Maybe this can be the Carolina Panthers new mascot because of their pitiful record...

Are the Falcons the best in the NFC?

On Sunday, November 28th, the Atlanta Falcons proved a point by beating the Green Bay Packers 20-17. With Michael Turner's dominant running game and Matt Ryan's impressive passing game, the Falcons have a lot of talent to go far into these year's playoffs. They seem to seem to be a great team that can make a strong Super Bowl push, along with beating difficult teams (such as the Packers). With Michael Turner's fourth-down TD run in the fourth quarter and Tony Gonzales's controversial receiving TD in the second quarter proves that the Falcons can win close games when needed most. To win games in the NFL, teams need to play big adversity downs in each game which is exactly what the Falcons did. Leading the NFC division, there is no doubt that the Falcons are one of the most elite teams in the NFL and leave fans to ponder about what this team can really achieve when the playoffs arrive. With wins against Green Bay, New Orleans, and Baltimore, it wouldn't surprise me if the Falcons continued to play in January or even February. Although it is important to keep winning and stay atop in the NFC south, I feel the Falcons have a very strong chance of playing deep into the playoffs. This is a team to watch out for, to say the least...

Oden done for the season...again!

Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, the number one overall pick in the 2007 draft, has to undergo micro-fracture surgery on his left knee and will not play this season. Oden has not played since last December when he had to have micro-fracture surgery on his right knee in able to repair a fractured patella. Greg Oden is clearly on the way to becoming an overall BUST in the NBA alongside with the former Portland center Sam Bowie, whom the Blazers chose in front of "his airness" Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft. It was expected that Oden would play this season, but to no surprise once again Oden is sidelined with another injury. Greg will be a restricted free agent summer, and I have a strong feeling the Blazers organization will have no desire to chase after him to stay on the team. As a matter of fact, Portland made it clear that they will not offer Oden a contract extension clearly showing there is no more hope for his career with the Blazers. Back in 2007, everyone was worried about taking Oden early in the draft because of his injured wrist and the amount of foul trouble he would get himself into; But no one realized that he would be plagued with an assortment of season ending surgeries each year of his NBA career. It is evident that Oden's "run" (if you can even call it that) in Portland is finished and must move on to another team, if one is even willing to take him. It never seems to get any better with the Trailblazers as injuries also bring down the team one way or another...

One of my all time favorite NBA marvel pics

So sick....nothing else can be said

Davis not active

Baron Davis looks on from the bench

Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro told the "Los Angeles Times" that guard Baron Davis will be sitting on the sidelines until at least Thanksgiving. The cause of this action is because of swelling in his left knee that has recently been bothering him. The Clippers believe that a week or two will help get Davis back on track to a healthier and more productive season, which is much needed in the Clipper's department. At the moment this is nothing major, but precautions are being taken to ensure that the Clippers may still produce a chance for playoff hopes in the competitive western conference. I still do not know if Baron Davis is one of the pieces to the puzzle Los Angeles has been looking for as he has not shown solid consistent numbers up to date. Only averaging 8.8 points per game and 4.8 assists this season, Davis has not shown strong signs of consistency or excellent play. Hopefully after these next two weeks of rest, he can step up and help lead the Clippers out of their losing slump (overall record of 1-9) and turn things around in LA.

Percy Harvin returns to practice, but is he a liability to have on the team?

          Friday, November 12th, Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings returned to practice as he has suffered severely from migraine headaches this past season. Percy has missed the past two practices due to these painful headaches, and Brad Childress (the Viking's coach) even said they haven't completely cleared. He is even doubtful to play this Sunday against the Bears, which is a detriment to the team as Percy is a vital Wideout to this team. Harvin has also been dealing with a sprained ankle, but is nothing to worry about as the migraines are more of a bigger issue. It always seems that Percy Harvin is always doubtful, or encounters limited reps because of the migraine issues. I do not disagree with the precautions they set on Percy so he does not get any concussions, but I think it may just be time for the Vikings and Harvin to part ways. With the payload he is receiving, and the outcome he is producing on the field, I just feel that the two do not balance out and this waste of money is not needed. Although Percy Harvin is a tremendous talent, he cannot play to his full potential with his migraine issues. The 5 year, $12.05 million dollar contract starting back from the 2009-2010 season would be a respectable deal if Harvin had no uncertain week by week issues. I would believe this uncertainty would be too much to gamble on, but who knows what will happen with the Vikings and Harvin. All we can do is wait and see...

A few more NBA marvel pics

im liking this one..

One of my favorites...probably because the Mavs are my favorite
team


Steve Nash...arguably one of the best point guards in the NBA.

Yao sidelined once again

          As of Wednesday November 10th, Yao Ming has been diagnosed with a sprained left ankle. But for some reason this injury doesn't come as a surprise to me, as it seems Yao is always injured in one way or another. While he was sidelined the entire 09-10 NBA season for surgery on his broken foot, I had a feeling that time frame still was not enough time for a proper rehabilitation. Yao Ming suffered this mild sprain during Wednesday's game against the Wizards which resulted in a 98-91 loss. He had played the first 6 minutes of the game and then never returned to the floor. Although Yao's playing time has been limited due to his fragile foot, I still feel it was too early for him to return to the floor because of another injury possibly occurring (which is just what happened). I believe Rick Adelman, Houston Rockets head coach, should have made Yao sit out at least the first 25 games of the season because he still is not ready to play. After a 15-16 month layoff of no basketball, it is clearly obvious Yao will not be up to par with all of the other NBA players who have been consistently active. I think Adelman made a mistake for playing Yao this early; end of story.

Derrick Rose reveals he has played with turf toe since last season

          Chicago Bull's guard Derrick Rose revealed after practice Tuesday that he has been dealing with turf toe in his left big toe since last season. Rose believes the injury happened some time during last season's playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fortunately for the Bulls, Rose doesn't believe it will cause him to miss any time. The injury apparently hasn't affected Rose this season becasue he's averaging 23.8 points and 9.2 assists, but knows that the injury could become more serious if he doesn't keep an eye on it.

"You can't bend your toe at all," Rose said. "I thought it was jammed, but talking to the trainers, it was turf toe."

Rose knows he will probably be stuck with the injury for the rest of his career.

"It's there forever now," he said with a laugh. "My left big toe, it's there forever now so that's going to be an injury I'm going to have for a long time." 

I honestly believe that this injury is nothing to worry about as of right now, but down the road and further into Derrick Rose's career this may affect his play drastically. If Rose can be cautious and take care of his toe throughout his career, then no Bulls fans should worry. Lets just hope this minor issue does not escalate into something career threatening and possibly destroy this young phenomenal talent.

Wade Phillips Fired

          On Monday November 8th, Wade Phillips career as the Dallas Cowboys head coach ended abruptly. Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones fired Wade Phillips with no hesitation, even though he had declared numerous times that Wade would remain the coach and finish out the season for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones had never fired a coach since he had purchased the team in 1989, and the team's success has only become more difficult for him and he has even apologized to the fans for the embarrassing play the Cowboys have shown. Ever since the Cowboys started 1-2, they had gone in a terrible slump and lost 5 straight to a record of 1-7 with the most recent loss 45-7 to the Green Bay Packers, forcing Jerry Jones to make his decision and fire Phillips. The Cowboys have been outscored 179-107 in this last five game slide and have just performed horribly, but I honestly do not believe it is all due to Wade Phillips.

          I feel the team was slacking due to poor fundamentals and to develop better fundamentals and basics for the game takes time and cannot be transformed in a matter of games, let alone a season. Phillips had an overall record of 34-23 in Dallas and won two NFC titles in the process. He is 83-65 overall as a coach and was awarded with a two-year contract extension but obviously cannot fulfill this time frame anymore as Jerry Jones was the one to pull the plug on Wade Phillips. Even though Jerry Jones had high hopes for the Cowboys this season, and even believed they were to be the first team to participate in their own stadium for the Super Bowl, (which is ridiculous) this year as well as many other in the past have not gone as planned finally resulting in consequences suffered by Phillips. I honestly do not believe it was time for Wade Philips to leave the "Big D", but five consecutive losses placed the Cowboys into this situation where Jerry Jones was forced to do something he didn't want to- fire the coach.

Boozer takes another step

          Last Wednesday morning Carlos Boozer, new member of the Chicago Bulls, had his cast and pins removed from his fractured right hand and participated in practice on Sunday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It is a positive sign that Boozer is practicing with the team, but he practiced with non-contact and is still in the rehab process.  Although this seems like great news, Boozer is still not 100% healthy to return to the starting lineup as he has a return date around late November or early December. But once Boozer returns to the floor, I feel he and Derrick Rose will tear up opposing teams with their duo and implement pick-and-roll sets similar to how Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire used to execute in Phoenix. When Boozer is completely healthy and cleared to play, the Bulls will truly have a chance to compete in the East. With the Bulls original roster and a healthy Carlos Boozer, I have no doubts the Bulls will make the playoffs and be within the top five teams in the East; I guarantee it.

Eagles Defeat Colts in Vick's Return

          After a month off due to an injury to his rib cartilage for Philadelphia Eagles' Michael Vick, he made an impressive return topping off the Indianapolis Colts to a final score of 26-24. Vick had thrown for 218 yards and one TD, along with 74 rushing yards and a rushing TD leading the Eagles to a gratifying win. The Eagles had not beaten Manning in the previous three matchups, and felt with all of the immense preparation they devoted, it was time for a W. Desean Jackson's return from a concussion on October 17th also helped lift the Eagles to victory, as he had 109 receiving yards and one TD. Vick had seemed he had returned to his normal self completing 17 of 29 passes, and scrambled out of the pocket for some vital first downs, helping the Eagles become victorious. With 40 seconds left in the 4th quarter, football on the Indy 26 yard line,  and the football in Peyton's hands, it seemed like a Colt victory would be possible, but not this Sunday. Asante Samuel had sealed the deal with his second interception of the game and helped create a winning record of 5-3 (the same as the Colts). It was an impressive sight at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, giving the Eagles fans something to cheer about and create some more hope for the future this season. Vick may be the answer for the Eagles after all...

John Wall Injured?

          Saturday night October 30th, while the Wizards played the Atlanta Hawks, the number one overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft John Wall sprained his right ankle. As a precaution, Wall wore a walking boot on Monday and missed practice, but Wizards head coach Flip Saunders believes he will play tonight, Tuesday November 2nd, against the Philadelphia 76ers. This is not something the Wizards fans should worry too much about, but hope John Wall's ankle does not worsen throughout the season, because it seems he is the biggest asset to this team already averaging 21 points and 9 assists through his first two NBA games. Gilbert Arenas is still injured and does not seem to be coming back on the floor anytime soon, adding more pressure on the rookie John Wall to meet his expectations and hopefully beyond, leading the Wizards to a winning record; Something they have not seen for a long time.

Marvel always comes up with clever ideas..

It May Finally be a Time of Change for Melo

It may be time for Carmelo to move on...

          Carmelo Anthony confirmed after the Nugget's season-opening win Wednesday night, against the Jazz, that he still does not plan on signing the contract extension that is worth 65 million dollars. It is obvious that it is not about the money, but the goal every NBA player strives for; a championship. People may speculate and believe Carmelo will stay with the Nuggets and be a faithful player for the organization and the fans, but it seems obvious he has other plans. The extension has been on the table for months, yet nothing has been done on Melo's end creating some major worry the Nuggets. Carmelo has mentioned that his desire to change teams is not because of the new GM, the team president, or the players, but he honestly feels it is just time for him to head in a different direction. The New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, as well as the Chicago Bulls all seem to be teams Melo is considering and will only be a matter of time before he makes his final move. On ESPN radio, Carmelo mentioned that he always wants to keep his options open, and still taking his time to see what his future will entail. If Anthony stays with the Nuggets for the 2010-2011 season, he would be the main option in the 2011 free-agent class hands down. In the meantime, Carmelo Anthony is still a Denver Nugget and has until the February deadline to see which options are available if he plans to change teams this season. Regardless the situation, it will be interesting to see what Carmelo's final decision is and if he will finally win his first NBA championship.

The Blake Show

          When the number one pick in the 2009 draft finally had his debut Wednesday night on ESPN, Blake Griffin was nothing short of impressive. His first career basket was quite a spectacle to watch, as Blake threw down a one-handed alley-oop from a pass from Randy Foye. It was Blake Griffin's play early in the game that got the stadium buzzing, and well worth the cheers. After his sweet alley-oop, he had a layup along with a put-back slam dunk after a missed Ryan Gomes jumpshot. Not only did he do this, but Griffin also scored off a tip-in layup after his two previous misses in a row. Blake's presence on the glass is extremely impressive, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Clippers fan's truly have something to cheer about, as this year-late rookie has added a spark to the Los Angeles squad and gives them a positive outlook for the future. It will still take time for Griffin to develop and grow as an NBA player, but at the moment his first NBA game was outstanding.
          But regardless, the Clippers still are the Clippers and executed poorly in the four quarter with a five minute scoreless drought that led the Portland Trailblazers to pull away with a solid lead. Blake Griffin did not get many touches in the second half, but I believe that this all comes with time and experience and will eventually lead to isolation plays specifically aimed at dominating the inside. Even though the Clippers lost to the Blazers 98-88, fans still have hope because of the highly talented Blake Griffin. Blake's final numbers were 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists obtaining a double-double easily. If Baron Davis can become an efficient player like he was in 2007, then the Clippers have a chance to contend for the playoff race. But as of right now, it is easily seen that the Clippers have something special and want to build off that. Long story short; Last night Blake Griffin put on a "Blake Show".

Blake Griffin's first points of his NBA career was an amazing
one-handed alley-oop.

Old Glory...makes sense because Spurs are of one the oldest
teams in the league. Haha. This picture is a shoutout to Sally Wang


pretty clever



Definitely one of my favorites as well...

World Series Preview SPECIAL POST! (Shoutout to Ben Shcolnik for writing this article)

Which exciting team can win it all this season? With both teams including an
excellent pitching squad, and Texas with an offense that is on fire, who will
step up to the plate and get the job done?

          This is a World Series matchup that no one could have predicted back in March. Because of that, this makes this World Series much more exciting to watch and attracts many more viewers across the nation. Neither of these two teams have been a regular in the postseason recently so it creates a matchup of two underdogs in a sense. I personally can't wait to see how this series pans out, it should be a very competitive and dramatic one. The Rangers are a powerful hitting team while the Giants have the dominant pitching staff. And with Tim Lincecum going toe to toe with Cliff Lee (3-0, 34 K, 0.75 ERA), it is going to be a great start to this World Series. I look to see Nelson Cruz (batting .375, 5 HR, 8 RBI) and Ian Kinsler (.342, 3 HR, 9 RBI) continue their hot hitting and Cliff Lee dominate game one to give the Rangers a 1-0 series lead. I also look forward to seeing how youngsters Elvis Andrus of the Rangers and Buster Posey of the Giants respond to the big stage as they can make a big name for themselves.

Thought this was a pretty cool pic...what do you think this new NBA season entails??

First Night of NBA, Nothing Short of Entertaining

Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics

Lebron James was the only Heat player to show up, shooting
10-for -21 from the field and putting up a solid 31 points.

Tuesday night, the highly anticipated newest threat in the NBA the Miami Heat, faced the old veteran Boston Celtics trio in Boston. As Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh entered the arena, they were surrounded with chants of "overrated" and loud boos, which just may have the been the perfect term to describe the Heat's play that night. The Miami Heat almost seemed out of sync the first quarter, only being held to 9 points to a Celtic's 16, and ultimately down by 15 points, 30-45 at Halftime. It truly was surprising to see how poorly the Heat shot from the field in the first half; 11 of 41 (a weak 26.8 percent) opposed to Boston shooting a solid 17 - for - 38 (44 percent). While the Heat faced a difficult first half, they did seem to finally connect as a team more in the third and fourth quarter cutting the deficit to 6 heading into the final twelve minutes.
          Lebron James seemed to be the only dominant force for the Heat Tuesday night, as Dwayne Wade only accumulated 13 points on 4- for -16 shooting and Bosh only producing 8 points and 8 rebounds. It makes people believe that because of the minor injury (strained right hamstring) Wade had faced during the pre-season showed Tuesday night. Only playing three minutes overall in the pre season, Dwayne Wade seemed out of sync shooting wise and just did not seem to "flow" well, leading LBJ alone to carry the team. Although Lebron had 8 turnovers throughout the entire game compared 7 times total by the four other starters on the floor, he was the most productive on the floor by far with fifteen of his points in the third quarter to even keep the Heat close in the game and give them a chance. As entertaining these three all-stars may seem, the Miami Heat look more productive when the trio are not all on the floor together. The men in this trio are not yet accustomed to the other threats available on the team, and still need to get comfortable and try to find their role or style of play as a whole. As Lebron James quoted after the game, "It's a feel-out process." Although the Heat fell to the Celtics 88-80, I am not too worried about this new squad as I am confident they will continue to play better as a team and dominate the East.

Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trailblazers

Although Steve Nash may still be one of the best point guards
in the NBA, he cannot carry the entire Phoenix squad and
expect to keep a solid winning record.

          Brandon Roy and his Trailblazers saw it was necessary that it was time for revenge against the Phoenix Suns, as they fell to them last season in the first round of the playoffs in six games. The first three quarters of the game seemed to be fairly productive for both teams, but more of an edge to the Suns as they carried the lead 81-75 into the fourth quarter. Up to this point, Steve Nash and Jason Richardson were the only Suns players producing, which ultimately led to the first loss of the season. With 26 points total from Nash and Richardson's 22, they were nearly the only players with points in double digits (besides power forward Hakim Warrick's 10) and just couldn't get enough help from the other teammates in the front court. These players such as Grant Hill (4 points in 26 minutes), Hedo Turkoglu (6 points in 27 minutes), and Robin Lopez (5 points in 25 minutes) combined a total of 15 points compared to recently traded Amare Stoudemire's 23.1 points per game last season. If these players as well as the rest of the Phoenix squad do not provide more points and fill the scoring gap of missing Amare Stoudemire, the Suns may be in trouble. It still is the beginning of a new season, so this is not something too severe to worry about, but changes need to be made and players need to start creating more scoring opportunities.

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
          It was an emotional night as the Los Angeles Lakers held a touching ceremony for their season opener as each player accepted their NBA championship ring, and celebrated their 16th championship by hanging the golden banner up in the Staples Center. The back-to-back champions sure needed every ounce of emotion they had to win this game Tuesday night against the fast and high-scoring Houston Rockets. The Lakers seemed to be fighting all night long as the Rockets held the lead for the majority of the game until the fourth quarter. The two teams traded the lead four times within the final minute the game and the final score wasn't ultimately decided until the final buzzer. While down by 11 points at half, the Lakers outscored the Rockets 61-48 in the second half and received their third straight season-opening win. Although Yao Ming had returned and played his first game since April 15 2009, and racked up 9 points and 11 rebounds it was not enough to stop the final surge of Kobe Bryant and his team.

The Los Angeles Lakers reveal their sixteenth NBA championship
banner at the season opener before they faced the Houston Rockets.

          With the new addition of Steve Blake and his helpful clutch back-to-back 3 point baskets to help trim the Rocket lead, along with the obvious scoring support of Pau Gasol and Shannon Brown, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to reel in the W. Even though the game was a battle till the end, the Lakers had the will and heart to finish when needed most and played as a team to start off 1-0 for the new 2010-2011 season. The defensive stance during the final seconds sealed the victory for the Lakers, as Lamar Odom blocked  Houston guard Aaron Brook's attempted reverse layup ending the game. Tuesday, October 26th, was the start of the NBA season and was definitely entertaining to say the least.

Any thoughts?

Some more sweet Marvel NBA preview pics...

Bound to happen sooner than later..


innovative idea for this team. I like it


One of my favorites...I feel it represents the Blazers well with all
the injuries they always seem to face during the season.


Loving this one as well...

Is it Time for Tarvaris Jackson to Rise?

          It was reported recently that 41 year old Brett Favre has two fractures in his left ankle and is in a walking boot. Although Brett has not had a stellar season by any means, it is still a very unfortunate injury that may hold the Minnesota Vikings back from contending in the NFC. At the moment the Vikings are faced with a poor record of 2-4 placing them second to last in their division (the NFC North). It still is uncertain whether Favre will play next sunday against the Patriots, especially because of his high tolerance of pain and competitiveness like we all have witnessed at least once throughout his career.

Will Favre miss the game next Sunday against the Patriots and give Jackson
a chance to redeem himself?

          But Tarvaris says he is ready to play, reassuring his confidence by telling reporters Monday, "This is the best I've ever felt. Hopefully it will translate to the field, but this is the best I've ever felt since I've been in the league." It will be interesting, hands down, to see if Jackson will stop Favre's 314 consecutive starts (including playoffs) in the league and pull out a W against the highly talented Patriots. It is hard to tell whether Favre will sit on the sidelines next Sunday, but regardless of the situation, next week will be a challenge and truly is a much needed W to get back into the playoff race and not fall far behind in the first half of the season. It is hard to believe that a quarterback can improve significantly by just watching on the sidelines, but this Sunday it just may be the resurgence of Tarvaris Jackson...

Thought this was a pretty cool picture of the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat especially because the season opener is tonight...you don't want to miss this game.

Who do you think will win the season opener? The Celtics trio or the new
and highly anticipated Heat trio?

sweet picture thanks to espn...with a few touches of my own

With Tony Romo Injured, are the Cowboys no More?

With a broken left collarbone, Romo and the Cowboys hope
 seems to have run out completely.

Monday night, October 25th 2010, all hopeful outlooks for the Dallas Cowboys remainder of the season were crushed. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, faced a broken collarbone in the beginning of the second quarter with 12:07 remaining. Number 59 Michael Boley, the weakside blitzing linebacker during this specific play rushed straight through the offensive line and flattened Tony Romo immediately after he completed his pass to his favorite target, Miles Austin. All the immense pressure landing on Romo's collarbone has caused panic throughout Dallas, as this injury will keep him sidelined for the next 8-10 weeks and almost no chance to contend for the playoffs, let alone the NFC East division title. Before the injury, everything seemed to have been going the Cowboy's way with a 10-7 lead and the football driving down the field. Tony Romo had finished 5-7 for 39 yards and a single TD, but obviously was not enough to lift the Cowboys to a victory.
          Once he had walked off the field with the collarbone injury, the opposing team, the New York Giants, went on a 31-10 scoring tear to take a comfortable 38-20 lead heading into the four quarter. Jon Kitna took over for Romo following the injury, but it was obvious that he did not hold the same poise Romo contains, eventually leading to a 41-35 and falling to a rough record of 1-5. Kitna finished the game 16-33, 187 yards, and 2 TD's but still makes you wonder only how far can he take the Cowboys as a contending team? Not far at all I believe. With the doubts about Tony Romo as a starting quarterback, it will be interesting to see how poorly the Cowboys will perform with Kitna in his place. With this season gone haywire, it seems the Cowboys are ultimately done for the season and makes fans and haters alike wonder, are the Dallas Cowboys no more? Can they ever make it back to the dominant and consistent team they used to be?

here are some NBA preview photos created by Marvel...so siickk....more are to come.

A very exciting and impressive trio. Wonder how legit they will be
as an entire basketball squad...?


Not too much hope for the Pistons.


I wonder if Blake Griffin will live up to the hype and truly act like
a HULK on the basketball court..


courtesy of espn.com insider

Lebron James and his new Nike commercial....Im loving this....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2AmRZgokVA 

Stay tuned for some sickkk photo posts within the next couple of days...

Shoutout to Quickdraw Mcgraw for Contributing his Power Rankings

1.     NEW YORK JETS (5-1)- I am completely sold on the Jets. The Jets are backing up the hype Rex Ryan made for his team back in August.

2.     PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-1)- This team was very impressive even without Ben Roethlisberger back. Now, with Big Ben back, this team has the makings of a juggernaut—a relentless defense mixed with a now high-powered offense.

3.     BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-2)- It was a close-call last game with the historically bad Buffalo Bills. But this team is good, much like the Jets and the Steelers, this team has a dominating defense with an excellent offense.

4.     TENNESSEE TITANS (5-2)- The Titans’ defense has showed up this year, mix that with the rushing attack of CJ and Ringer and this team could possibly be a super-bowl contender.

5.     NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (5-1)- The Patriots are a team that have been a bit off the radar for a team that has only lost one game. All I can say is they still have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick this guarantees them to be super-bowl contenders.

6.     ATLANTA FALCONS (5-2)- The best NFC team so far in a league dominated by the AFC are the Falcons who are very, very solid on both sides of the ball.

7.     NEW YORK GIANTS (4-2)- This team has a relentless pass-rush, and the emergence of a high-powered running attack with Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs has me sold.

8.     HOUSTON TEXANS (4-2)- This team has some issues—especially the loss of Pro-Bowl linebacker Demeco Ryans. Their pass defense is also suspect. But this team has a high-octane offense that is able to drop points on every opponent they play.

9.     KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-2)- Even though the Chiefs do not have the most impressive wins, they should have won at Houston and they did keep it very close with the Peyton Manning and Co. at Lucas Oil Stadium. In my opinion, the Chiefs not only have the makings of a contender to win their division, but also, this team is built to make a deep play-off run having a number-one rushing attack in the league with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones and a 5^th ranked rushing defense—this team is legit.

10. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-2)- This team has regressed a bit since last year—but last time I checked they still have Peyton Manning.

11. CHICAGO BEARS (4-3)- I don’t think this team has lived up to their potential yet—if Jay Cutler can cut the costly interceptions this team will be golden.

12. PHILADELPHIS EAGLES (4-3)- This team should have a top-ranked offense from here on out since Andy Reid made Mike Vick the starter again. If Vick can stay healthy, this offense will be scary.

13. WASHINGTON REDSKINS (4-3)- The Redskins still have question marks. But this team finally has a franchise-quarterback in Donovan McNabb. Which, in my opinion, is what has been holding this team back for years.

14. MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-3)- This team has had a very tough schedule thus far, and are a good team. And, they most certainly would be 4-2 right now if it wasn’t for the terrible call against Pittsburgh.

15.  GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-3)- Injuries have killed this team. Regardless, they are still well into the NFC North race, and will be till the end.

16. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-2)- This team has had an easy schedule and play in a very weak NFC west division, regardless, they still are finding ways to win.

17. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-3)- They need to find out why they are losing games they should easily be winning. Losing to the Cleveland Browns at home is absolutely unacceptable for the Saints.

18. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-2)- Yes, they do have four wins thus far—but I am not sold on this team. They have been blown-out by every opponent with a winning record.

19. ST. LOUIS RAMS (3-4)- This is a young team who is astronomically better than last year. Watch for them to be contenders next year.

20. CINCINATTI BENGALS (2-4)- They have all the parts to be a great team, but still are not producing. Too bad they have to face the Ravens and Steelers twice.

21. OAKLAND RAIDERS (3-4)- You never know what you are going to get with the Raiders this year. But after seeing their showing last Sunday, this team could be scary.

22. ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-3)- They have a lot of question marks—but I like their young QB Max Hall reminds me of a young Kurt Warner.

23. CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-5)- Hey, they did just beat the defending champs in their backyard. They also have their most promising QB prospect in years. They have kept all of their losses close, but still haven’t produced many Ws.

24. SAN DIEGO CHRAGERS (2-5)- This team confuses me extremely. Number one in scoring and number one yardage allowed. Yet only two wins. What is going on?

25. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-4)- Much like the Chargers, the talent on this team does not reflect their record. They just can’t find ways to win in close games.

26. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-4)- This team puts up a fight—I’ll give them that. Maybe Bauman should be the starting quarterback.

27. DALLAS COWBOYS (1-5)- Just like the two teams ahead of them, they have all the talent in the world but haven’t found a way to use their ridiculous talent. Wade Phillips is probably one of the worst coaches in NFL history.

28. DETRIOT LIONS (1-5)- They have something going for them, but still same-old pitiful Lions.

29. DENVER BRONCOS (2-5)- This team is awful. I think it is fair to say that if you get beat by the Oakland Raiders by 45 pts. at home you do not fair well in the NFL. I think some college teams could have walked into Mile High last Sunday and gotten a W the way the Broncos played.

30. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-6)- Mike Singletary is an awful coach. The 49ers should be better, but they struggle immensely thanks to Mike.

31. CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-5)- Hey at least they finally got a win, but this team is still really, really bad.

32. BUFFALO BILLS (0-6)- Give them credit for putting up a fight with the Ravens. But this is still a historically bad team that I could see going 0-16.

Pistons Seem to Continue to Roll downhill

          For years, the Pistons have been one of the NBA's proudest franchises accompanied with fantastic playoff success and loyal and zealous fans. But recently, this team has been in all types of adjustments with on-court issues as well as off-court such as the search for the new owner. Ever since Bill Davidson left the franchise, it seems the Pistons are in disarray and cannot seem to do anything productive. The rumors of leaving economically challenged michigan have diminished, but the franchise still needs a new owner and the process has not been smooth, to say the least. It is said that former Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, is close to closing a deal with the purchase of the Pistons. Not only does this prolonging issue cause worry for the fans, but the team is not spectacular by any means and have not shown any significant signs of improvement and are not in the position to improve any time soon. The Detroit Pistons have fallen downhill ever since the beginning of the 2008-2009 season with a 39-43 record overall. Although this record is satisfactory for the teams in the eastern conference, this was ultimately the sign of the Pistons declining as a superior franchise.

Is Gilbert Arenas Fading Away?

Maybe it is time for a change in Washington...no more
Arenas?

          With the 2010-2011 NBA season only days away, Gilbert Arenas is injured once again and may miss the Washington Wizards' season opener. Gilbert sat out practice for the second day in a row and has seen a significant buildup of fluid in his ankle which he had sprained during training camp, along with a strained right groin. Not only have these injuries plagued the Wizards with another possible struggling season, but Gilbert also faked a knee injury (who knows why) drawing a fine from the team itself. It seems to me Gilbert Arenas is either always injured and cannot play for the team or involved in conflicts within the team such as the gun incident a few months back. I do not know what it is, but I don't think Agent Zero will be on the Wizards for too much longer and the organization may build off of rookie John Wall's talent and try to build a franchise from the ground up once again. If Arenas and John Wall had the opportunity to play together, it sure would be a sight to see, but who knows if that will ever happen...

NBA Preview...What to expect?

what can we expect for the upcoming
 NBA 2010-2011 season?

          With the 2010-2011 NBA season about to tip off, what can all the eager and loyal fans expect from their team this season? Although some teams such as the Lakers or the Celtics are always assumed to set the standard for the East and West Conference, new teams have risen to the challenge and created a buzz around the NBA. The biggest news across the professional league of basketball pertains to the new and surprising team Miami Heat. With Lebron James (former Cavalier) and Chris Bosh (former Raptor) merging forces with Miami star Dwayne Wade, this season is bound to be one of the most exciting. It is still unknown how the Heat will compete around the league, but it is predicted that they will win around 45 to 50 games; at least. But the lack of the bench players/depth may be an issue as these three superstars cannot possibly play all 48 minutes. Mike Miller, a new addition to the team, has already suffered a severe thumb injury causing the Heat to sign Jerry Stackhouse in his place whose contribution as a player is not the best the league has seen. But with hard work and maybe a lucky free agent signing here or there, the Heat may just have a chance to contend for the title this season.
          Not only are the Heat the talk of the NBA, but the Los Angeles Lakers are on track for a 3 peat if no one can stop their recent dominance the past few seasons. Even though Kobe's knee and increasing age may create some anxiety for all the Laker fans, there truly is nothing to worry about. Now get this, i am not a Lakers fan at all but I need to give them props; they are a legit team and have a very strong chance to make it back to the NBA finals and get a 3peat...I don't like saying that, but that seems like the most likely situation to occur in the West Conference. With two solid additions; Matt Barnes and Steve Blake, the Lakers have no reason to not make to the Western Conference Finals this season.
          Although I believe the Lakers may win the title a third year in row, it wont happen without a tough journey. The Oklahoma City Thunder are an up and coming young team that has tremendous potential, especially with Kevin Durant playing out of his mind. Kevin Durant has finally evolved into a solid and reliable player that just may be the face of the franchise the Thunder have been looking for...this seems like the perfect time for Durant's breakout season to show that he is a great and consistent player. This is the first time the Thunder have real expectations and have a chance of playing deep in the playoffs; past the first round unlike last year.

Who will steal the Title this year? Possibilities are nearly endless...but only one team can come out on top.

          The Dallas Mavericks sure have had their ups and downs throughout the past few seasons or so...or maybe 10. The Mavs are the only team to have have 10 consecutive 50 win seasons without a single championship. Hopefully the veterans such as Dirk Nowitzki and Kidd can finally get that upper edge on their opponent and make it back to the Finals which they have missed ever since 2004 and Dwayne Wade's comeback. With the Mavericks, you really never know what you are going to get...maybe this is the year they step it up in the playoffs, because that is where they seem to struggle the most.
          The Los Angeles Clippers also pose an interesting team with the return of Blake Griffin after his rookie season ending knee surgery. Is it possible that the beast Griffin will stay consistent and dominant all season? And which Baron Davis will we really see? It is hard to tell but I don't see the Clippers getting more than 35 wins this season...but definitely a team to watch out for in the future.
          With so many teams in the NBA from the West and East conferences, I cant elaborate about them all, but I feel this year will definitely be an interesting season to say the least. With the dominant Lakers aiming for another championship to the new and posing threat Miami Heat, who will bring it home this season? Only time will tell....What are your thoughts?



pictures courtesy of espn.com

Kansas City Chiefs Up and Rising...

Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones provide an ultimate spark
to the Chiefs offensive gameplan.

With over 900 yards rushing this season as a duo, Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones have surprised fans around the NFL with providing the Kansas City Chiefs with the top ranked rushing yards per game. With Thomas Jones averaging 4.7 rpg behind secondary back Jamal Charles extraordinary 6.0 rushing yards per game, the rushing attack can hardly be stopped. Not only has the rushing game improved from previous years, but the Chiefs rushing defense has improved dramatically from 31st in the entire league to 5th overall up to the point in the 2010-2011 season. One of the main reasons this team has improved so greatly in such a small matter of time is because of the smart and bold actions head coach Todd Haley had made during the offseason. Two key additions to the Chief's coaching staff were Charlie Weis as Offensive Coordinator and Romeo Crennel as Defensive coordinator. It is obvious they are making an impact on this Kansas City squad because of their coaching abilities and only provide hope from here on out. It is interesting to see just what this Chiefs team can do the rest of this season, as they have already gotten off to a hot 4-2 start leading their division the AFC West and already matching the total number of wins from the previous 2009-2010 season.