Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesNBA Andrew Bogut is down for the count.The elbow injury the Milwaukee Bucks center sustained in Saturday's game has turned out to be much more serious than originally feared, as Bogut reportedly has dislocated his right elbow, sprained his right wrist, and broken his right hand.Talk about a trifecta.But this isn't the time to sit around moping, dropping your head because the loss of Bogut means you can kiss your fantasy basketball playoff hopes goodbye or because betting on the Bucks down the stretch just Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
lost its luster.It's time now (if it already hadn't been) to start thinking about the big picture.Milwaukee has been riding on cruise control after exploding out of the gates following the All-Star break, and the Bucks were just starting to seriously be regarded as one of the better Eastern Conference teams.Having Bogut and a well-balanced offense (along with a solid defense) intact meant a healthy, confident bunch going up against supposedly more athletic, superior teams in the playoffs.Without Bogut, however, Milwaukee's inside game is severely diminished, and now the Miami Heat would even appear to be a formidable opponent.The first thought is that the Bucks will be forced to turn to backup center Kurt Thomas, and/or give more minutes to forward Ersan Ilyasova.News flash: Thomas isn't getting an injection of "make me younger" juice anytime soon, and while Ilyasova is a quality, versatile forward, he's not a center and he's not Bogut.With the trade deadline past, the Bucks are facing a three-way road, one in which they need to choose their direction wisely, but also very quickly.They could opt to try to pick through the weeds of what is left of the free agency pool, scouring the veterans or young bodies who could step in, and hopefully help fill the void.True, there are likely some players who could help round out a decent bench. But that's for another article, and there isn't anyone out there who can save the season all by themselves.Secondly, Milwaukee can do as it's done best for the better part of the last decade and curl up in the fetal position.The Bucks can forget all that coach Scott Skiles has worked for, and erode back to the team that allows inside baskets, doesn't defend, and doesn't rebound.They could give up, realize they're Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
out-manned, and cut their losses.Then again, option three, that third door, the one people rarely choose, remains open. The Bucks could swallow that jagged little pill called perseverance, strap on their fighting gear, and give this whole "playoffs" thing an actual go-around.Bogut was their centerpiece, their bowl of lemons, their festive herring, or basket of flowers and grass.He held them together, and for the first time since he was selected as the top player in the 2005 NBA Draft, he was taking charge.But he's gone. All that's left are the dinner plates, the utensils, and some hungry veterans who are eager to prove us all wrong.Luke Ridnour can still score, help ease the load for rookie point guard Brandon Jennings, and play better defense than anyone is likely ever to give him credit for.Jerry Stackhouse can still give solid minutes off the bench. Thomas can still bang it inside and bring down boards.The only questions is, how much do the old guys have left, and how much can the young guys add in support?With the whole world constantly asking Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
and wondering this season, "Who are these Milwaukee Bucks?" it's painfully ironic that with the loss of Bogut, we may finally begin to find out.Did Bogut's injury just kill your fantasy basketball season? Don't worry. Head over to Fantazzle.com for all kinds of daily and weekly fantasy sports games.
2010年12月30日星期四
2010年12月29日星期三
In the past few seasons he has unloaded Ron Artest
Mike Bibby, and Kevin Martin, and all he has to show for them is Carl Landry, Donte Green, Omri Casspi, and a little bit of cap space.Cap space is a nice thing to have but Sacramento hasn't exactly been a mecca for the league's free agents when you consider Vlade Divac is still their biggest free agent signing ever.Petrie has also caught flak for hiring head coach Paul Westphal. After a 9-9 start the Kings finished the season 25-57 and owners of the league's fourth-worst record. The Kings also had the second-worst average attendance in the league this season.Petrie does get credit for drafting expected Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans. It's obvious by the trading of Martin that Evans is now the centerpiece of the team and it will be Petrie's job to give Evans a team that he will want to commit to long-term when he's eligible for his first big-money contract.Petrie has already proved that he can quickly build a winning team with just three solid moves. From 1998 to 1999 he traded Mitch Richmond for Chris Webber, signed Divac, and drafted Jason Williams. By 2000 they were one win away from knocking off the eventual champion Lakers in a first-round series.He already has his franchise player in Evans. Now he just needs to figure out if he can lure the right free agent to California's capital with the cap space he freed up and use some of Philadelphia Eagles jersey
those young players he's acquired over the last three years to trade for the final piece.3) Donnie Walsh, New York KnicksWalsh's objective since taking over as Knicks GM was to clean up the mess left by his predecessor, Isiah Thomas, and position the team to sign two max free agents this summer.Had Walsh been the GM of any other team he'd probably be lower on the list. But the allure of the nation's No. 1 media market should make it easier than some might think.Walsh did the unthinkable this year by getting the Rockets to take Jared Jeffries off his hands. Sure it cost him his most recent lottery pick Jordan Hill, a No. 1 pick in 2012, and the ability for the Rockets to swap picks with the Knicks in 2011 in order to do it.But if Walsh succeeds in luring at least one of the top-tier free agents to New York then it will have been worth it. If he can't then he might have to wait until the summer of 2011 once Eddy Curry's expiring contract can also come off the books.2) Gar Forman, Chicago BullsGive Forman credit for taking chances. His Bulls were a playoff team last season and were in position to make the playoffs again this season when he pulled the trigger on a couple of deadline deals.Forman knew the trades might make his team worse but he knew they would better the team's chances of landing a top-tier free agent this summer with the cap space to offer a maximum contract.So out went John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas and in came Hakim Warrick, Joe Alexander, and Ronald Murray.Wednesday night's win in Charlotte earned the Bulls the right to lose to the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. So Forman managed to not only clear cap space but his team also made the playoffssomething that might make them a much more attractive destination for free agents.1) Pat Riley, Miami HeatThe Heat finished the season as hot as any team in the league. They took advantage of the injury to Andrew Bogut to pass the Bucks for the fifth-seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round match-up with the Boston Celtics.It has to be a plus for this summer's free agents that a team that was considered by many to miss the playoffs finished 12 games above .500. That's remarkable for a team that started Joel Anthony, Quentin Richardson, and Carlos Arroyo down the stretch.Riley is one step ahead of Walsh in that he already has one of the league's best players on his team and only needs to acquire one more star to convince Dwyane Wade to stick around long-term.But what Riley really deserves the most credit for is not making a move and trusting that he had a team in place that could serve as the supporting cast once he acquires an additional superstar.Those Who Wish They Could Rebuild Right Now but Can't (From Best to Worst) This list is made up of teams who are also waiting for contracts to expire. The difference is that unlike the previous list of teams who are trying to rebuild, these teams will have to wait at least another year for those contracts to expire.Each of these teams had chances to speed up the rebuilding process but instead either chose not to, or like Dumars and Colangelo, had the financial freedom to turn things around and flubbed it.7) John Hammond, Milwaukee BucksHammond only makes this list because he doesn't fit into any of the other categories. Because the Bucks still have more than $25 million committed next season to Redd and Dan Gadzuric, Hammond is still a year away from putting his full stamp on this team.With Skiles, Bogut, and Jennings he's in a much better place than any of the other guys on this list.So even though Hammond made what I would consider the most undesirable list he's also in a better position than any of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
these guys to ascend to one of the better lists almost immediately.Even though Redd is coming off another knee surgery he's still an expiring contract next season at a time when many teams will be looking to shed salary in anticipation of the league's new collective bargaining agreement.6) Joe Dumars, Detroit PistonsI once labeled Dumars the Jerry West of his generation. Both were former players who were always given the greatest amount of respect by their peers. There was a time when everything Dumars touched turned to gold.Even the sign-and-trade deal that sent Grant Hill to Orlando worked out better for the Pistons than it did the Magic because it netted four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace.Dumars signed Billups when every other team he'd played for had given up on him. He also stole Rip Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse, drafted Tayshaun Prince after 22 teams passed up on him, and fleeced the Hawks for Rasheed Wallace.Before last season the only real blemish on Dumars bio was drafting Darko Milicic when he could have had Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Kirk Hinrich, or Chris Kaman instead.But even that move was hard to argue with since the Pistons won a championship with Milicic on their roster.But lately it seems that almost every move Dumars has made has left people scratching their heads more often than not.Dumars traded team leader Chauncey Billups last season for the expiring contract of Allen Iverson only to waste all of the cap space he accumulated on Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon.Now Dumars is stuck with a roster that seems stacked at shooting guard and small forward but is thin at point guard, power forward, and center.Dumars will now try to unload Tayshaun Prince's expiring contract and/or the remaining three years and $38 million of Hamilton's contract that takes him through his 35th birthday.The next move Dumars makes might be the most important. Whether that's moving Prince or Hamilton, the long-term future of this team is in the hands of a GM whose future might be decided in the next 18 months.The team has hired Citigroup to figure out the team's value in an impending sale. While no new owner would commit the public relations homicide that would come with firing Dumars, there is a growing contingent of Pistons fans who might be in favor of it.5) Bryan Colangelo, Toronto RaptorsColangelo went into the summer ofSan Diego Chargers jersey
2009 with one goal in mind. He needed to convince soon-to-be free agent Chris Bosh that the future in Toronto was bright enough for Bosh to stick around long-term.So Colangelo signed Bosh's old college teammate and close friend Jarrett Jack and traded for Hedo Turkoglu, Reggie Evans, Marco Belinelli, Antoine Wright, and Amir Johnson.The result is a team that missed the playoffs and, in all likelihood, will lose Bosh either without compensation or in a sign-and-trade deal.It would be in Colangelo's best interest to sign-and-trade Bosh since the team won't have much cap space to replace him should he leave as a free agent.Colangelo's future in Toronto might be tied to the Bosh situation. If he fails to either re-sign Bosh or sign-and-trade him then I don't envision Colangelo would be around in the summer of 2011 when the expiring contracts of Evans and Marcus Banks could create another $10 million in cap space.4) Larry Bird, Indiana PacersNobody really knows what Bird is trying to do other than waiting for the summer of 2011. The Pacers currently have three players in Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Troy Murphy, and T.J. Ford who have large contracts that expire after next season.There were rumors earlier in the season that Bird and Ferry were discussing a trade that would have sent Murphy to the Cavs for expiring contracts but the Cavs ultimately made a move for Jamison instead.Now Pacers fans are left playing the waiting game while the team tries to build around Danny Granger and recent draft picks Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert, and Tyler Hansbroughnone of whom have even made the Rookie/Sophomore game.In the meantime, the league's best arena has seen it's average attendance drop to less than 14,000 per game.3) Ed Stefanski, Philadelphia 76ersYou can blame Stefanski's predecessor, Billy King, for the horrible contract of Samuel Dalembert but you can definitely hold Stefanski responsible for the contracts of Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams, and Elton Brand.Even though the Sixers have close to $23 million in contracts set to expire after next season the team still won't be in position to become a contender with a shrinking cap and so much money committed to those three guys.There were rumors that the team was looking to move Iguodala at the deadline for Amar Stoudemire but nothing happened. Look for them to try to move him again to a team that strikes out in free agency but has the cap space to absorb the final four years and $57 million left on his deal.As for Brand, the only question is whether or not Stefanski will still be the team's GM when Brand's contract finally expires in 2013.2) Larry Riley, Golden St. WarriorsYou can't fault Riley for all of the injuries this team has suffered this season. Now that the Warriors are for sale the question is whether or not Riley will still have a job when the new ownership takes over.On the bright side, he drafted likely Rookie of the Year runner-up Stephen Curry and the team still has a number of young lottery picks drafted by former GM, Chris Mullin.The big question going forward is if the personnel of this team will be able to fit in with a different coach's system. Even if the team's new owner allows Don Nelson to finish out his contract the odds are it will likely be his last.Riley probably won't be able to make any moves until after the ownership change when his fate will be decided. San Francisco 49ers jersey
Whoever the GM is will probably try to package Monta Ellis with one or two of their other young players to fill a need.1) David Kahn, Minnesota TimberwolvesGive Kahn credit for lowering the expectations for his team almost immediately. While some of the other bottom-feeders were trying to sell their fans a bill of goods Kahn let it be known that his team was still years away from even making the playoffs.The question for the Wolves is how patient will their fanbase be after another disastrous year? Kahn will most likely see what he can get this summer for either Al Jefferson or Kevin Love.The Wolves should have three picks in the first round of the drafttheir own pick, the Bobcats' pick, and Utah's pick. That's not necessarily a good thing since I'm not so sure getting even younger is the smartest thing for them to do. Kahn might want to consider either selling or trading Utah's pick since it will be the lowest of the three.Even though Kahn has acted on the wishes of owner Glen Taylor, you have to dock him points for both trading Mike Miller and Randy Foye for the right to draft Ricky Rubio and for trading the draft rights to 18th-overall pick Ty Lawson for Charlotte's 2010 first-rounder.Charlotte's pick will be the 16th overall.
those young players he's acquired over the last three years to trade for the final piece.3) Donnie Walsh, New York KnicksWalsh's objective since taking over as Knicks GM was to clean up the mess left by his predecessor, Isiah Thomas, and position the team to sign two max free agents this summer.Had Walsh been the GM of any other team he'd probably be lower on the list. But the allure of the nation's No. 1 media market should make it easier than some might think.Walsh did the unthinkable this year by getting the Rockets to take Jared Jeffries off his hands. Sure it cost him his most recent lottery pick Jordan Hill, a No. 1 pick in 2012, and the ability for the Rockets to swap picks with the Knicks in 2011 in order to do it.But if Walsh succeeds in luring at least one of the top-tier free agents to New York then it will have been worth it. If he can't then he might have to wait until the summer of 2011 once Eddy Curry's expiring contract can also come off the books.2) Gar Forman, Chicago BullsGive Forman credit for taking chances. His Bulls were a playoff team last season and were in position to make the playoffs again this season when he pulled the trigger on a couple of deadline deals.Forman knew the trades might make his team worse but he knew they would better the team's chances of landing a top-tier free agent this summer with the cap space to offer a maximum contract.So out went John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas and in came Hakim Warrick, Joe Alexander, and Ronald Murray.Wednesday night's win in Charlotte earned the Bulls the right to lose to the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. So Forman managed to not only clear cap space but his team also made the playoffssomething that might make them a much more attractive destination for free agents.1) Pat Riley, Miami HeatThe Heat finished the season as hot as any team in the league. They took advantage of the injury to Andrew Bogut to pass the Bucks for the fifth-seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round match-up with the Boston Celtics.It has to be a plus for this summer's free agents that a team that was considered by many to miss the playoffs finished 12 games above .500. That's remarkable for a team that started Joel Anthony, Quentin Richardson, and Carlos Arroyo down the stretch.Riley is one step ahead of Walsh in that he already has one of the league's best players on his team and only needs to acquire one more star to convince Dwyane Wade to stick around long-term.But what Riley really deserves the most credit for is not making a move and trusting that he had a team in place that could serve as the supporting cast once he acquires an additional superstar.Those Who Wish They Could Rebuild Right Now but Can't (From Best to Worst) This list is made up of teams who are also waiting for contracts to expire. The difference is that unlike the previous list of teams who are trying to rebuild, these teams will have to wait at least another year for those contracts to expire.Each of these teams had chances to speed up the rebuilding process but instead either chose not to, or like Dumars and Colangelo, had the financial freedom to turn things around and flubbed it.7) John Hammond, Milwaukee BucksHammond only makes this list because he doesn't fit into any of the other categories. Because the Bucks still have more than $25 million committed next season to Redd and Dan Gadzuric, Hammond is still a year away from putting his full stamp on this team.With Skiles, Bogut, and Jennings he's in a much better place than any of the other guys on this list.So even though Hammond made what I would consider the most undesirable list he's also in a better position than any of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
these guys to ascend to one of the better lists almost immediately.Even though Redd is coming off another knee surgery he's still an expiring contract next season at a time when many teams will be looking to shed salary in anticipation of the league's new collective bargaining agreement.6) Joe Dumars, Detroit PistonsI once labeled Dumars the Jerry West of his generation. Both were former players who were always given the greatest amount of respect by their peers. There was a time when everything Dumars touched turned to gold.Even the sign-and-trade deal that sent Grant Hill to Orlando worked out better for the Pistons than it did the Magic because it netted four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace.Dumars signed Billups when every other team he'd played for had given up on him. He also stole Rip Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse, drafted Tayshaun Prince after 22 teams passed up on him, and fleeced the Hawks for Rasheed Wallace.Before last season the only real blemish on Dumars bio was drafting Darko Milicic when he could have had Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Kirk Hinrich, or Chris Kaman instead.But even that move was hard to argue with since the Pistons won a championship with Milicic on their roster.But lately it seems that almost every move Dumars has made has left people scratching their heads more often than not.Dumars traded team leader Chauncey Billups last season for the expiring contract of Allen Iverson only to waste all of the cap space he accumulated on Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon.Now Dumars is stuck with a roster that seems stacked at shooting guard and small forward but is thin at point guard, power forward, and center.Dumars will now try to unload Tayshaun Prince's expiring contract and/or the remaining three years and $38 million of Hamilton's contract that takes him through his 35th birthday.The next move Dumars makes might be the most important. Whether that's moving Prince or Hamilton, the long-term future of this team is in the hands of a GM whose future might be decided in the next 18 months.The team has hired Citigroup to figure out the team's value in an impending sale. While no new owner would commit the public relations homicide that would come with firing Dumars, there is a growing contingent of Pistons fans who might be in favor of it.5) Bryan Colangelo, Toronto RaptorsColangelo went into the summer ofSan Diego Chargers jersey
2009 with one goal in mind. He needed to convince soon-to-be free agent Chris Bosh that the future in Toronto was bright enough for Bosh to stick around long-term.So Colangelo signed Bosh's old college teammate and close friend Jarrett Jack and traded for Hedo Turkoglu, Reggie Evans, Marco Belinelli, Antoine Wright, and Amir Johnson.The result is a team that missed the playoffs and, in all likelihood, will lose Bosh either without compensation or in a sign-and-trade deal.It would be in Colangelo's best interest to sign-and-trade Bosh since the team won't have much cap space to replace him should he leave as a free agent.Colangelo's future in Toronto might be tied to the Bosh situation. If he fails to either re-sign Bosh or sign-and-trade him then I don't envision Colangelo would be around in the summer of 2011 when the expiring contracts of Evans and Marcus Banks could create another $10 million in cap space.4) Larry Bird, Indiana PacersNobody really knows what Bird is trying to do other than waiting for the summer of 2011. The Pacers currently have three players in Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Troy Murphy, and T.J. Ford who have large contracts that expire after next season.There were rumors earlier in the season that Bird and Ferry were discussing a trade that would have sent Murphy to the Cavs for expiring contracts but the Cavs ultimately made a move for Jamison instead.Now Pacers fans are left playing the waiting game while the team tries to build around Danny Granger and recent draft picks Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert, and Tyler Hansbroughnone of whom have even made the Rookie/Sophomore game.In the meantime, the league's best arena has seen it's average attendance drop to less than 14,000 per game.3) Ed Stefanski, Philadelphia 76ersYou can blame Stefanski's predecessor, Billy King, for the horrible contract of Samuel Dalembert but you can definitely hold Stefanski responsible for the contracts of Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams, and Elton Brand.Even though the Sixers have close to $23 million in contracts set to expire after next season the team still won't be in position to become a contender with a shrinking cap and so much money committed to those three guys.There were rumors that the team was looking to move Iguodala at the deadline for Amar Stoudemire but nothing happened. Look for them to try to move him again to a team that strikes out in free agency but has the cap space to absorb the final four years and $57 million left on his deal.As for Brand, the only question is whether or not Stefanski will still be the team's GM when Brand's contract finally expires in 2013.2) Larry Riley, Golden St. WarriorsYou can't fault Riley for all of the injuries this team has suffered this season. Now that the Warriors are for sale the question is whether or not Riley will still have a job when the new ownership takes over.On the bright side, he drafted likely Rookie of the Year runner-up Stephen Curry and the team still has a number of young lottery picks drafted by former GM, Chris Mullin.The big question going forward is if the personnel of this team will be able to fit in with a different coach's system. Even if the team's new owner allows Don Nelson to finish out his contract the odds are it will likely be his last.Riley probably won't be able to make any moves until after the ownership change when his fate will be decided. San Francisco 49ers jersey
Whoever the GM is will probably try to package Monta Ellis with one or two of their other young players to fill a need.1) David Kahn, Minnesota TimberwolvesGive Kahn credit for lowering the expectations for his team almost immediately. While some of the other bottom-feeders were trying to sell their fans a bill of goods Kahn let it be known that his team was still years away from even making the playoffs.The question for the Wolves is how patient will their fanbase be after another disastrous year? Kahn will most likely see what he can get this summer for either Al Jefferson or Kevin Love.The Wolves should have three picks in the first round of the drafttheir own pick, the Bobcats' pick, and Utah's pick. That's not necessarily a good thing since I'm not so sure getting even younger is the smartest thing for them to do. Kahn might want to consider either selling or trading Utah's pick since it will be the lowest of the three.Even though Kahn has acted on the wishes of owner Glen Taylor, you have to dock him points for both trading Mike Miller and Randy Foye for the right to draft Ricky Rubio and for trading the draft rights to 18th-overall pick Ty Lawson for Charlotte's 2010 first-rounder.Charlotte's pick will be the 16th overall.
In the past few seasons he has unloaded Ron Artest
Mike Bibby, and Kevin Martin, and all he has to show for them is Carl Landry, Donte Green, Omri Casspi, and a little bit of cap space.Cap space is a nice thing to have but Sacramento hasn't exactly been a mecca for the league's free agents when you consider Vlade Divac is still their biggest free agent signing ever.Petrie has also caught flak for hiring head coach Paul Westphal. After a 9-9 start the Kings finished the season 25-57 and owners of the league's fourth-worst record. The Kings also had the second-worst average attendance in the league this season.Petrie does get credit for drafting expected Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans. It's obvious by the trading of Martin that Evans is now the centerpiece of the team and it will be Petrie's job to give Evans a team that he will want to commit to long-term when he's eligible for his first big-money contract.Petrie has already proved that he can quickly build a winning team with just three solid moves. From 1998 to 1999 he traded Mitch Richmond for Chris Webber, signed Divac, and drafted Jason Williams. By 2000 they were one win away from knocking off the eventual champion Lakers in a first-round series.He already has his franchise player in Evans. Now he just needs to figure out if he can lure the right free agent to California's capital with the cap space he freed up and use some of Philadelphia Eagles jersey
those young players he's acquired over the last three years to trade for the final piece.3) Donnie Walsh, New York KnicksWalsh's objective since taking over as Knicks GM was to clean up the mess left by his predecessor, Isiah Thomas, and position the team to sign two max free agents this summer.Had Walsh been the GM of any other team he'd probably be lower on the list. But the allure of the nation's No. 1 media market should make it easier than some might think.Walsh did the unthinkable this year by getting the Rockets to take Jared Jeffries off his hands. Sure it cost him his most recent lottery pick Jordan Hill, a No. 1 pick in 2012, and the ability for the Rockets to swap picks with the Knicks in 2011 in order to do it.But if Walsh succeeds in luring at least one of the top-tier free agents to New York then it will have been worth it. If he can't then he might have to wait until the summer of 2011 once Eddy Curry's expiring contract can also come off the books.2) Gar Forman, Chicago BullsGive Forman credit for taking chances. His Bulls were a playoff team last season and were in position to make the playoffs again this season when he pulled the trigger on a couple of deadline deals.Forman knew the trades might make his team worse but he knew they would better the team's chances of landing a top-tier free agent this summer with the cap space to offer a maximum contract.So out went John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas and in came Hakim Warrick, Joe Alexander, and Ronald Murray.Wednesday night's win in Charlotte earned the Bulls the right to lose to the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. So Forman managed to not only clear cap space but his team also made the playoffssomething that might make them a much more attractive destination for free agents.1) Pat Riley, Miami HeatThe Heat finished the season as hot as any team in the league. They took advantage of the injury to Andrew Bogut to pass the Bucks for the fifth-seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round match-up with the Boston Celtics.It has to be a plus for this summer's free agents that a team that was considered by many to miss the playoffs finished 12 games above .500. That's remarkable for a team that started Joel Anthony, Quentin Richardson, and Carlos Arroyo down the stretch.Riley is one step ahead of Walsh in that he already has one of the league's best players on his team and only needs to acquire one more star to convince Dwyane Wade to stick around long-term.But what Riley really deserves the most credit for is not making a move and trusting that he had a team in place that could serve as the supporting cast once he acquires an additional superstar.Those Who Wish They Could Rebuild Right Now but Can't (From Best to Worst) This list is made up of teams who are also waiting for contracts to expire. The difference is that unlike the previous list of teams who are trying to rebuild, these teams will have to wait at least another year for those contracts to expire.Each of these teams had chances to speed up the rebuilding process but instead either chose not to, or like Dumars and Colangelo, had the financial freedom to turn things around and flubbed it.7) John Hammond, Milwaukee BucksHammond only makes this list because he doesn't fit into any of the other categories. Because the Bucks still have more than $25 million committed next season to Redd and Dan Gadzuric, Hammond is still a year away from putting his full stamp on this team.With Skiles, Bogut, and Jennings he's in a much better place than any of the other guys on this list.So even though Hammond made what I would consider the most undesirable list he's also in a better position than any of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
these guys to ascend to one of the better lists almost immediately.Even though Redd is coming off another knee surgery he's still an expiring contract next season at a time when many teams will be looking to shed salary in anticipation of the league's new collective bargaining agreement.6) Joe Dumars, Detroit PistonsI once labeled Dumars the Jerry West of his generation. Both were former players who were always given the greatest amount of respect by their peers. There was a time when everything Dumars touched turned to gold.Even the sign-and-trade deal that sent Grant Hill to Orlando worked out better for the Pistons than it did the Magic because it netted four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace.Dumars signed Billups when every other team he'd played for had given up on him. He also stole Rip Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse, drafted Tayshaun Prince after 22 teams passed up on him, and fleeced the Hawks for Rasheed Wallace.Before last season the only real blemish on Dumars bio was drafting Darko Milicic when he could have had Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Kirk Hinrich, or Chris Kaman instead.But even that move was hard to argue with since the Pistons won a championship with Milicic on their roster.But lately it seems that almost every move Dumars has made has left people scratching their heads more often than not.Dumars traded team leader Chauncey Billups last season for the expiring contract of Allen Iverson only to waste all of the cap space he accumulated on Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon.Now Dumars is stuck with a roster that seems stacked at shooting guard and small forward but is thin at point guard, power forward, and center.Dumars will now try to unload Tayshaun Prince's expiring contract and/or the remaining three years and $38 million of Hamilton's contract that takes him through his 35th birthday.The next move Dumars makes might be the most important. Whether that's moving Prince or Hamilton, the long-term future of this team is in the hands of a GM whose future might be decided in the next 18 months.The team has hired Citigroup to figure out the team's value in an impending sale. While no new owner would commit the public relations homicide that would come with firing Dumars, there is a growing contingent of Pistons fans who might be in favor of it.5) Bryan Colangelo, Toronto RaptorsColangelo went into the summer ofSan Diego Chargers jersey
2009 with one goal in mind. He needed to convince soon-to-be free agent Chris Bosh that the future in Toronto was bright enough for Bosh to stick around long-term.So Colangelo signed Bosh's old college teammate and close friend Jarrett Jack and traded for Hedo Turkoglu, Reggie Evans, Marco Belinelli, Antoine Wright, and Amir Johnson.The result is a team that missed the playoffs and, in all likelihood, will lose Bosh either without compensation or in a sign-and-trade deal.It would be in Colangelo's best interest to sign-and-trade Bosh since the team won't have much cap space to replace him should he leave as a free agent.Colangelo's future in Toronto might be tied to the Bosh situation. If he fails to either re-sign Bosh or sign-and-trade him then I don't envision Colangelo would be around in the summer of 2011 when the expiring contracts of Evans and Marcus Banks could create another $10 million in cap space.4) Larry Bird, Indiana PacersNobody really knows what Bird is trying to do other than waiting for the summer of 2011. The Pacers currently have three players in Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Troy Murphy, and T.J. Ford who have large contracts that expire after next season.There were rumors earlier in the season that Bird and Ferry were discussing a trade that would have sent Murphy to the Cavs for expiring contracts but the Cavs ultimately made a move for Jamison instead.Now Pacers fans are left playing the waiting game while the team tries to build around Danny Granger and recent draft picks Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert, and Tyler Hansbroughnone of whom have even made the Rookie/Sophomore game.In the meantime, the league's best arena has seen it's average attendance drop to less than 14,000 per game.3) Ed Stefanski, Philadelphia 76ersYou can blame Stefanski's predecessor, Billy King, for the horrible contract of Samuel Dalembert but you can definitely hold Stefanski responsible for the contracts of Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams, and Elton Brand.Even though the Sixers have close to $23 million in contracts set to expire after next season the team still won't be in position to become a contender with a shrinking cap and so much money committed to those three guys.There were rumors that the team was looking to move Iguodala at the deadline for Amar Stoudemire but nothing happened. Look for them to try to move him again to a team that strikes out in free agency but has the cap space to absorb the final four years and $57 million left on his deal.As for Brand, the only question is whether or not Stefanski will still be the team's GM when Brand's contract finally expires in 2013.2) Larry Riley, Golden St. WarriorsYou can't fault Riley for all of the injuries this team has suffered this season. Now that the Warriors are for sale the question is whether or not Riley will still have a job when the new ownership takes over.On the bright side, he drafted likely Rookie of the Year runner-up Stephen Curry and the team still has a number of young lottery picks drafted by former GM, Chris Mullin.The big question going forward is if the personnel of this team will be able to fit in with a different coach's system. Even if the team's new owner allows Don Nelson to finish out his contract the odds are it will likely be his last.Riley probably won't be able to make any moves until after the ownership change when his fate will be decided. San Francisco 49ers jersey
Whoever the GM is will probably try to package Monta Ellis with one or two of their other young players to fill a need.1) David Kahn, Minnesota TimberwolvesGive Kahn credit for lowering the expectations for his team almost immediately. While some of the other bottom-feeders were trying to sell their fans a bill of goods Kahn let it be known that his team was still years away from even making the playoffs.The question for the Wolves is how patient will their fanbase be after another disastrous year? Kahn will most likely see what he can get this summer for either Al Jefferson or Kevin Love.The Wolves should have three picks in the first round of the drafttheir own pick, the Bobcats' pick, and Utah's pick. That's not necessarily a good thing since I'm not so sure getting even younger is the smartest thing for them to do. Kahn might want to consider either selling or trading Utah's pick since it will be the lowest of the three.Even though Kahn has acted on the wishes of owner Glen Taylor, you have to dock him points for both trading Mike Miller and Randy Foye for the right to draft Ricky Rubio and for trading the draft rights to 18th-overall pick Ty Lawson for Charlotte's 2010 first-rounder.Charlotte's pick will be the 16th overall.
those young players he's acquired over the last three years to trade for the final piece.3) Donnie Walsh, New York KnicksWalsh's objective since taking over as Knicks GM was to clean up the mess left by his predecessor, Isiah Thomas, and position the team to sign two max free agents this summer.Had Walsh been the GM of any other team he'd probably be lower on the list. But the allure of the nation's No. 1 media market should make it easier than some might think.Walsh did the unthinkable this year by getting the Rockets to take Jared Jeffries off his hands. Sure it cost him his most recent lottery pick Jordan Hill, a No. 1 pick in 2012, and the ability for the Rockets to swap picks with the Knicks in 2011 in order to do it.But if Walsh succeeds in luring at least one of the top-tier free agents to New York then it will have been worth it. If he can't then he might have to wait until the summer of 2011 once Eddy Curry's expiring contract can also come off the books.2) Gar Forman, Chicago BullsGive Forman credit for taking chances. His Bulls were a playoff team last season and were in position to make the playoffs again this season when he pulled the trigger on a couple of deadline deals.Forman knew the trades might make his team worse but he knew they would better the team's chances of landing a top-tier free agent this summer with the cap space to offer a maximum contract.So out went John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas and in came Hakim Warrick, Joe Alexander, and Ronald Murray.Wednesday night's win in Charlotte earned the Bulls the right to lose to the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. So Forman managed to not only clear cap space but his team also made the playoffssomething that might make them a much more attractive destination for free agents.1) Pat Riley, Miami HeatThe Heat finished the season as hot as any team in the league. They took advantage of the injury to Andrew Bogut to pass the Bucks for the fifth-seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round match-up with the Boston Celtics.It has to be a plus for this summer's free agents that a team that was considered by many to miss the playoffs finished 12 games above .500. That's remarkable for a team that started Joel Anthony, Quentin Richardson, and Carlos Arroyo down the stretch.Riley is one step ahead of Walsh in that he already has one of the league's best players on his team and only needs to acquire one more star to convince Dwyane Wade to stick around long-term.But what Riley really deserves the most credit for is not making a move and trusting that he had a team in place that could serve as the supporting cast once he acquires an additional superstar.Those Who Wish They Could Rebuild Right Now but Can't (From Best to Worst) This list is made up of teams who are also waiting for contracts to expire. The difference is that unlike the previous list of teams who are trying to rebuild, these teams will have to wait at least another year for those contracts to expire.Each of these teams had chances to speed up the rebuilding process but instead either chose not to, or like Dumars and Colangelo, had the financial freedom to turn things around and flubbed it.7) John Hammond, Milwaukee BucksHammond only makes this list because he doesn't fit into any of the other categories. Because the Bucks still have more than $25 million committed next season to Redd and Dan Gadzuric, Hammond is still a year away from putting his full stamp on this team.With Skiles, Bogut, and Jennings he's in a much better place than any of the other guys on this list.So even though Hammond made what I would consider the most undesirable list he's also in a better position than any of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
these guys to ascend to one of the better lists almost immediately.Even though Redd is coming off another knee surgery he's still an expiring contract next season at a time when many teams will be looking to shed salary in anticipation of the league's new collective bargaining agreement.6) Joe Dumars, Detroit PistonsI once labeled Dumars the Jerry West of his generation. Both were former players who were always given the greatest amount of respect by their peers. There was a time when everything Dumars touched turned to gold.Even the sign-and-trade deal that sent Grant Hill to Orlando worked out better for the Pistons than it did the Magic because it netted four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace.Dumars signed Billups when every other team he'd played for had given up on him. He also stole Rip Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse, drafted Tayshaun Prince after 22 teams passed up on him, and fleeced the Hawks for Rasheed Wallace.Before last season the only real blemish on Dumars bio was drafting Darko Milicic when he could have had Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Kirk Hinrich, or Chris Kaman instead.But even that move was hard to argue with since the Pistons won a championship with Milicic on their roster.But lately it seems that almost every move Dumars has made has left people scratching their heads more often than not.Dumars traded team leader Chauncey Billups last season for the expiring contract of Allen Iverson only to waste all of the cap space he accumulated on Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon.Now Dumars is stuck with a roster that seems stacked at shooting guard and small forward but is thin at point guard, power forward, and center.Dumars will now try to unload Tayshaun Prince's expiring contract and/or the remaining three years and $38 million of Hamilton's contract that takes him through his 35th birthday.The next move Dumars makes might be the most important. Whether that's moving Prince or Hamilton, the long-term future of this team is in the hands of a GM whose future might be decided in the next 18 months.The team has hired Citigroup to figure out the team's value in an impending sale. While no new owner would commit the public relations homicide that would come with firing Dumars, there is a growing contingent of Pistons fans who might be in favor of it.5) Bryan Colangelo, Toronto RaptorsColangelo went into the summer ofSan Diego Chargers jersey
2009 with one goal in mind. He needed to convince soon-to-be free agent Chris Bosh that the future in Toronto was bright enough for Bosh to stick around long-term.So Colangelo signed Bosh's old college teammate and close friend Jarrett Jack and traded for Hedo Turkoglu, Reggie Evans, Marco Belinelli, Antoine Wright, and Amir Johnson.The result is a team that missed the playoffs and, in all likelihood, will lose Bosh either without compensation or in a sign-and-trade deal.It would be in Colangelo's best interest to sign-and-trade Bosh since the team won't have much cap space to replace him should he leave as a free agent.Colangelo's future in Toronto might be tied to the Bosh situation. If he fails to either re-sign Bosh or sign-and-trade him then I don't envision Colangelo would be around in the summer of 2011 when the expiring contracts of Evans and Marcus Banks could create another $10 million in cap space.4) Larry Bird, Indiana PacersNobody really knows what Bird is trying to do other than waiting for the summer of 2011. The Pacers currently have three players in Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Troy Murphy, and T.J. Ford who have large contracts that expire after next season.There were rumors earlier in the season that Bird and Ferry were discussing a trade that would have sent Murphy to the Cavs for expiring contracts but the Cavs ultimately made a move for Jamison instead.Now Pacers fans are left playing the waiting game while the team tries to build around Danny Granger and recent draft picks Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert, and Tyler Hansbroughnone of whom have even made the Rookie/Sophomore game.In the meantime, the league's best arena has seen it's average attendance drop to less than 14,000 per game.3) Ed Stefanski, Philadelphia 76ersYou can blame Stefanski's predecessor, Billy King, for the horrible contract of Samuel Dalembert but you can definitely hold Stefanski responsible for the contracts of Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams, and Elton Brand.Even though the Sixers have close to $23 million in contracts set to expire after next season the team still won't be in position to become a contender with a shrinking cap and so much money committed to those three guys.There were rumors that the team was looking to move Iguodala at the deadline for Amar Stoudemire but nothing happened. Look for them to try to move him again to a team that strikes out in free agency but has the cap space to absorb the final four years and $57 million left on his deal.As for Brand, the only question is whether or not Stefanski will still be the team's GM when Brand's contract finally expires in 2013.2) Larry Riley, Golden St. WarriorsYou can't fault Riley for all of the injuries this team has suffered this season. Now that the Warriors are for sale the question is whether or not Riley will still have a job when the new ownership takes over.On the bright side, he drafted likely Rookie of the Year runner-up Stephen Curry and the team still has a number of young lottery picks drafted by former GM, Chris Mullin.The big question going forward is if the personnel of this team will be able to fit in with a different coach's system. Even if the team's new owner allows Don Nelson to finish out his contract the odds are it will likely be his last.Riley probably won't be able to make any moves until after the ownership change when his fate will be decided. San Francisco 49ers jersey
Whoever the GM is will probably try to package Monta Ellis with one or two of their other young players to fill a need.1) David Kahn, Minnesota TimberwolvesGive Kahn credit for lowering the expectations for his team almost immediately. While some of the other bottom-feeders were trying to sell their fans a bill of goods Kahn let it be known that his team was still years away from even making the playoffs.The question for the Wolves is how patient will their fanbase be after another disastrous year? Kahn will most likely see what he can get this summer for either Al Jefferson or Kevin Love.The Wolves should have three picks in the first round of the drafttheir own pick, the Bobcats' pick, and Utah's pick. That's not necessarily a good thing since I'm not so sure getting even younger is the smartest thing for them to do. Kahn might want to consider either selling or trading Utah's pick since it will be the lowest of the three.Even though Kahn has acted on the wishes of owner Glen Taylor, you have to dock him points for both trading Mike Miller and Randy Foye for the right to draft Ricky Rubio and for trading the draft rights to 18th-overall pick Ty Lawson for Charlotte's 2010 first-rounder.Charlotte's pick will be the 16th overall.
2010年12月28日星期二
28 Dec 10 Phoenix Suns (sort of) Make a Stand For Hispanic Fans
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesAs the political climate in Arizona heats up over the recent immigration laws signed by Arizona governor Jan Brewer, the Suns have announced that they will wear Los Suns jerseys in tonight's playoff game as a show of solidarity with Arizona's Hispanic community.High profile members of the Phoenix Suns organization, including GM Steve Kerr, Steve Nash, and Amar Stoudemire have expressed dismay over the new laws, which may allow police officers to question anyone who appears to be an illegal alien.The law does not set clear provisions for how the appearance of illegality would be judged, beyond stating that officers need reasonable suspicion to make reasonable attemptsto determine the immigration status.The provisions demand subjectivity on the Philadelphia Eagles jersey
part of Arizona police officers (as do most laws), and has led some to worry that it will allow officers to question anyone who looks Hispanic.The fear, as stated by executive director of the NBA Players Association, Billy Hunter, is that any attempts to encourage, tolerate or legalize racial profiling is offensive and incompatible with basic notions of fairness and equal protection.Whether or not you agree with this, you have to agree that the Suns and the NBA notion of solidarity is a bit weird.I have no problem with the organization deciding to take a political stand if it feels that its customers, the fans, are being wrongly mistreated, profiled, or discriminated against.I have a big problem with Los Suns.In the words of Amar, the Suns want to let the Latin community know were behind them 100 percent.Well then why not make their jerseys 100 percent Spanish?Los Suns is like an institutionalization of Chad Ochocinco sadly inaccurate attempt to say 85 in Spanglish.Los Soles not only sounds cooler than Los Suns, it would set a trend for the Heat to get rid of their El Heat jerseys in favor of El Calor.It would also say not only do we sympathize with the concerns of our Hispanic fans, we thought about this deeply enough to put two words from their native language together.The whole Noches Latinas concept that spawned the multilingual jerseys was meant to recognize the Latino fan community. Does the fact they only got halfway done with the jerseys show a halfhearted commitment?I should say that the Suns organization hasn come out and blasted the bill. Players have, more or less, expressed reservations about what the law could mean without outright condemning it.Even Nash, who addresses Spanish language media outlets in fluent Spanish, Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
has only said the law creates opportunity for things we don want to see, and don need to see in 2010.Given the lack of virulent protest from the organization, maybe the uniforms should be only half Spanish.Then again, it unlikely that a team in any other league would address this issue.NBA fans trend more liberal than fans of other major leagues like the NFL and MLB. The pro football team in our nation capital is still called the Redskins .There a reason that many college campuses changed potentially offensive American Indian related mascots: colleges are typically liberal places (except maybe Oral Roberts).I admit that I have mixed feelings about the new laws, and need to read more about them to fully understand the implications for Arizona Hispanic population.But if the Phoenix Suns and the NBA feel strongly enough to communicate to Arizona people with this admirable symbolic gesture, they should be thoughtful enough to do it right. Viva Los Soles!Read more commentary and opinions at www.HoopSpeak.com , and follow Beckley on San Diego Chargers jersey
NOTE: I'm pumped about all the people who have commented here, but I don't want the comments section to be a place where everyone just craps on each other for believing different things. Feel free to write whatever you want, however I think the most interesting subject is not "who is the bigger idiot," but "what do I make of the Suns decision?"
part of Arizona police officers (as do most laws), and has led some to worry that it will allow officers to question anyone who looks Hispanic.The fear, as stated by executive director of the NBA Players Association, Billy Hunter, is that any attempts to encourage, tolerate or legalize racial profiling is offensive and incompatible with basic notions of fairness and equal protection.Whether or not you agree with this, you have to agree that the Suns and the NBA notion of solidarity is a bit weird.I have no problem with the organization deciding to take a political stand if it feels that its customers, the fans, are being wrongly mistreated, profiled, or discriminated against.I have a big problem with Los Suns.In the words of Amar, the Suns want to let the Latin community know were behind them 100 percent.Well then why not make their jerseys 100 percent Spanish?Los Suns is like an institutionalization of Chad Ochocinco sadly inaccurate attempt to say 85 in Spanglish.Los Soles not only sounds cooler than Los Suns, it would set a trend for the Heat to get rid of their El Heat jerseys in favor of El Calor.It would also say not only do we sympathize with the concerns of our Hispanic fans, we thought about this deeply enough to put two words from their native language together.The whole Noches Latinas concept that spawned the multilingual jerseys was meant to recognize the Latino fan community. Does the fact they only got halfway done with the jerseys show a halfhearted commitment?I should say that the Suns organization hasn come out and blasted the bill. Players have, more or less, expressed reservations about what the law could mean without outright condemning it.Even Nash, who addresses Spanish language media outlets in fluent Spanish, Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
has only said the law creates opportunity for things we don want to see, and don need to see in 2010.Given the lack of virulent protest from the organization, maybe the uniforms should be only half Spanish.Then again, it unlikely that a team in any other league would address this issue.NBA fans trend more liberal than fans of other major leagues like the NFL and MLB. The pro football team in our nation capital is still called the Redskins .There a reason that many college campuses changed potentially offensive American Indian related mascots: colleges are typically liberal places (except maybe Oral Roberts).I admit that I have mixed feelings about the new laws, and need to read more about them to fully understand the implications for Arizona Hispanic population.But if the Phoenix Suns and the NBA feel strongly enough to communicate to Arizona people with this admirable symbolic gesture, they should be thoughtful enough to do it right. Viva Los Soles!Read more commentary and opinions at www.HoopSpeak.com , and follow Beckley on San Diego Chargers jersey
NOTE: I'm pumped about all the people who have commented here, but I don't want the comments section to be a place where everyone just craps on each other for believing different things. Feel free to write whatever you want, however I think the most interesting subject is not "who is the bigger idiot," but "what do I make of the Suns decision?"
2010年12月27日星期一
27 Dec 10 2010 NBA Mock Draft Version 1.0 (1-of-3)
Chris Chambers/Getty ImagesThis is part one of my three part NBA Mock Draft.(Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3)Full Draft Coverage on Eternal MulliganFirst before I begin giving you my first draft of the 2010 NBA Mock Draft season I want to preface this by saying I made the picks I did with the assumption that a few free agents are leaving their respected team and certain I feel are remaining. I think that D-Wade is staying in Miami, LeBron is leaving, Chris Bosh will no longer be a Raptor and Joe Johnson is exiting the way of Kansas City Chiefs jersey
Mike Woodson. I preface this by saying that if you don't agree I am sorry but I guess we won't know the true validity of the free agent market till July, 9th.I made my picks based on need, availability and a large amount of common sense. Despite the rumors and theories John Wall is going to be the first pick and if the Sixers don't take Evan Turner with the second pick I might jump off a bridge... That being said I present you part 1-of-3 of the Mock Draft 1.0.1. Washington Wizards: John Wall (PG) KentuckyThis pick was a no brain-er even before the Wizards won the lottery. Wall has the most hype and potential out of this draft. This is a good fit for the Wizards because it will allow the reinstated Gilbert Arenas to move to the SG position, which is his natural fit. This team has the money to take on a max contract so with Wall and Arenas in the backcourt expect them to make a move after a PF or PF/C combo.2. Philadelphia 76ers: Evan Turner (SG) Ohio State This is the smartest pick for the lowly Sixers. The team has so many multiples in the front court and having the chance to take Turner at the second pick is a gift to the Sixers who went a dismal 27-55 last year. Turner is a all around talent, and will make a strong asset to a team that needs a fresh start. The Sixers will get a back court of the future with Turner and last years first round pick Jrue Holiday.3. N.J. Nets: Derrick Favors (PF) Georgia TechNets majority Mikhail Prokhorov took over with a grand plan in his first night as Nets gm: Take John Wall with the first pick, steal LeBron James in free agency and instantly turn around the Nets. Problem is in the last five years the worst team in the league has not won the lottery. With all of that in the past I expect the Nets to take the young and talented Favors. It has been made clear that Prokhorov does not plan on keep Yi Jianlian so expect Favors to slide into the starting PF position quickly.4. Minnesota Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson (SF) Syracuse.Johnson averaged 16 points a game last season and will fit in nicely with a Timberwolves team that is still rebuilding. Yes I know he is pretty much a Ryan Gomes replica but that will add some stability to a team that is lacking a deep bench. Plus Johnson can slide into the 4 when Kevin Love needs a break. Be advised I would not be surprised if the T-Wolves went with a center in this pick. (DeMarcus Cousins is option 2).5. Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins (PF/C) KentuckyThe Kings need help in the low post and Miami Dolphins jersey
Cousins would be a great fit. The Kings would haven been better then they finished last season if Spencer Hawes wasn't injured. Cousins and his 6'11 frame will add some stability in the low post and allow Carl Landry to move to SF.6. Golden State Warriors: Al-Farouq Aminu (PF) Wake ForestAt 6'8 with a seven foot wing span Aminu could really help the young fast Warriors. He used to playing in a run and gun offense and could balance well with SF Corey Maggette. The Warriors were a -10 rebounding last season and Aminu can crash the boards. Many have compared him to Josh Smith and I agree. He is a hybrid forward that plays beyond his size.7. Detroit Pistons: Ekpe Udoh (C) BaylorBen Wallace is old and Kwame Brown is garbage so taking a center at the seven slot is the easiest pick since Evan Turner. Udoh will be an immediate starter and will allow Jonas Jerebko to move out of the paint and take more outside shots. This will be an immediate upgrade for Detroit. This is a SG heavy draft so expect that Pistons to take one with their second round pick (26 overall).8. L.A. Clippers: Cole Aldrich (PF/C) KansasAldrich won't start, seeing as the Clippers are expecting a rookie of the year season for Blake Griffin, but expect the 6'11 Aldrich so get plenty of time off the bench. The reason I took Aldrich here is because I think he could be a top 5 selection. Don't be shocked if the Clippers take a SG but I think they like the insurance policy Aldrich can give them if Blake Griffin becomes the next Greg Oden.9. Utah Jazz: Greg Monroe (PF) GeorgetownThis is one of those picks that I mentioned in the preface. Monroe is a project player but may be a safe bet for the Jazz if Carlos Boozer opts out next year. Hes a smaller Lamar Odom type but with the right coaching could become a strong utility starter in the league. John Thompson produces quality Big Men and Monroe may be the next product to take over that crown.10. Indiana Pacers: Ed Davis (PF) North CarolinaI really felt bad for the Pacers at the draft lottery. Danny Granger looked so stoked to be at the lottery but looked like someone shot his dog when the 10 pick came up. The Pacers have many needs and I don't think Tyler Hansbrough will ever be an NBA talent. In Davis the Minnesota Vikings
Pacers will get a true North Carolina PF and someone that will give Troy Murphy a rest when needed. Plus I think I speak for all NBA fans in saying the Pacers need to stop taking white guys, T.J. Ford looks like hes constantly being audited.Picks 11-20 to come tomorrow, just a hint: 9-of-10 will be forward hybrids...Let the scrutiny begin.
Mike Woodson. I preface this by saying that if you don't agree I am sorry but I guess we won't know the true validity of the free agent market till July, 9th.I made my picks based on need, availability and a large amount of common sense. Despite the rumors and theories John Wall is going to be the first pick and if the Sixers don't take Evan Turner with the second pick I might jump off a bridge... That being said I present you part 1-of-3 of the Mock Draft 1.0.1. Washington Wizards: John Wall (PG) KentuckyThis pick was a no brain-er even before the Wizards won the lottery. Wall has the most hype and potential out of this draft. This is a good fit for the Wizards because it will allow the reinstated Gilbert Arenas to move to the SG position, which is his natural fit. This team has the money to take on a max contract so with Wall and Arenas in the backcourt expect them to make a move after a PF or PF/C combo.2. Philadelphia 76ers: Evan Turner (SG) Ohio State This is the smartest pick for the lowly Sixers. The team has so many multiples in the front court and having the chance to take Turner at the second pick is a gift to the Sixers who went a dismal 27-55 last year. Turner is a all around talent, and will make a strong asset to a team that needs a fresh start. The Sixers will get a back court of the future with Turner and last years first round pick Jrue Holiday.3. N.J. Nets: Derrick Favors (PF) Georgia TechNets majority Mikhail Prokhorov took over with a grand plan in his first night as Nets gm: Take John Wall with the first pick, steal LeBron James in free agency and instantly turn around the Nets. Problem is in the last five years the worst team in the league has not won the lottery. With all of that in the past I expect the Nets to take the young and talented Favors. It has been made clear that Prokhorov does not plan on keep Yi Jianlian so expect Favors to slide into the starting PF position quickly.4. Minnesota Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson (SF) Syracuse.Johnson averaged 16 points a game last season and will fit in nicely with a Timberwolves team that is still rebuilding. Yes I know he is pretty much a Ryan Gomes replica but that will add some stability to a team that is lacking a deep bench. Plus Johnson can slide into the 4 when Kevin Love needs a break. Be advised I would not be surprised if the T-Wolves went with a center in this pick. (DeMarcus Cousins is option 2).5. Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins (PF/C) KentuckyThe Kings need help in the low post and Miami Dolphins jersey
Cousins would be a great fit. The Kings would haven been better then they finished last season if Spencer Hawes wasn't injured. Cousins and his 6'11 frame will add some stability in the low post and allow Carl Landry to move to SF.6. Golden State Warriors: Al-Farouq Aminu (PF) Wake ForestAt 6'8 with a seven foot wing span Aminu could really help the young fast Warriors. He used to playing in a run and gun offense and could balance well with SF Corey Maggette. The Warriors were a -10 rebounding last season and Aminu can crash the boards. Many have compared him to Josh Smith and I agree. He is a hybrid forward that plays beyond his size.7. Detroit Pistons: Ekpe Udoh (C) BaylorBen Wallace is old and Kwame Brown is garbage so taking a center at the seven slot is the easiest pick since Evan Turner. Udoh will be an immediate starter and will allow Jonas Jerebko to move out of the paint and take more outside shots. This will be an immediate upgrade for Detroit. This is a SG heavy draft so expect that Pistons to take one with their second round pick (26 overall).8. L.A. Clippers: Cole Aldrich (PF/C) KansasAldrich won't start, seeing as the Clippers are expecting a rookie of the year season for Blake Griffin, but expect the 6'11 Aldrich so get plenty of time off the bench. The reason I took Aldrich here is because I think he could be a top 5 selection. Don't be shocked if the Clippers take a SG but I think they like the insurance policy Aldrich can give them if Blake Griffin becomes the next Greg Oden.9. Utah Jazz: Greg Monroe (PF) GeorgetownThis is one of those picks that I mentioned in the preface. Monroe is a project player but may be a safe bet for the Jazz if Carlos Boozer opts out next year. Hes a smaller Lamar Odom type but with the right coaching could become a strong utility starter in the league. John Thompson produces quality Big Men and Monroe may be the next product to take over that crown.10. Indiana Pacers: Ed Davis (PF) North CarolinaI really felt bad for the Pacers at the draft lottery. Danny Granger looked so stoked to be at the lottery but looked like someone shot his dog when the 10 pick came up. The Pacers have many needs and I don't think Tyler Hansbrough will ever be an NBA talent. In Davis the Minnesota Vikings
Pacers will get a true North Carolina PF and someone that will give Troy Murphy a rest when needed. Plus I think I speak for all NBA fans in saying the Pacers need to stop taking white guys, T.J. Ford looks like hes constantly being audited.Picks 11-20 to come tomorrow, just a hint: 9-of-10 will be forward hybrids...Let the scrutiny begin.
2010年12月26日星期日
26 Dec 10 Forget LeBron James, Why is No One Talking About Dwyane Wade?
Elsa/Getty ImagesIt was the summer I'll never forget. In 2003 a star was born. The NBA was still going through drastic changes and so a star was needed. Fortunately for the NBA, many stars entered that year's draft. However, it was only one that the media singled out to be the next biggest thing, the Atlanta Falcons jersey
next prodigy child, the next MJLeBron James. Dubbed "The Chosen One" or "The King," some could make the argument that LeBron James has lived up to the hype. There is almost always one particular moment in every game that he plays in that leaves you speechless with your hands folded on the back of your head, in disbelief. The problem with the 21st century is that the media has evolved for the worse. Too much emphasis is tossed around too easily and they tend to over-exaggerate everything. LBJ received these nicknames even before coming into the league; before accomplishing anything. There are many highlights of him in high schoolyears before he entered the NBA Draft. While they were spectacular athletic maneuvers, there was another young star who was completely forgotten about who also filled up the stat sheet, the highlight reel, and took a college with no one on his team to the NCAA Final Four. Dwayne Wade entered the 2003 Draft along with some other big names (LBJ, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, etc.). The comparisons from these overly-giddy media outlets, including ESPN, were being made mainly between LBJ and C. Anthony. While Wade had significant accomplishments himself, he still went practically unnoticed. Seven years, ridiculous stats, and one NBA championship later, he is still going somewhat unnoticed in the biggest free agent summer in the history of the NBA. Why is no one talking about Wade? We can start by analyzing the statistics of these three players: LBJ, DW, and CA (most probably the top three guys out of the 2003 Draft). LBJ Career: 47.5 percent shooting, 74.2 percent FT, 1.7 STL, 0.9 BLK, 3.3 TO, 7.1 REB, 7.0 AST, 27.8 PTS D. Wade Career: 48.2 percent shooting, 77 percent FT, 1.8 STL, 1.0 BLK, 3.7 TO, 4.9 REB, 6.6 AST, 25.4 PTS C. Anthony Career: 45.9 percent shooting, 80.1 percent FT, 1.1 STL, 0.4 BLK, 3.1 TO, 6.2 REB, 3.1 AST, 24.7 PTS D. Baltimore Ravens jersey
Wade's numbers are essentially identical to that of LBJ's. However, here's the difference: Wade had his best statistical year during his championship run in 2005-06 at almost 50 percent shooting. This runs parallel to James, who shot a bit over 50 percent this year while his Cavs were the heavy favorites to win the title. The other statistics between them are identical as well (REB, AST, STL, etc.). The sole differentiating factor is that Wade capitalized on his improved team while LBJ squandered his chances two years in a row (let's not forget they were the favorites to win last year as well). LBJ had his best two teams in the past two years and did not capitalize on it. The bottom line is that if you surround D. Wade with a good supporting cast he will will his way to a title, whereas LBJ (disappointingly) hasn't shown this. Where is the "killer instinct" gene in LBJ that resides in D. Wade? Which brings me to my next point: at 6'4", 220 lbs how is it that D. Wade's stats are similar to that of LBJ's, whose physical build (6'8, 275 lbs) is far superior than Wade's? Wade is, simply put, a beastfor his size . It's unfathomable to think that Wade averages as many blocks as LeBron, yet it's true. LeBron had his best year so far and while his shooting percentage was outstanding, his rebounding should have been far better. With a body and a vertical leap like that, not to mention his speed, he should have averaged more rebounds (and blocks). There were not too many Buffalo Bills jersey
opponents (SF's) who had a height advantage, leap ability, or quickness on him. Take, for example, Wilt Chamberlain back in the day. He had a whopping half a foot on almost everyone in the league at his time. His strength/physicality was far superior to the other league players...and he capitalized on it. The point is this: Wade knows how to capitalize and this should not be overlooked by teams looking to sign a premier free agent. He is hands down one of the most complete players in the NBA today. However, due to all of the LeBron James hype, Wade yet again lurks in the shadows. One thing is for sure: it will be the summer that Dwayne Wade never forgets.
next prodigy child, the next MJLeBron James. Dubbed "The Chosen One" or "The King," some could make the argument that LeBron James has lived up to the hype. There is almost always one particular moment in every game that he plays in that leaves you speechless with your hands folded on the back of your head, in disbelief. The problem with the 21st century is that the media has evolved for the worse. Too much emphasis is tossed around too easily and they tend to over-exaggerate everything. LBJ received these nicknames even before coming into the league; before accomplishing anything. There are many highlights of him in high schoolyears before he entered the NBA Draft. While they were spectacular athletic maneuvers, there was another young star who was completely forgotten about who also filled up the stat sheet, the highlight reel, and took a college with no one on his team to the NCAA Final Four. Dwayne Wade entered the 2003 Draft along with some other big names (LBJ, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, etc.). The comparisons from these overly-giddy media outlets, including ESPN, were being made mainly between LBJ and C. Anthony. While Wade had significant accomplishments himself, he still went practically unnoticed. Seven years, ridiculous stats, and one NBA championship later, he is still going somewhat unnoticed in the biggest free agent summer in the history of the NBA. Why is no one talking about Wade? We can start by analyzing the statistics of these three players: LBJ, DW, and CA (most probably the top three guys out of the 2003 Draft). LBJ Career: 47.5 percent shooting, 74.2 percent FT, 1.7 STL, 0.9 BLK, 3.3 TO, 7.1 REB, 7.0 AST, 27.8 PTS D. Wade Career: 48.2 percent shooting, 77 percent FT, 1.8 STL, 1.0 BLK, 3.7 TO, 4.9 REB, 6.6 AST, 25.4 PTS C. Anthony Career: 45.9 percent shooting, 80.1 percent FT, 1.1 STL, 0.4 BLK, 3.1 TO, 6.2 REB, 3.1 AST, 24.7 PTS D. Baltimore Ravens jersey
Wade's numbers are essentially identical to that of LBJ's. However, here's the difference: Wade had his best statistical year during his championship run in 2005-06 at almost 50 percent shooting. This runs parallel to James, who shot a bit over 50 percent this year while his Cavs were the heavy favorites to win the title. The other statistics between them are identical as well (REB, AST, STL, etc.). The sole differentiating factor is that Wade capitalized on his improved team while LBJ squandered his chances two years in a row (let's not forget they were the favorites to win last year as well). LBJ had his best two teams in the past two years and did not capitalize on it. The bottom line is that if you surround D. Wade with a good supporting cast he will will his way to a title, whereas LBJ (disappointingly) hasn't shown this. Where is the "killer instinct" gene in LBJ that resides in D. Wade? Which brings me to my next point: at 6'4", 220 lbs how is it that D. Wade's stats are similar to that of LBJ's, whose physical build (6'8, 275 lbs) is far superior than Wade's? Wade is, simply put, a beastfor his size . It's unfathomable to think that Wade averages as many blocks as LeBron, yet it's true. LeBron had his best year so far and while his shooting percentage was outstanding, his rebounding should have been far better. With a body and a vertical leap like that, not to mention his speed, he should have averaged more rebounds (and blocks). There were not too many Buffalo Bills jersey
opponents (SF's) who had a height advantage, leap ability, or quickness on him. Take, for example, Wilt Chamberlain back in the day. He had a whopping half a foot on almost everyone in the league at his time. His strength/physicality was far superior to the other league players...and he capitalized on it. The point is this: Wade knows how to capitalize and this should not be overlooked by teams looking to sign a premier free agent. He is hands down one of the most complete players in the NBA today. However, due to all of the LeBron James hype, Wade yet again lurks in the shadows. One thing is for sure: it will be the summer that Dwayne Wade never forgets.
2010年12月25日星期六
25 Dec 10 Cleveland Cavaliers Royalty Transitions From Kings of the NBA to Jokers
From 2008-2010 the Cleveland Cavaliers enjoyed tremendous success throughout the regular season, winning a combined league-best 127 games during the two year span.With LeBron James as the face of not only the franchise but of the entire NBA, Cleveland received the prestigious honors of airing a total of 51 ofReebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
its regular season games on national television throughout the two seasons, ranking second to only the Los Angeles Lakers who aired a combined 52 times.The Cavaliers attendance ranked second in the NBA last season and according to RealGM, when on the road, the Cavaliers routinely sold out arenas with an average increase of 2,500 more fans than on average.The Cavaliers organization managed to build a prominent fan base around James, bringing in talent upon request to help carry the team to its first NBA Finals trophy.After LeBron James announced Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
on national television this offseason that he would no longer be a part of his hometown team, Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers players, and the fans have been forced to transition from Kings of the NBA to Jokers.With LeBron James' name no longer heard of in the same sentence with the Cleveland Cavaliers (and anti-LeBron t-shirts turning into a Cleveland trend), the NBA has already begun to throw the city of Cleveland to the curb.On August 3rd the NBA released the marquee games for the 2010-11 season. Out of the 20 games scheduled, the Cavaliers were disappointingly nowhere to be found.In 2002 (the season before James was drafted), the Cavaliers ranked dead last in the NBA in attendance. With no LeBron James around the team's attendance will quickly begin to plummet.Looks like the Cavaliers' 15Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
minutes of fame has officially come to an end.The Cleveland sports curse lives on and itwon't be surprising whenCavalier fans start to lose an interest in the team that once held the key to their hearts.
its regular season games on national television throughout the two seasons, ranking second to only the Los Angeles Lakers who aired a combined 52 times.The Cavaliers attendance ranked second in the NBA last season and according to RealGM, when on the road, the Cavaliers routinely sold out arenas with an average increase of 2,500 more fans than on average.The Cavaliers organization managed to build a prominent fan base around James, bringing in talent upon request to help carry the team to its first NBA Finals trophy.After LeBron James announced Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
on national television this offseason that he would no longer be a part of his hometown team, Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers players, and the fans have been forced to transition from Kings of the NBA to Jokers.With LeBron James' name no longer heard of in the same sentence with the Cleveland Cavaliers (and anti-LeBron t-shirts turning into a Cleveland trend), the NBA has already begun to throw the city of Cleveland to the curb.On August 3rd the NBA released the marquee games for the 2010-11 season. Out of the 20 games scheduled, the Cavaliers were disappointingly nowhere to be found.In 2002 (the season before James was drafted), the Cavaliers ranked dead last in the NBA in attendance. With no LeBron James around the team's attendance will quickly begin to plummet.Looks like the Cavaliers' 15Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
minutes of fame has officially come to an end.The Cleveland sports curse lives on and itwon't be surprising whenCavalier fans start to lose an interest in the team that once held the key to their hearts.
2010年12月24日星期五
24 Dec 10 NBA: Why the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat Are Overrated
Look at these overrated all-stars!Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesSATIRE — The Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are the three most overrated teams not just in the NBA, but in all of sports. Each of these teams, while they've had their moments, are always hyped up by the press, especially ESPN. Thanks to ESPN, fans are forced at gunpoint by Mickey Mouse to ignore a front page that contains a bar at the top showing scores from the NLCS and ALCS, the center which as of right now contains a "Score Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
Center" update for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin (a very important Big 10 college football game that was played on ESPN at the time of this article's writing, by the way, Wisconsin won 31-18, which if you're a LeBron hater should make you happy since they are his favorite college football team) and instead click on a little story link under "Headlines" that has about five headlines on top of it about the possibility of LeBron coming back to the Heat on Monday Night for their preseason game against the Bobcats. Fans are not only forced to read these articles but also to go to the Heat Index, which is nowhere near the front page as of this time. To get there you must click on the NBA section, followed by scrolling down. The link is a flashy picture of the three. Then after this, the fans are forced to read articles about the preseason, then are forced to write about it in ESPN's "conversations" section. It is here where they are allowed to voice their opinions on the Heat, and many of them voice the opinion that they hate this section and how dare ESPN cover the Miami Heat when it is the preseason instead of covering the NLCS and ALCS. All because Mickey Mouse held a gun up to their head and forced them to do everything that I outlined so far in this piece. What also makes these teams overrated is the fact that ESPN seems to predict that the Los Angeles Lakers will play one of those two Eastern Conference teams in the NBA Finals. This has a lot of people upset, mainly Lakers fans who feel that there's no need for the season to be played because they won the NBA Championship last year and therefore will win it this year. I for one disagree. We all know that the Heat got the big three, meaning the Larry O'Brien Trophy should be given to them right now, and not the Lakers. Meanwhile Celtics fans will tell you that they deserve the Larry O'Brien trophy because they signed Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal. Both are All-star centers, and we all know that the game is Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
won in the paint. Of course, The Lakers areheavilyoverrated because they have 17 NBA Championships. Same goes with the Celtics. The Heat have only one, but we all know that Tim Donaghy gave the Heat the 2006 NBA Championship because he bet money on them. We know this because he did not work a single game that series, so he had to be responsible for it! These three teams are the most overrated in all of sports. Yankees and Red Sox fans will be very upset come December when they won't be able to get the latest up-to-the-minute updates on their teams' pursuit of Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee because the scores from the games that these teams are playing will be highlighted. The Heat and Lakers will take precious time away from his decision in December.J. Meric/Getty ImagesThey'll be even more upset come Mother's Day Weekend next year, when theirpivotalseries isn't broadcast on ESPN because of a decision The World Wide Leader will make to instead broadcast an NBA playoff game featuring one of these three teams. For shame ESPN! We all know that nothing is more important than a Yankees-Red Sox series in May! The media attention that these three teams—which play in three of the smallest markets in the country—receive is unprecedented. Then there's Bleacher Report, which only confirms this. Every article written is either about LeBron, Kobe, Wade, or the Celtics, Lakers and Heat as a team. These articles all seem to Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
get thousands of reads and thousands of comments. Reason being, of course, is because these teams are all overrated and people are starting to get tired of talking about them. So what do you do when you're tired of hearing about certain teams and certain players? Of course you talk about them more. It makes total perfect sense! See the more you talk about them, the more likely people are willing to take your opinion seriously. Once you say your piece about any of these subjects, then the discussion ends! That's it! Maybe I came from a different time, a time when if you didn't like something you ignored it. Apparently in 2010, the way you deal with something that you hate is to keep reading about it, then leave a snarky little comment about it. Bonus points if you go on LeBron's facebook when he's talking about raising money for breast cancer research and tell him that you wish he had cancer, then follow that up by saying "Karma is going to be a b***h to LeBum and the Heat this season." Way to show them the meaning of karma! Here I circled the LeBron article, now tell me in the comments, did you notice the article the first time you saw the picture without the circle?So we must continue to prove how overrated these three teams are and continue to show our dissatisfaction towards ESPN and every media outlet, who are clearly only on the side of these teams, especially the Miami Heat, by continuing to read and comment on every little story about them. We can apply this kind of Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
logic to other facets of life, too. For example, I don't like eggs when they're hard-boiled. So tomorrow I plan on consuming five hard boiled eggs for breakfast! I'll follow that up by listening to a playlist I made on iTunes featuring songs from my Top 10 least-favorite artists. I plan on putting the playlist on repeat as I voluntarily do something that I hate doing more than anything in this world, and that's copying words out of the dictionary. I'll then follow that up by watching my least favorite movie of all time, Titanic, about four or five times, then before I go to bed, I'll read the Twilight Saga, since it's my least favorite book series of all time. And if I can't sleep I'll get back online and possibly do some calculus, because if there's anything I hate more in this world, it's math. Oh wait, I left out the fact that I'm going to friend request my ex-girlfriend, just to leave comments filled with hate andobscenitieson every status update she makes. If I'm lucky she might participate in a walk for breast cancer; this is the perfect opportunity for me to leave a comment telling her that I hope she gets breast cancer herself and that karma is a b***h. Hey, if a Cavs fan can do it to LeBron, I can do it to my ex-girlfriend that cheated on me with my best friend, right? Alright, enough messing around. No, I don't think the Lakers, Celtics, or Heat are overrated. As a player, Kobe isn't overrated. Nor is LeBron, nor is Wade. Bosh is just a tad, as is Gasol. My ex didn't sleep with my best friend. In fact, even though it didn't end the way I wanted to, I hold no ill will towards her, and I will not waste my time watching Titanic, reading the Twilight books, or listening to music I don't like. Did you really think I'd write about the Heat and Lakers being overrated?Did you really think I'd write about the Heat and Lakers being overrated?Yes because this is bleacher report55.6%No because you've proven to be reasonable9.8%I expected the Heat since they didn't do anything, but the Lakers? Thats why I clicked. Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
Now I just feel stupid24.8%I expected the Lakers since their fans are annoying, but I clicked on it because you said Heat too, now I feel really stupid.9.8%Total votes: 214I'm just trying to point out what two of my last three posts have been about: that the negativity and fighting over what player is better is dumb, that ESPN does what they do and does it that way because they get numbers that tells them we demand it, and that it's us the fans, as well as the haters, that feed into it all. In fact, I even used computer screenshots to prove it! Sadly if this article doesn't point that out to some, then I don't know what will. Brand new Dolfan Diaries tomorrow night! Follow me on twitter, check out my archive. Do all of that before I get Mickey Mouse over to your house to point the gun at you and force you to follow me on twitter and read my archive...after you read and comment on the ESPN NBA articles about the Heat and Lakers of course.
Center" update for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin (a very important Big 10 college football game that was played on ESPN at the time of this article's writing, by the way, Wisconsin won 31-18, which if you're a LeBron hater should make you happy since they are his favorite college football team) and instead click on a little story link under "Headlines" that has about five headlines on top of it about the possibility of LeBron coming back to the Heat on Monday Night for their preseason game against the Bobcats. Fans are not only forced to read these articles but also to go to the Heat Index, which is nowhere near the front page as of this time. To get there you must click on the NBA section, followed by scrolling down. The link is a flashy picture of the three. Then after this, the fans are forced to read articles about the preseason, then are forced to write about it in ESPN's "conversations" section. It is here where they are allowed to voice their opinions on the Heat, and many of them voice the opinion that they hate this section and how dare ESPN cover the Miami Heat when it is the preseason instead of covering the NLCS and ALCS. All because Mickey Mouse held a gun up to their head and forced them to do everything that I outlined so far in this piece. What also makes these teams overrated is the fact that ESPN seems to predict that the Los Angeles Lakers will play one of those two Eastern Conference teams in the NBA Finals. This has a lot of people upset, mainly Lakers fans who feel that there's no need for the season to be played because they won the NBA Championship last year and therefore will win it this year. I for one disagree. We all know that the Heat got the big three, meaning the Larry O'Brien Trophy should be given to them right now, and not the Lakers. Meanwhile Celtics fans will tell you that they deserve the Larry O'Brien trophy because they signed Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal. Both are All-star centers, and we all know that the game is Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
won in the paint. Of course, The Lakers areheavilyoverrated because they have 17 NBA Championships. Same goes with the Celtics. The Heat have only one, but we all know that Tim Donaghy gave the Heat the 2006 NBA Championship because he bet money on them. We know this because he did not work a single game that series, so he had to be responsible for it! These three teams are the most overrated in all of sports. Yankees and Red Sox fans will be very upset come December when they won't be able to get the latest up-to-the-minute updates on their teams' pursuit of Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee because the scores from the games that these teams are playing will be highlighted. The Heat and Lakers will take precious time away from his decision in December.J. Meric/Getty ImagesThey'll be even more upset come Mother's Day Weekend next year, when theirpivotalseries isn't broadcast on ESPN because of a decision The World Wide Leader will make to instead broadcast an NBA playoff game featuring one of these three teams. For shame ESPN! We all know that nothing is more important than a Yankees-Red Sox series in May! The media attention that these three teams—which play in three of the smallest markets in the country—receive is unprecedented. Then there's Bleacher Report, which only confirms this. Every article written is either about LeBron, Kobe, Wade, or the Celtics, Lakers and Heat as a team. These articles all seem to Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
get thousands of reads and thousands of comments. Reason being, of course, is because these teams are all overrated and people are starting to get tired of talking about them. So what do you do when you're tired of hearing about certain teams and certain players? Of course you talk about them more. It makes total perfect sense! See the more you talk about them, the more likely people are willing to take your opinion seriously. Once you say your piece about any of these subjects, then the discussion ends! That's it! Maybe I came from a different time, a time when if you didn't like something you ignored it. Apparently in 2010, the way you deal with something that you hate is to keep reading about it, then leave a snarky little comment about it. Bonus points if you go on LeBron's facebook when he's talking about raising money for breast cancer research and tell him that you wish he had cancer, then follow that up by saying "Karma is going to be a b***h to LeBum and the Heat this season." Way to show them the meaning of karma! Here I circled the LeBron article, now tell me in the comments, did you notice the article the first time you saw the picture without the circle?So we must continue to prove how overrated these three teams are and continue to show our dissatisfaction towards ESPN and every media outlet, who are clearly only on the side of these teams, especially the Miami Heat, by continuing to read and comment on every little story about them. We can apply this kind of Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
logic to other facets of life, too. For example, I don't like eggs when they're hard-boiled. So tomorrow I plan on consuming five hard boiled eggs for breakfast! I'll follow that up by listening to a playlist I made on iTunes featuring songs from my Top 10 least-favorite artists. I plan on putting the playlist on repeat as I voluntarily do something that I hate doing more than anything in this world, and that's copying words out of the dictionary. I'll then follow that up by watching my least favorite movie of all time, Titanic, about four or five times, then before I go to bed, I'll read the Twilight Saga, since it's my least favorite book series of all time. And if I can't sleep I'll get back online and possibly do some calculus, because if there's anything I hate more in this world, it's math. Oh wait, I left out the fact that I'm going to friend request my ex-girlfriend, just to leave comments filled with hate andobscenitieson every status update she makes. If I'm lucky she might participate in a walk for breast cancer; this is the perfect opportunity for me to leave a comment telling her that I hope she gets breast cancer herself and that karma is a b***h. Hey, if a Cavs fan can do it to LeBron, I can do it to my ex-girlfriend that cheated on me with my best friend, right? Alright, enough messing around. No, I don't think the Lakers, Celtics, or Heat are overrated. As a player, Kobe isn't overrated. Nor is LeBron, nor is Wade. Bosh is just a tad, as is Gasol. My ex didn't sleep with my best friend. In fact, even though it didn't end the way I wanted to, I hold no ill will towards her, and I will not waste my time watching Titanic, reading the Twilight books, or listening to music I don't like. Did you really think I'd write about the Heat and Lakers being overrated?Did you really think I'd write about the Heat and Lakers being overrated?Yes because this is bleacher report55.6%No because you've proven to be reasonable9.8%I expected the Heat since they didn't do anything, but the Lakers? Thats why I clicked. Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
Now I just feel stupid24.8%I expected the Lakers since their fans are annoying, but I clicked on it because you said Heat too, now I feel really stupid.9.8%Total votes: 214I'm just trying to point out what two of my last three posts have been about: that the negativity and fighting over what player is better is dumb, that ESPN does what they do and does it that way because they get numbers that tells them we demand it, and that it's us the fans, as well as the haters, that feed into it all. In fact, I even used computer screenshots to prove it! Sadly if this article doesn't point that out to some, then I don't know what will. Brand new Dolfan Diaries tomorrow night! Follow me on twitter, check out my archive. Do all of that before I get Mickey Mouse over to your house to point the gun at you and force you to follow me on twitter and read my archive...after you read and comment on the ESPN NBA articles about the Heat and Lakers of course.
2010年12月23日星期四
23 Dec 10Five Man Trade Brings Point Guards and Center to Big Easy
Point guard Jarrett Jack joins the Hornets as part of a five man deal between New Orleans and Toronto. He replaces Jerryd Bayless as the second string point guard.Sam Greenwood/Getty ImagesThe New Orleans Hornets continued their roster revision process on Saturday, finalizing a five-man swap Oakland Raiders jersey
with the Toronto Raptors. The deal sent two Hornets backups--- small forward Peja Stojakovic and point guard Jerryd Bayless--- to the Raptors for point guards Jarrett Jack, forward Marcus Banks and center David Andersen.Fans won't know the efficacy of this trade until the Hornets (10-1) explore the rotational possibilities over a few games. But for now, fans have to be fairly satisfied with this deal.Starting with the departed Hornets, no major surprises exist here. Stojakovic, the oldest and highest paid player on the team, was starting to reassert his three point shooting off the bench, but has long been the subject of trade speculation. And with his age, one-dimensional offensive role, and unremarkable defense, he simply didn't fit the Hornets bill at this point.Bayless’s departure is a little more surprising given his recent acquisition and player attributes--- youth, athleticism, and aggressive offense. But for all his fearless driving, he isn’t a great finisher and has given the Bees just 4.5 points and 2.5 assists in 13 minutes per game.Bayless can become a great player in the NBA, but for now, Jarrett Jack is a big improvement for New Orleans. The former Georgia Tech star has been a reliable starter, including 79 games for the Portland Trail Blazers (2006-2007) and 53 for the Indiana Pacers (2008-2009), collectively averaging about twelve points and five assists in those years.At 27, Jack is young, experienced, and represents a comfortable contingency plan for a dreaded Chris Paul injury. Philadelphia Eagles jersey
And while Bayless is an attacking point guard, Jack is a true point who dishes first and shoots second, despite having always played on mediocre teams that needed his scoring. And for all the Hornets outspoken emphasis on defense and transitional scoring, they still rely on a motion-oriented, point-guard driven offense.The Australian-born David Andersen has spent most of his career outside the NBA, but his size supersedes all.With his arrival, New Orleans goes from a moderately sized team to a squad with two 7-footers coming off the bench.Jason Smith has already proven he can score, rebound, and alternate between four and five, which takes some initial pressure off Andersen. If the Aussie can semi-duplicate Emeka Okafor’s defensive intensity off the bench, he’ll fit nicely into the second unit.New Orleans wouldn’t be tied atop its division without great bench play, which has included contributions from Stojakovic and Bayless at times. But with Willie Green and Smith both Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
looking like Sixth Man of the Year candidates on both ends, the veteran three point artist and young point guard had extremely high standards to measure up to.Plus, there’s the fact that trading Peja--- a financially appealing move--- became a lot more feasible as a package deal. It’s finally happened, and new general manager Dell Demps appears to have orchestrated yet another subtly beneficial trade for his team
with the Toronto Raptors. The deal sent two Hornets backups--- small forward Peja Stojakovic and point guard Jerryd Bayless--- to the Raptors for point guards Jarrett Jack, forward Marcus Banks and center David Andersen.Fans won't know the efficacy of this trade until the Hornets (10-1) explore the rotational possibilities over a few games. But for now, fans have to be fairly satisfied with this deal.Starting with the departed Hornets, no major surprises exist here. Stojakovic, the oldest and highest paid player on the team, was starting to reassert his three point shooting off the bench, but has long been the subject of trade speculation. And with his age, one-dimensional offensive role, and unremarkable defense, he simply didn't fit the Hornets bill at this point.Bayless’s departure is a little more surprising given his recent acquisition and player attributes--- youth, athleticism, and aggressive offense. But for all his fearless driving, he isn’t a great finisher and has given the Bees just 4.5 points and 2.5 assists in 13 minutes per game.Bayless can become a great player in the NBA, but for now, Jarrett Jack is a big improvement for New Orleans. The former Georgia Tech star has been a reliable starter, including 79 games for the Portland Trail Blazers (2006-2007) and 53 for the Indiana Pacers (2008-2009), collectively averaging about twelve points and five assists in those years.At 27, Jack is young, experienced, and represents a comfortable contingency plan for a dreaded Chris Paul injury. Philadelphia Eagles jersey
And while Bayless is an attacking point guard, Jack is a true point who dishes first and shoots second, despite having always played on mediocre teams that needed his scoring. And for all the Hornets outspoken emphasis on defense and transitional scoring, they still rely on a motion-oriented, point-guard driven offense.The Australian-born David Andersen has spent most of his career outside the NBA, but his size supersedes all.With his arrival, New Orleans goes from a moderately sized team to a squad with two 7-footers coming off the bench.Jason Smith has already proven he can score, rebound, and alternate between four and five, which takes some initial pressure off Andersen. If the Aussie can semi-duplicate Emeka Okafor’s defensive intensity off the bench, he’ll fit nicely into the second unit.New Orleans wouldn’t be tied atop its division without great bench play, which has included contributions from Stojakovic and Bayless at times. But with Willie Green and Smith both Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
looking like Sixth Man of the Year candidates on both ends, the veteran three point artist and young point guard had extremely high standards to measure up to.Plus, there’s the fact that trading Peja--- a financially appealing move--- became a lot more feasible as a package deal. It’s finally happened, and new general manager Dell Demps appears to have orchestrated yet another subtly beneficial trade for his team
2010年12月22日星期三
NBA Free Agency: LeBron James, Chris Bosh Would Form NBA's Premiere Duo
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesTwenty nine months have passed since the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Pau Gasol, and over that period of time, they have celebrated a particularly dominant run. Los Angeles has enjoyed a 143-50 regular season record with Gasol on the roster, has participated in three out of three possible NBA Finals appearances since his acquisition, and won two consecutive championships to boot.It was considered a major league heist when Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak pried Pau from the Memphis Grizzlies. Seldom do Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
you find the best wing player and the best big man in the league on the same team, but incredibly the Los Angeles Lakers have been fortunate enough to have that twice...this decade.While I maintain that LeBron James is the best player in the league, the Cavaliers as a team have been bringing a knife to a gunfight. We as fans haven't been lucky enough to witness a Cavaliers-Lakers NBA Finals, but on paper at least the Lakers would have been an overwhelming favorite.I'd compare the Lakers to the Spartan empire. They are established, they are the most talented. On the same note, I'd compare LeBron James to Achilles. Unquestioned bad ass, but can't do it alone.With the rumored possibility that Chris Bosh could be joining LeBron in Cleveland via a sign and trade deal, the Lakers authoritative command of the league as we know it will be over. As incredibly talented as Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are, LeBron James and Chris Bosh would be better. They are younger, they are more athletic, and their talent is without question on the Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
same level. Additionally, both are starving for the honor ofbeing called an NBA champion.It is all strictly hypothetical at this point, but if LeBron James returns to the Cavaliers, and they attain the services of Chris Bosh, the Cavs would be the prohibitive favorite to have the best record in the league next year. Hell, they had the best record the past two seasons without him.The big question would be what Cleveland would have to part with. With Bosh and James, that wouldn't leave much opportunity at the SF or PF position for Antawn Jamison. Certainly Cleveland wouldn't mind ridding themselves of Jamison's hefty contract. They'd likely have to give up a first round draft choice, and potentially a young stud like J.J. Hickson.All summer, we've heard the best option for LeBron in terms of surrounding talent would be the Chicago Bulls. Granted, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng are a scintillating foundation.But I personally like the makeup, and more importantly, the chemistry, of this prospective Cavaliers roster: PG Mo Williams, SG Anthony Parker, SF LeBron James, PF Chris Bosh, C Andersen Varejao, Bench Delonte West, Leon Powe, Jamario Moon and a proven head coach in Byron Scott.While LeBron and his incredible gifts will always carry a very heavy load offensively, things will come a lot easier for the King. James will have a devastating force with whom he can run the pick and roll with. James and Bosh will form one of the most lethal pick and pop threats in the league. He'll also have a big who he can simply dump the ball to downlow and consistently get efficient production.Furthermore, LeBron would get to play alongside his first legimate All-Star teammate in Chris Bosh. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
and Shaq have all been named as All-Stars in their careers. But Shaquille was well past his prime as a teammate of LeBron, and the other three fall into what I like to call the "Chris Gatling Memorial," a category reserved for some of the most borderline and undeserving NBA All-Star nominations in history.No more will there be playoff nightmare mismatches. Kevin Garnett won't be bullying Chris Bosh on the block. Rashard Lewis won't be blowing by Chris Bosh on the perimeter. As a matter of fact, Bosh will be doing the bullying.If Chris Bosh does indeed make his way to Cleveland to play with LeBron, it won't be Cavaliers' fans that will need to be talked off the edge of the cliff. It will be the rest of the league.
you find the best wing player and the best big man in the league on the same team, but incredibly the Los Angeles Lakers have been fortunate enough to have that twice...this decade.While I maintain that LeBron James is the best player in the league, the Cavaliers as a team have been bringing a knife to a gunfight. We as fans haven't been lucky enough to witness a Cavaliers-Lakers NBA Finals, but on paper at least the Lakers would have been an overwhelming favorite.I'd compare the Lakers to the Spartan empire. They are established, they are the most talented. On the same note, I'd compare LeBron James to Achilles. Unquestioned bad ass, but can't do it alone.With the rumored possibility that Chris Bosh could be joining LeBron in Cleveland via a sign and trade deal, the Lakers authoritative command of the league as we know it will be over. As incredibly talented as Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are, LeBron James and Chris Bosh would be better. They are younger, they are more athletic, and their talent is without question on the Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
same level. Additionally, both are starving for the honor ofbeing called an NBA champion.It is all strictly hypothetical at this point, but if LeBron James returns to the Cavaliers, and they attain the services of Chris Bosh, the Cavs would be the prohibitive favorite to have the best record in the league next year. Hell, they had the best record the past two seasons without him.The big question would be what Cleveland would have to part with. With Bosh and James, that wouldn't leave much opportunity at the SF or PF position for Antawn Jamison. Certainly Cleveland wouldn't mind ridding themselves of Jamison's hefty contract. They'd likely have to give up a first round draft choice, and potentially a young stud like J.J. Hickson.All summer, we've heard the best option for LeBron in terms of surrounding talent would be the Chicago Bulls. Granted, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng are a scintillating foundation.But I personally like the makeup, and more importantly, the chemistry, of this prospective Cavaliers roster: PG Mo Williams, SG Anthony Parker, SF LeBron James, PF Chris Bosh, C Andersen Varejao, Bench Delonte West, Leon Powe, Jamario Moon and a proven head coach in Byron Scott.While LeBron and his incredible gifts will always carry a very heavy load offensively, things will come a lot easier for the King. James will have a devastating force with whom he can run the pick and roll with. James and Bosh will form one of the most lethal pick and pop threats in the league. He'll also have a big who he can simply dump the ball to downlow and consistently get efficient production.Furthermore, LeBron would get to play alongside his first legimate All-Star teammate in Chris Bosh. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
and Shaq have all been named as All-Stars in their careers. But Shaquille was well past his prime as a teammate of LeBron, and the other three fall into what I like to call the "Chris Gatling Memorial," a category reserved for some of the most borderline and undeserving NBA All-Star nominations in history.No more will there be playoff nightmare mismatches. Kevin Garnett won't be bullying Chris Bosh on the block. Rashard Lewis won't be blowing by Chris Bosh on the perimeter. As a matter of fact, Bosh will be doing the bullying.If Chris Bosh does indeed make his way to Cleveland to play with LeBron, it won't be Cavaliers' fans that will need to be talked off the edge of the cliff. It will be the rest of the league.
2010年12月21日星期二
New York Yankees: The Derek Jeter Dilemna
This quagmire is dominating the offseason.Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesPicture a franchise player who was once considered one of the best players in baseball. Fans watched him grow from an ambitious kid to a superstar, to now what could be the twilight of his career. This is the case of Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees.Ten years ago, Mr. Jeter signed a 10-year deal worth $189 million. He earned every penny of that contract as he perpetually hit over .300, played stellar (and underrated) defense and won more championships than any other player in baseball except for Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
his other core four teammates.However, last year was his walk year, and Mr. Jeter had undoubtedly the worst season of his career. He hit a paltry .270, and despite winning the Gold Glove, seemed a step slower in the field. 2010 was most definitely the worst season of his career. Also, he turns 37 next June and it could be a recipe for disaster.Any 36-year-old shortstop would have no business demanding a four-year deal. Like catchers and pitchers, they have a short shelf life as they rely on their speed and athleticism to thrive in the field. Couple that with naturally slowing bat speed—and a four-year deal usually does not work well for the team that signs the player. Only two shortstops in recent memory were still playing at a high level into their 40s: future Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Omar Vizquel.That being said, Jeter’s agent, Casey Close, is pushing for a four or five-year deal. Any other 36-year-old shortstop would never receive a deal of four years, and would likely get two at most. The Yankees seem to be targeting a three-year deal.SoReebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
now, Yankees GM Brian Cashman is now stuck between a rock and a hard place. He must find a way to sign Jeter to a new deal because he is still the best shortstop available, and he is still Derek Jeter. Jeter’s place in New York is so solidified that a failure to re-sign him would vilify Mr. Cashman for the rest of his tenure in the Bronx.Both sides should agree to a three-year deal worth $45 million. Jeter’s production was way down last year, but it could also be an anomaly, where he reverts back to form in 2011. The deal would also give him a chance to reach 3,000 hits, a feat no Yankee has achieved, as well as the possibility of getting close to Pete Rose’s all-time hits record. Most importantly, it keeps Derek in the Bronx for the rest of his career—a rarity in this business.While newspapers, Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
websites and ESPN seem to be making a big deal of the contract negotiations, and Yankees officials calling the negotiations a “messy” process, a deal will most definitely be done. Expect Jete’ in pinstripes on opening day 2011.
his other core four teammates.However, last year was his walk year, and Mr. Jeter had undoubtedly the worst season of his career. He hit a paltry .270, and despite winning the Gold Glove, seemed a step slower in the field. 2010 was most definitely the worst season of his career. Also, he turns 37 next June and it could be a recipe for disaster.Any 36-year-old shortstop would have no business demanding a four-year deal. Like catchers and pitchers, they have a short shelf life as they rely on their speed and athleticism to thrive in the field. Couple that with naturally slowing bat speed—and a four-year deal usually does not work well for the team that signs the player. Only two shortstops in recent memory were still playing at a high level into their 40s: future Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Omar Vizquel.That being said, Jeter’s agent, Casey Close, is pushing for a four or five-year deal. Any other 36-year-old shortstop would never receive a deal of four years, and would likely get two at most. The Yankees seem to be targeting a three-year deal.SoReebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
now, Yankees GM Brian Cashman is now stuck between a rock and a hard place. He must find a way to sign Jeter to a new deal because he is still the best shortstop available, and he is still Derek Jeter. Jeter’s place in New York is so solidified that a failure to re-sign him would vilify Mr. Cashman for the rest of his tenure in the Bronx.Both sides should agree to a three-year deal worth $45 million. Jeter’s production was way down last year, but it could also be an anomaly, where he reverts back to form in 2011. The deal would also give him a chance to reach 3,000 hits, a feat no Yankee has achieved, as well as the possibility of getting close to Pete Rose’s all-time hits record. Most importantly, it keeps Derek in the Bronx for the rest of his career—a rarity in this business.While newspapers, Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
websites and ESPN seem to be making a big deal of the contract negotiations, and Yankees officials calling the negotiations a “messy” process, a deal will most definitely be done. Expect Jete’ in pinstripes on opening day 2011.
2010年12月19日星期日
20 Dec 10 Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: Top 60 Wide Receivers
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesHas Larry Fitzgerald finally returned to fantasy prominence? Have Anquan Boldin and Brandon Marshall fallen out as WR1? How does Randy Moss fit into Tennessee’s offense? Let’s see how the answers to these questions help shape our Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
Week 10 rankings (as always, there will be updated later in the week if necessary): Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – at Jacksonville Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – vs. Dallas Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Seattle DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Cincinnati Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals – at Indianapolis Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Baltimore Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – at Buffalo Brandon Lloyd – Denver Broncos – vs. Kansas City Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – at Chicago Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – at Atlanta Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – vs. Tennessee Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – at Denver Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New England Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Detroit Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New England Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington Steve Smith – New York Giants – vs. Dallas Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Houston Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Cincinnati Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Carolina Randy Moss – Tennessee Titans – at Miami Wes Welker – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – vs. Minnesota Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals – at Indianapolis Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. Philadelphia Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – at Cleveland Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Seattle Braylon Edwards – New York Jets – at Cleveland Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – vs. Tennessee Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – at Tampa Bay Deion Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
Branch – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills – vs. Detroit Danny Woodhead – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh Kevin Walter – Houston Texans – at Jacksonville Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens – at Atlanta Mike Williams – Seattle Seahawks – at Arizona Mike Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Houston Mario Manningham – New York Giants – vs. Dallas Jordan Shipley – Cincinnati Bengals – at Indianapolis Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – at Buffalo Michael Jenkins – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Baltimore Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns – vs. New York Jets Jabar Gaffney – Denver Broncos – vs. Kansas City Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – at Miami Roy Williams – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants Bernard Berrian – Minnesota Vikings – at Chicago Danny Amendola – St. Louis Rams – at San Francisco Devin Hester – Chicago Bears – vs. Minnesota Josh Morgan – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis Deon Butler – Seattle Seahawks – at Arizona Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos – vs. Kansas City Jacoby Jones – Houston Texans – at Jacksonville T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Baltimore Ravens – at Atlanta Joshua Cribbs – Cleveland Browns – vs. New York Jets Brandon Tate – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh Antwaan Randle El – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New England Thoughts: Hakeem Nicks has certainly put his terrible Week 6 (3 receptions for 8 yards) behind him. In his last two games he has 15 receptions for 236 yards and three touchdowns. One of those games was against Dallas, where he had nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns. He has 100+ yards in four of his last five games. There is little questioning that he is the Giants' top receiver and one of the elite in the game. Would it surprise anyone if the Colts-Bengals game broke into a shootout? With the quality of receivers in the game, there could be some gaudy numbers thrown around. Anquan Boldin has had some really good games, but he’s also thrown up some real stinkers. In Week 9, he had two receptions for 28 yards. In Week 5, he had one reception for eight yards. We need some consistency in order to consider him a Top 5 option, but with the matchup he has, you have to still consider him a WR1. Finally, Larry Fitzgerald is showing signs of life. In his last two games he has 13 receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Maybe it’s the return of Steve Breaston giving defenses another wrinkle to think about, but it’s clear that he’s rediscovering his form. With a matchup against the Seahawks, who are allowing the third-most passing yards per game this season (270.5), he’s a solid WR1. Over his last three games, Brandon Marshall doesn’t have more than five receptions or more then 64 yards, and he hasn’t found the end zone. In fact, he has just one touchdown on the season and it came against the Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
Jets in Week 3. With five out of seven games of 71 yards or less, you have to downgrade him a bit despite the attractive matchup. DeSean Jackson returned with a bang, picking up seven receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown in Week 9. He’s easily a Top 5 option this week against the Redskins. Who will be throwing the ball to Calvin Johnson? Time will tell and could help determine his potential value. However, his talent dictates him remaining a WR1. The New England passing defense has not been good and Mike Wallace certainly appears to be coming into his own. He has touchdowns in three of his last four games, but he clearly is a big-play receiver. Players like that are a little finicky, because if he doesn’t break it to the house, he isn’t going to have value. In fact, Week 9 was the first time he had more than three receptions in a game in 2010. He has to be considered a WR2 due to the uncertainty. Percy Harvin certainly didn’t let the off-the-field problems affect his on-field performance. He had nine receptions for 126 yards in Week 9 and now has posted back-to-back 100-yard games. The Bills Steve Johnson continues to impress, coming off an 11 catch, 145-yard day. Yes, it broke his touchdown streak (five games), but there certainly is reason to believe he can get it restarted against the Lions. Mike Sims-Walker has been inconsistent, but he’s coming off a big day against Dallas in Week 8 (8 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown), has TDs in three of his last four games and gets a Houston defense that has allowed 20 passing TDs on the season. It certainly appears like he’s a good bet as a WR2 this week. It took Santonio Holmes some time to get integrated into the Jets offense, but he certainly seemed to get it in Week 9 with five receptions for 114 yards. He’s a usable option in three-wide receiver formats, but he still is a risky one. How will Randy Moss fit into the Tennessee offense? Time will tell, but he certainly didn’t light it up in Minnesota in his short time there. The Titans will certainly take their shots to him, though, in an effort to keep the defense honest. I’d consider him a low-end WR2 or a high-end WR3 until he proves otherwise. Who will the quarterback be in Carolina? That certainly has a major impact on Steve Smith’s value, doesn’t it? I’d still consider him a WR3, but he’s a huge gamble at this point. What are your thoughts onReebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
these rankings? Who's too high? Who's too low? Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 10 Rankings: Top 25 Quarterbacks Top 40 Running Backs Top 20 Tight Ends (coming soon) Top 15 Kickers (coming soon) Top 15 Defenses (coming soon) Waiver Worthy Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em (coming soon) Sunday Sleepers (coming soon) THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM/FOOTBALL
Week 10 rankings (as always, there will be updated later in the week if necessary): Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – at Jacksonville Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – vs. Dallas Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Seattle DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Cincinnati Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals – at Indianapolis Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Baltimore Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – at Buffalo Brandon Lloyd – Denver Broncos – vs. Kansas City Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – at Chicago Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – at Atlanta Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – vs. Tennessee Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – at Denver Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New England Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Detroit Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New England Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington Steve Smith – New York Giants – vs. Dallas Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Houston Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Cincinnati Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Carolina Randy Moss – Tennessee Titans – at Miami Wes Welker – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – vs. Minnesota Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals – at Indianapolis Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. Philadelphia Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – at Cleveland Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Seattle Braylon Edwards – New York Jets – at Cleveland Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – vs. Tennessee Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – at Tampa Bay Deion Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
Branch – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills – vs. Detroit Danny Woodhead – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh Kevin Walter – Houston Texans – at Jacksonville Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens – at Atlanta Mike Williams – Seattle Seahawks – at Arizona Mike Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Houston Mario Manningham – New York Giants – vs. Dallas Jordan Shipley – Cincinnati Bengals – at Indianapolis Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – at Buffalo Michael Jenkins – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Baltimore Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns – vs. New York Jets Jabar Gaffney – Denver Broncos – vs. Kansas City Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – at Miami Roy Williams – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants Bernard Berrian – Minnesota Vikings – at Chicago Danny Amendola – St. Louis Rams – at San Francisco Devin Hester – Chicago Bears – vs. Minnesota Josh Morgan – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis Deon Butler – Seattle Seahawks – at Arizona Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos – vs. Kansas City Jacoby Jones – Houston Texans – at Jacksonville T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Baltimore Ravens – at Atlanta Joshua Cribbs – Cleveland Browns – vs. New York Jets Brandon Tate – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh Antwaan Randle El – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New England Thoughts: Hakeem Nicks has certainly put his terrible Week 6 (3 receptions for 8 yards) behind him. In his last two games he has 15 receptions for 236 yards and three touchdowns. One of those games was against Dallas, where he had nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns. He has 100+ yards in four of his last five games. There is little questioning that he is the Giants' top receiver and one of the elite in the game. Would it surprise anyone if the Colts-Bengals game broke into a shootout? With the quality of receivers in the game, there could be some gaudy numbers thrown around. Anquan Boldin has had some really good games, but he’s also thrown up some real stinkers. In Week 9, he had two receptions for 28 yards. In Week 5, he had one reception for eight yards. We need some consistency in order to consider him a Top 5 option, but with the matchup he has, you have to still consider him a WR1. Finally, Larry Fitzgerald is showing signs of life. In his last two games he has 13 receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Maybe it’s the return of Steve Breaston giving defenses another wrinkle to think about, but it’s clear that he’s rediscovering his form. With a matchup against the Seahawks, who are allowing the third-most passing yards per game this season (270.5), he’s a solid WR1. Over his last three games, Brandon Marshall doesn’t have more than five receptions or more then 64 yards, and he hasn’t found the end zone. In fact, he has just one touchdown on the season and it came against the Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
Jets in Week 3. With five out of seven games of 71 yards or less, you have to downgrade him a bit despite the attractive matchup. DeSean Jackson returned with a bang, picking up seven receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown in Week 9. He’s easily a Top 5 option this week against the Redskins. Who will be throwing the ball to Calvin Johnson? Time will tell and could help determine his potential value. However, his talent dictates him remaining a WR1. The New England passing defense has not been good and Mike Wallace certainly appears to be coming into his own. He has touchdowns in three of his last four games, but he clearly is a big-play receiver. Players like that are a little finicky, because if he doesn’t break it to the house, he isn’t going to have value. In fact, Week 9 was the first time he had more than three receptions in a game in 2010. He has to be considered a WR2 due to the uncertainty. Percy Harvin certainly didn’t let the off-the-field problems affect his on-field performance. He had nine receptions for 126 yards in Week 9 and now has posted back-to-back 100-yard games. The Bills Steve Johnson continues to impress, coming off an 11 catch, 145-yard day. Yes, it broke his touchdown streak (five games), but there certainly is reason to believe he can get it restarted against the Lions. Mike Sims-Walker has been inconsistent, but he’s coming off a big day against Dallas in Week 8 (8 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown), has TDs in three of his last four games and gets a Houston defense that has allowed 20 passing TDs on the season. It certainly appears like he’s a good bet as a WR2 this week. It took Santonio Holmes some time to get integrated into the Jets offense, but he certainly seemed to get it in Week 9 with five receptions for 114 yards. He’s a usable option in three-wide receiver formats, but he still is a risky one. How will Randy Moss fit into the Tennessee offense? Time will tell, but he certainly didn’t light it up in Minnesota in his short time there. The Titans will certainly take their shots to him, though, in an effort to keep the defense honest. I’d consider him a low-end WR2 or a high-end WR3 until he proves otherwise. Who will the quarterback be in Carolina? That certainly has a major impact on Steve Smith’s value, doesn’t it? I’d still consider him a WR3, but he’s a huge gamble at this point. What are your thoughts onReebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
these rankings? Who's too high? Who's too low? Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 10 Rankings: Top 25 Quarterbacks Top 40 Running Backs Top 20 Tight Ends (coming soon) Top 15 Kickers (coming soon) Top 15 Defenses (coming soon) Waiver Worthy Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em (coming soon) Sunday Sleepers (coming soon) THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM/FOOTBALL
19 Dec 10 Michael Vick 2.0: Man, Machine or Deity?
Michael Vick, reinvented.Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesI stumbled across a quick prediction of how Michael Vick would fare this weekend against the Washington Redskins. ESPN's fantasy football system predicted 20 points for Vick, which would be his lowest output of the season. To put this into perspective, 20 points is a good day for fantasy QBs, equivalent to 250 yards passing, a thrown TD and 40 yards rushing. Vick shattered that prediction, going 20-28 for 333 yards, throwing four touchdowns (including an 88-yard bomb to Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
DeSean Jackson), rushing for two TDs and 80 yards on the day. His fantasy total? 49 points. We always knew Vick was talented. He had the arm strength coming out of college and great athleticism, but his accuracy was questionable. All offseason he prepared to prove doubters wrong and show them that he could still play in this league. This year he came into the season as the backup, behind supposed Eagles QB-of-the-future Kevin Kolb. When Kolb went down with an injury, Vick was given the chance to start. The Eagles lost that game, but it was only the beginning of his dominance. In games that Vick has started and played entirely, the Eagles are 4-0 (with Kolb starting and playing entirely, they are 2-1). Not only are they 4-0, they are 4-0 against a division-leading Colts team, a 5-4 Jaguars team, a slightly better-than-advertised 2-7 Lions team and a Redskins team that was .500 before this game and sidelined Vick in their first encounter earlier on the season. Man, Machine or Deity?Man, Machine or Deity?Man17.6%Machine41.2%Deity41.2%Total votes: 34The one good win on Kolb's resume is the 31-17 victory over Atlanta in Week 6, but in all fairness Atlanta's pass defense is nothing spectacular, ranked 23rd in the league, giving up 245.3 passing yards per game. Over Vick's 4-0 game span, he has thrown for 1,126 yards and 10 TDs with no interceptions.Vick allows the Eagles to stay in games by minimizing his turnovers; he has fumbled only twice on the year, without losing both. Oh, and Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
Vick's passer rating? 115.1, good for tops in the league, and far and above his previous career high with at least 150 passes attempted (81.6). Teams are going to look to draft QBs like Vick. Players like Denard Robinson and Cam Newton will be hot commodities when they declare for the draft. The truth is, though, Vick is a once-in-a-lifetime player. It will take a lot for Robinson and other run-first QBs to achieve what he has and be a dominant force in the NFL. This isn't the same Michael Vick who used to rush for over 100 yards every game, with around 150 yards passing. This isn't the same Michael Vick who throws costly interceptions, or looks to run first on every play. This is Vick 2.0: a mature, athletic, smart quarterback who knows his strengths and utilizes them to Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
perfection. There is nobody in the league playing better than Vick right now, and if I'm Philadelphia, I'm looking to lock him up long-term and use Kolb as trade bait. So is Vick a man, machine, or deity? My vote is a well-oiled machine, but with a few more games like this, and a couple more strong seasons, it'll be blasphemy to mention him in the same sentence as Kolb.
DeSean Jackson), rushing for two TDs and 80 yards on the day. His fantasy total? 49 points. We always knew Vick was talented. He had the arm strength coming out of college and great athleticism, but his accuracy was questionable. All offseason he prepared to prove doubters wrong and show them that he could still play in this league. This year he came into the season as the backup, behind supposed Eagles QB-of-the-future Kevin Kolb. When Kolb went down with an injury, Vick was given the chance to start. The Eagles lost that game, but it was only the beginning of his dominance. In games that Vick has started and played entirely, the Eagles are 4-0 (with Kolb starting and playing entirely, they are 2-1). Not only are they 4-0, they are 4-0 against a division-leading Colts team, a 5-4 Jaguars team, a slightly better-than-advertised 2-7 Lions team and a Redskins team that was .500 before this game and sidelined Vick in their first encounter earlier on the season. Man, Machine or Deity?Man, Machine or Deity?Man17.6%Machine41.2%Deity41.2%Total votes: 34The one good win on Kolb's resume is the 31-17 victory over Atlanta in Week 6, but in all fairness Atlanta's pass defense is nothing spectacular, ranked 23rd in the league, giving up 245.3 passing yards per game. Over Vick's 4-0 game span, he has thrown for 1,126 yards and 10 TDs with no interceptions.Vick allows the Eagles to stay in games by minimizing his turnovers; he has fumbled only twice on the year, without losing both. Oh, and Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
Vick's passer rating? 115.1, good for tops in the league, and far and above his previous career high with at least 150 passes attempted (81.6). Teams are going to look to draft QBs like Vick. Players like Denard Robinson and Cam Newton will be hot commodities when they declare for the draft. The truth is, though, Vick is a once-in-a-lifetime player. It will take a lot for Robinson and other run-first QBs to achieve what he has and be a dominant force in the NFL. This isn't the same Michael Vick who used to rush for over 100 yards every game, with around 150 yards passing. This isn't the same Michael Vick who throws costly interceptions, or looks to run first on every play. This is Vick 2.0: a mature, athletic, smart quarterback who knows his strengths and utilizes them to Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
perfection. There is nobody in the league playing better than Vick right now, and if I'm Philadelphia, I'm looking to lock him up long-term and use Kolb as trade bait. So is Vick a man, machine, or deity? My vote is a well-oiled machine, but with a few more games like this, and a couple more strong seasons, it'll be blasphemy to mention him in the same sentence as Kolb.
19 Dec 10 Michael Vick 2.0: Man, Machine or Deity?
Michael Vick, reinvented.Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesI stumbled across a quick prediction of how Michael Vick would fare this weekend against the Washington Redskins. ESPN's fantasy football system predicted 20 points for Vick, which would be his lowest output of the season. To put this into perspective, 20 points is a good day for fantasy QBs, equivalent to 250 yards passing, a thrown TD and 40 yards rushing. Vick shattered that prediction, going 20-28 for 333 yards, throwing four touchdowns (including an 88-yard bomb to Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
DeSean Jackson), rushing for two TDs and 80 yards on the day. His fantasy total? 49 points. We always knew Vick was talented. He had the arm strength coming out of college and great athleticism, but his accuracy was questionable. All offseason he prepared to prove doubters wrong and show them that he could still play in this league. This year he came into the season as the backup, behind supposed Eagles QB-of-the-future Kevin Kolb. When Kolb went down with an injury, Vick was given the chance to start. The Eagles lost that game, but it was only the beginning of his dominance. In games that Vick has started and played entirely, the Eagles are 4-0 (with Kolb starting and playing entirely, they are 2-1). Not only are they 4-0, they are 4-0 against a division-leading Colts team, a 5-4 Jaguars team, a slightly better-than-advertised 2-7 Lions team and a Redskins team that was .500 before this game and sidelined Vick in their first encounter earlier on the season. Man, Machine or Deity?Man, Machine or Deity?Man17.6%Machine41.2%Deity41.2%Total votes: 34The one good win on Kolb's resume is the 31-17 victory over Atlanta in Week 6, but in all fairness Atlanta's pass defense is nothing spectacular, ranked 23rd in the league, giving up 245.3 passing yards per game. Over Vick's 4-0 game span, he has thrown for 1,126 yards and 10 TDs with no interceptions.Vick allows the Eagles to stay in games by minimizing his turnovers; he has fumbled only twice on the year, without losing both. Oh, and Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
Vick's passer rating? 115.1, good for tops in the league, and far and above his previous career high with at least 150 passes attempted (81.6). Teams are going to look to draft QBs like Vick. Players like Denard Robinson and Cam Newton will be hot commodities when they declare for the draft. The truth is, though, Vick is a once-in-a-lifetime player. It will take a lot for Robinson and other run-first QBs to achieve what he has and be a dominant force in the NFL. This isn't the same Michael Vick who used to rush for over 100 yards every game, with around 150 yards passing. This isn't the same Michael Vick who throws costly interceptions, or looks to run first on every play. This is Vick 2.0: a mature, athletic, smart quarterback who knows his strengths and utilizes them to Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
perfection. There is nobody in the league playing better than Vick right now, and if I'm Philadelphia, I'm looking to lock him up long-term and use Kolb as trade bait. So is Vick a man, machine, or deity? My vote is a well-oiled machine, but with a few more games like this, and a couple more strong seasons, it'll be blasphemy to mention him in the same sentence as Kolb.
DeSean Jackson), rushing for two TDs and 80 yards on the day. His fantasy total? 49 points. We always knew Vick was talented. He had the arm strength coming out of college and great athleticism, but his accuracy was questionable. All offseason he prepared to prove doubters wrong and show them that he could still play in this league. This year he came into the season as the backup, behind supposed Eagles QB-of-the-future Kevin Kolb. When Kolb went down with an injury, Vick was given the chance to start. The Eagles lost that game, but it was only the beginning of his dominance. In games that Vick has started and played entirely, the Eagles are 4-0 (with Kolb starting and playing entirely, they are 2-1). Not only are they 4-0, they are 4-0 against a division-leading Colts team, a 5-4 Jaguars team, a slightly better-than-advertised 2-7 Lions team and a Redskins team that was .500 before this game and sidelined Vick in their first encounter earlier on the season. Man, Machine or Deity?Man, Machine or Deity?Man17.6%Machine41.2%Deity41.2%Total votes: 34The one good win on Kolb's resume is the 31-17 victory over Atlanta in Week 6, but in all fairness Atlanta's pass defense is nothing spectacular, ranked 23rd in the league, giving up 245.3 passing yards per game. Over Vick's 4-0 game span, he has thrown for 1,126 yards and 10 TDs with no interceptions.Vick allows the Eagles to stay in games by minimizing his turnovers; he has fumbled only twice on the year, without losing both. Oh, and Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
Vick's passer rating? 115.1, good for tops in the league, and far and above his previous career high with at least 150 passes attempted (81.6). Teams are going to look to draft QBs like Vick. Players like Denard Robinson and Cam Newton will be hot commodities when they declare for the draft. The truth is, though, Vick is a once-in-a-lifetime player. It will take a lot for Robinson and other run-first QBs to achieve what he has and be a dominant force in the NFL. This isn't the same Michael Vick who used to rush for over 100 yards every game, with around 150 yards passing. This isn't the same Michael Vick who throws costly interceptions, or looks to run first on every play. This is Vick 2.0: a mature, athletic, smart quarterback who knows his strengths and utilizes them to Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
perfection. There is nobody in the league playing better than Vick right now, and if I'm Philadelphia, I'm looking to lock him up long-term and use Kolb as trade bait. So is Vick a man, machine, or deity? My vote is a well-oiled machine, but with a few more games like this, and a couple more strong seasons, it'll be blasphemy to mention him in the same sentence as Kolb.
2010年12月18日星期六
18 Dec 10 Tom Brady: Is He the NFL's Most Underappreciated Player?
Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesNew England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was in destroy mode Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.In the team’s 39-26 victory over a team that has a strong defense, and who many opine is the best team in the NFL, Brady led the way.He went30-for-43 for 350 yards and three touchdowns, as well as one rush that earned him another touchdown.For his career, Brady 6-1 against the Steelers—4-1 at Heinz Field—and has 14 touchdowns against the Steelers and only three interceptions.Part ofReebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
it is game planning: New England throws the ball against Pittsburgh 73 percent of the time and only rushes on 27 percent of the plays, as opposed to throwing it 55 percent of the time and rushing it 45 percent against every other team in the league.Still, in order to continue that trend, the Pats need to be successful throwing the ball. That comes down to Tom Brady taking charge.It isn’t just against the Steelers, though. New England, especially the way it is currently constructed, places all of its burdens on Brady.It’s cliché to say the team will go as far as he does, but there is no better way to describe it.Which begs the question, is Tom Brady underappreciated?Many would say it’s impossible for a quarterback to be underappreciated. That they get all the attention, and Tom Brady and his hair get more airtime on ESPN than all the players in the league not named Brett Favre.Is Tom Brady underappreciated?Is Tom Brady underappreciated?Yes69.6%No30.4%Total votes: 326But do people realize how important Tom Brady is to this team? And does his team undervalue him?Take last week’s loss against Cleveland.The loss wasn’t Brady’s fault; the team was bad in all phases of the game. But Brady was certainly not on his mark.He completed only 19-of 36 passes. Although he had two touchdowns compared to zero interceptions, one of those TDs he was bailed out by Aaron Hernandez, who was able to make an amazing play off a deflected pass.Brady was out of sync with his receivers and just didn’t have it going for him that day.It happens.It’s difficult to play at top level for the entirety of the season. But the Patriots are hard-pressed to find anyone to pick up Brady’s slack.The running game is at its worst in recent memory. The defense is extremely vulnerable, with a lacking pass rush and a very inexperienced and inconsistent pass defense.If Brady has a bad game, then the rest of the team isReebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
doomed. Even if you point to the Week 4 thrashing of Miami where special teams were the focus, Brady was still very accurate, going 19-for-24 and a touchdown.Brady is the emotional leader of this team as well.Look at the barking he did on the sidelines against Pittsburgh. He knows what the team needs to do to be successful.If it isn’t getting done, he’s going to tell everybody what they need to be doing. He’s competitive, he’s tough (he missed a practice this week with a foot injury) and he’s fearless.With an elite player like Brady on the roster, most teams would do whatever it took to put the best team around him and maximize his potential to take them to the Super Bowl.The Patriots organization, however, insists on getting rid of its top players. Major weapons on offense and defense (Randy Moss and Richard Seymour come to mind) have been traded away for draft picks.The Patriots have placed around Brady a bunch of journeymen, retreads and rookies.While there was a definite need to make the defense younger, the Patriots waited too long. Instead of bringing guys along, they are throwing players into the fire now.That’s not to say guys like Brandon Spikes and Devin McCourty won’t be good pros—because they do have a lot of potential—but as long as Tom Brady is on the roster, they should be trying to win now.People will say Peyton Manning does a lot with a mostly unknown cast of players, but the Colts don’t trade away all their best players—they just all get hurt.Brady will do everything he can to win games and put the young guys on his shoulders. But there will be days where it will be too much, and the Patriots haven’t put together Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
a team ready to win without his heroic efforts.He’s the ultimate team player. But for a team that believes the player is a part of a system, Brady seems to be getting the short end of the stick.By not getting the best possible players, are the Patriots really undervaluing Brady? Are they wasting the remainder of his productive seasons?
it is game planning: New England throws the ball against Pittsburgh 73 percent of the time and only rushes on 27 percent of the plays, as opposed to throwing it 55 percent of the time and rushing it 45 percent against every other team in the league.Still, in order to continue that trend, the Pats need to be successful throwing the ball. That comes down to Tom Brady taking charge.It isn’t just against the Steelers, though. New England, especially the way it is currently constructed, places all of its burdens on Brady.It’s cliché to say the team will go as far as he does, but there is no better way to describe it.Which begs the question, is Tom Brady underappreciated?Many would say it’s impossible for a quarterback to be underappreciated. That they get all the attention, and Tom Brady and his hair get more airtime on ESPN than all the players in the league not named Brett Favre.Is Tom Brady underappreciated?Is Tom Brady underappreciated?Yes69.6%No30.4%Total votes: 326But do people realize how important Tom Brady is to this team? And does his team undervalue him?Take last week’s loss against Cleveland.The loss wasn’t Brady’s fault; the team was bad in all phases of the game. But Brady was certainly not on his mark.He completed only 19-of 36 passes. Although he had two touchdowns compared to zero interceptions, one of those TDs he was bailed out by Aaron Hernandez, who was able to make an amazing play off a deflected pass.Brady was out of sync with his receivers and just didn’t have it going for him that day.It happens.It’s difficult to play at top level for the entirety of the season. But the Patriots are hard-pressed to find anyone to pick up Brady’s slack.The running game is at its worst in recent memory. The defense is extremely vulnerable, with a lacking pass rush and a very inexperienced and inconsistent pass defense.If Brady has a bad game, then the rest of the team isReebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
doomed. Even if you point to the Week 4 thrashing of Miami where special teams were the focus, Brady was still very accurate, going 19-for-24 and a touchdown.Brady is the emotional leader of this team as well.Look at the barking he did on the sidelines against Pittsburgh. He knows what the team needs to do to be successful.If it isn’t getting done, he’s going to tell everybody what they need to be doing. He’s competitive, he’s tough (he missed a practice this week with a foot injury) and he’s fearless.With an elite player like Brady on the roster, most teams would do whatever it took to put the best team around him and maximize his potential to take them to the Super Bowl.The Patriots organization, however, insists on getting rid of its top players. Major weapons on offense and defense (Randy Moss and Richard Seymour come to mind) have been traded away for draft picks.The Patriots have placed around Brady a bunch of journeymen, retreads and rookies.While there was a definite need to make the defense younger, the Patriots waited too long. Instead of bringing guys along, they are throwing players into the fire now.That’s not to say guys like Brandon Spikes and Devin McCourty won’t be good pros—because they do have a lot of potential—but as long as Tom Brady is on the roster, they should be trying to win now.People will say Peyton Manning does a lot with a mostly unknown cast of players, but the Colts don’t trade away all their best players—they just all get hurt.Brady will do everything he can to win games and put the young guys on his shoulders. But there will be days where it will be too much, and the Patriots haven’t put together Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
a team ready to win without his heroic efforts.He’s the ultimate team player. But for a team that believes the player is a part of a system, Brady seems to be getting the short end of the stick.By not getting the best possible players, are the Patriots really undervaluing Brady? Are they wasting the remainder of his productive seasons?
2010年12月17日星期五
17 Dec 10 Jon Kitna: From Detroit Lions Soothsayer To Their Latest Conqueror
Tom Pennington/Getty ImagesThe declaration grew a life of its own. It would be used first as a rallying cry, then eventually as a weapon of mockery, rubbed in the face of the source of the words.Jon Kitna’s delusional expectations for his Detroit Lions in the spring of 2007, once it hit the airwaves Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
and the Internets, spread like wildfire. Or cancer—depending on how you look at it.The Lions of 2006, Kitna’s first season as Lions quarterback, rode in at 3-13. Their third win came on the season’s final week—in Dallas.So here was Kitna, talking of his expectations for his team in 2007.“I think we can win 10 games,” Kitna said.The daffy prediction drew ire, praise, and derision—depending on to whom you served it up.The words made it into the ears and through the eyes of the entire fan base within minutes, it seemed.But Jon Kitna first spoke them to me. True story.He was on the phone, chatting with me as I gathered info for the “A Few Minutes With” section of the Detroit sports magazine I was editing. Kitna was the subject. After several questions of eclectic variety, I put one more to him.“What would you say,” I said through the phone, “to the long-suffering Lions fans reading this?”He thought about it briefly; there were several seconds of dead air.Then he spoke with excitement, as if he had just remembered the answer to a trivia question.“I would tell them that we’re gonna win 10 games next season,” Kitna said.I reminded him that his words would not be printed in invisible ink.“That doesn’t bother me at all,” Kitna said.Well, a few days later, speaking to one of the radio stations in town, Kitna repeated his assertion about the 10 wins for the Lions in 2007.That’s when all of Detroit became awash with their quarterback’s delusional giddiness.Kitna’s words, so infamously uttered, became so only after he spoke them into a phone through the radio. His conversation with me had been much more private.Same declaration, totally different result.Over three-and-a-half football seasons have gone by, and the Lions have only recently surpassed Kitna’s 10-win total, predicted in the spring of 2007. The win total that Kitna thought the Lions could reach in a single season—not three-and-some-change seasons later.Since the beginning of the 2007 campaign, the Lions are 11-47; they’re 5-45 in their last 50 games. It’s unbelievable in its ineptitude, that in today’s NFL, a team could average just one win for every 10 games for over three seasons.Kitna still wears blue and silver, but it’s a different shade of blue, and there’s a Texas Lone Star on his helmet—not the futile rampant Lion.Kitna on Sunday was the latest quarterback to make mincemeat of the Lions, a team he so once gallantly led.It took the Dallas Cowboys more than a half, and a fluky punt return to kick-start them, but they had more than enough in the end to subdue the men in Honolulu Blue and Silver, 35-19.The Lions, once again, used a suicide cocktail of penalties, a poor rushing attack and a second-half swoon to blow a football game that Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
they, if ever so briefly, held in control.After a safety early in the third quarter put the Lions ahead, 12-7, the Cowboys’ sparkling new stadium was cast with a pall. Kitna and his offense were mostly a rumor, aside from the opening, 98-yard TD drive.When Kitna spoke his delusional words to me over the phone that spring day in 2007, he’d only been a Lion for one season. He had no idea how bizarre Lions football could be.That bizarreness was on full display during a punt by Nick Harris in the third quarter, not long after the aforementioned safety.Just when you think you’ve got a favorite bad/weird play in Lions history to hold up as a sampling of the franchise’s bungling, along comes another one.This one came courtesy of Bryan McCann, a three-time NFL loser who is suddenly one of the most dangerous return men in the league.McCann, playing in just his third NFL game Sunday, nonetheless had the presence of mind of a grizzled veteran and took off running with the football at his own three-yard line, following what appeared to be yet another great special teams play by the Lions’ John Wendling, who batted the ball from the evils of the end zone.A touchback never looked so good, after what McCann did.Up the sidelines McCann scooted, 97 yards to paydirt. Maybe one of the strangest punt returns you’ll ever see—and it went for six points. Against the Lions, natch.I remember Lem Barney against the Cincinnati Bengals at Tiger Stadium in 1970.Barney, punt returner extraordinaire in addition to being a shutdown cornerback (Lem was Deion Sanders before Deion was out of diapers), watched along with a group of Bengals as a Cincinnati punt rolled to a stop.Just before the Bengals went to touch the football, Barney bent over, scooped it up, and zig-zagged about 50 yards for a touchdown.There was a time when the Lions inflicted odd punishment, believe it or not.Momentum is one of the most overused words/phrases in sports, right up there with chemistry and unsung heroes and “on the same page” and “at the end of the day.”But sometimes those words are appropriate in their use. After McCann’s “excuse me” punt return, momentum indeed shifted, like San Francisco’s terrain during the 1989 World Series.You just knew the Lions were cooked, even though McCann’s dazzling play only put the Cowboys up, 14-12.Jerome Felton poured gasoline on the Cowboys’ fire by benevolently fumbling on the Lions’ next possession. Before long, it was 21-12, Dallas.Goodnight, nurse.How’s this for the epitome of “same old Lions”?After a week of talking and preaching and practicing in order to cut down on the before-snap and after-whistle penalties, the Lions had the Cowboys pinned on their own two-yard line for their opening possession.On the Cowboys’ first play, Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
Detroit DT Corey Williams jumped the snap and was flagged for encroachment.The Lions are 5-45 in their last 50 games. It took them over three years to reach Jon Kitna’s predicted 10 wins in 2007.So when you see plays like what Bryan McCann made Sunday, shame on you for being surprised that they happened to the boys in Honolulu Blue and Silver.It would be more surprising if McCann had done that to a team other than the Lions, when you think about it.
and the Internets, spread like wildfire. Or cancer—depending on how you look at it.The Lions of 2006, Kitna’s first season as Lions quarterback, rode in at 3-13. Their third win came on the season’s final week—in Dallas.So here was Kitna, talking of his expectations for his team in 2007.“I think we can win 10 games,” Kitna said.The daffy prediction drew ire, praise, and derision—depending on to whom you served it up.The words made it into the ears and through the eyes of the entire fan base within minutes, it seemed.But Jon Kitna first spoke them to me. True story.He was on the phone, chatting with me as I gathered info for the “A Few Minutes With” section of the Detroit sports magazine I was editing. Kitna was the subject. After several questions of eclectic variety, I put one more to him.“What would you say,” I said through the phone, “to the long-suffering Lions fans reading this?”He thought about it briefly; there were several seconds of dead air.Then he spoke with excitement, as if he had just remembered the answer to a trivia question.“I would tell them that we’re gonna win 10 games next season,” Kitna said.I reminded him that his words would not be printed in invisible ink.“That doesn’t bother me at all,” Kitna said.Well, a few days later, speaking to one of the radio stations in town, Kitna repeated his assertion about the 10 wins for the Lions in 2007.That’s when all of Detroit became awash with their quarterback’s delusional giddiness.Kitna’s words, so infamously uttered, became so only after he spoke them into a phone through the radio. His conversation with me had been much more private.Same declaration, totally different result.Over three-and-a-half football seasons have gone by, and the Lions have only recently surpassed Kitna’s 10-win total, predicted in the spring of 2007. The win total that Kitna thought the Lions could reach in a single season—not three-and-some-change seasons later.Since the beginning of the 2007 campaign, the Lions are 11-47; they’re 5-45 in their last 50 games. It’s unbelievable in its ineptitude, that in today’s NFL, a team could average just one win for every 10 games for over three seasons.Kitna still wears blue and silver, but it’s a different shade of blue, and there’s a Texas Lone Star on his helmet—not the futile rampant Lion.Kitna on Sunday was the latest quarterback to make mincemeat of the Lions, a team he so once gallantly led.It took the Dallas Cowboys more than a half, and a fluky punt return to kick-start them, but they had more than enough in the end to subdue the men in Honolulu Blue and Silver, 35-19.The Lions, once again, used a suicide cocktail of penalties, a poor rushing attack and a second-half swoon to blow a football game that Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
they, if ever so briefly, held in control.After a safety early in the third quarter put the Lions ahead, 12-7, the Cowboys’ sparkling new stadium was cast with a pall. Kitna and his offense were mostly a rumor, aside from the opening, 98-yard TD drive.When Kitna spoke his delusional words to me over the phone that spring day in 2007, he’d only been a Lion for one season. He had no idea how bizarre Lions football could be.That bizarreness was on full display during a punt by Nick Harris in the third quarter, not long after the aforementioned safety.Just when you think you’ve got a favorite bad/weird play in Lions history to hold up as a sampling of the franchise’s bungling, along comes another one.This one came courtesy of Bryan McCann, a three-time NFL loser who is suddenly one of the most dangerous return men in the league.McCann, playing in just his third NFL game Sunday, nonetheless had the presence of mind of a grizzled veteran and took off running with the football at his own three-yard line, following what appeared to be yet another great special teams play by the Lions’ John Wendling, who batted the ball from the evils of the end zone.A touchback never looked so good, after what McCann did.Up the sidelines McCann scooted, 97 yards to paydirt. Maybe one of the strangest punt returns you’ll ever see—and it went for six points. Against the Lions, natch.I remember Lem Barney against the Cincinnati Bengals at Tiger Stadium in 1970.Barney, punt returner extraordinaire in addition to being a shutdown cornerback (Lem was Deion Sanders before Deion was out of diapers), watched along with a group of Bengals as a Cincinnati punt rolled to a stop.Just before the Bengals went to touch the football, Barney bent over, scooped it up, and zig-zagged about 50 yards for a touchdown.There was a time when the Lions inflicted odd punishment, believe it or not.Momentum is one of the most overused words/phrases in sports, right up there with chemistry and unsung heroes and “on the same page” and “at the end of the day.”But sometimes those words are appropriate in their use. After McCann’s “excuse me” punt return, momentum indeed shifted, like San Francisco’s terrain during the 1989 World Series.You just knew the Lions were cooked, even though McCann’s dazzling play only put the Cowboys up, 14-12.Jerome Felton poured gasoline on the Cowboys’ fire by benevolently fumbling on the Lions’ next possession. Before long, it was 21-12, Dallas.Goodnight, nurse.How’s this for the epitome of “same old Lions”?After a week of talking and preaching and practicing in order to cut down on the before-snap and after-whistle penalties, the Lions had the Cowboys pinned on their own two-yard line for their opening possession.On the Cowboys’ first play, Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
Detroit DT Corey Williams jumped the snap and was flagged for encroachment.The Lions are 5-45 in their last 50 games. It took them over three years to reach Jon Kitna’s predicted 10 wins in 2007.So when you see plays like what Bryan McCann made Sunday, shame on you for being surprised that they happened to the boys in Honolulu Blue and Silver.It would be more surprising if McCann had done that to a team other than the Lions, when you think about it.
2010年12月16日星期四
16 Dec 10 Leslie Frazier Screws Up on First Day As Minnesota Vikings Head Coach
Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesTop o' the morning to you, Leslie Frazier. Congratulations on the new gig. What a shame you had to screw up on your first day.I mean, naming Brett Favre as your starting quarterback this coming Sabbath is just plain boneheaded. Oh, I can think of worse Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
decisions a person could make. Marrying O.J. Simpson comes to mind. Or dating Charlie Sheen. Or letting Ben Roethlisberger buy me a drink late at night in a bar. But your anointing His Royal Fumbleness to take the snaps against the Redskins ranks right up there with the all-time head-scratchers.Among other things, it tells me you simply haven't been paying attention during this oddball NFL season and, at the same time, it goes a long way in explaining how it is that you were 0-for-7 in your pursuit of a head coaching gig before the 3-7 Minnesota Vikings kicked Brad Childress to the curb and turned to you.Head coaches are paid to make the tough decisions, the right decisions, and you didn't do either, Leslie.The tough call would have been to sit Grandpa Brett down and tell him that he had a choice: retire or grab a clipboard. Oh, I realize that might have caught the attention of the team bankrolls, because the Wilfmeisters surely don't want to be paying anyone $1 million per game to stand on the sidelines, yawn, scratch his grey chin whiskers and hold a clipboard for three hours. But it would have been the right decision.Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesIt's the decision the deep-thinkers in Green Bay made a few years ago, when they concluded that Aaron Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
Rodgers was a ready-for-primetime player and Grandpa Brett's ego was holding the Packers' future hostage. How's that working out for the Pack, Leslie?I can't imagine that there's another NFL outfit that would want Grandpa Brett as its starting QB at this point in time, and not just because of his staggeringly bad numbers (league-leading 17 interceptions, five lost fumbles, 69.8 passer rating). It's the other baggage he brings to the table. The drama queen stuff. The it's-all-about-me-and-my-legacy stuff. The Jenn Sterger stuff.If I were you, Leslie, I'd be telling Grandpa Brett to "get stuffed."But no. Instead, you say, "Brett Favre will be our starting quarterback on Sunday. Brett Favre is going to get it going, those turnovers are going to come down, and we’re going to get it going as a football team. I really believe that."Yeah, and I'm going to marry O.J. when he gets out of the joint.Do yourself a favor, Leslie, and tell Grandpa Brett to retire. Tell him he can't cling to his boyhood forever. Tell Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
him it happens to all the greats. Johnny Unitas retired. Ditto Joe Willie Namath. And Bart Starr and Joe Montana and Dan Marino and John Elway and Sonny Jurgensen and Fran Tarkenton. Gone. All of them.Tell Grandpa Brett that there's a lawn tractor in Hattiesburg that misses him. I'd like to miss Grandpa Brett, too, but I can't if you won't tell him to go away.
decisions a person could make. Marrying O.J. Simpson comes to mind. Or dating Charlie Sheen. Or letting Ben Roethlisberger buy me a drink late at night in a bar. But your anointing His Royal Fumbleness to take the snaps against the Redskins ranks right up there with the all-time head-scratchers.Among other things, it tells me you simply haven't been paying attention during this oddball NFL season and, at the same time, it goes a long way in explaining how it is that you were 0-for-7 in your pursuit of a head coaching gig before the 3-7 Minnesota Vikings kicked Brad Childress to the curb and turned to you.Head coaches are paid to make the tough decisions, the right decisions, and you didn't do either, Leslie.The tough call would have been to sit Grandpa Brett down and tell him that he had a choice: retire or grab a clipboard. Oh, I realize that might have caught the attention of the team bankrolls, because the Wilfmeisters surely don't want to be paying anyone $1 million per game to stand on the sidelines, yawn, scratch his grey chin whiskers and hold a clipboard for three hours. But it would have been the right decision.Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesIt's the decision the deep-thinkers in Green Bay made a few years ago, when they concluded that Aaron Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
Rodgers was a ready-for-primetime player and Grandpa Brett's ego was holding the Packers' future hostage. How's that working out for the Pack, Leslie?I can't imagine that there's another NFL outfit that would want Grandpa Brett as its starting QB at this point in time, and not just because of his staggeringly bad numbers (league-leading 17 interceptions, five lost fumbles, 69.8 passer rating). It's the other baggage he brings to the table. The drama queen stuff. The it's-all-about-me-and-my-legacy stuff. The Jenn Sterger stuff.If I were you, Leslie, I'd be telling Grandpa Brett to "get stuffed."But no. Instead, you say, "Brett Favre will be our starting quarterback on Sunday. Brett Favre is going to get it going, those turnovers are going to come down, and we’re going to get it going as a football team. I really believe that."Yeah, and I'm going to marry O.J. when he gets out of the joint.Do yourself a favor, Leslie, and tell Grandpa Brett to retire. Tell him he can't cling to his boyhood forever. Tell Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
him it happens to all the greats. Johnny Unitas retired. Ditto Joe Willie Namath. And Bart Starr and Joe Montana and Dan Marino and John Elway and Sonny Jurgensen and Fran Tarkenton. Gone. All of them.Tell Grandpa Brett that there's a lawn tractor in Hattiesburg that misses him. I'd like to miss Grandpa Brett, too, but I can't if you won't tell him to go away.
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