NBA All Star Weekend

The NBA All-Star Weekend is the best one in sports. It is exciting, fun, and a great watch. Here's a look at some of the events.

Slam Dunk Contest Part 1: The Changes

The Slam Dunk Contest has made major changes to its format this year. Last year there were 2 rounds. 4 players started the first round and got 2 dunks each. A panel of 5 judges graded the dunks. A panel of judges used to judge the finals, too, until 2008 when they decided to declare a winner by texting. I didn't like the move when it was made, but I have learned to except it. The new changes are something I'm not sure I can accept. The first move is reducing the competition to 1 round. In that 1 round each participant will have 3 dunks. The panel of judges is also eliminated from the competition. Fans will vote the winner through texting, Twitter, and NBA.com. I really dislike this idea. I think that the fans will pick the person they like best. For example, DeMar DeRozan and JaVale McGee have had been snubbed by this system before. That means it will happen again.

Slam Dunk Contest Part 2: The Contestants

Derrick Williams is a contestant for the Slam Dunk Contest
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The changes didn't include the number of contestants. There will still be 4. Blake Griffin, DeMar DeRozan, JaVale McGee, and Serge Ibaka, the 4 contestants from last year's great contest, will not compete again this year. The participants are Houston's Chase Budinger, Utah's Jeremy Evans,  Indiana's Paul George, and Minnesota's Derrick Williams. New York's Iman Shumpart was supposed to be in it but he had to drop out due to injury. This is not as star-studded as it has been, but it has potential. All of the players were drafted in the last 3 drafts and are all rising stars. One or more of them can make a name for themselves. If no one does, the contest might be a bore.

Three Point Contest

The three point contest is all about getting on a roll and not stopping. That is what happens with every winner. They get on fire and the rest is history. 6 players, 4 new to the contest, are looking to make history and take the title. They range from post men to runner of the offense. These players are Orlando's Ryan Anderson, Miami's Mario Chalmers, Atlanta's Joe Johnson, the defending champ, Miami's James Jones, Minnesota's  Kevin Love, and New Jersey's Anthony Morrow. All of them can knock down a 3 pointer, but it all depends on who can get on a roll. 

Skills Competition 

The Skills Competition isn't really a thriller but it's fun to watch. This year's competitors are Golden State's Stephan Curry, the defending champ, Cleveland's Kyrie Irving, San Antonio's Tony Parker, Washington's John Wall, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, and New Jersey's Deron Williams. All these players have the skill set to win. Each one has to be on their A game. 

Rising Stars Challenge

Charles Barkley and Shaquelle O'Neal at the Rising Stars Draft
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Instead of the Rookie Challenge, which pitted a select group of rookies against a select group of sophomores, the NBA rebrand the game into a Rising Stars Challenge. The game will still have rookies and first year players, but on the same team. This year, legends and TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquelle O'Neal, picked teams from a group of pre-selected players. Before the draft, "commissioner" of the game, Kenny Smith, also a TNT analyst put rookie Norris Cole of Miami and Jeremy Lin of Knicks into the game. Shaq had the 1st pick and selected Blake Griffin. The Round Mound of Rebound took Kyrie Irving as his first pick When it all ended, Team Shaq's team had: F Blake Griffin, G Jeremy Lin, G Ricky Rubio, F Markieff Morris, C Greg Monroe, G Landry Fields, G Norris Cole, G Kemba Walker, G Brandon Knight, and F Tristin Thompson. Team Chuck had G Kyrie Irving, C DeMarcus Cousins, G/F Gordon Hayward, G/F Paul George, F Derrick Williams, G/F MarShon Brooks, G John Wall, F/C Tiago Splitter, G/F Evan Turner, and F Kawhi Leonard. Splitter is injured and has been replaced by F Derrick Favors. The roster was put in order of when they were drafted.

At first glance, Shaq looks like he got the better of the draft with the star power of Griffin, Lin and Rubio. But I like the look of Barkley's team. He got a steal by getting 2010 Draft's 1st overall pick, Wall, with his seventh pick. He also has the 2011 1st overall pick in Irving, Wall's college teammate in Cousins, and underrated swingmen in George and Brooks. This looks to be a good game with even teams.

Final Analysis

The NBA made changes to this years All Star Game are not going to ruin the weekend, but I find them risky moves. The rebranding of the Rookie Challenge came unexpectedly, but could become a hit. The changes to the Slam Dunk Contest are very surprising, considering it was at it's finest last year. You usually don't change something was recently given high praise. All in all, I am still looking excited to one of the best weekends in all of sports.

The Start of the 2012 College Baseball Season

With pitchers and catchers just starting, baseball seems like its weeks away from the start of the regular season in America. However, college baseball just finished up the first 3 days of their season. It had a lot of action for the 1st games of the year. Here are some of the top match-ups of the weekend.

Florida In Action With Cal Fullerton

Florida is ranked #1 in many of the preseason polls and was runner-up in last year's College World Series. Cal State Fullerton was ranked in the top 25. There was a lot riding on this series. 


The 1st game of the series was close through the 7th inning stretch. It was all tied up at 3. In the bottom of the 7th, Florida scored 4 runs and took a 7-3 lead. They held the Titans to no runs for the rest of the game and won. In the 2nd game, Cal State Fullerton took a 2-0 lead by scoring 1 run in the 1st and 3rd. In the 4th inning, Florida got some baserunners and brought them home, scoring 4 runs. They add an insurance run to make their lead 3 in the 8th and won 5-2. Gators 1B Preston Tucker and C Mike Zunino both had 2 hits, 1 RBI, and 1 run. In the last game of the series, Florida started off hot by scoring 3 runs in the 2nd. It looked like the sweep was in their hands. But, Cal State Fullerton scored 4 runs in both the 4th and the 5th. Florida tried coming back but could only score have 1 player cross the plate in the 7th and 8th. Cal State Fullerton won 8-5. Titan 1B Carlos Lopez and DH JD Davis both had 3 hits and 3 RBIs. 

Stanford and Vanderbilt 

This match-up was the most anticipated of the weekend. Vanderbilt made the College World Series for the 1st time last year and Stanford made the Super Regionals. Stanford is ranked inside the Top 5 and Vandy is ranked from 10th to 23rd. 

Stephen Piscotty drove in 7 runs in Game 3 of the series vs. Vandy
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In the 1st game, Stanford didn't look rusty at all, crossing the plate once in the 1st, once in the 2nd, 3 times in the 3rd, once in the 5th, once in 6th, and once in the 8th. 1B Brian Regina was 3 for 4 and 2 RBIs. Vanderbilt tried to to come back, but could only score 2 runs in the 9th to add to the 1 run they had before. Stanford won 8-3. Game 2 was much like Game 1 for Stanford. They were rolling to start the game. Scoring 1 run in the 1st, 4 in 3rd, 1 in the 4th, and 3 in the 5th. The Commodores scored more but couldn't catch up. Stanford won 9-5. The rubber game was a blow out. Stanford dominated 18-5. Stanford had a 8 and 7 run inning. Cardinal 3B Stephen Piscotty had 2 hits, 2 runs, and 7 RBIs from a 3 run double and a grand slam. 

Xavier- UNC Features Upset, Blowouts

University of North Carolina easily handled Xavier in the 1st game of a doubleheader with a 10-2 victory. Tar Heel SS Tommy Coyle scored 3 times and got 2 hits, including a 3 bagger and C Jacob Stallings had 2 runs, 2 hits, and 2 RBIs. Xavier was 30-27 last year and 14-10 in conference, which placed them 4th in the A-10. 


Game 2 of the doubleheader was much different. Xavier had a 5-0 lead at the end of the 5th. After the 7th, it was 5-4. Xavier scroed 3 in the 8th and then 2 in the 9th to close the game with a 10-4 win. C Derek Hasenbeck had 3 hits in 3 at bat with 3 RBIs and a run in his debut. Musketeers 2B Seth Willoughby was 3 for 4 and then came in to pitch in the 8th and got the save. 


In the rubber game of the series, UNC scored 6 runs in the 1st to take a 6-0. In the top of the 2nd, Xavier scored 8 runs to take a 8-6 lead. UNC scored 2 more runs to tie it up at 8 in the bottom of the 2nd. Xavier scored one run in the 4th to take the lead, but in the bottom of inning UNC scored 5 runs and the 2 in the 5th. By the time the final out was made, UNC won 16-10.

Back to Back Champ South Carolina Sweeps VMI

South Carolina has 2 College World Series victories. Both have been in the last two years. Their 2010 championship was last one ever played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium and the 2011 championship was first one ever played at the new TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. This year, they are trying to make it a 3-peat. They started their season against Virginia Military Academy.

South Carolina started the season at home at Carolina Stadium vs. VMI
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In the 1st game of the 3 game series on Friday, both teams had crossed home plate by the bottom of the 8th. 3B LB Dantlzer hit an RBI single to put South Carolina ahead 2-1. That's how the 1st game ended. The 1st game of Saturday's, South Carolina scored 1 run in the 1st and 1 in the 3rd. VMI tied it up in the 6th. In the bottom of the 6th, Gamecock C Dante Rosenberg, who went 2 for 4, hit a RBI double that scored the GWing run. In the 2nd game of the doubleheader and the last one of the series, South Carolina dominated with a 13-1 win. They blew the game open in the 3rd when the scored 4th runs. They never looked back.

Pink in Sports

Will pink ever make it into a logo?

The Miami Heat have started wearing retro uniforms of the non-related Miami Floridans of the ABA. On the uniforms there is a pink stripe running down the side. This got me wondering, can pink make it into the sports world successfully? For many years the answer was a clear cut no. The classic colors, blue, red, gray, black, and white were usually chosen in the early days. But as years went by the more colors were added into color schemes and logos. Here are uses of pink in logos.


When Breast Cancer Awareness month comes around, the NFL does a great job in spreading awareness. Many of the players were pink shoes, pink towels, and pink gloves. The color pink they use fits in well with the uniforms of the teams

The Miami Floridans (Called The Floridans from 1970-1972) played in the American Basketball Association from 1968-1972. From the 1970-71 season to the end of the next season, Miami wore uniforms that had a pink and bright orange stripe on the side. It was a style statement that made the ABA the ABA, but it wasn't a fab that lasted a while.

Can you see pink in this logo? I can
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The question is yes, pink can probably make it's way into sports. Uniquer colors have been used and have been successful. However, to succeed pink needs to head to a team that can work it in and fit well. Teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Green Bay Packers, New York Knicks, Pittsburgh Penguins are not ones that would fit.


What teams could add pink to the color scheme. Miami has two teams that could fit it in. The Miami Marlins just changed their logos, color scheme, and more. The new color scheme has a scheme that has a yellow, orange, and light blue pared with black and white. I believe a pink could work with the color scheme they have in place right now.

The Miami Heat are also a possibility. Their branding could have pink added into the red and black as a back round color. However, the Heat are not going to do this, especially since it doesn't fit their attitude. Red and black is where it is at for them.


The Toronto Raptors red can be mistaken as a dark, dark pink. So why not add a little pink flavor to the logo. It would add a little flash. What would make it even better would be to add a little purple to it. That would be a statement. 


The Houston Dynomo of the MLS might also consider putting a touch of pink in their scheme. However, just a slight amount would be a nice addition to the orange and black scheme they have in place.


All in all, I believe pink is heading into sports logos and schemes very soon.

Basketball Update: NBA, CBA, NBL of Canada, and more

DJ Augustine is the starting PG for Charlotte
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National Basketball Association


The Charlotte Bobcats have the worst record in the league at 3-20, which averages to a .130 winning percentage. They have lost 10 straight games. Why are they the worst? Well, when there best players are Corey Maggette, Gerald Henderson, and DJ Augustine in division where there are the Heatles (LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh), Atlanta (Jeff Teague, Josh Smith, and Joe Johnson), and Orlando (Dwight Howard and Ryan Anderson). However, they do have Washington (2nd worst in the East) in the division, it doesn't make much of a position. 


Chinese Basketball Association 


Many players went overseas during the lockout. The players who went to China to play in the Chinese Basketball Association could not opt out of their contracts when the lockout ended. Kenyon Martin was cleared to leave and rejoin the NBA earlier this week. Here is how some of the more notable players have performed. Martin played in 12 games, averaging 13.9 ppg for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. Wilson Chandler has played in 27 games and is averaging 26.1 ppg and 11.4 rpg for the Zhejiang Lions. Playing for Guangdong Southern Tigers, Aaron Brooks is averaging 21 ppg. JR Smith is averaging 35.2 ppg for the Zhejianj Golden Bulls.


NBA Development League


The Canton Charge is the newest team in the D-League, moving from New Mexico to Canton. Their first season in the Canton Memorial Civic Center is going OK with a 13-15 record, placing them in 4th place in the Eastern Division. PG TJ Cambell has 10.8 ppg, F Tyrell Briggs is averaging 16.2 ppg and 5.8 rpg, and F Dante Milligan has 9.3 ppg and 8.9 rpg. 

Gabe Freeman is playing really well this year
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National Basketball League of Canada


The National Basketball League of Canada is in the swing of it's first season ever. The team leading the 7 team league is the London Lightning with a 21-6 record. Forward Gabe Freeman, is one of the league's top players. Freeman is averaging 12.429 rpg (1st in the league) and 18.25 ppg (2nd in the league). The worst team in the league at 7-20, the Moncton Miracles., who will need a miracle to make the playoffs.


Turkish Basketball League


Deron Williams played with Bestikas during the NBA Lockout for 7 games, and then retired his number 8. How has the team fared without D-Will? Pretty well. They are in 4th place in the TBL with a 12-4 record. They have other former NBA players in PG Carlos Arroyo and F Adam Morrison. Zoran Erceg is averaging 17.1 ppg. Other notables teams right now include the 0-16 Bandirma team. They still have 14 games left to win though.


Liga Nacional de Basquet 


The top team in the Argentina's top pro basketball league, the Liga Nacional de Basquet, is Obras from Buenos Aires. They have a 15-3 record. PF/C Juan Gutierrez is averaging 18.4 ppg (1st in the LNB), 9.0 rpg (Tied for 3rd), and 1.2 bpg (Tied for 3rd). F Tony Washam is averaging 14.1 ppg and 4.3 rpg. They shouldn't be feeling too conformable at 1st. Penoral is 15-4 and in 2nd place.