to rewarding those golfers who thrive in the majority of events with the weaker rosters of competitors. This method uses the four major tournaments and the eight "near major" tournaments. These are the events utilized, in the order that they appear on the schedule, with the major tournaments in bold: The Masters (April 4-10), The Players Championship (May 9-15), The Memorial (May 30-June 5), US Open (June 13-19), British Open (July 11-17), WGC Invitational (August 1-7), PGA Championship (August 8-14), The Tour Championship (September 19-25).

^ Scoring for the 4 "near major" tournaments is as follows: 90 points for 1st place, 76 points for 2nd place, 60 points for 3rd place, 50 points for 4th place, 40 points for 5th place, 30 points for 6th place, 26 points for 7th place, 20 points for 8th place, 16 points for 9th place and 10 points for 10th place. These points should be awarded also to the Top 10 finishers in the final Fed Ex Cup standings.

^ Scoring for the 4 major tournaments is as follows: 135 points for 1st place, 114 points for 2nd place, 90 points for 3rd place, 75 points for 4th place, 60 points for 5th place, 45 points for 6th place, 39 points for 7th place, 30 points for 8th place, 24 points for 9th place and 15 points for 10th place.

2011 FDH Fantasy Golf Draft Board

TOP TIER

1 Martin Kaymer

2 Phil Mickelson

3 Tiger Woods

4 Jim Furyk

SECOND TIER

5 Paul Casey

6 Lee Westwood

7 Matt Kuchar

8 Dustin Johnson

9 Graeme McDowell

10 Rory McIlroy

11 Bubba Watson

12 Luke Donald

13 Steve Stricker

14 Hunter Mahan

15 Nick Watney

16 Martin Laird

17 Zach Johnson

18 Ernie Els

19 Retief Goosen

20 Sean O’Hair

21 Padraig Harrington

22 Anthony Kim

23 Adam Scott

THIRD TIER

24 Rickie Fowler

25 Justin Rose

26 Charley Hoffman

27 Ryan Moore

28 Camilo Villegas

29 Mark Wilson

30 Geoff Ogilvy

FOURTH TIER

31 Alvaro Quiros

32 K.J. Choi

33 Miguel Jimenez

34 Vijay Singh

35 Sergio Garcia

36 Thomas Bjorn

37 Robert Allenby

38 Jhonattan Vegas

By Rick Morris with No comments