Month: March 2010 (Page 56 of 59)

      Name change in store for the Bobcats?

      March 2, 2010 /

      Now that Michael Jordan is majority owner, his first order of business might be a name change for the Charlotte Bobcats, per Charlotte.com.

      Too many of you have emailed me with that suggestion not to think it’s an issue to many Charlotteans. You didn’t like Bob Johnson naming the team after himself, and you sure don’t see this as a positive once Johnson is no longer majority owner.

      This wouldn’t be cheap. I spoke with an NBA executive who estimated it would cost the franchise anywhere from $3 million to $10 million to rebrand the team. There are so many signs and logos that would have to be replaced, and any pre-existing merchandise gets deeply discounted or thrown away.

      I didn’t even make the connection between “Bobcats” and “Bob Johnson.” But if that’s the case, Jordan should definitely change the name to something more appropriate.

      How about the Charlotte Airnesses? Or the Charlotte MJs? Better yet — how about the Charlotte Gamblers?

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Cromartie deal off the table between Chargers and Lions?

      March 2, 2010 /

      Lions beat writer Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com reports that a trade between Detroit and San Diego involving cornerback Antonio Cromartie is now unlikely to happen.

      Yesterday, Chargers’ beat writer Kevin Acee reported that Cromartie could be traded to the Lions “soon” and that the 25-year-old cornerback had played his last down in San Diego. But as Kowalski reports, Detroit balked when the Bolts asked for Maurice Morris in return.

      The Lions don’t have an abundance of depth at the running back position and Morris proved to be valuable last year when Kevin Smith tore his ACL and battled shoulder problems. Morris would be Detroit’s every down back if the season started today, so the Lions don’t want to create a bigger hole at running back, even if it would mean acquiring a young corner in the process.

      So where will San Diego turn now? They probably haven’t found any shortage of teams that need a young cornerback, but the problem is that Cromartie carries plenty of baggage. His contract also expires at the end of the year, so the team acquiring him won’t be willing to give up more than a mid round draft pick in case they can’t sign Cromartie to a long-term deal.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      2010 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Catchers

      March 1, 2010 /

      All 2010 Fantasy Articles | 2010 Position Rankings

      If you’re like most guys, you hate shopping. You’ll wait until one of the sleeves is coming off your shirt before you even think about heading to the mall to buy new clothes. And even then, it takes your significant other to say, “Are you seriously going out in public like that?” before you actually turn the keys in the ignition and embark on one of the most annoying days of the year.

      Once you’ve pinpointed where you want to shop, the clearance rack usually calls out to you like that 50-inch plasma at Best Buy. It draws you in and once you’ve selected six shirts for a grand total of $22.50, you’ve completed your clothes shopping for the year.

      Drafting a catcher in fantasy baseball is sort of like when guys go shopping for clothes. Once you finally come to realization that you need them, shopping in the bargain bin (or the clearance rack, or whatever other analogy you prefer) isn’t a bad way to go.

      Unless your opponents fall asleep on Joe Mauer and he drops in your draft, nabbing one of these seven catchers is a good way to fill category voids that were created in earlier rounds. By the end of the year, there probably won’t be a huge gap between one of these catchers and one of the top 3 (Mauer, Brian McCann and Victor Martinez) that your buddy just had to have. (He’s probably the same guy that likes dropping $100 on a new shirt and buys another once the color starts to fade.)

      Matt Wieters, Orioles
      There’s a good chance that you’ll miss out on Wieters because there will be someone in your league that has an infatuation with youngsters that have extreme upside and will take him a round or two early. That’s okay. But if he does happen to fall, grab him because 2010 might wind up being the 23-year-old’s breakout season. After hitting .259 in a little over a month before the All-Star break, Wieters finished his rookie season on a tear while hitting .288 with nine dingers and driving in 43 RBI in 96 games. In September, he hit .362 with three homers and drove in 14 RBI while hitting in the No. 3 spot of Baltimore’s improving lineup. Assuming his success at the end of the 2009 season carries over, Wieters is the one player in this group that is worth taking a round before you’re ready to select a catcher (assuming he’s still available, that is).

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      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Kahn: Rubio is coming to Minnesota

      March 1, 2010 /

      Minnesota GM David Kahn thinks that Ricky Rubio will likely come to Minnesota in a year and a half.

      “We developed a very solid relationship with his representatives, and more importantly, perhaps, his family, this past summer,” he told Abbott. “It wasn’t an issue of him having any concern about Minnesota whatsoever. I think at the end of the day he just felt that him having a couple more years in Europe would be the smart and prudent thing for him to do. He had a lot of input from his Spanish National team members, who all think he can play here, but also thought that a few more years of development would help him. I don’t have any reason not to think that’s true, either.”

      I don’t know if Kahn is just toeing the company line or if he truly believes that Rubio wants to play in Minnesota, but if he really didn’t think he was ready to play in the NBA, why did he put his name into the draft in the first place? Obviously, something happened on draft night (or thereafter) that convinced Rubio that he should stay in Europe. Prior to the draft, it looked like he was a sure bet to play in the NBA this season. The only thing that changed was that he was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Suddenly, he’s signing a two year contract with another team in Europe.

      On paper, Rubio to Minnesota is a nice fit, but when you look at the T-Wolves’ stars — Al Jefferson and Kevin Love — a wide-open offensive attack doesn’t spring to mind. However, they are tied with the Suns for third in overall pace (98.2 possessions per game) so someone is telling these guys to push the ball. I wonder if that’s designed in part to convince Rubio to come to Minnesota.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, NBA Draft, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Rams’ second round pick could be extremely valuable

      March 1, 2010 /

      The SI.com duo of Don Banks and Peter King make a great point about the Rams’ second round pick being the most valuable first pick of a second round in NFL history.

      Here’s why:

      Think about being the Rams: In a very good year for draft prospects, teams will reset their draft boards after the first round, look up and see that one of their top 12 or 14 players is still on the board. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Cal running back Jahvid Best. Texas pass-rusher Sergio Kindle. Idaho guard Mike Iupati. One of the leftover good tackles — maybe Anthony Davis of Rutgers.

      The desperado Rams will need the pick, obviously, because they need players. But some teams will want that pick badly; I’m sure of it. And some team just might pay through the nose to get it. You only have to look at last year to see how this could develop.

      King goes on to write that the Jets paid dearly (a third, fourth and seventh) to move up 11 spots in order to select running back Shonn Greene with the first pick in the third round last year. The Rams hold the first pick in the second round, which is obviously more valuable and thus, should be more sought after.

      As King points out, the Rams would certainly love to hold onto the pick and select a future starter at No. 33. But most teams that have had success in the NFL have done so by moving down in the draft, not up. Assuming they won’t be in love with a prospect at No. 33, the Rams could move down in the second round and pick up multiple selections from a team desperate to move up. After all, St. Louis would still be able to get a good player at some point during the second round.

      This could be an interesting development on the second night of the draft.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL, NFL Draft

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