Top 10 NBA Players of All-Time

1.      Michael Jordan

2.      Magic Johnson

3.      Bill Russell

4.      Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

5.      Wilt Chamberlain

6.      Larry Bird

7.      Kobe Bryant

8.      Oscar Robertson

9.      Shaquille O’Neal

10.    Tim Duncan

Top 10 NFL Power Rankings

1.      Denver Broncos (13-3)

2.      Atlanta Falcons (13-3)

3.      Green Bay Packers (11-5)

4.      New England Patriots (12-4)

5.      Seattle Seahawks (11-5)

6.      San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1)

7.      Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

8.      Indianapolis Colts (11-5)

9.      Washington Redskins (10-6)

10.    Houston Texans (12-4)

Top 10 NBA Draft Busts

 

1.      Darko Milicic

2.      Kwame Brown

3.      Michael Olowokandi

4.      Hasheem Thabeet

5.      Greg Oden

6.      Stromile Swift

7.      Adam Morrison

8.      Daruis Miles

9.      Nikoloz Tskitishvili

10.    Joe Alexander

Avery Didn't Deserve This Kind of Treatment

Now former Brooklyn Nets coach Avery Johnson was unfairly fired from the organization Thursday after a 14-14 start. I think he was really good for this team but with the high pressure of performing at a high level and expectations out of the roof from owner Mikhail Prokhorov, nobody is safe and even Avery. Pressure bust pipes and they were when the Nets decided to move to Brooklyn in the Barclay’s center. Everyone knew with having a billion dollar arena in New York it was win or go home and Avery was the first to do so.

The Deron Williams fiasco wasn’t the main reason for Johnson to be ousted as coach. Even though Williams is much known for putting his coaches on blast and criticizing them publicly and whining like a big baby. Just ask former legendary Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan! I understand that you don’t like the offense that Avery is running; I got that, but pull Johnson to the side and bring out your frustrations and maybe you might get a change in it. But when you go out there and talk to the media that is when you’re airing out your laundry of the team and more people are watching closely; especially upper management and ownership.

Avery didn’t deserve to be fired the way he was, even though I saw the Nets falling quickly in front of our eyes. This team is better from last season with their additions and signings but they aren’t a championship team as of yet. Everyone was waiting for this rivalry to take place with the New York Knicks and there just isn’t one people. The Knicks will be the toast of the town of many more years. You just can’t come to a city and expect to replace a legendary team just like that. There are many Knick faithful’s in the city that isn’t just going to jump ship to be a Brooklyn Net fan; sorry!

I just think that Prokhorov didn’t like the style of play that Avery was running and he was looking for more excitement of this organization and how can we forget that this owner is really trying to be the team of this town. I believe that Johnson is an unbelievable coach that will definitely coach and again and will be successful. You don’t win 67 games as a coach in Dallas and not be good. Johnson taking the Nets job was definitely beneath him 2 years ago. The Nets did him a favor and fired him because they aren’t going to win anytime soon with this team constructed. Do you think that Avery was treated unfairly with the firing last week?

An Expanded NFL Playoffs Would be a BIG Mistake!

What was the NFL thinking when they came out with an announcement that they want to expand the NFL playoffs? I think that would be a horrible idea and it will just make fans turn away from the game they love. Why would anyone want to see a watered down tournament. We’ve already experienced it when Seattle Seahawks were a 7-9 team a couple of years ago and they won their division and beat the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs. So many of us were mad about that and not because they beat the Saints, but because they got to get home field advantage against them even though the Saints went 11-5 that season. What a messy situation!

Now let’s say that they did expand the playoffs to half of the NFL, you’re telling me that you would want to see the likes of Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and the New York Jets make the playoffs? I don’t think so! Well maybe my New York fans want to see the Jets take the stage but this team has been a wreck. We’re not going to get into that tonight. But I have to say “Free Tebow” hahaha. I’m just a bit confused and concerned that the NFL wants to pull off this major scam. You’re right I said it “scam”.

The NFL is a multi-billion dollar business already, so if you’re telling me that they’re doing it for more money. My question is what is enough money? They’re doing very well at this stage but the integrity of the game is at risk and I hope that they don’t pull the trigger on this crazy idea. I want to see the Manning’s, Brady and Rodger’s of the world play in the playoffs. Now that’s an NFL playoffs to witness and enjoy. Do you think that Roger Goodell and company make this change?

Top 10 NBA Power Rankings

 

1.      Los Angeles Clippers (22-6)

2.      Oklahoma City Thunder (21-6)

3.      Miami Heat (19-6)

4.      New York Knicks (20-8)

5.      San Antonio Spurs (21-8)

6.      Memphis Grizzlies (18-7)

7.      Golden State Warriors (18-10)

8.      Atlanta Hawks (16-9)

9.      Chicago Bulls (15-12)

10.    Los Angeles Lakers (14-14)

CP3: Los Angeles Clippers Savior

The Los Angeles Clippers were once the laughing stock in the NBA and now they’re considered the hottest and best team in basketball. The Clippers weren’t playing around when they said they were gunning for the LA Lakers and become the best team in tinsel town. I give most of the credit to point guard extraordinaire Chris Paul. He has been the catalyst for this team and he is leading the pack to a 13 game winning streak, which is a franchise record. Let’s not even talk about the team being called “Lob City”. CP3 throws the alley-oop like no other to the likes of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and others.

The LA Clippers were once a team that nobody wanted to watch and many wanted them out of the league. They were just a terrible team that didn’t even believe in themselves and to me they were on the court for the past decade or two just for the paycheck and to become marketable for a possible trade. I felt sorry for the fans out there that supported them for so many years to watch an abysmal team that couldn’t get out of the way of themselves. Poor Billy Crystal! When I watched the Clippers for so many years I just seen a team that was out to for themselves and wanted just to get there’s and that’s all.

You have a team now that is playing team basketball with a really good coach in Vinny Del Negro and upper management supporting the team. I don’t think Del Negro is at the great stage yet, we just have to wait and watch. But he is definitely on his way there if he can keep this team playing at a high level and do some great things in the playoffs. Without Paul coming to the Clippers last season in a trade, I don’t believe this team would be a great as they are now. As they say to have a great team you need a special point guard to lead; and that he is. CP3 is the savior of the Los Angeles Clippers. He means a lot to the team and they’re doing everything in their power to keep him happy to lock him up for a long-term deal, so he won’t become a free agent.

CP3 is having a blast out there on the floor and especially throwing the lob to Blake makes things easier. But winning cures everything! Paul is a great fit for the team and he is making a lot of decisions with management to surround him with great talent and hopefully win their first NBA title in franchise history. Adding Odom, Crawford and Matt Barnes really gives the team a better edge for their bench that teams don’t want to see. Barnes isn’t a big threat but you know where I’m going with it hahaha. Where do you think the LA Clippers will finish when it’s all said and done?

Top 10 NFL Power Rankings: Week 17

1.      Denver Broncos (12-3)

2.      Atlanta Falcons (13-2)

3.      Green Bay Packers (11-4)

4.      New England Patriots (11-4)

5.      Houston Texans (12-3)

6.      Seattle Seahawks (10-5)

7.      San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1)

8.      Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

9.      Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

10.    Minnesota Vikings (9-6)

Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All-Time

1.      Wayne Gretzky

2.      Bobby Orr

3.      Mario Lemiux

4.      Gordy Howe

5.      Maurice Richard

6.      Doug Harvey

7.      Jean Beliveau

8.      Bobby Hull

9.      Mark Messier

10.    Terry Sawchuk

Desperate Times Calls for Desperate Measures

The New York Giants are in a desperate situation these last two weeks in the season as they’re looking for wins in Baltimore and at home against the Eagles. If they win these last two games as you’ll know, they will be in the tournament and at least be a wild card. Winning the NFC East is the goal but this team the way they’ve been playing just needs to focus on just making the playoffs. I predict that the Giants will not only beat the Ravens, but will crush them. The reason why is because when the big blue backs are against the wall they seem to turn it up and show no mercy to the opposition.

My only concerns for the Giants are the injuries that they’re facing with Bradshaw, Nicks and Tuck. If they can make it happen and play through this, the G-Men will have a bright outlook on the playoffs and what they can do once in. Everyone wants to know if the Giants can create magic again this year and win it all? That’s a great question that can’t be answered right now until they win these last games and get in. But I can tell you that the odds aren’t against them. Eli needs to have a stellar performance tomorrow and at least throw for three touchdowns for the Giants to win.

The Baltimore Ravens might be struggling right now with their offense but they’re no slouches. They still have a good defense in the league and as much as the Giants are desperate for a win, they’re as well. The G-Men can’t forget that and they need their defense and offense to step up this week because they were embarrassed last week in Atlanta. I don’t even want to get into that right now. I’m trying to think positive and today is Saturday. Who don’t want to enjoy their weekend haha? I just believe that the Giants will turn up the heat on these two teams and do whatever they have to do to get the win. There isn’t an option to lose. They have to get it done; period! Do you think the Giants will prevail this Sunday and against the lowly Eagles?

The Tribute: Shaq is Back

This is just what Shaq does to his opponents; leaving them with low confidence and embarrassed for the night. Can’t blame the guy because that’s what you have to do at that height and girth. I'm trying to figure out who Shaq hasn't dunked on in his career? Now that's something to ponder on. Well Nenad Krstic was just another victim of Dr. O’Neal, but he isn’t alone! Krstic didn't want any part of Shaq on that play. The Miami Heat were very smart to trade for O’Neal!

Top 10 Greatest Boxers of All-Time

1.      Sugar Ray Robinson

2.      Muhammad Ali

3.      Henry Armstrong

4.      Willie Pep

5.      Joe Louis

6.      Jack Johnson

7.      Rocky Marciano

8.      Roberto Duran

9.      Sugar Ray Lenard

10.    Floyd Mayweather

Top 10 NBA Power Rankings

 

1.      Oklahoma City Thunder (20-4)

2.      Los Angeles Clippers (18-6)

3.      New York Knicks (18-6)

4.      San Antonio Spurs (19-7)

5.      Memphis Grizzlies (16-6)

6.      Miami Heat (15-6)

7.      Atlanta Hawks (14-7)

8.      Golden State Warriors (16-8)

9.      Chicago Bulls (13-10)

10.    Brooklyn Nets (13-10)

Top 10 NFL Power Rankings: Week 16

 

1.      Denver Broncos (11-3)

2.      Atlanta Falcons (12-2)

3.      Houston Texans (12-2)

4.      San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1)

5.      New England Patriots (10-4)

6.      Green Bay Packers (10-4)

7.      Seattle Seahawks (9-5)

8.      Indianapolis Colts (9-5)

9.      Washington Redskins (8-6)

10.    New York Giants (8-6)

Where are They Now: Jeff Hostetler

I remember over 20 years ago growing up in my house and my dad would watch the New York Giants games featuring Lawrence Taylor. He was the man of the city at that time and New York sports was on the top. I didn’t know much about football at the age of 6 but I knew of this player named Jeff Hostetler. He was the former quarterback of the New York Giants from 1984-1992. What I remembered was the Super Bowl XXV against their arch nemeses the Buffalo Bills. With Giants great Phil Simms out due to injury, Hostetler came in to run the show and might I add he did. Sweeping through the playoffs and capturing another championship for the organization since 86’ put him as a quarterback to be reckoned with.

However, the next season Simms was back from injury and he felt that he should be the starter again but that wasn’t quite the story as he was told that he wouldn’t and “Hoss” will remain. Hoss numbers through his career wouldn’t blow you was as in his 15 seasons in the league he only threw for 94 touchdowns and 16,000 plus yards. The biggest problem was back in the day as a NFL player, you watched on the sidelines if you weren’t ready for the stage. Hoss sat as a backup for over 5 years before getting his big break.

Hostetler was a young kid that grew up in Pennsylvania and had the aspirations for the big league and he was on his way there. But he had a wakeup call when he couldn’t get the starting job in Penn State as their quarterback, so he transferred to West Virginia University. There he became a star for the Mountaineers and would make a name for himself. Hoss had the whole world watching him as he knew the NFL would be calling next and that’s what the Giants did in 1984 as they selected him in the draft in the 3^rd round.

Hoss finished his career with the Washington Redskins with no clear path on what he was going to do after his long but injury sidelined career. Now he is married and lives in West Virginia and owns a construction company. What we will always remember about Hoss is that he brought New York a Super Bowl but he waited his turn. That’s what the league is missing now. You have young guys that come out of college and they are paid big bucks and thrown into the fire, even though they aren’t ready. I want the old league back? Man those were the great days of the NFL. What did you remember about Hoss?

Put the Bottles Down

The love I have for the NFL doesn’t make me keep my mouth closed about this nonsense of a tragedy. First it was the suicide and killing of Chief’s Jovan Belcher and now a death of a Dallas Cowboys player in Jerry Brown. The man that caused it all was previous DUI offender and Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent. This man had no business driving while intoxicated. That’s the problem with sports figures and celebrities today. Many, not all feel they are untouchable and nothing will happen to them while this is just the opposite.

All the money that these players make, you’re telling me that they can’t take a cab or hire a driver to bring them around from home to the club? This is just insane; and don’t tell me that they are being frugal with their money because we’re in a recession. Hmm, that’s a good one when they are out popping bottles and toasting to the good life all night long. Now a young life is gone and you can’t get that back after it’s gone. I just don’t understand why common sense doesn’t come into the mind of people when they want to get behind the wheel after all that drinking.

Brown was just cruising with his best friend from college and he’s not thinking anything is wrong or that Brent is too drunk to drive. I know there are many people that drink and drive, meaning they will only a drink or two and still be able to go home safe. That’s what they feel and who am I to try to be the police of things. That’s the reality of life and it’s going to be this way. But you have Brent that is throwing it back like he can handle all that liquor and still get home safe. Wow is all I can say about that! Just ashamed and angry that you have these selfish players out there that think they can beat the odds and saying it won’t be me. Now Brown is dead and Brent will be locked down where he belongs for his idiotic decision. It’s like once a drunk, always a drunk. That definitely applied to Brent because he went to jail for 30 days back in college for his previous offense in 09’.

The Mets are Finally Getting it

R.A. Dickey was the toast of town this season with the New York Mets as he took possession of the N.L. Cy Young Award. Dickey played like a stud while the lowly Mets struggled through the season. The only thing that poor Mets fans had to look forward to was Dickey’s outings on the mound. At the age of 38, he is seeking a two year extension that the Mets just can’t afford at the moment. $26-$28 million for two years is a lot for this kind of organization. I know what many of you are thinking that how could they not afford this and they gave David Wright over $100 million. First off David Wright is much younger and he is the franchise player. I understand that Dickey won the infamous award but he is up there in age and many pitchers aren’t Roger Clemens, Mariano Rivera and Randy Johnson.

Maybe the first year of the contract he will come up strong and just maybe. I don’t see Dickey having a strong second year and final of his contract. How many players you know that is great at the age of 40? I don’t know many, so why would R.A. be any different? What the Mets are missing is depth and a strong bat. The prospect that they would take if they trade Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays in Travis d'Arnaud would be a great choice. His numbers were very good in Triple-A this year.

This trade just makes a lot of sense talent and business wise. I can finally say that the Mets are starting to understand how to hopefully run an organization. I know they are very far from being a respectable ball club, but this is a great start if they pull this off. I know fans will hate this for the organization because of what Dickey brings to the table; excitement and wins to the club. It will be tough to see Dickey on another team and not being a Met for next season, especially he was the one to bring Met fans together again. This trade won’t make the Mets a playoff team but they would be going in the right direction. I can’t lie getting rid of Reyes was Greeaatttt!! Do you support the trade?

Carmelo vs. KD

The debate around the NBA and fans all over on who is better, Carmelo Anthony or Kevin Durant? This isn’t an easy one guys. Their career numbers are very identical but Kevin Durant has more success in the last two seasons with his club then Melo. Since Anthony has been in New York for the past two seasons he was the scape goat and fans wanted to run him out of town because of the inconsistent play with him and Stoudemire. They didn’t gel many said and people were very right about that but you couldn’t deny the talent that you had in front of you with Anthony.

This is the reason why Melo made a statement this summer in London as he was a beast from the east, helping the U.S.A. Men’s Basketball Team capture another gold medal. Now we have KD which is a great scorer and the leader of OKC. This guy is a tough competitor and it makes it hard for the opposition to guard him because he’s about 6’10’’ and can shoot efficiently from the 3. He led his team to the finals last season against LeBron James and the Miami Heat but they didn’t show up to the finals. I guess they were on a mental vacation or something. They looked terrible except for KD as he was putting up big numbers. The only knock that I have on KD was that he didn’t take over the games he needed to in the finals. Having strong numbers is one thing but not being clutch is another. He took Lebron’s place in the finals.

Some people might say Durant is the second best player in the NBA behind James but I say right now it’s Melo. Today, Melo is the talk of the NBA and let’s not forget if he keeps up the great work he will be the MVP of the league. Mark my words people! The Knicks aren’t the laughing stock in the league as they were for the last decade. The biggest reason why is because of Carmelo Anthony. He has most things you want your star player to have. Melo has a midrange jump shot, he can hit the three and he drives to the basket. So to me that’s an all-around game.

KD doesn’t have all of those attributes. He’s not strong enough to drive the basket. I just feel that he needs to gain some weight because he just too damn skinny and if he does he can become more of a horse. Then I just might say he's better. Also with him doing that OKC will win a championship because they are the best team in the league when you think of talent wise. So Carmelo you have my vote. Who are you placing your vote with?