Predictions for the 2012 NBA Playoffs

A shortened season made basketball a lot more exciting to watch. More games on less nights is what every fan wants to see. It might not have been as fun for NBA players though. Here are my predictions.

Eastern Conference

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers

Prediction- Bulls in 4

Analysis: I think the Bulls and 76ers play very similar styles. They are both strong on the defensive side of the ball. The difference here is talent. The  76ers have depth, but they don’t have a go to player on the offensive side of the ball. If Derrick Rose can play can shake off his injury problems and play at an elite level. This series will be a wrap. The 76ers will keep it close each game, but I just think they don’t have the offense to keep up with the Bulls.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks

Prediction- Heat in 7

Analysis: This is probably the most exciting series in the playoffs. There is so much star power on the court when these two teams go head to head. The Heat pretty much owned the Knicks in the regular season going 3-0 against them. I think the Heat are too good to overcome though. They play solid defense to go along with the big three on offense. Carmelo will need to play at an elite level in order for the Knicks in order to upset the Heat and pull off this series. The Knicks bench will need to step up and outplay the Heat’s bench in order to keep each game close. The Knicks better hope that they can hit the 3-ball from downtown and not run cold.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic

Prediction- Pacers in 5

Analysis: If only the Magic had Dwight Howard. The Pacers might be the most underrated team in the playoffs. They play solid defense and have just enough offense to pull of wins. I think that they are very similar to the 76ers in terms of how they play. They just happened to get lucky with their first round match up. Danny Granger has been hot and cold all season and the Pacers need him to step up in order for the Pacers to go far in the playoffs. A Magic team without Howard, lacks a defensive and offensive presence under the hoop. If Howard was healthy and playing I would pick the Magic to win this series.

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

Prediction- Hawks in 7

Analysis: The Celtics are getting older and their time to win a championship is running out. When Allen, Pierce and Garnett retire the Celtics will be in big trouble. For now, they are a team with a lot of veteran leadership and still can score the ball. Besides Rondo, they still lack speed and athleticism on the defensive and offensive ball. The problem for them is that the Hawks are one of the most athletic teams in the league. Josh Smith is going to have a huge series. He does it all, pair him with Joe Johnson and they are a dangerous combo. The Hawks always make the playoffs, but never really make a push. I think this is the year they finally win a round and advance.

Semi-Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

Prediction- Bulls in 5

Analysis: I think this is where the Hawks will meet their match. They match up well against the Celtics, but I just think the Bulls will figure out how to shut them down. It comes down to defense and that is where the Bulls shine. They will figure out how to match up against Johnson and Smith. The Bulls have a deep bench and that is where they will out produce the Hawks when the starters are off the court. I’ll take defense over the athleticism of the Hawks.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) Indiana Pacers

Prediction- Heat in 5

Analysis: It comes down to talent and the Heat have way too much of that compared to the Pacers. The Pacers don’t have the offensive fire power to compete with the Heat. They will play solid defense against the Heat and limit their scoring, but it’s just too much to overcome. Lebron and company will move on here with not much trouble.

Conference Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat

Prediction- Miami in 7

Analysis: Here it is the match up that fans have been dying to see. It will be interesting how the Heat will match up against the Bulls. It is defense vs. defense here and it is going to be a battle. I want to see who they match up on Derrick Rose because they are going to have to put LeBron or Wade on him. I think that Bosh will need to step up here. The Bulls will try to take away two of the big three and Bosh will need to step up and I think he will. Bosh played will against the Mavericks in the finals last year and he will play well against the Bulls. It’s hard to pick against the Heat and all of their talent. If the Heat can shut down Rose and Deng they can really make it hard for the Bulls to put up points. This will be an amazing series and I see the Heat moving on in a close, hard-fought match up.

Western Conference

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz (8)

Prediction- Spurs in 5

Analysis: Al Jefferson is going to put up points in the middle for the Jazz. He is a beast and no one can stop him. Besides from Al Jefferson I just think that the Spurs are stronger at every position. The Spurs just keep finding a way to win as they get older. I think that Tony Parker has a big series and help the Spurs move on to the next round. The Jazz just don’t have the playoff experience to put up any kind of fight against the Spurs.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks

Prediction- Thunder in 6

Analysis: Kevin Durant and the Thunder get a tough early round match up. That being said, the Thunder are far too talented at every aspect of the game. They have the 6th man of the year on the bench and a MVP candidate in Durant. The Mavericks will defiantly step up in the playoffs, after a not so great regular season. Dirk Nowitzki has not been has former self, but started to round into for as the season came to an end. I think the loss JJ Barea and Tyson Chandler really hurt them and they will see that as they fall short to the Thunder.

(3) L.A Lakers vs. (6) Denver Nuggets

Prediction- Lakers in 5

Analysis: The Lakers have had many negative story lines develop around them as the season went on. They ran very hot and cold this season and there had been times when the locker room has been in disarray. They lose Ron Artest for the first round of the playoffs and that will hurt them. Artest was playing some good ball before getting suspended. The Nuggets have a solid all around team. Lawson, Galo, Harrington can all score the ball. They play fast and will run the Lakers up and down the court. That being said I have four words, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum. Well, it was five fords, but those two will dominate.

(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) L.A Clippers

Prediction- Grizzlies in 6

Analysis: I think a key player in this series will be Zach Randolph. He has been hurt all season and shows flashes of his old self. If he can play at his usual level, paired with Marc Gasol could be dangerous. Rudy Gay will provide balance on both side of the ball. He is one of the most underrated players in the NBA and this kid can ball. The Clippers lack any kind of depth on the bench and that will hurt them big time. Paul and Griffin will put up monster numbers, but I don’t think that it will be enough. I like the Grizzlies to pull off this series here, they are a balanced, deeper team than the Clippers.

Semi-Finals

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Memphis Grizzlies

Prediction- Grizzlies in 7

Analysis: The Grizzlies are a younger version of the Spurs. They have the same kind of style that the Spurs have and I am going to take them to pull off the upset here. Mayo needs to step up off the bench and provide some scoring. He is going need to be a top scoring option, kind of like the Ginobili for the Grizzlies. Kind of put a little humor in that one right there, never mind. The Grizzlies will outlast the Spurs here and they have the younger, quicker players to keep the Spurs off balanced. I am going to take the youth over the experience here.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (3) L.A Lakers

Prediction- Thunder in 7

Analysis: This is going to be a great series. Kobe vs. Durant is going to be like Magic vs. Bird. They can never be as good as that rivalry. I kind of got carried away there, but you get the point. The Thunder are going to need to stop Bynum and I think they will figure out how to. Ibaka and Perkins are good defenders and he will cause Bynum some trouble in the low post. I don’t think that the Lakers can keep up with the Thunder as they try to push the Lakers up and down the court. Derick Fisher will have a surprisingly good series here to get some revenge on the Lakers for letting him go.

Conference Finals

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Memphis Grizzlies

Prediction- Thunder in 6

Analysis: Here are two teams who are going to be a top the Western Conference for years to come. The Thunder and Grizzlies general managers know how draft and build teams. This will be one of many match ups between these two in the future. It is going to be youth vs. youth here and both teams are going to run and gun, maybe the Thunder more than the Grizzles. Here I am going to take the star power. The Grizzles have a lot of team players and not many stars. When you’re in the playoffs you need your stars to step up and Durant and Westbrook will. The Grizzles show that they are making strides, by making it this far in the playoffs, but can’t over come the odds here.

2012 NBA FINALS

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (2) Miami Heat

Prediction- Oklahoma City Thunder in 6

Analysis: Here are my 2012 NBA Finals! Will the Heat finally win their first title or will Durant and Westbrook take home the gold? It is going to be a great series, but I am going to take the Thunder. I see LeBron playing well, but falling short of his expectations like always. The key player in this series is going to be James Harden off the bench. The Heat are going to be outmatched when he is out there against their back ups. Westbrook needs to play smart ball, not throw up unnecessary shots and watch his turnovers. I think the Thunder will be too much to handle for the Heat. Westbrook is very hard to guard and he will cause trouble for Miami’s defense. After this series, the Heat will be hoping for Steve Nash to take his talents to South Beach. The Oklahoma City Thunder win it all!

Update! My predictions were before the Derrick Rose injury!  Rose is out for the playoffs with an ACL injury. Now Iman Shumpert is out for the Knicks as well. Add Amare Stoudemire to the list. The injuries are piling up!

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Round 1

I am going to give my grades for the first round of the 2012 NFL draft! Let’s go!

#1 Colts select: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford  Grade: A+   This is an easy pick for the Colts here. When you give away Peyton Manning you need to make sure you have someone who can fill his shoes. This kid has the potential to do that.

#2 Redskins select: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor Grade: A  RG3 better be as advertised. He has the skill and talent to be a star. The Redskins gave up a lot to get this pick. But if you think RG3 is a future star you give up whatever it takes to get him.

#3 Browns select: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama Grade: B+  The Browns got exactly what they needed here. They needed a play-maker on offensive. They gave up some late picks to get here, but Richardson has Adrian Peterson like potential that you can’t pass up on. The Browns have a lot of needs that they still need to address later in the draft.

#4 Vikings select: Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California Grade: A  Ponder needed protection from his O-line and the Vikings take the best offensive linemen in the country. Helps Ponder and also helps Adrian Peterson. Solid pick here.

#5 Jaguars select: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State Grade: A  The Jaguars move up to take a big time WR. They have had trouble through the air for a number of years. Blackmon will open up the pass game, as well as the run and draw some attention from MJD.

#6 Cowboys select: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU Grade: A  The Cowboys needed secondary help and they really get it here. I am surprised that Claiborne fell this far. He has the skill set to be a top CB in the NFL. Pair him with Carr the Boys’ off-season pick up and now Rob Ryan can blitz as often and as much as he wants to.

#7 Buccaneers select: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama Grade: B+ Many thought that Barron was going to be picked by the Cowboys, but Claiborne slipped to them. As a result the Bucs’ get the best safety on the board, a need that they needed to fill.

#8 Dolphins select: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M Grade: C+   The Dolphins miss out on Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn and have to settle with Tannehill. I think this is a huge risk this early in the draft, but Tannehill has the talent to be good.

#9 Panthers select: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College Grade: A  Kuechly is a tackle machine. Pair that with Jon Beason who is returning off injury and you have a dangerous core of linebackers. Great solid pick, you know what you are going to get with Kuechly. He draws many Brian Urlacher comparisons.

#10 Bills select: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina Grade: B The Bills had a lot of needs to fill and getting the second best corner in the draft fills one of their needs. They have Mario Williams on the inside and Gilmore on the outside balancing out their defensive attack.

#11 Chiefs select: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis Grade: C  Poe is a very risky pick for the Chiefs here. The last big man they took Glen Dorsey still has not met his potential. Poe could follow suit of Dorsey. He is big and quick and has the talent, but tends to be too inconstant even against lower talented college teams in the division.

#12 Eagles select: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State Grade: B- The Eagles move up to grab Cox. He is fills a need for them in the middle and has covers the field from end to end. He is a good big body on the front line that the Eagles needed.

#13 Cardinals select: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame Grade: B+ He is faster than Blackmon and has the same big play ability as him. His problems come off the field and staying out of trouble. The talent is there to become a great wide-out opposite Larry Fitzgerald. Opposing teams better fear this 1-2 combo.

#14 Rams select: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU Grade: B- The Rams needed help on their D-Line and they address it here. Brockers has the talent, but still has not reached his full potential. He is a pick that fills a need.

#15 Seahawks select: Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia Grade: D  This was the most surprising pick of the draft here. They take a 2nd or 3rd round talent here. Irvin is a speedy pass rusher, but that is about all he is. With a lot of other talented pass rushers on the board this pick is a surprise here.

#16 Jets select: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina Grade: B  The Jets needed help on the D-Line and that is what they got. Coples has the size, strength and talent to be great. He is not very consistent and does not have a high motor. Rex Ryan is hoping that he could help Coples reach his full potential and not turn into another Vernon Gholston.

#17 Bengals select: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama Grade: B  Kirkpatrick has the tools to be a solid corner. He was once considered a top talent, but his stock dropped as the draft approached. Pair him with Leon Hall and that helps the Bengals secondary where they needed a lot of help.

#18 Chargers select: Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina Grade: B  Ingram was projected to be in the top 10 and the Chargers get good value here. Some question his size and arm length, but Ingram plays with a high motor and can play almost any position on the field.

#19 Bears select: Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State Grade: B-  The Bears grab a solid linebacker here. They would’ve went DE to add another dynamic pass pusher along side Julius Pepper, but they take the LB. Either way the Bears needed help on defense and they get it.

#20 Titans select: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor Grade: B  Wright gives the Titans the big play receiver that they need. They have a young QB who now has two young WR’s to throw to in Kenny Britt and Kendall Wright. Wright is a home run type receiver that adds another piece to the Titans offense.

#21 Patriots select: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse Grade: A-   The Patriots will take all of the help on defense that they can get. Jones has top 10 type talent and the Patriots trade up to get him here. He is strong and has good vision that will help him at the next level.

#22 Browns select: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State Grade: C+  The 28-year-old has a skill set to be a good NFL QB in the league. He beat RG3 and Luck head to head, but you have to think that his age only gives him about 5-7 years in the league. Take that plus he has to win the QB job and has to produce right away.

#23 Lions select: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa Grade: A  One of the top OL in the draft. He was a projected top 15 pick and the Lions get him here at #23 pick. He fills a much-needed for the Lions and can give Mathew Stafford some time to breathe.

#24 Steelers select: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford Grade: A  When it comes to drafting linemen the Steelers are the best. They take the former lineman for Andrew Luck here. The Steelers always build their teams from the inside out and this pick proves just that.

#25 Patriots select: Dont´a Hightower, ILB, Alabama Grade: C+  The Patriots traded up once again to take Hightower. He really doesn’t have a set position and could be undersized depending where he would lineup on defense. He still has the skill set to produce at the next level.

#26 Texans select: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois Grade: C+  Mercilus had a big 2011 season that really raised his draft stock. He has the athletics and the high motor, but still lacks the technique and finesse you want in a DE.

#27 Bengals select: Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin Grade: B  The Bengals get some help on the offensive line here. Zeitler is a tough, player between the trenches. He has the work ethic and is good against both the run and the pass.

#28 Packers select: Nick Perry, DE, Southern California Grade: C+  Perry is undersized for his position and sometimes get lost among larger tackles. That being said he still is fast and has the quickness you would want in a DE. There were some better option still on the board such as Courtney Upshaw.

#29 Vikings select: Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame Grade: B+  The Vikings get the second best SS in the draft. A big hitter with a big frame. They need a lot of help in the secondary and this was a good pick to fill the void. Smith was the captain on Notre Dame and the Vikings need a captain to step up in their defense.

#30 49ers select: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois Grade: B-  Jenkins has the speed to open up the 49ers offense. He gives the opposing defensive something to worry about other than Frank Gore. Any wide receiver would be an upgrade over what they have now.

#31 Buccaneers select: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State Grade: B+  Martin is a good pick and good compliment to Legarrett Blount. He is tough between the tackles and has the explosivness to still get to the next level. I think this is the 2nd of two solid picks for the Buccaneers in this draft.

#32 Giants select: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech Grade: B  With Brandon Jacobs now with the 49ers the Giants took no time to replace him. They would’ve went many different ways with this pick such as an a linebacker or offensive linemen, but the Giants get another home run hitter to go with Ahmad Bradshaw.

Still America’s Pastime?

As the years come and go things change. Some for the better and some for the worst.

When it comes to sports, players and coaches always come and go. One thing that will never change is the past.

It has always been said that baseball is America’s pastime. The word pastime is a word that means, doing something fun, amusing and it usually something that is done as a hobby.

Many people like to argue that football is the new pastime of America. I will tell you that baseball is still America’s pastime today and it will always be Americas pastime even in the future. Football has only been around about 50 years and is recently becoming popular in the United States. Baseball is a sport that has been around for more than 100 years and was around before people even knew what a football was or who Peyton Manning is.

There are many reasons why baseball will never be replaced as America’s pastime.

The first one is because of the atmosphere of coming to a ball game. When you come to a baseball park you are there to watch a sport that is like a piece of art. The movement and the flow of the game from inning to inning is nothing compared to any other sport. There is no time limit or clock to stop a  baseball game, it can go on for as long as it takes someone to win. There is nothing better than going to the ball park with your family or friends during a sunny, breezy afternoon. When you attend a football game it is in the cold, frigid days of the winter. No one wants to sit outside in the cold, snowing weather to watch a game. Baseball starts right when Spring does and it welcomes the warm weather and fans to the ball park.

The football season is only 16 games long. While a baseball season is 162 games. Let’s say your favorite football team starts off the season 0-7, you know right then and there it will almost be impossible for your team to make the playoffs. All of that money you spent on season tickets are all to waste. When your favorite baseball team starts off 0-7 they will eventually turn their bad luck around. There is no way a team can lose 162 games, well we haven’t seen one yet.  Football tickets are far too overpriced as a result of a 16 game schedule. You can arrive at a baseball game the day of the game and purchase ticket that aren’t too expensive.

Many argue that football is the more exciting sport to watch. I may have to agree with that point, but football is on the same lines of UFC and boxing. Instead of two people fighting it is two teams going back and forth trying to tackle and stop the other team. Baseball is a much more relaxing, family welcoming type of game. When you come to a ball park on a summer night you can sit back, relax and even read the newspaper as you watch the game. Football doesn’t have that same welcoming feel as baseball does when you arrive to the stadium.

Finally, baseball is a much harder game to play than football. Argue this as you may, but trying to hit an 95 mph baseball coming right at you is nearly impossible, not to mention pitches that are sliders and curve balls that move around and make it even harder to hit. Being able to throw and locate a pitch is just as hard as hitting. In football there are certain positions that are so easy to play. It really doesn’t take much talent to be an offensive line man or even a punter. Baseball is a game of finesse and overall skill. These players have to play almost every day during the baseball season, that is no easy task. Football players, granted it is a far more physical sport, have a week off during each game.

It’s hard for a sport to claim that they are the new pastime of America. I don’t think any sport will ever claim that spot. Football maybe the most popular in America now, due to ratings. That still doesn’t make it a America’s pastime. Baseball is and will always remain America’s pastime.

Please No More Reality Television

You turn on the television to find something that is entertaining to watch. Flip to the first channel and it doesn’t look like it is of any interest to you, then on to the next one and then to the next one. Finally, you stop on this new reality television show that catches your eye.

If you start watching, you will see that this show is pretty much what you do on a daily basis. The only difference is that it usually involves celebrities or people claiming that they are normal just like you. For some reason just because it is a celebrity, people can’t change the channel. They must continue watching to find out how these people live on a day-to-day basis and watch the tough life they have rolling around in millions of dollars.

I think the main problem why people waste their time watching reality television is because it is “popular” and it is what everyone is watching. You go to work or to school and for some reason it is what everyone is talking about. I just don’t get it, people spend their time watching how other people live instead of worrying about their own lives.

I came up with a simple formula that makes reality television what it is. It is to act stupid and do things that you normally wouldn’t do. If there is a camera, people will turn into a different person just try to look good and entertain in front of an audience.

There are so many different reality televisions shows from the Jersey Shore to show like Survivor and Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory. These are three totally different shows, but they all have one thing in common. They are all trying to entertain the viewer and keep them interested, so they can make sure the viewer watches the next episode and keep the money coming in.

Do you think that Snookie and the other Jersey Shore members act like stuck up snobby Guidos off camera?

I am sure they still do to some degree, but they are actors. People don’t get it! They still tune in to watch these shows and give up their time to watch how other people live, or claim how they live. These are the same people who complain that they don’t understand how reality television stars make millions of dollars, even though they still tune in every week.

I think that it is time for people to tune out from the television and tune in and worry about their own lives!

Old School Gaming vs. New School Gaming

Many fear change while others embrace it.

When it comes to video games, gamers often want the new system with the high-tech flashy graphics. But that doesn’t always guarantee that it is going to be better than the system you already have.

The way gaming is now is totally different then the way that it use to be. Let’s face it, gaming now is cooler and has changed drastically from the way it use to be. Gamers can now take games on the go, interact with the games themselves and literally put themselves in the game, cool right?

As an old school gamer, I don’t think so. I think that it is getting away from the way games were meant to be played.

When you play a game you want to sit down with your controller and run through a bunch of levels and beat down the boss at the end, it was pretty easy. You don’t want to get up and move your arms around in order to interact with the game, it is too much work. It also never works either, you end up trying to position yourself perfectly and the game never even detects your movements. Sorry Microsoft Kinect, PlayStation Move and Wii, it’s the truth.

The original PlayStation and Super Nintendo got it right. Their games were simple, easy to understand and fun to play. There was no need for a strategy guide or any of that. You go from point A to point B and that is why those games were simple, but still so much fun to play. Mario, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Sonic, Pac-Man and Street Fighter all revolutionized the video game world. That is why these popular titles are still around today. They had the easy, fun concept that gamers loved.

Don’t get me wrong, some of my favorite games that I play today are on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. I think the graphics and the online game-play definitely make gaming so much better. It brings people together, you can play and talk with a friend from halfway across that world, that is amazing! All those feature are cool though, but that is not actual gaming, those are features.

Imagine if the original PlayStation and Nintendo had online play now. It would be awesome, playing the original Mario games on-line with a friend, that would be so much fun, not going to lie.

Think about the time era’s that these systems came out in. I am not surprised that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have the kind of graphics and game-play features that they have now. Imagine if those old school systems had the same kind of technology benefit that we have now, it would be crazy!

Change may be good to some degree, but just remember where it all originated from.

Should College Athletes be Paid?

I play for the love of the game. That is usually the phrase that professional athletes say when are asked, why do they play sports.

Sure, I guess that is one of the reasons why they play. That and also because professional athletes make crazy amounts of money. I am talking millions and close to billions of dollars. From their salaries to off the court and field promotions such as advertisements, appearances and products.

This is when the question comes into play, if professional athletes get paid by their teams, then why don’t college athletes get paid by their schools. I think if you start paying college athletes it will create a lot of controversy.

First off, who would decide how much each athlete gets paid and what amount of money? Do the star players get paid because they are better than the players on the bench? There are so many unanswered questions that need to be answered.

As a sports fan, what makes watching college games so much better than the pros is that these kids are playing hard and are giving their all. They are playing for a chance to make it to the pros and make money. I think that they need to prove themselves on the college levels and show that they deserve to make money at the next level.

If you pay college players now it will hurt them as an athlete and as a person.

It would take away their drive to go out and compete at a high level every single game that they play. They will sit back and collect their money, not caring if they would win or lose. I think that this is a problem with the pros today.

Professional athletes get yelled at by fans because they know that they are slacking off and not caring if their team wins or loses. As a professional athlete, you have an obligation to play to your fullest potential every game no matter what the score is.

I think that the system should stay they way that it is now. Let college players learn hard work and how to play the game to the fullest, let them earn their way to the pros.

Let’s just hope these college players can learn how to play for the love of the game and not love for the money.

Sean Payton and Gregg Williams Need to Go

Breaking the rules is one thing, but when you put other player’s careers and lives in jeopardy, you need to be suspended from the NFL for good.

Gregg Williams was caught red-handed in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. About 27 Saints players were involved in this scandal as well, but Williams was the king pin. Saints players were rewarded $1,000 for carting off a player and were rewarded $1,500 for knocking a player out of the game. As the season went on, the money for each reward increased.

I just don’t get the people who side with Gregg Williams, sure football is a full contact sport and that is why fans fill up the stadiums. They love the big hits and the rush you get when your team’s player knocks down the opposing team’s player. The key word here is knock down, not knock out, there is a huge difference.

Sean Payton deserves the same amount of blame that Gregg Williams does. No one puts any of the blame on Payton.

This scandal in some ways is similar to the Joe Paterno Penn State scandal. Gerry Sandusky was the one who did the act and Joe Paterno was the one who took a good amount of the blame and rightfully so.

This is a similar situation here, Payton obviously knows what is going on in his team’s locker room and he just turns his head the other way to it all. Payton was suspended for the 2012-2013 season like he should-be, but I think that both Payton and Williams need to be suspended for life.

There was recently audio released before the Saints vs. 49ers game in the playoffs.

In this audio, Williams tell his players that he wanted them to literally take out the opposing teams players. During one part of his speech he said, “Affect the head, continue, touch and hit the head.” He was referring to his players to aim and take out the 49ers quarterback Alex Smith by the head. He also told his players to aim and take out wide receiver Michael Crabtree’s ACL.

This is where it goes beyond football and it enters into a whole new level of being vicious.

Sure, you want to fire up your players and give them a good pregame speech, but you don’t tell them to go out and injure other players on purpose.

The NFL already has had many run ins with concussions and that is a major problem going on right now. Players are playing through concussions and are putting there lives at risk, now you have someone like Williams telling his players to go out and hand injure players just to win football games.

Williams and Payton both need to be banned for life.

Commissioner Rodger Goodell needs to show that this is not acceptable in the NFL. If he brings back Payton and Goodell he is showing, what they did was wrong, but it was only a mistake. No, it was not a mistake, think about these athlete’s families and lives after football, try explaining to them that it was only a mistake.

There is no place for people like Payton and Williams in the NFL.

Call of Duty: Black Ops or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3?

I am going to jump into a much debated topic in the video game community. Everyone is open to their opinion, but I am going to give mine. We are talking about two of the biggest games in the Call of Duty franchise, Black Ops and Modern Warfare 3.

Online Gameplay

Black Ops > Modern Warfare 3

This one is a no brainer for me. If you want quick, fast flowing game play you have to give the edge to Black Ops. It is just no comparison, the maps on Black Ops promote players to run and not camp in the corners, even though many still do.

I think that Modern Warfare goes for more of a team approach. They slow down movement and make it more team oriented. In Black Ops, you are able to take over the game by yourself and win for the team single handily. In MW3 you need to stick with the team and chose your spots in order to help your team win, you can’t run and gun like in Black Ops. For a gamer who likes to run around the map and have fun, Black Ops in defiantly better.

Also, another edge is in customization of guns and emblems. In Black Ops, you can create you own custom emblem from scratch and even put it on all of your guns. There is a lot more variety in colors and designs on your guns. Giving the player customization to make what they want, makes any game better.

Graphics

Modern Warfare 3 > Black Ops

MW3 has the edge when it comes to graphics. Some of the scenes that you play in the campaign are well designed and the graphic engine really shines. Black Ops graphics aren’t all that great, they are not bad, but when you are in the next generation of graphics, you need to be top-notch. From the environments to the little details on the guns, MW3 has the edge by a fairly large margin.

Campaign

Black Ops > Modern Warfare 3

The Black Ops campaign had me hooked from the moment I started playing it. Where it succeeds is in changing up the game play and environments and keeping it fresh. As a gamer, I have played many games over the years and many of them get repetitive and really boring, especially in war and shooter type games.

Modern Warfare’s 3 campaign was good because of the story it continued from, back in MW1 and MW2. It was cool to see how a story progressed over time. I have to say the last scene in MW3 was epic, I wish the whole campaign was like that, the night-time, lights and action was perfect. I just have to say that during the middle of the campaign I got bored and started to lose interest in the story, I just wish that they changed up the game play and environments to keep it fresh.

Overall

Black Ops > Modern Warfare 3

Modern Warfare 3 is not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination. It is better than Black Ops in different areas of the game, but overall I think that Black Ops is a better game. If MW3 would adopt some of the features in customization and making their game faster moving, I think they would be right on par with Black Ops. For me, I think Black Ops is the overall better game!

Top 4- Sports Uniforms

When you play a sport it has to be done in style, it is a fact.

After that game winning shot or walk off home run for the win, it better be done looking good. I’m going to take a look at the best looking uniforms in sports today!

NFL – Carolina Panthers

Now that the Panthers finally have a good QB under center, it is time that someone shows their jerseys some respect. The blue and the black combo is pretty awesome. You pair that with a pretty mean looking panther for the logo and I think it looks pretty fresh. I like the complimentary silver touch to it as well.

NHL – Anaheim Ducks

These aren’t the Mighty Ducks from the movie. The Anaheim Ducks go with the black and gold colors. I think anything black and gold, has that swagger to it. That feel like, don’t mess with the ducks or else. I do love the old school white and purple Mighty Ducks uniforms from the movie too. Goldberg could not be messed with in the net rocking the purple.

 

NBA – New York Knicks

These jerseys are classics dating back to the Walt Frazier days. When you see the blue and orange you know that you are facing the Knicks. I just think the history behind the team and colors really make these jerseys what they are. There has been some altercations from the original logo and lettering, but these Knick jerseys are definitely classics.

MLB – Atlanta Braves

The blue, the red and the cool script A for the logo just go together perfect. I like the Braves jerseys because they are simple and not overly flashy. Compared to some of the other overly colorful jerseys in the league, like the Miami Marlins for example. The Braves manage to keep that fresh, clean look.

The Snowy Days vs. Rainy Days Showdown!

It’s a battle for the ages.

It’s a simple question of, would you prefer a rainy day or a snowy day.

Both forces of Mother Nature come down upon on us during different seasons. The debate for which one is better however, is still going on to this day. Well I mean it’s not a huge debate, but I find it pretty interesting when people are always saying how much they hate the rain or how much they hate the snow.

Let’s break it down. Snow is by far, so much more amazing to watch fall. I don’t know who would want to sit there and watch water fall from the sky. I think that snow and the millions of different snowflakes falling from the sky are intriguing to watch. The whole sky filled with white, powdery snow falling down from the sky is so amazing. Rainy days defiantly have the edge when it come sound. There is nothing more relaxing than listening to rain fall, it will put you right to sleep.

Where there is snow, there are lots of snowmen. Nothing is more exciting than waking up, finding out that school is canceled and then running outside to building a snowman. Before college,  in my high school days, I would stay up all night hoping that it would snow so school would be canceled. When I found out that it was finally canceled there was no better feeling in the world! With snow, there is also the whole annoying shoveling afterwards, which can be a pain. Not to mention the slippery sidewalks and snow filled streets, making it hard to drive.

Without rain there would never be snow, so those people who like snow have to be grateful for rain. When it rains, it just gives you the perfect excuse to not leave your house all day. It gives you the chance to sleep late and watch movies and play games. There are always days when you are feeling down and tired. The dark, rainy atmosphere can help you relax and just take your mind off things.

Me personally, I have to go with snow. Watching it fall and building snowmen just take me back to my old, amazing childhood days.

There you have it, the epic battle of snow vs. rain!