Song of the Day-5/18/10

Song of the Day-5/17/10

As Stars Fall, League's Ratings Could As Well

By Ryan Froats

What do LeBron James, Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby all have in common?

Well, besides the fact that they're all superstars in their respective leagues, they'll also all be watching the rest of the playoffs from their living room couches.

So now what happens to the NBA and NHL? It is basically a known fact that these two leagues don't typically produce the same publicity and hype as the NFL and MLB, yet with their league's big shots not competing, people's attentions might rapidly be fading.

The other day after the LeBron's, no wait sorry, the Cavaliers lost to the ageless Celtics, I flipped on the television to watch some of the reactions on ESPN. I turned on the television at 9:00 AM, and watched the first live episode of SportsCenter. Thirty-eight minutes later, the anchors and analysts had finally finished going over how LeBron lost, where he might end up, and what every sports writer from the three front-runners (Chicago, New York, Miami) felt about it, they switched topics. Thirty-eight minutes. There were eight baseball games to be touched upon in the remaining twenty-two minutes of the show, however, only half of them were actually shown because they had to re-touch upon the LeBron issue later.

It can't be denied, LeBron is the most talented player in the NBA right now, and as someone who can consider themselves 'sort-of' a New York Knicks fan, I think him coming here would make me a very happy man. But, we were 48 days away from free agency the day the Cavs lost, and the topic all over the sports world made it seem like the playoffs were done, just because LeBron had let Cleveland down. The NBA has continued to move, and the die-hard fans will continue to watch, which is good for the NBA. Yet, you have to wonder if those fans who just used to flip through to watch LeBron run the floor swatting people's shots away and dunking over his latest victim, will continue to tune in. Oh yeah, and as I sit here writing this blog, I know there are 44 days, 7 hours and about 43 minutes remaining until LeBron is officially a free agent. And that's not because I can count, it's because there is a continuously updated countdown to free agency on ESPNNY.com. If you didn't think it was a big deal before, think again.

Moving onto hockey, which is without a doubt the least watched of the big four professional leagues, (Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals was on VERSUS), they've recently suffered not one, but two similar setbacks. The lowly Montreal Canadiens must be in contact with Rex Ryan, because they are literally stunning all hockey fans, just as the New York Jets did this past January. The Habs have upset not only the number one seed Washington Capitals, but also the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins. They've relied upon solid defense and spectacular goaltending from an unlikely source in Jaroslav Halak. However, they've not only pulled upsets that have sent more talented teams packing, they've also sent home BOTH faces of the NHL, in Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.

While too many teams make the amazingly extended playoffs in both the NBA and NHL, these leagues depend on the faces of their leagues to play as long as possible, so that they can put on display their overwhelming talents and boost ratings. But, the NHL now has the seventh-seeded Philadelphia Flyers (riding the back of their back-up goalie) against the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens in their Eastern Conference Finals. Kudos to these teams for pulling upsets throughout the entire playoffs, but I think it's fair to assume that the NHL is not as happy as these team's fan-bases. In the Western Conference finals remains the first-seeded San Jose Sharks and the second-seeded Chicago Blackhawks, something that was expected when the season began in October. That game was seen on NBC yesterday, and it was a fabulous game. Perhaps if a team like the Washington Capitals or Pittsburgh Penguins didn't stumble and played to their potential, the world would get to watch both conference finals games. Yet, that's an answer we'll probably have to wait to find out for about another 365 days, because both teams failed to do that.

All in all, I think that these three superstars will continue to impress the world with their skills throughout their young and already-bright careers, it can be safe to say that the higher-ups of the NBA and NHL are a bit disappointed that these young studs weren't able to play to their potential, and help carry these leagues to higher ratings until early June.

Song of the Day-5/14/10

Song of the Day-5/13/10

Song of the Day-5/12/10

Song of the Day-5/11/10

Start of Senior Week

Today's post won't be my opinion about a story, but a few recommendations for those of you reading. It's the start of senior week for me, as I just finished my last two finals yesterday afternoon. I'm delaying the fact that I should be hitting the panic button, at least until Saturday when I graduate. More stories and opinions will come, when my cousin is able to get some free time to start posting, as well as some friends that I've asked to help this blog gain interesting viewpoints. A few blogs that I'm a bunch that I think you should check out are:

http://nyc.barstoolsports.com/

(Funny stories about sports and everything else)

http://www.bigblueview.com/

(New York Giants blog)

http://www.amazinavenue.com/

(New York Mets blog)

http://www.brobible.com/

(really good music)

More to come...

Song of the Day-5/10/10

Bengals Continue to Dig Themselves Deeper

The past few years in Cincinnati have presented a series of ups and downs for a Bengals team that continues to put themselves in troublesome situations.

With a nucleus of talented players that include the likes of Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco, they have been viewed in the NFL as a contender that continuously fails to produce. Some blame the coaching, others blame the defense, but in my opinion, the problems the Bengals have been experiencing are rooted way deeper than on-field experiences.

If you don't recall, the problems originated in the 2006 season, when numerous members of the team (eight to be exact), were in some sort of legal trouble. The Bengals' upper management almost completely disregarded their not-so-clean track records, and decided to offer contracts to these players strictly because of their talent. Year in and year out, they continued to appear as a strong team, that ultimately faded at some point during the season. A team's character says a lot about a team, and the Cincinnati Bengals' teams from the previous five seasons can be summed up in one word. Trouble.

Fast forward to the start of the 2010 football season, and the Bengals seem to fit the cliche that history repeats itself. The draft process is long and drawn out for about three months, as each team can address it's own needs throughout the offseason, and they'll rate players depending upon how their scouts view a particular player. Different strategies are used throughout the draft, but typically players with the most upside seem to be taken the earliest.

Enter Carlos Dunlap, a 21-year old terrific defensive end from the University of Florida, and someone who has the raw talent and ability to succeed at the next level. The only problem, is Dunlap has a track record that includes comments from coaches about a poor work ethic, as well as a DUI four days before the 2009 SEC Championship Game. His stock immediately dropped from that point on, as he sat on the sideline and watched his formerly #1 ranked Gators get trampled by long-time rival Alabama. After deciding to leave school and enter the draft, Dunlap knew he'd be drafted, but not nearly as high as he was originally projected.

As the first round drew to a close, Dunlap had to wait until the next day to hear his name called. As the Cincinnati Bengals geared up for their second round pick at number 54 overall, it appeared the talented but troubled defensive end was about to find his new home. And oh, what a fitting home it would be. The franchise that was notorious for signing troubled players and offering them second chances, decided to offer this young man another chance. Will it pay off? Only time will tell, but just like in the past, the Bengals' upper management abandoned the character issue and went with the player they felt had the most upside.

Dating back about a week or two, the Bengals had supposedly been communicating with Adam 'Pacman' Jones, about a possible comeback. When I first saw the article, I didn't event think twice about it, considering it would probably happen because it's happened so many times before. And then, just a few days ago, they offered Jones a two-year contract. To think, is this really a guy you want as a mentor for your already troubled team, that only seems to gain more troubled players? Sure, he's talented, but he's been in a number of situations with different teams, and all haven't worked out. With each NFL team having 53 players on their squad, as well as a couple dozen others they can put on their practice squad, talent can be found in a variety of places. Character cannot.

Just like the Carlos Dunlap situation, it will take time to determine how the Adam Jones situation will unfold. Yet, just like history has repeated itself with the Cincinnati Bengals' selection process, the future doesn't look too bright for their talented, but problematic players.

Song of the Day-5/9/10

Chiddy Bang- The Opposite Of Adults

Even After Eleven Years, McNabb Still Not Getting Respect

How can it be that a player whose provided a team and a city with so much for eleven years, can be so disrespected on a regular basis?

It began back in 1999, when the Eagles selected McNabb with the second overall pick, and the Philadelphia faithful immediately showered him with boo's and called for the heads of the team's upper management. The other player it seemed they wanted, happened to be the ever-popular Ricky Williams, from the University of Texas. The point of this post is to not compare the success between players the Eagles could have taken instead of McNabb, but to really question how and why Philadelphia was so quick to move on.

I chose to write about this topic today after I saw the most recent knock on McNabb, this time it came from former teammate, Desean Jackson. According to an ESPN.com article, Jackson had said he was, "very happy with the decision," as well as, "I don't think we lost anything, even with McNabb being gone."

So, Desean Jackson, who was a starter for the NFC pro-bowl team last year, finished a pretty solid year by grabbing 63 balls and finishing with nine touchdowns. In my opinion, with 63 catches, he established himself as more of a deep threat rather than a possession receiver, which led to big plays (7 TD's of 40+ yards). I think Jackson is a good player, but he's 5'8" and probably about 160 pounds. He is fast and elusive, but many of the reasons he was so successful is because of Donovan McNabb. As elusive as Jackson is as a quick and shifty receiver, McNabb avoided oncoming blitzes and tacklers with the best of them, leading to longer lasting plays that allowed Jackson to escape the coverage of the secondary. So, in essence, many of those plays that got Jackson recognized were a combination of both his talent, as well as McNabb's ability to keep a play going.

I think this upcoming year, when Kevin Kolb replaces McNabb, will be an interesting year for Jackson. Kolb has talent, and played very well for the Eagles last year when he got his chance, but he doesn't have the ability to stretch the play like McNabb, so Jackson will need to alter his game a bit. It's interesting to me how players like Jackson, who was clearly just standing up for his new teammate, was so quick to throw McNabb under the bus, just like everyone else in Philadelphia. As a New York Giants fan, McNabb was one of the better quarterbacks I've ever watched. He might have had some accuracy issues here and there, and was possibly a bit fragile, but when it came down to it, I hated to watch my team play against him. Unfortunately for me, I'll still have to watch my team play against him twice a year in Washington, and I feel the Redskins just made themselves a much better football team.

The bottom line, as I see it, is that a player who is a franchise's all-time leader in wins, passing completions, passing touchdowns, and passing yards deserves respect. Yet, time after time, after bringing Philadelphia to NFC Championship games and numerous playoff appearances, he has yet to see an ounce of that respect. Being forced out of Philadelphia so quickly after such a brilliant career there, was in no way the how I pictured the McNabb era ending. However, he's shown how thick his skin is over the years, taking criticism from all angles while still playing great football. A change in uniforms might be the best thing for McNabb, who perhaps will finally receive the recognition he deserves in Washington.

As we gear up for OTA's and look forward to the 2010 season, one thing is absolutely certain. McNabb's welcome-back to Philadelphia as the signal caller for the Washington Redskins in early October will present a familiar feeling, as he'll once again be showered with boo's.

Song of the day

Monthly MLB Dream Team

I figured my first post on this newly created blog would be my choices for a dream team after watching the first month of baseball. I'll continue to do this on a monthly basis, choosing a new player for each position, as well as making a prediction for the next month.

Catcher: Rod Barajas, New York Mets

While Barajas is probably an immediate surprise for most of you, let me remind you that Barajas leads all Major League catchers with nine HR's throughout the first month. While it's clear he's got power, his extremely fast start has only yielded 17 RBI's, but many of which have come in clutch opportunities. His unimpressive .240 batting average is something that needs to improve, but he's stepped in and delivered many times for his team. Late inning HR's are something that every baseball fan loves, and while his name might not appear at this spot later in the year, this veteran is off to a great start.

Next Month's Prediction: Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles

First Base: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

It was between Cabrera and his AL Central rival Paul Konerko, who currently has five more HR's than him, but this former Florida Marlin third baseman is absolutely killing it right now. He's batting .372 with seven HR's and 30 RBI's, which is needless to say a ridiculous start, and it's making Tigers fans quickly forget about his reoccurring off-field issues.

Next Month's Prediction: Mark Teixiera, New York Yankees

Second Base: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

In my opinion, Cano is the most talented second baseman in the league. His work ethic and sometimes inconsistency holds him back from being considered that by the rest of MLB fans, but the bottom line is he can hit for power and average, and has amazing ability. He's batting .355 with nine HR's and 21 RBI, and just like Barajas, many of his HR's have been in clutch situations.

Next Month's Prediction: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds

Third Base: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are the hottest team in baseball, mainly because Longoria is as talented as they come. He consistently makes unreal plays in the hot corner, and is boasting a .345 average that goes along with 7 HR's and 23 RBI. As long as he stays hot, the Rays will be in good shape.

Next Month's Prediction: Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants

Shortstop: Alex Gonzalez, Toronto Blue Jays

A new addition to Canada's only team, Gonzalez has provided his team with nine HR's and 25 RBI throughout the first month, and while his .265 average can be improved upon, he's still providing his club a great deal of power from a position that typically doesn't supply it.

Next Month's Prediction: Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins

Outfielders: Andre Ethier, Los Angeles Dodgers

Captain clutch last year is at it again, slugging 10 HR's in the first month, along with a .376 average and and league-leading 32 RBI. With Ethier's current production, and superstars like Kemp and Ramirez, the Dodgers form one of the most-feared outfields in the MLB.

Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves

If you haven't heard about this "kid" yet, it's time to get open up your eyes and ears, because he is the future of Atlanta baseball, and possibly the MLB. The kid is put in quotations, because he looks about 40, plays like he's 30, and has single-handedly changed the face of the organization from Chipper to Jason.

Jayson Werth, Philadelphia Phillies

You might blame his power numbers last year on the hitter-friendly Citizen's Bank Park, but then again his power numbers aren't what's so impressive this year. He's batting .359, with six HR's and 24 RBI. He's come onto the scene in a big way in Philadelphia, and has been a critical contributor to the Phil's fast start.

Next Month's Predictions:

Shin-Soo Choo, Cleveland Indians

Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers

Marlon Byrd, Chicago Cubs

Starting Pitcher: Ubaldo Jiminez, Colorado Rockies

Sooner or later, this will be Roy Halladay, but for now the credit goes to the guy whose giving the National League headaches. He's 6-0 in his first six starts, with a .87 ERA, and a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves. He's introduced America to the rarely seen 91 MPH change-up, and a fastball clocked as high as 101 MPH. His numbers are impressive in any situation, but remember he's pitching in Colorado, where HR's slice through the air easier than anywhere in the country. The only problem for hitters is, they have to see the pitch first before they can hit it out.

Next Month's Prediction: Phil Hughes, New York Yankees

Relief Pitcher: Matt Capps, Washington Nationals

He's 11-for-11 in save opportunities, and has helped fuel the Nationals to one of their franchise best starts to a season. As the Washington faithful wait excitingly for their future star in Stephen Strasburg, they'll have a very fun relief pitcher to watch in the mean-time.

Next Month's Prediction: Kevin Gregg, Toronto Blue Jays