Rollin' on Snubs

Tonight on TNT, the NBA All-star Reserve Squads were announced. The teams are now officially set for the All-Star Game in N'awlins on Sunday, February 17. Let's take a look at both sides before delving into the meaty part of the discussion.

EAST
Starters
Guard-Jason Kidd
Guard-Dwyane Wade
Forward-Lebron James
Forward-Kevin Garnett
Center-Dwight Howard
Reserves
Chauncey Billups
Chris Bosh
Caron Butler
Rip "City" Hamilton
Antawn Jamison
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce

WEST
Starters
Guard-Allen Iverson
Guard-Kobe Bryant
Forward-Carmelo Anthony
Forward-Timmy Duncan
Center- Yao Ming
Reserves

Carlos Boozer

Steve Nash

Dirk Nowitzki

Brandon Roy

Chris Paul
Amare Stoudamire
David West

Now, I'm not going to tackle the "Who should be a starter vs. reserve" debate, because all of these guys are going to get PT. The most important thing to consider is who should be going to the Big Easy and who should be eating at the Buffett on Gameday (like Marwan).

East Snubs
Guard- Jose Caulderon...A month ago, I would have still labeled him as a fluke, but there's no denying anymore how talented this young Spaniard is. He is the Rafael Nadal of Basketball because of his lightning quick reflexes. He has an excellent Assist to turnover ratio, and has stepped up admirably in TJ Ford's absence. You could make a strong argument that he's better than Ford when healthy at his best. Without Caulderon, the Raptors would be somewhere in Knick-land.

Guard- Jason Richardson...When the Bobcats made the trade during the draft where they sent the 8th overall pick to the Warriors for J Rich, most people (including myself) questioned owner MJ's sanity. At least at the present time, we may have been wrong. While Branden Wright (the pick that Charlotte traded) is accumulating splinters in his ass on the bench, J Rich has been ballin' on a budget for the Bob's. He leads the NBA in 3's and has more points than any other Guard in the East.

Forward- Gerald Wallace...I realize the Bobcats aren't that good, but the Heat have won half as many games as them and D Wade still got a roster spot. Wallace has turned into a great all-around player and leads the East (and all forwards) in steals. Defensive stats just get overlooked in the voting process. It's too bad, because he's a great offensive player too and he definitely deserves a reserve spot.

Forward- Hedo Turkoglu...I was going back and forth on which Magic Forward to give this to, but in the end I think that Mr. Glu edges 'Shard, because he contributes more points, rebounds, and assists. Turkoglu is a huge reason for Orlando's success this year and has been arguably the best Fantasy value so far this year. Not that fantasy matters in all-star voting, but you gotta give Hedo some love. He's having a career year and is playing outstanding basketball.

Center- Rasheed Wallace...For argument's sake, we are going to call Sheed a Center, even though he is more of a PF. Still, the other Wallace is putting up his usual sick numbers. Is that good enough to get him an all-star nod...maybe not, but he's the only worthy snub candidate at Center in the East.

West Snubs
Guard- Baron Davis...In my opinion, this is the biggest snub of the them all. BD has been sick this year. When healthy, Baron has always been a top 5 guard, but this year, he's been a top 5 player. It's ludicrous that a guy that's leading the league in steals, not to mention top 10 in triples, points, and assists is not an all-star. Without him, the Warriors would have no shot at a playoff spot in the West. There's no way he shouldn't be going to the big game.

Guard- Deron Williams...This is a tough call. Manu Ginobili is also very deserving, but I only have one guard spot and I had to give the edge to Deron based on his sick 9.5 assists a game (I understand Manu is a SG, but there isn't another stat that he has that separates him from Williams enough). He hasn't been as baller as he was earlier in the season, but there's no denying that this is one of the best PG in the game today. Substitute a mediocre PG on the Jazz and they would be floundering. Without Deron feeding Boozer the ball, Booze Cruise wouldn't be an all-star. Not to mention he has one of the best FG % among all guards at nearly 52 percent.

Forward- Shawn Marion...How come the Matrix never gets any love from voters. This is one of the best all-around players in the game today. There's a reason he's always on top of the fantasy leaderboards. He produces in every category. There a select few who hustle as hard as he does on both sides of the floor. Sadly, it seems that his trade demands during the off-season might have cost him some popularity points with voters.

Forward- Stephen Jackson...What a thug. This baller missed the first 7 games of the season because of a suspension, and he is still putting up numbers with the best of 'em. Not only is a mean son of a bitch (he'll steal the ball away from you and your lunch money), but he's an excellent 3 point assassin. The Warriors couldn't survive without him.

Center- Marcus Camby...You could make an easy argument that this is the biggest bust of them all too. Camby has been a Monster on the defensive side. He's averaging 4!!! blocks a game and a steal as well. This doesn't even take into account the shadow he casts over anyone who's driving the lane and all of the defensive rebounds he snags. He doesn't have the flashy offensive stats that Yao and Amare do, but neither of those guys can hold a candle to the Defensive Numbers that he's lighting up the scoreboard with.

All-Star Snobs
These are the guys who I feel don't deserve to be going to New Orleans. This isn't to say that they aren't ballers, it's just that some of the snubs are having better seasons.

Rip Hamilton- I love my Pistons and Rip is having a great year, but he's basically just a great scorer, he doesn't bring enough else to the table to make him worthy of a spot.

Joe Johnson- Pretty much the same thing goes for Young Jeezy. He's been scoring at a high clip as usual, but he offers little else and plays no D (even though he may lay the D on the Hotlanta Betty's).

David West- This bid baffles me. Sure, West was one of the most underrated players in the league, but now it appears he's being overrated. I don't see how he's any better than his teammate Tyson Chandler. It appears they wanted to give another Hornet some love because they are doing so great and it's in their hometown. He'd definitely make it if he were playing in the East, but the West is too stacked at Forward for Young West to make it.

Carmelo Anthony- Everyone seems to love Melo. I don't really understand why. Remember when he got that 15 game suspension last year for that fight in the Knick's game. In my book he's as big of a ho bag as Ronny Artest. He is a great scorer like Rip and Joe, but he turns the ball over hella and is a puss on the Defensive end. He also is a fairly weak 3 point shooter.

Thursday Hoops Throwdown

Before the Super Bowl this Sunday, the sports gods decided to give us a pre-game gift: 4 amazing hoops battles taking place tonight. Lets break down the action GDB Style

Los Angeles Lakers @ Detroit Pistons, 730 PM

Laker Scouting Report: Tonight is the beginning of the gauntlet for the Lakers. They play 9 straight games on the road before the All-Star Break hits. Included in the trip are games at Orlando, Toronto and Washington, but the toughest game is tonight. The Lakers are only 3-4 since Andrew Bynum got injured, and any more slippage could put their playoff spot in serious jeopardy. We all know that Kobe is going to show up every night, they key is whether the Lakers role players, who have been so good so far this season, can be consistent enough to get some wins on this trip. If guys like Lamar Odom and Jordan Farmar can play well, the Lakers may survive the trip and grow up a lot in the process.

Piston Scouting Report: After losing 3 out of 4 games to teams such as the Kings and Knicks, the Pistons have now won three in a row. Now they have 6 of 7 games at home before the All-Star break, which means they could be in position to snatch the 1st seed from the Celtics by the end of that stretch if Boston continues to struggle. Detroit still has one of the best starting fives in the entire league, but now they are developing a youthful and athletic bench to compliment all-star caliber plays like Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace. The Pistons are consistent as always, and their low turnover rates and solid shooting percentages show us that they aren't going to beat themselves.

Prediction time: Despite the brutal schedule of games, Young Swole thinks the Lakers are going to survive this trip. The tough opponents are spread between crappy teams like the Heat and the Nets, and if they steal one of the tough games a 5-4 is not out of the question. Tonight though is a different story. The Pistons have the big guys to neutralize Lamar Odom and the defense and experience to shut down the other Laker role players. While Kobe will probably have a huge game, there are simply too many weapons in Detroit for him to singlehandedly overcome. Pistons win 106-87

Dallas Mavericks @ Boston Celtics, 8pm, TNT

Mavs scouting report: Not only is this an important game for the Mavs, but it comes at an important juncture in their season. We've all heard the Jason Kidd rumors, which will no doubt affect how the Mavs play (Look at what trade rumors did to the Bulls). Dallas has also lost emerging point guard Devin Harris for a few weeks. With all this extra drama, its easy to forget that the Mavs are 11-2 so far in January and seem to be coming together as a team. Tonight will be a good test to see how they match up against a league powerhouse. The team may not look the same the next time these two play, but a win tonight will give the Mavs lots of confidence that they can handle the Celtics.

Celtics scouting report: We all knew the Celtics were going to cool off eventually. Most of us outside of the City of Delusion, aka Boston, also knew that a team that relies so much on veterans were bound to fall off because they could not maintain the intensity and health for a full 82 games. So while the Celtics have looked ordinary the past two weeks, don't act like its a surprise. There's no need for them to play every game like their last, because they are pretty much guaranteed a top-2 spot in the east, and they have already proven they can win in Detroit. Tonight they won't have Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen will probably not be 100 percent. Their bench played incredible in Miami last night, but the old saying is if they could play that good every night, they wouldn't be coming off the bench.

Prediction time: One of the tougher games on the card to forecast. The Mavs come in with a lot of confidence, but they have injury issues and the Celtics have been great at home. The key to the game will be the Josh Howard and Paul Pierce matchup. Pierce will have to wild out tonight to get a Celtics victory. If Howard can slow him down, or force Pierce to defer to his teammates the Mavs will win. This one will probably be close, but the lack of KG will hurt down the stretch and the Mavs will pull away late. Mavs win 98-92

Indiana University @ University of Wisconsin, 9pm, ESPN

Hoosier scouting report: The Hoosiers were outhustled badly against an undermanned UConn team on Saturday. You can pretty much bank on a Kelvin Sampson team not being outhustled two games in a row. Sampson was probably giving the entire team the Neil Reed treatment this week, and Young Swole expects the Hoosiers to come onto the court like a pack of wild dogs. The Hoosiers have a great chance to win this game if they can get consistent play from their guards. We all know the talent level, what we don't know is whether they can make the right decisions on the road for 40 minutes. Guys like Crawford and E Gordon are so good, that if they just play smart and run the offense through DJ White in the post, they will both score in double digits even if its in a complimentary role.

Badger scouting report: For years Bo Ryan has been the most underrated coach in America. He doesn't get the recruits that teams like North Carolina or Arizona get, and yet every year the Badgers are not only a ranked team, but also a team that constantly upsets more talented squads. Additionally, the Badgers hardly ever lose at home. Young Swole remembers how big a deal it was when Illinois went into Madison and got a victory 3 years ago. That game told the country how good the Illini were because if they could win in the Kohl Center they could win anywhere. The Badgers are not as explosive as they were last year, and probably not as talented either, but they still have solid big men who can control the glass, and good guards like Michael Flowers who can hit the big buckets. Plus, while Sampson is a good coach, he won't outcoach Bo Ryan.

Prediction time: This is an such an intriguing game. You have the young and talented Hoosiers with the freshmen phenoms rolling into one of the best home courts in the country. No one doubts the Hoosiers have the talent to win tonight, but if their guards are not more careful with the ball, they will not get that win. Wisconsin plays at a different level at home, and that crowd is going to be rowdy. Its a lot to ask for freshman guards to go on the road and win this game, and based on their recent decision-making, His Swoleness thinks their inexperience combined with the Badger efficiency will give the Badgers the win in a Big 10 slugfest, 65-57

San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns, 1030pm, TNT

Spurs scouting report: We haven't seen the Spurs look this vulnerable in years. Their annual rodeo trip started out consecutive losses in Utah (understandable) and Seattle (disgraceful). On top of that, Tony Parker is now out injured with foot issues, placing even more pressure on Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili to carry and older team without many other consistent options. Now they limp into the valley of the sun to face a Phoenix team that you can guarantee has not forgotten about how their season ended last year. Ginobili usually has huge games in Phoenix, but without Parker to break down the defense, he is going to have to be the orchestrator. This means that a Spurs wing player like Michael Finley or Bruce Bowen is going to have to step up to provide an effective offensive option.

Suns scouting report: While the Spurs seem to be falling apart, the Suns appear to be coming together in the way we thought they could. Grant Hill has returned from appendix removal and mainstays like Amare Stoudemire, Raja Bell and Shawn Marion are playing at their highest level all season. A good sign for the Suns is how they defeated the Hawks the other night. For all their talent, the Suns tend to let bad teams hang around, rarely blowing them out. But with every reason to look ahead to tonight's game and overlook the Hawks, Phoenix came out and promptly blew the Hawks out by 33. Now they get the game they've been looking for all season, the chance to play the wounded Spurs, at home, for the first time since last year's playoffs.

Prediction time: This sure does seem to a one-sided game. The Spurs are reeling, and the Suns are going to be more angry and focused on this game than any other so far this season. Even more than usual, the Spurs will have to control the tempo of this game. Without Parker, they simply do not have the firepower to run with the Suns. If Steve Nash can open the game up of offense, and if the Suns can force Ginobili to give the ball up on offense, this one may not be close. Sweezy thinks the Spurs will play better tonight, they have too much pride to get destroyed, but overall they just aren't bringing enough firepower with them tonight. Maybe if they play from ahead the game will be interesting in the 4th quarter, but if they get behind early, its over. Suns win 107-92.

Uhhhhhhhhh

No explanation necessary.

Walkin' in Memphis

Well it looks like the Tigers (or at least one of the dozen teams who call themselves Tigers) are solidly atop the NCAAB rankings. The people to congratulate for John Claipari & Co. reaching the uncontested #1 spot are sleeping in Lawrence, Kansans tonight. Bill Self (the biggest under-achieving coach in NCAAB-ball), shoulda-been-a-Hoosier Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers and the rest shat the bed tonight, losing to Kansas State, 84-75.

I guess we should have seen it coming, though. The only baller that truly rivals Eric ("EJ") Gordon in all-out frattitude is one Michael Beasley, who guaranteed TWO victories over perennial Big-12 powerhouse KU this year. True, he might have made this prediction after rubbing Bob Huggins' belly for good luck, but even after the departure of the Huggy-Bear, Beasley and his posse have made good on the promise, or at least 50% of it. But really, after ending the 24-year-old streak of KU victories, who cares if this is the only win K-State scores against its in-state rival this year? If I can tell you one thing for sure, it is that there is going to be a truly gnarly party in Manhattan, KS right now.

Good for you, K.S. Wildcats. I salute you. And Michael Beasley, enjoy this one year of college while it lasts...and enjoy the guaranteed dough that comes with being a #1 overall draft pick. You ONLY contributed 6 boards and 2 assists while scoring 25 points tonight. By willing your team to victory over the Gayhawks, you have assured yourself the loot and the legacy. Enjoy my friend.

P.S. In other news, the Texas Longhorns have lost, ensuring that if the Indiana Hoosiers win at #13 Wisconsin we will move back into the Top 10.

Shooter McGavin Says, "I Eat Pieces Of Shit Like You For Breakfast"

Breaking News: Tiger Woods is by far and away the best golfer on the planet right now. Does anyone want to argue with that? Oh, what's that you say Ian Poulter? You think you are as good as Tiger? Whaaaaaaaaaa? Yes, it's true. Young Poulter, the 22nd ranked golfer in the world was interviewed by Golf World Magazine before this weekend's Dubai Desert Classic and he basically said that he is the only man in the world that can compete with Woods. Here's what the 32 year old British jamoke said:

"The trouble is I don't rate anyone else...Don't get me wrong, I really respect every professional golfer, but I know I haven't played to my full potential and when that happens, it will be just me and Tiger"

The Englishman, asked by the magazine to predict the winner of the first major of the season at the Masters in April, replied: "Put Tiger down for that one." For the year's second major at the U.S. Open, he said: "You can put me down for that one."

Alllllright, buddy. How have you not reached your potential yet? You're 32 years old! Did you know that you are the same age as Tiger? Maybe he hasn't reached his potential yet either?

In this magazine, Poulter is pictured almost completely nude except for a golf bag covering his....uhhhh golf balls. I didn't post it for fear that some of my colleagues would enjoy it too much.
The point is, has Ian Poulter ever done this???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnP3Mz1wh9c&feature=related

That's from the Masters, which Tiger has won 4 times. How many green jackets have you won Mr. P?? Oh yeah, zero. Talk to me when you win a major, son.

Greg Oden: ESPN Commercial

Gotta love this Greg Oden Commercial. There's a certain dry humor about him that cracks me up. The behind the scenes shoot is pretty entertaining too. I hope he returns healthy next year and has a good career. Good luck big man!

Freestyle Exercise Olympiad

Young Taco Maker and Young Swole are always on the forefront of athletic achievement. So where others merely see an exercise ball, these 2 beer barons see opportunity. In the following pictures, you will see an epic journey through a form of greatness that can only be fueled by dat brew. (Descriptions of the sickness follow below each picture)

"Slippery Cliff like my last name's Huxtable"

"Electric Relaxtion in Argyle Sittin' on Chrome"

"Freshy Pow Pow Flare with Detroit Grime like Frank Stoney"

"No Homo Double Max Asian Frogsplash"

"Double Midnight Cowboy Brew Galore"

"Triple Ollie Espresso Fakey Prothro Twist"

"Dolly Dickin' dat what she said"

"Young Brewhound Bow Wow Scruggs Twist"

"Young 'Blasian Casual Male Winter Catalog"


"Fullerton Avenue Dank Gnar 151 splash"

"Platinum Plus Jazz Hands Bud Mackey Flip"

"Indian Style like Apache "

"Game over headfirst Wally bobble"

Photos courtesy of Young Andersen

FINALLY!!!!

After several long, excruciating months of speculation, rumors, and overall bullshit, the landing place for Johan Santana has been decided.

The Big Apple will welcome it's newest shining star, but it's not the Yankees. The New York Mets have swept in and landed not only the best pitcher on the market, but arguably the best pitcher in all of baseball. The deal (pending a contract extension worth likely an exorbitant amount and a physical) will send Santana to the Mets for 4 prospects: outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey.

All I can say is THANK GOD! I was growing more tired of this shit than I was of A Rod-gate and the Clemens Report.

(A side note: I am glad I am not from Minnesota. Every sports fan in that state must either be contemplating suicide or planning to destroy the East coast. Sorry Minny fans.)

Young Knuckleballer Analysis
This is the biggest baseball trade since the Pedro Martinez trade from the Montreal Expos to the Boston Red Sox. These are the kind of lop-sided deals that can set a franchise like the Twins back 3 years. They are already stocked with young talent like Joe Mauer and Francisco Liriano, they needed the Leadership that Santana provided much more than extra young talent. Basically, the Twinkies didn't want to pay Santana's sky-high market value. I understand that they don't have a very big payroll because they are a small market team with a cheap owner. On the one hand, I feel bad for teams like the A's, Rays, Marlins, Royals, and Twins...Major League Baseball needs to figure out a way to deal with this situation...but on the other hand, I'm a Tiger's Fan so I can't complain too much, considering he's out of the AL Central and he's not on another AL Contender like the Red Sox or Yankees.

The Twins weren't going to compete for the Division or a playoff spot anyway, so let's look at the other half of the pie. The Mets gave up some solid young talent for the Best Pitcher in Baseball right now. People can make arguments for Brandon Webb, Jake Peavy, or Dan Haren, but let's be serious here. If you were to bet your life on one pitcher to win you a game (forgetting about the team around him) you'd bet on Santana. Even though he had a "down year" last season (still above average by most players standards), he is still the most freakishly talented Pitcher in the sport by far, and at age 28 he's Prime Rib.

The Mets have had the offensive fire power to rival any team in baseball the past 2 years, but with sub-par pitching they haven't been able to put it all together. They still have pitching issues, but when you have the best pitcher in the league at the front of your rotation, the Mets have to be the favorites in the National League. Last year they fell apart down the stretch thanks to numerous Pitching Meltdowns. Well, there's no way that would happen again this year. When you have Santana trotting out to the mound every 5 games, you have to like your chances.

You gotta be happy for Johan here. He finally goes to a winner. The Twins were solid for a few years, even making the playoffs and threatening the top teams in the American League for a stretch, but they were always underdogs in the big games. Now he goes to a place where he has a legit chance to get a World Series Ring. It also doesn't hurt that he's in a Super High Profile market where he can make a boatload of cash. This wasn't the case in Minny. Overall, this is an outstanding day for the Mets and Santana, and a very sad day for Twins Fans.

The NBA All Ugly Team

we could probably keep this list going for days, but here are a few obvious suggestions for the NBA All Ugly team:

Tyrone Hill...may in fact be the crypt keeper



















Scottie Pippen. the man looks like a brick wall














sam cassell demonstrating how he "gets all up in them guts"



















popeye jones aka the sloth from goonies











brevin knight. this creature is not to be trusted.














I don't know if shelden williams is even in the NBA but I do know that this man is ugly

Bad Huskies, No Biscuits

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/victoryandruins
You guys have to read this investigative report from the Seattle Times about the 2000 Washington Huskies Football team (the last good UW squad). It features Former Seahawks and current Buccaneers TE Jerramy Stevens who was accused of Rape, but barely disciplined. These three reports show how being an athlete gets you out of sticky situations (which most people already know, but some of this shit is just disturbing). Make sure you check out the Jeremiah Pharms story too. You will never look at the pesky Huskies the same way again.

Quick Fixes

Tonight, George W. Bush gave his last State of the Union address to the nation. His final report on the status of the country got me doing a little reflecting and thinking of my own. So many disconcerting events take place on a daily basis, and things seem to get worse every day.

So I asked myself "Is there any common denominator with any of these events?" Then it came to me- one man, the beacon of hope for our troubled times, has been out of our hearts and minds for too long. During his absence, the agents of terror and mayhem have run wild, sowing seeds of violence and immorality. So I ask you, Jack Bauer, to return to us. Restore credibility to the greatest facebook group of all times. Come back and start putting the world right, 24 hours at a time. Think of all the things you could fix:

-The complicated Presidential election season. Bauer could get off to a good start by bringing all the remaining Presidential candidates together for a single purpose: a cage fight to the death, last person who manages to stay alive while Bauer goes nuts will get the job. It will show who the true survivor really is. This should happen soon; if the survivor is badly wounded he (or she) will need time to recover. If they should happen to expire due to injuries sustained, Dennis Haysbert will take the job by default.

-Steroids in baseball. The Mitchell Report was not comprehensive because many suspected users and suppliers refused to talk to George Mitchell. Something tells me Bauer will be able to get the answers he seeks.

-The "Recession." Bauer will descend upon the nation's capitol to provide quick fixes to the government. He will freeze interest rates on mortgages effective immediately and until he says otherwise, increase protective tariffs for U.S. goods, convene a council of leading scholars from the Post-Keynesian School of Law and Economics to develop long-term goals, and start printing money with his own face on it. It will be more valuable than gold.

-Chinese Olympics. Not only are the athletes probably going to die from the sheer level of pollution in Beijing, but the communist slave drivers are using slave labor to try and get their city ready for this ludicrous display. Bauer will intercept the Olympic torch at some point along its path, and bring it to CTU Los Angeles, where the Olympics will be held instead. New events will include:

- "Avoid Bauer," where you have to make your way through the building in the dark while
Jack stalks you.
- "Who Can Hold Their Breath in a Room of Poison Gas the Longest?" Pretty self-
explanatory.
- "Who Is Brave Enough to Walk Into a Room of Plutonium First." Winner gets a billion
points, but will ultimately die.
- And finally, an event where contestants are told a secret, then judged on how long they can
keep it a secret from Jack.

-The Britney Spears Saga. Bauer will use some of the same rehabilitation techniques with Britney that he learned during his time in China. Maybe some of these same methods can be helpful for Jaimie Lynn and the parents, too. Jack also takes issue with the fact that Britney's father is an LSU fan. Jack likes U.C.L.A.

-The Writer's Strike. This is the reason he has been gone for so long, so Jack will have special Bauer-style justice to distribute to fix this problem. He will disband all television and only one channel will be broadcasted: The Jack Bauer Reality Network. All Jack, all the time.

It's got to be better than anything else going on these days...

NBA Power Rankings

Its Monday Night, which means its time to set the table for another full week of NBA action.

The Sweet 16

1. New Orleans 31-12. Its time to give this team its props. They have the best record in the West, they've won 8 in a row and just demolished the Spurs by 24 in Cow Country. People may still be skeptical, but why can't they win the West this year?

Opponents this week: Denver, Golden State, @Sacramento

2. Boston 34-8. The Celts still have the best record in the league, but they aren't playing like the best team anymore. They barely beat the hapless T'Wolves on Friday and couldn't beat the Magic without KG. Is this a bump in the road, or have we seen the best already of the men in green?

Opponents this week: @Miami, Dallas

3. Phoenix 32-13. The Suns survived pretty well without Grant Hill and posted a big win over King James on Friday in Cleveland. Now they get a chance to exact revenge on the reeling Spurs this week, think the Valley of the Sun will be ready for that one?

Opponents this week: Atlanta, San Antonio

4. Detroit 31-13. The Swole One liked what he saw out of the 'Stons this week. Losing in Orlando is no big crime, and they turned around and thumped them at home three nights later, proving they are still the second big dog in the Eastern Conference.

Opponents this week: @Indiana, LA Lakers, Dallas

5. Dallas 30-13. Swole has been wondering for weeks now how good this Mavs team really is. Well he's about to find out this week, they face the top 2 teams in the East in a span of three days and just lost Devin Harris to an ankle injury.

Opponents this week: @Memphis, @Detroit, @Boston

6. San Antonio 28-14. Something seems wrong with the Spurs. When was the last time anyone went into their house and crushed them by 24? Now they start the 9 game rodeo trip, which means they will either come together as they so often do, or they could be in the bottom half of the WC playoff standings at the All-Star break.

Opponents this week: @Utah, @Seattle, @Phoenix

7. Orlando 28-18. Swole is going to give props to this team for going 2-1 against the Pistons and Celtics last week. To do it in the playoffs though, they need a big time point guard. Hello Jason Kidd?

Opponents this week: Miami, @Philadelphia, @Indiana

8. Denver 26-17. Losing Carmelo hurt, but the Nugs are still tops in their division. If they can tread water until Melo returns they should be fine going forward because they have the most talent in the Northwest.

Opponents this week: @New Orleans, @Memphis, Charlotte

9. Utah 26-18. Don't look now but here come the Jazz. They've gone 8-2 in their last 10 and have shown signs of stepping it up on the defensive end.

Opponents this week: San Antonio, NY Knicks, @Washington, @Memphis

10. Golden State 27-18. Andris Biedrins ripped down 26 rebounds last night against the Knicks. Not coincidently, Eddy Curry at 26 hot dogs on the bench while Biedrins was on his rebounding rampage.

Opponents this week: @Houston, @New Orleans, Charlotte

11. LA Lakers 27-15. Yesterday's loss to the Cavs was not a good sign. As competitive as the west is, the Lake Show cannot let games like that slip away and still expect to make the playoffs, regardless of when Bynum comes back.

Opponents this week: NY Knicks, @Detroit, @Toronto, @Washington

12. Portland 26-19. The Blazers keep on hanging around in the WC. We'll see how much longer they can keep it up, but if they are this close to 1st place at the ASB it would be an incredible achievement.

Opponents this week: Cleveland, New York

13. Cleveland 24-19. LeBron pretty much told Kobe yesterday that this is his league from now on. If he ever got a good teammate to play with, this team would be instant title contenders.

Opponents this week: @Portland, @Seattle, LA Clippers

14. Toronto 24-19. Huge victory over the Celtics on Tuesday night. That was the kind of win that the Raptors needed to give them the confidence that they can hang with the Eastern Conference's elite.

Opponents this week: @Washington, Washington, LA Lakers

15. Washington 23-19. A tough week for the Wiz, who seem to be wearing down a little right now. Two big games against the Rap Show this week to see where they stand up in the Eastern Conference pecking order.

Opponents this week: Toronto, @Toronto, Utah, LA Lakers

16. Houston 24-20. Yeah they are 4 games over .500, and yeah they have T-Mac and Yao healthy. But losing at home to the Jazz further convinces His Swoleness that this team doesnt have what it takes to even make the playoffs this year.

Opponents this week: Golden State, @Indiana, @Milwaukee

Young Swole's Baller of the Week

LeBron walked into the House of the Mamba and pretty much tore Kobe's heart out. Putting up 41 points with little help from anyone else shows everyone just how damn good this guy already is, and how sick he's going to be in a few years.

Young Swole's Jackass of the Week

Gerald Green can't get consistent playing time on the worst team in the NBA. So what does he do, he demands to be traded. If you can't cut it on the sorry ass Timberwolves then the only place you should be asked to be traded to is the NBDL. I knew he only had half a hand, i didn't know Green also only had half a brain. Young Swole is hoping McHale cuts Green and fills his roster spot with recently reinstated Chris "Birdman" Anderson.

5 Games to watch this week

1. Toronto @ Washington, Tuesday. Washington faces four teams with winning records this week, and this may be the easiest game of the bunch. Bosh against Jamison is a good enough matchup to risk getting carjacked in DC for.

2. Golden State @ New Orleans, Wednesday. The most exciting team in the league faces up against the league's biggest suprise. Baron Davis versus Chris Paul gives Young Swole goosebumps (no homo).

3. LA Lakers @ Detroit, Thursday. The Lakers head east for a 9 game road trip at a crucial point in their season. If they can go 5-4 on this trip, things just might be OK. It will be tough to get a W in Motown though, the Pistons own the Lake Show in the D.

4. Dallas @ Boston, Thursday. Two teams with suddenly a lot to prove. Is Dallas a serious title contender? Has Boston already peaked? The arena will probably be empty for this as most Boston residents will be busy jerking off to pictures of Tom Brady's ankle cast.

5. San Antonio @ Phoenix, Thursday. The Suns have played 26 of their 45 games on the road. With a bunch of home games coming up, nothing would jump-start their second half better than to exact some revenge on the Spurs in what has become the best rivalry in the NBA.

Top 10 Most Awkward Interviews in Sports

This is a classic video of hilarious interviews. I've had to do some painful interviews in my day. (2/3 of the Binghamton Women's Basketball team doesn't speak English), but I'm glad I'm not in the shoes of these reporters. Keep an eye out for our friend and mentor in #7.

Fireworks in Hotlanta

Most of America doesn't pay attention to hockey, but hopefully that will gradually change after the highly successful All-Star game. Young Swole who lives right by Atlanta didn't even know it was going on until I told him about it last night. The game was very exciting and neccessary for the sport to start gaining some popularity back after the great majority of it's already small fan base disappeared after the lockout. The East beat the West 8-7 on a Marc Savard Goal (he's from Boston unfortunately) with 20 seconds left in the game. The only way that the game could have been better is if Sid the Kid Crosby was a part of the festivities. It's too bad the most electrifying player in the game is out with a High Ankle sprain for at least the next two months. Plenty of other young stunners lit up the scoreboard though including Alexander Ovechkin. One of the best moments of all though, was when Commisioner Gary Bettman took the ice to give out the MVP award (won by Carolina's Eric Staal) and the entire crowd booed him loudly. I'm not saying Hockey is back like cooked crack, but this could be a good start toward repairing their image. Or...Maybe I'm just brainwashed because the AHL All-star game is being held in Binghamton, NY tonight where I'm located right now. Go B-Sens!

It gets wild in Columbia, MO on a Saturday night

Stefhon Hannah, the starting shooting guard for the Missouri Tigers basketball team, is in serious condition after getting fucked up in a wild brawl at a Columbia nightclub hours after beating the Colorado Buffaloes. Read more at the link below

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/463400.html

Before everyone out there in GDB land starts making accusations, let Young Swole be the first to tell you that there is no evidence at this point that our compatriot Young Cicero was anywhere near the Athena Nightclub at 1:07am on Saturday morning. Early reports place the Ciceric One at his apartment, where he passed out at the early hour of 7pm after drinking one too many Miller Chills after the IU loss.

We All Managed To Survive

Even though IU losing yesterday seemed like the end of the world, life goes on. And just so Young Swole's obnoxious post isn't the first thing I see on GDB, give this video a watch...

Oh and be sure to check out some old friends the :22 second mark.

NBA Street 2K8

It worked for hockey... so why shouldn't basketball give it a try? The Phoenix Suns are amid plans to have the first "sanctioned" NBA game to be played outside. The site, Indian Wells Tennis Garden In California, seats approximately 16,100 and the game is expected to be played in the preseason. The opponent has yet to be determined.

The deal, which is far enough along that the site has been visited by team officials and a floor been laid out, is expected to be announced within the next month.

Said CEO and president Rick Welts: "It's a completely unique experience," Welts said. "We like to do new and exciting things. I think it would be remarkably successful."

"It's going to be incredibly cool," Welts predicted, according to the Republic.

Well said Mr. Welts, well said and I agree. I think this would bring a fun, interesting aspect to NBA games. Every team had 2-3 "home" games to be played outside. The NBA season runs long enough that games could be played in warmer climates during the winter (Los Angelos, Phoenix, Houston, Miami) and then as things get warmer, finish with games in the colder areas (Detroit, Boston, Minnesota). Come on Stern, let's make things happen!

College Basketball Power 10

It's Friday, thus time for an updated Power 10 in college basketball. Dating back to the last update, there have been several upsets which have begun to turn the tide in college basketball. It's time to check out who is being a mover and a shaker in the college basketball world as we gear up for the heart of the conference season and some GREAT February basketball on the horizon.

1.) Memphis Tigers

After UNC dropped their first game this season to unranked Maryland (at home, no less), the Tigers gained the top spot in both national rankings and keep it in this poll. Big test this weekend as the Bulldogs of Gonzaga come calling.

2.) Kansas Jayhawks

I could almost put them at 1b, but for the sake of argument, I am going to put them at 2, simply because I feel that if there was one game, on a neutral court, right now, Memphis would beat the Jayhawks. However, in maybe a best of 5 or 7, I am not so sure. Things may change soon as they begin to get into the meat of the Big 12 schedule.

3.) Duke Blue Devils

Ohh, the Dookies. Is anyone else surprised at how quietly Duke is climbing up the rankings? This is Duke we are talking about, but their ACC counterpart is the team getting all the attention. All things are setting up for an epic UNC-Duke in early February where both teams could be in the top 5.

4.) Indiana Hoosiers

While the Hoosiers have not been destroying the competition and putting up gaudy numbers like some other teams, they are winning. There is no doubt that this team is one of the hottest in the nation, winners of 12 in a row. However, their climb in these rankings are more a result of teams ahead of them losing than impressive play. Big nonconfernce game this weekend against UConn, followed by a chance to make some real noise with a tough test at Wisconsin.

5.) UNC Tarheels

You have to expect the worst when you let an unranked and unimpressive Maryland team come into your house and steal one from you. UNC had a nice bounce back game against Florida State though, with POY candidate Tyler Hansborough "chipping in" with 35 points.

6.) Tennesse Volunteers

A tough loss to Kentucky, but in all honestly, not a terrible loss. Rupp is a hard place to come in and snatch a victory, even with Kentucky in a down year. Truth be told, this team is getting scarier and scarier by the day. Chris Lofton is beginning to come back to the same form as last season and Wayne Chism is emerging as a great complimentary player.

7.) UCLA Bruins

So OJ Mayo finally strikes! UCLA suffered a tough defeat (similar to UNC) in their house to an unranked and unimpressive team USC squad. Then, to make matters worse, they come out sluggish as all hell against Oregon and have to rally late to steal a W. I know rankings don't matter until that final poll of the season, but with all the talent on that team, Bruins fans must be getting a little worried.

8.) Michigan State Spartans

Sparty bounced back well after that horrid loss at Iowa. They held serve against Ohio State by coming out on top at home, then went into the Barn and beat a very tough and underrated Minnesota team before capping off the three game stretch with a win at Northwestern. Anyone who is sleeping on this team would be foolish - Sparty and Izzo always turn it on in March. A date with destiny lurks at Indiana with the College GameDay crew in late Feb.

9.) Georgetown Hoyas

Two solid wins this week help the Hoyas rise a little, but the team still lacks a signature win. Furthermore, Georgetown might not even have a chance to pick up one: they only have two games left against ranked opponents in Marquette and Villanova, both of which are dropping in stature. With Pitt holding the tiebreaker in the conference, the Hoyas may need a little help from the rest of the Big East in winning the conference, or will need a deep run the Big East tourney to secure a high seed come March.

10.) Wisconsin Badgers

Sorry, but I wasn't sold on Wazzou before and certainly am not now after losing to Arizona. Meanwhile, the Badgers have won 10 straight and currently reside at the top of the Big 10 with Indiana. A tough road game at Purdue on Saturday, followed by a showdown of the top teams looms when Indiana will come to the Kohl Center to snap the Badgers tough home court advantage.

Also Receiving Votes: Washington State, Pitt, Texas

Kangaroo Open Finals Picks

Swole and Knuckler have been following every match of the Australian Open and it's been an oustanding tournament thus far.

In the semis, Swole got 3 out of 4 correct and Knuckler went 2 for 4. Knuckler missed the Djokovic/Federer match, a match which ESPN calls a monster upset, however, Djokovic (pictured left) has been playing at Federer's level the entire Open, while also ranked 3rd in the world, so I wouldn't really call this an upset. We both missed the Tsonga over Nadal match (analysis of that can be seen in my post from yesterday).

Here are the finals picks where I can hopefully pick up some ground on the Swole one.



Young Knuckler

Men's Bracket
Djokovic over Tsonga

Women's Bracket
Ivanovic over Sharapova

Young Swole

Men's Bracket
Djokovic over Tsonga

Women's Bracket
Sharapova over Ivanovic

The Official GDB All-Star Squads

Here at GDB we call it like we see it. Therefore, when we came together to select our all-star squads we were brutally honest in our decision making. Popularity got you nowhere, neither did past success. We are looking for the best players in the NBA regardless of reputations. Our squads will probably differ from the actual East and West teams, but rest assured that our selected teams better represent which players have been the best this year so far.

Eastern Conference

STARTERS

G- Chauncey Billups - Mr. Big Shot has averaged 18 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists while leading the Pistons to the 2nd best record in the East. One of the most consistent and reliable players in the entire NBA, Billups is helping to make this the most dangerous Pistons squads in years.

G-LeBron James - We took some liberty at putting King James at the shooting guard spot, but there is no denying how incredible he has been this year. With averages of 29-7-7 and 2 steals while shooting close to 50 percent from the field, James is certified MVP material.

F-Caron Butler - Nobody gave the Wiz much of a chance to contend without Agent Zero. But thanks in large part to the Holy Caron, the Wiz find themselves well above .500, with victories over the Celtics and Mavericks in recent weeks. 21-6-4-2, 48% from the field, 90% from the line shows how complete a player he has become.

F-Kevin Garnett - We all knew The Big Ticket would make a huge difference in Boston, but it is incredible how quickly the metamorphosis occurred. From day one its been his team, and its because of him that they have gotten off to the best record in the league. KG is averaging his typical 20 and 10, and is shooting an amazing 55 percent from the field.

C-Dwight Howard - Simply the most dominant physical force in the NBA. With numbers per game like 22 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks, you can pencil D Howard in this spot for the next 10 years without hesitation.

BENCH

G-Jason Kidd - While the Nets are one of the most dissapointing teams in the NBA, you can't blame it on Kidd. He's averaging 11-8-10, which puts him dangerously close to Oscar Robertson territory.

G-Joe Johnson - Very quietly, the Hawks have become a competitive team. And very quietly, Joe Johnson has become one of the most well-rounded players in the NBA. 21-4-5 looks nice, and his leadership is helping a young team mature before our eyes.

G-Dwyane Wade - Probably the most controversial decision on our roster. The Heat have been absolutely terrible, but since coming back from injury D-Wade has been good as always. He'll probably have an even bigger second half and make our doubts about putting him on the team look even more bogus.

F-Paul Pierce - The Truth has been reborn with the arrival of KG and his play has been markedly improved. 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.5 steals show that he's been a great team player and doing everything he can to bring the Celtics success.

F-Gerald Wallace - Probably the most underrated player in the league. Wallace was always an amazing athlete which helped him become one of the best defensive players in the league, but now his offense has caught up to that level. Put it this way, the Suns would trade Shawn Marion for this guy straight up, and not blink an eye.

F-Antawn Jamison - Another player having a great season under the radar. A double-double guy who can shoot the three, Jamison along with Butler has been indispensible in the Wizards surprise success.

C-Chris Bosh - Not only was his commercial a stroke of genius, but Bosh has the game to back it up. 22 and 9 while shooting 48 percent from the field make him one of the best big men in the game today.

Others recieving votes: Jason Richardson, Jose Calderon, Rasheed Wallace, Michael Redd

Western Conference

STARTERS

G-Steve Nash - One of the toughest decisions for the committee was choosing who should be the starting PG for the west. We gave it to Nash because he still means so much to the Suns and is playing better than ever before with stats like 17 points and 12 assists per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field

G-Kobe Bryant - Kobe's been as good as ever this year while shooting less. His ability to make his teammates better while still averaging 27-6-5-2 gives even more evidence that he is the best in the game.

F-Carlos Boozer - Booze Cruise has become a certified superstar in this league. He's shooting 54 percent from the field and is averaging 22 and 10 per game and never takes a game off.

F-Tim Duncan - His stats may be down this year, but in no way does that mean he's having an off year. This guy simply knows how to play, and will continue to be the most complete big man in the game for years to come.

C-Marcus Camby - Its about time for the sports community to give props to the criminally underrated Camby. His defensive efforts of 15 rebounds and 4 blocks per game are tops in the league and have allowed AI and Melo to focus on their offense.

BENCH

G-Chris Paul - Quite possibly the most exciting player in the NBA. CP3 is the main reason the Hornets have vaulted into the NBA's upper echelon, thanks to his averages of 21-3-10 and almost 3 steals per game

G-Allen Iverson - Another great season for the Answer. Not only is he averaging 27 ppg still, but he is shooting at a better clip than usual while helping to push the Nuggets to the Northwest Division lead.

G-Baron Davis - The ringleader of the most exciting team in the NBA. When Davis is healthy, he is nearly unstoppable, as evidenced by last spring's playoff run and his averages this year of 22-4-8 and 2.5 steals per game

G-Manu Ginobili - A flat-out winner. Manu is still doing his thing averaging near 20-5-5, and even though the Spurs seem more vulnerable, they are still close to having the top record in the West.

F-Shawn Marion - Quite possibly the most versatile player in the game. The Matrix has the talent to fill up every stat category while being the only player on the Suns who plays any sort of defense.

F-Dirk Nowitzki - No one is really mentioning the Mavericks this season after last season's playoff disgrace, but Dirk as usual is busy leading his team to another 50 win season.

F-Brandon Roy - The Blazers have been the surprise team in the NBA to this point, surviving and thriving in the brutal west despite not having their top draft pick Greg Oden. Much of this success can be attributed to Roy, who's averaging 19-4-5 and providing the leadership that a young team needs.

Others receiving votes: Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming, Stephen Jackson, Deron Williams, Andrew Bynum, Carmelo Anthony, David West

The Worldwide Leader Strikes Again

From the company that brought you thrilling, high quality entertainment such as "Who's Now" comes the segment everyone is talking about... Ok, maybe it isn't THAT big of deal, and it really isn't even new. By now I am sure that everyone has seen on ESPN's front page the "Featured Comment" where they post a comment by a person with an account who makes said comment on some discussion board. Sometimes there are decent comments, but the majority of the time I find myself laughing hysterically with friends over what is featured.

So today I was in a spirited and heated debate under the "Power 16" discussion in college basketball. I was repping Indiana as is a typical thing for me to do while I am at work, and some moron decides to post who he thinks are the "Teams to Be Feared in the NCAA Tournament". Somehow, it became the featured comment. Anyways, here is his contribution:



Wow. How insightful. You are picking Kansas, Memphis, UCLA, UNC, Duke, Tennessee, Washington State, and Georgetown to be feared in the NCAA Tournament. How did you come up with such perceptive thoughts? I know, I bet you took a look at the current Top 10 in the country and just picked 8 of them. Good plan. You would fit in PERFECTLY with the other ass clowns at ESPN and their picks. Although, to really fit in, I think you would have to also consider the Yanks and the Sox to be contenders to come away with the National Title.

I'm not really sure what this random thought is supposed to accomplish, but what the hell man? How is that a featured comment? Who moderates this shit, a class of 4th graders? I guess this is more of a cry for help for ESPN. ESPN used to be one of the most credible sources for sports information, insight, and updates. Now, you can get better information from chat rooms and blogs like Deadspin and Gimme Dat Brew. The Worldwide Leader is beginning to fall off faster than Shaq from his prime. If you need further proof, look no further than the joke of a program known as Sportscenter. I'm sorry, but I'm not really interested in watching a panel of non-sports "authorities" judge athletes on the made-up and asinine credential of who is "more now".

Dear ESPN,

Please get better soon. We miss insightful information and highlights from teams that are NOT on the east coast. Miss you dearly.

Every Sports Fan in America

Extorted: Desperate Times, Rampant Accusations, & How Jose Canseco Has Completely Lost It

Ok, the title may be a bit of a stretch considering I ripped off Conseco's book title to align with this story, but if the the shoe fits. The news coming off the presses now is that Jose Canseco has attempted to make a deal with Tigers OF Magglio Ordonez in an effort for Mags to avoid having his name released as a steroid user to the media and in his next book. Apparently Jose wants Mags to invest in a movie project or face these allegations.

My friends, that is what we call extortion. Major League Baseball referred the matter to the FBI, however Ordonez decided not to go forward with a complain, so the FBI did not open a formal investigation, stating "I didn't want to press charges against him, I don't want any problems. He is probably desperate for money. I don't understand why he is trying to put people down."

I have two thoughts on this matter. The first is one that likely everyone else is thinking... WHY MAGS, WHY?! Why not press charges? I am so sick and tired of hearing Jose Canseco's wild allegations and arbitrarily naming big named players for the sake of keeping his own name in the media and scrapping off a little cash at the top. He has named so many people at this point that I am beginning to question if I took steroids at some point. If someone doesn't put an end to this madness, when will it every stop? The man lacks any credibility as it is (he met his 2nd wife at a Hooters for Christ's sake!), but due to the infatuation the American public has with steroids and everything that comes with it, this ass clown will be able to continue cracking out books and television spots, movies, and the like as long as he feels up to it. And we will continue reading it!

The second thought is about Mags' intentions. His words seem sincere... that he doesn't want to make matters worse for Canseco, that his is "desperate for money", and likely doesn't want to add legal woes to his resume. But does anyone else find it odd that someone wouldn't attempt to clear their name and have the FBI investigate a situation like this during a time in baseball when the Mitchell report has been released and the public perception regarding 'roids is guilty until proven innocent. Just hearing your name in the same sentence as steroids loses you precious points in the court of public opinion. I just don't understand why Mags "doesn't want any problems"... unless... could Canseco actually be right on the money about Ordonez and rather than delve down deep in the situation and expose potentially incriminating information about his past, Mags would rather just brush the situation aside, hope it gets swept under the rug. Haven't we learned from the Roger Clemans saga that if you don't come forth immediately and renounce the accusations and take every effort to refute them then you are signing your own death warrant???

For the record, I personally think Mags is innocent. I am on the opposite side of the fence, still believing in innocent until proven guilty (perhaps that explains my thoughts on Bonds). But I do find it a little odd that Ordonez is so willing to brush off a "small" matter of steroid allegations and extortion like it's just the bully down the street that took his tricycle.

Don't Sleep on Tsonga

I should have been asleep by now, but I just couldn't. I just witnessed one of the biggest beatdowns that I've ever seen in a Tennis Match. The Aussie Open Semifinal between #2 Rafael Nadal from Spain and Unranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France began at about 3:30 am ET and I just flipped it on planning to watch a couple of points before hitting the hay. After watching Tsonga connect on winner after winner, though, I was mesmerized. The Frenchman won the first set and I started to wake up. Then he won the Second Set. I couldn't believe my eyes. And neither could the crowd at the Rod Laver Arena. Just before 6 am, Tsonga won the 3rd set to win the match.

Unreal. A man I had never heard of just 2 weeks ago has become one of my favorite players over night. The poise he showed the entire match engaged me like no other player I've ever watched. Even when the Head Judge made a horrible call (he mistakenly overuled the line judge and called a fault on Tsonga and then after the replay overturned it, he still wouldn't award him the point) he stayed cool and said to the Judge, "So you were wrong" and proceeded to serve 2 aces to win the game.

It's not like Nadal played a bad match. Although he did get sloppy in the 3rd set, he only made 4 unforced errors the first 2 sets combined. Tsonga used power and creativity to straight up dismantle arguably the fastest player in the game in Straight Sets! He didn't face a break point until the 3rd set. There were numerous shots that looked super human and he has one of the sickest drop shots you will ever see. He becomes the 5th unranked player in Aussie Open History to reach the Finals (the last was Marcos Baghdatis in 2006).

I gotta hand it to Young Swole. He raved about Tsonga earlier this week when he was only in the second round. He told me not to sleep on Tsonga. I didn't listen. Well now I'm watching and I can't stop. I didn't pick the Frenchman in either of my picks and Swole didn't pick him this round, but after watching this match, I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I just needed to see him Live to understand how a baller rolls. In his wake of terror he's taken down numerous ranked opponents (#2, 8, 9, and 14). The Muhammad Ali lookalike (according to the Match Announcers) will no doubt be a huge underdog in the finals, but I wouldn't sleep on him if I were you. He's gonna have everyone singing a Tsonga in Australia win or lose. I highly recommend watching the replay of this match tonight. You won't be dissapointed.

How Bout Them Bears?

The Big 12 is already known for epic basketball battles. Just last year, one of the best game's in the history of college basketball was played between Texas and Oklahoma State. The Cowboys won the Triple Overtime Battle 105-103 in Stillwater. Well, the game between Baylor and Texas A&M blew that shit out of the water a couple of hours ago. The Bears beat the Aggies in College Station 116-110 in Quintuple Overtime. That's right five, aka the number of pounds of sticky icky on Lil Wayne's tour bus. The teams combined to set a conference record for points and they also combined to shoot more than 100 free throws. The game lasted so long that even one of the referees got confused. In the break before the start of the fourth overtime, a referee approached a member of the media and asked if triple overtime was about to begin. When told it was four, he shook his head and walked off. This thriller is bound to be on ESPN Classic in the near future. And I sure as hell hope it's soon, because this game wasn't on National TV. In fact, unless you were at the game or a Texas A&M student tuning into the college's television feed, you missed this insane game. Now that's just a crime. And not a funny crime like Lil Weezy's drug incident.

The main reason for this post is to talk about the resurgance of Baylor. What a great story this is. The program has had to endure more hardships than any other in the country over the past few years. In 2003, Baylor Basketball Player Patrick Dennehy was murdered by teammate Carlton Dotson. If this weren't terrible enough, the school tried to cover it up and this led to the firing of the coach and the athletic director, an NCAA probation as well as some of the harshest penalties in the history of the organization, and the demise of the Baylor basketball program. The Bears have been the laughing stock of the Big 12 and all of college basketball since then and it looked like they might never recover.

Flash forward to today. Coach Scott Drew has led the team from the depths of hell to become a legit Big 12 program and NCAA Tourney Contender. BU is 16-2 overall and 4-0 in Conference Play and won its fifth in a row and first since entering the rankings for the first time since 1969 on Monday. It broke a 15-game home winning streak for Texas A&M and is the Aggies' third straight loss. How can you root against these guys? They are fourth in the recruiting pecking order in their own state (behind Texas, A&M, Tech...and sometimes even TCU) and they even have a guard on their team named Tweety Carter. Come Tournament time, I'm rooting for Baylor all the way against any team not named IU.

Touchdown Jesus Is Crying...

Here's what you might have heard:

Dana Jacobson, co-host of ESPN2's "First Take," is currently being disciplined for remarks made at a Jan. 11 celebrity roast for ESPN Radio personalities Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic.

Her characterizations of the Notre Dame football program, which have been criticized by a Catholic organization, were deemed "inappropriate" by the network, which issued the following statement from Jacobson:

"I am sorry. My remarks about Notre Dame were foolish and insensitive. I respect all religions and did not mean anything derogatory by my poorly chosen words. I also deeply regret the embarrassment I've caused ESPN and Mike and Mike. My actions at the roast were inappropriate and in no way represent who I am. I won't make excuses for my behavior, but I do hope I can be forgiven for such a poor lack of judgment." -ESPN.com

This is what you'll get from most credible news sources. But if you want to know what this crazy woman actually said and did, well, look no further:

"In a skit where she appeared to be drinking from a bottle of Belvedere Vodka, she reportedly said 'Fuck Notre Dame, 'Fuck Touchdown Jesus,' and 'Fuck Jesus.'"
(source: Michael David Smith @ the AOL Sports Blog "Farmhouse")

Hmm. Wow. I guess it's one thing to laugh at the Arab world for lighting their women on fire when some Dutch cartoonist draws pictures of the prophet Muhammad with a stick of dynamite in his turban. Something else when someone goes nuts on J.C. like that. And this woman is jewish, by the way. And ESPN just suspends her. Well do you remember why Rush Limbaugh got kicked off the Monday Night Football Telecast? (Limbaugh's Comments Touch Off Controversy ) . And how about Don Imus? He got fired for saying "nappy-headed hoes" one time. And some of the girls he was referring to might have had hair fitting the classical and factual definition of nappy, as found in the Urban Dictionary.

Well whatever, no one watches Cold Pizza anyways unless they're real bored. And it's more fun to watch a black guy and a woman fight each other over who gets to be the next President anyway.

"Oh, he still plays for IU?"

This is the response most people have when I mention D.J. White. Two broken feet and a Marco Killingsworth ago, D.J. White was the Big Ten freshman of the year and had his own theme song courtesy of Weezy F. Baby. Now, thanks to the much improved coaching of Kelvin Sampson, deciding to ditch the t-shirt under the jersey, and a wisely staying out of last year's NBA draft, D.J. is performing like the stud we all expected him to be. Anyone who doubts the fact that he is an All-American and one of top players, not just big men, in the game can look here:

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=94

This should answer any lingering questions about Big White's talent, especially for those budding sabermatricians out there.

(Thanks to Chris Engel of the Indiana Daily Student for the heads-up on this link)


IN OTHER NEWS:
I saw a great quote on ESPN regarding the Kentucky players' feelings about the Tennessee Vols last night.

"Kentucky upset the Vols 72-66 and sent the following message: We may be down, but don't disrespect us in a building that has seen more glory than Tennessee could muster in six lifetimes."

I think that message, minus the "we may be down" part, is exactly what the Hoosiers are tattooing on their opponent's foreheads this season, and for the last 29 games (all wins) at Assembly Hall.

Young Weezy going the Mike Tyson route?

Lil Wayne was arrested last night for having enough drugs on his bus to kill about 12 people, but I wasn't really surprised by that. He is, after all, known for having "that lean in my cup" aka cold medicine, a predilection for pills, and a weed habit that keeps him "so high I could eat a star". I used to actually hate rap of this variety because it lacks substance, is misogynist, and the beats are hella grimy. and then i went to a strip club and realized that making it rain was my calling in life. thanks weezy.

but check out dudes face tats. i think hes got the N.O. Saints symbol on his face twice, along with some sort of fish-hook looking thing. the tears I can understand; if I was from Holly Grove New Orleans I probably would have shot a few people by now strictly on principle. I don't remember him having those tattoos before, and now that hes rich you would think that someone other than cousin ray ray could put a decent tattoo on a brother's face region. anyway peep the story of what Weezy was holding...

http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN2311261420080123