Thoughts and Headlines 8/22

There's been a lot going on in the sports world lately so here's a few quick thoughts on what's going on.

One More
The USA Mens BBall team is one win away from a gold. The 3 year commitment to the Olympics is one game away from showing it truly payed off. They will take on a Spain team that will be hungry to win gold. In the last Olympics the Spaniards finished undefeated in group play and didn't come away with a medal. Don't expect a big blowout over Spain like the USA did before. This Espana team is hungry and look for them to give the USA a run for their money. I expect them to pack it inside, try to get Dwight Howard into foul trouble early and make Team USA beat them from the outside. Michael Redd could be the X-Factor in this game.

Track and Field
Usain Bolt is just insane. Becoming the first person ever to break both 100 and 200m world records in the same Olympics. His 40 yard dash time translates to 3.53, that is just utter ridiculousness! Put this guy in an Eagles jersey and make him return kickoffs and punts. As long as he can catch, I want to see this guy in the NFL! But anyways, Bolt is just a phenomenal runner, just think he could have shaved .10 seconds off of his 100m time had he not show boated. I guess he doesn't care anyways.

USA Soccer
We know that the Olympic Soccer team was eliminated early, but that wasn't their best team. They were gearing up for a 2010 World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala. They won for the first time in Guatemala since 1988. This USA team just seems like a completely different team outside of it's own borders. The game had some iffy calls both ways and I think Guatemala got robbed on a few plays, but so did the Americans. I was very impressed by USA goalkeeper Tim Howard, he made some spectacular saves and really was a key to their 1-0 win.

MLB approves Instant Replay
The Umpires and league has agreed for instant replay. It will be limited to boundary calls, such as determining whether fly balls were fair or foul, or whether they were Home Runs. I definitely agree with the implementation of instant replay, but it needs to be kept pretty limited. The umps should only refer to replay, unless a manager uses their one challenge (that's if they let them have one challenge), only if they are absolutely unsure of a call. If they believe 100% a HR was a HR, then call it. But if they are unsure then they should go ahead and use it. But the game is already long as it is and replay will definitely prolong it. But as long as it is used minimally, I will be fine with it. But just because we will have instant replay now, doesn't mean we will still get the correct calls 100% of the time.

Olympic Update 8/13

Michael Phelps is a Freak
Michael Phelps cannot be human. Phelps won his 5th gold so far and it is looking like he will indeed break Mark Spitz's record of 7. I truly think he will go 8 for 8 but his biggest challenge could be the 4x100 free relay. The relay is obviously only 25% in Phelps's hands. Phelps isn't as dominant in a 100 free style. A lot of pressure will not only be on Phelps, but his 3 other teammates as well.

Greece awaits the 'Redeem Team'
Remember '06? I am sure most of us do. Greece will give Team USA their biggest test yet. If the US plays like they did against Angola they could easily get knocked off like they did back in 2006 vs. the Greeks. They need Kobe to step up his shooting and their overall outside shooting. The defense is there but they also need to utilize the inside more where Dwight Howard can dominate and give the defense some different looks.

USA Soccer eliminated
The US Soccer team was ousted after losing 2-1 to Nigeria. They played a man down from the 3rd minute on after Michael Orozco was ejected. They did not have had their best team but I was really expecting a better result and effort from the American footballers. I guess I can only hope for a better result in their next big event, the 2010 World Cup.

Spain's Photo
The Spain's Mens BBall team shot a photo with them all using their hands to squint their eyes. Even though they said they didn't mean to offend anyone, I don't get why they did it in the first place? If the Olympics weren't being held in China would they have done it? I doubt it. So I don't really get what the point of the photo was and why would they do it anyways? There has to be something they're not telling us and this happened a day after a heated battle with the Chinese BBall team. Yao Ming and Pau Gasol were going at it all night.

Team USA vs. China Thoughts

The United States cruised over China in it's first Olympic game early Sunday morning.

The USA somewhat got off to a sluggish start, but I guess you could say China got off to a rather 'hot' start. China was making nearly every outside shot in the first half despite Team USA winning 101-70.

The USA's defense looked very good the whole game, pressuring China's guards and making Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian earn their buckets. But as the game wore on that ball pressure got to China and they started making some costly turnovers and mistakes.

The USA finally pulled away in the early going of the second half. They were about average on shooting from the outside but in the second half they were nearly perfect it seemed. Dwayne Wade didn't miss a shot as he was 7-7 from the field and was 5-5 on free-throws.

Lebron lead the way with 18 points and dominated China with his sheer athleticism. His strength was too much for the Chinese to handle.

The USA looked great in the second half. Their defense picked up the intensity even more and that created some ease on the offensive end and got them some easy transition baskets.

They made their outside shots which will be vital if they want to come away with a gold medal.

I really think they need to utilize their inside presence a little more. With teams that play a zone on them they need to work inside out instead of outside in. I think Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh will be able to manhandle just about any other big man out there with their strength and pure talent.

But overall, this was a good test and good warm up game for when they have to face Spain, Greece, and Lithuania. They still get one more game against Angola to help them work some kinks out and get some jitters out of the way.

Go USA!

Come back for our first College Football Conference preview later in the day.

Olympic Men's Basketball Predictions

With the Olympics officially starting today I thought it would be proper to do a post on something about it.

Predicted Order of Finish
Group A
1. Argentina
2. Lithuania
3. Australia
4. Russia
5. Croatia
6. Iran

Argentina is just too much to handle with 4 NBA stars in Manu Ginobli, Luis Scola, Fabricio Oberto, and Andres Nocionoi. The Argentines have the size and shooting ability to beat anybody. I think they have too much firepower to be beaten in group play. Lithuania and Australia could both give them a run for their money though, but both should be vying for second place.

Group B
1, United States
2. Spain
3. Greece
4. Germany
5. China
6. Angola

The USA will come out of Group B undefeated. This is their year, they finally have the chemistry, better overall talent, and shooting to get it done. Spain could give them fits with their zone defense and size but I think USA will come out on top with their athleticism and skill. Greece could also pull off some upsets after stunning the USA in 2004.

Quarterfinals:
Spain over Australia
Argentina over Germany
Lithuania over Greece
United States over Russia

Semifinals:
Spain over Argentina
United States over Lithuania

Finals:
Gold: United States over Spain
Bronze: Argentina over Lithuania


In the end I really do think the United States will get it done. This is their year to bring gold back to the states. The tandem of Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard will not be stopped. U.S. Basketball is starting to look like its old self again. Mike Krzyzewski has put together a team that knows how to play true fundamental basketball. They finally have the talent, firepower, team play, defense, and shooting to get it done. The talent is there and now they finally have all the keys. The USA team will bring gold back to America for the first time since 2000.

Quick USA Basketball Thoughts

The USA Basketball Team is playing live as I speak vs. Russia. As I am watching it they lead 31-21 a little into the 2nd quarter.

Russia is playing a match-up zone on Team USA and it's working somewhat on the Americans. They're doing a great job of keeping Lebron and Kobe out of the lane and keeping Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh away from the hoop.

But it's not stopping the USA's outside shooting. Kobe, Dwyane Wade, and Michael Redd have been draining quite a few three's.

Watching these exhibition games is getting me excited for the Olympics. I really hope we will win the gold and I think we will.

Watching this team is a lot different then in years passed. This team has actual team chemistry; they share the ball and look for good and open shots. They don't force much and they play terrific defense, which wasn't the case the past several years.

In the end I think the United States will get it done and win it's first gold since 2000. This team is on a mission and Coach K is doing a terrific job keeping these guys focused and helping them win. Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul will be just too much for any other team too handle.

Quick Thoughts and Headlines

Super fast, lightning strike thoughts and opinions...

Winner Winner, Turkey Dinner
The USA made a mockery of Turkey in an Olympic exhibition game Thursday. Lebron was impressive with 20 points as was Kobe Bryant. This team was just so impressive on the offensive end. They truly showed they were the superior team out manning the Turks with their physicalness and strength inside. But one question in this game was their defense. They gave up way too many points to a mediocre team. But I think they'll be fine and adjust.

Manny is a disgrace to Outfielders everywhere
Speaking as an outfielder myself, Manny is an embarrassment. With his antics in the outfield, like cutting Coco Crisps throw to cut-off man Julio Lugo. Making an unnecessary dive at a ball in LF then diving at it again like a dumb ass and rolling over on it. I swear he just did it for craps and giggles. I really hope he actually tries in Los Angeles instead of embarrassing himself and his teammates.

Time for real NFL News
I am sick of the Brett Favre debacle lately. Can we start to focus on the real sports news? Can we get some reports from team training camps? Player injuries and other reports? I am starting to think Favre is just doing this just for attention and glamour, which is really tough for me to revert to this.

Say what you mean and mean what you say
Is it me lately, or is everybody that says some kind of comment just ending up apologizing for it later? Really, what is the point of making a comment, whether it's controversial, outlandish, or not, if you're going to apologize later? For example, Carson Palmer trash talking Buckeye Nation on the September match up of OSU vs. USC. Seriously, what is the point of making these comments if you're just going to apologize for it? Who cares if you offend anyone... in most cases you have a right to say what you say. Nobody has a guaranteed right to be offended. Why should you care about what others think about you? If you come out and say something, stick with it. (Note: There are exceptions. For example, Don Imus).

Team USA impressive vs. Canada

Friday I was very tuned and interested in watching basketball almost as much as March Madness.

When it comes to USA Basketball, I am a big fan. I am a fan of almost any national team. Whether it's basketball, soccer, or the whole Olympics in general. Maybe it's because I have a great sense of pride for my country, maybe not I don't know. But there's something about watching our countries teams.

The first quarter I was kinda not impressed with Team USA at all. They struggled a little bit with some stupid and mental turnovers and mistakes. They missed some rather easy and uncontested shots and gave up some offensive boards.

But maybe I was expecting too much too soon.

After watching the USA's dominance of the world in the sport of basketball when I was a little kid, I guess I just want to see that happen again.

With the way this team played last year in the Tournament of Americas, there's no doubt in my mind they will win the Olympics.

But the way they played in the first quarter it just seemed like another typical American basketball team.

It wasn't until after that first quarter, I was reassured we're going to win the Olympics. The way they played defense Friday in their 120-65 victory over Canada. This team since 2000 hasn't played any defense at all, which is why they've faltered in the past Olympics and World Championships.

They were impressive on both ends of the floor. They were defending the pick-and-roll for once, they were playing physical and making Canada earn their shots. This is what they need to do every game. Their defense stood out last night. They made the Canadians fights for their points and nothing came easy. The defensive was aggressive and feisty. Which was a site for sore eyes.

And because of this great defensive effort, the offense came a little easier. If they can play defense like this at the Olympics, they will have no problem putting up point after point.

Also, they finally looked like a team instead of a bunch of individual players put together. They shared the ball, they ran an offense, they took care of the ball, and they had tremendous shot selection. They had the chemistry and they actually looked like a real team.

This is America's time. Time for us to be back on top of the basketball world.

USA Olympic Team Thoughts

Since the roster for the USA Olympic Basketball team came out on Monday, I would like to give a few thoughts.

Overall, it looks like a very talented and great squad. We all saw how they blew out the competition at the America's Tournament so things are looking great for the Olympics later this summer.

I think they can and definitely will win the gold. I don't see why not. They should be the favorites and I have a feeling they will get U.S. basketball back to the top.

It's good to see Kobe Bryant on the team. We've needed him the last several years, a star player who can get it done and score some points, plus he is a true leader. He can keep the younger guys together and if they are struggling on the offensive end he is talented enough to get them over the hump.

It's good and all to see a veteran PG on the team. Jason Kidd may be out of his prime but this team needs his experience at the PG position. He is a tremendous passer and they need a veteran like him, especially at the PG position. Chris Paul and Deron Williams will be excellent backups at PG with their youth and overall talent. I don't think any opposing team can match up with the PG depth of the United States'.

I find it kind of puzzling that they took Tayshaun Prince over Tyson Chandler. They are lacking in size and at the international level you need depth and defense down low. I can see if they had plenty of big men but that's not the case. Prince won't be able to match up with strong PF's. They only have Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, and Carlos Boozer. They need another big man for down low; the international big men play pretty physical and Prince isn't going to solve that problem.

But overall, I like the talent and make up of this team. They should be the favorite and I think they will pull off their first gold medal since 2000.