10 Mar 11 Choosing Your Wedding Invitations to Create a Permanent Impression

Choosing Your Wedding Invitations to Create a Permanent ImpressionBy: minerva97mi .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet Wedding invitations have grown to be a very important element of the whole wedding process but some people are not certain the best way to appropriately select exactly what wedding invites to use, what is the correct etiquette to use, or even what you should say on the invitations.If that sounds like you then this should help you bust through those blocking points and also propel you to the ultimate wedding invite for you and your wedding.Below you'll get every one of the basics it is important to understand to pick out wedding invitations which are uniquely you and that surely impresses the family and friends you give them to.Set a Price Range and Be Inventive.Although you can certainly go out and find many panies where you'll be able to obtain eye-catching yet pricey invitations, there's also numerous inexpensive alternatives that will enable you to have just as fantastic ones that will fit in easily in your price range.You just need to let the creativity flow and understand where to look.You may well think that sounds odd yet what is proven to work is to establish a practical spending budget.Something about a spending budget, gets those creative juices flowing and it's remarkable what wonderful ideas you will have and discover while attempting to decide on that “oh so perfect" invite.First Select a Theme and Color Motif for Your WeddingWedding and reception invites really should be suggestive of and support the theme and colors you've picked out for your big event.Do it with panache and style and let your resourcefulness run amok; try to bine distinct ponents to achieve that personal feel that says "you".Add a few of the fabrics you'll be utilizing in your dress. Put some sort of veil over every wedding invitation. Do something that says “you".Make Your Wedding Guest List EarlyBy pleting the wedding guest list promptly you'll discover that you have plenty of time to correctly plete it to your requirements and preferences. This'll also let you know what amount of invites to purchase or to help to make sure there is no rush at the end.Get started as early as 8-12 months ahead of the wedding; this gives you plenty of time to get the best phrasing and, if perhaps something goes wrong, you will have sufficient time to resolve the difficulties to get them exactly the way you want them.Find Expert HelpEven though you should really pick a style that uniquely displays your personality and preferences it's very useful to ask for expert help for the appearance and style of your wedding invitation.This is particularly valuable if you're having trouble selecting or pulling your options together.A number of professionals will perform this for free (in hopes of getting your business) and you'll be more likely to have an incredibly lovely invitation with their help.An expert can also be consulted to ensure that the actual wording and etiquette of the invitation is good. Make Other Decisions FirstBefore you can make or order your invitations, make perfectly sure that every single necessary element, for example the date, time and location of both the ceremony and the wedding ceremony party already are pletely arranged and have been verified with all parties (locations, caterers, band, floral suppliers, etc.)Have More Than You'll NeedWhen making or purchasing your wedding invitations, be sure you get about 5-10% more invitations than you actually need, to be able to take care of misplaced invites and people you did not remember to mail them to.Be Specific in Your WordingWhen you are utilizing a printing shop, you must give them the precise phrasing of your wedding invites in typewritten form not handwritten. Type it up on your puter and print it out so there is absolutely no misunderstanding regarding what you wish to say.Article Source: abcarticledirectoryWe sincerely hope that you have found this article about wedding invitations very educational and helpful. There are a number of sites and articles that can tell you more about wedding invitations, so check them out and e up with creative ideas for your dream wedding withouNote: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, minerva97miRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About ASP via RSS!Additional Articles From - Home Web Development AspWedding Shower Decorations with the Bride-to-be and Expense in Mind- By : minerva97miHire ASP NET Web Developer, ASP NET Programmers- By : Rishi MandloiUseful Social Networking Site Development with ASP Dot NET Development- By : Jessica WoodsonGauge Control For Asp Net- By : Huong NguyenThe Benefits of ASP.Net Excel- By : Mark FitsenAll about Dotnetnuke- By : Dave Bush5 Dave Bush5 Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

5 Mar 11 Affiliate Marketing - Make your Living Online

Affiliate Marketing - Make your Living OnlineBy: Hans Hasselfors .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet Affiliate marketing's been a staple of the internet marketing scene for many years now. It's highly touted as a money maker for newbies and experienced marketers alike. But does it really pay to be an affiliate marketer? Let's take a look to learn more... Basically affiliate marketing's an agreement between a web site owner and a merchant. The web site owner's actually an advertiser for the merchant orHockey Jersey
product creator. The agreement is a contract between the two parties that stipulates that the site owner can use various methods including the space on his site to promote the merchants goods. The merchant meanwhile agrees to pay a percentage of each sale generated through the affiliates personalized link. This benefits both sides because the product creator spends nothing to advertise their goods and the affiliate pays nothing to research and develop new products. This creates a win-win situation. The product creator wins by saving money on advertising, which is one of the most costly aspects of doing business, by passing this cost on to affiliates. Basically it's a pay-per-performance deal because the merchant doesn't accrue any costs until the sale's made and the merchant pays the specified commission. The affiliate marketer wins by being able to sell an already developed product, thus saving the time and money on the front end by not having to deal with R&D and product creation. The product is already developed and proven by the merchant, and all you have to do as an affiliate is find as many prospects as you can that will bring in the profit for both the merchant and yourself. Another benefit to the affiliate is that most programs are free to join and have pre-made sales material so your marketing experience doesn't have to be that of an expert. Probably the biggest benefit to being an affiliate marketer on the internet's the internet itself. Because of the global reach of the internet it's very easy to reach tens of thousands of prospects for almost any type of Pittsburgh Penguins jersey
product line. It's also very easy to intensify your efforts as an affiliate marketer to exploit new and productive strategies such as viral marketing, ebooks, special reports and autoresponders. Lastly, as an affiliate marketer you get to pick and choose between many different products to promote. You're not married to a specific product or even a specific product type. Your risks are minimal because there are no long term binding contracts so if one product doesn't bring in a profit you can quickly and easily replace it with another. All in all affiliate marketing's still an excellent way to earn income from the internet. Perform your due diligence, find a hungry market, find a good product and go for it!Article Source: http://www.shop-on-sale.com This article was published by Hans Hasselfors, from PowerClickAds.com. Get the net working for you. Join a community of like-minded affiliate marketer's and make your living online. Become a member of: www.PowerClickAds.comNote: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Hans HasselforsRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Affiliate Programs What Cloth Diaper Provides The Top Match For Newborns?- By : mirtagaylWhat is Affiliate Marketing and Why You Should Do It?- By : James A AndersonEarning Money Quickly With Email Marketing - True or False?- By : Penguins jersey
chad buistMoney Creating Tips For Individuals Involved In An Online Affiliate Marketing Home Business- By : Johnny BarrellGlobal Success Club And How To Make Money Online- By : Don SeanMake Cash Over The Internet With Affiliate Marketing- By : Leroy WheelerWhich Affiliate Networks To Look Out For When Promoting ?- By : Elsa Braxton Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

24 Jan 11 Penn State Football: Will the Iowa Hawkeye Still Stand Tall?

Will Herky the Hawkeye Still Stand After Saturday?SATIRE; We have a tradition in my household. We have been collecting the stuffed mascots of Penn State's opposing teams since we joined the Big Ten in 1993.In fact, the first Big Ten mascot we ever acquired was Herky the Iowa Hawkeye.We line up all our mascots on our fireplace mantle each season, although I must confess that I never acquired a Youngstown State Penguin. So I'm using a stuffed Opus penguinclose enough of a substitute for our purpose here!At the beginning of the season, all thePittsburgh Steelers jersey
mascots stand. Then as we play the game, we reflect wins and losses. If the mascot's team loses, the mascot lies down. If the mascot's team wins, they continue to stand.So for now our mantle piece looks like this: The Penguin, the Golden Flash, and the Owl are lying down. Big Al the Elephant is standing.So is Herky the Hawkeye, as are the rest of the mascots on our Big Ten schedule, for now.Frankly it's been a bit tiresome having Herky the Hawkeye standing all season during the last couple of years. Nothing would give us more pleasure than to see him join the Owl on his back!

22 Jan 11 Colorado Football: Buffs Rally to Rout Hawai'i, 31-13

September 18, 2010 - Boulder Colorado 31, Hawai'i 13Alfred Williams couldn't have done it any better himself.Perhaps inspired by the halftime ceremonies honoringthe ColoradoAll-American's induction intothe College Football Hall of Fame, the Buffs turned a 10-0 halftime deficit into a 31-13 rout of Hawai'i. Quarterback Tyler Hansen passed for 200 yards and two touchdowns,while Brian Lockridge and Rodney Stewart both rushed for over 100 yards as Colorado erased a poor first half showing with a dominant second half performance in the Buffs' 2010 home opener.Before many of the 47,840 in attendance had settled into their seats, the Hawai'i Warriors set about making sure Buff fans did not forget the 52-7 rout handed to the Buffs by Cal seven days earlier. On the second play of the game, Hawai'iquarterback Baltimore Ravens jersey
Bryant Moniz hit Kealoha Pilares on a crossing route which turned into an 80 yard gain. Jimmy Smith caught Pilares at the Colorado three yard line, but a Warrior score, and another Colorado debacle, seemed imminent.Then Hawai'i did Colorado a huge favor.The Warriors ran the ball.A week after rushing for only ten yards against Army, the Warriors decided to run the ball against the Buffs. Three straight running plays netted only two yards, however, leaving Hawai'i with a fourth-and-goal at the Colorado one yard line. Eschewing the field goal attempt, Hawai'i head coach Greg McMackinopted to go for the touchdown. The snap between center and quarterback was muffed, though, with Colorado safety Anthony Perkins recovering the fumble at the Buff three yard line.Colorado did manage to get one first down on its first drive, but, saddled with yet two more false start penalties, was forced to punt. The Buff defense stiffened on the Warriors' second possession, forcing a three-and-out. The Hawai'i punt, though, was mishandled by Travon Patterson, with the fumble bouncing eighteen yards back to the Colorado three yard line, where it was recovered by Hawai'i.Same song; different verse.Hawai'i was once again at the Colorado three yard line with a first-and-goal.And once again, the Warriors came away with no points.Going back to their strength, Hawai'i went back to the passing game. The Colorado defense, though, forced three incompletions. When a 20-yard chip shot field goalwas missed by Hawai'i kicker Scott Enos, Buff fans began to harbor thoughts that this was going to be the Buffs' day, after all.Or not.On the Buffs' next possession, Rodney Stewart fumbled, setting up the Warriors at the Colorado 42 yard line. This time, Moniz and the Warriors were not to be denied. It took only three plays for the Warriors to score, with Moniz hitting Pilares for a seven yard touchdown with 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter.7-0, Hawai'i.The second quarter moved along quickly, withthe twoteamsposting onlytwo possessions apiece. The Buffs posted three first downs on each of their drives, moving the ball fairly well, but eachdrive resulted in a punt. The second drive ended, when, on third-and-one at the Hawai'i 39-yard line, the shotgun snap to Tyler Hansen went between the junior quarterback's legs, resulting in an 18-yard loss.Hawai'i took the subsequent punt and marched smartly down the field, covering 56 yards in only 1:42 of game clock, with Enos connecting on a 31-yard field goal on the last play of the half.Halftime score:Hawai'i 10, Colorado Buffalo Bills jersey
0.Shut out in the first half for the first timeat home since the Iowa State game in 2008, Colorado staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, putting forth as dominant an effort as any Buff team in recent memory.Colorado took the second half kickoff, and, just as in the second quarter, moved with ease down the field. This time, however, the Buffswere not to be denied the endzone. Rodney Stewart, who would rush for 102 yards on 19 carries on the afternoon, capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive with a four yard touchdown run.Colorado was back in the game - Hawai'i 10, Colorado 7.Then, Hawai'i started playing like Colorado had against California the week before.A holding penalty on the kickoff put the Warriors in a hole at their own nine yard line. A false start and an incompletion wereoffset by a five yard completion, leaving Hawai'i with a third-and-ten at their nine. This time, it was the Warriors' turn to mishandle a shotgun snap. Swarmed under in his endzone, Moniz was able to get off a dump off pass to running back Alex Green. Green, though, fared no better, and was tackled by Colorado junior defensive back Anthony Perkins for a safety.Hawaii 10, Colorado 9.Buoyed by the now raucous home crowd, the Colorado offense seized control of the game. Utilizing a semi hurry-up offense, the Buffswere able to keep the Warriors' defenseoff balance. Taking over at their 40-yard line after the Hawai'i free kick, the drive opened with four straight Rodney Stewart runs,netting 25 yards. After a Tyler Hansen to Scotty McKnight hookup for ten yards and a first down on a third-and-six (after a false start penalty on third-and-one), junior running back Brian Lockridge took over. Lockridge, who would post the first 100-yard game of his career (109 yards on 14 carries), handled the ball on the next four plays, netting 28 yards. Rodney Stewart then did the honors from two yards out, giving Colorado its first lead of the game with 7:05 to play in the third quarter, 15-10. The lead was upped to 17-10 a moment later, when Hansen hit freshman wide receiver Paul Richardson for a two-point conversion.Hawai'i did not go quietly after surrendering the lead, however.An 11-play, 76-yard drive by the Warriors ensued, but the Colorado defense again stiffened in the red zone, and Hawai'i had to settle for a 32-yard Enos field goal.17-13, Colorado, with 1:58 to play in the third quarter.The two teams traded punts before the Buffs came up with the big play which had eluded them for the first three games of the season. On third-and-eight at the Buffs' 27-yard Carolina Panthers jersey
line, Tyler Hansen was flushed from the pocket. Hansen bought himself enough time that the Warrior pass coverage broke down. Toney Clemons got behind the Warrior secondary, and Hansen lofted the ball to the junior wide receiver near the Hawai'i 40-yard line. Clemons did the rest on his own, taking the ball in for a 73-yard touchdown.Colorado 24, Hawai'i 13.The Clemons' score was a back-breaker for the Warriors, who suffered two penalties and a sack on their next drive before quickly punting the ball back to Colorado. The Buffs' offense was feeling it now. Brian Lockridge carried the ball on five of the Buffs' next six plays, gaining 40 yards. On third-and-six at the Hawai'i 23, the Buffs got lucky. A Hansen pass intended for Toney Clemons was tipped, with the ball landing in the arms of a waiting Scotty McKnight at the Hawai'i four yard line. Touchdown, Colorado.The 31-13 rout was complete two plays later when Jonathan Hawkins, the fourth Buff to play nickel back in three games, intercepted a Bryant Moniz pass.Final score:Colorado 31, Hawai'i 13."Lord knows we've had our share of adversity," said Dan Hawkins after the game. "To the (players') credit, they have never bagged it in, and they have never quit. They have never doubted and they keep coming back." Hawkins was pleased with his defense in the first half - "I thought our defense was absolutely stellar; once again they made some tremendous stops ... It was fun to see their hard work rewarded" - and with his offense in the second half - "We did a good job in doing the no-huddle ... The offense got a lot of confidence and got back into the full of it. Once we got a little mojo going we were rolling."Much of the credit for the victory went to the defense, who faced to first-and-goal at the three situations early in the game, but surrendered no points. "They hit the long play, we huddled, we said, 'We'll bend but not break' ", said linebacker B.J. Beatty. " 'They're not going to get out to a huge lead like their other game, 21-0 at Army'. We took it upon ourselves to take that moment and make a statement."It could have been a disastrous first half -"It's a difference of one inch and three inches," said Hawai'i head coach Greg McMakin. "It should have been 21-0 at halftime" - but the Buffs were still in the game at half, down only 10-0. Then the Colorado rushing game took over. The Buffs posted 452 yards of total offense, with 252 yards coming on the ground. The two 100-yard efforts by Brian Lockridge (109 yards) and Rodney Stewart (106 yards) marked the first time since 2002 that two Colorado running backs went over 100 yards in the same game.For his part, quarterback Tyler Hansen was efficient, if not spectacular. Hansen went 19-of-26 for 200 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Almost half of Hansen's yardage came on the Chicago Bears jersey
two touchdown passes, with neither play as they were designed in the playbook (Clemons' 73-yarder coming after a scramble by Hansen; McKnight's 23-yarder coming on a tipped pass). Most of the day, Hansen and the Colorado offense were content to throw underneath, trying to control the ball and the clock. "We were just trying to get (Hansen) into a rhythm and get comfortable back there," said Dan Hawkins. "We are trying to regain his confidence, so I thought it was a good idea."Overall, the Buffs posted decent stats, out-gaining Hawai'i 452 yards to 337. The Buffs ground out 252 yards rushing, holding the Warriors to a net of seven yards rushing. Colorado held onto the ball for 35:49, helped by converting ten-of-14 third down opportunities.The Buffs will now enjoy a bye week, waiting for Georgia (1-2 after a 31-24 loss to Arkansas Saturday). The Bulldogs still must play again, at Mississippi State, before coming to Boulder. Colorado will be the underdog to Georgia, but, at least for a week, can bask in the glow of one very good half of football.Not to mention the first "winning month" since the 2008 team opened with a 3-1 September record.Game Notes -- Junior Brian Lockridge posted his first 100-yard rushing game. His previous best came in 2007 when, as a true freshman, he went for 90 yards against Miami (Ohio).- For junior Rodney Stewart, the 106 yards against Hawai'i was his ninth 100-yard effort, tying him for 11th on the all-time list in that category with three other players (including his position coach, Darian Hagan). Stewart now has 1,679 career yards, moving him from 25th to 22nd on the all-time list.- Junior quarterback Tyler Hansen's 200 yards moved him into the top 15 in career passing yards, with 2,278 overall. On Saturday, Hansen passed four players Saturday, including such well known names as Jeff Knapple, Ken Johnson, and Bobby Anderson.- It took an extra week, but Scotty McKnight finally eclipsed the 2,000-yard barrier. In catching a pass in 39th straight regular season game, McKnight had six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, moving him into sixth place all-time with 2,057 yards (Javon Green had 2,031).- The safety recorded by Anthony Perkins against Hawai'i running back Alex Green marked the first safety for Colorado since 2005 (against Kansas).- Cincinnati Bengals jersey
The last time Colorado was shut out at home in the first half came in 2008, when Iowa State also led 10-0 at the break. Colorado came back to win that game as well, posting a 28-24 victory.- Ever wonder about the ' in Hawai'i? Well, it's called an 'Okina. According to the Hawai'i media release, it translates literally as separator - "Phonetically, it is referred to as a glottal stop, similar to the sound that would be made in the English oh-oh. The 'okina is actually a letter in the Hawaiian language." So now you know ...

18 Jan 11 College Football: Five Big Games, Winners Will Manage Intangibles Better

Crazed fans are essential to college football.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesCollege football fans are in store for a great weekendin this the week 4 of the 2010 season. Three games involving six teams from the Top 25 of the USA Today Coaches' Poll are scheduled. If you do what I like to do and stretch the coaches' poll out to the Top30 two more big games surface.I belong to a fraternity of college football writers. We've hashed out and rehashed the X's and O's.So, I wrote this article to present another side of these games, the motivations, inspirations, and drive these teams San Diego Chargers jersey
carry to the big games, beyond what is said in the headsets.The 10 teamsin the five big games all rank in the top quartile,the top 30 teams, of theFootball Bowl Subdivision. Think about it. Theseason is still young, this weekendenteringthe second quarter. It's just turned to autumn. It'sstill close right now. Anything can happen with any of the top 30 teams, especially as they go after each other.In fact, the races are so tight so early that the whoooshing sound you hear is statistics going out the window. The outcomes Thursday night and Saturday and into early Sunday morning are going to go down to the team that better manages these intangibles, the motivations, the inspirations, and the drive.I avoid picking outcomes. I work with advantages that bringin the intangibles, the inferences.A team with an inferentialadvantage can use that advantage to overcome difficulties on the field, the bad bounces of the ball.An advantage works both ways. If it isovercome by the team's opponent, the advantage is challenging to get back. An example is home field. A couple of big scores by the road team can render the crowd quiet.******The games this weekend are:******No. 19 Miami visits No. 29 Pittsburgh Thursday night September 23rd on ESPNThe Pittsburgh Pantherscan still feelthe sting after losing at Utah in overtime, thenplummeting in the polls. Beating FCS New Hampshire in Week 2 was meaningless. The win did not earn any new friends in the polls.Aside from defeating essentiallyno one, there have beenplenty more issues there tomess with Pittsburgh's minds.Key injuries and legalproblems always createunwanted distractions. That's a lot for one team to work through.It's been two weeks since theMiami Hurricanes were defeated convincingly in Columbus by No. 2 Ohio State. The question is: have the 'Canes also had time to gather their thoughts? Frustrating miscues such as untimely penalties and turnoverslimitedMiami's chances to pull off a major victory. Exasperating mistakes tend to linger.It comes down to this: Miamihas to clear its head of Buckeyes almost had and play nearly perfect football.Pittsburghalso has to focus, forgetthe polls, forget Utah,and play nearly perfect football.There is no homesod Heinz Field advantage in this game. Pittsburgh is bruised and Miami traditionally plays well on the road.It's an ever-so-closebattle for conference respectability. Interestingly,it could be described as UtahandOhio State.The Big East may be hurting again.Advantage: Miami******No. 28 Oregon State goes to No. 3 Boise State Saturday September 25th, for ABC/ESPN Game Day. Kickoff is at 8:00 pm EDT on ABC.Oregon State hosted Big East bottom-fisher Louisville September 18th. It was too close for comfort.Boise Stateadministered ashellacking of the Cowboys at Wyoming.Interesting, these are. But, they don't change the fact that this is a really close mid-major WAC vs BCS Pac-10 contest that both teams desperately need to win.Threeweeks into the season and Oregon State has essentially not beaten anyone. Combine that with the fact thatthe Beavers have recently lost to the Broncos twice, and you get paybacks. Paybacks are a...well, we all know what paybacks are.Boise State has been travellingin the 2010 season. Finally, they areplaying on their home turf. The fans San Francisco 49ers jersey
in the stands will be unhinged,thinking this is the national championship season. Boosters, especially the influential type, say it will be the national championship season.That's dangerous.Can Oregon State get cranked up enough to quiet the Boise crowd?Does Boise State still play football as the hunter, or, as the ESPN sidelines reporter said before the Virginia Tech game, are the Broncos so adept at proving them wrong that it's tough to prove them right?Advantage: Oregon State******No. 15 South Carolina at No. 14 Auburn in an inter-divisional matchup in the Southeastern Conference.South Carolina has a big win over Georgia in Columbia and its obligatory FCS game, this time against the privatein-stateFurman.To describe the annual battle the Gamecocks have with themselves, I refer to Darren Everson, a reporter with The Wall Street Journal. Everson wrote of the university's perennial gridiron woes, a school where football success is met with surprise.According to the Journal, only two of the current 120 FBS schools have never played in a major bowl game, those being defined as the Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, and Cotton.South Carolina is one.Even with head coach Steve Spurrier, a man whom success follows, it could still get tough. And, there's no better place for it to get it tough than against Auburnon The Plains.Last season, West Virginia completed a home-and-home by hitting the highway to play against a multitude of Tigers fans. As a WVU Featured Columnist I filed mypregame article early,comparing Auburn to the Mountaineers previous opponent, East Carolina.Close to 5,000southern gentlemen read the piece, most of whom politelytold methe way it is going to be. Later that week, I wrote another article extolling the virtues of the game. Some of the5,000 and their friends let me have it again.They won,the game and in Bleacher Report. And, that'sAuburn, where success is expected.AfterSouth Carolina star record-setting ex-wideout Kenny McKinley took his own life in his Denver home Monday, theGamecock family will bein mourning. No one completely understands suicide. Consequently, those close to the victim are most confused, and extremely angry.******No. 1 Alabama goes to razorback country to take on No. 11 Arkansas in FayettevilleAlabama has been blessed with the institution of college football over so many decades that the school has a unique reaction to its success in winning a national championship.Reload.The head coaches,Bryant, Stallings, and Saban, instilled that attitude in players like Namath, Seattle Seahawks jersey
Stabler, Musso, Todd, Parker, Teague,now McElroy and Ingram. Those players pass it on.It is reload time for the Crimson Tide offense. For the defense? Not so much. The word is:Rebuild.However, for Saban it may be as simple as reaching into his two and three-deep and just coming up with a good one.Forgames on the 2010 Crimson Tide's schedule, the defense could get by by digging in and playing on inspiration alone. That may haveworked against Penn State. Maybe Auburn. Perhaps Florida.Enter Arkansas.Against the Hogs, a rebuilding defense could be Alabama's Achilles' heel.The offensive mind of coaching genius Bobby Petrino turns in ways no one knows. Maybe the late Don Coryell calling plays from Up There, but he's about it.Incredibly, coach Petrino has thequarterback he wants, along with four wideouts, a tight end, and four top running backs from last year. It's Louisville 2006 all over again for Bobby Petrino, except this is 2010 and Petrino has the all-the-way attitude.This time, it's not West Virginia and Rutgers, then Wake Forest. It's Alabama and LSU, then Florida, then Ohio State or Boise State?Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino have become the coaches they are because they think there are no limits. He who better sells those ideals to his players will lead them to victory.Advantage: Arkansas.*****No. 21 West Virginia invading bayoucountry to play No. 12 Louisiana State in "Death Valley" TigerStadium in BatonRougeESPN2 at 9:00 PM eastern.The Mountaineers and Tigers are similar in two basic aspects: a) each team has more athletic talent than their respective rankings might indicate, and b) each team has what I call "megaboosters" who have placed their respective head coaches on the dreaded "hot seat."It's mind-boggling that LSU's Les Miles, at 54-15 with a national championship in 2007, and West Virginia's Bill Stewart, at 22-9includingone of the classic bowl upsetswinsover Oklahoma 48-28 in the 2007 season's Fiesta Bowl, could possibly fear for their jobs.It's true.However, these men have been around long enough to know that their best chances to get off the charcoal chair involves winning.I can't speak for LSU players on the subject of how much they likeLes Miles. It's my guess that they do because of the recent successes and the 2007 national championship, the team for which 2010 seniors were freshmen. There's got to be some muscle memory there, and a lot of mutual respect.I can speak more knowledgeably about the relationships between Bill Stewart and WVU's players. I have heard directly from a St. Louis Rams jersey
couple ofthose who would know that Stewart's players like him.The Mountaineer seniors played in the Fiesta Bowl of the 2007 season at a time when West Virginia football was in complete turmoil. Bill Stewart was the man who found a way pull everyone together. The final score indicates he did a fine job.This game is going to be a prize fight. It's the old-fashioned "who wants it more."Or, perhaps, "who wants it more forthe coach."Advantage: West Virginia

15 Jan 11 St. Louis Rams Seattle Seahawks Commentary Leonard Little

In a production that had been played out seemingly countless times before, the St. Louis Rams were staring defeat in the face when the fates of fortune intervened and once again handed them a chance at a miracle victory.They're fickle, those fates.Holding a six-point lead, the Seahawks needed only to bleed the final 2:48 from the clock and kick an easy field goal for an insurmountable lead. Then, with his only concern being to protect the football, Maurice Morris was stripped by Leonard Little. Jimmy Kennedy recovered and gave the Rams their latest shot at an Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
improbable victory (Disclaimer: The writer and RealFootball365.com cannot be held responsible for the strong sense of déjà vu instilled by the previous paragraph).Leonard Little, as he has done many times this season, gave his team a shot at a miraculous comeback, and the Rams' offense would make good on its opportunity. With 1:54 remaining on the clock, Marc Bulger made the mistake of hitting a single-covered Torry Holt deep over the middle for a 67-yard bomb and the touchdown that would put the Rams up with a little more than a minute-and-a-half left in the game.That's right, I said mistake.You see, the Rams failed to heed the lessons of history. Let's set the way back machine to Feb. 3, 2002, and a little game known as Super Bowl XXXVI. The heavily-favored Rams were being handed their heads by the upstart New England Patriots. The Patriots were up 17-3 in the fourth quarter, when the Rams woke up and mounted a furious comeback to tie the score with (stop me if this sounds familiar) a minute-and-a-half left in the game. The whole world was privy to what happened next: the Patriots easily drove down the field against a suspect Rams defense, stopped the clock in field goal range with a handful of seconds left and launched the kick heard 'round the world.Are we beginning to see a pattern here? OnReebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
Sunday, Seattle drove into field goal range against little resistance and won a game that should have been the latest in a series of miracle comebacks for the Rams. The Rams' offense shouldn't need to worry about scoring "too early" at the end of close games due to the porous defense's penchant toward giving up at the end.Now, the Rams can blame the loss on any number of factors, such as the two highly suspect pass interference penalties that launched the Seattle comeback or Steven Jackson's Saturday Night Fever-like performance in the backfield. He netted a mere 56 yards at a 2.8 average per carry. However, there is a much more insidious culprit that can be fingered.Blame, thy name is defense.The Rams dominated the first half, mounting impressive drives that led to three touchdowns. The defense allowed only a single score, forcing Seattle to punt on the remainder of their drives. At halftime, conventional wisdom suggested continued dominance by the Rams in the second half. If the 2006 Rams have proven anything, it's that their games are anything but conventional.The Rams' defense crumbled in the second half, allowing Seattle's slumbering offense to spring to life to the tune of two touchdowns and four field goal attempts (three were made, including the final blow). While the special teams regressed with an ill-timed fourth quarter Kevin Curtis fumble that led to a Seattle touchdown, the Rams' offense played well enough to win and cannot be blamed for a defeat that puts the team at a serious disadvantage to Seattle in the battle for the NFC West crown.In order to remain in contention with the Seahawks, the Rams must shore up their defense and cannot rely on Leonard Little, nor the hand of fate to intervene after the 'D' turns victory into defeat. Granted, despite the loss, the Rams showed Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
up for this game and head into their bye week with a decent record of 4-2. In playing the defending NFC champs to a standstill, they have earned the respect of the league. That respect is little consolation to the Rams.Get more perspective on the St. Louis Rams (1)

13 Jan 11 Mark Cuban, Are You Serious?

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesIt's official. Mark Cuban really does think that the sports world revolves around him and his Dallas Mavericks.Are you kidding me, Mark?The mighty NFL, with it's outrageous TV contract, should have changed their schedule to accommodate a regular season game between your precious Mavs and the Utah Jazz? On what network was that televised? And more importantly, was the few thousand you lost in ass-less seats really worth yet another pompous media uproar?Donald Trump said it best.In so many words, he proclaimed that New Orleans Saints jersey
the guy was "new money" and that no team he ever owns would win a championship. And that he was not a winner, nor will any team be that he gets his wallet on.He's just another Daniel Snyder. Or worse yet, an idiot fan who hit the lottery, and was allowed to buy a professional sports franchise.I have a ton of respect for how Mr. Universe cameabout his fortune.Congrats, Mark. You were a genius in the era of "how to make a gazillion on tech stocks". This does not make you an expert on professional sports, let alone, running an NBA team.If he had an ounce of basketball smarts, he would have positioned himself, with his deep pockets, to be cap-ready to go after LeBron and also Wade/Bosh, etc.He would try to put some winners on that court, instead of contstantly putting ball hogs like Jerry Stackhouse and Jason Terry around guys that actually care about winning, like Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard.Wake up, Cuban.Like in any other major sport, you cant outscore everyone every night, especially come playoff time. Ever hear the term, "role player"?And, coming from a Philly fan, did anyone else in Dallas give a crap about an early January Mavs-Jazz or did you want to watch your Cowboys in a rare playoff appearance,beat the hell out ofa division rival?Get real, Mark. It's all about the New York Giants jersey
'Boys come playoff time. Same can be said in any major city when it comes to football.Do yourself, and all of the long suffering Mavericks fans a favor. Continue to spend money, but hire a General Manager who knows something about the game of basketball to decide how to spend it.

12 Jan 11 Haiti: ESPN Commentator Spits On Relief Effort

Paul Shirley made waves Wednesday with his cold and cruel remarks regarding the tragic events that have taken placein Haiti.Shirley said,"I haven donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don give money to homeless men on the street. Based on past experiences, I don think the guy with Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
the sign that reads 'Need Your Help' is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either.Needless to say, Shirley was fired by ESPN Wednesday, and the network had this to say about his remarks, "Shirley's views do not at all reflect our company's views on the Haiti relief efforts. He will no longer contribute to ESPN."The remarks actually came in the form of a letter. Asarcastic letter of thanks to the people of Haiti. A real winner this Shirley is. In the letter Shirley says, "Kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded."Shirley is an Iowa Stategraduate, andspent time in 2004-05 as a reserve forwardfor the Suns. Shirley also played in seven games with the Chicago Bulls back in 2003-04, averaging 3.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg in that span.Before joining the Bulls, Shirley was a member of the ABA's Kansas City Knights. Healso had a cup of coffee with the Atlanta Hawks back in 2002-03 and has played overseas in Greece.Shirley's mock letter also asked the Haitian people if they could refrain from the creation of flimsy-shanty and shack-towns.Perhaps Shirley's most Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
startling statement came when he felt the need to ask the Haitian people if they could perhaps use a condom every once in awhile.Shirley's commentating career, like his NBA career, was brief and a total flop. One can only hope we never have to hear this guy chime in about any topic ever again.

10 Jan 11 NBA Trade News: Tracy McGrady Swapped, Houston Rockets Get a New Look

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty ImagesSoon after Tracy McGrady's huge debacle with the Rockets Organization, they started having trouble winning games. Well, not winning games, more like finishing out games. Then people started saying how taking out McGrady was a bad idea and they should just let him play. Charles Barkley even went as far to say that the Rockets Organization was disrespecting McGrady.I do not really like the trade deadline because of the many random trade rumors, and other reasons in which you can find here . But many of them have involved McGrady Kansas City Chiefs jersey
due to the fact that he was not playing and the Houston Rockets were not able to finish out games.In the End, McGrady was traded in a three-way deal that allowed the Rockets to get hold of Kevin Martin, Jordan Hill, and the dreadful Jared Jeffries. The sad part of this was that the Houston Rockets lost fan favorite Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey. Oh, and we get to get rid of McGrady.This trade has its pros and cons, but Morey decided to play it safe and to try to continue to fight for a playoff spot this year rather than see them slowly get out of the playoff picture in hopes for Miami Dolphins jersey
a second tier name (AKA not Lebron, Kobe, DWade). I personally do not like Kevin Martin that much. His defense is probably worse than McGrady defense, he also has a history of bad injuries, and his jump shot is sort of funny looking. But nonetheless, he can get to the line and has shown he has a knack for putting the ball into the hoop. Though he does not do much other than score, it could be what the Houston Rockets need to push for that 8th seed in the playoffs this April.To be honest, I have not really watched Hill that much so what I write about him is based on what Ive seen in a few videos. I think he has talent, but he was buried by DAntoni and barely played (totaling for 24 games). I believe he could be somewhat useful in Adelman system as long as he is willing to listen. Though I could be entirely wrong, and he could suck like Brian Cook (they do have the same number after all). For the Knicks, they got what the player the wanted. For the Kings, they get the tough Carl Landry who has been a fan favorite in Houston, and will continue to become one in Sacramento. Minnesota Vikings
So in conclusion, the Rockets played it safe and got their wing scorer (Martin) and a hopeful prospect to replace Carl Landry (Hill). If both work out the way Morey hopes, we could see the Houston Rockets in the playoffs. Oh, and some people are going to have to change their numbers (Martin, 23) (Hill, 43) or (Cook, 43)

9 Jan 11 The Los Angeles Clippers Do Their Best Harlem Globetrotter Impersonation

Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesI really want to see the Harlem Globetrotters live. I grew up watching the 'Trotters on Saturday morning TV. Sometimes, they would be special guest stars on Fat Albert! Good times. Even as a kid, I knew the games were fixed. The 'Trotters were all about entertainment, and that was okay by me. I Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
watched in awe as Curly would lay on his side and dribble the ball while the Washington Generals flailed away haplessly. Maybe it's because I was groomed at such a young age to accept phony basketball as entertainment that I can watch the Clippers play today. I'm happy the team is playing well, glad to see some passion on the court, and the three wins in a row are nice, but let's not kid ourselves: this is phony basketball. By trading away Marcus Camby, Al Thornton, and Sebastian Telfair the Clippers went all-in. They showed their hand and confidently winked at the others around the table. What's in the pot isn't clear, but we all know what, or who, they have their eye on. We won't know for a few months, however, if they played their cards right. So, between now and then we are left to watch the Clippers play the part of Harlem Globetrotters. Let's call them the West Coast Wannabees. The Wannabees are a team tossed together for the balance of the year. Everyone on this team understands that. They play not for any real long-term purpose but for the love of the game. There are worse places to play the game you love than in Los Angeles. It's no wonder the team has played with passion recently, wouldn't you if you were being paid very well to play a game of pickup ball? Phony basketball. In the role of the Washington Generals have been the Kings, Bobcats, and Pistons. It was against the Pistons that I noticed things not seen in Clipper games for some time. There were bench players pounding the floor to encourage their teammates. I saw smiles, Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
enthusiastic high-fives, and general passion from a team that has been about as passionate as Tiger holding a news conference. Of course, it's easier to play with passion when you have nothing to play for but the passion. The mark of a great team, not to mention a great player, is when they can excel in a pressure situation. Playing with passion when everything is on the line separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. Clearly, there is nothing on the line for the Clippers. "...We want to go into each game trying to win, but I also want them to have fun. We have banter in practice and stuff I think is refreshing. I think basketball should be fun." Lame-duck, I mean Interim, Coach Kim Hughes said recently.That's what's left for the Clippers this year. In a year that started with playoff aspirations, excitement around Blake Griffin, and what looked to be a solid core of players, the season is winding down as an entertainment piece. Of course, the team could have continued down the road they were on and played passionless boring basketball (see game result 2/10/10 against the Warriors). Given the option, of course I would rather see them play with a little energy. It's a welcome change, but it's temporary. This is still a lame-duck team led by a lame-duck coach and very possibly a lame-duck G.M. I can hear you screaming Clipper fan, no the owner is no lame-duck, he remains firmly entrenched. I feel bad for pointing out that the emperor has no clothes. I should be happy that Steve Blake is an assist machine, that Drew Gooden is pulling off an Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
impressive Marcus Camby impersonation, and that Bo Outlaw is most likely an improvement over Al Thornton, but the Clippers are parading around Figueroa Avenue with their ding-a-ling showing, and someone has to point it out. Maybe they can sign Meadowlark Lemon to a 10-day contract.

8 Jan 11 Despite Struggles the Lakers Are Still Looking Down on Dallas and Denver

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesIt's funny how perception can sometimes differ from reality, and after recently glancing at the NBA's Western Conference Standings, the struggles by the front-running Los Angeles Lakers may have been wildly misconstrued.Debate has beenlively concerning the Lakers since they endured a rough stretch, in which they lost three consecutive games for the first time in almost two years.The Lakers' slide corresponded with a surge by the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets and it changed the perception of Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
the conference race.Whispers began to emerge that perhaps the dominance of Los Angeles was nearing its end, and maybe a confident Nuggets' team or a re-tooled Mavericks' team could end the Lakers' two year reign atop the conference.A 13 game winning streak by Dallas and a six game winning streak by Denver added fuel to the rumors of the Lakers' demise, but the last week has shown us the predictions of ruin were over-blown.After a combined 19 game win streak, the Nuggets and Mavericks were able to carve only a single game off of the Lakers' conference lead, and in Dallas' case a 32 point loss to the New York Knicks raises some interesting questions of their own.For one, what type of true championship contender loses a home game at this point of the season, by such a large margin, to a team which has absolutely nothing left to play for?I understand futility breeds desperation and teams under those circumstances can be dangerous, so a loss is understandable, if not acceptable.But to lose by 32 points at home? That is not the mark of a true contender and despite recent roster upgrades Dallas may still exist in the shadow of their playoff failures of 2006-2007.Choking in the Finals of 2006, and the Maverickssubsequent defeat the next year in the first round of the playoffs as the number one seed has Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
left a discernible mark on the franchise.Epic failures like those tend to leave residual damage which is capable of following teams for years, and the manner in which Dallas conceded to New York brought back memories of those disasters.Denver on the other hand, is the one team which can cause the Lakers problems because of their team speed and athleticism, plus they have a proven champion in point guard Chauncey Billups.The Nuggets have been consistent for much of the year, and have gained valuable confidence in their two wins over the Lakers this season. They sincerely feel they are capable of defeating Los Angeles in the postseason.The Lakers, however know they can beat the Nuggets and have done just that the past two years in the playoffs, and despite some issues, nothing much has changed in that area.Additionally, Los Angeles is beginning to show some life, and the Lakers are putting together a little run of their own in preparation for the postseason.Since a loss to Orlando, the Lakers have won four gamesin a row, and a moment of tension between Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum may have provided the team with necessary motivation.Gasol and Bynum have asserted themselves in the post, and Bryant has shown the ability to compromise, seemingly recognizing the efforts Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
of his beleaguered big men.Both Bynum and Gasol caught heat for their statements to the media, but they have shown they can be dominate in the paint with more touches, as they have controlled the paint in recent games.More importantly, Bryant has began to find his shooting touch after his finger injury, and the Lakers are discovering the rhythm which carried them through to last season's championship.The road ahead for Los Angeles is perilous, and afuture five game road trip will test their fortitude, but the Lakers seem to be finding their stride at just the right time.The prospects are fair forthe Lakers even though they have had to endure adversity to reach this point, but that is the sign of a true championship contender, and the first place team in the Western Conference.

30 Dec 10 The Oklahoma City Thunder Can Do No Wrong

Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesThe Oklahoma City Thunder are going to the playoffs this year, and the only surprise is that it happening this soon. The Thunder built their entire lineup through a series of wonderful draft decisions. We know that the Thunder were the Sonics for some of these decisions, but for the sake of simplicity well call them the Thunder from here on out.The linchpin for their success was having the good fortune of landing the second overall pick in the 2007 draft, which gave them the greatest consolation prize in the Denver Broncos jersey
last twenty years, Kevin Durant. Had the Thunder received the number one pick they would have had Greg Oden and we all know how that turned out. In his rookie season, Durant poured in over 20 points a game on his way to collecting the Rookie of the Year award. Now Durant is one of the faces of the league and battling with LeBron James for his first scoring title.The good fortune for the Thunder continued when they swapped aging shooting guard Ray Allen for Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and the number five overall pick. The pick ended up being a combo forward out of Georgetown, Jeff Green. As a rookie, Green averaged 11 points a game, while building rapport with Durant and the rest of the Thunder. Green has developed a better outside jumper allowing him to improve his scoring to 15 points per game this season. He provides a great third scoring option for the Thunder and with his offensive repertoire expanding Green is poised to become an All-Star.For an encore, the Thunder selected UCLA Russell Westbrook fourth overall in 2008, when many thought they should select another guard, Jerryd Bayless out of Arizona. Yet again, GM Sam Presti made the perfect choice. Westbrook has become one of the most dynamic guards in the league posting career bests of 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds per game. Bayless has had a limited roll for the Blazers logging only 17 minutes per game. With Westbrook, every night there a good chance youll see him on SportsCenter Detroit Lions
Top Ten going coast to coast for a thunderous dunk or finding Durant or Green with a pass not many in the league could make.With the third overall pick in 2009 the Thunder made their first selection as the Thunder. They opted to add yet another offensive weapon with shooting guard James Harden from Arizona State. As a sophomore with the Sun Devil Harden averaged 20 points, six rebounds and four assists while being named the Pac-10 Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. As a rookie this season, Harden has been asked to come in and not get in Durant, Westbrook, or Green way. This was quite the change for Harden who was always a go-to scorer in college. In limited minutes (23 per game) James has scored ten points a game. He has shown flashes of brilliance like when he went for 24 and 25 points in back-to-back games against the Magic and Wizards early in the season.The youth movement will continue for the Thunder this year with five draft picks. Theyll select 21st and 22nd in the first round and Green Bay Packers jersey
49th in the second round, and will receive two 2nd round picks from Minnesota (32 and the later of the TWolves other two picks). If any player slips be sure that General Manager Sam Presti will scoop them up. Also, don be surprised if Presti packages the picks to move up and grab the player he thinks will help the team most.For more on the Northwest division and all things rookie visit The Rookie Wall!

29 Dec 10 Cavaliers Vs Bulls: Game 1 Preview

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesBulls Vs Cavaliers Game 1 starts April 17th at 3 p.m ET. Even though it seems pretty decided, remember last year's first round matchup between Boston Chicago that went to seven games. I'm not saying there will be another 7 game series but hey anything can happen.The Cavs and the Bulls regular season series are split 2-2. Really it seems like 2-1 if you consider the last game they played the Cavs didn't have Lebron James due to rest.The Cavs have the best record in the NBA even after a pretty slow start Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
to the season. They Acquired Shaq in a trade this season and he hasn't fit in as well as they hoped but they still have the best record in the NBA at 61-21. The only reason Shaq was brought in was to guard Dwight Howard ( Shaq JR) in the eastern conference finals. Lebron James and the Cavs hope to avoid an upset at home this Saturday vs the Bulls.The Bulls (speak of the devil) barely got in the playoffs at 41-41, and even though that may seem good for a bulls team without Michael Jordan Scottie Pippen, it has been a disappointing season for the Bulls because they were expected to be maybe the 5th best team in the conference, and that has not been the case. The Bulls probably made the dumbest NO signing in the NBA by not signing Ben Gordon in the off season. Chicago is Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
now 24th in the league in scoring and that is all part when they had let there leading scorer last season leave to Detroit. The Bulls have a tough task when they face Lebron James and the Cavaliers this Saturday at the Quicken Loans Arena.Keys for the BullsContain The supporting cast: The thing about Lebron James is that he is a great passer and he has the supporting cast that can make shots, if you can keep the ball in Lebron James hands then it will be hard for the supporting cast to get in rhythm and you will force Lebron James to try to score.Keep Lebron James from the Paint: Lebron James, is the best finisher in the game. If he get's near the rim, move out the way or your gonna get embarrassed. Lebron James has improved his 3 point shooting since he's been in the league but he hasn't exactly perfected it. Lebron James will shoot the three but he's not deadly, and more times then not he'll miss it. If you keep him away from the paint and make him shoot jump shots then he'll lose his focus and start to commit turnovers and those turnovers can mean more points.Keys for the CavsGet Joakim Noah in foul trouble: The Bulls are the #1 rebounding team in the NBA and the #2 in the league in blocks. Joakim Noah is there leading rebounder shot blocker, if the Cavs can get Joakim in foul trouble then they'll only have to worry about the 6-9 Taj Gibson and not the 6-11 Joakim Noah.Crash the offensive boards: The Cavs are 11th in the league in rebounding, which is great. But the Cavs are 27th in theReebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
league in offensive rebounding which is not great or good at all. Crashing the offensive glass creates second chance points and the Cavs could use the second chance points against a tough defensive team like the Bulls.Prediction: Cavs 103 Bulls 96 Cavs take 1-0 lead.

28 Dec 10 Phoenix Suns' Touching Cinco de Mayo Tribute

Happy Cinco de Mayo sports fans.We are happy to announce that, as part of the Mexican holiday that isn really celebrated by that many people in Mexico, but is widely celebrated by Americans who have no idea as to why theyre drinking 15 margaritas, the Phoenix Suns have once again decided to honor the Latino community by insulting their intelligence.The notable date along with the controversial immigration laws put in effect in Arizona recently made the timing ideal for Suns owner Robert Sarver to announce that, for tonight playoff game Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
against the Spurs, his team will once again break out their Los Suns jerseys.Spurs coach Gregg Popovich loved the idea and lamented the fact that his team couldn produce their revolutionary Los Spurs jerseys in time for the game. It a wonderful idea, Popovich said according to the AP story . It kind of shows what we all should be about.Perhaps were being too cynical in typical blogger fashion, but is essentially mangling the Spanish language in order to add the equivalent of the word the to the team name really what we all should be about?"Perhapsit would be more of a tribute if the team took a few minutes to look up the word Suns inSpanish andwent with the actual translation, Soles. (Full disclosurewe are often amongst the meatheaded Americans who are guilty of assuming that every word Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
becomes Spanish when you put an El or Los in front of it, but at least we don act like it a tribute to Mexico when we do.)It the equivalent of the Mexican community collectively deciding that, they would take off work on Patriots Day , get hammered on Budweiser and rally around the onebasketball team that threw the word The in front of their name to pay tribute to the United States.We have to believe that, if the NBA league officials nixed the Los Suns idea, Sarver next plan was to honor the Latino community by giving away Taco Bell coupons. Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
Basically our point ishow about our basketball teams just play basketball instead of using an Americanized Mexican holiday to push subtle political views and thenconvincing themselvesthat it isas Suns GM Steve Kerr put ita celebration of diversity?Im sure our neighbors to the South are touched.Subscribe (for free!!) to our weekly sports podcast, deemed "incredible" by two out of three of our moms. JoeSportsFan.com , 2010. | Permalink | Tweet This

27 Dec 10 Despite Lottery Results, Nets Still looking 'Jerseylicious' for Next Season

Every off-season, sports writers around the globe are on the lookout for the next best thing.Last summer, roundball writers drooled over Oklahoma City's potential. This summer, the focus should be in Newark.OK, so John Wall isn't going to New Jersey, big deal! The Nets will still be an alluring destination team Washington Redskins jersey
this summer thanks to Mikhail Prokhorov, the self-made Russian billionaire owner with cap room and money to blow.Prokhorov should also be aided by the team's relocation plans for Brooklyn in 2012 and one of the best up and coming rosters in the league.Seriously, who wouldn't want to come to Jersey?Even though the Nets only won 12 games last season, their roster is stacked with young and attractive talent.A 7'0" center in Brook Lopez who is already one of the best big men in the league at just 22-years-old.A prototypical sized, lighting quick and fast-twitch point guard in Devin Harris (who probably benefited the most from Washington winning the lottery since many forget he was an All-Star in 2008.)A trio of athletic wings in Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee and Chris Douglas-Roberts.Throw in serviceable bigs, Josh Boone and Yi Jianlian, who averaged 13 points and nine rebounds to close the month of April, and New Jersey's roster is only a couple of spectacular pieces away from being dangerously nasty.While Lopez and Harris get most of the pub, Williams may be the most intriguing member of that group.A rookie last year who didn't start receiving consistent minutes until the last two months of the season when he averaged over 14 points, 5.6 assists and 6.2 rebounds a game in only 31.2 minutes of action.Consistent minutes and a year of seasoning could turn Williams into a certified player next year but the salivating doesn't stop there.Keep in mind this year's third pick in the draft should net New Jersey one of Evan Turner, Derrick Favors or DeMarcus Cousins.While many would argue for Turner, if he's available, consider that Williams is already giving the Nets what Turner would but he's doing so with a few extra drops of Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
athleticism (check his youtube .)Besides, stacking up on athletic bigs is never a bad thing. Look no further than the Lakers and Celtics for an example of what two long and athletic front courters can do for a team's roster.Pairing Cousins or Favors with Lopez would give New Jersey a pretty stout and athletic front wall rarely possessed by teams in the NBA.Then there's free agency, where a few extra dollars could land the marquee player this team needs to be a true contender. LeBron James anyone?Guys like Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer will likely wish to partner with James or Dwayne Wade (who's also a free agent) somewhere where they could run the league but James is the linchpin here.Unlike Bosh, Stoudemire and Boozer, James doesn't necessarily need to pair with a huge name to win and his a one-man band game is more than capable of leading a group of misfits (as he's already done) deep in the playoffs.Not that the Nets roster is any slouch but if any of the freebies could come to New Jersey solo and successfully run a group of highly-skilled talents, it's James.If it's not James, then maybe Prokhorov should throw his dollars at Memphis restricted free agent, Rudy Gay.The 6'9", 23-year-old, small forward is coming off averages of 19.6 points and six rebounds and adding him to an already capable squad could form Oklahoma City-like results in the East next year.Gay's Baltimore ties might force him to consider relocating somewhere closer to home Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
and the Grizzlies are going to let the market set a barometer for Gay but if Prokhorov throws some ridiculous figure out there, Memphis might likely decline to match.Regardless of which free agents or if any signs with the Nets, with the third pick in the draft and a move to Brooklyn on the horizon, the Nets are clearly a team on the rise in the NBA.

26 Dec 10 Tapped by Kobe: Was Phoenix Suns Coach Alvin Gentry Joking, or Part of the Joke?

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesWith 34.2 left in the fourth quarter of an elimination game of the Western Conference Finals, Suns coach Alvin Gentry watched the Lakers Kobe Bryant double-pump a 22-foot jumper.As Kobe lurched and fired, turning to balance himself slightly to the right as his defender slung leftward to meet him, the shot fell neatly behind the front of the rim despite the frantic defense of Grant Hill, and provided a 107-101 lead for a Lakers team that would eventually succeed to a chance at the Celtics, and an NBA title.The New England Patriots jersey
weird part was that immediately after that shot, Kobe turned and tapped Suns coach Alvin Gentry on the leg as if to say, So, howd you like that!?The weirder part was that the coach seemed to be in on the joke.He laughed and smiled as Kobe turned downcourt, seemingly satisfied with the shotand the joke.My question?Is Coach Gentry reaction, which, remember, is happening in the final 30 seconds of the Western Finals, offensive, debasing, and debilitating to team moral for a group that is playing for its life?Or is it a good-natured reaction to a player that made a terrific shotwhich just happened to likely knock his team out of the playoffs?Does Gentry reaction to the Kobe tap look more like a country-club golf outing between boss and lackey?Hey, great shot boss! And, I totally did not see you scootch the ball over with your foot to get that three-foot putt!Or is it more like, Wow, that was awesome Kobe, we should definitely do lunch! Let discuss whether that shot is more reminiscent of West half-court shot or Hondo steal in 65. And I am not at all pissed off that your team has now taken a seven-point lead!To put it in perspective, the NBA universe can generally be divided between two hemispheres:On one hand is what well call the Russell sphere, and the other, diametricallyNew Orleans Saints jersey
opposed, well call the Wilt sphere.The Russell sphere cares about winningthere is nothing else.Players are not friends when they step on the court.Russellites will knock you down.They will step on your face.They are frequently rude.Michael Jordan was a Russellite.Then there are Wilts.Wilts care aboutwell, caring.They care that you notice they led the league in assists.The care about stats.They care about getting in the Hall of Fame more than they care about titles.They care that you notice they scored 40 points even though their team lost.They hope that you watch stats and not, well.actual games.They care about you thinking they are great players no matter how selfish or narcissistic they are.Which brings me to Coach Alvin Gentry.Since we are in the 21st century, you can see for yourself how the Suns coach reacted by easily checking YouTube.But there is no denying the easy demeanor or genial acceptance of Kobe trash-talk by the Suns coach in those last few seconds of his team playoff lifethe queasy acceptance; the New York Giants jersey
country-club handshake; the sleazy acquiescence that, no doubt, had its effect on the young Suns bench, who happened to be watching him betray their emotions for the thrill of a Kobe-ESPN moment.But I wonder three things:1) If the shots were reversed, could you see Phil Jackson joking like this?2) Would Jordan or Russellhave complimented his opponent during the last 30 seconds of a Finals?3) Would Red Auerbach have smiled?

25 Dec 10 NBA Rumors: Sickening Rumors of Boston Celtics Interest in Larry Hughes

Mike Zarrilli/Getty ImagesFresh on the heals of the Shaquille O'Neal signing, there is a rumor started by Marc J. Spears' Twitter account that the Celtics are interested in obtaining free agent swingman Larry Hughes. If there is any truth to this rumor, I'm going to need a new trashcan. Larry Hughes is not a good NBA Atlanta Falcons jersey
player. No one says he's great (other than his agent), but I'm saying that he is literally not good. He is a gunner and slasher who doesn't play defense and has a terrible outside shot. This is who we want backing up Ray Allen and Paul Pierce? Marquis Daniels is supposed to be the first wing off the bench to give minutes for all three perimeter positions, but we all saw how well that worked last year. It is possible that the nasty thumb injury he suffered early last season threw him off the rails for the duration of the campaign, but it is also possible that he's simply not the man. Either way, an additional wing would be a great idea. Last I checked Ray and Paul failed to get younger. There is an outside chance that the Celtics will be able to acquire disgruntled Blazers shooting guard Rudy Fernandez, but that will be tough. This should obviously be priority number one, and it likely is. I love Rudy's game and would smile at the thought of him in Green. Assuming a Fernandez-free summer, the C's still need to get that swingman.Is Larry Hughes really the best available option? Whomever the Celtics sign will have to play for the veteran's minimum.Preferably, they will need to be delighted to receive such a sum and work their tail off. A bonus would be legitimate NBA skills. There is currently, to Baltimore Ravens jersey
my knowledge, just one player who fits the bill on all counts;Rashad McCants. As profiled in July 26th issue of ESPN the Magazine, McCants, 25, did not play a minute in the NBA last season for the simple reason that team executives around the league believe he has an attitude problem. I've not seen a singlecriticismof his ability, it just seems to be that he doesn't smile on the court or do the rah-rah stuff that teams like to see their youngsters do. This belies the fact that the kid can play. There is every reason to believe that he could be the answer off the bench at the shooting guard position. He's even strong enough to defend small forwards, despite giving up several inches most nights. There are two teams that should be calling McCants;smile or no smile;the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics. Both Buffalo Bills jersey
teams could use him, and both could offer him a stable environment dominated by strong veteran leadership and excellent coaching. The Celtics need to banish all thoughts of Larry Hughes from their heads. McCants can play. Hughes cannot. Pretty simple.This article is also featured onSmitty on Sports and Stuff

24 Dec 10 Indiana Pacers Flashback: What If Ron Artest Never Went Into The Stands?

Ron ArtestOn November 14, 2004, more than 22,000 people were in attendance of one of the most gruesome scenes the NBA has ever seen.Everyone knows what happened, but what nobody knows is what might have happened if Ron was actually able to keep his cool. What if the chubby white guy decided not to throw his cup? What if Ron didn't foul Ben Wallace with less than a minute to go? How might have the Indiana Pacers season gone had "The Brawl" not taken place?The repercussions of that night led to nine players being Baltimore Ravens jersey
suspended without pay for a total of 146 games, which led to $10 million in salary being lost by the players. Five players were also charged with assault, and all five were eventually sentenced to a year on probation and community service.The Pacers' were hit hard with the aftermath of this event. Ron Artest was suspended for the rest of the season (73 regular season games) while Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 regular season games for his role in the brawl. Jermaine O'Neal was also given a 25 game suspension, which was later reduced to 15 games.All of the other suspensions were just for one game or five at the most.The Pacers had their sights set on the playoffs, as they aimed to make one or two more runs before their window closed. Reggie Miller was in his 17th season, and they knew the time was now. With the loss of Artest for the entire season including the playoffs, and Jackson and O'Neal missing significant time, the Pacers managed to get the sixth seed in the 2005 Playoffs.The Pacers managed to upset the third-seed Boston Celtics in the first-round, when they moved on to face the Detroit Pistons of course. The Pacers were able to take it to six games but eventually lost the series, 4-2. The season was over, the window essentially closed.Nobody can really say what would have happened had the brawl not taken place on that dark November night, but things would have been much different for the Pacers. They had a team capable of making a run back to the NBA Finals. Anytime you lose Artest, Jackson and O'Neal for that amount of time, it really makes things tough.Who knows if the Pacers would have made it to the Finals that year. The Spurs ended up defeating the Pistons in Game Seven of the Finals that Buffalo Bills jersey
year, in one of the most boring-style basketball series of the past decade. While the Spurs were able to win some convincing games, they were hardly a dominating team. They were definitely beatable, as was most every other team in the playoffs.The Pacers were able to get a taste of what the NBA Finals were like in 2000, where they faced a familiar face in head coach Phil Jackson. The Pacers essentially faced Jackson every year when he was with the Bulls. The Bulls and Pacers would almost always meet in the playoffs, providing exciting and intense games. Sadly, that would be the last time the Pacers would have that kind of success, for the immediate future anyway.What could have been a dream season for Reggie Miller and all Pacers fans alike, ended in the most abrupt way, less than a month into the regular season. If only Ron were able to keep his head on straight (that goes for Mr. Jackson and Mr. O'Neal as well) things could have been different.After bouncing around with a few teams, Ron Artest found himself with the Lakers, winning a championship last season with Kobe and Co. He has decided to auction off his ring for charity. How sweet of you Ron. While you are in the giving mood, how about you do something to give back to the franchise that you destroyed?Jermaine O'Neal also jumped on the caboose of the Boston bandwagon for this season. Some guys believe getting a ring any way you can get it is better than showing loyalty to a city and a franchise that gaveCarolina Panthers jersey
them an amazing opportunity.That night has set this franchise back even until today. The Pacers might still be in rebuilding mode, but they appear to have some nice assets with this current team. The future looks bright with young stars Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert at Danny Granger's side. They are all talented, and needless to say, we don't have to worry about any of them going into the stands.

23 Dec 10Tom Thibodeau: Can He Become the Chicago Bulls' Next Phil Jackson?

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesIn 1989, the Chicago Bulls gave an unproven assistant coach by the name of Phil Jackson his first opportunity to be a head coach. It was a decision the Bulls never regretted, as the team went on to win six NBA titles under his guidance. Since his departure, they haven't done much of anything. This year they're trying to repeat the magic, giving Tom Thibodeau his first opportunity. The way the season has started, it's looking like they made the right decision.There's no question that the Bulls are an improvement over Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
last year's team. They have started the season 7-4, and have wins against some of the best teams in the West, including Portland, Denver, and just last Friday, a come from behind win against the Mavericks in Dallas. In the Hollinger rankings, they are currently eighth, fourth in the East. This is where they were supposed to be—if they had their key offseasonacquisition, CarlosBoozer. What makes their start impressive is that they've done it without him. Boozer broke his hand tripping over a gym bag answering the door this summer and has yet to play a game for the Bulls.The reason that the Bulls have done so well in his absence can be summed up in a single word: Thibs. Derrick Rose has emerged as a superstar, Joakim Noah has elevated his game to another level, averaging career highs in scoring, rebounding, and assists, all while committing half a foul less per game. Luol Deng has started looking like he is worth his contract. Taj Gibson is making people think twice about talking about trading him. All the holdovers from last season are looking better than they did last year.Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesFurthermore, all the new acquisitions are starting to fit in. CJ Watson had his best game last Friday, contributing to the Bulls come-from-behind win. Ronnie Brewer is getting healthier and becoming the key player off the bench. Keith Bogans is not the most important on their offense, but he's been key on the defense. Rookie Omar Asik has offered surprising contributions. Kyle Korver is actually Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
shooting better from the three-point line than his NBA record 53.6 percent at 56.3 percent.When you see across the board improvement like that, it all points to one thing: coaching. Tom Thibodeau had long earned his reputation as a defensive guru, but an undervalued aspect of his game was his tremendous talent for player development. Among players who have credited him for improvement in their games are the likes of Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, Rajon Rondo, and even Kobe Bryant. When Bryant was in high school, Thibs was an assistant with the 76ers and Bryant would come by for tutelage. He still credits the new Bulls head coach with developing his offensive game.In post game interviews with the players, it's almost impossible to get through a minute without each of them saying "Coach said..." and then following it up with some coaching advice that helped them in their play. After Derrick Rose finally got some foul calls in the Bulls' November 16 comeback win over the Rockets, he was asked about getting the calls. He explained how "Coach told [him] to go harder to the basket." When Taj broke out of his slump he remarked that "Coach knows I've been working on my jumper, but he said don't rely on jump shots. Attack the glass and hit the boards. I've struggled the last two games, so he challenged me." When asked about his improvement this season Deng said, "The system with Coach Thibs now is really allowing me to be a basketball player." It seems that to a man, the players on his team have a genuine affection for their coach.Elsa/Getty ImagesIn a time where X's and O's seem to be all that's discussed when conversing about a coach, the actual act of coaching can get lost. Thibs isn't a "players coach" in the conventional sense, but he is a coach who coaches players, and as a result the players love him. It was evident in his return to Boston when his old team greeted him. Even Kevin Garnett looked pleasant when they chatted after the game. However, don't think for a second he doesn't have a handle on those X's and O's. There's so much basketball crammed in his head it's hard to believe there's room for anything else.His postgame press conferences have the flavor of Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
a college lecture, with the press his students. Instead of dismissing the questions about his decisions, he not only answers them, he teaches them. It's almost as though you can hear whichever reporter asked a particular question nodding his head as he learns what the professor is teaching. You can't hear him talk about basketball without realizing immediately that he has a tremendous grasp of the game. You can even hear it in his team as they are starting to talk logistics in their postgame interviews as well.And although they are newly assembled, they are in fact a real "team." As the players came together, a common theme became apparent. Young, athletic, high energy, coachable players with good attitudes. Now that we're starting to see the finished project on the court, we can see what Thibs had in mind from the beginning. It's what Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle called "the highest motor in the league."Who deserves the most credit for the Bulls improvement?Who deserves the most credit for the Bulls improvement?Tom Thibodeau58.2%Derrick Rose37.2%Joakim Noah3.1%Taj Gibson1.5%Total votes: 586People were surprised to learn that Thibs, a noted defensive guru, got the job based on his outlining of his plans for the offense, but not anymore. Not now that we're seeing it come to fruition. The offense is characterized by a lot of crisp passing, and is led by young superstar Derrick Rose. When Rose has the ball, he's always a threat to score. If you blink, he is going to be dropping the ball in the net by the time you're finished. If Rose is double-teamed or well-guarded, the Bulls' crisp passing game has the ball moving to the open man who makes the shot. While the Bulls right now are absent another player who can create their own shot, they more than compensate for that with quick passing and the play away from the ball of Luol Deng.Defensively the team is led by Deng, who has been outstanding against many of the league's top players this year, including Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony (whose scoring came with Deng on the bench). It's characterized by high energy and a lot of hands. It's a work in progress, but the improvement is apparent. Through the Bulls' first five games, they yielded 105 points per game and had people wondering, "What happened to the defense?" Since then, they've only yielded 92.67 points per game, four of those games coming against the top offenses in the league. Thibs' defensive genius is starting to Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
prove itself.And all of this has come without their key offseason acquisition. One can only anticipate what happens once Boozer returns. Clearly, this is a team that is greater than the sum of its parts, and we haven't even seen all of the parts in play yet. Despite having played the East's toughest schedule and without Boozer, they are presently third in the Eastern Conference standings. It's beginning to look like the Bulls are legitimate contenders for the Eastern Conference finals, especially when you factor in the lackluster start of the Miami Heat. If they continue on this way, don't be surprised if Coach Thibs is Coach of the Year. The only Bulls fan with a valid complaint might be the poor guy who bought the season tickets right behind him. The man never sits down.

NBA Free Agency: Much Ado About Nothing?

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesFor two years now, basketball fans all over the country have been waiting for the free agency period that we are currently in.They braced themselves for the max-exodus of seemingly every major player in the NBA and that it would surely mean that the power in the league would be turned upside-down as a result.However, now that we are actually in the midst of it, the one question that is starting to form in many minds is whether or not anything will actually change.So much time has been given to LeBron Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
James leaving Cleveland and joining the like of the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls or even the New Jersey Nets, but here we are in July and most analysts are saying he will stay in Cleveland because of loyalty.Dwayne Wade has also flirted with the Bulls, but as of right now, ESPN’s Chris Broussard has him returning to Miami.When you add those names to the list of stars that have already resigned with their respective teams (Dirk Nowitski, Paul Pierce, Rudy Gay and Joe Johnson), the question I ask is whether or not this free agency period was completely blown out of proportion.Yes it is true that Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer are still on the market and that Amare Stoudemire signed with the Knicks, but are any of those guys the type to put a team over the likes of the Lakers, Celtics or the Magic?Chicago, Miami, New York, and New Jersey all blew up their teams in preparation for this month and it is possible that New York is the only team that got any better by doing it. (Even if the Knicks can’t lure anybody else to them, they can resign David Lee and have a great front court with Eddy Curry’s contract coming off the books at the end of next season).That all-or-nothing strategy is going to get someone fired…especially in Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
Chicago where the Bulls actually made the playoffs with a fairly young team.The only scenario where a shift in power could happen is if Cleveland and Toronto work out a sign and trade to unite Bosh and LeBron for the Cavaliers. LeBron would have the Pippen to his MJ and could overthrow the Lakers (maybe) as the NBA supreme.Other than that, I honestly don’t see the status quo of the NBA changing all that much.Even if Miami were to get Wade and Bosh, they wouldn’t have the funds to sign a decent supporting cast around Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
them and beating a deep team like Boston in a seven game series would be a joke.In conclusion, let me help make the rest of this week very anti-climactic for you; there will be no max-exodus of superstars, the balance of power will not be shifted, and all of this excitement was for nothing.Sorry to be Debby-Downer.