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)

2010 NBA Draft Winners and Losers

The 2010 NBA Draft is over, so before Free Agency begins here are my winners and losers. It’s pretty simple how I pick the winners and losers. If a team got better, they are a winner. If they didn’t improve or stayed about the same as before, they are a loser.

Winners

Atlanta = Jordan Crawford is a good young player. If Joe Johnson leaves he can fill in immediately or come off the bench and let Jamal Crawford start.

Boston = Avery Bradley can give the Celtics a legitimate back up point guard or he can be an undersized shooting guard a la Nate Robinson. If Luke Harangody makes the team, he will be a good hustle player and rebounder.

Dallas = Dominique Jones is a legitimate shooting guard who should play some right away. Caron Butler is a small forward who was playing out of position last year. Jason Terry is a bench player. Rodrigue Beaubois is a point guard who was playing out of position last year. The pick fits a need.

Detroit = Greg Monroe and Terrico White will both be solid contributors.

Houston = Patrick Patterson fits Houston’s defense and hustle style.

Indiana = Paul George and Lance Stephenson both have star potential. Magnum Rolle is also a solid second round pick.

L. A. Clippers = They had the best draft in my mind. Al-Farouq Aminu should start at small forward. Eric Bledsoe will be a great back up point guard. Willie Warren can play point guard or shooting guard.

L. A. Lakers = Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter for where they were drafted are great picks. I wouldn’t be surprised if both of them made the team.

Memphis = Their problem last year was depth and they improved their depth with the picks of Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez. They should play back up shooting guard and point guard right away.

Milwaukee = Larry Sanders, Jerome Jordan, and Keith Gallon will all provide some much needed size and Darington Hobson gives them another athletic wing to run with Brandon Jennings.

New Jersey = Derrick Favors was an easy pick. Damion James was a smart pick.

New Orleans = Craig Brackins and Quincy Pondexter will contribute right away at back up power forward and small forward respectively. Getting rid of Morris Peterson was good too. Look for New Orleans to bounce back and potentially make the playoffs next year.

Philadelphia = It’s hard to go wrong with Evan Turner as your only pick.

Phoenix = Both Gani Lawal and Dwayne Collins will love playing in their system.

Portland = More young talent. I like the philosophy of adding as much young talent as possible, because chances are one of them will turn into a star. Luke Babbitt, Eliot Williams, Armon Johnson, and Ryan Gomes are all solid players.

Sacramento = DeMarcus Cousins and Hassan Whiteside are both risky picks, but they both could develop into monsters.

Toronto = Ed Davis should replace Chris Bosh and Solomon Alabi will give them a solid defensive center.

Washington = With only 6 players under contract for next season and no chance of getting a big time free agent John Wall, Kevin Seraphin, Trevor Booker, Hamady N’diaye, and Kirk Hinrich will all play.

Losers

Charlotte = No draft picks or trades.

Chicago = Traded away Kirk Hinrich and their draft pick. The moves clears up cap space, but if they don’t get a big time free agent, then it was all for nothing.

Cleveland = No draft picks or trades

Denver = No draft picks or trades

Golden State = Ekpe Udoh has the ability to be a Chris Bosh clone, but Golden State has a logjam of players just like him. I love all of the players on Golden State’s roster. I just wish they weren’t being coached by Don Nelson.

Miami = I like the picks, but I don’t like them all going to the same team. Dexter Pittman may be good or he may eat his way out of the league. Jarvis Varnado may be a defensive stud or he may never make it off of the bench. Da’Sean Butler may come back from his injury or he may be out of the league soon. Getting rid of Daequan Cook might be a good thing though.

Minnesota = They drafted 2 international players who may never play for them or may never be any good and they added 3 small forwards. Martell Webster and Ryan Gomes have different games, but give the same numbers.

New York = Neither pick will be in the NBA in 3 years. They both should have probably gone undrafted.

Orlando = I like both Daniel Orton and Stanley Robinson, but not on their team.

Oklahoma City = I like all the picks. It will be interesting what they do with them though. I’m not sure if Ryan Reid, Tibor Pleiss, or Latavious Williams will make the team. They also had to take Morris Peterson who won’t help any.

San Antonio = A lot of people like the picks of James Anderson and Ryan Richards, but not me. I’m not sure if either will help the Spurs win any games.

Utah = I’m not a fan of Gordon Hayward or Jeremy Evans.

Officials, Referees, and Umpires....Oh My!

-Instant replay should be used in every sport.
It’s ridiculous that in this day and age we still allow blown/missed calls to happen. We have the technology to make sure the outcome of sporting events is correct. If we don’t allow the correct calls to take place, what are referees around for?
-Instant replay should only be used when the play in question could potentially change the outcome of a game or affect a potentially historic game/record.
This will keep games from taking forever to finish and it won’t affect the flow of games.
-Coaches should have an unlimited amount of instant replay uses.
This might slow down games, but with the last stipulation in place it shouldn’t. Sometimes more than 1 or 2 bad calls are made, so this would make sure the outcome of games is correct.
-Officials should be able to reverse their own calls even when instant replay isn’t used.
Referees are in place to make sure the rules are being followed and that everything is fair. They should be able to police themselves, along with the players and coaches.
-There should be an official in a booth, at the game or somewhere else, to review blown/missed calls and reverse them right on the spot.
Sometimes officials can be susceptible to players, coaches, and fans voices, so having an official away from all of the action would allow for complete fairness. It also doesn’t hurt to have more than one voice of reason.
-Every group of officials should be oddly numbered in case there is a disagreement in terms of the correct outcome of a call.
3 heads are better than 2 and having a majority rules system makes sense in case some people don’t agree on the correctness of a call.
-Leagues and Organizations should overturn blown/missed calls that change the outcome of a game or affect a historic game/record.
Everything possible should be done in order to preserve the integrity of the games that are played. If all else fails, leagues and organizations should step in to right their referee’s wrongs.

Stop Playing Around

Professional athletes are beginning to upset me. Their diva like tendencies are becoming extremely annoying. Organizations need to stop letting their players run the team. Owners need to come together and get tough on the people they pay. If a player wants a new contract? Too bad. Play out the current contract that was signed. If a player wants to holdout? Go ahead. Sit at home, get fined, and waste your athletic prime. If a player demands a trade? Too bad. Play for the team that pays your bills. If a player wants to cause trouble? Go ahead. Get suspended and get fined. Athletes shouldn’t be getting paid to do what they want to do. They should be getting paid to do what the organization tells them to do.
There is a hierarchy that is being ignored. Owner>General Manager>Coach>Player. Simply put, the Owner hires the General Manager to be in charge of the team. The General Manager hires the Coach to be in charge of the Players. The Coach does the best he can with the Players he’s given. The Players execute the scheme the Coach tells them to. Everyone is being paid to do what someone else says. If the owners punished the players, rather than give into their demands, the players might stop trying to run the team. After enough owners punish enough players, things would change.
This is all unlikely though. Too much money comes from winning. Owners and general managers would rather give into player demands and win than not give into player demands and lose. I’m just tired of hearing about it. I’m tired of hearing organizations complain about their player’s attitudes when time and time again the player’s attitude gets them what they want. Man up! If you want players to stop running the team, then do something about it.

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale Predictions

Matt Hamill over Keith Jardine by Knockout

Kris McCray over Court McGee by Unanimous Decision

Aaron Simpson over Chris Leben by UD

Spencer Fisher over Dennis Siver by Submission

Jamie Yager over Rich Attonito by Technical Knockout

Mark Holst over John Gunderson by Split Decision

Brad Tavares over Seth Baczynski by SD

Kyle Noke over Josh Bryant by TKO

James Hammortree over Chris Camozzi by TKO

James McSweeney over Travis Browne by UD

Fight of the Night = Brad Tavares over Seth Baczynski

Submission of the Night = Spencer Fisher over Dennis Siver

Knockout of the Night = Matt Hamill over Keith Jardine

4 – 7 Last UFC event (My 1st losing record)

50 – 30 Overall for 8 UFC events

22 – 14 Overall for 8 UFC Main Card fights (1 – 4 last UFC Event)

UFC 115 Predictions

Rich Franklin over Chuck Liddell by Unanimous Decision = I think this will be the Fight of The Night. Both fighters are at the end of their careers and they are pretty evenly matched. Neither has looked great as of late, but Rich Franklin has looked the better of the two. This fight doesn’t do much for either’s current situation, but it could help their legacy. Both are former champions and both have impressive resumes.

Pat Barry over Mirko Cro Cop by UD = Pat Barry is kind of like a poor man’s Mirko Cro Cop. If he pushes the pace and is aggressive he should win. Cro Cop hasn’t looked good since joining the UFC and doesn’t do well when pressured. Don’t forget Barry did get beat by Tim Hague not too long ago though.

Paulo Thiago over Martin Kampmann by Submission = I don’t normally pick Paulo Thiago, but his last fight made me a believer. His stand up isn’t crisp, but it is effective. His ground game is also very impressive. Martin Kampmann might be able to win if he keeps the fight standing and uses his more technical boxing, but I see Paulo catching him with a power punch, then finishing Kampmann on the ground.

Gilbert Yvel over Ben Rothwell by Knockout = This fight is going to stay on the feet and unless Ben Rothwell can use his length Gilbert Yvel will eventually hit him with a power shot. I don’t see this going to decision. The loser of this fight might be out of the UFC.

Rory MacDonald over Carlos Condit by UD = Rory MacDonald has much crisper striking. This fight may come down to experience, but I think Carlos Condit will meet his match. He hasn’t looked great as of late.

Tyson Griffin over Evan Dunham by SD = This could also be Fight of the Night in my opinion. Both are solid in all areas of fighting. This fight may come down to whoever has the best gameplan.

Mac Danzig over Matt Wiman by SD = The UFC doesn’t want one of their TUF winners to lose, so unless something unexpected happens, Joe Silva set this up for Mac Danzig to win.

Mario Miranda over David Loiseau by Technical Knockout = Mario Miranda is a great prospect. The UFC brought back David Loiseau to lose. He always has a puncher’s chance though.

James Wilks over Peter Sobotta by TKO = The UFC doesn’t want one of their TUF winners to lose, so unless something unexpected happens, Joe Silva set this up for James Wilks to win.

Jesse Lennox over Mike Pyle by TKO = This could go either way. Neither fighter is very great.

Claude Patrick over Ricardo Funch by UD = Both of these fighters are solid prospects, so this should be a very entertaining fight.

Fight of The Night = Rich Franklin over Chuck Liddell


Knockout of The Night = Gilbert Yvel over Ben Rothwell


Submission of The Night = Paulo Thiago over Martin Kampmann


6 – 5 Last UFC event


46 – 23 Overall for 7 UFC events


21 – 10 Overall for 7 UFC Main Card fights (3 – 2 last UFC Event)

NBA Finals: My Thoughts on Game 3

Boston
-Ray Allen played one of the worst games I’ve ever seen
-Rasheed Wallace shouldn’t have more personal fouls than points.
-4 of 18 from 3 point range won’t cut it.
-16 of 24 from the Free Throw line won’t cut it.
Los Angeles
-Ron Artest needs to step up for the remaining games in order for the Lakers to win.
-Kobe Bryant shouldn’t be taking 29 shots in order to get 29 points.
-2 of 15 from 3 point range won’t cut it.
This and That
-This is just a hunch, but don’t be surprised if Derek Fisher retires after the Finals if the Lakers win. It’s a little strange that the Lakers haven’t given him a contract extension. He’s cheap. He’s a veteran. He’s the best triangle offense point guard of all time. He’s a leader and he’s clutch. I could easily see him wanting to go out on top should the Lakers win it all this year.
-Don’t blame Ray Allen for the Celtics losing Game 3. Blame the coach. Doc Rivers should not have let him play 42 minutes. Tony Allen and Nate Robinson combined for 12 points on 5 of 8 shooting in just 26 minutes. Either one of them would have been better options. I don’t care how great Ray Allen is. Some nights players just don’t have it and they can hurt a team. This is what happened with Ray Allen in Game 3. It’s up to the coach to realize this and make the proper changes.

2010 1st Round Mock Draft

-This off season is set to be the craziest in league history. It is almost impossible to tell how many trades will be made and where free agents will sign. This mock draft isn’t how I see the draft going. It is how I think the draft should go. I’m basing my selections off of last seasons play and some very minor projections for this off season.


1.Washington = John Wall (PG – Kentucky) = Gilbert Arenas may be traded or receive a buyout. Even if he doesn’t get either of those, he is still not the point guard to lead the Wizards to a championship.

2.Philadelphia = Evan Turner (SG – Ohio State) = He’s better than all their other wing players. Derrick Favors may also be in play here.

3.New Jersey = Derrick Favors (PF – Georgia Tech) = He is much better than Yi Jianlian and would instantly give the Nets one of the best young front courts in the league.

4.Minnesota = DeMarcus Cousins (C – Kentucky) = They need quality big men. Al Jefferson or Kevin Love may also be traded, so he could play right away.

5.Sacramento = Wesley Johnson (SF – Syracuse) = He’s a young wing player at a position of need.

6.Golden State = Greg Monroe (PF – Georgetown) = His athleticism and passing make him the perfect fit for their system.

7.Detroit = Cole Aldrich (C – Kansas) = He would be a great replacement for Ben Wallace.

8.Los Angeles Clippers = Al-Farouq Aminu (SF – Wake Forest) = He gives them a young player at a position of need.

9.Utah = Ed Davis (PF – North Carolina) = Utah needs quality big men and he could develop into something special.

10.Indiana = Eric Bledsoe (PG – Kentucky) = He may be a stretch here, but they need a true point guard.

11.New Orleans = Luke Babbitt (SF – Nevada) = They may go for a big man, but Luke Babbitt would be a great replacement for Peja Stojakovic.

12.Memphis = Avery Bradley (SG – Texas) = Their biggest problem is team depth and he could be a very solid bench player.

13.Toronto = Ekpe Udoh (PF – Baylor) = Chris Bosh is likely gone, so he could step in immediately.

14.Houston = Xavier Henry (SG – Kansas) = He would be a good insurance policy in case Kevin Martin gets hurt.

15.Milwaukee = Paul George (SF – Fresno State) = They need young wing players and he would be a good fit for how they play.

16.Minnesota = Gordon Hayward (SF – Butler) = They have 3 draft picks and I don’t see them selecting a point guard, so getting a small forward here would be smart.

17.Chicago = James Anderson (SG – Oklahoma State) = Kirk Hinrich is a backup point guard, not a starter. James Anderson fills a need.

18.Miami = Daniel Orton (C – Kentucky) = They need big men and Daniel Orton is a great project.

19.Boston = Hassan Whiteside (C – Marshall) = I could see them stretch for a point guard here, but most likely they will take a big man.

20.San Antonio = Patrick Patterson (PF – Kentucky) = They need young legs in the front court and Patrick Patterson seems like a Spurs kind of player.

21.Oklahoma City = Kevin Seraphin (PF – France) = I think Kevin Seraphin is the best international player in this draft. They could keep him overseas for a little while also.

22.Portland = Willie Warren (PG – Oklahoma) = He would have been a top 10 pick last year. He plays better when he has a good big man. He would be a steal if he was still around here.

23.Minnesota = Lance Stephenson (SG – Cincinnati) = They have 3 draft picks and I don’t see them selecting a point guard. Lance Stephenson has a lot of potential to be a steal here too.

24.Atlanta = Larry Sanders (PF – VCU) = They lack front court depth and he could play power forward or center for them.

25.Memphis = Damion James (SF – Texas) = Rudy Gay may leave, so he could fill a position of need.

26.Oklahoma City = Jordan Crawford (SG – Xavier) = They should trade this pick. Jordan Crawford will be a solid back up/part time starter in the NBA.

27.New Jersey = Armon Johnson (PG – Nevada) = He has a great all around game and is rising up draft boards fast.

28.Memphis = Craig Brackins (PF – Iowa State) = If Zach Randolph ever gets in trouble Craig Brackins could fill in for him.

29.Orlando = Quincy Pondexter (SF – Washington) = Vince Carter is getting old, so he would give them a possible future replacement for him.

30.Washington = Solomon Alabi (C – Florida State) = They need a good defensive big man and Soloman Alabi fits that need.

Let NBA Free Agency Begin!

It’s impossible to tell exactly who will be available when free agency begins, but here is who I think will be available.
-I’m pretty sure every team will pass on their team option players.
-I’m pretty sure most player option and early termination option players will stay with their current team.
-I’ve also included restricted free agents.
-I’ve put the free agents into tiers based on how good I think they are.

*Outside of the All Stars everyone else on the list could be a starter, role player, specialist, bench player, project, or out of the league. It all depends on how much money they want, what they want their role to be, and the team they go to.

ALL STARS
(These are the all-stars that every team wants)
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, David Lee, Carlos Boozer, Ray Allen

STARTERS
(I think these players can start for just about any team in the league, but many teams may prefer to bring them off the bench)
Rudy Gay, Luis Scola, Raymond Felton, Brendan Haywood, John Salmons, Anthony Morrow, Al Harrington, J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes, Wesley Matthews, Josh Howard

ROLE PLAYERS/SPOT STARTERS
(These are quality players that every team needs in order to win. They can come off the bench or start if someone gets injured)
Udonis Haslem, Luke Ridnour, Jordan Farmar, Mario Chalmers, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Chris Duhon, Drew Gooden, Josh Childress, Linas Kleiza, Rasual Butler, Steve Blake, Kyle Lowry, C.J. Watson, Travis Outlaw, Will Bynum, Ronnie Brewer, Craig Smith, Anthony Tolliver, Dorell Wright, Sergio Rodriguez, Randy Foye, Mike Miller

BENCH PLAYERS/SPECIALISTS
(These players are pure bench scorers, 3 point shooters, and defensive specialists)
Kyle Korver, Roger Mason, Chuck Hayes, James Singleton, Jose Juan Barea, Hakim Warrick, Ronald Murray, Nate Robinson, Tony Allen, Louis Amundson, Carlos Arroyo, Marquis Daniels, Matt Bonner, Jarvis Hayes, D.J. Mbenga, Josh Boone, Steve Novak, Luther Head, Kwame Brown, Jawad Williams, Earl Watson, Chris Hunter, Joey Graham, Stephen Graham, Jarron Collins, Jason Collins, Shelden Williams, Damien Wilkins, Rodney Carney, Antoine Wright

OLD PLAYERS
(They may find a team or they may not. They may retire or they could go unsigned)
Allen Iverson, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Derek Fisher, Jason Williams, Eddie House, Jerry Stackhouse, Juwan Howard, Rasho Nesterovic, Kurt Thomas, Ben Wallace, Anthony Johnson, Anthony Carter, Tim Thomas, Shaquille O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Brad Miller, Quentin Richardson, Larry Hughes, Keith Bogans, Earl Boykins, Michael Finley, Devean George, Theo Ratliff, Devin Brown, Joe Smith, Etan Thomas, Brian Scalabrine

PROJECTS
(They should find a team, but who knows. Some could be starters, role players, bench players, specialists, or out of the league)
Amir Johnson, Patrick Mills, Tyrus Thomas, Shaun Livingston, Ian Mahinmi, Kyrylo Fesenko, Jon Brockman, Dominic McGuire, Aaron Gray, Darko Milicic, Johan Petro, Joe Alexander, Nathan Jawai, Oleksiy Pecherov, Javaris Crittenton, Randolph Morris

LIKELY OUT OF LEAGUE
(I could be wrong though, but I don’t think much of these players)
Cartier Martin, Fabricio Oberto, Patrick O'Bryant, Sean May, Earl Barron, Travis Diener, J.R. Giddens, Ike Diogu, Chris Quinn, Tony Battie, Trenton Hassell, Royal Ivey, Sasha Pavlovic, Bobby Simmons, Primoz Brezec, Francisco Elson, Jamaal Magloire, Yakhouba Diawara, Rafer Alston, Jamaal Tinsley, Josh Powell, Marcus Williams, Steven Hunter, Adam Morrison, Brian Skinner, Mardy Collins, Bobby Brown, Malik Allen, Acie Law, Mario West, Jannero Pargo, Shavlik Randolph, Sean Marks, Brian Cardinal, Jonathan Bender, Mustafa Shakur, Kevin Ollie, Adonal Foyle, Cedric Jackson

NBA Finals: My Thoughts on Game 1

Boston
-Shooting 1 of 10 from 3 point range won’t cut it.
-Getting outrebounded 31 to 42 won’t cut it either.
-Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins have to get more than 7 combined rebounds for the Celtics to win.
-Even though the calls were questionable, Ray Allen and Tony Allen need to stay out of foul trouble.
Los Angeles
-Fast break points (12 to Boston’s 5), Points in the paint (48 to Boston’s 30), and Second chance points (16 to Boston’s 0) won the game for the Lakers.
-The game was never really close. Los Angeles dominated every matchup and was never in any real danger of losing.
This and That
-A series can never be over after just 1 game, but with Phil Jackson being 47 – 0 when winning game 1 of a series, it might just be.
-Derek Fisher deserves more credit than he’s gotten over his career. He may never be a Hall of Famer, but he is probably the best triangle offense point guard of all time. He is probably one of the best role players/supporting cast players of all time too.
-I predict that no professional coach will ever catch Phil Jackson and his 11 rings, should the Lakers win this Championship.
-Should the Lakers win this Championship, I predict Kobe Bryant will get more rings than Michael Jordan. This will be the Championship that makes that goal obtainable. If they lose though, I think Kobe Bryant will retire with only 5 rings.
-There isn’t a big difference between 0 and 1 Championship or 1 and 2 Championships, but Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen could all go from Hall of Famers to legends with 1 more Championships. Here is my simple breakdown: With 0 Championships a player can still be great or even a Hall of Famer. With 1 Championship a great player automatically becomes a Hall of Famer. With 2 Championships a great Hall of Fame player becomes a legend. With 3 Championships a legendary player becomes an icon. With 4+ Championships an icon becomes a sports God!

General Managing for Dummies

-Develop a present and future plan.
-Figure out how to begin those present and future plans.
-Talk with every player, coach, scout, trainer, and doctor my team employs.
-Find out their thoughts on everyone else’s abilities, potential, and shortcomings.
-Take all of that information into consideration going into the future.
-Watch every game my team played.
-Breakdown every player on my roster.
-Decide who to keep and who to let go.
-Evaluate all of my coaches.
-Decide who to keep and who to let go.
-Bring in new coaches who will fit my team.
-Evaluate every trainer/doctor my team employs.
-Decide who to keep and who to let go.
-Bring in new trainers/doctors who will fit my team.
-Evaluate every scout my team employs.
-Decide who to keep and who to let go.
-Bring in new scouts who will fit my team.
-Breakdown every available free agent.
-Decide who to pursue.
-Breakdown every available draft product.
-Decide who to pursue.
-Explore all trade options.
-Breakdown every available player.
-Decide who to trade for.
-Breakdown every other team in the league.
-Figure out their strengths and weaknesses.
-Game plan for when my team plays those teams.
-Bring in analysts, statisticians, experts, and professionals to help my team succeed.
-Complete all other essential General Manager duties (advertising, marketing, sales, etc.).

Simple Breakdown of NBA Finals

Point Guards: Rajon Rondo > Derek Fisher = This is probably the biggest area of concern for the Lakers, but Derek Fisher, like he always does, has played great during the playoffs against other point guards. If Rajon Rondo controls this matchup it might mean a title for Boston.

Shooting Guards: Ray Allen < Kobe Bryant = Kobe Bryant is probably the second best shooting guard of all time, but Ray Allen may be top ten all time. Both should put up great numbers in this series.

Small Forwards: Paul Pierce > Ron Artest = Paul Pierce is a scorer and Ron Artest is a defender. This will be fun to watch. If Artest can shut Pierce down it may mean a Lakers title.

Power Forwards: Kevin Garnett < Pau Gasol = For their careers Kevin Garnett is much better than Pau Gasol, but right now Gasol is the better player. All of these matchups are really close and this one is no different.

Centers: Kendrick Perkins > Andrew Bynum = Many may not agree with this, but I believe Kendrick Perkins is the best defensive Center in the league. I think he’s even better than Dwight Howard. He may not get as many blocks and rebounds, but he is a great one on one defender and an even better team player. Andrew Bynum is no slouch though. This will be a fun matchup to watch.

Bench Players: Glen Davis, Rasheed Wallace, Tony Allen, Michael Finley, Nate Robinson > Lamar Odom, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Josh Powell = I like both benches, but I think the Boston Celtics have a better combination of offense, defense, and hustle. If Rasheed Wallace or Glen Davis can limit Lamar Odom this might be a short series.

Team Offense: Los Angeles Lakers

Team Defense: Boston Celtics

Overall: Boston Celtics

Prediction: This is set to be a great matchup. The Los Angeles Lakers have been in the National Basketball Association Finals three years in a row now and The Boston Celtics have been here two out of the last three years. It’s essentially the same matchup as two years ago, but with some new faces. The Lakers will have Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum this time around and The Celtics have added Rasheed Wallace, Michael Finley, and Nate Robinson. I predict the Boston Celtics will win.

Superstar Treatment

Ever hear analysts on television, radio, or print talk about “superstar treatment”? Ever wonder what it is exactly? Well here is my Superstar Treatment for Dummies Article! Superstar treatment, in its simplest form, can be defined as special treatment or calls that a player receives from referees during a game. This doesn’t apply to everyone though. It only applies to superstars or the best players in a league. Not every superstar receives superstar treatment either. It’s really just a term the media likes to use when they disagree with calls that referees make during games. It does hold some merit though. The best players or superstars are supposed to be and assumed to be better than everyone else. When they don’t make routine or even difficult plays referees will occasionally give them calls. Let me use a fake basketball scene for you in order to illustrate my point.

Player A drives to the basket and takes a shot. He is lightly touched while he is in the process of shooting. He misses the shot. That touching may or may not have made him miss the shot. There is no way of knowing, but most would agree no foul should be called. The nearest referee calls a personal foul anyways. What was he thinking?
Referee A (“I’ve seen Player A make that shot a thousand times. He’s the best player in the league. How did he miss that? That light touch had to be the reason. I’m calling this!”)
Referee A blows his whistle and Player A shoots two free throws. This goes on all game long.

Referees may also give superstar treatment, because, as humans, they can subconsciously be influenced by different variables. Playing at home, being the favorite, being the underdog, having a great game, having a bad game, having a history with an official and of course, being a superstar are just some of the reasons players receive special treatment. Is this fair or foul though? I think it’s definitely foul! Every game and every player should receive the same kinds of calls from officials. No one deserves special treatment.

So you think you can coach?

There is an epidemic going on in sports. No, it’s not performing enhancing drug use. It is people putting too much emphasis on athletes and coaches winning championships. Don’t get me wrong. Winning a championship should be the ultimate goal of every athlete and coach, but it isn’t the only way to determine greatness. This epidemic is a little more prevalent in coaching though. All too often coaches get fired when they don’t produce championships. Why is this? Is it because replacing a coach is easier than replacing the team’s players? Possibly. I pose another theory though.


I think the reason that coaches receive pink slips so often is because of uninformed fans, media members, owners/front office personnel, and players. I don’t think a lot of these people know what good coaching is. It may seem like a crazy theory, but unless you’ve played a sport at a high level, watched countless hours of play, and been through technique clinics or practices with coaches than it is impossible to determine if a coach is really good or not.

-Playing a sport at a high level means that you’ve had success and know what it takes to win. It also probably means that you’ve received some solid coaching/training.

-Watching countless hours of play means that you know how good coaches coach during live game situations and how players react to their coaches when it counts.

-Going through technique clinics or practices with coaches mean you understand the training, drills, and situations players are put through on a daily basis. This also shows how coaches motivate and interact with players.

Just because a coach doesn’t win a championship doesn’t mean they aren’t great. A coach can’t win without the proper players around them. It’s the same for star players. Star players need good role players in order to win. Winning and losing in team sports never comes down to one player or one coach. It is always a collective effort between front office personnel, players, and coaches. Stop firing good coaches just because they don’t win championships. Too many careers have been ruined because of uninformed fans, media members, owners/front office personnel, and players complaining about things they know nothing about.

Here is what makes a good coach in my book.

-Knowledge of the game/sport.

-Knowing how to show proper technique and training habits.

-Using drills to develop a player’s skills.

-Ability to motivate and inspire.

-Scouting your team and your opponent’s team.

-Handling in game situations.

-Winning.

These are the qualities that make up a good coach. Winning makes a coach good. Winning a championship makes a coach great. Winning multiple championships makes a coach legendary. Just remember though. Players play and coaches coach. This means even if a coach does everything perfect it still takes players to win games. Players and the general managers/owners who bring in the players need to be held more accountable.

UFC 114 Predictions

-Rashad Evans over Quinton Jackson by = Split Decision = Rashad Evans is younger and faster. He also tends to use his wrestling better. The long layoff may affect Rampage too.

-Michael Bisping over Dan Miller by = SD = Dan Miller will get a takedown or two, but The Count will still win the stand up battle.

-Todd Duffee over Mike Russow by = Technical Knockout = Mike Russow will try to use some wrestling against Todd Duffee, but I see Duffee connecting with a punch and finishing with some ground and pound.

-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira over Jason Brilz by = TKO = This may look like the Duffee vs. Russow fight. I don’t Jason Brilz wanting to stand up with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

-Diego Sanchez over John Hathaway by = Unanimous Decision = This is a possible Fight of The Night candidate. Diego Sanchez is moving back up to 170 and John Hathaway gets his first taste of elite competition. This is a very interesting fight.

-Amir Sadollah over Dong Hyun Kim by = UD = I’ve always thought Dong Hyun Kim has been a little over rated. Amir Sadollah will expose his weaknesses.

-Efrain Escudero over Dan Lauzon by = TKO = Efrain Escudero should win this fight as long as he is healthy. Dan Lauzon probably gets cut after this loss.

-Melvin Guillard over Waylon Lowe by = Knockout = This is the biggest mismatch of the night. Waylon Lowe is in for a rude welcome to the UFC.

-Luiz Cane over Cyrille Diabate by = SD = Cyrille Diabate is better than his record, but Luiz Cane is a tough fight for anyone. People also need to remember that, debut fighters normally don’t win unless they are elite level fighters or elite level prospects.

-Aaron Riley over Joe Brammer by = TKO = Neither of these fighters is really UFC quality, but I suppose that is why they are being matched up against each other. The loser will be cut.

-Jesse Forbes over Ryan Jensen by = TKO = Neither of these fighters is really UFC quality, but I suppose that is why they are being matched up against each other. The loser will be cut.



Fight of The Night = Rashad Evans over Quinton Jackson

Knockout of The Night = Melvin Guillard over Waylon Lowe

I don’t see any submissions happening, but you never know. Predicting outcomes is hard. Predicting specific outcomes is even harder.



8 – 3 last UFC event

40 – 18 Overall for 6 UFC events

19 – 8 in Main Card fights

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Wizards win The Draft!!!!

It’s impossible to know who will be available when the Wizards select at #30 and #34, but here are the 3 players I would love for the Wizards to be able to get. I think these three players are reasonable choices and should probably be available.


#1 – John Wall (PG – 6-4 – 195 – Kentucky – Fr) = Don’t mess this pick up Washington. Don’t worry about Gilbert Arenas. Force him to play the 2. His style is more of a shooting guard than point guard anyways. John Wall is the only correct choice here.

#30 – Willie Warren (PG/SG – 6-4 – 207 – Oklahoma – So) = He would have been a lottery pick last season if he came out. He can back up both John Wall and Gilbert Arenas. He also has great sleeper potential.

#34 – Dexter Pittman (C – 6-10 – 290 – Texas – Sr) = He reminds me of Kendrick Perkins with the Boston Celtics. Even though he is a Senior, I still think he can develop. He’ll never be an offensive force, but he’ll be a good solid defensive back up Center. He’s the opposite of JaVale McGee, which is a good thing, because that means they would compliment each other well.

Others who I wouldn’t mind having at #30 and #34 = Gani Lawal, Jordan Crawford, Greivis Vasquez, Dwayne Collins, Tiny Gallon, Sherron Collins, Hamady Ndiaye

When free agency begins here is what the Wizards will have.

*I don’t think they will keep their restricted free agents. I also don’t think they will exercise their team option on Josh Howard.

PG – Gilbert Arenas

SG – Nick Young

SF – Al Thornton, Quinton Ross

PF – Andray Blatche

C – JaVale McGee

Add in the 3 draft picks and here is the depth chart

PG – John Wall, Willie Warren

SG – Gilbert Arenas, Nick Young

SF – Al Thornton, Quinton Ross

PF – Andray Blatche

C – JaVale McGee, Dexter Pittman

It’s not a great team, but it is a start. The starting line up should be able to run, score, get steals, and block shots, but they probably won’t play very good one on one or team defense and could turn into selfish number’s getters. The 3 back ups outside of Quinton Ross are solid though.

How to get LeBron James a Championship

Cleveland is going about winning a Championship all wrong. If you are going to build around LeBron James, then you have to surround him with players who compliment him. This means you have to have players who have some similarities to him and make up for his short comings. This is what Cleveland needs to win a Championship with LeBron James as the center piece:


-Younger veteran players in their prime

-Long, athletic players who can run the floor

-Good defenders

-Good rebounding and shot blocking big men

-Players who can create their own shot

-Players who can drive to the basket

-Players who can shoot 3's

-Players who can play in the post

-Players who make a high percentage of their free throws

How many of those things does LeBron James have?

The only players I would keep from this year’s team would be:

LeBron James, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao, J.J Hickson, Daniel Gibson, Delonte West, and Leon Powe

This would be my Depth Chart

PG – Mo Williams, __________

SG – __________, Delonte West, Daniel Gibson

SF – LeBron James, __________

PF – Antawn Jamison, J.J Hickson, Leon Powe

C – Anderson Varejao, __________

The blank spots I left open are where I think Cleveland needs to upgrade if they want to win a Championship…….. and that’s being generous. I’m not sure Anderson Varejao is a starting Center, but he does play good defense and can run the floor. I’m also not sold on Delonte West and Daniel Gibson as Championship backups, but they know how to play with LeBron James.

The major problems I saw with this year’s team were that Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas were old and slow at the Center spot. Mo Williams doesn’t have a true Point Guard backing him up. Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon were also not good role players. On top of those, everyone underperformed in the Playoffs.

Fix the Depth Chart and find the right kind of players and LeBron James will win multiple Championships.

UFC 113 Predictions

Lyoto Machida over Mauricio Rua by Unanimous Decision

Josh Koscheck over Paul Daley by Technical Knockout

Jeremy Stephens over Sam Stout by Split Decision

Matt Mitrione over Kimbo Slice by TKO

Alan Belcher over Patrick Cote by UD

Tom Lawlor over Joe Doerksen by TKO

Marcus Davis over Jonathan Goulet by TKO

Johny Hendricks over TJ Grant by UD

Tim Hague over Joey Beltran by UD

Mike Guymon over Yoshiyuki Yoshida by TKO

John Salter over Jason MacDonald by SD

5 – 4 Last UFC event


32 – 15 Overall for 5 UFC events

15 – 7 in Main Card fights

NBA Playoff Predictions

Round 1

Cavs over Bulls in 4
Magic over Bobcats in 6
Hawks over Bucks in 6
Celtics over Heat in 5
Lakers over OKC in 5
Mavs over Spurs in 7
Suns over Blazers in 5
Nuggets over Jazz in 6



CONFERENCE SEMIS

Cavs over Celtics in 6
Magic over Hawks in 6
Lakers over Nuggets in 7
Suns over Mav in 7



CONFERENCE FINALS

Cavs over Magic in 6
Lakers over Suns in 6



FINALS

Lakers over Cavs in 7

Some random thoughts

-I have no proof and I'm not using the "R" word, but Ben Roethlisberger did do something wrong. He has a problem. This is twice he's been accused of sexual assault. No means no Ben!

-The Pittsburgh Steelers did not punish Santonio Holmes. Trading a player to the Jets is not punishment and it doesn’t show your fan base that you expect a certain level of decency from your players. The Jets made the playoffs last season. They have Superbowl aspirations this season. That’s not a bad thing! Trading a player to the Oakland Raiders would be a punishment.

-Once again I have no proof, but Tiger Woods doesn’t seem any different to me at all. If he isn’t still cheating on his wife, then it is only a matter of time. Once a cheater, always a cheater.

-Anderson Silva shouldn’t be getting criticized for giving bad performances in his fights. If they were really that bad he would have lost. He’s a fighter and no matter how overmatched an opponent may be, they still present danger. Any person trying to beat you up presents danger. If Anderson Silva feels that show boating is his best chance to win, then so be it. He’s the champion. He knows what he’s doing more than we do. No one complains when football teams use defense and a running game to win.

-This is music related, not sports related. Musicians need to stop remaking classic songs the way that Hollywood needs to stop remaking classic movies. This is a reference to Mary J. Blige. Have you heard her “Stairway to Heaven” cover? It’s horrible. She doesn’t add anything to it. She just butchers a classic. No one in the media will say this, because the media loves Mary J. Blige, but it’s true. She’s not a legend. We should be allowed to tell her the truth. And if you really think she is a legend, then name me 3 Mary J. Blige songs right now without Googling her name. You can’t, can you?

Welcome to Washington Donovan McNabb

-Great trade for the Washington Redskins
-We probably weren’t going to select great players with the draft picks we gave up
-We’ve needed an elite Quarterback for a long time
-Washington should trade Jason Campbell for proven Offensive Linemen or draft picks
-Washington should resign Donovan McNabb midway through the season if he is producing
-Washington now needs to build a solid Offensive Line and get some younger Running Backs

-Donovan McNabb needed a change of scenery
-Donovan McNabb is still an elite Quarterback
-Donovan McNabb is a boarder line Hall of Famer
-Donovan McNabb still has 3-4 more good seasons in him

-Philadelphia shouldn’t have given up on Donovan McNabb for Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick
-Philadelphia shouldn’t have traded Donovan McNabb inside the division
-Philadelphia should have given him more weapons sooner than last season
-Philadelphia should have run the ball more often than they did
-Philadelphia should have appreciated Donovan McNabb more than they did
-Philadelphia will finish last in the division this season

-Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick are overrated
-Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick are not starters in the NFL

-Jason Campbell is underrated
-Jason Campbell is a starter in the NFL

Butler = Cinderella

No matter what happens in the National Championship game, Butler is and always will be a Cinderella story. It doesn’t matter that they were only a 5 seed, ranked throughout the year, or have a history of being a solid basketball team. They are still a Cinderella story. They play in the Horizon League. Do you know who else plays in the Horizon League? No? Teams like Wright State, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Cleveland State, Valparaiso, Detroit, Loyola, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Youngstown State play in the Horizon League. No offense to those teams, but they are not exactly the powers of the college basketball landscape. I don’t care if Butler only lost 4 times throughout the year. You have to be a somewhat good team to make it to the “Big Dance”. Unless someone can tell me a definitive definition of what a Cinderella team is, I’m sticking to my guns on this one. In fact, I think Butler is the ultimate Cinderella story. They are an even better story than my George Mason Patriots. The good CAA conference teams would beat all of the other Horizon League teams. Win or lose though, Butler has already redefined the image I have of Cinderella teams in the NCAA Tournament. Only a part of me will be rooting for them though, because I really want Mike Krzyzewksi to win more championships and go down as the greatest college basketball coach ever.

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UFC 112 Predictions

Anderson Silva over Demian Maia = Don’t be fooled by anything the UFC says. Demian Maia’s stand up is not very good. The last fighter he faced wasn’t known for his stand up either. If Anderson Silva is motivated, this fight will end in a knockout. If he’s not motivated, this fight will end in a very boring unanimous decision. Either way Anderson Silva will win. I do think he will be motivated though.

BJ Penn over Frankie Edgar = Frankie Edgar is kind of like a poor man’s BJ Penn. He has solid boxing and can take opponents down. He’s not on the level of BJ Penn yet though. BJ Penn should be able to win any way he wants. He can win by submission, knockout, or by an exciting and bloody unanimous decision.

Matt Hughes over Renzo Gracie = Once again, don’t be fooled by anything the UFC says. Renzo Gracie is not that good anymore. He’s in his 40’s and hasn’t fought in years. Even when he was in his prime he wasn’t a great striker. He had some power, but he wasn’t very technical. Renzo Gracie really made his name by beating some UFC fighters and of course, being a Gracie. This fight is tailored made for Matt Hughes to get a win over a “name” opponent. I see him winning by Technical Knockout.

Terry Etim over Rafael Dos Anjos = This should be an interesting fight. Both are good on the ground and solid at getting takedowns. Those two things should cancel each other out and leave this fight standing. While neither fighter is a great striker, I see Terry Etim being a little more dangerous on his feet. He should win by Split Decision.

Phil Davis over Alexander Gustafsson = I’ve gone on record as saying that I think Phil Davis will be a future champion, so there is no way I see him losing this fight. In fact, I see him showing off all of his skills. He will strike some, wrestle, and then win by Submission. Alexander Gustafsson’s only chance is to try and strike it out with Davis, but I see Davis as being the better stand up fighter already.

Mark Munoz over Kendall Grove = Another very interesting fight with a lot of questions. Will Mark Munoz try to wrestle the taller Kendall Grove and risk getting submitted? Will Kendall Grove stand and fight an emerging striker? The answer to those two questions will decide the outcome of this fight. I see Munoz winning by Split Decision though.

Paul Taylor over John Gunderson = Both fighters are coming off a loss, so both need this win to probably stay in the UFC. Paul Taylor has more UFC experience and that should help him here. This fight will more than likely go to decision, so both fighters will be somewhat passive coming off a loss. I like Paul Taylor to win out in the end though.

Rick Story over Nick Osipczak = I think Rick Story has more power than Nick Osipczak and it will show in this fight. He may throw a takedown or two in there as well. He’ll win by Technical Knockout.

Brad Blackburn over DaMarques Johnson = This is my pick for Fight of the Night. It’s kind of a dark horse pick, so we’ll see what happens. Brad Blackburn likes to stand and fight and I see DaMarques Johnson doing the same. Brad Blackburn will win by Split Decision.

Matt Veach over Paul Kelly = Paul Kelly is going to want to stand and fight and Matt Veach will want to take him down. Paul Kelly doesn’t have great takedown defense, so Matt Veach should be able to wrestle him to an Unanimous Decision.

Fight of the Night = Brad Blackburn over DaMarques Johnson

Knockout of the Night = Anderson Silva over Demian Maia

Submission of the Night = Phil Davis over Alexander Gustafsson

Last UFC Event = 9 – 2


4 Overall UFC Events = 27 – 11 (12 – 5 Main Card Fights)

My new favorite NBA Rookie

Is it too late to throw in a new candidate for Rookie of the Year in the National Basketball Association? I truly believe that Reggie Williams of the Golden State Warriors should be getting more mainstream attention than he has so far. If you don’t know who he is then start taking notice. I watch and follow a lot of teams and he’s the rookie I’ve been most impressed with as of late. In fact, he’s only played 15 games so far! Yes, it is ludicrous for me to want to put Reggie Williams in the Rookie of the Year conversation after only 15 games, but I’m doing it.

-His P.R.A (Points, Rebounds, Assists) average is at 21.2 right now. That’s right behind Brandon Jennings and good for 4th among Rookies.
-His 14.9 Points Per Game average is 4th among Rookies.
-His Rebounds Per Game average is 11th among Rookies and his Assists Per Game average is 9th.
-5 times he’s scored over 20 points.
-7 times he’s grabbed over 5 rebounds.
-4 times he’s dished out over 4 assists.
-3 times he’s stolen the ball 2 or more times.
-His Field Goal, 3 point, and Free Throw percentages are 51%, 41%, and 84%!

He has a very bright future in the NBA. If the Warriors don’t sign him someone is going to get a great young player for very cheap.

UFC Fight Night-Florian vs Gomi Predictions

Kenny Florian over Takanori Gomi = I’m not a huge Kenny Florian fan, but I do think that time has passed Takanori Gomi by. I don’t know if his style will be a good match up for someone who uses good angles like Florian. I see Gomi being aggressive and coming straight forward, while Florian uses good footwork and positioning to get an Unanimous Decision.

Roy Nelson over Stefan Struve = Roy Nelson has more experience against higher level competition than Stefan Struve and it will show here. Nelson may be able to end this fight on the feet. Struve is good at using his length, but he doesn’t have a lot of power in his frame yet. Their Brazilian jiu-jitsu will cancel each other out. Nelson wins by Technical Knockout.

Nate Quarry over Jorge Rivera = I see this being a stand up fight. Both fighters are solid strikers and have decent chins. This could be the Fight of the Night. I see Nate Quarry winning a close Split Decision by landing more meaning strikes than Jorge Rivera.

Gleison Tibau over Caol Uno = Caol Uno is in a similar situation as Takanori Gomi. I think time has passed both fighters by. I just don’t think Uno’s style matches up well against most people inside the UFC. Gleison Tibau should get the Unanimous Decision here by outmuscling Uno against the cage.

Yushin Okami over Lucio Linhares = This is another solid match up. Most of the fights for this event could go either way. I’m really not expecting a very good win – loss record after this. Anyways, I’ll take Okami to win by Unanimous Decision here, by using his ground and pound. It could end early if Lucio Linhares doesn’t defend himself well on the ground.

Ross Pearson over Dennis Siver = This is a lot like the Nate Quarry – Jorge Rivera fight. Both people are probably just going to stand and bang. It should be very entertaining. Unlike the Nate Quarry – Jorge Rivera fight, I could see this one ending early with Ross Pearson getting the Technical Knockout.

Andre Winner over Rafaello Oliveira = This fight could go either way. These two fighters and evenly matched. Neither one has a huge advantage anywhere over the other. Rafaello Oliveira could submit Andre Winner, but I don’t see it going to the ground. I think Winner will land some good punches from the feet and finish with some ground and pound for the Technical Knockout win.

Ronys Torres over Jacob Volkmann = Both of these fighters have had tough first UFC opponents. It’s good that one of them will finally get a win. Whoever losses may not be in the UFC after the fight. I think Jacob Volkmann will try and wrestle with Ronys Torres, but Torres should be able to find a way to submit him in the end.

Nik Lentz over Rob Emerson = If these two slug it out I see Rob Emerson winning, but if Nik Lentz can mix a takedown in with the striking I see him winning by Unanimous Decision. I do see him getting some takedowns.

Gerald Harris over Mario Miranda = This is my favorite undercard fight of the night. Both fighters and great athletes and this fight could go anywhere. There is no telling if they will keep it standing or go for takedowns and try to win by lay and pray or ground and pound. Gerald Harris should win though by having UFC and The Ultimate Fighter experience.

Charlie Brenneman over Jason High = Two newcomers to the UFC for this fight. Both have solid wrestling, but Brenneman’s is better. He’ll use it to win the fight, but it will be close. Jason High is very talented and will get another UFC fight. Brenneman by Split Decision

Fight of the Night = Nate Quarry over Jorge Rivera
Knockout of the Night = Roy Nelson over Stefan Struve
Submission of the Night = Ronys Torres over Jacob Volkmann

Last UFC Event = 6-3
3 Overall UFC Events = 18-9 (9-4 Main Card fights)

UFC 111 Predictions

-Georges St-Pierre over Dan Hardy = Dan Hardy has some power, but his striking isn’t as crisp as some would like you to believe. Georges St-Pierre is better all around and his skills will be on full display during this fight before he gets the technical knock out.

-Frank Mir over Shane Carwin = This is a lot like the St. Pierre-Hardy fight. Shane Carwin has a lot of power, but I don’t think that will be enough to take out Frank Mir. I see Mir getting another Technical Knock Out.

-Jon Fitch over Thiago Alves = Thiago Alves got taken down at will during his last fight against GSP and that’s exactly what Jon Fitch will do in this fight. It wouldn’t be very smart for him to try and strike with Alves. I see this being the fight of the night, but a split decision for Fitch none the less!

-Jim Miller over Mark Bocek = Both are solid on the ground, but I think Jim Miller’s striking and wrestling will be the difference in this fight. Miller should get the unanimous decision.

-Nate Diaz over Rory Markham = Nate Diaz is moving up in weight and Rory Markham is no push over. I think Nate Diaz will eventually get the submission though. The only chance Markham has is to knock out Diaz and Diaz has good enough stand up to not let that happen.

-Ben Saunders over Jake Ellenberger = This should be a close fight. I see Ben Saunders clinch work being the difference here. He should be able to use his length to his advantage in this fight to get the split decision.

-Ricardo Almeida over Matt Brown = Coming down to 170 was a good idea for Ricardo Almeida. He should find a good deal of success there. Matt Brown will be a good test for him, but in the end he should get a submission win for himself.

-Kurt Pellegrino over Fabricio Camoes = I’m not sure how to gauge Fabricio Camoes just yet. He had a draw in his first UFC fight. This will be a much bigger test than his first fight though. Kurt Pellegrino will be too much for Camoes this early in his career. I think the UFC will keep him around though and see what he is made of.

-Rodney Wallace over Jared Hamman = One has the height advantage and one has the power advantage. I’ll take the power in this fight. Rodney Wallace should knock out Jared Hamman ending his UFC career.

-Rousimar Palhares over Tomasz Drwal = This is actually my favorite match up of the whole card. This will be a very close and exciting fight. Whoever wins will really make a name for themselves in the 185 pound division. I like Rousimar Palhares to win be unanimous decision here though.

-Greg Soto over Matthew Riddle = This is really a toss up of a fight. It could go either way. I see the new comer getting a win though.

Fight of The Night = Jon Fitch over Thiago Alves
Knockout of The Night = Frank Mir over Shane Carwin
Submission of The Night = Ricardo Almeida over Matt Brown

8-2 last UFC event


12-6 Overall for UFC events

The Washington Wizards 2010 Lottery Draft Board

Here is what I think the Washington Wizards draft board should look like.

1. John Wall = Gilbert Arenas isn’t going to win a championship for us. John Wall might!

2. Evan Turner = We have needed a solid shooting guard since Jerry Stackhouse, Richard Hamilton, and Michael Jordan. He could be a Kobe Bryant or Dwayne Wade clone who can get points, rebounds, and assists.

3. Greg Monroe = He can play Center and Power Forward. He’s also a very good passing big man. He could probably start right away for us.

4. DeMarcus Cousins = He’s a big bodied Center, but he might also be a Zach Randolph clone. He might be risky, but he also has a lot of upside.

5. Derrick Favors = A great Power Forward prospect. If we draft him though, Andray Blatche might have to play Center full time.

6. Cole Aldrich = He’s a very polished Center. He’s solid on defense. I think he would start right away for us.

7. Al-Farouq Aminu = I don’t know if Al Thornton or Josh Howard or Mike Miller are the answer at Small Forward for our team. Aminu can score some and get rebounds and assists.

8. Patrick Patterson = I don’t think he’s going to be a star, but I think he will be a solid starter or bench player in the NBA. I wouldn’t mind having him on this team.

9. Hassan Whiteside = He’s raw and has a lot of work to do, but he could be very good in a couple of years. If none of the other players are left, I’d take him.

10. Ed Davis = He’s raw and has a lot of work to do, but he could be very good in a couple of years. If none of the other players are left, I’d take him.

11. Wesley Johnson = I could move him up to number 7, but I think he might be maxing out already. I don’t know why, but I always listen to my gut. If I’m wrong though, he could be a Caron Butler clone.

My UFC top 10

Here is my own personal UFC Top 10 for each weight class. It was hard making it only top 10, but I did my best. There are a lot of really good fighters in the UFC and so many of them haven’t matched up that it is hard to really gauge just how good everyone is.

265

1. Brock Lesner

2. Frank Mir

3. Junior Dos Santos

4. Cain Velasquez

5. Shane Carwin

6. Antonio Nogueira

7. Gabriel Gonzaga

8. Cheick Kongo

9. Roy Nelson

10. Todd Duffee

205

1. Lyoto Machida

2. Mauricio Rua

3. Rashad Evans

4. Quinton Jackson

5. Jon Jones

6. Rogerio Nogueira

7. Ryan Bader

8. Thiago Silva

9. Phil Davis

10. Rich Franklin

185

1. Anderson Silva

2. Chael Sonnen

3. Nate Marquardt

4. Vitor Belfort

5. Damian Maia

6. Rousimar Palhares

7. Yoshihiro Akiyama

8. Yushin Okami

9. Aaron Simpson

10. Nate Quarry

170

1. Georges St. Pierre

2. Jon Fitch

3. Thiago Alves

4. Paulo Thiago

5. Josh Koscheck

6. Paul Daley

7. Dan Hardy

8. Diego Sanchez

9. Johny Hendricks

10. Anthony Johnson

155
1. B.J. Penn

2. Gray Maynard

3. Frankie Edgar

4. Kenny Florian

5. Sean Sherk

6. Tyson Griffin

7. Jim Miller

8. George Sotiropoulos

9. Joe Stevenson

10. Melvin Guillard

Real March Madness

What is March Madness? Is it about the shear unpredictability of who gets into the field of 65? Is it about the exciting finishes of the games? Maybe it's a little of both and then some. To me though, real March Madness is about being mad that your bracket got so busted, because of the upsets. That being the case, I'm extremely mad right now. This has been the maddest March of all time already and it's only going to get madder. I expect more upsets and not 1, but 2 Cinderellas this year. I still stand by my Kentucky pick to win the championship though. They have 3 first round draft choices. I never bet against the team with the most quality NBA talent. That's why UNC won last year!

Tiger Tiger Tiger!

So Tiger Woods is going to play at the Masters. He is also the favorite. I don't care! I'm calling it right now. He will not win. I repeat. He will not win. Yes, Tiger Woods is the best golf player in the world and yes, Tiger Woods won a major right after knee surgery, not too long ago, but this is a little different. This isn't a physical injury. This is a mental injury he's going through. Golf isn't a physical game. It's a mental game. I think he's going to need some time to recover from this sex scandal. I don't know how much practice time and training he's been putting in also, but I just have a feeling that he is not going to be on his "A" game at the Masters. Take the field!

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My NCAA Men's Basketball Bracket

UFC Live on Versus - Vera vs. Jones Predictions

The first Ultimate Fighting Champion on the Versus network should be a very good one. There are a lot of close fights. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them went different than I predict. Here are my thoughts though.

-Jon Jones over Brandon Vera by Unanimous Decision = Jon Jones is the future of the 205 division. He’s with a great camp now also. This fight will really tell where he is as a fighter. Brandon Vera should try to keep this fight in the clinch, against the cage or try to take Jon Jones down if he wants to win. Those are two positions we haven’t really seen Jon Jones tested in yet.

-Junior Dos Santos over Gabriel Gonzaga by Technical Knockout = Gabriel Gonzaga will try and stand with Junior Dos Santos and when he loses that battle he’ll try to get him down to the ground. I don’t see that happening. Dos Santos will outbox Gonzaga to a TKO.

-Cheick Kongo over Paul Buentello by TKO = This should be an easy fight for Kongo. Buentello probably shouldn’t be in the UFC at this point in his career.

-Alessio Sakara over James Irvin by TKO = It will be interesting to see how the weight cut to 185 for James Irvin will be. Will he be faster? Or will he have less power and cardio. I think he will gas and it will end up costing him the fight.

-Clay Guida over Shannon Gugerty by Split Decision = Clay Guida will probably wrestle Shannon Gugerty to the ground for three rounds and get the Split Decision.

-Eliot Marshall over Vladimir Matyushenko by SD = A very solid matchup that could go either way. I think Eliot Marshall’s youth and athleticism will win out in the end though.

-John Howard over Daniel Roberts by Knockout = UFC new comers normally don’t do too well in their debuts. I don’t see this being any different. John Howard is very good with his hands and should knockout the newcomer.

-Brendan Schaub over Chase Gormley by Submission = The loser of this fight may not have a future in the UFC. Chase Gormley will try to wrestle Brendan Schaub down, but it won’t work. I see Schaub knocking Gormley down and then pouncing on him for the submission.

-Mike Pierce over Julio Paulino by UD = Julio Paulino is a very good fighter. He has a future in the UFC. Mike Pierce might be a little too tough right now though.

-Eric Schafer over Jason Brilz by SD = This will either be an exciting fight or a very boring fight. It should be close though. Eric Shafer’s striking should win out in the end though.

Fight of the Night = Jon Jones over Brandon Vera by Unanimous Decision

Submission of the Night = Brendan Schaub over Chase Gormley by Submission

Knockout of the Night = John Howard over Daniel Roberts by Knockout

Last UFC 4-4-1 (The Mirko Cro Cop match doesn’t count since his original opponent dropped out at the last minute)

My Larry Johnson Rant

My Washington Redskins have signed running back Larry Johnson. WOW! Why are we doing this again? He's finished. He's not going to help our backfield. We already have one physical, non-motivated runner in Clinton Portis. That's not why I'm considering boycotting my Washington Redskins and switching to another team. It's because of Larry Johnson's off the field problems. I don't know him, but I think I can safely say that he's not a very good person. He's insulted his coaches. He's tossed around gay slurs. He's been horrible to women. He's not the kind of player I want on my team. I can't believe he could possibly make 12 million dollars. If I did one thing he did I'd be fired or in jail. I don't care if he produces this season. I will still not be a fan or supporter of his. I really hope Washington has a bigger plan in mind.

GMU Wrestling

From March 18-20, 2010 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska the 2010 NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships will take place. I would just like to congratulate two team mates of mine. Good luck to Brandon Bucher and Bagna Tovuujav. They will be competing in the tournament at the 149 and 174 pound weight classes respectively. GO MASON! GO PATRIOTS!

Fixing The Washington Redskins

Here are some tips from yours truly on how the Washington Redskins can win a championship again. I hope they are listening.

1. Get the right front office and coaching staffs in place! = Maybe we’ve finally done that, but time will tell.
2. Draft and sign the right players. = This means don’t draft or sign players that you aren’t going to use correctly. Very few players are capable of doing it all, so put the players in the right positions to use their strengths and hide their weaknesses.
3. Get rid of every overpaid, underachieving, or past their prime player on the roster.
4. Build up the offensive and defensive lines. = Jason Campbell is a solid quarterback who can win a franchise games, but he needs to be protected. Our linebackers and secondary are solid as well, but they can only be effective if our front 3 or 4 are stopping the run or pressuring the quarterback.
5. Don’t draft a quarterback this year. = I’m not sold on any of them.
6. Make special teams a priority. = Special teams can both win and lose you games. Don’t let them lose us anymore games.
7. Get rid of Clinton Portis. = He’s past his prime and not even the Shanahan zone blocking scheme can revive his career.
8. Keep Jason Campbell. = He has been getting better and better every year. He’s not as bad as the team makes him look.
9. Quit firing coordinators and coaches after just 1 or 2 years. = This is another major reason why the Redskins haven’t been winning games. Player can learn a system in 1 or 2 years, but they need longer to master it and become a great player within that system.
10. Honor Chris Samuels. = He’s been a great Redskin and honoring him will make current Redskins play harder and with more passion, because it shows that their contributions will not go unnoticed.
11. Hire a new strength and conditioning and athletic injury staff. = Our players are always hurt and hiring better suited trainers would probably help prevent that.
12. Do not change the Redskins name! = Yes, it is racist, but I like the name. I like the colors. I like the symbol. I know it’s wrong, but I’m so used to it that I don’t want it to change.

Obviously the team needs to get better at every position in order to contend for a championship, but that would be too much to write for a blog. Maybe one day I’ll write a book on how to build a NFL championship team, but that’s not today. The 12 suggestions I made are a good start.

Fixing The Washington Wizards

The main goal of sports should always be to win a championship. “You play to win the game”. The Washington Wizards, as they are currently constructed, haven’t been winning too many games. It’s so bad that, at this juncture, I’m not sure if a single player on the roster could start for a team with a winning record. They have some talent, but that talent is either raw, underachieving, or suspended. I tend to live in a fantasy world, so let me explain what I am doing here. I am deciding who on the Washington Wizards roster should be on the team next year and who shouldn’t be. I don’t care about contracts or clauses. I am making this very simple. If the Washington Wizards want to build a winner here is who I think should stay or go.

Point Guards- Gilbert Arenas = I think after missing so much playing time to injury and suspension he has to go. He’s still a very good player, but in the last few years he’s created more drama than production.
Randy Foye = I wouldn’t mind keeping him on the team as a backup. I don’t think he is an NBA starter though. He’s also an in-between player without a real position.
Earl Boykins = He’s played pretty well for the Wizards this year, but I’m only a fan of keeping small players if they are young. That is because they are normally pretty good defenders against other small players. He will probably be gone after this year, but he may get a contract with another team.
Javaris Crittenton = He will be gone after this season. I actually like him as a player. He’s not a great shooter, but he has some defensive and passing abilities.
Shaun Livingston = He’s gone after this year too. I’ve always been a fan of his, but he just hasn’t been the same since his horrific knee injury.
Mike James = The best thing Flip Saunders has done this season is not play Mike James. He probably has a place on some NBA roster, but his shot selection is horrible. He has to go.

Shooting Guards- Mike Miller = I like Mike Miller a lot. I think he is a back up though. He doesn’t really do anything great, but he does everything well. I think the Wizards should try and keep him.
Nick Young = He’s a streaky shooter who I think could be a solid sixth man if he was given the minutes and freedom to just score. He’ll be back and maybe next year will be better for him.
Quinton Ross = No real reason to keep him or get rid of him, but I don’t think he can be a player on a championship team and since that is the goal, I say he should go.

Small Forwards- Josh Howard = I don’t think he really has a passion for basketball now that he’s made some money. I say he goes, but we’ll see what the Wizards do. They tend to make bad decisions.
Al Thornton = He’s another player who I wouldn’t mind if he stayed on as a bench shooter. Give him minutes and the freedom to score and he can help a team win some games. Keep him.
Mike Harris = Gone after this year. Probably back to the NBDL.

Power Forwards- Andray Blatche = He’s been great since he became a starter. He looks like he’s finally putting everything together. Even if he hasn’t and his current production is just a mirage, I say keep him as a Lamar Odom type off the bench.
James Singleton = I say keep him. He’s a solid rebounder and a good defender.

Centers- JaVale McGee = He is too raw. Yes, I said too raw. He doesn’t rebound like he should be able to. He’s lost on defense. He tries to block too many shots. I say let him go.
Fabricio Oberto = He will probably be gone after this year. He’s a shell of his former self.

Keepers = Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Nick Young, Al Thornton, Andray Blatche, James Singleton.

The Curious Case of LeBron James

Should LeBron James stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers or should he go elsewhere in free agency? I personally think he should stay, but since it’s not my decision we’ll let him decide. Here is what I imagine is going through his head right now.

Should I stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers or should I leave?

*To Stay
-I was born in Ohio.
-My family and I are comfortable and know where everything is.
-My family and I know the people of this area.
-I’m already a hero here.
-I’m already a superstar here.
-I’m already rich.
-My team is good.
-I have a good General Manager and Owner.
-The team is trying to win now.
-I could lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first title ever.
-Many of the all time greats only played for one team during their prime.
-I could make the most money if I resign here.

*To Go
-My family and I could explore a new area and meet new people and be adventurous.
-I could be a hero in another town.
-I could make more endorsement money being in a bigger market.
-I could lead another team to a championship.
-I could be the best player ever for multiple franchises.
-My team is aging and doesn’t have a great young nucleus for the future.

I’m sure there are a countless number of variables to LeBron James’ decision, but it does seem as though staying may be the best choice. In the not to distant future we will find out what The King is going to do. I predict he will stay put though. Time will tell. I could be right or I could be wrong. We’ll see.

A Change You Can Believe In

You may have noticed some changes to the blog. Maybe you haven’t. I’ve decided to start this blog over. I’m going to start from scratch. It’s going to be new and fresh. I am doing this, because I feel as though I wasn’t being true to myself. I wasn’t writing how I wanted to write. All of that will change now. I am now going to write in my true voice and my true style. I hope you will read and I hope you will enjoy.