Best and Worst of the NBA

Who's hot, who's not in the NBA:

-(December 12th-20th)-

HIGH 5

1-Boston (last ten: 10-0, 13 straight wins)

I am beginning to think I've underestimated the Boston Celtics, though I'm not sure how that is possible. I've thought they were a phenomenal force all season, all offseason, and even before that. Yet still, as I write this, I find it hard to wrap my mind around just what they've been able to do this year. We just passed the quarter-of-the-way mark of the season, and Boston has 4 losses (last loss was Sunday Nov 21st). Four! 'Nuff said.

2-Miami (last ten: 10-0, 12 straight wins)

The Heat continue to embarrass fools night in and out. They haven't lost since November 27th, and are on a collision course for an Eastern Conference Finals showdown next Spring with the Celtics. When they threw their Championship Celebration last June with James, Wade, and Bosh accompanied by fireworks and hip-hop, I rolled my eyes and didn't buy in. I still might be right, but I think only injuries can stop them now. (that, and the Celtics)

3-San Antonio (last ten: 9-1, 8 straight wins)

All the Spurs do is go to work and collect wins. If there were a word better than consistent to describe this team, I would use it here. They have stars and depth on their roster, and can wreak havoc on any team in the league. The only question with San Antonio this year: Are they TOO quiet?

4-Lakers (last ten: 8-2, 5 straight wins)

The defending champs are back to their old selves. Either you love 'em or you hate 'em, and if you hate 'em you could be in for another long year. They are the team to beat in the West, even if they have had their bumps this season. It is also curious that they are a better team statistically when Kobe Bryant takes 20 shots or less from the field....

5-Dallas (last ten: 9-1)

The Mavericks are a powerful team, no doubt about it. They win at home, they win on the road. They win in a house, or with a mouse; in a box, or with a fox; they win, that's what they do. My only hesitance with the Mavs comes with their propensity in the past to perfect the art of the choke.

HONORABLE MENTION:
Houston (last ten: 7-3, 2 straight)

LOW 5

1-Cleveland (last ten: 0-10, 1-10 in last eleven)

If you're a fan of a professional sports team in Cleveland, you have all my apologies and sympathies I can muster. The Cavaliers are a terrible basketball team, and they are proving just how important LeBron was to their past successes. When your best features are the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Drew Carey, and a movie called "Major League," (not necessarily in that order, either) you don't have much to offer. And the Cavaliers are not helping.

2-Washington (last ten: 1-9, 7 straight losses)

The Wizards recently completed a trade with the Magic, sending Gilbert Arenas to Orlando and receiving Rashard Lewis in his place. Too bad it won't change anything for Washington. Beyond John Wall, this franchise has nothing going for it. Even the President gave them the cold shoulder, choosing to attend a Georgtown Hoyas game over a Wizards'. These days I think DC stands for: Don't Compete.

3-Sacramento (last ten: 1-9, 5 straight losses)

The only thing royal about the Kings these days in the pain they cause their fans to feel in their backsides. And the owners (the Madoofs, er, Maloofs) don't seem to care. Sacramento is already a city of has-beens: Schwarzenegger, Kevin Johnson, and the Kings. Weird that two of the three have ties to basketball...

4-Minnesota (last ten: 2-8, 5 straight losses)

There are 3 things the T'Wolves have going for them right now: Kevin Love, Kevin Love, and the fact that they are NOT Cleveland or Washington. Though they aren't far off. Minnesota is an awful team, in an awful basketball-city, with awful upper-management. I fear that in the near future we will see the Wolves go the "way" of the Seattle Sonics: Away.

5-Golden State (last ten: 2-8)

The Warriors are just another of the terrible organizations in the NBA, and their loss record shows it. They're 9-17 on the year, and have only won 2 of their last ten games. Those two wins, mind you, came against the previously mentioned unfathomably-bad Minnesota Timberwolves. Beyond one Monta Ellis and one Steph Curry, Golden State is a roster of unathletic, non-hustling players who can't even make their free throws (Andris Biedrins is 52% for his career, and a putrid 25% this season from the charity stripe). Head Coach Keith Smart is a good coach, and would be a great fit and hire for any team out there. It's just too bad he's stuck with the Warriors.

HONORABLE MENTION:
New Jersey (last ten: 2-8, 5-15 overall...oy vay)

Best and Worst of the NBA

Who's hot, who's not in the NBA:

HIGH 5

1-Dallas (last ten: 10-0, 11 straight wins)

If the NBA Finals were held today, the Mavericks would certainly be the favorite to represent the Western Conference. No one is hotter right now, as they have won 11 straight games, including 5 road games. They haven't lost since November 19th, and are currently enjoying a 6 game homestand.

2-Boston (last ten: 9-1, 9 straight wins)

The Celtics lost 20 days ago in Toronto, by one point. Since that game Boston has rattled off 9 straight, including a last second victory over the 76ers. Good teams win games they're supposed to, but GREAT teams find a way to win the ones they should probably have lost. Anyone who saw the Celtics beat the 76ers the other night would agree that Boston should probably have lost that game, but found a way to pull it off. That's what makes them great.

3-New York (last ten: 9-1, 7 straight wins)

The Knicks (yes, the Knicks) are winning games like it's the year 2000. That was the last time the Knicks had a winning streak of 8 games, a stretch they've now eclipsed (the streak may be tested this week, however, as NY hosts Denver, Boston, and Miami). They've won 12 of their last 13 games, and have the most road wins in the entire league with 10. Amare Stoudemire has had 7-straight 30 point games for New York, and is in the early talks for MVP. Remember, I said EARLY talks.

4-Miami (last ten: 8-2, 7 straight wins)

Miami Thrice. The 3 Alarm Fire. Third Degree Burners. Whatever you want to call them, they have finally started to gel together. After a disappointing start to the year, the Miami Heat have won 7 straight, including 4 on the road, and aren't looking to stop anytime soon. Their next ten opponents have as many combined losses as victories, 100 wins to 100 losses. Only question is what happens when Wade goes out with his annual injuries?

5-San Antonio (last ten: 8-2, 4 straight wins)

Don't forget about the Spurs. They are boring, plain, and classic. They don't have high flying dunks and flashy, boisterous personalities. What they do have is something every team wants: WINS, and lots of them. They also have ol' Poppy. So long as Duncan is able to play and Popovich is coaching, the Spurs will be a force to reckon with in the West. And who wouldn't want Parker and Ginobili as their starting backcourt? And oh yeah, San Antonio only has 3 road games left in the month, not that it matters. The Spurs are 8-1 on the road this season...

HONORABLE MENTION:

-Utah Jazz (last ten: 8-2)

Deron Williams continues his MVP-like season, and everyone around him continues to fill up the stat sheet as well. Still not sure EXACTLY what type of team they are, but the Jazz are 12-1 when they score 100 points and boast one of the best defenses statistically in the NBA this season. 7 of their remaining 9 games for the month are on the road, which should reveal a little more about who the Utah Jazz are: Contenders, or Pretenders.

LOW 5

1-Golden State (last ten: 1-9, six straight losses)

Having lost six straight games, the Warriors are easily the worst team currently in the league. They're giving up an average of 107 points per game, third worst in that category, and their second leading scorer, Steph Curry, is out with a sprained right ankle. The silver lining is that they have played a flurry of elite teams as of late, including losses to the Spurs (2), Heat, Mavs, and Thunder.

2-New Jersey (last ten: 2-8, six straight losses)

Remember when LeBron James was rumored to be signing with the Nets? Well, that was the highlight so far this year for New Jersey fans; something that didn't even happen. But hey, it's better than last year at least. They have six wins, which didn't occur until February 27th last season. (but that's like being happy that the deck chairs survived the Titanic sinking)

3-Cleveland (last ten: 2-8, six straight losses)

When you first think of the Cavaliers and their losing ways, you try and justify it by reminding yourself that King James took his talents and left. But when you look at who they've played (and lost to), you realize their losing ways are worse than you originally thought. Those six straight losses included games against Minnesota, Detroit, and Philadelphia. All for one, and one for...oh forget it.

4-Washington (last ten: 2-8, four straight losses)

Depressed yet? Hopefully you're not a Wizards fan, because this paragraph won't help. Washington ranks in the bottom ten of the league in Points (20th), Rebounds (29th), Assists (22nd), and Points Allowed (27th) per game. Of their 9 games left in December, the Wizards play 7 teams who are above .500, including the Lakers, Heat, Bulls, and Spurs. They are also 0-10 on the road. Merry Christmas, John Wall!

5-Detroit (last ten: 2-8, 3 straight losses)

All 7 of their wins have come against teams below .500. They are 2-12 on the road, 5-5 at home. They are last in their division, which is the worst division in the Eastern Conference with a combined winning percentage of .432 (43%). Look for the Pistons in the lottery next June!

HONORABLE MENTION:

-Minnesota (last ten: 2-8)

The only reason Minnesota is an honorable mention and not in the Low 5 is Kevin Love. The man-cub-beast is phenomenal. Because of him, the Timberwolves lead the league in rebounds per game at 46. He can pass, shoot from distance, rebound like a machine, and post up if given the opportunity. Other than Love, I don't know why anyone attends Minnesota's games. Unless they go to see the visiting team.

The Rivalry Game: 50/50 Chance of Having a Crappy Day

Whether you go for red or cheer on the blue; no matter if you rise and shout, or exclaim what kind of man you are; it doesn't even make any difference if you're a real big football fan or not; tomorrow brings the greatest day in the college football schedule for fans in the state of Utah.

The Holy War.

A name which has taken on a higher dose of irony in recent years (remember Max Hall? Stay Classy, My Friends).

This is the last time the Cougars and Utes will meet up as conference foes, as both head for different destinations next season. Utah, the Pac12. BYU, Indepenence. While it's true the schools could someday end up in the same conference again, it's not likely.

What IS likely: There's a 50/50 chance that you'll have a crappy day, depending on which team wins.

So make some nachoes, plop down on the couch, and enjoy the game! If your team loses, skip church on Sunday. If they win, call your neighbor who roots for the other side and offer them a ride TO church.

Whatever the result, whatever you do, however you react, just remember this: Pouring beer on somebody's family doesn't make you cool. It makes you a Utah fan.

And living in 1984 doesn't make you classic. It makes you a BYU fan.

But tomorrow, either of those might also make you a winner.

_____________________________________________________________________
Here are my annual predictions for the game:

BYU:

Rushing-175 yards, 2 TDs

Passing-115 yards, 1 TD

Field Goals-1 of 2

Turnover margin- -2

UTAH:

Rushing- 200 yards, 3 TDs

Passing- 110 yards, 1 TD

Field Goals- 1 of 1

Turnover margin- +2

BOTH:
Total Personal Fouls in the game: 3

Total number of plays that are reviewed or challenged: 4

Number of times Robert Anae calls for a run on 3rd down: 4

Number of trick plays Whittingham's team tries: 2


Final Score:

Utah: 31 BYU: 24

BYU Football: A Drama Even Shakespeare Couldn't Have Written

This season for the BYU football team has more closely followed a mid-day soap opera script rather than one written for a soon-to-be-Independent football program. There’s been controversy at quarterback; drama at wide receiver; players suspended and one kicked off the team.

Losses. BIG losses.

Then there was the firing of Jaime Hill, the team’s defensive coordinator.

This Cougar football squad has had enough drama to last an 8th grade girl through.......well, at least through lunch time.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more “Daniel Day-Lewis”, in rolls the Wyoming Cowboys with a quarterback whose name even sounds like a soap opera actor: Austyn Carta-Samuels.


Yes, TV Guide was on hand in the press box, and the E! channel had a studio set up in the parking lot. I think I even saw Ryan Seacrest complaining at the concession stand about the lack of Apple Martinis on the menu.

And if it hadn’t have been for two key first half turnovers, the Cougars may have escaped LaVell Edwards Stadium without any of the as-advertised theatrics (how many times do you write/read about BYU having to “escape” from their home stadium?).

Alas, this is the Year of the Dramatic in Provo, and October 23rd 2010 proved to be no different.

From my seat in the richly upholstered, plush press box high above the field and out of the cold rain I watched as BYU time and again had an opportunity to put the Cowboys out for good, only to let it slip away from them.

In the first half, the Cougars came out running, and HOW!

The opening play of the game was a deep pass to Cody Hoffman from Jake Heaps which Hoffman got his left hand on but wasn't able to reel it in. After that, I honestly don't remember another pass on the drive. I know there probably was one, but it wasn't pertinent. The Cougars marched down the field with Kariya, Quezada, and Di Luigi taking hand offs, finally sending Di Luigi around the left end and diving into the end zone for the touchdown.

The pass I do remember from the first half was the pick six that Heaps gifted to the Cowboys. BYU had the ball at their own 45 yard line or so, and they ran a bubble screen to their back. And that back probably would have gained a huge amount of yards had the ball made it to him. Heaps rolled left, eyed the open receiver, and promptly threw it right to the linebacker who had gotten between him and the receiver. Had he simply DUMPED the ball OVER the linebacker, it might have gone for a BYU touchdown. Instead, the frozen rope went straight into the white jersey of the defender, who then took it back to the house for a touchdown.

(The one bright spot in the passing game was a beautiful little number tossed into the corner of the end zone for senior WR Luke Ashworth, who corralled the ball for a touchdown, his first of the year)

Luckily for BYU, the Wyoming punting game was embarrassing. The Cowboys opted for a scrum/rigby style punting scheme, which backfired twice. Once for 15 yards, once for 8 yards. The second one actually hit the long snapper in the back of the helmet. Had Wyoming not wet the bed field-position wise, the Cougars might not be celebrating a victory today.

Just like any good play, movie, or soap opera, Saturday's episode had a happy ending for the Cougars. Wyoming drove the ball all the way down the field with only seconds remaining in the game. On 3rd and 10 inside the red zone and BYU leading by 25-20, Wyoming's Carta-Samuels threw a perfect pass to his wide receiver around the 5 yard line. I was standing on the sideline on that part of the field at the time, and had a wonderful view and angle of the play. Cornerback Brandon Bradley promptly reached around the receiver and knocked the ball to the ground. The crowd roared, Bradley celebrated, and Wyoming was livid. Bradley had in fact gotten away with "football murder." Pass interference. Bradley's right arm was wrapped around the Wyoming receiver's waist as he reached in front with his left hand. In fact, his arm wasn't just wrapped around him...Bradley got down right cozy with the guy! He cuddled with him in mid air! How he got away with it is beyond me. But on the very next play, 4th and 10, Carta-Samuels' pass was tipped up in the air and caught by an O-lineman, who tried to lateral it backwards as he was tackled to the ground, but it was no use.

The game was over, and the Cougars had pulled off a harrowing victory by a mere 5 points.

At home.

Against Wyoming.

Yes, THAT Wyoming.....

In all, it was a fun game to watch and study, and it made a rainy Saturday afternoon a lot of fun. BYU showed glimmers of promise and strength for the future, though there is still a lot of problems that need to be worked out.

"The Ghost of Drama Past" has not left their presence just yet. If you don't believe me, let me leave you with this one anecdote from today's game. The Cougars were called for a penalty in the 2nd quarter, the type of which I can't recall. That's not important. What is important was the number of the player who committed the foul. Or, rather, the number that the referee ANNOUNCED as the offender.

It was number 4. O'Neill Chambers. Mr Drama himself. Even though he's been kicked off the team, he still found a way to inject a little of his own drama into the game.

Coincidence? Omen? Either way, the bottom line is that it is evident that this team is still struggling to stay above water. Had they not pulled out that big stop at the end, giving Wyoming the victory....well, then we DEFINITELY would have received our Academy-Awards-level of drama to last us the rest of our lifetimes.

And that's the bottom line.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Aggies Defeat Cougars; Pigs Learn to Fly

The BYU football team lost to the Utah State Aggies this past Friday night for the first time since 1993. 17 years. I was 8 years old in 1993. In fact this was only the 2nd time Utah State has defeated the Cougars while I've been alive. It hasn't even been close. From 1985 to 2009, BYU outscored Utah State 402-261. The idea of BYU losing to Utah State in football seemed as likely to me as the Pittsburgh Pirates winning a World Series. But not only did the Aggies beat BYU, they creamed them.

Start planning the parade route, Pittsburgh! It's your turn.

The loss in Logan dropped BYU's record to 1-4. While many in Cougar Nation are displeased with the offense's inability to score points like the fans are used to seeing, the team's defense has also been less than stellar. In fact, going into Friday night's match-up, the Cougars ranked 94th (out of 119)in rushing defense, and 87th in points allowed. True, the offense's ranking is just as bad, but they lost 3 starters at key positions from last year to the NFL, including their QB. They were expected to struggle. The defense was supposed to be better than this.

Following yet another dismal performance on the defensive side of the ball at Utah State, BYU announced Saturday that defensive coordinator Jaime Hill would be relieved of his duties for the remainder of this season, and would not return to the staff next year. For anyone that isn't following, that's a nice way of saying, "You're fired, now get out and don't ever come back."

After hearing of the announcement, I first felt bad for Hill. Having witnessed him with the players on the roster at practice and during training camp earlier this Fall, I know the team really likes him, and that he works really hard at what he does. I was also among those who believed that the offensive play calling may have been more to blame than the defense's shortcomings. So I decided to go back through the Utah State game and try to see what made Bronco Mendenhall come to the decision to fire Hill. Here is what I found.

I decided to break down the 3rd down attempts on both sides of the ball for BYU. Offense: did they convert or not, and what plays were called. Defense: did they stop Utah State or not, and what plays were called against them.

(full break down posted at bottom of text)

-OFFENSE:

Out of 19 3rd downs, BYU was successful on only 8 tries. They chose to rush the ball 4 times, passing it the remaining 15 times. It was my personal belief that BYU was running the ball on 3rd down when they should have been throwing it, and that THAT was the reason for the low success rate. However, this was not the case Friday night. In fact, BYU ran the ball only once on 3rd down when they had 4 or more yards to go. The other 3 rushing attempts were with 3 or 2 yards to go, respectively. What really killed the success rate was incomplete passes. The Cougars were 7 for 15 passing on 3rd down. Out of these 15 passing attempts, the play ended on an incompletion 6 times (Heaps was sacked once, and JJ Di Luigi ran a route 1 yard short of the first). If those 6 passes would have been caught, BYU's 3rd down success rate would have jumped from 42% to 74%.

So I blame the players on this one. The play calls seem to be the right choice in the situation provided. One disclaimer, though, is that BYU should probably be avoiding 3rd downs on offense more often if they want to turn this thing around. That is to say, the play calls on 2nd down might need some tweaking.

-DEFENSE:

Out of Utah State's offense's 18 3rd downs, they were successful 11 times. That is to say, BYU's defense only had 7 3rd down stops in the whole game, an embarrassing 39% success rate. I wanted to see what was giving the Cougars more trouble: the passing or the running game. The Aggies only passed 4 times on 3rd down, running it the other 14 times. While BYU only stopped the pass once on 3rd down, they gave up first downs on the ground an amazing 8 times on 3rd down (you can see how many yards the Aggies had to go to get the first down on each of the tries). While the players are responsible for executing the plays that are called, the coach is in charge of choosing the best play to set his guys up for success. Out of the 14 times Utah State ran it on 3rd down, they had less than 4 yards to go 9 times. To me, that means the Cougars should have expected the run at LEAST 9 times on 3rd down. Yet they still gave up a first down 8 times out of 14. This lies specifically with Coach Hill's play calling.

While Hill did well to get the Cougars to hold Utah State through 1st and 2nd downs, the ones that count most are 3rd downs. And here is where he failed miserably.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

I don't feel that the Cougars' defensive problems are over, and I wouldn't even expect very much from their YOUNG offense for the rest of the season, either. But I do know that while Bronco Mendenhall was acting as defensive coordinator, the BYU defense was a powerhouse. And since the time Hill took that responsibility over to the present day, the BYU defense has slipped to the point that they are now ranked among the worst defenses in the country. Was firing Hill the right move? I believe it was ONE of the right moves. The only question that remains: What move will BYU make next?

I'm glad I'm just a reporter, not a coach. I like having a job that depends SOLELY on MY actions, and not others'.

And that's the bottom line.

Here's the break down text:

3rd down tries, Offense: 42%, 8/19
4 times rushing:1/4
-Yards to go: 3, 3, 5, 2
15 times passing, 7/15
-sacks: 1
-incompletions: 6
-would've been 13/19 if completed


3rd down stops, Defense: 39%, 7/18
-14 times rushing, 6/14 stops
Yards to go: 1, 3, 6, 1, 1, 3, 13, 1, 1, 2, 5, 14, 9, 2
-4 times passing, 1/4 stops
Yards to go: 6, 7, 7, 8
-stop came on the 6 to go play
-incomplete pass


Game Chart: 3rd Down Plays
KEY:
-rushing plays are in italics
-passing plays are in normal font
-offensive successful results are bolded

1st QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at USU 38 JJ Di Luigi rush for no gain to the UthSt 38.

3rd and 4 at BYU 12 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 3 yards to the BYU 15.
3rd and 8 at BYU 24 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 8 yards to the BYU 32 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 5 at USU 47 Jake Heaps pass intercepted by Chris Randle at the UthSt 43, returned for 4 yards to the UthSt 47.

1/4 3rd down conversions

Defense:
3rd and 1 at USU 12 Diondre Borel rush for 39 yards to the BYU 49 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 6 at BYU 45 Diondre Borel pass incomplete to Kellen Bartlett.

3rd and 3 at BYU 46 Travis Reynolds rush for 6 yards to the BYU 40 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 7 at BYU 37 Diondre Borel pass complete to Derrvin Speight for 19 yards to the BYU 18 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 6 at BYU 14 Kerwynn Williams rush for a loss of 3 yards to the BYU 17.

2/5 3rd down stops

2nd QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at BYU 33 Joshua Quezada rush for 6 yards to the BYU 39 for a 1ST down

3rd and 5 at BYU 44 Jake Heaps pass complete to McKay Jacobson for 10 yards to the UthSt 46 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 5 at USU 41 JJ Di Luigi rush for 4 yards to the UthSt 37.

3rd and 8 at USU 20 Jake Heaps pass complete to Cody Hoffman for 9 yards to the UthSt 11 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 5 at USU 6 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Marcus Mathews, broken up by Walter McClenton.

3rd and 1 at BYU 41 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to JJ Di Luigi.

3/6 3rd down conversions

Defense:
3rd and 7 at USU 40 Diondre Borel pass complete to Kellen Bartlett for 14 yards to the BYU 46 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 1 at BYU 37 Derrvin Speight rush for 3 yards to the BYU 34 for a 1ST down.

3rd and Goal at BYU 1 Diondre Borel rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.

3rd and 3 at BYU 6 Joey DeMartino rush for 4 yards to the BYU 2 for a 1ST down.

0/4 3rd down stops

3rd QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 3 at USU 36 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 5 yards to the UthSt 31 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 10 at USU 31 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to JJ Di Luigi.

3rd and Goal at USU 2 JJ Di Luigi rush for a loss of 2 yards to the UthSt 4.

3rd and 7 at BYU 47 Jake Heaps pass complete to Cody Hoffman for 10 yards to the UthSt 43 for a 1ST down.

2/4 3rd down conversions

Defense:
3rd and 13 at USU 7 Diondre Borel rush for 6 yards to the UthSt 13.

3rd and 8 at USU 33 Diondre Borel pass complete to Kellen Bartlett for 12 yards to the UthSt 45 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 1 at BYU 46 Kerwynn Williams rush for 16 yards to the BYU 30 for a 1ST down.

3rd and Goal at BYU 1 Derrvin Speight rush for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.

3rd and 2 at USU 33 Kerwynn Williams rush for 1 yard to the UthSt 34.

2/5 3rd down stops

4th QUARTER
Offense:
3rd and 22 at BYU 45 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Luke Ashworth, UTAH ST penalty 15 yard Personal Foul on Rajric Coleman accepted.

3rd and 7 at USU 40 Jake Heaps pass incomplete.

3rd and 10 at BYU 18 Jake Heaps sacked by Devin Johnson for a loss of 3 yards to the BYU 15.

3rd and 4 at BYU 31 Jake Heaps pass complete to McKay Jacobson for 16 yards to the BYU 47 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 20 at USU 36 BYU penalty 5 yard Delay of Game accepted.

3rd and 25 at USU 41 Jake Heaps pass incomplete to Cody Hoffman.

3rd and 4 at BYU 40 Jake Heaps pass complete to JJ Di Luigi for 15 yards to the UthSt 45 for a 1ST down.

2/5 3rd down conversions

Defense:
3rd and 5 at BYU 39 Robert Marshall rush for 2 yards to the BYU 37..

3rd and 14 at BYU 35 Joey DeMartino rush for 10 yards to the BYU 25.

3rd and 9 at USU 42 Diondre Borel rush for 11 yards to the BYU 47 for a 1ST down.

3rd and 2 at BYU 39 Diondre Borel rush for 5 yards, fumbled at the BYU 34.

3/4 3rd down stops

THE BOTTOM LINE: BYU to MWC- "It's Not You, It's M...Actually, no...It's YOU!"

"Now I ain’t sayin’ it’s right or it’s wrong, but maybe it’s the only way...Talk about your 'Revolution'. It’s Independence Day!" -Martina McBride

If you haven't heard the news, then you are probably the type of person who doesn't care about sports at all, and therefore wouldn't even be reading this blog entry in the first place. On Wednesday September 1st, 2010 BYU officially announced their plans to ditch the Mountain West Conference following the 2010-11 season, declare Independence in football, and join the West Coast Conference in all but three of their other sports.

Let Freedom Ring!

According to BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe and President Cecil Samuelson, BYU has been exploring the Independent option for a significant amount of time now. The fact that the choice was made NOW, only after the University of Utah had recently been invited into the Pacific 10 conference, leaves room for some skepticism as to how much BYU would have preferred to be in another conference rather than go Independent, but no one came calling to the Cougars, and so here we stand.

And personally, I love it!

I'll go ahead and break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all and tell you why, in the long run, I believe BYU will be much better off as a result of this move:

-Have No Fear, ESPN Is Here

Corvette Stingrays (feel free to substitute your dream car in place of mine) are beautiful, sexy, appealing and desirable vehicles. But without a working engine, all you can do is watch the car sit and gather dust. You can't take it around the block and show it off, causing the gutters to fill with your neighbors' drool. All you can do is hope that they will stop by your place for a visit, and then try and coax them into the garage for a peek at your baby.

But if you put the biggest, greatest, most reliable engine under the hood...well, that changes everything. All you have to do is rev it ever so slightly and watch necks break as they snap all of their attention in your direction.

That engine in this whole ordeal is ESPN.

The #1 perk of going Independent, and really, what made it even possible, is the contract agreement ESPN and BYU signed with each other. Here are the particulars:

-Over the next eight years, at least 3 BYU home football games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, etc.)

-BYUtv can choose to broadcast any games ESPN does not, and will also have the rights to rebroadcast any game (originally on ESPN or not) immediately following the end of said game.

-ALL of BYU's football games will now be available on national television.

Why is ESPN the saving grace? Holmoe admitted in Wednesday's press conference that once the WAC deal (original plan was for BYU to join the WAC in all other sports before the Mountain West invited Fresno State and Nevada to join THAT conference) fell through, "we thought maybe we should wait a year or two and decide [on Independence] later." And then David Brown, ESPN Vice President of Programming, came calling, and persuaded BYU not to stand pat but to move forward, convincing Holmoe and Company that scheduling teams to play would not be a problem with ESPN's influence on board.

And so ESPN became BYU's wing man. You know, that buddy of yours that talks you into asking the cute girl at the party for her phone number rather than just staring at her all night and going home empty handed, wishing you were one of the "cool" guys (read: Utah and their Pac10 invite)who actually had the guts to talk to her.

-Bread and Water

At least for the next couple of years, BYU will indeed experience some growing pains as this decision begins to take root. The WCC is a very good fit for most of the school's other sports, particularly men's basketball as they will face St. Mary's and Gonzaga every year. But there are still three sports that will be lost if they cannot find homes elsewhere: Softball, Track and Field, and Swimming and Diving. While none of these are a cash cow by any means to BYU, they are sports that have storied success in their histories, and LDS athletes who would enroll at BYU to participate in them will now likely choose a different school to attend.

Another hitch in the new plan is the fact that in the 2011-12, 2012-13 football seasons, BYU has made deals with 5 WAC schools to help fill the Cougars' schedule those years. This means that, at least for now, BYU is trading laughable opponents such as Wyoming and New Mexico for the less than stellar likes of Louisana Tech, New Mexico State and Idaho to name a few. There will be trips to sunny Hawai'i to play the Warriors, but other than that there is no draw for Alma Mater's to travel and see the football team play on the road, nor will the turnstiles at LaVell Edwards Stadium be in need of replacing every year due to overuse.

However, while none of that is very attractive, BYU does have the end result of this project to look forward to, and that's when it will get REALLY good.

-Milk and Honey

The decision to go Independent, while not as good as, say, an invite to the Big12 would have been, is the best option currently available for BYU.

-ESPN and ESPN2 are available in 99.5 million homes, while ESPNU is available in 73 million homes nationwide itself. Add BYUtv's 55 million homes in JUST the United States, and that's A LOT of exposure you weren't getting with The Mountain TV channel. BYU has just gone from the "Roadshow" to "THE Show".

Also, BYU's biggest goal has always been to use their sports as a way to get the LDS church into homes that may have otherwise rejected their message. Obviously, when you add ESPN's audiences to the mix, you are opening yourself up to opportunities that would have otherwise not been available. Not to mention the major deals you'll see happen with Notre Dame, Texas, Clemson, Texas Tech, etc. When BYU rolls into town regularly against those teams, people will take note and become curious about BYU, thus becoming more familiar with the school and consequently the LDS church.

-The West Coast Conference offers a wonderful spot for BYU to place their other sports, especially men's basketball. With the likes of Gonzaga, St. Mary's and San Diego, Dave Rose's team should be able to gain as much, if not more, respect and competition as they've had in the MWC.

The WCC also offers 8 other private institutions who are backed by Christian churches, just like BYU. The schedules will be redone so that BYU won't have to play on Sunday, and they will be able to accomplish the school's mission of being a missionary tool in the LDS church's hands in both exposure and recruitment. (Not to mention, Holmoe noted that 58% of BYU's alumni lives in the West Coast Conference's cities) And as far as traveling to road games is concerned, who doesn't want to go to the west coast during the dead of winter in Provo? I am thinking these two factors will lead to a lot of blue and white being in the crowds at ALL games BYU plays in, both home AND away.

-And finally, with greater risk comes the chance of greater reward. While Holmoe denied that this decision had much to do with monetary gain, logic begs to differ. By jumping the MWC ship and getting their own broadcasting system in place, partnered with juggernaut ESPN, BYU undoubtedly is in control of their own destiny money-wise. The risk: Football Independence could fail, and leave BYU worse off than they were with the MWC. The reward (and most likely outcome): More money, more exposure, more missionary opportunities.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

As you enter the gates at BYU, there is a large sign that reads: "The World Is Our Campus."

Ironic (or convenient), then, that ESPN's motto is: "The World Wide Leader In Sports."

World domination seems to be a common goal for both entities; and as long as this blue marble in the sky has enough room for both of them, I believe "Independence Day" will be a much celebrated day in Cougar Nation for years and years yet to come.

And that's the bottom line.

BOTTOM LINE: BYU Camp - 5 Topics That Need to be Addressed This Week

For my sports radio job, I've been attending every BYU practice since the beginning of training camp eight days ago. Based on what I've seen during this time,I've narrowed the immediate challenges facing this team so far down to 5 topics:

1-The Quarterback Race

The "four man race" has clearly been whittled down to a two man competition (though Coach Mendenhall is trying his best to sell James Lark as still having a shot at the starting role). The true freshman phenom Jake Heaps, and the seasoned leader Riley Nelson. They both have their pros and cons, but I personally feel that Heaps is the guy. His pin point precision on the long ball, the natural ability to check through his progressions efficiently, and his confidence in the offense tell me that BYU would be best served having him be their starter NOW. Nelson is a great athlete, don't get me wrong. And he's no slouch as a quarterback, either. But his talents and abilities do not outweigh Heaps', and so I don't see why BYU would keep Heaps from progressing early this year, with Nelson ready to come in when needed.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Heaps needs to be named the starter, and soon, so that the team can get used to him being their leader on the field.

2. Wide Receivers Dropping Passes

The receiving corps at BYU this year are an incredible sight to behold. Tall, athletic, physical and FAST are attributes that could be used to describe each and every one of them. From veterans O'Neill Chambers and McKay Jacobson (not to mention back ups Spencer Hafoka, Luke Ashworth, BJ Peterson and Matt Marshall) to young up-and-comers Ross Apo and Cody Hoffman, whoever ends up being QB will not lack open targets on every play. HOWEVER, there have been WAY too many dropped passes in practice. It's not something that can't be fixed, but it needs to be fixed immediately. If you have a young QB like Heaps making great throws on the numbers to guys 60+ yards down the field, but the ball is being dropped time and again, that ruins a passer's mentality and poisons his confidence.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If this issue can be addressed and nipped quickly, look for a big year from the wideouts this season.

3. Place Kicking

The Cougars have two kickers on the squad this season: Mitch Payne (place kicker), and Riley Stephenson (punter). However, Payne went down with a sprained ankle late last week, and his prognosis is not yet known (originally thought to be a 7-10 days deal, but Mendenhall has said he can't be too sure as of yet). Even before he was injured, Payne missed a PAT and two semi-long field goal tries. Stephenson, coming off a somewhat roller coaster freshman year last season, has now been thrown into the place kicking position, and has not been able to produce a consistency you need from your field goal kicker. Actually, field goals between 35-40 yards don't seem to be as big a problem for him as PAT's. He missed all but one PAT's during today's practice, and afterward Mendenhall said he will probably open the issue up to the rest of the team to see if anyone kicked in high school and can step in to the place kicking role until Payne heals.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Every game is vital in college football, and place kicking is the LAST position you want to have to worry about. Close games are always dependent on field position, and a missed field goal attempt can leave your defense in tough spots with the odds stacked against them. Plus, PAT's should be automatic. If they're not, you might as well go for two everytime. Losing by one is still losing....

4. Running Backs

Each running back on this team has his own talents and abilities that make him unique from the other backs around him. Brian Kariya is more of a power back who will run through a defender. JJ DiLuigi is the fast, shifty, finesse runner who can leave defenders in the dust. Then there's freshman Josh Quezada (Juice, as the team calls him), Mike Hague, Zed Mendenhall, and David Foote. Quezada will need some time to learn and flourish, but his future is bright. Hague is powerful, but short and slow. Mendenhall is a fullback playing tailback, and Foote, while always hustling and giving max effort, would not be successful on a different team with less experienced offensive linemen in front of him.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Harvey Unga had it ALL. Speed, power, finesse, and swagger. While you cannot replace a special player like Unga, it is important to make the transition period as smooth as possible. Running back by committee may be the answer for now, but eventually you're going to want that every-down-back you can rely on to move the ball down field and open up the passing game for your offense. Combined: These backs=Harvey Unga. Individually: they have chinks in their armor.

5. "Blue Zone" Defense

This year's secondary and defensive backs are stacked with experience and talent, and I expect a big season from them. Cornerback Corby Eason told me last week that the DB's are the cornerstone of the Cougar defense, and judging by their game between the twenties, I like what I see. However, once the offense gets inside the twenty (red zone, or "blue" zone at BYU), the needed stops don't seem to happen as often for the defense. It's not a HUGE issue, just a little something that could use some tweaking.

THE BOTTOM LINE: For the most part the defense is able to hold their own against the offense, but their confidence seems to be shaky inside the Blue Zone. While it's great that the Cougars are able to keep teams at bay in the middle of the field, they need to find a way to spread that success from the twenties and in, when big stops are most critically needed.

*Stay tuned for an update on these topics following this week of practices*

BOTTOM LINE: BYU Training Camp Days 1 and 2

I recently was given the opportunity through my sports radio job to attend BYU practices and gather notes/interviews for use at the station and on the website. After attending two days (Saturday Aug 7, Monday Aug 9) of training camp, I just wanted to share a few observations I've made:

Day#1 (Aug 7th)

The biggest question in camp this year is Who will be the starting QB? Here's my depth chart after day 1:

1a.Jake Heaps
Shared seemingly equal amount of snaps on first team offense with Riley Nelson. Seemed to be very confident with the offense and was able to make a few pin point perfect passes for big yards, including the last play of practice - an on the money, down the sideline 60+ yard pass to double-covered McKay Jacobson.

1b.Riley Nelson
Has strong ability to scramble and create on the run when the pocket disappears. Not as accurate as Heaps, but has a stronger line drive throw across the middle. Very familiar with offense plays and schemes, and has the division 1 experience Heaps lacks.

3. James Lark
Doesn't possess the natural talents that Heaps or Nelson do, but has the work ethic to be a terrific back up plan if needed. I wouldn't want him starting, but I'd feel fairly comfortable having him under center should the other two QB's get injured.

4. Jason Munns
His size is unreal, but he doesn't seem to be very comfortable at the QB spot. Makes mistakes, has little accuracy, and isn't able to read where a player is going to end up. We'll see what happens later on, but right now I don't see him being a big part of this race.

Other notes:

-Offense:
-Loaded at running back, with Kariya and DiLuigi splitting time. Hague, Foote, and Quezada all will see playing time.
-Tight end is full of possibility, though the spot may be filled by committee for the first part of the season until someone emerges as the better player.
-Receivers are looking very good this year. Young, strong and extremely athletic. If the QB can get the ball to them, look for the receiving corp to have a big season, led by McKay Jacobson and O'Neill Chambers.

-Defense:
-The defense, as a whole, was dominant today. Very enthusiastic, hyped up, and ready to hit somebody. They had all the momentum in the team segment.
-CB Carter Mees and DL Thomas Bryson both had exceptional practices. Bryson had two sacks and Mees 3 breakups.

Day #2 (Aug 9th)

QB Depth Chart:

1.Jake Heaps
It wasn't clear until team segment (scrimmage), but Heaps should definitely be the #1 QB on this team. He is confident, accurate, and powerful, and to watch him connect with Jacobson down the field is a thing of beauty. He has his flaws, such as his mechanical looking play fake, but he is head and shoulders above the other 3 QB's vying for the starting spot.

2.Riley Nelson
Has everything Jake Heaps doesn't, but they're attributes that don't really matter ALL that much. Ability to scramble, amazing magician-like skills on the play action fake, and division 1 experience. However, he isn't as tall/athletic/powerful as Heaps, and therefore will make a perfect back up for when Heaps makes his freshman mistakes.

3.James Lark
Nothing different from Saturday's practice.

4.Jason Munns
Reminds me of Brett Engemann. Tall and stocky, could take a hit and get back up, but really isn't a quarterback. Would have been better served to play linebacker or even tight end.

Other notes:

-Offense:
McKay Jacobson remains the favorite target, and is unbelievable at shaking off the defender on his first move. O'Neill Chambers had an off day, running wrong routes and dropping two money ball passes. Spencer Hafoka and Luke Ashworth are always reliable second looks, and newcomer Cody Hoffman is 6'4", 205 lbs. and runs like a gazelle. He will be THE guy for the next 3 years at the Y.

-Defense:
Thomas Bryson once again shined at defensive end. He had 3 hurries, a sack, and a fumble recovery in the scrimmage. The defensive backs really shut down the passing game, and the linebackers were able to contain the running game (other than two scampers by Riley Nelson for double digit gains).

THE BOTTOM LINE, it's only been 2 days of Fall practice, so not a lot can be determined yet. Jordan Pendleton, the star studded linebacker, hasn't participated in team segment scrimmage as of yet because of hampering injuries, and there are still a few players who haven't been cleared by the NCAA. Besides that, only time will uncover all the flaws/talents that haven't been shown as of yet. But it IS exciting that college football is back!!! Here we go.....


***Curtis Brown, Jan Jorgensen, and Nate Meickle were among the former BYU players I spotted at practice Tuesday. Brown sells pharmaceuticals in the Utah Valley area, Jorgensen was there as a representative of his new employer 1280 THE ZONE, and Meickle (formerly employed on KSL's broadcasts of the games as a sideline reporter) was there as a spectator. Rumors were he's going to Stanford Law School in the near future***

THE BOTTOM LINE: Something's Missing....

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.” -Tom Stoppard

What do you miss from sports these days? Here are the things I find myself yearning for:

Ken Griffey, Jr. and his backwards hat. His smoother-than-an-insurance-salesman swing. His willingness to sacrifice life itself to run down ANY ball hit in his direction. And that trademarked self-admiring stare as he strutted towards first, watching his latest jack sail over the fence.

John Stockton setting and taking picks on/from power forwards. His ability to see a play happen in his mind before it actually took place. The bounce pass down into the post. The speed of hands both on defense and offense. Seeing him take the ball coast to coast for a layup before the defense could even turn around. His signature quirky over-the-shoulder shot.

Payne Stewart. His clothes, yes. But not JUST his clothes. His game, his smile, his fist pumps, his rugged swing and follow through, and his celebration after winning the US Open.

Cal Ripken, Jr. and Steve Young.

Fast, lean, tall, quick and athletic offensive/defensive linemen.

Golden Goals

Larry H. Miller: one of the best people to ever walk this earth. He was a role model, and not just because of the good things he did. When he made mistakes, he fessed up to them, apologized, made it right, and became a better person because of it all.

Patrick Ewing dripping reservoir-sized drops of sweat in the key, thus employing a TEAM of towel-boys/towel-girls underneath each basket, charged with being the fastest acting human wet-vacs imaginable before he returned the next time down the floor.

Old school uniforms: such as high socks in baseball, Kareem/Rambis-like goggles in basketball, and Dan Mariono-esque face masks in football.

Lil Penney commercials.

For that matter, Penney Hardaway's swagger, Tim Hardaway's no-rotation shot, and Muggsy Bogues.

Monday Night Football without Mike Tirico, or Tony Kornheiser, or Jon Gruden. Never should've lost Al Michaels.

Two-hand touch at recess. Tackle when the "duty" wasn't lurking...

Homerun derbys in the backyard with a t-ball stand, foam bat, and plastic wiffle balls.

Raspberries from sliding into home ahead of the tag.

Hot Rod Hundley. Ernie Harwell. Jack Buck.

Roller/street hockey after school.

Karl Malone turn-arounds. Karl Malone defense. Karl Malone power. Karl Malone taking thirty days to shoot a free throw.

The Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics-Jazz rivalry circa Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf and Gary Payton.

The CALIFORNIA Angels. None of this Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim via Denver near Boise sans New York neighboring Mars business....

Marathon games of "hot-box", or "pickle," in the backyard with my brothers, dad, cousins, uncles, friends, etc.

Long summer days spent in my basement, in my pajamas, usually til about 3 or 4 PM, playing game after game, making trade after trade, hitting homerun after homerun, and WINNING game after game on N64's "Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr."

And finally, THE BOTTOM LINE of what I'm missing most from sports these days: Every single Saturday having either a soccer game, a basketball game, or a baseball game to play in. Sometimes a combination of those. *Sigh*.....Mine was a blessed childhood, indeed.

“The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day” -John Milton

THE BOTTOM LINE: The Free Agents You (and everyone else) Forgot About

“We [used to have]the advantages of the underdog. Now we have the disadvantages of the overdog.”
-Abba Eban, former Israeli Foreign Minister

The "Summer of LeBron" is nearly over (insert sound of joyous cheers from ESPN audiences everywhere, exhausted from the never ending praise and attention that has been pumping from said sports station for the "King" during the past month) and I can't help but feel a sense of detachment from the moment. I'm sure most of you would agree that this whole free agency ordeal has become pretty comical and tabloid-esque. Every "expert" in the land has given their predictions as to where James, Wade, Bosh, etc. might end up playing, each claiming to have THE inside information/sources with all the final answers (magically ALL differing from the others' guesses). And to them all I say this: Go get a job at the E! channel or TMZ.com and leave my sports channels alone!!!

At any rate, you can probably tell I'm just a little over the LeBron-a-palooza all around me. And I think I've come up with the biggest reason WHY: I believe it is the lesser-known players who actually end up making a team ultimately good or bad. The sixth mans, the role players, the back-ups...the SUPPORTING role surrounding the All-Stars are who keep the team together when Kobe hits a cold streak, or LeBron goes down with an injury, or Duncan shoots 67% from the free throw line (his ACTUAL career average, by the way). And in the middle of all the public lauding and loving for the BIG names in this year's free agent market, it's the "underdog" free agents who are being neglected. So, as a general rooter of all underdogs everywhere, I give you my list of "The Free Agents No One Is Thinking About Who Will Still Make an Impact in the NBA Next Season":

(Player/ Former Team/ Best 2009-2010 Stat)

Derek Fisher/ LAKERS/ 2.5 APG
-Fisher has won 5 NBA Championships with the Lakers. Yes, he did this with one of the best players ever in Kobe, but that is NOT a slight AGAINST him, but a perk to being able to sign him to your team. Just look at what he was able to do for the future of a young Deron Williams during his short stay with the Utah Jazz....'nuff said.

Nate Robinson/ BOSTON/ 10.1 Points Per Game
-Backup point guard who provides fast-paced, effective offense and in your face defense. Forces opponents to respect both his shooting and slashing abilities.

Jermaine O'Neal/ MIAMI/ 13.6 PPG
-O'Neal's stats from last season make the argument for him: 13.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and a respectable 1.4 blocks per game (19th over all last season). Not to mention he shoots roughly 50% from the field... AS A CENTER.

Brad Miller/ CHICAGO/ 4.9 RPG
-Statistics don't truly show the things Miller does for a team when on the court. A veteran who provides quiet leadership, at 7 feet 261 lbs., Miller can bang with the best of the Bigs and keep them in check on the blocks.

Raymond Felton/ CHARLOTTE/ 12.1 PPG
-Physical point guard who not only averages double digit scoring, but also 1.5 steals per game, proving his ability to shut down usually smaller, thinner guards he's up against.

Kyle Korver/ UTAH/ .536 3P%
-I could say a lot about Korver (such as how he has the best, purest shot in the league, or is an underrated passer, or can take a charge better than most shooters in the history of the league, or how anywhere he goes he becomes marketable gold due to his next-door demeanor and Kutcher-esque appearance), but I'll simply point to his record setting three point percentage last season of 54% and leave it at that.....

Matt Barnes/ MAGIC/ 5.5 RPG
-As a back-up small forward, Barnes leaves everything on the floor night after night. While he may not provide the flashy scoring most wings possess in today's NBA, he is a hard-nosed pest who will defend the big names with linebacker-type grit, causing more than one All-Star to have a season low sometime during the course of the year.

Mike Miller/ WIZARDS/ 10.9 PPG
-Miller is a tall and lanky shooting guard who averages double digits in scoring and a respectable 4.3 defensive rebounds per game. While his temperament can be a little on the teenage-drama-queen side of things, he's a ten year veteran who will excite fans with his ability to both entertain and get under the skin of his opponents.

Honorable Mentions:

Shannon Brown/ LAKERS/ 8.1 PPG
Josh Howard/ DALLAS, WIZARDS/ 12.7 PPG
Richard Jefferson/ SPURS/ 12.3 PPG

While none of these guys make you ask "LeBron who?", I can guarantee each of them brings something to the table that opposing teams DO NOT want to overlook, and that's the Bottom Line on the underdogs of this year's free agency market.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Ten Sports Pet Peeves That Must Stop NOW!

Attention: All athletes, coaches, fans, spectators, commentators, and anyone else who may be considered a guilty party. The following is a list of things that must be stopped IMMEDIATELY in the sports world:

10. Deny today, confirm tomorrow.

This is when an athlete, coach, general manager, etc. denies a report that has been made, only to turn around the next day (oftentimes sooner) and do or say something to CONFIRM the report anyway. If it’s a true, legitimate report, confirm it and move on. Enough of the Rich Rodriguez-syndrome. If you need to, use the old cop-out “No comment,” until you can confirm the report.
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9. Boo-boos

I’m so sick of athletes today making paper cuts into hemorrhages. I’m not talking about legitimate injuries that require rest or surgery. I'm referring to the stubbed toes keeping players on the bench for 3 weeks type of "injuries" (or my personal favorite:the "strained" muscle). Listen: Unless you’re needing surgery or a tourniquet, get back to work. I won’t bring up the money thing….ok yes I will. They make WAY too much money to be allowed to sit out 7-10 days every time they stub their toes. Someone put an end to this circus. (FIFA, you are officially on notice….start calling dives or get rid of the rule.)
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8. “Touchdown!.....er, I mean, No touchdown!....er, I mean, uh, Fumble!....er, actually He’s Safe…uh, Out! Oh forget it, can I go eat my hot wings now?”

Missed calls. Now, in no way am I one of those people who blame the officials for everything. I’m also not a purist who believes human error is “good for the game.” Yes, it is PART of the game, but it shouldn’t RULE the game like it does. There needs to be a system in place (in EVERY sport) that protects the officials, players, coaches, organizations, and fans from games being RUINED by human error. The technology is there, so why not use it?
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7. 15 Minute Replay Reviews

I know, this contradicts #8, but not really. There is a happy medium that needs to be reached between the use of the replay technology, and the length of time it takes to complete a review. If while sitting on my couch watching the TV (non-HD, I might add) can determine after only a couple of replays that the runner was down, or the shooter had his foot on the line, or Bob Bobson wasn’t actually in the crease, then a professional AT THE GAME, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AT HIS FINGER TIPS, BEING PAID TO MAKE THE DECISIONS can certainly do the same! If you have to cut to more than one sixty second commercial break because a review is taking too long, just call the game and start over tomorrow.
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6. Conspiracy Theories

The idea that a referee or a group of referees would actually join together in efforts AGAINST any one team is the most insane notion I’ve ever heard of. There are no conspiracies. Your team will lose an important game now and then. It doesn’t mean that the commissioner has summoned his armies of officials and commanded them to destroy your blessed empire. It just means that in sports someone has to win and someone has to lose. Yes, TV ratings do in fact matter for revenue purposes. But not enough to throw outcomes and lengthen playoff series, risking the demise of the entire sport itself if found out. Take the tin foil off your head and enjoy the game. Speaking of someone having to win, and someone having to lose…….
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5. Ties

There is no room in sports for a tie. Period. The reason sports were ever invented in the first place was to provide a way for differences to be settled (have you never seen a John Wayne film?) The Olympics, perhaps the first ever known organized sporting event, were created so that different cities could prove their worth and strength to their rivals. Someone had to win, and someone had to lose, otherwise nothing would ever get accomplished. The reason we have sports is so that we can learn the joy of victory, as well as the agony of defeat. If after 90 minutes of playing no one has lost and no one has won, then we’ve wasted 90 minutes of our lives and might as well have had a compliment session where everyone goes around the room saying nice things about everyone else, and ending it with a big group hug and tearful smiles. People: it’s sports, not religion. Meaning, it’s not personal. If you are beaten by someone who was better than you that day, then you have learned a valuable life lesson or two and will be better for it. And that’s the whole point of sports anyway.
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4. Cliches

“It is what it is.” “We need to step up and make plays.” “He gives 110%.”

Stop it. Just stop it already. If you are not intelligent enough to give a thoughtful, well phrased response to a question, then don’t answer it at all. I’d rather hear you say “No comment,” your entire career than hear another “A win’s a win, and that’s all that matters.” I’m not expecting Socrates or Plato like response. I don’t even care if it makes sense. Just as long as YOU are construing YOUR thoughts, and YOUR feelings about the issue at hand, and not regurgitating age-old responses in order to get it over with quicker.
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3. Stupid Celebrations

The dog-pile on the mound. The Gatorade baths. The burning of cars following a championship. The jumping up onto the scorer’s table and screaming primeval grunts. It’s all got to go (by the way, all of these actions took place in professional, televised sporting events within the last six days). I would really prefer that when you score/win/make a good play that you act like you’ve done it before. But if you must celebrate, do so with class. And if you can’t muster a classy, professional display of happiness, then at least be creative and original. Chad Ochocinco-nueve-dix-carpe diem-Johnson (or whatever he’s calling himself these days) may be a clown, but at least he is imaginative. If you can’t celebrate maturely, then celebrate originally. That’s all I’m asking. (This includes “The Wave.” No other action could be made to show just how bored you actually are. So, if you’re bored enough at a sporting event to do “The Wave,” get up and go do something that interests you.)
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2. Vuvuzelas / Corny, Cliché Arena Music

The awful noise that never ends at those infernal soccer matches (you know the ones I speak of-they sound like a herd of tone deaf mammoths are being skinned alive and sautéed in Tabasco) ought to be against the Laws of the Geneva Convention. No one should have to endure the refuse that comes as result of blowing into one of those things.
Secondly, the music that is played at sporting events has been, well, played. Get a new gig, or get out and let someone else take over. “We Will Rock You,” and “Y.M.C.A,” and the like were cute for the first little while. But now it’s time to be innovative and find something new.
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And finally, the number one thing in sports that has got to be stopped IMMEDIATELY….

1.The Lakers Winning the NBA Championship

I don’t care if the Jazz win it every year, so don’t give me the "You're just a homer" baloney. I just get sick of seeing that Satanic purple and gold year after year after year, amidst the devilish purple and gold ticker tape rain, all accompanied by that smug, crooked, spoiled smile of Kobe Bryant as he pretends to feel the joy he will chase his whole life (I speak of TRUE joy, here, in case you didn’t catch on. You know, TRUE love, TRUE spirit, TRUE happiness. Not the kind that comes from winning basketball trophies). So please…PLEEEEAAAASSSEEEEE! Someone else step up next year and knock the Los Angeles Fakers off their high horse.

And that’s THE BOTTOM LINE.

THE BOTTOM LINE

THE BOTTOM LINE

-University of Utah Moving to the Pac-(TBD) Conference:
There’s been a lot of discussion and rumors regarding whether or not the Utes will be leaving the Mountain West Conference and joining the (currently named) Pac-10 Conference. There is a plethora of information to go through and analyze regarding this subject, but I’m just going to focus on the local implications such a move would have.

1. Recruiting: Right now, Utah is doing very well recruiting out of the Mountain West Conference. They currently only have two teams with whom they squabble over the top recruits coming to the conference-BYU and TCU. However, if they were to move to the Pacific Conference, they would have to recruit players away from the likes of USC, UCLA (both schools have a LOT more than great football to offer….like, say, beaches. Girls. Weather. The glitz and glammer of Hollywood.), Arizona State (notorious party school), and Oregon. Undoubtedly, by being a member of the Pacific Conference, the Utes would draw bigger talent than they currently do in the Mountain West, but they’d be taking only the players the “fun” schools (read: NOT in Salt Lake City) wouldn’t want. They’d be to the Pacific Conference what Colorado State currently is to the Mountain West.

2. While they’ll be able to “compete” in the Pac., they won’t necessary be a “winning” program. Certainly not the way they have been in the MWC. Meaning, the Utes will be trading games against Wyoming, New Mexico, SDSU, and UNLV for games against USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, and Stanford. While I don’t perceive the Utes as being terrible in the Pacific Conf., I certainly don’t see them consistently winning the 9 or 10 games they have been producing in the MWC.

THE BOTTOM LINE: In the Pacific Conference, the University of Utah will be able to compete, but they won’t be King of the Hill anymore. Expect 8-4, 9-3 seasons consistently. They will be the Utah Jazz of the Pac. Conf.-competitive, but not elite.
_________________________________________________________________
-How U of U Move to the Pacific Conference Would Effect BYU:
If in fact the Utes left the MWC (and BYU stayed), it would have drastic effects on the Cougars and their program. Here are the pros and cons for BYU if such a move were to occur:
PROS:
1.With Utah gone, BYU would only have one other school who could legitimately contend with them recruiting-wise: TCU. And let’s face it, while TCU is a good team coming off a great year, how long can they really expect to ride the BCS wave they enjoyed recently? BYU has the history and facilities needed to draw in the big recruits. TCU does not. The Cougars will benefit talent-wise from a Utah defection.
2.BYU would be the “BIG TICKET” in the MWC, much like Boise State is in the WAC. It will be the “BYU and Others” Conference. Boise State has been the nation’s darling for a long time, mostly because they play well in a mediocre conference, and show up when ESPN and ABC are watching. With no Utah to worry about, BYU would OWN the MWC.
3.Without Utah to go against, the MWC Title will be BYU’s every year for a long time to come. Sure, TCU will be a force to reckon with for another year, maybe two, but after that I really don’t see the Horned Frogs consistently winning double digit games. What’s a MWC Title worth, you might ask? Well, with the likes of who will be left in the conference, I’m assuming an MWC Title will also mean an undefeated season, which equals BCS attention.
CONS:
1. BYU will still be stuck in a conference full of crappy competition. This will not only mean less respect/value for victories, it will also mean loss of big time money as no one wants to pay to see San Diego State (change out for any other school in MWC) lose by 50 in Provo, Utah on a cold October Saturday.

2. BYU will still be stuck with crappy Mtn televison coverage. Trust me, in this day and age, TV coverage is EVERYTHING in college football. Don’t believe me? Look at the SEC, or the Pac10, or the Big East, even. They ALL have contracts with big time TV stations: ESPN, ABC, Fox, etc. What does the MWC have to offer? A road-show-esque production, run by nobodies, featuring irrelevant has-beens for talent, and broadcast with old USSR equipment. Sure, it’s on national reaching frequencies, but no one is tuning into The Mtn to see New Mexico take on Wyoming when they can see USC vs. Notre Dame on NBC.

3. Finally, BYU will still need to go undefeated in order to get some BCS love, while Utah will be in an automatic BCS conference. While the Cougars will likely be favored in every matchup they have in the MWC, an off week leading to a surprise/fluke loss to a cellar-dweller will shut down the season, whereas Utah could lose to BYU every year and still have a chance to show up in a BCS bowl because of their conference’s automatic bid.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Utah leaving BYU behind in the MWC would be less than an ideal situation for the Cougars. While they will indeed be the top dog in the conference, BYU will have ZERO competition to deal with. The rivalry may still be active, maybe even with a more bitter edge to it (what BYU fan wouldn’t relish a victory over a Utah team that would take away a potential Pacific Conference top-seeding?), it won’t have the Conference Title implications it seems to have year in and year out. BYU needs Utah to thrive, and without them I feel Provo will be even less of an “exciting” place to visit in the Fall.
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-Carlos Boozer: At Least He’s Not Terrell Owens
We all remember the circus that was Carlos Boozer last offseason. The tongue baths he gave every city/team whose radio monkeys would put him on the air was far less than appealing. He really made it easy to hate him. However, I just wanted to take a quick second and compare his mannerisms of last year to those he is portraying this year.
While last offseason Mr. Boozer could not even spell the word LOYALTY, this year is quite the opposite. In every interview he does he is quick to reference his desire to rejoin the Jazz, and calls them “his team” and uses grouping words such as “we, us, ours” when referring to both himself and the Jazz. AND THEY AREN’T EVEN HIS TEAM ANY MORE!!! He is politically correct, mature, and even loyal this time around when discussing his free agency plans. Everything a Jazz fan wanted from Carlos Boozer in the past, he is displaying currently.
Now, you may question whether or not he is being sincere or honest. That is more than fair, in my opinion. He’s never had the George Washington “I cannot tell a lie” persona. But let me say this: Remember how he left Cleveland high and dry to come to Utah? Well, so does Carlos Boozer. And so does his agent. They’re not idiots. They know that this offseason is the Year of the Prodigy, and Boozer is second-tier. So, he may be blowing smoke, but smoke is better than fire. Meaning, teams are more likely to sign him if he’s lovable. If their fan base can get behind him and fall in love with him, Carlos Boozer will provide his new team with profits.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Even if it’s cliché and cheesy, Boozer has in fact matured. He DOES know loyalty, and I may dare say he learned that when the Jazz refused to trade him last season. They remained LOYAL to the commitment they had made to Boozer. Also, last offseason Boozer was going through A LOT personally. His marriage was falling apart, and divorce looked imminent. But his personal life is now in order, and his marriage is “in a good place,”according to Carlos. While his actions and words may drip with insincerity, the way he is conducting himself THIS offseason is sure making it hard to have a case to still hate him.

Major League Baseball Projections 2010

Here are my predictions for the final standings in Major League Baseball this season:

American League

-WEST
1.Angels
2.Mariners
3.Rangers
4.A's

-CENTRAL
1.Twins
2.White Sox
3.Tigers
4.Royals
5.Indians

-EAST
1.Yankees
2.Red Sox***
3.Rays
4.Orioles
5.Blue Jays
(***wild card)

National League

-WEST
1.Rockies
2.Dodgers***
3.Giants
4.Diamondbacks
5.Padres
(***wild card)

-CENTRAL
1.Cardinals
2.Cubs
3.Astros
4.Brewers
5.Pirates
6.Reds

-EAST
1.Phillies
2.Mets
3.Braves
4.Marlins
5.Nationals

PLAYOFFS:
-ALDS
Yankees defeat Red Sox***/6 games
Angels defeat Twins /6 games
-ALCS
Yankees defeat Angels /5 games

-NLDS
Phillies defeat Dodgers***/5 games
Cardinals defeat Rockies /6 games
-NLCS
Phillies defeat CArdinals/6 games

WORLD SERIES:
Yankees defeat Phillies /7 games

NCAA Tournament: The Mascot Bracket

March Madness is finally here again!!! That special time of year when both adults and kids play hookie from school/work and glue their eyeballs to college basketball tournament games, hoping to see every "shining moment" that the win-or-go-back-to-your-final-exams format of a college playoff provides.

While we all love to see a George Mason run to the Final Four, or a Bucknell defeating Kansas in the second round, or even the awkward Jimmy V search-for-someone-to-hug celebration lap after an unlikely victory in the championship game.....it really doesn't help our social status at work/school/church/social media sites. If you're at all like me, you put a lot of thought and energy into preparing your "Brackets" every year, hoping to pull off that miracle of correctly selecting every winner in the tournament and receiving heaps of praise and respect from your peers for doing so. It's one reason I only circle the winners, and never cross out the losers. Nothing hurts me more than looking down at my work-of-art bracket and seeing giant red x's over my incorrect selections.....

So, in lieu of feeding you numbers AND analogies AND offensive efficiency vs defensive efficiency statistics AND why Cornell is this year's George Mason AND why Kentucky is better than Kansas AND whether or not BYU will finally get out of the first round (every year I promise myself I won't choose them....every year I forget that promise and stupidly pencil them in as winners....) AND how Syracuse is peaking at the right time AND so on AND so on AND so on.....I'm going to give you a completely different approach of how to fill in your brackets and win the office pool. An approach of innocent, juvenile, even childish proportions. One which Charles Darwin would have a hard time arguing with. My friends, I give you, The Mascot Bracket: The Food Chain Never Fails.

The rules are very simple. Make your picks based on which team's mascot would win a real life fight against the other. Throw out all knowledge of basketball and numbers you may have. Forget the fact that a 16th seed has never defeated a 1st seed. It doesn't matter. All you need to have is a general knowledge of the Animal Kingdom and how it works. Here's what I mean...

In the opening round Maryland takes on Houston. The Terapins (a turtle) against the Cougars. Obviously, a turtle has no shot against a Cougar. Hence, you would select Houston to win that game....etc. Get it?

After I went through and filled out my bracket this way, I have predicted the National Champion this season to be the St. Mary's Gaels. After all, who controls the elements? God. And no one can defeat God.

I did have a couple situations where Tigers met Tigers, Cougars met Cougars, or Aggies vs Aggies. In this case, I chose to eliminate both teams, assuming they would both kill each other in a fight. You may choose any other method you'd like, such as rock-paper-scissors, coin flipping, whose team colors are better, or even witch craft. It's up to you.

So, in conclusion, it doesn't matter who has the most potential NBA players on their team, or the best coach, or the most talent....all you need ask yourself is whether or not a Demon Deacon can beat up a Longhorn. Or if a Golden Eagle can hold its own when cornered by a Huskie. Or if a Buckeye plant could poison a Guacho.

Just remember, if anyone asks why you're picking Vermont to upset Syracuse in the first round, remind them that an Orange has no arms, legs, or even a brain, and therefore could not properly defend itself against the viscious Catamount of Vermont (Wildcat).

Go Gaels!!!

John Stockton vs Steve Nash

Ignore all the references. This was a paper I wrote for school as well, so I had to document. Thanks!


The one holds the record for most steals and assists in a career. The other has won two MVP trophies.
One played with arguably the greatest power forward to ever bounce a basketball. The other has been teammates of Shaquille O’Neal, Amare Stoudemire, and Dirk Nowitzki, a few of the greatest players at their respective positions.
He made basketball relevant in an irrelevant state, while he turned a nation’s attention from hockey to hoops.
The older one has two Olympic Gold medals, while the younger recently lit the Olympic cauldron for the Vancouver Winter games.
The one has been inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. The other? Someday soon.
Neither of them have won an NBA championship. One of them still has a chance.


The comparisons between point guards John Stockton and Steve Nash have been well documented and reiterated time and again, and that will probably never change. Ever. They are both very similar to one another, from their playing technique right down to their physical attributes and nice-guy demeanor. Many a sports columnist has tried to separate the two and convince the masses that one is better than the other. At first glance, this seems to be an insurmountable task. How can you choose between the two best point guards of all-time and list one above the other?
It’s easy, actually. The numbers don’t lie…….
John Stockton was born in Spokane, WA. His father owned a local sports bar and raised him with a blue-collar work ethic and tough-as-nails, never-say-die attitude. This didn’t only apply on the basketball court, but in the classroom and at home as well. He attended Gonzaga Prep High School, and later played college ball at Gonzaga University. In 1984, Stockton was selected 16th overall in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz.

What first comes to mind about John Stockton are three unlikely attributes you usually don’t find in an NBA legend. His height (or lack thereof): He was listed as 6’1”-though he was more likely just over six feet-and played in a league stacked with giants. (the average height of an NBA player is 6’7”) (NBA.com, 2006-07 Player Survey) After this you’ll notice he didn’t really include fancy or flashy technique in his game play. Sam Smith of EPSN.com put it this way: “He doesn't dribble behind his back or through his legs. He doesn't crossover. His highlight reel features primarily bounce passes and layups. Despite evidence to the contrary these days, that's basketball.”(NBA.com, Encyclopedia) Finally, unlike most basketball stars, John Stockton never dunked the ball. He preferred the fundamental, ordinary lay up shot off the glass to the high flying rim rockers one would see multiple times in a game today.

Despite these shortcomings, John Stockton was able to amass enough assists (15,806) and steals (315) over his career to hold the NBA record for both statistics. He led the Utah Jazz to two NBA Finals championship runs (1997 and 1998), where they lost, both times, to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Stockton helped both teammate Karl Malone and coach Jerry Sloan further their careers and reach Hall of Fame honors (Sloan last summer; Malone this coming June). He made everyone around him better, by sharing the ball and picking apart defenses.

On the world stage, Stockton joined the USA Olympic Basketball team and earned two Gold Medals: 1992 and 1996. These teams came to be widely known as the “Dream Team,” because there were eleven of the Top 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time on the team, including Stockton and Malone. (Hoopedia.com, NBA 50 Greatest Players) This team beat every opponent they played by an average of 44 points, just to give you an idea of how good they really were.
Stockton was also named to ten All-Star games, and won the All-Star MVP award in 1993 (co-MVP with teammate Karl Malone). (Basketball-Reference.com, Players)

As mentioned earlier, even if you were not privileged to have witnessed John Stockton play the game of basketball in your lifetime, all you need to do is look at his career statistics, and you’ll have a firm grasp of what kind of player he was. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Stockton made 52% of his field goals, 83% of his free throws, had 15,806 assists (#1 all time leader), and 315 steals (#1 all time leader) over his 19 year career. These are astonishing numbers, and have vaulted him into the argument that he is the best point guard to ever play the game.

Then there’s Steve Nash. A player who can give Stockton some competition for this grand title…..

Nash was born in South Africa, and later moved to and became a citizen of Canada, where he grew up in Vancouver, B.C. (Steve recently was chosen to light the Olympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver). His father was a professional soccer player, and gave Steve his natural athletic ability and hard-nosed toughness.

While most kids coming from Canada play hockey and soccer, Steve found he had a true joy for basketball (though he is also well known as a very skilled soccer player), and played for Santa Clara college. He was drafted 15th overall in the 1996 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. He has spent his career with both the Suns and the Dallas Mavericks.

Something that often goes unnoticed when comparing Steve Nash and John Stockton is that they both played college basketball in the West Coast Conference, where each of them became two of only four players in history to lead the conference in scoring and assists in the same season. (NBA.com, Player Files/Basketball-Reference.com, Players)

In two different seasons (2004-05, 2005-06) Nash was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA. In those years he made, on average, 51% of his field goals, 90% of his free throws, had 1,687 assists, and amassed 137 steals. Nash has been named to seven All-Star games.
He was, at one time or another, teammates of NBA greats Shaquille O’Neal, Dirk Nowitzki, and Amare Stoudemire. Also, in each of the last five years, Nash has been one of the top three assists leaders in the NBA. (ESPN.com, NBA Statistics)

Finally, while he hasn’t been to the NBA Finals yet, every year his team is considered to be contenders to win the Western Conference title and change that statistic.

As you can see, both Nash and Stockton are very well fit and skilled as point guards in the NBA. They are about the same height and weight. They have both played with great teammates who have helped elevate their own personal games. Neither player has won a championship, nor do they ever dunk the basketball. At this moment, things may seem too evenly matched to make a decision between the two. However, there are a few key arguments that need to be made here, and they are in favor of John Stockton.

First of all, while Nash may have a better career free throw percentage and has won two MVP awards, neither of these statistics compare with the record setting performance Stockton displayed in his career in regards to assists and steals.

As a point guard, your job is to get the team to work together in the offensive game-plan, smoothly and collectively. Your goal is not to score a lot of points yourself, but to make smart and timely passes to teammates who can then have a higher probability of scoring, as they will most likely be closer to the basket. That is to say, the point guard will usually stay farther away from the basket, and thus his chances of making a shot are drastically lower than that of his teammates’ who usually are closer in proximity to the hoop. That being said, the assist statistic is the one area that defines the duty of a point guard. Get the ball to the best player, at the right time, who will give your team the best opportunity to score. Having done this 15,806 times in his career, Stockton has clearly left no room for comparison in regards to assists (the next closest player behind Stockton on the career assists chart is Jason Kidd with 10,742. Nash is 8th all time with 8,167.) (Basketball-Reference.com, Leaders)

The second point that needs to be made in arguing Stockton as the better of the two point guards is that he statistically made everyone around him better than they had been previous to being his teammate. One of many examples of this would be Bryon Russell.

Bryon Russell was a fine basketball player at California State University, Long Beach. After being drafted by the Jazz, he enjoyed nine full seasons in Utah with John Stockton as his point guard. While on the team, Russell averaged 497 shots per season, and made an average of 47% of those shots. After leaving Utah and playing for three other teams, Russell averaged only 267 shots per season, and was successful on only 37% of them. With Stockton as his point guard, Russell was taking more shots per season, which shows that Stockton was able to create more open shots for him. This is backed by the shooting percentage statistic which shows Russell made 47% of his shots while in Utah; a direct result of his being wide open because of Stockton’s ability to draw defenders in close to him, and then pass it to the unguarded Russell. The statistics show that once Russell left Utah and had point guard other than Stockton passing him the ball and running his team’s offense, Russell was no longer shooting the ball as well, or as often. This was undoubtedly due to the fact that the guards he was then playing with were unable to create as many open shots for him as Stockton had earlier in Bryon’s career. (Basketball-Reference.com, Players)

As stated earlier, the numbers do not lie. Yes, Steve Nash is a fantastic point guard in his own right. He does even have very similar game techniques and statistics comparable to those of John Stockton. However, the assists record Stockton holds, and the statistics which show Stockton actually made other players around him better, prove that John Stockton was indeed the better point guard between the two. He is a legend, and will forever be etched in the history books as one of the greatest players to ever enter the NBA. While Nash will surely retire with grand accolades of his own and a spot in the Hall of Fame, he will never be able to statistically conquer the great John Stockton.

ESPN.com's Mock NBA Lottery Draft 2010

ESPN.com (Chad Ford) has a page where you can simulate the lottery picks for the upcoming NBA draft. I ran it ten times, and here are the results the Utah Jazz came out with:

PICK #
#6: 70%
#7: 20%
#3: 10%

PLAYER
Wes Johnson (Syracuse, SF): 50%
Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest, SF): 40%
DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky, PF): 10%

Wes Johnson's career stats:
http://stats.syracuse.com/cbk/players.asp?id=60093&team=553
Al-Farouq Aminu's career stats:
http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/wake/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/career-stats0809
DeMarcus Cousin's career stats:
http://bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Cousins_DeMarcus.html

-By the looks of this system, the Jazz are thought to be looking for a small forward; this thought process is most likely driven by the recent departure of Ronnie Brewer, Andrei Kirilenko's contract expires in 2012, and past AK on the depth chart there really isn't another TRUE small forward on the roster.
-Stating the Obvious: Don't get your hopes up about Cousins; he'll be gone LONG before the Jazz make it to the podium
-Previous to this season, I would have thought the Jazz would be looing for a shooting guard this draft, with Korver going elsewhere, CJ Miles is not working out, and there was no such thing as a Wesley Mathews. However, Korver has certainly proven he's vital to the team's success (I think the Jazz will resign him), and Mathews came out of nowhere and made a name for himself as well. And then there's Miles, who for whatever reason, seems to be a favorite of Jerry Sloan, so.....
-Whatever happens, it's still a long way off in the future. But still kind of fun to play around with......

INTERESTING NOTES:
-In all ten mock drafts, the New Jersey Nets had the #1 pick, and all ten times selected PG John Wall of Kentucky.

-In all ten mock drafts, PG Evan Turner of Ohio State was selected #2 overall, and DeMarcus Cousins (see above) #3 overall.

Hot Rod Hundley: The Pro, The Man, The Friend We All Love

SALT LAKE CITY, UT-
"Hot" Rod Hundley has been one of the biggest inspirations to me and my career choice of play by play announcer. While I'm just starting out, I have an absolute knowledge that his techniques and catch-phrases gave me my love for sports announcing, and they will follow me throughout both my professional and personal life. There are many things that could be said about him, but to me, these are the reasons why I hold him in such reverence:

When I think of Hundley, I think of one of the greatest friends I've ever had. He was in my life from the day I was born (as I'm sure my dad had the game on the radio or TV). Every night I'd fall asleep listening to his velvet, gravelly tones paint a beautiful picture of an amazing sport, straining to stay awake so I could hear his every word. When I was playing basketball in the driveway, I was John Stockton, and provided my every move with poorly mimicked "Hot" Rod announcing.

He was always there for me, during both the good and the bad times. Anytime I did something right or accomplished a goal, he was there that night to "congratulate" me with his West Virginian drawl. He was there (in one way or another) when I drove a car by myself for the first time; on my first date; my first kiss; my first heartbreak; every illness I ever had; the night my grandmother died, he helped make everything a little better; when I just had a plain, bad day, "Hots" was there to remind me life was good.

Point is, Larry H. Miller, John Stockton, Karl Malone, (even Jeff Hornacek), they all helped provide me with an excellent NBA team to love and cheer for. But "Hot" Rod Hundley made sure that I was able to KNOW about that team. To be a PART of that team, and every game that team played for 35 YEARS!! (23 of those during my lifetime)For that, he IS the Utah Jazz to me. And he will always be the broadcaster I try to emulate (though not replicate, as you cannot replicate a legend) through my career. If I'm ever blessed enough to be even HALF the broadcaster Hundley was, I will count it as a full life. And I'll owe it to the man whose words, voice and pure love for the game have been right there with me, through it all. "Hot" Rod... I love ya baby!
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"You're lookin' live on a ____ night, coming to you from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Jazz match up with the _________. NBA basketball is coming up next, and YOU GOTTA LOVE IT BABY!"

"With a gentle push, and a mild arc, the ol' cowhide globe hits home.”

“Stock, yo-yos, top of the key...”

“Leapin’ leaner”

“Hippity-hop”

“Good if it goes!”

“Frozen rope”

“Belt-high dribble”

“It’s in the ol’ refrigerator.”

“Looking down the barrel”

"Unbelievable."

"I cannot believe he just did that."

"Stockton to Malone."

"Russell to Stockton, Stock for 3! Stock, got it! Unbelievable!!! JOHN STOCKTON!It's over! The Jazz win it! Utah goes to Chicago! Stockton hits the 3, it's over! The Jazz are coming to Chicago! They've won the West!!!"