No longer when, but if

As an athlete (I wrestled division 1 at GMU) or competitor you have a different mindset than most people. You think you’re the best all around, the best at a certain skill, or going to be the best. You never question it. It’s something you know and feel. When that is lost, so are you.

That brings me to LeBron James. If the Heat lose their series to the Boston Celtics this season, will he started asking if he is ever going to win a NBA Championship instead of when he will win one? That’s probably a better question to ask him instead of ourselves, but it poses an interesting thought.

At what point in a career does a professional athlete start to question if they will ever achieve a championship? This is his ninth season in the league. He’s been to the Finals twice and lost both times. He joined a star studded cast and still might not achieve a championship. How many more seasons does he have left? 8 maybe?

Could not reaching the Finals and winning this season have a lasting effect on LeBron James? I could see one of two things happening. He comes back next season better than ever and puts up even more impressive statistics or he starts to wilt under the idea of never achieving his dream and his statistics plummet. I don’t think there is an in between. What he’s doing now isn’t working. I see some kind of change coming

The Story No One is Talking About: Duncan vs. Kobe

These 2012 NBA Playoffs have a lot of stories. Will LeBron or Durant get their first NBA Championship? Will the Spurs or Celtics add to their legacy? Will Doc Rivers and Erik Spoelstra return next year? These playoffs will answer so many questions. Here is one you may not have thought of though.

If Tim Duncan wins his 5th NBA Championship, should he be considered a better player than Kobe Bryant? On the surface, the answer for most people would be no. Let me give you some food for thought though. Basketball greatness is measured in championships and if Tim Duncan gets another ring this year he will be tied with Kobe for titles. Most people also consider Kobe Bryant the second best player ever at his position, behind Micheal Jordan. Those same people consider Tim Duncan the best ever at his position.

Without going into statistics or personal issues, shouldn’t those two things be enough to put Duncan over Kobe? It might be a moot point though. The Spurs still have to take care of business this season.

Fun with Google - San Antonio Spurs

Step 1: Think of a current, relevant topic

-Check! How about the San Antonio Spurs?

Step 2: Type that current, relevant topic into Google Images

-Check!

Step 3: Find a picture that doesn’t quite fit

-Check!

Step 4: Write about it

Check! So that’s what “Fun with Google” is. This really is a random picture. What can it tell us about the San Antonio Spurs though? I see two similarities between the picture posted above and the San Antonio Spurs.

1. The Spurs are all alone this season. I believe they are in a league of their own right now. They are likely to win the NBA Championship. That will put them at the top of the league. Number 1. All alone.

2. It’s sad being the Spurs. Why though? Their team is a bunch of cast-offs. Danny Green was originally a Cav. Gary Neal wasn’t drafted out of college. Kawhi Leonard fell in the draft. Stephen Jackson has played for numerous teams. Same for Boris Diaw. At one point I’m sure all of these players felt unwanted or alone.

This picture and the San Antonio Spurs actually have a lot in common. I can see why I found it in Google now. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but that’s how you have Fun with Google.

Blogging from work

This is where I work these days. I'm the General Manager of LA Boxing Sterling in Sterling Virginia. It's a great job if you want to be able to blog from work. We have a bunch of famous athletes here. Daniel Attah and Niles Paul are both members. Google them if you don't know who they are. If you're reading this, stop by sometime. Use Google to find the location and hours.

I've been awful busy as of late

Whenever I say I'm going to find more time to post to my blog, I never do. I'm just so busy all the time. I'd love nothing more than to break down the latest topics in sports. It just doesn't pay the bills. Maybe this time will be different though. I’m going to use future posts to show some more of my personality and humor. It might not be funny or entertaining, but it will help me pass the time. If anyone out there is reading this, tell all your friends to start following me. It will help my ego.

I'm Back!

Now that I have some free time again I'm going to start posting more. Tell your friends! Sports, movies, music, television, etc. Nothing is safe! Not sure how much I'll post though. It really depends on what is happening and how lazy I get. I'm going to try and post at least once a week. We'll see how that goes. It feels good to be back. Follow me on Twitter @ DavidSpeaker1

UFC 118 Predictions

Main card

Lightweight Championship Bout: B.J. Penn over Frankie Edgar

Heavyweight Bout: Randy Couture over James Toney

Middleweight Bout: Demian Maia over Mario Miranda

Lightweight Bout: Gray Maynard over Kenny Florian

Welterweight Bout: Nate Diaz over Marcus Davis

Preliminary card (Spike TV)

Lightweight Bout: Joe Lauzon over Gabe Ruediger

Lightweight Bout: Nik Lentz over Andre Winner

Preliminary card

Middleweight Bout: John Salter over Dan Miller

Welterweight Bout: Nick Osipczak over Greg Soto

Welterweight Bout: Mike Pierce over Amilcar Alves

Fight of the Night = Lightweight Championship Bout: B.J. Penn over Frankie Edgar
Submission of the Night = Heavyweight Bout: Randy Couture over James Toney
Knockout of the Night = Welterweight Bout: Nick Osipczak over Greg Soto

-9 - 2 Last UFC Event

-73 - 49 Overall for 12 UFC Events

-31 - 24 Overall for 12 UFC Main Card Fights (4 - 1 Last UFC Event)

UFC 117 Predictions

*My winners are highlighted

Preliminary Card

170-Welterweight Bout: Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman by Unanimous Decision

265-Heavyweight Bout: Stefan Struve vs. Christian Morecraft by Submission

170-Welterweight Bout: Johny Hendricks vs. Charlie Brenneman by UD

205-Light Heavyweight Bout: Tim Boetsch vs. Todd Brown by Knockout

205-Light Heavyweight Bout: Phil Davis vs. Rodney Wallace by Technical Knockout

170-Welterweight Bout: Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story by Split Decision

Main Card

265-Heavyweight Bout: Roy Nelson vs. Junior dos Santos by TKO

170-Welterweight Bout: Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida by SD

155-Lightweight Bout: Clay Guida vs. Rafael dos Anjos by SD

170-Welterweight Bout: Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves by UD

185-Middleweight Championship Bout: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen by TKO

Fight of the Night = 170-Welterweight Bout: Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman by Unanimous Decision


Submission of the Night = 265-Heavyweight Bout: Stefan Struve vs. Christian Morecraft by Submission


Knockout of the Night = 185-Middleweight Championship Bout: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen by TKO

-5 - 5 Last UFC Event
-64 - 47 Overall for 11 UFC Events
-27 - 23 Overall for 11 UFC Main Card Fights (1 - 3 Last UFC Event)

UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko Predictions

Jon Jones over Vladimir Matyushenko by Technical Knockout

Mark Munoz over Yushin Okami by Unanimous Decision

John Howard over Jake Ellenberger by Knockout

Tyson Griffin over Takanori Gomi by TKO

Paul Kelly over Jacob Volkmann by Split Decision

Matthew Riddle over DaMarques Johnson by UD

James Irvin over Igor Pokrajac by TKO

Brian Stann over Mike Massenzio by UD

Charles Oliveira over Darren Elkins by Submission

Rob Kimmons over Steve Steinbeiss by TKO


Fight of the Night = Paul Kelly over Jacob Volkmann by Split Decision


Knockout of the Night = Jon Jones over Vladimir Matyushenko by Technical Knockout


Submission of the Night = Charles Oliveira over Darren Elkins by Submission


-6 - 5 Last UFC Event


-59 - 42 Overall for 10 UFC Events


-26 - 20 Overall for 10 UFC Main Card Fights (3 - 2 Last UFC Event)

UFC 116 Predictions

Brock Lesnar over Shane Carwin by Technical Knockout

Yoshihiro Akiyama over Chris Leben by Unanimous Decision

Chris Lytle over Matt Brown by TKO

Krzysztof Soszynski over Stephan Bonnar by TKO

George Sotiropoulos over Kurt Pellegrino by Submission

Chris Tuchscherer over Brendan Schaub by TKO

Seth Petruzelli over Ricardo Romero by Split Decision

Goran Reljic over Kendall Grove by SD

Gerald Harris over Dave Branch by TKO

Daniel Roberts over Forrest Petz by UD

Jon Madsen over Karlos Vemola by UD



Knockout of the Night = Brock Lesnar over Shane Carwin by Technical Knockout

Submission of the Night = George Sotiropoulos over Kurt Pellegrino by Submission

Fight of the Night = Chris Lytle over Matt Brown by TKO

3 - 7 Last UFC Event
53 - 37 Overall for 9 UFC Events
23 - 18 Overall for 9 UFC Main Card Fights (1 - 4 Last UFC Event)