Bold Predictions.

I am going to go out on a limb here and make two predictions:

1) Tiger Woods will not break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors in his career.

and,

2) Rory McIlroy will win a major this year.

Let me preface my first prediction with the fact that I am not a Tiger fan, however that only plays a small part in my projection of Tiger's future career. I do not think he will win 5 more majors for a number of reasons. The first reason being all of the young talent in the game of golf right now. Rory, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari, Martin Laird, and on and on the list goes. From the previous list only Martin Kaymer has won a major and I am willing to bet just about every guy on that list will get at least one at some point in their career. Another reason Tiger won't win 5 more: he is 35 is not getting younger (but the game of golf is). That isn't very old however he's got a bum knee and we know that always plays a part in his game now. Also, bear in mind that Tiger has not won a major since June 16, 2008. He is in a serious drought and I do not see him getting on a streak and even winning multiple championships in a year. He has way too much on his mind: two kids, an estranged ex-wife, a continually changing golf game and the fact that the endorsement deals are not just falling in his lap anymore. Let's face it Tiger, you aren't who you used to be and I don't think you will get back there.

Now for my second prediction: Rory will win a major this year. That may be a bold prediction but he is a great golfer. Yes, he had a major meltdown, no disastrous, but he showed character and graciousness in his defeat. And don't forget he led the tournament for 63 holes. He also played 3 great days of golf (that were erased during one hole) but he will be able to put together 4 days of good golf. Now he knows what it takes. He will be back.

These are bold predictions, and they could be wrong, but that's what makes watching so great.

Why Tiger is really upset.

I wish I had a drink named after me!! Haven't I earned that yet?

Best. Tournament. Ever.

What would be the best storyline to win the tournament this year? Would it be Kentucky rising to the top after losing John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, plus 3 other guys to the NBA draft? Or how about UConn proving their doubters wrong who did not give them a single preseason vote to be ranked in the top 25? What about VCU. Wait, who? Yeah, Virginia Commonwealth University, who most people (cough cough Jay Bilas) didn’t even think should have been in this tournament even as a “First Four” team. A team who made the most of their opportunity and won 5 games to get the Final Four. They would also be the first 11 seed to make it to the title game. That one has got to be the best, right?!

I think if there were any other situation, other than Butler making it back to the title game after losing their star in Gordon Hayward to the NBA and winning it all the very next year, I would have to pick the VCU story. But then there is Butler. A mid-major who made it to the final game last year and almost beat the mighty Dukies on a prayer that in almost every sports movie would have found a way in the basket. How can you not root for a coach like Brad Stevens who is only 34 years old and is the youngest coach to take his team to two Final Fours, consecutive Final Fours? How can you not root for a guy like Matt Howard, who, if you crossed him on the street you would think he probably works as a camp counselor for the YMCA rather than one of the top players in all of Division I basketball?

This team has become America’s sweethearts. They have worked their way, as an 8 seed, to be one of the last four teams standing in a grueling 68-team tournament where teams have beaten up on each other. And they have prevailed, beating quality opponents in ODU, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and Florida. And in stunning fashion I may add.

Yes, if it weren’t for the Butler Bulldogs I would be rooting for the Rams and coach Shaka Smart to dance their way in the championship game and win it all. But you know deep down every single person on the Bulldogs staff wants to hoist that NCAA championship trophy in the air and tell Gordon Hayward, “Looks like we didn’t need you after all.”

Yes. That would make for a pretty sweet story.

Nicknames

Here are a few nicknames that I have come up with for some famous (and not so famous) athletes and sport's personalities:

Cam my-actual-name-is-Cameron-but-that's-too-hard-to-say Newton.

Jeff I-played-tight-end-for-Notre-Dame-betcha-can't-guess-who-I-play-for-now Samardjiza

Jay my-knee-surgery-is-scheduled-for-next-week Cutler.

Michael BALL-NIGHT Wilbon.

Brandon I-may-never-pitch-in-the-majors-again Webb.

Erik I-cry-after-every-loss Spoelstra.

Anthony Joseph Paul "Tony" Reali. No wait, that's is his actual name.

Derrik I'm-making-Arizona-relevant-again Williams.

Dustin I-WILL-win-a-major-in-2011 Johnson.

Jimmer. I can't take credit for that one!

JIMMER

Jimmer.

That is the only word you have to say and anybody who has any knowledge of college basketball or has watched any of the NCAA tournament knows who you are talking about. He is the real deal. After watching him for the first time a couple of months ago I said he is hands down POY. Sorry Kemba and Jared Sullinger, you guys are great, but you're no Jimmer. Regardless of whether his team makes it to the elite eight, final four or the final game he deserves that distinction. 

The current question facing Jimmer Fredette is how far he will take his team in the NCAA tournament? But the real question in the back of everyone's mind is can he make it at the next level? At 6'2'' and not even 200 pounds he does not have the ideal NBA body. But think about two current great PGs, Steve Nash and Derrick Rose: Jimmer has got almost 20 pounds on Nash and almost identical numbers to Rose. So, people, don't even go there with the body type.

Another question people have: will he be able to do his thing in the NBA against the length and quickness of the defenders? Don't make me laugh! Jimmer is a scorer and he knows how to get the ball in the basket. The NBA is not about defense. It is about scoring. The more ostentatious, the better. Fans are enthralled with the scorer. Especially the straight-from-high-school types in Kobe, Dwight, LeBron, Amare and even the one-and-done Melo.

Jimmer has much experience at the collegiate level which will help him at the professional level. If you have heard any of the drills that his brother had him do when he was younger or the fact that he played basketball with prison inmates then you know he is passionate and has a great work ethic. So let's just hope that he goes straight to the NBA and doesn't go on a mission become attached to his bike for the next two years.

(And I am totally admitting to jumping on the Jimmer band-wagon this year)

Sweet Sweet Sixteen

March is without a doubt the best sporting month of the year. Nothing even comes close. Each year there are new upsets, new Cinderella stories and new players to watch.
Here are 16 things to watch for in the sweet sixteen.

16. At least one team with a 10 seed or higher will make it to the elite eight, will it be VCU, FSU, Marquette, or Richmond?

15. Could the Southwest region have two double digit seeds in the elite eight?

14. Are the Aztecs the real deal?

13. Chandler Parsons, Derrick Williams and Jordan Taylor; they may not be named Jimmer, Kemba or Jared but they deserved to be watched.

12. Is the Big East even going to represent in the Elite Eight? 

11. Buzzer beaters. 

10. How far will Butler go? What are the chances of a rematch?

9. Charles Barkley. NOT! 

8. Maybe next week the guest commentator will be Steve Lavin or Jamie Dixion.

7. Will Kyrie make a national championship impact for the Dukies?

6. The Morris Twins. Sullinger. Kemba. Nolan Smith. And Kenall Marshall.

5. Will Coach K surpass Bob Knight for 903? Maybe even 904 and a repeat. 

4. One word: Jimmer.

3. The 2011 Cinderella.

2. My sweet sixteen game to watch: Duke and Arizona.

1. Bracket-busting UPSETS!

Today is for lack of a better term, Lame!

Today is a landmark day for me.

I do not care about any televised sports action going on.

I know.....shocking! Right?!

But let's have a look at what is going on today:

The NBA--I hate the NBA and could care less what happens, let's be honest, there are only 4, maybe 5, teams that could win the title. Unless my Suns get in the playoffs and have a Cinderella run then I won't care. The only thing that even interests me in the league is the demise of the Miami Heat and LeBron as well as the failure of the Knicks and Melo. And I can watch all of the during my daily PTI fix.

Baseball is still doing their "spring training". Nothing more meaningless than that.

The First Four--WOW! The dumbest idea the NCAA could have! Why do you need to add three more teams?! We don't care about these play-in games. Go back to the 64 team format.

I don't know of anything else going on today and frankly I don't care. Tomorrow begins the best month in sports: March (and some of April). Those days will make up for the lame sports day that is today.

Ten things: Carmelo Anthony

Ten things Melo should do:

10. Now that you're in NYC, go catch a 'Cuse game, you know, you matriculated there for a year.

9. Get some advice from LeBron, the transition could be tough.

8. Spend 5 good minutes with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon.

7. Get to know your new teammates, namely Amare Stoudemire.

6. Check out the real estate in New Jersey, just to keep the Nets option in your back pocket,. plus it's pretty close to your new "home". 

5. Put Spike Lee on your speed dial. And Jack Nicholson.

4. Just admit you wanted to go to the Knicks the whole time, we knew that.

3. Come up with a nickname, actually I don't think Chauncey Billups qualifies them as another "big three" in the NBA.

2. Clear your schedule in June, oh wait, that may be a little too presumptutous.

1. Pick a new number.

What have I learned.

Time for a new segment. I am going to call it: What have I learned. (Notice above title).

Over the past week in sports the most important things I have learned:

10. The Cavs season is over. Wait, before you question me, hear me out! I know it was over when LeBron decided to take his talents to South Beach and leave Dan Gilbert to drown in his tears every night, BUT the Cavs BEAT the Lakers!! After a win like that, no need to come back after the All-Star break.  Heck, if the Lakers win the title again they don't even come back next season. So long Cavaliers.

9. The NFL MUST play next year. A year without professional football is not an option.

8. Albert Pujols should be the highest paid man in professional baseball. Are Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Howard worth more? Ummm I think not.

7. Blake Griffin can jump. Just kidding! I knew already knew that.

6. Jay Cutler......uhhh crap Cutler hasn't done anything news worthy this week!

5. Denver should probably just trade Melo already.

4.  6,969 people "like" the Lakers on Facebook, but that's nothing compared the the 580 who like the Cavs, sounds about right.

3.  Apparently there was a quota of franchise tags that needed to be handed out in the NFL, more to come?

2. Sidney Crosby needs to come back! Not even Barry Melrose can keep my attention on Sportscenter during an NHL segment.

1. I miss Aaron Rodgers already! Is it football season yet?

Better Late Then Never

I realize that it is extremely late BUT I must give a shout out to my Super Bowl winning Green Bay Packers!! And also to my number one boy (and Super Bowl MVP) Aaron Rodgers. Congratulations to the Pack, you guys earned this one and made the season before the it-is-probably-going-to-happen-lockout-season one to remember for Packers fans, and NFL fans.

As I sit here and get my daily fix of PTI and hear Kornheiser and Wilbon debate about Albert Pujols' potential free agency, hits in the NHL and spend five good minutes with Jimmie Johnson I realize how bad it would be if the lockout actually happened next year. If there is not an NFL season next year we can expect mediocre episodes of Sportscenter and listen to Kornheiser and Wilbon talk about the Westminster dog show and NASCAR, uhhh yikes.

Again, a big congrats to my boys in green and yellow and being the Champs for probably two years without even having to play another game. Let's just hope that doesn't happen.

A letter to the Commish.

Dear Commissioner Goodell,

Today is my 24th birthday. And instead of watching the best game in all of sports for my birthday, the best players in the NFL (minus the top 4 team's players) will be playing touch football. Sorry Fox your ratings will be down this week, but don't worry the Super Bowl will make up for that next week, no problem. I don't think I am going to even tune in, that's how bad it is. I love football and I love the NFL, and I think it is the best professional organization there is and it provides the top competition, but has an atrocious all-star game!


I think it is time to rid your league of the Pro-Bowl. Yeah, sure they get an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii and basically have a vacation during one of the coldest months of the year (except if you live in Arizona), but nobody cares about it!

Here is my suggestion: just make an All-Pro team and give them a segment on Sportscenter, better yet, give them an entire show, in primetime, and call it good. Because to be perfectly honest, I would rather watch these guys eat a meal then to play in the Pro-Bowl.

Unfortunately there will be no Super Bowl played on my birthday, but I would take a Packers win for a belated gift. Oh yeah, and no more Pro-Bowl. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Sarah Visser, Packer fan and NFL fan

Ten things: Jay Cutler

The top ten things Jay Cutler needs to do after the NFC Championship game:

10. Cancel your twitter account, or just don't even sign on for the next year.

9. Bring Brian Urlacher with you whenever you go out in public, he'll protect you.

8. Have surgery. Wait, does a sprained MCL require surgery?

7. Keep doing those footwork drills twice a week, that will get your team to the Superbowl.

6. Have a comment about your heart because we are all still wondering about it.

5. Walk around Chicago on crutches, but be careful people may throw flaming #6 jerseys at you.

4. Listen to what Mark Sanchez says after a loss, and take notes.

3. Watch a couple of episodes of "The Hills" with Kristin Cavallari, then maybe your problems won't seem as big.

2. Thank your teammates for defending you, again, and again. And again.

1. Get back on Chicago's good side. Wait, is that even possible? Maybe just request a trade.

Biggest thing

What is the biggest thing that I learned from championship Sunday? It was not about the toughness of Jay Cutler. It was not about Big Ben and his comeback from his 4 game suspension. And it's not that my favorite quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is going to the Superbowl. The biggest thing I learned from championship Sunday came from quarterback of the loser in the AFC championship game, Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez is the real deal. Say what you will about his private life (and what do we really know about that), but as a football player this guy is for real. He is in his 2nd season as the quarterback for the New York Jets with the ever-so-talkative Rex Ryan as his coach. He's gotta live up to the hype, and he has. He only took his team into the postseason as a 24-year old and beat the 34-year old Peyton Manning and the consistent Colts and the 33-year old Tom Brady and the dominating Patriots to get to the championship game.

And what does he do in that game? He only brings his team back from 24 points down and gives them a chance to win and go to the Superbowl. They came up short, but what he did after the game is what impresses me most about Sanchez. He came out to his press conference, dressed in a suit and acted like a professional. He spoke cleanly and didn't make excuses.

For any of us who have played sports, we know it hurts to lose. And I'm sure it hurts even more at that level. But Sanchez (and the Jets) did not place blame and admitted their loss.
It's hurts, hurts bad, but they handled it with class (and yes, I'm saying that about the JETS!)

This is not the last we will see of Mark Sanchez in the playoffs, it is only the beginning. And I'm sure the Jets are feeling the same way, right Rex?

Packers/Bears

It's the oldest rivalry in all of football.

These teams have played each other more than any two teams in the history of the league.

They have only played once, back in 1941, during the playoffs.

Two great defenses squaring off.

One red hot quarterback.

And let's be honest, a dream for the network station Fox.

But when it all comes down the Packers/Bears match up, it is all about us, the fans.

The sports talk on TV, the radio, and the internet can break down the game, analyze the match ups and even make predictions about the outcome. And don't get me wrong, I have watched, read and listened to anything I can get my eyes and ears on over the past few days. But again, when what it all comes down to it, it's all about the game and the fans that make this match up so great.

We can speculate about the way Aaron Rodgers will play or even Jay Culter's powerful arm, the performance of the Bears defense and the Packers D as well, we can even talk about the great offensive and defensive minds that will clash. But it is all about the fans. Not just the great fans of Green Bay and Chicago, but fans of the game. Fans who love football. Love to watch it, talk about it and make themselves a part of it in any way possible. Because none of the analysis, speculation and predictions mean anything without the fans watching the game.

And there will be fans watching. A lot of them.

Aaron Rodgers

Okay, Matt Ryan and Drew Brees you can have your Pro Bowl selections. And Michael Vick, you can have your starting spot, you earned it. But, Aaron Rodgers, you would rather be spending Sunday, January 30th preparing for a Super Bowl match up rather than playing in the worst professional "all-star" game there is. No one cares about the Pro Bowl, and my guess is that Aaron Rodgers really doesn't care about it either.

Let's take a look at Rodgers last 4 games. 2 regular season games and 2 road playoff games. Rodgers has thrown 11 touchdowns, 1 pick, and rushed for 1 touchdown. He has a completion percentage above 66% in each game and his most recent game completing a ridiculous 86% of his passes. His passer rating in his last 2 games is 122.5 and 136.8, respectively, with a perfect passer rating being 158.3 those are pretty good numbers. And in all 4 of those games his back was against wall in lost-and-you're-playoff-hopes-are-gone scenarios.

Nevermind that Aaron Rodgers is not only my favorite quarterback, but my favorite athlete in all of professional sports. He deserves the accolades being given to him. He deserves all the hype that is being said about him. And he deserves to win a Super Bowl.

After taking over a storied franchise in the Green Bay Packers, as well as replacing a storied quarterback in Brett Favre, he has made a name for himself. When football fans think of the green and gold they no longer think of number 4, their minds are on number 12. They are done with guy who has retired two, three, who knows how may times and who is at the center of some shady speculations with Jets employees. They love Aaron Rodgers, he is their guy and he will lead them to the Promised Land someday. And that someday very well could be on February 6, 2011.

My BCS National Championship experince.

It was one of those experiences that you just have to tell everyone about. One of those once in a lifetime experiences. A bucket list type of experience.

On Monday afternoon I had just finished teaching my last PE class of the day and I was getting ready to head out to basketball practice when I got a phone call from my dad. I answered, "Hey dad!" and the first words out of his mouth were, "Do you want to go to the game tonight?"

I didn't even have to think about it. I answered emphatically, "Yeah! I want to go!"

So I went to find our head coach to ask him if I could skip practice to go to the game (knowing full well that I was going to go!) When I found him and asked him if he would be upset if I missed practice so I could go to the game, he answered, "Yeah I would, I want to go!" But told me to go and have a good time. Feeling somewhat bad I said, "I"ll send you a picture!" And he responded, "Oh thanks," with a hint of sarcasm. Then I headed to my car, still giddy from excitement!

I got home (still just feeling completely jazzed), got ready and texted my sports buddy, Shawn, telling him where I would be going that night. His response: "HOW???!?!??" I told him that my dad got them from someone at work and he replied,"I'm so so so so jealous."

My dad came home, we got in the car, drove up to his office, got the tickets and headed to Glendale for the BCS national championship game.

We got there around 5:15 and parked about a mile away from the stadium and started our trek through the thousands of cars, and even more Duck fans and Tiger fans. Once we were to the entrance we were thrust en masse to get "checked" before we could go in. While we were waiting within this huge throng of people a little girl in an Auburn cheerleader outfit sitting her dad's shoulders was not shy of making her opinion of the Ducks known the Oregon fans, getting into arguments and sticking out her tongue at Oregon fans. That was quite entertaining and reminded me of myself at that age (although I sometimes still find myself acting that way!).

After we made it through "security" we saw a couple of people we knew, made a pit stop and pushed our way through a sea of people halfway around the stadium to our seats among the Oregon fans (good thing we were rooting for the Ducks).

To say these seats were good was an understatement. I never, in a million years, would have thought that I would be sitting 14 rows up on the 20 yard line at a BCS title game! It was an amazing atmosphere. I immediately started taking pictures, mostly for proof that I was actually there, and taking it all in.

We met the people sitting around us, watched the bands and waited for the game to start. All the pre-game activities began: the singing of "God Bless America" and the National Anthem with the football field-sized American flag, the eagle flying across the field, the introduction of the Ducks and Tiger and the coin toss with Lee Corso. Then the game began.

It is a totally different experience actually being at a game then watching it on TV. You don't realize how much stoppage time there actually is because of commercials, but it's noticable when you are at the game. Nonetheless, this was a great experience.

We had great seats. And I don't say that because we were 14 rows up on the 20 yard line, which was definitely a plus, but my favorite part of where we sat was seeing a bunch of ESPN employees standing down on the field right in front of us. Erin Andrews, Lou Holtz, Jesse Palmer, Rece Davis, Mark May, Craig James, Todd McShay, and I even saw Urban Meyer and Nick Saban. I must be a nerd, but that part was so exciting for me!

The game was not the high scoring, fast-paced, offensive game that everyone was predicting and even expecting, however it didn't disappoint. Throughout the game my dad and I got into it with the fans and cheered for the Ducks. High fiving and fist pumping for the great plays and feeling the disappointment of the bad ones.

The final touchdown drive that the Ducks put together was definitely exciting! All their fans were going nuts and so were we (although we were just a little more tame).

Then Auburn got the ball back. And began their drive.

Michael Dyer made his run, got tackled and everyone on the Oregon side calmed down and geared up for the next play. I thought it was over but then I looked up and saw he was still running. I questioned the play, but saw the replay on the jumbo tron and knew that it wouldn't be called back. And also knew that the Auburn Tigers would be the new national champs that night. 

You all know how it ended. It ended very fast for the Oregon fans. But no one could deny that it was a great game. And a great experience for me.

The Luck of the Cardinal

Sports is all about the hype. The reason that we even care about two guys like Andrew Luck and Jim Harbaugh is because of the hype they are given. I will be the first to admit I watched and I wanted to know what Andrew Luck would do and where Harbaugh would end up coaching. I, like many other crazed sports fans, help magnify their decisions because I watched, discussed, and examined them. These two guys had to make decisions and they didn't listen to the hype, their choices were right.

Jim Harbaugh spent four years at Stanford. He turned that program around. He was given a 1-11 team and left them with a 12-1 record and as Orange Bowl champions. What else can he do? Sure, he could stay and coach them to a national championship, but that's not a guarantee. And his aspirations were to become a head NFL coach, and now, that is what he is. How can you blame the guy for leaving a program after doing just about all he could do and going to the NFL to fulfill his dream? You can't. He made the right call.

Andrew Luck is one year away from earning his college degree from Stanford University in Architectural Design and you're telling me that going back to do that is a dumb decision? That is one of the smartest decisions a guy could make. He is getting a free ride to a very prestigious school and no one can ever take that away from him. Ok, so people say well he is turning down a number one draft pick and about 30 or 40 million dollars. SO WHAT?! The NFL will still be there, and besides, what if there is a lockout next year? That's a year that he could be sitting around, not playing and not getting a degree, or he could be playing AND getting his degree. Others still say, he's going to have to learn a new system, get acclimated to a new coach. Yeah, that is true. But he will have to do the same thing when he goes into the NFL. It will be a new system, new coach, new policies, new everything. This will just be good practice.

Two guys, two great decisions. Both decisions were surrounded by a considerable amount of hype. But neither guy let it get to them. They made their decisions for themselves, not for anyone else and that's not lucky, that's just smart. 

BCS Blunder

For the most part the match ups for BCS bowls game are usually right on. We may not totally agree with each game and maybe a different 2 loss team could have squeezed in, BUT please tell me how in the world does a 4 loss team make it into a BCS game?!

When you think about UConn athletics the first thing that will probably come to your mind is the women's basketball program and their recent 90-game win streak. And if you are a little more knowledgeable you would think of the men's program and the NCAA's scoring leader in Kemba Walker at 26.7 points per game. But you would not think about their football team!

Let's be real, the Big East is not a football conference, it is a basketball conference. Many of those schools are going to be represented in the NCAA basketball tournament in March and maybe even into April. But as far as football goes even though they are an automatic qualifying conference there is no reason that a 4 loss team should be in a BCS bowl!

Think about two games: the 2007 Fiesta Bowl and the 2011 Rose Bowl. Two teams, Boise State and TCU were undefeated and earned their right to be in a BCS game. Not only did they earn that right but proved they should have been there by capping off their perfect seasons with a win. We all love to see the underdog come out on top but when you're talking about the BCS unless a team is undefeated or it says Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, or another football powerhouse on your jersey you do not automatically deserve to be there. And Connecticut proved that with a 28-point loss in the Fiesta Bowl.