Berry's Week 6 Wrap-Up

LOVE

Cam Newton - 13 points - Out of the top 10 -

Tony Romo - 15 points - 10th best QB in week 6 +

Mark Sanchez - 18 points - 4th best QB in week 6 +

Colt McCoy - 15 points - 10th best QB in week 6 +

Ahmad Bradshaw - 31 points - Best RB in week 6 ++

Felix Jones - 3 points - Out of the top 15 -

Shonne Greene - 7.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Daniel Thomas - 5.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Tim Hightower - Not on the first page of scorers --

AJ Green - 13.5 points - 10th best WR in week 6 +

Pierre Garcon - 7 points - Out of the top 15 -

Jabar Gaffney - 6 points - Out of the top 15 -

Antonio Brown - Not on the first page of scorers --

Greg Little - 10 points - Out of the top 15 -

Ted Ginn Jr. - Not on the first page of scorers --

Dustin Keller - 6 points - Out of the top 15 -

Tony Gonzalez - 3.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Benjamin Watson - 4.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Bengals Defense - 17 points - 3rd best Def in week 6 +

HATE!

Tom Brady - 16 points - 5th best QB in week 6 -

Josh Freeman - 20 points - 2nd best QB in week 6 -

Curtis Painter - 10 points - Out of the top 10 +

Rashard Mendenhall - 20 points - 5th best RB in week 6 -

Jonathan Stewart - 13.5 points - 10th best RB in week 6 -

Reggie Bush - 8 points - Out of the top 15 +

Delone Carter - 4 points - Out of the top 15 +

Santana Moss - Not on the first page of scorers ++

Brandon Marshall - 13 points - 12th best WR in week 6 -

Reggie Wayne - 7.5 points - Out of the top 15 +

Lance Moore - Not on the first page of scorers ++

Kevin Walter - 8 points - Out of the top 15 +

Jacoby Jones - Not on the first page of scorers ++

Dallas Clark - 12 points - 4th best TE in week 6 -

Texans Defense - 1 points - Out of the top 10 +

Badda BING!

Berry's Week 5 Wrap-Up

Onto the analysis!

Love

Mike Vick - 21 points - 7th best QB in week 5 +

Cam Newton - 22 points - 6th best QB in week 5 +

Matt Ryan - 6 points - Out of the top 10 -

Kevin Kolb - 4 points - Out of the top 10 -

Curtis Painter - 19 points - 9th best QB in week 5 +

Daren Sproles - 11.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Isaac Redman - 6.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Mark Ingram - 11 points - Out of the top 15 -

Dexter McCluster - Not on the first page of scorers -

Desean Jackson - 16.5 points - Tied for 15th best WR in week 5 +

Julio Jones - Not on the first page of scorers -

David Nelson - Out of the top 15 -

Pierre Garcon - 26.5 points - 2nd best WR in week 5 +

Titus Young - Not on the first page of scorers -

Owen Daniels - 11.5 points - 6th best TE in week 5 +

Dallas Clark - 0.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Titans Def -   -2 points - Out of the top 10 -

Giants def - 6 points - Out of the top 10 -

~

Wow, he bombed this week in the Love department!

Hate

Matt Schaub - 25 points - 4th best QB in week 5 -

Jay Cutler - 13 points - Out of the top 10 +

Ben Roethlisberger - 27 points - Number 1 QB in week 5 -

Shonne Greene - 15 points - 11th best RB in week 5 -

James Starks - 6 points - Out of the top 15 +

Jordy Nelson - Not on the first page of scorers +

Jacoby Jones - Not on the first page of scorers +

Deion Branch - 16.5 points - 14th best WR in week 5 -

Jared Cook - 7 points - Out of the top 15 +

Arizona Def -    - 2 points - Out of the top 10 +

Bad week for Mr. Roto! He made 28 picks this week. he made 12 good picks, but made 16 bad picks. He also predicted that the number one fantasy QB was going to have a bad game, which he did not. This makes two out of three weeks that he has dipped under the 500 mark for his predictions. UH OH!

Berry's Week 4 Wrap Up

Here we go again!

Love

Phillip Rivers - 17 points - Tied for 10th best QB in week 4 +

Eli Manning - 18 points - 8th best QB in week 4 +

Mike Vick - 34 points - 2nd best QB in week 4 +

Matt Stafford - 15 points - Out of the top 10 -

Cam Newton - 31 points - 3rd best QB in week 4 +

Kevin Kolb - 4 points - Out of the top 10 -

Ryan Matthews - 16.5 points - 10th best RB in week 4 +

Frank Gore - 20 points - 5th best RB in week 4 +

Cedric Benson - 10 points - Out of the top 15 -

Daren Sproles - 14.5 points - 13th best RB in week 4 +

Desean Jackson - 20 points - 6th best WR in week 4 +

Mike Williams (TB) - 8.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

David Nelson - Not on the 1st page of scorers -

Eric Decker - 19.5 points - 8th best WR in week 4 +

Mike Jenkins - Not on the 1st page of scorers -

Greg Olsen - 13.5 points - 7th best TE in week 4 +

Dallas Clark - 5.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Houston Def - 14 points - 6th best Def in week 4 +

Jason Hanson - 13 points - 7th best K in week 4 +

Hate

Matt Ryan - 17 points - Tied for 10th best QB in week 4 -

Ben Roethlisberger - 7 points - Out of the top 10 -

Josh Freeman - 23 points - 4th best QB in  week 4 -

Chris Johnson- 12 points - Out of the top 10 +

Javid Best - 7 points - Out of the top 15 +

Deangelo Williams - 8 points - Out of the top 15 +

Beanie Wells - 31 points - 2nd best RB in week 4 -

Brandon Lloyd - 17 points - 13th best WR in week 4 -

Julio Jones - 17.5 points - 12h best WR in week 4 -

Davone Bess - Out of 1st page of scorers +

Dustin Keller - 2 points - Out of the top 15 +

Tony Gonzalez - 14.5 points - 5th best TE in week 4 -

Kellen Winslow - 5.5 points - Out of the top 15 +

~~

So yeah, he did fair this week. Matt Berry made a whopping 32 picks this week. I guess he was feeling lucky this go around. He made 18 good calls and 14 bad one this time. This was one of Berry's better days as far as predictions go. However, he did not get any top scorers for any category this week.

Berry's week 3 wrap up

You know the drill.

Love

Matt Stafford - 23 points - 7th best QB in week 3 +

Ryan Fitzpatrick - 18 points - 10th best QB in week 3 +

Rex Grossman - 10 points - Out of the top ten -

Kevin Kolb - 11 points - Out of the top ten -

Chad Henne - 14 points - Out of the top ten -

Rashard Mendenhall - 4.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Fred Jackson - 23.5 points - 3rd best RB in week 3 +

Mike Tolbert - 4.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Brandon Jacobs - 14 points - 15th best RB in week 3 +

Roy Helu - 3 points - Out of the top 15 -

Steve Smith - Not on the 1st page or scorers -

Santana Moss - 9.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Chad Ochocinco - Not on the 1st page of scorers -

Malcolm Floyd - Not on the 1st page of scorers -

David Nelson - 11 points - Out of the top 15 -

Tony Scheffler - 0.5 points - Gimme a break! -

Evan Moore - 2 points - Out of the top 15 -

Bengals Def - 14 points - 3rd best Def in week 3 +

~

Wow that was a lot of bad calls, lets see if he redeems himself in the hate sections!

Hate

Ben Rothlisberger - 13 points - Out of the top 10 +

Joe Flacco - 27 points - Number 1 QB in week 3 -

Eli Manning - 26 points - Tied for 2nd best QB in week 3 -

Kyle Orton - 10 points - Out of the top 10 +

Cendric Benson - 6 points - Out of the top 15 +

Beanie Wells - DNP +

Thomas Jones - 3.5 points - Out of the top 15 +

Hakeem Nicks - Off the 1st page of scorers +

Plaxico Burress - 12.5 points - Out of the top 15 +

Devery Henderson - 7.5 points - Out of the top 15 +

Kellen Winslow - 3 points - Out of the top 15 +

The hate section saved his ass this week!

~~

Matt Berry made 29 guesses again this week. He made 14 good or correct calls, but made 15 bad ones as well. He also flubbed up a little and said that the top two scoring QBs of week 3 were bad plays so if anyone listened to him and benched them...well I'm sure they were sour about taking his advice. His average dropped under 500 for the first time this season. Is that a sign of things to come? Only week 4 will answer that!

Berry's week 2 wrap up.

Here we go again! Another edition of, "Just how talented is Mr. Roto?"

In week 1, Matt berry did not impress me with his mediocre correct picks, so how will he fare in week 2 of fantasy football?

Love

Matt Stafford - 25 points - 3rd best QB in week 2 +

Rex Grossman - 15 points - Out of the top ten -

Jay Cutler - 12 points - Out of the top ten -

Ryan Fitzpatrick - 22 points -6th best QB i week 2 +

Tim Hightower - 10.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Mike Tolber - 10 points - Out of the top 15 -

LeGarrette Blount - 19 points - 10th best RB in week 2 +

Joseph Addai - 11 points - Out of the top 15 -

Danny Woodhead - 5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Darren Sproles - 13th best RB in week 2 +

Miles Austin - 36.5 points - Number 1 WR in week 2 +

Dez Bryant - 0 points - Not on the 1st page of scorers -

Santana Moss - 14.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Mario Manningham - 6.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Owen Daniels - 9.5 points - 13 best TE in week 2 +

Rob Gronkowski - 22 points - 2nd best TE in week 2 +

Lance Kendricks - 2.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Lions Def - 22 points - Number 1 Defense in week 2 +

~

More bad picks here, but he did get some number one players in their respected categories this go around at least.

Hate

Eli Manning - 14 points - Out of the top 10 +

Matt Ryan - 19 points - 10th best QB in week 2 -

Kyle Orton - 13 points - Out of the top 10 +

Cendric Benson - 7.5 points - Out of the top 15 +

Javid Best - 26 points - 4th best RB in week 2 -

James Starks - 12.5 points - Out of the top 15 +

Mike Williams - Not many points +

Plaxico Burress - same here +

Devery Henderson - 17.5 points - 14th best WR in week 2 -

Mercedes Lewis - Out of the top 15 +

Saints Def - 13 points - 6th best def in week 2 -

~~

and there you have it.

Berry made 29 predictions this week. He made 15 correct or good guesses and 14 bad ones. He also picked two of the six positions best players for that week. The average slightly dipped this week, but he once again stayed in the positive side of the average. He is quickly slipping though. I wonder how he will do in week 3?

Berry's Week 1 wrap up.

This should be simply enough.

Now we get to the nitty-gritty. I will see how talented this guy really is.

The evidence is in the archives. I will use my own fantasy football league to see how well his Love/hate article stands up to the real, fake thing.

I will write the player he loved or hated for that week and then post the corresponding fantasy points they accumulated. I will put a plus ( + ) by the picks he got more or less right and a minus ( - ) by the ones he got flat out wrong. By right or wrong I mean if for the QB he guessed right and they scored in the top 10 of their category and for RB, WR and TE if they scored in the top 15.

So without further ado.

~

Love

Mike Vick - 22 points - Tied for 7th best QB in week 1 +

Matthew Stafford - 22 points - Tied for 7th best QB in week 1 +

Tony Romo - 17 points - Tied for 13 best QB in week 1 - 

Rex Grossman - 18 points - Tied for 10th best QB in week 1 + 

Benjarvis Green-Ellis - 9 points - No where near the top 15 -

Tim Hightower - 16.5 points - Tied for 8th in RBs in week 1 + 

Willis Mcgahee - 5.5 points - Yep. -

Wes Welker -32 points - 2nd best WR in week 1 +

Dez Bryant - 14.5 points - Out of the top 15 -

Aaron Hernandez - 19.5 points - 2nd best TE in week 1 +

Lance Kendricks - 1.5 points - Self-explanatory -

Broncos D - 7 points - 13th best Def in week 1 -

Houston - 18 points - 5th best Def in week 1+

Titans Def - 6 points - Tied with a lot of bottom half Defenses in week 1 -

~

Got some studs in there, no doubt. Week one he got a lot of picks correct, though some were just bad.

Hate

Josh Freeman - 14 points - Out of the top 15 in week 1 +

Eli Manning - 14 points - Same as above +

Kyle Orton - 13 points - Here too +

Reggie Bush - 18.5 points - 6th best Rb in week 1 -

Javid Best - 13 points - 15th best Rb in week 1 -

Jonathan Stewart - 4 points - Way out of the top 15 +

Daniel Thomas - 0 points - Inactive, but I guess that's something to hate! +

Mike Thomas - 9 points - Out of the top 15 +

Mario Manningham - Not on page one of the top WR scorers! +

Braylon Edwards - same as above. +

Mercedes Lewis - 3 points - Out of the top 15 +

Tony Gonzales - 9.5 points - 15th best TE in week 1 -

~~

So there you have it.

Mr. Roto, however he got that nickname, made 26 picks in week 1. He got 16 picks right and 10 picks flat out wrong. He did not predict one single number one player in any position this week also. C'mon man, you can do better then that! I thought you were talented!

The "Talented" Mr. Roto?

I've seen enough. Who is this guy again? Why does anyone think this guy knows a lick about football enough to listen to his fantasy advice?

Ok, let me give you a back story for anyone that is not familiar with fantasy football and the sort.

Matthew Berry is a columnist at ESPN. He has a website dedicated to fantasy football advice. He also makes weekly columns giving eager readers much needed pointers for the players they might or might not have on their team.

One of his more famous topics is his Love/Hate thread he writes every week. In this article, Berry goes off spouting about junk people skip just to get to the goods stuff. He does not rate players, he just warns people if he thinks people will do well or not so well. The players he loves usually have favorable match ups, while the players he hates have bad ones or are hurt or he has some gut feeling they will stink it up in their upcoming game.

This guy is as useful as a Floridian Meteorologist. He makes some guesses right, but he seems to make WAY more guesses wrong.

Well I've had enough. It's time to put this guy in his place. I am going to go back into his archives and see exactly how smart this supposed fantasy guru is.

~

Pre-season

Love

Ryan Williams - Tore his ACL before the season started. Not really his fault. IR

Roddy White - He said he was the number one WR this year...

Anquan Boldin - Eh...

Fred Jackson - Nailed this one.

Matt Forte - And this one too.

Colt McCoy - Average at best.

Tony Romo - Not sold on him....if ever.

Dez Bryant - Both the Dallas Wrs are studs...

Miles Austin - But Miles has been hurt and Dez is not getting enough targets right now.

Felix Jones - Supremely busting it wide open right now. That's a bad thing.

Knowshon Moreno - I thought he'd be good too. It has not happened yet, and it's not looking too likely to change anytime soon.

Calvin Johsnon - Megatron!!!!!!!!!!!

Matthew Stafford - Good pick.

Brandon Pettigrew - Decent TE. Looks to be getting more involved in the offense now too.

Ryan Grant - Uhm, no.

Owen Daniels - Good TE.

Ben Tate - He rated him high before Foster's injury. Tate is never going to supplant Foster.

Joseph Addai - Hahaha. Blame Manning I s'pose.

Delonte Carter - Not gonna happen.

Rashad Jennings - Hurt before the season started. IR

Jamaal Charles - Shredded his knee in week two. IR

Daniel Thomas - Has potential, but is still a rookie learning the game.

Percy Harvin - No receiving TD yet this year. That might change with McNabb gone...

Donovan McNabb - Benched in week 7. Horrible since the start.

Chad Ochocinco - Bust.

Jimmy Graham - Best TE in the game right now.

Mario Manningham - Not playing to hot.

Shonn Greene - Garbage

Ladainian Tomlinson - Not getting enough carries to be that relevant.

Santonio Holmes - Good, but with a bad QB throwing him the ball. he is the clear best target Sanchez has to throw to.

Jason Campbell - Pretty solid up until he got hurt and is not out for the year. IR

Jacoby Ford - Has done nothing. Works as a good kick returner though!

Mike Vick - Good, but not as good as people wanted this year.

LeSean McCoy - Shady is a Stud.

Jeremy Maclin - Seems to have a stronghold on the number 1 WR gig in Philly.

Mike Wallace - He is a speed demon. He's really good.

Emmanuel Sanders - Not that good.

Antonio Gates - Is that foot ever going to be completely healed?

Mike Tolbert - TD vulture.

Phillip Rivers - Consistently inconsistent.

Marshawn Lynch - Hahaha, really? Wait he has had one good game...

Anthony Dixon - Bust.

Sam Bradford - Bust so far.

Legarrette Blount - Hurt, but he was starting to pick up his game up until the injury.

Josh Freeman - Not playing nearly as good as he showed last year.

Arrelious Ben - Sleeper potential here, but still so very raw.

Kenny Britt - He was killing it until he tore his ACL and MCL. Ouch! IR

Jared Cook - One good game so far. Otherwise he has been very invisible.

...

Hate

Man it has to suck if you are a player in the NFL and you see your name in the Hate section. Haha

Kevin Kolb - I could have guessed this.

Matt Ryan - Interesting.

Tony Gonzales - He is actually playing very well for his age and shaky QB.

Lee Evans - Been a bust so far.

Jonathan Stewart - The daily show is averaging more points then fellow RB Deangelo Williams.

Jay Cutler - TBD

The Bengals - All of them, he writes. he says they won't score 8 Tds this season. They have more then 8.

Peyton Hillis - The Madden Curse strikes again?

Javid Best - He is a lil concussed right now, but he has not been a bust at all this year.

Arian Foster - Hahahaha. Really?

Peyton Manning - Nailed this one. Not on IR yet, but might as well should be with the way the Colts are playing.

Reggie Wayne - Yup.

Maurice-Jones Drew - Well, he might not be a top ten back this year, MJD is playing very well for a team that only has himself as a threat.

Matt Cassell - I guess.

Dwayne Bowe - No.

Derick Mason - Duh.

Benjarvis Green-Ellis - He is still the lead back.

Reggie Bush - Has has shone some flashes, but just can't stay consistent or healthy.

Marques Colston - Started out hurt, but has come back healthy and as good as new.

Ryan Matthews - Is making Mike Tolbert lose some rushes. He looks good this year.

The eagles Defense - Yeah, they were extremely overrated.

~~

So there you have it. He got some picks right before the season started to be fair, but a lot of his picks are huge disappointments or all-around busts.

My Fantasy Cheet Sheet

QBs to target.

Phillip Rivers
Matt Schaub
Ben Rothlisberger
Josh Freeman
Sam Bradford
Colt Mccoy
Kyle Orton

Rbs to target

Ray Rice (5th overall pick.)
Legarrette Blount
Felix Jones
Steven Jackson
Reggie Bush
Frank Gore
Matt Forte
Ahmad Bradshaw
Knowshon Moreno
Tim Hightower
Rashard Jennings

WRs to target

Vincent Jackson
Greg Jennings
Calvin Johnson
Desean Jackson
Percy Harvin
Brandon Marshall
Chad Ochocinco
Mike Williams (Tampa)
Mario Manningham
Greg Little
Santana Moss
Braylon Edwards
Lee Evans
Emmanuel Sanders
Jacoby Ford

TEs to target

Antonio Gates
Kellen Winslow
Brandon Pettigrew
Greg Olsen
Jimmy Graham
Jared Cook

Bucs

Expectations are high over in Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers surprised everyone last year,
So jump aboard and listen up today,
As I explain why so we are all clear.

From three and thirteen to ten and six,
Did the Bucs improve in one years notice,
What did they change, what did they fix,
 I predict another year of pure bliss.

Coach Morris is pumped, excited as ever,
His team has his full support,
They won't quit and it now or never,
For a Lomabrdi trophy and plice escort,

Our offense is hungry our defense is ready to hunt,
Josh Freeman leads our team with fans by the millions,
Let's not forget our firecracker RB Legarrette Blount,
or our WR monsters of Biscoe, Benn, and Williams,

Ronde is the wiley vet on the defensive squad,
We are young with talent a plenty,

Dolphins

So another ho hum seven and nine season,
For South Beaches very own Miami Dolphins,
Should we have faith, is there a reason,
Have faith, we are not dead I see no coffins.

The Fins and back ready to prove to us they belong,
in our hearts in our dreams when we cheer all year long,
as fans we must continue to support them and be strong,
Miami is getting ready to go bananas like Donkey Kong.

Things have changed from last year to now,
Chad Henne is back our QB selection is slim,
We didn't draft one I don't know how,
Hopefully one will step up and we will back him.

What we do have is a talented bunch around the quarterback,
Like the talented Cameron Wake a master of the sack,
Our defense is strong there isn't a position we lack,
If the offense does falter the defense can cover its slack.

But we have play maker extraoridaire Reggie Bush,
and mega superstar Brandon Marshall stretching the field,
Will Check Down Chad find them before he turns to mush,
He will have time to make plays thanks to Jake Long his shield.

Carlos Dansby is back and ready to start tackling,
Vantae Davis is confident and proclaiming his dominance,
Koa Misi is on the attack every Quarterback he will fling,
A bevy of players ready to bring us back to prominance.

Tattoo

I am decided that from this day forward. Any if any team I am a fan of wins in their respected sport, I will put that team's logo on my body. I will start with the left arm and go from there.

Make it happen teams!

Dallas versus Miami....part 2

Did we somehow jump in a time machine and land back in 2006? It sure seems that way until you realize that LeBron James is standing next to Dwyane wade instead of Shaq. No, this is the 2011 NBA finals and even though the Miami Heat's opponent is the same as 2006, they are vastly different. Both are the same, but different.

Only two members of the Heat team that won it all in 06' remain on this 2011 roster (Wade, Haslem), and the same could be said about the Mavericks (Nowitzki, Terry). The Heat also have one other member with a ring (Eddie House), but do not expect him to play much at all this series.

The Mavericks are the older, more seasoned team. They have a lot of players with tons of miles on their treads, but with those miles comes years of experience. Miami is the younger, more athletic team that has finally seemed to bring it all together at the right time and looks almost unstoppable. These Finals are going to be fun to watch, that is for sure...but for now let us do the usual player by player comparison.

Point Guard: Mike Bibby vs Jason Kidd

Bibby played very well against Derrick Rose in the last round of the playoffs. Kidd is another tough match up, but this is one that Bibby should have an easier time to defend. Kidd is one of the best assist makers in the NBA today, and even at 38 years of age he still manages to find his own shots and find open shots for all his teammates on the floor. you can not leave him open, and you can not let him create space or he will eat you alive. Bibby has not performed well at all in these playoffs, but that does not mean he can't turn it around with some three point makes and some nice, quality minutes on the court. Still, I feel that Jason Kidd, despite being a lot older, still holds the advantage in this position. His experience and knack for making all the right plays keep him playing right alongside the NBA's best in this position.

Advantage: Dallas

Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade vs DeShawn Stevenson

Let us be perfectly honest: Wade should by all accounts have a huge edge against Stevenson. He is no Bogans, he can't defend like Iguodala, and he is not the offensive threat that Ray Allen is. Don't get me wrong, Keith Bogans is not that great either, but Mr. DeShawn is a lesser version of Bogans if that tells you anything. Wade SHOULD have the advantage in the series. He should be the X-factor for the Heat when they needs runs. I say should because no one knows the extent of Wade and his phantom injury. Is he injured or was he just tired? Who knows. I hope he is healthy and as close to 100% as he can be, because if that is the case then he will have a great series against the Mavs...once again.

Advantage: Flash

Small Forward: LeBron James vs Shawn Marion

Will the King without a crown finally reclaim his spot on the top of the NBA world? If he continues to play at this level, then I believe so. LeBron James has looked almost as unstoppable as he was supposed to look ever since he came into the league. His size, strength and speed combination is unparallel. He has found a jump shot that works. His post game is strong. he can drive to the basket at will. He collapses defenses and finds open teammates for uncontested jumpers. He has been doing it all this post season. When his team needed a boost, he gave it to them. When his all star teammates needed someone to carry the load, he let everyone jump on his back. he is doing it and dong it well and personally I don't think Marion can stop him. Marion did well enough against Kevin Durant in the Western Conference Finals, but KD is no LBJ and I think Marion  will find that out the hard way.

Advantage: King James

Power Forward: Chris Bosh vs Dirk Nowitzki

For each of these comparisons I have been a huge Bosh supporter. I have been backing him ever since the entire media outlet started calling him overrated and exposed. I know Bosh has the talent to play with the best of the best and this match up is against the best. Dirk Nowitzki, the seven footer jump shooting German is hungry for a title. He was close in 06', but Wade stole it right in front of his eyes. he is back now, and playing at an even higher level then before. Bosh is great, but Dirk has the edge in this one. It is going to take all of the 6'11'' Miami big man to just keep Dirk from going too crazy. If Miami wants to win these Finals, Bosh along with James and Haslem are going to have to play the best defense of their careers to stop the Dallas juggernaut. Bosh will get his, but hopefully anyone who defends Dirk with hold him at bay. Stopping, or containing Dirk will be the key for Miami to win it all in these Finals.

Advantage: The Hoff

Center: Joel Anthony vs Tyson Chandler

Joel Anthony is such a liability on offense it is a shame that Miami does not have any better options to throw out there in these games. Tyson Chandler is a great story. Thought of as garbage and thrown out of his former teams, the Mavs pick him up thinking he would be a decent back up Center for Brendan Haywood. Somehow Chandler finds his second wind in Dallas and fights back into the starting lineup of this squad. Give his coach all the credit, because Chandler looked to have lost his fire and passion for the game before this season started. He is a good Center. He plays like Joakim Noah, but is able to collect more rebounds and is thriving from the play of his point guard Jason Kidd. Anthony's teammates try to get him the ball, but he plays so clunky on offense, the ball just seems to bounce right out of his hands. Anthony can defend great, but Chandler provides a much more overall player in the Center position.

Bench:

Miami has an eight man rotation which might grow to nine if Coach Spolestra wants to add James Jones into the line up. Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller are the three players that come off the bench and give the Big 3 time to rest. Haslem and Miller are the unexpected players that stepped up in the last series for Miami. if they can continue to provide that boost they added against Chicago, then Miami won't need too much of anyone else to contribute.

On the flip side, Dallas has a whole slew of players to relieve their starters. Jason Terry, J.J. Barea, Brendan Haywood, Corey Brewer, Peja Stojakovic, and maybe Ronny Beaubois are all threats off the bench. Terry is the biggest concern for Miami since he can drive and also nail crucial three pointers. In fact, Dallas has the best three point shooters in the game if you think about it. Terry, Kidd, Stojakovic, and Nowitzki are all big time three point aces. Dallas just has more option then Miami if someone is having an off night or in foul trouble.

Advantage: Dallas

In short, both teams have strong and weak points. Dallas is a powerful offensive team with great wing scorers, but their defense is invisible. Miami has a bunch of talented players who can play both sides of the ball and have one of the best transition offense in the league, but their depth is lacking. Both have All Star players and future Hall of Famers on their rosters. My gut tells me that Miami, despite their shortcomings has enough to win it all this year. They have blown by all of the opposition, and I think Dallas is the final step in the redemption song for LeBron James and company.

Miami in 6. GO HEAT!

One on One with the "MVP"

Derrick Rose is a tremendous talent, but now that he has been eliminated by LeBron James and the Miami Heat, was he truly deserving of the Most Valuable Player label?

I do not think so.

Here's a look at LeBron James and Derrick Rose exclusively in their Eastern Conference Finals meeting. The stats do not lie.

Rose
PPG 23.4 REB 4.0 AST 6.6 BLK 0.2 STL 1.0 PF 2.6 TO 3.8 FT% .813 FG% .350 3P% .233 MIN 42.0

James
PPG 25.8  REB 7.8 AST 6.6 BLK 1.8 STL 2.4 PF 3.0 TO 3.6 FT% .864 FG% .447
3P% .389 MIN 45.2

LeBron James out performed Derrick Rose in EVERY statistical category that matters. He even played a higher minute total then Rose, so you can not use the excuse that James was more rested either. Even the categories that a Point Guard should excel in (assists, steals, fewer turnovers) did the SF James either average the same or better stats then the PG Rose. Rose could not out shine James in any category and could not squeeze by LeBron James' shut down defense.

Sure James is a good four inches taller then Rose, but Rose should be able to blow by James with his impressive speed, but it never happened. LeBron James could and did defend Rose. Derrick Rose could not and can not defend James.

Derrick Rose won the MVP because he was the new kid on the block. He deserved some attention, but after a certain point, none of the voters gave anyone else more then a second glance. If you want to argue that LeBron James had Dwyane Wade helping him, then I would say that Dwight Howard at least deserved the MVP over Rose.

Remove James from the Heat and they are not the number two seed. Sure they still make the playoffs because of Wade and Bosh, but losing James means losing a lot regardless.

Remove Rose from the Bulls and you still have a playoff team as well. They either sneak in the playoffs or are on of the lower seeds. No Rose means, the other Bulls get a lot more looks to score. Rose is still a bad shooter, and with him gone, you remove the hero ball function of the Bulls offense. Their defense is the same, if not better with Rose out of the line up. Deng, Boozer, Noah, Brewer, Gibson, and maybe even Korver and Watson help anchor this team to a first round elimination in the playoffs.

Remove Howard from the Magic and what do you have? Not a good team by any stretch of the imagination. Howard anchors the defense, and is a monster on the offensive boards for put backs. He led the team in PPG as well.

So if you want to argue that Rose was essential for the Bulls team to be good, then you would be correct, but Howard was even more essential. If that is the case then he should have the MVP award, not Rose.

If you want to argue that Rose is a better athlete that Howard, then you would have to also say that James is a better player then Rose. if that is how they justify the MVP award then James should be the three time award winner, not Rose.

In either case, Rose should not have been awarded this trophy. He was exposed in the playoffs, and that is all I am going to say about that.

Miami versus Chicago

Number 1 vs number 2

MVP versus the former MVP

Bragging rights and a trip to the finals await as well.

Let's get down to the nitty gritty.

Point Guard: Derrick Rose versus Mario Chalmers

Okay. The MVP of the league versus some on again off again starting PG. This one is not going to be pretty. Rose has all the confidence in the world, and he should get the best of Chalmers. That is of course if the Heat decide to keep Rio on Rose for the entire series, which I don't see happening. For the time being Rose has the advantage over any Heat PG, but expect to see Wade or James covering Rose in the crunch.

Advantage: Bulls
Shooting Guard: Keith Bogans versus Dwyane Wade

Wade is about the hardest cover in the league. He can switch directions better and faster then anyone in the game right now. And while Keith Bogans is an exceptional defender I do not think he can keep up with the man they call Flash. Wade also smothered Ray Allen, who is a much better version of Keith Bogans in the last series. I can't even imagine how Chicago could have an advantage in this situation.

Advantage: Heat

Small Forward: Luol Deng versus LeBron James

There should be no contest here either. Luol is a good player and can usually find a mismatch against whoever he faces. Too bad he is going up against the best player in basketball right now. LeBron James seemed to exorcise the demons of playoff failures in his last series against Boston. James was playing out of his mind and a huge burden should have been removed after eliminating the Celtics. Expect more dominance and more explosiveness from the once and future king.
Advantage: Heat

Power Forward: Carlos Boozer versus Chris Bosh

Ah, here we go again. Chris Bosh versus another good Power Forward. Bosh has played well in the playoffs, minus one or two vanishing acts. Boozer showed some promise in his last game against the Hawks when he finally hit thew 20 point mark in quite some time. Both are capable of delivering tons of damage, and both are also capable of canceling the other player out. You can expect either a stalemate or whoever gets the better in this match up to give his team much needed advantage.I personally think that Boozer is a little too slow to cover Bosh by himself. I think CB is going to have the advantage all series long in this position. Boozer might have more rebounds in the end, but Bosh should abuse him on the offensive side.
Advantage: Heat

Center: Joakim Noah versus Joel Anthony

Both players are undersized for their position, but both also play with tons of emotion and energy. Noah has the size advantage over Anthony and for that he seems to have the advantage. Noah can also seemingly find his own shot and produce on the offensive side where as Anthony can not. (and should not. Not NEVER!)

Advantage: Bulls

Bench:

If only the Heat's bench could do anything consistently. They would be invincible. Other then the big three, no one steps up to help produce numbers. I have to give it to the Bulls bench which consists of Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and Taj Gibson.

Advantage: Bulls

Final thoughts? while on paper in those categories it seems like the Bulls are favorites, I will not ever doubt the fire that burns within James and Wade. When those two players are playing their best, there isn't a team in the league that can stop them consistently. Plus, they are MY favorite team, so yeah i am not picking against them.

HEAT WIN IN 6 GAMES!

GO HEAT!

Bosh vs Garnett

Miami has beaten the Boston Celtics in five games. We all know what D. Wade and King James bring to the table. No one in Boston could match up against them all series long. Of the big three, Chris Bosh has received the most scrutiny for his supposed soft play and timid attitude on and off the court. Now that it is all said and done, let us look at his stats against the eventual Hall of Fame Power Forward, Kevin Garnett. 

These will be the two players total numbers from all five games.


Chris Bosh

51 Rebounds 7 assists 6 steals 5 blocks 8 turnovers 12 fouls 64 points

Kevin Garnett

53 rebounds 9 assists 9 steals 6 blocks 7 turnovers 19 fouls 72 points

Just to point out that most of Garnett's stats come from his monster game three performance when he accumulated 28 points and 18 rebounds. On paper it looks like KG got the best of Bosh, but from what I saw I saw CB play KG almost to a standstill and that could have been what gave Miami the edge over Boston in the long run.

Taking away game three these are the rebound and points totals for both players. 

Chris Bosh

46 rebounds 58 points

Kevin Garnett

35 rebounds 46 points

Good show Baby Bosh. Jolly good show!

Of the Remaining Opponents...

Miami has had mixed success with the remaining teams left in the playoffs. Let's take a look at some of those matchups.

Boston - Miami is currently leading the series 2-0. But Miami was only 1-3 versus the Celtics in the regular season. I've talked enough about Boston in the other posts, so lets move on.

Chicago - 0-3 - Miami has yet to beat the Bulls this season in three tries.

Memphis - 1-1 - Miami split the series against the Grizzlies. Something to note: Memphis won their first meeting against Miami by a buzzer beating jump shot by now injured Rudy Gay.

L.A. - 2-0 - Miami swept the season series against the Lakers.

Dallas - 0-2 - Miami could not win in Dallas or at home against the Mavericks in the regular season.

Atlanta - 3-1 - Miami won three out of four games against the Hawks in the regular season.

Oklahoma City - 1-1 - Miami split the series against the Thunder in the regular season.

Which means Miami was a unimpressive 8-11 against these playoff teams. Ouch.

Temper Temper

I love the Miami Heat, and I think Dwyane Wade is a phenominal superstar, but he very well may be their biggest liability in the series aginst the Boston Celtics. Don't get me wrong, Wade has played at a high level all season long, bt it has been Wade, not his superstar teammate Lebron James who has vanished during their four games against the Celtics. Wade has averaged less then 13 points per game against Boston this season and his tournovers sloppiness is one of the biggest reasons Miami could not win against Boston in their first three attempts.

And now for something more challenging.

So the Heat advanced into the second round of the playoffs like everyone thought would. Now comes the hard part, shrugging off the win over the less-then-stellar 76ers and focusing all of their attention to the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics. The originators of the big three and the team that has loomed their champion calibre team's shadow over the Miami heat all season long are now ready to give Miami's big three everything they can handle. The chase to the title will have to wait, Miami has a lot of skeletons left to deal with if they want to advance any further.

Miami has a pair of champions on their team, but one has not played all season, so the Heat's sole ring bearing active player is Dwyane Wade. The Celtics have proven that their team is at that championship level that Miami is still hoping to achieve. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett aren't even the big three any more. Rajon Rondo has emerged and made that dynamic trio welcome in a fourth member. Together they have won a championship and almost won a second ring last year.

This year's Heat are looking for that type of success in 2011.

For the second year it seemed as though the Celtics were limping into the playoffs, but after a quick sweep of the Knicks the Celtics seem to be in top form once again. No team should or can sleep on Boston. They are proven as a team, and if Miami wants to be considered a champion, they have to beat the current Eastern Conference Champions just to advance to the next round!

As any good sports reporter would do, I want to analyze both teams. Focus on their strengths and weaknesses as individuals and as teammates. I want to break down every position and try to see which team truly has an advantage over the other.

Let's start with the Point Guards. This time I will focus on the potential starters and reserve the backups all under the bench category.

Point Guard: Rajon Rondo versus Mario Chalmers

When Rajon Rondo is on his game, their is little any PG can really do against him. He isn't the most prolific scorer and because of that defending PGs often give him space and allow him to try to sink long shots. The real Rondo is a pass first type of PG at heart and his crisp passing skills will be the biggest hurdle the Heat will have to overcome in order to beat Boston in this series.

On the other hand, Mario Chalmers is Miami's best defensive PG by a leaps and bounds. It also seems logical to think Chalmers has earned himself a spot back at the starting PG position after a solid game 5 performance where he scored a season high 20 points off the bench. Rio is a much better scorer then Rondo, but needs to work on his assist making skills in order to really strive in this Heat team. With players like Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh it would be in Miami's favor if the ball was in his hands and he could find those players open shots. He has yet to reach that plateau yet, so Miami will have to deal with Rio's great defensive play and hope he can make Rondo look human.

Still, Rondo is the better PG at this time. Advantage: Celtics

Shooting Guard: Ray Allen versus Dwyane Wade

He got game, and it shows more so in the playoffs. Ray Allen has been a headache for D. Wade to guard all season. Not only is Allen one of the best pure shooters in the game, but he is always moving which makes Wade use up all of his energy just defending him. Allen has the Celtics hottest hands from downtown. He is shooting over 65% from behind the 3 point line in the playoffs which can and will hurt any team should that carry over into the next series. In the regular season, Allen has had Wade's number and has limited Flash's performances to that of pedestrian numbers. If that continues it does not bode well for the Heat.

Dwyane Wade should be regarded as one of the best players at his position, but he has yet to have a signature game against Boston all year long. his point per game is under 13 against the Celtics this year which is extremely below his season average of 25 PPG. Wade needs to find his grove against the Celtics and Allen and find it quick. Miami can not afford to continue to start slow and wade needs to be the one to spark that fire under his team. He has proven he is capable of shining at pivotal and important moments in playoff games and the Heat will need Mr. Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. to be at the top of his game if Miami wants to send Boston packing.

Though the regular season has not shown it I still say that Wade steps up in the playoffs for Miami. Advantage: Heat

Small Forward:  Paul Pierce versus Lebron James

This battle has happened before, but James was wearing Cavalier colors then. Now Paul Pierce looks to stay on top of his game against one of the hardest players to defend in the game of basketball. Has he done it? in the regular season Pierce has averaged 17 PPG while James has been averaging almost 29 PPG. The simple stats of it all says that in the regular season James has eaten up Paul Pierce, but we are not in the regular season anymore. Pierce who is a much better long ball shooter is capable of defending James well. The truth is a player that always needs to be guarded, he can strike from almost anywhere on the court.

Enter Miami's mercenary. Lebron James came to Miami for one thing: to win a championship. They may well be on their way this year, but James is going to have to wash away the years of defeat that Boston has piled up in his closet in order to do so. Boston has eliminated James in 2008 and in 2010 and the agony of defeat lingers on. No one more then James needs this victory to prove himself as a great player and to vindicate his decision to take his talents to south beach. The once and future king can accomplish this by performing at a level that Paul Pierce is unable to compete against. He can do it, and needs to in order for Miami to make short work of Boston.

There is no other SF in the game I consider better then James, so the choice is simple. Advantage: Heat

Power Forward: Kevin Garnett versus Chris Bosh

Both of these players are the anchors of their respected teams. Kevin Garnett's career speaks for itself. The guy is an outstanding player and still plays at the top of his game even at 34 years old. He is a presence in the paint and the best defender on the Celtics. Look for him to provide double teams relatively quickly. he size and speed is a problem for almost any PF in the game and has held Bosh's game to below his season average.

Bosh needs to take advantage of his speed over Garnett often and early. Garnett recently mentioned that when Bosh plays well, the Heat dominate. True this may be, but it could also be a ploy to get KG pumped in order to play at an even higher level against Bosh. Bosh has such a silky shot, that he may be tempted to pull up and take long range jump shots, but he needs to be aggressive and catch the Celtics in the air so he can go get much needed free throws. This position battle could very well be the deciding factor in the series.

While one player excels in offense the other is slid on defense. It's hard to pick between the two. Advantage: Tie

Center: Jermain Oneal versus Joel Anthony

Jermain Oneal is playing like his knees aren't giving him trouble, and that could spell trouble for Miami if he stays that way. With Shaq still uncertain, the other Oneal has stepped his game up and has looked like the the player Miami was hoping for just a couple of seasons ago. Now wearing the Celtic green, both Oneals are the enemy. Look for Miami to test Jermain the most in the paint and try to get him in early foul trouble.

Meanwhile Joel Anthony has been playing at such a high level it seems crazy to think Miami will keep him on the bench for too long. Big Z might start the game, but you better believe that Anthony is the Center of choice for the Heat. Anthony provides a much needed boost of energy and athleticism in the Center position. He is a ball hawk on the boards and is ever present in his defensive mindset. Joel even provided some very clutch free throws at the end of the Philly series that sent the 76ers to an early vacation. He is not prettiest offensive specimen, but his energy on the defensive side of the ball is very much needed.

I don't expect Jermain Oneal to continue this level of performance for too much longer. I also think it was due to a poor new York team that allowed Oneal such easy buckets. Anthony should erase those stat lines well enough. Advantage: Tie

Bench Players or Role Players:

Here is Miami's biggest and most glaring weakness: the lack of depth on the team. Boston does not have that problem. Here is a list of the player you can expect to play significant minutes on both teams from their bench.

Miami: James Jones, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mike Bibby

Boston: Glen Davis, Jeff Green, Delonte West, Shaq (if healthy)

You may see Carlos Arroyo or Nenad Kristic come off Boston's bench as well. Needless to say the reserves on Boston are much more active. James Jones is the current three point champion and has had a hot hand in the playoffs. He needs to come off the bench and provide some much needed bench points for Miami. Still Boston has more pieces on the bench that allows their star players much needed rest. Advantage: Boston

So what did we have? Two positions in favor of Miami, two in favor of Boston (including the bench as a position), and two ties which means this is going to be a very exciting playoff series. I can't wait. GO HEAT!

Softball

I sucked this year, but whatever. I am not totting my own horn. I just want to compare this year to next year's stats.

10 for 25 Batting .400 with 5 runs, 6 RBIs, 3  walks and 3 strike outs in 10 games played.

I need to improve!

NBA 2011 Playoff Predictions - West

1. San Antonio Spurs
8. Memphis Grizzlies

4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Denver Nuggets

2. Los Angeles Lakers
7. New Orleans Hornets

3. Dallas Mavericks
6. Portland Trailblazers

~

The West is a lot tougher then the East, still. I say Spurs, Lakers and Thunder win, but the Mavs get ousted by the the Blazers.

1. Spurs
4. Thunder

2. Lakers
6. Trailblazers

~

This is where the upstarts shine. I say both lower seeds win their respected series which makes it.

4. Thunder
6. Trailblazers

This should prove to be a great game. Portland has a better bench and tons of swing men at their disposal, but they do not have Durantula and Westbrook. The Thunder's offense is too much for Portland to overcome.

Thunder vs Heat in the finals.

Heat win it all. Lebron is finally vindicated. Wade earns ring number two. Bosh gives birth to a baby velociraptor. Coach Spo earns a spot on dancing with the stars.

Heat versus Sixers

I take a more in-depth look at the Miami-Philly playoff match up.

Miami has won all three of its meetings against Philly this year, but that does not mean this will be an easy series for Miami. The Heat have held the Sixers under 100 points in all three of Miami's win over then this year.

Dwyane Wade led the charge in the first game. He has 30 of Miami's 97 points as the Heat beat Philadelphia by ten points and gave the Big Three their first win as teammates.

The Heat were struggling coming into their second meeting against the Sixers, but managed a win. The Heat won the second game of the series 99-90 and wade once again led the Heat's scoring with 23 points.

The last regular season match up once again had D. Wade lead the Heat in scoring. He had 39 points, but Lebron James also topped the 30 point mark as well. He had 32 for Miami. The Heat won this game by the score of 111-99. Wade led the Heat in points, assists, blocks, steals, and rebounds.

~

Now lets go position by position and see how each team matches up.

Point Guard

Miami - Mario Chalmers, Mike Bibby, Eddie House

Philly - Jrue Holliday, Lou Williams, Antonio Daniels

Consider House to be on the bench unless one of the other Pgs gets hurt. With that said, Lou Williams was having a good season up to this point, but he caught the injury bug as of late. Williams and Holliday have a slight advantage over Miami's PGs.

Advantage - 76ers

Shooting Guard

Miami - Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller,

Philly - Andre Iguodala, Evan Turner, Jodie Meeks

Regardless of how much of a disappointing season this has been for Mike Miller, D. Wade more then makes up for his problems on both ends of the court. Philly sports a decent trio of SGs led by Iguodala, but Andre might have to defend Lebron James for much of the series.

Advantage - Heat

Small Forward

Miami - Lebron James, James Jones

Philly - Thaddeus Young, Jason Kapono, Craig Brackins

With Lebron James continuing his great season it is hard for any team contain him. Sometimes Jones will give James a breather, other times both are on the court together where Lebron can penetrate and find Jones open behind the arc for his money shot.

Advantage - Heat

Power Forward

Miami - Chris Bosh, Juwan Howard, Udonis Haslem

Philly - Elton Brand, Andres Nocioni, Darius Songaila

The Bosh vs Brand battle will be the tipping point of the series. Both have stepped up their games since the All -Star break and bot are still trying to find a rhythm in their respected offenses. If Haslem can recover and come back for the playoffs it will be a huge boost for the Heat.

Advantage - Heat

Center

Miami - Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Joel Anthony, Eric Dampier, Jamaal Magloire, Dexter Pittman

Philly - Spencer Hawes, Tony Battie, Mareese Speights

Philadelphia is the one team in the east who can't really take advantage of Miami's lack of depth in the five spot. Still Miami has yet to find its true starting center all season long. It looks like big Z will go into the playoffs as the man, but it has been refreshing to see Joel Anthony start to step up as a decent bench performer.

Advantage - Tie

Yes, the heat seem to have the advantage in every category that counts. The Heat rank in the top ten in scoring, rebounds, and points allowed this season. They rank higher then Philly in each of those categories as well. Philly does hold the edge in the assist category however.

In the end this all should amount to a series sweep for Miami. (Hopefully)

NBA 2011 Playoff Predictions - East

1. Chicago Bulls
8. Indiana Pacers

4. Orlando Magic
5. Atlanta Hawks

2. Miami Heat
7. Philadelphia 76ers

3. Boston Celtics
6. New York Knicks

~

My thoughts? I think the Bulls, Magic, Heat and Celtics all win. Which would make the second round look like this.

1. Bulls
4. Magic

2. Heat
3. Celtics

~

I might be a Florida homer but I personally think the Magic and the Heat both win these match ups. The Magic have played the Bulls tough all season long and just barely lost their last meeting because of a Jameer Nelson three point attempt not quite making it out of his hands in time to beat the shot clock buzzer. The Magic were also without MVP candidate Dwight Howard for that game due to a one game suspension based on Howard's constant technical foul trouble he has battled all season long. I say the Magic win in six games.

And as for the Heat versus the Celtics, I think the Heat have finally figured out how to deal with the Celtics. Boston suffered its worst loss of the season against the Heat the last time these teams played. The Celtics have lost something on and off the court after they traded away their starting center, Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their defense has not looked the same and the players all seem to have lost a good friend and it shows on the court that they are still bothered by this move. I believe the Celtics run as the top team in the east is over and it is now time for the Heat to take over that title.

Which leads into...

2. Miami Heat
4. Orlando Magic

~

Heat win. Too much offense and not enough defense for Orlando to contain. The Magic can give the Heat issues if their three point shooting is on, but I doubt it will be enough to beat Miami in a best of seven series. Miami wins in six games. Miami goes to the finals.

Will this be the year when Lebron wins it all?

You damn right it is!

Miami's Problem

Let me start off by my history with Miami and all of its sports franchises. First of all I am not from Miami. I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Tampa is but a four hour drive away from Miami, so it really is not that far from where I live regardless. I have been a fan of Miami teams since I was a little kid. I was heavily influenced by my father to like Miami teams. You could say i was forced into liking these teams. I remember that my room (and later my brother's room) had Dolphin memorabilia hung on every corner in every available spot. My dad bled all those colors and it ultimately was passed unto myself.

I did have family in Miami, so I would often visit the city quite frequently when I was younger. Actually I was forced to stay in Miami for the Summer every year while I was away from school. My mom passed me over to my aunt and uncle and I would basically live with them for three months out of the year. If you guessed that my uncle was another die hard Miami fan, you guessed correctly. So, even away from the clutches of my father, I was constantly around people who adored everything sports related involving Miami.

I make it seem like it is a bad thing, and it could very well be. I am obsessed with sports, and I blame my guardians for that. Let me retract that last sentence. I enjoy sports, but I almost enjoy it to a fault. I like it too much. I want my life to revolve around sports. I want a career where I can watch sports for a living and write about it or be someone who works and fixes stats for specific sports.

The Miami Dolphins, Hurricanes, and Heat along with the Florida Marlins all represent all that is bad with Miami sports. It has nothing to do with the teams, although they all have their faults. The biggest issue these teams face on a daily basis is... their fans.

Simply put, the fans in that city suck. I watch every game for all these teams. (except the Marlins. I watched them when I was younger, but switched to the Rays when they were formed ... (even though the Rays do not even play in Tampa, but lets not get sidetracked.) ) The fans don't support their teams. Every game I have watched for these teams has had numerous empty seats. How does that happen? Where is the fan support?

I could see reasons that the economy is affecting attendance, but other cities do not seem to have this problem. That fact, combined with most of these teams being on the wrong side of the winning percentages can also be a reason for the low attendance ratings.

But... there is a team that has no reason to ever NOT have a sold out arena. The Miami Heat showcase two of the most electrifying, exciting, and athletic basketball players to grace us. Say what you want about Chris Bosh, even though I regard him as another great player, but Lebron James and Dwayne Wade are the best of the best. There is no debate or measure to say otherwise. James is lacking in the trophy department, but his skills are one of a kind. Wade has already brought a ring to the city, so his skill and determination is unquestioned.

For the sports fans around at this specific time in history, those two players are two of the greats. They should draw a crowd alone, let alone paired up. So why haven't they? Most radio networks and ticket sales show that the Heat are selling out every home game of the season, but if you actually watch the games you can spot empty seats all over the American Airlines Arena. It sickens me. Where is the support for this team?

Other examples.

The Miami Hurricanes are one of college football's greatest recent teams. Since the 1980s they have brought five championships to the city, the last one being in 2000-01. Since then they have seen their talent level drop and have come back to reality in some harsh ways. Still, where are the fans? The games can't sell out for a college team with so much history? Last year was not a good year for the Canes, but it was also not a good year for the Florida Gators and you better believe that the UF fans packed the swamp for every home game. For shame people of Miami, for shame.

The Dolphins share the same sad fate as the other local teams. The only football team to EVER finish a complete NFL season undefeated and house one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game (Joey Harrington) and where are all the fans? Dolphin home games usually have more visiting team fans in the bleachers then people sporting the orange and teal. It's downright wrong.

The Florida Marlins also do not have the greatest fan base, despite winning two recent World Series title. Though that is more on the owners themselves due to selling the entire team after winning both titles. You can't build a crowd around past accomplishment if all those that were responsible are now part of the rivals squads.

Currently I live too far away and the gaudy price tag of 150+ for a nosebleed seat to go watch the Heat play keep me away from being someone in the crowd. But that is not what makes a fan, so I digress. Miami has a long list of storied franchises, but it is not known for its deep fan base. Miami fans are flaky. They like a team if they are winning, and will not support the team if they are losing. Many cities might share the same type of support, but this particular fan is disgusts me.

If Cleveland can sell out its arena with just Lebron James, why can't the Heat fans show the same type of support for him D. Wade and Chris Bosh as well. That seems like a better product to sell, and yet the results are less then impressive. I'm not talking about the team or its record, mind you. I talk solely on what my eyes have seen so far this season and what I have been seeing for every Miami based sports franchise.

I see it in Tampa too. Buccaneer and Rays fans are just as bad. The Bucs and Rays both had great seasons in 2010, but neither could produce a large crowd to show up for the games. The Bucs did not have one game air locally due to none of the home games being sold out and the ridiculous blackout rule the NFL enforces. No one got to see a great season of football by a young team that everyone counted out before they even stepped on the field to play one snap. The media hyped them as failures and the fans listened like sheep in a flock.

Maybe it's just a Florida thing.

Either way, the one thing I know for sure is that Miami fans suck.

Also...

Mr. Two bits works ut at Palma Ciea. I doubt anyone cares or even knows who that si, but that is AWESOME!

Two Bits!
Four Bits!
Six Bits!
A Dollar!
All for the gators stand up and holler!

HOLLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Miami,

Fear not, for though you may start to be losing a lot of fans off the bandwagon...I have not stopped believing. All teams go through slumps, and this is just a bump in the road. Do not let all these fake fans get to you. You still have true supporters ad believers to your greatness.

Good luck. The playoffs are where it really matters anyways.

West Grades

(Records differ slightly from the East due to a two day delay on my half.)

West

San Antonio Spurs (44-9) - The best team in the NBA as far as records go, the Spurs are defying logic and their age by playing some of the best team ball in the league. The Spurs play as a unit and no single person is the focal point of their offense. The defense has taken a step back, but teamwork and an improved synergy level has created a very potent offense to compensate. They certainly are one of the few surprise teams this season. A+

LA Lakers (38-16) - The defending champs are collecting more scrutiny then anyone else in the NBA. Kobe and the gang aren't playing bad, but they have a losing record versus the best teams in the NBA. Ron Artest needs to step his game up, and if Andrew Bynum can stay healthy the two time champs could look to three-peat. B

Dallas Mavericks (37-16) - Another team I can't stand. Even with Corran Butler gone for the year, the Mavs are staying consistent. Dirk is playing with a great supporting cast and Dallas has one of the best benches in the league. B

Oklahoma City Thunder (33-18) - The Thunder are a fun team to watch. Kevin Durant is explosive and leads the league in total scoring. Westbrook has emerged as one of the brightest young guards around. The team has dropped off a bit since last year, but they are still controlling their division. B-

New Orleans Hornets (33-22) - This team has to find its identity. They haven't been able to stay hot at all. They go through these great winning periods and then just fall off the radar. Sometimes they look unstoppable, and sometimes they stop themselves. Before this win against Orlando they had dropped four in a row and seemed lost. Chris Paul needs to take over or this team is looking at an early exit in the playoffs. C+

Denver Nuggets (31-23) - The Melo-drama continues. I'd prefer Carmelo to stay right where he is. Denver is a great team with him, but if he goes to New York or LA he makes them that much better. This is another team with a deep bench. Melo has also been playing his best basketball during all this trade speculation. B-

Utah Jazz (31-24) - The Sloan-less Jazz need to figure out their problems and fast. The West is a lot more competitive then the East as far as bottom seeds go. If the Jazz continue this downward spiral they could be fighting just to make a playoff berth. As a team with Deron Williams as their point guard, that is a very sad stat. D+

Portland Trailblazers (29-24) - Crazy how this team manages to stay in the hunt despite key injuries to some of its best players. Greg Oden has yet to show if he can stay healthy and be reliable throughout a single season. I bet they are smacking themselves about picking him over Durant now, huh? On the plus side, Brandon Roy is coming back and LaMarcus Aldridge is the biggest snub in this years All-Star game. He should have made it over Duncan. B-

Memphis Grizzlies (39-26) - All I know about them is they have Rudy Gay, who is a beast, and Pau's younger brother. They also sit right outside the eight spot. C-

Phoenix Suns (26-25) - Another team looking at the playoffs from the outside. I like the Gortat trade a lot, but Vincanity is not the same. C

Houston Rockets (25-29) - Now the teams start to dip under 500! All offense, no defense. D-

Golden State Warriors (23-29) - Curry and Ellis make for some good basketball to watch, but David Lee hasn't looked as dominant as they wanted him too. The warriors lack the big presence in the middle and their defense is horrible. Still, the team is going through a youth movement and could make a push into the playoffs should they get hot. Trading Curry away would be a bad thing. C

LA Clippers (20-33) - Yes, they beat Miami. Yes, they have the rookie of the year. Yes, they are fun to watch......BUT their record is horrible, they aren't going to make the playoffs AND they just lost to the Cavaliers. Fail, thy name is Clippers. F

Minnesota Timberwolves (13-40) - Micheal Beasley was wrong. He said that he was on the worst team in the league. That title belongs to the Cavs, but he wasn't far off. I bet Love would trade all those Double-doubles for wins any day. F+

Sacramento Kings (12-37) - Eh. they suck. F

East Grades

Well it's like 6am and I am feeling like a NBA progress report, so here goes.

With just over 50 games played, it's fair to say most teams in the NBA are starting to see where they are going to end up at the end of the season. Some teams have fared better the others in the gelling process, and some teams haven't had one minute of being entirely healthy. Overall I'd say the season to this point has been very enjoyable. It's safe to say this is going to be the first season where I have paid attention throughout the entirety of the season and not just during the start of the playoffs.

I'm going to give each team my own personal grade based on how I feel that team has played up until now. I will start with the team with the best records. Granted, some teams might have little or nothing under there name other then a grade. It all depends how much I care for them.

East

Miami Heat (38-14) - Tied with Boston for the best record in the East - What can I say. Miami has two of the best players on the same team. It hasn't been easy, but Miami is starting to play how everyone feared they would from the get go. Injuries haven't allowed this team many breaks, but the big three have not suffered from too many long term problems. The defense has been impressive as Spoelstra trust Wade and James to float around the court while the remaining three other players play a stiff zone scheme. The Heat are still looking for a win against Boston and Dallas and has yet to play San Antonio, but they have played well against every other opponent. Chris Bosh is the team's anchor right now, and it was apparent how badly the team missed him during his injury absence. Even being a huge Dwayne Wade fan, I would have to admit that Lebron James has been playing at a much higher level as of late and should be in serious discussion about a third MVP regardless of where he took his talents in the summer. Just take a look at Cleveland without him. Miami might share the best record in the East, but I feel they still have not reached their peak as far as potential goes. I will give them a B+ for right now.

Boston Celtics (38-14) - Tied with Miami for the best record in the East - I hate them so much, but they are playing at a high level despite possibly the most setbacks for any competitive team in the league. The injury bug has plagued Boston all season, but it does not show in there overall performance. The new-found big four have been playing well all season, but KG is starting to show signs of decline. Allen, Pierce and Rondo are all playing at a high level. Doc Rivers trust Rondo with the ball. He knows Rondo will not force shots and is always looking for the open man. Ray Allen, well...he got game. His field goal percentages are all up from prior years and he is the one player of the original big three who is not showing any signs of slowing down any time soon. Paul Pierce is still the best fat kid on the court in my eyes. He is douche, but at least he hasn't pretended to get hurt as of late. Amidst all the injuries they have faced, I will give Boston a A- for right now.

Chicago Bulls (35-16) - Derrick Rose is the biggest speed bump blocking Lebron James' third straight MVP award, and he is very much deserving of it. The Bulls have yet to see Rose, Boozer, and Noah on the court at the same time this entire season, yet the Bulls have the third best record in the east. Impressive. Rose just might be a better slasher to the rim then even Dwayne Wade, but we shall see. The Bulls did however beat Miami in their only meeting this season. Also, the only team in the NBA with a perfect record in their own division. I would say this is the scariest team that Miami has to overcome and for that I give them a A as of right now.

Atlanta Hawks (33-19) - Eh, they are a team with a whole bunch of great players. No one on this team is crazy good, but when they are working on all cylinders, this is a fierce team. They just are too up and down for me to give them too high of a praise. C+

Orlando Magic (34-20) - My poor Magic. They weren't playing all too well before the trade, and even after they have yet to find a working rhythm. Gilbert Arenas' play is the talk of many as one of the biggest reasons this trade hasn't worked. Where is the agent zero who used to dominate games? Howard might be the only great big man on the court, but he is still just as dominant. He needs help. C-

 New York Knicks (26-25)  - Look at that drop off. Eight games separate the 5th and 6th teams in the East. Someone said that  NY is back to being a good team, but their record does not show it. The Knicks are the Toronto Raptors of yesteryear. Learn to play some defense. D+

Philadelphia 76ers (24-28) - Losing records go! Not much to say, they are doing ok. C 

Indiana Pacers (22-28) - Uh, they beat Miami...once and played them very tough a second time. I guess that's good? They are barely holding onto that elusive eight seed in the East. D+

Charlotte Bobcats (22-30) - They really miss Raymond Felton. It's just not the same ball club with him gone. They need to pick their game up if they want to make it back to the playoffs. D-

Milwaukee Bucks (20-31) - Pedestrian, at best. where's the team that looked so impressive last year? D-

Detroit Pistons (20-33) - Soon to be twenty and thirty-four after Miami gets done with them. Age is a crazy thing, no? D-

New Jersey Nets (16-37) - Nothing good comes from New Jersey. F

Toronto Raptors (14-39) - Hey, at least they won recently! I guess? F+ seems justifiable.

Washington Wizards (14-37) - Work in progress I suppose. D-

Cleveland Cavaliers (8-45) - This http://www.terezowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/cavscover.jpg and also Dan Gilbert is one funny guy. As for a grade...what is worse then a F?

West in a few.

Bucs 2010 Recap

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Overall record: 10-6 (They were 3-13 last season.)
vs NFC South: 3-3
vs NFC: 8-4

Rankings: 2010

Points per game: 21.3 Which is 20th.           They were 30th last year, so a nice improvement.
Yards per game:  335.1 Which is 19th.        They were 28th last year, so another improvement.
Passing yards: 17th                                      This is seven spots better then last year.            
Rushing yards: 8th         This is such an improvement from last year when they were ranked 23rd in the NFL. Opponents passing yards: 7th                       Slightly better.
Opponents rushing yards: 28th                     Well we were dead last in 2010, so even this is in improvement.
The good that came out of this year? Almost everything. At the beginning of 2010 the entire football fanbase called Tampa out and considered them to be one of the cellar dwellers for years to come. Some even predicted us to go 0-16. We exceeded every expectation. I did predict the Bucs would go 10-6 and I wasn't pulling this out of a top hat either. The Bucs had as favorable schedule as the Falcons (Who had the best record in the NFC if you weren't paying attention.) and made good use of such a favorable schedule. By no means would I say they played hard teams for most of the year, but they collected wins against teams they should have beat all year long. Their one loss against a bad team was against the Lions, and the NFL has already rescinded that game by sending an aplogy to the team due to some choice calls affecting the outcome of that game.

Josh Freeman, Mike Williams, and LeGarrette Blount emerged from obscurity and made names for each of themselves in 2010. If not for some QB prodigy in St Louis, Tampa might have had to split Rookie of the Year between Williams and Blount. Josh Freeman has matured over just one year. He had an impressive 25 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. Hopefully the offense continues to blossom and we improve even further. I am super excited about 2011's potential.

The bad that came out of this year? I am scared to think the team might have a false sense of accomplishing something that wasn't all that impressive to begin with. A 10-6 record is great, but as I have mentioned before it wasn't the hardest schedule out there. The Bucs also sport the youngest team in the NFL. Young teams are great because the talent is always on the incline, but it they are also harder to mentor because most young players are brash and cocky.

Another thing I was disappointed about was the fans. We picked one hell of a season to show no support to the team. I can understand not wanting to go watch a 3-13 team, but we were 10-6 this year! We beat the New Orleans saints for goodness sake! Yet, we did not record one sell out game all season long. We were the only NFL team not to accomplish that. Lets show our team some more support in 2011, okay?

What needs to change in order to improve? We need to fortify our front defensive line. Injuries really hurt this team's true potential, so I am not sure if Price and Mccoy would have helped our rushing defense had they been healthy and together all season, but we still need to get better. If we want to get back to be one of the most feared defenses in the NFL we need to fill some of those gaps.

Who will the Buccaneers draft in 2011? As I mentioned earlier the Bucs could really use some more inside presence. I think that Adrian Clayborn could fill that void. He is a top ten talent that has slipped in the recent mock drafts because of character issues. Mike Williams also had this supposed character issue deal and he seemed to work out just fine for Tampa. I think Clayborn would compliment Mccoy very nicely.

Who is the Bucs MVP? It has to be Josh Freeman. This is a second year QB we are talking about and his transition between season was phenominal. As long as he doesn't turn into David Garrard he should be fine. He had a bunch of comeback winning drives thisn year and has shown to be quite comfortable in dire situations. I think the term "clutch" works pretty well in his case.

Who is the Bucs LVP?  I think Tanard Jackson is going to have to take this unfortunate title. I mean come on man. Stop acting like a jack ass and play some football. Can you do that? this is the third time you have been caught for a banned substance. I don't care what it is, this is the freaking third strike! Once, sure. You learn from your mistakes. Twice? That's pushing it, they gave you a suspension and you said you learned your lesson. Three times? Good lord man. Will you ever grow up? At some time in your life you have to prioritize what is important to you. Getting high all the time, or playing a sport only a select group of individuals get paid to play. Wake up!

Let's see....

First I would make it a world where it felt like a Final Fantasy title.

I would have a beautiful world map.

There would be chocobos roaming freely on the open map. Each area would be distinct. The world would have around seven major factions. Mages, monks, knights and dragoons, the old capital which is now a thief haven, the scientist, the holy grounds, and the wild kingdom. Names are subject to change.

There would be a school where white magic is taught openly. Young boys and girls are hand picked to be part of this privileged institution. White magic is seen as a gift and is hard to come by. Meanwhile there would be a sort of sin city type faction that recruits the rejects of the academy or cruel people to learn the dark arts or black magic. white and black magic, though both seem to have been woven from the same cloth, one is seen in a high regard while the other is looked at scornfully. The black mages, though not all would be bad at heart are seen as outcasts if they publicly display their ability. That would be the two sides of magic for the setting at least.

Monks would have a sort of Fabulesque feel to them. Men who believe that their first are the most powerful of weapons, they train day and night to perfect their bodies. I say men loosely, because of course there would be women among them too! I would like to incorporate a more Asian style for these monks. Like training under a waterfall and spiritual meditations. They have their own beliefs about religion and politics. They act on their own and do not bother themselves with the worries of the world like every other nation does. They are completely self reliant. I would like their domain to be reside high up in some frozen mountain type area.

The knight of sword and shield would have many branches and would act like the military as usual. The Dragoons would act like the police for the modern nations. Think about it. They patrol the world with their airships and if anything seems out of the ordinary they could jump down from them...uh cause that's what Dragoons do...jump! Their would be a station for the knights in every corner of the map. It would be interesting to note that where the knights go their outward appearance would change too. say a knight spends some time mingling with the monks, you would get a combination of the two to make oh...say a Paladin or if a knight infiltrated the black mage group he could learn to be a Dark Knight.

The old capital, think of the Midgar slums. This area has long been abandoned by any normal citizens and is now a den of thieves. Its survival of the fittest here, and there is a weakly built hierarchy. One thief would reign supreme, but it would be hard to trust anyone here and no sole thief's reign has ever last too long. It would be a King of the Mountain type of structure. The ninjas and thieves would be in this area. Ninjas being the good, and the thieves being the bad. That's not to say there wouldn't be situations where that perspective is flipped around though!

The engineers would have their own utopia. they would also act as the rich and snobbish group. Though they create many of the world's technology, they own share for a high price. The scientist and engineers make the world turn with each and every new creation. Scientist would act like the time mages of this game. Engineers would have a create function where if they find certain parts, they are able to make new weapons and other types of things for them and the party.

Of course there would need the be the crazy religious order hanging around. They believe in a higher power and old scriptures have marked the holy grounds as some staple of importance. That would be where the main church is located. I'm thinking that maybe these religious guys could be the callers of this particular world, but I haven't figured out how to work that in. Perhaps they summon holy beings like angels? And those that have fallen off the path of righteousness could conjure up demons instead? Maybe...

Then of course there would be the wild kingdom. Think The Veldt, but with a more jungle like appearance. The Wild is mostly unknown and not many people know much about it. On the outskirts there would be adventurers who have heard talks about treasures untold that are hidden within. The beast master would be the king of this jungle paradise. His army consist of every animal in his jungle paradise. Recently he has been interested in locating a mate, and there has been a jump in female kidnappings. I can see a Jungle Book type of deal for this area.

And of course there would be tiny villages and cities all across the world along with these larger factions.

I haven't though of any characters yet, but they would range from every faction to make the gamer see everything from each areas eyes.

2010 Review

Ok...

So the 2010 season is over for the Bucs and Dolphins. Shall we go and recap their seasons? Let's start with the fucking Dolphins...

Miami Dolphins

Overall record: 7-9
vs AFC East: 2-4
vs AFC:  5-7

Rankings: 2010

Points per game: 17.1 Which is 30th out of 32 teams... The Dolphins were 15th last year.
Yards per game:  21st - Slightly worse then last 2009.
Passing yards: 16th - Slightly better then last year.                 
Rushing yards: 21st - Dramatically lower then last year when the Dolphins were the 4th best rushing team.
Opponents passing yards: 8th - Better
Opponents rushing yards: 7th - Better

The good that came out of this year? The Dolphins improved in pretty much every category on defense. Playmakers like Cameron Wake emerged and veterans like Carlos Dansby helped improve a defense that has been shaky for a long time. The Dolphins also had their first one thousand yard receiver in Brandon Marshall since Chris Chambers did it in 2005.

The bad that came out of this year? Everything else. Last year's pro bowl kicker, Dan Carpenter went missing during some of the more important games of the year. He managed to have a decent season statistically, but he ended up costing the Dolphins an early exit out of the playoff hunt when he missed four Field Goals against a Bills team that should have been an easy win. Like it mattered? the Dolphins offense was horrible this year. Chad Henne is not the answer at the quarterback position. Ronnie Brown managed a first in his career in 2010. He managed to start and play in all 16 games. Too bad it was a forgettable 2010 campaign for the running game in Miami. Both he and Ricky Williams never got going and the running game regressed tremendously from where it was in 2009.

What needs to change in order to improve? We need a new QB. Plain and simple. Until we have a franchise QB, the Dolphins will remain as one of these middle of the pack teams. We will never be a strong team, we will never make a strong push and we will forever be encased in the shadows of the Patriots and now the Jets within our own division. We also need some help in the RB position, but securing our future QB is the most important piece right now.

Who will the Dolphins draft in 2011? Realistically? It seems as though the Dolphins are going to test the free agent waters for a QB. Most of the mock drafts seem to think Mark Ingram is going to be drafted by the Dolphins. That is fine by me. Ingram has shades of Emmit Smith written all over his work ethic and play style. he would be a huge improvement from what we have in our current backfield. It's just that there are a couple of talented QBs coming out this year a well. The one I really want is cam Newton. If he somehow falls to the Dolphins I don't see how Miami passes up the chance to draft him. He is a stud. We can build our offense around him. he hasn't shown to be brittle. He has taken some shots in college and played through every single one. He can make plays with his feet and have a canon for an arm. He probably will get snatched right before Miami gets a chance to draft him, so unless they are lucky or move up in the draft Newton seems like a stretch. Jake Locker is another QB I like. Last year he would have been a 1st round QB had he gone into the draft, but this year he had a bad year. That leaves some questions in the air about his big game play.

Who is the Dolphins MVP? It has to be Cameron Wake. The guy is a beast in a mans clothing. He changed our defense from a soft looking, no attitude group into a fierce, constant pressure threat. He recorded 14 sacks and was always in the opposing QB's face giving him issues. Our defense improved, and it was mainly because of Wake that it did.

Who is the Dolphins LVP? Chad Henne. The guy is a bum and I want him out of a Miami uniform.

Did you see?

I called the Bucs going 10-6 bitches!

BOO to the YA!

Anyways, bravo to Freeman and the rest of the young Bucs. They should only get better with age.

~

Now, onto playoff predictions!

6) New York at 3) Indianapolis - Screw the Jets
5) Baltimore at 4) Kansas City - Young Team. Good job KC. You will be better next year.
6) Green Bay at 3) Philadelphia - Vick is too much for Green Bay this time.
5) New Orleans at 4) Seattle - Seattle does not deserve to be here.

then...

5) Baltimore at 1) New England - Screw the Patriots
3) Indianapolis at 2) Pittsburgh - Hunch
5) New Orleans at 1) Atlanta - Atlanta fades in the playoffs once again.
3) Philadelphia at 2) Chicago - Philly beats Chicago this time around.

then...

5) Baltimore at 3) Indianapolis - Ray Lewis wants to end his career with a bang.
5) New Orleans at 3) Philadelphia - Bye Bye Aints

then...

3) Philadelphia beats 5) Baltimore - The return of Vick is a magical one.