Young Sam Rothstein's Corner

Family, friends, fans, and followers this is the last post of 2010. I hope most of you have taken the opportunity to come away with some cash over the last few months and at the very least you learned something. Next Tuesday Young Sam will be taking on 3 sportsbook prodigies showing them the path to wealth. It should be interesting for you all to see how the process works in pragmatic fashion. I can't wait for the results. We'll keep it simple this week as most of the playoff spots have been clinched in the NFL and the big bowl games don't start until next week. Here's the final locks of the year.

San Antonio -3 1/2 over Dallas. With no Dirk Nowitzki the Mavs go from an elite team to an average team. The Spurs are an elite team. San Antonio by 10.

San Diego -3 over Denver. San Diego is embarrassed about not making the playoffs and somebody has to pay. That somebody will be Tim Tebow and the Broncos.

Tennessee +9 1/2 over Indy. Tennessee will not make it easy for the Colts to win the division and they still have Chris Johnson.

Chicago +10 over Green Bay. This is a must win game for Green Bay and Chicago will most likely rest their starters having already clinched a bye in the playoffs, but 10 points in a division game is too good to pass up.

The Top 10 Stories of 2010

As we bid a fond farewell to 2010 it's a good time to reflect on the top sports stories of the year. Depending on where you are and what your favorite sport is this list will vary. It's hard to consolidate all the news of the year, but someone's gotta do it. With no further adieu here are the top 10 stories of 2010.

10. The passing of John Wooden. The Wizard of Westwood is best known for winning 10 national championships at UCLA and leading his team to 88 consecutive victories. His impact is much more profound off the court because his life and coaching philosophies have influenced so many people.

9. Jim Joyce and the blown perfect game. After changing the course of history and robbing Armando Galarraga of immortality Jim Joyce received death threats and even had to have security escort him to and from games. Think it's time for instant replay in baseball?

8. Reggie Bush and the Heisman debacle. No one has ever returned their Heisman Trophy because of scandal and receiving improper benefits. Reggie Bush is now officially banished from USC and his time there has been erased as if it never happened. Why didn't he just pay the agent back?

7. The passing of George Steinbrenner. The "Boss" brought a win at all costs attitude that we will never see in sports again. His motto was, "If you can pay for what you want why would you ever play fair?"

6. Jimmy Johnson's 5th consecutive NASCAR championship. I don't care if you're shooting dice, playing shuffleboard, or nerf hoop in your living room, 5 championships in a row is impressive. This guy needs a cool nickname and fast.

5. The return of Michael Vick. When Donovan McNabb took Vick under his wing last year I doubt he thought he was grooming his eventual successor and the comeback player of the year in 2010. Life is funny.

4. Cam and Cecil Newton. I doubt we ever really got the whole story on this incident, but what you don't know won't hurt you. There will always be corruption in college athletics and the Cam story is just the latest installment. Congrats on winning the Heisman and every other major college football award known to man.

3. The New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl. No city was more deserving to become Super Bowl champs. After all they've had to endure with the rebuilding process after Hurricane Katrina I couldn't be happier for them.

2. Lebron James taking his talents down to South Beach. Never has a free agent changing teams made such an impact on the league. From "The Decision" to "The Fallout" Lebron was front page news for 2 months straight. Few people on planet Earth can captivate the public's attention for that long.

1. Kobe wins his 5th NBA championship. One more than Shaq and one away from Michael Jordan. The significance of this accomplishment can't be overlooked. After Kobe wins his 6th title this year he will be considered Michael Jordan's equal and the whole world will have to kiss his ring Michael Corleone style. Stay tuned.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

What A Recruit Wants From A School

Recruiting top athletes has always been a dirty business. It's an inexact science with a high level of competition. Every school is trying to gain an advantage to end up with the chosen one. The schools hire charismatic coaches and talented assistants to entice the athletes and steer them towards their program. The most important thing these schools have to recognize is what motivates these players in their decision making process. Here's my list of what an athlete looks for in a school.

1. Opportunity. The athlete wants to know if there is playing time available. Most players would rather not sit 2 or 3 years to see the court or the field.

2. Coaching. Athletes want to know the man in charge can help them get to the next level and that his coaching philosophy is tried and true.

3. Exposure. Players want to know their talents will be showcased on TV regularly and thousands of people will come out to watch them perform.

4. Tradition. Whether it's attending the state school they followed as a kid and their parents are alumni, or a program with decades of success to reference, players like to know they're following a tradition.

5. Benefits. From "hostesses" showing them a good time on their visits to mysterious envelopes in their mailbox to $36 a month car payments on a 2010 Yukon Denali players look for perks that will make their stay at a university a little more comfortable.

6. Geography and climate. Players typically like to stay close to their families and if they decide to leave their familiar surroundings they prefer to go to a place that doesn't have extreme weather issues.

7. Culture. Players like to go places where they will be accepted for who they are. Of course winning games and excelling in your sport makes you popular and comfortable anywhere.

8. Education. You would think this would be the most important thing because the chances of going pro are so slim. The truth is most players can't see past their own ambition and as long as the school has lots of books and classes to attend their indifferent about the quality of education they receive.

Bad Boys 20 years Later

As I watch the way the NBA has become a league of sissies I can't help but think about the Detroit Pistons, the original bad boys that wreaked havoc and took no prisoners. The guys that used to throw Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen into the backstop routinely and laugh about it. The guys that were as talented as they were mean. There is no question the Pistons style of basketball couldn't exist in the modern era. After the palace brawl (ironically on the same court the bad boys made famous) players can't even so much as raise their voice or use foul language without getting technicals, suspensions, and fines. The Pistons were the last of a dying breed and time moves on, but where are they now?

Rick Mahorn. The toughest of the bad boys and a real enforcer in the middle. He went on to win some WNBA championships with the Detroit Shock as an assistant coach and then took over the head coaching reigns in 2009. He actually got suspended 2 games for breaking up a fight in the playoffs.

Bill Laimbeer. The most hated of all the Piston bad boys. Bill was the head coach for the Detroit Shock before fellow bad boy Mahorn took over. He is currently an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

John Salley. The class clown if you will went on to television fame as a host of The Best Damn Sports Show on Fox sports. He also wrote a tell all book that was very entertaining.

Isiah Thomas. My favorite of all the bad boys. It's unfortunate his off the court failures have overshadowed his hall of fame career. He is currently the head coach of FIU in the college ranks after previously coaching the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks before running the Knicks into the ground as their president.

Dennis Rodman. What can you say about the Worm? Words can't express the train wreck this guy has become. After his playing career Dennis made a few movies, married Carmen Electra, starred in reality shows The Apprentice and Clean and Sober House with Dr. Drew, and now throws parties in Vegas. Stay tuned, this story could change any second.

Joe Dumars. Currently the president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons. I say currently because I don't think new ownership will retain his services much longer. The Pistons are awful right now. Although the Pistons won the 2004 NBA championship under his watch Dumars will be remembered for passing on Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh in the 2003 NBA draft before selecting Darko Milicic.

Weekend Observations

I'm not one to toot my own horn (yes I am), but just as I predicted (in typical Cleavie The Greek fashion) the NFC West division will come down to the final game between the Seattle Seahawks and the St. Louis Rams. The good news for Seahawk fans is the game is at home and the team has some veterans with playoff experience. The bad news is those players are banged up and Seattle has looked awful the last 3 games. In addition, the Rams were able to grind out a win against the 49ers and momentum is on their side. Originally I said the Seahawks would win this game. I'll stick with that prediction (although I'm not as confident as before) because I'm somewhat of a homer and I'm a man of my word. Here are some observations from the weekend.

The NFL:

The NFL stands for not for long if your team doesn't make the playoffs and Mike Singletary won't be the last coach to get fired. Look for John fox (Carolina), Eric Mangini (Cleveland), Gary Kubiak (Houston), Jeff Fisher (Tennessee), Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati), and Jack Del Rio (Jacksonville) to find themselves without work at the end of the season.

The Bays (Tampa and Green) will not make the playoffs. New York and Seattle will take their place despite Green Bay thrashing New York 45-17 and Tampa Bay smashing Seattle 38-15 on Sunday.

The eventual Superbowl winner will come out of the AFC. The AFC has 3 elite teams (New England, Baltimore, Pittsburgh) while the NFC has 6 very good teams.

The NBA:

The Lakers are vulnerable. No time to panic just yet for the 2 time defending NBA champs, but no time to pump their chests out either. The embarrassing loss to the Heat on Christmas day let us know the road back to the finals will not be easy.

Derrick Rose is the best point guard in the Eastern conference. He's moved past Rajon Rondo and only Deron Williams and Chris Paul are considered his equal.

Rip Hamilton will be traded by the all star break. The heart and soul of the Pistons needs a fresh start and a change of scenery to rejuvenate his career and Detroit needs to start all over again from scratch.

Young Sam Rothstein's Corner

After going 4 for 4 last Thursday I had a few minor setbacks on Sunday. Dallas couldn't hold their water against Rex "Gross" Grossman and the Redskins. They were up 30-14 late in the 3rd quarter and gave up 16 unanswered points. I went against my own rule which is taking a team with no playoff aspirations giving up more than 6 points. I won't beat myself up too much about that one. The other slip was taking New Orleans on the road. The Ravens defense didn't really stop them, but the Saints defense gave up 30 points. That's a statistical anomaly for Baltimore so again I won't beat myself up too much about that one either. When you're betting on human performance it's an inexact science and strange things happen. So long as I stay above 75% (which I have) we'll all continue to make money. Here's your winning games over the weekend.

St. Louis -2 1/2 over San Francisco. Coming off 2 straight losses the Rams need this game to stay in the playoff hunt. I look for the Rams defense and Sam Bradford to have a big game.

Indy -3 over Oakland. Joseph Addai is back and Jacksonville is breathing down their necks. Peyton will have that balance he's been missing for months and will shred the Raiders to pieces.

Jacksonville -7 over Washington. Unlike last week the Redskins are on the road against a team fighting for a playoff spot. I don't see Rex Grossman throwing for 4 touchdowns again. Look for the Jacksonville defense to have a field day..

Is Coaching Really That Important?

In the last week we've seen some impressive milestones reached by a pair of hall of fame coaches. Geno Auriemma led the UConn women's basketball team to its 89th consecutive victory and Mike Kryzyzewski passed Dean Smith to become the 2nd all time winningest coach in men's college basketball. Amidst all the hoopla and fanfare you have to ask yourself one simple question, are they really better coaches than everyone else?

It could be argued that with the talented players that come to Duke and Uconn respectively any number of coaches could duplicate the same accomplishments. How hard is it to win when you have Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Grant Hill, Carlos Boozer, and Christian Laettner? It could also be argued that these coaches wouldn't be half as successful if they didn't always have the best players.

I'm right on the fence with this debate. Great coaching is not so much about X's and O's as it is about putting players in a position to succeed and setting a tone. The top players gravitate towards Geno and coach K because they can get the most out of them and help them reach their full potential. They provide a mindset and a structure that facilitates winning and they do it better than everyone else. Of course I'm also a believer that talent ultimately prevails and the great players that have attended Duke and UConn would have been great wherever they went. Coaches don't have THAT much influence over a players abilities.

In the end Geno and coach K can't turn water into wine, but if you give them some of those Napa Valley grapes they can create an award winning vintage Merlot. It's all about their ability to orchestrate the maturation process. You go to UConn and Duke to be great, but don't go there if you're an average player to begin with. They're not miracle workers!

What I Learned From Playing Fantasy Football

My fantasy football experience this year taught me many things. The most valuable lesson I learned is that I would be a terrible owner of a professional sports team. My decision making process has fatal flaws that would ultimately hamper the success of the franchise. Here are the reasons I would fail.

1. I'm too loyal. If you've produced for me in the past I would find it difficult to trade or replace you. Even when the writing is on the wall that it's time to move on or a player's production has fallen off dramatically I would still hold them to the standard of their past glory rather than the reality of their present play.

2. It takes me too long to recognize my mistakes. In all 3 of my fantasy football leagues my teams were deficient at the wide receiver position. By the time I realized I needed to make a change it was too late to do something about it. All the good receivers were taken and I ended up with scrubs.

3. I'm too superstar oriented. I ride or die with superstars and my teams revolve around 1 or 2 players. If I have Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson (arguably the best at their positions) I neglect the other players on my team and assume the stars will turn in heroic performances every game and carry my team to victory. It doesn't work that way.

4. I hold grudges. Ryan Mathews and Brandon Tate are dead to me at this point. I don't care if they go on to have hall of fame careers I'll never have a kind word to say about either one of them. They let me down in crucial situations too many times. If I put my faith and trust in you and you disappoint me I can't forgive you. I think that's a Scorpio trait.

5. I point fingers. If I lose a match up someone's going to take the blame for it. I know one play doesn't determine the outcome of a game and one player isn't solely responsible for the teams fate, but if you make a mistake or fail to capitalize on a golden opportunity I'm throwing you under the bus.

6. I play favorites. Reggie Bush cost me a gazillion points this year. I played him because he was one of my favorite players in college and when he's on his game he's sensational to watch. I often play players that I like and enjoy to watch rather than players who are producing.

The best fantasy football owners are the ones that make lots of transactions, follow trends, and don't let their personal feelings about players and teams affect their judgement and decision making. This is a difficult lesson to learn since I'm a die hard passionate sports fan. In the end I'll learn from my mistakes and re-group for next season better than ever. As long as I get one of the first 3 picks in the draft of course.

Cleveland Sucks Without Lebron

Most people believe no one player is bigger than the team. Clearly that is not the case with Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The city of Cleveland has been through so much heartache from a sports perspective that it almost feels like pouring salt on the wounds to say this, but the Cavaliers will never recover from Lebron taking his talents down to South Beach.

It all started with the King's return to Cleveland for the first time with his new team. The whole city was fired up to see Lebron fail and let him know first hand how much they didn't appreciate how he spurned them for greener pastures. Instead Lebron torched the Cavs for 38 points in 3 quarters and in the process made the team look like a bunch of guys with an inferiority complex. The look in their eyes told the whole story. "We're not any good without you" was the impression everybody got and since the thrashing Cleveland has lost 12 of their last 13 games.

The good news is Cleveland is on their way to the NBA lottery and has a chance to get the #1 pick in the draft. The bad news is there is no Lebron James waiting for them at the end of the rainbow. The team has completely lost it's confidence with no sign of getting it back. The Quicken Loans arena will slowly but surely turn into a ghost town as everyone realizes the party's over and there is no reason to be optimistic about the future. Never has a free agency move single handedly crippled an organization the way Lebron's move crippled the Cavs. I wish there was some words of encouragement or signs of life for Cleveland fans, but there simply isn't any. This story will get worse before it gets better and the city will never be the epicenter of basketball again. Cleveland deserves better. What could have been.

Weekend Observations

It looks like we've come to the end of the road in the world of fantasy football. This last weekend left a bitter taste in my mouth. Once again my receivers (Brandon Tate and Derrick Mason) failed to show up on Sunday and combined for 4 total points. I also finally realize that Reggie Bush is garbage without the Kardashian chick at his side and I doubt he will ever be a marquee player in the NFL again (unless he goes to the Seahawks). The good news is I still have Adrian Peterson going tonight. The bad news is he's playing on a surface the the Vikings punter said was "suicide" to play on and I'm 59 points down. It's time to let the dream go. I had fun this season and I learned a lot. I'll share my thoughts with you on my fantasy experience Wednesday. Here are some observations from the weekend.

The NFL:

The Pittsburgh Steelers are mere mortals without Troy Polamalu. They can win games without Big Ben, but when Mr. Head and Shoulders doesn't play they are very vulnerable. It would be wise to rest him for the playoffs.

DeSean Jackson is going to be a problem. It's safe to say that after the dramatic punt return for a touchdown to win the game against the Giants DeSean Jackson is one of the top 5 most explosive players in football. That also means he's grossly underpaid. Prepare for a contract dispute next season.

Donovan McNabb will not be a Redskin and Matt Hasselbeck will not be a Seahawk next season. I'm stating the obvious aren't I?

The NBA:

The Orlando Magic's acquisition of Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu will make the Magic better, just not good enough to win the Eastern conference.

The Miami Heat can party like rock stars in New York all night and still have enough left in the tank to beat a under maned Washignton Wizards squad. There is no substitute for youth.

Coach Paul Westphal will not make it to the new year.

College Basketball:

The lack of attention the UConn women's basketball team received for winning its 88th consecutive game shows how much gender bias still exists in the media.

The Pitiful Washington Redskins

My apologies to Redskins fans across the globe, your team has officially become more dysfunctional than the Oakland Raiders. A year ago I wouldn't have thought that was possible, but with all the drama surrounding the Albert Haynesworth saga and now the benching of Donovan McNabb it is clear the Redskins don't know what the hell they're doing. I've said this many times and I'll say it again, Mike Shanahan is a control freak that ruins organizations. He inherited John Elway in Denver and after he retired Mike Shanahan never won another playoff game. His no nonsense attitude rubs people the wrong way. His arrogance knows no bounds and as far as he's concerned he has never called a bad play. If something goes wrong it's always the players fault for not executing properly. Things will not get better in DC as long as Shanahan is at the helm and for the time being it appears he and owner Dan Snyder are joined at the hip. Too bad.

Young Sam Rothstein's Corner:

I can't tell you how happy I am for you guys that cashed in on 4 for 4 Thursday. You get a return on your investment if attention you pay. A shout out to Brian from Denver for hitting a 2,3, and 4 team parlay and collecting a cool $3,000. Another shout out goes to Karen from Albuquerque for hitting a 3 team parlay and 3 straight bets totaling $1,400. I'm sure the extra Christmas money will come in handy. There is no better time than the present to get on board with the sportsbook genius. Here are my picks for the weekend.

Indy -4 1/2 over Jacksonville. Peyton Manning is not going to let his consecutive playoffs streak come to an end at the hands of the Jaguars. Colts by a touchdown.

Oakland -6 1/2 over Denver. There are rumors that Tim Tebow might get some work on Sunday. That's not a good thing if you're a Broncos fan.

Dallas -7 over Washington. If you read the previous segment you know that the Redskin ship is sinking and Rex Grossman is at the helm right now. It's a lot of points, but trust me on this one.

New Orleans +1 over Baltimore. I love Baltimore's defense, but I question whether their offense can score enough points to keep up with the saints. New Orleans by a field goal.

Should Sports Have A Lemon Law?

Recently Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been criticized for publicly berating his point guard Baron Davis from the sidelines. Such comments as "You're overweight", "You're terrible", and "Why are you shooting 3 pointers" have become part of the culture in Clipperland. I understand Donald Sterling's frustration to a certain extent, Donald signed Baron Davis to a 5 year $65,000,000 contract 2 years ago and has received very little return on his investment. Should Donald Sterling have some recourse for services not rendered? Should sports have a lemon law?

If you buy a Porsche that doesn't go above 50 mph you'd want your money back right? If you bought a Toyota Camry and the transmission went out a month after you drove it off the lot you'd want your money back right? Sports doesn't work that way however. It is an inexact science that relies on human performance and you don't always get the results you anticipated. There is risk involved and money is not the remedy for injuries and bad attitudes. Owners should expect a certain level of professionalism for their investment but the money doesn't guarantee a specific level of performance. That comes from within the athlete. The money can only be used as a motivating force and a reward for possessing unique skills and abilities.

Before we go feeling sorry for Donald Sterling and countless other owners who feel they've been "burned" by underachieving athletes let us not forget that professional sports is a chess game played by billionaires. They get into ownership understanding the risk and are driven by their own egos more than you think. Donald Sterling is not a victim in all of this, he's just not getting the return on his investment he expected. It happens to businessmen everyday. If it gets too bad he can always sell his franchise for 20 times more than he bought it for 30 years ago and walk away. A simple enough solution right?

Young Sam Rothstein's Corner

To my family, friends, fans, and followers I'm glad I could redeem your trust on Tuesday. 75% accuracy is what I expect and that's exactly what I delivered. My apologies for not catching the significance of the Joe Johnson injury sooner before the Detroit game. Shout out to Sherry from Oaksdale for cashing in on a $2100 3 team parlay and a shout out to Lionel from Houston for scooping up $500 on a straight bet and another $300 on a 2 team parlay. here are the winning picks for tonight's games.

San Diego -10 over San Fransisco. The 49ers looked good on Sunday. That was against the Seahawks defense at home. Now they take their act on the road against a vicious San Diego team that has to keep pace with division leader Kansas City. I smell a blow out.

Denver +1 over San Antonio. I know the Spurs are 20-3 this season and no one can seem to stop them, but they played last night (a buzzer beater against Milwaukee) and Denver cruised 2 nights ago at home against Orlando. Denver wins by 2.

New Jersey -6 over Washington. Devin Harris called a players only meeting after the loss to Philly on Tuesday and good things usually come out of those meetings. The Wizards need John Wall back in a hurry.

Boston -4 over Atlanta. The Celtics had an emotionally draining victory last night in New York, but the Hawks are without Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford. What else do they have?

Suite Tickets Or General Admission?

One of my readers is getting some Seahawk tickets for her boyfriend for Christmas and asked me the question would I prefer suite tickets or general admission tickets to a game. Generally speaking I like to lounge in my own space with all the amenities at my disposal. TV's, couches, and beverages beats plastic seats and people stepping on your feet. The more I thought about it however the more I started to realize there are some instances where general admission is better.

Football:

If your seats are between the 35 yard lines and your 1-30 rows from the field (barring rain, snow, or blistering wind) general admission is better.

Baseball:

If your seats are behind the plate 1-10 rows from the field or on the 1st or 3rd base line 1-10 rows from the field general admission is better. Plus there's foul ball potential.

Basketball:

If your seats are 1-15 rows from the court general admission is better. Courtside seats (especially at mid court) are the best seats in all of sports. Ringside at a fight might be better, but I've never sat close enough to get snot or blood on me.

Hockey:

If your seats are 1-10 rows from the ice general admission is better. It's quite entertaining when the action along the glass comes towards you.

The bigger the game the better it is to be in general admission. It's ok to sacrifice a few rows because the electricity of the crowd and the magnitude of the moment is was sports is all about. At the end of the day it's about sharing the experience with fellow fans. You don't have to be a snob if it's a championship game. Food for thought.

On a side note, my trash talking fantasy football league is true to its name still talking trash. The commish got knocked out of the playoffs on a last second touchdown by Andre Johnson on Monday (sorry Mr. Majestic) and we're down to the final four. The favorite is my arch nemesis Rufus Porter. He actually made the call to pick up Arian Foster before anyone even knew who that was. Two teams don't stand a chance, Wes'Side and Lights out#56. I don't know how the hell either one of those teams even made the playoffs. The dark horse is TJ Mac. He's a wheeler and dealer and always seems to have the right personnel on the field at the right time. If I had my Young Sam Rothstein cap on I'd pick Rufus Porter, but if I had my Cleavie the Greek smoking jacket on I'd follow my hunch and pick TJ Mac. Maybe it's bitterness from a decade long rivalry with Rufus, but I think TJ has something in store for the favorite. I'll keep you posted about the results.

Cliff Lee Made A Mistake

I blogged a few months ago that Cliff Lee was a "G" for the way he handled being traded from a World Series team to a team that lost over 100 games. Most players would have complained to the media and let the situation affect their performance, but Cliff Lee's professionalism and focus are unique. He did his job and ironically ended up in the World Series anyway. It was a foregone conclusion that the impending free agent would end up a Yankee at the end of the season and all signs were pointing in that direction.

On Tuesday Cliff Lee did an about face and signed with the team that traded him almost a year ago to the date the Philadelphia Phillies. In this day and age most athletes don't have the ability to forgive and forget and most teams can't admit they made a mistake. In this scenario the exception has become the rule. Cliff Lee gets to return to a city he never wanted to leave (how many people say that about Philadelphia) and join a pitching staff that has the potential to be legendary with the likes of Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels. This fairy tale ending only has one problem, Cliff Lee made a mistake.

Money and prestige should never be taken for granted and Cliff Lee turned down a lot of both when he spurned the Yankees. I for one have the mindset that no matter how rich you are there will come a time in your life when you could use an extra $30,000,000. In addition the lights don't get any brighter than New York City and the opportunity to win a World Series for the most storied franchise in professional sports makes you an immortal. Winning a World Series in Philadelphia makes you a fan favorite.

In the end Cliff Lee will tell you he made the decision because it was in the best interest of his family, how much he loves the city, and the money wasn't the deciding factor in his decision. What he won't tell you is he ran from the pressure and expectation for less money and notoriety. In the short term I couldn't be happier for the guy. For the long term it would have been better to wear the pinstripes.

Young Sam Rothstein's Corner

I'll get right to the chase. You come to me for 75% accuracy and although 3 out of 5 isn't bad you can't buy a Bentley with that kind of winning percentage if you know what I'm saying. My intel was faulty on Friday. Kobe Bryant had lunch with Michael Jordan before the game and it got his head all screwed up. Furthermore Ron Artest had himself 2 slices of Giordano's stuffed pie pizza and had an upset stomach. Had I known these things (like I should have) I never would have wagered on the Lakers. As for the Jets? Lets just say I won't jeopardize my credibility betting on Mark Sanchez again. I make no excuses for my 2 losses, but I feel you deserve an explanation. Here's what I got for you winners today.

The NBA:

Golden St. -2 1/2 over Minnesota. Even though Golden St. doesn't play any defense and they don't have Steph Curry right now Minnesota doesn't have enough scorers to keep up.

Denver +2 over Orlando. Orlando is at the end of a very long road trip and just left Los Angeles. My sources tell me Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis had a "gooood" time while they were there.

Atlanta -4 over Detroit. There's a crisis in Mowtown and until they breathe new life into those old lungs always take a playoff team against these guys.

Houston -9 over Sacramento. As long as Paul Westphal is still coaching and Tyreke Evans is their best player the Kings will struggle against good teams. Don't worry about the points.

What Happened To Kenny Anderson?

After 10 consecutive hours of watching football it's only right to let my wife grip the TV remote for a little while. I always cringe when this happens because I know I'll get stuck watching housewives of somewhere or travelling pants or Giada making some spinach dip with artichoke hearts. On Sunday after the Eagles/Cowboys game my wife didn't disappoint. She managed to find a Basketball Wives marathon! My favorite! As I watched groupie chick after groupie chick talk about how difficult their lives were spending their ex-husband's money my heart sank when I saw a New York legend reduced to a narcissistic dead beat dad.

Kenny Anderson was one of my favorite players growing up. The point guard from Archbishop Molloy high school is one of the greatest point guards New York has ever produced and the first player to be named All-City four times (not even Kareem did that). I followed hm closely because he was left handed like me and he had court vision like Magic and Isaiah. He excelled at Georgia Tech for 2 seasons leading the Yellow Jackets to the final four before becoming the 2nd player picked in the 1991 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. By 1993 Kenny was at the top of his game making the all-star team and leading the Nets to the playoffs when it all started to unravel.

His career started to spiral downward when he married reality TV star Tami Roman from the Real World Los Angeles. I remember asking myself, "What is this guy thinking?" Sure enough that marriage spelled disaster for one of my guys. Although he would go on to sign a $50,000,000 contract his game was never quite the same after the Tami fiasco. He bounced around from team to team, lost his confidence, and squandered his fortune. I though he would go down as one of the greatest, but instead he just became another statistic.

Just when I thought the wounds of disappointment were healed here comes Tami Roman on ANOTHER reality TV show once again making Kenny look like a fool in front of the whole world. I remember asking myself, "Does he really have to do this?" "Does he really have to humiliate himself like this?" Kenny Anderson is the perfect example of why sports fans should keep the context of sports in perspective. Even basketball gods make mistakes that will haunt them the rest of their lives. If you don't temper your level of expectation you could end up bitter and pissed off like me. I'm glad I didn't buy that Georgia Tech #12 jersey like I wanted to. It would be unwearable at this point.

Weekend Observations

It's official, I made the playoffs in my newly found trash talking league. 1 out of 3 leagues isn't bad, but it's not spectacular either. Ironically the league I'm excelling in is the one where players are auctioned off rather than drafted. You get what you pay for in other words. I've come too far to turn back now and the hardware is all I'm concerned about. I will bring home the trophy! Here are some observations from the weekend.

The NFL:

The New York Jets will not win the Super Bowl. They are a playoff team, but not an elite team. The loss of Justin Leonard is bigger than anticipated.

The Patriots and Eagles will play for the Super Bowl. Those 2 teams are on a collision course and barring an injury to Michael Vick or Tom Brady these 2 teams will meet in Dallas February 6th.

College Football:

Miami no longer has the desire to return to dominance. Their inability to hire a top name coach to rebuild the program reflects this.

After watching ESPN's 30 for 30 on the history of the SMU football team the SWC was every bit as competitive as the SEC is today. Money talks.

College Basketball:

College basketball isn't as exciting when you have to get to know the players who will more than likely only stay in school 1 year.

The NBA:

Amare Stoudemire is worth every penny. After going for 30+ in 8 straight games it is clear Amare flourishes in the Mike D'Antoni system. He will be a 1st team all NBA power forward.

After watching Basketball Wives last night (my wife made me) Kenny Anderson is more embarrassing than before. More on him tomorrow.

The UFC: GSP beat the snot piss out of Josh Koshceck which means he will most likely have to face Anderson Silva. His reward for beating the snot piss out of Koshceck is getting the snot piss beaten out of him by Silva. How ironic.

The Seahawks Will Make The Playoffs

I may sound like a homer with the title of this blog, but the Seattle Seahawks will make the playoffs this year. Everyone knows the Seahawks are far from a finished product and they have plenty of weaknesses and deficiencies. They don't play well on the road and haven't shown consistency in any facet of the game. That being said there is light at the end of the tunnel.

With 4 games left they have a must win game at San Francisco. I anticipate the Seahawks losing to Atlanta and Tampa Bay which will set up a showdown versus the St. Louis Rams in the final game of the season. Both teams will be 7-8 playing for the final playoff spot and the division title. I've said many times I was wrong about Sam Bradford. He is the truth and a future star in the NFL, but winning a game on the road (battling the 12th man) with everything on the line is more than he can handle. The magnitude of the moment will overwhelm him and the Seahawks will prevail.

In the grand scheme of things this season was a work in progress. No one expected the Pete Carroll magic to work so quickly. God knows the Seahawks sucked from a fantasy football perspective, but the team as a whole is better than the individual pieces Pete Carroll has assembled. No one player is responsible for the success or failure of the squad. If the Seahawks stay relatively healthy and get Big Mike Williams back on the field victory is theirs. The difficult thing to determine is how this success will affect the growth and progress of the team. The Seahwaks have benefited from an easy schedule this year, but when they make the playoffs they will not be so fortunate next year. First things first, make the playoffs and see what they can do. It will come down to the final game against the Rams and I predict a win. Can't wait.

Young Sam's Super Picks

Ladies and gentlemen, friends, family, fans, and followers, Young Sam Rothstein is back by popular demand. I got permission from the bosses upstairs to share my sports book knowledge on a consistent basis. This wasn't an easy task because after all, who likes giving away free money? It looks like Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays are the days set aside for the sports gambler aficionados. If there's a game that doesn't fall on one of those days that you need info on don't hesitate to contact me. Young Sam always has the time for his devoted followers. Now let's make some money and better our lives!

The NFL:

New York -5 over Miami. The Jets were embarrassed last Monday in Foxboro and even went as far as to bury the game ball. They have something to prove and if they want to keep their swagger intact they will win by at least a touchdown.

New York -3 over Minnesota. Brett Favre's shoulder is shot and I don't trust Tavaris Jackson to carry the load. The Giants need to keep pace in the NFC playoff race and this isn't a game they can afford to lose. This is the game that puts Minnesota out of their misery for this season.

Detroit +6 1/2 over Green Bay. Their record may not reflect it, but Detroit is a pretty good team. Factor in Green Bay generally doesn't cover on the road and this spread is like taking candy from a baby.

The NBA:

Utah -1 1/2 over Orlando. Orlando is in the 2nd night of a back to back and Utah is chomping at the bit to get back to their winning ways after the beat down Miami put on them Wednesday.

LA -2 over Chicago. Everyone knows Derrick Rose AKA "Mr. Funky" is the man in CHI town. Everyone also knows that Kobe always measures himself against that bronze statue that sits in front of the United Center. In a statement game the Lakers win by at least 3.

These picks are like stock tips so use them wisely.

Seminole Nation Will Rise Again

College football in the state of Florida is experiencing unprecedented turmoil and instability right now. Florida has arguably the most football talent in the country and at this moment the top 2 schools (Miami and Florida) are without a head coach. This time of the year is critical for recruiting and without some kind of direction and leadership at the top the 2011 class will suffer at both schools. Their fierce competitors can't wait to take advantage of the vulnerable position the Gators and Hurricanes are in.

In my opinion this opens the door for Florida St. to set themselves up for greatness for years to come. Recruits want to know they are entering into a stable environment and right now the Seminoles are the only in state school that can provide that. The recruits that committed to Miami and Florida are scrambling and Florida St. can help settle the process. In all the chaos Florida St. could wind up with the next Emmitt Smith, Jevon Kearse, Ray Lewis, or Andre Johnson. The opportunity is too great for the Seminoles not to seize the time.

Miami and Florida are well aware of the impact this shift in the balance of power would have, but I'm not sure there's anything they can do about it. There are no big name coaches waiting in the wings and Florida St. is in prime position to exploit the unfair advantage. If all the recruits in the state of Florida went to the same school they would never lose a game. Florida St. won't get them all, but they'll get enough to hang around the top of the the polls for the next 3 years. Tallahassee will become the epicenter of college football. Get used to it.

HTB Statements

It's time for another installment of HTB statements. For those of you not familiar with what HTB means HTB refers to statements that are hard to believe. Here's a few for your reading pleasure.

1. O.J. Simpson once rushed for 2,000 yards in 14 games.

2. Jimmy Johnson didn't make the cover of Sports Illustrated after winning an unprecedented 5 straight NASCAR championships.

3. The Miami Heat have only one win against a team with a winning record.

4. Tiger Woods lost a tournament in which he led by 4 strokes going into the final round.

5. Pat Bowlen (Denver Broncos owner) will have to pay the contracts of 3 different head coaches at the same time after his next hire. He is still on the hook for Shanahan and McDaniels.

6. Basketball is not popular in New Orleans under any circumstances.

7. Tim Tebow's back up at Florida (Cam Newton) will get drafted higher than Tim and will start in the NFL before Tim does.

8. The US complained about Qatar getting the World Cup, but couldn't sell out the MLS championship game.

9. Tony Parker has actually played better since the scandal with Brent Barry's wife.

10. Seattle, St. Louis, and Tampa Bay all have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs this year (none of these teams won more than 4 games last year).

11. On the strength of 6 Rocky movies and The Contender television show Sylvester Stallone will be inducted into the boxing hall of fame.

12. After Lebron James went to Cleveland and stole their manhood the Cavaliers have lost 6 straight games by an average margin of 12 points.

13. Steven Stamkos has more goals this season than Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin.

14. There are still some people out there that don't believe Kobe Bryant will win his 6th NBA championship this season.


To my family, friends, fans, and followers if you have any statements you find hard to believe or any topics you would like Cleavie Wonder to discuss don't be a stranger. E-mail or facebook your topics right away. Your comments are always appreciated.

Allen Iverson: The Turkish Delight

Anybody catch those Allen Iverson highlights from Istanbul last night? Me either. It's hard to believe that a basketball legend and a national icon has been reduced to peddling his services in Turkey without so much as a second thought. I blogged in April how "The Answer" is in our hearts and how the memories of his spectacular play will always remain in our minds. 8 months later it appears I was wrong.

Allen Iverson has become an afterthought, a footnote in the history of the NBA. It could be argued that this travesty is a scenario of his own creation. He refused to come off the bench in Memphis and left the Philadelphia 76ers high and dry to deal with personal issues. Some might even argue that he is the product of his environment and just another example of a spoiled multi millionaire throwing a tantrum when he doesn't get his way.

I for one believe Allen Iverson deserves a better ending than a glorified Harlem Globetrotter half way across the world. Sure he's got a bad attitude, a selfish demeanor, and a sense of entitlement, but so what? This guy is a former NBA MVP, a 10 time all star, and was once the face of the league. It is unfortunate that the urban inner city demographic that once professed their undying loyalty to him has turned their back on Allen Iverson. Money is money however (those EUROS can be exchanged for American currency) and basketball is basketball. I guess there is some consolation in the fact that if he didn't have an opportunity to go out on his own terms at least he gets to go out playing the game he loves. Can someone tell me where to get that converter box so I can watch Besiktas Cola Turka games?

Weekend Observations

The Playoff picture in all 3 of my fantasy football leagues has become much clearer. In my trash talking league I'm out of the picture. There is a consolation round for the losers, but I don't know if my conscience will allow me to participate. It's all Ryan Mathews fault. In my second league I'm on the fence, but my win this weekend keeps me in playoff contention. I'll need some luck, but if I get in I'll be a handful. Sam Bradford, Peyton Hillis, Dwayne Bowe, and Jamaal Charles are a pretty good foundation. In my newly formed trash talking league I'm down by 5 points going into tonight's game, but I'm starting Brandon Tate and the New York Jets defense. If I win tonight I will wrap up a playoff spot. When I make it I'll have Adrian Peterson and LeSean McCoy to thank. They both get Christmas cards and a fruit basket. Here are some observations from the weekend:

Boise St. got shafted. Even though I've been a Cowboy hater all season they deserved better than the Vegas Bowl against Utah on the 22nd of December. The 2 missed kicks cost Boise St. about $2,000,000.

Champ Bailey is no slouch. With all the talk about Revis Island, Charles Woodson, and Nnamdi Asomugha the public forgot about Champ Bailey. Even on a bad team in a loss he proved he belongs on the list of shutdown corners by holding the hottest receiver in football to no catches. Dwayne Bowe was humbled.

Cam Newton and Jake Locker both cost themselves about $40,000,000 with their college decisions. Had Cam Newton stayed at Florida he would undoubtedly be the first pick in the NFL draft this year. Had Jake Locker left for the pros after last season he too would have been the first player selected in the 2010 draft.

Tiger's roar is no longer deafening. In years past a 4 shot lead going into the final round of a tournament was a death sentence for the rest of the field. The post crash Tiger doesn't have the same intimidation factor or confidence the old Tiger had. We will never see a Tiger Woods that dominant again and the golf world will suffer.

The Apple Cup

I'll admit I am a little bit bias when it comes to the subject, but the top notch education I received, the blood, sweat, and tears I left on the UW campus, and the tens of thousands of dollars I paid in parking tickets gives me the right. My grandmother, my uncles, and my godparents all graduated from the UW so the tradition runs deep. Most in state rivalries are one sided and the Apple Cup is no different. I only know the dominant side of the rivalry so I can't speak for WSU fans, but the Apple Cup is a happy time.

It's a time when friends, family, and alumni can all come together with one goal in mind and that's retaining bragging rights. Because the Huskies win this battle so often it makes the alumni appear smug, arrogant, and cocky. To the contrary, the Apple Cup keeps the alumni humble because it's a constant example of how fortunate they are. It could be them on the other side of this ledger. Of course WSU has had its moments in this rivalry game. I was reminded by a WSU alum the other day that the Cougars ended the worst season in Husky history (0-12) with a resounding victory and the infamous snow game of 92' which was a complete embarrassment. These random victories serve as a sense of pride for Cougar fans and teaches the Huskies to show restraint. Leaving the Cougars with some hope that the Apple Cup is winnable is the humane thing to do and gives the rivalry game some suspense. Otherwise the outcome would be a foregone conclusion and WSU would accuse the UW of being oppressive Fascist's.

In years past the Apple Cup has served as a scrimmage for the Huskies before heading into a major bowl game. It was the precursor to the clashes with Alabama in the Sun Bowl, wars with Texas in the Holiday Bowl, battles with Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, and showdowns with Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Most recently the Husky football program has been less than impressive (to say the least). The team hasn't been to a bowl game in almost a decade but with the win over WSU on Saturday the Huskies are once again bowl eligible. It's ironic that the little school in Pullman will be the springboard that propels the Huskies back to dominance. In other words the Cougars will do what they usually tend to do (roll over). To all my WSU fans out there I thank you in advance for the opportunity to help the Huskies return to their glorious past. No hard feelings.

Lebron Comes Home

Heightened security? Secret itinerary? Does the president warrant this much attention? As Lebron James makes his much anticipated return to Cleveland I can't help but think something very weird is going to happen tonight. Will we see a fan streaking onto the court? Will Lebron's mom get into a fight? Expect long delays during this game as debris all over the the floor is a given. Something in the back of my mind tells me that the Cleveland fans may get so unruly that this game gets cancelled.

As Lebron stated earlier this game (if they get a chance to play it) will be emotional. Lebron has mixed feelings because Cleveland is where he played his first 7 years and for the most part he has fond memories. He got to stay close to his family and had a great relationship with his teammates and the community. Lebron donated millions of dollars to local charities and selflessly volunteered his time to helping others. In the end basketball is a business however and the best thing for Lebron personally, professionally, and financially was to take his talents down to South Beach. Shouldn't his contributions to the city give him a free pass?

Maybe in a regular city, but we're talking about Cleveland, the capital of gut wrenching heartache. 98 yard drives, fumbles, blown saves, Craig Ehlo, you name it Cleveland's been through it. That's why it was so hard for fans when Lebron (one of their own) stuck a knife in their backs by leaving the Cavs on national television at a local boys and girls club. That's why the city was in mourning for months after "the decision." Cleveland fans felt that because Lebron was a native he should understand better than anyone the painful impact of his departure and that he wouldn't put them through that again. They were wrong. Basketball is a business first and Cleveland fans found that out the hard way. In a perfect world Lebron James gets a standing ovation for years of service and making the Cleveland Cavaliers a relevant franchise in the NBA. In the real world Lebron probably gets spit on and hit in the head with a rock. It's must see TV either way. Enjoy.

Sports Agents: Heroes Or Slimeballs?

The job of a sports agent is far more difficult than one might think. The job description includes salesman, negotiator, babysitter, therapist, motivational speaker, parent, big brother, and confidant. Not only do they have to be proficient with regards to laws, rule, and regulations, they are the liaison between billionaire owners and ego maniacal athletes. Inevitably there will be disagreements and differences in opinion about how an athlete should be monetarily compensated. Ownership can be stingy and athletes can be greedy. It's up to the agent to find the common ground.

The job is further complicated by dealing with athletes at different stages of their career. An all star gold glove shortstop who's a 5 time world series champion wants a 5 year deal, but he's 36 years old and by all accounts his skills are diminishing. Ownership wants a 3 year deal at $6,000,000 less than the player is requesting. How would you handle this situation? An all world cornerback in the prime of his career is arguably the best player at his position yet he earns 16 times less than the 2nd best player at his position. He is under contract, but he is also an integral part of a team that is capable of winning the Super Bowl. Both sides dig in their heels and the entire summer is a stalemate. How would you handle this situation? A young man's stock falls in the NBA draft amid speculation he is a malcontent with a bad attitude. Someone finally takes a chance on him and less than a quarter of the way into the season he gets kicked out of practice for arguing with the coach. How do you handle this situation?

It's important to remember sports agents are the key to an athlete's dreams and aspirations. They negotiate contracts that give players financial freedom they never imagined. In the process they may have to lie, cheat, and steal to get the job done, but that's the nature of the business. When dealing with such volatile personalities on both ends there is no linear path to success. Hero or slimeball? A good sports agent has to be a little of both.

NBA Rookies

The days of landing a franchise cornerstone player in the NBA draft lottery are long gone. With so many players leaving college before their game is completely developed NBA teams end up with a project more often than not. For every Derrick Rose and Blake "The Barbarian" Griffin there is an Adam Morrison and Hasheem Thabeet. The immediate impact simply isn't there. The system that is currently in place encourages players to audition for the NBA in college for a year and enter the draft based on a suspect body of work. The end result is generally an unfinished product that doesn't live up to potential or expectation. We are almost a quarter of the way through the season and aside from a few big names we see this trend repeating itself. Here is a list of the top 10 picks from the 2010 NBA draft and how they are doing so far.

1. John Wall. He's shown the flashes of brilliance that made him the #1 overall pick in 2010. The Washington Wizards aren't a very good team and Gilbert Arenas is the world's worst mentor, but he's averaging 18 points and 9 assists per game (when he's healthy) and fortunately for him no one is expecting a miracle.

2. Evan Turner. Playing with Andre Iguodala is difficult for anyone with a scorer's mentality, but it looks like AI is on the trading block which should free up some minutes and shots for Evan Almighty. So far 8 points and a .416 shooting percentage isn't blowing anybody away.

3. Derrick Favors. Perhaps being the subject of trade rumors since he arrived in New Jersey has hampered his development somewhat, but NBA basketball is a business and he has to find a way to regain his confidence. 7 points and 5 rebounds a game is not what the Nets had in mind when they took him with the 3rd overall pick.

4. Wesley Johnson. Kevin Love and Michael Beasley carry this team so there's not a lot of opportunity for Wesley to shine. He was considered the player most ready for the NBA coming out of college so we won't close the book on him just yet.

5. DeMarcus Cousins. DeMarcus Cousins has trouble staying on the floor because he's always in foul trouble. In addition his field goal percentage is below 40%. With the Maloofs leaking money and coach Paul Westphal on the hot seat this situation may get worse before it gets better.

6. Ekpe Udoh. Hasn't played this season due to a wrist injury suffered this summer.

7. Greg Monroe. Shooting 35% and averaging 3.7 points in 17 minutes on a last place team. The definition of a project.

8. Al Farouq Aminu. Holding his own on a miserable team in complete disarray. Until Baron Davis comes back from injury the jury is still out on this guy.

9. Gordon Hayward. 1 of only 2 players in the top 10 to play on a winning team. Coach Jerry Sloan typically doesn't play rookies and the Jazz are deep at small forward so I doubt if we'll hear too much out of Gordon this season.

10. Paul George. Playing behind all star Danny Granger, James Posey, and Mike Dunleavy Jr. is a good way to go unnoticed. He's only played in 8 games this season so far and I don't expect him to see the court too often.

Weekend Observations

There was some redemption this weekend on the fantasy football front. In my newly formed trash talking league I'm whooping up on the commish by 26 points. Unless Jay Feely kicks 7 field goals tonight I'm putting that one in the bank. Since it's the league commissioner I'm going to talk more smack than the law allows about my glorious victory. Harassing text messages at 4 in the morning isn't out of the question. In my second league I beat my opponent (if you can call him that) by ONE HUNDRED POINTS! Dwayne Bowe, Peyton Hillis, Jamaal Charles, and Sam Bradford put up video numbers for me. Such a lopsided affair warrants no further comments on the subject. In my trash talking league I'm getting trounced by 44 points, but I have the utmost confidence Troy Smith can make up the difference tonight (in my dreams). If I needed a reason for my team's poor performance all I have to do is look at the wide receiver match up. I lost that battle 40-2. Nate Washington and Brandon Tate couldn't start for TCU right about now. I'm not gonna rule myself out of the playoffs, but I'm on life support and the light is getting brighter. Here are some observations from the weekend.

College Football:

Steve Sarkisian has kahunas the size of watermelons! No other coach in college football would have gone for it on 4th and goal from the 1 yard line with his teams bowl chances hanging in the balance. That's the play that turns the Huskies program around.

Wisconsin is the 3rd best team in the country. To be honest with you I don't think Oregon or Auburn wants any part of that Badger offense.

The NFL:

The Saints no longer need Reggie Bush and Neither do I. That goofball cost my team a victory last week (he pulled out of the game at the last minute) and almost cost my team a victory this week (he only scored 1 point) They use Julius Jones and Chris Ivory more than him . That being said he'd look good in a Seahawks uniform next year.

Josh McDaniels will be fired at the end of the season. The Denver Broncos are self destructing once again and a coach can only survive one of those kind of seasons. It doesn't help that the organization traded away a pro bowl quarterback and a pro bowl receiver to appease him.

Tennis:

Roger Federer can hang with Rafael Nadal so long as they're playing the best 2 out of 3. Grand Slams are a different story.

The NHL:

If Alexander Ovechkin isn't careful he'll find himself no longer the poster child of the league. Steven Stamkos is playing so well the "Great One" is singing his praises.

The NBA:

I'll address this topic more in depth tomorrow, but did anyone get drafted after John Wall this year? If so, those other guys are MIA.

The Shattered Glass Slipper

I usually don't like to tell be people I told you so, scratch that, I do like to tell people I told you so and I told you about Boise St. months ago. I don't want to rub salt in the wounds, but I've been fighting this battle all year. I even started asking myself, Am I being too hard on the Cowboys? Am I selling out to the establishment? Am I allowing myself to be brainwashed by corporate entities whose only purpose is to generate more revenue? After all until yesterday Boise St. hadn't lost a game in 3 seasons and had beaten some noteworthy opponents. They are fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball with playmakers at the skilled positions and a stingy defense. Kellen Moore has complete control of the offense and is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country. This senior class at Boise St. has been doing the impossible for years now. The Boise St. supporters would ask me, don't they deserve to be in the conversation? Shouldn't they get their chance to play against the best in the country come bowl time?

The answer is no. Boise St. was a feel good story and nothing more. They were over achievers who managed to maximize their potential. The Ohio St. president last week said what most people in the country were already thinking. THEY DON'T PLAY ANYBODY! THEIR CONFERENCE IS WEAK! IF THEY PLAYED IN THE SEC, BIG 10, BIG 12, OR PAC 10 THEY WOULD HAVE MULTIPLE LOSSES! A ONE LOSS TEAM FROM A POWER CONFERENCE IS BETTER THAN AN UNDEFEATED BOISE ST. TEAM! Until last night the Cowboys were going to put some people in a very difficult position with regard to BCS voting. It's unfortunate their fate was sealed by a kicker missing 2 field goals of less than 30 yards. You hate to see your destiny taken away by a filthy, nasty kicker. In the end we learned a valuable lesson, Boise St. plays an exciting brand of football, but they're not a big time college football program. They tried to call winners on the big court and ended up getting passed over. Sorry little guy.

Cleavie The Greek Predicts Auburn Over Alabama

The gambler has let his heart and his feelings get in the way of his better judgement. Conventional wisdom says Alabama is at home and would like nothing more than to spoil Auburn's perfect season. With the national championship out of reach this game is bigger than any other bowl game for the Crimson Tide. They have the perfect offense to keep Cam Newton on the sidelines and the Alabama defense can force the quarterback sensation into an average day. That being said I think Cam Newton has something special in store for Iron Bowl 2010. Cam Newton knows he's not coming back to Auburn next year and he has 3 games left to audition for the NFL. It will look impressive to have a win over Alabama on his resume. If he has a break out game against a Nick Saban coached team consider Cam Newton a first round pick. If I had my Young Sam Rothstein cap on I'd take Alabama, but Cleavie the Greek is going with his hunch. This game will come down to a last second field goal make or miss. We'll see what fate has in store for Cam. Here are a few bonus picks from Cleavie the Greek:

USC over Notre Dame. In the battle of the fallen programs USC finally gets a game against the Fighting Irish at the Coliseum. Matt Barkley will redeem himself and USC will get a leg up on the national recruiting scene.

Penn St. over Michigan St. Joe Paterno is getting a little long in the tooth, but it's senior day at Happy Valley and Michigan St. has looked vulnerable on the road. Look for Penn St. to play inspired ball and pull the upset.

Atlanta over Green Bay. I'm not a big believer in either one of these teams, but I believe in the Falcons more than I believe in the Packers. The Packers have had some easy games recently and this will be a wake up call for them.

Baltimore over Tampa Bay. The Bucs have responded to adversity admirably this season, but they're not ready for the hostile environment and the cold weather awaiting them in Baltimore. Oh yeah, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed will be there also.

Philadelphia over Chicago. The Michael Vick factor.

Derrick Rose Is Better Than Rajon Rondo

Just got done watching the Suns vs. the Bulls and the argument is over. Derrick Rose is the 3rd best point guard in basketball behind Chris Paul and Deron Williams. He is physically more gifted than both of them and he's only 22 years old. When the playoffs start we'll re-visit this conversation. I think the results will be different.

Are The Yankees Finished?

When George Steinbrenner passed away this summer baseball lost an American icon. The "Boss" had a passion for winning and under his ownership the Yankees won 7 world series titles. Everyone assumed that in his absence the organization would be run in the same fashion with the same level of success. The Derek Jeter negotiations have shown us how wrong we were.

Hal Steinbrenner (George's son and CEO of the Yankees) has made it clear that his all star, gold glove, captain is just another player. The last name may be the same, but the philosophy of the new Yankees ownership is quite different. Hal vowed that emotions would not play a part in the offer set forth by the Yankees and the negotiations may get messy. True to his word Hal refused to offer Derek salary arbitration and GM Brian Cashman "encouraged" Derek to test the free agent market to see if he could find a better deal than the Yankees offered him (3yrs, 45 mil). The mere fact the Yankees are putting Derek Jeter in a take it or leave it scenario is astounding. No one player has been more symbolic of the Yankees success than Derek Jeter, AKA The King of New York, AKA Frank White. The "Boss 2.0" is sending a clear message. If he can do this to Jeter he can do it to anyone.

Hal doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve. If the "Boss" were still around this deal would be done already. The new regime is cold hearted and ruthless. They refuse to overpay for players or take into consideration past performances and dedication. Gone are the days of "money is no object" and "You're like a son to me if we win."

This is a dangerous game of chicken Hal Steinbrenner is playing. If Derek Jeter ends up leaving and signs with someone like the Boston Red Sox or the Tampa Bay Rays the city of New York will never forgive him. He will lose the support that gives him the power to sign all those free agents and create additional revenue streams. Hal is gambling that Derek will take less money and less years than he wants to remain the Yankees captain because there is no greater job in baseball. Hal may be right in his assumptions, but his approach is too abrasive and arrogant. Lets hope Derek sees the big picture and conforms to the way the new age Steinbrenners do business. If he walks it will be the start of their ending.

No blog tomorrow, just football and turkey! see you guys on Friday.

Peyton "Big Money" Manning

Peyton Manning will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and will undoubtedly break the bank. It goes without saying that Peyton will become the highest paid player in football, but exactly how much is a Peyton worth?

I was speaking to a good friend of mine and he threw out a number that I'm still trying to wrap my hands around. "Peyton Manning is going to get $100,000,000 in guaranteed money," he said. From a player's and agent's perspective the logic was sound.

1. Peyton Manning is the undisputed leader and face of the Indianapolis Colts franchise.
2. Peyton Manning is the face of the NFL.
3. Peyton Manning is durable, almost Brett Favre like.
4. Peyton Manning is the epitome of a role model when the concept really no longer exists.
5. Peyton Manning is marketable beyond belief.
6. Peyton Manning is a 4 time MVP, the best quarterback today, and arguably the best ever.
7. Sam Bradford and Tom Brady have already set the bar at $50,000,000 guaranteed.
8. Peyton Manning gives Indianapolis, Indiana a relevance it never had before Peyton's arrival and will never have again after his departure.

I heard what my friend was saying, but the number was mind boggling. From an owners perspective the logic was flawed.

1. No one player is worth $100,000,000 guaranteed in a sport where any play could be your last.
2. Peyton Manning is 30+ and his skills (if even slightly) will start to diminish in a few years.
3. Peyton Manning is 30+, susceptible to injury, and his bounce back time will be significantly slower.
4. 100,000,000 in guaranteed money restricts the team's flexibility in terms of free agency and the salary cap.
5. $100,000,000 sets a dangerous precedence.
6. Everything has to go perfect for this investment to pencil out.
7. The sport itself is too dangerous to guarantee that much money.

After weighing the pros and cons of the argument (and both sides were compelling) I wouldn't be surprised if Peyton Manning got $100,000,000 guaranteed, but I think the compromise will be a little less. Although Peyton Manning is an unrestricted free agent he has no intentions of ever leaving Indianapolis. The Colts are the only franchise he's ever known and he practically runs the organization. There is no doubt someone would give him the $100,000,000 but does he really want to start all over again in Detroit, Cincinnati, or Miami? The Colts have been loyal to him and his market value is somewhat predicated by what desperate teams would give to land a football god. In the end the hometown team gets a discount. My guess as to how much guaranteed money Peyton Manning gets? $70,000,000. My conscience won't allow the number to go any higher.

Weekend Observations

It was a bounce back week in the world of fantasy football. After scoring only 59 points in one of my leagues last week I went off for 115 on Sunday. Unfortunately my opponent went off for 118 out of nowhere and I lost my match up. It's looking 50/50 for the playoffs. In my trash talking league I skated to victory because my opponent fell asleep at the wheel. He forgot to start a kicker and went with Oakland's defense. I wouldn't feel right if I gave myself too much credit for that one. In my newly formed trash talking league I lead my arch nemesis by 13 points going into tonight's game, but he's starting Moreno and the Denver kicker. This one will be a nail biter. It's all Reggie Bush's fault (once again) for false advertisement. I could've put someone else in his slot and cruised to victory. He's lucky I don't send Kim Kardashian over to his house in a santa's helper costume to mess with his head.

It was a C.R.E.A.M. weekend at the sportsbook. I was one shovel pass away from perfection. The Stanford pick was pure genius and poor Mr. St. Pierre in Carolina got to experience first hand what he had only seen on video games previously. Ed Reed came up with his 50th career interception and took it all the way back to the house. Vick stayed hot and Wisconsin took care of business. It's safe to say I have a limo, free champagne, and tickets to Celine Dion waiting for me the next time I head back to the desert. Congrats to Tom from Scottsdale on hitting the 3 team parlay. $500 turns to $3,000 real easy when you listen to Young Sam. Another shout out goes to Melissa in Mobile, AL who upgraded from a Hyundai to a Honda courtesy of 2 2 game parlays, a 3 game parlay, and 1 gutsy 4 team parlay. As I've said on numerous occasions you'll get a return on your investment if attention you pay. There are more testimonials available upon request. Here are some observations from the weekend.

Vince Young needs to see the same shrink as Ron Artest. With weapons like Randy Moss and Chris Johnson around him he still manages to melt down and finds himself in the doghouse again (this time permanently). Scratch that playoff talk.

Even with a loss yesterday Indy gets their playoff spot back (see previous comment).

Kansas City has the best running game in the NFL. The 1-2 punch of Thomas Jones and Jamal Charles has kept the Chief atop the AFC West.

If Jimmy Johnson had a cooler name that wasn't already taken by a hall of fame narcissistic coach we would probably give him more credit for winning 5 NASCAR championships in a row. It's an accomplishment that deserves more praise and attention than it's getting.

North Carolina is turning into the basketball equivalent of Notre Dame. The players think they can walk on the court with Jordan logo uniforms, point to Dean Smith, point to the rafters, and everyone will get scared and go home. It doesn't work that way. You have to actually play and win the game. Tough times ahead for UNC.

A King With No Kingdom

On Thursday Felix Hernandez established himself as the dominant pitcher in the American league with his selection as the 2010 Cy Young award winner. Unfortunately that distinction did not translate into wins and losses for the Seattle Mariners this season. Fortunately the sports writers were able to separate the brilliance of Felix from the brutal ineptness of the Mariners team. Felix captured the Cy Young award with fewer victories (13) than any pitcher who's ever pitched in an uninterrupted season.

The Mariners did the unthinkable in several ways last season. They fielded a team with 2 gold glove winners, a Cy Young winner, Cliff Lee for half the season, and the baseball god known as Ichiro yet they still managed to lose over 100 games. How is that possible? Seattle was also the worst hitting team since the inception of the designated hitter. Let me re-phrase that. The Seattle Mariners were the worst American league hitting team ever. In the case of Felix Hernandez sometimes your best just isn't good enough.

The Mariners are lucky they signed Felix to a long contract extension when they did. If he could become a free agent after this year (or next) there is no doubt he would be gone. Felix may still ask for a trade and who could blame him? Wasting his talents on a garbage team in his prime years isn't good for him and it isn't good for baseball. Felix is a king with no kingdom. If the Mariners don't rectify this situation soon the big boys (New York, Chicago, Boston, LA) will come calling and make them an offer the Mariners can't refuse. Like so many Seattle sports stars of the past Felix will be gone like the wind. The Mariners are on the clock. Let's see if they can keep King Felix. My prediction? 2011 will be his last as a Mariner. Sad.