How to Fix the MLB All Star Game

By Scott

Truthfully, I don't think there's a whole lot wrong with baseball's All Star Game, but every major outlet that has criticized it appear to disagree. The pre-game festivities are a bit too much, but still it's great to see the best pitchers in the game duel against the best hitters. And, the last 5 All Star Games have been decided by 2 runs or less. But, there are still a few things that MLB could do to really spice up the mid-summer classic:

1. Forget American League vs National League, give us North America vs. The World. The NHL did this a few times for their All Star Game (they really need to go back to it), and it saw pretty solid success. There's nothing Americans love more than rooting for America. On July 4th Americans morph into hot dog eating fans, not because they give the slightest bit of concern over hot dogs, but because an American is competing against a foreign power. So, when Joey Chestnut beats Kobayashi, Americans love it. Of course they forget about it the next day, but as long as their attention is grabbed for the few hours, the MLB can call success.

2. Most importantly: Do not allow the game to decide anything important. Giving World Series home field advantage to the league that wins the game is a travesty. Especially considering that a Royals' pitcher / Pirates' hitter matchup could decide the fate of World Series home field advantage. The World Series team with the best record should have home field advantage. If you want to give the game a competitive edge, give the winning team bonus money. It's a true wonder why players don't earn extra money to play in the game, and if they were given a nice bonus for winning, the game would be competitive.

3. Start the pre-game festivities earlier, or get rid of them. The All Star Game now features so much stuff, that the game itself ends up running past 11:30, sometimes later. All of the first pitch, America the Beautiful, and hometown legends stuff is great, but start it a half hour before the All Star Game broadcast begins. This allows the game to end around 11, or possibly earlier.

MLB Midseason Awards: Take 2

By Scott

Our long lost writer, Stanley, gave his thoughts on the 1st-half of the 2009 MLB Season, but now that I've established a tyrannical rule over the blog, I'll give mine as well. Let's get to it...

National League 1st-Half M.V.P.

This is by far the easiest award to give out. Pujols has been absolutely dominating, and essentially in a league of his own this year: 32 Home Runs, 85 R.B.I., 71 Runs Scored, .739 Slugging Percentage, and a .463 On Base Percentage, incredible. Not only is Albert in position to win the first Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, but he could plausibly lead the MLB in almost every category listed above by year's end. Pujols is on pace to set some records which could possibly become the first valid numbers in the somewhat Steroid-Era fallout. Of course, we've heard this story before. Lovable character puts up amazing numbers, grabs America's heart, no one suspects a thing. (See: Sosa, Sammy) But, until then, Pujols will become the face of league and will undoubtedly capture his 3rd MVP award, and 2nd straight.

Other candidates: Chase Utley, Hanley Ramirez, Prince Fielder

National League 1st-Half Cy Young

The N.L. Cy Young isn't quite as obvious as the N.L. M.V.P. The competition really comes down to two pitchers: Diamondbacks' Dan Haren and Giants' Tim Lincecum. Let's compare the stats:

Dan Haren: 9 wins, 2.01 ERA, 129 strikeouts, 0.81 WHIP

Tim Lincecum: 10 wins, 2.33 ERA, 149 strikeouts, 1.05 WHIP

Haren's WHIP is unbelievable, but it's not enough to eclipse Lincecum's mind-blowing strikeout rate and his 10-2 record. So, the nod has to go to last year's winner, Tim Lincecum. Honestly, Haren could easily win the award considering his poor run support, but Lincecum's isn't exactly great either, which also undermines looking at their wins as a valid comparison. But, in the end, Lincecum has simply been more dominating than Haren, and his dominance is what gives him the award.

Other candidates: Dan Haren, Matt Cain

American League 1st-Half M.V.P.

My A.L. M.V.P. vote comes down to two teammates: Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. Mauer was sidelined with an injury until he made his debut on May 1st which both hurts and helps his case. The big draw for Mauer's MVP candidacy is his .381 batting average, but if he played all of April, there's no way that it remains that high. It would still likely be higher than Morneau's .310 batting average, but not by a landslide. However, Mauer has put together impressive numbers considering he missed an entire month, but let's compare the numbers:

Joe Mauer: .381 Batting Average, 15 Home Runs, 49 RBI, 49 Runs, 90 Hits

Justin Morneau: .310 Batting Average, 21 Home Runs, 70 RBI, 58 Runs, 102 Hits

Considering Morneau has only 3 more at-bats than Mauer, he has to get the edge. Obviously, Mauer's batting average is astounding, and he leads the league in OPS and SLG, but again, Morneau has kept his consistency for an extra month, which is rather significant. If Mauer can keep up his pace at any capacity, there's no doubt he'll win the award at the end of the year, but for now Morneau gets a slight edge.

Other Candidates: Joe Mauer, Kevin Youkilis, Miguel Cabrera, Ichiro

American League 1st-Half Cy Young

The American League Cy Young comes down to a few players: Royals' pitcher Zack Greinke, Mariners' youngster Felix Hernandez, and Blue Jays' ace Roy Halladay. However, this decision is an easy one, and the clear cut winner is Greinke. He leads the A.L. in ERA and Innings pitched, tied for 1st in wins, and 3rd in strikeouts. Halladay and King Felix's numbers are impressive, but also considering Greinke doesn't exactly pitch with the most potent run support in the league, he definitely gets the edge. And finally, Greinke is the MLB's sweetheart of the year, which also gives him a boost that he doesn't necessarily need, but in a race this close, every advantage counts.

Other Candidates: Roy Halladay, Felix Hernandez, Edwin Jackson, Justin Verlander

MLB Assembles Least Intriguing Home Run Derby Ever

You no Big Papi

By Scott

The Home Run Derby is as American as apple pie. It's a change of pace from the constant stream of baseball games that fill Sportscenter every night. It gives fans of all intensities a chance to see their favorite players show off their sheer power, and more importantly, a taste of their true, off the field character. And this year, Major League Baseball's fans will be treated to some of the most notorious power hitters in baseball in the likes of Brandon Inge and Nelson Cruz...?

Really, it's just the American League roster that actually had me at a loss of words. Even if Cruz and Inge were smacking 5 home runs-a-game out of the park, I have no interest in seeing either of them. Why? Because they're not stars. I know Big Papi is struggling, but is there anyone in the country who can honestly say they'd rather watch Brandon Inge than Ortiz? Not to mention, Brandon Inge is 19th in the MLB in home runs. 19th!!! There's only 8 players in the derby, and there is still a solid handful of players with less home runs than Inge that are twice as appealing. See: Curtis Granderson, Miguel Cabrera, Alex Rodriguez (no way he'd enter, but still), Torii Hunter, Kevin Youkilis, and the list goes on.

Donde esta, Carlos?

But, where's Mark Texeira, Carlos Pena, Justin Morneau, or Jason Bay? It's understandable why many of the players don't want to mess up their swings and tire themselves out, but there's no excuse for the MLB and their inability to lure even 8 entertaining guys into the competition. Joe Mauer and Evan Longoria are great, young guys to put out there, but you couldn't find two more big names to put out there, MLB? Seriously?

On the contrary, the National League roster is awesome: Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder, and Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez will definitely enter as the underdog, especially because of his underrated play in a small market in San Diego. If I had to put money down, I think Pujols has to be the favorite because of his "machine-like" numbers.

It still should be a semi-entertaining watch for the casual baseball fan, but there's no doubt ratings will take a solid drop on Monday night.

Video Clip of the Day: July 9th

Ron Artest is off to a hot start in L.A. Not only is his music career taking off with his Michael Jackson track, but he also told the L.A. media that he plans to "hoodalize" ESPN. Oh yeah, and Artest once met Kobe while Kobe was showering. Enjoy, Lakers fans.

Where's the Outrage?

By Scott

I hate the Jets. So, when I heard that New York Jet's linebacker Calvin Pace violated the League's Substance Abuse Policy and will be watching from home for the first 4 weeks of the 2009 season, I was rather pleased. My boundless anticipation of the media circus that would certainly surround the Jets and disrupt their locker room was high. After all, Pace signed a mega-deal last summer worth $42 million with $22 million guaranteed. It was perfect. So, I kicked back, turned on ESPN, and waited for the magic to happen... and I waited, and waited, and waited. Nothing more than a mere mention of the suspension. No screaming Mark Schlereth, nothing.

Obviously, the NFL has gotten somewhat of a free pass on steroids. In fact, steroids in the NFL have infected the league long before it was a problem for baseball. Members of the Steel Curtain admitted to using HGH, and really, just watching old highlight tapes is the only proof you need. It appears as though it's almost safe to assume that over 50-60% of the NFL was juiced in the 80's and 90's, if not more. Even today when some of the league's bigger stars test positive, there's no outrage. Shawn Merriman, Rodney Harrison, Deuce McCallister, Kevin and Pat Williams, and the list goes on. How many people remember, or even knew that they tested positive for that matter. When a baseball player tests positive, his career is forever marked with an invisible asterik. So why is the NFL getting such a free pass?

Roger Goodell needs to take two courses of action: Turn a blind eye like the NFL has done years, or seriously crack down on the substance violators. The NFL is probably the sport that would benefit most from enhanced players, but the ramifications of these guys enduring thousands of violent collisions plus the serious side effects of steroids, the long term health of the players is very, very grim.

But while I waited to hear the outrage over Pace's suspension, I did hear an obnoxious amount of news about Manny Ramirez's return tour. And for the life of me, I just can't grasp why he is getting a free pass and ultimately a celebration for using steroids. Manny cheated the game the exact same way McGwire, Sosa, A-Rod, Clemens, Canseco, and the rest of users did. Just because Manny can put on a show with his childish antics and dreadlocks shouldn't excuse him from the same scrutiny others who have tested positive endured. I'm all for forgiveness, but giving Manny special treatment is ridiculous on every level.

Chad Ochocinco Wants to Tweet During Games

Then stop being a dumbass...

Chad Ochocinco informed the media earlier today that he plans to tweet during games. My inconsequential advice to the NFL: DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.

Okay, I hate some of what General Goodell has done to the league, and I agreed with Johnson (I can't really call him Ochocinco) when he pointed out that N.F.L. now stands for No Fun League. Taking away touchdown dances and celebrations is like not telling your friends you just hooked up with Carmen Electra. It's a world-class feat, but getting fined for rubbing it in you friends' faces? Not cool. Anyway, I appreciate Johnson's rebellious ways to the league, putting on excessive celebrations and absorbing the fines, changing his name to Ochocinco, racing a horse, and his crazy antics are endless. However, allowing Johnson to tweet during games could lead to a future that the NFL does NOT want.

Picture this: The Bear and Packers are clashing in a bitter, freezing December game that will decide the playoff fate of both storied franchises. It's 3rd & 6 and Jay Cutler calls in a play-action pass designed to get TE Greg Olsen in the seam for the first down. Cutler takes the snap, looks off the safety and fires a bullet into Olsen who drops the pass and forces da Bears to punt. In a fit of rage, Cutler walks over to the sideline, picks up his Blackberry, and sends out a Tweet: "Knew the play call was bogus. Shouldve hit Hester deep, Olsen has got bricks for hands." Before the nation can react to Cutler's tweet-attack, Fox's cameras pan out on Chicago's bench to display countless Chicago players on their cell phones. Many aren't even paying attention to the game, but are texting, tweeting, and fixing their fantasy football lineups. And, even worse, this is not an isolated incident. Roy Williams called out Wade Phillips during the 3rd quarter of a game, Adrian Peterson called out his offensive line after he was unable to convert on a 4th & 1, and Mark Sanchez accidentally tipped off the opposing defense, and this all happened during the 4 o'clock games.

Of course that's a little bit of an exaggeration, but not by a landslide. Just imagine seeing a player pull out a cell phone during a game. Disgraceful. And, Chad's twitter history isn't so clean, considering he compared the death of Michael Jackson to 9/11.

I hope the NFL puts a $1 million fine down for anyone who even brings a cell phone onto the field, because there are some things that really aren't worth the possible repercussions.

UFL Will Consider Vick

By Scott

The UFL has stated that they'll "consider" allowing Michael Vick to play when their inaugural season kicks off in October. My response: Duh. The United Football League already goofed when they failed to promote their draft which was held on June 19th, a time when virtually no noteworthy news comes out of the NFL.

Getting Vick to play would be monumental for the league which has been set up rather nicely. The league's four teams will be coached by some pretty notable names: Jim Fassel will coach the Las Vegas franchise, Dennis Green (San Francisco), Ted Cottrell (New York), and Jim Haslett will coach the Orlando franchise who also drafted the rights to Vick should he be suspended by the NFL. Set aside the Vick situation, the NFL really should consider instituting the UFL as a farm system. NFL Europe obviously did not pan out, but giving teams an opportunity to develop players would boost the quality of play in the NFL.

Some notable names that will play in the UFL this season:

Adam Archuleta

Wendell Bryant

Brian Johnson

LaBrandon Toefield

Cecil Sapp

Brooks Bollinger

Mike Doss

Chris Perry

BJ Sams

Video Clip of the Day: July 6th

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Awesome to see Nomah finally make his return to Boston tonight. It's hard to believe he hasn't managed to make it back there since 2004, but I guess that made the night all the more special. Even 5 years after he last wore a Sox uniform it still doesn't feel right to see him wearing anything but red and grey.

Steve McNair (1973-2009)

By Scott

Former Alcorn State, Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans, and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was found shot to death in a Nashville condominium on Saturday morning. McNair's death has been ruled a homicide, but it remains unknown as to whether the woman who was also found dead in the apartment committed a murder-suicide, or if both were murdered. Regardless, the loss of the 36-year-old father of four sent shock waves across the nation.

McNair's storied career began in high school where McNair excelled in four sports. Playing both ways, McNair led the Mount Olive High football team to the Mississippi State Championship, all while tying the state record for interceptions as the team's safety. As if that wasn't enough, McNair was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1991, but the quarterback chose his passion and committed to I-AA school, Alcorn State to play football.

At Alcorn State, McNair continued where he left off in high school. Tearing apart defenses with 3,541 passing yards and 39 total touchdowns in 1992, a season that included a game in which McNair came back from a leg injury against Grambling and ran in the winning touchdown. Something that McNair would do many times throughout his career. His success continued throughout his college career, and in his senior season, McNair totaled over 6,000 yards passing and rushing and found the endzone 53 times. His senior year success earned him national attention, as McNair won the Walter Payton Award for best I-AA player and finished third in Heisman voting.

With the third pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, the Houston Oilers selected Steve McNair. McNair rode the bench for most of his first two seasons, but took the helm as the starting quarterback in 1997. He immediately let his presence be felt around the league as the Oilers finished 8-8 and McNair totaled 2,665 yards passing, 674 yards rushing, and 22 total touchdowns. However, McNair really came into his own in 1999 when the Oilers became the Tennessee Titans. After leading the Titans to a win over the Bengals in week 1, McNair was sidelined by an inflamed disk and replaced by Neil O'Donnell. O'Donnell went 4-1 with the Titans, but McNair took the job back once he was healthy and led Tennessee to an 8-2 record and a wild-card playoff birth. That year, McNair led the team to Super Bowl 34 where the Titans came just 1 yard short of sending the game into overtime. It was McNair's first and last Super Bowl appearance.

After years of success with Tennessee which included an MVP award in 2003 and multiple playoff appearances which were ultimately unsuccessful, the Titans traded the man who had become the face of their franchise due to constant injury and age issues. McNair became the leading man in Baltimore, a team that desperately needed an offensive boost. After starting every game and leading the Ravens to a 13-3 record in 2006, McNair couldn't get the Ravens over the hump, and the team was defeated by the eventual champions, the Indianapolis Colts, in the first round. In 2007, McNair missed 9 games due to injury, and after 13 seasons, McNair called it quits, and retired.

McNair's career can be summed up in one word: Toughness. He played through injuries on virtually every part of his body from his toes, ankles, sternum, back, ribs, fingers, groin, and you get the picture. He was never the sexiest player and didn't make many highlight reels, but McNair did the small things right, and his legacy will be one of a gutsy player and a true class act.

Artest and Ariza Swap Teams

By Scott

Free-agent forwards Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza have agreed in principle with the Lakers and Rockets respectively. Artest will choose from two deals: $18.7 million over 3 years or $33.5 million over 5 years, while Ariza's deal is expected to give him around $5.8 million per year, and could total up to equal Artest's contract which is insane for a guy who averaged under 9 points-per-game, but we'll get that.

First, the Lakers' signing of Artest could end up being the most significant move of the offseason. Artest adds not only a suffocating defender and offensive threat, but a great presence in a Lakers locker room that totally lacks character. Although Artest's zaniness and unpredictable behavior is a concern, he has been a popular figure in locker rooms throughout his career. Remember the Melee at Auburn Hills? Artest ran into the stands and his teammates followed him. A sign of loyalty and trust. Would Kobe's teammates follow him into the stands? Probably not. And Artest could be a key component in brining this Lakers' team closer. On the court, Artest is one of the best defenders in the game and averages a solid 17-points-a-game. He is undoubtedly an upgrade from both Ariza and Lamar Odom, and the Lakers will likely make another visit to the NBA Finals with Artest as as a key difference maker that could also force teams to divert their attention away from Kobe.

Trevor Ariza's contract is everything that is wrong with the NBA. Ariza averaged under 9-points-a-game, and not much else. His game relies on hitting open 3's that became available because of double teams on Kobe. Much of the hype surrounding Ariza also resulted from the two inbound steals he made against Denver in the Western Conference Finals. ESPN replayed

those plays so many times it was drilled into the minds of viewers and Ariza was hailed as a defensive mastermind. Granted, Ariza is young and his upside is tremendous especially considering how much his game has grown since he came out of UCLA, but giving such a massive contract to a guy who has ultimately done nothing in this league is not worth the risk. However, Rockets GM Daryl Maury has proven himself one of the best in the business in evaluating talent, so Ariza's development will be worth watching.

The most interesting part of these deals is the fallout. There were reports swirling around the internet that Ron Artest was close to signing with the Cavs. Now that Artest has chosen L.A., it'll be interesting to see if Cleveland pursues another piece to the Lebron/Shaq show. With Lamar Odom now on the market, he could be a decent replacement for Artest especially because of his experience playing with star-driven teams with Kobe in L.A. and Dwayne Wade in Miami. Another possible landing spot for Odom is Orlando. With Hedo Turkoglu on the way out, Odom would be solid fit for the Magic who are still on the verge of establishing themselves as a true power in the East.

NHL Free Agency Recap

By Scott

The NHL free-agency period is just three days in, but most of the big-impact moves have already been made. And, of course, we've got all of them covered.

Marian Hossa to Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago made the biggest splash of the week by signing former Red Wing embarrassment Marian Hossa. By embarrassment, I mean, of course, Hossa's disappearance in the Stanley Cup against the team he turned down a contract extension from last summer. However, Hossa was extremely productive during the regular season, racking up 40 goals and 31 assists. The Blackhawks locked Hossa up to a 12-year deal which, if Hossa plays it out, should allow him to play out the rest of his career in Chicago. And, don't forget that the 'Hawks signed former Devils Center John Madden, who is regarded as one of the best defensive forwards in the league. These moves put the Blackhawks right next to the Flames as the favorites in the West. The only question now for Chicago is goaltending. Nikolai Khabibulin bolted for Edmonton leaving free-agent bust Cristobal Huet to protect the net. If Huet can live up to his contract, the Blackhawks will represent the West in the finals.

Marian Gaborik to New York Rangers

The New York Rangers made an expensive gamble by signing Minnesota Wild forward Marian Gaborik. Gaborik's career has been one marked by durability issues and instability. He has never played a full season throughout his 9 year career, and is coming off of hip surgery that forced him to miss 65 games last season. Gaborik has also been subject to countless trade rumors over the years, but the Wild were never able to pull the trigger on a deal. Add up the injury concerns and the fact that Gaborik wasn't that successful at the height of his healthy days, and he could very easily be joining the likes of other New York Ranger free-agent busts, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Wade Redden, Bobby Holik, Darius Kasparaitis, Valeri Kamensky, Stephane Quintal, and Scott Fraser.

Dany Heatley rejects trade to Edmonton Oilers

Disgruntled Ottawa Senators' forward Dany Heatley has been itching to get out of Ottawa so badly that he requested a trade at the beginning of the offseason. So, Senators GM Bryan Murphy granted his wish and constructed a deal that would send Heatley to Edmonton in exchange for forwards Dustin Penner and Andrew Cogliano, as well as defenseman Ladislav Smid. Everything was great, except Heatley never waived his no-trade clause, and the deal fell

through. Why? Because it's Edmonton. No one wants to play in Edmonton. The Hockey News did a players' poll last year that asked the players where they would least liked to be traded to. Edmonton finished second to last with 11% of the polled players voting against the snow-drowned city. Even Jay Bouwmeester voted against playing in his hometown to play in Calgary where living conditions are considerably more desirable, and Edmonton is within driving distance. You really can't blame Heatley for hoping that a better team in a more livable location will put a sufficient deal on the table. But, as is the result of most trade demands, Heatley will probably be a Senator come October.

Jay Bouwmeester signs with the Calgary Flames

Unlike Canadian National Team teammate Dany Heatley, Jay Bouwmeester's wish of relocation was granted. Bouwmeester escaped from Florida with his negotiating rights shipped to Calgary. The Flames had 4 days to convince JayBo to sign with them before he could hit the open market and get showered with lucrative deals by every team imaginable. Where did the Flames muster up an extra $6.6 million-a-year to give the defenseman with such a star-studded roster? Who knows, but pair Bouwmeester with Dion Phaneuf or Robyn Regehr and it's hard to believe anyone will beat Calgary, and it's very possible nobody does. The Flames have certainly surpassed the Red Wings in terms of overall skill, but the biggest question will be putting all of their skill together, something they failed to do this season after acquiring goal-scorer Olli Jokinen.

Southeast Divison Gets Stronger

Often the most criticized division in the NHL, if not sports, the Panthers, Thrashers, Lightning, and Hurricanes were all some of the most efficient players in the free-agency market this week. The Hurricanes brought back 3 wingers, including shootout specialist Jussi Jokinen, and Chad LaRose and Erik Cole who both decided to test the market only to come crawling back to Carolina. The Lighting added some seriously needed depth and talent to their defense by

adding former Vancouver defenseman Matthias Ohlund and former Chicago defenseman Matt Walker. The Panthers also added some defensive depth by signing Jordan Leopold, Clay Wilson, and Ville Koistinen. Florida then picked up former Devils goaltender Scott Clemmensen to replace Craig Anderson. Clemmensen ably filled in for Martin Brodeur last season, going 25-13-1 in his absence. Finally, the Thrashers added a playmaker in forward Nik Antropov and a top-4 blueliner in Pavel Kubina. The Antropov signing could be a ploy to keep Ilya Kovalchuck in town for the long run with his contract expiring after this season.

Video Clip of the Day: June 29th

Alas, the wait is over.

Islanders tag Tavares as Savior

By Scott

The New York Islanders took goal-scoring phenom John Tavares with the 1st overall pick of the NHL Draft on Friday night. Tavares was undoubtedly viewed as the most skilled offensive player available, after netting 72 goals for the OHL's London Knights this past season. Tavares is not Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin in terms of obtaining a complete game, but he may establish himself as an Ovechkin-esque goal-scorer in the league. Although Tavares was not a lock to be taken first overall with rumors of the Islanders taking defenseman Victor Hedman or trading down, New York made the right move by securing the most hyped player in the draft who they hope will ressurrect the near-dead franchise. If Tavares turns out to be a bust, the Islanders could be leaving New York.

Another franchise on the verge of relocation, the Tampa Bay Lightning, took Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman. Hedman is easily the most NHL-ready defenseman taken in the draft. He is brilliant with puck and is one of the smoothest skaters in the world. Perhaps Hedman's biggest weapon is his mammoth size and linebacker build. 6'6", 220 pounds will allow Hedman to be a force in the league for years to come. With little skill and depth already protecting Tampa Bay's blue line, Hedman could definitely see some playing time this season. If last year's top pick Steven Stamkos can begin to take form and the Lightning's management crisis can be resolved, the Lightning may begin to reverse their recently poor fortunes.

To cap off the "Big 3", the Colorado Avalanche took forward Matt Duchene third overall. Duchene assembled 79 points in 57 games for the OHL's Brampton Battalion this season, and has been marked as the best all-around player in the draft, drawing comparisons to Joe Sakic and Mike Modano alike. Duchene will probably need some time in the minors especially considering his rough adjustment to the speed of the OHL he endured. But, once he gets up to speed, the Canadien center should be a fixture in Colorado's lineup for years to come. Whether or not Joe Sakic will hang around one more year and mentor his protege will be publicized this week as Sakic has reportedly made a decision.

Blake Griffin is Doomed and Brandon Jennings is a Big Deal... Thoughts on the NBA Draft

By Scott

"Hasheem hungry. Hasheem eat you?"

The NBA Draft is always a lock for entertainment. Ridiculous suits, foreign players giving awkward interviews, and immature kids earning millions of dollars that they'll soon burn on Bentleys, houses, and girls. But, set aside the social travesty that the NBA Draft ultimately personifies, it is largely a comedy show.

• Blake Griffin went 1st overall to the Los Angeles Clippers and proved he has no chance of becoming the face of any franchise. So stolid and emotionless, Griffin could easily turn into the next Tim Duncan in terms of great players who are just simply unattractive off the court and slip through the media cracks. But, Griffin did tell the world that he'd like to host Saturday Night Live. Yeah, right.
• Blake Griffin, you just got drafted 1st overall by the Los Angeles Clippers and you're going to make millions of dollars, how do you feel?.....

• Please, control your emotions, Blake.
• Hasheem Thabeet went 2nd overall to the 2nd most irrelevant team in the NBA, the Memphis Grizzlies. Thabeet is the 1st player from Tanzania to be drafted into the NBA, and that's about the only interesting part of this pick. The UConn center is not physical and his game consists of sitting back and stuffing the crap out of little point guards. I don't think that translates well to the NBA, but being 7'3" does.
• The Thunder and Kings both shocked the league by taking James Harden and Tyreke Evans respectively over Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio. Harden sported the best attire of the night with a classy beige suit and a bow-tie, but going at #3 feels like a stretch for a guy who kind of came out of nowhere and shined in a Pac-10 that lost O.J. Mayo, Kevin Love, Jerryd Bayless, and a few more lottery picks from last year.
• Minnesota obviously made the biggest splash of the night by drafting both Ricky Rubio and Johnny Flynn. GM Dave Kahn insists they'll keep both, but now that Rubio has threatened to go back to Europe for another year or two, Kahn might want to get some good value out of Rubio and build the team around Flynn who has a much more complete game.
• Bucks draftee Brandon Jennings decided not to attend the draft because he thought he might not get drafted early, and essentially didn't want to pull an Aaron Rodgers. So, Jennings decided to watch from his New York City hotel room, that is, until he was drafted 10th overall and decided to make an appearance. Odd, but I thought it was actually a nice gesture by Jennings to give the league some pictures and show off himself to Milwaukee fans. Jennings is a freak athlete that definitely needs some grooming, but his cockiness could allow him to evolve into the face of a franchise that needs an identity.
• Why does David Stern always look so happy when he comes to announce picks? Is there someone telling him jokes as he walks out to the podium or is he just a weird guy?

Trades Headline NHL Draft

By Scott

Trades are the one thing that rescues the NHL Draft from total obscurity. The draft really turns into a difficult watch after the top 5 and your favorite team picks, but when names like Bouwmeester, Heatley and Kessel are lingering around trade rumors, the draft picks up plenty of intensity. Although Heatley and Kessel weren't moved (yet, anyway) defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Chris Pronger were moved, and both deals headlined the weekend.

Florida Panthers Interim GM Randy Sexton pulled off the impossible by sending the negotiating rights of defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to Calgary for defenseman Jordan Leopold and a 3rd round pick (Josh Birkholz). Obviously, there's no guarantee JayBo will sign an extension with the Flames, but they have 5 days to convince him to do so. Bouwmeester has openly expressed a desire to play in Western Canada, particularly for his hometown Edmonton Oilers. But you have to wonder if Calgary's serious talent will lure him in. Imagine Bouwmeester playing next to Dion Phaneuf or Robyn Regehr, plain scary. Calgary's offense is ready to win a cup, Bouwmeester is the missing piece.

As for the Panthers, they just traded a ghost for a serviceable defenseman and a draft pick. Jordan Leopold isn't a top-4 defenseman, but expect the Panthers to try and sign him to add some much needed defensive depth. Calgary is going to be under ton of pressure to sign Bouwmeester, and if he's smart, JayBo will be putting on a red and black sweater come October.

Before the Panthers and Flames pulled the trigger, the Flyers and Ducks did some business of their own. Anaheim sent defenseman Chris Pronger and prospect Ryan Dingle to Philly for forward Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, 1st round draft picks in 2010 and 2011, and a conditional third round pick in 2010 or 2011. The Flyers may have overpaid for a 35-year-old defenseman, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Philly tried desperately to land Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, but they appear to have settled with Pronger as the man who will lead a defense that struggled throughout the season. Philly is under huge pressure to compete for the cup this year, and Pronger might be the missing piece. If he doesn't pan out the Flyers will be in big trouble.

While Pronger drew all of the attention from the trade, the Ducks continue morphing into a sleeper pick for next season. Stockpiling another scoring threat in Joffrey Lupul gives Anaheim even more upside to a lineup already consisting of stud prospects Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry, and Jonas Hiller.

There should be some movement before the start of free agency on Wednesday. Reports have a handful of teams inquiring about Detroit's Marian Hossa. Because of the massive contract Hossa will expect, his suitors will probably be limited to a large market. If the Rangers can't strike a deal for Danny Heatley, expect them to make a run at Hossa. As for Danny Heatley, Phil Kessel, and others, the possibilities are endless, and the next few days should bring about plenty of movement.

Baseball Midseason Awards; An Interesting Proposal

Roy Halladay is in line for a Cy Young Award.

By Stanley

Baseball season has basically reached its midpoint.  Although the All-Star game is traditionally dubbed the "Midsummer Classic", the end of June truly marks the midpoint of the baseball season.  So who takes home the hardware in Mel Kiper's Hair Baseball Midseason Awards?  Let's find out.

AL MVP:   Mark Teixeira, 1B, New York Yankees.  Clearly, the best acquisition by the Yankees from their very busy 2008-2009 offseason was Mark Teixeira, who was signed to a massive deal in the free agency.  Through 6/27, Teixeira had hit 20 home runs and belted in 58 RBIs.  He was only batting .276, but his power numbers are huge.  Teixeira has taken a huge lift upon his shoulders to help carry the Yankees' sometimes struggling offense.  He has done a great part in keeping the Bronx Bombers anywhere near the surging Red Sox, who look like they are running away with the division.  But right now, Mark Teixeira is loving the pinstripes and the Yankee faithful are loving the first baseman.  If he continues to hit like he is, Teixeira could take home an MVP award.

NL MVP: Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals.  Pujols has been absolutely crushing the ball this season.  As I am writing this article, the Cardinals' first baseman has belted home runs number 27 and 28 on the season.  This puts him on pace for almost 60 for the year, which is unbelievable.  The Cards are in great position to win the NL Central, much thanks to Pujols' bat.  He also has 74 RBIs on the year and has a .328 batting average.  In comparison, his numbers are much better than Texiera's.  Well, Pujols' numbers are much better than everyone else's, in fact.  As long as he can stay healthy, he should take home the NL MVP award.  

AL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, SP, Toronto Blue Jays.  Halladay is once again having an unbelievable season for the Jays and has kept Toronto in the playoff hunt.  Through 6/27, Halladay is 10-1 with 88 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.53.  His primary competitor, Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals, has a lower ERA (1.90) and more strikeouts (111 K's total) but is 9-3.  While Greinke's losses can often be chalked up to poor run support by his Royal teammates, Halladay is still a better bet for the award because of the irrelevance of the Royals.  

NL Cy Young: Chad Billingsley, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers.  While there isn't one main candidate for the award in the NL, Billingsley is a pretty safe bet to be in the running late in the season.  With the success of the Dodgers, the young hurler will likely continue to rack up the victories, giving him an edge over other pitchers on less successful teams.  He has 9 wins on the year, which is tied for the lead in the NL.  His ERA is pretty solid at 3.10 and he has K'd 99 batters on the season.  In June, he is 3-0 with a 3.82 ERA with only 13 earned runs in five starts.  However, he was assessed two no decisions in two Dodger losses in June as well.  But Billingsley for the most part has held up his end.  

The AL Favorite: Boston Red Sox.  The Red Sox are most definitely playing championship-caliber baseball right now.  The Yankees' struggles plus Boston's own success has created a substantial lead in the AL East for the Red Sox, which through 6/27 is 4 games over the Yanks.  The Red Sox are probably the most balanced team in the majors.  They have great starting pitching, good relievers, a great closer, and a balanced, consistent, and sometimes explosive hitting lineup.  However, the Red Sox will have to contend with the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Rays in the AL East, who are all fairly close together.  In the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers are playing the best baseball.  The Tigers have gotten great starting pitching and solid hitting all year.  However, relievers continue to be an issue for this team.  If Detroit wants to hold off the Twins and White Sox, the relievers must hold.  Once the playoffs come around, the Tigers can beat every team in the American League in a series except probably the Red Sox.  But anything can happen.  

The NL Favorite: Los Angeles Dodgers.  Everything is going very smoothly for the Dodgers right now.  They  have been the best team record-wise in all of baseball for the entire season.  They kept up their success even when Manny Ramirez was suspended, and now they are close to getting their superstar slugger back in the lineup.  The Dogers are running away with the NL West.  And they are running away with the National League.  No team in particular looks very good right now except for Los Angeles.  The Phillies were playing good ball but have been atrocious recently, allowing the horrible Mets and even the Marlins to stay in the NL East race.  Interesting fact: The Phillies have the best road record in all the majors, at 25-12.  However, their home record is an abysmal 13-22.  Can we definitely say now that the negativity and arrogance of the Philadelphia fans has caused this oddity?  I say yes.        

The Dark Horse Playoff Team: Chicago White Sox: The White Sox are one of the better teams in the majors that always underperforms, and this year is no exception.  Chicago has been hanging around .500 for awhile, and remain 6 games behind the division leading Tigers in the AL Central.  The White Sox have a very good lineup and pretty good pitching that should allow them to make a run in the second half.  Expect Chicago to give Detroit some trouble.  But the Tigers should hang on to the division with their superior starting pitching.  The Twins could also be trouble in the central in a weird year like this, but expect the Tigers to maintain their lead.  

Proposal that the league should consider: As originally brought up by radio host Evan Cohen on ESPN 760's Palm Beach's Gameday, the Florida Marlins should swap places with the Toronto Blue Jays in terms of divisional lineup.  Everything about the Marlins being the AL East would make sense.  The large New England/New York population in South Florida would make for great home draws with the Yankees and Red Sox in South Florida.  The Marlins average 30,000 to 35,000 fans for those games, sometimes even more.  They would play the Yankees and Red Sox nine times each at home.  That would be 18 home games with over 30,000 fans packing Land Shark Stadium and in the future the new Marlins Stadium.  Also, there is potential for a Florida baseball rivalry with the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.  On the flip side, Toronto gets to go to the less competitive NL East, where they would actually have a chance of winning.  The Blue Jays will dole out the money to get the good players, but they always finish behind the Yankees and the Red Sox because of the massive payrolls of the two clubs.  Being in the National League East would allow the Blue Jays to have more success with the pretty substantial payroll of the team.  Additionally, the Jays could set up a yearly interleague bout with the Detroit Tigers, who are the closest American League team to Toronto.  It would be a win-win situation for the Jays and Marlins.  The Jays would be able to compete on a yearly basis for the divisional crown, and the Marlins would be able to draw more fans and start a rivalry with the Rays.  

Video Clip of the Day: June 27th

This one has been circulating around the web for a few days now. I bet someone could make one of these between Kiper and McShay.

Is Ricky Rubio Worth It?

By Scott

Spanish superstar Ricky Rubio made himself a very nice sum of money Thursday night after he was selected 5th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rubio, who has already drawn comparisons to Pistol Pete Maravich and Larry Bird because of his jaw-dropping passing skills, is essentially Spain's Lebron. He has been playing pro basketball since he was 14 and gained worldwide attention after leading the Spanish National team in the '08 Summer Olympics on an injured foot. He's everything an NBA franchise looks for in a draft pick. He's a heartthrob, extremely marketable, and most importantly, he'll put butts in the seats immediately.

But, Rubio leads a slew of European players who have entered the NBA draft with tales of legendary skill and serious hype. Remember Darko Milicic, Yi Jianlian, Saer Sene, Oleksiv Pecherov, Fran Vasquez, Yaroslav Korolev or Pavel Podkolzine? Yeah, neither do I. And trust me, there are sooo many more where that came from. The success stories are so minimal: Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming and Rudy Fernandez are the few exceptions to the harsh transition of the wide-open European play to the physical, bruising American game.

The only hard evidence we have of Rubio is YouTube and stories from European scouts. As for the American basketball minds who have seen Rubio firsthand, not all of them were as impressed, just ask Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim,

"I think he’s got a little too much American in him. He’s a cocky little kid. He complained on all the calls. He’s good with the ball. He’s not a great shooter. I think he will have trouble guarding people. He didn’t play very well against us, especially in the championship game. I’m not sold on him. I think he needs to shoot it better, and his defense will be questionable. He’s one of those guys the scouts don’t see a lot, so they haven’t had time to pick him apart. He’s flashy. They pick all our players apart, and I don’t know if they always do that with some of the guys over there. My impression was less favorable than most people who’ve seen him, I guess."

Personally, I'll take Boeheim's word over the hearsay of European scouts who praise Rubio's every move. But, before we get any farther, let's break down Rubio:

1. Elite passing skill, no doubt. He's already among the most prolific in the league when it comes to ball handling.
2. He can't shoot. Probably the biggest gripe that almost every scout has held against him.
3. He is not physical. Just watch the video above. Almost every time he drives to the hoop he is unchallenged and untouched. When's the last time you saw that happen in the NBA?
4. No one has really seen him play. American prospects are picked apart inch by inch. Rubio is all hearsay. I'd rather take my chances with Johnny Flynn or Tyreke Evans.
5. He's European. Look at the success rate. Not favorable.

Obviously, the Timberwolves saw both the upside and the downside of Rubio by drafting him 5th overall and also drafting another point guard in Johnny Flynn with the 6th overall pick. Personally, it looks to me like the Timberwolves drafted Rubio for his name value and will trade him for some nice value, especially now that Rubio has threatened to return to Spain for another year or two.

My untrained scouting eye isn't reliable, but that's really the consensus from watching the limited footage of his play and the few that have critiqued Rubio. The negatives outweigh the positives when it comes to basketball skill, but of course Rubio's image is part of his lure. Plus, the biggest question is how he'll transition from the European game to the American game. Will Ricky Rubio join the list of irrelevant names that have passed through the NBA before? We'll find out soon enough.

Do We Really Want Athletes' Political Opinions?

By Scott

Just a day after Jim Brown's criticism of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods' silence on the social issues that Brown believes still plague the African American race surfaced, New York Jets' Kicker Jay Feely took the time to sit down with Sean Hannity & Co. and share his thoughts on President Obama.

Not to say that these issues are directly related, but they do fall under the same context of athletes' and politics. Everyone likes to believe that athletes have this obligation to be something more than a guy who plays basketball. People want more. We want to know what cereal he eats, who he's dating, and every single, miniscule detail in between. And then, we want to know who he's voting for come election time, or what he thinks about North Korea. But, when we find, we get pissed off. It's the truth.

The examples are endless. Remember last year when Lebron refused to sign teammate Ira Newbie's letter to the Chinese Government condemning China's support of genocide in Darfur? It had nothing to do with Lebron supporting China's actions, but James stated that he simply wanted to learn more about the situation. People didn't want to hear it. Lebron was quickly made subject to harsh criticism from every available media outlet. And then to the shock of many, he decided not to sign the petition at all. But, all of those Lebron critics failed to realize that he is Lebron James. He can't just put his name on something without seriously considering the consequences. China doesn't care that Ira Newbie's name is on there, but Lebron's signature would catch their eye, and therefore damage his chances at achieving the global icon status that he openly desires so much. Do you think Chinese investors would have just purchased part of the Cavs if Lebron had signed that petition? Neither do I.

Remember in 1990 when Michael Jordan refused to support an African-American, Democratic politician by stating, "Republicans buy sneakers, too"? Similar to Tiger Woods' refusal to openly support President Barack Obama during his campaign has nothing to do with Tiger's political views. Let's say Tiger decides to endorse Obama and appear at a rally. Inevitably, he'll lose much of his Republican fan base. And, who plays golf? Primarily, rich white guys. So, is it worth it for Tiger to sacrifice millions of dollars to please his race? No, of course not. It may be acceptable for a guy like Charles Barkley who has built his image as an outspoken, political activist, but not for Tiger or M.J. who built their images as athletes and not politicians.

The aspect that the blogosphere and media constantly ignore is athletes' sponsorship obligations. Jim Brown didn't have any obligations to Nike or Reebok in 1965, he could do whatever he wanted. Obviously, he'd face scrutiny for doing something racial due to the political tension at the time of his career, but Brown didn't have to wear someone's cleats and he could say what he wanted to. Today's sports culture is a total 180 degree turn from the culture Brown played in. People ask to hear athletes' political opinions when really the only answer they'll receive is a "no comment" or whatever the athletes' advisors tell them to say. Besides, most of the guys had some nerds get them through college, so why are their opinions so coveted?

Nadal out of Wimbledon

By Mike

Unfortunately, no more wedgie-pulling in Wimbledon

With Rafael Nadal not surprisingly pulling out of the most prestigious major in tennis, the tournament is wide-open.

Roger Federer looks to regain the trophy that Nadal took from him last year in possibly the most epic five-set match ever. But in my mind, I do not think that Federer can pull it off; he just is not hitting the ball as hard as he used to and people are beginning to tee-off on his high topspin groundstrokes.

Andy Murray looks to become the first British player in a while to finally take home the trophy.

Novak Djokovic wants to return to his star form and actually compete in a major tournament once again.

Andy Roddick is always a favorite to win Wimbledon because of his rediculous serve, but I do not expect him to get past the Quarterfinals, especially if he has a foot-injury (he retired in the Queen's Club tournament).

Surprisingly, I expect Juan Martin del Potro to destroy the field and take his first major tournament of his career. This young phenom is extremely tall at 6 foot 5 inches, and has a humongous serve, sometimes reaching 140 MPH. His huge serve and monster strokes should, in my mind, easily push him to the victory.

Santana Gets Shelled

By Mike

What are you smiling about, Johan Santana?

Over the past seven years, Johan Santana has been reguarded as the most dominant pitcher in baseball posting ERA of about 2.7 during that span and over 200 strikeouts per season. But his luck has quickly changed. Heading into Sunday's self-destruction against the Yankees, Santana had a 5.54 ERA over his previous two games, and it is getting progressively worse. This is Santana's career worst stat line in the 16-0 shutout loss: 3.0 IP, 9 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; at least he had a 9.0 K per 9 average.

Johan Santana has not been able to locate his pitches like he used to. He can no longer throw to the outside part of the plate against lefties, and as a result they are sitting for the inside fastball and knocking it out of the park (he allowed 4 homeruns against the Phillies). Lefties are also hitting above .300 against him in his last few starts. Even more alarming for Santana is that his fastball velocity is down about 3 MPH from last year. This is extremely alarming to me, and unfortunately might indicate that Tommy John's surgery is inevitable. This decrease in fastball speed also makes his nasty changeup more hittable, because the difference in velocities is a lot smaller.

If Johan Santana doesn't start to get his things together, then he certainly won't be in the running for the National League Cy Young this year, and the already struggling Mets will most likely drop out of the playoff race; if all of the Mets starters are healthy, their rotation is subpar, but it doesn't help that two of them are injured.

If Santana does not start to pitch well, then you might have to consider a back-up plan. The most reasonable pickups at this point in the season are:

1.) John Smoltz - if he is able to achieve a slight amount of the success that he used to, he should be a great addition especially with the run support in Boston.
2.) Aaron Cook - the Rockies are finally starting to hit the ball, which means more run support. Cook has always been a somewhat reliable sinker-baller and he should continue to do so.
3.) Joe Blanton - after nearly 5 quality starts in a row, maybe Blanton is returning to his old-Oakland Athletic form?

Fantasy Forecast: 189 IP, 15 W, 9 L, 191 K, 3.15 ERA, 1.19 WHIP

Penguins upset Wings, win the Stanley Cup

By Scott

Yes, as predicted, the Pittsburgh Penguins have earned themselves the title of Stanley Cup Champions. While it's obviously a stretch to say David beat Goliath, there was little hope of a Penguins win in Detroit last night, in game 7 nonetheless. But, in retrospect, everything added up to a predictable Penguins victory last night. First and perhaps most importantly, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury displayed the most crucial attribute a goalie can possess: a flare for the dramatic. He transformed into a brick wall in the fading moments of game 6, stoning Dan Cleary's breakaway chance and somehow preventing Johan Franzen from poking in a rebound with just seconds left (with plenty of help from Rob Scuderi), and then showcasing his clutch once again last night as he made a diving save to prevent Niklas Lindstrom's put-back from sending the game into overtime, effectively clinching the championship.

Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby's appearance in this year's cup as opposed to their disappearance last year, provided an immeasurable boost for the Penguins. Combining for 67 points throughout the postseason, Malkin and Crosby transcended themselves into hockey immortality with Crosby becoming the youngest captain to hoist the cup, and Malkin becoming the first player to win both the Conn Smythe and Art Ross trophy since his boss, Mario Lemieux won both in the '91-'92 season.

And finally, enough credit can not be given to Dan Bylsma. He took a dead team, nearly double digits out of the 8th spot in the East, pressured to trade one of their superstars to build the depth that Pittsburgh appeared to lack, and went an incredible 18-3-4 with them over the last 25 games of the regular season. And in fairy tale fashion he defeated the man whom some regard as the best coach in hockey, and who once coached Bylsma to a Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 himself, Mike Babcock. Student defeated teacher.

As mentioned in our playoff preview, there is nothing more dangerous than a hot team coming into the playoffs, and even more dangerous than that is a hot team with a great goaltender, and the Penguins just happened to have both.

Great Moments from Game 7

• Detroit fans bombarded Commissioner Gary Bettman with boos as he walked out to present the Stanley Cup, the true sign of a good fan base; however, it was great to hear applause for the Penguins throughout the celebration and most of them stuck around to watch. There's no doubt watching a team winning a championship on the road is a bit anticlimactic, but Detroit fans made it enjoyable.
• Watching Bill Guerin lift the cup over his head after 18 years of pro hockey had to send chills down your spine. Although Guerin did win a cup with the Devils in the '94-'95 season, he played in only 48 regular season games, and was not a key component to their championship, so you can imagine now after several clutch playoff performances, Guerin will take this one to heart.
• Speaking of trophies, Geni Malkin almost dropped the Conn Smythe at least 5 times (notice the boos reigning down on Bettman). I know he was probably just looking forward to getting his hands on the cup, but still, it's the freaking Conn Smythe trophy and Malkin was just dangling it around. But, I guess you really can do whatever you want if you score 14 goals in the playoffs.
• Verne Lundquist once called Cowboys TE Jackie Smith the "Sickest man in America" after Smith dropped a touchdown pass that arguably cost the Cowboys, Super Bowl XIIII. But, Marian Hossa may take over that title now. Hossa turned down a contract extension from the Penguins after last year's loss to the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals. Believing he had a better chance to win in Detroit, Hossa signed with the Wings, and the rest is history. The worst part for Hossa is that he did not even score a goal in the finals after leading the Wings in goals during the regular season with 40. He can become a free-agent July 1st if the Red Wings don't re-sign him, and rest assured if he leaves, he will be criticized.
• We may have witnessed the birth of a dynasty last night, and we certainly did not see Sidney Crosby & Co. lift the cup for the last time. With only a few key players, and no really notable players headed to the free agent market, the Penguins will surely make a run next year, and I think they repeat.
• Prediction for the '09-'10 season: Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Chicago Blackhawks in 6. Depending on free agency and retirements the Red Wings could be back, but it's really difficult to predict considering their age. Even their "young" stars like Pavel Datysuk and Johan Franzen are 30 and 29 respectively, there seems to be too much working against them to consider them the biggest threat in the West.
• Football is sooo close.