Look Who's Contending

During this time every year, the sports world's focus is entirely zoned in on the "March Madness" of the NCAA's college basketball tournament. But under all of the hoops hype, hides the playoff race of the NBA.
Uncharacteristically, this year's playoff picture has actually been somewhat unpredictable. If the regular season ended today, we'd get to see a few teams that have taken the league by surprise as of late. Three teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee Bucks, and Charlotte Bobcats were all picked to finish higher than 20th in the league according to CBSsports.com. One team, the Charlotte Bobcats, would be making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. As for Milwaukee and Oklahoma, the Bucks haven't made the playoff's since '06 and the Thunder haven't been since the 2004-05 season, back when they were still the Supersonics in Seattle.
Regardless of recent history, nobody really saw either of these three teams having any part of the playoff pie. In addition to those three whose future is their own hands, the Memphis Grizzlies are only 3 games out of the final spot in the West which would be their first appearance in the playoffs since 2004 as well. Most people didn't count the Toronto Raptors to be in the hunt either, and they hold the 8th and final slot in the East with only a 2 game lead over Chicago.
Yes, everyone expected the Cav's, Lakers, Nuggets, and Magic to be topping the charts. And yes, in the end, experience most likely will prevail in the first round matchups. Nonetheless, who doesn't root for the underdog? I mean we see upsets in the NCAA tournament every year but we still crave for them. How often does an 8 seed defeat a 1 seed in the NBA? What's even better is that team's who weren't picked to grab a last seed are holding playoff spots in the middle of the conference.
But just because these teams are young and inexperienced, doesn't mean they can't contend. I said a while ago that I think the Bobcats will advance past the first round. Kevin Durant is emerging as a star, and Russell Westbrook is evolving into one of the better point guards in the league. They've won a lot of games in the competitive West, and don't seem to be phased by any of the pressure. You want to be playing your best ball at the end of the season, and the Bucks are like 15-2 since trading for John Salmons at the deadline. PG Brandon Jennings is a rookie-of-year favorite, and Center Andrew Bogut has finally had his breakout season since being picked first overall in the 2005 NBA draft.
Maybe I'm buying into the hype, but this year's playoffs are shaping up nicer than usual. At least we won't see 4 teams with losing records fighting for the scraps of the Eastern Conference. These "eh" teams might not actually be that bad after all.

Captain Kirk to the Rescue

One thing I've always been skeptical of doing when writing sports columns is to constantly rant and rave about my favorite teams or athletes. I try to always talk about something relevant that anyone can relate to like athletes aiding relief in Haiti, steroids in Major League Baseball, etc. This time however I'm going to hit home and talk about my favorite team, because for once in a very long time, they actually are relevant. The Chicago Bulls. My friends always harass me because I obsess over them and their catalyst, utility guard Kirk Hinrich. I think the reason for all the "hate" is because not just Hinrich, but the team itself is plain. There's nothing flashy about their style of play, they're never in the spotlight or topping headlines (with either positive or negative coverage), because they really don't do much to draw any attention to themselves. The only thing different this year than last, is that they finally have a star and a go-to play maker down the stretch in Derrick Rose. And soon, everybody is going to recognize the Bulls again.....to read more, click here

Changing Face of the Point Guard in the NBA

It is truly evident that in the NBA, the game is changing. Old timer's of the game have feared it for years, the kind of game where there is less focus on team and a more run-and -gun style of individual basketball. If you follow the game on any level, you know that everything starts with the point guard. The point guard is the general, the control the balance, and the flow of the game as a whole. The leaders. Now this is by no means saying that the point guards of today don't fit these characteristics, because many of them do. But the fact remains that the style they go about doing it is without a doubt changing. When you think of the traditional point guard, names like John Stockton, Pete Maravich, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Nate Archibald, and the list goes on. Those guys set the standard for what a point guard should be, the orchestrator of the offense. Today?? hmmm. There might be one guy in the league right now who resembles the traditional point guard style of play, and thats Steve Nash. Jason Kidd was definitely one of the best point guards ever to lace up, but his time has passed. Oh I could throw Chris Paul in there too. But that's only two. TWO! The game used to be filled with guys like this. Today, the prototypical point guards are guys like Deron Williams, Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo. It used to be absurd for any point guard not to be able to make a jump shot, even more a free throw. Anyone in my COMM 410 class can probably do both better than Rondo. Now I love Williams and Rose, they're all-stars and the faces of their franchises. But they are the proof that the game is for sure changing. Again I'm not necessarily saying for the worse, well, yea I kind of am I guess. I love the NBA and always will. But is there really a question why the game has continued to drop in popularity since the 90's? The game is different, and people had been used to a much different game for such a long time. And it all starts with the point guard.

Athletes Aid Relief Efforts in Haiti

Professional athletes worldwide are often criticized for the millions of dollars they inherit, and the irresponsible things they do with it. (Like buying weapons and bringing them to unnecessary places for instance.) But not often enough do athletes get credit for the volunteer work and other Samaritan-like deeds they do on a constant basis. To read the remainder of this column, click here

Where the "King" Shall Land His Throne

There might be one good thing that arises from catching the flu; and I don't mean missing class. Besides taking a break from academics, the flu offers you endless hours of watching television, checking Facebook, and glancing at Twitter updates. One thing I noticed that has been in the headlines for a while, but I never paid much attention to, was about Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Lebron James. At the end of the 2009-10 season, the National Basketball Association's (NBA) coined "chosen one" will be a free agent, and be the sole focus for nearly half of the entire league. The entire off-season this summer will be a circus as a matter of fact, where superstar names such as Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, and Dwayne Wade will be under the radar as well.

But the most interesting story to me is Lebron James. He is the only one that seems to be talked about on a daily basis, as if it is understood that all the others will remain the centerpiece for their prospective teams. As much of a critic of the young superstar that I am, I can't deny that he is the future face of the NBA. Lebron's biggest flaw however, is that he doesn't and won't have is what it takes to bring back the NBA to its former heights. He will never be able to do for the game of basketball what people like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, or Magic Johnson did, and it's not all his fault. None of those players I just mentioned had television cameras and news reporters in their faces before they were a high school upper-classman. What those players did have although that the so-called "king" lacks is selflessness.

to read the remainder of my column on Lebron James, click here

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I hate the cold. But I love sports; especially this time of year. That pretty muchsums up the fall season for me as a sports fan. Yes, the time of year when the leaves start changing and the temperature starts dropping just happens to also be the most electrifying period of time in the world of sports. Or at least should be…

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Free Mike Vick......Still

Remember when Mike Vick looked into a reporter's camera and said, "everywhere I go, people are going to love and support Mike Vick?" Remember when the electrifying quarterback was in and out of courtrooms facing dog fighting charges while all of his loyal fans sported "Free Mike Vick" t-shirts? I sure do. Yet still to this day, months after being released from Federal Prison after serving a 1-year sentence, Vick still faces the same speculation and ridicule as the day the breaking news aired on national television. However before I share my viewpoints and opinions on the issue, if you happen to be a PETA (people for ethical treatment of animals) member or one of those fearsome Mike Vick hater because you have an adorable puppy at home, this piece might not be for you.....click here however if it is