NBA: Southeast Division Thoughts

1. Orlando Magic (1st in Conference) - I think the Magic are going to have a big year in '08-'09. Jameer Nelson is a good point guard. Rashard Lewis is a scorer. And, well, Dwight Howard is a next-generation Shaq. Hedo Turkoglu is a good shooter as well. I like the Courtney Lee pick out of Western Kentucky after their Cinderella season. Look for them to finish somewhere around 54-28.


2. Atlanta Hawks (4th in Conference) - The Hawks will be another great team and will definitely be in the playoffs this season, and could even win the division. Joe Johnson is as good as anyone in the League right now. Josh Smith is a freakish athlete who plays defense as well. Al Horford is a good big man. Marvin Williams hasn't be worth the #2 pick he got, but neither has Andrew Bogut been worth the #1 pick, yet. Atlanta will finish 51-31.


3. Miami Heat (7th in Conference) - The Miami Heat are gonna be way better than last year. D-Wade will be healthy. I would have gotten hurt too if my team was a million games below .500 and I was playing with D-League guys. The addition of Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers from the draft will be nice. The only thing really holding them back is that they have no true center. Zo is probably too old to play alot. Jamaall Magloire isn't all that great and Udonis Haslem is undersized. Still, they'll be alright. They'll finish around 44-38.


4. Washington Wizards - No playoffs this year for the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas is obviously one of the better players in the League, so is Caron Butler. Antawn Jamison is banged up and not getting any younger. I think DeShawn Stevenson is good, and a bit of a character too. The Wizards are a little too thin on the bench. They'll finish something like 36-46.


5. Charlotte Bobcats - The college all-star team. Raymond Felton, Jared Dudley, Adam Morrison, D.J. Augustin, Emeka Okafor, Sean May, the list goes on. They are just too young. Adam Morrison hasn't played much for them, being hurt all last year. Felton is solid. Okafor is too, but they don't have much experience at all. I like Gerald "G-Force" Wallace a lot. He's 7 years pro and is essentially the grandpa of the team, along with J-Rich. Nazr Mohammed is 10 years pro, yet no experience. Larry Brown brings some experience for them, but he hasn't done much in his latest coaching ventures. They'll be around 32-50 at the end of the year.

God Bless Mike Singletary

Mike Singletary made is presence known amongst the San Francisco people on Sunday afternoon.

After the Niners got their asses blasted by a pathetic Seahawks team at Monster Park, Mike Singletary told you what he thought about it in his press conference. This was one of the best press conferences you'll see. He is such a passionate man when it comes to football. I absolutely love that. He's a no B.S. type of guy and that is awesome to me, the way he handled Vernon Davis was spot on. That is how all coaches should be in the NFL, the players need more discipline. Mike Singletary will definitely bring that and get it turned around out there.

I just had to say something about this and how it speaks volumes to me that he is not there to mess around and how he wants guys that are about the team and not themselves, and what Vernon Davis did was selfish. I am a big Mike Singletary fan. I can almost consider myself a 49ers fan because he is the coach.

On a side note, I had a rough week for picks. Just know this "It will change."

NFL: Week 8 Picks

Another week of NFL action to getcha through your Sunday.

Oakland @ Baltimore- I really think the Raiders can win this one. They can get some turnovers off Joe Flacco. The offense of the Raiders is borderline garbage. Raiders 20-14.


Arizona @ Carolina- I think the Cardinals are really good. Kurt Warner is old as dirt but he keeps going. Anquan Boldin is apparently going to play this week, after he got destroyed by Eric Smith just 3 or 4 weeks ago. That will be boost for ARZ. Cards win 38-24.


Tampa Bay @ Dallas - It's pretty much do or die time for the Cowgirls. After the Rams embarrassed them last week. I don't think the outcome will be all that much different. TB 24 DAL 20.

St. Louis @ New England - It would be cool see the Rams win, because it's always cool to see the Pats lose. Not this time. NE wins 31-27.

N.Y. Giants @ Pittsburgh - This is gonna be a great game dudes. Both teams are eerily similar, good offense, led by young but proven QB's and awesome defenses. I think the Steelers will get it done though. Pittsburgh 21-17.


Seattle @ San Francisco - I think the Niners can rally around Mike Singletary. I love the Mike Martz offense, and Frank Gore has a big game. 49ers win at home 34-13.


Indianapolis @ Tennessee - I am going with the Colts on Monday Night. I don't think Tennessee is all that great. They haven't played anyone yet. Kerry Collins hasn't played extremely well or anything. The Titans defense is the best in the league. Still, I like the Colts for some reason in an upset of sorts. Indy 24-14.

NBA: Central Division Thoughts

1. Detroit Pistons (3rd in Conference) - The Pistons are the best team in this shabby division, and possibly the conference. I can't pick anyone higher than them in the Central. Chauncey Billups is as good as anyone in the clutch. Rip Hamilton is a great player, and I really liked the way Rodney Stuckey made his name in the playoffs last season. They'll finish 49-33 this season.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (6th in Conference) - The Cavs are a essentially a one-man show with LeBron, since he is the best player in the League. Yes, he's better than Kobe. LeBron or Kobe seems to be the big debate these days. I'll go with LeBron. Daniel Gibson has a lot of upside, he'll have a good year. It's hard to leave the Cavs out of the playoff picture. I'll give 'em 44-38.

3. Chicago Bulls - I like the Bulls a lot this season. But I don't know for sure if they have a playoff bound team. "Captain" Kirk Heinrich is a good player and leader. Ben Gordon is too small to be a shooting guard, but isn't a point guard either. Luol Deng can be good. I love Joakim Noah, he brings so much energy, even though he is terrible fundamentally. I think the Bulls could maybe sneak in the playoffs. I'll give 'em 42-40.

4. Indiana Pacers - Danny Granger is ready to breakout, and with the addition of T.J. Ford, he can do so. I like the Brandon Rush pick, Rookie of the Year? we'll see. Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels off the bench will be nice this season. They are gonna be too young to get in this season, but maybe next. Let's say 37-45.

5. Milwaukee Bucks - Oh my precious Bucks. When will you finally make me happy? When they start playing D, that's when. In theory, the Bucks could make the playoffs. They have plenty of vets on the team this season. Ramon Sessions is the man. However, Luke Ridnour will need to step up. Redd and Jefferson can be great together. I, personally, am a fan of Andrew Bogut. He isn't a real house-hold name, but he gets the job done. Scott Skiles just needs to motivate these guys and they too could maybe sneak in this year, and shock the world. Or at least me. I'll say they end with a record of 34-48.

NBA: Atlantic Division Thoughts

1. Boston Celtics (2nd in Conference) - I don't see any reason why they can't repeat as Atlantic Division Champs. That being said, I don't think they'll win it all again. A great group of core guys ("The Boston Three Party") but they aren't getting any younger, and last year was their year. I'll give 'em a record of 51-31.


2. Philadelphia 76ers (5th in Conference) - I really like the way this team looks on paper. They have to go out and play at the beginning of the year this season. If they can get out to good start and avoid key injuries, I think they have enough depth to finish 2nd in the Atlantic. Two words: Andre Iguodala. I'll say 47-35.


3. Toronto Raptors (8th in Conference) -I like this team. They add a great inside player in Jermaine O' Neal to go along with Chris Bosh. The smaller players are a little more unknown but they are solid. Jemario Moon is a great athlete. They should be good enough to get in. Let's say 43-39.


4. New Jersey Nets - This is a relatively young team with the exception of Vince Carter, who will probably get traded around the deadline when the Nets are already out of it. Devin Harris is awesome. But other than a good draft, they have nothing to say for themselves. I say 34-48 at best.


5. New York Knicks - Oh boy. You would think with such a high payroll they should be good, right? Well maybe, I think if the Knicks play like they can they could potentially pass the Nets for 4th, but no playoffs this year my friends. The players they have just aren't as good as they're cracked up to be. I'll 32-50.


The Atlantic overall is a pretty weak division after Boston, but there are some good younger players in here. Look for the Sixers to have a good year behind Elton Brand and the two Andre's. Like I said, I'll say Boston will win the Division but falter in the playoffs a little, maybe Conference Finals.

World Series Prediction

Wouldn't it be great to see the Rays win this thing? I think it would too. How couldn't you? they are young, talented, and have a momentum advantage going into the Series. But, I think the Phightin' Phils are gonna pull it out.



The Phillies are a little too strong for the Rays. I'm not gonna use the, "Oh, they're inexperienced." or the, "The slipper ain't fittin no more" reasons, we can throw that idea out the window, but I will use the reason that, I think the Phillies a little better top to bottom. Cole Hamels or Scott Kazmir? I'm takin' Hamels. The only thing I don't like about the Phillies is Jamie Moyer. He's had it. He's gotten shelled in every outing this postseason.



All that being said, I think this is going to be a great series. Look for the Phillies to win in seven games, including tonight in Game 1.

NL Cy Young: Tiny Tim Lincecum

When it comes down to it I firmly believe that the 5-11, 168 pound Tim Lincecum deserves to be the NL's Cy Young award winner.

Looking at the numbers, Tim was 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 227 innings this season. Not bad for being on a team of, "a bunch of has-beens and never-will-be's." As the line goes from Major League. The Giants were just 72-90 in '08. Some of my other pitchers in consideration are CC Sabathia from The Crew, Brandon Webb from the D'Backs, or possibly even Johan Santana from the Mets. CC is more of a candidate for MVP (Go Brewers!), and he struggled early in the year with the Cleveland Indians. Webb started off hotter than Marisa Miller, but kinda faded a little in the middle of the year and watched his team crumble around him. Johan Santana can always be considered as long as he stays off the shelf.

Lincecum was the most consistent throughout the year on a mediocre team. If I had a vote, Tim Lincecum gets my vote any day of the week.

Sianara Nolan, Hello Singletary

The 5-time Super Bowl champion 49ers fired their head coach on Monday night, the third head coach firing of the season.

Mike Nolan was canned after starting the year 2-1, then dropping four straight including a loss this past week to the New York Giants. Nolan spent 3 and half tumultuous seasons in Frisco, where he went 18-37. There were a few underlying things going on in the organization that could be contributing factors to Nolan's firing. Things were being run in an unorthodox fashion since his hiring in 2004. The former Bears great and Mike Nolan assistant Mike Singletary will take over coaching duties for the remainder of the season, I think Mike Singletary definitely has what it takes to be a successful head coach in the NFL. "I am confident that Mike Singletary's leadership ability, along with his experience as both a Hall of Fame player and coach, gives him the ability to turn our season around," 49ers GM Scot McCloughan said. That is interesting considering the way the Rams have appeared to turn it around after firing Scott Linehan. Anyhow, Mike Nolan will only be remembered for his snazzy suit and tie appeal on the Niner sidelines.

Congrats, Tom Cable

Let's give it up for Tom Cable for getting his first win as Raiders head coach on Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum against the New York Bretts, even though he almost blew it with a costly timeout.

The Jets Jay Feely was attempting a game-tying 52-yard field goal, he doinked it off the upright, Raiders win. Or do they? No. Tom Cable called one of those timeouts that come right before the snap. This one went the opposite way that it should have. Usually when that happens the kicker makes the first then the whistles come in for the timeout, then he has to retry and then he misses. This went the other way, that's why they're the Raiders. They did end up winning the game in OT, on an absolute bomb from Sebastian Janikowski. I mean, this kick was 57-yards but It would have gone in from probably 62 or 63 right down the middle too, making me happy. Don't get me wrong here, I'm happy about it, but they still didn't look good for most of the OT session, and they won because they capitalized on costly Jet turnovers.

This is a big win for the Raiders, it could be something to build on from a season that Al Davis ruined for them.

A Wild Week 6 in The NFL

First, I'm going to send a shout-out to my boy Chuck and his blog Chuck's Corner it's a much more established blog than yours truly's. He knows his sports, PLUS he's really good for you die-hard College Football fans.

What a Week 6 it was for the NFL. We saw a few upsets and we saw a few players emerge this past week.

First we had the Redskins, who were riding high after notching consecutive road wins over NFC East division rivals the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. Maybe the Redskins were, perhaps, riding a bit too high and managed to overlook the lowly St. Louis Rams a bit. St. Louis went into the half leading 10-7 by way of Oshiomogho Atogwe's 75-yard fumble return off Offensive Lineman Pete Kendall on a crazy deflected pass. St. Louis then mustered 2 Josh Brown field goals in the 3rd quarter to take a 16-7 lead. Then Washington responded with a Shaun Suisham field goal and Clinton Portis 2-yard TD run to take the lead 17-16. The Rams completed a 43-yard pass from Bulger to rookie Donnie Avery down to the WAS 16-yard line, after a hilarious Richie Incognito unsportsmanlike conduct penalty made it a 49-yard field goal attempt to win it and, as he often does, Josh Brown drilled it as time expired. Rams win 19-17, and party like it was 1999, after their first win of '08.

Another crazy finish was in Atlanta where the Falcons stunned the Bears at the bitter end of the game to go to 4-2 on the year and a tie for first in the NFC South. With 0:11 ticks left Bears QB Kyle Orton connected with WR Rashied Davis on a nice play seemingly ending the game, but in the words of Lee Corso, not so fast my friend. The Falcons took the squib kick and had 0:06 seconds to work with. Matt Ryan, who I am a big fan of, made a heck of a toss with a defender in his face to Michael Jenkins to get down to the 31-yard line, and somehow manage to keep a second on the clock. This set up a Jason Elam game-winning 48-yard field goal. Falcons win 22-20.

There was a great finish in Houston, as the Texans got their first win of the '08 campaign. The win coming on what looked like a QB draw on 4th and 2 in the waining seconds of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. Texans win 29-28. This was an important victory for the Texans after that choke job last week against the Colts, in the emotional home opener.

Perhaps the wildest of them all were in Phoenix, where the Cowgirls went down to face, arguably, the best team in the NFC in the Arizona Cardinals. The Cards led 24-14 in the fourth quarter, then Romo hooked up with Marion the Barbarian on a swing pass for 70 yards and a score. Then a three and out by Arizona gave Dallas the ball and after a few plays and mass confusion on part of the refs, because of Travis LaBoy getting injured and not being able to get back onside, the Nick Folk of the Cowboys drilled a 52-yarder to send it to OT. In OT, the Cowboys went three and out, and then Sean Morey of the Cardinals blocked the punt and Monty Beisel recovered in the endzone. Cards win 30-24.

In the Monday Night affair, we had the Cleveland Browns get a big victory over the Champs 35-14. This was a big win for them and we could possibly see the Browns get that high-octane offense from last season rolling once again. They got a great game from Derek Anderson(18/29 for 310 yards and 2 TD's) and it's about time too. Braylon Edwards also was a big target for Anderson, BEAST MODE, reeling in 5 for 154 yards and a score.

I liked a lot of the things I watched this week. The Cowboys, Bears, and Patriots all lost and the first two in a wonderful, heart-breaking fashion, and the Pats got blown out, which is nice as well. It was also nice to see the banged-up Packers snap the skid against the banged-up Seahawks, heading into the showdown vs. Indy this weekend here in Wisconsin. My Raiders got annihilated, but they're a mess anyway. If I could give out a weekly award it would be to either Matt Ryan for his performance or Derek Anderson for his.

See ya 'round

Rays Even Series Heading to Boston

They won't go down without a fight.

I have to admit, I've been a skeptic all season. But after last night, I might be on the bandwagon officially. I just loved the way that they just kept coming back, and see-sawing with the ever so heralded Boston Red Sox (America's Team) in an absolute marathon of a baseball game. "We did not want to go to Boston down 0-2,” said Evan Longoria, who homered for Tampa Bay. “It’s 1:30 in the morning and we pulled it out.” It's just amazing to see the way these "kids" (i.e. B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, Dioner Navarro) can hit, you combine them with Carlos Pena and Cliff Floyd, (who crushed a Josh Beckett offerring over the gate in centerfield, and I thought was dead and buried after last year) not to mention one heck of a starting rotation and an overall successful bullpen, last night wasn't the best proof of that but you gotta tip your cap to Dan Wheeler for going 3 and two-thirds for the Rays. I could almost now see the Rays winning this series, with the help of home-field advantage, or at least taking it to seven games.

In a way my skepticism could have been jealousy because the Rays remind me of my team, the Milwaukee Brewers, but they are just better in every aspect of the game, at least for this season. I was secretly wishing the Brewers could meet the Rays in the World Series so we could make all the big shots in the MLB front office cringe by having two of the smallest markets in the Fall Classic this season.

See ya 'round