Friday, December 30, 2011

Sports Moments that Made my Jaw Drop: a Countdown

In two weeks, I'll be 19 years old. Over that period, I have bore witness to countless sporting events, viewed wither on television, in the stands, or as a player myself. Following most of these occasions, I would change the channel, leave my seat, or walk off the field and forget about the game's goings-on within a few days or weeks.
But there were exceptions; events, either momentary or prolonged, that left a clear and lasting impression on me, even to this day. Below, I have compiled a list of the occurrences in sports that did the best job of boggling my mind over the last 15 or so years (my first sports memory is from when I was four), along with when it happened and where I was at the time. You may read it and notice events that would most certainly be considered snubs if excluded from a countdown of the most memorable sports events of the last two decades (there are no NBA selections, for example, because up until very recently I just hadn't cared enough about it), but that is not what this is. This list is personal. It has as much to do about me as it does about these moments themselves. So please bear that in mind.

Sam Hurd Vs. The Wire and Breaking Bad Pt. 2





You can check out numbers 30-16 here if you haven’t already, but in honor of Sam Hurd here are the top 15 coolest/best drug players from The Wire and Breaking Bad.  Again spoilers all over the place so beware.

#15) Don Eladio, Breaking Bad- Don Eladio really didn’t appear that often in Breaking Bad, so admittedly a lot his ranking is due to Steven Bauer’s role in Scarface.  But in Breaking Bad, Don Eladio ran shit.  He owned a lot of land and had a lot of money.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The Enigma of Fantasy Basketball


Week 16 of the NFL marked the end of our league’s fantasy football season, and in most years, this would be the end of my fantasy sports activity until next September.  This year; however, I agreed to join a fantasy basketball league.  I was swept up in the excitement of the return of the NBA, and fantasy basketball seemed like a great idea at the time.  It was not until later that I realized the league was actually for money, but after negotiating the commissioner from twenty dollars down to ten, I was ready to go.  A few days before the draft I began to research players, and it did not take long to realize that I had no idea what I was doing.  Does anyone really understand how you’re supposed to manipulate the categories in order to field the best team?  Does it make sense that blocked shots are equally as important as points scored? Why is Quadruple Doubles a category?  These are just a few of the many questions fantasy basketball provided me with.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

You Wouldn't Pay to See the Wizards? I Would.


Instead of being bored to death with my family at Deep Creek Lake last night, I stayed home and went to the Washington Wizards home opener with two other LBS writers.  The Wiz will probably win no more than 15 games in the shortened NBA schedule, but for some reason I was excited to go.  Would the average fan pay to see a team whose only marquee player is John Wall? Probably not, but I thought writing an article about why I would pay would be interesting.  So, in the ten seconds prior to me beginning this article, I decided on three different things that will be included:

1) Why I love going to Wizards games despite the fact that they suck
2) My impressions of the team after the home opener
3) Music at the end of the post

 I see promise in Javale McGee that I didn't last year



Saturday, December 24, 2011

30 NBA Teams 30 Questions

Via Getty Images
We are less than 24 hours away from NBA basketball people. There are questions surrounding each team as they head into this condensed season, but I'll stick to a quick one question per team, while providing you all with my NBA playoff predictions at the same time. Get ya popcorn ready.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Reign of Aaron Rodgers

This 2011 NFL season has been nothing but exciting and captivating from the very start. In a season full of interesting storylines, the story of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, in my opinion, has been the most intriguing of all. 

Apart from the overhype and overanalyzed play of Tim Tebow, the injury to Peyton Manning, and the pretty damn good play of Drew Brees and Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers’ ascension to the top of the quarterback totem pole has got to be the most exciting quarterback story of the year, and lets face it, folks: love it or hate it, the NFL is a league about quarterbacks. What is so thrilling about Aaron Rodgers, especially for fans of the game (not purely fans of particular teams), is that I honestly believe we could be witnessing the very best quarterback of all time play right before our eyes, in the prime of his career. I realize that what I’m implying might be ludicrous to some, especially for a guy who has only been a starter for 4 seasons, but there is just something about watching him play that gives me that feeling, and no matter how many counter arguments I make to myself, I can’t shake it. 

Skip Bayless Gets Owned

In case you missed it on ESPN First Take yesterday, everyone's least favorite sports personality Skip Bayless got completely destroyed by Stephen A Smith after saying that Derrick Rose wasn't very good.  Take a look if you hate Skip, the ownage starts around 3:15.



Sam Hurd Vs. The Wire and Breaking Bad Pt. 1





            Sam Hurd was arrested on ridiculous drug charges and it became clear he was a high-level drug player in Chicago.  Shockingly, Hurd, (a wide-receiver in the NFL!!!!!), was as influential in the drug game as some fictional characters.  In honor of Sam Hurd, this article will rank the drug players from two terrific shows, The Wire and Breaking Bad.  There are some characters who aren’t on the list, either because they aren’t directly involved in the drug dealing (Saul Goodman/Omar) or because I just don’t like them.  The rankings are a mix of each character’s rank in their respective drug trade along with how boss they are.  If you think I left someone off the list or you think I ranked someone too low let me know in the comment section.  Warning: There are spoilers abound so if you haven’t finished one of the series, bookmark this page and read it when you finish.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

2011-2012 NBA Breakout Players


Who is going to be this year's Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love or LaMarcus Aldridge? Each year guys like the aforementioned players breakout and become stars, the question becomes who will they be. Now that the start of the 2011-2012 NBA season is within a week from tipping off, it is time to look at which players can make the leap from a player with potential, to a player that can change a game. Here are the guys I am going to pay special attention to this season.

Obvious Three:
These three guys are already household names, and are already good players in the association. They have the best chance of making a Derrick Rose-esque leap this season.

John Wall: Washington Wizards Point Guard
Everybody loves to compare John Wall to Derrick Rose. The two had very comparable rookie seasons, Rose was able to take the next step in his second year in the league (and then became the MVP of the league in his third year). Wall put together an insane lockout highlight tape, but NBA defenses will be better prepared to stop him and his blistering speed and breathtaking change of pace, so Wall must improve his jump shot (which he has been working on constantly this offseason) and cut down on his turnovers if he wants to take the next step this year. If Wall can average 20 and 10, the Wizards will have an outside chance at the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, but if he doesn't progress the way most people expect he will, the Wizards will be in the hunt for the #1 pick in the draft yet again.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Why Sophie Deserved it


Until the final seven, Survivor South Pacific was one of the most predictable seasons ever. Luckily, one of the best finales in recent memory was able to salvage the season. Sophie, who many critics have said did not deserve the million dollar check, absolutely played the best game, and I will tell you exactly how she pulled it off.

Sohpie's first smart move was aligning with Coach. It is definitely dangerous aligning with a returning player, given the fact that they are an automatic threat, but she knew that Coach wanted to play with honesty and integrity, and, if you're not playing by those values, aligning with someone who is, is genius. Although she was lucky to be sitting out on the beach that second night with Coach, Albert, Rick, and Brandon, her and Albert were the only ones not blindly committed to following everything Coach says. She even said in an interview, that she aligned with these people because they were, "religious nut cases" that wouldn't lie.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Anyone For....Soccer?

It's about time the beautiful game received some coverage on this prestigious blog, and the Champions League draw that occurred this morning is the prefect excuse to analyze the greatest club teams and match-ups in Europe.
Arjen Robben, the Bayern Munich winger, looks to remain fit enough to see his team through to the finals in a repeat of their 2010 campaign

Plenty of unexpected story lines emerged from the group stages, the two most notable ones being the early exits of the two Manchester teams.  The debut of Manchester City in Europe's greatest club competition ended with disappointment as they fell one point short of Napoli and second place in the group on the final match day.  Manchester United also fell short of the knockout stages after they fell to FC Basel on their first match day and were only able to produce a tie back at Old Trafford.  Unfortunately, the draw was very early this morning so I was unable to do real-time analysis.  Fortunately, I play a ton a FIFA which has allowed me to accrue a vast knowledge of these teams.  So, without further ado, the most in-depth analysis you will find on a student-run, American blog.  Heavy emphasis will be placed on the perceptions I have of each team based on FIFA.

Friday, December 16, 2011

For the Sake of Football



The most talked-about event of this past week's NFL action was undoubtedly Tim Tebow's miraculous comeback against the Bears, erasing a 10-point deficit and aiding the broncos to a clutch victory. While I shamelessly admit that I was in total awe as I watched Tebow drive down the field and ultimately triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds, I did not see this as the sports world's most significant story of the week. That designation, at least in my opinion, went to the groundbreaking disciplinary action the league issued upon Steelers linebacker James Harrison, as a consequence of his blatantly illicit helmet-to-helmet hit on the Browns' Colt McCoy.


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Who to Root For this NBA Season




I already wrote a piece on reasons to watch every NBA team this year, but I just can’t contain my excitement for the NBA season.  Now that the Chris Paul disaster is in the rearview, we can all look forward to the slate of Christmas day games.  In the meantime here are 10 NBA players I’m going to be rooting for this year.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Great Gelfandini's Hanukkah Present: Ricky Rubio

Hanukkah has come early for me.  The NBA is just about back and that means one thing: Ricky Rubio.

Grading the CP3 to LAC Deal

Chris Paul and Eric Gordon are on the move!

The Chris Paul saga finally seems to have reached its conclusion, at least for the next two seasons. David Stern...I mean the Hornets, agreed to send Chris Paul and two future second round picks to the Clippers in exchange for Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman, and the unprotected 2012 first round pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the Clippers might have given up a ton to bring Chris Paul to the Staples Center, it is hard to say it was a "bad" trade for them. They got Chris Paul.

Why the Packers Shouldn't Want a Home Playoff Game

If you are a Packers fan, you should be happy about the fact that your team has all but clinched the top seed in the NFC, but you shouldn't be quite so happy that the game must be played at Lambeau Field. Before you rattle off how great the Packers at Lambeau throughout their history, just think about the other top seeds in the NFC...

San Francisco 49ers- This is a team built on power football. Harbaugh has made this team into a real contenter, and in the conditions that Green Bay will most likely have at this time of year they will give the Packers all they can handle. If it was in San Francisco you are probably still going to need a light coat, but nothing like the Frozen Tundra of Green Bay.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Have we Gone Soft?


The question is simple: Have we as a society gone soft?  The reaction to the Xavier-Cincinatti fight was an embarrassment. We have gotten to the point where every time a fight breaks out in a sporting event, the so called "experts" act like the participants need to go to therapy and take a long hard look at their life. I am not saying that fighting should be a major part of team sports, or advocating ridiculous brawls like the melee at Auburn Hills or the sucker punch that Lagarrette Blount threw, but there is a time and a place where fighting in sports is necessary.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Welcome To The Playoffs

Via @ConnorBarwin98

The Houston Texans have finally done it. Today they clinched their first ever playoff birth by completing a miraculous comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and having the Titans fall short of their own miraculous comeback against the New Orleans Saints. The Houston Texans are the AFC South division champions for the first time ever. If you didn't already know, I am a die-hard Texans fan and have been since their inaugural season in 2002, and there were times during our previous nine seasons that I thought I might never be able to call my team AFC South division champions.

The Return of Tiger Woods (Hopefully)

(I apologize for the delayed timing of the post, I realize this took place a week ago... finals have been keeping me quite busy...)

With Tiger Woods' win at the Chevron World Challenge, Golf should rejoice. For the first time in over two years the king of the golf world found himself on the top of a leader board after 72 holes. I, for one, believe this could be a the turnaround point for a career that seemed to be hopelessly drifting towards the abyss. What I saw last Sunday was the Tiger of old, the champion that we all grew to know and love, and it was simply incredible to witness.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

El Clásico


Tension and anticipation build every time Real Madrid and Barcelona face off.  Saturday, the two teams played in the first ‘El Clasico’ of the season in Madrid.  Going into the game Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were tied atop the leaderboard in goals with 17 a piece, although Real had 3 points on Barca.  A win for Madrid would have put them in complete control of La Liga and it appeared the match might be headed that way after the first 45 seconds.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Early Season Stock Watch



In honor of Dick Vitale and college basketball being superior to the NBA, here is my early season stock up and stock down.

Stock up:
Missouri- Missouri has rolled through early season competition with an athletic team featuring an extremely up-tempo offense.  Marcus Denmon and Kim English make up one of the most dynamic backcourts in the country, combining for 40 a game.  The Tigers rank 6th nationally in points scored, 14th in assists, and 7th in field goal percentage.  Missouri and Baylor, another team off to a hot start, have made perennial powerhouse Kansas look like the third best team in a conference it historically dominates.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

2011-2012 NBA Preview: Part I



Matt will be doing a four part NBA preview before the season kicks off on Christmas day. This is part one. 

I love the NBA. I love Christmas. I love the NBA on Christmas. So it brought me indescribable amounts of joy when Roy woke me up on the morning of Saturday November 26th to tell me that the lockout was over. The effects of the festivities that took place the night before were immediately overwhelmed with a feeling of pure joy.

Please Manny, Just Be Manny

Manny has reportedly filed for reinstatement and is looking for a team to sign him.  I'm ecstatic about this and only hope that Manny will provide some moments half as comical as the following.  I hope Manny Ramirez will forever remain relevant.  Enjoy.

Manny's infamous cut-off

Standard double play for #24



Pondering the Future



It is pretty hard to believe that only two years ago, the Minnesota Vikings were one play away from the Super Bowl. Since then its been a comedy of errors only comparable to Shane Falco's epic collapse in the '98 Sugar Bowl. The only way to look to the future, is to understand how we got here.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Greatest Family in Sports

If that's not a sports family, I don't know what is.

There are a lot of families who have spent their lives in the eye of the sports public.  The Manning’s are arguably the most famous family in sports, the Staal brothers should be thrown into the mix for the most Canadian, and I think the Molina’s might actually be my favorite sports family.  But the most successful sports family is undoubtedly the Kardashian’s.  Although no Kardashian by blood has ever done anything of notice in the sports community, their tentacles (or husbands/boyfriends) seem to touch almost every sport you can think of.  The Kardashian’s certainly put the love in LoveBoatSports and in honor of their prominent role in American history, let’s take a closer look at the family.