A Mediocre Mailbag

No, it's not the questions that are mediocre. In fact, you'll soon see these are some of the most well thought out questions in the history of my blog. The mediocrity comes from the answers. You see, I'm not much of an NBA guy. I follow it a little bit, mostly the Jazz and the postseason (not to be confused with the Jazz in the postseason, because that's not a real frequent occurrence), but I just don't feel as adequate to answer these questions as a lot of other people. In fact, these questions are so well thought out that I actually wondered if J Money, the reader who asked the NBA questions in this mailbag, even needs me. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that he doesn't. Just to illustrate, let me show you just how little I care about the NBA. Below is a list of my top five favorite sports to follow, meaning watch, read about, learn about, and keep up to date on. Keep in mind it would be different if it was my overall favorite sports, including sports I like to play, because basketball would certainly top that list.

Have you ever watched the Little League World Series?
It's actually a ton of fun, and the kids are really good.

1. Baseball - I mean, I even make it a point to watch as much of the Little League World Series as I can every year. This year hasn't been as kind to me in that regard, but top to bottom I love watching and going to baseball games, no matter the age and skill level.
2. Basketball - There is simply nothing more beautiful than the month of March my wife. But second to my wife is the month of March. I lose focus on everything to watch college basketball. But college is really the only level of basketball I consistently follow. Ever since John Stockton retired and Karl Malone sold out and became a Laker, the NBA just hasn't been the same for me. If it weren't for the NBA though, basketball would hands down be my favorite sport.
3. Football - I really do love football, and I definitely enjoy the NFL more than the NBA when it comes to watching professional sports. I definitely don't consider myself an expert on the NFL, but I enjoy it. Bowl Week is a beautiful thing, and with the BCS era coming to a close, the college game is going to get that much more interesting. A few things still need to change, but we're getting closer to the solution.
4. Tennis - Okay, sure. The scoring system was created by a drunk person. And people think it's boring. But as a tennis player, I just love watching these athletes compete and I appreciate the difficulty of the game. During my playing career (which admittedly was nothing special whatsoever) I followed tennis much more religiously, in fact tennis likely would have topped this list. Since the rapid decline of American tennis I have to admit I've fallen off a bit, but I still love watching the Grand Slams.
5. Soccer - I definitely don't follow Major League Soccer here in America, and barely follow the Premiere League in England, but it's an international classic, and when it comes to international competitions, I really get into it. That's especially true of Euro Cup, World Cup, and the Olympics.

But now to the Mailbag. These questions came from my good friend J Money and Prince Michael, and I appreciate the challenge they presented to me. As you will know by the time you've finished reading this, the NBA and the NFL are areas I'm not quite as knowledgeable in. I also appreciate that it gave me something to do at work. And if my boss is reading this, by work I really mean at home.

I enjoy reading your blog and I was wondering if you could look into something for me good sir. Why are you wearing an O's shirt in one picture and a Rockies shirt in another and then displaying them on your Facebook two inches away from each other? -J Money

Tulo has a great bat and a knack for the spectacular.

Simple, really. I'm a die-hard Rockies fan, and nothing can ever change that. But before the Rockies were born in 1993, the same year my family moved to Colorado, I was an Orioles fan living in Maryland. And so, while I will always cheer for the Rockies, even if they're out of the playoff race and the Orioles are still in it and they're playing against each other, like last weekend for example, I'm upset if the O's were to beat the Rox 2-1 in that series.Which they did.

I've lived a lot of places in my life, and as a result I'm actually a fan of a lot of teams. And while I'm in the mood of making lists, here's the order I place all 30 teams in baseball. The top two are completely locked, as are the bottom two, but from day to day they may be some movement in the middle, but I think it's mostly how I feel.

1. Colorado Rockies - I moved to Colorado the year they were formed, when I was three almost four. Pretty crucial time in your life to pick a team, and we went to quite a few games. Those Blake Street Bombers were fun to watch, especially pre-Humidor.
2. Baltimore Orioles - My first team. Cal Ripken Jr. Plus Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a really cool stadium.

   

   Chris Davis has been remarkable to watch for the O's.

3. Washington Nationals - My family moved back to Maryland and sent me a Nats hat. Plus I thought they were going to be really good so I started cheering for them. Kidding, but Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg are fun to watch.
4. St. Louis Cardinals - I used to play for the Cardinals back in Little League, and I really liked Ozzie Smith. I like to think of him as my uncle. We're both Smiths after all.
5. Seattle Mariners - I lived in Washington back in the days of Ken Griffey Jr. (the first time) and A-Rod (when he was cool) and Randy Johnson (who was really only uncool during his two year stint in pinstripes) and Ichiro (who is somehow still relatively cool in pinstripes). And I'm realizing Junior is the only one of those never to play for the Yankees. What a stud. I also lived there when Junior, Pay-Rod, and The Big Unit all left, Ichiro arrived and suddenly the M's were good and won 116 games.
6. Atlanta Braves - When I was a kid I loved the Braves. Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Greg Maddux... They were loaded.
7. Tampa Bay Rays - Something about the Rays is fun to watch. I read an article on Grantland last year that made me realize those guys are just having a blast. That's how professional athletes should be. I mean, they're getting paid to play the game they love. Have fun!
8. Los Angeles Angels - I'll admit it. They made it this high because of Angels in the Outfield. Plus, the Rally Monkey.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks - When the Diamondbacks debuted I got a hat and cheered for them. I don't know why, but I did.
10. Cincinnati Reds - Okay, Dad. I'll put your team in my top ten. I suppose the Big Red Machine was pretty cool back in the day. I'm sad I missed it.
11. Miami Marlins - Back when they were the Florida Marlins they pulled off a huge upset and beat the Yankees in the 2003 World Series. Consequently, I like them.
12. San Francisco Giants - I had a roommate who was the biggest Giants fan in the world. We were roommates when they won the World Series in 2010 and that was actually pretty fun.
13. Philadelphia Phillies - Likewise I had a good friend on my LDS mission who was a die-hard Phillies fan and I was around him when they won the Series in 2008. So since I like him, I'll sort of like the Phillies.
14. Kansas City Royals - I don't know why, but I've never really liked the Royals. But lately they've been growing on me. Their success this year is kind of inspiring. 
15. Chicago Cubs - I'm almost completely indifferent with the Cubs. I mean, Wrigley Field is cool and all, but I really only put them this high because I feel bad for them. I mean, when else are they going to be ranked in the top half?
16. San Diego Padres - I don't particularly like the Padres. But wasn't Tony Gwynn awesome?
17. New York Mets - They're okay I guess.
18. Los Angeles Dodgers - I don't like the Dodgers. But we had season tickets to their Single A affiliate in Washington. Until that team became the Single A affiliate of the Diamondbacks instead.
19. Oakland A's - Moneyball.
20. Houston Astros - Craig Biggio was one of my favorite players of the 1990s. But the Astros have never done anything worth cheering for. And don't even bother to mention that the Rockies haven't either. The Rockies are awesome.
21. Minnesota Twins - I like Little Big League.
22. Toronto Blue Jays - It just dawned on me yesterday how smart it is to have an indoor stadium in Canada.
23. Detroit Tigers - I've cheered for them on rare occasions, but I try not to make it a habit.
24. Pittsburgh Pirates - Sure it's cool to watch them finally have a good season. But I really don't like the Pirates. Though I have no idea why.
25. Texas Rangers - They turned A-Rod into Pay-Rod.
26. Cleveland Indians - The Rockies should have beat the Indians in the 2007 World Series. But instead the Indians had to blow a 3-0 lead against the Red Sox in the ALCS, causing the red-hot Rox to go cold as ice and get swept in their one and only chance at glory.
27. Milwaukee Brewers - Ryan Braun is really starting to tick me off.
28. Chicago White Sox - I think it stems from the big, ugly, tobacco spitting dude on the White Sox in Angels in the Outfield, but I really don't like the White Sox.
29. Boston Red Sox - I only cheer for the Red Sox 18 times a year. That's how many times they play the Yankees, right?
30. New York Yankees - If we were talking about the historic Yankees with players like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle, I would have placed them significantly higher. But we're not. We're talking about the Steinbrenner Yankees. And I hate them with my whole heart.

I named my car CarGo. Seriously.

That was actually a lot harder than I thought. Ask me tomorrow and numbers 8-27 could all be different. A couple things I know for sure: I love the Rockies, I hate the Yankees, and I think the National League is cooler than the American League.

Well, now that I've spent a ton of time answering the question J Money was apparently "kidding" about, I should probably take a crack at his real questions.

All kidding aside, what are your thoughts on this: The Pistons recently traded for Josh Smith making a crowded frontcourt the most crowded frontcourt of all time with him, Andre Drummond, and Greg Monroe. Spacing is going to be terrible especially since Monroe and Smith are essentially the same player offensively (decent inside-out game [emphasis on decent] and great passers for being big men). For starters what are your thoughts on this little experiment of Joe Dumars? -J Money

If it doesn't work it will doubtless be Monroe that leaves.

If we've learned anything from the Lakers the past couple years it's that big men occasionally have a hard time co-existing. Having said that I think this experiment is fine for a couple of different reasons. First, the Pistons are really, really bad and they need to try something. Second, while Monroe and Smith are similar, Smith can stretch the floor more. He's not a great three point shooter, but he's at least a threat from deep.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out though because the Pistons will be putting a ridiculous amount of size on the floor. Smith will need to focus on his perimeter game because there will simply not be enough room for him to come inside with regularity. As all three of these guys do like to play above the rim they will need some major help from the perimeter. The three point shooters will need to step up for Detroit because if defenses can crowd the paint at all this big man experiment will fail.

Second, let's look at the scenario if it doesn't work. In a recent interview with Grantland, Dumars was excited about Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith coming to town and excited about the development of Drummond but seemed indifferent to Monroe, citing his defensive shortcomings. It can probably be assumed that if this fails then Monroe, who will be a free agent next summer, will be allowed to walk. If this is the case, how do you like him with the Wizards?

Here's why I think it would work:

1. DC for some reason beyond me is not attractive to free agents. They do have a solid core of young guys who have a shot of being as high as the six seed in the East this year (if you don't believe me tell me who is going to be better in the East). They are up and coming and will be solid, barring injuries, for at least the entire time John Wall is there. 
2. Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor are coming off the books next season. That's over 21 million available for next season. A big chunk is going to Wall but there is still some left over for another max, or near max, contract if DC entered a bidding war for Monroe. 
3. Though regarded as a defensive liability, DC I believe was ninth defensively in the league. Not great I know, but my point is he has help. Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin are defensively minded backups and working with Nene in the starting lineup will offer some added rim protection. He's no Okafor defensively but is it worth it to sacrifice Okafor's defensive production for Monroe's offensive production?
4. The organization has made it clear that they believe Brad Beal will be a major contributor in the rebuilding process. When his free agency comes up, Nene will be coming off the books so there isn't a worry of him not getting paid because Monroe is there. Also with Monroe, defenses will have to crowd the paint to deal with Monroe, Nene, and the potential of a Wall drive, thus creating tons of space for Beal and Martell Webster to get open looks on the perimeter, or the likes of Otto Porter Jr. for easy mid-range jumpers.

I think it would work, but tell me your thoughts. -J Money

Sounds good to me! See what I mean about well thought out questions?

If Emeka Okafor walks when his contract is up after the 2013-2014 season the Wizards will be in the market for a big man, and Monroe feels like a good fit for all the reasons you outlined. It might be worth it for the Wizards to let Okafor go if they can bring in Monroe, defensive liability or not. Right now there are no legitimate scoring threats in the post and Wall needs someone in the paint to dish to, and a guy like Monroe might be the best player they can attract.

John Wall and the Wizards could really use
a scoring presence in the post.

From Monroe's standpoint it would make sense to go to Washington if for no other reason than he would have more room to operate. Rather than three bigs they would have a true small forward in Otto Porter. The lane won't be as crowded, and if somehow it is you have a legitimate deep threat in Beal to kick the ball to.

Also, I agree with you, the Wizards have a shot at the playoffs if for no other reason than the East is horrendous overall. I mean, the eighth seed had a losing record and the seventh seed barely cleared .500. So the fact that the Wizards have a chance to make the playoffs ought to make Washington a relatively appealing stop for Monroe if this experiment in Detroit fails. If it's a success and the Pistons make the postseason this year, Washington will be harder to sell.

The guard line in Washington, while perhaps not yet elite, is solid. Wall and Beal should make a good combination for years to come and they certainly have the potential to become the amazing backcourt the Wizards are expecting. In order for that to happen though, they need a scoring post presence. Adding a guy like Monroe seems to make a lot of sense from the Washington perspective, and should make sense to Monroe as well.

This wasn't as intelligent an answer as I would have liked, but hopefully it at least sort of answers the questions. I'll study up on the NBA for next time.

Who's going to the Super Bowl this year? People in Denver are going nuts about the Broncos, but they lost Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller is suspended so I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. Still, no one else in the AFC is that good, are they? -Prince Michael

And on go my blue and orange goggles. Be warned, this question is answered with an extreme amount of bias.

I agree with you. With Dumervil gone, Miller out for the first six games, and Champ Bailey getting old Denver isn't going to be unbeatable. Having said that, the rest of the AFC, and the NFL for that matter, doesn't exactly look dangerous. And the offensive side of the ball looks to be pretty good with Peyton Manning now teaming up with Wes Welker.

Manning to Welker. Oh, it's going to be awesome.

Looking at those first six games that Von Miller will be suspended for I think the worst case scenario is that the Broncos make it out 4-2, best case 5-1. Sure the defense will give up some extra yardage and it may cost them, but it's a pretty weak top half of the schedule. The only two games I think Denver may drop, barring any surprise teams, are the first two against the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants. The Giants should be a solid team this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if Denver drops that game. But the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens aren't looking like they'll be as good this year with the loss of Ray Lewis and a few injury concerns. The next four games are against lower tier opponents: Oakland Raider, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

I'm going to bet the Broncos finish around 12-4, give or take one game either direction. They'll win their division and probably meet either New England or Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship. While those are dangerous opponents, I'm going to give the edge to the Broncos.

I think the NFC will come down to Green Bay, Atlanta, and Seattle, and as much as I would love to see the Broncos beat the Packers or Falcons in the Super Bowl again, I think Seattle will be playing Denver on Super Bowl Sunday.

And the Denver Broncos are going to win.

Come on. You had to see that coming.

America's Pastime and the Need for a Hero

Baseball has meant more to this country than any other sport. The game has had its hands in healing and comforting America through a myriad of adversities. It has given hope to countless Americans when they needed it most. In times of war, depression, oppression, and scandal, baseball, either the game itself or a player within the game, has come to the rescue time and again. Over the past century and a half America's Pastime has produced the occasional hero to carry us through the rough times. If history tells us anything it may just be time for another legend to come our way.

Healing a Country Divided

An artist's depiction of baseball in a Civil War camp

The origins of baseball are pretty hazy, but its development is an incredible story. Northeasterners, particularly New Yorkers, became passionate about the game prior to the Civil War. Surprisingly the war caused this new and unknown game to flourish and become a nationwide phenomenon. As morale in the North's camps dwindled, baseball became more and more important. New Yorkers introduced the game to their fellow soldiers and when officers realized it was great for health and morale they wrote to other camps and encouraged baseball to be played by their men. It became such a popular game even the Confederate soldiers who were prisoners in the Union's camps picked it up and played, sometimes among themselves and sometimes against the North. I'll bet those interleague match-ups got pretty interesting.

Following the war the country needed healing in every aspect, and just as it had raised morale during the war, baseball helped to mend a country split in two. The Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first professional team in 1869 and the game soon became a distinct part of America's identity.

WWI and the Black Sox

The United States had been involved in several wars since the Civil War, perhaps most notably the Spanish-American War, but none of those would compare to World War I. Thankfully that war ended in 1918, four years after it began, and it was nowhere near as tragic as the Civil War had been for the US. That being said, it was still a war and the country still needed to be healed.

But baseball, instead of working to heal America, nearly destroyed its trust in the game just a few decades after it began.

Shoeless Joe Jackson of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox

The 1919 Chicago White Sox were one of the best teams ever to play baseball to that point. They were led by Shoeless Joe Jackson and a long list of other stars with virtually no holes in their lineup. They came into the World Series as the heavy favorites over the Cincinnati Reds, but little did the general public know, first baseman "Chick" Gandil had organized a fix. The Sox lost the Series 5-3, but ended up losing so much more. Eventually eight players from that team were found guilty of fixing the Series by betting against themselves and throwing games. Those eight were banned from the game for life. The scandal earned that team a new nickname, the Black Sox, and the integrity of the game had been greatly compromised for the first time.

But I suppose the legacy the Sox left behind isn't all bad. After all, the hero of that era, and the greatest player ever to lift a bat, actually patterned his swing after Shoeless Joe. (And by the way, I still think Jackson was innocent in terms of the fix, but that's a story for another day).

Just when baseball was losing America's trust, and just when baseball needed a hero, America was introduced to the greatest baseball player of all time: Babe Ruth.

Never before or since has there been a player as dominant as the Great Bambino. He was a good pitcher even before he became a legendary hitter. He set records, left curses, built stadiums, called shots, and almost a hundred years later we still consider him the greatest ball player of all time. Baseball fans of that era had a player they could cheer for, and it helped heal the hurt of war and scandal. Babe Ruth was the perfect cure for baseball and for America.

WWII

You want heroes? How about the 500 big league baseball players who left the game to serve our country in World War II? In the same year that saw the last .400 hitter in Ted Williams and one of the most untouchable baseball records in Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak, we also saw players drafted and voluntarily signing up for service in the military.

And it wasn't just backups or role players, there were superstars of the game who left fame and glory to defend America's freedom. Williams and Joltin' Joe both interrupted their legendary careers, as well as other future Hall of Famers such as Bob Feller, who rushed to enlist as soon as he heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Many were critical that baseball was continuing on during the war. Some believed that these able bodied ball players should be serving their country and that baseball should not continue. However, one soldier, Private Clifford Mansfield, was quoted as saying "Baseball is part of the American way of life. Remove it and you remove something from the lives of American citizens, soldiers, and sailors. For the morale of the soldier and the morale of America itself, 'keep 'em playing'."

Baseball helped keep America's spirits high during the war, and the heroes who served our country with honor returned and gave the country even greater cause to cheer for them.

A Hero for Change

Jackie Robinson stole home in Game 1
of the 1955 World Series

But in the aftermath of World War II there was still a significant problem in baseball: it was still a white man's game. There were no black players to be found in the Major Leagues but rather had to play in the Negro Leagues, which did well in their own right with players such as Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, Willie Mays, and of course, Jackie Robinson.

The hero the African American community needed arrived on the big league scene in 1947 and took it by storm. In spite of intense persecution and abuse, Robinson became the Rookie of the Year hitting .297 with 12 home runs and a league leading 29 stolen bases. He went on to have a fantastic career with All Star appearances in six of his ten season. He won the MVP award and batting title in 1949.

More importantly he broke the color barrier that would change the game of baseball forever. Major League Baseball was no longer white, it was on its way to being fully integrated and a true representation of the best America had to offer. It was now truly a national pastime, minorities included.

And by the way, if you haven't seen "42," change that. Now.

The Strike

The 1994 and 1995 Major League Baseball seasons were marred by a player's strike that left baseball fans everywhere frustrated and outraged. The 1994 playoffs and World Series were cancelled, the pinnacle of the worst work stoppage in professional sports history.

Tony Gwynn, Larry Walker, Craig Biggio, and Jeff Bagwell were among the many players who helped heal us in the '90s after we lost a little trust and faith in the game. But in my mind there are two players that really stood above the rest in making the game important to us again, and for two entirely different reasons: Cal Ripken Jr. and Ken Griffey Jr.

Cal Ripken Jr. was known as "Iron Man" for his ability to consistently stay in the lineup. He fought off several injury scares and managed stay in the lineup for 16 consecutive years. Along that road he managed to break one of those unbreakable records: Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,130 consecutive games played.

Ripken rounding the bases after homering in the
fourth inning the day he broke Lou Gehrig's record

Ripken's streak was actually threatened by the strike when owner's were threatening to use replacement players to complete the season. Perhaps recognizing the importance of The Streak to the game of baseball, Orioles owner Peter Angelos made it clear he would rather forfeit the remainder of the season than see Ripken's streak come to an end, and fortunately it never came to that. What made Cal Ripken Jr., and baseball for that matter, special was watching him shatter Lou Gehrig's record. He surpassed the record in 1996, the first complete season after the strike, and finally took himself out of the lineup after 2,632 consecutive games in 1998. Ripken was a Hall of Fame player regardless of The Streak, but this legendary record cemented his legacy and helped ignite baseball passion around the country.

What made Ken Griffey Jr. a hero? Quite simply he was the best baseball player America had seen in a really, really long time. The Kid was the epitome of a five tool ball player. He could throw, field, run, hit, and most of all he could hit with power. He was a 13 time All Star, won a Gold Glove in every year of the 1990s, and earned seven Silver Slugger awards. He is the only three-time winner of the Home Run Derby and hit over 40 home runs on seven different occasions, hitting 56 in 1997 and 1998. Junior finished his career with 630 dingers, good for fourth all time (if you exclude Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez, which I do).

Junior watching one of his many long balls

It amazes me that in spite of all those statistics he only earned one MVP award in his career. Regardless of that he earned enough honors and was so dominant during the '90s he is arguably the greatest player of this generation. With probably the prettiest swing in the history of the game, an incredible amount of talent, and a personality that told us all he was just having fun out there, he was virtually everyone's favorite player of the 1990s. Having a superstar like Griffey made us miss baseball during the player's strike and excited us when it came back. Junior was the kind of hero baseball deserves in every generation.

**********

And now here we are, hopefully on the tail end of the steroid era. Fans are losing a lot of interest in baseball, particularly the younger generation (more women 50 or older watched last year's World Series than men under 50). Part of the problem may be the slower pace of the game or the feeling we get that baseball is stuck in tradition with an unwillingness to change and progress, which has valid arguments on both sides. But one of the largest reasons is that people have lost faith in the players. Sacred records have been broken by cheaters leaving us confused as to who the true home run kings are. Is Roger Maris the single season home run leader with 61, or are juiced up Sammy Sosa (66), Mark McGwire (70), and Barry Bonds (73) all ahead of him in the record books? Does Hammerin' Hank Aaron own the career mark with 755, or is Bonds the Home Run King with 762?

We could use another baseball legend like the
greatest legend of all time: Babe Ruth

Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi, Ryan Braun, Alex Rodriguez... The list goes on and on and on, filled with superstars who violated our trust by using performance enhancing drugs. At first we thought they were legends in the making. Now their names are forever tainted for lying to us and violating the sacredness of baseball. The game has lost a lot of fans, some we have no hope of recovering, but if baseball has any hope of continuing on as the American Pastime we need a Babe Ruth or a Ken Griffey Jr. We need someone to make a run at a sacred and unbreakable record (DiMaggio's hit streak?). We need someone who takes the game by storm. We may even need a whole army of them.

Sure we have Miguel Cabrera, last year's Triple Crown winner, the first since 1967. Sure we have Chris Davis, who hit home runs in the first half of the season at an alarming rate, though he's slowed considerably since the All-Star break. Sure we have Yasiel Puig, who broke onto the big league scene with some major noise back in June.

But none of them are the legend we need. At least not yet.

Maybe he's in the League already, maybe he isn't. But hopefully we find him, or them soon. Who will it be? Cabrera? Davis? Puig? Mike Trout? Bryce Harper? Stephen Strasburg?

We need to step into another golden age of baseball, and we need our heroes to be clean beyond a shadow of a doubt. I don't know what it's going to take, but we need a legendary player, or players, that we can trust. Maybe then our faith in the players and love of the game will be restored. 

Didn't See That Coming

One of my favorite things about my current job is that I spend a decent amount of time every day in the car listening to ESPN radio. I enjoy hearing the breaking news as soon as it happens, but the other day it was a good thing I was alone on a particular stretch of road as I heard some of the most stunning news ever: Brad Stevens had been named the new head coach of the Boston Celtics.

Will Brad Stevens succeed in the NBA? I'll bet so.

I literally started screaming because I was so shocked. I wasn't screaming anything in particular or at anyone specifically, I was just genuinely stunned at the news. My favorite college basketball coach in the country was no longer a college basketball coach.

My logical mind was trying to convince my heart that this is a good thing. It still hasn't worked.

It's just that I never expected something like this. Brad Stevens is everything you'd ever want in a college coach. He teaches and lives by The Butler Way, which I've mentioned before is something I buy into. He's smart. He works hard. He turns overlooked players into superstars. And even though he never said it, we all thought he was going to stay at Butler forever.

Even though I'm shocked and perhaps even a little dismayed at it, I think it's a smart move for both parties. The Celtics are rebuilding, so why spend money on a big name and veteran NBA coach? And it can't hurt Brad Stevens' career to go to the NBA. If he flops, he'll still be a great college coach. But he is incredibly smart so I think he might make it. In fact, I'm betting he will. It'll be a slow start because the Celtics are going to be absolutely awful the next year or two, but that means the expectations are low so it could give him time to adjust.

The biggest question I have is whether or not he will be able to get the respect of Rajon Rondo, who is really the only star left on the roster. Rondo's had some authority problems before, so will he respect a coach who's only a few years older than him and has no NBA experience whatsoever? If he can get Rondo to buy in and get the team to rally around Stevens, Boston's rebuilding will go a little smoother. If not, they just may ship Rondo out somewhere else. They're clearly not afraid of rebuilding and risks.

A Rockin' Suprise - Can It Last?

Troy Tulowitzki and the Colorado Rockies are off to a hot start. Can they sustain it throughout the season?

Statistics, injuries, and observations are all as of the morning of  April 27.

For the time being, the Colorado Rockies are sitting atop the National League West. For a brief moment they even had the best record in baseball. The pitchers have been doing their job and pitching like a somewhat reliable staff, something they've never been. The bats have been on fire, though they've cooled slightly the past few games. And if I had written this last week like I meant to, there would have been no significant injuries to worry about.

In order for the Rockies to succeed this season and make a run at postseason play they need the bats to stay hot, the pitching staff to be consistent and solid, and key players to stay injury free. I apologize for my pessimism, but I have been a Rockies fan for far too long to believe that all of these things are a possibility, especially if the past couple of years are any indication.

Dexter Fowler is hitting with more power
than we are used to seeing.

The Bats Are Hot

Rockies fans are used to this. The Blake Street Bombers are tops in the big leagues in batting average (.279) and slugging percentage (.463) and on base percentage (.344), and second in runs scored (123) . None of this should surprise anyone. Two of the games most dangerous hitters, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki, anchor the Rockies offense, but it doesn't stop there. Most of the lineup -- Dexter Fowler, Josh Rutledge, CarGo, Tulo, Michael Cuddyer, and Wilin Rosario -- are downright dangerous.

The numbers and MLB rankings aren't surprising. What is surprising is who leads the team in some of the offensive categories. Dex is first on the team in slugging percentage (.610) and home runs, with seven dingers through 23 games; his career best is 13 in a season. Cuddy tops the charts with a .325 batting average and .393 on base percentage. Will they stay at the top? I doubt it, but if the Rockies are to be considered postseason contenders by the end of the year they will need to still be impact players and threats to put the ball in play and drive in runs.

Improved Pitching Staff

The Rockies pitchers currently have a 3.90 ERA, and while that is good for only 17th in baseball, it is one of the most promising starts we have seen from the Rox staff for as long as I can recall.

Obviously if the bats don't stay hot, the Rockies have no hope, but if the pitchers can stay healthy and consistent all year long and hover somewhere around a 4.00 ERA collectively, this team could suddenly become very, very good. Pitching has been Colorado's Achilles heel for years and remains a difficult riddle to solve, but prospects are looking up.

Injury Concerns

Injuries are always a concern, but last year they completely derailed the Rockies season. That's not to say the Rox were destined for the playoffs by any means, but it turned into the worst season in Rockies history and was a little demoralizing.

If Jhoulys Chacin and the Rox staff can stay healthy and
consistent, the Rockies could be competitive.

Troy Tulowitzki went down with a groin injury and missed most of the year. Durability is a bit of a question for Tulo as he has only played over 140 games three times in his career. Carlos Gonzalez has only played over 140 games once in his career. As the two best players in the Rockies organization, their health and durability are essential to the Rockies success.

Last season the pitching staff struggled to stay healthy and it seemed as though the entire starting rotation went out with an injury for an extended amount of time. This pitching staff is off to a hot start and cannot afford to see guys out on the DL, but it has already begun with Jhoulys Chacin on the 15-day DL beginning April 20 with a lower back strain. Here's to hoping he recovers quickly and the pitching staff, or any of the rest of the Rockies, suffer any long-term injuries the rest of the year.

If all the key players can stay healthy, the pitching staff stays at least average, and the bats stay hot, this team could make a postseason run. But I've been following Rockies baseball for too long to have full faith in the possibility after just 23 games have been played. Ah, well. Here's to hoping for a baseball miracle!

Ziggy

The story of Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah has been extremely well documented, so I don't want to bore you with the whole story again, but if somehow you missed it take the time and read the full story from Sports Illustrated. And this recent article by ESPN is worth a read and will make you laugh, guaranteed.

And in case you don't want to read all that, here's a recap, which also serves as the general framework of Ziggy's version of The Blindside:

• Ezekiel Ansah, a Ghana native, has dreams of coming to the United States and playing in the NBA.
• He comes to BYU for school and to pursue a basketball career.
• Never making the cut for basketball, he runs track.
• Barely being able to fit in the track lane, he is taken to Coach Mendenhall about playing football.
• After being taught how to put on his pads, he walks onto the football team.
• For the first couple of years, he is a really nice story and fan favorite.
• Suddenly, in the middle of his senior year, he becomes a dominant force on the football field.



Ziggy always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
That's a gift.

• Now he is projected to be a top ten pick in the NFL draft.

I sure wish that would happen for me. Your dreams of playing in the NBA didn't work out? I'm sorry, but here is a nice consolation prize of playing in the NFL!

Somehow he skyrocket from being brand new to the gridiron to a guaranteed first round draft pick. More than that, he has been projected to go as high as second in the draft, and it is suddenly almost unheard of to see him listed outside the top ten.

So what is it about Ziggy that has caused this meteoric rise? I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a football expert. I don't know how to study football film or the intricacies of the game that will make any player great, but especially a defensive end. I'm pretty clueless.

But I have some ideas based on my research and observations, and in spite of my limited knowledge of the game of football, I think I have a pretty good handle on why Ziggy is turning heads.

Freakish Athleticism

If you have watched him play at all, you know Ziggy has some unbelievable physical gifts. The dude is 6'6" and 273 pounds. When I hear that I picture a huge man, but I don't necessarily picture a guy who is pure muscle and scary fast like Ziggy. He's big, strong, fast (4.56 40 time), and can jump (34.5 inch vertical, and a BYU trainer says he's seen him do better). His closing speed surprises people, and that strength of his leads to some pretty big hits, especially evidenced by the research done by ESPN's Sports Science. You can get a feel for that speed and athleticism in the highlight reel from his senior year.

Unlimited Potential

As a result of the unreal amounts of athletic ability he possesses, nobody really knows where his ceiling is. He's only been playing football for a couple of years, and if he continues to improve at the rate he has thus far, he could end up being one of the best. More realistically he'll end up being a productive NFL player who makes it to a Pro Bowl or two before he retires, but with the raw talent he has you just never know.

Jason Pierre-Paul

Born to Haitian immigrants, Jason Pierre-Paul didn't begin playing football until his junior year of high school. Basketball had been his focus until that point. After a couple of years of junior college football, he transferred to South Florida where he had a dominating junior year before bolting to the NFL.

Comparisons to Jason Pierre-Paul are intriguing.

In summary, JPP left his love of basketball to play football where he excelled because of his size, speed, and natural athletic ability. He caught NFL scouts off guard, but went in the first round of the NFL draft. In his first three seasons he hasn't just lived up to expectations, he's exceeded them.

The similarities on and off the field are striking and it seems that NFL execs are ready to see if Ziggy really is the next JPP.

High Level of Intelligence

He's majoring in Actuarial Science. Do I need to say anything more than that?

His football intelligence is growing. He went from being absolutely lost on a football field to being able to play special teams, lineman, and linebacker. Ziggy is learning the nuances of the game at an incredibly fast rate. This quote from Coach Bronco Mendenhall, BYU's head coach, says a lot about Ansah's football IQ:

"Remember that first time on special teams? Fast-forward to our last game of 2012, the Poinsettia Bowl against San Diego State. We were calling a defense that had Ziggy as the screen defender. He popped off the line and drew the block from the tackle. When the tackle released, Ziggy turned, got in his hip pocket and made the play. This was a guy who understood the nuances of the game. He was basically fake rushing, inviting the screen so he could make a play on it. That's where we are no, just a couple dozen games removed from 'Go hit the guy with the ball.'"

Winning MVP honors in the Senior Bowl caused
Ziggy's draft stock to soar. 

He went from "Go hit the guy with the ball" to Senior Bowl MVP and projected top ten draft pick in three seasons, with limited playing time in the first two seasons especially. It takes a lot of intelligence to move up that quickly.

Hard Work

Ezekiel Ansah is a great example of someone who pursues his dreams and never gives up. He came to America and BYU to pursue a career in basketball. He got cut after tryouts, but he came back to try again. He got cut a second time, but still found a way to use his athletic talents. Perhaps he doesn't have a firm grasp on what the NFL is or what his potential is, but he was once pursuing a professional basketball career, so he knows how to chase a dream. If his impressive learning curve on the gridiron is any indication, he's caught hold of the NFL vision and is willing to work hard to make it happen and reach his full potential. And if he ever does reach that potential, he is going to be scary good.

**********

Think about it: he was a walk-on project that had never even seen a football game a mere three years ago. He didn't start a game until part way into his senior year, then he finished the year by winning MVP honors at the Senior Bowl. Now he's generally considered the best defensive end prospect in the draft, a first round lock, and a probably top ten pick.

I think he's worth taking a chance on, don't you?

Ten Shockers of the NCAA Tournament

My dear, sweet wife, who had never filled out a bracket for March Madness prior to this year, nearly accomplished something that I have failed to do my whole life: beat my dad in the family bracket pool.

I finish every year in second place. Every single year. And now, with the latest addition to the family, my wife is pushing me down to third. And she didn't just beat me. She killed me. By ESPN's scoring system she beat me by 330 points, 730-400. That was the first big shocker of this year's tournament. It was the greatest Cinderella story I can remember, and unfortunately ended just like Wichita State's Cinderella run.

No, seriously. Her run ended the exact moment Wichita State's did. Had they held on and won that game, Michigan's win later that night would have given her the win in our family pool.

I'm torn. On the one hand I wanted my wife to win so I could give my dad a hard time. But on the other hand, he could have given me a pretty bad time by reminding me she had just accomplished something I never could. So maybe it's for the best that one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history never happened.

Regardless, I need to warm up my hands for the massage I now owe her.

But this tournament was not void of upsets, Cinderellas, and madness. There was plenty of that to go around. This post will look at the "Shockers" of the tournament, named after that Wichita State Shockers squad with came within two baskets of being the lowest seed to ever reach the National Championship game.

Shocker #2: Florida Gulf Coast

There were only a couple of things that could possibly overshadow Wichita State's run to the Final Four and one of those was a 15 seed making it to the second weekend of the tournament. And the fact that it happened is incredible.

They were fun to watch, weren't they? Just in case you've forgotten just how fun, here is a video with some of their dunks and dances for your enjoyment:

I picked Georgetown do go to the Final Four, but I had no problem celebrating the seventh 15 seed to win an NCAA tournament game. It was historic, and it was entertaining, and it just kept on getting better.

I made sure to catch their second game from start to finish, just in case they made even more history by becoming the first 15 seed to reach the Sweet Sixteen. Not only did they do it, they did it in style. They certainly looked more like a seventh seed than San Diego State did. They played with energy and a whole lot of confidence. They were loose, playing with nothing to lose, and having fun. Teams should take note of their relaxed style of play. It worked wonders and FGCU dominated their way into the Sweet Sixteen and the history books.

I'm not sure if Sherwood Brown or Brett Comer or any of the rest of the guys have NBA futures, but they sure are talented athletes. And congratulations to Coach Andy Enfield being hired as the new head coach at USC.

Shocker #3: The Shockers themselves

Wichita State wasn't as electrifying or fun to watch as FGCU was, and they are a bit of an interesting case for a Cinderella team, but they were seeded ninth and reached the Final Four. It was an impressive run. They spent much of the season ranked, beginning the season with a 19-2 record before a three game losing skid and finishing the season 7-6 in their last 13 games prior to the NCAA tournament.

It was because of that less than stellar stretch that many picked Pitt to win over Wichita State, and even those that picked the Shockers certainly didn't pick them over the top-seeded Zags.

Wichita State came within 5 points of a title game appearance

They grabbed the attention of a lot of people after that win, including NFL quarterback athlete Tim Tebow, who gave them quite a pep talk heading into the Sweet Sixteen. It worked, and they had quite a run. They won in blowout fashion and ground it out in some tight games. And they nearly pulled off an incredible upset that would have helped them become the lowest seed to ever reach the championship game.

They may not have set that record, but they lived up to their name and shocked everyone by reaching the Final Four.

Shocker #4: Oregon's 12 seed

This one was just a tragedy. Perhaps it should even be considered a crime. Oregon was ranked as high as 10th during the season, and still ranked 25th on March 4. Then they proceeded to win the Pac-12 tournament, and what was their reward? A 12 seed!

Unfortunately for Oklahoma State, their first opponent
was a woefully under-seeded Oregon squad.

The Selection Committee should be ashamed of themselves on this one. They robbed a quality Oklahoma State team of the "second" round match-up they had earned by being pitted against a very, very good opponent. It was even unfair to Saint Louis, who should have been playing Oklahoma State or a lesser 12 seed, not a grossly underrated Oregon squad playing with a chip on their collective shoulder.

But bravo to this Oregon Ducks squad. I have expected them to play frustrated and angry at the injustice of their low seed, but instead we watched them respond like they had something to prove. And prove it they did, making a run to the Sweet Sixteen before running into the Louisville buzz saw that nobody could quite keep pace with. But they hung tough even in that game.

In spite of the crimes committed against them, they still created a memorable tournament they should be proud of.

Shocker #5: Mountain West Conference

For some reason, we all thought that the Mountain West was like the Big East. We all thought these teams beat themselves up because they were all really, really good and that one or two of the five teams to break into the Big Dance could make a nice run, with the most likely candidate being New Mexico. But as it turns out, unlike the Big East, this conference was once again lackluster and failed to live up to the hype.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: I still think the Big East as we've known it the past few years, was overrated. But they did make runs and win some national titles, which is significantly more than the Mountain West accomplished this year.)

The Mountain West was 2-5 in the NCAA tournament this year, with the only wins coming against 8th and 10th seeded teams. One of those losses found its way into the history books as San Diego State became the first team to allow a 15 seed to advance to the second weekend, and they did it in style. The ten point result makes it seem like it may have been a relatively close game. It wasn't. They never stood a chance. They got flat-out embarrassed.

Harvard helped expose the mediocrity of the MWC.

If the Mountain West had been such a great conference, you would think that the team that somehow managed to win both the regular season title and conference tournament crown would be able to take down 14th seeded Harvard, right? Nope. And it was such a disappointment it prompted one of their beat writers to call it quits after 33 years following the team.

Now that's a disappointment.

Shocker #6: Harvard

Okay, did anyone honestly see it coming? I don't know of a single person who predicted Harvard to win over New Mexico, and I can't imagine too many people did. Except for maybe Harvard grads. They're probably smart enough to realize the Mountain West was going to fold.

Shocker #7: The "other" 1 seeds

I know that the big buzzword around college basketball this year was "parity," but I still didn't entirely see the collapse of all the non-Louisville one seeds coming. I knew Kansas would pack their bags early, though they actually made it one round farther than I thought they would.

But I had Gonzaga in the Final Four and Indiana was my pick to cut down the nets in Atlanta.

I thought Gonzaga had a relatively weak region, and I thought Indiana was the best overall team in the country. That was kind of disappointing.

Gonzaga went down in the Round of 32, and Indiana and Kansas both lost in the Sweet Sixteen. Parity, parity, parity. And it was still a shock to see all three go home that early.

Shocker #8: Mitch McGary

McGary was a monster
in the tournament.

He only started two games prior to the NCAA tournament. But John Beilein made what turned out to be a genius move by thrusting McGary into a starting role for the Big Dance.

And he thrived on it. He scored in double figures in every game other than the championship. He had three double-doubles, and was one rebound short of a double-double in two other games. Prior to the championship game he averaged 16 points and 11.6 rebounds per game in the tournament. Credit Louisville for holding him to 6 points and 6 boards, because prior to that is was looking like he was absolutely unstoppable.

On a team that had the National Player of the Year in Trey Burke, who would have thought Mitch McGary would be the one to steal the show?

Shocker #9: Kevin Ware's injury

Don't worry. I will not post, or link to, any pictures or videos of Kevin Ware's horrific injury.

Wow. It was rough. My heart goes out to the guy. The only injury that compares is Joe Theismann's career ending leg break. I won't link to that one either.

In all my life I have never seen anything that bad on a basketball court. Sure there is the occasional broken bone, ACL tear, or dislocated shoulder, but nothing like this.

Louisville cut down the nets for Kevin Ware.

But what impressed me most was the response of everyone involved. The team battling in a close game at the time of the injury to blowing it wide open for a 22 point victory in the second half. They didn't fight off the emotion, they used it to their advantage. They went out and made sure they didn't let their teammate down, and it was incredible to watch. They rode that emotion through the title game, overcoming deficits to come out on top.

I was also impressed with Kevin Ware's response. From the moment it happened, saying "I'll be okay, Coach, just win," to his ability to make light of the situation on Letterman's Top Ten. He seems like an impressive kid, and I wish him the best in his recovery and the remainder of his career.

Shocker #10: Louisville Cardinals

In a year where being the top dog meant losing within days of earning a top ranking, the Cardinals took their number one overall seed and did exactly what they were supposed to do with it: they won.

Shocker.

BYU Basketball Season in Review

For those who are extremely loyal followers of this blog, you may remember what I'm about to reference. Seriously though, you'd have to have been here from the beginning. This post literally only got four views.

Last April I made the following statement: "In one of Matt Carlino's remaining three years, BYU will earn [a] trip to the Final Four." I even went so far as to say it would likely come in the 2012-2013 season.

Matt Carlino helped lead BYU to an NIT Final Four appearance. 

Well I nailed it.



Right?

Okay, so it wasn't the Final Four that we dream of reaching, but it was a pretty entertaining run to the NIT semifinals. It also turned out to be a nice ending, and maybe the saving grace, for perhaps what will be viewed as a disappointing year.

But 24 wins in a rebuilding year? Some schools can't even dream of a winning record when they rebuild. So was this year a disappointment? Yes and no. Should BYU have been better? Perhaps. Is it disappointing to see an NIT appearance after six consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament? Absolutely. But this team played a postseason game in April, something that no other Cougar team has ever accomplished.

And it's kind of fitting that BYU made a  trip to Madison Square Garden for the NIT semifinals in the year that saw the 1951 NIT National Championship team honored and retired the jerseys of Mel Hutchins and Roland Minson.

BYU started the season 14-4, losing only to Florida State, NIT finalist Baylor, and NCAA tournament teams Notre Dame and Iowa State.

Then, it appears, one shot changed the course of the entire season.

Haws averaged 21.7 points per game
as a sophomore.

Tyler Haws hit a tough, tie-breaking with 2.5 seconds remaining. The Marriott Center erupted, thinking BYU had won the game. Then Matthew Dellavedova ripped the hearts out of all of Cougar Nation when he hit a running 35-foot three at the buzzer.

If you can stomach it, you can watch the final seconds of that game here.

From that Saint Mary's game through the end of the conference tournament, BYU went 7-7. The Cougars were limping so badly into the postseason I wasn't convinced we'd get an invitation to the NIT, let alone a high enough seed to get some games in the Marriott Center.

But they did. BYU was seeded third and hosted a first round game against Washington, a 90-79 victory, and a second round game against Mercer, a 90-71 win. They then went on the road to completely dismantle Southern Mississippi to reach the NIT semifinals.

It was the first time BYU suffered a double-digit number of losses since Dave Rose took over at head coach, and it was the first time since his inaugural year that BYU failed to reach 25 wins and the NCAA tournament. As disappointing as that is, just take a second to think about that. BYU has reached a postseason tournament and 20+ wins each and every year that Dave Rose has been the coach. Cougar fans are truly blessed.

In spite of that, there is a lingering feeling that this squad didn't live up to its potential. Hopes were high for Brandon Davies, Tyler Haws, and Matt Carlino. Fans were expecting junior college transfers Raul Delgado and Agustin Ambrosino to be instant impact players. Stephen Rogers and Chris Collinsworth weren't supposed to have to call it quits due to nagging injuries. Nate Austin and Anson Winder were supposed to be solid contributors, but they also were troubled by injury. And the list goes on.

Brandon Davies finished his BYU career strong,
averaging 17.7 points and 8 rebounds per game

The "Big Three," - Davies, Haws, and Carlino - had a roller coaster year. That was mostly on Carlino's end, but even Davies had swings where he would go from looking like a first round draft pick to a turnover prone big who forced too much. Carlino again flashed potential, just as he did as a freshman, but he was still prone to try and do to much. However, a lot of credit needs to go to him for several clutch performances and shots this year (against Utah and Pepperdine come to mind quickly). It is also worth noting that his current career average of 4.7 assists per game is tied for the all-time lead in BYU history.

Every BYU fan in the world was excited for the return of Tyler Haws, and even with all the excitement and expectations he still managed to exceed them all. Averaging 21.7 points per game he was the unquestioned go-to guy on this roster. He had only one truly poor performance (1 point at Gonzaga). I don't believe anyone was expecting him to be as good as he actually was.

There were some incredibly memorable moments by the players from this up-and-down year: Josh Sharps's monster dunks, Craig Cusick's put-back to beat Utah State just hours after finding out his father had cancer, Tyler Haws dropping 42 on Virginia Tech, Matt Carlino saving the day against Utah, Brandon Davies faking out two defenders with a fake pass, Brock Zylstra lighting up Southern Mississippi,

There is a lot of talent on this team to excite Cougar fans for the future, including a lot of talent in the recruiting well. But take a minute to think about the run of success the Cougars have had in recent years including this supposed disappointing year, and let's thank our seniors - Brandon Davies, Craig Cusick, and Brock Zylstra - for playing a large role in making it happen.