IMPO

Some are calling 2016 the best year in sports ever. Some are saying it couldn't have gone better if it were scripted. I am saying...I'm just glad that I kept this blog going throughout the year. The checklist of "perfect moments" in 2016 is anticlimactic only for the reason that everything was a climax. Was there much time to breathe? Let's see: - Alabama holds of Clemson for a National Championship - Peyton Manning leads team to Super Bowl win in final game of his career - Where did Villanova Basketball come from? Buzzer beater for the win. - Warriors set new wins record.....then blow a 3-1 series lead in the Finals - Is there even a National Hockey League anymore? - Cavs win the NBA Finals in Lebron's homecoming season...just like he promised - Leicester City wins the BPL at 5000-1 odds.....did you even notice this one? - KD joins the Warriors giving that team a lot of experience at blowing 3-1 leads - Serena ties Steffi Graf's all time Grand...

Last week, ESPN writers revealed who they believed should win the NFL MVP this season. Today, and updated list and ranking was released. I feel it necessary to add my opinion and say that this race isn't as wide open as you may think. It is time to take a few names off of that list...and maybe add one. First of all I need to say that I respect the great teams of the season. I am not a fan of the Raiders, Cowboys, or Patriots, but what these teams are doing is noticed and respected. With that being said, I believe that much of the success that we are seeing from these teams comes from a team aspect. Let me explain. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot are both in the running for Rookie of the Year....and rightfully so. They both are also in the running for league MVP which I do not agree with. It is a bit of a miracle that they Cowboys are 11-1 this season when few people expected them to even have a winning record this season. It is an accomplishment worth noting. The other thing ...

Gonna see how this goes. I am joining this game already in progress. Which game? Did you really just ask that? If I must explain, then I will. It is Game 7 of the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. Neither team has won in more than 50 years (for the Cubs it has been more than 100 years). One of the team will have a "curse" lifted. So now I join this game in the bottom of the 5th inning and give you a bit of a look into my thoughts as the game goes on. Here it goes. Bottom 5th Pitching change for the Cubs who are currently winning 5-1. It's Lester coming in. Jon Lester? The starting pitcher? Interesting call, but I guess it is the last game of the season no matter what. No surprise that the Cubs are doing anything and everything to keep their lead. Let's be honest, they really need to life their curse. Lester's first batter faced and it is an infield hit and an error putting two runners in scoring position. Not what I expect...

Last season was a bit of a fairy tale for the NBA. To those business minded individual (or anyone that realizes that the NBA is a business) there is a conspiracy theory out there about how last season was scripted. Think about it. The Golden State Warriors set the record for regular season wins but the Cleveland Cavaliers end up winning the NBA championship as a "Coming Home Party" for Lebron James by beating the Warriors thus beginning the debate of if last season's Warriors is the best team ever and if Lebron James should have been the season MVP. Tell me that this set of circumstances is not the optimum way to boost ratings and ticket sales. I'm not saying that I think it was scripted but what I will say is that with these storylines now already conquered, it is time for basketball to be played....for real. In the offseason there were enough interesting moves and conversations that make the beginning of this season interesting. Kevin Durant is now on the seemin...

I cannot believe that I have gone the entire first half of the NCAA football season without posting about it. College Football is arguably my favorite (yes, I argue it with myself). One reason I may not have written is because of the astounding amount of bias that I perpetuate when talking about football in general...especially at the collegiate level. I certainly have favorite teams as well as teams that I hate....and then there are about a hundred other teams that I have to keep up with. Quite complicated actually. Even more complicated is writing about six weekends worth of games in one post. But alas, here goes nothing. The Rankings: No surprise that the top four teams in the rankings are Alabama, Ohio St., Clemson, and Michigan. They are the best teams...and the most "blue blood" teams worth noting. It is, however, the playoff cusp teams that are making a splash. Where did Washington come from? The highest ranked PAC-12 team is not Stanford, not USC, not UCLA, b...

Although, I have been a major slacker and haven't written a post in a while, I have not deviated from my love of the games. In fact, my love for football specifically has kept me more glued to others' information than to producing my own. But now is the time for me to change my ways and return to the process by which I forcibly push my personal opinions down the throats of those who voluntarily click on the link to this blog. You are the true MVP here. College and pro football has begun which means that Fall is finally here. Just like baseball in the Spring, it is not a calendar date that determines the seasons but the beginning of a sport. Although yesterday was (according to a piece of paper with numbers on it made by man) the first official day of Autumn, let me bring you up to speed on a few things that have already happened this Fall...this true Fall...in pro football (college will come another day). The Empire That Never Falls Though they cannot be considered a dynas...

ONCE UPON A TIME, in a land far, far away a grand battle began. So big was this battle, that almost all nations inevitably became involved. The fittest, fastest, bravest men and women fought continuously for nearly three weeks to win the ultimate prize: what else....GOLD!! So it wasn't a war, but it was the next best thing (actually almost all things are better than war...except onions). It was the Olympics. And anyone that knows me (or has read any recent posts) knows that I obsess over the Olympics. This year was no exception except that my job kept me from becoming a complete immobile couch potato. About halfway through the Olympics, I sent a text to a best friend of mine and asked if he had any profound thoughts from the games thus far. His response was two words: American Dominance. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, USA won 110 medals nearly evenly spread between gold (36), silver (38), and bronze (36). In London 2012, the US increased their count of gold by 10 with a bit of...

Once upon a time, a young man from a humble life in a humble country dreamed of prosperity through playing a game that he loved....baseball. He quickly grabbed the attention of major league scouts who began to court him because of is abilities and eventually landed among baseball royalty in sunny California. The young man is Yasiel Puig. The team is the Los Angeles Dodgers. The story....his downfall. When Yasiel Puig burst onto the scene and into living rooms across the nation, he was lauded as a potential superstar that could easily eclipse many Hall of Famers. His ascent, beginning in 2013, was epic and validated all of the praise. He was a phenom, a rookie prodigy. The Dodgers had hit the jackpot. Unfortunately, as it is with reality sometimes, the fairy tale did not last as the Dodgers have now sent Puig down to the minor leagues. How could such a star have fallen so fast? the GM of the Dodgers organization simply stated that the recent acquisition of Josh Reddick, another gr...

With only 10 days remaining until the beginning of what should be a historic and even controversial Olympic Games, it feels necessary to guide you to the biggest athletic and political storylines of the games so you can be sure to witness history as it is made in Rio 2016. There are a lot of opportunities so fry your pastels (brazilian snack, look it up), find a comfy spot on the couch, and prepare to be glued to athletic greatness for 16 straight days of history. The Two GOATs of Gymnastics Maybe I am biased, but nothing says Olympics quite like gymnastics taking the spotlight of athleticism. This year, legends will not be born but will be immortalized. In the women's team competition the heavy favorite is the US team led by Olympic veterans Gaby Douglas (London 2012 All-Around Champion) and Aly Raisman (team captain), but they aren't the legends. Simone Biles has won three straight World All-Around Titles and has cemented herself as one of the greatest female gymnasts ever...

In 2012, four colleges left the Big 12 Conference for other conferences and in return, the Big 12 only added two teams (West Virginia and TCU) which would, in reality, only make them a Big 10...but that name is already taken by a conference now consisting of 14 teams. Conference names aside, the Big 12 has seemed less than big in recent years as the conference has been arguably overlooked on many fronts. Notably in college football, the traditional powerhouses of Texas and Oklahoma State have faltered over the past few years, not living up to their own hype. Though Oklahoma has remained powerful and the likes of Baylor and TCU gaining ground, the new National Championship Selection Committee has overlooked the Big 12 already twice. Most pertinent was in the 2014 season with TCU and Baylor as legitimate one loss teams being passed up because of strength of schedule and no conference championship game. Now the Big 12 is looking to do something about reclaiming their conferencial legi...

This past NBA season proved to be historic. From a Warriors team with more regular season wins than any other team (an likely the greatest percent increase in fan base) to the Cavs coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to bring a championship back to Cleveland. It was the perfect fairy tale and the NBA as a business couldn't have asked for anything more, but this offseason may prove to live up to the legendary status that was set by the season. Many of the questions on the mind of basketball fans revolve around the movement of the stars around the league. From up and coming stars like Brandon Ingram to established giants like Kevin Durant, the offseason promises mystery and a some shock. To quickly recap a couple big moves that have already taken place, former MVP Derek Rose has been blown from the Windy City and ended up atop the Big Apple as a member of the New York Knicks. Good move? For him, yes. A new start in a new city with a cast with potential in Carmelo Ant...

In the wake of the death of Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time, my mind is reflecting on what it means to be the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) at something. I feel as though only a small percentage would argue with the fact that Ali was the greatest boxer of all time. Ali himself shouted it from the rooftops and through his bouts in the ring and his life outside the ring he proved that he was more than special. This brings me to my point. There are many special athletes that do special things but it is difficult to win the label of GOAT. The few GOATs can readily be named. In boxing it is Ali. In basketball it is Michael Jordan. In golfing it is Jack Nicklaus. In hockey it is Wayne Gretzky Every other sport is undecided. In baseball there is Ruth, Mantle, Aaron. Football has Montana, Marino, and Manning. Mary Lou had Nadia. Serena has Martina. Ronaldo, Messi, Pele, Beckham. There will always be arguments made for different players and athletes who are admittedly v...

First off let me say that my "bold" NBA Finals prediction of a Thunder-Raptors match-up is still possible and I am quite proud of that. Moving on though, it seems that at least a few times in the playoffs the NBA has had to come out after a game has finished to say the referees got it wrong and that a foul or other violation should or should not have been called. These statements, often probed and praised by media outlets, become a glorified post-game validation for the team that lost letting them know they shouldn't have lost. This is bogus. Calls were missed. Calls are missed at many points during the game. Fans will always think there should be a call even when one is not merited. ESPN personality Mike Golic states about refs that there are "one or two calls they miss at the end of every game." Calling a foul or violation is a bit subjective, not totally as there are guidelines that need to be followed by the officials, but part of the magic and strateg...

Great Britain is quite familiar with Monarchy (I hope you knew that), but it is also no secret that the soccer pitch in Britain is also ruled by royalty in the form of teams that have dominated the British Premier League (for as long as I can remember).  For the casual soccer fan, these teams are recognizable. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and in recent years Manchester City has solidified itself among this group. An upper middle class has formed with teams including Liverpool and Tottenham.  But there is one "lower-class" team that has "REVOLUTION!" on their minds (and in their shoes). Two years ago, Leicester City (pronounced Lester City) found themselves on top...of the Football League Championship. Never heard of that league? Neither had I until I realized that it is the equivalent to Minor League baseball. The way British club football works is that the top three teams in each "league" at the end of the season move up to the next hig...

Maybe it is just me, but it seems like this year's first round of the NBA playoffs just isn't interesting. In a year where a highly talented group of teams have dominated the top of the Western Conference, it comes as no surprise that this side of the bracket has been filled with blowouts. The Spurs have already swept the Grizzlies. The Warriors should have already swept the Rockets (though one bad no-call cost them one game) and will likely finish off the series Wednesday night having outscored the Rockets by 61 points in the series, including the loss. The Oklahoma City Thunder look to close out their series tonight (they lead the series 3-1) at home having won their three series wins by no less than 10 points (including a win by 38). This leaves only one interesting match-up in the Western Conference's first round. The Portland Trail Blazers are down 2-1 to the Los Angeles Clippers and could even the series tonight with a win at home. Let's not be too quick to ca...

I know what you're thinking...he didn't. Jordan Spieth did not win the Masters. Technically this is true, but there is a way that Jordan Spieth won the weekend at Augusta National Golf Club. Golf is a sport that is played in eras. Yes it is constantly going, but there are eras where dominant players emerge usually led by one dominating figure. There was the Arnold Palmer era, the Jack Nicklaus era, and the Tiger Woods era each having dynamic golfers in the field from Gary Player and Sammy Sneed to Tom Watson and Greg Norman to Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els. A new era has begun. The golfers in this new field include Jason Day, Adam Scott, Ricky Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and many others (possibly including this years Master's tournament winner Danny Willett). But the leader of this group has likely been cemented this weekend making Jordan Spieth the winner of the Master's weekend. After a breakout performance in the 2014 Master's finishing tied for s...

One for the Money Two for the Show Three better get ready Four is gonna go....down hard. This is the easiest way to describe this year's NCAA Final Four teams...but which team matches which description? Shouldn't be too hard to decipher. One for the Money One of the stories stemming from this year's tournaments is the money being paid out to the different conferences based on their tournament performance. No conference has earned more than the ACC this year, and though the term "Moneyball" was coined in the baseball world, a few universities could be deemed "moneyball" teams in NCAA basketball. UNC is certainly one of these teams, especially since they are senior heavy and their top players will enter the draft...and will get paid. But is their notoriety and fan base enough to carry them to a championship this year? Maybe. But the team is also stacked with talent. With four players averaging double digit PPG and a dynamic insider with nearly 400 ...

A groundhog does not tell when Spring begins and nor does a calendar. The one true measure of seasons is baseball. When the grass is green, the smell of hot dogs fills the air, and Tim Kurkjian's voice fills the ESPN airwaves, you can bet that spring is on its way. This year Spring begins on April 3 as the Cardinals and Pirates lead the way into the 2016 MLB season. Since it is about to begin, I feel that it is time for some quick predictions. Here we go: AL East The contenders this year are the Orioles, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. Not much change but the Yankees will be plagued with age and the Red Sox will find their stride after a difficult 2015 season. I still expect to see the explosive Toronto Blue Jays in the postseason although I think it will only be as a wild card. Either Boston or Baltimore will win the division. AL Central Only one real change will happen in this division this year and it comes in the form of the Detroit Tigers. After an awful year, the leadership of ...

This is the greatest tournament in all of sports. With all of the upsets and unknowns, it even beats out the World Cup (though I love the World Cup and feel it is the best "world" tournament.) Looking at the bracket there are a few things you should know before you finalize your bracket. Lucky Numbers This year the lucky numbers are 9 and 11. Every team with those seedings seems to have a favorable match-up. For instance, UConn is hot right now and as a 9 seed will face a mediocre Colorado team. Also, Gonzaga is a perennial tournament committee favorite. Of the 11 seeds, they may have the easiest taking on a Seton Hall team that is only in because they (surprisingly) won their conference tournament. Though the 'Zags had a rough season, I have no doubt that they will pull off the win. Of the games in the First Four, three out of the four teams vying for two 11 seeds are rather strong teams. With the exception of Tulsa, these three teams (Michigan, Vandy, and Wichita Sta...

Yesterday I was planning on jumping on and writing about baseball and spring training but that is going to have to wait because I now have to pay tribute to one sports figure who has impacted my "love of the game" more than any other professional. Though I did not catch much of the media coverage, I feel like the retirement of Peyton Manning has been downplayed a bit. It is very possible that it isn't downplayed at all. It could be over-stressed at this point. But from my personal perspective and the impact that Manning had on my life (yes, my life), there is no way that such an amazing player and human being could ever receive enough credit. As a child, I was a flip-flopper. A bandwagoner. I had a hard time choosing a favorite team in any sport. I liked the Bulls, Jazz, Suns. The Braves, Diamondbacks, Angels. The Red Wings and Avalanche. The 49ers, Broncos, and even the Patriots (I regret that). It wasn't until a young QB got drafted first overall to a 3-13 team ...

For football fans, there are a few events that occur during the off-season that are exciting to keep track of. Training camp, preseason games, and the one that starts today: The NFL Combine leading up to the NFL Draft. The best way to describe this process to the curious reader who is still learning about the sport is that the NFL Combine is the male equivalent to a beauty pageant. Men who are selected by a committee come together and get evaluated on their bodies and their fitness and yes, there is even an interview portion. All of this leading to the announcement of the winner: the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. For many though, just being drafted can be considered a win (I say overcome with emotion as I wipe a tear delicately from my eye.) The broad jump. The vertical jump. The bench press. The 3-cone drill. The shuttle run. And the most exciting event, the 40-yard dash. These are the events that will determine a players draft stock and inevitably, their future as a footba...

Two seasons ago in the NCAA, there was no doubt that there was a fight for the top spot in the Top 25 rankings. It was a fight that teams wanted to win. Two undefeated teams, two solid one loss teams, and one two loss team with a legendary coach and a well built team. In fact the highest ranked team with three or more losses was at No. 7. This season, the highest ranked team in the NCAA has three losses (likely four or more within the next week and a half) and four of the top ten have five losses. Some analysts have called this "the year where no one wants to win." March Madness lovers are wondering what is going to happen come Selection Sunday (March 13) and throughout the tournament. I, of course, will be spending an extreme amount of time studying the teams as I fill out my bracket but here is what I expect to see during the remainder of the regular season. Villanova The (currently) No. 1 ranked Wildcats will not end the regular season raked No. 1. The next three game...

As I sit here watching the All-Star Game and having seen much of the NBA's All-Star Weekend, there are a few things that I feel need to be said. Kobe Bryant During much of the early 2000s, I was not a Kobe fan. In fact, due to his arrogance, I despised him for a while but still found a way to respect his game. I have watched some of his "farewell tour" and must admit, I am a bit sad to see him retire at the end of the season. I agree with the simple statement by Magic Johnson, "There will never be another Kobe." In the post-Michael Jordan era, Kobe was the player who carried the entertainment and the ratings of the league on his back until Lebron James came into the league. Had it not been for Kobe and his style and caliber, the NBA would have gotten lost in a Brady-Manning world. With much respect, I say to Kobe, happy trails and I will miss watching you play. Minnesota Timberwolves My favorite part of All-Star Weekend is the individual competitions: Skil...

Last night, Super Bowl 50 was played between the explosive offense of the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos with their dominant defense and all I have to say is....I told you so. Every single one of my coworkers picked the Panthers to win and virtually ruled out Denver as even having a chance. I was the only one who picked the Broncos and here is why: 1. Peyton Manning No, Manning was not the difference maker in the game but two things regarding him swayed the mo-jo in Levi's Stadium in his direction. First, after an emotional conversation with his teammates Saturday evening in a team meeting and with speculation of this being his final game, there was some added motivation for the Broncos to win this one. Second, having been in three other Super Bowls, Manning was composed and comfortable with such a large stage which was evident from his first pass, a beautiful over the middle completion. 2. Defense Wins Championships As a young basketball player, my coach taught m...