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Thanks for the Blowouts

Nov 28

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By Matt Valentine

Thanksgiving, probably my favorite holiday of them all. I get to sit at home eat, drink, and watch some good old fashioned American football.

Just one problem with Thanksgiving circa 2008…every single game was a blowout. Let’s begin with the first game on today , Detroit and Tennessee. While most of us were dining on some finger foods, chips n’ dip , and perhaps a few adult beverages we were all “treated” to watching the worst team in football take on one of the best and of course hilarity ensued.

Why are the Lions even on national TV at this point? The team is 0-11 and very likely headed for an  0-16 season. They are a complete disaster to watch and outside of Calvin Johnson have no players that inspire enthusiasm.

So basically unless you are a Titans fan the game was a complete bust to watch. In fact, I’m betting that most Titan fans didn’t even watch the entire game and witness their teams 47-10 drumming of the hapless Lions.

I moved past the tragedy that was the first game in the NFL’s Thanksgiving day lineup, filled myself up with some delicous turkey, stuffing, mashed potatos, and more adult beve’s and tuned in for the second game, the Dallas Cowboys and the Seatlle Seahawks.

Love em or hate em the Cowboys are an interesting team to watch and while the Seahawks have been pretty dismal this year I had my fingers crossed for a tight game. So much for crossing your fingers. The Cowboys scored on their first three drives, quickly ending any notion that this game would be even remotely competitive. I’d like to say that I watched the entire game but, I didn’t and it was probably for the best because 34-9 doesn’t exactly sound appealing.

Ahh, but there was hope yet, the Eagles and Cardinals we’re coming on and this game had to be a good one! I mean what are the chances of three blowouts in a row? Apparently pretty damn good! This game was pretty much over at half time and the score was surprising even to myself. The Eagles and their much malinged QB Donovan McNabb simply dominated the game leading by 24-7 at the half. I actually did stay tuned in to this game, but only because Westbrook is on my fantasy team and I’m fighting for a first round bye. Once Westbrook left the game, so did I.

The games were a bust, but at least the food and drinks we’re enough to satisfy.

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McNabb Doesn’t Know Overtime Rule

Nov 19

Posted by admin in Fantasy, Fantasy Sports, Football, NFL, Pro Sports, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Uncategorized, online sports community | 1 Comment

By Matt Valentine

In what has to be on eof the most ridiculous things to ever come out of a professional quarterbacks mouth, Donovan McNabb stated during a postgame press conference, that he was unaware of the overtime rule in the NFL.

The rule McNabb was referring to is of course the fact that an NFL game can end in a tie if neither team scores during the overtime period. This was the case when the Eagles and Bengals played on Sunday ending in a 13-13 tie.

When asked McNabb said, “I’ve never been a part of a tie. I never even knew that was in the rule book. It’spart of the rules and we have to go with it. I was looking forward to the next opportunity to get out there and try to drive to win the game.”

McNabb in a postgame press conference talks about the overtime rule.

McNabb in a postgame press conference talks about the overtime rule.

I mean this really has to be the silliest thing a professional QB could possibly say. Not only did McNabb not know the rule, but he didn’t help his team much on the field either, turning the ball over 4 times in the contest, the first time he’s done that since 2003.

While the tie does not entirely destroy the Eagles post season hopes it sure doesn’t help. At 5-4-1 the Eagles find themselves in last place in the NFC East and unless they go on a winning streak have little chance at a wild card berth either.

Now to be fair many people have suggested that had McNabb known the rule perhaps he would have played more agrresively in overtime. One, McNabb has been throwing the ball agressively all day long and it resulted in the 3 interceptions. Two, to suggest that he would have some how tried harder to win the game had he known that it would end in a tie is just plain silly. McNabb was out there trying to win no matter what the rule was that’s his job.

The Eagles will move on this season and make no mistake about it, McNabb will be the quarterback, despite Eagles fans calling for his job and possibly his head. What should be noted is that McNabb’s contract is up next season and its likely that the two will part ways. The real question is will head coach Andy Reid remain in Philadelphia if they don’t make the playoffs this season? That remains to be seen, for now the Eagles must refocus their attention on making a postseason run.

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Girl Fight! WNBA Brawl

Jul 25

Posted by admin in Pro Sports, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Uncategorized | No Comments

The WNBA may not be a mirror image of the NBA when it comes to the play on the court, considering it makes headlines when a woman basketball player dunks, but it has reflected the image of the NBA when it comes to brawls.

A league which has been seeking to capture the attention of the sports viewing audience has finally gotten it, but for all the wrong reasons. The brawl took place Tuesday night between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock and involved some 10 players and an assistant coach.

In fact, so many players were suspended by the league, that they were forced to levy the suspensions in alphabetical order. Among those suspended by the league were Shock assitant coach Rick Mahorn, who tried to breakup the fight, but instead ended up shoving Sparks star Lisa Leslie and Shock forward Plenette Pierson who received the harshest penalyt, a four game suspension, for initiating and escalating the brawl.

The brawl began moments after Sparks forward Candance Parker and Detroit’s Cheryl For had to be seperated after Ford fouled Parker. On the ensuing possession, Parker and Detroit’s Plenette Pierson got tangled up and Parker fell to the ground. Pierson stood over Parker who then pulled Pierson to the ground. Parker was then tackled by the Shock’s Deanna Nolan. The teams benched cleared and players and coaches from both teams joined in on the fight. Rick Mahorn said he got involved simply to separate the players and put an end to the brawl, but at some point he pushed Leslie to the ground which resulted in Los Angeles’ Delisha Milton-Jones pushing and punching Mahorn in the back.

WNBA Brawl

At the end of the brawl Ford left the court in a wheelchair having torn a ligament in her knee trying to restrain Pierson and will miss the remainder of the season. The rest of the players involved in the brawl all received suspensions and fines which ranged from $500 to $1,500 for Pierson.

So what does the brawl say about the WNBA? Well, it says a lot of different things actually. First, it says that women can be every bit as bad as men when it comes to restraining their emotions on the court. Second, it says that these women play the game with passion and fire which can be taken as a positive. Third, It further demonstrates the competitive spirit that all these women possess. However, the WNBA cannot be happy about the fact that the only buzz this league can generate is when there is a bench clearing brawl, not exactly a strong PR campaign for the league.

Also of note, how ironic is it that this brawl took place at the same exact arena that the infamous brawl between the Pistons and Pacers took place? They should seriously consider getting some extra security at The Palace to prevent this type of thing from becoming a trend.

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Not So Shocked: Giants Trade TE Jeremy Shockey

Jul 24

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Shockey inured at the Super Bowl

Shockey inured at the Super Bowl

In a move that should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following the Giants the past few months the team has finally dealt their oft-disgruntled tight end Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints for 2nd and 5th round draft picks in the 2009 draft.

The deal made just days ago was the exact same deal the Saints offered the Giants prior to this years draft and will reunite Shockey with one time Giants offense coordinator and current head coach of the Saints, Sean Payton. The one year that Shockey spent with Payton, his rookie season in 2002, was his most prolific in the NFL. He caught 74 passes for 894 yards and 2 TD’s and should be an excellent addition to the
pass happy offense Payton has installed in New Orleans.

In that sense the trade should be a mutually beneficial one. Though the Giants have lost an incredibly talented player in Shockey who is a four time Pro-Bowler, they’ve also lost the numerous distractions that
come with him. Shockey has always been a highly gifted receiver; he is explosive and plays with emotion. I remember watching him in the Hall of Fame game his rookie season, his first game as an NFL player, he
literally plowed over people on his way to the end zone a sign of things to come I thought.

Yet, things never did go as far as many expected. Though Shockey did show flashes of brilliance, he never did develop into the devastating weapon that the Giants and their fans thought he would be, and far too
often he let his emotions get the best of him. He once threw a cup full of ice into the stands during a playoff game, and he often criticized QB Eli Manning for not looking his way. He hated the idea of blocking and wanted to get vertical as much as possible. He would criticize the coaches, the players, the fans, and the franchise and it finally all came to a head this off-season when himself and Jerry Reese got into a shouting match during mini-camp, it was the beginning of the end of the Shockey era.

So who really wins in this trade? At this point it’s difficult to say, but all things considered it will probably work out just fine for all parties. The Giants have proven they can play without Shockey and win. Many people actually credit Shockey’s departure from the lineup as the reason for the rapid maturation of Eli Manning, though Eli has claimed that he will miss Shockey, I for one can’t see why. You also have to consider the fact that Shockey just did not want to be a New York Giant any longer, and would have been a cancer in the locker room, many reports stated that his recent antics alienated his teammates to the point that it may have been difficult to find him a roommate at training camp. No franchise needs that type of distraction when they’re trying to defend a Super Bowl title.

Futhermore, the Giants do get a 2nd and 5th round pick in next years draft, and who knows, the Saints could tank next year and that could end up being a high second rounder, or the Giants could package some
picks and trade for an additional first round pick, all legitimate options.

The Saints on the other hand, finally get a tight end that can stretch the field and one who has worked extremely well in Payton’s system in the past. However, Shockey is coming off a serious leg injury and may
not be fully healed by the start of the season and as we’ve seen he can become a huge headache. But, he should be happy in New Orleans,at least for the time being.

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Fantasy Football Preview: Top 10 RB

Jun 13

Posted by admin in AFC, Chargers, College Sports, Defensive End, Eagles, Fantasy, Fantasy Sports, Football, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas CIty Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, NBC, NE Patriots, NFC, NFL, NY Giants, NY Jets, National Football LEague, Pro Sports, Projected Stats, Redskins, Saints, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Super Bowl, Uncategorized, defense, fantasy football, online sports community, running back, rushing yards, stats | No Comments

Top 10 Running Backs

1. Ladanian Tomlinson -San Diego Chargers

Tomlinson is the most consistent fantasy performer and has been since he broke into the league in 2001. He has never posted less then double digit touchdown figures and never run for less then 1200 yards in a season. Tomlinson’s abilities are not limited to just pounding the ball, he also has great hands out of the backfield and will throw the occasional TD pass. He plays on a potent offense that will only get better if Phillip Rivers continues to progress into a solid young quarterback. Antonio Gates helps to open up room for Tomlinson because he can stretch a defense down the field. Also, consider that this will be Chris Chambers’ first full year of full integration into the offense and that could open up even more room for Tomlinson. On the downside the numerous offensive weapons at Phillip Rivers disposal may take away a few red zone touches for Tomlinson, but he is still the go to guy when the team nears the end zone.

2008 Projected Stat Line: 1500 Yds Rushing 15 TD , 400 Yds Receiving, 3 TD, 2 TD Passes.

2. Adrian Peterson- Minnesota Vikings

A.P. burst onto the NFL scene last year with his explosive rookie campaign. In just 14 games A.P. racked up 1351 rushing yards, and 12 TD’s. He also had 19 receptions for 268 yds, and 1 TD. He averaged an awe inspiring 5.6 YPC, and did all this while playing with an injured knee. If he can stay healthy for an entire season (which has been a concern) he could easily end up being the number one fantasy RB, even exceeding my number one pick Tomlinson. A.P. has set the bar high for himself, declaring that he wants 2,000 yds and 20 TD’s and he has the talent to do it. The problem is his supporting staff. Minnesota’s O-line is solid and will provide A.P. with plenty of holes to slash through, but the talent at their other skill positions is lacking. The addition of Bernard Berrian in the off-season should help a feeble passing game, especially if Sydney Rice continues to progress. However, Tarvaris Jackson has yet to prove himself as a reliable QB and their backup QB’s don’t really inspire much hope. On the upside of things Minnesota’s unreliable passing attack will force them to dish the ball to Peterson alot, and every time he touches the ball he’s a threat to take it to the house. Though I ranked Tomlinson higher because he plays for a better team and has been a consistent performer I’m still expecting big numbers from Peterson.

2008 Projected Stat Line: 1600 Yds Rushing 15 TD, 300 Yds Rec, 3 TD.

3. Brian Westbrook- Philadelphia Eagles

B-West as I like to call him, (plus its easier to type) is the best all around threat outside of L.T. He racks up receiving yards, and piles up the rushing yards too. Since he became the featured back in ‘06 he’s posted some monster yardage totals and eclispsed double digit TD totals each year when you combine his rushing and receiving TD’s. B-West is the total package. He catches the ball like no other RB in the league coming out of the backfield. He piled up 90 receptions last year alone and racked up 771 receiving yards. Oh yeah he also runs the ball really well too. He put up 1333 rushing yards and 7 TD’s last year. In a point per reception league I would consider taking him as my first RB. The Eagles have a solid O-line (as long as Winston Justice doesn’t play) and they will have a fully healthy Donovan McNabb which can only help Westbrook.

2008 Projected Stat Line: 1400 Yds Rushing 9 TD, 800 Yds Rec, 7 TD.

4. Joseph Addai- Indianapolis Colts

In his first full year as the featured back Addai proved that he could handle the workload. He accumulated 1072 rushing yards in 15 games and scored 12 TD’s. He also racked in 41 receptions for 364 yards and 3 TD. Addai plays behind a solid offensive line and gets plenty of red zone opportunities. He plays with a couple of guys by the names of Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, and Reggie Wayne the latter may take some red zone looks away from Addai, but their is plenty of love to spread around in this high powered offense. I expect Addai to exceed his 2007 production by a solid amount.

2008 Projected Stat Line: 1300 Yds Rushing 13 TD, 400 Yds Rec, 2 TD.

5. Steven Jackson- St. Louis Rams

I thought about ranking Jackson above Addai, but I can’t seem to get over the fact that he plays for a pretty crappy team. Their O-line is questionable at best especially after Orlando Pace went down and Marc Bulger can’t seem to keep himself on the field, leaving the team to a platoon of backups. Jackson wasn’t healthy for a majority of last year so his numbers don’t match his ability or talent. Still, in 12 games he surpassed the 1,000 yard mark and scored 5 TD’s. He has great hands out of the backfield (800Rec. Yds in 2006) and is an absolute beast running the ball when he’s at 100%. If the Rams can solve their O-line issues, and keep Bulger on the field Jackson could return to form and put up numbers similar to his 2006 campaign.

Projected Stat Line: 1600 Yds Rushing 14 TD, 600 Yds Rec, 5 TD

6. Marion Barber- Dallas Cowboys

The only reasons Barber falls to this point is because Dallas drafted Felix Jones in the first round of this years draft. That may say something about what the Cowboys think Barber is capable of, or in this case not capable of. Either they just wanted the most talented player on their draft board and took him, or they don’t think Barber can handle a full workload only time will tell. With that said, it seems pretty clear that Jones will steal some touches from Barber, you don’t let a player with that talent just ride the pine, and that should be a concern for fantasy owners in a position to draft Barber. Barber is a talented hard-running RB, and should definitely retain his goal line duties which still makes him a solid RB 1 option. Last year Barber ran 204 times for 975 yds and 10 TD’s. I expect an increase in his yardage totals but it all depends on how significant a role Felix Jones will play.

2008 Projected Stat Line: 1100 Yds Rushing 12 TD, 200 Yds Rec, 1 TD.

7. Clinton Portis- Washington Redskins

Portis was a fantasy stud just a few short years ago, but has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency in the past few years. He still puts up solid numbers (when healthy) as proven by his play last year when he rushed for 1262 yds and 11 TD. The thing that concerns me about Portis besides for the injuries, is that his YPC has declined in each of the past three seasons and he’s carried a tremendous workload throughout the course of his career. On the upside, Jason Campbell seemed to take some steps forward in the quest to turn himself into a true signal caller and Chris Cooley has emerged as a star tight end. That should relieve some of the pressure off Portis’ as teams won’t always be able to stack 8 in the box. keeping Santana Moss on the field and forcing defense to defend against the deep threat would help as well.

2008 Projected Stat Line: 1200 Yds Rushing, 10 TD, 400 Yds Rec, 2 TD.

8. Frank Gore- S.F. 49ers

After bursting onto the scene with an amazing 2006 season, Gore and his entire team for that fact, had a down year in ‘07. Gore has the stuff to be an elite RB in this league he just needs more from his teammates. Don’t discount the damage that losing Norv Turner to the Chargers did to San Fran’s offense and Gore in particular either. San Fran was supposed to be a good team last year and things didn’t really work out that way, I wouldn’t say they had a great draft either so it doesn’t look like they are going to get much better. Gore on the other hand can be much better then he was last year when he rushed for 1102 yards and 5 TD’s. I’m not expecting a return to the monster numbers he put up in ‘06 (1695 rush yds, 8 TD) but somewhere in between the two is a safe bet.

2008 Projected Stat Line: 1300 Yds Rushing 8 TD, 300 Yds Rec, 1 TD.

9.Jamal Lewis-Cleveland Browns

Since his 2000 yard season in ‘03 Lewis’ production had fallen off steeply. In 2005 he did not even crack the 1000 yard mark. Baltimore shipped him off to Cleveland at a bargain rate and pretty much everyone assumed Lewis was finished as an elite back in the NFL. Well, Lewis did a lot to change that notion last season as he truly seemed to return to form and played a key role in helping to turn around the Cleveland franchise. He ran for 1304 yards,scored 9 TD’s and raised his YPC from a meager 3.6 in 2006 to a steady 4.4 in 2007. The Browns are a team on the verge, they have a young offensive line that should continue to get better as they grow with each other and the offense. Braylon Edwards has emerged into a star talent at wide receiver, Kellen Winslow has finally developed into the TE many thought he would be, and Derek Anderson looks to be the answer the Browns have been looking for at the QB position. These offensive weapons make it less likely that teams will key on Lewis as they were able to do in Baltimore. I suspect that last years numbers were no fluke.

2008 Projected Stat Line: 1300 Yds Rushing 11 TD, 200 Yds Rec, 1 TD.

10. Larry Johnson- Kansas City Chiefs

Johnson had an extremely disappointing year in 2007 especially since he had set the bar so high in the previous two seasons. Injuries forced him to play in only 8 games, in which he ran for just 559 yards and 3 TD’s with a 3.5 YPC average. The Chiefs O-line showed their age last season and were unable to create the holes Johnson needed to make an impact. The QB situation was pretty dismal as well, Brodie Croyle may be a good QB some day but he hasn’t demonstrated that to this point. On the plus side of things the Chiefs had one of the best, if not the best, drafts and added some new blood on the O-line when they selected Branden Albert who should step in and play immediately. Albert should help the O-line in opening up holes some of those holes for Johnson that weren’t there last year. The Chiefs also drafted Jamaal Charles the RB from Texas, which means they could be worried about another potential breakdown from Johnson. It also seems clear that they do not want Johnson to shoulder as much of the workload as he has in the past in hopes of avoiding injury or fatigue. This could mean some lost touches for Johnson but he will still keep the all important goal line duties so I wouldn’t worry about Charles’ presence all that much. I’m doubting that Johnson will return to those 1700 yard seasons of the past but a return to form is expected.

2008 Projected Stat Line: 1500 Yds rushing 14 TD, 400 Yds Rec, 2 TD.

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Sykora Calls His Shot and Forces a Game 6

Jun 3

Posted by admin in High School Sports, Hockey, Pro Sports, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, Sports Tragedies, Uncategorized, online sports community | No Comments

By Matt Valentine

Move over Babe Ruth, you have some company in the form of Penguins forward Petr Sykora. And while, Ruth’s mythic called shot at Wrigley Field has become the thing of legend and much speculation there can be no doubt about Petr Sykora’s overtime heroics in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Before overtime began Sykora told NHL ice-side reporter Pierre McGuire that he would be the one to score the game winning goal and he lived up to his proclamation.

For a long while though, the game and the Stanley Cup, seemed to be firmly in the grasp of the Detroit Red Wings. They controlled the play in all 3 overtime periods and dominated the third period in which Pittsburgh saw its 2-1 lead quickly vanish into a 3-2 deficit.

The game started out well for the Penguins as they controlled play in the first period and held a 2-0 lead heading into the second. Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead on Marian Hossa’s goal at 8:37 in the first off a feed from linemate Sidney Crosby. They expanded on that lead when forward Adam Hall scored an unassisted goal at 14:41 in the first period his third of the playoffs, and seemed to have Detroit on its heels.

Detroit emerged from the locker room with a renewed determination to capture the Stanley Cup on home ice and quickly tallied their first goal of the game when forward David Helm took a feed from Kirk Maltby and slipped a shot by Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. The rest of the period remained scoreless and ended with the Penguins leading 2-1.

In the third period Detroit seemed to put any notion that they would not be hoisting the Cup to rest, dictating the pace of play from the start. At 6:43 of the third, Pavel Datsyuk took a pass from Henrik Zetterberg and notched his tenth goal of the playoffs, tying the game at 2. Less then 3 minutes letter Brian Rafalski found some open space in Pittsburgh’s zone, secured a pass from Johan Franzen and gave Detroit its first lead of the night.

With about a minute remaining and time quickly running out on Pittsburgh’s seasons, they pulled goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to gain a man advantage. The crowd at Joe Louis Arena was on its feet chanting “We Want the cup!”, and they were just 35 seconds from receiving their wish. That is until Penguins forward Max Talbot jammed a puck from the side of the net past goalie Chris Osgood saving his teams season and sending the game to overtime.

(Penguins bench erupts in celebration after Max Talbot ties Game 5 with just 35 seconds remaining.)

In all 3 overtime periods Detroit seemed to be the fresher team out-skating and out-shooting a tired Pittsburgh squad. And then Pittsburgh received the biggest break of the game when Detroit forward Juri Hudler sent an errant stick check into the lip of Pens defensman Ryan Whitney giving Pittsburgh a 4 minute power play.

It took just 36 seconds for the Penguins to take advantage of the power play. Sergei Gonchar returning to the ice after being injured in the second period sent a pass to Evgeni Malkin who found an open Petr Sykora near the right face off dot he fired a shot over the shoulder of Chris Osgood and sent the series back to Mellon Arena for a Game 6.

This could be the shift in momentum that Pittsburgh has been seeking since dropping the first two games at Joe Louis Arena, before taking one game at home and losing their first game of the playoffs at the Igloo in Game 4.

After a much needed rest the two teams will square off again for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, 8 o’clock at Mellon Arena.

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On the Clock: NFL Draft Day Top Ten Selections

Apr 26

Posted by admin in College Sports, Football, Sports, Sports Events, Sports Stars, eteamz, online sports community | 4 Comments

1. Miami Dolphins: OT Jake Long

A smart pick here by Miami locking up a player who fills a significant need and is considered by most to be a can’t miss prospect. Though he may struggle at the left tackle position in the NFL, he will be an outstanding right tackle for years to come. A team like Miami needs to build from the ground up and starting with your O-line is always a sound decision.

2. St. Louis Rams: DE Chris Long

Long is the proverbial chip off the old block. He has one of the most high powered, relentless motors in the entire draft. It is always a good choice to take a player who you know will play whistle to whistle and that is exactly what the Rams got in Chris Long. He showed improvement throughout his college career taking his sack totals from 1 his Freshmen year to 14 his Senior year. He has strong hands and great quickness and will one day be an elite pass rusher for a team that desperately needed help on the d-line. Long also has the intangibles and will be a leader on and off the field. An extremely solid selection here for the Rams.

3. Atlanta Falcons: QB Matt Ryan

This is possibly a risky pick as some people are not entirely convinced of Ryan’s ability to play at the next level. Consider that the Falcons O-line is not prepared to protect a young quarterback, who will be prone to holding on to the ball too long and take numerous sacks. Ryan does have many of the intangibles that people like to see in their QB’s and is a leader of men both on and off the field. He does have an excellent arm and is a better athletes then most people realize. He has a tendency to throw into coverage far too often resulting in too many interceptions. if Ryan is started immediately he could struggle tremendously, but he does have the character to bounce back from a potentially tough season. A risk but one that could pay huge dividends for the struggling franchise.

4. Oakland Raiders: RB Darren McFadden

Al Davis does it again. Darren McFadden is in my opinion and the opinion of many others the most talented player in the 2008 NFL draft. He has great upper body strength, and is a home-run hitter. He has great moves in open space, tremendous speed, and excellent cutting ability. He joins a somewhat crowded backfield with Justin Fargas, Lamont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes all on Oakland’s roster. This is a smart pick though with a young QB in Jamarcus Russell poised to take over, the Raiders will need great offensive production from their backs to take the pressure off Russell. There are some questions about his ability to run inside, and his off-field issues. Still, I think this was a great choice for a rebuilding Oakland team.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: DT Glenn Dorsey

Dorsey is a powerhouse football player, considered by most to be the best defensive player in all of college football. He has very long arms, is extremely strong, has great burst and explosion and always stays on his feet. The only real issue with him is durability. Dorsey will immediately upgrade the Chiefs defense and will most likely be a Pro Bowl defense tackle in the near future as long as he stays on the field. Like Long Dorsey also has the character and intangible’s that you look for in a leader. It is never a bad idea for a team to select a player who will make an immediate impact and the Chiefs have done exactly that.

6. New York Jets: DE/LB Vernon Gholston

Gholston is the perfect player for the 3-4 defense of the Jets. He has a quick first step, the ability to bull rush and the ability to stand up and rush from the edge. The only question about playing that style defense will be his pass coverage ability. He will also struggle at times to shed blocks. The Jets had one of the worst defenses in the league last year and Gholston will make an immediate impact on the field. Gholston does not have the motor of a Jake Long and will need to prove that he can be consistent from whistle to whistle. All in all, a very solid pick for the NY Jets.

7. New England Patriots: (Patriots acquire 10th overall pick and 3rd round pick)Traded to the New Orleans Saints: DT Sedrick Ellis.

Another smart move by the savvy NE front office to trade down from this pick and stock pile draft picks. The Saints needed to shore up the front seven and made a solid choice here with Sedrick Ellis. He is a strong bull rush type player and can be a stalwart against the rush and pass. He does have some trouble with getting set too high and being thrown off balance by opposing O-linemen. Still, the Saints have a formidable offense and needed to add depth and balance to their defense. Ellis will provide this in spades.

8. Baltimore Ravens:(Baltimore recieves 1st round pick, two 3rd round picks, and a 4th round pick) Traded to Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Derrick Harvey

Derrick Harvey is a Junior that came out early, he is an excellent natural pass rusher and can really set the edge. Going to a team like Jacksonville that already has a solid front 7 will only help his development as he won’t see double teams often. He often shows a good motor, and hustle and will pursue the ball long after the play has passed him by. The only concern is how well groomed will he be having come out of college a year early. The Jags already potent defense just got better with this selection and they can take their time brining Harvey along. A good choice but did they give up to much to get there?
9. Cincinnati Bengals: LB Keith Rivers

Keith Rivers will immediately fill a huge need for a struggling Bengals defense. He is a smart player, with a terrific work ethic, which may mask the fact that is not an off the charts, elite LB. He is also a high character guy which the Bengals could certainly use in their locker room. He has had solid production throughout his college career, and will project well in the Bengals defensive scheme. Not really a wow factor pick here but a solid choice altogether.

10. New England Patriots: LB Jerod Mayo

What can you say about a team that finished 18-1 and still has a top ten draft pick? Well I can say this, I am a little surprised by the pick of Jerod Mayo here. The Pats could have used a CB here with the departures of Gay and Samuel. However, their linebacking corps is getting old and restocking that position was a need this team needed to address but it seems that Mayo was somewhat of a reach here. With that said he is a solid, productive player with good speed to the inside and the ability to cover the edge. In my opinion a reach, especially with the cornerbacks that were still on the board, but never question the New England front office.

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Better Than Sushi…The Best Japanese Imports in MLB

Apr 7

Posted by admin in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Baseball is no doubt America’s game. It is our countries national pastime, a time honored tradition that has provided us all with moments of joy and moments of agony. And while baseball remains one of our countries favorite sports, it has also gained popularity worldwide, with talent coming from all over the globe. South America for example, has provided major league baseball with some of the finest talents to ever grace a ball field, players like Sammy Sosa, Vladimir Guerrero, Pedro Martinez, Alex Rodriguez and of course the great Roberto Clemente. And while the influx of talent from Latin American countries remains strong, another country is providing us with some of the best talent in the majors today.

Japan, it is the house of the rising sun, and like the sun, many of its finest ball players have been rising in the east and settling in the west. They come to America seeking to continue the success they’ve had at home, and test their skills against the world’s best baseball players. Many of them come completely unfamiliar with America’s culture or even its language, but it does not take an interpreter to understand the impact they’ve had on the field. So without further ado let’s take a look at some of Japan’s imports making an impact on Major League Baseball today.


If you’re compiling a list of Japan’s best imports you have to begin with Ichiro Suzuki. Ever since his arrival in 2001 Ichiro has established himself as a force to be reckoned with. In his first season Ichiro led the majors in stolen bases and batting average, the first player to accomplish this feat since Jackie Robinson. He was named the American League MVP and Rookie of the Year carrying a .350 batting average and swiping 56 bases. He also helped his team match a Major League record with 116 wins. In 2004 Ichiro set the Major League record for hits in a single season (262) finishing the year with a batting average of .372. Ichiro is also a prolific outfielder with a strong, accurate arm, and outstanding range in center field, he has accumulated seven gold gloves, one for each year he has been in the majors. For seven consecutive years he has had 200 or more hits another major league record, he has also been selected to the All-Star team in each of his seven seasons.

Ichiro’s arrival was followed two years later by another monster of Japanese baseball, “Godzilla” himself, Hideki Matsui. After a distinguished professional career in Japan, Matsui signed with the New York Yankees in January of 2003. “Godzilla” made his mark immediately, becoming the first player to hit a grand slam in his first game at Yankee Stadium. He went on to post a .287 batting average with 16 home runs and 106 RBI’s narrowly missing out on the Rookie of the Year award. In his next season with the Yankees Matsui put up career numbers (MLB) with a batting average of .298, 31 home runs and 108 RBI’s. He is also the first Japanese player to hit a home run in the World Series. His 2007 campaign was marred by injury, ending his streak of consecutive games played at the professional level (Japan and America) at 1,768 making him one of the sports true Iron Men.

Another player who made an immediate impact upon his arrival from Japan is the Red Sox’s Daisuke Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka first came to the attention of the average baseball fan during the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Matsuzaka was prolific throughout the tournament going 3-0, and aiding Japan in capturing the gold medal by tossing 4 innings of 1 run baseball before leaving the game and watching his team defeat Cuba 10-6. His first season in the majors was a success; he posted a record of 16-12 with 202 strikeouts (a Red Sox record for rookies). He also helped to lead Boston to its second World Series in the last 3 years.

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