Comparing Notable NFL QBs To Rappers(Part 1)

Drake once said, "I swear sports and music are so synonymous, cause we want to be them, and they want to be us." Well we took that to heart and are going to compare the most notable QBs in the NFL to some high profile rappers.

Tom Brady and Jay-Z are synonymous with success.

Tony Romo-Drake

Let’s be serious, Tony Romo and Drake are big ‘ol pussies. Romo always gets caught up in his offseason lady friends and Drake can’t get over that questionable Nicky Minaj. Yet, both can make you jump out of your seats with an anthem or a big play. Drake, known too often for his slow jams, does have the ability to produce a few lyrically dynamic songs, albeit mostly thanks to Lil’ Wayne. Romo also has compiled some lofty stats in individual games, and as much as you want to write him off, he keeps coming back with 300+ yard, 3 TD games. I hate the fact that I like Drake, and I hate the fact I hate Tony Romo, but the two of them are too soft and underachieving not to be the true comparison.

Tom Brady-Jay-Z

Brady runs the QB game like HOV runs the rap game. They do it from afar and try to stay out of the “beef” limelight. Brady doesn’t say much at his press conferences and Jay-Z has attempted to stay away from verbal altercations with his “inferiors.” Jay-Z is by far the wealthiest hip-hop artist and Tom Brady has the most championships out of any of his active counterparts. As much as you could hate their guts, they both sit alone at the top in terms of money and championships. What I like about Jay-Z, I hate in Tom Brady. They usually keep their mouths shut, but if you bark at ‘em long enough they’re going to bite back(Lookin’ at you 50 Cent) and you (entire Jets defense).

Eli Manning-Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi raps all too often about something Eli Manning has probably never done in his life, smoking marijuana. But the two of them are similar in how soft they look and sometimes act. Yet, both are far from it. Kid Cudi isn’t as soft or emotional as he usually seems, and Eli Manning is way tougher than his boyish exterior reveals. Their stats won’t overwhelm you and while you’ve been off jamming to Lil Wayne and Kanye West, they’ve quietly been amassing some solid career stats. Both of them are in the prime of their careers, and while Kid Cudi is somewhere tripping his balls off recording his next album, Eli is putting up his most superior season.

Michael Vick-Lil’ Wayne

Think about it, Michael Vick does whatever on the field(and for a while off the field) he wants and gets away with it. Weezy is the exact same. Back in the day you’d watch Vick run around and make ridiculous low percentage plays, and you’d be like “Wow that was amazing” when it was really a terrible decision. Some of Wayne’s lyrics are the same way; he’ll just spit some wild rhyme and cackle a few times and you’ll be like “Holy shit how did he think of that.” The two of them both spent their time in jail and now have come out more refined than ever. Weezy is now taking on the role of producer for Drake and the rest of Young Money and Michael Vick has transformed into a bonafide passing QB.

Peyton Manning-Nas

This might be my biggest stretch here. But I liken Manning to Nas in how methodical their careers have been. #18 has been known for being his own offensive coordinator while Nas sits up day and night thinking of the most intelligent raps and rhymes. Everything Manning does on the field is well thought out, as is every single one of Nas’s verses. Both of them have had great success in their career, but have never been able to consistently produce at a championship level. Think phenomenal people without championship pedigrees and you’ve got Manning and Nasir Jones.

Drew Brees-Jadakiss

Jadakiss might be the best lyrical rapper out there today, while Drew Brees is probably the best pure passer of his day. Everyone in the game respects the hell out of Brees as they do Jadakiss, and both are viciously loyal to those around them. Drew is a consummate team player and I’m still not sure Jada has left the hood and still reps the LOX like it’s 1999. Neither of them get enough credit because they haven’t won a championship or produce that mind-blowing album. But each have been so consistently great throughout their careers, it’s hard to deny them.

Aaron Rodgers-Juelz Santana

I might be stretching here as well, but Santana and Rodgers are equals in the fact that they’ve had instant success in their careers. Juelz exploded into the rap game with “Oh Yes” and “There It Go(aka the Whistle Song)” and Rodgers won a Super Bowl in only his 3^rd season. They also are prolific at what they do, albeit Rodgers gets more credit than Santana does. The two of them also play and rap with a bit of swagger, but they never lose sight of their goal: being the best.

Ben Roethlisberger-Kanye West

This is my most comical comparison. It is fair to say that these two are the most hated in each of their respective positions. Kanye West literally can’t stop talking about himself in all his verses, while Ben Roethlisberger thinks the world revolves around him and that it’s ok riding motorcycles into cars and raping women. As much as you want to hate these guys, they are damn good at what they do. Despite all the heat he’s gotten for “stepping on stage in a speedo and still be looked at like a fuckin’ hero,” Kanye West makes jam after jam. It’s just what he does. Roethlisberger is a bonafide winner, simple as that. He’s never missed the playoffs, made three Super Bowls and won two of them. They both just let the haters hate and they keep on winning.

Matt Ryan-Talib Kweli

The guys no one EVER talks about. Even after Matt Ryan’s stellar rookie campaign, and the Falcons multiple playoff berths under him, America has seemingly forgotten about him. Not many people know who Talib Kweli is, but those that do know this guy can rap his ass off. Both have been quietly successful in their careers so far, and both enjoy staying out of the immediate limelight and thoroughly enjoy what they do. I think it’s fair to argue that both Matt Ryan and Talib Kweli are in their respective Top 5’s, but you’ll rarely hear them mentioned in the average conversation.

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Ten Bold Predictions For 2012

Oh yeah, and USA Basketball will win Gold at the 2012 Olympics in London!

For all you avid BDD&C readers out there, you know how we like to make bold statements and opinionated comments, well how about we make 10 of 'em that should set up 2012 nicely for us. That is of course, so we can stand proud like your local high school QB hero or fall flat on our face like Jared Jefferies does on ever layup. No particular order here either:

Carmelo Anthony Will Finish 2nd In The MVP Voting

Ok, call me a homer here and then call me a jackass. But, take a look at Carmelo Anthony's game. People knock Carmelo Anthony because he doesn't play defense and sometimes shoots too much. However, when 'Melo is focused he can one of the elite players in the NBA. Just because Carmelo doesn't play defense, doesn't mean he can't. It simply is about his focus. I think, with a full year under his belt as a New York Knick, Carmelo Anthony will be focused and truly comfortable in D'Antoni's system running the "point-forward." I have a feeling we're going to watch 'Melo assume the leadership role in all regards, defensively, rebounding and ball-movement, not just in his classic scoring role. Though Anthony will have a 25 ppg, 8 rpg, 7 apg, kind of season he won't be able to take the award from Kevin Durant and the 50+ win Thunder.

 

CJ Wilson Will Be A Bust

The Angels threw big money at CJ Wilson this offseason, and I'm not entirely sure it was a good decision. With an already solid pitching rotation, the Angels felt the former Ranger was worth 15 mil or so a year and would put them over the top. However, I'm not completely sold on the 31 year old lefty. He's a gunslinger who likes to overpower his batters with fastballs and cutters. Though he's 31-15 with a 3.14 ERA over his last two seasons, he's only been a true starter for two years. His 16-7 record isn't that impressive with the lineup the Rangers had. Plus, Wilson's career ERA in the playoffs is a bad 4.82 and with the way the Angels have built their team, they're going to be looking for playoff success from their new 2nd starter. Maybe, I'm just not sold on big money, long-term contracts for pitchers, but I don't see CJ Wilson being worth 15 mil a year.

MSG Will Host Both The NHL & NBA Eastern Conference Finals

MSG has been rocking lately with the beginning of the highly anticipated Knicks season, along with the emergence of a dominate Rangers squad. I think the Rangers are a definite Stanley Cup contender with the acquisition of Brad Richards and the growth of Dan Girardi, Brandon Dubinsky and Derek Stepan. The Knicks, once they get Baron Davis healthy and then gel together, will be a serious contender in the East. New York City should feel like it's '94 again, and like '94 I think the Rangers have a far better chance of lifting Lord Stanley than the Knicks do winning the NBA Championship. Either way it'll be an exciting spring in NYC.

Alabama Will Win The National Championship Game

The rematch of the SEC's two best teams will be a phenomenal game, whether you wanted it or not. I think both teams are still extremely similar in talent level, but this time around Trent Richardson will not only make a dent in the stat sheet, but in the end zone. Expect Richardson to break through for a touchdown or two, proving to be the difference in another dramatic game. Though this time it won't be a 9-6 yawner, it'll be a 24-21 hard-fought game. I know how good LSU is, and how dominant they've been all season, but how in the world do you beat Alabama twice in a season?
 

Neither Green Bay Nor New England Will Make The Super Bowl

Everyone and their mother is picking New England and Green Bay to meet in the Super Bowl this year. I mean how could you not? Both teams have elite quarterbacks who are knocking on the 5,000 yard door, and rarely turn the ball over. Both teams are going to have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, their horrendous defenses are being overlooked way too much. I'm not sure who thought playing Madden in the regular season was going to translate to playoff success, but last time I checked "Defense wins championships," not video-game like offenses. Both of these teams are lacking any sort of defense, and though I'm not completely sure whose going to beat either one of these squads, I'm confident it will be before Super Bowl 46.

The Heat Will Not Win The NBA Championship

This has nothing to do with the fact that the Heat aren't ready or built for a championship, this will simply be attributed to the wackiness of this 66 game season. Back in '99 when the NBA had it's last lockout an eight seed(The New York Knicks) made the NBA Finals and that remains the only time an #8 seed has ever made the NBA Championship Series. These season is going to require an insane amount of depth, which the Heat do not have. There will be too many back-to-backs and 6 games in 8 days for the three of them to log 45 minutes a game like they did last year. I expect the unexpected this season to win it all, like the Grizzlies, Bulls, Knicks or maybe even the Atlanta Hawks. The Heat are my 150% favorite for next season, when the NBA returns to it's epically soft 82 game season.

The Indianapolis Colts Will Once Again Miss The Playoffs Next Year

As much as I think Peyton Manning deserves the NFL MVP in a reverse psychology sort of way, I see an aging Colts squad around #18. Jim Caldwell, has proven that he isn't Tony Dungy, and can't just imitate what Dungy had done in his previous years with the Colts. Though, I think the Colts will recover soon, with the hopeful draft pick of Andrew Luck and heralded Bill Polian as their GM, I'm pretty sure Jim Caldwell is better suited as an assistant coach. I understand his quarterback play was atrocious, but the mere fact that he couldn't get any of the Colts veterans to rally around Peyton and instead sit around like a bunch of spoiled brats really makes me second guess his ability to coach a team. But enough with Caldwell because after the Colts miss the playoffs again next season he will longer coach them.

The Boston Red Sox Will Make The World Series

Positively and negatively the Boston Red Sox cleaned house in their management department getting rid of Theo Epstein and Terry Francona opting to bring in the unproven Ben Cherington and no bullshit Bobby Valentine instead. I think the Valentine move is great as long as the Red Sox respond. Responding is a must for many of these players dignities after the disaster that was last year's September collapse. Adding Andrew Bailey to the rotation should strengthen it and take pressure of the big time bust, Jon Lackey. I also think Carl Crawford will respond to Valentine's old-school attitude. The left fielder's revival combined with more MVP efforts by Jacoby Ellsbury and Gonzo should make the Red Sox's lineup as dangerous as it looks on paper. I'm not exactly sure if the Sox can win a series against the Phillies who have a serious chip on their shoulder, but I'm confident Boston will find itself back in a familiar place: in the World Series.

Cam Newton Will Put Up MVP Numbers, But Will Not Win Because The Panthers Still Suck

No one expected Cam Newton to be a gunslinger and a record breaker at that. People didn't doubt Cam's athletic ability or his ability to run the football, but no one thought he could throw the ball the way he did this year. Breaking the rookie passing yard records was nice, but doing it with a mediocre offense around you is truly impressive. I could see Cam Newton willing the Panthers to an 8-8 record next year by putting up a stupid 4,000 yards passing, 800 yards rushing and 45 total TDs, but not winning the MVP because the Panthers are still going to be brutal. Cam Newton's intelligence and decision-making is what makes him a great QB in the NFL, not his ridiculous athletic ability. No sophomore slump here!

USC Will Make The National Championship Game

Unfortunately for Matt Barkley and the USC Trojans they had to take the fall for USC it's cheating ways in the mid-2000s. But the Trojans are set to make a big return to the bowl stage, and I think it will be as big as the National Championship. The Trojans have Matt Barkley returning, along with 15 other starters returning following a strong season that including 10 wins, and almost an eleventh if it wasn't for a miraculous throw by Andrew Luck. When USC beat Oregon on the road, I realized that this team was actually a National Championship contender, despite it's completely deserved bowl ban. Even though USC will return to the BCS promise land, they will not be able to beat a SEC team, because well, no one beats SEC teams in BCS bowls. 

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Previewing the NFC East Championship Game

Eli's strong play, combined with the Giants rediscovered pass rush should give the Giants the edge on Sunday.

It's not very often that we get to see a division decided by one game on the last day. Sure we've seen several divisions in the past be decided on the final day of the NFL season, but rarely is it in the same game. You might as well call this weekend's game between the Giants and Cowboys the NFC East Championship.

Even though this game is the NFC East Championship Game, both teams come into the game boasting mediocre pedigrees and 8-7 records. For the first time in the history of the NFC East, one of the NFL's consistently strong divisions, the division winner will not have at least ten wins. The Eagles were slated to win this division by a landslide but instead turned in a dud of a season leaving the door for these two mediocre teams to grab the playoff berth and first round home field advantage.

The Cowboys are backing into this matchup losing 3 out of their last 4, including a 20-7 beatdown by the underachieving Eagles last week. Dallas is mediocre on both sides of the ball, though per usual, they are carried by their offense. Tony Romo is having one of his best seasons statistically, throwing for 29 TDs and only 9 INTs, but it hasn't exactly made an impact on the Cowboys season. He's passed well in their losses and had bad games in their wins. But, Romo's full health is uncertain after he injured his hand against the Eagles. ESPN is reporting that he will play, and I'm not doubting that, but I'm doubting his effectiveness. If he's not fully health it will give the Giants a solid edge over their rival. Rob Ryan, Dallas's defensive coordinator, has had limited success in making this defense dominate like he boasted earlier this season. His stud pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware is having another All-Pro caliber season but he's been a one man show and doesn't truly strike fear in the hearts of his opponents like he has in the past.

Coming off a vitally important win against their New York-rival, the Giants are sky high with confidence. Their lackadaisical pass rush finally came to life, and they made all the plays they needed to win the game. However, they never stepped on the Jets jugular. They let them hang around, and though they eventually won the game, they developed some poor habits. First off, their offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride aka Kevin Killdrive made all the right calls up until the Giants had the Jets on their knees. With Gang Green fumbling into the end zone and seemingly shooting themselves in the foot, the Giants chose to throw instead of run the clock, and that came back to haunt them as Eli threw a pick. It didn't end up costing the G-Men, but a play calling decision like that in a game of this magnitude may prove to be even more costly. Simply put, the Giants are heading into this game with a lot more confidence than the Cowboys, but it may just be an empty cockiness that could led them down a dangerous path.

If Tony Romo's hand is 100% than I like the Cowboys in this matchup. But, both teams come into this game with shaky seasons and have their fans equally uneasy. This game is going to be a high-scoring, exciting affair, but I have no idea how healthy Romo is. Expect Eli and Romo alike to have good games, but I'm not one hundred percent sure that the Cowboys QB is fully healthy.

Prediction: Giants 34, Cowboys 31
If Eli is on the same track on sunday as he's been all season, then I see him once again gunslinging the Giants to the playoffs.

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Dwyane Wade Says Whattup To Cam Newton

If you missed last night's Bobcats, Heat game, you missed a real dandy. Though I'm sure that's exactly what you were searching for if you even have NBA League Pass. Anyways, the Bobcats and Heat trading buckets for the last minute, and after the Heat turned it over with 20 seconds left everyone really thought the Bobcats might have the upset on lock. Not so fast thanks to D-Wade's bank shot that helped to seal the game. Yet, it wasn't so much the shot that sealed the game, but the celebration afterward.



I love it when superstars cross over and give props to their football, baseball or hockey counterparts, and this was one of the finest. After making the shot, D-Wade literally seeks out Cam Newton who was sitting court side just to do his celebration. It's truly impressive to see a rookie, albeit a dominant rookie, get legitimate and premeditated love from a bonafide veteran superstar like Dwyane Wade. Hopefully we'll see Cam Newton do one of Lebron or Wade's celebrations or maybe he'll just have Steve Smith throw him a monster alley-oop over the goal post after his fifth rushing TD. Dwyane Wade just went up serious swagger points in my book.

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Wait Til February To Get Excited About The NBA

This was the ugly scene last night between the Knicks and Warriors, and should be a microcosm of the NBA til about February.

After watching the Knicks suffer an ugly loss to the Golden State Warriors last night, I realized something about the NBA season; don't expect the season to pick up 'til February.

Now that the overly anticipated Christmas Day games are over the NBA season came back down to earth, as we watched the Celtics go 0-3 and the Knicks and Bulls lose ugly ones to the Warriors. The NBA product just simply isn't there. Teams haven't had enough practice or preseason games to get into their rhythm and won't be until February. Due to the ridiculous amounts of back-to-backs coaches won't have as many opportunities to practice and get their new acquisitions to gel with their old players. Elite players will be colder than a Minnesota March, point guards will fill up the turnover column, and rebounders, well, won't rebound. Expect field goal percentages to drop faster than an Italian after a slide tackle. It's going to be the a sight for sore eyes.

Don't just ignore the NBA though, we still will get some great games. Any of the big games like Knicks vs. Heat, Heat vs. Celtics, Bulls vs. Heat, Grizzlies vs. Thunder, etc will still be high-quality. But your team's games that aren't as nationally important will make you wanna go grab an aisle of Tums. The teams with superstar individuals will still be able to steal games, but for those first 15 games or so the role players will be as lost as Gucci Mane at a country club. These 15 miserable games could help some random playoff team get a solid foundation in order for them to sneak into the playoffs. Though I'm not sure any of the serious contenders, like the Bulls, Knicks, Celtics, Thunder, or Grizzlies will build themselves a big enough hole not to get out of. Don't be surprised if by the 15 game make most of these teams sit at 8-7 or 7-8. 

By February the NBA should be back in full swing, and I understand that's a long time to wait, but it will be well worth it. Before the almost disastrous lockout, the league was the most popularity it had been since the Knicks and Bulls were going at it in the 90s. 

Guess the only people celebrating will be TNT, ABC and ESPN; they're the only ones getting good game for the first month.

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Top 5 Memorable NHL Moments of 2011

5. First Primetime Winter Classic

We already had the NHL's favorite overrated matchup in the Pittsburgh Sidney Crosby's and the Washington Alex Ovechkin's hanging over our heads, but then we encountered a rain forecast that was just too much for the ice to handle. On New Year's Eve the NHL announced that they were pushing the start time back from the classic 1 PM to a primetime 8 PM start. It seemed like a real disaster, but it actually became a sight to see.

The game wasn't all that exciting as we watched the Capitals dominate the Penguins for a 3-1 win. The NHL was also devastated to watch Sidney Crobsy go down with another concussion. However, the Classic turned out to be a major success. The National Hockey League showed that they could handle some poor circumstances and make the appropriate adjustments to ensure the Classic would run smoothly. I thought that the Classic should potentially always become an under-the-lights event, A, because it always will be colder at night which would be better for the ice, and B, who doesn't want to toe it up outside under the lights? Everyone has played pond hockey in the middle of the day, but very few have gotten the opportunity to lace up the skates with those lights glaring down on you.

Either way it was nice to see the NHL keep its composure when an obstacle was thrown its way. The Classic lives on!

4. Conference Realignment
This dramatic realignment is all Winnipeg's fault, though I'm pretty sure it'll do good things for the league. The "eastern"conferences each have 7 teams, while the "western" conferences have 8 teams. Each conference will have four playoff representatives, and that will make the playoffs far more elitist.

* New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Washington and Carolina

* Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, Florida and Tampa Bay

* Detroit, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas and Winnipeg

* Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado

The conferences are pretty even with each seemingly having 5 playoff teams vying for four spots. The geography of the conferences, especially in the East still has me confused. This conference realignment should have dramatic affects on what teams are playoff mainstays and those that miss out time and time again. However, if one conference finds itself loaded with bottom-feeders, then we could have a serious problem in terms of who deserves a playoff berth or not.

3. Boston Brings Lord Stanley Home
Boston has forever been known as a hockey town. But for the last thirty or so years, it was known for it's college Hockey, that is BU and BC, instead of it's pro team. Finally in 2011, the Bruins broke through the 40-year drought and drank from Lord Stanley's Cup.

The Bruins did it in the style that mirrored their city. They were tough, defensive and had phenomenal goaltender. Tim Thomas became a cult hero for the city of Boston. The Bruins also got a boost from the facade that was the "USA Vs. Canada" Stanley Cup, which was of course, a bunch of BS. But they did it.  They brought back NHL hockey excitement to one of the Original Six cities, and they added to the allure of "Titletown."


2. Sidney Crosby's Multiple Concussions
Sidney Crosby, whether you like him or not, was on pace to be a hall-of-famer and maybe one of the greatest players to ever play the game. But a slew of concussions have derailed the superstars last few seasons and unfortunately maybe his career.

Crosby hasn't played a full season since 2008-09 and has been on and off the ice since then. The concussion problem in the NHL has been headlined by the league's biggest star. If Crosby doesn't return from this latest setback, it could be a disaster for a league that is on the cusp of breaking out. Sidney Crosby is a household name and has certainly improved the NHL's popularity. So it would just truly unfortunate to see one of the league's stars to end his career at the brutally young age of 24.

The concussion issue has become a serious problem for the NHL and they've tried several options and policies to limit concussions, but anytime you have a serious contact sport like hockey, you will always have severe head injuries.

1. Winnipeg Jets Return To The NHL
For the first time since 1995, Winnipeg finally had a hockey team. Unfortunately for Atlanta the move had to be made, and benefits the NHL ten fold.

As you can guess, with the team moving back to the hockey crazed, but poor city of Winnipeg, the Jets sold out all of their season tickets within minutes. They came out with a sleek new logo and jersey scheme that sold just as well as their classic logo did back in the 80s and 90s. However, Being birthed out of the not-so-hot Atlanta Thrashers, the Jets started out their fresh 2011 campaign with a tough start, as they went 5-9-3 in their first 17 games. But since then they went 12-5-2 and now sit in eight place in the Eastern Conference also known as the final playoff spot.

Even if the Jets don't make the playoffs, the mere fact that they are not cellar dwellers should make Winnipeg fans ecstatic. A good product in its first season in the Manitoba capital city will do wonders for this season going forward. The hangover from the move is now over, and Winnipeg is still buzzing about their new Jets. It's good to get hockey out of the south and into the north where it belongs, even if that means moving another team(like the Panthers) to Canada.

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Top 5 Memorable NBA Moments

5. Kevin Durant Scores 66 Points At Rucker Park
Now I know this really doesn't have anything to do with the NBA, and it happened when the NBA was locked out, but Kevin Druant's 66 points at the historic Rucker Park immortalizes him in the basketball city of New York in a way many NBA greats haven't.

Street ball at Rucker Park is like a live encyclopedia of legends. When guys go to Rucker and tear it up, they might not make their name known in the world ranks, but they do in New York, and that's special. Durant took a unfortunate situation and turned it in his favor by stepping into a high profile street ball game and dropping 66 points, etching his name deep into the famous concrete at that New York City park. KD35 adds this game to his NBA lore that grows every time he scores 40 or puts a defender on a poster.

Most NBA fans are going to forget about this game because, A, it doesn't count and B, because there are lackadaisical rules on defense in that league. I'm sorry but 66 points is 66 points, and Kevin Durant was as focused in this game as he has been in any NBA game he plays. Once again, KD's competitive nature was on display here and it was beautiful to see. Durant was not messing around during the lockout, and I give him serious credit for going out there and putting his name into the legend category down in Rucker Park.


4. David Stern Vetoes Chris Paul Trade To Lakers
I don't care if David Stern was acting as the "owner" of the Hornets organization when he vetoed the Chris Paul to the Lakers, he created a tyrannical precedent, and it ultimately became a disaster.

Many of the league's smaller market owners were up in arms that another superstar was bullying his way out of his team and that remains the sole reason that Stern said "no." I'm not sure the trade was that much worse than the offer the Clippers gave for Paul, but it didn't matter to Stern. He knew that another smaller-market was going to come along and offer for CP3 and he got what he wanted. But in the process, he left Kobe, and the rest of the NBA players shocked. Who says David Stern has the right to dictate which teams can improve or not? He might have destroyed the Lakers franchise's future, and forced them to rebuild even more intensely than they would have to with the addition of Chris Paul.

After the debacle that was the NBA lockout, Stern villainized himself ten fold by allowing a trade to be vetoed. Why didn't he veto the Pao Gasol trade in 2008? Or the Carmelo trade last season? Well, that's because he doesn't have the right to step in with an iron fist. Both of those trades have worked out for all four teams. The Lakers have two titles and the Knicks are seriously relevant again, while the Grizzlies are now a Western Conference contender and so are the deep Denver Nuggets. The Clippers were going to be just fine building around Blake Griffin, and I understand they got immensely better by adding Chris Paul, but it seems like the Lakers age and contract situations might have them spiral out of control without CP3.

3. Carmelo Anthony Allows New York To Dream Championship
Yes, the New York Knicks did give up a lot to get Carmelo Anthony. Yes, the Knicks were actually worse after they got 'Melo than before. Yes, they were swept in the first round by the Celtics earlier this year. But the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony allowed the Knicks to dream big, and with the moves they made this offseason the Knicks are a piece away from being a full-on contender.

Carmelo bullied his way out of Denver to his preferred destination in New York. He forced the Knicks to give a lot to get him, but for good reason. The Knicks started off with a memorable win against Miami in Carmelo's third game, and he truly had Knicks fans buzzing. But the team went through some growing pains with their new superstar acquisition that forced them to come down to earth. Once the Knicks became comfortable with 'Melo they finished the season 7-2, and were looking to win at least a their first round series vs. the Celtics. But, injuries plagued the Knicks as Billups and Stoudemire couldn't stay healthy and the Knicks were swept by the Celtics. Yet, Carmelo almost willed the Knicks to an amazing victory in Game 2 of the series when he scored 42 points, 17 rebounds and 6 assists.

Anthony's mère présence transforms the Knicks from a playoff team to a deep-run playoff team. When he is focused, Anthony can be among the most complete players in the game. Contrary to popular belief, Camrelo can rebound and play defense, when he wants too and if his words this preseason are any indication to his attitude this season, we're going to watch Carmelo put up a MVP-calibur season. Mark my words.

2. NBA Lockout Ends
Unlike the NFL lockout, no one in the world really thought basketball was going to return. The summer lockout dragged on into the winter, with the owners and players attacking each other like children. The players taking a black man vs. white man stance, while the owners just felt incredibly greedy. No side was favored, and neither side's leader, Billy Hunter or David Stern, had any idea how to quell this anger.

At one point in October it looked like the two had a deal brewing, but of course like we all predicted, it fell about and disaster continued. But then, on Black Friday, the NBA and NBAPA came to a miraculous deal after about 13 hours of intense discussion. The deal was announced at about 4 AM, which was about as surprising as the fact the deal was actually completed. 66 game-compromise later and we magically have an NBA season.

1. Lebron and The Heat Lose In The Finals
The most hated man in sports didn't get what he wanted and America rejoiced. However, what really made Lebron losing in the Finals, was his fourth quarter play. Lebron, dominate for most of three quarters in every game, seemingly disappeared in the fourth, helping him become the butt of every 3/4ths joke in the history of the world.

After the Finals Lebron snapped at all of his haters, saying that "They have to go back to their lives and I have to go back to mine." Basically saying, "y'all can suck it cause I BILLS playing basketball." Sorry Lebron, America won and you lost, plain and simple.

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Clint Dempsey Is USA Soccer's Poster Boy

Clint Dempsey has ignited the Fulham faithful time and time again.

For a long time, the only American players that were ever "desired" in the English Premiership were the ones tending the nets, and for good reason. American sports are all about hand-eye coordination and that's a major reason why USA goalies were always the most battled tested coming into the World Cup. Guys like Tim Howard, Kasey Keller and Marcus Hanhemann all either have spent plenty of time in England or still do. But the US had been lacking a field player with the same success in the world's greatest league. They forced Landon Donovan to be that player, but wasn't mentally focused. Brian McBride was too old by the time he reached the Premiership, and Freddy Adu was a bust. Though, I'm pretty sure they've finally found their man in the rugged, the east-Texas-born Clint Dempsey.

Dempsey spent only 3 professional years with the New England Revolution before darting for the Premiership in 2007 signing a deal with Fulham. It took Dempsey only 4 months to etch his name in the Fulham hall of fame by scoring the game winning goal against Liverpool to save Fulham from relegation(movement to the lower division). Dempsey slowly, game-by-game, year-by-year established himself as a mainstay in their lineup. The American forward had shown such a composed and commanding offensive game that he was moved to striker not shortly after joining the English side. It wasn't until last season that Dempsey broke the England-USA soccer prejudice. Dempsey was voted player of the year by the fans, and proved to the world, actually more than the United States that he was one of the best soccer players in the world. Fulham realized Dempsey's ability to control the ball in the offensive zone and make plays both with and without the ball. 

People in the United States have questioned Dempsey's consistency and focus while playing with the US National Team, but those people have not seen his complete body of work. Bob Bradley had no idea how to use Dempsey and really had no idea how most effectively place him alongside Landon Donovan. I'm not saying I know how he should have played Dempsey, but I'm just saying don't blame him, blame the mediocre coaching that didn't put him in the right position. There have been some flashes of brilliance by Dempsey while playing for the red,white, and blue, like this scintillating friendly goal vs Honduras, his cheeky assist vs. Mexico in the Gold Cup, or his simple awareness against Spain. 

Unfortunately, the US, has invested a lot of his focus and attention on Landon Donovan who has been equally effective, but not nearly as gutsy as Dempsey. Clint has literally poured his heart out for the United States, and I believe, has been sort of offended by the lack of attention he's gotten while on the pitch for the US. His Fulham supporters have embraced him like he was an England native, while the United States casuals have been all over Landon Donovan. While it's not exactly professional to be affected by the lack of attention, I understand his frustration. Dempsey has been tearing it up in England and quietly establishing himself among the finest players in the world. More American players need to find their niche on their club teams instead of worrying about what is going on with the United States National Teams. When you grow and develop at the highest level you're international play will naturally do the same. I'm still waiting for Jurgen Klinsmann to instill his philosophy into the American players, but while we wait I hope Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and whoever else finds themselves in top-tier Euro leagues can really establish themselves there first. 

Clint Dempsey has one last shot in 2014 to make his memory with Americans a lasting one. 

Enjoy some of Dempsey's best from across the pond:

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Top 5 Memorable NFL Moments Of 2011

5. Giants defeat Jets in Battle Of New York

This matchup only comes around every 4 years. It's the battle of New York. It's Big Blue vs. Gang Green. It's the battle of the Meadowlands. Most importantly it's played in New York, which is arguably the most intense sports city in the nation. But, this year's matchup was incredibly important. The winner would be well on their way to a playoff berth, the loser would dig itself a six foot deep hole to hide out in.

The game started out slow with what looked to be a 7-3 Jets lead heading into halftime. But the unheralded Victor Cruz, made a catch at the 11 yard line, made a few Jets defenders miss and burst down the sideline for a franchise record 99 yard touchdown pass. This play completely changed the complexion of the game. The Jets had been dominating on defense and looked to have secured great field position leaving the Giants at their own 1 yard line after a second and ten, but the Giants converted the third down into a TD, sending them flying into halftime. Coming out of halftime the G-Men scored ten points to make the game 20-7 and looked in complete control when Mark Sanchez fumbled a snap into the end zone. But, Hakeem Nicks kept it interesting by inadvertently tipping a ball into the hands of David Harris giving the Jets a opportunity to score and make the game 20-14. Gang Green couldn't capitalize on their defensive stop and Mark Sanchez was sacked in the end zone for a safety. Ahmad Bradshaw stepped on the Giants throw by rushing for a 19 yard td. 

This game wasn't truly memorialized as much on the field as it was off the field. The trash talking between Victor Cruz and Darelle Revis, along with the heated on field encounter between Brandon Jacobs and Rex Ryan, transformed this game into a forest fire from a simple bonfire. Ryan and Jacobs met at midfield after the game and exchanged some ill-advised words. That in turn led to some post-game trash talk in the press conference, that simply got old after a while. But the damage was done. The Jets, barring a miracle, cost themselves a playoff berth, while the Giants put themselves in favorable position heading into the NFC East Championship Game vs the Cowboys next week. This game will go down as one of the best in the rivalry's history, and will give Giants fans serious bragging rights for the next four years.

4. Cam Newton Sets Rookie Passing Record

Good 'ol Scam Newton. You either loved him or hated him in college. But now there is very little reason for angst against the Panthers rookie sensation. Newton burst on the scene after being first overall, but intelligently let the media do the talking for him. During the lockout, Newton attended one of the several Panther's player practices, and when he was interview by the media he was surprisingly humble and grateful to have the opportunity to play on the world's biggest stage. Starting with those interview, people began to realize that Newton might just have the mental capacity to handle a QB#1 role in the NFL. But nobody expected him to do what he did starting Week 1.

Newton exploded for 854 yards in his first two games and immediately raised eyebrows. Newton slowed down as the season went on, but that was expected, because, well, he plays for the Carolina Panthers. But Newtons' learning curve wasn't too steep. He, with one week remaining, has already captured the rooking passing yards record and has led the Panthers to a 4-1 record in their last five. 

All of this record smashing was completely unexpected from Newton. Not because of the fact that he was a rookie or only started one true season of D1 ball, but instead, because of his style of play. Everyone saw Newton as the next Vince Young in college, and that in turn would lead to him being a NFL bust. But Cam's arm action was never seen as slow or inept mechanically, he just simply never had to throw that much in Gene Chizik's system. It's a true testament to Cam Newton's intelligence and professionalism how he not only can put up fat stats, but he has realized, and said in multiple press conferences, that it's not about my stats it's about the win and loss column. Folks, you heard it here, Cam Newton could completely revolutionized the QB position, and no I'm not talking Mike Vick, I'm thinking better. 

3.Tim Tebow's Ridiculous Run Of 7 Straight

When Tim Tebow saddled up and took the reigns of the Denver Broncos the season had become a lost cause. Or so they thought. After leading a dramatic comeback in Miami for an overtime win, Tebow was brought back down to life when the Lions came into town and putting a 45-10 whopping on them. But after that Tebow reeled of six wins, including 2 OT wins and 2 late fourth quarter victories.

The magic was less in the fact Tebow was 7-1 as a starter going into a big matchup vs the Patriots, but it was more how he did it. Some of the plays literally seemed like miracles, as some heralded him, jokingly of course, as the coming of our savior. Whether its was the epic 99 yard drive to beat the Jets, Marion Barber's miracle fumble, or his ridiculous game vs. the Vikings, Tebow sent America into a frenzy. His late game dramatics were seemingly cinematic, week-after-week, producing a new episode.

But, Tebow came crashing down to life after the Patriots outgunned him in a shootout and then the Bills picked him off four times. Tim Tebow isn't an elite QB in the NFL and probably will never be, unless his gets his mechanics right. But at least for a 6 game stretch this year he was able to shock the world, repeatedly and for that, he deserves some credit.

2.The Eagles Don't Make The Playoffs

The "Dream Team" as backup quarterback, and now big-time clown Vince Young, proclaimed the Eagles in the preseason, were officially eliminated by the New York Giants in Week 16. Despite a strong finish to the season, the preseason NFC East favorites were more than a disappointment.

Between injuries, DeSean Jackson's immaturity and an underachieving defense, the Eagles were 2-4 going into their bye week and the world was laughing at them. Mike Vick's injury gave Vince Young an opportunity to publicly embarrass himself as the starting quarterback. Now, though the Eagles were bad, they were far from the worst team in the league. I'd even go as far to say that if the season had started Week 14 we'd be looking at a playoff team. But it didn't, and the preseason self-proclamations that probably made Andy Reid cringe, turned the Eagles into the laughing stock in the league even at 7-9 or 8-8.

I'm still going to pin the Eagles disappointment on injuries, as Mike Vick, Trent Cole, Jason Peters, Jeremy Maclin and Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie all missed some time here and there. The inconsistent lineup combined with a short off season never allowed the new look Eagles to gel, and was the main two reasons why the "Dream Team" was a farce. The players that actually remained healthy, like LeSean McCoy and Jason Babbin had incredible seasons and were shining lights in what was a disastrous season. I'm just still not sure why they ever let Vince Young out of the looney bin. You knew he was going to go out and proclaim ridiculous things. Who does VY think he is? Lebron James?

1. The Lockout Ends

Let's be serious, no one expected the lockout to stretch into the preseason let alone the season. But everyone still celebrated like it was V-J Day when Roger Goodell announced there would be a season. Losing the NFL to America would have been like losing the Kardashians for Italian chicks from Jersey or losing McDonald's for fat people: disaster.

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The Greatest Sports Commercial You Will Ever See

The NBA returned today in scintillating fashion with the Knicks beating the C's a dramatic game. But way before Melo was hitting all type of clutch shots the NBA introduced the new season with an amazing, spine-tingling commercial. It has all the all-time greats playing alongside today's superstars with Drew Holcomb's "Live Forever" playing in the background, giving this commercial all the ingredients for goosebumps. Wilt Chamberlain blocking Dwight Howard's hook shot, amazing. Ewing chest bumping with Stoudemire? Ridiculous. Magic Johnson with his trademark behind-the-back pass to Kobe for the 3? Um, unstoppable. This commercial should rank among the greatest sports commercials ever, and started my Christmas basketball session off oh-so-right. 

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Detroit Clinches First Playoff Berth Since 1999

It's been a long road for the Detroit Lions fans', but last night they got a wonderful Christmas present: a playoff berth.

They've been a walking billboard for disaster for the last decade and then some. Since the days Barry Sanders was running circles around defenses, the Detroit Lions had made themselves a comfy home in the NFC basement. For the better part of the 2000s they watched GM Matt Millen destroy their franchise, bad acquisition after bad acquisition, sandwiched in between horrendous draft picks. But that era officially ended yesterday when the Lions wrecked the San Diego Chargers 38-10, clinching their first playoff berth since 1999.

This version of the Detroit Lions is fun to watch and has the potential to pull off a couple of playoff victories due, in large part, to the emergence of their defense. Led by the monster DT Ndamukong Suh, the Lions' defense has brought swagger back to the motor city. Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril help to anchor that line, which is 9th in the league with 39 sacks. The improvement of their defensive line has separated them from their recent mediocre years and pushed them that playoff barrier. Even though Ndamukong Suh has received plenty of attention for some of his "dirty" plays, he still remains a nightmare for every offensive line. Simply put, Suh is the difference maker.

Though the Lions defense has improved, their game is still predicated on their offense. Matt Stafford has emerged as a consistent starting QB in the league, and has as of this season, achieved "elite" status. If it wasn't for his injury-prone nature, we could have seen this side of Stafford a few years back. He leads the fifth best passing offense, supplemented by the unstoppable Calvin Johnson and ever-so-consistent Brandon Pettigrew. At times the Lions passing offense seems uncontrollable, especially when "Megatron" is making ridiculous catches that makes you say, "How in the world did he do that." Now, while their offense lacks a solid running game, they haven't struggled to score. Detroit is fourth in scoring offense, and has rung up 45 pts or more in three games this year.

More importantly than any of their stats or individual players is the way they've come together as a team. Head coach Jim Schwartz has captured the essence of his players' youthfulness and gelled them together nicely. He's also helped Stafford and Suh manifest into true leaders. Stafford, the model of composure and poise and Suh, the image of intensity and fire. The Lions have become an enjoyable team to watch and certainly should get a lot of support from those fans without playoff teams this year. They've brought back winning football to a city that was the epitome of losing, and losing badly. It was only three years ago that the Lions unfortunately became the first NFL team to lose every single game. That season though, they made a shrewd move, trading disgruntled(and overrated) wide receiver Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for some 35 draft picks. With those picks the Lions drafted Matthew Stafford and Brandon Pettigrew, which helped to set the foundation for this year's playoff team. Once they drafted Suh last year, it was only a matter of time before this team was a playoff contender.

The Lions aren't satisfied with a playoff berth though. This team is a legitimate contender to win a game or two, and contend for the NFC title. Whether they have the experience and composure to do so is another factor. But, you can't deny the fact that this team has the ingredients to be a playoff mainstay for years to come.

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Kellen Moore, Accolades Without Substance

Kellen Moore will go down as one of the greatest NCAA football players ever. Does he deserve it?

Kellen Moore's 4(or 5 if you want to count redshirt) were amazing. They were by far the greatest four years Boise State has ever had. Moore put up all types of numbers and truly was a star, even in Boise, Idaho, a place we like to call the "middle of nowhere" or bumble-you-know-what.

Moore won 50 games. 50 games! That's 5 more than Colt McCoy, who had a ridiculous career at Texas. That means Moore had to win 13 games in each of his four seasons. That stat is absurd, absolutely absurd, even in the NFL. Then you look at his passing numbers: 14,374 yards and 140 TDs, and you just shake your head. Those numbers are great, but they don't blow you away. He's around 4,000 less yards than the FBS record holder and Houston's Case Keenum and 27 TDs less than Graham Harrell who holds that record. Then you look at the opponents he had over his career and you just can't give him a complete nod.  You can't sit here and say that he matches up to other college greats like Colt McCoy, Matt Leinart or Vince Young. Who'd he play? What conference was he in? Did anyone ever actually watch this kid play outside of his bowl games?

I'm sorry but winning 24 games against WAC(not counting Nevada and Fresno State cause of their sometimes ranked status) and Mountain West opponents(not including powerhouse TCU) doesn't match up to Colt McCoy who had to battle the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. No one watched this kid amass most of his 50 wins because they didn't matter. He was frolicking around in a bakery shop smashing cupcakes left and right. Moore's only significant wins are Oregon in '08 and '09, Virginia Tech in 2010 and Georgia in '11. That means four of his wins were on par with Colt McCoy or any other BCS conference QB. Even if we soften the stance on who's "for real" then you can include, Nevada in '08, '09 and this year, and Fresno State all four years. With that we now have 11 legitimate wins. I'm sorry but 11 legitimate wins is not enough for me to enter this guy into the conversation of all-time great college QBs.

Moore really is just an awkward kid from the middle of nowhere Washington who could chuck a football pretty far and pretty accurately. He was blessed enough to be recruited by an up-and-coming program and surrounded by a ton of underratedly talented players. Unfortunately for Moore, football is not played on paper. I'm confident to say he wouldn't have had the same success he had in the WAC and Mountain West in the SEC or Big 12. People can talk about how he was a "winner" and just knew how to win, but again, he was beating mediocre college football teams no one's ever heard of.

Now I might be a little too much of an SEC-Enthusiaist, but I believe people are with me when I say, the strength of schedule over the entirety of his career is a legitimate reason to question his actual talent. I'm all for having field days against a bunch of tier-B athletes all season after beating one top notch opponent. However, his five victories on the BCS stage won't ever make up for his 45 other JV teams triumphs. Moore will forever unfairly rank among the greatest college football players ever no matter how he does. You can't tell me he matches up against the likes of Eric Crouch, Charles Rogers, Peter Warrick and Courtney Brown.

Guess we'll just have to wait 'til the NFL to find out how good Boise's QB#1 is, that is of course, he makes the NFL.

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Youtube Vault: How Hockey Fights Are Supposed To Go

Fighting in hockey has been heavily debated lately. Is it apart of the game? Should we get rid of it? Does it do more damage than help the game's popularity? No matter how you think of it, there is a way you're supposed to fight and there is a way you shouldn't. This is exactly how you are supposed to fight, arms firing punches at will. Rob Ray, whose one of the greatest fighters of all-time absolutely annihilates Dennis Vial, and Rick Jeanneret provides us with some of the best fight commentary ever.
"Bring on Tyson!"

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Coughlin, Not Rex Ryan On The Hot Seat

Though, Coughlin has a Super Bowl under his belt, this scene has happened all too often.

Despite all the trash talk. Despite all the arrogance. Despite his own expectations, Rex Ryan is far more comfortable with his job security than his opponent this Saturday, Tom Coughlin.

Coughlin and the Giants have been on a wild ride since the day he arrived in 2004. With Coughlin at the helm, the G-Men have made the playoffs 4 out of 7 seasons including a Super Bowl title in '07, however in the last two seasons he's watched his team crumbled after hot starts. In '09 his Giants started out 5-0, only to finish at a mediocre 8-8. Last year they were 9-4 heading into Week 15 against the Eagles. We all know what happened in that game and we all know how the Giants finished. So far this season Big Blue has followed suit with the last two years. They started out 6-2 and now sit a disappointing 7-7 going into their major league clash against the Jets on Saturday.

Rex Ryan literally exploded onto the scene two years ago, by talking championship even with rookie Mark Sanchez under the center. The Jets started out a unimpressive 4-6, but finished the season and sneaking into the playoffs at 9-7. Rex rallied the troops some more in the playoffs as the Jets upset the Bengals and Chargers on the road before falling to the Indianapolis Colts. With serious playoff aspirations the next season and more championship trash talk from Rex, the Jets ended up a strong 11-5. Once again the Jets reached the AFC Championship, failing a second time to break through. This year Gang Green started slow going 2-3 in their first 5, going 6-2 until last weekend's embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Jets are now 8-6.

While the Giants' and Jets' records are similar, their coaches are going in opposite directions. Coughlin is seemingly on his last leg, not only cause he's the league's oldest coach, but because his old-school, get in your face style is becoming a big problem within the Giants' locker room. Rex Ryan's players, on the other hand, absolutely love playing for the boisterous big man. Some of the Jets that normally spit a lot of noise have been able to sit back and watch their coach take shots at everyone and their mother.

Tom Coughlin, who is 65, has one last go of it. If he wins out and makes the playoffs, then his job is safe. But if he is loses then he should expect to be hearing from John Mara soon, and not for good reasons. I know he led the Giants to a stunning Super Bowl victory in '07, but that hangover has been relieved. This is New York, not Kansas City. No matter who you are, unless you're the Islanders, Nets and now the Mets, every single year if you play in New York, you're expected to win. But when you cough up playoff berths in two straight seasons, you put yourself right back on the hot seat. Though Coughlin might be the better man, and maybe the more "sophisticated" coach in New York, he hasn't been unanimously-liked since the day he arrived, and I'm pretty sure he won't be missed if he is fired at the end of the season.



Rex Ryan is only in his third year as head coach, and he will not be pushed out of the Meadowlands even if he loses the next two games and loses them horribly. His successes in the past two seasons have given him a nice cushion and his players' attachment to him has put him on a comfy coach. Even with all the self-imposed expectations, Rex Ryan has proven himself to be a pretty damn good coach. 4-2 in your first six playoff games is great. But the way he rallies his troops is even more impressive. If given a re-energized team next year, I think we could see Ryan holding the Vince Lombardi trophy next year. But what we know for sure is that Rex Ryan will be back next year, no matter how the Battle of the Medowlands goes.

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Mayweather Goes To Jail as Boxing Reaches Its' Darkest Hour Yet

Floyd Mayweather was one of the last remaining superstar boxers, jail time might end his career.

ESPN.com-LAS VEGAS -- Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a perfect 42-0 in the ring and has dodged significant jail time several times in domestic violence cases in Las Vegas and Michigan.

But his courtroom streak came to an end Wednesday when a Las Vegas judge sentenced him to 90 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to a reduced battery domestic violence charge and no contest to two harassment charges.

The case stemmed from a hair-pulling, punching and arm-twisting argument with his ex-girlfriend Josie Harris while two of their children watched in September 2010.

"Punishment is appropriate," Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa said after a prosecutor complained that Mayweather has been in trouble before and hasn't faced serious consequences.

"No matter who you are, you have consequences to your actions when they escalate to this level of violence," she said.

Good behavior could knock several weeks off Mayweather's sentence. but he will likely serve most of the sentence set to begin Jan. 6, said Officer Bill Cassell, a Las Vegas police spokesman.

Remember the days of Muhammed Ali, Joe Frazier and Sugar Ray Leonard? No, I don't either, but I've heard a lot about it from the older generation, and it sounds absolutely magical. I'll tell you what I've seen a lot of highlights of Holyfield, Tyson and Lenox Lewis throwing wild rights and knocking out their opponents at will. But still, even those days are long, long gone for boxing.

The last time boxing was truly relevant in the sports world, Lenox Lewis was slaughtering opponents, then he retired in 2004 and the boxing world crumbled. He was the last superstar heavyweight; the last superstar who could deliver a right hook sending his opponent into limbo. The heavyweight fighter gave way to the welterweight/lightweight fighter and boxing hasn't been the same since.

Floyd Mayweather Jr, Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya led the resurgence for boxing in the mid-2000s, but to no avail. The '07 De La Hoya-Mayweather fight was supposed to signal the ultimate return for boxing, but like most welterweight fights it finished with no knockout and a slew of casual boxing fans confused. Mayweather won the split decision, but boxing really lost the bout. Boxing had an opportunity to reign in the world and to get its blasé following back. Instead it just once again reaffirmed its insignificance, and left people turned off and annoyed. People had dropped some 50+ dollars on this pay-per-view fight and they got a bunch of jabs and nothing to write home about.

Yet in 2010, boxing once again had an opportunity to emerge from the shadows as a bout between up-and-comer Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. was heavily discussed. But once Mayweather asked Pacquiao for a blood test 14 days talks got rocky. Pacquiao finally accepted the deal and the ball was in Mayweather's court to sign a fight deal. Mayweather, for a reason still unknown, did not sign the deal, and the sport slipped into an even deeper hole. Right when things couldn't get worst for the boxing world, Floyd Mayweather was sentenced to 90 days in jail for domestic abuse.

Mayweather's arrest should send the sport of formal fisticuffs into a depression I don't see it getting out of. The free-swinging superstar surprised no one by going to jail, but owes a major apology for the sport. He, along with Pacquiao, remain the only superstars in the sport. Yet, if they don't fight soon, they might find themselves in the ranks of the obscure. Even worse for boxing, MMA, the world's most brutal sport, is taking over the role of "popular" fighting sport.

Hopefully for boxing and Mayweather's sake, he'll man up and fight Pacquiao, and if the two do end up fighting, there better be a knockout. A out-cold knockout.

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Changing Of The Guards In Los Angeles

Chris Paul's arrival in LA has put Kobe and the Lakers on the back burner.

It's been a long time since the Los Angeles Clippers have had any spotlight in LA. Actually, to think of it, I'm not sure the Clippers have had any spotlight in LA since they day they arrived in 1984. Maybe when Elton Brand, Andre Miller and Quentin Richardson got on the cover of ESPN the Magazine. But of course, in Clippers fashion, the three didn't even make the playoffs. However, last night, though it was only a preseason game might have just symbolized the changing of the guards in Los Angeles. Starting this season we might be watching the Clip Show live on ESPN, while the Lake Show gets pushed to reruns on Nick At Nite.

The Lakers are on a steady decline. Starting with the David Stern debacle over the CP3 trade, then continuing when the Lakers dealt Lamar Odom for cap space, then escalating even more when Kobe publicly criticized Laker management and finally climaxing with the CP3 trade to their crosstown foe(rival isn't really appropriate yet) the Los Angeles Clippers. Now with the most heavily injured player in the league at center, Andrew Bynum, along with Metta World Soft and Pao "Downey" Gasol, the Lakers front court is no longer a dominating force. Their backcourt? In the wrong decade. Kobe is still Killer Kobe, but you can't seriously say he's in his prime. They have no depth and are coming off one of the most disappointing series in their history(Maverick's sweep in the Western Conference Semi's last year). Let's just say the Lakers are no longer a "lock" for the playoffs.

All of the sudden the red locker room in the Staples Center is the one with vibrancy and championship aspirations. The addition of superstar Chris Paul immediately makes the Clippers a playoff team. Add him to the rim rattler and budding superstar Blake Griffin and you have a formidable squad. If Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan  can continue on their upswing, expect the Clippers to contend for a title within a year or two.

But what is so stunning is how quickly the city of Los Angeles was turned on it's head. A few weeks ago it looked like the Lakers were going to continue a new generation of dominance, now it's actually the Clippers looking like the championship contenders. How did this happen? Only a year ago we were talking about the Lakers still being a championship team. Now their seemingly mired in a rebuilding phase. I'm not saying this preseason game is indicative of these two teams seasons, but the atmosphere around the two teams has completely reversed. The Clippers have been the most irrelevant item in Los Angeles, let alone the country for years, and now they apparently run the show. With Kobe's fledgling attitude affecting the Lakers and Chris Paul's energy infusing the Clippers, this has all the ingredients to an angry, yet sad ending to a marvelous movie. Kobe and co. got screwed by David Stern, and now they're long time inferiors are standing at the door waiting to bust through. The Lakers have spent 27 years laughing at Donald Sterling as he ran his team into the ground repeatedly. Not anymore. Guess we're going to watch Rome fall and watch Carthage replace it.

But knowing the Lakers and wild owner Jerry Buss, the Lakers shouldn't be in the dark years for too long. However, if the Lakers want to rebuild immediately, it might mean getting rid of long-time leader Kobe Bryant. Unfortunately that is franchise suicide. Simply put, the Lake Show is in a serious predicament. What makes it even worse for Buss's boys is that their going to have to watch Chris Paul throw vicious alley-oops to Blake Griffin and co. as they dance their way to a playoff appearance in the same building. There will be no escaping the new-look Los Angeles Clippers, and that might dig at the Lakers, particularly Kobe Bryant, the most.

Two weeks ago it was Lakers city. Two weeks from now it might just be Clippers country.

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World Junior Hockey Championship: The Best Tournament No One Watches

The United States is looking to capture it's third Junior gold this year like they did in '04 and '10(pictured). 

For the last few years now I've found myself locked in one on annual tournament. A tournament that few know about let alone watch. That tournament is the World Junior Hockey Tournament. This championship is held every year, unfortunately usually in Canada, and it represents the best under-20 non professional hockey players in the world. Over the last few years it has boasted some of the finest talent from all over the world. Players such as Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, James Van Riemsdyk and John Tavares have made their names known and their presences felt in this tournaments.

For a week in December and a week in January, these top tier young guns leave their junior playgrounds and arrive at a stage that they've really never seen before. What makes these tournaments so special is the intensity of play. I'm not saying the Olympics doesn't bring the best out of the best, but the play of the WHJC is much more wide opened and fast-paced. These kids literally leave it all on the ice, and sometimes let emotion get the best of them. When they make mistakes, they let you know about it via broken sticks, stupid penalties and sometimes tears. The letters across their chest matter, no matter if it's USA, Canada or Sweden. You feel the passion in every hit, celly and win.

But what really separates this tournament from the NHL international tournaments is the style of play. Every player on USA, Canada, Sweden and Russia have been drafted or are about to be drafted, so don't get it twisted, these kids are immensely talented. But the best part? They show it. You see dangles, goals, and saves at a blistering pace. Every seen a 6-5 game in the NHL? Yeah, but rarely. 6-5 is an average game in this tournament. Every single one of those goals is celebrated straight out of the Patrick Kane playbook. Even better is that once you cross the boundary between pool play and elimination play, the games become so intense you feel as if every single one is heading to OT or for a last second goal. Some of the games tournament's past have been considered to be among the greatest hockey games ever played. All of the teams are dangerous and none of them trap. It's like pitting two wild animals in the same cage; no ones stopping until they've rung 7 up on the other.

One of the biggest misconceptions in this tournament comes in the question of which is the greatest rivalry? Is it Sweden vs. Russia? Canada vs. USA? Russia Vs. Canada? Most analysts, especially Canadian ones, will tell you it's Canada vs. Russia because of the amount of times they've matched up in the finals: 8. But the USA vs. Canada rivalry will never be matched. The intensity of games between the border rivals is unmatchable. Whether it was USA's first Junior gold in '04 over Canada, the epic 7-round shootout in '07, the epic New Year's Eve game in '09,  or the Carlson' no look OT Winner 6 days later, USA and Canada do not like each other. It does not matter the talent disparity from year-to-year, USA and Canada engage in some of the most passion-infused hockey you'll ever see. Unfortunately for the United States, most of the tournaments are played in Canada or at the US/CAN border, so they're never at home. The Canadian crowd is always a treat, hopping on the boards and go absolutely ballistic for every goal, making the game even that more exciting. Though it is a beautiful sight to see the Canadian crowd silenced by a US snipe.

This year, the United States is pretty young, only bringing back 6 players for this year's tournament. However one of those players is goalie Jack Campbell who will be a three year vet in the tournament and his wall-like tendencies in goal should boost the US's chances.

Unfortunately, because of the United States low interest in the NHL, this tournament doesn't get premium air-time. However, if you do have the NHL Network, I strongly advise you tune into this tournament, you'll get your money's worth for sure.

Here is the USA Tournament Schedule:
Pool Play
December 26th, 8 PM, NHL Network, USA Vs. Switzerland
December 28th, 3:30 PM, NHL Network, USA Vs. Finland
December 30th, 3:30 PM, NHL Network, USA Vs. Czech Republic
December 31st, 8 PM, NHL Network, USA vs. Canada
If you're in an appropriate setting, rage your face off and watch this game. I watched the USA/Canada game in 2010 on New Year's Ever and literally had the greatest time watching it. It's pretty much the best game of the tournament, every year.
Tournament Play
Quarterfinals, Jan 2nd, TBD
Semifinals, Jan 3rd, TBD
Finals, Jan 5th, TBD

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Why The New Orleans Saints, Not The Green Bay Packers Are The NFC Favorite

This could be the scene in February for the Saints, and yes again, in large thanks to this man.

The Saints finished off their 11th with a nice drubbing of the lowly, Minnesota Vikings. No one noticed though. All the hoopla was about the Green Bay Packers and their quest for perfection, imperfected. Perfect. Perfect for the Saints. Perfect for MVP candidate Drew Brees who is well on his way to breaking Dan Marino's passing record. The Saints have won six in a row, and sit atop of the NFC South, and no one cares; that's the best part.

We've seen it before way too many teams. The #1 seed in the playoffs taking a big ol' tumble in the Divisonal game. I'm not sure if we're going to watch the Packers fall to that fate, but I'll tell you what, the Saints are soaring into the playoffs and I'm not sure anyone can stop them, at least not in the National Football Conference. The Saints offense is prolific as their QB Drew Brees is looking to make Dan Marino's passing record an afterthought. Oh yeah, and the Saints aren't too bad at running the ball, ranking 9th in the league thanks to the emergence of Darren Sproles. The Saints have beaten Atlanta, Detroit and New York on their six game winning streak; that means three formidable teams.

But what separates them from everyone's NFC favorite is two things. One, defense. Now, we're not talking about a drastic difference, but there's still a disparity. The Packers D is miserable, absolutely miserable(31st in the total yards), other than the fact they can make plays. The Saints D(24th) is bad, but not that bad. If the two teams were meet in the playoffs I'm not sitting here and telling you the Saints would blow them out, but their defense would make an impact. Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are practically the same QBs: prolific and proven. So I'm confident the game would be along the lines of 42-39, but the Saints D would make one more stop, and that would ultimately determine the game.

Two, the Saints are flying under the radar. They have no pressure. They aren't defending their title. They aren't even being talked about, even with Drew Brees' new employment with Fedex Air. Pressure can make teams crumble, hence the Patriots' Super Bowl loss in '07. The "repeat that wasn't" Colts in '09. The 15-1 Vikings in '99. It's the Saints title to steal and the Packers to defend. Everyone knows you want to be in attack mode and that's exactly where the Saints are right now. Six in a row and on fire. When your QB is slinging the rock like he's playing Madden, you've gotta be confident. Add that to the fact that your opponent is getting all types of media attention for losing you're going to be feeling really good.

So while we sit here, waiting on Christmas and Week 16, the Saints are sitting in the darkness waiting for that opportunity to sneak up on the Pack and take them down.

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5 Questions For The Upcoming NBA Season

We're going to continue our NBA preview by asking, and then answering, some questions for you.

1. Is This The Heat's Year?

The knee-jerk reaction is to say yes. Of course it's the Heat's year. You're better off saying it is their year, cause the chances of them not winning are slim-to-none. But this season is different. This season will push the Heat to the ends of the earth. The excessive amount of back-to-backs should force the Heat to reach deep into their shallow as hell bench. On pure starting 5 talent they are still the best team in the league. But they're in the bottom tier of the NBA in terms of depth. Lebron should be better than he was, that is if he finally got his head out of his own ass. Dwyane Wade is Dwyane Wade, the best player in the NBA that no one gives credit for. Chris Bosh is still the most overrated raptor look-a-like in the league, so he will continually underperform.

All-in-all the Heat do not have the depth to compete in a shortened, fast-paced season like this. I'm almost a hundred percent sure they're going to win the East and then fall flat on their face somewhere between the ECSFs and ECFs. Lebron won't be hated as much as he was last year, everyone feels as if he got his by not winning it last year. With that being said, the world isn't completely over him, so if he will be rooted against heavily in the playoffs, just like last year. #TeamHateLebron will once again reign champions!
Not this year, but probably next year.

2. Can Anyone Contend With the Thunder in the West?
The answer is no. The Lakers are on their final days. The Spurs are in the retirement home. The Clippers are getting better, but not deep enough. The Mavs basically gave up Tyson Chandler for a lesser Lamar Odom, and are also heavy on the age side. The Grizzlies' run last year was an aberration. The Trailblazers spend more time in the training room than that soft kid on your high school soccer team.

I'm sorry but no one in the West will contend with the Thunder. Their late-game losses last year in the WCF will only prove to be a vital lesson learned. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are improving, while Kendrick Perkins, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Eric Maynor and Nick Collison make up a intense rotation. The Thunder are the league's deepest team and will tear through this season. Think someone can win 50 games? It'll surely be the Oklahoma City Thunder. I see this team dominating the West this year, and next year, and the year after that and, well,  you get my point. If KD35 can get his defensive act together than you can bet your bottom dollar he's going to be knocking on the MVP door. Durant is the NBA's elite scorer, and at times, is unstoppable. If Russell Westbrook can just keep composure when he's on the floor then we're talking about a championship contender here.
Nope.

3. Whose The NBA's Surprise Team This Year?
The Indiana Pacers made two moves this offseason that won't smash headlines. They won't match the Tyson Chandler signing in New York or the CP3 trade to the Clippers. But these moves do put the Pacers in a position to shock the world.

Those acquisitions are David West and George Hill. West will team up with Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert to create a strong trio, where sometimes the three can be out on the court at the same time, thanks to West offensive versatility. Danny Granger will abuse the stat sheet per usual, and I think Darren Collison could become real threat at PG, especially with George Hill relieving him if and when the game becomes to hard on the young Collison. The Pacers are deep with, Dahntay Jones, Hill, Hansbrough and Lance Stephenson coming off the benche to provide valuable rest time. The Pacers really came together last season, and the two offseason additions should only gel this team further. The East also seems pretty vulnerable this year, with the Celtics and Magic looking shaky to start the season.I could see the Pacers being anywhere from a #8 seed to a #4 seed.
Indiana Pacers




4. Will The Dwight Howard Trade Rumors Affect The Magic?
Dwight Howard has no idea who he is. One minute he wants to force his way out, the next he wants to stay and be a hero. I'm not sure he'll be able to shake this schizophrenia all year. Plus the Magic didn't do much this offseason to A, show Howard that they care, or B, to improve this season. The Glen Davis/Brandon Bass trade is basically trading offense for defense. The Magic didn't finish the season with flying colors in the least bit. They were embarrassed by the Hawks in the first round and really went into the offseason going in a totally different direction from the one they had in the beginning of the year.

The most important roadblock to a successful season will be Howard's mindset. If he can get back that "leader" mentality then maybe the Magic can salvage this season. But the air surrounding the Magic locker room smells of a disaster, and I'm not sure the Magic are ready for it. Jameer Nelson, who seemed destined for greatness, now has began running in place. He might've reached his ceiling and we don't even know it. Nelson was supposed to be a big reason why Howard stayed, but now, that reason has become an uncertainty and Howard knows it. Expect Howard, and the Magic locker room, to be split. The Magic also threw a boatload of money at dunker extraordinare Jason Richardson, not realizing that he hasn't reached a higher pinnacle than winning the 2003 Slam Dunk Contest. Simply put, Richardson can't do much more than rip down the rim. The Richardson signing might as well be a microcosm how inept the Magic management is. Once Howard leaves, expect this team to literally fold inward, I'm thinking worse than the Cavs.

Also you can sign the Magic up for the league's most disappointing team.
Yes, severely.


5.Who's Going To Be Worse, The Lakers Or Celtics? 
This is an interesting one, because both teams are going to significantly underperform compared to last year. The Lakers are without Lamar Odom after trading him to the Mavs for cap space and a draft pick. The Celtics are without Jeff Green, who unfortunately, will miss the entire season due to a major heart surgery.

The Lakers have two problems. 1, an angry Kobe. Kobe is not only pissed off that Stern vetoed the Chris Paul trade, which would have re-energized this team, but also because the Lakers turned around and dished Lamar Odom. Odom, teamed up with Ron Artest(refuse to call him Metta World Peace) and Pao Gasol gave the Lakers unique size. Without Odom, the Lakers become a pretty regular squad. You can't expect Andrew Bynum to play more than 40 games because his knees are shakier than the European Union. So now that leaves Artest and Gasol healthy for the entire season. Kobe and Derek Fisher would've been a lethal tandem ten years ago, but both are heading into their dark years. I'm not giving up on Kobe, the guy can still score the basketball at will, but Fisher is 37 years old and progressively getting worse. Depth-wise the Lakers are pathetic. Steve Blake and Jason Kapono are the only bench players of note. I'm sure we'll see Jason Kapono burn down a couple of nets with his three point percentage, but I'm not sold on Matt Barnes being anything more than a clown. Luke Walton, seems too busy looking exactly like Memphis coach Josh Pastner, and coaching like him.

The Celtics are going to miss Jeff Green a ton more than people think. Green represented the scoring option that Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are no longer. With that being said the Celtics still have a young, but potentially upset, Rajon Rondo. Rondo is basically the key to the season for the C's. If he acts like a professional and just plays ball, then expect the Celtics to be good. If he pouts like a seven-year old boy, then expect the C's to skate the playoff tight rope. KG, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are truly(and for the last time) on their last legs. But I think they have enough in the tank to make the playoffs and maybe win a series. If Jermaine O'Neal goes down, which is highly likely, then expect any team with a big man to destroy the C's. I'm going to give the C's the benefit of the doubt, because they've proved everyone wrong all four years they've been together, but this season the Celtics will be looking up at the top-4 perch instead of looking down from.

Comparable, the Celtics are deeper, and therefore, especially in this shortened season, will be the difference. But I'm not really sure the Celtics will be that much better than the Lakers.
The Lakers, by a small, but recognizable amount. 

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