We've Moved....

Yes, we've been on a hiatus. There's a reason for that. We're relocating.

My new and improved blog, featuring daily updates, videos, and interviews can be found here.

JMP's NEW BLOG!!

Erik Spoelstra Interview

My Sports Sunday conversation with new Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra can be found at the NewsRadio 610 WIOD page. That means GO!!

Among things I took out:

-Considering that Spoe may have never partaken in a non-Sun Sports halftime interview in 13 years, it's incredible how sharp and prepared and natural he is. It's fair to not immediately anoint him a success, but I really wouldn't worry about the lack of head coaching experience.

-He won't be a puppet the way Tony Sparano is expected to be(Pat Riley allows his coaches a lot more freedom), but make no mistake, Spoelstra is an extension of Riles. The defensive first culture will be upheld. The weight and body fat requirements will be there. Now it's a question of whether he will be flexible to the personnel, or if the personnel will have to fully adapt to the culture. Probably a mixture of both.

-Between talking with Spoelstra and a couple people in the organization, I don't think the Heat trade the pick no matter where they land. While I've speculated for weeks that Derrick Rose is the guy targeted at No. 1, there seems to be a lot of interest in Brook Lopez potentially at No. 3. And I've heard both Jared Bayless and Kevin Love prominently mentioned. Both interesting because I don't think a shoot first point guard is a great choice with Dwyane, and while I'm on the Kevin Love will succeed in the NBA bandwagon, top 4 is awfully high. But it seems like all these options are more appealing to the braintrust than acquiring a veteran in lieu of the pick.

-Perhaps most interesting are Spoelstra's comments about D-Wade. We know they have, if not a friendship, then at least an extreme respect for one another. But while some people in the organization seem to begrudgingly go with the company line of praising Dwyane's Olympic aspirations, I think Spoelstra genuinely believes it's the best thing for Wade. And I agree 100 percent. Wade performed much better on back to back and 1 day of rest this year than 2+ days rest. Barring injury, the Olympics will get Dwyane into game speed and shape much easier than anything else.

-Of course, all of these could be smokescreens. After all, Pat was the master of saying something one day and pulling a reversal the next. Stan Van Gundy had Riley's bluntness(without as much charisma), but didn't pull many sleight of hands. Where does Spoelstra lie, excuse the pun? Stay tuned.

Hanley Ramirez Thoughts.....

So many places to go with the news that the Marlins are about to announce a 6-year, 70 million dollar extension for Hanley Ramirez.

-Shocked, Surprised, Stunned, Amazed, Flabbergasted, Astonished, Dumbfounded, Incredulous. Are those enough adjectives to describe my reaction?

-The biggest reason for the shock is not the sharp 180 degree turn from pouring in no money. Or Jeffrey Loria's comments stating they would continue to not pump in money until the new stadium opens its doors. The main reason has to do with the stadium possibly hitting a snag. On Friday, Norman Braman's lawsuit, minus one facet, got the green light to be decided in court in July. And speaking with multiple people who are close to both parties, ignore the false confidence the Marlins may be showing: They are SCARED of Norman Braman. And so is Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. Just reporting what I've been told.

-Obviously, the Hanley deal makes sense on a million different levels. But it doesn't validate the Miguel Cabrera deal at all. In fact, it exacerbates the bad taste. The Marlins DIDN'T have to make a choice between Miggy and HanRam. They could have and should have retained Cabrera's rights until 2009. And let's just say, considering the Fish are operating without a finalized stadium deal, they had a hunch this would go through before the season. Why not pay Miggy his 10 million price tag, sign Hanley to an extension, and replace Andrew Miller and Burke Badenhop's spots with say, Kyle Loshe(who signed a 1 yr 4 mil deal) and Chris Volstad? I know what you're saying, the Marlins got a once in a lifetime package from Detroit. You don't think they could have reached a similar deal following another 320-35-120 season from Cabrera?
And stop with all the justifications towards getting rid of Miggy. No team in its right mind would ever want to get rid of a 24-year old superstar who hasn't even reached his prime. I don't care how el gordo he is, that didn't stop Babe Ruth. I don't care if he's not a prototypical third baseman, move him to the first sack. And bad clubhouse guy? Bring in veterans to neutralize that. Just like the Red Sox did with Big Papi keeping Manny under wraps. Besides, the clubhouse scenario is so overstated, Dontrelle did more irreparable harm than Migy.

-That said, the Marlins sent this message to their fan base: We're in it to win it in 2008. Do I think they can sustain a 23-14 pace playing the creampuff part of their schedule? No. But as long as they're in the NL East mix, go get that ideal leadoff hitter and center fielder. Go acquire another veteran arm.

-And sign at least a couple other players up for arbitration. It's amazing I'm suggesting this, but if Scott Olsen doesn't encounter any brushes with the law, ink him with a 3 or 4 year extension. Same for a dependable bat like Josh Willingham. I'm not expected the Marlins to become the Yankees overnight, but they do need to spend wisely. Key word being SPEND.

Video: My Biggest Nightmare....

For some it's ghosts, others it's snakes. For me, it was the PBS music that would come on after shows like Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow. Have a good laugh!

Yes, You Can Bet on the Draft Lottery........

It shouldn't surprise anybody that wagers can be placed for who wins the NBA Draft Lottery(which we all know will be the Heat), since spring training baseball garners action. But, I feel obligated to provide degenerates with their PSA, so here ya go.

FYI, for bleep's sake, I'm picking the Heat, Bucks and Sonics as the top 3

Miami Heat +175
Seattle Supersonics +250
Minnesota T-Wolves +385
Memphis Grizzlies +400
New York Knicks +800
L.A. Clippers +1000
Milwaukee Bucks +1200
Charlotte Bobcats +1800
Chicago Bulls +2000
New Jersey Nets +2500
Sacramento Kings +5000
Indiana Pacers +6000
Portland Trail Blazers +6600
Golden State Warriors +7500

Making the Case for a Co-Co-Co-Co MVP.....

The sign of a bad sports talk host is to show an inability to formulate a strong opinion. 99 percent of the time, that inability is bred out of sheer laziness. But once in a while, there's an issue which doesn't come equipped with a rubber-stamped answer. Such as the rightful winner of the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player.

I'm largely on the side of changing the Most Valuable Player to the Most Outstanding Player. Because, normally, there is no scientific way to calculate who had the greatest impact on their team. How can you definitively say that a superstar on a 55-win team INDIVIDUALLY delivered more victories through their presence than someone on a 40-win team. But of course, the old curmudgeons that cast their ballots usually don't concur with that analysis.

Based on that idea, LeBron James was the most outstanding player because he led the NBA in scoring, and has every single shred of that offense run through him. Plus, King James took an otherwise horrible Cleveland team to the NBA Finals, and with Danny Ferry poisoning the team by being Danny Ferry, it's amazing some are picking Cleveland to beat Chicago.

Then there is Chris Paul, who carries all of the qualities that most define an MVP by. Incredible statistical season(21 pts, 11.6 ast, nearly 5/1 assist to turnover ratio, led NBA in PER), and lifted an OK supporting cast to the West's No. 2 seed, while carrying the New Orleans story with him. Of course, some of his credentials are a product of his point guard position, but make no mistake, 2007-2008 may be defined by CP3.

Kevin Garnett's numbers weren't as shoddy(19 pts, 9 rbs) and he missed 11 games, but Bill Simmons article documents how Garnett is one of the rare players that ACTUALLY bring intangibles, and transcends statistics. He was the reason the Celtics went from having Don Nelson architect the defensive gameplan, to having five Bruce Bowen's on the court at all times. And this is when the other two stars(Pierce and Ray Allen) are at best, mediocre defensive players. KG changes the mindset of practice, and even small things like blocking shots after the whistle alter the culture in Beantown.


And of course, there is the man who's about to win his first MVP, Kobe Bryant. Was this his most dominant season? No, the Jordan like 05-06 campaign was his most dominant. But this was Bryant's most complete season, and led L.A. to a No. 1 seed out West with the similar cast of characters, save 35 games from a more dominant Andrew Bynum, and 27 from Pau Gasol. And while the idea of a "Lifetime Achievement Award" leaves a sour taste, it's washed out from the scenario that the best player in the game needs at least one MVP mantle.

Gun to my head, I'm giving the award to Garnett since this is one of the rare distinguishable years to separate Most Valuable from Most Outstanding. But how can you come up with a tangible argument any of the four?

This Rivalry is Going Way too Far

This is why we give you guys surgeon's general warnings that taking sports too seriously is bad for your health. And this also proves that anybody who still calls Yankees-Red Sox a non-rivalry is an imbecile.

Story Courtesy of the AP. Picture courtesy of the Nashua Telegraph

NASHUA, N.H. - A Yankees fan who got into a Red Sox-Yankees argument outside a bar aimed her car at a group of people to scare them and didn't brake, hitting and killing a man, authorities and witnesses said.

Ivonne Hernandez was arraigned Monday on reckless second-degree murder and drunken driving charges and was held without bail. She did not enter a plea.

Hernandez's public defender, James Quay, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Hernandez, 43, was speeding early Friday toward a small group that included the man, Matthew Beaudoin, 29, and never hit her brakes, a prosecutor said Monday.

"She accelerated at a high speed for about 200 feet. She went directly at this group of people," prosecutor Susan Morrell said. "She indicated to police that she wanted to scare this group of people. She thought they would get out of the way."

Beaudoin died of massive head trauma at a hospital, Morrell said.

Hernandez, of Nashua, was arrested at the scene. She said she had been drinking and refused to take a breath-alcohol test, Morrell said. Hernandez said she had been in an argument with the group.

Authorities won't describe the argument, but witnesses said it occurred after Beaudoin left a bar.

Owner Lisa Slade said one of her bartenders, who was with Beaudoin after the bar closed, stopped at a bush to relieve herself.

Beaudoin and another girl, Maria Hughes, laughed at her. Slade said the bartender told her that a woman getting into her car thought Beaudoin and Hughes were laughing at her.

She said the woman punched the bartender. "My bartender got slapped in the face," Slade said.

At that point, the group saw a Yankees bumper sticker on Hernandez's car and "said something to her about being a Yankees fan," and the conflict escalated, Slade said. Like the rest of New Hampshire, Nashua, 45 miles northwest of Boston, is Red Sox country.

Hernandez allegedly gunned her car and struck Beaudoin and Maria Hughes, 21. Hughes had only minor injuries, which Beaudoin's sister Faith said was because her brother shielded Hughes, a friend.

Faith Beaudoin described her brother as a jokester and social butterfly who liked to tease.

"I hope she's haunted by Matt's face hitting her windshield," she said of Hernandez. "It's been an absolute nightmare for all of us."

Video: This is What Should Have Aired on E-60

So will ESPN remove the Sports Guy from E-60 just like they did Dana Jacobsen dirty for being the MVP of an ESPN roast?? Who knows, but enjoy this spoof of Miguel Tejada's "To Catch a Predator" appearance on E-60, with Jimmy Kimmel and Bill Simmons. Courtesy of AWFUL ANNOUNCING.

Monday Quickies......

-My interview with Dolphins No. 1 pick Jake Long is on the WIOD website. It's a pretty standard meet and greet, although we talked about why so many of the rookies are SCARED of Parcells. Am I the only one who doesn't understand that dynamic? I get trying to cast a good first impression, but it's not like Tuna is going to wring your neck if you mess up a drill. And besides, I want people on my team EAGER to play for Parcells, not scared.

-Sorry but PETA's stretching with comparing horse racing to dog fighting. Larry Jones was holding back tears when Eight Belles' had to be euthanized. Versus Ron Mexico celebrating a day's work by sending the pup to the electric chair. There may be similarities surrounding the concept of treating animals like objects, but the perception/tone couldn't be more different.

-There's a clear difference between dancing with yourself, and dancing with someone else.

-And how does Miami-FT Lauderdale have four sports stations, and not one of them is carrying NBA playoff games?

Video: Nothing Like Banter Between Newspeople

So does he say "sacks" or "sex?" You make the call.....

Video: What is Buzz Bissinger's Problem?

If you haven't heard by now, brilliant yet overly sanctimonious author Buzz Bissinger went all Hulk on Deadspin.com editor Will Leitch in Tuesday's episode of Costas Now. The argument emanated from blogs and how Bissinger thinks they are the "ROOT OF ALL EVIL."

Here's the Youtube video of the audio from Costas Now, with HBO prohibiting the actual video from being shown.



It bothers me to a certain extent to say this, because I've never met Bissinger personally, yet greatly admired "Friday Night Lights." But he sounds like an absolute moron when getting into arguments. This is the same guy who when I worked at 790 the Ticket, went on Boog Sciambi's radio show to attempt to tell him off about minor league pitchers(nobody knows more baseball than Boog), and while he's at it, throws a complete and total cheap shot at Sid Rosenberg. Suffice to say, it sounds like he has some serious anger management issues.

And on his comments from blogs, I can sympathize with his frustration over the extreme cynicism that seems to surround sports. Those of you that listen to my shows and read my work understand that I try not to be judgemental or stand on a soapbox, but rather approach an issue from all viewpoints and often times end up on the unpopular side of things.

But grouping blogs and bloggers in the guilty category is just as ignorant as the very same thing Bissinger is railing against. Yes, some blogs may exist in the uber-cynical category. But others provide the opposite. And some, like Deadspin, and like this one(and I love Deadspin), look to offer a balance between the lighter side of sports, while discussing the major issues in a light that not everyone chooses to see.

Three NBA Coaching Suggestions...

1. Suns Fire Mike D’Antoni, Hire Rick Carlisle- Should a coach who’s averaged 58 wins over the last four seasons lose his job? Not necessarily. But D’Antoni is quickly becoming the Rick Adelman of running his players into the ground prior to the playoffs, and with Steve Nash and the Big Fraud well into the Back Nine of their careers, Steve Kerr needs to put Phoenix in the best position to win immediately.

That means hiring the one perceived retread who’s not a retread. Rick Carlisle has shown an ability to mesh both an up-tempo, and an inside-out style offense, while bringing a defensive mindset that D’Antoni left in Europe. And while Nash may initially object, just ask Chauncey Billups what Carlisle did to his career.

2. Knicks Hire Mike D’Antoni- With every job I want to take away, there’s another I need to create. While Marc Jackson may eventually be the perfect guy for the job, wouldn’t you rather hire an experienced coach to pull the Knicks out of the abyss so they can only occasionally make David Letterman monologues?

D’Antoni is the perfect guy to do that. In between all of the Isiah/Dolan/Starbury soap operas, everyone forgets just how turgid it has been to watch the Knicks. You think high pick and roll basketball is boring? How about swinging it around the perimeter until Eddy Curry gets open for a two-foot jump hook? D’Antoni can at least produce 40 wins with New York’s talent, and make them exciting. Then, you hire Marc Jackson to teach youngsters “the game of basketball.”

3. Memo to Marc Cuban: Let Things Be For One More Year- If anyone should be on the hot seat, it’s Donnie Nelson. Why would you give up your best defender(Devin Harris) who’s an underrated point guard to bring in a guy(Jason Kidd) past his prime to run an offense set up for isolations to Dirk and Josh Howard? Not even Red Auerbach could instantly transform the offense to a championship level in mid-season.
That’s why, as much as I think this trade was a dumb idea, give it a full training camp and season before rendering final judgement.

Editors Note: I forgot how much Mark Cuban hates bloggers. No further explanation needed to why Avery is now unemployed.

Video: Peyton Goes Nuts.....

Thanks to Pro Football Talk, we've unearthed the angry side of Peyton Manning. Now don't get me wrong, I am a Tom Brady guy through and through. But I'm not stepping on the soapbox and railing at Peyton to not go "Let's go Insurance Adjuster" on teammates, it happens all the time.

However, it is pretty hillarious.

Video: Simon Cowell's Debut

I can't link the video, but click HERE to see an 80's Simon Cowell participate on some cheezy British game show "Sale of the Century." I seem to remember it airing on the USA afternoon sweep at one point....of course along side NO WHAMMIES, BIG BUCKS, NO WHAMMIES!

Video: The Downfall of John Daly

So if he had some of the 60 million dollars he allegedly lost, would John Daly have at least sported a wife beater?

Why I Hate Right Wing Fascists.....

Weird that that my political sensibilities burst out from a sports blog, but this Michigan show host's blog entry on seventh round pick Caleb Campbell picking football over the Army is downright offensive. Read this excerpt.

Caleb Campbell chose West Point. He was not forced to go there. If he wanted pro football then there are a ton of colleges where you can chase your dream.
The Army also is at fault for offering an opt-out for athletes. That sends the wrong message about character and leadership.

Men of character don't opt out.

Leaders lead by example.

Maybe Campbell should look at the stories of Tillman and Williamson to understand that when he entered West Point, duty, honor and country meant more than fame and fortune.

Here's what I have to say to you Mr. Simonson. How INSENSITIVE of you to suggest following Pat Tillman's footsteps of "honoring his country" when Tillman DIED, followed by the United States government massively covering up the way he died.

Are you suggesting that Pat Tillman would have made the same choice if he knew he would be gunned down by friendly fire? Or that the Tillman family would have signed off on it, had they known the ramifications? If so, you need to get your head examined.

It's people like this that make me sick.

Random Draft Notes.....

Quickly going through the other 31 NFL clubs, in a non-Mel Kiper kind of way....

AFC East

Buffalo- See what happens when Marv Levy's AARP card has been revoked? You don't reach for a receiver.
New England- How many positions can Jerod Mayo play? And while everyone raised their eyebrows at QB Kevin O'Connell in Round 3, he will probably end up as a monster tight end/special teams player.
Jets- I love the fact that the unanimous "boom or bust" player is a Jet. Hellooooo Mike Mamula!

AFC South
Houston-How did Steve Slaton slip into the third round?
Indianapolis- The 1st round wouldn't have been recieverless if Indy had a pick. And it would have been a good one because of that Peyton Manning guy.
Jacksonville- Trading up 18 spots for Derrick Harvey was dumb. But not as dumb as Baltimore not snaring an '09 1st or 2nd round pick in return.
Tennessee- This may be the time where you hear Sal Palontonio drum up the brigade of "Jeff Fisher is overrated" pundits.

AFC North
Baltimore-Joe Flacco No. 18? The guy who Wannstedt ran out of Pittsburgh? Oh yeah, there offensive coordinator has him thumb pointed THIS WAY! And see Jacksonville.
Cincinatti- Perhaps the draft room explains why Marvin Lewis hasn't been fired. And that makes the decision not to trade Chad Johnson that much more indefensible.
Cleveland- Their real draft was Brady Quinn, Corey Williams, and Shaun Rodgers. And that could make them one of the winners.
Pittsburgh- I don't know where the fibula is, but apparently its a motherbleeper of an injury to take Rashard Mendenhall.

AFC West
Denver- Not a bad draft, but this seems to be the team ready to really bottom out pretty soon.
Kansas City- The annual winner of the "Let's not start bleeping each others bleep yet." Keep in mind Jared Allen is gone, and there is no quarterback to challenge Brodie Croyle before you fawn all over Carl Peterson.
Oakland- Cannot tell you how much I love the Run DMC pick. He may be what makes JeMarcus Russell's career.
San Diego- The Chargers always seem to get burned by their corners, so adding one in the first round makes sense. Knock it down Cason!

NFC East
Dallas- Felix Jones yes, but why Tashard Choice who has NFL potential? Either way, the Cowboys weekend boils down to not trading for McFadden and the punk they picked up from Tennessee.
Giants- We will know immediately whether Kenny Phillips is the real deal or not. Because I'd love to see him bring the '07 attitude to Drill Sgt. Coughlin.
Philadelphia- Did you ever think we'd say the Eagles are clearly the worst team in the NFC East? I just did.
Washington- Santana Moss and Antwan Randal-El are receivers. They are not top-notch weapons. But Malcolm Kelly could be.

NFC South
Atlanta- Don't like Arthur Blank making the pick when you bring in a Pats personnel guy. But Matt Ryan makes all the sense in the world for a franchise that NEEDS to turn the page from Ron Mexico.
Carolina- If Jonathan Stewart turns D'Angelo Williams into a change of pace back, doesn't that make Williams a bad pick?
New Orleans- Seem ready to contend again now that they are actually addressing the D and should be healthy. And don't bother trading for Shockey, you don't need him.
Tampa Bay- It's a B minus/C plus draft because of the lack of another pass rusher. If they acquire Jason Taylor, make that an A draft. Even with 97 quarterbacks.


NFC North
Chicago- Great job not drafting a quarterback, Jerry Angelo. Even Kyle Wright in Round 7 would have been something.
Detroit- Just when you think Matt Millen actually can pat himself on the back, most scouts say there were better O-Linemen on the board than Gosder Cherilus at 17. Wah-wah-wah.
Green Bay- Jordy Nelson is primed to join the best receiving corps in the NFL. And Brian Brohm will be throwing them the ball by midseason.
Minnesota- The most interesting team in the NFL. Could be a Super Bowl contender(explosive offensive skill players, great O-Line, Williams boys and Jared Allen beefing up D) or can be the bust of the year(no QB, suspect secondary).

NFC West
Arizona- So much for the Ken Whisenhunt is going to sack Matt Leinart talk. Nice move going defense early.
St Louis- My rationale for the Dolphins not targeting a D-Lineman No. 1 doesn't extend to the Rams. They score points.
San Francisco- I hope Joe Staley is working out for you Mike Nolan. That and the 75 dollar SYMS suits.
Seattle- If they are the most obscure team in the NFL, it's only fitting they have the most obscure draft.

A Lack of Draft Drama....

I will have more NFL Draft stuff tomorrow, when my brain isn't half-asleep.

In the meantime, Gregg Doyel wrote a great column on CBS Sportsline about how anti-climactic NFL Draft coverage has become. And especially ESPN reporting what picks are, before they happen. Excerpt below:

After 10 picks of the first round, ESPN was 10-for-10 in predicting, and sometimes flat-out reporting, who the pick would be. The draft is Christmas come to April, and ESPN was telling us what was inside the wrapper.
The first pick was obvious enough. Jake Long had already signed with Miami. No drama there. None expected. Fine.

But then it stayed that way. Analyst Chris Mortensen told us the Rams would take Chris Long with the No. 2 overall pick. Reporter Rachel Nichols, standing outside the Falcons' draft room in Georgia, told us the Falcons would take Matt Ryan third. Mortensen said Oakland would pick Darren McFadden fourth.

About this time, it occurred to me: This is not fun. ESPN is winning its game of gotcha, but the rest of us are the big losers. This was like buying a book for your birthday, maybe the latest by James Patterson, and having the stupid store clerk read the last page out loud. Or like sitting down for M. Night Shyamalan's latest thriller and inadvertently starting with the last scene, the one where Bruce Willis realizes he's dead or Samuel L. Jackson reveals himself to be an insane killer.

This sets up an interesting question: Would you rather wait for the dramatic announcements, or are you feeding into the "always having it first" frenzy?

Read the entire article HERE.

A Good Draft, With a Sour Aftertaste

For me, there are two different ways you can assess the Miami Dolphins draft. If you assessed the draft, then the Fins scored at least a B+. However, taking the whole weekend into account, things aren't so rosy. And they could potentially get uglier.

What do I mean by that? No. 99 is still on the Miami Dolphins.

It seemed an absolute certainty that Jason Taylor would be Dancing with the Stars elsewhere by the end of Saturday. And although Bill Parcells reportedly was demanding a 1st round pick, he would settle for a Round 2 selection. And that is enough to land a 33-year old defensive end with two or three elite/productive years left.

Somehow, it didn't happen. Although I know for a FACT that the Fins were trying to spin a deal with Tampa Bay, they came up empty. Talks with Jacksonville stalled when the Tuna wanted to swindle a first round selection. Whether Miami eventually dropped the price is something for Jeff Ireland to know, and us to speculate about. But the end result is that JT is still a Miami Dolphin. And that is flat out absurd.

There is no reason whatsoever for Jason Taylor to still be on this team. Don't get me wrong, I love JT and everything that he has stood for over the last 11 years. Considering that my fandom for the Fins really began in the mid 90's, Jason Taylor is my favorite Dolphin.

But this is a team that is, thankfully, in the beginning stages of rebuilding. AKA they won't be good for another 2-3 years. And what do you do when you build? Get younger, and trade your older assets. What good is Jason Taylor for a 5-11 and 6-10 season, when you can get potentially a 10-year offensive lineman(Samson Satele) or a quarterback(Chad Henne) that at the very least will have a better chance at flourishing on a Parcells team than John Beck.

More importantly, what is the solution to an irreconcilable marriage? Split up. I don't care what JT may say publicly(and his PR people asking WIOD's Footy not to ask football questions today SPEAKS VOLUMES), he WANTS OUT. And not solely to play for a winner, or because his BFF Zach Thomas is now doing the two-step. I think by now, we've heard about this account regarding JT's surprise return to South Florida, and the brush-off he received from the new regime. If not, read it and come back to me with an argument that this marriage can continue!

And to clarify, I don't blame either side for the eroding relationship. Kudos to JT for realizing his Hollywood career and wanting to play for a winner. And for refusing to go Chad Johnson on everyone, or needlessly throw the media under the bus to be a good foot soldier. And I'm fine with the Fins wanting to move on from the JT/Zach area, and even tho Bill Parcells not acknowledging Taylor's entrance to the Fins complex is reprehensible, Tony Sparano wanting to mark his territory and not pander to the superstar is understandable.

What's not understandable though, is the sheer fact that Jason Taylor remains a Miami Dolphin. And whether that's due to an unreasonable first round pick demand, a stubbornness to give into what JT wants, or perhaps a behind-the-scenes ultimatum from Mr. Managing General Partner, it's a bad decision. And one that partially takes away from all the goodwill generated by the Dolphins in a draft week that they otherwise got right.

You Be the Judge: Who Should Be Fired First?

You can thank my employment at NEWSRADIO 610 WIOD for getting me fascinated with news anchor that do stupid things. Or in one case, stupid bloggers that assume things about newscasters(ok enough of me as Jim Carrey said "kicking my own asssss")

Here are two great ones that have/will probably result in termination. First, we have a Utica, New York meteorologist suffering from a "Tourette's Moment." And I don't know what's better, the sudden cursing(PARENTAL WARNING), or the smile afterwards.



While that one provides a mixture of horror and humor, this one actually fails the PC test. And I'm of the belief that too many things get assassinated by the PC police. But Dallas sportscaster Dale Hansen comparing the signing of Pacman Jones to Osama Bin Laden, yeah a bit too much.
Even if I would condone you egging Jerry Jones's house if you are a Cowboy fan, let's keep the Osama/Hitler references out of sports.

Video: What Could End up Being the Big Story of the Draft

Besides Jason Taylor from a local level, which better get done by the end of Saturday. Otherwise most of the goodwill generated from the Parcells/Ireland team from the Jake Long pick goes to the waste.

But since this is ESPN, the Brett Favre network, watch this appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. You try to convince me "Will he or won't he play" doesn't dominate the airwaves ESPN!

Mock First Round Draft........

Couple of notes before the predictions:

-I'm only doing this because the unofficial blog commandments dictates each blog must have one.

-If the Rams take Dorsey, then it throws off the entire draft, since now the Falcons must go for Ryan, Chris Long is in the picture for Oakland, and other chicanery and permutations follow. However, I think they opt for Chris Long due to the need of versatility.

-Did I mention these predictions will prob suck?

-In the annual Pats are smarter than everyone else moment, they select the guy who's been eternally linked to them since the Sam Jankovich days(Keith Rivers), but trade down so they can pay No. 10 dollars versus No. 7 dollars. And the Saints are desperate to go wheeling and dealing.

-The Bills continue their annual "What the Bleep" parade.

-Which is what you will be saying when I nail about 2 of these 31 picks. And of course, I'm including Jake Long as both picks.

-Speaking of which, the Fins complete the Jason Taylor trade by sending their 2009 3rd round pick and JT to J-Ville for the No. 26 pick. And that sets up for the inevitable Dan Marino/Chad Henne draft position comparisons, with Jim Mandich suffering laryngitis just in time for the Fins to go Aquib Talib on everybody.

-Meaning the first team to trade back in the first round for a QB is Atlanta. I wonder is Brian Brohm is happy Bobby Petrino is gone?

-I'm not convinced that the Steelers are scared enough of Willie Parker's fibula to go RB in Round 1. Then again, I'm not convinced of any of my pics. Or where the fibula is located from an anatomical standpoint.

-You thought Kelly Jennings bailed out Canes fans. Another Kelly barely keeps the U's streak alive. Barely. Next time, try to break 5 sec, Calais.

-My self-deprecation probably powers me to rare Mel Kiper status. Is that a good thing now?

1. Miami Dolphins- OT Jake Long, Michigan
2. St Louis Rams- DE/OLB Chris Long, Virginia
3. Atlanta Falcons- DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU
4. Oakland Raiders- RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
5. Kansas City Chiefs- OL Branden Albert, Virginia
6. New York Jets- DE/OLB Vernon Ghoulston, Ohio State
7. New Orleans Saints(from San Francisco via New England)- DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
8. Baltimore Ravens- QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
9. Cincinatti Bengals- DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
10. New England Patriots(from New Orleans)- LB Keith Rivers, USC
11. Buffalo Bills- WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State
12. Denver Broncos- OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
13. Carolina Panthers- OT Ryan Clady, Boise State
14. Chicago Bears- RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
15. Detroit Lions- OLB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee
16. Arizona Cardinals- CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
17. Kansas City Chiefs(from Minnesota)- DE Phillip Merling, Clemson
18. Houston Texans- CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
19. Philadelphia Eagles- OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- WR James Hardy, Indiana
21. Washington Redskins- WR Malcom Kelly, Oklahoma
22. Dallas Cowboys(from Cleveland)- RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
23. San Francisco 49ers(from Pittsburgh)- OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College
24. Tenneessee Titans- WR Limas Sweed, Texas
25. Seattle Seahawks- TE Dustin Keller, Purdue
26. Miami Dolphins(from Jacksonville) CB Aquib Talib, Kansas
27. Atlanta Falcons(from San Diego)- QB Brian Brohm, Louisville
28. Dallas Cowboys-CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
29. Pittsburgh Steelers(from Indianapolis via San Francisco)- RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
30. Green Bay Packers- OT Sam Baker, USC
31. New York Giants- S Kelly Phillips, Miami

Video: Kenny Smith Trying to Emulate Kobe....

So not only is Kobe a pimp at dropping 49 spots in playoff games. He's also a pimp at jumping cars. Well, him and Joey Gathright.

Last night on TNT, Kenny "The Jet" Smith tried to go back to his 1990 runner-up Slam Dunk Competition Days. And, well the result proves why TNT's studio show is the best show in the history of sports television.

Video courtesy of Sports By Brooks.

At Least This Hasn't Happened Under Bush's Watch

I'll give the credit to Uncle Sedano on this, for bringing it up on his show this afternoon. As he described it, perhaps the scariest story EVERRRRR!

Courtesy of Reuters.

KINSHASA: Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft.

Reports of so-called penis snatching are not uncommon in West Africa, where belief in traditional religions and witchcraft remains widespread, and where ritual killings to obtain blood or body parts still occur.

Rumours of penis theft began circulating last week in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo's sprawling capital of some eight million inhabitants. They quickly dominated radio call-in shows, on which listeners were advised to beware of fellow passengers in communal taxis wearing gold rings.

Purported victims, 14 of whom were also detained by police, claimed sorcerers simply touched them to make their genitals shrink or disappear, in what some residents said was an attempt to extort cash with the promise of a cure. "You just have to be accused of that, and people come after you. We've had a number of attempted lynchings ... You see them covered in marks after being beaten," Kinshasa police chief Jean-Dieudonne Oleko said.

Police arrested the accused sorcerers and their victims in an effort to avoid the sort of bloodshed seen in Ghana a decade ago when 12 suspected penis snatchers were beaten to death by angry mobs. The 27 men have since been released.

The NBA is making Greg Oden Younger....

So Greg Oden goes from admitting he watches "The New Adventures of Old Christine" in college, to sporting a "McLovin" T-Shirt in the Associaton?

Perhaps surgery did more than repair his knee.

Pic courtesy of College On the Record

Have Fun Red Sox Nation......

My god, does Boston just have free license on the entire sports world forever? Red Sox 2007 champs, Celtics probable 2008 champs, Pats probable 2009 champs.

And now, introducing the new Tina Cervasio, Heidi Watney! I never thought I would say this but she makes Tina look like Frontier League material by comparison.

No Apologies Required.....

So with the outstanding news that Jake Long is now gonna make the Dolphins offensive line a bunch of Bad MotherBleeper MotherBleepers, it seems like I'm expected to issue an apology to Fins General Manager Jeff Ireland for the comments I made last week.

Um, yeah, not so fast.

First off, I stand by my opinion that last week's "pillar of our defense" segment was a boo-boo not a smokescreen. And yes, I understand that it's Bill Parcells, but there's a difference between not tipping your hand, and coming up with an elaborate 180 degree trick like your M Night Shamylan. And you tell me the last time the Tuna, or any good GM/personal czar came up with something that pre-meditated. Notice I said good, because the one that comes to mind was Randy Mueller pretending to fawn over Brady Quinn, only to pass on him for Ted Ginn and his family. And how did that one work out? Not so well.

Plus, I was at the press conference last week, just like I was at today's. And Jeff Ireland turned TOMATO RED when he realized his goof-up. If that was an acting performance, then Daniel Day-Lewis needs to hand over his Oscar. And interesting that today, although Ireland had a snappy retort when asked about his "Freudian Slip," on the whole, he seemed much more reserved and emotionless with his comments, aka he was COACHED.

So ultimately, I stand by my opinion that Jeff Ireland has done a solid job overall in the GM role(and whatever decisions he has been involved in making), but not so much in the media savvy department. It just so happens that this particular mistake didn't really matter too much, because the Fins had the No. 1 pick, and had their guy.

And that said, everyone gets a ton of credit for picking Jake Long, and not one a defensive lineman No. 1. It may seem like a no-brainer and the safe pick, but with an organization that has a whopping zero picks on their current roster from 1998-2003, most of the Dolphins picks have been no brainers. The other sense of the word. Glad to see that finally the Fins learn!

Video: The Most Freudian of Freudian Slips?

In honor of the "pillar of defense", which has evoked much discussion both in South Florida and on this blog, I present these two moments which make Jeff Ireland look like Webster's Dictionary. You tell me which is better.

First, we have Albuquerque news anchor Cynthia Izaguire, reaching for the Seinfeld handbook after this gaffe. Not that there's anything wrong with it!


Second, Clippers sideline reporter Christine Nubla, perhaps with something else on her mind. Reminds me of a college friend saying on a women's basketball broadcast, "X-player penetrates herself!"

No One Does Cheesy 80's Videos Like Hall and Oates....

So I'm watching TV this afternoon, and on comes a commercial for some new Hall and Oates Best of compilation. I bring this up because when going through the songs, of course they also feature clips from the accompanying videos. And I think it may be said that no group constantly churned out explosively bad videos like Hall and Oates, even if they were the No. 1 selling duo in musical history.

Now don't get me wrong, they have plenty of hits, some of which are very lame but catchy, and a couple(I Cant Go For that No Can Do comes to mind) that are legitimately good 80's songs. But sorry, that doesn't overshadow their small screen efforts. Not even close.

Let's start with what was voted the No. 2 worst video ever on MTV, "Maneater." Not to be confused with Nelly Furtado, who thankfully avoided jaguars, shadows, lipstick, and pre-Vanilla Ice hairdos for her video.




Next, it's "Private Eyes," which for me actually may be worse than "Maneater."



Finally, the video for "Family Man." I had never heard this song before, but I don't know whats creepier, the Galagaish graphics, or the kids eventually semi-molesting Hall and Oates!

Review of NBA Playoff Weekend....

In descending order of relevance....

8. Boston 104, Atlanta 81- The punching attack Leon Powe sustained from his own teammates in the fourth quarter will be more punishment than anything he receives from the Hawks. Or the whole team for that matter. Wake me up when this series is over in 2 minutes.

7. Orlando 114, Toronto 100- Sam Mitchell is the reigning Coach of the Year. He also may be unemployed in the next couple weeks. You all know my feelings on starting T.J. Ford over Jose Calderon. But how about a frontcourt of Bargnani, Bosh and Nesterovic to try to contend with Dwight Howard? Nevermind all three are "soft", including Chris Bosh. D-bo had lots of trouble with the tall trees, 25 points and 22 boards later.

6. Utah 93, Houston 82- I know it's a 4-5 series, but I'm anointing this one finito after one game. Don't care how woeful the Jazz are on the road, they are 37 and FREAKING 4 at home. And I think the Rockets would prefer Skip to My Lou running the point with a dangling hamstring than Bobby Jackson/Aaron Brooks.

5. Lakers 128, Denver 114- I probably shouldn't have been too dismissive of Denver making this a series after being reminded that there was only a seven win differential. Then I was also reminded the Lake Show had Pau Gasol(36 pts 16 rbs), and Chris Wallace shouldn't be allowed within 1000 yards of any NBA arena.

4. Cleveland 93, Washington 86- Two things: One, in the midst of some laughable trash talking, it's amazing how a year ago there was prevalent chatter on LeBron being "unclutch." Right....Speaking of unclutch, Gilbert Arenas is an amazing talent, but until he develops a brain, the Wizards aren't for real.

3. Philly 90, Detroit 86- Great win by the Sixers, but sorry to disappoint you rabid fans: Detroit is still winning the series. Don't think Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups will shoot 8-26 again. However, after that, is what Piston fan should be concerned about. That and Mr. Big Shot pulling a Jamal Mashburn.

2. New Orleans 104, Dallas 92- Yeah, so that playoff experience thing? Existed for one half of one game. And this should probably not be the second most important result, except I can file it in the I told you so category!

1. San Antonio 117, Phoenix 115- After all the twists, and turns, and game-winning shots, here's my prevailing thought besides the fact that Mike D'Antoni is a horrible tactician: The Suns win this game without the trade. Shaq was totally worthless, right down to the blocking foul because the Big Genius doesn't realize his Size 23 feet will NEVER BE OUT OF THE RESTRICTED AREA! More importantly, Shawn Marion defends Ginobli on that last play and knows that Manu always goes to his left. Still, this has the makings of an incredible series.

Video: Yanks-Red Sox Fight

And some people still claim this isn't a rivalry???

Lottery Video...

I know the lottery is a month away, but David Stern needs to take some notes from his Oscar worthy performance 23 yrs ago. Only this time substitute the Knicks for the Heat! Hey, didn't Jane Fonda go like 15 yrs between movies?

BTW, why is Chris Berman hosting Baseball Tonight?

Video: Making the MU Tigers Their Biatch

KU-Missou is actually a rivalry that I get caught up in, because I lived in Columbia for six months right after college doing minor league baseball play-by-play. And while UM-Florida State is a good college rivalry, KU-Missou permeates through the entire area 365 days a year, versus a game you get jazzed up for that week.

Of course, I was on the black and yellow side of the rivalry. But after the national championship, and this video, good luck muting Rawk Chalk Jayhawk. Not even Quin Snyder's free meals can save you MU fans.....

The NBA Playoffs.....Where Predictable Happens

First round predictions with the postseason beggining today....

Eastern Conference

1 Boston vs. 8 Atlanta: Like Brent Musburger said 20 years ago when these teams hooked up, You are watching what greatness is all about. Only this time it's one team that resembles greatness. Boston in 4

2 Detroit vs 7 Philadelphia: Pistons normally come out blazing out of the gates, and their starters are rested. Detroit in 4

3 Orlando vs 6 Toronto: Raptors stay in it with point guard play. But the Magic are a better team. Orlando in 6

4 Cleveland vs 5 Washington: The Cavs resemble the 06-07 Heat which are not a good thing. And the Wizards have their triumvate back, even if they are "the dumbest team in the history of civilization." Washington in 6

Western Conference

1 L,A. Lakers vs 8 Denver: Some feel this is going to be a series. They forget that the D in Denver does not stand for defense. Los Angeles in 5.

2 New Orleans vs 7 Dallas: This will be the most shocking pick for some, considering the Hornets seem to be perceieved as the underdog. They are forgetting that Chris Paul is going to destroy Jason Kidd. And the Mavericks are soft until I see otherwise. Playoff experience is overrated. New Orleans in 5

3 San Antonio vs 6 Phoenix: Deep down, I really think Phoenix takes this series. But one, I don't want to root for the Big Cactus, and two, I don't have the balls to go against the Spurs. San Antonio in 7

4 Utah vs 5 Houston: The Jazz ineptitude on the road worries me. But not as much as Rafer Alston being out the first two games, at least. When did you think you'd ever say that? Utah in 6.

Nice Job, Jeff Ireland......

There are some delusional Dolphins fans that believe Bill Parcells and his entourage/staff will break the Fins playoff drought this season. Not as many as I thought, considering the collective lack of intelligence South Florida sports fans can show sometimes. But some.

Well, after events around 12:45 PM this afternoon at Fins HQ in Davie, I'm here to lower the ax on you Dolfans: 2008 will be the seventh consecutive non-playoff year for the aqua and orange. And for that matter 2009 and 2010 will probably be the eighth and ninth years.

Actually, let me re-phrase that. I'm not lowering the ax. I'm letting G.M. Jeff Ireland's stupidity do that for me.

In what he deemed as a Freudian slip(Ya think?), Ireland midway through a mandatory pre-draft presser with the media, let the cat out of the bag big time. Asked whether signability will drive who the Fins select No. 1, Ireland picked the worst time to have a Miss South Carolina moment:
“I’m going after the player who best fits us. That’s the best way I can say it. I don’t want bad guys on my team. Of course I want guys who have great upside; it’s the first pick in the draft. You hope that this guy is a pillar of your defense for a long time."

Hooooooold on a second: Pillar of defense?? Weren't you supposedly negotiating exclusively with OFFENSIVE Tackle Jake Long? Aren't you supposed to bluff interest in QUARTERBACK Matt Ryan? And most importantly, why the bleep are you belting out your intentions???

Now of course, Ireland's boo-boo was roundly called out by several reporters. And Ireland, after acting befuddled over what he blurted out, corrected himself and passed it off as a misspeak. And in most cases, it would be possible to believe that Ireland just got mixed up with his words. Or that he was trying to plant a smokescreen. Or that he was sending a message to Jake Long's agent Tom Condon since negotiations have reportedly hit a snag.

Except I'm not giving Jeff Ireland the benefit of the doubt. Because this is the same guy who two months ago, opened up the Senior Bowl by declaring the Dolphins "Open for Business." Great way to completely piss away your leverage, eh. The "consigliere" thought so, enough to shield Ireland away from any future public speaking engagements, until now. That included the Owners Meetings, in which most other GM's/personnel directors spoke.

But now, Ireland has completely outdone himself. Now, there is no prayer of the Dolphins making a trade. And today would have been a perfect time to start "negotiating" with Matt Ryan, considering that Baltimore is probably desperate for a franchise QB to fall out of the sky. And outside of Chris Long, no potential pillar of defense is likely to sign with the Dolphins prior to the draft, especially at a reduced rate.

What boggles my mind is how inept Jeff Ireland has been so far in handling one of his most important job responsibilities. While I believe Ireland and his minions are very important in terms of unearthing talent and laying the groundwork, virtually everyone believes that Bill Parcells, a la Pat Riley, calls the shots. Of course, unlike the Heat, the Fins are trying to disguise that for numerous reasons. Which means it's that important for Ireland to give off the guise that he's able to competently convey the message from the Tuna upstairs.

And so far, he's 0 for 2 with a pair of 3-pitch strikeouts.

The worst part about it is while I don't know Jeff Ireland personally, he seems to resemble many of Nick Saban's worst traits, from cockiness, to impatience in addressing certain questions, to operating as he's the Smartest Person in the Room. I got news for you Jeff, so far you are nothing more than an extension of Rick Spielman and Randy Mueller. And they were nowhere near the Smartest People in the Room.

Two players that Need to Come to South Florida....

It's taken a while, but I have come to a definitive decision on what needs to be the Miami Dolphins and Miami Heat draft plans.

The Fins need to select- OT Jake Long, Michigan

Let's eliminate some of the other candidates here first. Darren McFadden is probably the most skilled player in this draft. He's also a running back. NFL teams find running backs almost as easily as Derek Jeter finds ass. Just ask the Giants, who won the Super Bowl with a running back tandem of 4th and 7th round picks. Or the previous SB winners, Indianapolis which sacked all-world Edgerrin James, and took the title plugging in rookie Joseph Addai. It's probably worth a footnote that the Fins already have Ronnie Brown, might have dare I say it Ricky Williams, and I don't think the corporate like spending habits of Bill Parcells and Co are interested in pumping in 40 plus mil guaranteed in two backs.


Then there is the guy that I'm afraid Miami will select, DE/OLB Chris Long of Virginia. The lineage is there, and I'm sure he's gonna end up being a very good player, but when you are a team in desperate need of rebuilding virtually everywhere, DON'T START WITH A D-LINEMAN!! Look at Jason Taylor. He's been undoubtedly the best Dolphin over the last dozen years, and what did it get this team? A couple of second round blowout dismissals, and six straight years of no playoffs. And the chances are very minuscule that Chris Long ends up compiling as productive of a career as JT. The only thing positive about this pick is it would have made perfect sense last year, at least I would have liked Chris Long's family to be rushing the passer.

And I'll go ahead and wipe Glenn Dorsey and Vernon Ghoulston from the list. If I'm opposed to Chris Long, then I'm certainly against Ghoulston. And besides injury concerns that have enveloped regarding Dorsey, he's not a 3-4 fit.

So that leaves the good Long and Matt Ryan. I think Matt Ryan is legit. I think while the Tom Brady comparisons were premature hard-ons from scouts, Matt Ryan to me will be better than Matt Leinart, better than Jay Cutler, better than Brady Quinn. He uses the whole field more, seems to have the full skill set that Leinart and Quinn don't have, and can be a franchise QB. And the common denominator for the Fins constant collapse, has been first and foremost the stench they put out under center.

So what is stopping me from screaming for Matt Ryan in aqua and orange? Ted Ginn Jr, Derek Hagan, and Ernest Wilford. And a few other names: Vernon Carey, Drew Mormino, Justin Smiley, Samson Satele, and the man who fills the big shoes of Corey Lekerkerkerkerkerkerker. You can't subject a rookie QB to Ted FREAKING Ginn as your No. 1 receiver, or expect to be ducking for cover with a mediocre at best O-Lineman, without expecting his confidence to be shattered. If Tuna wants to acquire Ocho Cinco in the next couple weeks, then you will see a new blog replacing this one. But with the roster as is, I don't like putting Matt Ryan in this spot.

I guess you can say in some regards, Jake Long is a default choice. But he played against big
time competition(rip on Big 10 offense all you want, but the D-Line's are nasty), and scouts have uniformly called him a manchild. And the Fins need a franchise left tackle, almost as much as a QB. More importantly, they need to not completely screw up this pick while realizing the need to pick a player that will be a difference maker for the next 10-12 years. That player is Jake Long.

The Heat need to select- Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis

Yes, your Heat pre-game host is finally on the bandwagon. And of course, I'm outspoken about this because I'm pretty sure Pat Riley has developed a major man-crush on the Memphis point guard. "I'm really interested in the players that are still in the tournament," remember that quote two weeks ago? I'm guessing he wasn't referring to Psycho T.

This one is trickier, because as much as a healthy DWade with Marion and whoever should make the Heat a better team, they were still 22 games out of the 8 spot. And did health cost this team 22 games? Don't think so. Which means, the Heat won't be a legit playoff contender, much less a title contender, without more talent. And the most talented offensive player in this class is Michael Beasley.

But the Big Dance has convinced me the most talented overall player is D-Nasty(I prob shouldn't take credit for that nickname). Look at what he did against Drew Neitzel, D.J. Augustin, and Darren Collison, three of the best guards in the country. 7 FOR 35!! And we are talking about Pat Riley, a defensive maestro. Plus, Rose helps facilitate the gelling of Wade and Marion, who didn't get a chance to play alongside each other very much this season. I'm not buying the Beasley is Derrick Coleman claims, but in a team built to win now, Derrick Rose helps you win now more than anyone else!

2008 Baseball Projections......

If you think knowing that Boston and Oakland are 1-1, Washington being 1 for 1, and Atlanta 0 for 1 is giving me an unfair competitive advantage, leave the room. Everyone else can read on.....

NL East
New York Mets 94-68: Johan Santana's individual season will conjure up memories of Pedro in 1999, Maddux in 1995, and Dr. K in 1985. That good. And I sound totally unbiased here, don't I?? Seriously, there are questions about the bullpen, corner OF's, and frailty, but the Mets are still the most well-rounded team in the Senior Circuit.
Atlanta Braves 88-74: That said, the Braves will provide a challenge for a while. Like the ATL's lineup better than the Phils, don't like the Glavine reunion tour, or any of the other back end pitchers.
Philadelphia Phillies 85-77: We know the infield can hit, watch for Burrell in a contract year. On the other end, watch Brett Myers remind everyone why he was sent to the bullpen, and watch Brad Lidge spend three different stints on the DL.
Washington Nationals 75-87: They won more games(73) than people thought last year, and as frightening as the pitching staff may be, the additions of Dukes and Milledge and the new park should get them a couple more wins.
Florida Marlins 66-96: Market Correction Yr 3 provides the worst results yet. Pitching is battered, I don't expect the bullpen to hold up as well, and expect a drop-off from the Willingham's and Jacobs and Hermida's with no Miguel Cabrera serving as protection.

NL Central
Chicago Cubs 87-75: Fukudome! Means another division title but the 1908 misery continues!
Milwaukee Brewers 85-77: Smart move sending Hall and Braun elsewhere in the field. And Gagne could be in the mix for Comeback Player of Year honors. Now, if they could only pluck some more starting pitching.
Cincinatti Reds 82-80: The sleeper team of 2008. Especially if Joey Votto and Jay Bruce get AB's. And I'm no Dusty Baker fan.
Houston Astros 75-87: Ed Wade essentially trades Lidge for Valverde, which will hike up their win total a bit. He also deals the entire farm system for Miguel Tejada, which will cause a GM vacancy in 2 years.
St Louis Cardinals 72-90: I think we have been waiting for the big Cards free-fall. Wait no more. The pitching staff will have more success batting in the 8 hole than recording outs.
Pittsburgh Pirates 69-93: I actually like their rotation a lot. But who is going to hit when they trade Jason Bay?

NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks 93-69: The one team that can take on the Metsies, especially with the addition of Haren, and the faith that some of the 07 dissapointments(Drew, Upton, Young) will pick it up.
Los Angeles Dodgers 90-72: A lot of faith in predicting a +8 upgrade, but I think Andru Jones becomes the best non-Santana acquisition, and the pitching staff can't be as decimated.
Colorado Rockies 85-77: Thought I would be alone in picking a non-playoff return to Earth for the Rocks, but Vegas has them at 83.5. The rotation got hot last year, it's still not very good.
San Diego Padres 84-78: Another division, and I wouldn't dream of the Pads filling in a 4th place finish. But biggest offensive addition, Jim Edmonds? Come on, Kevin Towers!
San Francisco Giants 61-101: Ladies and gentlemen, the worst team in baseball! And Barry Bonds will be laughing all the way to prison....

AL East
Boston Red Sox 98-64: Clay Bucholz will make people forget about Curt Schilling. That leaves a grand total of ZERO questions for the defending champs.
New York Yankees 91-71: I love Joe Girardi, and I love the lineup. But this is the weakest rotation the Yanks have compiled in years. Trust me, Joba won't be in the pen for the whole year.
Toronto Blue Jays 86-76: A good team with too many questions. Will B.J. Ryan be healthy? Will Vernon Wells perform like a superstar? Will Roy Halladay return to ace status?
Tampa Bay Rays 79-83: I understand the attraction of service time, but sending Evan Longoria down was a gutless move. Especially because TB could be better than 79 wins.
Baltimore Orioles 65-97: I like the direction the organization is going, finally. But they are taking it on the chin this year.

AL Central
Detroit Tigers 95-67: Could be the first team to score 1,000 runs in nearly a decade. And I'm not as concerned about the bullpen, Dombrowski will make a move.
Cleveland Indians 93-69: Can't put them above Detroit. But the concept of that pitching staff plus a resurgent year from Hafner isn't comforting to others.
Chicago White Sox 79-83: No clue what Kenny Williams is doing. Depleting the farm system, trading away the second best pitcher(Garland) and acquiring decent veterans that won't put this team over the top?
Minnesota Twins 75-87: Who's going to pitch with Liriano still not healthy?
Kansas City Royals 72-90: I don't think they are good, but why does KC get ripped for trying to improve the team(Meche, Guillen) and spending money, versus taking the Loria route?

AL West
Los Angeles of Anaheim of California of the U.S. of Planet Earth 88-74: With Escobar potentially out for the year, the Angels have gone from legit contenders to the default crappy division winners.
Oakland A's 82-80: They are a lot better than people think, even without Haren, Swisher and soon Blanton. Gio Gonzalez is a future stud, Daric Barton can hit. Moneyball Pt 17!
Seattle Mariners 81-81: The most overrated team in baseball. Not even close. The lineup is pedestrian at best. Bedard is a great addition, but Felix Hernandez is iffy, the rest of the rotation surprised last year, and the best set-up man is gone.
Texas Rangers 75-87: Allegedly the farm system has produced arms in waiting. I'll believe it when I see it.

NLDS: Mets over Dodgers in 4, D-Backs over Cubs in 3
ALDS: Red Sox over Indians in 5, Tigers over Angels in 4
NLCS: Mets over D-Backs in an epic 7-gamer.....
ALCS: An exhausted Sox team loses to Detroit in 6

World Series: Can't bring myself to pick the Metsies......Tigers in 7