Regan: NFL Preview

Here is a very brief team-by-team overview of the 2011 NFL season. GO COWBOYS!!!

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills- Sorry Bills fans, the bad records you have become accustomed to is a trend that is going to continue this season. If I were the owner I would tell my coaches to make sure they lose every game so they can get Andrew Luck with the first pick in next year’s draft, but they won’t do that.           

2011 Record Prediction: 5-11

Miami Dolphins- I honestly don’t know a whole lot about the Dolphins except they have a quarterback that ranks among the bottom third of the league at his position, the same can be said about their running back. Also, Marc Anthony and J-LO own a portion of the team; now that they are divorced I don’t know how that’ll work. Anyways, another mediocre season for Miami.

2011 Record Prediction: 6-10

New England Patriots- Looking to rebound after a tough playoff loss to their nemesis the Jets. Fortunately, they still have the best quarterback and best coach in the game. I think they are just as good as last year when they finished 14-2.

2011 Record Prediction: 13-3

New York Jets- My least favorite team in the league (that’s not a major Cowboys rival) unfortunately should be formidable again with a good running game and stout defense. Will go as far as Mark Sanchez can take them.

2011 Record Prediction: 10-6

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans- No team happier about Manning’s injury, although I’m sure they would never admit it. Potent offense led by Andre Johnson and Arian Foster should score a lot of points, the addition of Wade Phillips at defensive coordinator should improve the defense. Look for the Texans to win division for first time in franchise history.

2011 Record Prediction: 10-6

Indianapolis Colts- Thanks to a certain quarterback’s bad neck this team will lose a lot for the first time in a long time. If the line and receivers are legit they’ll win a few games, if Manning was the only reason they have been legit they will win less then a few games.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

Jacksonville Jaguars- They released a slightly below average quarterback for an extremely below average one. They’ll run the ball a lot and have success with that, and continue to be the team no one ever thinks about, even the majority of the people in Jacksonville.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

Tennessee Titans- A new coach, new quarterback, and new very large contract for running back Chris Johnson. I think Hasselback will actually fit in very well with the Titans, and I think the Titans could surprise a lot of people and possibly win this division. (But probably not)

2011 Record Prediction: 8-8

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos- A team with a lot of question marks under new coach John Fox. Former coach Josh McDaniels certainly didn’t do the team a whole lot of favors, setting them up for the future. On offense they are going to run the football with Knowshon Moreno, a high pick who has yet to prove anything in the NFL. If Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil can be major force in the running game and get to the quarterback, it would greatly help a secondary that’s ancient in a couple spots (Dawkins, Bailey) and extremely young at another (Moore). A favorable schedule in a below average division helps a lot but reaching .500 is still a stretch.

2011 Record Prediction: 6-10

Kansas City Chiefs- Last year the Chiefs were one of the NFL’s biggest surprises, however I don’t think they can expect to repeat the success from 2010 to this year. They had so much go just right last year, and that doesn’t happen year to year in less you’re actually a really good team, which the Chiefs aren’t.

2011 Record Prediction: 7-9

Oakland Raiders- I have no idea why so many people outside of the Oakland area seem to like the Raiders, they haven’t been good in almost a decade, and things aren’t looking up, they will be bad again this year. Their best player is the punter Shane Lechler if that tells you anything.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

San Diego Chargers- Worst special teams in history last year, which just cannot happen again, especially with the new kickoff rules. Until last year they had ruled this division for the majority of the last six or seven years, this year they will regain the top spot led by MVP candidate Philip Rivers.

2011 Record Prediction: 11-5

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens: They’ve been a very good team the last couple years, and they will be again this year. The aging defense led by Ray Lewis still has a year or two of dominance left in them, and Ray Rice is a stud at running back. However, they will suffer another early exit in the playoffs because Joe Flacco isn’t capable of leading a team to the Super Bowl, he’s a decent quarterback, but not one of the elite that can take a team to the Super Bowl.

2011 Record Prediction: 10-6

Cincinnati Bengals- A team that finished 4-12 record last year is somehow a lot worse. Andy Dalton may have a good career, but he won’t have good season, the running situation is average at best, and the same can be said for the defense, although I don’t think either area will even be average. My deep apologies Bengals fans.

2011 Record Prediction: 2-14

Cleveland Browns: A team that is on the rise with a running back they like in Peyton Hillis and a quarterback they think is the guy in Colt McCoy. However, they don’t really have any other offensive playmakers and with the likes of Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the division they need more playmakers. Yet another rebuilding year for the Browns

2011 Record Prediction: 6-10

Pittsburgh Steelers- The defending AFC champs come into this season hungry to get back to the Super Bowl as well as get a few more fines for cheap shots and illegal hits, and with a cast that is pretty all much returning they should have a pretty good shot at just that if they stay healthy.

2011 Record Prediction: 12-4

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys- My favorite team, and as the readers of this blog know I am extremely biased towards my favorite teams and favorite players. That is going to continue right now. However, hear me out, the Cowboys have the offensive weapons and an offensive mind (Head Coach Jason Garrett) to make them unstoppable. They do have a few offensive line question marks. But even with those question marks this offense will be among the tops in the league. Tony Romo is looking as good as ever and has great chemistry with receivers Miles Austin and Dez Bryant as well as the best tight end in the league Jason Witten. On defense they were horrible last year, but two years ago they were a top 10 defenses with primarily the same players. They are capable of being pretty good and I think they will be.

2011 Record Prediction 10-6

New York Giants: Injuries have really hurt them already this season especially on defense, and they were on the decline anyway. Eli is an interception machine, the running game isn’t that great. Ahmed Bradshaw was fine as a second back but a little out of his league as a featured back. Plus, they always suck in the second half.

2011 Record Prediction: 6-10

Philadelphia Eagles- The favorite in this division and rightfully so, they have lots of talent on both sides of the ball. But forgive me if I don’t jump on the Eagles bandwagon (and not just because I have always freaking hated the Eagles). Mike Vick is a spectacular talent but he’s played a full season just once and back up Vince Young is a guy that, well… deserves to be a back up. I’m just not convinced they’ll totally mesh, but they will still be really good.

2011 Record Prediction: 11-5

Washington Redskins- Rex Grossman is the starting quarterback, that’s all you need to know.

2011 Record Prediction: 5-11

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons- A really good team last season that should on paper be better with the addition of Julio Jones on offense and Ray Edward on the defensive line. They have a really well rounded offense and this is the year Matt Ryan needs to step up and carry this team to some playoff wins.

2011 Record Prediction: 12-4

Carolina Panthers: They have some talent, but not enough quite yet, especially in a division as tough as this one. Unless Cam Newton can carry the Panthers the way he carried Auburn last year, which he most likely won’t, it will be another dismal season for Carolina fans.

2011 Record Prediction: 5-11

New Orleans Saints- They win a lot of games but I don’t know how. Drew Brees is a stud, one of the top few quarterbacks in the game and Marques Colston is a solid receiver but other then that, they just don’t have a lot of great players. However, they do have great coaching and one of the best at the most important position, and just enough talent to reach the playoffs but they’ll lose early again.

2011 Record Prediction: 10-6

Tampa Bay Bucs- The media loves Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman, and he’s solid, but I do not understand the infatuation with him at all, you would think he was as good as Manning or Brady. (Just venting some frustration) Last season they finished 10-6. They won a lot of close games and a lot of games against subpar teams. People consider Tampa to be a fun, trendy pick this year… not smart.

2011 Record Prediction: 8-8

NFC  WEST

Arizona Cardinals- Even if Kevin Kolb is as good as Arizona hopes he is, this will still be a subpar season in Arizona. The defense is not very good and the running back is Beanie Wells. And by the way I don’t think Kolb is that great. (Although a definite upgrade from last season’s qb saga in Arizona) However, being in the worst division in football should help.

2011 Record Prediction: 7-9

San Francisco 49ers- They should give Alex Smith five or six games to prove himself, if he’s bad they should tank for Andrew Luck, if he’s decent they should probably tank for Andrew Luck, if he’s actually good they should consider it a fluke and still tank for Andrew Luck.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

Seattle Seahawks- Their starting quarterback isn’t Rex Grossman. You are probably thinking, “Hmmm that’s a good thing.” Well the Seahawks starting quarterback is Tarvaris Jackson; yeah somehow Grossman isn’t the worst starting quarterback in this league. The Cowboys have three quarterbacks better then Jackson.

2011 Record Prediction: 4-12

St. Louis Rams- This is a trendy pick among fans and experts as well this year, and in this case I’m going to have to agree. Because Sam Bradford is an absolute stud, in five years when Brady, Manning, and Brees have all regressed or retired he will be fighting Rodgers for the title of best quarterback alive. Stephen Jackson is an underrated running back who will give the offense good balance and propel the Rams to the division title.

2011 Record Prediction: 9-7

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears- Last year this lackluster team somehow made it into the playoffs and into the NFC championship game, well that’s not happening this year. Jay Cutler is not a winner and never will be a winner. Last year was an absolute fluke.

2011 Record Prediction: 7-9

Detroit Lions- The Lions are a team to watch out for if they can stay healthy, particularly quarterback Matthew Stafford. They have a top 5 receiver in Calvin Johnson, a solid running back and when he’s healthy Stafford is tough to stop. And Ndamukong Suh is in my opinion already about the best defensive player in the entire NFL.  The Lions will reach .500 but no playoffs quite yet.

2011 Record Prediction: 8:8

Green Bay Packers- I admit I’m writing this after their Opening Night win over the Saints, so I’ve already had the chance to kind of evaluate them. The Packers offense is going to be an absolute nightmare for every other team in the league. I really don’t think they can be stopped. Aaron Rodgers is better then every other quarterback in the NFL except for Brady, and he’s probably tied with Brady. Good offensive line, good running back, good tight end, good receivers. The offense has no weaknesses whatsoever. The defense looked a little shaky at time Thursday night but that’s against an elite offensive team, they’ve proven to be a good defense.

2011 Record Prediction: 13-3

Minnesota Vikings- All depends on how much Donovan McNabb has left, they have the best running back in the league, but that won’t matter if McNabb can’t make some plays. They have a favorable schedule; even so I don’t see the Vikings making a playoff push.

2011 Record Prediction: 7-9

·      So based off my predictions the playoff teams from the AFC will be the Patriots, Steelers, Chargers, Jets, and Ravens, and Texans.

·      From the NFC: Eagles, Cowboys, Falcons, Rams, Packers, and Saints

·      I think in the AFC championship we’ll see Patriots vs. the Steelers

·      NFC Championship will feature Packers vs. Cowboys (don’t judge me)

·      In the Super Bowl it’ll be Packer vs. Patriots

·      And the champion will be …… the Green Bay Packers for the second year in a row.

The MVP of the league will also be a repeat; Tom Brady will win it again. Suh will be the defensive MVP.

Devin:NFL Preview

A brief overview of the upcoming season. I'm just glad to be back to football!!

AFC North

Pittsburg Steelers-The Steelers possess a nasty defense and a strong running game, key elements to any championship run. Once again, this division is theirs to lose. 13-3

Baltimore Ravens-They will once again have one of the best defenses in the NFL, but I don’t trust Flacco to ever take them to the promise land. 10-6

Cleveland Browns-With one year under Colt McCoy’s belt and the dominant running of Peyton Hillis, the Browns will only get better. 8-8

Cincinnati Bengals-Maybe signing every thug in the NFL is catching up with Cincinnati. A rookie quarterback throwing to a rookie wide receiver is the least of their troubles, this team is a mess. 2-14

AFC South

Houston Texans-Mark my words, this is the Texans year. They return a strong offense with a vastly improved defense. Look for them to make some noise this season. 11-5

Indianapolis Colts-Without Manning this is a 4-12 team, and that’s being generous. Lucky for them the rest of this division is terrible and Manning might be back towards the end of the season. 8-8

Jacksonville Jaguars-Cutting David Garrard was an interesting move, but this team has some pieces to be successful in the future. Still a middle of the pack team right now though. 6-10

Tennessee Titans-Don’t expect the world from Chris Johnson, I actually expect a down year. Hasselbeck isn’t the answer; hopefully Jake Locker is a quick learner. 4-12

AFC East

New England Patriots-The rich get richer; or better in the Patriots case. Ochocinco and Haynesworth will revive their careers and the Patriots will again dominate. 14-2

New York Jets-Its time the Jets put their money where Rex Ryan’s mouth is. Sanchez will have his best year, and they will again make it deep in the playoffs. But can they make it past the AFC championship? 11-5

Miami Dolphins-They have a strong defense, but the offense will not be very affective as long as Chad Henne is at the helm. I’m not sure why they didn’t go after Orton. 8-8

Buffalo Bills- They upgraded their defense tremendously with Marcell Dareus and Shawn Merriman, but that offense is still a glaring weakness. Another team with huge QB questions. 4-12

AFC West

San Diego Chargers-They will return an all around dominant team. The special teams will be better, which is all this team needs. Don’t look much past the regular season for them though. 11-5

Kansas City Chiefs-If Cassell can have another strong year this team will be successful. The defense is growing into a good unit, and Jamaal Charles will continue to average insane yards per carry. 9-7

Denver Broncos-This team is vastly improved from last season. Look for their defense to surprise people and Knowshow Moreno to have a breakout year. Von Miller=Defensive Rookie of the Year. 8-8

Oakland Raiders-Al Davis will somehow find a way to make his team a bottom dweller again. They lost too much in free agency and it will affect them more than they imagined. DMC and Bush will single handedly will 4 games for this team. 5-11

NFC North

Green Bay Packers-I see no reason why they can’t repeat. Aaron Rogers is without a doubt the best QB in the NFL, they have several starters returning from injury, and Clay Matthews is just plain scary! 15-1

Detroit Lions-Detroit finally makes the jump from the bottom of the NFC North. Their defense looks fantastic on paper and if Stafford can stay healthy he will go to the Pro Bowl. 11-5

Chicago Bears-The Bears go by the rule of 3, they have a good season every 3 years. Seeing as how they won the division last year, look for a down year. Cutler throws over 20 int’s again and they resemble the 2009 Bears. 7-9

Minnesota Vikings- Adrian Peterson will get his, but the departures of Sidney Rice and Ray Edwards will hurt a lot. McNabb will be better than last year, but not good enough to make this team competitive. 5-11

NFC South

New Orleans Saints- They have an all world offense, and can score in no time at all. Vilma is the center of a strong defense that never gets enough credit due to the offense outshining everyone. 13-3

Atlanta Falcons-Julio Jones completes this offense and gives Matt Ryan yet another target. They will come into the season with a chip on their shoulders due to the beating Green Bay gave them. 11-5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers-They will soon have a very scary defense again. Josh Freeman will continue to surprise people and the Bucs will have another strong year. Too bad they play in the NFC South. 10-6

Carolina Panthers-Cam Newton is not the answer, and the Panthers will soon find this out. They did good to keep most of their free agents, but this team is several years away from legitimacy. 4-12

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles-The Eagles have the most dynamic offense in the NFL and a totally revamped defense. There is no real threat to them in their division. 12-4

Dallas Cowboys- For some reason they did absolutely nothing to improve that terrible defense. But, their offense can be legit; and if Felix Jones can stay healthy you will be hearing a lot about him this season. 9-7

New York Giants-Even with Peyton sitting on the bench he is still the best Manning brother. Injuries this preseason have absolutely killed their defense. Even their much heralded draft class is suffering. Look for a slow start but a strong finish. 7-9

Washington Redskins-Rex Grossman as a starter spells failure for any team. Their offense is full of no names and their defense won’t be able to carry them. Don’t expect much from this team. 4-12

NFC West

St. Louis Rams-With Sam Bradford slingin it and Steven Jackson running it, this offense will put up points this year. As long as their defense is even decent the division is theirs for the taking. 10-6

Arizona Cardinals-Kevin Kolb better look Larry Fitzgerald’s way alot, because that’s all he has. Patrick Peterson will prove worthy of his #5 draft selection and make fans forget about DRC. 9-7

San Francisco 49ers-They have one of the best ‘QB’s’ on defense with Patrick Willis, but can anyone tell me why Alex Smith is still the starter? Maybe Harbaugh can be a miracle worker, but probably not. 6-10

Seattle Seahawks-I, for one, feel like Pete Carroll wants Andrew Luck. Why else would you trade for Travaris Jackson? Trust me, at season’s end the Seahawks will be in the running for the #1 draft pick. 3-13

NFL MVP-Aaron Rogers
Defensive MVP-Ndamukong Suh
Offensive MVP-Phillip Rivers

Playoffs
Wild Card

Ravens vs. Texans-Texans 25-23

Chargers vs. Jets-Jets 27-14

Eagles vs. Lions-Eagles 32-21

Falcons vs. Rams-Falcons 34-17

Divisonal Round

Texans vs. Steelers-Steelers 38-13

Patriots vs. Jets-Jets 19-17

Saints vs. Eagles-Saints 29-24

Packers vs. Falcons-Packers 32-19

Conference Championships

Steelers vs. Jets-Jets 13-9

Packers vs. Saints-Packers 35-21

Super Bowl XLVI

Packers vs. Jets

Packers 27-19

Regan: NBA's Top 5 Point Guards

Point guard is arguably the deepest position in the NBA right now. However, this prestigious list is in what my opinion is the top 5.

5. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder- I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about basketball, and I generally make good predictions and have good analysis (unless I’m biased, which I am quite often actually) but I was completely wrong on Russell Westbrook, when he was drafted I thought he was going to be a bust, even after he had a really good rookie year I still predicted failure for him. But now after his third year in the league I have to admit this guy is a stud. This past year he averaged 22 points a game 8 assists and almost 5 rebounds a game. He’s probably the best rebounding point guard in the league, which may be a result of having insane leaping ability but it’s still impressive. Likewise, he’s quick enough to explode by just about anyone and get to the rim. As a result he’s able to set up teammates for open shots, get easy shots, or get to the free throw line, all very positive things. The Thunder had one of the top offenses in the league despite starting Kendrick Perkins at center, arguably the worst offensive center in the league, whose only claim to fame is having the ability to look angry at all times, and Westbrook had a lot to do with that. In addition, he’s also solid defensively and as he matures should get even better. However, he does possess a bad qualities, he takes a lot of outside shots, which would be fine if he was the next guy on this list but he’s not and as a result misses a lot of them. He shoots way too much for a point guard and he has a tendency to turn the ball over at crucial times. As a Mavs fan I considered it a great defensive possession for us if he pulled up from outside 15 feet. But despite these weaknesses there is no doubt he has earned a spot on this list.

4. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns- He is by far the oldest player on this list, but at 37 he’s still making baffling defenses with his pinpoint passing and sweet shooting stroke. The two-time MVP may be the best pure shooter in NBA history with a career averages of 42% from long range, 48% on field goals, and a tad over 90% from the free throw line. If he has an open shot you players might as well start running back to the opposite side of the court. Over the last several years the Suns always rank right at the top in nearly every offensive category, and it’s because Nash has run their fast paced offense to perfection. Several times, such as last summer when Amar’e Stodemire signed with New York, people wondered if Nash would be the juggernaut he had been for the years with the all-star forward and sure enough Phoenix was still a great offensive team with Nash averaging 11.5 assists a game. As most of you probably already know, Nash sucks at defense but in his defense he’s really small, not as athletic as most NBA point guards, and also defense has never been a point of emphasis in Phoenix. Plus, according to stats researched by Sports Illustrated Writer Zach Lowe statistically Nash isn’t that bad of a defensive player. However, his offensive dominance outweighs his defensive weaknesses. Although a couple years removed from his prime he still runs the Suns offense as well as any point guard in the league.

3. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls- The reigning MVP of the league is only 22 years old, which is scary for the rest of the league. 22 is barely older then me which is kind of strange, however I digress. Rose is one of the most athletic, explosive players in a league of athletic, explosive human beings. Sometimes when he jumps up for one of his patented two handed slams, while he’s in midair he seems to get an extra lift like there is an invisible trampoline in the air. (I wonder if he has Flubber in his shoes, remember the Robin Williams movie? I think this is a definite possibility) Furthermore, no one in the NBA can stay in front of him (except for LeBron as we found out in the conference finals). This past season he averaged an astonishing 25 points and 7 assists a game, good assists numbers but not he’s not a natural distributor the way the two guys ahead of him are. His defense is pretty good but not great and his shooting although improved is still very spotty. He took 101 3’s during this last postseason and shot below 25%. That’s horrible, beyond horrible, like you almost have to try to be that bad. And yet, he still shot over 100 of them in just 16 games. That’s well over five a game! You would think after missing his 60^th or so he would have figured out “hey I can’t shoot 3’s maybe I should stop” but he didn’t. He may rise on this list in the future, and I think he will, but for now this is as high as I can put him.

2. Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets- Currently a member of the Turkish Basketball League, but obviously better known for his career in the USA. This guy is stupid good, his array of no-look passes, crossovers, and crazy shots make him one of the most exciting players in the NBA to watch. Having said that, he is not nearly the explosive player Rose is, and is not the reigning MVP, (Rose is) in fact Williams has never won an MVP, but he is a better point guard then Derrick Rose. Williams is a much better shooter especially from deep, and for all his greatness, and he is great, Rose tends to shoot his team out of games from time to time whereas Williams doesn’t have that problem. When it comes to passing Williams is as good as anyone in the league right now with the exception of Nash and the guy ahead of him on this list. This past season Williams averaged a double double with over 20 points and over 10 assists per game, and for his career has averaged 17 points and 9 assists per game. The only reasons I didn’t give Williams the top spot on this list is he can be turnover prone at times, whereas the guy ahead of him isn’t, likewise the guy ahead of him is leaps and bounds ahead of him defensively. However, being the 2^nd best point guard in the world isn’t bad at all, he is a really good player. Turkey will be delighted to have this tatted up American in their midst.

  

1.     Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets- Without a doubt the best point guard in the NBA right now. There are absolutely no weaknesses in his game right now. He can pass, shoot, get to the rim, and play smothering defense. Just a few months ago he almost single handedly beat the mighty LA Lakers (although I’m glad he didn’t, it was much more satisfying to see my Mavs take them down) he was by far and away the best player in that series. Likewise a couple years ago his Hornets took out my Mavs in the playoffs and it was because of Paul, he completely owned us, and I hated him for it but I’m over it now… I think. Anyways, Paul had the best Player Efficiency Rating among point guards last season, a good point guard is often referred to as a floor general and no point guard in the league epitomizes that title better then Paul. He sees the floor better than anyone else, as evidenced by his career average of 9.9 assists per game, which ranks behind only Magic Johnson and John Stockton as best assists per game for a career. Paul has made the last four all-star teams (first four out of several I’m sure) and his shooting has gotten better and better, he shot nearly 40% from three point land last season and nearly 50% from the field, very good percentages especially for a point guard. On defense, he is a menace for other teams, he’s always around the ball and he’s really good at taking it away he has made three all defensive teams and should make many more. He is the only player in NBA history to lead the league in steals and assists in consecutive seasons. Also, this last season his supporting cast was Marco Belinelli, Trevor Ariza, and Emeka Okafor that team would have trouble scoring 70 points without Paul, but with Paul they had a very good offensive attack and it’s only because they had the best point in the league. Chris Paul isn’t as flashy as some of the other players on this list, but he is the best all around floor general, which makes him the best point, guard in the NBA today.

Honorable Mention:

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics- Good defender, solid passer. Being the worst shooter in the NBA at either guard position (possibly any position) kept him off this list.

John Wall, Washington Wizards- Showed great passing ability as a rookie, impossible to stop in transition, will be a great one.

Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks- Just because he’s a Mav, and because he finally got a ring at the age of 58 (or something like that)

* Some info came from Zach Lowe’s 100 best NBA player rankings on Sports Illustrated’s website.

Devin:NBA's Top 5 Point Guards

Top 5 NBA point guards
Honorable Mention

Steve Nash
I know I’ll get beef for not putting him on my list, and maybe rightly so. At age 37 his assist numbers are as impressive as ever, but his point totals are slowly dropping. Even though he shot nearly 50% from the floor, it was his worst season shooting since 2003. The point guard position is evolving and he doesn’t have the legs to keep up with it.

John Wall
Speaking of the new breed of point guard, John Wall is it. Could possibly be the fastest straight line player in the NBA, he is quick and explosive, can get to the rim, and rebound well. In just his rookie year he averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds. He needs to work on his jump shot, but pretty soon he’ll be in conversation with my top 5.

Tony Parker
He has been a huge part of 3 NBA Championships for the Spurs, being named a Finals MVP in 2007. Parker is still very quick and possesses arguably the best floater in the NBA. Scores very proficiently in the paint and is sneaky around the rim. Parker has never been a huge assist guy though, only averaging 5.7 during his career. His knees are also starting to give him troubles.

#5
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook might be the most explosive player on my list, but not by much. He has crazy athleticism and uses his explosiveness very well. He was drafted 4th overall due to his defense, and he hasn’t’ disappointed in that aspect. He has the quicks to guard and point guards in the league, and the size to guard and shooting guards. Westbrook loves driving to the rim and has the ability to finish over anyone. He has improved his stats steadily each year, averaging 22 ppg and 8 ast in only his 3rd year. The sky is the limit for this kid. I think he has MVP type talent, and if he didn’t play with Durantula I think his numbers would be even better. The only aspect I could see Westbrook improving on is remembering he is a point guard. As fun as he was to watch at times, I think he sometimes forgets that he has the 2 time scoring champ on his team. He would try to take over games when he didn’t need too, which was evident in the playoffs. With his elite athleticism, defense, and constant improvement I could see Westbrook climbing his way up this list very soon.

#4
Rajon Rando
I thought about putting him at #5, but the mere fact that he had the heart to play with a dislocated elbow in last year’s playoffs, and still managed to play well, bumped him up on my ranking. The ‘Big Three’ can now be called the ‘Big Four’; Rajon Rondo has become a huge part of that team. Their success could even be defined by him now. He has come from being a weakness, to possibly the teams’ biggest strength. He sets up his teammates magnificently with his dribble penetration and passing. Coming into a team with 3 future Hall of Famers couldn’t possibly be easy, but Rando has done it perfectly. He plays the best defense of any point guard, and has even given bigger players like LeBron James trouble. He ranked 2nd among point guards in steals last year, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. I think Rondo could shut down any NBA wing player if he put his mind to it, he’s that good. His freakishly long arms allow him to steal balls, contest shots, and keep his opponent in front of him. His only weakness, no matter how obvious it is, is his shooting. Teams treat him like Shaq from outside of 10 feet and he shot a miserable 56.8% from the line last season. That’s terrible for any position. He won’t put up a lot of points, but he fills up the stat sheet like nobody’s business. In a game last season he had a triple double with 10pts, 10 reb, and a whopping 24 ast!! He sets the tone for his team like a point guard should with is tenacity. If you want to build your team around a point guard who can score in the paint (59.7%), dish the ball, and play stifling defense, then Rando is your guy.

#3
Chris Paul
This is where it gets though. Paul is an amazing player with no real weakness. He is always a league leader in steals and assists, averages almost 19 and 10 for his career, and can take over a game when needed; or even a playoff series, like he did against the Lakers. The main reason I have him here at #3 is because of his history with injuries. Chris Paul is a competitor who won’t back down from anyone, but injuries with this guy are evident. Paul’s injury last season affected all of his numbers, as they dropped off substantially from previous seasons. As we all know knees are nothing to take lightly and that kind of injury could likely shorten his career if he isn’t careful. He is smaller than the other top point guards but his strength still allows him to guard bigger guards, and his overall numbers are great for a point guard. He is a crafty, quick, and agile guard who shoots good percentages and routinely makes defenders look silly. When the game is on the line you want the ball in his hands, whether he is shooting or creating for his teammates. You can’t go wrong with Chris Paul on your team, but in the end he is 3rd on my list due to his injuries that caused his numbers to drop last season.

#2
Derrick Rose
The former number 1 pick and reigning MVP has certainly lived up to the hype. He turned a middle of the road 41-41 Bulls team into an NBA best 62-20, all while playing in the Eastern Conference that included the Heat, Celtics, and Magic. The best thing about him; he’s only 22! The improvements he has made since entering the league are nothing short of miraculous, which makes me wonder how good he can eventually become. Between his 2nd and 3rd seasons Rose took all of his numbers to a whole different level. He averaged nearly 5 more points, 2 more assists, more steals, blocks, rebounds, and a dramatically improved 3 point shot. Derrick Rose’s ability to get to the paint and finish at the rim is ridiculous! No 6’3 player should be able to do the things he does! He has also developed a short range floater and mid-range shot that is vital for any point guard in the league. His speed and explosiveness are only matched by Russell Westbrook, which is saying something. He is the youngest player to ever win the MVP and one of only three players in the last 30 years to record 2,000 points and 600 assists in a single season; joining Michael Jordan and LeBron James. No other player in the NBA had the impact for their team that Rose had on his Bulls team; hence the MVP award. There isn’t much he needs to do better besides continue to work on his outside shot, and maybe improve his defensive tenacity a bit. But with his work ethic I think we will all soon forget he ever even had those flaws.

#1
Deron Williams
This race was close until Chris Paul got injured and his numbers dropped this year. But even excluding that, Williams record vs. Paul is 14-5…Deron Williams owns Chris Paul. After a crazy season for Deron Williams that included Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan retiring and Williams being traded to the surprise of everyone, he ended up with the Nets. Even after all the commotion he put up fantastic numbers with 20.1 ppg and 10.3 ast. He is always among the league leaders in those important stats. Last year he was 3rd the league in assists and 3rd among point guards in points. When he got to New Jersey he averaged almost 13 assists, giving the Nets exactly wha they were looking for. Williams’ handles could possibly be the best in the NBA, his ‘killer crossover’ leaves defenders grasping at air, he is deceptively fast for a man that weighs 210 lbs, and he can take over games with the best of them! His defense is very solid, with his size he can guard multiple positions. His distributing and incredible court vision can’t be questioned either; if he can average over 10 assists on a team full of offensive no-names (C.J. Miles, Ronnie Price, Kyrylo Fesenko), then just imagine what he would do with some actual talent. When Deron Williams decides to score the basketball there is no stopping him. He can shoot from distance, pull up in the mid-range, and drive the ball. He will go through, around, or even over a defender when he wants to. Even with all this I feel like Williams has the potential boost his numbers and become the unquestioned best point guard in the league. He is a scorer, a passer, a defender, and a leader. Last year DWill was a more consistent scorer than Paul, and a better passer than Rose, making him the best all around point guard in the NBA right now.

Regan: Jimmertime

“Jimmertime!” Is the phrase I yell out every time I shoot from three-point range in pick-up games now. Although the ball has the annoying tendency of not going into the basket all that often, (very unlike The Jimmer) when it does happen to go in I can run back down the court feeling like a champ. Unless you’ve spent the last nine months walking around with a blindfold and earmuffs you know the countless words that begin with “Jimmer” is in reference to former BYU basketball star and current Sacramento King Jimmer Fredette. I, along with thousands of people have become a Jimmercenarie (zealous fan of Jimmer Fredette).

 Obviously a guy with a name that can be transformed into any part of speech, with cheeks that resemble a chipmunks, and who can drain three’s from 35 feet is going to be loved. However, now that he’s left BYU for the NBA, he’s still loved but how he’ll do as a pro is being questioned. Several think that The Jimmer will flop in the NBA and that he’ll spend the majority of his career buried at the end of the bench. Among these, is the well know writer Rick Reilly who wrote an article stating his case after BYU lost to Florida in the NCAA Tournament, basically claiming Jimmer is overrated and won’t be a good NBA player. Here’s some quick advice for all sports fans out there: if Rick Reilly writes or says anything about a sport that isn’t golf he’s wrong about 94.2 percent of the time. As a result, we can all conclude The Jimmer will be a good NBA player simply because Rick Reilly stated the opposite.

Sports Illustrated’s Kelli Anderson stated in an article earlier this year on Jimmer that “Facing the opposition's best defender (or, more often, defenders), he pulls up going right or going left. He shoots off the dribble, off the wrong foot, off balance, off the glass. He finishes in traffic with a dozen deft moves, including a scoop shot, originating from his waist, that he can make with either hand” With his vast array of shots and his ability to make all of them Jimmer is simply not guardable. It’s not like BYU is a hotbed of NBA talent, so Jimmer was forced to deal with double and triple teams sometimes extending full court and he was still able to put up almost 30 points a game with very good percentages from the field and three-point line. Teams tried putting long, athletic forwards on him…didn’t work. Teams then tried putting quick, smaller guards on him…didn’t work. Then teams tried putting both on him at the same time…didn’t work. Jimmer still managed to get off the shot he wanted.

The NBA always has room for shooters and Jimmer is easily the best shooter to enter the league since J.J. Redick. In some of his pre-draft workouts for NBA scouts he would shoot over 80 percent from beyond the three-point line. As he demonstrated in college when he crosses half-court he’s in range to drill it. I remember watching BYU play San Diego State and he pulled up from well over 30 feet and thinking to myself “noooo what are you thinking” and then the ball dropped through the bottom of the net. If I didn’t hate San Diego State I might have felt bad for them, it’s just not fair to have a guy on the other team who can do that.

In his pre-draft workouts he proved his strength, speed, and athleticism beating all other guards in the bench press, and competing with and even beating known speedster Kemba Walker in a few of the speed/agility drills. Jimmer is deceptively athletic and deceptively quick. He doesn’t necessarily look fast or flashy but he is still able to get where he needs to, kind of like a healthy Brandon Roy (Portland guard, former all-star). Furthermore, as coaches such as Jay Wright of Villanova have pointed out, The Jimmer plays with an on-court aggressiveness that many other player can match, he plays with a little bit of cockiness which is what you need when your not as big or athletic as your competitors, I would say he’s similar to Allen Iverson in this respect. You may beat him occasionally, but he’s going to get right back up and try to get you right back.

In addition he’s a very good passer and a crazy good ball handler. He understands the game extremely well and as a result is able to make good reads and decisions. I think he could very easily average near double digits in assists in a couple of years if he stays at the point. As for his defense, which any Johnny Raincloud will bring up in regards to Jimmer, he will be completely fine. As I have already stated he has the athletic ability to do it and as long as he puts in the right effort he’ll be fine. NBA scouts said they were surprised at how well his defense was. Admittedly, he wasn’t the best one on one defender in college but considering the load he shouldered on offense and the amount of minutes he played there’s no way he could have been an elite defender. For the most part he guarded a weak player and played good team defense kind of the way Kobe Bryant did this last season. Plus, the fact of the matter is you don’t necessarily have to play defense in the NBA (or even care about it) and be perfectly fine. Just ask Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, among others. If you can pass and especially score the way Jimmer can you can make a very good living in the NBA.

If I had to make a prediction I would say Jimmer will be a future all-star. I think he will eventually average 18-20 points and 7-9 assists a game. Along with those nights where he hits three shots that initially make his coach start to look down the bench for a sub and then when the shot falls in just shakes his head in amused disgust, if that makes sense. Jimmer Fredette will always be a scorer. Ten years from now Jimmermania will still be going on in full force, and people like me will still be shouting out “Jimmer” every time they hoist up a three pointer.

* For the complete Jimmer glossary type in The Jimmer on Google and go The Jimmer Glossary in the Deseret News, written by Dick Harmon. It's where I got my Jimmer words. I hope this is a proper bibiliography.

Devin: Jimmertime

It’s as evident as the sun rising, Brett Favre trying to make another comeback, and me being smarter than Regan. It’ll start in Houston, go west to California, east to New Orleans, and then eventually spread all across the United States and even part of Canada. It’s been all over T.V. so I know you’ve heard of it-I mean you have heard of it right? It’s only a matter of time now. None of us are safe from it; and all we can do now is accept it. So run inside, shut the door behind you, curl up in your favorite blanky, and getcha popcorn ready, cuz everybody is about to get JIMMERED!!!

There is no denying his basketball talent, so don’t even try. You could pull a Rick Reilly, look at one bad shooting night, then try to convince the nation that Jimmer is the next Adam Morrison. It’s obvious that his bias against BYU blinded his judgment on this one, the moron and joke of a sports writer Reilly admitted afterwards that the BYU vs. Florida game was the only Jimmer Fredette game he had ever watched. My apologies, please forgive me for my rant, I just had to get my 2 cents in. I am not here to bash Mr. Reilly, rather to point out the blatantly obvious! Many times while watching Jimmer play I found myself making the O face. His unlimited shooting range, unmatched hesitation move, sick crossovers, touch at the rim, and ice cold veins had me doing happy dances that took me back to Waffle Wednesdays in my middle school cafeteria. If you somehow have not had the pleasure of witnessing his game, check out this video! It’s easy to see that Jimmer has what it takes to play at the next level, I’m a firm believer in stats, and his don’t lie. His senior year he averaged 28.9 ppg, 4.3 ast, nearly 40% from downtown, and 89% from the line. He won nearly every individual award known to man and basically took his entire BYU team to the Sweet 16, doing more with less than arguably any other player in college basketball last year. Actually scratch that, there is no argument there. So after watching that video you’re probably asking yourself, “How in the world can anyone question this kids game?!”

That’s a good question, but the analysts are trying to find a way. He’s too slow to play point and too small to play shooting guard, quicker guards will have a field day with him, all in all he’s just not athletic enough. When hearing all that I just wish I could tell the analysts to say what’s really on their mind; he’s white! But what were they watching during the BYU games? It obviously wasn’t #32. Anybody who watched him can tell you what a fallacy those opinions are! He tested 3rd best in the NBA combines agility tests, beating Isaiah Thomas, Brandon Knight, and yes even Kemba Walker. Get this, his agility times even beat John Wall’s times from last years combine. If that isn’t convincing enough then put the game tapes on. Teams put 6’0 quick guards on him; Jimmer just out muscles them or use their quicks against them! Ok, that didn’t work so put your 6’8 forward on him to try and bother him with size, he’ll just go right around them or even better, shake them and shoot a 30 footer while the defender is trying to regain his balance! Have them both guard him at the same time…Fredette about it! Remember Kawhi Leonard from SDSU, the forward drafted 15th overall based solely on his defense? (His offense is all ‘potential’ right now.) He and his teams ‘fast and quick’ guards got burned for 98 points in three games by Jimmer Fredette! I’ll do the math for you, that’s 32.6 ppg against the type of defenses he should struggle against! Or look at the Sweet 16 game against Florida, when Jimmer’s jump shot wasn’t falling in the first half he was getting to the rim at will while being guarded by the lighting quick Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker. Not only was he getting to the rim easily, he was finishing at the rim against their athletic bigs! But wait, I got one more for you. Does the name Derrick Williams sound familiar, the do-it-all combo player that went 2nd overall in the NBA draft? He also had a chance to try and guard Jimmer. How did that turn out you ask…well 2 blowout losses for Arizona and 82 Jimmer points later, Williams and his Wildcats failed as well. Williams even admitted that the “only way you stopping Jimmer is when the game ends.” I’ll go as far as to say I have never seen a defender even give Jimmer trouble. The point is that Jimmer is unguardable; the only person that can beat Jimmer is Jimmer himself! If he wants to shoot he’ll either shake you like a rag doll, or take a few steps back and drain a 3. The defense just has to live with it. Listen, Jimmer’s got the athletic ability; he routinely abused bigger and faster defenders. So please stop with the nonsense that he is too slow to play in the big leagues! He’s just gonna make you, along with NBA defenders, look silly! If you don’t believe me, ask the NBA players like Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, and LeBron James who practiced against him two summers ago for the 2010 FIBA World Championships.

I know his defense has been in question and will be until he proves he can play it. But look at that BYU team last season, Jimmer was the offense! I can say with 99% confidence that I think Coach Rose didn’t want him playing hard defense and picking up silly costly fouls! If Jimmer fouls out who is going to carry that team offensively? If you doubled Jackson Emery’s average, the second leading scorer from that team, he would still be almost 4 ppg behind Jimmer! Besides, if you have the athletic ability to average nearly 30 a game you can play a little defense, it just comes with the territory. Jimmer Fredette wasn’t drafted based on potential like so many other 1st round picks nowadays, he was drafted based on his skill, talent, accomplishments, and the fact that he dominated all of college basketball last year. He is athletic, he can shoot lights out, and his basketball I.Q. is like 10x more than Regan’s regular I.Q. He has given none of us a reason to doubt him. Fredette is not only gonna make it in the NBA, he is gonna take the NBA by storm. At some point in his career he will be an All-Star, win a few 3 point contests, average 20 points with 7 assists, prove all his nay sayers wrong, and in the process hopefully put Rick Reilly out of a job! (That last one was for me.) So will Jimmer Fredette make it in the NBA? Let me put it this way; do you like your popcorn plain or buttered?

Regan: National League's Top 5 Players

Here are my top five non-pitchers from the National League. Unfortunately I couldn’t put any Rangers on this list.

1B- Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals- This year he’s hitting .284 with 28 HR’s and 72 RBI’s, for most players this would be a career year, but for Pujols this is an off year. Pujols is easily the best hitter of the last decade. He is currently a .328 hitter for his career and has hit over 30 home runs and driven in over 100 runs every year he has been in the league. In a 2008 poll of 30 major league managers he was voted the most feared hitter in baseball. If that’s not enough he fields his position as well as anybody and has two gold gloves on his resume to prove it. Pujols may be having a bit of a down year but this three time MVP is still one of the best and the last guy I want to see at the plate if I’m a pitcher.

CF- Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers- Arguably the most complete player in the National League. Near the top in every Triple Crown category this year hitting .320 with 26 home runs and 85 RBI’s. In addition, he’s near the top in stolen bases and plays the most difficult outfield position (centerfield) as well as anyone. Seth Meyers, Sportscenter, and others have lit into the Dodgers current financial state with numerous comments and jokes, so I’ll spare you here, but the fact is Kemp has done more then anyone to try and keep the Dodgers a relevant team. He’s fast, strong, and has great instincts in the field and at the plate. He’s just 26 years old so he’s just entering his prime and should be one of the top players for a long time.

SS- Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies- The best shortstop in baseball right now, and that includes a healthy Jose Reyes who can’t stay healthy anyway. Tulowitzki has just as much range, if not more than even a young Derek Jeter. It seems like every time I see baseball highlights on TV, Tulowitzki has at least of them. He makes spectacular plays look routine. In addition to his ability on the field he’s also one of the best hitters in the game, this year he is hitting over .300 with over 80 runs batted in, and last year he ended the year hitting .315 with nearly 100 RBI’s. He’s also just 26 years old, so we will continue to see his spectacular plays for a long time.

OF- Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers- One of the best pure hitters in baseball, .309 lifetime batting average including a stellar .323 this season. The theme today seems to be young stars who can do it all, and Ryan Braun fits that description perfectly, as I already stated he can hit for average, well he also can hit for power as he has averaged 30 home runs per season. He is also a solid outfielder and can steal a base if you need him to. His teammate Prince Fielder is a frontrunner for National League MVP this year, but without Braun getting on base as often as he does (almost 40% of the time) Fielder probably wouldn’t have near the amount of RBI opportunities as he does now. Ryan Braun can do it all and we will be seeing him at the all-star game for years to come.

C- Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves- McCann doesn’t boast stats that jump out at you, in fact just a quick glance at his stats would make you say “Regan why is this guy in your top five you dumb schmuck? He shouldn’t even be in the top ten.” But for McCann you have to look beyond the stats. He plays the hardest position in the game and he plays it better than anyone. Part of being a catcher is calling a good game for the pitcher and kind of controlling the pitching staff. McCann does that as well as anyone and its proven by the fact that Atlanta always has great pitching. Yes, they have excellent pitching but part of that can be attributed to McCann as well. Also, across the board today most catchers aren’t very good hitters, but McCann currently is hitting .306 and has hit over .290 for his career. McCann has been an all-star the last six seasons, and is the best catcher in the game today and he belongs on this list.

Honorable Mention:

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds- Great combination of hitting for average and power. Reigning National League MVP. (I hate the Reds, for anyone who cares, don’t really have a valid reason just do)

Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers- MVP candidate this year, has driven in over 140 runs in a year, one of the best power hitters in the game.

Devin: National League's Top 5 Players

These are my Top 5 NL players this year in no particular order. I think the NL has a stronger class of players so this one was a little more difficult to narrow down.

Brian McCann - Braves--McCann is arguably the best catcher in all of baseball right now. With 18 HR and 55 RBI he could very have the best season of his career. He is on pace to best most of his stats from previous years. Has won the Silver Slugger Award 4 of the last 5 years and there is no reason to believe he won’t win it again this year.

Matt Kemp- Dodgers--Having the best year of his career so far with 26 HR and 84 RBI while batting .317 and stealing 29 bases, he is one of the league leader in all of those catergories. Can beat you anywhere on the diamond with his speed and power. Already a 25/25 player this year, could even make it to the 40/40 club if he keeps it up and stays healthy.

Ryan Braun - Brewers--The player who is the reason Fielder isn’t in my top 5. Braun is batting .326 this year with 21 HR and 74 RBI while also has stealing 20 bases. Was NL player of the month in April and broke the record for All-Star votes in the NL this year. Had a 23 game hitting streak earlier this year. Also one of the top left fielders in the game today. Led NL left fielders last year with 279 putouts.

Albert Pujols- Cardinals--The Machine’s batting average is down a bit this year, but c’mon it Pujols. He still has 27 HR and can turn it on at any time. Until he has just a terrible year he will be considered one of the best in all of baseball. Had 2 straight games with walk-off home runs in June, so he is still very much clutch. With Pujols in the lineup the Cardinals average 4.8 runs per game, without him they only average 3.9.

Ryan Howard - Phillies--Howard is one of the games best power hitters. With 24 HR and 89 RBI’s to this point in the season he is on pace to possibly reach another 40 HR season. His average is down a bit this year, but playing with the Phillies its not a huge deal. Became the fastest player to reach 250 HR in MLB history last season.

Honorable Mention

Joey Votto - Reds--Stats are down a bit from his MVP year last season, most likely wont reach last years numbers of 37 HR and 113 RBI but is still having a strong season so far with 17 HR and 70 RBI and a batting average of .322. Does have the best On Base Percentage of his career though.

Prince Fielder- Brewers--Another one of the great power hitters, has already accumulated 26 HR and 85 RBI while batting .304. Was the All-Star MVP this year. Might not even be the best player on his team though.

Andrew McCutchen - Pirates--Has been a huge part of the Pirates success this year. Made it to his first all star game in 2011 and has 15 HR and 64 RBI (already career highs) so far this year. Has also stolen 17 bases, so has an outside chance to have a 30/30 year for the Pirates.

Regan: American League's Top 5 Players

In no particular order, these are the five guys I picked as the best of the best for all non-pitchers in the American League. If you agree or disagree state your case.

2B- Robinson Cano, New York Yankees- First off let me say I hate the Yankees, passionately hate them, so I feel a little guilty putting a Yankee on this list but the fact is Cano is too good to be left off. Last fall the Yankees played my beloved Texas Rangers for the American League championship, and as a Rangers fan only one of the Yankee very well-paid superstars scared me every time he walked to the plate. As you may have guessed that player was Cano, not A-Rod, not Jeter, and not even Teixeira. Even when he hits a routine fly ball or fouls off a pitch it looks like he crushes it, he just nails the ball when he makes contact. For his career Cano has hit .307, and this year is hitting a solid .295 with 18 home runs and 75 runs batted in. In addition, he fields his position extremely well as proved by the gold glove he won last year. The best overall 2^nd baseman in the game and best Yankee player.

·      Feel free to leave comments on punishments I could do to myself for putting a Yankee on this list.

1B- Adrian Gonzales, Boston Red Sox- Having the best season in major league baseball for a position player hitting .350 with 18 homers and a staggering 92 RBI’s in his first year with decent players around him in the line-up. Has two gold glove to pad his resume and plays superb defense year after year. Before this year he played in San Diego which is known for being a tough place for hitter but he was still able to post stellar stats including hitting .298 with 31 homers and 101 RBI’s in 2010. Always underrated in San Diego he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves in Boston and is an MVP candidate this year.

OF- Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays- His rise is well-documented, he came out of nowhere last year and hit 54 home runs and 124 RBI’s. He’s continued his dominace this year with a line that reads .315, 33 HR’s, 76 RBI’s. That’s 87 home runs in a little over a season in the last season and a half, the next closest to that number over the same span is Albert Pujols who has 69, which isn’t even close. What makes Bautista’s success even more incredible is that he’s in a Toronto line-up that doesn’t exactly scare you as an opposing pitcher, so they can key in on him, and he’s still putting up monster stats. In addition, Bautista brings defensive flexibility, as he has played right field and 3^rd base this year and has played other postitions in the past as well.

OF- Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers- My favorite player on my favorite team may be the most complete player in baseball. Plays gold glove caliber defense, possesses a rocket arm, hits for power and for average, and he’s freakishly fast for a man who is 6-4, 240lbs. The distance he can hit a ball is absurd, he demonstrated his unmatched strength and power in the 2008 home run derby. As you most likely know drug and alcohol problems derailed his career earlier in the decade, otherwise he may have become the best baseball player ever. Last year he hit an incredible .359 with 32 HR’s and 100 RBI’s in his injury shortended MVP season. But his most incredible play was perhaps when he scored from 2^nd base on an infield hit against Boston. Hamilton is one of the most feared hitters by opposing pitchers and perhaps the most complete player in baseball.

·      Hamilton and Ken Griffey Jr. lead the list in the what if category, could be the two best in history if not for health/personal problems.

DH/3B/2B-Michael Young, Texas Rangers- Am I biased? Certainly. Are there probably players more deserving of this spot? Maybe so, but Michael Young has quietly been one of the best hitters in baseball for the last decade. He was able to accumulate 200 hits for five straight seasons earlier in his career. His average for his career is over .300 including .334 so far this season. If there is runners on base, no one is more reliable then Young who is consistently among the lead leaders in average with runners in scoring position. He’s is one of the most clutch hitters in baseball and has several walk-off/game tying hits to his resume. On Sunday he became the first Texas player ever to reach 2000 career hits. Also, he’s a great teammate who has willingly switched positions three times for the betterment of the team, he even won a gold glove in 2008. Michael Young will be a great hitter I’ll gladly take in any clutch situation until the day he retires.

Honorable Mention:

·      David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox- beloved in Boston because of his seemingly endless supply of clutch hits.

·      Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers- one of the best pure hitters in the game, great clutch hitter as well

·      Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox- one of the most underrated players in baseball, quietly one of the best run producers in baseball

Agree? Disagree? Feel free to leave your opinion.

Devin:American League's Top 5 Players

These are in my opinion the top 5 non-pitchers in the MLB American League. They are in no particular order, but if you disagree let me know why!

OF - Jose Bautista-Blue Jays--This one is pretty undeniable. I don’t know of anyone who would leave him off of this list. After exploding onto the scene last year with an incredible 54 HR, 124 RBI, (pretty amazing at only 6’0 195 lbs) and his first All-Star game appearance his game demanded respect. This year he is again on pace to reach those number with 33 HR and 73 RBI at this point. He also set the record for most All-Star votes with 7,454,753; beating the old record by over 1 million votes! His defense is strong as well, playing 70 games at RF and 25 at 3B with a fielding % of .978! Not too many weakness’s in his game.

OF - Josh Hamilton-Rangers--Hamilton is just as strong defensivly as he is offensivly, easily a top 5 defender in the outfield. He has had a few injuries this year and has only played in 74 games so far, which is why his stats aren’t on par with last year. He is still batting .308% with 59 RBI and 13 HR, better than a lot of healthy players who have played all season. When healthy Hamilton is a threat in every aspect, and an obvious MVP candidate.

3B - Evan Longoria-Devil Rays--Arguably the best defensive third baseman in the MLB right now. He won the Fielding Bible Award in 2010 as the top 3rd baseman defensively. Didn’t make the All-Star game this year due to America still being on A-Rods baseballs! He has been the cornerstone of the Rays franchise for the past 4 years. His offensive stats wont ‘wow’ you, but they are very solid. He’ll get his team a good 25 HR and 100 RBI a year. And at only 25 he will only get better!

1B - Mark Teixeira-Yankees--Defense seems to be the agenda for today! Teixeira has plenty of that to go along with his huge offensive outputs this season. He has accounted for only 2 errors this season with a .998 fielding percentage. He is also a very good switch hitter (He broke the switch hitting HR record this year with 12) which makes him hard to pitch to. His batting average is down, but I believe he will bring that up to round out the year. Even still he is on pace for 50HR and 140 RBI which would be his best season to date.

1B - Adrian Gonzalez-Red Sox--Gonzalez has meant more to his team than just about anyone else in the MLB, excluding Bautista. He has carried the Red Sox at times with his offense, batting .356 (top in the AL) with 18 HR and 92 RBI. In the month of June he was named the AL Player of the Month, hitting an incredible average of .401!

Honorable Mention:

OF - Curtis Granderson-Yankees-Having a huge season with 28 HR and 85 RBI! Probably should have made the list, but I’ll be honest…I HATE the Yankees!!

1B - Miguel Cabrera-Tigers--All-Star season for Cabrera, hitting 22 HR and 69 RBI so far. He is in the top 10 of every triple crown catergory.

Feel free to comment and tell me if you agree or disagree. Who did I miss and who shouldn’t be on here.

Regan: Has Tiger Let Out His Last Roar?

Domination- v. 1. To rule over; govern; control

2. To tower above; overlook; overshadow.

Tiger Woods dominated the sport of golf for over a decade. While Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs, Tiger was dominating golf. When George Bush was elected president, Tiger was dominating golf. When President Bush was reelected president, Tiger was dominating golf. When President Obama was elected president, Tiger Woods was dominating golf.

Tiger has spent 623 weeks ranked the number one golfer in the world, for you math wizards out there that’s nearly 12 years. The next closest to that number is Greg Norman who held the number one ranking for a total of 331 weeks. In addition, Tiger has 14 major titles, 3 grand slams, and 71 career wins.  The great Jack Nicklaus along with Tiger are generally considered the top two golfers of all-time. Nicklaus won 18 majors, 3 grand slams, and 73 career wins on the PGA. However, Tiger’s achievements span 14 years whereas Jack’s span 25 years. So although great, it can’t be said that Nicklaus ever dominated the golfing world the way Tiger has. Heck, no one has ever dominated anything the way Tiger has dominated golf. So can Tiger catch Jack and surpass him for the most major wins of all-time? Of course he can and he will. Do I realize the health issues and the personal turmoil he has dealt with? Of course I do, (they have certainly been well documented, every single time Tiger tweets, we all have the pleasure of hearing it.) Despite this, Tiger will win again. There are several athletes who can be said to be dominators of their sport, and still experience troubles or slumps of some kind. For instance, Michael Jordan, took a sabbatical from basketball when his father passed away. When he resumed his basketball career he was as good as ever, as dominating as ever, winning three more championships, and two more MVP’s. Tiger is fully capable of having a similar resurgence.

Tiger is 35 years old, and despite his knee problems is in remarkable physical condition, Nicklaus won his last major well into his 40’s. If Tiger plays twelve more years he will have nearly fifty opportunities to win five majors. Tiger has proven he can easily accomplish that. Since November 2009 when the car accident and fall out from that occurred, the golfing world has not found a new candidate to replace Tiger as the king and dominator. Not one person has claimed multiple major titles, and the ranking of number one has already changed a couple times. So the door is open for Tiger to go in and dominate the way he used to and he will. Tiger has always been like a rock in his mental toughness and a relentless competitor, especially on the golf course. Players ahead of Tiger going into Sunday had to look back and know Tiger was going to make a run at them. He lost some of that the last two years but he’s looking to regain it and he will.

Domination-v. To rule over; govern; control

2. To tower above; overlook; overshadow.

Tiger has dominated the golfing world for years; it’s all he knows how to do. He’s had his sabbatical from the top, but he’s now poised to come back and take it. In the year 2036 Tiger Woods will have more major titles than anyone else in the history of golf.

Regan

*Definitions courtesy of dictionary.com

Devin: Has Tiger let out his last roar?

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water, but this time Jill fell down and Jack didn’t come tumbling after. Jack stayed on the hill and won 18 Majors. The question is will Tiger ever join him on top of that hill? Admittedly I am no golf guru. I follow the sport lightly but I do try to play a few times a week, and from my experiences trying to play I can tell you that golf is 99% mental! If your head isn’t in it you might as well not even swing the club. We all know what happened with Tiger late in 2009; it seemed to be more documented than any presidential race. So Tiger takes a few months to assess the damage, and then gets on his merry way back to golf. Hold on; just a few months?? After his entire personal life fell apart!?! I’ve heard how mentally tough Tiger Woods is, but we’re talking about his wife and kids, and all his nasty personal secrets spread for the world to see! Imagine that happening to you. Now imagine with that in the back of your mind trying to do ANYTHING with any amount of focus. Sounds tough huh? Ok so in a cruel twist maybe he never cared about his family and it’s all been about the fame, money, and wins. Well guess what, even though he’s probably a little more famous now than he was before, the wins and money aren’t falling into his lap like they used to. Since the whole debacle there have been lawsuits claiming millions; and after Tiger decided to drop his pants sponsors like Gillette, Accenture, TAG Heuer, Gatorade, and AT&T decided to drop him. But here’s the big one; since late 2009 no wins in a PGA event. In the 2007-09 seasons Woods played in 39 events, with an incredible 32 top 10 finishes! In 2010 and 2011 he has played in 18 events, with only four top 10 finishes. After doing the math, that comes out to……bad! Tiger Woods is 4 majors behind Jack Nicklaus, obviously not a huge number. Nicklaus won his 18^th major at the age of 46, 11 years older than Tiger currently is. But that was a healthy 46, Tiger is a bruised and battered 35. He missed a good part of the 2008 season and has also missed a decent amount of playing time this year with a variety of injuries. The injuries have taken their toll on his play; this year he is ranked 99^th on the PGA tour in drive distance average, his average rank before now was 16^th. Tiger is struggling, and it’s obvious to the world. He has gone through winless stints in his career before, even coming back from a huge obstacle when his father Earl died. But even then it only took him 2 months to win another major, the 2006 Open Championship. I know he’s great, and if anyone could break Jack’s record it would be him; but Tiger you gotta get your shiz together! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good comeback story, and I honestly hope I’m wrong on this! (In fact with my luck, after writing this he’ll probably win the Bridgestone Invitational this weekend.) I want to see Tiger overcome his own demons and stand on top of the golf world again. But I just don’t see it happening. Tiger’s mental edge is gone. Maybe it tumbled down the hill along with Jill, which leaves Jack and his 18 Majors alone at the top.