A Gold Medal For the Games

Following the first week of competition at the 29th Olympiad, I believe there are two major storylines for Team USA. First, and most obvious, has to be Michael Phelps. They call him Superman for a reason, and after watching the 23-year-old Baltimore native win the 100 meter butterfly tonight by .01 second, the young man is unbelievable. He is reportedly worth several million dollars in incentives, and analysts believe he'll be worth even more upon his return home from Beijing, especially, if he wins his eighth gold medal tomorrow night.

The second storyline has somewhat bothered me over the past few days. In the team gymnastics competition, China won the gold over the United States, but was it a fair victory? A media outlet from China reported that at least one of the Chinese gynasts is 13 years old. According to the International Olympic Committee, gymnasts must be 16 years old at one point during the same year as the Olympic Games. If the report is correct, then China would have to forfeit their gold medal. What's the big deal you might ask? In my opinion, cheating is cheating. If this were the Americans, I would be arguing the same point. The Chinese gymasts are claiming the accusations are incorrect. According to their passports which is used by the IOC to judge their official age, each one of the Chinese gymnasts are eligible to compete. However, it is speculated that their passports could be doctored by the Chinese government. Unfortunately, cheating has become somewhat of a revived theme in just about every sport or competition these days. Whether it be abusing illegal drugs or even lying about age, it's all relative in the sense that the rules are being broken. And it makes you wonder, if China is allegedly willing to lie about something as simple as a girl's age, what else are they willing to doctor?

Either way, I must say the 2008 Games have been a pleasure thus far to watch, and I will continue to cheer for Team USA with pride and adoration for the Red, White and Blue.

Just Make Up Your Mind, Brett

The Brett Favre saga seems to be growing more dramatic by the day. The future Hall-of-Fame quarterback has admitted to retiring immaturally, and he wants to come back. However, the Packers seem to be heading in an all new direction by building for the future with their young quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. But, of course, the situation is much more complicated than that. Favre still has three years remaining on his contract with the Packers worth $39 million. He was set to earn $12 million this upcoming season with the Pack, $13 million next year, and $14 million during his 20th season in the league. Green Bay has made it very clear that they don't want Favre anywhere near the Packers' headquarters, which is interesting, considering that Favre is a legend in Wisconsin. He's only started 275 consecutive games and thrown for an NFL record, 61,665 yards and 442 touchdowns during his career. He also led the Packers to their first Super Bowl win in nearly 3 decades during the late 90's. But despite all the records, Green Bay has made it official, they are done with the Brett Favre era, and they want a divorce. In fact, they're even willing to offer the quarterback a $20 million dollar severance package over the next 10 years to stay retired.

In my opinion, Favre has been fairly selfish about the issue. He retired back in March. The Packers needed to fill his void, so they gave his job away to Rodgers. Now he wants back in? Just a month before kickoff to the 2008 season? While I understand Favre's legendary status in the NFL, the league will endure well beyond Brett Favre's career, and the Packers are intelligent enought to realize that. They want a quarterback for the future, and Favre is only a temporary solution. He bailed, and now he must earn his job back. If he still wants to play, he might consider coming back with a new team that is amidst rebuilding. Unfortunately, for him, he only wants to play in the NFC North, and I don't see that happening. How can the Packers let Favre play against Green Bay wearing a Minnesota Vikings uniform? The franchise would be run out of town. If the divorce is finalized, Favre must play in the AFC. You can't let the guy come back to Green Bay and beat you.

That being said, let's play the devil's advocate for a moment. It would be great to see Favre either traded or released and picked up by the Vikings considering that the team's season opener is in Green Bay on Monday Night Football. And, the Packers are scheduled to retire Favre's jersey in front of a sold out Lambeau Field. Wouldn't that be primetime television at its best?! It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds, but it's hard to blame the Packers in this situation considering that Brett just needs to make up his mind.

Who Would Have Predicted This?

In light of the Major League's All Star Break upon us, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at where we stand at the midpoint of the season, and the surprises of the 2008 season.

Through 90 games, at 55-35, the Tampa Bay Rays boast the best record in Major League Baseball. Yep, the same the franchise, who just a year ago from today, was 19 games below .500, the worst amongst the Majors. Since dropping the "Devil" from "Devil Rays," the team's offense has outdueled the Bronx Bombers this season, averaging nearly 5 runs per game. But what is perhaps even more impressive is their pitching staff, who's allowed 356 runs, which equates to 3.95 runs per contest, second best in the entire League. If they keep up their current pace, the club will reach their first postseason since the franchise was established back in 1998. Since then, their best finish was in 2004, when the club was 70-91 overall.

Texas Rangers' 2nd baseman, Ian Kinsler, leads the American League in batting average (.337), runs (81) and hits (126), which is pretty impressive considering a year ago, the Arizona native finished his 2007 campaign with 127 hits in 130 games, and batted a measly .263 from the plate. Too bad his Rangers are 7 1/2 games back of Anaheim in the AL West.

Just over a year ago, San Francisco Giants' starting pitcher, Tim Lincecum, was pitching for the organization's triple A club, the Fresno Grizzlies. Today, Lincecum ranks second in the NL with an ERA of 2.66, while he leads the league with 126 strikeouts, which is why he is headed to his first All-Star game of his young career. The 24-year-old right hander played with former Stallion, Tyler Graham, at Salem-Keizer during the Summer of 2007.

After struggling with several minor injuries over the past several years, many analysts believed that Atlanta's 3rd baseman, Chipper Jones, was nearing the end of his career. But since hte beginning of the 2008 season, Jones has flirted with a .400 batting average. Through his first 80 games, the 36 year old is hitting a league-best .376. Last year, he hit a career-best, .337. Who says you can't get better with age?

Those are just several stories that have headlined the first half of the Major League baseball season. It only makes you wonder what we'll be talking about come October.

Taking Us On A Voyage!

If you haven't been to a Pioneer League baseball game at Centene Stadium yet this season, then you are frankly, missing out! The Great Falls Voyagers have been nothing short of entertaining this Summer. The team is off to a 10-4 start where 8 of their wins can be credited to their ability to come from behind late in games. And it's not like they're destroying their opponents, either. The club has won 6 games by 2 runs or less, which has provided plenty of entertainment for Voyager fans early on this Summer. Of course, with high school sports taking a break from the action, most of us turn our attention to Centene Stadium during the hot months of the year. And if you're a baseball fan here in Great Falls, then you're in luck. Not only are the Voyagers tied for the best record in the Pioneer League, but the Electric City is hosting this year's American Legion AA baseball tournament, which will be held in early August, which follows the annual Big Sky Rodeo. So, for most of us who consider ourselves sports fans here in Great Falls, this Summer is shaping up to be one wild ride!

Eye Of The Tiger

I'll be the first to admit that Tiger Woods has done more for the game of golf than probably any other athlete in history, but watching yesterday's U.S. Open Playoff round, I couldn't help but chear for Rocco Mediate.

I'm not a Tiger fan. Never have been, and probably, never will be. Of course, coming from a city like Seattle that hasn't won a major championship since 1979 when the Sonics defeated Philadelphia in the NBA Finals, I tend to root for the underdawg. Tiger has already won his fair share of championships. Coming into the weekend, he had 13 major championships under his belt including two U.S. Open titles. But that seems to never be good enough for Tiger, which is a testament to a true champion.

Unless you're a golf fanatic, chances are, you probably never had heard of Rocco Mediate before this past weekend. Mediate wasn't even ranked in the top 150 golfers of the world. You have to go back to 2002's Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic to find the last tournament Mediate has won since joining the PGA Tour back in 1985. He entered this past weekend's U.S. Open tournament as a 45-year-old 'nobody' with back problems. But after four rounds, he held everyone's attention.

But Tiger Woods never seems to fade in major tournaments. The guy is bulletproof on a golf course. You just can't bring him down. Heading into the final 18th hole on Sunday, Woods needed a birdie to tie Rocco and force a playoff. On Saturday, Tiger had worked his usual magic, and produced an eagle on the 18th. Sunday, all he needed was a birdie.

The 18th hole along Torrey Pines' South Course measures 571 yards, and is considered to be a par 5 for professionals. Woods only needed 4, rimming in a 12 foot putt on his final shot to set up an 18 hole playoff with Rocco on Monday.

Mediate fell behind early, dropping to a 3 shot deficit through 10 holes, but he followed with three straight birdies to pull even with Tiger, and eventually took the lead heading into the final hole of their playoff. But once again, Woods was up to the challenge, needing a birdie on the par 5, 18th. Meanwhile, Rocco set himself up again with a chance to win it, a makeable 20 foot birdie putt on the 18th, but Mediate failed to close out the tournament, hooking his shot to the right and around the cup. That allowed Tiger to once again seize the moment, and eventually another major tournament, defeating Rocco on the 19th hole by one shot.

One major theme heading into this past weekend's U.S. Open was Tiger's return following his third knee surgery, which he underwent just several days after the Masters Tournament last April. Woods hadn't even walked a full 18-hole course leading up to Thursday's opening round, but it didn't seem to affect Tiger's game all that much. Woods expressed frustration and even showed glimpses of pain throughout the five rounds, but in the end, the result was the same.

When Tiger turned pro in 1996 at the age of 20 years old, golf was in desperate need of a new hero, one that could recapture the magic that Jack Nicklaus had delivered for so many years. And Tiger did not disappoint. With this weekend's win, he's now just four major victories away from tying Nicklaus with the most by any player in history. But Woods did it with a surgically repaired knee, one that wasn't even ready to get back on the greens. And despite one of his least impressive performances, Tiger still beat the field, even on one leg.

Golf needed a hero, and Tiger delivered. But Woods is no longer a fan favorite. The 'underdawg' has taken over. On Monday, "Rocco" chants thundered over Tiger's applause. More people were pulling for Mediate, rather than for Woods. But they didn't get their wish. Is Tiger just that good? Or is the rest of the field that bad? We may never know. But for golf to continue to grow, it must find a worthy challenger to Tiger. One that can defeat him on a continual basis, even when Woods is at full strength.

Break Point

Hello My Friends,

I apologize for my lack of entries over the past several weeks. This last week has been incredibly busy, at least nationally. The NBA Finals just tipped off, while the NHL season just wrapped up. Speaking of the Stanley Cup Finals, what a treat! Pittsburgh and Detroit were spectacular! Even if you're not a hockey fan, you have to admit that the series was exciting. With elimination on the brink in game 5, down 3-2, the Penguins forced overtime by scoring with just 35 seconds left in regulation, spawning two and a half overtimes, which Pittsburgh eventually scored the sudden death goal to force game 6. Two days later, down 3-1 with less than 2 minutes to play, the Penguins rallied one final time. Marian Hossa scored on a powerplay with just 1:27 to go in regulation to pull the Pens within 1 goal. Hossa would get one final chance, an unbelievable shot as the buzzer rang. Hossa somehow got his stick around Red Wings' goalie, Chris Osgood, sliding the puck along the goaline, but it never crossed into the net.

As I watched game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, I wondered to myself why the NHL is one of the least watched sports here in America. The game is fast and exciting, especially during playoff time. It's a combination of football and soccer on ice. And then it came to me. Hockey is the only sport to request two breaks within a game. Football, basketball and soccer all require just one halftime, generally 15-20 minutes long, while baseball has its seventh inning stretch. But hockey has a break following each period, consisting of 20 minutes. While I understand the sport is very physically demanding, multiple breaks just slow the game down. Hockey is a very intense sport, and once it ends, most fans need time to wind down. But after 20 minutes, it's hard to regain your attention. Maybe if hockey could at least shorten their breaks to just 10 minutes, it would help retain many of the fans that change the channel in between periods, and never turn it back.

In light of this weekend's state softball tournaments here in Great Falls, I've decided to preview the Class AA by issuing my predictions. As you may know, CMR has been a powerhouse across the state over the past decade. Between 1997-2001, the Lady Rustlers won a state record, 5 consecutive state championships. This past year, CMR reclaimed the title for the sixth time in their school history, which ranks only second to Billings Senior, who has won eight.

The Favorite: I think it's safe to say that CMR is the favorite once again this year. Despite seeing their four year run as Eastern AA Conference champions come to an end, the Lady Rustlers have one advantage on their side that no other team shares: home field. CMR will get to play each game in front of their entire fan base, which can make a difference even in softball. The Lady Rustlers also have the state's most potent offense who can score at will. In their final six games, the club scored 76 runs while holding their opponents to just 9. From top to bottom, their lineup is lethal. They also have a solid pitching staff which includes Kira Bigler and Brittany Allen which composes a nice 1-2 punch. And don't forget about their sophomore, Ashley Keeler, who was untouchable in the team's second crosstown game. The team has hit their stride at just the right time, and if they can continue their momentum through the state tournament, they should have no problems in winning their seventh state championship.

Don't Count Out: Billings West and Helena Capital are respectable considerations in this category. West beat out CMR for the Eastern AA's conference crown, and defeated the Lady Rustlers in two of their three meetings this year including an 8-0 shutout right here in the Electric City. Meanwhile, Capital garnered the Western AA's top seed for the second consecutive year. They are also all too familiar with CMR who beat the Lady Bengals in last year's state championship game, 15-8. Capital has reached the championship series of the state tournament in three of the last four years, a feat no other AA team has done. However, in order to reach the state championship series, they'll most likely have to go thru CMR in the semifinals.

The Dark Horse: Helena High is a very dangerous team. In order to reach the state tournament, they were forced to win the final two games of a best of three series with Flathead this past week, which ended on an emotional walk-off home run by Ashten Colvin in the bottom of the 8th inning of game 3. The Lady Bengals have about as much momentum as any of the other seven teams heading into the state tournament. Look for them to ride their starting pitcher, Josie Grotbo, who is one of the best in the state this year. She's coming off an 18 inning, 30 strikeout performance against Flathead. Helena's greatest nemesis will be getting past the first round. They have a very tough test against CMR. If the Lady Bengals do prevail, it should set up a very interesting matchup against their crosstown rival, Capital, whom they split their regular season series with this year.

Statisticians Beware!

Sometimes in television, we don't get enough time to run every story, which is why I guess I set up a blog in order to write down my thoughts and provide some of you with stories you don't hear about every day.

This past week in baseball, the Cleveland Indians' pitching staff has been unbelievable. In their seven game homestand, their entire staff combined has allowed just 4 runs in 64 innings. Those of you trying to do the math, that's 1 run every 16 innings. What's even more impressive is that their starting pitching staff pitched 44 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing a run until that streak came to an end on Thursday when their starter, Aaron Laffey made a poor throw to first on a ground ball which resulted in an unearned run. Laffey went on to shut out the Oakland A's hitters before his relief gave up a meaningless run in the top of the 9th. The Indians' starting staff is now at 50 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, while they finished their seven game homestand with a stifling ERA of 0.16! And after all of that, the club finished their homestand with a 6-1 record. Their only loss came this past Monday when their closer, Rafael Betancourt gave up 3 runs in the top of the 10th inning after their starter, Cliff Lee, pitched nine scoreless innings. We shall see in the coming days if Cleveland's starting pitching staff is able to continue their dominance on the mound.

A History Of Violence

In light of this past weekend's tragedy at Churchill Downs, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss the rare calamities in sports. If you're not aware by now of the story, last Saturday during the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby, the filly known as Eight Belles was euthanized on the track immediately following the race. As the horse crossed the finish line at full speed, her jockey, Gabriel Saez, used his whip in order to slow down the filly as he feared her momentum would carry her into the outside barrier of the track. However, Saez' action forced Eight Belles to immediately pull up by using her front legs as a break, and in that instant, the filly broke both of her ankles. The horse never made it off the track alive, as she had to be put to sleep by trainers after finishing second in the annual Run for the Roses.

Since then, animal rights activists from organizations such as PETA and the U.S. Humane Society have been protesting for change in the sport, including banning the use of a whip as well as instituting a minimum age requirement for race horses to four years old.

While I agree that it was a tragic event, we must move on. This is nothing new in the horse racing industry. In fact, this past year here in Great Falls I watched a horse be euthanized on the ExpoPark's racetrack right before my very eyes after it broke one of its legs. While it's a sad reality, it is part of the sport. Sure, there are rules and regulations that have been institutionalized within the sport to provide race horses with protection. However, there are freak accidents.

Take football for example. Over the past decade, there have been numerous accounts of high school and collegiate athletes who have died due to dehydration as well as an excessive amount of exposure to heat. Since then, the NCAA as well as state high school athletic governing bodies have imposed additional rules allowing for players to receive more water breaks during practices. They've also regulated the number of practices and hours each team is allowed per week. However, these accidental fatalities still occur.

These accidents happen in every sport. This past year, a hockey player almost died after his throat was sliced open by one of his teammate's skate during an NHL game. The gash was measured up to an inch and a half deep calling for immediate medical attention. By the time Richard Zednik had arrived at the hospital, he had already lost five pints of blood. Luckily, Zednik is alive today.

The list goes on. Buffalo Bills tight end, Kevin Everett, was nearly paralyzed after sustaining a fracture and dislocation of his cervical spine during the NFL's opening weekend this past season when Everett lowered his head to make a tackle on a kickoff. Everett spent the next several days on a respirator before he was able to regain voluntary movement in his arms and legs. Today, he is able to walk on his own again.

In 2001, former NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhardt died after crashing into wall while rounding turn 3 of the final lap of the Daytona 500. Earnhardt had become the fourth fatality amongst NASCAR drivers during a nine month span. Since then, the sport has instituted new rules in order to protect drivers.

Sports aren't always safe. Tragedies and even fatalities of animals and even humans may occur. It's the risk one takes when driving a race car over 200 miles per hour around a two mile track amongst fourty other cars. It's realistic to assume that injuries will occur when two human bodies amassing 250 pounds collide at full speed, even with padding. And if you push horses to their maximum performance enough times, sooner or later, one will take a bad step and break its limb. While there are rules that are applied to protect athletes and animals within each sport, they can't prevent all injuries from occuring. And while this past weekend's accident was a tragedy, it also serves as a reminder. Sports are a source of entertainment, but they can also be very dangerous.

Sportsmanship Matters!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And in this case, a picture is all that captured one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship of all time.

The average life for a college graduate is four years. And they fly by quickly. Especially, if you're a student athlete. And for Mallory Holtman, a senior on the Central Washington University softball team, her time is running out. This past Saturday, Holtman dressed up in her home white uniform for the last time in her collegiate career as her team prepared to face off against Western Oregon in a doubleheader on Senior Day.

At 13-5, Western Oregon entered the weekend on top of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a one game lead over Central Washington (12-6) heading into a crucial conference doubleheader against the Wildcats. A sweep by either team would give them a commanding lead in the conference with just four games remaining.

The Wolves unloaded their offense in the first contest, compiling 10 hits and 8 runs to defeat CWU 8-1. Which meant, the Wildcats needed a win in the second game in order to remain in the hunt for a regular season GNAC championship.

With the score all knotted at 0-0 in the top of the 2nd, Western Oregon's senior outfielder Sara Tucholsky came through for the Wolves with her biggest hit of her life. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Tucholsky drilled a pitch well over the centerfield wall for her first home run of her career. In fact, Tucholsky had never hit a home run in either high school or college until Saturday. However, being caught up in the moment while rounding first base, Tucholsky realized something was wrong. She forgot to touch the bag. NCAA rules enforces that a player must touch every base along the diamond in order for a run to count. But as Tucholsky changed directions to make her way back to first, she felt her right knee crumble beneath her as she fell to the ground in pain. The senior had torn her ACL.

The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of four major ligaments located in the medial part of the knee connecting the femur to the tibia. And if the ligament is torn, it can hinder one's ability to run, and possibly, even walk. In Tucholsky's case, she could do neither as she layed by the 1st base bag inable to move.

Tucholsky's teammates had already rounded the bases, recording two runs for Western Oregon. But the third could not be counted unless their senior was able to follow them across home plate. Umpires had given the team the option to replace Tucholsky, however, the team would have to forfeit her run by sending a pinch runner to 1st base. And any contact as an active baserunner by her teammates would result in an out. That's when sportsmanship intervened.

As a senior on the Wildcats softball team, Mallory Holtman owns nearly every offensive record at the school. She's accumulated more hits, runs, RBI's and home runs than any other player in Central Washington history. And playing in her final home game of her collegiate career, one that could help her reach the postseason for the first time in her four years at CWU, Holtman's selfless attitude put all of that aside.

The first baseman from White Salmon, Washington and her teammate, Liz Wallace, a junior from Florence, Montana, lifted their opponent, Tucholsky, and carried her on their shoulders around the bases and across home plate. Western Oregon would go on to win the game, 4-2, taking a three game lead over Central Washington in the conference standings, and all but ended the hopes of a postseason birth for the Wildcats.

Whether you're a student, or an athlete, four years in college can seem like a blur. But for seniors Mallory Holtman and Sara Tucholsky and junior Liz Wallace, their college careers were clearly defined last Saturday. And their legacy has been captured thanks to that one picture which expresses their spectacular moment of sporstmanship. I guess it's true what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

NFL's Gambling Party

I love this time of year. The weather is finally clearing up and getting warmer (except for this week, of course). Everything is turning green again. Trees are regrowing their leaves. Flowers are blooming. And if you listen carefully, you can hear the faint sound of a lawnmower off in the distance, or in our case here in Great Falls, a snowblower. Either way, it means Summer is almost here.


But let's not jump ahead too quickly. I love this time of year because for two days this weekend, football will matter again. Of course, I'm talking about the NFL Draft. Now, I had planned on analyzing this year's Draft Class before I realized I'm no Mel Kiper or Todd McShay. Simply, I have neither the time nor the means to study every available player across the board in this year's draft. Unlike myself, team executives, general managers and scouts have spent the past several months researching college players from top to bottom all over the country. By now, scouts can tell you anything and everything you need to know about this year's draft class. Their 40 time, bench press, vertical jump, latteral test, squat, etc., you name it. They've even developed their own IQ tests called the Wonderlick, which can test a player's common knowledge from math and science to everyday life. And that's when I was reminded of why the NFL Draft is just one giant gambling party.

How do you put a price tag on the "potentiality" of talent? How can we assess somebody's future? The answer is, we can't. But every year, people try. There's always at least one player in the draft that stands out amongst their fellow companions. They're compared to the next great "somebody." Whether it be Joe Montana, Reggie White, Jerry Rice, or a Dick Butkus, analysts are constantly searching for parallels of past legends, and using it to hype the future players of the NFL. It happens every year. For example, Arkansas' running back, Darren McFadden is already being compared to the likes of Walter Payton. But it's not fair. Why can't Darren McFadden be compared to Darren McFadden? We put so much pressure by expecting great things from these 21 and 22 year olds who are just exiting college, and receiving their first taste of "real life." Or, are they? Soon after McFadden hears his name called on Saturday, he is likely to be handed a multi-million dollar contract. On top of that, he'll make upwards of $15 million dollars for just signing his name on a dotted line. That's the reality of the NFL Draft. And then analysts wonder why the players they rate so high are just as likely to bust as they are to succeed.

Take a look at the top overall draft picks over the past ten years:


1998: Peyton Manning - Indianapolis Colts (QB): This is probably the only number one pick who has lived up to his potential. Since joining the league, Manning has started in all 174 games for the Colts including the playoffs. He's already thrown for over 41,000 yards in his career, and has a 306-86 touchdown-interception ratio. in 2007, Manning led the Colts to the franchise's first Super Bowl victory since moving to Indianapolis.


1999: Tim Couch - Cleveland Browns (QB): In five seasons in Cleveland, Couch played in just 62 games, in which he threw 64 touchdown passes along with 67 interceptions. He was never able to lead the Browns to the postseason, and was cut by the team in 2004. Couch has made several comeback attempts which have all failed, and is currently not playing in the NFL.


2000: Courtney Brown - Cleveland Browns (DE): As you can see, Couch didn't have much of an impact in his first year in Cleveland. For the second straight year, the Browns owned the top overall pick in the draft, selecting Penn State's Courtney Brown. After a promising rookie season which included 70 tackles and 4.5 sacks, Brown struggled to stay healthy playing in just 26 games between 2002-2004. Brown signed with Denver as a backup in 2005, and helped the Broncos reach the AFC Championship game. However, in 2006, he tore his ACL, and was released by the team the following year. He's currently listed as a free agent.

2001 Michael Vick - Atlanta Falcons (QB): Vick was the most athletic quarterback prospect ever to be drafted. After spending half of his first season on the bench in order to give him time to adjust to the speed of the NFL, Vick started in 15 games for the Falcons in 2002, leading Atlanta to an upset win in Green Bay in the first round of the playoffs. In 2003, he suffered a fractured fibula which forced him to miss 11 games. However, in 2004, Vick returned to lead Atlanta to the NFC Championship game before losing to Philadelphia. In 2005, Vick was accused of contracting genital herpes to a woman and was sued for failing to inform her of his disease. In 2006, Vick had his best statistical season in the NFL, throwing for nearly 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns, and also rushed for over a 1,000 yards. But before the 2007 season, Vick admitted to hosting and financing an illegal dogfighting operation at his home in Virginia, and was sent to jail. While being free on bail, Vick tested positive for marijuana, a clear violation of the conditions upon his release. In December of last year, he was sentenced to 23 months in prison, where he is currently residing. There is no guarantee that he will be readmitted to the NFL.

2002 - David Carr - Houston Texans (QB): In five seasons with Houston, Carr threw for just 13,500 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 65 interceptions. He was released after the 2006 season when the franchise acquired Matt Schaub from Atlanta. He was immediately picked up by Carolina this past season and served as a backup where he played in 6 games for the injured Jake Delhomme. But after struggling in Carolina, Carr was released by the Panthers. He has currently signed a one year contract with the New York Giants where he'll battle for their backup quarterback position.

2003 - Carson Palmer - Cincinnati Bengals (QB): The Bengals were smart with their top draft pick. They sat Palmer in his rookie year to give him a chance to adapt to the NFL, while veteran quarterback Jon Kitna went on to have a stellar season earning him "Comeback Player of the Year" honors. But in 2004, the Bengals handed the starting job over to Palmer who led Cincinnati to an 8-8 record. A year later, Palmer lived up to his expectations, passing for nearly 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns while leading the franchise to their first division title since 1990. However, in the first round of the playoffs, Palmer severely injured his knee on the second play of the game and was forced to spend his entire offseason rehabilitating. In 2006, Palmer started in all 16 games for the Bengals, and passed for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, but his team struggled down the stretch, and missed the postseason after posting just an 8-8 record. This past season, he put up similar numbers (4,131 yards, 26 TD), but also threw a career high 20 interceptions. Cincinnati finished with a 7-9 record, and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. During the offseason, his primary widereceiver, Chad Johnson, has asked for the franchise to be traded.

2004 - Eli Manning - New York Giants (QB): Originally selected by San Diego and then traded on draft day to New York, Manning spent the first half of his rookie season with the Giants on the bench while being tutored by Kurt Warner. He played in the final nine games, and struggled by finishing with disappointing passer rating of 55.4. In 2005, Manning finished in the league's top 5 in passing yards and touchdowns while leading New York to an NFC East championship. However, he struggled down the stretch, and performed miserably in his first playoff game, passing for just 113 yards and 3 interceptions in their loss to Carolina. Eli's numbers in 2006 stacked up very similar to his '05 season, passing for over 3,200 yards, 24 TD's, but was picked off 18 times as the Giants lost to the Eagles in the Wild Card round of teh playoffs. In 2007, Manning struggled early with injuries on the field, dislocating his shoulder in the first game against Dallas. Meanwhile, the New York fans and ownership began questioning his ability to lead after the Giants started 0-2 to open the season. Manning answered his critics by engineering 11 straight road victories, an NFL record, which included a 17-14 upset win over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

2005 - Alex Smith - San Francisco (QB): Smith was drafted number one overall after leading the University of Utah to a perfect season in his senior year. However, his collegiate success did not translate into his NFL career. In his rookie campaign, Smith played in just nine games, throwing for 875 yards, 11 interceptions and just one touchdown. During the offseason, the 49ers hired Norv Turner as their offensive coordinator to help mentor their young quarterback. And it payed off. In his first full season with the club, Smith played in all 16 games, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes for nearly 3,000 yards, 16 touchdowns along with 16 inteceptions. However, during the offseason, Turner was lured away by San Diego to become the Chargers head coach. Smith entered the 2007 season with his third offensive coordinator. He was forced to miss 9 games after separating his shoulder in Week 4 against Seattle. He claimes it affected his accuracy, which could be the reason behind a disappointing season, which Smith completed less than 50 percent of his passes, and threw just 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

2006 - Mario Williams - Houston Texans (DE): Many believed this was a bust from the start considering USC's Heisman trophy winning running back Reggie Bush was passed up by the Texans for Williams. Many fans in Houston even booed the Texans' selection. In his first season, Williams didn't help himself. The NC State product finished with 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks and forced one fumble, which wasn't exactly what Houston had expected from their number one overall pick after giving him a contract reported to be worth more than $60 million dollars, $26 million of that guaranteed. However, in 2007, Williams did show progressive signs of improvement, finishing with 59 tackles, 14 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

2007 - JaMarcus Russell - Oakland Raiders (QB): Praised for his arm strength and size, many analysts predicted Russell to have a brilliant career in the NFL. After being drafted number one overall by the Raiders, Russell struggled to work out a contract with the franchise. He held out through training camp and even through the first week of the season before finally reaching a deal with Oakland in September worth $68 million dollars that included $31.5 million in guarantees. On December 2 of last year, Russell made his first professional appearance coming off the bench for Josh McCown, playing in two series where he completed 4 of his 7 pass attempts for 56 yards. Russell made his first career start in the team's final game of the season. The former LSU quarterback finished his rookie campaign with 373 yards, 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He has already been named as the Raiders' starting quarterback for this upcoming season.

Of course, I could go on. Do I dare mention Ryan Leaf? But there are several players that have surprised us over the years. Take Tom Brady, for example. Many, including myself, believe he's one of the best quarterbacks to have ever played the game. He's already won three Super Bowls, and was 3 points away from another this past year as well as a perfect season. No other quarterback in the history of the game has had as much success as Brady has been able to achieve at his age. Did I mention he was selected in the sixth round by the Patriots and was the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft? He's already being compared to Joe Montana. And speaking of Montana, after graduating from Notre Dame, he had to wait until the 3rd round to hear his name called. Now looking back, what team wouldn't have traded away all of their picks that year for Montana? He went on to win four Super Bowl titles with San Francisco and was named as the game's MVP in three of them. He also won two individual NFL MVP trophies.

So I ask you again, how can you put a price tag on the potentiality of talent? I realize that there must be some kind of draft process which provides an order in which teams are assigned based upon their previous season's record. And you'll always have the "prospects," which show great promise in becoming the next star in the NFL. But what happens when they don't? I guess the NFL Draft really is just a gamble after all!

A Masters-Piece!

You can't give enough credit to Tiger Woods and what he's done for the game of golf. He's transformed a sport which has been nearly unwatchable for most of us across the country into a form of entertainment that cannot be ignored. In fact, there hasn't been another athlete in our era that has done as much as Tiger has for any sport. He's become so dominant that Vegas has narrowed the line down to just two wagers: you can take Tiger, or the Field. Not Garcia. Not Singh. Not even Mickelson. And what's even more unbelievable is that most are willing to bet on Tiger alone rather than his 50 competitors, which is why Woods is now bigger than the game itself, and you're either for Tiger, or you're against him.

But this past weekend, the inevitable happened. Tiger was outmatched.

Woods began the Masters with a 72 shot performance in his first round. Not bad. But not great, at least in Tiger's standards. He followed that with a 71 in Round 2 before catching fire in the third round of 18, shooting a 68, and bumping him from 13th all the way up to 5th in the standings, and once again, reminding us why he is the world's best golfer. But he wasn't. Fate had taken over.

In 2006, a 26 year old man from South Africa named Trevor Immelman was beginning to make a name for himself in the PGA. In June of '06, Immelman won his first Tour event at the Western Open before withdrawing from the Open Championship to be with his wife and their first born child. However, Immelman finished 2006 ranked in the top ten in the world, and was named Rookie of the Year.

But in 2007, all of that became subordinate. In December, Immelman was forced to withdraw from the South African Airways Open due to severe discomfort surrounding his ribcage area, making it difficult for him to breathe. A week before Christmas, he was forced to have surgery where doctors discovered a lesion roughly the size of a golf ball on his diaphragm. After further testing, doctors diagnosed the lesion as a calcified fibrosis tumor, which was discovered to be benign.

In 2008, Immelman sat out the first 8 weeks of the PGA season, as he spent time recovering from his surgery. But by the end of January, Immelman found himself back on the greens, where he competed in his first tournament since being diagnosed with the tumor. After shooting a 68 on the first day of the FBR Open, he would struggle on his next 18 holes, finishing the round with a 73, forcing him to miss the cut. Two weeks later, he performed even worse at the Northern Trust Open in California, shooting a 72 in his first round, and followed with a 75 in the second leaving some to doubt if the South African was not only physically, but also mentally ready to return to the Tour. After finishing 17th at the WGC's Accenture Match, Immelman struggled again at the Honda Classic, failing to make another cut. He spent the next month competing in three more tournaments, shooting just one round under 70, while placing no higher than 40th. Then a week before one of golf's most prestigious events, The Masters, Immelman struggled once again at the Shell Houston Open, failing to make the cut for the fourth time of the '08 season while heading into the first major of the year.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods entered Augusta on fire, beginning the season on a winning streak of five consecutive PGA Tour victories. Talks of a Grand Slam began to heat up again. Even Tiger himself was willing to admit that it was a possibility. But nobody could have expected what was about to happen next.

Trevor Immelman would have been happy by just making the cut after Friday in Augusta. But instead, he would thrust himself into the spotlight. He shot a 68 in the first round, and followed that with an encore performance in the second, while heading into the final 36 holes at -8 under with a one shot lead. But the focus remained on Woods. Tiger birdied just four holes through his first two rounds, and headed into the weekend 7 shots behind the South African. But instead of being counted out, most were waiting for Tiger to make his move. And on Saturday, he did. Woods shot his best round of the tournament, a 68, moving him up 8 spots in the standings. But Immelman wouldn't back down. He finished his third round with four birdies en route to a 69 shot performance, and held a 2 shot lead heading into the tournament's final round, six shots ahead of Tiger.

But many were waiting for Immelman to fold under the pressure. The 28 year old had never held this big of lead in any major tournament. And his skeptics were right. Immelman bogeyed two of his first nine holes dropping him to -10 under. But Tiger continued to play average, shooting a 36 through the front nine. Then on the 16th, Immelman double-bogeyed, allowing Tiger to have a shot. But Woods was dealing with his own struggles. Tiger bogeyed twice on the back nine, and needed an eagle to pull himself back into the race. However, there would be no magic for Woods this time at Augusta. Immelman would finish the final two holes by saving par on both to win just his second PGA tournament since joining the Tour two years ago. And just 4 months removed from being diagnosed with a tumor on his diaphragm, Immelman won his first major of his career with his wife and one year old son, Jacob, there to greet him.

Whether you're for Tiger, or you're against him, this year's Masters wasn't about Woods. It was about hope and inspiration. Which is why the 2008 Masters was truly, a Masterpiece!

Remember the Alamo

Wow! What a way to finish the NCAA basketball season! I must admit, I was skeptical at first that all four of the number one seeds reached the Final Four. I believe what makes the NCAA tournament great is the upsets and Cinderellas. While there were upsets, the only true Cinderella was Davidson, who couldn't quite take down Kansas in the Elite 8, which set up the Final Four with all four number one seeds for the first time in tournament history.

Each one of the Final Four games were exciting, but they weren't really close. UCLA kept it close against Memphis through the 1st half before running out of gas in the 2nd. They obviously aren't built or conditioned to run up and down the floor for 40 minutes. In the second game, Kansas jumped out on North Carolina by building a 28 point lead at one point in the 1st half before almost blowing it in the 2nd. The Jayhawks were able to fend off the Tar Heels down the stretch as both games ended in double digit margins.

Then came the championship. There wasn't much to dislike about any one of the teams. Kansas is a powerhouse, but they hadn't won a national title in 20 years, while Memphis hadn't been to a national championship game in 35 years. Both teams were loaded with talent and 1st round NBA draft potential, while both coaches had already achieved more than most can only dream of.

And the game didn't disappoint. In fact, the largest lead was 9 points, which was held by Memphis with 2:12 to go in regulation. Then it finally happened. The Tigers simply forgot how to shoot free throws. It really wasn't anything new. Memphis was one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the country entering the tournament averaging below 60 percent as a team from the line. However, they turned it up a notch in the tourney by shooting over 70 percent. Even their head coach, John Calipari guaranteed they'd make their free throws when it counted. But Calipari was wrong. The Tigers missed three of their final four down the stretch letting their 9 point lead evaporate as quickly as boiling water turns to gas when it's exposed to freezing temperatures. With 10 seconds left, down by 3, Kansas had to travel the full length of the court without a timeout. All Memphis needed to do was foul, but instead, they did what all of us at home were doing. They watched. Falling backwards, Mario Chalmers not only made the 3 point shot, but he hit nothing but net. That's when I knew Kansas would win it.

Of course, the Jayhawks did go on to earn their third national championship in school history, a 75-68 overtime victory that will have most of us Remembering the Alamo for some time to come.

Breaking Down the Sweet 16

I think it's safe to say my bracket is completely garbage, but I would be willing to bet I'm not the only one who's suffering. You have to pick upsets when filling out your tournament bracket, and those who choose the right upsets, generally go on to do pretty well. As for me, I wasn't correct on anyone of my upset picks. At least I still have all four of my Final Four teams left in the tournament. If you're willing to listen, here's my predictions on the Sweet 16.

EAST REGION: This is the only region where each one of the top four seeds have advanced to the regional semifinals.

#4 Washington State vs. #1 North Carolina: I actually predicted this matchup in my tournament bracket. In my opinion, this has all the potential to be the Sweet 16's most exciting game. WAZZU comes in with the tourney's best defense allowing just 81 points in the first two games (52 in their last 60 minutes) while holding Notre Dame, a team who averaged 79 points a game heading into the tourney, to just 41. Meanwhile, North Carolina is playing out of its mind offensively. The Tar Heels have scored 221 points in their first two contests which ranks third most in tournament history. The key to this matchup is which style of play will perservere. I believe it's much harder for a team who's used to running up and down the floor like North Carolina to have to slow it up rather than for a team like the Cougars, who like to play a slow tempo style of game, to have to speed it up. However, the Tar Heels will have the edge in the fact that this game will be played in Charlotte, which is roughly 160 miles away from their hometown of Chapel Hill. Knowing from experience, Cougar fans love to travel, so don't expect to see the crowd painted in Carolina blue. I'm still sticking to my orginal point that Washington State needs their junior center, Aron Baynes to have a huge game in order to beat Carolina. WAZZU has the experience and depth in their backcourt to counter the Tar Heels' athleticism, but I'm not sure if the Cougs have anyone who can stop Tyler Hansbrough. Then again, who has this year?
PREDICTION: Call it a biased pick, which it is, but I'll take my alma matter to beat North Carolina in a slug fest, 72-69.

#3 Louisville vs. #2 Tennessee: This is another matchup I predicted in my Sweet 16, and I'll stick with my original gut feeling. I like Tennessee, but not as much as I like Louisville. The Cardinals' Rick Pitinio has the edge in experience over Bruce Pearl, which should help Louisville upset the Vols. As we've seen time and time again this year, Tennessee lives and dies by the 3 ball, and generally seems to dominate their opponents because their superiority in athleticism. However, they'll meet their match Thursday night when they take on Louisville who had four players this year who all averaged in double figures. The Cardinals have yet to be tested in this tournament, as they've beaten the first two teams they've faced by a combined margin of 48 points, which means, their confidence is at an all time high.
PREDICTION: I think this game will be close for the first 30-35 minutes before Louisville pulls away down the stretch. This is a team who likes to play defense, holding their opponents to 60 points or less in 18 of their games thus far this season, which will ultimately be the difference. The Cardinals are moving on to the Elite 8, 72-63.

MIDWEST REGION: Upsets seemed to be the theme in this region, as 4 of the 8 higher seeds moved on to the second round, and two remain including everybody's Cinderella favorite, Davidson.

#12 Villanova vs. #1 Kansas: I'll admit that I had NOVA out after the first round, but the Wildcats surprised me, coming back from an 18 point deficit to defeat 5th seeded Clemson before easily taking care of Siena en route to their first Sweet 16 appearance in 2 years. Now they get to face Kansas, who is perhaps the most talented team they've had to face all year long. If the Wildcats get down early, they won't be able to come back against the Jayhawks like they did against the Tigers. However, Kansas is a team who likes to jump out early on their opponents considering all five of their starters have the talent to play at the next level.
PREDICTION: The Big East will be down one less team after Kansas outplays the Wildcats in another solid performance, 72-57.

#10 Davidson vs. #3 Wisconsin: The Davidson Wildcats are the feel good story of the 2008 NCAA tournament. Everybody seems to be falling in love with their sophomore guard, Stephen Curry. And why not? This kid is incredible. He's scored 70 points in their two tournament games this year, which almost equals the total number of points that Washington State has allowed as a team (81). Curry seems to be able to score from anywhere on the court. He can shoot it all along the arc, and somehow finds creases amongst the defense that no other player seems to find. That being said, Davidson is going up against one of the best defenses they've seen this season. The Badgers pride themselves on the defensive side of the ball, and you better believe they know which number Curry is wearing, which is 30 if anyone cares. I just can't see Stephen Curry carrying this team game in and game out. Sometime, this kid will have to break, and when he does, so will Davidson.
PREDICTION: Curry plays great, scoring 25 points, but the rest of his team adds just 30 as Wisconsin has a date with Kansas in the Elite 8, 68-55.

SOUTH REGION: Three of the top four seeds remain in the South Region, which is headed to Houston, Texas. The number two seed in the region just so happens to be the University of Texas.

#5 Michigan State vs. #1 Memphis: Michigan State has turned into the dark horse of the tournament beating Pitt who many had in their Sweet 16. The Spartans return all five of their starters from last season who lost in the second round of the tournament, which means this could be the most experienced squad in the Big Dance. They also have Tom Izzo as their head coach who knows a little bit about winning considering he's led Michigan State to the Final Four, four times in the past nine years including a national championship in 2000. Izzo and the Spartans get Memphis in the Sweet 16, who in my opinion, is least likely out of all the number one seeds to reach the Final Four. The Tigers have an explosive and very talented cast of players, but they can't make a free throw to save their lives. They made 15 of their 32 attempts against Mississippi State in the second round, and almost gave that game away. If they shoot just as poorly at the line against the Spartans, they will give the game away.
PREDICTION: Tom Izzo has his Spartans playing too well for Jim Calipari and his Memphis Tigers. It should be a great game with a great finish, but the Spartans pull away late since they can shoot free throws. Michigan State wins, 76-71.

#3 Stanford vs. #2 Texas: This is a very intriguing matchup because both teams come in with two different styles of play. Stanford loves to go down low to one of the Lopez twins who are giants inside. Both Brook and Robin Lopez are listed as 7-3 on the roster. Meanwhile, Texas has two outstanding guards in D. J. Augustin and A. J. Abrams. This game should settle the debate as to which is more vital: a power post game, or a solid backcourt.
PREDICTION: While I thought neither team looked unstoppable in their second round matchups, I'll stick with my original pick, Texas wins in a defensive battle, 62-60.

WEST REGION: This region has caused the most havoc on our brackets, with just two of the top three seeds remaining. However, UCLA still has an easy road to the Final Four, as long as they aren't the next victim of an upset.

#12 Western Kentucky vs. #1 UCLA: There's no telling where the Bruins would be right now without benefiting from conterversial officiating. UCLA blocked 11 shot attempts, while committing just 16 fouls in their second round matchup against Texas A&M, but if you look closely, there was a lot of contact involved. Either way, the Bruins are headed back to the Sweet 16 where they'll meet another fortunate squad in Western Kentucky who's still thanking Ty Rogers who hit that incredible 3 point shot from NBA range to defeat Drake at the buzzer. So far, that has to be the most memorable moment of the tournament. While the Bruins pride themselves on defense first, nearly any one of their players can score which makes them so lethal. On the flip side, Western Kentucky has one of the most impressive offenses amongst any one of the Sweet 16 teams. The Hilltoppers scored 183 points combined in their road to the regional semis.
PREDICTION: As they say, defense wins you championships, and I can't disagree in this matchup. While I love Western Kentucky's inspiration, I believe UCLA is just too good, and if they continue to receive beneficial calls, there's no way this team will be beat. After another sluggish start, the Bruins prove to be too much, 70-58.

#7 West Virginia vs. #3 Xavier: It's tough to pick against the Mountaineers right now who are playing their best basketball of the season. Coming off impressive back to back wins against Arizona and Duke, they could present a very scary matchup for UCLA in the Elite 8. However, they can't overlook Xavier who stands in their way. The Muskateers are built around their offense, who hung 50 second half points against a Purdue team who allowed just 61 a game heading into the contest.
PREDICTION: West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins is very good at exploiting his opponent's weaknesses. The Mountaineers outrebounded a guard-heavy Duke team, 45-19. He'll do it again to Xavier, 78-71.

Bracket Buster (Part III)

SOUTH REGION: This is easily the third, if not second toughest region in the tournament. With Memphis, Texas, Stanford and Pittsburgh making up the top four seeds, anyone has a chance to take the road to the Final Four.

Memphis (33-1): Their only blemish this year was against Tennessee, however, that was easily their toughest opponent of the season. The Conference USA was extremely weak this year, which was proven by the fact that Memphis was the only team to receive a tournament bid. To compensate for that, the Tigers did scheduled a rather impressive nonconference schedule which includes wins against Georgetown, UCONN, Arizona, Oklahoma, USC and Gonzaga. Don't let the fact that they played in a weak conference fool you. They are a very good team coached by a very good coach in Jim Calipari. Their biggest weakness is their free throw shooting which was a dismal, 59.6 %. My only concern for Memphis is their ability to close out close games.

Texas (28-6): Many have Texas in their Final Four, and it's hard to disagree. They have an incredible resume that includes beating 2 of the 4 number one seeds. Guards D. J. Augustin and A. J. Abrams might make up the best backcourt in the country, while forward Damion James can be a force inside. The Longhorns should easily march into the Sweet 16 where they'll most likely have a very tough matchup against Stanford, who's style of play is much different.

Stanford (26-7): This is the second best team from the Pac-10, who was the best conference in the country this year. The Lopez twins are unstoppable and should carry them into the Sweet 16. Stanford's biggest weakness is their guard play. Anthony Goods is their only wing who averaged in double figures this season. If junior guard Mitch Johnson steps up, they have the talent to knock out Texas in the regional semifinals.

Pittsburgh (26-9): There may not be a hotter team entering the tournament right now than Pitt. The Panthers swept through the Big East tourney by taking out Louisville, Marquette and Georgetown along the way. Their biggest issue this year has been dealing with injuries. While they recently go Levance Fields back, Guard Mike Cook is still out for the rest of the year. If they can ride their current momentum into the tournament, they could become a major threat in the East Region and possibly be a Final Four representative.

Michigan State (25-8): The Spartans are a team loaded with experience returning all five of their starters from last year who lost to North Carolina in the second round. However, coming from a disappointing Big Ten conference this year, they may not be in shape to handle the talent in the Big Dance. While I don't believe they'll struggle with Temple in the first round, I don't see them getting past Pittsburgh in the second. Keep your eye on guard, Drew Neitzel. He can shoot it from anywhere.

Marquette (24-9): In my opinion, the Golden Eagles lucked out with this bid. Not only do I believe it's too high, but they also get to face a very overrated Kentucky team in the first round. Marquette has a talented backcourt with Jerel McNeal, Dominic James and Wesley Matthews who all average in double figures. In order to go deep into the tourney, you have to have strong guard play, which the Golden Eagles possess. However, their lack of a post game will hurt them when they face Stanford and the Lopez twins.

Miami, FL (22-10): This was the fourth and final seed from the ACC, and given their record and the strength of tradition of their conference, the Hurricanes are in the Big Dance this year. But don't expect them to last. They begin the tournament facing a very talented St. Mary's team who is a very solid pick if you're looking for an upset. Miami is led by their junior guard, Jack McClinton, who averaged 17 points a game this year. However, due to their lack of depth, the Hurricanes could very easily be an early exit.

Mississippi State (22-10): Another SEC team that should struggle in the tournament. I do like the play of their versatile sophomore, Jarvis Varnado, who can play either guard or forward, and proved to have great reach, blocking 4.6 shots per game this year. Don't miss sophomore guard, Ben Hansbrough, the younger brother of UNC's All-American, Tyler, who has a much better shot than his brother. He shot over 40 % from the floor and nearly 36 % from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs aren't a bad pick to escape the first round, but they don't have the talent to defeat Memphis in the second.

Oregon (18-13): Don't let their record fool you. The Ducks can shoot lights out from the perimeter. Like Tennessee, they live and die from the 3 point line. Tajuan Porter will be one of the most exciting players to watch. He's 5-6, but can make some of the most amazing shots you'll ever see. Senior Maarty Leunen also presents a very tough matchup. Standing at 6-9, he can be a great presence inside, but can also shoot the 3 as well as anyone at times. If Oregon catches fire, they will be no easy test for any opponent.

St. Mary's (25-6): While their early season upset win over Oregon doesn't look as impressive as it did before, this is a very athletic team who loves to run and gun. In 31 games this season, they scored at least 80 points or more in 11 of them. Their quality wins include Drake and Gonzaga. If you're looking for a first round upset pick in the South Region, St. Mary's would be a good choice facing Miami in a matchup of 7 vs. 10.

Kentucky (18-12): In my opinion, Kentucky is in the tournament only because of their storied tradition. However, this year, after losing to Gardner-Webb, UAB, Conference USA's Houston and Vanderbilt by 41, they're lucky to even be in the tournament. This is a team who's still in a rebuilding stage. Be sure to watch their SEC freshman of the year, Patrick Patterson, who averaged 16.4 points a game this season and promises to be one of the nation's best in years to come. But if you miss their first round game against Marquette, you'll probably have to wait until next year to see them again.

Temple (21-12): The Owls are back in the tournament for the first time since 2001 after winning the Atlantic 10 conference championship. They have an incredible tandem in guards Mark Tyndale and Dionte Christmas, who averaged over 20 points a game this year. Temple is playing their best basketball of the season as they're currently riding a 7 game winning streak, which could make their matchup against Tom Izzo and Michigan State very interesting. I think the Owls can play with the Spartans for the first 30 minutes, but after that, they'll feel the void of not having a strong post presence.

Oral Roberts (24-8): You have to feel for this Golden Eagle club who will have to face one of the hottest teams in the country, Pitt, in the first round of the tournament. Oral Roberts will rely on their defense, who was the strength of their team this year. In fact, they were 16-0 when they held their opponents to 60 points or less. Either way, no matter how good their defense is against Pitt, they won't be able to keep up with the Panthers' talent, which equals a first round exit for the Golden Eagles.

Cornell (22-5): This is an interesting first round match with the Ivy League conference champs squaring off against Stanford. You can believe the GPA between the two teams will be the highest of any first round matchup. However, a high team GPA doesn't necessarily equal wins. The Big Red's lone quality win this year was Siena, which means they really haven't beaten any team with the talent that would match Stanford. While it was a nice run for Cornell this year, it will end in the first round.

Austin Peay (24-10): The Governors earned themselves an automatic bid into the tourney by winning their Ohio Valley Conference championship. Without that, they wouldn't be here. Without a quality win on their resume, I have every reason to believe that their first round game against Texas could be ugly.

Texas Arlington (21-11): The Mavericks are the fourth best team from Texas in the tournament this year, which isn't saying much since there are only four teams from the Lone Star state. While the Mavs may have the best chance of the four 16 seeds to move on this year, I wouldn't bank on it.


WEST REGION: This is the least talented region of the four this year. Expect to see UCLA dominate the West and punch their ticket into the Final Four.

UCLA (31-3): In my opinion, this is the best in the country. Their depth is unbelievable. Darren Collison, Josh Shipp and Russell Westbrook make up a very solid backcourt, while freshman sensation, Kevin Love has lived up to every bit of his hype. But what makes the Bruins so tough is their style of play. They pride themselves on defense, yet almost everyone of their players can score from nearly anywhere on the floor. Any team that can finish the year 18-2 against Pac-10 competition is sensational. While they did receive several favorable calls towards the end of the season, this is still a team very worthy of their rank. Due to the fact that their region is also the easiest of the four, I expect to see the Bruins walk into the Final Four without much of a fight.

Duke (25-8): This is the weakest number 2 seed of the four this year. The Blue Devils got off to a hot stretch in which they began the year, 20-1 before ending the season on a disappointing 5-4 stretch. That being said, I believe Duke has an easy draw through the Sweet 16. I like their experience with Greg Paulus and DeMarcus Nelson, while they have several great freshman perimeter shooters with Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer. I could see Duke moving on to the Elite 8 before getting blown out by UCLA.

Xavier (27-6): Like Duke, this is the weakest third seed in the tournament. While the Muskateers have been a very familiar face in the NCAA tournament in the past decade, making their seventh trip in the past 8 years, it's hard for me to accept that an Atlantic 10 team is deserving of a third seed considering they didn't even win their conference tournament. This is still a very balanced team with six players all averaging in double figures in scoring this year. While Georgia should be a fairly easy first round test for Xavier, it's tough to count out the Bulldogs who put together an unbelievable stretch to win the SEC. I like Xavier to win, but I think it will be a much closer game than most might expect.

Connecticut (24-8): This was supposed to be another rebuilding year for the Huskies, but give credit to their head coach, Jim Calhoun, who has done an incredible job in leading UCONN to a four seed this season. Another team with a balanced attack that includes five players who average at least 10.4 points a game. This should be UCLA's toughest test en route to the Elite 8.

Drake (28-4): The Bulldogs are somewhat of a mystery this year. After losing four starters and their two top scorers from last season, Drake was picked to finish 9th in the Missouri Valley Conference. Instead, the Bulldogs nearly ran the table finishing 15-3 in conference play en route to winning a conference championship and earning their first NCAA bid since 1971. If they can get past a stingy Western Kentucky team in the first round, we could be looking at an incredible second round matchup against UCONN.

Purdue (24-8): At one time, the Boilermakers were the team to beat in the Big Ten, ripping off 11 straight in the middle of the season before dropping three of their last six to finish the year. Like most Big Ten teams, Purdue is built upon their defense, which presents an interesting first round matchup against Baylor who is much more offensively minded. This might be the toughest pick in the first round. It will come down to which team's strength can outmatch the other.

West Virginia (24-10): The Mountaineers earned an at-large bid thanks to their first year head coach, Bob Huggins, who simply knows how to win. This is a tested club coming from the Big East who could surprise some teams in the tournament this year. Their first round matchup against Arizona should be an excellent battle between the Big East and Pac-10. If they can get past the Wildcats, it will be fun to see them face off against Duke.

BYU (27-7): The Cougars would have been a higher seed had they not fallen to UNLV in the Mountain West Conference championship. This is a team who ended the year on a 15-2 run. BYU has a great inside-outside tandem in guard Lee Cummard and post Trent Plaisted who both averaged over 15 and a half points per game this season. However, the Cougs have drawn a very competitive match in the first round with Texas A&M who could give BYU trouble with their strong post presence.

Texas A&M (24-10): This is a very confusing Aggies club considering they began the year, 15-1, but finished by losing 6 of their last 10. A&M brings a very balanced attack with solid post play underneath, however, they don't have a consistent scorer, which could pose a problem for the Aggies in a tight game. Their first round test against BYU will be tough, and could come down to a last second shot, which doesn't look good for Texas A&M. If they can find consistency on the offensive end, they should move on to the second round for a grueling test against UCLA.

Arizona (19-14): Many skeptics believe that Arizona doesn't belong in the Big Dance this year, and they may be right. However, I disagree. The Wildcats are a very young team, but when they show signs of maturity, can be very explosive. Sophomore Chase Budinger is a 6-7 forward who can shoot it from anywhere on the court, and be sure to watch their freshman guard, Jerryd Bayless who can take over a game at any point. This is a very dangerous 10 seed who could pull off the upset against Duke in the second round if they learn how to mature quickly in the postseason. I at least like them over West Virginia in the opening round.

Baylor (21-10): Despite losing to Colorado in the first round of the Big 12 conference tournament, the Baylor Bears were still able to earn the final at-large bid by the tournament committee. This is a very fast-paced team who loves to run the floor. They've scored in triple digits five different times this season. However, they draw a defensive-minded Purdue team in the first round of the tourney, which should pose as an interesting matchup. One thing the Bears need to fix is their post play. Kevin Rogers is their only forward who averages in double figures, while center Josh Lomers is the second biggest threat inside for Baylor. He averaged just 3.8 points per game.

Western Kentucky (27-6): Many like the Hilltoppers as an upset special in the first round of the tournament, and who could blame them? Western Kentucky finished their season by winning 18 of their last 19 games, and nearly pulled off upsets against Gonzaga and Tennessee. The Hilltoppers are led by their senior Courtney Lee who averages over 20 points. While Drake may have more depth, this is a team who could pull off the first round upset if they can get some help from their bench.

San Diego (21-13): The Toreros come from a much improved West Coast Conference this year that is sending three teams to the Big Dance (Gonzaga, St. Mary's and San Diego). San Diego clinched an automatic bid by defeating the Zags in the conference championship. You can't let their record fool you. This is a very strong team. After beginning the year 8-11, the Tereros went on a tear, wrapping up the season by winning 13 of their remaining 15 games. This is a team that could pull of the upset if UCONN overlooks them in the first round. However, they don't have the talent to compete against the Huskies if they come ready to play.

Georgia (17-16): It's still hard to believe that the Bulldogs are in considering a week ago, they were 13-16 while many believed were down to their final game. Give credit to Georgia as they prevailed through the SEC tournament earning the conference's automatic bid. They'll have to find that inspiration once again when they take on an overrated Xavier team. This is a club that could pull off the upset, but it's a very risky pick considering the clock always seems to strike midnight for these Cinderella teams. You just don't know when.

Belmont (25-8): The Bruins enter the tourney on a 13 game winning streak en route to their 3rd straight Atlantic Sun conference championshipship. And like their previous two trips to the Big Dance, Belmont will once again represent as a 15th seed where the Bruins hope to avoid being blown out for the third straight time. They may be able to hang with Duke for the first half, but the Blue Devils will run away with it in the second.

Mississippi Valley State (17-15): This is a team who's tale is split into two halves. The Delta Devils began the year on an 8 game losing streak, but finished the season on a nine game winning streak earning them a shot at UCLA in the first round. Unfortunately for MVSU, that streak will come to a crashing end at the hands of the Bruins in the first round of the tourney.


Don't forget to fill out your brackets! You have until 10:20 am before the opening round of the tourney begins. Best of luck to all of you!

Bracket Buster (Part II)

MIDWEST REGION: This is arguably the second best region in the tournament with Big 12 champs Kansas, Big East champs Georgetown and Big Ten champs Wisconsin all representing. This should be a great bracket to watch, but not one to pick.

Kansas (31-3): This was the team I chose last year to win it all. However, after they fell to UCLA in the Elite, that pretty much ruined my bracket. This year, the Jayhawks return a ton of talent, including Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson, each of whom average in double figures. Kansas plays more like an NBA team than a college sqaud, in which scoring is a priority, and defense is second. However, that being said, their athleticism can shut any team down in the country. Look for the Jayhawks to sweep through this bracket as long as their starting five comes to play.

Georgetown (27-5): The Big East was easily the second best conference in the nation this year sending eight representatives to the Big Dance. Georgetown claimed the regular season title, which makes them one of the best in the Big East Conference. I like Hoyas, but not quite as much as last year. Roy Hibbert is a beast inside, while Jonathan Wallace apparently can't miss from beyond the arc. However, the void of the departured Jeff Green has left this team without a go-to guy in the clutch. I like Georgetown returning to the Elite 8, but nothing further.

Wisconsin (29-4): It doesn't say a whole lot about the Big Ten this year when their conference champions are a third seed in the tourney. Either way, the Badgers kind of snuck up on the NCAA this year. The catalyst that will drive this team in the tournament is their defense, who held their opponent to under 60 points in 24 of their 33 games this year. It will be an interesting first round matchup for Wisconsin who faces Cal-State Fullerton, a team who's built on a run-and-gun offensive philosophy.

Vanderbilt (26-7): The SEC is a tough pick for me this year. They were by far the weakest of the six major conferences this year. Despite their fourth place finish in the conference, I thought Vanderbilt was the second best team in the SEC this year behind Tennessee. They'll be led by by conference MVP, Shan Foster. The senior swingman averages 20.5 points per game. Anything further than a Sweet 16 would be a major surprise.

Clemson (24-9): For some reason, I'm just not sold on this team. They like to jump out to early leads, but just can't finish in the clutch. They took North Carolina to two overtimes before falling in heartbreaking fashion. However, the Tigers are a very balance team. They have five players that average scoring in double figures. If Clemson can figure out how to finish, they could be a very dangerous team in the tournament.

USC (21-11): The Trojans are easily led by a very talented freshman class. O. J. Mayo is ahead of his time and is already polished enough for the NBA. Perhaps, too polished, which is why USC didn't get a higher seed. My problem with the Trojans is sometimes they spend too much time watching Mayo. I probably would as well. He's a phenomenal talent that can take USC only so far. Their first round matchup against another freshman phenom, Michael Beasley, and Kansas State should be one of the best games in the first round. If they can escape the Wildcats, they have a good chance of facing Georgetown in the Sweet 16. Don't forget about their sophomore center, Taj Gibson. He could be the X-factor for the Trojans if they go deep into the tourney.

Gonzaga (25-7): The Cinderella slipper just doesn't seem to fit anymore for the Bulldogs. They just don't scare anybody anymore. However, they're still a very talented team with a ton of tournament experience. If Josh Heytvelt can finally live up to his potential and emulate the same production as he did early last season, this could be a force to be reckon with. My guess is he doesn't, and they could receive a first round exit by a very good Davidson club.

UNLV (26-7): This was last year's suprise team in the tourney who make a Sweet 16 run while upsetting second seed Wisconsin. Despite losing most of their talent to graduation, UNLV has once again earned a spot in the Big Dance where they're one of the nation's hottest teams entering the tournament. They've won four straight and seven of their last eight. I like UNLV because of their head coach, Lon Kruger, who's incredibly smart and knows how to utilize his talent to its fullest. However, they're not quite ready yet to return to the Sweet 16 with Kansas standing in their way in the second round.

Kent State (28-6): The Golden Flashes enter the tournament as the Midwest Region's number 9 seed, which in my opinion, is a bit high considering their only quality wins are against George Mason and St. Mary's. They were 13 points worse than Xavier and 29 points away from beating North Carolina. I don't like their chances of defeating UNLV. On the flip side, check out junior guard Al Fisher, a junior college transfer, who was named as the Mid-American Conference's player of the year in just his first season in Division I.

Davidson (26-6): To me, this is one of the most intriguing first round matchups in the tournament. Davidson against Gonzaga should be a spectacular game. The Wildcats had no problems in conference play this season, finishing 23-0 en route to a Southern Conference Championship, which gives them a 23 game winning streak heading into the tourney. Sophomore guard Stephen Curry might be one of the nation's best scorers. He averages over 25 points a game this year, and shot over 43 percent from beyond the arc. This is a good, and if they believe in themselves, could become this year's Cinderella.

Kansas State (20-11): The Wildcats finished third in a competitive Big 12 conference this season. Of course, their main contributor, is freshman phenom, Michael Beasley, who could win the nation's player of the year after averaging 26.5 points per game (3rd best in the nation) and also pulled down over 12 rebounds per contest. Perhaps, best of all, the 6-10 Forward can also shoot lights out from the perimeter (nearly 39 percent from 3 point range), which makes him a potential number one overall pick in this year's draft. While Beasley won't be able to carry Kansas State into the Final Four, their first round test against O. J. Mayo and USC should be one of the most talked about games of the tournament.

Villanova (20-12): This is a bubble team that really didn't deserve a ticket to the Big Dance. They finished eighth in the Big East and were an early round exit in the conference tournament. While they may keep it close against Clemson early on, the Tigers will run away with it in the second half. NOVA will be a one-and-done.

Siena (22-10): The Saints punched their ticket into the NCAA tournament after earning an automatic bid by defeating Rider in the MAAC championship. This is a team who's built up some momentum within the past month by winning six straight. While their strength of schedule may be weak, their most impressive quality win has to be against Stanford early in the season. The Saints have a nice offensive trio in Edwin Ubiles, Kenny Hasbrouck and Alex Franklin, who all averaged in double figures this season. If you're looking for a major first round upset, the Saints would be a fair pick considering they're facing the weakest 4th seed in the tournament, Vanderbilt, in the first round.

Cal State Fullerton (24-8): The Titans are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1978 thanks to an explosive offense which is led by junior Josh Akognon, who averaged nearly 20 points a game. Akognon transferred to Fullerton two years ago from Washington State, and brings a hot hand from beyond the arc. If he heats up, Akognon can make it from anywhere on the court. The one problem the Titans face, the Wisconsin Badgers, who bring a completely opposite style to the floor. While Fullerton likes to run, the Badgers like to slow it down. The team that can handle making the adjustment will win.

UMBC (24-8): After posting 24 wins, which is more than their previous two seasons combined, the University of Maryland-Baltimore County is heading to the Big Dance for the first time in school history, which makes them an underdawg favorite. Unfortunately for the Retrievers, they'll be an early exit considering they don't have the talent to compete with Roy Hibbert and the Hoyas of Georgetown. They're starting post, Cavell Johnson is 6-8. Hibbert is 7-2.

Portland State (23-9): Apparently the tournament committee wasn't very impressed with the Big Sky Conference this year, considering the conference champs, Portland State, is headed to the Big Dance as a 16th seed. While the Vikings were the best shooting team in the Big Sky this year, they're in for a whole new kind of competition when they take on Kansas. This game could be close midway through the 1st half, but the Jayhawks will dominate after that.

I'll break down the West and South Regional brackets tomorrow.

Bracket Buster (Part 1)

It's that time of year again for all of us to pick out our lucky pen and fill out our NCAA tournament brackets. In my experience, you're never going to pick every game right. There's always upsets somwhere along the journey to the Final Four. How many of us can honestly say we picked George Mason to go all the way to the Final Four two years ago. Not me! Picking upsets is risky, but it's necessary if you want to win your office tournament bracket pool. Lucky for you, I'm here to help. Here's my look at each region in this year's NCAA tournament.

EAST REGION: Many are calling this the toughest bracket in this year's tourney. They may be right. From top to bottom, the East Region has a plethora of talent. Starting the from top, North Carolina, all the way to the bottom, including Boise State and American.

North Carolina (32-2): This might be the most athletic team in the country, and some are calling it the best. However, don't let the name, or the record, fool you. In my opinion, UNC is a product of a poor ACC conference. While they are still one of the best teams in the country, they really haven't been truly tested like other squads from the Pac-10 and Big East this season. They've also played in several close contests, including seven of their 30 wins this year have been by 5 points or less, while another 2 have come in Overtime. But on the flip side, good teams know how to win in the clutch. One thing the Tar Heels have going for them is that the road to the Final Four in the East goes through their home state of North Carolina. So, every game could essentially be a home game for them en route to San Antonio. They're a safe pick to go to the Final Four, but I wouldn't call them a lock.

Tennessee (29-4): When they're at their best, they can beat anybody in the country, but when they go cold, they can lose to anyone in the bracket. The Volunteers live and die by the 3 point shot. If you have good perimeter defense that can put pressure on Tennessee's outside shooters, you can beat them. They also don't play defense. If Tennessee gets hot, then look out, but if they go cold, they better hope it's against an opponent who shoots just as poorly.

Louisville (24-8): You can't forget about the Cardinals. This is a team that has kind of slipped through the cracks of the national spotlight considering they're on a two game losing streak. However, they have as good of a coach in Rick Pitino as anyone in the country. And he knows how to win, considering he led Louisville to a Final Four appearance just three years ago. If this team hits their stride at the right time, then watch out.

Washington State (24-8): WAZZU comes from the Pac-10, which in my opinion, was the best conference in the country this year. That means, they've played against tournament quality opponents all season long. So, this shouldn't be anything new for the Cougars. Washington State is led by their senior corps of guards that might be one of the best backcourts in the country. However, they've been very inconsistent this season. Remember the name Aron Baynes, their 6-10, 265 pound Junior center. If he can play up to his potential, they have a shot at knocking off UNC in the Sweet 16.

Notre Dame (24-7): The Fighting Irish seems to be a novelty every year they reach the tournament. They always seem to put up great regular season numbers before falling hard in the tournament. Since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams, they've never made it further than the Sweet 16. However, Notre Dame comes from a solid Big East conference, which should have prepared them for a tough field ahead of them. Look out for sophomore forward, Luke Harangody. He's averaging 20.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

Oklahoma (22-11): This is a tough team to figure, considering they finished fifth in the Big 12, yet earn a sixth seed in the tournament. Their last quality win was back on February 19th, a 92-91 overtime win against Baylor. Other quality wins were against Arkansas, Gonzaga and West Viriginia, but all of those were early in the season. I don't expect this team to last further than the second round. This could be a perfect pick for a first round upset.

Butler (29-3): Butler probably feels as though they got the shaft considering they earned a seventh seed after finishing the season with a 29-3 mark. And maybe they're right considering their three losses were by a combined 12 points this year. The Bulldogs finished the year with the nation's 10th best ranking after wrapping up the Horizon League Tournament. Last year, they earned a fifth seed, and were the closest out of any team to defeat the eventual national champions, Florida, in the Sweet 16. If Butler can escape South Alabama, they could surprise some teams.

Indiana (25-7): Another very interesting squad. They have an amazing talent in freshman guard, Eric Gordon, who averaged 21.5 points a game this year in leading the Hoosiers to a third place finish in the Big Ten. However, they are playing with an interim head coach who took over after Kelvin Sampson was forced to resign following more NCAA violations. If this team can play up to their caliber and find a way to play together under their interim head coach, Dan Dakich, they should have no problems in defeating Arkansas in the first round, and could even pose as a major threat to North Carolina in the second.

Arkansas (22-11): It's tough to really pick any SEC team, other than Tennessee this year, considering the conference was so weak. However, Arkansas did defeat the Vols in the conference semis this past weekend before losing to Georgia in the championship game. This is not a team that relies on one player to carry them. They have five players who average 9.3 points per game or better. The Razorbacks must get over their recent struggles in the NCAA tournament. They're last tournament win was in 1999 when they defeated Siena before losing to Iowa. That was just five years after their last national championship run.

South Alabama (26-6): This is a team to me that has a great record coming out of weak conference. Their two biggest quality wins this year are against Western Kentucky and Mississippi State. They also took Vanderbilt to overtime. However, they have a tough first round matchup against Butler, which will most likely be an early exit for the Jaguars.

St. Joes (21-12): This is a team who could very easily upset Oklahoma in the first round. They've defeated Xavier twice this season, including their most recent win in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10. If I had to choose, this would be my upset special in the first round of the NCAA tournament. After that, good luck to the Hawks, because I don't see them getting past Louisville.

George Mason (23-10): You always have to keep your eye on these 12 seeds because it seems every year at least one of them pulls off the upset over a 5. And who could forget this Patriots team who defined "Cinderella" this time of year by marching into the Final Four as an 11th seed two years ago. This is a team who defeated Kansas State earlier this year. While they have a very tough test against Notre Dame in the first round, don't count out the Patriots. They have more tournament experience over the past two years than the Fighting Irish have over the past decade.

Winthrop (22-11): They have a stellar guard in Michael Jenkins who can put up 30+ if he has to, however, the Eagles only have one quality win this year. That was against Miami (FL) last December. This is their fourth straight tournament appearance, and 8th in the past 10 years. But they're just 1-7 all-time in tourney play. Unless WAZZU shows signs of extreme rust early on, don't expect to see any upset in the first round. But if they do make it to the second round, it could be an interesting matchup against Notre Dame, whom they defeated last year in the first round.

Boise State (25-8): You have to remember, this isn't football, but this is a very interesting Broncos team, who's making their first tournament appearance since 1994 when they were apart of the Big Sky. They've been to the Big Dance five times, and have received a 14th seed in each of their last four. They have three players who average at least 14 points a game or more, which means they have plenty of offense. While I don't expect them to defeat Louisville, you never know what you're going to get out of a team who's coming off a 14 year drought.

American (21-11): After falling in the Patriot League Conference championship the past three seasons, the Eagles are finally headed to the NCAA tourney for the first time in school history. Unfortunately, it will only be a one game experience.

Coppin St./Mount St. Marys: Both of these teams square off in a one game playoff for the right to face North Carolina in the first round. Enough said.



I'll breakdown the Midwest Bracket tomorrow...