The LeBron Tracker?

Did you know ESPN has a separate LeBron page?  I can click here and get all the latest on the LeBron watch.  That's pretty funny when there has been exactly zero news that is worthwhile since the Cavs were unceremoniously bounced from the playoffs (again).

Anyway, I have a pretty good idea where LeBron is going, and where the other high profile free agents this off-season will end up.  You want to know?

LeBron James, New York Knicks
Look, the Cavs aren't going to get better, and, although there is a nice situation waiting in Chicago (and with the Clippers actually, sans the owner), New York is New York.  Reviving basketball in the Garden would be stuff of legend.  Also, the Knicks, with the addition of one more max free agent, would be better than the Cavs right now.  You don't think every able bodied veteran would line up to play in New York with LeBron for minimal contracts?  Guys would be begging to play in Gotham.  Which leads us to...

Chris Bosh, New York Knicks
Bosh would be the Gasol to LeBron's Kobe.  A big and a wing that dominates the ball, it works.  Bosh would be easily convinced if James is on board.

Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat
You think Wade is leaving South Beach?  Crazy talk.  Only scenario where that happens is if they can't get someone else to join the party.  Shouldn't be difficult.  Then, watch Pat Riley get the coaching itch again.

Amare Stoudamire, Miami Heat
Amare is the next best big on the market, and the Heat will land the biggest fish that doesn't go to New York.  That's Amare.  Now, do they have a big who can defend?

Joe Johnson, Miami Heat
Yes, the Heat actually have enough cap room to pull this off.  If they can convince Johnson to take less than the max, big if, yes, but, JJ just got 70 mil from Atlanta.  If he gets another 50 and gets to play with Wade and Stoudemire in Miami?  I think it happens.

Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls
Of course, this scenario leaves the Bulls sitting at the table.  Boozer is the best low post scorer available after Bosh and Amare, and the Bulls have lacked a low post scorer for a decade.  Johnson could land here too if he plays contract hardball.

Dirk Nowitski, Dallas Mavericks
He and Cuban bake snickerdoodles together.

That's it for the big names, which leaves the Clippers, Nets, Wolves and others with money to spend in a deserted landscape...wich should make for some comedic offers to restricted guys like Rudy Gay, Tyrus Thomas and Luis Scola.

Cheers,
TFAM

Madness

So, I may be riding streak of 20 or so years since I won a NCAA pool.  As a matter of fact, even the year that I had Georgia Tech making a deep run as a four seed, I think my brother picked all four final four squads and took my money.  Yes, it was a two person pool.  Anyway, you want to know what I think?  I have a funny feeling about Wisconsin (Big Ten's experience always shows well), I love BYU, I think Kentucky is going to disappoint, and as much as I tried, I can't find anyone that I feel good about beating Kansas.  The Syracuse center killed it for me.

Breakout star?  If KSU can beat BYU, it's the Clemente kid.  I think that guy is fantastic.

Just the winners here...

Midwest Region 

First round
Kansas
Northern Iowa
Maryland
Michigan St.
San Diego St.
Georgetown
Oklahoma St.
Ohio St.

Second Round
Kansas
Maryland
Georgetown
Ohio St.

Sweet 16
Kansas
Georgetown

Region Champ:  Kansas

West Region

First Round
Syracuse
Florida St
UTEP
Vandy
Xavier
Pitt
BYU
Kansas St.

Second Round
Syracuse
UTEP
Pitt
BYU

Sweet 16
Syracuse
BYU

Region Champ:  Syracuse

East Region

First round
Kentucky
Texas
Temple
Wisconsin
Marquette
New Mexico
Missou
West Virginia

Second Round
Kentucky
Wisconsin
New Mexico
West Virginia

Sweet 16
Wisconsin
West Virginia

Region Champ:  Wisconsin

South Region

First Round
Duke
Cal
Texas A&M
Purdue
Notre Dame
Baylor
Richmond
Villanova

Second Round
Duke
Texas A&M
Baylor
Villanova

Sweet 16
Duke
Baylor

Region Champ:  Baylor

Final Four
Kansas over Syracuse
Baylor over Wisconsin

Kansas 79, Baylor 68

Cheers,
TFAM

Friday Five

The Olympics start today, which makes me think back to the likes of Pirmin Zurbriggen and Eddie the Eagle (the real one, not crappy Belfour), two of my favorite winter olympians ever.  Still nothing those two did can top the five greatest winter olympic moments I have unearthed for the Five this week.  Before I get to that though, I'll lay down my predictions on the hockey tourney.

Gold medal game:  Sweden over Canada, again...(more on this later).
Bronze medal game:  Russia over Finland

Sweden is always my squad and you can bet I'll be busting out my Tre Kroner Forsberg jersey multiple times over the next couple of weeks.  Sweden's squad is just devastating, with the Sedin's, Zetterberg, Backstrom, Alfredsson and co. up front along with Forsberg, Lidstrom and friends on the blue line and Lundqvist in net.

Anyway, onto the five greatest winter olympic moments.  I actually rode down the Lillihammer track in a bobsled, BTW.  It was a top five moment of my life.

Respect, Mon!

Hermann Maier won multiple gold medals in 1998 days after this scene in his downhill race.

How about this Australian dude winning gold in short track.  Right place, right time?  Classic.

I have to save the number one spot, but Forsberg's shootout goal to help take down Canada for gold in 1994 (when he was still an amateur) was the greatest I have seen considering the circumstances.

Finally, you know Miracle on Ice is number one.  Michels call is legendary, and the moment is still breathtaking 30 years later.

Cheers,
TFAM

Friday Five

J.D. Salinger died yesterday.  I'm not that well read and don't pretend to be, but I always did love "The Catcher in the Rye".  Pretty sure the phrase teen angst was created by those who were discussing the immortal Holden Caulfield, and of course, without teen angst, we would never have been priviledged to know about wizard angst at all.  Anyway, the Five this week is dedicated to the recluse author, as I have identified five favorite Salinger quips below.  To make this even a bit more fun, I've connected each of them to a figure in today's world of sports.  Enjoy.

“I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.”

“Mothers are all slightly insane.”

“Its really hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs.”

“It was a very stupid thing to do, I'll admit, but I hardly didn't even know I was doing it.”

"Some people you shouldn't kid, even if they deserve it. "
Cheers,
TFAM

Friday Five

On the eve of the greatest football weekend of the year, I thought I would dedicate the Five to my favorite football game of all time, the 1981 AFC divisional playoff game between the Chargers and Dolphins iin the Orange Bowl.

Check out this clip of a drive by the Chargers.  I noticed a bunch of things, like Kellen Winslow dunking on the goal post, but most of all I was struck by how much the 1981 Chargers played like a 2009 team.  They spread it out and threw it around, even using a version of a WR bubble screen.  I knew about Air Coryell, I loved the Chargers when I was young, but I had forgotten just how good that passing game was.

Speaking of Winslow, you can see the footage of him being carried off the field at the end of the game as he is suffering from cramps at the end of this clip.  I had almost forgotten he blocked the FG too.

That game was also famous for two more things.  The invention of the hook and ladder (or, hook and lateral), nice work Shula.  Also, Rolf Benirschke kicked the game winner in that one, which was his second greatest moment ever, right behind his entertaining turn as host of Wheel of Fortune for six months in 1989.  This is high comedy.

Finally, what is forgotten about this Chargers team was that the next week they had to travel to Cincinnati to play in the coldest game in NFL history.  Fifty-nine below zero wind chill with a Super Bowl on the line.  Incredible.

Cheers,
TFAM

Friday Five

Short and sweet.  Five things I'd rather do than listen to any more of the Tiger Woods saga.  I'm done.

I'd rather try and defend this guy on the pitch.

Keeping with teh same theme, I'd rather try and stop a free kick by Roberto Carlos.

I'd rather stand trial in Maricopa County, Arizona.

I'd rather have this lady deliver my mail.

I'd rather have been this cheerleader at the Utah Jazz game.

Cheers,
TFAM

Friday Five

Have you ever encountered a wild turkey?  I have, and I can tell you, all the videos you can find that chronicle turkey attacks are 100 percent accurate.  They do not leave you alone.

In honor of Thanksgiving, here are five things I'd rather do than mess with a wild turkey.

I'd rather challenge this girl to an archery competition.

Staying with the contortionist theme, I'd rather crawl into a box.

I'd rather have Braylon Edwards on my fantasy team.  This is so classically funny.

I'd rather have this goalie on my soccer team.

I'd rather have tried to figure out what this "catchphrase" was.

Cheers,
TFAM

Friday Five

I can't show it, but this week, the five is dedicated to the woman who was on the wrong end of a battle with a chimpanzee.  Here are five things I'd rather do than own, or work for someone who owns, a chimpanzee.

I'd rather celebrate a touchdown like this.

I'd rather have to defend Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl.

I'd rather have this woman as my mother, I think.

I'd rather referee a game with this guy involved.

I'd rather go on Millionaire as a contestant from Harvard and cry when I lose.

Cheers,
TFAM

Pic of the week

I just can't get over the eyes on everyone in this picture.  Credit the UPI for the image.  Yes, America has a LFL -- Lingerie Football League.

Cheers,
TFAM