Quick NBA Free Agency Predictions

Lebron James
James is looking for the perfect mix of a big market and a chance to win. Could he stay in Cleveland purely for money and loyalty? Yes he could, but I do not see that happening at all. I see Lebron joining young stars Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah in this win-now situation; as he tries to take on Chi-town and the legend of Jordan.

Predicted Destination: Chicago Bulls

Chris Bosh
There were rumors of the Heat acquiring Bosh in a sign-and-trade before the FA period began. Whether it happens in a sign-and-trade of just Free Agency, I feel confident that Bosh will be playing in Miami next year. Think of Bosh as Beasley, only taller, proven, mature, reliable, and much better offensively.

Predicted Destination: Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade
I have never really considered D-Wade a threat to leave Miami. All he has ever wanted is a supporting cast and if my predictions are correct he is going to get it! Flash isn't going anywhere!
Predicted Destination: Miami Heat

Amare Stoudemire
Other than Chris Bosh, Amare is the best FA power-forward available. Obviously the Nets want LeBron, but what team doesn't? The way I see it James will choose Chicago and the Nets will end up with Stoudemire.

Predicted Destination: NJ Nets

Joe Johnson
ESPN is reporting that Johnson is almost surely to take a max deal from the Hawks, and why not?! He would be foolish to not accept that deal.

Predicted Destination: Atlanta Hawks

Dirk Nowitzki
I see Dirk as likely to leave Dallas as Dwyane Wade leaving Miami. I just do not see it happening, especially given his age. If I had to pick somewhere else for him to go I could see him going to the Suns. But I'm going with Dallas all the way on this one.

Predicted Destination: Dallas Mavericks

Carlos Boozer
Boozer would be top priority for Miami if Bosh went elsewhere. However, sticking with my picks thus far I figure the Knicks have to get someone here right? Boozer plays good defense and he fits the Knicks' pick-and-roll offensive style well. He's not what the Knicks want, but I say he's the best they will be able to get.

Predicted Destination: NY Knicks

What do you think about my predictions? Let me know where you see everybody ending up when it all shakes down!

World Cup Quarterfinal Predictions

Brazil vs. Netherlands

Most people were expecting this match-up in the quarters. Netherlands have yet to concede a match but it's their play that has many people worried. Their 4-3-3 format doesn't seem to match-up well with Brazil's aggressive offensive style. It will be hard for the Danes to contain Kaka and Robinho. The defense is good enough to help keep them in check for awhile, but Brazil is just too explosive.

Prediction: Brazil 2-1

Uruguay vs. Ghana

Uruguay has been a pleasant surprise thus far to most people. I actually expected them to make it out of group play and even make the semifinals (Don't believe me check my ESPN bracket). Ghana shocked the United States once again; Utilizing their speed and taking advantage of a weak and inexperienced U.S. defense. Look for this to be a back and forth, fast paced brawl, with both teams about equally possessing the ball.

Prediction: Uruguay 2-1

Germany vs. Argentina

This looks to be the match of the quarters. You have the finesse, smart play of Argentina vs. the strength and size of Germany. Which will prevail? Both teams have looked very impressive up to this point, especially Argentina. Messi has showed why he is arguably the best player in the world right now. This one should be good.

Prediction: Argentina 3-2

Paraguay vs. Spain

Paraguay looks to be the Cinderella in this one. But they are a very pesky team. They play tough defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. On the other hand, Spain has all the talent and is riding high after a big win over Portugal. But the Spaniards have look shaky at times too. Fernando Torres is still not 100% and the back line has struggled at times.

Prediction: Spain 2-0

New York Senate Uses MMA To Cut Deficit And Help State Budget

By Brent Jacobs

Brent Jacobs contacted us on behalf of MMA Industries (www.mmaindustries.com). Asking if we would be interested in an article he had written which discusses a major issue taking place right now in the state of New York. NY has been discussing legislation that would legalize Mixed Martial Arts throughout the state. If passed, MMA would generate millions of dollars in revenue that could help with the NY deficit and ailing budget. Additionally, it would earn mixed martial arts popularity amongst a large crowd of New Yorkers that have been relatively distant from the sport up to this point. This being a big opportunity for the industry we offered to submit his article as a guest post and help get the word out. It is also a great opportunity for us to get our readers some content on a sport that we are relatively unfamiliar with. So enjoy!

The New York state budget has had a hard time fighting off a deficit throughout all of the overall economic problems that have plagued the country. This has caused the state to consider any and all ways to save money and help balance the budget, including closing down state parks and creating food and drink taxes on everyday products like soda. Some of these choices have been met with disdain from people of the state so the Senate continues to look for additional ways to raise money. The hopeful news is that they may have just found the perfect option that gives something back to New Yorkers rather than taking it away.

On June 16th, the New York State Senate passed a bill to legalize mix martial arts in the state of the New York. It still needs to be approved by the State Assembly in order to be a law, but passing the State Senate is a big deal for both the Empire State and Mixed Martial Arts. MMA, while being legal in many other states around the country, has been banned in New York since the mid-nineties which meant that prime venues like Madison Square Garden in New York City and the 50,000 seat Carrier Dome in Syracuse were off limits for holding MMA events. This would no longer be the case if the assembly passes the bill. Dozens of great venues in the state would be open to new events that would help grow the already popular sport of MMA even further while helping the state make money.

It's hard to imagine that New York state education and other programs would be a direct beneficiary of MMA, but that would be the exact case if the bill passes. Mixed Martial Arts is one of the most popular sports in the country and its popularity grows with every passing day. This would mean that the dozens of sold out shows that MMA has every year would finally bring revenue to New York.

To put the financial benefits of legalizing MMA into perspective, just look at the numbers of the sport according to Fannation.com:

• $340. That was the average ticket price of UFC 81 at the MGM Grand. While this may seem like a lot, people are paying it to see their favorite matches. One could imagine the amount of tax money that would go to directly financing state programs and projects. Also a factor to consider is the amount of revenue brought in by people coming from all across the country for the events that would be spending money on food and accommodations.

• 170 countries broadcast UFC and other MMA events, which brings in huge promotion for some not as well known New York state cities that may hold an event.

• MMA industries like UFC have gone from million dollar companies to billion dollar companies in less than a decade showing just how popular this sport really can be.

These numbers don't even account for New York based MMA gyms that will see new revenue to help train local fighters in a sport that was once outlawed in their home state. This will directly correlate with an increase in local sales of MMA gear, like MMA gloves. Hundreds of retailers will benefit from this boost. The increase in local fan-base will have a direct impact on the sale of MMA t-shirts that display their favorite fighter or industry brand. They have become a hot commodity as the sport has increased in popularity. There is no doubt that the reach of the bill, if passed, is not just huge for New York but is greatly important to its many citizens that are struggling because of the bad economy.

The state and Governor David Paterson have estimated that allowing the sport to be legalized would bring in an extra $2 million after two years for the state's $8 billion deficit and studies have shown that holding an event in Madison Square Garden would generate $11.3 million in economic activity. This may not seem like a lot but it's a step in the right direction for the state. This bill is something that New York has been trying to do for over the last two years but has failed in doing so. Even if the bill doesn't pass the assembly, Governor Paterson has stated he will include it in his emergency extender bill giving it another way to be legalized. Yet, right now is the time for the passing of this bill because now MMA is closer than it's ever been to being a popular and helpful force in the Empire State.

2010-2011 College Basketball Preseason Rankings

Never too early to talk about next season.

1. Michigan St.- Kalin Lucas, Korie Lucious, Chris Allen, and Delvon Roe are primed to finally win that title.

2. Duke- Duke should have one of the best backcourts in the nation with Nolan Smith, Andre Dawkins, transfer Seth Curry, and top recruit Kyrie Erving. With Kyle Singler and the Plumlee brothers also back the Devils have a good shot to repeat.

3. Purdue- Purdue was in this same spot in last years preseason rankings. If Robbie Hummel stays healthy who knows how far they go. They may not have much depth, but with Hummel, Jajuan Johnson, Etwaun Moore and Lewis Jackson, there's plenty of talent around to make a Final Four run.

4. Kansas St.- Jacob Pullen is good enough to have the Cats as the early Big XII favorite.

5. Ohio St.- Add in recruits Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas with David Lighty, Jon Diebler, Willie Buford, and Dallas Lauderdale, and the Bucks could be just as good as last year.

6. Pittsburgh- 6 of their top 7 scorers return.

7. Villanova- Nova will once again have a solid backcourt lead by Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes.

8. Kansas- Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich, and Xavier Henry are impossible to replace. But the Jayhawks will still be a very deep team. They just need to find a consistent go-to scorer.

9. Florida- Watch out for Billy Donovan and his Gators. They return the whole squad. Look for Alex Tyus and Kenny Boynton to impress.

10. Kentucky- They'll be one of the youngest teams in the nation again. But they'll be very good again despite losing 5 draft picks.

11. Baylor- Ekpe Udoh and Tweety Carter will be big losses but recruit Perry Jones, LaceDarius Dunn, Quincy Ace and Anthony Jones will make them one of the best in the Big XII.

12. North Carolina- Regardless of what people might think UNC should be back again next season. Harrison Barnes is already regarded as the number one pick for 2011.

13. Missouri- Mike Anderson has people talking again in Columbia. They do lose 3 starters but return their top 3 scorers. Kim English is ready to break out; Tony Mitchell and Phil Pressey lead Zou's best class in several years.

14. Washington- The Huskies finally lived up to their potential in the postseason. They do lose Quincy Pondexter, but there's still plenty left in the stable with Isiah Thomas, Venoy Overton and Justin Holiday.

15. Illinois- This will be a senior-laden team that has been scratching the surface waiting to break open. Next year will be that year.

Should Stephen Strasberg be an NL Allstar?

The Sports Flow is back in action! I'm going to start off by tackling a bit of a hot debate as of late. Should Stephen Strasberg be chosen as an all-star representative for the National League? I will address both sides of the argument and then I will give my stance on the dilemma.

MAKE HIM AN ALLSTAR
The allstar game is an exhibition game played for homefield advantage in the World Series in which the MLB showcases its best, most exciting, and most deserving players to help grow the sport.

Having Strasburg even in the conversation for the All-Star Game, despite pitching in the big leagues for less than a month, may be considered an insult to the game and of some its participants.But you cannot deny that he belongs on the big stage with the best players.

Each team must have one representative in the game, and Ryan Zimmerman is having a nice season -.290, 13 home runs, 37 RBIs. However, Strasburg is the best player on the Washington Nationals right now. So why not have him in the game? He is an electric commodity right now and he can energize the game and boost viewership for the allstar game even if he only pitches an inning!

NOT AN ALLSTAR
There's something to be said for actually earning a spot. Strasburg has been dominant since joining the Nationals three weeks ago. Coming in to Monday night’s start against the Braves he had 41 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings against the Pirates, Indians, White Sox and Royals. Many would say that this falls short of All-Star material given who he has pitched against.

If Strasburg goes to Anaheim, some deserving pitcher will stay home.
Yes, the All-Star Game is an event for the fans, and everyone is dying to see Strasburg. However, if Strasburg is as good as he appears he will have many All-Star appearances in his future. To put him in the game already this year would be doing both him and the player he displaces a disservice. Let him go as a legitimate All-Star later and not as an attempt to boost TV ratings now.


MY TAKE
Honestly, is there 12 better pitchers in the NL RIGHT NOW than Strasberg? I say No. He is the single biggest spark plug that baseball has right now. He should represent the NL in the allstar game.

What do you think? Is Stephen Strasberg all-star worthy or not?

2010 Final Four Predictions

Kansas, West Virginia, Duke and BYU will make the Final Four. Yes, that's right. BYU will make the Final Four. I said it. I got a great feeling they will take down Kansas State in the 2nd round and head to Salt Lake City; Where they would then be the favorite in the regional to advance to Indy.

Here me out with my analysis of why BYU and the others will make it:

Every single Final Four team ever participated in the tournament the year before. So that eliminates Kentucky and Kansas State. Every single Final Four team since 1999 (When the rankings started) finished in the Top 25 for defensive efficiency (which computes ppg, fg %, etc). That eliminates Villanova, Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Maryland, New Mexico, and Baylor.

So the east bracket comes down to Kansas and Ohio State. OSU isn't deep at all and depends A LOT on Evan Turner. I'll take Kansas.

With Kansas St. being eliminated in the West it comes down to Syracuse and BYU. I think BYU will take down Kansas St with Jimmer Fredette and will be motivated to play in Salt Lake. Syracuse vs. BYU in Salt Lake. Who knows how healthy Onawaku will be and BYU has good size. Advantage BYU.

In the South Nova and Baylor are eliminated for defensive reasons. Purdue is without star Robbie Hummel, so by default Duke advances.

In the East Kentucky is too inexperienced/young. New Mexico is already eliminated. Wisconsin doesn't have the firepower offensively to advance. West Virginia will move on because of their defense, athleticism, and size.

So there you have it. Those four teams including BYU will make the Final Four. Mark it.

Giants need to sign Jermaine Dye

Jermaine Dye is still out there. Teams are tending to shy away from him because of his age. But he's proved the past few seasons that he still capable of being a good hitter. The Giants are one big bat away from winning the NL West.

They made some decent pickups to help the offense by signing Mark Derosa and Aubrey Huff and resigning Freddy Sanchez and Bengie Molina.

We already know they have the best 1-2 pitching duo in the league and one of the best rotations. It's time for Brian Sabean to finally get this done for his team by signing Dye to at least one year deal. They've got the roster win now, they're just one bat away from winning their division and maybe even a World Series.

Count On It/Don't Count On It

We have a new addition to the blog titled: "Count on It/Don't Count on It". Today I'll be talking about the NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga plays in it's backyard of Spokane

With no teams playing better on the West Coast than Gonzaga and the Pac 10 down this year, will Gonzaga be playing with the hometown crowd on hand?

Count On It

Kansas and Missouri meet up in the Elite 8 in St. Louis
How epic would this be? One of the most heated rivalries in the game and there's a chance they both could meet up in St. Louis. If Missouri finishes the season strong and Kansas holds on to the overall number one seed there's a chance. But...

Don't Count On It

BYU plays in Salt Lake City
Nobody wants to face BYU in Salt Lake City. If they finish the season strong the tournament committee could give them the benefit of the doubt. Of course they'd have to win their first two games to get there but you know they'd play with extra motivation.

Count On It

Purdue plays in Indy for the Final Four
Can the Boilers be this years Michigan State? Can they play in Indianapolis like the Spartans did in Detroit last season? The Final Four is wide open as ever this season and if they get in to the Syracuse bracket, watch out.

Count On It

College Basketball Talk: 2/17

Hey guys. Long time no blogging. We've been lagging behind on updating TSF but we're promising to get things going again especially with March Madness coming up. Here's a few thoughts on the NCAA Tournament and College Hoops in general.

Tourney Sleepers

Ohio State
They're peaking at the right time. Evan Turner should be Big Ten player of the year. They have a solid starting five. Turner is a tough match-up, Jon Diebler is a deadly shooter, David Light is finally coming into his own and Dallas Lauderdale is tough down low.

Butler
The Bulldogs haven't lost a game since December. They match-up well with a lot of power conference teams. Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard down low is one of the best one-two front court punches in the nation.

Richmond
The Spiders have a good back court lead by Kevin Anderson. They have great size at each position. They're also battle tested, playing a tough non-conference schedule which included: Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Florida, and Wake Forest.

Baylor
Nobody should want to play the Bears in the tourney. They're extremely athletic and have great guard play. They'll be a tough match up for just about anybody.

Kansas State
This team has played well on the road and on neutral courts. That's always a good indicator of a great team. They have two quality guards in Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen. The front court isn't terrible either.

BYU
They have tremendous size and a great scorer in Jimmer Fredette. This is a team that could make a huge run if they get into the Salt Lake City Bracket.

Overrated

Texas
Texas will probably not make it past the Sweet 16. Especially if they're not in the Houston bracket. They have no true point guard. Dogus Balbay makes mistakes and is afraid to shoot. Plus they rely too heavily on their 3 frosh.

Duke
Once they play a more athletic team they'll struggle. They also struggle on the road. They're 4-4 playing away from Cameron. The front court is improved from past seasons, but the Devils will once again fail to make another Final Four.

Georgia Tech
Tech has arguably the best talent in the country. But talent only gets you so far. They're point guard play has been lackluster and Derrick Favors is very limited offensively. Plus, they're young. They remind me of last years Wake Forest team; a lot of talent, little experience. They'll bow out early in the tourney.

My Final Four as of now:
Kansas
Kentucky
Michigan State
Purdue

The End of an Era

For those of you who don't know already, I am a huge Florida Gators football fan. When I heard the news yesterday of Urban Meyer stepping down as Florida's Head Coach, I was astonished. I couldn't believe it.

I knew that he was having a little health trouble but nothing that would lead to this. You know it has to be somewhat serious. Meyer loves his job and works harder at it then any other coach in the country. He never takes a day off. He works 365 days a year and that's what people need to understand when it comes to coaching college football; especially at a place like the University of Florida. Which is arguably the best job in all of College Football.

In the end, I think it's for the best. If he thinks it's best he step down then it's a good decision. If his health is going to affect his coaching then it is the right decision in the end. And I respect that.

As for who will replace him. To tell you the truth, I hope it's Dan Mullen from Mississippi State or Bob Stoops from Oklahoma and nobody else. They both make sense. Mullen was Urban's Offensive Coordinator for 4 years before moving on to become HC at MSU this season. Stoops was an assistant under Steve Spurrier and also the defensive coordinator before moving to Oklahoma in the late 90's.

As a Gator fan I don't want anybody else. I don't want a mid-major coach. Granted Urban came from Utah. I want somebody who is familiar with the program, can continue getting top notch athletes from the state of Florida and continue the tradition of Florida football. Mullen and Stoops can do that.

College Football All-Decade Team

Here's TSF's All-Decade Team for College Football!

Offense:

QB: Tim Tebow
Nearly 3 Heismans and won 2 National Titles

RB: Darren McFadden
Two-time Heisman runner up, 2nd all-time SEC rusher

RB: Adrian Peterson (OU)
NCAA frosh rushing record holder

WR: Larry Fitzgerald
Caught 161 passes for 2,677 yards and 34 TD in 2 seasons

WR: Calvin Johnson
3 solids years at Georgia Tech with 1,202 yards at 15 TD in his Jr. season

TE: Kellen Winslow
Set all of Miami's TE records. Won a national title and the Mackey Award

OL: Jake Long
Two-time All-American and two-time Big 10 OL of the Year

OL: Bryant McKinnie
Two-time All-American, Outland Winner and 8th in Heisman (01)

OL: Greg Eslinger
Started 4 years, Two-time All-American and Outland Winner

OL: Joe Thomas
Started 3 years after moving from TE, Outland Winner

OL: Steve Huchinson
Did not allow a sack in his last two seasons. Outland Winner

Defense:

DE: Terrell Suggs
NCAA Season Record holder with 24 sacks

DT: Ndamukong Suh
Lead his team in tackles this past season. 4th in Heisman (09)

DT: Tommie Harris
Three-time All-American, Lombardi Winner

DE: David Pollack
Three-time All-American

LB: Patrick Willis
Two-time All-American and Butkus winner

LB: Brandon Spikes
Two National Titles and two-time All-American

LB: AJ Hawk
Two-time All-American and Lombardi Winner

S: Ed Reed
One of the most dominating players in CF history. Two-time All-American

S: Eric Berry
Soon to be three-time All-American

CB: Antonie Cason
Four-year starter. All-American in 2007

CB: Terence Newman
All-American in 2002 and Jim Thorpe winner

Special Teams

K: Mike Nugent (Ohio State)
P: Mike Dragosavich (North Dakota State)
KR: Brandon James (Florida)
PR: Wes Welker (Texas Tech)
Coach: Urban Meyer (Florida)

College Basketball Power Rankings: November 23

First rankings of the year!

1. Kansas- First game was an eye opener, but they've been great since. Frosh Xavier Henry will be the X-Factor.

2. Michigan State- Toughed out a win vs. Gonzaga. Now need to find some kind of consistent inside presence.

3. Texas- This team is loaded. How will they find enough minutes to keep everyone happy?

4. Villanova- Some impressive wins thus far. The guards are stellar, while Jay Wright is working on developing his young frontcourt.

5. West Virginia- They were impressive in their first win showing some tough defense; even without their best player Devin Ebanks.

6. Purdue- Team struggled vs. South Dakota State, but their tough defense prevailed.

7. North Carolina- Still not impressed with the backcourt. Frontcourt will win them some games though.

8. Kentucky- Team has no identity. Defense has been suspect and still need a few more games to create some chemistry.

9. Tennessee- They haven't played anybody yet but the offense has been very impressive.

10. Ohio State- Struggled vs. UNC's bigs, but Evan Turner is one of the best players in the country.

11. Duke- Defense has stepped up so far this season.

12. Butler- This team plays so well together and they don't turn the ball over.

13. UConn- Not much of a bench. Will depend on older guys to carry them.

14. Washington- Some less than expected performances from the Huskies.

15. Syracuse- They've had a couple impressive wins. Lets see if they can keep it up outside of MSG.

TSF Bracketology: November 21

Throughout the season TSF will be doing it's own bracketolgy and giving you their own seeds for the NCAA Tournament.

(Conference Champs in Parenthesis)

1. Kansas (Big XII)
1. Michigan State (Big Ten)
1. Texas
1. Villanova (Big East)

2. Kentucky (SEC)
2. Purdue
2. West Virginia
2. Duke

3. Tennessee
3. North Carolina (ACC)
3. Butler (Horizon)
3. Connecticut

4. Washington (Pac 10)
4. Ohio State
4. California
4. Oklahoma

5. Illinois
5. Louisville
5. Mississippi State
5. Syracuse

6. Georgia Tech
6. Georgetown
6. Gonzaga (WCC)
6. Memphis (C-USA)

7. Michigan
7. Dayton (A 10)
7. Clemson
7. Minnesota

8. Kansas State
8. Texas A&M
8. Xavier
8. Siena (MAAC)

9. Oklahoma State
9. Wake Forest
9. UCLA
9. Florida

10. Pittsburgh
10. Missouri
10. Wisconsin
10. BYU (MWC)

11. Florida State
11. UNLV
11. Tulsa
11. Cincinnati

12. Northern Iowa (MVC)
12. Western Kentucky (Sun Belt)
12. Utah State (WAC)
12. Boston College

13. Vanderbilt
13. Cornell (Ivy)
13. Akron (MAC)
13. Old Dominion (CAA)

14. Oakland (Summit)
14. Sam Houston (Southland)
14. Wofford (Southern)
14. Long Beach (Big West)

15. Northern Colorado (Big Sky)
15. Jacksonville (A-Sun)
15. Radford (Big South)
15. Mt. St. Mary's (NEC)

16. Morgan State (MEAC)
16. Murray State (OVC)
16. Holy Cross (Patriot)
16. Prairie View A&M (SWAC)

2009-2010 College Basketball Preview: Preseason Rankings

Okay here's my updated version of my preseason top 25.


1. Michigan St.- Sure, they lose Suton and Walton, but Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen, and Raymar Morgan are back. Look for the in-coming 6-10 recruits to make an impact.

2. Kansas- All five starters will return, add-in recruit Xavier Henry and this team looks like a national title threat.

3. Purdue- Will Purdue be 2009's Spartans? The 2010 Final Four is in home state Indianapolis and return 7 of their top 8 scorers.

4. Kentucky- The Cats are on the rise once again with John Calipari taking over. Patrick Patterson returns but the loss of Jodie Meeks will be a huge blow. Recruits DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall will make this team the favorite in the SEC.

5. Texas- The Longhorns were a PG away from being an elite team; Florida transfer Jai Lucas should help fill that void.

6. Villanova- Nova will once again have a dominant backcourt lead by Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher.

7. West Virginia- With Devin Ebanks returning they will be one of the best in the Big East. Da'Sean Butler, Darryl Bryant, Joel Mazzula, and Kevin Jones are back as well.

8. North Carolina- This will be a totally different Heel team, but there will still be plenty of talent.

9. Connecticut- Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, and Stanley Robinson will be back. A decent recruiting class is coming in as well to help fill some voids.

10. Duke- It will be very tough to replace Gerald Henderson and Elliot Williams. But look for frosh Mason Plumlee to finally give them a valuable inside presence.

11. Butler- This past season was supposed to be a rebuilding year after losing a lot. All five starters are back.

12. Washington- Look for Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter to keep the Huskies atop the Pac 10.

13. Tennessee- the Vols had some problems last year, but there's still too much talent to go around. I think they'll be back again.

14. Ohio St.- The Buckeyes will be good and I mean that.

15. California- This will be a senior-laden team that has been scratching the surface waiting to break open. Next year will be that year.

16. Clemson- 3 of the top 4 scorers are back including ACC POY Trevor Booker. Plus star recruit Milton Jennings should help.

17. Louisville- They lose Terrence Williams and Earl Clark, but still have plenty in the stable. Samardo Samuels should have a breakout year.

18. Siena- A nice nucleus (5 of Top 6 scorers) returns for the Saints.

19. Dayton- The Flyers are flat-out athletic and talented.

20. Illinois- With another year of experience under sophomores Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, and Mike Tisdales' belts, they'll improve.

21. Oklahoma- They lose the Griffin brothers but Willie Warren is one of the best guards in the country and their role players are outstanding.

22. Mississippi State- With Jarvis Varnado back and top recruit Renardo Sidney coming in they will challenge Kentucky and Tennessee for the SEC Crown.

23. Michigan- The Wolverines were very inconsistent but looked good in March. The dynamic duo of Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims will keep them in the thick of things.

24. Minnesota- Keep an eye on the Gophers. Royce White is a top recruit who will make the Gophers a top contender in the Big Ten.

25. Gonzaga- The Zags will reload with Demetri Goodson, Matt Bouldin and Stephen Gray all back.

Just missed the cut:
Georgia Tech, Florida State, Wake Forest, Missouri, Texas A&M, Oklahoma St., Wisconsin, Mississippi, Florida, Georgetown, Syracuse, Creighton, UNLV, UCLA, Northern Iowa, Oakland

2009-2010 College Basketball Preview: Player Rankings

The time has come. It's time to begin our College Basketball Preview for the coming season.

2009/2010:

Top 5 PG:
1. Kalin Lucas- Michigan St.
2. Sherron Collins- Kansas
3. John Wall- Kentucky
4. Kemba Walker- UConn
5. Devan Downey- South Carolina

Top 5 SG:
1. Willie Warren- Oklahoma
2. Greivis Vasquez- Maryland
3. Manny Harris- Michigan
4. Scottie Reynolds- Villanova
5. Jerome Dyson- UConn

Top 5 SF:
1. Evan Turner- Wisconsin
2. Devin Ebanks- West Virginia
3. Kyle Singler- Duke
4. Robbie Hummel- Purdue
5. Gordon Hayward- Butler

Top 5 PF:
1. Luke Harangody- Notre Dame
2. Patrick Patterson- Kentucky
3. Al Faroq-Aminu- Wake Forest
4. Craig Brackins- Iowa State
5. Ed Davis- UNC

Top 5 C:
1. Cole Aldrich- Kansas
2. Greg Monroe- Georgetown
3. Larry Sanders- VCU
4. Jarvis Varnado- Mississippi State
5. Keith Benson- Oakland

Fantasy Football - Week 6 Hate 'Em/ Love 'Em

Hate Em:

Drew Brees- facing the Giants #1 pass D and Brees hasn't looked so stellar the past couple outings, look for a heavy run game here.

Larry Johnson - at some point they are going to give Jamaal Charles a chance, this may be his week and LJ is on the drop list for all I'm concerned.

DeAngelo Williams - Bucs are one of the worst rush D's, but I look for Jonathon Stewart to get a bigger role this week and steal goaline carries.

Ray Rice and Willis McGahee- Vikings have not given up a rushing td all year so don't expect one here.

Marques Colston - don't expect big numbers out of him this week, will be a good red zone target, but don't expect big yardage.

Vincent Jackson - Denver's D has only given up 2 passing td's all year and I don't like his match up with Champ Bailey.

Chris Cooley - will be used more as a blocker than a pass catcher this week so don't expect the usual week for Cooley.

Love 'Em:

David Garrard- after last week's brutal performance, he will bounce back having Sims- Walker back will help.

Mike Sims-Walker - after missing last game due to a 'late night rendezvous' with a lady friend, expect him to go off against the terrible Rams D.

Pierre Thomas - did you know that Thomas has 12 td's in his last 9 games? against the Giants D you will see a heavy dose of the run game.

Brian Westbrook - Oakland's worst rush D vs a healthy Westbrook only equals a big game.

Knowshon Moreno - the Chargers are giving up 151 rypg, with that saying Moreno's workload has increased each week.

Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant - love all the Packers this week vs the Lions. Coming off a bye week you will see big numbers from the big 4.

Matt Hasselbeck and Nate Burleson- both went off last week and I expect more of the same this week.

Braylon Edwards- obviously he became new best friends with Mark Sanchez, big numbers the rest of the year I foresee.

Look for Ohio State to turn some heads in '09

College Football starts this Thursday and boy I cannot wait. All we're hearing about thus far is Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, which makes me ponder which team will make a run with the rest of them that everybody is looking over?

Well, it's Ohio State.

I know they've sucked in big games the past few seasons. I know they lost 7 starters on offense, including Beanie Wells, Brian Robiskie, and studs James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins on defense. But Jim Tressel always has talent waiting in the wings.

This is the perfect time for them to quell the doubters from the past. They do not have too high of expectations this season and they lost some big time players.

But they do have Terrelle Pryor back. I am a big fan of this guy and I truly believe he will win a Heisman and even a national championship if he stays all 4 years at OSU. I really believe that. Pryor is going to have a great season this year and will make everybody on the field around him better.

Much of the O-Line returns so there's a good start. Dan Herron performed well when Beanie Wells was injured and Ray Small and DeVier Posey are capable pass catchers. Frosh Duron Carter and James Jackson could contribute significantly as well.

The defensive line returns 3 starters and a formidable Michigan transfer in Justin Boren joins the team, which is a very good start for the defense.

But in the end I do not expect the departures to be as big of a deal as they say. Jim Tressel is still one of the best coaches in the country and there is plenty of talent in the stable and the in-coming freshmen are ready to step up. With a proven QB back and one who has some of the best talent in the country, look for the Buckeyes to turn some heads and be a BCS Title contender by the end of the season.

All of that can start on September 12, when 4th ranked USC comes to town.

Not for fun anymore

Little League is supposed to be for the kids. It's for kids to play with friends, learn the game of baseball and most importantly, have fun.

Well, not anymore.

Some parents have recently sued because of their kids' injuries during games/practices/scrimmages. But that's what we expect in a politically correct world nowadays. Gone are the days of individual responsibility.

To give credit to Rick Reilly, columnist for ESPN (one of the best there is) did an article on this.

A woman named Jean Gonzalez in Staten Island, NY sewed the local Little League, the teams manager and the first base coach because the first base coach sent her son to second on a double, where he slid awkwardly and tore his ACL. So she decided to sew.

That's the world we live in today. When in doubt, sue.

This is how people say thanks to coaches who devout their time to teach their kids the fundamentals and the game of baseball. That's what Staten Island gets for having a program for their kids to play.

It's always about ME, we live in a ME world.

Last week I rolled my ankle playing softball, maybe I should sew the Bismarck Softball Association because of it and/or the guy who was coming after me in a run-down.

Because of ridiculous litigation like the Gonzalez' in New York, it is making people afraid of getting sued. Lawsuits have taken away our freedom of speech and created/changed rules/laws so people DON'T get sued; and that's wrong.

Not just Little League but many other organizations (whether it be sports, businesses, or whatever) have catered to these people that sew for pleasure. No more on-deck circles in Little League, face-masked helmets, mandatory pitch counts, what next?

Lawsuits are just making things worse. It only brings down competition and less choices for people. For the people suing, they're only fixing a problem, by making it worse!

Bold, Daring Fantasy Football Predictions for 2009

Fantasy football drafts are coming up and I'm sure some of you have already partaken in a few, here's some bold predictions for the up-coming season.

- Donovan McNabb will finish as a top-5 QB

- Jonathan Stewart will finish with more fantasy points than DeAngelo Williams

- Calvin Johnson will finish with 1500+ yards and 15 scores

- Dwayne Bowe will finish the year as a top-10 WR

- Adrian Peterson will not finish as a top 5 overall fantasy player

- Steve Slaton will finish as a top-5 RB

- David Garrard will be a top-10 fantasy QB again

- Donovan McNabb will not miss a game this season

- Anthony Gonzalez will double his 664 receiving yards from last season

- Donald Brown will be a top-25 fantasy RB

- Maurice Jones-Drew will finish as the top fantasy RB.

- Tom Brady will have his best fantasy season yet!

- Jamal Charles will have a better fantasy season than Larry Johnson

- Greg Jennings will lead all NFC WR in scoring

- Joe Flacco will finish as a top-10 QB

- Dwayne Bowe will finish the year with the most receiving yards in one game

- Greg Olsen will finish as a top-4 TE

- Ryan Grant rushes for 1450+ yards and 10 TD

- Willis McGahee doesn't get injured before week 7

- Javon Ringer will finish with more fantasy points than Chris Johnson

Tom Brady Prediction

I'm sure most of you NFL fans out there saw Tom Brady's preseason debut last night. I thought he looked really good. He threw 2 nice TDs and had a perfect deep ball that Moss dropped. he did have an INT but he then went to the sidelines and threw his waterbottle down like it was the playoffs or something!

He moved around and stepped up in the pocket. I do think that he needs to take a few big hits and have a few people down on the ground around him in the pocket. Just so that he can get used to stepping up in the pocket, stepping into throws, and trusting the knee.

I have a prediction to make. I think that last year's injury might end up being the one of the best things to happen to Tom Brady's career. Obviously winning superbowls and marrying underwear models are much better than a knee injury but this is the way I see it. He looks great so far. We know that he's going to play a lot in preseason and should be firing on all cyllindars come week 1. The most important things to a QB like Brady are his throwing arm, shoulder, and head. He got a whole season to preserve what matters the most to him. Last season made have put another 2-3+ years onto the prime of his career!

All I'm saying is that Brady is going ot be huge again this year so be ready. He will be fresher than ever and hungrier than ever. I hate the guy, but I expect a big year.