I’m not exactly sure what Brady Quinn is ready for. Perhaps another season sitting behind Derek Anderson in Cleveland.
Loyal reader Matthew Minton posted that UNH is going to win the America East championship this year. I respectfully disagree with him. While I believe that the Wildcats could be a contender in the conference, I look for the University of Maryland at Baltimore County (UMBC) to win the AE and play in the play-in game (also known as the Right to Get Hammered By Kansas Game).
I’ve been watching a lot of the Senior Bowl practice this week on NFL Network. Wideout Adarius Bowman, who played at Oklahoma St. (whose coach, I understand is a 40 year old man) had a terrible day on Tuesday in practice, but improved a good deal in this morning’s session. At the quarterback position, no one is wowing me. Joe Flacco improved this morning. Colt Brennan looks terrible. Mike Martz (49ers offensive coordinator) had to teach Colt how to execute a fake pitch, sweep strong side. He eventually gave up when Brennan was incapable of cutting right after the fake pitch. The best quarterback so far has been Michigan’s Chad Henne, who, while being slightly undersized, has the best chance at being this year’s 3rd round pick forced into starting time due to injury who is able to capably run an NFL offense. Brennan just overthrew Harry Douglass by about 180 miles. He has NO HOPE of being successful in the NFL.
With a 2 week lag before the Super Bowl, and no interest in writing about Tom Brady’s choice of shoe, I am left with the NBA, NHL, and Men’s College Basketball (I’d write about women’s basketball, but I can sum this season up in one sentence: Tennessee will win the National Title because Candace Parker is the best all-around post player I have seen in women’s basketball).
Yesterday had me talking about the NHL about as much as I care to. I intend on going to the Capitals/Maple Leafs game tomorrow night, just because. I might talk about that on Friday if I go. I’ve never actually been to an NHL game.
There is talk about a Ben Wallace to LA trade that the Lakers apparently don’t want to do. Message to LA: You’re not going to win the title this year. DO NOT TRADE FOR BEN WALLACE. He has proven himself to be a misguided leader in Chicago this year, what with his conflicts with Joakim Noah, who is outplaying AND outhustling the 85 million dollar thief. Someone needs to explain to me why Ben Wallace makes as much money as he does, based on what he does on the court.
College basketball is of course, my passion from December to April. I’ve mentioned recently that my final four includes Memphis, Kansas, UCLA, and Tennessee. Tennessee did lose last night to Kentucky and UCLA has had trouble with athletic swingmen in their 2 losses (to Texas and Southern Cal), but I still feel that, if they can defend (the Vols) and if they stay healthy (the Bruins) these two teams are legit title contenders.
This year has seen the best freshman class in quite some time come to the game. Chad Ford’s (ESPN NBA columnist) top 5 2008 NBA Draft prospects includes Memphis Freshman Derrick Rose, Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley, USC freshman OJ Mayo, and Indiana freshman Eric Gordon. Gordon is my favorite of this bunch. Mayo is an ego-maniac, who will inevitably self-destruct in the NBA. Beasley is a more under the radar version of Mayo, I feel. While he did not recruit himself to Kansas State, as Mayo did to USC, Beasley has shown the negative signs of a ballhog in Manhattan (the Smaller one). Rose is fantastic and would be a great selection by the Heat or Knicks, who are both desperately needing a true point guard. Gordon, I believe, is the best of the bunch. While he was at the center of a small controversy, when he withdrew his letter of intent to play for Bruce Weber at the Univ. of Illinois and instead decided to attend Indiana, he’s nowhere near the glory hog that Mayo is. Gordon is a great scorer who doesn’t need to score 32 a night, like Beasley, to make a difference on the court and he is making a huge difference with the Hooisers.
Game O’ The Day: Portland Trail Blazers @ New Orleans Hornets. Instead of airing this highly important Western Conference Game, ESPN will be boring America with the Spurs and the Lakers. Oh good. I NEVER get to see those teams, expect on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sundays on the ESPN, TNT, ABC NBA lineup. Portland and New Orleans are on a collision course with each other come playoff time. I have written here that I think the Hornets are one of the NBA’s best and I love what the Blazers have done, remaking their roster from the Jail Blazers of 5 years ago into a team with quality players and people, led by Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. I’ll take the Hornets tonight by 9 over the Blazers.
Mid-Atlantic Bias 
Having watched UMBC live, I can tell you, they have a pretty good team, as JMU rejects Cavell Johnson and Ray Barbosa, Coppin State reject Daryll Proctor and resident Jay Greene are all very good. Their best player, though, is the unconscious Brian Hodges. He is unstoppable when he’s on. With that said, they don’t have much beyond Fry and Spadafora off the bench, so if you can get this team in foul trouble, you’ve got a chance. Again, NO ONE wins on the road in the America Least.UNH should get Rony Tchatchoua back soon, perhaps for tonight’s game against Binghamton, which of course, I will be attending. If they get him back, they go seven deep with quality guys. Alvin Abreu is the best freshman in the conference, and Rony, Diliegro and Conley are all very talented, too. With home games against Binghamton, Hartford and BU in the next four, with a road contest against Stony Brook, UNH will make their move. Look for 6-3 or 5-4 after that stretch. Good to hear on Flacco. I hate transfer U FCS Stylee as much as the next person, but he’s very impressive, and I wish the best for any FCS player.What did you think of the absurd 5 OT game?