Things we learned from Games 1 & 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals

By Scott

• Pittsburgh is being badly out-coached.  Not that this comes as a surprise as Dan Byslma is a rookie squaring off against one of the best in the business in Mike Babcock, but Byslma has been slow to adjust to Detroit's attack.  The Penguins' defensemen often look tired and Byslma is going to need to figure out how to keep his defensive shifts moving smoothly and effectively.  Byslma also needs to get his stars on the ice.  Sidney Crosby played under 7 minutes in the first period.  That is absolutely unacceptable and if Byslma can't get his stars on the ice, the Penguins could be swept.
• The Penguins are relying far too heavily on fastbreaks to produce points.  They are consistently rushing down the ice on 2-on-3's or 3-on-3's and getting one shot or maybe two if they're lucky.  They need to slow things down, set plays up, and get their defensemen in position to spread out the Red Wings' defense.  Their sole goal of the night came on a set-up play.  Granted it was on a powerplay, but Pittsburgh has to play their own game by relying on the deflections and rebounds that got them into the finals.  Pittsburgh may have outshot Detroit, but the amount of quality shots that Detroit produced outnumbers Pittsburgh by a landslide. 
• Marc-Andre Fleury and Chris Osgood have been sensational.  I know Fleury has let in some inexcusable goals, but considering how poor Pitt's defense has played, he has kept them alive in both games.  However, he definitely deserves much of the blame for the Penguin's losses in games 1 and 2.  Fleury can not let Justin Abdelkader's second goal get by him.  Meanwhile, Osgood has been nothing short of sensational.  Although he has had plenty of lucky bounces that Fleury has not, Osgood is the main reason Detroit is up 2-0.
• Geni Malkin dropping the gloves against Henrik Zetterberg at the end of the 3rd period will provide a huge boost of energy for the Penguins heading into game 3.  It was nice to see a star like Malkin show some emotion and fight for his team.  It's too bad Fleury was on the bench at the time because we could have seen a goalie fight after Osgood started getting into the scuffle.  
• Pittsburgh is 6-2 at home so far in the postseason, while Detroit is a decent 4-3 on the road.  There is no way the Penguins don't win at least 1 game in Pittsburgh especially considering how well they adjusted from game 1 to game 2; even if it didn't result in a win.  And remember that last year the Penguins headed back to Pittsburgh down 2-0 and had not even scored a goal.  They're in better shape this year; however, with one of Detroit's biggest scoring threats in Pavel Datysuk likely returning for game 3, Pittsburgh will have to elevate their game.
• It should be interesting to see if the NHL disciplines Evgeni Malkin for his conduct at the end of the game.  He received an instigator penalty which is an automatic 1 game fine; however, because this is the finals it seems unlikely the NHL will discipline arguably the best player in the series.
• The NHL better hope that the Penguins do in fact win a game in Pittsburgh considering Versus is airing games 3 and 4.  Detroit clinching the series on Versus would be a disaster for the league considering a vast majority of their casual views either a.) don't have Versus or b.) are not aware games 3 and 4 are on Versus. 

Magic shock Cavs, Advance to Finals

By Scott

The Orlando Magic clinched a stunning series victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers last

night, earning their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1995. The Magic shocked the world all

while embarrassing both the NBA and Nike, who were rooting not so discretely for a Kobe/

Lebron finals matchup. So those Most Valuable Puppet commercials are looking awfully

mockable right now (I'll refrain.. for now).  

While the NBA didn't get their dream matchup, they may have gotten a more 

competitive one. The Magic played at a different level than the Cavs throughout the series,

and they very well could have won in 5 games or possibly 4 if it wasn't for Lebron's miracle

buzzer beater and a slew of other "lucky" breaks for Cleveland towards the end of the games.

Most importantly, Orlando got huge contributions from everybody. With Hedo Turkoglu 

and Mickael Pietrus averaging double figures, and Rashard Lewis propelling 

himself into stardom with clutch performances throughout the series. And Dwight Howard

cannot be given enough praise for his stellar performances game-in and game-out in which

he outshined Lebron. The Magic's all around attack was too much for a Cleveland team

that faced mismatches everywhere except, of course, for Lebron. Even All-Star PG Moe 

Williams was outplayed by Rafer Alston. Hopefully the Cavs catch on and realize how vital

it is that they bring Lebron some help before he bolts for New York.  

This series is also proof of how powerful the "no-respect card" really is. The Magic 

felt disrespected by Nike's Most Valuable Puppets ads, and with good reason.  It was a slap

in the face to both the Nuggets and Magic who were fighting for their rights to play for a

championship, and it provided the extra motivation for the Magic to pull off the upset. The

Cavs may very well still be a better team, but there is nothing more dangerous than a talented

team that feels disrespected.

As great as the Cavs' and Lakers' 1-man attacks perform during the regular season, these 

teams do not win championships. Just look at history, over the last 10-20 years, you really 

can't find a champion team that was not well rounded. The Pistons and Spurs are the 

epitomes of starless champions, relying on depth rather than star power. And even the 

Lakers had a young Shaq and Kobe aided by a roster of effective role players. A team led 

by 1 star can handle the competition until the latter rounds of the playoffs when the 

competition gets tough for a whole series. Not even Lebron averaging a mind-blowing 40 

points-a-game could carry his outmatched team to the finals.

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

At 8 PM EST tonight, the puck will drop for Game 1 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals.  The star-laden Pittsburgh Penguins will face off against the experienced Detroit Red Wings in a rematch of last year's finals.  The Wings enter as the season-long favorite after hoisting the cup last year.  Meanwhile, the Penguins enter the series as the hottest team in the league after a mid-season coaching change.  

Let's get straight to the preview.  Scott is taking the Penguins' side and Stan is taking the Wings' side.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins have seen drastic improvements since last year's finals loss to Detroit.  They don't play the same flashy hockey as last year, but rather rely on crashing the net and deflections as their main source of points.  Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been unbelievable in the playoffs thus far and both are serious contenders for the Conn Smythe.  Perhaps more important than the performance of Pittsburgh's stars is the contributions from their newly acquired veterans Billy Guerin and Chris Kunitz.  Both have been key to the Penguins' second-half success and their experience and skill bring another dynamic to the Pens' attack.  

The Penguins have been bombarded with misconceptions by the media throughout the playoffs.  Many say that they're still too young and inexperienced to win a cup, however, the Penguins are not as young as many believe.   As mentioned before Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz both shape up the Pens' roster, and don't forget about Sergei Conchar, Ruslan Fedotenko, Petr Sykora, and a few others who are over 30.  Also, this team has already been to a cup, they are not inexperienced.

The Penguins biggest advantage will come in the health department.  Pittsburgh has remained incredibly healthy with the exception of Sergei Gonchar's knee which he has been able to play on.  The Red Wings, on the other hand, have Pavel Datysuk, Niklas Lindstorm, Kris Draper, and Jonathan Ericsson all battling with injuries right now.  Detroit's often praised depth will not be as effective throughout the series.  

Another crucial factor in this year's finals is Pittsburgh's mindset.  They took a heart-crushing loss to the Wings last year and have since kept their head down and carried on as all business, since.  They now have something to prove, and with so much talent plus serious determination, the Penguins are extremely dangerous.  The intangibles weight in the Penguins' favor, and expect to see determined performances from Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, and the rest of the Pens' roster.  While they may not be quite as skilled or quite as good as the Red Wings, the Penguins are coming in with a chip on their shoulder which is all a team needs to push themselves over the top and into champions.

Prediction: Penguins in 7

Detroit Red Wings

Everyone seemingly thinks the Penguins will win this year, probably because a lot of people want the Penguins to win.  But when one looks past the stardom and glitz of the Penguins, one can see weakness and vulnerability that the Red Wings will exploit.  When one looks at the Red Wings, there is no apparent weakness at all.  

A team can have the best player in the world, but if it does not have depth, then it has no chance of winning it all.  It's not like the Pens don't have some depth; in fact, Pittsburgh has put themselves in great position to win a championship with several of their offseason acquisitions.  However, Detroit's depth is overwhelming.  The Wings do not have any weak lines.

Detroit can get you from anywhere; whether its Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen, Daniel Cleary, or Valtterri Filppula offensively, or Niklas Lindstrom, Brad Stuart, Brian Rafalski, or Niklas Cronwall defensively, the Wings can cover the ice like no team in the National Hockey League.  Additionally, in a big playoff game, I trust Chris Osgood way more than Marc-Andre Fleury.  

Look at last year's series between the Pens and Wings.  Sure, Detroit won the series 4-2, so it looks nice and close.  But don't forget that the Penguins didn't score a goal until Game 3 when the series went back to Pittsburgh.  They were just annihilated in the first two games by the far more experienced Detroit team.  Detroit probably should have won in 5 games if not for a lucky poke in by Max Talbot to send Game 5 to OT, where the Pens eventually prevailed.  

Don't be surprised if the Wings dominate this series.  But I don't expect that to happen.  The Penguins are much improved from last year, although I believe Fleury was playing better a year ago.  Evnegi Malkin has also been almost unstoppable this postseason, even though I do feel that the Red Wings can contain him.  Look for Malkin to have a better series overall than Crosby, however.  For me, Detroit's depth seals the deal in this one.  They will wear down the Penguins and will not give Sidney Crosby a rest for the whole series.  Detroit will prevail, but Pittsburgh will give them a good run.  

Prediction: Red Wings in 7

Magic Victory over Cavs Could Have Big Impact on League Mindset

Dwight Howard grabs a rebound over the Cavs (photo courtesy: Sports Illustrated)

By Stanley

The Orlando Magic win in three different ways: they get the ball to Dwight Howard, they make three pointers, and they get the ball to Dwight Howard.  Especially with an injured Jameer Nelson, the Magic are a pretty two-dimensional team, with Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, and Rashard Lewis being the only major scoring threats.  (Turkoglu and Lewis are basically the same player, so I'm including them as one dimension).  

I know I'm talking a little bit early, but what if the Magic happen to win the NBA Championship this year?  They would have done so without a good point guard and without a truly dynamic guard.  

So why will this change the NBA?  Well, no one can argue that a good point guard is important to have.  But teams may reevaluate after a Magic victory and come to the conclusion that a dominant big man is actually more important.  Basically, Orlando can prove that a great forward or center coupled with two sharpshooters can make a championship.  

Such a revelation could completely change the mindset of NBA teams.  The Magic would have defeated a Celtics team led by point guard Rajon Rondo and then a Cavs team with Mo Williams at the point.  In the Finals, they will either face the Nuggets (with Chauncey Billups) or the Lakers (with no really good point guard, but with Kobe Bryant).  A Magic victory would place way more emphasis on a big man than a quick guard.  

Sure, guards will continued to be valued and will continue to succeed.  But maybe a good big man is more important.  Look at the last few NBA Champions.  The Celtics last year won solely because they had Kevin Garnett.  The previous year, the Spurs won because of Tim Duncan's presence.  The Heat took home the title in 2006 largely because of guard Dwyane Wade, but Shaq's presence was the reason that the Heat were able to beat a team like the Pistons.  

The trend is clear: you need a good big man to win a championship.  This isn't any breaking news here; most NBA GM's seem to know this.  But an Orlando victory would give credence to the idea that while you must have a good big man, a good point guard is not necessary for a championship.  

On the other hand, the Cavs would finally be forced to ditch their strategy of having Lebron as their best big man.  Lebron actually led the Cavaliers in rebounds this year.  That is absurd.  If Lebron had a decent big man like Carlos Boozer, for example, they would be unstoppable.  However, they only have Lebron and a bunch of decent guards.  A Magic victory would show that you MUST have a big man to win.  

The Cavs are still far from done.  But if they lose, either in the Conference Finals or in the Finals, they will lose because they do not have a good big man.  If Orlando loses, it will not be for this reason at all.  If the Magic close out the Cavs, this series can teach us one thing: never bet against a team with a great big man when they play a team without a big man.  The Cavs can only blame themselves for not foreseeing this obvious fact if they lose.  

Dear Commissioner Bettman...

By Scott

Dear Commissioner Bettman:

Although your league has successfully revived itself into prominence on a global stage, you have left it in an extremely vulnerable state. The "lucky" postseason matchups that the NHL enjoyed this year will not duplicate themselves again, and unless you take action soon, your sport could easily slip into oblivion once again. If you follow the advice I am about to bestow to you, you can effectively foolproof the league and endure popularity for future generations:

Relocations:

1.Move the Phoenix Coyotes to Southern Ontario (Hamilton)

The Coyotes have been irrelevant for years and have struggled to find real success through the draft and free agency. Bringing in Wayne Gretzky as head coach was a good-intentioned move, however, he has yet to lead the team to anything respectable. Now bankrupt, hockey in Arizona has simply culminated in failure. Canadian investors have offered to purchase controlling interest in the team with plans to relocate the team to Ontario, and you need to allow this to happen. Why does New York host 3 teams when the largest city in the mecca of hockey only host 1? Bring another team to Ontario.

2. Move the Atlanta Thrashers to Hartford

The Thrashers are terrible and nobody likes them. Bad uniforms, bad fan base, bad performance. If the Thrashers ceased operations tomorrow, news would barely scratch the headlines. So, what do you have to lose by moving the team to Hartford? Of course, the Whalers failed miserably in gaining attendance by the time they relocated to Carolina in 1997, but there's no denying Connecticut is a considerably larger hockey market than Atlanta. Connecticut is starving for a professional franchise, and much like your decision to bring an NHL franchise back to Minnesota after a hiatus, bringing pro hockey back to Connecticut will pay off.

3. Move the New York Islanders (or Florida Panthers) to Winnipeg

The Islanders haven't advanced past the Quarter-Finals in 15 years, and the Panthers haven't been to the playoffs in 9. However, the Islanders current state is extremely depressing. Finishing 21 games under .500 with a team of washed up veterans and few promising young players doesn't favor in comparison to the Panther's 93 points and a lineup showcased of emerging superstars. And, let's not overlook the Islanders' deteriorating arena compared to Florida's state-of-the-art building. All signs point to a continued decline in Long Island, and the sooner they are relocated, the sooner you can add to your league's arsenal of competitive teams. When the Winnipeg Jets were initially forced to relocate in 1996, it came down to a lack of preparation of surviving as a small-market franchise. Now, with a new arena in place, Winnipeg will join roughly one-third of the league as another small-market team, and build a solid fan base in a Canadian city more deserving of hockey than both Long Island and South Florida.

Get on ESPN. Now.

Versus has done a great job of hosting the NHL, enjoying rating increases every year; however, there are simply not enough fans who have Versus to make it a long term home of hockey on television. You signed a deal with Versus after the 04-05 lockout, and signing the option for this year proved to be a good move, but when that the contract is up you need to get on ESPN. I understand the decision to become the main event on a secondary channel rather than one of many on a primary one, but ESPN has plenty of room to host hockey. Stanley Cup Finals games on Versus is a travesty, and the sooner you get onto ESPN, the sooner hockey will catapult back into prominence.

Goalie Pads:

Your attempts to increase scoring and excitement on a game-to-game basis have been rather successful; however, there is one last step you need to take in order to really regenerate the excitement that hockey presented years ago. Reduce the size of goaltenders' pads. Roberto Luongo looks like Megatron on the ice, and goalies take up a huge fraction of the net. If you really want to increase scoring, slim down goalie pads. It's easy, harmless, and won't cost you any money.

So Many Sports, So Little Time

Who is this James guy?  He seems pretty good.

By Stanley

-LeBron James.  Is there anything that needs to be said?  Sure, he made an unbelievable shot last night, but we all knew that he was great already.  What is more amazing to me is that the Magic were almost up 2-0 on the Cavs.  Cleveland has to be a little bit scared right now.  I would be really happy if I was a Magic fan right now, you are in a great position to win this series.  

-Red Wings/Blackhawks looks like a series now, but it is really not.  The Wings will win the next two to go to the Stanley Cup.  Great game last night with Detroit coming back from a 3 goal deficit to send it to overtime, but Chicago was able to pull it out.  Detroit, however, is extremely deep.  There is not one weakness on this team.  That is why they will beat the 'Hawks and then beat the Penguins, again.  

-For me, Lakers/Nuggets is a much more exciting series than the Magic/Cavs.  It's nothing against Cleveland, but Orlando bores me.  Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis can get hot and hit three's, but they are boring players to watch.  Denver-LA is going 7.  Count it.  

-Baseball, baseball, baseball.  It just keeps on getting more exciting, except not really.  One team that has really fallen off the map?  The Florida Marlins.  The Fish were sitting pretty at 11-1 early in the season.  Since then, they have been atrocious.  The Marlins have lost 23 out of their last 31.  That's bad.  

-The Tigers and Yankees continue to play really solid baseball.  Detroit is getting good starting pitching (even the return of Dontrelle Willis, who pitched a shutout!  The D-Train has rolled back into the station!) and solid hitting not only from Miguel Cabrera but also from role players.  Meanwhile, the Yanks have been steamrolling every opponent to the ground.  This team looks really tough right now.  Yes, A-Rod does make that much of a difference.  

-Back to the Cavs.  Don't give me the BS that LeBron isn't the best just because he hasn't won a championship.  You can't tell me that you would possibly take Wade over LeBron, just because Wade has won a title.  Give me LeBron every day.  And the same goes for Kobe.  I would take James any day over Bryant.  And in the last five minutes of a game, I would probably still take the king.  Remember LeBron's 48 special over Detroit (scoring the last like 29 points for the Cavs)?  That's clutch.  But this may come as a surprise to you: if I have one possession and I need a basket with a couple seconds left, I take Kobe over LeBron.  Kobe just has a better pure shot, even though LeBron's looked pretty good last night when he rained one in at the buzzer over Hedo Turkoglu.  You know what, I'll take either guy.  We will hopefully get to see them in action against each other in the Finals.  

Who wants Michael Vick?

By Scott

The controversy that is Michael Vick, is scheduled to be released from federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan. tomorrow, to home confinement in Hampton, VA.  The talk of Vick's release has already created a media stir, and once the former Falcons QB officially becomes a free man, the national media will likely ignite a nuclear media-explosion.  

First, Vick will need to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell before he can officially be reinstated into the league, that is, if Goodell believes that Vick shows honest "remorse". Goodell's reputation as a no nonsense commissioner should make for an interesting process. But, whatever Goodell does, he should endure plenty of criticism from those who believe he is being too harsh on Vick, and those who believe Vick should never be forgiven for the heinous crimes he committed and he does not deserve reinstatement.

 

But, hypothetically, Vick is reinstated within the next few weeks.  Who are some potential suitors, and more importantly who will actually sign Vick and absorb the media circus that will follow?  There's no doubt that every coach in the NFL would love to have Vick on their team, especially for the low price he'll probably be signed for, but not many are willing to take on the baggage that Vick brings to their locker room.  This eliminates a large portion of the league. Regardless, let's take a look at a few potential suitors for Vick:

San Francisco 49ers:  They've have serious problems finding success at quarterback. Trent Dilfer (whom I actually defend as a good quarterback, but still), Tim Rattay, J.T. O'Sullivan, Ken Dorsey, Alex Smith, and you get the picture.  Vick would give the Niners a potent rushing/passing attack with a nucleus of Vick, Frank Gore, and rookie WR Michael Crabtree.  

Seattle Seahawks:  The first big draw for Vick to play in Seattle is the small market atmosphere.  Well, Seattle isn't a small market, but they are located a few thousand miles away from Atlanta, and more importantly New York, the media capital of the world.  And, Seattle doesn't exactly make the headlines of Sporscenter everday.  Matt Hasselbeck is coming up on 34 years old and struggles to stay healthy on a yearly basis.  The Seahawks showcase a solid core of young receivers including Nate Burleson, Deion Branch, and TE John Carlson.  And remember, Vick's head coach in Atlanta, Jim Mora Jr., is now the main man in Seattle.

Carolina Panthers:  The Panthers apparently decided that Jake Delhomme is the answer for them at quarterback after giving him a generous extension this offseason (remember the last game Delhomme played in?).  Delhomme was a nice story in 2003 when he led the Panthers to a loss in Super Bowl 38, but has not led them to much success since.  Adding Vick would give Carolina some serious offensive firepower.  Deangelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Steve Smith, and Michael Vick would frighten opposing defenses.

Jacksonville Jaguars:  David Garrard has the build of a linebacker and the arm strength of a robot, but he doesn't have what it takes to take the Jags to the Super Bowl.  Obviously, their receiving corps have been nothing short of awful the last few seasons, but Garrard has not shown any ability to make the players around him better; something a championship quarterback must possess.  While Vick may not be able to do so either, his upside is much more exciting than Garrard's, and the Jaguars need something to spark their underproducing offense.

It's almost impossible to predict where Vick will end up considering how many factors will go into his potential suitors.  Many Owners and GMs simply won't be in favor of bringing an ex-convict straight out of prison onto their squad, which eliminates a large portion of the league. So, as a shot in the dark, I think there's a decent chance he ends up with either San Francisco or Seattle, with Seattle getting the edge because of Vick's connection with Mora.  Don't be surprised to see the Redskins or Bills jump into the mix.

NBA Conference Finals Preview

Please save us from having to watch this guy dunk 100 times after each of Rafer Alston's atrocious fadeaway 3 point attempts.

Eastern Conference - (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (3) Orlando Magic

Analysis by Stanley

In basketball, the better team almost always wins a series.  There are almost no flukes, and there are not too many surprises.  When a team that is the underdog surprisingly wins a series, one can look at the series after and point to the mismatches that made the underdog actually the better team.  Well, this one has no gray area.  The Cavs are going to destroy the Magic.  

Everything about the Magic is boring.  Their fans can't get into a game (they have to give out little noisemakers, which is the ultimate sign of bad fans), their court looks really amateurish, their best player can't win a game for you down the stretch, they have a crappy point guard starting, and they have a bunch of other crappy players that actually get serious minutes.  

So why the hell am I ripping on the Magic left and right?  Well, when they doled out over $120 million to Rashard Lewis, you just knew that they weren't actually going to be a serious title contender.  Or that if they were, then there was something seriously wrong with the direction of the NBA.  Orlando has Dwight Howard (superstar that can't win a game for you like LeBron or Kobe), Hedo Turkoglu (makes some three's and puts up decent fantasy numbers), Rashard Lewis (a slightly better Hedo Turkoglu), an injured Jameer Nelson (the injury being the reason Nelson has not played since mid-season, and also why Orlando has no chance in this series), and Rafer Alston (Jameer Nelson's replacement, who shoots way too much and really just sucks it up when he gets out there).  

Meanwhile, the Cavs are just loaded and have looked unbeatable so far.  Say the Magic found out a way to guard LeBron James (an impossibility, but let's just say this happened).  The Cavs will beat you with Mo Williams, Delonte West, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and even Joe Smith.  But if the Cavs completely shut down Dwight Howard (entirely possible), then the Magic would become one dimensional.  They would start chucking up three's.  You just know that Rafer Alston would start trying to shoot ridiculous fadeaway 3 pointers, bricking every shot.  

The Cavaliers will run over the Magic in this one.  Expect blowouts in Games One and Two.  The Magic will take one game at home in some sort of lucky fashion, and then the Cavs will close it out back home in Cleveland.  This is a huge mismatch.  Just send the Cavs to the finals right now where LeBron has a chance to bring home the hardware.  

   

Stanley-Cavs in 5

Scott - Lebrons in 5

Western Conference - (1) LA Lakers vs. (2) Denver Nuggets

Analysis by Scott

Nobody thought the Lakers would even be tested on their way to the finals until the Rockets took them to a nerve-wrecking seven games.  But, of course, Kobe prevailed and got his team one step closer to a return to the finals.  Before they can do that, however, they'll have to get by Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets.  The Nuggets have lost only 2 games in the postseason thus far, but will face their first serious opponent against the Lakers tonight.  

While the Nuggets have been dominant, they're going to run into serious trouble against the Lakers.  Two glaring concerns:  J.R. Smith guarding Kobe, and Nene guarding Pau Gasol.  And, figure that Kobe is pissed due to the Rocket's push to 7 games, and he could do some serious damage against the Nuggets.  To Denver's advantage though, is their fiery, emotional style of play that can turn either positive or negative.  It will be vital for the Nuggets to stay composed especially considering Kobe will likely go off at least twice now that he and the Lakers can play the terribly overused no-respect card.  While the Nuggets have the ability to keep up and score with the Lakers, but the question lies in whether or not they can really defend the Laker's tandem of Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum.  The Nuggets; hopes also lie largely in the hands of Melo and whether or not he can go back-and-forth with Kobe.

Scott - Lakers in 5

Stanley-Lakers in 7

Celtics fall to Magic, Still defend title

By Scott

After last night's game 7 loss to the Orlando Magic (as predicted), the Boston Celtic's run at defending their 2007 title officially ended.  Unofficially, the Celtic's chance at making another championship run ended with the news of Kevin Garnett's season ending knee injury prior to Boston's first round matchup against Chicago.  The KG-less-Celtics were a team without their heart and sole, and their emotional leader, not to mention their biggest defensive presence and scoring threat.  The defending champs transformed from favorites to a scrappy bunch of players.

Yet, the scrappy bunch made up of a big baby, an aging sharpshooter, and an emerging superstar at point guard, and a fiery shooting guard, fought their way through until the very end.  

Boston was blindsided by the Baby Bulls, unable to keep up their high-paced offense, the champs relied on savvy defense and experience to stay alive.  And, to no surprise, the Celtics prevailed out of one of the most intense, captivating player series in NBA history, composed of several multiple overtime games.  Filled with tiring drama, Boston marched on to Orlando. 

Vibrant off of their emotional win in Chicago, the Celtics rose to the occasion and dueled with a younger, more talented team.  The Celtics could barely contain Magic star Dwight Howard, but that didn't stop them from fighting with Orlando until the very last possible second; however, that wasn't quite enough.  

Of course, had the Celtics knocked off the Magic, they would have likely been demolished by the Cavs in the conference finals.  But, that is besides the point.  The fact that the Celtics stepped up their play and fought with such true emotion is what makes them a champion regardless of the outcome of the playoffs.  The idea of defending a title is to repeat as champions, but the Celtics disproved that these past few weeks, because they defended their title with every ounce of ability they had.  That is the true sign of a champion.

What If: Detroit Pistons Edition

Why?

By Stanley

In this second segment of "What If", Mel Kiper's Hair breaks down the Detroit Pistons, a franchise that has had great success over the past few years but also great failure down the stretch.  We start out in the immediate future, and then jump back to 2003, working our way back to the present.  

Very early in the 2008-2009 NBA Season, the Detroit Pistons decided to trade point guard Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets to acquire Allen Iverson. The Pistons reasoned that the star power in Iverson would give them a chance to compete with teams like the Celtics and Cavaliers. Well, that worked out well.

Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht.

Detroit struggled through the season as a mediocre team without the offensive leadership or the defensive presence of Billups. Iverson did not fit into a team role as expected, and brought the Pistons down to mediocrity. Out in the Rockies, Denver vaulted to the second best team in the Western Conference. Chauncey Billups established himself as one of the league's premier point guards, and combined nicely with Carmelo Anthony to make the Nuggets an elite team.

So what would have happened had the Pistons decided not to pull the trigger on the Iverson-Billups deal? Call me crazy, but Detroit would be playing in the conference finals right now against Cleveland.

The idea first came up last night while watching the Magic and the Celtics play crappy basketball in a Game 7. My uncle threw the idea around, and at first I said no way. But the more I think about it, the more I believe that a Chauncey Billups-led Detroit would be in the conference finals right now.

Think about it: The Pistons probably would have gotten the 3 seed in the East. They would have won the first round, and then played the Celtics or the Magic. Well, the KG-less Celtics are terrible. The Pistons could have handled them. The Magic are solid, but Detroit seems to dominate them for some reason, even with Allen Iverson. So no problem there.

I know all you Pistons-haters will gripe about this one, but had Joe Dumars kept together this team, they would be in the conference finals. At which point they probably would have been dominated by the Cavs.

What would have happened to Denver? They probably would have been a very low seed in the West playoffs, if they would have made it at all. Iverson and Melo do not make a good combination at all. Iverson does not make a good combination with anybody, actually.

So this trade puts Denver in the conference finals, and Detroit as a low seed. Basically, both teams swapped roles. The only way Detroit can validate their trade is if they sign an elite player like Chris Bosh or (somehow) LeBron.  LeBron is completely unrealistic, so lets stick to Bosh.  

But none of this had to happen in the first place.  What if the Pistons had just drafted Chris Bosh or Carmelo Anthony instead of Darko Milicic in 2003 with the 2nd overall pick?  Remember, the Pistons were coming off a run to the conference finals that year.  They received such a high pick because they owned the selection of the Memphis Grizzlies, who seem to eternally pick in the top five.   

Darko was called at the time the "next Dirk Nowitzki."  Let's put it this way: Darko is terrible.  Just awful.  Sure, the Pistons went on to win the championship in the 2003-2004 season through a trade for Rasheed Wallace.  But think about this: what if they had drafted Bosh instead of Darko? (although 'Melo was the better prospect, we will draft Bosh for the Pistons, as he plays the same position as Milicic).  

In such a scenario, Detroit would not have traded for 'Sheed under any circumstances.  The Pistons would have made a run into the playoffs, but would have most likely lost in the second round to the New Jersey Nets.  The Indiana Pacers would have advanced to the NBA Finals as the Eastern Conference Champions, and would have lost to the Los Angeles Lakers (who at this point still have Kobe and Shaq).  

Here's where it gets interesting.  In reality, Detroit defeated Los Angeles for the title in 2004, causing the Lakers to dismantle and Shaq to head to Miami.  Would this still have happened?  I say yes.  Shaq and Kobe were still in an argument over who was the leader of the Lakers.  

So for the 2004-2005 season, Shaq goes to the Heat.  The Pistons are very good this year, with an improved Chris Bosh.  They make a run to the conference finals, and defeat the Miami Heat, just as it happened in reality.  The Pistons go on to lose to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.  

In 2005-2006, Detroit once again is ready to make a run to the Eastern Finals, and they do.  They play the Miami Heat again, and this time, the Pistons prevail.  Although Dwyane Wade is hot, the combination of Chris Bosh, Rip Hamilton, and Chauncey Billups is simply too much for the Heat role players.  The Pistons go onto the NBA Finals to defeat the Dallas Mavericks. In the offseason, they let go of center Ben Wallace, who must be resigned for big money (just as in reality).  

The 2006-2007 Pistons enter the season as the favorites to repeat for the title, and they don't disappoint.  They get the number one seed and take off in the playoffs, once again making an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Against LeBron and the Cavaliers, the Pistons prevail, once again setting the stage for a battle with the San Antonio Spurs.  This time Detroit is able to repeat as champions, beating the Spurs in an epic series.  

Not much else changes within the NBA for 2007-2008.  The Celtics still make the decision to acquire Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, putting them is a co-favorite to win the title.  Both the Celtics and Pistons have unbelievable seasons, capped by a 7 game battle in the Eastern Conference Finals between the two teams.  With the Celtics as the home team in Game 7, Detroit falls to Boston.  Boston goes on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, just as it happened in reality.  

For this year, Detroit does not trade Chauncey Billups.  They hold on to their team that has been to several straight Eastern Conference Finals and has won two championships.  The Pistons once again make a run deep into the postseason, but they lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East Finals.  The Cavs go on to win the NBA championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers.  

In the future, Detroit remains a strong contender without having to make any radical moves.  Bosh provides them with a strong, stable player in the post that can score, rebound, and take over a game.  Meanwhile, Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince continue to make more than solid contributions offensively and defensively.  So while the immediate gains would not have been as great for Detroit without trading for Rasheed Wallace, they would have won more championships and would still be an elite team in 2009.  

While Joe Dumars is often credited with putting together the very good Pistons teams of the past few years, he also was responsible for several dumb moves, like trading for Allen Iverson and drafting Darko Milicic.  These two moves in particular held down the Pistons' status as a very good team, rather than an elite team and possible dynasty.  

The most important role that Darko played on the 2004 Pistons championship team: Clown for halftime entertainment

NHL Picks, Conference Finals

Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes looks to lead his team to the Finals




By Stanley

So here we are, at the conference finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Both series should be great, but who will win? Well, I'll tell you.


EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes: The Pens come into this one as the favorite, and rightfully so. They have star power all around, and are the defending Eastern Conference Champions. What isn't there to love? However, the Canes are no pushover. After upsetting both the Devils and the Bruins, they come into this series ready to make another Cup run. Remember, the Hurricanes went to the Finals in 2002 and 2006 and took home the hardware in '06. But the Penguins should be too much for Carolina here.

THE PICK: Penguins in 5


WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) Chicago Blackhawks: A great rivalry right here with the classic Chicago vs. Detroit matchup. The experienced Red Wings take on the young Blackhawks. This series could represent a changing of the guard in the west, even though the Red Wings will stick around for years. However, don't necessarily count on the upstart Blackhawks winning this one. Detroit is the defending Stanley Cup Champions. There is no reason at all that they shouldn't win in this year. In this one, you have to like Detroit, but it will be a good series. Chicago's hour will come soon.

THE PICK: Red Wings in 6

NHL Conference Finals Preview

By Scott

Eastern Conference Finals

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes

It's no coincidence that the two hottest teams coming into the playoffs are facing off in the conference finals.  The Hurricanes have proven to be the Cinderella of the postseason thus far with goaltender Cam Ward out-dueling both Martin Brodeur and Tim Thomas.  Ward may be the best goalie still alive in the playoffs.  While he is often overlooked, Ward has won both a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe with the 'Canes.  He and Eric Staal, who has recorded a point in almost every game, are the sole reasons Carolina is in striking distance of another cup.

Meanwhile, the Penguins are undoubtedly a better, more complete team.  Marc-Andre Fleury isn't the best goalie out there, but he turns it on in the playoffs and consistently gives Pitt just enough of an effort to win.  Sidney Crosby has been unbelievable, overshadowing Alexander Ovechkin in the Pen's 2nd round victory over the Caps, and proving himself to be the best young player in hockey.

As well as Carolina has played, they certainly present upset potential, but Pittsburgh's team as a whole has played incredibly well.  The Hurricanes have relied far too heavily on Cam Ward and Eric Staal to lift them to the conference finals, not to mention that they have already played two 7-games series, and their bodies will start breaking down at some point.  Expect Crosby to extend his campaign as the best overall player in the league, and Marc-Andre Fleury to shut down Carolina.  If Pittsburgh can get Sergei Gonchar back at any extent from his knee injury, the Penguins should see a return to Lord Stanley's Finals.

Prediction: Penguins in 6

Western Conference Finals

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) Chicago Blackhawks

In a rematch of this season's Winter Classic, the defending champs take on the explosive tandem of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Martin Havlat.  The 'Hawks have cruised by their first two matchups, including a 6-game series win against Roberto Luongo's Canucks.  Chicago has lived up to their playing style, scoring quick and scoring often.  The most impressive part about their win over Vancouver was their dismantling of Luongo, arguably the league's best goaltender.  In the conference finals, the Blackhawks will face off against Chris Osgood, who may not be as good as Luongo on paper, but has been a brick wall in the 2009 playoffs.  Nikolai Khabibulin has been a bit shaky, allowing just under 3 goals-a-game, but if he can turn it on, the series will get interesting.

The Red Wings enter the series as obvious heavy favorites.  The defending champs are poised, experienced, and flat-out good.  While they had to survive a scare from the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit flipped a switch in game 7 and showed the league what they're capable of doing when necessary.  Johan Franzen has been stellar, leading the team in playoff goals, and he is aided by superstars Henrik Zetterberg and Marian Hossa (I'm not sure where the misconception comes form that the 'Wings are an old team.)  Detroit's depth will be a big problem for Chicago.

Chicago is an exciting team to watch, but Detroit is simply a more talented, deeper squad.  Chris Osgood should be able to maintain order against the Blackhawks' young stars, but Nikolai Khabibulin may not have the same luck against a Red Wings attack that brings a scoring threat on every line.  Whichever teams wins, the Western Conference will be represented well in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Prediction: Red Wings in 6

Quick Picks for Friday's Games

By Mike

National League

Cubs over Astros
Pirates over Rockies
Nationals over Phillies
Dodgers over Marlins
Braves over Diamondbacks
Brewers over Cardinals
Reds over Padres
Giants over Mets

American League

Tigers over A's
Twins over Yankees
White Sox over Blue Jays
Rays over Indians
Rangers over Angels
Royals over Orioles
Red Sox over Mariners

Hockey Fans Should Root For Red Wings, Bruins

Things have gotten heated in the Wings-Ducks series.  (Photo Courtesy Detroit Free Press)

By Stanley

Tomorrow night, NHL fans will be treated to a pair of Game 7's, as the Boston Bruins take on the Carolina Hurricanes and the Detroit Red Wings battle the Anaheim "At One Point They Were Called Mighty" Ducks.  It's Christmas in May for hockey fans.  

So who should the casual fan root for?  Many tend to pull for the underdog, or the new team on the block.  Well, don't.  Please.  Not that it matters who you root for or anything, but every nuetral hockey fan (meaning not from the home areas of the teams in action) should be rooting for the favorites: the Red Wings and the Bruins.  

Why should you root for these teams?  We want to see the best series possible.  Let's start out in the Western Conference.  If the Red Wings win, we get to see a classic battle between two rivals, the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks.  The Blackhawks are the young team on the rise, while the Red Wings are the team full of experienced veterans, not to mention the defending champions.  

If Anaheim were to win tomorrow night, then we would be treated to a sluggish series with lame California hockey fans.  The Ducks are a good team, but they aren't elite like the Wings.  Give me the best possible matchup.  I want either the young Blackhawks or the defending champions to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Finals, not the Ducks.  

In the Eastern Conference, Boston looks to come back from a 3-1 deficit in their series against the Carolina Hurricanes.  The Hurricanes are no garbage team; in fact, they have been to two Stanley Cup Finals since 2002 and have won one championship.  However, the Bruins are a far more exciting and better team this year.  The Hurricanes probably would not even give the Penguins a series.  Boston was arguably the best all around team in the league this year, and hockey fans should root for them to move on to play Pittsburgh.  

So if the favorites win, we know that the Stanley Cup is going to be a good series.  We will have either a rematch of a really solid 2008 series (Pens-Wings), a young exciting team thrown in there like the Blackhawks, or a really solid overall squad in the Bruins.  This is what hockey needs.  The NHL does not need a Hurricanes-Ducks final.  So NHL fans, do your best to somehow will the Red Wings and the Bruins to their respective conference championships tomorrow night.  For the good of the game.  

NHL has three Game 7's.. Coincidence? I think not

By Scott

I am forever pondering conspiracies.  Was Lyndon B. Johnson responsible for John F. Kennedy's assassination?  Did we actually land on the moon?  Was Kurt Cobain murdered?  Is the chicken at school every actually cooked?  All of these rank as matters of national security, or at least at a close level.  But, an even more intriguing conspiracy is that of the 2008-2009 NHL Playoffs.  Look, if you don't believe that major sports aren't fixed, you need to wake up.  They are, and they have been forever.  I'm not saying that every game and season are fixed, but in times of a struggling economy or a sport going stale calls for a fixed game or two, and understandably so.  And, this year's NHL playoffs only support my point.

First off, Crosby vs. Ovechkin.  Are you kidding me?  Do you think it's a coincidence that this matchup even came to fruition in the first place?  (Remember when the Rangers were up 3-1 in the series and then Henrik Lundqvist suddenly deformed from impassable to terrible?...just saying.)  The NHL's two most marketable players facing off in the playoffs equals a nice payday for the league office, as well as plenty of face-time around ESPN and the internet as a whole.  So, how can they not force this thing into 7 games?  The NHL is in dire need of attention as they continue their climb back into a powerhouse league.  Commissioner Gary Bettman will milk and hype this rivalry up as much as possible in years to come, and rest assured, this isn't the last time the Penguins and Capitals will play a 7-game series in the playoffs.

How about the fact that the Canadiens and Rangers just happened to snag the last two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.  The Florida Panthers were in perfect striking distance of clinching their first playoff spot since 2000.  That is, until the last few games of the season in which the Panthers when they mysteriously fell into a slump, and ended up tied with the Canadiens with for the 8th spot, which the Canadiens won with the tiebreaker.  Regardless, as the NHL is fighting keeps its marketability up in hopes that ESPN will pick up a t.v. contract with them once their current contract with Versus is over.  And they just somehow managed to sneak two of the biggest markets in hockey into the playoffs.  It is clearly no coincidence that Montreal's 100th year of existence, ended with the berth of a playoff spot rather than the small-market Florida Panthers.  And, the same goes for the Rangers.  Could they have been strategically placed in the 7th spot allowing Ovechkin and the Caps to play a series in New York, which also allowed Montreal to stay in the 8th spot, facing off with Boston to rekindle an old playoff rivalry?  Hmm...

So, as the playoffs narrow down, Anaheim and Carolina will be eliminated.  The league cannot afford to have either small-market team in the Stanley Cup Finals, and neither will advance farther than their respective conference finals, if they can get that far.  Other than that, the league has done a wonderful job of setting up a flawless combination of potential championship matchups.  They could have a rematch of last year's finals with Detroit and Pittsburgh, a hungry hockey city in Chicago make a triumphant return to Lord Stanely's Finals, or the Bruins make an appearance.  Regardless, any matchup of those 4 would draw sufficient viewers and hype to bring the NHL back to prominence, but it won't be done without a little bit of string and puppet play from the league office.

Jason Taylor Re-Signs with Dolphins

By Scott

Jason Taylor is giving a fist-pump because he is so happy to be back with the Dolphins.

The speculation and rumors are over. Jason Taylor has landed back where he belongs, in Miami.  Taylor signed a 1 year, 1.1 million dollar deal with the Dolphins earlier today.  A deal about 5 million dollars less than what many were expecting Taylor to be lured in by a team with.  Bill Belichick reportedly heavily pursued Taylor to come play for the Patriots, where the old become young and put up incredible numbers again.  So, in other words, Jason Taylor really, really wanted to play for the Dolphins. 

Taylor can earn up to 400,000$ in incentives, but regardless, his 1.1 million dollar deal, is shocking considering there are kickers and inactive players who are making more than him.  Also, consider the fact that had the Redskins not released him, he would have made 5.5 million dollars plus incentives.  I think it's fair to say the Dolphins got a minor steal.  

But, don't expect Taylor to be the force he was the last time he suited up for the Dolphins. Taylor is coming up on 35, and will have to fight to stay healthy after missing 4 games in 2008; however, he will likely play more of a mentor, special situation role.  The Dolphins front 7 is one of the most promising in the league, made up of 2nd-year DE's Kendall Langford and Phillip Merling, Canadian League prospect Cameron Wake, emerging LB's Channing Crowder and Matt Roth, and finally, pro-bowler Joey Porter.  

Taylor's signing does temporarily fill a depth need at DE, and his presence in the locker room will be a huge asset for the young Dolphins.  Don't expect a significant impact from Jason, but definitely expect a handful of sacks, and of course, the annual 'Jason Taylor beating of Tom Brady' when the Dolphins host the Pats.

Rapid Fire

You can run, but you can't hide from Brett Favre.

By Stanley

-The Capitals-Penguins series just keeps on getting better.  Tonight, the game once again went into overtime, and the road team Capitals won the game 5-4 to send it back to Washington for a Game 7.  This is an epic series.  Three games have gone into OT, and both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have been absolutely spectacular.  It is tough to say which has had the better series, there probably isn't an answer to that question.  You just know that Game 7 is going to be epic.   

-The Atlanta Hawks have been eliminated from the NBA playoffs.  All is back to normal in the world.

-Are the Cleveland Cavaliers going to even lose a game until the NBA Finals?  Yeah sure, they have the Celtics or the Magic in the next round, but both of those squads pale in comparison to Cleveland.  Don't be surprised if the Cavs sweep their way to the Finals.  

-The Detroit Tigers continue to play well all around the field, both offensively and defensively.  One of the major weaknesses of Detroit coming into this season was an atrocious pitching staff, both starters and especially bullpen.  As of now, the bullpen seems to be holding up, although it is shaky at times.  However, the starters have been amazing.  Edwin Jackson was one of the best pickups of the offseason.  He has been great and has not gotten great run support, so it appears that his numbers will continue to improve.  Justin Verlander, after an awful start, has turned it around and has been pitching unbelievably.  Armando Galarraga is solid every start, but watch out for new guy Ricky Porcello.  Porcello has pitched pretty well and should be a solid starter for the Tigers this season.  This could be Detroit's year to win the AL Central.  

-In NFL News, Brett Favre continues to be a part of our lives.  Please, get out.  Leave.  Nobody cares anymore.  

-Braylon Edwards and Anquan Boldin are two Pro Bowl caliber receivers that still could potentially be moved this offseason.  Baltimore has been thrown around as a possibility for Boldin, but on the other hand Edwards is highly unlikely to be a Raven.  Most likely they will both end up staying.  Boldin is probably more likely to be moved, as he has been more vocal about his desire to be moved.  

-Every hockey fan (outside of Anaheim) should be rooting for the Detroit Red Wings to beat the Anaheim Ducks.  Anaheim is a boring team, and nobody wants to see them potentially in the Finals.  It would be a crappy series.  The ideal matchups for the conference finals have to be Chicago-Detroit (big rivalry, young team on the rise vs. experienced veteran team, stars all around) in the West and Washington/Pittsburgh vs. Boston (a ton of star power vs. very solid team all around) in the East.  Please no Carolina.  

Fans' Sanity Lies in the X-Rays of Brett Favre's Shoulder

By Scott

Well, it's that time of year again.  As we creep up on training camp and teams establish their depth charts, Brett Favre pretentiously stumbles into the headlines threatening a return to football.  The 'ole country boy who just loves the game so much' has turned into a pure annoyance, and just about everybody is ready for him to leave.  Forever.

Favre's latest sideshow has him coming back out of retirement to play for the Minnesota Vikings.  Yes, Brett Favre, the face of the Green Bay Packers organization, is actively pursing an opportunity to play for his once despised rival.  Brett's reputation took a big hit last year after he dishonored Green Bay's wishes to remain retired and bolted off to play for the Jets.  But, his decision was understandable.  He felt he had another year left and him and hey, if you can do something you love and still get paid for it why not keep doing it?  Things were great, of course, until Brett suffered a torn biceps tendon and his magical season collapsed along with the Jet's playoff hopes.  

Now, that biceps tendon is the one thing separating him from another return to football, but this time he is hoping to play for the Vikings.  The team he hated for so many years is now his last hope to strap on the pads for one more season.  Literally unbelievable.  Favre is essentially sticking up a middle finger to Green Bay and the fans who treated him like a god for so many seasons.  If the x-rays taken of Favre's shoulder come back negative and he signs with the Vikings, Favre's reputation could be tarnished for a very long time, if not forever.  At some point Brett needs to just walk away.  We've all heard the stories from retired veterans about getting the itch to play, but they all managed to do so.  Why can't Brett?  Is it because he loves the game this much?  Or, is he just this self-absorbed and can't manage to be away from any variety of attention on a large scale?  Regardless of what it may be, he needs to simply hang it up.  People love college, but they graduate, walk away, and move on.  Favre needs to do the same from football. 

 

Perhaps, Brett Favre is still that fun loving country boy, or perhaps he is nothing short of a narcissistic egomaniac.  Regardless, until the results of Favre's tests are revealed, we can only enjoy the time we have with him where he should be.  Retired.  

Manny Ramirez Tests Positive, Suspended for 50 Games

By Scott

Earlier this afternoon, news broke that Manny Ramirez tested positive for 'drugs', and will be suspended for the 1st time offenders' mandatory 50 games.  While there is still speculation as to what exactly he tested positive for, it has become rather apparent that Manny has in fact tested positive for some variety of performance enhancer, also known as a "P.E.D".  Earlier today, Manny released a statement regarding the positive test:

"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons. I want to apologize to Mr. McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, Mr. Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation.

"

But, what Manny tested positive for is not the issue here.  The fact that baseball's most beloved character of the last decade or so has cheated the game is heart breaking to say the least.  We can no longer say with any honest degree of certainty that any player is clean.  Manny was supposed to be the guy that was definitely clean, but then again, so was A-Rod.  

 

And in what may ultimately prove to be baseball's darkest day, I, as a lifelong fan of the game can hereby no longer watch baseball with integrity.  I stood by as the ultimate optimist, but I suppose at some point, faith has to be lost. I understand that essentially every stud hitter of the last 10-20 years may have been, and probably was juiced, but to see Manny Ramirez, the ultimate innocent character fall into the category of so many tarnished images is truly heartbreaking.

So, where does baseball go from here?  Attendance is free falling and the economy is crippling many of the game's fundamental income.  Add on the game's two biggest stars losing credibility, and baseball is in trouble.  Ultimately, the suspicion of players will shift from guys who look big to anyone who is out-producing everyone else, and fans may now have to watch the game with every player as a suspect.  But, I guess that is just what the game has become and until Bud Selig steps up and starts take some serious initiative (unlikely), baseball might not recover for long time.