The real king is 30

LeBron James turns 30 years old today.  To anyone born prior to January 1st, 1995 the fact that LeBron is 30 is an eye opener.  Arguably the most intriguing player to enter the NBA to date is likely past his prime.  LeBron is a physical specimen not rivaled by many.  Despite his age LeBron could be the best player in the NBA for years to come.  LeBron has made four appearances in the NBA Finals, winning two championships in the process.  LeBron is already one of the greatest forwards in NBA history.

King James ??

Is James Harden the best shooting guard in the NBA today?

Thus far this season James has been a menace to opposing guards around the league.  His 27.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.9 assist per game are all career highs.  James has developed into the Houston Rockets main option.  Two years ago James was a reserve for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  He has gone from sixth man to MVP candidate seemingly overnight.

Team success is important in this league.  Houston lost a disappointing first - round series to the Portland Trailblazers one year ago.  If James wants to be mentioned with players such as LeBron James or Kevin Durant, the Rockets will need to come up with a better performance come postseason.  Houston is 21-9 through 30 games.  The Front office has added depth and much needed toughness with the addition of Corey Brewer.  Trevor Ariza brings championship experience to the Rockets lineup.  James and Dwight Howard could have the weapons around them to get the Rockets back to the NBA Finals.

James still must improve in certain areas.  His effort on defense has improved, however, he still has to prove he can contain the other teams best player.

At times shot selection is still an issue for the two-time NBA All-Star.  James can create his own shot at any given time.  The problem is James has never seen a shot he didn't like.  He must keep his teammates involved.  Winning an NBA Championship is a team effort.  All great guards must learn to put smaller guards in the post.  James is 6'5" tall.  Posting up could take his game to a new level.

James has been nothing short of spectacular since joining the Rockets.  In Oklahoma City Harden played in the shadows of Durant and Russell Westbrook.  Houston gives James the opportunity to be the star he was destined to become.

If James maintains this fast start he'ill certainly be apart of the MVP conversation at the conclusion of the season.  Houston's success going forward will also factor into his chances of becoming the first Rocket to win the award since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994. That year the Rockets won their first of back-to-back NBA Championships.

Josh Smith!

Josh Smith is one of the most talented forwards in the NBA.  He is also one of the most disappointing forwards in the league.  Smith has yet to truly fulfill the high expectations placed upon him as a first-round selection by his hometown Atlanta Hawks in 2004. Smith was a member of the 2004 NBA Draft class that featured the likes of Dwight Howard, Sebastian Telfair, Ben Gordon and J.R Smith.

One of Smith's issues is his shot selection.  He is one of the best leaping forwards the league has ever seen.  If Smith were to visit  Hakeem Olajuwon similar to numerous players around the league, he could finally begin to tap into the limitless Potential he possesses.

Smith recently signed with the Houston Rockets after being released by the Detroit Pistons. Smith never truly seemed comfortable in Detroit.  His relationship with Stan Van Gundy got off to a rocky star.  Van Gundy has a history of rubbing players the wrong way.  That Could be the reason he was fired from his two most recent coaching jobs.  Either way Smith definitely wanted out of the Motor City.

Smith seems to be the type of player that needs his buttons pushed by a respected head coach.  Kevin McHale doesn't have much of a track record coaching.  However, he was a member of the 1981, 1984 and 1986 NBA Champion Boston Celtics.  I'd say McHale knows a thing or two about winning in this league.  The atmosphere around the Rockets seems cool.  Watching this team gives you the feeling the players enjoy being amongst one another.  Relationships between teammates can translate on and off the court.

Josh Smith's career has been revived.  Hopefully Smith can take advantage of this opportunity.

Rondo to Dallas.

The Dallas Mavericks are officially back!

For two years the Boston Celtics have been secretly shopping All-Star guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo, a starter from the Celtics 2008 championship team has been the key component in trade discussions with multiple teams.  Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge wanted a deal that could help the Celtics improve without dealing Rondo to an Eastern Conference team.

The Dallas Mavericks played the role of sleeper team out West prior to acquiring Rondo. With the addition of Rondo, Dallas may have added enough juice to compete with the best teams out West.  The Mavericks took the San Antonio Spurs to a seventh game in last year's Western Conference First-Round Playoff Series.  Dallas was the only team to force the Spurs to a seventh game during their playoff run.  Dallas isn't as far away from being a championship team as some would think.

Dirk Nowitzki remains one of the elite big forwards in the NBA.  Dirk is averaging 18.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 assist per night.  At 36 years of age Dirk is still shooting 47% from the field.  Another title run could be in the works for the greatest European player in NBA history.  Rondo could be the best passer Dirk's ever played with.   No disrespect to two-time MVP Steve Nash.

The NBA is stacked with elite players at the point guard position. Rondo sits atop that list. The veteran guard is one of the only pass first guards in the league today.  Rondo leads the NBA with 10.8 assist per game.  His 1.68 steals per game is good enough for 11th in the league.  Monte Ellis and Chandler Parsons will have run filling the lane on a team that's accustomed to scoring points.

Dallas has remained one of the most consistent teams in the league due to good personnel decisions.  Dirk is one of the best building blocks in the league.  The trade should assure the Mavericks another 50 win season.

EMMETT TILLTrayvon Martin

Mike BrownERIC GARNER

RODNEY KINGRamarley Graham

Columbia scares Kentucky!

The University of Kentucky Men's Basketball team is one of the most storied division one programs in the nation.  Kentucky has been a national power for decades.  The school located in Lexington has been a fixture on the National Championship scene for years. A regular season contest with Columbia University should be a cake walk for Kentucky.  Last years national runner-up boasts one of the best recruiting classes in America.  Kentucky's roster has at least five future NBA players.  Columbia, on the other hand boasts a roster full of young men eager to head into the work field post graduation.

Columbia and Kentucky are the complete opposite of one another.  Kentucky prides itself in dominating it's opposition.  Excellence has long been the standard for Kentucky Athletics. Basketball happens to head that list in the Blue Grass State.  Since taking over the program in 2009, John Calipari has returned the program to prominence.  Kentucky won their first NCAA Championship sine 1998 in 2012.

Columbia shocked Kentucky by scoring the first 11 points of the game.  The Lions executed their game plan well early.  Kentucky had a hard time getting their transition game going in the first half.  The Wildcats are NCAA Basketball's version of "lob city".  However, Columbia's stingy defense and disciplined game plan caught Calipari off guard. Columbia took a surprising 25-23 advantage into intermission.

Kentucky eventually overwhelmed Columbia as expected.  The Wildcats took their first lead of the game at the 13 minute mark of the second half.  Considering the discrepancy in talent, the notion of Kentucky being tied or trailing an IVY League school for the first 27 minutes of a game is an amazing feat.  Kentucky held off Columbia in the waning moments of the match, preserving a 56-46 victory.

Despite falling short in the end, the Columbia Lions should be commended for an amazing effort.  Columbia is a program on the rise.  This effort could serve as a spring board moving forward for the program.  This could be the year Columbia makes their long awaited return to the NCAA Tournament.  The Lions have only qualified for the big dance on three occasions in school history.  Columbia is the fifth oldest institution in the country.

Phil ?

The New York Knicks are currently a team in a great deal of turmoil.  Phil Jackson was supposed to be the man to head the Knicks franchise back on the winning track.  Instead the changes Phil made last summer have resulted in the worst start in franchise history.

Phil inherited the remnants of a poorly run franchise.  The disdain of the Isaiah Thomas era continues to loom over the entire organization.  Not even a magician could turn the train wreck the knicks were in 2013-14 into a championship contender overnight.  However, Phil had a say in Chicago in terms of personnel decisions.  Despite this being Phil's first front office position, he's still been a respectable talent evaluator during his years in the NBA.

Phil has not lived up to expectations as President of Basketball Operations for the New York Knicks.

Steve Kerr

At the moment Steve Kerr appears to be the smartest man in the NBA.  This past Summer Kerr was set to accept the New York Knicks head coaching job.  Kerr eventually had a change of heart, opting to sign with the talent loaded Golden State Warriors instead.  By doing so Kerr turned down the opportunity to work alongside his former coach and mentor Phil Jackson.  Phil is the reason Kerr became a household name during the 90's.  He was one of the elite shooters in the NBA during Chicago's last three championships.  Kerr knows the triangle offense as well as anyone that's ever played in it.

The Golden State Warriors are off to a blistering 17-2 start.  The surprising start pits them atop and extremely difficult Western Conference.  During his short time in the Bay Area, Kerr ' s influence on Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson is apparent.  Curry is having an MVP type season.  Kerr's emphasis on making the extra pass is working.

Things haven't been going as swell in Gotham thus far this season.  The Knicks are off to an abysmal 4-18 start, good enough for second to last place in the Eastern Conference. Only the Philadelphia 76ers have played more atrocious basketball than New York.  Keep in mind Philadelphia doesn't seem to put forth a competitive effort on a nightly basis.  New York is the worst team in the NBA aside from teams that are looking forward to the draft lottery next spring.

Derek Fisher has decided to take the stoic approach towards his first season as an NBA coach.  The frustration of coaching a 4-18 team that was believed to be much better is all over his face.  Fisher is in no position to regret taking on this role.  Phil is probably the only front office representative in the NBA the would have hired Fisher following his retirement as a player.  Fisher just has to deal with the frustration and hope things change for the better soon.

The Warriors have a tough road ahead.  Holding off the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trailblazers for the top seed is the teams main goal. A few other teams could play their way into the picture before the playoffs approach.  I'm pretty sure Steve Kerr is happy about his last minute change of heart.  Great decision in a nick of time!

Westbrook returns to lineup

One half of the Oklahoma City Thunder's dynamic duo has finally returned to the lineup. Russell Westbrook steam rolled the New York Knicks in his first game back from a 14 - game absence due to a broken hand.  Westbrook scored 32 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field.  Westbrook added seven rebounds, eight assist and a steal in Oklahoma City's 105-78 win.

Westbrook must burden the load of the Thunder offense Until Kevin Durant returns to the lineup.  Durant is currently day-to-day.  Serge Ibaka is a solid player, but with Durant sidelined the Thunder lack a championship edge.   Ibaka ' s scoring average has gone from 15.1 points per game last year to 15.8 this year.  The absence of Westbrook and Durant has not triggered an offensive explosion Ibaka.  The young forward doesn't seem comfortable playing the lead role.

The Thunder currently sit at the bottom of the Western Conference.  Step one of the up hill climb has begun.  Westbrook is back with a chip on his shoulder.

Spicy Curry

LeBron James has finished fifth place or better in the race for league MVP each of the last six seasons.  If the Cleveland Cavaliers don't shape up by NBA All-Star Weekend MVP voting could look drastically different this year.

Steph Curry is having a phenomenal season for the Golden State Warriors.  Curry has posted 23.9 points, 2.2 steals, 7.7 assist and 5.5 rebounds per game thus far this season.  If he maintains this production Curry will have one of the best season's by any guard in NBA history.

Curry ' s defense has come a long way since he entered the NBA in 2009.  His 2.2 steals per game is a testament to how far the second generation player has come on the defensive end of the court.  Curry and back court mate Klay Thompson are the best guard duo in the NBA right now.

The most fascinating part of Curry ' s game is his precision.  Aside from a few turnovers per game, he always seems under control.  Curry is a threat to score once he's passed half court. Steph Curry could be on to his first NBA MVP award.

Thunder struggles

Injuries have derailed the Oklahoma City Thunder season thus far.  The Thunder are off to a 3-12 start, good enough for last place in the Western Conference.  Both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are expected to return to the active roster in the near future.

Westbrook and Durant are arguably the most explosive tandem in the league.  However, in a difficult Western Conference, the team may be digging a hole too deep to recover from. The Dallas Mavericks barely made the playoffs a year ago with a 49-33 record.  Oklahoma City would have to go 46-21 the rest of the way to finish right under 50 wins.  The bottom half of the Western Conference playoff bracket will be extremely competitive.

Kevin Durant is the reigning league MVP.  Counting him out of the playoffs prematurely would be foolish.  Westbrook has the heart of a lion.  Both men will return to the lineup with a sense of urgency.  This is not the first time Westbrook and Durant have been forced to deal with adversity.  The Thunder faced elimination in game six of last year's Western Conference First-Round playoff series with the Memphis Grizzlies.  Durant and Westbrook came out firing and forced a seventh game back in Oklahoma City.  The Thunder eliminated the Grizzlies in route to their fourth consecutive trip to the Western Conference Finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a mountain to climb if they hope to make the playoffs next Spring.

knicks struggle vs Sixers

In recent years the New York Knicks  have displayed a number of disappointing moments at Madison Square Garden.  New York is the mecca of basketball.  Great players come to New York to showcase their many talents.  Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have played some of their most memorable road games at Madison Square Garden, much to the chagrin of New York fans.

NBA players are not fearful of playing in New York.  In fact, players these days look forward to playing in Gotham.  The Knicks do not defend their home court well.  During the Patrick Ewing era teams despised traveling to play the knicks.  The Knicks front court defense was just as stingy as a miserable New York winter.  In those days when you competed against the Knicks you knew you were in for a dog fight.

The Knicks are currently in search of an identity.  The Philadelphia 76ers are the worst team in the NBA.  New York struggled to put away Philadelphia last night at the garden.  At one point New York led by 20.  The 76ers cut the Knicks lead to single digits by the closing moments of the third quarter.

The Knicks are a team in transition.  However, the Eastern Conference is stacked with teams with room for improvement.  If  New York plans on returning to postseason play, a team like Philadelphia cannot give the Knicks a run for their money.  New York's goal is to compete with the best teams in the East.  Last night's performance proves just how far the Knicks are from accomplishing their ultimate goal of winning an NBA Championship.

Rose

Derrick Rose managed to stay healthy while representing the United States In the F.I.B.A World Cup tournament this past summer.  At times Rose resembled the player he was prior to tearing his left ACL in 2012.  Rose looked happy playing basketball, something we haven't seen since his MVP season in 2011.

Through ten games this season Rose has once again shown an inability to stay healthy. He's been hampered by two bum ankles and a hamstring injury.  At this point the Bulls organization has their fingers crossed.  If Rose can stay healthy Chicago has a great shot at winning their first NBA Championship since 1998.  Without Rose the Bulls likely won't have enough fire power to win a series against a team such as the Cleveland Cavaliers or the San Antonio Spurs.

Chicago has a great nucleus.  The front office has done a great job of assembling key components that fit perfect with Tom Thibodeau's coaching style.  If Rose isn't available down the stretch Chicago could look to go in a different direction next year.  Rose is a special player, however, Chicago needs their superstar in uniform come playoff time.  The time is now for the Chicago Bulls to get it done.

Brandon Knight

DeAndre Jordan is one of the most ferocious finishers around the basket the NBA has ever seen.  Since entering the league Jordan has posterized dozens of players.  His most famous dunk to date occurred last March in a home game against the Detroit Pistons.  In the waning moments of the game Chris Paul threw a perfect lob pass to Jordan who was streaking down the lane uncovered.  Jordan caught the ball mid-air with one hand and proceeded to slam it home with extreme force.  Pistons guard Brandon Knight was the only player that attempted to contest the dunk.  However, knight arrived late and ended up on the wrong end of a play that will be replayed for decades.

The dunk took no time to go viral.  In a matter of minutes knight became the most talked about athlete on social media, for the wrong reason.  The play was so embarrassing even knight took a shot at himself during his post game interview.

Knight deserves credit for simply attempting to defend Jordan in that situation.  Some of the best defenders in the league have been known to take cover when a mammoth such as Jordan gets an opportunity to add to his highlight reel.  The play tells you a great deal about knight's fortitude.  The young guard handled the situation well to say the least.  He kept quiet, stayed away from social media and focused on basketball.

This season knight is off to an excellent start.  He's averaged 18 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.4 assist and 1.3 steals per night thus far this season.  Through ten games you can make the argument knight has been the best point guard in the entire league.  The Jordan dunk was a one shot deal.  Some don't even remember it was knight that was victimized that day. People do happen to notice knight beginning to fulfill the high expectations placed upon him coming out of John Calipari 's basketball factory called Kentucky University.

Knight could be on his way to a spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team, stay tuned!

Carmelo off to a slow start.

Carmelo Anthony ' s offensive style is supposed to be tailor made for the triangle offense. The team aspect allows the best offensive player to reserve energy until a late push is needed.  Carmelo's numbers don't necessarily have to improve for the triangle offense to work.  The offense is designed to make your teams best player a much more efficient scorer.  The triangle offenses effectiveness is measured by wins and losses.  Thus far this season the wins have not been piling up for the New York knicks.

Through eight games this season Carmelo is averaging 20.3 points per game.  That number is well below his career scoring average of 25.2 points per game.  The drop in offensive production is a clear indication of why New York has slumped to a 2-6 start.  Carmelo is the Knicks only real offensive threat.  The fact of the matter is if Carmelo isn't scoring the Knicks are likely in trouble.  In New York's two wins this season the 2012-13 scoring champion averaged 26.5 points.  His scoring average dips to just 18.1 points in losses. Teams are keying in on Carmelo on a more consistent basis.  It doesn't seem as if Carmelo is enjoying the game.

Last year was a difficult season for Carmelo.  He burdened the load for a disappointing 37 win team.  Some would argue 2013-14 was Carmelo's best professional season.  It was also the first time he's missed the playoffs in its entirety since entering the league in 2003. Someone on New York 's roster needs to step up and become a consistent scoring option before the hole they build themselves becomes too deep.

Concern in the Valley???

Anyone that believed the Cleveland Cavaliers would walk through the NBA season unblemished is sadly mistaken.  In a perfect world LeBron James would return to Cleveland, quickly whip this talented bunch into a title contender and ride off into the sunset as the leader that returned home to tend to unfinished business.  However, this is not a fairy tail, or an old John Wayne western.  Winning in the NBA is an extremely difficult task.

Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters clearly have some maturing to do.  This season will be difficult for Waiters.  The young guard must accept a lesser role for the good of the team. Waiters is an emotional player. Taking the back seat is not an easy thing to do.  For Cleveland to be successful he must pick and choose his time to be selfish. Waiters can be Cleveland ' s version of Vinnie Johnson.  Irving may have to get accustomed to playing without the ball in the near future.  Irving is a wizard with the ball, but his skill set and decision making don't always coincide with the qualities of a true ball distributor.  David Blatt has his work cut out.

Kevin Love is used to being the guy.  He is also used to not participating in the postseason. Unlike Dwayne Wade, Love is actually in the prime of his career.  For the first time in LeBron's career he may not be the most talented player on his team.  How will King James respond to Love challenging his status as the Cavaliers alpha male?  LeBron is not always comfortable on the big stage.  His poor performances in the NBA Finals is visual proof.

Keep in mind the Miami Heat started their first season with LeBron with a 9-9 record.  They eventually finished the season 58-24, in route to the first of four consecutive finals appearances.  The Cavaliers will right the ship.  The question is, how long will it take?

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is on his way to becoming the best big in the NBA.  The third - year star out of Kentucky has developed at a faster rate than most insiders predicted.  Davis averaged 20.8 points, 2.8 blocks and 10 rebounds per game last season.  He is truly the last of a dying breed.

Davis is a dominant performer on both sides of the ball.  That type of production on this level is cherished by general managers and coaches.  The one knock on Davis going forward is his durability.  He's missed 33 games during his first two years in the NBA.

Hopefully as Davis gains more experience in the league he will learn to manage his body. Davis is Still getting used to his height.  He grew eight inches over one summer in high school.  Davis was initially recruited as a guard.  Maybe that explains his versatility on the defensive end.  Davis has no problem chasing down guards after getting caught in a pick and roll situation.

Davis has gotten off to a splendid start to this season.  He's posted averages of 23.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4 blocks, 1.8 steals and 1.8 assists.  If he stays on this path Davis will win the MVP award this season.  LeBron James is getting acclimated to a new team in Cleveland.  Kevin Durant is currently nursing a broken foot.  This could be a special year for Anthony Davis.

Foles OUT indefinitely!

An MRI has confirmed Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles suffered a broken collar bone Sunday afternoon against the Houston Texans.  This is Foles first full season as a starter after replacing Michael Vick last year.  The Eagles signed Mark Sanchez during the off season.  Sanchez is next on the Eagles pecking order.

Philadelphia is currently in first place in the NFC East.  Foles is expected to be out for at least two months.  The Eagles must weather the storm while Foles is sidelined.  Foles may be young, but he is the leader in the city of brotherly love.  His presence will certainly be missed.

The Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are all alive in the NFC East.  It's now up to Mark Sanchez to finish what Foles and company started.  The Eagles are currently 6-2, with Dallas in hot pursuit.

The Philadelphia Eagles could be in trouble!

Rose day-to-day!

Derrick Rose left the Chicago Bulls home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers with an apparent ankle injury.  Seeing Rose limp off the court is the last thing the Bulls organization needs at this point.  Rose has played in only 11 regular season games over the last two years.  A torn meniscus ended Rose's season prematurely last year.

The injury isn't perceived to be nearly as bad as it looked. Rose's body weight came down on his right ankle, twisting it in an award motion.  Ankle injuries can be difficult to recover from.  An ankle injury cost Derek Jeter most of the 2013 MLB season.

When Rose walked off the court in pain the entire arena watched in concern.  Chicago has missed out on two opportunities to win it all mainly because of Rose's inability to stay healthy.  It's almost as if the entire city of Chicago's hopes are resting on those legs. Chicago has managed to get better despite the recent departures of Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer.  The 16 year championship drought in the Windy City could come to an end this year.  For that to happen Rose must stay healthy.

knicks spoil Cavs opener.

There is no good reason to overreact over anything that happens during the first week of the NBA season.  Training camp is nothing like the regular season.  This is the time when teams see what sets work and what tweaks need to be made.

The Cleveland Cavaliers treated their first home game like it was game one of the NBA Finals.  The Cavaliers struggles since LeBron James departure in 2010 have been well documented.  The city is as excited as ever to have King James back home.

The celebration seemed to be a bit overwhelming.  LeBron looked out of character for much of the night.  Keep in mind LeBron's wife Savannah gave birth to a baby girl three days ago. A shaky performance from LeBron would only be natural.  LeBron was unlike himself indeed.  He finished Cleveland ' s home opener with only 17 points, including a team high eight turnovers.  The King was nowhere in sight.

Carmelo Anthony was clutch in the waning minutes of the Knicks first road game.  He drained a baseline jump shot with less than a minute remaining to secure New York ' s first win of the season.  Carmelo finished the night with 25 points.

Carmelo has been known as a clutch player during his career.  However, in recent years he's come up small at the end of games.  Maybe Carmelo's explosive start is a sign of things to come.  New York is going to rely on his offensive output heavily this season.

Cleveland fans need not to put too much emphasis on this loss. The LeBron, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving experiment is going to be a work in progress. They should end somewhere around the 55 win mark.

The Charlotte Hornets new uniform design is definitely the wave right now in the NBA. Charlotte chose to return to the same color scheme the old Charlotte Hornets had prior to the franchises departure to New Orleans.

Charlotte was a great basketball city during the 1990's.  The team led the NBA in attendance on multiple occasions. These new uniforms represent a change of culture in the city of Charlotte.  A few years ago Charlotte was the laughing stock of the NBA.  Today Michael Jordan and company have built a team good enough to make noise in the Eastern Conference.

A new look can make a team feel different.  Last year Charlotte proved they could win games on a consistent basis.  This year is about building on that success.  The Charlotte Hornets new jersey look gets two thumbs up!

Respect Mr. Manning

Athletes usually don't age like fine wine.  In fact, it's usually the opposite.  Some athletes begin their professional careers on top, only to retire as a shell of who they once were.  In Peyton Manning's case none of this applies.

It's hard to imagine Peyton playing any better than he did during his time with the Colts. However, that is exactly what Peyton has done in Denver. He became the NFL'S all-time leader in passing touchdowns in a rout over the San Francisco 49ers earlier this season. He set the leagues single season touchdown record a year ago.  He owned that record before Tom Brady broke it in 2007.  He's also added another MVP trophy to go along with the four he won in Indy.

This is a golden era in terms of passing quarterbacks.  Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rogers and Tony Romo have all taken part in phenomenal passing numbers during the last eight years.  Peyton appears to be taking it to another level.  If he throws a touchdown in each of the Broncos remaining nine games he will break Brees ' s consecutive games with a touchdown pass record.  Just another notch on Peyton ' s belt.

Whether you like or dislike Peyton, you must respect him.  He is truly a once in a generation type of player.  He won't be truly appreciated until his days of lacing up those cleats on Sunday afternoon are over.  Fans enjoy Mr Manning, he won't be around much longer.

Kobe # 40???

Kobe Bryant is one of the most motivated players in the NBA.  While some guys show up for a check and a shot at stardom, the black mamba plays with a passion not rivaled by many.  At 36 years of age that fire burns deeply in Kobe's soul.

ESPN recently ranked Kobe as the 40th best player in the NBA for this upcoming season.  I find it hard naming 10 players in the league better than Kobe.  40 is outright disrespectful. The doubts are well deserved.  The Lakers are four years removed from their last NBA Finals visit.  However, this is one of the best players in NBA history we are discussing. When you work as hard as Kobe, you don't fall off the map in the same manner as other players.

Kobe's body has been through it all.  To expect him to produce the way he did eight to 10 years ago would be foolish.  He played in the NBA playoffs at an age when his peers were getting acclimated to campus life.  This is what all those years of training were for.  To remain elite at all times, even when father time tries to tell you otherwise.

Kobe is one championship away from tying the great Michael Jordan.  Based on his team, most would say Kobe's ring count is not getting any bigger.  Regardless of who suits up for the Lakers Kobe will go hard this season.  Even at 36 Kobe Bryant is one of the 10 best basketball players in the NBA.

Don't sleep on the Heat

The Miami Heat are no longer the team to watch in the NBA. This time four years ago the world waited in anticipation of what the monster Pat Riley had created would look like.  No team throughout the course of league history had come together in this manner.  Sure those Celtics teams in the 1980's were stacked.  But they were constructed through the NBA Draft.  The Shaq and Kobe Lakers was a combination of good drafting and key free agency acquisitions.  The Miami Heat changed the way general managers approach building organizations with their blockbuster Summer of 2010.  Three players with this talent level signing on to play together had never been seen before.

The Heatles were as good as advertised.  Following a slow 9-9 start, Miami finished the 2010-11 season with a 58-24 record.  Not bad for an experimental trial.  They ultimately fell short of their goal to win a championship.  However, looking back in retrospect, for a team to win 58 games and make the NBA Finals during their first season together is a remarkable accomplishment.

During the next two years the Miami Heat would become the most dominant franchise in the NBA.  The team went 112-46 during their back-to-back championship seasons.  LeBron James won consecutive MVP awards.  After knocking off the San Antonio Spurs in game seven of the 2013 NBA Finals, the Heat franchise was on top of the world.  LeBron was months away from his 29th birthday.  Miami could presumably be apart of the championship conversation for the next 8 years.

Dwayne Wade played the entire 2013-14 season on a minutes restriction.  Wade was in and out of Miami's lineup for the duration of the season.  LeBron burdened the load of the Heat scoring attack for much of the year.  During the 2014 season LeBron was forced to go one on five, much like his youthful days in Cleveland.  An embarrassing five game defeat to the Spurs in the NBA Finals was enough to send LeBron packing.  Not even Pat Riley, the man that was the difference in LeBron signing with the Heat challenging his fortitude was enough to keep King James in South Beach.  And just like that the Miami Heat become irrelevant.  Not if the man upstairs has something to say about it.  Riley famously coined the term " there's winning, and there's misery ".

Riley has never been one to back into a corner.  He won championships as the visiting coach at the Boston Garden when no one else had heard of such a thing.  He rallied his Lakers past the Detroit Pistons despite Isaiah Thomas pouring in 25 points in one quarter during the 1988 NBA Finals.  His Knicks are one of the few teams to take Michael Jordan's Bulls to a seventh game during their magical run.  He is also one of the few coaches in league history to recover from a 3-1 playoff deficit. Riley has moxie to say the least.

Chris Bosh was believed to be on his way out of town this past Summer.  The Houston Rockets appeared to be his next destination.  That was until Riley swooped in and re-signed Bosh to a five-year $118 Million dollar deal.  Bosh is expected to assume much of the scoring load LeBron has left behind.  Wade ' s health is Miami's biggest question mark headed into the season.  Can Wade come close to playing 82 games this season?  If so how good will he be if the Heat qualify for the postseason?  All questions that will be answered as the season progresses.

Miami signed Luol Deng during the off season.  Deng is one of the best two-way players in the NBA.  His length on defense and ability to handle the ball make him a solid pick up. Deng is no Lebron, but should be a respectable option down the stretch of games.  During his career Deng has been known for his durability.  That could come into play if Wade misses significant time.

Miami picked up Shabazz Napier in the draft.  Napier won two NCAA Championships during his time at Connecticut.  He is more experienced than most guards that come into the NBA these days.  Mario Chalmers job could be in trouble.  His inconsistency at the point guard position will not be tolerated with the departure of LeBron.  Miami can no longer depend on one guy.  Guys have to hold themselves accountable.

Danny Granger is attempting to resurrect his career.  The former all-star ' s  blue collar style should fit in well with Miami's veteran roster.  Injuries have robbed Granger of his athleticism.  However, his intelligence and hard nosed defense make him valuable to NBA teams.  He could play a key role on Miami's second team.

I predict Miami will finish the season 47-35.  That could be good enough for the number four seed in a softened Eastern Conference.  With the veteran leadership on the roster the Heat could sneak their way in the conference finals.

LeBron may have taken his talents to Lake Eerie, but basketball is still relevant in South Beach.

Manning passes Favre

John Elway had a vision when he signed Peyton Manning to be the Denver Broncos starting Quarterback.  Elway pursued Manning with the intentions of helping him become the best quarterback in NFL history.  So far the Broncos have fallen short of their ultimate goal to bring a Super Bowl back to the Mile High City. However, in just over two seasons in Denver, Manning has been nothing short of spectacular.

Manning passed Brett Favre as the NFL'S all-time leader in touchdown passes in a dominating performance against the San Francisco 49ers.  San Francisco 's Superbowl level defense failed to keep up with Denver.  Manning amassed 318 yards and four touchdown passes. The 49ers Superbowl level defense had no answer for the NFL's leader in passing scores.  The fact that Manning played this well on such a historic night against a good team is a testament to his greatness.

Manning broke Favre's record in 56 fewer games.  Keep in mind he missed the entire 2011 season due to a career threatening neck injury.  The notion of him still playing is a miracle in itself.  Nothing against the legend of Favre, but Manning breaking this record seems a bit harmonious.

Tom Brady will probably go down as the greatest winner of this generation.  Manning must win another ring to challenge that.  However, his regular season prowess goes unchallenged.  Manning is a flat out magician.  He is the NFL'S version of Earvin Johnson.

600 touchdown passes is definitely a possibility for Manning.  He has the opportunity to take the record to a place in which no player in this generation will be able to break it.
The only thing that can top this is finishing this season hoisting up the Lombardi trophy.

Giants travel to big D

When the New York Giants 2014 season schedule was released one thing was apparent. For The Giants to have a realistic shot at winning the NFC East the team would have to defeat either Philadelphia or Dallas in week's six or seven.  The back-to-back NFC East road trip is the start of the Giants most difficult stretch of the 2014 season.  In the next month New York has dates with Seattle, San Francisco and Indianapolis, all playoff teams from a year ago.

This is nothing new for the Giants organization.  The Giants have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL on a yearly basis.

A great deal of hype surrounded the Giants game in Philadelphia this past weekend.  The Eagles showed up.  The Giants left their game in New Jersey.

New York talked the talk prior to traveling to Lincoln Financial field.  That remedy has worked for the Giants in years past.  However, this time around New York 's bite wasn't nearly as resounding as their bark.  Philadelphia trounced New York from the opening gates.  At halftime New York trailed 20-0.

The Dallas Cowboys have been the most impressive team in the NFL thus far.  The offensive line has looked phenomenal.  Demarco Murray's work load has been similar to Emmitt Smith in recent weeks.  A loss to Dallas could send the Giants season in a tailspin. A win pits New York right back in the thick of things.  The Giants are 1-1 in the division. Following this weekend they'll have 3 division games remaining, all of which are at home.

This Sunday will be a blood bath.  There is no love lost between the players, coaching staff and fan base.  The Giants flat out do not like the Cowboys.  The feeling happens to be mutual in Dallas.

Since the Cowboys opened their world class stadium in 2009 the Giants have enjoyed traveling to Texas.  New York has won in Dallas four of the last five years.  If Tom Coughlin and company hope to make the playoffs, New York needs that trend to continue.

Blazing a new trail

The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the best teams in the best conference in the NBA.  However, this talented group is often overshadowed by other teams out west such as the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Two years ago Portland won only 33 games.  Last year they improved their win total to 54 games.  The Blazers proved the regular season was no fluke by knocking out the favored Houston Rockets in the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard are one of the top duo's in the NBA.  The two averaged a combined 44.3 points per game in 2013-14.  Both players have the potential to dominate their position on any given night.  If Lillard and Aldridge are playing well simultaneously, Portland is an extremely dangerous team.  Wes Matthews complements Lillard well in the backcourt.  His tight defense and three-point prowess is a big part of the Blazers identity.  Nick Batum and C.J McCollum are good NBA players.  Portland is more than just a two headed monster.

The City of Portland has seen some great basketball over the years.  Dr. Jack Ramsey and Bill Walton led the Blazers to the NBA championship in 1977.  After losing the first two games of the finals to the heavily favored Philadelphia 76ers, Portland ran off four consecutive victories to win the series in six games.  In those days Philadelphia was the most talented team in the league.  Quite frankly, the Blazers had no business winning that series.

Portland returned to an elite level heading into the 90's.  The likes of Terry Porter, Clyde Drexler, Cliff Robinson and Kevin Duckworth made two NBA Finals appearances in three years beginning in 1990.  Portland came within seconds of making it back to the finals in 2000.  A late game seven rally charged by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant halted those plans.

Portland has a rich history to be proud of.  Over the years the fans have supported the organization through thick and thin.  They are truly one of the best fan bases in America.

Watch out for the Portland Trail Blazers.  They could be the next big thing in the NBA.

Phoenix Suns Lock&Load

The Phoenix Suns have a history of assembling their roster in a unique manner.  In 1993 the Suns won 62 games and advanced to the NBA Finals with a relatively small team.  The 2004-2005 Suns were one of the most prolific offensive teams in league history.  Steve Nash was the leader of a team that attempted to get the ball up the court in seven seconds or less.  The Suns don't mind doing things their own way.  They have multiple 60 win seasons to prove it.

The Suns have always been an odd franchise.  In 1976 they shocked the world by advancing to the NBA Finals.  Few people gave the Suns a shot in the series.  The Boston Celtics were heavily favored.  Phoenix put up fight, giving Boston every last bit of fight they had before losing in six games.  Game five is considered one the greatest championship round games ever played.

Phoenix has made the playoffs in 26 of the last 36 years.  Keep in mind the team has missed the playoffs each of the last four seasons.

A year ago the Suns won 48 games, missing out on the final playoff spot by only one game.  Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe was a freighting two headed monster in the Suns backcourt.  Both players possess the ability to play off the ball.

If two explosive guards can have success playing together, why not have three?  Phoenix acquired former Kings guard Isaiah Thomas this summer.  The feisty guard  averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assist per game last season with Sacramento.  Those numbers will likely take a hit his year.  Thomas started his final year in Sacramento.  In Phoenix he's prime for the sixth man role.  That way he can focus on doing what he does best.  Put the ball in the basket.

Jeff Hornacek has his work cut out.  Distributing minutes alone will give him a headache.  However, having too much talent is a problem most coaches don't mind dealing with.

Basketball will be fun in Arizona this year.

Brady and Belichick

The New England Patriots struck gold when they selected Tom Brady with the 199th overall selection in the 1999 NFL Draft.  Brady has been better than anyone could have expected.  He's led the New England Patriots to three Super Bowl championships.  He's captured two regular season MVP awards and has been named to a plethora of Pro Bowls.  He and coach Bill Belichick have seemingly been a match made in heaven.

Brady and Belichick have been a fixture in the AFC East since Drew Bledsoe ' s injury forced Brady into the Patriots starting line-up.  The entire arrangement almost never happened had it not been for a devastating blow from Jets linebacker Moe Lewis.

Brady is rightfully viewed as one of the best players of his generation.  He is to New England what Derek Jeter has been to New York since 1996.  Much like Jeter, Brady was in the right place and right time.  Both men flourished on the highest stage with the help of great coaches and unselfish intelligent teammates.

Much of Brady 's early success is linked to his team and coaches.  That fact leads me to question how great would Brady be in an entirely different system.  Brady hasn't won a Super Bowl since the Patriots were caught in the spy gate scandal.  Former New England coach Eric Mangini pulled the plug on the Patriots while coaching for the division rival New York Jets.

Brady probably will never play for a coach other than Belichick.  The two have outlasted an entire generation and are still in pursuit of their fourth championship together.  They are by far the longest tenured coach and player combination in the league.  Both men will enter the pro football Hall-of-Fame someday.  The two might have had a hard time getting in without the help of the other.

Someday this beautiful partnership will come to an end.  When that day comes the sports world will be saying goodbye to an odd couple that came together in the strangest manner.

Kobe for six

Kobe Bryant is out for blood.  The veteran Los Angeles Lakers star played in only six games a year ago.  Anyone that thinks Kobe is over the hill is sadly mistaken.  Kobe is one of the most dedicated basketball players to ever step foot on an NBA court.  Winning a sixth ring gives Kobe the motivation to go hard at 36 years of age.

Many would say Kobe has nothing to prove.  He's the poster boy of the 1996 NBA Draft. His 16 all-star appearances is two more than the great Michael Jordan.  He's  the Lakers franchise leader in points scored.  Despite all his accomplishments, the black mamba still approaches the game with an intense focus not rivaled by many.

Kobe will probably play two more season's barring injury before calling it quits.  Right now he is arguably the greatest player of his generation.  A certain player from San Antonio might have something to say about that.

Two years from now Kobe would love nothing better than to go out on top.  He experienced great success as a young player.  He reached the height of his career as an experienced veteran.  Can Kobe get the Lakers back to the NBA Finals before calling it quits?  That's going to be one tough proposition.  However, one thing that's for certain is the black mamba will go down fighting.

Carmelo underrated??

Media day in the NBA is the time when players have that platform to express what's on their minds.  Some players shy away from the attention.  Others bask in the spotlight.

Carmelo Anthony often displays multiple phases to his personality.  This year at New York Knick's media day we got a dose of outspoken Carmelo.  The Knick's forward boldly called himself the most underrated superstar in the NBA.

Carmelo is certainly one of the elite players in the game.  His offensive arsenal is as refined as any player in the league.  Carmelo is a bully on the low block. His mid-range game is somewhat of a lost art in today's NBA.

The one thing Carmelo is missing from his list of accomplishments is a championship ring. He's a perennial all-star, he owns two gold medals from the summer Olympics and is a former scoring champion.  However, a championship continues to elude Carmelo.  In 11 NBA season's Carmelo has only advanced past the first-round on two occasions.  A player with such little playoff experience cannot be considered underrated.  Carmelo is the only top five selection from the 2003 NBA Draft yet to win an NBA title.  In a league in which championships are held in high regard, Carmelo needs to get over the hump to reach true elite status.

Without a ring Carmelo will go down as a great scorer that never experienced team success.  Carmelo is without a doubt one of the best players in the NBA.  However, based on his accomplishments calling him underrated is going overboard.

Kansas City Royals return to postseason play.

Back when George Brett got tossed for having a corked bat the Kansas City Royals were a fixture in MLB postseason play.  The Royals were one of the most successful baseball teams starting in the late 1970's up until 1985.  They defeated the St Louis Cardinals to win the 1985 World Series.  That was one of the most memorable championship rounds in MLB history.

In 1985 no baseball fan in their right mind would have predicted the Royals would go 29 years before their next postseason birth.  However, this is the reality of the Royals organization.

The Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians have feasted on Kansas City for years.  The days of the Royals being a perennial last place team are over.  The team rallied this summer after a slow start to finish the season with an 89-73 record.

Congratulations to the Kansas City Royals.  Hopefully the team can go out and give all those loyal fans that stuck around for those abysmal season's something to be proud of.

Tony Stewart walks free!

The toxicology report from Kevin Ward Jr's deadly accident has confirmed Ward Jr. was under the influence of Marijuana at the time of his death.  Ward Jr. was struck by Tony Stewart's car after walking onto the track to confront Stewart following a collision between the two drivers.  Walking onto the track is an extremely dangerous practice.  However,  it is a well known taboo in the driving world.

Only Stewart knows what was truly on his mind the night his car struck and killed Ward Jr. Stewart has walked on the track and confronted other drivers multiple times during his career.  He was the best driver on the track that fatal night in upstate New York.  An accident of this magnitude should have never taken place with  such an experienced driver.

Law enforcement officials in upstate New York have announced legal action will not be taken against Stewart.  Ward Jr. made a senseless decision getting behind the wheel with marijuana in his system.  He made an even worst decision walking on a live track with race cars whizzing by at high speeds.  The positive marijuana test likely eliminates any notion of Stewart being prosecuted.

A positive drug test could be the only thing saving Stewart from spending time behind bars.

Gino in trouble???

The New York Jets acquired Michael Vick in the offseason to serve as Gino Smith's back up.  Smith is still a young quarterback trying to find his way in the NFL.  Bringing in a former starter with something left in the tank, while attempting to groom a young quarterback can lead to trouble.  The moment the young player begins to struggle, whispers begin to swirl around the organization for a change.

The Jets have been horrible in the red zone thus far this season.  However, Rex Ryan has once again assembled a great defense.  New York plays the run as good as any team in the NFL.  There is no clear cut great team in the AFC East.  After three games the Jets are right in the thick of things.  If the Jets stick with Smith too long it could cost them a shot at the playoffs.

Vick has certainly had his struggles in recent years.  His decision making and durability are always a question.  However, Vick is talented enough to finish second in the MVP race Back in 2010.  If Smith doesn't get it together soon, Vick may slide into the starter role in the near future.

Top NBA high school draft selections.

Next summer marks the tenth anniversary of the last high school player being selected in the NBA Draft.  Amir Johnson was selected with the 56th overall selection by the Toronto Raptors in 2005.  Johnson remains the last high school player taken in the NBA Draft. Dwight Howard Was the last high school player selected with the first overall selection in 2004.

Results have varied in terms of high school players having success in the NBA.  Kobe Bryant is the most accomplished NBA player since Michael Jordan.  Kevin Garnett starred for the Minnesota Timberwolves for over a decade.  He captured an NBA title in 2008 with the Boston Celtics.  However, other players have ruined their careers by skipping out on college.  Do the names Kwame Brown And Ndubi Ebi ring a bell?  If the answer is yes, it's probably not for a good reason.

The NBA is a tough league to survive in.  Here's a list of who I believe are the top high school selections in NBA history.  Moses Malone is one of the best centers in NBA history. He was selected By the Utah Stars of the ABA in 1974 out of high school.  He joined the NBA when the leagues merged in 1976.

1.Kobe Bryant
2.LeBron James
3.Kevin Garnett
4.Dwight Howard
5.Tracy McGrady
6.Ama're Stoudemire
7.Jermaine O'Neal
8.Tyson Chandler
9.Monta Ellis
10.Al Jefferson

1996 NBA Draft

The 1996 NBA Draft changed the course of league history.  This group of men ushered in the post Michael Jordan era.  Many consider 1996 the second best draft in the last 30 years.  The 1984 NBA Draft is considered by many the best in league history.

This is my mock draft looking back on this talented group 18 years later.

1.Kobe Bryant
2.Ray Allen
3.Allen Iverson
4.Steve Nash
5.Marcus Camby
6.Shareef Abdur-Rahim
7.Stephon Marbury
8.Jermaine O'Neal
9.Peja Stojakovic
10.Antoine Walker
11.Derek Fisher
12.Kerry Kittles
13.Zydrunas Illgauskas
14.Tony Delk

*Ben Wallace went undrafted in 1996.  Wallace had a better career than multiple players on this list.

Jameis Winston

At this moment I cannot come up with any good reason why an NFL franchise would waste a first-round selection on Jameis Winston.  One of the most important  roles of a quarterback is being a leader of men on the highest level.  Winston doesn't seem capable of leading his own personal life.  Considering all that Winston has been through, you would think he would be cautious of his every move.  An injury is the only thing that stands in the way of Winston cashing in on a huge pay day in the near future.

Winston has already been accused of rape, and was caught red handed swiping crab legs at a local supermarket.  Playing college football in the south automatically makes you a star around town.  When your the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback of Florida State University, that stardom magnifies tenfold.  If Winston can't stay out of trouble in college, his maturity level many not be up to par with the demands of the NFL.

Winston must show some maturity during the rest of his time in college.  If his hands keep getting caught in the cookies jar, he can kiss his NFL career goodbye.  This year Winston will be eligible for the NFL Draft.  Many analyst barring injury have him penciled in as the first overall selection.  The cards are in Winston's hands.  Hopefully he won't squander this opportunity due to bone headed behavior.

Peterson to sit!

The Minnesota Vikings have placed Adrian Peterson on the NFL's exempt list.  Peterson will remain on the exempt list until his legal proceedings have concluded.  This decision came as a bit of a surprise considering Peterson was reinstated by the Vikings just two days ago.

The Vikings organization clearly made the wrong decision by reinstating Peterson while his child abuse case takes place.  The team is attempting to back track after receiving negative publicity from multiple sources.  Mark Dayton, the governer of Minnesota spoke out vehemently against the Vikings decision to bring Peterson back prematurely.

What were the head honchos in the Vikings front office thinking when making such a dumb decision?  Right now Peterson has no business anywhere near a football field.  The decision to deactivate Peterson was obviously a ploy due the scrutiny the NFL is currently engulfed in.  If Ray Rice hadn't caused a national outcry the Vikings would have handled the Peterson situation in a much different tone.

Ticket sales and winning ball games are apparently more important than integrity in the Minnesota Vikings organization.

NFL = Crisis mode

The last month has been nothing short of a public relations disaster for the NFL.

Initially the Ray Rice ordeal was thought to be an issue mishandled by Roger Goodell.  Due to TMZ releasing a second recording of Ray Rice knocking his fiancee out cold that February night in Atlantic City has developed into a fool fledged scandal sexy enough that even commissioner Goodell's future is uncertain.

The Associate Press, one of the most respected online publications in the world released a story claiming someone in the league office confirmed receiving the second video.  Goodell claims he never saw the second video prior to it being released by TMZ.  The stories simply don't add up.  If the A.P's story is indeed accurate, either Goodell hasn't been truthful or someone screwed up big time in the NFL'S office.

Greg Hardy is currently in the midst of his own domestic violence case.  Hardy is the Carolina Panthers franchise player on defense.  Due to Rice's story becoming front page news, Hardy has begun to garner major criticism.  If the Rice issue hadn't taken such a bizarre turn Hardy probably would have slid under the radar.  There lies the problem with the NFL.  Drug arrest and on - field conduct seem to be more important than addressing the NFL'S domestic violence issues.  It took a nation's outcry for the NFL to implement an entirely new system directed towards domestic violence.

Adrian Peterson is the latest NFL star in hot water.  Peterson has been charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child.  Peterson will not suit up Sunday for the Minnesotta Vikings.  Peterson is the Vikings best player.  With all the extra attention around the league right now, Minnesota certainly doesn't want to come under scrutiny for allowing Paterson to play.  So as of now Peterson will sit.

The NFL is worth just under 10$ Billion dollars.  If these issues continue to swirl around that number could begin to take a hit.  The NFL is currently in limbo!

Chris Davis gets busted

The Baltimore Orioles hopes at winning their first World Series since 1983 has taken a slight hit.  Chris Davis has been suspended 25 games for testing positive for adderall.  The suspension will keep Davis out the remainder of the regular season and extend into the playoffs.  The Orioles are cruising to an American League East crown.

Baltimore's line-up is good enough to win without Davis' s services.  They currently have seven players who have hit at least 10 home run 's so far this season.  Davis hit a career high 53 home run 's last season.  This year he's struck out 173 times in 129 games.  His production has taken a major hit, but Davis is Still a dangerous hitter in the middle of the order.

The suspension shows that MLB is making strides in cleaning up the game.  The steroid era would have never taken place if the league had taken this problem serious much sooner.  Now all that's left is to pick up the pieces.

Davis has let down every player in the Orioles locker room that does it by the books. Players need to think about the ramifications of their actions and the people they affect.  When players are suspended for nonsense, it affects the entire organization.

Mr big shot retires

Chauncey Billups has decided to retire after after 17 season's in the NBA.  Someday the chizzled floor general will certainly be inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall-of-Fame. His career has been a bit of an anomaly.  Prior to joining the Detroit Pistons he was an NBA journeyman, including stops in Boston, Toronto, Minnesota and Denver.  He would eventually prove all those teams gave up on him too soon.

Chauncey averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game during his career. However his numbers are not indicative of his true value.  He was the ultimate leader, the type of player any coach, general manager or owner would love to have on their side.  A consummate professional that came to work with the same intensity every day. Chauncey's work ethic was contagious amongst his teammates.  When guys see one of the smallest guys on the team constantly in the weight room and gym trying to improve, they often follow in suit.

Chauncey played in the conference finals every year between 2003-2009, twice advancing to the NBA Finals in 2004 and 2005.  His greatest accomplishment came in 2004.  The 54-28 Detroit Pistons were heavy underdogs against a talent laden Los Angeles Lakers squad.  The Pistons marched into the Staples Center and stole game one.  If not for a miracle three from Kobe Bryant in game two, Detroit would have swept the Lakers.  They ended up finishing off the Lakers in an easy five game series to claim the Larry O'Brian trophy.  Chauncey was named finals MVP for his clutch shooting and impeccable leadership skills.  This remains arguably one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.  No one in their right mind expected Detroit to win it all that year.

Chauncey ' s true value came to light after he was traded to Denver for a second stint in his hometown.  The addition of Billups transformed a talented Nuggets team into championship contenders overnight.  Denver came within 2 wins of their first ever NBA Finals appearance.

Chris Paul is widely considered the best floor general in the NBA today.  He credits much of his success early on to the tutelage of Chauncey.  He showed Paul the ropes when he entered the league.  Paul has returned the favor by mentoring other young guards such as Darren Collison and Eric Bledsoe.

Watching Chauncey play basketball all these years has been a real pleasure.  He was one of the best at what he did for a good period of time.  The NBA will definitely miss Chauncey.

The Ray Rice saga.

The world of sports will be a better place when the Ray Rice fiasco is finally a memory!

Roger Goodell missed the beat on this issue 100%.  Judging by the initial tape release, Rice obviously committed an ugregious crime deserving strict punishment.  The NFL hit Rice with a slap on the wrist, two games for treating his fiancé like she was a punching bag.

Rice should have been suspended indefinitely six months ago.  What did league officials think went on in that elevator?  The NFL is obviously in damage control mode.  That $9 Billion dollar pot is all commissioner Goodell and his cronies truly care about.  Two games is obviously too short of a suspension for the act committed.  However, extending the suspension because something you were already aware of became visual is a slap in the face to everyone involved in the situation.

The Baltimore Ravens also fell short in the manner this ordeal was dealt with.  Initially the Ravens organization let the NFL make the first move.  The Ravens are not at fault for Rice only receiving a two game suspension.  The Ravens however are at fault for leaving head coach Jon Harbaugh on an island to deal with the media.  Where was the general manager?  Why didn't the owner speak out on the matter?  Multiple atrocities were committed on the NFL's behalf as well as the Baltimore Ravens.

Rice is responsible for this entire ordeal.  He has been a member of the Ravens organization since 2008.  He is one of the most important players in franchise history.  Rice is a three-time pro bowler and the second leading rusher in team history.  He was on his way to earning a spot in the Ravens ring of honor.

This situation has provoked strong emotions across the country.  Rice's actions were vicious in nature.  This is certainly not the first time he has struck his wife.  This is an eye opener for fathers.  Domestic violence is an issue that needs to be brought to light.  Men like Rice maneuver throughout society feeling untouchable.  I pray people learn from this situation.

Life goes on for Rice and his family.  Michael Vick has transformed his life after serving just under two years for a dog fighting conviction.  Ray Lewis became a bigger brother to teammates and players around the NFL after beating a double homicide conviction.

Rice's NFL career may very well be over.  If this is the case, the education he earned at Rutgers University needs to come into play.  Football allowed Rice to attend one of the most prestegious institutions in the northeast.

Giants open season

The New York Giants kick off the 2014 NFL season in difficult fashion.  The Giants are looking to improve from last year's abysmal 7-9 record.  Last season was especially disappointing considering the Super Bowl was held in New York for the first time in the games illustrious history.  New York travels to Detroit to take on the Lions in a marquee Monday night match-up.  The Lions hired former Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell to the same position in the off season.  This could be the year the Lions maximize their potential and ruffle some feathers around the league.

Eli Manning is the heart and soul of the Giants organization.  The two-time Super Bowl MVP is coming off his worst season as a professional.  Eli led the NFL with 27 interceptions a year ago.  If the Giants expect to end their two year playoff drought, it starts with Eli taking care of the ball.  A lack of communication between Eli and his pass catchers is one of the main reasons the Giants led the league in turnovers a year ago.

This is Ben McAdoo 's first season as the Giants offensive coordinator.  Eli didn't look comfortable during the preseason.  Eli needs to be on the same page with his receivers for this offense to work.

Tom Coughlin is 68 years old.  He is the oldest active head coach in the NFL.  Not that age matters much to Coughlin, he became the oldest coach to win the Lombardi Trophy in 2011.  Coughlin has to find a way to light a fire under his younger players.  Much of the Giants roster from 2011 has departed.  Coughlin must convince a new group of young players they can win on this level.

Winning the first game of the year will be crucial to the Giants season.  Last year they let the season opener slip away in Dallas.  The Giants ended up digging themselves into an 0-6 hole they failed to recover from.

A win in Detroit is big for the Giants psyche.  The Lions are a talented team. However, bad coaching and a lack of discipline have kept the team from reaching their true potential.  On paper Detroit should be in the playoffs every year.  Matthew Stafford is attempting to get back to an elite level.  Detroit is out for redemption.

The NFC East is a winnable division for the Giants this season.

25 questions to keep your head scratching!

Football is back.  For the next four months it's all about the pig skin.
Here's some food for thought for NFL fans to chomp on.

Can Eli Manning keep the interceptions to a minimum?

Is Chris Johnson still an elite running back?

Can the Denver Broncos get back to the Super Bowl?  The Super Bowl runner up usually suffers a drop off.

Will Robert Griffin III return to the elite level he played at in 2012?

Is Tom Brady still elite?  Are the New England Patriots still dominating the AFC East?

What will year two of the Chip Kelly project look like?

Is Jadeveon CLOWNEY the real deal?

Will the Detroit Lions finally maximize their talent?

Will Andy Reid produce another winning season in Kansas City?

Is Johnathan Martin ready to play football again?

Can Ray Rice return to elite form after a disappointing 2013 season?

When will Johnny Manziel start his first game?

Will the Seahawks suffer the dreaded Super Bowl hangover?

Will the Madden Curse come into fold?

Can Lovie Smith get Tampa Bay back to an elite defensive level?

Will the Cowboys go 8-8 for a fourth consecutive year?

Is Ben Roethlisberger still elite?

Will Sammy Watkins add some much needed explosiveness to the Bills offense?

Is Matt Ryan still Matty Ice?

Is Bill O'Brian ready to lead the Texans back to the playoffs?

Can Cincinnati get over the hump and win a playoff game?

Will San Francisco win the Lombardi trophy?

Will Andrew Luck have a better year than Peyton Manning?

Will Blake Bortles sit and watch the entire year?

Will Wes Welker play another game in the NFL?