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NFL Mock Draft 2009 Draft of 2009 Lacks Star Power NFL Draft 2009: Getting Started Super Bowl Well Worth Tuning In For
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| NBA | |
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Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
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Ranting And Raving, Vol. 4: 11/25/08 By Ron Jumper This is a very busy time, as football is hitting the home stretch just as basketball is starting to crank up. That being said, I felt I needed to hit the high notes as to what is going on in the world of sports. With Ball State, Boise State, and Utah all making claims to be included in the BCS, not to mention the multitude of potential candidates fighting to make the BCS National Championship, it could get a little crazy this season. With the Maui Invitational going on, there are always some interesting storylines that emerge. Also, I wasn’t expecting the SEC to be great in college hoops, but this is getting ridiculous. With it being Thanksgiving, I have to talk a little bit about the NFL matchups on Thursday. Lastly, there are always those crazy New York Knicks to discuss. Time to get started… The Ball State Cardinals have made it to 12-0 as relatively drama free as one really can go undefeated. Now, there is really no way they can make the BCS over Boise State or Utah because those teams had a tougher schedule. However, to give Ball State credit, they beat everyone pretty convincingly on their schedule. It wasn’t like they squeaked out a bunch of close games, they won 11 of 12 games by double digits. They have players who will be playing on Sundays, with QB Nate Davis, RB Miquale Lewis, TE Darius Hill, and CB B.J. Hill. I can’t say the same for Boise State or Utah. I would say I would have to give the nod to Boise State or Utah before I gave it to Ball State in terms of who should go to the BCS because the Cardinals lack a signature win. However, if I were to predict what would happen if they played on a neutral field, I’m confident Ball State would hold their own. Isn’t that, in and of itself, what is wrong with the bowl system? It isn’t how good you are but, instead, your resume. You could argue that is life though, as the workforce encounters the exact same scenario. Brady Hoke has become a hot name in the coaching community and may cash in soon. Whether Ball State makes the BCS or not, it has been a special season that has had its highs and lows. It is a shame stud WR Dante Love can only watch his team and not be able to play, but it has been a magical run just the same for the young men from Muncie, Indiana. As UNC was beating Oregon like a yard dog, most were busy being too infatuated with the Tar Heels talent to notice the play of Oregon’s Michael Dunigan. A 6’10 freshman from Chicago, Dunigan has been stellar so far this season. After an impressive showing against Alabama the night before, he followed it up with another outstanding performance against UNC with 18 points. Safe to say, he should be all over the NBA scout’s radar now. B.J. Mullins and Greg Monroe have grabbed most of the headlines as the top freshman big men, but Dunigan may be joining those ranks here shortly. So far, when examining the conferences, it is safe to say the SEC is not meeting expectations. Kentucky lost to VMI, Alabama and Auburn both lost to Mercer, Arkansas lost to Missouri State, and the best win the entire conference has is Florida beating a bad Washington team. Vanderbilt lost at home to Illinois, Alabama lost to Oregon in Maui, and Florida lost to Syracuse. Virtually every opportunity to get a quality win, the SEC has lost. Hopefully, the Vols can save face a little bit for the SEC as they have Sienna, Marquette, Kansas, and Gonzaga coming up on the schedule. If not, it could get ugly for the SEC this season. It isn’t quite time for Jumpology, but the SEC may only get 2 or 3 teams into the field. After the Vols and Gators, I can’t say anyone looks like an NCAA tournament team right now. The SEC West has nothing. I admit I was drinking the Bama koolade before the season, but I was wrong. Arkansas and Auburn are bad. Ole Miss lost Eniel Polynice and lacks much depth inside. Mississippi State is okay, but lack scoring. LSU is decent but still needs a point guard. The West might we won with an 8-8 or 7-9 record, as parity should reign supreme. If the season continues to go like this for the SEC, it could end up being downright embarrassing. When looking at the Thanksgiving day games, am I the only one that feels let down? I mean Titans-Lions? Seahawks-Cowboys? Cardinals-Eagles? Are you really looking forward to any of those games whatsoever? The Lions are terrible but they get the Titans at a great time since they just lost. Look back through history, when a team goes well into the season before losing a game the second loss typically comes a lot sooner. The Titans are also not a dome team. The Lions might make it watchable, possibly. The Seahawks are bad and have all but mailed it in for the season, so facing a Cowboys team at home that can’t afford any slipups is not what the doctor ordered. The best matchup, Cardinals-Eagles, could be ruined with McNabb babble. I just might have to mute the game. The Eagles are typically tough at home and the Cardinals don’t normally travel well to the East coast. Might be worth watching, but I’m not exactly salivating. Isn’t it just getting silly the way LeBron and the Knicks are flirting with one another? Shouldn’t they just a get metaphorical room? Listening to Mike D’Antoni squirm on PTI was nothing short of comical. Saying things like “I’m serious, I think we made our team better for the next 2 years as well.” Oh really? I know if I was building a franchise, Cuttino Mobley, Al Harrington, and Tim Thomas would be the guys I would want to lay that winning foundation with. I mean, seriously? This has become a joke. You hear that David Stern? I feel like I should say it in Chinese, then he might actually acknowledge the situation. Put down the California Roll, David, there is work to be done in the NBA. November 26, 2008 |
| NCAA Football | |
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Be Careful What You Wish For
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| NCAA Basketball | |
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Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
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