I know it's early to be talking college football, but well, everyone else is, so I figured, why not?
This won't be my last visit to the subject either. Around early August, expect a conference-by-conference breakdown of teams, bowl picks, and notable players. For today, we'll just be taking a glance at my predicted Top 25, plus some teams who may challenge that order.
2007 College Football Preseason Top 25
1. Southern California Trojans (PAC-10, 1)
2. West Virginia Mountaineers (Big East, 1)
3. Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten, 1)
4. Louisiana State Tigers (SEC, 1)
5. Florida Gators (SEC, 2)
6. Texas Longhorns (Big XII, 1)
7. Virginia Tech Hokies (ACC, 1)
8. Louisville Cardinals (Big East, 2)
9. Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten, 2)
10. Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten, 3)
11. Oklahoma Sooners (Big XII, 2)
12. California-Los Angeles Bruins (PAC-10, 2)
13. Auburn Tigers (SEC, 3)
14. California Golden Bears (PAC-10, 3)
15. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big East, 3)
16. Penn State Nittany Lions (Big Ten, 4)
17. Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big XII, 3)
18. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (WAC, 1)
19. Tennessee Volunteers (SEC, 4)
20. Georgia Bulldogs (SEC, 5)
21. Texas A&M Aggies (Big XII, 4)
22. Arkansas Razorbacks (SEC, 6)
23. Clemson Tigers (ACC, 3)
24. Arizona State Sun Devils (PAC-10, 4)
25. Florida State Seminoles (ACC, 4)
On the Outisde Looking In, For the Moment: Boise State Broncos (WAC, 2), Oregon Ducks (PAC-10, 5), Texas-Christian Horned Frogs (Mountain West, 1), Brigham Young Cougars (Mountain West, 2), Oregon State Beavers (PAC-10, 6)
I love baseball season. It's almost as good as football season and the college basketball season. I say almost, because I only start to get enthralled in the baseball season around 2 months in, while I am fixed on football and college basketball from beginning to end.
With this blog still in its virtual infancy, I've decided to start up a couple of traditions that I hope will become long-standing. We'll start with this weekly update of my picks for the All-Star Game. Tomorrow will begin my weekly "Power Poll", for lack of a better name right now. I'm sure I'll figure out something a little less "used", shall I say by the time I post it up.
So, without further delay, my picks for the 2007 MLB All-Star Game. All stats prior to the games played on June 17th.
American League
C- Jorge Posada, NYY (.347 BA/8 HR/41 RBI)
1B- Justin Morneau, MIN (.275 BA/19 HR/51 RBI)
2B- B.J. Upton, TB (.320 BA/9 HR/.545 SLG)
3B- Alex Rodriguez, NYY (.309 BA/26 HR/70 RBI)
SS- Derek Jeter, NYY (.343 BA/49 R/.421 OBP)
OF- Magglio Ordonez, DET (.367 BA/61 RBI/.653 SLG)
OF- Vladmir Guerrero, LAA (.329 BA/61 RBI/.565 SLG)
OF- Torii Hunter, MIN (.307 BA/54 RBI/.560 SLG)
National League
C-Russell Martin, LAD (.288 BA/7 HR/41 RBI)
1B- Prince Fielder, MIL (.291 BA/24 HR/53 RBI)
2B-Chase Utley, PHI (.314 BA/12 HR/54 RBI)
3B- Miguel Cabrera, FLA (.337 BA/16 HR/51 RBI)
SS- Jose Reyes, NYM (.319 BA/48 R/37 SB)
OF-Matt Holliday, COL (.360 BA/52 RBI/.601 SLG)
OF- Carlos Lee, HOU (..305 BA/55 RBI/.514 SLG)
OF- Ken Griffey Jr., CIN (.288 BA/18 HR/.575 SLG)
LEADING VOTE GETTER, BOTH LEAGUES: Alex Rodriguez, NYY
Well, those are my picks as of right now. Yes, I know, my National League is a joke. And I also know that I picked 3 Yankees for the A.L. squad, despite the fact that I despise the team. Let the debates begin.
Well, we've finally reached the formerly highly entertaining event that is known as the NBA Finals. I'd have to say I'm a little disappointed, but hey, you can't win'em all- or any, in the case of me with the NBA. Even with my disappointment in the worst playoffs I've ever witness (or failed to by the second round, when I stopped watching), I will say that it is has given birth to a new point in NBA, maybe even sports history. You all recall "one of the greatest playoff performances ever" last week, when LeBron James lit up the Pistons and single-handedly carried the Cavaliers on his back. Well, that could finally be the passing of the guard we were looking for since Michael Jordan retired the second time.
Think of everyone that has been dubbed the "Next MJ" since His Airness retired following his sixth title, a monumental victory against the Utah Jazz in six games with Jordan himself putting the exclamation on the sixth game, series, and at that time, his career. After that, many wondered who the "Next MJ" would be. They thought it was Vince Carter, but though he's self-absorbed enough to be like Jordan, he lacks the raw skill and intensity to be considered anywhere close to Jordan in the history of the Association. Some thought Allen Iverson, but he just wasn't the game-changing force that Jordan was. People grabbed onto Kobe Bryant as well, but he's not really liked by anyone at this point, so I think we can all just count that one out. Other names have been tossed about as well, but then a couple years ago, we saw real hope. LeBron James, donning Jordan's #23 entered the league, for the downtrodden Cleveland Cavaliers. We all thought this could've been it. An 18 year old was going to save the NBA, bridge the gap between MJ and the travesty we have watched since his second retirement. Four years later, King James has assumed his throne.
LeBron James, though heralded, is NOT the next Jordan, because that person does not and will not exist. However, he WILL make his name remembered and his story told by those of us who witnessed it, to our children and grandchildren. LeBron is not as good of a defender as Jordan, and he may be slightly behind in the intensity department, but for all the criticisms we all laid upon him, especially after the first two games of the Eastern Finals, I will say this: LeBron is the scariest player I have ever seen.
LeBron's physical presence is that of a linebacker, on the basketball court. He can be a pounding brute under the hoop or a finesse shooter. He can carry a team on his back like not even MJ could. The man can play ball. And he may have just saved the National Basketball Association with his performance last week.
After all of this LeBron hype, I so badly want to pick the Cavaliers to win the NBA Finals, especially since they are facing the San Antonio Spurs, who you should know that I despise by now. However, after plodding through the crowd of cameras surrounding The King, I can see that it just isn't meant to be.. this year. Remember, the guy is only 22. The fact that he single-handedly beat the best Eastern Conference team of the past 5 seasons already proves to me that even if he can't pull it off this year, he'll be back and better than ever next season. He's got that drive now, and it's what will carry him into the record books and our memories.
After all of that, my Finals prediction: San Antonio 4- Cleveland 3.
LeBron makes this series an interesting one and the Cavs miraculously force a Game 7, only to lose to Tim Duncan, who I hate. Let's just hope that I'm not as accurate with this prediction as I was with my Stanley Cup one.
Sooooooo, the Anaheim Ducks are in the Cup. I know, many of you are probably not enthused (funny how I'm talking like anyone actually reads this). I will, however, point out that I PREDICTED that the Ducks would be there. Yes, I know, the Ducks were the odds-on favorite to make the Stanley Cup Finals from the Western Conference, but still, I did predict it, as well as the team they would defeat in the Western Finals.
As for the Eastern Conference- my bad. I totally missed the mark on the Ottawa Senators due to the fact that they have choked every year since I can remember, so i figured "what makes this year any different?" And as far as the Buffalo Sabres are concerned, well, my condolences to anyone in the city of Buffalo who lost a family member to suicide or something like it the night of Game 5. I honestly thought they had it in them to win the Cup this year until I saw the way played against my New York Rangers in the Eastern Semifinals. Now, the Rangers were not a highly-regarded team going into the playoffs. Many even downplayed their sweep of Atlanta in the first round, and virtually wrote them off against the Sabres. The Rangers ended up playing a very good series though, winning two games, coupled with the fact that Buffalo got some extremely lucky breaks, and the last four games were all decided by just one goal. New York could have easily won that series, and it just would've sent the citizens of Buffalo spiraling into depression about 10-12 days earlier.
Now, what have we learned from the Stanley Cup Playoffs thus far?
1. I didn't do half bad picking the outcome of these playoffs at their onset. When posting my original predictions in April, I ended up picking the results of 10 of the 14 series correctly. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
2. You still can't trust the Sabres. (See above)
3. The Ducks are one of the best franchises in the NHL over the last five years, as odd as that may sound. Keep in mind, this team has made the Western Conference Finals for the past two seasons and three of the past four seasons (five years, as we are obviously eliminating the strike year), and the Cup in now two of the past four seasons. They have a bright future, with solid talent and a lack of a goofy logo and nickname (the Ducks winning the Cup is nowhere near as devestating as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, hockey traditionalists!).
4. The Detroit Red Wings continue to disappoint, as a regular season power only, similar to the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs of old, save the three titles since 1997, but not even a berth in the Cup since 2003.
5. The San Jose Sharks are still an enormous disappointment year in and year out, so they own the title of "Biggest Western Conference Choke Artists", but who now owns the title in the East, since the Senators now have a Stanley Cup berth under their belts? The Flyers cannot take that honor since they are in rebuilding mode. The Sabres have only recently returned to prominence, so they don't have consistent years of futility to back this title up. For lack of a better choice, the honor now goes to the New Jersey Devils. Yes, they are a team who has won a Cup in the past five seasons, but remember, that was a seven game contest against the, then-Mighty, Ducks, and the MVP was awarded to J.S. Guigere that year. The Devils have since shown futitly rivaling the Red Wings, even with the best goaltender in the league. They may lose Scott Gomez and Brian Raflaski this offseason though, which could end their current string of regular season success.
6. The Anaheim Ducks WILL WIN THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS. They showed a lot of heart and grit against the Red Wings, especially in Game 4 without Chris Pronger. Ottawa just isn't ready to handle a superior team like the Ducks who have played consistently well all season, and have played the tougher competition of the Western Conference all season as well. Expect a good series, but not necessarily a long one. The MVP will probably go to either Jean-Sebastian Guigere or Pronger.
STANLEY CUP FINALS: Anaheim Ducks over Ottawa Senators (4-1)
Looking back at my post from yesterday, I forgot to mention the fact that I also participate in the most-pointless of all "big days" in sports. My list of the "big days" would include the Super Bowl, NCAA Men's Basketball Final, BCS National Championship Game, Selection Sunday, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup or NBA Playoffs, World Cup Soccer Finals (only every four years, sadly), opening ceremonies at the Olympic Games, and actually somewhere in the middle of those already named, the NFL Draft.
Yes, the NFL Draft. I've watched it since I was seven years old. For some reason the sight of college players holding up a jersey of their respective new team with the number one on it has seemed like an excuse to do nothing on one Saturday every April for the past 12 years. I know, and yes, I agree, it would explain quite a bit.
The 2007 draft was no different than years past, as I sat in my room, and watched for hours on end as the "drama" unfolded. I feel like my team, the New York Giants, had an okay draft. Many experts are handing us grades of "C" on our "draft report cards". I'd say C+, but of course, I'm kind of biased. Still, it wasn't that story that had me talking to anyone who would listen that day. It was the same thing everyone else was chatting it up about, the fact that Brady Quinn dropped as far as he did. Now, I'm not a Brady Quinn fan. I HATE Notre Dame in general, to be completely honest. Not so much their basketball team, which earned some angst this past year because of what they did to my Syracuse Orange, but the football team. Those gold helmets just tick me off everytime I see them. Still, on this day, I felt sorry for him. My Dad and I both felt sorry for him, and my Dad and I were two of his biggest critics for the past four years. To be honest, I still don't think he was as good as advertised. I think he has a great personality, but I just think he, and his football program, are overrated, as evidenced by their collective performances in big games. To close on the Quinn matter, I think he'll be a good quarterback in this league because of the fact that he's playing for his hometown team. Put him in the space between the legacies of Steve McNair and Donovan McNabb when it's all said and done. Not that I can give you an estimate of where that is exactly, but yeah, that sounds like a good place.
As for the rest of the draft, teams seemed to address their needs, and teams without needs (Philadelphia, in particular) drafted in an area where they really DIDN'T need (a team with QBs McNabb, A,J. Feely, and Kelly Holcomb, who have all started in the NFL, draft Kevin Kolb from Houston, a "product of the system" school if I've ever seen one). Even with teams meeting needs, the collective need of making the NFC better was NOT met. To be honest, I can't even name four teams from the conference that could CONTEND for a Super Bowl title, nevermind win one. That being said, my annual (I always do this, but this is the first time it has been in blog form) Post-NFL Draft predictions are as follows:
American Football Conference
East
1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Buffalo Bills
North
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Cleveland Browns
South
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Houston Texans
West
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Denver Broncos
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Oakland Raiders
National Football Conference
East
1. Philadelphia Ealges
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins
North
1. Chicago Bears
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Detroit Lions
South
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Atlanta Falcons
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
West
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. St. Louis Rams
4. Arizona Cardinals
AFC Seeds: New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Jacksonville
NFC Seeds: Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, Dallas, Atlanta
AFC Championship: New England over San Diego
NFC Championship: New Orleans over Philadelphia
SUPER BOWL XLII: New England Patriots over New Orleans Saints
I wish I didn't have to write that, but well, after the offseason the Pats have had, I really can't find any argument as to why they won't win their fourth title in seven years. I can't believe I just said that. I hate the New England Patriots.
YES, i do like the NBA too. Also, just to put this out there; I'm a Dallas Mavericks fan. That's right, the team that won 67 games this season. So, sorry for the bias, but well, with a team this good, it's hard to argue the fact that we're gonna be successful. Let's just hope that the NBA's "second season" is a lot better than the uneventful '06-'07 regular season.
Without further delay, my picks for the 2007 NBA Playoffs::
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
(1) Detroit Pistons over (8) Orlando Magic (4-0)
(2) Cleveland Cavaliers over (7) Washington Wizards (4-0)
(3) Toronto Raptors over (6) New Jersey Nets (4-2)
(5) Chicago Bulls over (4) Miami Heat (4-3)
Western Conference Quarterfinals
(1) Dallas Mavericks over (8) Golden State Warriors (4-2)
(2) Phoenix Suns over (7) Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)
(6) Denver Nuggets over (3) San Antonio Spurs (4-3)
(5) Houston Rockets over (4) Utah Jazz (4-2)
Eastern Conference Semifinals
(1) Detroit Pistons over (5) Chicago Bulls (4-3)
(2) Cleveland Cavaliers over (3) Toronto Raptors (4-2)
Western Conference Semifinals
(1) Dallas Mavericks over (5) Houston Rockets (4-1)
(2) Phoenix Suns over (6) Denver Nuggets (4-2)
Eastern Conference Finals
(1) Detroit Pistons over (2) Cleveland Cavaliers (4-2)
Western Conference Finals
(1) Dallas Mavericks over (2) Phoenix Suns (4-3)
NBA Finals
Dallas Mavericks over Detroit Pistons (4-2)
MVP: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
RECAP: My Mavericks complete their bounce back year after the disappointing loss to Miami in last year's final in 6 games. Detroit will definitely put up a good fight in this series, but in the end, it will be Dallas' DEFENSE that saves them here.
Now, the theme of this blog wasn't supposed to be all sports, but since sports happens to be on my mind a lot, I might as well go with it. With the end of the NHL season yesterday, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, one of the best postseasons in sports, are starting. Now this years field is extremely intriguing, as there really aren't any "cake walks" persay (except maybe the Buffalo-Islanders series), and you could definitely make a case for any of the 16 teams to make a run. That being said, my picks for the 2006-2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
(1) Buffalo Sabres over (8) New York Islanders (4-0)
(2) New Jersey Devils over (7) Tampa Bay Lightning (4-2)
(6) New York Rangers over (3) Altanta Thrashers (4-2)
(5) Pittsburgh Penguins over (4) Ottawa Senators (4-3)
Western Conference Quarterfinals
(1) Detroit Red Wings over (8) Calgary Flames (4-2)
(2) Anaheim Ducks over (7) Minnesota Wild (4-2)
(3) Vancouver Cannucks over (6) Dallas Stars (4-3)
(4) Nashville Predators over (5) San Jose Sharks (4-3)
Eastern Conference Semifinals
(1) Buffalo Sabres over (6) New York Rangers (4-2)
(5) Pittsburgh Penguins over (2) New Jersey Devils (4-3)
Western Conference Semifinals
(1) Detroit Red Wings over (4) Nashville Predators (4-2)
(2) Anaheim Ducks over (3) Vancouver Cannucks (4-2)
Eastern Conference Finals
(1) Buffalo Sabres over (5) Pittsburgh Penguins (4-2)
Western Conference Finals
(2) Anaheim Ducks over (1) Detroit Red Wings (4-3)
Stanley Cup Finals
Buffalo Sabres over Anaheim Ducks (4-2)
Conn Smythe Winner- Ryan Miller, G, Buffalo
A.L. East
1. NY Yankees
2. Boston
3. Toronto
4. Baltimore
5. Tampa Bay
A.L. Central
1. Detroit
2. Cleveland
3. Minnesota
4. Chic. White Sox
5. Kansas City
A.L. West
1. LA Angels
2. Texas
3. Oakland
4. Seattle
WILD CARD: Boston
N.L. East
1. NY Mets
2. Philadelphia
3. Atlanta
4. Florida
5. Washington
N.L. Central
1. Houston
2. St. Louis
3. Chic. Cubs
4. Milwaukee
5. Cincinnati
6. Pittsburgh
N.L. West
1. LA Dodgers
2. Arizona
3. San Francisco
4. San Diego
5. Colorado
WILD CARD: Arizona
DIVISIONALS: NY Yankees over LA Angels, Boston over Detroit
NY Mets over Arizona, LA Dodgers over Houston
CHAMPIONSHIPS: NY Yankees over Boston
NY Mets over LA Dodgers
WORLD SERIES: NY Mets over NY Yankees
REGULAR SEASON AWARDS
MVP- Grady Sizemore, CLE (AL); Lance Berkman, HOU (NL)
CY YOUNG- Johan Santana, MIN (AL); Brandon Webb, ARZ (NL)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR- Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS (AL); Chris Young, ARZ (NL)
MANAGER OF THE YEAR- Eric Wedge, CLE (AL); Bob Melvin, ARZ (NL)
