The NCAA Should be Ashamed

Kansas State and Syracuse met today in the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl, which was solely created to provide New Yankee Stadium an additional revenue stream (just another reason why these bowls are pointless, and why I hate the Yankees). For 58 minutes and 30 seconds, it was a wildly entertaining shootout and provided the perfect distraction from what was otherwise an incredibly boring day. But the last minute and 30 seconds were, to put it lightly, controversial. Let me walk you through it:

With 3:07 left on the clock, Syracuse kicked a 39 yard field goal to put them on top of Kansas State 36-28. This gave the Wildcats essentially one possession to drive the length of the field, complete a successful 2 point conversion, and send the game to overtime. On their first set of downs, K-State faced a potential game ending 4th and 2, but quarterback Carson Coffman (who played a great, great game) completed a 9 yard pass to keep the drive alive. 2 plays later, the score still obviously 36-28, Coffman threw a bubble screen - which I've long stated is my favorite play in football - to receiver Adrian Hillburn. Hillburn evaded the first would be tackler, and took the pass 30 yards to the endzone. Unbelievable! Kansas State got the touchdown they needed and were a 2 point conversion away from a tying the game! Not so fast though. The officials flagged Hillburn for excessive celebration, meaning instead of attempting the 2 point conversion from the 2 yard line - which is essentially a 50/50 success rate - they were backed all the way up the 18 yard line - significantly decreasing their conversion percentage. Was the penalty justified? You be the judge.



In my HUMBLE opinion, GOOD GOD NO! All he did was salute the crowd! That's it! No chest bumping, no showboating, no taking off his helmet, no preening for the camera...nothing! The ref put himself above the two teams on the field and essentially decided the game on his own terms. He was fully aware of the situation at hand and could have held that flag in his pocket just a second longer to think, "Is this 100% worth it?" It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the answer to that question is a resounding NO!

If you watched the game, these were two evenly matched teams and they deserved an overtime (who knows how long this game could have gone on. Neither defense could get a stop to save their lives). The Kansas State players were robbed. The fans who paid good money to see this game were robbed. The people who spent 3 hours watching two irrelevant 7-5 teams were robbed. This is completely contrary to the spirit of college football, and the NCAA needs to spend this offseason reassessing their "excessive celebration" policy. Just imagine if this happened on a larger stage. Oh let's say the BCS National Title Game. There would be a national meltdown the likes of which we haven't seen for some time. Just because this was the Pinstripe Bowl does not mean it should go unnoticed.

Just the hypocrisy of the NCAA rearing its ugly head once again...

Lock of the Day - KNICKS

Knicks tonight getting +7.5 points on the road at Orlando. Howard always kills the Knicks and I think he will do well again tonight, but I see the Knicks keeping this game close the whole time.  I see it being decided on the last possession so the fact that the Knicks are getting so many points seems off.  Ride the Knicks +7.5, who play well on the road and tend to stay competitive in games even against the NBA's elite.

Lil Silly Locks: 4-1

UPDATE 12/30 10:10 PM

Tough loss tonight as the Knicks went down to the Magic by 9.  They were down 2 with 4 minutes left but bad passing and turnovers killed them down the stretch.  We'll get back at 'em tomorrow.

Lil Silly Locks: 4-2

2011 Eastern Conference NBA All Stars

These are my choices on who should make the All Star team for the Eastern Conference this season.  I'm putting together a squad to take down One Ush's all stars.  This is not necessarily who I think will make it, but it is the team I believe deserves it.

The Starting Five

PG - Derrick Rose CHI
- I wanted to give Ray Felton the nod, but Rose has been too good this year.  Developing an outside shot enabled Rose to elevate his game to the next level, and he has arguably been the MVP on the NBA so far this season.  He is impossible to guard one on one because he is so fast and can drive past anyone to get to the basket.  Now only if he didn't look like an alien...

SG - Dwayne Wade MIA
- This one is a no brainer.  Wade has been unbelievable this season, and has especially heated up of as late. He has figured out how to play sidekick to Lebron James and his numbers are reflecting it.  More importantly though, I think D-Wade has the #1 swagger in the entire NBA... and that is saying something.  The man has been the king of South Beach for a while already and has brought the city a championship basically all by himself.  He is also an incredible dresser and seems like the chillest dude ever.  I would love to hang out with him.

SF - Lebron James MIA
- LeBron will be taking his talents to Los Angeles for this years all star games because he is the most naturally gifted basketball player of all time.  He is also having a great year for the Heat this year and is finally figuring out how to not intentionally bump into his coach on national TV.  Still, he must be getting on David Stern's nerves with comments about why contraction would be good for the NBA (see http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/news/story?id=5952952).  If I was a mediocre player in the NBA, I would hate LeBron.  He essentially believes there aren't enough players that are almost as good as he is in the NBA, and therefore they need to get rid of some teams so everyone can compete with his Heat. This man has an ego problem.

PF - Amar'e Stoudamire NYK
- Let me preface this by saying that I am a Knicks fan and therefore have a deeper love for what Amar'e has done this season, but this man has brought basketball back into the spotlight in New York.  No matter how much success any other team in any sport has in New York, the Big Apple will always be a basketball town (although elitist New Yorkers do love watching the Yankees pay for wins).  Stoudamire's success this season can be traced back to one main factor; embracing his Jewish identity.  Right after signing with the Knicks, in an effort to appeal to his new fan base, Amar'e took a lengthy trip to Israel to discover his distant Jewish roots on his Mother's side and came back full of mitzvah. This improved sense of self enabled Amar'e to bring up his game to an MVP level and lead New York back to relevancy in style. The NBA is better when Madison Square Garden is the mecca of basketball. Mazel tov, Amar'e, Mazel tov.

C - Dwight Howard ORL
- This one is easy.  Dwight is the gold standard for centers in the NBA right now.  Defensively, there is no one better in the NBA.  Offensively, his presence alone opens up outside shots for his teammates and his size down low enables him to score 20+ a game even though his post moves aren't that smooth.  The Magic have been wheeling and dealing lately, bringing in a lot of new blood, but Dwight has been the consistent rock holding their team together.

The Bench

Guards - Raymond Felton NYK, Rajon Rondo BOS

Felton has been amazing for New York this season and is another big reason for their resurgence.  The Pick 'n Roll is impossible to guard with Felton and Amar'e running the show.  Despite only playing 20 games, Rajon Rondo still has more assists than near every other PG in the NBA (14.1 per game).  That is frighteningly good.  If Rondo is healthy, he'll be on the all star squad.

Forwards - Paul Pierce BOS

Pierce gets in on name recognition and on the court achievement.  While his numbers this year have been a bit down, we all know the Celtics don't really try in the regular season so who cares? The man is an all star for his clutch shots and reputation.

Bigs - Andrea Bargnani TOR, Al Horford ATL, Joakim Noah CHI

Noah is hurt right now, but deserves the recognition of the all star nod.  He is the most active defensive player in the league and his presence on the court makes his team so much better.  Horford leads the NBA is FG % and has really developed nicely since entering the NBA.  Bargnani is finally starting to live up to his billing as the #1 overall pick and has really thrived in Toronto this season.

The final spot goes to... Wilson Chandler PF NYK

In a bit of an upset pick, Chandler gets the all star nod over Brook Lopez.  You must be thinking I'm crazy, but Chandler is ahead of Lopez in FG%, FT%, Rebounds, Blocks and assists.  That pretty much covers any relevant statistic.  Chandler has also been an integral member of a very good Knicks team, while Lopez is the de fact scorer on an abysmal Nets team.  Lopez is a great young center, but still has some room for improvement in his game.

2011 Western Conference NBA All-Stars

The NBA All-Star game, in theory, is a platform for the 24 best players in the NBA to showcase their talents on a national stage. That is the criteria the game was created under, and one would think that should be the criteria used for selecting the participants. But too often these all-star games become lifetime achievement awards for over the hill veterans whose primes have long since passed. Whether it's an aging Allen Iverson, a banged up Tracy McGrady or every version of Yao Ming, there always seems to be a guy on the team who simply doesn't deserve his spot. Instead of watching these washed up vets posture and smile for the camera, wouldn't it be more fun to watch a hungry up and comer try to take the leap from star to superstar in front of the whole country? So for 2011, I am proposing a radical change: let's try to pick the 12 best players in each conference (while staying relatively true to positional balance) and watch them play basketball against each other. Wouldn't that be a lovely change?

STARTERS
G) Deron Williams, Utah Jazz - In a word, the Western Conference point guards are ridiculously fantastically incredible (ok that was 3 words, but it carried the emotion of one word). Choosing Williams over the others was like choosing your favorite Pokemon: it's impossible. But since Williams' Jazz currently sit in 4th place, higher than Russell Westbrook's Thunder or Chris Paul's Hornets, he gets the nod. Oh and averaging 22.5 points and 9.5 assists per game doesn't hurt either.

G) Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers - At the dawn of every season I confidently tell my friends, "This is gonna be the year Kobe hits a wall. Just watch guys. Trust me. I'm incredibly good at this predicting stuff. I rule." After posting a 25-5-5 line to this point, he has proved me wrong for the millionth straight year. I rule.

F) Carmelo, Denver Nuggets - I didn't forget to type his last name, I'm consciously boycotting it. With a name like Carmelo, no last name should ever be necessary. Like Cher, Madonna, and Emeril I say Carmelo commits to being a one name icon, thus forcing his equally one-namable wife, LaLa Vasquez. to do the same. This would lead to one of the most contentious baby naming debates of all time. If you have no last name, whatever name you give that kid is gonna be all they have for the rest of their life, so it had better be on point. No room to throw out a dud like, "Without further ado, LaLa and I would like to introduce our son. Everyone...meet Graham!"

F) Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder - Despite a slow start by his standards, Durant has banked enough goodwill from his eye opening performance this summer with Team USA to earn his starting spot. And he just so happens to be leading the NBA in scoring at 28.1 points per game, so there's that going for him too.

F) Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks - With no traditional center meriting inclusion from the West (unless your the Chandler family and want Tyson Chandler in the game, which I fully understand), we're going to be forced to play small ball and employ a 5 man rotation that can space the floor and create matchup problems for Dwight Howard and the East's bigs. Dirk fits this role perfectly. He's been playing, arguably, the best basketball of his career - he's shooting a career best 54.5% from the field - in leading the Mavs to their surprising 24-5 start, good for 2nd in the ultra-competitive West.

BENCH
Guards - Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Manu Ginobli, Monta Ellis

No shockers here. Paul and Westbrook have been in discussion for best point guard in basketball this year. Their inclusion is a no-brainer. Ginobli has been the best player on the best team in basketball, leading his Spurs to a 27-4 start, serving notice to the NBA that the San Antonio dynasty is far from dead. The last guard spot is the toughest to choose, but in the name of infusing young talent into the game, I would go with the Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis (we also have a bevy of point guards, so I was looking for more of a scorer/slasher here. Sorry Steve Nash). He's become of the most exciting players no one has ever heard of, and it's time for him to bask in the national spotlight. Also, he's making a really, really strong case to be the most famous Monta of all time - not something you can say for STEVE Nash, or TONY Parker, or ERIC Gordon. That really put him over the top for me.

Big Men - Pau Gasol, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin

Here's where the real controversy begins: Tim Duncan will more than likely make his 483rd straight All-Star Game this year. While it's hard to argue against the best power forward of all time being there, based on his production in 2010 he just does NOT deserve it. He's averaging slightly over 13 points and 9 rebounds a game (the first time in his career averaging fewer than 10 boards a game), a sharp and somewhat sad decline from his past productivity. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli have both been more important to the Spurs' early success than Duncan. Just because he's a first ballot Hall of Famer does NOT mean he's a yearly all-star lock. The game simply should not work like that.

Pau Gasol carried the Lakers' in the early part of the season, and thrust his name into the discussion as "Best Big Man in the NBA" (he has since removed his name from the discussion with his recent lackluster play. His loss). At the very least, he's the most skilled big man in today's NBA and his repertoire needs to be on full display among the game's greats. Kevin Love is having a historical statistical season. He's averaging better than 20 points and 15 rebounds a game (it's worth repeating - 15 rebounds!!). If he finishes the year with those numbers, he would be the first player to average 20-15 over a full season since Moses Malone in 1982. Sure he plays for a putrid team that LeBron argued should be up for contraction but his statistical dominance is too much to ignore. Oh and he's shooting better than 43% from the 3-point line, good for 11th IN THE LEAGUE. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?? Put him in the all-star game. Period, end of story.

In my fictional lineup, the 12th spot would go to Half Man-Half Beast Blake "The Lake" Griffin. I just made up that nickname. That would either be the best or the worst nickname in sports history, I can't tell. To put into perspective how rare it is for a rookie to make the All-Star game: it hasn't happened since Tim Duncan made it in 1998 (not even LeBron made the cut). But Blake has been too much of a revelation to ignore. He is a human highlight reel and has made the eternally decrepit Clippers relevant in the crowded Los Angeles sports scene. And since the game itself is being played in Los Angeles, this would be the perfect coronation for a kid who is quickly becoming something of a hometown hero. He's averaging 21.5 points and 12.5 boards a game, so he's more than just flash. There is serious substance behind his high-wire act, best demonstrated by his current run of 20 straight double-doubles during which his Clips are a respectable (read: Un-Clippers like) 9-11. Who knows what he's capable of in the future, but the whole country needs to be put on notice now. And the NBA doesn't even have to buy him a plane ticket! It makes TOO much sense.

For your viewing pleasure, some of Blake's best dunks of the year. It's like porn, but way better.

An Ode to the Golden Days of the Knicks-Heat rivalry

As I watched the Knicks-Heat game last night, I was inspired to search for some video of the glory days of this storied rivalry. It was during those playoff series in the late 90s, as a blossoming sports fan, that I learned to HATE a sports team. My hatred for Pat Riley, Alonzo Mourning and the rest of the Heat was rivaled only by my hatred for broccoli. I wish I was of the age where I could have truly appreciated the passion with which these games were played, but I was still in awe that anybody could slam dunk or hit a 3-pointer. There's actually a ton of video of the rivalry on Youtube which I would definitely encourage checking out.


Side Note: I was a two-time sportsmanship award winner at John Starks basketball camp. Get some.

Here's a clip I found rather enjoyable:

:

Lil Silly Locks of the Day - Kobe and Lebron

After a frustrating push last night with the Golden Gophers, we got a couple NBA games to get back on track with tonight.

First of all, take the Heat -5 tonight at Houston.  I know they are playing a road game the night after a home game, but you gotta roll with em. They are playing dominant basketball right now and are poised to take advantage of a Rockets team that is dealing with some issues of its own.

Next, take the Lakers -2.5 over the Hornets tonight. Lakers have been on a skid and after an especially embarrassing loss last night to San Antonio, they are going to come out hungry in this one and overmatch the Hornets

UPDATE 12/30 3:02 AM

Heat won by the final of 125-119 so they just squeaked out the cover.  Can't believe this game was even as close as it was.

Lakers won big tonight, dominating the Hornets from the get go.

A very chill 2-0 night

Lil Silly Locks: 4-1

Should I stay or Should I go?

My favorite college team (other than the Brown Bears, of course) is the Stanford Cardinal. Growing up in Connecticut as a UConn hater, I needed a team to root for. My first Final Four as a cognizant sports fan took place in 1998. A quick refresher: that Final Four featured a relatively boring Kentucky-Utah finals (I see you Keith van Horn), as the Ron Mercer led Wildcats ran away from the Utes. The most memorable game that year came a round earlier, when Kentucky beat Stanford in a thrilling 86-85 back and forth contest. The Cardinal's tournament run was enough for me and from that moment on I began to wear Stanford red proudly. This week rumors began to swirl that Stanford’s head football coach, Jim Harbaugh, was close to leaving Palo Alto for either his alma matter, the University of Michigan, or the recently vacated San Francisco 49ers position. Here are some important facts he needs to keep in mind before he makes his decision:

· Leaving for a bigger program does not necessarily mean more success:

Tyrone Willingham was Stanford’s head football coach in the mid to late 1990s. He led the program to a very respectable 44-36-1 record, including a 1999 Pac-10 title and a birth in the Rose Bowl. However, when Willingham moved on to Notre Dame he never came close to replicating the success he had found in Palo Alto with the Cardinal. After going 10-3 in his first season in South Bend, Willingham led the Golden Domers to back-to-back subpar seasons (combined record: 11-12) and was run out of town. He then landed in Washington where he went 11-37 in 4 seasons (including an 0-12 stinkbomb in 2008, his final season). As Ty learned, the grass is not always greener...

· Harbaugh has something great going at Stanford

In 2010 Harbaugh led the Cardinal to an 11-1 record and a birth in the Orange Bowl. Had it not been for an abysmal second half on the road against Oregon, Harbaugh very well could have had his team playing in the National Championship. And while quarterback Andrew Luck obviously played a pivotal role, this team’s success can be solely attributed to Harbaugh. He truly BUILT this program from the bottom up. In his first year at Stanford the Cardinal went 4-8 finishing 7^th in the Pac-10. However, he turned the program around completely and in three short years Stanford has become a force to be reckoned with. Michigan, on the other end of the spectrum, is 15-21 in the past 3 seasons. Despite their storied history, Stanford is the better program in better shape, especially if star quarterback Andrew Luck returns to school.

· The 49ers, one of the NFL’s historically best franchise, is a without a doubt a great job

If Coach Harbaugh leaves college for the NFL, San Francisco is an ideal landing spot. With the likes of Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, and Frank Gore, the 49ers have a very solid young nucleus to build around. And given the sorry state of the NFC West, Harbaugh could realistically have the Niners in the playoffs in his debut NFL season.

The bottom line is no matter what, Coach Harbaugh is going to have a great coaching job next year. As a Stanford fan, I’m hoping he stays in Palo Alto. However, if I were a betting man, I would put my money on San Fran. The bright lights of San Francisco are just too much to turn down. Oh well, at least us Cardinal fans can root for Landry Fields, go Knicks!

CSI: College Baseball

What would you say if I told you I have a 56 game hitting streak? 
Is that something you might be interested in?

Garrett Wittels is really milking his 15 minutes of fame. The FIU infielder made headlines this spring when he recorded a hit in 56 consecutive games, the second longest in NCAA history. And with the streak still intact heading into his senior year, he is only 2 games away from matching Robin Ventura's 58 game streak set in 1987. But it is now in jeopardy as Wittels and a few buddies are proud owners of rape charges stemming from an incident with a 17-year old girl in the Bahamas. Way to go big Garrett! Winter Break 2010 4 lyfe!!

Allow me to channel my inner Horatio Caine (for those unfamiliar with his dramatic one liners, take a second and familiarize yourself courtesy of this video):



I guess Wittels found out...you can't hit everything.
OR
Seems like Garrett...got caught stealing home.
OR
I think we can all agree...this hot streak has reached its boiling point.

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Interesting Statistic - Ridin' the Knicks

As of right now, all 5 of the New York Knicks starters are in the top 50 ranked players in Yahoo! Fantasty Basketball this season. That is pretty ridiculous, I wonder if its ever happened for a full season. Can't imagine it has.

Lil Silly Lock of the Day - Gophers BABY

Don't have time to write much now but wanted to share a pick I'm loving for tonight.

Take Minnesota +8 over Wisconsin tonight in college bball.  The Gophers have a real good team this year with athleticism and size on their front line which should give Wisco fits.  Take the points!

UPDATE 12/29 1:18 AM

Well final score was 68-60 Wisco so we have a push.  Anyone who watched this game knows how ridiculous it was that Minnesota didnt hit.  They were down 2 with 30 seconds left and then let it slip away and Wisco went up 8 with 2.7 seconds left.  Heartbreaking.

Lil Silly Locks: 2-1

Looking for Golf's Hero

Simon and Garfunkel famously sang, "Where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio? A Nation turns its lonely eyes to you." In the United States, a country that loves a good role model, people are constantly looking for the epitome of a hero. Our culture is based around heroes; it craves and thrives off of these beloved figures. And no where is this truer than sports. Modern technology has made it possible for us to find out every detail about any athlete's life. This, however, has proven extremely costly for many stars.

It was Mark McGwire in 1998 and Barry Bonds in 2001, capturing our hearts as they shattered the single season home run record. And then Kobe Bryant and Lebron James dazzled us as they grew from high school graduates to NBA superstars right before our very eyes. Ben Roethlisberger became a hero as he led one of America’s most storied franchises, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to two Super Bowl championships in his first four years. These athletes, who are all on their way to sports immortality, eventually fell victim to the vice of some kind of criminal act. The MLB, NFL, and NBA have proven time and time again that they are bigger than one person though. These major sports have the ability to survive even the most visible star's fall from grace.

Golf, however, was not afforded this luxury. Golf had always been a sport for wealthy, white men. Then one day, when a Stanford educated, attractive, and charismatic African American with a funny name (Eldrick, of course) burst onto the scene in the late 1990's, golf finally had a star capable of bringing the sport to the next level. When Tiger was in his heyday he was the American sports hero to rule all heroes. Even before he entered his “prime” he was not only beating his opponents, he was demoralizing them. Tiger dominated physically and mentally for years like no one before him. When Tiger was winning, golf was thriving and ratings skyrocketed but more importantly, a nation was captivated by the sport for the first time ever. Men and women from all corners of the world, regardless of socioeconomic background, became enamored with this kid named Tiger and through association, the sport of golf.

America had its hero. In every other sport we are divided across city lines, but for the first time ever an entire population united in support of the same team, Team Tiger. This changed drastically, however, in November 2009 when Tiger’s transgressions came to light for the entire world to see. Never before has a hero fallen so dramatically and so quickly from atop Mount Olympus. He was no longer an idol for kids to emulate. He was no longer a teenage girl’s secret crush. He was no longer the man grandmas wanted her granddaughter to marry... and the old men at the country club quickly turned up their noses at him. Just as golf was on the brink of becoming a major sport, Tiger’s fall sent it back to irrelevancy.

But take heart sports fans, there is a way that the PGA Tour can become relevant again; Tiger Woods starts to win. If Tiger’s play at the end of 2010 (which included an all-time classic final round in the Chevron World Challenge) is a harbinger of things to come, then 2011 may very well be the year of the Tiger. The only thing Americans love more than a hero is a good comeback story. As the Michael Vick saga in football exemplifies, we are always willing to let a fallen athlete regain our hearts. Most of Tiger’s fans have shut the door on him. However, he has the key to open it again. If you think golf was popular in Tiger’s prime, watch out if he wins a major or four in 2011, this hero may just be back and this time here to stay.

Lil Silly Lock of the Day - Two is better than One

Carrying over the momentum from last night, I have two games tonight that I see as can't miss.

First of all, let's look at this Monday Night Football game.

The line is Falcons -2.5 right now.  Atlanta is 19-1 at home with Matt Ryan at quarterback and 6-0 ATS at home this year. The Saints are 5-2 on the road this year, but only 1-5 as road underdogs ATS.

New Orleans' run defense is suspect at best and Michael Turner should have no issues getting his tonight.  I think this will be the difference in the game, as the run will set up Matt Ryan to execute the play action and take advantage of a Saints defense that has certainly regressed since last year.

I know the Saints are playing for a playoff spot so they will be jacked up, but the Falcons can clinch home field throughout the playoffs with a win tonight so they will be just as amped for this game. I am super confident Atlanta wins, but the only thing that worries me is a one or two point win on a late FG.

Take Atlanta -140 ML tonight and watch Matt Ryan improve his home record to 20-1.

Now on to college basketball.  Vegas has given us a gift tonight in the UConn vs. Pittsburgh showdown in the Big East.  UConn has been fantastic this season lead by Kemba Walker, but they were not supposed to be this good this quickly as they are the 8th youngest team in the nation.  Pitt on the other hand is experienced and talented, and they are returning home to an arena in which they dominate.

Take Pitt -7 tonight and watch them get out to an early lead and hold it.


UPDATE 12/28 12:42 AM

Final Score: Saints 17 - Falcons 14
Well both Matt Ryan and Michael Turner played poorly tonight, highlighted by an unbelievable goal line fumble by Turner, so the Saints went on to win this one.

Final Score: Pitt 78 - UConn 63
This one was easy. Like I predicted, Pitt controlled this one from the beginning. UConn did impress me a bit though, Kemba walker is a player for sure and they have talent. Pitt is great, a final four quality team.

Lil Silly Locks: 2-1

What Rex Can Learn from the Pats (ugh, the Pats)

Ahhhhhhh!

Before I begin my NFL Playoff predictions, I have to take a look at the state of my New York Jets. Jets fans were assured that this 2010 team were not the "Same ol' Jets," but the last four weeks seem to have proven otherwise. The Patriots look absolutely unbeatable, and the Jets look far from promising and offer little hope of fulfilling all of the championship chatter. Sanchez has improved after a mid-season slump, but he's still a second year QB, far from the elite class of NFL quarterbacks. The run game was better against the Bears but is still far from the dominant force we saw last year. Still, anyone who follows the Jets knows that the real disappointment this year has been the defense. Rex promised an aggressive, hard-nosed, smash mouth, in-your-face style of D.  But week after week we are watching as QBs have all day to throw, unspectacular receivers get wide-open, and there are missed tackles galore. If Rex and the Jets want to be a force for years to come, major personnel adjustments will have to be made in the offseason. And Foxboro may not be a bad place to start looking for an example.

1.) Safety help

The Jets have been absolutely killed down the middle of the field in the passing game all season long. Some of this has to do with the season-ending injury to Jim Leonard, but he wasn't good in coverage to begin with. The Jets have not had good safety play from new addition Brodney Pool either. As much as Jet fans were sick of Kerry Rhodes, it's hard not to appreciate what he did for the team now, especially with the success he's had in Arizona this year. Yes, he missed his fair share of tackles last year, but he was an effective center fielder for the best pass defense in football and there is something to be said for that (Also, his twitter is fantastic. Follow him @kerryrhodes). The Patriots' pass defense is far from perfect, but the Jets would be well served to find their beast at the safety position like the Brandon Merriweather. Merriweather, along with rookie Devin McCourty, have shown that even if you give up a ton of yards in the air, you can compensate by making big plays. The Jets secondary has all of 8 INTs this season, as opposed to the 15 the unit produced last year. Teams have learned to stay away from "Revis Island" so the Jets will need to acquire another big-time playmaker.

2.) Youth in the Front Seven

The Jets were supposed to be tough as nails up front, but have proven to be soft down the stretch. Sione Pouha is great, but the overall effectiveness of this group is lacking. The pass rush has been non-existent all year, but now the run defense has begun to falter as well. After giving up 99 yards on 17 carries to Rashard Mendenhall, the Jets allowed the Bears' Matt Forte to run for 113 yards on only 19 carries. High-priced line backers Calvin Pace and Bart Scott have been far from effective this year and a majority of the defensive line isn't too far from belonging in a retirement home somewhere. The Patriots, meanwhile, have only gotten younger up front and they are slowly starting to see the benefits of doing so, allowing 40 points in their last 4 games. The Jets #1 priority has to be acquiring a legitimate pass rusher to take some heat off the secondary. Improving the defensive line would also allow the Jets to apply pressure without ridiculous amounts of blitzing.

3.) Efficiency in the Passing Game

Tom Brady is out of control. And with his long, flowing locks, New Englanders are referring to him as "Jesus in Cleats." But he still sucks. Honestly, watching the Patriots offense is like watching DeSean Jackson showboat; It's a thing of beauty. To compare Mark Sanchez and Brady in the same breath is a felony (unless you're commenting how much better Brady is), but the Jets can learn something from the Pats' incredibly efficient short-to-medium passing game. Sanchez has upped his game this year, but he can still improve his decision making, accuracy and consistency. If he can get the ball to his playmakers more often, he will quickly put himself among the league's best signal callers.

Wow. I can't believe I just wrote something complimentary of the Patriots. I hate them more than I hate Sarah Palin and I HATE Sarah Palin. But if their success eventually leads to a Jets Super Bowl then so be it.

I see you Fireman Ed...

Will Andrew Luck declare for the NFL Draft?

What a handsome guy.

Meet Andrew Luck, the redshirt sophomore quarterback at Stanford University. You may not all know his name yet, but don't worry, you will soon. This dude is a BEAST.

Exhibit A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5STc2_bM7k (definitely check out this video)

And although tackling opposing defenders isn't a big part of the job description for NFL quarterbacks, he is also pretty good at throwing the football too. Whether or not Luck will declare for this years NFL Draft has been in the news lately, with his coach saying that as of now, Luck will return to Stanford next year. But now this morning, his father came out and said that his son's mind is definitely not made up yet and there is a very good chance he will declare.

In my opinion, I will say that Luck definitely declares for the draft and is taken first overall by the Carolina Panthers.  While the franchise may not be in a big market, the team they put on the field this season (save the QB position) is not awful.  They have a very solid offensive line, good running backs, and a stingy defense with some playmakers.  Add in an immensely talented QB like Luck and in a couple of years this team will be a force.

CBS Sports Draft Analyst Rob Lang has been on the record calling Luck "the best prospect I have ever scouted". Wow.

A couple more links for your appreciation. Don't miss out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4_w-puInqY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMz9nwy7yYc&feature=related

Sidney Crosby's 'Stache

Let me make something clear upfront: this post will have very little hockey analysis, if any whatsoever. If you are looking for some hard-hitting facts on the Capitol’s lackluster play or Steven Stamkos’ killer slapshot, well I would advise you to Google it. Or if you also want to book an upcoming flight at the same time, maybe you could use Bing. Actually the difference is pretty much just personal preference, so feel free to use either service. They’re so similar! All I know is this is definitely the wrong place to look.

No, this post will delve into one of the greatest atrocities in facial hair history: Sidney Crosby’s mustache. I fully understand his reasoning behind it – he is currently riding a 24 game point streak (longest in the NHL since 1992-1993) and subsequently refuses to shave until the streak dies. It’s kind of like a playoff hockey beard... except significantly more selfish. Sure, he is the best player the game has seen since Gretzky, but that doesn’t mean he can just do whatever he wants willy-nilly (unbelievable usage of willy-nilly right there). My complaint is simple: there is no solidarity in this act of his. It would be one thing if the whole team joined Crosby in the mustache growing game, but this is just one guy commemorating his own excellence. It’s like forcing my friends to watch me set Facebook Snake and Data Worm records while taking pictures of me to document my achievements. And I would never do that.

There is also no conceivable way this mustache is beneficial to his performance on the ice. Other players must taunt him mercilessly with jeers like,"Sweet 'stache...LOSER!" and "Get those pubes off your lip...LOSER!". The constant teasing can only diminish a man's confidence. You would also think the sweat accumulation of just underneath his nose would emit a foul odor during gameplay, and it stands to reason his skills have suffered because of it (why would this be the case? I don't know but it's my blog so don't ask questions). This would lead to a decrease in the all important swagger department which, as we all know, is the key ingredient behind almost every athletic, entrepreneurial, and sexual success story. And as a Canadian, Crosby is naturally blessed with less vile swagger than American born athletes, so he really can't afford to forfeit any. To save Sid from himself, I say it's time we take a stand. That is why we here at the blog are officially starting the "Make Sidney Crosby Shave even though his Points Streak is Still Intact" movement. Due to the blog's current limited audience (Hi Mom!), I expect this effort to gain little to no traction.

My fascination with Sidney's prepubescent facial hair was born when I began watching HBO's 24/7 Penguins Capitols, a behind the scenes look at two Eastern Conference powers coping with the ups and downs of an NHL season. It might sound like insubstantial praise, but the show genuinely made me care. 24/7's power is derived from its simplicity - the humanization of people leading incomprehensibly different lives than our own. Those 60 minutes compelled me to have an opinion on pressing issues like Sidney Crosby's lady tickler and Max Talbot's fashion sense, and I found myself rediscovering the NHL I had abandoned as a kid a decade earlier. It's still too early to celebrate hockey's American renaissance - its staying power remains to be seen - but for now, I eagerly await next Wednesday's episode, hoping against all odds that I've seen the last of the hideous 'stache.

NFL Sunday Roundup - Five Up & Five Down

Up

1. The New England Patriots - They clinched the AFC East title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, where Brady has only lost once since '06 (playoffs vs. Balt last year).  Oh yeah, Tom Brady has the longest streak ever without an interception.  Can you say Superbowl favorites?

2. LeGarrette Blount - This kid has come a long way since he was suspended for punching a Boise State player at the end of their season opening game in 2009.  After going undrafted (which I will never understand), he now has 941 rushing yards in his rookie season after dropping a cool 164 today.  And if you watch him play, he's even that much more impressive.  Blount will eclipse the 1,000 yard barrier next week, a fantastic accomplishment for a rookie, and should be a big time back in this league for years.  The Bucs got themselves a steal with this guy.  And hey, how about his teammate...

3. Josh Freeman - Two Buccaneers make this list on a day they probably lost any chance to make the playoffs, but the accolades are deserved.  Freeman threw for 5 TD's today... 5.  His TD-Int ratio is now 23-6 as a second year QB.  With Matt Stafford making himself cozy on the trainer's table the past two years and Mark Sanchez's inconsistencies, it's looking like the guy who was drafted third of this group may just be the best of the bunch.  Kid has a CANNON for an arm and now we're seeing there's a smart head on his shoulders too.

4. Aaron Rodgers - He put the concussion issues aside to get the Packer's back on the brink of making the playoffs in a big home win vs. the New York Giants.  And I bet no other playoff team in the NFC wanted to see the Packers win today.  They are going to be a tough out in the playoffs even as a road team.  With superstars Woodson and Matthews on the same side of the ball as the suddenly spectacular duo of BJ Raji and Tramon Williams, who are playing at All-Pro levels, and Rodgers at QB, this team could easily be headed to Dallas.

5. The Kansas City Chiefs - Congratulations Todd Haley. No one picked the Chiefs to take beat the Chargers for the AFC West this year and I have to give credit where it's due. Matt Cassel is a top 10 Quarterback in the NFL. Despite missing a game with an appendectomy, his TD-Int ratio is 27-5 after today's stomping of the Titans. Jamal Charles and Dwayne Bowe are as dynamic as anyone at their respective positions, and Romeo Crennel has the defensive playing inspired. As a Jets fan, I'm not looking forward to my team going into Arrowhead in the Wildcard Round because these Chiefs are for real.

Honorable mention: Tim Tebow - If Denver didn't win only its 4th game of the season today, Tebow would probably have made the top 5. But if you asked me before today if I ever thought Tebow would pass for 300 yards in his career, I would have laughed at you.  Well it only took two career starts for him to reach that milestone, and I, for one, am quite impressed.  The way he lead the Bronco's back from a 17-0 halftime deficit today was admirable, and maybe... just maybe... Tim Tebow could be a decent NFL QB (but I still doubt it).


Down

1. Rex Ryan - You wanted to lead the league in fucking wins, and after 11 weeks it seemed possible, but now the Jets are lucky to just be limping into the playoffs.  With a tough road ahead of them, if they want to back up the Superbowl talk we've heard all year Rex is going to have to figure some things out... and quickly.  It'd be one thing if the Jets were losing well played games, and yes, their offense today exceeded everyone's expectations by scoring 34 points on a very good Bears D, but how can you let your "vaunted" defense allow 38 points to Jay Cutler & Co. in late December at Solider Field?  The Bears Jets game today had the lowest Over/Under total of any week 16 game according to Vegas (36), and the Bears alone were able to cover that number.  Don't let the zero interceptions fool you, Darrelle Revis is the best defensive player in the NFL again this year, but the embarrassing pass rush that the Jets demonstrate every week looks like it will hold them back from achieving their ultimate goal of a championship unless Rex can work his magic (feet) on this team.  Here's a stat that will make Jets fans cringe.  Last year, the defense let up 8 passing TD's all season.  This year, they've already allowed 24.

2. Chad Henne - Chad Henne is not the future of the Miami Dolphins.  Henne's numbers are often decent in the box score, and he has over 3,000 yards already despite missing a few games, but the consistently poor decision making is too much to overcome.  Today was the prime example of this.  With under 4 minutes left, the Dolphins lead 27-24 and had the ball inside their own 20.  On 3rd and short, with a chance to essentially ice the game with a first down, Henne was told to pass (questionable call by Sporano to begin with, but they were going for the dagger vs. the Lions) and he threw an ugly interception.  YOU CAN'T DO THAT! If no one is open in that situation, cut your losses, throw it away, have your punter boot it, and play defense.  So the Lions took over and kicked the game tying field goal with 2:49 left.  After kicking the ball back to Miami, Henne and company took over on their own 20 with a chance for the QB to redeem himself with a late game winning drive.  To no one's surprise (except maybe idealistic Dolphin's fans), on the third play of the drive Henne threw ANOTHER interception, and this time Deandre Levy took it back 30 yards to paydirt for the score and the Lions lead 34-27.  As if that weren't enough, Henne had yet another chance to bring his team back and tie the game.  After a series of decent plays, the 'Phins were on the Lions 28 yard line with 19 seconds left and no time outs, so what does Chad Henne do? Take a shot in the end zone maybe? No. He throws a pass in the center of the field to Ronnie Brown for no gain, and the clock ticked away to zero as the Lions celebrated a great comeback win.  Chad Henne, I have one thing to say to you.  YEAH RIGHT!!!

3. Tom Coughlin - Can you say fired? Going into the fourth quarter one week ago, Coughlin looked like a genius.  They were up 31-10 against the bitter rival Eagles and headed for an NFC East Championship.  Fastforward one week and all the screws have come lose as the Giants seem destined to fall short of the playoffs.  Trust me, I am the first person to blame Eli Manning for everything bad that happens to the Giants and Eli certainly played poorly today, but the big problem with the G-men right now is their attitude, and that comes from the Head Coach.   The Packer's are a tough team to beat, especially at Lambeau, but you'd think that with the season on the line in essentially a playoff game, the Giants could have done a little better than 45-17.  Well they didn't and Coughlin looks like he will take the blame in the form of losing his job.  Is it Cowher time for NYG?

4. Norv Turner - Another coach who may have sealed his fate on Sunday, Turner and his Chargers laid an egg in Cincinnati en route to ending any playoff hopes they had yet.  The Bengals, a team that no one fears this year, took a lead on the Chargers early and never looked back.  I'll tell you what, the Chargers have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL and Phil Rivers is as good as any QB in this league, but they cannot afford to get off to 1-5 starts every season and live to tell about it.  Last year they got away with it, this year... not so much.  And now Norv Turner will have to wait his turn in the unemployment line because he doesn't realize the season starts before November.

5. Anyone in Philly who had tickets to watch their team clinch the NFC East tonight and now can't make it to the game on Tuesday - So I thought the NFL still played games in the snow? I guess not.  According to the NFL, they were concerned that 70,000 fans and 3,000 stadium employees would be stranded in the stadium after the game was over.  I doubt this would have happened, but hey, I'm no meteorologist.  Now the NFL has the first game on a Tuesday since the New York Giants played the Boston Yanks in 1946, but more importantly my fantasy football championship won't be settled for two more days. These extra 48 hours will without a doubt be excruciating.  Thanks Mr. Goodell!

Lock of the Day - Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Preview

In what will be a series of posts highlighting picks that I think are Ca$h Money, the first one comes tonight courtesy of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit, Michigan.

This bowl game matches the Toledo Rockets vs. the Florida International Panthers.  This is the first bowl trip ever for the panthers, while Toledo has been a notoriously successful in their bowl history.  Toledo is also playing only an hour from their campus, a much closer trip than the trek FIU is making from the heat of Miami, making this essentially a home game at Ford Field.

FIU finished the season winning 4 out of 5, but lost their final game of the year.  Their signature win was at Troy to earn themselves a a share of the Sun Belt, and they lost 4 consecutive games early in the year to tough non-conference teams.

Toledo finished the season winning 5 out of 6 and overcame the loss of their starting QB to still finish at 8-4.  Freshman backup QB Terrance Owens filled in admirably for Sophomore Austin Dantin with a 12-2 TD-to-Int ratio in three starts (2-1).  It is unclear which QB will start tonight, but both are very solid options and this uncertainty will only hurt the ability of FIU to gameplan.

Toledo's defense is bad, but they tend to force turnovers, and FIU QB Wesley Carroll is prone to make mistakes.  Toledo's offense is balanced and potent, so they should have no problem moving the ball and scoring points.  WR/KR Eric Page is a dynamic athlete on the outside for Toledo and you will hear his name many times this evening.

My pick is Toledo +2.5 tonight.  I'm taking the points on the team from the better conference playing close to home, and I'm taking them pretty confidently.

UPDATE 12/27 12:20 AM

Final score alert: FIU 34 - Toledo 32
The Rockets used all 2.5 of those points they were given as they lost by 2... but a cover is a cover.

Lil Silly Locks: 1-0

Disrespecting Donovan

That's right. I'm doing me.

I will preface this post by saying I will support pretty much any black quarterback. We all love athletes who represent us, especially in places where we are underrepresented. Think about this, there has only been black QB to win the Super Bowl and his name was Doug Williams. And he was on another team the next year. Jeez, Doug Williams. I can't say things haven't changed since then. This has been the year of Cam Newton and Michael Vick, never mind their criminal backgrounds. Throw in a nice year for Josh Freeman, some face time for Jason Campbell and a C.J. Webb sighting and I can't really complain. But there is one QB who I've seen get disrespected, time and time again throughout his career, Donovan McNabb.

McNabb's NFL career began with him being booed viciously by Eagles' fans during the 2000 draft. Apparently, they wanted Ricky Williams, and while I would draft Ricky #1 for a smoke sesh, McNabb has undoubtedly had the better career. I'll list some of his accomplishments and compare them to other QB's of the era:

• 36,250 yards, 230 TDs and 115 INTs in 161 career games (Brees: 34,768, 233 TDs, 129 INTs in 136 games)
• .647 win pct in 142 starts in Philadelphia (P. Manning: .675 pct)
• Career 85.7 passer rating (Favre: 86.0)
• 9-7 playoff record (P. Manning: 9-9)
• 6-time Pro Bowler
• 4 Conference Championship appearance, one Super Bowl appearance

Whether McNabb is Hall of Fame worthy is a debate that I'm not going to have because its a very sticky discussion. The numbers don't lie though, if McNabb is not in the upper echelon of veteran QBs in the league, then he's not far off. The fact of the matter is homeboy deserves a lot more respect than he's received lately. I am certainly on the Vick train, but the fact that McNabb was run out of Philly for the likes Kevin Kolb (??) still makes my stomach curdle.

I thought Washington would be a decent place for him, but they clearly have more problems than the QB position. Bringing in Mike Shanahan masked the fact that the Redskins have been a poorly managed organization for a while, the Albert Haynesworth debacle is evidence of that. Still McNabb endured a rough season. No one can defend his mediocre play this year but you'd think that someone with Donovan's credentials would get the benefit of the doubt over someone like Rex Grossman. Is there really anything you're going to see from Rex Grossman that's going to make you want him on your team in the future? And why is Kyle Shanahan running his mouth to the media? DUDE, the only reason you have a job is your father, even Daniel Snyder knows that. Maybe the Redskins are throwing the season to get a better draft pick, but I don't think they are that smart.

At the end of the day, McNabb will get another chance next year. He could end up on a team that is a good quarterback away from seriously contending. Miami, Oakland, Minnesota and San Fran all make sense. No matter where he goes, McNabb can do only one thing to prove he has been downplayed his whole career: lead his team to a Super Bowl ring.

JJ Redick - My Guilty Pleasure

As a seven year old "baller in progress", I would routinely attack my 8-foot hoop as I pretended to be North Carolina superstar Vince Carter taking on the hated Duke Blue Devils. I'd throw in some sick between the legs action, maybe a little behind the back magic, all while my imaginary shot clock dwindled down to its precious last few seconds. When I felt the crowd was ready, I'd launch a desperation three pointer and yell, "For the WIIINNNNNNNNNNNN...." The result varied from shot to shot. Sometimes we won dramatically, sometimes I got hacked and headed to the line, and sometimes I picked up my miss, pissedly added a few seconds to the clock because the other team cheated and repeated until it went in. The only thing that stayed constant: I ALWAYS won and Duke ALWAYS lost.

As the years passed, my passion for UNC basketball waned (I blame Matt Doherty), but the Duke hatred remained in full force. I was a Duke H8r, through and through. But then in 2002, a young, cocky, sharp shooting freshman waltzed onto Duke's campus who would proceed to take the ACC, and my heart, by storm. By the time his four year college career was over he had set the NCAA record for career 3 pointers, the ACC record for career points scored, won the ACC Player of the Year award twice, and was named the best player in the country his senior year. Oh, and along the way he'd become the "most hated current athlete in America" according to CBS Sports.

His name was JJ Redick, and I wanted nothing more than to loathe him. That arrogant smile, the endless range, the way he thrived in Cameron Indoor Stadium, the excess of media coverage he received. I wanted to be driven to unspeakable rage... but I couldn't. In reality, I wished every three would go in. I wanted all of his teams to streak deep into the NCAA Tournament. And when rumors swirled that he was intimate with ESPN vixen Erin Andrews, who just so happened to be six years his senior, I desperately wanted it to be true (I haven't figured out where this blog fits in the PG - R scale, and when it becomes clear I will eliminate intimate from my vocabulary until I turn at least 50). But somewhere along the way it hit me... this dude is kind of a chill bro. He is what every undersized white boy heaving threes in his backyard, basement, or driveway dreams to be. That marked the moment I decided to vicariously live my life through JJ.

Honestly, embracing my inner Redick was one of the best things I've ever done. Through continued efforts to mold my life in his vein, I've seen dramatic improvements in my day to day confidence. First, by mimicking his unreal hairstyle I am marginally better looking. The man has an uncanny ability to always maintain perfect hair. Exhibit A: http://www.wralsportsfan.com/rs/image/2992215/. I can't tell you how many people have said to me "Your hair is slightly worse than JJ Redick's, but still really good." That always adds a hop to my step. Secondly, in an attempt to replicate his defensive intensity and dedication, my man-to-man FIFA '11 defense has gotten much, much better. That's not as important as the hair stuff, but relevant nonetheless. In the end though, it all pales in comparison to JJ's vile swag and the maturing I've done while attempting to copy said swag. I was at my best as that seven year old making it rain with the pressure on, but age diminished those illusions of greatness. JJ never let go of that childish confidence and parlayed his inflated sense of self into millions of dollars. To that I say, well played, JJ, well played. I can only hope to pick a professional field and become so mediocre.

This guy LOVES his job

Meet Randy Moller, the color commentator for the Florida Panthers radio station who has become famous for his entertaining calls after the Panthers score goals.  Moller was a hockey player himself, even drafted in the first round of 1981 NHL Draft.  In fact, he made the cover of everyone's favorite video game, NHLPA '93 for Sega Genesis.

Now Moller is recognized for his outlandish statements following goals, which rarely make any sense but are without a doubt hilarious.  Some of my personal favorites are "She blinded me with science!" (1:28) and "Who's your Daddy and what does he do?" (2:10).  Be sure to listen to them all for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3b_7S-sGBo

Clash of the Titans, Round 1: The Heat just might have figured it out

It's almost funny at this point to look back to November, when the Miami heat had lost 7 out of 12, including a 16 point home defeat to the Indiana Pacers.  Erik Spoelstra's job was on the line, and people started to think that just maybe Lebron and Wade were too similar to win a championship together.  And maybe Chris Bosh wasn't worth the contract he got.

Well here we are on Christmas Day and after watching 13 consecutive hours of basketball (thank you NBA and Disney for making this beautiful day a reality) there is really one main thing I took from today.  The Heat are for real, and they showed it by beating the two time defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers on their home court by the score of 96-80... and it wasn't even that close.  They may not win 70 games like people originally thought, but they could come closer than most would have imagined a month ago.

The thing that has been so impressive about the Heat has been the defense.  I don't know where Joel Anthony came from, but he is quite the low post defender.  He held down Amar'e in NY a week ago better than anyone else has all year.  Obviously Lebron and Wade are as good of on the ball defenders as anyone in this league, but it is the team defense that has enabled this impressive run of domination the Heat are on right now.

He still may not be worth the contract, but today might have also been Chris Bosh's coming out party as a member of the Heat.  He looked inspired by the Christmas spirirt, driving into the paint with purpose and throwing down slam dunks with attitude.  If he can stretch the offense and bring his defender out of the paint, Lebron and D-Wade will be able to get to the glass all day and NO ONE will beat this team.

Bottom line is that Wade, Bosh, Miller, Chalmers and company is a far better supporting cast than anything Lebron had in Cleveland, and LBJ hasn't lost a step, so it was only a matter of time until this team was borderline unbeatable.  This Heat will be playing deep into the playoffs, and you can't call them the favorites over the Celtics who have dominated the East the past few years, but they are certainly on that level.

How can you argue with swagger like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9BqUBYaHlM

If Ron Artest wants to be an NFL Tight End, I bet he can do it

So apparently Ron Artest never even wanted to be a professional basketball player at all.  Boxing and football were both higher on his list growing up, and he hasn't forgotten.  Artest recently stated on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" that ideally, he'll play Tight End for the New York Jets.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/lakers_artest_wants_to_be_tight_aXnxMwulh1rAYexiokZ9ZI

As a Jets fan, I would welcome giving Artest a try out.  I can see him getting along with Rex Ryan (and maybe Michelle Ryan).  But back to football, he's 6'7", 260 lbs so the size is certainly there and clearly has the mentality to make it in the NFL.  Would he be good? Most people will say no way, but I wouldn't be shocked.