2009-10 NBA Preview: Boston Celtics

The Celtics went 62-20 last year and somehow it seemed like a disappointing year. The Celtics lost to the Orlando Magic in seven games in the 2nd round last season. The Magic just matched up very well against Boston last year, but the Celtics signed Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels. Are the veterans on the Celtics a year wiser or just another year older? They are getting up there in age, can they win another title before the window closes? Here is the 2009-10 NBA Preview for the Boston Celtics.

Additions/Subtractions – Can I add Kevin Garnett in this section, because without him, the Celtics were just a good team, not great. If he isn’t 100% from the knee injury, they have insurance in the form of Rasheed Wallace. He didn’t have a good season last year, but with Sheed, he needs to be motivated and on a contending team for a team to get 100% effort. He will help this team immensely with or without a healthy Garnett. Another nice acquistion was the addition of Marquis Daniels. He had a very good season for the Pacers last year and he can score points when needed. Stephon Marbury and Leon Powe are the two main subtractions from last year’s team, but only Powe will be missed, but Wallace is an upgrade at that position.

2009-10 Expectations – It’s a championship or bust for Boston this year. This team doesn’t have many more seasons with this current squad and really has to go all-in or this season. Kevin Garnett is hungry again and he has a chip on his shoulder. He has to prove that he is still dominant and he is 100% healthy, so expect maximum effort from KG this year. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen fell apart toward the end of last season. Age could be creeping up on them, but Rajon Rondo picked up the slack and had the best stretch of his career during the playoffs last season. This team is loaded with veterans wanting to win a ring, if they can keep Wallace in check and keep the technicals down, Boston could be the team to beat in the East or the entire NBA.

2009-10 Prediction – Kevin Garnett may not have a great 1st half this season, but by the 2nd half, he should be 100% and putting up ridiculous numbers. I worry about Pierce and Allen, but with the addition of Wallace and Daniels, they can spell them so the minutes don’t creep up on them by the end of the year. This team is going to go far this year, they have more length at the SF and SG positions to compete with Orlando and they seem to have Cleveland’s number.

2009-10 Win Total – 64-18

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What’s Next For Juice Williams?

I guess the blame for Ron Zook’s disappointing last two seasons have finally fell upon Juice Williams. He said today that he is going to bench Williams in favor of junior quarterback, Eddie McGee. Williams was the taste of the town two seasons ago when he upset Ohio State in the Shoe and lead his team to a Rose Bowl bid. It has been a rocky road since then and now the senior has found himself on the bench. What is next for Juice Williams? Could the NFL be in his future?

In 2005, Isiah “Juice” Williams, was one of the top quarterback recruits in the nation. He played for Chicago Vocational Career Academy and chose to stay close to home and play in-state at Illinois. A lot of the successful college quarterbacks at that time were Vince Young, Troy Smith, and you could even add Marcus Vick in that discussion. They all fell in the same category as a duel-threat quarterback that can use his legs to move to the ball. Since that time, Vince Young has fluttered in the NFL, Troy Smith has barely sniffed the ball for the Baltimore Ravens, and Vick (either one) has fell into legal problems off-the-field. It could be the paradigm-shift that has caused teams and colleges to stray away from those types of colleges, but Williams can’t blame anything except for his own ability.

A strong running game with Rashard Mendenhall helped Williams beat Ohio State and head into the Rose Bowl in 2007. When Mendenhall left for the NFL, Illinois became one-dimensional and had to rely on the passing game and Williams’ feet to move the ball. A series of injuries and suspensions have lead to a disappointing season in 2008 and at the beginning of this year. Arrelious Benn hasn’t been 100% this season and when you take away a target like that, the quarterback will suffer. Eddie McGee has shown that he is a better passer than Williams and also has some speed that could be useful, but Williams’ intangibles are still better. He has clearly been rattled by his lack of production and maybe sitting him down is the best for the team. I wouldn’t back a plan that would permanently bench Williams, he’s a weapon, try to get him into the game in a Wildcat type of play-set and you could benefit.

If you are looking toward the 2010 season, getting McGee into the game for some regular reps is a smart decision, but Zook can’t bet that he’ll be around for it. Zook has taken a lot of heat for putting together great recruiting classes, but not getting much out of them. If he does get fired after this season and I ran a major program, I would hire him as an assistant coach and only let him recruit. He has shown that he can recruit with the best of them, but his coaching ability is suspect to this point.

Do I think that Juice Williams can play in the NFL? Not right now, but if the Wildcat system catches on even more, he could be a nice undrafted free-agent signing. I could see him going up to Canada and trying his ability out up there. If he is a success, maybe he can catch on with a team has a 3rd string or practice squad player. This benching is bad news for Williams and his professional career, but he must remember this moment and keep working. You never know what can happen, Matt Cassel never even started a game in college and he’s a starter in the NFL.

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2009-10 NBA Preview: Toronto Raptors

The Raptors went out and made a splash this off-season by signing Hedo Turkoglu. They paid him a lot of money, but are they expecting to win now? Will they move Chris Bosh before the trading deadline or reach an agreement on a new deal? Can the new Raptors lead this team to the post-season? Here is the 2009-10 NBA Preview for the Toronto Raptors.

Additions/Subtractions – The Raptors were able to sign the best free-agent in this year’s weak class, Hedo Turkoglu. He left Orlando for Toronto because of money and the international feel of Toronto. I don’t know if that is why someone who sign with a team, but Turkoglu’s wife made the decision. Jarrett Jack was another off-season addition to this team, he adds depth at point guard and has played at a high level in the NBA for a few years. DeMar DeRozen was their lottery pick and he should help this offense out, but he could be a year or two away from being any help on the defensive end of the floor. He could become the star of the team after Chris Bosh leaves after this season.

2009-10 Expectations – Jay Triano took over after the first month of the season last year and went 25-40 as the head coach last year. The Raptors are expecting big things from this team, since they went out and signed Turkoglu and this could be their last year with Chris Bosh on the team. He’s a free-agent after this season and he has dropped hints that he is bolting after this season. If the Raptors somehow end up out of the playoff race before the trading deadline, you could see Bosh being sent to a contender for something in return. If you are Toronto, you can’t afford to let him walk without getting something back. Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon are expected to live up to their potential this year. Bargnani had a good year in 2008-09, but he has yet to live up to the #1 overall pick status. He needs to prove that he can be the star this franchise needs and become a legitimate big man in the NBA. If the Raptors have a rough year, expect Triano to get fired and for them to go after a big name.

2009-10 Prediction – The Chris Bosh distraction may end up being too much for the Raptors to handle. The addition of Turkoglu and Jack should add wins to this team, but I expect Toronto to move Bosh at some point this season for young talent or draft picks. This team will regress this season and miss the playoffs again.

2009-10 Win Total – 30-52

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2009-10 NBA Preview: New York Knicks

Mike D’Antoni has one year under his belt as the head coach of the New York Knicks and you should see improvement this season. He has nearly the same roster as last season, but with a year in the system, you should see improvements. They are trying to play through this year and make a splash in the free-agency after the season. Can the Knicks make the playoffs this year? Can David Lee look passed all of the drama this past off-season and contribute this season? Check out our 2009-10 NBA Preview for the New York Knicks.

Additions/Subtractions – The Knicks didn’t go out and sign a bunch of free-agents, that will be next year. They traded Quentin Richardson for Darko Milicic. It’s basically an expiring contract, but you never know how D’Antoni can work him into the system. They drafted Toney Douglas and Jordan Hill, Douglas could contribute in their offense this season, he can get into the lane and make things happen. Hill could be a season or two away from being NBA-ready.

2009-10 Expectations – The Knicks aren’t trying to build a team this season to go out there and win a championship. The team is loaded with expiring contracts and they could even get creative at the trading deadline to move a few more pieces and get even more under the cap. They have their eyes on the 2010-11 season and hopefully have either Lebron James or Chris Bosh, plus a few other good players with the room they will have. They are not expecting to make the playoffs and D’Antoni is not on the hot seat at all, even if they go out there and only win a dozen games. Chris Duhon will be on the floor a lot this season again, not having an adequate point guard, Nate Robinson doesn’t count, will hurt them this season.

2009-10 Prediction – The Knicks will fail to make the playoffs and draft in the lottery once again. They have defensive liabilities on their team, but will be able to put a lot of points on the board. They will win more games this season, but barely.

2009-10 Win Total – 34-48

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The Tigers’ Season Rests On A 20-Year Old

The Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins are going to play in a one-game playoff to see who wins the AL Central on Tuesday. The Twins are going to send out Scott Baker (15-9) who could be considered their ace and the Tigers are sending out 20-year old, Rick Porcello (14-9). The Twins are smart to send out Baker, but the Tigers are stuck in a tough situation with Porcello coming in next in their rotation. They have no other options but to start him, do the Tigers have a chance?

Rick Porcello started out the season very nicely for a 20-year old. He was a darkhorse to even make the team coming into spring training, but he pitched himself into the rotation. The Tigers have rested him quite a bit in the 2nd-half and he has already pitched more innings than he did in the minors last season. He has pitched against the Twins three times this season and has an ERA around three against the Twins. This is the biggest game that he has pitched in his career, but with Jarod Washburn going down with a knee injury, the Tigers have to use the young man in this position. He could be their best option, since Edwin Jackson has been inconsistent and Nate Robertson has had a horrible season.

Scott Baker started the season on the disabled-list and had a bad April/May this season. His best month game in August, when he had a 3.18 ERA, but he had an average September. Baker has been groomed to be the Twins ace, since he has dominated at every level that he has pitched. It was only a matter of time before he would start pitching up to his ability in the Majors. He has set personal records this season in games started (32), strikeouts(160), and wins(15). Baker has had trouble against Detroit this season, he has pitched in four games against the Tigers, pitching 20 innings and giving up 15 runs. He did do well last week against the Tigers by pitching five innings and giving up no earned runs.

The games will be played in Minnesota on Tuesday and I give the Twins an edge in this contest. They have been playing for their lives the last two months and the Tigers have been sliding during that time. The Jarod Washburn trade was supposed to send them to the next level, but it has had the opposite effect on the team. The way Edwin Jackson has been pitching lately, they would probably like a mulligan on that trade too and get Matt Joyce back in return. The Twins have been swinging the bat very well and it’s nice to see Delmon Young playing up to his potential.

The winner of this game goes on to play the New York Yankees in the ALDS and if the Twins win, Carl Pavano will be a scheduled starter against his old club. Can you imagine the backlash that would happen if he would win the clinching game? I’m just saying….

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NHL: 2009-10 Central Division Preview

The Blackhawks have added some high-priced veterans this off-season and the Red Wings have seemed to stand pat. The Blue Jackets didn’t make any huge moves, but they signed up their young talent long-term. The Predators and Blues didn’t make any splashes and could fall to the bottom of the division this year. Since the Blackhawks signed Marian Hossa, does this automatically lock in the Blackhwaks to lose in the Stanley Cup Finals?

Here is the 2009-10 Central Division preview, enjoy.

Predicted Finish
Detroit Red Wings*
Chicago Blackhawks*
Columbus Blue Jackets*
Nashville Predators
New York Islanders
* denotes playoff birth)

1. Detroit Red Wings – The Red Wings are staying with basically the same line-up as last year, minus Marian Hossa. Hossa signed with the Blackhawks, which will make them better. The veterans on the team tend to get bored toward the end of the year, but always turn it on when the playoffs start. They will play good enough to win this division, but the Blackhwaks stay on their hells all season. They are a Stanley Cup contender every year, their payroll is huge and they have veterans who know how to win

2. Chicago Blackhawks – They made the biggest splash this off-season, on and off of the ice. Patrick Kane landed in some hot water with a cabbie, the front office had their problems, and they signed Hossa to a big deal. Johnathan Toews and Patrick Sharp and due to huge years and I like the John Madden signing to add depth at center. I’m not completely sold on Cistobal Huet in the net, seems like that they could have upgraded this position in the off-season as well.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets – If the Red Wings or Blackhawks deal with injuries this season, the Blue Jackets could leapfrog one of those teams. The big question marks are the young talent on this team. They have looked great in spurts, but Derick Brassard, R.J. Umberger, and Nikita Filatov all have to take the next step in their development. Steve Mason will have to be solid in the net, since their defense is one of the weakest in the league, and so is their power play. Expect Rick Nash to have even a bigger season than last year.

4. Nashville Predators – Nashville was a few games out of earning a playoff spot last year and it appears that they could be in the same spot in 2009-10. Pekka Rinne won the starting job at goalie and he’s behind Shea Weber and a solid defensive squad. This could help them, but I worry about guys like Jason Arnott, Steve Sullivan, and Francis Bouillon, they are getting up their in age and may not be able to keep up with younger, faster players. The Predators will do well this year, but will be a few points shy of the playoffs again this year.

5. St. Louis Blues – The Blues came out of nowhere to make the playoffs last season, but I see them taking a step back in 2009-10. It was a perfect storm of things to happen for the Blues to jolt past a few teams near the end of the season to get the 6th seed in the Western Conference. Paul Kariya has been known to be fragile and Brad Boyle is clearly just a one-way player. Andy McDonald started out the year very well last season, but injuries limited his time near the end of the season. If a few key guys step up, maybe they jump a few of these teams, but a step back is in their future.

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NHL: 2009-10 Atlantic Division Preview

Our NHL fanatic friend, Joe Pasquali, has written an Atlantic Division preview for the 2009-10 season. He is a Red Wings fan, so you would think that he has some stinging hatred for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Where does he think the Penguins will finish this season? Who makes the playoffs out of the Atlantic? Can the Rangers contend for the division crown? Pasquali discusses these questions and much more.

The Penguins have owned the Eastern Conference the last two seasons with the production of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. If those players can stay healthy, you have to think that they will go deep into the playoffs once again.

Predicted Finish
Pittsburgh Penguins*
New Jersey Devils*
New York Rangers*
Philadelphia Flyers
New York Islanders
(* denotes playoff birth)

1. Pittsburgh Penguins – The defending champs return a team that is in their prime at all the right positions. Your captain, your leading scorer, and your goalie have all made strides through their early seasons and are now seasoned all-stars. The only question for Pittsburgh is how big of a Cup hangover will they have? This has not been a “great” regular season team, still with the talent they have they should win the Atlantic. Barely.

2. New Jersey Devils – They don’t have the star power as the rest of the big boys in the Atlantic, but the Devils play great defense and still have one of the best goalies around in Brodeur. Rob Niedermayer will bring a grit to a team that desperately needed it late in the season. Also, coach Jacques Lemair is back in New Jersey after being away for 11 years. When he was in town New Jersey played the best defense in the league.

3. New York Rangers – Every year, this is the toughest team to predict in the NHL. On paper, the Rangers can hang with everyone. But, inconsistency from their 2nd and 3rd lines, injuries, and spotty goaltending has kept them from breaking into real Cup contention. The addition of Marian Gaborik should have hockey fans in the Big Apple excited this year. If he is healthy, he is still one of the best goal scorers in the league.

4. Philadelphia Flyers – Chris Pronger will make an immediate impact in the Eastern Conference. Besides Zdeno Chara, Pronger now becomes the best defenseman in the East and the best in the Atlantic Division. He brings grit and a mean streak that has really embraced that style of hockey the last few seasons. With less physical teams like the Penguins and the Rangers in the division, Philly could really make some noise by being the perennial bad boys of the Atlantic.

5. New York Islanders – One of the worst run franchise in the NHL, the New York Islanders have few bright spots heading into the 2009/10 season. If Rick DiPietro can return for the Islanders, he’ll make a big impact. Dwayne Roloson is a decent back up, but can’t be an everyday goalie if the Islanders want to get out of the cellar. John Taveres and Kyle Okposo should put up good numbers playing on the first line. These two youngsters should give Isles fans some hope for the future.

On a side note, for news on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to Fanball’s Stingers On Ice, where America’s White Boy’s sweetbob updates regularly.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

10 Reasons Why Rio De Janeiro Is Better Than Chicago

Brazil beat out Chicago to host the 2016 Olympic games. A lot of Americans are bummed out, but I’m here to help out. We think Chicago would be an awesome place to hold the Olympics. We have Micheal Jordan, Blues Brothers, The huge mirrored bean thing, and Jay Cutler, what more could we ask for. I’m here to sway everyone’s opinion on why Rio De Janeiro, Brazil is a better place to hold the 2016 Olympics. Mark your calendars and book your flights, at least we’ll have an Olympiad near our time zone.

10. Estadio do Marcana – It’s a huge soccer stadium that will hold some of the events. It’s not as cool as that weird bird’s nest thing that China built, but it’s pretty sweet. A lot of great soccer players have played there and it has held World Cups. Ronaldo has probably had a few groupies in it too.

9. Samba Music – Okay, I’ll admit that Chicago may have better music, but wouldn’t you get tired of having guys like Fall Out Boy or the band Chicago play the opening ceremonies? I think samba music would add to feel of the Olympics.

8. Copacabana Beach – Okay, I may have a little obsession with Barry Manilow, but c’mon, they named a bikini after Brazil! It’s one of the best beaches in the world and you can bet that it has some nice “talent.” They know it too, I got that picture off of the tourism site.

7. Christ The Redeemer – Doesn’t that statue just beg for a huge gold medal to be placed around his neck? Maybe that could erect a huge Olympic torch that is attached to one of his hands. Am I the only person that thinks that this is an amazing idea?

6. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – This is for all of my MMA fans out there. The UFC would just be a bunch of boxers if it wasn’t for Royce Gracie. He won the first, second, and forth Ultimate Fighting Championship and dominated the sport. Since then, about every major champion has had some sort of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training.

5. Rio Is Farther Away From Gary, Indiana – This may have been a low-blow to the natives of Gary, Indiana, but you know what’s up with your town. I have driven through it many times it smells like a combination of root beer, burning tires, and wet dog. Please don’t shoot me, my sneakers are two years old.

4. Adriana Lima Is From Brazil – She isn’t from Rio De Janeiro, but she is from nearby Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. I think for all that she has given this world, maybe we owe her some happiness by having her home country host the Olympics. We’re even Adriana, now you can go ahead and end that ridiculous relationship with Marko Jaric.

3. Brazilian Wax – This could be one of the best inventions/ideas since the airplane. Can you imagine if Chicago invented something called “the Chicago wax”? I can only imagine that it would involve either armpit or facial hair. I mean no insult to the women of Chicago, because it would probably be a wax for the men.

2. Carnaval – This is on my bucket list of events to attend before I die. It is New Orleans Mardi Gras multiplied by ten. Days of just nonstop parades and parties, sounds like a fantastic time. Employers actually make it like a national holiday where people don’t go to work to celebrate.

1. Duran Duran Never Wrote A Song About Chicago – I was a huge fan of “Hungry As A Wolf” when I was little and “Rio” was a great song as well. I would like to start a campaign for Duran Duran’s “Rio” to be the official theme song of the 2016 Olympiad. Who is with me?

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

NFL Football – Week 4 Betting Picks

We had a good Week 3 with our betting picks against the spread. We went 10-6 and went with the money line in the Detroit game. We are liking a lot of road teams to win ATS this week. It could be a recurring trend this season, since home-field advantage doesn’t seem to be holding up this year. Could the Lions win two in a row? Could the Steelers go 1-3 to start the season? Here are our Week 4 NFL betting picks against the spread.

I don’t think home-field advantage is as important so far this season as it has been in the past. It will change later on in the season when snow and heavy winds may sway the momentum of the game. This early in the season, teams are still tweaking with the offense and many lack an identity. The good teams will win on the road and the bad teams will lose at home.

Oakland Raiders (+9) at Houston Texans (-9) – My pick is Oakland

I might be insane, but the Raiders can still run the ball and Houston is the worst in the league at stopping the run. Oakland may not win this game, but should keep it close, with or without JaMarcus Russell.

Tennessee Titans (-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (+3) – My pick is Tennessee

Jacksonville looked good last week, but the Titans are hungry for their first win. The AFC South games are usually closer than most games, but the Titans will win this game by more than 3 points.

Baltimore Ravens (+2) at New England Patriots (-2) – My pick is Baltimore

I missed on the Falcons beating the Patriots last week, but the Ravens are a better team than Atlanta. Joe Flacco may not have many weapons, but they have a dual-threat running game that will cause New England’s D-line to struggle. I like the Ravens to out-right win this contest.

New York Giants (-9) at Kansas City Chiefs (+9) – My pick is New York

The Giants faced a large spread last week and they easily covered. I think it will happen again this weekend. They will shutdown Larry Johnson and force the Chiefs to throw on their secondary. The pass rushers for the Giants will have a field day on Matt Cassel.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+7.5) at Washington Redskins (-7.5) – My pick is Tampa Bay

The Bucs will be forced to rely on Carnell Williams and Derrick Ward in this game. Albert Haynesworth is hurting, so the Bucs will be able to run all over Washington. I don’t care who Tampa Bay has at quarterback, it won’t matter much in this game.

Seattle Seahawks (+10.5) at Indianapolis Colts (-10.5) – My pick is Seattle

The Colts will win this game, but they don’t normally beat opponents by much. Seattle will be without Matt Hasselbeck, but Seneca Wallace is a good back-up. Julius Jones will have a good game, but the Colts will make defensive stops when it counts.

Cincinnati Bengals (-6) at Cleveland Browns (+6) – My pick is Cincinnati

The Bengals looked great against the Steelers last week and the Browns were their usual horrible Browns. The Bengals defense has improved a lot from last season and I see them winning this game by a lot. The Browns can’t score on any NFL team this year, Derek Anderson won’t change anything for them.

Detroit Lions (+10) at Chicago Bears (-10) – My pick is Chicago

Could the Lions possibly win two weeks in a row? I doubt it, the Bears looks to finally have things starting to mold. Matt Forte must have a big game, the Bears need him to get going this season or their hopes of making the playoffs could end soon. The Bears win this game easily, by two touchdowns.

New York Jets (+7) at New Orleans Saints (-7) – My pick is New York

The Saints always start off looking unbeatable, but when they face a good defense, they don’t seem so powerful. Bart Scott and the rest of the Jets defense will make Drew Brees work for their yards. I’m not sure if the Jets wins this game, but they will keep it within seven points.

Buffalo Bills (-1) at Miami Dolphins (+1) – My pick is Buffalo

Miami will have to rely on Chad Henne and their running game to put points on the board, but the Bills have more weapons on offense than the Dolphins. I look for Terrell Owens to finally get going and Fred Jackson to dominate in this game. The Bills will win this game, in a close one.

St. Louis Rams (+9.5) at San Francisco 49ers (-9.5) – My pick is San Francisco

The Rams could be the worst team in the league. Kyle Boller adds a better passing option than Marc Bulger, but the 49ers came into their own against the Vikings last weekend. Vernon Davis finally has his head screwed on straight and is a physical beast. Shaun Hill will keep targeting him against the Rams and win this game and cover the spread.

Dallas Cowboys (-3) at Denver Broncos (+3) – My pick is Dallas

Denver has not played any team that did not make the playoffs last year and Dallas has played three games against teams that finished over .500 last season. I know what kind of team the Cowboys are after three games, I have no clue if Denver is any good yet. This game will prove it and Denver is a hoax, the Cowboys will run all over them and win this game and cover.

San Diego Chargers (+6.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6.5) – My pick is San Diego

I am not sure if many people saw the Bengals/Steelers game last week, because this line has moved a lot in the Steelers favor since it has opened. Troy Polamalu isn’t going to play and Antonio Gates will be free to catch everything win sight. The Chargers will go into Pittsburgh and win this game. This is my upset of the week.

Green Pay Packers (+3.5) at Minnesota Vikings (-3.5) – My pick is Minnesota

Brett Favre will be pumped up to play his old team on Monday Night Football. Green Bay’s new 3-4 defense will cause Farve some trouble, so look for Adrian Peterson to run amok. Ryan Grant will have a good game and Aaron Rodgers will have a lot on his shoulders if the Packers plan on keeping this one close. Give me the Vikings ATS in this game.

I hope you enjoy our picks. They are for entertainment purposes and please bet responsibly.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Are The Chicago Bulls Better in 2009-10?

The Bulls lost Ben Gordon this off-season via free agency to the Pistons, but the nucleus is there for the team to do well going forward. They traded for John Salmons and Brad Miller at the trading deadline last year, which turned out to be a great move. What Derrick Rose did with this team as a rookie was great and point guards tend to make jump in year two, which could be scary for the other teams in the Eastern Conference. Can the Bulls be better in 2009-10, even though they lost Ben Gordon?

With a rookie head coach, Vinny Del Negro, and a rookie point guard, Rose, the Bulls made the playoffs last year. They had a much better 2nd-half of the season, thanks to the Salmons/Miller trade. Del Negro did some good things, but still has a lot to do to make the next leap and get this team a higher seed and make it to later rounds of the playoffs. The Bulls/Celtics playoff series last year was one of the best in the history of the NBA, unfortunately it was a first-round match-up. Both of the teams deserved to move on in that series, it was amazing. Ben Gordon was a big part of that series, they will miss him, but with Salmons having an off-season to get familiar with the team, he could turn into something more special.

The back-court on the Bulls is the biggest asset to the team. Rose and Salmons will be great and Kirk Hinrich will be backing up Rose and play some two-guard as a 6th man. They could benefit from adding some depth at SG/SF, since the only Jannero Pargo is listed as the back-up an either of those positions. Depth will be an issue and if an injury occurs at either SG/SF, they could be in trouble.

The front-court needed a veteran and by adding Brad Miller, it happened. He can mentor Aaron Gray, Joakim Noah, and Tyrus Thomas and help them develop into great players. Noah and Thomas will be battling for playing time, but Thomas was trade bait this off-season, but nothing happened. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is moved for back-court depth at some point this season. James Johnson and Taj Gibson were drafted and just waiting for an opportunity at PF, which Gibson could see time in the D-League to save a roster spot.

Do I think that the Bulls will be a better team without Ben Gordon? Yes I do, let me explain why. Gordon has never really developed into a consistent starter in the NBA. He could come off the bench and put in 20 points in the 4th quarter, but in many of those games, they were already behind and he didn’t help. Don’t get me wrong, Gordon is a good player, but John Salmons is the starting SG that this team needed. I think Derrick Rose will get the best out of the players on this team and with a few signings next off-season, they could be one of top teams in the league. The team could be a year or two away, but with the decline of the Celtics on the horizon during that time span and the possibility of Lebron James leaving Cleveland, there will be a spot in the Eastern Conference there for them.

My prediction for the Bulls is for them to end up as a 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. Their overall record will be around 53 win team and do well in the playoffs next season. I see great things for them this year and their future is even brighter. If they can build from the solid performance last season, 53 wins is very attainable. Derrick Rose could be an MVP candidate if they surpass 53 wins and he could turn into what Chris Paul has been the last two seasons. Chicago will be better than last year and the games against Detroit will be very fun to watch.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Can A Pink Shirt End Breast Cancer?

I had a conversation with my blogger friend Jerod Morris over on Twitter. He asked the question, “The NFL is stepping up to help end breast cancer, why can’t the sports bloggers do their part and step up?” I took him up on that and we decided that I am going to wear a pink shirt all month to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I am going to start at 9am October 1st and wear it through November 1st. I put a donation tab on the upper right-hand corner for donations. The donations will be going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Everything that you give me will go directly to them at the end of the month. How much can a single blogger wearing a pink shirt earn for breast cancer research?

I’m 6’2 and weigh around 240 lbs and needlesstosay, pink is not very flattering on me, but it’s an extremely small price to pay to donate even a single penny to this cause. I have thought about this and wearing one single pink shirt is something that I can’t do without smelling up the place at work and my own apartment. I have decided that I am going to rotate two pink shirts and wear them the entire month. I want the world to take notice as this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we should all take our part.

I am but one single sports blogger with a goal to help end breast cancer. My goal is to raise at least $5,000 dollars, but if I raise more than that, it will be a blessing. I will keep everyone updated on the site on the status of the shirts and the donations that we have received. Every penny counts and 100% of it will be going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Cancer in any form is a horrible disease, it has hit me close to home. My grandfather is fighting cancer and I have had friend lose their parents early and it is a shame. Early detection is the key and routine mammograms are necessary for a women, no matter what age. If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, keep up with your mammograms and physicals, until we get a cure for this horrible disease, that is the best way to catch it early.

So please donate to the cause, spread the word, and help one single sports blogger help end breast cancer. If you do not have Paypal and wish to donate, please email me at cletus_t@hotmail.com

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Cleveland Had A "Steamer" Of A Day

All three major sports teams from Cleveland, OH made the news today. The Indians made changes in their management, the Browns made changes of leadership, and a certain player on the Cavaliers may need a change of scenery. It’s been a long day in Cleveland, but I have some good news for the people in the area.

Let’s start with the news about the Cleveland Indians. They finally fired, Fort Wayne native, Eric Wedge, after the last two disappointing seasons. It was only two seasons ago that the Indians were one win away from the World Series, but C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, or Jake Westbrook couldn’t seal the deal and the Red Sox won the ALCS in seven games. Even during that season, the Indians got off to a horrible start, but was unable to sneak into the playoffs because of an incredible second-half. They have been known as a second-half team under Wedge, but the last two seasons they have looked bad. It didn’t help that they traded away Sabathia, Casey Blake, Mark DeRosa, Cliff Lee, and Victor Martinez over the last 15 months. GM Mark Shapiro could be next if the next manager can’t win in a hurry. The Indians just don’t have the personnel to win right now, especially after some of those trades that they made trading away their stars. Usually teams load up on prospects, but the teams are trying to stash away their prospects in order to protect their future, so they got 40 cents on the dollar in return. I could be a rough couple seasons in Cleveland.

The Browns are already having a rough season and they have only played three games. The entire offense has looked horrible under new head coach Eric Mangini. He spent the entire off-season and pre-season trying to decide who was going to be his starting quarterback. Brady Quinn won the job, even if it was because no one really stepped up to take the job. He has not look very good so far this season, he has only one passing touchdown. He was pulled in the middle of the game last weekend for Derek Anderson. Anderson didn’t take his time and his pass was picked off. He ended up throwing another interception later in the game and he looked worse than Quinn. Mangini named Anderson as his starting quarterback this weekend and the immediate future. I don’t think this was the move that needed to be made, but what can a guy do that looks like he could be fired after only three games. This is a move of desperation and I doubt it will pay off. The Browns are bad and this move made them even worse.

Finally, this is the most bizarre story of them all. Earlier this month, Cleveland Cavaliers guard, Delonte West, was pulled over riding a three-wheeled motorcycle. After he was pulled over, he told the police officer that had had a gun on him, after a search, he had more than one gun. He had a gun in his waistband, one in his leg, and some guns in a guitar case. Yes, just like Antonio Banderas, “El Mariachi” style, that is insane! He already has had a history of mental illness and he said that he feared for his safety. Well, to make matters worse, he didn’t show up to training camp. Little is known about the reasoning behind why he has been absent, but Lebron James came out today that he is still welcome on the team. I don’t know man, sounds like this guy could be a mix between J.R. Rider and Ron Artest. The Cavs have a nice team lined up, but West is a nice post-up player, without him, they could be hurting.

Okay, the reason why Cleveland can rejoice is because there is a blogger convention called, Sports Media 360 during the weekend of October 23-25th being held at Progressive Field. I’ll be there and so will many of the best in the Midwest and beyond. Tickets are reasonable and if you’re a blogger, get your ticket and experience an amazing conference and meet your fellow bloggers.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.