AL playoff preview

October 1st. That means playoff baseball is nearly upon us. With the AL matchups all but locked in, (Detroit's magic number is one with 4 games to play) I've decided to put on my prognostication cap.

Yankees vs. Tigers

I like the Yankees to prevail in this series for several reasons.

1. CC Sabathia is sick and tired of hearing about how he isn't a postseason pitcher. This year CC is more rested than he has ever been going into a postseason. Last year's postseason appearance he made his 4th consecutive start on three days rest in addition to pitching 250 innings in the regular season. At that point his arm probably felt like Frank Mir's face after being pummeled by Brock Lesnar. This year Carsten Charles enters the playoffs with a manageable 230 innings pitched and two straight starts on an extra day's rest. That plus the chip on his shoulder from all the haters, look for the big man to dominate Game 1 and set the tone for the series.

2. The Yankees got to pick which series format they wanted. Therefore they get the extra days rest in between allowing them to go with 3 starters for the ALDS. This means they can delay the agony of having to decide what to do with the unpredictable Joba Chamberlain or the possibility of having Chad Gaudin start a playoff game(gulp).

3. Yankee Stadium. They have had a huge home field advantage all year(57-24 best in the majors). Their team is really well suited for the way this ballpark plays. They have strikeout pitchers on their staff, limiting the number of cheap home runs allowed (especially to right field). They have an abundance of left handed power hitters that take full advantage of the aforementioned short porch (see Johnny Damon career high in home runs at nearly 36 years old). Due to all this they never believe they are out of a game at home. We have seen their propensity for dramatic wins all year, just ask AJ Burnett and the 15 pies to the face he has served up this year. Speaking of Burnett, he pitches really well at home so he will start Game 2 and Game 5 if necessary. This allows the Bombers to protect Andy Pettitte from Yankee Stadium, where he has struggled, and start on the road where he has fared much better.

I think the Yankees will take this series in 3 or 4 games. Justin Verlander is always tough to beat, and pitches well vs. the Yankees (1.29 in 2 starts this year). However he is going to be matched up with CC and I really think he is going to come up huge (sorry big man no pun intended). Besides the Yankees will take a very patient approach with the young flamethrower, and I'll take the Yankees in a battle of the bullpens. Lastly the big boppers in the middle of the Tigers lineup are both righties. Detroit can only go as far as Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez can carry them, and you really have to get a hold of a pitch to get it out of Yankee Stadium in Left Center.

Angels vs. Red Sox

I'm taking the Angels on this one.

1. Jason Varitek/Victor Martinez. This duo has struggled to throw out any baserunners at all this year. That is not favorable when facing a Mike Scioscia managed team. The way this team runs could spell doom for the boys from beantown. The pressure on the Boston pitching staff is going to be immense to keep guys like Figgins, Aybar, Kendrick, and Izturis of the basepaths. Even a guy like Bobby Abreu could swipe several bags in this series. Look for the Red Sox pitching staff to be in many runner on 3rd less than 2 out situations. This team can play ABC baseball as well as anybody, which spells trouble for Beckett, Lester and Matsuzaka especially (due to the amount of walks he gives up).

2. I don't think Josh Beckett is 100 percent healthy. This guy has proven time and again that he is money in the bank in October, but he is limping across the finish line here. If he doesn't turn it around quickly Terry Francona is in trouble. Same goes for Lester as well. He has pitched well but who knows if that Melky Cabrera line drive off his knee will affect him going forward.

This is going to be a tight series in my opinion. I think the Angels take it in 5 games due to their advantage on the basepaths, home field and the health Boston's pitching. The real x-factor for both teams is the bullpen. Both have real questions out there from shaky middle relief to closers that have been living on the edge this year. Both Papelbon and Brian Fuentes have allowed more baserunners than their managers would care for. Look for both to have some eventful ninth innings, where one at bat could make or break the series for their team.

That does it for the ALDS matchups. I will be sure to do the NL as well when those series are set in stone, with predictions for both pennants and the World Series to follow...stay tuned

Roy Halladay Sweepstakes

Yesterday I was listening to Michael Kay's show on ESPN Radio, and the main topic they were discussing was the Yankees trading for Roy Halladay. Michael Kay said that the Yankees could probably get Halladay if they offered the Jays a deal involving Phil Hughes, and prospects Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero. He argued that the Yankees should absolutely pull the trigger on a deal like that. He said that with Halladay the Yankees are absolutely better suited to win the World Series this year and are compelled to complete the deal. I'm not convinced that is necessarily the case.

The number one reason is the inclusion of Hughes in the deal. I don't think the Yankees are better suited to win the World Series plus Halladay and minus Hughes. In order to succeed in the playoffs a team needs a few things, and they are...
1. Three reliable starting pitchers - In the playoffs you have many off days and rain outs, and you don't need to go deeper than your third starter
2. A good bullpen - You need to be able to hold onto a lead
3. Clutch hitting - You are generally facing the best pitchers in the league, you have to be able to cash in your opportunities.
4. Solid Defense - You can't afford to give up cheap runs to good teams.

Right now I think the Yankees have that. I think the trio of Sabathia, Burnett and Pettitte is good enough to carry them through. Would Halladay, Sabathia and Burnett be better, obviously. However having three great starters is not enough. If Hughes is gone, that makes the middle relief a huge question mark. There is talk that Joba Chamberlain will be moved to the bullpen to limit his innings. That could help, but there is no telling how his arm will react to the increased workload he is experiencing this year. If you recall he had to be shut down last year due to an injury likely tied to arm fatigue. That makes the Yankees reliant upon Alfredo Aceves, Brian Bruney, Phil Coke and Damaso Marte(if he returns from injury) to be the bridge to Rivera. Suddenly that bullpen is a lot shakier with everyone moving up one slot in importance.

Therefore, I think trading for Halladay would take the Yankees from having all four components to only having three. With Halladay they are a better team over a 162 game season, without question. However in the microcosm that is the MLB playoffs, I think they might be worse off.

I decided to only focus on the here and now aspect of this deal. That is not to mention the impact that trading these guys will have on the teams future. The Yankees are an old team, they are going to need to infuse some youth from the farm system in the near future and these guys being discussed are their best bets to make the big leagues soon. Every appearance Hughes continues to dominate out of the pen it makes me think he would be a great candidate to succeed Rivera, who is 39. Jackson is a potential franchise center fielder in the mold of a Grady Sizemore, and Montero is a potential big bopper DH.

Only time will tell if the Yankees will pull the trigger on Doc, but as a Yankee fan I would rather they decline.

To Baldly Go Where No Blog Has Ever Gone Before

I was watching a Cavaliers playoff game recently and a particular play caught my eye. LeBron James drove to the hole and was fouled so hard his headband fell off. The thing that struck me about this was not the intense pounding that The King takes night in and night out, but rather what was revealed by his relocated headband. I happened to notice that LeBron has a little bit of a receding hair line. This may sound pretty bad, but it made me really happy to see that. As someone who graduated from high school the same year as LeBron and also struggles with the same affliction, it made me feel a little more at ease. I started to think about other balding athletes that I admire, and decided to create a top ten list of follicly challenged dudes in sports. The list takes into account degree of baldness as well as how good they are at their particular discipline. I expect there to be some glaring omissions and issues with the order in which they are picked, so feel free to leave your comments in order to promote some discussion. So without further ado, here is my list.

10. Scott Van Pelt - I know he's not an athlete, but since he is my favorite Sportscenter anchor I felt I needed to include him in my list. This guy represents for the bald brotherhood well with his witty comments, his great delivery when reading highlights, and his very insightful analysis for golf. Not to mention he is in a number of classic Sportscenter commercials, my favorite being him and Jimmy Rollins studying his broadcasting tape. He fits your classic bald guy makes up for it by being funny mold.

9. Andres Iniesta - This Barcelona/Spain midfielder doesn't look like much off the pitch. If you had to guess his profession you might come up with Accountant or Science Teacher. But anybody who has seen Barcelona's Champions League run this year knows this guy is magic with the ball at his feet. He is the fulcrum to that devastating attack that captured 3 trophies this season.


8. Albert Pujols - This Cardinals slugger has many things. An MVP trophy, a World Series ring, and one of the nicest swings in the majors. However he also has a serious widow's peak from that receding hairline of his. He can shave his head as much as he wants, but he's not fooling anybody.


7. Matt Hasselbeck - This guy is holding it down for the pale bald white guy demographic. He embraces his baldness, and shaves his head completely clean. You have to respect a guy who doesn't care if he looks like a hospital patient. He takes this look and he owns it, and bald men everywhere respect that. Oh yeah, he's not a bad quarterback either.


6. John Smoltz - Smoltz's pitching accolades are amazing. This guy has some serious grit to dominate as a starter, have arm problems, dominate as a closer, and then finally come full circle as an effective starter. He is also one of the great postseason pitchers ever. Perhaps the thing that I love about Smoltz the most is his relationship with Tiger Woods. The two of them are good friends and play golf together often. This guy is so competitive he has the audacity to play Tiger for money, and Tiger affectionately refers to him as his personal ATM machine. On the baldness front, Smoltz gets points for duration of baldness. This guy has been rocking a long forehead for what seems like decades. He also honors the time honored tradition of making up for baldness with facial hair.

5. Brian Urlacher - This is our prototypical I'm such a bad ass I scared the hair off the top of my head character. One of the most physical and intimidating linebackers in the NFL today, Urlacher's hair follicles have been blasted off during countless collisions with Fullbacks and Running Backs in the hole. With Urlacher it just seems appropriate that a man that plays that mean, doesn't have much hair.


4. Tiger Woods - Eldrick may be a little behind some others on this list in the baldness category, but boy does he make up for it with his ability to make you say wow. If you read my Masters preview article you can tell how much respect I have for this guy as an athlete. Plus the before and after pics on Tiger are pretty telling. While his game has not regressed at all since winning his first major, his hairline certainly has.

3. Manu Ginobili - Now we start to see some serious baldness. Manu is unfortunately fighting the battle on two fronts. He not only contends with the receding hairline, but also the dreaded male pattern baldness. As we have seen throughout history, an army divided cannot prevail. Yet Manu continues to soldier through, and when healthy a very good basketball player. You might argue that in the Spurs most recent championship, he was more valuable to their success than Duncan or Parker.

2. Chris Kaman - The reason Kaman makes it this high is simply based on how excellent his baldness is. Don't get me wrong, he is one of the better big men in the NBA, but it is his impressive lack of hair that has escalated him here. Kaman has owned a rare but very powerful look, the Skullet. For those of you who don't know that is someone who has the vision and guts to pull off a mullet while simultaneously balding. Its hard to put into words what an aggressive look this is, but bald men everywhere salute Chris Kaman for will to persevere through his baldness and wear whatever hair style he pleases, however unflattering.

1. Mariano Rivera - Let's get the baseball stuff out of the way. Greatest reliever of all time, period, end of story. The man has been utterly amazing to watch. He absolutely dominates with one pitch. I have maintained that he is a sophisticated pitching robot sent back in time. There is no other way to explain his ability to repeat his delivery exactly the same every time, and always hit the spot he aims for. That being said, Mo is a great bald man. Like Ginobili he is also fighting the war on both fronts. Mariano's hair line is pushing pretty far back these days and his bald spot in the back is in the perfect shape of a yarmulke(pronounced Ya-ma-ka to all you non-jews out there). So as a balding, jewish, yankee fan, this one was a slam dunk for me.

So in addition to the many things LeBron James has to look forward to in the coming years like millions of dollars, NBA championships, global stardom, etc., he can also hope to spearhead the next crop of balding superstars and make my updated list. Let the debate begin!

The House That Jeter Built

Well I thought I was going to wait until tomorrow to post, but as the adage says you have to strike while the iron is hot. I may not be completely sober but I have an idea for a post and I'll be damned if I let that opportunity slide.

I'm going to talk a bit about the new stadium they just built in the bronx. I'm going to preface this by saying that A) I am an avid Yankee fan and B) I've only been to 3 major league stadiums besides this one(Old Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, and Olympic Stadium in Montreal when the Expos were there). I have to say, the new stadium in the bronx is phenomenal. There are several reasons why I love this place, but the main reason is that I never feel the Yankees are out of a game there. They are catching a lot of crap for this stadium being "homer friendly" but in my opinion, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Take a look at the way this team is constructed. Potent offensive lineup with power, and a pitching staff that records a lot of strikeouts. If ever there were a model for a successful team in that ball park, I'd say that's it. In addition, who won the World Series last year? The Phillies did, in the most "homer friendly" park in the bigs. So this notion that a home field that is susceptible to the long ball is a kiss of death is wrong. Just take a look at these Yankees, they have a serious swagger lately(when they aren't playing Boston). They lead the majors in come from behind wins and they really feel that they can overcome any deficit.

Take for example the game on Friday night. Say what you will about it being lucky(it certainly was) but the Yanks found a way to pull it out. I was at the stadium, and I have to say the atmosphere was simply electric. There has been a lot of talk about the empty seats and lack of energy in the stadium but for a big game like the subway series the house was rockin'. You could feel the full range of emotions pouring out during that last at bat. The sheer disappointment and despair when A-Rod popped that ball up, and the elation when Luis Castillo gift wrapped that victory for them. I've been to many a Yankee game, and I have to say this might have been my favorite moment. I went to the game with three friends, two Yankee fans and a Met fan. So throughout the entire 9th inning this kid is needling us for every single strike K-Rod gets. To have that payoff after that was simply priceless.

Obviously there is a down side to the new stadium. First of all, I didn't feel the same way I did when I first walked into the old stadium. There is something about that building that is magical. I can't really put it into words but when I first stepped out of that tunnel, and you see the lush green grass and smell the hot dogs and peanuts you can't help but get goosebumps. Just thinking about all the historic things that have occurred there is enough to get you choked up. I just didn't feel that at the new house. Everything is also ridiculously expensive, putting a damper on things. I've been to two games this year, and both times I fell into a ticket through a friend and I still ended up spending at least a hundred bucks. I'm not much of a political activist but there should be some law against charging 10 dollars for a beer.

I have to say though, there are a lot of really cool things about this new ball park. First of all the sheer variety of food you can get there is awesome. Definite upgrade from the old park. Pretty much anything you can imagine is available from philly cheesesteaks, to sushi, to nachos, to chinese food, and even a deli where you can get freshly sliced meat. There are also several bars throughout the stadium that you can hang out in. They have Tommy Bahama's bar and the Hard Rock which are both nice but the prize piece is the Mohegan Sun Bar in center field. In there you can actually watch the game through tinted glass with a pretty nice view(once again a pretty hefty expense $50 on top of your ticket I believe). Luckily my buddy knows a guy that works at the stadium who got us in there for free. Another great feature is that the field is viewable from almost anywhere. The way that the stadium is laid out allows for you to see the action from anywhere even behind the seats. Its pretty common to see upper deck ticket holders hanging out on the field level behind home plate to catch a great view of the action. So basically as long as you're in the stadium you can catch a glimpse from a spot that you can't really afford to sit. Another nice feature is being able to walk anywhere throughout the stadium. In the old stadium the bleachers(cheapest seats) had a separate entrance and was closed off from the rest of the ball park. Now you can walk anywhere freely. Which brings me to my next point, there is no bad seat in this ball park. The first time I went there, I got there early and walked around the park. Even the last bleacher seat has a great view of the field. I remember sitting in the last row of the left center bleachers in the old stadium and thinking the players looked like ants. Not in this park. Anywhere you are you have an excellent view. I mentioned earlier that I didn't feel the same goosebumps as the old house. That's true but I have to say they did a pretty nice job of reminding everybody what happened in the old place. From the great hall, to monument park, to the yankee museum, this place has a great sense for the triumphs of the past.

Overall I have to say I am pleased with the way the new stadium came out. Yeah it sucks that it's so expensive but I guess that's just the price you pay for being a Yankee fan. Everything in New York is at a premium, so why should baseball be any different. I'm pretty happy with that stadium being my baseball Mecca for probably the rest of my life. I look forward to seeing Citi Field (the new home of the Mets) soon and I'm sure I'll share my thoughts on that experience as well. I've even heard from Yankee fans that it's nicer but lacks the sense of history(it has an exhibit dedicated to Jackie Robinson even though he never played for the Mets, and yeah I found that weird too). In this recession, it might not have been the most prudent idea to open up a ridiculously expensive new stadium. You might compare it to your cleanup hitter popping up to second base on 3-1 fastball down the middle, but just like Friday night the Yankees found a way to make it work.

I have to apologize to all my faithful listeners for my posting hiatus, between birthdays, graduations, applying to colleges, trips to new orleans, working and the like I have been inable to blog to my liking. I pledge to hop back on that trail and post about a whole host of stuff(I was just remarking to a friend of mine that it has been quite the year in sports). So I promise to throw in my two cents on a whole bunch of issues, including Federer and the French Open, New Yankee Stadium, Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Real Madrid, The NBA finals, and perhaps even the Stanley Cup Finals. Expect something within the next few days, until then, I bid you adieu

Jeff George Syndrome?

The destiny of each NFL franchise is up for grabs this Saturday. The decisions that are made during Saturday's draft are going to chart the path of your team for several years to come. If you look at the most successful franchises in the NFL they all are outstanding talent evaluators and draft really well. This is the week when the pre-draft chatter and predictions get ratcheted up a notch. It looks like the Lions are projected to take Matthew Stafford the QB from Georgia. Would that be a prudent decision that could have the Lions back on track as a franchise, or just the latest in a series of disastrous Lions' choices that led them to the first 0-16 record ever?

I tend to think it would be the latter. I think its a symptom of a trend in the NFL that I just don't understand. The scouting report on Stafford reads something like this. The kid has a GREAT arm and can make all the NFL throws, but is inconsistent with his accuracy and decision making. My question is, why is the first part of that scouting report enough to outweigh the second part? In the title of this post I evoke the name of the legendary Jeff George. The greatest workout quarterback of all time (pretty impressive mullet as well). His time in the NFL was just a series of recurring second chances due to his great arm. It doesn't matter how well you can throw the football if you don't throw it in the right place. His mediocrity is a testament to how overrated arm strength is for an NFL quarterback. Now lets talk about a quarterback who actually won something, Joe Montana. This guy didn't have the big arm that scouts are so enamored with. However he always made great decisions and put the ball where it needed to be. That is what makes a great quarterback. I would argue that arm strength has the least to do with your success in the NFL. Ok so lets bring it back to the Lions and their monumental decision coming up. They are a team that lost 16 last year, so they need a whole lot of help everywhere. They can't afford to miss with this pick. Stafford might turn out to be a fine QB, but if his inconsistencies from college continue to manifest themselves at the next level, they are in trouble. This doesn't take into account the fact that their young QB would be stepping into a horrible situation with minimal chance to succeed. With this pick I think they need to take a player they can plug in right away, that will have an immediate and lasting impact on their franchise. That means either going with Jason Smith, the OT from Baylor, or Aaron Curry, the LB from Wake Forest. Curry from all accounts is as close to a can't miss prospect as there is in this draft. The Lions' defense is just as awful as their offense, and they could surely use a playmaker like him. However, I think the best pick would be Smith. He is a guy that you can build your offensive line around for the next ten years. He doesn't have nearly as many question marks or bust potential as taking a QB. The Lions also could address linebacker with their other first round pick at #20(Cushing, Maualuga, or Matthews from USC or Lauranitis from Ohio State). Then with a solid base of young productive players(especially along the offensive line, Smith and Gosder Cherilus RT they drafted last year) it puts the Lions in the position to target a QB next year either in the draft, free agency, or a trade.

So it comes down to this, do the Lions get mesmerized by the big arm, or do they make a pick that will start the slow and steady turn around of their franchise? If history tells us anything, they will gamble on Stafford. I hope it pans out for them, but I just don't understand the logic of taking a guy who has question marks about the most important skills an NFL QB possesses.

Masters Preview

The Masters unofficially kicks off tomorrow with the Par 3 contest. This is another cool quirk about the Masters that I enjoy. Watching these guys freely trying to ace every hole is fun. Also the fact that the winner of the contest has never won the real tournament makes for an interesting dynamic as well. Every player has the same scripted response to the question, but you know they all think about it. They say that they don't believe in jinxes and superstitions like that. However this streak is turning into the Madden and Sports Illustrated covers combined. So I fully expect some middle to lower tier guy to end up winning the Par 3 title, because all the favorites are going to tank it on purpose. So, without further ado here goes my masters preview.

The favorite to win any major golf tournament is obviously Eldrick Woods. This is most certainly the case coming off an impressive win at Bay Hill 2 weeks ago. 2 things were established at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The first is that PGA players are still terrified of Tiger. If anyone watched the meltdown that poor Sean O'Hair had down the stretch can see that. If Tiger is in the final group on Sunday, its almost as good as 2 to 3 stroke advantage against the other guys in his group. The second thing is that Tiger is still the best clutch putter in the history of mankind. It is truly remarkable how this guy continues to drain these monster putts, seemingly with ease. He holed 3 gargantuan 15 to 17 foot putts in that final round, crushing O'Hair's spirit. That being said this is Tiger's first major back. There is no telling how his knee will hold up this week. Tiger might be tempted to reach back for that little extra and tweak his knee a bit. With the fact in mind that Tiger is indeed human(I think), here are some other guys I like this week.

Zach Johnson. Zach had himself a nice little tournament at Bay Hill as well. He actually shot a nice final round on Sunday in the same group as Tiger. Given he was a couple strokes behind and the pressure wasn't squarely on him like it was for O'Hair. Still this is a seasoned guy, been tested in the fire and come through the other side. He obviously has some great memories from Augusta, and has a good blueprint to follow to win this tournament. Look for him to lay up on all the Par 5s, and play within himself. This guy has a great demeanor and knows who he is. I expect him to play good solid golf and avoid mistakes.

Padraig Harrington. This guy has won two majors in a row, and it has all flown under the radar. It has been lost in the shuffle of the return to Tiger-Mania. It seems as if people don't think that it counts because Tiger was on the shelf. I think of it differently. Since Tiger was out, I think everyone else stepped up their game figuring that this is the best shot they'll get. So Padraig was able to take them both down while taking everyone's best shot. Speaking of guys that can make tough pressure putts, this guy is almost in the same class as Woods. He makes up for some inconsistent ball striking with some outstanding work with the flat stick. Paddy finished 5th at Augusta last year, and I expect another solid performance.

Geoff Ogilvy. This man is playing some outstanding golf this year so far. He won two of the 7 tournaments he has played in this year. He also finished in sixth this week at the Shell Houston Open. This guy is on a little bit of a roll, and I expect that to continue on through this week at Augusta. Geoff has typically fared better in the US Open than the Masters, but I think his early season form bodes well for him this week. Always a dangerous player I think this week should be no exception.

Since picking Tiger would utterly lame and boring, I'm going to go out on a limb with this one and pick Ogilvy. He is one of the few guys I think has the stones to stare Tiger down and not crumble. So the green jacket will pass from the South African Trevor Immelman to the Aussie Ogilvy.

P.S. I'm also going to go out on a limb and say that this is the year Sergio Garcia pulls a Shooter McGavin and tries to steal the jacket as Immelman is presenting it to Ogilvy. Instead of a huge guy with a nail in his head running him down, it will probably just be Boo Weekley.

Reflecting on the National Title Game

Right from the opening tip I knew the outcome. When I saw that opening tip turn into a scramble for the ball that ended in a Tyler Hansbrough tie-up, I knew Carolina was ready to go. Michigan State needed a few breaks to go their way early to keep this one competitive. Unfortunately for the Spartan faithful, it didn't really work out that way. UNC came out of the locker room with a sense of urgency, purpose, and poise. In order for the things to occur that I mentioned in my previous post to happen, the Tar Heels had to come out a little flat. Once Carolina came out with that initial surge, starting 6 for 7 from the field, you could see Michigan State start to have a look of here we go again. Say what you will about that Dec. 3 game not mattering, but once the Spartans felt that intial punch in the mouth they had to be having some flashbacks. As bad as you feel for Michigan State, you have to be that happy for North Carolina. Here is a team that had one purpose all year. Their entire starting five could have, and possibly should have, gone to the NBA last year. Somehow Roy Williams waived his magic wand and got them all back for another shot at a title. It isn't the first time he has pulled off this trick either. It was the same situation with the Felton, May, and McCants team that won the title a few years ago. They were all expected to leave, and came back for one more year and won a national title. This sets a refreshing example for college basketball stars. Hopefully more guys will say that the Mansions and the Bentleys can wait a year if it means I can call myself a champion.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year?

I was just remarking to a friend of mine the other day that we are in a great time of the year for sports fans. There is such a variety of compelling sporting events to follow in these few weeks, it just may be better than Christmas for sports fanatics.

1. The Final Four. This tournament is arguably the best sporting event in this country. The drama and intrigue created is huge. It's a combination of the one and done format, the passion of the players, and the quality of the basketball. I much prefer watching college to the NBA. There is less one on one. In college basketball its more about which is the best TEAM instead of who has the best collection of players.

2. The Masters. This is my favorite golf tournament hands down. The setting is phenomenal. I can't think of a more majestic place than Augusta. For those who live in cold weather cities, seeing that beautiful scene in early April gets you excited for the coming weather. You start to think about being able to knock off the rust on your game that has collected over the winter. Secondly, they don't make it absurdly hard to score well. I know I don't watch golf to see pros struggle to make par. I want to see these guys get aggressive, shoot at pins, and make great shots. The Masters allows for that to happen. Also the prize that they are vying for is awesome. There is something really cool about that green jacket. The fact that the previous year's winner presents it to you is great. It goes along with this great sense of history and tradition that is so prevalent throughout this event.

3. Baseball Opening Day. What's not to love about opening day? Everybody is in first place and hope springs eternal. Even the perennial cellar dwellers have cause for optimism, if only for a few weeks. You get to be acquainted with the new faces on your team, and you get to see the old ones you've missed.

4.Playoff Push in Basketball and Hockey. The end of the winter sports regular seasons brings great drama. In hockey the battle for those final playoff spots is huge. Of all the major sports, I think seeding and home field advantage means the least in hockey. So everybody just wants a ticket to the dance. Once the playoffs start anything can happen, your goalie gets hot and you can make a deep run regardless of home ice. In the NBA the position jockeying is more important and intriguing in its own right. Take a look at the western conference right now. Spots 2 through 7 are separated by 4 games. That is a huge swing to deal with, none of those teams can afford to limp across the finish line. Home Field is a big deal in basketball. Cleveland(37-1 at home) is going to be a real tough out if they lock up home court throughout(crushing the hopes and dreams of Knicks fans everywhere, myself included).

5. NFL Draft Buzz. The approaching NFL draft is the focus of the football starved sports fan these days. If you look at the most successful franchises in the NFL, they all draft really well. So the savvy NFL fan knows that these two days in April are paramount for your chances at playing in late January. Football fanatics can delight in all the mock drafts and analysis leading up to it(not to mention the epic brawls that Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have on ESPN).

6. UEFA Champions League Knockout Stages. The quarterfinals start up this week for those of us who follow the other type of football. Soccer fans in the U.S. have precious few opportunities to see play of this quality unless they have Fox Soccer Channel.

I already posted about the Final Four and will try to get to the others before they happen. Also some reaction might be on the way as well. In the end it just is a fantastic time to be a sports fan. Where most of the country looks forward to Christmas time, us sports junkies are partial to Easter.

NCAA Championship

With another march madness in our rear view mirror, the national title game comes down to a rematch at Ford Field between North Carolina and Michigan State. On Dec 3 UNC dismantled the Spartans to the tune of a 30 point blowout. Roy Williams' boys are looking like the juggernaut we all thought they were. They have dropped each tournament foe by at least ten. I personally maintained that Ty Lawson's injury at the end of the season was the best thing that could have happened to them. Small guys who play as many minutes as he does have a tendency to wear down at the end of the year. His injury allowed him to get invaluable rest leading up to the tournament, which is why I picked them to go all the way in my bracket. Everything is starting to look like the final four is going to come to an anticlimactic end with Carolina thumping Izzo's boys again. However there are a few factors here that may suggest otherwise. Michigan State is a completely different team than the one that stepped on that court 4 months ago.

1. Goran Suton didn't play in that game. If you are gonna hang with the Tar Heels, you need to have big guys. Suton is their best big and his presence is essential for Izzo to deal with Hansbrough, Thompson and Davis inside. They are going to need him on the boards to keep UNC of the offensive glass. On the other end Suton is a very versatile player enabling the Spartans to score in the post or step out and hit jumpers. This will be key in possibly getting Hansbrough in foul trouble or pulling him away from the hoop and opening their own offensive rebounding opportunities.

2. Raymar Morgan has emerged again as a post presence. He was essentially a non factor in their first meeting, but he is starting to peak at the perfect time. He looked great in the Louisville and UConn wins. Like I said with Suton, size is paramount against Carolina. Morgan has started to play up to his potential giving the Spartans another big body to throw at the Heels.

3. Tom Izzo is a phenomenal coach. If he can slow this game down like he did against Louisville, they have a shot to pull this upset off. Tempo will be huge in this game. They need to make this a muddy, messy battle of attrition and Izzo has proven he has the ability to do just that.

4.Michigan State is riding the karma train right now. This whole situation has a storybook feel to it. They are playing in their home state. They are playing in front of a rabid fan base that is sorely in need of some good in their lives. Bill Simmons likes to talk about the "Nobody Believed In Us" factor. Michigan State fits that mold. In a tournament in which chalk and predictability have reigned supreme, wouldn't it be fitting to have a classic all time upset. It feels like there could be a Villanova over Georgetown moment lurking.

Now that I have systematically laid out my argument as to why Michigan State could win this game, I'm going to stick with my original pick for Carolina to cut down the nets on Monday night. I believe in everything I said, but a lot of things need to fall into place for Michigan State to pull this out. I do believe Izzo will have a great game plan and keep this game close. In the end I think it will probably come down to UNC's ridiculous depth. Something like foul trouble could loom large in this contest. If Hansbrough, the most prolific free throw shooter in D-1 history, gets their bigs in foul trouble, Izzo is in deep trouble. Same thing with the physical defense that Walton will play on Lawson. Walton is the only shot they have at checking Ty and keeping this game slow. With Walton on the pine with fouls, this could get ugly. Therefore I think Roy Williams will celebrate his second national title. Its hard to believe that this guy ever had a rap for not being able to close out the big game. That is one criticism he will surely erase for good with a W on Monday.