Dan Haren: Better Investment than Johan???

The recent battle between the Yankees and Red Sox over Johan Santana has taken center stage this offseason, but is he worth what both teams would be giving up. The Yankees would be giving up Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and at least one more prospect, while the Twins are demanding two of the following: Jon Lester, Jacoby Elsbury, and Clay Buchholz. Essentially, both teams would be giving up the best of their best prospects.

The other team in the sweepstakes, the Mets, seem to have turned their focus towards another pitcher on the market: Dan Haren. Although the Athletics are looking for a similar package for Haren, GM Billy Beane will probably be more reasonable with his asking price. The Mets may be trying to acquire Haren before the Twins trade Santana, hence not competing with the loser of that bidding war, whether it be the Yankees or Sox.

Personally, I feel Haren is the better option for all clubs involved. He has more years left on his contract than Santana,, and is a few years younger, and does not have nearly as much mileage on him.

As for the Mets chances of landing Haren, they lost a valuable chip when they traded, I mean gave away, Milledge to the Nationals. As much as General Manager Omar Minaya wants to defend the transaction, no sane fan can agree with it, especially after holding him out of various trades in the past (ie: Dontrelle Willis), that could have greatly improved their roster today (ie pitching staff).

Basically, although Dan Haren isn't the most attractive pitcher on the market, he's the smartest investment.

Warriors On the Rise!

After coming off a surprising 2006-2007 season including the first ever 1 vs. 8 upset in the NBA in a 4 out of 7 series format, the Golden State Warriors were looking to improve off of this great result. On the other hand, the Warriors began their season 0-6 proving to many people that this team was just a one team wonder or just those same old Warriors. However, some fans may have forgotten that the team captain, Stephen Jackson, had missed the first six games. Since Jackson’s return, the attitude and mentality on the team has changed drastically.
The Warriors coming off a 113-94 victory on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets have improved to 8-7 on the year, which includes an incredible 8-1 record with Jackson in the lineup. "It definitely feels good," Jackson said. "It was hard work. We want to continue to stay above .500. We don't want to go on another slide where we lose six in a row." Moreover, the Warriors won their fifth game in a row, including three straight at home and four out of five wins on the road. The Warriors also picked up key division victories against the Kings and the division leading Suns. The Warriors and Suns play a similar quick paced, “run ‘em and gun ‘em” exciting type of game. It will be extremely interesting to see what the Warriors can do as they continue to become more experienced and mold together as a unit. Could they threaten the Suns in the Pacific Division this year?
The heart and soul of the team is without question: Baron Davis. Baron Davis leads the Warriors in points, assists, and steals with 24.0, 8.6, and 2.0 respectively. He led the team from almost playoff elimination to serious playoff contenders last season. With tremendous depth on the roster, the Warriors are looking to make another playoff run. One thing is for sure, this is a young and talented team that will only continue to get better as the learn more from head coach Don Nelson. In addition, the team will improve night in and night out as they learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This team can be a serious contender once April, May, and dare I say June comes around. But, it is early and powers of the Spurs, Suns, Mavs, and others still need to be dealt with. I still look for this team to make a nice run in the postseason.

Sean Taylor's Tragic Death

Sean Taylor was one of the best free safeties in the NFL. He was an alumnus of UM and was murdered in his home earlier this week. I’d never thought I’d see another one of UM’s finest football players murdered. He bled to death from a gunshot wound that severed his femoral artery. Friends and family grieve the loss of Taylor as well as fans and classmates from the respected teams he played for. He died at the age of 24, not even in the prime of his career and at a young age regardless.

When I heard the news of Taylor’s death, the first thing that popped in my head was the death of Bryan Pata just last year. Within the last two years two UM player, former and current, were shot and killed. Each of the deaths occurred in or around their homes. “Police have detained at least three people in the Fort Myers area for questioning in the death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.” However, nobody has been detained in the death of Bryan Pata.

Some pro athletes now fear for their lives as well. There was one incident involved Adewale Ogunleye. “The Chicago Bears defensive end had pulled his Bentley out of the parking lot of a Miami hot spot and noticed he was being followed.” Sean Taylor’s death has impacted the NFL as well as the UM community. His death may influence UM college prospects in their decision of which school to play for. Sean Taylor’s death was a tragedy and had an impact on the athletic community.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3127928

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071130/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_redskins_taylor_slain

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3133995

FINS WIN!!???

With With about 5 games remaining on their schedule, you can already call the Miami Dolphins one of the worst teams in NFL history. Living and growing up in South Florida it has been tough to see the downfall of this club. People in Miami are Fins fans first, every other team second. Yes the Heat and Marlins have won championships more recently, but it is the nostalgia of the Fins that keep the fans loyal. With an 0-11 record who knows if Miami will win a game this season. If they do, what will happen. 

I think nothing will happen as far as the fan base goes. People will still be fans, still go to games. For example, this weekends matchup of 2 of the worst teams in the NFL, Jets-Fins, is already sold out at Dolphins Stadium. It is a huge rivalry, but while both teams are bad, the fans will still show up. Maybe not as many as usual, but yes fans do have the right to be a bit upset with management. It's been 5 consecutive years, that in some way, shape, or form they screw up in the draft, screw up in their coaching changes. 

They get rid of Wandstedt and instead pick up Nick Saban. Why? Saban did not seem to ever 

really want to leave college ball, and when he did he suffered and went straight back to where he belonged. Now they have Cam Cameron. Supposed to be a savior coming out of the high octane Chargers club. But Miami has been anything but high octane, with one of the most injury ravaged offenses in football. 

They are already down to their third string rookie QB, John Beck. Down to their LAST running back. Even after Ricky Williams was reinstated he was lost for the season just 5 carries into his return. Star linebacker Zach Thomas has been out for a few games, and may be out for the rest of the season. 

It is in a way kind of sad. And it only figures that somehow, while the fins may not win a game all season, their in division rival Patriots are gunning for the undefeated 1972 Fins. 

But as a Fins fan, here is my prediction for this weekends matchup. It's just about their last chance for a W. The fins will win their one and only game this weekend, at home, against the Jets. Final score: Fins 2- Jets 0!

PS- There's always a first overall pick at the end of the tunnel of a horrible season. WAHOOO!

Can Miami Defend their Perfect Season...The 1972 Winning One

As everyone already knows, the New England Patriots are 11-0. Everybody also knows that the Miami Dolphins are 0-11. Yet, these two teams are meeting on December 23 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Although they both have 3 games before then, I hope that the Patriots remain undefeated. Miami however, can pick up a few W’s before getting to New England.

If you haven’t already guessed it, I’m hoping that the Miami Dolphins can defeat the Patriots and defend their 1972 perfect season.
And yes, I do know that I’m being way too optimistic and a little too foolish, but you never know. The Dolphins have beaten them in their second matchup of the season for the last two years.

In 2005, the Dolphins took on the Patriots in Massachusetts and beat them 28-26 in Week 17 of the season. However, that season Miami finished 9-7 and the Patriots finished 10-6. On the other hand, in 2006 New England came down to Miami December 10th and experienced a shutout: Miami-21, Patrios-0.

I understand that the Dolphins have never looked worse and the Patriots have never looked better, but here are a few reasons why Miami should go up to Gillette Stadium in 23 days and defeat the New England Patriots.



1)Tom Brady fondles baby goats.
2)It would probably be the biggest upset in NFL history.
3)Who cares about getting the First-Round pick…whatever happened to dignity?
4)It would give the few Dolfans remaining some hope for next year’s season.
5)They’ve lost 6 games this season by only 3 points!

Just some hopeful wishing…It’s okay, you can laugh at me. =)

Brett Favre: Retired or Revived

Does anybody remember what they were doing for the last three years? I remember what the Green Bay Packers were doing…LOSING. The consecutive mediocre seasons got to the point that made Brett Favre question his physical ability due to his “old age.” He literally was one press conference away from retirement at the end of last year’s football season. He decided to stick it out though for one more year. He liked the team he had and was confident he could lead them back to becoming a dominant football team.

Favre’s intuitions were right about his 18^th NFL season as he leads his 10-1 Packers against the 10-1 Cowboys for an old school NFC showdown. Despite the fact that Green Bay hasn’t won in Dallas since 1989, this year has shown that Brett Favre and his Packers are very capable of overcoming obstacles. Favre is underway to having one of the most successful NFL seasons as any quarterback in history. This season he has already become the “most winningest” QB in NFL history and also has the most career TD passes. He has proven that the age of 38 is not ancient in this sport like once suggested.

It is still a question as to whether or not the Packers have the drive to win Super Bowl rings this year. However, it will still be fun to see what other records Brett Favre will break in these last 5 weeks of regular season play. Also, will he have the inevitable press conference this year announcing his retirement or will he push it off one more season? Only time will tell these questions along with the other methods that the Patriots are using to cheat.

New York Knicks: How Times Have Changed

I am a huge fan of the New York Knicks, or I was, honestly I dont know anymore. I grew up watching the knicks and rooting for Ewing, Oakley, Starks, Ward, Mason, and on and on. The Knicks were a hard working, passionate team, who had a work ethic like no other. They were competitive every year and they made the playoffs and went deep into it. They were eastern conference champions in 1994, and lost to Houston in 7 games. They also made the finals in 1999, as the most un-expected team ever to make the finals. That year they were the 8th seed, and lost to the Spurs. They had a tough personality that fit well with the city and the fans. They had a GM who knew what he was doing and a coach who knew how to get the very best out of his players. Man were those the days.

When Ernie Grunfeld left, Scott Layden took over and transformed a eastern conference powerhouse into an old overpaid, and un-athletic team. He gave Latrell Sprewell a very lucrative contract extension, even though Sprewell had so many problems off the court and a very bad history, remember P.J. Carlesimo? What many people remember about Layden is the 6 year, 100 million dollar contract he happily handed out to Allan Houston. The next nearest offer was around 75. Layden also signed Shannon Anderson, and Howard Eisley. Wow was Layden smoking something? The worst move of all was trading the Knicks Captain, and a Knick hero, Patrick Ewing, to Seattle for Glen Rice and a bunch of nobodys who never played a game. Sure Ewing was finished, but did Ewing not earn the respect to stay and retire as a Knick? Layden also was horrible at drafting. Can anyone remember a single draft where we got a prized talent? Noo because the players he drafted never actually played for the team. He passed up on hometown favorite, Ron Artest for a frenchmen. That work out well.

Finally, to the Isiah Thomas/Marbury era. When Isiah Thomas took over, New York was so happy because we were rid of Scott Layden. Thomas then went out and traded a bunch of nobodys and two 1st round picks for Marbury. Thomas then went out and signed Larry Brown as head coach. The Knick/Brown marriage did not last long because the team was horrible and Brown and Marbury could not work together. So Isiah took over as coach. He traded for a un-athletic big man named Eddie Curry, signed Jerome James for 6 yrs at 36 million, traded for Steve Francis to be the 8th point guard. The one thing Isiah has come through on is the drafting of Lee, and Channing Frye, who he traded for Zach Randolph. What Isiah has put together is an extremely over priced, selfish team. Not only are there problems on the court (chemistry) but Isiah was accused of sexual harrassment and he lost the case. The team is hated, Isiah is hated and Dolan is hated in New York and for christmas we want Isiah's head. Did anyone catch the 104-59 loss to the hands of Boston?