Written by a group of aspiring young broadcasters, the SBCHive takes an in-depth look into the world of sports! Covering everything from the Western Conference Finals to WrestleMania, the Hive has it all.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Round Table Talk Episode 1
Tonight was the first edition of Round Table Talk, a live video podcast talking sports. Hosted by myself, I bring in good friends Brock Landes and Chris Brown to talk all things NBA from draft review to free agency. You can find the videos live streaming via Google Hangouts on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/SimonHWilliams) or here on the Hive. Stay tuned for more Round Table Talk!
Thursday, March 26, 2015
John's Jargon: 15th Edition
John’s
Jargon
From
Professional Wrestling to Baseball and Everything In-Between
WrestleMania
XXXI Predictions
By John Napolitano
Seven
months ago I wrote my inaugural John’s
Jargon column, which featured my predictions for, in my opinion, the
hottest, no pun intended, pay-per-view of 2014, SummerSlam. When one revisits that
iconic card, the first thing that stands out is that from top to bottom the
night was stacked with high profile match after high profile match. From Dean
Ambrose and Seth Rollins squaring of in a lumberjack match, to Paige and AJ Lee
furthering their celebrated rivalry, and all the way to John Cena losing to
Brock Lesnar in dramatic fashion for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. I
challenge someone to find a more succinctly superb show in recent memory, but I
digress. After the “Biggest Party of the Summer” concluded, this hashtag heel
ended the night four for four in predictions. I’ll be the first one to admit
that was not my best work in the prediction department; however, I consider it
a testament to the shock value and entertainment quality of the phenomenal show
we were given.
Fast-forward
283 days later and the WWE Universe is presented with an equally, if not more,
promising card that is WrestleMania XXXI. The 2015 Road to WrestleMania has followed the trend of years past in that
it’s had plenty of ups and its fair share of downs. Gone are the days, so it
seems, of a full-fledged creative bull rush from the Royal Rumble to the
“Showcase of the Immortals.” The Road to
WrestleMania is complete with a lot more bumps and detours than is suitable
for my taste. I don’t want to completely discredit this year’s build to
WrestleMania. Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, Paul Heyman, Triple H, and
especially Sting have done an incredible job of hyping up WrestleMania XXXI.
The card is shaping up to be one of the most memorable in recent years. The
execution of each matchup will be instrumental in having the show go off
without a hitch, but who will be on top of the mountain when the clock strikes
midnight on March 29, 2015? Here are my predictions for the show of shows,
WrestleMania XXXI.
R-Truth
vs. Luke Harper vs. Stardust vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Daniel
Bryan vs. Bad News Barrett in an Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
Kicking
off the show should be the multi-man Intercontinental Championship ladder
match. This match will be key in setting the tone for the show and starting the
night off on a high note. Expect stellar performances from Dean Ambrose, Dolph
Ziggler, and Daniel Bryan, as they are always looking to steal the show. It’s
fair to say that R-Truth and Luke Harper will put on some great action but are
ultimately nonfactors in the potential title change. I would add Stardust to
that list of nonfactors, but I foresee a possible angle where he wins the strap
and battles over it with his brother, Goldust, in the coming months. The final
combatant to make mention of is the Intercontinental Champion and my pick to
win, Bad News Barrett. My main reasoning for picking Barrett to successfully
retain his title is that in this game of hot potato that the participants have
been playing over the Intercontinental Championship in last several weeks, BNB
has been highly overlooked. No one expects him to retain the strap. Add in the
fact that he’s only held the gold for a little over two months, and he seems
like an obvious favorite to me. Wade Barrett has yet to have a WrestleMania
victory, much less a WrestleMania moment in his career. If he is to remain a
valued member of the WWE roster, I suggest you give him one this Sunday.
Predicted
Winner: Bad News Barrett
The 2nd
Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
As
far as the second annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, I’m less than
thrilled that it’s making a return at WrestleMania XXXI. I assumed that the
match was going to be special to WrestleMania XXX as a means of honoring Andre
at the thirtieth installment of an event he helped build. Don’t get me wrong;
I’m all in favor for giving as many people as possible a WrestleMania payday,
and this is the perfect to way to get everyone on the card. My main issue with
this bout is that it means absolutely nothing. Sure, a win’s a win, especially
on the “Grandest Stage of them All.” But last year’s winner, Cesaro, gained
absolutely no momentum after his victory. In fact, he lost traction and began
to fade into obscurity. If I’m correct, the trophy that was awarded to Cesaro
was shattered the next night on Monday Night Raw, and the “Swiss Superman”
hasn’t mentioned the incident since. Despite the obvious flaws with the Andre
the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, it will be an advantageous means of calming
down the crowd and preparing the WWE Universe for the next high profile match.
I predict that we’ll see an entertaining encounter between The Miz and Damien
Mizdow, a good showing from Curtis Axel, and the win from the “Big Guy,”
Ryback.
Predicted
Winner: Ryback
John Cena
vs. Rusev for the United States Championship
One
of the more personal matchups that is set to take place this Sunday is the
newly turned mid-carder, John Cena, versus the “Bulgarian Brute” and United
States Champion, Rusev. Many a mark claim that the outcome of this match is set
in stone, and John Cena is, without a doubt, walking out of Levi’s Stadium with
the United States Championship. More importantly, it appears that Cena may hand
Rusev his first official loss by way of pin fall or submission. Tellingly
enough, the same people who claim that Cena will be victorious on Sunday are
the same people who didn’t give Brock Lesnar a chance last year against the
Undertaker. Look how that turned out. I’m not saying that it’s completely out
of the realm of possibility that John Cena defeats Rusev at WrestleMania XXXI.
If history has taught us anything it’s that John Cena is the perfect man to
completely derail someone’s momentum and send them into obscurity (i.e. Umaga).
This might come across as naïveté, but I just don’t believe that the shot
callers of World Wrestling Entertainment would give the face of their company a
pointless United States Title victory over a young, hungry Rusev. Cena’s at the
point in his career where he has cemented his legacy as one of, if not, the
greatest WWE Superstar of all-time. His current role has less to do with
amassing victories on the grand stage and more to do with giving back to the
young bucks of tomorrow. If the creative team steers clear of their short-term
memory loss, they’ll remember that Bray Wyatt’s loss to Cena last year didn’t
do his character any good. It would be even more detrimental to Rusev if he
were to lose to Cena at this juncture. Plus, imagine the magic an undefeated
Rusev could create with a certain “Beast Incarnate.” I predict that Rusev
defeats John Cena and retains his United States Championship at WrestleMania
XXXI.
Predicted
Winner: Rusev
Seth
Rollins vs. Randy Orton
The
matchup that is going to steal the show, in my opinion, is the highly
anticipated clash between the “Viper” Randy Orton and “Mr. Money in the Bank”
Seth Rollins. These warriors have history dating back to June 2nd of
last year when Rollins abandoned the S.H.I.E.L.D. and joined the ranks of the
Authority. The iconic image of Triple H embracing both Orton and Rollins on
that fateful night acted as a perfect ironical foreshadowing of the implosion
that would take place later that year in November. Seth Rollins, with the help
of the Authority, would turn on Randy Orton and take him out of action for
three months. The footage of Rollins curb stomping the “Apex Predator” on the
steel steps, as disturbing as it might be, was all it took to get the WWE
Universe excited for their inevitable confrontation. When Orton returned at WWE
Fastlane in February, everyone assumed that he would stop at nothing to get his
hands on his assailant. But he managed to lure Rollins in and gain his trust
before ultimately flying of the hinges and decimating the “Undisputed Future of
the WWE.” The beating that took place on Monday Night Raw when Orton finally pounced
on Rollins was one of the most graphic scenes to ever be showcased on WWE
programming. Seemingly, that was just an appetizer for the ever-hungry “Viper.”
The only way to truly shut the mouth of the treacherous turncoat and suckling
sellout is to pin him on the grand stage. These two talented technicians have
undeniable chemistry. The in-ring action will be as smooth as it will be
brutal. When WrestleMania XXXI is said and done, I predict Randy Orton will
stand victorious over his double-crossing rival, Seth Rollins.
Predicted
Winner: Randy Orton
Triple H
vs. Sting
Without
a shadow of a doubt, the program between the “Game” Triple H and the “Icon”
Sting has been the best-built feud on the Road
to WrestleMania. When Sting debuted in the WWE at the 2014 Survivor Series
and cost Triple H his authority, pun intended, I, like many others, was not
thrilled with the idea of them doing battle at WrestleMania. I was much more
partial to the idea of Sting and Undertaker meeting at the show of shows in a
picture-perfect dream match. It was still amazing to see Sting at Survivor
Series, and I was just happy that he had finally made his way to the WWE. When
Sting debuted on Monday Night Raw this past January and assisted John Cena in
sticking it to the Authority, I was on board with the idea of he and Triple H
clashing at WrestleMania. After their physical encounter at WWE Fastlane, I
could not wait to see these legends go toe to toe. The WWE Universe will be
white hot for this match and for good reason. This program has not disappointed
once on the Road to WrestleMania. I
know better than to bet against the Stinger. I predict he’ll defeat Triple H in
a phenomenal match.
Predicted
Winner: Sting
AJ Lee
& Paige vs. The Bella Twins
Many of you may not be expecting
much with this Divas tag-team bout. Nothing in recent memory should give you any
reason to be excited about a Divas match at WrestleMania. I’ve ordered every
WrestleMania on pay-per-view (with the exception of WrestleMania XXVII) since
WrestleMania XXIII in 2007. I can’t remember a single show where I have not
gotten up to use the bathroom or get a snack when the women came on. I plan to
change that this year. I will watch every second of this Divas match, as I
predict that the action will be amplified tenfold at WrestleMania XXXI. The
hashtag Give Divas a Chance has been
making its rounds on social media, and the McMahon regime has promised that the
ladies will be given more action and more screen time, as they should be. These
four women are extremely talented and have the potential to create magic in
that squared circle. Since AJ Lee and Paige have always been a combustible
tandem, I predict that the Bella Twins will come out victorious.
Predicted
Winner: The Bella Twins
Bray Wyatt
vs. The Undertaker
Who will be the “Face of Fear” when
the final bell tolls? That’s a great question. To be perfectly honest, I don’t
know if I can answer it. This has got to be the toughest match to predict on
the card. I never thought I would see the day that the Undertaker would be
defeated at WrestleMania, let alone make a return to the ring the following
year. In a perfect world, the Undertaker would have retired after stealing the
show with Triple H at WrestleMania XXVIII and improving to 20-0 on the grand
stage. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and all things must
come to an end, even the undefeated streak of the “Phenom” at WrestleMania. Now
that the “Deadman” is 21-1 at WrestleMania, there’s no telling what could
happen when he takes on the “Eater of Worlds,” Bray Wyatt. Wyatt has done an
impeccable job of hyping this match with no physicality and on his own, no
less. This is the first time in 15 years that the Undertaker has been absent
from the Road to WrestleMania, but
Bray has still managed to make their impending encounter feel equally as epic
as any other match on the card. I have gained unlimited respect for Wyatt, as
his promos and long-winded rants are legitimate works of art. Bray Wyatt has
been on the role of his career, and back-to-back losses at WrestleMania could
severely damage his character. The match itself won’t be a five-star classic,
but it will host seamless storytelling from bell to bell. As much as I love
Wyatt, I just can’t picture the Undertaker losing two years in a row. I’ve got
the Undertaker reclaiming his yard at WrestleMania XXXI and beating the
self-appointed “New Face of Fear,” Bray Wyatt.
Predicted
Winner: The Undertaker
Roman
Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
I don’t know if there has ever been
a more controversially reached main event than the one presented at
WrestleMania XXXI: Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar. Legions of fans have
expressed their lack of excitement in seeing Roman Reigns, the newly turned
singles star, compete in the main event of WrestleMania. This Sunday will be
Roman Reigns’ third one-on-one match at a pay-per-view. He’s never spent as
much as one second in the mid-card, much less held a mid-card title. Ever since
the disbanding of the S.H.I.E.L.D., Roman Reigns has been groomed to be the
next megastar of the WWE. Roman Reigns, a white meat babyface, won the 2015
Royal Rumble in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the biggest chorus of boos I’ve
ever heard. If one takes all of these factors into account, it’s no wonder
Reigns leaves a less than favorable taste in the mouths of the WWE Universe.
Brock Lesnar has been on the role of his career over the last year. He’s
defeated the Undertaker and John Cena one more than one occasion in dramatic
fashion. Lesnar has never played the badass heel role so perfectly. He also
just signed a multimillion-dollar contract extension with World Wrestling
Entertainment, to many a fan’s delight. What’s not to like about the “Beast
Incarnate?” I have a feeling that the atmosphere will be very unusual in Levi’s
Stadium this Sunday, as Brock Lesnar will likely reap the admiration of
everyone in attendance. Roman Reigns will be lucky if he gets a pop at all.
That’s been my biggest concern on this Road
to WrestleMania; the man who may very likely dethrone Brock Lesnar isn’t
widely loved or widely hated. The WWE Universe just feels indifferent towards
him. It’s become status quo for the WWE Universe to sit on their hands during
any segment having to do with Roman Reigns. The purpose of being an in-ring
performer is to elicit a response from the audience, and he has difficulty
doing that. I don’t hate Roman Reigns. I think he’s an extremely gifted athlete
who would be much better off main-eventing WrestleMania XXXII. There’s no one
to fault except for whoever decided that Roman Reigns was ready to close
WrestleMania XXXI. I have thought of every possible outcome that could take
place this Sunday. In my pondering, I came up with a scenario that might sound
like a stretch at first; however, it’s as likely as any other ending to the
“Showcase of the Immortals.” I predict that somehow, someway Roman Reigns will
best Brock Lesnar and claim the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. In a fit of
rage, Brock Lesnar will decimate the new champ. Lesnar’s actions will be met by
the music of a certain “Great One.” The Rock will come to Reigns’ aide and
sideline the “Beast Incarnate.” Just as Roman Reigns begins to celebrate his
title victory, cue the music of Seth Rollins. Rollins will come down to the
ring and cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase on the vulnerable champion. In
a quick three-minute spar, Seth Rollins will pin Roman Reigns and become the
new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The headlines will read, “Rollins Reigns
Supreme.”
Predicted
Winner: Roman Reigns
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
99 Problems but a W isn't One
While the Knicks continue to trudge along in the debacle of a season this one was, one thing stands out to me like a sore thumb with this team. Melo needs to go. Plain and simple. Phil Jackson recently made the worst trade imaginable by ridding J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert. Those two guys could have been the foundation to building a better team in the 15-16 season. But no. Phil Jackson needed to clear cap space immediately it seems like. Well Phil, if I were in your shoes, here's what I would have done differently.
1. Keep Shumpert. He was the best defensive player the Knicks had, and was still on his rookie contract. Yes he is injured, but he could have been the building block for success for this potentially up and coming Knicks team. But no. Knicks need the cap space NOW! Losing Shumpert and Smith dumped $20 million in luxury and salary tax, which makes $35 million available for free agent shopping this summer. Lamarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Kawhi Leonard, and DeAndre Jordan are just some of the names they can pursue this summer.
2. Trade Melo. Jesus god almighty. As much as I love Melo, HE NEEDS TO GO! All he's doing right now is taking up cap space! With Shumpert and Smith gone, there's no one for Melo to work with. So keeping Melo means that he'll take all the work onto his shoulders, make all the other players un happy and un willing to play with him. On top of that, he's injured. Melo has a 5 year contract, for $124 million through 2018. A team like the Hawks, with the most cap space in the league, can maneuver some players around and make a big trade to acquire Melo, and send some players to New York. Someone like Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver would help the Knicks out substantially.
3. Play for 1st (pick). Let's be real here. With a 10-45 record as of February 24th, there's nothing left to look forward to for the Knicks besides 1st pick in the draft. By doing that, they can build and get younger. Jahil Okafor or Emmanuel Mudiay can help the Knicks tremendously
4. Make a splash in the Free Agent Pool. How about some fresh talent in NY huh? It seemed to work when the Knicks brought in Carmelo, Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler in back in 2010. If I was in Jacksons shoes, and Melo was already traded, the first thing I would look for is the SF position. Guys like Luol Deng or a Kawhi Leonard (at the right price) could serve great in NY as Anthony's replacement. The next desperatley needed position would be Center. With the power forward position potentially locked down with Cleanthony Early in the D league, the Center would be the next need for the Knicks. If we're going to be honest, the Knicks haven't had a reliable center since Patrick Ewing in the 80's and 90's. A reliable guy like Omer Asik, who is great on defense, and scores when he needs to is just what they need. Or, if the room is there, Lamarcus Aldridge or DeAndre Jordan will be potentially shopping for new teams.
This Knicks franchise needs a complete revitalization. Phil Jackson needs to realize that the way he has constructed this team is not fit for winning more than 20 games in a season. Getting Shumpert back, trading or dumping Melo, building through the draft and shopping for Free Agents will help this team take a 180 degree turn talent wise, and maybe even record wise. Lord knows they could use it.
3. Play for 1st (pick). Let's be real here. With a 10-45 record as of February 24th, there's nothing left to look forward to for the Knicks besides 1st pick in the draft. By doing that, they can build and get younger. Jahil Okafor or Emmanuel Mudiay can help the Knicks tremendously
4. Make a splash in the Free Agent Pool. How about some fresh talent in NY huh? It seemed to work when the Knicks brought in Carmelo, Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler in back in 2010. If I was in Jacksons shoes, and Melo was already traded, the first thing I would look for is the SF position. Guys like Luol Deng or a Kawhi Leonard (at the right price) could serve great in NY as Anthony's replacement. The next desperatley needed position would be Center. With the power forward position potentially locked down with Cleanthony Early in the D league, the Center would be the next need for the Knicks. If we're going to be honest, the Knicks haven't had a reliable center since Patrick Ewing in the 80's and 90's. A reliable guy like Omer Asik, who is great on defense, and scores when he needs to is just what they need. Or, if the room is there, Lamarcus Aldridge or DeAndre Jordan will be potentially shopping for new teams.
This Knicks franchise needs a complete revitalization. Phil Jackson needs to realize that the way he has constructed this team is not fit for winning more than 20 games in a season. Getting Shumpert back, trading or dumping Melo, building through the draft and shopping for Free Agents will help this team take a 180 degree turn talent wise, and maybe even record wise. Lord knows they could use it.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
John's Jargon: 14th Edition
John’s
Jargon
From
Professional Wrestling to Baseball and Everything In-Between
Bubba’s
Bounce Back?
What’s Next For Bully Ray?
By John Napolitano
Is
there anyone out there who remembers Bully Ray? Strike that. In the words of
Bully himself, “Do you know who he is?” Of course I am talking about the
innovator of the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, the 25-time World Tag-Team
Champion, and the first ballot hall of famer, Bubba Ray Dudley. Whether you
recognize him as the viciously, vitriolic villain Bully Ray, or as Bubba Ray
Dudley, one half of, arguably, the greatest tag-team of all time, you
definitely noticed him when he blew the roof off of the Wells Fargo Center in
Philadelphia this past Sunday at the Royal Rumble. Bubba Ray was the number
three entrant in the 2015 Royal Rumble matchup, and he shocked the entire world
as he appeared on WWE programming for the first time in nearly a decade. If you
have seen his latest interviews or follow him on twitter, you should know that
he is elated to be back with the company and even referred to the WWE as his
“home.” As farfetched as that comment may be, the WWE Universe is certainly
delighted to have Bubba back in our midst. But will this one off appearance
lead to a full or part-time run with World Wrestling Entertainment? Unfortunately,
I would imagine that the suits of WWE’s upper management are not aware of
Bubba’s work in TNA as Bully Ray and will likely reunite him with his half
brother Devon Dudley somewhere down the line. Don’t get me wrong. I, like many
members of the WWE Universe, would love to see a Team 3D reunion. But at a time
when there is such a glaring lack of heels in World Wrestling Entertainment,
who better to take the reigns than Bubba “Bully” Ray Dudley?
Bully
Ray was one of the greatest villainous characters in TNA history; now that may
not carry much weight with some of you, but his mic work and in-ring skills
were second to none when he eventually broke out in TNA. For the entirety of
his career, he was known as one half of Team 3D, but Bully Ray really turned
heads when he proved that he did not need to be type casted as a tandem
wrestler and could cut it on his own. His condescending and egocentric mannerisms
were what made him an utterly despicable figure, and that persona is very much
needed in WWE today. Bad News Barrett, Rusev, Big Show, Kane, Seth Rollins, and
the soon to be departing Brock Lesnar are the only noteworthy heels on the
roster as of now, and no one quite has that rugged, gritty, loud-mouthed, and
self-centered attitude that Bully Ray is capable of displaying on a weekly
basis. His thick New York accent is sure to get under the skin of all members
of the WWE Universe, and if you put him in the ring with the WWE’s best and
brightest, he is sure to give you one hell of a match.
If
he were to start a full-time schedule with World Wrestling Entertainment, he
could have amazing bouts with current mainstays of the company, John Cena and
Randy Orton. Bully Ray going over on two of the most decorated WWE Superstars
of all time would give him the ultimate credibility in order to return the
favor to the handful of up and comers. Imagine the clashes this legend could
have with the young blood of the current WWE roster. Daniel Bryan, Dolph
Zigger, and Roman Reigns could create some real in-ring magic with Bully Ray,
while Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt could more than hold their own on the mic
with him. These young bucks feuding with Bully Ray would give them a worthwhile
program and enhance their in-ring resumés at the same
time.
Bubba “Bully” Ray Dudley could be a huge asset to the WWE if he is
used correctly. He is a surefire hall of famer and someone who genuinely loves
this business. Hopefully, his appearance at the 2015 Royal Rumble was not his
last on WWE programming. I think it is safe to say we are all ready for Bubba
to bounce back into World Wrestling Entertainment.
Monday, January 19, 2015
15 in '15 (Final 4)
After a few weeks of contemplation I have found four in college basketball teams that are on the highest watch in the new year. As a reminder, this isn't predictions of standings, or the actual Final Four predictions (those may come later), but a list of the top fifteen teams in the country that should be on the basketball fan's radar. We start off the Final Four with #4...
#4 Iowa State Cyclones
Most recently, ISU handed Kansas their first Big XII loss of the year in convincing fashion: an 86-81 victory at home where they have struggled against the Jayhawks, having two losses in their own building. What propelled them to this win was all five of the Cyclone starters collecting a double double and when they run an extremely fast-aced offense that averages the most transitional points out of any major conference, it shows. Iowa State, also the nation's leader in assists per game, took the court in an aggressive fashion the whole season, only falling to one of the best teams in my opinion, Baylor, South Carolina, and the Maryland team that has made it's mark on the B1G. A test of the team's true grit will come when they play five straight games against ranked opponents starting off with Oklahoma on the 9th of February and ending with a contest with the Baylor Bears on the 25th. Freshman Georgies Niang is one part of a triple threat poised to make some noise come March with Naz Long and Bryce Dejean-Jones, the teams top scorers. With almost the exact same PPG, minutes played, RPG, and FG%, expect these three young men to power Iowa State into the Elite 8.
#3 Arizona Wildcats
A preseason Final Four candidate, the Wildcats have been extremely determined to remain that way. After a surprising upset in Vegas to UNLV, the 'Cats rebounded for two dominating wins over rival Arizona State and Oregon. Following a loss to Oregon State, it was easy for Arizona to stick to what they did before the game against the Running Rebels and win. Early season padded games against Oakland and Cal State Northridge were not surprising, but it was nice to see competitive victories against a few ranked squads like San Diego State and a very good Gonzaga team that was extremely impressive when I saw them play last year. (Now obviously some seniors left and they added some guys, but it is pretty much the same team as last year's Maui Invitational tournament championship contender). Chester High School product, Rodae Hollis-Jefferson has proved to Arizona that he is one of the best young athletes in the country. As a sophomore, he averages a double double and is a legitimate threat at the forward position. His strength as a defender and a shooter will match up well against future Pac 12 opponent Jordan Loveridge of Utah. Personally, I see a possibility of an exit of the tournament in the Sweet 16 even though to a team like Northern Iowa but an Elite 8 birth is not out of the question.
#2 Michigan State Spartans
There are a handful of elite coaches in the business. Names like Coach K and John Calipari come to mind but MSU head coach Tom Izzo is definitely on that list of great coaches. With over twenty players in the NBA who came out of Izzo's program, his legacy in East Lansing is legitimate much like his current team's chances of a B1G Championship. Even though they have suffered six losses, only one draws a lot of concern, the L to Texas Southern at home. TSU, by the way, has a losing record and has only won three away games all year (one of which was against the Spartans). That loss shouldn't define a team, but it should be remembered and used to build off of, and that's exactly what Izzo did. Denzel Valentine and Travis Trice, two of the leaders of the team are excellent shooters and need to keep their hot hand and propel their team through the remaining parts of their B1G schedule to try and get to face Maryland again in the conference tournament. If MSU beats Maryland on the road to Chicago, don't be surprised if a 9 seed gets handed to the Spartans.
#1 Duke Blue Devils
The 2014-15 Duke Blue Devils were in an interesting position going into the season; they recruited three stellar athletes that would be starters as freshman. It has happened before, but Coach K is notorious for giving playing time to seniors and veterans of the roster, so having two starters as freshman is a scenario more accustom to John Calipari Kentucky who seem to have endless freshman every year. The adversity was obviously handled well, for the Blue Devils went on a 14-0 run to start the season where they won their games by an average of a little above 21 points as well as they were one of the last three unbeaten teams in the country. This season, Duke has beaten three ranked teams (Micigan State, Wisconsin, and Louisville) plus the defending nation champion UConn Huskies. Tyrus Jones, Jahlil Okafor, and Justice Winslow have all solidified the fact they belong in Cameron Indoor. The trio is impressive for sure, scoring a combined 674 points. Okafor is a projected first overall selection, but with the continued success of the team, it would make sense for him to stay at school and develop. NC State and Miami were two schools that knocked Duke off of their track for an undefeated season. The perfect record wasn't going to happen, but it was a bit surprising when the Wolfpack was able to halt that dream early. The more surprising piece of it all is that the Hurricanes added a second straight loss, especially at Cameron where Duke is historically dominant. Duke holds the top four longest home win streaks in the ACC and the longest non-conference home win streak in the NCAA so obvious dominance in Durham as the Crazies often call it the #HardestRoadGame. Either way, Duke has found a way to win this season, and they will continue on to a national championship, or well, that's at least what this Devils fan thinks.
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#4 Iowa State Cyclones
Most recently, ISU handed Kansas their first Big XII loss of the year in convincing fashion: an 86-81 victory at home where they have struggled against the Jayhawks, having two losses in their own building. What propelled them to this win was all five of the Cyclone starters collecting a double double and when they run an extremely fast-aced offense that averages the most transitional points out of any major conference, it shows. Iowa State, also the nation's leader in assists per game, took the court in an aggressive fashion the whole season, only falling to one of the best teams in my opinion, Baylor, South Carolina, and the Maryland team that has made it's mark on the B1G. A test of the team's true grit will come when they play five straight games against ranked opponents starting off with Oklahoma on the 9th of February and ending with a contest with the Baylor Bears on the 25th. Freshman Georgies Niang is one part of a triple threat poised to make some noise come March with Naz Long and Bryce Dejean-Jones, the teams top scorers. With almost the exact same PPG, minutes played, RPG, and FG%, expect these three young men to power Iowa State into the Elite 8.
#3 Arizona Wildcats
A preseason Final Four candidate, the Wildcats have been extremely determined to remain that way. After a surprising upset in Vegas to UNLV, the 'Cats rebounded for two dominating wins over rival Arizona State and Oregon. Following a loss to Oregon State, it was easy for Arizona to stick to what they did before the game against the Running Rebels and win. Early season padded games against Oakland and Cal State Northridge were not surprising, but it was nice to see competitive victories against a few ranked squads like San Diego State and a very good Gonzaga team that was extremely impressive when I saw them play last year. (Now obviously some seniors left and they added some guys, but it is pretty much the same team as last year's Maui Invitational tournament championship contender). Chester High School product, Rodae Hollis-Jefferson has proved to Arizona that he is one of the best young athletes in the country. As a sophomore, he averages a double double and is a legitimate threat at the forward position. His strength as a defender and a shooter will match up well against future Pac 12 opponent Jordan Loveridge of Utah. Personally, I see a possibility of an exit of the tournament in the Sweet 16 even though to a team like Northern Iowa but an Elite 8 birth is not out of the question.
#2 Michigan State Spartans
There are a handful of elite coaches in the business. Names like Coach K and John Calipari come to mind but MSU head coach Tom Izzo is definitely on that list of great coaches. With over twenty players in the NBA who came out of Izzo's program, his legacy in East Lansing is legitimate much like his current team's chances of a B1G Championship. Even though they have suffered six losses, only one draws a lot of concern, the L to Texas Southern at home. TSU, by the way, has a losing record and has only won three away games all year (one of which was against the Spartans). That loss shouldn't define a team, but it should be remembered and used to build off of, and that's exactly what Izzo did. Denzel Valentine and Travis Trice, two of the leaders of the team are excellent shooters and need to keep their hot hand and propel their team through the remaining parts of their B1G schedule to try and get to face Maryland again in the conference tournament. If MSU beats Maryland on the road to Chicago, don't be surprised if a 9 seed gets handed to the Spartans.
#1 Duke Blue Devils
The 2014-15 Duke Blue Devils were in an interesting position going into the season; they recruited three stellar athletes that would be starters as freshman. It has happened before, but Coach K is notorious for giving playing time to seniors and veterans of the roster, so having two starters as freshman is a scenario more accustom to John Calipari Kentucky who seem to have endless freshman every year. The adversity was obviously handled well, for the Blue Devils went on a 14-0 run to start the season where they won their games by an average of a little above 21 points as well as they were one of the last three unbeaten teams in the country. This season, Duke has beaten three ranked teams (Micigan State, Wisconsin, and Louisville) plus the defending nation champion UConn Huskies. Tyrus Jones, Jahlil Okafor, and Justice Winslow have all solidified the fact they belong in Cameron Indoor. The trio is impressive for sure, scoring a combined 674 points. Okafor is a projected first overall selection, but with the continued success of the team, it would make sense for him to stay at school and develop. NC State and Miami were two schools that knocked Duke off of their track for an undefeated season. The perfect record wasn't going to happen, but it was a bit surprising when the Wolfpack was able to halt that dream early. The more surprising piece of it all is that the Hurricanes added a second straight loss, especially at Cameron where Duke is historically dominant. Duke holds the top four longest home win streaks in the ACC and the longest non-conference home win streak in the NCAA so obvious dominance in Durham as the Crazies often call it the #HardestRoadGame. Either way, Duke has found a way to win this season, and they will continue on to a national championship, or well, that's at least what this Devils fan thinks.
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Thursday, January 8, 2015
Nightengale's Take on 2015 Baseball HOF
An excellent article was brought to y attention the other day by my grandpa, and I couldn't think of a better place to share it, then the SBCHive. All credit goes to Bob Neightengale of USAToday.com for an extremely well-written aricle.
They had the most hazardous job in all of baseball.
They were pitchers, smack in the heart of the steroid era.
It's only fitting that in this new era of pitching dominance, baseball welcomed in three of its pioneers Tuesday, who thrived during the most difficult pitching conditions in baseball history.
Welcome to the Hall of Fame: Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz, elected just a year after Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine.
It's the first time in history that three pitchers were voted into the Hall of Fame in a single season.
And with second baseman Craig Biggio joining the club, it's the first time since 1955 that four players were elected in a single ballot.
Yet, with apologies to Biggio, this ballot was all about the pitching.
Johnson, Martinez and Smoltz were among the preeminent pitchers at a time when juiced hitters that produced cartoon numbers dominated the game.
They won nine Cy Young awards, led the league in strikeouts 14 seasons, and won nine ERA titles.
They stand from Johnson, 6-foot-10, the tallest man ever inducted into the Hall of Fame, to Martinez, 5-foot-11, the shortest right-hander to be inducted, and Smoltz, 6-4, the greatest hybrid pitcher who started and relieved.
"Can you imagine if those guys pitched in today's era,'' former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone told USA TODAY Sports, "and not when hitters were doing what they were doing. They wouldn't give up a run.
"It was a different game back then. The game isn't close to being what it was when they pitched.''
A juiced game, when bulked-up hitters were bashing 60 or 70 home runs, and driving in 100 runs by the All-Star break, and crooked numbers dominated the scoreboard.
This past year, with drug testing fully implemented, and amphetamines now banned, just one player - Nelson Cruz - hit 40 home runs.
There was a reason why Bert Blyleven was the only starting pitcher to be inducted from 2000 to 2013, with his career ending before the steroid era.
We've now had five starting pitchers earn Hall of Fame berths in a two-year window.
It should be six, of course, but Roger Clemens and his seven Cy Young awards remain on the outside looking in, his career shrouded by the steroid controversy. The same, of course, goes for Barry Bonds, baseball's all-time home run king who's considered one of the greatest players since Babe Ruth.
"It's actually sad to be honest,'' Martinez said. "I feel sad for them they're not going to be with me. I know they were special players, people I admired.
"I had probably more than one reason to do it. I could have gone the short way. But I did it clean. I did the right way. You have to respect the game. You have to respect yourself. You have to respect your family.''
It would have been easy for any of the pitching triumvirate to complain about the injustice of competing during the steroid era. Mistakes weren't landing in the outfield for singles. They were clearing the fences, even stadiums, for homers.
Yet, none of them ever publicly complained about pitching during this time.
Smoltz says he actually began letting his feelings known about baseball's steroid problem in 2000, but only in private conversations, never making it a public vendetta. He always hoped there would be changes, and the implementation of a drug-testing policy. He just never imagined that it would now be the most comprehensive in American team sports, thanks to the union and baseball management.
"I tried to find different ways to make my point,'' Smoltz says, "because I cared and loved the game for so long. I just didn't think we could get to this point.
"he game has found a way to show the legitimacy to show the fans whether what they were watching is legitimate or not."
The only trouble now, of course, is weeding through future Hall of Fame ballots and determining who was clean, and who was dirty. There will be plenty of attention focused this next year on catcher Mike Piazza, who has admitted to androstenedione, which was not banned by baseball at the time. He drew 69% of the votes, and is a strong candidate to be elected next year with center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. and closer Trevor Hoffman.
"I realize the fans and media have hard time determining,'' Smoltz says. "Hopefully in time, it becomes clearer for all parties involved.''
If nothing else, the Hall of Fame logjam is now clearing.
Just two years after no one was elected, drawing heavy scrutiny that the Hall of Fame voting process was broken, we've elected seven players in the last two years, with another three likely next year. We had 51% of the writers voting for the maximum 10 spots compared to just 22% in 2013.
The biggest remaining question now will be whether anyone with links to steroids will ever be inducted. Mark McGwire (10%) and Sammy Sosa (6%), baseball's heroes back in 1998, are clinging to dear life on the ballot. The candidacy for Bonds (36.8%) and Clemens (37.5%) remains at a stalemate, with the needle barely moving.
"I don't know what guys were doing, all I know is that it wasn't part of my life,'' says Biggio, the first Astros' player elected, who wept after being informed of the news. "Other choices players made, that was their choice.''
Just as it's the choice of voters to decide on the fate of Bonds and Clemens.
So far, no one's budging.
Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale
Courtesy of BBWAA, Baseball-Reference.com
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