The Decade in Sports
Posted by John Paulsen (12/31/2009 @ 5:34 pm)
Posted in: College Basketball, College Football, Fantasy Football, Humor, MLB, NBA, NBA Draft, NFL, NFL Draft, NHL, Soccer, Super Bowl, Tennis, The Olympics
Why can’t Tyreke Evans play small forward?
Posted by John Paulsen (12/31/2009 @ 3:22 pm)
Much has been made of the emergence of Tyreke Evans (22-5-5 in December) and how things are going to work once Kevin Martin comes back from injury. The Kings have three options: 1) try to play Evans at point guard when that’s not his natural position, 2) play Evans at off guard, even though he’s not a pure shooter, or 3) play Evans at small forward, even though he’s undersized.
Evans is great at creating for himself, but he’s not a natural playmaker at the point guard position. Kevin Martin is an underrated scorer and should not be dismissed at off guard. He’s 40%+ from long range and can get to the line at will. He’d be great as a court-spacer/sidekick if the Kings can find a way to play him alongside Evans.
What about small forward? Is Evans really undersized? Looking at the draft measurables, Evans is a tad short for SF (6’5″ in shoes), but his wingspan (6’11″) and standing reach (8’8″) are longer/taller than DeMar DeRozan, Chase Budinger, Gerald Henderson and Terrence Williams, and no one has a problem with the idea of playing any of those guys at small forward. He’s not a prototypical small forward, but the league is getting smaller and he definitely has a swingman-type game.
The downside? Evans won’t have a strength advantage over most small forwards, which is one of the reasons he’s currently so effective getting to the rim. However, he will have a quickness advantage over most taller SFs, so that should help. Another issue is defensively with Evans and Martin, the Kings wouldn’t really have a stopper on the wing.
Oddly enough, the solution would be at point guard. To complement Evans and Martin on the wing, the Kings would need to find a defensive-minded, pass-first point guard who is tall and strong enough to cover the other team’s best perimeter player. And it would help if he was a 40%+ shooter from long range. Think 2006-07 era Kirk Hinrich. He doesn’t need to handle the ball a lot, just get it up the court, initiate the offense, and share the ball on the perimeter.
It could work, right?
Photo from fOTOGLIF
If Nostradamus were in your fantasy football league…
Posted by John Paulsen (12/31/2009 @ 1:10 pm)
 It’s draft day, 2009, and you’ve just arrived at your buddy Phil’s house for your league’s fantasy draft. Fat ass Tank is already there.
Tank: Where’s your guy?
You: Should be here any minute.
Tank: He’s solid?
You: Yeah, I guess. He’s my long-lost uncle. I met him at our family reunion last month. He said if I knew of any fantasy leagues to let him know.
Phil: I can’t believe Ken’s wife forbade him to play the day before the draft. She forbade him.
Tank: Ridiculous.
There’s a knock on the door.
Tank: That’s your guy?
Phil answers the door. It’s your Uncle Nostradamus.
Nostradamus: What up, playas?
Tank: Nice beard.
Phil: Thanks for filling in last minute.
Nostradamus: No worries. Where is everyone?
Tank: We’ve got them on speakerphone.
Nostradamus: Sweet. Let’s do this. What’s my pick?
Phil: Well, Ken – the man with no testicles — had the #1 overall pick, so you get to go first. You know how to play?
Nostradamus: Is this a PPR league?
Phil: Yep. 18 rounds. You’re up.
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AT&T drops Tiger Woods as a sponsor
Posted by Anthony Stalter (12/31/2009 @ 12:09 pm)
AT&T has dropped Tiger Woods like a bad cell phone connection. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
From ESPN.com:
AT&T Inc. said Thursday it would no longer sponsor Tiger Woods, joining Accenture in dropping support for the world’s top golfer, who’s taking a break from the sport to focus on his marriage after his admitted infidelity.
The phone company hasn’t used Woods’ image extensively in advertising, but its logo appeared on his golf bag. That deal had been billed as a “multiyear” agreement when it was signed early in 2009, after Buick ended its endorsement one year early because of its financial woes.
Woods has also been the host of the AT&T National PGA Tour event since it started in 2007. Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said that since Woods is on indefinite leave from professional golf, he will not serve as host for the 2010 event. However, his Tiger Woods Foundation will continue to be the beneficiary of the AT&T National, under a contract that runs through 2014, Votaw said.
The frequency at which sponsors are dropping Woods reminds me of when companies were kicking Michael Vick to the curb once he was indicted on dog-fighting charges. But I wonder whether or not they’ll all come back in a couple of years when he starts winning majors again.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
Edwards guarantees victory for Jets
Posted by Anthony Stalter (12/31/2009 @ 11:08 am)
Braylon Edwards told the media on Thursday that the Jets won’t lose to the Bengals this Sunday at the Meadowlands.
From the New York Post:
“We won’t lose this game,” Edwards boldly declared, standing in front of his locker.
“We want it too bad. I don’t think we can lose this game knowing the way our mindset is. Guys aren’t talking about New Year’s Eve. Guys aren’t talking about family. All guys are talking about is the playoffs. All guys are talking about is beating Cincinnati.
“Were all dialed in. We’re all focused on this week. We know all we have to do is win and we’re in. Guys are very, very serious and are approaching this as a Super Bowl.”
Wow Braylon – why to go out on a limb there. Guaranteeing a win over a Bengals team that has already clinched and might not play its starters is as worthless as guaranteeing a win over the computer while playing Madden on your PS3.
Edwards should try concentrating on catching the ball and leaving the guarantees to Joe Willy Namath.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
Nebraska dominates Arizona in Holiday Bowl
Posted by Anthony Stalter (12/31/2009 @ 9:42 am)
When I woke up this morning and read the headline: “Suh, Nebraska stop Arizona in Holiday Bowl,” I couldn’t help but chuckle a little.
Stop? Stop doesn’t even begin to describe what the Cornhuskers did to the Wildcats on Wednesday night. Stop is something you do when you’ve had too much to eat. Completely shutting someone down to the point of feeling sorry for them is what Nebraska accomplished against Arizona in their 33-0 Holiday Bowl victory. The game was over for Arizona after the coin flip.
The Cornhuskers held the Wildcats to 109 total yards of offense and only 46 passing yards. They also limited Arizona to 3-of-15 on third down conversions, picked off Nick Foles on the third play of the game and held the Wildcats to a messily 63 rushing yards. It was by far the most impressive performance any team this bowl season.
I was a little worried that AP College Football Player of the Year and Heisman finalist Ndamukong Suh was going to come up short in the expectations that were bestowed upon him coming into the game, but he lived up to the hype. He only had three tackles (one for loss), but he was all over the field and exhibited outstanding size and strength.
The Cornhuskers have a bright future under Bo Pelini and even though Suh is on his way out, Nebraska’s defense is loaded with playmakers. Their offense is still a concern (although they looked good last night), but Pelini feels as though his defense matches that of Alabama and Florida. And after their performance last night, it’s hard to argue with him. I realize they weren’t playing an offensive juggernaut in Arizona, but limiting any team to 109 total yards is unbelievably impressive.
911 call reveals Meyer suffered severe chest pains
Posted by Anthony Stalter (12/31/2009 @ 8:39 am)
Urban Meyer’s chest pains apparently started well before Florida’s loss to Alabama in the SEC title game.
From SI.com:
Meyer’s wife told an Alachua County dispatcher that her 45-year-old husband had a pulse but wasn’t talking when she contacted emergency officials at 4:27 a.m. on Dec. 6, hours after the Gators returned home from their 32-13 loss to Alabama.
“My husband’s having chest pains,” Shelley Meyer said. “He’s having chest pains, he just woke up in the middle of the night and said he’s having chest pains.”
Shelley Meyer said her husband had taken a sleeping pill that night and had suffered chest pains before. She repeatedly tried to rouse Meyer, who was lying on his stomach on the floor.
“Urban, Urban, talk to me,” she says.
Initial reports indicated that the Florida coach checked into a Gainesville hospital, where he was treated for dehydration and released. Shelley Meyer told dispatchers that her husband was breathing and appeared to be grunting.
“He almost sounds like he’s kind of trying to cry,” she said.
It’s no wonder Meyer wants to take some time off. These college coaches work non-stop year round and I’m surprised we don’t hear about more of them having health issues. I’m sure Meyer is getting a ton of pressure on the home front to hang it up for a while, which is why he first stated that he was leaving the program.
We may never know the impact, but it’ll be interesting to see how Meyer’s health situation affects recruiting. Florida will recruit well no matter what, but will some prospects go elsewhere if there’s no guarantee Meyer will coach them in the fall?
Photo from fOTOGLIF
Posted in: College Football
Tags: Florida alumni, Florida recruits, Headlines, Urban Meyer, Urban Meyer 911 call, Urban Meyer chest pains, Urban Meyer Florida, Urban Meyer health, Urban Meyer health issues, Urban Meyer leave of absence, Urban Meyer leaving, Urban Meyer resigns
Report: Cardinals offer Holliday $100 million
Posted by Anthony Stalter (12/30/2009 @ 6:15 pm)
According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, the Cardinals offered free agent outfielder Matt Holliday over $100 million.
Scott Boras, the agent who represents Holliday, has been doubling back to teams that had previously touched base on the outfielder, citing a possible salary figure of $18 million. Boras is believed to have an offer in excess of $100 million from the Cardinals, and club officials with other teams sense he is shopping that offer.
Outfielder Jason Bay reached agreement on a four-year, guaranteed $66 million contract with the New York Mets, pending a physical. If Holliday were to finalize a six-year or seven-year offer for about $17 million a year with the Cardinals, he would sign for a package in the range of $102 million to $119 million, the largest contract of this offseason.
Earlier this offseason, the Red Sox offered Holliday a five-year, $82.5 million contract, but sources say Boston’s offer was rejected. The Red Sox then used that money to sign veteran right-handed starter John Lackey.
Unless the Yankees want to open up their wallets again, I doubt that Boras and Holliday will see an offer higher than the one the Cardinals offered (that is, if Olney’s report is accurate and St. Louis did offer that amount).
I wonder what Plan B is for the Cardinals if they can’t re-sign Holliday, because no matter what, they need a decent bat to protect Albert Pujols in their lineup. One would think that Holliday will sign with someone soon now that Jason Bay is off the market.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
Posted in: MLB
Tags: 2009 MLB rumors, Cardinals offer to Matt Holliday, Headlines, Matt Holliday, Matt Holliday $100 million offer, Matt Holliday Cardinals rumors, Matt Holliday free agent rumors, Matt Holliday MLB rumors, Matt Holliday rumors, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals offseason moves
Steelers’ Woodley calls out Patriots, Steelers
Posted by Anthony Stalter (12/30/2009 @ 5:04 pm)
Steelers’ linebacker LaMarr Woodley predicted on Wednesday that the Patriots and Bengals will “lay down” this Sunday for their games against the Texans and Jets because they don’t want to play against the Steelers in the playoffs.
From Forbes.com:
“All of them lay down,” Woodley said Wednesday. “No one wants to see Pittsburgh in it. That’s just how it is. Everybody knows we’re a dangerous team once we get into the playoffs, no matter how we played the whole year. Once we get into the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers is a playoff team.”
Well, no one can blame Woodley for trying to get Cincinnati and New England to play their starters.
Pittsburgh has to beat Miami this Sunday and also have the Patriots defeat the Texans and the Bengals to beat the Jets. So in other words, the Steelers will likely be enjoying the playoffs next week like the rest of us: From their couches.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
It’s always sunny in Miami…
Posted by Staff (12/30/2009 @ 4:10 pm)
Well, not always, but it was sunny last Sunday when the Dolphins battled the Texans. Here are a few pics of the Dolphins cheerleaders in action.
More pics after the jump…
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