Liverpool vs. Chelsea: Clash of the Titans

The Premiere League title has been put on hold for another week because of Tottenham vs. Chelsea in the FA Cup Semi Final in Chelsea.  Both teams have not seen Wembly in some time.  Tottenham has had its ups and down this season and is currently trying to revive its previous 11-game win streak that it lived in-mid season.  Chelsea is trying to overcome its managerial uphevel under Roerto Di Mateo, to finish in the top four of the Premiere League standings.  With Barcelona on the horizon, Chelsea’s exit from the champions league is inevitable, therefore the Champions Cup is Chelseas only chance of silverware for the FA cup this season.

With Tottenham out of this years title chase in the Premiere League, both teams put everything on the line in their semi-final cup clash.

Chelsea won 5-1 despite a neck-in-neck first half, Chelsea dug deep with Drogba, Lampard, Mata, and Ramirez goals to bring cup glory one step closer to the Blues.  The final will prove to be a clash of the titans between sixth place Blues and eighth place Liverpool, trying to reclaim prior glory in England.

Theo’s Way: The first diary entry of new Cubs President, Theo Epstein

Dear Diary,

How awesome is it that I just left the Red Sox for the Cubs?  Their clubhouse was pretty messed up.  I love drinking with the boys in the ‘pen, but as soon as it leaked to the media, I denied being any part of that jazz.  J. Pap and Beckett sure can take down some PBR’s though.

Any-hoo, if you thought Fenway was a dump, wait till I tell you about this shithole.  I heard a couple years ago some bricks fell from the ceiling and killed a kid!  My office is in the upper deck and they don’t even have an elevator, wheelchair accessible my ass.  There is still a urine stain on the carpet from when Andy MacPhail let loose after he was fired in ’02.  I just looked out the window and noticed the Ivy in the outfield wall wasn’t there.  Where did it go for the winter?

I have big plans for this stadium and this group.  I lucked into a winner in 2004 with the Red Sox, so who says you can’t catch lightening in a bottle twice?  I think I may try to bring back some of those ’04 guys to the Cubs.  I wonder if Todd Walker and Troy O’Leary would come out of retirement?  Maybe I could call up Alan Embree to sure up the pen, but it’s probably all just a pipe dream.  I miss those bro’s.

I’m putting together an 8-year plan for the Cubs to win the World Series.  I’m going to preach patience because, well, they’ve waited 104 years.  What another eight?  I also don’t want to seem like a failure when the team sucks for five years.

So, this team has seriously blown for three years, and has been really bad for almost 70.  They need wholesale changes, Costco size dare-I-say.

I’ll start with the corners. I’m definitely not going to resign the longest tenured third-baseman since 1973, who has been a force in the middle of the Cubs lineup for eight years.  He gives the team a chance to win too quickly.  I will replace him with a twenty-four year old former prospect that hit under .200 last season, because he has HUGE upside according to our computer, Carmine.

Then I also won’t resign the only legitimate power threat in the lineup, first baseman Carlos Pena.  He is too consistent with his power numbers, and I don’t like that. I like a little flavor.  I easily could sign either of the two big market replacements in Fielder and Pujols, the Cubs gave me some FAT cash to play with.  But I’m going to decline those contracts because God forbid they actually live-up to expectations.  I can’t risk them failing because every large signing for the Cubs since Andre Dawson has been a complete and utter failure. I’m looking at you Soriano, Alou, and Rondell White.

Oops, diary!  Tom Ricketts is calling me into his office! He’s pissed off I just traded Sean Marshall.  I haven’t been here a day and I’m making moves.  Sean’s good and all, but he was awkwardly tall and gangly.  Can’t have that on a championship team.  It’s bad for business, always has been always will be.

Until next time.

Love,

T-Ep

Life of a Cave Dweller

How would you like to be able to watch all 2,430 regular season baseball games on 15 big screens, in a warehouse filled with MLB gear, with nine strangers, and get paid for it?

This, my friends is the MLB Fan Cave experience.  Where nine contestants selected from a field of over 20,000 applicants will sit and watch every baseball game in 2012 while interviewing celebrities and baseball players, hosting live shows, and posting daily blogs.

The MLB Fan Cave is located in Greenwich Village in New York City, and will house the contestants during the 2012 season.  The Cave has 15 televisions for the “Cave Dwellers” to watch each game, tons of MLB gear, and is enclosed by 34 14-foot windows so anyone walking by can see what’s happening in the cave at any point in a day.

The MLB debuted the Fan Cave last season with great success.  Mike O’Hara was the first winner of the MLB Fan Cave experience.  He, and his wingman Ryan Wagner, dedicated their 2011 summer to watching every baseball game.  That is a grueling task to bestow on just two men, so the MLB changed the experience this season and selected nine contestants.

The job of the nine contestants is simple.  Watch the games, post about them to Facebook and Twitter, and blog about them on MLB.com.  This way fans can be connected to the group each day of the season.  Currently @MLBFanCave has 68,789 followers on Twitter, and 222,294 “likes” on Facebook. Fans have also been using the #MLBFC on Twitter.

Last season O’Hara and Wagner had daily segments with both current and former ball players, including Big Papi asking Yankee fans for hugs in New York Cityand John Axford explaining how to grow the perfect mustache.  It will be interesting to see how this season of MLB Fan Cave will play out with nine strangers living together for six months.

Sweet 16: Atlanta Regional Running Diary

6:30

Arrived in the city of Atlanta four hours later than predicted.  The eight hour drive quickly turned into 12 hours because of two major accidents outside of Louisville at 7 AM, and Nashville around 10 AM.

7:00 PM

Arrived at the Georgia Dome and only paid $10 for parking in the stadium lot.  We thought that was a great deal until we got our credentials, and found out that we were issued a parking pass.

7:10

Arrived inside the media hospitality room (on what should have been the 20 yard line of a Falcons game), only to find out we missed the free dinner.

7:25

Bought a sweet, “Sweet 16”, t-shirt and some chicken fingers.  B+ for the shirt (to the tune of $25), and a solid C for the chicken fingers.  Not the best I’ve had, but certainly not the worst.

7:40

Arrived at our seats on the court in the second row of media seating opposite of the Xavier bench.  Baylor is up 33-16, dominating early on.

7:53

Baylor, specifically Quincy Acy, is more athletic than Xavier. Period.  They would match-up well with UK.  Unless UK fails to reach the Elight 8.

7:55

I will be absolutely in shock if Xavier pulls this out.  They are simply being out muscled by the Bears defense, and are too slow when Baylor has the ball.

7:56

Thought I should make a comment on the Baylor neon jerseys…. They are distracting. It’s like they are trying to be Oregon football but failing.

8:04

And just like that it’s 33-28 Baylor.  The Musketeers just went on a 12-0 run.  Shows how much I know.  I still think Baylor wins.

8:07

What would happen if Anthony Jones and Brittany Griner had a kid?

8:08

36-29 Baylor at halftime.

8:21

Spotted:  Kentucky fan, in blue afro wig, blue suit, and Anthony Davis uni-brow.

8:26

Xavier second half key:  Involve Tu Holloway a whole lot more.  Only 6 points and an assist in the first half.

8:27

Baylor warms up in shirts that read, “One Team.  One God. One Goal.”  I think it’s safe to say Tom Crean would approve of this message.

8:30

Xavier Musketeer mascot looks exactly like Adrian Brody from those new razor commercials that he is in #FacialHair.

8:35

Quincy Acy is from Mesquite, Texas, where the chips are PHENOMENAL.

8:52

49-44 Baylor.  The Bears cannot pull away. Holloway being a bit more productive by mid-half, but still has only 2 assists.  At this point I just want the IU game to start.  That’s what matters now.

9:00

Tu Holloway may have made a game-changing steal, still a lot of time left though.  55-50 Baylor.

9:15

Still 3:21 left. It’s an 8 point game.  That means Xavier could be fouling late.  This game may end closer to 9:30 than 9:15, meaning the IU game won’t be starting until closer to 10.

9:23

Indiana student body is heard loud in the Georgia Dome.  Starting Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoosier chants.  Now waiting for the Kentucky response…

9:26

Xavier won’t go away.  Justin Martin just drained a three from the right wing.  69-63 Baylor, with 1:21 left.  Put this one away Baylor, IU has a game to play.

9:32

Tu Holloway making baskets when it matters most, and continuing to postpone the IU game. 71-68 Baylor.  He has 16 second half points.

9:35

That’ll play, 75-70 Baylor.  Great game overall, now half hour until game time.

9:37

Right now, I am predicting a 74-67 Indiana loss.  Mark it down.  I have witnesses.

9:40

Teams are on the court.

9:44

Both Harbaugh brothers pass media row dawning matching “Bench Mod” shirts.  That’s too cute.

10:00

Hoosiers enter the court again.  This is it.  Game time is just a few minutes away.  Embrace the moment.

10:07

Starting line-ups announced.  Indiana fans are loud, but Kentucky may own this building, for now.  They have about an 80-20 fan advantage.  They also most likely assumed they would be in the Sweet 16, and therefore bought tickets earlier than Indiana fans.

10:09

Indiana wins the tip.

10:09

Terrance Jones gets Kentucky on the board with a three.  This was after an Oladipo missed lay-up.  He needs to put those in.

10:11

Zeller going right at Davis early.

10:16

Hulls gets called for a second foul with 15 minutes left in the half.  Remy checks in.  Hulls will need to sit for a long while.  Remy has to step up offensively and create points.

10:20

Anthony Davis called for his second foul with 14:10 left.  Momentum changer.

10:22

Two quick fouls on Cody and he is out of the game as well.

10:23

Kentucky is in the bonus with 13 minutes left in the game.  That is not a good sign for Indiana.

10:32

Hulls returns to the game at the 10:30 mark, Kentucky leads 29-20

10:34

Terrance Jones finishes an alley-oop.  Crean is furious, calls a timeout.  Watford and Pritchard get into it on the sidelines.  Something needs to change quickly for the Hoosiers.

10:36

Zeller back in the game with 9:55 seconds remaining.  It’s a gamble by Crean, but down by 9 he may need to gamble in order to come back.

10:39

So far the insertions of Zeller and Hulls have paid off.  Indiana now down 31-26.  On a 6-0 run since both came back.  Indiana is playing three guys with two fouls.  Four total players have two.

10:41

Hulls puts in a floater to make that an 8-0 IU run in the last 2 minutes.

10:43

What cheerleaders do is hard, both male and female.  I’ll support it.  They deserve more credit.  I don’t know how more cheerleaders don’t fall on their faces.

10:47

Sheehey continues to get points inside on backdoor cuts.  Got to give Jordy credit for those finds.

10:50

Watford ties the game with a 3 pointer.  He’s 4-7 this half.

10:51

Indiana takes the 41-39 lead with 3:56 remaining.  Timeout Kentucky.  Watford gets an easy lay in.  When Watford is on a national stage he is a different player.  His energy is through the roof.  Most important player for Indiana the rest of the game, besides maybe Cody Zeller.  Watford has the NBA ability to take over a game.  The question now is does Watford look into going pro after the tournament?

10:54

11 points for Christian Watford in just over two minutes.  The dude is scorching hot right now.  I, personally, would not touch him.  I don’t know how Terrance Jones feels.

10:58

Pritchard misses a dunk.  He has failed to put in a few easy ones this year.  I think he may actually get nervous when jumps he up for one of those ever since the #PritchSlam last season.

11:04

First half ends with Kentucky leading 50-47.  I don’t think Indiana can be one bit upset about the performance.  They have kept it close, taken leads, and have made Kentucky fight to hold an advantage.  This is all with Cody Zeller being limited to nine minutes.  He will 100% be on the floor for more time than that in the second half.  Watford has 17 first half points on 6-11 shooting.  Hulls and Sheehey combined for 13 points on 6-9 shooting.  Need to keep that play up in the second half.  Jones and Davis will be the keys for Kentucky.  Davis, like Zeller will be playing a lot more.

11:18

Halftime snacks:  Orange Powerade and some chips.  Got to get some fuel before the start of the second half.  What a game!

11:21

Hoosiers back on the court for half number two.

11:25

Time for the second half to start.  Indiana gets the ball.  This is it.  Do or die for Indiana.  20 minutes will decide if this season ends or continues onward towards New Orleans.

11:26

Zeller goes right at Davis for the first two points of the half.

11:30

Vic stops a little UK run by laying it in over Davis.  He needs to hit his layups, and the Hoosiers need to attack Davis.

11:33

Indiana has hit 3 lay-ups in a row, two from Vic, and one from Sheehey.  64-60 Kentucky.

11:34

Indiana has responded to a strong start to the second half by the Wildcats.  Darius Miller is 2-2 from three-point range this half, and has eight points.  Kentucky comes out of the gates 5-7 from the field.  Indiana is doing their best to respond going 6-11.

11:39

Where oh where is Christian Watford?  One shot and a foul this half.  He needs to emerge somewhat soon.

11:41

Welcome back Christian.  Dunks the ball at the 13:15 mark to bring IU within six.

11:44

Anthony Davis has two points, and five rebounds (all defensive).  28 minutes of the game have been played, and he has participated in just 14 of those minutes.

11:49

Indiana cannot afford to keep trading baskets. The defensive intensity has to pick up during the last 10 minutes of the game.

11:50

Vic Oladipo picks up his fourth foul with 10:26 left in the game.  His offensive ability to slash and score in the post will be missed.  As I type this statement Hulls drops a ten-foot jumper in the lane.

11:54

The way Anthony Davis chews his mouth guard on defense really bothers me.  I’ve noticed it all game.  Keep that in your mouth please.

11:56

Zeller slams it in to put IU within nine with eight minutes left.  That bucket is followed by a UK travel.  Indiana has a little fight left in them.

11:57

William Tell Overture, aka “Flags”, is played at the under eight-minute media time out.  Will this be the last time I hear that song played at an Indiana game as a student?

12:03

Vic back in the game with four fouls.  Indiana down 83-73.

12:04

Vic fouls out.  Not what Crean had in mind.  Oladipo is done for the evening.

12:07

Watford just missed a three pointer that would have put Indiana within four points.  However, 84-77 Kentucky

12:14

Kentucky keeps getting to the line, and keeps making their free throws.  Second half alone they are currently 14-15 from the line.  Indiana is two of two.

12:15

I concede.  What a season.  Kentucky outplayed Indiana tonight, but the Hoosiers held played right with them.  They can leave Atlanta, and this season with their heads held high.

12:16

Obviously my earlier score prediction of 74-67 Kentucky was a little off. I do not think anyone predicted a score this high.

12:19

Senior Daniel Moore enters the game for the final minute.  Good to see him on the court for a tournament game.

12:23

98-88 Kentucky, with Davis on the line.  Could not be more proud to have covered this team, this season.  Hats off to the Wildcats.  They won a great game.  This team has a bright future ahead and I can’t wait to watch them grow.  On a separate note, this postgame locker room could be very interesting.

12:26

Game over102-90 Kentucky

“Balls.” said the Queen, “If I had two I’d be…..”

The New York Yankees have been the KING of baseball since about 1996 when their string of five World Series titles, seven AL pennants, and  16 playoff appearances have reigned supreme in the MLB.

The Chicago Cubs have been in baseball’s basement since say, oh…1946 (They made the 1945 World Series and played in a few World Series between 1908 and 1945 so we’ll say they were somewhat relevant).  Since 1946 the Cubs have made the playoffs 6 times!  6 times!  Are you kidding me?  A team needs to try and be that bad.

The Yankees made the playoffs 16 of 17 seasons between 1996 and 2011, but the Cubs could only make the playoffs 6 times in 65 years?  That’s a joke, but not really because it’s a serious thing.

The 2012 Yankees and Cubs seem to be historically about where their respective teams should be in early march.  The Yankees are vying for a World Series title, and the Cubs are hoping to be above the Pirates as they entrench themselves in the new “Cubs Way” brought to you by Theo Epstein and his computer program.

The simple difference between the Cubs and Yankees is the difference between “at least” and “if”.  Let me explain:

The Yankees will be good because:

Derrick Jeter will hit at least .280

Alex Rodgriguez will hit at least 25 home runs

Mark Texiera will have at least 90 RBI’s

Curtis Granderson will be at least a 20/20 player

C.C. Sabathia will have at least 18 wins

Mariano Rivera will have at least 40 saves

Robinson Cano will at least be an All-Star

 

The Cubs will be good:

If Ian Stewart can play like its 2009

If Kerry Wood doesn’t miss 100 games

If Starlin Castro isn’t a rapist

If Carlos Marmol Pitches like its 2008

If Alfonso Soriano has two good knees

If Ryan Dempster wasn’t 36

If Geo Soto was a rookie again

If Bryan LaHair can succeed in the MLB as a 29 year-old rookie

 

So do you see the differences going into 2012?  In order to be good, a team needs to have more “at least’s” than “if’s.”  So to close off this tangent, the Yankees will at least make the playoffs, and the Cubs would be good if they weren’t the Cubs.  Once the Cubs gain some “at least” players they can begin to compete for division titles.

NBA Rising Stars Game: It’s all about the Cha-Ching-Cha-Ching

For the first time the NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge teams were decided by a draft.  This draft was not like any draft, because the people drafting the teams were former NBA All-Stars and current TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neil.  The two personalities went back and fourth picking the most talented first and second year players the NBA has to offer in the first game combining the talents of both the 2010 and 2011 drafts.

The entire draft was a great marketing campaign for the NBA and TNT.  Barkley and O’Neil are two faces of the NBA that any casual fan can recognize, and they commercialized something that was never a big deal before.  TNT created an entire new draft show based around the game, and they also started a twitter campaign encouraging fanes to participate in predicting the game winning team, and the picks.  Fans however, were robbed of classic Rookie vs. Sophomore battles that they have become accustomed to.

The changes made to the game this year were unnecessary and done to create a greater revenue base around the game and All-Star weekend.  In the decade plus that the game had previously been played the format of putting the rookie players against sophomore players worked out fine.  If anything it created a better competitive advantage because the rookies wanted to beat out the sophomores, and the sophomores did not want to get embarrassed by the rookies.  The rookies had even won two of the last three challenges before the change was made.

This year’s game was won by team Chuck with a cast of six sophomore and four rookies, opposed to Shaq’s losing team with six rookies and four sophomores.  Team Chuck was led by second overall pick Kyrie Irving who led the game in points and assists, dropping 34, and 9.  Hopefully the marketing nonsense will end next year and the traditional format of Rookies vs. Sophomores will return for all of our viewing pleasures.  Here’s to making it more about the game than the marketing and the money.

Jai Alai and Why-Alai it did not Work in the U.S.

Jai Alai (Hi-Al-Eye), which means ‘merry festival’, was introduced to the United States in St. Louis at the World Fair in 1904.  The sport peaked in the United States between the 70’s and 80s mostly in Florida and Las Vegas.  The sport became popular in Las Vegas because fans can bet on the games played in the fronton much like betting on horse races.  The biggest payoff on a Jai-Alai bet was in Palm Beach, Florida when a person wagered $2 and won over $900,000.

What is a fronton you may ask? A fronton is a fancy word for “big stage in a stadium.”  The fronton resembles any auditorium or theatre, but with a stage with specified dimensions for the game to be played.

The court in the fronton consists of three walls, front, left, and back.  It is 175 ft long, and forty feet wide.  Once the ball is served the walls are in play, and a player can get the ball if it hits the ground once.  It is also out of bounds if the server does not serve the ball over the 1-meter line on the front wall.  Once a player catches the ball in the “zesta” they need to throw the ball at the front wall in a continuous motion to receive a point.

A “zesta” is the wicker basket used to throw and catch the “pelota”, the hard ball that Jai Alai players use.  A good Jai Alai player can throw the “pelota” out of a “zesta” at up to 170 mph, which makes the “pelota” the fastest moving ball in sports!

The game is played with nine teams of two standing in a line.  The first two teams play for a point.  The winning team stays on the court, and the losing team moves to the back of the line.  The match is played in a round-robin format between all nine teams until the first team reaches nine points and wins.

Jai-Alai had a difficult time surviving in the United States mostly because the sport makes its money on wagers, and not every state allowed wagering in the frontons.  It is also very expensive to obtain Jai-Alai gear.  Each “zesta” is hand made for each individual player and takes over 14 hours to complete.  Each “pelota” is made from hand woven rubber from Brazil, costs $100 each, and has a lifespan of only 20 minutes in each game because it is being hit so hard.  Therefore it was way too much money to keep this sport going in the U.S.  Jai-Alai may be best known for its appearance in a “Most Interesting Man in the World” commercial by Dos Equis.

How Could Anyone Expect This?

Much of my time watching the Indiana basketball team over the last three seasons has been spent under the banners with the media.  Covering games for IUSTV has given me a unique perspective of the team.

I watched two seasons of rebuilding basketball trying to find the story that gives fans hope, the perspective that shows the team is on the right track, the outlook showing wins are just around the corner, but it was never the case.  I would be covering the worst four-year period in Indiana basketball history, but then things changed.

The 2011-2012 season had a bit more of a buzz.  There would be a legitimate center, a senior class that lettered the three previous seasons, and depth unlike years past.  I honestly thought I had a chance to see a team over .500.  Never could I have predicted what’s happening now.

After a 5-0 start with convincing wins against mid-major opponents I knew this team was at least as good as advertised, then they defeated national champion-runner up Butler, and I began to think this team could be in store for bigger things.

Then two more wins, one away from home against NC State, set up the Hoosiers for an undefeated match-up between themselves and arch rival Kentucky, who happened to be the number one team in the nation.  The rest is history.

Next thing you know, I’m covering a ranked team that went on to defeat Notre Dame, number two Ohio State, and number sixteen Michigan.  IU found themselves in the top ten the next week.

Like any team, Indiana encountered some mid-season bumps in the road.  The Hoosiers went on a three game losing streak capped off by two road loses.  The first to the fifth ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, and the second a one-point loss at Nebraska after IU blew an 11 point lead with seven minutes remaining.

Since the three-game losing streak Indiana has gained some momentum going four and two over the last six game, with back-to-back wins against rivals Purdue and Illinois.  The win against Purdue was Tom Crean’s first as head coach of Indiana.  In the win against the Fighting Illini Indiana improved to seven and oh when shooting over 25 free throws in a game, a statistic fans will need to keep an eye on as the season continues.

The buzz around the team this season is well deserved.  This team is special, and they will be a tough “out” in the NCAA Tournament come March, if they stay composed.  We’ll have to see where the end up depending on the outcome of the last seven games, five of which are being played at home.  Regardless of the outcome in March, none of this season was expected.  It’s been a bonus, and a privilege to cover this team.

Media Day: Eli’s Team is in the Super Bowl, but Peyton is Still the Story

Patriot players sit at their podiums and answer media member questions for an hour

Last week I had the opportunity to soak up Super Bowl City, and Lucas Oil Stadium before the big game at Media Day on Tuesday.

This year was the first year that the NFL opened up media day to the public, and it was a giant success.  Over 7,000 fans entered Lucas Oil Stadium to hear what the Giants and Patriots had to say about everything from the game, to their meals, to their preparation.  I live tweeted the event, and here are some of my favorite quotes and stories from the day.

Tom Brady

Words of wisdom to rookies and young players competing in their first Super Bowl:  “How can I be confident in you, if you aren’t confident in yourself.”

“I want to prove to myself that I can win.”

“Rob is no longer wearing a boot.”

“The Super Bowl sucks if you’re watching it at home.”

After a middle school student asked Brady if he has any game day preparation traditions:  “I have a question for you.  Why aren’t you in school?  It’s a Tuesday!”

Brady realized the fans could hear what he is saying through radios in stands:  “Wow it’s just so cool that they can hear me!”

Brady on what it is like living the “sweet” life:  “Last night I got to drive down a one-way street to go to a restaurant.”

Brady on Peyton Manning:  “He’s meant so much to the city.  I have so much respect for him.  I want him out on the field next year playing for the Colts.”

Chad Ochocino

“God is testing me this season.  I will have a big game on Sunday.”

“I am humbled by this season.”

Rod Gronkowski

“I’m not worried about Sunday.  I’m worried about Tuesday.”

“I’m going one day at a time.  I want to help the team and get better everyday.”

Eli Manning

Eli on Peyton Manning:  “He’ll do everything to get healthy, then play football.  The goal now is to get healthy.  It will all work out.”

More on Peyton:  “Peyton and I would always compete, but it took me until I was 15 or 16 to play on his same level.

And more:  “When Peyton and I go home we still sleep in bunk beds.”

Eli on his receivers:  “Entirely new receiving core than 07.”

Eli told teammates to load up on the St. Elmo’s cocktail sauce until they realized how spicy it was. Water did not help.

Tom Coughlin

Coach says this Super Bowl he will be more patient and enjoy it more.

“I’ve been fired every year except one by the fans and media.”

Brandon Jacobs

Jacobs stressed that the running game needed to improve in order for the Giants to win, but has been happy the receiving core has stepped up.

Jason Pierre-Paul

JPP did not start playing football until he was a junior in high school.  Says he doesn’t understand some of the NFL lingo, but always knows where to be on the field:  “I haven’t reached the surface yet, in terms of my development.”

PAY ATTENTION DAVID STERN, I HAVE AN IDEA FOR YOU

Lockouts defined professional athletics in America during 2011.  The NBA lockout polluted our televisions during the summer and fall months of the past year only to be resolved at the end November with a shortened 66-game season for 2011-2012.

People can argue all they want about whether the owners were selfish or the players were greedy, but in the end the issues were resolved and a new partnership was formed with a 10-year contract extension.

What came out of the lockout could be something more interesting.  As a fan, an 82-game season can seem very long and drawn out.  Most teams realize within 30 games whether they are contending for a title or planning their vacations by April.  This new 66-game season is a prefect alternative.

This was not something discussed in the collective bargaining process, nor something the NBA will ever consider doing, but I believe it would benefit the league so I thought it was worth discussing.

A 66-game season starting on Christmas and ending by April is a joke, and should never be used again.  Each team is put through torturous schedules that include one stretch of three games in three days, and stretches that could see teams playing 7 games in ten days.  These athletes have a hard enough time battling with sufficient days off, but with little rest this season players are dropping with injury faster than the Wizards are dropping in the standings.  The Bulls have had seven players miss games with injury (3 starters), despite holding onto the leagues best record.  Superstars like Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Gionobili, Andrew Bogut, Al Horford and MVP Derrick Rose have all missed significant time or are out for the season.

This 66-game formula would never work, but a few tweaks could make the season more interesting.  My schedule would look like this:

Begin the season on Christmas day, just like this year.  Have all the hype of the season build up, debut on a day when everyone is home from work, and not be overshadowed by the NFL for the first two months of the season.  Play regular season games into mid-May instead of mid-April.  Now the 66 games would be spread out evenly so the players would get proper rest and would not be set up for injury.  Finally begin the playoffs with 8 teams in each conference and end in late June before baseball’s push for the playoffs really kicks into gear.

This plan would keep the NBA in the headlines, keep its players healthy and rested, and the season wouldn’t be as drawn out.  Playing 16 fewer games per year could also help the leagues superstars stay in the prime for a longer period of time, which is only to leagues benefit financially in terms of marketing and sales.  The lockout may not have done any good for the NBA publically, but it could set up a new era for NBA games.  If only David Stern read this blog.