Donning the Slipper

My early season pick for this year's sleeper was West Virginia. After climbing the rankings towards the top ten I threw that pick away figuring they were far too successful to be considered an underdog. However, since losing a couple games recently and dropping to third in the Big East, their Cinderella title could be resurrected. If they grab a 4 or 5 seed that's too high in my book, but (even though they will most likely get a lower seed than they expected and complain about being underrated and succumb to one of Seth's theories) I think they are a legitimate Elite 8 team. You heard it here first.

Other picks I endorse to make some noise this March:
-Witchita State: these guys are playing in one of the toughest conferences and will be thirsty to show the nation the MVC is one to be reckoned with.
-Bucknell: unless they drop a big one right before the dance. They're on a huge roll and confidence could be high. Besides, we've seen them pull a big first-round upset before, right?
-Wisconsin: one of my fav picks coming out of the Big 10. I think they'll get a middle spot and suprise a couple teams en route to the Sweet 16.
-Southern Illinois: again, gotta love the MVC, especially one that has actually had recent experience in the dance.
-Arizona: because I just can't count out my Wildcats. Here's to hoping they're fortunate enough to sit at a 9 or 10 and get lucky in the draw. This is a team that is seriously underachieving with a coach who knows exactly what it takes to win. Their performance in the conference tourney will give better indication on this pick.
-Any 12 Seed: if you know my habits, you know I'm a sucker for the twelve. Every year I pick them and every year at least two of them pay off. I'll get back to you after Selection Sunday.

Spring Training Fever

The Major League Baseball season has not yet begun, but plenty of stories have made headlines already.

Barry Bonds

The man after Hank Aaron's record seems to be wearing thin. And who can blame him. He weathered a barrage of reports of steroid use, which still remains in the air, as well as nagging injuries, old age, and of course Aaron's record. Recently he went on record to say that this year would be his last. Fine, but now he has gone on to say he won't rule out a 2007 campaign. Barry, for a player that says '[the] game [isn't] fun anymore. I'm tired of all of the crap going on. I want to play this year out, hopefully win, and once the season is over, go home and be with my family. Maybe then everybody can just forget about me,' it sounds like this should be your last year. And why not, his Giants are poised to make a run for the NL West title and have a chance to make it in the playoffs. So Barry, play this year, then we'll talk about 2007.

Ozzie Gullien

Situation like these make Ozzie the man he is, a passionate person who won't back down. Although I have to agree with Ozzie on his comments, I respect him for apologizing for taking the first shot. The White Sox are poised for back to back championships (the topic of a post to written) and Ozzie looks in midseason form with his mouth. Now if Magglio would just do something to piss him off again...

Sammy Sosa

He retired, good.

Hey Darko, your mom called. She said 'you suck!'

It's about time Detroit did something with that guy. Rumor has it Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo are being traded from the Pistons to the Magic for a first round draft pick and, one of my old Iowa State favs, Kelvin Cato. He's been referred to as a potential impact player who never developed and has been labeled a disappointment, but I don't buy it. First off, I'm tired of hearing criticisms of Larry Brown about how he stunted his development by benching him. Hello? Does anyone realize how freakin talented the Pistons have been the past three years? Would anyone have played Darko on a team with 4 of 5 starters in the all-star game and proven guys like Lindsay Hunter and Antonio McDyess as reserves? The only thing he's got going for him is 7 feet and Euro appeal. (I will note that at merely 250 lbs he is a hefty 30 lbs lighter than our old Deebo-buddy Shawn Bradley.) Darko was drafted in a two year span when everyone was looking for the next best thing out of Europe with most of those picks resulting in 'disappointments.'
Maybe he would have blossomed on a different team. Hell, it's not too late to prove it. However, a defense-deficient player who has highly speculated potential on offense has no room on a solid, defense-oriented team like Detroit. I'd say Joe Dumars should have made this move a long time ago, but I think he pulls off another masterpiece by nabbing Cato who will fit right into the Pistons' style. Imagine, the athletic, shot-blocking Cato as the backup for Ben Wallace...what a nightmare for anyone inside the lane. Here's your chance, Darko--time to put up or shut up.


*Also, here is a humerous and very appropriate comparison between NBA players and our solar system.*

Preseason Preview

With spring training starting in 16 days (yes, Cale, I looked it up), I decided to evaluate the current situation with my Cardinals. After losing half the roster and a significant hit to the bullpen we aren't looking as strong, but with the same powerful core as the past two years, never count out the redbirds. I'll leave the analysis of the defending world champs up to my expert counterparts.

*New To Team (Replaced)

Starting Lineup
1B Albert Pujols
2B Junior Spivey/Aaron Miles (Mark Grudzielanek, signed with KC)
3B Scott Rolen
SS David Eckstein
LF Larry Bigbie (Reggie Sanders, signed with KC)
CF Jim Edmonds
RF Juan Encarnacion (Larry Walker, retired)
C Yadier Molina

Reserves
Gained: Deivi Cruz, Gary Bennett
Lost: Abraham Nunez, John Mabry, Einar Diaz, Roger Cedeno, Mike Mahony

Pitchers
Gained: Sidney Ponson, Braden Looper, Ricardo Rincon, and a bunch of young guys
Lost: Matt Morris, Ray King, Cal Eldred, Julian Taveras

After breaking it down, things really don't look that bad. The gaps that stick out are the losses of two seasoned veterans (but also oldest players in Reggie and Larry), no solid defensive second baseman without Grudzie, and a depleated middle bullpen. Although Mabry and Morris have been the heart of this team for so long, I'm glad Walt let them walk. With an older starting lineup the past couple seasons, it might actually payoff to inject some youth into the program. I hope Encarnacion and Spivey can flourish while sitting between juggernauts in the lineup because with the Big Three we're still contenders. Oh, and we still have Eckstein. Gotta love little Davy Eckstein.