Dallas Forward Nowitzki May Opt Out of Current Deal

There are rumors circulating that Dallas all-star forward Dirk Nowitzki may opt out of his current deal and become a free agent. I can't really blame Nowitzki for wanting to do this. He's just trying to explore his options. Nowitzki has been with this team for many years and has accomplished a lot. As a member of the Mavericks, he led this team to a winning record and the playoffs as well. I believe that when it is all said and done, he will remain a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

Arizona Immigration Law Is Causing Outrage

People overall appear to be unhappy with the Arizona Immigration Law. There is a protest scheduled later on in Phoenix today. The Reverend Al Sharpton, along with other opponents of this law, are scheduled to peacefully march in a protest rally. This law gives police the right to stop anyone they feel is here in the U.S. illegally. This law is controversial because it opens up the door to racial profiling. When it is all said and done, I think that this law will eventually be revised.

Bulls Fire Their Head Coach

The Bulls decided to fire their head coach Vinny Del Negro. Despite the fact that he took this team to the playoffs, the Bulls organization thought it was best to go in another direction. Personally, I don't think he should have been fired. He took a team that looks like it is in the rebuilding process to the playoffs. This team, under the leadership of Del Negro, competed very hard in the playoffs even though even they were over matched against their opponents the Cavaliers. The referees also screwed the Bulls with some questionable foul calls. Even though the Bulls had some bad calls go against them, they still played their hearts out during this season. The Bulls organization may live to regret this decision.

Spurs beat Mavs and Advance On

During Thursday night's game, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Dallas Mavericks 97-87. Both teams put forth a great effort, but it the end, it will be the Spurs advancing to the next round. They will play the Phoenix Suns. These two teams from Texas are definitely rivals to say the least. The Spurs started off scoring at will. They were ahead at one point by a large margin. To complicate things even further, the Mavs star player, Dirk Nowitzki had four fouls in the first half. Luckily for the Mavs, they got a huge contribution from a player from Rodrique Baubois. Honestly, prior to this game, I didn't even know the guy existed. Unfortunately for the Mavs, his scoring wasn't enough and they lost to the Spurs. Whenever these two teams play one another, they always put on a great show for us. The next time these two teams play each other, I'm quite certain they will continue to bring their best on the court.

Officiating Played a Role in Bulls Cavs Game

The Bulls put forth a great effort against the Cavs, but in the end they couldn't get the crucial points needed and lost 96-94. The score was close throughout the game, but the Bulls came up just short. They definitely need to upgrade their roster if they want to be more competitive in the Eastern Conference. During the free agency period, the Bulls need another perimeter scorer and some who can score in the low post. Even thought they lost in the first round, the Bulls should be proud of the fact that they made the playoffs this season. They were competing against the Toronto Raptors for the last playoff spot. The Bulls found a way to secure that last spot despite many people doubting them.

The referees also played a role in the Bulls losing. There were two bad calls against back up Bulls Center Brad Miller. He was guarding Shaq when he got the fouls. After getting these two fouls, Miller was forced to sit during the fourth quarter. The refs look like they were punishing Miller for complaining about some things he didn't like. Also Derek Rose scored on what looked like a three point play. The refs would later waive off the obvious three point play. Had the refs allowed that play to count, the Bulls could have tied the game and even taken the lead. NBA Commissioner David Stern needs to take a look a the game and reprimand the refs for the poor officiating they displayed.

Despite losing in the first round, the Bulls have nothing to ashamed of. They secured the 8th spot during a time when it looks like they are rebuilding. If they can add more legitimate scoring to their roster, they will return to the playoffs and will be hard to beat. There are reports the Bulls might fire Vinny Del Negro. I really hope they don't. He has done a great job coaching this team. It's a shame that him and John Paxson got into an altercation over the playing time of Joakim Noah. Both men should have been professional and talked about whatever issues they had without getting physical. I hope that he can keep his job. The Bulls are a good team that will continue to be a contender in the Eastern Conference.

NFL Draft Review

This years NFL Draft was definitely exciting to watch. As expected, many of the high profile players were taken in the first round. This was the first time that the draft took place during prime time. I like the fact that it lasted three days. This gave many people including myself a chance to watch as much of the draft as possible. When it lasted two days, I couldn't see most of it because I had to do other things. It is very likely that they will use the same three day format next year.

As expected, Sam Bradford was taken in the first round. It made perfect sense for the Rams to draft him since they were in desperate need of a quarterback. The pick that surprised me the most was Tim Tebow going to the Broncos. Many reports projected him as either a second or third round pick. Also, the Broncos already have two decent quarterbacks on their roster in Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn. Josh McDaniels is taking a big risk by drafting Tebow. If Tebow doesn't excel at the next level, many people are going to be even more critical of Josh McDaniels than they are now.

The team that did well in this years draft was the Baltimore Ravens. They definitely upgraded their offense and defense with the rookies that they're bringing in. On offense, they drafted two great tight ends in Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta. The Ravens on defense added defensive tackle Terrence Cody and linebacker Sergio Kindle. These rookie additions will certainly help the Ravens become legitimate contenders in the AFC North.

Overall, this years NFL Draft was a success. A lot of talented players got drafted. My early prediction for rookie of the year will be Ryan Matthews. Matthews was the running back taken in the first round by the San Diego Chargers. There was a big void in the Chargers backfield after LaDainian Tomlinson was released. The team is now looking for Matthews to fill that void. He will certainly get the opportunity to run the ball for the Chargers. I like the three day format as well. It gave me as well as others to watch more of the draft. When the draft took place on two days, it took a large part of the day to watch. I believe they should stick with the three day format. This years draft was loaded with talent all across the board. I look forward to seeing what these players do once they get on the field.

Ben Roethlisberger Gets a Six Game Suspension

NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell has decided to suspend Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for six games. Ben's suspension can be reduced to four games if he successfully follows certain procedures that Goddell has placed in front of him. The Steeler's owner appears to agree with the suspension Ben has received. Goddell has made it clear from day one, when he stepped in as commissioner, that he expects players to behave both on and off the field. Goddell has made sure no player is exempt from that rule. Not even Big Ben can get a pass from Goddell.
Personally, I agree with the decision the commissioner made. He did the right thing in suspending Roethlisberger. Ben has put himself in too many bad predicaments. This is the second time in a year that he's been accused of improperly intermingling with a woman. After going through this last year, Ben should have made sure that this type of thing never happened to him again. We can't also forget the decision he made not to put a helmet on while riding his motorcycle. Ben ended up crashing his bike and he suffered serious injuries as well. He seems to take these risks which impact not only himself, but impact his friends, fans, family and the league as well. Despite all that Ben has done, I still believe in him. I really believe that he gets it now. I'm glad that Goddell has intervened and instructed Ben to take the necessary steps to redeem himself.

There are reports that the Steelers are entertaining offers for Roethlisberger. According to several sources, the Steelers are willing to trade Ben for a team that has a top ten pick in this years NFL draft. The Steelers would be making a big mistake by getting rid of him. Ben is a great young player that has proven his toughness on the field. He has won many games for this franchise. None of the quarterbacks in this years draft are as good as Roethlisberger. I would rather have a proven quarterback on my team than an inexperienced one. I believe Ben now knows that he must be on his best behavior. Anything less than good model behavior from him would be unsatisfactory. I predict when it all said and done, Ben will start and end his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler.

McNabb Wants T.O. to join him in Washington

Donovan McNabb is making headlines again by requesting for Terrell Owens to join him in Washington. These two clashed as teammates in Philadelphia. I understand that Donovan is a very forgiving man who wants to win. The thing is, T.O .apparently has a history of causing problems with every team he joins. I don't think Redskins coach Mike Shanahan wants to deal with a player like Owens. Owens is still a player that can produce on the field. The concern will be how he interacts with teammates and the front office. If Owens does join the Redskins, he needs to make sure he's on his best behavior. The Redskins roster looks good so far. I trust that whatever decisions Mike Shanahan and the Redskins management make will benefit the team.

McNabb Goes to the Redskins

In a stunning turn of events, the Eagles have traded away their franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Redskins. Many people, including myself, thought that if the Eagles were going to trade McNabb, it would be to the Raiders. To trade a quarterback to a rival is a very bold step. McNabb can still play the game at a high level. The Eagles may regret letting him go. He took this team to multiple NFC Championships and also to one Superbowl. The Redskins got a great player in McNabb. I look forward to seeing what he does this season for the team.

Wizards Won

The Wizards last night snapped a team record 16 game losing streak by beating the Hornets 96-91. Hopefully the Wizards can gain some momentum from this and win some more games. With all the turmoil that has plagued this Wizards team, this win does provide a boost to the team, as well as us fans. This team is obviously going through a rebuilding year and with that usually comes a lot of losing. I just hope that next year the Wizards win more games.

NCAA May Expand to 96 teams

According to Jim Delany, the Big Ten Commissioner, the NCAA men's basketball tournament will probably expand to 96 teams. The NCAA will have a meeting on April 29th to discuss this further. The decision to possibly add more teams was mainly based on money. If this goes through, it would likely spell the end for the NIT.

Raiders Appear to Be in the Lead to acquire McNabb

The Raiders appear to be the front runner for obtaining Donovan McNabb. The Eagles apparently want a high draft pick in exchange for him. McNabb has repeatedly stated that he wants to stay in Philadelphia. He currently has one year left on his deal. The team claims they might trade him away, but only for the right price.

I believe trading Donovan away would be a mistake for the Eagles. McNabb is a proven winner. He has done a lot for this team. He has lead them to the playoffs multiple times. He's broken many Eagles passing records and he's played in a couple of NFC Championship games. At age 33, there's no doubt that Donovan can still be an effective quarterback for the next couple of years. For most of his career, he's had to play with an average supporting cast. Now that the Eagles have finally brought in some talent, they're thinking about trading him. This is rather unfortunate.

If the Eagles do decide to trade him, whoever replaces him would be expected to win right away. McNabb has set the bar really high with all that he's accomplished. The person most likely to replace McNabb if he's traded is Kevin Kolb. Kolb is a good player. He has shown some potential while on the field. The question is how effective Kolb would be while playing a full season. I doubt that at this stage in his career if he is as good as McNabb. Kolb would be under a lot of pressure to produce right away. The Eagles would probably be better served to keep McNabb.

Elite 8 is narrowed down to Final Four

The March Madness teams that played this weekend did not disappoint. For the first time in a while, their were no teams that got blown out this weekend. Every game that was played over the weekend had a close score. The teams that advanced this weekend and will play in the Final Four are Duke, West Virginia, Butler and Michigan State. Any one of these teams have the ability and talent to play in the National Title game on April 5.

The first team that advanced this weekend was Butler. They defeated Kansas State 63- 56. This is Butler's first appearance in the Final Four. Many people consider this team to be mid majors. Whatever people decide to call them, we just have to acknowledge how good this team is. They can score at will against any team. It's no surprise to me that they're on a long game-winning streak. Next Saturday, they play Michigan State. If Butler gets on one of their shooting streaks, Michigan State will be in for a long day.

The next team to advance to the Final Four is West Virgina. They won against Kentucky 73-66. It's was West Virginia's 3 point shooting in the first half that kept them in the game. In fact, all of their made field goals came from behind the arc during the first half of the game. Kentucky didn't make their first three point field goal until late in the game. Also, Kentucky had a hard time defending West Virginia's offense. This was the first team in this tournament that Kentucky didn't dominate. The pressure of trying to win this game may have taken it's toll on this young team. It just seemed like they struggled all game with their offense and defense. Next week West Virginia plays Duke. It could be one of those games in which the team that makes defensive stops wins.

Michigan State was the next team to advance. They beat a very good Tennessee team 70-69. The Spartans have found a way to win despite many of their key players being injured. The Spartans are familiar with being in the Final Four. This will be the second consecutive time they've advance this far. Somehow someway they just keep hanging in there until finally they pull through and win. Next week, they play Butler.

Duke is the last team to advance to the Final Four. They defeated Baylor 78-71. It was the clutch three point shooting of Nolan Smith and John Scheyer that contributed to Duke's victory. Duke also was able to get some offensive rebounds which helped in them getting the win. When this team is on a roll offensively, they're very hard to beat. It's important to note that this team plays great defense too. Time and time again, their defense made crucial stops. Duke had shown us why they are deserving of their number one seed. They will play West Virginia next week.

At this point, it's hard to choose the team will win this weekend. After both Kansas and Kentucky lost, it's been difficult determining which team will become tournament champions. The team that consistently scores and defends the best will likely win the tournament. All four teams are good enough to win. The games being played this weekend are exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.

Gilbert Arenas Won't Serve Any Jail Time

Current Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas won't be serving any jail time for the weapons violation charge. Honestly, I'm very surprised by the ruling of the judge. I thought that Gilbert would at least serve a few months in jail. Arenas will be on probation and will also have to do some community service. Gilbert has been given a chance to redeem himself. I really hope that he takes full advantage of this opportunity that was generously given to him.

NFL Owners Approve of a New OT Format

By a vote of 28-4, the NFL owners today agreed to a new format for overtime during the playoffs. The new rules for overtime could be considered the "Brett Favre Rules" since many feel it was the loss he had against the Saints during the playoffs that brought forth this change.

The playoff overtime rule changes are as follows:

1.The first team to score a touchdown wins.
2.If a team kicks a field goal and the other team scores a touchdown, then the team that scored the touchdown wins.
3. If both teams score a field goal, then the next team that scores wins.
4.If the defense scores a touchdown or safety, their team wins.

I like the proposed new overtime changes for the playoffs. It would be a great idea for these rules to apply to regular season games as well.

Roger Godell wants to meet with Ben Roethlisberger

NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell wants to meet with Ben Roethlisberger about the recent charges the quarterback is facing. If found guilty, the commissioner could suspend Roethlisberger for a few games. This is the second time that Ben has been accused of having an inappropriate sexual exchange with a woman. I hope that the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback learns from this situation. He has to understand that putting himself in these situations will only create more problems. Not only does his decisions impact him, but they impact his friends, family and teammates. Hopefully, everything will work out for all the people involved with this matter.

President Obama Officially Signs Health Care Bill

Today President Barack Obama signed the health care reform bill into law. This is an historic day in American history. Now everyone in this country can finally get access to health care. This bill is important because it could save the lives of many people who are critically ill. Once this bill is fully put into effect, people won't have to worry about fully paying for any health coverage they need. The insurance companies will provide some financial coverage as well. Even though this bill passed, we still will need cooperation from these health insurance companies. They need to do their best to make sure that their customers are getting the best from them. The 32 million people out there who are uninsured can now feel some relief knowing that they will get the coverage they deserve.

House Passes Health Care Bill

The House has decided to pass the health care bill which is a huge victory for President Barack Obama. Now it's the Senate that has to pass the bill. Once this happens, Barack Obama can officially sign it making it official. This bill is important because it will provide insurance coverage to 32 million Americans who don't have it. It would also make it illegal for insurance companies to deny anyone coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Apparently ,the plan is have to the cost of this bill mostly paid for by people with an income of at least $250,000 a year as well as through Medicare reimbursements to doctors and hospitals.

Overall this is a good idea. There are too many people living in this country without health insurance. Many people want the coverage, but they just cannot afford it. Now these people have a chance to get the coverage they need. This is a big step in the right direction. Anyone living on this planet should be given access to affordable quality health care.

Even though I think this plan is a good idea, I do have some concerns. By requiring everyone to have health care, it seems as though we are giving these health insurance companies more customers, which in turn will make them more money. I wonder if these companies are truly going to provide better coverage for all of us after this bill passes or are they going to stick to their old ways. Another concern I have is that this bill does deny the right for anyone to chose whether or not they want health care. People should still have the right to choose if they want health care or not. There are many who out there who don't like dealing with doctors because they can at times appear more concerned about giving patients medications and services they don't need and then charging them for it.

Despite the concerns I have, I think this bill is a good idea. There is obviously a demand for health care from the majority of Americans. Too many people have been reluctant in the past to seek health care because of the high cost. Some people were denied because they had a pre- existing condition. This bill will hopefully solve these problems. The doctors and insurance companies should try their best to genuinely help people. Doctors need to do their best to accurately assess what is wrong with a patient and refrain from providing any service the customer doesn't need. Insurance companies should fully pay the cost of the health bill no matter the price. They will put people's minds at ease by doing this. Hopefully when all of this bill is put into law, it will improve the health of all Americans.

Michael Jordan Has Become Majority Owner of Bobcats

Michael Jordan has made history by becoming the first former player to become majority owner of an NBA team. I think this is a great idea for many reasons. First off, this decision will draw more publicity to this team. People will go to the games solely because Jordan owns it. The second reason this is a good decision is because it will bring more enthusiasm to the Bobcats locker room. It looks like the players really like Jordan. We have seen on several occasions where Jordan has joined the players during practice. Jordan is better suited as an owner versus being a general manager. As an owner, Jordan doesn't have to be as involved with drafting players and making personnel decisions. He can hire someone to do that. Jordan has brought more good fortune to the city of Charlotte. This is a young team that is definitely on the rise. With Jordan involved with this team, I can only imaging things only getting better.

Mississippi State Should Be In the Tournament

The NCAA committee should have put Mississippi State in the tournament. This team has a good overall record. On top of that, they twice took Kentucky into overtime. It would have been fun to see this team playing in the field of 65. Hopefully the NIT will invite them to play in their tournament.

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NCAA Considering Expanding March Madness

The NCAA is considering expanding the tournament from 65 teams to 96 teams. While some people think this is a good idea, I believe it's a bad idea. I'm a big believer in if it's not broke then don't fix it. The tournament is fine the way it is. The NCAA is probably thinking about doing this because they feel it will bring them more money. While it may generate revenue, it would put teams on the court with average to less than stellar records. I seriously doubt if anyone would watch the games of the teams ranked 66th or lower. Another thing to consider would be the effect it would have on the NIT. If the NCAA were to expand to 96 teams, then the NIT would risk having teams with really bad records playing. This would really hurt their revenue. Everything should be kept the way it is. It's currently a good system that doesn't need to be tinkered with.

Great Weather has Arrived Again

It's good to finally get normal weather again. After dealing with so much snow, it's a relief to experience warm weather. I can finally rest my snow shovel and snow scraper fully knowing that winter is over. Spring is definitely here and I hope it stays around longer than this winter. I look forward to more great weather.

Hip Hop Star Guru Recovers From Health Scare

Hip hop legend Guru is recovering from a heart attack he suffered a few days ago. This is certainly good news for his family, friends and the hip hop community. His doctor said that he believes Guru will fully recover. Once he fully recovers, I hope he comes out with another great album. It's good to see a person like him, who has done so much, pull through something like this. I wish him well as he continues to battle through this situation.

NFL Combine

Every year invited college players from all over the country participate in this event called the NFL combine. The combine allows these players to showcase some of their athletic skills. Some of the tests include a 40 yard dash and a vertical jumping test. The tests are very important because many NFL teams use them in determining the draft status of these players. It's always good to physically evaluate players that teams are planning on drafting. Whenever money and jobs are on the line, it is always important to make sure that teams look at as much of a player as possible.

Even though the combine is good in many ways, there are some concerns. First, I think that many teams put too much into the combine. One of the best ways to judge a player is by seeing what the player did while on the field. If a player can dominate on the collegiate level, then they have a chance to succeed in the NFL. It's okay to evaluate the players in Indianapolis as long as the players are being evaluated in pads and helmets as well. Another concern I have is that some of these scouts are asking questions that have nothing to do with football. Asking players about things such as their sex life or what type of women they like should be prohibited. This has nothing to do with football and has no place anywhere in a professional setting like the Combine.


Overall, the Combine is good for potential prospects. It gives NFL prospects a chance to show what they can do in certain drills. These drills can help a player rise in the draft. As long as what these athletes did on the field is viewed with just as much importance as the drills, I don't have any problem with this. Anyone asking these players questions should be professional. No player should be asked anything that will make them feel uncomfortable. As long as these players and scouts want the combine to continue, then it should keep taking place.

Iverson Is Done for the Season

Allen Iverson, according to reports, is done playing for the 76ers this season. Apparently he is taking care of his daughter who is ill. I hope his daughter has a great recovery from this illness. I respect Iverson for taking time away from the game to tend to his daughter. There's no doubt in my mind that he misses playing basketball. I'm sure if it wasn't for his daughter being ill, he would be on the court trying to help his team. He made the right decision by taking care of his child. Family always comes first.

Both Kentucky and Kansas lose

Today in college basketball, the number 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks and the number 2 ranked Kentucky Wildcats lose. This is shocking to say the least. Both of them lost to teams they could have beaten. It looked like Kentucky and Kansas struggled to score at times during their games today, which is surprising since both are loaded with so much talent. I'm certain that each team will bounce back and play better the next time they step on the court. The good thing is that this is only the second loss for each team. Their losses today shouldn't hurt them too much in the polls. Kansas will probably still be number one and Kentucky will probably still be number two. Each team is still ranked at the top in their conferences. There's still a whole lot of basketball left to be played. Both teams are still in the running to be both conference and NCAA champions. Hopefully these teams can recover from their losses and play better from now until the end of the season.

Jason Kidd Was Impressive Last Night

Jason Kidd recorded his first triple double of the season and his team won last night. Kidd played very well. With Caron Butler out, he at times played the small forward spot and did a great job. He also noticed Hawk's coach Mike Woodson on the court and ran into him on purpose, causing the coach to receive a technical foul. What a veteran move. There's no doubt that he was one of the major reasons as to why his team won. The Mavericks defeated a very good Atlanta Hawks team. Both teams played hard trading baskets and the game went into overtime. The Mavericks excelled in overtime with their scoring. It was a good game to watch. Any team that has to play against either of these teams will have their hands full.

The Eagles Released Brian Westbrook.

The Eagles today decided to release Brian Westbrook. Apparently, Westbrook was due about $7 million next month. Just like with LaDainian Tomlinson, it looks like the Eagles did this to save some money. I also think the concussions Westbrook had contributed to them releasing him. Andy Reid said that concussions had nothing to do with their decision, but I believe it did. When running backs get older, get injured and have a less than productive year, their teams tend to release them. Westbrook is a good player that can still bring it on the field.

Sixers Might Let Iverson Go

There are rumors circulating that Allen Iverson might not be allowed to rejoin the 76ers for the remainder of the season. If the Sixers do not let him back, they may appear as insensitive. Iverson is tending to his ailing daughter. I hope this organization allows Iverson to return to the team once his daughter is given a clean bill of health. He has done a lot for that organization. I just hope that they give him a chance to return once his daughter is ok. It's the right thing to do.

Wizards Might Keep Arenas

According to Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld, the team plans on keeping Gilbert Arenas. This doesn't make much sense for a team that is trying to rebuild. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching Gilbert play. He's entertaining and can score in bunches. The problem is that he committed a serious crime with the weapons offense. To make matters worse, he initially didn't seem remorseful for what he did. It was after he got suspended for the remainder of the season when he all of a sudden was sorry. He does deserve a second chance. There's no doubt what he did was wrong, but as long as he is taking the right steps in correcting his errors, then he should be given a second chance. The thing is, if the Wizards are trying to rebuild, then they should get rid of him.

They got rid of both Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. These are two players that know how to act professionally no matter where they are. The Wizards got rid of two players that behave well and kept Arenas, who has been disruptive on more than one occasion. Arenas is one of the major reasons why the team has struggled this season. If anything, it would have made more sense to get rid of Arenas and keep both Jamison and Butler.

I would like for the Wizards to keep Arenas. He's a good player that made a bad mistake. Even though he didn't appear remorseful when initially accused of the weapons crime, he has stated that he is sorry for what he did. After his suspension, he has been on his best behavior. Also, the fans that support this Wizards team, want to see a team that can compete each and every game with a chance to win. With Arenas on the court, they have a chance to be competitive and win every game. It was tough to see Jamison and Butler go. These were two good players that did a lot of good for this team. The Wizards can show the fans that they are still committed to winning by keeping Gilbert. As long as he continues to behave well, he should be allowed to rejoin the team.

LaDainian Tomlinson Apprarently No Longer a Charger

According to reports, the Chargers have released LaDainian Tomlinson. This wasn't really a surprise to many because of Tomlinson's refusal to restructure his contract. It's just unfortunate that a good productive player like him is now looking for work. He's given so much of his heart and dedication to the team. This is why NFL players should have guarunteed contracts. He will lose some money by being released. Apparently, Tomlinson was due $2 million by March. It looks on the surface like the Chargers released him before the next month to save money. Tomlinson is still a good running back. He's 8th in NFL history with 12,490 rushing yards. The next team that takes him will be getting a good player both on and off the court. Tomlinson has a few more productive years left in the NFL. The team that signs him will be getting a player that can still perform on the field for the next couple of years.

Tiger Woods Apologizes

Tiger Woods held a conference today and apologized for the wrong things he did. He apologized to his family, friends, sponsors and others who are close to him. I was glad to hear him say he was sorry and he also promised fix his problems. Tiger actually admitted to having affairs which was very surprising since he is often very private about his personal life. I'll give him credit for admitting he has a problem and I sincerely hope he is trying to correct his mistakes.

Even though Tiger overall appeared sorry for what he did, a couple of things concern me. The first concern I have is that he read from a paper as oppose to just speaking from his heart. He would have appeared more genuine had he just spoken without using any paper. By reading a statement, he appeared robotic and stiff during the press conference. It seemed more rehearsed, choreographed and less original.

The next concern I have is that he went off subject. For some reason, he brought up performance enhancing drugs. He could have chosen another time to discuss that. I believe Tiger when he says he's never used any drugs. My thing is he should have stayed focused on the what he did wrong and try to better himself.

Another concern I have is that he pointed blamed towards the media. Tiger needs to understand that since he is famous, most in the media will try to get as much from him as possible. They will do things like take pictures of him, try to get interviews and invade his privacy. There's no question that he is entitled to his privacy. Yes it is true that the media at times can overstep some boundaries when it comes to invading the personal space of some people. Unfortunately when you're famous, the media will follow you. He appeared very angry at the media, which in turn took a little away from his apology. I agree that the media should give Tiger Woods, his family and friends the privacy they need, but Tiger could have said that without using an angry tone.

Overall, I thought his conference was okay. It took a lot of courage for him to stand in front of people and admit to his affairs. I would've prefer for him to speak without reading from any paper. I'm glad that he's sorry for cheating on his wife. He is trying to fix his issues by going to rehab which is always good. I hope that his wife Elin and family can recover from this. When he is ready to return to golf, I'm certain he will once again play at an elite level.

Tiger Woods Should Apologize

When Tiger speaks today, it would be good for him to apologize to his wife and children. I hope he also apologizes to friends and family members as well. He should speak from the heart and not read from some paper that someone wrote for him. Technically, Tiger doesn't owe anyone an explanation other than his wife and children, but since he has decided to speak publicy about his situation, he should talk about what he did and apologize. Hopefully he'll decide to play golf again once he's ready. I wish him and his family well.

Mavericks defeat Suns

The Mavericks got a win over the Suns. At times the game was close, but in the end, the Mavs were able to hold on for the win. Caron Butler, the Mavs new addition, played well and contributed with 14 pts. With him on the team, Dallas can handle any Western Conference team. What was the Wizards loss is the Maverick's gain.

Jamison Is No Longer a Wizard

The Washington Wizards traded Antawn Jamison to their rival the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is another blow to Wizards fans who have had to deal with so much this season. First Gilbert Arenas gets suspended for the rest of the season, then Caron Butler get traded and now Jamison goes to another team as well. This is a sad time for Wizards fans. The big three has been disbanded. It looks like the organization is trying to rebuild for the future. Basically for about the next two or three years, we have to watch this team play with rebuilding players. Most of us fans want instant results. It's hard to watch a team that will probably not win for a couple of years.

Phoenix vs Dallas Preview

Tonight the Phoenix Suns play against the Dallas Mavericks. It will be the home debut for Mavs forward Caron Butler. He is a great addition to Dallas. I predict Butler will have a great game tonight. This guy can score, rebound and defend. The Mavericks hit the jackpot by acquiring Caron. Since the Mavs are playing at home, I predict that they will win tonight.

Kentucky beat Mississippi State in Overtime

The Kentucky Wildcats narrowly escaped with an overtime win against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The final score was 81-75. John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins proved to be big factors in the game with their scoring. Bledsoe also played well towards the end of the game. He scored some crucial points as well. When Kentucky decides to play hard and smart, they are difficult to beat. This team is loaded with so much talent. They will no doubt be a tough team to play against during March Madness.

Credit must be given to Mississippi State. They were not intimidated by this highly talented Kentucky team. For Mississippi to take this team into overtime was impressive. They played well throughout the whole game but lost in the end. Mississippi was also missing one its key players who apparently was suspended by the team for displaying poor behavior. If this key player would have played, it is very possible that the Bulldogs would have beaten Kentucky. Mississippi has proven that they are a good team and if they end up in the NCAA tournament, they can give teams problems.

Caron is Gone from The Wizards

The Wizards did the unthinkable and traded Caron Butler to the Mavericks. Words cannot express how disappointed I am. A class act like Caron should never be dealt away. With all the turmoil the Wizards are going through this season, he was one of the few people that brought happiness to the Wizard fans. His ability to score, as well as his great behavior off the court, made him an overall great person. He was such a positive player for the team. I wish him well as a member of the Mavericks. His addition to that team makes them a contender. It appears as if the Wizards are trying to rebuild the team. If this is the case, then they may not see success for at least the next couple of seasons. The Wizards could regret this decision for years to come.

NBA All-Star Game was Good As Advertised

In front of a record basketball crowd of 108,713 people, the players in this years NBA All-Star game did not disappoint. The passes, dunks and scoring between the Eastern and Western Conference teams made the game worth watching. During the fourth quarter, you could tell each player was trying to win for their respective conference. Despite a valiant effort from the Western Conference, they lost to the East 141-139. The turning point in the game occurred when Darren Williams committed an unnecessary foul. I guess he thought his team was behind. Unfortunately, the game was tied. Despite the foul that he committed, the Western Conference still had a chance to win. At the end of the game, Carmelo Anthony attempted a three pointer that came up short and this gave the Eastern Conference the victory. The game was exciting from beginning to end and was worth watching.

Big East Basketball Shines Again

The Big East has once again shown why it is one of the best basketball conferences in the nation. There are so many great games played that often go down to the wire. Starting on Friday with Pittsburgh defeating West Virginia in three overtimes, to Rutgers beating Georgetown, this league has shown that it's in the elite category of college basketball. We can't forget about Louisville beating Syracuse in a close game. The level of parody is another factor that keeps us Big East fans glued to the TV each and every week. Right now, no one knows for sure which team Big East team will win the regular season title. I don't think we will be able to declare a regular season champion until the last week of the regular season. We can expect more great things to come during the Big East and NCAA tournaments.

NBA All-star Game will be played tonight

Tonight's NBA All-star game will be played in Dallas. It will probably be a high-scoring show from both the Eastern and Western Conference teams. I anticipate these teams playing little to no defense, which is common in NBA All-Star games. As long as they score a lot of points I, along with many NBA fans, will watch with open eyes. I predict the West Conference wins in a close game.

Kentucky Beats Tennesee

Kentucky beat Tennesee last night 73-62. John Wall lead Kentucky with 24 points. It was a very close game at halftime. Tennesee ran a zone defense for most of the game which slowed down Kentucky's offense. In the end, Kentucky found a way to pull through and win. For this team to win the NCAA championship, they're going to need a big contribution for DeMarcus Cousins. He seemed frustrated at times which causes him to play poorly. It's important for him to keep his head in the game. He's a very good player who is unstoppable in the low post. I believe he will bounce back on Tuesday when Kentucky plays Misissippi State.

The Wizards May Trade Caron

There are rumors circulating about the Wizards trading away Caron Butler. I really hope these rumors are false. Caron has done so much for the Wizards both on and off the court. With all the chaos that exists in the Wizards organization, Caron has been one of the few bright spots. He is a great player that will be sorely missed if dealt to another team. We fans have already been through enough with this organization. We've had to deal with issues like the team losing and the Gilbert Arenas situation. Now we have to deal with Caron possibly being traded. How much more can we take? If the Wizards do trade Butler away, then it will appear as if they are trying to clear cap space and rebuild. I don't know too many people who want stay and watch a team that's rebuilding or trying to save money. I hope this organization does the right thing and keeps Caron around.

Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant Won't Be in All Star Game

Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant will not participate in this years NBA All-Star game. Iverson will be dealing with a family illness and Kobe has injuries. These two players will sorely be missed. Many fans wanted to see these guys perform. I'm quite sure if these two men could play they would. Both of these players will probably be watching the game.

Many people complained that Allen Iverson didn't deserve to be in the All-Star game. They felt he wasn't playing well this year and didn't deserve it. My thing is that the fans voted him in. It's us fans that watch and pay the big bucks to see these players. If the majority of the fans want to see Iverson play in the All-Star game, then he should be allowed to play. However, I am glad that Iverson made the right decision by staying at home to take care of the sick family member. Family always comes first.

Kobe Bryant is injured and cannot play in the game. He's dealing with an injured finger and sprained foot. I'm sure he wanted to play real bad. His mind said yes but his body said no. Kobe will probably be back again next year for the All-Star game and when he returns, he will put on a great show for us. With the playoffs still within reach for the Lakers, it doesn't make much sense for Kobe to jeopardize his health to play in an All-Star game.

These are two hall of famers who the fans will dearly miss on Sunday. The good news is that they will return to their teams once their situations are in order. The fans made the right choice by choosing these two men. Both are exciting to watch and have brought a lot to the game as well. I look forward to seeing what both of these players do once they return to their respective teams.

Edwards Allegedly Proposed to Rielle Hunter

According to the National Enquirer, former presidential candidate John Edwards proposed to his Mistress Rielle Hunter. If this is true, then I'm once again surprised as well as confused. I thought Edwards was trying to reconcile with his wife. If he is trying to reconcile with wife, then why would he go for his mistress. Does he want them both? Another thing that confuses me is why would we spend so much time and money on a woman that he initially claimed that he didn't have any relationship with. If anyone caused me this much trouble, the last thing I would do is attempt to stay with that individual. Relationships that result from an affair have a very slim chance of lasting. I just hope this somehow gets resolved.

Bill Romanowski Could Join the Redskins

Retired NFL player Bill Romanowksi is apparently interviewing to become the strength and conditioning coach for the Redskins. The fact that the Redskins are even considering bringing him in is causing some concerns among many of the Washington fans. His past behavior has raised many questions to say the least. He's done things like spit on a player and punch a teammate. Later in his career, he took steroids which of course is banned in the NFL. My hope is that if the Redskins do hire him, he does his job without creating any problems. As we know, this franchise has enough problems as it is. Now it's time for this team to create solutions.

My Super Bowl Post Game Thoughts

The Saints played championship football in one of their biggest games ever and deserved to win. This team performed well and made big plays that contributed to their victory. They took risks that many Super bowl teams are reluctant to take, such as trying an onside kick in the beginning of the second half. With the confidence and playmaking abilities the Saints have, I'm not really surprised they won.

Drew Brees put on a great show as well. He made the accurate throws that kept the Saints offense going. His passes were so precise that he is now second in NFL history for the Super bowl completion percentage. Only Joe Montana has a higher Super bowl completion percentage than Brees. There's no question in mind that Brees deserved to win the most valuable player award.

The Saints defense played well last night. They held the Colts to only 17 points, which is shocking to say the least. The Colts during this year's postseason, had scored at will against all their opponents. Only the Saints defense held the Colts to less than 20 points during the playoffs. Also, the Tracy Porter interception, that was returned 74 yards, practically sealed the deal and helped the Saints win. The Saints defense played well and are a big part as to why they won.

Sean Payton also deserves a lot for credit the Saints winning too. The decision he made to kick an onside kick in the beginning of the second half turned the momentum in the Saints favor. No coach before him in the Super bowl had never made that decision in the third quarter. He also went for it on fourth down. The gambles he took in this game gave the Saints great confidence.

Honestly, I thought the Colts were going to win in a close high-scoring game. But me, along with many other people, were wrong in picking them. The Colts could only muster up 17 points against the 25th ranked defense of the Saints. Initially, the Colts looked good scoring the first ten points of the game. Unfortunately, they were only able to put up 7 points after that which is very surprising. Peyton Manning's interception late in the fourth quarter was also surprising. I guess it just wasn't the Colts night.

Regardless of who won or lost, it still was an exciting game to see. Both teams played very hard and both put on a great performance. I guess it was just meant for the Saints to win. The city of New Orleans as should be proud of this team. This Saints victory has brought a lot of happiness and excitement to Saints fans all over the country. The Colts should be proud of all that they've accomplished this season. Not only did they almost go undefeated, but they also had a chance to play in the Super bowl. There is no doubt in my mind that the Colts will be back next season. They'll probably make the playoffs again next year. I'm looking forward to seeing what both teams do next season.

My Super bowl XLIV Prediction

Let me start of by saying that both teams are very good. Both teams can easily score at will. Each team almost had an undefeated season and these two teams have top-notch coaches. With all that being said, I believe the Colts will win the Super bowl. The main reason why I feel the Colts will win is because they have Peyton Manning as their quarterback. Peyton Manning has seen every type of defense that exists in the NFL. He figures out what defense scheme the other team is trying to employ and then he starts creating ways to score on them.

I mean no disrespect to the Saints by choosing the Colts. The Saints are definitely a good team. They've made it this far by making big plays when needed. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Saints defeated the Colts. The problem is the Saints are playing against a Colts team that is on a roll. Also, the Saints almost lost to the Vikings last week. If is wasn't for Favre throwing an interception late in the game, it is quite possible that the Vikings would have been playing in Miami instead of the Saints.

The Saints defense also gave up over 400 yards to the Vikings. If the Saints can give up 400 plus yards against the Vikings, one can only imagine what Peyton Manning will do against them. I'll give the Saints defense credit for putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and generating turnovers. They have been one of the reasons why the Saints have made it this far. Their blitzes have caused problems for many of the the teams they've played against. I could see Manning initially having some trouble dealing with these blitzes, but I think he will figure out how to handle it as the game progresses.

In order for the Saints to win, they will probably have to outscore the Colts. Drew Brees has to have a great game. He must get the ball into the hands of his play makers and hope that they score frequently. Also, the Saints cannot turnover the ball over. If they do, the Colts will most certainly turn those turnovers into points. Defensively, the Saints must put pressure on Manning and try to limit the big plays the Colts typically make on offense. Any turnovers that the Saints can get against the Colts will be beneficial to Drew Brees and the offense. The Saints specials teams can also make a difference. Reggie Bush has the ability to return a punt for a touchdown if given the opportunity.

In the end, I think the Colts offense and defense will play well enough to win in tomorrow's game. Offensively, I see Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon having great games. The Saints are probably going to have a couple of defenders on Dallas Clark. Because Clark could be covered by two or more defenders, I don't see him being a big contributor for his team. Defensively, the Colts will put pressure on Drew Brees regardless of whether Dwight Freeney plays or not. Freeney's back up, Raheem Brock, is more than capable of putting pressure on Brees.

I anticipate this game being a high-scoring affair. It could be one of those games where the team that has the ball last wins. The Colts overall are playing better in the playoffs than the Saints. They thoroughly defeated both the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets in the playoffs. The Saints did blowout the Cardinals, but struggled against the Vikings. As long as Manning is playing in the game, and the Colts continue to play well, they will more than likely win. I predict the score to be 35-27 in favor of Indianapolis. This will definitely be an exciting game. I can't wait to watch it.

Dwight Freeney is Probably Going to Play

My prediction is that Dwight Freeney will play in Super bowl XLIV tomorrow. Even though he has a severely sprained ankle, I think he's going to try and give it a go. The Super bowl is the biggest professional football game out there. For him to make it this far and not play in the game would be a travesty. One thing that does concern me is that he hasn't practiced this week. His lack of practice will probably make him a little rusty if he decides to go out there and play.

Another concern is the effectiveness of Freeney. It's hard for anyone to play on one leg especially linemen. Dwight Freeney is known for his speed and spin pass rush moves. He relies heavily on his feet and ankles to make these moves. With his ankle giving him problems, I'm not quite sure that Freeney will be the same. Don't get me wrong, he's still good enough to cause the Saints to game plan for him. I just don't think we will see the same Freeney that we saw prior to his injury.

If Dwight Freeny doesn't play, then the person taking his place needs to step up. If Freeney can't go in tomorrow's game, then the Colts will probably have Raheem Brock fill in for him. Brock is more than capable of having a big game against the Saints. He may not be as productive as a healthy Dwight Freeney, but he's definitely good enough to make plays if needed. He has stepped in and done a great job when called upon.

Lets not forget that the Colts have lost players all year and still found a way to win. They've lost key players like Bob Sanders, Anthony Gonzalez and Marlin Jackson. The thing is, the Colts just plug in another player to replace that injured player, with the end result being good. The Colts just find a way to keep winning no matter who they have on the field. This is why they are such an elite team. Regardless of whether Freeney plays or not, I believe the Colts will play a great game.

Reggie Wayne Causes a Scare During Practice

Reggie Wayne, the star wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, suffered a knee injury during Friday's practice. The good news that he's doing okay and is expected to play this Sunday. He is with no doubt, one of the key players in Sunday's game. He has the ability to beat any Saints defender that tries to cover him. Reggie runs great routes and he knows how to get open. If the Colts wants to defeat the Saints, then Reggie Wayne probably needs to have a big game. I'm quite sure that he's excited about playing in the Super bowl and I anticipate him playing well.

It's Snowing Too Much Again

I can't believe this. Just when I thought we would get a break from this crazy weather, it snows again. For the third time this week, snow has hit our area. Never have I seen this happen before. It's so bad out here that even the snow truck people are currently no where in sight. I think they've had enough of this snow as well. Now it's everywhere. To make things worse, it looks like it's still snowing hard. Looking out of my window, it appears as if a foot of snow has arrived so far. It started Friday morning and it hasn't stopped coming yet. The cars, trees and sidewalks in my neighborhood are completed covered. The snow blanket has struck again covering everything in its path. Let's hope for spring to come sooner rather than later.

USC Coach Lane Kiffin Recruits 13-Year-Old

The USC football coach Lane Kiffin is making headlines again. This time it' s for recruiting a 13-year-old kid. I don't think this is a good idea. This child is not even in high school yet. He is way too young to be making such an important decision like this. It looks like Lane Kiffin is doing this merely for publicity. He was able to get a verbal commitment from this kid. There should be no college recruiters contacting this teenager until he's at least in his junior year of high school. I'm not against Lane Kiffin or any other coach trying to get this kid into their program. My thing is that these people shouldn't contact this child until he is in his third year of high school.

Make Money By Selling Your Used Books

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It's Snowing Again

I can't believe this. It's now snowing again. We just had some snow a couple of days ago. I spent a great portion of my weekend cleaning the snow off my car. Tomorrow morning, I will have to wake up very early and once again shovel some more snow. Will Mother Nature please give us a break? I don't ever remember it snowing so much like this. What is going on? What is causing all this snow to come around our area? To make matters worse, I heard today that the groundhog saw it's shadow and because of this, we are supposed to be getting six more weeks of this winter weather. My hope is that after this, we will see no more snow until at least late December. Good luck to those of you who have to walk and drive in this weather.

John Edwards Big Mistake

There is no doubt that John Edwards infidelity is of his biggest mistakes. What makes it worse is that he came off as deceptive about it. If I'm not mistaken, he denied the affair at first as well as the child that resulted from the affair. Prior to this, Edwards was considered by many to be this great family man. Now he has lost so much credibility that he may never again be able to run for office. Why would a person like Edwards, with so much to gain, take such a risk like this? It's bad enough that he cheated on his wife, but then he fathers a child with his mistress. It will probably be years before his family recovers from this.

Many things concern me about this affair. One of these concerns is the mental state of his children. I've been watching the news and so far I don't hear too much about them. I hope that his children are in some type of counseling for this. When these people cheat on their spouses, they seem to forget the impact that this has on their children.

I also wish his wife the best as well. She must be devastated. It's bad enough that her husband cheated. Then he compounds the problem by fathering a child with the woman. Elizabeth Edwards is also recovering from a tough disease. She's a strong person who no doubt will continue to fight this terminal illness. Right now, the best thing for her to do is to take care of herself and her children.

John Edwards has to try his best to fix the mess he's created. I hope he has sincerely apologized to his wife and children. He must make sure to never put himself in a situation like this ever again. They say that time heals all wounds. Hopefully this is will be the case for the Edwards Family.

Why The Pro Bowl Should Be Played a Week After The Super Bowl

The Pro Bowl should be played after the Super Bowl. By having the Pro Bowl played before the Super Bowl, we didn't get a chance to see some of the Super Bowl participants such as Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne or Drew Brees play. No disrespect to the players that replaced these guys, but I would have enjoyed watching Peyton Manning or Dallas Clark play in Miami. Even though many of the selected players like Tom Brady or Philip Rivers didn't play, the game was still entertaining to watch. I also liked that the fact that a player such as London Fletcher finally got a chance to play in his first Pro Bowl. He's been a great player for so many years and never got a chance to play in this game until now. Both the AFC and NFC scored a ton of points which made the game worth watching. It was a fourth down conversion late in the fourth quarter that won the game for the AFC. They defeated the NFC 41-34. I hope next year that the NFL will have the Pro Bowl played after the Super Bowl.

Saints vs Colts My Pre-Super Bowl Thoughts

Next week, the New Orleans Saints will play against the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl and quite frankly, I'm very excited. These are two evenly matched teams that will most likely put on a great show for us. Both of these teams have dynamic offenses that can score at will. I anticipate this game becoming a high-scoring affair. It could be one of those games where the last team with the ball wins.

In the NFC Championship game, the Saints defeated the Vikings in overtime. From beginning to end, both teams went back and forth trading points. It was a costly interception by Favre that gave the Saints a chance in overtime. Saints kicker Garrett Hartley, kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime and now the Saints march on playing in the Superbowl.

For the Saints to win, they have to play well on offense, defense and special teams. Offensively, they have to score a lot of points. Drew must distribute the ball to his play makers. These play makers must put the ball in the end zone whenever they get the opportunity. The running backs for the Saints must run the ball effectively. By running the ball effectively, they can keep the Colts offense off the field. By controlling the clock, the Saints will limit the number of chances the Colts will have to score.

Defensively, the Saints must put constant pressure on Peyton Manning whenever he goes back to pass. They must also contain the Colts wide receivers and tight end. Last week, the Saints defense allowed over 400 yards against the Vikings. If they want to win, I don't think they can allow this many yards against the Colts. Even though the Saints defense gave up a lot of yards to the Vikings, they did create turnovers which gave their offense the ball back. This defense must also generate turnovers against the Colts if they want to win.

The Saints special teams can also help their team by adding points as well. If the Colts decide to punt the ball to Reggie Bush, he definitely has the ability to return at least one of those punts for a touchdown.

In order for the Colts to win, they must continue to score. Peyton Manning must be given enough time in the pocket to distribute the ball to his play makers. The Colts must run the ball as well. By running the ball, they will keep the Saints defense honest. Defensively, the Colts must put pressure on Drew Brees. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have to play great. They've been playing well throughout the playoffs and must continue in the Superbowl.

Based upon what I've seen so far, I think this will be a great game. Both teams know how to score and play defense. My prediction is that the Colts win will the game. Peyton Manning and the defense are playing very well. The Saints struggled against the Vikings at home. It took a turnover by Favre late in the game and the win of a coin toss to beat the Vikings. Also, the Colts have only lost two games in the regular season and in both of those games, they rested many of their key players. In the playoffs, the Colts are soundly defeating their opponents. I'm looking forward to watching both of these teams play.