2013 Mock NFL Draft Picks

I know I haven't posted all this week but I thought today would be the best day to post because of the NFL Draft later on tonight. I wanted to let you all read my mock draft. I tweeted some of my predictions earlier in the week and they have changed. My first round Mock Draft below.

1. Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Fisher (OT, Central Michigan) 
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Geno Smith (QB, West Virginia)
3. Oakland Raiders: Dion Jordan (DE, Oregon)
4. Philadelphia Eagles: Star Lotulelei (DT, Utah)
5. Detroit Lions: Sharrif Floyd (DT, Florida)
6. Cleveland Browns: Dee Milliner (CB, Alabama)
7. Arizona Cardinals: Lane Johnson (OT, Oklahoma)
8. Buffalo Bills: Cordarrelle Patterson (WR, Tennessee) 
9. New York Jets: Chance Warmack (OL, Alabama)
10. Tennessee Titans: Tavon Austin (WR, West Virginia)
11. San Diego Chargers: Luke Joeckel (OT, Texas A&M)
12. Miami Dolphins: Bjoern Werner (DE, Florida State University)
13. New York Jets (Via Tampa Bay Bucs): Jonathan Cooper (OL, UNC)
14. Carolina Panthers: Ezekiel Ansah (DE, BYU)
15. New Orleans Saints: Barkevious Mingo (DE, LSU)
16. St. Louis Rams:  Kenny Vaccaro (S, Texas)
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alec Ogeltree (LB,Georgia)
18. Dallas Cowboys: Matt Elam (S, Florida)
19. New York Giants: Tyler Eifert (TE, Notre Dame)
20. Chicago Bears: Arthur Brown (LB, Kansas St.)
21. Cincinnati Bengals: DJ Fluker (OT, Alabama)
22. St. Louis Rams (Via Washington Redskins): Jesse Williams (DT, Alabama)
23. Minnesota Vikings: Jamar Taylor (CB, Boise St.)
24. Indianapolis Colts: DeAndre Hopkins (WR, Clemson)
25. Minnesota Vikings (Via Seattle Seahawks): Keenan Allen (WR, California) 
26. Green Bay Packers: Datone Jones (DE, UCLA)
27. Houston Texans: Kevin Minter (LB, LSU)
28. Denver Broncos: Jonathan Cyperien (Florida International)
29. New England Patriots: Jarvis Jones (LB, UGA)
30. Atlanta Falcons: Xavier Rhodes (CB, Florida State)
31. San Francisco 49ers: Desmond Trufant (CB, Washington)
32. Baltimore Ravens: Manti T'eo (ILB, Notre Dame)
    
    There you have it friends. My first round draft board. We'll see at 8'o clock to see which picks are correct and those that aren't. And yes, NO RUNNING BACK WILL GO IN THE FIRST ROUND. Eddie Lacy of Alabama will go early to middle second round though.

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Predictions for the First Round of the Western Conference Playoffs

The Western Conference playoffs start today and while there is a distinct separation between the elite and the pretenders, there is no doubt that the first round will be physical and might be filled with a few surprises. My prediction for the first round of the Western Conference playoffs below.

• 1) Oklahoma City Thunder versus 8) Houston Rockets: James Harden is returning to OKC as the leader of Houston Rockets is a story in and of itself but I wouldn't count the Rockets out. They are a team that can score a lot of points and I just have a feeling that James Harden's homecoming will allow him to blow past the OKC defense. Then again, they turn the ball over like crazy because of point guard Jeremy Lin and with Russell Westbrook following him around on the court, there will be a lot of turnovers. The Thunder on the other hand are a complete team with Kevin Durant leading the charge. Their bench can out perform almost anyone other team. The only thing I worry about is Russell Westbrook. If he can take fewer shots than the Durant the Thunder will breeze through the first round.
  Prediction: Thunder win series 4-1

• 2) San Antonio Spurs versus 7) Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers looked like they weren't even going to make the playoffs last week when they lost Kobe Bryant to a torn Achilles Tendon, but then Dwight Howard took charge and led the Lakers to the 7th seed to play a team they've had success against. The Spurs were dominate most of the season behind a rejuvenated Tim Duncan but last half injuries to Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker might cost the Spurs a couple games in the series. Although I think the Spurs will win the series, the Lakers will likely show the NBA that they have what it takes to win without Kobe leading the charge. Dwight Howard was brought in for the future Lakers squad, and by beating an elite team like the Sours two or three times in the playoffs will show that next season, they will be ready for anything.
  Prediction: Spurs win series 4-2

• 3) Denver Nuggets versus 6) Golden State Warriors: I honestly thought that the Warriors could pull the upset in this series but then I saw that the nuggets had a 20+ game home winning streak this season. The Nuggets are probably one of the only teams in the league that go 9 players deep, with their amazing starting five and the best backup center in the league in JaVale McGee. Ty Lawson will have the daunting task of guarding superstar in the making, Steph Curry for the Warriors and his great perimeter shooting. But since the second half of the regular season began, the Warriors' defense pretty much fell apart. Both teams score a lot of points but because of Denver's depth the Warriors won't stand much of a chance.
  Prediction: Nuggets win series 4-2

• 4) Los Angeles Clippers versus 5) Memphis Grizzles: A repeat of last year, this is going to be the best series of all the playoffs. The Clippers had the best season in their franchise history behind the best point guard in the league Chris Paul and the high flying dunks from Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers have issues off the bench with lack of production and that's what going to hurt them in the long run. The Grizzles are the most underrated team in the playoffs and yet, they are considered to be contenders. They are large in size, athletic, and again, have an underrated point guard in Mike Conley. This series will go to 7 games again and the team with the most physical play will win the series. I honestly don't know who will pull out the series win but I have a gut feeling the Grizzles will toughen it out and move on to the second round.
  Prediction: Grizzles win series 4-3

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Predictions for the First Round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs

Question of the Day: What do you make of the upcoming schedule's for your favorite teams?

The first round of the NBA playoffs start this Saturday, and while they will be incredibly long (and sometimes boring) many teams repeated their appearances from last. Like always, there are superstar teams such as the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder looking to contend for the title while teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers are expected for first round exits. My predictions for all four Eastern Conference face-off's below.

Eastern Conference:

• 1) Miami Heat versus 8) Milwaukee Bucks: There is no question that the Heat are favorites to win the title again behind the Big 3. LeBron James had yet another MVP caliber season and will likely continue his dominance in the opening round against Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. The Heat are too talented of a team to even see a good fight against the Bucks. Their size and athleticism will allow for the Heat to control the series to a very quick sweep.
  Prediction: Heat win series 4-0

• 2) New York Knicks versus 7) Boston Celtics: Newly adorned scoring champion Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are in cruise control right now. With J.R. Smith being the an incredible sixth man, and a somehow still underrated center in Tyson Chandler the Knicks will have a challenge in playing the Boston Celtics. Sure the Celts were incredibly inconsistent this season but if Jeff Green and Avery Bradley play up to their expectations then this series could get interesting. Kevin Garnett will hope to cool Carmelo down a bit with his trash talk, I'm sure but the Knicks need to make a statement about what they can do in the playoffs and they will do so. The Knicks will lose twice in Boston but ultimately the Knicks will dominate behind the arch and use a great swarming defense to force turnovers.
  Prediction: Knicks win series 4-2

• 3) Indiana Pacers versus 6) Atlanta Hawks: I may be a Hawks fan but let's face it; the Pacers are second best team to the Heat in the East. Paul George and David West lead a Pacer team that have bugged teams with their swarming defense. If center Roy Hibbert can get things going I can see the Pacers playing the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. In what seems to be his last season with the Hawks, Josh Smith will look to not be inconsistent as he has been this season, but if Al Horford picks up his slack and Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague can play the perimeter to their advantage, the Hawks might have a puncher's shot to winning the series. The Pacers have a superstar in the making in Paul George. Seeing him let the Hawks beat the Pacers in Phillips Arena but even then it will be a narrow win.
  Prediction: Pacers win series 4-1
  

• 4) Brooklyn Nets versus 5) Chicago Bulls: To me, the match up of the 4th and 5th seed are going to be the most interesting. The Nets are a newly renovated team that want to live up to their preseason hype when they added Gerald Wallace and Joe Johnson to help out Brook Lopez and superstar point guard, Deron Williams. The Bulls on the other hand went from a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference to a team riddled with injuries, especially the one to point guard Derrick Rose. Had Rose been back from his torn ACL in time for the playoffs, I would have given the Bulls the upper hand in what will be a very physical defensive match up in the paint, but I can't see them passing the Nets without an elite guard to go against Williams.
  Prediction: Nets win series 4-3

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The Boston Marathon

Question of the Day: Should athletes who are arrested for a DUI be suspended from there respective sports?

The Boston Marathon has been a tradition in the city of Boston, Massachusetts since 1896. Held on "Patriots Day," the third Monday of every April, the Boston Marathon is considered a state holiday. About 20,000 participants run 26.2 miles through Greater Boston in front of about 500,000 spectators. 
The record for fastest Boston Marathon ever run was in 2011 when Geoffery Mutai of Kenya ran the historic race in only 2 hours 3 minutes and 2 seconds. 

Yesterday, tragedy struck at the Boston Marathon. Almost 2 hours after the winners had crossed the finish line, two explosions went off near Copley Square killing at least 3 and injuring 175 others. Inside pressure cookers filled with nails, and other sharp objects the bombs were set off about 600 feet of each other. Being called a terror attack, the city of Boston had it's heart broken. 

On the 66th anniversary of the day that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, the city of Boston can and will overcome just as Robinson did. Although different circumstances, by banding together and dealing with the bombings as a city. Having always been a sports town, it is up to the Celtics, Bruins, and Red Sox to bring the joy back to Bean Town. 

Sports are the only thing that bring people together in harmony and peace. They bring joy to billions of people world wide, and while losses can be heartbreaking, fans will never lose their love for their favorite sport. Sports are a way for people to escape from their everyday lives. Sports give people a reason to scream, to cry, and rejoice all in the span of 3 hours. Whether they watch in the comfort of their homes or at the stadiums sports give fans the idea that when their team wins, the world is a great place to be. 

It's not going to be an easy task to overcome the bombings for the city of Boston. For the city of Boston yesterday was more than a tradition or a holiday, it was their soul. It is now up to the other sports team to rally out for their city and let the people of Boston know that it is not a time to lose hope in humanity or to give up, because they haven't given up on the people of Boston. They will go out every single night, as one team and win for their city.

My thoughts and prayers are with the city of Boston as they go through this awful tragedy. 

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An Anatomical Look Into Kobe Bryant's Ruptured Achilles Tendon

Question of the Day: Will the Lakers make the playoffs with Kobe out?

As my sophomore year in college comes to end, the amount of homework, tests, and quizzes increases. It has a direct effect on everything I do, especially writing. I apologize for not writing as frequently as before, but the next three weeks will be consists of less writing and more school related activities. I promise to write every single day during my break.

Studying to be a physical therapist has allowed me to acquire a vast knowledge of the muscles and tendons that are effected in every day life. I know I have a lot more to learn but I feel like I can apply my knowledge to the injuries that athletes get throughout their career.

Kobe Bryant has led the Los Angeles Lakers to 5 championships since he arrived in the NBA in 1996. But, last night Kobe might have sustained a career ending injury, by tearing his Achilles tendon. For those of you who don't know what that is, the Achilles tendon is a large tendon on the back (posterior) of your leg from the middle of one's calf (gastrocnemius) and attaches into the heel (calcaneus). It is the thickest and longest tendon in your body  The A.T. allows one's foot to flex and extend and can receive stress applied to the body. 

As you can see, the white colored tendon in the picture above, originates in the calf muscle (Gastrocnemius) and
inserts in to the heel (calcaneus). (Photo from 321gomd.com)

A prominent landmark on the body, when ruptured (torn completely apart) the Achilles tendon can snap louder than that of a bullet shot out of a gun. It is close to impossible for a person to walk after rupturing their Achilles tendon, and requires, in many cases, open surgery where the surgeon will stitch together the tendon, or in some extreme cases (Kobe's case) the surgeon will take another muscle and essentially wrap it around the torn tendon increasing it's strength while it is being rehabilitated. 

Due to the surgery and the intense rehabilitation process Kobe will be out 6-9 months. Even for his remarkable athleticism  Kobe's age will allow for the rehabbing process to incredibly slow but with the proper work he should be back for the start of the 2013-2014 NBA season. Rehabbing exercises are mainly strengthening exercises that start about a month after surgery. Simple exercises such as ankle rolls and stretches are pivotal in rehab because in order to be as explosive as he once was, Kobe will need to be comfortable with putting a lot pressure on his tendon. The potentially heartbreaking part of Kobe's injury though is that at 34 years old, the muscle will take a longer time to heal properly. As the body ages muscles become weaker and take much longer to repair itself. Because of the severity of this injury I would not be surprised if Kobe losses a lot of the talent and success he had in years past. 

A picture of a ruptured left Achilles tendon. As you can see the left foot is completely straight,
whereas the right is slightly flexed. 

Rupturing one's Achilles tendon is an incredibly serious injury that can have lasting effects even after a successful surgery. As bad as I want to see Kobe overcome this injury, his retirement may be coming a lot faster than he and the rest of the world expected. The Lakers must plan for his ending now, while they can by looking in the upcoming draft. Drafting a shooting guard in the first round or trading for one is now a necessity for the team. 

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Richard Sherman and His Adderall

Question of the Day: Will the Lakers grab the 8th seed in the Western Conference or will the Jazz beat them out?

I think Richard Sherman is the best defensive back in the NFL. He is physical down field, and covers the receiver with his agility and size to overpower. The problem is though, Sherman may be a pesky defender but he is probably one of the biggest loud mouths in sports since Dennis Rodman. 

Sherman had his break out season last year with the Seattle Seahawks with 64 combined tackles, 8 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles. But with his new found success and stardom, his knack for media attention seemed to increase as his play got better. Sherman started asking for a trouble when he decided to call out other defensive backs in the league, such as Darrelle Revis, calling him "Irrelevant." A few weeks prior, Sherman was convicted by the league to have taken PEDs but won the appeal on the case. The worst thing he has done though was not even regarding the game that he plays. Sherman was asked to be on the popular ESPN debate show, First Take to address some questions that controversial writer, Skip Bayless had when Sherman verbally attacked Bayless saying; "I am better at life than you." Here is the video:

As you can see, Dick Sherman maybe "defending" his reputation against criticism from Skip, but he does in the wrong way. He didn't answer any questions that were asked to him by Skip. He was rude and egotistical in every single way possible. 

Today, Sherman made more news stating that 50% of NFL players use Adderall and that the NFL has to allow the drug. For me, I don't really know when Sherman became a viable source to speak on behalf of half of the NFL and make a claim about illegal substances in the NFL. Adderall is a drug used for people with ADHD and narcolepsy but athletes have been said to use to remain focused in games. Sherman believes that if there is widespread use of the drugs, then the NFL will be forced to lift it's ban. 

"Are you not entertained?!"

If the NFL does lift it's ban on Adderall because of it's increased use around the league, why is it hard for me believe that Sherman would not use the drug? Even if it helps players with their mental stability during the game, Sherman fought incredibly hard for the appeal to go through; for him to use Adderall would be hypocritical and would hurt the reputation he cares so much about. With that said, there are two parts that every person should see in Richard Sherman. The incredibly athletic football player with attitude and more potential than any other corner back, or Richard Sherman, the self centered 25 year old who makes his opinion known to the world by any means necessary? 

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Week in Review: Baseball's Opening Week

The 2013 baseball season is in full swing, and after Opening Week there are a lot of things to be excited for. There were a lot more stories in the first week of the baseball season but these are the ones that really stuck with me. My week in review looks at the most important stories from Opening week in baseball. 

• When the Atlanta Braves added the Upton brothers to their outfield, they knew that they had the potential to do big things for not only the team but for the entire city of Atlanta. The Braves ended the first week of action 5-1 but none more exciting than the win on Saturday. Down 5-4 to the Chicago Cubs in the bottom of the 9th inning, B.J. Upton hit his first home run of the season to straightaway center field to tie the game. Two batters later his younger brother did the same exact thing, only to win the game for the Braves. It was the first time in history that a pair of brothers to hit home runs in the same inning to not only tie the game up, but to win the game as well. 

                                           B.J. Upton ties the game in the ninth with a solo homer and brother Justin beats the Cubs with a walk off shot.

• I like to think that Phillies can still be a threat in the National League. But the fact is, unless Roy Halladay is pitching only 4 to 5 innings while giving up 6 runs, the Phillies will fall out of contention faster than Marlins did when they let go of all there star players over the summer. Halladay is the glue that cements the once dominant Philly rotation and without him to his former CY Young level, they stand no chance against the beasts of the NL East in the Braves and Nationals. There are signs of life in Doc's pitching. Last Wednesday, the veteran struck out 10 batters in a little over 4 innings of work. If he somehow learns to bring his fastball velocity up again, he can lead the Phillies to be contenders again. 

• The biggest surprise of the week to me was definitely the Colorado Rockies and their torrid start to the season. There is no doubt that they have an incredibly talented lineup with Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Toluwitzki, and Dexter Fowler leading the charge but I never thought their pitching would be as good as it has been when it relies on the offense. Like the Braves, the Rockies are a team that has potential to lead the Majors in statistical offensive categories. If their pitching shows signs of life like it did last week, they could make some noise in the National League West division.  A 5-1 record is no joke to start the season, I expect them to cool down but I could be wrong, especially with the way the offense is looking.

• I expected the Houston Astros to suck. But not as bad as they were the first week of the season. Not only did they strikeout a record amount of times in the season opening series against their cross state rivals, the Texas Rangers but playing their next series in the week against the Oakland Athletics was no fun either. This is going to be a very long season for the Astros. For a team that earns less all together than Alex Rodriguez does in one whole year, the Astros deserve credit for doing what they do for as little as they get paid. The Astros move from the NL to the AL was going to be a tough one, but this team is getting manhandled every almost every single night, and it's really sad to see.

I know that there were a lot of stories in the Opening Week of the 2013 baseball season so let me hear yours. 

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The Different Types of Pitches

Question of the Day: Will Carmelo Anthony's recent string of 40+ point games good enough for the Knicks to make a run in the playoffs?

The other day I got the suggestion of writing about the different forms of pitches a pitcher can throw in his arsenal. I realized that I had been stating different names of pitches in my previous articles thinking that you all would understand it. I apologize for that and I am here to correct my mistake. Here are the types of pitches a baseball pitcher can make, although there are many variations to pitches, these are the 7 that are most popular.

- Four Seam Fastball- The most common pitch in baseball. The four seam fastball is most likely going to be the fastest pitch in a pitcher's arsenal. The four seam is the easiest to pitch because it is thrown right down the middle of the plate.

- Two Seam Fastball- This pitch is a little more advance than the four seam in that it's movement toward the plate. Also associated with a sinker, the two seam fastball is thrown a few miles per hour slower than the four seam fastball because of the way it tightly gripped.

-Cut Fastball (Cutter)- The cutter is one of my favorite pitches because it has the ability to deceive a batter into think that the pitcher has thrown a fastball. Because it is thrown like a four seam fastball, but slightly off the mark, if a player makes contact with the pitch, then odds are it will be a soft ground ball or a pop-up.

-Change Up- The change up is the pitch that fools the most hitters into swinging and missing the ball. It is thrown just like a fastball just a lot slower. The change up is another pitch thrown to deceive batters to swinging earlier because they think it is a four seam fastball.

-Curveball- The curveball is a pitch that pitchers usually through to strike batters out when they have two strikes and less that three balls for the pitch count. The curveball starts high upon release from the hand, and ends up diving downward as it gets to the plate, often the hitter will swing and miss because the break down is so large.

-Slider- Sliders work somewhat like a curveball in that it has a lesser breaker downward but a larger spin when it is released from the pitcher's hand. Sliders are the third fastest pitch in baseball after the two varying fastballs. A slider has a late break allowing for the ball to sneak past the hitter's bat for a called third strike or a swing and a miss.

-Knuckleball- I think the knuckleball is the hardest pitch for a pitcher to master. Only a few have done so in history and it makes sense why. The knuckleball doesn't have much spin to it, but it moves around on it's path to the plate a lot. It is a very unpredictable pitch to catch in that nobody usually knows where it will move.

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The Evil of Mike Rice

Question of the Day: What will the chances that Auburn University has their 2010 BCS Championship Title stripped if they are proven guilty of bribing players?

In case you missed it, Mike Rice is finally unemployed. The former Rutgers University basketball coach was fired after a video surfaced of him physically and verbally abusing his players. Here is the video the was obtained by ESPN's Outside the Lines television program;

As shown, Rice was a bully to his players. By throwing basketballs at them from a close distance or grabbing and pushing players, to repeated name calling in the forms of curse words and homophobic slurs. 
Rice was hired by the university in 2010 never coached his team to have a record of over .500. Back in November on 2012, Rice was suspended for three games by the University for his anger issues and was forced to take anger management classes. 

Honestly, I'm happy that he was fired. As bad as that can be perceived and given the state of the unemployment rate in the country right now, I don't regret saying it for one second. Not only did this man abuse his players verbally and physically, the mental damage Rice could have possible committed to his players is mind boggling for me to think about. I think about it in this sense, if the man who gave players scholarships to learn for free and play a game that you love so much turned out to be as evil as he, how can a player trust another person again? 

I wish Mike Rice all the best in finding a job in the world of professional sports, but I know he won't find one. And I'm okay with that. The video above shows all that needs to be shown. What he did does not deserve to have a second look or a another thought. He hurt his players. He struck fear in their hearts possibly thinking that it would maybe resonate on the hardwood, the only thing is, while his players keep on doing what they love to do under a new coach, Mike Rice will most likely wake up every single morning and regret not having a job because of what he did to his players.

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The 5 (or 6) Early Winners of the 2013 Baseball Season

Baseball's regular season underway and so far it has not been disappointing at all. Pitchers are pitching with dominance, and hitters are tearing the covers off the ball. While teams have only play 2 or 3 games so far, a clear list of Opening Week winners and losers have emerged. Below are my 5 (or 6 depending on how you count it) winners of the short season so far. 

Texas Rangers- Not only did they have the task of opening the season playing the Houston Astros but they  didn't just beat them down in the final two games of the series, they absolutely manhandled them. Yu Darvish nearly throw a perfect game against the new American League team but today, Alexi Ogando shut out the Astros again. On top of that, the Astros struck out 46 times in the opening series setting a new Major League record. 

Clayton Kershaw- Kershaw is the best pitcher in the National League. He can overpower hitters with his insane array of pitches and can pitch deep into ball games as well. On Opening Day for the Dodgers, the ace took the mound and pitched one of the greatest games in Opening Day history. Kershaw went the full 9 innings, shutting out the defending World Champion Giants and hit the game winning home run in the 8th inning, breaking up a 0-0 tie. Kershaw is probably going to be the richest pitcher in baseball history sometime in the next few months when he sings an extension with the Dodgers and Monday was the perfect example as to why he deserves to be paid like it. 

Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals- I think this guy is going to be the National League Most Valuable Player. In his first game, in his first full season, Harper hit two mammoth home runs. In regard to the Nationals, they have limited the Miami Marlins to only 7 hits through the first two games of the seasons. The Nationals are the only team in baseball that are actually complete and they have showed it in full force so far. 

Boston Red Sox- I don't expect much from the Red Sox this season. But I want them to succeed under new management, and so far they have been. The Red Sox started the 2013 season playing their crippled foes, the New York Yankees. Breakout Spring Training star Jackie Bradley Jr. is continuing his hot hitting into his first couple big league games. He is making the obvious statement that he is future for the Red Sox. 

Atlanta Braves- There Braves have the best outfield in baseball, and potentially, the most dangerous lineup. The Braves play their division rival Phillies and through the first two games of the season, they have showed what their power potential can do. With Justin Upton hitting a home run in the first two games and Freedie Freeman with 6 runs batted in, the Braves lineup looks ready to take on any pitcher. Although they have struck out many times already, it just goes to show that their balanced lineup can make adjustments and provide efficient at-bats. 

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Robinson Cano's New Agency

Question of the Day: What name will be across Charles Woodson's chest be at the start of the upcoming season?

We all know that Jay Z has "99 problems but a bitch ain't one." The first thing that comes to my mind when someone say his name is his incredible rap career and that his beautiful wife Beyonce, is too pretty for him. What doesn't come to my mind though is, Jay Z; the managing partner of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team, or the new founder/owner of "Roc Nation Sports." 

With the CAA (Creative Artists Agency), Jay Z will co-representing superstar Yankee second baseman, Robinson Cano. I don't know about you guys think but that is as good as it can get for a first client. Cano, fired his long time agent, Scott Boras to join Jay Z and his team with the hopes that either Cano can sign a massive contract extension with the Yankees or hit the market in the off season in free agency. 

Cano is an offensive monster. He has a career average of .308 with 177 home runs in only 8 seasons. In each of the last four seasons, Cano has hit over .300 with at least 25 home runs, as well as placing in the top 5 in MVP voting the last two years. There is no question that he deserves a huge contract extension from the Yankees, but the question is will he agree to it or will he be willing to play through the season and test the open market at the end of October? 

Enter Jay Z and his team at Roc Nation Sports. Their first and probably hardest test will be to satisfy Cano in that he will need to be paid like the superstar that he is and be happy while playing. The limelight will always be following them around but if they remain focused on the job at hand, then I can see Cano signing for bigger bucks in New York or sign with a new team. This hasn't been the first time that a big name rapper started his own sport agency.. Master P started his very own representing agency, No Limit Sports Agency. He represented running back Ricky Williams when he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints, and it didn't go to well. 

Whatever happens to Cano in free agency, I think because he has hired Roc Nation Sports and the CAA to co-represent him, a massive wave of up and coming players and artists will sign to the agency. Robinson Cano is global mega star that excels at what he does. If Roc Nation Sports can harness his talent to find a nice contract that Cano deserves, then Roc Nation Sports will thrive. Jay Z isn't just a rapper looking for a new business to jump on to. He knows exactly what he is doing. He wanted to make an impact in the sporting world with his new agency and he did so with Cano.

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The Week and Weekend that Were

Thank you for all the warm birthday wishes for me and my brothers, friends. It means a lot to us. Since it is Monday, here is a run down of all the major sporting news from the week past. 

Baseball: 

• Phenom shortstop, Elvis Andrus of the Texas Rangers finalized a $120 million dollar extension for 8 years this morning. Andrus joins Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander and Buster Posey to have signed lucrative extension deals in the past week. This deal makes me winder though, if the Rangers have locked up Andrus for 8 years at shortstop, where do they place Mike Olt and Jurikson Profar when they are called up from the minor leagues? I believe that the Rangers will move current second baseman, Ian Kinsler to first base, and add Profar to second base; leaving Olt to be a valuable trade option. 
  
• Opening Day is today and while a lot of games are going on right now, the excitement of the season beginning will last at least a week. I expect huge seasons from the Braves, Nationals, Reds, and the Angels but one of the best things about baseball is that a team can sneak up from behind you and steal the show. I still stand behind my predictions (my first few posts) and say that a National League team will win the World Series again because of their loaded lineups and dominant ability to pitch. 

Basketball:

• The NCAA March Madness tournament continued this weekend and the Final Four are now set to play next weekend in Atlanta. Louisville will play  the Cinderella team, Wichita State and Syracuse will play a dominate Michigan team. I honestly see Louisville advancing to the Finals to play Michigan. Fueled by the loss of guard Kevin Ware, the Cardinals will rise together and win it for Ware. I want to add that my thoughts and prayers are with Ware. His injury was gruesome but he can and will rise from it.
• The Miami Heat finally lost a game last week to the Chicago Bulls, ending their 27 game winning streak. But with the loss Miami stormed back to win the next two games, including beating the second best team in the league, the San Antonio Spurs, without LeBron James. Chris Bosh led the charge with a go ahead three pointer with almost 2 seconds left on the clock. This win showed how deep the Miami roster goes and the leadership that can rise even if their best player is not playing. Chris Bosh has been left out of the limelight of late, despite being a key component in the Big 3. The game winning shot that he made, allowed people to not discredit his ability to dominate a game.
  

Football: 

• Tony Romo signed a 6 year $108 million dollar extension as well for the Dallas Cowboys, and while he is a good quarterback, he does not deserve to be paid like an elite one. He has only led the Cowboys to the playoffs 3 times since 2006 as well as throwing 91 interceptions. The Cowboys obviously have a lot of faith in Romo, let's hope that this resonates into Dallas becoming "America's Team" once again. 
• The world's greatest backup quarterback, Matt Flynn has left the Seattle Seahawks to join the Oakland Raiders for two conditional draft picks. While the Raiders found a new potential starting quarterback, they have little to no offensive weapons and have a mediocre defense. This team will probably suck for a few more years, but I think they're moving in the right direction acquiring Flynn. 
  

Questions or Comments?
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Opening Night and Opening Day

Question of the Day: Which teams did you have in your Final Four?

Today is the day. Today is the day that me and millions of other fans have been waiting for since Angel Pagan caught the final out of the World Series. The San Francisco Giants swept the Detroit Tigers 4 games to none and I couldn't wait for baseball to start again. Off season began, free agents went to new teams and trades took over the headlines.

The biggest news of the off season included; Josh Hamilton was signed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Zack Grienke was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Atlanta Braves traded away prospects and utility man, Martin Prado for superstar outfielder Justin Upton and third baseman Chris Johnson. And just recently two record contract extensions were signed by pitcher Justin Verlander of the Tigers and Giants catcher Buster Posey.

The off season, at points was just as exciting as the regular season and post season but the atmosphere around a new season about to start is indescribable to me. The buzz of a new start from fans, and the predictions of how players old and new will perform fill the air. Opening night will be kicked off with a match up with a former power house in the Texas Rangers taking on the newest team in the American League, the Houston Astros. The Astros joined the American League West  this season, becoming the new cross state rivals of the Rangers. Although the rivalry will seem to always end in a Ranger win, the games will sure to bring out the passion of the two teams as well as an increase in the attendance numbers.

The great thing about Opening Night in baseball is that, the very next day is Opening Day where every other team plays their first games of the season. The best thing about them is that the teams start off playing their rivals. The Braves will play the Phillies, the Giants play the Dodgers, and no Opening Day will be complete without the New York Yankees taking on  the Boston Red Sox.

Both Opening Night and Opening Day have a charged buzz around them like no other sport in America. The original pastime being played for the first time since October, and after long wait fans will be able to sit in their sits seats with their families and enjoy the game that helped shape this country in its time of darkness. I missed baseball so much. More this year than any other. I don't know why but I know that my mind will be fixated on the game that I love until the final out is taken in the World Series in October.

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The $100 million+ Extension Club

Question of the Day: Is Tim Duncan the greatest power forward in basketball history?

Justin Verlander, Buster Posey, and even Tony Romo are incredibly happy men today. All three were signed to long term contract extension for over $100 million dollars this afternoon and while all three of the players were up for contract extensions, their respective teams placed so much money and faith into the players at one time to win a championship when only two of them deserve it. 

If you were to ask 100 baseball fans, I guarantee that 90% will say that Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball. It is only fitting that he would sign the largest contract for a pitcher in history. Verlander signed a $180 million extension through the 2019 season with a maximum ability to receive $202 million if he uses his $22 million vesting option in 2020. A contract with a total worth of $202 million seems a little bit large for a pitcher because of the unexpected future he can have, but if there is a pitcher that can have a contract as large as this it's Verlander. The 30 year old has virtually no injury history in his career, even though he has pitched over 1553.2 innings over an 8 year career. Verlander has 1454 strikeouts, and 20 complete games to credit, as well as a Rookie of the Year award,   CY Young award, an MVP, and 5 All Star game selections. He is an incredibly decorated pitcher and only seems to be getting better as he ages.  Although I believe he is being slightly overpaid but if there were any pitcher in the league that deserves to be the richest, it is Verlander. 

While Verlander deserves to be the highest paid pitcher in history, the largest contract for a San Francisco Giant in history deserves to be Buster Posey. He received the much deserved, 9 year, $167 million dollar extension early this afternoon. He is signed through the 2022 season and at only 26 years old, he will only get better. Posey has only two full season under his belt and still has accomplished more than the average ball player. He has two World Series rings, an All Star appearance  a Rookie of the Year, and an MVP to his credit. The Giants would not have won both World Series' without Posey behind the plate. In 37 World Series at bats, Posey is hitting .286 with 2 home runs and an OPS of .781. I believe that Posey has more of an importance to the Giants ball club than Barry Bonds did a decade ago, in the way he interacts with the fans, and his leadership on and off the field. 

With that being said, Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo does not deserve his 6 year, $108 million extension. Romo is a good quarterback, but the fact that he cannot win his division, let alone get a Wild Card spot, makes him not even close to be an elite quarterback. He has a total of 91 career interceptions to 177 touchdowns, as well as a career completion rating of 64.7% and over 25,000 passing yards, but the fact that his lack of success in the  regular season separates him from something he can be, an elite QB. Romo has led the Cowboys to the playoffs three times, and of the four games they have played in, he has 3 losses. Had Romo led the Cowboys to the playoffs and thrown less interceptions more often then the deal would make more sense to me. The Cowboys gave Romo a lot of money and most of their faith in him to bring a Super Bowl to Dallas, whether he or not he can do that in 6 years looks pretty shady tom, especially because of the rise of the Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks. 

Team owners and managers placing their faith and money into these players in understandable. But the question is, can these three players bring a championship(s) to their respective teams as leaders? I believe that Posey and Verlander can lead their baseball teams to a World Series victory, but Romo will not. I have to say, the timing of these extensions surprised me but the amount that each player was paid did not. Both Verlander and Posey are superstars in the baseball world, and while Romo isn't the football powerhouse that he can be, their respective teams showing their trust in them should be give them enough confidence to win it all but since Romo cannot lead his team into the playoffs, their time and money will have been a big waste.

Questions or Comments?
Tweet me: @NeilShelat6
Email me: nshelat6@gmail.com

The Top 5 Remaining Free Agents

I'm sorry for not posting last night, friends. I had two tests and a quiz today, and I had to study. But I am happy to report that they all went well. 

The Falcons made more news last night when they signed free agent defensive end, Osi Umenyiora. The 2 year/ $8.5MM deal, is going to help the Falcons somewhat thin defense. The Falcons have had an incredibly successful off season so far picking up three veteran free agents including running back Stephen Jackson and luring tight ed, Tony Gonzalez from retirement for one last shot at the Super Bowl. The Umenyiora free agent signing allowed me to think about of all of the remaining free agents available on the market still, who is the best? My top 5 here:

Those missing the cut: 

• Micheal Turner (Running Back)
• Johnathan Abraham (Defensive End)
• James Harrison (Outside Linebacker)

5) Fred Davis- Tight End: I know. I know. He only played 7 games last season, but Davis has the potential of being on of the top tight ends in the game. Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft, Davis has 1,973 career yards with a total of 12 touchdowns. He is only 27 years old, and is entering the prime of his career. If he remains healthy, then he will be a premier starter and a threat down field for any team he signs with.
Prediction: Resigns with the Washington Redskins

4) Ahmad Bradshaw- Running Back: Bradshaw is the best running back on the market. He rushed for a tad bit over 1000 yards last season and could still suit to start a few games in the back field for a small market team such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets. Bradshaw has 2 Super Bowl rings with the New York Giants and will brings good playoff experience.
Prediction: Signs with the New York Jets

3) Nnamdi Asomugha- Corner Back: Yeah.. I don't know how to pronouce it either but Asomugha was once one of the best corners in the game when he played with the Oakland Raiders. When he signed with the Philedelphia Eagles in 2010 though, the play production decreased incredibly. The 32 year old, has the potential to be the shut down corner he once was at any moment. With 15 career interceptions and 405 combined tackles there is no doubt that Asomugha will be a starter. 

Prediction: Signs with the New Orleans Saints

2) Dwight Freeney- Outside Linebacker: The long time Indianpolis Colt has still got a lot of jump to him. Freeney brings leadership to not only the defense but to the entire team. Freeney has 107.5 career sacks as well as 298 combined tackles and, a Super Bowl championship. Freeney is the best linebacker on the market and the only decent veteran left (aside from Bradshaw) with Super Bowl experience. Freeney has gotten a lot of attention over the off season from teams with legitimate shots at the Super Bowl next season, and will  lead the defense no matter what. 

Prediction: Signs with the Denver Broncos

1) Brent Grimes- Corner Back: Grimes is without a doubt the most talented and most valuable player still on the free agent market. If Grimes hadn't been hurt this season, I honestly believe he would have been the best corner back in the game. Grimes played only one game last season with the Falcons but collected 6 tackles, adding to his career total of 254 combined tackles. He has 13 interceptions and is only 29 years old. Grimes brings a franchise tag to his name wherever he signs but will not let down any team that he plays for in 2013, if he stays healthy. Whichever team lands the free agent, Grimes will bring an immense amounts of talent and leadership for the defense.
Prediction: Signs with the Cleveland Browns

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The Future Is Now

Question of the Day: With Opening Day only 6 days away, what are your bold predictions for the season?

Happy Holi, friends. I was sitting in the University Center of my college today watching ESPN when I read on bottom of the screen of a report that a current homosexual NFL player is thinking about "coming out" in the next few months. 

As a warning, I feel as if I should touch on this topic. It is important to me and is incredibly relevant in the world today. My beliefs are my own beliefs and I will make them known to you all. If there is a problem with what I write here, then you have my contact information below. 

There is no doubt that the game of football has become America's Pastime. It is the most popular in terms of attendance  television viewing and overall popularity by a consensus poll. It is one of the more rugged sports in this great country and by far the most opinionated among it's players. Players often are stated for being on record for saying that they would feel uneasy or a little awkward if they knew of an openly gay member in the NFL, let alone in their locker room. San Francisco 49ers cornerback was interviewed during Super Bowl week back in February, when he said the following statement after being asked if he were okay with having a gay teammate (per Yahoo! Sports); "I don't do the gay guys man." "I don't do that. No we don't need no gay people on the team, they gotta get up outta here if they do. Can't be sweet with that stuff. Nah...can't be...in the locker room man. Nah." 

While some players are incredibly open about the issue, I do not have an issue with an openly gay NFL player. The NFL is the only organizational sport in America that is incredibly ahead of it's time. The NFL have incredibly efficient medical technology and resources to help players be the best that they can be. If there were any sport an openly gay man should come out in is football because of the protection and the acceptance the NFL would give the man. The player who is to reportedly "come out" would be the face of a population that would see the strength and courage to also "come out" and still play the game that they love. Whether it is football, baseball, basketball or any sport in the world. 

I can see the man potentially becoming a modern day Jackie Robinson. Leading his fellow brothers and sisters in the rise to not be afraid for standing up for their rights as free people, playing the sport that they love and having a sexual orientation that may be different than the majority. There is no doubt that they will face much adversity, but in the end, if they have support from each other and the surrounding community, the world will slowly start to become accustomed to an openly gay athlete. A player's sexual orientation should not be the spotlight on their ability to play their respective sport. It should be spotlighted on the level of skill, and dedication of the player, because after all, it is what got them to the level that they are playing. 

Questions or Comments?
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A Weekend in Review

These are my thoughts on the big headlines from the world of sports from today and this past weekend. 

Broken down by sport:

Baseball:

• Kyle Lohse FINALLY signed with a team today. Lohse agreed to a 3 year/ $33 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. Lohse is tied to a first round draft pick, meaning the Brewers would have to give up their first round draft pick in compensation for getting the star pitcher. I predicted the Brew Crew to be one of Lohse's options back on the 28th of February. The Brewers needed a veteran starting pitcher to compliment ace, Yovani Gallardo and got better than a solid pitcher in Lohse. I will admit, I thought his price range of $10-15 MM yearly was a bit much, especially because he hadn't been picked up by a ball club so late into Spring Training, but he deserves it with the numbers he put up with the St.Louis Cardinals last year.
• News has broken out that the New York Yankees superstar shortstop, Derek Jeter will maybe have to start the season on the disabled list. Jeter, who broke his ankle in the middle of the American League playoffs last season, looked to be healthy until some inflammation was found by team doctors late last week. Having Jeter start the year on the DL would mean he would be the 4th starter for the Yankees to start the season injured (as well as Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, and Mark Texieria). Things are looking grim for the Yankees in the beginning of the season. If they start the season at a very slow pace the other teams will bury them in last place, in what is a very talented AL East division.

Football:

• The Denver Broncos are kicking themselves in the ass right now. Not only did they lose their best defensive back, Elvis Dumervil to free agency because of a faxing error by his agent; but they lost Dumervil to the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year, the Baltimore Ravens. I personally laughed when I found out but all hope is not lost for Denver. They have an incredible offense powered by Peyton Manning and will (what seems like) a decent replacement for Dumervil in veteran Dwight Freeney. Also, the Ravens may have gotten Dumervil but they still have plenty of holes to fill after losing so many players to free agency. Dumervil fits into the mold of Baltimore but that will not help them beat out the Steelers and the Bengals for a spot in the playoffs.                                              
• The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly close to signing free agent defensive end, Osi Umenyiora. The Falcons released veteran DE John Abraham three weeks ago and while Osi isn't the player he once was, the 31 year old is a nice upgrade from the 34 year old, Abraham. He proclaimed himself to be the defensive player of the year, and fits incredibly well in the Atlanta area, considering he already resides in the area. I wanted the Falcons to sign Osi from the start because of his leadership capabilities  He can be productive and help in the pass defense. 

Basketball: 

• As I was writing this piece, the Miami Heat beat the Orlando Magic 108-94 to win their 27th game in a row. The Heat are now only 7 wins away from beating the record of 33 games in a row by the 1977-78 Los Angeles Lakers. A true test to the streak will be Wednesday when they play the Chicago Bulls in Chi-town. Whether or not Derrick Rose returns from injury on Wednesday will be the main factor in who wins, but if he doesn't return, the Heat will destroy the Bulls. They are too fast for the streaky Bulls. Regardless of if Rose comes back or not, Joakim Noah will have to have a monstrous game to contain Chris Bosh and LeBron James in the paint. The Bulls will win if Noah out rebounds LeBron and doesn't let Bosh get blocks. 
• March Madness is in full swing and the Sweet 16 have been determined. Of the 16 I got 13 right, but I highly doubt anyone predicted that Florida Gulf Coast University would surprise the world and advance as far as they have. Beating Georgetown on Friday, and then San Diego State last night, FGCU is set to play a team in my Final Four, University of Florida. I honestly want FGCU to win but I NEED UF to win so I can stay in the 94th percentile of correct brackets. Of the 8 million brackets submitted, I am a very stable 100,234 ranking. I like to think that I have a shot at winning the number one bracket of the year, but let's be honest, it's not happening. 

Questions or Comments?
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The Madness of March Madness

Question of the day: Now that Tony Parker is back for the Spurs, will they have the ability to stop the Miami Heat's 25 game winning streak?

For those of you who do not know me on a personal level, I have an anger issue. I have a very short fuse. ESPECIALLY when it comes to sports. So whenever the NCAA March Madness tournament rolls around, my fuse is about the length of a match stick. For example, after an extremely long day at work, and an extremely frustrating day of upsets that didn't go my way; I threw away my bracket and swore to not watch a game for the rest of the tournament. I lost all sense of hope in it after La Salle beat Kansas St. University and also when Georgetown lost to Florida Gulf Coast University. There was no need to save it because I had Georgetown, like many others, advancing to the Elite 8. There is no doubt that this is an exciting tournament this year but it truly is maddening. 

I love upsets. I like rooting for the underdog, and I seem to have a knack for going against my gut and NOT picking them to win their match up against a higher seed. For example, I second guess myself in picking 12th seed Ole Miss beating 5th seed Wisconsin today, and same with Harvard beating New Mexico last night. Out of 8.5 million brackets that were sent into ESPN's bracket tournament 0 remain perfect and only 1% picked Florida Gulf Coast University to beat the Georgetown Hoyas. And because of the unpredictable  SUPER surprising upsets, March Madness is one of the greatest sporting events in the country. 

Watching small time colleges take on the big boy in a basketball game is as good as it gets for me. You can see the little guys playing with so much dedication and heart, while the big guys are taking it easy; UNTIL, the game slips away from them and BAM. A Cinderella story is born. That is what everyone expects to see in March. The Madness ensuing around them. People like me, flipping back and fourth, channel to channel watching the games and looking at their brackets almost every thirty seconds to see if you've made the right decision.You see, I am so into March Madness that, even though I threw away my bracket in anger and swore to never watch a game for the rest of the tourney, I memorized my picks. I memorized my picks, I know which teams I think are going to upset, which teams are going to dominate and which teams will fall short of glory. 

As annoying and frustrating and actually maddening this tournament is, I love it. Every game has an unexpected outcome. Every game is hard fought, to the final second and never disappoints. And while it seems like I am a sore loser, I continue to follow my picks until the very end, when a national champion cuts down a net, and I will be doing so long as the tournament continues. 

Questions or Comments?
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The Madness of My Bracket

Here is a shitty picture of my March Madness Tournament bracket.

My Final Four: Louisville, Ohio St., Florida, and Indiana.

My National champion: Indiana over Louisville: 73-68

Questions or Comments?
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The Poor City of Baltimore

Question of the Day: How big of an impact will the injury to Hanley Ramirez have on the Dodgers? 

Today, the Baltimore Ravens have now lost their sixth starter from the Super Bowl. Safety, Ed Reed had been a key component of the Ravens defense since 2002. Reed, is the active leader in interceptions with 61 and 10th all time. He has a great chance to pass Dick Lane this upcoming season, to become 4th all time with 69 interceptions. He has 606 combined tackles, and once held the record for longest touchdown run of 107 yards. I consider Ed Reed to be the greatest safety of all time. He is a sure fire Hall of Famer when he hangs up his cleats but for now, he will look incredibly different in a Houston Texans jersey. Reed, 34, agreed to the terms of a 3 year/ $12 million dollar offer late this afternoon, changing the atmosphere in the city of Baltimore forever. 

The Baltimore Ravens have now lost 6 starters from the Super Bowl, including legendary linebacker, Ray Lewis (retirement), Bernard Pollard, and Paul Kruger. The Ravens also traded away their best wide receiver  Anquan Boldin to the San Fransisco 49ers. I hate to say it.. kinda... but the Ravens are not going to  repeat their chances of winning the Super Bowl, let alone make the playoffs because of their decisions of letting their free agents go to other teams. While the Ravens have locked up their franchise quarterback to the largest contract in NFL history, they forgot to resign the main components that led him to be the world's richest quarterback. 

The Raven but their upper management staff is stupid. Not only did they let Boldin go to the 49ers, whom they played IN the Super Bowl, but letting free agents like legend, Ed Reed is beyond me. In order to build for the future, the Ravens need to have at least a few guys that can protect the franchise player, Joe Flacco on both sides of the ball. The best that ill happen to the Ravens this upcoming season is that they have a record of 8-8. They will come in second (Or third depending on the Steelers) in their division. 

Questions or Comments?
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The Heat Streak

Question of the Day: Is the  new tuck rule for the NFL good for players?

The Miami Heat have won 23 games in a row. 23. Led by their Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh; the Heat have blown away playoff bound teams such as the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, as well as had a few close games against the Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, and the Boston Celtics. Nonetheless, the Heat have won 23 games in a row and don't seem to be slowing down any time soon.

A 23 game winning streak in the NBA is the second longest in history, only to the great 1977-1978 Los Angeles Lakers 33 game winning streak. The Heat are already favorites to win the NBA Championship for a second straight year, and while that is an incredibly difficult task to do; I believe that winning 34 straight games to beat the Laker record is just as difficult.
The Heat are one of 3 teams that I truly consider to be 'elite' in the NBA (along with the Spurs, and the Thunder). Although they are an awful rebounding team in the low post, the Big 3 balance it out with their efficient shooting from the field and constant success from the free throw line.

The next four games that the Heat play are the four lowest seeds in the entire Eastern Conference  Cleveland  Detroit, Charlotte, and Orlando. So I believe that it is no question that the Heat will extend their winning streak to at least 27 with ease. It is on the 28th game where they play the Chicago Bulls where the Heat will face a challenge IF AND ONLY IF point guard, Derrick Rose returns to lead the Bulls to an inspired victory. Otherwise, they will cruise past the Bulls. The other threat they face will be, if their streak is still going on, is against the San Antonio Spurs on the 31st of March. Beating the Spurs won't be an easy task, but it would give the Heat a 30 game winning streak and will easily win their next four games to hold the record of the largest win streak in NBA history.

I believe that the Heat will beat the streak and win a record of 34 consecutive games. But the only way that it will be possible is that if they continue to shoot efficiently  as well as, have help from their role players such as Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier, Ray Allen, among others. There is no doubt that LeBron will lead this team, game after game, the path to victory will not be easy for the Heat, especially against the Spurs but I believe with LeBron's leadership the will not only win at least 34 games in a row but eventually easily win the NBA Championship for a second straight season.

This is a copy of the Heat upcoming schedule. The number next to the team name is the number at which their winning streak would be at if Miami wins.

Tomorrow	@	Cavaliers		24
Fri, Mar 22	vs.	Pistons		25
Sun, Mar 24	vs.	Bobcats		26
Mon, Mar 25	@	Magic		27
Wed, Mar 27	@	Bulls		28
Fri, Mar 29	@	Hornets		29
Sun, Mar 31	@	Spurs		30
Tue, Apr 2	vs.	Knicks		31
Fri, Apr 5	@	Bobcats		32
Sat, Apr 6	vs.	76ers		33

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(Schedule copied from google.com/heatschedule)