Notes to Prepare You for the 2013 NFL Playoffs

Denver Broncos 

• NFL Records Peyton Manning Broke Include...
• Touchdowns in a Single Season with 55
• Passing Yards in a Single Season with 5,477
• Tied for Touchdowns in a Game with 7 against Baltimore on 9/5
• NFL Team Records Include...
• Scoring in a Single Season with 606
• First Team to Score over 600 points in a Season
• More Peyton Manning's Stats this Year
• 68.3 completion percentage
• 342.3 passing yards per game
• 8.3 TD percentage
• 10 INTs
• 111.1 Passer Rating
• Kicker Matt Prater season...
• 25/26 on Field Goals
• 6/7 on 50+ yard Field Goals  
• 75/75 on PATs
• The Missed FG was from 52 yards out vs KC on 11/17
• Set record by hitting a 64 yard FG against Tennessee on 12/8

New England Patriots

• Season Highlighted By Comebacks
• 9/8 vs. Buffalo: Down 21-20 with 4:31 left, Won 23-21 on GW Field Goal
• 10/13 vs. New Orleans: Down 27-23 with 2:24 left, Won 30-27 on GW TD Pass with 5 seconds left
• 10/20 vs. New York Jets: Down 27-24 with 2:10 left, Game-Tying FG with 16 seconds left
• 11/24 vs. Denver: Down 24-0, Won 34-31
• 12/8 vs. Cleveland: Down 26-14 with less then 65 seconds left, won 27-26
• LeGarrette Blount had a career day against Buffalo in the last week of the season (189 yards, 7.9 per carry, 2 Rushing TDs, 145 kickoff return yards, and 72.5 yards per kickoff return)
• The Patriots have arguably the most depth at running back with Blount, Steven Ridley, Shane Vereen, and Brandon Bolden
• Only one player has over 60 catches of the Pats: Julian Edelman
• Edelman had 21 catches in 2012, 4 in 2011, and 7 in 2010
• To compare, he had 18 total tackles in 2011 and ended up playing defensive back due to injuries
• It's been a rough year for Brady, having to play with inexperienced and off-injured wide receivers and tight ends, however, I still trust him with a game on the line

Cincinnati Bengals

• Andy Dalton:
• 61.9% Completion Percentage
• 4296 Passing Yards
• 33 TDs
• 20 INT
• 88.8 QB Rating
• Dalton to AJ Green: 
• 98 completions
• 180 targets
• 1426 yards
• 14.6 average yards
• 18 20+ Yard Plays
• RB Giovani Bernard can run and catch the ball
• 170 rushing attempts
• 695 rushing yards
• 4.1 yards per carry
• 5 rushing touchdowns
• 56 receptions (second on team)
• 514 receiving yards
• 422 yards after catch
• 3 receiving touchdowns
• Vontaze Burfict is the league leader in combined tackles with 171
• Missing defense stalwart Geno Atkins (torn ACL)

Indianapolis Colts

• Three large improvements in Andrew Luck's game this year
1. Completion Percentage: 60.2% compared to 54.1% last year
2. Interceptions: 9 this year compared to 18 last year
3. Fumbles: 5 this year compared to 9 last year
• 23 of Luck's 63 rushing attempts have resulted in first downs
• Without Reggie Wayne, Luck has relied on TY Hilton
• Hilton is the only member of the team with 55+ receptions and 610+ receiving yards
• Hilton and Coby Fleener are the only with receivers with 40+ receptions
• Trent Richardson has been a let down
• 2.9 yards per attempt
• 32.7 yards per game
• 1 20+ yard carry
• Robert Mathis is having his best season of his career
• 19.5 sacks
• 8 forced fumbles
• Number one in the league for both
• Jarrell Freeman is one of the most underrated linebackers in the game
• 126 combined tackles
• 5.5 sacks
• 6 forced fumbles
• 6 passes deflected

Kansas City Chiefs 

• Jamaal Charles led the team in rushing and receiving and was second in scoring (DNP in Week 17)
• His 114 points scored this season is the most by a non-kicker
• He rushed for...
• 1,287 yards
• 5 yards per carry
• 12 touchdowns
• 72 first downs 
• His receiving stats are 
• 70 receptions
• 104 targets
• 693 receiving yards
• 630 yards after catch
• 7 touchdowns
• 32 first downs
• Outside Linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali both had 11 sacks on the season
• Fellow linebacker Derrick Johnson had 107 tackles
• For the Chiefs to be successful, they need to
• Establish the run
• Put the offense in 3rd and Long
• Win on Special Teams

San Diego Chargers

• Phillip Rivers is having a great year
• 378/544 or a 69.5 completion percentage
• 4478 passing yards
• 32 TDs
• 11 INTs
• 60 20+ yard passes
• 105.5 passer rating
• Rivers has two great targets to throw to: Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates
• Allen's stats this year:
• 71 receptions
• 105 targets
• 1046 receiving yards
• 8 TDs
• 16 20+ yard catches
• Gates' stats this year:
• 77 receptions
• 116 targets
• 872 receiving yards
• 4 TDs
• Saftey Eric Weddle is total defender
• 115 combined tackles
• 10 pass deflections
• 2 picks
• 1 forced fumble
• 2 fumble recoveries

Seattle Seahawks

• 15-1 at home over the last two seasons
• Have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs
• The Seahawk defense is the best in the league
• They are first in the NFL in...
• Yards Allowed in 4378
• Yards Allowed per Game with 273.6
• Passing Yards with 2752
• Passing Yards per Game with 172.0
• Points Allowed with 231
• Points Allowed per Game with 14.4
• Richard Sherman is the best corner in the league
• 8 picks (#1 in the NFL)
• 16 pass deflections 
• 3 picks in the fourth quarter with the game within 7 points this year
• 20 picks last three years
• 57 pass deflections last three seasons
• Free Safety Earl Thomas may also be the best at his position
• 105 combined tackles
• 8 pass deflections
• 5 interceptions
• 2 forced fumbles
• Russell Wilson has been very efficient
• 63.1 completion percentage
• 26 TDs
• 9 INTs
• 101.2 passer rating

Carolina Panthers

• Cam Newton had Career Highs In...
• Competition Percentage with 61.7%
• Touchdowns with 24
• QB Rating with 88.8
• And Career Lows In...
• Fumbles with 3
• Luke Kuechly is fourth in the league with 156 combined tackles
• He also had 4 interceptions and 11 passes deflected
• His 320 tackles in his first two seasons is more then these players in their first two years...
• Patrick Willis (315)
• Ray Lewis (293)
• DeMeco Ryans (284)
• Jon Beason (278)
• Brian Urlacher (239)
• Derrick Brooks (210)
• NaVarro Bowman (189)
• Kuechly had 24 combined tackles vs. New Orleans on 12/22
• The 24 tackles was the most in a game this season
• Kuechly is the best linebacker in the league and the anchor of the defense
• DE Greg Hardy had 15.0 sacks on the season

Philadelphia Eagles

• Nick Foles is 8-2 in games he is the starting QB
• Foles since the start of November
• 151/227 or a 66.5 completion percentage
• 2269 passing yards
• 21 TDs
• 2 INTs
• 101 first downs
• 43 passes of 20+ yards
• 7 Wins
• 1 Loss
• LeSean McCoy is the leading rusher in the league with 1607 rushing yards
• McCoy since the start of November
• 158 rushing attempts
• 874 yards
• 5.5 rushing yards per carry
• 6 TDs
• 43 first downs
• 7 Wins
• 1 Loss
• CB Brandon Boykin
• 6 picks
• 17 pass deflections
• 2 forced fumbles
• 205 kick-off return yards
• Boykin is the x-factor for the Eagles, he is not only becoming a great corner, but he can also be deadly in the return game

Green Bay Packers

• With Aaron Rodgers playing the whole game, the Pack are 6-2
• Without the 2011 MVP, the Packers are 2-5-1
• In Rodgers' return from injury: 
• 25/39
• 318 yards
• 2 TDs
• 2 INTs
• 85.2 QB Rating 
• Not great, but not awful
• Eddie Lacy is the first 1,000 yard rusher for the Packers since Ryan Grant in 2009
• Lacy has...
• 1178 rushing yards
• 11 TDs
• 61 first downs
• All-Pro Clay Matthews is out for the playoffs
• However, they still have constamint pro, ILB AJ Hawk 
• 118 combined tackles
• 1 forced fumble
• Green Bay's defense gives up the most points of any team in the league with an average of 26.8 points allowed per game

San Fransisco 49ers

• The Best Linebacking Core In Football
• NaVarro Bowman
• 145 combined tackles
• 120 total tackles
• 5 sacks
• 4 forced fumbles
• 9 pass deflections
• 2 picks
• 2014 Pro Bowler
• Patrick Willis (In 14 games)
• 104 total tackles
• 3 sacks
• 7 tackles for loss
• 2 forced fumbles
• 2014 Pro Bowler
• Ahmad Brooks
• 8.5 sacks
• 6 tackles for loss
• 60 combined tackles
• 2014 Pro Bowler
• Aldon Smith (In 11 games)
• 8.5 sacks
• 34 tackles

New Orleans Saints

• Cameron Jordan and Junior Galette are becoming one of the best 1-2 punches when rushing the quarterback
• Jordan this season:
• 12.5 sacks
• 47 combined tackles
• 2 forced fumbles
• 2014 Pro Bowler
• Galette this season:
• 12.0 sacks
• 40 combined tackles
• 6 tackles for loss
• The Saints can't run the ball (CHECK ALL)
• 1473 rushing yards (25th in the NFL)
• 391 rushing attempts (26th)
• 3.8 yards per attempt (26th)
• 92.1 rushing yards per game (25th)
• They can, however, pass the ball
• Drew Brees' stats:
• 5162 passing yards (2nd)
• 68.6 completion percentage (2nd)
• 39 TDs (2nd)
• 104.7 passer rating (6th)
• 70.5 QBR (4th)

The NBA Draft Wheel

The Draft Lottery has been around since 1985 and has always been filled with controversy. The newest controversy involves teams tanking to get a better chance at the number one pick. Many teams have been accused of doing, especially this year. Well, a proposal submitted by an NBA team official believes he has a way to stop tanking. According to Zach Lowe of Grantland, this proposal involves killing the lottery and using a wheel to determine the draft spot of each team, for the next 30 years.

Here is how the wheel would work: Each team would be given a pick every year for thirty years. They would not be able to pick in the same spot twice for thirty years. They follow a sequence, shown in the wheel below. So if a team drafts 1st in year one, they would draft 30th, 19th, 18th, and then 7th in the next four drafts. If they draft 28th, in the next four drafts they would draft 21st, 16th, 9th, and then 4th. Every five seasons, each team would have a top six pick and every four years, each team would have a top twelve pick. If this system is used, there is no upside, being being bad and tanking.

The Wheel
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The proposal has it's fans and adversaries. It has gained some traction among officials and may be discussed by the NBA owners in 2014. However, not all officials like the idea.
I believe the idea is interesting, but is way too flawed to ever be used in any capacity.

First, how does this give teams that are awful a chance to rebuild. Many of the best teams in sports build through the draft. This system makes it very difficult to do so. After getting a top five pick, most of the time it is followed up by three non-lottery picks. It is very unusual for one player to change the franchise from a loser to perennial title contender. For example, the Thunder (then the Supersonics) drafted Kevin Durant second in 2007. However, they didn't make the playoffs until they drafted Russell Westbrook fourth in 2008 and James Harden third in 2009. That would have been impossible for the Thunder to do with the wheel in place. 

Secondly, this gives college players too much power. If the best player in college is a freshman and he does not want to go to the team picking first, he can wait until next year or two years so he gets to go where he wants to. That not only is unfair to the "undesired" team who will get cheated out of getting an opportunity to pick the best player possible, it also gives the college players to much power and leverage in their decisions.

Thirdly, this is too predetermined in an dramatic, entertainment minded sports world. One of the best things about sports is that anything can happen. There are so many of examples of the greatness of unpredictability in sports. With this system, the suspense of the draft lottery and the seasons of bad teams will go away. Nothing in sports is predetermined and that  is a good thing. If the draft becomes predetermined, it will become less interesting.

Lets hope the Ping Pong balls do not go away
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Those are just three of the big reasons why the draft wheel should not be put in place. The wheel is a truly unique and interesting, but it is not a good idea. Bad teams need a chance to get better. For many teams, it's not through free agency or trades, but they get better through the draft. This new system will make it impossible for many bad teams to get good real quick. That would create an even bigger gap between good and bad. I don't think that the NBA will approve getting rid of the lottery system and replacing it with  the wheel. There would be too much controversy and questions surrounding it. The wheel is and would not be good for the league.

Book Review: Kiss 'Em Goodbye by Dennis Purdy

Kiss 'Em Goodbye: An ESPN Treasury of Failed, Forgotten, and Departed Teams by Dennis Purdy is a fascinating read.  As the title suggests, this book is about sports teams that were unsuccessful and either disbanded or moved away.  86 teams are talked about.

Book Cover
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Each chapter, which is only a couple pages, is about a team. The teams range from well-known and successful teams, such as the New York Giants and the New York Rens, to teams that played only one season, like the St. Louis Gunners and the Elizabeth Resolutes. The book not only features teams from the major four sports leagues, it also features teams from defunct leagues like the Union Association and the National Basketball League, and more obscure sports, such as roller derby.

What makes this book great is that the stories are interesting and many of the little-known teams have not gotten their due. Take for example, the Keokuk Westerns. The team from Iowa played in the National Association for one year in 1875. Their story is fascinating, as the reason for the team existing was that it in a ideal location on a railroad line between Chicago and St. Louis, and would not be found also anywhere. The Westerns are one of the many little-known teams that are featured throughout the book.

The Duluth Eskimos, the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Ironman are other notable team histories which had more to the story then expected. There was not one story that bored me or made me want to stop reading. I was engaged the whole time while reading this book.

This book is a must have for every sports history fan. It will not bore you with long, drawn-out histories of every team. It hits the highlights of each team and explains their demise. It also will surprise you, each team has a different story, different set of characters, different details, yet they all ended up disbanding or moving away. This is no doubt one of the best books I have read this year.

2013 Rugby League World Cup: The Dominance of Australia

Official Logo
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The 2013 Rugby World Cup, the fourteenth overall, was held from October 26th and ended today, November 30th. The Rugby League World Cup has been played very sporadically over it's history. It last held in 2008, and before that in 2000. This year, it was held in England and Wales, but games were also played in France and Ireland. Fourteen teams were in the tournament. They were Australia, Cook Islands, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Scotland, Tonga, United States, and Wales. 

Coming into the tournament, Australia was the favorite. Not only have they won nine tournaments before, they were also number one in the RLIF rankings. It was going to be very tough to beat the Kangeroos. Heading into the tournament, Tim Sheens had  lost only one game as Head Coach 

Two other title contenders were New Zealand and France, ranked second and fourth respectively. Both teams have been to every World Cup and New Zealand won the last one in 2008. The Kiwis have not finished better than third since 1975. The Les Chanticleers have struggled in the last couple years, including finishing in last in the 2008 World Cup.

In the group stages, Australia and New Zealand showed off their muscles. In Group A, Australia went 3-0, beating England 28-20, Fiji 34-2, and Ireland 50-0. Other then their loss to the Kangaroos, England had an easy time. The Wall of White beat Fiji 34-12 and Ireland 40-0. New Zealand had no competitor in Group B. The Kiwis had plus/minus of +112. Their big wins included destroying France 48-0 and Papua New Guinea 56-10. In Group C, Scotland edged Tonga as the Groups only representative in knockout round. Both teams had a 2-1 record, but Scotland beat Tonga 26-24 to make the next round. In the last group, the USA, in their first World Cup, won the group and the spot in the next round,by beating group-mates, Wales and the Cook Islands.

The knockout round featured the top three teams from Group A and B, and the top team from Group C and D. None of the games were close. Australia annihilated the United States 62-0. Brett Morris and Jarryd Hayne both had four tries. New Zealand routed Scotland, 40-4, England defeated France 34-6, and Samoa lost to Fiji 22-4.

Jarryd Hayne
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In the semi-finals, Australia had another easy win. They demolished Fiji 64-0. The second semi-final, between England and New Zealand, was a thrilling game. With about fifteen minutes left in the game, England took a 18-14 lead. The game was just about to end, but a penalty was called on England. New Zealand capitalized and Shaun Johnson scored a try to tie the game at 18. Then, he kicked the conversion to give the Kiwis the win and a spot in the finals. 

The finals were destined to be competitive. Not only was it a rematch of the 2008 World Cup final, it is between two rivals. Over 74,000 people showed up to Old Trafford to watch the final. Many of the fans were disappointed as the game was a blowout. Australia won the game 34-2 to claim their tenth Rugby League World Cup title. The Man of the Match was Johnathan Thurston, who kicked seven goals for Australia. The tournament was all about the dominance of Australia. They showed that they are the best country in the world at rugby league. 

2013 FCS Playoff Preview: Three Teams To Watch

North Dakota State

Brock Jensen
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The Bison are the number one seed in the tournament and that is well deserved. Not only are they the only undefeated team in the FCS, they have won the last two FCS titles and have not lost a game since October 13th, 2012. Some of their notable wins this season have been against Kansas State, an FBS team, Northern Iowa, and rivals South Dakota State. They have outscored their opponents by at least ten points in all but two games. Their offensive strength is their outstanding run game. Sam Ojuri averages 6.6 yards per run and John Crockett averages 6.1 yards. Their average rushing yards per game is 237.2 yards. QB Brock Jensen is highly-efficient; he has a 26-6 TD-INT ratio. Their defense allows under twelve points per game, which is best in the country, and is in the third in yards allowed per game with 243.0. They are not only stout on both sides of the ball, the Bison are great on special teams. Christian Dudzik has two punt returns for touchdowns while Ryan Smith has one. North Dakota State are the best team in the FCS and probably are better then some teams in FBS-AQ conferences. It is their title to lose.

Southeastern Louisiana

The Lions are the four seed in the playoffs and are destined to go far. They went undefeated in the Southland Conference that featured the FCS runner-up two years in a row, Sam Houston State, and 10-2 McNeese State. The offense is based around a extraordinary running game. Duel Threat quarterback Bryan Bennett leads the team in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. Rasheed Harrell and Xavier Roberson are both high-quality players. On the defensive side of the ball, LB Isiah Corbett has sixteen tackles for a loss and seven sacks and DL Jacob Newman has 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Southeastern Louisiana is going to make a run.

Fordham

Michael Nebrich
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Two years ago, the Fordham Rams were 1-10 and one of the teams in college football. Now, they are 11-1 and in the FCS Playoffs. The team's only loss was to Lafayette on November 16th. The offense is passing-based and they have a great quarterback in Michael Nebrich. Nebrich leads the FCS in completion percentage at 74.9%, is second in passing efficiency at 175.4, and is in the top five in passing yards per game with 325.1. He also has 28 touchdowns to only six picks. The running game is pretty good as well. It is headlined by Carlton Koonce, who averages over 111 rushing yards per game. Fordham is a sneaky team that may surprise some people and make a run behind their star signal-caller. 

2013 Champions Classic Preview

Promotion for 2013 Champions Classic
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The State Farm Champions Classic this year is incredible. Four of the top five teams in the nation will be facing off against each other today at the United Center in Chicago. The Kentucky Wildcats (#1 in the AP Poll/#1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll) will face off with the Michigan State Spartans (#2/#2) in the first game. Then, the Duke Blue Devils (#4/#4) go up against the Kansas Jayhawks (#5/#6).

KENTUCKY vs. MICHIGAN STATE

What makes the Kentucky-Michigan State match-up even more exciting is that it is between a team with freshman stars against a team of upperclassmen stars. Kentucky's freshman class this year is outstanding. They have five of the top nine recruits in brothers Aaron and Andrew Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Julius Randle, and James Young. Michigan State is based around their core of upperclassman including Keith Appling, Brandon Dawson, Adreian Payne, and Denzel Valentine. This game is going to be great. 

Julius Randle
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Player to Watch: Wildcats F Julius Randle: Randle has been very impressive through two games. He had a double-double in both games. He had 23 points and 15 rebounds against UNC-Ashville 22 points and 14 rebounds against North Kentucky. While he put up those numbers against teams that are not very good, it does show he has the potential to constantly to put up twenty and ten. The stat that I think is most telling is the amount of times he got to the line. He went to the 27 times and made 21 free throws. For him to keep up the success, he will need to keep getting to the line.

Match-Up to Watch: Spartans C Adreian Payne vs. Wildcats C Willie Cauley-Stein: I think Payne is an excellent player. If the Spartans can work the ball to him in the post and work through him, they will be successful. To stop him, Kentucky will need a good game from Willie Cauley-Stein. If Payne is not stopped, it will be a long day for the Wildcats.

Key to the Game: How will the Freshman of Kentucky play in their First Big Game: The question also surrounding young teams in any sport is how will they handle stressful and high pressure situations. This game will show us how resilient the Wildcats are and how they can handle pressure.

And The Winner Is: Kentucky: This game will be tight and will go down to the final minutes. In the end, Kentucky will make a defensive stop. 

DUKE vs. KANSAS

Again, there is more to this match-up then the fact that it involves top five teams. Kansas had the #1 player in this freshman class, Andrew Wiggins, while Duke has the #2 player in Jabari Parker. Both players are superstars. This game may be a Final Four match-up. 

Roodney Hood
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Player to Watch: Blue Devils F Rodney Hood: Hood sat out last season after transferring from Mississippi State. In his first game since March 13th, 2012, Hood played great in a 111-77 win over Davidson. He had 22 points, nine bounds, and went nine-for-ten from the field. If this is not fluke and Hood can put up numbers like that every game, him and Parker could make up the best frontcourt  in college basketball. 

Match-Up to Watch: Duke Guards vs. Jayhawks G Andrew Wiggins: Wiggins is the biggest scoring threat on this Kansas team. He was the #1 recruit for a reason. The Blue Devils need to  stop him from scoring and that job will most of the time fall to the Duke guards. Jabari Parker may also guard him, but no matter who is on him, they need to shut him down. 

Key to the Game: Duke from Beyond the Arc: Duke's offense depends on high-percentage three point shooters. Last season, the Blue Devils were 6th in the nation in three point percentage at 39.9%. They rely on the three to open up the floor for their post players and slashers. If they take and make the three, they will be in a prime position to win. 

And The Winner Is: Duke: Duke is the better team. Kansas still needs to work out some kinks and get into a rhythm. This game will not be as close as the first game of the night, but it should be competitive heading into the final ten minutes.

Predictions for the 2013-14 NBA Season

Eastern Conference

1. Miami Heat

2. Indiana Pacers

3. Brooklyn Nets

4. Chicago Bulls

5. New York Knicks

6. Detroit Pistons

7. Atlanta Hawks

8. Washington Wizards

9. Cleveland Cavaliers 

10. Toronto Raptors

11. Milwaukee Bucks

12. Boston Celtics

13. Charlotte Bobcats

14. Orlando Magic

15. Philadelphia 76ers

Western Conference

1. Las Angeles Clippers

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

4. Golden State Warriors

5. Houston Rockets

6. Memphis Girzzlies

7. Denver Nuggets

8. Minnesota Timberwolves

9. Portland Trail Blazers

10. Los Angeles Lakers 

11. New Orleans Pelicans

12. Dallas Mavericks

13. Utah Jazz

14. Sacramento Kings

15. Phoenix Suns

MVP

1. LeBron James, Miami Heat, F

2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, F

3. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs, G

Rookie of the Year

1. Victor Oladpo, Orland Magic, G

2. Trey Burke, Utah Jazz, G

3. Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings, G

Defensive Player of the Year

1. LeBron James, Miami Heat, F

2. Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies, G

3. Larry Sanders, Milwaukee Bucks, C

Most Improved Player

1. Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors, C

2. Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns, G

3. Andre Dummond, Detroit Pistons, C

Most Disappointing Player

1. Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers, F

2. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, F

3. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls, G

1st Team All-NBA

G: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

G: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

F: LeBron James, Miami Heat

F: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

C: Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

2nd Team All-NBA

G: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Caviliers 

G: James Harden, Houston Rockets

G: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

F: Paul George, Indiana Pacers

F: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

NBA Draft Lottery

1. Boston Celtics 

2. Sacramento Kings

3. Philadelphia 76ers

NBA All-Star Game

East All-Stars over West All-Stars

Eastern Conference Finals

Miami Heat over Brooklyn Nets

Western Conference Finals

Los Angeles Clippers over Golden State Warriors

NBA Finals

Miami Heat over Los Angeles Clippers

Great Slate of Football Games Over The Weekend

Florida State @ Clemson

Tajh Boyd
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This is the game of the weekend. Florida State (#5 in the AP Poll/#5 in the USA Today Poll) goes to Death Valley to meet another top five team, Clemson (#3/#4). This game has national impact. The winner will immediately become a challenger for the BCS Championship, while the other will be out of contention. Both teams have superstar quarterbacks. Clemson's signal caller is senior Tajh Boyd. Boyd has been a high-level quarterback in his first two years as the starter, but this year he has taken it to another level. His maturity shows in his ratio of touchdowns to interceptions. He has fifteen passing touchdowns compared to two picks. The Seminoles quarterback, Jameis Winston is a redshirt freshman and he has been outstanding. He has a completion percentage of about 73%, 17 passing touchdowns, and a passer rating of about 214. The key to this game will be the defense. Who will be able to quiet the opposing quarterback for at least a few possessions. This game will be a shootout and will come down to the wire. In the end, Clemson will pull out the win in the end.

UCLA @ Stanford

After Stanford (#13/#13) was upset the 4-3 Utah Utes, the balance shifted in the PAC-12. They became the third highest ranked team in country, falling behind 6-0 Oregon (#2/#2) and 5-0 UCLA (#9/#10), their opponent this week. UCLA's success has been centered around their good defense and quarterback Brett Hundley. Hundley is a very good quarterback and that is evident by last weeks game against Cal. He threw for 410 yards, three touchdowns, and completed 75.6% of his passes. For Stanford, quarterback Kevin Hogan struggled against Utah last week and Washington the week before. Hogan needs to put those two games behind him. If his struggles get in his head, it is going to be another long game for the junior QB. After a devastating loss last week, Stanford will be rejuvenated by the home fans and will take home the W against the Bruins.

Auburn @ Texas A&M

Nick Marshall
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After an awful season last year, the Auburn Tigers (#24/NR) are 5-1 and have returned to the top 25. This week, they face Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M (#7/#7). This is a big game for the Tigers. They beat a top 25 team in Ole Miss, but they lost to a top ten team, LSU. This game will show us where the Tigers rank in big time college football. If they win, when it's all said and done they may be a top 15 team. If they lose, they are a barely a top 25 team. For Auburn to win, quarterback Nick Marshal needs to be on his game. In their loss to LSU, the running game was working, with Tre Mason having a great game. Marshall, however, completed just over 50% of his passes and threw two picks. He needs to be a better play maker for Auburn to have a chance. For Texas A&M, the defense needs to the stop the run game and Johnny Football needs to be Johnny Football. I am not sure if the Auburn defense can stop Manziel and the the Aggie offense. Because of that, I am pick the Aggies to win by at least ten points.

Sam Houston State @ McNeese State

This is the FCS matchup of the week and it is a good one. Sam Houston State is number two in the FCS, while McNeese State is number eight. Both teams are 5-1, are 1-0 in conference, and are in the Southland Conference. Sam Houston State's only loss was to FBS school Texas A&M. the Cowboys lost to Northern Iowa. The Bearcats' offense is based around it's run game. Three of their four leading rushers average 7.0 yards per carry. Their main running back, Timot Flanders, already has nine touchdowns and 849 rushing yards. McNeese is more passing oriented, but running back Marcus Wiltz is coming off a great week and is having an excellent season. The Bearcats' are the better team, and they will beat the Cowboys. 

Cincinnati @ Detroit

This week, there are only two games where both teams have winning record. One is Denver-Indy. The other is surprising. It is not Houston-Kansas City, or Baltimore-Pittsburgh. No, its the Bengals against the Lions. The Lions have been a surprise team so far. They are currently tied for the lead in the NFC North with a 4-2 record. Their offense has been good, even with Calvin Johnson struggling with injury. Reggie Bush is running the ball very well, giving the offense a whole new dimension. On defense, they have been very good, led by LB DeAndre Levy who is having a career year. The Bengals are also 4-2 and are also in the led of their division the AFC North. Two of their wins have been against Green Bay and New England, both high quality teams. The Lions have surprised so far, and they will shock Cincinnati. 

Denver @ Indianapolis

Jim Irsay
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Not only is this a match-up between Super Bowl contenders, but it is also the return of Peyton Manning to Indy. There will be a ceremony for Manning before the game, but the comments flying around make it a little awkward. Colts owner Jim Irsay made some comments this week that "dis" Manning. He said that they have changed how they run the team with Andrew Luck as QB so they can win more then one Super Bowl. He also said that he loved the "Star Wars" numbers Manning put up, but those numbers didn't matter in the post season and they would not advance. He later apologized, but the damage was done. Instead of their being a happy and light atmosphere, it will be cold and awkward. The key to the game is going to the Colts defense. The Broncos are firing on all cylinders and for the Colts to have a chance to win will be if their defense comes up clutch. This is going to be a good game; however, Denver is unstoppable right now. The Colts will put up a fight, but Denver will improve to 7-0.

Book Review: Errors and Fouls by Peter Handrinos

With the holiday season looming, I've decided to write some book reviews on some interesting books that some people may want to buy for themselves or a family member or friend. The first book I will be writing about is Errors and Fouls: Inside Baseball's Ninety-Nine Most Popular Myths by Peter Handrinos. 

Cover of Errors and Fouls
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Errors and Fouls is a good book. Handrinos is a very smart man, having went to Yale University, University of Cambridge, and University of Virginia School of Law. He treats each myth like he would a case he would be dealing with in his law practice. He backs his opinion with facts and evidence from many different places.

The book is split up by topic into different sections. For example, the section "The Drug Problem" has all the myths that involve steroids. The myths are different from one chapter to the next. Some of my favorite chapters involve baseball's popularity, the toughness of the sport, and competitive balance.

The myths covered are not the ones that are always in books involving baseball myths. Abner Doubleday or Babe Ruth do not have their own myth. Most of the myths involve the business side of baseball. That might be the best part of this book. All other baseball books would mention Babe Ruth's called shot. Errors and Fouls does not, and that what makes it unique.

In conclusion, Errors and Fouls is not a book for every fan. It is a book that does not always "solve" the myth, but the author gives his opinion on the why the myth is wrong. He takes on the myths with a laywer-like-approach, making each one interesting to read. At certain points, the book gets a little stale, but most of the time, I was fully engaged . Handrinos clearly spent a lot of time working on the book, and it shows in the quality of his work.

MLB Regular Season Wrap-Up/Playoff Preview

Todd Helton's Retirement

Todd Helton
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Todd Helton played his last game yesterday. He played his whole career with the Rockies. He player his college career at Tennessee and it was very eventful. He played on the Volunteers football and baseball teams. His football career was at a peak during the 1994 season, when he started three games due to the starting quarterback getting injured. In his third start, he also got injured and was replaced by, Peyton Manning, and the rest is history. His baseball career was better than his football career. He won the Dick Hoswer Trophy in 1995 as college baseball's best player.

Two years after being drafted, Helton played his first game in the majors on August 2, 1997. The next year, he was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year. His best year was 2000. He was arguably the best player in the league. He was first in the league in batting average with .372, on-base percentage with .463, slugging percentage with .698, on-base plus slugging with 1.162, hits with 217, doubles with 59, total bases with 405 and ribbies with 147. He also had 42 homers, 103 walks, 138 runs, 8.9 rWAR, and 163 OPS+. He made an All-Star appearance, was fifth in the MVP voting and won a Sliver Slugger Award.

The next four seasons were much the same. He hit over .329, had 182+ hits, 39+ doubles and always had an OPS over 1.000. It was a stretch for the ages. He appeared in the All-Star Game every year, won three Gold Gloves, and three Sliver Sluggers. From 2005-2007, Helton was still hitting about .300/.400/.475 every year. After 2007, he was not the same player, but still was productive. 

Todd Helton
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With Helton's career over the question now becomes whether or not he is a Hall of Famer. He definitely has the numbers and many highlights. He is a little short on the accolades, but that is not his biggest problem. His two big problems are that he played in the Steroid Era and played in Denver. Players from the Steroid Era have had trouble getting into the Hall. Also, many people have been downgrading Helton and Larry Walker's career numbers for playing in a hitter-freindly ball park. However, I believe that Helton deserves to be in Cooperstown. He has been a great player for many years and his peak seasons were amazing. Not only that, Helton is just an all-around great guy and one of my favorite players.

Breakout Seasons from Matt Carpenter, Carlos Gomez

Many players have had breakout seasons in 2013. The biggest breakout star has been St. Louis Cardinals' second baseman Matt Carpenter. He leads the league in hits with 199, doubles with 55 and runs scored with 126. He has been outstanding for the Cardinals this year. Carlos Gomez also had a breakout year. With Ryan Braun injured and suspended for most of the year, the Brewers need other players to rise up to the occasion. Gomez did just that and was Milwaukee's best player. He hit 27 doubles, 10 triples, 24 homers, stole 40 bases and had a .843 OPS. He also had a rWAR of 8.4, which placed him third in the league. Both players had incredible regular seasons and, hopefully, that success will carry over to next year.

Playoff Team to Rise to the Occasion

The Detroit Tigers are primed to return to the World Series for the second straight season. They are the most complete team in postseason. They have the league's best rotation and a stacked lineup. Let's start with the pitching. Their starting rotation is outstanding. It's starts with Justin Verlander. Even though he has had an off year, he is still a menace to face in October. Then, they have Max Scherzer, arguably the best pitcher in the game this year. He is 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA, 0.970 WHIP, a 145 ERA+, and 240 strikeouts. Their third starter is one of the most underrated in the game this year. Anibal Sanchez has been superb. He has an ERA of 2.57, a WHIP of 1.154, 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings, an ERA+ of 163 and 202 strikeouts. That 1-2-3 combo is deadly. Their lineup is built around the best player in the game, Miguel Cabrera. But, Miggy is not the only player who has been good in the lineup. Omar Infante is hitting .318, Prince Fielder has 36 doubles, 25 round-trippers, 106 RBIs and an OPS of .819 and Torii Hunter, Austin Jackson, and Victor Martinez have had productive years. The Tigers look like they will be back in the World Series.

Playoff Team to Struggle in the Limelight

Dan Uggla
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I am a fan of the Braves, but not in this year's playoffs. Not only do they have to face the NL's hottest team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. if they were facing any other team, I would have liked them a lot more. It is not just their opponent. They have been very streaky. Justin Upton has been hot and cold. Justin's brother, BJ, and Dan Uggla both have batting averages under .185. That is way under the Mendoza Line. The only constant, productive hitters have been Freddie Freeman and Chris Johnson. They do have a top defensove shortstop in Anrelton Simmons. His defensive WAR of 5.4 this year is tied for the highest all-time. Their starting pitching has been good, but not great. They will need to have great starting pitching to have a chance against LA. Atlanta may have made the playoffs, but they were not a very good team in the regular season, and their flaws will show in the postseason.