Mariano Rivera Tears ACL

There have just been too many dang injuries lately in sports. The latest... Mariano Rivera, closer for the Yankees, tore his ACL yesterday during batting practice trying to catch this fly ball. Ouch. Sucks to see that happen to such a great player and a great guy. This could end Rivera's career as he is 42 years old. I would hope not, because he is one of the best to play the game, and definitely a Hall of Famer.

Terrell Suggs Tears Achilles Tendon

Ravens' linebacker Terrell Suggs will likely miss the entire 2012-2013 NFL season with a torn Achilles tendon in his right leg. This is a huge blow to the Baltimore Ravens, as Suggs may be the best player on that defense (alongside guys like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Haloti Ngata). Ball So Hard University is in deep trouble as their most famous alum is off the field.
I don't wanna say this ends playoff hopes for the Ravens, but this guy is the NFL Defensive Player of the Year from a year ago. This is huge. I don't think this Baltimore defense will be the same without him, and fans will be surprised by how much worse they could be... Good thing they were able to get Courtney Upshaw in this year's draft.
Suggs seems to think he will be back by mid-season, which is very hopeful for Ravens fans. We'll see how this turns out for their future, and good luck to Suggs in his recovery.

Jered Weaver Throws No-Hitter

Congrats to Jered Weaver on throwing a no-hitter tonight. He just finished it up about five minutes ago. I don't wanna take anything away from the guy, because that is quite an amazing task to complete. But the Twins are just garbagely awful. GARBAGELY AWFUL. We need to do something with our roster and our pitching. Lost this one 9-0.
Sucks to be a fan of Minnesota sports in this era. Again, congrats to Weaver. Pitched a great game tonight.

Debate on San Antonio Spurs

I think it's time for me to express a little debate opinion against the Spurs right now. I don't usually bring my arguments into random things, like the NBA Playoffs, but this is one of the things I think I have a good argument for. So let's jump right into it.
The Spurs had the best record in the NBA (along with the Chicago Bulls) with 50 wins and just 16 losses. Gregg Popovich also won coach of the year. They had an 11-game win streak, and Tony Parker put his name into the MVP candidates list for the NBA. That's not bad. So why don't I think they can win the championship this year?
Point number one: Nobody cares about the regular season. Teams who get enough wins to make it to the playoffs don't do anything after that. The record's for the top four teams in each conference really don't matter at all. It becomes the "Glorified Recreational Basketball League" (as my brother calls it), and they basically just try to be flashy. They had a great record, sure... but I don't think that matters even a little bit.
Next point: They're old. Yeah, shouldn't matter if you're good enough. But in playoff time, these guys gotta keep up with the young ones. I think they'll get by the Jazz, but then it's on to take on Blake Griffin/Chris Paul. Maybe they can even get by that, but then its Kobe/Andrew Bynum or Kevin Durant/Russ Westbrook. Their age is gonna hurt them. They can't keep up with the young ones.
Last point: They have a decent defense, but they won't be able to stop the all-stars. By all-stars I'm talking Kobe, Bynum, Durant, Westbrook. I think Tony Parker can maybe handle the small guys. But really... who is gonna stop Kobe or Durant? I love Manu Ginobili, but he can't stop them and nobody else on the Spurs can. I don't think they will make it out of the Western Conference.
So let's say I'm wrong. Their record is a legit reflection of the team. They can keep up with the young ones. Somehow they manage to shut down Kobe/Bynum/Durant/Paul/Griffin/Westbrook. They cannot keep up with the Heat. Nobody can. It is gonna be one of the biggest flukes if the Heat fold in this year's playoffs. I don't like criticizing on classy teams, and the Spurs are definitely one of those teams. Manu and Tim Duncan are some of the best guys in the league. Just gonna say it though... They have a very slim chance of winning it all this year.

Junior Seau Dead at 43

Junior Seau has reportedly died of a gunshot wound to the chest today. Investigators right now believe that Seau committed suicide. A sad day all around the sports world, as Seau was one of the best players in NFL History. He retired in 2009 after a season with the Patriots. Seau is leaving behind a wife and three kids. Thoughts and prayers of many are with them as they deal with this unfortunate loss. RIP Junior.

Derrick Rose Tears ACL

Derrick Rose tore his ACL yesterday in Game 1 of the opening playoff series against the Philly 76ers. This is a huge blow to Chicago.... obviously. I don't think they have a chance of winning this anymore. They have great players on that team, but he is definitely the most important part. If they can beat the Sixers, I can't see them getting any farther.
This definitely makes my favorite in the Eastern Conference the Miami Heat. I just think LeBron is gonna be too unstoppable. I would still like to see the Magic make it to the Finals, but without Dwight Howard that is gonna be super tough. Right now it has gotta be between Atlanta and Miami, just because both teams are healthy right now.
I like OKC in the Western Conference. I could definitely see the Spurs win that conference, but I like the youth of the Thunder and I can see them running the floor on the guys from San Antonio. Should be a fun NBA Playoffs to watch yet again this year.
Again, it is really sucky to see a guy like Derrick Rose get injured like this. I hope he has a speedy recovery, and good luck to the Bulls in the rest of the playoffs.

NFL Draft: Round 1 Recap

As expected, the NFL Draft was freakin' awesome in round one! I love watching the Draft every year. It's so awesome to see these guys get drafted and have their dreams come true. This year is especially fun since the Vikes drafted early. As expected, Andrew Luck went number one, followed by Robert Griffin III at two were the first two picks. After trading to the Browns, who took Trent Richardson with the third pick, the Vikes grabbed big offensive tackle Matt Kalil from USC. This dude is a total beast, and I can't wait to see him blocking for Adrian and keeping Ponder safe all year.
There were a few strange picks as well. I definitely was not expecting Seattle to take Bruce Irvin with that high of a pick at 15. Also I thought Shea McClellin went to high at 19 to Chicago. The best part of the draft to me was at pick number 29. The Vikings trade up and take probably my favorite guy in the draft: Harrison Smith. The safety from Notre Dame was a four-year starter, and the only player to record 200+ tackles in his career at ND. Not to mention the guy is also a ball hawk and finished with seven interceptions last year. Can't wait to see this kid play.
There is more Draft tomorrow starting at 6pm. I am definitely ready for a weekend full of this. No plans for the weekend, but chillin' and watching the draft. I'd love to see the Vikes take Brandon Boykin from Georgia with that 3rd rounder tomorrow. I think he will definitely be a good choice. We'll see what we can get though!

Jazz Clinch Playoffs

Big Al Jefferson absolutely went off last night! He was amazing in the final minutes of the win against the Phoenix Suns to clinch a playoff spot for the Jazz this season. This also comes as great news for Wolves fans like myself, because that means we will have a first round pick in next year's draft. With such a deep draft class, this is a huge year to get that pick back. So thank you Al Jefferson! Now I'll be cheering for them to lose so we can get that 19th pick overall!

Mrs. Irrelevant?

Damn... Good luck to Mr. Irrelevant I guess....

Kevin Love Shaves Off the Beard

Hahahahahahahahahaha! Look at this goofy guy named Kevin Love! I think this picture is so funny, he looks like a little kid. His hair is super goofy too. Gotta love the Wolves. It's a cool group of guys, led by this guy Kevin Love. We had a rough game last night, losing to Golden State, when we blew a 21 point lead.... Can't wait for next year. Gotta get Love, Rubio, Ridnour, and Pek healthy. I think we can definitely have a good team next year. And Kevin Love, please grow that beard back. You are not intimidating at all looking like that!

Ron Artest is Back

Yeah, that just happened. Ladies and gentlemen, Ron Artest has come back to the NBA. Metta World Who? I hope James Harden is okay. He came out at halftime, but evidently he's going back into the locker room to get checked out, and he will not be returning. It could be a concussion.
I was hoping that Serge Ibaka would have just straight up brawled with him and punched his lights out. Metta World Peace is one of the biggest idiots in sports. He's gonna get a huge suspension. I'm a big James Harden fan, so it was disappointing to see. But we know how Ron Artest is. Nobody could ever forget this...

Vikings Draft Options

So the 2012 NFL Draft is slowly approaching, and the Vikes have the 3rd pick overall. We got a lot of holes to fill, so this year's draft is crucial. Here are a few guys that I really like, and I'd love to see the Vikes take a chance with them:

Morris Claiborne - CB, LSU
 Everybody knows who Morris Claiborne is in this draft. I'd love to see the Vikes go after him with the 3rd pick. As crucial as a left tackle is for our young quarterback, the Vikes need a ton of help at cornerback. I think Claiborne is gonna be one of the best corners in the NFL eventually. Plus, in a division that we have to take on Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings, and Brandon Marshall... we're gonna need a shutdown corner. There is no way we can survive with the secondary we have now, and it's time to bring in the young guys. I wouldn't be disappointed with Kalil or Blackmon at all, though. All three of these guys have top talent and I think will all be great athletes in their career.

Harrison Smith - S, Notre Dame
Second round and I think the Vikes should go with some more defensive backs. Harrison Smith is a bright kid who has proven to be a great football player. The guy had three picks in his bowl game and solidified himself as a great draft prospect. I'm just hoping he can fall to us in the second round. It's gonna be a crazy draft, so who knows where he could land. I think if he's available to the Vikes in the second round we should go with him. Again, in a division with probably the best receivers in the NFL, we gotta beef up that secondary and try to slow down these passing threats. Harrison Smith at safety would be a solid pick here.


Mohamed Sanu - WR, Rutgers
I have discussed this guy over the last few months with a lot of people. Nobody thinks he will be an all-star but they can't disagree with his athletic ability. I don't think he'll be an amazing game-changing guy, but that isn't what the Vikes need on offense. Ponder just needs another target. We have been talking to former Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson, which would be a nice signing, but if we don't get him, we're gonna need to find someone. I think Sanu could turn out to be better than expected. He's got a lot of raw talent which can easily be molded into some skills in the NFL. I'd love to see the Vikes snag him if he drops to the third round.


Kirk Cousins - QB, Michigan State
I have probably been the biggest supporter of Kirk Cousins over the last few weeks. I have seen this guy's highlights, and I really have no idea how he is not a guaranteed first round pick. Can anyone tell me what is wrong with this guy?? Really, I have no idea... please help me figure this out. I actually think he is the third best QB behind Luck and RGIII. I don't know why everyone is talking about Tannehill. Cousins is gonna be a great quarterback, and even though the Vikes have Ponder, there is high value in this pick. If anything happened to Ponder, or maybe he just didn't turn out how we'd hoped, Cousins could be a tremendous insurance quarterback. He is someone who clearly understands the game and his position.

Doug Martin - RB, Boise State
The Vikes don't really need a runningback, after we signed like 3 free agents this offseason, but Martin wouldn't hurt. He's a young guy with some speed. He's just an all-around great runningback. I would go to high on him, but if he's a fourth round option, I would like to see us take a chance. There are far too many position players I have been looking at for the Vikings, but I think these might be good options. If Peterson and Gerhart continue to struggle with injuries, Martin would be a nice fill in alongside some of the other guys we have signed, such as Lex Hilliard and Jordan Todman. I'd like to see us find a back somewhere in this draft, even if it is the late rounds.


Markus Zusevics - OT, Iowa
Here's a big boy that would be a good draft pick for the Vikes. He's got good size and strength and would be a solid fourth or fifth round pick. He has been overshadowed by the guy on the other side of the line, Riley Reiff. The Vikes obviously need some work up front on the line, especially with the departures of Anthony Herrera and Steve Hutchinson. Zusevics is a guy that I think we can develop into a starter, either as a tackle or a guard. From what I've read, he seems to be pretty underrated, and he's a good kid with a lot of upside. Here's my offensive line suggestion for the Vikes.


Jaquies Smith - OLB, Missouri
This guy is pretty much a monster. He's a little undersized, but he plays big. Another guy that has been overshadowed by a stud who played in front of him. Last year Aldon Smith (who had an amazing rookie season) was the guy that silenced the skills of Jaquies Smith. I think this guy will go late and he will be a good pick for whoever gets him. Hey, the Vikes could use a little help at linebacker... let's try him out and see how it works. I think we will be hearing Jaquies Smith's name as an impact defender in the NFL in the near future.



Keshawn Martin - WR, Michigan State
Here's another guy I've been high on for a while. I don't know what it is that impresses me so much with these Michigan State guys... I think Keshawn Martin is highly underrated. He was an impact performer who was always a go-to-guy in the final minutes. On the other side B.J. Cunningham was getting all the attention, yet it seemed like nobody could keep up with Martin. Cousins said that Martin was gonna be a surprised to a lot of people, and I agree with him. Huge upside with this pick, and I think we can get him on a last day pick. He'll be a steal wherever he goes.


Dale Moss - WR, South Dakota State
Ok, this is a homer pick. Gotta go with the South Dakota guy in round seven. I got to see this guy play football and basketball against my high school, so it would only be awesome to see him play for the Vikings. I don't know how great he'll be, but we might as well take a chance. From what I've heard, he's an extremely athletic kid. Also, he has a lot of size and speed. That's a pretty good combo for a wide receiver. Best of luck to Dale in his professional football career.

Dwight Howard Out for Season

Dwight Howard will be undergoing back surgery and will be missing the rest of the season, including the entire playoffs. This is a huge development as we are entering the last week of games. This is gonna be big trouble for the Magic, especially since Big Baby Davis is having trouble with injuries as well. Sucks to see that Dwight will be out, which just adds to more drama for the season in Orlando. I'm thinking Dwight will be out of a Magic uniform next year and I could definitely see him going to New Jersey. The playoffs should be interesting and we'll look forward to seeing how that picture turns out. Good luck to Dwight and the Magic in both their futures.

Ozzie Guillen Suspended

In case you haven't heard, Ozzie Guillen, manager of the Miami Marlins, made some pretty dumb comments this week. He said he "loves Castro" and "respects Castro" for staying in power for so long. He claims to have meant it in a different way, as he was thinking it in Spanish and saying it in English. That is somewhat understandable, but you "love" Castro?? Come on, the comments are ridiculous.
Guillen has been suspended for the next five games. This is understandable, as it should tell him to keep his mouth shut on stupid issues that have nothing to do with baseball. He also offered an apology that I thought was very sincere. So should Ozzie be fired for the comments?
If you are gonna fire him, don't fire him because he made some comments in poor judgement. He has every right to make any comment he wants, even if he means every word. This is America, come on... It may be necessary to fire him, because over half of his fans are Latino, and are not huge fans of Fidel Castro. The Marlins do need to have fans in the stadium after all...
But I think people need to calm down. He's a baseball manager, not a political analyst. He shouldn't have to worry about these kinds of questions. Much less, I don't think fans should have to worry what he thinks about these stupid issues. He's there to coach a baseball team and help them win games. If the Marlins are winning and keeping decent attendance, I think they should keep Ozzie. Give him another chance. You know he won't make those stupid comments again... That's just my opinion. I'm sure there are many others, and I would love to hear them.

Well, the Twins Suck

The Twins are off to a 0-4 start in which they haven't held a lead. They lost 3 in Baltimore, and yesterday got off to a bad start against the Angels, losing 5-1. They play the Angels again tomorrow. I didn't expect them to be a great team this year, but come on guys. Mauer is getting paid $23 million to hit under.100 thus far. Our hitting is awful. I don't think we're gonna even win a game this year... (at this pace we won't)
But in all honesty, can't wait to hit up some games at Target Field. Even if we stink this year it will be fun to get to watch. I think the Angels are gonna be the team to beat this year. They look really good, and I'll probably end up rooting for them toward the end of the season. I'm glad we finally got some baseball, since I'm kinda sick of basketball and the Wolves (who have lost 6 straight now). Good work Minnesota! (not).

Nike Unveils New NFL Uniforms Today

Nike is presenting each team with their new uniforms shortly. I'm surprised nobody has really been talking about this, because I'm thinking we're gonna see a lot of changes. So far, I've heard the Panthers have black helmets, and the Redskins have made a lot of changes to their uniforms. I have also read through Twitter that the Seahawks either have SICK jerseys (via Jermichael Finley) or UGLY (via Kevin Seifert). Either way, should be fun to see what every team will be sportin' this year. Percy Harvin is the Vikes' representative and I hope he's stylin' today.

NCAA Basketball Championship Tonight

Game just started... I got Kentucky over Kansas tonight 68-61. Whoo!

Timberwolves Are Pretty Much Done

The Wolves are now 3 and a half games out of 8th place in the Western Conference. In a battle with four other teams, and falling far behind, I don't think they can make it. They were awesome at the beginning of the season and I gotta salute them for trying, but I just can't see them making the playoffs right now. Hopefully this is the greatest obvious jinx attempt ever though... With the loss of Ricky Rubio, and later the loss of Nikola Pekovic, the Wolves have not bounced back to the team they were before. But how can you do that without two of your three best players? Not possible.... They got the Kings tonight, so hopefully we can just scrap up some of these wins against bad teams. Still a big Wolves fan and I'm happy that we've changed the atmosphere here in Minnesota.

Gophers to the NIT Championship

Of course I go to the U of M and I enjoy watching a little Gophers basketball. So the last couple weeks have been pretty fun, as the Gophers have actually looked like a whole new team. They have made it to the NIT Championship game which is pretty sweet. I didn't think we'd make the actual tourney, so for us to make it to the championship here is pretty fricken' sweet. The Gophers will play against Stanford Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
And head coach Tubby Smith had to be proud of the guys on his team for pulling it together here at the end of the season. "I'm just so proud of their perseverance, and their ability to overcome so many distractions," Smith said. "Just amazing... It's one of the hardest-working groups of kids I've ever worked with."

Tim Tebow EXCITED to be a New York Jet

This is just too funny. I love Tim Tebow, but you gotta poke fun at him every once in a while. He is so cheesy when he does press conferences. Here he tells the media how excited he is. He doesn't just tell them once... or twice... or thrice. He tells them that he is excited 45 TIMES! Good work Teebs, good luck in New York.