Kevin Durant's Jersey Retired....really?

No more #35 for the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team, since that number is now retired from a one-and-done player.

What a shame!

When I first heard the story about Kevin Durant's jersey being retired my first thought was, wow! What a great topic to argue about for the next few days, maybe it will get our minds off of steroids for a bit.

It amazes me that they are retiring a jersey from a player who went one year. It shows the standard the Texas has. Do you want your future prospects to see the fame they get from a university just for showing up freshman year? It makes retiring jerseys seem like a weekly award. Now listen, I have nothing against Kevin Durant and I am a big fan and think he is a great basketball player and he is for real in the NBA as well. But the fact of the matter is, he is not a "hang your jersey up in the rafters" kind of player. He only stayed one year and got his team to the Sweet Sixteen.

Let another Longhorn #35 do the same, don't ruin a good number.

I guess next will be A.J. Abrams #3 if we are going at this speed.

-J.J.

Recent Releases could make "Free" Agency interesting

Well we only have a couple of days until free agency finally starts and it looks like it could be a pretty interesting period. There are quite a few established (and recently released) veterans hitting the market and the only questions with a lot of them will be age.

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The recently released:

RB

Warrick Dunn: He will be a veteran back who knows how to hit the hole but I think he hasn't been the Dunn of old in several years. 

Fred Taylor: If the Bills end up with Taylor, and they are rumored to, this will be a good acquisition. He doesn't have the normal wear and tear because of the rest he has had based on injuries and Mojo Drew sharing carries. 

Deuce McAllister: In the right situation (a shared backfield), I think that he could be a good pick up. I think the release is more of a situation of Pierre Thomas being a cheaper, younger replacement than McAllister hitting the 30 year old wall.

WR

Marvin Harrison: He deserves his own paragraph. This man definitely hasn't been the same since the injury. But if I was a coach looking to make the next step offensively I would pick him up and move him to the slot. With decent receivers on the outside I think he would be a great spread offense option on quick slants. Not going to break it for much more than 10 yards but who needs that in a dink and dunk system.

Joey Galloway: Galloway seems to have lost a step with Bryant being the bigger receiver last year. Is that really him losing the step or the lack of offense to back him?

Laveranues Coles: Kind of in the same boat as Galloway.

Mike Furrey: Great number three wideout.

LB

Cato June: I think that the person with the most upside is LB Cato June. The former Colts standout didn't quite fit in with the Bucs and I think that if he could find the right situation he could really surprise some people.

Derrick Brooks: Derrick Brooks is interesting here. I think that he has a lot to give to the team that goes after him. He may not be a game changer but I think he will be a solid player.

CB

Dre' Bly: This may just be the product of a new administration in town (they cut five other defensive players already). Even with some years in the tank I think that Bly wouldn't be a bad number two corner.

Chris McAlister: My question is how bad was the injury? This might not be worth the risk.

S

Gibril Wilson: Poor guy was the MVP of the Raiders defense last year and gets cut. He will make some defensive coordinator really happy. Update: Dolphins just signed Wilson.

- D-Rae

Manning to Harri....Nope, Not Anymore

It was just released today that the Colts have released WR Marvin Harrison, who is second all-time with 1,102 catches.

Harrison wanted out, and he got his wish. I have to admit that it will be weird seeing #88 no longer in the blue and white, catching bombs from Manning. But we all realized that with every year Reggie Wayne was becoming the Colts #1 guy, and after the Harrison controversy with the shooting outside his Philadelphia bar, there needed to be some change.

The biggest question that we now have to answer is...where will Harrison go? Many think Philadelphia, where Mcnabb has been begging for a number one receiver, which could be found with Harrison. It a perfect match. Harrison does not have a big personality, (which we saw the problems Mcnabb had with big personalities...T.O. to say the least) He doesn't complain when he doesn't get enough throws (yet again, T.O.). And last but not least Deshaun Jackson looks like a string bean, the kid is tiny!

I personally would love to see #88 with the Eagles, I think it would make the NFC East THAT much better, it would bring the Eagles to a point with no more excuses about losing the big game. Last but not least it would be more exciting football.

It is a bitter sweet goodbye for Marvin Harrison, but it will be a great story to see where he lands this next season.

-J.J.

A-Rod and Combine Comments

(same pic, new news)

Ok, I retract my statements about T.O. following A-Rod to regain favor. With more information coming out about A-Rod I definitely don't think his image will make a comeback anytime soon. Taking drugs that were illegal even in the Dominican Republic and working with trainers that were banned by the league are just a couple of the new things that have come out about the former golden child.

On a side note, QB Matthew Stafford won't throw at the combine and WR Crabtree won't run either. I hate when these guys don't perform at the combine or even at their pro days. I know that some of these things are pointless but I think that it is all part of the process. I think that both are making financially good decisions because I don't think that Stafford will put on a show and I really am starting to question how fast Crabtree is in straight line speed. He's a fantastic player but I won't be surprised to see a +4.5 40 which would definitely hurt his stock.

-D-Rae

Back to the Good ol' Days....

So it has been a few years....like 9 (I believe) since we have seen Ken Griffey Jr. in a Mariners uniform.

And I have to say, it feels nice.

Amongst all the other baseball news I have to say this is my favorite headline. I'm sick of roids, I'm sick of A-Fraud, I'm sick of Bonds, and the Steroid era. This is what baseball needs. For all of you Mariners fans this is a time to rejoice, even though he may win you a difference of 10 games. That's not the point, the point is, Griffey is back in Seattle!!

It brings many back to their kid in them, back when they were 10 and watching Griffey pop some over the fence. It is exactly what Seattle needs. In fact, more sports need to respect their legends and if they have a good opportunity... sign them. It will put for rears in the seats.

Plain and Simple.

p.s. Tyson Chandler trade was reverses, he didn't pass his physical.

J.J.

I know how to get T.O. some love again

Ever since his falling out with McNabb(not quite a saint either), T.O. has never been the same. Even though he is a reporters best friend when he speaks his mind, he can't seem to find any press singing him praises. He hasn't done anything negative towards his team in quite some time but everyone still thinks of him as a negative influence. I personally think that T.O. is just fine and am quite happy to have him on America's Team. But in order to bolster his awful reputation I've figured out how to fix things.

Just follow Alex Rodriguez or as he was starting to be called A-Fraud. The man was thought of as a fraud by his teammates and his former manager Torre and also cheated on his wife with Madonna. People were starting to tear this man apart for his lack of clutch performances(equal to T.O.'s lack of rings) and this rep downers. What'd A-Rod go and do? He had Sports Illustrated release information about him using steroids.

Ok, the steroids aren't helping his reputation but he is being supported by his teammates in the media. This is the most support they have shown for him since they were all 'excited' to see him come to the Big Apple. Other players have publicly ripped on A-Rod and steroids (Pujols and Big Papi) but you're opponents aren't supposed to love you and this hate will only help the victim image in the media. On down the road A-Rod will be seen as the man who owned up to the steroids when Clemens and Bonds are still fighting against the truth. This will undoubtedly create a much better public image for the man that was about to be known as A-Fraud.

Back to T.O., all he has to do is have a steroids scandal. I don't want to see performance enhancing drugs tear apart the NFL too (god knows that they all use them here if they do is girly baseball). But T.O. needs to get himself into some trouble (steroids) admit to it early on and then recover from being young and stupid and he'll be safe on his way to some media love.

I know it seems backwards but just watch. We will all love A-Rod again and T.O. should take note.

-D-Rae

Chandler to the Thunder...... That's like Cookies without the Milk

It is reported by the mother ship (ESPN) that the New Orleans Hornets are shipping away Tyson Chandler in return for Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith from the Thunder.

WHY?!?!?!

When I read this story I automatically felt a bad feeling in my stomach like I'm about to throw up my chicken-bacon-ranch five dollar foot long. I know that the Hornets are getting a couple of descent ball players but they are sending their top defender. Let alone Chris Paul's recipient for the alley-oop.

I don't like this trade for New Orleans because I think that Tyson Chandler met more to the organization than just a big guy who could swat balls. I think he was a cornerstone of their team and played great alongside Paul and West. I remember the good ol' days when players that fans liked were able to stay in their city.

We are reaching a point to where this is strictly more of a business then entertainment, but the thousands of fans watching the games are there to be entertained, not to wonder how the payroll is doing for their favorite team.

-J.J.

Another #1 Bites The Dust

On Big Monday, #4 Pittsburgh beat #1 Connecticut 76-68. This is the fifth number one to lose this season which means we will have our sixth new number one this next Monday.

I'm happy that UConn was stopped because I'm sick of seeing Calhoun on Sportscenter telling me how great he is and how great the Big East is this year. I think that the Big East definitely has some good schools but it isn't the best conference in my opinion. 

Here are my rankings:

#1: The ACC

North Carolina, Wake Forest, Clemson, Duke, Florida State

Between these five teams there could be two number one seeds given in the tournament. Top to bottom I don't think that there is a more athletic and talented conference. Even the "bad" teams in this conference would dominate other conferences. If you were to take McClinton and Miami out of the ACC and throw them into the Big 12, you'd be looking at a team that would easily be the number 2 or 3 team in that conference instead of the #10 in the ACC.

#2: Big East

UConn, Marquette, Pitt

I know this is supposed to be the big, bad conference like the SEC in college football but they don't really scare me. UConn and Pitt are solid number one seed contenders with their combination of inside and outside game and the Marquette looks like it is shaping up to be something exciting. The rest of the conference has a Jekyll and Hyde show going on. On any given night it seems that Louisville could beat Connecticut or lose to DePaul. I know that this is true in the ACC too (NC dominates Duke at times but loses to Boston College). The reason that the Big East is not my top conference is because I think that ACC is tough(could be ranked at any given time) 10/12 teams and that the Big East is tough about 7/16. Some teams from #8 down have a bloated overall W-L thanks to very light out of conference schedules.

#3: Big 12

Oklahoma

I think that Oklahoma is the only real contender in this conference but I think that the rest of the pack is above mediocre enough to put them ahead of the Pac-10 or Big Ten. I'm still not sure about Oklahoma and I would like to see what they would do head to head against a larger foe.

#4: Pac-10

The what the hell happened here conference. UCLA, Zona St., and even Zona were supposed to be top flight teams this year but have been beaten by some lower opponents. Washington is in the lead and kudos to them but I think that they are Pac-10 version of Missouri (where is the legitimate post offense?).

#5: Big Ten

I just had to put them up here to say please, please, please stop rating Michigan State so high. I really can't stand Izzo but what have they done to merit a top 5 ranking? Lost to NC and Maryland by a combined 53 points. Please let me know if you have an argument for Michigan State or the horrendous basketball that is the Big Ten right now.

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Blake Griffin and Oklahoma will most likely be the next top dog as long as they are able to beat Texas this coming Saturday. With only one loss the Sooners look like they could keep the top spot until the tournament thanks to the remaining Big 12 schedule. The scariest game left on their schedule looks like March 4th against now #10 Missouri. They run the fast break and press full court all game long. The Sooners will be favored though thanks to the Tigers lack of big man and/or anything to stop Blake Griffin.

Oh yea...

- D-Rea

Now the REAL NBA Season Begins!

OK, So yes yes...... Derek and I have been stale a little bit, while he was sick I was....... "sick". OK, so I was lazy. I realized that I kept checking the blog to see if D-Rae posted, if he didn't, neither did I. Talk about commitment.

With all jokes aside I just got done finishing yet another NBA All-Star game where yet again I got excited Friday night to just be disappointed by Dwight Howard being "superman" and trying to impress us by lifting the hoop two feet in which we knew he could jam that easily anyway. I love Howard to death and I think he brings a lot to the game but I have to admit that the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest may just turn into the Dwight Howard Variety Show. Every year he is going to break out the Superman cape and every year we will have to hear Kenny "the jet" Smith try and eat his microphone while screaming his catch phrases like, "It's over!!!!" and "Goodnight ladies and gentlemen!!!" While Earnie Johnson pretends that he is amused with that subtle giggle he gives.

The game was alright, I was even slightly impressed with the West's 19-0 run but then I remembered that this is an All-Star game so no defense is allowed right? Kobe and Shaq got the hardware for MVP's which ran shivers down my spine since I love the Lakers and miss those days with the dynamic duo.

With all the festivities aside now we will finally get a bigger audience watching the NBA. People are starting to realize that the NFL is over and their only choice over the NBA is the NHL, PGA, or Nascar...I'm hoping the NBA wins this viewing contest. So the second half of the season is beginning and I already have some thoughts and predictions to write down (by the way, I'm going to do this in list form, just because it looks cool).

1st: Terry Porter is out of the big sun, possibly the best decision the Suns make all year. It will be interesting how this Amare Stoudimire thing works out... could be the Pau Gasol trade of this year.

2nd: On the west side of things, Lakers are top dog, but I'm going to put Denver in 2nd, and Portland in 3rd when it comes to playoff time. Portland and Denver are two dangerous underrated teams in my book.

3rd: On the East side of things, I still like Boston at one, Cleveland at two. But don't be surprised if Miami, Detroit, or Atlanta could land in that 3rd spot. With Nelson out in Orlando, it could be a 4th or 5th seed kind of year for the Magic, with Nelson out, that's a big blow.

4th: This is a side note, watch out for Memphis in about three or four years. They have a Portland Trailblazers feel to them and I think they will turn some heads in a few. Oh and I DO NOT like the Miami-Toronto trade. Since when does a player make a game winning dunk and then gets shipped out to Canada....eh?

5th: I'm expecting a pretty good second half, not as good as last years though since the west is weaker, and the whole Boston Three Party feel has worn off. I'm expecting Kobe and Lebron to take most of the headlines from here on out, with a couple of trade talks in the early going. There will be regular discussions if the Cavs could take down Boston in the playoffs, and the same for the Spurs taking down the Lakers.

This is where the REAL NBA season begins. It should be a good one. Hopefully America....hopefully.

-J.J.

The King (just not of the All Star game)

I don't know about everyone else but I was witness to this year's NBA All Star game. Let me tell you,  if you missed the game I'll just say that you didn't necessarily miss anything. The highlights for me included seeing LeBron display his 'great' outside shot and him shank a couple dunks. Is it just me or did Jordan, not Jordan but Wizards Jordan, missed one dunk and got ostracized. LeBron missed a couple and I'll predict that we don't hear anything about it in the coming week. I'm happy that Kobe and Shaq were the co-MVPs. I'd really like for Shaq and Bryant to get reunited but I'm sure we won't see that (please new Suns admin!!!!). I enjoyed Shaq breaking it down with god knows what the name of that dance team is but I really liked him making a fool of Superman on the between the legs give and go. As for LeBron... here is hoping that those missed dunks will come at more crucial times in this season and seasons to come.

It's been awhile!

Ok, so I've been a big wuss lately and haven't posted in a little over a week. To my credit I've been sick and the doctor pulled a Heath Ledger (too soon?) and prescribed me medicine that I'm allergic to. This is my note that we are still working on the blog but the posts may become less frequent as our semesters pick up.

A-Rod, A-Rod, A-Rod!

Thanks to you, Phelps gets to be thrown on the back burner. Cheating on your younger hotter wife with Madonna was bad enough but now this lol. Does anyone know how old Madonna really is? or where all she has been? I'm kind of kidding. I know that the steroids happened in the past but does the MLB want this to linger on forever? I think that they should do one of two things. Either make steroids legal and just call it MLB Slugfest or say from this point on in 2009 players have a blank slate but punishments will come after this with more strict testing. I personally favor the just make steroids legal. I just don't think that the MLB can put this behind them. When the best players of this generation (Clemens, Bonds, Rodriguez) have all been caught, where else can you go?

Dunk Contest

This year's dunk contest was fairly disappointing to me. I think that Rudy was snubbed on his second dunk with the alley oop by Pau Gasol. It took him his full attempts but he eventually got it and the movement for that rap around was worth way more than 42 or 43. I'm just saying... I like both Nate the Great and Superman but it just didn't fall out the way I wanted it to. I think Nate played it the way he should've and won because of it but I think that Superman Howard played out his dunks in the wrong order. He shoul Fernandez d've brought out the extended hoop in the final round and then jumped clean over Nate. I'm not talking about his crotch sliding over his head but to have Howard's feet clear over Nate's head on the 12' hoop. This would've been a perfect closer going into the next year against LeBron (who I bet doesn't sign up).

 

UNRELATED TO SPORTS : Chris Brown and Rihanna

Will this grow into the tumultuous relationship known as Bobby and Whitney? I used to think that Brown was a nice guy and had some good music but there are no excuses for laying a finger on a woman. I don't know what happened in the altercation but I lost a lot of respect for Brown and just hope that Rihanna sets a good example to her fans by walking away from him.

Sweep the Series against the Cavs and the Celtics...........Check.

Now I'm not going to write an article about A-Rod because I simply couldn't care anymore, baseball is all about who's cheating and who's not and it is just turned into a finger pointing sport.

Now I will talk about the Los Angeles Lakers, (I know I know, they are my team, but they have much reason to be written about) The Lakers have accomplished what everyone has wanted them to. First, came the Christmas day showdown between defending champ Celtics. They beat them by 9. OK well they have to beat the Cavs, well, they did that too. They beat them soundly but Cleveland was facing injury problems and the Lakers were on their home floor. (because the Cavs "can't" be beat on their home court) Next came the game on Thursday, where the Lake Show had to travel to Boston to beat the C's on their home court, oh, and they are missing star center Bynum.

They can't beat the C's in Boston could they? I mean, the last time they were there they got blown out by 39 in the finals remember? So they can't beat them right!?!?

Well, they did. Yes, yes, believe it or not, the Lakers have turned some heads by showing that they can win without Bynum whether it be Kobe dropping 61, or Kobe dishing out dimes and playing tough D, and letting Gasol get the fatty stat line.

OK so the big game on Sunday, the purple and gold had to travel to Ohio and beat Bron' Bron' and the 23-0 home court record Cavs.

They couldn't win that game could they???

Yep. They can. They did it in a surprising way too..... Lamar Odom had one heck of a stat line.

28 points 17 rebounds.

A while back the skinny Rhode Island man didn't even start on this team.

So what do these series sweeps say about this team out west. It says that this team is good, really good. They haven't just beaten these teams, they have beaten these teams while many easterners (which have the best basketball conference this year, yes....... they really do) believed that these Lakers could not beat these two Eastern Conference giants. The surprising element in these four wins is the way that they have won these games. These four wins haven't happened because Kobe dropped 50 on each, they have won by playing team basketball, good defense, and good shooting.

After the big loss in Boston a few months ago in the Finals, I wondered about this team, if they were tough enough, or if Kobe could really lead this team to a ring without a big name star, (believe it or not, I still do not think that Gasol is that big of a star) and this is the team that has answered all my questions. They have great bench play by Trevor Ariza, and Jordan Farmar especially. They have gotten tougher defensivly and even with Bynum out (again) I still believe this team is tougher. Kobe has COMPLETELY evolved into a leader that will sacrifice points for wins, (something that I would never imagine in the 2005-2006 season) and everyone knows their role on this squad and is in their place.

With these four big wins we have seen them prove these questions we all had as we watched Boston raise the trophy last year........and they proved it pretty well.

-J.J.

p.s. Adam Morrison is now a Laker, that is some of the best sports news I've heard in a while

Even With Big Bynum Blow, Light Still Shines With Kobe's 61

First of all, I'm not going to write a blog about the Super Bowl because it ended controversial with no official booth review at Kurt Warner's "fumble". Congrats to the Steelers, even though I hate them.

Now, on to my main topic, who else but my favorite athlete in the whole entire world, Kobe Bryant.

After the huge and sickening blow I felt after I heard the news on Lakers center Andrew Bynum tearing his MCL (I feel for him, I've torn my MCL before as well....... stupid snowmobiles) it seemed like yet again the Lakers would have to deal with another half season or so without Andrew Bynum. Then I got the ESPN alert last night that the Lakers beat the Knicks in MSG and Kobe had a heckuva (yes, that's a word, they put it in ESPN magazine so it must be legit) stat line including 61 points.

Then I became relaxed again. See, this is what Kobe does, he transforms himself into the player he needs to be. Just a few days ago, everyone was talking about Kobe not needing to put in as many points but he has now become a defensive leader for the Laker squad. Then Bynum goes down and he throws down 61 points (20-20 from the free throw line) in New York where no other Knick opponent has done before (a little side note, he broke this guy named MJ's record).

Now I'm not saying that Kobe is better then MJ. He's not, Kobe is Kobe. I'm just saying that the veteran Kobe (a few years ago all Kobe Bryant was about is scoring and hogging the ball, we all remember) has been able to transform himself into the player he needs to be to have the best chance of the Lakers getting the W.

Bynum out? I'm not scared one bit. Unless he is out for the playoffs, then we have some problems.

p.s. Sorry for the short blog today, the stress of college homework is starting to finally way down on me.

-J.J.

Shame on you Mr. Phelps!

Yes I know. The Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl. At least I had the winner correct in my prediction. I'm still disappointed in the Cardinals. Not that they lost the game but that they had to lose by such a close margin and in that particular way. I don't know if this would've helped anything but Fitzgerald needed to pull a Westbrook and fall down at the one yard line that way there wouldn't have been so much time on the clock. Sure they still would've needed the TD but it's another way to look at it.

Now to the headline, Michael Phelps was recently put on the cover of a tabloid called the News of the World. On the cover picture, Phelps is seen partaking in a little puff puff pass on the University of South Carolina campus. An anonymous source was quoted as saying that Phelps looked as comfortable with a bong in his hands as he does in a pool. This is the second time that Phelps has taken part in a disappointing behavior for the American role model. For those that don't remember Phelps was caught in 2004 drunk driving at the age of 19 immediately following the Olympic games in Athens.

For the second offense, Phelps should be punished in someway or at least given some negative media. So far all that has happened is that the Olympic committee is telling him how disappointed they are and he promises that nothing like this will ever happen again. Now I don't have a quote but I'm sure he made some kind of promise like this after driving intoxicated. On top of everything all of his sponsors are completely backing him. I don't look down upon those that use "recreational" drugs but Michael Phelps, with all 14 of his gold medals, is reaching Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods status where he is expected to act a little more responsible. Yeah, Jordan had his gambling problems but this is a little more serious if you ask me. Personally I forgot about his drunk driving at age 19 so my first reaction was by god the guy is human.

Next person: Tim Tebow. Whether he is smoking drugs or something else, this guy is just too perfect in the limelight. I give him a couple years after his senior year before we find out what all the missionary boy is really a part of... just kidding... but seriously.

- D-Rae

Super Bowl

Well the day is finally upon us. What is everyone eating for the big game? Do you have a traditional food/meal/snack during the big one? I would be eating my pops' famous chip dip but across the country so I'll probably find my way to a Super Bowl Party that is dealing out free food. More importantly, Colbert of Colbert Report (you don't pronounce the t's) has stated that we are currently in a nationwide wing shortage so I'm hoping that everyone can find a tasty alternative and that we don't have to result to eating Cardinal wings that the Steelers prepare for us later tonight.

I think that the underdog finally gets stopped today (don't mistake that with who I want to win). I know that the Cards line hasn't given up that many sacks and that Warner is a veteran QB that knows how to get rid of the ball quickly. The scary thing is that during certain moments the Eagles looked like they had figured out how to stop the offense. Whether that is because of good play on the defense or because of increasingly conservative calls, I'll never know.

I just woke up this morning not feeling the Cards' chances in this game. They say all good things must come to an end and I believe we might see that for Warner and this team. President Obama has even stated that he is a Bears fan first but a Steelers fan second. Now if you are ref during this game, do you help the Steelers with the hope that Obama may give you more beneficial tax cuts or bonuses than the other refs? I think you most certainly do. We've already seen another NFC West team jipped out of a Super Bowl by the referees (Pitt vs Seattle) and I got a feeling it may not even come to that today.

Prediction

Pittsburgh 24  (At least 1 Def/Special Teams TD)

Arizona      10  

I hope that my prediction is incorrect but after mulling it over it just feels right.

- D-Rae