I was wondering to myself out loud, " Am I addicted?"
To be honest, I am not really sure.
What am addicted to, you ask?
That would be fantasy sports.
I looked at how I spend what little free time I have, and I noticed, that I have a note on my computer to update my rosters everyday. I am a little different than most fantasy players. I play fantasy everything.
Just this year, I had 3 different fantasy baseball teams, 6 different fantasy football teams, 2 basketball teams, 1 hockey team, 1 nascar team, 1 golf team, and as of last Friday, 1 WWE wrestling team.
Am I out of control...Maybe.
I spend more time looking at stats and lineups, and match-ups, than I do sleep. I am not necessarily saying its a bad thing, but I may need professional help to stop.
The funny thing is, the more people I talked to about this, the more I did not feel alone. I am in a lot of these leagues with the same people. But then I went and asked people that I am not in leagues with, and everyone that I talked to that is into sports, plays at least1 fantasy sport.
Now, where it gets interesting, is the money involved. The leagues I play in had or have a total of about $10,000 in payoffs. So, am I gambling? Sorta.
I don't really consider it gambling, but I am trusting myself, with a lot of money on the line.
The next question is...am I any good?
I seem to finish in the top 4 in every sport I play, so, yes, I am pretty good.
I also don't consider it gambling because I am still paying all my bills just fine.
But addicted...okay, maybe so.
I enjoy every sport, and I think I know enough about the players to fare well.
Am I addicted, probably, But I have no desire to stop either. I will keep playing as long as I can.
By the way, if you have any open leagues let me know. I will find the time to play.
I am addicted, but I am not a junkie, right?!?
John Conner
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Who is to blame now
The Dallas Cowboys are coming off the home opener, losing 33-31, to the hated New York Giants in front of over 105,000 people.
Who is to blame?
Is it Romo's fault? He didn't play very well. 3 interceptions will do that.
Is it the defense's fault? You give up 33 points, and Eli looks alot more like Peyton, then Peyton does right now.
What about Jerry? He did hype this as bigger than a Superbowl.
All great candidates, but my vote goes to Wade Phillips.
Don't get me wrong. Romo needs to start playing better, but when the offense needed a score or a big play, Romo came through.
When the defense needed a stop, nothing.
I thought that Brian Stewart was fired because his defense didn't work.
We needed a better inside linebacker. Out - Zach Thomas In - Keith Brooking
We needed a better safety. Out - Roy Williams In - Gerald Sensabaugh.
We needed new corners. Out- pacman and Henry In- Scandrick and Jenkins
All the pieces that were needed were gotten. This defense was supposed to go from ok, to pretty darn good. It has done the opposite.
Week 1. The Cowboys can't stop Cadillac Williams and his bum knee.
Week 2. Eli looks like the second coming of Joe Montana.
I understand that Phillips is not on the field, and I do think the players need to take a long look in the mirror. But this is supposed to be " Mr. Fix -It's " side of the ball.
When your team scores 31 points, you should win.
How do you go from leading the league in sacks, to none in the first 2 games?
No turnovers either, and ranking 30th last year is very worrisome.
I am not saying the Cowboys should fire Wade...not yet.
I give him 2 more weeks. If they can't get a turnover against Jake Delhomme, or slow down the mighty Denver attack, then we have problems.
Wade, its your defense. Fix it, or get out.
John Conner
Who is to blame?
Is it Romo's fault? He didn't play very well. 3 interceptions will do that.
Is it the defense's fault? You give up 33 points, and Eli looks alot more like Peyton, then Peyton does right now.
What about Jerry? He did hype this as bigger than a Superbowl.
All great candidates, but my vote goes to Wade Phillips.
Don't get me wrong. Romo needs to start playing better, but when the offense needed a score or a big play, Romo came through.
When the defense needed a stop, nothing.
I thought that Brian Stewart was fired because his defense didn't work.
We needed a better inside linebacker. Out - Zach Thomas In - Keith Brooking
We needed a better safety. Out - Roy Williams In - Gerald Sensabaugh.
We needed new corners. Out- pacman and Henry In- Scandrick and Jenkins
All the pieces that were needed were gotten. This defense was supposed to go from ok, to pretty darn good. It has done the opposite.
Week 1. The Cowboys can't stop Cadillac Williams and his bum knee.
Week 2. Eli looks like the second coming of Joe Montana.
I understand that Phillips is not on the field, and I do think the players need to take a long look in the mirror. But this is supposed to be " Mr. Fix -It's " side of the ball.
When your team scores 31 points, you should win.
How do you go from leading the league in sacks, to none in the first 2 games?
No turnovers either, and ranking 30th last year is very worrisome.
I am not saying the Cowboys should fire Wade...not yet.
I give him 2 more weeks. If they can't get a turnover against Jake Delhomme, or slow down the mighty Denver attack, then we have problems.
Wade, its your defense. Fix it, or get out.
John Conner
Monday, September 7, 2009
NFC Fantasy Sleepers
Last week, I gave you the AFC fantasy sleepers, and this week I am doing the same in the NFC.
NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys - Martellus Bennett. Everyone knows that T.O. is gone, and the Cowboys have said the offense will be similar. They will run the ball more, but with Roy Williams and Jason Witten getting all the attention, Bennett is capable of 40 catches for 500 yards and 4-6 scores.
The Philadelphia Eagles - LeSean McCoy. I like Brian Westbrook alot, but he can never seem to stay healthy. McCoy will get carries early to save Westbrook some, and if all holds as usual, he will get alot of carries towards the end of the year.
The New York Giants - Kevin Boss. The Giants really have a lot of holes to fill in the receiver position, but capable hands are at the tight end spot. Boss is coming into his own, and he has the trust of the quarterback. He will end the season as a top 10 tight end.
The Washington Redskins - Devin Thomas. Antwaan Randle El has been a huge disappointment, and this is the year when not only Thomas, but Malcolm Kelly should pass him on the depth chart. They are bigger and have better hands.
NFC North
The Green Bay Packers - Jordy Nelson. Aaron Rodgers is going to throw the ball quite a bit, and Nelson had become one of his favorite targets. Jennings and Driver will get their catches, but the Packers will throw enough for Nelson to get his too.
The Detroit Lions - Jason Hanson. They have Calvin Johnson, a rookie quarterback, and not much else. But they have a reliable kicker, who is kicking indoors. They may not score alot of touchdowns, but they should move it enough to get in field goal range.
The Chicago Bears - Greg Olsen. Jay Cutler wants to throw the ball, but he is limited with weapons. Olsen, a former first round pick has been waiting for a quarterback. The two should mesh well together for a big year.
The Minnesota Vikings - Visanthe Shiancoe. Wherever Brett Farve has been, he uses his tight end alot. With Peterson running the ball, and Berrian and Harvin on the outside, the middle should be wide open for the tight end to roam.
NFC South
The New Orleans Saints - Lance Moore. The Saints are going to throw and throw and throw. Drew Brees should break Dan Marino's record for yards in a season, which means there will be a lot of catches to be had. Moore should get the same number of catches as most teams number 2 receiver.
The Atlanta Falcons - Michael Jenkins. With most of the attention on Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez in the passing game, Jenkins could quietly have 60 catches with close to 1000 yards
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Derrick Ward. Tampa did not sign Ward to watch games. Earnest Graham can't stay healthy, and Ward is primes for a big year. Spending time in New York, Ward can play in cold weather as well.
The Carolina Panthers - Mushin Muhammad. Although he has been a fantasy name in the past, Muhammad has found a role in Carolina's system. As long as Jake can stay upright, Muhammad should have another solid season.
NFC West
The Seattle Seahawks - John Carlson. Carlson came on the seen last year with a solid season, and with T.J. Houshmansjhfj on the outside, Carlson should once again become a solid contributor. Expect his touchdowns to go up.
The San Francisco 49ers - Josh Morgan. If and when, Michael Crabtree signs, he will be the 3rd receiver at best. Morgan should start opposite Isaac Bruce. He will get plenty of opportunities to play with Bruce being old, and Crabtree AWOL.
The St. Louis Rams - Donnie Avery. With very little in the cupboard, the Rams have Steven Jackson and Avery. Avery is a burner, who should take full advantage of the turf. If anyone can step up and help him, he might have a great year.
The Arizona Cardinals - Beanie Wells. Tim Hightower will be the starter, but he will share carries with Wells. Wells has been explosive in the preseason, and if he can stay healthy, which is a big if, he will start by mid season. He is the running threat Arizona has been waiting for.
That is all my fantasy sleepers. Good luck in your leagues, and check back every week for more fantasy knowledge. Like always, if you like it great, if not that's ok too, just email at jpconner9@yahoo.com. See ya next week.
John Conner
NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys - Martellus Bennett. Everyone knows that T.O. is gone, and the Cowboys have said the offense will be similar. They will run the ball more, but with Roy Williams and Jason Witten getting all the attention, Bennett is capable of 40 catches for 500 yards and 4-6 scores.
The Philadelphia Eagles - LeSean McCoy. I like Brian Westbrook alot, but he can never seem to stay healthy. McCoy will get carries early to save Westbrook some, and if all holds as usual, he will get alot of carries towards the end of the year.
The New York Giants - Kevin Boss. The Giants really have a lot of holes to fill in the receiver position, but capable hands are at the tight end spot. Boss is coming into his own, and he has the trust of the quarterback. He will end the season as a top 10 tight end.
The Washington Redskins - Devin Thomas. Antwaan Randle El has been a huge disappointment, and this is the year when not only Thomas, but Malcolm Kelly should pass him on the depth chart. They are bigger and have better hands.
NFC North
The Green Bay Packers - Jordy Nelson. Aaron Rodgers is going to throw the ball quite a bit, and Nelson had become one of his favorite targets. Jennings and Driver will get their catches, but the Packers will throw enough for Nelson to get his too.
The Detroit Lions - Jason Hanson. They have Calvin Johnson, a rookie quarterback, and not much else. But they have a reliable kicker, who is kicking indoors. They may not score alot of touchdowns, but they should move it enough to get in field goal range.
The Chicago Bears - Greg Olsen. Jay Cutler wants to throw the ball, but he is limited with weapons. Olsen, a former first round pick has been waiting for a quarterback. The two should mesh well together for a big year.
The Minnesota Vikings - Visanthe Shiancoe. Wherever Brett Farve has been, he uses his tight end alot. With Peterson running the ball, and Berrian and Harvin on the outside, the middle should be wide open for the tight end to roam.
NFC South
The New Orleans Saints - Lance Moore. The Saints are going to throw and throw and throw. Drew Brees should break Dan Marino's record for yards in a season, which means there will be a lot of catches to be had. Moore should get the same number of catches as most teams number 2 receiver.
The Atlanta Falcons - Michael Jenkins. With most of the attention on Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez in the passing game, Jenkins could quietly have 60 catches with close to 1000 yards
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Derrick Ward. Tampa did not sign Ward to watch games. Earnest Graham can't stay healthy, and Ward is primes for a big year. Spending time in New York, Ward can play in cold weather as well.
The Carolina Panthers - Mushin Muhammad. Although he has been a fantasy name in the past, Muhammad has found a role in Carolina's system. As long as Jake can stay upright, Muhammad should have another solid season.
NFC West
The Seattle Seahawks - John Carlson. Carlson came on the seen last year with a solid season, and with T.J. Houshmansjhfj on the outside, Carlson should once again become a solid contributor. Expect his touchdowns to go up.
The San Francisco 49ers - Josh Morgan. If and when, Michael Crabtree signs, he will be the 3rd receiver at best. Morgan should start opposite Isaac Bruce. He will get plenty of opportunities to play with Bruce being old, and Crabtree AWOL.
The St. Louis Rams - Donnie Avery. With very little in the cupboard, the Rams have Steven Jackson and Avery. Avery is a burner, who should take full advantage of the turf. If anyone can step up and help him, he might have a great year.
The Arizona Cardinals - Beanie Wells. Tim Hightower will be the starter, but he will share carries with Wells. Wells has been explosive in the preseason, and if he can stay healthy, which is a big if, he will start by mid season. He is the running threat Arizona has been waiting for.
That is all my fantasy sleepers. Good luck in your leagues, and check back every week for more fantasy knowledge. Like always, if you like it great, if not that's ok too, just email at jpconner9@yahoo.com. See ya next week.
John Conner
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Fantasy Football - AFC Sleepers
It is about that time of year again where fantasy football takes over the world. I am beginning a weekly segment to help you win your league. Up first, AFC sleepers. I will give you a player on every AFC team that is either under the radar, or about to break out.
AFC East
The Miami Dolphins - Pat White. He is going to take carries and catches away from Ricky Williams as well and throw a few passes. I could see him getting 500 yards rushing, 300 yards receiving, and 5-7 td passes. Also a total of 3-5 tds on the ground or receiving. He is going to be in a lot of goal line situations.
The New England Patriots - Kevin Faulk. With Tom Brady back, this team is going to throw and throw some more. Faulk is the best receiving back they have, and he with split carries, getting his fair share.
The New York Jets - Leon Washington. He has been a good backup for a while, but with Thomas Jones whining, he should start and get most of the carries. Rex Ryan will run the ball alot, and Washington should be the benefictiary of that.
The Buffalo Bills - Derek Schouman. With Terrell Owens and Lee Evans on the outside, the middle of the field should be wide open, and that is where the tight end plays. He wont be spectacular, but 500 yards and 4-6 touchdowns is very reachable.
AFC North
The Baltimore Ravens - Ray Rice. When you think of the Ravens running game, Willis McGahee and LeRon MacLain come to mind. MacLain is now the fullback, and McGahee is in the doghouse. Rice will start and by the end of the year could be a top 12 running back. 1000 yards is probable, and 1200 is not out of the question.
The Cleveland Browns - Mike Furrey. Whomever starts at quarterback for the Browns will want to throw to somebody he can trust to catch it. Braylon Edwards showed last year he is not that guy. Furrey will catch everything thrown in his direction.
The Pittsburgh Steelers - Mewelde Moore. Willie Parker starts, and should be backed up by Rashard Mendenhall, but neither one of them stays healthy. Moore catches the ball out of the backfield, and is a good downhill runner, and most importantly, he stays healthy.
The Cincinnati Bengals - Chase Coffman. He will become Carson Palmer's security blanket. He is not fast, but he catches the ball. With T.J. Whose your daddy in Seattle, that leaves catches underneath.
AFC South
The Houston Texans - Defense. The Texans have improved every year on defense and this year they will finish in the top 10. The have sack guys and ball hawks. This defense is emerging quickly.
The Tennessee Titans - Justin Gage. Using his big frame, he is a red zone stud. He is able to position himself in the end zone and could score 8-10 touchdowns. He is a great number 2 receiver for your team.
The Indianapolis Colts - Donald Brown. The Colts are slowly losing faith in Joseph Addai, and if the preseason is any indication, Brown is ready to take over. He will begin the season as the third down back, but by mid season he could be starting.
The Jacksonville Jaguars - Torry Holt. He has the fantasy name, but he is no longer a number 1 option. With Maurice Jones-Drew getting most of the attention, Holt could catch 60 passes and surpass 800 yards, which would be good for a 2nd or 3rd receiver.
AFC West
The Oakland Raiders - Johnnie Lee Huggins. Not only has he established himself as a great return man, but I believe he will establish himself in the passing game. With the Raiders airing it out, there is going to be a lot of balls to be caught.
The San Diego Chargers - Darren Sproles. With L.T. starting to show some wear and tear, Sproles will get his fair share of carries in Norv Turner's offense. He is built alot like Jones-Drew and could start putting up similar numbers.
The Denver Broncos - Eddie Royal. With it evident that Brandon Marshall will either be in the doghouse or on another team, Royal is the clear number 1. Royal should get 80-90 catches and 1200 yards with 12 touchdowns.
The Kansas City Chiefs - Jamaal Charles. With Larry Johnson being iffy, Charles could become the starter sooner than later. With the injury to Matt Cassell, the Chiefs could run alot.
That has been my AFC sleepers. Next week, I will do the NFC sleepers.
Like always, if you like it, great. If not, thats ok too. Let me hear from you at jpconner9@yahoo.com. Talk to ya next week.
John Conner
AFC East
The Miami Dolphins - Pat White. He is going to take carries and catches away from Ricky Williams as well and throw a few passes. I could see him getting 500 yards rushing, 300 yards receiving, and 5-7 td passes. Also a total of 3-5 tds on the ground or receiving. He is going to be in a lot of goal line situations.
The New England Patriots - Kevin Faulk. With Tom Brady back, this team is going to throw and throw some more. Faulk is the best receiving back they have, and he with split carries, getting his fair share.
The New York Jets - Leon Washington. He has been a good backup for a while, but with Thomas Jones whining, he should start and get most of the carries. Rex Ryan will run the ball alot, and Washington should be the benefictiary of that.
The Buffalo Bills - Derek Schouman. With Terrell Owens and Lee Evans on the outside, the middle of the field should be wide open, and that is where the tight end plays. He wont be spectacular, but 500 yards and 4-6 touchdowns is very reachable.
AFC North
The Baltimore Ravens - Ray Rice. When you think of the Ravens running game, Willis McGahee and LeRon MacLain come to mind. MacLain is now the fullback, and McGahee is in the doghouse. Rice will start and by the end of the year could be a top 12 running back. 1000 yards is probable, and 1200 is not out of the question.
The Cleveland Browns - Mike Furrey. Whomever starts at quarterback for the Browns will want to throw to somebody he can trust to catch it. Braylon Edwards showed last year he is not that guy. Furrey will catch everything thrown in his direction.
The Pittsburgh Steelers - Mewelde Moore. Willie Parker starts, and should be backed up by Rashard Mendenhall, but neither one of them stays healthy. Moore catches the ball out of the backfield, and is a good downhill runner, and most importantly, he stays healthy.
The Cincinnati Bengals - Chase Coffman. He will become Carson Palmer's security blanket. He is not fast, but he catches the ball. With T.J. Whose your daddy in Seattle, that leaves catches underneath.
AFC South
The Houston Texans - Defense. The Texans have improved every year on defense and this year they will finish in the top 10. The have sack guys and ball hawks. This defense is emerging quickly.
The Tennessee Titans - Justin Gage. Using his big frame, he is a red zone stud. He is able to position himself in the end zone and could score 8-10 touchdowns. He is a great number 2 receiver for your team.
The Indianapolis Colts - Donald Brown. The Colts are slowly losing faith in Joseph Addai, and if the preseason is any indication, Brown is ready to take over. He will begin the season as the third down back, but by mid season he could be starting.
The Jacksonville Jaguars - Torry Holt. He has the fantasy name, but he is no longer a number 1 option. With Maurice Jones-Drew getting most of the attention, Holt could catch 60 passes and surpass 800 yards, which would be good for a 2nd or 3rd receiver.
AFC West
The Oakland Raiders - Johnnie Lee Huggins. Not only has he established himself as a great return man, but I believe he will establish himself in the passing game. With the Raiders airing it out, there is going to be a lot of balls to be caught.
The San Diego Chargers - Darren Sproles. With L.T. starting to show some wear and tear, Sproles will get his fair share of carries in Norv Turner's offense. He is built alot like Jones-Drew and could start putting up similar numbers.
The Denver Broncos - Eddie Royal. With it evident that Brandon Marshall will either be in the doghouse or on another team, Royal is the clear number 1. Royal should get 80-90 catches and 1200 yards with 12 touchdowns.
The Kansas City Chiefs - Jamaal Charles. With Larry Johnson being iffy, Charles could become the starter sooner than later. With the injury to Matt Cassell, the Chiefs could run alot.
That has been my AFC sleepers. Next week, I will do the NFC sleepers.
Like always, if you like it, great. If not, thats ok too. Let me hear from you at jpconner9@yahoo.com. Talk to ya next week.
John Conner
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Rangers are relevant
Here I am just thinking about how the Rangers lost a close game to Minnesota, and it got me thinking...it is August 19, 2009, and the Rangers are relevant.
I am at the point where I am more concerned about what the Rangers are doing over who the Cowboys are going to have as their 4th receiver, and 5th cornerback. Even though they lost, they are in the wild card race, and the way they have been playing, they are going to stay in the race.
This team is fun exciting, and it is only getting better. The players they are calling up like Borbon, and Feliz act like they are supposed to be here. They are not coming up as filler players, but are contributing. Even Kevin Richardson, a life long minor leaguer, got 2 hits and caught a great game in spot duty.
Now the team is getting sentimental and bring back Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. Is this 1999, or 2009. Either way, this team plays hard, and regardless of what happens through the end of the year, this team brings something that the last 7 years have not...promise.
This team is going to be together for a while. They are growing and only getting stronger. The base is there with Michael Young and Ian Kinsler. Now you add Hamilton and Cruz and Borbon and eventually Chris Davis and Justin Smoak and the offense is set. But the amazing thing is the pitching.
You already have Millwood, Feldman, Hunter, Holland, Feliz, Fransisco, O'Day, and Wilson on the roster. Now if you hit on someone like Blake Beavan or Martin Perez, and maybe Matt Harrison gets healthy, your staff is set. You add a free agent or 2 and you are set.
All being said, it is late in August and the Rangers matter. Let's just see where it leads. All aboard. I will save some seats on the bandwagon.
John Conner
I am at the point where I am more concerned about what the Rangers are doing over who the Cowboys are going to have as their 4th receiver, and 5th cornerback. Even though they lost, they are in the wild card race, and the way they have been playing, they are going to stay in the race.
This team is fun exciting, and it is only getting better. The players they are calling up like Borbon, and Feliz act like they are supposed to be here. They are not coming up as filler players, but are contributing. Even Kevin Richardson, a life long minor leaguer, got 2 hits and caught a great game in spot duty.
Now the team is getting sentimental and bring back Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. Is this 1999, or 2009. Either way, this team plays hard, and regardless of what happens through the end of the year, this team brings something that the last 7 years have not...promise.
This team is going to be together for a while. They are growing and only getting stronger. The base is there with Michael Young and Ian Kinsler. Now you add Hamilton and Cruz and Borbon and eventually Chris Davis and Justin Smoak and the offense is set. But the amazing thing is the pitching.
You already have Millwood, Feldman, Hunter, Holland, Feliz, Fransisco, O'Day, and Wilson on the roster. Now if you hit on someone like Blake Beavan or Martin Perez, and maybe Matt Harrison gets healthy, your staff is set. You add a free agent or 2 and you are set.
All being said, it is late in August and the Rangers matter. Let's just see where it leads. All aboard. I will save some seats on the bandwagon.
John Conner
Sunday, August 2, 2009
MLB Trade Deadline Winners/Losers
It has been a few days since the trade deadline has passed, and even though trades can and will be made in August(they must go through waivers), it is more difficult to do. So now that the trades have sunk in a little, I am ready to give my grades to 5 winners and 5 losers.
Lets start with the winners:
1. The Philadelphia Phillies: They added the top starting pitcher that got traded in Cliff Lee, and did not give up the entire farm to do so. That, along with the signing of Pedro Martinez, allows Philly to set up their rotation and bullpen however they like and to each individual match up.
2. The Boston Red Sox: They obtained a pure hitter in Victor Martinez that can play multiple positions. With Mike Lowell in and out of the lineup, Martinez can play first base, move Youklis to third, and give Lowell a day off. Also he can catch, and help keep Varitek sharp.
3. The St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals did most of their damage before the deadline, but nonetheless made an impact. Getting Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa made this one of the better lineups in the National League.
4. The Texas Rangers: As much as I wanted the team to get Roy Halladay, I am glad that they did not give into the demands of Toronto. Their plan is to make their move in 2010 and they stuck to it.
5. The Detroit Tigers: Playing in a weak division, they added Jarrod Washburn to form a great trio for a playoff series. Putting Washburn in between Verlander and Edwin Jackson makes them very dangerous in a 5 game series.
Now for the teams that did not fair so good.
1. The New York Mets: They did nothing. They have an aging roster and holes to fill, and they did nothing. It is almost as if they are already looking for next year.
2. The Toronto Blue Jays: They were asking for a king's ransom to get Roy Halladay, and I understand that you tell your fans you kept a great pitcher, but then you trade Scott Rolen. It makes no sense. And if you trade Halladay in the offseason, you won't get near as much in return.
3. The Washington Nationals: Anther team that had players that could be moved and chose not to. They need to clear payroll to sign Steven Strasburg, and asked for way to much in return for players like Josh Willingham and John Lannan.
4. The Pittsburgh Pirates: Pittsburgh better be happy that they have the Steelers in the same city, because this team has become the Montreal Expos of the 2000's. Anyone who has any talent is traded before they become too expensive. It is almost like they are a farm team for the entire major leagues. It is very sad for this once proud franchise.
5. The Tampa Bay Rays: If you are going to keep up with the Yankees and Red Sox, you have to be ready to make a move. They talked of trading Scott Kazmir to the Rangers for a prospect, and then flipping the prospect to Cleveland for Cliff Lee. Doesn't make a lot of sense. This team has to cut payroll, so look for Kazmir and possibly Carl Crawford traded this offseason.
There were other teams that made some solid additions(Minnesota,LA Dodgers) and some other teams that you aren't sure what they were thinking ( Seattle, Oakland). But as always, it was fun to watch, and the races down the stretch should be fun.
Like always, if you agree, great. If not, that's ok too. Send an email to jpconner9@yahoo.com
Talk to you later.
John Conner
Lets start with the winners:
1. The Philadelphia Phillies: They added the top starting pitcher that got traded in Cliff Lee, and did not give up the entire farm to do so. That, along with the signing of Pedro Martinez, allows Philly to set up their rotation and bullpen however they like and to each individual match up.
2. The Boston Red Sox: They obtained a pure hitter in Victor Martinez that can play multiple positions. With Mike Lowell in and out of the lineup, Martinez can play first base, move Youklis to third, and give Lowell a day off. Also he can catch, and help keep Varitek sharp.
3. The St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals did most of their damage before the deadline, but nonetheless made an impact. Getting Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa made this one of the better lineups in the National League.
4. The Texas Rangers: As much as I wanted the team to get Roy Halladay, I am glad that they did not give into the demands of Toronto. Their plan is to make their move in 2010 and they stuck to it.
5. The Detroit Tigers: Playing in a weak division, they added Jarrod Washburn to form a great trio for a playoff series. Putting Washburn in between Verlander and Edwin Jackson makes them very dangerous in a 5 game series.
Now for the teams that did not fair so good.
1. The New York Mets: They did nothing. They have an aging roster and holes to fill, and they did nothing. It is almost as if they are already looking for next year.
2. The Toronto Blue Jays: They were asking for a king's ransom to get Roy Halladay, and I understand that you tell your fans you kept a great pitcher, but then you trade Scott Rolen. It makes no sense. And if you trade Halladay in the offseason, you won't get near as much in return.
3. The Washington Nationals: Anther team that had players that could be moved and chose not to. They need to clear payroll to sign Steven Strasburg, and asked for way to much in return for players like Josh Willingham and John Lannan.
4. The Pittsburgh Pirates: Pittsburgh better be happy that they have the Steelers in the same city, because this team has become the Montreal Expos of the 2000's. Anyone who has any talent is traded before they become too expensive. It is almost like they are a farm team for the entire major leagues. It is very sad for this once proud franchise.
5. The Tampa Bay Rays: If you are going to keep up with the Yankees and Red Sox, you have to be ready to make a move. They talked of trading Scott Kazmir to the Rangers for a prospect, and then flipping the prospect to Cleveland for Cliff Lee. Doesn't make a lot of sense. This team has to cut payroll, so look for Kazmir and possibly Carl Crawford traded this offseason.
There were other teams that made some solid additions(Minnesota,LA Dodgers) and some other teams that you aren't sure what they were thinking ( Seattle, Oakland). But as always, it was fun to watch, and the races down the stretch should be fun.
Like always, if you agree, great. If not, that's ok too. Send an email to jpconner9@yahoo.com
Talk to you later.
John Conner
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
MLB 2nd half preview
Now that the All-Star game is over, it is time to get to the games that really matter. Going into the 2nd half of the season, there are at least 21 teams that still think they have a realistic shot at the playoffs.
Well, unfortunately, only 8 teams will make it. I am here to tell you who is going to make it and why. So buckle up and hold on. It could get messy.
Lets start in the National League.
The National League west is by far the least competitive of all the divisions. I don't see that changing at all. The Dodgers are by far the best team in this division. They have the pitching and the hitting to dominate this division. The Giants are an interesting team. They have the best pitching in the division, but the worst hitting. Unless they get a bat or two, the will fall short of not only the division, but the wildcard as well.
Pick: Dodgers
The National League central is by far the most competitive division in the national league. As of right now, 5 teams are separated by 5 games. Now, eventually, I believe the Reds and Brewers, will start to fade. The Astros will stick around a little longer, but then they will fade as well. That brings it down to the Cubs and the Cardinals. I like the Cardinals lineup, and I think they will add a pitcher (Mark Buehrle?) . The Cubs, can hope that their pitching lives up to the billing...but I don't.
Pick: Cardinals
The National League east has the defending champs, and then 3 more teams within 3 games of each other. The Mets are just injury bitten this year. It started in the offseason with Wagner, and has gone into the season with Reyes, Beltran, and Delgado. This just isn't their year. The Marlins are young and hungry, but they won't add anyone, and the young guys will get tired. The Braves will make a strong push, and at least give the Phillies a run, but it too will come up short. With the addition of Pedro Martinez, and Roy Halladay, the pitching will catch up with the best offence in the National league.
Pick: Phillies
For the Wildcard, I think the Braves hold off the Giants and the Cubs.
Pick: Braves
Now on to the American League.
Lets start in the American League West. The Angels are the leader at the midpoint, and their pitching staff is getting healthy. The only problem is, the hitters are getting hurt. Hunter and Guerrero have to be in the lineup for the Angels to win. The Rangers are coming on, and are getting healthy. Plugging Hamilton back in the middle of the order can only help. The Rangers problem is the ballpark they play in. August will hurt them when it gets so hot, but they stick around after the trade for Zach Duke. Seattle and Oakland are sellers, and are going to effect races in other divisions. ( Holliday,Bedard)
Pick: Angels
The American League Central is very confusing. The Tigers are leading, but their offense is struggling. The Twins bats are on fire, but their pitching has been very poor. The White Sox, are kinda all over the place. I don't think the Twins will add at the deadline, but I think the White Sox and Tigers will. That being said, I always take pitching over hitting, so I like the Tigers.
Pick: Tigers
The American League East is once again going to dominate the headlines until the end of the year. The Rays are the defending American League champs. The Red Sox and Yankees will be big buyers at the deadline, so it will come down to The Red Sox and Yankees. The Red Sox have the best starting pitching in the league, a great lineup, and a great bullpen. The Yankess have the best lineup, and great bullpen, but their rotation is suspect. They will add at least one top pitcher, but it won't be enough.
Pick: Red Sox
The Wild Card will come down to 3 teams: Yankees, Rays, and Rangers. The Yankees and Rays will battle themselves and the Red Sox, which will allow the Rangers to take the Wildcard.
Pick: Rangers
Before we get to the playoffs, I am giving out my awards.
AL MVP - Joe Mauer- Minnesota Twins. The best hitter in the league has added the longball. He is a complete hitter at a very demanding position.
NL MVP -Albert Pujols- St. Louis Cardinals. The best hitter in the last 25 years. This year he is also stealing bases. Next year, he will probably be the team's fifth starter. The guy does it all.
AL CY Young - Josh Beckett- Boston Red Sox. He is back to the pitcher he was 2 years ago. He could easily win 22 games and carry the Sox to the title.
NL CY Young - Tim Lincecum- San Fransisco Giants. He is just as dominating as last year, maybe even better. He is single-handedly keeping the Giants in the race.
AL Rookie - Elvis Andrus- Texas Rangers. He is getting better with every game, and his main competition is hitting a wall(Rick Porcello)
NL Rookie - Colby Rasmus- St. Louis Cardinals. Hitting at the top of the Cardinals lineup gives him alot of opportunities to score. He is taking advantage of that.
AL Manager - Jim Leyland- Detroit Tigers. This team was supposed to finish third or forth. He has them in the lead, and getting stronger as the season goes.
NL Manager - Bobby Cox- Atlanta Braves. When he gets the addition to the team he wants (Holliday), this team will take off. The pitching has been solid, and Hansen is only getter stronger.
Now for the playoffs.
National League
Philly vs. St. Louis - Philly
Atlanta vs. Dodgers - Dodgers
Philly vs. Dodgers - Philly
American League
Boston vs. Texas - Boston
Detroit vs. Angels - Angels
Boston vs. Angels - Boston
World Series
Philly vs. Boston
BOSTON
As always, if you like it, tell me. If you don't, tell me. My email is jpconner9@yahoo.com.
See you guys later. J Conn
Well, unfortunately, only 8 teams will make it. I am here to tell you who is going to make it and why. So buckle up and hold on. It could get messy.
Lets start in the National League.
The National League west is by far the least competitive of all the divisions. I don't see that changing at all. The Dodgers are by far the best team in this division. They have the pitching and the hitting to dominate this division. The Giants are an interesting team. They have the best pitching in the division, but the worst hitting. Unless they get a bat or two, the will fall short of not only the division, but the wildcard as well.
Pick: Dodgers
The National League central is by far the most competitive division in the national league. As of right now, 5 teams are separated by 5 games. Now, eventually, I believe the Reds and Brewers, will start to fade. The Astros will stick around a little longer, but then they will fade as well. That brings it down to the Cubs and the Cardinals. I like the Cardinals lineup, and I think they will add a pitcher (Mark Buehrle?) . The Cubs, can hope that their pitching lives up to the billing...but I don't.
Pick: Cardinals
The National League east has the defending champs, and then 3 more teams within 3 games of each other. The Mets are just injury bitten this year. It started in the offseason with Wagner, and has gone into the season with Reyes, Beltran, and Delgado. This just isn't their year. The Marlins are young and hungry, but they won't add anyone, and the young guys will get tired. The Braves will make a strong push, and at least give the Phillies a run, but it too will come up short. With the addition of Pedro Martinez, and Roy Halladay, the pitching will catch up with the best offence in the National league.
Pick: Phillies
For the Wildcard, I think the Braves hold off the Giants and the Cubs.
Pick: Braves
Now on to the American League.
Lets start in the American League West. The Angels are the leader at the midpoint, and their pitching staff is getting healthy. The only problem is, the hitters are getting hurt. Hunter and Guerrero have to be in the lineup for the Angels to win. The Rangers are coming on, and are getting healthy. Plugging Hamilton back in the middle of the order can only help. The Rangers problem is the ballpark they play in. August will hurt them when it gets so hot, but they stick around after the trade for Zach Duke. Seattle and Oakland are sellers, and are going to effect races in other divisions. ( Holliday,Bedard)
Pick: Angels
The American League Central is very confusing. The Tigers are leading, but their offense is struggling. The Twins bats are on fire, but their pitching has been very poor. The White Sox, are kinda all over the place. I don't think the Twins will add at the deadline, but I think the White Sox and Tigers will. That being said, I always take pitching over hitting, so I like the Tigers.
Pick: Tigers
The American League East is once again going to dominate the headlines until the end of the year. The Rays are the defending American League champs. The Red Sox and Yankees will be big buyers at the deadline, so it will come down to The Red Sox and Yankees. The Red Sox have the best starting pitching in the league, a great lineup, and a great bullpen. The Yankess have the best lineup, and great bullpen, but their rotation is suspect. They will add at least one top pitcher, but it won't be enough.
Pick: Red Sox
The Wild Card will come down to 3 teams: Yankees, Rays, and Rangers. The Yankees and Rays will battle themselves and the Red Sox, which will allow the Rangers to take the Wildcard.
Pick: Rangers
Before we get to the playoffs, I am giving out my awards.
AL MVP - Joe Mauer- Minnesota Twins. The best hitter in the league has added the longball. He is a complete hitter at a very demanding position.
NL MVP -Albert Pujols- St. Louis Cardinals. The best hitter in the last 25 years. This year he is also stealing bases. Next year, he will probably be the team's fifth starter. The guy does it all.
AL CY Young - Josh Beckett- Boston Red Sox. He is back to the pitcher he was 2 years ago. He could easily win 22 games and carry the Sox to the title.
NL CY Young - Tim Lincecum- San Fransisco Giants. He is just as dominating as last year, maybe even better. He is single-handedly keeping the Giants in the race.
AL Rookie - Elvis Andrus- Texas Rangers. He is getting better with every game, and his main competition is hitting a wall(Rick Porcello)
NL Rookie - Colby Rasmus- St. Louis Cardinals. Hitting at the top of the Cardinals lineup gives him alot of opportunities to score. He is taking advantage of that.
AL Manager - Jim Leyland- Detroit Tigers. This team was supposed to finish third or forth. He has them in the lead, and getting stronger as the season goes.
NL Manager - Bobby Cox- Atlanta Braves. When he gets the addition to the team he wants (Holliday), this team will take off. The pitching has been solid, and Hansen is only getter stronger.
Now for the playoffs.
National League
Philly vs. St. Louis - Philly
Atlanta vs. Dodgers - Dodgers
Philly vs. Dodgers - Philly
American League
Boston vs. Texas - Boston
Detroit vs. Angels - Angels
Boston vs. Angels - Boston
World Series
Philly vs. Boston
BOSTON
As always, if you like it, tell me. If you don't, tell me. My email is jpconner9@yahoo.com.
See you guys later. J Conn
Sunday, June 28, 2009
NBA Team of the 00's
Now the that NBA finals are over, the draft has come and gone, it is time to reflect on what has happened in the last ten years. I have put together some lists. I have my All Decade 1st, 2nd , and 3rd teams. I have my All Defensive team, my All Annoying team, and then I have chosen active players that I think are locks for the Hall of Fame, as well as guys, that if they stay healthy, should get in as well. I also pick my coach of the decade, as well as the Franchise of the decade. Lets begin.
Lets start with my All Decade First Team:
PG - Jason Kidd. He was the most consistent pg of this decade. He was a triple-double machine, and he took New Jersey to the Finals, when it had no reason to be there at all. He is still playing well, and could be a welcome addition this offseason for Cleveland or Boston.
SG - Kobe Bryant. This is the most complete player of the decade. He won scoring titles, championships, and became the face of the NBA for a while. He is the guy you wanted taking the shot at the end of a game.
SF - Kevin Garnett. Garnett is the ultimate team player. He easily could have put up bigger stats, but he was the most unselfish player in the league. That was probably what kept Minnesota from winning in the playoffs, but it is also why he was able to coexist with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to win in Boston.
PF - Tim Duncan. Mr. Fundamental is one of the best to ever play his position. He played well alongside David Robinson, as well as played the pick and roll with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. He also could have put up better stats, but when they needed him, he came through.
C - Shaquille O'Neal. - He is the most dominating player for the past 15 years. He won with Kobe, Wade, and if Penny would have stayed healthy, him too. He brought the big man to a whole new level. He had fun, while being dominant, and had the best smile in basketball.
Here is the All-Decade second team
PG - Steve Nash. Any time you can win the MVP 2 years in a row, you are doing something right. He turned a down Phoenix team into a title contender. Unfortunatly, they ran into the Spurs, and Lakers, that were beating everyone.
SG - Allen Iverson. The best small man to play the game. He was fearless going to the paint, and could score on anyone. For him, he also ran into the Lakers, when the were beasts, and could not get back. Also the most selfish player of the decade.
SF - Paul Pierce. He was one of the best players on one of the worst teams of the decade. He tried to work with Antione Walker, but Walker thought he was a star. He finally got help with Garnett, and Allen, and as long as they stay together, they are threats.
PF - Dirk Nowitzki. He will go down as the best international player to ever play in the NBA. He brought outside shooting with a 7-foot frame, and now consistently averages a double double. He started a new wave of big men.
C - Yao Ming. Yao has become the dominant force Shaq once was. Yao's biggest problem is staying healthy. When he is in the lineup, Houston is a totally different team. He scores, passes, blocks shots and rebounds. He will win a championship if he stays healthy.
And finally the all decade third team
PG - Chauncey Billups. This was a difficult call. I debated between Billups and Tony Parker, but went with Billups. He was the heart and soul of the Pistons team, and has now made Denver a contender.
SG - Dwayne Wade. I don't really like his game, but he gets results. He has lost some of his explosion, but can still dominate a game when he wants to. Until Miami gets some pieces that mesh with him, he is stuck in the middle of the Eastern conference.
SF - LeBron James. When we look back in a few years, he will be the standard for the NBA. The reason, I have him so low is Garnett was the ultimate team player, and has a ring, and Paul Pierce, solid for the whole decade, with a ring. LeBron needs the ring. He will get it, along with some others. He is the face of the NBA the next decade.
PF - Chris Bosh. He quietly puts up 20 points and 12 rebounds every game. The problem is, no one outside Toronto knows it. Once he leaves Toronto in 2010, he will show the rest of the NBA what they have been missing.
C - Ben Wallace. This is a guy who understood his role, and did it perfectly. His job was to rebound and play defense. He did both. He won rebounding titles and 4 defensive players of the year. He was the anchor for Detroit.
Now to my overall Player of the Decade.
I narrowed it down to 4 players. Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Tim Duncan, and Steve Nash. Both Duncan and Nash had 2 MVPs. Shaq was the dominant force, and Kobe was the closest thing to Michael Jordan as we have seen. Taking all of that into consideration, my Player of the decade was Tim Duncan. He won championships with different players, and styles of play. He played defense, rebounded, and scored at will, especially in the playoffs. The one knock on Duncan, was the fact that he acted like he never committed a foul. Stop whining. But the man could play basketball. Mr. Fundamental is my player of the decade.
Coach of the decade.
Greg Popovich. He molded talent together better than any coach going. The only other coach I considered was Jerry Sloan. Pop changed out role players year after year, and always got the same results. His players always played hard, and if it was game 7 in San Antonio, you knew you had a fight ahead of you.
My Team of the decade.
Los Angeles Lakers. In the NBA, as well as any other sport, it is about wins and championships. Nobody had more championships than the Lakers. The Spurs were close, but fell 1 short. The good news is, both of these teams do not look like they are slowing down at all. With the additions of Richard Jefferson, and DeJuan Blair, the Spurs are set, and if the Lakers stay in tact, they are the teams to beat in the West.
Now, My All Defensive Team of the Decade.
PG - Allen Iverson
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Kevin Garnett
PF - Tim Duncan
C - Ben Wallace
Defensive Player of the Decade:
Ben Wallace. 4 defensive players of the year awards sums it up.
Now to My ALL Annoying Team of the Decade.
PG - Allen Iverson. "Practice. We talking about practice." All that needs to be said for the most selfish player of the decade.
SG - Kobe Bryant. You can always talk about Colorado. But what got me was, he told Jerry Buss, that it was either him or Shaq. Then after they traded Shaq, he whines that he didn't have any help. Finally, they trade for Gasol, and he is happy.
SF - Ron Artest. He did whatever he could to get into trouble. Whether he was trying to get into trouble of just dumb, he was in the news for all the wrong reasons. He now, though, seems to have turned it around.
PF - Rasheed Wallace. The only person to fined more than Rasheed over the last decade was Mark Cuban. He leads the NBA in technical fouls almost every year, and just flat whines way too much.
C - Vlade Divac. The ultimate whiner. He reinvented the flop. Enough said.
Now for my favorite part. Which of the guys that played in the 00's are Hall of Fame worthy?
I did not include guys who only played at the beginning of the 00's, like Karl Malone, Jordan, Stockton, etc. These guys are in. I focused on guys who are still playing. I came up with 7 locks, 3 maybes, and 8 guys, who if they stay healthy and improve will get in.
Here are my locks:
Shaquille O'Neal
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Jason Kidd
Allen Iverson
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowitzki
My 3 maybes are :
Steve Nash
Paul Pierce
Ray Allen
My 8 guys looking good:
LeBron James
Yao Ming
Dwayne Wade
Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Chris Paul
Dwight Howard
Kevin Durant
Like always, if you agree or disagree, let me know at jpconner9@yahoo.com. I will respond to all emails. I hope you like it.
JOhn Conner aka J-Conn
Lets start with my All Decade First Team:
PG - Jason Kidd. He was the most consistent pg of this decade. He was a triple-double machine, and he took New Jersey to the Finals, when it had no reason to be there at all. He is still playing well, and could be a welcome addition this offseason for Cleveland or Boston.
SG - Kobe Bryant. This is the most complete player of the decade. He won scoring titles, championships, and became the face of the NBA for a while. He is the guy you wanted taking the shot at the end of a game.
SF - Kevin Garnett. Garnett is the ultimate team player. He easily could have put up bigger stats, but he was the most unselfish player in the league. That was probably what kept Minnesota from winning in the playoffs, but it is also why he was able to coexist with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to win in Boston.
PF - Tim Duncan. Mr. Fundamental is one of the best to ever play his position. He played well alongside David Robinson, as well as played the pick and roll with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. He also could have put up better stats, but when they needed him, he came through.
C - Shaquille O'Neal. - He is the most dominating player for the past 15 years. He won with Kobe, Wade, and if Penny would have stayed healthy, him too. He brought the big man to a whole new level. He had fun, while being dominant, and had the best smile in basketball.
Here is the All-Decade second team
PG - Steve Nash. Any time you can win the MVP 2 years in a row, you are doing something right. He turned a down Phoenix team into a title contender. Unfortunatly, they ran into the Spurs, and Lakers, that were beating everyone.
SG - Allen Iverson. The best small man to play the game. He was fearless going to the paint, and could score on anyone. For him, he also ran into the Lakers, when the were beasts, and could not get back. Also the most selfish player of the decade.
SF - Paul Pierce. He was one of the best players on one of the worst teams of the decade. He tried to work with Antione Walker, but Walker thought he was a star. He finally got help with Garnett, and Allen, and as long as they stay together, they are threats.
PF - Dirk Nowitzki. He will go down as the best international player to ever play in the NBA. He brought outside shooting with a 7-foot frame, and now consistently averages a double double. He started a new wave of big men.
C - Yao Ming. Yao has become the dominant force Shaq once was. Yao's biggest problem is staying healthy. When he is in the lineup, Houston is a totally different team. He scores, passes, blocks shots and rebounds. He will win a championship if he stays healthy.
And finally the all decade third team
PG - Chauncey Billups. This was a difficult call. I debated between Billups and Tony Parker, but went with Billups. He was the heart and soul of the Pistons team, and has now made Denver a contender.
SG - Dwayne Wade. I don't really like his game, but he gets results. He has lost some of his explosion, but can still dominate a game when he wants to. Until Miami gets some pieces that mesh with him, he is stuck in the middle of the Eastern conference.
SF - LeBron James. When we look back in a few years, he will be the standard for the NBA. The reason, I have him so low is Garnett was the ultimate team player, and has a ring, and Paul Pierce, solid for the whole decade, with a ring. LeBron needs the ring. He will get it, along with some others. He is the face of the NBA the next decade.
PF - Chris Bosh. He quietly puts up 20 points and 12 rebounds every game. The problem is, no one outside Toronto knows it. Once he leaves Toronto in 2010, he will show the rest of the NBA what they have been missing.
C - Ben Wallace. This is a guy who understood his role, and did it perfectly. His job was to rebound and play defense. He did both. He won rebounding titles and 4 defensive players of the year. He was the anchor for Detroit.
Now to my overall Player of the Decade.
I narrowed it down to 4 players. Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Tim Duncan, and Steve Nash. Both Duncan and Nash had 2 MVPs. Shaq was the dominant force, and Kobe was the closest thing to Michael Jordan as we have seen. Taking all of that into consideration, my Player of the decade was Tim Duncan. He won championships with different players, and styles of play. He played defense, rebounded, and scored at will, especially in the playoffs. The one knock on Duncan, was the fact that he acted like he never committed a foul. Stop whining. But the man could play basketball. Mr. Fundamental is my player of the decade.
Coach of the decade.
Greg Popovich. He molded talent together better than any coach going. The only other coach I considered was Jerry Sloan. Pop changed out role players year after year, and always got the same results. His players always played hard, and if it was game 7 in San Antonio, you knew you had a fight ahead of you.
My Team of the decade.
Los Angeles Lakers. In the NBA, as well as any other sport, it is about wins and championships. Nobody had more championships than the Lakers. The Spurs were close, but fell 1 short. The good news is, both of these teams do not look like they are slowing down at all. With the additions of Richard Jefferson, and DeJuan Blair, the Spurs are set, and if the Lakers stay in tact, they are the teams to beat in the West.
Now, My All Defensive Team of the Decade.
PG - Allen Iverson
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Kevin Garnett
PF - Tim Duncan
C - Ben Wallace
Defensive Player of the Decade:
Ben Wallace. 4 defensive players of the year awards sums it up.
Now to My ALL Annoying Team of the Decade.
PG - Allen Iverson. "Practice. We talking about practice." All that needs to be said for the most selfish player of the decade.
SG - Kobe Bryant. You can always talk about Colorado. But what got me was, he told Jerry Buss, that it was either him or Shaq. Then after they traded Shaq, he whines that he didn't have any help. Finally, they trade for Gasol, and he is happy.
SF - Ron Artest. He did whatever he could to get into trouble. Whether he was trying to get into trouble of just dumb, he was in the news for all the wrong reasons. He now, though, seems to have turned it around.
PF - Rasheed Wallace. The only person to fined more than Rasheed over the last decade was Mark Cuban. He leads the NBA in technical fouls almost every year, and just flat whines way too much.
C - Vlade Divac. The ultimate whiner. He reinvented the flop. Enough said.
Now for my favorite part. Which of the guys that played in the 00's are Hall of Fame worthy?
I did not include guys who only played at the beginning of the 00's, like Karl Malone, Jordan, Stockton, etc. These guys are in. I focused on guys who are still playing. I came up with 7 locks, 3 maybes, and 8 guys, who if they stay healthy and improve will get in.
Here are my locks:
Shaquille O'Neal
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Jason Kidd
Allen Iverson
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowitzki
My 3 maybes are :
Steve Nash
Paul Pierce
Ray Allen
My 8 guys looking good:
LeBron James
Yao Ming
Dwayne Wade
Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Chris Paul
Dwight Howard
Kevin Durant
Like always, if you agree or disagree, let me know at jpconner9@yahoo.com. I will respond to all emails. I hope you like it.
JOhn Conner aka J-Conn
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Star Platers getting Star Treatment
This blog is not to make excuses for why Orlando is losing the series, but I have noticed it more in the series than ever before. The Magic are losing because of free throws. End of story.
My complaint is the fact that Kobe Bryant is allowed to throw elbow after elbow and continue to play, without fear of being thrown out of a game. WHY??? Because he is one of the top 5 players in the game.
The stars of the league will ALWAYS get the calls. That is understandable. But throwing elbows is something different all together. Kobe has thrown at least 6 elbows so far in this series. When a Magic player explains that to the ref, nothing happens. WHY? Because they know if they throw Kobe out of the game, they will have to answer to David Stern. Stern will not allow his star players to be throw out of a game, especially one on national television.
I am not just bashing Kobe. LeBron, D-Wade, Duncan, just to name a few, get away with it on a regular basis, and when they do get called for it, they are never ejected, they just get technical fouls. The one exception was earlier in the year, when Dwight Howard threw one blantantly. Once he learns to do it in the flow of the game, and not when everyone is looking at him, he too will join the land of the no-call.
I understand that star players can spend a lifetime at the free throw line, and I am ok with that. I just don't know why they can deliberately throw elbows and get away with it. Until someone receives a serious injury, David Stern and the NBA just don't see it.
If you agree or disagree, feel free to email me at jpconner9@yahoo.com
Take it easy,
John Conner aka J-Conn
My complaint is the fact that Kobe Bryant is allowed to throw elbow after elbow and continue to play, without fear of being thrown out of a game. WHY??? Because he is one of the top 5 players in the game.
The stars of the league will ALWAYS get the calls. That is understandable. But throwing elbows is something different all together. Kobe has thrown at least 6 elbows so far in this series. When a Magic player explains that to the ref, nothing happens. WHY? Because they know if they throw Kobe out of the game, they will have to answer to David Stern. Stern will not allow his star players to be throw out of a game, especially one on national television.
I am not just bashing Kobe. LeBron, D-Wade, Duncan, just to name a few, get away with it on a regular basis, and when they do get called for it, they are never ejected, they just get technical fouls. The one exception was earlier in the year, when Dwight Howard threw one blantantly. Once he learns to do it in the flow of the game, and not when everyone is looking at him, he too will join the land of the no-call.
I understand that star players can spend a lifetime at the free throw line, and I am ok with that. I just don't know why they can deliberately throw elbows and get away with it. Until someone receives a serious injury, David Stern and the NBA just don't see it.
If you agree or disagree, feel free to email me at jpconner9@yahoo.com
Take it easy,
John Conner aka J-Conn
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Lakers vs. Magic Preview
I am one of the few people that are giving the Orlando Magic, not only a chance, but I think they will win the series. The Magic are on a roll, and they are about to play a team that is similiar than the one they just beat. Now the Lakers have better post players than Cleveland, but they are similiar in other aspects. Lets look at the match-ups:
PG - Derek Fisher vs. Rafer Alston
Both players are veterans that know how to win. They will not beat you with their scoring, but if you leave them open, they will hit the open shot.
EDGE - Fisher. He has shown in the past that he can and will hit the big shot if needed. Plus, he has been in the finals before.
SG - Kobe Bryant vs. Courntey Lee
This is a no contest. Although Bryant will see Mickael Pietrus alot, Kobe will get his points. The difference in this series will be if he can get his teammates involved as well.
EDGE - Bryant
SF - Trevor Ariza vs. Hedo Turkoglu
This is a match-up that Orlando should win. Hedo's scoring is very important in this series. If he averages 15 points a game, and knocks down 3 or 4 threes a game Orlando has an advantage.
EDGE - Turkoglu
PF - Pau Gasol vs. Rashard Lewis
This WILL be the best match-up of the series. Gasol will want to take Lewis down low, while Lewis will keep Gasol on the perimeter. Whichever one can play their game more, will win. I look for Lewis to have a big series.
EDGE - PUSH
C - Andrew Bynum vs. Dwight Howard
This is also a no contest. As much as I like Bynum, he is nit ready for the quickness and jumping ability of Howard. Howard will be a defensive presense not only against Bynum, but also as a help defender. If he stays out of foul trouble, he will control the boards and the defensive end for Orlando.
EDGE - Howard
Bench - Both benches can produce sparks. Lamar Odom plays starters minutes, as does Mickael Pietrus for Orlando. The X-factor for Orlando is Jameer Nelson. If he plays, and that is a big if, and can contribute at all, Orlando is in good shape. He was the leading scorer for Orlando against the Lakers this year.
EDGE - Magic
With all being said and done, I am picking the Magic to win in 6 games. I have been wrong before, and will be again, but that is what I am going with.
Good Luck, and watch the games.
John Conner aka J-Conn
PG - Derek Fisher vs. Rafer Alston
Both players are veterans that know how to win. They will not beat you with their scoring, but if you leave them open, they will hit the open shot.
EDGE - Fisher. He has shown in the past that he can and will hit the big shot if needed. Plus, he has been in the finals before.
SG - Kobe Bryant vs. Courntey Lee
This is a no contest. Although Bryant will see Mickael Pietrus alot, Kobe will get his points. The difference in this series will be if he can get his teammates involved as well.
EDGE - Bryant
SF - Trevor Ariza vs. Hedo Turkoglu
This is a match-up that Orlando should win. Hedo's scoring is very important in this series. If he averages 15 points a game, and knocks down 3 or 4 threes a game Orlando has an advantage.
EDGE - Turkoglu
PF - Pau Gasol vs. Rashard Lewis
This WILL be the best match-up of the series. Gasol will want to take Lewis down low, while Lewis will keep Gasol on the perimeter. Whichever one can play their game more, will win. I look for Lewis to have a big series.
EDGE - PUSH
C - Andrew Bynum vs. Dwight Howard
This is also a no contest. As much as I like Bynum, he is nit ready for the quickness and jumping ability of Howard. Howard will be a defensive presense not only against Bynum, but also as a help defender. If he stays out of foul trouble, he will control the boards and the defensive end for Orlando.
EDGE - Howard
Bench - Both benches can produce sparks. Lamar Odom plays starters minutes, as does Mickael Pietrus for Orlando. The X-factor for Orlando is Jameer Nelson. If he plays, and that is a big if, and can contribute at all, Orlando is in good shape. He was the leading scorer for Orlando against the Lakers this year.
EDGE - Magic
With all being said and done, I am picking the Magic to win in 6 games. I have been wrong before, and will be again, but that is what I am going with.
Good Luck, and watch the games.
John Conner aka J-Conn
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